6

The prison that Applejack was in was outside of Ponyville, and the asylum was in Canterlot. Seeing both Applejack and Rainbow would probably take a few hours. Twilight just wanted to know why and how Applejack was arrested, and then she would go off to see if Rainbow Dash really was insane.

On the way, Twilight and Spike had to climb over the rubble of a few buildings. No one was living in this area due to the lack of houses. Twilight started wondering the the cottage Fluttershy used to live in was in as bad shape. She'd told Twilight that Sandstorm gave her a home, implying she'd be homeless if not for her husband, so it probably was.

The prison was kind of small. Twilight had never seen it before, which probably meant it was built after she and Spike disappeared. There seemed to be less than a hundred cells, but of course there were still the necessary rooms for eating and labor and such.  That's just what Twilight assumed from the size. It was pale gray and worn, but that probably had nothing to do with Ponyville's destruction. It was a prison after all.

"Are we both going in?" Spike asked.

Twilight nodded. "It would be best if we stuck together. From what I can tell, the killer who broke in to Sugarcube Corner is still running around, and we've seen what kind of ponies could be living here now." Surely Sandstorm wasn't the only threat.

It didn't take long to get to the visiting area. Behind the scratched-up glass wall, Applejack was waiting. Her hair wasn't tied like usual, and her hat wasn't on her head. She watched Twilight take a seat on the other side. She didn't gasp in shock or start breaking down crying like the others. Instead she said, "So you're back."

"Um, yup." Twilight glanced nervously down at Spike, trying to think of how to word her questions.

But she didn't need to. Applejack was able to guess. "No, I ain't here 'cause of murder or anything like that. Wanna know why?"

"Why you're locked up?" Twilight nodded. "Yeah, that would be helpful."

Applejack hesitated. "Have ya seen Rarity lately?"

"Yes, but what does she have to do with any of this?" Then she remembered the way Pinkie had held back fearfully when Twilight asked what Rarity did to cause Fluttershy's near death. Perhaps Applejack had been some sort of accomplice?

"Well, uh, there was some sorta incident a year back." Applejack paused and looked away. "I was told not to tell anypony, but..."

-

"You did what?"

"Sh, Applejack, not so loud. You never know when somepony might be lurking."

The two mares were alone by the side of the road, in an isolated area of Ponyville. Rarity had asked for Applejack to come and do her a favor. The icy wind made the darkened area all the more eerie. But Rarity was used to it. She smiled at Applejack. "This is where I made the deal, you know."

"So let me get this straight." Applejack took a breath. "You hired somepony to hurt her?"

Rarity nodded, a bit too enthusiastically. "This is where I won the money to pay him. Besides, don't you think we could do with a little vengeance?"

"Vengeance? What in the name of--"

The unicorn interrupted her. "Do you honestly believe poor Rainbow Dash ended up in that horrid place by herself?"

Applejack hesitated. "Well, uh, yeah. I mean, now that something so sudden and outta nowhere like that happened to Twi and Spike..."

"I assure you, it has very little to do with that." Rarity's expression grew solemn. "After I gave Fluttershy my home, she took advantage. She let Rainbow Dash stay with her."

"Uh, I know. But just 'cause Rainbow had to be sent to the place from--"

"Oh, no. I have reason." Rarity edged closer to Applejack. "It was Fluttershy who kept reminding her. Fluttershy who kept saying, 'Can we talk about Twilight?' And then...then I watched her go ahead and brutally beat her. It was..." She paused to look away. "It was so shocking."

Applejack blinked. "Heart-o'-gold Fluttershy?"

Rarity looked back at her friend, sadness in her grayish blue eyes. "I promise I'm telling the truth. I have no idea why she did it. But she got away with it."

Applejack sighed. "You...do make a good point. I don't have anythin' to prove ya wrong."

"You believe me?"

"I do. And...I guess I'll help you. Long as it isn't too out-there."

"It's not." The ponies stood up, and Rarity continued. "All you have to do is bring Fluttershy here, and I'll make her confess."

"What's the point o' that?"

"I'll have her write it down. And I'll be able to turn her in." Rarity smiled. "She's quite easy to manipulate. If it doesn't work...well, we'll get there when we get there."

She was a little reluctant to do so, but Applejack brought Fluttershy to Rarity. Fluttershy seemed a bit frightened, but otherwise didn't seem to think much of it. She showed complete friendliness to Rarity as she asked, "You needed to meet me here?"

From under her cloak, Rarity levitated a piece of parchment and a quill and looked meaningfully at Fluttershy.

The pegasus tilted her head. "I don't understand what you're asking of me."

"I know what you did to Rainbow Dash." Rarity pushed the objects closer to Fluttershy. "And I want you to confess. On this."

Fluttershy took a step back. "I don't know what you're talking--" She gasped in realization. "Th-that? That was only for self-defense! She was--"

"Self-defense my plot!" Rarity retorted. "She was no threat whatsoever!"

"No, I swear, she was about to hurt me!"

Suddenly, Rarity slammed Fluttershy onto the pavement. Applejack watched in horror as blood slowly started forming a crimson puddle underneath her. Fortunately, there was no damage to Fluttershy's head. However, she was unable to get up. Shock filled her terrified eyes as she stared at Rarity. "W-why did you push me?"

Suddenly, it felt as if all her common sense was gone and replaced by madness. That simple, unproved reason Rarity had given her dragged Applejack onto the pavement. She was just too panicked, and that one little reason inflated into justification. She almost forgot who she was beating until Rarity shouted, "Applejack, stop! I'll make sure she gets what she needs."

Fluttershy was still conscious, but from Applejack's beating she was bruised. And all Applejack could think to herself was, How did that happen? She couldn't move, frozen by guilt, panic and shock, as Rarity took out something she's never expected.

The moonlight reflected off of the silver blade. Fluttershy tried to pull herself away with her forelegs--she was sitting up--but Rarity, her eyes full of insanity, raised her knife.

It was as if someone filled the two of them with complete madness. Applejack was unable to move, still thinking of whatever possessed her. She even went as far as thinking that Rarity had used her magic to manipulate her like a puppet. And she couldn't do anything but watch. Fluttershy, at the last second, pushed Rarity away, before she suddenly closed her eyes and fell.

Applejack walked over to Fluttershy to check her pulse. Her heart was still beating, almost as quickly as Applejack's. She heard Rarity's knife drop onto the pavement, and Rarity herself approaching. Applejack glanced up at her, and finally a possibility came.

"Was it grief for Twilight?"

Rarity didn't respond. The insanity had left her eyes, which now wandered to the other end of the path. Applejack followed them and noticed someone standing there. As the pony slowly approached, Applejack could see her more clearly, and the tears starting to fill her ice blue eyes, which were fixed upon Rarity.

"What did she do to you?" Pinkie whispered, finally breaking the silence.

Rarity picked up her knife using her levitation again. She stared intently at Pinkie. "If you tell anypony about this incident..." She took a step closer, just behind Fluttershy. "I will not hesitate to use this on one of them."

Applejack had no idea who she was talking about, but apparently Pinkie did, for a frightened look crossed her face. She nodded quickly and looked down at Applejack. "I-is she okay?"

"Alive, if that's what ya mean." Applejack managed to stand up. "But we oughta get her outta here quick."

Pinkie looked at her. "Won't you go to jail?"

Applejack didn't respond. Instead she said, "You go ahead and get Fluttershy to help. I need to stay here for a bit longer."

Looking a little reluctant to leave Applejack alone with Rarity, Pinkie hesitantly lifted Fluttershy onto her back and got out of the area as fast as possible. The two remaining ponies turned to look at each other.

"We are never going to speak of this again," Rarity told her. "But we'll need an excuse."

"I'll take the blame," Applejack offered. "I'll even turn myself in. I wasn' even thinking. It's like I forgot who was lying there."

Rarity sighed. "It seems something as simple as grief can provoke insanity. Maybe I was wrong about Fluttershy. Maybe Rainbow Dash really did drive herself to insanity." She looked Applejack in the eye. "But I was telling the truth when I told you what Fluttershy did to her. But maybe she's not lying either. Maybe it was just self-defense."

Applejack turned. "Think I'll go after Pinkie before she has to explain what happened. This is all gonna work out. Trust me."

-

Twilight felt something cold fall from her eyes. She stared at Applejack in disbelief. "You're in here...because you attacked her...because of me...?"

Applejack didn't answer. She just looked away.

Twilight tried to keep the tears out of her voice; having them streaming from her eyes was enough. "But Pinkie said she didn't know why you were here."

"Rarity was blackmailing her," Applejack explained. "With what, I dunno."

"If she was being blackmailed, why did she tell me that Rarity had hurt Fluttershy?"

Applejack blinked in surprise for a second, then asked, "What did she say after that?"

"She just said Rarity was mad at Fluttershy for taking her house, or something along those lines. And the abusive relationship thing." Twilight wiped one of her eyes. "I guess it did seem a little petty to have a grudge against Rarity for not wanting to help Fluttershy and gambling."

"She doesn't even gamble anymore, far as I know," Applejack replied. "She stopped after the incident."

Twilight nodded and took a few deep breaths. She tried to go over to herself everything Applejack had just told her about that horrific incident filled with madness. Thank Celestia nopony lost her life. She looked down at Spike, who looked extremely worried about her.

Applejack interrupted her thoughts. "You better run along. Visiting hours are almost done."

Twilight stood up. "Th-thank you for talking with me. And I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry for, sugarcube."

"If I never attempted to test the spell..." Twilight stopped herself before she started crying again. She was reluctant to cry with Spike standing right by her.

When they hurriedly left the building, the moon had risen higher. Spike stopped and pointed out, "If Celestia and Luna aren't around, who's raising the moon?"

"Their spirits must possess the power for them to still do their duty," Twilight replied. "That's the only explanation I can think of."

They continued walking. They had to get to Canterlot as soon as possible. It was time to see Rainbow Dash.