Aviation Industries

Twilight wakes up to yelling and commotion from outside her door. "We demand an explanation!" One pony yells.

"She is one of us, not an animal!" A second one supports. Twilight steps outside to meet up with Applejack.

"What's going on here?"

"Oh, hey sugar cube. Well, unfortunately none of the guards will listen to a word ah' say! So they took Fluttershy into custody."

"What?! Why?"

"Well, turns out she isn't who we thought she was. She works with them Twi', with them."

"Them? And who exactly is them?" Twilight asks, mad that Applejack is supporting this.

"They are the ones who want Aviation Industries to die. They are called The Movers. Rallying behind the beliefs of a pony called The Excavator, they believe that the sky has no rulers. That nature itself is it's own leader, and that the Pegasi have no right changing the course of weather. So what better way to prove this than to go after the one company specifically for the Pegasi? Twi', if Fluttershy is found guilty, she will be put in jail for thirty years." Twilight just stares at Applejack. "I'll, leave you to think."

"You wanted this, didn't you?" She asks, stopping Applejack.

"What?"

"You want her to be in jail. I mean, it only makes sense. She almost ruined your orchard, disagreed with you in winter wrap up, made you kill your award winning apple, and you will stand here and tell me that you feel bad for her?"

"What are you suggesting sugar cube?"

"I'm suggesting that want her gone. You want revenge simply because she is different from you."

"With all due respect princess, you couldn't be more wrong." Applejack walks up to her. "And if you think that I am behind what they are doing because of a couple of arguments, then you don't belong here."

"Don't I? Because if I remember correctly, you asked her to go to my house where she was knocked out and brought here."

"I asked her to go to your house because I thought you needed help!"

"Don't give me excuses Applejack! You and the rest of the company never even wanted me here, yet here I am. Fluttershy was to just get information I bet, and you don't even have the courage to stand behind your own words."

"You don't know what I've been through! From the deaths to the sacrifices to the dark ponies, it eventually piles up! Say what you want Twilight, but right now, I don't think you can afford to loose a friend." Applejack stares at her, then walks away. Twilight, not believing anything Applejack said, walks back to her bedroom.

"Ms. Fire, I-"

"Shut up." Spitfire hisses. Applejack does as told. "We need her to crack, not think. You retaliating with anger isn't helping, it only gives her more reason to think she is right. Be her friend, and once this is over, kill her for all I care. But right now, we need her. And weather you like it or not, if it wasn't for her we wouldn't even be where we are."

"You are all the same."

"Excuse me?"

"You, Discord, and all the rest of you immortals. We sit here, year after year, decade after decade, century after century! And none of you ever consider our time, our lives, our damned business! If you need help, fine, drag me in here. If you need assurance, tell me, I'll be the first one to answer. But if you think for one second that you can hurt the ones I care for, then consider this a resignation talk. I, quite." Applejack storms out the room, slamming the door behind her. Spitfire watches outside as she sees the blue wings glide down to the ground.

"Should we go after her Ms. Fire?" A guard asks.

"No. She is too unstable, knows too much. If she tells even a single soul what we do up here, it's all over. I'll deal with her myself."

Spitfire knocks on the Apple family's barn doors. It swings open, just to reveal an Applejack drinking cider. "May I come in?" Applejack kicks a chair closer to Spitfire. The moonlight shines on the chair, making it shine with cider. "How are you holding up?"

"Ah', ah' could be be*hic*etter." Applejack says, swaying her cup on the counter top.

"Applejack, are you drunk?"

"Ah' have a stash of spiked cider in the cellar. Would ya' like *hic* some?" Applejack asks with a crooked smile.

"I'm good, thanks. But I'll gladly stay for a visit."

"Be my *hic* guest." Applejack breathes out. Spitfire sits next to her. "Ya' sure you don't want any? It's free."

"Fine, but only a little." Spitfire watches as Applejack happily gets up, swaying and stumbling. She pours the cider into a cup, though mostly onto the floor, and gives it to Spitfire. She takes a sip. "Gah, that's strong."

"Twenty years it's been sittin'."

"Twenty years? It's as old as you are Jackie."

"Haven't heard ya' call me that in a long *hic* time. Mind if I call ya' mom again?" Applejack smiles.

"Be my guest." They sit, drinking in their thoughts.

"Tell me again how ya' found me." Applejack pleads. Spitfire looks at her, smiling.

"Fine, but only this once. It was a quiet moonlit night, the birds were chirping, the bunnies were hopping, and the water was making the most beautiful crashing noise. It was just after Celestia made me immortal, I finally convinced her, with help from Luna, that it was the smart thing to do for a powerful pony like me. Then as I'm walking in the night, I see this basket. In it was the most beautiful, peaceful, happy foal in all of the land. I asked around everywhere, but no one knew who you were. I knew I couldn't take care of a baby all by myself and unless I had asked out Soarin I had to give it away. So I found a family willing to take you in, the Apple family. Thankfully you're special talent is bucking apple trees so that worked out nicely." She stops herself. "Hey, I'd like to show you something. Get on my back." Applejack hops onto Spitfire's back, pushing her down a bit. "Ok, hold on." She starts walking. "You know Jackie, I was always proud of you. All your life I looked after you, made sure you were happy."

"Ah' *hic* appreciate it, ma'." Applejack says. The up and down motion of the walking mesmerizes Applejack, putting her into a deep sleep.

"I'm glad. I tried to provide the best I could for you, but it's tough. I only ever wanted you to be the perfect mare, to be the one that colts wanted to marry. When I saw you in that basket, I knew I needed to make you happy. I'm sorry the weekend visits stopped,but when I became immortal I couldn't do anything to be a normal citizen again. Being both immortal and the captain of the Wonderbolts made it nearly impossible for me to see not just you, but anyone. Since I became head director of Aviation Industries though, I've finally been able to see you again, working for me. Here we are." Spitfire enters the generator room of Aviation Industry's ground base HQ. Though mostly electrical, there is a separate room of oil-based generators. Spitfire enters, and sets Applejack down. She coughs from the smoke, waking Applejack up. She looks at her, those green, emerald eyes staring at her. Spitfire remembers her as a foal, those green eyes haven't changed a bit. Still drunk, applejack smiles.

"Goodnight mommy, I love you." She rests her head on the ground.

"Goodnight Applejack, I love you too." Tears roll down Spitfire's cheeks, only to be swept away. Spitfire walks out of the room, looking back. She shuts the door, locks it, and maximizes the generators and their power. She looks for a last time at Applejack, and walks away.

Twilight takes another tissue, still watching the news. Fluttershy walks into the room. "Twilight, please don't do this to yourself. She did it to herself because she was unstable. None of this is your-"

"Yes it is!" Twilight snaps. Fluttershy just looks at the tv. "I-I'm sorry, that was wrong of me. But I know for a fact that I made her do it. It isn't coincidental that we had an argument just hours prior, the first argument that we've had in a very long time. I just, I wish I didn't even come here." She take another tissue, and the box along with it. "Stupid thing." She throws the empty box. Fluttershy retrieves another tissue box from the closet. "Thanks."

"Listen, I don't know why she did it, and I don't know why Spitfire pardoned me of the charges, but we can't change the past. She wouldn't want you to morn her like this. She'd want you to keep working and get back your library." Twilight looks at Fluttershy, her eyes red and tired. "Come on, let's go to work. It'll keep our minds off of it." Twilight nods, and follows Fluttershy out of her room. Suddenly, a colt walks in front of them.

"We are sorry Ms. Shy and Ms. Sparkle, but we are having a lock down. We ask you to please stay inside your offices until the lockdown is lifted."

"Ok, thank you." She leads Twilight back in. "I'm sorry Twilight."

"No, it's fine. These things usually last about an hour, so make yourself at home." She flops into bed, trying to go to sleep. Fluttershy goes to sit, but hears something from the kitchen. She walks in and almost falls. "R-Rainbow?"

"Close the door please." Fluttershy does so. "Listen Flutters, I know why Applejack died."

"You do?"

"Yes, and you do too." Rainbow Dash smirks. "Look, I know how complicated things are right now, and-"

"Do you?! Do you really? What me and Twilight have been through would put any other pony on their hooves and knees, begging for the opportunity to just leave. But we have-"

"Have been doing exactly that. Fluttershy, don't try to fool me or yourself here, we both know what Spitfire said to you. We both know what your trying to do. Aviation Industries isn't just here to make new technology, they have a different plan in mind and you've helped them with anything and everything they need. Don't mistaken them Fluttershy, they will shake your hoof with their right hoof, and hold a rock in their left. Don't let them get the rock, otherwise it's all over." Rainbow Dash walks over to a wall, and punches a hole in it.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"I'll be back, but until then, don't make the same mistake I did. It'll save your life." She flies out of the hole, closing it back up as she flies. Twilight walks in.

"Is everything alright Fluttershy?" Fluttershy looks back at the wall.

"Everything's fine. Come on, let's get some rest."