Applejack slid open her eyes slowly, and with a groan she sat up. She blinked a few times, clearing her vision. She raised her eyebrows in confusion. Why was she in a hospital bed? Suddenly, it all came back to her, Twilight angry, the mysterious screams of pain, the metal truck, and the cold-looking ponies clad in black. Applejack looked around, taking in her surroundings. She was in a white room. White walls, white floors, white ceilings. There were no windows, just two metal doors on either wall. Hospital beds with clean, white, starched sheets lined the room. There was a groan from across the room, and Rainbow Dash sat up, blinking dazedly.
" W-what's going on? " Rainbow Dash asked confusedly, taking in the blank view in front of her. " A-applejack? W-what are you doing here? Where are we? Are the others here too? " questions flooded from RD as if a dam had broken.
" Ah think the others are here too, 'cause Twilight was taken with me. As for where we are, I ain't got the slightest clue. " Applejack replied with a sigh " Ah sure ache though. " Rainbow nodded and winced.
" Well, we can't just stick around here waiting for someone to show up. " she flexed her wings, which looked badly torn, and tried to pull herself out of bed. Applejack held her breath as Rainbow lowered herself onto the white hospital floor. Just as her hooves touched the floor, the left door flew open, and Applejack recognized the mare that had spoken when she had been kidnapped. As the mare's cold gaze scanned the room, Applejack followed it, noticing that there were ponies in the other hospital beds. Twilight's indigo mane stuck out from one bed, Rarity's purple mane, and finally Pinkie's pink one. But where was Fluttershy? Rainbow Dash was still standing, out of bed with a murderous expression on her face, violet eyes narrowed.
" Get back in bed. " said the mare sternly. " You're unwell. I imagine some sort of explanation is due, especially since we took you by force."
" Ya think?! " Rainbow Dash interjected, ignoring the mare's command.
"My name is Steel Streak. " the mare kept her face expressionless. " You are to undergo medical tests in the hospital wing for about a month, then onto physical tests, finally you will be sorted into the best possible position in the EAAE. " Steel Streak said, her voice still like ice.
" W-wait you didn't tell us where we are, what we are 'doin here, and where our friend Fluttershy is! " Applejack shouted angrily " You cain't just kidnap ponies, then expect them to perfectly okay without an explanation. "
" It is not my place to tell you where you are, Applejack. That is for General Mason to decide and answer. " Steel Streak replied, coldly "Y-ya know mah name? " Applejack asked, now nervous, how much did these creepos know about her and her friends, anyway?
" Yes, Applejack, the EAAE knows almost everything about you. And when we're through, I suppose we'll much much more. " a cold smile spread across Steel Streak's face. " As for your friend Fluttershy, she's right here. " she shot a hoof at the right door, just as a white mare with a gray mane and a fearful expression entered.
" F-Fluttershy? " Applejack asked, terrified. " W-what happened to you? " Fluttershy took a deep breath, glanced quickly over to Steel Streak, who was still dressed in black with her silver badge, then replied quietly.
" The EAAE happened to me. I've been here for over a week and you never noticed my absence. " Applejack detected a hint of anger in Fluttershy's voice, but she was too afraid to really think about it. What kind of place was this?
Applejack raised her back hooves up to the apple tree. They gave a satisfying thud as they collided with it's scaly bark.
" The last tree from the East Orchard! " called Applejack happily
" Eeyup! " called Big Macintosh, sweat tricking down from his mane. They returned home sweaty and tired, Big Mac heading off at once to the showers. Applejack wiped a fresh wave of sweat from her forehead, panting heavily. It took her a few minutes to even realize that Twilight was standing in the kitchen, looking irritated.
" Hello Applejack. " Twilight said, her eyes narrowed and her wings pressed tightly against her body. She said it so softly, but it succeeded in making Applejack jump almost to the ceiling.
" Well, howdy Twilight... " Applejack said awkwardly. Why was Twilight so annoyed? What was she doing in Applejack's kitchen? " What brings you here? " she asked nervously.
" On a lunch date. " Twilight replied in a flat tone " Or, I was supposed to be. " A wave of anger flashed across her face, setting her amethyst eyes ablaze.
" OHHH, was that today? " Applejack felt even more nervousness creeping into her voice.
" AJ, you miss almost everyone of our lunches, so I wrote it on everything you frequently look at. " Twilight said flatly. Applejack decided that she liked Twilight's loud, furious tone even more than her quiet, flat voice.
She glanced fearfully around the kitchen, and to her surprise she saw " Lunch date with Twilight." written in big bold red letters on everything in the kitchen. "Lunch date with Twilight. " was written on the walls, the floor, the ceiling, even the fridge! The pictures on the walls, the curtains, the kitchen table and chairs, and the door all bore the red letters. Suddenly there was a huge crash on the roof. Applejack, eager to get away from the livid Twilight, hurried outside her house to find a dazed Rainbow Dash lying on the roof.
" Are you okay up there, RD? " Applejack called worriedly. Rainbow Dash let out a loud groan and sat up, staring right at AJ blankly.
" AJ? Is that you? Why are there three of you? " She asked in a confused voice. Applejack, still very thankful that Twilight hadn't emerged from the house asked
" Can you come down okay? " . Her question was soon answered by Rainbow Dash rising to her hooves, looking dizzy, and landing clumsily on a patch of grass near AJ. Once Rainbow Dash had regained full consciousness, she followed AJ into the kitchen. AJ gasped. Twilight was making lunch! The last thing she wanted to do was spend lunch with a livid Twilight.
" Why are you so upset? " Rainbow Dash asked, puzzled. Twilight turned and saw the look of sheer horror on Applejack's face.
"Yes, Applejack. " Twilight said flatly " Why are you so upset? " AJ turned and saw a very uncomfortable-looking Rainbow Dash.
" I'd better go. " Rainbow said quickly. She stretched out her wings and sped out the door. Applejack returned her gaze to the furious Twilight. It seemed that they were locked in an endless staring contest, and AJ felt that it had gone on for hours. The awkward silence was peirced by a shrill scream of pain. AJ rushed outside again, but this time saw nothing. She returned, determined to speak to Twilight. But Twilight's piercing glare made her wanted to run and hide like a filly. Suddenly, the door burst open. Rarity, who was looking quite annoyed, came in, closely followed by Pinkie Pie, who was bouncing so much she almost hit her head on the door frame.
" Well, howdy Rarity, how ya doin? " Applejack asked relieved. " What's up Pinkie? " Pinkie took one look at Twilight, who looked as if she was frozen in rage and sprinted back through the door screaming in terror. Rarity rolled her eyes and replied. " I'm doing fine, Applejack, I'm here to ask whether you can spare some old fabrics. I'm working on a new fashion line based on country flair. "
Rarity forced a smile. " How are you? And you Twilight? " Twilight turned her blazing stare on Rarity.
" Just. Peachy. " Rarity looked uncomfortable. "Well, then if this isn't a convient time for you, I'll try and come back some other time. Goodbye then." She turned and began to edge her way back to the kitchen door. Just then, another scream pierced the air. Rarity, closely followed by Applejack and Twilight dashed out the kitchen door. Still, they saw nothing.
" Well... I'll just be on my way then... " Rarity said nervously. Appleajck and Twilight said goodbye to her and she ran off to Ponyville. Moments later, they heard another shrill scream. This time, Applejack and Twilight were outside and prepared. They shot off in the direction of the scream. Three ponies, each dressed in black stood surrounding a gray truck. The first, a burly stallion with a close-cropped charcoal mane and a scar. The second, a lithe mare with a white mane with a gray streak through it. The third, a thin stallion with a buzz-cut so short, AJ couldn't tell what color it was. The mare spoke first
" We are the EAAE, and we are going to need you to come with us. " Her voice was cold and stern.
" NO! " Twilight shouted angrily " Not you! That mare told me about you, your-- " She dropped to the ground, unconscious.
" Twilight! " Applejack shouted, horrified. She looked up and saw the thin stallion tuck a dart gun into the back pocket of his black uniform. She noticed, too that the burly stallion wore a gold badge, while the other two wore silver ones.
" Will you come with us willingly, or will you end up like your friend over there? " The mare shot a hoof a Twilight, whose head was bent at an unpleasant angle as the thin stallion loaded her into the truck.
" Never! " Applejack shouted defiantly. She raised her hooves to strike them, then she felt her muscles relax. She fell to the ground, helpless, glancing momentarily back at the dart in her left hind leg as her world faded to black.
