Chapters "SHINING,"Cadence threw open the palace door. "They're here."
Shining put on his helmet and sighed. "It seemed like yesterday they were the Elements of Harmony."
Candance hugged Shining Armor and let a tear fall across her face.
"Ma'am," Shining Armor and Cadance turned around to see one of the guards.
They barely knew it was Flash, the stallion who had a crush on Twilight forever. He had a black eye. Replacing one of his legs was a metal leg with flashing lights and scars were all over him.
Candance let go of Shining and faced Flash. "Are battle stations ready?" Candance asked.
"Yes ma'm!" Flash saluted and left the room.
Silence soon filled the room as Candence and Shining shared their probably last kiss but suddenly Cadence's eyes widened in horror. "Where's Coco!"
The city pony had come to the Crystal Empire to learn about Crystal Pony fashion and how to design them. During her time at the Crystal Empire, she has become friends with Cadence and when the enemies sent a threat to the Crystal Empire she invited Coco to be her lady in waiting while the others joined the Crystal Empire army to protect royalty.
"Candence.."
"No! I can't loose someone else thats special to me!... She was the only person other than you that was my friend because she liked me for me!"
Candance levitated her armor on. It was golden like Shining's and had her cutie mark on the chest place. She put her mane in a ponytail and plopped her helmet on her head.
"I'll be back Shining but with Coco," and before Shining Armor could say anything else, Candance flew out the nearest window.
She soared like a bullet through the city. It was pretty empty except for ponies carrying weapons here and there. But there Candence saw Coco pounding the force-field.
"COCO!" Candence collided with the forcefield and crashed into the floor. "I-I'll will save you," she moaned and opened a hole in the force field for her.
"Oh my goodness! Cadence, are you okay?"
"Yeah, c'mon," Cadence flinched as she stood up and teleported the two to the castle.
"Here let me get a ice pack for your wing," Coco assured and left.
"My wing..." Candence looked back to see her wing facing the same side as her other wing. Great... A fracture.
Coco came back holding an ice pack and gently caressed with the wing. With every caress, Candance fell herself get sleepier.
"There, there," Coco's voice hint of hypnotism in it but Candance hasn't noticed as she got sleepier and sleepier.
"I must thank you... Its nice to have a friend that doesn't care that I'm royalty," Candace tiredly spoke and laid down to close her eyes.
"Oh sugar cube...All I need is your love," that voice sounded familiar,sweet but different than Coco's like a farm pony.
"Applejack!" Cadance eyes opened in horror and tried to bolt upright but she was too weak. Right beside Cadance was the chuckling farm pony.
"Wheres Coco?" Candance hissed but it was too late. Applejack sucked all of Cadence's love for Coco making her permanently weak.
"To think the Princess of Love got her love drained by a Changeling and Coco.. ya'll better not worry, Twilight still has a big appetite," Applejack chuckled. Suddenly an orange flash covered Applejack and quickly diminished after seconds.
Right after that the pony flew to the ground disguising herself as one of the guards.
"No...no this can't be happening," Cadence coughed and heaved but sleep (or what she thought) was too strong. The Princess of Love sighed and closed her eyes.
***
"Candence?" Shining Armor trotted through the halls. He finally stopped at their room, the last place he saw her. Shining Armor slowly opened the door find Cadence who was lying on the floor.
"Candence.. Its no time to sleep," Shining opened Cadence's eye..only to find it green like he was when Chrysalis took all of his love. Shining Armor read about ponies falling into a heartbreak coma but he never thought it would happen to him. She would never wake up.
"Candence..how can a changeling do this," Shining Armor heard an explosion and a bunch screams of agony.
Shining galloped out of the room only to find his castle in ruins. All the walls have crumbled. Anything leather ripped in shreds and a haunting melody filled the air. Shining Armor enchanted himself to resist the siren's call but the other soldiers hadn't as he watched the crystal ponies run to the source only to resolve in them being cracked.
"Hello brother," Shining Armor turned around only to be tackled by a large furry mass.
***
Shining Armor heaved as the thing started walking away. "T-Twili what happened to you?"
And with that the prince died. "None of your business, Shining."
A few months ago
Applejack wiped the sweat from her face and bucked the apple tree again. As always, more than a dozen apples fell out of the tree and landed perfectly in the basket. "Applejack!"
Applejack turned around to see Applebloom pulling an empty wagon which she rebuilt herself. Applebloom finally got her cutiemark for building stuff which was a toolbox with an apple in it.
"Aw thanks Applebloom for fixing the ol' wheelbarrow, Grannie will be happy we're following the family tradition." An Apple family tradition says that every fall apple buck season, they must use the lucky wheelbarrow.
"Aw shucks Applejack, thanks. Ya know I'd never get my cutiemark without your support." And with that Applebloom went to help Big Mac.
"Impressive." Applejack turned around to see...Young Grannie Smith.
"What magic is this?"
"Changeling Queens can become figure in photos," Young Grannie replied and instantly a green flash covered her and when it diminished Queen Chrysalis stood in her place.
"Chrysalis," Applejack hissed, getting into attack position.
"I'm not here to fight farm pony."
"Don't call me that!" Applejack grunted, not moving.
"Fine. I just want to give you an..opportunity," Chrysalis bargained circling Applejack.
Applejack slowly yet curiously got out of her attack position. "Alright, what is it?"
"Be whoever you want, getting power every time some pony loves you, and make your family what you chose to become."
"What are ya talking about?" Applejack asked as she started to back away.
"How about you try it for one day and then the deal is off and you can have your normal life again?" Chrysalis faced Applejack, her holey hoof out for hers.
"Deal," Applejack shook Chrysalis's hoof, and then Chrysalis's innocent grin became an evil smile in triumph.
Her horn glowed and green cocoon surrounded Applejack. Applejack pounded at it but grew weaker in time. Green slime from the cocoon attached to Applejack's back. Applejack felt the sime crawl into her coat and felt piercing pain. Applejack looked behind her to see bug-like wings burst out of her back along with more green slime.
"No." The green slime fell onto her legs and started to press on her legs like she was clay.
" Chrysalis! What magic is this?" Applejack shouted as the rest of the cocoon started shrinking and started to shape around her.
Applejack tried to wriggle out of it but it pressed her harder. Applejack tried to scream but then a wad of slime covered her face. She closed her eyes which felt blazing hot as the slime shaped her face. Applejack felt it press against her forehead and something sharp sprang out. Fangs starting appearing and her face continued being shaped. Finally, the slime stopped pressing against her and Applejack bucked her way out of the slimy mold of herself with her eyes closed.
"Enough!" Applejack felt Chrysalis's hoof run against her slimey coat, wiping away extra slime. Applejack stopped bucking to see Chrysalis smiling happily.
"What did ya'll do to me?" Applejack grunted, feeling different and tingly.
"You tell me," Chrysalis made a mirror appear in front of Applejack. Applejack's eyes widened in shock. Her reflection was a changeling. It was completely black with and orange shell. It has orange bug wings and holes all over her body. The mane ,unlike other changelings ,was holey yet in her style with a horn peeking out and perched on the mess of a mane a was her hat.
"Dear Celestia, YOU TURNED ME INTO A CHANGELING," Applejack felt her now terrible looking face. Chrysalis smirked and made the mirror disappear.
"Just try it for one day," and with that Chrysalis disappeared with a green puff of smoke. Applejack's distorted face looked at the spot Chysalis was just standing at. She never told Applejack how to change back. Than the thought of her old form appeared in her head. She thought every detail. Every strand of hair in her mane to the contrast between the orange of her coat to the red of the apples she had for her cutie mark. She felt a jolting sensation through her as orange fire began appearing around her. After a few seconds it covered her completely and started to press on her. This time however it felt like a massage and then it died down. Applejack slowly looked at her hoof. It was sunset orange like she was a normal pony again. So that how changeling magic feel like. It was strange how she liked it so much. She yearned to transform more but her family could spot her and know her secret or worse.
"Applebloom are ya even gonna move on? We got several trees for you and Big Mac to buck," Applebloom walked over to Applejack, the cart squeaking behind her. Applejack backed away, worried that Applebloom would start loving her and something bad would happen to Applebloom. Chrysalis only stole part Shining Armor's love and he was completely hypnotized.
"Y-yeah Applebloom just having deja vu. I'll mosey along then to the next tree," Applejack fake laughed and galloped away, leaving a startled and confused Applebloom behind. After galloping away from Applebloom, Applejack stopped, caught her breath, and started bucking the nearest tree as hard as she could.
"Applejack? Are ya feeling alright?" Applejack to see Applebloom heaving the squeaky wheelbarrow with a concerned yet also confused Big Mac following her.
"Yup! Who said anything not feeling alright, am I not acting alright to you?" Applejack bucked the tree harder not aware that she did not hear the pounding of apples on the floor instead of a basket which she had forgotten. She is bad at lying.
"Then why did you forget the basket and why are ya still bucking that tree?" Applejack looked back at the tree she was bucking. All the leaves were even off. Cross her off being bad at lying, she's the worst at lying. Applejack's time was up. Her family knew that when she acted like this there was a problem.
"Well," Applejack tried to get her Changeling form but then Big Mac made her loose the thought.
"You're probably just tired Applebloom I think you should go back to the barn to get some cider," Big Mac pulled his sister into a bear hug and started leading her to the barn. Applejack smiled, happy that her family didn't find out her secret. It felt so nice, she felt so happy and so powerful like she already drank some cider. It was so nice...and unnatural. Applejack broke into cold sweat and pushed Macintosh away. She was sucking the love from her own brother. Applejack looked to see her brother's orange pupils. Wait they were supposed to be green. Applejack blinked to Macintosh green pupils again.
"You two should go on, cider season is only in a week," and with that Applejack started galloping to the farm. The strange and awful thing was pulling at her gut was the longing for more love.
That night
Applejack looked at her holey hoof. After hours of running and hiding from her family she finally was alone. She couldn't believe she was thinking this but her changeling body made her feel more free and powerful but she can only enjoy it for 30 more minutes. Soon Chrysalis will be here to take it all away and then she'll be normal. No power but able to accept love without hurting anypony. Applejack turned to the mirror and looked at herself. The changeling that stared back wasn't pretty but powerful. She could suck all the love from her family and then what? Her bug wings started making her hover. She maybe could even become the queen of the hive. Creeeak! Applejack turned around as her bug like pupils widened in horror.
"A-Applejack i-is t-that y-you?" Applebloom slowly walked to Applejack while the others stayed behind. Big Macintosh tried to keep his normal expression but Applejack could see horror in his eyes. Granny was plain scared. She was trembling and her tired eyes were also widened in horror.
"Applebloom, Big Mac, Grannie its not what y'all are thinking Chrysalis made a deal with me but she hid facts and!!" Applejack was interrupted by a hug from Apple Bloom and the rest of her family.
"Don't worry Applejack a feeling tells me everything will be alright we'll always love you no matter if you're a changeling," Applejack hugged her family ignoring that they were hugging tighter. She looked up to Big Mac's orange eyes! Wait! Applejack blinked but they were still orange. Actually his eyes were now becoming completely orange. That's when it happened! Applejack felt a jolt of immense power, she looked at Applebloom and Grannie who's eyes were also become completly orange.
"I n-need you," Applebloom spoke then all in unison the Apple family spoke,"We need you."
Applejack tried to block all the love but the sensation was too overwhelming finally she collapsed from the overwhelming sensations.
Finally she woke up to see a changeling hoof in front of her. Applejack looked up to see Chrysalis investigating the room. "Wow I heard that changelings could do it but no changeling of mine can receive that much love."
Applejack stood up, feeling energetic more than Grannie after tried the Cure All Tonic story but when she saw her family she wanted to crawl into a corner. They were all changelings! Their eyes were plain orange unlike her's which had slits like Chrysalis. They all looked the same but their coats was black and had holes. Grannie was the most different. Instead looking fragile, Grannie looked strong and sturdy but her face was still kind but now more cold.
"Applejack now we're like you," Applejack smiled, feeling strong, no more than strong, invincible!
"Well Applejack? Are you staying a changeling?" Applejack smirked. "E'yup."
"The hive is waiting for you, I was planning to make you a servant but now maybe a commander," Applejack felt a jolt of anger. She brought Queen Chrysalis new changelings who see her as the queen but this is how she thanks her? A servant or commander? No, she had to do something.
"Tell me Chrysalis, how much do you love your hive," Applejack let her horn glow with orange magic. Chrysalis made a skeptical face but soon started telling why she loves the hive but Applejack didn't listen. What got her attention that every word Chrysalis grew weaker and Applejack grew taller.
Finally Applejack sucked enough love that Chrysalis collapsed into a heartbreak coma (She read some of Twilight's books about changelings). Applejack saw her mirror again. Her mane was much longer and she was much taller. Everything about her was much bigger. Applejack picked up Chrysalis's crown, took off her hat, and placed on the crown. Suddenly, a jolt of electricity went through her and the crown became orange.
"Come on Apples lets meet my hive," and with that Queen Applejack ,the new changeling queen, flew away with the new Apples leaving the last remnant of her old life..her hat.
1 week after the Apples' disappearance
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath in and put the clouds together. First winter without Applejack, and still no one knows where she went. It has been hard for all of the Mane 6, Rainbow Dash included. She still remembers how she found and the rest of the Mane 6 found out about Applejack's disappearance.
All they needed were apples, inspiration, help, and a book. Fluttershy wanted to make an apple salad for Angel, Pinkie Pie wanted to make a caramel apple cake, Rainbow Dash needed Applejack to help her with a stunt, Rarity needed permission to see if she can investigate more parts of the orchard so she can get some inspiration for her new dresses, and Twilight was getting the book about the love poison back for Applebloom. "So Dashie, what the stunt?"
*****
Pinkie Pie hopped beside her as Dash repeated her stunt sequence. "I'll hop into a catapult aimed at a stone wall which Applejack will buck with all her might, and then right when I'm about to hit it, I'll fly up, maybe do a couple of flips and then RAINBOW BOOM BLAST THAT WALL!!!"
Her echo filled the orchard while Pinkie stared with disbelief and the other looked startled. "If you get Applejack to do it."
"Oh come on Rarity, we're best buds! Applejack would be delighted, PLUS she owes me after the last time she helped me with a stunt," Twilight giggled at the memory of RD crashing into the library fence. Suddenly, there was a loud buzzing! The mares all looked around in confusion as the buzzing continued.
"D-do y-you t-think i-its Queen Chrysalis," Fluttershy whimpered. The others stood in silence as Rainbow noticed something in Applejack's room. Rainbow Dash flew up and gaped at what she saw. There on the floor was Queen Chrysalis, barely alive, and Applejack's hat, the thing she'd never leave behind.
****
The rest was history. Twilight took Chrysalis and diagnosed her to be in a love coma and everyone else sadly, went on with their lives. Rarity changes her theme to barnyard chic in memory of Applejack. Fluttershy barely come out of her cottage. Twilight is with a search party to find the Apples. Pinkie Pie's schedule is now sell cupcakes with the Cakes then look at the picture she painted for Applejack on the barn. Rainbow Dash tries to move on but she can't. As the element of loyalty, Rainbow Dash can't forget a friend as easily. She even quit her job at the Wonderbolt reserves to help finding the Apples and try bucking apple since Applejack isn't there."Hey Rainbow Twerp!"
"Hey Lightning Dust, what brings you here?" Rainbow Dash glared as she talked in a falsely sweet tone. The sea foam pony flew up to her as wiped her badge. "Nice to see the pony I replaced here doing nothing. It was obvious of course since she only cared about doing thing fairly and safely. I bet you don't go fast anymore."
Rainbow Dash slowly stopped combining the clouds and faced Lightning Dust, her swollen tired yet angry eyes facing her eyes full of pride and the fact of her accomplishing everything Rainbow Dash dreamed of.
"From where to where?" Lightning Dust smirked. "Atta girl, I knew you never lost your fire, from here to hmm....Applejack's barn."
Rainbow Dash got in starting position, not taking her eyes of Lightning Dust. "Three, two.."
"One!" The two pegasus zoomed through the sky. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. Flying made everything better. Everything she saw represented the second most important thing to her, her friends. The fluffy white clouds reminded her of Pinkie Pie since they has bouncy looking as Pinkie. The brilliant rainbow reminded Rainbow Dash of Rarity since it always tried look brilliant no matter how annoying they could be. The sun reminded her of Fluttershy with her rays of kindness to reach everyone. The sky reminded her of Twilight because her brain capacity and future was endless and the mountain and trees reminded her of Applejack because she was literally down to earth of the girls and they reminded her of all the hard work she has done to take care of all those apple trees. "Glad you never lost your speed!"
"I'm just trying to beat you!" Rainbow Dash speeded ahead. The barn was almost in view ,just a few more meters. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash felt sudden impact. "Thought you were going to win, were't ya."
Rainbow Dash flew through air but due to the surprise and damage of Lightning Dust's tackle. She landed hard on the rocky path, feeling absolute pain. She felt something wet wet her wings, Lightning Dust landing in front of her screaming and then everything was dark.
Rainbow Dash woke up in the sky. She wasn't flying just hovering in the air. She looked under her seeing nothing but clouds and sky. "Looks like you are in an unfortunate situation."
"What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash looked to see a giant blue, stick skinny, weird looking, pony land in front of her. A windigo. "Lets talk about it later just answer some questions for me, Number 1: Do you want to be the fastest pony alive?"
"Y-yeah?" Rainbow Dash didn't know what to say. Sure, she had a chance to be that in the Wonderbolts but she quit because of Applejack. Here, its like the problem melted away leaving the thirst for speed like before. She liked the feeling but a little nagging thought told her to run. "Your wish will be fulfilled if you kill the pony who put you in your problem."
"Look, I can't kill some pony especially if I don't know the situation..Hey where are you going?" The winding was trotting away leaving Rainbow. Rainbow felt her environment shift as she felt like she was falling until..Rainbow bursted upright in a hospital bed. Doctors and nurses were surrounding her and in the window showing the waiting room, she could see a familiar golden hairstyle. One of the doctors looked up to see Rainbow awaked and breathed a sigh of relief. "Ahh, Rainbow Dash, I'm happy to see you awake you gave us quite a scare there."
"What happened?"Rainbow Dash leaned against the wall. Her back not hurting the slightest bit. The doctor adjusted his glasses and read his clipboard. "Well, it seems when you crash landed during the race,by the way be more careful and less clumsy, you injured all the bones in your body, but now you're as good as new, its just your wings..."
"M-my wings," Rainbow Dash turned around to see them covered with bandages. Fear started building up in her chest. "They completely broke...You'll never be able to fly again."
A week later
"Are you sure, you're alright Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy sat on the blue mare's bed as she
Author's Note
Dear everybody reading this but I'm still not finished but since I've been gone and you've been waiting for so long I did publish the unfinished version