Apple March

Twilight sighed, turning to the clock for the fifth time in ten minutes. Spike had still not appeared. She sighed. "Oh, where on earth could that baby dragon be?" She decided to head to Sweet Apple Acres.

Knocking on the door, Twilight sighed loudly. Big Macintosh opened the door. "Who's there?"

"Twilight," the purple princess muttered. "You seen Spike?"

Big Mac thought for a second. "Eeyup. Jus' about..uh...half an hour 'go. Haven't seen him..." He trailed off. "Dear Celestia, what's burnin'?"

Twilight was breathing in the tangy smell of...of...of burning apples, cider, trees, dirt, leather....

"Apple Jack!" Twilight screamed. "Spike...we need..."

"What are yah-" The strong stallion blinked. A scream pierced the air. A very familiar baby dragon's scream....

"We. Need. To. Find-"

"The basement...." Big Mac gasped. "She must be. It's the only place..."

"Eeyup," Twilight mimicked the red stallion. She found the storm cellar.

The door was open.

***

Spike gasped. Constant eating. His stomach felt like it was about to explode.

And it did.

Pain racked himself as the stretching organ burst. Applepath noticed the expression. She curled her lips into an ugly grin, tearing at the already stretched face skin. She laughed, no, cackled and drew the knife down the dragons torso. The scene she noticed was terrible. If you weren't a psychopath. The loose pink organ looked as if dynamite had burst. His intestines slid out of the gash, hovering in midair. "Ooh, Rarriiittyyyy...look. Your beloved Spike. AHAHAHA!" The laugh continued.

Rarity, or what was left, was a bloody heap. Where there used to be white skin, there was bloody muscle and the screaming brilliant white of bone. The only part left of her beauty was her blue eyes. She choked, looking up at the hull of her one time friend. "You-"

Applepath sighed. "Ah. I what?"

***

Twilight Sparkle peered into the basement, Big Mac looking cautiously over her shoulder. "I ain't never heard her sing THAT song before. Or speak without her accent."

Twilight sighed. "Oh dear. I'm-I'm scared. We need...backup, yes, that's it."

"Anope. We gotta go down there now. Othawise, that dragon's caput."

She gulped, nodding. "You're right. We..."

Big Mac started walking towards the door. "Those stairs are too narrow for both of us to climb safely. We need to enter through the house entrance."

Twilight sighed. "If it's the only way...."

***

"HA!" Rarity yelled, drawing herself up. She had heard Twilight and Big Macintosh talking outside. "We are SAVED. Twilight and your brother will be here in no time...."

"Oh, really?" Applepath smiled. "I'd like to see them try."

The door leading to the house shuddered. "Here, ah got it," Big Mac whispered. Applepath narrowed her eyes. She grabbed a gas mask from the shelf and tied it around her muzzle.

The door splintered, sending shards of wood everywhere. Rarity screamed in anguish as the splinters stabbed into her. The door shattered.

Applepath turned on the knockout gas. Big Mac and Twilight Sparkle rushed into the basement. Twilight only had time to gasp and ask, "Rarity? What happened?" before collapsing, unconscious. Her brother stood dizzily, before toppling over, crushing one of Twilight's wings. Rarity and Spike fell asleep again. Applepath smiled. "I guess you could say you're all in CaPTiViTY, unable to run away...."

***

Twilight Sparkle blinked awake, feeling groggy but stable. Rope was binding her against Big Macintosh, he being reprimanded in a straitjacket causing him to be unable to break the rope. Confused, she bobbed her head, trying to remember why she was here.

Rarity's scream brought her to her senses.

She began trying to use her wings to push the rope away, wincing in pain when she realized there were two bloody stumps where her magnificent purple wings once were. She began trying to cast a spell, unable to. Instead of her horn, there was a hole in her skin. Leading to the hole in her skull where her had been.

She gaped at the extensive wounds all over her, weakening her. She shook her head, thinking of...

The gas. She remembered the gas, she remembered.

CaPTiViTY, unable to run away.