Cognitive Dissonance

by JackRipper

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Mystery, Tragedy, Horror
Length: 4243

How can you trust those around you, when you can't be sure that they are who they say they are?

Equestria was invaded, and Chrysalis had won. In a world filled with Changelings, trickery and deceit are present in the everyday lives of those who still survive. The problem is, the Changelings have evolved so that they die as the pony they are disguised as, so it isn't really possible to tell if they were ever really Changelings anymore. Nopony has seen a changeling in its natural form for over a year and a half.

The question now is, are the Changelings even in Equestria anymore? Or have they moved on, looking for new prey? Do some still lurk within the shadows?

Warning : [spoiler]Intense Gore and Character Death.[/spoiler]

Proof-read and edited by Frost Vortex.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-12-31 04:40:02 UTC

Catharsis

“Perhaps it's impossible to wear an identity without becoming what you pretend to be.”  - Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game

Even as the sun shone on the small encampment, its inhabitants only felt an icy cold. For how could they feel anything else? It was gone, all gone. The feeling of omnipotence that the residents had subconsciously basked in had dissipated alongside their nation.

The sky was split in half; it had been so since the fall of the diarchy. It would remain like this until the sun had burned out, becoming a husk of what it once was... a dead star.

A befitting end to the sisters that couldn’t even protect their subjects against a threat that was meager in comparison to themselves, don’t you think?

Everything in the west was dry, hot, and arid.

Everything in the east was cold, black, and frozen.

Anything in between? Purgatory.

Yet there was still hope for those who had survived. Amongst the ruins of Equestria, an alicorn princess and all of her friends had established a settlement near the edge of the notorious Everfree Forest.

Well, most of her friends anyways.

When the Royal Sisters succumbed to tragic fates, it had formed a rift in the sky, each celestial body towering over its half of the world. The haven that the legendary friends had built was situated in the middle of said split, damp enough for crops to grow and warm enough to keep everypony alive. Maybe not happy, but alive was enough.

The three races worked in unison as they desperately clung to the last thing that they could call home. Some gave up, but most of those that were still alive had their heads kept above water by their friends and family. It could almost be considered peaceful in some ways… all except for one notion that disturbed everypony to the core.

Any of them could be a changeling, and nopony would ever know until the very end.

Applejack loaded the last of the produce onto the back of the cart, the sweat on her brow increasing as the day progressed.

“This sure doesn’t get any easier; Ah really can’t say ah remember the last time mah hooves didn’t hurt.”

But the tasks that she was given weren’t up to her. Any physical pain would have to be placed as a secondary concern, right after the hunger of everypony else.

Applejack pulled the car through the grove that led to the rest of the settlement, scratching her hind legs against the forest brush in the process. Most of the settlement had been built within one of the large clearings of the Everfree Forest. There were a sparse number of buildings that were constructed near the outer edges of the forest, but that “luxury” was mostly reserved for the earth ponies who needed their farms grown properly on fertile Equestrian soil. As a safety precaution, all structures were covered in moss and vines while also being concealed by camouflage spells casted by Princess Twilight Sparkle herself.

Applejack spotted Twilight as she trudged toward the marketplace with her cart in tow, cracking a slight smile. “Mornin’, Twi!”

Twilight responded with a tired smile of her own. “Good morning, Applejack. Sleep well?”

Applejack frowned as her concern for her friend started to increase. Her friend had lost a majority of her closest friends in only two years, but still she was determined not to let her true emotions show. Applejack still had most of her close family, while Twilight had to suffer the losses of both her assistant and her mentor.

“I s’pose ah did, Twi, but ah feel like ah should be askin’ you the same. You feelin’ alright there?”

Twilight’s smile vanished in a flash, her expression becoming stoic. “I’ll be fine, Applejack. I just need some alone time to myself so I can… think about things, I guess.”

It may not have been a long time, but it seemed to look as if Twilight had aged quite heavily. Even though Applejack would never admit it out loud, she could distinctly spot small streaks of gray in Twilight’s mane that were barely visible, even up close.

She nodded at her friend in respect, her eyes still fixed on the streaks in her mane. “Ah understand, Twi. You’ve done more fer us than anypony could’ve imagined.”

Twilight merely sighed in response, gazing at the ominous gallows that stood in the center of the establishment.

“I know we haven’t spotted seem any of them for six months, but I just can’t shake off the feeling that they’re still out there, you know? It’s like they’re watching us, ready to strike when the opportunity arises. I want to believe that we’re prepared enough for an attack, but ever since they’ve evolved, things have just gotten so much more… complicated.”

Applejack huffed in frustration. “It certainly doesn’t help not knowing who or what we’re killin’ anymore. How are we s’posed to know if they’re a real pony or not if they stay in their disguises even after they die?”

Twilight shook her head. “I don’t know, Applejack, I just don’t know. I haven’t found a spell that I can use, and it’s not like I can just fly to Canterlot and visit the Royal Archives.”

She lowered her head in anguish before continuing. “I still remember the first time it happened, Applejack. Fluttershy had been spotted in two different places at once. After we interrogated both of them and figured out which Fluttershy was the real one, we lynched the imposter at the gallows.”

She shuddered, but Applejack let her proceed despite her ever-growing concern. “What I didn’t anticipate was that the changeling we killed kept its disguise, hanging there from that rope.”

Twilight choked down a few sobs as Applejack embraced her tightly. “Oh, come on now, Twilight. You and I both know that you were doin’ everything ya could to set things right. It’s not yer fault that they know how tah stay disguised after death now.”

Twilight glanced up at her, her eyes glistening with barely repressed tears. “But that’s just the point, Applejack. What if we hung the real Fluttershy on accident? What if the Fluttershy we’ve thought to be innocent for six months finally decides that it’s time to drop the illusion?”

Applejack’s jaw dropped.

“So, what did you do today, Scoot? Did’ya see anythin’ out there?” Apple Bloom questioned, both curiosity and worry straining her voice.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were sitting near the edge of the local marketplace, enjoying the rations they were given, all the while savoring each other's company. They were older now and strong enough to work alongside the rest of the community. Sometimes their work kept them separate for a while, but that never stopped them from being friends.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes in response. “Nope, just like yesterday. Figured we would have seen something out there by now. How long has it been anyway? Like, a couple months?”

Sweetie Belle spoke up. “The last time I talked to Twilight, she said we haven’t had any attacks  for half a year. I’m starting to think that they’re not even in Ponyville anymore.”

Scootaloo turned to look at Apple Bloom. “What have you been up to, Apple Bloom? How’s the farm doing now?”

Applebloom sighed, a frown adorning her face. “Ah suppose ya could say it’s doin’ alright. Granny Smith ain’t gettin’ any better, though. Big Mac and Applejack won’t say it out loud, but ah think she isn’t gonna last much longer.”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sat there, staring at their friend with morose expressions plastered on their faces. Rainbow Dash and Rarity were dead; Rainbow Dash had died right after Twilight and the others failed to stop Queen Chrysalis, while Rarity had died two months later when she was killed by a changeling disguised as Twilight. The two friends had experienced enormous amounts of loss, but it would break their hearts even further if Apple Bloom had to experience it for herself as well.

After a long pause, Scootaloo decided to break the tension. “Well, whatever happens, we’ll face it as friends. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, ah know,” Apple Bloom nodded, a small, sad smile forming on her face. They’ll be there for me no matter what. Thank you, girls.

The night never even crept over them. The only indication that it was time for rest was a bell that tolled at what everypony believed to be eight o’clock in the evening.

Applejack sighed happily as she listened to the melodic tune of the bell resonate throughout the encampment. Even though she was going to bed early, she couldn’t help but feel accomplished after how much work she had done that day.

She thought back at what Twilight had said to her earlier that morning. Was she right about what she had said? She tried reassuring herself, Nah, Twilight is jus’ overreacting again. Ah don’t even remember the last time Ah saw a changeling in the flesh.

…

Then again, it doesn’t even have to be Fluttershy… it could be anypony, even the Twilight Ah talked to. What if she said that tah me jus’ to remove mah suspicion of her?

She shot up from her bed and glanced out her window. Where is she anyway? I haven’t seen her since this mornin’.

The troublesome thoughts that’d plagued Applejack throughout the day followed her into her sleep. Soon enough, she found herself constantly glancing back at the door, expecting a changeling to burst through at any minute.

It were these feelings of paranoia that kept Applejack awake the rest of the night.

Applejack awoke to the sound of a shrill scream coming from the bedroom hallway. She initially stiffened at the outburst, but panic quickly overcame fear as she realized that the scream had sounded very much like Apple Bloom. It wasn’t the scream of joy that she heard so much of back in the old days, those cries of joy had died shortly after the changeling invasion.

Applejack quickly raced to her door, unlocking the bolt. She could pinpoint Apple Bloom’s cries more clearly now, they were coming from one of the rooms further down the hall.

She had expected to see Apple Bloom being attacked. She thought she’d braced herself properly in case that happened, and yet still she was not prepared for what she witnessed before her. Apple Bloom was crying in the middle of the room, her mane frazzled and her red bow slackened from the commotion. They were not cries of injury nor alarm, but more of a sense of mourning. She was certain that Apple Bloom must have heard her enter the room, but if she did, she had not acknowledged her sister’s presence, merely staring straight ahead.

Applejack followed her gaze… and froze.

Granny Smith was dead.

Ever since the invasion, there was never enough time to build caskets. The pre-war mahogany used to build them was rare enough as it was, and couldn’t be spent on those who didn’t necessarily need it. Fortunately, Granny Smith had the bliss of dying in her sleep, which was a fate that most ponies envied. Still, this notion did nothing to ease the despair that quickly surged through Applejack as she found it more and more difficult to stand properly with each trembling step she took.

She cried on the inside; at least, that was what she told herself. That was the one lie that she always told herself. But after witnessing Apple Bloom cry as Granny Smith was slowly lowered into her tomb, she realized that she couldn’t lie to herself anymore.

Twilight reached her before she broke down into tears, “Applejack, are you alright?”

Applejack wanted to lash out at her, even strike her if she had the chance. But she couldn’t; she couldn’t do that to her friend, especially the one friend that’d helped keep everypony else alive thus far.

“I’m fine, Twilight. Just need a minute to simmer down,” Applejack responded, her tone darker than she’d intended.

Twilight must have sensed the emotion in her tone due to how she flinched slightly after Applejack’s response. Her head hanging low, the alicorn decided that it’d be best if she left Applejack alone until the next morning, fearing that she would only do more damage if she persisted.

“Just don’t strain yourself, AJ.” Twilight mumbled before leaving Applejack by her lonesome.

Applejack wished she could have smiled. She wished that she could be happy knowing that her friend still cared for her… that she was even willing to help her.

What about Fluttershy, then? Why haven’t Ah seen her in the past two days? It was a true fact that ever since she was accused of being a changeling, she had grown more distant from everypony. Regardless, that hadn’t stopped her from doing her job, tending to those who were sick and acknowledged that they were going to die. All Applejack could do was hope that Fluttershy was alright too, and that nopony else had to feel the pain of loss today.

…

“Oh, what ah would give just tah see Pinkie’s face again.”

Thwack!

Crack!

The trunks of each tree felt the force of Applejack’s hind legs as she bucked with increasing intensity after each kick.

She hated these trees. They weren’t the same as the farm she once had; they didn’t have the pure love imbued in them anymore. They were just apple trees now, not Sweet Apple Acre trees. Still, she had to do this. She wanted to do this. It was in her blood, defining who she was. The apples that hung from each tree were a part of her, and as strange as it sounded, she was a part of them too. But even with all the blood, sweat and tears that were poured into them, she didn’t see the point of living on the new farm when her entire family was going to die anyways. She hadn’t been able to prevent Granny Smith from dying. Why would the rest of them be any different?

Applejack’s legs shook as she thought about this, her kicks becoming weaker with every passing second before halting altogether.

“Granny, please don’t do this. Don’t m-make the rest of us do this w-without ya,” Applejack pleaded to no avail as the tears she’d held back for so long finally managed to surface.

She stood up, her anguish suddenly transforming to a livid anger. She then proceeded to channel that anger into bucking each tree over and over again, cracking one of them right down the middle. Eventually, after hours of unnecessarily strenuous labor, Applejack wobbled and fell against the trunk of a tree, her vision hazy and head spinning.

“Big Mac… Apple Bloom... please, stay safe.” Applejack whispered to herself as she finally succumbed to the stress that churned within her, drifting off into an uneasy sleep.

“We need to check out the next clearing, guys. This one’s empty,” Scootaloo said as she and the rest of the scouting regiment took off.

She was a member of the team, and she made it her mission each and every day to keep the encampment safe from any insurgents. While she hadn’t seen any changelings for half a year, there were still many foreign threats that lurked within the Everfree Forest.

Her job usually required her to be away from the sanctuary for the entirety of the day; due to the circumstances of the job, there weren’t many that were up to the task. But Scootaloo never backed down from a challenge, even when the whole wide world was against her.

I’m coming back soon, Apple Bloom. Don’t worry.

Sweetie Belle grimaced as she strained to keep the incantation stable. This was her third try already, but she wasn’t going to cave in so easily.

Princess Twilight Sparkle paced around her as sparks flew off the unicorn’s horn. “Focus, Sweetie! Picture what you want to see in your head; you can’t hope to actually cast the spell if you don’t know what you want.”

What do I want? Sweetie Belle thought to herself, thinking back to before the war.

At that moment, the camouflage spell that Sweetie Belle was having trouble with quickly dissipated. She sighed in exasperation as she glanced up to see Twilight’s disappointed expression. The alicorn was definitely harsher, much harsher of a teacher than she had been before everything occurred. But Sweetie Belle understood why she was the way she was. She knew pain too. She would give her own horn just to see hear sister again, to hear the soft comforting voice of the one she held most dear.

“I’m trying, Twilight! Seriously, I don’t even know how you do this! How can you manage to cast this spell on an entire village when I can’t even enchant this piece of cloth without feeling light-headed?”

Twilight shook her head gravely. “I did what I had to, Sweetie. There are more ponies counting on me more now than ever, and because of that I can’t slack off. I need to keep everything as stable as possible... to maintain peace when nopony else knows how.”

She paused for a brief moment before continuing. “Take a couple of minutes to recollect your magic. We’ll try again shortly.”

Sweetie Belle sighed once more.

I hope you’re doing better than I am, Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom had watched as Applejack overworked herself to exhaustion. She understood that it was how she was able to cope with stress and loss, and thus she decided it’d be best if she stepped into Applejack’s place for the rest of the day.

Apple Bloom huffed as she pulled the cart that contained the apples from the morning harvest. “Ah sure hope she doesn’t stay like this for long. Ah’m not nearly as strong as she is.” Apple Bloom said to herself.

Apple Bloom made her way towards the barn where she would store the apples for Applejack while she made her recovery. It was quiet and dark, for an overcast had started to form over the encampment. Weather was among the many things that ponies had no control over anymore, especially when it came to dealing with the Everfree.

By the time she had made it to the barn door. The wind was starting to pick up; thunder could be heard in the distance as rain doused everypony that wasn’t sheltered. Apple Bloom wasn’t particularly motivated to move fast until she heard lighting nearby.

She exhaled in relief as she hauled the apple cart inside the barn and locked the heavy door behind her, cutting off the wind entirely. “Ah wish Big Mac was here tah help me. Too bad he’s helpin’ with reconstruction.” Apple Bloom said to herself.

Just as Apple Bloom had pushed the cart against the side of the barn wall, a bolt of lightning struck the weathervane on top of the barn.

Crack!

Apple Bloom stumbled as the walls around her shook with intensity. The second floor of the barn collapsed as the foundation that held it weakened.

Various tools and dangerous farm equipment that were placed on the second floor of the barn, along with the floor itself, fell on Apple Bloom's helpless body.

A machete, used for slicing the weeds that grew in the fields of the Everfree, sliced open Apple Bloom’s neck.

Apple Bloom wheezed and sputtered as she felt blood rise to the top of her throat.

Then, on the opposite side of the door, she heard a soft voice.

“Um… hello? Is anypony in there? I heard a loud crash, I was just checking to see if everypony was okay before I went back inside.”

Apple Bloom choked as she retched blood. “Hck…help me.” She weakly stammered, trying her hardest to stay conscious.

“Oh my! Are you hurt? I can’t open the door! What do I do?!”

Apple Bloom’s vision had doubled. “T-the… hck… hatchet. F-find the h-hatchet.”

…

Applejack had been shaken awake by the sound of lightning striking the barn off in the distance. She almost expected to see the barn on fire, but was quickly bewildered by the sight of Fluttershy breaking down the barn door with a red fire axe. The same axe she used to cut logs during the winter.

“What in the hay is she doin’? Is the door locked?” Applejack said to herself.

Applejack’s heart stopped as she heard a mare scream from within the barn.

She galloped as fast as she could. Her hat blocking out the downpour as she raced against the rain. “Ah swear tah Celestia, if you hurt mah sister, I’ll kill ya.” Applejack growled.

She stopped dead in her tracks when she reached the barn door.

Apple Bloom was dead.

Fluttershy was covered in her blood, holding a hatchet.

“Applejack! Apple Bloom ne-”

Crack!

…

Applejack slammed her hoof into the side of Fluttershy’s head. Causing her to drop instantly.

…

Applejack exhaled, picked Fluttershy up by her hind legs, then dragged her towards the encampment prison.

Fluttershy awake to a loud screeching noise as the cell door in front of her opened. She felt stiff and achy all over, as if she had been thrown around after she had been knocked unconscious. The sharp pain in her jaw was all it took for the memories of yesterday to come flooding back.

“Do ya know why I’m here?” Applejack said in a cold and menacing tone.

Fluttershy quickly looked up at her, her stomach quickly churning as she saw the look in Applejack’s eyes.

“Applejack I-I’m-”

“Don’t give me that you disguistin’ vermin!” Applejack spat, interrupting Fluttershy as she whimpered and tucked herself up against the jail cell wall.

“Ya fooled everypony, including me. Ah thought you were the real one. It turns out Fluttershy’s been dead for years.”

Fluttershy choked down a sob, “Applejack! I am the r-”

Smack!

The familiar sting in her cheek told her that Applejack had just struck her.

…

Applejack eyed Fluttershy for a few more seconds. Her icy glare ripping into Fluttershy’s soul.

Finally, she broke the silence.

“Ah should have killed ya when I had the chance” Applejack spat as she exited the cell, slamming it shut behind her.

Fluttershy sobbed, her cries echoing throughout the empty prison.

Even though it was a new morning, a light trickle of rain still persisted. The rope around Fluttershy’s neck burned as it was fastened around her throat.

Twilight spoke toward the crowd, “Today we determine the fate of Fluttershy, who has been accused of first degree murder, after supposedly killing the youngest of the Apple family, Apple Bloom.”

There were audible gasps and murmurs amongst the ponies. Whispers of anguish and shock, all of which Fluttershy absorbed. She was helpless, she doubted that anypony could save her now, not like anypony would want to anyways, she reasoned.

Twilight choked up a bit as she continued speaking, “First we will hear a testimony from Applejack herself, who was the only witness at the time. Then we will hear Fluttershy’s side of the story. Only then can we make a consensus.”

Twilight turned to Applejack, “Alright Applejack, let’s hear it.”

Applejack faced the crowd and held her hat next to her heart, “Ah woke up after a bolt of lightnin’ shook me awake. The first thing I saw was Fluttershy busting down the door of the barn with an axe, which was locked from the inside.”

More gasps emanated from the crowd. Applejack waited a minute for the crowd to die down before continuing, “When ah finally made it the the barn, Fluttershy was standing over her, covered in blood. Ah knocked her out cold before she had the chance tah attack me too.”

Anger started to rise as Applejack finished her testimony. Twilight needed to calm the crowd if she wanted to keep this trial fair.

“Alright everypony, settle down. We still need to hear Fluttershy’s side of the story.”

…

Fluttershy broke down sobbing. “Just k-kill me.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped, “What?!”

Fluttershy’s head hung low, her mane quickly becoming a mop for her own tears. “It d-doesn’t even m-matter if I k-killed her anymore! Nopony can even look me in the eyes these days.” Fluttershy muttered pathetically.

Fluttershy looked up at her, no longer stuttering. “Just kill me Twilight. If I die, nopony will be scared of me anymore, and Applejack will get what she wants. I don’t have anything to live for anyways.”

Twilight was in shock, no longer looking Fluttershy in the eyes. “You… you confess to killing her?” Twilight asked uncertainly.

Fluttershy closed her eyes, and exhaled.

“I admit I killed Apple Bloom.”

…

The rain was heavier now.

Twilight had no choice. She had no choice but to kill her friend, her real friend. Even if Fluttershy hadn’t done it, she had just confessed to the entire village.

…

The floor from underneath Fluttershy fell a few minutes later.

…

Her neck didn’t snap, but rather contorted and twisted as she writhed in agony.

…

Applejack exhaled as Fluttershy stopped struggling for air. Twilight hadn’t stayed to watch, but instead galloped towards the edge of the village to throw up what little food she ate.

…

Everypony left her hanging there, not bothering to turn around.

She wouldn’t change back either way.