Prologue: Time To Say Goodbye

The frontline unicorns of the Royal Guard pushed forward relentlessly across the muddy plain. Their shielding magic formed an immense bubble that shimmered across their legion, deflecting the endless waves of flaming arrows and blocking the volcanic explosions and smothering flames of the impacting immolating catapult shot.

Behind the unicorns, the earth and pegasus ponies held spears between each rank, stabbing the hearts of injured and dying griffins lying beneath their advancing hooves, mercilessly snuffing out their lives with precise thrusts.

Blood stained their hooves and dulled the once brilliant glimmer of their golden armor, but no gore could match the once vibrant, kind eyes of the pony-folk long turned weary, dull and numb to the horrors by years of war.

Applebloom’s eyes were no different. As a part of the second line, her spear had silenced the terrible shriek of a dying young griffin, barely old enough to fit in his tanned leather armor. The spear’s vicious barbed tip easily penetrating the meagre protective covering and tearing his heart asunder with a twist of the shaft.

With a jerk of her head, she pulled back the blood-coated weapon and a few stray of droplets covered her muzzle. Her clenched teeth bit so hard into the leather strapping they had begun to leave an indention.

With her long, dirty mane clinging to her neck, she drew up her eyes as she swiped a hoof up to knock her helm off her head. It was a cumbersome and annoying trinket she never really understood. Sure, it protected her head, but it helped little when there was an ever-present floating barrier lingering above them all.

It was redundant and unrequired for a battle such as this… if she could call this elaborate slaughterhouse such a thing.

The enemy was outgunned, outnumbered, outmaneuvered… there was nothing to stop the inevitable destruction of the dwindling griffin race. They were a cancer. One that Applebloom had sworn to cut out of this world for her family… for Equestria… for the fallen Princess and most importantly for redemption…

To prove herself worthy. To show all those in her squad she was not cut from the same traitorous cloth.

Stepping over a corpse, Applebloom’s hoof landed in a pool of blood, her eyes going over the flanks of those in front of her and towards the retreating line of griffins. The griffins had spilt from the forest like a sea of flying rats, and now those rats were forced further and further back towards the woodlands from which they emerged.
She grinned as the sound of a familiar bugle echoed overhead, and with a dazzling glimmer of energy, the shield dropped.

They had won many a battle against the rebel cell using the same tactic: advance with their defenses held high, whittling down the enemy until they were at half strength or until the moment the rear guard had successfully flanked them.

For Applebloom, it was the former she most enjoyed; a pincer maneuver never gave her the same satisfaction. The enemy were slaughtered far too easily… not allowing Applebloom to fully appreciate the bloodlust and to lose herself in the maddening maelstrom of the justifiable gore.

The Equestrian forces rushed forward and it was Applebloom in front, springing past the defensive line the very moment their shields even displayed a glimmer of deactivating. With her spear gripped between bared teeth and her hooves beating hard against the ground, she galloped on towards the fleeing rabble.

Just out of the corner of her eye, she could see quick bolts of colour zipping overhead; the Wonderbolts, their superior air division, dropped glass balls of concentrated magical energy ahead of her, deep within the black mass of the griffin ranks. Death rained from above as liquid fire erupted from the shells upon impact, incinerating those at ground zero and lighting many more aflame to meet a far more gruesome fate.

I never thought I’d get used to the smell...

It was almost laughable to call the rebels a broken unit, for in Applebloom’s eyes they were never a group to begin with. A far cry from Equestria’s own organized war machine.

The very moment the Wonderbolts had dropped their payload, many of the griffins took to the skies. It was at this moment that Applebloom slung back her head and then flung her body forward, throwing her spear to catch a still grounded griffin in the back of the head before he could take off. Other griffins shared a similar fate as unicorns unleashed a torrent of elemental attacks and earth ponies hurled their spears, peppering the already scattered army with further death.

Applebloom had no need for her spear. She charged forward, rearing up to smash a griffin in the face as it turned to bring up its crossbow towards her. Her buck floored the griffin immediately and she disabled its weapon by stamping down hard upon it.

The female griffin’s bloodied, broken face looked up at Applebloom’s snarling visage; she brought up her talons to shield herself as the pony reared back.

“To Tartarus with you!” And with that, Applebloom stomped down upon the griffin’s neck, snapping it with a resounding and satisfying crack.

Spitting down on the twitching corpse, Applebloom paused to appreciate the roar of other Equestrians victoriously trampling the enemy. Many griffins could not escape into the air in time to avoid the stampede, but the suffering screams were drowned out by the cheer that Applebloom herself joined in, raising a bloodied hoof above her head.

Just another victory for—

Applebloom yelped as she tore her eyes down to the broken, bloodied talon curled tight about her neck, the sharp claw biting into the flesh and drawing blood to flow down her coat.

Wide eyed and terrified, Applebloom watched in horror as the griffin female that she dispatched slowly but surely stood up before her, its broken neck lolling to one side as its dead eyes burrowed deep into Applebloom’s own.

W-what in—?!

Fearful, Applebloom began to slam her forehooves down onto the wrist of the talon that gripped her neck, frantically pummelling it until she could feel the bone shatter and relax enough that she could safely tear the broken limb from her neck.

Stumbling back, Applebloom bumped into a screaming pony she did not recognise, trying his best to fight off two griffin creatures that had torn into his belly and had begun to feast upon his innards.

Applebloom shrieked, turning tail and bolting through the battle that ought to have been an easy victory for Equestria… but now? It was they that were fleeing… and Applebloom wasn’t sure she wanted to know exactly what it was they were running from.

______________________

Serpentine red eyes gazed across the plain of the shambling dead, the tall alicorn shape adorned in a black cloak took long strides across the muddy ground, the sea of fresh walking corpses parting to allow the imposing figure through the deep ranks until it met with no man’s land.

Standing at the head of the army of the dead, the alicorn raised its muzzle just enough to allow the hood to pull back and reveal the face of the ‘Betrayer’ herself.

Midnight remained silent as she watched the retreating lights of the Equestrian army pull back beyond the darkened horizon, her expression neither elated nor displeased at the sight, despite the overwhelming victory for her rising rebellion.

Or, rather, that is what they liked to call her subjects and fledgling kingdom.

“Midnight?” Came the concerned and comforting voice of a pony she barely heard approach.
Although she did not ignore her, the alicorn remained quiet for the most part, choosing not to respond while her thoughts focused on the fact that the object of her revenge could just be beyond that very hill.

I can sense you and I know you can sense me, too. Come out, you coward… come out and face me… or do I have to come to you, on your terms?

But Midnight knew chasing them now would stack the odds against her. She had dealt them a blow that was crippling on so many levels, guided them all into a situation of her choosing…

Pretending to lose and hiding our true fangs for so long was beginning to grow tiresome. It is about time they understood just what it is they are dealing with.

“The numbers?” Midnight finally spoke, her head turning to the right just enough to glance a serpentine, crimson eye back at the armor-clad earth pony.

“Ah haven’t got exact numbers, but Ah estimate we lost jus’ over half of the griffin troops, as expected, but… Ah can’t begin to imagine how much we gained… if we take into account our own casualties including Equestria’s—”

“I don’t work off of estimates; you know that more than anypony.”

Applejack dipped her head. “Ah’ll make sure everything is properly tallied to ya exacting specifications…” Taking a few steps forward, she turned her armored head up to try and glimpse the face of the hooded alicorn. “Midnight?”

It was forever absent of emotion, as usual. Much had changed her. But then, much had changed between them. Each of their once peaceful and straightforward lives was forever turned up on its head, never to be the same again.

When there was no response, save the unending haunting stare, the black armored pony shook her head. “Twi’, please, don’t do this silent treatment stuff to me now… Ah knew what was going to happen when this war started, but this… this is… isn’ this going a little too far?”

Midnight turned on the spot to fully face the smaller pony, her face softening a touch. “No, Applejack. This is not nearly far enough.” She glanced towards the darkened horizon, glaring. “This is nothing compared to what I have planned.”

Lowering her head, Applejack nodded. “Ah understand. Ah’ll be right here beside you no matter what. Luna will pay for what she did to us and everypony. She will get what she deserves; Ah promise you that… but this? This is… it’s almost evil… Ah’m not sure I can agree with this method. We threw away lives just for what? A trap?”

“A perfectly orchestrated trap," Midnight corrected, "and is it, Applejack? Is this evil when we are doing what we can to survive while trying to overthrow a tyrant that has quite literally brainwashed everypony into thinking she is as benevolent and caring as Celestia used to be? When in fact she was the mastermind behind her assassination and the subsequent framing of my once good reputation as a Princess? She ruined all of our lives.”

“Ah wasn’t implying we were wrong, sugar. She will answer to justice and that Ah swear on my life. But surely there has to be another way? Ah feel we’re the villains in this.”

“No. We’re not. There is no other way to go about this. We have fought for far too many years to get to where we are now so mark my words, Applejack. She will bow to all of us as the true villain. Her trial will be sweet and her execution… all the more satisfying when we march upon Canterlot and take it back from her.” Midnight’s tone fell into a dark whisper. “I will display her head before Celestia’s grave so that her soul can finally rest in peace.”

As her lips curled into a toothy smirk, Midnight turned about to trot towards the ranks of the groaning dead. “I will see you tonight, Applejack. Don’t be too late.”

The black armoured pony remained still, letting Midnight’s words sink in fully as she watched the alicorn disappear within the sea of walking corpses.

Ah promise you, Twi’... on the graves of our friends, Ah promise you she will pay. For all of us. For Fluttershy… for Rainbow Dash… for everyone she has ever lied too and manipulated… and for what she has done to you.

Plodding after Midnight, Applejack paused as she noted a prone figure dragging its body out from the ranks some distance to her right, heading in the direction the Equestrian army had retreated.

Applejack swung her hoofsteps towards the figure, turning her head so she could bite at the hilt of a sword sheathed on her right hip, drawing the dark, glowing runed blade from its scabbard up into the air before her.

Despite what it is we do… Ah still cannot condone the death of a pony… but… but for Twi’, even if Ah have to slaughter thousands… Ah’ll do it. Ah can’t turn back now… there is nothing left for me but her. My hooves are too stained with blood.

She is my truth.

Approaching the fallen Equestrian guard, she could see it was torn in half and dragging not only its upper half but its entrails along with it. Applejack plunged her blade into the back of the helmeted soldier’s head without a second thought, causing the undead creature to seize up and finally accept true death.

Ah’m sorry… this is all Ah can do for you. Celestia rest your soul.

Ripping out the blade from the pony’s skull, Applejack wiped the blood off on the dead pony’s orange fur before sheathing it, allowing herself a moment to inspect the pony’s bloodied face.

She looks familiar.

Applejack removed the helm, only to immediately drop it from the sudden shock.

“It can’t be...” Applejack shook her head as she took several retreating steps back, eyes locked upon the guard.

Not you too...

Applejack trembled as she fell down onto her haunches, her hooves scrambling up to tear off her own helm and toss it aside, allowing her long unkempt, unrestrained blonde mane to fall to her shoulders. She suddenly felt very sick.

She felt numb to the core; disgusted beyond physical measure as she stared at the motionless, ruined corpse of Scootaloo gazing blankly ahead.

Retching, Applejack pressed an armored hoof firmly to her lips, trying to keep the contents of her stomach down.

Applejack lifted her head up towards the army she commanded, realizing for the first time that amongst the griffin corpses, Equestrians had also reanimated as well, all of them feasting upon the gore of the dead that were too damaged to rise again.

Other ponies she once knew, could very well be amongst the ranks.

Applejack’s heart sank as she slowly stood to all fours, her panic increasing as her eyes returned to Scootaloo, sweat lining her brow.

“Applebloom… Big Mac...” Applejack whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. “Sweetie Belle… Celestia no… no, please, don’ be here… ya’ll can’t be here.” She shook her head. “Ya’ll can’t be mixed up in this.”

With a sudden turn, Applejack barked her orders sternly, hiding the desperation in her request. “You!” Applejack pointed a hoof to a black and white feathered griffin with a particular grey patch surrounding his right eye some distance away. He had just finished dispatching a pony so his claws were dripping with fresh, warm blood.

“Yes, Sir!” He replied with a salute, pressing his fist against his chest as he moved forward to conduct himself to proper attention before his commander.

Applejack couldn’t help but glare at him, ignoring the literal blood on his claws. She could not judge, however, for she was the same as he. Stained forevermore as a murderer. The knot in her heart merely tightened at such a concept. “Find me Captain Skorfeld. Ah want a head count on our surviving soldiers.. an’ while ya at it, tell him Ah want the undead Equestrians rounded up for inspection.” Her face grew grim as she spoke her next words slowly. “Ah want to see to the task m’self.”

“Of course, Sir, but…” The griffin shifted uncomfortably on the spot as he lowered his head.

“You haven’t been informed of the Captain’s--uh, condition?”

Applejack looked at him quizzically from the corner of her eye as she wandered over to her discarded helm, placing it back onto her head. “Condition, soldier?”

“The Captain, he… he didn’t make it, Sir. One of the Equestrian firebombs struck him and his squad as soon as the enemy started dropping them.”

“Ah take it he is dead?” Applejack intoned emotionlessly as she turned to him fully.

“W-we couldn’t find enough of him to confirm that, Sir...”

“That’s fine,” Applejack held up an armored hoof to silence him. “What’s ya name?”

“Katan, Sir.”

“Rank?” Applejack demanded firmly.

“Private, First Class, Sir...” Katan gave a subtle nod of his head. "I served with you at the evacuation of Griffinstone."

Applejack felt her lips curl into a sad smile. "Ah'm glad you survived that battle, Katan..." Applejack then lifted a brow as his name rolled off her tongue. “You have a strange name for a griffin.” She offered him a smile at his evident embarrassment at the statement. “Anyhow, a congratulations is in order, Captain Katan, on your sudden promotion.”

Katan was more than stunned by the declaration. “Th-thank you, Sir!”

“Ah hope ya fare better than th’ previous one; now, go an’ carry out those orders an’ be quick about it. You should know as well as Ah do that Queen Midnight doesn’ tolerate tardiness. ”

As the newly promoted officer wandered off to complete his tasks, Applejack hesitantly took her weary eyes back to Scootaloo, tears forming in the corners as she grit her teeth and restrained her emotions.

How could you, Rainbow Dash? How could you let her enlist?

Author's Note

*Breathes a sigh* Well, that was fun to write for and I have to say some of you are probably shocked this has suddenly become an AJ/TwiJack fic, but, well, allow me to ease a lot of you TwiLestia fans that, that ship has definitely not sailed yet.

Where's that Chrysalis and Trixie pairing you talked about, I hear you people cry... well. That's going to be a standalone one-off fic that will tie in with this one, which is currently being made. So look out for that one.

Questions? Concerns? Comments? Hate, flame, likes, upvotes, down votes?! It's all good.