Day and Night

Applejack hoisted her helmet off of her head and placed it atop the wooden mannequin. Her emerald gaze stared vacantly across the battle-scarred, black metallic surface, tracing the row of sharp spikes running through the center of the protective headwear. Her mind wandered as she worked to remove the intricate plated armour that covered her from hoof to neck, untying the various leather strips that held it all together, meticulously placing it upon the armor stand as if she were preparing the wooden pony for battle.

Her toned body, once free of marks and scars, was now riddled with the telltale signs of old slash and stab wounds, particularly on her extremities. Although her armour was tough, it was not impenetrable. She used her legs to block sword and spear strikes with such reckless abandon that she would often return from battle covered not only in the blood of the enemy, but her own as well.

There has been many instances over the past few years where Applejack had quite literally dragged her broken and battered body from the battlefield. She had skirted death many times and yet emerged stronger from it.

It was one of the reasons why the troops looked to her with the greatest of admiration and loyalty. They spoke about her amongst themselves frequently; going as far as nicknaming her the ‘Revenant Commander,’ due to her sheer resilience and endless fortitude.

Each scar reminded her of her purpose. They told stories of selfless sacrifice, unwavering determination, and above all else, a declaration of undying love.

Applejack cracked the barest of smiles as she whispered to herself. “They’re almost like th’ medals Ah used to win at the rodeo…” Her smile fell away as she sighed. “No… these are more important than those old things.”

When it finally came to the removal of her pauldron, she paused, drawing her eyes down to the purple crest that was Midnight Sparkle’s cutiemark, and the subsequent symbol of her rebellion. But that symbol was not the subject of her hesitation, nor was it the reason why she glowered downwards, as memories she would rather have forgotten came flooding back to smother the warmth that momentarily flared within her heart.

Except one...

Sighing, she unclipped two metal hooks and undid several leather straps to allow the pauldron to slam heavily upon the hay covered floor. Her eyes locked upon the horrendous, thick scar that covered the center of her chest from a wound that should have killed her.

Applejack lifted a hoof to stroke the scar that still ached, though not from physical pain. The blade that created the scar cut far too deep to simply heal over time.

It was the emotions that came with simply looking at it that caused Applejack the greatest of discomforts.

With a shake of her head, Applejack tore herself from the past and looked to the simple bundle of hay and small thin sheet of wool that made up her bed, trotting towards it as she released a yawn.

Dropping down onto her bed, Applejack fell limply on her side.She stared towards the fluttering entrance to her tent, catching glimpses of passing soldiers and groups of young griffins running past, giggling merrily as if the war around them barely existed.

The sound of laughter alone had managed to bring a genuine smile to her lips, though she resisted the urge to reminence. She focused on other more important tasks, such as how they were all going to survive the coming winter season and more importantly, just what their illustrious Queen had in store.

Applejack lifted a hoof and stroked the scar upon her chest as she closed her eyes, finding the cold horseshoe against the sensitive, hairless patch of skin quite comforting.

Ah don’ know if Ah should be happy I couldn’t find Applebloom or concerned… if Scootaloo…

Applejack cracked open her eyes just enough to focus her anguished glare upon a patch above the entrance to her tent.

If Scootaloo enlisted then, Applebloom more than likely followed suit… oh, Tartarus, what if Sweetie Belle has…?

The thought never occurred to her before then. But she was safe in assuming Rarity would never allow such a thing to happen to her little sister. She would be dead against it, for sure…

Right…?

Regardless, Applejack was happy she hadn’t found either of them amongst the sea of the walking dead that stood outside of camp like silent; albeit flesh-eating, guardians.

Ah’ve already taken Scootaloo from this life… Ah don’ think Ah can live with the guilt if I took Sweetie Belle from Rarity, too…

Rainbow above anypony knows what this war does to a pony… how could she allow Scootaloo to join the army like that? That… that stupid, feather-brained, backstabbing…

Quickly her face darkened as her thoughts uncontrollably strayed to the subject of Rainbow Dash.

Applejack bit her lip. The betrayal of one of her best friends was a hard pill to swallow and it was made all the more bitter when Rainbow had turned against them. Her actions clearly showed that she was never truly their friend to begin with.

For two years the three of them had operated in the shadows. They had remained hidden from Equestrian eyes by taking refuge within the borders of the griffin’s territory, back when the Empire was still whole and they were nothing more than mere fugitives. Twilight had abandoned her name in favour of the name Midnight.

They had managed to find the terrorist griffin cell that was supposedly linked to the assassination of Princess Celestia, only to find wartorn, ill-equipped rebels that were fighting not for their own selfish gains, but in fact for their freedom… fighting for a democracy in a kingdom ruled by a greedy monarchy and upper class that looked down upon the poorer working class.

It was yet another lie to add to the pile and yet another dead end for their quest to find the evidence they needed to bring down the complicated web of deceit that had erected itself around the death of the Princess. It was their last lead to potentially unravel the mystery and reveal Luna for the tyrant they knew her to be.

They had nothing left.

It was at this point, when all hope seemed lost that Midnight changed… and yes, while there was indeed a great physical change to her appearance since the battle with Lightning Dust, Midnight’s personality remained just the same… she was as caring and sweet as ever…

However, one evening over a campfire, Midnight proposed a plan to the girls that she considered their last resort. It was a plan that did not quite sit right with either Applejack or Rainbow Dash, but, they listened…

And they agreed.

The only way they were going to defeat Luna was by raising an army for themselves, and for that they needed a kingdom.

It was decided they would guide the rebels to the capital, slay the corrupt monarchy and claim the throne for themselves… ‘for their freedom.’

In no time at all the three of them took over the rebellion from the inside, rising to become their leaders without so much as a single drop of blood being shed, all thanks to Midnight. The alicorn filled their heads with promises and delusions of grandeur and they ate it all up like the fools they were… and Applejack? She merely stood by as Midnight lied and used her magic to corrupt her way to the top…

Applejack never condoned mind control, but, she understood it was a means to an end.

A better end.

Rainbow Dash, on the other hoof, grew deeply perturbed as time went on. She became distant and eventually had started to question and oppose many of Midnight’s orders. Applejack knew something was off and she couldn’t quite put her hoof on it, but she figured it was to do with the grand plan and the extent to which they were going just to achieve it.

She even confided to Applejack several times about her concerns, mostly about the changes of their alicorn friend, but Applejack always assumed she had managed to quell such feelings every time they spoke about it over a couple mugs of hard cider and a game or two of poker.

Never in her life, had Applejack been so wrong.

Ah can’t blame her… not really. Sometimes Ah wonder if what Ah’m doing is the right thing… but never would Ah ever move to harm one of my friends. It’s… it’s unforgivable...

Applejack, lost to her thoughts, was upon the precipice of sleep; she barely noticed that the tent had grown significantly warmer than normal and, by the time she had felt the hoof stroke through her mane, she barely had the energy left to lift her head up from the hay.

Cracking open her heavy-lidded emerald gaze, Applejack looked to the corner of her eyes to spot the alicorn shape curled up behind her with warm crimson eyes staring back down at her.

Crap, ah must had fallen asleep...

Without a lamp inside the tent to illuminate anything, Applejack could just barely make out the contours of Midnight’s face. But she could tell the mare was smiling at her. She could see it in those broken, crimson eyes of hers.

The soothing stroke of a hoof through her mane was a comfort, and she began to wonder just how long the subject of her love had been there. She figured she had been asleep for at least a couple of hours, if not more.

“Twi’...” Applejack tiredly croaked, “hey sugar... Ah’m sorry Ah didn’t come to your tent sooner… Ah jus’ wanted to think by myself some.” Lifting a hoof, Applejack gently caressed Midnight’s cheek. “Guess Ah fell asleep some by accident.”

“It’s okay, Applejack.” Midnight replied softly, dipping her head down to nuzzle the side of Applejack’s face. “Go back to sleep. We can talk about things in the morning.”

Applejack felt her heart flutter as she inclined her head just enough the moment Midnight drew close, stealing a quick kiss to the corner of her lips. “Yeah… Ah’m beat. Feels like Ah’ve bucked like forty acres of apple trees non-stop.”

“I’m not surprised... you fought like a pony possessed.” Midnight kept her face close to Applejack’s own, their lips mere centimeters apart, an expression of relief present across the face of the self proclaimed Queen. “I’m glad you were not hurt… I… I don’t think I could do this without you, Applejack. Thank you, for staying with me, even when everypony else has lost all faith in me… I know I’ve changed, but… but you stayed, even now, after I have done horrible and despicable things...”

If there was ever a moment in her life that Applejack wanted to repeat, it was this. Their relationship had developed into something far more physical over the years, but, it was only recently that Midnight had begun to open herself up again to the concept of loving another pony.

Applejack could only be grateful it was she that had become the subject of Midnight’s affections.

With a hoof still on her cheek, Applejack guided her lips forward, pressing them against Midnight’s own.

The fleeting kiss was broken by a teary Applejack, gazing up into those burning crimson eyes captured her heart over and over again. “We, have done horrible and despicable things, sugar. You are not alone in this and never have been. Nothin’ in this world is gonna take me away from you. Until my last breath, Ah will stand by your side no matter what.”

Applejack’s voice dropped into a gentle whisper. “When ya found me and Rainbow at Zecora’s hut, Ah thought Ah had seen a ghost… Ah thought Ah lost you for good when you teleported us away…” The very memory of it caused Applejack to let slip some tears as she blinked. “Ah will never, ever experience that pain again.”

A bright chuckle came from Midnight as she leaned in close to nuzzle her nose against the other mare’s. “Thank you.”

Applejack returned the gesture with a light chuckle. “What for?”

Midnight stared longingly into Applejack’s eyes. “For making everything complete… when I found you… I was broken. I was lost to my power and… I understood my appearance may have frightened you… but you saw past it. You saw me.”

“How could Ah not recognize you? Sure, Ah was a little taken aback with all the blood covering you an’ all, but, Ah just… knew...”

A momentary flash of regret crossed Midnight’s expression. She glanced away from Applejack as she spoke. “If only Rainbow had felt what you did back then... maybe, just maybe she would be here with us… maybe the other girls, too. We could have fought this war, together, rather than against each other.”

The mere mention of her name caused Applejack’s tone to harden. She had kept her silence while Midnight spoke, but given the opportunity, she released her sharp reply. “She’s a feather brained idiot. Ah don’ care what she thinks about you; or what she believes to be right or wrong. Ah know we’ve done deplorable things and Ah know eventually we will pay for our sins—but, Dash couldn’t see past the surface. She let Luna get inside of her head and let those damned lies screw with her emotions.”

“I don’t blame her, Applejack.” Midnight sighed, closing her eyes as she noted the annoyance growing on Applejack’s brow. “The fabricated evidence against me; the lies upon lies… I don’t blame her at all for what she did. She, all of them, were led astray by a villainous serpent with a silver tongue. It was a perfect setup.”

“Ah can and Ah will blame her.” Applejack, unable to control her anger, narrowed her eyes upon Midnight as if she had wronged her somehow. “Ah despise the very air that traitorous mare breathes because at the end of the day, she betrayed us. Ah don’ forgive such a thing so easily.”

Midnight shook her head, touching Applejack’s cheek. “You don’t mean that, Applejack. I certainly don’t hold any ill will against her because I know once this is all over, she will come to understand her mistake when we show Equestria just who the real monster is here. So, please, Applejack, please don’t say th-”

“Ah meant it.” Applejack halted the approaching hoof with her own by almost slapping it away, her words dripping with a venom that brought an expression of genuine surprise to Midnight. “Every darn word of it! Ah hate her.”

“Applejack, you can’t ruin your friendship with-”

“Friendship?!” Applejack laughed, sarcasm becoming the focal point of her amusement now. “Does a friend doubt another friend like she did?” She glared at Midnight, almost satisfied the alicorn was unable to give her an answer straight away. “Does a friend go off behind ya’ll back and meet up with the enemy that’s tryin’ to kill you?”

“We don’t know for sure that Rainbow-”

“Why are you defending her?!” Applejack snapped, exasperated by Midnight’s response. “She tried to hurt you—she almost killed me!” She pressed the hoof to the scar on her chest. “If Ah hadn’t jumped in front of the sword she would have skewered you and if Ah remember correctly, she was the one that lured Luna and her army to our camp! There was no other pony that could have done so! Ah know very well you could survive a lot of damage in your new form, Twi’, but Ah was not gonna stand idly by and wait for her betrayal! Misguided, or not, she tried to hurt you. She was dead to me the moment she chose to try destroy everythin’ we worked towards.”

Midnight kept her eyes lowered, her head dropping forward in defeat. “You can’t honestly tell me you really believe that? Rainbow Dash is self-centered, brash and a little insensitive at times, but she’s not a murderer. I don’t think she had or ever will have the heart to slaughter anypony. We’ve known for a long time that things are not what they seem. What if Rainbow is being controlled? What if there is more to this than simple betrayal? We just don’t know, Applejack, and jumping to conclusion too quickly without proper investigation will lead us nowhere.”

Applejack stood up, her body trembling as adrenaline pumped her blood to thunder violently against her eardrums. The very idea of Rainbow Dash stirred an oddly comforting bloodlust that had by now become second nature to her.

“Is she, Twi’? Can you say that for certain? Because from where Ah was standing, she tried to kill us under her own full power. Ah thought I knew her once, but Ah sure as hay don’ care none for her so-called loyalty after what she did—and for the record? When Ah see her next? Ah’m gonna return the favour tenfold, mind controlled or not.”

“What do you mean?” Midnight’s growing concern showed clearly through her voice and face.

“Ah know you’re trying to save me; all of us, by taking on all of the sins all by yerself and Ah’m sorry sugar, but Ah’ll make sure as Tartarus that Ah’ll be just as damned as you claim yerself to be when Ah get my hooves around her neck.”

From her lower vantage point on the hay, Midnight merely looked up to Applejack with a shake of her head. “Applejack, please, just listen to yourself… you’re angry; I get that; but, you can’t let it get to you… not like it did to me. I won’t let you condemn herself into a guilt you will regret for the rest of your life… we’ve harmed enough ponies as it is… please don’t add Rainbow Dash to the pile.”

“Ah don’ care.” Emerald eyes blazed its gaze towards her armor on its stand. “Nopony hurts the one Ah love. Nopony… an’ that is the cold, hard truth of the matter.”

“Applejack…”

“Ah’m sorry, Twi’, but when Ah see her come within eyesight of you,” Applejack clenched her teeth, hissing her words, “Ah’ll make sure she regrets it when Ah pierce her heart with my sword.”

_________________________

“Hold her down! Hold her down!” Rarity barked her orders to the other nurses around her, pressing her entire weight down onto the pony lying on its back upon the metal operating table that was quickly darkening with fresh blood. Rarity pushed down with all her might to keep the young mare from reopening the severe abdominal wound they had just finishing stitching closed.

As the mare thrashed violently on the table and the nurses did their best to restrain her, a similar scene played out across the tent. A grim faced Applebloom struggled to contain in her embrace the writhing, twisting white coated mare screaming incomprehensibly through her anguish, a constant stream of thick tears carving its way down her face.

Fortunately for her, Diamond Tiara had barely any strength left, most of it having been spent dragging the very wounded Silver Spoon from the front lines. If it wasn’t for Applebloom who had run into them during the retreat, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon might have been dead by now.

However, something told the young Apple that unlike Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon was not going to be so lucky. Applebloom hadn’t the heart to tell her friend that the wound Silver Spoon had sustained was more than likely fatal. The young mare’s blood was everywhere and, be it for good or ill, Applebloom fed Diamond Tiara the false hope that if they worked together, they could bring Silver Spoon back to camp for the nurses to potentially save her life.

Silver Spoon’s violent thrashing stopped as suddenly as it began, causing the nurses around the mare to step back.

The action alone had stopped Diamond Tiara’s wail, her lower lip quivering as she stared wide eyed towards the group.

“I-Is she okay?” Diamond Tiara squeaked through her tears. “Is she going to be okay?” She tore her gaze to Applebloom, hope growing foolishly behind her eyes. “She’s okay isn’t she, Applebloom?”

“Ah’m…” Applebloom bit at her lower lip, unable to look away from the horrific and silent scene as Rarity glanced back at her with tears in her own eyes. The older mare simply shook her head and turned to the other nurses around her.

“C-can somebody please go get a stretcher, so we can remove the body from the theatre… c-clean up quickly girls, so we can work on the next one.” Rarity’s voice quivered as she finally looked to Diamond Tiara after what seemed like an eternity. “I’m… I’m so sorry... We tried every-”

“N-no!” Diamond Tiara tore from Applebloom, who released her, allowing the mare to gallop forward to the table, pushing the nurses out of her way to lock her terrified wide eyed stare on the blood-gored wound on Silver Spoon’s stomach. “Try… try again!”

Shaking her head, Diamond Tiara slipped up to Silver Spoon’s blood stained face. The dead mare’s glasses barely clung to her face while her once neatly plaited silver hair had become disheveled and stained with the sanguine lifeforce that once coursed through her veins.

“Y-you have to do something!” Diamond Tiara looked to them, desperately, speaking as if Silver Spoon yet had some measure of life in her. “You can’t let her die! She’s still breathing, right? I-I think I can see her chest moving! See?! She’s still alive! She has to be!”

Applebloom shifted her attention to Rarity, rubbing a hoof over her right eye to rid herself of some irritation there. She gave the older mare a look and tilted her head towards the exit, offering a pleading expression that spoke volumes of her intentions.

Rarity sighed, glancing to the other nurses, giving a subtle nod towards the tent’s entrance as she headed that way. “We’ll... give you both a moment.”

Applebloom trotted past them, weaving her way through them as they departed, each one unable to look the young mare in the eye. However, Rarity did and Applebloom gave her a little smile to show her appreciation, even if the smile was fake and almost impossible to conjure.

Diamond Tiara looked back from the peaceful, sleeping face of her friend towards the nurses that were already outside of the tent, suddenly incredulous as to their actions.

“Where are you going? You need to save her!” Diamond Tiara pointed to her fallen friend, her eyes switching to Applebloom as she approached. “They can’t just leave! Silver Spoon is going to die if they don’t do something!”

Applebloom took the unicorn in a strong embrace, whispering her words. “Let it go, Tiara… she’s gone.”

“She’s not gone! She’s still here!” Despair quickly developed into rage at the mere thought of it. The weaker mare pushed against Applebloom, craning her neck to look back at Silver Spoon. “FINE! If you ponies won’t do anything then I’ll save her!”

“She’s dead, Tiara.” Applebloom raised her voice, trying her best not to burst into tears herself. “There’s nothin’ no pony can do… she was too badly hurt and lost too much blood-”

“No! She’s not! Sh-she’s not dead! Let me go—I said Let. me. GO!” Desperate to be free of Applebloom’s vice-like hug, she threw a hoof out and struck the Apple square in the mouth, drawing blood from a small cut that opened up on the bottom lip.

Running her tongue over the throbbing, hot area, Applebloom’s sympathy wavered. As much as she considered both the mares her dearest of friends, she could not stand idly by while she was attacked pointlessly. Every inch of her being told her to act… and her body did just that.

Applebloom struck back, landing a perfect hit to the side of Diamond Tiara’s cheek, flooring her instantly onto the hay covered ground.

Stunned by the blow and from her collision with the floor, Diamond Tiara gawked up at Applebloom, frozen to the spot.

“Ah’m sorry… Ah… Ah know, it’s hard to believe… but…” Applebloom could taste her own blood. She spat on the ground just beside her hooves before she continued. “Silver Spoon is dead, Tiara… there’s nothin’ we can do about it except mourn her… Ah wish there was something we could do, but Ah… Ah’m sorry… we can’t bring back the dead.”

Applebloom’s heart broke at the thought of being so helpless, incapable of saving even a single friend. Even worse was her empathy for Diamond Tiara, who treated Silver Spoon like the sister she never had. They were inseparable since fillyhood; sure, they had their fair share of arguments, but then again what family didn’t from time to time?

Crawling from the ground, Diamond Tiara slowly hoisted herself up onto her hooves, nursing her throbbing cheek as she hesitantly approached Silver Spoon’s still form.

“H-hey,” Diamond Tiara’s lips curled into a smile as she gently shook Silver Spoon’s shoulder, “wake up… Spoon? Come on, you can’t l-leave me like this. What am I going… what am I to do without you?” Tears grew anew in her eyes as her face contorted into despair, her sobs coming quick and fast.

Applebloom looked away, clenching her eyes and mouth shut in a poor attempt to restrain her own.

Curling her forelegs under Silver Spoon’s head, she lifted her face towards her chest, cradling her friend close. “I’ll never tease you again… I’ll never poke fun at how you snore in your sleep...I’ll never do anything wrong to you e-ever again if you just, please… please, open your eyes… Spoon? Oh, don’t… don’t do this to me… to us… wake up… please...”

Applebloom cleared her throat, her body quaking.

Diamond Tiara held onto her friend for dear life, rocking a little as if trying to soothe her. “How could this happen?” She whispered as she finally focused her haunted gaze, turning towards Applebloom. “I never… I never got the chance to… to say… to say how much she means to me and… and I… I always thought we’d be together… grow old and… and...”

Running a hoof over her face to wipe away the tears, Applebloom turned away from Diamond Tiara, unable to look her in the eyes. After a moment of silent contemplation, she steeled her teary gaze back at the mare, her voice as hollow as her heart felt.

“Ah’m so, so sorry, Tiara...”

“W-why her? Just… just why? She only joined up because I wanted to...” Diamond Tiara clutched Silver Spoon tighter. “Th-this is all my fault… if I hadn’t joined then maybe none of this would have happened.”

Applebloom stepped forward, shaking her head. “No, Tiara, it’s not your fault. It was them… the enemy… Midnight Sparkle.”

“What… do I do?” Diamond Tiara pushed her face into Silver Spoon’s mane, clenching her eyes shut as the stench of blood filled her senses. “H-how do I make this pain go away?”

“Ah… Ah don’t know, Tiara...” Applebloom sucked in a deep breath, attempting to push aside her sadness in favor of another emotion.

Rage.

“But Ah know what we can do to make sure she rests peacefully.”

Diamond Tiara looked up.

“We kill every last one of them stinkin’ griffins,” Applebloom narrowed her eyes to a spot above Diamond Tiara’s head, “and make ‘em suffer.”

Author's Note

A pretty insanely intense chapter but expect that early on since you are going to discover the accumulation of seven years of war in the opening chapters.

I cried over Tiara and Spoon and that is only because I fed a lot of personal fears into that part so I hope the emotion translated well to you guys.

So, how do you feel about the story swinging between Applebloom and Applejack? Because that is where the story is going and granted, each chapter won't depict such a split. We're focusing on Applebloom for about two chapters, maybe three, depends how I feel and how big I want the chapters to be.

So, how much do you guys hate me for killing more ponies off? Its the end of DSM1 all over again huh?

Like, hate, flame, thumbs up, thumbs down it's all good! But drop a comment off, I do like reading your negative and positive thoughts AND, if you did like this shit, hit the thumbs button.