Chapter 1: A Tragic Destiny
Author's Note
I have just come up with this today after discovering InkPotts' Dr. Pinkie and Miss Pie videos. I have typed it and submitted it in a matter of hours. A new record!
I know Pinkie/Pinkamena would be a good Jekyll/Hyde, but I wanted to do something different.
I do not own MLP or Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Chapter 1: A Tragic Destiny
Chapter 1: A Tragic Destiny
Applejack woke up screaming in her bed drenched in sweat. She panted as she realized she was awake in her bed, the night still blanketing the sky. Hearing hoofsteps race toward her room, Applejack wiped away the tears in her eyes as the door slammed open. Granny Smith, Bic Macintosh, and Apple Bloom were wide awake and vigilant for whatever made Applejack scream. Apple Bloom was the first to speak upon seeing her sister's disheveled state.
"Applejack? What's the matter?"
Applejack gulped. She knew what the matter was. But it was something she shouldn't discuss with a filly. At least, not yet.
"J…just a nightmare, everypony. A very, very bad nightmare."
Getting the hint, Granny Smith looked to her grandson and spoke.
"Why don't ya'll go and make some hot chocolate for all of us, Big Mac? Ya know how it always calm the nerves after a nightmare."
Also getting the hint, Big Mac led Apple Bloom to the kitchen while Granny remained behind with her eldest granddaughter. Once the sound of hoofsteps vanished, the elder Apple grabbed a nearby chair and set it next to the bed, Applejack too frozen with fear to protest.
Once she was sitting in the chair, Granny Smith looked at Applejack dead in the eye.
"Was it THE nightmare, Applejack?"
Deep down, Granny Smith was hoping it wasn't. If it were so, it would be the end of everything. The nightmare playing over and over freshly in her mind, Applejack couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Oh! It is, Granny! I saw it all! I saw him. And him! They were both there! One comforting me, the other mockin' me with a sickenin' gleam in his eye."
Granny bit her lip to try and keep herself from crying. Trying to find a silver lining, she spoke to try and comfort her granddaughter.
"It…maybe you can suppress it. The others have tried before‒"
But Applejack erupted, her tears flowing like waterfalls.
"And they had failed, Granny! Every single one of those Apples! I may be the Element of Honesty, but how is that gonna help stop me from becoming like them?!"
As much as Granny wanted to say otherwise, Applejack was right. The others had tried before, only to fail after suppressing for so long. She let Applejack sob for a few minutes, praying that the rest of her grandchildren won't come back too soon. Still, she got off her chair and pulled Applejack into the tightest hug the elder mare could give. The younger mare wanted to pull away, but soon embraced her grandmother and started to sob on her shoulder.
After a little while longer, Granny Smith broke her silence.
"Ya know this means we'll have to let Princess Celestia and the rest of the Apple Family know, includin' Lil' Apple Bloom."
Applejack pulled away from her grandmother in shock. Tell Apple Bloom something this horrific? At her age?
"We can't, Granny! She can't learn the Secret, yet! She's too young!" But Granny huffed as she sat on the bed.
"Oh, fiddlesticks! Ya'll were Apple Bloom's age when ah told ya the Secret. Same with Big Mac. Apple Bloom has to know. Especially…"
Granny couldn't say any more. She didn't need to. As much as Applejack wanted to say otherwise, Apple Bloom would learn the Secret eventually. She just wished that she had more time to prepare her sister.
"At least she'll never have the Nightmare."
Looking to Granny, Applejack sniffled.
"L…let's keep her from school tomorrow. The sooner she knows, the better. Right, Granny?"
Granny Smith nodded as she placed a loving hoof on her granddaughter's back.
"Just remember. No matter what happens, no matter what you become, we'll still love you. We'll always will."
The next morning…
Apple Bloom was worried once she heard that she was excused for the day. Was she in trouble? Again? Or was there something wrong with a member of the family? For whatever reason, her gut was telling her it was the latter. She was the first one up after falling back asleep the night before. She was also worried about Applejack. Even after a cup of cocoa, she could still be heard crying in her room. How terrible was the nightmare she had? Was it why Apple Bloom was excused from school today?
One by one, the Apple Family entered the living room. Granny Smith walked in first, followed by Big Macintosh. The stallion had a black trunk wrapped in chains on his back. It was sometime after he set the trunk down that Applejack finally came down from her room. Unlike most mornings, Applejack was a mess this particular morning. She had dark circles under her eyes, her flaxen mane was unkempt, and her body seemed to shake like gelatin with each step. What was most noticeable was that she wasn't wearing her ribbons or her hat.
Apple Bloom's heartbeat grew in rate as the family started to close every opening to the house and covering the windows with their curtains. The filly gulped as the family gathered around her with saddened looks.
"Wh…what's goin' on?" she asked nervously.
Seeing the growing fear in the filly, Granny Smith placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder.
"Apple Bloom? Do ya know why the Apple Family has valued honesty?"
Apple Bloom gulped as she nervously gave her answer. "Be…because we don't like liars?"
A chuckle escaped Granny's lips as Applejack and Big Mac took their seats.
"Well, that too. But it's much deeper than that."
Granny then pulled out something from her neckerchief: an old brass key. Walking to the trunk, she inserted the key into the padlock that kept the chains in place. With a swift turn, the padlock clicked open and the chains fell. Granny then took another key, a black one, and opened the locks on the trunk itself. Every Apple held their breath as Granny opened the trunk.
Inside were various papers, portraits, and other memorabilia that Apple Bloom was unfamiliar with outside of a sci-fi or horror movie. Reaching inside, Granny pulled out a single portrait. It was of a handsome white Earth Pony stallion with a brown, wavy mane that was tied back. He was dressed in a white shirt with a red vest. His eyes held a kindness that made Apple Bloom feel comfortable.
"This is your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great uncle: Dr. Moonstone Jekyll."
A light went on in Apple Bloom's head. She had heard the name before.
"We've just read a story about somepony with his name in school! The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
She then raised an eyebrow as Granny gave her the picture.
"But…he's a made-up storybook character…isn't he?"
Big Mac shook his head sadly.
"Nope."
Hearing her brother, Apple Bloom's eyes widened.
"If he's…real, does that mean…"
She gulped, unable to finish her sentence.
Granny Smith rummaged through the papers until she found an old newspaper. She handed it to Apple Bloom. She read its headline with shock and horror.
"Murder on the Streets of Canterlot. Mare found dead in an ally on Whitechapel Street. Murderer still at large!"
Looking up to her family, Apple Bloom's eyes filled with horror. Granny Smith was the one who finished Apple Bloom's long-silenced sentence.
"Mr. Midnight Hyde was real, too."
Sitting down, Granny continued to speak to her horrified granddaughter.
"Now, the story was told by that Robert Louis Stevenscolt as a request from the princess. The book was written so that ponies wouldn't forget Jekyll's fight with Hyde. Poor stallion, may he rest in peace. Later generations grew to believe it was a fabrication inspired by a time of fear. But we Apples knew better."
Sighing, she took the paper from Apple Bloom and set it aside.
"Apple Bloom. Our family has secrets. We are honest about everythin' so that we could balance out the secrecy. Now, we are being honest with you by telling you the Apple Family's darkest secret of all."
Apple Bloom remained silent, too focused on what was going on to say anything. Granny Smith sighed as she held up eight other portraits of ponies unfamiliar to the filly.
"Our family changed their name after the Jekyll/Hyde incident and became apple farmers. Our ancestor, Honeycrisp, wanted to give her family a fresh start. But she could never forget her dear brother. However, her grandcolt, Cortland, began acting strange. He would be sweet one minute, and violent the next. His appearance would change from well-groomed to downright messy without him doing anything. His Cutie Mark even changed from a healthy red apple to a rotten one."
She then held up a portrait of a young stallion dressed in farmer's garb to Apple Bloom. Surprisingly, he looked similar to Braeburn, but with slightly shorter hair.
"One night, he killed one of his friends before disappearing into the night. Before he fled, he announced himself as 'Shadow Hyde.' Hearing the name 'Hyde,' Honeycrisp pleaded for Princess Celestia to help in capturing her transformed grandcolt. The princess did, but asked if she could observe him. It was to find out how he changed in the first place."
Apple Bloom gulped as she stared at the portrait of Cortland.
"What…what did she find out?"
The older members of the Apple Family closed their eyes in grief as Granny told her.
"Celestia found traces of Jekyll's formula within Cortland's blood. After some more investigatin', she asked Honeycrisp if she had ever helped her brother with his experiments. Turns out she did and was there when Jekyll created the formula to try and 'cure' a pony's inner evil. Seems the formula didn't just effect Jekyll. Honeycrisp inhaled the scent of the formula, her DNA changin' at a more passive way. She became the first carrier of the 'Hyde Virus,' passing the virus down through her descendants. It was thought to be bad luck that Cortland became the first Hyde since Midnight Hyde himself."
Connecting the dots, Apple Bloom looked up to her grandmother in horror.
"We're…we're ALL Hyde's?"
Granny Smith shook her head immediately at this accusation.
"No. Well, not exactly. We're carriers. It took a couple of centuries to discover that the Hyde Virus awakens once every 100 years. And it always effects ONE member of the Apple Family. It's as if each Hyde has been chosen each century. For the past thousand years, only nine Apples, including Moonstone Jekyll, have been Hyde's. So there's a very slim chance of an Apple becomin' a Hyde."
She then stared down to the floor, trying to hold back her tears.
"But when it does, there are signs."
"Signs?" Apple Bloom asked, hoping to keep a lookout in case she were to become a Hyde.
Granny Smith raised her head somberly at Applejack, who was wallowing in her own sorrow.
"The first sign is a nightmare that not even Princess Luna can get rid of. Moonstone Jekyll and Midnight Hyde approach the Afflicted One in their dreams as their life plays out before the Afflicted. Moonstone would try and offer hope, only for that hope to be dashed by Midnight Hyde."
She then looked to Apple Bloom, her gaze filled with sorrow.
"Apple Bloom…The 10th Hyde-Born has awakened. And…and she's…"
Granny couldn't help but burst into tears as she embraced Apple Bloom.
"The 10th Hyde-Born…is…" She mentally kicked herself as she practically screamed the name.
"APPLEJACK!"
The name echoed in the filly's mind as she stared at her sister. Her sister, the Element of Honesty and, in her opinion, the best pony in Ponyville, was a Hyde. Looking to her brother, Apple Bloom saw tears falling from his eyes. He knew. She was the last to know.
Apple Bloom's tears could not blur her eyes fast enough to prevent her from seeing her sister and idol breaking into tears.
Chapter 2: What Do We Do?
Chapter 2
What Do We Do?
It was about an hour before the crying was toned down enough to a couple sniffs and drying tears. Big Mac was excused to work out his frustrations in the orchard, agreeing without hesitation to take Applejack's shift. Apple Bloom looked up to her grandmother and sister, completely unsure what to do. The information that Applejack had a Hyde inside her was distressing if not frightening. Applejack was never the sort of pony who would commit murder or descend into madness. The latter would take a lot of effort to attempt.
"Wha…what are we gonna do?" The youngest Apple asked, hoping for a way to help her sister.
Granny Smith looked to Applejack, sighed sadly, and returned her gaze to Apple Bloom.
"Well…we'll need to send letters to every Apple. The parents will tell the lil' Apples what we've told you and prepare them just the same. And we have to make sure the lil' ones take the Oath."
Apple Bloom cocked her head to the side, somewhat confused.
"Oath?"
Granny then pulled out a worn book from the trunk, blew away the dust, and returned to Apple Bloom. The way the elderly mare was holding the book, you'd think she was holding a bible. Pointing to the book with her hoof, Granny Smith motioned her granddaughter to come forward.
"As I have explained, we Apples are very secretive when it comes to Jekyll and Hyde. When a foal reaches a certain age, we tell them the Secret and make them take the Oath. If the Oath is ever broken, not only will ponies attack the Apples of that area, but the punishment for breakin' the Oath is disownment. Meanin' if they spill the beans, they are exiled and shunned from the family. Only in extremely rare cases does the punishment become somethin' the Princess would need to be present for."
The thought of being disowned or worse was enough for Apple Bloom to jump off the couch and approach her grandmother.
"I won't tell! I promise! It's not like anypony would believe me, anyway! Just…please give me the Oath!"
Granny Smith sighed with a smile on her face. She knew Apple Bloom wouldn't go as far as to purposely blurt out something like the Secret. She loved her sister too much. Tapping the book, Granny spoke.
"This here is Moonstone Jekyll's journal. We Apples have been usin' this to swear in ponies to take the Oath. Just place yer hoof on the cover gently and repeat after me."
Apple Bloom did as she was instructed and waited. After taking a moment to remember the Oath, Granny spoke.
"I, Apple Bloom…"
"I, Apple Bloom…"
"Do herby solemnly swear NOT to reveal the Secret of Jekyll, Hyde, and their connection to the Apple Family…"
"Do herby solemnly swear NOT to reveal the Secret of Jekyll, Hyde, and their connection to the Apple Family…"
"And do what we can to give the Hyde-Born a normal life…"
"And do what we can to give the Hyde-Born a normal life…"
"While subduin' the Hyde itself for as long as we can…"
"While subduin' the Hyde itself for as long as we can…"
"By Celestia's Sun and Luna's Moon, I swear by it!"
"By Celestia's Sun and Luna's Moon, I swear by it!"
A nod from Granny Smith was what told Apple Bloom that she could remove her hoof from the journal.
"That's it," Granny spoke. "You've sworn yourself to the Secret and the responsibilities that come with it. Now, I'll go start up some breakfast."
She looked to Applejack.
"Why don't ya take yer mind off this and help me. I think it'll do ya good, Applejack. I'll write to the princess afterwards. No doubt she'll tell the other princess' as well. At least Twilight will be prepared."
Applejack didn't say anything. Not even at the mention of her friend and the Princess of Friendship. Instead, she followed her grandmother into the kitchen, leaving Apple Bloom alone.
Apple Bloom looked at the portrait of Dr. Moonstone Jekyll and glanced at her sister in sadness. How could this happen? Was Honeycrisp not careful enough to prevent this? Whatever the reason, the damage was done. Apple Bloom's ears dropped as she sang softly in the company of the trunk and its contents.
Lost in Darkness
Lost in the darkness,
Silence surrounds you.
Once there was mornin',
Now endless night.
She then looked to Applejack, who was hesitant in touching a knife in order to cut the apple before her. The filly didn't need any hints to know her sister was distraught and needed help. But how? That was the question. She then stood on her hooves and made her way to the stairs, her gaze focused on Applejack, Jekyll's portrait tucked into her bow so as she could sing on.
If I could reach you,
I'd guide you and teach you
To walk from the darkness
Back into the light.
Apple Bloom returned to her room and placed the portrait on her nightstand. She gazed at the long-deceased stallion. Despite knowing she couldn't, she still wished she could talk to him. Going over his story in her head, Apple Bloom found herself becoming more sorrowful for Jekyll. She let a few stray tears to fall in mourning for Jekyll.
Deep in your silence,
Please try to hear me;
I'll keep you near me
Till night passes by.
Apple Bloom retreated to her window, gazing out into the seemingly endless sea of trees. Her normality. Applejack's normality. Now, that beautiful view was destroyed in the older mare's mind. She feared the future and with good reason. Straitening up, Apple Bloom sang the rest of the song as a promise to Applejack. A promise to help her sister get through this. No matter what.
I will find the answer.
I'll never desert you -
I promise you this -
Till the day that I die...
She turned her attention to Moonstone Jekyll's portrait. Somehow, his gaze was comforting her. Was the spirit of Moonstone Jekyll still watching over his family from beyond the grave? Beyond Midnight Hyde's reach? Sadly, she place a hoof on Moonstone's image.
"Uncle Moonstone. Help us. Please."
Hours later, in Princess Twilight's castle…
Princess Twilight Sparkle's pupils shrank as she read over the letter again and again. It was a letter from Princess Celestia…about Applejack and the rest of the Apple Family.
Dear Princess Twilight,
An hour ago, I received an urgent message from Granny Smith of the Apple Family. An old secret, a terrible secret, has resurfaced within the Apple Family. Though I have no doubt Applejack may tell you on her own volition, but as one of the four princesses of Equestria, I feel you, Luna, and Cadence must know.
You remember the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenscolt? I remember you doing a paper on it, though you were hesitant because it scared you at first. Sadly, it is not a work of fiction. Dr. Moonstone Jekyll was real, as was Mr. Midnight Hyde. He lived in Trottingham with the "characters" the book, though their real names were changed for the sake of privacy. But there is something that only the Apple Family, Stevenscolt, and I know about.
Jekyll was the elder brother of Honeycrisp, the first Apple since the Jekyll/Hyde incident. She would often assist her brother in his experiments and, sadly, was in the same vicinity as the Hyde potion. She inhaled its vapors unintentionally and since then, she and her family has harbored a terrible curse.
Every 100 years, an Apple is born with a Hyde "born in inside" them. I will go into details later. Sadly, Applejack is the new Hyde-Born. This means time is running out before her Hyde-self make her appearance. I ask you and the Ponyville Apples, Applejack mostly, to come to Canterlot. Granny Smith and I want to explain everything to you and the other princess. As for your friends, I'm afraid you will have to ask Applejack permission to tell them. It's a closely guarded secret and we cannot risk a lynch mob on the Apple Family.
Please come in a week's time, if not sooner. Hopefully, Applejack would not have transformed into her Hyde by then.
Come Swiftly and Whisper to Nopony,
‒Princess Celestia
Twilight lost count as to how many times she re-read the parchment, hoping that it was just a prank. But because of the length and the tone of the message, it slowly became evident that Celestia was telling the truth.
"Oh, Applejack. This can't be true? Can it?"
Twilight then rushed to her library and levitated a copy of "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" followed by every book on the pony psyche. Setting Jekyll & Hyde aside, Twilight began speed-reading through her books. Celestia said Applejack was running out of time before her Hyde emerges. And the Princess of Friendship knew the Element of Honesty couldn't bear being responsible for murder and whatever else her Hyde would do.
Scenario after scenario popping into her head, Twilight's fear slowly changed into desperation. She needed to help her friend. But how. With Spike gone to help Rarity at the boutique, Twilight knew it was safe for her to sing out her feelings on the situation.
I Need to Know
I need to know
the nature of the demons that possess
a pony's soul!
I need to know
why pony's content to let them make them less
than whole.
She picked up another book and began to read it. Normally, she'd take her time. But her friend was counting on her. There must be a way to reverse the Hyde formula. There must be. Yet, she could not help but be curious as to how this could happen. The mind may be the final frontier in pony physiology. So many question, yet so little answers.
Why does she revel in murder and madness?
What is it makes her be less than she should?
Why is she doomed not to reach her potential?
Her soul is black
when she turns her back
upon good.
Twilight pulled away from her reference book and peered at the "formerly" fiction book beside her. As a filly, she shared Jekyll's wonder about the possibility of splitting one's good self from the bad self. The new princess feared that the Apple Family wouldn't give up Jekyll's journals for anything. It was too damning. And besides, if Princess Celestia had not found a cure for the Apples, was there one at all?
I need to find
a way to get inside the tortured mind of mare.
I need to try
to separate the good and evil - if I can.
The princess then set the book down and pulled down from the mantle of her fireplace a picture of her and her friends. She remembered the day she met Applejack. She was friendly and came to her defense when Rainbow Dash began jumping to conclusions when Nightmare Moon returned.
One thing is certain - the evil is stronger.
Good fights a hopeless and desperate fight.
I must find ways of adjusting the balance
to bring her back from the empty black
edge of night!
She remembered how Applejack was honest when they were in search of the Elements of Harmony. She assured the then-unicorn that if she let go of her, she'd be safe. Though she doubted her words at first, Twilight found herself being caught by Rainbow and Fluttershy, confirming Applejack's honesty.
I need to go
where no pony has ventured before
to search for the key to the door
that will end all this tragic and senseless decay!
But how to go?
I need to know!
A flood of memories involving Applejack came to Twilight in a flash. The Running of the Leaves, Applebuck season, her brother's wedding, her own coronation, everything. She was always a dependable pony Twilight always could count on. Now, Applejack needed somepony who she can count on instead.
I need to learn
the secrets of the mind that we cannot discern.
I need to learn
the things that make ponies pass the point of no return.
Placing the picture back onto the mantle, Twilight walked down the halls, her musical thoughts echoing thanks to the castle's acoustics.
Why does a wise mare take leave of her senses?
Where is that fine line where sanity melts?
When does intelligence give way to madness?
A moment comes
when a pony becomes
something else ...
Narrowing her eyes, Twilight became determined even more to help her friend. She picked up the pace, making her way to the Map Room.
I need to know
why a pony plays this strange double game!
Her hoof always close to the flame!
It's a deal with the devil she cannot disclaim!
But what's her aim?
I need to know!
Upon entering the Map Room, Twilight looked to the gnarled tree root chandelier her friends created. It was made to help Twilight feel more at home in her castle, especially since the roots were from her old home, the Golden Oaks Library. The memory crystals glistened as Twilight sang louder in a desperate plea.
Dear gods, guide me!
Show me how to succeed!
With your wisdom inside me,
Twilight Sparkle will follow wherever you lead!
Her mind was made up. She was going to help Applejack whether she and her family liked it or not. Gazing at the map and thinking of their adventures, Twilight's voice became more powerful as she thought of her cursed friend. A smile of determination crept onto her lips, promising the same promise Apple Bloom made in secret.
I need to see
the truth other ponies cannot see
to be things that others can't be!
Give me courage to go
where no angel will go!
And I will go!
I need to know!
