Outlineby SmashologyChaptersCoral CastleRipple RoadOregano OceanNecromancer's NightAbrupt EndingOligocene OutbackCoral CastleAh opened my eyes, wakin’ up from mah sleep. Ah just wanted to relax and this was the closest place Ah found, restin’ mah body on a seat of what seemed to be a train. Not the Friendship Express thought. Ah look through the window: the sky was dark, full with stars. Ah wish Ah’d share this moment with mah family but they’re not here. But not everytin’ is bad ‘cause Ah’m not alone in this trip, along with me is Rarity, the best of mah best friends. Ah heard bathroom’s door bein’ opened and she came out, she was dryin’ her mane with a towel. Proceedin’ to sit next to me she smiled. The strong lights above us illuminated her face more than ever. “Ah’m glad ya’re back sugarcube” Ah said to her. “I feel like... new and renovated.” She dropped the towel and instantly looked through the window, observin’ the horizon. Ah couldn’t help but notice she looked more... How can Ah say this? Healthy but more gauzy and emaciated. “Are ya ok Rarity?” “Yes Applejack” she answered me. “I know we’re friends but you are more concerned ‘bout me this time.” “It’s just... ya look thinner than usual and... are those bruises? Did somethin’ horrible happened to ya back there?” “No, nothing happened. I’ve been exercising myself lately and no, these are not bruises. It’s the liquid soap from the bathroom” she rubbed her hoof against her coat, the spots vanished. “See? But in the end I’m glad you worry about me.” She continued lookin’ through the window. Meanwhile Ah was tryin’ to connect the pieces all together. Ah’ve known Rarity for a long time ago. Ah just had this lingerin’ feelin’ ‘bout somethin’. Ah never really had any friends in school that much. They all looked at me strangely. Like Ah was a disease. But one day, Ah met a young girl called Rarity. We skipped, laughed, cried and had so much fun together. Of course we were more opposite than day and night, we were always annoyin’ each other and getting’ even, sometimes with insults and other times with pranks. At first, one would think we hated each other, but in truth it was just our way to behave as friends. Rarity was seein’ a map on the backseat when mah mind was distracted. She was clickin’ on the main stops and checkin’ them as the train stopped. “Where are we goin’ exactly sugarcube?” “Oh darling” she said pleased, as she was waitin’ for me to come back from mah imagination. “We need to go to the N Station, where the week of fashion will be taking place. I’m glad you’re accompanying me on this trip, you have no idea how much I appreciate that... despite of what I said before.” “No problem Rarity.” She smiled to me, Ah returned her the favor. Suddenly a sound interrupted us, we turned our heads to the left only to discover a saber-toothed creature sittin’ in the middle of the corridor. It looked similar to a reptile but at the same time it had a mammal-like appearance. It had an intimidatin’ semblance and its sight was terrifyin’, like wantin’ to eat us but Rarity wasn’t disturbed by its presence unlike me. A voice from the other side of the corridor calmed the beast. “Aleksandr” the beast turned around to the sound source, a pony like Rarity and me, and payed attention to her. “Calm down” the creature obeyed. “Come here you little” it retired from us while she tickled its belly, it behaved like mah Winona if ya asked me. Then she proceeded to look at us. She was relaxed with a smile on her face. “Sorry to interrupted you but I had to do something about it” she directed to us. “Wait a minute...” Ah said. “Ya look... strangely familiar.” “Oh, where are my manners?” she cleared her throat. “I’m Teddie Safari, I used to go to the Trade convention in Rainbow Falls.” Both of us kept quiet. None of us remembered her. “I think Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy mentioned you once” replied Rarity. “They said you’d an Orthos you wanted to trade” she probably spoke to not have an uncomfortable silence but her presence was already uncomfortable, for me at least. “Yes I had. Now that two-headed dog has a new owner.” “How did ya know to calm the beast?” Ah asked doubtful scratchin’ mah head. “When you dedicated your time to train animals anything can be tamed, even the most ferocious ones” she closed her eyes and rubbed her neck with her hooves, like if she had been hurt. “Are ya ok?” “Sure, thanks for worrying about me.” “No problem darling. Where are you going exactly?” “To the Ripple Road Station. I should probably take Aleksandr with me.” Ah raised mah eyebrow doubtful of what she said. “How you two did met each other?” asked Rarity interested. “Just right now” Teddie responded as if that was the most normal answer, the beast stepped aside and went to the corner, next to the back door. He resembled peacefulness and lookin’ at the horizon he seemed to reflect his life, Ah was astonished for the wrong reasons but Rarity seemed to take it too good. “He has been here probably for a while, waiting the correct time to get off this train. And in the meantime he has been feeding on the leftovers and the water from the toilet, he has felt alone until now.” “Leftovers?” Ah asked surprised. “From what?” A bell rang, from the main door at the front a cart with food came, being pushed by a bipedal creature. He didn’t seemed to be interested on bein’ there but at the same time he seemed to have no choice. “Do any of you want something else?” Teddie raised her hoof and he obediently went to the call. “Give me two packs of peanuts, a can of peaches, a bottle with mineral water and a big piece of meat for him” the bipedal pulled off the cart the supplies. “Your ticket please” Teddie pulled out from her outfit a normal train ticket while Aleksandr held a stone plate with his mouth, he snapped the ticket and place the plate on the cart. “Your every wish is my command” then he turned to us. “I can see you two are new around here.” “Indeed darling.” “If that’s the case I need to check your tickets ladies” He extended his arm and opened his palm to Rarity. “Just to make sure you’re in the correct journey.” Rarity pulled out hers from her mane. Ah found that kind of random ‘cause she would never have done that back in Ponyville. “Here’s mine.” He snapped her ticket and then proceeded to me. Like before he extended his arm and opened his palm but Ah was nervous and he noticed it. “Your ticket please.” He glared at me. Ah was sweatin’ so much that Ah swear Ah ended up moisten the seat. To trick him Ah took mah hat off and pretended to search for the ticket but it took longer than expected and he began to lose his patience. “I don’t have all the time in the world, where’s your ticket?” Ah gulped and before he could report me quickly Rarity put her hoof in mah hat and pulled out what it looked like mah ticket. He checked it briefly and then proceeded to snap it. “My name’s Dan, your every wish is my command” he retired instantly. “And for the next time don’t waste my time!” Ah breathed relaxed and turned to Rarity. “For now just enjoy the ride” she said to me calmly. “Hey Teddie, could you give us some peanuts?” “Of course” she passed us a pack so we could eat. The reality was... Ah didn’t have a ticket. Ah never had one. “How did ya do that?” Ah asked her questionin’ what had just happened. “Don’t you know Applejack?” Rarity yawned, stetchin’ her front legs and givin’ me the pack of peanuts already open. “Inside here you can create everything you want and you can imagine anywhere you go” she fell asleep as Ah munched some peanuts in mah mouth. Somewhere along the way the friendship was lost. Ah couldn’t tolerate Rarity’s fashion stylish thing and she found mah hooves filthy every time we were together. Thanks to Twilight and her first slumber party we reconnected and reestablished our bond. She was an amazin’, funny girl who always made me have fun even in mah darkest moments. And Ah truly thanked her for that. “I’m so sorry Applejack. It was my fault, if I could switch places with them I would do it.” Ripple RoadAh came back to reality abruptly ‘cause Ah heard a balloon pop-like sound. Many of them actually. Ah noticed then that none of the humans were aboard. Just Dan openin’ some champagne bottles with Teddie Safari and Aleksandr. Pourin’ the content in the cups they had they cheered for them. “What just happened?” Ah asked curiously. “Did Ah miss somethin’?” “The humans reached their station” Rarity responded to me, she was holdin’ a cup with champagne as well. “We’re celebrating them. Not all the passengers arrive on time, just look at Aleksandr here. He’s panting of joy.” But mah suspicions were raisin’. “Yer nose... is bleedin’ sugarcube. Is there a doctor here?” “It’s not necessary” Rarity used her magic to cause a tissue to appear from nowhere and clean her nose. “You see? Probably was too many drinks for today. No need to worry... But I’m glad you did.” “Dan can Ah ask ya a question?” He turned around. “Just one. I need to get back to my job.” “Why didn’t ya go with them?” He remained silent for several minutes. “...Their destiny is not mine. When you’re a guy who constantly wants revenge on everything he come across with, the rest of the common Meta doesn’t matter. Besides without me the other assistant would ruin this place.” “...The other assistant?” A bell rang, from the main door came a pink pony covered in hair so thick she could barely see what it had in front of her nose. On the bright side thought she looked so energetic and peppy that one grew affection on her. She was carryin’ a plate for the empty bottles on her back. All the remainin’ passengers put their empty cups and bottles on the tray. “Thanks Fluffle Puff” Dan replied. “Can you wash these right now? We don’t want the new guests to be disappointed of our services” she nodded and before coming back to the main door the fillies interrupted her. “Hey you pink one” said Diamond Tiara. “Bring me one of those champagnes.” “For me too” added Silver Spoon. Ah stood up from mah seat and went directly to speak to them as Fluffle Puff obeyed her orders and picked up their tickets. Although she didn’t mind their behavior, ‘cause she left as happy as when she entered the corridor, Ah was disappointed. Ah thought they had changed. When Ah became close enough Ah noticed they had a business card from Fluffle Puff, it said: ‘your every wish is my command.’ Ah threw it away and then proceeded to spoke to them. “Hey, that wasn’t a very nice thing to say. Besides aren’t ya too young to drink?” “What are you implying Applejack?” asked Silver Spoon. “I thought we were good ponies now. I thought we could get along you and Rarity.” “Yeah but–” “Don’t worry Applejack” Diamond Tiara interrupted me in the most decent form she could. “We understand.” “...Ya do?” “Yeah, you want the best for us. But we trust you, unlike my parents.” “Yer parents?” Ah raised mah eyebrow. “Here’s the story” Silver Spoon started to explain. “We went to the aquatic park to have some fun. After exploring a little bit Di and I wanted to go to the highest water slide in the park but her parents didn’t allowed us to go anywhere alone because we weren’t ‘old enough’ to be on our own, so when they got distracted we went there only to discover it was closed but we didn’t care, we found a way to sneaked us in. Their parents didn’t seemed to be bothered anyway. Strangely enough water was still flowing so we got in and the road was so long and strong that the splash at the end was huge. All the ponies clapped and raised us together for our triumph, it was a shocking ending.” Ah honestly didn’t understand what they said. “What do ya mean?” “Have fun here, like all of us. Take a closer look at them” answered Diamond Tiara. “Everypony here is happy and joyful, even Sil and I are enjoying the ride. Forget about everything, I’m sure Apple Bloom would say that. After all we’re friends now. Don’t worry, be happy!” With a smile on their faces I returned to mah seat. Both Dan and the pink pony had left the corridor, but also Ah noticed the train more empty. “Where is Teddie Safari?” “...She left” Rarity answered to me. Ah was concerned ‘bout ‘cause Ah didn’t notice the moment when the train stopped. “When?” “When you were talking to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Teddie wanted to say good bye to you but she was in a hurry. She took Aleksandr with her like she said.” Ah felt guilty inside me, worried ‘bout her and her new companion. Then Ah finally decided to confess Rarity mah opinions towards them. “Can Ah tell ya somethin’ sugarcube?” she nodded and Ah sighed. “When she arrived Ah was bothered ‘cause she constantly interrupted us and he was constantly glarin’ at me, but now that she’s gone, Ah’d have liked to talk more with her.” Rarity patted me on mah shoulder to make me feel better, before once again she fallin’ asleep and Ah got lost in mah thoughts. Then two balloon pop-like sound were heard. Since it was her birthday soon, actually a day away, Ah decided to do somethin’ nice for her. So Ah ordered a batch of cupcakes for her that same night. The Cakes said it was nice of me to do that, and Ah agreed with them. Ah left the batch at her door later on. Before Ah went to sleep that night, Ah couldn’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout how happy Rarity would be when she found those cupcakes on her door. But it wasn’t that easy: Ah requested Pinkie Pie to organize the party at the highest hill of Ponyville and to not invite the rest of our friends, it was goin’ to be a party for just me and her. She Pinkie promised. Oregano Ocean“Applejack” Rarity made me come back from mah imagination. “What are you thinking darling?” “Ah was thinkin’... in our home” Ah explained. “Ponyville, our friends, our family. Don’t ya miss them?” She looked at mah eyes directly. “Yes but take a look around you. Ponies have arrive the train, now we have to enjoy their company.” “Ya’re right sugarcube” Ah got worried ‘bout the situation but that didn’t matter anymore. “All that counts is we’re surrounded by the ones similar to us, with ponies each of our friends recognize and remember as well” Ah spotted the first ones on a seat at the other side of the corridor. “Ooh! There’s Trenderhoof. Junebug. Cayenne...” But the truth is Ah didn’t recall them, Ah couldn’t remember them and they were unrecognizable to me. “What’s the matter Applejack? I supposed they were our friends.” “Yeah but... Ah don’t know. They don’t seem familiar to me... except for Trenderhoof but still” Rarity waved her hoof at them. Unlike me they recognize her immediately, as if they kept in contact all the time. Meanwhile Dan was pickin’ up their tickets sayin’ the same catchphrase. “But they are familiar: she’s one of the ponies who encouraged my little Spikey-Wikey to become a giant monster. And she’s the pony who rejected my unique princess dress just because it wasn’t the same Twilight used. Maybe you can remember those faces instead” Rarity pointed to another section of the corridor. The next group was a little friendlier to us yet they weren’t as trustin’ as the previous ones and as Ah checked the rest of the crew Ah noticed none of them were that familiar to me, the panic was startin’ to take over me. “There’s Double Diamond and Sugar Belle. Party Favor! Night Glider!” And the last nail on the coffin was somepony coming out from the bathroom, dryin’ his hooves with a towel. Ah turned around and screamed at the top of mah lungs. “Wind Rider! What in tarnation’s goin’ on?!” He approached to us. “Hello Rarity.” “Oh hello Wind Rider” she wasn’t annoyed or mad at her presence, she was like aggregable with him. “What have you been doing lately?” “Rarity why are ya doin’? He’s the guy who tried to expel Rainbow Dash from the Wonderbolts. Remember?” “And? I’m not going to be resentful with him for all eternity.” Ah was speechless. “This is odd.” “Yeah. Isn’t that a slap in the face? I mean, I lost my reputation after that incident, but I don’t care about that at all. In fact many ponies wanted me to give them a sample of my talent despite of what happened. And I could’ve because I’m a big guy and I’m good with acrobatics and pirouettes. I went to a conference to show my skills today.” “And how it ended?” asked Rarity. “Fiery. But hey this place is pretty good, huh?” he chuckled. Ah took mah hat off and began to fan my head. “Is it me or is startin’ to get hot here?” “I’m going to work on my tanning, my friend” an unexpected pony appeared from behind our seats, a pony Ah didn’t wanted to see ever again. “Svengallop? Wow!” Wind Rider exclaimed ‘cause of his presence. “I’m so glad to finally meet you, I’ve been your admirer since your first public speech!” “Thanks, the pleasure is all mine. I’ve always like your dangerous stunts.” “I heard you’re Countess Coloratura’s manager.” “Not anymore, that bitch thought she could be better without me.” “HEY!” Ah disclaimed to defend Rara. “Retract yerself right now! Its mah friend who ya’re talkin’ ‘bout!” “Behave yourself Applejack. None of us want to disturb here” Rarity put mahself together. “Doesn’t matter, she’s not my problem anymore, in fact she hasn’t been doing so well by her own. I’ve heard she tried to burn her house because of her failure at Manehattan’s Theatre. I always liked heat, those sensations are magnificent.” Wind Rider then proposed an idea. “Hey we should work together buddy. That’s a sure cure for depression.” Suddenly a pony in the middle of the corridor appeared and caught the attention of everypony with a whistle. “There’s no need to those frowns and long faces! It’s time to have fun!” “Oh no. Sassy Saddles!” “Come on ponies! Let’s get creative!” That song... for Celestia, THAT SONG! “Put on your Sunday clothes, there’s lots of world out there. ♪” she threw a puffy ball to her left. “This side only!” “Get out the brilliantine and dime cigars. ♪” she threw the ball now to our side, and everypony started to sing. Wind Rider, Svengallop, heck even Rarity! “We’re gonna find adventure in the evening air. ♪” And Sassy reentered. “Girls in white, in a perfume night. Where the lights are bright as the stars! ♪” Ah couldn’t with it anymore, all those happiness and unpreoccupied conversations and songs were drivin’ me crazy. The entire crew was happy and joyful? That was strange so Ah stood up and ran to the main door, where Dan and Fluffle Puff were talkin’ ‘bout somethin’. Ah didn’t care ‘bout what it was, Ah just wanted to get to the main room at the end. “Ah need to talk with the driver.” “You’re not supposed to be in this area” Dan said. “This is authorized personal only. Right Fluffle Puff?” the pink pony nodded. “Ah need to talk with the driver!” “We’ll get there when we’re there.” “Ah need to talk with the driver right now! Is that so much to ask for?!” Ah tried to pass through them but both Dan and Fluffle Puff pushed me back to control me. “Listen me cowgirl” Dan and Fluffle Puff leered to me. “If you don’t keep calm you’ll force us to bring Cameron to the main room.” “Cameron?” One of the panels of the walls fell off, revealin’ a giant eye with a lot of tentacles. Mah pupils shrank and mah jaw dropped. That thing came out entirely later, revealin’ to be a conic-shelled squid. Ah couldn’t understand how this creature could be inside the train, there wasn’t enough space for it. “He’s Cameron” Dan responded. “I or Fluffle Puff can call him when passengers do not behave properly.” Ah remained speechless to such an animal. “Ok but Ah only want to be alone with Rarity.” “Don’t you know that inside here you can create everything you want and you can imagine anywhere you go?” Those were the exact same words Rarity said to me. Ah knew what I wanted. Ah closed mah eyes and focused on mah objective. Ah repeated the same words over and over again. “Ah want to be alone with Rarity. Ah want to be alone with Rarity. Ah want to be alone with Rarity.” Ah came back to the train but nothin’ seemed to happen. Everythin’ felt the same. “Does it worked?” “There’s only one way to know. Now return to your seat and don’t come back here again or else...” Ah retroceded and exit the room, questionin’ how they could kept a squid inside this train. When Ah returned to the corridor Ah took a surprise: nopony was there but Rarity. The entire wagon was empty, for once they were right. But Rarity looked sad so Ah pretended to not know ‘bout what just happened. “Where is everypony?” “They left. You missed their parting. I thought the main purpose of this train was to be happy and unpreoccupied and share your joyfulness with the rest of them. To disappear just like that is... uncommon, rude and...” she sighed. “Depressive” she said with a worried expression. “Where did you go?” “...Nowhere sugarcube” the silence surrounded us for a couple of minutes. Ah returned to mah seat next to Rarity. “So... we are the only ones left, right?” She nodded. “It seems so... Applejack, I need to tell you something.” “Listen sugarcube” Ah had a lump in the throat. “Ah know you want to go to the week of fashion but Ah have an idea.” Ah smiled and held her hoof, she remained quiet and listen. “Let’s keep travellin’ together! Forever! It’ll be fantastic, we’ll always be together. Right Rarity?” She looked directly into mah eyes and returned me the favor. “...I’d like it.” “Promised sugarcube?” Ah gave her mah hoof as a proof of confidence. She stretched hers. “Promised.” “What do ya want me to tell?” “...Nothing.” “So... we’re we goin’?” “...I no longer know darling.” “As long as we’re together it doesn’t matter.” She reposed on mah shoulder and felt asleep once more. Meanwhile Ah looked through the window, appreciatin’ the surroundin’ environment. And for the first time in this trip Ah got some sleep, cuddlin’ her. Mornin’ arrived, today was her birthday yet for some reason she didn’t came to the hill. On my birthday, she never stopped comin’! But this time she might have been out. Ah search for her everywhere until evenin’ but there wasn’t any signs of her. None of the rest of mah friends were at first glance. The time came at the highest hill. Ah fell asleep while Ah waited for her to appear. Ah don’t remember how much Ah slept but when Ah woke up Rarity was there. So happy to see her but she said she couldn’t come ‘cause she had to catch a train. Instantly she pointed the horizon at the foot of the hill. A train was on the field but it didn’t look like a train, it looked more like a silo with a pointy top and wings, lights were comin’ out from the windows and door. She ran quickly to it and Ah followed her. “Applejack, this is a trip I must take on my own.” “Ah don’t care. Ah want to be with ya.” “But... I’m not sure about this. You really shouldn’t be here.” “It’s yer birthday and if somepony has to be with ya that’s me, yer best friend since childhood. Please give me a chance.” “...Welcome aboard.” Necromancer's NightThe heat woke me up eventually yet that wasn’t the only thing that caught mah attention. Ah realized the lights, which were glowin’ all the time in all the stops now went off. The only remainin’ lights were from the maps on the backseats, the entire corridor was dark. Like Ah said before it was startin’ to get hot inside so Ah was goin’ to tell to Dan and Fluffle Puff if they could lower the temperature. Ah left Rarity alone for a moment. When Ah opened the door Ah found both Dan and Fluffle Puff sleepin’ on the carts so that wasn’t a problem. Who was a problem was Cameron, lyin’ on the floor so Ah stepped up next to the wall to avoid him. Why he had to be large? Anyway, Ah reached the final door and Ah got in. It didn’t looked like a normal locomotive interior, it was more advanced and small lights illuminated the darken room and across the room where screens, keepin’ an eye on the corridor. In the center of the room was a rotatory seat and sittin’ on it was the main driver. “Excuse me for interruptin’ yer schedule sugarcube and for enterin’ in the room. Ah know this is only for authorized personal but Ah was wonderin’ if ya could light up the corridor, lower the temperature and no stoppin’ the train. Ah dream to stay with mah friend here forever. Ah’ll be pleased if ya can grant me this wish.” Everythin’ was quiet. After a moment it responded. “Once I had a dream where I was disguised as you and I was near to defeat Zecora. Oh that should’ve been so pleasurable to enjoy. I’d have wish to rip off her soul from that body and listened to her begs of letting her live.” That voice... Ah recognized that distorted echoed voice, the rotatory seat spin and revealed the driver. “Chrysalis!” “Hello Applejack.” Ah connected the dots. “Now everythin’ makes sense. Ya attract ponies here with yer constant happiness messages and food so ya can feed from their love and when they have no more energy ya threw them away like junk!” Chrysalis clapped. “Congratulations Applejack!” she said in a sarcastic mood. “How convenient would that be, and that’s the perfect plan for a mastermind like myself! But there’s a tiny detail you missed in your formula, a littleness” she leered at me, deeper than Dan and Fluffle Puff. “I didn’t planned it.” Mah mind was blown, she became serious now. “All the passengers came by their own will. Maybe I feed from love but I’m not that harsh, all I’m doing is giving them the pleasures they couldn’t enjoy when they were distracted by the trivialities of their time.” “...Time?” Ah was confused. “How long ya’ve been doin’ this?” “Long before Celestia and Luna raised the stars.” “How long?!” She was hesitant to respondin’ but Ah was desperate, confused and scared that Ah didn’t care, Ah needed answers. “Since the first raindrop landed on Equestria... before it was called Equestria” she stood up from her seat. “This place is beautiful, isn’t it? I designed it a long time ago, it was more practical than picking the passengers one by one. A train that can fly by the power of electricity and a machine named Tardis, stolen from the Archives... back then this machine had another name. It was called airplane” she paused. “There’s a reason why I feed on love: after millenniums and millenniums of watching destruction, what better way to survive than feeding from their love? Wherever a disaster occurs, I’ll be there. Wherever an event that changed the course of the world occurs, I’ll be there” she paused again. “Your bond with that unicorn is so strong, similar to a married couple I met long ago. When their time came I didn’t want them to leave, I tried to convince them to stay but they didn’t want to, they wanted to stay together. Then the balloon pop-like sound occurred. No one can remain here forever.” “Seriously?” Ah asked remorseful ‘cause Ah knew who she was referrin’ to. “What about yer employees?” “They experimented the end, not only of their time but the end of their world as well so I offered them a deal: existence in exchange of their service for all eternity.” Ah stepped backwards a little. “...What are ya?” “They have called me in many ways throughout the years” she mentioned them as she turned in circles around me, evadin’ mah escape route. “Anubis, Charon, Shinigami, Valkyrie, Angel... now it’s Chrysalis, queen of the changelings. As you can see I can’t do wrong because I don’t know what it is” she stopped walkin’. “Prove it, prove ya’re tellin’ the truth!” “I can’t.” “Then why Ah have to rely on yer word?” She frowned and levitated me with her magic. “...You wanted it.” She instantly transferred me her powers and the history of Equestria came into mah mind: first a black-and-green glowin’ stone, brought to life by a raindrop in a desert covered in lava, then horrible scenarios and visions came to my mind, in each and every one Chrysalis was a different livin’ bein’ dependin’ on the time period. It was too much to handle for me. Ah could only remember the most graphic and notable ones: A gamma ray explosion witnessed from the ocean, black smoke coverin’ the sea, numerous volcanic traps, a giant fire rock fallin’ from the sky, a super explosion, three crosses above the ground, pyramids covered in blood, an entire city burnin’ up, the decapitation of a king, a frozen world, the downfall of a monarchy, a giant mushroom cloud, a silo with a pointy top crashing into a tower, a wasteland, the disappearance of a species and the born of another, the first Hearth’s Warmin’ Eve, Discord’s defeat and Nightmare Moon banishment. She freed me but Ah wasn’t mahself anymore. “Don’t feel sorry for them. Once the airplane gets into the last point the cycle will repeat and more passengers will come to feed me and my hive and I will give them the pleasures they missed. Everypony can drink a glass of water but not everypony can enjoy it.” “All those poor beings.” “Never mind them, no living being has value. There will always be more if I need them.” Ah stepped backwards slowly, tryin’ to get out of there when Ah halted somethin’. It felt wet. Ah raised mah head only to discover a horrible truth: Dan, Fluffle Puff and Cameron had a moribund look. Cameron had its shell almost completely broken, Dan had his clothes rip off and a green skin and Fluffle Puff was spillin’ water from her eyes and mouth. All repeatin’ the same sentence at unison. “Life isn’t fair. It takes the people you love away from you when you think you’ll have them forever. Life hurts you. Life cuts you. Life stings you. It’s only a matter of time until life will take us all away.” Ah couldn’t resist more. Ah exit to the corridor, which was illuminated by an intense red light and was shakin’ repeatedly, to warn Rarity. The constant alarm was stressin’ me and Ah could barely keep on mah hooves but we had to get away from there. “Rarity we need to go!” but she wasn’t on her seat. “Rarity?” Ah spotted her walkin’ to the back door. “No! Wait for me!” Ah ran as fast as Ah could, when Ah finally reached her she closed the door. Ah desperately tried to open it but it was locked. She turned around and observed me, she remained motionless. Ah shouted cryin’. “Ya can’t leave me here! Ya said we’ll be together forever! Ya promised!” Ah hit it hard. “Open the door! Open the door!” But it was in vain. “Rarity! RARITY!” “I’ll always appreciate your company, you were more than a friend to me. So long Applejack.” She pushed the button and the entire rear of the train opened up, she was liberated and feelin’ calm she closed her eyes. Her head pumped up and... A balloon pop-like sound came. Then emptiness and then nothin’. Ah stopped beatin’ the door and turned around. Chrysalis and her crew reached me. “You can stay here with us if you want. With me. You won’t have to experiment the end never. I will wipe every tear from your eyes and loss shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning or crying or pain any more.” Ah thought it over for just a second. Then Ah gave her mah answer. “No thanks. Ah want to go home with mah friends.” “...Your every wish is my command.” The fire guzzled the train and the seats, then heat, then anythin’ and in the end there was nothin’. Abrupt EndingJudgin’ by the position of the moon it was midnight when all mah friends arrived to the hill and woke me up. Ah had a relief ‘cause none of what happened was real but they looked concerned. “What are ya doin’ here?” Ah asked questionin’ their presence, then Ah complained to Pinkie. “Pinkie Ah told ya to not brin’ anypony here!” “Don’t get mad with her!” Rainbow Dash defended her. “We came here just to find you.” “But it was supposed to be a night just for me and Rarity!” “Applejack” said Pinkie Pie, she was about to cry. “Rarity’s not coming.” “What do ya mean?” Ah chuckled nervously, Ah thought they were jokin’ on me. Twilight delivered me a present I knew: the batch of cupcakes I left on her door. I opened it, the cupcakes were intact, attached to the top cover was a label. Ah unfolded it and began to read it out loud. “To the best friend ever in the whole wide world, Ah hope you have a really, really nice birthday today, and many other days to come! Ah hope you like these, Ah picked them out for you! Strawberry and Chocolate. Yer favorites! Sorry if Ah got them wrong! Ah’ll see you soon, okay? Have a nice day!” This was the letter Ah wrote to her yesterday. At the end was a message written by her. Ah recognized her font and it was addressed to me. Sorry I won’t be able to come. I’m sick. My time is running out and soon I’ll leave you. Remember to always smile no matter the circumstances. You’ll be my friend... more than a friend to me forever and ever. I’ll tell your parents that you love them. Love you for real, Rarity. 9:38 p.m. “None of us knew about this until tonight at the hospital” Fluttershy was sobbin’ and wiped her tears. “Her parents exposed the notice a few hours ago. We were looking for you because you needed to know the most. You should have seen Sweetie Belle and Spike, they were so devastated that they run away from the truth. We were there the whole day, expecting you to appear but you didn’t.” “I didn’t want to tell them where you were because I Pinkie promised to you but they pushed me to my limit and I had no choice but to confess. Can you forgive me Applejack?” Ah couldn’t believe it. Ah was blind this whole time, of all mah friends she was the best... yet Ah was so excited that Ah didn’t even realize what was happenin’ to her. But what intrigued me the most was that she never told me... she never told any of us. If Ah could turn back time just to see her face so happy again. “We know how close you were. And we give you our condolences” Twilight put her hoof on mah shoulder, to clarify Ah was not alone. She raised mah head to look at her. “Tomorrow is her parting. Be prepared.” “May Ah ask ya a favor?” “Sure, whatever you want.” Ah paused. “Ah want to give the speech, everypony needs to know what she meant to me. Go ahead for now, Ah want to be alone.” Twilight nodded silently, then she and the rest of the girls left. Ah turned around, kneel on the grass and saw the horizon at the foot of the hill, there was an open field. No silo with a pointy top and wings, no Dan, Fluffle Puff or Cameron, no passengers from another times, no Chrysalis. Just an open field. Lookin’ up to the sky Ah lay on the grass with tears on mah eyes and holdin’ her note on mah hooves. Above the sky were the stars, formin’ a figure: a diamond with an apple stem. Ah smiled. Author's Note Miyazawa facts -This was originally a zombie apocalypse story starring Applejack only. -This was also a perfect excuse to use characters who are not very common in fanfics and, honestly, kind of forgettable. I chose them based on how many images they have in Derpibooru at the moment this story was published (less than 1000 was the criteria). Finally I only considered characters with at least one year of existence. -For those of you who are interested Aleksandr is a gorgonopsid and Cameron is an orthocone. I refused to use dinosaurs or other creatures to prevent this to be more predictable. -The timeline of Chrysalis: Ordovician mass extinction, Silurian mass extinction, Permian mass extinction, Cretaceous mass extinction, Toba's eruption, Jesus' crucifixion, fall of Tenochtitlan, Great Fire of London, French revolution, the year without summer, Russian revolution, Hiroshima bomb, 9/11, World War III, human extinction, first Hearth's Warming Eve, Discord's defeat and Nightmare Moon banishment. Based on this. -Following the Kirby formula, the first letter of each station spell out the final destination: CORONA, which not only reveal who's the mind behind this but also its the outline of the sun. Oligocene OutbackThe train stopped. Now other bipedal creatures similar to Dan arrived along with more ponies, this time Ah could spotted Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon among the crowd. Now that they’re friends with our sisters their presence didn’t bother me that much but Ah felt uncomfortable around the rest more. The train continued its journey. “Who are these guys?” “I don’t know Applejack” Rarity answered as she came back from her sleep. “But they looked feared and traumatized. Probably the best is to not observe them, they’ll probably ask us questions we don’t want to answer.” “They are called humans” Teddie answered us. “Animals that can stand on their hind legs and are well known for their intelligence” Both Teddie and Aleksandr looked indifferent to them. “Ya went to one of Lyra’s classes?” Ah asked questionin’ her knowledge. “...Yes but I was never a fan of. Too much gossiping and too much fanaticism for me. Plus I wasn’t even interested in anthropology at all, I prefer animals like him” she referred to Aleksandr and cuddled his head. “I made my choice: I’ll take him with me when I left.” All the humans were blackened and ashy, their eyes reflected pain and all of them wearin’ the equivalent to the Royal Army’s signature armor. As for the little fillies they looked paled. Now there was nothin’ to hide for them. While they were gossipin’ Ah felt weird from inside. Despite their appearances everypony looked so happy, that wasn’t normal. “Look at them Applejack” Rarity touched mah shoulder to make me feel safe. “It’s hard to recall those little girls once bullied our sisters and now they’re friends” she sighed. “Makes me feel tranquil.” “You should get some rest” said Teddie, once again meddling in our conversation. “Is she always that alert Rarity?” “Not really.” She closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep. Ah just focused on the map to check the road. Where is this goin’? We were always there for each other when we needed comfort, we were always there when one of us needed to be defended and even when we get older and some things remained the same. Little did any one of us know is that somethin’ was growin’ between us that was more than just friendship.
Coral CastleAh opened my eyes, wakin’ up from mah sleep. Ah just wanted to relax and this was the closest place Ah found, restin’ mah body on a seat of what seemed to be a train. Not the Friendship Express thought. Ah look through the window: the sky was dark, full with stars. Ah wish Ah’d share this moment with mah family but they’re not here. But not everytin’ is bad ‘cause Ah’m not alone in this trip, along with me is Rarity, the best of mah best friends. Ah heard bathroom’s door bein’ opened and she came out, she was dryin’ her mane with a towel. Proceedin’ to sit next to me she smiled. The strong lights above us illuminated her face more than ever. “Ah’m glad ya’re back sugarcube” Ah said to her. “I feel like... new and renovated.” She dropped the towel and instantly looked through the window, observin’ the horizon. Ah couldn’t help but notice she looked more... How can Ah say this? Healthy but more gauzy and emaciated. “Are ya ok Rarity?” “Yes Applejack” she answered me. “I know we’re friends but you are more concerned ‘bout me this time.” “It’s just... ya look thinner than usual and... are those bruises? Did somethin’ horrible happened to ya back there?” “No, nothing happened. I’ve been exercising myself lately and no, these are not bruises. It’s the liquid soap from the bathroom” she rubbed her hoof against her coat, the spots vanished. “See? But in the end I’m glad you worry about me.” She continued lookin’ through the window. Meanwhile Ah was tryin’ to connect the pieces all together. Ah’ve known Rarity for a long time ago. Ah just had this lingerin’ feelin’ ‘bout somethin’. Ah never really had any friends in school that much. They all looked at me strangely. Like Ah was a disease. But one day, Ah met a young girl called Rarity. We skipped, laughed, cried and had so much fun together. Of course we were more opposite than day and night, we were always annoyin’ each other and getting’ even, sometimes with insults and other times with pranks. At first, one would think we hated each other, but in truth it was just our way to behave as friends. Rarity was seein’ a map on the backseat when mah mind was distracted. She was clickin’ on the main stops and checkin’ them as the train stopped. “Where are we goin’ exactly sugarcube?” “Oh darling” she said pleased, as she was waitin’ for me to come back from mah imagination. “We need to go to the N Station, where the week of fashion will be taking place. I’m glad you’re accompanying me on this trip, you have no idea how much I appreciate that... despite of what I said before.” “No problem Rarity.” She smiled to me, Ah returned her the favor. Suddenly a sound interrupted us, we turned our heads to the left only to discover a saber-toothed creature sittin’ in the middle of the corridor. It looked similar to a reptile but at the same time it had a mammal-like appearance. It had an intimidatin’ semblance and its sight was terrifyin’, like wantin’ to eat us but Rarity wasn’t disturbed by its presence unlike me. A voice from the other side of the corridor calmed the beast. “Aleksandr” the beast turned around to the sound source, a pony like Rarity and me, and payed attention to her. “Calm down” the creature obeyed. “Come here you little” it retired from us while she tickled its belly, it behaved like mah Winona if ya asked me. Then she proceeded to look at us. She was relaxed with a smile on her face. “Sorry to interrupted you but I had to do something about it” she directed to us. “Wait a minute...” Ah said. “Ya look... strangely familiar.” “Oh, where are my manners?” she cleared her throat. “I’m Teddie Safari, I used to go to the Trade convention in Rainbow Falls.” Both of us kept quiet. None of us remembered her. “I think Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy mentioned you once” replied Rarity. “They said you’d an Orthos you wanted to trade” she probably spoke to not have an uncomfortable silence but her presence was already uncomfortable, for me at least. “Yes I had. Now that two-headed dog has a new owner.” “How did ya know to calm the beast?” Ah asked doubtful scratchin’ mah head. “When you dedicated your time to train animals anything can be tamed, even the most ferocious ones” she closed her eyes and rubbed her neck with her hooves, like if she had been hurt. “Are ya ok?” “Sure, thanks for worrying about me.” “No problem darling. Where are you going exactly?” “To the Ripple Road Station. I should probably take Aleksandr with me.” Ah raised mah eyebrow doubtful of what she said. “How you two did met each other?” asked Rarity interested. “Just right now” Teddie responded as if that was the most normal answer, the beast stepped aside and went to the corner, next to the back door. He resembled peacefulness and lookin’ at the horizon he seemed to reflect his life, Ah was astonished for the wrong reasons but Rarity seemed to take it too good. “He has been here probably for a while, waiting the correct time to get off this train. And in the meantime he has been feeding on the leftovers and the water from the toilet, he has felt alone until now.” “Leftovers?” Ah asked surprised. “From what?” A bell rang, from the main door at the front a cart with food came, being pushed by a bipedal creature. He didn’t seemed to be interested on bein’ there but at the same time he seemed to have no choice. “Do any of you want something else?” Teddie raised her hoof and he obediently went to the call. “Give me two packs of peanuts, a can of peaches, a bottle with mineral water and a big piece of meat for him” the bipedal pulled off the cart the supplies. “Your ticket please” Teddie pulled out from her outfit a normal train ticket while Aleksandr held a stone plate with his mouth, he snapped the ticket and place the plate on the cart. “Your every wish is my command” then he turned to us. “I can see you two are new around here.” “Indeed darling.” “If that’s the case I need to check your tickets ladies” He extended his arm and opened his palm to Rarity. “Just to make sure you’re in the correct journey.” Rarity pulled out hers from her mane. Ah found that kind of random ‘cause she would never have done that back in Ponyville. “Here’s mine.” He snapped her ticket and then proceeded to me. Like before he extended his arm and opened his palm but Ah was nervous and he noticed it. “Your ticket please.” He glared at me. Ah was sweatin’ so much that Ah swear Ah ended up moisten the seat. To trick him Ah took mah hat off and pretended to search for the ticket but it took longer than expected and he began to lose his patience. “I don’t have all the time in the world, where’s your ticket?” Ah gulped and before he could report me quickly Rarity put her hoof in mah hat and pulled out what it looked like mah ticket. He checked it briefly and then proceeded to snap it. “My name’s Dan, your every wish is my command” he retired instantly. “And for the next time don’t waste my time!” Ah breathed relaxed and turned to Rarity. “For now just enjoy the ride” she said to me calmly. “Hey Teddie, could you give us some peanuts?” “Of course” she passed us a pack so we could eat. The reality was... Ah didn’t have a ticket. Ah never had one. “How did ya do that?” Ah asked her questionin’ what had just happened. “Don’t you know Applejack?” Rarity yawned, stetchin’ her front legs and givin’ me the pack of peanuts already open. “Inside here you can create everything you want and you can imagine anywhere you go” she fell asleep as Ah munched some peanuts in mah mouth. Somewhere along the way the friendship was lost. Ah couldn’t tolerate Rarity’s fashion stylish thing and she found mah hooves filthy every time we were together. Thanks to Twilight and her first slumber party we reconnected and reestablished our bond. She was an amazin’, funny girl who always made me have fun even in mah darkest moments. And Ah truly thanked her for that. “I’m so sorry Applejack. It was my fault, if I could switch places with them I would do it.”
Ripple RoadAh came back to reality abruptly ‘cause Ah heard a balloon pop-like sound. Many of them actually. Ah noticed then that none of the humans were aboard. Just Dan openin’ some champagne bottles with Teddie Safari and Aleksandr. Pourin’ the content in the cups they had they cheered for them. “What just happened?” Ah asked curiously. “Did Ah miss somethin’?” “The humans reached their station” Rarity responded to me, she was holdin’ a cup with champagne as well. “We’re celebrating them. Not all the passengers arrive on time, just look at Aleksandr here. He’s panting of joy.” But mah suspicions were raisin’. “Yer nose... is bleedin’ sugarcube. Is there a doctor here?” “It’s not necessary” Rarity used her magic to cause a tissue to appear from nowhere and clean her nose. “You see? Probably was too many drinks for today. No need to worry... But I’m glad you did.” “Dan can Ah ask ya a question?” He turned around. “Just one. I need to get back to my job.” “Why didn’t ya go with them?” He remained silent for several minutes. “...Their destiny is not mine. When you’re a guy who constantly wants revenge on everything he come across with, the rest of the common Meta doesn’t matter. Besides without me the other assistant would ruin this place.” “...The other assistant?” A bell rang, from the main door came a pink pony covered in hair so thick she could barely see what it had in front of her nose. On the bright side thought she looked so energetic and peppy that one grew affection on her. She was carryin’ a plate for the empty bottles on her back. All the remainin’ passengers put their empty cups and bottles on the tray. “Thanks Fluffle Puff” Dan replied. “Can you wash these right now? We don’t want the new guests to be disappointed of our services” she nodded and before coming back to the main door the fillies interrupted her. “Hey you pink one” said Diamond Tiara. “Bring me one of those champagnes.” “For me too” added Silver Spoon. Ah stood up from mah seat and went directly to speak to them as Fluffle Puff obeyed her orders and picked up their tickets. Although she didn’t mind their behavior, ‘cause she left as happy as when she entered the corridor, Ah was disappointed. Ah thought they had changed. When Ah became close enough Ah noticed they had a business card from Fluffle Puff, it said: ‘your every wish is my command.’ Ah threw it away and then proceeded to spoke to them. “Hey, that wasn’t a very nice thing to say. Besides aren’t ya too young to drink?” “What are you implying Applejack?” asked Silver Spoon. “I thought we were good ponies now. I thought we could get along you and Rarity.” “Yeah but–” “Don’t worry Applejack” Diamond Tiara interrupted me in the most decent form she could. “We understand.” “...Ya do?” “Yeah, you want the best for us. But we trust you, unlike my parents.” “Yer parents?” Ah raised mah eyebrow. “Here’s the story” Silver Spoon started to explain. “We went to the aquatic park to have some fun. After exploring a little bit Di and I wanted to go to the highest water slide in the park but her parents didn’t allowed us to go anywhere alone because we weren’t ‘old enough’ to be on our own, so when they got distracted we went there only to discover it was closed but we didn’t care, we found a way to sneaked us in. Their parents didn’t seemed to be bothered anyway. Strangely enough water was still flowing so we got in and the road was so long and strong that the splash at the end was huge. All the ponies clapped and raised us together for our triumph, it was a shocking ending.” Ah honestly didn’t understand what they said. “What do ya mean?” “Have fun here, like all of us. Take a closer look at them” answered Diamond Tiara. “Everypony here is happy and joyful, even Sil and I are enjoying the ride. Forget about everything, I’m sure Apple Bloom would say that. After all we’re friends now. Don’t worry, be happy!” With a smile on their faces I returned to mah seat. Both Dan and the pink pony had left the corridor, but also Ah noticed the train more empty. “Where is Teddie Safari?” “...She left” Rarity answered to me. Ah was concerned ‘bout ‘cause Ah didn’t notice the moment when the train stopped. “When?” “When you were talking to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Teddie wanted to say good bye to you but she was in a hurry. She took Aleksandr with her like she said.” Ah felt guilty inside me, worried ‘bout her and her new companion. Then Ah finally decided to confess Rarity mah opinions towards them. “Can Ah tell ya somethin’ sugarcube?” she nodded and Ah sighed. “When she arrived Ah was bothered ‘cause she constantly interrupted us and he was constantly glarin’ at me, but now that she’s gone, Ah’d have liked to talk more with her.” Rarity patted me on mah shoulder to make me feel better, before once again she fallin’ asleep and Ah got lost in mah thoughts. Then two balloon pop-like sound were heard. Since it was her birthday soon, actually a day away, Ah decided to do somethin’ nice for her. So Ah ordered a batch of cupcakes for her that same night. The Cakes said it was nice of me to do that, and Ah agreed with them. Ah left the batch at her door later on. Before Ah went to sleep that night, Ah couldn’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout how happy Rarity would be when she found those cupcakes on her door. But it wasn’t that easy: Ah requested Pinkie Pie to organize the party at the highest hill of Ponyville and to not invite the rest of our friends, it was goin’ to be a party for just me and her. She Pinkie promised.
Oregano Ocean“Applejack” Rarity made me come back from mah imagination. “What are you thinking darling?” “Ah was thinkin’... in our home” Ah explained. “Ponyville, our friends, our family. Don’t ya miss them?” She looked at mah eyes directly. “Yes but take a look around you. Ponies have arrive the train, now we have to enjoy their company.” “Ya’re right sugarcube” Ah got worried ‘bout the situation but that didn’t matter anymore. “All that counts is we’re surrounded by the ones similar to us, with ponies each of our friends recognize and remember as well” Ah spotted the first ones on a seat at the other side of the corridor. “Ooh! There’s Trenderhoof. Junebug. Cayenne...” But the truth is Ah didn’t recall them, Ah couldn’t remember them and they were unrecognizable to me. “What’s the matter Applejack? I supposed they were our friends.” “Yeah but... Ah don’t know. They don’t seem familiar to me... except for Trenderhoof but still” Rarity waved her hoof at them. Unlike me they recognize her immediately, as if they kept in contact all the time. Meanwhile Dan was pickin’ up their tickets sayin’ the same catchphrase. “But they are familiar: she’s one of the ponies who encouraged my little Spikey-Wikey to become a giant monster. And she’s the pony who rejected my unique princess dress just because it wasn’t the same Twilight used. Maybe you can remember those faces instead” Rarity pointed to another section of the corridor. The next group was a little friendlier to us yet they weren’t as trustin’ as the previous ones and as Ah checked the rest of the crew Ah noticed none of them were that familiar to me, the panic was startin’ to take over me. “There’s Double Diamond and Sugar Belle. Party Favor! Night Glider!” And the last nail on the coffin was somepony coming out from the bathroom, dryin’ his hooves with a towel. Ah turned around and screamed at the top of mah lungs. “Wind Rider! What in tarnation’s goin’ on?!” He approached to us. “Hello Rarity.” “Oh hello Wind Rider” she wasn’t annoyed or mad at her presence, she was like aggregable with him. “What have you been doing lately?” “Rarity why are ya doin’? He’s the guy who tried to expel Rainbow Dash from the Wonderbolts. Remember?” “And? I’m not going to be resentful with him for all eternity.” Ah was speechless. “This is odd.” “Yeah. Isn’t that a slap in the face? I mean, I lost my reputation after that incident, but I don’t care about that at all. In fact many ponies wanted me to give them a sample of my talent despite of what happened. And I could’ve because I’m a big guy and I’m good with acrobatics and pirouettes. I went to a conference to show my skills today.” “And how it ended?” asked Rarity. “Fiery. But hey this place is pretty good, huh?” he chuckled. Ah took mah hat off and began to fan my head. “Is it me or is startin’ to get hot here?” “I’m going to work on my tanning, my friend” an unexpected pony appeared from behind our seats, a pony Ah didn’t wanted to see ever again. “Svengallop? Wow!” Wind Rider exclaimed ‘cause of his presence. “I’m so glad to finally meet you, I’ve been your admirer since your first public speech!” “Thanks, the pleasure is all mine. I’ve always like your dangerous stunts.” “I heard you’re Countess Coloratura’s manager.” “Not anymore, that bitch thought she could be better without me.” “HEY!” Ah disclaimed to defend Rara. “Retract yerself right now! Its mah friend who ya’re talkin’ ‘bout!” “Behave yourself Applejack. None of us want to disturb here” Rarity put mahself together. “Doesn’t matter, she’s not my problem anymore, in fact she hasn’t been doing so well by her own. I’ve heard she tried to burn her house because of her failure at Manehattan’s Theatre. I always liked heat, those sensations are magnificent.” Wind Rider then proposed an idea. “Hey we should work together buddy. That’s a sure cure for depression.” Suddenly a pony in the middle of the corridor appeared and caught the attention of everypony with a whistle. “There’s no need to those frowns and long faces! It’s time to have fun!” “Oh no. Sassy Saddles!” “Come on ponies! Let’s get creative!” That song... for Celestia, THAT SONG! “Put on your Sunday clothes, there’s lots of world out there. ♪” she threw a puffy ball to her left. “This side only!” “Get out the brilliantine and dime cigars. ♪” she threw the ball now to our side, and everypony started to sing. Wind Rider, Svengallop, heck even Rarity! “We’re gonna find adventure in the evening air. ♪” And Sassy reentered. “Girls in white, in a perfume night. Where the lights are bright as the stars! ♪” Ah couldn’t with it anymore, all those happiness and unpreoccupied conversations and songs were drivin’ me crazy. The entire crew was happy and joyful? That was strange so Ah stood up and ran to the main door, where Dan and Fluffle Puff were talkin’ ‘bout somethin’. Ah didn’t care ‘bout what it was, Ah just wanted to get to the main room at the end. “Ah need to talk with the driver.” “You’re not supposed to be in this area” Dan said. “This is authorized personal only. Right Fluffle Puff?” the pink pony nodded. “Ah need to talk with the driver!” “We’ll get there when we’re there.” “Ah need to talk with the driver right now! Is that so much to ask for?!” Ah tried to pass through them but both Dan and Fluffle Puff pushed me back to control me. “Listen me cowgirl” Dan and Fluffle Puff leered to me. “If you don’t keep calm you’ll force us to bring Cameron to the main room.” “Cameron?” One of the panels of the walls fell off, revealin’ a giant eye with a lot of tentacles. Mah pupils shrank and mah jaw dropped. That thing came out entirely later, revealin’ to be a conic-shelled squid. Ah couldn’t understand how this creature could be inside the train, there wasn’t enough space for it. “He’s Cameron” Dan responded. “I or Fluffle Puff can call him when passengers do not behave properly.” Ah remained speechless to such an animal. “Ok but Ah only want to be alone with Rarity.” “Don’t you know that inside here you can create everything you want and you can imagine anywhere you go?” Those were the exact same words Rarity said to me. Ah knew what I wanted. Ah closed mah eyes and focused on mah objective. Ah repeated the same words over and over again. “Ah want to be alone with Rarity. Ah want to be alone with Rarity. Ah want to be alone with Rarity.” Ah came back to the train but nothin’ seemed to happen. Everythin’ felt the same. “Does it worked?” “There’s only one way to know. Now return to your seat and don’t come back here again or else...” Ah retroceded and exit the room, questionin’ how they could kept a squid inside this train. When Ah returned to the corridor Ah took a surprise: nopony was there but Rarity. The entire wagon was empty, for once they were right. But Rarity looked sad so Ah pretended to not know ‘bout what just happened. “Where is everypony?” “They left. You missed their parting. I thought the main purpose of this train was to be happy and unpreoccupied and share your joyfulness with the rest of them. To disappear just like that is... uncommon, rude and...” she sighed. “Depressive” she said with a worried expression. “Where did you go?” “...Nowhere sugarcube” the silence surrounded us for a couple of minutes. Ah returned to mah seat next to Rarity. “So... we are the only ones left, right?” She nodded. “It seems so... Applejack, I need to tell you something.” “Listen sugarcube” Ah had a lump in the throat. “Ah know you want to go to the week of fashion but Ah have an idea.” Ah smiled and held her hoof, she remained quiet and listen. “Let’s keep travellin’ together! Forever! It’ll be fantastic, we’ll always be together. Right Rarity?” She looked directly into mah eyes and returned me the favor. “...I’d like it.” “Promised sugarcube?” Ah gave her mah hoof as a proof of confidence. She stretched hers. “Promised.” “What do ya want me to tell?” “...Nothing.” “So... we’re we goin’?” “...I no longer know darling.” “As long as we’re together it doesn’t matter.” She reposed on mah shoulder and felt asleep once more. Meanwhile Ah looked through the window, appreciatin’ the surroundin’ environment. And for the first time in this trip Ah got some sleep, cuddlin’ her. Mornin’ arrived, today was her birthday yet for some reason she didn’t came to the hill. On my birthday, she never stopped comin’! But this time she might have been out. Ah search for her everywhere until evenin’ but there wasn’t any signs of her. None of the rest of mah friends were at first glance. The time came at the highest hill. Ah fell asleep while Ah waited for her to appear. Ah don’t remember how much Ah slept but when Ah woke up Rarity was there. So happy to see her but she said she couldn’t come ‘cause she had to catch a train. Instantly she pointed the horizon at the foot of the hill. A train was on the field but it didn’t look like a train, it looked more like a silo with a pointy top and wings, lights were comin’ out from the windows and door. She ran quickly to it and Ah followed her. “Applejack, this is a trip I must take on my own.” “Ah don’t care. Ah want to be with ya.” “But... I’m not sure about this. You really shouldn’t be here.” “It’s yer birthday and if somepony has to be with ya that’s me, yer best friend since childhood. Please give me a chance.” “...Welcome aboard.”
Necromancer's NightThe heat woke me up eventually yet that wasn’t the only thing that caught mah attention. Ah realized the lights, which were glowin’ all the time in all the stops now went off. The only remainin’ lights were from the maps on the backseats, the entire corridor was dark. Like Ah said before it was startin’ to get hot inside so Ah was goin’ to tell to Dan and Fluffle Puff if they could lower the temperature. Ah left Rarity alone for a moment. When Ah opened the door Ah found both Dan and Fluffle Puff sleepin’ on the carts so that wasn’t a problem. Who was a problem was Cameron, lyin’ on the floor so Ah stepped up next to the wall to avoid him. Why he had to be large? Anyway, Ah reached the final door and Ah got in. It didn’t looked like a normal locomotive interior, it was more advanced and small lights illuminated the darken room and across the room where screens, keepin’ an eye on the corridor. In the center of the room was a rotatory seat and sittin’ on it was the main driver. “Excuse me for interruptin’ yer schedule sugarcube and for enterin’ in the room. Ah know this is only for authorized personal but Ah was wonderin’ if ya could light up the corridor, lower the temperature and no stoppin’ the train. Ah dream to stay with mah friend here forever. Ah’ll be pleased if ya can grant me this wish.” Everythin’ was quiet. After a moment it responded. “Once I had a dream where I was disguised as you and I was near to defeat Zecora. Oh that should’ve been so pleasurable to enjoy. I’d have wish to rip off her soul from that body and listened to her begs of letting her live.” That voice... Ah recognized that distorted echoed voice, the rotatory seat spin and revealed the driver. “Chrysalis!” “Hello Applejack.” Ah connected the dots. “Now everythin’ makes sense. Ya attract ponies here with yer constant happiness messages and food so ya can feed from their love and when they have no more energy ya threw them away like junk!” Chrysalis clapped. “Congratulations Applejack!” she said in a sarcastic mood. “How convenient would that be, and that’s the perfect plan for a mastermind like myself! But there’s a tiny detail you missed in your formula, a littleness” she leered at me, deeper than Dan and Fluffle Puff. “I didn’t planned it.” Mah mind was blown, she became serious now. “All the passengers came by their own will. Maybe I feed from love but I’m not that harsh, all I’m doing is giving them the pleasures they couldn’t enjoy when they were distracted by the trivialities of their time.” “...Time?” Ah was confused. “How long ya’ve been doin’ this?” “Long before Celestia and Luna raised the stars.” “How long?!” She was hesitant to respondin’ but Ah was desperate, confused and scared that Ah didn’t care, Ah needed answers. “Since the first raindrop landed on Equestria... before it was called Equestria” she stood up from her seat. “This place is beautiful, isn’t it? I designed it a long time ago, it was more practical than picking the passengers one by one. A train that can fly by the power of electricity and a machine named Tardis, stolen from the Archives... back then this machine had another name. It was called airplane” she paused. “There’s a reason why I feed on love: after millenniums and millenniums of watching destruction, what better way to survive than feeding from their love? Wherever a disaster occurs, I’ll be there. Wherever an event that changed the course of the world occurs, I’ll be there” she paused again. “Your bond with that unicorn is so strong, similar to a married couple I met long ago. When their time came I didn’t want them to leave, I tried to convince them to stay but they didn’t want to, they wanted to stay together. Then the balloon pop-like sound occurred. No one can remain here forever.” “Seriously?” Ah asked remorseful ‘cause Ah knew who she was referrin’ to. “What about yer employees?” “They experimented the end, not only of their time but the end of their world as well so I offered them a deal: existence in exchange of their service for all eternity.” Ah stepped backwards a little. “...What are ya?” “They have called me in many ways throughout the years” she mentioned them as she turned in circles around me, evadin’ mah escape route. “Anubis, Charon, Shinigami, Valkyrie, Angel... now it’s Chrysalis, queen of the changelings. As you can see I can’t do wrong because I don’t know what it is” she stopped walkin’. “Prove it, prove ya’re tellin’ the truth!” “I can’t.” “Then why Ah have to rely on yer word?” She frowned and levitated me with her magic. “...You wanted it.” She instantly transferred me her powers and the history of Equestria came into mah mind: first a black-and-green glowin’ stone, brought to life by a raindrop in a desert covered in lava, then horrible scenarios and visions came to my mind, in each and every one Chrysalis was a different livin’ bein’ dependin’ on the time period. It was too much to handle for me. Ah could only remember the most graphic and notable ones: A gamma ray explosion witnessed from the ocean, black smoke coverin’ the sea, numerous volcanic traps, a giant fire rock fallin’ from the sky, a super explosion, three crosses above the ground, pyramids covered in blood, an entire city burnin’ up, the decapitation of a king, a frozen world, the downfall of a monarchy, a giant mushroom cloud, a silo with a pointy top crashing into a tower, a wasteland, the disappearance of a species and the born of another, the first Hearth’s Warmin’ Eve, Discord’s defeat and Nightmare Moon banishment. She freed me but Ah wasn’t mahself anymore. “Don’t feel sorry for them. Once the airplane gets into the last point the cycle will repeat and more passengers will come to feed me and my hive and I will give them the pleasures they missed. Everypony can drink a glass of water but not everypony can enjoy it.” “All those poor beings.” “Never mind them, no living being has value. There will always be more if I need them.” Ah stepped backwards slowly, tryin’ to get out of there when Ah halted somethin’. It felt wet. Ah raised mah head only to discover a horrible truth: Dan, Fluffle Puff and Cameron had a moribund look. Cameron had its shell almost completely broken, Dan had his clothes rip off and a green skin and Fluffle Puff was spillin’ water from her eyes and mouth. All repeatin’ the same sentence at unison. “Life isn’t fair. It takes the people you love away from you when you think you’ll have them forever. Life hurts you. Life cuts you. Life stings you. It’s only a matter of time until life will take us all away.” Ah couldn’t resist more. Ah exit to the corridor, which was illuminated by an intense red light and was shakin’ repeatedly, to warn Rarity. The constant alarm was stressin’ me and Ah could barely keep on mah hooves but we had to get away from there. “Rarity we need to go!” but she wasn’t on her seat. “Rarity?” Ah spotted her walkin’ to the back door. “No! Wait for me!” Ah ran as fast as Ah could, when Ah finally reached her she closed the door. Ah desperately tried to open it but it was locked. She turned around and observed me, she remained motionless. Ah shouted cryin’. “Ya can’t leave me here! Ya said we’ll be together forever! Ya promised!” Ah hit it hard. “Open the door! Open the door!” But it was in vain. “Rarity! RARITY!” “I’ll always appreciate your company, you were more than a friend to me. So long Applejack.” She pushed the button and the entire rear of the train opened up, she was liberated and feelin’ calm she closed her eyes. Her head pumped up and... A balloon pop-like sound came. Then emptiness and then nothin’. Ah stopped beatin’ the door and turned around. Chrysalis and her crew reached me. “You can stay here with us if you want. With me. You won’t have to experiment the end never. I will wipe every tear from your eyes and loss shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning or crying or pain any more.” Ah thought it over for just a second. Then Ah gave her mah answer. “No thanks. Ah want to go home with mah friends.” “...Your every wish is my command.” The fire guzzled the train and the seats, then heat, then anythin’ and in the end there was nothin’.
Abrupt EndingJudgin’ by the position of the moon it was midnight when all mah friends arrived to the hill and woke me up. Ah had a relief ‘cause none of what happened was real but they looked concerned. “What are ya doin’ here?” Ah asked questionin’ their presence, then Ah complained to Pinkie. “Pinkie Ah told ya to not brin’ anypony here!” “Don’t get mad with her!” Rainbow Dash defended her. “We came here just to find you.” “But it was supposed to be a night just for me and Rarity!” “Applejack” said Pinkie Pie, she was about to cry. “Rarity’s not coming.” “What do ya mean?” Ah chuckled nervously, Ah thought they were jokin’ on me. Twilight delivered me a present I knew: the batch of cupcakes I left on her door. I opened it, the cupcakes were intact, attached to the top cover was a label. Ah unfolded it and began to read it out loud. “To the best friend ever in the whole wide world, Ah hope you have a really, really nice birthday today, and many other days to come! Ah hope you like these, Ah picked them out for you! Strawberry and Chocolate. Yer favorites! Sorry if Ah got them wrong! Ah’ll see you soon, okay? Have a nice day!” This was the letter Ah wrote to her yesterday. At the end was a message written by her. Ah recognized her font and it was addressed to me. Sorry I won’t be able to come. I’m sick. My time is running out and soon I’ll leave you. Remember to always smile no matter the circumstances. You’ll be my friend... more than a friend to me forever and ever. I’ll tell your parents that you love them. Love you for real, Rarity. 9:38 p.m. “None of us knew about this until tonight at the hospital” Fluttershy was sobbin’ and wiped her tears. “Her parents exposed the notice a few hours ago. We were looking for you because you needed to know the most. You should have seen Sweetie Belle and Spike, they were so devastated that they run away from the truth. We were there the whole day, expecting you to appear but you didn’t.” “I didn’t want to tell them where you were because I Pinkie promised to you but they pushed me to my limit and I had no choice but to confess. Can you forgive me Applejack?” Ah couldn’t believe it. Ah was blind this whole time, of all mah friends she was the best... yet Ah was so excited that Ah didn’t even realize what was happenin’ to her. But what intrigued me the most was that she never told me... she never told any of us. If Ah could turn back time just to see her face so happy again. “We know how close you were. And we give you our condolences” Twilight put her hoof on mah shoulder, to clarify Ah was not alone. She raised mah head to look at her. “Tomorrow is her parting. Be prepared.” “May Ah ask ya a favor?” “Sure, whatever you want.” Ah paused. “Ah want to give the speech, everypony needs to know what she meant to me. Go ahead for now, Ah want to be alone.” Twilight nodded silently, then she and the rest of the girls left. Ah turned around, kneel on the grass and saw the horizon at the foot of the hill, there was an open field. No silo with a pointy top and wings, no Dan, Fluffle Puff or Cameron, no passengers from another times, no Chrysalis. Just an open field. Lookin’ up to the sky Ah lay on the grass with tears on mah eyes and holdin’ her note on mah hooves. Above the sky were the stars, formin’ a figure: a diamond with an apple stem. Ah smiled. Author's Note Miyazawa facts -This was originally a zombie apocalypse story starring Applejack only. -This was also a perfect excuse to use characters who are not very common in fanfics and, honestly, kind of forgettable. I chose them based on how many images they have in Derpibooru at the moment this story was published (less than 1000 was the criteria). Finally I only considered characters with at least one year of existence. -For those of you who are interested Aleksandr is a gorgonopsid and Cameron is an orthocone. I refused to use dinosaurs or other creatures to prevent this to be more predictable. -The timeline of Chrysalis: Ordovician mass extinction, Silurian mass extinction, Permian mass extinction, Cretaceous mass extinction, Toba's eruption, Jesus' crucifixion, fall of Tenochtitlan, Great Fire of London, French revolution, the year without summer, Russian revolution, Hiroshima bomb, 9/11, World War III, human extinction, first Hearth's Warming Eve, Discord's defeat and Nightmare Moon banishment. Based on this. -Following the Kirby formula, the first letter of each station spell out the final destination: CORONA, which not only reveal who's the mind behind this but also its the outline of the sun.
Oligocene OutbackThe train stopped. Now other bipedal creatures similar to Dan arrived along with more ponies, this time Ah could spotted Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon among the crowd. Now that they’re friends with our sisters their presence didn’t bother me that much but Ah felt uncomfortable around the rest more. The train continued its journey. “Who are these guys?” “I don’t know Applejack” Rarity answered as she came back from her sleep. “But they looked feared and traumatized. Probably the best is to not observe them, they’ll probably ask us questions we don’t want to answer.” “They are called humans” Teddie answered us. “Animals that can stand on their hind legs and are well known for their intelligence” Both Teddie and Aleksandr looked indifferent to them. “Ya went to one of Lyra’s classes?” Ah asked questionin’ her knowledge. “...Yes but I was never a fan of. Too much gossiping and too much fanaticism for me. Plus I wasn’t even interested in anthropology at all, I prefer animals like him” she referred to Aleksandr and cuddled his head. “I made my choice: I’ll take him with me when I left.” All the humans were blackened and ashy, their eyes reflected pain and all of them wearin’ the equivalent to the Royal Army’s signature armor. As for the little fillies they looked paled. Now there was nothin’ to hide for them. While they were gossipin’ Ah felt weird from inside. Despite their appearances everypony looked so happy, that wasn’t normal. “Look at them Applejack” Rarity touched mah shoulder to make me feel safe. “It’s hard to recall those little girls once bullied our sisters and now they’re friends” she sighed. “Makes me feel tranquil.” “You should get some rest” said Teddie, once again meddling in our conversation. “Is she always that alert Rarity?” “Not really.” She closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep. Ah just focused on the map to check the road. Where is this goin’? We were always there for each other when we needed comfort, we were always there when one of us needed to be defended and even when we get older and some things remained the same. Little did any one of us know is that somethin’ was growin’ between us that was more than just friendship.
