Lunar Cycle

Lunar Cycle: Chapter Three -

"She was....did.....wha?" Fluttershy stutters. Disbelief flooding her features, her eyes growing with horror and resistance of the idea.

"I am with Fluttershy on this one, we just saw her today.....how could she have done....that." Rarity agrees, shifting on her hooves uneasily.

"Y'all don't believe me?" Applejack says, her voice losing heart.

"No no no, we are just having trouble.... understanding this" Rarity says.

" You've got to believe me, I wouldn't lie 'bout how I got like this would I?" Applejack desperately says.

Rarity and Fluttershy look at each other, unsure of what to do. They know Applejack wouldn't lie, but they don't want to believe such a horrid thing could have happened.

"We believe you Applejack. It's a little hard to grasp the situation, but we believe you." Rarity nervously says after a slight pause.

"So...um...what do we do now?" Fluttershy says, pointing out that Rarity and her have no clue what Applejack plans to do.

"Well there's only one thing t' do. We have to get to Canterlot to alert Princess Celestia of what her sister is doin'. After all, if any one can do something 'bout it it's the Princess." Applejack says, as she and Rarity get to their hooves. Applejack looks around, worried one of the others might stumble upon her.

"That sounds like a plan, perhaps she could also fix whatever is making the others....act strangely." Rarity says.

"Well, when does the next train leave for Canterlot? " Applejack says cutting straight to the point.

"Umm if I remember correctly, it leaves in...two days" Fluttershy says.

"Oh great... I'm gonna need a place to hide out until then. I don't wanna know what might happen if Pinkie or one of the others sees me." Applejack says, shifting and glancing around as the shadows grow longer upon the ground.

"You could stay with me." Fluttershy says.

"Well, considering Sweet Apple Acres is out of the question at the moment, I think that might be a good idea." Applejack says, motioning for them to start moving. They walk in silence for a few moments until Rarity speaks up.

"So...your eye, will you be able to use it again or is it......" Rarity asks.

"I reckon I won't be able to use it, 'less its healed with some kind of magic" Applejack says solemnly, casting her eye heavily to the ground, watching it move under her hooves with a slight sadness.

"I.....that's horrible" Fluttershy says, watching her helpless friend, feeling useless to aid her.

They arrive at the point where they must split, Rarity says her goodbyes and says she will help Applejack until all is right, and departs on her way. Fluttershy and Applejack continue on in silence until they reach her small cottage.

"Somethin' don't seem right." Applejack says, noticing the lack of small nocturnal critters roaming around her house, " hold up Fluttershy"

As Applejack says this a loud crash is heard from inside her cottage. Followed by sounds of glasses breaking and hitting the floor.

"DAMNIT, WHERE IS SHE?" a slightly familiar voice says from inside Fluttershy's home. Applejack grabs Fluttershy and pulls her under the small bridge in front of her home. Applejack places her hoof over Fluttershy's mouth to keep her quiet. Soon they hear the door open and a pony stomp out angrily.

"Where could a pony be at this time of the night? Hmpf... I'll find her, she has to be in town somewhere. I can't mess up again, ohhh no. Can't do that." the stallion says as he trots over the bridge and heads onto town. Applejack leans out to see if she knew the pony, he's a pegasus with a gray coat and a white mane, he seems vaguely familiar. He trots off toward town in search of Fluttershy. Applejack looks back at Fluttershy to see a very worried yellow pegasus.

"We have to go, Rarity may be in trouble, be quiet now, ok?" Applejack tells Fluttershy. Fluttershy's eyes widen at the realization that Applejack is right. She pushes Applejack's hoof from her mouth and gives a nod. A look of uneasy determination sweeps across her features.

"Okay we've gotta move fast" Applejack says as she puts her hoof down.

"We can't go the regular way, they might find us." Fluttershy says quietly.

"Shoot, yer right. Then we'll have to cut through the park. It'll be faster anyway." Applejack says, motioning for them to start moving. They trot along in silence, hiding when they see figures moving about. As they draw near to Carousel Boutique, they hear sounds of a struggle.

"Oh no. They've got to her, we've gotta do something!" Applejack says as they hear a scream and a crash come from the boutique. Applejack and Fluttershy gallop into the building, slamming the door open and moving as quick as they can to the sound of the struggle. They open the door to Rarity's work room to find Rarity and another unicorn flinging and rolling out of the way of said projectiles. Rarity has a gash on her forehead, her cyan blood running down her face. The other unicorn, whom Applejack remembers as Snow Moon, has needles sticking out of most of her body. Her maroon blood only barely dripping from the wounds. Fluttershy yells and tackles the pony, taking her to the ground. Rarity looks surprised and takes notice of her friends arrival.

“Oh thank Celestia.” She says immediately looking more relaxed. Snow Moon tries to use her magic to throw Fluttershy off of her, but Rarity sees this and uses her own magic to hit her over the head with a manikin. Barely missing Fluttershy and knocking Snow Moon out. Fluttershy gets up and walks over to them, they all just sit in a momentary shock. This nightmare IS real, Fluttershy and Rarity think.

“We've got to get going, we can't stay in Ponyville.” Applejack says, “I suggest we get some supplies and high tail it outta here.”

“I.....alright, give me but a moment, feel free to grab whatever you may need” Rarity says, walking away shaken.

End of Chapter Three