An Apple Sleep Experiment

The dark stillness of the dungeon cell was broken by the sound of approaching hoofsteps. Applejack lifted her head from the cot and looked expectantly towards the door. Her only indication for the passing of time came from the light of a small window too far from her reach. When sunlight passed over certain stones on the wall, Applejack knew to expect her daily meals; it was the only change from the monotony of silence. This time, however, the approaching pony came entirely too early. Applejack’s mind raced; hoping at last she could learn what was going on.

Somepony magicked the key into the lock and opened the cell door, entering without a word. Applejack winced from the sudden brightness but her expression quickly turned to a smile.

“Twilight?”

“Hello Applejack.” Twilight replied, her voice tinged with a professionalism that Applejack had only heard used in the presence of acquaintances or important guests.

“Thank Celestia! Ah was beginnin’ to think somepony forgot Ah was in here! What in the hay is goin’ on?”

Twilight hesitated before giving her answer. “What… do you remember?”

Applejack frowned and slumped back onto the cot where she had been lying. “Ah… Ah remember askin’ you fer help and takin’ that strange potion of yours but after that… things get a bit hazy. Next thing Ah know Ah’m all wrapped up in guaze and bandages downin’ pain pills like they’re candy and tryin’ to get over the fact that I look like I’ve been in some kind of terrible accident… what happened?”

Twilight pursed her lips and fidgeted on her hooves. There was a slight tremor in her voice as if she were needlessly nervous to answer.

“Applejack, I don’t know what you’re talking about. There was no potion… you worked yourself too hard and it caused a mental break. You were spouting nonsense and acting violently. Not only did you harm yourself but you harmed several others, turning your orchard into…” she paused, contemplating how much she wanted to reveal at once.

“Into what?” Applejack asked, a scowl on her face.

“Into a slaughtering ground. In your hysteria you took the lives of thirteen ponies and attempted to take mine and Rainbow Dash’s lives as well.”

“What in the hay are you talkin’ about?! Ah’d never harm another creature and Ah certainly wouldn’t put the lives of mah best friends at risk! And of course there was a potion! You’re the one who gave it to me in the first place!”

Twilight sighed. “Applejack I’m… I’m sorry. I don’t know what to tell you.”

“You can tell me why yer lyin’” Applejack growled.

“I am the Princess of Friendship. I have ponies who rely on my guidance and I can’t be taking the blame for the mistakes of my friends. Your… mental break… must have caused you some confusion.”

“Take the blame?! Yer accusing me of murder, Twilight! We both know Ah came to you for that potion! What was in that thing? Why can’t Ah remember what happened? WHAT DID IT MAKE ME DO?!” Applejack shouted, wishing she could stamp her hooves down in anger but feared the seering pain of doing so.

Twilight completely ignored the outburst and continued. “Princess Celestia and I don’t believe in corporal punishment, and given the fact that you’ve assisted in saving Equestria on numerous occasions…. We’ve decided to grant you your life; a sentence to be carried out here for the safety of other ponies.”

“Why are ya doin’ this? You know me Twilight…” Applejack muttered, her voice tremoring as her mind tried to accept her friend’s betrayal.

“If there WAS such a potion, and I’m not saying there was, I would have TRIED to caution you to its… adverse effects before giving you anything that could be considered dangerous!” Twilight said, returning to that formal tone she used as a mask to hide behind.

“That’s it, isn’t it? Yer absolving yerself from the guilt; blamin’ everything on me so you can sleep at night KNOWIN’ what you’ve done…” Applejack hissed.

“You’re the one who carried out those heinous crimes and… disturbing deaths… you have no pony to blame but yourself.” Twilight said, looking a little green at the thought.

Applejack looked up at the pony who used to be considered her friend with a cold stare that could penetrate Twilight’s heart. It wasn’t like her to be so cold and calculating. The Twilight she knew would have stood with her friend and owned up to her mistakes, no matter the cost. While she wracked her brain, searching for a plausible explanation, Twilight broke the silence.

“I found a cure to… whatever it was that ailed you. Even though I was too late to save the others, I knew I could save you. It wasn’t until you were… safe here, that I could really focus on the drought. I did something even Celestia couldn’t do: find a spell to save Equestria. That’s what I do, Applejack, I’m the Princess of Friendship; I wield the most powerful magic in the world and it’s MY responsibility to harness that magic for the good of everypony! Equestria can’t afford to lose the both of us!

“So ya sacrifice a friend to bury your secret? And what about the element of Honesty, Twi? The Magic of Friendship doesn’t work without it!”

“It turns out that Starlight Glimmer might be more useful to Equestria than we thought. She wields the element now.”

Applejack sat dumbfounded. The life she had lived passed before her eyes like a flickering memory and she knew this cell was made specifically for her to rot.

“Why’d ya come?”

“To say goodbye. And… to see if…”

“If Ah was cured. Sorry to disappoint ya, but Ah am. Your spell worked.”

Twilight bit her lip and lowered her head. If Applejack wasn’t herself, she could justify this in her mind; but Applejack wouldn’t give that to her. She wanted Twilight to live with the weight of this guilt for the rest of her life.

“Is… is Rainbow alright?”

“Rainbow Dash is still recovering, but she should be fine.” Twilight answered softly.

“And mah family?”

Twilight hesitated again. She rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof nervously before answering “They’re… alright. I should go now.”

“No… what’s wrong? Is Big Mac still hurt?”

Twilight’s horn ignited and she made her way towards the door.

“Is he?!”

“He’s fine.” Twilight answered.

“And granny?”

“I’ve got to go Applejack.” Twilight said, hanging her head in shame.

“Apple Bloom?”

Twilight flinched at the mention of Apple Bloom, and Applejack picked up on it immediately.

“What’s wrong with Apple Bloom?”

“Goodbye…” Twilight said, choking back tears as she closed Applejack’s cell door and locked it again.

“WHERE’S APPLE BLOOM?” Applejack screamed after her.

Twilight briskly walked away from the cell towards the pony guard waiting to guide her out. The sound of Applejack’s cries were masked by the boom of thunder outside and the new rainfall hitting against the prison wall.

“WHAT HAPPENED TO MAH SISTER?”