Because She Loved Us: The True Story of Seven Mares

The next day the sun slowly rose into the sky. Starlight watched with unguarded excitement as Twilight stood on the balcony of Canterlot Castle. Her horn glowing as she stood wings flared wide, Twilight expertly guided the sun into place, As she had for the past hundreds of years. The mother of Equestria, truly the most regal of mares. Starlight thought to herself with a smirk.

Turning to see Starlight watching her, Twilight blushed and spoke sheepishly. "Stop watching me and go get Luna, we have a lot to do today."

Starlight could be heard laughing as she headed through the arch to go get Luna. "But that view is so...illuminating."

Seconds later, a flower pot was heard smashing into her head on the other side as horn aglow, Twilight yelled after her. "Stop talking about my plot and get that flank moving, Starlight!"

"YEOWCH! Alright...Mrs. Sunshine..."

Twilight frowned at the arch as Starlight could be heard yelling farther down the hall back towards her. "You know for a pony who raises the sun you are awfully dark in the morning!"

Grumbling, Twilight turned back to face out from the balcony her thoughts racing. Hmmph, Damn that mare. I love her with all my heart, but it's sunrise in the morning you would think after hundreds of years living together she would know I am not a morning pony! Twilight stood there with a huge grin appearing on her face as she thought about Starlight. Suddenly she frowned. UGH, have to focus! We have to go to Applejack. I truly hope she can help us. I'm sure if anypony can AJ will be able to.

Meanwhile in Sweet Apple Acres a toneless knocking was heard by its sole resident. Applejack ignored the corpses as she pushed past them to the door. Before opening it, she pasted a smile on her face. Opening the door, she saw the dead, soulless eyes of Rarity. The puffiness around her eyes indicated she had been crying. Nopony except Applejack knew why Rarity had become a masochist. AJ's mind wandered back lost in thought to that fateful night just after the first purge.

Knock, knock

As the door swung open Rarity stood there, her expression lifeless, soulless. Her eyes puffy from crying. Her tone was dead-pan. "Applejack, darling do you have a moment?"

Applejack stared at her. "Rar are ya all right, Sugarcube?"

The voice was dead. The inflection was hollow. Rarity responded as if she herself was the same. "Applejack, I just killed my sister. I just killed Sweetiebell. "

Applejack nodded slowly and tried not to think about her own family that lay slaughtered behind her, still sitting at the now red-stained kitchen table and that horrible acrid scent of their insides upon her hooves and fur. "Sugarcube, it had to be done. Come in let's talk a spell."

Rarity completely ignored the gutted corpses of the Apple Family and shoved the one belonging to Big Mac to the ground before taking the chair it had rested in. "She looked at me, Applejack. She screamed in pain. She struggled. She cried. Finally seeing there was no escape. She stared at me with those puppydog eyes watering as I ended her life."

Her expression never changed. She was dead inside. She stared into Applejack's eyes. Applejack spoke softly. "What can ah do to ease yer pain, Rar?"

Rarity laughed, a disturbingly hollow laugh, devoid of any emotion. "Darling, pain? I feel nothing. I should be hurting, I should be tormented. Yet I absolutely feel nothing. For all I know I am not even alive. If I could feel pain perhaps, I could live again."

Applejack would never have considered it otherwise. Dominating one of her friends. She loved Rarity and the girls far too much to ever make such an offer unless it was needed. Rarity, however, had a desire for pain and she would let her feel it. "Rar, stand up and turn towards th' window."

Rarity stared at her non-plus until Applejack spoke in a commanding voice. "NOW."

Rarity immediately stood up and turned towards the window. Applejack drew back a forehoof and with medium strength slammed the hoof squarely into Rarity's cutiemark.

Rarity yelped in surprise. Applejack spoke warmly with affection. "Did ya feel that Sugarcube?"

With tears in her eyes, Rarity smiled. She had felt that. The pain from that blow let her know she was alive. "Applejack?"

Lowering her gaze to the floor Applejack knew what was coming and steeled her nerves for it. "Can you do it some more, Darling?"

Applejack looked at her in surprise. She was smiling, even though the pain clearly was causing Rarity to shudder as it wormed it's way along her backside. "More?"

Rarity stared at her with eyes shining with life once more. "Please Applejack? Can you make me feel her pain?"

Applejack saw it then. That sparkle in Rarity's eyes. It was needed. Rarity wasn't the unicorn she had known before this whole rotten situation. She wanted to be punished, tortured and tormented for what she had done. This wouldn't be a one-time thing either. If it meant that's what it took to make her happy once more, then she had no choice. Smiling warmly as she raised her hoof yet again, Applejack spoke to her. "Alright Rar, hold still."

Applejack's voice was warm and gentle, yet firm and commanding. "Howdy Rar, right on time. Get on inside, we got a rough few hours ahead o' us."

Hours later, Starlight and Twilight made their way down the path towards Applejack's farm house. Starlight's horn glowed as she held a giggling Princess Luna, who apparently was having the time of her life. Starlight's voice was calm, almost icy. "Your majesty, now that the memory spell has been cast, her...memory will be remembered only by us. I just wish it hadn't taken so long."

Twilight turned to glare at her. "Starlight, sweetie-"

Her voice was deathly toneless. "Mention her again, and I will personally make sure the world forgets you as well."

Starlight didn't miss a beat and gently nuzzled her lovingly. "Forgive me your majesty. I meant no disrespect."

Twilight sighed and smiled at the gesture. No matter how upsetting she could be, Twilight could just never stay mad at Starlight or any of the other girls. "It's fine.

Twilight raised her forehoof and knocked on the giant barn door. KNOCK KNOCK.

The door slid open to reveal a rather hideous scene of carnage and the smiling face of Applejack. "Howdy Twi, what ken ah do ya fo-"

Her words died midsentence as she stood there mouth agape staring at the infantile giggling Luna hovering just a foot from the door. "Uh Sugarcube? What in tarnation's goin' on here?"

Applejack rummaged through her cupboards as Twilight spoke to her. "-So you see, we need your help."

Applejack, head deep in the cupboard as the sounds of bottles could be heard clicking together, could be heard muttering. "Uh-huh.."

Twilight took a deep breath. "Applejack we really need your help here."

Finally, Applejack withdrew her head and forelegs from the cupboard a very dusty bottle in her hooves. "Ah there it is."

Turning to face Twilight and Starlight, AJ popped the cap and began to chug the bottle of scotch cider without a second thought. Starlight spoke in a stuttered voice. "um A-A-AppleJack?"

Letting loose a monumental burp that would make even Rainbow Dash blush as the empty bottle dropped from her hooves and shattered on the floor. "URP! Ah that's better. Alright, let meh get this straight. Y'all found a cure fer the plague, YOU-"

Pointing at Starlight, Applejack continued in a slightly slurred voice. "kidnapped Luna, and fercibly applied th' cure and YOU-"

With that Applejack swung her around and began pointing at Twilight. "Done screwed up, by not considerin' what th' effects would end up being. Now y'all waltz in here, admist my family gatherin'-"

Applejack suddenly gestured to the brutalized and gutted corses of her kin. "And ya want meh to fix it. Ya want ME-"

Gesturing at herself, Applejack continued talking while Twilight sat patiently waiting while firmly covering Starlight's muzzle with her hoof, to prevent her from insulting AJ. "T' fix all yer problems by somehow recoverin' the mind of a millenia old princess that YOU yerself erased! Is that th' gist of it, Sugarcube?"

As she slammed her forehooves on the table, causing it to shatter from the impact, Twilight crooked an eyebrow in amusement. Next to her Starlight began to gag from the effort of trying not to laugh at the situation. Twilight slowly stood up and calmly cantered around the debris of the oaken table littering the floor. Reaching up with her forehoof she gently stroked AJ's neck as Starlight fell out of her chair laughing uncontrollably. "You sure are cute when you are angry, you adorable country bumpkin."

Applejack blushed profusely as Twilight whispered. "And yes, love that is exactly what is going on-"

Slowly drawing her tongue up Applejack's neck she leaned even closer and whispered softly. "Sugarcube."

Starlight was still laughing as she headed out to the yard where the infant-minded princess had found and began to play with a rope. Starlight took the tiny rope in her hooves and began dragging it along the ground as Luna batted at it and eagerly pulled on the end with her teeth.

Applejack had lost her train of thought and stood there non-plussed as Twilight tenderly kissed her. After slowly pulling away, Twilight looked her in the eyes. "Now then, it seems that has calmed you down. Now then AJ, tell me what can you do about my situation?"

Applejack was silent as she stared into those alluring amethyst eyes of the Queen of Equestria for a few minutes. Her forehoof held her chin as she pondered what she could do. Finally, she spoke. Her tone was of the deepest respect. "Twi, ya know yur th' apple of mah life. Ah would willing do anythin it took within' mah power ta make ya happy but Sugerplum, Ah got nothin'."

Twilight stared at her clearly confused and annoyed. "AJ, you are the BDSM expert of this town, can't you use one of your techniques or brainwashing-"

Applejack shook her head and cleared her throat, causing Twilight to stop talking. AJ spoke in an even tone, the same tone she used when holding sessions. Twilight knew that voice all too well. "Listen ta meh, mah pretty ruler, Ah don' know what it is that y'all think Ah do here but Ah do not brainwash ponies. Ah break their will an' Ah train them. Repetitive learnin' coupled with negative reinforcement t' help them learn how ta act in mah precense. Ah teach, sweetie. Ah can only force a pony ta learn a new way ta think, Ah can't make them recall what they've lost. Do yeh catch mah drift Sugarcube?"

Twilight spoke out of habit. "No ma'am."

As Applejack turned and faced the window, outside of which Starlight and Luna were napping side by side in the sun, she smiled. Gesturing towards the sleeping full-grown alicorn and Starlight, her voice was firm. "If she were a mite younger and still learnin', teaching or rather trainin' her to your expectations would be a breeze. That there however, is a full grown Alicorn, Twi."

Twilight glanced out the window and thought for a moment. "So you are saying if she was still a foal, you could help her grow up to be the princess she was? Why does she have to be a foal once more? Surely her mind is childish enough already?"

Applejack turned to face Twilight and nodded. "That's right, Sugarcube. Provided ya gave meh the specifications fer manners and ettiquette of course. Th' reason, however, is a bit more delicate. Tell meh Twi, how would it look if a full-grown alicorn princess was bein' ordered around and taught things y'all would teach a filly by a humble apple farmer?

Twilight ruffled her wings before closing them once more. "I guess it would raise some questions as to why, the general public would most certainly express concern."

Nodding, Applejack voiced her thoughts, painting an image within Twilight's mind. "Ya know Sugarcube, ya were th' one who suggested we try t' treat life like normal. Surely ya ken understand why the poor pony needs t' be a foal?"

Slowly stepping towards her friend, Applejack's voice took on a soft and rather tender tone. "However, Ah do have a interestin' idea for a solution if yer willin' ta listen ta yer mistress that is, Sugarcube."

Twilight leapt at the chance to hear what was to be said. "Please tell me!"

Applejack swiftly raised her hoof and brought it down sharply upon Twilight's flank. "Is that how Ah taught ya' t' behave when addressin' meh, Sugarcube?"

The quick smack on her hindquarters didn't hurt so much as the dissaproving look AJ shot her. Twilight lowered her head in apology. "Forgive me ma'am. Please tell me, Applejack!"

Applejack smiled and slowly raised Twilight muzzle up with her forehoof till their eyes met. "That's better Twi. Now mah idea is, since yer th' queen an all, Princess Luna is an only child isn't she?"

She doesn't remember Celestia, the spell really did work Twilight answered swiftly. "Yes ma'am an only child."

Applejack turned her gaze to look out the window once more as she let go of Twilight's muzzle. "Why not use yer magic to...turn back time for Luna and then raise her as the daughter of the Queen?"

Twilight thought about it. It made sense after all, she was now the Queen of Equestria. Luna would have the chance to grow up once more into a reputable princess, though she would become Twilight's daughter in the process. "That's a great idea, Applejack! I do have a question, though."

Applejack turned to face Twilight as Luna outside the window began nudging Starlight, attempting to wake her up and get her to play some more. "What's up, Twi?"

Preening her wings in anxiety, she asked Applejack. "Could your methods work to help ponies become comfortable with say a change of stature so to speak?"

Applejack popped the top on a bottle of straight apple cider and began to slowly sip it. "Such as?"

Twilight proceeded to tell Applejack about the serum and how it only affected mares and what was at stake. After taking a slightly longer sip of cider, Applejack fiddled with the hat upon her head. "Hmmm, so what yer sayin' is that ya could change the stallions t' save em too? Yeh I ken see yer train of thought an' yes Twi, it would work. Th' only downside is th' ponies ah train require a guidance pony by their side fer life, but yes, Ah ken without a doubt make a stallion happy t' be a mare."

Twilight smiled warmly and began speaking. "Thanks for all your- wait a minute!"

Her eyes were wide as realization began to dawn on her. Applejack placed her tattered stetson back upon her head. With a wink she spoke calmly, her tone never raising or lowering. "That's right Sugarcube. Why do ya think I told ya ta accept Starlight as yer roommate?"

Twilight looked about to respond as Applejack gave her an amused look. "Aren't ya going to go get yer partner, Sugarcube? Ah reckon it seems the darling princess of the night has plum tuckered her out."

Glancing out the window to where Starlight and Luna lay, Twilight saw Starlight curled up and snoozing while Luna tugged on the lilac unicorn's mane with her teeth, desperately trying to get her attention so they could play some more. "ya ken see it can't ya Sugarcube? That there alicorn isn't some devastated princess."

Twilight watched her antics for a moment and felt a warmth in her heart. Applejack was right, what was before her wasn't the Princess of the Night. No, Luna was nothing more than a foal with the body of a mare. She really does need a mother Turning to Applejack, Twilight grinned. "No, Applejack, that's my daughter."

Applejack laughed and hugged her, whispering gently. "That's right, Sugarcube. Now then why don't you go play with her? Everything else can wait."

As Twilight ran out to where Luna was vigorously trying to wake a sleeping Starlight, to no avail, Applejack took a nearby unopened bottle of cider and began to sip from it. Sitting down in a small wooden chair, Applejack watched Twilight and Luna play ball, The Alicorn slowly reversing in age and stature down to that of a baby once more while Twilight's horn glowed brighter and brighter still.

Turning away from the window, Applejack smiled at the bashed in face of her sister. A bittersweet tear ran down the side of her muzzle as she spoke. Her tone was like that of a big sister teaching her little sister a life lesson. "Y'know Applebloom, some magic can't be cast from a unicorn's horn, nor read from them fancy spells. The magic of family can't be replicated, naw, that kind o' magic ken only be observed in all it's glory. Ain't that right, sis?"
Her ears perked up as just for a moment she heard the sweet southern voice of a young filly. "that's right big sis!"

Applejack smiled to herself. Taking another sip of her cider, she thought in silence for a moment before speaking to her sister once more, ignoring the holes she herself made in that tiny skull. "Ah promise ya sis, next time'll be different. Next time, ah'll get t' watch ya' grow up proper."

It was then she pulled out the small cylinder of paper Fluttershy had given her. Looking at it carefully she noticed the faint acidic aroma emanating from it. She recalled what Fluttershy had said. "Th-this is what I use to calm my nerves, maybe you should try it."

Looking at her Applejack responded in confusion. "What in tarnation is that?"

Taking it out of her mouth and placing the smouldering tip against Rarity's flank in a twisting motion, Fluttershy stared at Applejack. "It's a cigarette, AJ. You light one end with a spark of this device Starlight gave me and you place it in your mouth- Rarity you move one more damn time I swear I will hit you with a feather pillow."

Rarity was being used as a coffee table for Applejack and Fluttershy's teatime. Currently, the burns from the cigarettes were making her frisky, and it was extremely hard for her not to twitch in happiness.

Rarity's whines came from below Fluttershy and Applejack as she did her best to stay still. "But that won't hurt at all!"

Fluttershy laughed quietly as she lit another cigarette. "That's the point, Darling."

Her tone was enough to make a chill run up Rarity and Applejack's spines. "Now don't move, Sassafrass."

Applejack took out the strange device she borrowed from Fluttershy and flicked it. A flame came out of the top. Touching it to the cigarette, she attempted to imitate the motions Fluttershy had used. Immediately she began coughing and sputtering. Throwing it into the (now) empty bottle in disgust, she muttered. "Ugh she actually likes that taste? Ah'd sooner eat an orange."

A soft knock on the doorframe alerted her to Twilight patiently standing there with both a sleeping Starlight and a giggling baby Luna levitating them both with her magic. "Never took you for a smoker, Applejack."

Applejack laughed. "Naw, those are Flutter's. She thought them would help meh, but they taste like an unwashed flank. Absolutely 'orrid. Ah'll stick ta mah cider.

Twilight gave a small laugh. She knew each of her friends had developed their own coping mechanisms for what they had to do. Starlight desired to be insulted and demeaned by her. Rainbow Dash enjoyed time with really any and every mare she could; particularly those within the close sisterhood of their circle. Applejack loved to get drunk on homemade distilled cider. Fluttershy smoked those strange cylinders after Starlight had explained to her how they worked. Rarity hurt herself or begged others to hurt her. Meanwhile, screams coming from the gates of Tartarus itself, gave indication of what Pinkie did. Twilight trotted forward and gave Applejack a supporting hug. "If you ever have a problem and need to talk, 'mistress' I promise I will be there. After all, I love you."

With that she playfully reached up and pulled down Applejacks hat over her eyes before galloping off at breakneck speed carrying Starlight, still snoring and Luna who was happily laughing her flank off at the scene. "Twi, why you-"

Lifting up the brim of her hat, Applejack found herself alone. Looking around in surprise, she began laughing, a genuinely light-hearted laugh. She began whispering to herself as she turned back to her cider cabinet, to pour yet another shot. "Ah love ya too, ya naughty mare. Applebloom remind meh ta tan 'er flank next session fer touchin' mah hat."