Shadow Spade Mysteriesby Dilly1908ChaptersChapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8EpilogueChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3The Rainbooms arrived at the hospital shortly after the ambulance. Without thinking, Rainbow Dash leapt out of the truck with Applejack's Stetson in hand, and darted to the reception. "Rainbow!" Sunset called, but Rainbow didn't hear as she was already inside. Something's bugging Rainbow. I think whatever happened to AJ is affecting her, too. She thought, walking with the others into the hospital. Rainbow darted into the reception, breathing heavily as she looked around for the receptionist. Is AJ gonna be alright?! She thought. She finally found the receptionist, Red Cross, talking to a doctor. She wait impatiently for Red Cross to walk over. Finally, the young receptionist did and sat back down in her chair. "Can I help you?" She asked. "One of my friends was brought here by ambulance. How is she?! Where is she?!" Rainbow yelped. "Applejack? She is currently in Intensive Care." Red Cross replied calmly. "It seems she had been attacked by someone with a baseball bat. The doctors found a few splinters in her back and the back of her head." Before Rainbow could reply, she was held back by a pair of strong hands and a purple blast of magic. "What? Girls?!" She asked, struggling to find a way out of the magic's grip alongside Sunset's strong hold. "you need to calm down, Rainbow." Sunset replied, almost as calm as Red Cross had been just moments before. "Applejack is going to be fine, okay." She released her hold on Rainbow's waist but placed her hands on her shoulders. "You okay?" She asked. Rainbow sat down on the seat behind her, one hand on her abdomen. "I feel like I'm gonna be sick." She said with a groan. "Let's head outside for some fresh air, hmm?" Sunset replied, motioning for Twilight to release her magic grip, to which she did. Rainbow and Sunset walked outside and sat down on a bench beside the enterance to the facility. "what's go you so worked up, Rainbow?" "I'm worried for AJ. The attacker must've done some serious damage is she's in Intensive Care." Rainbow replied with a sudden gag. "Just thinking about how bad her injuries are is making me sick to the stomach." "I know." Sunset replied, rubbing circles on Rainbow's back. "But we all have to be strong for her. AJ, like all of us, is a fighter. She'll never leave her friends hanging." "Yeah." Rainbow smiled softly before a sudden wave of nausea hit her like an out-of-control truck. Rainbow groaned and slowly stood up. "I think I'm gonna be sick." She moaned. Her head was pounding and spinning at the same time, while her stomach did backflips. She gagged as she began walking back inside the hospital, stumbling every once in a while. Sunset instantly joined Rainbow and they both walked inside and over to the nearest bathroom. She continued to rub circles on her best friend's back while Rainbow emptied the contents off her stomach into the nearest sink. Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy entered the bathroom she took notice of how pale Rainbow Dash had become. After dry-heaving for what seemed like the billionth time, Rainbow looked up at Sunset, weakly. "Thanks, Sunset." She moaned, still clutching her stomach. "You okay?" Sunset asked with a hand around Rainbow's shoulders. "Yeah, thanks." Rainbow replied. "But I think my guts disagree with my brain." She moaned. "What happened?" Rarity asked. "Nothing Rarity, I'm fine!" Rainbow returned. "Any news on AJ?" She asked. "The receptionist said we could visit her and asked if we could try to get through to her." Pinkie replied. "That's great news!" Rainbow muttered. Once again, Rainbow thought about the worst scenarios and collapsed to her knees, gagging once again as she refused to let more bile and stomach acid make it's way up her throat. Sunset noticed and placed a bucket under Rainbow's chin. Within a few moments of the bucket being under her chin, Rainbow emptied the rest of her stomach's contents and dry-heaved again before letting her head roll backwards into Sunset's arm. Rainbow groaned and leaned into Sunset as she slowly stood once again before all of them left the room, with Sunset carrying the bucket under Rainbow's chin just incase. Once the girls reached the waiting room, Rainbow sat down on the nearest seat and coughed. "I feel terrible!" She groaned. Oblivious, Pinkie poked her head out from behind Rainbow's seat. "You definitely look it, Dashie!" She said with a squeak. "go figure!" Rainbow muttered, sarcastically. Red Cross walked over to the group and asked, "are you Applejack's friends?" Twilight replied, "yeah. Can we go and see her?" "Not right now, dear." Red Cross replied. "It seems her vitals have become unstable. The doctors are trying to stabilise her before she deteriorates anymore." "What do you mean, 'unstable'?" Fluttershy asked. "her blood pressure dropped at an alarming rate and her heart rate is through the roof." Red Cross explained. "The doctors can't run any further tests until Applejack us stable enough." "'further tests'?" Rarity asked. "What further tests?" "Applejack took two beatings to her chest and spine and another to her skull. The doctors want to rule out any possibilities of paralysis and brain damage before they can continue." Red Cross explained further. This only made Rainbow's head spin and pound faster and harder. She closed her eyes and shook her head to rid herself of the dizziness, to no avail. As the seconds drained by, Rainbow was becoming more and more pale and it was becoming harder and harder for her to concentrate on anything other than the urge to pass out right now. She groaned, alerting Sunset and Fluttershy, who were at her side in an instant. "Rainbow, you feeling okay?" Sunset asked, putting a hand to Rainbow's forehead. She was burning up, and quickly. "Rainbow?" She called again, only to receive another groan from the rainbow-haired girl. Worriedly, Sunset turned to Fluttershy and motioned for her to get Red Cross. Fluttershy nodded and walked over to the receptionists desk. Red Cross looked up gingerly. "How can I help you?" She asked. "It's Rainbow Dash. Sunset told me to get your attention." Fluttershy replied in a small voice. Red Cross stood up and exited the booth before following Fluttershy to where Sunset and Rainbow were. "What happened?" Red Cross asked as she sat on Rainbow's other side. "I don't know." Sunset replied, concerned. "Has she eaten anything she wouldn't usually eat?" Red Cross asked. "No, not that I know of." Sunset asked. "Rainbow did eat that cinamon and popping candy muffin I made this morning. She wasn't acting strange then." Pinkie added. "Oh, yeah. She ate one of the muffins Pinkie made, then dissapeared to the bathroom for a short while before returning." Twilight commented. "She looked fine then!" Red Cross frowned, picked Rainbow up and carried her to a room before hooking her up to a heart monitor. "I'll order some blood tests incase Rainbow Dash was poisoned." She said before leaving. "I'll let you girls know if there is any news on Applejack." She called. A short time later, Red Cross poked her head into the room. "You girls can see Applejack now." The girls nodded and left the room, heading up to the Intensive Care Unit, where Applejack currently layed, bandages heavily wrapped around her head and another starting at her chest and ending at her torso. Rarity, who had been holding Applejack's Stetson since Rainbow had dropped it by the bucket in the waiting room, carefully placed it on Applejack's chest. "Thank the lord she's okay!" Rarity spoke with a sigh of relief. Sunset turned to one of the doctors nearby and asked, "how is she?" The doctor, Healing Touch, looked up from a clipboard and replied. "The MRI shows no sign of brain damage. However, Applejack has sustained a 3rd degree spinal injury, resulting in a small chance of paralysis. The good news is that Applejack shall be moved downstairs soon and out of Intensive Care and she should wake up within a few days." "That's great news!" Rarity replied. "Will you be doing a further investigation of the extent of Applejack's injuries?" She asked. "We will keep her here overnight incase of any complications, but she will not require any further investigations." Healing Touch replied. "'Complications'?" Twilight asked. "While the MRI shows no brain damage, chances are that Applejack may never be the same again. There are more than one possibility of complications that could arise while Applejack is in a coma." Healing Touch explained. "For example, Applejack could develop epilepsy or she could be permanently paralysed for the rest of her life, we just don't know, and we won't know until she wakes up." "But there is a chance that there won't be any complications?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes, there is a chance that nothing will happen that will affect Applejack, however, the chances are very slim." Healing Touch replied before turning back to the paperwork he was holding in his hands. Author's Note Turns out, it's a bit of both. Applejack is gonna be okay, but she might not. Poor Dash. I just hope the Doc's find out what caused her to become so sick. Chapter 4Rainbow coughed and spluttered as she tossed and turned in the bed. She was almost as white as the sheets. Her breathing ragged and laboured as she slept, feverishly. Rarity slowly walked in and sat beside Rainbow on a chair. Oh, Rainbow Dash, she thought to herself. What are we going to do? "is she still not awake yet, Rarity?" Sunset asked as she walked into the room. "I'm afraid not, darling." Rarity replied with a frown. "I just hope Rainbow Dash fights this ailment as best she can." Sunset frown at the statement. "I hope so too. She's never been this sick before, has she?" "Not since I can remember. She's had the odd stomach bug but never an ailment this severe." Rarity replied. "how is Applejack, by the way?" She asked, looking up into Sunset's teal eyes. "Last time I checked, Applejack was starting to mutter something in her sleep as she tossed and turned. She might wake up soon." Sunset replied. "Something about 'DJ's return.'" "Her brother is returning to Sweet Apple Acres?!" Rarity jolted up. "We have to warn the others and Applejack's family." "Easy, Rarity." Sunset cooed. "Who is DJ, anyway?" She asked. Rarity sighed and explained to Sunset about DJ and what he did. By the time she was finished, she heard Rainbow begin to mutter, "Fire Blaze... Alopex! Don't leave me, Big Brother!" Before falling silent once again. She felt nothing, apart from a dull throb in the back of her head. Applejack glanced around the dark place before remembering what her father said before he died, "people in a coma never dream. They remain inside a black void but their imagination allows them to bring their friends into their dark abyss. If the time comes for them to awaken, then they will see a white steak in front of them and grows with every step the person takes." She smiled at the memory and looked around. She saw nothing, just like her father said. Applejack wouldn't admit this out loud, but she was absolutely terrified. She looked around before locking eyes with a pair of magenta irises. "Rainbow!" She yelped, darting forward. Rainbow returned the gesture before releasing. "AJ, who did this to you?!" Rainbow demanded. Applejack sighed. She looked around as the dark scene turned into a dark version of her bedroom as she saw the familiar figure enter through the window with a baseball bat and beat her senseless before leaving. "Ah ain't so sure, Sugarcube. But Ah have a good idea who might be the culprit." Rainbow's eyes shot open as she bolted upright in the hospital bed. She was still deathly pale, but slowly, her cyan cheeks filled with colour. Her eyes darted left and right before landing on two blobs on either side of the bed, having an interesting conversation. Rainbow groaned as her headache returned, pounding and spinning rapidly. Sunset and Rarity looked over at Rainbow Dash and instantly joined her at either side. Sunset held a hand to Rainbow's chest and gently pushed her back onto the bed. "Easy, Rainbow." She said. Rainbow groaned as she sank under the covers once again. "Where's AJ and the others?" She asked. Sunset turned to face Rarity, just as Pinkie entered the room with her party cannon in tow. "Hi Rainbow Dash!!" She screeched. "Pinkie, lot so loud, please!" Rainbow muttered. "I have one heck of a massive headache already!" "Pinkie, how's Applejack?" Rarity asked. "The girls told me to come get you. Applejack's waking up!" Pinkie announced, making Dash's headache worse. "Thanks for letting us know, Pinkie. We'll be there in a sec." Sunset replied before turning to Rarity. "Do you have your phone on you?" She asked. "Yes. Why, darling?" Rarity replied, passing her phone to Sunset, who gave it to Rainbow. "I'll Skype you on Rarity's phone as soon as we reach Applejack's room, okay?" Sunset asked. Rainbow nodded, making her head spin even more. Rarity and Sunset said their goodbyes to Rainbow before following Pinkie to Applejack's room. While they walked down the corridor, Rarity turned to Sunset and asked, "You don't think the same person who attacked Applejack could've poisoned Rainbow Dash, do you?" "I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this turn of events, Rarity." Sunset replied. "Were here, anyway." She added, gesturing to the door leading to Applejack's bed. "Let's go." Rarity replied as the trio entered the room. Sunset took her phone out and skyped Rainbow. "Hey Sunset." Rainbow greeted. "Are you in AJ's room?" She asked. "We sure are, Rainbow." Sunset replied. "And just in time too." She flipped the camera around just as Applejack slowly opened her eyes. Author's Note Cliffhanger! So, AJ's awake but Rarity and Sunset still have an investigation to do. Tune in next time! Chapter 5"h-hey, y'all." Applejack greeted. "How do you feel?" Sunset asked. "Sore all over." Applejack replied with a grunt as she tried sitting up in the bed. "What happened?" She asked. Rarity sat beside the bed, a concerned look plastered on her face. "You were attacked in your sleep a few nights ago." She explained. "You mean... He's back?!" Applejack yelped in alarm, turning to Rarity. "He's back, isn't he?" "I'm not certain, but this is the kind of thing DJ would do." Rarity replied. "I won't hesitate to fight like a ruffian if it means you'll be safe, Applejack." "Thanks, Rarity." Applejack replied with a blush. "Anytime, darling." Rarity mused and turned to Sunset. "Shall we?" Sunset nodded. "Yeah. We've got some work to do." She said. The others looked at Rarity said Sunset with confusion. "What in the hay are y'all talkin' 'bout?" Applejack asked. "Well, we came to a conclusion that whatever happened to Rainbow and you, Applejack, wasn't an accident. Someone clearly wants us out of the way so they can continue their tyranny." Sunset replied. "We have an idea who might be behind hit all." A pair of voices chorused. Two figures stood at the door to the room. One was taller than the other with grey spiky hair. He had dark blue skin and red eyes which glistened with betrayal and hatred. The other figure, shorter than the first, had long red and white hair and baby blue skin. "Fire Blaze? Alopex?" Fluttershy asked, walking over to the figures. "It's us alright, 'Shy." The taller figure replied. "Like Sunset clarified, this is no accident. He's back for revenge." "Revenge?" Rarity asked. "He poisoned Rainbow Dash and almost killed Applejack, his own sister!" She exclaimed. "DJ poisoned Dash?!" Fire and Alopex exclaimed. "Tried to, yeah." Pinkie said. "You can go see her." "Pinkie, I'm right here!" Rainbow pointed out from Sunset's phone screen. "Sunset, turn me around a sec." She said, pleadingly. Sunset nodded and turned to face Fire Blaze and Alopex while still holding her phone out. "Better?" She asked. "Yep, thanks." Rainbow replied before turning to her siblings. "Where's Mom and Dad?" She asked. Fire sighed as he took hold of Alopex's baby blue hands. "They don't know about any of this." He admitted with a frown. "And it's better they don't!" A gruff, country accent spoke. "You wanna know why?" Another figure jumped forward, connecting his right foot with Fire's side. "Because this is between us only!" "D-DJ?!" Applejack gulped. "What do ya want from us?" "My revenge!" DJ barked. "All of you, meet me on the sports field at CHS in 20 minutes!" Before the others could reply, DJ vanished into this air. "Channel your geodes!" Sunset instructed. "As soon as we all put them on, well race to CHS." "Great idea, Sunset!" Rarity replied, producing hers and Applejack's geodes and placing Applejack's around her neck. "We have a fight to win!" They all pony up. Sunset walked over to Applejack and helped her out the bed. "Can you walk?" She asked. "Ah think so." Applejack said. She took a step forward. "Woah, Nelly!" She yelped in surprise as she almost fell flat on her face if it wasn't for Sunset's quick reflexes. "Thanks, Sunset." Sunset replied, "no problem." Before gesturing for Applejack to get on her back. "Hop on!" Applejack gulped before placing her arms around Sunset's neck and hoisting herself up onto her back. "Let's fight!" Applejack thundered. "DJ's goin' down!" "Lead the way!" Fire said, opening the door and allowing the girls to exit, with Applejack being carried by Sunset. Author's Note There's probably gonna be two more chapters before I end this story. Can DJ be defeated by the girls, Fire Blaze and Alopex, or will he succeeded in defeating them? Chapter 6Once they arrived at CHS, the Mane 9- with Applejack still on Sunset's back- all looked across the field to see DJ arrive in a puff of smoke. The smoke cleared after a while, revealing DJ with his arms crossed and a scowl on his chiseled features. "Well, y'all turned up, for your one-way ticket to Death!" DJ barked, blasting an energy ball towards the group. Fire Blaze darted forward, his ruby-red eyes glistening with pent-up anger as he fired his own energy balls at DJ. "More like it's you're personal death wish!" He snarled. "You hurt your own sister and poisoned mine but you think it's okay?!" He flew forward and use his knees to throw DJ to the ground. "You're just going to shrug it off like nothing happened!" Alopex and Fluttershy flew over to Fire's side. "I hope you're happy for what you've done!" Alopex growled. Meanwhile, on the ground below, Rarity turned to Twilight. "Darling, what do we do now?" She asked. "Ah'll tell ya what we'll do!" Applejack exclaimed. "We're gonna join the fight 'n' take DJ down, that's what!" Sunset looked up into Applejack's green eyes, concerned. "AJ, it's too dangerous. DJ could hurt you worse than he already has." She said, calmly. Applejack growled lowly. "Ah'm not gonna sit on the sidelines and watch y'all git taken down by mah brother." "We know, darling." Rarity stated. "But think of the consequences you'd be facing if we let you join the fight." For the first time that day, Applejack hadn't thought about the consequences of her joining the fight. She turned to Rarity and stated, "If ya say so, Rarity. But Ah'll only join if we finally defeat him." "That's all we needed to hear." Sunset replied. Applejack slid off her back and took a seat on the bleachers and putting her hands out behind her to keep herself upright. Rarity opened her hands and produced a few small crystals before throwing them up to DJ, who easily dodged them without taking a glance down at the fashionista. "Grrrr." Rarity huffed, looking over at Pinkie. "Ready, darling?" She asked with a smirk. Pinkie poured a few sprinkles into her hand and looked at Rarity while clenching her fist. "When you are, Rare-Bear!" She exclaimed. Rarity nodded before producing a large crystal in front of her. "Ready?" Pinkie nodded and took a running start towards the crystal. "Jump!" As Rarity gave the signal, Pinkie darted forward and jumped onto the crystal before Rarity projected her towards DJ. Pinkie flipped over DJ's head and used her energised sprinkle-explosives to throw the older teen off guard. DJ stumbled upon receiving the blow to the the back of his neck, but still managed to fire a large energy ball towards Fire. "DUCK!!!!" Alopex exclaimed to her older brother. With just a few seconds to move out the way, Fire noticed the energy ball heading straight for him, but blocked it with his own. "You aren't gonna win, DJ. You're outnumbered." Fire smirked before sending the ball back towards DJ. "You've got nothing on the Magic of Friendship!" DJ sneered. "Prove it! Ah was once an Element of Harmony too." "As you wish!" Fire replied, as he, Fluttershy and Alopex descended. "Let's show this big guy how real magic works!" Rarity and Sunset linked arms with eachother as Rarity looked around the field. "Sunset, darling?" She asked. "Yeah, Rarity?" "Where's Rainbow Dash?" "Shoot!" Sunset exclaimed, turning to Fire. "Blaze, get Rainbow. The Magic of Friendship only works if everyone is here." She then turned to Twilight and Pinkie. "Twilight, Pinkie. Bring AJ over." "You got it!" Fire Blaze, Twilight and Pinkie replied in unison before going their separate ways. Applejack bit back a grunt of pain as her friends came closer. "Time to use the Magic of Friendship?" She asked. Twilight nodded before using her magic to lift AJ off the bleachers and over to their friends. "Ready?" She asked. "As Ah'll ever be." Applejack smirked, but Sunset and Twilight couldn't help but notice her voice wavering slightly. "We're here!" Fire called from above as he and Rainbow landed beside Rarity. "Now, let's put the plan in motion!" Rarity smiled at the two siblings before looking at Rainbow Dash. "Feeling better, darling?" She asked. "Yeah, I feel fine." Rainbow replied, turning her attention to DJ. "Now less talking, more fighting!" Fire smirked as he turned to look at the rest of the group. "The Magic of Friendship flows through our veins and boosts our powers to save Canterlot City-" He paused, turning to DJ. "-and stopping people from being corrupted by the Magic, including ex-Elements of Harmony." "Light it up, guys!!" Pinkie exclaimed. They all held hands and Fire and AJ took the lead. "The Magic of Friendship never should have belonged to you, DJ. You may have forgotten what matters and what doesn't, but that doesn't mean you have to use your powers for evil." Fire and AJ spoke in unison. "You'd stop believing in everyone else and only follow your own decisions, eventually trying to kill whoever you happen to come across." "Y'all lot never understood how powerful this magic flowing through me can be." DJ barked in return. "You never understood the concept of this Magic!" "We knew how easily the Magic could turn someone into something they aren't! Like a voice inside your head, telling you what's right and what's not!" Sunset growled. "Now, it comes down to you, DJ. You're decisions and dangerous, to both you and those around you. All you have to do is let the magic go!" Rarity spoke up. "No way am Ah givin' up my geode or mah magic to you fools!" DJ snarled dangerously. He threw a large energy ball at the group and continued. "You're never gonna take mah Magic!" The energy ball was suddenly thrown back in DJ's face and the impact caused him to fall back. He looked up and saw a light pink forcefield around the teens. DJ stood back up and threw a larger magic blast towards the group. "Think yourselves lucky I can't defeat you... Yet! Next time we fight, you lot won't be so lucky!" He growled in frustration before smirking at Fire and Alopex before disappearing in a puff of smoke. The group lowered the forcefield and slowly descended to the ground, with Applejack holding onto Sunset and Twilight for support. "What does he mean next-" Applejack cut herself off as her eyes widened in alarm. "Oh, no!" "What? AJ, what's wrong?" Sunset asked. "DJ said the next fight, we won't be so lucky. Ah know what he means. He means he'll take Sweet Apple Acres by force." Applejack replied. She shut her eyes tightly and bit back another groan, to no avail. "We better head over ta Sweet Apple Acres. If DJ wants the farm, hes bound to take it by force." Author's Note Another Cliffhanger! DJ wants the farm, but will he get it, or will he not? What's gonna happen next? Next chapter will be uploaded by midday tomorrow. Chapter 7"AJ's right." Fire replied after a while, looking up at the rear-view mirror. "Last time he tried to do that was about a month or so before Bright was killed by timberwolves." "But what if DJ plans to do the same thing as last time?" Applejack asked. "Ah mean, he's bound to try taking AB hostage until we fight 'im." The group were currently in Fire Blaze's van driving to Sweet Apple Acres. There was a long pause as Fire shook his head and focused on the road, occasionally looking up through the rear-view mirror at the girls. "If DJ tries to take Apple Bloom, Big Mac would hopefully get in the way and fight him, won't he?" Alopex asked. "Not likely, Sugarcube." Applejack replied. "Since the death of Bright Mac, Big Mac vowed never to take his anger for granted. He wouldn't hurt a fly now, not even his own older brother." "Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are there with Apple Bloom!" Rarity suddenly remembered. "W-what if DJ tries to hurt all three of them?!" Fire looked up at the rear-view mirror, sharply. "And DJ's heading there right now!" He exclaimed. He put the pedal to the metal and sped off down the quiet streets towards the farm. "C'mon, c'mon...." He muttered to himself as the van slowly sped up. Applejack remained quiet the rest of the trip back to Sweet Apple Acres, but grunted and groaned in pain as the van harshly, and literally, flew over the speed bumps. The van, still slowly increasing speed, suddenly jolted, causing Applejack to fall off one of the seats and directly onto her already injured back. "Ahhh!" She cried out. The van suddenly jolted forwards to a halt. "Is everyone alright back there?" Fire called as he flicked the vans hazzard lights on, opened the door on the driver's side and walked to the back of the van before opening the doors. He opened the doors and looked over at AJ, who had her eyes shut tight and her jaw clenched in pain. "AJ, you alright?" Fire asked. "Define.... 'Alright'." Applejack snapped. She bit back another groan as she tried sitting up, only to collapse onto her back once again. "Dash, Alopex." Fire called to his younger sisters. "Could I talk to you for a sec?" He asked. "Sure." The two girls replied, stepping out of the van. "What's wrong, Fire? Alopex asked. "Slight change of plans, guys. Well deal with DJ after getting ourselves and Applejack checked over." Fire replied, sternly. "I'll call Mom and Dad and tell them to meet us at the enterance to Canterlot City General." "What do we do in the meantime?" Rainbow asked. Fire looked away for a second before replying, "we all work together. I can't do anything to help since I'm the one driving, so you guys and the others are gonna have to think of something to take AJ's mind off her injuries." "On it!" Alopex replied with a smirk. "Canterlot General is nearly a mile away, Fire." Rainbow pointed out. "How are we supposed to get there on... I don't know... 1/10 of a tank full of petrol?!" "We'll make it, I'm positive. Besides," Fire nudged Rainbow, earning a hard glare from the shorter teen. "There's still 1/3 of petrol left in the tank, not 1/10." "Whatever, Blaze." Rainbow smirked before hopping back into the van. Fire walked back to the driver's side of the van and started the engine before taking his seat at the steering wheel. "let's go." He muttered to himself and began driving off towards Canterlot General. Chapter 8"Well," Healing Touch stated. "There doesn't seem to have been any further damage when you and your friends ran off to save Canterlot City." "That's good, right?" Applejack asked. The group of teens were currently getting check-ups at Canterlot General Hospital. "Of course that's good. Consider yourself lucky the forcefield prevented further damage when your brother fired those energy balls." Healing Touch replied. "Just try to take it easy over the next few days." He told Applejack. "Ah'll try ta." Applejack replied, carefully sliding off the table and onto her feet. "Where's the others?" She asked once she regained her sense of balance. "They're all waiting in the reception area. Though Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle chose to wait outside the room until we finished. Would you like me to call them in?" "Yeah, please." Applejack replied, leaning against the rail opposite the table. "I'll be right back." Healing Touch assured, leaving the room for a brief moment before returning with Sunset and Twilight. "Hey." Sunset greeted. "How are you feeling?" she asked. "A mite sore, but Ah'm alright." Applejack replied. "Ah guess we're goin' ta stop DJ from takin' the farm?" "You bet we are!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed from the door. "Operation: save the farm!" The others giggled as Rainbow's enthusiasm. "'bout time we stopped DJ." Fire Blaze, entering the room. "Did someone say 'Operation: Save the farm'?!" Pinkie's squeaky voice echoed from down the hall. "Pinkie!" The others yelled. Epilogue----A few days later---- DJ cackled as he shot a fireball towards the west orchard. "If I can't have the farm... I'LL TAKE IT BY FORCE!!!" Suddenly, the fireball was shot back in his face, shortly followed by another. "You're not gonna get the farm, DJ. It never belonged to you!" Fire Blaze exclaimed. His Ruby eyes glistened once more with hatred and fury. "Who's gonna stop me, you?!" DJ returned, equally as angry. Suddenly, a rainbow blur flew past DJ's eyes, catching him off guard. "What the-?" "Your turn, AJ!!" The blur announced. "On it!" Called another voice from behind. DJ didn't have enough time to react as he was suddenly knocked to the ground by a pair of cowboy boots. "Now, let's end this, eh?" The familiar voice of DJ's younger sister asked. "I'm taking..... WHAT'S MINE!!!" DJ barked before a blast of magic was blasted his way once again, picking him up and throwing him into the nearest tree. "Great shot, Twi!" Applejack exclaimed as DJ picked himself up and ran away into the depths of the Everfree. Never to be seen again.... Or will he? Chapter 1It was around midnight at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was fast asleep in her bed with her Stetson covering her eyes. A figure leapt quietly into her room though an open window, holding a baseball bat in one hand. He tip-toed to Applejack's bedside and raised the bar behind his head. As hard as the figure could, it threw the bat down into Applejack's spine and ribs before swinging it around the back of Applejack's head before leaving, remembering to leave a note, which read: Dear Rainbooms, You thought you could outsmart me?! Think again. Your precious Element of Honesty was easy to beat! Try as you might, you won't catch me. Remember this though: I'm light, I'm dark. I'm everywhere but nowhere. I'm here but not and I'm different temperatures at different times. What am I? The next morning, the Rainbooms, except Applejack, were standing by the WonderColts statue. "Where's AJ?" Sunset asked. "Maybe she's been caught up doing chores." Rarity replied. "But it's not like her to be half an hour late to school." Twilight noted. "Ten minutes, yeah. But not half an hour." "Should we go to the farm?" Rainbow asked. Before Fluttershy could mutter a reply, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She brought it out of her pocket and looked at the caller ID. Applejack's little sister was calling her. Cautiously, Fluttershy accept the call and pressed the phone to her ear. "Apple Bloom? What's the matter?" She asked. "Y'all better git down ta the farm, Fluttershy." Apple Bloom replied in a shaky voice. "it's about Applejack." "We're on our way, Apple Bloom." Fluttershy replied before ending the call and turning to her friends. "Apple Bloom wants us down at Sweet Apple Acres. It's about Applejack." She said. The others gave worried glances at eachother before nodding at Fluttershy and running towards Sweet Apple Acres. Author's Note Uh, oh. What's wrong with AJ? Chapter 2In no time flat, the girls ran towards the farmhouse and knocked on the door. Big Mac opened the door and invited them inside. "Thanks Big Mac." Sunset said. "Where's Apple Bloom?" Twilight asked. Big Mac motioned to the staircase. "Upstairs? Come on, girls!" The Rainbooms ran up the stairs and into Applejack's bedroom, where Apple Bloom was sat in the edge of her sister's bed, holding Applejack's hand to her cheek. "Apple Bloom?" Fluttershy asked, walking over and putting a comforting hand on the Freshmen girl's shoulder. "What happened?" She asked, looking at Applejack. "Ah don' know, Fluttershy. Ah was passing on mah way downstairs an' noticed Applejack hadn't woken up yet. Ah opened her bedroom door and found her like this." Apple Bloom sniffled. She handed Sunset a piece of paper. "This was on Applejack's Stetson. It's addressed ta y'all." Sunset opened the paper and read the note to herself. "Who would do such a thing?" She asked. "A-Ah don' know." Apple Bloom sobbed. "What do we do now?" She asked. Rainbow held her phone to her ear as she wait for someo to answer. "I need an ambulance, please. Applejack has been attacked by someone in her sleep!...." She took the phone away from her ear and said to Rarity, "does she have a pulse?" Before placing the phone back on her ear. Rarity kneeled down beside the bed and pressed two fingers under Applejack's chin. There was a weak, thready pulse under her fingertips. She turned to face Rainbow and replied, "it's weak and thready, darling." Rainbow said the same thing into the phone before giving the address and ending the call. "The paramedics are on their way now." She said. She sighed and sat on the bed next to Apple Bloom, taking Applejack's cold, pale hand in her own. "I will not give up until I find whoever did this to you." She murmured softly. A few minutes later, two paramedics, Redheart and First Aid, arrived and transferred Applejack onto a stretcher before leaving. Rainbow let a few tears trickle down her cheeks before gathering some of Applejack's clothing and her trademark Stetson before walking downstairs to the Apple Family's truck and starting the engine. The others sat on the back of the truck and Rainbow drove off towards the hospital. One thing was on her mind: Dont give up, AJ! I'll find whoever was responsible for this and make them pay! Author's Note Did Apple Bloom find her sister in time, or was she too late? What do you think? The answer to the riddle in the last chapter was: air!
Chapter 3The Rainbooms arrived at the hospital shortly after the ambulance. Without thinking, Rainbow Dash leapt out of the truck with Applejack's Stetson in hand, and darted to the reception. "Rainbow!" Sunset called, but Rainbow didn't hear as she was already inside. Something's bugging Rainbow. I think whatever happened to AJ is affecting her, too. She thought, walking with the others into the hospital. Rainbow darted into the reception, breathing heavily as she looked around for the receptionist. Is AJ gonna be alright?! She thought. She finally found the receptionist, Red Cross, talking to a doctor. She wait impatiently for Red Cross to walk over. Finally, the young receptionist did and sat back down in her chair. "Can I help you?" She asked. "One of my friends was brought here by ambulance. How is she?! Where is she?!" Rainbow yelped. "Applejack? She is currently in Intensive Care." Red Cross replied calmly. "It seems she had been attacked by someone with a baseball bat. The doctors found a few splinters in her back and the back of her head." Before Rainbow could reply, she was held back by a pair of strong hands and a purple blast of magic. "What? Girls?!" She asked, struggling to find a way out of the magic's grip alongside Sunset's strong hold. "you need to calm down, Rainbow." Sunset replied, almost as calm as Red Cross had been just moments before. "Applejack is going to be fine, okay." She released her hold on Rainbow's waist but placed her hands on her shoulders. "You okay?" She asked. Rainbow sat down on the seat behind her, one hand on her abdomen. "I feel like I'm gonna be sick." She said with a groan. "Let's head outside for some fresh air, hmm?" Sunset replied, motioning for Twilight to release her magic grip, to which she did. Rainbow and Sunset walked outside and sat down on a bench beside the enterance to the facility. "what's go you so worked up, Rainbow?" "I'm worried for AJ. The attacker must've done some serious damage is she's in Intensive Care." Rainbow replied with a sudden gag. "Just thinking about how bad her injuries are is making me sick to the stomach." "I know." Sunset replied, rubbing circles on Rainbow's back. "But we all have to be strong for her. AJ, like all of us, is a fighter. She'll never leave her friends hanging." "Yeah." Rainbow smiled softly before a sudden wave of nausea hit her like an out-of-control truck. Rainbow groaned and slowly stood up. "I think I'm gonna be sick." She moaned. Her head was pounding and spinning at the same time, while her stomach did backflips. She gagged as she began walking back inside the hospital, stumbling every once in a while. Sunset instantly joined Rainbow and they both walked inside and over to the nearest bathroom. She continued to rub circles on her best friend's back while Rainbow emptied the contents off her stomach into the nearest sink. Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy entered the bathroom she took notice of how pale Rainbow Dash had become. After dry-heaving for what seemed like the billionth time, Rainbow looked up at Sunset, weakly. "Thanks, Sunset." She moaned, still clutching her stomach. "You okay?" Sunset asked with a hand around Rainbow's shoulders. "Yeah, thanks." Rainbow replied. "But I think my guts disagree with my brain." She moaned. "What happened?" Rarity asked. "Nothing Rarity, I'm fine!" Rainbow returned. "Any news on AJ?" She asked. "The receptionist said we could visit her and asked if we could try to get through to her." Pinkie replied. "That's great news!" Rainbow muttered. Once again, Rainbow thought about the worst scenarios and collapsed to her knees, gagging once again as she refused to let more bile and stomach acid make it's way up her throat. Sunset noticed and placed a bucket under Rainbow's chin. Within a few moments of the bucket being under her chin, Rainbow emptied the rest of her stomach's contents and dry-heaved again before letting her head roll backwards into Sunset's arm. Rainbow groaned and leaned into Sunset as she slowly stood once again before all of them left the room, with Sunset carrying the bucket under Rainbow's chin just incase. Once the girls reached the waiting room, Rainbow sat down on the nearest seat and coughed. "I feel terrible!" She groaned. Oblivious, Pinkie poked her head out from behind Rainbow's seat. "You definitely look it, Dashie!" She said with a squeak. "go figure!" Rainbow muttered, sarcastically. Red Cross walked over to the group and asked, "are you Applejack's friends?" Twilight replied, "yeah. Can we go and see her?" "Not right now, dear." Red Cross replied. "It seems her vitals have become unstable. The doctors are trying to stabilise her before she deteriorates anymore." "What do you mean, 'unstable'?" Fluttershy asked. "her blood pressure dropped at an alarming rate and her heart rate is through the roof." Red Cross explained. "The doctors can't run any further tests until Applejack us stable enough." "'further tests'?" Rarity asked. "What further tests?" "Applejack took two beatings to her chest and spine and another to her skull. The doctors want to rule out any possibilities of paralysis and brain damage before they can continue." Red Cross explained further. This only made Rainbow's head spin and pound faster and harder. She closed her eyes and shook her head to rid herself of the dizziness, to no avail. As the seconds drained by, Rainbow was becoming more and more pale and it was becoming harder and harder for her to concentrate on anything other than the urge to pass out right now. She groaned, alerting Sunset and Fluttershy, who were at her side in an instant. "Rainbow, you feeling okay?" Sunset asked, putting a hand to Rainbow's forehead. She was burning up, and quickly. "Rainbow?" She called again, only to receive another groan from the rainbow-haired girl. Worriedly, Sunset turned to Fluttershy and motioned for her to get Red Cross. Fluttershy nodded and walked over to the receptionists desk. Red Cross looked up gingerly. "How can I help you?" She asked. "It's Rainbow Dash. Sunset told me to get your attention." Fluttershy replied in a small voice. Red Cross stood up and exited the booth before following Fluttershy to where Sunset and Rainbow were. "What happened?" Red Cross asked as she sat on Rainbow's other side. "I don't know." Sunset replied, concerned. "Has she eaten anything she wouldn't usually eat?" Red Cross asked. "No, not that I know of." Sunset asked. "Rainbow did eat that cinamon and popping candy muffin I made this morning. She wasn't acting strange then." Pinkie added. "Oh, yeah. She ate one of the muffins Pinkie made, then dissapeared to the bathroom for a short while before returning." Twilight commented. "She looked fine then!" Red Cross frowned, picked Rainbow up and carried her to a room before hooking her up to a heart monitor. "I'll order some blood tests incase Rainbow Dash was poisoned." She said before leaving. "I'll let you girls know if there is any news on Applejack." She called. A short time later, Red Cross poked her head into the room. "You girls can see Applejack now." The girls nodded and left the room, heading up to the Intensive Care Unit, where Applejack currently layed, bandages heavily wrapped around her head and another starting at her chest and ending at her torso. Rarity, who had been holding Applejack's Stetson since Rainbow had dropped it by the bucket in the waiting room, carefully placed it on Applejack's chest. "Thank the lord she's okay!" Rarity spoke with a sigh of relief. Sunset turned to one of the doctors nearby and asked, "how is she?" The doctor, Healing Touch, looked up from a clipboard and replied. "The MRI shows no sign of brain damage. However, Applejack has sustained a 3rd degree spinal injury, resulting in a small chance of paralysis. The good news is that Applejack shall be moved downstairs soon and out of Intensive Care and she should wake up within a few days." "That's great news!" Rarity replied. "Will you be doing a further investigation of the extent of Applejack's injuries?" She asked. "We will keep her here overnight incase of any complications, but she will not require any further investigations." Healing Touch replied. "'Complications'?" Twilight asked. "While the MRI shows no brain damage, chances are that Applejack may never be the same again. There are more than one possibility of complications that could arise while Applejack is in a coma." Healing Touch explained. "For example, Applejack could develop epilepsy or she could be permanently paralysed for the rest of her life, we just don't know, and we won't know until she wakes up." "But there is a chance that there won't be any complications?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes, there is a chance that nothing will happen that will affect Applejack, however, the chances are very slim." Healing Touch replied before turning back to the paperwork he was holding in his hands. Author's Note Turns out, it's a bit of both. Applejack is gonna be okay, but she might not. Poor Dash. I just hope the Doc's find out what caused her to become so sick.
Chapter 4Rainbow coughed and spluttered as she tossed and turned in the bed. She was almost as white as the sheets. Her breathing ragged and laboured as she slept, feverishly. Rarity slowly walked in and sat beside Rainbow on a chair. Oh, Rainbow Dash, she thought to herself. What are we going to do? "is she still not awake yet, Rarity?" Sunset asked as she walked into the room. "I'm afraid not, darling." Rarity replied with a frown. "I just hope Rainbow Dash fights this ailment as best she can." Sunset frown at the statement. "I hope so too. She's never been this sick before, has she?" "Not since I can remember. She's had the odd stomach bug but never an ailment this severe." Rarity replied. "how is Applejack, by the way?" She asked, looking up into Sunset's teal eyes. "Last time I checked, Applejack was starting to mutter something in her sleep as she tossed and turned. She might wake up soon." Sunset replied. "Something about 'DJ's return.'" "Her brother is returning to Sweet Apple Acres?!" Rarity jolted up. "We have to warn the others and Applejack's family." "Easy, Rarity." Sunset cooed. "Who is DJ, anyway?" She asked. Rarity sighed and explained to Sunset about DJ and what he did. By the time she was finished, she heard Rainbow begin to mutter, "Fire Blaze... Alopex! Don't leave me, Big Brother!" Before falling silent once again. She felt nothing, apart from a dull throb in the back of her head. Applejack glanced around the dark place before remembering what her father said before he died, "people in a coma never dream. They remain inside a black void but their imagination allows them to bring their friends into their dark abyss. If the time comes for them to awaken, then they will see a white steak in front of them and grows with every step the person takes." She smiled at the memory and looked around. She saw nothing, just like her father said. Applejack wouldn't admit this out loud, but she was absolutely terrified. She looked around before locking eyes with a pair of magenta irises. "Rainbow!" She yelped, darting forward. Rainbow returned the gesture before releasing. "AJ, who did this to you?!" Rainbow demanded. Applejack sighed. She looked around as the dark scene turned into a dark version of her bedroom as she saw the familiar figure enter through the window with a baseball bat and beat her senseless before leaving. "Ah ain't so sure, Sugarcube. But Ah have a good idea who might be the culprit." Rainbow's eyes shot open as she bolted upright in the hospital bed. She was still deathly pale, but slowly, her cyan cheeks filled with colour. Her eyes darted left and right before landing on two blobs on either side of the bed, having an interesting conversation. Rainbow groaned as her headache returned, pounding and spinning rapidly. Sunset and Rarity looked over at Rainbow Dash and instantly joined her at either side. Sunset held a hand to Rainbow's chest and gently pushed her back onto the bed. "Easy, Rainbow." She said. Rainbow groaned as she sank under the covers once again. "Where's AJ and the others?" She asked. Sunset turned to face Rarity, just as Pinkie entered the room with her party cannon in tow. "Hi Rainbow Dash!!" She screeched. "Pinkie, lot so loud, please!" Rainbow muttered. "I have one heck of a massive headache already!" "Pinkie, how's Applejack?" Rarity asked. "The girls told me to come get you. Applejack's waking up!" Pinkie announced, making Dash's headache worse. "Thanks for letting us know, Pinkie. We'll be there in a sec." Sunset replied before turning to Rarity. "Do you have your phone on you?" She asked. "Yes. Why, darling?" Rarity replied, passing her phone to Sunset, who gave it to Rainbow. "I'll Skype you on Rarity's phone as soon as we reach Applejack's room, okay?" Sunset asked. Rainbow nodded, making her head spin even more. Rarity and Sunset said their goodbyes to Rainbow before following Pinkie to Applejack's room. While they walked down the corridor, Rarity turned to Sunset and asked, "You don't think the same person who attacked Applejack could've poisoned Rainbow Dash, do you?" "I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this turn of events, Rarity." Sunset replied. "Were here, anyway." She added, gesturing to the door leading to Applejack's bed. "Let's go." Rarity replied as the trio entered the room. Sunset took her phone out and skyped Rainbow. "Hey Sunset." Rainbow greeted. "Are you in AJ's room?" She asked. "We sure are, Rainbow." Sunset replied. "And just in time too." She flipped the camera around just as Applejack slowly opened her eyes. Author's Note Cliffhanger! So, AJ's awake but Rarity and Sunset still have an investigation to do. Tune in next time!
Chapter 5"h-hey, y'all." Applejack greeted. "How do you feel?" Sunset asked. "Sore all over." Applejack replied with a grunt as she tried sitting up in the bed. "What happened?" She asked. Rarity sat beside the bed, a concerned look plastered on her face. "You were attacked in your sleep a few nights ago." She explained. "You mean... He's back?!" Applejack yelped in alarm, turning to Rarity. "He's back, isn't he?" "I'm not certain, but this is the kind of thing DJ would do." Rarity replied. "I won't hesitate to fight like a ruffian if it means you'll be safe, Applejack." "Thanks, Rarity." Applejack replied with a blush. "Anytime, darling." Rarity mused and turned to Sunset. "Shall we?" Sunset nodded. "Yeah. We've got some work to do." She said. The others looked at Rarity said Sunset with confusion. "What in the hay are y'all talkin' 'bout?" Applejack asked. "Well, we came to a conclusion that whatever happened to Rainbow and you, Applejack, wasn't an accident. Someone clearly wants us out of the way so they can continue their tyranny." Sunset replied. "We have an idea who might be behind hit all." A pair of voices chorused. Two figures stood at the door to the room. One was taller than the other with grey spiky hair. He had dark blue skin and red eyes which glistened with betrayal and hatred. The other figure, shorter than the first, had long red and white hair and baby blue skin. "Fire Blaze? Alopex?" Fluttershy asked, walking over to the figures. "It's us alright, 'Shy." The taller figure replied. "Like Sunset clarified, this is no accident. He's back for revenge." "Revenge?" Rarity asked. "He poisoned Rainbow Dash and almost killed Applejack, his own sister!" She exclaimed. "DJ poisoned Dash?!" Fire and Alopex exclaimed. "Tried to, yeah." Pinkie said. "You can go see her." "Pinkie, I'm right here!" Rainbow pointed out from Sunset's phone screen. "Sunset, turn me around a sec." She said, pleadingly. Sunset nodded and turned to face Fire Blaze and Alopex while still holding her phone out. "Better?" She asked. "Yep, thanks." Rainbow replied before turning to her siblings. "Where's Mom and Dad?" She asked. Fire sighed as he took hold of Alopex's baby blue hands. "They don't know about any of this." He admitted with a frown. "And it's better they don't!" A gruff, country accent spoke. "You wanna know why?" Another figure jumped forward, connecting his right foot with Fire's side. "Because this is between us only!" "D-DJ?!" Applejack gulped. "What do ya want from us?" "My revenge!" DJ barked. "All of you, meet me on the sports field at CHS in 20 minutes!" Before the others could reply, DJ vanished into this air. "Channel your geodes!" Sunset instructed. "As soon as we all put them on, well race to CHS." "Great idea, Sunset!" Rarity replied, producing hers and Applejack's geodes and placing Applejack's around her neck. "We have a fight to win!" They all pony up. Sunset walked over to Applejack and helped her out the bed. "Can you walk?" She asked. "Ah think so." Applejack said. She took a step forward. "Woah, Nelly!" She yelped in surprise as she almost fell flat on her face if it wasn't for Sunset's quick reflexes. "Thanks, Sunset." Sunset replied, "no problem." Before gesturing for Applejack to get on her back. "Hop on!" Applejack gulped before placing her arms around Sunset's neck and hoisting herself up onto her back. "Let's fight!" Applejack thundered. "DJ's goin' down!" "Lead the way!" Fire said, opening the door and allowing the girls to exit, with Applejack being carried by Sunset. Author's Note There's probably gonna be two more chapters before I end this story. Can DJ be defeated by the girls, Fire Blaze and Alopex, or will he succeeded in defeating them?
Chapter 6Once they arrived at CHS, the Mane 9- with Applejack still on Sunset's back- all looked across the field to see DJ arrive in a puff of smoke. The smoke cleared after a while, revealing DJ with his arms crossed and a scowl on his chiseled features. "Well, y'all turned up, for your one-way ticket to Death!" DJ barked, blasting an energy ball towards the group. Fire Blaze darted forward, his ruby-red eyes glistening with pent-up anger as he fired his own energy balls at DJ. "More like it's you're personal death wish!" He snarled. "You hurt your own sister and poisoned mine but you think it's okay?!" He flew forward and use his knees to throw DJ to the ground. "You're just going to shrug it off like nothing happened!" Alopex and Fluttershy flew over to Fire's side. "I hope you're happy for what you've done!" Alopex growled. Meanwhile, on the ground below, Rarity turned to Twilight. "Darling, what do we do now?" She asked. "Ah'll tell ya what we'll do!" Applejack exclaimed. "We're gonna join the fight 'n' take DJ down, that's what!" Sunset looked up into Applejack's green eyes, concerned. "AJ, it's too dangerous. DJ could hurt you worse than he already has." She said, calmly. Applejack growled lowly. "Ah'm not gonna sit on the sidelines and watch y'all git taken down by mah brother." "We know, darling." Rarity stated. "But think of the consequences you'd be facing if we let you join the fight." For the first time that day, Applejack hadn't thought about the consequences of her joining the fight. She turned to Rarity and stated, "If ya say so, Rarity. But Ah'll only join if we finally defeat him." "That's all we needed to hear." Sunset replied. Applejack slid off her back and took a seat on the bleachers and putting her hands out behind her to keep herself upright. Rarity opened her hands and produced a few small crystals before throwing them up to DJ, who easily dodged them without taking a glance down at the fashionista. "Grrrr." Rarity huffed, looking over at Pinkie. "Ready, darling?" She asked with a smirk. Pinkie poured a few sprinkles into her hand and looked at Rarity while clenching her fist. "When you are, Rare-Bear!" She exclaimed. Rarity nodded before producing a large crystal in front of her. "Ready?" Pinkie nodded and took a running start towards the crystal. "Jump!" As Rarity gave the signal, Pinkie darted forward and jumped onto the crystal before Rarity projected her towards DJ. Pinkie flipped over DJ's head and used her energised sprinkle-explosives to throw the older teen off guard. DJ stumbled upon receiving the blow to the the back of his neck, but still managed to fire a large energy ball towards Fire. "DUCK!!!!" Alopex exclaimed to her older brother. With just a few seconds to move out the way, Fire noticed the energy ball heading straight for him, but blocked it with his own. "You aren't gonna win, DJ. You're outnumbered." Fire smirked before sending the ball back towards DJ. "You've got nothing on the Magic of Friendship!" DJ sneered. "Prove it! Ah was once an Element of Harmony too." "As you wish!" Fire replied, as he, Fluttershy and Alopex descended. "Let's show this big guy how real magic works!" Rarity and Sunset linked arms with eachother as Rarity looked around the field. "Sunset, darling?" She asked. "Yeah, Rarity?" "Where's Rainbow Dash?" "Shoot!" Sunset exclaimed, turning to Fire. "Blaze, get Rainbow. The Magic of Friendship only works if everyone is here." She then turned to Twilight and Pinkie. "Twilight, Pinkie. Bring AJ over." "You got it!" Fire Blaze, Twilight and Pinkie replied in unison before going their separate ways. Applejack bit back a grunt of pain as her friends came closer. "Time to use the Magic of Friendship?" She asked. Twilight nodded before using her magic to lift AJ off the bleachers and over to their friends. "Ready?" She asked. "As Ah'll ever be." Applejack smirked, but Sunset and Twilight couldn't help but notice her voice wavering slightly. "We're here!" Fire called from above as he and Rainbow landed beside Rarity. "Now, let's put the plan in motion!" Rarity smiled at the two siblings before looking at Rainbow Dash. "Feeling better, darling?" She asked. "Yeah, I feel fine." Rainbow replied, turning her attention to DJ. "Now less talking, more fighting!" Fire smirked as he turned to look at the rest of the group. "The Magic of Friendship flows through our veins and boosts our powers to save Canterlot City-" He paused, turning to DJ. "-and stopping people from being corrupted by the Magic, including ex-Elements of Harmony." "Light it up, guys!!" Pinkie exclaimed. They all held hands and Fire and AJ took the lead. "The Magic of Friendship never should have belonged to you, DJ. You may have forgotten what matters and what doesn't, but that doesn't mean you have to use your powers for evil." Fire and AJ spoke in unison. "You'd stop believing in everyone else and only follow your own decisions, eventually trying to kill whoever you happen to come across." "Y'all lot never understood how powerful this magic flowing through me can be." DJ barked in return. "You never understood the concept of this Magic!" "We knew how easily the Magic could turn someone into something they aren't! Like a voice inside your head, telling you what's right and what's not!" Sunset growled. "Now, it comes down to you, DJ. You're decisions and dangerous, to both you and those around you. All you have to do is let the magic go!" Rarity spoke up. "No way am Ah givin' up my geode or mah magic to you fools!" DJ snarled dangerously. He threw a large energy ball at the group and continued. "You're never gonna take mah Magic!" The energy ball was suddenly thrown back in DJ's face and the impact caused him to fall back. He looked up and saw a light pink forcefield around the teens. DJ stood back up and threw a larger magic blast towards the group. "Think yourselves lucky I can't defeat you... Yet! Next time we fight, you lot won't be so lucky!" He growled in frustration before smirking at Fire and Alopex before disappearing in a puff of smoke. The group lowered the forcefield and slowly descended to the ground, with Applejack holding onto Sunset and Twilight for support. "What does he mean next-" Applejack cut herself off as her eyes widened in alarm. "Oh, no!" "What? AJ, what's wrong?" Sunset asked. "DJ said the next fight, we won't be so lucky. Ah know what he means. He means he'll take Sweet Apple Acres by force." Applejack replied. She shut her eyes tightly and bit back another groan, to no avail. "We better head over ta Sweet Apple Acres. If DJ wants the farm, hes bound to take it by force." Author's Note Another Cliffhanger! DJ wants the farm, but will he get it, or will he not? What's gonna happen next? Next chapter will be uploaded by midday tomorrow.
Chapter 7"AJ's right." Fire replied after a while, looking up at the rear-view mirror. "Last time he tried to do that was about a month or so before Bright was killed by timberwolves." "But what if DJ plans to do the same thing as last time?" Applejack asked. "Ah mean, he's bound to try taking AB hostage until we fight 'im." The group were currently in Fire Blaze's van driving to Sweet Apple Acres. There was a long pause as Fire shook his head and focused on the road, occasionally looking up through the rear-view mirror at the girls. "If DJ tries to take Apple Bloom, Big Mac would hopefully get in the way and fight him, won't he?" Alopex asked. "Not likely, Sugarcube." Applejack replied. "Since the death of Bright Mac, Big Mac vowed never to take his anger for granted. He wouldn't hurt a fly now, not even his own older brother." "Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are there with Apple Bloom!" Rarity suddenly remembered. "W-what if DJ tries to hurt all three of them?!" Fire looked up at the rear-view mirror, sharply. "And DJ's heading there right now!" He exclaimed. He put the pedal to the metal and sped off down the quiet streets towards the farm. "C'mon, c'mon...." He muttered to himself as the van slowly sped up. Applejack remained quiet the rest of the trip back to Sweet Apple Acres, but grunted and groaned in pain as the van harshly, and literally, flew over the speed bumps. The van, still slowly increasing speed, suddenly jolted, causing Applejack to fall off one of the seats and directly onto her already injured back. "Ahhh!" She cried out. The van suddenly jolted forwards to a halt. "Is everyone alright back there?" Fire called as he flicked the vans hazzard lights on, opened the door on the driver's side and walked to the back of the van before opening the doors. He opened the doors and looked over at AJ, who had her eyes shut tight and her jaw clenched in pain. "AJ, you alright?" Fire asked. "Define.... 'Alright'." Applejack snapped. She bit back another groan as she tried sitting up, only to collapse onto her back once again. "Dash, Alopex." Fire called to his younger sisters. "Could I talk to you for a sec?" He asked. "Sure." The two girls replied, stepping out of the van. "What's wrong, Fire? Alopex asked. "Slight change of plans, guys. Well deal with DJ after getting ourselves and Applejack checked over." Fire replied, sternly. "I'll call Mom and Dad and tell them to meet us at the enterance to Canterlot City General." "What do we do in the meantime?" Rainbow asked. Fire looked away for a second before replying, "we all work together. I can't do anything to help since I'm the one driving, so you guys and the others are gonna have to think of something to take AJ's mind off her injuries." "On it!" Alopex replied with a smirk. "Canterlot General is nearly a mile away, Fire." Rainbow pointed out. "How are we supposed to get there on... I don't know... 1/10 of a tank full of petrol?!" "We'll make it, I'm positive. Besides," Fire nudged Rainbow, earning a hard glare from the shorter teen. "There's still 1/3 of petrol left in the tank, not 1/10." "Whatever, Blaze." Rainbow smirked before hopping back into the van. Fire walked back to the driver's side of the van and started the engine before taking his seat at the steering wheel. "let's go." He muttered to himself and began driving off towards Canterlot General.
Chapter 8"Well," Healing Touch stated. "There doesn't seem to have been any further damage when you and your friends ran off to save Canterlot City." "That's good, right?" Applejack asked. The group of teens were currently getting check-ups at Canterlot General Hospital. "Of course that's good. Consider yourself lucky the forcefield prevented further damage when your brother fired those energy balls." Healing Touch replied. "Just try to take it easy over the next few days." He told Applejack. "Ah'll try ta." Applejack replied, carefully sliding off the table and onto her feet. "Where's the others?" She asked once she regained her sense of balance. "They're all waiting in the reception area. Though Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle chose to wait outside the room until we finished. Would you like me to call them in?" "Yeah, please." Applejack replied, leaning against the rail opposite the table. "I'll be right back." Healing Touch assured, leaving the room for a brief moment before returning with Sunset and Twilight. "Hey." Sunset greeted. "How are you feeling?" she asked. "A mite sore, but Ah'm alright." Applejack replied. "Ah guess we're goin' ta stop DJ from takin' the farm?" "You bet we are!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed from the door. "Operation: save the farm!" The others giggled as Rainbow's enthusiasm. "'bout time we stopped DJ." Fire Blaze, entering the room. "Did someone say 'Operation: Save the farm'?!" Pinkie's squeaky voice echoed from down the hall. "Pinkie!" The others yelled.
Epilogue----A few days later---- DJ cackled as he shot a fireball towards the west orchard. "If I can't have the farm... I'LL TAKE IT BY FORCE!!!" Suddenly, the fireball was shot back in his face, shortly followed by another. "You're not gonna get the farm, DJ. It never belonged to you!" Fire Blaze exclaimed. His Ruby eyes glistened once more with hatred and fury. "Who's gonna stop me, you?!" DJ returned, equally as angry. Suddenly, a rainbow blur flew past DJ's eyes, catching him off guard. "What the-?" "Your turn, AJ!!" The blur announced. "On it!" Called another voice from behind. DJ didn't have enough time to react as he was suddenly knocked to the ground by a pair of cowboy boots. "Now, let's end this, eh?" The familiar voice of DJ's younger sister asked. "I'm taking..... WHAT'S MINE!!!" DJ barked before a blast of magic was blasted his way once again, picking him up and throwing him into the nearest tree. "Great shot, Twi!" Applejack exclaimed as DJ picked himself up and ran away into the depths of the Everfree. Never to be seen again.... Or will he?
Chapter 1It was around midnight at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was fast asleep in her bed with her Stetson covering her eyes. A figure leapt quietly into her room though an open window, holding a baseball bat in one hand. He tip-toed to Applejack's bedside and raised the bar behind his head. As hard as the figure could, it threw the bat down into Applejack's spine and ribs before swinging it around the back of Applejack's head before leaving, remembering to leave a note, which read: Dear Rainbooms, You thought you could outsmart me?! Think again. Your precious Element of Honesty was easy to beat! Try as you might, you won't catch me. Remember this though: I'm light, I'm dark. I'm everywhere but nowhere. I'm here but not and I'm different temperatures at different times. What am I? The next morning, the Rainbooms, except Applejack, were standing by the WonderColts statue. "Where's AJ?" Sunset asked. "Maybe she's been caught up doing chores." Rarity replied. "But it's not like her to be half an hour late to school." Twilight noted. "Ten minutes, yeah. But not half an hour." "Should we go to the farm?" Rainbow asked. Before Fluttershy could mutter a reply, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She brought it out of her pocket and looked at the caller ID. Applejack's little sister was calling her. Cautiously, Fluttershy accept the call and pressed the phone to her ear. "Apple Bloom? What's the matter?" She asked. "Y'all better git down ta the farm, Fluttershy." Apple Bloom replied in a shaky voice. "it's about Applejack." "We're on our way, Apple Bloom." Fluttershy replied before ending the call and turning to her friends. "Apple Bloom wants us down at Sweet Apple Acres. It's about Applejack." She said. The others gave worried glances at eachother before nodding at Fluttershy and running towards Sweet Apple Acres. Author's Note Uh, oh. What's wrong with AJ?
Chapter 2In no time flat, the girls ran towards the farmhouse and knocked on the door. Big Mac opened the door and invited them inside. "Thanks Big Mac." Sunset said. "Where's Apple Bloom?" Twilight asked. Big Mac motioned to the staircase. "Upstairs? Come on, girls!" The Rainbooms ran up the stairs and into Applejack's bedroom, where Apple Bloom was sat in the edge of her sister's bed, holding Applejack's hand to her cheek. "Apple Bloom?" Fluttershy asked, walking over and putting a comforting hand on the Freshmen girl's shoulder. "What happened?" She asked, looking at Applejack. "Ah don' know, Fluttershy. Ah was passing on mah way downstairs an' noticed Applejack hadn't woken up yet. Ah opened her bedroom door and found her like this." Apple Bloom sniffled. She handed Sunset a piece of paper. "This was on Applejack's Stetson. It's addressed ta y'all." Sunset opened the paper and read the note to herself. "Who would do such a thing?" She asked. "A-Ah don' know." Apple Bloom sobbed. "What do we do now?" She asked. Rainbow held her phone to her ear as she wait for someo to answer. "I need an ambulance, please. Applejack has been attacked by someone in her sleep!...." She took the phone away from her ear and said to Rarity, "does she have a pulse?" Before placing the phone back on her ear. Rarity kneeled down beside the bed and pressed two fingers under Applejack's chin. There was a weak, thready pulse under her fingertips. She turned to face Rainbow and replied, "it's weak and thready, darling." Rainbow said the same thing into the phone before giving the address and ending the call. "The paramedics are on their way now." She said. She sighed and sat on the bed next to Apple Bloom, taking Applejack's cold, pale hand in her own. "I will not give up until I find whoever did this to you." She murmured softly. A few minutes later, two paramedics, Redheart and First Aid, arrived and transferred Applejack onto a stretcher before leaving. Rainbow let a few tears trickle down her cheeks before gathering some of Applejack's clothing and her trademark Stetson before walking downstairs to the Apple Family's truck and starting the engine. The others sat on the back of the truck and Rainbow drove off towards the hospital. One thing was on her mind: Dont give up, AJ! I'll find whoever was responsible for this and make them pay! Author's Note Did Apple Bloom find her sister in time, or was she too late? What do you think? The answer to the riddle in the last chapter was: air!
