Sorcery is Companionship: S1

The day promised to be a beautiful one. As Applejack rose from her covers, sunlight playfully splashed onto her bed. Her window glazed with yellow light, but it held an orange tinge. It was early in the mourning, and the light had such an orange sheen to it. Applejack noticed this, and she began to stir more aggressively. She always woke up on time, and today was thankfully no different.

The day was bigger than most Applejack woke up early on. This whole month was in planning for the Grand Galloping Gala. After 2 months of bonding with her friends, the Gala was a break they needed. And until that month, celebrity actress Slim Sardasian was making her way into Ponyville, staying for a week or two before going to Canterlot. Applejack, of course, would oversee her food. She will pack cider, juice, and applesauce in packed containers to her designated rent house. If she wanted other food, thankfully, that wasn’t her problem.

No matter what, she still needed to get a move on. Slim was coming the next day, so today would be packing everything and sending it to her place.

AJ walked to her bathroom down the hall, quietly as to not wake Granny and Applebloom. Big Mac for sure was already awake. She did her hair a little bit, clumsily and half-hearted. She didn’t want to fumble around with the comb any longer than she had to. She brushed her teeth and started a quick shower.

She didn’t much care for Slim. She felt it was all fake, the dresses, the body, the accent, the fame, the gems. She was a good friend of Celestia’s though, so she needed respect. It’s hard to give that to her when AJ knew that her pre-made food was most likely going to be wasted, in favor of high dining. Whatever. She still got paid, and it was honest work. That’s all AJ cared about.

The shower was a quick one. Getting rid of the old dirt to make way for the new dirt. As she made her way downstairs, the orange tint was fading in favor of nice yellow light. Big Mac was eating flapjacks with apple bits inside. He made extra of course.

“‘Ello.”

“‘Ello.”

Their message was quick, but that’s all it had to be. They had long conversations when working. Now was the time to get ready, no time for talk. It was ironic, AJ thought, that work time was when they talked, and downtime was when they kept to themselves. But it worked. It always worked.

The smell of apples was still fresh in the kitchen when they walked out. They could faintly see the weather ponies in the yellow-lit sky get ready for the day. The sun was coming up ever so further, and bright light flooded in each time it did so. It was wonderful. AJ’s type of wonderful.

The two began to work. Without Applebloom, nobody could hold the buckets, and the two siblings couldn’t waste their time by carrying buckets. They each took two and would fill em up. They could hold about 3 tress worth. They only needed 20 trees or so each for the job. They did overload the other day for preparation, so they could be done early today.

It had to be around 6 in the mourning when the bucking started. AJ prided herself on getting lost in its act, say for the few conversations she has with Big Mac. And even then, both focus on the job. It keeps them entertained, as much as work can keep you entertained.

AJ did love it, even though she kept telling herself it was for work. She enjoyed it a great bit. Big Mac seemed to not mind the work, same with the other Apples that come over to the farm to help out. But Applejack loved it, more than any one of them.

Applejack finished with about 10 as 7 came around. It was harder without Applebloom awake to bring the baskets in. They always did it early in the mourning, so this was a recurring problem. However, the two were ready to take the extra burden for their little sister.

WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!

They finished up around 9, and they were ready to get juicing. Applebloom walked out of the door at the moment, and waved to her siblings.

“Big Mac! Applejack? What’s fer breakfast?”Applebloom asked innocently.

Applejack wiped her sweat off her forehead and looked to her little sister. “Ah think we have some leftover flapjacks in the fridge.”

“Why the fridge?”

“I don’t know, what’s the difference?”

Applebloom slammed her hoof down on the porch. “I don’t like them cold!” Applejack begrudgingly caved.

“Fine! Take them out and let them sit for a while.”

“Eyup.”

Applbloom looked to her siblings, nodded, then went back inside. The two looked at each other and chuckled. It was a hassle having a younger sister. But it was rewarding to get a family. That’s all the Apples wanted. A family.

The two began to move the baskets full of apples to get juiced and prepped for the house.

It was about noon when the job was finished. The Apples always prided themselves on finishing the job quickly. AJ knew the others were busy. Rainbow was helping the weather team, Rarity was busy making a dress for Slim to go to the prom with. That was, after all, her reason for coming to Ponyville. Fluttershy was training the animals to help Slim with anything she needed. Pinkie was obviously making a welcome party for Slim, and Twilight was getting ready to greet her, and overall make sure the week ran smoothly.

Applejack felt weird, even though the job was done, and done well. She had completed worse jobs than this, and she didn’t care if Slim enjoyed it or not. Wait. Why didn’t she?

Applejack was confused. Why am I not caring about her? She cared about everybody who ate her food. So why is Slim different, besides being wealthy and rich? Because you hate that.

“What!!???” Applejack turned around, whizzing to see the voice. She was on the porch, relaxing, letting the sun hit her sweat and dry it off her. She now was scared and terrified. The voice was behind her, in front of her, all around her. “Who said that?”

I did. You know you hate everything she is. You loathe her. You think she is an embarrassment to ponykind. Your lying to yourself for someone who is the Element of Honesty.

“I say come out. I think no such thing. Who are you anyway?” The voice still did not make itself known. Applejacks fear was building up inside of her.

You’re lying to yourself, Applejack. Be honest. Stop pretending.

AJ stood up out of her chair. “Shut up! Where are you? Who do you think you are?” The voice wouldn’t stop.

I only want to help. You need to understand true honesty Applejack. Only then will you be happy.

Applejack slammed her back hoof down, and the chair crumbled underneath the weight. Appledash staggered back, shocked at the destruction she just caused. No, she was scared about everything. The voice, her anger, and if it was true or not. It wasn’t, right?

“Applejack, is everything alright?” Applebloom ran out onto the porch, a fearful and worrying look in her eye. Applejack turned to realize she was standing in front of a window, a window that Big Mac and Granny were staring at her through.

“Y-ye-yeah, I’m fine Applebloom, I’m uh… just kinda talking to myself, that’s all.” Applejack was stammering and sweating profusely. Her breaths were quick and shallow. She was shaking all over, and she didn’t know why.

You know wh-

“SHUT UP!” AJs voice was full of fear. She was terrified. That voice still wouldn’t shut up, was still talking to her, mocking her, killing her, destroying her. She didn’t know why her thoughts were so violent to this disembodied voice, but she didn’t dare ask the question for fear of it talking again.

Big mac busted through the door to the patio. “Applebloom,” Big Mac said in a stern tone, “you need to get Twilight. Tell her there is a problem.” Big Mac turned to AJ, who was now slumped down on the floor. “Hey, Jack, cmon, you’ll be ok.” Big Mac’s tone changed drastically. It was smooth, kind, and worried. AJ gave a bit of a smile.

She hoped it was a seizure or something wrong with her brain, rather than some type of demon living inside her. She began to laugh at the thought. And with that thought, AJ slipped out of consciousness just as Big Mac shouted at Granny for a glass of water.

Applejack woke up in a hospital bed. She had no idea what time it was, and she found no desire to learn it. She felt sore, and her memory slowly came back to her. It was a single room, and no other patients seemed to be present. The wall was a light blue, just like the sky. And Rainbow Dash. I wonder how quickly she got her job done. Applejack laughed.

Some dull old pop tunes were playing softly in the background outside of the room, none of which AJ could recognize. She wondered where her friends were, and what they were doing. She put two and two together and realized Twilight must have sent her here. She remembered her breakdown. She wondered if she was going crazy, or if there really was a voice. She hoped the former was the truth.

She sat there for Celestia know how long, with only the faint ticking of the clock and random tunes being heard. This didn’t bother Applejack, not in the slightest. At least it’s not the voice.

Hoofsteps were made out on the other side of the door, as one white pony came in, carrying bags of no doubt clothes on her horn.

“DARLING, you must be simply, b o r e d.” Rarity misread how loud she can be, and she quickly hushed down. AJ laughed. She loved her friend. They were always hanging out, ever since that sleepover.

“Rarity, it’s good to see somepony else,” Applejack said, as Rarity came over to the side of the bed to exchange hugs.

After the embrace, Rarity pulled up a seat next to AJ and took off the bags, intent to give them to her. “So, I found these Luscious boots when I was in the thrift store, and this black hat, simply g o r g e o u s.” Applejack took the bags and put them on her nightstand next to her bed. As she turned to the right, away from the door, she looked out a window to see black. Night? Damn, must have been out the rest of the day.

“Thrift store? You don’t go into those places.” Rarity hugged her arm, and breathed in, and spoke quickly.

“Well, I thought you would like stuff from thereeee Idontknow.” AJ laughed. She didn’t expect her to go into those types of stores. She never did. She must have been worried sick.

AJ shifted in bed, intending to get up. This action put a worried look on Rarities face. “So, I’m guessing I’m allowed to leave?” She chuckled, continuing to shift in bed. To her surprise, Rarity rested her hoof on Applejack.

“Darling you just woke up. It would be three days at most,” Rarity said, almost at a whisper. AJ put on a puzzled look, staring at her friend.

“Well gosh darn it, I didn’t know that one bad day is so serious.” AJ threw her hoofs into the air. Her motion to get out of bed had been replaced with complaining. “I swear, I just was affected by the pressure of a celebrity coming to our town, that’s all. Nothing serious. A day, for Celestia’s sake! Now let me get out of bed.” AJ returned to her previous action.

Rarity continued to rest her hoof on AJs shoulder. “Applejack, you’ve been here for over a week.” Applejack was stunned into silence. Her mind stopped to process the information she took in, and was consistently hitting gaps. That wouldn’t make sense. She struggled to find words, trying to tell Rarity that was impossible.

Rarities tone did not waver, not even for a second. “Slim has already left, you missed her. You were stuck in a coma almost the entire time. You wouldn’t respond to anypony. You would open your eyes for maybe five minutes, but you wouldn’t say anything. And I’m guessing you don’t remember any of that.”

AJ shook her head, her throat extremely dry. She couldn’t breathe, each breath was a trial. She had sun strokes before, many times in fact. She would hallucinate sometimes, but not as serious as last time. And this confirmed it. There was a voice. It had to be. Sun strokes don’t put you in comas, let alone a week. And she didn’t remember anything after Big Mac asked for water.

Water. She needed water. That’s all she wanted, water. Everything began spinning. The hoof resting near her neck became itchy and irritable. Water. Thirsty. That’s all Applejack could think of. She could barely hear Rarity, her voice muddled, screaming if she was ok. If only I could get some water. AJ convinced herself that to fix this, all she would need is something to drink. I doubt I ever got that drink. That’s what it was. I needed water! Finally, something that made sense.

Rarities hoof left AJ, and the white pony’s voice was shrill and loud. All Applejack could think of was water, and the shrill voice of her friend was gone. It stopped and there was silence. It was all silent. Nothing made a sound. Woah. Applejack weakly waved her hoof in front of her face. It seemed to make trails behind it, making AJ giggle. She glanced over at her now silent friend, who was now making her way out of the room. Applejack didn’t know why. Maybe she realized her voice wasn’t working.

AJ stared at the ceiling, tired and drained. Her surroundings still seemed to slosh around, like the snow she would scrape off the barn. The idea of a barn became very funny to Applejack, and she began to giggle again. At hearing an echo, she listened intently. She began to remember a pony that came in before, an hour ago or so. She forgot her name, but looked to the doorway, where the friend left many moons ago.

There stood a pony. If it could even be called that. It was all black, almost like those black holes Twilight would talk about. There was no mouth to be seen, but the eyes were a dark, bloodshot red. The pupils were orange, giving the eyes a sinister effect. It stared at AJ, and through this, she could make out a necklace on the ponies’ neck. It was the same one she wore to fight off Nightmare Moon, and now it rested on the dark, void pony. One Applejack was suspicious of.

It stared at her. That’s all. Just stared. Applejack was frozen in place. Her surreal environment faded away to a more chilling one. She wasn’t drugged anymore, no, she was injected with pure fear. And then the thing revealed its mouth. The skin kept gliding around like constellations, never stalling.

The mouth was pure orange, with strings of its starry skin sticking to the two sides of the mouth. It was smiling.

I apologize for having to do this to you, but you were too boneheaded to listen.

AJ realized the mouth wasn’t going up and down. When it spoke, it would simply just hang open, and the voice seemed to talk right inside her head. She couldn’t speak, she couldn’t find her will to. The thing continued.

Explaining will make things easier. I am what is known as the Element of Honesty. My sole purpose was to help the wearer be true to oneself, and an inanimate object would do no such thing. Starswirl, our creator, put in the absolute versions of our given virtues. However, the wearers were misguided and flawed. I took it into my own hands, as well as my fellow brethren. We were put away for this reason. It seems we have been chosen to return once again, and history repeats itself. I cannot stand by while you continue to dirty the virtue of honesty.

Again, Applejack couldn’t move. Her body was stuck to her bed. The atmosphere was cold, and AJ’s dry throat returned. The Elements should be good. Everything the thing was saying was the exact opposite. She couldn’t take in any information, as it spoke again.

I did not expect you to be this strong, mentally at least. Celestia must have chosen well.

Applejack found she could talk again, and her thoughts were blurted out. “Who are you? What do you want? Why should I believe a single word you said?” She was hostile ready to fight, despite the fact she was still paralyzed. The thing seemed to laugh.

I would not lie, it’s not in my nature. It is in yours, however. You say you tell the truth, but your feelings are built on lies and fantasies, built on friendship.

That struck a chord with Applejack. Nobody insulted her friends. “You hold your tongue! You were built to help friendship, not condemn it. Even if I do believe you about your existence and all that!” AJ snorted. It was at this time that she realized she was in a world of black, everything was gone. The thing scoffed.

Friendship? We were not created for friendship. We were simply used for that point. We represent ourselves, and only ourselves. You are weak, Applejack. You give in to stupid ideas in hope of being friends. You despise that celebrity, but you hide it away. Don’t lie, your friends are annoying, and you would be better off alone Your stupid routines, your stupid ideas, your stupid family, everything is a lie. Don’t you see? Give in! Only then you will be free!

She hated everything it was saying. Everything. Her blood began to boil at this thing that was standing in this pit of emptiness. It hated her. It despised her. She couldn’t let it win. “You shut up about my life. You’re an idiot for believing your shit. I don’t know where I am, I don’t know quite what’s happening. Everything is moving too fast. But I do know one thing, and that your full of horse malarky! Go back to where you came from! Leav-”

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It screamed, at the top of its lungs. It filled every crevice of the void, and it wouldn’t stop She knew the only way out of this black prison was to listen to it But she couldn’t. She knew she couldn’t. She mustered up all the courage she had. “No.”

It stopped suddenly. And then there was silence. The cold voice spoke once more, its shape now lost in the black prison.

Then stay here forever, until you accept.

AJ sat down, at least she thought she did. Her mind was conflicted, and she had no idea what to do. She focused on the first thing to pop into her head: friendship. And so it was decided. She would wait. Her friends would do something, they have to. Prove it’s wrong, and wait. And wait she did, waiting for somepony to care, somepony to come. Anypony.