Rotten to the Core

by ShopperBrony90

Rating: everyone
Tags: Main 6, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Apple Bloom, Mystery, Bat Pony, Comedy, Adventure
Length: 3134

Applejack falls under a curse that changes her personality for the worst.

During a Friendship Mission with Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, Applejack went off on her own and found some kind of magic artifact.

When she touched it, she becomes corrupted and turns into a complete opposite of herself: a bratty, lying snob who is very rude to everypony around her! When she talks back to her own family, they force Applejack to move out until she improves on her mood.

With the help of Twilight and the others, she'll have to find a way to reverse the curse and turn herself back to her normal self: the helpful, honest pony everypony knows and loves.

Can she reverse the curse, or will she keep her rude personality forever?

Published 2024-02-04 17:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-02-04 17:40:00 UTC

Prologue

It’s a beautiful Monday morning at Ponyville, everypony has woken up and is ready for the day ahead. Over at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack and her family are ready for a day worth of farmwork.

They’re having breakfast, consisting of eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and a glass of orange juice.

“Mmmmh! Nothin’ better than to start a day with a hearty serving of breakfast to get us going.” Applejack said, finishing her plate. “I agree with ya, sis!” Apple Bloom replied. “Eeyup.” Big Mac said.

Minutes later, everypony on the farm starts working on their chores: Applejack is tending to a garden where apples grow, taking care of the soil and making sure the soil is all watered up. Apple Bloom is feeding the compost to the pigs, Granny Smith is making lunch for Apple Bloom for when the filly goes to school, and Big Mac is cleaning/mopping up the house.

When all the chores are done, Apple Bloom went off to school and Applejack is called on yet another Friendship Assignment via her cutie mark glowing and flank pulsing.

Applejack notices her call and tells her granny this: “I’m off on yet ‘nother adventure with Twilight and my other friends! I’ll be back in time for dinner. See ya then, Granny.”

“Okay, my honest pony. Good luck!” Granny Smith replied.

And so, Applejack heads off to Twilight’s castle to see what adventure she’ll have in store today.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (theme song)

To be continued…

The New Friendship Assignment

A few minutes later, Applejack has arrived at the Castle of Friendship, feeling confident in what adventure she is going to be assigned.

As always, it was quite an long trip going to the castle, but she always handles the long trail with patience and confidence, knowing she take any friendship assignment that the map can give her. For the pony who represent the element of honesty, Twilight Sparkle and her friends (Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash) always rely on her honesty and bravery to accomplish any assignment.

Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and the others were waiting in the throne room for Applejack to arrive. Well, what do you know? She showed up just in time! Just like the rules of any students (human and pony) at school, it's not a great idea to be tardy before a cutie map adventure. If she was tardy, she'd may miss out on any adventure she's be the part of.

“Good morning, Applejack," Twilight greeted, observing 3 cutie mark symbols hovering over the map. The marks landed over a cavern area far out in Equestria. The marks belong to Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Rainbow Dash. That means it's up to an Alicorn, a Pegasus, and an Earth pony to get the assignment done with success and the spread of friendship across the citizens of any creatures that occupy the any areas of Equestria. That's what the purpose of the cutie map at the Castle of Friendship!

“It seems like we’re assigned to go to a dark cave where bat-ponies live. Apparently, bat-ponies don’t quite go well together when they’re around normal ponies.” Twilight explained.

“Oh, I can handle the cave! I’m a very brave pony!” Rainbow Dash bragged. Rainbow always brags about how she's awesome, even when it annoys ponies around her, sometimes those around her may lose their confidence. However, that's Rainbow Dash, the awesome fastest Pegasus and a wonderbolt, does. We all know Rainbow Dash and her personality.

Applejack remembers the time bat-ponies invaded her farm, feeding on her crops. She even remembered when Fluttershy turned into a bat-pony. She's been afraid of bats (even bat-ponies) ever since, but she was trying to hide her fears. “Oh, nelly. I don’t like bats ‘nor bat-ponies.” Applejack said, worriedly.

“I thought you’re brave and honest. I guess that makes you a scaredy-pony! Haha!” teased Rainbow Dash, causing Applejack to almost lose her confidence and leave to go back to the farm.

Applejack suddenly stopped, approached Rainbow, and smacked her hoof against Rainbow Dash’s face. It seemed like Rainbow Dash and Applejack are about to get into a really big fight!

“Oh, really?! Ya think I’m a scaredy-pony, well how about this: If I can face my fears and get the ponies and bat-ponies to get along, you have to spend a month with your entire body shaved, fur mane and tail!” Applejack dared, ready for Rainbow’s challenge.

Rainbow Dash replied, “Oh, yeah? Well, if you’ve proven to be a scaredy-pony at the end of the mission, you have to spend a week sleeping with the pigs in their stinky pigsty with NO comfort and have the to eat nothing but ROTTEN apples for a month!”

“You’re on!” Applejack and Rainbow Dash said in unison.

Luckily, Twilight stepped in and stopped the fight before things got worse between Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

“That’s enough, you two! We can’t have a mission with you two bickering. Have you two forgotten that we're spreading friendship across Equestria? I expect that you should follow the purpose of your Elements of Harmony. Applejack: You represent the element of Honesty, and you Rainbow Dash represent the element of Loyalty. We don’t want any of us breaking the connections with the elements. Is that clear?” Twilight explained, with a stern tone in her voice.

“Yes, Twilight.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash said in unison, feeling down after their fight. They're now ready to go to the village of bat-ponies.

And so, Twilight, Applejack and Rainbow Dash are off to the bat-pony village to begin their mission.

To be continued...

Author's Note

Will Rainbow Dash and Applejack go along with their deal?
How can Twilight settle the whole thing?
What happens when Applejack makes a very suspicious discovery deep in the caves?

Find out the answers to all those questions on the next chapter, coming January 1, 2024!

Applejack's Big Discovery

It took the 3 ponies a long time, but Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Rainbow Dash arrived in bat-pony village; caves and all. There seems to be separated sides that organized the land (caves for the bat-ponies and the village houses for the ponies). If any of those 2 species cross each other’s area, the ponies would be under strict imprisonment under village laws in their houses and the bat-ponies would get confined to the darkest, pitch-black area of the caves. Think of it as the plot of the episode The Hooffields and McColts.

Twilight was impressed by how big the village is but was shocked at the same time by the sight of the angry ponies in the civilized side of the land. Rainbow Dash and Applejack, despite their sorrys, they’re still mad with each other. Applejack and Rainbow Dash have been giving each other the silent treatment the whole way until they arrived at the location they’re going with Twilight.

“Ah’m still going to beat you on yar pathetic bet, Rainbow Crash!” Applejack said quietly.

“What?! You can’t call me Rainbow Crash anymore! I can’t believe I have to go on this mission with a stupid coward like you, Applerash!” Rainbow Dash shouted, making Applejack even more angry with the Pegasus.

“Ah, shut your trap, you pathetic flying excuse for a pony!” Applejack shouted back.

“How about you shut up, dirty hooves!” Rainbow Dash shouted back.

Before Rainbow and Applejack’s verbal fight gets worse, Twilight has to stop their fighting once again, getting annoyed at the same time.

“Enough!!!” Twilight yelled, forcing the 2 fighting ponies to stop at Twilight’s strict command.

“Ah right, Twilight,” Applejack responded.

“Fine,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Good, now we have to start with the village ponies to sort out the problem,” Twilight Sparkle said, leading the 2 ponies to the village side of the land. On the way there, however, Applejack was thinking about the deal she made with Rainbow Dash before they left with Twilight.

“If Rainbow Dash thinks she can call me a pathetic coward, I’ll show her!” Applejack thought. Without Twilight and Rainbow Dash noticing, Applejack goes to the bat-ponies cave area on her own!

Applejack enters the cave, hoping to prove Rainbow Dash with how she displays bravery and making Rainbow's body completely bald.

While she explores the cave trying to find bat-ponies, she notices a bright light coming from an opening inside the dark cavern. She then follows the light in curiosity. It was there she discovered a temple with a golden magic artifact (the legendary personality switch necklace).

Applejack then puts it on when she took a good look at it but it was then curiosity got the worst of her, because the idol starts to glow, streams of magic seep out and flows into Applejack’s mouth with her eyes becoming a shining white light.

After the possession phase ends, Applejack’s fur turns completely gray and loses its orange color, the pupils in her eyes turn dark red, and her personality changes from honest to a lying brat.

Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash were looking for Applejack when they noticed that she’s gone. It took a while, but they finally found the farmer pony. However, something seems off about her.

Twilight Sparkle was the first to notice Applejack’s changes.

“What happened to you, Applejack?” Twilight wondered, concerned about her country friend.

“Oh, nothing. I’m perfectly fine.” Applejack replies, sounding all fake happy.

“Really?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m all good. Let’s get back to our mission now.” Applejack said.

And so, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack went back to their mission, managed to get the ponies and bat-ponies to get along (by way of having both species working together when a bat-pony’s wing gets stuck under a rock), and returned back to Ponyville.

Later at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack's curse starts to affect her family.

First, she trashed her room and when Granny Smith wondered what the racket is, Applejack said that her day's great, but in reality it's pretty bad. Second, when she was doing the farm work, she later got tired of it and rudely gives up. Third, when it was dinner time, Applejack spits her meal at Apple Bloom's face, saying that it takes like worms. It was then her family decided that enough is enough. They kicked Applejack out of her family's property, with Apple Bloom saying that she now hates her big sister because of her dishonesty and Granny Smith tells her to never come back until her attitude changes, but Applejack doesn't care at all. She leaves the acres in fake happiness.

To be continued…

Author's Note

What happened to Applejack?
How will the Apple family cope with the new Applejack?
Can Twilight Sparkle figure out what happened to Applejack?

Find out in the next chapter, coming on January 8, 2024!

Back to the Bat-pony Caves (Epilogue)

Later, the 3 ponies arrived back at pony/bat-pony village where both species welcomed them back and thanked them for bringing them together.

Twilight spoke up, “Why, thanks. It’s what me and my friends do. Spreading friendship all over the land of Equestria.”
“Oh, yeah! I’m the best, better than Appleliar here!” Rainbow Dash bragged, making Applejack look red-hot with anger. “Shut up, you stupid flying witch. You’re so pathetic that I want to beat you up!” Appleliar shouted in Rainbow’s face.

“Oh, my. We have to get to the caves before things get out of control between them,” Twilight
thought. “Okay, girls. That’s enough. You both should know why we’re here. We have to get back to the caves so we can find the relic so we can change Applejack back to her normal honest self,” she said, sounding pretty stern.

“Oh, fine. Let’s get this over with,” Rainbow Dash said.

It took them a while but they finally reached the bat-pony caves.

“We have to stick together if we were to get Applejack back to normal,” Twilight instructed.

“Sounds good,” Rainbow agreed.

“Oh, buck no!” Applejack said, angrily.

That pushed Twilight to become even more stern. “Will you just focus, Applejack?!” she asked.

Oh, okay,” Applejack said, sounding all fake-happy.

It was then they decided to look for the relic that switched Applejack’s personality together.

It took them a long while (wrong turns, dead ends, etc.), but they finally made it to the item’s location: The bat-pony throne room.

“Now, I’ll have to focus my magic on the relic and hopefully it will help Applejack get back to her honest ways,” Twilight thought.

Applejack was having none of it. “Oh, no! Ah refuse to become nice and honest. I like my new personality better!”

“But, Applejack. You should still remember all the memories you had with me and everyone and the things you did that were helpful. Just think really hard.” Twilight said.

It was then Applejack was starting to have her memories come back:

The time she made up and apologized with Rainbow Dash for having their rivalry go too far in the Running of the Leaves (Fall Weather Friends)

The time when she switched places with Rarity for a day (Simple Ways)

The time Pinkie Pie helped out the Apple Family (Pinkie Apple Pie)

The time her crops were invaded by bat-ponies and Fluttershy turning into one (Bats!)

The time she and the others convinced Twilight Sparkle to help them and Apple Bloom, find the cure for the poison joke curse (Bridle Gossip).

With all those memories coming back, she realized what she was doing lately was very wrong of her. She represents the Element of Honesty anyway.

“Okay. Ah’l co-oporate. Sorry for the way I acted.” Applejack said, sympathy coming in.

“It’s all good. Let’s get you back to normal now,” Twilight said, feeling relieved and forgiving.

“Uh oh, I’m doomed. I’m about to live the rest of the month without my mane and tail.” Rainbow thought, knowing she’s going to lose the bet she made with Applejack.

Twilight has focused her magic on the necklace and the stream has spread to Applejack, her eyes glowing white, her fur changing back to its normal orange color and once her eyes stopped glowing, her eyes are back to their normal appearance. She finally got her honest and kind personality back!

“Yee-haw! Ah’m back, yall! That was one crazy adventure I went through with you girls, and I couldn’t have turned back to my regular self without you, Twilight,”

“Thanks, Applejack. From now on, stay away from magic items and artifacts unless you tell me about them,” Twilight replied, relieved.

“Uh, oh! That means I lost the bet! NOOOOO!” Rainbow Dash thought.

One day later…

Applejack was able to move back to her home and earned the respect of her family. She was happy to be back!

Rainbow Dash was just flying in the sky, just doing her thing (controlling the weather, producing rainbows, etc.), but everypony in the sky was staring at her, laughing!

Rainbow Dash took notice and was feeling embarrassed. “Stop it!” Rainbow shouted in fear. The pegasi didn’t listen to her plea and kept laughing, some even leaving to spread the word about her baldness!

“NOOOOOOOOO!” Rainbow Dash screamed, flying away! She has to spend a month bald (no mane and tail) now!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (end credits)

THE END

Author's Note

Voice cast:

Tara Strong as Princess Twilight Sparkle

Ashleigh Ball as Rainbow Dash and Applejack

Michelle Creber as Apple Bloom

Tabitha St. Germain as Granny Smith

Peter New as Big McIntosh and the bat-pony king

Additional voices (village ponies and bat-ponies): Nicole Oliver, Neil Crone, Tabitha St. Germain, Cathy Weseluck, Andrea Libman, Felicia Day, etc.

Finding Out the Cause

The next day, Applejack was going around Ponyville, telling the ponies who are kind to her to shut up (hurting their feelings), destroying property and everything she can to get herself in trouble. Twilight Sparkle was just at Sugarcube Corner with Pinkie Pie when suddenly, she hears the racket coming from outside.

When they see what's going on, they find that Applejack was the pony responsible for the damage and the disrespect.

"Applejack, what happened to you?" Twilight wondered.

"Oh, nuthin's wrong," Applejack fibs, shocking Twilight and Pinkie Pie. They know that Applejack represents the Element of Honesty and right now, she isn't showing any honesty at all!

"Applejack, how dare you!?" Twilight responded in shock and disbelief. She suddenly remembers how Applejack acted when she came out of the bat-pony caves. "I guess we'll have to go to my castle then," Twilight said.

Ooh, another mission! Another day of fun!" Pinkie Pie said, following Applejack and Twilight (bouncing along).

When they got to the castle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity were there waiting for them. Fluttershy immediately wonders what happened to Applejack as soon as she entered the map room with Twilight and Pinkie.

"What happened to you, Applejack? You don't seem like yourself today," Fluttershy asked, concerned.

Applejack replies in rudness "Shut up, you stupid pegasus! Can't you see that I'm feeling fine?" That made Fluttershy cry in fear.

"Woah! I thought you're an honest pony, but now you are a straight-up liar. I think I'll call you Appleliar from now on!" Rainbow Dash said, laughing in amusement.

"Rainbow!" Twilight butted in, sounding disappointed at Applejack's dishonesty and Rainbow Dash making fun of the farmpony. "Now, we need to find a way to know who or what caused Applejack to act this way".

The all turn to the map, and they find there's a hologram showing a relic in the cave, where bat-ponies live. It's the exact same object that cursed Applejack with her personality switch.

"Wait a minute, I heard of that object. Anypony who come in contact with it will trigger a magic surge that seeps within that pony and have their personality change for the worst." Twilight spoke, looking at the map. "Come on, we have to go back to the caves and reverse the curse!"

"Oh, come on! Why do we have to turn Applejack to normal?" Rainbow Dash asked, in disappointment.

"Because she's the Element of Honesty and we have to keep it that way," Twilight answered in a stern voice.

"Here I go, getting my body shaved off and making me bald is imminent." Rainbow Dash responded, speaking behind their back.

Therefore, Twilight and the rest of the pony gang head to the bat-pony domain to reverse Applejack's curse.

To be continued...

Author's Note

How can Applejack turn back to normal?
Will Applejack be Appleliar forever?
Can the Apple family allow her back at their home?

Find out on the Epilogue chapter, coming soon!