After Day

On most days, I wake up when the Sun did. Today, something seemed off. I donned my hat, lit a lantern, and ventured out into the darkness with Winona by my side.

I knew the groves of Sweet Apples Acres like the top of my snout. Even if I could barely see past that muzzle, I would've noticed anything out of line. My dog seemed to be padding along just fine, nose to the ground.

After we walked a ways from the house, I felt a familiar gooey sensation under my hoof. I lowered the lantern and surveyed the area to see the ground littered with partially eaten apples and their mushed up remains.

"What in tarnation?" Was it those fruit bats, again? No. At least those varmints had the decency to enjoy most of the apple. It looked like something took a bite out of each one just to enjoy the feeling of spitting it back out.

A sound caused Winona to freeze and I stiffened right with her. We both heard that crunch and I was moving to close the distance just as I heard a following retch. I didn't even give myself the opportunity to realize my dog didn't follow.

"Reach for the skies you no good- Twilight?" My brain reset when I saw my friend leaned against a tree. She was dry heaving something fierce, and blame it on the light, but she looked off. Her coat was dark and looked like it was shedding in a few areas. Her mane looked paper thin.

I had so many questions: What're you doing out here so late? Why'd you set out yesterday without telling nopony where you were going? What's gotten your head so far upside down that you'd waste perfectly good apples? Now wasn't the time for all that.

"Holy Night, Sugar Cube." I saddled up next to Twilight and held her steady. Her breaths began to even out when a rumble shook us both. I was stunned for a moment before breaking out into laughter. "Haven't heard a stomach that angry since Big Macintosh got into that 'diet watchers' nonsense way back when. Is that why you're stalking about?"

"Hungry." She groaned out desperately and my mood dampened. I looked around at all the food waste around us. Must've been a bad stomach bug if she couldn't keep nothing down. "I was on the train. Why?"

I shrugged. "You should be telling me. You left so early I hadn't even finished setting up shop. I just saw you kicking up a dust trail through the market and there was no flagging you down."

"I needed a full day for something."

"You mind filling me in on what?"

"Don't remember. Spike told me I said that." She spoke slowly as her eyes started off into space. Again, it could've been the lighting, but I couldn't stop myself from noticing how green the edge of Twilight's eyes were becoming. Probably something worse than a stomach bug. "I couldn't eat any of the food we had. Everywhere else is closed. So hungry."

"Well, you came to the right place. There ain't a single being in Equestria that can't appreciate a good apple. No matter the species, sickness, or allergy. If you can't eat it, we haven't made it right." I push against Twilight until she's on her hooves. I grab the lantern with my mouth and steady her with a hoof. "Come on now. We'll get you back to the house and in a bed. I'm sure Granny will stuff you with all the remedies she can think of."

It was slow going, but we started making progress. Twilight is shaking with every step, threatening to collapse unless I lean into her. I'm close to strapping the filly to my back if it meant getting a move on. I didn't like looking at this version of Twi with her hair falling out by the clumps. I missed the sweet mare that would see you struggling, greet you kindly, disappear to investigate any issue you might have, then show back up with a solution prouder than a pup with her first flea.

I could picture that look now. Especially, that cute little smile she'd make when content.

"That smells good."

"Huh?" I spoke around the lantern just fine. Working on a farm your whole life gave one the uncanny ability to talk even when they were working with their mouth full. "What was that, Sugar Cube?"

Twilight hung her head low and didn't say anything for a while. We slowly put one hoof before the other until I could barely make something out. "It's gone. I don't think I like the smell of worry."

Smell? I mean, it was muggy out tonight. I might have a layer or two of sweat from that and the running, but why phrase it that way? I shook my head. Probably just something she's quoting from a book. Wouldn't be the first time.

"It was right here." She nuzzled into my neck.

"S- sugar Cube?" I flinch. Nothing wrong with a friendly nuzzle, but this one came out of left field.

"It smelled so good. I can still feel it buried in there." Twilight pushed harder, nearly making me lose my balance. "Bring it back, Applejack." She whinnied. "I'm hungry. So hungry."

I pushed hard against her to even us out. I could see the end of the orchard up ahead. Once there, it was be a straight shot back to the house. "Let's keep you moving, Twi. I'm sure Winona's gone off to fetch Mac. They'll met us halfwa- HAH!"

Twilight pulled away from me right quick. Without anypony to push my weight against, I wound up throwing myself to the dirt. I felt the lantern drop from my mouth as I rolled onto my back and saw Twilight standing above me. She was panting, her eyes were much greener than before. It was no trick of the light, an eerily familiar green hue had overtaken Twilight's lavender eyes.

"Please, bring it back, Applejack. I'm so hungry. I haven't eaten in... in...." Those eyes focused on me, peering not at a friend or even another pony, but at a bit of prey. It was the same animalistic look I'd see cross Winona when she was eyeing some errant squirrel. I could see what remained of my friend become snuffed out in that very moment as "Twilight's" eyes became entirely green. "I don't think I've ever eaten."

The moment I realized it wasn't Twilight, instinct took control. I hit that sucker with as much force as I could muster. Its head whipped to the side and a piece of something went flying into the darkness. It slowly turned back to me. The flickering flames of the lantern felt so far and so cold; they barely illuminated the white fangs and green eyes juxtaposed against a black exoskeleton.

I had knocked its "face" off.

It stole what little vision I had when it dropped itself on me. I could hardly breathe under the thing. It was so much heavier than it ought to be; my hoof ached from just lashing it earlier, but Granny didn't raise no quitter. I was going to struggle and flail against this monster until my heart gave out.

There was something wet dropping on my face, running down my muzzle off to who cares where. Its jaws opened far wider than any normal pony's and I felt... calm? No, not quite calm. What was the word? Apath... something? I didn't feel like anything. My beaten legs and hooves slowed their attack. I had the energy, just not the will.

What was the point of all this? I can feel my heart pounding. My world is getting dark, darker yet darker. Why did any of that matter though?

Sleep sounded good right now.

"Nope!"

I felt a literal weight off my chest and a figurative spark of something within it. I couldn't place it at first, but one glance at the red stallion pinning that monster to a tree gave me my answer. I nearly cried in relief as I sucked in labored breaths.

"You get away from my sister!" Big Macintosh struggled with it for a bit. It snapped and hissed until it suddenly stilled and focused. The monster opened its jaw like before and I saw some strange mist flow from my brother's mouth into its waiting maw. It drank it in like a cider and Mac started to falter.

With a push, it would've tackled him to the ground and had its feast, but I already felt my body moving. I rushed forwards and roundabout just as I reached it. I bucked that thing square in the throat and cut off its feeding frenzy. It stood there dazed for a moment. Just a second longer and it'd be on the attack, or worse, off somewhere into the night where we'd have to track it down.

With a glance, Mac and I knew perfectly well what to do. With practiced ease that only came from years of working side by side, we bucked the monster in unison with enough force to topple even the most rooted of trees and sent it sailing.

We huffed together as we watched it. Hard to believe that such a short struggle took so much out of us.

The thing flopped on the ground at the base of an apple tree, kicking its front hooves out uselessly. It was still alive, still conscious and squirming. Thankfully, the bug will have a hard time moving with a broken back.

Bile built up in the throat. As it moved, it scrapped off more of the flesh it used to disguise itself as Twilight. I never saw any of the ones back at Canterlot do that. Maybe that's what the fire was for?

Mac fixed me a look, one that both said "Are you okay?" and "What in Tartarus was that?"

I shook my head and went to pick up the lantern. "I'll explain later. Last time I saw one of these critters there was a whole infestation. You go back to the house and hull up there. Don't let anypony in unless they use the secret knock."

He seemed to think on it, then nodded. Before he left, I saw an eyebrow raise.

"I'm headed into town. Those things could look like anypony, but Twi only just got back into town." I look to the horizon and saw that day was still quite away. "I'm hoping nothing's amiss, but either way the Princess needs to know what's going on." If there really was an invasion underway, Spike was their best bet at getting a letter to Canterlot in time. Hopefully, the little guy was alright.

We were just about to head out when a snarl got our attention. The monster still writhed amongst the scraps of its disguise. Its eyes were looking at me with confusion and hurt as if it was mimicking Twilight one last time just to stab at us. Even the pained gasps it made while trying to form words were done using the mare's voice.

I knew there was something that needed to be done, yet I didn't want to be the one to do it. That thing looked just like Twi not twenty minutes ago. Big Mac took a step towards it and gestured at me to go. I was thankful.

I trotted away a bit faster than I normally would. I trusted my brother to get the job done and time was ticking. A resounding crunch barely caused a hitch in my step. It was just a changeling, a monster that tricks and lies to get at your heart. Bear it no mind and just keep on keeping on. The real Twilight was out there somewhere. Focusing on that fake behind me would just slow me down.

[A full day isn't enough to both secure the toxin and undergo the metamorphosis. Even if I could complete the transformation, there's still no promise I could deal with the side effects. I'm going to discontinue this work for now and return to Plan A.]