The Fillycaust

Applejack sighed. She didn’t want to think about what could be happening to Applebloom. “Well I’m just glad you’re safe brother.” she said trying to clear her mind of all negative thoughts.

“Eeeyup.” the red stallion said in his usual manner. “I’m glad yer safe too.”

“So er... What about Granny Smith?” Applejack asked.

Big Macintosh looked down at the ground. “They split us up when we got here.” he said solemnly. “I’m... I’m sure you know by now that those fit to work are sent here. Those who aren’t... well you know...”

“I-I understand.” Applejack said. “I guess I just expected the worst when it came to you two. Having you alive is more than I had ever hoped.”

“The same goes to you... And yer friend.” Big Macintosh said pointing his hoof at Pinkie Pie who was standing quietly behind Applejack.

“Hi there Big Mac.” Pinkie Pie said quietly. “It’s nice to see you.”

“Nice to see you too.” Big Macintosh replied with a smile. He looked back at Applejack. “Now you two should best be going back to the barracks, you need yer rest. Not to mention if the guards see us talking we could get into trouble.”

Applejack didn’t want to leave her brother, but knew that he was right. Their bodies just couldn’t function the next day if they didn’t get enough rest.

“I understand big brother.” Applejack said. “Can we see you tomorrow?”

“Eeeyup.” Big Macintosh nodded. “I’ll be here if ya’ll will.”

Applejack smiled. “Alrighty then. See you tomorrow Big Mac.” Applejack was about to turn away when she realized something. There’s no telling what tomorrow holds. She thought. If one of us doesn’t make it... well.. Applejack looked back at Big Macintosh. “I love you big brother, you’ve always been there for me ever since we were little foals. If... If I don’t make it then I just want you to know that.”

Big Macintosh’s eyes filled up with tears, which was a very uncommon sight. “I love you too sis. Now run along, you need your rest!”

“Yessir!” Applejack smiled. She turned around and walked back towards the barracks with Pinkie Pie following closely behind.

“I’m happy you found Big Macintosh.” Pinkie Pie said after a few moments.

“Me too sugarcube. It’s a good turn of events for once.” Applejack replied. “You didn’t really say much to him though.”

“I’m sorry. I just... I have a lot on my mind.” Pinkie Pie sniffled. “I’ve never had this much on my mind before, I’m not used to it.”

“This is a new experience for all of us Pinkie.” Applejack reassured. “We really should get some rest though. If tomorrow is anything like today then we’re really gonna need it.”

“I’m soooo sore!” Pinkie Pie moaned. “And hungry! How do they expect us to work again tomorrow with empty stomachs?”

“I honestly don’t think they care Pinkie.” Applejack admitted. “But if we wanna defy the odds then we gotta stick together and be smart.”

“I’m just really glad I’m here with you Applejack.” Pinkie Pie said with a smile. “I don’t think I could do it if I was by myself.”

Applejack returned the smile. “I’m glad you’re here with me too Pinkie. But hey if Big Macintosh has been here by himself for two months then the two of us can do it too! Right?”

“I guess so.” Pinkie Pie agreed.

The two ponies arrived at the nearest barrack. The poorly constructed wooden box was only about the size of a small house but could hold more than one hundred ponies.

They walked up the ramp and into the barrack. Ponies were packed liked sardines into the sleeping shelves on each wall. Pushing through the crowd of Earth Ponies, Applejack and Pinkie Pie finally found two vacant shelves next to each other.

“I guess we’ll take these.” Applejack said.

“Okie dokie lokie.” Pinkie Pie agreed.

Applejack smiled. Even if Pinkie Pie had said it by habit, it was still nice to hear a little bit of the happy life loving Pinkie Pie that she remembered.

“Well goodnight Pinkie Pie.” Applejack said giving her friend a hug.

“Goodnight Applejack.”

The two ponies squeezed into the shelves. Applejack grimaced as she received splinters on her back from sliding across wooden board. This is supposed to be a bed? She thought. I’ve seen rocks that are more comfortable.

It was extremely difficult to fall asleep in the barrack. This was due not only to the uncomfortable sleeping shelves but also to the noise. The constant moaning and coughing of starving and dying ponies filled the room. Applejack thought that she would never fall asleep as she listened to the horrible monotonous sound, but eventually her exhaustion caught up to her.

Applejack opened her eyes and looked around the barrack. She was shocked to see that there was nopony inside. Every single sleeping shelf was unoccupied and there were no traces that anypony had even been there at all. Where have they all gone? She wondered. An eerie silence gripped the structure truly giving it a feeling of emptiness. She lay there alone for several minutes trying to collect her memory.

Then she heard the soft distant crying of a filly.

“Wh-who’s there?” Applejack hesitantly shouted in the direction the crying came from.

There was no answer.

Applejack gathered enough courage to force herself out of the tiny shelf. She jumped to the floor and walked cautiously toward the door. The crying seemed to be coming from the other side.

She turned the doorknob with her mouth and pushed on the door. As it swung open a heavy mist from outside seeped into the room. She squinted out into the Canter Camp, trying to see the source of the crying, but the mist was far too thick.

The crying intensified.

Applejack stepped out of the barracks and walked down the entrance ramp. As she walked farther she spotted a small figure in the distance. It appeared to be the silhouette of a filly, sitting down and facing the opposite direction.

“Hey there!” Applejack called out. “Are you okay?”

The filly kept on crying.

“I’m not gonna hurt you!” Applejack reassured.

The filly showed no sign of recognition.

Applejack shuddered. There was something disturbing about the situation. Why wouldn’t the filly respond? It just sat there crying.

Applejack moved closer. A loud crack sounded beneath her hoof as she stepped off the ramp and onto the ground. She looked down to see the ground was completely covered with the skeletons of dead ponies. She jumped back at the sight breathing heavily. The fear rising in her heart. The crying, however, continued.

She turned her attention back to the filly. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Why are you crying?” Then she noticed the filly’s familiar red mane and pale yellow coat.

“A-Applebloom?”

The filly stopped crying.

“Applebloom is that you?” Applejack asked. She felt a strange feeling build up inside her, as if something bad was going to happen.

“You left me sis.” Applebloom said calmly still facing the opposite direction as Applejack. “You let them take me.”

“No Applebloom! I had no choice!” Applejack pleaded. “It was to protect you!”

“You gave me to them.” Applebloom continued paying no attention to her sister’s excuses. “You gave me to him.” she emphasized.

“Applebloom I’m sorry, but they would’ve killed us! Please listen to me!”

“You let them do this to me..” The filly said softly.

“Do what? What did they do to you?” Applejack asked. Her heart was beating so fast that it seemed it was going to burst, but the rest of her body felt as though it were frozen in place.

Applebloom began to slowly turn around. “THIS!!!” she screamed. The filly’s face had disappeared. In its place was a large black gaping hole. “YOU LET THEM DO THIS TO ME!!!”

Applejack screamed and heard a ringing in her ears. She opened her eyes to find that she was back in the barrack. The guards were moving up and down the isles ringing bells and screaming, trying to wake up all the ponies to begin working again.

“Wake up you worthless scum!” one of the guards shouted. “Get to work or die!”

Waking up from a nightmare to find myself in a nightmare. Applejack thought. Not even my dreams can take me away from this horrible place.

Applejack quickly rolled out of the shelf and followed the hoard of Earth Ponies out into the Canter Camp. She searched the crowd for Pinkie Pie and spotted the mare about fifty feet in front of her. She too appeared to be searching the crowd for Applejack.

Applejack moved closer toward Pinkie. “Hey Pinkie.” she yawned when she was within earshot.

Pinkie Pie turned and smiled, “Hi Applejack. How’d you sleep?”

“Not very well... You?”

“I couldn’t sleep well either. I... I couldn’t get some things out of my mind.”

Applejack nodded. “Trust me I know what you mean...”

“Attention!” ordered a loud voice from above. Applejack and Pinkie Pie looked up to see Night Flare flying over the crowd of ponies.

Pinkie Pie cowered trying to make herself disappear amongst the other ponies. Applejack looked over at her friend. She couldn’t imagine what it felt like for Pinkie Pie to see the stallion who had no doubt haunted her mind last night. Poor Pinkie Pie. Applejack thought. She looked up at Night Flare and felt her anger building up inside. Who does that pony think he is?

“Attention!” Night Flare repeated. “Today all of you will be digging out the foundation for a new barrack. You are to follow and take construction orders from Novelty.” Night Flare pointed his hoof at a brown Earth Pony below him.

Why would they let an Earth Pony be in charge of the construction? Applejack wondered.

Night Flare scanned his audience. His eyes fixated on somepony within the crowd and a wicked smile crossed his face. “Now get to work you worthless scum!” he commanded.

All of the ponies quickly began to follow the construction leader Novelty. While walking, Applejack saw Night Flare, out of the corner of her eye, swoop down and land somewhere amongst the crowd. Soon after she heard an ear-piercing scream.

“No! Please no!” a pony screamed in distress.

Applejack craned her neck to try to see through the crowd. What the hay is going on over there? She wondered.

The screaming continued, “No not you! Not again!”

Applejack finally saw the source of the screaming. A bright yellow mare with a straight violet colored mane was trying desperately to escape Night Flare. The red pegasus was biting on her mane toying with the poor Earth Pony. It was a repeat of what happened with Pinkie Pie.

“You’re coming with me!” Night Flare said with a sinister laugh.

The mare was sobbing, “Please no...” she whimpered. “Please...”

Applejack looked over at Pinkie Pie who was cowering and shaking uncontrollably with fear. We have to get out of here. Applejack thought. I can’t let that monster see Pinkie.

“Pinkie Pie.” Applejack whispered to her frightened friend. “Pinkie we need to leave.”

Pinkie Pie looked up at Applejack and nodded. As they walked away the sound of the struggle continued. The mare’s continuous screams echoing through Applejack’s mind. She felt so helpless. She wanted to help but her common sense told her that if she tried anything then she would be killed. Her objective was to survive, and although it made her feel terrible to just walk away from the incident, she knew that she had a duty to protect Pinkie Pie if she could. It felt like a repeat of her having to be separated from Applebloom.

Applejack tried to convince herself that what she was doing was right. I have to protect Pinkie Pie. Plus Applebloom might still be okay. She thought. And if she is then she’s counting me to take care of her when this is all over. She wondered where her baby sister was and if she was okay. Oh Applebloom, I hope you’re safe...

Applebloom took a deep breath and turned around. Standing in the doorway to the bedroom was the orange unicorn, Doctor D. He was smiling at the fillies in his usual manner.

“Okay Sea Breeze,” he began. “It’s time for you to come with me!”

“Actually...” Applebloom interrupted. She looked back at Sea Breeze and nodded. “Sea Breeze isn’t feeling that great, I’ll go with you instead.”

Doctor D blinked taken aback by Applebloom’s willingness to go. “Well... Er... Okay!” he said smiling again. “Right this way... What’s you’re name little one?”

“Applebloom.”

“Well right this way Applebloom!” Doctor D turned around a began walking out of the room and towards the entrance.

“Hold on a sec!” Applebloom shouted. She turned to her two new friends and gave them each a hug. “Bye Sea Breeze! Bye Strawberry Quartz!” she smiled. “I’ll be back, promise not to worry!”

“B-bye Applebloom.” Sea Breeze said, her eyes tearing up. “And th-thank you...”

Strawberry Quartz was trying not to cry but Applebloom glimpsed a tear roll down the filly’s pink cheek.

“Bye Applebloom.” Strawberry Quartz sniffed. “We’ll be waiting for you okay?”

Applebloom smiled and nodded then turned to Doctor D. “Okay.” she said. “Let’s go.”