The group stood there in horrified silence. The blood covered body laying in front of them belonged to Applejack. The five other Element Bearers couldn't believe what they saw. Applejack, she attempted suicide. Rarity was the first to say anything.

"Is....is she gone?" Rarity had to hold back a flood of tears.

Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's brightest student and talented unicorn, stood with mouth agape. When she regained composure, she replied to Rarity's earlier question.

"I...don't know....someone grab her and take her to the hospital. That's all we can do." Her voice was a monotonous stream of air. She was in total shock. All of her friends felt the same. Minus Rarity. They didn't feel anything. They didn't feel sad. They didn't feel happy. They didn't feel remorse. They didn't...feel.

"I said someone take her to the hospital!!!" Twilight yelled. She didn't know how to handle this...she felt...empty...

The group arrived at the hospital and Applejack was rushed to the ER. A three hour waiting period of doubt, fear, and sorrow is what was given to the rest of the girls. Twilight was pacing back and forth. Rarity was sobbing to herself. Rainbow Dash was staring blankly at the wall. Pinkie Pie was sitting in a corner facing the wall. Fluttershy was trying to find out about Applejack and how she was doing....if she was gone or not...

"Well...what did they say?" Rainbow inquired.

"They said that Applejack is stable, but she's in a coma. We can't see her until they say. They said they'll notify us as soon as they can....which'll be never." Fluttershy looked to be on the verge of tears.

Twilight spoke up out of her trance-pacing. "I'm sure they're doing their best....I know you want to see her now but...you can't..."

Rainbow Dash spoke up, with more than a bit of fire in her voice. "Oh really! And what do they know? 'Applejack is stable.' Stable! STABLE!? WHAT THE BUCK IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?!? Applejack, our friend, is dying, and they won't even let her best friends see her!? This is BULLSHIT!"

Twilight was taken aback by Rainbow's sudden outburst. "Rainbow! Watch your mouth! We're in a hospital for Celestia's sake! As for Applejack...we'll see her as soon as she's able...just be patient..."

Guilt was eating away at Rainbow Dash. She felt like she caused this. What she didn't know, was that everybody was wrong...

Applejack grabbed her head. "Owww. What in the hay just happened? Where am ah?" She shook her and noticed she was in the meadows just outside Ponyville. "What..the...hay?" She saw what she thought was Angel off in the distance. Something inside her told her to follow the white rabbit. Applejack proceeded to chase after the rabbit.

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY" She called to the rabbit. "Wait up! Ah...just...wanna....ask....ya....somethin'..." Applejack said between breaths. She was running to catch up, but it seemed like the distance stayed the same. All she could see was the blur of trees and grass beside her, and the white rabbit in front of her. Faster and faster she ran, but to no avail. Everything seemed so surreal, she snapped back to the situation at hand when she saw that she was in a clearing. It was a beautiful meadow, with a waterfall and a crystalline-like stream. Butterflies flitted back and forth and foxes lapped at the stream. It was the perfect setting for romance. Then the white rabbit came across her vision once more, only this time, it beckoned to her. Applejack walked towards the rabbit, and right as she was about to grab it, she fell. There was no hole, no chasm, no trench, she just...fell. When she hit the bottom of wherever she was falling to, she spotted the same white rabbit. Applejack approached it once more, but this time the rabbit started glowing white. It started to morph and change into a more human-like appearance. She was wearing a blue dress with white and black checkered hems, long white socks, black buckled shoes, and a black bow. The woman had dirty blonde hair with blue eyes and a teenage look. When she saw Applejack there she simply smiled.

"Welcome, to my domain. I am Alice." Alice made a courteous bow.

"Uhhh...well howdy. Mah name is Applejack. So...uhh...where in the heck am ah?"

Alice chuckled and looked down upon Applejack. "I already told you. You are in my domain. The Abyss. The Darkness. Whatever you wish to call it."

"Abyss? Ah heard Twilight talking about something like that. Except, the only inhabitants of the so called Abyss were Manus and his four sons...are they here somewhere?" Applejack was puzzled, but yet she was somehow remaining calm.

"Oh I see what the problem is here. What you do know, is of the Abyss, but you do not know about the Abyss. You see, Darkness is a part of everyone...excuse me...everypony's mind. It's just a matter of if you let it in. You could let it in without knowing, such as in the event of a tragedy or self agony. The most common case of this happening is a broken heart. You have a broken heart. That's how you let It in. As to why you don't see this Manus character, everypony has their own Abyss. It is created with us, and we die with it. To clear up so matters as to why you are here, in the real world, you're in a coma. Your friends think you committed suicide after your friend...what was her name...Rainbow Dash...told you that she was with that pink maned pony...Fluttershy. Even you don't know what happened."

Applejack took a moment to absorb what was just said. "So...what did happen then?"

Alice had to hold back a maniacal cackle. "Well, just as the Rainbow Dash character flew away, a creature from the Abyss lashed out at you. One clean sweep across the neck. The only reason you survived is because you hadn't completely given in to the Darkness. This is only the first of the attacks. Very soon, the Abyss will grow tired of the friendship and love that your world has. It will strike out with blade, tooth, and claw. This will be the end of all things as you know them. When this takes place, you will know it is the Beginning of the End. Look for the signs, first, there will be noticeably less joviality in the world. Ponies will become more irritable and fights will occur. More ponies will have there emotions wounded and let the Darkness inside. Once a majority of the ponies have let the Darkness in, we will strike. The Abyss will claim many, and those slain will march for the Army of the Abyss. Once the Army has been amassed, it will destroy your Goddesses, thus ending the world you live in. The world will crumble and the Abyss will spread to the other planets and galaxies in the universe, and the Abyss will claim all!"

Alice let out a sinister laugh as everything began to fade a way from Applejack. Everything got dark, and then excruciatingly bright. She was waking up from her coma.

"Doctor....DOCTOR!!!! She's waking up! Get the doctor in here ASAP!!! She's not ready yet! Give her the sedative!"

Author's Note

Sorry for the long update hiatus. I've been under a lot of stress lately. I hope you like it. I've decided to switch directions a little bit. Instead of having ONLY romance, I'm going to have adventure mixed it. Keep up with the story if you want to know how it all ends. Will the Abyss conquer all? Will friendship prevail?