The Mirage Forest ended in a clearing, dominated by a towering green Hive, with those characteristic holes penetrating it on all sides. Its green glow gave the group chills, and even Pinkie had to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, as well as the importance of a plan.

“As you can see, the only way by hoof is trough the gate. Now, we could fly in from our position, but with the guards on the sides of the wall, that would not only ruin our advantage of surprise, but also probably make them shoot us down. So we need to make a fake frontal attack, and for that we need a pony willing to use Maple’s syrup.” Luna explained as the ponies huddled in a circle just on the last edge of the forest.

“One pony? Are you sure this syrup is that powerful? There must be a better way than just sacrifice one of us and hope they survive long enough to kick that cheese graters’s flank.” Vinyl protested, obvious concern in her voice.

“The syrup itself does not give strength, but more durability. And I think we know who could take on such a task.” Luna responded, her eyes fixed on Applejack.

The Apple family protege nodded sternly, even though inwardly she was buzzing. What was that thing going to do to her? And even if it did help, a whole battalion of changelings?

“I’ll do it. Everypony else has given something to the cause, and now it’s my turn as well. Not much I can do as a Earth pony anyway.” she said and grabbed the syrup, chugging it like some premium cider.

“You were supposed to take it one spoon at a time...” Luna mumbled, her face almost white from shock.

“Well buck.” Applejack could only respond, her skin beginning to feel almost liquid. A shine covered her, from her ears to her hooves. But what brought the crew to scream was not that she seemed to become like Maple, but rather the fact she was melting.

“Help me Luna! Twi!” Applejack pleaded as the rest screamed, while Luna came closer to her,

“Whatever happens, don’t lose focus. Remember who you are, and why are you doing this.” The moon princess replied.

And in a few quick strides, much to the horror of the group, Applejack was nothing more that an orange glistening puddle of a once proud Earth pony.

The dazed farmmare rose to her hooves. Nothingness greeted her, a vast gray field that ran into oblivion. Faint laughter began to creep from behind, and as soon as Applejack would turn, it would vanish.

“You can hear them, can’t you?” a voice came from the front this time, and Applejack turned once more.

In front of her was a familiar face. Her mane was crimson, her skin was brown. More importantly, this mare was glistening as she were made out of liquid. It was Maple, Luna’s friend and the one who gave them this strange concoction.

“What is happening, Maple? Where am I?” Applejack inquired, nervous and very tired all of a sudden.

“We are in a nightmare. My nightmare, and yours.” she said coldly, and pointed behind Applejack, the laughter now louder and closer.

Applejack began to feel like her head was on swivel, but this time she actually saw the source of the laugh. It were three enormous unicorns, black and menacing.

“Oh look my brethren, another Dirter.”

The slur struck deep into Applejack’s rage. It was a relic, a forbidden derogatory term old obsessed unicorns would use for earth ponies.

”Listen here you stuck up imbecile..:” Applejack began to trot towards the unicorn, even though the shadowy group was twice her size each.

“Oh this one thinks it knows better. Allow me to show you your place. In the dirt!” the leader of this hooligan pack replied, and used his magic to throw Applejack.

She quickly rose up, and began to confront them, with Maple looking on with worry.

“A fighter? Good, it makes more fun for you to bow before your superior that way.”

The group cast their own magic, each of them grabbing one of her appendages, only to begin pulling. The pain was instantaneous and excruciating, as each of her front and hind legs were being pulled out of their sockets, and the ligaments were on the verge of snapping like grass. She screamed in pain, begging for Maple to help. The mare could not, and Applejack understood this was her fight, her nightmare. It took all of her own natural strength to keep the unicorns from tearing her apart.

“Now bow, you Dirter, or die in your defiance!” the leader screamed as his voice echoed in the ether.

Applejack thought about it. It would make the pain go away, it would make her safe... Safe as a slave. A lesser creature. She knew that was a lie, a lie that she could not let stand, nor live in. Earth ponies were and still are worthy of being brethren to pegasi and unicorns. She held onto her pride, her knowledge, and her friends. The pull of her legs began to reach new heights. The unicorns began to use more magic, but it was no use. In a primal scream, she pulled the dark unicorns towards her, and they vanished as they crashed into her.

Only after a few moments did Applejack regain her bearings, Maple hugging her.

“You did good, I am proud of you.” she said calmly as she kissed Applejack on the cheek.

“My legs, they’re shot. I won’t be able to help my friends!” she cried, both in pain and despair.

”Don’t worry about that. Now that you have regained your assurance in what you are, you’ll do just fine.” Maple comforted her friend, and began to coat her.

Applejack’s shock was subdued, as she trusted Maple completely. The pain was going away, and as she covered her head, Maple whispered one more thing to her fellow earth pony.

“Make us proud.”

“You stuck up, no good piece of monarchy!” Fluttershy scolded, and even threw a slap to Luna, which she gladly took.

“I see your time as a Nightmare has given you a shorter fuse.” she replied coyly, the red cheek clashing with her usually black fur, as the rest of the mares were still wondering what just happened to their beloved friend.

“You are lucky I am not strong enough to beat you up. How could you let her kill herself like that?!” Fluttershy screamed through the oncoming tears.

“Dead? No, she is not dead!” Luna replied furiously.

“She is a puddle, you sad excuse for an alicorn!” Fluttershy replied, growling like a Cerberus by now.

“Trust me on this. If I am certain of one thing , that is that Applejack will be with us very soon.” Luna assured the group, hugging the trembling Fluttershy with her large wing.

And indeed, as Luna finished those words, the floating hat began to rise, and a familiar, albeit very slippery head began to emerge. It was as if Applejack was exiting a pool, and soon enough her neck appeared, and torso, with the hooves sucking up rest of the puddle, leaving them with a flowing orange pony, much to the groups bewilderment, and joy. A strong scream left Applejack’s mouth as she solidified, her eyes opening again, they too now made from the rubbery substance.

The other mares quickly jumped to hug their friend, with Luna smiling behind them.

“You smell rubbery, darling. Not that I would know of course.” Rarity noticed, and then quickly proceeded to blush at her comment.

“I am fine, Rarity. I managed to pull trough, and all thanks to you.” Applejack replied calmly.

“What are you talking about?” Twilight asked, intrigued by Applejack.

“Well once I... melted, my old fear came back. A fear I have because deep down I felt I am not good enough, that you all secretly think less of me because I am an earth pony. I know it’s silly, but up to now I simply ignored it. Now I know that not only I am worthy, but I feel that you indeed love me not despite what I am, but because I am.” Applejack explained, leaving Twilight stunned.

“Darling, we never dared to think less of you, Pinkie, Applebloom our any of our other earth pony friends. Each and every one of you is like a snowflake. A very sturdy snowflake, but a snowflake at that.” Rarity hugged her friend, only to shiver and blush.

“I envy you so much right now.” she whispered to Applejack, leaving her confused, but only for a second.

“So that fitting for that special outfit... There was no client, was there?” Applejack whispered back, and chuckled.

“There was, you were only looking at her at the time.” Rarity teased, her eyes going from friend hug into bed territory.

“Oh, I need to be at more of these fittings...” Applejack trailed off, the rubber blushing under her eyes.

“Ladies, as much as we like that you are so close to each other, we have the issue of a power mad lunatic holding Dash. Although, I must ask Maple the specifics of it, once we destroy Chrysalis’s plan, of course.” Twilight mumbled, making a mental note.

“So, do you feel any stronger?” Pinkie asked, poking Applejack and making her torso bounce like jello.

“Not really. Luna, what did this actually provide us besides the fact I can cross the moat now without becoming a puddle of pony?” Applejack inquired, eager to know more and how she can help her friend in need.

“Allow me to demonstrate. Applejack, please grab onto those two trees and don’t let go, whatever happens.” Luna instructed, and Applejack nodded in agreement.

The earth pony grabbed the two sturdy trees, only for Luna to grab her hind legs with vigor and pull, stretching her body to unreal lengths. As the others watched, gobsmacked, she let go. The force of the stretch propelled Applejack’s behind towards her head, only to wiz pass it and into a tree in front of her. The force of the impact split the large tree in two and knocked several of them down just for good measure.

“That was amazing! Do it again, but this time smile for the camera!” Pinkie screamed, holding a Ponyroid camera that she got from Twilight for her birthday.

Applejack’s torso wobbled back and forth a bit before she managed to control it and regain her usual stature.

“Wow Luna, that was some ride. So you are telling me that I don’t just look like being made from rubber, that I actually am rubber now?” Applejack asked, as she put her hat back on.

“Yes Applejack, you are now 100 percent a rubber pony, as my friend Maple is. You are now more durable than most creatures in Equestria. Be careful around heat though, the results are very detrimental to our plan.” Luna explained, her hooves making waves as she got to the heat part.

“Well, what are we waiting for, let’s kick some changeling butt!” Applejack exclaimed, as the group trotted forward.

“After you, cowmare.” Rarity said, slapping Applejack’s wobbling behind, making her blush.

Author's Note

And we are back from the depths of Hiatus Hell! Two more chapters my readers, and our adventures is at an end.