Victory Apple

“Eight days, she's been gone a whole eight days!”

Applebloom was beginning to hyperventilate. Normally she wouldn't be this energetic as the sun rose, but the stress of her sister being two days behind schedule left her in a state of almost sheer panic. She'd tried to contain it for as long as she could, but seeing her sister's friends standing in their kitchen and suiting up to go out searching for her made the situation all too real.

Big Mac tried to pull her aside and out of the way. Twilight, who had just finished strapping on Fluttershy's saddlebags, turned to her and said, “Don't worry Applebloom, we'll find her. She probably just stayed an extra day to help out. It's a long journey there and back; I wouldn't be surprised if we run into her on the road.”

But her comforting words had no effect on the troubled feelings stirring around inside her. It was the same worry that was plastered over Fluttershy's expression. In fact, their entire gang was unusually silent. Even stubborn old Big Mac had a long face. Only Pinkie Pie showed any sort of energy, twitching and jittering with worry over her pal.

“We'll find her,” Twilight tried to assure Applebloom, aware that she was saying it more to herself. In her head she knew that there truly was nothing to panic over, but her heart was gripped in fear like everypony else's.

Winona sat by the door expectantly. At Twilight's request, Fluttershy had convinced the dog to come with them. It was a feeble hope, but there was always the chance that her dog might help them in locating her... just in case something had happened. And in turn, Twilight was going to leave Spike, still asleep from the night before, at the Apple family farm for Big Mac to look after. It seemed like such an unfair exchange to Twilight, but Big Macintosh had insisted on doing it so Twilight could go.

Rainbow Dash quickly stepped outside once more to fly up and scan the roads on the bleak hope that AJ had traveled through the night and was now coming within sight of the farm. Twilight checked the list one more time to make sure they had everything they would need for the long journey there and back. She was hoping that it wouldn't last that long.

While the others filed out, she bade her goodbyes to AJ's siblings, giving Big Mac the letter she had written for Spike that contained her apology. She thanked him again for looking after the little one, but he shrugged off as nothing. Sparing one last glance at the pair as she stepped outside, Twi magically shut the door behind her. The journey had begun.

***

There wasn't much talk on the train ride to Appleloosa, from where their journey would really begin. After they had all collected themselves, used the bathroom, and found directions to this almost unheard of desert town, the five set out. It was almost noon, and they had to move fast if they had any hope of reaching the unnamed settlement in under two days.

Rainbow Dash flew above, keeping an eye out for any traveling mares and their wagons, while Fluttershy kept her own gaze on Winona. The dog's playful antics provided them their only jolly reprieve from the sullen mission they were on. Pinkie Pie's Pinkie Sense was on full-time alert; Twilight hoped that it would at least alert them to any coming danger even if it couldn't help them find their friend. Even Rarity, it seemed, had a grasp of their situation enough to keep her mouth shut and not complain about the heat or dust.

Conversation was sadly nonexistent. But with every passing hour, everypony could feel the tension rising. Even Winona, curled up and resting on Fluttershy's back, seemed to sense that their hope was a futile one. When Fluttershy finally came to tears, the group decided it was time to stop and rest for a bit before going on.

When they set up camp that night, too tired and too cold to continue, the five tried their hardest not to think about their mission. They talked and laughed, and even Winona seemed to get her mind off of her master's disappearance. But the weight of her absence was felt by all. Not a single one of them went to bed dry-eyed.

The next day was a little better. It was clear now that Applejack must still be at the settlement. Yet that belief did not end their worry. Each imagined the worse- injury, illness, even capture... what in the wide wide world of Equestria could keep Applejack of all ponies from returning home to her family and friends?

It was late in the evening when they finally arrived. The town had been visible for over an hour, but the initial rush of energy they felt at the sight of it drained quickly as it refused to get any closer to them. When they finally entered the town's outer limits, they were more relieved than eager. It had been a long two days.

“Alright girls,” Twilight finally addressed them, her lips chapped from the arid winds, “We need to stick together for now. It's late, and we need out sleep. Tomorrow we- Winona, no!”

The dog had perked up and dashed away before anypony could stop her. The miserable little group snapped back to full alertness at this and took after the runaway. Dash was the fastest, using her wings to propel herself down the road after her.

But the dog slipped away and the five were forced to a stop. “Oh no,” Fluttershy said, “Where'd she go? Oh where'd she go? Applejack will be so disappointed in me for losing her precious Winona.”

“Get ahold of yourself, Fluttershy!” Rainbow snapped, “She's around here somewhere!”

“We'll have to split up!” Twilight asserted.

“Ooh, like a banana?” Pinkie offered, “I love banana splits! With bananas and cherries and ice cream...”

Ignoring her, Twilight quickly addressed the others, “Rainbow, you fly to the top of these buildings and glance at the side roads from there. Rarity and Fluttershy will watch the main road. I'll ask around if anypony has seen-”

Her instructions were cut short by a familiar voice not too far away. Hearts pounding, each of them forgot what Twilight had been saying and rushed around the building and onto the main street of town. An orange pony with yellow hair and three apples as a cutie mark was standing nearby. Winona was circling her and barking excitedly.

Had they not been so swept up in their joy they would have realized that their old friend was missing her trademarked stetson hat, or that while her mane was still tied back her tail was flowing freely. They should have at least noticed the vest and star-shaped pin that she was wearing. But as they rushed forward to meet her, it was what the pony said that caught them completely off-guard.

“Somewhat get this varmint off me!” The five stopped in their tracks and watched as Applejack tried to shoo away her oldest and most faithful partner as if she were a nuisance. Winona sat down and whined, not sure why her master was acting so strange.

“Applejack?” Rainbow Dash asked, stepping forward.

It took the mare a moment before she turned and asked, “Huh? You talkin' to me?”

Rainbow's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe it. Here was Applejack, standing there and not recognizing them. In fact, now that they had a moment, all five of them could see all the incongruities in their friends appearance. The most striking was her expression- a total lack of recognition. But it was the star-shaped sheriff badge on her vest that caught their attention the most.

“Applejack?” Pinkie asked, “Is that you?”

“Applejack?” The mare asked, visibly confused, “Nah, you must got me confused. Name's Victory. Victory Apple. And I'm the sheriff of this here town.” Her eyes drifted over to Twilight and Rarity, and then narrowed. Adopting a slightly more threatening tone, she added, “I ain't seen you around these parts before. And I don't like no troublemakers in my town.”
Winona barked from where she sat, getting Victory's attention. “This y'all's dog?” she asked them.

“No,” Twilight tried to explain, “She's...” but she could tell that it wasn't going to work. Bowing her head in defeat, she said, “Yes, she's ours.”

“Well you keep her on a tighter leash, you hear me?” she warned, before her expression softened, “Don't want her getting hurt or nothing.”

Rarity cried out, “Applejack, you can't be serious! How can you not remember your own friends?!”

“...friends?”

“Your best friends!” Rarity leapt forward, and Victory's eyes widened. Instinctively, she jumped up on her hind hooves and pushed Rarity back. The diva stumbled and fell, a look of total shock on her face.

Victory scooted back, but maintained an attack position. “What do y'all mean, friends?” she asked slowly, “Just who are y'all? Where did ya come from? And why do y'all insist on calling me 'Applejack'?”

Twilight sighed and asked, “Is there anywhere we can go to discuss this? We've been traveling for two days now, and we could really use a seat.”