Twisted

Twisted

EPILOGUE

"This is a bad one," Nurse Redheart shook her head, obviously quite concerned for Big Macintosh's health. Of course, everyone was. Apple Bloom had even had a nightmare about the stallion's injuries. Applejack watched as Nurse Redheart bandaged him up and took the other apple siblings into a little room to privately talk.

"Big Macintosh is in for a very long recovery process, girls. He's been working that plow so long, and it has really worn away his back. This isn't the first time he's been side-lined from farm work, correct?"

"That would be correct." Applejack nodded, trying to present herself with confidence so that Apple Bloom might be reassured.

"Well, I'm not certain Big Macintosh will be able to handle applebucking this season or ever again." Nurse Redheart continued, seeming very concerned. Even she could tell that just two sisters and a grandmother couldn't handle such a big farm all by themselves. Fortunately, Applejack knew this pattern and decided to ask her friends for help.

"Darling, I would love to help you, but you simply MUST understand. I've got fourteen dresses lined up to sew and send off to Canterlot. These are big shoes to fill! I have serious responsibilities as a designer and one of Canterlot's elite!"

Applejack did understand. Every single friend had been far too busy to help her, even the generous Miss Rarity was turning her down and forcing her to go back home. Home, where only Apple Bloom waited, and hours of difficult farm labour would burn the sisters out quickly. Applejack felt guilty making her little sister work so hard, the poor filly was more tired and disoriented than ever before. While Apple Bloom wasn't so little anymore, she wasn't a mare yet.

"Ah do understand. Sorry ta bother ya." Applejack sighed, beginning to exit carousel boutique.

"Oh my goodness, don't say that! You aren't bothering me in the slightest! Infact, I do quite enjoy a visit from the most honest pony in all of Equestria! And please do remember that if I didn't have these dresses to sew, I would be over at Sweet Apple Acres in no time!"

Applejack should have been comforted by Rarity's sincere statement, but she felt nothing but betrayal. She had to do the work alone this time, and it wasn't because of her pride.

Dear diary,

I've started asking myself a lot of questions. Applejack has been working so hard lately, and Big Macintosh is still in bed. I ain't never seen him look so sick. I have to wonder, is this my future? Am I gonna be working my days on an apple orchard forever? Not that that would be *too bad, but I did get my Cutie Mark relating to inventing and such. I'm a handy-pony, not a farm pony. I suppose no matter what I do, it'll be manual labour. Isn't there more to life? I just want some answers.*

-Apple Bloom

Applejack was tired. More than tired, absolutely exhausted. The orange mare trudged her way up-stairs, hoofstep by hoofstep. She immediately felt something was off. Why hadn't she heard from her other family members?

Applejack entered the bathroom, where she had intended to prepare herself a bath. She shut the door behind her, locked it, and began to gather the shampoos and creams she liked to use. Thanks, Rarity. As Applejack opened the shower curtain, she gasped and screamed out in horror.

"What in tarna- Granny Smith!!"

"Ah ain't applebuckin' no more, Ah done told ya!"

Apple Bloom screamed, looking into her big sister's dilated eyes. Applejack had been taking some things she shouldn't, including this special white powder that Apple Bloom wasn't allowed to have any of. But Apple Bloom had also realized that it was her life, and she must have an identity. Applejack constantly begged the yellow filly to come back to farmwork, but she just wasn't doing it. Granny Smith as dead as the Flim Flam brothers business, Big Macintosh was bed-ridden, and Applejack was batshit crazy. Apple Bloom didn't want to end up like them.

"Say that you love me!" Pinkie Pie begged, panting and shaking with delight.

"I love you." Fluttershy whispered, Pinkie's weight above her surprisingly comfortable. This had become some kind of routine, Pinkie would enter Fluttershy's cottage, they'd talk and reminisce, and then things would get interesting. Pinkie Pie shook her head, hair bouncing as she giggled.

"Do you really, Fluttershy? Because I could barely hear you."

"I love you!" Fluttershy squealed, her legs kicking out in front of her. You could say that she and Pinkie Pie had really hit it off, secret encounters scattered around the calender. They were in love, true love. Pinkie Pie adored Fluttershy's optimistic, gentle view on life and Fluttershy couldn't help but smile every time she was around the pink mare! Everything they did was symbiosis, the sex, the talks, even hiding their relationship from the world. Perfect harmony and synchronization. Perfect fear.

"Rarity, I haven't seen you eat in days!" Sweetie Belle objected, looking at her sister with sincere worry in her eyes. Rarity simply didn't look healthy, her eyes bloodshot and her weight dropping faster than healthy.

"Oh my goodness Sweetie Belle, is that really what you're worried about? Well don't get yourself worked up over it! I'm just trying to lose a few pounds. Thin is in!"

"But you were thin before, Rarity." Sweetie Belle said, pointing out a flaw in Rarity's logic. The blue eyed unicorn shuddered then, still penciling a new design.

"Not thin enough, Sweetie Belle my dear," Rarity forced, beginning to anger. She hated Sweetie Belle pestering her like this! "Now why don't you run along and go see one of your friends? You haven't talked to Apple Bloom in ages."

"I don't really see Apple Bloom anymore. She's kind of...how do I put this..."

"A hick?" Rarity suggested, stifling a laugh. "Don't worry, so is her sister! What a pathetic little family."

Sweetie Belle's eyes filled with tears, her heart practically breaking audibly. How could Rarity be so unkind to one of her best friends, why didn't she care about Sweetie Belle's feelings anymore? Why was everything going wrong?

"You've changed, Rarity." Sweetie said, exiting promptly.

Rarity was pulling another all-nighter. No matter how cold or hollow she felt, she saw her looks needing to be changed every time she was near a reflective surface. The white mare was no longer very young, and hadn't even been in love before! Rarity was off to find herself some love.

Ponyville at night was a different place. While most slept, the party animals came out to play. Rarity was currently in a dark, noisy night club. While this wasn't her scene, there were a lot of hot stallions. With every number she collected, with every one night stand she achieved, with every meal she carted away to a friend in an urge to satisfy her own hunger, the once rare beauty could feel her self esteem rise. Rarity had ran six miles that day. Six. That was more than ever before, and Rarity was just so proud of herself!

"Ah done told ya Rainbow Dash, Ah ain't got the tahm!!"

Rainbow Dash hadn't seen her dear friend Applejack in a long time, which was greatly unnerving her. How could the second coolest pony in Ponyville just disappear without a trace? But Applejack wasn't even letting her into the house, instead she had screamed at her and sent her away. Rainbow Dash was in shock. Who WAS this Applejack? The one Dash knew was always honest and kind, this one was a raging drug addict and workaholic. Dash didn't even want to accept it.

At least the cyan pegasus could look forward to another party tonight. If she was lucky, she could bring another pegasus home for some fun. That always cheered her right up! Flying over Ponyville, Dash noticed her number one fan sitting all on her own. Stopping mid-air, her wings still flapping, the rainbow maned pegasus decided to go talk to her, zooming back down to the ground in an instant.

"Scootaloo, what are you doing out here all alone?"

Scootaloo raised her head, lavender eyes practically peering into Rainbow Dash's mind. Scootaloo always had a lot more to her under the surface, and Rainbow Dash would do almost anything for her number one fan.

"Oh, hey Rainbow Dash! I'm usually here all day. I uh...like to think."

"Like to think?" Rainbow Dash asked, thinking the statement utterly absurd, "Bullshit! Nobody just likes to sit around and think! Seriously, what the buck are you doing out here all alone?"

"How could she do this to me?" Sweetie Belle cried, a family album in her hooves. Her parents had passed in an accident, and now Rarity was all she had. But she never gave Sweetie Belle the love or affections she deserved. Rarity was cold, selfish, and cruel in regards to Sweetie Belle. With her horn, the filly reached shakily for the razor blade on her dresser. Sweetie Belle wailed as she cut her forelegs with it's sweet, sharp edges. It felt so good to feel so bad. Maybe Rarity would notice her scars. That was her new intention.

"I don't actually own too much. Just my scooter and my backpack."

"That's going to change, Scootaloo. You're MY little sister now." Rainbow Dash smiled at the little orange pegasus, who had just moved into a spare room in Dash's cloud mansion. The filly grinned, truly happy for the first time in a long time. She was Rainbow Dash's little sister!

"Thank you, Rainbow!" She exclaimed, throwing her forehooves around the mare. Dash grinned.

"Please, Scoots, call me Dashie. All the cool people do. Now, are you ready to get smashed?"

"Smashed?" Scootaloo asked, clearly confused.

"You know, go to a party? Haven't you ever been to one?"

Scootaloo stared blankly at Rainbow Dash, thinking back. Did Diamond Tiara's Cute-ceanara count? Probably not. She shook her head, and Rainbow Dash looked dumbfounded.

"Well come on then! It's time to introduce you to the nightlife of Ponyville!"

Fluttershy opened the door for Pinkie Pie, who seemed different in some way. Fluttershy didn't mind the straight hair, it was probably some new style Rarity was trying, but her eyes seemed to chase around the room and never really faced the same direction.

"Are you sure you're okay, Pinkie? You seemed awfully upset today."

" Upset? Upset?! Of course I'm upset! You're the only pony who cares about me anymore, Fluttershy!" Pinkie Pie wailed, taking Fluttershy by the shoulders and shaking her violently. The yellow mare's head bobbed back and forth, and she was ultimately confused.

"What do you mean, Pinkie Pie?" she asked, worried, her neck suddenly hurting. Pinkie Pie growled, and smacked Fluttershy across the face, sending her spinning to the floor. She tasted blood, and could feel tears rising to her eyes.

"Don't pretend you don't know, you're just as guilty as the others!"

Pinkie Pie slammed the door behind her, shaking the house. Fluttershy lay on the floor, her animal friends timidly inching closer and closer as she weeped. What was Pinkie Pie talking about? Why did she lash out, how could she *hit her?*

Dear Princess Celestia,

Things are bad. Really really bad. I'm not learning anything, and I don't know what to do. Spike is gone, he went back to Canterlot. Things are too crazy for him here. Now I have no assistant and no friends. I'm an outcast again! I can't believe this. I need you help, Celestia, please! I need your help!!

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle.

"Rest in peace, Silver Spoon. You were beautiful in every way. If only everypony could see. Someday I swear that I'll find more of you than those glasses."

Diamond Tiara said, stepping off the stage in tears. Sweetie Belle couldn't believe that Silver Spoon was dead, and it was just one of many killings that had happened lately. Sweetie Belle knew just how the light pink mare felt, but no sympathy was displayed. After all, Silver Spoon had been a total bitch to her in life. No matter how tragic the death, Sweetie Belle couldn't find it in her heart to care.