I'll Love You To Tartarus and Back - AppleDash Group Collab 100th Prompt Special

Chapters

Tchernobog
BronyNeumo
Callisto
AppleDashLuv
Jondor
Jet Cannon
First_Down
CalmNQuiet
Steel Resolve
bahatumay
bookplayer
Garaumond
cooopercrisp
bats
Jackie
DbzOrDie
listener
Spectral
TheRealRainbowDash
Chuck-daddy
Jake Roberts
KrazyTheFox
Vengeful Demon

Tchernobog

This chapter was written by Tchernobog.

The afternoon had been, in one word, wonderful.

She still owed Rainbow Dash a smack upside her head for springing this on her, but it looked like a lot of preparation had gone into it. The pegasus had waited for one of her more relaxed days, and had even helped around the farm to lower the workload. She’d gone to Twilight and had asked in advance for a cloud walking spell, and had even prepared the alicorn’s now mostly unused balloon in advance.

And then, Applejack had found herself in Cloudsdale, meeting none other than Rainbow Dash’s parents.

The city had been a lot larger than she remembered from her first trip there, but they’d only toured the weather factory and the coliseum. This time, Rainbow showed her the sights. She’d even dragged Applejack to a museum, which had been a momentary cause for worry, but the Wonderbolt paraphernalia within assured her that yes, this was still her Rainbow Dash, and not Twilight in disguise.

They’d eventually reached Rainbow’s old stomping grounds, trotting up to one of the homes with determined steps. At least, Rainbow’s had been determined. Applejack was just following the pegasus’ lead, wondering who they were going to visit.

Seeing a stallion with the same mane color as her marefriend, and hearing Rainbow greet the pony with ‘Hey, Dad!’ answered that question pretty clearly.

“So, what do you think of them?”

Applejack blinked as Rainbow’s voice snapped her out of her reverie. She took a moment to regain her bearings, finding herself once more on the path to Sweet Apple Acres, the sun making it’s way towards the horizon. She turned to glance at the pegasus, grinning at her marefriend.

“I first thought y’were a daddy’s girl, but your momma threw me for a loop. Figured she was like Fluttershy at first.” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Couldn’t’ve been more wrong.”

Rainbow’s answering snort of laughter almost had Applejack giggling herself. While Rainbow had inherited most of her father’s looks, her mother had made a few contributions herself. Most notably her eyes, her sense of humor, and the sound of her laughter.

“Yeah, sorry about that. Mom plays for keeps in hoofball. You all right?”

“I’m an earth pony, Dash.” Applejack rolled her eyes. “It’ll take more than a few tackles to keep me down.” She smirked at Rainbow, nudging her with a shoulder. “But I might still have a bruise or two.”

Rainbow picked up on Applejack’s tone immediately. “Oh, really? You want me to kiss them better?”

“I might take ya up on that.”

The pair shared a laugh, leisurely trotting down the path. But as fun as the afternoon had been, Applejack couldn’t hold back a sigh.

Rainbow’s sharp ears picked up on it immediately. “AJ? You okay?”

The earth pony slowed down to a halt, sitting down as she gave the question some thought. “I’m fine, sugarcube.” She smiled gently, easing her head against Rainbow’s neck as the pegasus sat down next to her. “Thanks for today. Means the world to me.”

Rainbow nuzzled Applejack’s mane in response. “They love you, AJ. Just like I do.”

“I know, Dash. I’m a lucky pony.” Applejack sighed once more. “I wish y’coulda met my parents. They’d have liked ya.”

"...So why don't we meet 'em?"

Applejack blinked, frowning at Dash. The pegasus could be somewhat insensitive at times, but this reached a new level. "Uh. They caught a mild case of death?"

Rainbow waved a hoof in the air, ignoring Applejack’s expression. “Yeah yeah yeah, you told me that. I know. But..."

"But...?" Where in Tartarus is she going with this?

"Well, Twilight fought that dog-monster-thing from Tartarus, right?"

...Tartarus itself, apparently. "Uh, distracted it with a chew toy I thought?”

The pegasus nodded. "Right. She said it was the Guard. And guarding implies... keeping things in, right?"

"Yeah...?"

"And if you can get out... you can get in, right?"

Applejack could only stare.

"AJ? AJ?” Rainbow asked, waving a hoof in front of Applejack’s face. “ A- OW!! Hey! Let go of my tail! Where are we going?"

Applejack grunted as she dragged the now confused Rainbow back towards Ponyville. Her own confusion, however, was gone. Even with a mouth full of tail, her answer was loud and clear.

"We're goin' to see Twilight. Right now."

BronyNeumo

This chapter was written by BronyNeumo.

“Absolutely not.”

Rainbow Dash pouted. Twilight had barely even looked at them before uttering her single, curt answer. “Aw, come on, Twilight! It’s a great idea! AJ hasn’t seen her parents in like, forever!”

“Please, Twi? I never even thought o’ this before, and I’d just love to see my parents one more time.”

The alicorn let loose a deep sigh; floated down from where she had been hovering, dusting off several bookshelves; and turned to face her two friends. She rolled her eyes at the heavy fake puppy-dog eyes both were giving her. “Whose idea was this, anyway?”

Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest. “Mine!”

Twilight rolled her eyes once more. “Just as I suspected.”

Rainbow blinked a couple times, her mock-heroic stance relaxing. “And just what is that supposed to mean?”

Twilight ruffled her wings once as she folded them at her sides, levitating her duster into a back closet. “As usual, when it comes to your ideas, you’ve gone ahead and jumped right in without giving it the slightest bit of thought.”

“Hey! I’ve given it plenty of thought!”

Twilight chuckled lightly. “Oh, really? Tell me, do you even know how to get to Tartarus?”

“Sure I do! It’ right next to the... um... uhh... It’s just past the... Everfree... no. Help me out, here, AJ.”

“Sorry, sugarcube. I haven’t got the slightest.”

“This is what I’m talking about. Neither of you are even equipped for such an undertaking.”

“Sure we are.” The brazen pegasus flipped an annoying lock of multi-hued hair from her eyes. “We just need you to tell us how to get there; we’ll make a day trip of it, see AJ’s parents, and be back before night!”

“And you think you can easily make it there and back in a few hours?”

“Sure we can! Hello, fastest pegasus in Equestria, remember? Besides, you went there and back in a few hours when that dog got out.”

“And that’s another thing!” Twilight, exasperated, threw her fore hooves up in the air. “I suppose you’ve completely looked over the fact that you’d have to get past Cerberus in the first place.”

“Well, duh. That’s why we need your help. You can just distract him again, like you did last time!” Rainbow Dash smirked.

Twilight slapped a hoof to her forehead, her temple suddenly throbbing. “That... that was different. I needed to get him back there. I can’t just go messing with him willy-nilly. He’s guarding the entrance for a reason, you know.”

“Ain’t there some way you could give us a couple hours, just to see my parents, Twi?” Applejack stepped up to her alicorn friend, setting a hoof on her shoulder and looking straight into her eyes. “I never even got to say goodbye.”

Twilight bit back her retort as she felt Applejack’s words stab at her. “I’m sorry, Applejack. I know... I know how you must feel, but I’m not going to let you guys do this.”

Rainbow Dash stamped a hoof against the library floor. “And why not, Twilight? This is AJ’s parents we’re talking about. What if this was your parents? Wouldn’t you go to the gates of Tartarus and back to see them, too?”

Twilight shook her head. She turned away from her friends, willing herself to stay strong. “I’m... I’m sorry, girls. But it’s far too dangerous.” Her voice almost cracked as she swallowed a lump from her throat. “Do you two even know the first thing about Tartarus?”

“Sure. It’s where ponies go when they die. Isn’t that obvious?”

Twilight shook her head. “On a base level, yes. But that’s not all there is to it. Do either of you know why Cerberus is put there at all?”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack exchanged glances. Applejack just shrugged. Rainbow Dash groaned. “To keep the ponies inside from getting out?”

“No.” Twilight said curtly, levitating a large tome off a nearby shelf. “Well, not exactly. Not ponies, anyway. Spirits, shadows.”

Applejack frowned. “You mean like ghosts?”

“Pretty much.” Twilight agreed, her nose buried in the book as she magically flipped through a multitude of pages, looking for the right one. “It’s summed up in Starswirl The Bearded’s Complete Musings on Magical Theory, Volume Six.” Rainbow Dash and Applejack both deadpanned as Twilight continued to flip. Finally she found her page, and pointed a hoof at one particular paragraph. “Basically, when a pony dies, their spirit goes to Tartarus while the pony is bodily left behind in Equestria for burial, cremation, or what have you.” She looked up from her page, staring hard at her friends. “Every being in Tartarus itself is only that spirit. A shadow, a mere flicker of their former self. Even if you were able to get there, even if you were able to get past Cerberus, even if you were able to find your parents among the hundreds of thousands down there, they wouldn’t even have physical form. They’d almost be an illusion, AJ. Hardly even better than a memory. Is that what you really want?”

Applejack bit her bottom lip. “I... I guess not.” Rainbow Dash’s ears fell back against the back of her head. She opened her mouth to speak, but Applejack cut her off. “But I don’t care, Twi. I want to see them just this once, just to say goodbye, and I’ve made up my mind.”

Twilight sighed. “Fine. I know I’m not going to be able to convince you, but I cannot help you two. This is still far too dangerous, far too risky, and frankly, I still think it’s a terrible idea.” Both the other two ponies were silent. Twilight ruffled her wings nervously. “Besides. The only pony I know of who’s visited Tartarus and actually gone inside was Princess Celestia. If you two go, there’s no... there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get back out again. There’s no way of knowing if you’ll even be the same ponies if you do.”

Applejack nodded. Rainbow Dash just glared at her. Twilight grimaced. “I’m worried about you two. I don’t think this is safe.”

“I understand, Twi.” Applejack turned around and headed towards the door. “Come on, Dashie. Let’s just head back to the farm.” Rainbow Dash shot her alicorn friend a final glare before turning tail and following her marefriend.

Twilight bit her lip. “I’m really sorry, girls. I truly am.”

The library shelves rattled as the door slammed shut.

Callisto

This chapter was written by Callisto.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash laid on the floor of the sitting room in Applejack's house, surrounded by books. Some belonged to them, some were from their friends. The ever increasing pile of tomes to the right, towering over them, were useless for what they needed.

"I TRIED to tell Pinkie we didn't need cook books or party books," Rainbow Dash said, as Applejack frowned at the pile. "But she insisted there might be something in them."

Then Applejack looked to her left at the two books they had found with information pertaining to what they needed. One belonged to Sweetie Belle—Magic Equestria—which had information on how terrifying a place Tartarus could be, housing spirits of the dead and ancient creatures the likes of which could destroy all of Equestria. It then followed that with a nursery rhyme to help little unicorns scare away demons.

She didn't know how much stock to put into that book.

The second was an old encyclopedia that had belonged to her parents with an excerpt on Tartarus. Rainbow Dash followed her gaze. "What's that one say?"

"Rainbow, we need Twilight's help," Applejack said, looking back to the mare. "I don't care how mad ya are, these here books ain't gettin' us no closer to findin' out where ta go!"

"Look, we're doing fine!" Rainbow Dash said, jumping to her hooves, her joints popping after having lay still for so long. "We're getting our packs ready," Rainbow Dash lifted her near empty saddlebag. "I got a ball from Pinkie for Cerberus. You can use your skills to throw the ball for him!"

"My...skills? At ball throwin'?"

"Yeah! You have a dog!" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as though it were obvious. "Or, you can belly rub him to distract him! Easy-peasy!"

"Ya want me to go up to a Three-headed dog and belly rub him? I ain't no Fluttershy!"

"Well, okay, maybe we'll distract him with a dog treat, first, but come on! We can TOTALLY do this." Rainbow Dash looked her mare friend over, who was looking at her disbelievingly. "Okay, maybe you'll want to bring rope."

Applejack let out an exasperated sigh. "Rainbow, I appreciate this an' all, but how are we supposed to figure all this out without Twilight's help?" She looked around the room. "The library books'd be mighty nice right now..."

"You're not chickening out on me, are you?" Rainbow Dash asked playfully. Then seeing the look of concern on her marefriend's face, instantly changed her tone. She laid down next to Applejack and put her wing around her. "I mean, it's your decision and all, it's just—"

"Nah, I ain't chickenin' out," Applejack said, rolling her eyes to Rainbow Dash. "Just wish we didn't have to go in blind." Applejack glanced around the room. "Did you bring down the boxes from the attic like I asked?"

"Oh...right," the Pegasus said, frowning. "They were pretty heavy." Applejack glared at her. "And what better way to get a work out!" Rainbow Dash got up, not looking too happy. "I'll be right back."

Applejack waited until Rainbow Dash was gone before taking the encyclopedia and opening it up to the page she had marked off. It was a list of what was believed to reside inside of Tartarus. Twilight was right—there was a lot more to Tartarus than just pony afterlife. What particularly bothered her was the idea of ponies being judged once inside to decide if they should be punished for their wrongdoings in their lives. Eternal punishment—that hardly seemed fair. And while the idea bothered her at first when she read about it, that bother soon became concern.

A small dread rose in Applejack. It was more about just saying goodbye, or letting her beloved marefriend finally meet her parents. She was worried, now. She wanted to make sure her parent's souls were okay.

Though she didn't know what could be done if they weren't...

"Okay!" Rainbow Dash said, carrying a box filled with books as she flew down the stairs. Applejack closed the encyclopedia and looked up to Rainbow Dash. "Here you go. We better find something in these books, bec—GAH!" Applejack jumped back as the old, musty box ripped open, spilling it's contents to the floor in a cloud of dust.

The two ponies coughed and covered their mouths while the dust settled.

"Well," Rainbow Dash said, trying to brush the dust off of her coat. "That went well." She picked up a crushed scroll and opened it up. The back was covered in mold and mildew, but what was written on the scroll was still legible. "What are these things, anyway?"

Applejack looked at the scroll. "Blueberry—twenty five. Thornberry—eighty two. Apple seeds—fifty seven. Hmm. Looks like documents from when Granny's family gathered seeds across Equestria."

"Oh, yeah?" Rainbow Dash asked, bored already. "Interesting..."

Applejack took up a scroll and unraveled it. "The things Granny musta seen when she was a filly..."

"Right," Rainbow Dash said, looking at the grime on her hooves and frowning. Her frown turned into confusion as Applejack's eyes widened and she near-dove to open the other scrolls. "Whoa. What are you doing?"

"Granny was a traveler!" Applejack said, opening a scroll, then tossing it to the side. "D'ya know what travelers need?"

Rainbow Dash was quiet for a second as the gears slowly turned in her head. "Maps!"

"Detailed maps," Applejack said as she went through scroll after scroll. Rainbow Dash helped out, and soon, there was a pile of useless scrolls in front of the equally useless books. They would find a map every once in a while, but of a town neither of them knew about or an area they couldn't place.

Both ponies were quiet until Applejack flattened down a map and smiled to Rainbow Dash. "Give me that map there," the farm pony said. Rainbow Dash opened one map while Applejack held open the other. "This here area is marked as 'dangerous'. It's close enough that Twilight coulda gone there and back in a day. So, if that map is a bigger version of the badlands, then..."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash searched the other map. "Here!" Rainbow Dash said, pointing at an area classified as "restricted." Then she laughed with superiority. "I told you we didn't need Twilight."

"Yeah," Applejack said, looking at her sitting room filled to the brim with useless books and a coat of dust as old as Ponyville. "Easy, peasy..."

AppleDashLuv

This chapter was written by AppleDashLuv.

Applejack leaned against a barrel as she watched Rainbow Dash pour over the maps, trying to find the quickest possible route. Rainbow was oblivious as ever, not letting Applejack's silence throw her off. It wasn't until Applejack gave a loud sigh that the pegasus realized her marefriend’s discontent.

“What's up, AJ?”

Applejack sighed, pulling her stetson down to cover her eyes. “It's nothin', Rainbow.”

Rainbow took notice of Applejack's tone and slowly walked towards her. When Applejack looked down, she bent to put her face at the same level in an attempt to look into Applejack's closed eyes.

“C'mon, Applejack,” she pleaded. “Talk to me. I thought you said you weren't chickening out!”

“I ain't,” Applejack deadpanned as she opened her eyes. She tried her hardest to avoid Rainbow's gaze, but Rainbow wouldn't let that phase her.

“Applejack,” she growled. She used her hoof to force the orange pony to meet her eyes. When she saw the distraught look on the other mare's face, her glare softened. “AJ, I told you it's your call. I need to know what you want.”

At last, Applejack sighed and embraced Rainbow, laying her head on the cyan mare's shoulder. Rainbow laid next to her and wrapped her wing tenderly around her. They were both quiet for a few moments before Applejack finally spoke up.

“I guess... it's just... I'm scared! Look at this here mess! We have no idea what we're up against other than a hike and some three-headed dog... And we don't even know how to get past it...” she trailed off with a huff.

Rainbow sighed. “That's not all, is it?”

Applejack tightened their embrace. “I reckon it's not. I just read all about the judgment of souls in the encyclopedia, Rainbow. What if they got eternal punishment? Or they don't remember me? There's so much that can go wrong, and we don't even know the half of it!”

Rainbow felt her heart break as Applejack began shaking against her. “AJ, I can't make you any promises about your parents. I can't tell you that they're okay, or even that they'll recognize you, but I can promise you one thing.” Applejack looked up and raised an eyebrow. “They'll be proud to know they have a daughter with such an awesome marefriend!”

Applejack rolled her eyes and bopped Rainbow on the shoulder. “I'm serious, RD!”

Rainbow just grinned and pulled Applejack closer. “So am I. Besides, you're pretty awesome, too.” Applejack smiled. “And as for this mess... well, I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually.”

Applejack snorted. “Oh, c'mon, now! How the hay are we ever gonna figure this out without some kinda help?”

Rainbow sighed in defeat. “Will it make you feel better?” Applejack shrugged. “Fine, let's make a bet! If we can't find four super-useful books in the next hour, we'll go beg Twilight. If we do... you have to... ask Rarity to make you a Daring Do costume and wear it the whole time we're gone!”

Applejack spat on her hoof and held it out for Rainbow to bump. “It's a deal partner.”

“I can't believe I'm doing this,” Applejack grumbled.

Rainbow snickered. “You shouldn't have doubted me, Apple Smack!” Out of nowhere she started sprinting, and yelled, “Race you to Rarity's!”

Applejack wasn't in any hurry to get to the boutique, so instead, she put her head down and walked as slowly as possible. When she finally arrived, Rainbow was in front of the boutique with Rarity, pacing anxiously.

The moment Rainbow noticed Applejack walking up, she tackled her.

“Ngh! Dash! What in tarnation?”

Rainbow just glared and pinned her down. “What took you so long? I was waiting for, like, ever!”

Applejack sighed. “It was two minutes, RD. Now would ya get off o' me? Thank ya kindly.”

Rarity gave a pitiful cough. “Er, Applejack? What, may I ask, is this about? I'm extremely busy, you know!”

At that, Rainbow perked up, running into the boutique as fast as she could. Applejack turned to Rarity. “Well, me and RD had a little bet going... and I lost. I need ya to make me a Darin' Do costume. It's gotta be good for adventurin', though, ya hear?”

Rarity squealed. “Oh, of course, darling! Come in, come in!”

When they got inside, Applejack pushed Rainbow out. “If you want me to do this,” she said, “You have to go home. Y'all ain't seein' it 'til we leave tomorrow!”

Rainbow looked like she wanted to argue, but changed her mind. “Whatever, so worth it!” With that, she gave a salute and flew home, excited for the next day's adventure.

Jondor

This chapter was written by Jondor.

Applejack panted, standing on an outcropping of rock above a pool of lava. Her mane was singed and half her tail was completely gone, just barely longer than her brother’s now. Her pith helmet was gone and her vest was in tatters. Worst of all, she was alone.

“Rainbow?” She called weakly, choked by the heat and fumes. The dim light cast by the molten rock below barely illuminated the walls of the small cave and the passage she had just come through was a great black void. “Dashie, where’d ya go?”

She must have taken a wrong turn when everything went dark. Applejack turned away from the dead end and started back toward the inky void she’d just come from. She stopped after only two paces when she heard a voice, not from the dark before her, but from the dim cave behind. “Applejack?” It called. It was a familiar voice, but one she hadn’t heard in years.

Applejack’s heart nearly stopped. “Mama?” She was barely aware of turning around, but when she did, there in front of her was the ghostly image of a proud mare she could see only in the family album now.

“Applejack, why are ya here?” Her voice and face were full of concern as she looked upon her daughter.

Tears started to run down Applejack’s cheek, she wiped them away with a hoof. “I had ta see ya again, an’ papa if I can find him.” She sniffed and finally managed a smile. “I wanted ya to meet my marefriend.” She shuffled her hooves. “She’s here somewhere, I need to go find her quick.”

Applejack backed toward the passage out, not wanting to take her eyes off her mother, and stopped short again at another familiar voice. “Tain’t necessary.” Before her eyes, two more ghostly figures appeared. The first was a strong stallion, her father, floating up next to his wife. The second really did make her heart stop for a moment out of shock.

“I’m sorry, AJ...” Dash’s transparent, floating figure was stricken and forlorn looking.

“Dashie, no...” Applejack barely whispered, tears flowing freely now.

“I think I stumbled on a rock and fell down some kind of pit. It was too small to spread my wings. I tried to grab the walls, but there was nothing but smooth rock and I just kept falling and falling.” Dash’s ghost covered her face with her hooves. “I found your dad, but I guess I’m kind of stuck here now...”

Applejack sobbed as Dash’s image floated toward her. Her hooves felt like they were plunged suddenly into ice water when the tips of the transparent cyan hooves passed right through her own orange ones. “But what about you an’ me, together forever?”

“That can be arranged!” A deep, echoing voice answered. It came from everywhere, shaking the walls of the small cave and knocking down rocks into lava that was rolling and bubbling now when it was calm mere moments ago. All three ghost figures were gone and the dim red light that previously lit the cave was brighter and if possible, angrier.

Panicking, Applejack turned tail and tried to bolt for the dark abyss that was the passage out. In her highly agitated state, she didn’t notice the telltale glint of a crescent moon and four silver hoofguards before she was consumed by the bubbling lava and all went pitch black.

Applejack’s scream broke the silence over Sweet Apple Acres, just barely beating out the rooster perched on top of the chicken coop. Her body trembled and her heart raced as she fought to calm herself. Her bedmate groaned and the cyan hoof laying across her chest twitched.

“Ugh.. AJ, can’t you make that stupid rooster shut up?” Dash pulled her marefriend closer, pressing her muzzle up against AJ’s neck. “It’s too early, train doesn’t leave ’til almost noon, we’ve got plenty of time.” The day’s delay had given them time to exercise some common sense. They decided that even though it would take a bit longer, they would take the train to Dodge Junction and set out for the Badlands from there rather than take the shortcut through Rambling Rock Ridge directly from Ponyville.

Twilight had almost certainly gone the shorter way, but she had just been going to take Cerberus back home. A short, secluded route and take it easy on the trip back. AJ and Dash were going to try and break into Tartarus and they weren’t quite sure where the gates were; they’d need their strength and their provisions to last. Dodge Junction was the closest organized civilization, it would be the place to start from.

Applejack spent a few moments to regroup and thank Celestia that Dash was a heavy sleeper, it wasn’t worth worrying her over some stupid nightmare. “Nah come on and get up, we got lots ta pack.” AJ carefully slipped out of Dash’s grip and rolled out of bed, landing with a clop of four hooves on the wooden floor. “I’ll get us some breakfast, if you’ll start packin’ the bags.” She grabbed a list from the nightstand where they had left it and spit it into Dash’s hoof sticking out from under the bedsheets.

The orange mare chuckled to herself as she left the room while Dash groaned and grumbled, managing to tangle herself in the sheets the same way she did every single morning she slept at the farm.

An hour before the train was leaving, Dash was going over the list again to make sure everything was packed. “Ball, dog treats, chew toys, books, maps, water canteens, snacks, first aid kit...” She mumbled to herself as she traced a hoof down the list. “All set here, AJ. Got your outfit ready? I wanna see!”

AJ grumbled a bit from up the stairs. “Ya sure I can’t talk ya outta this?”

“Hay, a bet’s a bet. Come on out.” Dash grinned to herself.

Applejack trotted out in her costume, her best poker face on. “There, ya happy?”

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!” Dash squealed as she fluttered around AJ, taking in the costume from all angles. Everything was perfect, from the band on the pith helmet to the pocket on the vest. “I love it! All you need now is a pair of wings!” Dash gushed.

“Already got some.” Applejack grunted.

“What?” Dash’s jaw dropped.

“Rarity made stuffed clip on wings ta go with the outfit.” Applejack sighed. “And no, I ain’t wearin’ them. They’d just get in the way.”

Dash snickered, trying to hold back, but soon she was on her back laughing uncontrollably. “Stuffed clip on wings, oh my gosh, that’s too funny!”

“Laugh it up, fuzzball.” Applejack deadpanned. “Grab your bags so we can get goin’. And take this too.” She hoofed over her stetson.

“Your hat?” Rainbow asked as she struggled to get back to her hooves. “But you always make a big deal out of fit whenever I steal it.”

“Well, this time I’m lettin’ ya borrow it. I won’t need it with this silly costume, but you’ll need some kinda hat when we’re out in the desert. Trust me, take it.” Applejack blushed a little, still holding the hat out.

Dash took it gingerly and set it on her head, giving herself a quick look in the mirror before leaning in to nuzzle AJ. Beyond anything else, this gesture showed just how much the cowpony cared for her pegasus. Applejack’s face softened into a smile as she returned the gesture.

The sound of the train pulling into the station in the distance broke the sweet silence of the moment. Grabbing their saddlebags, they rushed out the door and galloped into town. They were off.

Author's Note

From the author, Jondor:
I based the geography on this map (assuming that "Dodge City" is actually a misprinted Dodge Junction).

Jet Cannon

This chapter was written by Jet Cannon.

Applejack had always secretly loved trains. Whenever she was on a train, it always meant she was going somewhere interesting or close to her heart. She could remember the train ride to Manehattan when she was a filly—she couldn’t walk the whole way there after all—along with all the excitement that stemmed from the thought of finally seeing the big city, taking it all in and finally getting away from all the boring old apple trees. True, she had soon come to regret her trip, but that only enabled the train ride home to be all the better because it represented all the things she loved and was going back to!

Similarly, all those times going to Canterlot with her friends, or to Appleloosa to see Braeburn, or even to the Crystal Empire to help out Princess Cadance, Shining Armour and the Crystal Ponies... Admittedly, Applejack thought with a chuckle, most of those occasions had also not normally turned out as she had envisaged, but everything was always sorted out in the end and the train journeys to and fro had always been enjoyable for her. Eeyup, either when going with a sense of purpose and anticipation for what lay ahead or when returning feeling that they had achieved something worthwhile with her time, Applejack always looked forward to her time on the rails.

Even now, knowing (or rather not knowing) what she and her special Pegasus were up against after they arrived at Dodge, she couldn’t help but feel excited that they were on their way; that they were finally doing something and not just thinking and planning and worrying about all the hundreds of thousands of things that could go wrong—

Nope, not goin’ there. AJ shook her head swiftly, the unfamiliar pith helmet shaking about a little atop her scalp. She sighed and settled back into her seat, staring out at the passing scenery. All of the “what ifs” could wait until they pulled into Dodge. For now, she would relax, possibly lean against Rainbow Dash just because she could, and enjoy the experience. Or at least she would if the Pegasus hadn’t disappeared all of a sudden.

Applejack looked around the carriage to try and spot Dash, quickly taking in the small number of ponies sharing the space with them but coming up blank on rainbow lightning-clouded flanks. It was safe to say that Rainbow Dash did not enjoy train travel as much as Applejack and had probably gone off to the dining car to pick up snacks and stave off her boredom. She didn’t dislike trains, per se, but nothing beat flying. The Pegasus had, after all, boasted of how she could fly from Ponyville to Dodge Junction and back, then back to Dodge Junction again, and the train wouldn’t even be halfway there yet. Applejack didn’t find this hard to believe, although it was still fun to scoff playfully at her special somepony’s daring claims.

Daring… She turned her gaze to the window once more, this time focusing on her reflection in the glass. Sure, the different mane and lack of wings were a dead giveaway, but if she squinted, she could almost see Daring Do squinting back at her, her coat colour similar enough that the reflection looked like one of those books’ cover pictures. The costume had certainly garnered a few funny looks from the ponies they had passed in Ponyville, and would likely do the same in Dodge, but it was practical enough that Applejack didn’t mind the attention. The helmet would be as good as her own hat for keeping the sun out of her eyes and the vest was breathable and would keep her cool in the heat of the day, then warm in the cold of the night. Of course, she also had a Rainbow Dash to snuggle up to for that!

“Hey AJ, want a cookie?” Speak of a windigo…

“Oh! Uh, thanks sugar cube, that’d be nice.” Rainbow Dash hoofed Applejack the confectionery and began munching down on her own. It wasn’t as nice as a cookie from Sugarcube Corner, Applejack could tell before tasting it, but the sweet treat was satisfying enough in its own way and was quickly consumed.

“You pretty much zoned out back there,” Rainbow teased, her muzzle covered in some crumbs. “I figured you’d be no good to talk to for a while, so I went exploring.”

“Oh yeah?” Applejack grinned. “Find anythin’ interesting?”

“You mean besides the food car? Nope.” Rainbow licked herself clean and lay down on her bench, putting Applejack’s hat over her face with the clear intention of going for a nap. Before long, though, a thought came to her mind and she shifted the hat slightly, allowing her to peek across to her marefriend.

“Hey AJ?”

“Eeyup?”

“What were you thinking about, anyway?” she asked, concern obvious in her voice. It was sweet of her to be worried, and considering how quiet Applejack had been it was unsurprising. The Earth pony almost felt guilty for letting her thoughts slip away like they did and not even to anything which might help their quest.

“Well, uh, I just…” She blushed slightly. “I like trains.” Rainbow Dash snorted, and the two ponies shared a hearty chuckle at the unexpectedly lighthearted revelation.

“And here was me thinking you’d be trying to work out some sort of plan or something!” Rainbow giggled, leaning over to nuzzle Applejack before lying down again.

“Well now, that ain’t a bad idea, actually,” the farmer said with a hoof to her chin. “We’re gonna need to think about what we do when we get there, making some sorta plan would be helpful.” Rainbow waved a hoof halfheartedly.

“Nah, got one already.”

“You do?” AJ asked, rather surprised.

“Sure thing: scope the place out while it’s still light, sneak in when it gets dark. Easy.” Her eyes slid shut and within seconds she had drifted off.

And that was that, apparently.

First_Down

This chapter was written by First_Down.

Two days. The map estimated it would take two days to travel from Dodge Junction to the part of the badlands marked “restricted.” The town hadn’t grown much since Applejack’s brief venture into the world of cherry farming, but it still had everything they’d need with minimum fuss for the journey ahead.

And so day one came and went without incident. The badlands was appropriately named, a harsh landscape of unyielding rock and coarse dirt where only the hardiest of scrub brush dared take root. Crooked spires occasionally rose from the ground in groups like rows of broken teeth. They provided the best landmarks.

Applejack still wasn’t up for much talking, so Dash filled the silence with endless chatter, something the farmer appreciated tremendously. Even when the topics grew insufferable in their boasting, she found it a pleasant distraction from her own thoughts aboard the train, from her dreams. Maybe Dash knew and tried to help in her own way. Or maybe she was just bored out of her skull. Either way, Applejack loved her for it.

That night, they pitched camp right at the halfway marker. Three massive, cracked and pitted boulders jutted from a slate base like the prongs of a fishing spear. The map even gave it a name: The Trident. Dash scoured the area in a wide circumference and eventually they had enough twigs for a small but comfortable fire while they ate.

Afterwards, Applejack nestled against Rainbow Dash who yawned despite her best efforts. “I still don’t know how Twilight managed this trip in less than a day,” she groused, “even with a shortcut.”

“Maybe she let Cerberus do all the runnin’ while she hitched a ride,” Applejack said. “Or she used her magic to help. She was on a time limit, Dash.”

“Yeah, yeah. Still, if you’d let me carry you, we’d have been there hours ago.”

Applejack chuckled. “Even you got limits of endurance, sugarcube. Yer just gonna fly me over to the gates a Tartarus and then face down that monster of a guardian dog without any rest?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged and rubbed a foreleg against her chest nonchalantly. “Sounds like a typical Monday to me.”

Applejack laughed again, and the two lapsed back into silence. After a few moments though, one of Rainbow’s ears twitched and she perked up. “I’ll admit though, this place is nicer than I thought it’d be.” Applejack tilted her head to stare incredulously at her marefriend. “Hey, I’m not saying we should build a summer home here. But, I mean, look at that sky, AJ. It’s so crisp and clear. The stars are certainly brighter here than in Ponyville.”

Applejack looked up into the web of diamonds overhead. Rainbow wasn’t wrong about it being a pretty expanse. “I don’t know, Dash. It’s only been a day and already I’m missin’ the color green. There just ain’t no life here. This whole place feels off-puttin’. Wrong.”

Dash sat up, shrugging off Applejack’s limbs. The cowpony blinked and started to ask what was wrong but stopped short. From the dancing light of the fire, Applejack could see half her face illuminated. Rainbow Dash was concentrating.

“Yeah, but it’s peaceful here too, AJ,” Dash said, keeping her voice steady. “It’s so quiet you can really hear the crackling of the fire. Or the exhale of our breathing. Or the sound of somepony trying to sneak up on us.”

No sooner had she finished the words then Dash flapped her wings and launched herself with a backwards somersault over one of the towering boulders. A second later there was a dull thud of something fleshy hitting the ground.

Followed by a pained cry from something that was not Rainbow Dash.

Applejack rounded the outcrop just in time to hear a familiar voice exclaim, “Rainbow Dash, get your lousy hooves off me!”

Both mares recoiled in unison. “Twilight?!”

Rainbow Dash hopped off the unicorn as Twilight rose on her hooves a bit unsteadily and tried in vain to brush some of the brown dust off her coat. She glared at Dash. “Of course it’s me. Who else would it be?”

“But… but you said back at the library you weren’t going to help,” Dash stammered and tried to help brush her friend clean.

Twilight waved away the offered hoof. “Well, clearly I changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that, right?”

“‘Course ya are, sugarcube,” Applejack said stepping in. “And we’re mighty grateful y’all decided to show up. Right, Rainbow?”

“O-Of course.”

“Well, good,” Twilight huffed curtly, then paused to stretch her back. “Now that we’re all grateful, let’s get moving.”

“Uh, beg yer pardon?”

“To Tartarus, of course. I know a faster route than the one you’re taking. And this is the best time to travel.” When both mares stared back blankly, Twilight stamped a hoof. “At night! You always travel at night in a desert and rest during the day. Didn’t you know that?”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash exchanged glances with each other. “Uhhhh… no?” Dash answered, turning it into a question.

“Figures,” Twilight said flatly. “Anyway, never mind that now. Let’s go.”

She started to move out and away from The Trident when Applejack called out. “Well, hold on there, Twi. We’re mighty tired ‘cause we did travel in daylight. How ‘bout a bit of rest first, and then we get movin’ a couple hours ‘fore dawn?”

Twilight looked like she was about to protest but then rolled her eyes. “Ugh, fine.”

As they made their way back, Dash spoke up again. “Listen, Twilight, I’m really sorry.”

“Forget it.”

“Yeah, but I should've checked first before… diving…” Dash trailed off when they reached the fire. From the shadows, Twilight was little more than an outline and a voice. Once she stepped into the light, more detail showed up.

Dash immediately pounced and pinned Twilight to the ground again, snaking her hooves over the unicorn’s and locking them against her head.

“What in tarnation? Dash!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Not again!”

“This isn’t Twilight, AJ! Get the rope!”

“Have ya gone crazy?! Let ‘er go this instant!”

“I’m Twilight! How many times do I have to say it?!”

“Oh yeah? If you’re Twilight then what happened to your wings, Princess?” Dash spat out the last word.

The struggling instantly stopped. Applejack, who had been a hair’s breadth away from chomping Rainbow’s tail, stepped back in shock. She gave Twilight a more detailed examination, and blinked when her gaze fell to the unicorn’s side. Sure enough, no wings.

Face down into the dirt, the imposter could barely move. It did, however, manage a bitter smile. “Seriously? I grew wings since last time?”

Applejack pressed a hoof into the creature’s now thoroughly roped torso and pushed it back against The Trident’s base. “So yer one a them changelings we fought back in Canterlot.” It still maintained the image of Twilight Sparkle. “Thought to do some spyin’ too.”

There was a shimmer and Applejack found herself staring into a malevolent reflection. “Sharper than a Spring pricker bush, ain’t ya sugarcube?” it purred.

Dash encroached threateningly. “You shut up! You’re not allowed to use that word!”

“How long have y’all been listenin’ in?”

“Long enough, darling,” Rarity responded. “And my offer still stands. I know how to send you to Tartarus quickly. Just untie me and I’ll show you.”

“I ain’t in any mood for games.”

“Ooh, but I love games,” Pinkie Pie smiled wickedly. “Let’s play one. They say it’s bad manners to play with your food, but this is too much fun. It’s a guessing game. Ready? Guess how long you think you’ll survive this night before we drain your love dry and kill you. Go on, guess.”

“Big talk from a bug that can’t get back to its colony and tell the others,” Dash growled.

“Oh, you poor thing,” Fluttershy shook her head. “You really don’t know how this works, do you?” The changeling shifted back to Twilight and closed its eyes. Its horn briefly flashed green.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash stepped back, tense. But the ropes didn’t magically untie, nor did the changeling teleport from its bondage. It remained as Twilight, bound from neck to flank, smiling a smile of pure malice. When the revelation of what just happened hit it washed over both mares like a bucket of ice water. They looked at each other, and then Applejack soon found herself scrambling up to the topmost point of The Trident’s prongs. At the same time Dash shot straight up into the air.

Out in the distance, a tiny beacon of green light shone, cutting through the dark and drawing the eye like a moth to a flame. Then a second light winked on. Then another. And another. Until there were dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. They surrounded The Trident like a sickly emerald sea.

Applejack gulped after Dash landed beside her. “Ya know, I’m suddenly not missin’ the color green so much anymore.”

CalmNQuiet

This chapter was written by CalmNQuiet.

“Ready to reconsider?” The changeling presented them with an acidic grin filled to the brim with jagged teeth.

Applejack exchanged a look with Dash and nodded. “What do you want?”

“Simple, we just want to take turns feeding off your love for one another. Of course, that means we’d have to separate you. But, I promise you’ll both to get to Tartarus by the end of the night.”

Applejack nodded and smiled. “Well, that certainly is a temptin’ offer. Might I make a counter-offer?”

Two counter-offers later from Bucky McGillicuddy and Kicks McGee, Applejack smirked. “Speechless. Let us know your answer when you wake up.”

Dash snickered and prodded the unconscious changeling with her forehoof. “Now what Applejack?”

“We do things the hard way.”

“I like it hard.” Dash sauntered over to Applejack and nuzzled along her marefriend’s neck.

Applejack blushed. “Dash, as much fun as that sounds right now, we have a load of changelings bearing down on us. We need to get out of here. Fast.”

“Right!” Dash flared her wings and pawed at the ground with her hoof. “The Rainbow Dash Express is ready for takeoff!”

Chuckling to herself, Applejack climbed onto Dash. She rested her forehooves over Dash’s shoulder so her back legs were free to dangle near Dash’s flanks. “I’m ready to go partner.”

“Heh, this might be the only time I let you on top without a fight.” Dash leaned her head back and nuzzled Applejack under her neck. It was tricky with a Stetson atop her head, but she pulled it off. Flapping her wings a few times to get a good feel for their combined weight, Dash lifted into the air and surveyed the massive green glow around them. “So, how are we going to make our daring escape?”

Applejack groaned at the emphasized word. “Dash, why can’t you be serious at a time like this? We’re only minutes away from being turned into some bug-horde’s supper.”

Dash flew a lazy circle around their campsite as the mass of green slowly closed in. “Because, I know that isn’t going to happen. Look!” She stretched out her forehoof in front of her, “There doesn’t seem to be quite as many of them over there. Want to make a break for it?”

“We don’t have much choice do we?”

“Not unless you want to be a bug-horde’s supper. I’m okay dying with you Applejack.”

“What?!” Applejack stuttered and nearly lost her grip on Dash’s shoulders. She clamped down just before she slipped and held on tightly.

“N—nothing. Sorry. I don’t know why I said that, it just slipped out.”

“Shh... I’m scared too Dash. But, we have to get out of this. So, fly. You can do it.” Applejack leaned in and whispered into Dash’s ear. “Because you’re the best flyer out there and my one true desire.”

Dash shuddered as the words trembled through her mind. She was going to get them out of here. She wouldn’t let Applejack down. Gritting her teeth, she pumped her wings hard and rocketed toward the sparser mass of green in the distance.

It only took a few minutes, but as the green glowing orbs approached, Dash and Applejack shared a mutual gulp of apprehension. They slipped by the first few flying changelings without much difficulty, but it was only a matter of time.

Suddenly, out of the darkness a loud hissing sound came from the right. Applejack looked to the source and found a changeling hot on their tails. Surely it was calling for its hive-mates by now. “Dash! I need you to slow down for just a second!”

“What, are you crazy?! They’ll catch us!”

Applejack tightened the grip of her forehooves around Dash’s shoulders. “No they won’t. Trust me.”

Dash grunted wordlessly, but Applejack could feel the deceleration. The changeling quickened its pace and rounded up behind Dash—its fangs bared and ready to strike.

Just as the changeling reared its head back, Applejack struck out with both her hooves. She caught the changeling right in the face. She mentally notched another one up and tapped Dash on the shoulder. “Nice flyin’ Dash! Now let’s get outta here!”

If only things were that simple.

Dash did her best to navigate between the changelings posted all over the sky and on the ground. Even in the wide expanses of the sky, they kept getting spotted over and over again. Applejack clung on for dear life as Dash looped and weaved between changelings. Occasionally she’d slow down and Applejack would deliver a swift buck to the face of a lone pursuing changeling.

Panting heavily and dripping with sweat, Dash dipped in altitude. The good news was: there weren’t any more green glowing eyes in front of them. The bad news was: there was still a pair of changelings in hot pursuit.

Applejack steadied herself and readied her hind legs.

The two changelings dived toward the two ponies in the sky. Their fangs bared and ready.

Applejack waited for the crucial moment and bucked hard. The sickening crunch of hoof on carapace crumbled through the early dawn light. However, her other hoof missed.

Dash screamed.

The piercing cry cut through Applejack’s heart like a hot iron and instantly brought tears to her eyes. Cursing words she did not even know, she wound up another kick and delivered it so forcefully to the changeling’s face, it nearly knocked her off Dash’s back. Her hooves sunk in deep before the the limp body fell away to the ground below.

Her flight-partner quivered and her wings sagged. Applejack glanced back and noticed a thin stream of crimson dripping from Dash’s rear right hoof. She barely had time to tighten her grip before they plummeted downward from the sky.

Dash’s mind screamed at her. She had to flap, she needed to keep them afloat in the air. But, the pain seared her thoughts from her before she could respond. She opened her eyes and watched the rapidly approaching ground.

No! She fought back the pain and forced her muscles to respond. Her wings flapped numbly in the whistling downward pull. She strove harder, she couldn’t let Applejack down. She called every last reserve of strength in her body and pumped her wings with every ounce of her being.

They crashed to the ground in a rough tumble. Applejack sputtered and rolled several feet away from Dash. Overcoming her momentary daze, she pulled herself up and scrambled over to her bleeding marefriend. The wound did not look too bad, but she was certain the toxins in the changeling’s fangs were doing their horrid work.

She swallowed nervously and pressed her mouth against the wound and sucked. The morbid metallic taste filled her mouth but she continued. She pulled the tainted blood from the wound with each inhale until she could stand it no more. Pulling back, she spit the blood out on the dirt and wiped her mouth with her hoof.

The blood continued to ooze out slowly.

Applejack looked down at the sleeves of her Daring Do costume. She gritted her teeth and gripped the fabric and pulled. She mentally apologized to Rarity as the cloth came apart at the seams. She wrapped the makeshift bandage around Dash’s leg and tied it firmly in place. Sitting down on the ground, she cradled the Dash’s head in her hooves and waited.

The time felt like an eternity, but eventually, Dash opened her eyes and smiled up at Applejack. “H—hey AJ. Guess we lost them?”

Applejack smiled and brushed Dash’s messy mane to the side. “We sure did. Here, have a drink.” Applejack tipped a small flask of cider to Dash’s lips.

Dash sucked in a gasp of air from her nose and drank deeply from the flask. After a few moments she pulled her head away and grinned at Applejack. “I was almost tempted to fly us back to get the cider. Where did you hide it?”

“It was under my Daring Do hat the whole time, Dash.”

“Wow... I love you, Applejack.”

“I love you too, sugarcube.”

They shared a brief kiss. Applejack still tasted like Dash’s blood.

Drawing back from one another, Dash looked around and up at the glowing morning light. “Why didn’t they chase us all the way over here? There was certainly enough of them.” She winced and rubbed her back leg with her forehooves. “And my leg hurts.”

Applejack wrapped a forehoof around Dash’s neck and directed her marefriend’s gaze to a ominous stone arch in the distance. “I think we landed ourselves at the gates of Tartarus. I can see why even the changeling’s aren’t keen on coming over here.”

Dash swallowed and nodded. “So, let’s scope it out and sneak in tonight.”

“Dash, you know that’s not gonna work anymore.” Applejack pulled Dash in into her chest and hugged her. “You’re hurt and we both need to recover our strength.”

“Oh good... I don’t know what I’d do without you Applejack.” Dash’s eyes drifted shut.

Steel Resolve

This chapter was written by Steel Resolve.

Applejack woke to the smell of brimstone, and the sound of four paws followed by four hoofsteps. Her eyes darted around in alarm. Rainbow was still asleep, and no amount of poking would do more than make her snore louder. Cautiously, AJ peeked up over a rock, hoping to see the source of the sound before it found the two of them.

What she saw surprised her to no end. As she feared, Cerberus was nearby. But he was... playing with a filly. The filly in question was picking up a tree trunk and tossing it for the giant three headed dog to fetch. AJ would have found it heartwarming were she not afraid for her very life. Maybe with Dash’s help she could tackle that thing... but while trying to protect Dash?

The filly paused in her play, and looked directly at her. “Hello! You’re a long way from home, aren’t you?”

At first Applejack did not respond, hoping against hope that the filly was addressing somepony else in this empty stretch of land nearby to the pit of Tartarus. Seeing nopony else, she finally nodded. “Yes, Ma’am. Ah reckon you are too... That there dog is a might dangerous, you sure you wanna mess around like that?”

The filly laughed in what sounded like one hundred children's voices at once. If AJ was uncertain before, she was sure now. This was not ordinary filly. “Cerberus is not dangerous. He’s my pet! Aren’t you boy?” The dog happily rolled over, presenting his belly to be rubbed.

“Beg pardon, Ma’am. Um... who are you exactly? Ah mean...”

The filly smiled at Applejack. “Don’t be afraid, he won’t hurt you. My name is Meph, and this is my home. What brings you here?”

Her home... Horseapples. Looking over the filly in a new light now, the farmer noted something she had missed. This filly had been using magic, and had a pair of wings. “Yer majesty! Ah’m real sorry, Ah only met the other four princesses. Ah never knew there was a fifth—”

Meph laughed again, in that same eerie tone. “Princess... no Applejack. I am a queen. But I hold no power over the government of living ponies. I tend to those who have passed on.”

“Then yer who I need to see, yer majesty! Ah came to see my folks...”

“Meph, please, your titles mean nothing to me.” She paused, considering the request. “I’m sorry, but the land of the dead cannot be visited by those who still live. When you pass on I will welcome you with open wings, but it’s simply not possible for you to visit with them.”

Applejack sat down with a slump. In this whole venture, she’d never considered the idea that she would reach the very gates of Tartarus, only to be told it was impossible for her to enter. She had been prepared to face anything, but here stood the goddess of the dead, not barring her entry, simply telling her there was no way to get there while she lived. “Begging yer pardon Meph... but isn’t there any way? We came so far, and went through so much. Ah’d do just about anything to see em again.”

“Anything, you say?”

“Well, nearly anything...”

Meph produced a book in a flash of magic, flipping through pages at a furious rate. “Applejack Apple, Born to mother Red Delicious and father Carrot Seed. They died saving you and your siblings from a fire at your farm. The barn collapsed as they got you out. Died instantly.” She nodded as she read over the file.

“How did you—”

“Interesting... Your marefriend kissed you after being struck by a falling beam during a barn razing. She woke up dazed and confused. She never would have confessed her feelings for you had that not happened.”

“What in tarnation?! How do you know that?”

Meph closed the book and tapped it. “The book of life, Applejack. I am its protector, and when necessary, it’s editor. You have had two very similar, yet improbable events happen in your life. One took your parents, one gave you your love.”

“So?”

“If you wish, I can strike them from the book.”

Applejack stared at the filly, uncertain if she understood what was being offered. “Are you offering to bring my parents back from the grave?”

“I am offering to unmake their death. To you, it will be as if they never left you.”

“How can you... No, better question. Why would you do that fer me?”

The filly looked at her, and suddenly Applejack was struck by a sense of overwhelming age. “I have presided over this place since the first pony fell, and my last charges shall be the princesses you spoke of. I occasionally venture into the world of the living. When it strikes me, I offer a boon to a pony. But such a thing cannot come without a cost. I cannot unbalance your life, if I strike a tragedy, I must also strike a miracle.”

Applejack was silent for some time. She was being presented with the chance of a lifetime. No, more than that, a chance nopony could ever expect to see ever under normal circumstances. She could have her parents again...

She looked back at her sleeping marefriend. But the cost...

“Which will it be? Your love, or your family?”

Everything snapped into sudden focus for the farm mare. “No deal.”

“Excuse me?”

Applejack shook her head. “Ah’m real sorry to waste yer time, Meph. But Ah can’t do that. Yer asking me to pick Dash or family. Dash is family. You’ll have to find somepony else to make your offer to.”

Two voices cheered from behind Meph. Applejack’s ears perked up.

A strong male voice spoke from the darkness. “Ah told you she wouldn’t bite. Pay up Meph, she earned her chance.”

Meph sighed. “Very well. You may have your day pass to the land of the living. I will return for you two as the sun sets tomorrow.”

A stallion stepped forth from the shadows, accompanied by a smiling mare. “Thank you, Meph.”

Applejack stared at the two, unable to believe what she was seeing. “Ma? Pa?”

Carrot Seed galloped forward, but not to the loving arms of his daughter. He stopped next to Rainbow Dash, waiting patiently as Red Delicious carefully pushed the still sleeping mare onto his back.

“Wha—”

“Lil Apple, there'll be time for questions later.”

Carrot Seed checked to make sure the Pegasus was secured.

“We have to get your marefriend to a doctor now.”

He turned, and now Applejack could see the infection making its way up Rainbow’s leg.

”Or else she'll be joining us when we go back.”

bahatumay

This chapter was written by bahatumay.

For having just walked out of Tartarus, Applejack's parents were in surprisingly good shape. Applejack found herself hard-pressed to keep up. Even so, she tried to speak with them. There were so many questions to ask! She couldn't let this opportunity get away.

“How's life in there?”

And of course, the first question always comes out lame.

Her father smiled, though. “A mite boring, t' tell you the truth.”

“Y'all ain't bein' tortured there or nothin', right?”

This brought a laugh from both parents. “Nah. The tortured ones would never get to leave.”

“So that really is a thing?” Applejack asked, hopping over a rock. “Ah didn't know. How does that work?”

“Sorry, Lil Apple. Only the dead can know that.”

“And Ah hope you don't find out for a while,” Red Delicious added.

“Hri ebet!” A harsh screech interrupted their discussion.

Carrot Seed skidded to a stop. “What was that?”

Applejack growled under her breath. “Of course...” She turned to face her parents. “Ma? Pa? Meet the changelings. Ugly little buggers what feed on love and have a vendetta 'gainst good ponies.”

Sure enough, alerted by the watchling's voice, changelings began to swarm. A thick buzzing filled the air, sounding like a group of demon bees from Tartarus.

“They sound like the demon bees from Tartarus,” her mom said.

Applejack was taken aback. “Those exist?”

“Don't worry none, Lil Apple,” her dad said, his eyes flicking around to see just how many they were dealing with. “They never come to our side.”

“Coincidence,” one changeling hissed. With a flash of green fire, he changed into Carrot Seed. “We don't intend to be on your side, either.”

Carrot Seed laughed even as he shifted his weight forward. “Told you Lil Apple would have an adventure waiting for us.”

“You don't have to be right all the time,” Red Delicious said, but it was a playful smile she wore.

Well, Applejack now knew where her brother had inherited his calmness from.

“Well, sometimes I have to be.”

The changelings had grown tired of this banter. One was brave enough to charge, choosing Red Delicious as its target. Red Delicious waited and at the last second, reared back and delivered a punishing headbutt, sending the changeling crashing to the ground in a heap of chitin.

The changelings were taken aback. As were both Applejack and Carrot Seed.

“That's your cue to run,” Red Delicious stage-whispered.

Oh. Right.

Applejack led the way, tearing through changelings and sending them flying. Their light bodies were no match for her powerful earth pony frame.

Problem was, there were a lot more of them than there were of her.

Before she knew it, Applejack found herself surrounded by changelings. She bucked, stomped, and kicked as hard as she could, but more kept coming, and her forward progress slowed dramatically. Her father was just as much into it as she was, with his powerful hind legs that left changelings broken in their wake. Somehow, he even managed to keep Rainbow on his back.

Suddenly, one of the bodies Applejack kicked didn't move.

“Hey! Same team!” Red Delicious rubbed her ribs.

“Sorry, Ma!”

Red Delicious grumbled playfully as she headbutted another changeling. “Come out from Tartarus and my own daughter attacks me, what's this world coming to?”

“Watch from above.”

Applejack sidestepped quickly, and a changeling landed right where she had been standing. A quick kick from one hind leg ensured that it was done attacking for now.

“Thanks,” Applejack said, but the rest of her words died in her throat as she saw the speaker.

“Welcome!” Meph grinned.

“What are you doing here?” Applejack hissed.

“Well, I don't offer day passes to just anypony who asks. I wanted to see—left flank—what you were going to do. My, you sure are one for trouble, aren't you?”

“You just gonna stand there, or you gonna help?”

“Weeeell...” Meph said slowly. “This is kind of a big tragedy. But I think I found a way to offset it so you can keep your parents and your marefriend.”

Applejack looked over towards her father, and even through the heat of battle, could see Rainbow's infection looked like it was getting worse. “All right. What's the deal?”

“Basically, I make the deal and you, your parents, and your marefriend get to live on Sweet Apple Acres forever. Big Mac eventually takes over, and life is good.”

“Ah think that's a good deal right about now,” Applejack said, ducking another flying changeling. “You ain't gonna do anythin' stupid like take Apple Bloom instead, right?”

“Weeeeell... no, because technically she wouldn't have been born.”

Applejack needed no time to think about her response. “Go to tartar... wait.”

Meph smiled. “Already there, sweetheart. Oh, on your six.”

Applejack kicked just in time, sending a changeling flying through the air.

“I'm kind of running out of deals to cut here.”

“Ah ain't interested no more!” Applejack spat. “And if'n you know what's good fer ya, you'll stay away from me and mine!”

“I'm not the bad guy here,” Meph said as she turned and faded away. “Just saying.”

Furious, Applejack lashed out even stronger, actually cracking the chitin with every kick. Her motion was blurred from its speed. She was not happy. And seeing a changeling impersonate her father? Even worse.

"Hey! Real me!" the real Carrot Seed protested.

Applejack spat. “Likely story. If it's really you, where's Rainbow?”

“She's right...” Carrot Seed froze. “Oh, horsefeathers.”

“Where is she?”

Applejack scanned around, but saw no flash of blue. For some reason, she looked up.

Sure enough, up in the air was one blue speck, surrounded by many, many black specks.

“Rainbow Dash! You get down here right now!” Applejack called.

In all probability, Rainbow Dash never heard Applejack's command. Even so, she obeyed, angling her body downwards. An air cone began to form around her body, and it quickly grew more and more defined.

Applejack could only stare. Her first thought was, that shouldn't be possible. She's sick, she's injured, that's impossible.

Her second thought—and this one was much more urgent—she needed cover. And fast.

“Get down!” she yelled, tackling her mother and covering her head.

She didn't even have time to ask what was going on before there was an explosion of color.

The fabled Sonic Rainboom exploded across the landscape, blasting changelings backwards and sending a shower of dust and dirt over everything.

Applejack sat up and coughed, tears streaming down her eyes from the dust. She waved her hat desperately to try and clear the air.

“Ra- Rainbow!” she yelled.

As soon as she could stand, she rushed over to the site of impact. Rainbow Dash lay in a crater, with fresh cuts and scratches covering her body. Her eyes flickered open before slowly closing.

Applejack rushed over, unsure where to even start. She ripped strips of cloth from her shirt and held it against Rainbow's largest gash.

“I don't think she's going to make it,” Red Delicious whispered. She had no lighthearted comments anymore. Not at a time like this.

At a time like this, strange things happen. Things that don't really make sense, do. Somehow.

Applejack turned and saw her mother's cutie mark, as if for the first time.

“Your cutie mark.”

“Yes?”

“You still have them.”

Her father came up. “Yeah, so?”

“You still have your talents, then.”

“Well, yes; though I grow more poisonous plants now than apple trees. What does that have to do with anything?”

“Do you know how many doctors have died?” Applejack asked.

Eyes widened as the implications of her question bounced in their heads.

“So you want to go back to Tartarus?” Carrot Seed asked hesitantly.

“She's not going to survive another hour and the journey home takes longer than that. Ah have no other options.” Applejack looked around. “Ah think she bought us enough time to get back. Ah say we take her gift and use it.”

Sure enough, the changelings were beginning to stir. One nearby hissed, but Red Delicious silenced it with a rear hoof.

Carrot Seed pulled Rainbow Dash back onto his back. “Then let's run, Lil Apple.”

They say that when you return from a journey to the place you started from, that time seems shorter. Applejack believed that to be a lie. That journey back to the gates of Tartarus seemed like it would never end.

But eventually, a large three headed dog and a little alicorn filly faded into view.

Meph was holding a juicebox, looking more innocent than she had any right to. Had Applejack not had something quite desperate in mind, she probably would have wondered just where she had obtained such a thing. But she had more important things to worry about.

“Meph, we need to get inside.”

Meph sucked the last of the juice out of her box before letting it go. It burst into flame and disappeared. She sighed. “Like I said before, only the dead can enter.”

“We are dead,” Carrot Seed argued. “Let us back in. Applejack can stay outside.”

“Technically, you're not,” Meph replied. She might have continued her explanation, but Applejack cut her off.

“Ah ain't stayin' outside!” Applejack retorted. “Not at a time like this.”

“Unless you intend on killing yourself, too, you ain't goin' in there! And that ain't gonna happen on my watch!”

“That's a little dramatic, don't you think?”

“Dramatic?”

“Why is everypony fighting?”

Everypony froze as the new voice spoke. Rainbow Dash raised her head painfully and jabbed with a hoof. “The gate's right there. Can't you see them?”

Applejack squinted. “Ah don't see anything. Just rocks.”

Meph gave a half-smile. “Only the dead can enter because only the dead can see the gate.”

“Rainbow ain't dead yet.”

Meph looked down at the ground and said nothing.

“They're just straight ahead,” Rainbow said. “Right there. Right...” She passed out again.

Applejack made to take a step forward, but Meph appeared in her path and set a hoof on her shoulder. She spoke with a low voice. “If you cross those gates, I can make no guarantee that any of you will ever come out again.”

Applejack shrugged off the hoof and strode forward. Meph stood and stared, her face an expressionless mask. “So be it,” she whispered.

Cerebus whimpered and scratched the ground, as if wondering if he should attack, but Meph held out a hoof. “They have made their choice,” she said.

Applejack strode forward. She trusted Rainbow Dash, even if she couldn't see anything.

Taking a step forward, she found herself midway through the rock.

“Whoa.”

The gates really were here.

She looked back at her parents, who nodded. They stepped up, too.

Together, they walked into the unknown.

bookplayer

This chapter was written by bookplayer.

As she set hoof in Tartarus for the first time, Applejack blinked and everything disappeared.

Everything. The world turned to white. There was simply nothing here, including her mother and father and...

“Rainbow Dash! Ma! Pa! Where are ya’?!” Applejack shouted, darting forward into the blank area that seemed to lack any distinction between ground and ceiling. She looked around, but there was literally nothing there.

“Where am I?” she whispered.

“Nowhere,” a voice answered.

Applejack spun around, then again, searching for the source. “Who said that?”

“Nopony.” The voice sounded familiar.

“That ain’t true!” Applejack protested. “Somepony musta said that, and I gotta be someplace!”

“You’re nowhere,” The voice explained with an amused, slightly sing-song note. “You know that you’re in Tartarus, but somewhere inside you know that living ponies can’t be in Tartarus. So since you can’t be where you are... you’re nowhere.”

“As for who I am, I’m no pony. But I am the only one in the world who can travel nowhere.” Out of the whiteness, a pair of yellow eyes lit up, and the face and body of a draconequus faded into view behind them.

“You!” Applejack took a step back instinctively.

“Well howdy, Applejack.” Discord reclined back against nothing. “Fancy meeting you here. If you can call this place here.”

Applejack tried to wrap her head around that. This place wasn’t a here. It was... nowhere. But that didn’t matter. Only one thing mattered. “How do I get out?”

“Your body is still in Tartarus. If somepony moves you out of Tartarus, you’ll wake up.” Discord disappeared, then popped up next to her. “Easier said than done, of course. Mestophilly isn’t fond of living ponies who try to enter Tartarus. Of course, she’s even less fond of letting them leave.”

Applejack’s eyes went wide. She was frozen in Tartarus, Dash was dying, and Meph had said she wasn’t sure they could get out. She couldn’t be trapped in this nothing forever... could she?

“Princess Celestia! Twilight! Somepony help!” Applejack screamed, starting to panic.

Discord smirked and shook his head. “They can’t help you. This place doesn’t exist. Even the Princesses can’t go someplace that doesn’t exist.”

“You’re... supposed to be our friend, right?” Applejack said, trying to keep the desperation from her voice. “Maybe you could leave and have a word with Meph, for me? Just try to get me and Dash outta Tartarus?”

“First, I’m Fluttershy’s friend. You weren’t very nice to me.” Discord crossed his arms and looked away. Then he glanced back at Applejack. “But... Fluttershy wouldn’t be very happy if I left you stuck in a non-existent transdimensional space, would she?”

“Uh... nope! Pretty sure she wouldn’t!”

“However, when it comes to Mestophilly, I’m afraid I can’t help.” Discord said plainly. Applejack deflated. He grinned and went on, “Not allowed in Tartarus, you see. Not since that unfortunate umbrella incident.”

A look of confusion crossed Applejack’s face. “Umbrella inci-”

“You don’t want to know.” Discord cut in quickly. “But I do want to know why you decided to vacation in the afterlife.”

Applejack hung her head. “I was outside the gates, and Rainbow Dash got hurt. I brought her in to try and find a doctor.”

“Rainbow Dash isn’t here with you,” Discord pointed out.

“She could see the gates.” Applejack said, fighting back tears. “She was passed out over my Pa’s back.”

“That explains it.” Discord nodded. “She’s got one hoof in the door, and doesn’t realize she’s not all the way in.”

“I gotta get back to her!” Applejack said desperately, the words escaping with a sob.

“I could kill you,” Discord offered with a friendly smile.

“NO!” Applejack shouted, looking up and backing away.

“It was just a suggestion.” Discord shrugged and grinned. “I have another one: I can make you think you’re dead.”

“Uh, what good would that do?” Applejack asked cautiously.

“You’d think you belonged in Tartarus, so that’s where you would be.”

“What’s the catch?”

“Well, there are side effects- numbness, loss of appetite, having no desire to return to the land of the living.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “That last one would make gettin’ out a bit tricky, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, very,” Discord agreed.

Applejack frowned. “But, if we cure Dash, she could get out, right?”

“Interesting question.” Discord smirked. “If she knew she was alive in Tartarus, she’d end up here just like you.”

“Oh, yeah.” There went that plan.

“But, if she didn’t know she was in Tartarus...” Discord smiled, and raised an eyebrow at Applejack. “Of course, then she might even be able to get you to come back with her.”

Applejack rolled the idea over in her head. “So I gotta get Dash healed, or I’ll think I oughta stay in Tartarus forever? And if I do get her healed, she’d haveta get out, and get me to come with her, without anypony lettin’ on where we are, while I’m thinkin’ I’m dead and oughta stay?”

“Personally, I think this plan use a few more complications... but yes, that will have to do for now.”

“And my other choice is to stay put?” Applejack asked.

“I’ll keep you company.” Discord offered cheerfully. “Do you like charades? I’m very good at charades.”

“Okay.” Applejack said with a firm nod. “Make me think I’m dead.”

“Oh, good! First word- wait, you’ll do it?” Discord’s eyes went wide.

“Yup.” Applejack steeled herself.

A grin spread over Discord’s face. “Well then, just look in my eyes.”

“No funny business,” Applejack ordered. “Make sure I still know what I’m doin’ there, so I can get Dash outta there safe.”

“Applejack, how could you ever accuse me of funny business?”

Applejack shot him a look, which he met with his usual grin. Then his face popped up in front of her, and his eyes started spinning.

Applejack blinked. She was standing in what seemed like a large cave, with dozens of tunnels leading in all directions. a few houseplants had been placed between them to give the place a more friendly, lived in feel. They weren’t doing a very good job.

She looked around, and saw her parents staring at her in confusion. Her parents. She’d be with forever now.

...but she’d never see Sweet Apple Acres again. She missed it already; she missed her siblings, and friends. She missed Winona. She hated herself for leaving them all, for taking this stupid trip. She just wanted to go home, but she was never going home again. She was dead.

Then her eyes landed on Dash, and all her self pity fell away.

“What’re we waitin’ for? We gotta find a doctor!” Applejack hurried to her father’s side and put a hoof to Dash’s neck, feeling her heartbeat.

Her parents nodded, and the three took off down one of the tunnels as a thought came to Applejack. “And whatever we do, we can’t let Dash know she’s in Tartarus.”

Garaumond

This chapter was written by Garaumond.

Applejack sprinted down the tunnels behind her parents. Her father was taking care not to shake Dash too much, and her mother had taken the lead. Soon enough however, they hit a dead end.

"What're we gonna do now?" Applejack said. "We can't jus' turn back!"

Her mother smiled at her, and replied, "There ain't no dead ends in Tartarus. There's only secrets and shades."

"Jus' what in tarnation does that mea—oh."

Applejack's higher brain function stopped momentarily as her mother slid her hoof into the wall, and proceeded to do the same for her whole body.

"But that—you can't—that's imp—"

Carrot Seed grinned at Applejack. "Logic doesn't really have no place in here. Tartarus operates on some diff'rent physics or somethin' like that."

"So it's Discord's paradise," Applejack muttered to herself. Still, she wondered what could have been so horrible as to cause the God of Chaos to be banished from Tartarus. Did he say something about an umbrella? Whatever it was, it wasn't important right now. Dash needed her right now. Applejack walked through the wall, shivers coursing through her body.

As soon as she passed through to the other side, Applejack opened her eyes, and saw what seemed to be an exact replica of Ponyville. Everything seemed to be just as she had left it before her death.

"Is this where I'm gonna be stayin' from now on?" she inquisitively asked her parents.

"No, honey Tartarus is for—". Carrot Seed was cut off by a sharp hoof to the flank by his wife.

"You're right as apple pie, sweetheart. Dead ponies like us don't really like to give up everythin' we worked for when we were alive, so we make it again, good as new."

Behind her, Rainbow Dash shook her head, and let out a groan of agony.

"Buck. We gotta go find that doctor!" Applejack shouted at her parents.

"If I seem to recall, there was a Dr. Splint 'round here somewhere... I thought we might'a passed him by." Red Delicious turned back and sprinted.

Some lengths later, she turned back and shouted, "Found him! Right here! Says Phineas T. Splint, M.D!"

Her father went forwards, and Applejack followed him. Her mother knocked loudly on the door with her hoof.

"Dr. Splint! Dr. Splint! We need ya! Got an injured pegasus, still alive!"

At the words 'still alive' the door opened with a bang, and Dr. Splint trotted forwards. He had a thinning green mane, and a dull yellow coat. He wore extra-thick prescription glasses, and walked with a slight limp. All in all, he was not an extremely impressive specimen of pony, but there was an intelligent glint behind his glasses that said much more about him.

"Still alive? How interesting! But some allowance had to have been made, yes?"

With a firm look on her face, Red Delicious spoke. "Yes. That shouldn't bother ya none right now doc. Ain't it your job to fix up hurt ponies?"

Looking slightly cowed, Dr. Splint said, "That it is, that it is. Bring that pegasus inside, and I shall take a look at her."

Her mother and father followed Dr. Splint inside, and Applejack was just about to, when a whisper of, "Psst! Applejack! Come here!" caught her. She whirled around as saw Meph looking at her expectantly.

"What is it now?" she said.

"Do you want to make a deal? I could—"

"No. None o' that funny business right now. I got an injured marefriend to deal with right now, an' I don't need anything else to come into my life as of this moment."

Meph sighed. "You earth ponies are very stubborn to deals. Well except one, but he was a very interesting case."

Applejack's interest was piqued. "Who's this interestin' one?"

"He was called Faust, and he was very intelligent. He wanted to know everything, to do everything. So he made a deal. I would serve him, until he reached a point of extreme happiness. And eventually, he did. And then I collected the interest."

"What's this interest?"

Meph gave a soft smile. "His soul."

Applejack's jaw dropped. "His soul! What kind of a foolhardy, foolish pony would ever give his soul over to someone else!"

"The kind of pony that wants some pleasure in life, at least before they die. So, what do you say? Will you take another deal?"

Could she really take a deal? It would mean losing something invaluable, but she could get her parents back! She would never feel alone when her other friends talked about their family. She wouldn't have to take care of Granny Smith and the farm. Most importantly, she could spend more time with Rainbow Dash.

"What's this new deal?"

Meph grinned. "I knew you'd come around! Okay, the new deal is this: you and your parents get to live again. So does your marefriend, who doesn't die from her injury. Your sister and brother are alive and well."

"So what's the catch?" Applejack was confused. This sounded too good to be true.

"The catch is... I get your soul. And with it, the Element of Honesty. So as soon as you die up there, you come down here. And you won't get a cushy life either, like these other dead ponies do. Maybe I could send you to help Cerberus? Yeah, that'd be perfect!" Meph stuck out her hoof. "Deal?"

Her parents, alive and well, together with her brother and sister? They'd be a family again? And Dash wouldn't be a ghost, like in her dreams! She had to give up the Element of Honesty, but there were other honest ponies out there. She couldn't be the only one.

Applejack began to reach her hoof forward.

cooopercrisp

This chapter was written by cooopercrisp.

A blinding flash appeared in the plains, and three princesses and one draconequus appeared. They galloped to the entrance to Tartarus, knowing it was there without being able to see it. Celestia knocked on the invisible gate.

"Mephistofilly!" she shouted. "This is Princess Celestia. Open this gate right now!" The three princesses waited for some kind of response, but nothing happened.

"That's odd," Celestia said. "She's never ignored me like this before."

"Perhaps you should have asked nicely," Discord said with a wry grin.

"This is no time for jokes, Discord," Celestia said. She stared at the entrance, pondering. "We're going to have to force our way in."

"But sister," Luna said, "that would be incredibly dangerous. With the gate to Tartarus open, the dead might be able to walk free."

"The dead are nowhere near the gate," Celestia said, "so they would never realize that there would be a way out."

"But is it even possible to break through the gates of Tartarus?" Luna asked.

"Yes, how do you propose to enter the land of the dead?" Discord asked, unable to suppress a look of glee on his face.

"I believe you and I have the capability to do this, but it will be dangerous. Twilight, Discord, I suggest you step back." Twilight did as she was told while Luna and Celestia bowed their heads, their horns glowing with an ephemeral aura. Their magic surrounded the gate, so that Twilight could actually see its shape outlined in yellow and midnight blue. Discord summoned comically large earplugs and shoved them into his ears.

"You might want to cover your ears," he told Twilight. Twilight did so and lowered herself to the ground. Suddenly there was an explosion as the gates blew open. Dust blew through the air, blinding the four of them for a moment. Once it settled, they looked to find that the way to Tartarus was now open.

"There's no time to lose," Celestia said. "Let's go." The four of them galloped into the cold depths of Tartarus without looking back. A chill wind blew through their coats while their eyes tried to adjust to the stifling darkness. Twilight had seen the inside of the entrance when she had led Cerberus back there, but had never found herself inside it.

Wait a minute, Twilight thought. Something's wrong...

"Where's Cerberus?" she asked. The other three stopped and turned, looking around the cave. There was no sign of the three-headed dog anywhere.

"Maybe he went to fetch the paper," Discord suggested. Luna huffed.

"We don't have time to look for him now!" she said.

"My sister is right. Applejack and Rainbow Dash are in grave danger. We need to reach them as quickly as possible." The four of them set off again, the dark path sloping steadily downward. As they plunged further into the depths of Tartarus, they started to smell a rotten odor. Twilight didn't want to know what the source of it was, but Discord and the other two princesses knew it belonged to a terrible creature that lurked through the dark caves. Celestia had only ever seen it once, when it had escaped from Tartarus and wreaked havoc over Equestria so many centuries ago. The fiery gaze of its stare had been enough to terrify even her.

Don't think about that, Celestia told herself. They kept moving, but Twilight was now starting to lose her breath. They stopped at a crossroads with five separate openings to choose from. Twilight gazed at each opening and despaired.

"How are we supposed to find my friends like this?" she asked, gasping for air. "This place is a maze. They could be anywhere!"

"Twilight," Celestia said, "you have the ability to harness the energy of the Elements and track them using your magic. I suggest you use it now so we can find the correct way to go."

"How do I do that?"

"Just focus on finding your friends, and the spell will lighten your path." Twilight concentrated hard on Applejack and Rainbow Dash, and the memories of them flooded through her. She saw Applejack with large bags under her eyes trying to buck an entire orchard of apples by herself. There was Rainbow Dash, looking hurt as her friends revealed that they were the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. She saw Applejack and Rainbow Dash at one of Pinkie's parties, gazing into each other's eyes and talking animatedly, the first time Twilight had suspected that they were in love. Suddenly, her horn glowed, and orange and blue streaks appeared on the ground trailing outward down one of the caverns into the darkness. The orange streak was bright and vibrant, but the blue streak was very pale.

"Oh no..." Celestia said.

"What?" Twilight asked, mortified.

"Rainbow Dash's light is almost out," she said grimly. "We need to hurry." Now the four of them galloped at breakneck pace, following the path of the streaks. Their heartbeats raced as adrenaline pumped through them. Even Discord looked serious, showing Twilight that he was also concerned for her friends' safety. Twilight smiled, but the smile did not last.

Twilight saw many paths branching off of this one, and the streaks of her friends took them around all kinds of corners and down further beneath the surface. They glowed stronger as they moved, although the blue one was still quite pale. That must mean we're getting close, Twilight thought.

Suddenly, they turned a corner and in the distance they saw Rainbow Dash laying on the floor of the cave with three ponies watching over her. Twilight gasped in horror; her friend looked close to death. The four of them raced forward. Next to Rainbow Dash, Applejack stood alongside a ghost-white filly Twilight didn't recognize. The sight of her alarmed the princesses though. The four of them heard the voices of Applejack and the white filly echoing off the cave walls as they approached.

"...the new deal is this: you and your parents get to live again. So does your marefriend, who doesn't die from her injury. Your sister and brother are alive and well."

"So what's the catch?" Applejack asked.

"The catch is...I get your soul. And with it, the Element of Honesty. So as soon as you die up there, you come down here. And you won't get a cushy life either, like these other dead ponies do. Maybe I could send you to help Cerberus? Yeah, that'd be perfect!" Meph stuck out her hoof. "Deal?"

Applejack stretched out her own hoof, looking like she was going to make the deal, when the princesses and Discord caught her eye.

"Stop!" Luna cried. Applejack, Meph, and the three ponies overlooking Rainbow Dash all turned to them. Applejack was stunned to see them. The three ponies recognized the princesses and had their brows furrowed. Two of them struck Twilight as looking very familiar. She recognized them from the photographs in Applejack's family album.

Those are Applejack's parents, Twilight thought. But...how is that possible?

Meph, rather than look surprised at the sudden entrance of the three princesses and Discord, withdrew her hoof and looked around frantically as if trying to find an escape. Celestia stepped forward, making her cringe, but the princess turned her attention to Applejack.

"Applejack, you are not to make a deal with this filly. I will not have you hand your soul over to the queen of the dead."

"But Princess," Applejack said, "I don't have a choice!"

"There is always a choice, Applejack." Luna nudged her sister.

"Celestia, there's something wrong here," Luna said darkly. Everypony turned to her.

"What is the matter, sister?" Celestia asked. Luna pointed an accusing hoof at the white filly. She cried out in her royal Canterlot voice.

"You are not the real Mephistofilly!"

bats

This chapter was written by bats.

Twilight started, turning from Luna to the small filly, hoof still extended towards Applejack. She turned the offered hoofshake into a sheepish wave. With a small giggle, her body grew blindingly bright and in a flash she was gone.

Celestia turned to her sister. "How did you know she wasn't the true Mephistofilly? And who was she?"

Luna's eyes narrowed venomously, still boring holes into the vacant spot where the impostor had been. "She was an imp; a creature of shadow. Illusions of dreamscape hold no power over me, sister. An imp would promise anything in return for a soul it could devour. And if it had gained the strength of an Element of Harmony…" Luna's face darkened. "We arrived just in time, sister." She cantered forward, her eyes sweeping through the recreated Ponyville, carefully scouring the streets and gazing through the glamours and mist from which the town took its form. "…she is gone."

Celestia's frown deepened. "This does not answer the question of where the true Mephistofilly has gone."

A low groan drew the gathered ponies' attentions to Rainbow Dash. Dr. Splint stooped over his patient, carefully unwrapping the mare's injured hoof. Thick, twisting lines of black raced up her cannon from the wound; jagged daggers of contagion pointed menacingly along her flank towards her heart. Her thin chest heaved in rapid and shallow breaths. Applejack's breath hitched in her throat. "Rainbow! Oh, Dash…" She rushed to her marefriend's side.

Dr. Splint shook his head. "This is extremely advanced." He turned his grave expression to the gathered group. "I could get the infection down with the proper herbs, but…" He sighed heavily, rubbing at the bridge of his muzzle. "I don't have the proper herbs. And this mare has a very small window remaining. I am truly sorry, but there's nothing I can do."

Applejack's eyes widened, her voice frantically leaping up several octaves. "Ya can't mean that! It's too late for me, but there must be somethin' for her!"

Frowning and narrowing her eyes, Twilight interjected, "Too late for you, Applejack? But you're—" A sharp prod to her ribs broke her concentration. She glared at Discord, her eyes softening and growing bewildered when she saw his grave expression. The Draconequus drew his taloned claw across his mouth in a mimed zipper. Twilight shook her head and confusion.

"There is still hope, my little ponies." Celestia stepped boldly to the prone Rainbow Dash, her horn shining brightly. She bent low and touched the tip to Rainbow's hoof. A swirl of sunlight made solid curled forth, bending and snaking around the ill mare's leg in a cast of magic. The glow slowly faded as the tendrils of energy sunk into Rainbow, motes of light clinging to her coat. The angry black lines retreated down her leg a few inches and faded to a dull gray.

The princess stood again, her focus directed at Dr. Splint. "I have bought us some time, Doctor. I cannot remove the infection, but I can slow its progress. Now, what is this herb you need?"

Dr. Splint bent over Rainbow, checking her pulse with a hoof. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, I think we have time now." He turned back to Celestia, his eyes shifting over several earnest faces and one terribly bored trickster god picking at his teeth. "I need a special type of fungus called Penicillium. I don't have any here, because…well, there's not generally much use for medicine in Tartarus."

Twilight's eyes brightened "Penicillium? I have a culture of that back at the library!"

Celestia shook her head gravely. "I'm afraid there's no time for a trip back to Ponyville, Twilight."

"Why not? I can teleport most of the way; it would take me only a few minutes."

"It's not so simple, I'm afraid. With the gates torn open as they are, Tartarus has become unstuck in the passage of time. There's no telling how time will flow here while you are gone: minutes or centuries could pass before your return."

Twilight swallowed the lump in her throat. "If we can't return to Equestria, how are we going to find any Penicillium?"

Red Delicious' muzzle widened in a smile. "Don't y'all fret none. Tartarus ain't all illusions and pony folk. I got my crop ah brambles and thistle and they grow plenty strong down here. I know of a mushroom farmer who lives close to the divide between good souls and rotten."

Applejack straightened. "Well don't just stand there, we ain't got a moment to lose!"

A keening whimper echoed through the ghostly Ponyville. Several pairs of eyes turned towards the hulking form of Cerberus, slowly padding towards them, his three muzzles bared back in triplicate snarls. Thick and steaming drool slobbered from his middle jaw, dyed foamy pink from a trickle of blood running from his snout.

Luna cleared her throat. "Well…we still don't know where Mephistofilly has gone."

Celestia's voice grew insistent. "Twilight. We need that fungus to save your friend. Go with Applejack; I trust you can identify the proper species?" Twilight nodded gravely. "Hurry then!"

Twilight turned to Applejack and her parents when Luna's hoof caught her shoulder. The younger sister bent low and whispered, "Trust nothing that you see."

Nodding again, she was once more interrupted. Discord's oddly solemn expression drew her attention. "Applejack must not know she's alive."

Bewildered, Twilight nodded. She returned to the group, already set to gallop. They set off at a sprint through the illusory downtown Ponyville, watching the walls of buildings slowly twist and distort, bleeding away into trees as the landscape transformed into a mockery of the Everfree Forest.

Celestia turned to Dr. Splint. "Get her inside somewhere safe. This might get messy."

Discord cracked his knuckles and smirked. "And here I was afraid this would be boring."

Jackie

This chapter was written by Jackie.

All four ponies ran towards the borderline of Sweet Apple Acres, or at least what Sweet Apple Acres was like during the time of Applejack's parents. None of them took notice of this though as they were fully focused on reaching contact with a certain mushroom farmer who may be the only one that can provide the cure for Rainbow Dash. From what they've seen earlier, Rainbow Dash may only have a few hours left before her stay here in Tartarus becomes permanent.

As they approach the divide between good souls and rotten, the healthy trees and grass around them started to look dead and lifeless, and the plants turned from weeds, thorny shrubs, and other various fungi. It might as well resemble the Everfree Forest, only more lifeless. Keeping their distance from the unknown, they follow along a narrow pathway.

A disturbing scent started to linger within their nostrils. Applejack and Twilight may not properly distinguish it, other than something rotten, but AJ's parents exactly knew what it was. Their life here in Tartarus made it all too familiar.

"No trespassing! My territory!" a shrill, aged voice yelled over one of the shrubs.

Red Delicious and Carrot Seed gave both Applejack and Twilight a reassuring smile before replying to the other possible pony on the other side of the shrub. "It's us, Hobbs, Mr. and Mrs. Apple. We were wonderin' if you could help us? We really need your help," Red Delicious said in an almost pleading voice.

Ever since Hobbs entered Tartarus, he was secluded towards the border of the good because of his appearance. His looks resembled a disfigured old stallion, thin, spread mane and a large hunch on his back with a cloth draped over. The cloth also contained a few mushroom heads growing on it. Despite his good heart, ponies pushed him away. Since then, he isolated himself and kept himself preoccupied with his talent and knowledge for fungi.

"Bear with us, just for now. A certain pony may possibly die right now," Carrot Seed added.

With the thought of somepony possibly dying, a chortle was heard with a coughing fit followed immediately afterwards. "Pony alive? No! Impossible!" Laughter continued to come from Hobbs until his eyes rested on Twilight. Though this brought his laughter to a halt, a devilish grin.

As the old stallion walked towards the purple unicorn, she took a small step back.

"Ohhh, play game? Riddles?" Hobbs spoke.

"Please, Hobbs, this is no time for riddles. We need you to give us a certain type of fungus containing penicillin immediately!" Red Delicious said, trying to make him give Twilight some space.

"Pony dying?" the disturbed old stallion said, not taking his eyes off of the unicorn. "Need now?"

"Please!" Applejack yelled. "Please..."

"Games! Riddles! Play riddles!"

"Argh! We don't have time for your games! If ya can't provide us with what we need, we'll find somepony else who can do so," Applejack said, turning around, but we stopped by her mother who spoke calmly.

"Sorry, sugar, but we don't know any other pony who can help us right now. He's the only one that can."

"Don't worry Applejack, I'm sure we can answer any riddle this ol' pony can ask," Twilight reassured her.

Applejack sighed defeated. "Fine."

This caused a not so good reaction towards Hobbs and everypony can see the annoyance in his eyes as his snout twitched.

"Easy! Ha! Play riddles! I win, no penicillin." Hobbs walked around them as if he had a limp leg. "... Box, no hinges, key or lid, yet golden treasure, inside hidden."

A chilling pause went over everypony as they were stumped with the riddle. A pony's life was on the line and they were being tested with riddles. This brought a smile upon Hobbs's lips.

"Egg! An egg!" AJ blurted out. The smile on the old stallion was immediate wiped away and he moved within a tantrum like action. "Our turn, Twilight, you give the riddle."

"Alright, let me think... Thirty white ponies on a red hill, first they champ, then they stamp, then they stand still."

Hobbs opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His face changed into different emotion, immediately changing from realization, to disappointment, to anger and to thought. A momentary silent pause brought a sigh of relief to the ponies, but was broken the answer was spoken forth.

"Teeth! Haha! Teeth!" Hobbs jumped around like a school filly, and paused as he eagerly gave his riddle, "This devours all, birds, beasts, trees, flowers. Gnaws iron, bites steel. Grinds hard stones to meal. Slays king, ruins town, beats high mountain down."

Each of the four ponies immediately went into deep thought as they sought to find the answer. What's big enough that can slay kings and ruin towns? A dragon? An Ursa Major? But then it can crumble mountains, and surely neither monstrous creatures can do either. What other creature can do such powerful things?

Applejack's impatience got the better of her as she knew that her beloved's life can be taken away any time now. She can never forgive herself for it, knowing that she was able to do something about it. The orange farmer turned to her parents for an answer, but they sadly shook their heads. She was getting desperate and turned to Twilight.

"Twi, we really need to get the penicillin now and we're runnin' out of time here," Applejack hastily whispered in Twilight's ear, almost in the brink of tears.

"I know that we're running out of time and we-.... Wait... time...." Twilight murmured to herself, then quickly turned to Hobbs. "It's time!"

Another tantrum came from the old stallion, but all four ponies were too focused on thinking of a more difficult riddle.

"Question..." Hobbs hissed.

Red Delicious took the advantaged and spoke before anypony could protest, "What is the name of my father?"

Hobbs snarled and stomped towards Red. "That's question! Not riddle!"

"Nope, but ya said you wanted a question, so we're givin' ya a question," Carrot Seed stated.

After a long pause, multiple tantrums, and several failed answers later, Hobbs gave up and succumbed to helping the four ponies. He turned to a dark passage between a thick row of trees and led them to their destination.

DbzOrDie

This chapter was written by DbzOrDie.

The scene outside of the clinic was one of terror: two ponies, a draconequus that seemed stitched together by a ten-year old, bleeding from what looked like a quite painful wound, and opposite of them, a giant black dog with three heads.

As Cerberus slowly crept forward, Discord suddenly snapped his fingers. "I knew I forgot something," he exclaimed. "You still owe me 150 bits, missy sunbutt."

Celestia shot Discord an uninterested stare. "Discord, this is hardly the time AND the place to think about that. We're facing an angry dog as old as Tartarus itself and you're thinking about a bet!"

Discord chided Celestia with a waving hand. "Tut-tut-tut, I totally predicted that those two would end up together. Love, as many things, is as chaotic as a bumbling weatherpony in a rainstorm."

"I don't believe this," Celestia said as she turned to Discord. "Doesn't danger mean anything to yo—"

"DUCK!!" Luna shouted as she pushed her big sister to the side. Celestia and Luna narrowly evaded Cerberus who slowly had gotten closer only to pounce on their position.

Cerberus impacted the empty space and Discord hadn't moved a bit, holding a duck in his paw. "Oops, wrong kind of duck," he said as he let it fly away.

Celestia and Luna got back on their hooves as Cerberus turned towards the avatar of chaos and pounced once more.

Discord snapped his claw once, making the dog freeze in mid-air, and mockingly yawned with his lion paw. Cerberus whined as he tried to swipe at Discord, only several inches to far away.

With a small flick of his wrist, Cerberus went flying and landed on his bruised middle head, now with also a bruised ego. Celestia and Luna acted fast and started placing enchantments on its feet now that they weren't moving.

The two sisters finished their enchantments and Cerberus' tries assured them that they held. Suddenly a loud voice hit them straight through the bone. "YOU!!!"

Discord looked slightly to his side to see an angry princess of the dead arrive. "Oh great, now she's here."

"YOU!! How dare you come here, you with your umbrella of... of destruction. God of chaos or not, when Mephistofilly demands someone to stay away, THEY STAY AWAY!!!"

Meph stood right next to Discord and despite her loud, imposing voice, she had the appearance of just what her name would suggest. A filly. As such, the offset between Discord's tall body and her small size made for a quite comical situation.

While Luna tried her hardest not to laugh at Discord getting yelled at by a pony three times smaller than him, Celestia tried to simultaneously keep her eyes on both Cerberus and Meph as she attempted to diffuse the situation. "I assure you Meph, he had the right reasons... this time."

Mephistofilly snorted and turned away from Discord and ran towards Cerberus. "And what have you done to my little Cerberus?! Did the evil living hurt you?" She said as she scratched Cerberus behind his ears, while dispelling the enchantments that the two other princesses had put on him.

Luna's mouth was wide agape as it was her first time in the land of the dead but Celestia knew the power that Meph commanded in her domain. In the meanwhile Discord was fumbling with his claws and looking off into the distance, seemingly very interested in some of the many rock formations lying around.

With a small touch of her hoof, Meph healed Cerberus' wound and send him on his way back to guard the gates. She then turned her gaze towards the living intruders. "Which one of you hurt him? IT WAS YOU, WASN'T IT DISCORD?" She shouted with a threatening hoof towards him.

Before Discord could respond however, Celestia interjected and said: "None of us were responsible for those wounds. He had them when he came across us. And not to be impolite or anything but... WHERE WERE YOU?

listener

This chapter was written by listener.

"Celestia, I don't need to remind you that you are in my domain. Any power you have there is null in here, so I suggest you watch that tone of voice." Meph said, glaring at Celestia.

"I—" Celestia started, only to be cut off by Meph.

"I don't want an excuse. I was just reminding you. Now, for where I was at. I was on the other side of Tartarus dealing with a... minor uprising. They were all just barely back in their, eh... places whenever I got a message saying that someone had broken open the gates of hell! Literally! I don't suppose you three would know anything about that, would you?" Meph asked, glaring at the three, especially Discord at the end of her little rant.

"We had urgent need to get in, and you weren't around. I'm sorry. Two of my subjects are here." Celestia explained.

"Then they are mine, aren't they?" Meph said simply.

"No. They had gotten the misguided notion that they could come here and see Applejack's parents one last time. Along the way Rainbow Dash got injured. The closest doctor they could find would be here."

"But how would they have gotten in if they were living?"

"You had an imposter during your time away from this side."

Meph's eyes blazed when Luna said this. "Who. Tell me so that I may punish the soul that thought it could impersonate me!"

"It was an imp Meph. We've already taken care of it for you. Now, back to that matter at hand."

"Yes. I apparently have six living souls in my domain, one of them being him!" Meph said, adding a glare and a hoof-wave at Discord.

"Hey!" Discord shouted back. "In my defense, I did not think an umbrella would ever do that, even if it was enchanted by me!"

Luna looked interested in this piece of news. "Are we allowed to ask what it is that that umbrella did?"

"NO!" Shouted Meph and Discord in usion.

"Oh." Luna said, shrinking back slightly.

Meph sighed. "Sorry Luna. But it... it was bad. Now, what are we going to do with the living?"

"Uh, let them go?" Discord suggested hopefully.

Meph sighed. "That would be the way this was going to work, isn't it..."

"Wait, that worked?" Discord asked, surprised.

"Well, you did take care of the imp that was impersonating me, and it's probably the same one that started the uprising in the first place." Meph said. "And I don't like it when I owe people."

"Oh."

Red Delicious, Carrot Seed, Twilight, and Applejack burst into the clearing. Four sets of eyes turned to them.

"Oh, ah... We've got the penicillium." Applejack said.

Luna and Celestia smiled. Discord was frowning. Meph looked... curious.

"Interesting. She's here... Yet not here..."

Applejack looked back at Meph. "What?"

"Oh. Nothing. Now, penicillium... I assume your friend is bleeding?"

"Yes. We've got to get her this here medicine so she doesn't get stuck down here with me!"

Meph levels a stare at Discord. He defends himself quickly. "Hey! It was necessary!"

"I don't know what's goin' on, but I need to go!" Aj said, rushing past the two groups.

"You. Explain. Now."

Applejack rushed inside of the doctor's home. She stifled a gasp at the sight. Dash looked... close to death. Her normal bright and pristine coat was dirtied and dull. Her mane was duller than AJ remembered. She glanced at the doctor, throwing the herb to him.

He caught it, and quickly went about to administering it.

"Tell it to me straight. Is she..."

"She's stabilized. She needs a living doctor though! I can't do anything for her down here!"

"How long has she got?"

"Maximum? I give her less than three hours." The doctor said sadly.

"Not on my watch. Applejack, how important is she to you?"

Both the doctor and Applejack jumped at newcomers voice. Swirling around, AJ saw Meph standing there.

"No. No more deals Meph! You've tried too many times."

"I'm not making a deal here Applejack. How important is she to you?"

"She's... She's the most important pony to me in the world. I love her."

"Then why shouldn't she stay here with you?"

"What?"

"Why not? She would just think it was bad luck. But she could stay here. With you. Forever."

"But..." AJ stammered.

"If you could, would you make her stay here?"

"I... No! I could never do that to a friend! There is a sayin' up top. If... If ya love something, set it free. It's what... It's what I have to do."

Meph nodded. "I respect your choice Applejack."

Meph glanced at the pony on the table once again before turning and leaving.

Applejack sighed a turned around to face Dash, openly crying now.

"I'm sorry Dash. I know I said together till the end, but you're going to hav'ta make it alone now." She said sadly. She gave one last nuzzle to her marefriend, and then ran out of the room.

Dash smiled while she slept at the touch, only to frown when it left.

"She has heart, that one." Meph said, watch Applejack sitting at the corner of the clearing. Her parent were there trying to cheer her up.

Luna and Celestia were crestfallen at the news. But what Meph had done was... extreme.

"Was that really needed?" Celestia asked.

"Yes. I needed to know if she would sacrifice her friends life for her happiness."

"And?"

"She was not. Celestia, Luna, I will tell you now. It is rare that I find anyone that is willing to give up happiness for another. Very rarely. And when that happens, it's a miracle. And in turn, I sometimes give a miracle back.

"You mean...?" Luna asked, hopeful.

"Yes. You may go. I cannot do anything to slow her death down, but I can lead you to a different exit closer to Appleloosa. About a two hour journey."

"Oh, thank you Meph—"

"Do not thank me yet. It's a dangerous journey. It is on the border between the two sides of Tartarus."

Discord was the one to respond to that.

"Oh goody. Back to the scene of the crime then, huh Meph?"

Spectral

This chapter was written by Spectral.

"Back to the scene of the crime then, huh Meph?"

Mephistofilly froze at that, before slowly turning towards Discord. Her eyes spoke only of malice, and she gave him a strained smile.

"On second thought..." Meph turned to Celestia. "You will take that path," she said as a matter-of-fact, raising her hoof and pointing towards the wall. As she continued to speak, the stone came to life and formed a narrow tunnel leading upwards. "The tunnel emerges at the foot of a nearby mountain. Fly northeast with haste, and Appleloosa will be but a two hour journey from there."

Celestia and Twilight nodded just as Luna emerged from the doctor's home with Rainbow Dash on her back.

"Oh, look at that." Discord laughed nervously. "We better get going, right?"

Still facing to Celestia, Meph motioned towards the draconequus.

"The two of us will return to where it happened. We have some things to talk about."

"I understand," Celestia replied, attempting and failing to hold back a grin.

Discord's smile literally dropped to the floor, before he reluctantly sighed in defeat.

From where Applejack and her parents sat, one could see the whole of Ponyville. Tartarus' version, that is. The buildings and streets were all there, only slightly more old fashioned – it was basically the same town.

"It's like looking back in time." Applejack glanced at her parents, who smiled back at her.

"It appears our friends has come to some sort of agreement," Carrot Seed said, as he saw Twilight trot towards them.

Twilight Sparkle approached the three ponies on the edge of the clearing. They were joined in an embrace, and Red Delicious' voice grew stronger as Twilight came closer.

"...care of yourself, lil' Apple. We'll miss you." Applejack slipped out of her hooves when Twilight arrived, and looked questioningly at her mother.

"I'll be back in a jiffy, just gonna follow my friends to the surface," Applejack said, raising en eyebrow.

Applejack must not know she's alive. Discord's earlier warning echoed through Twilight's mind, and she reluctantly held her tongue. Applejack's parents exchanged knowing glances with Twilight, before saying that they would wait there for Applejack's return.

Celestia and Luna, with Rainbow Dash on her back, stood by the tunnel when Twilight returned with Applejack. Meph and Discord were nowhere to be seen.

"They left," Luna explained, noticing their searching glances. "Mephistofilly did not look... pleased."

Celestia took a step towards the tunnel, glancing inside.

"She did mention that this will only be open a short while before closing, though, so we need to hurry."

She stepped inside, quickly followed by Luna. Twilight gave Applejack a reassuring smile before following the other two princesses. Applejack raised a hoof enter, but she hesitated. A feeling that something was wrong was nagging at her heart. Shrugging, she shook it off, before waving goodbye one final time to her parents. She then delved into the darkness after the others.

Twilight Sparkle heard the galloping hoofsteps of Applejack approach from behind, before slowing down and trotting next to her. Twilight shot a glance at her friend. Applejack's eyes were focused straight ahead on the rainbow mane that swung to the steady rhythm of Luna's steps, and she wore a solemn yet determined expression.

Nopony in the group said anything as the tunnel went on and on, constantly upwards. The low ceiling gave a sense of being trapped, and Twilight had an urge to use her wings to just fly out of there. She was beginning to understand why Rainbow Dash spent so much time flying: such freedom. Then again, the low ceiling prevented such a thing, and the group trotted onward in silence.

After what felt like forever, Twilight Sparkle saw the faint light that was the end of the tunnel. The others apparently noticed it, too, and the group let out a sigh of relief. But that feeling didn't last. The earth around them shifted slightly, and a brief rumbling sound echoed through the tunnel.

"It's going to collapse!" Celestia called out. "Run!"

The light quickly grew closer, and despite that the rumbling had ceased they didn't dare stop their gallop. They burst out into the open and stopped when a safe distance was between them and the tunnel, heaving for air.

"I have never been happier to see the sun..." Celestia breathed, glancing to the sky before straightening herself. "But there's no time to lose."

"What about Discord?" Twilight asked between her gasps for air, concerned.

"He will manage. He always does." Luna glanced back over her shoulder, and her eyes widened in chock.

"Applejack, get away from there! The entrance will collapse any minute!"

Applejack wasn't moving.

"I can't come with you."

Realization dawned upon the three princesses just as stone around Applejack slowly came to life again, rumbling ominously.

Celestia took a step towards her, only to find her hoof hindered mid-air by some sort of force field. The path was closing, and no living pony was allowed to enter.

"Applejack!"

"I have led a happy life, but it's time for me to move on..." she gulped, angrily blinking away a few tears. "Y'all must go to Appleloosa..."

"It's not like you think, Applejack!" Twilight shouted in panic. "You're not-"

"You can't save me!" Applejack screamed. Even the moving stone seemed to go silent as her words echoed across the landscape. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and her eyes rested on Rainbow Dash, who had muttered something in her unconsciousness. "Head to Appleloosa. And... tell her I loved her."

With that, Applejack turned and bolted into the darkness, the sound of her sobs quickly fading.

Celestia and Twilight cried out and gave chase, only to be stopped and thrown back by the invisible barrier. Luna simply stared in disbelief where Applejack had stood.

The three princesses could only watch in vain as the earth screeched and shifted, leaving nothing but solid stone where the gates once had been.

TheRealRainbowDash

This chapter was written by TheRealRainbowDash.

For a moment, Twilight Sparkle was frozen, mouth hanging open. She closed it slowly, and promptly burst into flames. Her coat turned white, her mane started on fire and her eyes blazed with righteous fury.

"I did not just interrupt the Princesses from their royal duties, run halfway across Equestria, nearly lose Dash, and go through Tartarus and back with an annoying imp trying to con us every step of the way for you TO JUST DIE, APPLEJACK!" Twilight screamed, throwing herself at the rocks. Her horn lighting up, she blasted it with every bit of magic she had, and when that didn't work, she turned to pounding against the wall with her hooves.

Celestia and Luna could only watch as Twilight tried everything to open the way to Tartarus.

"It's not going to open..." Luna commented morosely.

Celestia simply gave her a sad, small smile. "You take Dash to Appleoosa. I won't lose another little pony today. I will stay with Twilight and see what can be done."

Luna nodded and gave her sister a quick nuzzle, before quickly jumping into the sky, pushing her wings off hard as she turned towards the little town that would save Dash's life.

"Fly fast, and stay safe."

Luna nodded and took off nearly as fast as the rainbow speedster herself. Before she was entirely out of earshot Celestia remembered the pained looked on Applejack's face and her newly screaming student. It reminded her how easy it was to lose those closest to you.

"I love you, Lulu," she murmured to the wind, knowing it would carry her words to her sister.

Luna looked back and smiled.

Celestia let out a sigh and turned back to her student, hoping to offer what little comfort she could.

Applejack's face was a mess as she sobbed, running blindly through the dull gray, craggy land that was Tartarus. She could've run back to her parents, and embraced them, sobbing into their coats, but she wanted to be alone with her pain. Though the emotional pain wracked her body and nearly tore her soul apart, she did not feel an instance of physical pain.

The landscape melted around her as she ran faster and faster and yet her hooves never tired, and she never grew hungry or thirsty. It seemed like days that she ran, but actually it was only about a dozen hours that slipped by in the land of the dead. In the land of the living it was a few precious minutes that slipped by, unknown and unheeded to a frantic lavender alicorn and her mentor.

Applejack longed for the burn in her muscles and the ragged breathing that running could bring, the physical pain that would chase off the pain that twisted her heart.

As terrible as it was she hoped she wouldn't see Dash for another eighty years or so. An even more terrible thought consumed her and she felt selfish, but everypony was entitled to a little bit of selfishness every once and awhile. She hoped Dash would wait for her.

Hearing voices, (loud, angry voices) she finally began slowing down, taking stock of where she was. In the distance was what looked like the Everfree. A scream of a manticore proved her right. The ground was different, though. An ugly twisted chasm of black rent the ground, scarring what was once beautiful. Above this scar, Mephistofilly and Discord were arguing.

"...And that is why you cannot open an umbrella in Tartarus!" Meph finished with a screech.

Discord was about to reply, but fell short when his eyes came to rest on Applejack. Tears still streamed down her cheeks.

"Why are you still here?" he asked, pointedly ignoring Meph. "You're supposed to be with Dash."

"I'm not in the mood for your crap, Discord. I'm dead. And you know it. I won't see her for another eighty years. Hopefully." Applejack wiped her nose with her hoof.

"Wait..." Meph looked at the draconequus. Realization flooded into her in a second.

There was the simultaneous sound of a hoof and a claw both hitting the faces of their respective owners.

"You had one job, Twilight Sparkle!" Discord muttered angrily.

The Lord of Chaos thought quickly, the gears in his head spinning out of control. It seemed hopeless. There was nothing he or anyone else could do now that the gate closed. Then suddenly the biggest shit-eating grin crossed his face, and he laughed.

Scooping Applejack up into his arms tightly, so she could not protest or escape, he turned to Meph.

"I'd like to say I'm sorry for what I'm about to do. But that would be lying," Discord told her, his grin only growing larger with each second.

Meph realized exactly what he was about to do. "Don't you dare!"

Discord made an umbrella materialize in front of him.

From within the prison of his arms Applejack looked out, wondering what was going on.

"I swear to you Discord if you open that umbrella..."

Meph didn't get to finish her threat because at that moment Discord, with a shrug, a wave, and his typical 'Oops did I do that?' face, opened the umbrella.

A new black scar rent the earth beside the first open. Tartarus began trembling. Applejack felt a pressure in the air that threatened to squeeze her to death (if she wasn't already dead). A crack, and a piece of the sky broke off. Then, there was light. Then blackness.

When Applejack woke up she knew she was alive. The sun warmed her back, chasing away the little bits of death that lingered in her body and mind. The breeze smelled fresh, and cleaned her lungs of the stagnant dead air of Tartarus. But most telling were the colors. Applejack had thought she had never seen more beautiful a sight than the grass she was staring at right at that moment. She'd never known it could be so green.

Getting up, she groaned with pain. Every part of her ached, but she was alive. Memories came back rapidly, and she spun around, looking for her savior. She found him lounging serenely in the empty space between two trees, a glass of chocolate milk in his claws, swaying as though there was a hammock there.

"What'd you do?" she asked and her voice came out muffled and scratchy. Her throat was dry and her tongue felt two sizes too big.

A laugh. "I turned Tartarus upside down. Unleashed upon Equestria the ghosts of all the dead contained in Tartarus. Which is to say a lot. Meph will have a real clean up to do!" The draconequus laughed again, and Applejack joined in, more out of relief than anything else.

A worry nagged at her. "Will they cause any problems?" She didn't want anyone to get hurt at her expense.

"No," Discord replied seriously, "they can't cause any physical harm to any living soul. The most they can do, is maybe rearrange the furniture or knock over a picture frame. Sometimes they'll just create a random cold spot on a hot day." Discord shrugged and went back to drinking his glass.

"Oh, and Twilight and Miss Sunnybutt are that way, freaking out!" He pointed off into the distance, an uncaring smile on his face.

Applejack started. She had forgotten that she had left her friend and the princesses standing outside when the rocks came down.

Galloping through the pain, Applejack reached the clearing where an exit had just been only half an hour before (she later marveled that it had only been that long) and came to a screeching halt at the sight that greeted her.

Celestia was stroking the mane of a sobbing Twilight, and had one wing around her body to offer some small shred of comfort. Twilight for her part was a mess, her mane disheveled, her eyes and face puffy with tears, a severe case of magic depletion, as demonstrated by her short circuiting horn, and bloody hooves.

Applejack couldn't help but be touched by her friends concern. Clearing her throat loudly she saw Twilight look up. Then she saw Twilight actually see her. And then she was being crushed by the weight of an alicorn princess hugging her.

"You're alive, you're alive, you're alive!" Twilight shouted, giggling and dancing even on her bloody hooves.

"Wait, how're you alive? That's scientifically and physically—given the laws of Tartarus—impossible! This needs to be documented, for science! I need to know every detail! You shouldn't be alive! I mean not that I'm complaining, but..."

Twilight threatened to go into full on rant mode, but Celestia stopped her with a gentle hoof. She smiled, encouraging Applejack on.

"I can't rightly say I know how Discord works," she replied with a shrug.

And for the first time since entering Tartarus she laughed joyfully with her friend and the princess.

Chuck-daddy

This chapter was written by Chuck-daddy.

Rainbow Dash was on the mend. A week and a half's stay in the Ponyville Hospital had wrought a great change. Her color had almost completely returned, and the wound on her leg was healed, although the area was still tender, and bore a scar she would have forever.

Over the course of her stay, she had accumulated a few personal items to make the small, sterile room feel a little more like home. These included a biography of Soarin' that Twilight had recommended, and a framed picture of Applejack set up on the nightstand.

Rainbow was staring at the photograph when the mare herself arrived.

"Knock, knock," Applejack called, sticking her head in the door.

"Come on in, AJ," Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack walked into the room, across to the bed, leaned in and planted a small kiss on Rainbow's lips. After pulling back, she sat down in a chair at bedside and looked at Rainbow Dash appraisingly for a few moments.

"It's hard to believe you were—literally—at death's door just a couple weeks ago," said Applejack.

"What can I tell ya, AJ? Takes more than a nibble from a changeling to bring down the Dash." Rainbow Dash laughed and flexed her forelegs with bravado.

Applejack smiled. "Ah know."

"I wish I could get out of here and go flying already, though."

Applejack chuckled softly and placed a gentle hoof on Rainbow Dash's face. "Rainbow, Ah know ya never listen to reason, and ya ain't about to start now, but trust the doctors, okay? When you were passed out from that infection, it—it was scary."

Green and cerise then met for several silent seconds, and both mares knew, without saying, all the terrible, bleak emotion that "scary" entailed.

At last, Rainbow Dash spoke again, trying to take a lighter tone. "Anyway," she said, "let me tell you about this great nurse here. She always makes my pillows really fluffy, and brings me extra pudding—"

Rainbow stopped short as her eyes whipped to the nightstand and she jumped. Applejack followed her gaze and saw what had scared her: the picture frame was floating several feet in the air, with no sign of unicorn magic around it.

"Relax, Sugar Cube," said Applejack, "Discord told me there'd be some souls that escaped from Tartarus, and they might do this, but they can't do ya no harm."

"If you say so." Rainbow's voice still sounded trepidatious.

Applejack stared at the hovering frame, and wasn't afraid. It was beyond the calm that her knowledge of what was causing it brought. It was more. She felt, if it were possible, safe and protected.

Jake Roberts

This chapter was written by Jake Roberts.

Dear Princess Cadance,

Recently, my marefriend, Applejack and I learned a very important lesson in love. We...

Rainbow scrutinized the paper, deep in thought. Eventually, she gave up and spat out the pen.

"Hey, Applejack," she called to her lover across the kitchen. "What did we learn throughout this?"

AJ turned around from the sink. "Beg your pardon?"

"Oh, Twilight said that Princess Cadance would like a letter from us explaining what we learned about love. So... what did we learn?"

Applejack cocked an eyebrow. "Uhh... uh, gimme a minute." Applejack paced in a circle and scratched her head. "I—uh... I got nothin'."

"Exactly! I mean, let's run through what we've been through!"

"Okay, ya'll convinced me to go to Tartarus."

"You wore a Daring Do costume. Thanks, for that, by the way."

AJ waved a hoof. "T'aint nothin' to it. Anyway, then we went out to the desert."

"Changelings came, I almost died."

"Eeyup. Then I was all desperate to save ya."

"And then... everything's kind of a blur after that."

"Yeah, well you was passed out 'n stuff for the most part." AJ shook her head furiously. "It's all kinda a blur for myself. I thought I was dead, and I met my parents, but I was too worried about ya to care... to be honest, I kinda checked out after the evil filly showed up."

"Evil filly?"

"Yeah... don't ask, 'cause I ain't got no idea, myself."

"So we basically learned nothing?"

"We'll... Changelings are jerks, and Tartarus sucks."

"Ooh, that's good!"

Dear Princess Cadance,

Tartarus sucks and Changelings are jerks.

"Perfect! Wanna get lunch?"

"Eeyup."

The two lovers exited the kitchen and set out for town.

...and that's all she wrote.

Go away.

KrazyTheFox

This chapter was written by KrazyTheFox.

“Caved in? Caved in!? What the hay do you mean, caved in!?”

“I told ya, Rainbow. The gates have been torn down and the whole place is filled in with sand. Ain’t no way we’re gettin’ in.”

Rainbow Dash pounded her hooves on the ground and screamed in frustration. “We came all this way and escaped a horde of changelings, only to find out that we can’t even get in?”

Applejack nudged Rainbow’s side. “Well, there might be another way in, but I think we’d need to ask Twi about that—I don’t see one anywhere around. And I don’t see that happenin’ anytime soon.”

“So we just walked all that way for nothing.”

“Uhh. Yup.”

Collapsing on her side, Rainbow dug her forehooves into the warm sand, heaving a sigh. “So what are we gonna do, AJ?”

“First thing first, we need some supplies. In case ya didn’t notice, we left all our stuff behind last night.”

“Right. Where are we going to find new things?”

Applejack pulled a map from her pocket and unfolded it, laying it in front of the two as she leaned against Rainbow, nuzzling behind her ear. She examined the map and pointed to the nearest town. “There. Looks like Appleloosa’s the nearest place we can go that’s still in Equestria. It’s closer than Dodge Junction, though not by much.”

Rainbow leaned her head in the crook of Applejack’s neck and frowned. “How are we going to get there? I can’t exactly walk right now.” She shook her hind leg for emphasis.

“You can still fly, right?”

“Yeah, but... I don’t see how I’m going to land.”

“Better than sitting around in a hot desert for a week. How’s your leg doin’ anyway?”

Rainbow winced in pain as Applejack prodded it. “Ow! Still hurts.”

“Sorry, sorry,” said Applejack, backing off.

Flattening her ears, Rainbow rested her head on her hooves and sighed again. “Sorry, AJ,” she mumbled.

Reaching a hoof around Rainbow’s neck, Applejack kissed her girlfriend’s cheek. “Sorry? What for?”

“For this. All of this. I really wanted you to be able to see your parents again.”

“So did I, sugarcube. We just gotta come back after finding another way in, is all. ‘Sides, it’d be nice to see cousin Braeburn again.”

“I guess.”

“Think you can fly us soon?”

Rainbow Dash snuggled up against Applejack and yawned, ruffling her feathers. “Yeah, soon. That bite took a lot out of me.”

Smiling, Applejack cuddled Rainbow Dash until she fell asleep, murmuring something about Applejack “looking really hot” in her Daring Do outfit.

Vengeful Demon

This chapter was written by Vengeful Demon.

"Oh, this is bad, this is really bad."

Twilight was currently making her way towards Canterlot. She knew that she should have written to the princesses the second that she heard about the plan to 'visit' Tartarus, but she hadn't, and now both Applejack and Rainbow Dash were gone.

"I just hope that I'm not too late."

"Princesses!"

Twilight barged into the throne room, catching the regents of the sun and moon off guard, this was the first time that the young princess had ever simply dropped in, unannounced.

"Princesses, we need to go to Tartarus!"

Both princesses simply stared at her, taken aback by that last statement.

"Twilight, maybe you should start at the beginning."

"So, Applejack's dreams were telling the truth, this is not good."

"Luna, what are you talking about, did you know something about this?"

"Well, yes and no, a couple of nights ago, We- I visited Applejack during her sleep. She was having some sort of nightmare, where she was in Tartarus, and Rainbow Dash was dead." The princess began pacing the room. "I didn't think much of it at the time, chalking it up to be a simple nightmare, and nothing more. But recently, Rainbow Dash has been having strange dreams as well."

"How strange, princess?"

"She dreamed of Mephistofilly, queen of Tartarus."

Upon hearing this, Celestia's face grew stony.

"This is worse than I imagined, Applejack and Rainbow Dash are in grave danger. The queen of the underworld likes to make deals, and her deals always have dire consequences, masked behind a promise of good fortune. We need to get to Tartarus, now." She turned to look at her sister. "Quickly, go get Discord, he's going to help get us there."

"Sister, what do you plan to do?"

Celestia smiled to herself, "Simple. We're going to knock on Meph's door."