Chapter 7

I've been meeting with Chysalis for a few weeks now and the Hive has really gotten better. It was so quiet and dark the first time I went but now it's bustling with changelings and they've even added lights along the tunnels, even though they can see perfectly well in the dark which probably means they did it for my sake. AJ has noticed my absence. I've had to skip out on applebucking with her more time than I'd like to admit and I know she'll start asking questions about where I'm going, soon I'm going to have to sit her down and tell her but I'm just not sure how to do it.

I was on my way to meet with Chyrsalis again when AJ called out to me

Applejack: "Thomas, wait I think we need to talk."

Thomas: "Yeah, there's something I need to tell you."

Applejack looked worried

Thomas: "Here let's sit down."

Thomas and Applejack shuffled silently over to the couch.

Applejack: "What'd ya need to tell me?"

Thomas: "It's about where I've been going."

Applejack perked up

Thomas: "But you need to promise not to tell anypony. okay?"

Applejack: "I promise."

Thomas: "I mean it. Nopony can know about this."

Applejack: "I swear. Now what is it?"

Thomas: "I've...been meeting with Chyrsalis..."

Thomas looked over to Applejack to see her with a shocked expression on her face

Applejack: "What! Is she controlling you? I'd better go get Twilight!"

Applejack bolted for the door but Thomas garbbed her tail causing her to run in place

Thomas: "AJ wait. I'm not being controlled. Just listen to me."

Applejack stopped running and turned to face Thomas

Applejack: "Don't you know how dangerous she is? She almost took over Canterlot."

Thomas: "AJ how far would you go to protect Applebloom? Or Big Mac or Granny Smith?"

Applejack: "What's that got to do with anything?"

Thomas: "The Changelings are her family. She did what she thought was right to protect and feed them. I thought you of all ponies would understand."

Applejack looked down at the ground

Applejack: "I do...just...I don't want to lose you..."

Thomas: "AJ, I promise she's not a threat."

Appleajck looked at Thomas tears welling up in her eyes

Applejack: "That's not what I mean..."

Thomas realized what she meant and it hit his heart like a freight train. Thomas sat there in stunned silence for a few seconds. Applejack was shaking and tears were rolling down her cheeks at this point. Thomas put his hand on AJ's shoulder and she looked up. Thomas leaned in and kissed Applejack calming her kiss was long and tender, he could feel her shaking come to a slow and steady began stroking her blond mane. When he broke the kiss she leaned in and rested her head on his chest still crying a little. He spoke more gently than ever before.

Thomas: "Applejack, I love you and nopony, not even Celestia herself, could change that."

Applejack remained silent

Thomas: "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, that was my fault."

Applejack: "Can we...Can we just stay like this for a little while longer?"

Thomas: "I wouldn't have it any other way."

They layed there for hours Thomas stroking her mane until they fell asleep in each others arms. Applebloom and Big Mac walked in the room.

Applebloom: "Hey! What're they-"

Big Mac put his hoof on Applebloom and looked down at her. She nodded and they both went outside.

A few hours later Thomas woke up with Applejack still sleeping on his chest. He decided to get up and go for a walk. He slid off of the couch and got Applejack a blanket. When he put it over her she cuddled into it and he couldn't help but smile. He walked out of the house as quietly as he could. He put on his headphones and started to walk. He couldn't get rid of the smile that adorned his face for the entire time he was walking. He didn't know how long he'd been walking for only that the sun was starting to set. When he turned to head back to Sweet Apple Acres he was greeted by two large hooves to the face. Before he fell unconscious he could here two stallions talking

"Come on let's get 'em to Canterlot."

"Why'd the princess want him again?"

"Who knows. She's been off lately."

The last thought Thomas had before falling unconscious was

Thomas: "This seems to happen a lot."

He blacked out.

When he woke up he found that his wrists were chained up by shackels that were connected to the walls. Looking around he saw he was in a dimly lit room made of cobblestone. There was a large wooden door in front of him and behind the iron bars that made up the small window he saw a large horned figure. The door creeped open and Celestia trotted through. He once pure white coat was beggining to turn a ominous grey.

Celestia: "Good to see you, Thomas."

Thomas's head was still pounding from the buck he took to the head.

Thomas: "I'd say the same but you've looked better."

Celestia smirked

Celestia: "Says the changeling."

Thomas: "What?"

Celestia began pacing back and fourth in the room

Celestia: "You see ever since our little...conversation at the hospital I've been wondering why a creature who has no history in Equestria could know so much about it's past and why a creature who has no reason to risk it's life for anypony would do so, and last but not least why it would sympathize with the changelings to such an extent. The answer is It must be a changeling itself."

She walked towards Thomas and leaned in until they were almost touching noses. She whispered to him

Celestia: "I know what your planning...just tell me where your hive is and you can go free."

Thomas whispered back

Thomas: "You're insane."

Celestia leaned back and began laughing manicaly

Celestia: "AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Maybe you're right but these are insane times we live in. When the pony right next to you could be a DISGUSTING monster it'd drive anypony insane. You can come in now."

The door opened again and a unicorn in a black mask that reminded him of an executioners hood stepped in. He had a table covered in a black tarp. When he removed the tarp Thomas saw dozens of sharp tools and strange bottles with varying lables in them.

Celestia: "I'll ask again...where is the hive?"

Thomas: "I'm not a changling. And even if I was I wouldn't tell you."

Celestia nodded over to the hooded unicorn

He levitated a scalple over to Thomas's ribs and made a long cut down the length of his side. The cut was shallow enough not to cause any fatal injury but deep enough to cause Thomas to scream out in terrible pain. When the unicorn brought the scaple down Thomas could see that he cringed even through the back hood he was wearing.

Celestia: "Now tell me WHERE THE HIVE IS!"

Thomas gritted his teeth

Thomas: "Bite me!"

She let out a low chuckle

Celestia: "I was hoping you'd say that."

She levitated a Jar containing a light blue parasprite

Meanwhile Applejack was was waking up. She noticed that Thomas was gone and a blanket was over her. She could smell him on it which brought a smile to her face. She looked out side and noticed the sun had set and the moon was starting to rise. She looked through the house to try and find Thomas but she couldn't find him anywhere. She asked Applebloom if she'd seen him.

Appleajck: "Hey Applebloom have ya seen Thomas?"

Applebloom smiled

Applebloom: "Last place I saw 'em was wrapped up with you. Is he your special somepony?"

Applejack: "Yeah, yeah he is."

Applebloom began running in circles around Applejack.

Applebloom: "Does this mean you two are gonna get married? Will I have a niece or a nephew? Oh I have to tell Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo."

Applejack: "Slow down. Are ya sure you haven't seen him recently."

Applebloom: "No, I haven't go ask Big Mac he might know."

Applejack: "Alright. It's gettin' late go get ready for bed."

Applebloom: "Okay, g'night sis."

Applejack walked into the kitchen to see Big Mac making himself a sandwich

Applejack: "Hey Big Mac have you seen Thoams anywhere?"

Big Mac: "Eeyup."

Applejack: "Where was he?"

Big Mac: "Walkin' into town last I sam 'em."

Applejack: "Thanks."

Big Mac: "Eeyup."

Applejack walked out of the house and started down the road into town. After about 10 minutes she came across long drag marks on the ground she followed them a few feet forward and found Thomas's mp3 laying there the screen cracked. She also noticed some white hair on the ground underneath it.

Applejack: "What in the hay happened here?"