Applejack shuddered as the bloody red gaze of the nightmare-ish alicorn scanned across the room, taking in the horror-filled faces of the ponies around her. The alicorn smirked.

"Yes, my little ponies," she giggled. "Celestia is hereby incapable of ruling any further. And now, for the sake of my beloved subjects, I, Queen Aquarius, will rule in my sister's stead."

There were a few heartbeats of silence. And then there was screaming. And in the next moment the place was in havoc. Ponies were running left and right, screaming, kicking, rearing, whinnying, everything.

Applejack gritted her teeth. "Applebloom, we're getting out of-"

"APPLEJACK!"

Applejack turned, and Applebloom was being carried off by a crowd of ponies.

"APPLEBLOOM!" The two reached out to each other, when Applejack was caught up in another crowd. The very tips of their hooves touched before they were separated.

Applejack hurried off, desperately looking for her little sister, but Applebloom was nowhere to be found.

Oh no, Applejack thought.

Suddenly, a large, booming voice screeched out, "SILENCE!"

The alicorn who called herself Aquarius slammed her hooves down into the ground, creating a large crack in the ground. Immediately, everypony was silenced. A chill shivered up Applejack's spine when she wondered what would happen if a pony was caught under that hoof.

Aquarius seemed furious. "Do you all defy my leadership?" she seethed.

As Aquarius ranted, Applejack caught sight of Applebloom, cowering under a tablecloth from a table that had been flipped in the turmoil.

Applejack sighed with relief, and began to move towards her sister. But, unfortunately, at that very moment, Aquarius spotted the cowering filly as well, and she was much faster than Applejack.

In a heartbeat, Aquarius had planted herself down in front of Applebloom, whose eyes were as wide as saucers. Applejack stopped in her tracks, feeling her heart stop.

Aquarius towered above the little filly, her eyes narrowed in interest.

"Why, hello there, sweetheart," she greeted in her voice which literally smelled of darkness. "There's no need to be afraid of me. May you tell me your name?"

Applebloom shook her head, pulling the tablecloth farther over her head.

"Oh come on," Aquarius chuckled, horn beginning to spark with dark magic. "I won't bite… Much."

Applebloom lost it. "APPLEBLOOM!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "I'M APPLEBLOOM! THERE!"

Aquarius wasn't stunned at all by the filly's outburst. "Applebloom," she repeated. "What an enchanting little name. I'm guessing you come from a family of apple farmers, which gave you the 'apple' in your name, and you were born in the spring, when the flowers were in full bloom, also giving you the 'bloom' in your name."

Applejack almost fainted. How and why did Aquarius know about that?

Applebloom was just as stunned as her sister. "H-How…"

"Well, dear, if I'm going to rule then I need to know my subjects," Aquarius chuckled. "I think I'd like to get to know you a little better, Applebloom."

Applebloom was petrified as Aquarius's mane wrapped around her.

"Well, sweetie? I think you'd make a wonderful friend of mine."

"NO! APPLEJACK!" Applebloom screamed, tear beginning to stream down her face.

As if on cue, Applejack sprang into action. She jumped into the air, landing square between the two. Before Aquarius could react, Applejack had lashed a hoof at her. Applejack managed to graze the mare's face, but also getting her off Applebloom.

Aquarius leaped back, looking furious. "Her mother, I presume?"

"I'm her sister!" Applejack retorted. "And if you touch her again, I swear, I'll buck your eyes into your brain!"

"Oh, I don't think so, little hayseed." The voice was so taunting, so familiar, but it did not belong to Aquarius.

Applejack turned, and, lo and behold, was the unicorn who had claimed she was the most powerful in the land, who said she had conquered an Ursa Major, who disappeared from Ponyville after she had been proved wrong, Trixie.

Trixie hadn't changed a bit, aside from her cape, which was like that of Aquarius's, but still carrying the original design.

Trixie smirked. "You hit my queen, you get punished." A sharp but small dagger was pulled from under Trixie's cape, and launched at Applejack.

Before Applejack could react, Twilight sparkle jumped in front of her, wielding a shield of magic. The dagger fell helplessly to the ground, but Twilight kept her shield up.

Aquarius laughed, letting Trixie step up beside her. "Isn't she marvelous?" the Queen cooed. "I found her quite upset in the Everfree forest. And now, she's one of the highest ranked in my kingdom! Wonderful isn't it?"

Twilight sneered, and then turned to where Princess Celestia was. "Princess, do something!"

Celestia didn't do anything. For once, the princess seemed terrified. She had been sitting on the ground, her wings hanging by her sides, eyes wide with fear.

Aquarius saw her chance. "Yes, Tia," she giggled, staring triumphantly at Celestia. "DO SOMETHING! What's the matter? Still wanting some ponies to do your dirty work?"

"ENOUGH!"

The Royal Canterlot Voice boomed across the room, and all eyes were turned upon Luna, whose horn was glowing with magic.

"My sister may be incapable of fighting you," she growled. "But I can protect Equestria from you!"

Aquarius laughed. "You? Oh Luna, your head was always up in the clouds. If you couldn't even bring about nighttime eternal, then no way you can beat me."

"We shall see!" Luna boomed, charging at Aquarius.

Aquarius shot a bolt of dark magic from her horn, which Luna dodged. Luna shot an orb of magic at Aquarius, which she dodged by flying into the air. The two loaded their horns with magic, eyes glowing, mouths twisted into an angry shape, and bolted at each other.

Applejack dove over her sister just in time to brace herself from the explosion to come. When she looked back over, she gasped.

Princess Luna was lying upon the ground, horn fried, covered in bruises, cuts, and gashes.

Above her flew Queen Aquarius, laughing. "Sorry, sister, but you were asking for it," she laughed.

Landing, she called, Trixie, I believe it is time for us to make our leave. Anyone who wishes to join us is welcome."

There were a few heartbeats of silence. Then, one, two, three, ponies began to slowly come forward, and more followed them.

Applejack held Applebloom close to her, while her sister sobbed silently into her elder sister's chest.

Aquarius laughed. "Well, Tia, I'll make you a little deal," she giggled. "Surrender your kingdom in three days' time, or my subjects and I will take it by force!"

There was a flash of light, and Aquarius and her newer followers were gone. The only sound in the room was Luna's gasps for air and Applebloom's sobs.