Here's the next one. It's a little longer than the last one so enjoy!


Chapter 12: Danger in the Apple Fields

A few weeks had passed since Darkhorn had run into his mother, and he was still shaken from the encounter. Despite the danger, he hadn't gotten around to telling Fluttershy but he believed he could protect.
However, more often than so, he kept looking over his shoulder to the woods to see if he could find any eyes staring back at him. Now that he had turned against his mother, the whole hive would be against him, and he feared what they would do.
He looked over to Fluttershy as she helped Applejack collect apples she just knocked from the tree. Now that Big Macintosh was better, he had been helping his sister apple-buck that day, but they always could use extra help when it came to gathering any apples that missed the basket or rolled away, or even carrying them to the Farm. Since they have a lot of trees to make up for due to Macintosh's absence before winter, all of Applejack's friends came to help, including him and Fluttershy.
Appleacre Farm was impressive. Never before had he seen so many apple trees, nor did the apples look so bright.
They were beautiful in the auburn leaved trees; like little red and yellow gems shining against the waves of amber.

He stopped a second.

Well that was…poetic. Sheesh, I've been spending too much time around Rarity.

He had gotten to know the other ponies a little better as Fluttershy went with them on gatherings, games, and lunches. They had not yet gone on what Pinkiepie called a 'picnic' but they were planning on doing so soon before the winter came.
Even if they're loveable 'friendship' was still a little irritating to him, he had come to kind of like it. They were quirky in their own special ways, and he couldn't help but start to feel close to them. Even Twilight's assistant, Spike, was growing on him. Something about the little Dragon's attitude reminded him of when he was little at times.
The whole time he had been living with Fluttershy, but he could see how awkward that could be. Instead, he often considered getting a home here, but how? He had no money, and he'd never ask the others for some. It'd be too much. No, he'll come up with something later.

He smiled to himself when Fluttershy turned to him slightly and blushed. She really could be cute at times.

Her bashfulness earned her a playful nudge from Applejack, "Come on, eyes on me Sugarcube." She laughed and helped Fluttershy carry the apple basket to the farm.

Darkhorn had to keep from laughing as he began collecting apples for his own basket. Nearby was Rarity and Pinkiepie, helping each other with their basket. The two ponies were looking at him and giggling to each other like school girls. He glanced at them slightly, knowing that they were giggling at him. It was no secret that he and Fluttershy liked each other, as they had been spending more time in the other's presence than was normal. In a way, he had become her assistant and friend at the same time.
Kinda like Spike was to Twilight, though…they weren't romantic. Oh no, that kid was way too infatuated with Rarity.
In a joking manner, he looked at them and called, "What's so funny?" "Oh nothing!" Rarity beamed, "Just do what you do Darkhorn!" she laughed with Pinkie and they both skipped back to the farm with their basket.
He only chuckled to himself as he was going to follow soon. Like he thought, they were quirky.

While he was picking up the apples, he heard movement in front of him. A brief wave of fear washed over him and he jerked his head up to see a small filly in front of him. She was a light yellow color, her man was deep red and a little curly, and her hair was tied back in a large pink bow. Her eyes were large and colored a pretty pink and orange, unique to most other ponies around there.
He froze, not knowing who this adorable pony was or why she was there. For all he knew it could be a Changeling in disguise and he was reading her features for any sign of deception.

Instead, the foal beamed back at him happily, "Well howdy!" she said in that familiar accent of Applejack's, "I'm Applebloom! Applejack's sister! I don't think we've met, but my sister's said a lot 'bout ya and I just had to meet ya! You're Darkhorn, right?"
His heartbeat slowed back to a familiar relieved pace and he sighed, "Uh, yes. Nice to meet you, Applebloom." He had met Applejack's brother, Big Macintosh, but the large red pony was shy and quiet compared to his sisters. The difference really was astounding.
"Hi!" she suddenly walked to the sides of him and looked him up and down. He frowned, "Um, what are you doing?"
Her eyes became bigger when she looked back up at him excitedly, "Wow! Sweetiebell was right! Ya do have a blank flank!" She turned to her side to show him her lack of a cutie mark, "See! Sweetiebell, Scootaloo, and I don't have cutie marks either! Not yet at least! I'm just happy I met someone older like you with a blank flank!"
He gave her an awkward grin. He had no idea who Scootaloo was but she had to be one of her little friends. He had forgotten how important cutie marks were to ponies, and for a child who's never had one while everyone else does he can understand her conflict. It was almost sad, really.

She continued to smile up at him, "Wanna come back to the farm now? I brought the others some apple juice to drink and I don't think ya've had any! Granny Smith helped me make it!"
He hesitated briefly, knowing full well that drinking that could give him indigestion. However, to not be rude and to keep up appearances, it would be best accepting her offer, "Okay, let me just pick this up and I'll walk with you." She smiled and began hopping back to the farm. He pulled the basket's straps onto his back and stood up, stronger than he's been in a while thanks to his recuperation.

When he began to walk back with her, suddenly the back of his head exploded with crippling pain. Too hurt and surprised to even cry out, he opened his mouth in a silent shout and fell onto his side, apples flying about and rolling around him. He quickly lost consciousness, the last thing he saw was Applebloom turning to him in shock and horror.

"I swear Fluttershy you and Darkhorn are as cute as a button when you're together!" Rarity praised as she helped them stack baskets with her magic, trying not to touch it with her hoofs as much as she could. She could chip them…
Applejack had to agree with her, nodding a lot. Twilight nudged her a bit, "So, is it true he has an eye on you, Fluttershy?"

"Oh girls please…" she Pegasus blushed, "It's a little much for me right now, but he has been very kind to me, and helpful." She paused, looking at them, "Um, what do you guys think of him?" she was the only one who knew of his secret, so perhaps when he reveals himself to them it would be easier to accept him if they already liked him.

Pinkie clapped her hooves together, "I like him! He's a great listener and really nice!" "He helped me organize the library with Spike on more than one occasion." Twilight pitched in, "And he has a great curiosity for fairy tales. It's been fun to give him reading lessons these past few weeks, and he's a fast learner."
"He's inspired so many creations for me I still haven't made them all." Rarity puffed, "He's so cooperative and charming it's hard to not keep him in the boutique. Not to mention he's told me so many tales of beautiful forests and towns he's seen."
Rainbowdash smiled, "He's shown me some great wrestling moves and has even beat me on more than one occasion. That pony's tough, I'll give him that." "He's helped me carry things on more than one occasion." Applejack took a drink of the apple juice her sister had brought them earlier, "Frankly, I think any friend of yours is a friend of mine."

Fluttershy gave a sigh of relief, happy her friends did seem to like him. That'd make this easier.

Speaking of which, a voice interrupted them, "Fluttershy?" she turned around to see Darkhorn standing there, looking concerned and even serious. She cocked her head at him, "What is it?"

He walked to her and said, "I have to talk to you alone, it's serious." Equally concerned, Fluttershy nodded, "O-Okay." She turned to her confused friends and politely said, "I'll be right back."
They nodded back to her while Darkhorn led her back into the path of Apple trees and out of sight.

Once Darkhorn was sure they were out of sight, he turned back to her, "Fluttershy, you need to know something, right now. I've been meaning to tell you this for weeks, but I didn't know how to say it." He was hesitant and scared, which only worried her even more, "Darkhorn, please tell me what's wrong. You know I can help."

"Well…" he took a deep breath, "My mother, Queen Chrysalis showed herself to me a few weeks ago. She gave me a warning that she would be ready if you were ever alone. I'm afraid that she's closer now than ever and you could be in danger!"
Fluttershy's yellow face paled, "Oh no! This is horrible!" she turned, "We have to tell the others, she could try to hurt them too!"
"We can't." he suddenly said. She turned back to him, even more confused, "Why?"

"Because…" he smiled, "He didn't heed my warning after all."

Her confusion twisted to shock when a green glow enveloped the Alicorn, transforming him from Darkhorn into the figure she feared. Queen Chrysalis.

She gasped and turned to run away, but two other Changeling appeared out from behind the apple trees, blocking her path. She was trapped.
Fluttershy turned back to the Queen and attempted to beg, but she was so scared she couldn't even scream. Before she could fly away, the large Changeling laughed and covered the group in the green light from her horn. In an instant, they were all gone, teleported away.

"She's been gone for a bit." Applejack noted, looking back at the trees, "He must be giving her quite a story or somethin'."
Twilight was about to say something when a frantic cry came from the trees. They all turned to see Applebloom galloping as fast as her little legs could take her, "Come quick!" she panted, "Darkhorn's hurt! He ain't gettin' up and I don't know what to do!"
They were quickly at their feet and followed Applebloom into the apple tree fields. Sure enough, there was Darkhorn, on his side out cold with the apples he was carrying sprawled out around him.

Twilight walked up next to him and noticed a really large bump on the back of his head, "He's been kicked in the head, really hard."
"We should get him to the hospital!" Rainbowdash insisted, but Twilight looked at them in a more fearful manner, "Wait a second!" she looked down at the unconscious Alicorn, "If this is Darkhorn, who was that Alicorn that took Fluttershy?"

The others looked at one another, too confused and shocked to say anything.

Just then, Darkhorn awoke with a slight jolt and looked around to see the scared ponies around him. All of them were there except Fluttershy, "Wh-huh?" he slowly picked himself off the ground, the ponies, except Applebloom, backing away from him in obvious fear.
He stood in front of them confused and dazed, "Wh-what happened? Where's Fluttershy?" his head was pounding and made it hard to think.

Twilight was the first to speak up, anger laced in her tone, "Who are you, what are you really? Do you have some kind of twin running around?"
When he didn't answer her, she continued, "Someone who looked just like you came to us and asked to speak to Fluttershy alone, now we come to find you knocked out and Fluttershy missing."
"Where is she?" Rainbow butted in, "What have you done to her?"

He felt the blood leave his legs and he nearly fell over from the horrible realization, "No…" he whispered, then shouted, "NO!" he stomped his hoof on the ground in frusteration and devastation, squeezing his eyes shut tight. No tears came, he refused to let them, but the headache he had and the trauma of the situation was making his mind spin in agony.
"What's going on?" Applejack asked, a little kinder than the others, "Darkhorn, please tell us what's going on?"

"She's gone!" he shouted, yelling it practically to the sky, "She's gone! She's gone! She took her! My god she took her!" "Who?" Pinkie asked, getting scared, "Who took her?"
"Queen Chysalis!" he blurted out, pain in his voice and on his face.

The group gapped at him, horrified, "Queen Chysalis?" Twilight said with horror, "Why? How did she find us? What does she want with Fluttershy?"
"She took her to get back at you all, and me." He bowed his head, struggling to continue staying conscious, "I was such a fool! I should have warned Fluttershy and you guys but I held back and-and…now it's all my fault!"
Twilight was becoming angry, scared and confused at his words, "What are you talking about Darkhorn? How does the Queen know you? Why would she take Fluttershy to get back at you?"

"BECAUSE! Twilight…I…" his loud voice trailed off into a soft whisper, "Because…I'm not who you think I am, or what…"
He took a deep breath. Now. He had to tell them NOW.

"Guys…I…I'm…" he sighed, and his horn began to glow green. It slowly melted away his pony form and into his true form, the horrifying bug-like creatures they all hated so much.

When the transformation was complete and he looked up at them with sad, blank blue eyes, he said in his dark tone, "I'm a Changeling."