Chapter 14 A: Evil with moral
"Has he come out of his quarters?"
"Negative."
"Nope."
"He's been in that room for over ten hours; have you've heard anything from him?"
"Nothing."
"Nada."
"Great, he must be asleep or something…anyways, tell him the train will be arriving shortly and his men need orders."
"Affirmative."
"Ok."
The officer left them, shutting the cabin door before the train whistle blew, leaving the two mares alone in the dim candle light.
"Why can't you be more serious with this assignment?" The dim colored mare whispered
"Lighten up Clove, all that stress will turn your mane white." The other mare responded.
"Oh ha…ha, very funny." She said, fondling with her hair.
"Besides, we're sort of on break, what kind of opposition could be out here in the warm, southern countryside?"
"It's not warm here anymore, this desert is now covered in snow and ice."
"That's technically still as a desert."
"Don't get smart with me you-
"Guards…come in here." A grim voice said behind them.
After being spooked for a moment, they obeyed, almost out of fear. The cabin was far from luxury, small in fact but manageable. The decorations were like something you would see in an old western film. In the middle of the room was a large brown stallion with his back turned to them, putting on his black waist cape and leather jacket. The fact that a single candle was illuminating him and the room didn't help either.
"I thought I told Dark Fire that I didn't need protection…and under the impression that you two were stallions." The brown pony remarked, attaching his hoof cannon to his left fore-leg.
"Lord Fire ordered us; he said you needed the company and defense." Clover said, almost like a recorded message.
"Very well then, I just wish he wasn't so motherly towards us sometimes. What are your names anyways?"
"Clove."
"Your full name and physical features."
"Ok then." Clover said, nervously. "My name is Shallow Clove. My physical features include: shaded gray coat, pearl white mane and tail, and a four leaf clover as cutie mark…oh and I'm a pegasus."
Without turning around, the Stallion nodded, fastening his hoof blade to his right fore-leg.
"And the other?"
"Well, my name is Sensile, and my physical features are-
"Your true form."
"W-what…I am in my-
"You have many forms shape shifter, just be yourself, you have nothing to hide."
The mare groaned before she flashed in a bright green light, revealing herself as a changeling.
"There…you satisfied? Now you know everything about us."
"So what's your name then?" Clove asked, unfazed by the fact that her friend was a changeling.
Turning around to face the guards for the first time, he put on his black, cowboy hat and smirked.
"Eccentric…element of cruelty."
At those words, his hoof blade sprung out from its sheath, revealing its full length of three and a half feet.
"The most infamous bounty hunter in Equestria."
Clover was almost tempted to roll her eyes, but chose not to.
"So why here, why this frozen wasteland?"
"Because of this."
Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a poster and tossed it onto the floor. As it unraveled, it showed a picture of an orange pony with a cowboy hat.
"Applejack, wanted for 8.5 million bits." The changeling read aloud
"My spies have tracked her here, why she is here I don't know, but there will be justice all the same." Eccentric added.
"What are we to do then." The mares said in unison.
"We find her…and end this war, ONCE AND FOR ALL!" He shouted, stabbing the picture of his target.
"Applejack, our food supply is running thin, and the fillies and colts might not have enough to eat today."
"Then give them mine, I don't need to eat."
"Applejack." Bluster Cloud interjected. "You haven't eaten anything for five days, please eat something."
"I can't do that…not until everypony has enough." She struggled to say.
"You're going to starve yourself, and then what will we do, surrender? You've the element of honesty, if you kick the bucket now…they will win the war."
Applejack sighed deeply as she turned to look out the window, watching the entire town falling apart before her eyes.
"Darn this element, how can I help y'all if everypony is catering to my needs?"
"Because the elements of harmony is our last hope for Equestria, don't let that hope parish over silly things…and as for you solider. Take a portion of every stallion's rations and give them to the children. It should be enough to cover for today at the least."
"Commander, I have some terrible news." A guard said, running through the door.
"Can it get any worse?" Bluster Cloud said, aggravated.
"We ran out of food."
"It got worse."
"We are only left with one option…we must leave to-
"No we can't leave, we have to push on through!" Applejack yelled, weakly.
"Maybe I can change her mind." A stallion said, walking through the door.
"Cousin Braeburn! Applejack almost shouted. "Where in tarnation have you been?"
"Been trying to find at least one apple tree that hasn't withered up."
"Sadly enough, the entire apple orchard is barren, nothing is left." The major added, walking through the door.
"How can it be all gone…" Applejack said, losing faith in herself.
"There is a passage way to safer land, but it's outside of Equestria's boarder."
"And Dark Fire's forces are closing in on us; the time to leave is now." Braeburn finished.
"There has to be another way, there just has to be..." Applejask said, going into sadness.
"I know your pain cousin, but it's for the good of everypony here."
Braeburn walked over to comfort his cousin with a hug, knowing they were about to lose everything they had worked for.
"Come on, let's get your things."
"Commander Cloud!" A guard panicked, rushing through the backdoor.
"What is it solider?"
"They're coming."
Everypony froze in shock and fear
"EVERYPONY, TAKE POTITIONS!"
The train approached from the north-east of the town, blowing it's dark whistle as it rolled across the land. Applejack and the rest took cover in every possible location within the town, hoping that it would passover them. They're fears were realized though when the train started to screech to a stop before their eyes. As the train stopped, it gave one last blow from its whistle before the metal car doors on the train slowly opened. Within the cars were fifty dark guards in full armor, all lead by a pegasus officer.
With only a motion of his hoove, they lined up in a parallel line before the last train car. As the last door opened, steam bursted out form it's sides, almost as if it was compressed with dry ice. When the steam dissipated, Shallow Clove and Sensile stepped out and joined the line of guards. It was them that Eccentric made his entrance by walking out slowly to make it that much more dramatic. He continued to walk before the broken sign at the entrance of the town caught his attention.
"Welcome to Apple Loosa…" He read aloud. "They've must have abandoned the town because of the weather."
"What do we do now?" Sensile asked, in her newly created disguise.
"Search the town, hunt for survivors, scavenge for food; but if anyone or anything tries to attack you, take it down." Eccentric ordered, walking ahead of everypony else.
The guards split up into two groups to search the left and right of the town. Meanwhile, Applejack and Bluster Cloud watched as Eccentric and his two guards walked down the snow covered road. The sky started to lose brightness, going from clear to cloudy, causing the area to seem almost gray. Not to mention the snow calmly falling before the town, making the situation almost peaceful.
"What are we to do Applejack; they outnumber us ten to one." Bluster Cloud whispered.
"I say we get out of here while we still can." Breaburn suggested.
"No wait." Applejack interjected silently. "Ya see that brown stallion over there…he's an element of disharmony. If ya'll can capture him, we could stop this whole conflict."
"Not likely to stop the war, but we could cripple their efforts entirely." Bluster said, smirking. "We shall send our soldiers to capture, let me handle the others."
Eccentric walked though the swinging doors of the salt bar, only to find it virtually devoid of life. The only exception was the one pony behind the bar, cleaning out a glass with a cloth. As he sat down on the stool, the two mares entered and took their seats beside him.
"Bartender, what do you have here?" Eccentric asked, lighting a cigarette.
"Nothing…nothing at all." The bartender said, weakly.
"No cider, beer, whiskey, or even mead?"
"All gone."
"What about salt."
The pony shook his head.
"Do you have anything?" Eccentric said, still talking calmly.
Reaching under the bar, the bartender grabbed a glass and set it down abruptly upon the bar.
"Ice…topped with snow." He said, applying snow to the top.
"This is what your town has been living on? Surly you're hiding something."
"This is all we have…for your kind." He whispered, saying the last part to himself.
"Look, I know the war has torn apart all of Equestria, but there is no point in hostility." Eccentric said, holding up a bag of bits. "And we're not here to start anything." He said, putting the bits on the table. "But if we're forced to…"
Eccentric then held up his right fore-hoof, showing the bartender his hoof blade.
"We won't hesitate…so give us three something to drink." He demanded, raising his voice.
The bartender hesitated for a moment before leaving to the back room. As he shut the door, another opened behind the trio. Creating a lot of noise with their hoof-steps, they slowly approached behind them. Eccentric starred into the dim candle light before one of them spoke.
"By orders of the Equestrian resistance, you three are under arrest for war crimes and treason towards your fellow brethren! Come quietly or we shall take you by force!" One of the guards demanded.
As they approached them with hoof-cuffs, a gust of wind entered the bar, blowing out the candle.
"The light just went out…what ya'll think is happening." Applejack said, troubled.
Just then, one of the guards was sent crashing through the window and skid halfway across the town. Seconds later, Eccentric came running out and grabbed the guard by his neck, strangling him with one hoof.
"Tell me where she is, and perhaps you will be granted the gift of air once more!"
"Go…to…Tartarus." The guard declared, before spitting on Eccentrics face.
"And you'll guide me there."
Releasing the grip on the stallion, he quickly kicked him to the side, sending him crashing into a stoop. Without second thought, he flipped the safety off on his hoof blaster and pointed it at the guard.
"I really don't want to do this, but this is your last chance! Tell me where Applejack is!"
The guard looked up and smirked, giving a slight chuckle of amusment.
"FIVE!"
The two mares then ran out of the bar, almost shocked at the sight before them.
"FOUR!"
A breeze passed over the town, and then silence.
"THREE!"
The blaster then started to create a high pitch squeal.
"TWO!"
The blaster began to glow brightly, as it formed a blue light at the end of the barrel.
"One…"
"WAIT!"
Everypony turned to see Applejack standing proudly before them, making her presence known in the middle of the town.
"I'm the one you want; don't hurt anypony anymore."
Eccentric was in shock, amazed that she would just give her self up, just like that.
"I don't believe it…so you're Applejack, the element of honesty. It's a shame we had to meet in such a situation, but all in all it's just the same. You're a criminal among the state, a danger to everypony among the nation; this is why you must meet your judgment." He said, pointing the blaster towards her.
"Says the pony that hunts down others for a quick buck. The same pony that comes into my families town, demands food and water, ruthlessly attacks ten of my guards, and almost destroyed a home along with a pony who's standing up for what's right." Applejack pointed out.
Eccentric showed surprise in what she said before making his decision.
"You…have a point." He said, powering down the weapon.
"What are you doing?" Clove asked, shocked.
"Everypony deserves a fair trial." He replied.
"Before yah capture me and take me to Dark Fire can I please ask this? What do you plan on doing to Apple Loosa."
"Well, we plan on…leaving the town alone due to its condition." Sensile said to her.
"You're lying…you're going to destroy everything aren't yah." She said, drooping her head.
The trio looked at each other, searching for an answer.
"My family always told me to never tell a lie…sadly, the truth is not always what we want to hear. You're correct Applejack, when we leave Dark Fire's forces with move into this land and turn it into an industry. Everywhere you look will be factories of war and weapons, and not a single trace of life will be seen. This is the path that lies before you, and only you will decide what the fate of Apple Loosa." Eccentric informed.
"Why…why are yah working for him?! That monster has destroyed so much and is dragging-
"Dark Fire is a pony to! He's a pony just like all of us, and only he understands the pain and suffering we have been through! Don't you get it, we're the outcasts of society finally making a name for ourselves, finally finding a cure for all of our torment and affliction! You may still be loyal to Celestia, but Dark Fire is our leader, our hero, our light in the darkness! It is because of him that we thrive along with everypony else in Equestria!"
"APPLEJACK, HE'S TRYING TO DECIVE YOU!" Bluster Cloud shouted from a roof top.
"I used to work hours upon end, trying to make enough bits to feed myself! Risked my life every day just to get a loaf of bread, but now…NOW YOU'RE THE HUNTED ONE! THE OUTCAST, THE CRIMINAL, AND THE DETESTED! I WILL NOT GO BACK TO THAT LIFE!" Eccentric screamed, powering up his hoof cannon. "NOW FACE RETRIBUTION!"
"APPLEJACK, DUCK!"
Breaburn came galloping out of shelter and tackled his cousin to the ground just before Eccentric fired. The bright, blue burst of energy barely missed, but caused the house behind them to explode, Sending flaming projectiles into the sky. During the chaos, Breaburn lifted her back to her hooves and took off into an alley.
"Soldiers, arrest the traitors!" Shallow Clove commanded.
"What soldiers?!" Bluster Cloud mocked, throwing down the unconscious body of the pegasus officer.
"Sensile, catch the fugitives…I'll handle this bad flank." She said, flaring her wings.
Taking flight in a burst of air, the mare landed on the roof where the commander was. Turning around to see where Eccentric was, she saw that he had vanished.
"Well, I guess were all alone up here, and you have nopony to help you." Bluster commented with a smile.
"Who says I need help, especially with a small task such as this." Clove teased.
"Please…you're going to have a hard time taking me down." He said, taking a stance.
"Okay then, don't say I didn't warn you." She declared, mimicking the opponent.
The two stared at each other, almost as if admiring each others appurtenance and forms before darting straight towards the middle and locked their hooves collectively in a power struggle.
"Is this all the strength you have? I shouldn't be surprised from a loyalist." The mare scorned.
"Or perhaps my power doesn't come from strength alone."
Without wasting a second, Cloud quickly pulled back, forcing Clove above him, and bucked her into the sky. Being caught in the moment he jumped up to meet her, flipped over her while grabbing her wings and hurled her back onto the roof. Cloud then quickly flew down and pinned her before she had time to recover.
"It comes from common scenes." He announced with pride, grabbing both her fore-hooves and pinning them to her back.
"Perhaps…but you forgot one detail."
Before he could comment, Clove smashed his head with her wings, almost mimicking a tambourine. As he let go of his grip, Clove wiggled away and kicked him across the face, making a huge bashing noise.
"OWWW!" Why do you guard always have helmets!" Clove complained, hopping on one hind-leg while rubbing the other with her hooves.
"You think that hurts, TRY HAVING A LOUD RINGING NOICE IN YOUR EAR!"
While Cloud attempted to get up and recover from his dismay, Clover fell on her rump, trying to ease the pain by blowing air onto her hoof. This went on for minutes until Cloud removed his dented helmet and stood up, quickly followed by clove.
"Give up; I don't want to hurt you." Cloud said to her.
"Start thinking with your head instead of your-
Before she finished her comment, Cloud darted under the mare and tripped her onto her mussel. He then picked her up off her hooves and locked her in a full nelson.
"YOU PERVERT! PUT ME DOWN!" Clove screamed.
"Were fighting for our survival right now, don't complain to me."
"You're trying to rape me, what do you expect me to do?!"
"I expect you to shutup!"
She then took the opportunity to lean forward, planting her hooves on the ground, and slammed the back of her head into Clouds face. Clove then broke free and tripped him forward. As Cloud was trying to figure out what just happened, Clove uppercut his jaw, knocking him against the railing of the roof.
"Surprised? I would be to; I'm a mare of many actions." She bragged.
"And many words…" He whispered to himself.
"What was that!" She responded aggressively.
"I SAID…
Cloud dashed forward and jabbed his hoof right into the mare's stomach, causing her spit out saliva.
"And many words."
Being surprised and angered, Clove grabbed the stallion by his head, and kneed him dead on the mussel. The two fights were now back in the same dilemma as before.
"At this rate, nopony is going to win." Cloud said, wiping the blood off of his mussel.
"You sadly…have…a point." She said, holding her stomach in pain.
"Then we should shake on it." He said approaching with his hoof extended.
"Agreed." She said, doing the same.
Before the two shook hooves, they both reacted in the same way. Clove punched Cloud across the mussel while Cloud kicked Clove in the stomach, knocking each other out at the same time.
"We have to hide cousin, stick to the shadows." Breaburn said, slamming the door behind him.
"What about everypony else." Applejack said concerned.
"They're capable of taking care of themselves, right now there concerned about you Applejack. You have to escape here."
"I cant lea-
Breaburn quickly grabbed Applejack, putting his hoof over her mouth, and took cover next to the window. Seconds later, Eccentric passed the same window and looked inside for a few seconds before walking away. As Breaburn inched away from the window, he bumped into a shelf, making a vase lose balance on its foundation. The two watched in horror as the vase finally plummeted to the floor. Almost as if it was in slow motion, the vase crashed and broke into tinny shards that scattered across the floor. Beads of sweet descended down the brow of Breaburn's mussel before releasing Applejack.
"I think he's gon-
All of a sudden, a huge crash was heard behind them, frightening them on the spot. They quickly turned around to see a large, blue light illuminating the brown stallion holding the blaster. Breaburn was frozen in fear, but this time, it was Applejacks turn to return the favor. She quickly tackled her cousin, rolling into the next room before the blue energy wave shot into the wall they were just behind.
"RUN!" Applejack yelled, in the heat of the moment.
Galloping at full speed for a good moment, they heard the ceiling of the room slowly giving in from all the action. Breaburn quickly reacted by pushing Applejack to the left, just before the room collapsed. Realizing what had just happened, Applejack panicked, calling her cousins name and while scavenging through the rubble.
"BREABURN!" She called once again.
"I'm fine Applejack! Just get out of here!" He yelled, popping out from the rubble.
"I told ya I'm not-
"GOSH DARN IT, FOR THE GOOD OF EQUESTRIA, GET OUT OF HERE!"
Applejack hesitated, knowing that this could be the last time they would ever see each other again. Eventually, she gave in and ran out one of the big gaping holes in the house. Breaburn watched as his cousin disappeared around the corner before another explosion occurred behind him. As Eccentric slowly walked in, he showed an expression of sorrow before quickly correcting it with a sadistic look.
"So she left you…I cant say that I don't know your pain." He said with sadness. "But I cant say I don't blam her…for this is the price of war."
"Or the price of freedom." Breaburn said bravely.
Eccentric remained silent as he pointed the blaster towards him, causing a thin wave to scan Breaburn. The blaster beeped loudly before Eccentric retracted his fore-leg and looked towards the device.
"Breaburn, cousin of Applejack, manager of apple farm here in Apple Loosa, traitor to our democracy…quite the record you have here."
"You still believe that your little…empire is a democracy? You poor thing…if only you could see what we've had to go through."
"I…Don't…Your wrong! You're a traitor to everypony and I can't let you escape!"
"Look into your heart…are we really the bad guys to you."
Eccentric looked angrily at him before his expression turned into that of regret.
"No…your not."
He then pointed the blaster at Breaburn and fired several wires into him, sending volts of electricity spiraling into his body. Breaburn, after giving out one last moan of pain, collapsed onto the floor unconscious.
"I'm sorry, but I owe Dark Fire my allegiance, I hope that you can forgive me one day."
Placing a device on Breaburn, he impute several codes before it began to glow bright white along with the unconscious body. After five seconds, both the device and Breaburn vanished.
"Lord Fire, I've just sent you Breaburn, a cousin of Applejack. How much will I get from him?" Eccentric said into the built in intercom in his blaster.
"I've told you, you don't have to address me as Lord Fire. Breaburn however…well get you one million."
"Only…thank you Dark Fire."
"Is Applejack captured as well?"
"No…I'm working-"
"RETREAVE HER NOW, I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANOTHER FAILURE!"
"Dark Fire, you can't expect me to-
"YOU'RE THE GREATEST BOUNTY HUNTER IN THE WORLD! DO IT OR I WILL!"
"Just give me more time, I will capture h-
"You have exactly two minutes to report back…or I'm coming their myself!"
"It will be done…"
Applejack continued to run through the alleyways, trying to find some form or some way to get out. When she reached a clearing, she found that there was nothing, nothing but ice and snow that went on for miles…no way out.
"Applejack, over here!" A voice called behind here.
She turned her head to see the major waving to her.
"Oh good, at least your fine." Applejack said, approaching her.
"Quick, we need to get inside, you lead the way."
"APPLEJACK, THAT'S NOT THE MAJOR!"
Quickly looking up, she saw the major frantically waving his hooves in the air. Before she could process this, the major behind her grabbed her and prevented any movement.
"HA, that was way too easy!" He said as his eyes glowed bright green.
"You're one of them changelings aren't yah?" Applejack asked.
"What gave that away?" The changeling said sarcastically, transforming into her true self.
"Look here, your helping the wrong pony; he's going to betray you all eventually!" Applejack yelled with a point.
"Says the pony that served a tyrant that banished us out of Equestria, just because we we're starving!"
"You attacked our kingdom!"
"You gave us no choice!"
Eccentric came galloping around the corner swinging around a ball and chain, ready to capture the target.
"Good job Sensile, now hold her steady." Eccentric commanded, increasing the velocity on the swinging.
"So Sensile is your name huh." Applejack asked.
"Yeah, what about it?" She asked confused.
"Sorry about this…"
Just as Eccentric threw the ball and chain, Applejack flipped the changling over her back, causing her to get entangled instead. Applejack then darted out of sight.
"I thought you had her!" Eccentric yelled.
"Well I did…now can you let me out."
"Yeah, once the jobs done." He said, taking off after her.
"WAIT…I don't like being alone."
Applejack ran out into the center of the town, looking around frantically and slowly walking backwards. She stopped abruptly when she bumped into a solid object behind her.
"You're done Applejack! You have nowhere else to go, nowhere else to hide!" Eccentric declared, charging his blaster to full power. "This will only you hurt for a moment…"
As he lifted up his fore-hoof to end the chase, Applejack made a hard 180 degree turn and accidentally kicked snow into Eccentric's eyes. As a result, the cannon blast missed Applejack by a hair, but created a trail of melted snow and ice behind it. She watched in horror as the blast completely vaporized a house and kept on going until it curved into a nearby mountain, causing it to explode like a volcano.
"NO MORE GAMES, IT'S TIME TO FACE YOUR PUNISHMENT!" Eccentric screamed, wiping the snow from his eyes and charging the cannon once again.
To the corner of Applejack's eye, she noticed a fairly large, pointed rock. Without any thought, she ran towards it and bucked it towards her opponent. Even though she wasn't aiming for anything in particular, the rock somehow jammed itself in the barrel of the blaster. Eccentric yelled in terror as the blaster malfunctioned before his eyes and exploded, shooting out a huge wave of smoke. Applejack turned around to run, attempting to escape both the bounty hunter and the smoke, but then she saw something unbelievable.
"Night Shadow?!" She said in disbelief.
"Come with me Applejack, it's not safe here!"
"I-I thought we'd lost you forever…I thought we'd never see each other again." She said, approaching him.
"That's exactly what I thought…YOU GULLIBLE FOOL!" He said, as his eyes glowed bright red.
Not being able to react, Applejack was back-slapped into a nearby building, almost causing her to blackout instantly. Opening her eyes, she watched as "Night Shadow" became the all too familiar pony, Dark Fire. Being unable to move, she was forcibly taken out of the building by magic and held in front of him.
"You've caused quite a scene…but this little game is over. Eccentric, are you ok!"
Eccentric emerged from the smoke with his clothing shredded and right fore-leg blackened and cut up from the explosion.
"It's just a scratch…nothing too…severe." He said, limping towards them before collapsing.
"Eccentric!" Dark Fire shouted worried before turning his attention back to his target. "You hurt him…that's my job, BUT YOU'VE HURT HIM!"
"And what about all the ponies you've hurt, the ponies you've enslaved, what about them?"
"WHAT THEY'VE DONE CAN NEVER BE FORGIVEN…not even Twilight."
"She still loves you, even after everything you've done."
"She only loves me now because I've won; I've done what nopony could ever do. I've united everypony forsaken by her under one rule, and best of all they share my pain, like I share theirs. Could your beloved princess do that?"
"She would have…"
"Please, she's had an eternity to do so, and she didn't even try once. I have had six months, and look at what I've accomplished with that time…you have no excuse."
With that said Dark Fire bound her with magic and tossed her forward.
"Just like Celestia and Luna, with one capture or defeated, the others soon to follow."
Applejack looked away, expecting the worst, but noticed a small flash one of the building ceilings. All she could do was smirk.
"What are you smiling at?" Dark Fire said, slightly irritated.
"In just a few seconds, you're going to regret being distracted."
"Learn your-
In the blink of an eye, a huge white flash burst in Dark Fire's face, dazing him and causing him to shield his eyes. Looking up abruptly, he saw that Applejack had vanished without a trace.
"Fine then, run while you can…but soon there will be no place to hide…AND THEN YOU SHALL KNOW HOW WE HAD FEALT ALL THOSE YEARS AGO!"
Side note: Applejack vanishing was a result of Endershine.
Next Chapter: Chapter 14 B: Remorse within inequity