PHEW, longest chapter so far! but once i get writing, sometimes it's hard for me to stop, you know? but i'm very pleased with how this chapter turned out, and i hope you like it too. i hope to be updating again soon, so be on the lookout for another new chapter soon. and please be sure to review, reviews make me feel all fuzzy inside :)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own MLP: FIM or any of it's characters. i only own Jillian, Christian, Tigger, Daisy, and the dad
Applejack wasn't exactly sure where she was galloping, just that she was galloping, getting away from the lies, the betrayal. she couldn't believe that her friends, even Princess Celestia herself, had lied to her and erased her memories. "I... I just don't know who to trust" Applejack said out loud, tears blurring her vision as she slowed to a trot, looking at her surroundings. she wasn't sure how long she'd been galloping, but she guessed that she was quite far from the castle. she sat beneath a tree, her forelegs trembling as she cried. "I don't understand... why did daddy let them take me?" she sighed, her ears folding back as she continued to cry. "I wish I could go home" she mumbled, curling into a ball, feeling betrayed and hopeless. she closed her eyes, dreaming of her father holding her in his arms once again.
...
"All right, let me get this straight" Rainbow Dash said. she and the others were all in Canterlot with Twilight and Celestia. "Applejack was having dreams of her past life and you restored her memories? and now she's gone?"
Celestia nodded. she had restored their memories as well, and Applejack's friends also remembered that emotional day when they'd taken Applejack from her father and sister. "yes" Celestia said, sighing. "I had no choice, the dreams would most likely not have stopped... I didn't know what else to do. but that's not important right now. what's important is finding Applejack"
"b-but what... what if she's angry with us?" Fluttershy asked nervously, frowning.
"don't worry Fluttershy, she won't be mad" Twilight said, trying to be reassuring.
"it's me she's angry with" Celestia said, frowning. "but i'm still going to help you find her"
"oh dear, I do hope she's okay" Rarity said, a look of concern crossing her face.
"you five search everywhere you can" Celestia said.
"what about you Princess?" Twilight asked.
"I'll be helping you search... but there's something I have to do first" Celestia said, conjuring up a spell and opening a portal. "go now, find Applejack. I'll be back soon" the others nodded as Celestia took a deep breath and stepped through the portal.
...
(Dad's POV)
It had been about six months since Applejack had left. six months of pain and trying my best to cope. I knew she was where she truly belonged, but that didn't stop the pain from hurting any less. "I wonder what she's doing right now?" I wondered out loud. I sighed, feeling tears welling up in my eyes. things hadn't been the same between me and Jillian either since Applejack left. she didn't come visit me as often as she used to, and when she did, her visits were very brief. we just didn't have any interest in anything like we did before. things just weren't the same without Applejack. I got a bottle of water from the fridge and sat in my recliner, sighing as i took the cap off and took a sip. a sudden knock on my door made me sigh in agitation. "oh for Pete's sake" I sighed and got up, setting the bottle down on the end table. there was another knock, but when I really stopped to listen, it sounded more like scraping, like a dog scratching on the door to be let in. hesitant, I slowly walked over and opened the door. my eyes widened and my heart nearly stopped beating. "I-I'm officially insane" I mumbled. "there is no way you're really here"
"I am here... and I need your help" Celestia said.
my shock was quickly being replaced by anger. "why do you need my help? and more importantly, why should I help you in the first place after what you've done to my family?"
"I realize you are angry with me, and that's something I don't blame me for. but right now, you and your daughter need to come with me"
"Jillian's not even here, she's at her dorm" I said stiffly. "and what's so important that you need our help?"
"Applejack is missing"
my eyes widened. that was all I needed to hear. no matter how angry I was with Celestia, if AJ was in trouble, I was willing to do whatever she asked. "what? what happened...?"
"I'll explain on the way" Celestia said, spreading her elegant wings. "but we must hurry. now get on"
I blinked. "I... beg your pardon?"
"get on my back, we will be able to get to your daughter faster that way"
"you don't even know where her camps is"
"you can give me directions on the way"
I sighed, hesitant, then nodded and quickly vaulted up onto Celestia's back, instantly grabbing a fistful of her flowing sparkly mane as she vaulted up into the sky. "this is nuts, this is nuts..." kept repeating in my mind as she soared higher and higher. "wh-why are you going so high?"
"I don't want any other humans to see me" Celestia said.
"oh, that makes sense I guess" my mind was reeling as we flew through the clouds. "I'm riding an alicorn, this should be one of the most awesome moments of my life" I thought. but my anger toward Celestia dampened my excitement of the situation. before long, after guiding Celestia in the right direction, we came to the college where Jillian studied and where she was living in a dorm with her friend Sasha. the campus was empty outside, which probably meant everyone was in class. Celestia slowly flew to the ground, folding in her wings as she broke into a trot. "wait, what if someone sees you!"
"there is no one around. but I will be careful" Celestia said. "now which building do we need?"
"that one" I said, pointing toward the one straight ahead. Celestia nodded and began to canter. "I hope Jillian's in there" I thought as Celestia stopped at the front door. I slid from her back and opened the door. "I'll go and see if she's here" Celestia nodded and I quickly closed the door and hurried up the stairs. I sighed with relief when I heard Jillian's voice on the other side of the door. Jillian!" I knocked on the door.
the door flew open a few seconds later, and Jillian looked surprised. "dad! what are you doing here? wasn't expecting a visit today..."
"sorry Jill, there's no time for a visit right now. I need you to come with me"
Jillian frowned in concern. "why, what's happened?"
"no time, just come with me!" I grabbed her arm and pulled her along. once we were outside, her eyes widened at the sight of Celestia.
"P-Princess Celestia? what... what are you doing here?"
"Applejack is missing. I need you and your father's help to find her"
"but I don't understand why you need us. AJ won't know who we are anyway" Jillian said.
"she will remember you" Celestia said, quickly explaining the situation to Jillian, telling her what she'd told me during our flight.
I couldn't help but feel a bit of hope. "if Applejack was having dreams about us, she must not have forgotten us, not completely" I thought, my heart racing as Jillian and I got on Celestia's back and the princess used a spell to open a portal.
"hold on" she said. Jillian grabbed my shoulders tightly as Celestia spread her wings and leaped through the portal. there was a bright flash of light and in seconds, we were in Equestria, the actual Equestria. it was so much brighter and more beautiful then it was portrayed on television. I heard Jillian gasp softly behind me as Celestia folded in her wings and we slid from her back. "I've already sent Twilight and the others out to look for her. we've got to search the areas all around the castle, maybe even farther if we have to"
I nodded, feeling a little strange.
"P-Princess Celestia" Jillian stammered, sounding nervous. "I... I feel weird..."
Celestia smiled a little. "do not worry Jillian, you're fine, I assure you"
"but I'm feeling strange too" I mumbled, blinking and shaking my head. I felt... different somehow. that was when I noticed something in the reflection of Celestia's crown. I saw a black alicorn stallion with short, two tone blue mane and a short tail. he had white hooves and a white muzzle and dark hazel eyes. "Celestia..." I started, then stopped "no, it can't be" I mumbled. "it... it can't!" I gulped and slowly looked down at myself. I saw hooves where hands and feet should have been, and when i turned to look behind me, I saw wings folded against my sides.
"d-dad, oh my gosh! you... you're an alicorn!" Jillian gasped. I turned to her and my eyes widened. there before me was a light pink unicorn mare, a little lighter shade of pink then Pinkie Pie. she had long dark red mane that was streaked with lilac and tied back into a braid. she had dark pink eyes and a short horn protruding from her forehead. "J-Jillian, you're a unicorn!"
"what, I am?" she looked down at herself, her eyes widening as she spun in a circle. "b-but... why?" we turned to Celestia.
"I thought it would be best to make you one of us while you are here" she said. "do you not like your forms?"
"they're... great" Jillian said, still looking freaked out and confused.
"should I... try to fly?" I asked weakly, hesitantly spreading my wings.
"if you feel ready, but stay low to the ground until you get more practice" Celestia advised. I nodded slowly and started flapping my wings. I was surprised when I was easily lifted off the ground a few inches.
"dad, be careful" Jillian said.
I nodded. "don't worry Jill, I'll be fine"
"Jillian and I will see if we can find the others" Celestia said. "do you think you'll be all right on your own?"
I nodded again. "yes. I... I just want to find my daughter"
Celestia nodded. "I understand. Jillian, come with me"
Jillian hugged me. "I hope one of us finds her dad"
"me too honey... me too" I said quietly as she and Celestia galloped off. I suddenly fell back to the ground, landing painfully on my behind. "ooh... guess I need to concentrate a little more" I said, slowly flying up and hovering just a few inches from the ground. I started to fly forward slowly, hesitant to go very fast. "Applejack!" I called, hoping that she could hear me and recognized my voice "Applejack, can you hear me honey?" I flew through some trees, calling AJ's name every couple of seconds. after about five minutes of flying through the trees, I was starting to feel discouraged. "maybe she's not here" I said, sighing. "Applejack!" I called one last time before I started to turn around.
"daddy?"
I froze, nearly falling to the ground as I turned.
"daddy... daddy, is that you?"
it was Applejack, she did recognize me! and she didn't sound too far away! "Applejack, I'm here sweetie, I'm here!"
"daddy!" her voice cracked and she sounded like she was going to cry. then I thought my heart was going to burst when I saw her. she had come out from among some nearby trees. we stayed frozen, staring wide eyed at each other for what seemed like an eternity. "d-daddy? is it... is it really you?"
I nodded, tears blurring my vision. "yes Applejack... it's really me"
she swallowed, her eyes shining as she galloped toward me. "DADDY!" she yelled, tears streaming down her face.
I smiled and flew forward as fast as I dared to go. at that moment, I didn't care weather I crashed or not. all I cared about was holding my daughter once again.
AWW! i must admit that when i was writing that last part, i was feeling all nervous and giddy. hopefully my next chapter will be as long or longer then this one, but we'll see. anywho, i hope you liked this chapter and please don't forget to review! i love you all my wonderful readers!
-FreddysNightmare1984