It takes a while before I'm even able to speak. In all the history of Equestria - and trust me, I know most of it - there has never been such a sinister cutie mark.

Applejack says nothing. Once upon a time, the silence between us had been nice; that was when we were friends. This time, it's awkward, and makes me shift uncomfortably in my spot. I still can't believe that Apple Bloom is actually evil, or her cutie mark is leading me to believe that she is.

"I'm sorry," Applejack says, her voice barely above a terrified whisper.

I look up and sigh. Holding grudges used to be my thing, but I can see that she has a good explanation for all of this. "It's ok."

"No, Twi, it's not." Applejack says, trotting over closer to me, eventually sitting on her haunches a few feet away from me. "You saw her cutie mark, right?"

I nod. "So, she thinks she can take on Princess Celestia? Not likely..."

Applejack shakes her head at me. "No, she knows she can. The Princess is powerful, but you saw what happened with the changelings..." She's struggling to get the words out, yet, slowly but surely, the truth is pouring out of the pony in front of me. Good old honest Applejack. "Did'ya ever wonder why Princess Luna was nowhere to be seen when the attack was happening? She could have helped, ya'know? Turns out, she was the one behind it all. A few days later, Apple Bloom got her cutie mark, and Luna recruited her to be her right hand."

If there was any color in my face before, it's gone now. Luna, going behind Celestia's back? It seems so unreal. I met the younger princess face-to-face on Nightmare Night. She seemed as sweet as anypony else. I knew she had a grudge against her sister for being trapped in the night, but, I hadn't thought it would brood that kind of hate.

"So, she wants to overthrow Celestia and control Equestria?" I ask, presuming that's what she wants. It seems the only logical explanation.

To my surprise, Applejack shakes her head. "No, she wants to kill Celestia, and anyone that has a chance at stopping her." She gestures her hoof at me. "She can't kill you yet, but after you help her murder Celestia, you're the first on her list."

Suddenly, I feel sick to my stomach. It takes all of my self-control to bite back the sudden, foul splash of acid that comes as I hear her words. "Why me?" I ask, even though I already know the answer.

"You're the most crucial part of the Elements of Harmony," Applejack says, lowering her hoof to paw at the ground, "and she knows that you would never betray Celestia... and she knows you would never let her kill us."

She's referring to our old group. My mind goes immediately to innocent, sweet Fluttershy, and then Pinkie's clueless, happy self. Surprisingly, it hurts more than it should, after years of separation, to imagine them being torn limb from limb, bathed in crimson, shrieking in pain. I know Rainbow Dash and Applejack could at least hold their own for a little while, and wouldn't go down without a fight. Rarity - well, I can only imagine her complaining about getting stains on her coat.

I thought I had stopped caring a while ago, about the ponies I used to call friends. If I was back at home, in the quiet comfort of my library, safe from harm, and I heard that one or all of them had died, I probably wouldn't have given it a second thought. Now that I was involved, and key to the entire operation, things seemed to have shifted drastically.

My mind recalls the battle between Discord and the changelings, as well. I find myself missing my friends more than anything, and I sigh, defeated. It seems hopeless, and now that Applejack has told me about Luna's plans, I feel weighed down with responsibility. It's not that I'm not used to responsibility, but it has never been this heavy on my little shoulders before. Literally everypony I've ever loved is at stake.

Applejack remains quiet, just watching me from her spot, idly pawing at the ground. She's radiating shame, and I don't blame her for it, either. If my little sister had turned evil, I'd feel shame, just being related to her. Everything that the Apples stood for turned out to be a lie, since Apple Bloom got her cutie mark. Honesty was now a thing of the past, but I guess, with Applejack, old habits die hard.

I look up from my spot, to see her sulking in her own way. "What happens if she does manage to kill everyone that has a chance at overthrowing her?"

Applejack stirs, lifting her head meekly. "She'll bring eternal night to Equestria, just like she meant to the first time. Don'tcha think that she wouldn't give up on something like that? No one just stops being evil, Twi. She's gonna start a bloody, violent reign."

As much as I hate to admit it, Applejack has a point. You wouldn't know it if you met her, but Luna definitely has a dark side. How prominent it is, I wasn't sure, until just then. Credit where credit is due, Luna has a great talent for hiding her true colors.

I nod at Applejack and gesture to the barn doors. "Why are you telling me this? Aren't you afraid Apple Bloom will find out?"

For the first time in years, I see Applejack's familiar smile. It's much smaller than I remember it, and weaker, but it's still there. "C'mon Twi, do you think that little twerp could take me?"

The corners of my mouth twitch reflexively. "Not in a million years."