• Chapter Four: Apples Forever •
…
"Cockaldoodledoo!" The rooster shrilled, overlooking the whole barn. It was like this every day. Wake up to the rooster. Harvest apples. Go to sleep. Wake up to the rooster. Harvest apples. Go to sleep.
"Ugh..." Applejack rubbed her eyes, and felt her itchy blanket sliver its way off the bed. She didn't bother to slip it back up, as it fell to the ground with a little puff. Applejack stretched her muscles, and got up, walking up to the bathroom and brushing her teeth. She spat the frothy toothpaste into the sink, not bothering to wash it down with water, and sucked the remains of the toothpaste on her brush up. She then spat it into the sink alongside the rest of the toothpaste, and trotted out of the room. Next, she went down to the kitchen, and spooned an apple out of the fruit bowl. She crunched down on the fresh fruit, letting the juice from it squirt onto the floor. There was an abrupt knock on the door, making Applejack's ears perk.
"Wait a second!" She called, and cantered back to her bedroom, fetching her hat before trotting back down and opening the front door. A lime green earth pony with a yellow mane stood at the door. She seemed bored, her eyes dull, by what it seemed through the glasses perched neatly over her eyes. She had a clipboard in her hooves, and a pencil clenched in her jaws.
"Why, 'ello miss! Ah am Applejack. What brings ya here?" Applejack gave a big goofy grin, and the pony raised an eyebrow.
"I am Ms Jay- I was meant to be inspecting Sweet Apple Acres today." The pony's eyes pierced at Applejack. The gaze was expectant The happy old Applejack died, replaced by a shocked, nervous filly. Applejack's green eyes widened, and she stood stiffly. She bit her lip, before gritting her teeth, and took her hat off her head.
"Inspection... Today..." Applejack choked. Shoot! How could ah forget the inspection be on today, and now ah have messed up the whole house! Ah have destroyed mah tidy room, ah have spat toothpaste all over the sink in the bathroom, and ah have basically spilt apple pulp all over the kitchen floor. Applejack gulped.
"Ms Jay. Nice to meet ya... Just excuse meh for a second... Ah need to get Granny Smith- she'll be showin' ya around!" Faster than the inspector could nod, Applejack slammed the door shut, and zipped through the house. She retrieved a bell from a cabinet in the living room, and hopped up and down, ringing the bell furiously.
"Applejack! What is the meaning of this?" There was the sound of an opening door, and Big Macintosh came trotting though, a tired expression on his face.
"The inspector is here! Wake up Granny Smith, and give Ms Jay a tour around, while ah clean up mah room, the kitchen and the bathroom!" Applejack clanked the bell down and cantered off, towards her room. She briskly piled the blanket back onto the bed, folding the sides neatly underneath the mattress, and assembled the pillows tidily in the right position, turning them over, so the inspector didn't see the dribble on the sides of the pillows. Applejack heard the sound of an opening door, and Granny Smith and Big Mac giving a warm welcome towards Ms Jay.
"Applejack, what's goin' on?" Applejack turned to the side to see Apple Bloom, who had just lumbered out of bed. The orange filly with the golden mane lunged in front of her so she couldn't move.
"The inspector is 'ere Apple Bloom! Quick- go clean yer room!" Applejack bit her lip as she watched the cream filly totter into her room. Applejack then cantered up to the bathroom, turning on the water so the liquid washed the last remains of her toothpaste down the sink. In the kitchen, Applejack simply got a tablecloth and swiped it down the floor, rapidly rubbing the tiles up and down.
"'Nd 'ere is the kitchen!" Applejack let out a slight gasp as the door swung open, revealing Granny Smith with the lime green mare following her.
Ms Jay raised an eyebrow at Applejack. "What are you cleaning up?"
Applejack felt a surge of fear rushing through her veins... Oh no... "Howdy Ms Jay... Ah am... ugh... just cleaning up the... The remains of the last bits of flour which Granny Smith used to make ya some extra-delicious treats! That's all." Applejack chortled an awkward laugh, before backing away from the floor, and beckoning the inspector to follow. Ms Jay reluctantly swooped forward, and Applejack opened the oven. A fresh, warm, smell wafted from the oven, and Applejack licked her jaws, as she scooped out a freshly-baked pie. She put it delicately on the bench, and retrieved a knife, swiftly cutting out a piece, putting it on a plate, and handing it to the inspector.
"'Ere ya go! Trust mah- you'll love it! Sweet Apple Acres bakes the best goods out of apples in all of Equestria!" Applejack cut a piece for herself and hungrily chomped it down.
Ms Jay raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Positively!" Applejack grinned. The inspector hesitated, before taking a small nip out of the edge of the pastry.
"So- whadya' think?" Applejack grinned.
"I... Love, love, love it!" The inspector bubbled, giving a broad-forced grin. Applejack didn't notice how it was forced however, and the fact that her voice was doubtful, and just gave a goofy grin.
"Of course she did! Ah ain't ever seen any pony who ain't like our foods," Granny Smith croaked.
"Eeyup."
"Ok Applejack! Ah just finished cleaning mah room!" Apple Bloom trotted up, cheerily and spotted Ms Jay. "Hi Ms Inspector!"
The lime green pony with the yellow mane gave a content nod back, before scribbling something in her clipboard. Applejack gulped, before grinning.
"How'd ya like to see some more rooms in the house, eh?" Applejack offered, nudging the inspector in a friendly manner. Ms Jay nodded, and the Apple Family toured her through every room of the house. It was impossible to read the pony's expression... it was so blank! Finally, they finished the tour around the house, and Applejack assumed they had put up a satisfactory effort. Now they had to show the orchid. Apple trees spotted the horizon, the red fruit speckled in the distance. A slight breeze shuffled through the clearing, and some leaves delicately drifted down from their former homes. Closer to the five earth ponies, were the animals. The chickens squawked, and preened their feathers, up to their daily business. The pigs grunted softly, rummaging through the mud. Haystacks sat up by the bigs, their golden hay rustling slightly. There was a sudden cry. Applejack turned around, to see one of the pigs had escaped mysteriously from its pen.
"Oh no! Ah will get it!" Applejack rampaged after the escapee pig. It snorted cheekily, and rummaged away, grunting as it encountered the start of the orchid.
"Not so fast, mister!" Applejack twirled her lasso around, easily managing to catch it around the pig's neck.
"'Nd back to yer cage," Applejack smirked, locking the pig up with it's buddies.
"Nicely done, Applejack," Granny Smith gave an approving nod, and they turned their attention back to Ms Jay.
"Is there anything else you'd like to see, inspector?" Granny Smith stepped forward, giving Ms Jay a curious glance.
"Yes... I'd like to see your apple-bucking strategies," the lime green mare gave an expectant glance at Big Macintosh and Applejack.
"For safety precautions, ah am guessing," Applejack questioned, and the inspector nodded.
"Sure! We have been bucking apples since we were little foals. Our parents spent a lot of effort into improving our skills," Applejack sniffed a little bit. Only the memory of her parents still lingered, and they still had a strong position in her heart. "We are great apple-buckers, aren't we Big Mac?"
"Eeyup." Applejack and Big Macintosh beckoned the three other ponies to follow, as they lead the way to the part of the orchid which hadn't been harvested yet.
The inspector watched, as Apple Bloom trotted up, and lifted a basket onto her head.
"Ready youngster?" Applejack peered down at her younger sister, who gave a mighty nod. Applejack stood before the tree, balancing all her weight on her front hooves, before lifting her back ones in the air. They glided powerfully, and hit the trunk with a slight clunking sound. The apples dropped from their branches, gracefully toppling out of the sky, before landing in the basket which Apple Bloom held up. The inspector scribbled another sentence into her clipboard, and Applejack bit her lip, before watching as Apple Bloom retrieved the apples Big Macintosh had kicked down from another nearby tree.
"Ye ha! Great job siblings!" Applejack gave a big, goofy beam, before turning back to the inspector. "Is there anything else ya wanna see?"
The pony nodded, "can I see your equipment?"
The Apple Family swiftly nodded, and lead the inspector to a shed, where Big Macintosh kept all the wheelbarrows and carts. All of them were made out of wood, and a bit of metal. The inspector trotted up to a series of different equipment, examining each professionally. Finally, when she had completed her examine, they headed back to the main part of the farm. The Four Apples sat nervously, as they waited for Sweet Apple Acres's result.
"Ok, your results are-" suddenly, a mysterious wind picked up, blowing the pen out of Ms Jay's hooves. "My pen!"
"Don't worry Ms Inspector! Ah will get it!" Applejack cantered after the pen. It landed into a haystack, digging deeper down into the straw. "Oh no," Applejack muttered, as she dove into the haystack. She sneezed slightly as the yellow straw tickled her nose, and she dug deeper into it. It took many twists and turns, until finally, Applejack encountered the pen. Determinedly clenching it in her jaws, Applejack swam her way out of the hay.
"Wow! You were in there for ages! We were gettin' worried," Apple Bloom chirped, gazing at her sister proudly. Hay clung to Applejack's pelt and mane, as she passed the pen back to the inspector, who didn't even say thank you.
"As I was saying- my results are... Applejack." The inspector smirked, the biggest change of emotions any of them had seen from her yet.
"Yes?" Applejack twitched her ear confusedly.
"You win the test- you are the most determined according to my prophecy!"
"Prophecy?" To Applejack's horror, a grin flame engulfed Ms Jay. It climbed it's way down her body, replacing the earth pony by a beautiful but disastrous creature. Applejack's heart raced, and she glared at the pony who stood before her.
"Queen Chrysalis? What's the meaning of this?" Applejack narrowed her eyes, and felt something touch her side. She turned to see Big Mac standing defensively next to her. She smiled at him. It was great knowing she had such an amazing brother, who did love her. On Applejack's other side was Granny Smith, who snarled slightly at the queen of the changelings. Apple Bloom sat behind them, nervously, but still seemed prepared to fight if she had to. Queen Chrysalis smirked, and lifted a hoof under Applejack's chin, bringing it up. A sweet expression was on her face, but everything about it spoke treachery.
"Applejack, you're life has sprouted like an apple tree,
But in the future, you dare threaten Queen Chrysalis- me!
Your name is now Red Applehood, you're life is parallel.
You will not see light again; I'm changing your destiny."
"What?" Applejack shrilled, feeling a green light now engulf her. She flinched as it sent shivers and shivers run down her spine. A portal swirled out of nowhere in front of Applejack. She felt something pushing her, and to Applejack's surprise, Queen Chrysalis had teleported behind her and was now pushing her through the portal.
"No Applejack!" Applejack could hear Apple Bloom's voice, and the cluttering of hooves, as the little filly jumped in the portal after her.
"Apple Bloom! What are you doing?" Applejack screeched, trying to grasp hold of the younger filly, but she was just out of reach.
"Trying to save you! We're apples together, apples forever! We're family but so much more!" The little filly whimpered slightly, and it made Applejack's heart melt.
"Apples together, apples forever! We're family but so much more!" Applejack heard the cries of Big Macintosh and Granny Smith as they leapt into the portal after her.
"Wherever this leads us, I promise I'll find you! I promise on all my heart- I promise on behalf of all my honesty!" Applejack's words were barely audible as their surroundings changed to pitch blackness, and she could hear Queen Chrysalis's laugh ricochet through the walls.
…
Her eyes whizzed open, and she hopped up instantaneously, she crouched down, ready to pounce at any passing enemy.
"Where are you Chrysalis? Show yourself!" Applejack's holler resonated through the room.
"Applehood, sweetie, it's only me! Ah won't bite Red Applehood, Ah am friendly!" Applejack swung around, to see who was responsible for the voice. She then stiffened. She stared in shock at the pony before her. She was a beautiful red mare, with a yellow mane. Her eyes glistened lovingly down at Applejack.
"Mum?" Applejack stepped forward shakily, lifting up a hoof and touching the pony in amazement, "is that really you?"
The mare laughed, "you're acting so strange! Of course it's meh, ya know. How come ya were acting like ah was yer foe?"
Applejack was speechless. Her parents had been murdered by timberwolves before Apple Bloom could talk. All their life, Applejack, Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom had to live by the fact that they were... orphans. Not that Granny Smith was a blast, and all!
It was just- hard for them. Applejack constantly had nightmares over the memory of her dead parents. She'd constantly begin to cry over the most strangest of times. She had tried to covering her sadness up, by being physically strong, and having always the jolly sound in her voice, but emotionally... she was still very fragile.
"What about dad? Is he alive too?" None of this was making any sense to Applejack. Her mother was alive again...! Could this mean both her parents were around?
Her mum went quiet, and shuffled on her hooves. "Applehood- you're acting like ya don't remember a thing my little star! Dad died... By the timberwolves remember, does that sound familiar?"
"Ah think," Applejack gulped, her eyes fogging up a bit. She gave a weak smile, "but ah am just glad that yer here. Ah wouldn't want anything else." Applejack wiped away her tears, and wrapped her hooves around her mover into a hug. She sniffed on her mums shoulder, and she could feel her mum patting her back reassuringly.
"Wait," Applejack suddenly stood up stiffly, staring into space, "where... is Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh and Granny Smith?"
Her mother peered down at her, "don't ya remember? They died with the timberwolves as well, we were on a cart, getting away from them, and then they all just fell."
Applejack froze in shock, already, her eyes misting up. "No!" Applejack galloped outside the room they were in, and into her back garden, which seemed more barren than usual. Applejack let out a piercing scream, which lasted for about ten seconds. It resonated through the air, as Applejack breathed heavily in horror. The breathes were forced, as she was worried she'd suffocate by forgetting to breathe.
"Apple Bloom! How dare you timberwolves! How dare you! She was so defenceless! She couldn't even talk! And it would have been more fair if Big Macintosh was a bit older. Do you timberwolves even have hearts, you vulgar, savage creatures! Granny Smith? Don't even get me started on your callous act. She was elderly- how was she supposed to protect herself? If you hear me now, wolves, I will get my revenge, if it is the last thing I do! I will get my revenge!" Applejack stopped screaming, as her voice was muffled by her mother, who held her close, worriedly.
"Red Applehood, ah need to go to the markets- will ya be ok at home on yer own? Because ya seem really upset lately ya only cry and moan."
Red Applehood? Applejack didn't bother to question it. Chrysalis was behind it of course. She wiped away the tears from her eyes, giving a gulp before nodding to her mother.
"Yes." Her mother gave her a relieved glance, before picking up a basket, and trotting out of the area.
"Bye sweetie! Make sure ya are alright! Don't open the doors for any strangers, if anypony else comes just hide out of sight!" When the red mare was gone, a green flame zipped around, in front of Applejack and the changeling queen teleported before her. Applejack glared at the monster, ready to attack her at any second.
"Red Applehood, dearie Applehood, the one word for you is: confuse. You know most of what's happening, so I'll skip to the real news. You are Red Applehood now because of that cape you have around you. It's a lovely cape, I must say- it's your last memory of Granny Smith, it'll stick to you like glue." Red Applehood felt around her neck, and sure enough, perched around her, was a red cape, with a hood. Applehood gulped, and she looked at the queen again.
"And about your dear family, Mac, Gran and Bloom. I'm taking good care of them, don't worry- but I'll lead them to their doom!"
Applejack snarled, pouncing forwards, but the queen teleported behind her.
"You can't get me, if you can't catch me!" Chrysalis gave a nasty giggle, and teleported behind Applejack. Applejack swung around, trying to buck the queen but she teleported away again.
"Missed me! I'm over here!" Chrysalis smirked, as Applehood turned around in horror. Chrysalis did a duplication spell on herself. There were half a dozen of her laughing cruelly at Applehood's attempts, before she teleported away altogether, her laugh lingering in the air.
…
Chrysalis grinned, running a long, elegant finger along the bars of the cage. The bars were freezing cold. Everything in this room was cold.
"There were two before you, you know, now I have you three. There will be heaps, more to come, just wait and see!" Chrysalis smirked at the three ponies in the cage, glaring up at her.
"What did ya do to Applejack?" Apple Bloom stepped forward furiously, her face pressed against he bars. She snarled at the changeling queen, and Chrysalis only laughed.
"If ya hurt a hair on her head..." Big Macintosh stepped forward threateningly next to his little sister,
Chrysalis turned around, "oh, what would make you think I'd do a horrible thing like that? Besides... it won't be me who hurts that overgrown rat."
"Ya stay away from Applejack!" Granny Smith menaced forward, clinging to Apple Bloom and Big Mac's side.
Chrysalis glared at them, "and don't think I don't have a plan for you all, you see! I'm going to do something to each of you three!" She edged closer to the cage, and lifted her hoof up, giving Apple Bloom a sharp tap on the nose. "Starting with Apple Bloom."
The little filly was instantaneously teleported out of the cage. The little filly glared at the queen, ready to lunge at her at any second.
"Dear, little pony,
I'm moving you somewhere I assume.
Just on the edge of the Everfree Forest.
Goodbye Apple Bloom."
A green flame coiled around the foal, lifting the shrieking creature into the air.
"Put her down this instant!" Big Macintosh slammed against the side of the cage, but it was no use, as a portal swished open behind Apple Bloom.
"Apple Bloom!" Granny Smith choked, trying to free herself from the bars so she could get to the foal.
"Stop!" Apple Bloom shrieked, as the green portal closed in on her, and she was sent elsewhere.
"What did ya do to her, ya tyrant?" Big Macintosh hollered at the queen, his hooves squeezed through the bars and trying to latch onto the changeling. Chrysalis laughed historically at his pitiful attempts.
"I only sent her somewhere where she'll be vulnerable, she has a friend with her though overall." Chrysalis sat down, just out of reach from the red colt's flailing hooves. As he screamed at her, in such language.
"You witch! You fiend!" Big Macintosh glared at Chrysalis. As she stifled a yawn.
"I'll save you until last, just for my amusement. Now I'll go to Granny Smith, I'm sure you assume this content!"
"Don't you dare missy!" Granny Smith backed away into the cage, but Chrysalis easily caught her in a magic field. Teleporting he elderly mare before her.
"How'd you like to live in the Everfree?
Living in the routes of an ancient old tree.
Granny Smith, don't flee from there,
It's only where you're safe- safe for an elderly mare
Just wait for suns and suns to come
And your loved ones will arrive, in some."
The magic swirled up another portal.
"Stop Chrysalis! Granny Smith! Don't go!" Big Macintosh was on the verge of tears, as he watched the helpless elderly tea-green pony get teleported into the void.
"Applejack... Apple Bloom... Granny Smith..." The red colt collapsed to the ground, covering his eyes in shock and hatred. Granny Smith had now disappeared, her spirit still hung around though, and Big Macintosh cursed at it, as it teased him with memories.
"And finally... you Big Macintosh," Chrysalis gave a sly grin, and teleported the colt before her.
Big Macintosh stood up on trembling legs, and glared at the changeling. "Ya have caused chaos to this Kingdom, ya have destroyed many lives, and ya have separated my whole family. How dare ya! If ah let this go any further, who knows what you'll do. Ah know now ah have to stop ya- on behalf of all of Equestria!" The red colt galloped up to Chrysalis, rage spinning in his eyes as he prepared to beat her up.
"Oh," Chrysalis sat down, a nasty smile on her face, as Big Mac neared closer to her. Chrysalis's white teeth glinted in the light, and just before the red colt barrelled into her, she teleported behind him, and smirked as he went slamming into the wall. Chrysalis cringed slightly at the sound of his skull thudding against the wall, but quickly disguised her disgust with a grin, and she began sending a green aura around him.
"Poor Big Macintosh, poor huntsmen.
I'm making you a dwarf.
Your personality is now bashful.
You must be feeling awf'.
You will never save Red Applehood from the wolf.
There'll be five others just like you.
You'll never be the one who saves the day.
You're life is now askew!"
Chrysalis let a wave of magic wash over the earth pony, as it began to shrink him and change his appearance.
"What are you doing to me?" Big Macintosh gritted his teeth in pain, as the magic shrunk him. Chrysalis watched as he writhed around. She found amusement in another's pain. Finally, her magic had completed, as the dwarf stood before her in terror and fury.
"What are you doing, witch?" He thundered, and tried to charge at her again, but there was another force pulling him back, as the portal pulled him in. He glared at her for a piercing second before he disappeared. The loudness of the room went to an echoing silence. You could hear a pin drop from a mile away.
"Bravo! Bravo! For a second there, I thought he had you! Hi, hi Chrysy, yes it's nice to see you too!" The draconequus was there again, smirking as he threw confetti at the changeling. Chrysalis narrowed her eyes, but didn't yell at him. Instead she approached her mirror, and watched as Red Applehood practised fighting techniques in the house, breaking a vase. The draconequus peered over Chrysalis's shoulder, and watched as the vase toppled down. He burst into laughter, clutching his stomach in amusement.
"I really do not have the time- just go ahead, tell me a rhyme," Chrysalis snapped, making the creature stop abruptly and turn to her with smugness in his mismatched red and yellow eyes.
"You seem to be having a blast, clearing away ponies now- in the past. But I have admit- you're going more quick than slow. Two down, four to go. Now the one, I know you will desire- a pony so beautiful, even you could admire. Of course she is no match for yours truly, but if a mother is what she needs, adopt her- rather than be a bully." The draconequus didn't even seem to be scoffing or snickering when Chrysalis went stuttering for words,
"I... I always have wanted to be a mother," she whispered ever so lightly. The draconequus gave a faint smile at this- it wasn't even smug. More warm.
"Then here you go- a gift from me. This basket is full of blueberry. I'm sure this next one of the prophecy would like them. They are freshly picked- just blueberries, no leaves, no stem." The draconequus disappeared after that, and Chrysalis stared down at the basket, with the delicious fruit. They were more purple rather than blue.
Chrysalis put the basket down on one of the tables in the room and trotted up to her pride and joy.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" She turned around. Her expression had been more soft than devious since the encounter with the draconequus.
"You, my queen I must say. You are looking very lovely today." Queen Chrysalis gave a weak smile as the face disappeared, and she let a green flame envelope around her, transforming her into a pink unicorn with a white and darker pink mane.
"Time to find my number three, you cannot flee! It's time for you to show yourself so I can change your destiny!"