Chapter 8.

Applejack slowly woke up in her cell she looked around and saw that to her right was a stone wall with a torch on it. The torch provided little lite and some warmth in the otherwise cold and dank cell that she was in. Applejack turned to her left and saw another stone wall that had moss growing on it. In front of that wall was a metal rusty bucket next to that was a pile of old moldy hay. Looking down Applejack saw what should have been her own two feet covered in her cowboy boots where in fact two amber colored hooves. Her eyes went wide when she saw this and she screamed out in terror.

“WHAT…. THE HELL IS THIS?!” Applejack screamed when she saw her hooves.

Hearing a noise coming from the direction of the cell door Applejack walked or rather be stumbled forwards and tried to peer out into the darkness of the dungeon that she was in. A voice called out to her as she peered into the oily blackness that lay before her eyes.

“Applejack” The voice called out to her.

“Who's there?” Applejack called back.

“Applejack wake up” The voice called back.

Applejack thought she saw movement in the darkness and backed away from the cell door stumbling as she tried to back up. A torch seemly floated down from a nearby wall and burst into flames in front of her cell door. Applejack looked out towards the light the torch now provided to her. She saw a purple colored pony with a pink and purple striped main standing before her smiling evilly at her. Looking the pony up and down Applejack stammered on her words.

“W...wh...who ar….are...you?” Applejack stuttered out trying to figure out who the pony was that was standing before her.

Twilight cocked her head to one side then quirked an eyebrow as she replied to Applejack.

“Oh, come now Applejack I would think you would know who I am?”

Looking again at the purple pony standing before her Applejack again asked Twilight.

“WHO ARE YOU?” Applejack screamed out in anger and fear caused from her surroundings.

Twilight sighed then realized that Applejack had never actually seen her or Sunset for that matter in their natural state. Twilight thought to herself as she trotted up to Applejack

“Seeing me in pony form must be frightening to say the least.” Twilight thought to herself.  

As Twilight came to this conclusion she heard Applejack wail out.

“Why do I have hooves where are my hands and feet? WHAT AM I?!?” Applejack screamed her last words as Twilight’s horn started to glow and the cell door slowly creaked open.

“You have hooves because in Equestria those that live here are all ponies thus, the portal made you into what your pony counterpart looks like. That is why you have hooves in this world you are a pony.” Twilight said as she opened the cell door to Applejack’s cell.  

As Twilight trotted into the cell Applejack heard again the voice that she had heard earlier calling out to her again.

“Applejack wake up” The voice called out to her again.

Applejack slumped forwards and buried her face in her hooves trying to hide from Twilight who smiled wickedly as she started to slowly levitate Applejack up into the air. Applejack didn’t even bother to struggle with Twilight as she moved Applejack out of the cell and down a hallway leading to another cell door. Once that door was opened and Applejack got a good look at what was inside that room she froze with terror. To her left as she was levitated into the room she saw a rack with spikes on it. To her right she saw what looked like a iron maiden in the shape of a pony in front of her was a large metal slab with chains sticking out of it. At the end of each chain was a cast iron manacle with heavy bolts attached to them. There were four in all each one seemed to look as if they were used to hold ponies down to the slab to keep them from bolting away from whatever punishment awaited them.  As Twilight moved Applejack up further into the air and rotated her body so that her back was facing the slab Applejack again heard the same voice she heard earlier calling out to her.

“Applejack wake up!” The voice called to her.

Applejack chose to ignore it and face her punishment with at least a little dignity. Twilight moved her onto the slab then secured her to it using the chains and manacles to hold her in place. Once Applejack was fully secured to the slab Twilight grinned to her wickedly and said to her calmly as she rubbed her front  hooves together.

“Now that you are not going anywhere shall we begin Applejack?’

“You still have not told me who you are?” She replied softly as she watched Twilight trot over to a wheeled tray and push it over towards her.

“Applejack it’s me Twilight.”Twilight said as she pushed over the wheeled tray to where it came to a stop next to her.

“The Twilight I know would never do this sort of thing! Twilight would never take me from my world and threaten to hurt either me or my family!”Applejack snapped at Twilight.

Twilight put a hoof to her chin and rubbed it lightly then said coldly to Applejack.

“Family…..hmmm yes….Family is what you called Sunset, family is what you were suppose to be to her. You of all people where suppose to understand what ‘family’ meant.” Twilight said as she placed item after item next to Applejack's body.

Applejack got a good look at each item and tried to struggle against her bonds but, it was all in vain. The chains held her fast to the metal slab that she was lying on. Try though she might there was no escaping what Twilight was going to use on her. As she watched Twilight place the last item on the slab next to her she again her the same voice calling out to her again.

“Applejack wake up” The voice called out to her.  

Applejack watched in horror as Twilight moved away from the slab she was lying on. Applejack watched Twilight trot over to a large stone wheel sitting just behind the door she had come through. Twilight levitated that over to Applejack’s slab then looked at her captive lying on the slab grinning to her while she said to her coldly.

“Shall we begin your punishment or would you like to take this moment to tell me where you’re family is and save yourself from the…. pleasantries” Twilight said as she levitated a knife up to the stone wheel and began to sharpen it.

Applejack swallowed hard then said sternly to Twilight.

“I will NEVER tell you where my family is you…. you monster.”

“Monster am I? I am not the monster here Applejack. I am just the one that is going to punish you for what you did to Sunset.” Twilight said as she sharpened the knife on the stone wheel.

Sparks flew from the knife as Applejack looked on in terror watching Twilight sharpen the knife caused her lower lip to tremble with fear. Once the knife was sharp and ready for use Twilight levitated it over to Applejack's left leg then looked up at her captive saying to her.

“Last chance Applejack tell me where your family is.” Twilight said as the knife was placed against Applejacks amber colored leg.

“Never I will NEVER turn them over to one as horrible as you Twilight.”

Smiling Twilight raised and lowered her shoulders then slowly levitated the knife along Applejack’s left leg cutting into her deeply. The pain was excruciating and Applejack screamed out in pain as she felt the cold steel of the knife’s blade slice her leg to the bone.

“I’LL NEVER TELL YOU. I’LL NEVER BETRAY THEM TO YOU.” Applejack screamed as Twilight slowly cut her leg.

“You will talk sooner or latter you will give me the information that I need.” Twilight cooed as she removed the knife from Applejack’s leg.

Breathing in heavily Applejack could feel her flesh was badly torn apart from the knife that Twilight had used on her. Sobbing she cried out in both pain and anger as to what Twilight was doing to her.

“Why are you doing this? Tell me why are you doing this to me?” Applejack cried out.

Twilight didn’t reply to her she levitated another of the items that she had placed next to Applejack’s body up into the air. It was a long strip of barbed wire the type that Applejack would have used to make a fence with. Applejack looked at the shiny piece of metal then screamed out to Twilight again.

“DO YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO ME YOU HORSE BITCH. I WILL NEVER TELL YOU WHERE MY FAMILY IS.”

“Never is a long time Applejack and time is simply something that I do not have in abundance of right now. So you can either tell me what I want to know or, you can have your belly sliced up with this wire. What is your choice?” Twilight said as she levitated the wire over Applejack’s stomach.

“I would rather die horribly then tell a monster like you where my family is!” Applejack spat back.

Sighing Twilight looked at Applejack then at the barbed wire and said softly to her as she lowered it to Applejack's stomach.

“Then if that is your choice. Then so be it. You will get what you have asked for” Twilight said as the wire touched Applejack’s amber colored skin.  

Using her magic Twilight moved the wire back and forth slowly cutting into Applejacks skin all the while Applejack screamed out in pain. Applejacks screams became more and more guttural and more and more blood soaked with each and every cut Twilight made with the wire. Looking at her former friend Twilight stopped cutting into Applejack for a few seconds and said to her coldly.

“This can all end if you just tell me what I want to know” Twilight said as she raised the wire out of Applejack’s stomach causing her to scream even more.

“I’ll never tell you” Applejack screamed as the wire was pulled out of her stomach.

“Very well I can see that the knife and this wire have yet to loosen your tongue maybe maybe I need to try something a bit more shocking to get you to talk.” Twilight said as she levitated several pairs of wires up to Applejack’s chest and head.  

Trotting in front of her head Twilight clamped the wires down onto Applejacks head and then did the same to the ones on her chest. Twilight tested them by lightly tugging on each one to make sure they were fully secured to her victim's skin. Seeing that the wires were not about to fall off of Applejack’s body if she bucked or moved violently. Twilight then took what was left of the wires and rolled them out the door and down the hallway leaving Applejack alone in the room for a few minutes. Getting to another room that had all sorts of buzzing and running machines in it Twilight hooked up the wires she had rolled out of Applejacks cell to one of the machines. Then she picked up a remote control and flipped a switch on it.  Hearing a loud scream coming from the room she had just left she knew then and there that the machine worked. Flipping the switch again she shut down the machine and trotted back to the room where Applejack was moaning in pain from being electrocuted. Smiling Twilight trotted back up to Applejack unaware that a guard was coming down the stairs headed towards the room that Twilight and Applejack where both in. Looking at Applejack lying on the slab and at the burns she now had on her body Twilight gleefully said to her as she held up the remote control.

“Alright Applejack if you won’t talk to me then I will make you scream out where your family is.”

“Please Twilight I won’t do it. I won’t betray them. I won’t turn on them.”

Hearing those last words Twilight lost control and screamed in return to Applejack’s last words.

“YOU DARE TELL ME YOU WON’T TURN ON THEM WHEN YOU SO EASILY TURNED ON SUNSET.” Twilight screamed as she flipped the switch to the remote control causing Applejack to buck and struggle against the restraints she was bound with.

Watching Applejack flop around like a fish out of water and hearing her scream Twilight failed to see the guard coming into the room.The guard looked at Applejack then over at Twilight before taking off her helmet and throwing it at Twilight hitting her square in the head knocking her out cold. Picking up the remote the guard and Applejack’s unknown savior shut the machine off as she passed out from the sheer amount of pain she was in. Her body looked like she had gone through several rounds being used as a lightning rod and lost badly. Most of her upper body and her face was blistered and burned badly. The unknown female guard that had saved Applejack from further torture lowered her head and withdrew a flask of blue liquid from a saddle bag she had on her right side. Saying gently to her as she pressed the flask up to Applejack's burned lips.

“Darling sweetie drink this it will heal your wounds and allow you travel.” The guard said.  

Applejack was to tired and exhausted to fight any further. With her body burnt and her skin blistered she gave into what the guard had said to her and drank from the flask. As she drank the liquid her body healed within a matter of minutes she was fully restored and able to leave the castle. As she climbed to her feet or be it hooves she stumbled forward and started to fall towards the ground but, was caught by the hooves of another guard at the last minute. Then slowly turned around and found herself being laid onto a stretcher. Both guards looked at eachother then over at the knocked out Twilight before saying to Applejack.

“Darling we need to get you out of here. You are still week from what Twilight did to you so you need time to rest. You just lay still on that stretcher and we will do the rest.” The first guard said as she smiled at her campaign.  

The two of them carried Applejack up the stairs and through the main hallway that lead to Princess Celestia’s study chamber. Sighing deeply as they approached the door the first guard that had saved Applejack from her tormentor knocked on the door and Celestia opened it. Seeing it was Rarity and Rainbow Dash carrying a very weakened Applejack on a stretcher Celestia stepped to the side and allowed them to entire her study chamber. Celestia nodded to her two friends then said to them.

“Alright you two need to leave now! If Twilight finds out you were the ones that helped Applejack get away she will be very upset with you both.” Princess Celestia said as she opened the door to let her two friends out of her study chamber.

Both Rarity and Rainbow Dash nodded then headed out and headed for the main entrance of the castle to meet up with the rest of their friends. Princess Celestia knelt down next to Applejack and picked her up in her wings. As Celestia cradled the exhausted Applejack in her gentle wings she said softly to her while rocking her back and forth.

“Rest now Applejack I will take care of everything you needn’t worry or suffer any more.” Princess Celestia said as she slowly rocked Applejack in her wings.

Applejack woke up an hour latter to the face of a mare with bright pink eyes. A flowing mane that had the colors of sky blue, teal green, light purple and pink in it. Celestia looked down at Applejack and gently laid her on her stomach then got up and troted over to her desk as she spoke to Applejack while she moved behind her desk.

“My dear Applejack you needn’t worry Twilight won’t find you in this chamber and as for the ones that saved you from her wrath well those where Rarity and Rainbow Dash. Now there are some things that you and I need to talk about.” Princess Celestia said as she rummaged through stacks and stacks of old dusty scrolls and papers.

“Your Celestia aren’t you?” Applejack said as she climbed to her hooves.

Princess Celestia looked up from the papers she was rummaging through then quirked an eyebrow at Applejack as she tilted her head to right. Looking at Applejack Celestia said gently to her.

“Yes I am but, how did you know who I am when I am rather sure that this is our first time meeting each other.”

“Sunset drew me a picture of you back in school, we have…. er… had art class together and I wanted to know what you looked like. So when Sunset couldn’t really form her words I placed a piece of paper in front of her and simply directed her to draw what you looked like. I must have looked at that picture of you hanging up on my wall in my bedroom at least six hundred times now.” Applejack said as she got up off the floor.

As she got up off the floor of Celestia's study chamber she again heard the same voice calling out to her.

“Wake up Applejack” The voice called to but, like all the other times it had called to her she ignored it.

Applejack half troted and half stumbled forwards towards Celestia’s desk saying to the snow white mare as she tried to catch her balance.

“Listen Celestia you need to know that your uh, student I think is what you call Twilight well she tortured me and I want her to pay for that.”

“I know I also know that despite your best efforts you are hearing a voice telling you to ‘wake up’ right?” Celestia said softly to Applejack.

Applejack pursed her lips together before answering Princess Celestia’s question.  

“Yes I am hearing that uh voice in my head or least I think it is in my head. But, I don’t see what that has to do with this or with what that monster Twilight did to me.” Applejack said angrily.

Princess Celestia sighed then went back to rummaging through her desk. Applejack just rolled her eyes in disgust at how everything was shaping up. She was about to leave the safety of the study chamber when Celestia squealed out with joy saying aloud.

“Ah here it is!” Princess Celestia said as she picked up a worn out scroll then trotted over to Applejack and dropped it in front of her.

Applejack looked at the scroll then at Princess Celestia before saying to her.

“Uh what in the hay am I supposed to do with this?” Applejack said as she looked at the dusty piece of parchment lying in front of her hooves.

The princess just sighed then picked up the piece of parchment in her mouth and stuffed it into a saddle bag she had hanging on a side wall in her study chamber. Taking the bag down and dropping it over Applejacks shoulders and back she said to Applejack who still looked a bit angry at how Twilight treated her.

“Applejack listen to me this scroll can help you. You will need to give it to Rarity and tell her to read it then it should activate and you should be whole again.”

“What do you mean by ‘whole again’ Princess Celestia?” Applejack asked with a quirked eyebrow.

“You will understand when the spell is fully activated until then I will do what I can to get Twilight to leave you alone so that you might complete your work.” Princess Celestia said as she trotted over to the door leading to her study chamber.

Turning back to face Applejack she said to her as she opened the door to her study chamber.

“Wait here till I come back for you. I will lead you the main gate of the castle and from there you will need to head west until you come to a large farm. I think you know of the farm that I am talking about Applejack. Once you get there talk with the pony version of your little sister and she will tell you how Rarity and the others knew you were in the castle and how they actually were able to free you. Now I must go.” Princess Celestia said as she trotted out of the study chamber leaving Applejack alone again.

Applejack sighed then plopped down on the floor and covered her face in her hooves crying saying to herself as she cried.

“Why did she do that to me? I never meant to hurt Sunset.”

Princess Celestia headed down into the dungeon where she found Twilight who was just waking up from being knocked unconscious. Looking down Celestia saw the helmet that was used to knock out her student and very quickly used her magic to make the helmet disappear. Once the helmet was out of sight Princess Celestia called out to Twilight to get her to wake up and focus on her task at hoof.

“Twilight can you hear me?” Princess Celestia asked as she trotted into the torture chamber.

“Oooh what hit me?” Twilight said as she stumbled to her hooves shaking her head back and forth trying to shake off the pain from getting hit in the head by the helmet.

“I don’t know what you are talking about I came in here to find that you were knocked out. It looks like whoever you had in here is gone now maybe that pony was the one that did this to you?” Princess Celestia said as she trotted over to Twilight.

“WHAT SHE’S GONE?” Twilight screamed out as she looked around the room yet couldn’t find Applejack anywhere at all.

Celestia smiled to herself seeing that her student had fully taken the bait. Saying to her student as she trotted back outside of the torture chamber.

“I am sure if you and I work together we can find her…. who is it that you are looking for if I may ask?” Celestia said trying not to smile in front of Twilight for fear of giving away her plan.

“We are looking for Applejack from the mirror world I brought her so I could extract the information I that i needed from her to make the rest of those….those… LOOK JUST HELP ME FIND HER.” Twilight screamed out the last of her words as she raced up stairs leaving Princess Celestia in the dungeon.

Princess Celestia smiled as she turned around and trotted up stairs finding Twilight at the top of the steps she watched as Twilight headed to her study chamber. Following her she quickly cast a lock spell on the door to keep Twilight from going in there. As Twilight tried the door she found it was firmly locked in place. Looking to her mentor she said to Celestia.

“Okay it is clear she wasn’t able to enter your study chamber. I would hate to think what she could or even would do if she got any of the scrolls in your study chamber.” Twilight said as she moved onto the next door.

Celestia stopped her by saying to her.

“Twilight let’s split up from here I am sure this version of Applejack doesn’t really know her way around here. And as such she should be easy to find so I will check in the gardens and you should head to back gate.” Celestia said fainting a light smile.

Twilight stopped in her tracks then looked at her mentor before exclaiming to Celestia.

“Why in all of ponyville would I want to check the back gate?” Twilight exclaimed.

“Because my faithful student Applejack wouldn’t be stupid enough or even foolish enough to try to get out of the castle using the front door. She would know that is the best way to get caught and thus she would wind up back in the chamber you had her in. I highly doubt she is that foolish no matter what world she hails from.” Celestia said looking at Twilight hoping she would take this cue and leave to check the back gate.

Twilight did as Princess Celestia had wanted her to do. She flew off towards the back gate of the castle then when Twilight was safely out of sight Celestia unlocked the door to her study chamber and lead Applejack to the front gate. Saying to her as they got up to it.

“Alright Applejack this is where we part ways. I do not know how long it will take Twilight to realize I fooled her into going to the back gate. But, you need to leave and quickly. I will try to keep her here as long as I can. Head west from here you should be able to find your uh, I mean this world's Applejack’s home in just under an hour. In the meantime I will try to delay Twilight as much as I can. Now do you know what to do when you get there.”

Applejack nodded and raced out the front gate headed west while Princess Celestia looked on with some worry in her pink eyes. Turning around she headed to the back gate and found Twilight there looking over the gate it self saying to herself as she studied the gate intensely.

“I don’t understand if this gate is locked and there is no sign of Applejack having come this way then that would mean….” Twilight's voice trailed off for a few seconds as Princess Celestia flew down to great her faithful student.

“Any luck with finding Applejack Twilight?” Princess Celestia said as her hooves touched the ground.

“NO! By the beard of starswirl she is not here! In fact I doubt she ever came this way!” Twilight said angrily at having lost her captive.

“No need to get upset my faithful student. We will simply have to think of something else or be it some place else that she might have gone to. How about we do this? You check in the lower half of the castle while I check in the upper half we will meet back at my study chamber in about an hour.” Princess Celestia said as she turned to leave the immediate area.

Although Twilight was not very happy about losing Applejack and not finding her at the back gate she in turn agreed to what her mentor had suggested. As Twilight and Princess Celestia both left the backgate of the castle Applejack was making her way west towards Sweet Apple Acres. Hoping to find someone, anyone there that could or at least would help to get her out of the mess she was in. It took Applejack just under an hour to find the farm looking at it from on top a hill it didn’t look all that different from her actual farm back home. The only thing that seemed out of place was the barn itself which was the wrong color. Seeing that the barn was the wrong color didn’t really surprise Applejack at all. As she made her way down to the barn she saw a amber colored pony coming around the bend that had the same hat and colored hair as her. Once the pony saw her she galloped up to her and said to her.

“Why hello there welcome to sweet apple acres my name is applejack.” Applejack said to Applejack.

Not sure what to do Applejack chuckled and said to her pony self that was standing in front of her.

“You are not going to believe this but, my name is Applejack as well.” Applejack replied.

“Really that is so….. wait you must be from the mirror world that means, oh boy I best get you inside and right quick at that.” Applejack said.

The two of them headed inside the farmhouse while Applejack relaid her story to her counterpart. As she finished a little filly with a bright red bow seemed to pop out of nowhere and tackled the mirror worlds Applejack to the ground exclaiming with excitement as she and Applejack rolled on the kitchen floor.

“YOUR HOME, YOUR HOME, YOUR HOME!” The little filly excitedly squealed.

“Uh Applebloom I’m over here that Applejack is from the mirror world.” Applejack said to her little sister who was jumping up and down on the mirror worlds Applejack’s chest.

“GET OFF! Look you…. uh wait did you say this was Applebloom?” Asked the mirror worlds Applejack as she shoved off of her the bouncing Applebloom.

Looking down at the little filly Applejack from the mirror world just grinned at the sight of the little filly hopping up and down with a big silly grin plastered on her face.

“Yep that there is my little sister Applebloom. Now Applejack what brings you here to my…. uh our home?” The pony version of Applejack asked.

“I was told by Princess Celestia that I needed to give Rarity a scroll that I am carrying in this bag on my uh, back and that I was to speak to Applebloom. Although I do not understand what a piece of rolled up paper can do nor do I understand why I need to drag your little sister into this.” Applejack replied as she climbed to her hooves.

Applebloom stopped hopping up and down and sat on her flank then looked at the two Applejack’s before saying with a big grin on her face.

“So does this mean I can keep her?”

Both of the two Applejacks chuckled at this notion as they walked out of the kitchen into the living room where they found the rest of the element wielders. Rainbow Dash was sleeping on a cloud just under a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Rarity was lying on the floor next to a roaring fireplace. Her purple mane and white coat shined like gem stones caught in the moon's light. Pinkie Pie was sitting on a couch near the fireplace eating popcorn. Fluttershy was curled up on a blue rug with several small animals next to her soundly sleeping. As the two Applejack’s came into the room Rarity looked up stretched then got up from her place near the fireplace. She looked from one to the other before saying.

“Applejack what is going on I know I had some of your cider this morning but, that shouldn’t have caused me to see two of you.”  

“Well you see Rarity the reason there are two of us is because the one standing to my right is actually Applejack from the mirror world.” Applejack said as she sat down on her flank.

“I see darling ok so why are you here then?” Rarity said to the mirror worlds Applejack.

“I was told by Princess Celestia that I was suppose to give you some sort of scroll that is in my uh, this saddle bag that is on my back. And that I was suppose to talk with Applebloom. But, like I said to your Applejack as I will restate for you. I do not see or understand how giving you a scroll or talking to Applebloom will actually help.” The mirror worlds Applejack said as she too sat down.

“Let me see this scroll I think I know what is going on.” Rarity said as she used her magic to bring out the scroll from Applejacks saddle bag.

Looking it over a few times she trotted into the living room where the other two were either eating or sleeping and laid the scroll out on the floor. Then she trotted up to the sleeping fluttershy and gently woke her up. As fluttershy woke up and saw there instead of one Applejack there were actually two of them she jumped and hit her head on the ceiling. When she came back down rubbing a hoof on her head she looked at the two Applejacks then said softly and rather meekly.

“Why are there two of you?” Fluttershy said as she rubbed her sore head.

“Darling I am sorry but, there is little time to explain why there are two Applejack’s. We need you to stand in a half circle while I use my magic to activate this spell.” Rarity said as she pointed a hoof at the scroll lying on the floor in front of the fireplace.

Fluttershy didn’t argue with her friend and did as she was directed Pinkie remained on the couch still eating the popcorn. When the Applejack pony from Equestria bucked her off the couch. Saying to her as Pinkie hit the floor with a loud thud.

“Sorry sugarcube but, you need to be apart of this too.” Applejack said as she looked up at the still sleeping Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow snored soundly on her cloud above the heads of those that were gathering around Rarity. Both of the two Applejacks sighed then they each smiled as they came to realize just how they needed to wake up the sleeping pegasus. Each of them said at the same time.

“Are you thinking what I am thinking?” Both Applejacks said in unison.

“Girls you better not do what I think you are about to do to Rainbow Dash. Besides there is a much better way to wake her up and it would also be a bit more…. fun” Rarity said with a evil grin on her face.  

The two Applejacks looked at each other than over at Rarity and watched her horn glow blue as she levitated Rainbow off her cloud and towards the bathroom. The Equestrias Applejack got the idea right away and trotted into the bathroom turned on the bath water then put a plug into the drain. Once the tub was full she shut off the water and watched at Rarity dropped Rainbow into the tub causing her splash about franticly as she screamed out.

“AAA! I’M DROWNING HELP!” Rainbow Dash screamed as she splashed about inside the tub.

Rarity and the others all enjoyed a good laugh at seeing the blue furred pegasus splash about thinking she was drowning. Once Rainbow calmed down enough to get herself out of the tub. She looked angrily at Rarity then noticed the two Applejacks. Saying to Rarity as she stared at both of the Applejacks standing in front of her.

“Are we being invaded by the changelings again Rarity?” Rainbow said as she stared at both Applejacks.

Chuckling a little bit Rarity smiled then lead Rainbow out into the living room. Rarity then directed everyone to stand in a half circle while she cast the spell that was on the scroll that the mirror worlds Applejack had given her. As they all stood there watching as Rarity's horn glowed a bright orange the scroll lying on the floor in front of her burst into orange and red flames. Within a few minutes the pony version of Sunset Shimmer was standing before the group. Looking at all of them she smiled and then walked up to Applejack from the mirror world and laid a gentle hoof onto her shoulder. Saying to her softly.

“Thank you for bringing me here. Now we have some work to do and I need to talk to Applejack from the mirror world so if you all will excuse us.”

“Wait before I go with you can one of you explain to me how you were able to bring her here when she died from suicide back in my world.” The mirror worlds Applejack asked in confusion

“Its simple really darling you see each of us carry a necklace that holds a element of harmony within it.That power may not have been strong enough to get you out of here. But, they were and are just powerful enough on their own without Twilight's magic to bring Sunset here and thus here she is.” Rarity said as she and the others left the room to leave Sunset to talk to the mirror worlds Applejack alone.

Looking at her then down at the floor Applejack said softly to her as Sunset trotted up to her.

“You must really, really hate me.” Applejack said as a tear fell from her eyes and trickled down her cheek.  

Raising a hoof to Applejack's chin and raising her head so her eyes met with Sunsets, Sunset spoke softly to Applejack.

“Hate you no I do not hate you at all Applejack. What I wrote in my final words to you and to the others was true. I do care about you deeply. However I am a bit disappointed that you couldn’t of all the people in that world see that I was telling you the truth.” Sunset said as she took a hold of Applejack and hugged her warmly.

“I don’t understand why you don’t hate me after all I was apart of the reason you took your own life back home.”

“That is true, you were part of the reason why I killed myself back home and that is also why I am here. I am here to help you wake up from this nightmare that you are in.” Sunset said as she hugged her friend.

“Wiat nightmare what are you talking about what nightmare?” Applejack said as she pushed away from the orange skinned mare that had been hugging her.  

“Your guilt is causing you to be trapped in this world that your mind has created. You feel guilty over my death and there is yet another reason why you also feel guilty isn’t there?” Sunset asked as she looked towards the kitchen at Applebloom who was playing with Rarity on the kitchen floor.

Applejack looked also and lowered her head then said as tears began to flow out of her eyes and trickle down her amber colored cheeks.

“It was my fault that she I mean that my little sister got kicked out of school and now has to find a new school. It was my fault that I let anger cloud my judgment that I helped drive you to take your own life. Sunset can you…. will you ever be able to forgive me?” Applejack said crying.

“It is not I that must forgive you Applejack, you and you alone must do that. I can not relieve you of your guilt over this. There is also something else that I can not do for you Applejack.” Sunset said as she sat back down on her flank.

“What can you not do for me” Applejack said still sobbing.

“I can not and will not face Twilight for you.” Sunset said calmly to Applejack.

“Wh...why not? Why won’t you help me?” Applejack said crying even harder now.

“I am helping you Applejack. You see you are afraid of Twilight aren’t you Applejack. She terrifies you doesn’t she?” Sunset said as she trotted up to Applejack and embraced her in another warm hug.

Applejack shook with both fear and sadness as she accepted the hug from her friend. She cried into Sunsets shoulder saying to her while she cried.

“I...I...Yes I am very terrified of Twilight.”

“What are you afraid of I mean about her that is? What is it about Twilight that frightens you so much that you would put yourself into this nightmare of a world?”

Applejack fully let her tears flow out as she spoke to Sunset crying into her shoulder.

“I am scared of her power and what she might do to my loved ones in retribution for what I did to you Sunset. I should have been there for you but, instead I let anger cloud my mind. I saw how angry Twilight was when she hit me breaking my nose after I showed her your suicide note. She got so made with me that she kicked me and... and...”Applejack's voice trailed off.  

“And now you fear she will do worse to your sister for her part in my death right?” Sunset said as she rubbed Applejack's back with her hooves.

“Yes I can’t bare the thought of losing Applebloom.

“Then with that in mind why are you still here. Go face your fears conquer them and get yourself out of this nightmare that you are in.” Sunset said as she ended the embrace and gently pushed Applejack towards the farmhouse front door.

“Wait before I do I need to speak to Applebloom.” Applejack said as she was being gently pushed towards the farmhouse front door.

Applebloom hearing her name being called looked up at Rarity then nodded and trotted into the living room to speak with Applejack. Looking at the mirror version of her big sister Applebloom smiled warmly to Applejack before saying to her.  

“It wasn’t your fault Applejack. I got myself into trouble and I have to fix it. It wasn’t your fault at all. Please face your fears for me and stop blaming yourself for this mess.” Applebloom said as she walked up to Applejack.

Applejack slumped to the floor as she cried out to the pony version of her little sister.

“I am so sorry Applebloom. I never meant to hurt you like that I never meant to ignore you and cause you to do what you did. Please can you forgive me.”

Applebloom placed both hooves onto her Applejack's head and said softly to her as she rubbed Applejack's head.

“I forgive you Applejack and I know your little sister back home will do the same. Now get up and go face your fears. Conquer your fears and get yourself home. Do it for Sunset. Do it for me but, mostly do it for yourself. Please Applejack you can’t keep going on like this. You need to forgive yourself.” Applebloom said as she rubbed Applejacks head.

Applejack sat there slumped on the floor for a few minutes before Applebloom's words began to take effect within her. As she found a new strength building up inside her she slowly rose to her hooves looked down at the little filly then hugged her warmly before saying to her.

“Thank you Applebloom I don’t know what the future will hold for me or for you but, thank you. I need to go. You take care of your sister you hear I know if you really are real then you're Applejack loves you as much as I love you. Goodbye my little…. sister.”

With that Applejack left the farm and headed back to the castle to face her fears and overcome them. Sunset sat next to Rarity saying to her gently.

“Do you think she will be able to do it Rarity?” Sunset asked as she looked at her friend.

“I don’t know darling I don’t know. She is headed in the right direction and is on the path to forgiveness yet, I don’t know if she will be able to overpower her fear of Twilight.”

Applejack made her way to the castle walked up to the front gate and looked at the two guards standing out front of the main gate. Saying nothing to them she was a bit surprised when they allowed her to reenter the castle unabided. As she got into the castle’s exterieur she yelled out at the top of her lungs.

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”  

Looking around Applejack didn’t see Twilight until she heard a voice call out to her.

“Up here.” The voice said.

Looking up a flight of stairs that stood in front of her Applejack saw both Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle appear before her. Slowly she began to climb the steps in front of her. It was time for her to face her fears and conquer them. It was time to put things right between the two of them and for Applejack to forgive herself for what she and her little sister did to Sunset Shimmer. But, mostly it was time to make this form of Twilight Sparkle pay for what she put her through. With each and every step she took Applejack slowly gained the strength she needed to face down Twilight and right what was so wrong with both of them. The battle for Applejacks forgiveness had begun. Next Chapter: Chapter 9. Estimated time remaining: 13 Hours, 39 Minutes