Element of Adventure
by Wolfe15
Chapters
The Siren's Cave
Chapter 1
Applejack yelped in shock and fear, looking up at the beast looming over her. It seemed to grin darkly then advanced on her prone form. Applejack grinned slightly from her position on the ground then yelled, "Now!" A net exploded from the crates behind her and the beast screeched, back stepping to get away from the net. Vinyl and Braeburn were dragged from their hiding place and Applejack jumped forward to help them. They tugged back on the net but the beast continued to drag them forward.
"Kill it!" Vinyl squealed in shock and fear.
Spitfire rushed forward, from behind yet another crate, and kicked her spear at the beast's head. The beast turned to get away but the spear skewered it. They moved back and stared as the beast collapsed and the frightened townsfolk ran out of their houses screaming and cheering for them. Applejack released a breath of relief and grinned at the townsfolk before looking off, finding Shield Maiden talking to a stallion. "Hey Shield! Where the hell were ya?!"
"I was talking to this stallion. You guys handled the beast just fine." Shield said with a wave of her hoof. Applejack looked ready to say something but Vinyl gave her a look.
"What was that anyway?" Vinyl asked as she looked down at the beast.
"It was a bear/dragon mix." Shield said offhandedly before continuing to talk with the stallion. Applejack shuddered then looked to the beast as Vinyl checked it over. True the animals that were just off the runes were changing and mixing into frightening hybrids. Applejack shook her head then looked to Shield, who was looking at her.
"The stallion said something strange is coming from a lake that's not too far away. He said he'll let us take his boat to go check it out." Applejack nodded then whistled to Vinyl, Spitfire, and Braeburn. Spitfire pulled the spear from the monster's head then moved it onto her back before trotting over. "What's goin' on?" She asked.
"We have a lead." Applejack replied. They nodded and the stallion, Shield had talked to, trotted up. "Follow me." He said softly.
Soon they came to a small house on the side of a lake. Applejack looked out and found the lake was glowing a dull blood red. "What's goin' on with the lake?"
"We don't know. When those demons showed up the lake slowly began to glow blood red. Stallions and mares alike began to disappear. Some say they could hear music comin' from the lake. I think it's the job of Sirens."
"Sirens?"
"Sirens." They all looked at each other and Shield looked out then frowned.
"Somepony stole your boat."
The stallion looked out to the water then yelped, "NO! Trixie come back!"
"Trixie?" Applejack mumbled then moved forward, looking out and seeing a familiar mare with a silverish mane and blue coat.
"What is she doin'?" Shield whispered. Fear was written across the stallion's face as he charged down the hill and towards the lake. The Alpha group rushed after him but as they grew closer to the lake, Applejack winced as a horrible wailing song assaulted her ears. Applejack flinched as the wailing grew worse then slowed to try and get the pain in her head to go down.
"Applejack! Hurry up! That stupid mare is in the water!" Spitfire snarled. Applejack sped up and soon they all were along the water's edge, watching in horror as Trixie was pulled under.
"Trixie! Save her! Save my baby!" The stallion cried. Applejack looked at the stallion in shock but nodded and looked to the others. They all looked like they were in a dream-like trance state, grinning goofy, and she frowned.
"What..." She mumbled in shock.
"They've fallen under the Siren's spell. You haven't...you're special aren't you?" He asked curiously. Applejack nodded and the stallion smiled tightly. "That's good. You won't be fooled by the Siren's calls. Please go rescue my baby."
"How? Ah can't breath under water." The stallion grinned softly then pulled a seashell necklace from his neck and put it around her neck.
"Now you can. Please hurry. I'll look after your friends." Applejack nodded then rushed into the water.
It took her a short second but she righted herself and had to cover her ears to block out the screeching of the Sirens. She didn't see anything at first but slowly the dull red glow showed the Siren and Trixie. Trixie was close to the beast, talking to it and smiling tenderly. Her eyes were glowing and the Siren was smirking, sucking a white energy from the unicorn.
Applejack swam over as fast as she could and kicked the beast in the side of the head. The Siren had the upper body of a pony and the lower body of a shark. The Siren's face was like a normal pony's but the muzzle was filled to the brim with jagged teeth, its eyes were a glowing red, it had no ears, and only holes in it's head.
It snarled in rage, released Trixie, and coming after her. She twisted out of the way then aimed down and swarm as fast as she could. She managed to grab Trixie with her mouth then opened it to scream. The beast had cut into her with claws that it had on the end of its hooves. The hooves themselves were what was usually on a pony but these were different.
Spider like claws, much like Spikes, were on them. Each jagged thin appendage dancing and flexing. She looked down then swam and grabbed Trixie again. "You see past my song. How do you do it?" Applejack ignored the voice but soon was grabbed and slammed into a reef wall. She yelped in pain, accidently releasing Trixie, while the Siren snarled. "How?!"
"Harmony...Honesty..." Applejack choked out. The Siren released her with a look of shock dancing on her face while Applejack managed to grab Trixie once again and take off towards the surface.
"No! Get back here!" The Siren screeched, grabbing her from behind and beginning to drag her down but Applejack let go of Trixie, kicking her up, allowing her float up, while she went down.
Applejack felt herself being tossed through the water, into the air, and found herself landing on a cold hard ground. She rolled over and quickly stood,looking around and founding herself in a darkened cave. "You are different from the other ponies." She spun around to find the Siren moving out of the water and towards her. She grew tense then pulled her whip from her side.
"Ah don't wanna hurt you." She growled around the whip. The Siren laughed a screeching laugh then slowly pushed itself up. It's lower body began to melt off and Applejack moved back nervously, watching the shark body disappear and the lower body of a pony take its place. Something was different though. It didn't fall forward instead it easily balanced on its back hoofs and walked forward. Applejack stared at it in shock then gripped her whip tighter. "What the hell are you?!"
"Sea Pony. One of the originals."
"Sea Pony? Originals?"
"Before Discord darling. When Queen Dawn ruled." Applejack stayed tense and watched the Sea Pony (?).
"How come yer voice sounds softer, nicer even?"
"I am speaking normally. I want to talk. Not hurt you." The Siren sat then smiled, its teeth melting together, turning into a normal ponys. "Better?"
"Yer eyes." The siren blinked before closing it eyes and opening them to reveal red irises. It now looked mostly normal. Only missing a mane, tail and ears. "W-Why do ya look like that?"
"Like a monster?"
"Yes." The Siren sighed gently then looked off to the water tiredly. "A long time ago a queen, Queen Dawn, created the planet. She created the special ponies, the Draconequus, the griffins, and the dragons. Earth ponies, alicorns, pegasi, unicorns, and sea ponies. Every clan lived in harmony and peace. Queen Dawn ruled with her chief advisers...one from each clan. Discord of the Draconequus, Princess Platinum of the Unicorns, Commander Hurricane of the Pegasi, Chancellor Puddinghead of the Earth Ponies, Princess Celestia of the Alicorns, and Lady Whirlpool of the Sea Ponies. With her chief advisers, she ruled Equestria in harmony with the other sub-kingdoms." The Siren paused before shaking her head and continuing.
"As great as she was, she too had her faults. She was too trusting of those around her, she could never see Discord as a terrible beast he was. He tricked her into punishing the others by limiting their powers, cursing them. She cursed you all to walk on four legs. She cursed my people to live in the water. She made it so air would cause our lungs pain, make it harder to be on the surface so we wouldn't be tempted. When she realized what Discord really was it was too late to take away the enchantments..."
The Siren drifted off and looked around. By now, Applejack was seated on her hunches and looking confused. "If the enchantment couldn't be broken how are ya in yer original from?" The Siren grinned and looked up.
"I am Lady Whirlpool. I have more magic in my system then the others. I can force the enchantment away for only short bursts of time."
"Is their anyway to break the enchantment?"
"As of right now their is only one way."
"What's that?"
"I have to perish."
"Wa!?"
"When the last of her trusted shall fall the enchantment will break. I don't know when it will but it will, shortly after my fall."
"Wait if that's true then Princess-."
"Princess Celestia is protected since she was her daughter and she couldn't curse her like she cursed us."
"What about Discord?"
"He was never included in the curse so it doesn't deal with him. Platinum, Puddinghead, Hurricane and I were the ones cursed, our clans cursed like us. Celestia and Discord everyone else forced to forget what we were before. I trust you can get to the surface?"
"Y-Yes'm."
"Good. Hurry up." Applejack cringed and the old Siren smiled softly then hugged her.
"Oh will you do me a favor?"
"Yes?"
"Take this sword." A thick and huge blade slowly arose from the ground and the Sea Pony gave it to her. "Take this sword and drive it into Discord's cold and black heart." Applejack nodded and allowed the Sea Pony to put the blade on her back.
"Hurry up and get to the surface." Applejack nodded and looked to the aged Sea Pony before jumping into the water, swimming off.
I'll be seeing you soon my dear friends. I hope you can forgive me for allowing my own death. We have so much to catch up on. I hope you have been waiting for me Commander Hurricane. I've been waiting to see you my love.
Heading Back
Chapter 2
Applejack swam quickly, the dull red glow was fading fast, almost blinding her in darkness. She managed to get out of the cave and when she looked up she saw the surface. She began to swim up but her tail was grabbed. She turned, growling as the former councilor held onto her tail, a red and black gleam in her eye. She kicked out and felt her tail come free. She began to swim quickly again and soon she burst the surface of the lake.
She gasped then looked around and found she was in the center of the lake. She looked around again then spotted the shore. Crying out in triumph, she began to swim towards it but felt a tug on her leg. "You will not be leaving! You will stay forever!" Applejack kicked out and swam faster towards the shore after she was released. A screech erupted from behind her and she turned, gasping in shock and fear.
The former councilor towered over her. She floated frozen in fear until she heard, "Don't just float their stupid! Fight the beast!" She turned and found Trixie on the shore, her horn glowing. Applejack managed to get out of the water then turned and growled.
"Let's get this done!" Snarled Trixie as she shot a blast of energy from her horn at the monster's face. The Siren beast batted the blast away like a fly and shot it's clawed hand forward. Applejack jumped to the side then onto it's hand and rushed up it's arm towards it's head. The beast tried to pull back but Trixie was holding it still with her magic.
Applejack craned her head back and gripped her battleaxe between her teeth. Her hammer had been lost on the road, and pulled it off her back. She slashed out towards the beast's head and was satisfied when a splash of warm liquid exploded, bathing the side of her own head. She slashed out again and moved back to escape the monster's other claw.
Two thin disks flew past her then spun back and chopped off the beasts spiny stubs. She looked down to see Vinyl glaring at the beast, her red eyes flashing. Applejack dodged another claw slash and slid down the beast's long arm, jumping off at the last second, landing on the ground in a gallop.
She rushed to Vinyl's side and they looked to see Trixie had been knocked back and was unconscious. Applejack rushed forward and cut the Siren's arm since it had grabbed Trixie. Trixie fell but landed roughly on Applejack's back and she bounded away. "Hold that thing off and Ah'll take Trixie to the house!"
"It can't exit the water! Let's both run!" Vinyl yelled. Applejack nodded and they turned running. The beast screeched and suddenly the ground shuddered causing them to look back. They gaped as the beast dragged itself onto the land and snarling at them. "OH BUCK!" Vinyl squealed as they both charged up a hill and crashed into the tiny hut, dropping Trixie on the ground. The room burst to life and everyone pulled out their weapons, rushing outside.
The beast was now at the base of the hill the hut rested on and screeching loudly. Shield Maiden frowned then tossed her shield at the beast, the spikes popping out as it flew towards it. It crashed into the beast's chest and spun, cutting it open violently, blood showering from the wound. She reared back and the shield flew back towards her. The spikes popped back into the shield as she caught it in her mouth.
The beast snarled, blood coming from its mouth and chest like a waterfall. Shield roared, "Destroy the beast!" Causing Braeburn, Vinyl, Applejack, and Spitfire to rush down the hill, beginning to slash at the beast. Shield stayed at the top of the hill launching her shield over and over while Applejack slashed at the beast violently.
Vinyl and Braeburn double teamed the monster's chest wound while Spitfire launched her spear into the beast's eye. The monster flailed around but froze when Applejack launched her axe into it chest. The beast shuddered, it's eyes glazed, then began to fall forward. They scrambled out of the way and it hit the ground with a thud. "Is it dead?"
"Ah destroyed the heart."
"But that...actually yeah...its dead." Spitfire stuttered out. Vinyl grimaced and shook herself.
"I don't know whether to be annoyed or concerned that the blood on my coat doesn't make me cringe." Applejack shook her head then body, grimacing.
"Ah'll go with annoyed." She grumbled before looking up at the top of the hill, finding Shield was running towards them.
"Guys we need to get a move on! Trixie is waking up!"
"Why do we need her?" Vinyl asked. Shield rolled her eyes then turned to the house and took off. They followed her after grabbing their weapons and found Trixie was holding a sea shell crown.
"What is that?" Shield whispered.
"The treasure of the Sea Ponies." They stared at her then Vinyl growled.
"You idiot! Sea Ponies are a myth! Plus if they were real then you put us in danger for nothing!"
"I-It's not my fault! Their queen gave it to me!"
"Bullshit!"
"Shut up!" They looked to Shield as she walked over and glared at Trixie. "What did the leader say?"
"She wants me to journey to Princess Celestia and present her the crown." Vinyl looked ready to hit Trixie but Applejack moved forward.
"So were headin' back to Ponyville?"
"I believe so."
Soon Applejack, Vinyl, Shield, Spitfire, Braeburn, and Trixie were walking on a rune path. Applejack looked up and sighed softly. It had been six months since she had last seen everyone. She hoped Ponyville had been able to rebuild. When they left Shield had created a set of runes around the town and a path from Ponyville to the farm so the town was okay as was the farm.
Applejack made a small face then looked to the others. Gone was the party ponies fun loving disposition, now a cold exterior. She didn't wear sunglasses anymore, her electric blue mane was now a deeper shade of blue and a scar ran across the bridge of her muzzle. Braeburn had no scars on his upper body or face but his left flank had a jagged scar running up the side. He still smiled but his stetson hat was gone and his mane was pulled into a low ponytail.
Spitfire had a scar on her side from recklessness and one on her neck from a fight she caused between the both of them. She held herself with a bit more pride but not to the point of having her head in the clouds. Shield had changed from regal to more or less a humble pony.
She had no scars but her horn was a different color from a virus that they had barely been able to cure. She could do magic but sometimes she had to release bursts of extra magic to keep from overloading. Trixie looked the same as ever and she yelled once again for a break.
Vinyl looked ready to kill her but Shield nodded to Trixie and they paused at a lake. Applejack walked over to the lake, smiling lightly when she got a good look at herself. She had a scar at the bottom of her eye that was jagged like a thunder bolt from getting attacked by a crazy pony.
Her mane was just a bit past her shoulders and her tail was shorter because of the same accident. She shook her head then took a drink of water before trotting over to the group and settling down. The sun was high in the sky and she looked around. They had traveled all around Equestria and had found nothing. So far this was their real first break! She yawned then took a bite from an apple she had stashed away while the others talked.
As soon as Applejack and the group set off, Vinyl whined. "How far to Ponyville?"
"An hour!" Vinyl pouted but nodded and they continued on in semi-silence. Soon they found themselves on the edge of the Everfree Forest. The walked trough the forest and Applejack grinned when she saw Sweet Apple Acres and looked at them.
"Let's go!"
Reunion
Chapter 3
Applejack smiled as she trotted along the rune path and towards the farm. As soon as she got onto the grounds she smiled and rushed to the house, running inside. She looked around then rushed to the kitchen and smiled wider. Granny Smith was looking at her in shock but a smile was coming over her face. "Applejack!" Applejack hugged Granny Smith hard then pulled away and grinned.
"Granny! How are you?"
"Ah'm doin' good child. How are you? Have you been eatin' enough?" Applejack nodded then sat at the table while the others trotted in. Granny Smith pulled out some pie and smiled. "Eat kids. Ah'll make some more!" Vinyl began to eat ravenously along with the others but Shield said, "Miss Apple?"
"Yes dearie?"
"Are the Princesses still here?"
"Why yes they are. They're at the library." They all looked at each other and Applejack swallowed her pie before saying,
"Where's Apple Bloom?"
"School." Applejack nodded in relief then began to shrug off her weapons. The others followed suit but each kept one weapon on them. Shield her shield, Braeburn a dagger, Vinyl a thin disk, Spitfire some knives, and Applejack a whip.
"Granny we're heading into town." Granny Smith nodded then nuzzled Applejack under the neck.
"Stay safe." Applejack nodded and the group walked out of the house and began on their way to Ponyville.
Applejack looked around and was a bit surprised to see the town had gotten bigger. More runes had been drawn around the expanding town and more people milled around. They walked into town and found people would stop and whisper for a while as they passed.
"Sooo, this isn't awkward huh?" Vinyl drawled as they walked through the market towards Twilight's house. Applejack rolled her eyes then shot Vinyl a look.
"Stop bein' so negative."
"Not my fault. I'm trying to lighten the mood. Shield looked like she's gonna puke." Applejack looked to the nervous mare who was whispering. "Shield?"
"What if they don't want to see me again? Should I stay outside?" They all rolled their eyes and Applejack smiled lightly.
"Look, Ah know yer nervous, so am Ah but we have to be strong. We're Alphas right?"
"Y-Yeah." Applejack smiled then turned before squealing loudly and stumbling back. Princess Celestia was behind her looking at them with a raised eyebrow.
"Why are you back?"
"Uhhh..." Trixie quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"Princess. I was given something by Lady Hurricane!" Surprise came across Celestia's face and she looked at her.
"What did she give you?"
"Her crown. She is dead." Pain came over Celestia's face and she looked down.
"H-How?"
"She turned into a beast and tried to kill us. She wanted to die princess." Celestia nodded slowly then looked all of them over.
"Let us retire to the library." She turned and began to walk away and Shield sighed in relief.
"At least she didn't yell at me." The other Alpha's nodded and Applejack felt a bit of dread enter her body. Was she going to see her former Submissives? Grimacing, she trotted after the group and fell into step besides Vinyl.
They came to the library and were soon seated at a round table. Applejack stared at the table with her head down since her former Submissives were seated their. Vinyl was sipping some tea and explaining what they had been doing for the last six months and as Vinyl came to the story of Applejack's scar and shorter mane Applejack frowned. "The pony was crazy, he was experimenting on the monsters to see if he could control them. He was working just outside Trottingham and we were worried he was going to attack the surrounding area. So we took him out. Well Applejack did." Applejack frowned then lifted her head and shrugged.
"It weren't nothin'."
"If it wasn't "nothin'" you wouldn't have that scar." Applejack rolled her eyes then shrugged. "Ah was careless. How was Ah supposed to know the freak kept a viper tied around his arm?"
Vinyl shrugged then said, "After Trottingham we heard about the siren's in the small village of Mare. After that we get to here and now." Applejack took her cup and took a slow drink before looking at all of the people gathered. Shield was looking at her tea with a grimace and so were the other two, Trixie was looking at the crown and Applejack stopped her observation since she didn't feel she could face her former Submissives. She took another sip of her tea then looked into the cup. It was empty.
"Ah'm gonna get more tea." She grabbed her cup in her mouth then trotted to the kitchen. As soon as the door shut behind her she groaned and slid to the ground. This was harder than she thought.
"Are you Applejack?" She jumped then looked up to see a grey coated mare with amethyst eyes and a black mane.
"Uhhhhh yes?"
"I-Is Vinyl out there?" Applejack nodded slowly then got up and smiled.
"Are you one of her former Submissives?" The mare flinched then nodded and sat down.
"How is Vinyl?"
"She's okay." A small silence stretched out and the mare's ears flattened against her skull and sniffed. Applejack looked at her then frowned. "Are you okay?"
"I-I miss her." Applejack frowned then moved closer and rested her chin on the mare's head.
"Shh...Vinyl misses you too. She just hides it."
"I don't care if I die if she does. I...I just want her back." Applejack closed her eyes and sighed softly.
"Ah know it's hard but its for the best." The mare sobbed silently into Applejack's neck and Applejack sat their. "Ah can talk to Vinyl. If you really love her Ah'll convince her to take you back." The mare moved back quickly and looked at her in shock.
"Will you?!"
"Of course."
"Oh thank you! Um, if you don't mind me saying...the other Elements miss you too. Take them back before you leave." Applejack frowned but nodded slowly.
"Okay. What's yer name by the way?"
"Octavia."
The meeting flashed by but all of them were stumped as to where to start looking for Discord. Shield was thinking deeply as she paced. "I guess the only way we can find him is to look for a huge amount of mayhem and destruction." They nodded and Shield sat down. "We should get looking as soon as we can. Tomorrow we leave again." The other Alphas nodded but grimaced. Shield got up and left the library with Braeburn following her.
"She's really anxious to get killed huh?" Applejack nodded and looked to Vinyl, who was looking at the library door with a bored expression. Applejack looked around and found Rainbow was looking at her. She looked around the room and found most of them hadn't changed much. She looked back at Rainbow then smiled slightly at her. Rainbow gave her a grimace smile then looked away. Applejack frowned then said, "Vinyl?"
"Huh?"
"Octavia's in the kitchen and wants to talk to you." She looked to the side and found the white mare was shocked. She looked down then took a deep breath.
"U-Uhhhhh I'll meet up with you later." She quickly got up and trotted to the kitchen. Applejack sighed softly then slowly go up and left the library.
Soon she sat in front of her parents graves and humming. "Hey pa. Ma." She looked up and whispered, "What if they don't want me."
"Are you going to give up?" She looked down and forward to see her father walking out of the trees. He was covered in a green earthy glow. He was a big stallion, bigger than Mac. He had his old stetson hat on his head and it covered his eyes. His coat was a bright yellow and his mane a deep grey. His cutie mark was a bottle of Apple Cider and he moved forward. "Now Ah didn't raise no quitter! Ah raised a fighter! A truth teller! Somepony not afraid ta do what was needed! Applejack looked down and tears began to well in her eyes. Was she being a coward? She closed her eyes and sniffed as they ran down her muzzle.
Cider. Leave her alone. She has a lot to worry bout. Her Submissives will come. Give her time." Applejack's head snapped up and she stared at her mother's face. Her mother smiled and moved forward and nuzzled her cheek. "Ah believe in you sweetie." Applejack nodded and sniffed.
"How are you here?"
"Love sweetie. Plus paper work." Cider grimaced and looked to his wife. "Ah hate the paperwork."
"Love, bond with them before you leave. Make sure they know you love them." Applejack nodded then smiled as the spirits wavered and began to glow brighter.
"Bye ma, pa." They waved then turned into two bright orbs before heading up into the late afternoon sky. She closed her eyes then opened them slowly when she heard a rustle behind her. She looked back and smiled. Apple Bloom stood across the field, resting on her head was Applejack's stetson hat. Apple Bloom's eyes were misted over with tears and she yelled,
"Momma!" She galloped down the path and tackled Applejack as soon as she was in range. Applejack laughed then nuzzled her happily. "Ah missed you momma! Ah missed you so much!" Applejack smiled, tears blurring her vision as she nuzzled her child.
"A-Ah missed you too sweetie." She rolled over then nuzzled her harder, sniffing softly. They rested their heads together and Apple Bloom whispered, "Momma? A-Ah got mah cutie mark." Applejack laughed in glee and said, "What'cha waitin' fer? Show me." Apple Bloom got up then moved and showed off her flank. Resting their was a bright red apple with a hammer in the center.
"Mah special talent is fixin' things on the farm!" Applejack smiled then nuzzled her child's side before moving away.
"Let's get to the farm k?"
"Momma? Can you take yer hat back? Ah want you to have it." Applejack smiled then took the hat off Apple Bloom's head and placed it on her own. Sighing as a warm settled in her body, she got up and looked up to see Twilight standing across the field.
"Apple Bloom run home. Twilight wants ta talk." Apple Bloom nodded and rushed off.
"It's nice to see your still alive." Applejack nodded and looked off to the side.
"Look Twi'-."
"I'm going to say my piece!" Applejack jumped then looked down. She closed her eyes then opened them and looked up. She was shocked to see her orange Thread still around Twilight's neck and even more shocked to see several more Threads when past her and to town.
Submissive Abound
Chapter 4
Applejack winced as Vinyl tugged on the needle and pulled the open skin back together. Vinyl was laughing and Applejack looked ready to kill her. "It ain't funny!"
"Hell yeah it is! You got your ass kicked by all five of your Submissives."
"Ah wasn't expectin' it!" Vinyl snickered then smoothed a thick line of gauze over the wound and began to wrap it in place.
"Damn they did a number on you." Applejack humphed then rested her head down and closed her eyes. She was about to fall asleep when the front door burst open downstairs and a frantic voice cried out, "Applejack?!" Applejack flinched then tried to move out of the bed at Fluttershy's voice.
"Quick! Hide me!" Vinyl cackled then moved to the door and yelled, "Sorry Fluttershy! She's still getting patched up!" Their was a flurry of activity from downstairs and Applejack whimpered and covered her face.
"A-Applejack?" She moved one hoof and found a teary-eyed Fluttershy. "I-I'm so sorry!" Applejack held in a pain filled yelp as Fluttershy nudged her injured side.
"I-It's okay Fluttershy." Applejack slowly moved to her hooves and nuzzled Fluttershy's neck softly. She moved away then winced as Vinyl tightened the bandages and moved back.
"Perfect." Applejack snorted then looked at Fluttershy. She held her head down sniffling and whispered, "I-I'm so sorry. I-I was so angry and...and..." Applejack nuzzled her again and said, "Shhhh, its okay hon. Where are the others?" Fluttershy flinched and looked away. Applejack frowned and said gently, "Hon...where are the others?"
"Rainbow said she was going to Spitfire, Twilight and Rarity said they were going to Shield Maiden and Pinkie said she hated you." Cringing slightly, Applejack growled in anger. Though Spitfire and her could work together, Spitfire had told her she was going to take Rainbow Dash the first opportunity she got.
"Ohhhhhhh shit!" Applejack tossed her head then looked down before deflating. Maybe it was for the best...
Applejack opened her eyes the next day and yawned loudly. Her head hurt, so did her side and leg. She slowly got up and remembered the day previous. She was still slightly amazed that she had lost all of her Submissives to her friends. Shield Maiden had told her she would watch over them until they realized their mistake and Spitfire just smirked at her. Applejack had managed to convince Vinyl to take Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie as her other Submissive so they would be protected. Tossing her head, she limped out of her room and to the kitchen. She let her head hit the table with a soft thump and sighed softly. "How are you feeling?" She looked to the side to see Spitfire standing in the doorway smirking.
"Come to gloat?"
"Yes and no."
"Just get it over with." Spitfire cocked her head then rolled her eyes before sitting at the table. Applejack sighed again and grumbled, "Ma, you said they'd come back to me. Where are they..." Closing her eyes, she drifted into a short snooze before snorting awake as Shield slammed her hoof onto the table.
"Nice to see you're up." Applejack gave her a dirty glare before looking at her.
"Why'd you wake me?"
"We're leaving before the dawn. I want to get a move on."
"Well where are we headin'?"
"Trottingham seems like a good place to start." Applejack nodded then stuffed an apple into her mouth before heading back to her room to gather her stuff. She packed everything away and tossed her stetson hat onto her head before trotting downstairs. Braeburn stood by the door already ready while Vinyl, Shield, and Spitfire stood in the kitchen talking to their new and old Submissives. Applejack snorted bitterly and looked out a window. "You okay Applejack?"
"Ah'm fine." Braeburn gave her a worried look then looked to the kitchen with a grimace. "Let's go outside." Applejack nodded and they trotted outside and down the path to the mailbox. Applejack sat down and glared at the ground kicking at a rock. "Are you s-."
"Ah'm not fine. Ah'll never be fine but it doesn't matter." Braeburn gave her a sympathetic look and turned. He grimaced and mumbled, "Don't hurt her." She looked at him confused then turned to see Spitfire kiss Rainbow. Resisting the urge to buck-kick her in the face, she kicked the mailbox into the sky. Bucking Spitfire. She snorted then glared at the ground.
"Now, now Applejack. Did you really have to do that?" Growling, she looked to a smug Spitfire and snapped, "Why don't you just shut yer trap?" Shield walked over and moved between them.
"Spitfire, stop being a bitch."
"What about-?"
"Applejack has every reason to be pissed at you." Spitfire rolled her eyes then smirked.
"Well Rainbow chose me so that's all that matters." Applejack snarled then buck-kicked her in the mouth. Crying out in pain, she collapsed and Applejack stepped on her head, bringing her mouth down to her ear, "After all of this is done, after I've built my house, after I'm settled for the rest of my life, I will find you and kick your ass and take her back. I will kick your ass so hard you will become my Submissive." Her voice was deadly and spoken without a trace of her accent. She moved off her head then looked to Shield, who looked nervous.
"Ah'll work out a deal with you." Shield nodded and Applejack trotted over to the fallen mailbox, picked it up and set it right before walking back. "Let's get this done."
They were trotting on the trail two hours later, Spitfire trotting ahead, Trixie and Braeburn behind her, Shield and Vinyl behind them and Applejack brought up the rear. She was glaring at the ground and grumbling. "Ma...were you wrong?"
"Like Ah said baby. Give it time." Stopping, she looked around and a ghostly chuckle caressed her ear. "Ah'm with ya in yer spirit and mind. Don't worry bout them they'll come for you. Ah know it." Applejack nodded and trotted quickly to catch up. Vinyl looked back and frowned slightly.
"You okay Applejack?"
"Yeah..." Applejack gave her a tight grin before looking away then down. The ground was glowing a dusty grey and flickered. Frowning, she looked up and said, "Shield?"
"Yes?"
"The ground looks funny." Shield glanced a look down and gasped. "This...can't be..." She stood and everyone looked at her.
"What's goin' on?"
"The path...the protection...it's going out." They pulled out their weapons and looked around.
Curse of the four legs will break when the final adviser has been killed. The world will freeze as they revert back to the forms that they were in before the grand curse. Discord, Chaos, Eris, and Loki will return to the realm of the living. Two willing to deflect to the side of harmony, two want a world of fire. Destruction, turmoil and disharmony abound. Either the Alphas win and the world will return to normal or they will fail and the four of Disharmony will rule.
"Who goes their!?" The wind whipped around them and a voice whispered to them softly, "Sleep my little ponies. Sleep and embrace the next time you wake, for you will be free from a curse and my mistake." As the whisper died down the path's glow shut off and they collapsed.