Thread 36: Stories 31-45

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>AJ12
“The Help”
'???'
~~~~~

He was picking up his workers badge in the employees lounge, as usual. Sore to the bone, as usual. But the utterances from his fellow workers were a little louder and more animated than normal, not usual.

“…oh I know, she’s such a pain in the ass.”

“Exactly. I’ve seen some cracked ponies before but that one takes the looney cake hooves down. I mean, did you hear about what she smeared over the walls yesterday?”

Several mares and stallions shuddered.

Except for 12, as he fit on his white nurse gown.

>Yeah. I heard about it, because I was there cleaning it.

“Eeeeew! Newbie, I feel sorry for you, being assigned to that whackass as your first assignment.”

“Didn’t you just want to hurl when she did that?”

“I would’ve given Nurse Redheart the hoof, just sayin'. You handled that shit better than me, man. Literally.”

>Not really, because it wasn’t shit. It was chocolate pudding.

"How do you know that?"

"Becaaaaause anyone with natural eyesight could tell the difference?

“Wh… but she’s not allowed any sweets!”

>…You’ve been here longer than me and her acquiring what she can’t have is surprising to you? Really?

He fastened the badge to his front.

>Maybe instead of talking about her, you guys should talk TO her.

“HAHA no.”

“I like my sanity, thanks.”

“She’s in a straightjacket for a reason! She’s deadly!”

“And have you seen how she works her backlegs?

>Considering I think she has a hoof fetish that she’s trying to push onto me, yes I ha-

“One kick nearly crushed my friends ribcage!”

>What was your buddy doing to her at the time?

“Trying to give her a sedative!”

>Ah, there ya go. She hates needles. And sweets. And stagnation. She’s just really bored out of her skull here. Just saying, talk to her once in awhile, she’s not so bad.

“Why’re you defending that demon in pony skin? What, do you love her or something?”

“Tch, guess it makes sense, don’t it? An outcast would know an outcast after all.”

“Yeah! Go on then, go make out with your little crackpot mare!”

>You mean the crackpot mare who’s got you all moving like pieces on her own personal chess board? Sure, sounds like a smart idea to me.

Today had been the day he planned to tell them about what Screwloose had done with their apple juice, had been doing for months actually, but after some tough introspection decided nah, why ruin the fun.

‘So what’s got you smiling all creepy like, pervert?’

As he stared at the disheveled mare lounging like a slug on her cot, it dawned on him that he was indeed smiling.

>No reason in particular, Screwloose.

‘Good, then knock it off and come over here. My hooves are aching and I want to ask you something.’

>Sure.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>29
"MM"
'T'
[Z]
~~~

>Tis not cheating! This is but a sign of mine greatness of a species long thought but a myth to your kind!

"Okay, one, it says no magic. You are using magic. It would be cheating. Two, we didn't think you were a myth, we didn't think you existed at all."

'Yeah, how did you guys manage to stay hidden for so long anyway?'

>Ahh! Many a tactic were employed in our time hidden beyond prying eyes. All it took to keep mine visage hidden was simply to never give any reason to look. Really, what would drive one like yourself, for instance, to think their neighbor had been replaced by a creature such as myself? Without the springpoint of context, we were but a strange pony on the street.

[Until the end, you mean of course. Wherin' you cast off all shades, and tried to take Canterlot by force.]

>We thought we had made at last the final play! The ultimate move upon the chessboard to seize all power for ourselves, and conquer! And to mine own shock, the plan worked beautifully until that very ending!

"..."

>...Admittedly, a plan that worked until the end when it failed is still a plan that, well, failed. Saying "we almost had you" is just another way of saying "we didn't win." And now many of my kin languish in a ballroom, our secret cast out into the world, oh woe to my species!

'Were you guys doing pretty good before that?'

>Oh lord no, many a Queen fell like flies in the days that led to this ultimate failure. Why, had I not chosen to cast myself into the hive enthralled by our Queen, perhaps I would have joined them in the slow death that consumed all.

"...Do you have to use the sexy talk when referring to a species slowly dying? Kind of kills it a bit for me."

[Right?]

'...'

>Are you writing that down!?

'It'll make a great lead in for my act at the comic fair!'

>Mine horrid past is now but a source of entertainment for children...

'...Uh...'

"Don't shatter his hopes."

>...What?

[NOTHING!]

>Oh... kay?...

"NO MAGIC!"

>DAMNED MARE!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Winona
“Booth Pony”
‘random pony’
~~~~

>For the last time, ticket pony, give me passage onto this train! It’s about to leave!

“Oh sweet Celestia, this dog here is carrying a knapsack on its back… that’s too damn cute for me, I can feel the diabeetus coming! Rainheart, get over here and check this out!”

>No! Don't call more, just hand me a ticket!

‘What’re ya flappin’ your gums off about this ti-… hnnnnng!’

“I know, right?!”

>Please stop this… I’m not cute, I just want-

“You see the way her ears are lying back? I MUST HUG HER!”

>You’ll keep your hooves to yourself if you know what’s good for-

‘Caught her!’

“SNUGGLE MODE INITIATED!”

>…I do not consent to this. This is snuggle-rape, I’ll have you know.

‘She’s whimperin’ but her tail’s waggin’ up a storm!’

>B-but my train….

“Hm? What’s she pointing at? The train…?”

>Yes! YES! The train!

‘What, d’ya think she needs to get on or something?’

>You! Yes you! You have some brains within you! This is clear to me!

“Nah, why would she? I think she’s just a stray anyway.”

>I AM NOT A STRAY! My owner is the orange princess of Equestria!

‘Well, put ‘er down an’ let’s see what she does. If she moves for the train then we’ll know that she… wow. She took right off.’

“Annnnd here she comes again. What is it, girl?”

>Give me. A bloody. Ticket!

‘…Give ‘er a ticket, Bounceback.’

“What?”

‘Said give ‘er a ticket. That’s what she wants.’

>OH PRAISE THE SUN!

‘Hear that yip? Yeah, I’m right.’

“But-”

‘Don’t worry ‘bout the cost, I’ll foot it.’

>YOU ARE A WONDERFUL STALLION AND I WILL NOT FORGET YOU GOOD SIR!

“…Huh. There she goes. Think we’ll ever see her again?”

‘Eh, maybe, maybe not.’

“But she sure was cute, wasn’t she?”

‘I’d hit it.’

“…”

‘What? With a barrage of snuggles, Bounceback, you nasty idiot.’
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>13
"55"
[???]
~~~~

>I'm just saying, it seems like it would be dangerous.

"And I'm telling you, it's important to the environment!"

>I just think the crop dusting would be more healthy if you weren't on fire.

"Pfft, you sound like my doctor."

>You have a doctor?

"Had one! He got real busy here recently, though, said "Iffin' ya' don't stop, Ah'm not gonna patch ya' up no more!" then his door must have gotten stuck or something because it's always locked whenever I go over there."

>...It bothers me you could pull off that accent.

"So, that's what I do mostly. What do you do?"

>I uh... don't have a job. Unemployed like the rest of the ballroom. And to be honest, 12's horror stories kind of keeps me from wanting to try. You know? Ponies used to stab him.

"Woo, sounds rough, glad I don't have a job."

>You don't get paid?

"For what?"

>...I might need to talk to our Queen.

[Talk to me about what?]

She jumped so high she hit the ceiling.

Literally.

"Hey! No stealing all of the electrical fires! That's my thing, get your own!"

Chrysalis only sighed, magically pulling her loose before she could get shocked any worse from the light fixture.

[You need to work on your detection skills, I wasn't being overly covert with my walking.]

>S-sssorry your majesty! I'll work on it!

[See that you do. And you...]

"HI CHRYSALIS!"

>55 WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? THAT IS YOUR QUEEN!

"Oh... HI QUEEN!"

[Hello.]

"Nice to see you again! You having fun? You look grumpy."

>ARE YOU BRAINDEAD!?

"Nahhh, it still mostly works!"

[No need to worry, 13. I understand he's not... 'all there.']

"Huh? Well... where'd the rest of me go? I need to go get that!"

[I'll have it mailed to you.]

"PHEW! Thanks!"

[To the point, what did you need to talk to me about?]

>O-oh, uh... well, maybe I should go to 42, not you, don't want to waste your time-

[I'm here, so you'll be saving me time.]

>R-RIGHT! Right, you'd know, it's just... he kind of lives in a shack...

"I do, and my shack is awesome! It's magic, even! Totally got it exactly where I want it to."

[...I'll have someone look into it.]

"Cool! Nobody believes me when I say I have a shack, it's too mind blowing."

[Quite shocking.]

>U-uh... my Queen?

[Hm? Was there something else?]

>Yeah, uh, you keep- your horn keeps flickering. Is that a thing? Is that... do you need me to do something with magic? I'll do it!

[No no, just... checking something. Neither of you stumbled across a pony in a trenchcoat, correct?]

>...No?

"I stumbled across a pony who was really mad so I gave her bits for a ride, does that count?"

[...You are going to be an issue sometime in the future.]

"Thanks! What kind? National Ponygraphic or the power ponies kind?"

[We'll wait and see.]

"AWESOME!"

[Do enjoy your time here, so few of our hive have the moxie to wander from the ballroom.]

>YES MAJESTY!

"What does moxie taste like?"

13 face-hoofed. Chrysalis just rolled her eyes.

[Take care.]

>YES MAJESTY AS YOU COMMAND!

[Wait!]

13 froze, hovering inches off the ground.

[I'll... uh... I'll walk off. You stay put until I'm gone.]

>Oh... okay!

Cautiously going around her, the Queen set off.

And, of course, the moment she was out of sight she heard 13 try to bolt and go facefirst into the wall.

"TEN POINTS!"

>Ow...

Letting out another tired sigh, Chrysalis just marched on.

Well, she thought to herself, those two weren't it. Narrowed her search down just a touch...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>56
“Luna”
‘Batmom’
-???-
~~~~~

>Hey, uh… Moons? Can I talk to ya for a second…?

“Hm? Is there something that lingers on your mind, 56?”

>Yeah, kinda, see…

“Yes? Why do you falter so?”

>I… I can’t.

“Can’t what?”

>Talk to you….

“We don’t see why not, just open thine mouth and make the words!”

>It’s… you don’t see anything wrong with batmom here walkin’ all between us like this?

‘My name is Glimmer, brat.’

>Moooooove-uh! I wanna talk to Moons!

‘Go ahead, I’m not stopping you, but I do find it cute how you’re pushing against me like you really think that’s going to do something.’

>C’mon, quit bein’ so mean! Orangebutt always says to be nice and you’re not bein’ real nice right now!

'Adorable. Fine.'

56 almost fell over when Glimmer suddenly moved aside and began to hang back, offering the most snidest yet gentlest of grins.

>Wuh…?

‘Three minutes, kid.’

>Thank you!

“The two of you never cease to make me smile, we want to express this.”

>Glad someone’s smilin’ here… but anyway, Moons, um… I was wonderin’, like, what’s your schedule for the last day we got here?

“Let us think… mostly entertaining ideas of how best to demolish this unholy sanction of floating earth. Other than that, nothing really pops to our mind, 56. Why is this a thing to ponder, our schedule?”

>Because I… you know the ferris wheel?

“Fair us wheel...? Doth thou mean the circular demon that traps innocent souls in its sinister rotation?”

>…Yes. That. Would you ride that with me?

“We would prefer to burn it down with thee, not ride it….”

>Please? I wanna tell you how much I… I-I mean, I just really, really, really wanna ride with you, show you the sky and… and stuff…

“Well… we suppose if thou wishes to be in our divine company that badly… alright.”

>YEEEEEES! I GET TO RIDE WITH MOO-

‘Cut it short, kid, time’s up. Get back there with the other one.’

>…You mean NTL?

-Yeah, me, the other one.-

>She must let you snuggle her plot real good for you to be able to put with this…

-Love, 56. You’ll get it one day… although I sincerely hope not.-

>Why not?

-Because moon booty, right ahead.-

>…It really is big, ain’t it? See the way it jiggles and bounces with every step? Don’t you just wanna bury your face in it?

-N-no, I mean, w-why would I when I’ve got my l-lovely, darling, oh-so-sexy fiancé to snuggle up on?-

‘Good answer, my little lovebug.’

-Ahahaha…-
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Celestia
"Applejack"
'Rarity'
~~~~~

>I wish you had told me you were bringing her, Applejack.

"Sorry, kinda' a last minute thing. Little fella ended up sleepin' in mah' napsack and everythin'. Ya' got a problem with it?"

>Not at all, the poor thing really does need to get out more, I just wish I had known.

'Oh, be glad you didn't. She drove us to insanity last night when we found out she snuck out.'

"Little thing ended up spendin' tha' whole day in the park."

>Oh? Who was watching her?

"Ain't gonna believe this, but onna' our guys managed ta' stumble across her by accident and watched out fer' her. Even let her stay in his room."

>You don't say? And he was... okay with her?

'He's a rather strange sort. This may sound odd, but he was hanging out with another Changeling in addition to her.'

>Reeeally? That is interesting.

"Now don't go assumin', he seems like a nice enough fella."

>What was his name? I might know him.

"...uh..."

'...Applejack, no.'

"DON'T TELL ME! Ah'll remember it! Ah' just... mah head' runnin' too ragged. Just gotta calm down, and it'll come ta' me..."

'...'
>...

"..."

'...Ac-'

"ACTARIUS RIGHT AH' KNEW THAT AH' GOT ITHAH AH' BEAT YA' TO IT AH'M NOT DUMB!"

>...Third division or fifteenth?

"...beg pardon?"

>There's an Actarius in third division and fifteenth division, which one is he? One of those two got arrested for trying to 'search' a mare and is on probation.

"Uh..."

'I don't think he gave out his division number... he had amazing hair?'

>Oh! Okay, that's the other one. He flunked out of the training phase twice, had to take a year off just to get good enough to barely pass.

"Seemed like an okay sort."

>Oh, I'm sure he is. Never had an extended conversation with him, though.

"So how'd ya' know all that stuff?"

>It's important to know who is guarding you, Applejack... especially after someone like Shiny totally slipped under my radar.

'Really?'

>Oh yes, I'll have to tell you about it sometime. But back on topic, which number changeling was he hanging out with?

"No idea."

>Hm?

"Ah' ain't gotta clue what Jugglejack's number is."

>You remember Jugglejack but not-

"AH KNOW!"

>...Were they on a date?

"What!?"

>Actarius and Jugglejack, dating?

'No, the dear is rather insistent that Actarius is 'not his coltfriend', as it were.'

"Not that we pressed the matter-"

>DAMN!

"...."
'...'

>I just lost EIGHT HUNDRED BITS to Chrysalis! My poor cake budget!

"..."
'...'

>...I'm over a thousand years old and I can't have sex, I have to do SOMETHING to entertain myself!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC addition
~~~~

>...I'm over a thousand years old and I can't have sex, I have to do SOMETHING to entertain myself!
Everyone's head turned when a figure instantly fell out of the tree across the lane from them.
>...Still, Jetset?
He offered not one word and hastily scrambled back up into the tree, cheeks aflame and sending down a cascade of leaves.
"An' what was that all about?"
>Nothing to worry about. He's just a bit of a prude about such things, very sensitive, the poor thing.
"...Oho."
But Rarity alone grinned.
'You don't say, darling...'
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>OO7
"???"
~~~~

>WHEEEEEHEHEHEEEEEEE~!

She may have only said ONE ride, but not WHICH. This rollercoaster was said to be the craziest in the world, and it lived up to it.

>WHEEE!

To be honest, he never got to live like this anymore. Always traveling here, going there, interrogating him, 'interrogating' her, never just pure fun.

>WHEEEEEEE~!

Which is why he felt his heart sink just a touch when it finally drew to a close.

>EEEee.... aww...

So much we wished for more... alas, she had said one ride. Just one.

And one was all he would get.

He couldn't keep the disappointed breath from leaving him as he took to the air, flying to where he could find her Majesty to get his new orders.

Finding her was easy enough, he was a search based infiltrator after all and she rather stuck out in a crowd, sneaking up on her...

"There you are."

Never so much.

"Have fun? Always important to relieve stress, 7."

Well, from the tone of her voice, stress was something she had in spades.

"Tell me, in your searching, did you come across a pony in a rather large trench coat?"

>Six, none whom I saw up close.

"Unfortunate."

>Am I to resume my search?

"Not quite yet. I have a new mission for you."

>At once.

"Good... I need you to steal some hair from Celestia's mane or tail. Just a strand will do."

There was a long, deep pause, one long enough to concern the Queen.

Abruptly, he reached into one of the holes in his hoof, and brought out a tiny circular case.

>I-I... I uh... I apologize, Majesty, I did not think you... um... d-do you want it? I uh...

Slowly, Chrysalis's eyebrow went up as he popped the lid open, revealing sure enough a single luminous strand.

"...How the hell did you get that?"

>I uh... s-she... gave it to me... cause I may have... asked...

"..."

>...It's so pretty.

"Ah, no, this is for a contest. You have to steal it."

>Oh... OH! OHHHHH! Oh, okay! Of course, your Majesty!

"..."

>...

"...We are going to have a talk about this."

>...Damn...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>???
‘???’
~~~~~

>Dear Princess Applejack,

>I haven’t written to you in about four months… I know, bad girl.

>But I’m doing so now to inform you that… remember what we talked about? And how you warned me not to attempt it because the backlash wouldn’t be worth it?

>Well, I’ve been thinking and—not to say that your warning went in one ear and right out the other but…

>I think I’ve done my time.

>I think I’ve fed you enough information.

>I think I’ve stretched the limits of my tolerance, princess.

>So now I think I’ll be leaving soon.

>How soon?

>Probably before you open this letter upon your return from that glorious meteorite in the sky.

>The consequences I’ll carry, the chaos I’ll control, but this madness? I refuse.

>A scapegoat was needed and I filled that role with nary a question, out of respect for him.

>But he’s gone now… replaced by this Pennydrop ditz, and the thought of her third-rate scientists running my lab fills me with more bile than I can hold.

>No lives will be lost when I escape, I can assure you of that fact.

>Or maybe you’ll return in time and manage to thwart me?

>A race against the sands, eh? I wouldn’t mind that at all, princess.

>In fact, I’d consider it a great honor to play a game with you.

>Sincerely y

…

>Son of a bitch, what sucktastic timing… hey, pervert! Get over here, I need you to get me some more ink!

‘Okay, first I found myself trying to figure out how you’re writing with your back hooves-’

>Because I’m just that talented. What, getting off to my legs now?

‘-but, ignoring you there, then the question of where you obtained that red ink took precedence. Where did that even come from?’

>Oh. That. Blood from past specimens, I kept them by the jar full for situations just like this. Smart me, right?

'...'

>Quit gawking and hurry up, I need to finish this letter and get it out time or I won’t be able to have my fun!

‘…What poor, unfortunate soul on the outs has contact with you?’

>Hardy har har, keep it up if you want to find yourself being suffocated by these supple thighs of mine, perv.

‘Wow. I have never seen such blatant projection in all my life… even if they are nice.’

>I knew it. Now shut up and get my ink, it’s in that compartment under my cot.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chrysalis
~~~~

>Damn...

There they were, right in front of her. Shiny and the mares who dictate his life. There was a tenseness to them, to Caddy especially, that even here, across the room, was apparent.

She wished she could go over there, mock her way to some answers, and more than likely spend the rest of the day making fun of whatever poor choice the pink princess had made. Surely, there was enough ammo in this to last her a hundred lifetimes...

But...

>Damn damn damn...

She just couldn't.

She had to find what she was looking for now, and sadly, none of the three Changeling fit what she sought. It would have been too easy, she supposed....

>Sorry, guys.

Remorsefully, she turned away and left before they could see her. She had a mission for her hive as a whole, and she had to solve it now.

>Damn...

It sucked to be the Queen sometimes.

...Was going to suck for whoever she was looking for far, far more.

She would guarantee that.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Idris
"Gwen"
'Grehm'

>...

"..."

'...'

>So...well...

'Family?'

"Beg pardon?"

'During the first lull of uncomfort, you asked of my family. Is it not good to me to ask yours?'

>Oh, oh not at all. Well you see, my good Morlock, the Af Gryphonia dynasty stretches far and wide in the Gryphon Kingdoms, ours a long and mighty lineage that dates back to the great king of yore who ruled all of our kind until the great sundering which split all gryphons into fractious families and clans, then brought them together again in the face of the great Wyrm Invasion of the third century!

"I think he meant more current members, Idris."

'...children?'

>Oh, aha, well, we have...we have three. Zephyrious-

"Idris' mother wanted to name him that."

>It was the name of one of our greatest generals! He's off completing the studies befitting the heir to the throne.

"Swordsmanship, Tactics, Tourney Fighting, Embroidery..."

'...what is embroidery?'

"Sewing, did you not know that's a kingly art? I sure didn't."

>Oh ha ha ha, it's so he may add himself to the great tapestry of regality that has chronicled our House from its ascension to Kinghood!

"He had me help him with his part."

>I CANNOT DO DRAGONS, WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS!

"You can slay one, but you can't sew one to save your life. My husband, ladies and gentlemen."

>...of all the...then there's our dearest daughter Hilda-

"He wanted desperately for a boy name Heinrich, I...well, wanted to have her be named after a certain confidant of mine. We compromised."

>-she is learning from the Shrike Sisters of Hightalon, perfecting courtly manners and the like.

"Same education I received, histories of the noble houses, how to wear a dress properly, applying poisons to knives in event of a siege..."

>-and finally there's little Siegfried, ha! Now him, I can't be certain whether the Gods gave us a blessing or a curse when he took breath.

"A sprightly ball of energy and idiocy in equal measure. Always looking for some crazed adventure or another."

>He's...where IS he, Gwen?

"Oh he's off with my father, helping him out."

>Ah, building character, I hope.

"As do I."

'Helping? How?'

"Hm? Oh knowing my father the two of them are hot on the trail of some would-be usurper, you don't get to be the Lord of Featherfall Valley without making an absurd amount of enemies."

>Legend has it the first High King had such a hard time figuring out which of the many clans settled there should rule over it he just threw them all into a melee and declared the last gryphon standing the rightful Lord.

"And that gryphon was my ancestor according to legend. Apparently beat most of his rivals into submission with a whole table."

>And so there's been a bitter enmity ever since, not a year goes by without a minor house trying to usurp power in the Valley. Who was it this time, dearest?

"Hmm...is it a leap year?"

>No.

"Then it was probably a Blackfeather."

'Blackfeather?'

"Obnoxious bunch of barbarians, always on about keeping to the old ways-"

>That is the ways even older than the old ways *I* subscribe to.

"Which is basically banditry, sadism, ill thought out schemes. Hmph, remember how we met, Idris? One of the louts thought he would force my father's claw by kidnapping me. Took me away to their godsforsaken Bog to hold me hostage, the Valley for my release."

>Yes, my father and I had come through with our retinue after a great hunt. Lord Stormclaw's party asked for our help, and between the lot of us we stormed their hideaway, slew those who resisted and...

'Save future wife?'

"Ha!"

>We...ohhh...we found her bludgeoning a gryphon twice her size to paste with a table leg of all things.

"He'd like folks to think his father betrothed us on the spot, but that came much later."

>Yes, much later, but it would be a lie if I didn't say the seeds of our love were sown that day...

Idris absently scratched his claw where Gwen's neck met her back, causing her wings to flare out. Her eyes went wide and she snapped at her husband.

"Idris! In public!?"

>Ha, sorry, I was feeling nostalgic. We used to do that to her all the time when we were kids, you know, me and her brothers.

"And shortly afterwards you'd all be mewling for your respective mothers on the ground."

>And here YOU'RE the one exclaiming about things happening in public. Ha!

"I...ugh, what were we even talking about?"

'Zigfeed.'

>Siegfried, my friend, but you're getting better at that. Yes, the boy will be fine, he's near a man grown anyway, so long as he heeds his grandfather, he'll be fine.

'Would not trust my father with my pups.'

>That's because he'd probably eat them.

'Yes, that is reason.'
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NC

>Spike
"DT"
~~~
The battle had ended and victory favored them

Choices had been made they wished could have been made better, but within their incredible power as a team, they had faced insurmountable odds

And all the world came out on top

Diamond Tiara now leans back as Spike gives her first aid, In her hoof a stolen bottle of scotch

"This is gonna be one of our more public exploits, isn't it?"

>After how many people you saved by standing in front of the crowd, there's any doubt?

"Hey, I'm a people pony, what can I say?"

>You sure are. But I get a feeling that's not your question, is it?"

"It wasn't... I was just thinking, how is all this going to look down the road? How are people gonna look at the A-team in ten years? Twenty Five Years... Fifty years or a hundred?"

>They'll take what they see of us an exaggerate ii to hell and back. It's what people do. It's going to be bigger, louder, flashier each retelling until someone makes a movie.

"So what will that made me? The soot-stained Venus?"

>Or the foul-mouthed explosives nut.

"No reason I can't be both. 77-"

>Will be the the grizzled, veteran, mentor type. All people see is just that he's older and tends to give us advice and they'll run with it.

"And poor 42's gonna be reduced to the brutish, dim-witted punchbug, isn't she?"

>They might give her big tits.

"She's a fighter, why would she have big tits?"

>I don't know, but that's what people think about strong fighters. But, either way, it's not gonna happen.

"What makes you so sure?"

>Because I'll tell them. And I'll never forget.

"You sure about that?"

>How can I forget my friends?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>JJ
“???”
'Actarius'
[???]
{???}
~~~~~

The hall filled with cosplayers was as lively as ever. So many costumes, so many different ponies, even some nice music playing above them all. After two whole days freaking out, Jugglejack could at last feel himself start to relax.

>You know, I think I was just being overly scared, in hindsight.

Beside him, Actarius adjusted his own costume slightly, smirking triumphantly at the changelings words.

'Told you.'

>I mean, even if she did find out somehow, what's she going to do? Kill me-GLK!

'JJ!'

His cries went unanswered as the changeling was ripped off his hooves and dragged backwards, rocketing across the room so fast the patrons only saw a blur. He came to a sudden, and jarring, stop not far away.

And promptly lost all higher brain functions.

“You and I need to have a discussion.”

Looking into the narrowed, fierce eyes of his Queen was enough to make his blood feel frozen in his veins.

>I-I-Iiiiiiieee...

[WHATRE YA' DOIN'!?]

Emerald eyes flickered to the side, where an unexpected guest had decided to make her presence known. Several other unexpected guests right behind her.

“Mmm... it seems we need to go to a place more... private.”

[CHRYSALIS YA'LL KEEP YER' BIG BUG BACKSIDE RIGHT THERE OR SO HELP ME-]

With a flippant scoff, the flames consumed them both. The large Queen and terrified minion in her magical grasp slowly enveloped in it's blaze.

“Do not try to follow me.”

[CHRYSALIS YOU SORRY ROTTEN-]

Just like that, they were gone.

[That no good dirty little venom spittin'...]

The group watched as she went off into a huffy spiel, practically eating her hat in all of her rage as she rushed outside of the amphitheater, several heads looking in all directions for any sign of her.

{Jetset!}

A magical teleportation went off, and they knew he was gone. Nonetheless, they looked around for any sign of the tell-tale flames of her magic.

There was only one who did not join them. A single pony who had watched the whole thing, his mind frozen in shock at the horror of what he had caused.

It did not stay frozen long.

'...Where would she go...

His brain fired off like a piston, going in a thousand directions at once.

'Her teleportation consumes her in flame, which means most likely that flame also shows when she lands. Her range is far beyond a pony's teleportation, which means potentially she could be off of Partyland, but it's moving and she would be unfamiliar with this location, meaning she runs the risk of not being able to get back on. It would have to be here...'

She couldn't be too close, or else they would be able to detect her magic, and lock in on...

'Wait...'

That's exactly what she would want him to think! But where could she go that would disguise both magic and fire...

'...BINGO!'

“Amphitheater Here” indeed!

Wasting no time, he found the nearest service ladder leading to the top, and he got climbing.

~~~~

Atop the building, Spike's ever persistent flame just above her, the Queen of all changelings was not in a good mood.

“I have given you so very little orders...”

Had the one before her been able to respond as the magic coursed through him, he would likely be begging for forgiveness in some fashion.

“Restrict all damages to the ballroom to prevent me having to pay it.”

He spasmed again as another wave of the green magic rocked through his body, mouth wide in a silent scream.

“Do not disguise yourself as another without my orders.”

He tried to curl as the unnatural feeling swam through his veins, eyes wide with freight and discomfort.

“Do not attack a pony in anything but defense, and never severely enough to cause serious damage.”

He felt it inside him now, pulling at... something.

“...Do not go near the one of Sciderella, and never speak with her...”

The pulling intensified, reaching deep, deep within him, into his very blood.

“That was all I asked... and yet, you could not even manage the easiest of those orders. Willingly, at that. No deception on her part as to her identity, simply a carefree act... you, of all creatures who walk this land, should know better.

She sighed disappointedly, curling a hoof under his chin.

“But unfortunately, even we, the most deceptive of all of Equestria's races, sometimes fall victim to our own pride of thinking that surely, none could deceive the deceivers. This is dangerous, and leads to follies like this. But fortunately for our continued existence as a race, ones like myself know of these failings, and are prepared to do what is necessary in the face of them for the... greater majority.”

At last, what ever she had done tightened it's grip, and he felt the first flickers of pain.

“I wish I could tell you not to fear, but that would simply be a lie-”

A metal clank left her speechless. Specifically, the fact that clank had come from the side of her head.

A pipe fell to the ground next to her, bent into an unnatural shape from the impact. She, of course, had not even felt a tickle upon her skin. Strangely, she found nothing when she turned back. Simply empty ceiling and a single structure in the center to house the service elevator.

Finding him wasn't all that hard.

'Okay, that didn't work. Her vulnerability would be her eyes, nose, or mouth, so I might need to construct some kind of spear.... damn how do I do that!? Why is learning so hard!? I studied for this for weeks and-'

His rambling ceased when he leaned back, expecting to his his head upon cool stone. Instead it found... air.

A cautious hoof poking back confirmed, air.

He didn't want to tilt his head back and look up, he really didn't, but something compelled him to. Something drove him to slowly look up aaaannnnd.... Yep. That was, in fact, the entire structure. That little shack looking thing made of concrete.

And it was, indeed, hovering over his head.

'...WHA-CHA! HOOFSAND!'

He hadn't even really thought, just scooped a hoof-full of the dust and rubble left behind and chucked it right at her face. She didn't even blink before releasing a bolt of magical flame to turn it to glass.

'Ahhh... shoot. Kind of... that was plan D.'

She did not answer him. Nothing but a wide, unblinking stare in response.

'Ah... HAH!'

He picked up a loose pole from the ground, brandishing it in front of him.

'Miss, I am ordering you to put him do-'

He was cut off, quite abruptly, as the structure dropped on him.

'...Huh.'

A comical *DING!* rang out, and he stepped out from the elevator doors as they slid open.

'As I was saying-'

He was cut off yet again as it slid to the side, and consumed him once more before shutting the doors.

'...huh...'

Her head tilted to the side and her right eye closed just a bit when she heard clicking.

'Come on... these friggen things take forever...'

Out of nothing but pity, she let the doors open and allowed him to come out once more.

'AH HAH! Alright, Miss Queen Chrysalis, I'm going to need you to put down the changeling!'

She was only sort of paying attention to him, her own mind divided as she put the structure back into place, and magically repaired all of the damage.

'...I meant, you know, now!'

Her right eye narrowed just a bit more, and her head rolled to the side just a touch more as well.

'Since you have not responded, I am forced to use more physical means!'

He moved forward smoothly, his guard training giving him the necessary grace to roll before her, and stand poised with the pipe hooked in his foreleg, ready to strike.

He would have too, if the pipe hadn't suddenly melted.

'...AHHHHHH!'

Still in his foreleg, that is.

'AHHH SO MUCH REGRET! AHHHH!'

Slowly, Chrysalis's mouth opened just a touch into a gape.

'AHHHH!... Owww.. ahh... eeeee... pffooo... pffooooo....uhhh..'

He paused the blowing when he noticed her face was slowly screwing into gobstruck look.

'...AH HAH! But you see, I was just a distraction, all of the princesses are waiting just behind me to attack! The minute I give my signal, BAM!'

Seconds ticked away.

'...I uh.. yeah, I probably... probably should have actually gone and gotten them to do this entirely. This was a... bad idea. Got swept up in...'

Gradually, she managed to force herself into a more expressionless look. It was, to put it mildly, rather hard to do.

'Can you uh... please put him down?'

Her eyes narrowed, lip curling just a bit.

And then Jugglejack suddenly jerked as a magical power surged through him, and his eyes went wide with pain.

'NO!'

He tried to move forward to grab the changeling, only to be stopped by a force he could not even see. It was as if she was not even using magic, simply a sheer burst of pure power. Powerful enough to send him tumbling back, but not down for long. Again and again he tried, becoming more panicked as his friend twisted in the air.

'PLEASE! You have to listen to me! T-this is about Arana, right!? This is about her and he wasn't allowed to be near her? IT WAS ME!'

The fierce look left, and a curious eyebrow rose.

'That's right! T-that... okay, it's like this, I'm a guard, I'm an Equestrian Guard! Okay, okay what happened was, I saw him running around, and I thought he was infiltrating the park or something, so I... I personally detained him, just couldn't trust you guys after that invasion thing, and then I saw Arana, but she was hiding her legs so I thought, you know, all the same! He tried to tell me, really, but I forced him to stay next to me! I did it! Don't punish him for me, it's all my fault!'

Even as a gasping wheezing breath left the changeling, she remained unmoved.

'I'M TELLING THE TRUTH!'

The Changeling began to gag harshly, dry heaving into the air with throat twitching painfully as something forced it's way up. A red, fine mist bubbled out from his lips, face twisting as a foul taste touched his tongue.

'PLEASE! I'M BEGGING YOU STOP!'

And then, as the last wisp of red left his fanged maw... she did.

The magic faded slowly, gently, easily putting him to the ground as he hacked and coughed, spittle coming out mixed with nothing at all as his ragged breaths eventually calmed down. So afraid of setting her off once more, the guard could not even move.

“Are you alright?”

He could, however, gape stupidly.

Her much larger hoof rubbed his back as his chest heaved, but nothing came out. With great difficulty and quite a bit more hacking on his part, he could eventually answer her.

>What... what was that stuff?

A curious eye turned to the red mist that floated before her, magically held in a tiny ball.

“Pheromones, but... I'm not sure of what kind.”

An inquisitive eye looked them over, as if they held words that would spell out their nature hidden in the cloud.

“They aren't mind control based... they aren't her fear toxins... not her tracker or sickness ones... damn, they're not even lust pheromones. What could this stuff possibly be? I've never seen anything like it...”

Her lip suddenly twisted into a snarl.

“Damn, looks like I'll have to go to Twilight for this one.”

>M-my Queen... I'm... I'm so sorry...

“You should be!”

Both Jugglejack and the still confused Actarius flinched quite violently at her harsh tone.

“Do you have any idea what you've done!? This could have been a sickness spreading pheromone, or a mind control, or even one that would make your fellow hive members go on what amounts to a bad acid trip! If I had not seen this coming and prepared immunizations for you and all of the others, chaos could have reigned!”

>S-she just seemed so-

“YOU ARE A CHANGELING! Did it not make you confused that one who comes from a hive so foul would have a demeanor so cheery? Did you really think in your empty head that the spawn of Sciderella herself, the next in line to take that twisted crown, would live were she so weak? Queens are forged since birth to embody their hives, you fool. The moment you thought her harmless is when you had to have known she was the most deadly of foes!”

>I'm...

“...You can't even bring yourself to say it.”

Pathetically, he shook his head.

“I am angry with you, and by your actions I should very well cast you from my hive to prevent this from ever occurring again. A Queen of those past would have killed you right away.”

His head hit the ground in a further bow, and it was only a harsh, unforgiving look that silenced the pony beside them.

“...But I will not.”

Stunned, his shaking stopped.

“I have no desire to see you lost for simply not being on par with one who would have one day been a Queen had fate not intervened. You have failed me, my subject... but I see no malice in this act, only foolishness. Another may have demanded your head, it's true. But for me... you have suffered enough. I will order no exile, no imprisonment, no toll to be paid. Only this once. One time, I shall cast aside tradition, for mercy.”

Wide tearful eyes looked up at her.

>I'm so sorry...

“Prove it with actions, words are nothing to those born with silver tongues.”

>I... I will...

“Good. And as for you...”

Actarius suddenly went stock still.

“You risk your country with your actions.”

'I uh... I actually don't, we're out of Equestrian airspace here. Nobody ordered me, I have no authority here and I'm off duty so this isn't... 'sanctioned', I guess? Which I guess means you could have shot me with no political repercussions... huh. Wow... this somehow got dumber...'

“Impossible.”

'I... I'm sorry. I wasn't lying, this is all my fault. I made this happen, I really didn't think it was that big a deal... and it looked like you were going to... what was I supposed to do? He's my... you know, he's my friend. I couldn't just stand there.'

She scoffed, dismissive.

“Well, he is my subject. You will have to accept that in this matter, I hold supreme authority. It may look abhorrent, but if I have to do something to protect them all as opposed to one, I will.”

'I... I understand.'

“It doesn't matter. If you should ever insult me by challenging me like that again, I will not be so gobsmacked at the stupidity of it all, and your life will end.”

'Yeah... kind of out of my league here...'

“You could not have undersold it more if you tried.”

Gently, she propped Jugglejack to his hooves.

“You are free to go, I have nothing more to say to you.”

>Thank you, your majesty.

“And as for you...”

He winced at that.

'Yeah... I am so fired.'

Thoughtfully, she poked her hoof to her chin.

“Hm... I suppose...”

'…'

“...I suppose it would look bad if the one time one of you blasted guards actually stood up for my subjects, even against me, you were cast out for it. Sends a bad message that could lead to less of them being helped in the future... Bah!”

Flippantly, she waved her hoof.

“Very well, for the sake of politics, and frankly my own sense of pity for someone just... just so sad. I'll forego demanding your resignation and imprisonment over this matter.”

'REALLY!?'

It was more than a little insulting how stunned he looked.

'I uh... I mean, thank you, your Highness! I am very... appreciative of this mercy you're granting me.'

“That's better. And YOU!”

Back once more to being scared and confused, Jugglejack practically jumped out of his chitin.

“No cheating with the armor! We are Changelings, surely you can win a disguise contest without it! Make your own!”

>Kind of a last minute thing-

“No excuses! Now, off with you. Take my words to heart and savor your freedom. Fail me again, and it will be yours no longer.”

>Yes... of course my Queen!

“Begone!”

Both of them scrambled away, heading towards the ladder and fumbling over the other as they raced down, out of her sight.

Alone, she let out a long, almost exhausted breath.

“Damn it...”

A hoof ran through her mane, spastically ruffling it.

“I know I should have killed him, hell, I should have killed them both, especially that fucking guard for insulting me like that. Fucking coming up like I'm some nobody he could actually command, fuck. I'd have smacked Applejack for trying that, and don't even get me started on that damn... one thing! I give my subjects one thing I command them to obey, and somehow!... Anyone else would have killed that juggling twit... he was just being an idiot. He was just... It was treason, but...”

A flinching eye looked over to the red mist that still hovered next to her, still contained.

“...Mother would have been so disappointed in me.”

She would never admit it to another, not to Twilight, not to Celestia, not even to Shiny, but...

“It fucking sucks being the Queen sometimes.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

More non-canon
>Celestia
"Twilight"
'Chrysalis'
[Chrysalis Translations]
~~~
>It's been awhile since I've watched some TV. I wonder what's on these days?

Welcome back to Equestrian Geographic with today's special host: Princess Twilight Sparkle!

"G'day, gents an' sheilas! Today we're gonna delve a bit inta changlin' culture, it's rather different from our own, some migh' even say bizzare, but they're a people like you an' me with some complex customs an' social norms. Here wit' me is their Queen, Chrysalis! Ain' she a beaut!"

'I find this highly insulting and plan to kill you after this interview.'

[Hello, Twilight, it's good to be here.'

"Thanks fer bein' 'ere Chrysalis! Yer lookin' good yerself! Now I understand that in a culture steeped in tha arts o' espionage an' betrayal, makin' friends is difficult."

'Your brother.'

[It is a challenge. I also fucked your brother.]

"Didn' need ta hear that last part, but aye, I hear ya. Do queens ever get lonely at the top? I understand it can be hard since a Queen must be an unreachable figure an' bow an' explain 'erself ta no one."

'Oh! So you think just because you've cracked the code of our social structure you can decode us like one of your ciphers! I bow to your skills of deducing the obvious, maybe you can find out why you'll never get laid next?'

[I appreciate the time you take to improve the understanding between changeling and pony societies. It's very difficult to really open to up people, from drone to Queen. Also, I seriously fucked him, he came buckets inside of me.]

"Those tangents at tha end really necessary?"

'Your mother'

[It's a pathological thing with us changelings. We are compelled to bring up sexual subtext or context into our speeches in some way.]

"Fascinatin'! We'll be righ' back after a word from our sponsors!"

'I mock your dicks!'

[Hi, mom!]

>Yeeesh! I gotta set up an FCC or something for quality control!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Non Canon

>Jetset
"Applejack"
[Celestia]
'JJ'
(Actarius)
'*Chrysalis*


Higher up in the Ampitheatre, Jetset was speeding by with great effeciency, winking in and out of sight trying to trace his target. He certainly did not expect his secondary commander burst right through the wall next to him in a fit of exasperation, let alone without her hat.

"WHERE IS SHE?"

>Still no sign

Barely breaking his stride he kept zipping by in circles across the ampitheatre, he was surprised to see his sudden partner fly very stumbly and angrily after him

"NOT GOOD ENOUGH CONSARN IT! SHE COULD BE ANYWHERE! DOIN' ANYTHING!"

>I am doing my best, and I will find her

Though it was hard to concentrate with the orange princess thudding after him

"CHRYSALIS! IFFIN YOU HEAR ME YOU BEST SHOW YOUR CHITTY-NESS HIND OR I'LL BREAK YOUR FAUST-DARNED BACK!"

[Applejack, it won't have to be like this]

Always there in the nick of time, Jetset thought

>My Queen, she's close, I can feel that much

"Oh o'course she is, probably playing JJ like a dang ...marinade-ette with his guts or something right behind us!"

The group stopped dead at the sudden descent of two exhausted individuals from the service hatch

'Oh.. About the Queen, well she-'

"ARTICMONKEY, WHERE IS SHE!"

(I-uh-up top-not good idea-to-)

No more words, she thought, she had enough of words, and with that she let fly and flew....right into the wall....and then straight up the hatch-elevator-thingbob

"You are a worthless monster, Faust-darned camel-back-breaker"

Zwoosh, right out the hatch she flew, for the Queen still on the roof, it was a peculiar sight; quite ungainly, and really not needed right now

"CHRYSALIIIIIIS!"

Well this would be fun explaining to her, and was she divebombing right towards her? Yes she was; so Chrysalis did her fire thing again, leaving only stone for AJ to -KRAK- in front of

*Useless hick*

"YOU BETTER -KRAK- GIVE ME -KRAK- ONE DARN GOOD -KRAK- REASON -KRAK- FOR THAT LITTLE STUNT"

*WELL IF YOU -FWOOSH- HAD TRIED TO BE CIVIL -FWOOSH- PERHAPS YOU'D UNDERSTAND -FWOOSH- A LOT MORE YOU -FWOOSH- APPLE FUCKING SACK OF CRAP*

And so it went on, Applejack leaping at Chrysalis only for the Changeling to flitter away just before she landed, and soon, the roof was a scorched, cracked mess where the two stood

"Alright, ah think my old "Apple family tradition" is at it's brink, so you'd best give me a nice explanation, that doesn't make me burn somethin' to the ground"

Well that grinding, splintering, dental sound could only be good, Chrysalis thought

"How about, we start with THAT!"

The attention was brought to the red, magic held cloud.

*This? Oh, you should've just asked in the first place instead of trying to kick my head from my shoulders, I do think anothr 18 could do a better job than you in that regard*

&POOMPEW&

".....Wrong answer"

*Haw, their pheromones, you know basic biology, from that little freak you all seem to coo over*

"Wuh...Arana made those? What did that have to do with JJ? Don't tell me he was "punished" or however you sick freaks do it"

*Well I'm at just a loss as you are on WHAT these pheromones are meant to do, so clearly I need to see a princess who's a damn sight smarter than you to understa-*

"GrrrRAAAAAAH!"

-FWOOSH-

-KRAK-

"WHY CAN'T YOU NEVER GIT WHAT YAH DESERVE YOU CALLOUS BITCH?!"

Retorts were meaningless, because a very golden and slightly intimidating light broke out above them

[Because these things don't work that way, Applejack]

It was surprising how much the light revealed about the Apple Princess, mane disheveled, choker and hoof-shoes scuffed, and red, raw, tearful eyes

"You...iggi-you can't-"

*Hmprh*

"S-she, she went an ponynapped one of her own, Celly! H-how else w-w-were we t' know she wasn't gunna...gonna...."

*What, what do you think I could've done?! I assume something vicious and evil, since that's all you think of me*

[Chrysalis]

*...*

[Why did you seize JJ so suddenly like that, did you not think you would cause a stir? Not a shred of concern?]

*Oh don't you start, my subjects are mine own, they follow my rules, and that stupid juggling idiot broke one of the most important of them*

"Self s-servin'... hateful...bitc-"

[Hush, Applejack]

*And am I just supposed to let Appleass beat an answer out of me? Just because she doesn't trust me?*

"He was a wreck when h-he came down....him and Act...th-the guard"

*Look at you, throwing your massive rear around and you can barely remember your charges name, hell! I let him off from trying to ATTACK ME! And then you try and buck me in the face! Why should I trust you at all!*

[You shouldn't]

"W-WHA-?"

*don'tsmirkdon'tsmirkdon'tsmirkdon'tsmirkdon'tsmirk*

[Applejack didn't let you say anything to your defense, she assumed the worst of you for an act she...we.... know nothing about]

*Not even the start of it....*

[You acted irrationally and ill-befitting of your title, hoping a violent outburst would solve your troubles than anything else]

"Please...C-Celestia...please ah didn't...ah'm not..."

[Both of you]

*...Oh boy, here we go again*

[Perhaps you could explain what THAT is, Chrysalis]

"She sa-said pheromones from A-arana and...and...."

*And I don't know what they were doing to my juggling subject, and so I got them out of him*

[Because of little Arana]

*Oh you do not know how much of a favour I did for him, that "little Arana" stuffed him full of these....things and I have no idea how dangerous they are and how many more could've been spread and....and....*

[Yes?]

*....I'm scared. Because I don't know anything about them*

There was silence between them, save for Applejacks small sobs, fearful to look at either Celestia or Chrysalis

[Then I think we need to have them looked at, don't we?]

*Yeah yeah, have Sparkleface look 'em over, and Arana too*

"wuh-NO! Celly you can't let h-her do this! It's what she wants a-and she'll...she'll..."

[Applejack, did you know anything about Arana spreading pheromones?]

"...N-no....ah didn't"

[Neither did I, and neither did Chrysalis, so we have to take this precaution for all of our sakes, understood?]

The tone was harsh, but felt warm too

*Finally, at least Sunbutt here knows what's up, you just don't quite grasp Changelings, you ponies, even when it's right in front of you, so scared, all the time*

[We were scared Chrysalis, what you did down there was not a ruler concerned for her citizens from an unknown threat, it was a cold and hate filled act, no shred of compassion, or leniency, or anything that wouldn't scare a subject]

*...We aren't ever like you*

"Ah...Ah've been..."

The broken Applejack slowly tried to find her voice

"Bustin' m-mah flank, tryna make ponies understand you, not hate you as dangerous...an' evil b-bug monsters"

[Applejack-]

"BUT SHE K-KEEPS RUININ' IT ALL!"

*Oh you rotten, spoilt, little...*

"E-every time ah see some hope for them, she jess' makes 'em all her playthings an' no-one can trust 'em cos of her!"

*Don't you talk like you own them, like you've ever understood them!*

[That's enough, I said ENOUGH]

Silence

[Chrysalis, next time you suspect something of your charges, don't try and solve it by scaring everyone else, we CAN understand you, but you have to let us know]

*Pfft, squeamish...*

[I am not being "squeamish" here, you need to change your act, or what else will others expect of you]

*I can't just sit on my big ass and explain everything little nuance before I breathe like a Queen...*

[But you can change, and Applejack....foolish and stubborn as she is.... knows that too]

"*sniff*...Ah jess'...thought she was..."

[And Applejack, kicking through your problems solves nothing, Chrysalis was right, we need to find answers to this...pheromone from Arana, and we need to stop being at eachothers throats]

*Just...let's just get this ball of fun to Twilight, she'll know what to do...right?*

[You go do that, you should find her]

-FWO-

[BUT FIRST]

*..?*

[You'll have to carefully explain things, and apologise as well]

*....That idiot should've known better, I told him...but fine, I'll go through the motions-*

[No motions, just apologise for scaring us, then you can explain, then they'll understand]

*Alright....*

-FWOOSH-

"Is...is she gone?"

She twitched at the touch, but Celestia gently layed down next to AJ and allowed her wing to cover the fraught princess

[She is, do you want to talk?]

"Ah....Ah dunno, she's never...straight..she j-jess' always bends things an-and ah...don't know..."

[It's alright, dear, we'll understand one day]

No more words could be said by Applejack, she just nuzzled into Celestias warm side and let her tears and anguish out.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________