I Don't Feel Like The Chosen One

Darkest Moment

Part One: Trapdoor

Sun trotted up to Applejack's farm after an uneventful day at school. She planned to stay at the honest earth pony's house for the night, for no reason other than to hang out with her... At least, that was the reason Sun gave, and it wasn't like Applejack questioned that.

The brisk late summer winds accompanied her as she approached the sunset-bathed farm, sometimes sounding almost like whispering voices that muttered into her ears. She smiled once Applejack stepped out of the front of her house to see her as she drew nearer.

"Hey, Applejack!" Sun greeted, cheerfully.

"Heya, Sun!" Applejack cried back, just as full of energy as her.

Sun finally came to a stop at the door of the house, and was face to face with her big sister from another mother. If there was anypony in all of Equestria that Sun could trust, it was Applejack. Fluttershy may have been the first friend she made in Equestria, but Applejack was the first pony she ever met in the town. She was strong, capable, helpful, often the voice of reason, and although she wasn't the most ladylike, she was quite charming.

"What're ya just standin' there for?" Applejack giggled. "C'mon, come in before ya catch a cold, sugarcube!"

Sun nodded, and eagerly walked into Applejack's home after her. 

Once they were inside, Sun got settled in, making herself comfortable in the humble home's guest room, in which she was staying for the night. The two mares talked about all manner of things, ranging from anecdotes to the recent somber weather. Each enjoyed the other speaking, and they rambled on to each other for hours. It felt nice to Sun, to be around someone who really cared about what she was saying.

Time flew by, and soon enough, Sun admitted to Applejack that she was getting a bit worn out from socializing so much, and told her that she was going to sleep. The earth pony perfectly understood her - like usual - and because it was getting very late, she too, went to bed. That was it for the night... Well, in a better timeline, it was.

In the early hours of the morning, Applejack came down to the stairs, frustrated at how Apple Bloom had woken her up from a peaceful slumber to request that her older sister do something she was too scared to. "Gosh darn it, Apple Bloom..." Applejack grumbled to herself as she navigated through the dark house. "That filly really has to grow up... Just 'cause ya heard somethin' comin' from the barn doesn't mean some monster's gonna come an' get ya. Yet, here ah am, checkin' the barn..."

Picking up a lantern, she walked out of the house, and to, what else, but the old Apple family barn that they used to store cider. She gently brushed its doors open, expecting to find a crate of cider that had fallen over. Well, that was what she found, but instead of just one, it was several. A feeling of shock washed over her, and she began to panic as she saw more and more cider had been spilt all over the floor, or laid around like they had been dropped. She threw the lantern aside, and ran into the barn. She was distraught, and even a bit enraged. Who did this...?

And then, she heard something, like the sound of something struggling to breathe. She turned around as fast as lightning, and prepared herself to find an intruder... But she saw no one. She paid close attention to where the sound of the breathing was coming from, and she realized that it was coming from something just beside her, right at her feet.

Once she recognized the features of the intruder laid on the ground close to her, Applejack found herself in disbelief. She stammered as she struggled to utter, "S-S-Sun...? Is that... you?!" She examined the intruder further, and found that they were, in fact, Sun. She had cheeks the brightest shade of red, and her unevenly-lidded eyes poured tears like a fountain. Her mouth was open only slightly, as she breathed heavily, sometimes whimpering.