Apples for Ebony 7: Red as Envy
 
 
*Attention all train travelers. Due to obstructions on the track travel to Ponyville will be delayed overnight. Please forgive us for this inconvience.*
 
Ebony Alchemist sighed some as he considered flying to Ponyville. Flight service would certainly have been possible... if not for the fact that a storm had been scheduled for this week to give plants the nitrogen they needed.
 
Which meant Ebony was stuck in Manehatten for a while. He contemplated staying with Rarity, but he knew that would just be awkward.
 
*Besides,* he thought to himself, *no sense getting too comfortable. Soon you'll be back with Applejack.*
 
Ebony sighed some at that thought. For awhile they had been so close... then life got in their way and they seemed to always have something to do. He had to admit after working on the farm with the Apple family that it was starting to get a little... ridiculous. He wanted to spend more time with her, and he swore that as soon as he was back in Ponyville he would take her on a big night out.
 
*are you sure? After all.... how do you know she would still wait for you?*
 
Ebony froze. Why did he think that?!
 
*come now Ebony. You know clearly that you have been betrayed before. You go off helping others, and come back to your girl with another stallion...*
 
No, Applejack would never.... would she?
 
*of COURSE she would! And you even know who! Everyone shipped them together.*
 
Ebony grasped his head and winced. His mind flooded with images of Applejack being with Rainbow Dash, of Pinkie making the ship work. Even now he knew she was back in Ponyville while he was stuck in Manehatten. But... that was impossible. It was a short time he would be away!
 
Right?
 
*************
 
As it turned out it was not a short time after all. The pegasus team had made an error with their storm so it was lasting three days, and Ebony was stuck in a hotel waiting. His mind flooded with images of Applejack and Rainbow Dash and her dragon friend FT having fun with Applejack while he was stuck here in the city.
 
*And she is probably being a snack for them to. Everyone loves apples.*
 
Ebony growled as he lay there in the hotel, putting a pillow over his face. "Get out of my head!"
 
*oh? You know I am here, hmmm?*
 
Ebony sat up. Now he KNEW someone was there! "Who said that?!"
 
An image filled his mind of a feline in royal robes. She was tall with dark brown fur and a bright red robe with white trim. On her head was a crown of gold. Her eyes shown like emeralds, and her toothy smile seemed sinister yet powerful.
 
*I did Ebony Alchemist. I am Catrina, and I have been watching you. Poor thing, not even knowing your love has forsaken you.*
 
Ebony growled again. "No. Your lying."
 
*Am I?* and with that images flooded her head. True images of Applejack with Rainbow Dash and a large bipedal green dragon, much like Spike but bigger. Ebony knew it had to be FT.
 
Images of Applejack being roasted for the duo to eat.
 
Images of FT swallowing her whole so he could feel her kicking in his belly.
 
Images of Stage making her into a hot dog.
 
Images.
 
Images.
 
So... many....
 
*And all happening everytime you are not a part of her life. She doesn't care about you. Especially when the only thing you can give others keep giving her. The others get more time with her than you ever could. You are not worthy of her like they are, and she knows it. She uses every chance to take from all those who rival you.*
 
Ebony faltered. "I..... I. ...."
 
*But you can change that.*
 
Ebony blinked his eyes as he saw a new image, of him and Applejack cozy on the farm... FT and Rainbow Dash turning on the spit.
 
*They take her from you every chance they get. But you can take THEM. Then she will be all yours forever and ever.*
 
He blinked once more Ebony did. And when he blinked, his mood stiffened. His form went rigid for a moment. He was a pony on a mission now. And when his eyes open, they shone a beautiful crimson, almost burning. He could not remember his feelings for the ponies in his new home. He did not remember the friends he had made. All he knew was jealousy. How dare they take from him while he was trying to help others!
 
From the shadows a form chuckled as her paws waved, her spell overwhelming him. She knew just what to do.
 
*Do what must be done. Show no mercy. Take back what is yours.*
 
"I will." Ebony said, his voice monotone. He walked to the station just as the train to Ponyville pulled in.
 
Just as the feline planned.
 
*************
 
Applejack normally was happy to be selling her wares. After all it was super fun to see how her fellow townsponies liked her goodies. It was so much fun!
 
But today she was kind of blue. With the constant duties she had from Canterlot and beyond plus demands to make up sales to keep the farm afloat, she had no time for her friends or her special somepony. She sighed as she sat at the food stand, selling her wares with the usual success and the less than usual excitement.
 
"Hello Applesnack." A deep voice said, Applejack looking and seeing the giant form of Stage Manager. He looked genuinely worried about his snack/friend. "Bit for your thoughts?"
 
Applejack sighed. "Loneliness mostly Stage. Ah have gone from problem to chore ta harvest and on and on for weeks now. And when ah think ah got a minute free Eb is pulled away." She laid her head on her hoof. "I'm just kind of jealous that his work has him so busy and not me, and frustrated that ah am so busy ta do anythin' bout it."
 
Stage chuckled. "Doesnt help that lately FT and rainbow have you eaten more than he does, if you'll pardon my observation."
 
Applejack nodded. "Ah know. And ah kinda wanna change that soon. Ah mean have it between us and all."
 
Stage nodded. "Well he will be back soon. In the meantime I got to finish shopping for the family." He bowed his head and headed off, no one saying a word about the three colts in his cart. Applejack just sighed some. Maybe she should visit Rainbow later...
 
*************
 
"Can't catch me slowpoke!" Rainbow shouted as she flew about her friends home. Said friend, a green dragon who was built a little like Spike but was about six feet tall, gave chase with fork and knife in hand. The dragon had blonde hair and a slightly chubby form, and an appetite to match. FT, short for Fatal Tragedy, was having fun as he chased the speedster. If it had been a simple chase he would never catch her.
 
But FT was also an expert on traps. And so....
 
"Wha....WHOAH!!!" Soon enough, Rainbow was caught in an aerial snare. She wriggled and squirmed as FT came up in his guard armor, tapping his foot.
 
"Admit it, I got you."
 
Rainbow crossed her hooves. "No, I'm just.... waiting to make my move!"
 
FT and Rainbow chuckled as he got her down. He hugged her tight and she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Alright my wondersnack. But that DOES make the score 10 to 7 in my favor."
 
Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yeah this time. So, in the pie pan huh?"
 
"That WAS the agreement."
 
Rainbow sighed some. "OH all right. But you better-"
 
A sudden knocking interrupted them. Both heads turned some, neither noticing that the weather outside had suddenly turned choppy. FT walked to the door and opened it slightly...
 
... only to be pelted with a sleeping potion. Rainbow Dash went wide eyed as the door flung open. There was a dark form in it, with red eyes staring angrily at her.
 
"Trying to take her from me... that is pretty low."
 
Rainbow went wide eyed and began to struggle in her bonds. "Who are you?!"
 
The form came out of the shadows, a look of sheer anger on his face. His bracers began to glow as he levitated Rainbow and FT out. Instantly Rainbow Dash recognized him.
 
"EBONY?!"
 
*************
 
"Ah hope ya don't mind comin' with me Stage. But lately yer practically family as well considerin' yer connection with all of us lately."
 
Stage and Applejack trotted at a somewhat slow pace as they headed for the home FT had made for himself. It was a decent sized home, bordering the nicer portions of the Everfree forest. Because of this, it had become a hub for the mane six and for their friends. Ebony had unfortunetly not been there yet due to work, but that would change the moment he got home.
 
"OH I don't mind at ALL considering your idea Applesnack." Stage chuckled. "Besides it's been awhile since FT and I had a big old barbecue. But I have to ask... how did you..."
 
Applejack smiled. "Ah ain't a simple gal Stage just a country one." She smiled some as she poked his belly. "Sides, ah know the media tends to.... stretch the truth?"
 
Stage chuckled neevously... then began to sniff the air. "That's funny.... I smell soup."
 
Applejack hummed and sniffed as well. "I smell it too. It smells like..."
 
They both went wide eyed and ran for the house, and indeed soup was being made. DASH SOUP.
 
"Ebony! Stop! It hurts!" Dash said struggling. Nearby FT was tied up to a spit by his wrists and ankles, struggling to get loose. The look on Ebony Alchemists face was one of pure anger.
 
It was a sight neither Stage nor Applejack expected, the former staring in shock.
 
"Ebony?!" Applejack shouted. But Ebony was too focused on Rainbow Dash.
 
"So let me get this straight. Even when I went to help friends and family, your here eating Applejack over and over, and I am supposed to be OK WITH IT?!"
 
"EBONY I WAS WILLING! PLEASE STOP!!!"
 
Ebony turned with a growl, red eyes staring at Applejack. Red eyes. Crimson like blood. Applejack knew then something was not right. Behind her FT looked on in fear for the struggling Rainbow Dash and for his own life, Stage just staring and trying to comprehend.
 
That was their full reactions as Ebony did the unthinkable... he slammed his hooves into Applejack and sent her flying into Stage, who fell back slightly, more in shock than anything else.
 
"Stop protecting her!" Ebony said, but then he froze. His eyes shimmered. "No.... no I would not.... she would never..."
 
"*Yes you would! She betrayed you! You want to hurt her more!!!*"
 
"No..." Ebony said wincing. "I love them all... why would I do this?"
 
"*You honestly think I would have just MADE you?!*"
 
"No....I..."
 
"*YOU NEVER LOVED THEM, JUST WANTED THEM TO YOURSELF!!!*"
 
He grabbed his head and screamed in pain. Applejack slowly got up and went to Ebony shakily, as he began to cry his head hurt so much. Seeing his chance Stage set to getting Rainbow and FT out, as Ebony looked at Applejack with pain in his eyes, the color returning to normal.
 
"Ebony please, calm down!"
 
Ebony felt the dark magic placed on him leave him suddenly, and he collapsed. The others looked at him in confusion and perhaps fear. But another looked from her hiding place with a smile.
 
Mission accomplished.
 
*************
 
Ebony stayed away of his own volition after that terrible incident, not knowing how things had happened the way they did, and yet knowing it WAS his fault. Did he not truly love applejack? Was the voice right? Maybe it was... he was on the rebound after all, maybe he just...
 
What did it matter. He had just done something truly terrible, almost hurting friends he had made. And the worst part was he was controlled BUT the voice had been right. He was very jealous. And that jealousy was used against him and those he cared about. How could he-
 
"Eb?"
 
He did not turn around, hearing Applejack at the door.
 
"Ebony... please... it wasn't your fault."
 
Ebony sighed. "Yes it was AJ. And it may happen again. I wanted you more than anything and was so angry inside that I was kept away. That WAS what that... Catrina... used to make me do that to Rainbow and FT. Who knows who else I could have hurt. So.... maybe I shouldn't be seeing you."
 
Applejack went wide eyed. "But Ebony..."
 
"I need to get back to work. Goodbye Applejack. It was fun." He said trying not to cry. But Applejack was stubborn.
 
"So... that's it?"
 
Ebony did not answer.
 
"What about all we shared? All we were thinking of?"
 
Ebony was shaking.
 
".... what about being part of one another? Isn't that what that pie was all about? Love and trust? Be honest with me Ebony."
 
Ebony turned around.
 
"... do you.... love me?"
 
Ebony felt his core shaking. He looked down, trying not to cry his eyes out. Finally... he answered.
 
"........ no." Was all he could manage as he left the room, closing the door behind him. Applejacks heart broke at that moment, tears falling down her face. She went slowly out the door where her friends were waiting for her. She looked at them sadly then walked away.
 
"Alright, I'm going in!" Rainbow Dash said, having enough of the self pity. But FT took her shoulder. "What the...?"
 
"RD... not yet. But soon." He motioned to her cutie mark, which was glowing. "I think your needed."
 
RD sighed sadly as he walked off along with the others, among them a deflated Pinkie Pie. But looking on a form was very happy as Catrina chuckled from the shadows.
 
"That's right. Let the sadness fester little outsider. Serves you right for interfering with my plans. But I am not ending with you, oh no. Your friends will feel sadness and doubt and regret. And Equestria will divide as I have divided you. Then you will give me what I want. All of you."
 
She faded into the shadows, chuckling at her cleverness and supposed victory...
 
 
To Be Continued!