Deviantart Description:
Not really a fan of ASE (sorry) so I decided to make my own grimdark version of AJ in the form of a rotten wood zombie! Read the info below for more context!


WARNING THIS CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT. DON'T READ IF YOU HAVE PHOBIAS OF THESE THINGS

-Emetophobia is a specific phobia that involves an extreme fear of vomiting, seeing vomit, watching other people vomit, or feeling sick.

-Scoleciphobia or Vermiphobia, An abnormal or irrational fear of worms or being infected by worms.


(This is still a work in progress and as of this point is not complete)


Applejack: It all started whenever Granny Smith died. AJ swore to carry on with her legacy after her death and would never give up Sweet apple acres. However without her sweet granny, she had grown quite depressed, forcing herself to work long hours as an outlet. She never really understood why this was the case but the everfree forest had always made her feel…eerie or that something was lurking behind the brush, always watching her… There had always been a rural legend of "The Great Seedling" an undead equine monster with rotted wood and plagued with worms. It supposedly infects and turns ponies into mindless beings that craves flesh of its own. Its parasitic worms could take over a pony within mere days and turn them into servants for the being. Wherever it would trot, the grass would die and the trees would become overgrown as roots would creep the surface. AJ didn't really believe it though, just thought it was an old mare's tale that you tell your colts and fillies in order to behave. However as time passed as she kept working, she noticed a figure at the edge of the forest…staring at her. She'd rub her eyes for a second only for it to be gone, at first she just wrote it off as being exhausted from constantly working but…something didn't feel right… After burying Granny Smith she had become more adamant about keeping the farm in its full glory. However lately the weeds became harder to pull, certain areas would be overgrown even though the day before it seemed barren. It drove AJ mad as to how it could change so drastically. But she chose to ignore it and keep on with her work. However sales had been down as of late and AJ was having a hard time catching up with the countless bills stacking up. This leads to her and Big Mac getting into a huge altercation about the farm, AJ wants to keep it and carry on the legacy despite the drop in sales. Big Mac wishes to sell the land and move to another farm, since by this point he began to notice Ponyville's constant deteriorating state. This infuriated Applejack. She lashed out at Big Mac and stomped away. Trying to let off steam, she took a walk around the farm. On her trot she noticed a pair of glowing green eyes in the brush of the Everfree… But was quickly snapped out of it by the sound of her brother screaming for her and rushed towards the yelp. Once she got her hoofs caught up with her mind, she was in shock to find Granny Smith's grave vacant with her brother standing beside it, looking as stunned as she was. "What in Tarnation is goin' on?!" She outwardly and internally questioned. Gazing down at the hole where her sweet granny was laid to rest. She quickly ran inside to grab her shotgun and told Big Mac to go inside to protect the house. Apple Bloom was ordered to sit tight in the basement until everything was proven to be safe. AJ began to track the hoof marks leading away from the gravesite. Holding the lantern in her mouth in order to see the tracks. As she crept into the orchards she could tell the atmosphere had changed. It felt heavy..and gloomy. She stopped for a moment as the tracks led to a tool shed towards the edge of the farm. She slowly proceeded but with caution, she could hear the rattling from inside. She set the lantern on the hook of the shed. Aj's hoof gently grabbed the handle of the door before silently opening it. She stood in silence, aiming the gun into the deep dark room. She stared for a moment before her eyes adjusted, when they immediately widened. "G-Granny?' her breath trembled as she spoke. Granny Smith was running into the wall, face bleeding from the continuous impact. However shortly after Applejack uttered her name, Granny whipped around screeching. Part of her face sliding off of her cheek revealing rotten flesh and maggots wriggling amongst it. Granny's eyes, once a beautiful ruby red, glowed green in the darkness. Applejack exclaimed, gripping tightly to the gun shielding herself from her once lively grandmother, accidentally causing a misfire as Granny Smith bit down on the gun. "G-Granny…Why are you actin like this? Please…snap out of it!" Applejack pleaded, staring into the unnatural green eyes that struggled before her. But she was only met with hissing and screeching in return. There in disbelief, she struggled with her Grandmother. "Granny Smith…Don't do this, I love you!" She could feel her voice quiver as her emotions began to take over despite the shock. She began losing her grip on the gun and Granny Smith inched closer, still screeching, trying to bite at any flesh she could reach. Applejack gathered some of her strength to push back Granny Smith towards the back wall of the shed. Giving her just enough time to back away towards the door. She quickly shut and jammed a wood ax into the door so that IT wouldn't get free. Whatever it was wasn't Granny, she would never do something like this. She quickly reloaded the bullet into the shotgun. Knowing she'd have to finish whatever was in there. But as of right now she needs to tell her brother what's going on and whatever is left of Granny is going to have to stay there for a bit. She began to gallop towards the house with haste knowing that the shed may be able to hold Granny but not for too long, but perhaps Big Mac will know what to do. As she sprinted across the orchards, She could hear all the questions running across her head. Still in complete shock at what she had seen. A loud unworldly screech echoed throughout the farm. She stood there for a moment, It was unlike anything she had heard before. It wasn't coming from the direction of the shed. Instant panic set in, as she instantly thought of her siblings. She darted towards the farm, worried upon what she'd find. She galloped as fast as she could, carrying the gun in her mouth as she reached the clearing where a large being was standing on a hill, overlooking the acres. She tried to look closer but upon blinking it was gone. Her eyes dashed around to find the creature, She trotted into the clearing where the figure was and analyzed the hoof tracks. It was nothing like she's ever seen on any sort of equine. The grass around it that was once a luscious green, is now a sun-dried brown. She examined it for a moment before she resumed galloping towards the farm. She felt that she was being chased, even though the darkness around her kept her from seeing anything. She met the door to the house and told Big Mac to stay on guard as she ran off into the barn as a diversion to distract whatever was there away from her siblings. She ran in and shut the barn door, panting heavily. The moon was present enough for some of the light to trinkle down to the dirt floor of the barn. She slowly backed away from the doors shifting the gun into her hoofs again. Her eyebrows furrowed, as she seemed dead set on the door. She pressed her back against the haypile as she remained completely still for a moment. Took a sigh of relief before resting her shoulders with the gun still in her hoofs. She glanced at the haystack that she rested upon as she heard a small creaking sound. Her eyes grew wide with terror as a hulking figure loomed over her as it emerged from the haypile, staring down at her with a weird chattering sound emerging from it. She didn't have time to process what was going on before rotten roots sprouted from the ground and coiled around her legs and arms. The roots slithered around the gun that was once in AJ's hoof before crushing it. Applejack tried to get something out to scream, but only her expression remained. She couldn't make a sound, silent pure terror. The Seedling leaned over, staring into her eyes with it's piercing glowing ones. The moonlight was enough for her to see the creature who stood before her. The Great Seedling was real? How? What does it want? The questions swirled inside of AJ's head as her eyes examined the creature. As it seemed that the creature was staring at hers, analyzing her body. Shortly after she could hear wood snap as she saw the Seedling beginning to unhinge its jaw. She flinched as instant panic set in, she tried to struggle but to no avail, it just made the roots tighter. She winced in pain as the roots continued to constrict around her body. The Great Seedling's jaw gaped open, revealing writhing and wriggling worms from within. She looked inside in horror and disgust. Applejack clamped her mouth shut as she thrashed her head from side to side, avoiding the inevitable. The worms fell out of it's mouth and onto Applejack's face. A few slithered around looking for any orifice it could find. She tried to shake them off, but the more she would get off, the more would be given by the Seedling. Eventually some wriggled into AJ's nostrils keeping her from breathing. It didn't take long before she had to gasp for air. As soon as she did however, many worms flowed into her muzzle. It almost choked her how many slithered down her mouth and into her throat. She could feel her eyes rolling to the back of her head as the pain was unbearable. Then, she verbally gasped as she came from what felt like a terrible nightmare. However she felt horrible, like she ate something really bad. But she convinced herself it must've been because she slept wrong. She walked back over the house. "Big Mac!" AJ shouted through the window. Big Mac jolted awake before running over to her "AJ! Thank Celestia you're alright!" He said, taking a sigh of relief. His eyes puffed up from the lack of sleep. "What happened?! You seemed really shaken there sis.' he questioned. "I-I must've just been seeing things- I must've–" She said to Big Mac although she was more so convincing herself it was all a bad dream. Big Mac stared at her for a moment, he could tell she experienced something. "Applejack!" Apple Bloom exclaimed running towards the door. "Oh..Thank goodness everypony is okay." AJ took a sigh of relief, for a second things almost seemed to be normal. She took a moment to engage in a group hug with her brother and sister holding them both closely, feeling their warmth and missing their touch thankful now that they're both safe. Suddenly AJ felt a sharp pain inside her body. She reeled back, winced and looked at the location of the pain. It's not like any stomach bug she has ever gotten before. It felt as if something was gnawing her insides, only for a second before it subsided. Big Mac sensed this and grew concerned. "Ey Sis…are you sure your" he tried to ask before AJ cut him off "Well enough jabberin! I should probably head back to work, gotta keep this place running somehow!" She turned and quickly took off, leading Big Mac to grow suspicious. She's never felt like her body weighed this much before. It was hard to work or to move her legs, it became hard to even focus on the farm. She could hardly feed and care for all the animals. She recollected what she saw in her vivid nightmare. She had to see if any of it was actually real or not. She was traveling as fast as she could, given her body's wellness. She observed the spot where she first saw the creature, only a barren spot with no growth. Just nothing but soil. She ran her hoof through the dirt for a moment. Staring intensely trying her best to recollect everything about the creature as flashbacks of it overtaking and lingering within her mind. "Applejack.." Big Mac said as he finally found her, making the orange mare jump. "OH FOR TARNATION'S SAKE!" She yelped before twisting around to look at him. "What is it, Big Mac?" She snipped aggressively, knowing that she was visibly frightened for a moment. "Are ya sure you're okay sis? You barely managed to take care of the pen animals. Maybe you should try restin" Big Mac suggested as he tried to ease her, resting a hoof on her shoulder. "I'm fine!" AJ snapped, batting his hoof away. Big Mac stared at her. Even though he didn't believe what she was saying, he let her go. She ran off into the orchards upon her immediate regret whenever her body reacted. The gnawing feeling again…but worse..it felt as if her stomach was being twisted but also eating itself at the same time. She winced and groaned before stopping. She knew the toolshed wasn't too far ahead. She slowly proceeded as the feeling only intensified when she moved to her muscles, making it extremely painful to trot. When she approached the tool shed she noticed that the ax wasn't jamming the door. Maybe it was all a bad dream…She slowly entered the shed, for a brief moment she had a flashback of Granny from the nightmare, remembering her decomposed face. However the shed laid completely empty, it looked almost completely different with the light shining through the cracks of the wood, giving light to the shed. She looked around inside. AJ remembered upon seeing the horrifying version of Granny, she was slamming her face into a wall. She inspected said wall closer, squinting her eyes. She noticed the spot was coated in dried blood. Her eyes widened as she backed away, coming to the realization that…it was real…all of it. She stood up and backed herself against a wall, finally coming to terms with it all. Upon this realization she felt a splitting pain within her, far greater than any sort of the pain she has ever experienced in her life. She yelped as she tightly hugged herself, falling to the floor. Feeling the gnawing again only added to the experience. She could feel the tears running down her face given she was in so much pain. She's deathly afraid of what was happening to her. She wished she could lock herself away, especially if she ended up becoming one of those….She could now feel things violently wriggle inside of her own body. She lifted up her shaking arms, much to her horror she could see the worms wiggling from the inside. She stared down in terror before another wave of pain overcame her. She reeled back and screamed, as the tears continuously ran down her face. Shortly thereafter, Big Mac barged in, hearing his sister's cries. Staring down at her for a second, seeing her in pain and gritting his teeth. "That's it AJ! You're goin on bed rest! I'm tired of you workin yourself to death lil sis!" He demanded, picking her up and throwing her onto his back. "Big Mac, No! I-I can't! I-I need" Applejack tried to explain the situation. "What you NEED is to rest at home! Don't worry about work! You've already been taking on enough as is!" Big Mac retorted, seeming very insistent on it. "You don't understand Big Mac! I" "I understand plenty, Applejack. I know you have your stubborn moments, but I'm just not gonna watch you work yourself to death!' Big Mac cut her off, misunderstanding the situation. Some of the pain subsided while she was being carried but the gnawing pain still lingered within her body. "Big Mac…Th-Thank you.." She replied trying to keep herself awake, luckily the pain did help with that. "B-But…I need to tell you somethin..it's really important…" She grumbled keeping her eyes on him. "What is it, AJ?" He asked looking over to her, meeting her eyes with his. "The Great Seedling is real." AJ stated with absolute certainty. "What!? Oh come on AJ, don't try to play funny with me now." Big Mac protested. "It's just an old mare's tale, you know that" He tried to reassure her. "No! I'm serious! That's why we can't find Granny's body, the weeds, the dead spots on the ground!" Big Mac stopped for a second, genuinely questioning it for a moment before stopping himself. "Oh Applejack…You just need to rest..If it was real, wouldn't it have gotten us by now?" He asked. She opened her mouth to respond only for Big Mac to answer his own question. "Exactly. So no need to worry Applejack, let's just get you home so you can relax." Big Mac stated as he opened the door to the house. "Now let's just get ya settled in bed" Big Mac trotted into her room and he leaned to let her roll onto the bed. She winced when her body hit the quilt. Big Mac pulled the covers over her. "There, now you just lay here AJ. I'll be back later to make dinner." Big Mac urged resting his hand on the covers, lightly patting the bed. "And don't worry yourself about that tall tale, ya hear? Apple Bloom, be sure not to forget to take your big sister's temperature." Big Mac said looking over to his baby sister. "I won't- I won't!" Apple Bloom chirped, trotting to the bathroom to grab the thermometer. "Please Big Mac…y-you gotta believe me…" Applejack weakly stated, staring up at him. Big Mac sighed before patting her head. "Oh Applejack'' he shook his head for a second writing it off as a sort of illness. For a moment Applejack glared at him, maybe It was the fact that she was frustrated that he wasn't listening to her. But it made her resentful of him. For a moment an image came into her mind of her projecting herself onto her brother's neck and ripping his throat out. She stared at him, for a second he seemed…almost appetizing. She quickly forced it out of her head as he walked out of the room. She sat there in silence for a few moments wondering what exactly is going to happen to her, her siblings and the farm. She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Apple Bloom entering the room. "Alrighty Sis!" Apple Bloom chirped, causing AJ to jump and snap out of it. "Time to take your temperature!" Apple Bloom said before inserting the thermometer under her tongue. "Oh geez, you're really cold..85.8" Apple Bloom looked worried. "Maybe we should take you to the hospit' "No! No…" AJ interrupted, she didn't want to infect anyone else. "Applejack! I know you don't like hospitals but this is very serious, you could die!" AJ put her hoof on Apple bloom's looking up at her for a moment. "If I'm gonna pass, I want to pass here. This farm means so much to me and" "YOU'RE NOT GONNA DIE AJ!" Apple Bloom shouted for a second. Gripping tightly onto the bed covers as Apple Bloom could feel tears reaching her eyes. "Then please…let me call a doctor- we gotta see if there's somethin' we can do" Apple Bloom suggested, staring down at AJ, who was once a strong abled mare now looks like a terminally Ill cancer patient. Apple Bloom's worried eyes made AJ cave. "Okay…y'all can call a doctor Not sure if it'll do much though" AJ replied weakly. She grunted as she felt the gnawing pain again, intensifying every second until she screamed in pain. This pushed Apple Bloom to scurry to the phone to call a doctor. Few minutes after scheduling the appointment, Apple Bloom ran back to comfort her sister. "He should come by tomorrow mornin'..Please..try your best to stay strong until then?" Apple Bloom sat beside her, holding her hoof. "I-I'll try.." Applejack weakly replied, looking up at her baby sister. She had a temptation of hunger again as AB petted her Big sister's head. Images flashed in her mind, horrifying images…She shook her head trying to fight the allure. 'She's your sister for Celestia's sake!' She fought within herself and her urges. "Apple Bloom…I need…to tell you somethin…" She grumbled looking up at her little sister. "Yeah? What is it, Big Sis?" Apple Bloom leaned over curiously. "The Great Seedling is real…and I think…it got me." Applejack said as clearly as her body would let her. "The old folk tale? I thought it was just supposed to scare little kids?" Apple Bloom said in slight disbelief. "Look…I don't care if you don't believe me…just…promise me Promise me if anything goes wrong with me…or Big Mac…just…stay strong and survive, okay?" Applejack brought her hoof up to Apple Bloom's face. Apple Bloom blinked for a second. She never thought this day was going to come so soon, which did lead to tears streaming down her face. She held Applejack's hoof in place as she nodded sniffling. "I-I promise…I promise, big Sis!" Apple Bloom confirmed as she began crying. Laying her head on the bed as she sobbed. AJ sorrowfully sighed as she rubbed the top of Apple Bloom's head. "I love you Apple Bloom.." "I love you too Applejack!" Apple Bloom proclaimed huddling closer to her big sister. They laid close to each other in silence, other than the light sniffling of Apple Bloom. Applejack questioned how this will all end, worried for both her big brother and baby sister. Scared of what would become of her. Suddenly she got more graphic images. Seeing herself gnaw on the corpse of her siblings, the corpse's nudging as she dug her teeth into their juicy tender flesh. Seeing herself break her sister's bones and chewing on them like a drumstick. She grunted, throwing her head from side to side, getting flashbacks of the Seedling giving her the worms. She saw herself hunting down her siblings like prey and eating them alive, hearing their screams and cries as she ate them. Over and over again. She cried out from her unconsciousness. She tried to stop it only to be pushed awake by Apple Bloom. "Sis…Sis!" She exclaimed. "You were cryin out in yer sleep." Apple Bloom stated. AJ panted heavily for a moment then sighed, relieved the nightmare wasn't reality. She plopped her head back into the pillow. She glanced over to the window noticing the sun was setting over the horizon. It is becoming dark now…and it feared AJ. Scared as to what could happen next. Apple Bloom, seeing her sister in fear and turmoil. She puts a hoof on her shoulder and rubs her back, still giving her the worried eyes from before. AJ shortly thereafter began experiencing a severe sense of famine and hunger, unlike any other before. Surprisingly her body quickly launched out of the bed and zoomed out of the room. Both AJ and AB stared at each other in shock. For some reason her body possessed energy once again, in fact she felt like she was healed and then some. She sped down the stairs and galloped to the fridge, as she swung the fridge open and began shoveling food and leftovers onto the table to begin consuming them. Apple Bloom quickly trailed behind, hardly able to keep up with her sister. Surprised she made such a quick recovery. AJ grabbed an apple and shoveled the whole thing into her mouth. She reared back in disgust as it tasted gross. She spat it out into the waste bin. Then observed its insides to see if it was rotten. It was just a typical apple, nothing wrong with it. No wilting or bugs whatsoever. AJ was baffled, she always loved eating apples. Applejack quickly took a bite out of a slice of bread. All she could taste was cardboard. She hacked it back out as she also threw it away. "Apple Bloom, does this bread taste wierd to you?" Typically she would never do a thing like this however she had to figure out if it was just her or not. Apple Bloom looked down at another slice of bread, slightly hesitant given her sister's reaction. However, upon a couple of seconds of debating she grabbed a slice and took a bite out of it, chewing for a couple seconds before swallowing. She stood there for a moment as her older sister analyzed her face, concerned but also scared to know what the answer was. "I dunno Applejack…That bread tasted fine to me." Apple Bloom answered, looking at her sister extremely concerned. Applejack's eyes widened, is this really happening? No…no no no no…She grabbed more things that she used to love eating. Apple Pie? Disgusting. Deep fried fritter? Unbearable! Peach flavored Ice cream? Revolting!! She growled in frustration as she spat each one out, still feeling unsatisfied. "I don't understand! I love all this stuff! Why have my taste buds suddenly changed?!"" She said looking down at the waste bin, now full of regurgitated and disposed food. "Maybe your illness is making you taste things differently" Apple Bloom asked, being more and more puzzled and concerned. "Do you still feel hungry sis?" "YES! So much that I could…" Applejack's mind suddenly switched. "Eat a horse…" Her eyes glazed over to meet Apple Bloom, as she could instantly feel her body tingle at the idea of getting ready to eat. She saw more of the graphic images again, but this time. The hunger added to it and it began to loosen her mental control on herself. Her mouth salivated to the point that drool was leaking down her mouth. "U-Uh…Sis..why are you starin at me like that?…I don't like it…" Apple Bloom shied away. Applejack however, almost as if her body and mind had been taken over. Pounced over to her only being a few feet away. Apple Bloom yelped as she instantly grew scared. "Sis what are you doing?!" Applejack made an eerie chitter sound, creeping closer to her sister. "Come on now Apple Bloom…I'm your big sister I'm not gonna hurt you.." She uttered almost like a whisper, the chattering noises happened again but AJ twitched as the sound was being made. It's like she couldn't help herself in what she was doing. It's like she was mentally losing herself, she slumped forward and began to ensue a chase. Apple Bloom darted as fast as she could as nervousness turned to fright.


Base is made by Pegasski