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The Powers of Harmony

by CyborgSamurai

Chapter 10: Words Left Unsaid

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Chapter 10:

Words Left Unsaid

Three Days Later-

Applejack, Strauss, and Norric made their way in from the southern apple fields for lunch. A slight chill was in the air this day, heralding the changing of the seasons. All three of them were breathing hard from the morning's exertions, and were rewarded with a thin layer of sweat. The sun peeked out from the clouds, revealing its luminance and painting color onto the canvas of the world. Strauss was hitched to a cart filled with early blooming apples, while Norric and Applejack followed behind, each of them carrying a bag of tools and chatting between themselves.

"So would you collect the seaweed as it came in?" Applejack asked. "Or did you grow it on your own?"

"It depended on the season." Norric kicked at a dirt clod that was in his path. "We preferred to grow it, though. Going out on the rocks and sandbars was dangerous."

Never met anypony from so far south. I wonder what it's like down on the coast? Applejack regarded him with newfound interest. "I'da never taken you for a farmer. Was it a family business or something ya'll just started?"

Norric's bag began to slip off his back. He bucked lightly and it settled back into place. "It went back a few generations. And I wouldn't really call it farming; it was more like scavenging. "

Applejack turned straight ahead to look at the homestead a few hundred yards away. "So why'd you leave?"

He took a swig from his canteen and grimaced. "I hate everything about the ocean: The sound, the sand, the gulls, the smell, all of it. If I never see it again, it'll be too soon."

Applejack laughed. "There've been days I've felt that way about apples. It always passes, though. But what about your family? Didn't they need you to stay and help?"

"Not when there were six other siblings who could pick up the slack," Norric said casually.

Strauss grunted as the wagon got caught on a rock. He pulled hard and it rolled on.

She jerked her head at him. "I'da thought he'd be the farmin' type over you. He's taken to this like he's been doin' it for years."

"Labor is labor," Strauss said over his shoulder. "Military preps you well for that."

I suppose that's true. But still, he's a quick learner. You'd never know he was a city boy from the way he acts. Applejack nodded. "Least it didn't come as a surprise to ya."

"Army brats do have some advantages," Strauss said. He slowed his pace as he carefully eased the wagon down a slope. "Pretty easy to get started too; the way's basically paved for you."

Applejack readjusted her Stetson as the sun went back behind the clouds. "I'm just glad I don't have to hold either of your hooves anymore. With you two helpin' out, this Applebuck Season's gonna be a cinch."

Norric looked around at the surrounding trees, which were laden with ripening fruit. "Do you always have this much?"

"Nope," Applejack said with an odd smile. "Weather this year's been perfect, and now we got us a bumper crop. Which is another reason I'm glad both of you are here. It'd be mighty hard on just me and Mac."

"When will Applebloom be old enough to help?" Norric asked.

There's no rush for that. I'm not gonna tear her away from her fillyhood when Mac and I can handle things for now. There'll be plenty of time for Applebloom to learn the ways of the world, but right now it's better for everypony if she stays at home. Applejack looked at one of the wagon wheels. "We could get her out here now if we really wanted, but we like her bein' around the house with Granny. That won't be a problem next year if we manage to sell all these apples, though."

"So you think you'll make enough to get Granny her hip replacement?" Norric asked.

Applejack smiled. "And then some. We figured we'd have the money in two more harvests, but this here's the biggest bumper crop that any of us has ever seen. I already got orders set up for Manehatten, Fillydelphia, Trottingham, Appleoosa, and last night I heard Granny figurin' out the details with Stalliongrad."

"These apples go that far north?" Norric looked in the direction the distant settlement lay.

"Granny's got an old friend who lives there," Applejack explained. "We send one shipment up to her every year. Technically we lose money, but Granny's adamant about it."

"Never would've guessed," Norric said. "What about the other members of the Apple clan? Aren't you stepping on their hooves by delivering to so many different places?"

He prolly hasn't seen his family in a while if he's askin' a question like that. Or maybe he just wasn't in charge of sales. Applejack stared at him. "Who do you think is buying 'em? Not everypony in the family has had a good season, and they all know how many we got this year. I'm sellin' them our excess for cheap, and they in turn can sell them for full price in their own markets."

"Advantage of a family business," Strauss pointed out.

"We take care of our own," Applejack agreed.

The three of them walked into the farmyard. As they passed by the newly repaired fencepost, they heard voices coming from inside the barn. Curious, Applejack walked over. Granny Smith came into view, standing at the entrance of the barn looking down at Applebloom, whose mouth was hanging open.

"Why'd you let the Beetles eat Daddy's tools?!" Applebloom said.

Granny Smith shook her head. "They were old and worn, hun. Couldn't even use 'em no more."

"But they were his!" Applebloom's voice became loud and rushed. "They belonged to him! He used them!"

"I'm sorry Applebloom," Granny Smith said. She put a hoof on her granddaughter's cheek. "But I needed to use somethin' for bait, and that was the best thing I could think of. We can get you some new tools if ya really liked playin' with 'em."

Applebloom jerked away and stamped the ground. "I don't want new tools, I want Daddy's back!"

Granny Smith narrowed her eyes. "I said they're gone. Now stop fussin' over some old pieces of metal and finish cleanin' out the loft; lunch'll be ready soon."

"No!" Applebloom squeezed her eyes shut as her lower lip quivered. Her yells echoed throughout the barn. "I don't care about this smelly old farm anymore!"

"Now listen 'ere, young lady—"

"All you care about are the stupid apples!"

Applejack flinched. "Applebloom!" Her sister was so loud that the echoes were hurting her ears.

"You don't care about them anymore! I bet none of you ever did!" Applebloom's voice broke as it turned into a scream. It rang with such force that Applejack felt a scratchy sensation in her eardrums.

Applebloom stared at both of them with wide, accusing eyes. "I hate you!"

The color drained from Granny Smith's face, contorting for only a second before hardening into an impenetrable mask. She lowered her chin and stared darkly at Applebloom, speaking one word in a whisper.

"Leave."

Applebloom stood her ground for a moment longer before running out of the barn and towards the road, her sobs following in her wake. Granny Smith put a hoof to her face and closed her eyes.

Applejack tentatively approached her. "You all right, Granny?"

Granny Smith didn't look up, but her voice was strong. "Did you know she was playin' with Jonny's old tools?"

Applejack shrugged. "Sorta. I didn't know they belonged to him until after you used them for the trap."

Granny Smith sighed. "I put those up there years ago, and didn' give 'em a second thought. I shoulda known somethin' was up when Mac found 'em so fast."

"Granny, you know she didn't mean—"

"Of course she didn't." Granny Smith straightened up and looked Applejack in the eye. "This ain't the first time I been yelled at over somethin' like this. I seem to recall a similar outburst comin' outta your lips over Jonny's old lassoin' rope."

I was hopin' she wouldn't bring that up. Applejack winced as her throat became tight. "I never said that I hated you, though."

Granny Smith chuckled. "No, but I reckon ya came close." She reached up and gently brushed the hair out of her granddaughter's eyes, her hoof lingering briefly as it touched the Stetson. "It's all right, Jackie. It takes more than the upset words of an innocent filly to break me down."

Applejack gently nuzzled her grandmother's neck. "I'm sorry."

"Forgiveness ain't somethin' that can be taken away, you silly mare," Granny Smith said as she returned the affection. "You were young and didn' understand, she's no different. It'll pass."

"Do you want me to go get her?"

Granny Smith shook her head. "She'll come back on her own... although that means that now the loft ain't gonna get cleaned. Think you and the boys can finish the job before lunch?"

Applejack stepped away with a nod, then turned back to Strauss and Norric. They were standing in the yard, looking everywhere but the direction of the barn. Norric gave a start as he realized they were being looked at. He began stammer out something about the weather.

Strauss rolled his eyes. "Stop pretending like you weren't paying attention."

Applejack cleared her throat. "Don't mind Applebloom. She does this sometimes."

Strauss looked down the road at her retreating form. "Must be hard for her."

Applejack walked out of the barn and followed his gaze. "That don't give her the right to go yellin' at anypony, least of all Granny. She's gotta learn that or it's gonna get her in real trouble."

"Enough." Granny Smith began to limp back towards the farmhouse. "Ya'll can chat while you're workin' if ya want. I gotta go finish lunch so I can take those damn loopy pain meds."

Applejack cleared her head with a shake. She looked over at Norric and Strauss, the latter now unhitched from the wagon. "Strauss, can you take the tools back to the shed? Norric and I'll get started on the loft."

( *** )

Big Mac came in from the fields just as the three of them finished, and they all washed up to sit down for lunch. They discussed timing and plans for shipping the apples in the upcoming harvest, as well as the price they were going to sell the excess to the rest of the Apple family. Afterwards, Applejack hitched herself to the wagon and headed into town with Strauss and Norric to sell the early bloomers on the market. Ten minutes later, they passed the wooden fencing that marked the borders of Sweet Apple Acres.

"So Norric," Applejack said as they walked down the road. "You were sayin' you left home and joined the military 'cause you didn't like the ocean. Was that the only reason?"

Norric was walking beside the wagon, keeping an eye on the barrels to make sure none of the apples fell out. He laughed softly. "When you were younger, did you ever try new ways to get jobs done faster?"

Granny would've tanned my hide if I did. Applejack made a derisive noise. "Ain't no room for experimenting or foolin' around when messing up costs you time and money."

"But what if you figured something out?" Norric asked. "What if you came up with something that cuts the time of the task in half? Think about what that would do in the long run!"

"It's too risky," Applejack said simply. "Only a foal takes a gamble like that when it could mean the difference between puttin' food on the table and goin' hungry."

There was a bump in the road. One of the barrels wobbled and a stray apple bounced out. Norric deftly caught it and tossed it back in. "When times are tough, yeah. But what about when they're not? What's wrong with trying a few things here and there?"

There's no guarantees, that's what's wrong. There's no room for takin' a chance like that with farming. It's got enough uncertainty as it is; why add more? The sound of clip-clopping on stone and the rickety rumbling of the wagon was the only sound for a time before Applejack spoke again. "No sense in screwin' around when you have somethin' that works just fine. And the money's put to better use by savin' it for hard times."

Norric sighed. "You sound just like them."

She looked back at him. "Who? Your parents?"

He kept his attention on the barrels. "I believe that there's always a better way to do something. I don't like just accepting what I'm told and leaving it at that. I try and find things out on my own, even if it means I have to make mistakes in order to do it. But unfortunately, that doesn't lend well to farming."

So he understands that. Sounds like his folks were thinkin' along the same lines as me, though. Not that I'm surprised. Earth ponies in general aren't too keen on messin' with what already works. Now unicorns, they're always tryin' something new. Twilight and Rarity are never satisfied with what they know, and are doin' the creative stuff. But I reckon that if either of 'em had seven foals to feed, they wouldn't be too keen on experimenting, either. The pause lengthened, lasting for almost a minute as Applejack waited for him to finish. She was starting to get a cramp in her neck from looking back at him.

"Well, go on," she finally said. "So you had a fight. Did they kick you out or did you decide to leave?"

"They—" Norric closed his eyes and gave a frustrated grunt. He looked to Strauss. "This isn't easy."

Strauss jerked and glared fiercely at Norric.

Applejack didn't see the exchange. She had turned her attention back to the road and was rolling her neck. "Say no more, I didn't mean to be nosy."

"Sorry," she heard him say.

"Ain't nothin' you need to apologize for," she said. "If you ever want to talk about it though, my ears are open."

They arrived in Ponyville Market a little after two, and the next hour was lost in monotony as the three of them set up the stand. Applejack's usual customers came, some of them casting an interested glance at Strauss and Norric. She deflected the questions with the usual explanation of 'new farmhands'. A brown earth pony with several bags of money for a cutie mark approached and purchased an entire bushel of apples, which he then had placed in a large wagon. A pink filly with a purple and white mane that looked to be about Applebloom's age stood beside him. As the two walked away, Norric turned to Applejack.

"Do you think Applebloom will be all right?"

Applejack was in the wagon, bringing down a new barrel of apples. "She'll be fine. This ain't the first time she's run off. Not a lotta places for her to get off to, anyways."

Norric steadied the wagon as she hopped out. "Why do you think she was so upset about the tools?"

Applejack looked around the market, which had momentarily had thinned out. Most of the stand owners were chatting amongst themselves or restocking their wares. She gave a long exhale and began to separate the earnings they'd made thus far. "I can't rightly say for sure. All I got is a guess."

"Your guess is better than ours," Strauss said from her left. He had just come back, carrying with him three cups of lemonade.

Not as much as you'd think. Applebloom may be my sister, but I don't claim to fully know what goes on in her head. Applejack took the cup Strauss offered and stared at it for a time before speaking.

"Applebloom never knew our parents, or Grandpa Penny. The only things she knows are from pictures, what we've told her, or the things they left behind. I've seen her lookin' at the family albums now and then, and I know she likes hearing about 'em. But I think what she likes the most are keepin' the things that they used, or just meant something to 'em. My guess is it makes her think she's got some kinda connection with 'em."

A customer came. Applejack stopped and did the transaction.

"Now, I don't think there's anythin' wrong with that." She gave her Stetson a nostalgic tug. "But I'm worried she might be takin' it to the extreme. She wants to keep everythin' they once had or used, because she feels like it's the only link she's got to 'em."

"That'd explain it," Strauss said.

Applejack closed the money box with a snap. "It would, but it might well be somethin' else. It's hard to understand her sometimes."

Norric paused as he raised his cup to his lips. "Why? She's your sister. She's gone through the same things as you."

She turned and looked Norric a searching look. She spoke in soft, clear tone.

"Is it worse to have somethin' and then lose it? Or to never have it at all, but know that you should?"

Applejack had expected Norric to turn away or back down at the question. She didn't expect him to return her gaze with unfocused, haunted eyes. He considered for a long time before answering.

"It depends on what you've lost. In my case, I'd say the former."

The former? What is he—Applejack pursed her lips. "Did you…"

Norric set down his lemonade and sat on his haunches, speaking in a wistful voice. "He wasn't family, but he might as well have been."

Applejack looked around. The market was still slow, and the neighboring stall owners were away. She leaned slightly forward. "Who was he?"

"His name was Seeker," Norric said. "He came from a seaweed farming family, and his special talent was finding alternative solutions to problems."

"Sounds like you and him got along pretty well then," Applejack said.

"I remember spending more time with him than just about anypony else." Norric's face fell as he slammed a hoof into the ground. "The damn idiot."

"What happened?"

Norric looked at the hoofprint he had left. "I wasn't there, so I only know about this from his brother. There was a storm coming in one night from the ocean, and those two reckless foals were out flying kites in the gusts. The wind suddenly shifted and both of their kites fell, getting caught in the rocks. Seeker went out to go and get them, despite his brother telling him not to."

Norric closed his eyes and briefly clenched his teeth. "The wind got worse as he went down by the sandbars. The waves got high and soaked the rocks, making them slicker than snow-covered ice. Seeker wasn't paying attention, and he lost his balance and fell into the surf."

Applejack cocked her head. "Couldn't he just climb out?"

Norric shook his head. He began to draw arrows in the dirt, forming the shape of a 'W'. He motioned to it as he spoke. "Remember when I said going out there was dangerous? Sandbars are perfect for making riptides. When he fell in, he got caught in one and was dragged out to sea in seconds."

He swallowed and spoke in a forced, even tone. "No one ever saw him again."

A sour taste filled Applajck's mouth as a pit of lead formed in her stomach. Oh my Celestia. No wonder they try to grow it. But I'll bet they can find a heck of a lot more if they go out onto the rocks… ugh, what a way to go. That's a heck of a lot worse than apple farmin'. Applejack winced. "I'm sorry. That must've been hard on ya."

Norric blinked several times and looked up at the sky. "It's never easy to accept death, but Strauss and I have seen more than our share. We've each found ways to cope with it."

Applejack turned to Strauss, who stood with rigid, perfect posture, staring down the street with a clenched jaw. He felt her gaze and turned to her. "Our pain is different. I don't think we can help you or Applebloom."

She felt a chill as she beheld their dark, haunted expressions. These boys have seen combat? They don't look much older than me. Were they deployed outside of Equestria before they got into the Royal Guard or—y'know, I'm not sure I really wanna know. Judgin' by the look on their faces right now, I doubt it's a pretty tale.

Applejack sighed. "I don't know if I can, either. All I know is she's gotta deal with it somehow, or it's gonna turn her bitter."

"You can be there for her," Strauss pointed out. "She'll come to you if she knows she can."

"And I try to be." Applejack finished her lemonade and tossed the cup into a bin. "But there's only so much I can do if she's not ready to talk. All I can hope is that when she is, she will."

A line of customers formed. Applejack's mind was dragged away from Norric's tale as she attended to their demands and made polite conversation. She turned to see how many apples they had left as the last customer approached the stand.

"What can I do ya for?" Applejack said absentmindedly. "We only got Red and Golden Delicious in stock tod—"

"You know those are my favorite, anyways."

Applejack turned to see Rarity regarding her with a patient smile. Beside her was a vaguely familiar white filly, fidgeting and looking around.

"Aw shucks Rarity," Applejack said. "Don't tell me you've been in line this whole time."

"I'm not one to abuse the power of my connections," Rarity said with a raised chin. "Not when I have some time on my hooves, anyway."

"Rarity, are we done yet?" Sweetie Belle said. She crouched on the ground and played with a tuft of grass.

"Do you want apple coleslaw or not?" Rarity said sharply.

"Yes," Sweetie Belle replied in a monotone.

Rarity gave a nervous laugh. "You recall my sister, don't you?"

Wow, that's Sweetie Belle? She's sure grown up big. She was still in diapers last time I saw her. Applejack looked down at the filly."Been a while, but yeah. How you doin', Sweetie?"

Sweetie looked up at her with blank eyes. "Who're you?"

Applejack chuckled. "I suppose you wouldn't remember. I used to come over twice a week to foalsit ya when Rarity was first gettin' the shop started. I'm Applejack."

"Hiya, Applejack!" Sweetie sprang to her hooves. She looked her former foalsitter up and down. "You seem nice. Why don't you come over anymore?"

Rarity's ears turned red. "Sweetie, that's not an appropriate thing to ask." She looked apologetically at Applejack.

"It's fine." Applejack gestured to the open barrels and wagon. "I live out on an apple farm, and my family decided that it was time for me to run it. Afraid I didn't have time to come over anymore after that."

"I'm just glad it was only that first year that was rough," Rarity said. She examined an apple in her magic. "I never did properly thank you for your help."

"I didn't do it expectin' anything in return," Applejack said dismissively. "Not like it was hard, anyways. Applebloom's the same age as her."

Sweetie, who had been poking at a frog that was hopping by, perked up. "Who's Applebloom?"

"My little sister."

Sweetie Belle's eyes filled her head. "You have a little sister?! Is she here? I wanna meet her!" She zipped around and atop the stand like a white and purple missile. She was standing on Applejack's back looking in her ponytail when she was lifted up in a blue aura. She yelped and struggled as she was deposited back at Rarity's side.

"Don't go causing a mess now," Rarity sang in a dangerous tone with a wan smile.

What a little ball of energy. Rarity must have quite a time of it keepin' her under control in the shop. "Applebloom's not here right now," Applejack said. She raised a hoof to her chin. "But maybe someday we could arrange for the two of you to meet."

Sweetie Belle squeed.

"I don't see a problem with it, but I'd need to ask my parents," Rarity said. She leaned forward and whispered to Applejack. "Maybe she'll tire herself out for once out on your farm."

Applejack smiled evilly. "Oh, don't worry; I'll load her up with sugar before sendin' her home."

Rarity's eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't dare."

Applejack gave a sly wink as she leaned back and helped pick out some apples.

Norric took Rarity's money with a polite nod. She turned to him with interest. "Why Applejack, you haven't introduced me to your assistants."

Applejack feigned surprise. "I suppose I haven't. Norric, Strauss, this here is Rarity. She's a real nicegal; probably the most generous pony you'll ever meet."

Norric wrinkled his brow. "You're the one with the earrings."

Rarity blinked. "How do you know about that?"

"Elo's an old friend," Strauss said pointedly. "I met up with him a few days ago. We both had to deliver so something, so we did it together."

"I see," Rarity said.

"What earrings?" Applejack glanced at the small pieces of jewelry Rarity wore. "Did you use some kinda magic on those?"

Rarity put a hoof to her lips. "I'll tell you another time, dear."

Norric looked behind and around her. "Shouldn't you have some 'assistants' of your own?"

"I'm not sure what you mean," Rarity said. "I don't think I'm quite ready to take apprentices, but I do have two clients that I can tell you the exact location of right now." The tiny jewels in her earrings sparkled. "One of them is thirty paces behind me and to the left looking at a stand, and the other is inside the building to our right."

Norric's lips parted. "Impressive."

"Rarity, can we go now?" Sweetie asked, poking her sister's side with a hoof.

"In a minute." Rarity took the bag of apples in her magic, giving one to Sweetie. She took it and happily munched away, placated. Rarity turned back to Applejack. "I know you're not much for elegance, but can I convince you into letting me make you something nice for your grandmother's birthday next week?"

Applejack snorted. "I'm gonna be helpin' Pinkie run the party all night. I'll be all sweaty from settin' things up, helping with the food, and doin' the dishes."

"Well then, maybe something nice for your grandmother?" Rarity thought for a moment. "She is such a lovely shade of green; I bet I could make something that would make her look half her age!"

And that'd still be older than us by more than ten years, heh. Granny's not much for fashion, but I don't think she's got anythin' other than that one threadbare dress with the ugly frills. Maybe she'd be okay with it if I can convince Rarity to hold back on the frou-frou. Applejack shrugged. "I'll ask her about it."

"Beautiful," Rarity said. "I'll need to come over at some point to take her measurements, I don't expect her to come all the way into town, of course. When would be a good time for me to c—"

"Rarity!"

Sweetie Belle had finished the apple and was hopping up and down, dancing in place. "Can we please go home now?! Or at least can I have another apple?"

Rarity sighed, then turned back to Applejack. "We'll figure out the details later."

Applejack gave a slow smile. "You know where to find me."

Rarity nodded to Norric and Strauss before walking away with Sweetie, the sound of the two bickering sisters fading into the crowd. Applejack attended to a stallion who had just approached. Guess I'm not the only one who don't fully understand her sister.

An hour and a half later, they'd managed to sell all of the apples. The three of them took down the stand and loaded it up to the wagon, apologizing to the occasional pony who asked if they had anything left. It was Norric's turn to pull the cart, and Applejack was just about to hitch him up to it when she heard a familiar voice.

"AJ!"

She turned and saw Mac running towards her from the road leading out of town, scanning the crowd. She waved to him. He saw her and sped up, weaving deftly in between passersby with impressive agility for one his size. Applejack regarded him evenly as he closed the distance, his usual stoic expression replaced with tired eyes and slumped posture.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He spat out the straw he was chewing. "Applebloom hasn't come home yet."

Applejack bit her lip. "Have you checked the usual spots?"

Mac looked away. "All but one."

"And the one you you didn't check is..."

"Yup."

Dang it filly, what're we gonna do with you? Applejack looked to the east of town. "You went last time. Guess it's my turn."

Mac exhaled through his nose. "Can ya talk to her? I tried before, but I don't think it did much good. It ain't right for her to keep doin' this."

Applejack tried to ease the knot that had formed in her stomach. "If she'll listen. It's not like we can really stop her."

"Do you want me to take the wagon?" he asked. "No sense in you draggin' it all the way out there."

"Yeah," Applejack said. "And let Granny know we'll be late."

"Sure." Mac hitched himself up and began to walk forward. He paused and looked back at his sister. "Don't be too hard on her."

Norric watched Mac take the wagon away. "What's going on?"

"We're gonna have to take a detour," Applejack said. She began to redo her ponytail. "I have to go get Applebloom."

"Do you know where she is?" Strauss asked.

"I got a pretty good idea," Applejack mumbled, her braid in her mouth.

Norric cocked his head. "You and Mac seem hesitant."

"Good reason for that," Applejack said grimly. "Not very many ponies are comfortable around cemeteries."

( *** )

The sun still hid behind the clouds as they approached the dull metal gates that marked Ponyville Cemetery. It was a quiet, well-kept little place, with thin shrubs dotting along the grey stone walkways and subdued flower gardens placed along its borders. A soft wind brushed Applejack's mane as she approached from the city limits with Norric and Strauss in tow. She looked with a practiced gaze to the far western end, between two middle-aged pine trees. Sure enough, there was Applebloom, her back turned to them.

Applejack turned to Strauss and Norric. "Can you wait here?"

They both nodded. "Take your time," Strauss said.

Applejack took a slow, deep breath, steadied her mind and heart, and crossed the threshold. She walked down the neatly trimmed path she'd taken so many times past, the sharp scent of crushed pine needles and freshly cut grass filling the air.

Place doesn't change, does it? Even smells the same. It's just like it was back then.

Each step was like going back in time. Applejack's vision wavered as the memories came, but these were not like blood oozing out of an old wound. They were like slow, unstoppable waves that crashed against a hardened wall of resolve.

Applejack stood in front of three coffins that stood beside three holes in the ground. She was wearing a tight black dress that make her neck itch. Applebloom was snugly strapped to her back, sleeping in a carrier. To her right was Granny, wearing a similar dress to hers, along with black veil that hid her silent tears. Mac was in a tux to her left, his eyes as red as his coat as he stared at the coffins. The entire Apple clan surrounded them; a crowd of ponies all in black that overflowed the tiny cemetery. From all over Equestria, they had come to pay their last respects.

Applejack continued on towards Applebloom. The clip-clopping of her hooves almost an affront to the ancient, crumbling memorials that stood as testament to ponies long past. She now saw that her sister was lying down before a pair of tombstones, the symbol of the Apple clan engraved on both their tops.

It felt like there was cotton in her ears and throat. Crying wasn't enough to show how much she missed them, and how much it hurt that they were gone. All she could do was stare. Somepony Applejack didn't know was talking, saying something about how they'd gone to a better place. Each of the coffins slowly descended into the cold, dark earth, taking a piece of her heart with them.

Applejack closed the distance and approached Applebloom. As she did, it became apparent why she hadn't come yet. Her head was resting on a small mound of dirt, her breathing slow and even. Her face and mane were a mess, soaked with tear and grass stains.

The crowd slowly dispersed as the funeral ended. Family members kept coming to her, saying how sorry they were. They all had the same sorrowful, concerned eyes. She didn't even try to listen after a while. Why bother? Words wouldn't bring any of them back. Applejack lingered behind, staring at the fresh mounds that now marked the resting place of the ones she never thought she'd lose. Granny had taken Applebloom, and gone down the path with Mac. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. The color drained from the world as she read the newly erected tombstones; accompanied by a raw, fresh surge of grief.

Jonamac Apple 1658-1692

Cinnamon Swirl Apple 1657-1692

Pendragon Apple 1624-1692

May their spirits and legacy resoundthrough the loved ones they've left behind.

Applejack nudged her sister. "Applebloom."

She jerked awake, looking around wide-eyed. Her expression turned melancholy as she saw Applejack and gained her bearings. She turned away, staring at the graves.

Applejack sat on her haunches beside her, looking out to the open fields beyond. "Did you come straight here after you left the farm?"

Applebloom shifted. "No, I only been out here for a little while."

The wind picked up, making the words linger in Applejack's ears. She stared hard at her sister. "Applebloom, don't lie to me."

"Fine," she spat. "I came straight here. What do you care?!"

Applejack closed her eyes, speaking in a careful, controlled tone. "This ain't right, sis. You're sleepin' in the middle of a cemetery. Why do you keep comin' out here?"

Applebloom replied in a soft, defiant voice, refusing to meet her sister's gaze. "Because none of you do."

Applejack's ears flattened. "You're not the only one who misses them, you know."

"Then why'd you throw their stuff away?!" Applebloom yelled. "It's all we got left of them!"

"It's okay to keep a few mementos." Applejack took off her Stetson and looked at it, turning it over in her hooves. "But we don't need to keep every little thing of theirs. We have our memories to remember them by."

Applebloom's face reddened as she gritted her teeth. "I. Don't. Have. Memories. And it's not the same havin' you or anypony else tell me."

I was afraid of this. Applejack sighed and rubbed her head. "Believe me, if I could give you some of mine, I would. But you can't go squirrellin' away everythin' that Mom, Dad, and Grandpa used to have."

Applebloom stared at the ground. "You can't stop me. If you're gonna take away the things I wanna keep, then I'll just start hiding 'em."

"Keepin' their old possessions ain't gonna bring them back."

"I know that!" Applebloom said.

"No, I don't think you do." Applejack raised a hoof to put on her sister's shoulder, but then thought better of it and continued. "You're not acceptin' that they're gone, and you're takin' it out on others. And the longer you run from it, the worse it's gonna get."

"I ain't runnin!" Applebloom said in a wavy voice.

"Then why'd you come out here?" Applejack asked again.

Applebloom jumped to her hooves and whipped over to Applejack, her face livid and teeth bared. "Because this is where they are! You don't understand because you got to know and see and smell and touch and hear them! All I got is a feelin' that something is gone!"

Applebloom dissolved as the floodgates opened. "I wanna wake up in the morning and know that they're there! I wanna see them walk in through the farmhouse door and tell me it was all a bad dream! I wanna listen to them talk at the dinnertable! I wanna have them yell at me when I get in trouble! I wanna have them tuck me in at night!"

She turned to the two gravestones and let loose a pleading shriek.

"I WANT THEM TO LOVE ME!"

Applebloom collapsed back to the ground. Or at least, she almost did. She was caught halfway by an orange hoof as Applejack pulled her into a fierce hug, holding back a sob of her own.

"It's not fair," Applebloom whimpered. She said nothing more as she gave in to her grief.

How can you miss something you never knew? The words 'Mom' and 'Dad' are foreign to her. A part of me still aches when I walk by their old room every day. But for her? She prolly don't feel anything but confusion. That pain prolly isn't as sharp, but it's gotta last longer, and go deeper. I still can't say if it's worse than mine, but I don't want her to feel it either way.

Applejack swayed back and forth as she held her sister in her arms. After a time, she spoke in a thick voice.

"You may never hear them say it honey, but I know they loved you the moment they knew you were in Momma's womb."

Applebloom pressed her face harder into her sister's coat. Applejack could feel the warm tears soaking her fur as she gently stroked Applebloom's mane.

"It's okay to miss 'em, and want to have known them, but you can't spend all your time dwelling on what might've been."

Applebloom looked up into her eyes. "Why not?"

Applejack wiped the tears away from her sister's face. "Because it eats away at you. It helps for a little while, but when you realize it's all made up, it just makes the pain even worse. So you wind up wantin' it more and more, sinking deeper into the little fantasy land you've made. But what you don't realize is by doin' that, you're not payin' attention to the present."

Applejack slowly pulled Applebloom away, leaving a hoof on her shoulder. "Don't give all your time to the dead, sugarcube. Not when it means missin' out on the living. We're still here: You, me, Mac, Granny, the rest of the clan, all the friends you have, and are going to have. Our lives are just gettin' started! Do you really think that Momma and Daddy and Grandpa would want you spendin' all your time grieving over them?"

Applebloom had closed her eyes and was nuzzling Applejack's arm. "No..."

"Then move on," Applejack said soothingly. "You can remember 'em and keep them in your heart, but you gotta keep movin' forward. It's the only thing we can do."

Applejack swallowed hard and steadied her voice. "I want you to promise me somethin'."

"What?" Applebloom asked.

"If you need to talk to somepony about this, come to me. Don't hold it in anymore. I'll always listen to you, okay?"

Applebloom stared at the ground as new teardrops fell from her face. She spoke in between her sobs. "Only... if you promise me... somethin' back."

Applejack lay down and looked into her sister's face. "Anything."

Applebloom shut her eyes and grabbed Applejack in a vicegrip, holding onto her as if she would float away.

"Don't die."

The sun peeked out again from the clouds. The world was filled with brilliance as Applejack's eyes shone with a deep inner glow. She could see lights sparkling and moving amongst the grass, the shrubs, and strangely, within her little sister. The luminance flowed from Applebloom's core, moving around her entire body like a stream.

Applejack wished with all of her heart that she could keep that promise. Not for fear of death, but for desire of wanting to protect her sister from further pain. Above all else, she wanted to defy fate, escape the ravages of time, and make this one wish a reality.

The glow in her eyes intensified, filling her irises and casting shadows upon Applebloom's mane, the surrounding grass, and the graves of her family. Applejack wanted to say that without a doubt, she would never leave Applebloom alone. That she always be there for her and protect her, shielding her from the pain and suffering of the world. She wanted nothing more than to make this desire into the truth.

But she knew that she couldn't.

Applejack blinked. The lights faded and the world returned to normal. She tried to shake her head and realized she couldn't breathe.

"Applebloom?" she gasped. "You're... chokin' me..."

Applebloom stiffened and pulled away, giving an embarrassed smile. "Sorry, heh…"

Applejack rubbed her neck and sighed. "I can't keep that promise, sis. We all gotta die someday. But I think I can at least promise you that I won't be dyin' anytime soon. Is that good enough?"

Applebloom looked away, but slowly nodded.

Applejack held her out hoof and spat on it. She stuck it out to Applebloom, who did the same. They shook hooves, sealing the deal.

Applejack tilted her head towards the gate. "Come on, let's get home. Supper's gonna get cold."

"Yeah, let's go."

Applejack dried her tears and forced herself to look beyond the tombstones. On that day, before the graves of her family, she made a vow: She'd become strong for them. She'd become somepony that others could depend on to give the brutal, honest truth, and always do what was right. She'd hold strong to her beliefs in the face of doubt, and most of all, she'd do everything in her power to protect the ones she loved.

She said her final farewells, walking down the path to rejoin Granny, Applebloom and Mac. The pain was still there, but she knew it would fade and scar over. There was no more time for tears. She had a goal to meet, and for now, that was enough to keep her moving forward.

Applejack walked out of the graveyard with Applebloom, rejoining Strauss and Norric. The four of them headed back to town, saying nothing on the way. Applebloom hovered closer than normal to her sister, at one point almost tripping her as their legs got tangled together. Applejack finally acquiesced and let Applebloom ride on her back the rest of the way.

None of them looked back as they headed to the crossroads, taking a left to follow the path home. As they did, Applejack's thoughts returned to the vow she had made years ago. She felt like she'd upheld most of it, but uncertainty and fear nagged her about the last part; for it posed a question that was not easily answered.

How do I know if I have enough?

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