”You say goodbye
And I say hello...”
Hello Goodbye
-Lennon & McCartney, The Beatles

“Soothrsty”

“Wha…?” Twilight was completely disoriented but not disquieted. She had been in a very deep and restful sleep and savored the feeling of awakening without that tiny knot in the pit of her stomach. It was luxurious. The warm quilt pulled over her and Applejack, the two of them sharing each other’s warmth, the comforting familiar smell of her marefriend? She saw the word adorning them and it gave her a feeling of pure happiness and joy, though not without a little excitement at the illicit nature of it.

As she lay on her side, she could feel Applejack's weight on the mattress. She wondered what the other side of the window shade held. It was morning and overcast. Perhaps the snow was still falling. She pulled the quilt up higher and snuggled in.

For this one moment she lived a fantasy that in the ensuing days, weeks, years, this would be how it was. The norm, the two of them waking up in their bed, Applejack beside her. Snuggling, talking, maybe going back to sleep, , maybe getting something to eat, maybe...

She exhaled slowly in an attempt at expunging the doubts that had already begun to vaguely cloud her happiness, trying to get that foothold in the pit of her stomach. For that moment she prevailed, and would hang onto that moment as long as she could. She knew her doubts; they waited patiently, devoid of malevolence, simply the vanguards of reality that hovered in the periphery. She would take whatever the amount of time they had together. She felt a thrill rush through her at the thought that it was lying here, being with Applejack that somehow shielded her from things like doubt and uncertainty.

"Susty–"

Twilight propped herself up on her elbows and looked at Applejack.

“AJ? Did you say something? Were you trying to say thirsty? Duh! AJ, are you thirsty?! Did you just say you were thirsty? Dear Sweet Celestia, please tell me you’re awake and that you’re thirsty because we have lots and lots of water here and I know where I can get more. Plus there's about 4 feet of snow outside which I know how to melt,” Twilight‘s voice broke as she started to laugh. Tears spilled from her eyes as she waited forever for another sound from Applejack.

“Thirsty” Applejack tried again. She was having some difficulty speaking and had to work her mouth around the word, speaking very slowly, doing her best to enunciate.

“YES!” Twilight did a fist pump. “Hello there! Welcome back Applejack! Wohoo!” Twilight kept the volume to a minimum so as not to startle her friend, though she was thrilled that the eternity she’d waited to say them was over. Unable to help herself, she leaned over, caressed her face and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Thirsty you say?” she said asked. “How much water are we talking? Better start small – you don’t always know your limit,” Twilight said sotto voiced, “I mean let’s face it”

Applejack recoiled slightly and looked a little uncomfortable. “Thank you,” she said, her voice scratchy, dry and rough. She swallowed hard and winced.

“I know I know, sweetie, you must be in pain and I wish I could give you something like aspirin but you have an aneurism and the aspirin would thin your blood, which is definitely something we don’t want. I think cold water might be just the thing. Don't go anywhere - I’ll be right back!”

She sang as she made her way down the stairs “...good morning-ah!" The Hoofbeats song was the first one to pop into her head. Now it was time for healing and the days to follow – a little therapy, a little tlc, some good food, some more tlc and if they had time… more tlc.

She poured a glass of water, stuck a straw in and rushed upstairs with it.

Applejack needed to be propped up and Twilight carefully helped her lean forward and put some pillows under her back. She held the straw as Applejack sipped slowly. Twilight could see that her friend’s head had begun to clear, but she also noted a degree of uncertainty in her eyes.

“Hello there you fabulous pony you! How are you feeling?” Twilight asked, gently pushing Applejack’s mane from her eyes.

Still sipping from the straw, Applejack opened her eyes a little wider and nodded, looking at Twilight. Finally she let the straw slip from her mouth.

“Whahappen?”

“You decided to climb Mt. Everhorset without a Sherpa’s what happened. Who do you think you are, Sir Equine Hillary? Well actually it was the bookcase downstairs, and it kind of fell on you because a certain pony who will remain nameless did not secure it,” Twilight face broke into a big sheepish grin. “Sorry about that,” she said in a meek little voice. “You’re lucky you’re so strong, it would have killed a mere mortal pony. Can you move your back hooves for me?”

Applejack smiled weakly and looked very uncertain.

“Sure.” Both hooves moved against Twilight's pushing. Good and strong.

“That’s my Applejack! You so rock!”

“Uh, Ah think Ah gotta go.”

“You can’t. Not with that leg, and the snowstorm.” It sounded almost triumphant. There was no way around it. She had Applejack in her home and there was no way she could leave.

“Besides I have so much to tell you about everything.” she noticed the confused and somewhat scared look on her friend’s face. “I should probably dial it down a notch…I’m sorry, I’m just so excited to have you back,” she smiled, then her eyes flew open in realization. “Ohhhhh, you mean you gotta gooooooooo. Here I am babbling like Pinky Pie. Hold on, I have the bedpan right here. Let me help you there. Don’t look so nervous, it’s ok. There, see? I’ll leave you to... you know, and I’ll see if I can find something you might like to eat.” With that Twilight was on her way down the stairs.

“Gotta calm down Twilight, you’re scaring the poor thing. I’m just so excited, She stopped, took a breath and concentrated on letting the excitement flow out of her. Once in the kitchen she prepared some applesauce with cinnamon, recalling how much Applejack enjoyed it. When she came back upstairs Applejack looked much better.

“Hey AJ Here’s some applesauce, I put cinnamon in it, I know you love it that way.”

“OK, thank you”

She began to spoon it into Applejack’s mouth. The rust colored pony lay there looking around and smiling politely.

“So, AJ, that was really some bon voyage party - do you remember anything?”

Applejack looked down at the bedspread and barely shook her head. Twilight smiled, “That’s oh...kay…” Then Twilight's face went completely pale and she wavered slightly.

“Hey Applejack?”

“Yea?” her voice a bare whisper

“What’s my name?”

Silence.

Applejack swallowed and looked up. The anguish on her face was heartbreaking. Tears had already spilled onto her cheeks and her chin trembled.

No, please dear Celestia, no.

“I don’t know.”