The shovel's blade pierced the earth one final time, planting firmly next to the grave. Applejack wiped the sweat from her brow, grateful that it was done and finished. Her breathing was labored after digging and refilling the resting place. But she didn't care how tired or weak it had made her. This had been a labor of love.

"Apple Bloom."

Applejack didn't turn her head. She knew Apple Bloom was waiting to move closer. She stood silently as her young sister approached the grave. Tears were flowing down the filly's cheeks. Applejack couldn't blame her. She wanted to cry herself. No. She had to remain strong now. For Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom sat down in front of the dirt mound, her tears dropping onto the grass.

"Bye Big Mac. I'll never forget you."

Applejack swallowed to keep herself from falling apart. How could she and Apple Bloom survive? The sickness had taken Big Mac and he had been the strongest of the family. What hope was there for them? How could they possibly-

No.

That sort of thinking couldn't exist anymore. Not when Applejack had her sister to care for. She took a deep breath and stood up straight.

"We have to go."

Apple Bloom looked up at her. The tears were still coming, but sadness had left her eyes and was being replaced with confusion. Applejack's own eyes were beginning to feel moist, a single tear squeezing its way out onto her cheek.

"We need to find somewhere safe."

"But... But what about the farm?"

"There's not much of a farm left sugarcube. The orchard's empty and we're runnin' low on supplies in the house. We've gotta move on."

"And just leave Big Mac and Granny here?!"

"There's nothin' else we can do for them. We put them to rest. And that's a sight more than most ponies are gettin' now."

Apple Bloom looked back at Big Mac's grave and then over towards another mound under the nearest tree. Applejack followed her gaze to look one last time at Granny Smith's final resting place. They had even moved her old rocking chair out next to it. There it would sit with its owner for the rest of time.

Applejack turned away and began walking towards the house.

"Let's pack up."

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Apple Bloom struggled with her saddlebag as she came downstairs. Applejack wondered what the filly could have possibly packed to make it so hard to carry.

"Did you pack anything useful?"

"This is my stuff! I need it!"

"We don't need anything that isn't necessary. Go on now. Open it up and let me see."

Apple Bloom slowly loosened her bag and it dropped to floor. She tipped it over and the contents spilled out. Applejack looked over the pile of odds and ends. There was a red ball, her Cutie Mark Crusaders cape, a book, and some extra hair ribbons.

"I think the ball and ribbons stay behind."

"Okay."

"What's that book?"

Apple Bloom opened the book, revealing a photo. Applejack came next to Apple Bloom so the photo was right side up.

"It's my Cutie Mark Crusaders photo album. I just...wanted something to remember them by."

Applejack pulled her sister into a hug. Apple Bloom had been devastated when both of her friends had passed. It seemed cruel that she'd lost so much at such a young age.

"I'm sorry. Of course you can bring it."

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After gathering what food they could the sisters left the house and walked one last time through the apple orchard. Their walk ended near the old clubhouse and Apple Bloom insisted on going to it. Applejack stood quietly as she watched the filly tied on her Crusader cape and disappear inside.

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Apple Bloom looked around the clubhouse. Dust was beginning to gather on everything. Some cobwebs had even begun to form. She walked over to the stand and stood behind it, observing the room. She spotted their old map of Ponyville in the corner. And there was the thinking spot for cutie mark ideas! A smile crept to her face. So many good memories were made in this place. But now that's all they would be. Memories. No more crusades. No more adventure.

"I hereby call the final meeting of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. As you know already, we lost two of our members. And we're gonna miss them. But we'll never forget the awesome times we had together."

A tear hit the stand.

"And the best part of it all wasn't trying to find our cutie marks. It was having friends like Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. And they will always be..."

More tears dotted the wood.

"The best friends a pony could ask for."

She reached up to her neck and untied the cape. With a flourish, she laid the cape on top of the stand.

"Meeting adjourned."

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Applejack stood as Apple Bloom appeared from the clubhouse. She noticed that her cape was missing, but decided not to bring it up. As her sister got closer it was obvious she'd been crying. Applejack felt her heart ache. Would Apple Bloom be able to cope?

She had to. They both did.

Gone were the days when laughter and friendship were in abundance. They'd been replaced with the sickness. Just like with Big Mac and Granny it would take over every pony it could. One by one they would all go mad and become vicious animals.

But not her. Or Apple Bloom.

They would find somewhere safe. They would escape the sickness, even if it meant leaving Equestria all together. But for now they just needed to leave the farm and its haunting memories. They would walk through the night to find a safe place to rest. And the next day they would keep walking. Next Chapter: Memories Estimated time remaining: 8 Minutes