Ah Promise

by WordSPark37

Chapters

Starry, Starry Night...
The Night Ahead
The Truth Hurts Sometimes
One Last Story
Apple Bloom's Promise
Fading Night
Found and Lost
The First Farewell

Starry, Starry Night...

AH PROMISE

Or: A Cold Embrace on a Warm Spring Night

Introduction: A Starry, Starry Night...

The stars shone high above the orchard, the moon illuminating the world below. There were no clouds blocking the celestial views of the starry night, the pegasi had made sure of that. A gentle summer breeze whistled through the branches and brought the sweet scent of a million ripe apples through the clearing. It was one of the most beautiful nights that Apple Bloom had ever witnessed. It shouldn’t have been like that.

Nights like this were supposed to be happy, joyful. Bad things were only supposed to happen on cold, lonely nights, in the middle of a thunderstorm, not on a warm spring night like that one. The relaxing atmosphere surrounding the two sisters only made it even more unrealistic. It just wasn’t feasible. Apple Bloom blinked, hoping to wake from this nightmare, hoping that the blood was simply a cold sweat, that the fear was just a bellyache.

The Night Ahead

The grass had no longer struggled to rise back up, and it lay virtually parallel to the ground as Apple Bloom continued pacing nervously in front of her sister. By now there was a perfect crescent shape in front of the panting pony that lay on scarlet ground.

“Apple Bloom… calm down… everything’s gonna be just fine…”

Tears flowed freely from Apple Blooms eyes as she looked down into her sister’s puffy eyes. She rubbed her eyes with an already-humid hoof, leaving her eyes irritated. It didn’t matter; she was hyperventilating, her heart thumping hard against her ribcage, and her mind whirling with a thousand thoughts. This was not how tonight was supposed to go. It was supposed to be a happy night, just two sisters enjoying the wonders at night. And now it had turned into the worst night for both of them.

“But…” Applebloom stammered through her quivering lips, “There’s gotta be somethin’…”

Applejack winced in pain, sharp jabs emanating from within as she shifted slightly onto her side. The wound wasn’t too bad, but she wouldn’t want Apple Bloom worrying about it too much. She didn’t want the young filly to see her like that. What really hurt were her insides. The branch had crushed her ribcage, and she could feel blood pounding through her chest, much weaker now. Now, all that was keeping her alive was the weight of the branch that kept her from losing too much blood. AJ knew what was happening. She might not have been the brightest pony in town, but it didn’t take a bookworm to figure out there was nothing that could be done now. Apple Bloom let out a whimper as she watched her sister suffer.

“Please AJ….Ah…there must be somethin’ Ah can do…”

Applejack looked up at her young sister and let out a forced smile. She had to be strong for both of their sakes. And As much as AJ was hurting, she knew Apple Bloom would fare worse later on, especially if she had to watch her suffer.

“No, Ah just want y’all to calm down, ya hear?” Applejack said, firmly, but unable to mask the pain in her voice.

Her demand was met from a sniffling fit from the young pony, as she struggled to control herself. After moments of looking into each other’s eyes, Apple Bloom finally allowed herself to breathe slower, though every now and again, a sob would accompany her breaths.

“What… What do… What do we do now?”

Applejack thought about it for a while; it was best that Apple Bloom composed herself first. If something happened now, Apple Bloom would be all alone throughout the rest of the night. It was a good four hours before Celestia would raise the sun, and the first few golden shimmers would warm them up.

She hated herself for not being strong enough, for lying there helpless as her little sister suffered. She couldn’t traverse the orchard this late at night, not by herself. She was still just a young filly, and if the timber wolves or whatever horrid creature from the nearby forest didn’t catch up with her, the elements would make short work of her. The only choice was sticking together through the night. Applejack reached out a hoof towards the teary filly.

“Come here, you.”

Apple Bloom obliged, shakily stumbling forward and lowering her head towards her sister’s hoof. Applejack wrapped her leg around her sister’s neck and guided her down next to her until she lay cradled in her tight embrace. She’d made sure her bloody side lay against the ground so as to not stain nor scare her. She could feel Apple Bloom trembling against her chest, and it made her heart hurt even more than it already was. She knew what would happen, and apparently, so did her little sister.

They lay, shivering, beneath the moon’s silent vigil, a young filly wrapped tight in her big sister’s protective embrace. They both wished they could have stayed like that forever.

The Truth Hurts Sometimes

“… Applejack…?”

“Hmm?” She responded, her strength was gone, and she was already starting to feel tired. But she had to stay awake, simply for Apple Bloom’s wellbeing.

“What’s… What’s gonna happen now?”

All Applejack could do was sigh. A tear fell from her cheek as she herself began to let reality sink in. She was dying. She probably wouldn’t see another dawn again, nor any of her friends, or her family, or any of the things she loved. However, it wasn’t all bad. She was in her apple orchard, and she had Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom. The only reason she didn’t break down, the only reason she had to be strong, was Apple Bloom.

She looked down at the distressed filly, looking up at her hopefully with watering eyes. AJ couldn’t bring herself to lie to her, not now. But she didn’t want the last moment between them to be the worst they’d shared.

“Well, you’re gonna have to be strong now…”

“What… What do you mean?” Apple Bloom said, growing worried. She clearly already knew where her sister was going with this.

“I’m sorry Apple Bloom, but I don’t know how long…” AJ simply couldn’t bring herself to say the words, but the worst had been done, and Apple Bloom had heard enough to understand.

“But… you can’t! You can’t leave me! Not now…”

Her pleas tore at Applejack’s heart, but there was nothing she could do aside from hugging her even tighter. It was a pathetic attempt at comforting the wailing filly, but it was all she could do to stop herself from losing control herself.

“Listen to me Apple Bloom… Listen to me!” AJ said, gently pushing her away so she could talk with her face to face.

“You’re not a baby anymore. You’re a big pony now. You’ve just gotta learn that sometimes you gotta let go…”

“But I’m not a big pony! I don’t wanna be a big pony! Not if it means I can’t be with you!”

Apple Bloom buried her face in Applejack’s chest once again and continued to wail. The tears now flowed freely from her eyes as she tried to calm her young sister. Applejack patted her head and ran her hoof through her mane, softly whispering empty words of comfort.

It seemed as though neither would ever run out of theirs as they shared their final moments together. It shouldn’t end like that. Not like that. Apple Bloom was already scarred from this experience, she’d never be the same again, she shouldn’t have to watch her older sister, the one who supposedly never tired, the invincible Applejack, simply fade away. An idea began to form in Applejack’s head, as she reminisced about all the happiest moments in her life. She ignored the growing pain in her side and chest as she formulated the details, and tried to find the best way to voice her thoughts, and give Apple Bloom at least some sense of comfort in her final moments with her sister.

One Last Story

“Apple Bloom?”

The young filly looked up at her sister, already a wreck, shivering not from cold but from everything else. It truly hurt her more than the pain caused by the branch that pinned her to the blood-stained ground. The thick, rough bough was impossible to move, it had effectively defeated her without a fight, and yet Apple Bloom’s pain seemed worse than her own. Maybe she could still save her young sister from more grief if she helped her accept the truth.

“Ah… Ah know yer not a baby anymore, but… would you like to hear a story?” Applejack asked tentatively, struggling to mask the pain in her voice through a soft whisper.

Apple Bloom simply nodded her head ever so slightly, or she may have been shivering harder, but as Applejack accommodated her in a warm embrace as her mother once had, Apple Bloom did not resist, and her shivering soon calmed down. Applejack tried to calm her own breathing, until both ponies inhaled and exhaled at the same time, a single synchronized being.

“Once upon a time, there was a young filly…” Applejack begun, and the red-maned pony huddled closer, sharing her warmth.

“She lived on a farm with her big brother and sister and her granny. They were a downright happy family if ever there was one,” She continued, smiling as fond memories of all the times they’d shared together came flowing back. Still, tears began to form as she braced herself for what was coming up next.

“But one night, the big sister had to leave…”

“No…” Apple Bloom turned towards her, now fully alert as she realized where the story was headed. She whined between sobs as she clung onto Applejack as if her life depended on it.

“No, please… I don’t want you to go!” She begged with watering eyes as she pleaded her case to the helpless pony. Applejack held her tight, brushing her mane with one hoof as she softly shushed her, trying to calm her down. Once her sobbing had once again been reduced to sniffling, Applejack continued.

“Now, will ya calm down and let me finish the story?” Applejack whispered. All Apple Bloom could muster was a pitiful “Mm-hm”, and once again, she shifted into Applejack’s chest until she was comfortably nestled in her sister’s hold.

“Well, like Ah was sayin’, one night, the big sister had to leave…”

Apple Bloom let out an almost subconscious whine as she sniffled. Applejack chose to ignore it, but hugged her tighter.

“But before she left, she asked her little sister to make her a promise.”

Apple Bloom's Promise

Apple Bloom looked into her sister’s emerald eyes to find that they were sparkling still, filled with tears, yet somehow lacking in their usual splendor. It must have been because she was tired, or because it was dark. Yes, that must have been it.

A familiar hoof caressed her mane, reminding her of times past, back whenever she’d been upset, and Applejack would comfort her. Now she missed the soft hay in the barn where she’d cuddle with her sister whenever tears were brimming, just as she had when she’d been told about her parents, or when she’d been picked on at school, or when she’d broken Rarity’s vase by accident. Now, it was no one’s fault, Applejack was the only one suffering, and yet she felt worse than all those times before. No amount of cuddling could take away the pit in her stomach or the pain in her chest, nor the feeling that any moment now, she’d be alone, blanketed only by the cruel night sky.

Applejack inhaled sharply, trying to no avail to mask her pain as she struggled to stay alive for as long as possible, and continued her story.

“Before she left, her little sister had to promise her…” As she said this, she lifted Apple Bloom’s chin so they would be face to face.

“She had to promise that she would go to sleep that night, and the next mornin’, she had to smile. She had to promise to be happy, and not cry about her big sister leaving. She had to promise to grow up and get her cutie mark, meet someone and fall in love. She had to promise to remember her, but not in a sad way. To remember all the fun time’s they’d had together. All the laughs they shared, all the apples they harvested, all the good times they’d been through.”

Applejack held Apple Bloom’s face in front of her despite her efforts to look away. She had to understand, she had to accept things the way they were, even if they hurt. Apple Bloom was trembling again, shaking her head and shutting her eyes tight, trying to block out everything that was happening. Applejack only wished she could somehow ease her suffering, but it was no use.

“Apple Bloom… open your eyes… open your eyes and look at me…”

It took all her strength to look up at her sister and look into her smiling face. It was just about the saddest smile anypony could possible muster, and Apple Bloom could not help but bawl at the sight.

Applejack spent yet another lengthy while calming her nerves, until finally she had once again run out of tears, and settled down. Now, looking into each other’s eyes, they shared their last smile, and it truly warmed their hearts, making every moment up until that one worth it.

“So… Ya think you can do that? Can ya keep that promise… for me?”

Apple Bloom sniffed before answering.

“Ah… Ah think so… Ah promise.”

At that, Applejack hugged her sister, feeling a heavy drape lift from her shoulders. Now at least she could go with one thing less to regret. Things were looking up, as twisted as the thought may have seemed, but at least it wasn’t too sad of a goodbye.

“Oh, there was one other thing I was gonna ask of ya…” Applejack said, a mischievous smile growing on her pale face. Apple Bloom lifted her chin from AJ’s shoulder to look at her sister, and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion at her sister’s apparent smugness.

“What is it?”

“Tomorrow, when you see Spike, give ‘im a kiss from me, will ya?”

Apple Bloom blushed a deeper red than her own mane while Applejack weakly chuckled. She thought hard about what she’d said, forgetting for a second everything that was going on around her. Did she know? She’d always kinda had a bit of a, crush, on the young dragon, but she thought she’d managed to hide her feelings well. Looking at her sister once again, she noticed that behind the sly smile was a caring, warm expression, and Apple Bloom felt simply foolish. What was the point of hiding it, hiding anything from her big sister now? It killed her that it took something like this to make her realize how foolish she’d been in keeping things from her.

“So… ya know ‘bout that?”

“Don’t worry yer head about it, it’ll be our little secret…”

Applejack rested her head atop her little sisters as they both thought a million thoughts at once. Even though the end was so near, AJ simply couldn’t help but smile. At least they were closer than they’d ever been as sisters before. Not that they hadn’t been close before.

“Besides,” Applejack teased, “You could do a lot worse than Spike”

Apple Bloom’s curiosity was piqued as she looked up at her sister, the sadness in her eyes fading ever so slightly as she tilted her head.

“What do ya mean?”

Applejack put on a playful grin, content that she could at least help ignore the current events and have one last heart-to-heart with Apple Bloom.

“Well, he’s sweet, smart, cute, even for a dragon, and he’s a pretty good kisser.”

Apple Bloom’s eyes grew wide at her sister’s last words, causing Applejack to burst into a giggling fit. It did not last long, the laughter didn’t help the pain, and soon enough the tears that fell from her eyes were not of laughter, but of pain. She ignored it and put on a forced smile, hoping Apple Bloom hadn’t noticed.

“Ya’ll kissed Spike?”

“On occasion,” Applejack said with a grin to match Apple Bloom’s distraught face.

“Well, Ah had to make sure he was good enough for my little sis, didn’t Ah?”

Apple Bloom’s look of surprise had a twinge of jealousy mixed behind her blush, but she simply giggled along with her sister. Nothing really mattered at that moment, but the breathe-easy feel of being completely open alleviated at least some of the pain in both ponies.

“Now, Ah know you may not be feeling up to it for a while, but when you are, Ah want you and yer friends to get together, okay? You go on up to mah room, and keep whatever you want, ya hear?”

Apple Bloom’s eyelids were drooping now, whether tired of crying or staying awake for so long, it didn’t really matter, but sleep was fast approaching, and all Apple Bloom could mutter was a quiet “alright” between a drowsy yawn.

“Good night Apple Bloom… I love you”

Soon enough, the little filly’s head nestled in her sister’s mane, huddling in her warmth, as she resisted the urge to sleep no longer. As Apple Bloom’s breathing slowed down to a steady rhythm, Applejack looked up towards the heavens, looking for something that simply wasn’t there anymore. Perhaps she’d find it someplace else. Peace.

Fading Night

It shouldn’t have had to end like that. It shouldn’t. It wasn’t fair. Not now. She hadn’t even had a chance to say goodbye.

Empty stars bore witness at a single orange pony, holding her young sister tightly as the moment she feared approached.

She couldn’t deny it. That feeling in her chest, the tremble in her jaw, the pressure behind her eyes as a million thoughts fought for control of her mind, and forced salty tears to fall upon the ground. Her time was coming to an end. And she wasn’t ready.

Applejack looked down upon Apple Bloom breathing deeply, somehow at ease with life as she played in her sweet dreams. At least one of them was peaceful, however short a time it would last. Her composure failed and crumbled as she found herself facing an unnatural cold night all on her own.

Her body began trembling violently, and Applejack dug her hoofs into the earth to try to calm herself down. It was futile, and sobs escaped her as all the thoughts she’d pushed away for Apple Bloom’s sake came rushing back. It was ending. It was all over, and she would never see the light of day, not one more time.

Eyes wide and glazed, AJ looked up to the stars, seeking solace. All she found were neutral clouds of shining stars looking down upon her with an apathetic gaze. The crickets had stopped chirping, she felt a bitter taste in her mouth, and even the sweet waft of apples had long ago vanished. The mortal world was fading ever so slowly and painfully, leaving her in the dark.

“No… I don’t wanna…”

She’d been strong for her sister, but as the end approached, all of her strength seemed to fade away. Now, so close to her final hour, everything was frighteningly clear. All of her regrets, all of her wasted moments. So many things left unsaid.

“I don’t wanna go…” Applejack uttered with raspy breath, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Begging to the spring breeze, she buried her face in her sister’s mane, hiding from the world. It wasn’t fair. She hadn’t had a chance to say goodbye, not to her friends, not to her family. Big Mac would be devastated, and poor Granny… she wasn’t sure she could take news like this. It was just too sudden. It was silly, things like this weren’t supposed to just happen like that. Just that morning she’d been bucking apple trees and hanging around town with Twilight and Pinkie; some of the best ponies she’d ever met, and she’d never see them again.

“Why…?”

Her sobs gradually subsided as the cold continued to spread, and her vision blurred. It was happening, and now there was no turning back. No matter how much she fought it, everything was over. Applejack reached out a hoof and etched her final words into the ground before her.

As she took in one final gulp of air, Applejack looked into a blinding white light with her unseeing eyes, gone into another world. She saw a hazy figure step into sight, almost as if reaching out to her.

“Mama?”

Apple Bloom shuddered subconsciously in her sleep as her sister, still hugging her tight, left her for the last time, alone in the dark of night.

Found and Lost

At 6:34 in the morning precisely, the sun shone on Equestria, and as usual, Big Macintosh hoisted himself off his bed to get started on the long day ahead of him. Ever since he’d been a young colt, he’d found the silence of the morning inexplicably relaxing, and he’d often sit on the front porch chewing on a stem of Big Bluestem and savoring the sweet morning breeze, and allowing his mind to wander. Ever since his parents had gone, he’d found it hard, unnecessary even, to say much, yet thousands of thoughts passed through his head constantly. Not all of them needed voicing however, so mostly he simply kept them to himself.

His daily morning routine had actually begun shortly after his mother’s death, as he joined his father on the porch every morning, until the day he found himself alone chewing on an unusually salty piece of prairie grass one morning. That day he was joined by his sister at the crack of dawn, both of them teary-eyed, but finding consolation in each other’s company and the brisk morning air. At the crack of dawn, this had become a habit for them, sharing in the silence of the morning, no matter the weather, no matter how tired, it was something much stronger that pulled them out of bed every morning and had them sitting on the front porch watching the scarlet dawn bleed out into a million shades of blue every morning.

That was why that morning, Big Macintosh found it strange that he was by himself gazing out into the open fields. As of late, Applejack had been waking ever so slightly before him, greeting him with a cheery, if somewhat drowsy “Mornin’” every day. This was the reason he sat impatiently tapping his hooves, something might uncharacteristic of him, as he never lost his patience. It wasn’t any bother, if Applejack had slept in and decided not to join him, but she never slept in, and so was out of character herself that morning.

Finally, breaking rank, Big Mac got back up on his hooves and swung the door open to search for his sister. It was simply too unlike her to not be up at this hour; almost seven as it were. Thinking logically, she may simply be in the kitchen preparing some form of breakfast. She usually got up even earlier to do such things for them, seeing as how they were the only two to wake at such an early hour, but today may have been the exception. He entered the kitchen to find it as empty and hollow as his hopes, as not even the kettle had been filled, nor were there any treats baking in the oven. It was simply too strange, and left him only one option, which he truly hated, yet he still hoped he was right.

The red stallion barreled up the stairs, hoping his speed might lessen the wails of the loose floorboards, but to no avail. He just hopped he hadn’t woken Apple Bloom up; she was still young, and had no need to be up at such hours, not until much later. He walked past the main hall and into the left corner of the ending T-section that led up the Applejack’s room and the spare guestroom. Hesitantly, he stepped silently up to the weathered oak door, and pressed his ear against it. He hated spying on people, especially family, especially his younger sister, it was simply wrong and against every fiber in his being. But when he was genuinely worried, and those moments were few and far apart, he’d sacrifice his principles and his life for those he cared about in the blink of an eye.

Not a sound could be heard from within the room, but if AJ was sleeping, then it wouldn’t make much difference. She was a light sleeper, and would wake at the slightest of noise, something Big Mac himself had adapted as a habit as a protective measure. T’were many a morning that they’d wake at a strange sound outside their window only to crash into each other, half-asleep in the corridor, and run down outside together to check on the noise. They’d usually laugh about it later on when they found out it was a falling branch or a wild jackrabbit strayed too far from the forest. Still, he cringed as he thought the few times that what they’d found outside had been a real threat, and the countless wounds he’d had to treat, both on Applejack and himself. But there was no noise now, and that left him to do what he’d been hoping to avoid.

Extending a wary hoof, he gently pushed the door to the room open, hoping not to make any noise with the hinges. Fortunately, they’d been recently oiled, probably by AJ herself, and as the door completed its journey, Big Mac was left both speechless and thoughtless.

There, adorning the far side of the room against a tightly-shut window was a perfectly made bed, sheets taut and flat on the soft mattress. The room echoed with what Big Mac soon realized was his own hyperventilating. The only noise came from the only pony in the room, and his brain began to process the possibilities faster than AJ could buck a tree. She never slept over anyplace else unless there was something that prevented her from doing so, and she’d always let him know somehow. But she’d been at the farm last night, it’d been close to nine when she was still cleaning up the kitchen, as was Apple Bloom, who’d been eagerly helping to dry the same dishes, hoping to hurry things along. Now that he thought about it, she’d seemed might excited.

No longer were moral issues or family values bothering him, now hidden beneath a tumultuous maelstrom of worry and doubt, Big Mac charged out of his sister’s room, and barged into Apple Bloom’s bedroom. Also empty. He looked around and his eyes fell upon a few pictures strewn on the floor picturing her and an orange pony, probably AJ, sitting on a hill, everything else painted black with white and yellow dots everywhere, surrounding a large white circle. He recalled hearing something about the stars late last night, just before he turned in. He looked closer at the pictures, and immediately recognized the hill. It was just on the southern edge of the orchard, filled with long-dead apple trees. They’d withered away after the dust storm a few years back, but they hadn’t been able to take some of the larger ones down. Nobody ventured out there for the sheer hazard those trees presented, but it was the farthest spot from the town, away from all the light pollution, and the ideal place for stargazing.

He didn’t bother to leave a note, to tell Granny where he’d be going, or to think about the fact that his sisters had been gone the entire night, and hadn’t come back yet. Heck, if Applejack had gone missing, he was sure she’s turn up eventually, but not Apple Bloom. He raced out the house and whistled loudly, probably waking up half of Ponyville in the process. He was met with enthusiastic barking as Winona cantered out of her own small establishment, to meet Big Mac on the front porch with obvious worry in her face. She began to whine and sniff around, searching for Applejack, only to find a worried stallion hovering over her. It was a big hill, and haste was a necessity, not a luxury.

“Find her.” Mac said hoarsely, and Winona snapped to attention before sniffing around, and heading towards the south. His doubts had been confirmed once again, and both pony and dog set off at breakneck speed towards the area in hopes of finding Applejack and Apple Bloom safe and sound beneath an old apple tree. Still, it was hard to think about it when he had to focus so hard to see clearly with tears in his eyes.

It must have been almost 7:30 in the morning, but it was still early, considering the young filly usually slept in until around nine, school not starting until ten in the morning. She usually woke up to the gently increasing volume of genera noise downstairs. As the sun rose higher, the rest of the family would gradually become more confident and begin clacking pots and pans and chattering at higher volumes, sometimes even putting a record on, immediately waking her up. It was worse on weekends, the few days she could stay up late and sleep in. This time however, she woke abruptly to the sound of quickly increasing barking, and thundering hoofbeats.

Apple Bloom opened her eyes, her dream vanishing immediately, lost in the wake of reality, as the previous night’s events came rushing back to her. She hoped it had all been part of her dream, the only part of her dream she somehow remembered. Looking down, she saw her sister’s legs wrapped around her, not as tight as they once would’ve been, and felt something cold against her back. She shuddered and sprang out of the chilling embrace, all the same grief and regret crashing down upon her once again.

She looked at her sister beneath the thick bough, looking almost peaceful, sleeping perhaps. Her eyes were tightly shut, tear tracks adorning her cheeks, and her mane was tussled by the heartless winds. Apple bloom simply lost it, with no one there to comfort her anymore, and sobbed for all she was worth, her tears soaking her hooves, never taking her eyes off her sleeping sister.

Winona reached Applejack first, immediately freezing before her and whining sadly, nudging the orange cowpony’s hoof, seeking a response she knew she wouldn’t get. There’d be no more running through the park, no more herding livestock or meeting the others at their pet play dates. No more pony’s best friend.

A breathless Macintosh galloped into the scene shortly afterwards, freezing in place immediately as he took in the scene. There, in the grass, beneath an old withered apple tree, lay her young golden-maned sister, pinned to the ground by a branch as thick as his ribcage. Winona prodding her, doing her best to wake her, and a terrified, scarred-for-life Apple Bloom watching in sheer terror as she looked upon her deceased sister

There was no hesitation, no doubt, not a single thing flowed through Big Macintosh’s mind in that moment, where all he could feel was the same thing he’d felt all those years ago when his own mother had passed away. He rushed over to Applejack’s side in silence, and without a single utterance of complaint, placed his hooves on the bough, and pushed with all his might. It was like lifting an entire tree, made heavier by the fact that it had done away with his sister’s life, but he pushed it as hard as he could muster, his muscles screaming in agony, and tossed it a good 20 yards out of pure raw emotion.

He didn’t stop to look at how far it had gone, not to wonder at his own strength, he ignored everything, and sat down on his haunches looking down at his sister. There was no longer any point, was there? If life was this cruel…

With trembling hooves, he gently lifted his sister closer, and cradled her in his hooves. He just stared at her for the longest time; even Apple Bloom had stopped crying, simply staring at her big brother, seeking comfort in him. She’d find none; he was about as emotionally stable as she was. His mind knew what had happened, but his heart simply refused to believe that the pony he cared about the most in all his life, the one he’d sworn to always protect, to always be there for, had gone away just like that. In the blink of an eye. Nothing had happened to cause this, nothing led up to it, she was just gone because of a coincidence in place and time. His heart caught up, and simply collapsed, and Macintosh hugged her sister tightly as he rocked back and forth on his haunches, crying and muttering incomprehensible babble to himself.

Apple Bloom, sniffing, slowly lifted herself off the ground, to join her brother, and say one final goodbye to her sister. As she neared the heart wrenching scene, she could hear Big Mac muttering something about “Not Again…” and something else about a promise. She did her best not to cry as she finally reached her brother, who hadn’t paid her any mind, and she nuzzled into her sister’s mane as her brother’s hoof wrapped around her in a tight hug. She had her own promise to keep. They sat there crying until the morning sun finally awakened them from their daze. But the truth was that they’d live in a daze for as long as their hearts were beating and their sister’s was still.

A/N : Sorry for the delay, but I'm kinda juggling... Um, about five different stories at the same time, so it's not easy for me...

Anyways, I know this story isn't all I originally worked it up to be, but I promise (no pun intended) that I'll rewrite this one day, and make it a thousand times better! Honest!

The First Farewell

The trip back home was a silent one. Nopony, not Big Mac, nor Apple Bloom, not even Winona dared to utter a single word or bark. On Big Mac’s back, draped over like a saddlebag, lay AJs body, for lack of better transportation. Mac knew he could’ve gone back to the farm to get the old carriage, but he didn’t dare leave his sister out in the barren fields, out of respect, and out of fear that some carnivorous beast would venture into the orchard, drawn by the scent of death.

The sun was near its zenith by the time they reached the barn. Winona, ears lowered, tail dragging behind her, silently walking towards her doghouse and curling up into a tight ball, shivering despite the sweltering heat. Big Mac looked at Apple Bloom with big, sad eyes, and she nodded. She understood perfectly, even if no words were spoken. Inside the house, most likely cooking up lunch or sewing, was Granny Smith, and they both knew she would not take the news well. The last time she’d worried for AJ after she’d disappeared, she’d become so depressed the doctors had been in and out of the house by the dozens, and they’d drained most of the Apple family’s savings. Now, with this sick, twisted, cruel twist of fate, this disgusting play of mother nature, there was no knowing how she’d react.

Apple Bloom walked into the house, and left Big Mac to his own devices. With a heavy sigh, he walked towards the barn, were they kept the spare supplies. He had enough bits saved up to pay for a beautiful coffin and a decent funeral, but he couldn’t just leave his sister in the grass. He wouldn’t call for the paramedics either. There was nothing they could do, and he wasn’t paying for them to tell him what he already knew.

The load on his back was heavier than any other he’d ever had to carry. It made him want to simply lay down and die, join AJ and gallop through the skies for nights everlasting. But he couldn’t, he just couldn’t. Every hoofstep was like torture, everything inside of him twisting in agony, wanting to give up, feeling as useless as ever. As useless as when his mother had died. As useless and when his father had left them. Useless.

He opened the barn door with a cautious hoof, and stepped onto the soft hay loitering on the floor. Finding a soft pile of hay, he gently set Applejack’s body down, leaving her in the golden-colored bed of grass. She looked as beautiful as ever, even more so than usual. He fought back tears as he just stared at her, looking like a sleeping angel, peacefully enjoying a midday nap on the soft hay. Had it not been for the nasty wound on her side and the stillness of her chest, anypony would’ve guessed she’d been sleeping. Not able to look any more, Big Mac turned away, and got to work on the makeshift coffin. He was no carpenter, but he would make sure it did his sister justice, even if it took him all day. Even if it killed him, which part of him hoped it did.

Inside the house, Apple Bloom sniffled as she searched for her grandmother. She had no idea how to tell her what had happened. Had it been her fault? It had been her idea to go out into the southern hills on the edge of the orchard. It had been her who’d asked Applejack to go with her. But she never expected it to turn out that way. The way the wind blew, just when they were passing beneath the tree. It could’ve just as easily been her. It should’ve been her. AJ had just heard the cracking noise before she had. So many ‘ifs’.

But now there was a bigger issue. She had to tell her grandmother that her other granddaughter had… died.

She found her in the kitchen, stirring something inside a pot. Possibly a stew, judging from the aroma of tomato and some other ingredients coming from that direction. Granny spotted her before she could speak up, and turned to her with a smile.

“Oh, there y’all are Apple Bloom, sweetie. Where’s Applejack? Go on and tell her and Big Mac lunch’s almost ready, would ya?”

Apple Bloom fought back a sob, but she couldn’t stop the tears that came. Granny’s smile vanished without hesitation as she dropped back to all fours and walked slowly towards Apple Bloom.

“What’s wrong sweetheart?”

“Granny… Somethin’ happened…”

Apple Bloom continued to sob, but she managed to say everything. Every last detail came pouring out. It felt so good to finally get it all out, but instead of the comforting hug or words that she’d expected, Granny Smith had remained still and silent as a statue. Once she’d finished, she was bawling, sprawled out on the floor, and Granny remained as silent as ever. Apple Bloom didn’t notice her turning away as walking through the doors into her room. Not a word was heard throughout the house for the remainder of the day.

Several minutes, after she had no more tears to give, Apple Bloom lifted herself up weakly, her knees trembling, and she walked outside onto the porch, seeking the fresh air that would surely alleviate her in some small, superficial way. Once outside, she could hear grunting and hammering coming from the barn, along with the occasional sob or tearful cry. She knew her Big Brother when he was upset, and nopony was safe around him when he was in one of his moods. He’d be in his worst mood right about now, and Apple Bloom was sure he’d be better off alone. She simply sat on the porch in the same spot where her sister usually sat, and stared out into the empty orchard. It seemed so lifeless, so senseless without her sister bucking the trees and running around, smiling and laughing as always. Memories of her sister were the only thing left in Apple Bloom’s mind, and the only things strong enough to keep her sane for the moment.

It could have been minutes, it could have been hours, nopony really counted, Big Mac finally emerged from the barn, sweaty and covered in sawdust, a few bruises here and there, but an overall victorious glint in his eyes. He walked slowly towards the porch, towards his eerily-silent sister, and sat down beside her. Not bothering to look at her, he stared off into the orchard along with her, and wrapped a hoof around her fragile, trembling body.

“A’ve got to go into town now… Get some ponies to carry her someplace better. Tell everyony what happened…”

“’K…”

“Y’all… You wanna come with me?”

“’K”

Neither moved a muscle. They sat silently, showing their respect for their sister, both thinking of the exact same orange cowpony as the minutes wasted away. After several minutes, Apple Bloom stood first, her brother echoing her actions, and they both walked slowly and solemnly towards Ponyville.

That day, an innocent soul joined the afterlife, scared and helpless, leaving behind everything she had ever loved. Having said goodbye to only one pony, she knew that many more would be affected by her premature departure. But she’d had no voice in the matter, and what was done was done. For in life, the only thing that’s truly ever known, is that death is the eventual, inevitable outcome.

That day, Ponyville would mourn for the loss of one of the most beloved ponies in all of Equestria, known by all as the holder of the element of Honesty. A pony that would give her life for her friends and country, a pony whose word was worth more than anypony else’s. The best friend anypony could ever dream of having the honor to call a friend, and those who did, knew that Applejack was the very best amongst many, the finest of ponies, and the dearest of friends. She will be sorely missed.

A/N: I apologize. I believe this story had a lot of potential, but I'm afraid I didn't do it justice. I will try to rewrite it someday, but for now, this is the last chapter. The sequel, if I ever write it, will pick up immediately where I left off here, but don't expect that one for quite some time. Thank you very much.

Your Humble Writer,

WordSPark37