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.