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.