Blessed are the hearts that can bend;
They shall never be broken
-Albert Camus
Applejack fell. She went past stars, galaxies, universes. She heard in her head a voice saying, “Live as you die.”
The voice disappeared as she felt something warm licking her back. As she fell even faster, images of Apple Bloom, Big Mac, Granny Smith, and her parents fell around her. Applejack looked down to see a flat gray surface grow bigger and bigger.
She hit the surface.
Applejack awoke with a gasp. She sat up, drawing up her blanket.
Her face drained of hope as soon as she saw where she was. Stark green walls leered at her while she glanced around her bed. She glanced to her right to see Rarity still sleeping next to her. Moonlight illuminated the door to her left from the window on the right wall.
Applejack stood up, noticing the hospital pajamas she was dressed in. She trotted before the window and stared out. Rolling hills and seas of grass lay serenely as wind whistled through the sky. The moon and stars adorned the desolate night. Minutes turned to hours as Applejack found solace with the pleasant scenery and her thoughts.
“Applejack?”
Rarity was upright, staring at the stoic mare. “Are you all right?” she asked.
“Ah’m fine, jus’ tired.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
Applejack turned toward Rarity. Rarity was lathered in bandages from head to hoof. “No,” Applejack said.
They waited in silence. The clock ticked softly.
Applejack sighed. “Ah suppose Ah shouldn’t be this sad. My Grandpa died last year as well. Granny Smith was devastated. But Ah wasn’t that sad. Ah suppose it was ‘cuz Ah never knew him that much.”
Another pregnant silence passed. “Are we on the receiving end of cruel fate?” Rarity asked. “This loss of life can’t be a good omen.”
“No, it ain’t.”
“Applejack, I…never mind.” Rarity looked away.
Applejack glanced over at her curiously for a moment. “Yesterday was the best day of my life.” She looked down.
“Ah got up in the morning, expecting to do the same ol’ chores as usual with Ma. Ah come downstairs an’ Ma an’ Pa are just waiting there, as if they were expecting me. They told me to close my eyes. Then Pa took my hoof an’ we went outta the house. After a while, Ma an’ Pa told me to open my eyes.
“In front of me was the most gorgeous sight Ah ever laid my eyes upon. It was a tree house. The fact that my Pa set aside time for this jus’ for me…well Ah never loved him as much as Ah did at that point. Ah was thinking ‘bout having the place as a secret base. Then he told me that we were goin’ to Dodge tomorrow and he was bringing me for the first time.”
Applejack stared back at Rarity. “My Pa was never the family type since he always had to work. But that jus’ made the moments with him all the more special. Plus, Ah always admired him for his can-do spirit.
“Ma helped do the other farm work. She would get up at dawn with Pa to gather eggs, make breakfast, and do everything else. Ah helped her the most while Big Mac helped Pa buck them apple trees.
“It’s jus’ not fair. Ah had a perfect life. Ah don’t care if there are Gods above; Ah jus’ want them back.”
Rarity remained still. “To have a loved one torn away from your chest,” she said softly, “is the continuation of life. Our world perpetually moves. Being sad will never accomplish anything. Whether you move on or not is your decision.
“Life is a game. The dice must be thrown. Embrace life and live to the fullest. Sadness shackles you down in this prison. Life can slam you in the face in your weakest moments and it will do that for every chance. Dreams will be crushed and ideas may burn. But you are still you.”
Rarity let out a dry chuckle. “I used to say that every night before sleeping in the orphanage. I thought of them after a few days of learning about their deaths. I managed fine after that since I knew Sweetie Belle still relied on me.
“My philosophy is that you find the next step. Everyone takes small steps. It doesn’t matter what happens in your past. I find that it’s the journey that matters. Whenever I get tired or lost, I find that taking more steps can help. I never step back or hesitate. And if I think about my parents, I take a deep breath and move on.”
Rarity stared at the attentive Applejack. “Of course, that’s just me. These words might have little impact on you, but this is just my process.”
Applejack nodded slowly. “You’re a lot more thoughtful than Ah thought. Ah always thought that Ah was somehow below you. Ah work on an apple farm while you live in luxury. Ah never thought of fancy ponies being so philosophical.”
“Well, I am a thinker. I think even famous ponies must have their values and morals. Sometimes, ponies must have some moment of recollection before rushing off again. Knowing what you feel can make it easier on yourself.”
Applejack sighed. “Ah don’t know how Granny Smith and Big Mac are gonna react. Ah hope they won’t be too sad. How will we move on with this…hole in our lives? What will we tell Apple Bloom when she grows up?”
“You comfort them. Moving on will be just part of your life. Never forget your past, but never let it drag you down. Take up the legacy of the Apples. Become an independent pony. It’s hard but it’s necessary in order to carry on with life.”
Applejack stretched her forelegs out and gave a ponderous look at her hooves. “Ah don’t want to drown in my misery. But Ah can’t see how Ah can live now without them.”
“Learn to swim. Never lose yourself.”
Applejack heaved a sigh. She trotted back to her bed before collapsing on it. A few moments passed before Rarity heard the telltale rising and falling of Applejack’s chest matched by her huge breaths. Rarity continued sitting as the clock ticked. Rarity put her face in her hooves.
Applejack groaned as she heard a knocking sound. She glanced in front of her.
Nurse Redheart stood in front of her bed. She held a clipboard with a pencil. Applejack sat up and looked to her right to see Rarity stretching out on her bed with daylight streaming in, making the room appear suspended in time.
“Hello, I hope you guys are much better now,” Redheart said. “I’m terribly sorry for your loss, Applejack, I can’t see how Ponyville will go on without them. I just need to ask a few questions. First of all, do you know how they had their accident?” She stared straight at Applejack.
Applejack stared back, squirming under Redheart’s inquisitive gaze. She glanced away and almost answered before Rarity interrupted: “We were traveling along the cliff to Dodge Junction when they slipped off.” She said it without a break in her voice.
Applejack relaxed as Rarity answered all of Redheart’s questions with ease. At times, she cringed at Rarity’s answers but she held her tongue. All of the questions were about Applejack’s parents.
“Well, thanks for your cooperation,” Redheart concluded, “We’ll just have you fill out a few forms and you’ll be on your way. Once again, I’m sorry for your loss.”
Once Redheart left, Rarity slipped back under her blanket. Applejack stared at her for a second before getting up and trotting to the window. The day was as serene as the night.