//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Minus One - A MLP:FIM Fan Fiction // by RedZobe //------------------------------// Sweetiebelle was sick that day, so she decided to skip school. Rarity walked into her room. “You OK?” Rarity asked. “Yes...I just need a lie down at the moment.” Sweetiebelle whispered. “OK.” Rarity said, and left the room, closing the door behind her. Sweetiebelle laid back and closed her eyes. All she wanted was for her misery to go away, and for everything to return to normal. When she opened her eyes again, she saw that she was on a grassy meadow and the sky was blue. Sweetiebelle looked around for anypony, but nopony could be seen. “Where am I?” Sweetiebelle asked herself. “In heaven.” Came a familiar voice. Sweetiebelle turned and saw Scootaloo standing behind her. Sweetiebelle was shocked in aghast. She went to hug her, but went straight through her. “I'm only a fragment of your imagination. So you can never touch me” Scootaloo sadly said. “Am I dead? Because you said I was in heaven.” Sweetiebelle asked. “Fortunately not. But I' am.” Scootaloo sadly said. “If I hadn't of gone through that fence...” “Everyone make mistakes, even the most perfect ponies.” Sweetiebelle comfortably said. Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle looked at each other in silence, with only the summers wind blowing against them. “So, hows Ponyville been coping without me?” Scootaloo asked. “Not good. I heard today that Applebloom gave Diamond Tiara a right beating for insulting you.” Sweetiebelle started. “That stubborn mare! Oh well, at least she got what was coming to her.” chuckled Scootaloo. “Me and Applebloom haven't stopped grieving over you since you died in that horrific accident. But just to watch it...” Sweetiebelle began to tear up. “Hey, hey, don't cry now. I'm here with you now.” Scootaloo said, putting a hoof round Sweetiebelle. “I..I don't kn-now how I-I'll co..ope with out yo-ou.” Sweetiebelle said struggling to get the words. “You will, I know it. Your a strong fighter and I know that.” Scootaloo said, wiping some of Sweetiebelle's tears away. “I caused my own death, no one else did. I'm to blame.” “Don't say that! If me and Applebloom hadn't of gone over the fence, you would of come back over! It's our fault!” Sweetiebelle said with guilt. “I would of explored the coaches anyway.” Scootaloo said, trying to make Sweetiebelle less guilty “It's my fault I died.” The sun began to slowly set in the distance, making both Sweetiebelle's and Scootaloo's shadows enlarge. “Before you go, I need to tell you something.” Scootaloo said. “Yes?” Sweetiebelle asked. “Don't let my death loom over you for the rest of my life. Dragging up the past upsets the future. You and Applebloom are the best friends a filly could ask for. I may never get my Cutie Mark now I'm dead, but that doesn't matter to me now. Ignore what ever Diamond Tiara or that say to you; they are just jealous because they can never have good friends like me and Applebloom.” Scootaloo said. “I'll never forget you.” Sweetiebelle said, holding back the tears. Scootaloo suddenly began to slowly fade away. “Scootaloo, where are you going?” Sweetiebelle asked in a worried way. “The dream is ending. I must depart.” Scootaloo said. “Just promise you'll never forget me?” “I will never forget you, nopony will.” Sweetiebelle said. And as the sun slowly disappeared behind the hills, Scootaloo faded away. Sweetiebelle stood there, crying her eyes out. When Sweetiebelle woke up again, she looked round her room. Her room was the same, and Scootaloo was still dead. She began to cry. Rarity entered the room and sat beside Sweetiebelle. “You OK?” Rarity asked. “Nothing will bring her back.” Sweetiebelle cried. “I know dear, I know.” Rarity said, cuddling Sweetiebelle. And so they sat there in embrace for a few minutes. ____________________________________________________________ Applebloom was working on her homework when Applejack came to see her. “I was thinking of visiting Scootaloo's parents house to see how they're coping? You coming?” Applejack asked. “OK. It will be a distraction from this homework.” Applebloom gleefully said. Applebloom got down from her chair and followed Applejack out the door. ____________________________________________________________ They soon arrived at Scootaloo's house. Applejack knocked the door, but there was no reply. “Hello? Anypony home?” Applejack asked again. No response. “I think we should go.” Applebloom said. “Something fishy going on here.” Applejack said. She peered through the letter box in the door. But couldn't see anything. “Let's just go.” Applebloom said. “Hold on.” said Applejack said. Applejack opened the door. She peered inside. It was completely dark. “What in the hay?” Applejack said. “It as dark as a basement at midnight.” “I don't think we should go in.” Applebloom said. “Nonsense. We must find her parents.” Applejack responded. Applejack tried to find a light switch, but it was difficult to find anything in complete darkness. She soon felt something. “Ah ha! Found it!” She cried, and switched it on. When the lights came on, she wished they had stayed off. The corridor was an absolute mess. Books were all over the floor, the wallpaper had ripped off, as if it was done on purpose and the mirror was smashed. But what unnerved Applejack the most, was that something was that there were messages written in blood on the wall. Some said “I FAILED” “NO COMING BACK” “HELP ME” “CELESTIA PUNISHED HER”. “Oh my Celestia...” Applejack said horrified. “Whats going on?” Applebloom said. “Applebloom, wait outside, I won't be long.” She said to Applebloom and closed the door behind her. She slowly walked down the corridor, feeling weak. The light buzzed and the room had the sense of if someone had been murdered. “Hello? Anypony?” Applejack said, trembling in fear. She went into one of the rooms. She peeked inside, nothing. Suddenly she could hear weeping from the room next to her. “Hello?” Applejack said. She slowly entered the room. This room was the most horrific of all. Everything was smashed to smithereens, the floorboards were broken, there were more bloody messages were on the wall, and the shelves had fallen over. In the corner, she could see a pony sitting there, weeping. Applejack stared at the pony for a few minutes, too scared to speak, let alone breath. “Are you OK?” Applejack fearfully said. The pony stood up and stared at her. She slowly walked out of the shadow, revealing the true nature of the pony. It was a mare. Her eyes were bloodshot, bruises and cuts were all over her body, her mane was in a complete mess and she was breathing heavily. “OK...OK...” The pony slowly said, as if she ran out of breath every time she spoke. “You look in bad shape. We need to-” The pony jumped for Applejack and pinned her against the wall. “DOES IT LOOK I'M OK?!” The pony yelled. “Get of me!” Applejack said, trying to release her from her grasp. “No one cares that my daughter died. No one cares. Am I the only one who gives a damn that she died?!” The pony yelled. “They do! Everyone does!” Applejack said, finally pushing the pony away. Applejack made a blot for the door, but the pony grabbed her and dragged her back into the room. Applejack kicked and screamed as she was dragged back into the room. “What are you doing?!” Applejack protested. “Move, and it will be the end of you.” The pony said as she left the room. Applejack didn't dare move. The pony came back in with some gasoline, and a box of matches. She began to pour it all round the living room. Applejack suddenly realized what she was about to do. “Don't. What ever you do, do not strike one of those matches!” Applejack sternly said. “My life is bucked beyond repair? So why shouldn't I? The pony said, with a demonic smile on her face. She struck a match. Applejack stared in horror. “Put it out now or we'll both be killed!” Applejack said. The pony stared at Applejack for a few seconds. “No.” She said. She dropped the match. In almost an instant, the entire room went up in flames. Applejack yelled as she got burnt and fell back towards the wall in pain. She could see the pony standing there, with the smile still on her face. “ARE YOU CRAZY?!” Applejack screamed. “PUT IT OUT NOW!” Suddenly, the pony poured gasoline over her body, and struck a match. “NO! DON'T!” Applejack yelled. But it was too late. The pony dropped the match on herself and she was engulfed in flames in less than a second. She fell to the floor, screaming in agony. This was her chance. Applejack crawled slowly out of the room, blocking the hitting flames with her hoof. She crawled out the room and shut the door behind her. She slowly limped back to the front door. When suddenly the door behind her exploded and the flames rushed into the room. Applejack looked back and quickly made a mad dash to the front door. She opened it and was back in the open. Applebloom rushed to Applejack's aid. “Call 811, now!” Applejack said. “Let's get you out of the fire's way!” Applebloom shouted and dragged the weakened Applejack clear of the burning house. She quickly dialed 811 and went back to Applejack. “It's gonna be OK sis'! Applebloom said, tears forming down her face. Applebloom stared at the burning inferno. The smoke slowly poured out of the gaps and the fire began to escape via the windows. At last the fire cart arrived. In no time the fire ponies began to sort out there equipment. “Stay clear of the house everypony!” Shouted a fire pony. Suddenly, parts of the house began to fall off. “Get back!” Shouted a fire pony to the other colleagues. The all backed away as the house collapsed into its own footprint, only leaving a pile of burning wood. “All clear! Now lets get this fire under control!” Shouted a fire pony. Two fire ponies grabbed a hose and began putting out the fire. After ten minutes, the fire was out. Soon enough, a ambulance cart arrived to collect Applejack. They placed her on a stretcher and loaded her into the cart. Applebloom jumped in a sat by her sisters side. “They'll look after you, I promise.” Applebloom said as they set of to the hospital. ____________________________________________________________ The machine beeped out Applejack's heart beats as she lay unconscious in her bed. Applebloom sat beside her. “You'll be OK big sis'” Applebloom comfortably said “You'll be OK.” The nurse entered the ward and attended to Applejack. “We need to take Applejack for a scan. Would you mind waiting in the waiting room?” The nurse said to Applebloom. “OK.” Applebloom said and left. She sat down on a chair as she watched Applejack being carted into a room. Applebloom tapped her hoofs nervously, breathing heavily at the same time. Sweetiebelle suddenly came in and sat beside her. “What's happened?” Sweetiebelle asked curiously. “Mah' sisters been injured in that fire a few our's ago.” Applebloom suddenly looked at her in horror. “What if Applejack dies to? What if she doesn't make it?! I can't lose her-” Sweetiebelle hugged the weeping Applebloom. “She will survive. She is a strong fighter, I promise.” Sweetiebelle said, giving Applebloom a sigh of relief. Suddenly the doors opened to reveal Applejack being wheeled back into the ward. Sweetiebelle and Applebloom followed her in. The nurse then spoke to Applebloom. “We've given her a scan. She's only gained a few burns, but they should soon recover. Her hind legs are well, broken at the moment, so she will have to use a wheelchair for the time being. But other wise, she is OK.” The nurse said. Applebloom gave a huge sigh of relief, so did Sweetiebelle. “I'll just...leave you to to talk OK?” The nurse said and went on her way, Sweetiebelle followed. Applejack began to cough and soon regained conscious. “Where...where am I?” Applejack quietly said, slowly looking around the room. “In the hospital sis.'” Applebloom said. “For a moment, I thought I had lost you.” “You can't kill me off that easy, that's for sure.” Applejack said with a smile. “The thought of losing you and Scootaloo would break me. I don't think I would be able to live with myself.” Applebloom said, starting to cry. Applejack put her fore hoof round Applebloom and held her tight. “It's OK. I'm here now. I'm never going to leave you, no matter what.” And as the machine continued to beep out Applejack's heart beats, they cuddled happily together, as big sisters do.