When I woke up the next morning, the gift I left outside Applejack’s door was gone.
I went to school with a smile on my face.
School went very well. We were practicing exponents and I got almost every single question right.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were surprised. Cheerilee was surprised. I was surprised.
The day went by pretty quickly with no incidents. Diamond Tiara’s injuries had healed and she glared at Scootaloo with pure hatred slightly less often. She also focused a lot less on me and more on her.
This suited Scootaloo fine, as she could almost effortlessly piss Diamond Tiara off now.
Scootaloo loved that.
At the end of the day, Cheerilee asked me to stay back for a moment. She said she didn’t know what was different today, but it was obvious something real had changed, and she was proud of whatever I’d done to improve.
So it was understandable while I walked out of the schoolhouse at the end of the day with a giant grin on my face. For the first time since the accident, things were going my way.
That was until I came face to face with a very unhappy looking Twilight Sparkle.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were sitting off to her side, looking anxious.
This could only mean bad things.
“Applebloom, sweetie, can I speak to you alone for a moment?” Twilight asked, struggling to keep her face neutral.
I simply nodded and quietly followed Twilight as she led me to the shade under a nearby tree, out of earshot of anypony else.
Twilight sat and waited for me to get comfortable before sighing.
“Applebloom, what happened between you and Applejack this morning?” She simply asked.
I pretended not to understand.
“Why, nothin’. I haven’t even seen her all day.”
Twilight frowned.
“That’s funny, because she came by the library to pick up a book earlier, which by itself is pretty off, but you know the weirdest thing? She was crying.”
I didn’t respond.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen her cry, but after I prodded her for what was bothering her, she started bawling. She pulled a belt buckle out of her saddlebags and said you left it in front of her door last night. Is this true?”
My happy mood faded away, and I broke eye contact with Twilight.
“So she does know what those are then, huh?” I chuckled weakly. “I didn’t know.”
Twilight took a slow, deep breath.
“Applebloom, honey,” Twilight’s tone softened. “I’m not going to tell you that you can’t be upset over what happened. Considering your circumstances, I wouldn’t expect you to just suddenly be over it. But it was an accident, and your continued hostility toward Applejack is destroying her. She barely sleeps, she barely eats, and she spends most of her time trying to think of how to make things up to you. The girls and I are starting to worry about both her physical and mental health. She can’t keep going on like this.”
“So?” I stared at the ground. “She had me stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Why should I care if she loses a bit o’ sleep? She ain’t the only one sufferin’.”
“Applebloom.” Twilight raised my gaze to match hers with a hoof. “I know she still means a lot to you, and that all of this must feel like she stabbed you in the back…”
“She did,” I interrupted. “If I weren’t literally stabbed through the back in th' crash, I could be a normal pony.”
“Applebloom…” Twilight frowned again. “I understand, but this is still the pony that you grew up with. I know she raised you since you were four months old, and basically took the role of your mother. And I know that she sees you in the same light, even if she does only refer to you as her sister. With that in mind, can you imagine how much pain she feels?”
I looked away again.
“Accident or not, she still hurt me.”
“And now you’re hurting her.”
I didn’t respond.
Twilight retracted her hoof and sighed.
“Look Applebloom, I’m not going to ask you to forgive her. Right now, I’m not even asking you to apologize to her, although I think that’d be a good idea. But please, just talk to her at least.”
I poked at the ground for a few moments.
“...Okay.”
Twilight exhaled slowly.
“Thank you, Applebloom. I hope you two can improve your relationship soon.”
And then Twilight silently led me back to my friends, who in turn silently started following me as Twilight took her leave.
“Applebloom?” Sweetie asked after a minute. “Are you going to be okay?”
I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed quiet.
“Applebloom?” Scootaloo asked. “Will you… can we help?”
“I…” I hesitated, not knowing what to say. “I need to talk to Applejack. I jus’… don’t know if I can handle it.”
“Will it help if we’re there? Or waiting outside, maybe?” Scootaloo questioned with a half smile.
I chewed my lip and nodded.
"I, uh..." I heard Scootaloo say, then fall silent. I sighed and turned to face her.
"What?"
"We overheard Twilight talking to you. You left a belt buckle outside Applejack's door?"
"Yeah." I huffed, turning around and continuing to walk. "So?"
I heard Scootaloo take a deep breath, before she said something that stopped me in my tracks.
"That sounds like something Diamond Tiara would do."
I froze, before violently whipping around and glaring at Scootaloo, who winced in result.
"What." My tone was icy. It wasn't a question.
"W-well..." Scootaloo stammered. "The silent treatment and the anger I get, and I won't disagree with. But... leaving a buckle? It kinda seems..."
"Less like you're furious with her, and more like you just want to see her in pain?" Sweetie Belle offered.
Scootaloo nodded. "Less of a reaction, more like... well, bullying. It's not you, Applebloom." Scootaloo took a breath and stood a little taller. "Just because you were hurt doesn't mean you need to turn into another Diamond Tiara to get back at ponies."
"Don't"
I stalked closer to Scootaloo. She shrunk back quickly.
"You DARE"
I pushed myself up, towering over the now scared-looking pegasus.
"Compare me to that... that terrible excuse of a pony!"
I grit my teeth and tensed my entire body. I don't know what I was about to do, but I was raring to go.
"Stop it!" Sweetie cried, forcing her way between me and Scootaloo. "This is what we're talking about! First you pour salt in Applejack's wound, now you're scaring your friends!"
Her words were like a slap in the face. I gazed down into the eyes of Scootaloo, who was shaking a little bit, and saw fear.
Fear.
"Oh.. my stars... Scoot, I'm... I'm sorry!" I gasped, backing up. "I..."
I turned away.
I couldn't face her.
We were silent until we reached the house. Big Mac was out in the fields and Granny was probably taking a nap. I hoped I could find Applejack in her room and didn’t have to search for her out in the orchard.
That hope seemed dashed as I gingerly knocked on her door and didn’t get an answer.
I paused, knocked again and called out in a weak voice.
“Applejack? Are y’all in there? I wanna talk.”
No answer.
I slowly pushed the door open, and what I saw made my heart stop.
Bottles.
Bottles littered all over the floor.
I started hyperventilating as I picked one up and read the label.
It was honey whiskey.
“Oh no. Nononononono,” I mumbled.
“Applebloom, what’s wrong? Some ponies drink when they’re upset.” Scootaloo piped up quietly. “I’m sure she’s fine.”
“Not Apples!” I replied more loudly than intended. “After Mom died, Dad followed her jus’ a few months later due to alcohol poisonin’! The entire family swore off drinking after all that! And if Applejack is drinking now…”
I started running around the room, looking for any indication of where Applejack might have gone.
On the far side of her bed I discovered a book lying open. I pulled it over to me and started reading one of the pages out loud.
Wolfsbane:
These illusive plants are often found in timberwolf territory. They are yellow in color, emit a pungent odor, and are often the sign of less fertile land.
They are classified as a curative plant.
Though not much scientific data has been found to back it up, many legends have been told on how this plant can be used to help cure paralysis when mixed with several other curative plants, such as Amethyst.”
“M-maybe she’s just out in the orchard?” Scootaloo suggested.
“Go look!” I ordered, panic starting to set in. “Find Big Mac, and he can probably tell you! If not…”
I turned to Sweetie Belle as Scootaloo zipped off. “Didn’t you say timberwolves are ‘specially aggressive ‘round this time?”
Sweetie Belle nodded slowly, her ears flattened against her head and her eyes wide.
“Uhm, okay… so…” I began pacing back and forth. If Applejack had been drinking, and wandered into timberwolf territory to try and find this plant… “Sweetie Belle, I need you to go and find Twilight! Tell her what’s goin' on!”
“O-okay!” Sweetie Belle gasped before running off.
This was bad.
What if Applejack got in trouble just because of me?
What if she got hurt? Or… worse?
What if she didn’t survive?
Before I knew it I was running toward the Everfree Forest.
Whoa, now Applejack is on the verge of doing the unthinkable!
Guilt can be hard to be dealt with. Im sure, even without AB's gift, Aj would have done that
I don't think applebloom thought her actions all the way through
Oh no! What's going to happen to Applejack?!
10475770
10475774
Maybe eventually. But the gift made it happen that day.
10475775
Oh she defintely didn't.
10475779
She'll survive. Probably. Maybe.
10475783
Yeah. bUt I really can't blame Ab here, if AJ had thought of it, the accident might have not happened or at the very least, not went that bad.
Of course, the what-if question is always hard to tell.
Anyway, short but great work, as always!
10475785
Thanks!
Good. I need my Dailey dose of sadness. Also HOLY HECK APPLEBLOOM YOU TURNED APPLEJACK INTO A APPLEHOLIC! I meant Alcoholic!
10475783
Oh boy...
10475783
I for see either doom for both or applejack sacrificing herself ti protect her sister
10475786
You're welcome!
10475787
An appleholic? I love it.
10475790
10475792
Interesting theory. You'll find out tomorrow.
10475807
Well, I can't wait to see what happens
looks like apple bloom pushed to far this time and now she is off to fine her sister
Well shit.
10475808
What he said
Please let Applejack survive. You didn't put in the death tag. Let Apple Bloom be able to apologize and the two sisters save their relationship without either having final regrets.
10475821
I'm a girl
I mean this IS AJ's fault. Did AJ keep apologizing? no. She dissapeared.
10475833
My b
10475860
It's alright
This actually kinda ruins the whole "not even magic can help" idea if AJ just decides to look for a convenient random plant on her own (without even consulting specialists like Twilight or Zecora first), going on a (possibly) suicide mission. Seems like she's been drinking too much.
Really disappointing, even though it is an AU where magic can't do anything, Discord is dead and wish granting plants do not exist.
I slowly pushed the door open, and what I saw made my heart stop.
Bottles.
Bottles littered all over the floor.
I started hyperventilating as I picked one up and read the label.
It was honey whiskey.
(ha!, i knew it!)
I can only imagine applejack drunk wandering the hallways when applebloom is not at home, talking to a bottle of Jack Daniels.
AJ: * hic * why don't you love me Captain Morgan? Why?
(breaks the bottle against the wall)
AJ: oh no! * hic * Captain Morgan, you're bleeding! * hic * I'll save you!
(starts licking the whiskey off the wall)
ha ha ha!, sorry I had to do it...
10475945
Many legends have been told. Could be passed work from mouth to mouth.
Not nessicarily true.
This is a cut in the dark.
10475958
That's fucking hilarious.
10476003
thank ya, thank ya very much.
So seeing as I was right about Applejack being an appleholic, I'm right in thinking that Sweetie Bell is going to end up very badly, right? Oh! What if the timberwolves devour it! that would be fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!
10476013
Timberwolves devour SB?
No, nothing bad happens to SB in this.
10476040
oh well, it was worth a try.
And the deductions were fun.
Applejack noooooo!!!
Well...that's not good...
10476067
10476077
T'was a valiant effort.
10476137
10475945
You realize she is probably drunk right?
Probably gonna get a lot of crap for this, but screw that. Applejack didn't listen to her sister, and it caused her sister to get impaled. I do think taunting AJ is going too far, but she DOES NOT deserve forgiveness, and frankly, I think the 'silent treatment' is fair enough. And no, it wouldn't be good if she just up and died, I'm not saying that. All I'm saying is that if I were in AB's position, I probably wouldn't talk to her. EVER.
But, all that aside, still a good chapter, though I kinda thought this was gonna end up worse for AJ. Keep up the good work!
i.imgur.com/PXSUpgZ.jpg
I don’t blame Apple Bloom for what she did. I mean, she shouldn’t have done it, but I don’t blame her. It’s the same spiteful thing I would’ve done if I were in her position
.
Also please don’t kill AJ.
10476245
She didn't agree to apologize or forgive, just talk. And she was fully anticipating on doing it once and maybe never again.
Then again, AB has shown to be an empathetic filly, I don't think this would be too weird for her.
10476345
I dun get it.
10476430
Hmm. Maybe.
: "As do I!"
Technically she is right, but I stll have a bad feeling about this.
Bad choice of words, Twi...
10476515
Horses is referencing a Game. Play Doki Doki Literature Club. Don't watch anything, don't look it up, just play it. It's free on Steam, and despite it's slow build-up, it is worth it. (Just be aware that it messes around with your game files, and occasionally requires you to do the same.)
"And cue the ominous music." - Cayde 6
10476515
It's probably for the best.
So we’re just going to skip over what the gift was that made her do this? Seems extremely important to AJ to make her react like that. Also, there was a herb that would have been easy to gather by someone like Twilight this whole time and no one thought to go get it?
10477277
Twilight said it was a belt buckle.
RED ALERT
RED ALERT
RED ALERT
This came dangerously close to the toxic "family deserves forgiveness because they are family" aesop, but I'm glad you avoided it in the end.
I think I figured out what's going on with what AJ is doing. She used alcohol to make drunk bombs to hit the timberwolves, and she's gonna make a potion for AB to cure her of her paralysis
Red flag! Red flags everywhere!
10568067
Oh yeah. Shit is gonna go down.
Fuck... that was just... cruel, Applebloom... wow. I mean, I'm glad it wasn't like... the bloody remains of her cart but that still cut deep... it'll get you right in the feels...
Alcoholism... that's rough. But... I definitely understand why Applejack went to it... her daughter is just... spitting on her. She must think Applebloom hates her... I'm glad we aren't seeing the make six's reactions on a personal level... though, I will admit, that would make for a damn interesting story... but not here. This is largely Applebloom's story. And it's good that it's focussed on that aspect.
Man, just... I don't even know what to say... I'm still engaged, still getting punched in the gut... and still, I am saying,
...
Onward?
10569719
It must hurt a ton, yeah. Just the simple actions of a child can hurt far more than one might know, since they're usually so blunt. And it pushed forward the climax, which is probably the most emotionally impactful thing I've written.
Onwards!
10479016
But now were on track for the "X has to forgive Y because Y was sad and did something really stupid and that's X's fault," which isn't much better...