You might not hear it, but through their leaves the Trees whisper your name
It had to happen on a perfect morning. Not a cloud in sight, the sun high up in the sky beaming down on the earth, the air as fresh as if it had just been squeezed from a cloud. The weather practically begged ponies to go outside and enjoy the breeze.
And yet, Applejack wished to be anywhere but outside. Big Mac was polite enough not to say more than he needed, but the situation was clear. She needed to visit them.
She glanced left and right sourly as she passed through her orchard. Even though her destination was at the far end of the plot and she had plenty of reason to hurry, she still couldn't bring herself to not make sure the other trees were alright. Not to mention, the routine also brought her mind some reprieve from the darkness that not even the gleaming emerald grass nor the crystal-light of the sun could dispel.
It wasn’t the first time she had to take this trip. Really, in a sense it too almost felt like routine by now, but the mere notion of such sent Applejack’s stomach into a twist. It was a walk of shame that reminded her of her failure as a friend and the lead-weighing promise she made then to protect those left behind. Alone.
She supposed there was a cruel sense of logic in her curse. What she lost was irreplaceable and until she were to join them again, no replacement would ever bring Harmony to her heart. Truly, she understood. But knowledge did little against the pain as she reached the end of the orderly rows and arrived at a small clearing.
Five trees stood in a loose half-circle and, as always, it took Applejack what felt like the strength necessary to buck a hundred of their siblings empty of apples to finally look at them. And, like each time before, it felt like they looked right back at her.
She beheld the first tree. It was a weeping willow, hiding its branches and trunk behind a shower of shy leaves. From deep inside its protective cowl, an aria of birdsong filled the air, singing an elegy passed on from one generation to another. Applejack trotted up to the willow and touched its bark. In response the tree shivered and a single yellow apple descended from the thick depths of its canopy. Without a word Applejack took off her hat, placed the apple into it, and passed on to the second tree.
Even before reaching it, Applejack had to shrink back from the sudden thick aroma of sweetness that hit her nostrils. The second tree was a cherry blossom, shedding its beautiful petals to the gentle wind, carrying colour and sweetness far and wide, while its twigs cheerfully bobbed up and down. Applejack didn’t even need to touch it, the tree plopped a gleaming pink apple right into her hat. “Thank you,” Applejack whispered before moving on.
The third tree shone far brighter than the rest. It was a silver poplar, swaying elegantly in the breeze. Its trunk was dotted by intricate patterns and its leaves sported a whirlwind of purple hues, turning it into a painter’s masterpiece. As Applejack walked closer, she noticed how despite the tree’s thin foliage, no matter where she stepped there was always a leaf protecting her eyes from the sun’s rays. By the time she reached the trunk, she found a white apple placed firmly in a bed of grass right underneath. “Showoff.” Applejack smiled a little and shook her head as she passed forth.
Applejack cursed herself for making distinctions, but she would have lied if she said the eucalyptus wasn’t the most painful sight for her. Its trunk and branches reached ever higher and higher, as if challenging the sky itself with no intent to ever back down. What’s more, splattered all over them were reds, greens, blues, yellows, and pinks, all joined together to form a chaotic tapestry that Applejack struggled to describe as anything but awesome. This time the apple, painted just as vividly as the bark, fell from dangerously high. It bounced from branch to twig, before stylishly sliding down the trunk right into Applejack’s hat.
One last tree awaited her. An oak that, despite not being any older than the rest, always seemed ancient as far as Applejack could remember. Patches of mushrooms sprouted from its thick trunk, reaching out with their mycelium and connecting the tree to the others. Applejack was never one for reading, but as she walked below the oak’s shade, the thought of how perfect it’d be to just lie down and crack open a novel crossed her mind. But instead, she simply wiped her wet eyes and continued her trot towards the base of the tree. Hovering a hoof above the ground, a purple apple greeted her, coated in a faint aura that dissipated the moment she touched the fruit.
Her harvest was done. As she began her long trek home, Applejack glanced back one more time. Like always before, she left with two words on her lips and an unspoken vow.
Applejack hardly paid attention to the monster rampaging towards her. She’d faced far too many before to be fazed anymore. Her gaze was fixated on the small bottle hanging from her neck. She pulled the cork and glanced inside, her eyes growing wet as she saw the glowing liquid. Shutting them tight, she drank the sweet brew. As it spread through her, her body began to glow. An ancient and familiar power filled her. The monster continued undeterred, but Applejack knew its seconds were numbered.
Silently, she allowed the power to strike out and reduce the beast to smouldering ashes. As she descended to the ground, Applejack felt no triumph or victory, only hollowness inside. She yearned for the day this power would seek new hosts and she would be allowed to see them again.
Until then, however, she had a promise to keep.
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- marmalado · 1000 words · 88 2 · 1.5k views
- Reviewfilly · 16k words · 26 2 · 301 views
- Reviewfilly · 3.8k words · 67 4 · 1.1k views
- Reviewfilly · 1000 words · 80 3 · 1.2k views
- Drunk Luna · 1.5k words · 256 5 · 5.9k views
- Caladis · 1.2k words · 33 0 · 831 views
- Starswirl the Beardless · 1.9k words · 168 4 · 2k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.023 seconds
Total duration
1,015 users online
1,362,108 hits today, 1,892,089 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
The powah of Appul.
Hard to care when I can't tell if Applejack just outlived the girls due to age, or you murdered them off screan. Going by how A J is acting, I say you murdered them by Monster of the Week, not old age.
11600327
How they died isn't really the point of the story, hence it not dwelling on it, but yes, it is indeed not old age, AJ herself says as much.
Never seen this before. Applejack being the only survivor of the Mane Six. Usually, it's Twilight.
This was a lovely read!
11600372
Best pony is criminally underrepresented in fanfics.
11600381
Thank you!
11600327
Most shorts here are like vignettes or street performances. You're not gonna get much out of them if you're concerned with its bigger picture when the story itself isn't. Because there's no plan beyond writing a specific scene or objective. At the very least, it had that, even if the logic of fruit bearing had to be tied back by magic; one pretty & fairly gripping scene.
11600327
Not dead, trees 🌳
interesting story, although a little confusing
I liked the ending, and I do like that stuff is open to reader interpretation, but also I wish what was going on was a bit more clear.
This is not a hate comment, just a little constructive criticism.
Well written story none the less
11600642
I might make a blog post about a few days from now to elaborate on the idea behind the story as a "death of the author, not necessarily everyone's interpretation" sort of explanation. The very strict wordcount didn't allow for much worldbuilding, but there are a few main topics the fic intended to, if not tackle, at least showcase.
I understand where you're coming from, however, and I see why it could be confusing.
Youʼve said so much in so little.
Outstanding work, Reviewfilly. Best of luck in the contest.
I like this. A lot.
Most stories, and many authors, seem to think we are slow children that need to be spoon fed facts in order to understand anything in story. Often that does need to be done because the author tries to do something complicated without the necessary buildup.
In short; a nice story of a respectful, and skilled, author that assumes you are an adult.
The filly has hit the sin bin.
Appul power is too great.
I think the most wonderful part of this all has to be the core theme that, in the end, they are still united to thwart worldly evils. The walkthrough was awfully powerful stuff for the limited time she had to spend, and the payload a very satisfying delivery indeed.
The imagery can’t go unnoticed here, either. While I can’t go without saying I’d have liked to see more of that purpose Applejack was left to fulfill, the trees themselves were more than just cute little set pieces: the way you imbued the trees with their personalities does wonders. It ties in so very well with your mention of Applejack’s care for trees in general. It brings a new light to that side of her; it shows that she can still be a friend to them as she was while they lived.
This is a great AJ fic: it totally speaks to her character.
11600762
To be honest, I just realized this was for a contest
I did not read the description fully before reading the story, guess I am stupid
Now knowing that, ya you were able to cram a lot in such a short time span, well done.
Oh my gosh, the scene with the trees was so clever.
11601236
It's funny, your interpretation of the story is a lot more optimistic than what I had in mind, while regardless staying "compatible" with the story. I'm almost preferring it to my idea now, hah. Thank you very much for reading it, I'm very happy the story left an impact.
11601288
Yup, as the name implies you have to write exactly a thousand words. I competed last year too and wanted to try myself again.
The implications are broad, as is this sad new world. Bravo.
You really did great with this one, filly. The arborist-at-heart in me really respects how you gave each member of the Mane 6 a fitting representation, that felt true to their characters. It conveyed a sense that they're not truly 'dead', that their personalities shine through even in the forms of trees, which in turn makes AJs hope at the end all the more potent.
Great stuff as always.
Over 70 likes with no dislikes, that's gotta be a new academy record!
Lovely idea to let best
backgroundpony bear the burden of outliving those you love. I mostly see this idea realised through Twilight, and while emotional if done right, it's a bit oversaturated.Also loving the fact that despite what happened, they're still friends to some extent, bound by whatever force that commands the elements.
Seems even death couldn't do them part, not completely, anyways.
Twilight will not outlive her friends. Given one of those friends is Rainbow Dash, it pretty much needs to be interpreted as happening this way rather than anything to do with alicornhood.
THEY ALL GOT TURNED INTO TREES!!!
ooh, ominous! i’m guessing something went very wrong for the rest of the Mane Six
aww that is so what Rarity would be as a tree, love her
aww, just like her library! honestly all of these tree-ifications are just perfect, really capturing their characters
oof! the logical conclusion to the Magic of Friendship being its own agent with its own goals, as well as a routine weapon of national defense. and of course Applejack would be the one to solemnly bear the duties of all her friends on her withers, as is fitting for the Element of
LoyaltyHonesty. fantastic work!Ah. She got her wish.
Having Twilight be the center of a mycelial network to allow the members of the grove to stay in contact with one another is a brilliant touch.
Outstanding work in leaving so much unsaid yet apparent through subtext. I can’t help but feel this would fit better in Drama, but that’s highly subjective, and there’s something extra heartbreaking in submitting this one in Slice of Life. This is the new normal for Applejack, to be the one left behind until she can pass the burden and rejoin her friends. Thank you very much for it. It more than earned my judge prize.
Hello! A belated courtesy note for my review of this. A nice, original spin on the "last Bearer alive" setup. Nice ending, too. Pretty easy like.