The rest of that night I felt nothing. I don't know how long I lay there in the forest crying my eyes out. Eventually, I just ran out of tears to cry. Bright Mac was gone and it was all my fault. If I'd just listened to him and gone back to the orchard instead of running off to fight that Timberwolf He'd still be here. But I hadn't listened and now he was dead. Once I managed to pull myself together, I realized I couldn't leave him here to be picked apart by the beasts of the forest. The only problem was he was too big for me to carry on my back, And I couldn't bring myself to just drag him through the woods by his tail or mane. After much thought, I found a way. Taking a deep breath I covered him in a thick layer of ice. Hopefully, it would be enough to keep him safe until I came back.
I took my time heading back to the orchard, I was in no mood to run. I didn't want to think about running for the rest of my life. What was I going to tell Granny and my siblings? My hooves felt heavier with each step I took back to the farm. The moon shone brightly in the night sky as I walked up the trail. The stars shimmered brightly in a tapestry of light. I thought back to what Jav-El and Loran had said. That I was not a pony of this world, The last known survivor of a planet long gone. As I looked over my shoulder, I saw the town of Ponyville below. Its lights in the houses had long since dimmed. Everything seemed so peaceful, so tranquil. Tomorrow would be just another day for them, With kids headed off to school and grown-ups going to work. I was pretty certain those other kids didn't have to deal with being an alien. What was I supposed to do in this world? Could I go back to school tomorrow with everything that'd happened? What if they thought I was a freak? What if I hurt someone? Would they run me out of town like a monster? To be honest I kind of felt like one right then.
The sign that traditionally hung over the gateway lay face down on the road in front of me. It'd been torn from its screws by my wake when I ran out of the barn.
Picking it up I turned it over to see the shiny bright green apple on the front coated in dirt. A reminder of all the damage I'd done so far. Suddenly my ears picked up the sound of voices coming from the house.
"Are Pa and Apple Comet going to be okay Granny?"
The voice was distant but I instantly recognized it as Apple Bloom. Looking through the walls I saw the rest of the family sitting in the living room. Granny was in her usual rocking chair with Apple Bloom sitting worriedly in her lap. Applejack and Big Mac sat on the sofa staring at the clock on the wall.
"A'h'm sure they'll be fine Apple Bloom. Ye'r Pa is as strong as an oak tree and from what A'h saw today yer brother might even be stronger than that."
Granny's tone was reassuring but shaky. From the clock on the wall, I could see it was more than two hours after I'd left.
Instantly I felt my stomach sink, I'd thought about what Granny and Applejack would say when they found out, But Apple Bloom. How was I supposed to tell her that Pa was never coming home and that it was all thanks to my recklessness? I looked down at the broken sign in my hooves. I sighed deeply, I was going to have to do this sooner or later. I set the sign down by the fence and walked up to the front door.
*Knock *Knock* Knock.*
"That must be them now," Applejack said as she got up to answer the door. Big Mac and Apple Bloom were right behind her with Granny trailing behind.
The door swung open and I was greeted with a group hug from my siblings.
"Apple Comet!" Applejack exclaimed as she pulled me into a hug. "Thank Celestia yer alright! Y'all had us worried sick about you." Tears of relief ran down her muzzle onto my back.
"Where's Pa?" Apple Bloom asked looking up at me with concern in her eyes. "He went out looking for ya!"
What little self-composure I'd gathered on my long walk home shattered on the floor. I collapsed into Applejack's arms, My eyes having found fresh tears to cry.
The next morning I led the family as well as the local undertakers to the spot where Pa lay. To say they were baffled as to how he became frozen solid would be an understatement. I kept the part about my powers a secret, I didn't want anyone outside the family to know, not really sure they would have believed me anyway.
It took 6 work ponies armed with hammers and chisels to free him from the ice and bring him back to town.
The funeral took place a few days later. Members of the Apple Family and even The Pear Family showed up from every corner of Equestria to pay their respects along with friends and neighbors. The service was held under a lone oak tree sitting on a hill overlooking the orchard. It was home to a private plot where the Apple family buried their loved ones after death. In its shade lay several simple stone markers inscribed with the names of the dead going back to the founding of Ponyville.
"We are gathered here to say our final farewells to Bright Mac." The town's priest Last Rites said as the casket was placed under the tree. It was a great deal larger than an average casket, having taken 12 pallbearers to carry it up to the hill.
"He was a simple stallion, honest, loving, hardworking, A farmer like many in his family before him. He worked hard to provide an honest living for his family."
"To many who knew him myself included he was a close friend." The preacher continued. "But to those closest to him He was a loving son and a devoted father and he will be missed. He leaves behind a mother and four children, grieving relatives, and many, many friends.
We sat in the front row next to the casket. I was supposed to sit next to Apple Bloom but she had been too distressed to go so after the wake the night before, Applejack decided to stay home with her. She'd offered to take me too but I'd refused. Something inside me told me I had to be there.
"To many, it seems he left us too soon. But I ask that as we gather here to pay our last respects not dwell on the unfortunate circumstances of his passing, But to remember the joy and happiness he brought into each of our lives."
The Priest's eulogy cut through me like a knife, and the familiar feeling of guilt began to bubble up inside of me. I didn't notice I was gripping my chair so tight that my hoof was denting the wood. How could I be so stupid? So stubborn? I only had to listen to his warning and all of this could have been prevented. But now I hadn't and the stallion who'd raised me my whole life was gone.
The priest continued for a few more minutes before inviting the family to say a few words on Pa's behalf. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Bakin Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp, Cousin Braeburn, Even Great Grand Pear. One by one they told everyone how Pa had impacted their lives in a significant way. Finally, It was our turn, I sat up and followed Granny Smith and Big Mac to the front of the casket.
"My son was a simple pony. He got up for chores every day at five in the morning and worked from sunup to sundown like his Pa and his Pa before him."
Granny's tone was stoic in the face of the loss of Pa betraying no hint of sadness or grief. Instead, she seemed tired in a way. Her eyes were those of a mare who had seen many loved ones enter and leave this world.
"He was an honest gentle soul who loved his family and would do anything to please us. He was kind and generous to everyone he met, always there to cheer up friends and neighbors with a joke or warm smile. He brought many joys into our lives from the day he was born. He was a bright colt, never once tardy for school, His teachers spoke very highly of him whenever we talked."
"Ah'll always remember the day A'h first met Pear Butter, Ah ain't ashamed to admit that A'h was angry as a wasp's nest that she and my son were seeing each other. But over the years A'h saw just how deep their love for each other went. She gave us four wonderful grandchildren and a lifetime of wonderful memories before she passed on. Her death was hard on all of us, but Bright Mac took it the hardest. He did his best to keep going but A'h knew in my heart her passing had hurt him deeply. Ah, like to think he's up there with her now."
Pa's last words echoed in my head. "Tell 'em I love them and Ah'll be watching over them." I felt tears begin to well up in my eyes.
"Apple Comet?"
I looked up to see Granny looking over at me. Her expression softened as she knelt to my level and embraced me. "Sshhhh It's okay to cry here. She said. "Look at me Ah'm just barely holding it together myself." I looked up to see two thin tears roll down her wrinkled cheeks. "Y'all can head on back to the house anytime."
I dried my eyes and shook my head. "No Granny, I'm not leaving until I've had a chance to say goodbye." I stood up as tall as I could and wiped my eyes. Granny smiled and handed me a handkerchief from her saddlebag.
"I think yer Pa would mighty proud of that answer." She said gesturing to the casket.
I wiped my eyes off and placed the handkerchief in my jacket pocket before trotting up to the casket. I ran my hoof over the surface, The polished oak felt smooth to the touch.
"Pa," I said. "I just...I just want to say thank you for taking me in when I had nowhere else to go. I'm sorry...I ran away like I did. I know you told me not to blame myself but I can't help it. If I hadn't run back into the forest you'd probably still be here. But I gave you my word and I intend to keep it. I'm not gonna run away from who I am anymore, I may have let you down once but I swear I'll never let you down again. I'm gonna become a stallion you can be proud of I promise. Goodbye Pa...I'm gonna miss you, Say Hi to Ma for me when you get to Elysium."
"That was very good young Colt, I'm sure your father, wherever he is, would be very proud of you for standing up like that." The Preacher said to me with a warm smile. Once the rest of the family had finished paying their last respects it was time to lower the casket.
"And as we lay this pony to rest we ask that the Three Judges in their wisdom look kindly upon him and judge him fairly." The preacher proclaimed as the casket was lowered into the earth. "We ask that they grant him passage to the fields where there is no snow nor heavy storms nor rain but where life is free of toil, sorrow, and pain. May the Goddess Faust bless him on his journey to everlasting peace." And just like that, it was over Ashes to ashes Dust to dust.
I stayed up on the hill for a while after the mourners had left. I told Mac and Granny that I needed to be alone for a while. They didn't say anything, they just nodded and went back to the house.
Bright Mac
Beloved Son, Husband, and Father.
b 955anm d 995anm
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you Pa, But I promise I'll never let anypony down again."
I spent the next half hour looking over the names on the grave markers, The names went back to the founding of Ponyville.
One stone, in particular, caught my eye, The one lying right next to Pa's grave.
Pear Butter
Beloved Wife, Daughter, and Mother of Four.
b 959anm d 990anm.
A single tear ran down my cheek and landed on the headstone. I was only a few months old when she died but Pa told me she loved as if I were her natural-born foal. She and Pa were finally reunited for what it was worth.
"Hey Ma it's me Apple Comet, I know we didn't get to spend much time together but I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened to Pa. I didn't listen to him when I should have and now....well now he's with you. I guess...I can be happy that you can see each other again, but it still hurts inside."
As I stood there it felt like a great weight was being lifted off of my shoulders. I guess there was some merit to what Granny said about the truth setting you free.
"I've been going through some changes lately, I'm guessing Pa's told you all about that. At first, I thought I was some kind of monster, somepony who didn't belong. But Pa told me something before he died. He said that it was a gift and asked me to make a promise to never use it to hurt others. I'm going to keep that promise Ma!" I promise I'm going to use my powers to help those in need. I'm gonna make you both proud of me just wait and see."
When I got back to the house the mood was mostly silent, The family had crowded into the living room for snacks and conversation. Granny Smith sat on the couch next to Aunt and Uncle Orange.
"Granny dear I can't imagine what you're going through right now." Aunt Orange said as he placed her hoof on Granny's shoulder. Her voice was lacking its usual high society tone. "If there's anything Mosely or I can do for you please do not hesitate to ask."
Granny took a sip of tea and then set her cup on the table. "Thank you Valencia," She said softly. "Ah'll be sure to keep that in mind." She looked up when she heard me shut the door. "Well look who's finally back, Are you feeling any better? " She asked.
I smiled and said. "I am sure Granny, I'm feeling a lot better than I was this morning."
She smiled back at me and said. "Ah'm sure glad to hear that. There are apple fritters in the kitchen feel free to help yourself."
"Thanks, Granny I could sure go for one right now," I said as I trotted towards the kitchen.
"Oh, could ya do me a favor and take one up to yer sister's room?" She asked me. "Poor filly's been feeling down all day. A'h invited her to come down and sit with the rest of the family earlier, But she wasn't feeling up to it."
"Sure Granny, I can do that," I said before I headed back into the kitchen.
The dining room table was set up like a buffet. Apple dishes of every variety sat out in pans, trays, and plates. Every Apple had brought something to the wake to save Granny the trouble of cooking for everypony there.
"Okay Let's Apple Pies, Apple cakes, Apple Tarts, Apple Strudel, Apple Cobbler, Apple Turnover, Apple Dumplings, Apple Crisps, Apple Cider, Apple Jam, What's this?" I picked up what I later found out to be an orange meringue.
"Whatever it is it looks fancy, Thanks, Aunt and Uncle Orange. Now, where is the Apple frit...Bingo!"
There they were, The batter-fried cinnamon-coated golden deliciousness that was the Apple Families homemade fritters. This was surely just what I needed to cheer my sister up. I picked up a plate with my teeth, taking extra care not to break Granny's good china, and placed two apple fritters on them.
*knock knock knock* I tapped on Apple Bloom's bedroom door with the tip of my hoof.
"Who is it?" Applejack's voice said from behind the door. I gently set the plate down on the floor.
"It's me AJ," I answered. "I brought you some apple fritters from downstairs, I figured you might be hungry. Can I come in?"
"Sure thing door's already open." She replied. I picked the plate back up and opened the door.
The room was pitch dark the only light was sunlight shining through the window. Applejack sat on the edge of the bed next to a large mound in the sheets.
" Who is it Applejack? a muffled voice asked through the bedsheets.
"It's Apple Comet," Applejack replied to her sister. "He's brought ya up some Apple Fritter's to cheer you up!"
"Go away! A'h never want to see you again!" My little sister's sudden shriek was followed by a pillow flying towards my head. Immediately I ducked and darted away from the puffy projectile which missed me by a country mile.
With my X-ray vision, I saw Apple Bloom lying with her forelegs crossed holding a teddy bear in a vice grip Her mane was disheveled and unkempt, her eyes were puffy from crying and a deep scowl crossed her face.
"Apple Bloom! "Applejack scowled angrily. Ah, know Y'all are upset but that's no way to treat yer brother when he's just trying to be nice to ya!"
"He's not my brother!" Apple Bloom snapped back. "He's a monster! He's an alien freak!"
Apple Bloom's words stabbed me like a knife through the heart. My jaw went slack sending the plate crashing to the floor.
*CRASH!*
"Now that wasn't a very nice thing to say Applebloom! " Applejack said getting up off the bed. "Ah'm so very sorry about her, She's been like this all day."
My ears drooped as looked up at her. "No it's fine I understand," I said turning towards the door. I'll go get a broom and dustpan and sweep this up."
"Apple Comet wait!" Applejack called out. "Ah'll get it, A'h think you and Bloom need to have a little talk." And with that, she turned and walked out of the room.
*Sigh* "Hey Apple Bloom how's it going?" It was a stupid question but I had to start somewhere. She shuffled and turned over to the other side. X-ray vision remember? "Look I don't know what else I can say about Pa."
"Well then don't say anything!" She snapped "It's all yer fault he's dead! You and yer freaky alien powers! It should've been you that ended up as Timberwolf food instead of Pa!"
My heart sank at her words, I wanted to tell her she was wrong, that she was only being a poophead, But deep down I sort of felt the same. What if it had been me who'd been killed? What would Pa be doing if he were in my shoes right now?
"Do...Do you really believe that Bloom?" I asked, "Would the rest of the family be better off if I'd never arrived?"
Apple Bloom's heart rate began to speed up, she was breathing harder and faster. "A-Ah'm n-not saying that." She said hesitantly. "Ah'm just saying why you couldn't save him with all yer amazing powers like Y'all did with Granny?"
It was a question I'd been asking myself for the last couple of days. I doubted that I would ever find the answer. "I was too foalish I guess." I finally said. "Pa tried to warn me but I wouldn't listen. I thought I could handle them on my own, I could smash them like they were made of glass, I could turn them to ash just by looking at them or freeze them solid with my breath. I forgot that Pa wasn't as powerful as I was and... Apple Bloom believe me when I say I would give up my powers if it could bring Pa back."
For a moment the room fell silent, then my ear picked up the faint sound of whimpering coming from the sheets. My heart sank as I trotted up to the bed and lifted the sheets off of her. In an instant, Apple Bloom wrapped her forelegs around my neck and buried her face into my mane. She didn't say anything to me, She just sobbed and trembled against me like a newborn foal. I shut my eyes and patted her gently on the back. Her insults no longer mattered, The fact that I was adopted no longer mattered, My powers no longer mattered. What mattered in this instance was my little sister needed a shoulder to cry on and that I was there for her.
"Ah'm sorry." She whispered to me in a trembling voice. "I didn't mean what A'h said! Please don't go away!"
A gentle smile crossed my face as I looked down at her. "It's okay Bloom I forgive you."
The atmosphere at the dinner table that evening was as silent as a church at night. As the family filed into the dining room everypony sat in the seats they'd been given. Apple Bloom and I sat with Applejack and Big Mac next to the other kids while Granny sat in her usual spot. Pa's usual space was left empty marked by an old photograph sitting in his chair at the head of the table. One by one the family joined hooves and bowed their heads as Granny began the blessing of grace.
"Faust Mother of Harmony, We thank you for this bounty of food and for all the blessings bestowed upon this family which we are all grateful for."
At once the rest of the family joined in.
"We thank you for our health and well-being and our bountiful harvest. In this difficult time as we mourn the passing of Bright Mac we humbly ask that you take his soul into your Elysian Fields so that he may find everlasting peace. Give us the strength to heal and the guidance to move on, so that through this dark time we may see the light. For thou is thy mother thy mentor and thy friend Amen."
"Let us eat," Granny said as the rest of the family raised their heads and picked up their utensils to begin eating.