//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Equestria Girls: The Apple of Death's Eye // by Time Agent pony //------------------------------// Applejack wasn't the type to get jealous, it just wasn't who she was, but sometimes she couldn't help but feel a little jealous of her friends, a feeling that flickered through the transit of her mind. The reason for her jealousy of her friends wasn't because of anything they owned, but because they had the one thing that had been taken from her and her siblings. Applejack got occasionally jealous, envious even, of her friends because they still had their parents. Applejack's parents, Bright Mac and Pear Butter, had died when Applejack and her brother, Big Mac, were very young. Their sister Apple Bloom was a baby, so she had little memory of their parents. Granny Smith had tried to take charge for a while, but due to her age, she didn't have the energy nor the youth to become the head of the family full time. As a result of their parents passing and her granny's waning health, Applejack taken it upon herself to take charge and fill the hole her parents left, becoming the new head of the household, even at a young age. She, her brother and Granny Smith had taken it upon themselves to raise Apple Bloom until she was old enough to help with the family business. Fortunately, the Apple Family received additional help from friends, neighbours and other members of the family. Over time, the Apples managed to recover and achieve some level of normality. But the pain of loss was still there for Applejack, lingering just under the surface and on the anniversary of their deaths. Once a year, the feeling would break through to the surface. It was a new year, which meant that the anniversary was fast approaching. It started like any other day, Applejack woke up and began taking care of the house work and preparing breakfast, until her brother, Granny Smith and Apple Bloom woke up and joined her. After breakfast, Applejack helped Granny Smith with the washing up, Granny insisted she could do it on her own, but Applejack wouldn't budge. Following that, Applejack headed for the orchard at the back of their house, where her brother and sister had already started picking the apples from the trees. Big Mac waited until Apple Bloom was out of earshot before talking to Applejack. "That time's coming up again," he said, in his deep yet wise voice, "you think it's time for Apple Bloom to join us this time?" Applejack's brother was a soul of few words, usually, but there were rare occasions where he talked more and shared his thoughts with his sisters and others. "Not a chance, Big Mac," Applejack replied, "I feel she's still too young." "She's gonna need to face it eventually," Big Mac responded, "I think she's old enough to be a part of it." "NO!" Applejack replied, she realised she had raised her voice, "no," she said, quietly. "I just...." she continued, taking off her hat, it was her father's hat, "I just don't want Apple Bloom to go through the same pain I went through." "I know, sis," Big Mac nodded, "but holding her too tight won't keep her sheltered forever, she gonna have to experience it at some point." Applejack was silent for a while, as she watched her little sister doing her best to gather apples from the trees, "Alright," she said, finally, "I'll think about taking her with us when we go to the cemetery tonight." Big Mac smiled, seeing that his sister was thinking about what he had said. The siblings continued their work, unaware of what the day's events would bring. Elsewhere, in the realm of Death of the Endless. "Well," Death of the Endless smiled, "it's time, again." She put down her book and stood up from her couch, proceeding towards the exit of her realm, pausing for a few moment to feed her fish, Slim and Wandsworth. Every century Death of the Endless lives life as a mortal for 24 hours to better understand life and all of its beauty, it seemed that the time had finally come around again. After taking care of her pets, Death moved towards the exit to her realm, the realm itself being a small white void with the previously mentioned items, along with a teddy bear being the only other thing there. As Death was about to leave, she was greeted by her brother, Dream of the Endless. He and Death were part of a group of beings called The Endless, not gods, but beings that stood above both mortals and gods. The other members of the Endless were: Destiny, Destruction, Desire, Despair and Delight, now Delirium. "Here to see me off, brother?" Death asked, giving her brother a smile. "Indeed," Dream replied, "I wish you well, sister, I look forward to hearing about to your adventure." The smile remained on Death's face as she grabbed her sigil, an ankh, which she placed around her neck, all the Endless had a sigil, an object that represented them. Having grabbed her sigil, Death waved goodbye to her brother as departed for the mortal realm, whistling a tune as she went.