13 days left before the storm
Living with the Apples was a life changing experience for Olive. She got a parent that truly cared for her, a sister and new friends to boot. Things couldn’t get any better, but so far, there was just one problem. Applejack and Big Macintosh worked hard every day, Granny Smith often left the house to buy groceries and Apple Bloom always went to school with her friends, leaving Olive by her lonesome for a few hours.
Sitting inside the house alone, Olive listened intensely to the sound of the ticking clock. If it wasn’t for the clock, she’d be in sitting in complete silence. When the whole family is here, the Apples’s home feels inviting, lovely but when it’s empty, it feels stressful. Despite nothing happening, Olive was growing more anxious by the minute. It felt wrong. She shouldn’t be alone, she needs somepony to be here for her. Even if they left for a few minutes, this sensation crept back into her mind.
The filly crawled closer to the clock, somewhat soothed by its constant ticking. Every other room was silent, except for this one. She hated silence, it always forced her to remember all the bad memories stored within her broken consciousness. Hugging the wall, her anxiety only continued to increase as a crushing weight dawned on her mind. She wasn’t sad enough to cry, and certainly not happy enough to smile. All she was thinking about, was how much she missed her family even if they would inevitably return later today. It’s stupid to feel this way, especially when it’s just about being alone for a few hours. As such, Olive didn’t want to trouble anypony with such pointless issues.
Minutes passed by, and things only got worse. Her chest felt like it was crushing the wind out of her. Breathing became tougher, and the filly was beginning to sweat. This is stupid. Why am I like this? Why can’t I just be happy to be home alone like other fillies? Why can’t I do anything right?
This loneliness was killing her, her mind quickly racing to dark and self-deprecating thoughts. This was starting to hurt badly. If she stayed like this any longer, she might just cry again. Finally deciding to call it quits, Olive chose to leave the house. Outside, these thoughts should hopefully go away and leave her be. Opening the door, she was greeted by a nice and welcoming sun, lively fields and a sky as blue as water.
Strangely enough, Olive didn’t see Applejack or Big Mac anywhere on the farm. Thinking more about it, she remembered something about an “Apple bucking season”, maybe they had to do it further away from the house? Satisfied by this explanation, she walked down the path that led to Ponyville, entering the town all by herself.
This sensation was crazy, walking into town without anypony’s help! The filly felt like a grown mare, fearing nothing of the outside world. In broad daylight, there was no reason to be afraid. The monsters only come out when it gets dark. Under the sunlight, she was invincible!
The young unicorn could go anywhere she wanted without having to worry about anything. An adventure, that’s what it felt like. She was going on an adventure! She’s spent so much time sheltered in dark and cramp spaces, never getting to explore the world. Today, she was free to indulge in this wild dream that she never thought would ever be possible. One day, she’ll explore every single part of Equestria, living the ultimate adventure like Daring Do.
Trotting around Ponyville, Olive marveled at the beautiful yet simple architecture of this small town, built by earth ponies, by the Apples themselves. A town that, despite being young, already had a rich history. It was like walking through a museum. The filly stopped by a fountain, admiring the statue soaring high and proud over the ponies below it.
There were houses with bridges connecting them to another, something Olive never saw before. Staring idly at it, the filly came up with many wacky explanations for why such a thing even existed. Then, there were buildings like Sugar Cube Corner and Carousel Boutique. Extravagant, unique in their style, eye catching even. Certainly, different from the plain, unoriginal brick buildings she was accustomed to. Oh, and let’s not forget the Golden Oak library. A living tree serving as the town’s local library? Awesome!
Olive moved on to the park where she sat comfortably on the benches, observing the sky where the pegasi flew to move the clouds around. Her eyes then laid on a mare walking into the park with a filly by her side. Being reminded of Applejack and how lonely she felt at home, Olive looked away before these oppressive thoughts could return.
Gazing back at the sky, she marveled at the power of flight that the pegasi possessed. Such freedom of movement, to be able to go everywhere, even in the clouds above, what a wonderful ability. Olive hoped that one day she could get wings to soar above town, and finally see what the world looks like from the sky.
There had to be a spell to grow wings. Princess Twilight seemed well versed in magic, maybe she could ask her one day... as long as the spell isn’t casted by the filly herself that is. Olive wasn’t confidant in her magic just yet.
Relaxing, breathing in the fresh air, she didn’t see the time pass. It was only when she gazed back at the sun that she realised a few hours must have passed. The others surely returned home, and the filly should go back too or else they will be worried sick. Worrying her own family is the last thing she wanted to do, so she jumped out of her bench and headed out of the park.
Now back in the middle of town, a thought just sprung to mind. Wh-Where's the way back to Mommy’s house? She froze in place, dread creeping back in her stomach. A strange burning sensation engulfed her body, it was getting hot in here despite being relatively chilly thanks to the breeze. The filly looked around, the way back home degrading into a blur.
Spinning around in hopes of finding a way that’ll lead back to Sweet Apple Acre, her desperation grew stronger. Olive had no idea where home was anymore. She was lost in the middle of a town she was unfamiliar with, surrounded by complete strangers and with nopony there to help. Many ponies passed by, giving her worried glances before continuing with their day. Nopony understood the terror within.
Panicking, Olive scrambled around hoping to find somepony she recognised, to no avail. Every road she walked down only led to another intersection leading to the unknown. Lost in a maze of tall buildings, her morale was dying. Walking aimlessly, a deep-rooted fear struck her heart out of the blue when she found herself back at the park, her starting position. Nothing was worse than to be lost, knowing you have some place to be.
The last time the little unicorn was lost, she paid the price dearly. The rumbling of the grassy floor, the thunderous stomping of a dozen hooves, the shouts of a bloodthirsty goliath, all these sounds came back to mind. Instinctively, she turned around, expecting to meet her doom only to find nothing. Her eyes were pinpricks, her breaths labored, and her legs were trembling. The filly could no longer stay on all four, dropping to the ground in tears.
The sounds kept on ringing through her ears. Alone, by herself, defenseless, they were coming for her. They were laughing. They knew they got her cornered. There was no safe haven to run to. Olive opened her eyes but couldn’t make out anything cohesive. Her tears blurred her vision out to the point that the world was nothing more than a blurry mess of colors and shapes. M-Mommy! Wherever you are, help me!
Then, another sound joined in, drowning out the cackling. Wings flapped, descending towards the filly. As Olive wiped her tears, a pegasus dropped down from the sky like an angel as if her prayers were answered. A beautiful yellow angel with a smile that was different from the one she grew up with. Nothing but kindness and concerned radiated from this being. Once she landed before the unicorn, Olive didn’t flee nor felt any fear. The pegasus’s eyes were pure, absent of any bad intentions.
“Are you okay?” a soft voice spoke out to the filly. It was soothing, slowly chasing away the unicorn’s fears. Looking at her bandage, the pegasus started to panic a little. “Wh-What happened to you? A-Are you hurt?” She asked, her voice not raising one bit.
Choking on her tears, Olive could manage a simple “N-No”.
The pegasus looked relieved. “Then what’s wrong? You look awfully sad.” She smiled gently, sitting down to match the filly’s small height.
Olive tried to tell her she was lost, but her tears and frightened whimpers kept getting in the way.
“Are you lost?”
To that question, the unicorn was able to respond with a shaky nod.
“Don’t worry,” The yellow pegasus kindly wrapped a wing around the filly, bringing her closer to the mare’s soft coat. “I’ll help you find your mommy.”
Lifting her hooves, Olive hugged the mare’s leg tightly, desperately seeking some comfort. Her whimpers quieted down, now reduced to the occasional sniffling.
The mare nuzzled her. “You don’t have to be scared anymore. You’re not alone.” Her soft voice helped the filly calm down. She let go of the pegasus’s leg, remaining in the comfort of her wing. “Do you know where you live?” she gingerly asked.
“...Apples...” Olive croaked, her hitching drowning out the rest of the name.
“A-Apples?” The yellow pegasus’s eyes widened. She carefully observed the filly under her wing for a few second before bringing her head down on the little one again. “Oh, you poor thing. I promise I’ll take you back to Sweet Apple Acre safely.”
The two began to trot through the park, weaving through the trees until they were back in town. The mare’s gentle smile and warm coat put the filly’s mind at ease. Olive’s tears were now all but gone as she stuck to her savior like glue. “Um, s-say... Can I ask you your name, um, i-if you don’t mind.” The pegasus asked.
Olive lifted her head to look directly into the beautiful eyes of the kind mare. “O...Olive.” she managed to say.
“That’s a beautiful name!” The pegasus responded. “I’m Fluttershy, it’s so nice to meet you, Olive. My friend kept talking about you.”
The filly’s eyes slightly widened. Just from her eyes alone, Fluttershy knew what question was coming next. “I’m Applejack’s friend. We’ve known each other since we were fillies ourselves. G-Gosh, I never thought I’d meet you this way.”
Olive smiled, nuzzling her face against the pegasus’s wing. She was not alone, not anymore. The ponies chasing her were long gone, scared off by Fluttershy’s presence. There was no danger, no reason to be afraid now. Her hero had come to save the day.
The more she thought about it, the more she realised that the mare escorting her back home reminded her of somepony, a hero to be precise. Her favorite Power Pony was here to protect her against evil, her Saddle Rager.
Olive’s eyes widened; a smile formed on her face. From their position, the two ponies could see the top of Sweet Apple Acre proudly resting on the edge of Ponyville. “Oh, looks like we’re nearly there.” Fluttershy announced. The filly could barely contain her joy, repeatedly hopping underneath the mare’s wing.
Getting closer to the farm, the two ponies spotted Applejack frantically running around shouting the filly’s name in distress. “O-Olive! Where are ya, sugar cube?” She screamed, her voice beaming with fear and anxiety.
The sight of her mother and her home tossed aside any fear left in the filly. Without skipping a beat, Olive dashed from underneath Fluttershy’s wing, quickly making her way towards Aj. “Mommy!” She cried out.
“Olive!” Applejack responded rushing over to meet her daughter. Reunited with a big hug, the two shared tears of joy. The loving embrace of the two mares even made Fluttershy tear up a little. This sight was so sweet that it got all three ponies emotional.
“Where were ya, sugar cube? A-Ah thought we lost ya! O-Or that somethin’ bad happened to ya!” Applejack asked, her voice hitching.
Olive held her mother tighter. “I-I’m sorry! I just wanted to walk around Ponyville...”
The orange mare noticed her friend sheepishly approaching. “The poor thing was lost in the park, so I took her back home.”
Gazing at the little filly, Fluttershy giggled. “I must say, your new daughter is just too... adorable.” She then sniffled, feeling emotional herself. “I’m sorry.” The sensitive pegasus looked away and wiped her tears.
Applejack smiled. “Aw, thanks Flutters. Ah owe ya big time. Ah don’t know what Ah would’ve done without yer help.” Nuzzling the little unicorn in her grasp, she felt like she should give her friend a thank you gift. “Ah should give ya some apples for free, as a way to thank ya.”
Fluttershy cocked her head back. “Oh no, no, no, no... I can’t accept that. Y-You'll need all the apples you can sell to pay for your constructions and, um, taxes.” She offered a thankful smile to her friend before sprouting her angelic wings. “I only brought her here because it was the right thing to do and seeing you two happy is the only reward I need.”
The earth pony giggled. “You truly are the kindest pony Ah’ve met, Fluttershy.”
The yellow pegasus blushed. “Oh, well, um, th-thanks Applejack. I should go now, Angel Bunny is waiting for me to bring home dinner.” Flying not so high in the sky, Fluttershy left the two ponies.
Olive was sad to see the pegasus leave so soon. She hoped that they would meet again for she didn’t get the chance to thank her.
“Hey, sugar cube. Why did you leave on yer own?” Applejack softly asked, rousing the little filly from her sad state of mind.
“B...” She lowered her head, avoiding her mother’s eyes. “Because being alone is scary. I hate being alone.”
“Ya could have say so, Ah would have stayed home with ya.” Applejack softly said, offering the small unicorn a supportive smile. “We just want ya to feel safe at home.”
Everypony here is concerned with her well-being. Something Olive is unfamiliar with. Before she woke up in Ponyville General, the only pony who ever cared about her was Aurora. This situation as a whole made her remember some of the last things her friend told her.
Not everypony is mean spirited and evil. Not every stranger has bad intentions. You may feel like you’re alone sometimes, but if you’re ever in need, somepony will always come to help. There’s a world of color waiting for you out there; you just need to know where to look. I know you’re scared to leave, to be separated from me, so I don’t want you to forget to give the world a chance. You’re a kind pony, and I want you to hold on to your kindness. Always stay positive, and never let up, even if it’s hard.
Olive looked up at the sky and smiled tearfully. I’m doing it, Aurora. Every step hurt, but she pushed on nonetheless. One day, she’ll be truly happy, free from the burden of her past.