Chapter 16
Applejack
Derpy was an interesting pony. Although the trip to the Everfree Forest wasn't a long one, Derpy had managed to trip twenty times, usually over her own hooves, along the way. While Applejack didn't mind traveling with Derpy, she wasn't sure how Rainbow Dash had put up with her the past two hours or so.
Is that really only how long it's been since we were separated in Canterlot?
There was something about Derpy that lifted Applejack's spirits—something she desperately needed right now. Derpy, though terribly clumsy, had a very positive atmosphere around her. Although she was scared and searching for her younger sister, Derpy hummed most of the way, pointed out things in Ponyville, and later the forest, that caught her interest, and she was over the moon when Applejack inquired about her muffin recipe.
It had been oddly quiet as they walked through Ponyville. No changelings had been in sight. It was too peaceful, to the extent where it was uncomfortable.
"Yeah, we weren't attacked at all when as we walked to Ponyville," Rainbow Dash said, after Applejack remarked her thoughts aloud.
"The only encounter I had was at the house, when I first arrived," Applejack said. Big Mac nodded.
"They had been attackin' the house for a while. It's like they were all suddenly just called away," he said. He shrugged. "No worries now though; they can't get into the forest."
"I hope Zecora's ok," Applejack said.
"She must, she lives in the forest," Rainbow Dash said.
"What if she left for some reason, to go fight or somethin'? Went into town and got caught?" Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash sighed.
"Then I'm sure she wouldn't mind us using her house as base until we can free her and the others," Rainbow Dash said.
Applejack scowled. "Rainbow! How can you be so de-sensitive? Invadin' in her house while she's trapped somewhere; don't you have any compassion?"
"I didn't mean it like that," Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes, "I just meant she'd understand that since her hut is in the forest, and the forest is the only place that the changelings can't get to, she'd want us to use her place as a base. I mean, come on, she'd be on our team anyways."
"But that's breakin' and enterin', and I will not have it," Applejack said, "It's just so dishonest, and—"
"Dishonest? Not if it's justifiable! We need somewhere to gather and plan our next attack! You expect us to do that in the middle of the trees, in the cold? I'm telling you—"
"No, I'm tellin' you that—"
"And besides, you don't like 'breaking and entering'? Then just how did you get into the library, hmmm? Twilight wasn't there to let you in," Rainbow Dash said.
"That's different! The place was torn apart, the door was already open, windows broken; it'd already been broken into. Zecora's hut will be untouched from how she left it, since the changelings can't enter the forest. We'd be intrudin'!"
"Intruding?! Applejack, seriously, this is pretty much war and—"
"Quiet, both of you; there's no reason to argue," Big Mac said suddenly.
"Why's that?" Applejack asked. Big Mac pointed ahead. Zecora's hut sit peacefully, smoke rising from the chimney.
"Someone's home!" Applejack said.
Big Mac was the one who knocked on the door when they got there. Applejack didn't realize she had been holding her breath, until she exhaled after Zecora opened the door.
"My, oh my, what do I see? Four more ponies have come to me," she said, opening the door wider.
"Rainbow Dash, Applejack!"
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash winced as they hugged.
"You have a bandage on your wing? Let me see if I can fix the thing," Zecora said, pulling Rainbow Dash over to one side.
"Hey Fluttershy, glad to see you're ok. Were you sent here off the get go?" Applejack said, pulling her into a hug. Fluttershy nodded.
"Princess Celestia sent me to safety," she said.
"Yeah, Big Mac says the changelings can't enter the forest," Applejack said, nodding her head towards Big Mac who stood in the entry way. Fluttershy glanced over at him and blushed.
"It was nice of the Princess to send you to your brother, so you could reunite," Fluttershy said quietly. Applejack nodded and sighed. Her eyes started tearing up again.
"Yeah, but when I got home, things weren't good. Things were bad, real bad. A-and we don't know where Apple Bl—"
Applejack stopped, her heart frozen in her chest. She couldn't believe it. Time literally stopped for her. Her eyes swelled with tears.
Just as she had been mentioning her name, Apple Bloom emerged from the other room, yawning big and rubbing her eyes. She was here, in Zecora's, ok. She looked energized and unharmed. She was here. Alive.
"Applejack?" Apple Bloom said, the surprise in her voice matching the tone in Applejack's head. "Big McIntosh!?"
Applejack wasn't sure who had reached who first, but the next thing she knew, she was squished in a three-pony hug. They were all crying and sort of laughing, just so relieved to see each other. Despite what was going on, and what had already happened, at that moment Applejack felt like the luckiest mare alive.
"How did you get here!?" Applejack asked, kissing Apple Bloom's face all over.
"Princess Luna saved me! Just before she was attacked by changelings, she used her magic n' sent me over to Zecora's! I've been here for months," Apple Bloom said.
"Well bless her heart; I can't believe she went and did that," Applejack said. She was never letting go of her sister. She wanted this bug hug to last forever.
Big Mac suddenly sighed.
"There's something we have to tell you..." he said quietly. Reality then hit. They had to break the news to her. It wouldn't be right to keep it until after the fighting had ended.
Applejack looked over her shoulder at the others. Zecora was mending Rainbow Dash's wing, while keeping an eye on Derpy in her peripheral vision. Derpy had already managed to break a vase. Fluttershy was hovering near her, trying to keep her engaged in conversation so that she stopped exploring all of Zecora's worldly possessions. Applejack heard her say the word "muffin" and Derpy promptly went into telling Fluttershy all of her recipes.
"Come over here," Applejack said quietly. She and Big Mac pulled Apple Bloom aside, into the other room.
Applejack started to tell Apple Bloom what had happened, but every time she tried, the words caught in her throat and she started to sob. Big Mac put a hoof on her shoulder and then broke the news.
"Granny Smith has passed away."
Apple Bloom was in disbelief at first, and started crying and shouting. Applejack couldn't stop crying herself, and as a result, couldn't properly console Apple Bloom. It was Big Mac who did all the work. Applejack just stood back and watched him, tears streaming down her eyes.
A lot of ponies always thought of Big Mac as the quietest pony around. But when it came to it, he was also the strongest. Lots of people always considered Applejack the front man of the family, but there were times like these when Big Mac would come and swoop in and handle everything. He was talking softly to Apple Bloom, who had collapsed in his arms, and was sobbing uncontrollably. He wasn't crying himself, just talking to her quietly, rocking her back and forth.
After a few minutes, he stopped talking and looked up at Applejack. He held out his hoof to her and pulled her into the hug. Now he was consoling both of his crying little sisters.
The three of them sat there, all huddled together, just taking a pause in the crisis around them, to take time for themselves.
About a half hour later, Fluttershy stuck her head into the room. Applejack had her eyes closed. She felt tired, and oddly peaceful, as though she could actually fall asleep. She knew it wasn't going to happen though.
"Oh, I'm sorry, we just weren't sure where you had gone," Fluttershy said softly.
"It's ok," Big Mac said.
He quietly explained briefly about Granny Smith. Applejack heard Fluttershy sniff.
"I'm s-s-so sorry-y to hear that," she said quietly.
Apple Bloom suddenly stirred. She stood up and headed out into the other room. Applejack and the others followed her.
"Where you goin'?" Applejack asked. Apple Bloom headed towards Rainbow Dash and Derpy, who were getting soup from Zecora.
"I realize it's a sad time, and I need to mourn Granny Smith, but it reminds me of somethin' I need to tell Rainbow Dash; somethin' of equal sadness," Apple Bloom said.
Rainbow Dash lifted her head at the mention of her name.
"What's up?" she asked. Apple Bloom sighed.
"I feel like I should tell you this, because she was your biggest fan; I know you guys weren't related or anythin', but—" she inhaled deeply, "Scootaloo didn't make it. S-she was pushed out a window by a changeling, and since she can't fly... S-sh-she's dead."
Applejack put her arm around Apple Bloom's shoulder, as the young filly began to sob again. Rainbow Dash's spoon clanged to the ground. Shock was plastered on her face.
Then, without a word, Rainbow Dash got up and ran out of the hut.