"I coulda saved him, Twi."
"No, Applejack. You couldn't have."
Applejack turned to the lavender Alicorn. The tears had long since stopped forming, but grief was still raw in the emerald eyes of the Earth Pony. She laughed a dry, emotionless laugh. Her voice died away and she turned back to her quarter-filled mug. Dried foam lingered at the rim of the wooden container and it glinted weakly in the dim lights of the bar.
Twilight glanced at it before slowly turning her attention back to her intoxicated friend. Four other mugs lay scattered on the polished oak bar, all bone-dry and beginning to crust. "Applejack, you need to-- Look at me." She waited until the Applejack's eyes rested on her once again. "You need to stop beating yourself up about this. Macintosh was killed by a machine. You weren't even in town when the accident happened."
Applejack kept her eyes fixed on Twilight for a half-second longer before diverting her attention back to the mug. She lifted it, threw back the rest of what was in it, and pushed it across the bar to join it's companions. "I wasn't there." She claimed loudly.
Twilight let a small smile appear on her face. "That's right, AJ. You weren't there."
"I wasn't there," she repeated, her voice barely over a whisper. Her gaze lit up with life, but not the good kind. It was a fiery, mean light that seemed to make the area glow. "But I shoulda been!" She slammed her hoof down on the bar and Twilight could have sworn she heard the wood splinter under the force of the strong hoof. The Princess' heart plummeted when Applejack waved the bartender over for another round. The reluctant stallion filled up another mug and set it down gently in front of her. The blonde mare picked it up and chugged it down before Twilight could object.
Applejack dropped the mug down on the bar with a sob that wracked through her whole body. The acrid smell of alcohol hit the air, making Twilight wrinkle her nose. "Big Mac..." Applejack whispered her brother's name as Twilight pulled her into an embrace using one of her wings. The once-strong farmer buried herself behind the downy feathers and openly wept into Twilight's fur, staining it into a deep purple. Twilight noticed it with a small grimace, before realizing how she was acting. She said nothing as her friend cried out her woes.
She didn't look up when the bell clanged, announcing the return of Rainbow Dash. The Pegasus had left an hour ago to check on Tank, and had just walked through the door. Her hooves echoed thunderously in the soundless room, save for Applejack's whimpers, as she walked up to them and took a seat on the other side of Applejack. Twilight looked over Applejack's mane to see her own thoughts reflected in the rose eyes of her friend.
She blinked when Applejack shifted under her and hopped off her stool, stumbling a bit as she stood, and slowly walked in the direction of the restroom. She didn't acknowledge Rainbow's presence as she walked by and disappeared from sight. Twilight waited for the sound of the door slamming before she spoke.
"What do we do?"
Rainbow seemed startled by the question. She blinked before letting her eyes wander over to the empty mugs that lay haphazardly on the bar. She sighed and closed her eyes, shaking her head. "No idea."
"Is everything set up for tomorrow?" Twilight raised her eyebrow in question.
Her question was answered by a newcomer. "Yes, all we need is for Applejack to sober up and allow me to make her presentable." Rarity stood in the doorway and walked in slowly, her criticizing eyes seemed to search out every speck of dust that undoubtedly inhabited the atmosphere. Her navy eyes landed on the mugs and she snorted. "Ugh, this place is filthy." It was obvious that she was trying not to pay attention to the obvious truth: Applejack had consumed every drop they'd had to offer. And it was getting worse.
"Twilight, come quickly!"
"Fluttershy, what's wrong?"
"I just saw Big Macintosh being wheeled into the hospital!"
Twilight placed a hoof to her temple and closed her eyes. She felt as hung over as Applejack looked, and the lack of sleep from the past three days hadn't been helping. She opened them again to find Rarity staring at her. Concern showed bright in the depths of her eyes. "Perhaps you should get some sleep." She suggested mildly.
Twilight shook her head. Rarity sighed and rolled her eyes. "At least let Fluttershy have a look at you! The poor dear's been all over the place lately. She'd worried about you and Applejack."
It was true, Twilight realized, what Rarity was saying. Being an animal caregiver and having experience in the medical field, Fluttershy was no stranger to death, so Big Mac's passing hadn't hit her. She'd cried, but it'd only lasted a few minutes. Now instead of fretting over Mac, she'd been more preoccupied with her friends. "Fine, Rarity."
"Good, I'll go get her." The fashionista smiled and whisked gracefully and hurriedly out of the room, the double doors swung lazily in her wake.
With a sigh, Twilight rested her head atop the bar, letting her bangs fall into her eyes. Rainbow scooted into the seat next her and rested a hoof on the depressed Alicorn's shoulder. "Don't worry, Twilight. Applejack's strong, she'll come to her senses." Twilight looked up at Rainbow Dash, whose eyes were betraying her lack of faith in her own words.
Twilight's jaw fell open in shock. "Spike!" She ran around in the lobby until she found the baby dragon. "Spike! Take a letter!" She paused and took a breath.
"Dear Princess Celestia,
As you know, Applejack is in Canterlot meeting with heads of the cider corporations discussing a contract. I need you to get this message to her as soon as you can! Tell her that Big Macintosh has had an accident!
- Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle"
"But what if she doesn't? What if—“ Twilight was cut off when the she heard the restroom door squeak and soft hoofsteps enter the parlor. Applejack stumbled in and stopped at the far end of the hallway, where the bar met the wall. She leaned against the red trim and hung her head, raising an orange hoof to her head and rubbing slowly. Twilight narrowed her eyes and looked at the brown Unicorn stallion behind the bar. "Rocks, we'll be leaving now. How much do I owe you?"
Rocks looked at her through an empathetic green gaze and shook his head. His horn lit up to a pale orange blue color and the discarded mugs were instantly wrapped in the colorful aura. He dropped them into the sink and a soft groan could be heard from Applejack as the mugs clanged against the steel.
With a grateful glance at Rocks, Twilight hopped off the stool and gathered Applejack with a sweep of her wings. The farmpony looked up and narrowed her eyes. "Wha- I ain't done!"
Rainbow came over then and fixed Applejack with a stern glare. "Yeah you are, AJ. You're drunk off your ass, it's time to go home!"
Applejack raised her hoof, offended, and shook her head. "Wha- I, I'm FINE," She laughed humorlessly and began to lose her balance. She put her fourth hoof back on the floor before she could fall and smirked at Rainbow Dash. "See? I'm just as sober as you are, missy."
With a frustrated sigh, Rainbow walked to the other side of Applejack. She lifted one the drunk mare's hooves and threw it over her neck. "Let's go Twi."
The two friends half-dragged, half-carried their friend to the door, grunting as the stronger pony writhed and wriggled in their grip. Alcohol may have weakened the mare's common sense, but it hadn't effected her strength much.
Twilight looked up from Big Macintosh's mangled body when she heard yelling in the waiting room of the hospital. "Gett outta my way! I gotta see my brother!" The Alicorn jumped out of the way when the owner of the voice, Applejack, skidded to a halt in the room. She gasped at the sight of the crimson stallion and tears sprung into her eyes. She swallowed and slowly made her way to the hospital bed. The other five mares in the room slowly moved to allow her space, so much to now they were all pressed against the north wall.
Applejeack's hoof rested gently on her brother's forehead and her breath shuddered when she moved his vanilla hair out of his face. "Mac..."
Sweet Apple Acres was at least two miles from the bar, and with Twilight's lack of sleep, she wasn't going to be able to teleport anyone anywhere. Rainbow let go of Applejack long enough to open up the door to the library and the remaining mares stumbled in simultaneously.
"I told ya'll, I'm fine!" Applejack muttered as Twilight let her go and she was able to walk freely around the building. Rainbow Dash and Twilight slowly followed suit after kicking the door closed with a back hoof. Applejack looked around the room and laughed. "Twilight, why do ya have two Spikes?"
Rainbow followed her friend's gaze to see that she was staring confusedly at a sleeping Spike. Normally Applejack's behavior would have gotten a laugh out of her, but not tonight. The circumstances were too dire. Applejack hadn't been sober in 72 hours. At first Rainbow and the others had thought that it would be good to let Applejack be drunk, that a good night of drinking was exactly what she needed. Then she'd snuck away from their watchful eyes and continued to drink her senses away one hard cider at a time, so much to where she'd been discovered by a concerned Rarity who had been looking for her. She'd been passed out in the local bar's restroom. There was vomit in the toilet and on the floor. Rarity has to call on Rainbow to help her get their unconscious friend out of the bathroom. Rainbow cringed at the memory.
Twilight seemed to be remembering it too, if the horrified expression in her eyes were any indication. Dash opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a thump. The two mares looked in the direction of the sound to see a snoring lump of orange fur that rising gently with every snore that escaped it. With a small breath of relief, Rainbow walked over and gently lifted her up from the carpet. Her muscles strained to hold up the bigger mare, but she didn't complain audibly. With unspoken understanding, Twilight levitated a couple of folded blankets from the nearby closet. She set one down on the carpet and nodded to Rainbow to set her down. After doing so Rainbow grabbed the other blanket and unfolded it before throwing it over the sleeping body. She took a moment to look at Applejack, smiling at how peaceful she looked. She had a small smile on her face, the only genuine one Rainbow had seen on her lips in days.
Twilight looked at Rainbow, who blinked in surprise at how she looked. In the dim lights at the bar, Rainbow couldn't tell just how stressed Twilight looked, but in the bright lights of the library every little detail looked as if there were signs pointing them out. The new Princess looked positively exhausted. Her eyes were bloodshot, there were bags under them, and she looked as if she could fall asleep on her hooves at any moment. "Twi, why don't you get some sleep?"
Twilight shook her head. "Rainbow Dash, I need to look after Applejack. It's my duty as a good friend to make sure she's okay."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Twilight, look at yourself! You're worried sick about Applejack, nonetheless your new duties as Ponyville's ruler."
"No, Rainbow," She rolled her eyes as the Pegasus sighed at her hard-headedness. “Besides, Rarity told me to let Fluttershy have a look at me.”
Rainbow narrowed her eyes and looked away. “She wouldn’t need to look at you if you got some sleep…” she muttered, half to herself.
As if on cue, Rarity announced her arrival with a swing of the door, which was wrapped in a silvery blue aura. Fluttershy was on her heels. She walked in quietly. “Hello, Twilight.” She said. She looked at Applejack and lowered her voice, although it wasn’t necessary considering she talked in a whisper 24/7. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired.” The Alicorn replied, irritation edging her voice.
Fluttershy walked over and tilted her head. “Um, Twilight? Could you, um, sit down? You’re taller than me now, remember?”
“Oh, right.” Twilight sat down so that she was now level with her friend. The medical experience locked in Fluttershy’s mind seemed to zoom through her eyes as she studied Twilight. Her aqua-marine eyes were more focused than Rainbow had ever seen them, except when she’d seen her studying for some exam in college.
Twilight looked Fluttershy in the eyes and narrowed them in confusion. Fluttershy frowned. “Keep your eyes open, Twilight.”
Though Twilight’s eyes opened wider, the puzzled expression stayed. “Fluttershy?”
“Hmm?”
“How do you stay so focused? I mean, everypony in Ponyville is grieving right now. But you… you don’t seem…” her voice faltered as she searched for the right adjective.
“Effected?” Fluttershy suggested, not letting her actions slow as she poked and prodded Twilight.
“Yeah.” Twilight smiled as Fluttershy poked her only ticklish spot, right next to her neck.
Fluttershy smiled too, as if she were happy to make her tired friend smile even a little bit. She bit her lip as she thought of how to answer her friend’s question. “Over the years I’ve done the word I do… I guess that the many animals I’ve lost have sort of hardened me against it. I’ve never lost one to illness, but old age isn’t exactly treatable.” She raised her head to look at Twilight and smiled sadly. “When I started work in animal caregiving, my mentor told me I’d get used to death,” She looked down as she examined one of her hooves and paused in what she was saying.
Rarity frowned and walked over. “And… have you?”
Fluttershy frowned and sighed as she put down her patient’s hoof. “Unfortunately. I prayed every day that I wouldn’t, but I did.” She stood at that and quickly changed the subject. “Twilight, I see nothing wrong except that you need sleep, and quite a bit of it. Your hooves are also a bit raw from your pacing, so stay off of them if you can. If you absolutely have to go somewhere, fly instead. You don’t want to get an infection.” She looked seriously at Twilight, surprising the Princess a bit. “I’m telling you this as a doctor, not a friend. I may work with critters, but I know a serious case of sleep deprivation when I see it.” She let her gaze wander from her to Applejack. Her eyes softened a bit and fluttered over to her sleeping form. She stared at her for a bit before turning back to Twilight. “Twilight, can I stay here tonight to look after Applejack?” she asked, instantly switching out of her doctor-voice and back into the meek little voice she’s always had. “I—I mean, if it’s okay with you.”
Twilight smiled took a few steps toward the stairs to her bedroom, but unfurled her wings upon remembering Fluttershy instructions. She took flight and sighed when she felt the pressure taken off of her hooves. She hadn’t realized just how much they hurt. “Of course you can, Fluttershy.”
Rainbow Dash smiled and walked over to Fluttershy. “You’ll need to sleep too, Flutters. You look almost as bad as Twilight.” She observed with genuine concern obvious on her face. “I’ll look after AJ and wake you if anything happens.”
Rarity frowned. “I’d stay if I could, but I have a large order for Canterlot due in the morning.”
Twilight shook her head. “Don’t worry, Rarity.” She tilted her head. “Where’s Pinkie, by the way?”
Rarity shook her head. “The poor dear’s been busy baking for the funeral tomorrow. I went by the shop on my way to get Fluttershy and found her passed out on one of the tables. She covered head to tail in batter and other ingredients.”
Twilight frowned. “Things are hard on everypony at the moment.”
Fluttershy yawned before speaking. “I’ll take a look at her tomorrow.”
Rarity shook her head. “Now, Fluttershy. She’ll be fine, she’s Pinkie Pie. Besides, she’s getting plenty of sleep; she’ll be her perky self in the morning.” Fluttershy looked as if she were about to argue, but Rarity held up a hoof in objection. “I’ll go over there myself first thing tomorrow. I know you’re concerned about your friends, but we can handle ourselves.” With the last comment, she looked at Applejack. She sighed. “Most of us can, anyway.”
With a quick goodbye, Rarity exited the library in a graceful fashion and closed the door behind her. Rainbow took a place next to Applejack. “I got Applejack, guys. You two just get some sleep.”
With a grateful look, Twilight opened the door to her room and quickly disappeared inside. Fluttershy gave Dash a small hug before turning to still agape closet and dragged out a couple of blankets and arranging a pallet a few feet away from Applejack. “Goodnight, Rainbow Dash.” She whispered as she lay down. Her eye lids drooped down heavily.
Before Rainbow could reply, the sound of slow breathing filled her ears and she turned to see Fluttershy was sound asleep, the day’s events finally taking their toll. Rainbow smiled and turned back to Applejack. “Night, Fluttershy.”