//------------------------------// // Final Part and Epilogue // Story: The Miracle of Flight // by TheDorkside99 //------------------------------// “Applejack, is she breathing?” Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood at the site where Pinkie Pie stopped tumbling down the ragged side of Mount Equestria. Her body surprisingly only suffered minor gashes from the branches, but she took a hard blow to the head as evidenced by a large wound that bled profusely. The farm pony laid a hoof on Pinkie Pie’s neck. “Well, at least her heart’s pumpin’.” Rainbow frantically paced on the lush grass. “Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh. What are we gonna do?” “Now calm down, sugarcube,” said Applejack tending to Pinkie’s head wound. “You fly as fast as you can to the nearest emergency center and get some help. I’ll stay and look after Pinkie.” “No way! Why don’t you go look for help, since this was all your fault!” “Rainbow, now is not the time for arguin’! You’re faster with your wings than I’ll ever be on hoof and Pinkie needs help fast.” Applejack scavenged whatever natural resources she could to keep the pink pony’s head from losing precious blood. She gave Rainbow a scowl and flicked her head towards Ponyville. “Okay, fine!” In the blink of an eye, the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria blazed towards town. Applejack desperately blotted Pinkie’s head wound with leaves and used her hat to keep the packed foliage in place. The sun began to beat mercilessly on the two mares and the branches provided only thin slivers of shade across their sweaty bodies. When Applejack was satisfied with the temporary head bandage, she proceeded to perform CPR. After three sets, Pinkie finally showed signs of respiration as she coughed lightly and slowly opened her eyes. “Pinkie Pie,” exclaimed Applejack placing a hoof over her throbbing heart. “Thank Celestia you’re alive.” The pink pony licked her lips and tried to move her legs. Unable to move any of her limbs, she began to whimper softly. Applejack wrapped her hooves gently around Pinkie’s blood ridden neck and shushed her. “Now now, sugarcube. Don’t you worry, everything’s alright. Rainbow Dash will be here in a lickety split with help. You’re gonna make it, just don’t move anything and keep calm.” “You lied to me, Applejack,” she said whispering. “W-what?” “You said that flying would be one of the greatest feelings on earth.” Pinkie Pie shut her eyes and began to weep. “I-I…” Applejack choked. “You said it would make me a happy wappy pinky winky.” “I’m sorry, sugarcube.” Pinkie reopened her eyes and narrowed her gaze. “You lied.” Tears ran down Applejack’s face. “I’m sorry.” “Liar.” “I’m sorry, Pinkie! I’m so sorry!” “Nurse, quickly!” Applejack’s doctor and his nursing assistant struggled to control the farm pony from convulsing in her bed. The nurse pushed an emergency call button and within seconds a team of six nurses each took a section of the bed and held down the panicking pony. “Pinkie, I’m sorry I lied! I don’t lie! I never lie!” “Doctor, what shall we do?” cried one of the nurses. The doctor scratched his head and pointed to a drawer. “Hand me the sedative. One thousand milligrams” Immediately, the nurse hoofed a syringe the size of a large chisel to the doctor which he uncapped and shanked into Applejack’s flank. Her body stiffened instantly and her eyes twitched before she relaxed and fell into a deep sleep. The teams of nurses relaxed their stances and went back to their normal duties. The nurse shook her head. “Doctor, this is the third time this week you’ve used a thousand milligrams. It’s too much for a pony to take. What else can we do?” The doctor scratched his beard. “I just don’t know.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Twilight Sparkle stood dumbfounded in the doctor’s office as the doctor responded to her inquiry about Applejack’s progress with a shake of the head “We have tried everything, Miss Sparkle. Every great mind represented in this fine institution is just as stumped as you are about why Applejack has not improved this past year.” “Are you sure you’ve done everything you could? What could possibly be holding Applejack back?” “Well Miss Sparkle, it’s simple yet complicated at the same time. Psychiatric treatments are a two way street. The patient must have the will to overcome their problems and be overt with their doctors. Applejack has willingly shared everything we could possibly want to know, yet something deep inside is still inhibiting her from full recovery.” Twilight turned her attention to the office window which gave a view of the center’s healing gardens. She spotted a weary Applejack covered in a light blue robe. Her back slouched on the wooden bench and her mane lost its color and was unkempt. She just sat there staring at the grass only occasionally holding up her mug of tea to her cracked lips. “Doctor, is she perhaps exhibiting any kind of behavior that might reveal something helpful?” The doctor scratched his beard. “Now that you mention it, Miss Sparkle, she has been having recurring nightmares the past few weeks. She always awakes in a hot flash and yells how sorry she is and that she doesn’t lie. We are aware of the contents of her dreams, as they relate to the accident her friend endured one year ago.” Twilight faced the doctor. “Doctor, Applejack represents the Element of Honesty. Do you think she’s simply feeling guilty for betraying that role with Pinkie?” “We have arrived to that conclusion, but even that information is not enough to save her. As I mentioned before, Applejack must want to improve with every part of her. And that is simply something modern psychiatry cannot alter.” The doctor sat in his chair and removed his glasses. “Is there anything else, Miss Sparkle.” Twilight thought for a moment. “Actually there is. I have an idea. However, it will involve going against the guidelines you’ve set for Applejack’s treatments.” “At this point, Miss Sparkle, we are open to anything that has not been done.” “Very well then. Here’s my idea.” “You wanna do what now?” asked Applejack. Twilight Sparkle and Apple Bloom stood outside in the healing gardens next to a pile of wooden planks and a bucket of nails. Apple Bloom walked over to her sister and placed a set of dusty blueprints next to her. “I wanna build an exact replica of Grandpappy’s flying contraption thingy.” “Are you serious?” “Why not?” “I-I don’t know, Apple Bloom. I just get all these goosebumps just thinkin’ ‘bout doin’ somethin’ like this.” “You said we could build whatever I wanted,” Apple Bloom pouted. “Yeah, like paper airplanes or origami dohickeys. But this…” Twilight stepped forward. “Applejack, Apple Bloom isn’t the only one who wants to see you do this. We all know about the guilt this contraption brings about.” Applejack looked to the sunny grass that tickled her hooves. “However, we also know how dependable this machine is. And if you can build one to the exact specifications your grandfather did, then maybe you’ll regain some confidence in yourself.” “I don’t know, Twi. You don’t know how hard this is gonna be for me to do.” “Then get off your lazy plot and do it!” yelled Apple Bloom. “Excuse me, Miss Apple Bloom?” scolded Applejack. “Yeah, you heard me! You know how crappy my life’s been the past year? I’m tired of comin’ home every day with Fluttershy cryin’ because I know my big sis ain’t gonna be there. I’m tired of goin’ to bed without my third kiss goodnight. And I’m sure as hell tired of seein’ you suffer and stuff.” She stopped to let out a few sobs. Applejack knelt next to her little sister and brushed her mane. “Apple Bloom…” “I want my big sis back.” Applejack stood to her hooves and let out a sigh. “Alrighty then. Let’s get to it.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Two weeks passed since Twilight Sparkle posed the idea to Applejack’s doctor to allow his troubled patient to build and test the flying machine at the same spot the accident occurred. The sunset painted a heavenly glow of orange and purple across the Equestrian horizon and cast its brilliance on Mount Equestria. At the very top, Applejack stood with a hoof over her eyes and her hat placed high on her lifted head. She inhaled the fresh mountain air and exhaled to a smile. “Sure is a gorgeous day for flyin’, ain’t it girls?” “Oh yeah,” cheered Apple Bloom. “I can hardly wait to see this get off the ground!” “I’m just glad I made it up here so I could see it!” puffed Twilight. She let her body fall onto a grooved rock and took large gulps of water from a canteen. “Nice day for some exercise, too. Aye Twi?” Applejack gave Twilight a wink which the unicorn returned with a toothy grin. “Look sis. Rarity’s down there with Fluttershy and Big Mac ready to film the first flight of the Applejack 3000!” Apple Bloom waved to Rarity. Rarity cupped her hooves over her mouth. “Apple Bloom darling, do be careful up there. I don’t want this to turn into the ten o’clock news.” Applejack chuckled. “That Rarity’s sure got some lungs.” She walked over to the machine her and her sister built and patted the wicker chair. “Alrighty, Apple Bloom. You ready to take the first ever flight on this baby?” Apple Bloom grinned. “Oh, I’m not takin’ the first flight, Applejack.” “What? Whaddya mean?” Apple Bloom pointed a hoof behind Applejack. The farm pony turned around and nearly lost her balance when she saw two of her dearest friends walking up the steep mountain. “Rainbow Dash? P-Pinkie Pie?” “Hey Applejack!” screamed Pinkie Pie. She limped her way over to Applejack and gave the dumbstruck pony a hug. “Oh my stars. What are you doin’ here, sugarcube?” asked Applejack as she broke away and wiped her eyes. “You know I’m not missing my opportunity to test the first ever flight of this baby!” “B-But…” Before Applejack could say another word, Pinkie Pie hopped into the seat, clicked on her seat belt, and donned a pair of large pink goggles. Applejack turned to Twilight and Apple Bloom who simply stood there with large smiles on their faces. Applejack turned back and was even more shocked to see Rainbow Dash bend down and grab a side of the contraption. “Hey, you gonna help me let Pinkie live out her dreams or what?” “Rainbow Dash. You?” “Let’s just say a wise pony once told me not to let ponies’ mistakes bother me and have fun.” Applejack let out a small giggle and charged towards her pegasus friend. They embraced and allowed their tears to unite on each other’s faces. “Hey, are you two gonna keep squawking? ‘Cause I’m the one who should be squawking!” The two mares broke from their hug and laughed. “Alright then ladies. Let’s get this baby off the ground.” The two mares each took one side of the device and readied their positions. “On the count of three,” yelled Apple Bloom. “One…Two…Three!” Rainbow and Applejack rushed towards the edge of the cliff at full speed. At the precise moment, they thrust Pinkie straight out of the cliff and watched as the machine steadied itself and take off into the glorious sky. A rousing cheer came out of the mouths of everypony present and hugs were exchanged observer with observer and builder with builder. Pinkie screamed with delight as she expertly maneuvered the machine through the air. “Look at me! I’m a happy wappy Pinkie winky!” Everypony laughed and continued to jump, cry, hug, and shout for joy. Up on the Equestrian summit, a farm pony and her pegasus friend stood side to side, hoof around hoof, smiles upon smiles. “Hey Applejack?” “Yeah sugarcube?” “Thanks.” “Whatever for?” “For showing me the miracle of flight.” Epilogue: The rain pelted the cemetery with unwavering force as Applejack stood somberly over Octavia’s grave. The tombstone stood firm devoid of any flowers or pictures as only Octavia’s name decorated it’s stony face. As Applejack continued to observe in the rain, a shy pegasus appeared and placed a bouquet of daisies next to the tombstone. “When I heard she wasn’t even given a ceremony, I thought it would be nice to place some flowers here,” said Fluttershy. “Somepony must miss her out there.” Applejack nodded and continued to stare at the grave. “She told me to give you a message before she died.” “What message?” Fluttershy closed her eyes and wept softly. “You need wings to fly.” Applejack removed her hat and placed it over her sunken heart. “Oh Octavia, if only you knew.”