//------------------------------//
// Applejack's Not Gonna Die 
// Story: The Tyranny of Princess Celestia 
// by AkemiTheSunbro 
//------------------------------//

	"APPLEJACK!" Berry yelled as he rushed to his friend's side.
"What... What happened?" Fluttershy quivered.
Applejack coughed up blood. There was a huge gash running down her leg, even running across a major artery. She was bleeding out. Fast. "It was Celestia... Y'all were right Ber- no- Pinkie. I refuse to listen to that tyrant no more. I remembered this passageway 'afore, so when we found out y'all were right all along, we figured ya might be in trouble... I thought this way would've been quicker... I... I didn't know she'd be here as well...  When you find the others, tell 'em they've been good to me..."
Berry grabbed some medical gauze from out of nowhere and said, "You can tell them that yourself. We're getting you out of here."
"Wait," Applejack asked, "where's y'all get that gauze?"
He quickly answered. "There are some things in life you just don't question. I am one of those things. Don't worry Applejack, you're not gonna die here.



"Your surrounded by death... I can tell your heartbeat is slowing down... Do you see now why I won't take Celestia's abuse? This is why I won't give up! I refuse!" Berry sighed as he took the gauze and began wrapping it tightly around Applejack's leg. "Now you know how it feels to be bent and broken... more importantly, you know what it's like to have your dignity stolen... I've found that when everything you know is fading, you hold on to what you believe in... Fluttershy! Quick! Check her pulse!"
But when she did as he asked, Applejack whispered in her ear, "I ain't gonna make it... Goodbye..." 
Applejack closed her eyes and fell limp. Fluttershy listened for a heartbeat, then cried, "Her heart stopped... Pinkie Pie... She... She's flat-lined!"
"NO!" Berry yelled as he slammed his front hooves into Applejack's chest. "You're not gonna die tonight! We're gonna stand and fight forever if we have too!" 
"No..." Fluttershy cried. "Don't close your eyes!" 
Applejack started breathing and fluttered her eyes open. Berry helped her up and supported her on his shoulder. As they began walking, he spoke again. "Your not gonna die tonight. We gotta stand and fight for us together. You are definitely not gonna die tonight..." Berry sighed. "We have to break her hold, because I will not be controlled. She can't keep us chained because I know the truth has set us free! Right now, this is how it feels to take our life back. It's how it feels when we finally fight back. When she pushes us, we have to push harder. If she doesn't kill us, it'll make stronger." They pushed on out of the dark corridor to find they were just outside Fluttershy's cottage, under the bridge that leads from her house into town. They started making their way to town. It had begun to rain.
But... Applejack gasped for air and collapsed. She fell in what seemed to be slow motion. Berry instantly tried performing CPR. "No! You're not gonna die tonight! We supposed to stand and fight forever, remember!"
"Please..." Fluttershy cried, "don't close your eyes!"
Tears had begun to fall from Berry's eyes. "No... you're not gonna die tonight! We gotta fight for us together! If we don't... who will?" The CPR wasn't working. Berry started sobbing. "DON'T YOU GIVE UP ON ME! We still need you..." He backed away a few feet. "This is how it feels to take your life back... This is how it feels when YOU. FIGHT. BACK!" He ran and slammed his hooves into her chest as hard as he could. 
When he did, she gasped for air. She slowly stood up, staggering slightly, and tipped her hat. "Well, y'all were right. I ain't gonna die tonight. I must thank y'all for saving me. But, right now, Twilight needs help! Last I saw him, he was in the center of town." 
"Well," Berry said. "Let's go! We don't have any time to waste!"