//------------------------------//
// Chapter 17: Through the Heart of the Everfree 
// Story: Mares on a Moonlit Night 
// by Sheendough 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 17: Through the Heart of the Everfree 

She awoke with a start. The thickness of the forest made her breathe hardly. She looked around and noticed her friend had also fallen asleep. Applejack took the blanket away from Rainbow and stacked it inside her saddlebags. She put herself underneath Rainbow and carried the pegasus on her back. Pain suddenly shot at her. Her leg was killing her and it needed to be treated. 

"I’ll save it for later. My medical supplies need to be enough for Rainbow.” 

She grunted and adjusted Rainbow’s weight. Slowly, she began to walk. The darkness was overwhelming. She could barely see the edges of the trees or the bushes. Who knows how deep they were into the forest, or how long was it going to take them before they reached Ponyville. Eventually the air got stiffer and the weather unpredictable. The cold draped itself on Applejack’s coat as she was thankful ponies had fur all over their bodies. The chill made her shiver constantly and forced her to adjust the multi-colored mare’s weight time and time again. At other times, the air became so hot she wished she could shave all of her hair to survive. Her tired body ached and pleaded for her to rest. She finally decided to stop and left her friend on the ground. 

“Wait here, Dash.” 

After what felt like an eternity, Applejack returned with a bunch of sticks and laid them in front of Rainbow then piled them up to start a fire. She figured the creatures of the Everfree were so used to the darkness around them that the light would scare them away. She took out a couple of matches from her saddlebags and lit the wood ablaze. 

She wrapped Rainbow’s blanket over them and began to think as the fire flickered. 

'I wonder how everypony in Ponyville is doing… Bet they’re probably worried sick about us.' 

She didn’t know how long she looked at the fire until her eyes fixed on a couple of purple irises. Rainbow was awake and looking at her grinning. What was going on in the filly’s mind, who knew. After a very tense silence, Applejack spoke. 

“Ah’m sorry Dash… Ah’m sorry for sayin’ y’all were the worst friend ever. Ah…  Ah don’t know what came over me. Ah figure ah was angry ‘cause ah lost…” —at this, the farm pony’s voice began to break. “Ah lost mah pappy’s hat.” A few seconds of silence filled again the atmosphere around both ponies. 

“Truth is… Ah think ah’ve always been jealous of ya… Yer always there for everypony an’ don’t care if ya get dirty… Ya always boast up fer yer awesomeness and just barely move a hoof. Ya hardly work an’ still make everyone around ya appreciate ya. An’ most importantly… Whenever y’all get somepony mad at ya, ya always forgive… Ah wish… Ah wish ah had that kinda patience you have. Even if yer always impatient yer always patient.” 

At the mention of this ironic twist she chuckled lightly. She looked back at her friend only to find that the grin had faded and her face was once again left with no expression. 

Her eyes began to close themselves as the day’s events took a toll on her. 

And the darkness made it impossible to look around. She finally saw something and went near it. Rainbow was gasping for air as the clam burned its tentacles over her body. 

’No! NO! RAINBOW!‘ 

But it was too late. The clam closed its mouth as Applejack tried to swim near it. 

Then the scene changed. Applejack was looking at the grey stone with the rain pouring down onto her. 

“Here lies Rainbow Dash, captain of the weather team and the most loyal friend a pony could ask“. 

“NO!” 

She had awoken once again with a start. Applejack looked around and saw Rainbow sleeping beside her with a terrified look and shifting and moving every now and then. What she was dreaming, she couldn’t tell. The fire had probably run out minutes ago as the ashes spewed smoke to the air. 

*sigh* “Come on, Dash. We gotta get movin’.” 

With that as her cue, Applejack started again the long walk to Ponyville. 

==============================================================================

It was just before dawn when they knocked at the door. 

“Now who could this be at this unbuckable hour?” —asked Granny Smith. She had been awakened from her sleep by the pony at the door. Normally, Granny Smith would awake at a much later hour, an advantage of being an old mare that could barely work. Her only chores consisted of some cleaning here and there and buying groceries whenever some food had run out. 

“Ah’ll answer it, Granny” —offered Big McIntosh. 

The red stallion opened the door only to find himself face to face with a white pegasus with a golden helmet. A royal guard stood before him. 

—“Apple Family?” 

—“What can ah do fer ya, sir?” 

—“I’ve been asked to give you this.” 

He then took out a brown and dirty Stetson and gave it to the red pony. 

“I’m sorry. Have a nice day.” 

The guard left and closed the door. Mac was speechless and could not move.