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// Applejack's Final Wish 
// Story: Till Death Do Us Part 
// by Brian Jacko 
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	Applejack's friends and family all met together at her wake. Most of the ponies there were deep in mourning when they heard the stories of how she died. Whenever a pony tried to be positive by sharing good and wholesome memories of the orange farm pony, it always ended up in more tears and frustrations because of the tragedy that had happened. 

Suddenly the door to the funeral home swung up with such force that everypony stopped and looked. Sun Rise came bounding through the doors and ran over to the casket where his wife's former body was laying. He got down low to the floor before her and let out the most painful and agonizing moan anypony had ever heard before. He realized that his sins were responsible for the death of the pony who loved and took such good care of him. He got up and threw himself on top of Applejack's former body and sobbed heavily into it.

Many of the ponies became furious that he had the nerve to show his face after what everypony heard about what he did to Applejack. 

Rainbow Dash's emotions ran wild. She suddenly ran over and forcefully shoved him off of the casket. "Don't you dare come here looking for sympathy because you're not going to get any here! You're nothing but a murderous scoundrel and you took the life of our closest and best friend!" 

Sun Rise fell back to the floor. He looked up at the five other mares who were glaring down at him with such anger. "Please, I am so sorry for what I have done. Will you please forgive me?" he begged hoping that there would be mercy.

Rainbow Dash raised her hoof in the air as if she was about to strike him. "Murderers like you don't deserve forgiveness. You caused us so much emotional trauma and pain and you deserve punishment for what you did. You better get out of here now!" she demanded.

Sun Rise stumbled to his hooves and ran back out the door. His heart weighed heavy with such a strong burden of pain and suffering that he couldn't take it anymore. 

Big Mac and Apple Bloom weren't in the funeral home during Sun Rise's visit. They were both standing out side mourning, because they couldn't handle seeing Applejack's former body in the casket. If Big Mac happened to be there during that scuffle with Sun Rise, then things would have gotten physical for sure. 



The time had come and her friends and family sobbed heavily as the casket was placed deep in the ground and the cemetery worker ponies began to cover the casket with dirt to bury it. 

After the funeral, Applejack's family headed out for the repast dinner. 

The rest of Applejack's friend's didn't go because they couldn't leave Applejack's grave. They were hungry, but the pain and suffering was too great for them to even consider eating. They all sat there at her grave and wept for the loss of their friend. 

Suddenly, a large shadow appeared before them. The girls turned around to see that Princess Celestia was standing before them all. 

Rainbow Dash was the first one to speak up. "Princess Celestia! Sun Rise had the nerve to show up at the wake! You need to banish him permanently to the Everefree forest!"

All the girls nodded in agreement, except for Fluttershy. She didn't agree with them, but she also wasn't speaking out against the idea either. 

"Oh?" the princess replied. "What exactly did he have to say?"

Rainbow continued, but with more anger in her voice. "He had the nerve to show his face at the wake and ask for mercy, but none of us wanted to ever see him again."

"And did you forgive him? The Princess asked.

Rainbow Dash fumed. "Of course not! How in Equestria could any of us forgive a pony who was so ruthless and brutal. He ended up taking the life of our best friend! You need to punish him now!"

Princess Celestia sighed. "Girls, the magic of love and forgiveness needs to be extended to all. We can't single out ponies who have done something wrong, even in extreme cases like what Sun Rise did to Applejack. Hatred will only stir up more strife, but love will cover all offenses. Do I need to remind you all about the story of what happened with my sister Princess Luna? Do you all remember how we forgave her even though she could have killed so many in her anger? Do you all remember how Fluttershy was able to reach into Discord's troubled heart? We can't forget these stories about grace, love, and forgiveness, and we have to continue to practice compassion and mercy even to those who had evil intent and wanted to do harm to others."

Twilight couldn't believe what the Princess was suggesting. "How come you banished the Flim and Flam brothers to the Everfree forest, yet you won't banish Sun Rise?" she asked.

Princess Celestia looked over to her most prized and faithful student and said, "The Flim and Flam brothers have showed no sign of changing their ways and I will welcome them back when I see true repentance in their hearts. I brought a very special letter for all of you." Princess Celestia used her magic and hovered a scroll into the air. She read the words out loud. 

"Dear Princess Celstia, things aren't going well for Sun Rise and I. He has been abusing me daily and I don't know how much more punishment my body can take. I told him that I would never leave his side, no matter what happens between us. I want to be a good wife who is submissive and faithful to her spouse. I know that lying lips are an abomination to our Creator, but those who act faithfully are blessed and are in His delight. I was asked by my friends to leave him, but I just can't do it. I can't break my word even if it costs me my life. I want you all to please forgive his offenses. He only became this way because of the chronic pain and alcohol use. I'm trying to do what I can for him, but it's so very hard. If I end up not making it through, then I want you all to show love and compassion for him. I love him with all my heart and he loves me as well. He just fell victim to liquor to drown out his sorrows and pain instead of seeking healthier alternatives. I love you Princess Celestia and I hope that you all may be blessed. Yours truly, Applejack."

Princess Celstia rolled up the scroll and gave it to Twilight Sparkle. "I want you to keep this as a reminder of your friend and her final wish."

The five ponies began to weep at what they had just heard. It was all very hard for them to say anything.

The Princess cleared her throat. "Girls, I'm sending you on a mission. You all need to go visit Sun Rise and show him compassion and mercy. You do want to make Applejack's final wish come true now don't you? I must go now, but I hope that you will pull through and do the right thing. Peace be with you."

Princess Celstia spread her wings and took off into the sky. 

The girls all held onto each other and continued to mourn for their friend. 

Twilight Sparkle broke free from her friends and said, "Come on girls. The longer we wait to do this, the harder it's going to be for us. We need to do this not just for the Princess, but more importantly, for Applejack."

The ponies all got up and headed over to the farm where Sun Rise lived. Upon approaching the door, they noticed that it was left ajar. 

Rainbow Dash led the way inside the house. What they saw horrified them.

Sun Rise had his head in a noose and was standing on a crate. He looked over to the girls that had intruded into his house. "Go away!" he cried out. "I want to put myself to rest for good! You are all right! I do not deserve forgiveness and I am a monster!" 

Fluttershy was the first pony to step forward. "Please wait, Sun Rise! We have something to show you. Twilight Sparkle, please read him the letter Applejack sent before she passed on."

Twilight Sparkle used her magic and brought out the scroll. She opened it up and began to read it to the stallion out loud. 

When Twilight Sparkle finished reading the letter, the remorseful stallion took his head out of the noose and stepped off the crate. All four of his legs began to shake violently and he suddenly fell into the hooves of the girls. They caught him before he hit the ground. "Do you all really forgive me? he asked. "Is it truly possible that you have love somewhere in your heart for a wretch like me?" 

"We forgive you," Rainbow Dash said. "We'll be here for you to help you through your struggles." Each and every girl said that they forgave the stallion for what he had done. The stallion continued to mourn and all of the girls became very emotional and wept over him as they prayed for him. 

When the prayers ended, the stallion got up and looked at the girls with tears streaming down his face. "I don't know what I'm going to do with my life. I need to kick the booze and I'm addicted to these painkillers." 

"I can help you with that," Fluttershy said. Ponies seem to have forgotten about the powerful healing herbs and foods. A bowl full of tart cherries and some turmeric may greatly help relieve your suffering. I think I may know of a few other natural herbs that can heal your pain too." 

Twilight Sparkle butted in, "And I have a lot of books in my library that can give you some great advice when it comes to kicking the habit."

Even though Pinkie Pie had been going through so much emotional trauma, her mane and tail became puffy again and her coat became a lighter shade of pink at the fact that they fulfilled the final wish of Applejack. She was  hesitant, but offered to help the stallion out, as did Rarity as well. They would all work together to change his life around.



The smell of rain filled the air as the storm began to come in. A strong wind blew past the two ponies in the cemetery. Soarin' held tightly onto Rainbow Dash as she sobbed into his chest. He gently rubbed her back in order to comfort her. She picked her head up and looked into his eyes and said, "I'm so afraid of commitment because of what happened to Applejack. I want to see us married some day, but I'm so scared of any strife or problems. I want to be a good, honest, and faithful wife like my friend was, and you know I can never leave you because I represent the element of loyalty. Sun Rise seemed like such a perfect stallion for Applejack and I feel this was my fault for hooking her up with him."

Soarin' hushed her and said, "Rainbow, You will turn out to be a wonderful wife. I am so deeply sorry about Applejack. I love to hear you tell stories about her, and you need to continue to tell other ponies about her stories too. It's not your fault for what happened to Applejack. What happened to her was out of your control and you were such a good and wonderful friend to Applejack. I can't promise that there won't be any strife or arguments because I am not a perfect stallion, but I promise to never purposely hurt you in any physical way.

Rainbow's voice quivered a bit. "Do you really mean that?" 

Soarin' wiped the tears away from her eyes and kissed her rainbow colored mane. "I promise," he said. "I love you Dash." 

Rainbow Dash embraced the stallion and said, "I love you too." Rainbow Dash broke free from the hug and walked over to the headstone. She put her hoof on the part of the headstone where Appeljack's name was engraved. "I miss you so much A.J. I can't wait to see you in heaven. I can't ever forget about your love and what you have done." Rainbow hugged the headstone and cried. 

Soarin' came over and put his hoof on her shoulder. "Dash, I know this is hard for you, but we have to get going now. We'll come back and visit Applejack as often as we can, but right now we have to get dinner." 

Rainbow Dash let go of the headstone. She wiped the tears away and nodded in agreement. They both left the cemetery and headed out to eat. Rainbow Dash continued to talk about memories of her friend as they ate together. 



Sun Rise was somehow able to turn his life around, thanks to Applejack's friends. He gave up the addiction to the pain killers as well as the liquor. He would live out the rest of his life as peacefully as possible, even though he often suffered with terrible guilt and shame. He would also spend much of his time in prayer at the cemetery. Sun Rise refused to find another somepony special even when others asked him about it. He was dedicated to Applejack and he often travled to Twilight Sparkle's library in order to read the letter Applejack wrote to the Princess. Twilight had it on display in the center of her Library. Inside the display case lay Applejack's element of harmony necklace. The Princess also sent that to her as a precious reminder of her friend.