//------------------------------// // Moving On // Story: Moonlight // by JasonTheHuman //------------------------------// “Big McIntosh is really worried about Applejack… I’ve never seen ‘im like that before.” It was the middle of the afternoon after school, and that was the first thing Apple Bloom had said all day. She had sat through class in silence, occasionally mumbling single-word responses to questions, but never more than that. The three of them were walking through town, just waiting for night to fall. Scootaloo watched Apple Bloom, but didn’t know how to respond. It was hard to say what was worse: seeing somepony asleep and not knowing why they wouldn’t wake up, or actually seeing what was going on inside their head to make them that way. “Any ideas how we’re going to get Applejack to wake up?” Sweetie Belle asked. “I mean, you were doing most of the talking last night. We did hear most of it, though. That’s okay, right?” “Yeah, it’s fine,” Apple Bloom said. “I thought it sounded like you were doing pretty well,” Scootaloo said. “I mean… neither of us can really know what it must be like. Seeing your parents like that. It makes sense that you’d be nervous.” “To tell the truth… I’d give anythin’ for the chance to really talk to my mom and dad. Everythin’ I’ve ever heard about them makes them sound like such great ponies,” Apple Bloom said. “But there’s just somethin’ about this that ain’t right.” “Well, of course it isn’t,” Sweetie Belle said. “They’re dead.” “That’s not it. It’s not them. They’re just part of Applejack’s dream,” Apple Bloom muttered. “It’s not like I know much about ‘em, but I can tell they ain’t quite right. But… you guys didn’t see how Applejack looked. She was just so happy to be there with Mom and Dad. I can’t even tell if she remembers what happened to ‘em.” Sweetie Belle tilted her head. “But… she has to remember, right? That kind of thing isn’t easy to forget.” “These dreams do weird stuff to your mind. You can’t always remember what the real world’s like when you’re in them,” Scootaloo said, with a shrug. “Maybe she’s just convinced herself that they’ve been out of town a long time, or something.” “Let’s just focus,” Sweetie Belle said. “There’s got to be something that’s keeping Applejack from waking up. Right?” She turned to Scootaloo. “I mean, it’s probably not just that she still misses her parents. There’s probably something else.” “It’s what Applejack always says,” Apple Bloom said. “Our family’s got to stick together. I mean, the Apple family’s all over Equestria, but she just means the four of us here in Ponyville. We’ve got to stick together.” “There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?” Scootaloo said, tilting her head. Apple Bloom stopped walking, and let out a deep breath. “You asked me a while back if I’d talked to Applejack about goin’ to Manehattan,” she said. Scootaloo nodded slowly. “Yeah…” “I told you she’d said she would think about it… and that is what she told me, but I could tell what she was really thinkin’. She doesn’t want me to go at all.” Sweetie Belle cut in. “But you don’t know that for sure. Do you?” “I told her everythin’. I said that I’m not s’posed to live in this town my whole life. That I didn’t think I wanted to work on the farm forever,” Apple Bloom said, shaking her head. “Don’t you get it? I’m the reason she’s havin’ these nightmares now.” “Don’t say that…” Sweetie Belle said quietly. Apple Bloom blinked some tears away, and her voice shook as she continued. “I know all I was talkin’ about was just a quick visit, just to see the city for once,” she said. “But what I was really thinkin’ about was movin’ out there someday, when I’m older, and startin’ a new life. Away from the farm. Away from my family. And Applejack knew that, too.” Sweetie Belle’s mouth hung open. “W-Well… We both saw what happened in Apple Bloom’s dream, right, Scootaloo?” she said. “And it’s okay if you want to leave. We understand that. Applejack probably does too. Doesn’t she?” “I might as well just give in,” Apple Bloom said. “I never expected her to take it like this. If that’s what it takes to help my sister, then I guess I really should just stay here. For the rest of my life.” They were all silent. The wind blew as a few brown and yellow leaves flew across their path. Scootaloo watched them, suddenly reminded that the Running of the Leaves was supposed to be soon. Rainbow Dash was probably still training, even without Applejack. But then she noticed something odd. “Does anypony else feel like Ponyville’s been really quiet lately?” Sweetie Belle said. For the first time, Scootaloo noticed that the street was rather empty for this time of the afternoon. There were only a few other ponies walking around, and most of them weren’t talking to each other. “It was like that in school, too,” Sweetie Belle said. “There were a whole bunch of foals absent today. And yesterday, too.” “It could just be a cold going around,” Scootaloo said. “Ponies get sick. It’s that season, you know.” Sweetie Belle shook her head slowly. “Maybe we should ask Luna about it tonight. Just in case.” They spent the remaining hours of the evening wandering around the quiet streets until they split up, going their separate ways, as night began to fall. “Welcome back, Scootaloo,” Luna said. Luna and Scootaloo were alone in the forest again. She never remembered the exact moment she fell asleep, she always just found herself here. The trees surrounding them seemed to create a wall, closing them in, the exact opposite of the wide-open fields in Applejack’s dream. In a way, being enclosed was comforting. “I know that you are facing difficulties of your own, but I must urge you to hurry. The longer Applejack is under control of the nightmares, the stronger they become,” Luna said. “More ponies are succumbing to the dreams even as we speak.” Scootaloo blinked. “There have been a lot of absences at school lately…” “And that is no coincidence,” Luna said. “Fear gives it strength. Each time a pony wakes up, we can slow it down, but the longer Applejack remains asleep—“ “I know,” Scootaloo said. “And it’s not just her we have to look out for this time. It’s Apple Bloom, too.” Luna frowned. “I’m afraid there is no way for us to truly understand how she feels right now. When exploring the dreams of those close to you, there is always the risk of coming across something... personal.” “She’s really not taking things well,” Scootaloo said. There was no point in softening it for Luna. The princess seemed to value honesty, no matter how blunt. “Now she’s saying it’s her fault Applejack is having nightmares.” Luna paused. She seemed to consider it for a moment before speaking. “Perhaps there is some connection. It is difficult to know for certain.” “So it’s true, then? This is all because Applejack doesn’t want her to go to Manehattan.” Scootaloo kicked at the ground. “Now what do we do?” “It may be out of our hooves,” Luna said. “The two of them must come to an understanding. But Apple Bloom still needs your support right now if she is to succeed in this.” Luna turned her head as new figures appeared in the clearing. Sweetie Belle stepped out of the darkness, and Apple Bloom appeared soon afterwards. “Greetings,” Luna said. “It’s time for us to go back in, isn’t it?” Apple Bloom said. She looked up at Luna, then to the others. “Guess we shouldn’t waste any time.” “Time is indeed of the essence. But remember what I told you,” Luna said. “You are the only one who can help Applejack now. Even I would not be able to solve what is troubling her. But you will help her, Apple Bloom. I am sure of that.” “We’ll be right here with you, Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said. “Thanks,” Apple Bloom mumbled, staring at her hooves. “There are other dreams I must attend to tonight. Other ponies remain trapped by their own fears.” Luna spread her wings and began to rise off the ground. She lowered her horn towards them. “Go now. Find Applejack. Bring her back.” There was a flash of light, and the dark forest was gone. Scootaloo stared up into the empty white void above them, a familiar sight at this point, but still unsettling. As her eyes moved down to the field, it seemed almost completely drained of color. The grass was practically grey at this point, the trees a pale brown. All of the leaves had fallen away, leaving the gnarled branches bare. As she expected, the farmhouse wasn’t that far away. It looked darker than it had on their other visits—only a few chips of white paint remained on the clapboard siding. The rest of it was bare, rough wooden planks. She turned to her right, and saw Apple Bloom staring ahead at it, completely silent, not even blinking. Then, she took a step backwards, like she was about to run away. Scootaloo reached over and gave her a slight push forwards. “Come on. You can’t skip out now.” “I don’t know what it is. I just really don’t like it here right now,” Apple Bloom said. “You talked to them last night. Just go in and do it again,” Sweetie Belle said. “Just tell Applejack how you’re really feeling.” Apple Bloom shook her head. “I… I’m not sure what I’m gonna say to her.” “You and your sister get along great, though. It’s nothing like me and Rarity,” Sweetie Belle said. “I’ve always been kind of jealous. I’ve never seen you fight with her.” “I guess we haven’t, really. Not much, at least. But this is different,” Apple Bloom said. “All this stuff about Manehattan is completely against everythin’ our family is all about. And it’s not just her. It’s not what Mom and Dad would’ve wanted…” “You know it’s not really them,” Scootaloo said. “You said so.” “It doesn’t matter. I just know they would say the same thing if they were real.” Apple Bloom sighed. “And… what about you guys? I’d be leaving you behind, too.” Sweetie Belle was about to say something, but fell silent. She looked at Scootaloo. Scootaloo scratched her head. “Well… Whatever happens, I know you’re not going to forget us.” “Of course not!” Apple Bloom said. “And you probably won’t be leaving for a long time. But we’re trying to find our special talents, and if you’re supposed to be in Manehattan, then you should just go,” Scootaloo said. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to be in Ponyville forever, either.” Apple Bloom let out a sigh. “I don’t even know if it is what I want anymore. Maybe it’s just a phase.” “Apple Bloom, your dream was the first one I ever went into,” Sweetie Belle said. “I had no clue what was going on. It was dark, and loud, and we got lost in there so many times. And then you tried to drop a building on us. I never wanted to have another dream ever again. But we went through it because we’re your friends, and we want you to do what makes you happy. And that dream proved going to Manehattan was important to you. So you’re not backing out of it now. Got it?” The others stared at her, waiting to see if she was finished. Scootaloo nodded slowly. “Yeah. What she said.” “I…” Apple Bloom started to say something, then stopped. “I just don’t want to take any chances. She needs to wake up. That’s all that matters. Even if I have to give up on what I want.” “She’s your sister,” Sweetie Belle said. “She has to understand.” “I hope you’re right.” They trudged through the tall grass towards the house. It loomed over them, more foreboding now that it was so weather-beaten. On their first visit, it had looked almost inviting, but now it looked like it was ready to collapse. Scootaloo led the way up to the front door. As they climbed the steps to the porch, they began to hear muffled voices coming from inside. None of the words could be made out, but the voices were familiar enough. “It’ll be okay, Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said. Scootaloo placed a hoof on the door. “Let’s finish this.” As soon as the door was open, the voices stopped. The house was utterly silent and empty, just as it had been on their first visit. Apple Bloom stuck close to the others as they made their way inside. “Maybe they’re back in the dinin’ room like last night,” she said, nodding towards the doorway at the end of the hall. “Applejack?” Scootaloo called out. “We came back. Apple Bloom’s here to talk to you again.” She waited briefly for a response. “Are you in here?” They came to the same doorway they had stood outside last night. Inside, there was an empty table. There was a layer of dust over it and the chairs, as if they hadn’t been moved or touched in years. Sweetie Belle sneezed. The sudden noise made Apple Bloom jump. “Sorry,” Sweetie Belle said, sniffling. “Any other ideas where they might be?” Scootaloo shrugged. “Just keep looking. Maybe they’re upstairs or something.” They passed through the kitchen on the way to the front hallway. The light hanging from the ceiling swung nearly imperceptibly back and forth, possibly from a breeze or the vibrations of their own hoofsteps. An old cast-iron stove sat in the corner, covered with rust. “This place just keeps getting weirder every time we come back,” Sweetie Belle said. “I think Applejack’s getting deeper into the dream,” Scootaloo said. “Things stop making sense.” A quick scan of the living room didn’t reveal anything interesting, so Scootaloo led the way up the stairs. The three of them were silent as they tried to listen for a voice, a sound, anything at all. Apple Bloom followed behind Scootaloo, sticking close to her side. She occasionally glanced through a doorway, but refused to get close. Sweetie Belle poked her head into one of the bedrooms, then trotted inside to check all the corners, behind the door, in the closet. She sighed, and headed out. “I don’t think they’re here.” As they headed down the hallway, the other rooms were all just the same. The entire house seemed to be empty, and Scootaloo was almost about to give up when she was interrupted. “Apple Bloom, you’ve gotta stop runnin’ off like that.” They spun around to see Applejack trotting towards them down the hall. Scootaloo could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and realized that she had honestly given up on finding anyone else here. And there was something obviously wrong about the way Applejack had just appeared out of nowhere. The whole house had been empty… “Where were you? W-We were lookin’ all over for you…” Apple Bloom stared at her sister, her eyes wide. “C’mon, Apple Bloom. Mom and Dad still have so much more they want to hear about. Why, it’s been years since we’ve seen ‘em. A whole lot has happened since then,” Applejack said. “Applejack…” Apple Bloom said. She swallowed a lump in her throat, and continued. “We can’t keep doing this. You’ve got to remember what happened to them, don’t you?” For a moment, Applejack said nothing. “Now, what in Equestria are you—“ “Mom and Dad are dead,” Apple Bloom said. “And… we’re not really talking to them, they aren’t really there. You need to snap yourself out of this. I know you remember what happened.” Scootaloo reached out a hoof and tried to pull Apple Bloom back. “You really shouldn’t say that. You don’t know how she’ll react.” Applejack just stared at her, not even blinking. Then she started to shake her head. “No. No, that can’t be right.” “I know you remember, Sis,” Apple Bloom said, taking a step forward. “I wish they were still around, too, but you can’t change what happened.” “Nothin’ happened. They’re right downstairs,” Applejack said. “I can’t believe you’d say somethin’ like that. What’s gotten into you, Apple Bloom?” “Please, Applejack, you have to remember.” Applejack’s face twitched slightly. She put a hoof to her forehead, and tried to speak, but no words came out. “Maybe it worked,” Scootaloo said. She turned to Sweetie Belle. “I think she… huh?” Sweetie Belle was staring off into space, with a strange look on her face. “Guys…” she said. “Do you smell that?” Scootaloo sniffed the air, and caught a whiff of something. The first thing that came to mind was a memory of camping, the only time she’d smelled it that strong, but then she remembered what Apple Bloom had said a few days ago. The realization came quick. “We need to get out. Now,” Scootaloo said. She turned around to where Applejack had been standing, but she had vanished just as suddenly as she’d appeared. Worse, smoke was already starting to waft up from downstairs. Apple Bloom was motionless, staring at the spot where Applejack had just been moments ago. Sweetie Belle reached out and shook her vigorously. “Apple Bloom, you have to get moving!” “Huh?” Apple Bloom seemed to suddenly snap into awareness. “What happened?” “It’s the fire. Just like you told us about,” Scootaloo said. “Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to remind Applejack about it.” “But where’d she go?” Apple Bloom said. There was a loud crack from downstairs as a beam snapped. Orange sparks floated through the smoke. It was getting hard to see anything clearly. “No time,” Scootaloo said. She held her breath as she sprinted down the hall towards the stairs, but it was no use. She could see the flickering orange glow on the walls even before she reached them. The entire downstairs was in flames, and there was no way they were getting out the same way they came in. She turned around, searching for another exit. “Uh, Scootaloo…” Sweetie Belle whispered. “What happens if… you know, if we don’t get out? We’ll just wake up, right? I mean, none of this is real, so it’s not like we’d actually…” Scootaloo paused. She’d been wondering the same thing. The heat certainly felt real enough. She didn’t want to test it, though. “Um… Let’s check the windows. Maybe we can get out onto the roof.” They raced back down the hallway. It seemed longer than it had been, but it could have just been the stuffy air making it hard to breathe. The floorboards felt warm under their hooves. There was a crack, and part of the ceiling fell away just inches behind them. Hunks of burning wood smashed onto the floor. Sweetie Belle screamed. “Come on, focus,” Scootaloo said. She started towards one of the bedrooms, but it was already engulfed in flames. The fire was spreading fast. Too fast—just like Apple Bloom had said in her story, but this seemed impossible. Maybe it was. Scootaloo’s eyes darted around frantically until she saw a window in one of the other bedrooms. It was probably their best bet. “This way!” She gestured for them to come over. It was hard to see what it was like outside, but this window let out onto the roof. The smoke seemed to be billowing around outside, too, but outside would be better than in. Scootaloo flew up into the air, spun around, and delivered a kick in the center of the window pane. A sharp sting jolted through her back leg as the glass shattered. “Scootaloo! Are you okay?” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “I’ll be fine. It’s nothing.” Scootaloo gritted her teeth and looked back to see a long red scratch on her rear leg. It was all just a dream, but it sure hurt like it was real. She couldn’t worry about it now, though. “Let’s just get out of here.” Hesitantly, Sweetie Belle climbed out of the window, and Apple Bloom followed behind her as they stepped out onto the roof, trying to keep their balance on the loose shingles. Smoke was pouring out of every window now, and the heat was stifling even out here. The house was crackling and creaking as it burned. Sweetie Belle looked behind her, then held her breath as she leapt down onto the ground below. She tumbled into the tall grass, softening her fall slightly, and Apple Bloom soon landed next to her. She rubbed her head but seemed otherwise fine. They both paused before standing up, still shaking. Scootaloo slowly landed next to them, touching down gently, but still wincing when her injured leg touched the ground. She stared back at the house. It was completely lost to the flames. “Scootaloo, are you sure you’re gonna be okay?” Apple Bloom asked. “It’s just a dream,” Scootaloo said, gritting her teeth. She glanced back at her leg. The injury would be gone as soon as she woke up, but they weren’t done yet. She looked around. “We still need to find Applejack.” The mention of Applejack’s name snapped Apple Bloom back to attention. “Oh my gosh. Did she get out okay?” She looked around, running through the bristly waves of grass, trying to see through the smoke. “Applejack? Are you out here?” “W-Who’s there?” At first Scootaloo was sure it was Applejack, but there was something different about the voice. She couldn’t place exactly what it was, though. Sweetie Belle took another glance back at the burning house, now completely shrouded in black smoke, then slowly headed away, searching for the voice. “Applejack, are you okay? Where are you?” Scootaloo followed her, limping as she tried to avoid putting pressure on her leg. With some effort, she managed to lift herself off the ground and hover at Sweetie Belle’s side. “Applejack?” Apple Bloom called out. They heard sobbing, somewhere nearby. As the smoke drifted past, they could make out a small figure sitting in the grass, her head hanging down. It was a filly about their age, but all three of them were accounted for. Apple Bloom was the first one to approach her. She took a step forward, slowly, coughing in the thick smoke. She squinted. “Applejack?” The filly didn’t look up. She sniffled. “I’m not ready for this...” Apple Bloom stopped a few steps away from her. Scootaloo edged closer to get a better look. It was Applejack, but she was different. Younger. She wasn’t wearing her hat, and there was no cutie mark on her flank. “Applejack, how—“ The words died on Apple Bloom’s lips. “Mom and Dad always said the farm would be our responsibility someday. I just didn’t think it’d be so soon.” Applejack wiped her eyes. She actually looked a few years younger than they were right now. The same age she had been when it happened. Apple Bloom managed to find her voice again. “Well, uh, come on now, Sis. You do a great job. Really.” “We’re barely scrapin’ by as it is,” Applejack said. “I know I’m supposed to be your big sister, but sometimes I still feel like this is just too much responsibility for me. I can’t afford to take any time off. Sometimes I wish I could just…” Her voice trailed off. “You went to Manehattan because you had to get away,” Apple Bloom said quietly. “With Mom and Dad gone, you just couldn’t stand to be around the farm anymore. That’s it, isn’t it?” “This farm’s all we have. I never should’ve tried to leave it,” Applejack said. She stared at the smoldering remains of the farmhouse. “If I didn’t step up to take it over, then what would’ve happened to this place? All they ever worked for would be lost. I knew I couldn’t run away.” “That’s why you don’t want me goin’ to Manehattan, isn’t it? Just because it didn’t work out for you.” Apple Bloom shook her head. “We’re not the same. I—“ “I didn’t realize how much home meant to me until I tried to get away. It just wasn’t the same without Mom and Dad,” Applejack said. “But then I realized… everythin’ I ever had was still back home. If I stayed out there, in the city, I would’ve just been lettin’ them down.” “Maybe you’re just not cut out for city life. Not everypony is,” Apple Bloom said. “But how am I gonna know that unless I see for myself?” “I just don’t want you to go through what I did. The big city ain’t nothin’ like Ponyville. You wouldn’t understand unless you saw it.” “Which is exactly why I need to go,” Apple Bloom said. She looked at her older sister—though, at the moment, Applejack was looking up at her. “I’m not a baby anymore. I can handle it.” Applejack was silent for a long time. Above them, the smoke was beginning to thin out. What was left of the house had burnt out, leaving behind a skeletal black husk. The air was starting to turn cold again. “You just need to give me a chance,” Apple Bloom said. Applejack picked herself up off the ground. “You really are growin’ up,” she muttered. “We’ve still got some time left until you’re big enough to move out for yourself. But maybe that time’s comin’.” She lifted her head. “I think, more than anythin’, Mom and Dad just wanted us to be happy.” “You mean…” Applejack nodded. “I should’ve listened to you the first time.” She looked at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. “Gosh, you girls have tried just about everythin’ there is to do in Ponyville at this point. I don’t wanna be the one to hold you back from somethin’ new.” A smile started to spread across Apple Bloom’s face, then she threw her hooves around her sister in a tight hug. “I promise I won’t forget about home. Honest, I won’t!” “I know that, sugarcube,” Applejack said, patting her head. Apple Bloom slowly pulled away, and looked back at the other two crusaders. Scootaloo tried to smile through the pain. Nothing needed to be said. Applejack sat back down. “Well, gosh, how long’s it been since I last saw Granny and Big Mac? Must’ve been out here longer than I realized…” She started to rub her forehead. “Maybe we’d all better just go back home…” The world began to blur together, and Scootaloo felt the world of the dream dissolve around her. Scootaloo blinked slowly as she woke up, greeted by the familiar surroundings of her own room. When it was all said and done, that dream had gone fairly well. She’d have to wait until she got to school to know for sure, but Applejack was probably waking up too right about now. After stretching her front legs, Scootaloo rolled out of bed and onto the floor, then tried to stand up. Her back leg immediately slid out from under her, pain coursing through it. She bit her lip, then forced herself to look. The cut on her leg was still there.