//------------------------------//
// Don't Blame Yourself 
// Story: Immovable 
// by Purplescales42 
//------------------------------//

	It had been two weeks since Iron Ore and Applejack met Iron’s family. Iron spent the time mending the relationship with his family as well as mending his reputation around the town. While Iron was glad that he was able to be back in his home town again, he couldn’t let go of the fact that, ultimately, he was waiting for his dad to die.
Each day Charcoal continued to get worse. Iron, Gold Nugget, and Applejack did their best to make him comfortable but it was only a matter of time. Iron hated it. He was supposed to protect those he cared about, but here he was forced to just watch as his own dad withered away. 
He didn’t have to wait long.
Iron woke up early in the morning. The sun was just starting to rise. He got out of bed and went into the living room where he saw Applejack already awake. She was sitting on the couch reading a book.
“Hey,” he greeted. Applejack looked up at him.
“Mornin,’ Sugar Cube,” she greeted back. “Ya hungry? Ah was thinkin’ about makin’ some breakfast.”
“Sounds good. I’m going to go check on Dad real quick.”
“Alright then.” AJ got up from the couch and headed to the kitchen while Iron headed to Charcoal’s room. He quietly opened the door so as not to disturb Charcoal. Iron poked his head in and saw Charcoal lying peacefully on the bed. He was about to leave when he stopped and took a better look. Charcoal didn’t seem to be moving. 
“Dad?” asked Iron softly. He stepped into the room. “Hey, Dad?” As Iron approached the bed, he was starting to suspect the worse. Iron stood by Charcoal’s bedside. The older stallion wasn’t moving. Iron hesitantly check Charcoal’s pulse. 
Nothing. 
Iron froze where he stood. He didn’t want to believe it. Charcoal couldn’t have died yet. Not before anyone had a chance to really say goodbye. Out in the hall, Iron could hear a door open and hoofsteps approaching. 
“Iron?” asked the last voice he wanted to hear. He looked over his shoulder to see Gold Nugget standing in the doorway. “Is something wrong?” Iron wanted to say something. Anything. But nothing came out of his mouth. Gold looked at Charcoal and then back at Iron. His heart sank as he saw the horrified look that crept onto her face. “No.”
“Goldie,” began Iron.
“No!” screamed Gold Nugget. She ran up to the bed and grabbed Charcoal. “Dad?” she asked frantically. “Daddy?!” Tears began streaming down her face. “N-no. This can’t be it. It isn’t fair.” She cradled Charcoal’s head and held him close. “This isn’t fair!”
“Goldie,” said Iron softly putting a hoof on her shoulder. She looked at him for a moment then nearly tackled him to the ground in a hug burying her face in his shoulder.
“Why?” she asked. “You just got back! We were finally a family again.” Iron didn’t say anything as he let his sister vent. He looked over to see Applejack standing in the doorway, a solemn expression on her face. “It isn’t fair,” Gold said again.
“No,” replied Iron. “It isn’t.”

***

Applejack found herself in one of the most awkward and uncomfortable situations imaginable. Gold Nugget was going about making funeral arrangements. Iron had helped remove Charcoal’s corpse earlier but hadn’t returned yet. AJ found herself unable to do anything and she wasn’t at all fond of it. She wanted to help the mourning siblings but both of them seemed to be actively occupying themselves with whatever they could to keep their minds off of things. 
The front door opened and Gold Nugget walked into the house. “Hey,” greeted AJ.
“Hey,”said Gold Nugget heading down the hall.
“Did you get everything arranged?” asked AJ following her.
“Yeah,” said Gold not seeming interested in conversation.
“Where are ya headin’?” Gold entered her room.
“Work.”
“Are ya sure that’s a good idea?” Gold Nugget sighed and turned to face Applejack.
“Look, Applejack,” she said. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
“Ah understand,” said Applejack.
“Really?” asked Gold somewhat skeptically.
“Yeah. When Ah was a filly Ah lost both my parents.” Gold’s eyes went wide at that statement but Applejack continued. “Fer a while Ah didn’t want to talk to nopony. Ah let myself wallow in my sadness and pushed everypony else away. But then Ah realized something.’”
“What would that be?”
“Ah wasn’t the only one sad. My family was goin’ through a rough patch too. We came to realize that mopin’ around and feelin’ sorry fer ourselves wasn’t going to do us any favors. So we came together as a family and helped each other get through it.” Applejack put a hoof on Gold’s shoulder. “Ah won’t tell ya to just get over it and Ah definitely won’t say it’ll be easy, but ya’ll need each other right now and Ah promise you’ll grow stronger fer it.” Gold nodded in understanding
“You’re right,” she admitted. “I know you are, it’s just I’m still not used to Iron being around. Two weeks doesn’t exactly make up for four years of not speaking to each other.”
“Ah know the timin’ ain’t ideal but isn’t doesn’t it account fer somethin’ that he’s hear now?”
“I suppose it does.” Slowly, a small smile found its way onto Gold’s face. “You know I’ve never properly thanked you.”
“Fer what?” asked AJ confused.
“For everything you’ve done for my family. You helped Iron when he was lost and alone, you reunited us as a family, and now you’re helping us through my father’s death. You’ve done so much and I can’t begin to thank you enough for it.”
“There ain’t any thanks necessary. Iron had what it took to make things out all along. I just gave him the push that he needed.”
“You’re selling yourself short. Iron might not show it or say it a lot but I can tell that he loves you.” Applejack’s face went a little red.
“Ya think so, huh?” Gold nodded.
“And I think you might feel the same way about him. Who else could put up with Iron for so long and do all that you did if they didn’t?” 
“Well, um,” stuttered AJ, her face getting more red. Gold giggled.
“You don’t have to admit it to me,” she said. “However, if you ask me, I think you two should just get it out there. Pretending like you two are just friends is a little foalish don’t you think.” Applejack didn’t reply. “If I know Iron, he’s probably on the edge of town. There’s this one spot where he used to look out at the sunset. You should go talk to him.”
“What about you?”
“I will, I promise. However, I think he’ll probably be more open with you then with me right now.”
“Alright,” AJ conceded. “I’ll be back later.”

***

Iron looked out over the valley below. Part of him regretted ever coming home. If he stayed back in Ponyville, he wouldn’t have to face another member of his family pass away while he was helpless to do anything. His stomach started churning. It always did that when he felt useless. He hated that feeling. He looked at his Cutie Mark and sighed in frustration.
“Some protector I am,” he said. 
“Ah’ve never doubted ya,” said a familiar voice. Iron didn’t turn around as Applejack approached and sat next to him.
“You ever feel like the world is doing everything it can to ruin you?” he asked.
“Ah’ve had my fair share of hardships,” AJ admitted. “Perhaps not all as bad as yers but Ah know what it’s like to be hurtin’ real bad inside.”
“I can’t stand losing everyone I care about,” said Iron. “I’m supposed to keep the ones I love safe. But it seems I lose more than what I save.”
“Remember the Diamond Dogs?” asked AJ.
“Yeah. What about them?”
“Ya know how they captured my sister and Sweetie Belle? Do ya remember who rescued them?”
“You helped.”
“Beside the point. And then there was the Flim Flam brothers and Stonehead? That could’ve ended way uglier if ya hadn’t stepped in.”
“Maybe.”
“No ‘maybes’ about it. And what about all those ponies ya protected before ya left home? And don’t tell me ya didn’t keep anypony safe during your travels before ya found Ponyville. Even that mountain ya sport on yer flank was because of how ya defended Gold Nugget.”
“What’s your point, Applejack?” asked Iron.
“My point is that ya do a fine job of protectin’ those ya love. Heck, Ah’d say yer downright amazing at it.”
“But Ah can’t seem to do it when it matters the most.”
“Iron, ya gotta stop blamin’ yerself fer these things. Ya can’t control everything. Ah know it’s sad and that it hurts but sometimes life just gets out of control. And ain’t it somethin’ that you were at least here to be with him in his final days?”
“I guess. Doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“Ah know. But blamin’ yerself won’t make it better either.” Iron didn’t have a response for that. “Please don’t take all this out on yerself. Yer friends and family hate seein’ ya like this.” She leaned against him resting her head on his shoulder. “Ah ain’t too fond of it either.” Iron tensed a bit at AJ’s touch. 
“Your right,” he said.
“Hm?”
“Your right,” he said again. “It doesn’t make it any easier to admit, but your right. At least we got to be a family again even if it was just for a little while.” Applejack smiled. 
“Ya know ya don’t have to go through all this alone,” she said. 
“I know.” Iron put a hoof around Applejack’s shoulder and held her close. “Thank you, AJ. For everything. I don’t know where I’d be right now without you.” AJ chuckled
“Flatterer,” she teased. “But yer welcome. Ready to head back home?” She found herself being held a little tighter. She gave him a confused look.
“Not yet. Do you mind staying here a little longer?” AJ smiled and rested her head on her shoulder again.
“Not at all.”