When morning came Applejack was the first to wake up her mane in a tangled mess and drool running down her chin. She slowly got up and went to the bathroom to wash her face with cold water. She could still see the redness in her eyes from crying all night. Good thing it was storming last night she thought. Hopefully, no one heard me. Applejack turned to walk out of her room when she stopped to grab her father's old cowboy hat and put it on her head.
As she made her way to Fluttershy's room she started to feel just how emotionally drained she actually was. Her mind was in a haze as the picture of Dash's mangled body came into view. Applejack put her hoof over her mouth ran to the bathroom and leaned over the toilet she knew nothing would come up for she had already emptied her stomach all last night in between her crying episodes.
"Oh for crying out loud Applejack pull yourself together." Applejack rubbed her face hard. "Rainbow would probably be getting a kick out of me crying so much. Might even brag a bit." Aj chuckled to herself. "You better pull through this Dash or I'll never forgive you for this."
Applejack then made her way back to Fluttershy's room and knocked.4
"Morning Fluttershy rise and shine sugar cube!!"
AJ listed for her to respond but didn't hear anything. She tried putting her ear up to the door to see if she could hear her to no avail, she knocked on the door again this time a little harder.
"Fluttershy you in there?"
She listened again and still nothing.
"Maybe she's still sleeping. I'll just wake up Big Mac instead."
AJ knocked on her brother's door and hollered.
"Get on up Big Mac!! We got a lot of bucking to do before I leave later on!!"
AJ heard no response from Big Mac either AJ thought to herself.
"Maybe I got up a tad too early."
AJ looked at the clock on the wall.
“It’s only 7:00 am I’ll let them sleep in been a rough few hours for all of us."
AJ turned towards the stairs and walked down into the kitchen and started to make some breakfast for every pony when they wake up. Soon after she left Fluttershy started to wake up when she heard hoof steps outside the door and tried to open her eyes but felt as though they were being weighed down and her head felt heavy. When she was able to open her eyes fully she realized she was still being held in Big Mac's arms. Big Mac was still fast asleep and was slightly snoring Fluttershy tried wiggling out of his strong grip but it only made Big Mac hold on to her even tighter. She tried once more to escape free but stopped when Big Mac's eyes fluttered open.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to wake you. I tried to be quiet."
Big Mac quickly let go of the small yellow pony and stretched out his legs as he jumped off the bed.
"It's no problem Fluttershy. I'm just glad you were able to get a goodnight rest I know we all needed it."
"Yes thank you for helping me get some sleep. I don't I would have if it wasn't for you."
Big Mac smiled.
"Eeyup."
They both laughed and went downstairs to the kitchen.
"Howdy there Fluttershy and Big Mac y'all sleep well?"
Fluttershy nodded.
"Oh yes AJ I slept wonderfully."
Big Mac smiled at AJ.
"Eeyup."
"That's good to hear y'all hungry? I got some freshly made oatmeal in the pot."
Fluttershy and Big Mac sat at the dining table and nodded to AJ.
"Oh yes, we would love some Applejack."
Big mac nodded in agreement.
"Eeyup."
AJ smiled.
"Alright coming right up!!"
AJ then grabbed three bowls from a cupboard and poured the hot oats in the bowl and topped it off with five apple slices in the shape of a flower and added a dash of cinnamon on the slices.
"Here y'all go be careful it's mighty hot."
AJ carefully placed a bowl next to every pony and sat down next to Fluttershy.
"So after we are done eating me and Big Mac are going to do some chores right quick and when we are finished we can go to Rainbow's house to pick up Tank and bring him with us to the hospital to see Rainbow I'm sure they will be happy when they are reunited. Don't ya' think?"
"Oh, I think that is a wonderful idea." Fluttershy smiled.
Once breakfast was finished Applejack turned to Big Mac and told him to go start feeding all the animals while she finished fixing up the barn. She then turned to Fluttershy and smiled.
“Fluttershy why don’t you go with Big Mac? He could use some help settling down the critters.”
“I'd be happy to help, but Applejack what about you?”
“Nah I can handle it besides I got to go clean up the kitchen before I get started. See y’all later on.”
AJ tipped her hat to them and headed back towards the house. She wanted to be alone for a while but couldn't bring herself to say that to Fluttershys face. She didn't want to unintentionally hurt her friend's feelings.
Fluttershy flies alongside Big Mac to the barn and helps load all kinds of feed into a cart to take to the animal pens. Once gathered Big Mac turns to Fluttershy.
“You mind pulling that other cart out for me Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy looked at the cart full of food and smiled.
“Sure.”
She walked over to the cart and stepped in between the two metal rails that will be strapped to her midsection. She then tightened the strap around her and tried moving forward to Big Mac, but the cart would not budge Fluttershy tried pulling on it again but the cart didn't move. Big Mac pointed towards a lever to Fluttershy's right and said.
“Ya’ have to take the break off first Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy looked down to her right and saw the small lever and pushed it down. At first, nothing happened but then the cart made a creaking noise and rolled back a tad. Fluttershy looked over at Big Mac and gave her a smile. She then pushed forward and the cart started to move along with her. She followed Big Mac all the way to the pens and set down the cart under a tree.
"Alrighty I'll start feeding the swine and you can go ahead and feed the goats on the other side of this here fence. Think ya' can handle it all by yourself?"
Fluttershy nodded. "I'll be fine this is my specialty after all."
Fluttershy then grabbed a hay bale from the cart and carried it to the goat pen. This isn't too bad she thought to herself it's just like taking care of her animals at her cottage. After she finished with the goats she went to the chicken coop to collect the freshly laid eggs. After she finished she went to go find Big Mac to see what she should do next but was told that he could handle the rest on his own as it involved plowing the field something Fluttershy was too weak to do. To help pass the time Fluttershy looked around for a place to rest her wings when she spotted a small grassy hill with a single apple tree at the top, she flew down towards the ground and landed on the soft grass below.
Fluttershy sat down at the base of the apple tree and relaxed her legs and wings, she thought about seeing Rainbow later on. Fluttershy hoped that Rainbow would be awake and well when they all go to see her. She shuddered at the thought that maybe the worse would come to pass, but quickly pushed it aside when she noticed a dangling object high above the ground in one of the apple tree branches. She stood up off the ground and flew up toward the object to get a closer look, and saw that it was some sort of blanket or fabric. She thought to herself.
"How did this get up here?"
When she got closer she noticed that there was more than just a blanket but also a white plush pillow leaning up against the tree trunk. At first, she wondered why some pony would just leave this laying here, but she soon realized that dash would sometimes take her afternoon naps in AJ's apple tree's, Fluttershy landed on the branch, and tears began to form in her eyes but stopped them from falling. Fluttershy leaned over and grabbed the blanket and held it close to her, her eyes starting to sting and she could no longer hold back this time and let out soft cries. Fluttershy felt her heart swell up she held the blanket tighter it felt just like Rainbows soft fur and smelled of her as well like freshly fallen rain. She looked down where the pillow lay and held the blanket in one arm and leaned over to grab the pillow.
Fluttershy grabbed the edge of the pillow and pulled it towards her, but something was wrong with the pillow it was a little too heavy. Fluttershy laid the pillow back down to examine it, nothing looked wrong with it she then picked up her hoof and gently stepped down on the center of the pillow. She felt something hard and felt around the edge of the object it had a large square shape almost like a book. She wanted to know what it was so she took a dead branch from the ground and pierced the pillow to make a small hole she grabbed the torn piece of cloth and pulled back on the case with a loud ripping sound. She looked at the pillow and saw that it was open enough to get whatever is inside. She reached inside and grabbed the object and pulled it out. Her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat as she gasped at the sight of what she found.
"GHUAHH!?"