//------------------------------// // Honesty // Story: Coming Full Circle // by Tennis Match Fan //------------------------------// “The usual, please," Rarity asked amiably. She was with Fluttershy for their weekly spa treatment, which they had never discontinued after all these years. Lotus wrote something down, while Aloe guided the two to the sauna. “So, how is everything going?” Fluttershy asked. “Just perfect darling! Absolutely perfect!” Rarity exclaimed. “How so?” Fluttershy asked, curious. “Well, remember I was in Canterlot last week? Well, I bumped into Sapphire Shore! You know she’s been a good customer for years now, and she introduced me to some important ponies, but I mean, really important. Not more important than Celestia, but still…” Rarity chattered on. “I understand, Rarity… but who?” Fluttershy asked, somewhat impatient. “Fancy Pants!” Rarity announced proudly. Fluttershy was amazed by this revelation. “Fancy? But you already know him for a quite while. That’s not so special, uh, sorry...” Fluttershy noticed that she raised her voice again; that always happened when she slept badly. “Don’t mind it.” Rarity comforted her, “but Fancy Pants grew.” Fluttershy was even more confused now. “He’s taller?” “No, no silly," Rarity giggled. “He simply became more important in the modelling and trend world! Almost each and every clothing shop is owned by him! And now, he is looking for a new clothing line for his shops!" “And you,” Fluttershy continued. “Took the opportunity!" Rarity finished excitedly. “See, when I get the job, I will have so much work, but it also means that, if my clothing line is good, and it will be, the whole of Canterlot will know my work!” “So that would make you the most famous designer of Canterlot!" Fluttershy concluded. “Exactly!” Rarity confirmed. “All I have to do is make the best of the best. The crème de la crème! La pièce de résistance! The perfect design!” “Oh, I’m so happy for you!" Fluttershy smiled, “and I’m sure Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash would be proud of you.” The smile vanished immediately. A moment of silence passed. Pinkie and Dash may have been dead for nearly eleven years, but the others still remembered them like their good times were only yesterday. Rarity sighed. “Yes, I think that as well.” ~ Twilight trotted over to Sweet Apple Acres. She helped at the orchard some weeks now that Granny Smith had passed on a little while ago, and Applejack and Big Macintosh weren't so young anymore either. Sure, Applebloom was still around, but she couldn't take care of the orchard by her own, nor did she want to. The princess reached the barn to find Big Macintosh in his sturdy wingchair. it surprised Twilight every time to see how old Big Mac actually was. “Twilight. Good to see you again,” The once-orange-but-now-grey-maned-stallion said. “The same to you,” Twilight responded, her smile as small as an orange rind. “How is Applejack doing?” The elderly stallion lifted up his glasses. “Worse then she’s telling us,” he said with a rusty voice. “That obstinate mare,” Twilight sighed, “she doesn’t want to except that she’s overwork. She’s broken. Her muscles are in bad condition and her bones are fragile.” “I know Twilight," Big Mac responded slowly. “You know how stubborn she can be.” “Always was, and apparently always will be. I hope she will quit bucking this time.” And like the demons are playing, a golden mare with a pink mane ran around the corner, looking as frightened as if she had seen a timberwolf. “Big Mac! Big Mac! Howdy, Twilight, you can help! Big Mac! Quick, Applejack started bucking apples again! I tried to reason her, but she won’t listen! She might listen to you or Twilight, ya'll are older!" Big Mac was about to jump out of his wingchair, but Twilight stopped him. "Let me handle this.” she said, and she turned to Applebloom. "Bring me to her.” ~ Applejack placed a bucket under a huge tree. Then, she stretched her legs. An unpleasant cracking sounded. “Time to buck those apples,” she muttered. “Applejack.” Twilight yelled, racing up to her friend. "You know you can’t buck those apples!” “Of course ah can, ah have to! Big Macintosh is hurt, so ah’ve got to buck those apples!” Twilight's mind wandered back to a distant memory. She sighed softly. “This is my first apple buck season all over again.” “Well, if you want to excuse me, ah’ve got apples to buck,” Applejack said, annoyed. She wanted to walk around Twilight, but Twilight stopped her from approaching a tree. “Applejack, you are too old for this. Let me do the harvesting,” Twilight requested. “Me? Too old? Twi-" Applejack looked at Twilight, a serious expression on her face, “-you are older than me. And look at you. You look young!" “Because I’m an immortal princess,” Twilight grumbled. “Applejack, did you forgot your pills for your memory loss?” “Pills? What pills?” Applejack asked, more annoyed than confused. "I don't need pills, my memory is perfect." “She took her pills.” Applebloom ran over to the pair. She finally caught up with Twilight. “But, after that, she forgot that she already had a pill, and after that, she forgot it again, and again, and again… so, if I counted right, she took 24 pills.” Twilight’s eyes grew when she heard this. “And why didn’t you stop her?” “Ab noticed this afternoon that the bowl was empty. And I actually saw her taking these pills twice, I stopped her the second time,” Applebloom declared. Twilight nodded. “Well then.” She turned to Applejack. “You are coming with me to the hospital, because too many pills aren’t good for you.” “Ah’m not goin’ anywhere,” Applejack insisted. “I have apples to buck. It’s apple buck season after all, and Big Mac is-" "Hurt, I know," Twilight grumbled. “Oh, you visited him already?” Twilight lowered her head. “Please, just, come with me…” All of a sudden, they heard to voices familiar from behind. “Twilight!” one of them exclaimed. Twilight turned around and saw Rarity and Fluttershy trotting along. “Girls!" She responded, trying to keep her attention on all her friends at once. “What are you doing here?” Rarity began, “We are here to, to…” she trailed off. “To what?” Twilight prompted. “Oh, sorry my dear.” Rarity shook her head a bit. “I was distracted for a moment. Say, you have to tell me your secret. How do you stay so young? I want to look as young as you too.” “Magic.” Twilight's voice was a dull monotone. “Oh right," Rarity replied, disappointed. “Anyway, I’ve got great news!" She told the whole story about Fancy Pants again. ~ As Twilight listened, Applejack was replacing the bucket under another tree, and she started bucking apples. It was surprising how hard a pony could kick at that age. “Twilight?” Fluttershy asked quietly. She was the only one who noticed what Applejack was doing. Even Applebloom had lost herself and joined in the conversation. “Twilight? Applejack is-” Fluttershy began a bit louder. But the three had become so involved in the discussion they paid no attention. “TWILIGHT!” Fluttershy yelled finally, flaring her wings. “Wh… what’s wrong Fluttershy?” Twilight asked, turning to her friend. “Applejack,” Fluttershy said, and she pointed at Applejack, kicking an apple tree. “Oh no,” Twilight mumbled. Rarity and Applebloom were now aware of the situation as well. And the four ran to Applejack to stop her. “Applejack, don’t do this,” Twilight pleaded. “Listen Twi, ah know you’re a princess now, but you’re not tellin’ me when ah can or when ah can’t buck mah apples," Applejack responded, and she kicked the tree again. But when her hind hooves were back on the ground, dazed a bit. “What’s wrong, Applejack?” Rarity asked, concern dancing in her eyes. “Nothing. Just bit dizzy. Probably from the heat,” Applejack explained. The four othee ponies looked to the skies, but it was cloudy, and it wasn’t warm at all. Meanwhile, Applejack kicked the three again. Apple Bloom reached to stop her, but Applejack's hooves had already made contact. All the apples fell down. At that moment, Applejack started to hyperventilate. “Applejack, it’s not warm at all, it’s just-” Twilight looked back at her friend. “Oh my goodness. Applejack!” Applejack fell down to the ground. “Sis?” Apple Bloom asked anxiously. ~ Nurse Nancy, head of the intensive care, trotted over to the waiting ponies, Fluttershy, Rarity, Twilight, Applebloom and Big Mac. “What's the news?” Twilight asked. “I’m sorry Princess Twilight,” The new nurse said. “We did everything we could. but her heart just stopped. The older age and, the rising blood pressure caused by the apple bucking, and the pills, and the overworked state she was, and it was not a good combination. I’m sorry. She died by heart failure.” Twilight nodded softly, and while the four others tried to comfort each other. “I don’t want to sound rude,” Nancy continued, “but you three-” she pointed at Rarity, Fluttershy and Big Mac “-you should do a cardio test as well. Just to be sure. You know, you all are well into your years now, so, better be sure before the cure.” She smiled, probably in hopes to cheer them up. ~ “Celestia? Did you feel it too?” Luna ran to her sister's bedroom and burst through the doorway. “Yes, Luna. Another element passed away. That makes two remaining elements left,” Celestia said, and a depressed look passed over her face. “Do you remember when we got through that?” Luna nodded. “Yes, you were an emotional wreck when three of the elements were down…” Celestia nodded again. “I just wish that Twilight never had to go through where we been through.” ~ Twilight felt so, so depressed as she stood at Applejack's grave. This is all inevitable, she told herself sternly. You might as well get used to it. Even as she thought those words, Twilight felt as if Applejack were there, telling her to be honest with her feelings. Twilight lowered her head, regret washing over her. Beside her stood Fluttershy and Rarity, the three of them pressed together like sardines in a can. Three of them left, and they were afraid of losing each other. On Twilight's right, Big Mac, Apple Bloom and several members of the extended Apple Family stood together. Nopony said anything, but Big Mac held Applejack's old cowgirl hat in his hoof. Twilight watched as his grip tightened around it. She said nothing, but turned her attention back to the grave. It was a simple, flat stone compared to Dash's and Pinkie's. Engraved at the top were several small apples. Rarity had picked it out, shortly after... The death, Twilight told herself sternly. Applejack died. She was getting old and she died and soon Rarity and Fluttershy will too. Twilight only felt saddened by these facts. Yeah, well the truth hurts, doesn't it? snapped another part of her. Applejack understood that. Somewhere in Twilight's conscious, another part of her wasn't pleased. You think Applejack would like the way you're being to yourself? She lectured. You're being unfair and harsh. Maybe truth isn't honey and roses, but it certainly isn't all bees and thorns either. Twilight sighed aloud. "What's that?" Apple Bloom murmured. Even before she caught sight of it, Twilight knew what the mare saw. A pale orange mist rose out of Applejack's grave and enveloped the ponies mourning Applejack. Once again, it came to rest inside of Twilight. Twilight glanced over at her other two friends. I hope you two don't go soon...