Applejack couldn’t see a single thing, for everything was pitch black. There wasn’t a single sight, sound, or sign indicating where she was headed. She didn’t bother to say anything, or move around, she just stared into the black void thinking with peaceful thoughts.
Nothing happened for a while, but then something did change. The pony began to feel an uncomfortable churning happen inside of her. She tried to ignor it and keep on thinking, but it was imposible to forget about it. Applejack could then see the darkness starting to light up. At first it was slow; but then it gained more speed, and the brightness started to grow. Applejack knew for a fact that her suffering had ended, and she was heading for the gates of heaven. She had just saved the CMC from their deaths, and that’s all that mattered to her.
The light became brighter and brighter, and then it began to fade away. The picture became a colored blured mess, but then it began to focus up. She saw that she was in her little sisters bedroom, still as messy as when she left it. She then noticed that she was in the bed, covered in the clean blankets. She could feel the cold fall air coming in through the window, and brushing against her face. Applejack wanted to rise out of the bed, but the peace that the room had was breath taking. She took in the view as a breath of fresh air, and stared at the ceiling feeling sweat around her body.
She turned her head to the left and right to see if anypony was in the room with her, but there wasn’t. Just when her head turned towards the door, she saw the little filly that was her sister come into the doorway. The two met eye to eye. Applebloom didn’t respond at first, but then she began to smile, gaining tears of joy in the eyelids. She then leapt into her own bed, and began to sob into the sheets,” you’re alright.” She murmured,”She’s alright!” she announced.
As she cried with overflowing joy in her heart, Applejack heard a bunch of hoofsteps that could be heard through the hallway. The ponies that Applejack left behind came rushing in. Granny Smith, Big Mac, Twilight, and even the rest of the CMC came in, feeling their stress lift off their shoulders. They all began to smile as started to gather around the bed. If it weren’t for the gathering, Applejack would have still thought that she was in heaven.
Applejack looked at the crowd surrounding her bed.”I’m alive?” she asked.
“Your ok Applejack.” Cried Grannysmith, giving her grand daughter a hug.”We were worried sick.”
“Eeyup.” Said Big Mac joining in.
“That’s our mare.” Cheered Twilight coming in to hug too.
“Don’t forget us!” squeaked Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo climbing onto the bed.
It was all now a big group hug, celebrating Applejack’s end to a dangerous mission. It was like returning home from the battlefield, and seeing your kin after so long. It gave Applejack a great feeling that her efforts paid off. The hug disintegrated, and everypony except for Applebloom came off the bed to give Applejack some space of her own.
Applejack then lifted the covers to check on something. Yep, just as she expected, her legs were attached to her body. She began to move them around to check if they still worked, and they did. She wasn’t in heaven; but she was somewhere even better, at home. The one place she’d rather be after suffering such a horrible ordeal.
Speaking of horrible ordeals.“Ah don’t understand?” Applejack said with confusion,”How did I come back? I didn’t come through the portal like the fillies did.”
Twilight then said,” These three came in with only seconds to go, Applebloom told us that you were still out there. You were lying on the floor screaming and yelling.” Applejack looked at her sister,” Me and Big Macintosh went in to retrieve you.”
“Wait, I couldn’t have been there,” Applejack denied,”I was being devoured by a giant red skull. I was bitten in half. I went through some crazy vortex. I couldn’t have been on the floor.”
The three grown ponies were surprised and turned their heads to Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle,” guess we forgot to tell you that part.” They said.
Twilight continued,” we didn’t see a giant skull, it was just you rolling around on a red path in the dark.”
“Not to mention all of the yellin’ you had goin’.” Big Mac added.
“Oh yes, you were yelling and screaming as if you were being tortured. Even when we pulled you out, you were still yelling. We were afraid that you weren’t going to make it. What was happening?”
Applejack thought the nightmare back over,” I guess I was just having a bad dream Twilight, a really bad dream. I’m surprised that I even made it back.” She looked at the cmc,” Thank you.”
“And with great timin’ too.” Added Granny Smith walking towards the chalk drawing on the wall,” if these younguns were a second too soon,” she touches her hoof on the green paint, but her hoof didn’t pass,” You would have been gone fer good.” The portal was sealed, and disappeared from the house.
Applejack dropped herself back onto her pillow in relief. Hopefully the portal would never open up anywhere near the Apples or anywhere in Equestria ever again. “ At least this’ll be the last time I see that darned portal.” Everyone nodded to that.”Now, as much as I’m glad to be home, can ah please have a moment to mah self please. Yall have no idea what the hay I just went through.”
“Of course dear.” Granny Smith smiled leaving.”Anything for my our hero.”
“Eeyup,” added Big Mac walking out of the room with the grandmother.
“I think you’ve earned it Applejack.” Said Twilight leaving as well. She turned her head at the doorway,”Welcome home Applejack.”
With the adults leaving the room, Scootaloo at Sweetiebelle thought it was a good time to leave as well. They both started to gather any of their belongings that they brought, and began to pack them away. Their families would be expecting their arrival home soon, they too would have a story to tell their classmates and siblings. It may have been one of the most unexpected slumber parties that they had; but the adventure alone made it better than just sitting around and playing cards all night.
Applebloom got on her hooves and began to walk herself off the bed to give her sister some peace. “I guess you’ll be goin’ back to sleep now.” She said making her way across the bed. She let out a tiresome sigh,”I think I’ll be catchin’ some Zs as well.”
Before she was even near the edge, Applejack smiled and said,” Applebloom, come here and sleep by my side. I think we’d feel more comfortable, wouldn’t you agree.”
Applebloom smiled at her sister’s offer,” we sure had a rough night last night.”
“Yeah, but we get to live to see another day.” Applebloom came over to Applejack and lied down like a cat would next to her head. Applejack freed one of her legs to put around her sister. Applebloom felt the security of her sister. She still felt that the voice was going to haunt her, but she remembered that she was well out of harm’s way with her sister. Applebloom closed her eyes and began to nudge against her sister’s head.
Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle, had just finished rolling their sleeping bags when they saw Applebloom cuddled up against Applejack with her eyes closed. They didn’t want to disturb her, so they didn’t talk. The two picked up their luggage and stood by the door. Applejack turned to the two fillies as Scootaloo then said,” Well, I guess that’s it for the sleep over then. It was fun, even though we didn’t get much done as a club.”
“Some night this turned out to be.” Said Sweetiebelle yawning.” I don’t think a cutiemark in inter dimensional travel would ever be worth it. It’s just not our calling.”
“Yeah.”
Scootaloo sighed with her closing statement,“Well, see ya later Applebloom.”
“Take care.” Added Sweetiebelle. And with that, the fillies left the door way, and made their way out the front door. Applejack began to hug her sister tightly for a stronger sense of comfort. They both were soon fast asleep, and on their way to dreamland with the few hours of sleep they were catching.
It was an act of courage to save the fillies. But it was no doubt a miracle that she survived all of that. And to think that she was told that same night she went in, that nopony has lived to tell the tale. Yet she managed to beat the odds, and now had one heck of a story to pass down.
Before the two CMC members left for home, Granny Smith saw them heading out and said,” Would ya’ll like some breakfast before you hit the road?” As good as that sounded, the fillies turned down that offer with the shake of the head. “Ya sure?” The granny opened the fridge to see what they had.” Huh, we’ve only got eggs in here. Wish we had somethin’ else.”
“No thanks,” Sweetiebelle said.
“We’re not hungry right now,” added Scootaloo,” we really must be going now.” The two went out the door before Granny Smith could add anything else.
-:-
The two fillies left Sweet Apple acres, walking to the welcoming arc in the yard. From that moment they parted ways for their own homes. They said their goodbyes, but it was only a goodbye for now.
Sweetiebelle walked down the road, and went straight into the market place of town. It lightened her spirits a little, just to see the many residents of ponyville selling and buying their goods in the crisp fall air in the day. She was glad to be walking down a street with friendly faces instead of a dark decaying forest. Even the Everfree forest felt safer then that place. The more she thought about that awful forest, the more it reminded her of that dream with her and Rarity.
It really was a shame that it was all a hoax. It would make Sweetiebelle’s life a lot easier for her, if her sister would just let off some steam. Who cares if there is inspiration to be found, it’s not going anywhere. Sweetiebelle would most likely benefit from her, if Rarity is willing to open herself up to the filly. Sweetiebelle then felt a dryness in her throat, as well as a heated feeling in her forhead.
She eventually did make it back home trying to shrug off the dream, which was easier said then done. The unicorn was starting to feel more ill. She continued to ignore the sensations; but like most illness’s, it was no surprise for it to get worse. This and the weight of her luggage wasn’t making things any easier for the fily.
She came to the door step with her load of belongings on her, and opened the door for herself. Sweetiebelle entered, closing the door behind her, and moped on over to the purple sofa. She looked at the clock on the wall; 10:30, it wasn’t even noon yet and she felt like she had been up all night. The filly then felt a terrible headache strain her head, with an awful head cold to follow.
She let out a painful groan, notifying Rarity that her sister was home from the slumber party. The fashionista was in her upstairs bedroom and hard at work, putting the finishing touches on a dress that she had been attempting to perfect all weekend. Rarity dropped her focus when she heard the door close downstairs. She then responded,” Sweetiebelle, is that you?”
Sweetiebelle continued to moan,” yeah.*cough cough* it’s me.”
“How was the sleep over?” Sweetiebelle was too fixated on the pain on her head to answer. Rarity then put down what she was doing on went down stairs to properly welcome her sister home. “Sweetiebelle?” she called out. She came through the opening of the stairway, and saw her sister on the luxurious sofa. Rarity saw the baggy eyes, the slouch of misery, and the groans of pain as signs that she was not feeling good at the slightest bit.
“Oh there you are darling,” she said running to her side,” Oh my, you look terrible honey.” She placed her hoof on the kid’s forehead and felt a surprisingly hot spot below her mane line,” Your burning up, poor thing.” Sweetiebelle moaned once more turning herself on the sofa pads. Rarity ran to the kitchen and grabbed a wet rag with her magic. She came back and then quickly applied it where it burned. “You were so healthy yesterday when you left, I would never expect you to come down with something.”
Sweetiebelle felt the cold rag cool her head down just a little, but the cramp in her sides still remained. “There there,” she used her aura on Sweetiebelle and lifted her up into the air.” Don’t say another word Sweetiebelle, let me handle this.” The unicorn floated the little one up with her magic. Sweetiebelle was glad that she wasn’t walking anymore at the moment, but this started to feel familiar to her. Rarity continued up the stairs, and soon into the big sister’s own bedroom. Rarity rushed Sweetiebelle into her bed, quickly pulling the covers over her body.
“Now you just relax dear,” Rarity said,” I’ll go get the thermometer.” She ran out the room , leaving Sweetiebelle there.
Sweetiebelle had no clue that she was this ill, but more surprisingly, Rarity actually reacted to her ailment with lots of concern. Then again, Rarity had taken notice to whatever sickness she had in the past. But there was something in Rarity’s voice that was a little bit… off to Sweetiebelle. It was as if there was something that she would never have expected her to do.
Maybe she had stayed up late working, and she was just very stressed out from all the working that she did. That dress must have taken many hours to get right. It possibly set her back longer with all those fine little details that she had to perfect, just to get the customer’s satisfaction.
Rarity came back to the room carrying a thermometer, as well as an ice bag with her magic. Sweetiebelle watched her stick the thermometer into the back of her mouth, trying to get the temperature of her burning white head. Rarity removed the device, seeing that she had a fever of 101 degrees fahrenheit. She then applied the ice bag on her noggin to cool her off some more,” I didn’t expect you to be coming down with anything at all.” She stopped to reconsider the thought,” must be the start of cold and feather flu season. You know how unpredictable these things are?”
Sweetiebelle tried to talk but her mouth let out a cough instead. No matter how hard she tried, nothing could get past her lips. Her voice was very dry, and began to feel a little bit sore. Sore throat perhaps? This case of the flu was worse than Rarity thought.
“Oh, don’t try to speak dear,” she explained seeing a glass of water sitting on her night stand, ”Here, drink up.” She took the glass up and put to her sister’s mouth. The filly drank it up, and felt her throat feel quenched and moisted like water on dirt. The throat remained sore as ever, but at least she could talk now.
“Thanks,” she finally said looking at the manikin behind Rarity,” Is that the dress you’ve been working on?”
Rarity turned her head,”Why yes, yes it is Sweetiebelle i-.”
“Let me guess,” Sweetiebelle interrupted with a sly look,” It’s your latest creation and you were probably going to over express your feelings about it.”
The answer managed to surprise Rarity. It was as if her sister was spot on with what she was about to say, as if she was some sort of mind reader. She went for a subject changer,” Um say, now that this crisis has been averted,” she turned back to the bed.” I want to have a little chat with you.”
These words felt like dejavou to Sweetiebelle,”Um, sure?”
“Well, first off, how was the slumber party?” more words that were familiar to her. She then remembered exactly where she heard them. It was the dream all over again. Sweetiebelle started to panic a little thinking that she was really dreaming, and was really in some sort of danger. Rarity saw her begin to glow beet red around her cheeks. “Sweetiebelle what’s wrong, speak to me darling.” Rarity said approaching the bed. Sweetiebelle began to sink back into her pillow in fear. The filly’s face was all the way into the pillow, and Rarity was thinking that she was becoming a little bit dramatic.
“Now come now Sweetiebelle,” she said,” you’re acting like I’m going to gobble you up like some uncivilized hideous spider.” Ironically, that’s exactly what she was thinking. Sweetiebelle began to shake a little. Rarity gave a concerning look, thinking that Sweetiebelle be suffering from a fever with madness attached. Sweetiebelle began to calm down for Rarity.
“Sorry,” Sweetie said,” I really didn’t sleep well last night. Or at all really.”
“I could tell from the bags in your eyes. What did you even do last night?”
“ You’re not gonna believe me when I say this,” she felt the haze shroud her thoughts, forcing her to lose track.” Maybe I should tell you later*cough*. I don’t feel like myself right now.”
Rarity withdrew from her sisters space,” Alrighty dear. Now, what was I going to say?” she murmered to herself. ”Oh yes, I wanted to talk to you about you’re cutie mark sweetie, and I was wondering if you had an interest in fashion still?”
Sweetiebelle looked at her sister with caution,”yes?”
“Well over night, while I was working on that dress, I never thought about this until now.”
“What is it?”
“I was wondering if I could help you achieve that goal of yours by giving you some pointers. You know, a good steer in the right direction if you may.”
Sweetiebelle thought those words through real quick. She did make that same exact offer in her dream, only with different words. Was she sure that she escaped the portal in time, or were they a second off. It was eerie how accurate that dream was in telling the future. Everything looked safe to her, and she knew for a fact that she was wide awake.
Sweetiebelle then tried to answer that, but she felt like sleeping where she was. The soft matress and the pillows against her head made the flu a lot less painful for her. Rarity then said,” I guess you can answer that later, but it does look like your interested so I can take that as a yes I suppose.” Sweetiebelle nodded,” I guess I should leave you alone then. I’ll let you rest in my bed until you are all better.” She walked away from her sister, only to stop at the doorway.” And just think; when you’re all better, you’ll be a real fashionista just like me. I’ll teach you every trick in my book.” She then processed what she said,” well, most of them at least.”
Rarity left the room to leave her sister at rest. The filly began to set all of her thoughts aside, and started to ease her mind from what she would be learning in the very near future.
--:--
Meanwhile at a different part of town, Scootaloo was still on her way back to her home. She was walking down the streets of down town by herself, with the company of many familiar faces as she passed by. Everypony was minding their own business as usual, greeting each other, and moving on with their day with whatever they had planned for that morning. Scootaloo was just glad that there were actual ponies there, and she wasn’t the only one in town. It was eerie for her to think of it actually happening, but it was most likely not going to happen any time soon. She wanted to just go home and rest easy. The Pegasus wished that she was in bed right now, and wanted to rest her sleepy head.
Soon after a while, Scootaloo did eventually make it back home without any problems. She felt like rushing through the door and resting on her bed, but she felt too tired to try it. Besides the feeling of deprivation, Scootaloo had something else on her mind but couldn’t put a hoof on the thought.
She entered her own home through the front door, and too her surprise her parents were there. They sat on the couch, minding their own business and reading the morning paper. They looked at her and were pleased that she had came back from the sleep over. Scootaloo wanted to tell them how it all went, but Scootaloo didn’t expect them to believe what she went through last night. Scootaloo then walked through the house until she came into her room.
Scootaloo felt like collapsing on the floor as she dropped her saddle bags of her body with a loud thud. She felt herself become lighter when the bags came off. She walked up to her bed, and jumped into the covers from where she stood. Scootaloo felt the clean bed sheets bring her the comforts of home to her. Oh how she felt more relief enter her body. The pegasus felt herself starting to relax, but she felt something still troubling her mind.
She was home safe and sound, everypony was still in town, what could possibly be missing. She then began to think about that dream once more, and that was what’s troubling the poor soul. That dream was the greatest thing she’d ever experienced in her life. Everything that Rainbow dash did for her, felt like the sisterly bond that she had always wanted in her life. She wished that it all came true (except for the disappearance of everypony) and she really wished that RainbowDash would one day teach her how to fly. After thinking about that wish, Scootaloo looked at her own wings and pitied their shrimp size.
She then looked out the window, and into the cloudy sky where all the pegasi soared around at. She hoped that one day she would be able to soar through the clouds with ease just like them. She didn’t care how fast she could go, she wanted her body up in the air, and her wings gliding through the breeze. She began to feel doubt blot out her hopes. She had been made fun of by Diamond tiara and Silver Spoon countless times recently, and they were right. If she was an earth pony she wouldn’t have this doubt haunt her, but she would probably not put Rainbow Dash high on the pedastel either.
Scootaloo only wished that her wings could grow bigger and stronger, but apparently that wasn’t happening any time soon. She laid herself into bed and looked to the ceiling. She pushed all those thoughts out of her head for a while and tried to sleep her troubles away. She tossed and she turned as she tried to forget, but she couldn’t get anywhere close to snoozing. She still had her own doubts hovering above her head just to bother her, and Scootaloo couldn’t forget about it easily.
The filly wasn’t going to let the thought ruin her day this early in the morning. Just when she was about to try sleeping once again, she heard a knocking at the front door. It was probably just the mailpony with the mail or a package or something like that. She then heard the door creek openm when one of her parents opened it. Scootaloo was then called out by her mother,” Scootaloo!” she called,” Look who’s here!”
Scootaloo sat up in her bed, and tried to leave it with the little anticipation she had. It was probably one of the CMC’s to come and check on her. But before she could assume any more as she made her way to the dorr, RainbowDash came in through the doorway. She was smirking at the orange Pegasus as her greeting,”Hey kid, what’s up with you today?”
“Oh hey.” She said with her heart lifting up.
Scootaloo had always expected Rainbowdash to somehow appear where ever she went (either that or she liked to pursue the role model) but very rarely does she ever come to her house and have a face to face talk. Scootaloo didn’t know what to say to her. “I guess you didn’t expect me to come on by to your house squirt, did ya?” The Pegasus took the words straight out of the filly’s mouth.” I heard from your mom that you just came back from a slumber party, how’d that go?”
Scootaloo let out a sigh when she thought about it,” It was alright, I guess. I feel kinda tired right now.”
“Stay up late partyin’?”
“Well, not exactly.” She yawned out.
“Sleep well?”
“No.” Scootaloo yawned again, and felt a rumbling in her stomach. She was starting to become hungry again. Guess all that crumb that she was force fed was starting to vanish. Even though she was stuffed like a turkey hours ago, the crumbs were no longer satisfying her hunger and it was time for her to eat something. Some breakfast should do the trick. “I sure am starving.” She said.”Guess my stomach can’t go on forever after being stuffed with bread.”
RainbowDash raised an eye,”Bread?”
“It’s a long story,”she yawned again.
The cobalt Pegasus gave her a little noogie,“Come with me Scoots,” RainbowDash said leaving towards the door,” I want to take you to a brunch at the café.”
“Brunch?” Scootaloo said shaking her head.
“Yeah,” She replied,” I’m not that hungry myself, but if I buy it would you eat it?”
Scootaloo wanted to nod at the idea, but she felt that mysterious sensation that was dejavu. “Sure,” she simply said. She then went into the hall way, a little bit uneasy, and followed RainbowDash out the door. Dash turned to the parents for some aproval,” just takin’ scoots out for some brunch. Don’t worry, it’s on me.”
The parents smiled in approval, and adorded that their daughter was being offered quality time with her. They have heard plenty of good things about her, or at least from what their daughter constantly talked about (which was either how awesome she was or why she’s the best flyer in equestrian.) Without further hesitation, the two pegasi walked out into the open and closed the door behind them. As the two crossed the grass of the front lawn, Rainbowdash said,” So anyway Scoots, I just had an idea.”
Scootaloo stopped and looked up to her, with a sudden gut feeling that she knew what was coming “yes?” she responded.
“Well, knowing that I’m the greatest flyer in ponyvile, and seeing you as my number one fan. I just had the coolest idea. What if I, Ms. Rainbow daring Dash, could personally help you with your flying.”
Scootaloo began to knock the dust out of her ears,” You what?”
“Help you out squirt.” She clarified.
That’s what Scootaloo thought she said,” YOU want to help me?”
“Sure, why not.”
Scootaloo knew exactly where she that offer. It too came from her dream. She couldn’t believe that it really happened to her, and that her dream predicted it. She didn’t flip out like Sweetiebelle did, but it was awesome that it actually happened. Just to make sure, she said,”really?”
“Really really.”
“Like, no strings attached, your not pulling my hoof, for reals?”
RainbowDash rolled her eyes smiling,” Yes Scoots, I’m serious. You’re getting all sweaty on me today.” She looked into her baggy eyes,” Guess that must be the lack of sleep huh?”
Scootaloo didn’t want to talk about it since it was unexpected, and just happened last night. Rainbowdash gave a concerned look, pressuring her to give an answer. She gulped and said,” yeah about that, this kinda happened last night. It was kind of a dream, and kinda real life.”
“Dream? Was I in it?” she asked with sarcasm.
“Actually yeah.”
Dash began to blush out a little,” Really, cause any dream with me makes it awesome. Just sayin’.” The two resumed walking out of the yard, and made their way downtown to the town’s café. On the way there, Scootaloo told her every detail of her dream as well as her memory of what happened after that. When Scootaloo passed the part with the dwellers and onward, RainbowDash assumed that it was all one big dream. The story ended as they sat down at one of the outside tables.
“Wow.” She said,” What a dream. I’ll admit it, even if I wasn’t in it, that dream was so awesome.” Dash then looked at her flank,” Maybe you’ll get a cutie mark in awesome story telling. Now what part of that was real life exactly?”
Scootaloo smiled, knowing that the Pegasus would say something like that,” the second half was real life.”
RainbowDash was surprised and full of denial. “What?”
“It’s true,” she yawned,” you’ll probably won’t believe this, but I did go into some parallel dimension in Applebloom’s room. Applejack saved us, and there was some red skull at the end.”
Rainbowdash was still in amazement “That all happened to you last night?” She looked into Scoot’s baggy eyes,” No wonder you look so awful.”
Scootaloo then said,” It’s ok Rainbow, you don’t have to believe me. I’m probably tired and full of it today.” She yawned again.
“No no,” she insisted,” I’ve seen a lot of things in this world that are pretty freaky, and they get weirder every time.” Scootaloo shrugged at her point.” But hearing this, I say it’s legit.”
Scootaloo layed her head on the table,” yeah, you don’t have to take my word for it. Just ask Applebloom, Sweetiebelle.” She yawned a big one.” Heck, ask Applejack, she wouldn’t lie to you.” Scootaloo lost consciousness, snoring and drooling on the table.
“Scoots?” Rainbowdash said as the waiter came by.”You there kid?”
“Hello,” he greeted,” may I take your order?” He saw Scootaloo sleeping on the table,” Oh, should I come back later?”
Rainbowdash looked at the filly as she snoozed, and turned to the waiter,” Can we get something to go please?”
--:--
With the two CMC members sleeping easy, Sweet Apple Acres was no different. Everything on the apple farm resumed to the way it was after shrugging off the events of last night. Everypony minded their own business as they each did their part of the farm. The events of the night before left a positive impact on the apples, and made their work feel easier for the day.
Applejack was glad to be working again. The red skull she faced was truly the most frightening thing she ever faced, but it stuck in the back of her head as the scariest thing she had ever stood up against. She was satisfied with how everything turned out and didn’t see that night as a tragedy at all. She wouldn’t even call it an averted crisis, but a grand adventure to pass down the line of the Apple clan.
From the start, her overconfidence overshadowed what she was up against. The spider was only the taste of what she was up against. But after taking on the lair of the dwellers, her confidence began to shine through. It wasn’t the confidence that she got from going in and being brave through it all naturally, but was the confidence from the faith from others, and willing to stay strong for your loved ones. That was the way to pull through. That was the real light to cut through the darkness.
It was now the sun set hour, and the Apples finished a tasty meal. Applejack decided to clear off the table. She put the left overs in the fridge and took the dishes to the sink. She washed every spec of food away from every plate and glass, and set them on the rack to dry. It was a very pleasant evening on the farm. The sky was just now starting to clear up after a whole day of over cast. It was quite nice to see it all from the kitchen window, with the light giving a calm reassurance that everything was fine.
Grannysmith then came to the kitchen, she looked at Applejack who was just drying the last of the dishes. “Hey Applejack, can you go check on Applebloom, you know talk.”
Applejack put down the rag,” Why’s that granny?”
“Well, she’s been looking kinda lonely sitting out on that hill. I reckon that somethin’ must be a botherin’ her.”
Applejack walked up to the window, trying to look past the sunset’s glare. Off in the distance, she could see Applebloom staring off into the sky, with the wind blowing past her mane. “Wasn’t she a little bit more cheerier while she worked today?”
“Well yes, she smiled while she tended all of her chores. But now she’s all sad and alone for some reason.”
Applejack scratched her chin,”Huh, now that you think about it, she didn’t look too happy while she ate her supper now did she?”
“I wonder whats rattlin’ her chain then? And I wonder why now?” asked Granny Smith.
Applejack had a good feeling what she was moping about,”I’ll go talk to her. You don’t mind doin’ the dishes now do ya?”
GrannySmith nodded,” I’ll take care of this. Go talk to Applebloom.” Applejack to this as her leave, as Granny Smith took over with cleaning the rest of the kitchen.
Applejack left through the front door and was hit with a gust of wind. She felt a chilly breeze force her back in. “Hoo! It’s getting’ mighty nippy out here.” She said pushing against the wind. She then walked on over where Applebloom was sitting. The filly appeared to be looking up at the stars that were beginning to come out for the night. The twilight began to ease her troubled mind a little more, while she was thinking about the one thing she never had; parents. Applejack continued to watch from afar.
The dream she had, made the couple feel so real to her. Like they were the parents that she always loved. There was nothing else that could fill the gap in Appleblooms heart, then to see their faces once again. Even if it was one time, it would ease her mind that they were able to be together again. Applejack stood back a little, giving Applebloom some space. She knew exactly what was troubling her, since she was there to hear her talk in her sleep. She thought about the times she was yelling to wake her up. Applejack felt guilty that she had to wake her sister up, and she would have if she didn’t value everypony else’s safety so much.
Applebloom then saw a twinkle among the galaxy of stars in the darkening sky. She could see a faint image coming in. She recognized the two right off the bat to be her parents. One was the purple mare that she saw as her caring mother, and a grey stallion who was her supportive father. Applebloom looked at them in the eyes. The two ponies smiled back, as if they could see their daughter looking at them from the ground.
They looked like they were both happy that she is alive and well, and were also glad to see their farm running as strong as they remembered. The faces sighed, being thankful for what their family has contributed, as well as a good future for Sweet Apple acres. They knew that Applebloom would do great things one day. One day, she would finally receive her own cutie mark, and she would then discover her true place in the land of Equestria and beyond.
Applebloom began to raise a hoof out into the sky. She wanted to reach out to her parents, but they began to vanish away as soon as she tried it. Tears of abandonment began to fill her eyes as she felt the cold winds blew past her mane. Before she could cry them out, Applejack trotted over to her to bring her a little bit of comfort. Applebloom wiped the tears from her eyes, as Applejack wrapped a hoof around her back and sat down next to her. “You miss em’.” She calmly said.
Applebloom looked up at her, wanting clarification.
“You miss em don’t ya?” Applebloom nodded.”I miss them too sugarcube.” Applejack stared off into the sunset,” so what were they like?” she asked.
“What were they like?” Applebloom parroted.
“You dreamt about them didn’t ya? So what were they like?”
Applebloom looked at the sunset with her,” They were kind Applejack.”
“Anything else?”
“They were loving, supportive, and they made me feel right at home. We spent time on the couch just talking and bonding, like all good families do. Ma made me a plate of scrambled eggs with a smiley face made of ketchup.” The words reminded Applejack of her days with their parents.” And the best part about them was that they were right there beside me. They made ya feel secure and would always make ya feel safe.”
Applejack felt the warmth of those memories, and thought that her sister had a pretty good idea about them.” I reckon that’s just about the size of it. Sure there might be more you should know, but the fact that they loved you as parents, then I guess they really were our parents.” She felt the wind become stronger,” Are ya ready to come in?” Applebloom nodded, and then Applejack rose onto her hooves. She picked up her little sister and let her ride horse back. The two walked back to the farm house, as Applebloom looked back to the stars one last time.
So in the end, everything was all back in order. Sweetiebelle would soon be learning more about fashion and Scootaloo may finaly get her weight off the ground. Though they were about to be taught by professionals; there was no telling whether or not they would succeed, but that… is for another story.
As for the Apple family, they were able to sleep the night away knowing that the portal would never come near their home again. But even though it didn’t come back, this didn’t mean that it has ceased to reappear. Every single night, it has appeared and disappeared throughout the land, waiting for unfortunate victims to walk into the gate.
And as long as the gate to that realm continues to exist, nopony is safe…
-The End-