//------------------------------// // Bargaining // Story: Applejack's Misfortune // by SpunkyBrony //------------------------------// Bargaining: For the whole day Applejack sat pressed up against the mauled tree, her hat covering her face and occasionally drifting off and in from sleep and only responded when Big Macintosh approached with a gentle hoof. Big Mac noticed the wreckage of the tree but tried to not pay any attention to it, Applejack was in a worse mess. A lump had swelled in Big Mac's throat and his voice cracked constantly "Are you okay?" Applejack was quick to retort, passively exhaling her anger, "Nah, do ya'll think any of us are okay?" Big Mac couldn't respond to Applejack's question with his usual chipper and supportive attitude, if he was to answer it, he would be lying. "The funeral is happening in a few days, do you want to help with arrangements?" Applejack responded by turning away from Big Macintosh, making an effort to keep the hat covering her face. Applejack couldn't go inside after the drama and tension she had caused between herself and the others, "I guess I'll go inside then, please... please come in." Big Macintosh still waited for a response from Applejack but his wishes were not responded so he decided to take action, "She's not coming back, I know it, Applebloom knows it, so why won't you accept it?" Applejack maintained her quiet and turned state, Applejack had never turned away from her siblings and ignored them, it's how she was raised but it seemed so easy to achieve now. When Big Macintosh left, Applejack pulled her Stetson from her face, revealing her detached expression. Three hours had passed and Applejack had kept her turned posture but her expression had become desperate. Applejack pounced from her stiff position, several cracks could be heard as her bones adjusted to a more active position, Applejack dashed to Twilight Sparkles library, it was hard to make her way to the library as it was midnight and the moon was hidden behind thick clouds. Applejack constantly stumbled over her own hooves but finally she made it to the door and without knocking barged into the library, including herself in Twilights reading session. As expected Twilight had piled books around herself as if replicating young fillies building a book fort and spike was curled into a ball fast asleep but still gripping a wooden pole that was suspending a jar filled with fireflies above Twilight Sparkle, emitting a lime glow within the library. Twilight Sparkles reaction was absent, her mind was far too indulged to hear or pay any attention to anything other than the turning of the pages on the dusty book. Spike however was quick to react, the constant calling of his name for assistance had given him quick reflexes when he hears the slightest sound, asleep or awake, "What's going on?" Spike said as he jumped to his feet, a red claw mark was printed on the left side of his face and a stream of saliva had travelled down to his chin, "Oh... hey Applejack, how are you feeling?" Applejack ignored Spike's question and tried to grab the attention of Twilight Sparkle but was found with inconclusive results, Twilight Sparkle was so involved in the book it seemed her spirit had joined the book. Spike noticed Applejack's struggle to grasp Twilights attention and decided to whisper into Twilights ear the name of the visitor. "Ahhh!" Twilight screamed as soon as she knew a visitor was present, especially the particular visitor it was, "Oh my Celestia, are you alright? I heard what happened, everyone has." Twilight placed her hoof on Applejack and pressed firmly on her shoulder. Applejack ignored the same question and pressed onto more urgent matters, "Twilight." "Yes?" Twilight Sparkle wondered. "Ya know how you're a fancy magic user?" "Yes, what are you getting at?" "Do ya know any spells to bring ponies back to life?" Applejacks question was rushed and mumbled towards herself but it was still able to be heard. Twilight Sparkle was aghast with what she was hearing from her friend, the very magic was forbidden and punishable by imprisonment for life, "You do understand you are thinking about Necromancy? Right?" "Whatever it is, if it'll get Granny back it will be the end of my sorrows, my pain and frustration." Applejack was desperate for anything, no matter the cost, even if it meant Apple Acres would go. "It's highly illegal you know, the Pony who created it was put to death by dismemberment from Oxen plus it requires a contract with other worldly beings, usually deceitful beings that have no morals and no care for Ponykind." Twilight was heavily insisting Applejack rethink her options now. Applejack ignored any advice or useless requirements and continued her pleas, she was now holding Twilight Sparkle by her shoulders and now gripping tightly onto her, as if she was going to fall into an abyss, "Please... Ah'll do it, Ah'll agree, anything to get her back." Applejack dropped to her knees but still gripped tightly onto Twilight's shoulders, "Anything to make the pain go away... or stop forever." Twilight Sparkle couldn't help Applejack, even if she knew a few Necromancy spells for the sake of knowing them she wouldn't commit such a heinous act or condemn her friend to participate in the act. Twilight was now staring Applejack down with a ruthless and piercing gaze, "No, I won't do it." Applejack peered back into Twilights eyes through her blinding tears, "Please." The answer was quick, and messaged the answer with a louder voice, "No." Applejack couldn't contain herself, tears streamed even faster and she threw her face into Twilights chest but she wasn't met with welcoming arms. instead Twilight Sparkle pushed Applejack off her chest and floated her out of the doorway, into the middle of the street, "You must find a way to accept it." and with that the door to the library hurled shut, leaving Applejack in the dark and silent street. Applejack rose to her hooves and shoved the tears aside, if Twilight wasn't going to help her there must be somepony else that can help but it seemed that no Pony could help, at least not a higher power like Princess Luna and Celestia but Applejack remembered that a certain someone lives in the Everfree forest, a certain Zebra. Applejack spent the next hour traversing the Everfree forest, seeking Zecora's hut. Lights could be seen escaping from Zecora's hut and constant tufts of smoke flew from the window which was then followed by an explosion of a fluorescent colours. Applejack barged in just as she did with Twilight Sparkle's home and got straight to the point, "Ah need Granny back." Zecora still trotted around her cauldron, pouring in different coloured liquids and throwing in an assortment of ingredients, most of which were barbed and coloured a mix of purple and black, with the occasional nightshade grounded into flakes and thrown into the pot. "I know of your desperate wishes and needs" "Which is why I am mixing this assortment of plants and weeds" "Twilight Sparkle warned me ahead of your visit" "I hope you know what you want is extremely illicit?" Applejack heard the same explanation and facts from Twilight Sparkle and her pleas were rejected, this time was going to be different, "If ya know what Ah need then can you make it, Ah don't care what it takes, as long Ah get it." "I cannot perform any acts of Necromancy." "For I have not studied any epigraphy." "But, I know of a way to end your suffering and pain." Zecora snatched a red stained, glass vial from her shelf and dipped it into the cauldron, taking extreme precautions to not come into contact with the liquid, when the vial was full she grasped it firmly and held it in front of Applejack, but instead of handing the potion to Applejack she slowly poured the liquid from the vial. Before the contents could leave the glass containing it Zecora finished her rhyme. "Though, to drinking this potion, I would abstain." With that Zecora tipped the concoction onto the floor without breaking concentration on Applejack, the liquid crashed onto the floor making the wooden floorboards fizzle and dissolve with a heated steam. Applejack was shocked and horrified by the display and started to realise her only options were Necromancy that no Pony would help her with or ending her own life to be rid of her sorrows. Applejack was set motionless before Zecora, both decisions were so dreadful but it seemed to give Applejack what she wanted. Constantly Applejack looked to the still fizzling hole in Zecora's floor and was reminded of her life, of how her world seemed to fizzle away when a horrible event had been forced upon her. Suddenly the concoction stopped dissolving the floorboards and disappeared from sight leaving a huge gaping hole, filling the hut with absolute silence.