//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 Doctor's Say // Story: All These Years (Set in Stone) // by eLLen //------------------------------//                 “Applejack? The doctor will see you now.”                   With a nod to the nurse, Applejack pulled herself up from her seat and, after working out a creak in her legs, set off down the hall.                   “As I said earlier, she already met you when you were asleep,” Skylight said, trailing at her side, “She wanted to see you as soon as you awakened to make sure everything’s alright.”                   “I think we’re a bit late if that’s the case.”                   “Hehe. I’m sure she won’t mind us being a day late. In the end, we got here, eh?”                   “Can’t argue with that,” Applejack said as the nurse ushered them into a room and shut the door behind them. Now this is a hospital room, she thought as she looked about, remembering when she woke up in Skylight’s guest room. Although bare, the essential cabinets and bed that lived in every hospital room were present along with a few other knick-knacks Applejack wouldn’t even try to name.   Across the medical room, a white coated unicorn turned to greet them with a smile drawn on her lips. “You must be Applejack. Pleasure to meet you,” she said, offering out her hoof. Applejack tentatively grasped it.                   “Glad to meet you. You’re the doc that looked over me earlier?”                   “One and the same.”                   “Then let me just say thanks for that. I appreciate it, Miss…?”                   “Serenity. And you’re very welcome, Applejack. I’m just doing my job.” With a flick of her mane, she glanced to Skylight. “Good to see you again, Skylight. Everything is well?”                   She nodded. “Everything’s hunky-dory if I do say so myself.”                   “Mmhm. I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to see Applejack for myself. Is that okay with you two?”                   “Sure thing, doc.”                   “Indeed,” Skylight added.                   The doctor raised an eyebrow. “Erm, I mean just between Applejack and me.”                   “Oh! Right! I’ll just be in the waiting room. Sound fine, dear?” she said, glancing toward her friend. At the nod in return, she excused herself, careful to shut the door behind her.                   “So…” Serenity heaved a sigh, the contrast from her pleasantness just moments before catching Applejack off guard. “It’s true, then?” she asked.                   Applejack didn’t need more than a moment to know what she was referring to. “…Eeyup.”                   Serenity stood still, mouth pursed as if waiting for words that had caught in her throat, before putting on a sad, resolute frown. “I’m sorry, Applejack. I know this must be hard…”                   Applejack held up her hoof, causing the doctor to trail off. “I know. Trust me, I know. Thanks, but you don’t need to be sorry…” She sighed.                   “…No one should have to go through that. But I want you to know that everything will turn out alright. Everything happens for a reason –I’m sure of it. No matter what.”                 Applejack didn’t respond right away, instead, looking away. “You’re the second pony to tell me everythin’s gonna be alright.”   “And I believe that’s not a coincidence. All for a reason, see?” She cracked a smile, but it faded just as quick. “Stay optimistic, Applejack. No medicine will make you heal faster than a positive outlook.” Clearing her throat, she added, “Would you mind if we get started now? A doctor can’t have their patient running about if they’re not well.” Applejack only nodded.                   A short while later, Applejack had recounted what she’d told Skylight when they’d first met, more or less word for word. Serenity had nodded, occasionally nodding or asking for more details, but Applejack noticed that she seemed pleased. “A shot of drowsiness is the best thing I can administer,” Serenity had joked. Though, the doctor did take some amount of interest in Applejack’s blurred vision.                   Serenity trotted by her counter scattered with odd, cubic crystals. After taking a moment to look over them, she gave one a flick of her hoof. The winning crystal glowed a faint, pinkish hue before sending off a flash of light, leaving a lengthy, rolled up poster next to it. “Now, I’m no optometrist, but I’ve covered a general scope of… Something wrong?”   “What is that?” she said, wide-eyed and hoof jabbed out toward the cube.                   “You’ve never seen a... Never mind. This is, simply put, a storage container that’s bigger on the inside. I’m sure there’s a million magical terms to explain how it works, but damnit I’m a doctor, not a mage. It’s a fairly recent invention.”                   “…Oh,” was all Applejack had to say. She was no expert in magic, and a newfangled device like this was beyond lost on her.                   “As I was saying, I want you to tell me what letters you see on the chart.” Fully unrolled, she plastered the poster against the wall opposite Applejack with her magic. “Alright?”                   “Uh, yeah,” she answered, already parsing through the lines.                   “Great. Can you tell me what the… third line reads?”                   “F-L-D-E,” she recited.                   Serenity flashed an encouraging smile. “Perfect. Can you try the fifth line?”                   Applejack hesitated before having to squint her eyes. “Um… S-D… A-R… I.”                   “Close,” she said, “One more time, can you try the line below it?”                   “Mm…” She squinted and opened her eyes a few times in succession, trying to bring the letters into clarity. The knowledge that she’d usually be able to make them out nagged at her, but she pushed the nuisance aside. “E… That’s either an L or an I… Same with the next one… A… and N?”                   The doctor nodded. “Not bad. It’s not perfect, but it’s not bad. I’d recommend seeing a specialist if it doesn’t get any better the next few days.” Rolling up the poster, she set it back down onto her storage cube, causing it to disappear in a flash of light. “Well, Applejack, I believe you’re going to be just fine. As I’ve said, what you need is to lie down and rest. Oh! And make sure to eat and drink well, especially water.”                   Applejack nodded. “Yes, Doc… but what happens if my vision don’t get better?”                   “In that case… You’d probably need glasses. The fact that squinting your eyes during the test helped you means that it’s a focusing problem more than anything else.”                   “…Okay.”                   Letting the word hang in the air for a moment, Serenity set the cube back into place. “Thank you for your time. I’ve covered everything I’ve planned to, so… that’s just about it. I’ll be writing up an official report, but I deem you free to leave. Unless you have any questions?”                   “Uh, none that I can think of. Thanks, doc.”                   “Just doing my job. I’ll send everything to Skylight once I have it sorted, all right? She is the one you’re staying with, right?”                   “That she is, that she is… Uh, does that mean she’s payin’ for this checkup?”                   “Mmhm.”                   Applejack frowned. “Shoot. I don’t wanna make her pay for my problems. I’ll have to make it up to her. Pay her back even.”                   The doctor chuckled. “She probably doesn’t mind. Seems like she already considers you a friend. I hear she has quite a bit stored up anyhow.”                   “Uh-huh? Well, it still wouldn’t sit right with me to expect her to pay for me.” She shrugged. “I’ll figure something out. Thanks again, Serenity.”                   “You’re welcome again. Take care!”                   With a final nod, Applejack trotted her way out and back to an eager pegasus. After a few minutes of getting Skylight up to speed and finalizing the checkup at the front desk, their hooves met the dirt.                   “Glad to hear you’ll be fine!” Skylight chirped, “I had a feeling that you’d be fine, but still good to hear it.”                   “Thanks. Can’t say I disagree with you. The quicker I’m back on my hooves the better.”                   “But you’re on your hooves right now.”                   Applejack rolled her eyes before taking a moment to glance around the surrounding town. Her gaze stop to rest on the sight of the old castle looming over nearby rooftops. “It’s so strange seeing a town around here…” she muttered.                   “What was that?”                   She shook her head. “Just thinkin’ aloud. Said that it’s strange seeing a town around the castle there. Nopony with a sense of self-worth ventures out here.”                   Skylight shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. The town’s been here for as long as I’ve known it. Not that that’s very long, heh.”                   The two set off, making time and small talk down the gravel roads of town. As they passed by the ponies going about their daily routines, more than once they had to slow down when a passerby stopped for a “Hello!” to Skylight and her “new friend.” By the time they reached a salespony, Applejack had a dozen new faces running through her head. Though, she didn’t really mind. “Real nice neighbors you got here,” she commented, throwing back her head for a laugh.                   “It happens,” Skylight shrugged with a not-so-innocent smile.                     “Better later than sooner,” Skylight said, thinking of how she’d get the medical documents when they were ready. “I hate all that fancy paperwork. Too many words, too many!”                   Applejack flashed a shy grin at the words. “Heh, can’t say I’m much better. I usually just let my brother do it.”                   “I do the same thing! Except now that I live alone, I have to deal with it myself. Hehe.”                   The farm mare watched as an archway passed overhead, signifying the town’s last boundary line. The words “Village Green” were chiseled and painted into the wooden gate. Stopping a moment, Applejack glanced back at the quaint town. “...For being here for such a short time, the place sure reminds of Ponyville. Almost sad to say goodbye.” She turned away, setting a pace on the gravel road once again. “Let’s get a move on.”                   With a flap of her wings, Skylight bounded up next to Applejack. “Sure thing. But… can I ask you something?”                   “Shoot.”                   “What do you mean by the town reminding you of Ponyville?”                   “Mm, it’s just got that… down-to-earth feel, you know? Everypony plays their part in keepin’ it fresh and alive.”                   “Uh-huh.”                   Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Somethin’ botherin’ you?”                   “Huh? Oh, no! It’s just that… I wouldn’t describe Ponyville as similar to Village Green.”                   “…No?”                   Skylight pursed her lips as she glanced at her friend. “Say, Applejack? I know I was the one to suggest going to Ponyville, but why do you want to go there?”                   “Simple question, simple answer. That’s where I live.”                   “You live…” Skylight repeated, drawing a suspicious glance from Applejack. The pegasus cleared her throat before saying, “Do you mean you’re just planning on going home?”                   “Well, I reckon it ain’t gonna to be… as simple as that, but yes. I’m goin’ home,” she replied with a hint of a smile playing on her lips.                   Skylight, however, didn’t share the gesture. She cocked her head. “Applejack, I’ll be the first to admit I’m an optimist, but I can be a realist if I have to. Are you really expecting to return just like that?”                   “I’m not expectin’ that,” she said, “I just said it, didn’t I? But I know that Ponyville is and always will be my home even if…”                   “Even if what?”                   Applejack broke her gaze away to peer at nothing in particular. Her voice a whisper, she spoke, “…Even if there’s a new bushel of apples on the farm…” She stomped her hoof as she shot her eyes back up. “But I’m goin’ back. Simple as that.”                   Skylight only stared, conflict storming in her eyes for a few long seconds. “Did… you say farm?”                   “Ee…yup? Why?” Applejack responded, a note too high. What’s she gettin’ at?”                   “Well… there’s not any farms around Ponyville. Not that I know of.”                   What? “What?!” Applejack retorted, “What are you talkin’ about? There’s miles worth of farmland around Ponyville… right?” Despite the strength in her voice, she couldn’t hold back the cold feelings creeping up her spine.                   Skylight sighed. “Applejack… how much have you thought about your situation?”                   “Don’t you know?”                   “No, I mean like really thought about it. I’m sure you’ve realized that a lot has changed and that a lot of ponies have… moved on… but do you really know what you’re stuck in?”                   Applejack gulped. “I-I…”                   Skylight sighed again as she put her hoof on Applejack’s shoulder, each of them still keeping up the pace. “I don’t want to tell you this… but no one else will. You have to realize what’s happening. You have to expect everything to change and nothing to be the same.”                   “I…” She shook her head, a solid glint appearing in her eye. “I know that.”                   “But are you prepared for it?”                   “…”                   “Applejack…” Skylight said, “I don’t want to put you down, but I don’t want you to cling to… any false hopes.”                   The two of them went silent as they walked the dirt road, the telltale signs of civilization being pushed back by the trees of the forest. Even though Skylight was probably leading her toward Ponyville, Applejack didn’t need the help. She knew this path. She’d walked it eighty years ago.                   “Skylight… Can I ask ya somethin’?”                   “Sure.”                   “Whaddya mean by the town not reminding you of Ponyville?”                   The pegasus hesitated one moment. “It’s… different. Village Green is like what you described—rustic, dirty. The closest Ponyville comes to that is by having parks. The streets are paved and lined with sidewalks. Instead of wooden buildings and log cabins, everything’s built with brick and cement. And it’s busy. Real busy. Like a miniature version of Canterlot.” Skylight stared ahead as if searching for the town through the tree lining. “It’s the concrete portion of the Everfree.”                   She glanced at her friend. “Applejack, are you—Applejack?” she said, seeing that the earth pony had fallen behind. Trotting back to her, she froze as she saw her face. Applejack’s face. “Are-are you…?”                   Looking through blurry eyes, though not because of her vision this time, the farm mare heaved a choked breath. “I-it’s all gone, isn’t it?”                   “Wha—”                   “Everythin’!” Applejack spat, “I-It’s all gone! I knew I’d been gone for so long, but now I get it. Everythin’, everyone, everypony… they’re all… all dead, aren’t they?!”                   Skylight gasped. “Applejack! Don’t think like that!”                   “You said it yourself. Expect everythin’ to be different and nothin’ to be the same. Well, I’ve realized what I’m in now, and no, I’m not prepared for it. I-I don’t think I’ll e-e-ever…” Her voice broke as did her sorrow, letting the tears stream down her cheeks for the second time that day.                   “Oh no, Applejack, don’t cry. Then I’ll start crying and we’ll both be sad and… Oh, Applejack…” Skylight moaned, snatching the sobbing mare into a hug. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry! I’m sorry I had to tell you all that, and I’m sorry you’re feeling so bad, and I’m so, so sorry that this happened to you!”                   Through her hoarse, strained voice, Applejack managed out a single reply. “D-don’t be. S’not your f-fault.”                   Skylight didn’t respond; instead, she gave a last squeeze before breaking away. With a gentle nudge, she pushed up Applejack’s chin to look into her eyes. “And after all this, I want you to know something. Everything will turn out alright.”                   “…”                   The pegasus only nodded. “…Do you still want to go to…”                   “…N-no. I don’t wanna see none of it. I wanna go back.”                   “Alright then.”                   With a steady hoof, the pegasus pulled her friend to her hooves and lead a slow pace back to the town that was so much like home.                     Applejack found herself in a familiar position—in bed, on her side, curled up, and sniffling more than the common cold. The only difference between today and yesterday was that today felt… empty? Hollow? She didn’t know, nor did she care.                   Not wishing to hear her own voice crack and falter should she try to talk, she confined her words to her thoughts. This… this is happenin’. It really is. A choke escaped her ragged breath. Applejack had lost count of how many times the single phrase had repeated itself in her mind, a broken record with no one bothering to remove it, but it jolted her every time.                   N-no more distractions… she thought, thinking of how she’d managed to function so well all day. Seeing and truly knowing what you’re looking at are two very different things, she knew. Now full, unbridled realization had taken her.                   “…Applejack?” she heard Skylight say, followed by the door creaking open. As per request, the pegasus had left her in solitude with only the slightest hesitation. “I’m not going to bother asking you if you’re okay, but I need to know something…”                   “…Mm?”                   At the touch of a hoof on her back, Applejack craned her neck around to regard Skylight. Even through her blurred eyes, she could make out the sorrow etched into the pegasus’ face. Her eyes even had tinges of puffiness in them, but that only made Applejack cringe inside. She didn’t need anyone else taking her burden for her.                   “Is there anything, anything I can do to help?”                   Applejack could only stare. “How… how are you supposed to help?” she rasped before cringing at the bite that had slipped into her words.                   Skylight, however, didn’t bite back. “In any way you need. You say it, I’ll do it.”                   The displaced mare glanced away. She didn’t doubt a word that had come out of the pegasus’ mouth, but the real question really was, What could she do? Applejack shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t. I… I just wanna go home.”                   “To your family?”                   Applejack flinched. “Eeyup.”                   “Have you considered that some might be still be around?”                   “You said it yourself. No false hope.”                   She felt Skylight’s hoof set down on her shoulder, giving a light rub. “Some hope is still better than none.”                   “…” Inside her head, Applejack’s thoughts ran amuck. Gone, she thought, How could any of them be around after so long?                   What about Apple Blo—                   No. She buried the thought before it could fester further. I won’t even think about her. Applejack glanced back to Skylight, still ever-patiently waiting for an answer. There’s… only a few ponies I know that will still be here…                   “The princesses,” she said, “They’re still here, aren’t they?”                   “You mean Luna and Celestia?”                   She nodded.                   “Then I’ll get at least one of them,” Skylight stated.                   Applejack’s eyes widened. “Huh? Just like that? I haven’t even…”                   The pegasus shook her head. “As I said, anything you need.” With a grin poking up at the corners of her lips, she added, “You’re an Element of Harmony, right? I may not be a historian, but that seems important. I’ll be back before sundown.”                   “You’re goin’ all the way to Canterlot?”                   Ruffling her wings, Skylight flashed confidence in her eyes. “It’s not far. I promise you, Applejack, I’ll fix this as best as I am able. I promised you yesterday that everything would be fine, and I intend to stay true to my word.”                   “I… I don’t know what to say,” Applejack said, mouth slightly agape, “But thanks. If it means anything, thanks.”                   “Trust me, it does. Now before I go, is there anything you need?”                   She shook her head.                   “Right!” she said, turning to leave, “If you get hungry, feel free to raid the kitchen. Fairly well, Applejack!”                   “Goodbye… But Sky? Can I ask why you’re so willing to help me? None of this is your fault, but you’re goin’ out of your way to help.”                   Skylight shrugged. “Isn’t it just what friends do?”                   Then she left, leaving Applejack to wander her own thoughts. But above all, one thing nagged at her.                   How in the hay is she goin’ to be back by sundown?