//------------------------------// // Elementary Hearts // Story: Appledashery // by Just Essay //------------------------------// Rainbow shuffled up. Her ruby pupils shone in the candlelight as she gulped hard and murmured, "Hey..." Applejack sniffed, rubbing her puffy eyes. "Hey, darlin'." She cleared her throat, teetering slightly where she stood. On the far side of the room, ponies shuffled left and right, murmuring with one another. The shadows stretched, pushing the hazy figures further and further away. Applejack's ears drooped as she said, "It's... it's certainly a hoof-full, ain't it?" "AJ, I'm so sorry..." "Dun say 'sorry,'" Applejack said sharply, frowning into the corners of the place. "When ya put it that way. Ya make it sound... m-make it sound..." Rainbow bit her lip. Applejack sighed, hanging her head. "... ... ...I dun know where I even put my hat." "Oh! Uh... I-I'll get it!" Rainbow spread her wings. "No. No." Applejack stretched a hoof across the way, eyes glossy and bright. "Rainbow—" The pegasus was frozen in place, tense and still. Slowly, Applejack's features melted into a tired smile. "You've... you've done enough." She cleared her throat. "Stu tells me you done—like—over a dozen blazin' trips all over Ponyville on Apple Bloom's behalf." "Hey." Rainbow shrugged with a slight smirk. "They needed a fast pony to get stuff delivered here." "And they certainly found the best, didn't they?" Applejack's teeth showed in a cheeky smile. "Yer so kind... so loyal. I can't believe how lucky, I... I..." And, just like that, a pained grimace knifed through her muzzle. Rainbow tried not to wince. "Oh Rainbow..." Applejack held a hoof over her face. "I... I can't believe this is happenin'. I'm... I'm losin' her..." She sobbed. "I'm losin' my baby sis..." She wailed. "The poor lil foal who never asked for nothin' like this... nothin' at all..." Rainbow Dash trotted over and rested a hoof on her shoulder. "AJ... just... just buck up, okay? It's gonna be alright—" "No it ain't!" Applejack's tears briefly melted from a burning frown. "Y'all dun get it! When Ma and Pa passed, they had only so few written words to give. They knew Granny was gettin' on in her years, so they gave the job of plowin' to Big Mac and the job of foal-sittin' to me." "Well..." Rainbow gulped hard. "Sounds like you more or less took both of those chores on at full force, AJ." She tried a hopeful smile. "And if you ask me, you've totally done it all awesomely." "Dun make a difference if my little sister ends up in the grave before she even gets her cutie mark! Oh... oh Goddess..." Applejack wept into her forelimbs, quivering all over. "I shouldn't h-have left her from my sights! I sh-should have been m-more attentive-like..." "AJ, please..." Rainbow fought to keep her voice steady. Each weeping sound that issued from Applejack tore her to pieces. The words coming from her mouth were only half-conscious. "Don't... don't do this... I'm begging you..." "I can't h-help it, Rainbow..." Applejack looked up, tears streaming. "Family is everythang to me. And in my short life, I've seen more ponies leavin' us than joinin' us. I just... I-I just never thought that little Apple Bloom..." She shuddered, her emerald eyes reduced to pinpricks. "... ... ...for so long, I-I was fine with never bein' a mother. Cuz... cuz I had her." She slowly shook her head. "I had everythang..." Rainbow's lips pursed. "But... but I thought you always said—" "I lied." Applejack whimpered. "I ain't the honest pony y'all thank I am. I'm... I'm just so close to collapsin' all the time. I-I..." She was hyperventilating at this point. "Mmrff... now y-you know, Rainbow. And when it's all over, the rest of the mares will know." She clenched her eyes shut. "I just w-wish Apple Bloom could live so she could know... I love her so much, Rainbow. I love... I-I love..." Rainbow Dash gnashed her teeth. She didn't know what else to say or do, so she held Applejack close. Applejack threw her forelimbs around the mare. She was a sobbing, shuddering mess, and even still—in that most fragile of fragile states—it almost felt like it was Applejack holding Rainbow Dash instead. It shattered the pegasus from the inside out, which is probably why the following words began squeaking out: "Applejack... there's something I... I've been meaning to tell you." "What... wh-what is it, sugarcube?" "I... I just need to say that... that..." Rainbow's eyes broke open. Through a film of fresh tears, she saw the fireplace. Above the hearth, a family portrait showed five equines seated closely together, smiling. In the arms of a tiny orange foal was an even tinier yellow infant. The picture frame's gloss caught the reflection of Twilight and Trixie as they collaborated on a letter with Spike and Noir. Then, at last, Rainbow glanced across the way to where a limp figure lay on a bed. A red bow rested on the floor, loose and partially unraveled. A tight frown spread across Rainbow's jaws. "... ... ...I've got something to deliver." "Hmmm?" Applejack leaned back, rubbing her eyes and barely squinting at the pegasus. "Wh... what?" "AJ... listen to me..." She held the mare's shoulders. "I know everything might seem bleak now, but you mustn't lose faith. Apple Bloom's gonna pull through all this, okay?" "But... but she's—" "And you'll have every chance to tell her all that you've ever wanted to," Rainbow said, smiling warmly. "We'll all get to be honest with one another." "I... I wish I could believe that, Rainbow," Applejack shuddered. "I really wish I could." "You don't have to believe it," Rainbow said. She parted from the hug and backtrotted. "Just be." "If... if you say so, darlin'." Applejack looked aside at the group. "But... but I don't see how—" FWOOOSH! Applejack jerked back. A series of drapes swung to a stop before an open window. The pegasus was gone. "... ... ...Rainbow?"