The Compendium Microfic Exhibition

by Compendium of Steve

MIssing You

All was silent in the old homestead as Applejack headed for her bedroom. As she moved down the darkened hallway, a restless mumbling reached her ears. Recognizing the sound from anywhere, she took a detour and stepped into one of the side doors of the hall, entering the room of her little sister. Apple Bloom tossed and turned beneath the covers of her bed, mumbling incoherently with tears in her eyes. Some discernible words came from her whimpering lips.

"Ma, Pa, where are you? Why aren't you home? Ma..."

Applejack frowned a moment, then leaned down and kissed Apple Bloom gently on her forehead, whispering, "Ma and Pa will be home shortly, sugarcube. No need to worry."

The filly stopped rolling about and slowly settled into a silent slumber. A relieved but sad smile filled Applejack's face as she watched her sister sleep for a moment, then turned back out of the room and closed the door behind her. Even after so many years it was still tough on the young one, Applejack thought as she proceeded down the hall to her room. In no time she got to her bedroom door and stepped on through. Breathing a sigh of content, she closed her door and turned to the bed, only to jump back in fright. Before her stood two other earth ponies: a strapping stallion with an auburn mane and a darling mare of golden blonde. Though Applejack was flabbergasted by their appearance, they merely looked back at her with kind, loving eyes. Eyes that she hadn't seen in a long, long time.

"...Ma? Pa?" was all she could say.

Seemingly unchanged from how she remembered them, her parents practically glowed with life in the dark confines of her room. There wasn't much time for gawking though, as the couple trotted by Applejack and out into the hall. For a few seconds she stood frozen with that look of confusion and disbelief, but then she violently shook it off and slammed the door open to follow the two ponies. Out in the hall, she looked to the other end to find her parents descending the stairs. Running to the stair landing, she looked down in time to see them heading out the front door, and immediately bolted downward in pursuit.

Out on the porch of the house, the entirety of the yard and outlying fields was enveloped in the darkness of the night, save for the radiant pony couple that seemed to glide over the ground. Without question Applejack gave chase, and in little time she managed to shorten the distance to only several yards, but they continued to elude her, looking back with those kind smiles.

Soon the pursuit ended by the fencing near the main gate, where the couple sank into the ground and vanished. Applejack skidded to a stop and fell to her knees on the spot where her parents vanished, distraught and at a complete loss. She then began digging frantically at the ground, choking between breaths as dirt was tossed about.

"Don't go! Why do you have to leave us? Apple Bloom needs you! I NEED YOU!"

Fatigue soon got the better of her, and Applejack let her legs fall to her sides, succumbing to sobs by the freshly dug hole. After a while, she collected herself and merely sat silent, then said,

"I'm sorry... It just hurts so darn much still..."

Solemnly, Applejack got back on her hooves and headed back home, where her family slumbered peacefully.

—out the dirt—>

Comments

[PresentPerfect]

What was she digging up?