A yellow filly rose out of bed to the call of a rooster at 6:00 A.M. Time to get to work, she told herself sleepily. She loped down the hallway down the dusty, wooden, staircases that creaked every time you laid a hoof on them. She passed the memory filled photographs of her family, pausing to wolf down a piece of bread as she walked past the kitchen counter. The earth pony pushed open the door and trod to the barn where she knew the rest of her family was working. Before she opened it, she heard a voice. Her big brother's voice. She knew it was very rude to eavesdrop on somepony's conversation, but she just couldn't help herself. Leaning towards the door, Big Macintosh's voice was just audible from the thick wooden doors of the barn. "- couldn't help 'em Applejack. The cliff was unstable. It's not your fault. It's nopony's fault." Apple Bloom gasped. They were talking about her parents. Another voice, much older, spoke "Applesweet and Apple Crush were fine ponies, an' let's leave it at that." Granny Smith said firmly.
The old green pony pushed open the door to find the sweet little yellow pony standing still with a sheepish grin on her face.
“What in tarnation are you doing by the door? You weren’t eavesdroppin’ were you?” Granny Smith asked. “Well…..I was about to come in an’ I…” Apple Bloom sighed guiltily. “I might have been listenin’” “Apple Bloom! It’s very rude to listen to somepony’s conversations!”scolded Applejack. Applejack got up from her chores and gave a paper to Apple Bloom.
“Can you take this down to the post office?” Applejack asked. “Sure” said Apple Bloom, happy to help with the chores.Then she took the letter and walked to It was a long walk to the post office, and she got bored and began to read the letter. It was in Applejack’s hoofwriting. Dear Apple Fritter,
I am sending this letter to confirm your visit to Ponyville. It is a beautiful town and everyone at the barn hopes you come! Also we might try to get lots of the Apple family here so we can do a remembrance of Applesweet and Apple Crush. Since it was my fault they died, I want to make a whole day filled with remembering my parents.
With all my love,
Applejack The filly thought about it. AJ never told me about how my parents died. It was always a mystery to her. Suddenly she bumped into somepony. The pony looked down at her. It was Rarity. “Oh! Excuse me! I’m so very sorry!” Apple Bloom squeaked. “It’s nothing darling, just be more careful next time!” the marshmallow colored mare said, smiling. “Well, darling where are you going?” Rarity asked. “Goin’ to deliver a note for my sister.” the yellow filly said. “Well you’d better run along now, and I must give this dress to Twilight, I promised I’d make her it! ” “Bye Rarity!” yelled Appleboom as Rarity went on her way. “Bye-Bye, darling!” Rarity said as she trotted off in the direction of Golden Oaks library. Apple Bloom realized she was at the post office. She pushed open the door, revealing a yellow tail sticking up from under a desk.
“Um… excuse me?” Bloom asked tentatively. The pony that was under the desk gave a start, and accidentally bumped her head on the hard desk above her.
“You’re Applejack sister!” the pony said, as she was still getting over her hard hit. The pony lifted her head above the desk. Apple Bloom gasped a little. The mailmare’s eyes were very strange. One of her yellow eyes was focused on her, but the other eye drifted to the ceiling.
“Um… Hi. Are you okay?” the filly asked suspiciously. “Okay? I am great! I just ate five muffins!” The queer pony said. “My names Derpy. Derpy Hooves.” she said, offering her hoof to Bloom, who took it hesitantly. Then the grey pony shook it so hard that Apple Bloom’s hoof was still shaking in thin air after the mare had released it.
“Well,” said Derpy. “What brings you to this fine post office?” She gestured around.
“Uh… I’m deliverin’ a letter to Apple Fritter.” Apple Bloom answered. “She lives in Dodge Junction.” Derpy took the envelope, nodding.
“What’s a member of the Apple Family doing in Dodge Junction?” The yellow eyed pony asked. “Isn’t that where the Cherry family lives? You know, the lot of them. Cherry Fizzy, Cherry Jubilee, Cherry Punch, -” Derpy was cut of by a polite clearing of the throat from Apple Bloom.
“ So sorry to interrupt you Miss Derpy, but I really do have to go now if I want to get back at 7:00.” the little filly said apologetically.
“Oh no, don’t worry about it, I’m a rambler.” Derpy said. “Alright.” she took the letter from Apple Bloom, stamped it, put it in a little box and waved goodbye.
“Bye Bloom! Hope to see you around!”
“Goodbye Miss Derpy!” Apple Bloom smiled at the mare. She went out the door and started the walk back home. Suddenly orange blur crashed into her, sending both of them rolling. When the filly rose to her hooves again and brushed the dust of her coat, she finally saw who was going at such a dangerous pace.
“Hiya Bloom! Sorry, I only saw you at the last second,” Scootaloo apologized. “Are you hurt?” she examined Apple Bloom.
“Hi Scoots. Dontcha know that going at such speeds could seriously hurt a pony if you didn’t see them?” the earth pony scolded. The orange filly looked ashamed.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be, I’m fine.” Bloom assured her friend. She cast a look at Scootaloo’s scooter. “Hey, Scoots? Do you can scooter me back home? It’s a long walk, and I’m really tired.” she asked.
“Sure!” replied the pegasus. Attached to the end of the scooter was a box. Bloom pressed the button, and it whirred to life, almost instantly making a cart that two fillies could comfortably sit in.
“You know Scoots, how can you possibly pull me and Belle in this thing and still move?” Apple Bloom questioned. Scootaloo shrugged. “It might be the engine that you installed last summer. I guess it still works. I like to think that I’m just super strong, though.” Scootaloo said, grinning. Bloom grinned back and hopped in the cart. “Take me to the barn, oh great and strong one!” she commanded. Scootaloo began to flap her wings and the scooter took off.
As the sun rose, the Apple family slowly awakened. It was a big day for Apple Bloom, it was open house day in her school. Granny Smith was at the door waiting for Apple Bloom. They walked out of the house together.
“I can’t wait to show you my classroom!” Applebloom said as she was walking to school. Soon the yellow filly and the green mare arrived at a red school house. They slowly went inside and Apple Bloom began showing Granny Smith around. “Wow, your mom is old.” said Diamond Tiara, sniggering. “She’s not my mom, she’s my Granny.” said Apple Bloom defiantly. “So where is your mom?” smirked Diamond Tiara. “Getting into somepony’s business ain’t right” Apple Bloom said. “Granny? Can I use the little filly’s room?” she asked. Granny Smith excused her. But Apple Bloom wasn’t going to the bathroom. She ran back home into a quiet corner in the barns and began to cry. Big Mac heard her. “Apple Bloom!” Big Mac exclaimed. “Big Mac!” Apple Bloom said loudly.
“I thought you were at the open house with Granny Smith!” he said, a frown on his face.
“Yeah, well, I left.” she said angrily. “Applejack needs you to help her in the apple orchard.” Big Mac said softly, and quickly left. Apple Bloom trotted off towards the orchard and began harvesting the apples, kicking the trees hard. Apple Bloom thought about what happened today. Although Granny Smith meant a lot to her, sometimes she wished she had actual parents. Then a quavering voice reached her ears.
“Apple Bloom, would you please explain why you left me at the open house!?” Granny Smith said angrily. “How could you do that to your old granny!” she exclaimed. Apple Bloom shrank down to the ground. “Sorry Granny Smith,” she said tearfully. “I…I just…” Granny Smith then smiled sympathetically. “Oh Bloom, it’s alright. I know just how you’re feelin’” the yellow filly looked up at her granny. “Y… you do?” Granny Smith nodded. “Now go clean up your face, all this crying has left your eyes red!” Granny Smith said, back to her normal voice. “Now everything in Sweet Apple Acres is back to normal.” Granny Smith said happily. “I was wonderin’ when that was goin’ to happen. “ Apple Bloom trotted into the direction of the house and sighed. “But it’s not.”
………… The next morning Apple Bloom got ready quicker than usual and burst into the barn. “Applejack, how did my parents die!?” she demanded loudly. Applejack was taken by surprise at her sudden outburst. “W… well, um…” “How did they die!?” “Y… you see, they… uh…” “APPLEJACK! Tell me! HOW DID THEY DIE!?” the yellow filly thundered. Applejack was saved from answering when Big Mac ran in. “I heard shoutin’ and came runnin’.” he explained. “What’s wrong!?” Apple Bloom blushed. “I was just asking sis how our parents died…” she trailed off into silence. Applejack frowned. “I’ll say she was doin’ a lot more than a lot of simple questions,” she said, a slight bite to her voice. “Well then,” the earth stallion said awkwardly. Then the two older ponies suddenly seemed to compromise, and then, at the same time, looked at each other and said, “We should tell her. ” then Applejack said, “We’ve been meaning to tell you for a long time.” “Eeyup. We have been keeping it from her for a while” Big Mac sighed. “I really want to know!” Apple Bloom pleaded. “I don’t really like talking about it…” the orange mare said. “But you deserve to be told.” Just then Granny Smith walked in carrying a basket of apples. “Hey Granny!” said Apple Bloom, a cheery expression on her face. “AJ and Big Mac were just about to tell me about my parents!” she beamed. “Oh were they?” Granny Smith said, raising an eyebrow. The cutie markless filly nodded. Both of her siblings nodded also. “Well, ok then. They were very good ponies and cared for everypony” Granny Smith started. “They were very fine ponies.” Applejack agreed. “Eeyup” Big Mac nodded. “How did they die?” the yellow filly looked up at her family as she spoke. “Well, it was my fault and lets leave it at that.” Applejack yelled as she stormed out of the room. “I didn’t mean to make anypony upset, I just wanted to know.” Bloom said with a gloomy face, though very surprised that the conversation went so wrong so fast. “It’s alright little one, lets get you to bed, you have had quite a day.” Granny Smith replied with a warming smile on her face. “Granny, it’s only 3:00.” the yellow pony said. “Oh.” replied Granny Smith, looking confused. “A could’ve sworn it was after dinner.” she said, squinting at the sun. “Well, that’s fine. Take a nap anyways.” Bloom frowned. “Anyway, you fillies can do what you want but I’m going to get some rest.” Granny Smith said as she walked up the crooked wooden staircase. The yellow filly looked up at her big brother.
“Maybe I should get some rest.” Bloom sighed. “Eeyup.” Big Mac replied. Bloom walked up the stairs and found that her sister was in the closet, crying.
“Applejack, is that you?” Bloom asked. “Yes!”Applejack cried. “It’s me!” she sobbed. “As… as the element of honesty…” then, taking a deep breath, began her story. “We… we were having the Apple family picnic… My parents had wanted to show me the sunset from the top of-” she ran up the stairs, Apple Bloom in pursuit, into her bedroom, and yanked open the curtains that hadn’t been opened for a long, long, time. “-that cliff.” she pointed to a ridge. Gulping, she started again. “ I was enjoyin’ the sunset, when then the cliff began to tremble a bit. Ma and Pa didn’t notice, so I didn’t fret about it. Then suddenly a part of the cliff began to crumble and I backed away, but it was too late. They fell off. I just grabbed Ma’s hoof, and Pa just grabbed hers. I had… had a lot of training, but I… I still wasn’t strong enough.” she paused, breaking into a fresh wave of sobs. After a minute, she suddenly stopped her tears and continued, now hiccuping. “My… hic… hoof was sweaty… hic… an’ they… hic… they…” Applejack stopped talking, tears spilling out of her eyes like a waterfall. Apple Bloom was left speechless.
“Apple Bloom, do you mind if I have some alone time.” Applejack said politely, still crying. “Okay.” Apple Bloom mumble, reluctant to leave her, tortured sister to cry herself sick. But she trotted out of the mare’s room anyways, now tears coursing down her face like dogs chasing after squirrels. ...............................
Apple Bloom went to bed that night spilling out her tears. She slept, having horrible dreams of crying faces and crumbling cliffs until it was four in the morning. She got up and began to write a letter.
Dear family,
I am going to find my parents. I want to say I am very sorry and writing this letter is very hard for me. Granny Smith, I want you to know that you were an amazing caretaker, always caring and fair. I give you all our happy memories. For Big Mac, I want you to know that you are a pony of little words, but a big heart. You were such an awesome big brother. I give you all our happy memories. As for you Applejack, you were there when I needed you, and you were brave to face the fact that our parents weren’t coming back. I give you all our happy memories and a favor. Tell everypony in Ponyville that I said goodbye to all of them, and thank them for me for their hospitality and their honesty, loyalty, kindness, generosity, laughter, and magic. Thank everypony for being amazing friends, especially Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
With all my possible love,
Apple Bloom (I can’t possibly tell you, though I have tried, how deeply I love you all.)
Then Apple Bloom packed a saddlebag with food, combed her mane, put on good walking shoes, left the note on the kitchen table, and walked out the door, taking one last moment to look at the house, where she knew her family would be waking up from any moment now. She swept her eyes over the barn and the apple orchard one last time, taking it all in. Tears were rolling down the yellow pony’s cheeks.
“Goodbye,” she whispered. “Goodbye and I love you…” ......................
Back in the barn, the Apple family was busy looking for Apple Bloom.
“Where could that little filly be?” questioned Applejack, pacing. Granny Smith just shook her head and kept calling the little pony’s name. Meanwhile Big Mac had found a piece of paper on the kitchen table.
“Hey guys, come an’ take a look at this!” he said, beckoning to the worried family.
“What is it!” Applejack said, rushing over. Granny Smith, a bit slower, came over too. Just when she came over, Big Macintosh’s eyes filled with tears. Turning his face away, he shoved the letter to his little sister. Scanning it, she started screaming.
“NO! NO! APPLE BLOOM!” she was hysterical. “WE HAVE TO GO!” she screamed, crashing through the front door, leaving a pony shaped hole in it. Granny Smith silently read the letter, then burst into tears. She glanced at her legs, then Big Mac.
“Macintosh!” she yelled at the stallion. “Get over there and help your sister!” giving a start, he wiped away his tears and ran through the door, leaving a bigger hole. Granny Smith then promptly fainted onto the floor.
................
Apple Bloom stood at the edge of the cliff, hanging tightly to her saddle bag. She lifted her hoof, ready to jump, when her sister rushed up to her, and held her hoof close. Apple Bloom pushed herself of the cliff with her hind legs. She was now hanging over the cliff.
“I’ll pull her up while you give me support.” Applejack said to her brother. “I’m very sorry, but I have to do this.” Applebloom said loosening the grip on her sister’s hoof. Soon Applebloom was only holding on to the cliff’s edge.
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack said, her voice trembling with fear, reaching for her sister’s hoof again. But Apple Bloom let go of the cliff’s edge, and fell.
Applejack and Big Mac returned to the barn. Granny Smith and Twilight Sparkle were sitting down together. Twilight was comforting the old pony, who looked like she couldn't take any more of this.
“I heard lots of noises and I was wondering what was happening.” Twilight said, breaking the silence. “Granny Smith was in a right state when I came.” she sighed. Then the unicorn looked up at Applejack. “I was just wondering if anypony was hurt.” Applejack eyes filled with tears. Twilight flattened her ears against her head and said softly,
“Applejack… Where is Apple Bloom?” Her tone was sad, like she already knew the answer.
“Apple Bloom is… She’s… SHE’S DEAD!” Applejack screamed at the purple pony. “She’s gone! My little sister is gone!” Applejack bawled, now crying buckets. “I’m so sorry Applejack.” She knew that there was no way she could comfort her miserable friend, so Twilight silently left the room and walked through the hole in the door. “I’m so sorry.”
…………………………
Applejack woke up screaming. Nopony came to comfort her. Apple Bloom was gone. All of Equestria was gone without her little sister. All the happiness she had held onto when her parents died was gone without her sweet yellow face. All was lost. Now there was nothing to do but weep.
…………………………
The faded pictures on the wall were talking to him. They said many things. How he could’ve saved her. How he could’ve run faster. How he could’ve…
…………………………
Applejack went down for breakfast. Granny Smith and Big Mac sat lifelessly at the table. As the family was eating the doorbell rang. Applejack went to open it. It was Diamond Tiara and Filthy Rich.
“Where’s Apple Bloom! We need to work on our project for school!” Diamond Tiara wailed.
“Apple Bloom is,” Applejack said, her face flushing. “Not here right now.” Diamond Tiara paused for a minute and asked,
“Well then, where is she? I need to talk to her!” she pouted. Applejack started breathing rather fast, and then stumbled. She wobbled uncertainly, her face paper-white, then collapsed upon the porch. The pink filly’s eyes widened. Filthy Rich ran towards her.
“Applejack?” she lifted her head. Her eyes were red and puffy, like she had been crying. How had the two ponies not realized that?
“Applejack?” the stallion called again, shaking her shoulder. “Applejack, are you alright?”
“I don’t GET IT! Just tell me where Apple Bloom is! I NEED TO SEE THAT BLANK FLANK!” Applejack bared her teeth at the filly, making her back off, and snarled,
“You will find that BLANK FLANK at the bottom of Crevasse Cliff.” She growled. “NOW GO AWAY!” Diamond Tiara backed away quickly and then rushed off to the cliff. Filthy Rich shrugged and ran off too. Applejack collapsed again, howling in agony.
“DON’T THEY GET IT!?” She screamed to the sky. “DON’T THEY!?” she thumped her hooves into the dirt. “CELESTIA, BRING BACK MY SISTER!” No reply. “LUNA!? … Luna? Celestia…” The mare saw a regal blue body just before her vision went dark.
………………
Applejack woke up in complete darkness. She screamed and flailed around, kicking and punching at the air.
“Hush now child. Thou art completely safe.” a soft voice called in the dark. Applejack’s eyes widened.
“Princess Luna? Is that you?” she gasped.
“Yes Applejack. Art thou okay?”
“Um… Yes. Is there a light in here somewhere your Majesty?” Luna chuckled somewhere in the room.
“Yes Applejack.” the room was illuminated by four floating bulbs. The earth pony realized that the room was not a room, and that it was just a floor made out of clouds.
“Uh… Princess… am I uh… safe up here? You know, because of… uh… I’m an earth pony?” Applejack asked. Then she seemed to realize that that was a rather dumb question, as she probably would have plummeted to wherever was below the clouds already.
“You uh… don’t need to answer that…” she said sheepishly. The princess smiled. Her smile faded as she thought.
“But we must get on to more serious matters.” Applejack nodded.
“I am so very, very sorry about your loss. I thought that you would like to know that Apple Bloom is beyond my reach, but that she is perfectly safe and having a good time.” Applejack frowned, looking confused, and asked,
“Huh? I mean, your majesty, how do you know this? I thought you could only control ponies’ dreams?” Princess Luna’s brow furrowed.
“Yes, but there is a small realm in which I can control in death also.” Applejack’s eyes widened even more.
“Does that mean you can talk to my sister!?” she asked, eyes popping. The princess sighed.
“I am afraid that that is not that simple child.” she said. “I can only talk to spirits that are still traveling to the afterlife, or are hanging on, waiting.” and glancing at the look on the orange mare’s face, she also added, “I am sorry Applejack. Your sister was quite eager to get to the afterlife it seemed,” Tears filled Applejack’s green eyes.
“B… but…WHY!? I thought she would’ve at… at least…” the earth pony exclaimed, even doubting herself as she said it.
“Child, I know. I do. She seemed extremely interested in going on to afterlife. I did manage to hear her shouting as she rushed into the doors of the afterlife.” Princess Luna paused, chuckling. “She made quite a ruckus, I do say, shouting about ‘parents’.” Applejack gasped.
“It said in her letter that she was going to find our parents, but she doesn’t even know what they look like!” said Applejack, confused. “She knows their names, but she was too little to remember them.”
“Didn’t thou ever put pictures of them around the house?” Luna asked.
“Never.” sighed the orange pony. “We were all tryin’ to forget them, put it behind us. That never did work out. We loved them too much for us to just forget about them like that.” The princess smiled sympathetically.
“I am sure she will find them. Apple Bloom is a strong and stubborn pony, if I do say so myself,” Applejack managed a watery smile. “I do think that she will triumph in her search.”
“Tha...thanks Princess. It means a lot to me to hear that. And, I’m just wonderin’, where are we? I mean, are we in just a cloud, or in an imaginary land, or am I dreaming?”
“No child.” Luna replied. “This is the dream realm of Agtaguclat. No time has passed since you have fainted on your front porch back at Sweet Apple Acres.” the earth pony nodded.
“Uh… it’s been lovely an’ all, but can I go back home? This place is kinda startin’ to freak me out.” She shuddered as one of the lights flickered, went out, and came back on again. Luna chuckled.
“Of course. I shall send you home now. Remember what I’ve told you!” Then the cloud and princess disappeared into swirling blackness.
