Rainbow Dash has an experience that teaches her just how tough her friend, Applejack, really is.
Rainbow Dash has always considered herself to be the toughest pony in Ponyville, but when she is invited to the Apple family farm on a very sacred day she learns that her best friend, Applejack is much stronger than anypony ever knew.
Rainbow Dash flew through the air at a relaxed pace. She had been invited to spend the day with the Apple family and, according to Big Mac, this was a very special day for them. Rainbow did not know anything about the occasion, but she knew that Mac had seemed very somber about the event and she assumed she was to be invited for moral support.
Rainbow was currently flying over the outskirts of Ponyville watching as the ponies on the ground walked by. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and nopony seemed upset about anything. Usually when there was a problem for the Apple family, everypony in Ponyville was affected in some way and yet nopony seemed upset at all.
Rainbow wondered if she had the wrong day, or if maybe there was some miscommunication between her and Mac. Rainbow continued to wonder as she flew, completely ignoring the beautiful landscape she usually enjoyed. The beauty of the lush apple trees completely lost on her today.
The farm she flew over was massive and full of life. Most days she would stop to either enjoy the serenity of the land or to nap in the soft trees, their branches more comfortable to her than any bedding. Sometimes she would even take a few of the smaller apples for herself.
She flew close to the treetops, enjoying the smell of the apples, and the feel of the morning mist clinging to the leaves as she brushed against them. The metallic smell of rain filled her nose as she flew. She knew there was a storm scheduled for today, but she had taken the day off for her friends. Several pegasi flew overhead pushing the dark storm clouds into place erasing the beautiful day that had been.
Rainbow flew lower to the ground, deciding to walk the rest of the way. The rain was not supposed to start for another couple hours, but Rainbow knew that without her to help coordinate the other pegasus ponies would rush to get the job done soon. So the rain would begin whenever they finished preparing the sky.
Rainbow walked down the long winding farm road, the dirt felt cool under her hooves and she relished the feeling. She could tell by the way Mac was acting that this was supposed to be a sad day for the Apple family, but it was hard to be sad when everything seemed so ordinary and nice.
Rainbow walked for several more minutes, taking her time to arrive. As Rainbow rounded the last bend of the road she saw the barn, it's wide doors almost permanently open. She also saw that Granny Smith was not in her rocking chair asleep as usual.
Rainbow could hear talking from the barn and approached the doors, pausing before entering when she heard the discussion.
"I know, sugarcube." Applejack said to somepony else in the loft of the barn. Rainbow could not see her, but her words were clear.
Rainbow hesitated, unsure of whether or not to interrupt the conversation.
"And I miss Daddy." Applebloom's sweet, childish voice broke as she choked back a sob. "And I miss Mama, and I wish they was still here." she said, sobbing.
"It's alright, Applebloom." Applejack cooed. "Just let it all out."
"They were supposed ta stay with us forever, sis. Mama promised, she said she'd always be here for us." Applebloom continued to cry. "She said we was her world and she would take care of us forever and she didn't, sis. She lied."
"Now, now. It's okay. Mama tried, sugarcube. Mama tried." Applejack said.
Rainbow was listening intently, trying to keep her eyes from watering. She had no idea what brought this on, and honestly she did not know what happened to Applejack's parents. It was known all throughout Ponyville that they were lost in a tragedy, but nopony knew exactly what happened. The Apples never really talked about it.
"But Mama ain't here for us anymore, sis." Applebloom said.
"Mama is here, Applebloom. Ya just gotta know how ta look for her." Applejack said. Her voice never broke, there was no quivering. Applejack was obviously being strong for her sister, and still Rainbow hated the burn behind her eyes as she listened.
"Mama's gone though..." Applebloom was sobbing loudly at this point and it tore at Rainbow Dash's heart to hear it. "Mama and Dad, they're both gone and nothin' can bring 'em back."
"You remember them though. You can hang on to those memories, sugarcube. That's what keeps 'em here. Keeps 'em close." Applejack cooed to her younger sister trying to sooth her. Her voice was still strong and steady, despite how loudly her little sister was crying.
Rainbow Dash jumped when she heard hoofsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Big Mac looking at her with sad eyes. This was why he wanted her here, to hear this... but why?
"She's always been like that." Big Mac whispered. "Too strong for her own good."
"What do you mean?" Rainbow whispered as well, trying to keep her voice low so as not to disturb the crying filly.
"She's always been there for us when it comes to this." Mac explained. "Nopony's been there for her like that though. She ain't shared her pain or problems with anypony. That's why I wanted you here."
"Why me?" she asked.
"Because, I think you're strong enough she'll accept your help. She won't take no help from nopony, not unless they're tough enough to handle it." Mac said.
Then Applebloom spoke again. "You remember what Mama and Daddy used to sing to me when I was a foal?" she asked. "Could you sing it for me?"
Applejack took a deep breath and the barn filled with the most haunting song Rainbow had ever heard her friend sing. The sound of it brought tears to Mac's eyes and Rainbow struggled to contain her own tears at the sound.
You are my sunshine My only sunshine You make me happy When skies are gray You'll never know dear Just how much I love you Please don't take My sunshine Away
The song was short and obviously supposed to be happy, but Rainbow could feel the pain and sadness behind the words and she knew, the moment it was over, her friend Applejack was trying so hard to be strong for her family.
"Thank ya, sis..." Applebloom sniffed. "That always helps."
"Anythin' you need, sugarcube." Applejack said softly.
Big Mac nodded to Rainbow, tears still in his eyes, and he walked back to the house, no doubt to deal with his own grief. Rainbow stood and waited to hear more of the conversation between the two.
After several minutes of Applebloom sniffling, she finally spoke again, "Do ya think Mama and Daddy are happy?" the filly asked.
"I think they'd be real happy if you'd stop being sad." Applejack said with a chuckle. "C'mon, sugarcube. Don't ya wanna go play with your little friends, and stop bein' sad?"
"Yeah, I just wanted to talk bout 'em with ya sis.. I miss 'em both real bad." Applebloom said with a sniffle
"Me too, little sis... me too." Applejack said.
Rainbow heard the two sisters moving in the loft of the barn and decided not to let them know she had been listening. She flew just above the barn and hovered there until Applebloom ran under her heading in the direction of her clubhouse. Applejack exited the barn behind her little sister and smiled as she watched the filly run.
Rainbow landed silently behind her, causing her to jump when she spoke. "What's today?" she asked.
Applejack looked over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes slightly before watching her sister again. "Thursday." she said.
"No, you know that's not what I mean, AJ." Rainbow said stomping a hoof. "What's today?"
Applejack sighed looking down at her hooves. She kept her back to Rainbow as she spoke, "It's the anniversary of the day ma parents died." she said.
"Why haven't you ever said anything?" Rainbow asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggled to contain her emotions. "Why haven't you ever asked us for support?"
"Cause I don't need it." Applejack said. "My family needs me ta be strong, so I am. It doesn't matter anyhow, RD. I'm tough I can handle it and you-" Applejack stopped as she turned around and finally looked at her best friend. "Dash? Are you cryin'?" she asked, seeing the tears fall across Rainbow's cyan coat.
Rainbow threw herself at the other mare, wrapping her hooves around her neck. Applejack returned the gesture with a sad smile. "AJ?" Rainbow said, her voice breaking slightly.
"Yes?"
"Don't tell anypony I said this, but... you're a lot tougher than me." Rainbow said quietly. She had always known that Applejack had trouble asking for help, and now she finally understood why. Because she never really could before, but things were different now. "I'd be happy to be a wimp." Rainbow said, never removing her hooves from Applejack's neck.
"What?" Applejack asked, confused.
"I'd be happy to be a wimp. If you'll stop being tough for just one day... I would too." Rainbow said. "I know you've never had anypony to talk to about how bad it hurts, but I want you to talk to me... please."
"Rainbow..." Applejack sighed as she pulled away from the embrace. "I don't need to talk about it. I'm okay."
"No, you're not." Rainbow sobbed. "I heard it... in the song..."
"It was beautiful." Rainbow said, noticing Applejack's mouth twitch slightly. "It was wonderful, but I could hear the sadness in it too. You're hurting too, and you need somepony to be weak with you... for just one day... I wanna be a wimp, with you."
"Sugarcube..." Applejack sighed. "Believe me, I'd like nothin' more than ta be a wimp with you for today, but I can't."
"Why not?" Rainbow asked, finally stifling her sobs. "Everypony else is taking today to be sad... why can't you?"
"I gotta be here if Big Mac or Applebloom need me... they can't see me like that." she said. "I'm sorry, RD. I just don't have that luxury."
Then, as if in answer to Rainbow's silent prayers, Big Mac and the three cutie mark crusaders walked to the barn. "Hey, Applejack! Hey, Rainbow Dash!" the three filly's yelled in unison.
"Hey." Rainbow said. "What are you guys doing?"
"Big Mac was gonna take us to Rarity's, and then we were gonna have a sleepover." Scootaloo positively beamed.
"Eeyup." Big Mac said, looking meaningfully at Rainbow Dash.
"So y'all are gonna be gone all day?" Applejack asked incredulously.
"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded.
"You too, Mac?" Rainbow asked.
"Eeyup." He said, smiling.
"Alright... well I guess, we'll see y'all tomorrow." Applejack said, just as Applebloom gave her a quick hug.
"Love ya sis." the little filly said. Then Applejack returned the hug.
"Love you too, sugarcube." she said. Rainbow had to stifle a laugh at the unintentional rhyme. Today was not a day for laughing... or maybe it was. That depended on Applejack.
The two mares stayed in front of the barn, watching as the others disappeared from view. Rainbow then turned to Applejack. "What about Granny Smith?" she asked. She so hoped that the house would be empty today, save the two of them.
"She won't be back till tomorrow neither." Applejack said quietly. "She goes to spend the day with them every year."
Rainbow nodded, noticing the rain slowly beginning to fall. "So..." she said. "Do you-" she stopped as the other mare threw herself into a hug with the pegasus.
"Just... say it again... if you mean what you say, then say it again. Then I'll spend the day bein' a wimp with ya." She whispered. "Just... let me be tough... one more time today." her voice broke slightly at the last word and Rainbow felt a drop of water hit her cheek just below Applejack's eye.
Rainbow smiled a sad smile and returned the hug, burying her face in Applejack's neck. "You're tougher than me." she said.
A moment of silence broken only by a sniffle from Applejack, and then. "Thank you, sugarcube.... thank you."
Applejack, for the first time since her parents died, began to cry. She was crying quietly and the rain did well in hiding the tears, but she finally cried.
Rainbow snuggled her nose deeper into the other mares neck and allowed herself a few tears as well. She was glad that Applejack was finally letting it all out, but she was still sad for her friend. Applejack sobbed and buried herself into her friends mane, allowing her tears to add to the rain.
After several minutes of quiet crying, Applejack finally took a deep shaky breath and pulled away from the hug. "I ain't done yet, but... maybe we should get out of the rain?" she said.
Rainbow nodded and the pair walked into the house. After entering the farmhouse, Rainbow looked into her friends sad, beautiful, green eyes. "You wanna talk about it?" she asked.
"Yeah... but, let's go to my room... I feel weird doing it right here in the kitchen." Applejack said walking upstairs. Rainbow followed, noticing how shaky the other mares steps were. She was obviously nervous, but she needed this.
"Rainbow?" Applejack spoke, breaking the pegasus from her thoughts.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"What are the rules?" Applejack asked.
Normally, Rainbow would be lost at the question, however today she knew exactly what Applejack meant. It was easier for her to do this if she took it as a dare or a bet, so there had to be rules. "You have to be completely honest today, and you have to tell me everything that's making you sad even if I can't help." Rainbow said quickly, sounding almost as if she had planned her answer.
"And what do you have to do?" Applejack asked.
Rainbow thought for a minute and smiled. "I have to do whatever you want and listen to everything you say today. And I'm not allowed to leave until you say I can."
"And if I don't wanna be alone overnight?" Applejack asked.
Rainbow smiled and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Then you would have to put up with my snoring." she said with a wink.
Applejack smiled and pushed her face into the hoof. "Thank you." she said, a tear falling down her cheek. "Thank you so much..."
The pair entered Applejack's room. The room was small and had little in the way of decoration, but it was obviously home to the earth pony. The dresser held several pictures of all of her family and friends and the walls held several more photos.
Applejack sat on the edge of the bed and motioned for the pegasus to join her. Rainbow Dash took her seat next to the other mare and looked into her emerald eyes. "So," she said. "Why don't you start from the beginning..."
Applejack took a deep breath as a shudder ran through her body. Rainbow could tell she was still hesitant to talk about what happened, but she knew the farm-mare needed to talk about everything.
“One more thing.” Applejack said, her eyes closed and her head turned to the ceiling. She opened her eyes slightly as she spoke again, a single tear falling down her face. “Whatever I say here… it stays between us, right? No matter what?”
Rainbow smiled and placed a hoof on the other mare’s shoulder. “Of course, AJ. Just say whatever you need.”
Applejack turned her head to look into Rainbow Dash’s eyes and smiled a small sad smile. “Thanks, Dash.” she said, nuzzling her face into the hoof.
“Whatever you need, AJ. Like I said, today, for you, I’ll be a wimp.” Rainbow said pulling her hoof away hesitantly. She was enjoying the small act of affection, but she knew that today was not for her, it was for Applejack.
The other mare stared at the floor for several minutes without speaking. Rainbow guessed she was gathering her thoughts and preparing herself and she was willing to wait for as long as she needed.
“Well, what do you want to hear?” the orange mare asked.
“Whatever you want to talk about.” Dash said with no hesitation. “Anything you want to talk about… I’m here for you.” she said as she slid closer to the farm mare.
“Well… why don’t we start on the day I met my first friend....”
Applejack walked through the apple orchard, excited for her first ever day of apple-bucking. She stared at the ripe juicy red orbs tentatively hanging from the branches of the trees as they lightly swung in the early morning breeze.
She was eager for her mother to teach her how to apple-buck; she had been promising for months and today was the day she was finally going to teach the little filly. Applejack smiled as she broke into a full run down the earthen roads.
She saw a stallion at the top of the hill, kicking a tree. He was an orange earth-pony with a short, bright red mane and tail. He was an older stallion, but still large and powerful. The brim of his stetson fluttered slightly in the breeze as he gave a tree a hardy buck.
“Daddy!” Applejack yelled as she ran. “Daddy, where’s Mama?” she asked as she approached the large stallion.
Applejack’s dad looked down at the filly and flashed a slightly sheepish grin. “Oh, your Mama?” he said. “She’s in bed… sick today.”
Applejack’s face fell, “Oh,” she said. “That’s okay. You can teach me today, right?” she asked hopefully.
“Sorry, sugarcube.” he said, Applejack hated that nickname, because he only used it when he was going to tell her something she did not want to hear. “Without yer mom here, I gotta keep focused ta get all this work done. Why don’t you go play, and we’ll show ya’ how it’s done later, alright?” he asked it like it was a question, but she knew from experience that it wasn’t.
“Okay…” she said, utilizing her sad eyes, but to no avail. She sighed loudly before walking away slowly, hoping her father would change his mind and teach her today, but with no such luck.
Applejack walked to her favorite hill, the one she had always said she would plant her first tree on. She sat atop the hill for several minutes while she debated what to do next; she had no friends to spend time with and she did not care to go try to make friends with anypony from school.
Everypony in the school was friends with Filthy and she did not like him very much. She could always go and spend time with her mother, but it was such a beautiful day. She did not want to spend it inside.
“What am I gonna do today?” she asked herself aloud.
The question was answered for her in the form of a falling, screaming little filly. The filly fell straight down out of the sky and hit the ground with a large thud.
Applejack stared at the unmoving filly for a moment before blinking. “What in th’ hay?”
“Ouch…” the little filly said as she rolled onto her feet. When she finally stood, Applejack could see the little filly was a pegasus with large wings. Her coat was a shining crimson and her mane was a bright yellow, much like Applejack’s own mane. It was a short cut mane and tail, and she had bright red bands in her hair, keeping it in place.
“Are you okay?” Applejack asked approaching the filly cautiously.
“Yes, sorry.” The filly said turning to Applejack, revealing a beautiful, deep blue set of eyes. Her voice was soft and slightly melodic, as if she sang often. “I was just trying a new trick… didn’t quite work out.” she chuckled. “Sorry to disturb you.”
“Ain’t no problem.” Applejack smiled. “I’m Applejack, who’re you?”
The filly giggled slightly before answering. “I’m Rose… Phoenix Rose. It’s nice to meet you Applejack.” she said.
“Rose.” Applejack chuckled slightly, unsure as to why she was blushing. “That’s a pretty name.”
“Thank you, Applejack.” Rose said as she stretched her wings.
“I ain’t never met you before… where are you from?”
“I just moved here from Cloudsdale.” Rose said, folding her wings back into her sides. “I don’t have any friends yet.”
“I’ll be yer friend.” Applejack blurted. “I mean… I ain’t got any friends yet either…”
Rose smiled then and Applejack thought it was the nicest smile she had ever seen before. “I would like that, Applejack.”
“How old are you?” Applejack asked stepping closer to the filly.
“I’m eleven now. How old are you?”
“I’m eleven, but I’m turning twelve in about a month.” Applejack held her hoof out to the other filly.
Rose smiled at the outstretched hoof before bumping her own against it. “We are going to be great friends aren’t we?” she asked.
“The best!” Applejack answered with a smile.
“Were you?” Rainbow asked as Applejack paused in her story.
Applejack laughed for a minute. “We really were. We spent all our time together after that.”
“Where is she now?” Rainbow asked.
Applejack simply shook her head as a tear fell from her eye. “We’ll get to that.” Rainbow simply nodded and waited for her story to continue.
“About two months later…”
Applejack and Rose stood outside the farmhouse, staring at the massive doors intently. “You ready?” Rose asked.
“Eeyup.” Applejack said, stepping towards their goal. “On three.”
Rose nodded before stepping up to the door. “One.”
Applejack pushed the door open. “Two.”
Both fillies ran into the barn as fast as they could. “THREE!” they yelled simultaneously as they tackled the pair of ponies in the kitchen.
Applejack’s parents fell to the ground laughing as the two fillies collided with them, the hat falling from her father’s head as he hit the ground.
“What are you two doing?” Applejack’s mother chuckled from her spot beneath the two fillies and pressed her hoof against her daughter’s nose.
Applejack’s mother was a beautiful mare, who took after her family in Manehatten, with her traditional yellow mane in a short cut with a light yellow coat.
Applejack giggled as her mother poked her nose. “We wanted to surprise ya, mama.”
“Well, you most certainly did that, dear.” Her mother said as she pulled herself from the floor.
“I’ll say…” her father mumbled before grinning. “Maybe your brother would like a surprise.” he said.
“That would be fantastic, wouldn’t it?” Rose asked. Applejack simply nodded and the two ran from the room passing Granny Smith on their way.
“Where’re ya’ll off ta?” The old mare asked.
“Gonna surprise big brother.” Applejack yelled as she ran.
The two made it down the hallway to Big Mac’s room just as the door flew open.
Mac stood in the doorway smiling as the two fillies skid to a halt. “Nope.” he said with a chuckle.
“Darn.” Applejack said as she slid into her brother, wrapping her forelegs around his in a quick hug. “Next time we’ll getcha.” she said.
Big Mac chuckled, returning his sister’s hug. “Eeyup.”
“C’mon, Rose!” Applejack yelled to her friend as she ran away yet again.
“I’m coming!” the pegasus laughed as she ran after her friend. The two made their way outside and ran through the hills of the orchard both laughing as they ran.
“Catch me if ya can!” Applejack yelled over her shoulder, giggling.
“I can and will!” Rose yelled as she increased her pace, buzzing her wings as she ran. Rose flew forward as fast as she possibly could and tackled the orange filly.
The two landed in a giggling heap at the top of the hill in the center of the orchard. Applejack wrapped her hooves around the other filly and pulled her into a tight hug. She had only known Rose for two months but she already felt like the other pony was the best friend she could possibly ask for.
Rose smiled as her giggles subsided and returned the embrace as they lay on the ground. The two closed their eyes and snuggled closer together in the shade of a large tree.
“You’re a great friend, ya know that right?” Applejack asked the pegasus in her embrace.
Rose giggled as she pulled herself closer to the other filly. “You’re a better friend…”
Applejack tried to smile as she yawned. She opened her eyes to meet the beautiful blue gaze of her best friend. On a whim, Applejack kissed Rose on the nose quickly. “Thank you.” Rose said.
“Fer what?” Applejack asked, blushing from her previous act.
The other filly simply pulled herself closer to Applejack and sighed contently before replying. “Just for being you…”
The two fillies then fell asleep, warm in each other’s tender embrace and smiles on their faces.
“Things were always like that for us.” Applejack sobbed. “I miss her so much…”
Rainbow pulled herself closer to the other mare and draped a wing over her. “It sounds like you two were close.”
Applejack sobbed again. “We were as close as two fillies could get.” she said, tears falling down her face again.
“Do you wanna stop?” Rainbow asked. She knew that her friend needed to talk about what happened, but she did not want to push her.
“No.” Applejack said firmly. “I need to talk about it… Thank you, Rainbow Dash.” she said as she pulled herself more firmly beneath the wing of the other mare. “This is actually helping.”
“N-no problem.” Rainbow stammered. Where did that come from?
“I needed to talk about that though, cause she played an important part in what came next.” Applejack said, quietly.
“I understand… what happened?” Rainbow asked, absently stroking Applejack’s mane.
Applejack sighed almost inaudibly and Rainbow could have sworn she heard a bit of anger in the sigh. “Granny happened.”
Applejack opened her eyes and sighed happily as she saw that her best friend was still asleep in her hooves. She stared at the sleeping girl and wondered at the time. The sun had long since reached the horizon and she knew the two should head back soon.
“Rose,” she said, gently shaking the other filly. “Wake up… Rose.”
The pegasus eyes slowly fluttered open and she smiled before nestling her head deeper into Applejack’s mane. “Five more minutes.” she mumbled sleepily.
Applejack chuckled. “Ya done slept all day.”
Rose opened one eye blearily. “All day?” she asked.
“Eeyup.”
“Well… we had probably better head back, then.” She said, still not moving.
Applejack waited for a moment before speaking again. “Ain’t’cha gonna get up?”
“I should… but I really don’t want to.” Rose giggled.
“Well, we should…” Applejack said, also making no move to remove herself from the embrace. “I don’t wanna.”
Rose laughed for several minutes before finally pulling her hooves out from under the other filly. “Well, come on.” she said. “We really should get back. Maybe your parents will let me stay again tonight.”
“Your dad don’t mind, does he?” Applejack asked as she stood and started walking back towards the house.
“No…” Rose said, shaking her head. “He told me that it’s my time and I can give it to who I want.”
Applejack tilted her head in confusion. Rose’s statement was a strange one to say the least, still she did not want to say as much and offend her friend. “Well… it’s your time and you’re giving it to me?” she asked making sure she had it right. Rose simply nodded as her cheeks turned a faint red. “Well, I sure do appreciate it.”
“I’m glad…” Rose said quietly and Applejack thought she detected a bit of sadness in her friend’s voice, but said nothing about it.
The two girls walked into the house. They opened the doors to see Applejack’s parents and Granny Smith sitting at the table eating. “Glad y’all could join us.” Applejack’s father said with a grin. “Y’all have a nice nap?”
Applejack blushed. “Y’all saw that?”
Big Mac walked into the room then. “Eeyup.”
“Even you, Big Mac?” Rose asked causing everypony else in the room to chuckle.
“Come on. You two have something to eat before bedtime… I take it Rose will be staying the night again?” Applejack’s mother asked.
“If that’s okay.” Applejack said. “I mean we ain’t got no school ‘cause it’s summer.”
“You don’t have school.” Applejack’s mother said, sternly.
“Yes ma’am, that’s what I meant.” Applejack said.
“Well, you know Rose is always welcome here, dear.” Applejack’s mother said.
“I’m sorry, Applejack.” Rainbow said, interrupting the story. “I have a question.”
“Shoot.” Applejack said as she snuggled herself deeper into Rainbow’s wing.
“What were your parents names?” she asked. “I mean, all this time you’ve only called them ‘Mama’ and ‘Daddy’. I was just curious.”
Applejack chuckled sadly for a moment. “Well, truth be told I don’t like calling my parents by their names. It makes ‘em feel closer and not so distant.”
“I get that.” Rainbow said. “Still, I just wanted to know, ya know?”
“Yeah…” Applejack sighed. “Mama’s name was Tangerine, ‘cause she was an orange and daddy’s name was Appleseed.”
“Tangerine?” Rainbow asked.
Applejack simply nodded. “Yeah, mama was kinda the black sheep of the family on the oranges side.” she said. “She was born a whole bunch smaller than the rest of her family, so they named her Tangerine… like a small orange.”
“Was she always small?” Rainbow asked.
“Nah, she got normal sized when she grew up.” Applejack said. After a pause she decided to get back to her story. “Anyways, later that night…”
All of the Apples and Rose sat in the kitchen eating with the exception of Applebloom, who seemed to have taken a great interest in seeing just how far she could fling her peas. One of the peas hit Granny in the face, who scowled and took the spoon from the filly’s hooves. “How old are you?” she asked angrily.
“Four!” Applebloom yelled happily.
“Then act like it!” Granny yelled.
“What’s wrong with you?” Appleseed asked. “You ain’t never yelled at Applebloom like that before.”
“Nothin’” Granny said before pushing herself from the table and walking to the front porch. “I’m goin’ for a sit.”
“That was strange, dear. Maybe you should go check on her.” Tangerine said.
Appleseed nodded and walked off after his mother. Applejack could still make out most of their conversation as she scooted closer to Rose, brushing her hoof against the other filly’s.
“Mama, don’t be like that.” Appleseed said. “It’s not our business.”
“I know that look, son.” Granny said. “The look that little filly gives Applejack, and I don’t want that for her.”
“Why not?” Appleseed said. “Is it because their both fillies, ‘cause I don’t see no problem with that.”
“You don’t understand!” Granny yelled causing Tangerine to run from the table and join the two others on the porch. “I heard what she told her while they was walking in… I know what she meant and I don’t want that little filly with Appleja-”
“Granny Smith!” Tangerine’s voice carried all of it’s fury throughout the whole house. “They can hear every word you’re saying out here. If you want to argue about this that’s fine, but go to the barn first. I’ll join you after I put Applebloom to bed for the night.”
“Alright.” Granny said quietly before hoofsteps could be heard leading away from the house.
Tangerine walked back into the kitchen after a moment. “Alright girls.” she said, smiling and sounding happy as if nothing had happened. “Let’s get you all to bed.”
“But, mama, I ain’t tired.” Applejack said. “Can me and Rose stay up for a bit?”
“I imagine you wouldn’t be tired after your nap… alright, but you should still go play in your room.” Applejack’s mother said. “Come on.”
Tangerine led the three fillies up to Applebloom’s room and they all settled in the floor there. It was normal for Tangerine to sing one lullaby in Applebloom’s room every night before they went to sleep and Rose and Applebloom greatly enjoyed listening to the singing.
“What should I sing for you tonight?” Tangerine asked after they had all gotten settled. “How about “The Winged Ponies”?” she asked.
“No.” Applebloom said firmly. “Sunshine.” she said.
“I’ve sang that for you every night this week, Applebloom. Don’t you want to hear something else?”
“No.” she said again. “Sunshine.”
Tangerine smiled warmly before nodding. “Okay.” she said before taking a deep breath and filling the room with her voice.
You are my sunshine My only sunshine You make me happy When skies are gray You’ll never know dear Just how much I love you Please don’t take My sunshine Away
Applejack was crying again and Rainbow stroked her mane with a hoof and simply waited for the tears to stop. “It’s okay…” she said. “Take your time.”
“That was the last time Applebloom saw our mama.” Applejack said quietly. “I just-” The mare was cut off as another wail escaped her, and she buried her muzzle into Rainbow’s mane.
Applejack’s sobs were strong enough to shake the entire bed the two were laying on, and it seemed like she would spend the rest of the day crying.
“Hey now, it’s okay.” Rainbow said, pulling the mare closer and wrapping her hooves around her. “It’s okay.”
Applejack sniffed and quietly sobbed for another minute before taking a shaky breath. “Sorry.” she said.
“It’s okay.” Rainbow replied, burying her head into Applejack’s blonde mane. “You can stop if you want.” she said.
Applejack simply shook her head. “If I stop now, I don’t think I’ll be able to start again.” Rainbow simply nodded. “Anyways…”
Applejack and Rose had gone back to Applejack’s room and were playing a board game when the front door opened again. After several minutes hoofsteps could be heard on the stairs and in the hallway outside Applejack’s bedroom.
A door opened and closed before a knock came at Applejack’s door. The door opened to reveal Granny Smith, her eyes red and puffy. “Applejack, could I speak to your little friend for a minute?” she asked.
“It’s alright.” Rose said, getting to her hooves. She turned and smiled at Applejack before following Granny out of the room. “I think I know what you want to talk about.”
The door closed and Applejack felt a weight start developing in her gut. Did Granny not want the two of them to be together? Was she telling Rose she was not okay with them having a relationship? Did Rose even want those things? Was Granny Smith right?
Applejack ran to the window to see the two heading to the barn. The barn. It seemed like that was the go-to place for the Apple family when they wanted to have private conversations.
Applejack stared at the door to the barn for several minutes, wishing she knew what was being said behind those large red doors. After several minutes she considered running down there and throwing the doors open and telling Granny not to bother her friend anymore.
Just as she had almost decided to do just that, a star fell from the sky. “A falling star…” Applejack said aloud. “Mama says you can make wishes on those….”
Applejack stared at the place the star had been for several minutes before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. “I wish… I wish…” she sighed. “I wish I could stay with Rose… I wish for Granny to leave her alone… and I wish… and I hope… I hope that Rose feels the same for me that I do for her…” Applejack did not want to wish for Rose to care for her, because she felt it would cheapen the feelings and besides that, she honestly did not understand how she felt for the other filly.
She knew about crushes from school, but she thought only a mare and stallion could have a crush on each other, so that couldn’t be what she felt for Rose… could it?
The door to the barn flew open, and Applejack could see a bright red blur flying away from the place as fast as it could. “Rose?”
Applejack ran from the room and out of the house to chase after her friend, and she saw Granny doing the same albeit more slowly. “Rose, wait!” Applejack yelled as she chased after the girl, seeing she was headed for the Everfree forest, Applejack picked up her pace.
After a few minutes she could hear loud steps behind her and craned her head to see both of her parents chasing after Rose as well. As her parents passed her, Applejack could feel her mother’s hooves wrap around her and pull her onto her back. “You should have been there…” her mother mumbled as she ran.
“Mama, what’s going on?” Applejack cried. “Why is Rose running from us?”
Tangerine sighed sadly as she continued her run. “Maybe… it’s best if she tells you.” she said.
“What did Granny Smith say to her?” Rainbow asked.
Applejack had actually managed to quit crying at this point and just shook her head glaring at the floor. “Something she shouldn't of.” she said quietly. “But… we’ll get to that.”
Rainbow nodded, “Sorry, just curious… didn’t mean to-”
“No, it’s okay, Rainbow.” Applejack said. “I getcha bein’ curious. I just want you to hear things in order… how I heard ‘em.” she sighed. “So ya got a better idea of what I felt.”
Rainbow nodded again. “Right… go ahead.”
Applejack nodded as another tear fell from her eye, Rainbow absently brushed it from her face causing the other mare to smile. “Sorry…” she said. “Anyways, we finally found her in the Everfree forest…”
The group stopped as they noticed the sound of quiet sobbing. They made their way through the dense forestry and found Rose, sitting under a tree with her head in her hooves sobbing uncontrollably. Her nose was bleeding and her eyes looked even more red than Applejack thought they should despite all of her crying.
Applejack jumped off of her mother’s back and ran towards the filly, wiping the blood from her face. “What happened, Rose? Are you okay?”
Rose shook her head and wrapped her hooves around Applejack’s neck, still sobbing loudly.
“Rose?” Applejack prompted. “C’mon, you can talk to me.”
“No.” Rose whispered again. “I’m sorry, I should have t-t-told you.”
“Told me what?”
“The truth…”
“Girls…” Tangerine said quietly. “I know you need to talk, but… maybe we shouldn’t do it here.”
“Why not?” Rose asked. She had only lived in Ponyville for a little over two months and she had no knowledge of the dangers of the Everfree.
A blood curdling roar ripped through the tranquil night, causing all of the ponies to shake where they stood.
“That’s why…” Appleseed said quietly.
“Well, I been talking all day… kinda thirsty.” Applejack said, pulling herself from Rainbow’s embrace. “Let’s go get some cider before I go any further.”
Rainbow scoffed as she got off the bed. “I’m always up for cider, but that seems like a crap place to stop.”
Applejack chuckled as she opened the bedroom door. “Well, you made the rules. You gotta do what I say, so let’s go get a drink.”
“Alright…” Rainbow said, following the other mare out of the room. “At least tell me what the roar was… give me something.”
Applejack stopped and sighed, “It was a dragon… the dragon that caused my parent’s deaths.”
The world shook as the creature hit the ground; its roar spewing fire across the Everfree Forest. Nopony present knew what had sent the dragon spiraling to the forest floor, and they did not care to find out. Tangerine and Appleseed yelled as the flames began spreading across the forest towards the group.
Granny Smith broke through the brush as she finally arrived at the scene. Rose still had her head buried in the other filly's chest as she continued to cry. Applejack stared at the flames spreading quickly towards the group and released Rose.
"Go for help." Applejack said as she pulled the other filly off of the ground. "Fly as fast as you can and get somepony down here." she said as she gently pushed Rose away.
Rose began shaking her head as she stepped next to Applejack. "I can't f-f-fly right now. I... I hurt my wing." she stammered.
"That's alright." Applejack said, wrapping a hoof around Rose's neck. "We'll get outta here. Mama and Daddy'll make sure o' that." Applejack stepped next to her parents who stared at the fire with calculating eyes. "What're we doin' Mama?" she asked quietly.
Tangerine quickly glanced at her daughter and gave a small smile. "We're going to try to go around the fire, dear." she said calmly. "It shouldn't be a problem once we figure out how fast its spreading."
"Ain't gonna be too easy, darlin'." Appleseed said with a shake of his head. "It's spreadin' way faster than any fire I've ever seen before."
"That's 'cause it's dragon's fire." Granny Smith said with a sad shake of her head.
Applejack felt an ember of fury burst within her as her grandmother spoke. "Who asked you?!" she yelled. "We wouldn't even be here if you hadn't been bullyin' Rose!"
"Applejack!" Tangerine yelled. "I understand you're upset, but this is not the time." The mare waved her hand at the wall of flame inching ever closer for emphasis. "We can argue about right and wrong after we get out of this forest."
Applejack stared at her grandmother with hateful eyes for another moment before nodding at her mother. "You're right, mama."
"The fire seems to be between us and the farm." Tangerine said as she stared once more at the encroaching flames.
"It seems to be headin' this way, too." Appleseed said. "The good news is: the farm's safe. The bad news... We ain't."
"Can't we just run around it?" Applejack asked quietly.
Tangerine shook her head. "No, it's large enough, the smoke would suffocate us if we got that close."
The fire was close enough now that Applejack could feel the heat on the ground rising rapidly. She grabbed Rose by her wing and pulled her closer. "Stay close ta me." she whispered and Rose nodded. "I got an idea." Applejack announced to her family, catching their attention. "I saw a bunch of caves on the way here. Why don't we run from the fire and see if we can't find one near some water? We can wet the entrance and keep the fire away and then we just let it burn past us."
Tangerine and Appleseed looked to each other for a moment before both nodding. "I don't like relying on luck, but it seems we have no other option. Everypony keep an eye out for a cave and DO NOT get separated." Tangerine said sternly.
They all murmured their agreement before galloping into the forest away from the fire. They had only been running for a few minutes when Rose collapsed.
Applejack immediately turned and grabbed the filly, before tossing her on her back. "You okay, Rose?" she asked as she ran. Rose simply nodded and laid her head on the back of the other filly's neck, panting. "Mama!" Applejack called as she pushed herself to run ahead next to her mother. "I'm worried bout Rose! She just passed out!" Applejack panted.
Tangerine's eyes narrowed as she ran, but she simply shook her head. "I'm sorry, dear. I'll have to take a look at her when we're safe. Just keep running."
Applejack nodded as she ran. She stayed quiet until she spotted a bright blue among the green foliage. "There!" she called as she turned towards it. Please be water... she thought as she ran, her parents and grandmother following close behind.
The ponies stumbled into the lake water as the fire spread closer. Applejack doggy-paddled across the pool of water looking for a cave that they could all huddle up in. She searched near the water's edge and found just such a cave.
Applejack looked over her shoulder past Rose and saw the wall of flames approaching their location, her parents were helping Granny Smith around the lake and she feared they wouldn't make it. She gently placed Rose inside the cave and ran to her parents. "C'mon, Mama, Daddy. We gotta get inside." she called as she pushed her Grandmother to go faster.
Panic began to set in as she saw the flames burning the tips of her father's tail and she screamed for them to run. Her entire body was coated with sweat as the flames neared her own body.
"Hurry!" Rose screamed from the entrance of the cave, too exhausted to actually move.
Tangerine released an anguished cry as the flames finally reached her body, burning her hind legs and flank. Applejack screamed as her parents jumped into the water in an attempt to rid themselves of the flames. She felt her blood boiling as she realized this was her grandmother's fault. She knew her grandmother was afraid of the water, but she should have been more afraid of the fire. Now, her parents were hurt because of Granny Smith.
With a roar of fury, she shoved the old mare into the water and followed behind. As the two plunged into the water, Applejack saw Rose drag herself into the other end. The wall of flames moved past them as they swam away from the cave, towards home. The ground would still be hot to touch, but at-least they would be out of the fire and the water. Granny quickly kicked herself towards the shore, yelling at the top of her lungs.
Applejack turned around and paddled towards Rose. Rose struggled to keep herself afloat as Applejack neared her and pulled her wing around her back. "I got ya." she said as she pulled them both towards the shore. She could hear her parents yelling as she neared the shore and found herself confused. Did they not just put out the fire? She looked to the shore and her eyes widened with shock as she realized her parents were still burning.
She quickened her pace at the sight and hurriedly dragged herself on the shore. She grabbed hoof-fulls of water and began tossing them at her parents, but the fire seemed undeterred. Her parents screaming brought tears to her eyes and the smell of burning fur and flesh made her gag.
The two simply screamed as they burned and Applejack continued to throw water at them. Granny was shouting something, but she could not hear anything more than her own heartbeat in her ears and her parents pained screaming. She cried as the water splashed harmlessly against the fire.
Her father tried jumping back in the water and her mother fell to the ground having passed out from the pain. Tangerine's body continued to burn as Applejack threw more water at her.
Rose stared in the water screaming; Appleseed had not yet resurfaced. Tangerine's body continued to burn and in the back of her mind, Applejack knew she was gone. The smell of burning flesh caused her to gag and she empty her stomach on the ground near the water several times as the tears streamed down her face. Rose continued to cry into the lake and Granny stared on, unable to do anything more.
Applejack glared at the older mare and whispered quietly. "This is your fault."
"Harsh," Dash mumbled as she sat her drink back on the bedside table.
Applejack finished the last of her drink and sighed loudly. "I know now... that wasn't the right thing ta say, but... you gotta understand, Dash. I was a hurt scared little filly who just watched ma parents burn to death..." she said.
They were both quiet for several minutes before Rainbow mumbled a quick, "Sorry..." and Applejack sighed loudly.
"It's alright, Dash." Applejack smiled and stared at the other mare for several minutes.
Dash felt the heat rising in her cheeks as the cowpony stared into her eyes. "What?" she finally blurted.
Applejack grinned and shook her head. "Just thinkin' we was a lot more comfortable earlier." she said.
"W-what do you mean?" Rainbow asked.
Applejack merely shrugged a waved a hoof at the other mare. "I was just hopin' you'd let me back under your wing..." she said. "It made me feel... safe."
Dash saw a tear fall from the other mare's emerald eyes as she asked. I wasn't even thinking of how bad this must be hurting her... "Sure," Dash said as she unfurled her wings. "Just don't fall asleep on me or anything like that." Dash winked to let the other mare know she was simply joking.
Applejack chuckled as she pulled herself beneath Rainbow's wing. "I'll do ma best." she said.
Dash smiled and pulled a blanket over herself as Applejack got comfortable beneath her wing. "So, what happened next?" she asked, quietly.
"Well, after I spent a couple hours cryin' and pukin' ma guts up," Applejack sighed. "We went home..."
Applejack lied on the floor and screamed again. After arriving back at the farm house, she had buckled to the floor and simply screamed. She wailed her sorrows away as Granny tended to Applebloom and Big Mac.
“Applejack?” Rose asked tentatively from the floor next to her.
Applejack roared in anger. “No!” she barked. “Don’t say anything… I don’t wanna hear it.” she said. “I don’t want ya ta apologize and I don’t want you to try ta make me feel better.”
Rose whimpered as she slumped back to the floor. “I just-”
“I don’t wanna hear it!” Applejack yelled. “I don’t wanna hear anything from you right now.”
“I’m sor-”
“I don’t want to hear it!” Applejack bellowed as she jumped to her feet. "What in the hay were you even thinkin', runnin' in there alone?!" she yelled. "You coulda died, and ponies got hurt savin' you!" Tears streamed from her eyes as she watched Rose shrink away from her. She did not care at the moment though. Deep down she knew this was neither Rose nor Granny's fault. This had been nopony's fault.
Granny Smith walked in the room and sat in her chair heavily, with a deep sigh.
Applejack glared at the old pony. "What did you say?" she asked, only to be received by a blank stare. "What did you say to get her worked up like that?" she had finally stopped screaming and it seemed she was out of tears, but her bloodshot glare was enough to make the old mare shrink back in her seat.
"Applejack," Granny Smith said, "Maybe, now ain't the best time..."
"No!" Applejack shouted. "Ma parents just died 'cause of whatever you said to Rose. I wanna know. What was so important you had to say?"
"Applejack," Rose sighed. "Your grandmother told me something I needed to hear." she said. "She said, that she could tell how you felt for me..."
Applejack braced herself. She knew she had a crush on the other filly, or she had a hunch at-least, but to hear it said out-loud was unnerving. "So?" she asked. "That ain't important right now."
"You're right..." Rose almost whispered. "It's not important. I know what you are..." Rose looked right into Applejack's eyes, emeralds met sapphires as she spoke. "You're a filly-fooler..."
Applejack stepped back as if she had been slapped in the face. She had some idea of that being the case, but to hear somepony call her that; it hurt.
"Don't get me wrong..." Rose said, stepping towards the filly. "I'm happy for you; discovering yourself at such a young age..." she pulled away. "but, I'm not." Applejack flinched. "Your grandmother and I agreed. Two fillies... together?!"
Applejack forced herself to look away from her best friend. "It's just sick, ain't it...?" Applejack asked. "I know it is..." She clenched her eyes against the tears she felt coming. "I'm going." she stated. Her voice never wavered, but her entire body shook at the sincerity in her own statement. "Y'all can see me off tomorrow if ya like. Send word to Aunt Orange and Uncle Orange... I'm goin' ta Manehatten."
"I thought you left to find your special talent." Rainbow said, her face mere inches from Applejack's.
"I said, 'I left for Manehatten to find myself'. I never lied." Applejack said defensively. "That's exactly why I left."
Rainbow chuckled and ruffled Applejack's mane. "Calm down, I was just teasin'." she said.
Applejack chuckled and leaned into the hoof that was now stroking her mane.
"So, that's it, huh?" Dash asked.
"Whatcha mean?" Applejack asked.
"Well, I remember you told us what happened. You went to Manehatten, got homesick, saw that rainbow, which was me, and then went home..." She said. "That's it right?"
"In a nutshell..." Applejack said with a sigh. "but, I didn't tell you what happened to Rose..."
"What did happen?" Dash asked.
"Well," Applejack snuggled her head into the pegasus's neck as she continued. "Before I tell you that, I heard somethin' that night. Didn't make no sense to me, but now that I think about... it's good I heard it."
Applejack angrily threw everything she wanted to take with her to Manehatten, her blanket , a stuffed animal, and her favorite apple cookbook. She continued to cry as she packed. Her best friend hated her because she was... because she was different. She saw a pair of Rose's red hair ties on her dresser and sighed.
She placed them in her own mane and tail, if for no other reason than to have something to remember her by. As she sat on the bed next to her packed bag she heard Granny and Rose speaking in the living room. Curious, she rose to her hooves and cracked open the door to hear them. She did not like eavesdropping, but she felt like it was important to hear what they were saying.
"I think she's actually goin'." Granny said.
"I know, Applejack. I saw her face... she is going." Rose sighed. A sniffle, Applejack wasn't sure who, but somepony was obviously trying not to cry.
"I don't approve of dishonesty, young lady." Granny said. "But, just this once... I think we can let it slide."
"Thank you, Granny Smith." Rose said quietly.
"Why did ya lie to her anyhow?" Granny asked.
Several minutes of quiet as both Granny and Applejack waited to hear her answer. "Because..." Rose started. "She's lost so much, just today. She didn't need to know."
"I won't tell her... but, I think you should." Granny said.
"If she comes back... I won't have any choice." Rose sighed. "At least, if she comes back before time's up I will."
"If she don't make it in time... do you want me ta tell her?" Granny asked.
"No, if she doesn't make it in time, just make something up." Rose sighed. "But, the one thing she can know... is that... that I... I l-"
"You don't have to say it, sugarcube. I can tell her if you can't."
Applejack quietly shut the door when she realized no more would be said, but found herself pondering their words. In the end, however, she decided whatever they were talking about was unimportant. She was leaving, and if all went as planned, she was never coming back.
Applejack and Rainbow sat in silence for several minutes as they simply held each other. "You sure you don't want to stop?" Rainbow asked quietly. She was unsure of why she was whispering considering they were the only ones there.
"I want ya to know, sugarcube." Applejack said as she pressed her muzzle further into Rainbow's cyan fur. "I want ya ta understand how I've felt all these years..."
"Go on whenever you're ready then..."
Applejack sighed and shifted to a more comfortable position on Rainbow's stomach. Rainbow was thankful that the other mare didn't see the blush on her face.
"I spent several moons with my Aunt Orange and Uncle Orange... then I saw you." she said, the small smile evident in her voice. "Or I saw the rainbow that pointed me home."
"I remember." Rainbow said with a grin, the heat mostly faded from her face.
"That's when I went home. I sent a letter and told Uncle Orange what I wanted. He seemed a lil disappointed about me goin' but he didn't try an' stop me so, he put me on a train in the mornin'."
Applejack trotted to the farm a smile upon her face as she saw her brother and her granny smith waiting for her with tears in their eyes and their own smiles threatening to split their faces.
The filly ran into their embrace and enjoyed their warmth for a moment before she spoke. "I'm sorry, ya'll." she said. "My head was just kinda messed up, but I realized this is where I belong."
"That's okay." Granny Smith said. "We knew you'd come home."
"Where's Applebloom?" Applejack asked as she pulled away from the embrace. "In the house?" she asked.
"Eeyup." Big Mac responded.
"What about..." Applejack started before her smile faded. She remained silent for several moments before speaking again. "Rose still hates me don't she?"
"Nope." Big Mac said with a sad shake of his head.
"Yer still hung up on that filly, ain't ya' Applejack." Granny asked.
Applejack nodded slowly. "I know she don't feel the same way, but I can't help but love her Granny. I know ya don't approve, but I don't rightly care anymore."
"Sugarcube," Granny said as she placed a hoof under the filly's chin. "I never disapproved."
Applejack blinked. "What?"
"I was more than happy for ya ta care about that filly." Granny said. "I think ya should go talk to her."
"What do you mean, Granny?" she asked. "I don't-"
"Just go." Big Mac said. "Ya need to go talk to Rose. Soon." he said.
"I don't understand." Applejack said with a stomp of her hoof. "Jus' tell me what's goin' on."
"Go." Granny Smith hung her head and walked to the house. "Just go talk to her now."
Big Mac followed behind Granny and they left Applejack alone. She stared after them for a moment before sprinting into action. She ran as fast as she could towards town. She had no idea what was going on, but she knew from the way her family acted she had to get there fast. She ran and ran as fast as her little legs would carry her. She bumped into a yellow pegasus she had never seen before and threw a quick apology over her shoulder towards the filly.
She ran through the streets and noticed another filly she had never seen before. A pink earth pony waved happily at her, but Applejack ignored her. She continued to run and run and run. She would not stop. Not for anything, not for anypony. She knew that right now she needed to see Rose. Phoenix Rose was all that mattered to her right now so she could not stop.
"At least that's how I felt." Applejack explained. "Later I'd figure out that I coulda walked." she chuckled slightly, "Still, even if I'd known, I probably still woulda ran."
"That sounds like you." Rainbow said. She smiled at the mare curled in her embrace. She had heard enough of the story to get where this was going.
"Still, even knowing, I don't think I coulda ever been prepared."
Applejack was running fast enough that she could not stop herself as she ran face-first into her best friend's house. Someone inside must have heard the crash, because the door swung open and Rose's father stepped outside. He was a large pegasus with a blue mane and a gray coat. "Applejack?" he asked as he looked at the heap of pony on his front porch.
"Heya Mr. Orchid," the stunned filly said as she stood. "I'm here ta see Rose."
Phoenix Orchid smiled at her with a peculiar expression on his face. A mix of relief and sadness seemed to sweep over him. "Come in." he simply said.
Applejack walked into the living room and looked around. She had never actually been inside Rose's house before, she had simply walked her home and left her at the door.
She stared at all of the strange machines in the living room. Beeping, whirring, pumping, and in general, terrifying the young filly. Applejack did not know what a single one of these machines did, but what she did know is that this room looked just like a hospital room. "This is why she never wanted me here." she said and she knew it was true the moment the words left her mouth.
"She's not hooked up today." Phoenix said. "She didn't want you to know, but I wanted her to tell you." he pointed a hoof at Rose's room. "She's a very lucky filly."
"What do you mean?" Applejack asked.
"Most filly's her age never find what she found in you. She's told me all about you, Applejack, and I know how she feels about you." Applejack sat in the floor in front of the stallion to listen to him. "I was there the day she met you. We were flying over your farm and she got tired and fell out of the sky. I went to help her, but she stood up and brushed herself off and told you she was okay. I watched for a minute while you talked, but after I saw she had no interest in going home, I left her with you." he sighed sadly and looked into Applejack's eyes. Rose must have gotten hers from him. "She needs you now, though. She doesn't want you in there, but she needs you, Applejack."
"She's dying isn't she." Applejack said as her eyes began to burn. "She's known it for a while, but she never told me."
"You didn't look at her with pity." Phoenix said. "Even I made the mistake of pitying her, but you... you looked at her with something else."
"I lov-"
"No." Phoenix cut the filly off. "Don't tell me. Tell her. She needs it right now. We'll talk later, Applejack. Go see Rose."
Applejack nodded and walked to the door that Phoenix had pointed to. She knocked once and opened the door. "Rose, it's me. I'm comin' in."
Rose sat up in her bed, her eyes red and a small trail of blood coming from her nose. She looked small and frail, but Applejack refused to pity her. She saw the hurt in Rose's eyes when Applejack looked at her. She never wanted to be seen like that by the farm filly. Applejack smiled at her anyways, she was as beautiful as always. "Hey, Sugarcube." she said as she approached the bed. "I missed you."
"Applejack?" Rose asked. "Why did you come back?"
"I realized this is where I'm meant to be." she said as she sat on Rose's bed. "Here with ma family, and with you, Rose."
"I take it you finally understand." Rose said as she hung her head. Applejack simply nodded. "I don't know how long I have."
"I don't care." Applejack said. She refused to cry. She knew if she broke down now and made it about her it would crush the filly. "I wanna be with you till the end."
"It's gonna hurt you, Applejack." Rose cried. "I've seen what it's done to my dad. This is how he lost my mom and now it's how he'll lose me. It's gonna tear you apart." Rose was sobbing by the end.
"Wordy for a little filly ain't ya?" Applejack said with a grin. "I still don't care, Rose. I wanna be with you." Rose locked into her eyes and Applejack gasped as she had the first time she had seen those beautiful sapphire eyes. "Rose."
"No!" Rose yelled as she tried in vain to push the farm-pony off her bed. "No! No! No!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "I'm not gonna let you watch me fade! I can't let you do that!"
"You can't stop me!" Applejack yelled over her.
"I'm not gonna let another pony I love watch me slowly die!"
Everything was silent. Rose realized what she had said and it was not lost on the other filly either. She had just admitted the one thing she never wanted to say. She knew what would happen now and as much as she did not want it, she could not be happier that it happened.
"I love you too, Rose." Applejack said. "I'm in love with you. All I want is to spend all the time I can with you before you go. I know you don't got much time, and I know you don't wanna hurt me, but if you send me away... it might just kill me too."
Rose stared at her filly for a long time. They did not speak, just looked at each other as if they were the only ponies in the world. Rose felt her eyes burn as tears streamed down her face and with a quick cry she threw herself into Applejack's embrace. Applejack held her for a long time and hoped she would never have to let go.
"I love you." Rose said as she was held.
Applejack tilted her head up and looked into her eyes. "I love you too." she brought her lips onto Rose's and the locked together. They burned with all the passion of a fleeting love. Applejack's first kiss was that day with a dying mare, and Rose's with a mare she knew she would soon leave behind. They held the kiss for what could have been anywhere between a second and several hours. They would never know, because as soon as the kiss broke, they fell asleep.
Applejack was shocked to realize that Rainbow Dash was the only one crying. "Sugarcube?"
"It isn't fair!" the pegasus yelled. "She was your first love! She shouldn't have gone!"
"Sugarcube," Applejack said calmly. "That ain't exactly where the story ends."
"But, you found the pony you love at twelve years old. Nopony can be that lucky and unlucky at the same time."
"I figure I hit the lottery." Applejack said with a sad chuckle. "Figured out I like mares, met somepony just like me, fell in love with her, and then had to say goodbye to her all in a couple years." Applejack smiled at Rainbow despite the tears that were falling from both of their eyes. "But, ya know, I remember just how happy I was with her, and I'd like to think that I carry her in my heart every day."
"You can't let that go." Rainbow said as she hugged her friend.
"I don't intend to." Applejack wrapped her hooves around the other mare. "You know, it's funny."
"What is?"
"Just about a week before she died her father told me somethin'." Applejack said as she pulled away and looked into her friends eyes. "He said 'one day you'll leave this world behind, so live a life you will remember'. That's what he wanted for Rose. That's why he wanted me there, cause he knew, when she moved on she would need memories of somepony who loved her more that anything to take with her. That's all you take when you go I think, just your memories."
"We've got some good ones too." Rainbow said.
"I'll be glad to take 'em with me when I go." Applejack stood and walked to the window. The rain had stopped and knight had fallen over the farm. She stared over the horizon and saw a shooting star. She knew what she wanted to wish for, but she wouldn't hope for it. I wish I could see her just one last time. "I'm going to sleep." she said sadly as she walked back to her bed.
"Alright." Rainbow said dejectedly as she walked away from the bed.
"Where do you think you're going?" Applejack asked.
"I thought we were done." Rainbow said confusedly.
"Nope." Applejack said with a grin. "You said you wouldn't leave till I said you could." Applejack waved her towards the bed.
Rainbow smiled sadly. "Okay." she walked back to the bed and laid down with the farm-pony. They wrapped their hooves around each other and hugged tightly.
"Do you wanna go on?"
"I do."
After Applejack's first week of visiting, the doctor had told them all that Rose's condition was still worsening, but at a much slower rate. They had guessed that having Applejack there was giving her more time, so Applejack had told her family that she would be staying with the Phoenix family for a while. They were completely understanding. Granny would later reveal that the night she had pulled Rose in the barn she had admitted that when Rose had mentioned her time was hers to give away, it was the same thing Applejack's grandfather would say before he passed away. Granny had not been mad at the filly, but she wanted Applejack to know the truth.
Phoenix Orchid had told Applejack that Rose loved Applejack more than anything else in the world and that her final days belonged to her to give to whom she saw fit. Rose had told Applejack that even if she wasn't sick she would still want to spend the rest of her life with her. They still managed to go out and play sometimes like they were two perfectly happy healthy fillies, but after a month they had swapped outside games for board games in Rose's bedroom. They spent all of their time together, day in and day out until finally their last day arrived.
They had spent most of that day simply laying in bed talking. It had been six months since Applejack had gotten back and they both knew the time was near. They were together, holding each other in Rose's bed when the time came.
"Applejack?" Rose asked.
"Yes?"
"It's happening." Rose said. "I can feel it now. I don't have much time."
"I know." Applejack pulled the filly closer.
"I'm not scared."
"I am."
"I'll still be with you. Forever."
"It doesn't make it any less scary."
"Don't think about it."
"Okay."
"Applejack?"
"Yes?"
"Would you sing me a song?"
"Which one?"
"Sunshine."
Applejack stifled a sob and nodded quickly. She took a deep breath and held in her pain as she sang.
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know dear
Just how much I love you
Please don't take
My sunshine
Aw-
Applejack choked up on the last word of her short song and her eyes burned as she realized that this was the end. When Rose said soon she hadn't meant days or even hours. She had meant she had minutes and the filly knew it. She cried silently hoping that her love would not notice.
"Applejack?"
"Yes?"
"I want you to tell me you love me... one more time." Rose sounded drowsy now, she would sleep soon and Applejack knew in her heart that she would never wake up.
Applejack wiped at her tears and smiled down at the pegasus. "You are my sunshine, blue eyes, and I hope you know that I'll always love you." she said.
"I'll always love you too, Applejack. With all that I have and all that I am." Rose shakily craned her neck up to the other filly and they kissed each other deeply and passionately and they both took their time. They memorized just how they felt hoping to never forget the experience. After a few short minutes, Rose pulled away and released one last shaky breath before she smiled. Then she was gone.
Applejack had finished her story and they had cried together for hours, but Rainbow had eventually fallen asleep. Applejack couldn't.
She stood and walked to the window once more. "So much for wishin' on a fallin' star."
"That doesn't sound like the filly I grew up with." a familiar voice said from behind the mare.
Applejack jumped and spun around quickly. She felt fresh tears slide down her face as she locked eyes with a beautiful mare with a crimson coat and eyes like the deepest ocean. "Rose." she breathed.
Rose smiled, she had apparently aged in the after life, or Applejack just pictured her that way. "I don't have much time." she said. "But, you made a wish and everypony knows if you wish on a falling star your wish is granted."
"How?"
"We don't have time for that." Rose said as she approached the mare. She smiled as she placed a gentle kiss on Applejack. She then glanced back at the bed and smiled. "I approve." she said.
"What?" Applejack asked.
"Of her." Rose said as she looked back at her love. "I know you need to move on. She's willing to help. I can see her heart from here and she cares so much for you."
Applejack glanced back at the bed and stared at her friend. "But I promised I would always love you."
"And I believe you always will." Rose said with a smile. "But you can love her too."
"But-"
"I know you do, Applejack." Rose said with a grin. "I can read you like an open book."
"But, she ain't you!" Applejack stomped her hoof.
"That's a good thing. She's alive and I'm not." Rose said with a frown. "Don't get all stubborn with me. I've been watching you all these years and I know how much you miss me, but you need somepony." Rose giggled slightly. "Besides, you wouldn't let me die alone, I'll give you the same treatment."
Applejack fell to the floor. "But how am I supposed to forget you?"
"You don't." Rose said as she lay on the floor next to her. "You always remember me. But, you love her, Applejack. Keep loving her."
Applejack smiled at her departed friend. "I love you."
"I love you too, Applejack. When your time comes, I want you to come find me again and bring Rainbow here."
"I promise."
"When you wake up, I'd like it if you would tell Rainbow how you feel." Rose said.
Applejack frowned. "I'm dreaming?"
Rose laughed. "Yes, but that doesn't make it any less real."
"How do I know that?"
"I'll prove it when you wake up." Rose said with a sly grin. "Now my time is up. Tell me goodbye."
"I'll see you again." Applejack said. Rose nodded. "I love you, my sunshine."
"I love you too."
Applejack awoke by sitting bolt upright in bed. Just a dream to hurt her further she thought. That is, until she looked on the blanket between herself and Rainbow's sleeping form. For there just between the two of them lay a single crimson rose.
