> The trotting dead; a Jack of all trades > by Pecan Pencil > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The wind at Sweet Apple Acres was blowing hard, leaves from the trees danced frantically in the breeze as AppleJack panicked. Her brother was no where to be seen. "Big Macintosh?? Big Macintosh???" She yelled holding her hat down. She heard no reply. Not a single "Yeup" to be heard. All she could hear was the groaning of the trotters marching to the farm. "AppleJack-" Granny Smith lie on a small blanket while AppleBloom faced away from AppleJack and looked at her Grandma. "Your brother's a big strong stallion," She said weakly. Her face was alot lighter than usual and her eyes didn't glimmer like they always did. AppleJack knew her brother could take care of himself, but she was having second thoughts. After all, there were trotters everywhere there's no blaming her for being worried. She hesitantly shut the barn door begining to use everything she could find to block the door. The feeling in the room was filled with anxity but it keep a calm air level, with a warm feeling. The walls of the barn were strong and hardly effected by the wind, the smell was simular to a dirty creek. Pretty tense for a building like that. "AppleJack Granny's sick! She's sick!" AppleBloom finally looked at her sister. Worry in her eyes, as her pupils were small and shaking along with her coat and mane. AppleJack got closer to her family, getting a better look at her grandmother. A ball of realization hit her heart and struck out a sensation of emotions flowing through her body from hooves to head. She was angry that she knew, truely, there was nothing they could do but try and help, that could or couldn't work. Worried that her brother wasn't there and they had no idea of what was happening. Then depression filled most of her heart, how could this be happening?? They had something going in their life, a roof, friends, food. All likely gonna be gone in a few moments thanks to the trotters. "Granny-" She sputtered out. "AppleJack; sweety listen. I've spent all the time I have on this planet, there's nothing wrong with me, no sickness no injury. Aj I'm old. Everyone has to go eventually." AppleJack stared at her granny wanting to drop on the floor and sob, but no words could come out. "NO! Please granny! Not everyone has to go! Please don't leave us!" Applebloom's eye's filled with tears. "I'm so proud of you two; I've seen you grown into a independent, grown up, filly AppleJack. You've always impressed me with her bright and hard working personality. Your momma would be proud of you." She placed her hoof on AppleJack's mane. "I love you- I love you so much; I don't wanna lose you." She cried hugging onto her tightly. "Don't cry; AppleBloom, your big sister will take care of you like I did with her, she'll take care of you, love you, just like I do. You are bound to be a great girl when you grow up. I know it." AppleBloom sniffled, tears streaming down her face. She joined the hug with her sister and grandmother. "Goodbye; don't worry, we'll meet again someday." She enhaled. "I love ya'll" She said as she closed her eyes, leaving the world peacefully. AppleBloom and her sister let go her. "Is she- is-is" The youngest voice trembled. "Yes sugercube. I'm afraid-" She removed her hat. "It's not fair! It's just not fair" The red head filly broke down on her sister in tears. "Hush.." AppleJack cried along with her sister. "She's in a better place now, with momma and daddy." She sat down with her sister still comforting her in a hug. "I'll always remember when Granny would sing to me big sis;" She hugged her tighter. "I'll sing to you sugercube." She brushed the fillies mane. "Said goodbye turned around and you were gone; gone, gone. Faded into the setting sun; slipped away. But I won't cry 'cause I know, I'll never be lonely. For you are the stares to me, you are the light... I'd folllloow" She rocked with her back and forth. Applebloom sang with her. "I'll see you again, ooh oh ooh oh. This not where it ends! I'll carry... you with me. Ohhh Til' I see you again." "I can hear those; echoes the wind.. aaattt night; calling me back in time. Back to you. In a place far away where the water meets the sky, the thought of it makes me smile; you are mine toooommooorooww." The tears on their faces made a small-ish puddle on the ground. "I'll see you again ooh oh ooh oh; this is not where it ends; I will carry you with me oh til I see you again." AppleJack looked at the roof her green eyes shined with tears. Applebloom sang on her own; "Sometimes; I feel my heart is breaking. But I stay strong and I hold on, because I know.. I'll see you again. oh ooh oh this is not where it ends, I will carry you with you meet" She sang until it was too painful to speak. "AppleJack; what are we gonna do?" She looked up at her sister. "We're gonna have to bury her tommorow. When we've gotten some rest, by then the trotter count would be lower." She leaned against the wall with her little siser. "Then you'll need to start getting experince in bucking and other skills, I'll be improving on somethings too." "I'm scared for my friends" She looked up "They'll be fine. We just have to prey." "You're right;" She was still crying. AppleJack's eyes began to close, she would jerk herself back up to look down at a very well asleep AppleBloom. This went on for about half an hour before she went to sleep. Luckily trotters didn't get in that night; and the next morning will be a new, scary way of life to start.