Jackie
He sat on the corner of the bed, his heart beating loudly and causing his rib cage to pulse, as if trying to escape from his body. A dirt-smeared hand was held to his forehead, just below his twig-riddled brown hair. His dark blue eyes were glazed over from only an hour or two ago, a product of the distress coursing through him.
He didn't know where he was or why he was here. All he knew was that he was inside a farm house and in a room that belonged to Applejack, if he remembered her name correctly. He didn't really seem to recall clearly in the sudden events that had transpired. Speaking of Applejack, she standing across from him, off in the doorway to her bedroom.
She eyed him worriedly and her lips were curved into a sympathetic frown. She's never seen a creature like him, but seeing him now for the first time, clad in a dirty brown jacket and torn blue jeans, leaving air holes to his scraped knee caps, she didn't need much more in the way of evidence to know he wasn't a threat. As a matter of fact, he seemed to be high functioning.
She had brought him along to her home after her younger sister, Apple Bloom, came screaming into the kitchen where she was helping Granny Smith with some pies. It took some time to calm the young filly down, but all she told her was that she had found some kind of creature out in the Everfree with her two friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. They had opted to stay with the creature whilst Apple Bloom ran off to get help.
Applejack had grounded her little sister to her room for the remainder of the day for heading out into a dangerous place such as the Everfree, and Sweetie Belle's big sister, Rarity had done the same, keeping her eye on both Sweetie and Scootaloo at her boutique.
There was something that intrigued the farm pony about this creature. What was he and where was he from? She could certainly say that she's never seen a creature such as him before and now that she was allowing him the space to collect himself, she could get a really good look at him.
He didn't seem too old, possibly in his mid 20's, which wasn't too far off from Applejack, herself. He didn't have much in the way of muscle tone, but he wasn't malnourished or anything like that. As a matter of fact (from what she could tell) he appeared to be healthy. The only evidence that he's been put through something awful were his dirty clothes and tear-stained eyes and cheeks.
She wasn't exactly sure of how to approach this creature, or if she even should do such a thing. She was debating on whether to fetch her friends over here to see what they think, or maybe Twilight could be of some assistance. Regardless of these thoughts, she wasn't really sure it would help matters. It seemed that he needed some space to think and wouldn't appreciate being probed at with questions and the like.
Applejack stepped a single hoof forward into the room, causing the floor boards to creak softly beneath her. ''Uh, everything alright?'' She asked as calmly and as quietly as she could as not to startle the creature. He didn't seem to move, so naturally, she assumed he must not have heard her voice. ''Uhm, Mister?'' She asked again, still receiving no response.
She carefully proceeded forward towards the bed, coming to a stop beside the creature, looking up at him. She inspected him over in the light provided through the windows. It was currently noon, so there was an acceptable amount of light to study him under.
She inspected him closely, from head to toe, noticing that he seemed to be wearing shoes. Black and white with a blue star within a white circle on the sides. However, although she could see writing on them, it appeared to be weathered down to the point where she could only read a 'C' and an 'S'.
He didn't seem to be injured, except for the grazes on his knees. She looked up to his face, meeting his eyes. He didn't look back or acknowledge her presence. His eyes were fixed forward, staring at the floor as he breathed heavily. He seemed so lost in his own thoughts that it was likely he didn't realise her existence.
Slowly, Applejack reached a hoof out and touched the side of his leg. Almost immediately, the creature jumped in fright, almost flying off of the end of the bed in the process. Thankfully, Applejack managed to grab his to avoid an accident.
''Whoa, simmer down, there,'' She said soothingly, pulling him back up. ''Now, c'mon, ya'll need to catch your breath,'' She said as she took a seat beside him, placing a hoof behind his back to comfort him. She could feel him tense. He reeked of unease. It was clear that something was deeply rattling his core. ''That better?'' She asked, rubbing his back softly.
He didn't speak, instead opting for a silent response with a slight nod of his head. He leaned over slightly, his elbows resting on top of his knee caps, his hands knotted together with threaded fingers.
She looked at him curiously. ''So, where are ya'll from? Manehatten? Neigh York?'' She asked, and she noticed his brow raise in what could only be described as bewilderment.
''N-No. Austerfield.'' His voice was hardly intelligible, let alone audible.
Applejack's ear twitched, picking up on his low voice. She couldn't hear it fully, but she could tell his lips were moving. ''What's that, sugarcube?'' She asked softly, not wishing to press hard on him.
''Austerfield,'' He said, this time a little louder. ''I'm from Austerfield.'' He said as he sat up again to gaze at Applejack. This was the first time he's really paid attention to her character. He found himself staring into her large green eyes, like polished emeralds. They were so large that he could see a clear reflection of himself staring back at him.
They stared at each other for a silent moment or two before Applejack asked, ''Austerfield? Now, Ah haven't heard that one before,'' She said. ''Where's that?''
He turned to look away from her, facing towards a window to his left where the orchards and fields of Sweet Apple Acres were displayed in all their beauty and glory. In the background, there were large, towering mountains surrounded by dark clouds and snow. He looked down into the fields where there were dozens upon dozens of apple trees adorned with a mixture of red, yellow and gold apples.
He spotted a rather generously-built red stallion bucking a tree. He couldn't see him correctly from his distance on the second floor of the farm house, but he could tell that the pony had quite an abundance of muscles to his physique.
''Where am I?'' He eventually asked, slowly turning back to face Applejack. He looked deep into her eyes and she could see a hint of pain.
''Ya'll are in Equestria,'' She said. ''Equestria's home to all unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies. Ah trust ya'll can tell Ah'm of the earth variety?'' She asked with a soft smile, hoping to lighten the mood.
He looked her over, this time closely. True, she did seem to have all of the traits of a typical pony. She was small in comparison to his size, like he would expect a pony to be, but there was something off about her. One of those things was the fact that she had an orange coat. And a hat. And a tattoo on her flanks. She even talks in fluent English! Ponies certainly have none of these features, and they especially do not talk!
However, looking at Applejack, there was something that was amiss with his diagnostic. Other than being able to speak and observe, she was also capable of caring and thinking freely. To say the least, it caught him off-guard, but he didn't bite on it.
''Equestria?'' He asked lowly, trying the word on his tongue. ''Unicorns and pegasi? That's impossible,'' He said, his eyes slightly wide. ''They're nothing more than a myth.''
Applejack was seemingly interested and amused by his remark. ''Ah can assure you that both pegasi and unicorns are indeed real. Not only that, but alicorns exist here, too.''
''A-Alicorn?''
''Eeyup,'' Applejack said with a smile. She scanned him over for a moment, her smile faltering. ''Ya'll ain't from these parts, are ya?'' The creature shook his head slowly in negativity. ''So, where are ya from? Ah've never seen anythin' like yourself before.''
''I'm from a place called Earth.'' He said as he shifted uncomfortably, his tone homesick and sorrowful.
Earth? Applejack mouthed the word, testing it on her tongue and lips. Huh, not bad, Ah suppose.
She gave a small lick to her dry lips as a thought came to her mind. She gave him a small friendly smile, hoping to ease the discomfort radiating off of his figure and then asked, ''What were ya'll doin' out there, anyhow?''
His shifted uneasily on the spot and gave a short, rumbly breath. ''I don't know,'' He said soullessly as he gave the orange mare a frown. ''I hardly remember a-anything. Nothing except a brief moment on my way to the hospital,'' He said, shrinking back slightly and giving his dirty jacket a small pull, as if trying to hide himself. ''To see my daughter.''
There was a wave of silence as Applejack stared blankly into his eyes, her face unreadable. He saw her lips give a small round of trembles, like she was about to come out with something, but she never did. Her breathing had grown quiet and the only sound in the room was the combined beating of her heart with the creature's.
''Y-Your daughter?'' Applejack finally asked, albeit quietly. The creature gave a simple nod of his head. Applejack's face contorted into one of guilt and curiosity before she spoke again. She didn't want to cause any offence or pry too deep. She felt he was a bit too rattled for that. ''Why's she laid up in hospital?'' She asked delicately.
He looked away from her, his eyes returning to the floor at his feet and she could feel the atmosphere around him tense. His energy seemed to grow cold as he gave a raspy sigh, not bothering to look up as he began to speak. ''My ba-baby girl, she...she...'' He couldn't finish his sentence as he felt a tear escape his eye and dribble down his cheek. Against his cold skin, the sensation left a warm wetness.
Applejack gently placed a hoof to his arm and gave it a pat sympathetically. She scooched over towards him and offered a small smile, although her eyes were glassy. ''It's alright, hun. Don't you worry none, ya'll don't have to say if'n ya don't wanna.''
He slowly reached a hand into his pocket and pulled out an item, showing it to Applejack. She gave a couple glances between his face and the item and she managed a smile.
It was an adorable miniature brown teddy bear with blue eyes and its legs and arms outstretched, as if asking for a cuddle. The stitching on the face was designed to give it a tiny button nose and a cute curved smile.
''This was meant to be for Jackie,'' He said, pointing to some personalised stitching located on the bear's chest. It was gold and done in cursive, spelling out his daughter's name.
''That's so adorable,'' Applejack said with a bright smile. ''Ah like her name. How old is she?''
''Eight,'' He said, placing the bear between them on the bedspread. ''I promised her I'd come and see her today. Well, I guess we both know how that went.'' He said in a dull tone. ''I'm all my girl has.''
Applejack could relate to him. Every since their parents passed, Apple Bloom was both hers and Big MacIntosh's responsibility. Granny Smith helped in the mix whilst the sibling were working out in the fields to provide for the family and they would switch periodically during the night. She would be the one to put her to sleep, to feed her with a bottle, to comfort her and make sure she was happy.
Family was all anybody had in the world, and there is nothing more meaningful than the concept of having someplace that everyone belongs. Her baby sister looks up to her big brother and big sister for protection, and if she was let down, only Celestia would only begin to be able to comprehend the devastation she would be left in.
Sitting here now with this other being, Applejack had a level of understanding and empathy to know how he must be feeling on the inside. It's a feeling she wouldn't wish upon her worst enemy.
He feels as though he let his girl down.
''What's your name, sugarcube? Ah'm Applejack.''
Oh, so that is her name. Cute. I like it.
''Adam. My name's Adam,'' He said with a smile, that, for once, wasn't forced. ''Nice to meet you, Applejack.'' He said softly.
''Ah like that,'' Applejack said. She then asked, ''If ya'll don't mind me askin', what's wrong with Jackie?''
He chewed his lip for a moment, glancing out of the window and then back to face the farm pony. ''When my girl was six, she was diagnosed with leukemia,'' Adam said, staring at the bear between them.
Applejack could feel her heart sink at his words. Oh, Celestia. Poor guy. Couldn't begin ta understan' what he's feelin' like on the inside. She chose to let him continue, watching him eagerly with saddened eyes. A warmth had began to make its presence known in her guts, a soft and slight tingling sensation.
''I...I remember that she passed out one day after school. She was pale and told me that she wasn't feeling too good and she had a fever,'' He said, rubbing his eyes with his sleeve, leaving them a tad wet. ''I drove her over to the hospital and when she got diagnosed, I didn't know what t-to do. At the most, the doctor gave her at least a mo-month o-or so to live...'' Adam paused, forcing himself to not let out a pained sob, no matter how much his heart ached.
''I was only left with the option to find extra work to help pay for the treatments to cure her, and it worked, at least for a while. When she turned seven, it came back. There isn't anything they could do to save her.'' He finished, his strength and will power diminishing and giving way to a stream of tears that burned his cheeks with their heat.
Applejack appeared shocked and horrified by Adam's story. She moved in and hugged him, enveloping her hooves around his tight back. He put up no resistance in the offer of a friendly embrace. He held onto her, his chin coming to a rest on her shoulder as he cried. The farm pony gave a shiver and a sniffle.
''O-Oh, my. Oh, sugarcube, Ah am so sorry,'' She said, her tone motherly as she consoled him. ''Ah couldn't begin ta feel the way you do right now. Why, if'n anythin' happened to mah sister or mah big brother like that, Ah wouldn't know what ta do with mahself, neither.'' She said, pulling away to gaze into his eyes for a moment. She could see her reflection in his small blue eyes, noticing her emerald eyes were glazed over and holding back a flood of her own tears.
She was too proud to admit that even she cries from time to time, but rather than admitting her defeat in front of a live audience, she opted to cry on the inside to preserve her dignity.
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Austerfield, United Kingdom - Night
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The cold night air in Austerfield was held at bay by my jacket as I walked down the streets, on route to the local hospital. Although I owned a car, the way wasn't all too far, so I opted for a walk. It wasn't as if my daughter was going anywhere, either.
Jackie is my only daughter and I'm the only parent she has left to rely on. Without me to keep her happy, only the heavens know how miserable she may become. Heck, if anything, we've been there for each other in more ways than I could possibly count.
The street I was walking down was eerily quiet at this hour. The stars were out against the black canvas and there was hardly any breeze to sweep through my chestnut hair.
In the background over the trees and wooden fences, I could distinguish the towering body of the hospital over the surrounding structures. It was a dead give away with the large, red neon letters embedded into the side of the building, reading out 'Austerfield A&E'.
I looked down to an item in my hand as I walked - a personalised teddy bear with an adorable smile. I looked at its belly, soft and chubby with her name stitched into it. Even for a young girl, she has always had a rather amusing obsession with stuffed animals. I suppose it made some sense. I mean, any girl that I might know from any family will most likely own an abundance of stuffed animals and plushies. Not only that, but it seems that the need to love animals is embedded into their DNA.
The thought made me chuckle as I walked along, coming to a turn on the path that lead into the main part of town. However, as I made the turn and progressed roughly halfway down the street, still a generous distance from the next human, I noticed a twinkle in the sky.
Of course, I didn't think anything of it, but there was this odd sensation I felt in my chest, almost like it was directing me towards it. I looked up, spotting the spectre in the sky and locking my eyes onto it.
It was deeply implanted in the centre of the speckled canvas of smaller stars, yet this particular object stood out with a unique light. Somehow, I found an interest in the object. It appeared as though it was just an ordinary star, so when my interest turned into a curiosity that picked at my brain with a sharp ice cream scoop, I couldn't help but wonder - what makes this star so interesting?
As I was about to carry on with my walk to the hospital to visit my daughter, the star flickered.
I blinked, keeping my attention directed to the sky.
It seemed to be moving towards me as it continued to flicker, developing into a series of short, white pulses. Gradually, it began to increase in both size and brightness.
I could feel my eyes widen in their sockets from shock of what I was witnessing. It was like an abduction scene from a sci-fi movie. Instinctively, I swivelled around on the spot, breaking off into a jog and then into a sprint. Stuffing the bear into my pocket to protect it in my moment of panic.
I gave the occasional glance over my shoulder to the star as I ran, hoping to find safety out of the object's reach. However, as fate would have it, where I lived was mostly secluded and the homes where I lived were very far back behind me. It was clear that I had to act fast before anything happens.
Well, I wasn't sure what would happen if this thing would reach me, seeing as I'm not entirely sure what it is and I basically didn't care out of fear.
I wasn't going to stick around to find out, either.
A warmth made itself known on my back and I turned to witness the now giant orb of white light directly behind me, closing in.
I barely had time to scream before it engulfed my body, wrapping itself around me and trapping me inside. It was just like a ball of white, dense air. It housed an energy that surpassed my understanding - warm, static-based and fuzzy. It emanated a soft but loud humming sound, similar to the noise a fridge generates when turned on.
I could feel a buzz tingling at the surface of my skin on every aspect of my body. My hair stood on end and I could feel myself growing hotter by the second, like I was jammed inside of a microwave. The sensation intensified around my body and I could feel myself being levitated off of the ground as I continued to struggle, much to no avail.
The hum grew louder and louder, transforming into an electrical symphony of crackles and snaps of charged energy. I gave a scream as the sensation enveloping my body transformed from a slight warmth into an intense burn and the air around me began to evaporate and become dim.
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Yes, I know it's quite unusual for something like this to be produced by someone like me. However, this was in my mind and would leave me be, so in the end, I wrote it out in the way I pictured it in my delightfully annoying brain.
Honestly, I based this on the death of a modern legend who died back in 2015 from leukaemia. Colin Wyckoff, better known as Kitty0706. He was an animator that was most famous for his GMOD Machinima, Left4Farts and hilarious Elliot Goes to School videos.
He was diagnosed, got treated and was fine for a short while but then it came back. Unfortunately, he tragically lost his life after it returned, leaving behind a massive legacy. He is by far one of the most inspirational and influential YouTubers that ever existed. He's the reason why I make animations with GMOD.
So, to be honest, this was a half-tribute to him. The other half was just something that I thought of but was actually too scared to write because I thought it would come off as terrible. Then again, you're the judge there, not me.
Anyway, that was My Daughter, Jackie, and I hope you enjoyed the story.