The Apple Spirit Never Dies
The dream started like all the rest. My parents were suddenly lying in their coffins at the funeral home. They were dead alright. The funeral director called and thought it would be nice to lay them to rest by their love tree at Sweet Apple Acres, for the sake of remembering them. Our family fell apart that day, and even in a dream, death is terrifying.
I literally asked every single pony in Ponyville the day after about how they died, but none of them gave me a darn answer. Was it that painful for them to say why? The funeral director kept it a secret as well. They must not know how ridiculous they were in not telling me. I love my parents so much, even to death, and I would do anything to bring them back!
None of the princesses knew, and not even Mayor Mare said anything.
During their funeral way back, Big Macintosh was so strong that he tightly wrapped me around him, along with Apple Bloom. She even had a black bow instead of a pink one on her head, and then took it off just to wipe her tears with it. Granny Smith felt her heart racing, worrying that she might be the next one...to go.
But, I wasn't going to let another Apple die. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. If there's one pony in Equestria who's going to protect my family, that would be me. In all honesty, I should've been the one in the coffin. Mom and Dad don't deserve to die, and even the great villains of Equestria wouldn't dare to touch them.
Here I am sitting underneath my parents' love tree, wallowing in my own despair. Everypony says that I have a heart as strong as a horse, but not in a time like this. I'm not cut out for death, but I would take that route right now if I have to.
"I need my lasso." as I straightened my hat.
I couldn't take it anymore. I went to the shed to grab my lasso off the top shelf and headed back to the tree. As I got closer, apples and pears began falling one by one.
"If I can't see you two in the flesh, then I will join you forever in spirit. Here goes..."
"Applejack, stop!"
"What? Who said that? Can't a pony mourn in peace?"
"You won't need to mourn any pony, sugarcube."
I slowly backed away from the tree, only to find two ghost ponies coming out of the trunk. I couldn't believe my eyes at this point.
"M-Mom, D-Dad? Is that...you?"
"Yes, here we are, Applejack." Dad said.
"But, you two are supposed to be dead, aren't you? Or am I just seeing things right now?"
"Nonsense, your father and I are right here and will always be by your side, honey. In spirit..."
"If I could only just touch the both of you one more time..."
"Allow us to come to you then." Dad added. "You don't want to fall over, trying to go through us."
"Hehe, of course!"
My parents' ghosts were walking towards me and laid their hooves around me. I couldn't feel them, but just seeing them reach out to me was the best possible feeling ever. I didn't even want to open my eyes and stop imagining how much better I feel.
"I love you both so much, I...I don't know what else to say right now."
"We love you too, Applejack, and we couldn't think of a much better time to find you out here, with us." Mom said.
"She's right, and we're also very proud of how much you have matured over all this time!"
"After all this time, I can't believe how beautiful my daughter has become!"
"Thanks Mom, and you two are looking as lovely as ever!"
"Aww, thank you!" Both of my parents replied.
"Well, I guess I should go put this away. Mom, Dad, wait right here!"
"Why do you have that lasso, honey?" Dad asked.
"... I wasn't planning on doing this, but... I was about to take my own life just so I could be with you two once again."
"Applejack, why?" Mom frowned. "You know that suicide is never the answer to your problems."
"Your mom's right again, A.J. Like we've said, we'll never leave your side at any time. You just need to look at the positives from now on."
"How so?"
"Not only as your parents that we guide you morally, but now we can guide you spiritually!"
"Mom, is that a pun?"
"No, but I learned that from one of your friends! I believe her name was Pinkie Pie, if I'm not mistaken."
"Wait, you two know each other?"
"What your mother meant is that we have been watching you this entire time from above and see every thing you do."
"Watching me? Every time I look up, I only see either the sun or moon, but I don't see either of you."
"Trust us." as Mom laid a hoof around Dad. "You won't actually see us up in the sky, but you can sense that we're there helping you."
"To be honest, you've made it to great lengths and went on awesome adventures, and that's why we're proud of you!"
"Thanks Dad! Your honesty still helps the family in every way!"
"And you've still got your mother's care, passion, and dedication!"
"Thank you too, Mom! Umm, can I ask you two something?"
"Anything for our beloved daughter!" My parents responded.
"Just how exactly did you two...pass away?"
"A few years after Apple Bloom was born, I was...going to have yet another baby, but your father experienced sudden heart failure for that reason. So, Ponyville Hospital couldn't save him and I cried so much just when I was going into labor. Shortly after, I failed in trying to give birth to your new sibling because it was too much for me to handle."
"Did the baby make it at least?"
"I'm afraid not, Applejack." Dad sighed.
"That is so terrible. I'm so sorry you both had to go through that trouble of bringing us a new sibling."
"Don't be. I didn't expect pregnancy to occur so randomly like your father's heart failure."
"We are getting older, to say the least."
"But, you both are as strong as ever. I will never forget that."
"Same here." They replied.
"Zzz... Well, it was so nice to finally see you both after all these years, but I gotta hit the hay."
"And so must we, Applejack." Mom said. "If we were still alive, we would've been delighted to tuck you in bed."
"No need, Mom. I could already feel your nice hooves tucking me in every night. I always do."
"Just remember that we love you so much and we'll be there for you all the time! Make sure to tell the same to the rest of our family!"
"And will you both come back here every night just to see me?"
"Yes!"
"I love you, Mom and Dad!"
"We love you, Applejack!"
Both of my parents' spirits started to back up into the tree again and...they were gone. But now, they have given me a new reason to continue living. Instead of putting the lasso back in the shed, I laid it by the love tree so they would remember me as well.
I also remember what Granny Smith once told me.
"Once an Apple, always an Apple."