I'm alone. I've moved into Fluttershy's cottage as the housekeeper. Neither Sweet Apple Acres nor my cloud home feel quite right to live in now. Looking at the pictures on the wall of her pains me. What do I even have left? I've lost my marefriend and my closest friend. I wish Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie visited more often, though I do understand it's hard for Rarity to get away from work and take the trip down here. Oh well. At least this place is starting to feel more like home. It's harder to feel at home without Applejack next to me though.
Fluttershy's animals try to comfort me, but I don't know what they are saying. She made me promise that I would take care of her animals once she was gone. I told her I was no good, and what a terrible job I did when our cutie marks were switched, but the animals mostly take care of themselves, and I am only a visitor, like a good friend who comes over to your house every day. Oh god, I miss them. I miss them so much that my heart can't possibly break anymore, because it's positively shattered. I've tried to cope, but being back here... it hurts.
What am I saying? I seriously could use a visit from Pinkie soon. Or any of the others, but let's face it, Pinkie's much better at cheering me up than even Applejack ever was. She needs to visit soon too. Why are we living apart again? Oh, right. Applejack's gone now. She's in a better place. I should sleep. It's already night now.
Dear Diary,
Well, today Twilight sent a letter. She's able to get away from princess duties for a few hours and wants to have lunch with me next week. What day even is it? I scan the wall for a calendar. Spying one of Fluttershy's cute kitty calendars, I walk over. It's not that useful, considering it's outdated by a year. Note to self: get new calendar. I check the date on Twilight's letter. August already? Huh.
Anyways, I went out into town today and got myself some lunch. Can't remember where I ate- think it was a Neighponese place. I ran into a few familar faces- that one pony on my old weather team, what's her name? Blossomflower? Bloomforth? Something like that. I don't know, how am I supposed to keep track of names?
Dear Diary,
Today is August 9th, 2107 A.L.R. according to a townspony. I'm meeting Twilight for lunch tomorrow then. Or was that next week? I'm so confused. Fluttershy's bunny, Andre I think, wanted a salad Fluttershy used to make for him, so I went out into town and bought the ingredients. I ran into somepony who said he recognized me from the Academy. I was totally freaked out! What academy? I went to Raincloud Institute Flight School, not any Acadk?emy. Said his name was Thunderlane. Weirdo.
I wonder when Fluttershy will write. She hasn't written me in a while. Come to think of it, where's Applejack? Right. She's dead. Fluttershy's not, though. Why am I in her house? Did she invite me to tea? Why's all my stuff here?
Dear Diary,
Met Twi for lunch. Was very enjoyable, went to a Neighponese place. Talked about old days. Fluttershy's bunny is named Angel apparently. Whatever happened to Tank? Is he hibernating? I don't know. I don't know! My head hurts. I'm going to take a nap.
Dear Diary,
Forgot I had a journal. It's winter now. Rarity mailed a scarf and hat. Like I go into town during the winter. I tried to do some stunt flying but my wings hurt now. Why? I've been practicing for the Wonderbolts every day! Tank is hibernating. I can't wait until spring when he wakes up. Where's Applejack? I need to go find her.
Dear Diary,
Pinkie wrote. She's planning a winter wrap up party. I'm invited. can't wait. Iwondur wonder if AJ is coming. Wierd. I can't find her.
Dear diary,
I can't find Applejack. She's captain of the plant team, where is she? It's winter wrap up. Aj where are you? I need to talk to you!
dear Diary
Pinkie visited and said i seem off today. i asked where applejack was. She seemed concerned and i don't know Why. Asked if i was feeling okay. i said Yes of course. She said she will talk to Twilight.
dear diary
i was flying. my wings hurt. why? what day is it and where is tank? applejack. I need to find Applejack where is she? i don't know. it's cold here. applejack. Where's applejack? where is she? Tank's gone. so's applejack. remember nowtwilight? where are you come find me Please no, I can't remember how i got here where am i applejack please
help
wait i know now applejack and fluttershy and tank gone i live alone now what?
My name is Rainbow Dash. I live in ponyvile ponyville. I have three living friends. Two are gone. Tank is gone. I used to have a marefriend named Applejack. I remember now. Must remember.
My name is rainbow. I live in ponyvil and have three freinds and marefreind name applejack
she is gone. rainbow dash. name.
rainbow dash. name. iam lost. i tried flying and got lost i cant find home marefriend applejack
Rainbow Dash casually flew down from her cloud home, turning towards Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack had wanted to show Rainbow a field she liked, and having nothing to do at the time, Rainbow consented. She flew slower than her usual pace, just to think and reflect on things while she flew. Plus, she liked looking at the landscape of Ponyville- her wonderful town ablaze in sunset glory.
Rainbow had always liked flying at sunset. Everything felt so peaceful and quiet at the day's end, giving Rainbow a brief respite from her daily weather duties, a chance to appreciate everything she flew by, and think over her day. In fact, Rainbow was so lost in her own thoughts that she almost failed to notice Applejack waving from the empty field below.
"Rainbow! Down here, Sugarcube!" Applejack's shouts drove Rainbow out of her daydreams and into reality. Rainbow adjusted her flight pattern accordingly and angled for the ground. Looking closer, Rainbow realized why Applejack liked this particular clearing so much. It was an empty field surrounded by apple trees, with tall yellowing grass. At first sight it wasn't much, but as she landed she noticed the spectacular view of the rest of Sweet Apple Acres.
"Whoa." Rainbow exclaimed as she looked down at the view. "Thought ya would like it," Applejack replied. "I'm so glad ya could come, to tell ya the truth." Rainbow grinned. "This place is amazing, Applejack!" Settling down on the grass, the pair sat facing each other. "So, what's up?" "Nothing much. Unless farm work counts as somethin' interesting." "Um, AJ?" "Yeah, sugarcube?" Blushing, Rainbow choked out her words. "What do you do if you like... like somepony?"
Applejack smirked. "Yer tellin' me ya finally got a crush on someone, Dash?" "Y-yeah." "And yer askin' me fer relationship advice of all ponies?" Rainbow looked away. "Something like that." The orange mare smiled. "Well of course ah'll help ya, sugarcube!" "W-what if that pony is a m-mare?" Rainbow buried her face in her hooves, blushing. Applejack looked taken aback. "Well, sugarcube, it don't matter which way ya lean as long as yer sure ya love 'em." Applejack blurted out. "To be honest, ah lean that way myself." Dash suddenly perked up. "Really?" Applejack smiled. "Yep."
"It's just... when we're together, something special happens. I feel like she's one of the only ponies I can really open up to... be myself around. I don't know why it happens or what it does but... it feels amazing, being with her. Like we really lift each other up. I'd almost say she's the best thing that ever happened to me... but there's one thing that would be even better." Rainbow took a deep breath and exhaled, readying herself for what she wanted to tell her friend. "The one thing that could possibly be better than that mare is if she said yes to what I'm asking her. D-do you love me too, Applejack?"
Blushing profusely, wings outstretched, Rainbow looked away. "It's okay if you don't." Applejack paused for a minute and thensmiled, putting her arm around the pegasus. "Ah guess ah never really realized it... but ah'm glad ah did." The pegasus hugged her friend gleefully. "You have no idea what it took to finally say that." Applejack smiled. "Course ah do. Ah was gettin' ready to say the same thing to ya, RD."
The two smiled as they looked up at the night sky together. A peaceful air settled over Ponyville as night fell, the shining white moon overhead. "It's gettin' pretty late. Wanna stay the night at the Acres, Dash?" Leaning against the farmpony, Rainbow smiled. "Sure. Wanna stargaze a bit longer?" The two of them lay there together, purely enjoying one another's company and happy to have a particular weight off their chest. "Ya know, Dash, tonight is definitely one of mah better nights."
The night came and went, the two lying asleep in a field. As a beautiful pink and gold sunrise lit up the tranquil early hours of the peaceful little town, a pegasus and an earth pony woke up to their first day together as more than friends. The tall grass surrounding them, the calm and quiet morning signaled the awakening of something special. They say honesty and loyalty are the most important things in a relationship. Rainbow stirred in her sleep, waking up to something truly amazing. Something that she thought was even better when she was with her new marefriend.
I'm alone. My heart aches. Why? Pegasi have longer lifespans than earth ponies, so naturally Pinkie and AJ died before me, but then I had Twi and Rarity still. Rarity, killed in a freak accident, meant that Twilight and I clung tightly. But then, she too died of old age. Fluttershy had died years earlier, killed by a mysterious sickness. The Crusaders are still alive, but it pains my heart so much to see them. Sweetie and Apple Bloom remind me too much of their sisters, and Scootaloo is in the Wonderbolts now, and although she tries to see me as much as she can afford, I am usually alone.
I am slumped on the floor of Fluttershy's cottage. Her animals try to comfort me, but I don't know what they are saying. She made me promise that I would take care of her animals once she was gone. I told her I was no good, and what a terrible job I did when our cutie marks were switched, but the animals mostly take care of themselves, and I am only a visitor, like a good friend who comes over to your house every day. Oh god, I miss them. I miss them so much that my heart can't possibly break anymore, because it's positively shattered. I feel...betrayed. I want someone who will be my friend, somepony who will come and comfort me.
I slowly drift into a half conscious sleep, with memories swirling around me. It slowly fades into black as I hear Applejack's voice say "It's gonna be alright, sugarcube. Let go and you'll be safe." I let go of my life as I slip away into my dreams and that comforting blackness of Applejack's voice, that honest southern accented voice, as orange arms drag me into a group hug with my friends before my consciousness fades away.
"Dash? Dash, are you here?" Scootaloo sighs and walks out of Rainbow Dash's cloud home, taking flight as she spirals down to the cottage nearby. "Did you fall asleep by the animals again?" No sound comes from Rainbow's lips, and Scootaloo notices that Rainbow isn't moving at all. "Oh Dash..." Scootaloo moans as she hugs Dash's unmoving body. "However you died, I hope you were happy when you did." she says. Of course I'm happy. I am with my friends. And friendship is the best medicine.
