> Hard Cider
>  by Jubilancy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Why'd Ya Have Two Spikes?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"I coulda saved him, Twi."
"No, Applejack. You couldn't have."
Applejack turned to the lavender Alicorn. The tears had long since stopped forming, but grief was still raw in the emerald eyes of the Earth Pony. She laughed a dry, emotionless laugh. Her voice died away and she turned back to her quarter-filled mug. Dried foam lingered at the rim of the wooden container and it glinted weakly in the dim lights of the bar. 
Twilight glanced at it before slowly turning her attention back to her intoxicated friend. Four other mugs lay scattered on the polished oak bar, all bone-dry and beginning to crust. "Applejack, you need to-- Look at me." She waited until the Applejack's eyes rested on her once again. "You need to stop beating yourself up about this. Macintosh was killed by a machine. You weren't even in town when the accident happened."
Applejack kept her eyes fixed on Twilight for a half-second longer before diverting her attention back to the mug. She lifted it, threw back the rest of what was in it, and pushed it across the bar to join it's companions. "I wasn't there." She claimed loudly.
Twilight let a small smile appear on her face. "That's right, AJ. You weren't there."
"I wasn't there," she repeated, her voice barely over a whisper. Her gaze lit up with life, but not the good kind. It was a fiery, mean light that seemed to make the area glow. "But I shoulda been!" She slammed her hoof down on the bar and Twilight could have sworn she heard the wood splinter under the force of the strong hoof. The Princess' heart plummeted when Applejack waved the bartender over for another round. The reluctant stallion filled up another mug and set it down gently in front of her. The blonde mare picked it up and chugged it down before Twilight could object.
Applejack dropped the mug down on the bar with a sob that wracked through her whole body. The acrid smell of alcohol hit the air, making Twilight wrinkle her nose.  "Big Mac..." Applejack whispered her brother's name as Twilight pulled her into an embrace using one of her wings. The once-strong farmer buried herself behind the downy feathers and openly wept into Twilight's fur, staining it into a deep purple. Twilight noticed it with a small grimace, before realizing how she was acting. She said nothing as her friend cried out her woes.

She didn't look up when the bell clanged, announcing the return of Rainbow Dash. The Pegasus had left an hour ago to check on Tank, and had just walked through the door. Her hooves echoed thunderously in the soundless room, save for Applejack's whimpers, as she walked up to them and took a seat on the other side of Applejack. Twilight looked over Applejack's mane to see her own thoughts reflected in the rose eyes of her friend.
She blinked when Applejack shifted under her and hopped off her stool, stumbling a bit as she stood, and slowly walked in the direction of the restroom. She didn't acknowledge Rainbow's presence as she walked by and disappeared from sight. Twilight waited for the sound of the door slamming before she spoke.
"What do we do?"
Rainbow seemed startled by the question. She blinked before letting her eyes wander over to the empty mugs that lay haphazardly on the bar. She sighed and closed her eyes, shaking her head. "No idea."
"Is everything set up for tomorrow?" Twilight raised her eyebrow in question.
Her question was answered by a newcomer. "Yes, all we need is for Applejack to sober up and allow me to make her presentable." Rarity stood in the doorway and walked in slowly, her criticizing eyes seemed to search out every speck of dust that undoubtedly inhabited the atmosphere. Her navy eyes landed on the mugs and she snorted. "Ugh, this place is filthy." It was obvious that she was trying not to pay attention to the obvious truth: Applejack had consumed every drop they'd had to offer. And it was getting worse.

"Twilight, come quickly!"
"Fluttershy, what's wrong?"
"I just saw Big Macintosh being wheeled into the hospital!"

Twilight placed a hoof to her temple and closed her eyes. She felt as hung over as Applejack looked, and the lack of sleep from the past three days hadn't been helping. She opened them again to find Rarity staring at her. Concern showed bright in the depths of her eyes. "Perhaps you should get some sleep." She suggested mildly.
Twilight shook her head. Rarity sighed and rolled her eyes. "At least let Fluttershy have a look at you! The poor dear's been all over the place lately. She'd worried about you and Applejack."
It was true, Twilight realized, what Rarity was saying. Being an animal caregiver and having experience in the medical field, Fluttershy was no stranger to death, so Big Mac's passing hadn't hit her. She'd cried, but it'd only lasted a few minutes. Now instead of fretting over Mac, she'd been more preoccupied with her friends. "Fine, Rarity."
"Good, I'll go get her." The fashionista smiled and whisked gracefully and hurriedly out of the room, the double doors swung lazily in her wake.
With a sigh, Twilight rested her head atop the bar, letting her bangs fall into her eyes. Rainbow scooted into the seat next her and rested a hoof on the depressed Alicorn's shoulder. "Don't worry, Twilight. Applejack's strong, she'll come to her senses." Twilight looked up at Rainbow Dash, whose eyes were betraying her lack of faith in her own words. 

Twilight's jaw fell open in shock. "Spike!" She ran around in the lobby until she found the baby dragon. "Spike! Take a letter!" She paused and took a breath.
"Dear Princess Celestia,
As you know, Applejack is in Canterlot meeting with heads of the cider corporations discussing a contract. I need you to get this message to her as soon as you can! Tell her that Big Macintosh has had an accident! 
- Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle"

"But what if she doesn't? What if—“ Twilight was cut off when the she heard the restroom door squeak and soft hoofsteps enter the parlor. Applejack stumbled in and stopped at the far end of the hallway, where the bar met the wall. She leaned against the red trim and hung her head, raising an orange hoof to her head and rubbing slowly. Twilight narrowed her eyes and looked at the brown Unicorn stallion behind the bar. "Rocks, we'll be leaving now. How much do I owe you?"
Rocks looked at her through an empathetic green gaze and shook his head. His horn lit up to a pale orange blue color and the discarded mugs were instantly wrapped in the colorful aura. He dropped them into the sink and a soft groan could be heard from Applejack as the mugs clanged against the steel.
With a grateful glance at Rocks, Twilight hopped off the stool and gathered Applejack with a sweep of her wings. The farmpony looked up and narrowed her eyes. "Wha- I ain't done!"
Rainbow came over then and fixed Applejack with a stern glare. "Yeah you are, AJ. You're drunk off your ass, it's time to go home!"
Applejack raised her hoof, offended, and shook her head. "Wha- I, I'm FINE," She laughed humorlessly and began to lose her balance. She put her fourth hoof back on the floor before she could fall and smirked at Rainbow Dash. "See? I'm just as sober as you are, missy."
With a frustrated sigh, Rainbow walked to the other side of Applejack. She lifted one the drunk mare's hooves and threw it over her neck. "Let's go Twi."
The two friends half-dragged, half-carried their friend to the door, grunting as the stronger pony writhed and wriggled in their grip. Alcohol may have weakened the mare's common sense, but it hadn't effected her strength much.

Twilight looked up from Big Macintosh's mangled body when she heard yelling in the waiting room of the hospital. "Gett outta my way! I gotta see my brother!" The Alicorn jumped out of the way when the owner of the voice, Applejack, skidded to a halt in the room. She gasped at the sight of the crimson stallion and tears sprung into her eyes. She swallowed and slowly made her way to the hospital bed. The other five mares in the room slowly moved to allow her space, so much to now they were all pressed against the north wall. 
Applejeack's hoof rested gently on her brother's forehead and her breath shuddered when she moved his vanilla hair out of his face. "Mac..." 

Sweet Apple Acres was at least two miles from the bar, and with Twilight's lack of sleep, she wasn't going to be able to teleport anyone anywhere. Rainbow let go of Applejack long enough to open up the door to the library and the remaining mares stumbled in simultaneously.
"I told ya'll, I'm fine!" Applejack muttered as Twilight let her go and she was able to walk freely around the building. Rainbow Dash and Twilight slowly followed suit after kicking the door closed with a back hoof. Applejack looked around the room and laughed. "Twilight, why do ya have two Spikes?"
Rainbow followed her friend's gaze to see that she was staring confusedly at a sleeping Spike. Normally Applejack's behavior would have gotten a laugh out of her, but not tonight. The circumstances were too dire. Applejack hadn't been sober in 72 hours. At first Rainbow and the others had thought that it would be good to let Applejack be drunk, that a good night of drinking was exactly what she needed. Then she'd snuck away from their watchful eyes and continued to drink her senses away one hard cider at a time, so much to where she'd been discovered by a concerned Rarity who had been looking for her. She'd been passed out in the local bar's restroom. There was vomit in the toilet and on the floor. Rarity has to call on Rainbow to help her get their unconscious friend out of the bathroom. Rainbow cringed at the memory.
Twilight seemed to be remembering it too, if the horrified expression in her eyes were any indication. Dash opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a thump. The two mares looked in the direction of the sound to see a snoring lump of  orange fur that rising gently with every snore that escaped it. With a small breath of relief, Rainbow walked over and gently lifted her up from the carpet. Her muscles strained to hold up the bigger mare, but she didn't complain audibly. With unspoken understanding, Twilight levitated a couple of folded blankets from the nearby closet. She set one down on the carpet and nodded to Rainbow to set her down. After doing so Rainbow grabbed the other blanket and unfolded it before throwing it over the sleeping body. She took a moment to look at Applejack, smiling at how peaceful she looked. She had a small smile on her face, the only genuine one Rainbow had seen on her lips in days.
Twilight looked at Rainbow, who blinked in surprise at how she looked. In the dim lights at the bar, Rainbow couldn't tell just how stressed Twilight looked, but in the bright lights of the library every little detail looked as if there were signs pointing them out. The new Princess looked positively exhausted. Her eyes were bloodshot, there were bags under them, and she looked as if she could fall asleep on her hooves at any moment. "Twi, why don't you get some sleep?"
Twilight shook her head. "Rainbow Dash, I need to look after Applejack. It's my duty as a good friend to make sure she's okay."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Twilight, look at yourself! You're worried sick about Applejack, nonetheless your new duties as Ponyville's ruler."
"No, Rainbow," She rolled her eyes as the Pegasus sighed at her hard-headedness. “Besides, Rarity told me to let Fluttershy have a look at me.”
Rainbow narrowed her eyes and looked away. “She wouldn’t need to look at you if you got some sleep…” she muttered, half to herself.
As if on cue, Rarity announced her arrival with a swing of the door, which was wrapped in a silvery blue aura. Fluttershy was on her heels. She walked in quietly. “Hello, Twilight.” She said. She looked at Applejack and lowered her voice, although it wasn’t necessary considering she talked in a whisper 24/7. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired.” The Alicorn replied, irritation edging her voice.
Fluttershy walked over and tilted her head. “Um, Twilight? Could you, um, sit down? You’re taller than me now, remember?”
“Oh, right.” Twilight sat down so that she was now level with her friend. The medical experience locked in Fluttershy’s mind seemed to zoom through her eyes as she studied Twilight. Her aqua-marine eyes were more focused than Rainbow had ever seen them, except when she’d seen her studying for some exam in college.
Twilight looked Fluttershy in the eyes and narrowed them in confusion. Fluttershy frowned. “Keep your eyes open, Twilight.”
Though Twilight’s eyes opened wider, the puzzled expression stayed. “Fluttershy?”
“Hmm?”
“How do you stay so focused? I mean, everypony in Ponyville is grieving right now. But you… you don’t seem…” her voice faltered as she searched for the right adjective.
“Effected?” Fluttershy suggested, not letting her actions slow as she poked and prodded Twilight.
“Yeah.” Twilight smiled as Fluttershy poked her only ticklish spot, right next to her neck. 
Fluttershy smiled too, as if she were happy to make her tired friend smile even a little bit. She bit her lip as she thought of how to answer her friend’s question. “Over the years I’ve done the word I do… I guess that the many animals I’ve lost have sort of hardened me against it. I’ve never lost one to illness, but old age isn’t exactly treatable.” She raised her head to look at Twilight and smiled sadly. “When I started work in animal caregiving, my mentor told me I’d get used to death,” She looked down as she examined one of her hooves and paused in what she was saying.
Rarity frowned and walked over. “And… have you?”
Fluttershy frowned and sighed as she put down her patient’s hoof. “Unfortunately. I prayed every day that I wouldn’t, but I did.” She stood at that and quickly changed the subject. “Twilight, I see nothing wrong except that you need sleep, and quite a bit of it. Your hooves are also a bit raw from your pacing, so stay off of them if you can. If you absolutely have to go somewhere, fly instead. You don’t want to get an infection.” She looked seriously at Twilight, surprising the Princess a bit. “I’m telling you this as a doctor, not a friend. I may work with critters, but I know a serious case of sleep deprivation when I see it.” She let her gaze wander from her to Applejack. Her eyes softened a bit and fluttered over to her sleeping form. She stared at her for a bit before turning back to Twilight. “Twilight, can I stay here tonight to look after Applejack?” she asked, instantly switching out of her doctor-voice and back into the meek little voice she’s always had. “I—I mean, if it’s okay with you.”
Twilight smiled took a few steps toward the stairs to her bedroom, but unfurled her wings upon remembering Fluttershy instructions. She took flight and sighed when she felt the pressure taken off of her hooves. She hadn’t realized just how much they hurt. “Of course you can, Fluttershy.”
Rainbow Dash smiled and walked over to Fluttershy. “You’ll need to sleep too, Flutters. You look almost as bad as Twilight.” She observed with genuine concern obvious on her face. “I’ll look after AJ and wake you if anything happens.”
Rarity frowned. “I’d stay if I could, but I have a large order for Canterlot due in the morning.” 
Twilight shook her head. “Don’t worry, Rarity.” She tilted her head. “Where’s Pinkie, by the way?”
Rarity shook her head. “The poor dear’s been busy baking for the funeral tomorrow. I went by the shop on my way to get Fluttershy and found her passed out on one of the tables. She covered head to tail in batter and other ingredients.”
Twilight frowned. “Things are hard on everypony at the moment.”
Fluttershy yawned before speaking. “I’ll take a look at her tomorrow.”
Rarity shook her head. “Now, Fluttershy. She’ll be fine, she’s Pinkie Pie. Besides, she’s getting plenty of sleep; she’ll be her perky self in the morning.” Fluttershy looked as if she were about to argue, but Rarity held up a hoof in objection. “I’ll go over there myself first thing tomorrow. I know you’re concerned about your friends, but we can handle ourselves.” With the last comment, she looked at Applejack. She sighed. “Most of us can, anyway.”

With a quick goodbye, Rarity exited the library in a graceful fashion and closed the door behind her. Rainbow took a place next to Applejack. “I got Applejack, guys. You two just get some sleep.”
With a grateful look, Twilight opened the door to her room and quickly disappeared inside. Fluttershy gave Dash a small hug before turning to still agape closet and dragged out a couple of blankets and arranging a pallet a few feet away from Applejack. “Goodnight, Rainbow Dash.” She whispered as she lay down. Her eye lids drooped down heavily.
Before Rainbow could reply, the sound of slow breathing filled her ears and she turned to see Fluttershy was sound asleep, the day’s events finally taking their toll. Rainbow smiled and turned back to Applejack. “Night, Fluttershy.”

> the Problem With Apples...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Twilight, hold still! Do you want to look presentable or do you want to look as if you’ve just stepped out of a tornado?”
“Sorry, Rarity.” I guess I’m just nervous about today.”
Rarity rolled her eyes as she stepped back to look at the newly dressed Twilight, whose dress had been a bit of a challenge to make. Her wings were bigger than that of an average Pegasus and she was taller than the measurement Rarity had already memorized for her when she was a Unicorn. The dress had come out perfect nevertheless. It was sleek and jet-black. It fit perfectly to her body, but considering how business-like Twilight was, Rarity had been sure to keep decent. Her own dress a bit short in the back, but it showed nothing more than what would be allowed at a funeral. 
Rarity stepped forward again to smooth a wrinkle that had formed at Twilight’s hip. “Did you sleep well last night, dear? You seem a lot more refreshed than you have been lately.” Rarity smiled at Twilight, whose eyes looked brighter and she looked a lot happier.
“I slept a lot better than I thought I would.”
Rarity bit her lip. “And Applejack?”
Twilight gave a small smile. “Actually, she’s looking a lot better. She took a long shower this morning and agreed to meet us here. I put Rainbow Dash in charge of her to make sure she doesn’t sneak off to a bar or something.”
Rarity smiled. Sounded like things were looking up. “Good, good! They both need to hurry up so I can get them fitted into their dresses.”
“They’ll be here soo—“ She was cut off by the door opening. Fluttershy, rainbow Dash, and Applejack entered, all smiling for once. Rarity smiled when she saw Applejack. Her emerald eyes were back to their shining normality. 
“Applejack, darling!” Rarity hopped forward and wrapped the Earth Pony in a hug, and squealed in delight when she felt her hug back. She leaned back and looked at her. “I’m glad you’re back to normal.”
Applejack grinned hesitantly. “Not normal, but… better.”
“Well, that’s a start. Let’s get you fitted now!” Twilight stepped off the platform and Applejack took her place. She stood tall and confident; maybe not as she normally was, but it lifted Rarity’s spirits all the same.
Rarity lit up horn and levitated Applejack’s dress over to where she stood. “Now, Applejack, just step in here… There you go, now put your left hoof there. Move your mane a bit please? Thank you. Now I’ll just zip it up and—done! Voila! Now for your mane.”
She reached for the ribbons in Applejack’s mane, but was stopped by an orange hoof. “I got it, Rarity.” Rarity dropped her hoof and stood back as Applejack stepped off the platform. Applejack removed the ribbons in her mane and let it fall around her shoulders. She flipped her head down, to where her hair was reaching down towards the floor. Before Rarity could ask what she was doing, she flipped her head back up quickly and tilted it to the left a bit. Rarity gasped and smiled at how it looked., It fell in beautiful golden rivers around her shoulders. Her bangs looked as if they’d been sprayed with hairspray, they stood up gracefully before falling into a long ribbon that covered the corner of her left eye. The rest of her mane spilled out her back and shoulder blades.
Applejack blushed a bit as the mares gaped at her. “Do I look nice?”
Rainbow was the first to speak. “Nice? You look awesome!”
“Very pretty.” Fluttershy murmured and smiled.
Rarity stood back and admired her work. The long black dress was sleek and it seemed to cling to every curve of the mare’s body. It dipped low in the back, and while looking at the hem, Rarity noticed that the ribbon was still in Applejack’s tail. She pulled it out gently and let the hair fall freely around the orange pony’s hooves. “You look lovely, Applejack.”
“Hellloooo, Rarityyy!” Pinkie Pie bounced in, announcing her arrival with a high-pitched call. “I didn’t curl my mane like you asked!”
Rarity looked at Pinkie and grinned. Pinkie’s mane was still a bit curly, but it fell in glossy waves around her shoulders instead of going into tight spirals. Her bangs were down and off to the side, held back by a small bobby pin.
“Hey, Rares? Can I just grab my dress and head off? I gotta check the weather. Fluttershy can fit me for you.”
Rarity nodded. “Go ahead, Rainbow Dash. “
“I gotta go too, Rarity.” Applejack said. “I need to make sure Applebloom’s ready.” She looked at Rarity’s uncertain gaze and sighed. “I ain’t gonna be sneakin’ off to no bars.”
“Either way, I want Fluttershy to go with you. She’s been fitted already, so she might as well.”
Fluttershy nodded and lead Applejack out of the room. “Come on, Applejack. If Applebloom has any trouble with her dress, I can help her out.”
Their voices faded away as they exited. Twilight spoke up. “I should go too, Rarity. I need to stop by the Acres and make sure everything’s set up.” She waved goodbye to the Unicorn before departing.
Pinkie fidgeted from where she stood on the platform. “Pinkie, dear. Calm down.” Rarity smiled up at her as she got her into the black dress.
Pinkie blew a stray piece of hair out of her eyes and sighed. “Sorry, Rarity! I’m just super super excited about the party!”
Rarity blinked and paused in what she was doing. “Party? Pinkie, dear. This isn’t a party. This a funeral. Today is a sad day.”
Pinkie tilted her head in confusion. “Why sad? Today should be a happy day!”
Rarity gasped. “What! Somepony had died, Pinkie Pie. This is not a happy day.”
Pinkie rolled her eyes. “I know somepony died, silly! Today should be a happy day because we’re celebrating Big Mac’s life!” She smiled. “I mean, if a funeral isn’t for celebrating their life, you might as well be celebrating their death, right? I mean, if you don’t wanna celebrate their life then don’t have funeral!”
Rrity blinked. “Y-you’re right.” She looked up at Pinkie, now fully dressed, and looked back down. “Funerals really are a way of celebrating one’s life, isn’t it?”
Pinkie sighed. “Exactly! That’s what I’ve been trying to say!”


“Hi Applebloom.” Fluttershy smiled at the filly. Applebloom’s eyes were wet and Fluttershy could see trails of dried tears on her cheeks.
“H-hi, Fluttershy.” She sniffed.
“Oh, Applebloom.” Fluttershy stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. Applebloom gripped her tightly and pressed her nose into the crick of Fluttershy neck. 
“W-why did he have to die, Fluttershy? Why my brother, why now?”
Fluttershy frowned and held the filly closer. She kissed her cheek and pushed her back so she could look at her face. “I… don’t know—“
“Did he wanna die?” Applebloom choked out
Fluttershy frowned. “No, sweetie.”
“’Cause last week I- I made him really mad by sneakin’ out at night.” Applebloom’s eyes, so usually bright and cheerful, were now dull and lifeless.
“No, no, no, no.” Fluttershy insisted, pulling Applebloom into her again. “Applebloom, Big Macintosh loved you. Nothing you ever could have done would have made him mad enough to… to…” Fluttershy paused, not sure how to console the grieving filly in the appropriate manner.
Applebloom sniffed and wriggled out of her grasp. She stood a few feet away next to her bed, just staring at the crinkled sheets. “You can say it, Fluttershy, I ain’t a baby.” She took a deep breath before looking at Fluttershy again. “—to kill himself. That’s what you were gonna say right?”
Fluttershy swallowed before nodding slowly. Applebloom sighed and walked toward her. “I guess you’re right.” She put a small smile on her face before hugging Fluttershy. “Thanks for helping me see that.”
Fluttershy tilted her head and pulled away. “Haven’t Granny Smith and Applejack tried telling you this?”
Applebloom looked at her hooves. “Granny Smith hasn’t really been payin’ attention to anything since… you know. And Applejack…” She frowned and gave Fluttershy a knowing look.
Fluttershy said nothing instead just nodded in understanding. Clearing her throat, she stood up and walked to Applebloom’s closet. “Now, let’s look at your dress, hm?”


Applejack listened intently outside Applebloom’s door, her heart plummeting with every word.
“Did he wanna die?”
“No, sweetie.”
Applejack sighed and placed her forehead to the door. “No, Sugarcube. He didn’t wanna die.” She whispered as quietly as she could. She was sober for the first time in a while, and the reality was finally hitting her. Her brother was dead, and it was hurting Applebloom just as much as it was her.
“Haven’t Granny Smith and Applejack tried telling you this?” Fluttershy’s voice drifted through the wood.
Applejack held her breath as she waited for her sister to answer.
“Granny Smith hasn’t really been payin’ attention to anything since… you know. And Applejack…”
What, I what?!
Nothing else was said for a while before Fluttershy cleared her throat.  “Now, let’s look at your dress, hm?”

“Oh, wow! That dress looks very nice on you, Applebloom!” Fluttershy exclaimed jovially.
Applebloom, now in a flowing black gown, beamed at the older mare. “Really? Ya like it?”
Fluttershy nodded and walked around to the back of the filly. “Now just let me do your mane.” She reached for the bow, but was stopped by a pair of yellow hooves. 
“Er, Fluttershy. Can I keep my mane how it is? Big Mac always said it looked nice.” Applebloom blushed as she neared the last words of her request.
Fluttershy smiled and stepped back. “Of course.” She glanced at the clock above the door. “Come now, the funeral is going to start soon.” She made her way towards the door and opened it up. She stayed back to let Applebloom go first before walking out into the hallway. She slowly followed Applebloom down the stairs and paused mid-way to look at Granny Smith, who sat in a recliner. She donned a pretty black gown with a velvet black hat with a net. The expression on the elderly mare’s face was unreadable to Fluttershy. It looked a mixture of sadness, shock, and anger. Fluttershy blinked before unfurling her wings and lifting herself over the hoof-rail. She slowly made her way to Granny Smith and cleared her throat.
“G-Granny Smith?” the Earth Pony turned slowly to look at her. “How are you feeling?”
Granny Smith blinked before answering. “And who’re you?”
Fluttershy swallowed and smiled. “I’m Fluttershy, we’ve met before.”
Granny Smith didn’t reply, instead just turned toward the kitchen. “Applejack.”
The mare in question peeked her head around the corner. “What?”
“When’s the funeral?”
“Um,” Applejack looked to Fluttershy.
“I-It’ll start soon.”
Applejack’s eyes widened. “Come on, Granny. We gotta go. Applebloom!”
Applebloom rolled her from where she sat on the couch. “Right here, sis.”
Applejack bit her lip and looked away. “Come on, ya’ll.” She walked towards the door and flung it open. She stared outside for a moment before taking a deep breath and walking outside. “I need a drink.” She murmured quietly.
Fluttershy, having heard the remark, narrowed her eyes at Applejack before turning back to Granny Smith. “Come on, Granny Smith.” She gently nosed her out of the chair and stood up straight as the older mare stood and walked together towards the door. Fluttershy opened it for her and waited for Granny to walk through before following and closing the door behind them.

“We are here today to remember,” Rarity began. She glanced at Pinkie before continuing. “and celebrate the life of Big “Apple” Macintosh. An admirably hard worker, an excellent provider, a splendid soul, and above all these things, a spectacular family member and friend. I, for one, am truly sad that he’s gone.” She paused, looking out at the sea of ponies in black attire. The entire town had attended, and it was only made bigger by the entire Apple Family coming as well. She cleared her throat. “Anypony  who would like to come and say something – a story, a poem, a complement, your condolences—anything about Big Macintosh may come and do so.” She smiled before stepping down. “Thank you.”
Rarity went back to her seat beside Twilight, who gave her a grateful nod. “That was beautiful, Rarity.”
Rarity smiled at her, but said nothing when she noticed that Braeburn was going up to speak.
“Howdy, ya’ll.” He said before continuing. “We all have our favorite family members, right? Now I’ll admit that though Mac wasn’t my favorite cousin, he was still one of the most dependable stallions you could ever meet. We had our share of fights, every cousin does. I remember he came up to Appleloosa when we were younger, Fiddlesticks couldn’t stand him.” He glanced at Fiddlesticks, who was blushing furiously and scowling at her brother.  “She pulled so many pranks on Big Mac while he was stayin’ with us. She tried puttin’ spicy Appleloosian salasa in all his food.” The crowd rippled with laughter.
“She got him pretty good once by rubbin’ his tooth brush with a jalapeño. You’d think the poor stallion’s mouth was on fire the way he was pantin’ and drinkin’ whatever liquid he could find!” He paused to let the gathered ponies finish laughing before smiling sadly. “Rest in peace, Mac.”
Rarity smiled as Braeburn stepped down from the podium. She saw Fluttershy,who sat on the outside of the row, reach out a hoof to his shoulder as he passed. She murmured something to him, too quiet for Rarity to hear. He smiled gratefully at her and muttered something back before returning to his seat.

A few more ponies took to the podium. Fiddlesticks apologized for her behavior as foals, Carrot Top came up to express her sorrow at Big Mac’s passing. Granny Smith said a few words about her grandson. 
Rarity held her breath when she saw Applejack stand up from where she sat. She felt Pinkie Pie and Twilight tense on each side of her. The Earth Pony made her way slowly to the podium and took a deep breath.
“When Mac had the accident with the combine, I was in Canterlot. When Celestia gave me the message that Big Mac had been hurt, a million thought came to my mind. What had happened? Is he okay? Is anypony with him?” She paused and looked at her hooves before she continued talking. “I didn’t wanna believe it. When I got to Ponyville, I thought by ‘accident’ it meant he’d just been injured. Not… mangled. My whole life, Big Macintosh has been the one to look after me. After our parents died, Big Mac consoled me because he was the only one close enough to my age to understand. He’s protected me since day one, as big brothers have since the dawn of time.”
“To say I miss Mac would be an enormous understatement. To say I wish he hadn’t died would be an even bigger one. I’ve never felt so vulnerable, not since the day my parents died. Honestly, not even then. I was too young to have really met ‘em, so…” Her voice faltered as she neared the finale of her speech.
“All I can say for sure is that Mac shouldn’t have gone this soon with so much to leave behind and that I miss him more than words can possibly say” With tears flowing freely from her eyes, Applejack took a shuddering breath before running from the podium, nearly knocking over the table. She ignored the murmurs and the sounds of her friends calling her as she ran as fast as she could from the ceremony. Her lungs burned from the running and the sobbing she was doing, but she pushed herself harder. She didn’t know where she was going, nor did she care. She just wanted to get away from reality. 
Finally, she skidded to a halt. She looked around to see that she was in the south orchard. She collapsed under the shade of a large apple tree and sighed. “I’m sorry, Mac.”

> Maybe We Should Have Covered the Bars
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	When Applejack awoke, she had no idea where she was. For once, it was nearly pitch black, save for the moonlight. She blinked a few times to adjust her eyes and sighed in relief when she began to reognize the the familiar apple trees that inhabited the south orchard of the Acres.
She needed a drink. In the span of just an hour, she had managed to not only lose her mind, but she insulted her brother at his own funeral by running off sobbing like a foal. She ran a hoof through her mane and sighed. Apples don't cry. she remembered the words her dad had told her when she was young. She'd sprained a back hoof while bucking a tree. As the tears came, her dad had knelt down, put a hoof on her shoulder, and muttered those words. For years she followed those words, never letting a tear sneak past farther than her ducts. But today she had failed, the tears had come and they hadn't stopped.
With a groan, she got to her hooves, only to duck down again when she noticed a familiar lavender aura and the beating of wings. She looked up to see Twilight and Rainbow Dash. Their voices were too quiet for the tired Earth pony to make out, but she could tell they were scouring the area for any signs of her. She squeezed herself under one if the few bushes, silently cursing her wide hips, and didn't move after nosing a small gap between the leaves so she could see. She waited until the voices and the dim light of magic fully disappeared before emerging from her hiding place.
Applejack began her journey back to town at a steady trot, which soon turned into a gallop as the need for alcohol pulsed through her. Her mane was still loose from how she'd styled it for the funeral and her long dress made her stumble, but she pushed on. Her eyes shone with determination; determination she was ashamed to have. She shouldn't want more alcohol. As much as she wanted to turn on her heels and head back to the farmhouse, she knew she couldn't. There were far too many memories there. Her brother's presense lingered in every hallway, every room, every piece of furniture. It was like he was still there, mocking her and reminding her that Macintosh was gone and that he would never return.
Her only escape was a bar; the burn of whiskey as it slid down her throat, the punding headache from a hangover. To drown herself in beer until she couldn't see straight. She knew that it hurt her friends and family to see her like this, but something inside her kept her selfish. Applejack had been strong for far too long, it was time for her own break.

She placed her hooves against the trunk of a thick apple tree. She peered up at the sky to see a long pink mane followed by a soft voice. "Applejack? Applejack? Applejack, where are you? Please come back! Everypony's worried sick, please!" Fluttershy's words almost made Applejack turn back.
Almost.
Applejack carried on. Her beautiful dress that Rarity had taken extra care to make was now torn and riddled with holes. Her long flowing mane and tail were filled with dirt, leaves, and twigs. Applejack didn't notice any of these things, her cider-lust reaching it's peak. She'd finally reached Ponyville, and her green eyes narrowed as she saught out her trarget: Rocks' Bar.

Her mind raced as she contemplated on whether she should do this or not. Images of Granny Smith and Appleboom raced through her head. Her friends, Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy's disappointment, Rainbow Dash's anger, Pinkie Pie's hair deflation. All seemed small prices to pay to the needy mare. Applebloom's tears, however, snapped her out of it. Her little sister still needed her. She stood in front of the bar and pushed her way inside. 
Just one drink.


"I simply cannot find her anywhere!" Rarity fretted. She made her way to Twilight, who had just landed deep within the south orchard. "I've scoured every inch of this town!"
Rainbow landed next to the Alicorn and frowned. "Well, Twilight and I just swept the whole orchard. If she's avoided us, then she's smarter than I give her credit for."
Twilight narrowed her eyes. "Of course she smart, Rainbow."
"I wasn't saying that she's dumb!"
"I never said you did."
While the winged ponies argued, Rarity frowned and lit up her horn upon hearing something from above. She could see Fluttershy hovering above a few trees, drifting from here to there. "Applejack? Applejack! Applejack, where are you?" Rarity felt her heart break at the distress in the Pegasus' voice. "Please come back! Everypony is worried sick, please!" Fluttershy flew a bit more and sighed. She landed with a concerned squeak. "Oh, I can't find her anywhere!"
Rainbow Dash stopped her argument with the Alicorn before turning to her friend. "Don't worry, Flutters. I'm sure she's around here somewhere."
"Ohh, but what if she's hurt? What if she did something she'll regret? What if she's..." Fluttershy's voice faded as she realized she didn't have to say anymore.
What if she's at a bar?
Twilight felt her heart race as she thought about how long her friend had been missing. The funeral had lasted an hour, it had started at five, now it was eight...
Three hours. She'd been gone for three hours.
Rarity seemed to reach the same conclusion. "We have to get back to town and cover all the bars!"
Rainbow shook her head in disagreement, but took to the air all the same. "We're probably too late, but fine. You're right." She looked at Rarity. "You can take Frosty's, Twilight and I got The Saltlick, and Fluttershy can take Rocks'." She flew back towards the town after throwing "let's meet at the library in an two hours!" over her shoulder.

Fluttershy unfurled her wings and took off after telling her friends to be careful. Twilight took off after Rainbow Dash while Rarity stuck to the ground and ran towards town. Fluttershy raised her forehooves to the sky and kept her gaze fixed to the ground, just in case she might have missed her orange friend. She frowned and closed her eyes. Ohh, this is all my fault! If I had just kept a close eye on her, she wouldn't be missing! If only I'd gone after her! She shook her head, as if to clear it, and increased her speed. 
Taking a deep breath, she lifted upwards, to where her wing tips barely brushed the clouds above her. Even though she wasn't much for flying, the sight of Equestria below her at this height still took her breath away. She could make out the squeals of laughter from foals as they played, and the mothers scolding them and telling them it was time for bed. She could make out the dim glow of a fire in the home of one of Ponyville's many residents. She smiled. Everything looked peaceful from up in the sky. Her eyes shifted to the bar she was supposed to check and her smile faltered. Almost peaceful.

Rarity kept her head low as she walked through the trees. The sound of Fluttershy's wings were steadily fading. Oh, how she wished she could fly! She snorted in disgust when she felt her hoof slip into something sticky and mucky. She held her hoof to where it was touched by the light of her horn and groaned. Mud, of course. She sighed and continued her trek, trying her best to sidestep any less-than-appealing obstacles while still keeping her objective at the front of her mind. She could just barely make out the lights of Ponyville and frowned as she realized there was no time to waste. She reared back before dropping back to four hooves and taking off in a full gallop. She swerved unsuccessfully to avoid a low hanging branch that draped over the path and let out a surprised "oh!" as she took the branch to her cheek. It stung, but she had a feeling that no physical signs of the blow would make an appearance.

Pinkie Pie trotted out of Sugarcube corner with a frown on her face. Applejack was still missing and she'd searched every building in town. She'd gone to Rock's just after the funeral to make sure she hadn't gone there and thankfully the coast had been clear. Now at about 8:30 pm, she was beginning to worry that  perhaps Applejack was there now while the rest of her friends were scouring the Acres. She walked the two blocks at a steady pace to Rocks' and peaked her head inside, and to her dismay saw the familiar orange flank of Applejack. 
"Oh no! Applejack!" She ran to her friend to see that Applejack was already pretty out of it. Her eyes were gloomy, her head was low, and her breath was sour with alcohol. A few abandoned mugs lay strewn about the bar. Pinkie felt anger rise in her. How could Rocks have let her drink?! "Rocks!" She called out. Instead of the Unicorn stallion, a younger Pegasus mare took his place as she walked up to the bar. 
"Rocks isn't here. May I help you?"
Pinkie fixed the mare with a glare. She didn't know why, but she was furious with her, a mare she barely knew. She slid her head underneath Applejack's left forleg and hoisted her upward. "C'mon, AJ. Let's get you home."
Applejack started sobbing then and babbling, her speech slurred. "I jush wanted one drink. I-- couldn't stop, I  jus'.."
Pinkie nodded. "It's okay, Applejack." She looked toward the door, wondering how she was gonna carry the bigger mare out of the bar. She didn't seem like she could walk. Her panic turned to relief when she saw a familiar shape at the door. "Rarity! Thank Celestia, help me!"
The alabaster Unicorn quickly took her place on Applejack's other side. "Applejack, sweetie, we've been looking everywhere for you!"
Applejack shook her head and allowed them to carry her out. "I'm shorry, I s-sorry, I'm so sorry..." She kept repeating the words over and over again. Pinkie frowned. She couldn't figure out if Applejack was talking to she and Rarity, her family, or to Applejack herself.
> Dreams N' Saki Bombin'
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack sat on the outskirts of the Acres. Her glowing eyes put Celestia’s Sun to shame as she turned to stare up at the large apple tree she rested under. She frowned as she turned around to look at the rest of the land. Where was the farmhouse? She got to her hooves and walked down the path. Panic began to rise up in her chest.
Where was Ponyville?
Where the lively town once stood was a huge vast of bleak nothingness. The air seemed foggy, but it seemed to only be in the plain of where Ponyville once was. “I need to talk to Rainbow Dash about this fog…” She murmured as she peered up at the sky. She was surprised to see that there weren’t any rainbow streaks flying across the skies. In fact, there weren’t any Pegasi in the skies. She swallowed and looked around. There weren’t any Unicorns either. There were no Earth Ponies. There was no Alicorn. It was just her.
She let out a deep breath began walking toward the expanse of grass, away from the familiar warmth of the Acres. The second she left the dirt path, a wave of cold crashed over her like a wave. She looked behind her to see that while the orchards were healthy and green, the area ahead of her was grey, bleak, and cold. Very cold.
The grass felt like frost under her hooves and made a satisfying crunch as she walked. She stepped into the space where Town Hall once stood. Making a quick sweep of the area she continued her trek. There weren’t even any remnants of the town! No pieces of carpentry, no uncovered pipes, not even any plants other than dimly green grass. Not a tree in sight, not a pony, not a scrap of metal. Walking around the flat area, Applejack felt loneliness creep into her heart. She ignored the chill that ran up her spine as she sat on the grass. 
She jumped right back to her hooves when she heard laughter. She squinted into the fog. “Hello?”
The laughter ceased to be replaced with whimpering and the bounce of rubber. Applejack stepped back as a red ball came rolling towards her. She balanced the ball on her left hoof and stepped forward. “Hello, there?”
A young filly crept into view. She was orange with a blonde mane. Ribbons held back her long hair and a brown Stetson sat on her…
Applejack gasped. She stared at the little copy of herself, her mouth agape. The younger version of her kicked her hoof at the grass awkwardly. “I-is this your ball?” she asked after finding her voice.
The filly bit her lip and nodded slowly. “Err, yeah. Can I have it back?”
Applejack nodded and rolled it back to her. It halted at the filly’s hooves. “Thanks.” She spoke gratefully.
Applejack did nothing more than nod again. The filly looked around and gave a small, sad smile to her older self. “It feels lonely here, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, it does.”
The filly nodded idly rolled the ball back-and-forth with a small orange hoof. “It’s peaceful though. It’s the only place I can come to be alone, ya know? Ever since Mom died, Daddy’s been… well he drinks a lot.”
Applejack blinked in shock at the memory. Her father had taken to drinking about a week after her mother’s death. 
Just like Applejack.
Applejack swallowed and tried to smile. “Tha-that’s rough.”
Filly Applejack shrugged. “Yeah. Well, bye!”
Applejack waved at the filly, but she had already vanished into the rapidly thickening fog. Applejack moved a hoof forward and grunted with the effort. The fog had gotten really thick. She coughed as the fog rose and thickened around her. It filled her mouth and nose, choking her. She wheezed as she struggled and fought to breathe. It felt as if she were trying to breathe underwater. Her lungs were beginning to burn. She tried to jump, but she felt as if she couldn’t move. Panic rose in her chest. She did the only thing she could do: scream.


“Why is she screaming?!” Rainbow yelled the question to her friends. Twilight rushed over to the sleeping Applejack, who was kicking and screaming.
“Applejack! Applejack, wake up!” She shook the orange mare violently. The mare’s eyes snapped open and she sat up quickly, shoving Twilight off of her. Her chest heaved as she breathed in giant gulps of air. Twilight recovered from being tossed aside and studied Applejack. Her pupils were dilated; her mane was matted to her face from sweat. She looked positively traumatized.
“Applejack?” Fluttershy came over and kneeled down. She put a gentle hoof on Applejack’s back and looked at her face. “Breathe, just breathe.”
Applejack did exactly that. She closed her eyes and put a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder for support as she calmed her breathing. After a long moment she opened them again and patted the Pegasus’ shoulder in thanks. Fluttershy nodded with a small blush and a smile.
Rarity came over then. She and Pinkie Pie had stayed back, frozen in panic, when the Earth Pony’s blood-curdling scream had erupted from where she rested on the couch. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Applejack shook her head.
The six mares all frowned at each other. Applejack looked the most hopeless of all of them. Even she didn’t know what to do. She lowered her gaze and shuffled her hooves on one of the couch’s lush cushions. With a sigh she raised her gaze slowly. “I’m sorry, ya’ll. I’m so sorry.” She put a hoof to her temple and rubbed slowly, trying to relieve herself of the massive hangover she was having. 
Twilight frowned while Pinkie stepped forward, the solemn look on her face looked completely off-putting considering her nature. She sat beside Fluttershy and frowned. “It’s not your fault, Applejack.”
“Yes it is,” She insisted. She clumsily got to her hooves, ignoring her friend’s coos of concern as they surrounded her and steadied her. “I’m repeatin’ history.”
Fluttershy narrowed her eyes in confusion, but didn’t say anything. Rainbow, however, expressed her puzzlement. “What do you mean?”
Applejack stared at the Pegasus wide-eyes before answering. “After my mom died… my dad took to drinkin’. Some days he was normal and it seemed like he was gettin’ better. Other days I hardly saw at him at all.” Applejack broke through her friends ranks and turned her back on them. After taking a quick look around, she silently realized that she was in Rarity’s living room; only Rarity’s house would have such civilized and pretty décor. 
“I remember how alone and helpless I felt when he went to a bar. And now I—“ She stopped abruptly as she remembered the day of the funeral. 
“Granny Smith hasn’t been payin’ much attention, since… ya know. And Applejack…”
“Applebloom…” Applejack whispered her sister’s name softly.
“What?” Rainbow asked.
“I felt alone when my dad started drinkin’.” Rainbow stepped back as Applejack’s voice gained volume. “Now I’m doin’ it too!” She groaned and turned to look at them, rage and shame filling the green depths of her eyes. “I’m supposed to be her sister, her role model! I’m supposed to be helpin’ her through this!” She stepped back and shook her head. “I’m so stupid!” She raised a hoof and swiped at an expensive looking vase beside the left-side of the couch. The vase wobbled a bit before falling and crashing into miniscule pieces on the linoleum floor.
The room fell into an awkward and shocked silence. Applejack looked down at the crushed piece of decoration with a confused look on her face. Had she done that? She looked up at Rarity. “Rarity, I—“
“Think nothing of it, darling.” Rarity said with a forced smile. She walked into the kitchen, her hoofsteps echoed in the almost soundless room. She emerged after a few moments carrying a broom and dust-pan in her levitation. She gave Applejack an assuring smile before sweeping up the remnants.
Applejack watched the Unicorn for a second before turning back to her other friends. “What do I do?”
Fluttershy frowned. “Just cutting you off from alcohol isn’t the answer. We need to figure out why you resorted to drinking at all.”
“Because, alcohol is a depressant. It numbs pain, that’s why parents give their foals rum while they’re teething.” Rainbow pointed out. She frowned. “It’s only natural to turn to the stuff when we aren’t feeling good.”
“Rainbow Dash is right,” Rarity stood upright and levitated the dustpan into a nearby trashcan. The little pieces of glass hitting the bottom made Applejack wince. “Alcohol helps, but too much of it does more harm than good.”
Applejack put a hoof to her forehead, trying to let the reasoning of her friends settle into her hung over mind. “So, what? I just stop drinkin’ cold turkey?”
Twilight sighed. “Like Fluttershy said, that’s not the answer. We need to wean you off of it. We need to find another, healthier way for you to cope.”
Pinkie smiled. “Try burying yourself in your work.”
Rarity perked up. “Yes! Whenever I’m having a bad day, I make non-stop dresses!” She put a hoof to her chest vainly and closed her eyes with a smirk. “I call them “stresses”. Some of them have even sold top dollar in auctions.”
Applejack grinned. “Great, so I should just work. I can do that.” She took a step toward them and wobbled a bit, the wobbling making her head swim with agony.
Rarity stared at her half-lidded with understanding. “Sit on the couch, dear. I have the perfect remedy for your hang over.” With that, she whisked off into the kitchen once more.
While the alabaster mare was out of the room, Rainbow moved to help AJ to the couch, but was waved away. “I got it, Rainbow.” She muttered.
Dash backed off, leaving Applejack to stumble over the couch, where she collapsed and closed her eyes, listening to the clinking of glasses coming from the kitchen. Her eyes opened wide when a she heard a crash come from the kitchen, followed by Rarity’s voice
“Oh, shi—oot!”
Rainbow snorted as she tried to hold back her laughter. “Nice save, Rares.”
Rarity pranced from the kitchen, paused to give Rainbow Dash a frustrated glare, and levitated a glass full of liquid to Applejack. “Drink this, dear. It’ll help.”
Applejack sniffed at it and leaned away. “What in the hay is it?”
“An old family recipe, now just drink it.”
Applejack reluctantly took the glass from Rarity and gave it another sniff before throwing it back. She coughed as soon as the vile stuff hit her tongue and swallowed only a little before spitting the rest back into the glass. “Bleh, that stuff is disgustin’!” She exclaimed. She smacked her lips and shuddered. It tasted like a mixture of swamp water, mayonnaise, and Tabasco sauce.
Rarity winced at the not-so-ladylike act. “Eww-he-hew! Ugh, Applejack, don’t be such a baby. Couldn’t you have just grinned and bore it instead of emptying it back into the glass? Drink. It.”
Applejack gave Rarity an unsure glance before sighing and lifting the glass to her muzzle once more. She tilted the glass downward and chugged it, trying not to let any of it touch her tongue. Once the glass was empty, she gave a dry heave and shuddered while spluttering uncontrollably. Rarity narrowed her eyes and sniffed.
“You can tell a pony doesn’t drink much if that’s how she acts over an old-fashioned Saki recipe.” She turned to go back into the kitchen, but was stopped when she saw Pinkie Pie bouncing in from that direction, a bowl of ice-cream balanced expertly on her nose.
“Here, AJ! Wash that nasty stuff down with some ice cream!” She licked her lips with an exaggerated slurp as she set it in Applejack’s hooves.
“Ice cream does sound a might good right now.” She said looking down at the bowl.
“Pinkie,” Rarity started with her eyes wide as Applejack began to spoon the dessert into her mouth. “Which ice cream did you use?”
“Um… the one labeled ‘stallion-getter-overer’ I think?”
“Pinkie!” Rarity gasped. She levitated the bowl from Applejack’s hooves. “Pinkie, this has rum in it!”
“So that’s what that was,” Applejack smacked her lips and grimaced. “I thought it was just that aftertaste of the Saki.”
Rarity frowned and turned back to Pinkie, giving her a disappointed look. Pinkie smiled sheepishly. “Oops!”

> Workin', Fashionin', Partyin', and What-have-youin'
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight sighed in content as she levitated the last document to join it's completed companions. Three days had passed since Applejack's latest drinking expedition, and things had been starting to look up. Twilight had gotten a bit behind in her duties, considering the fact she'd been worrying about Applejack nonstop, but it was all behind her now. She smiled and called for Spike. "Spike! These documents are ready, send them when you can." At that, she hopped off of her stool and opened up the door, breathing in her first breath of fresh air in hours. Celestia's Sun was bright, summer would start in a few days, and, above all, Applejack was getting better.
She'd buried herself in her work like Pinkie Pie had suggested and it seemed to be working. She bucked apples til the Sun went down, and only after did she allow herself time to chat and laugh with friends. Apple Bloom seemed to be happier too. She was back to her crusading, she was laughing, cutting up, and having fun. Everything was back to normal. Well, maybe not normal, but almost.

"Have a good day, Rarity!"
"Yes, you too, Roseluck. That dress is going to wow your family!" 
Rarity hummed happily and headed back inside her shop, looking at the strewn about supplies. Rose's dress had been fun to make; her coat was such a creamy color, and her mane's combinations of pinks was positively stunning! So many possibilites to mix and match, so many different drafts, many wonderful looks, she just couldn't decide which one to give her client the possibilites were so endless. In the end, Rose had chosen one of Rarity's more simpler designs: A pretty magenta gown fit with a white belt with a bubblegum-pink silk rose attached.
The bell clanged and Rarity plastered a smile on her face, hoping it wasn't a demand for something big. "Welcome to Carousel Boutique; where everything is-- oh, Applejack! Hello!"
Applejack grinned and waved a hoof. "Hey, Rarity."
"What can I do for you, dear?"
"Oh, um. Well, I was jus' wonderin' if you could, uh... help me with somethin'."
"Of course, darling. What is it?


"Here ya go! Two yummy-delicious chocolatey cupcakes for Lyra and Bon-Bon!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in her usual nature.
The couple thanked the pink mare before sitting at a booth in the far side of the restaurant. Pinkie smiled and crossed her hooves before laying them on the counter and leaning forward. She sighed happily and closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of everyday work. Mrs. Cake was in the kitchen, Mr. Cake was talking to her quietly, something about "playing doctor" later on. Pinkie Pie giggled at the image of Mr. Cake with scrubs on. Pinkie thought he would look pretty silly, but you were never too old to play games!
But you know what the best thing going on right now is? Pinkie asked herself. Applejack's better!
She laughed to herself and opened her eyes, looking at the clock above the doorway. With a squeal, she took off her apron and hung it on the hook behind the counter. "I'm taking my lunch break, Mrs. Cake!"
"Okay, dearie! See you soon!"
"You can count on it!" Pinkie said over her shoulder. She waved at the customers as she bounced out of the establishment with a huge smile on her face. Applejack was better, today was warm, and she couldn't be happier! She stopped bouncing and hung in the air for a second before falling back down as a thought struck her. This could mean only one thing! A PARTY!


Rainbow Dash zoomed over the clouds, peering through them to make sure everything was in order. A light sprinkle over the Everfree Forest is scheduled in an hour, so if I could try and reschedule that to 4:30, I could make sure that the Acres get their weekly dowsing of rain water on time. With her decision made, she smiled and dived downward. She could see Scootaloo getting on her scooter and she decided to show off for her fan. She increased her speed and only pulled up when she was only a few inches from the filly's face. To her expectation and delight, she heard Scootaloo squeal before turning on her tough-filly attitude and cheering her on with an excited expression and tone in her voice.
She did a couple of loops, relishing the feel it gave her to see her world turned upside-down. The trees were the sky for  a brief second before she went right-side-up and continued her flying. The wind rushed through her mane and she laughed as the edges of her bangs tickled her nose. She swiped them away and slowed down into a steady hover as she flew above downtown. She could see Pinkie Pie bouncing up and down, and Rainbow scratched her head. What could the pink party pony be up to now?
As if she'd asked the question out loud, Pinkie looked up and started waving her hooves around. "Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash!"
Rainbow flew down to her friend and landed gracefully, standing just a bit shorter than Pinkie. "What's up, Pinks?"
"Huh? Oh, right! I need your help for a party!"
Dash smiled. After the past few weeks, a party was just what the town needed.

"Okay, my little friends. This way, that's right. Oh my, um, slow down a bit please, Angel? You're getting too far ahead." Fluttershy spoke, or rather whispered, to the little pack of animals she was leading from downtown and back to her cottage. They'd all had fun visiting with the older ponies at Ponyville's nursing home, but now it was time for them to rest and eat a healthy lunch.
She grinned as stray duckling wandered from the group and she gently nosed it back into place. "We wouldn't want you getting lost." she chided with a smile. The duckling quacked at her in response and continued on his way.
She looked up when she noticed the familiar trail leading up to her house. "Okay," She looked down at her critters. "Momma Ducks and Frogs can take their little ones back to the pond." She smiled as they followed her instructions. She looked back and gave Angel a look. "And all mischievous bunnies need to wait inside."
Angel crossed his arms and tilted his nose up. Fluttershy gazed at him calmly; there was no way he was going to win her over this time.
Finally, the staring match ended when Angel realized his caretaker wasn't going to let up. He shrugged and bounded up the path before disappearing into the little door in the cottage.
With the most troublesome animals out of the way, she ordered the others back to their homes with promises of lunch in the later hours before following in Angel's paw-steps up the winding dirt path. Now that she was closer to the door, she could see something taped to it. She took it off and read it out loud carefully.
"Fluttershy, you are invited to a party at Sugarcube Corner..."

"Applejack, I must say this just might be my finest work."
Applejack smiled as she gazed at herself in the mirror. "Really?"
Rarity stepped into place to where she could see herself alongside the orange mare. She threw her forleg around the Earth Pony and grinned. "I do, indeed! You look fabulous!" The mares looked up at a thump on the door. "Excuse me, dear." She walked quickly to the door and opened it. She looked left and right before stepping out. "Hello-- huh?" She stepped back as a small piece of paper flitted to the ground and skidded a bit before resting at her hooves. She levitated it to her eye-level and read it once over. She looked over her shoulder at the orange mare who was still admiring herself in the mirror and grinned.
"Applejack, you could not have timed your request better."

"Pinkie, are you sure about this? Applejack might not feel up to a party right now." Twilight fretted as she levitated a list Pinkie had just handed her. Streamers, music, cupcakes, games; all things you could find at a normal Pinkie Party. The lavender Alicorn was still worried her friend would still be too grief-stricken for partying at the moment, and a party thrown by Pinkie at that!
"How can somepony not wanna party?" Pinkie put her hooves on the counter and leaned over it to where she was only about half a centimeter from the Princess' face. "Parties are the superest sure-fire way to cheer somepony up!" She pointed to Fluttershy, who was hanging up a banner. "Even quiet ol' Fluttershy likes to party!" She grinned sheepishly at the buttery Pegasus. "No offense, of course!" Fluttershy just giggled at the pink mare and waved a yellow hoof at her before turning back to the banner.
"Pinkie's right, Twi. A party is exactly what Applejack needs." Rainbow Dash said as she flew by. The Pegasus flew passed so quickly that Twilight wasn't sure if the rainbow she'd seen had been Rainbow's tail or the variety of streamers she'd been towing. 
"Where is Applejack, anyway?" Fluttershy asked as she put the last pin into the banner.
"I think I saw her go into Rarity's earlier." Rainbow reported.
"Sort of an odd place for a pony like herself to be, don't you think?" Twilight pondered out loud.
Fluttershy shrugged as she reached into a box and pulled out a tablecloth that matched the color of her mane. "Rarity's a good listener when it comes to personal problems. I know she always makes me feel better when I've had a bad day."
"That's true." Twilight murmured to herself. She looked up and smiled when she saw Rarity enter the Sugarcube Corner's lobby. "Rarity, there you are! Is Applejack with you?"
Rarity giggled and waved a dainty hoof at the Princess. "The old one isn't."
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash hovered above Rarity's head and pointedly stuck her snout in her face, but for once the fashionista didn't seem to mind the lack of personal space.
"Girls, Applejack came to me today looking hopeful and a bit scared," She turned to where she could see all of the room's occupants before continuing. "She wanted to start fresh, she wanted to feel new, something to symbolize the fact that good can come from bad."
"I don't follow." Twilight said, shaking her head.
"Perhaps it would be easier if I just showed you." Rarity grinned and stood away from the door and raised a hoof. 	"Ladies, it is my greatest pleasure to present to you, the newly rejuvenated Applejack!"
The five mares stared in wonder as the a pair of orange hooves appeared outside the door, soon followed by the sleek, well chiseled body that could only belong to an Apple mare. It wasn't her boy that was different. Not her voice, not her eyes, but her mane. Her hair wasn't in the ribbons, but was instead loose. It barely reached her shoulders before going into tight ringlets that framed her face. It hadn't been cut, for there were no jagged areas, but Applejack's mane had been curled so tightly that it seemed shorter. 
Twilight smiled as she looked on Applejack's head to see that her Stetson still sat proudly atop her curly mane. "Applejack, you look--"
"Terrific!"
"Awesome!"
"Beautiful."
Rarity let out a giggle. "Stunning!"
Applejack blushed and shuffled her hooves a bit before speaking. "I just, felt I needed a fresh change, somethin' new, ya know?"
Pinkie Pie sprang into view then, startling the orange Earth Pony. Her face was distressed and a sweat broke on her brow. "Oh no! I've thrown the wrong party!"
Rarity tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"This party is an 'Applejack-Is-Feeling-Better' party! Not an 'Applejack-Looks-Super-Duper-Amazing-With-Her-New-Hairstyle' party!"