Harmony's Savior (Sequel to Love on the Orchard)

“HUAHH!!”

“Rio hey…honey are you alright?”

“Y…ya I’m fine just a nightmare is all.”

“Rio sweetheart i’m here for you…okay. Tell me whats wrong.”

“AJ I…I see you in my arms giving me your final goodbyes before you fade out. The whole time your telling me how much you love me and how much you’re going to miss me. I tried to tell you how much I love you back but before I am able to it’s too late. Applejack I…I love you so much.”

Tears found their way down my cheeks. Applejack adjusted herself so that her chest was now against mine so I could actually feel her heartbeat alongside with mine. I wish I could describe how it felt to have Applejack resting with her warm body leaning on mine.

“Hey… hey now honey I am here okay I am right here and nothing is going to change that.”

I wrapped my arms around her and I couldn’t help but let out my tears with resistance. She lifted her head so that she could take a look at my pathetic tear filled mug.

“Tears don’t suit you Rio. Mind if I help with that?”

“What did you have in mind AJ.”

“Let me show you sugarcube.”

AJ untied her ribbons that kept her mane and tail in ponytails and gave me a look that only true lovers give one another.

“I how much you love it when I have my hair is down so Rio are you feeling any better.”

“Applejack how do you always find some way to make my sorrow vanish and replace it with warmth and sanctuary?”

“Face it Rio I care about you too much to let sadness fill your heart. I love you Rio and don’t you dare forget that for one second alright?”

“I love you too AJ and I won’t ever forget that. You have my word.”

We once again snuggled closer to each other and feel asleep. This time however my dreams were filled with love’s bliss instead of fear’s grasp. It had been about four hours and the sun had set when Granny Smith appeared with Big Macintosh from the trees nearby.

“Ohohoho thats adorable. I remember when I was young and in love. Come on now wake up you too or you’ll both catch a cold.”

“Huh oh heh good evening Ms. Smith.”

“Oh shucks Rio your part of the family. You can call me Granny Smith sonny.”

I let out a warm chuckle after hearing that.

“Thanks Granny.”

“Anytime sonny.”

“Hey Big Mac I assume everything has been good with you?”

“Eeyup.”

“How have things been with Cheerlie hmmmm?”

“Uhh… well I uh.”

He cleared his throat before he spoke up again.

“Were just friends that’s all.”

I gave him a smirk and raised an eyebrow as if to say “ya sure you guys are.” I knew for a fact that Big Mac and Cheerlie were seeing each other but this is only because I flew over them at one point. They were snuggled together on the grass near the Everfree forest just watching the clouds and enjoying each other’s company.

“Well I suppose you’re right we should go inside before we catch a cold eh AJ.”

“AJ…AJ sweetheart?”

She was so comfortable that she was still asleep in my arms so I gently maneuvered myself in such a way as to place her on my back and bring her into the farm and up to her room. I could hear her mumble slightly in her sleep between her cute little snores.

“Rio…so…sweet to me.”

I placed her in the bed and made my way to the washroom to brush my teeth and get ready for bed as well. Just a few steps from the bed when my heart began to beat slowly and I could hear his voice in my head again.

“I’m very very proud of you son. Never forget that. I love you.”

“D…dad.”

It was as if he was holding me right then and there. his words acted as an embrace from afar and all of the time that we had spent together blasted through my mind sending me into a dream state until I had to catch myself from falling to the ground.

When I had found my bearings I reached to over to my patch on my right shoulder that held the symbol of the Earthstriders. It felt slightly warm what with me recently keeping AJ and myself warm underneath it. Every time I had felt its soft stitching I could only remember how proud my father was of me.

“I miss you dad. I love you too.”

I made my way to Applejack, lifted the covers to and made my way over to her soft loving warmth under the sheets. She was still asleep but I knew that she could feel me there next to her. How I could always tell was with her usual reactions which were either grabbing hold of me and bringing me closer to her, or I would cuddle closer to her and she would turn around, kiss my neck and then let out an adorable happy sigh as she adjusted herself comfortably against my body.

“Goodnight Applejack. I love you my sweet angel.”

I closed my eyes and let the night blanket me in its warm darkness knowing that Luna was watching over me. The nightmare did not reoccur this time thankfully yet I still felt my body tremble with fear. Applejack meant so much to me that I couldn’t picture myself without her in my life.

She already knew that I’d give my life for her. Of course she never would want me to do that, but she knew full well that I would regardless. She saw it in my eyes.

The next morning was abrupt and well terrible to say the least. I was awoken by Demi and Ash along side Noir and Dragran.

“Rio….Rio wake up dude we have a serious problem.”

“Ugh…buh wha…what guys its really early can’t it wait.”

Appearntly even AJ was up and about pacing the floor in worry.

“AJ sweet heart whats wrong?”

“Rio…sugar its Luna she needs you right away.”

My face was filled with shock.

“Demi whats wrong…WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?”

“Easy dude.”

“This is my mother were talking about. This is not the time to take it easy. Now someone tell me whats wrong.”

“She dying Rio.”

Noir spoke up.

“No….NO NOT HER TOO!!!!!!!!!!!! DAMN IT I CAN’T SEE MY FATHER ANYMORE AND NOW MY MOTHER IS Dying now…damn it.”

My face was filled with mixed emotions right alongside fear.

“No this can’t happen I’m going to see her right now.”

“Rio wait don’t go alone wait for…”

I was already lifting off the ground when everyone in the room had stopped speaking. their faces were filled with amazement as to how I was flying with no wings.

“I’m going to save my mother one way or another. AJ I’ll be back later with good news okay…I promise.”

“…I know you will honey. Be safe and when you get back with good news I’l be here waiting for ya.”

“Thank you sweetheart. I’m sorry that you can’t come along this time….I would have loved for you too.”

“I know Rio but it’s okay. Go take care of your mom….I love you.”

“I love you too AJ.”

With a burst of energy I flew through the open window although what I didn’t realize until only a few seconds out the window was that Demi was right behind me.

“Demi what are you doing? Go back to Ash I can handle this.”

“Rio firstly I’m your brother got that secondly I already know you have to do this on your own and I understand which is why I want to know what do you want me to do.”

“Head to the Earthstiders with everypony and get them ready for the worst. I have no idea why Mom is dying but it can’t be for normal reasons.”

“I’m on it bro.”

Before Demi left to gather everypony from the farm he placed his hoof on my shoulder and gave me a loving brotherly look.

“Rio I got your back dude don’t ever forget that. Everything will be okay.”

I nodded to him and we parted ways. It felt like only seconds flying through the air and landing down onto Luna’s balcony. My adrenaline was pulsing through me and I was frantically searching for my mother.

“MOM!!! MOM WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!!!!”

I finally found her and what else I found brought me only anger. Chrysalis was sapping Luna dry of her energy. Celestia was found close by her alongside her was her personal guard. My eyes were filled with fear and shock. I knew that guard he was the personal guard of Celestia herself. She picked him herself a long time ago. He was the kind of pony that would give his life to protect her’s and she knew that full well and for that reason she gave him that position along side her. He was her shield and he holds the title proudly.

“IRONSIDES….NO… GET UP…YOU HAVE TO GET UP NOW!!!!!”

“Rio….get…out of…here quickly.”

“You know I can’t do that Hang on I’m coming to help.”

“No …Rio don’t…. stop”