Shock
There was a heavy, solid thud as Applejack's hind legs met with the trunk of the tree, causing it to shudder and drop most of its apples, all of them falling into carefully placed baskets below. Again and again the farm pony bucked with her hind legs, each time filling the baskets that she herself had previously placed over the rim with bright, healthy apples. Applejack was doing what she did best: working on her family's farm. Apples, specifically, as if her name and cutie mark didn't make it obvious.
Today was a good day for apple-bucking, not too hot, but not too cold; just right. Not very much work today either. So Applejack was in a good mood. She was thinking that maybe she would have a pint or two of cider and relax under one of the larger trees on her family's orchard. Or maybe retire to her room to read a good book.
The farm pony internally shrugged; she would cross that bridge when she came to it. And so she worked. Bucking more and more apples, each time coming closer and closer to finishing her work and retiring for the day, when, at last, she was almost finished-only two or three smaller trees left-it was noon. Time for a lunch break.
Applejack wiped her brow with a hoof and smiled a bit wearily. Didn't matter if it was a bit shorter than usual; work was always a bit taxing. Ah but she would never trade it for anything in the world. It was her special something after all.
The orange mare started toward her home to fix up something with her family when something stopped her. It was the sound of a twig snapping. Applejack frowned in curiosity and turned around.
"Hello?" she called. There was no answer. Applejack waited for a while. Eventually she shrugged, and was about o turn around again when she saw Fluttershy round a corner and come into view.
"Oh it's just you, Fluttershy. Waddaya need?"
No answer here either. Applejack frowned again, this time in slight concern for her timid friend. Fluttershy was trudging with her head down, her getting all mane dirty. She was going slow and steady, but she showed no signs of stopping.
"Uh...Fluttershy?"
The yellow Pegasus suddenly halted. She stood there for but a moment, staring at the ground, her entire face hidden by her now-filthy mane.
"Fluttershy, what in the name of tarnation has gotten into you?" Applejack said as she hurried over to her friend's side, "Fluttershy, now you tell me what's wrong, right now, ya hear?"
The timid Pegasus finally looked up, and Applejack had to stifle a gasp; Fluttershy's eyes were wide and blood-shocked.
This time, with a more gentle tone in her voice, Applejack said, "Fluttershy...what's wrong?"
Fluttershy looked Applejack in the eye for a few seconds. Then Applejack watched as a large tear emerged from one of the frightened-looking pegasus's eyes. It slowly dripped down her cheek and down her muzzle, where it detached itself from her nose and fell to the ground. The process was repeated with the other eye. Fluttershy's lower lip began to tremble, and tears began to flow more freely.
"Oh Fluttershy..."
Applejack went in for a hug, but jumped back, startled as a deep, throaty cry emerged from Fluttershy. It was unlike anything that Applejack had ever heard.
It was a sound of pure sorrow, misery even. It got louder and louder as Fluttershy began to cry, heavy sobs wracking her body. She slumped over. Applejack hesitated for only a moment more, but swooped in to embrace and comfort the Pegasus. It went on like this for ages, it seemed. The sorrowful, despaired sounds that Fluttershy made echoed between the trees and the hills of Sweet Apple Acres. She made enough noise to attract three curious heads to poke out from their home, each one plastered with worried looks.
Applejack caught Big Mac's eye and silently shook her head. The red stallion got the message and gathered up Granny Smith and Applebloom, guiding them back inside.
Applejack stroked Fluttershy's messy mane, slowly cooing her, shushing her, and attempting to comfort her. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Fluttershy's cries began to soften.
"Now...can you tell me what happened?"
Applejack could tell from the absolute misery of Fluttershy that it was something bad, but she needed to know anyway. Maybe Angel Bunny had gone missing or something-
"It's....it's...it's Rainbow Dash..."
Again, she lapsed into sobs, although this time they were much more quiet and reserved.
Oh no.
"Sugarcube, ah need you to tell me what's wrong."
"Rainbow....she....she..."
And that was it. Once more, Fluttershy sunk into her trance.
"What? What?"
Not a word. Applejack gave a cry of frustration.
"Fluttershy! Snap out of it!"
Still nothing. Applejack was on the move now.
"Big Mac! Get over here and take care of Fluttershy; I'm goin' out to help Rainbow Dash!"
The farm pony didn't wait for an answer as she galloped at full speed out of Sweet Apple Acres, down towards Rainbow's home. She needed to figure out what was going on, and fast.
There was no one there. Not Rainbow Dash, not anyone. Nor was Rainbow Dash at the local Salt Lick, napping in any of the trees, or any clouds anywhere. Applejack's worry increased every time she asked someone and they didn't know where she was. Pinkie Pie and Rarity were both too busy with other things to help her look, but they just suspected that she was off frolicking in the skies somewhere. Applejack told neither of them about Fluttershy and her current state back at the farm.
Eventually, she came to Twilight's Library and urgently knocked on the door.
"Twilight! Ah need ya ta hurry! Somethin's wrong!" she called, slightly impatient.
The heavy wooden door gently swung open as a purple aura drifted over it and in its place stood Twilight Sparkle, a concerned frown across her face.
"What? What is it?"
"Ah don't know Twilight, it's Rainbow, she's off somewhere and ah can't find her."
"Well, I can't say I've seen her...what do you need her for, anyway?"
"There's no time ta explain. Do ya suppose you help me look fer her? Nopony else had the time fer nothin'.."
The purple alicorn nodded earnestly and answered back, "Of course, of course. Just let me get ready.
Not in three hours was she found. Not in three hours of searching, thinking and asking. Both ponies whom of which were searching for Rainbow Dash were becoming worried sick. Rainbow had gone off places before, but she usually told somepony, or at least left a note somewhere. This time she was off without a single sign of her departure.
When Applejack and Twilight both stopped for a rest, they began to ponder some more. Then suddenly something hit Applejack.
"Of course!" she said, giving herself a face-hoof.
Twilight, who had been startled by the farm pony's sudden outburst shook her head a bit and regained her composure.
"What?" she asked.
"Ah've been hearin' rumors that Rainbow up an' bought a bit of land somewhere."
Twilight's brow furrowed.
"Why in the name of Celestia would she do that?"
Applejack sighed from her spot under the oak tree where they had stopped and said, "Ah don't rightly know, Twilight, it's jus' a rumor. But it could probably help us out a bit."
"Okay...but where is this area?"
"I don't know exactly, but ah imagine it's somewhere off ta' the east of Ponyville; that's where most of the old, dead farms are."
"Okay, let's go check there then, see if all this is true."
After a while of silence, Twilight spoke up, saying, "Applejack? I'm...really worried."
Applejack was silent a bit before she answered.
"Ah know sugarcube, so am ah."
"What...what do you think happened?"
Once more Applejack was silent.
"Ah don't know the answer ta that. But maybe we're gettin' all worked up for nothin'. Maybe she just wants to build a house on the ground for some reason. Or maybe this is all one giant, elaborate prank against all a' us."
"If it is, I'm going to kick her flank when we find her." Twilight said.
Applejack chuckled and said, "Yeah, me too. But...I think that maybe Fluttershy's in on it too. Either that or something really bad has happened
"Fluttershy? What makes you say that?"
"Well, Twilight, ah didn't tell anyone about it because ah didn't want them to be worried about her too, but..."
More silence.
"That didn't help much," Twilight finally said.
Applejack sighed but said, "Yeah. Yeah I know."
Once more, silence reigned as the two ponies worried heavily, and then attempted to fight such thoughts off. This went on until: "Oh, look, we're here."
The two ponies halted and ban to survey the area, looking for any signs of Rainbow Dash.
"Which plot do ya think she bought?" Applejack wondered aloud.
"I...I don't know. I guess we could search all of them? There aren't that many."
Applejack agreed and the pair continued on their way.
It was getting dark, very dark, by the time that they finally found it; the last plot out of five. This one was smaller, and it didn't have any buildings on it, but there was an old cellar. A cellar but no barns or farmhouses anywhere. How peculiar.
As the two ponies approached the cellar, Applejack became aware of a very familiar stench. It was a horrid, unwelcome stench, one that she hadn't come across for many years. Not since the one morning when she had found her parents...
Applejack's eyes widened and she broke into a sprint, surprising the purple mare beside her.
"Hey! Applejack! Wait up! Ugh, what's that smell? Hey!"
Applejack ignored the calling Alicorn and approached the opening. One of the doors was open already, probably due to Fluttershy's visit. The terrified farm pony threw open the other side and dashed down the stairs, with Twilight barely keeping up behind her.
The stench grew heavier, and Applejack had to fight down bile. She reached the bottom of the steps quickly, where she saw a narrow, curved doorway that led off to the left, into the main cellar area. Applejack rounded the corner and began to call out, "Hello!? Rainbo-"
She froze, an expression of disbelieve on her face. Slowly, she slumped to the ground, still staring into the room. Twilight, panting and breathing heavily appeared at the bottom of the steps and approached Applejack.
"Applejack, is Rainbow in there? Appleja-"
Twilight had reached the doorway too. She stared into it for a while and slumped to the ground, similarly to Applejack. She began to cry, much like Fluttershy had at first. And, as Fluttershy did, her cries became louder and louder. Eventually she reached over with both hooves and pulled Applejack into a tight embrace, burying her muzzle into orange mare's shoulder.
Applejack only stared, her eyes empty like voids. A single tear escaped from one, darkening and wetting the fur on her face as it traveled downwards. There, only a few paces from where Twilight and Applejack sat in the dirt, swung the corpse of Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, her life taken by her own hoof.
Grief
The day, much like the previous, was splendid. The air was cool, the breeze was light, and the sun shined brightly. And yet, no one cared or payed an attention to the good weather, for today was a sad day. One for mourning. One for grief.
Of course, the funeral was quick to happen, as soon as everypony had gotten over their shock and surprise enough to organize it, of course.
The viewing was held early in the morning, and the coffin, in which lay the strangled corpse of Rainbow Dash, was carried out to the Ponyville cemetery. The graveyard was small, tiny even. Death, even with natural causes, was not a common occurrence in Ponyville.
And so it began. As the casket was slowly lowered into the open grave by a solemn-looking unicorn, Princess Celestia herself, who had arrived as soon as possible, along with her sister, began to speak. Even with her voice magically amplified, it was quiet, distant. Sad.
Barely managing to hold back tears, she addressed the crowd, "My Little Ponies. Today is a day of mourning, of sadness, as we all gather here to grieve over the tragically unexpected death of our Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash."
The very mention of the name sent a jolt down Twilight's spine and made her gut clench.
"The circumstances surrounding her death are almost entirely nonexistent. The day before, she was fine, happy even. But then...then she went missing..."
Celestia trailed off and began to choke up. She had to leave her spot, and was replaced by a similarly grieving Luna.
"Anypony who wants to say a few words may...may do so now."
Applejack went first. Then Rarity, and then Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy declined. Then it was Twilight's turn.
The previous speakers all looked at the devastated mare expectantly. Twilight wanted to, but when she tried to move forward, her hooves were made of lead. Her vision became fuzzy. Twilight shook her head, but her the distortion of her vision remained. She couldn't hear anymore. No, that was a lie. She could hear, but not her friends, nor the birds, nor the blowing of the wind and its disturbance of the trees and the bushes.
Instead...she heard something else. It was like a whisper. In fact it was a whisper.
"She's not gone."
Twilight jumped at the sudden intrusion. It came not from the outside, but from inside.
"She is not truly gone...but you will never have her again."
Twilight blinked rapidly and stumbled backwards.
"Who are you? W-w-what do you mean?" she asked, warily.
"It matters not. All that matters is that Rainbow Dash is dead. And it's all your fault."
The voice's last sentence was like ice, sending jolts down her spine. The harshness of the words, alongside the very accusation, made Twilight feel sick to her stomach. Made her feel tiny.
"N..no." was all she could muster.
"Twilight?"
The Alicorn blinked again. She was back, and everyone was looking at Twilight with looks of concern, fear, and even one or two of anger. Applejack was closest to her, and it was apparently she who had snapped Twilight out of her trance.
"I...I'm so sorry." Twilight said right before she dashed away for her library.
The door slammed shut, sending shudders up the wood of the massive tree. What had gotten into her? That voice...was it...right?
"No, of course it wasn't," Twilight said, answering her own question out loud. Twilight eventually chalked it up to the stress of the recent dilemma, but, of course, she couldn't stop thinking about Rainbow's death. Rainbow Dash was the Element of Loyalty. Suicide was quite a selfish thing to do, wasn't it?
In fact, the more Twilight thought about it, the angrier she became. How dare Rainbow do that to her? To her friends? Did she have any idea what she was doing? And now, if something requiring the Elements of Harmony happened, they would be useless!
But...Rainbow Dash was a strong pegasus. The taking of her own life...it couldn't be. It wasn't something Rainbow would do. And yet it was. Twilight and Applejack had...found the body.
Frustrated and saddened, Twilight shrieked and stormed upstairs. She was going to bed, and no one could stop her.
Scootaloo was lonely. Her parents were practically nonexistent, her friends were at Rainbow's funeral, and Rainbow...
What did she have to look forward to? Nothing? Her hero was gone...forever.
The small, orange pegasus lay huddled on the living room sofa. The fireplace was empty of flames, and therefore it was cold and dark. But she didn't care; she wanted to be alone.
Scootaloo had cried herself dry ages ago, so she had felt no need. Her initial grief had ebbed, but she still felt awful. Her parents, though always working, did still love their child, and they did understand how devastated she must be. Scootaloo, unfortunately, had refused to speak with them. Her parents were worried for her, but they gave her space. They left for work the next morning. Again.
After all of this, Scootaloo found that she had regained the ability to cry. And cry she did.
Sleep? What a joke. Twilight's bed was warm and comfortable, as always, but rest was futile. Twilight tossed and turned, her shoulders heavy with her newest burned. She lapsed into anger and back into grief again and again. Her pillowcase was soaked and stained with tears, her sheets with sweat.
The voice hadn't returned, though Twilight always feared it. Despite all of her attempts, her thoughts, after Rainbow Dash, returned to that voice. It had all seemed so real...and the blurring of her vision.
With a groan, Twilight pushed the thoughts away once more, and turned in her bed, once more. Of course, being Twilight, she had tried to read, but that had been as futile as sleep.
Twilight knew that this would be a long night, week, month even. She had no idea.
