Chapters **One Year Later**
"Apple Bloom, get inside!!! " Applejack yelled at her sister, who was out on the front porch. The winds were reaching speeds of over seventy miles an hour, it was raining harder than Applejack had ever seen, and there was a bolt of lightning about every thirty seconds. Applejack, however, was out with her brother Big Macintosh to help secure ropes to the closer trees, to keep them from falling on the house.
Suddenly Applejack saw a streak of rainbow, followed by a very familiar face landing right by her side.
"Rainbow Dash! What in the Hell reason did you and those other Pegasi have for making a storm this damn strong?!"
"It wasn't my fault!" Rainbow yelled over the loud wind and lightning. "The storm cloud factory had an explosion! One of the new employees set off a lightning bolt inside- That's why I came here to warn you!"
"Would ya mind giving me a hand here?!" Applejack was struggling to tie her rope down.
"No problem, Apple-" Suddenly a bolt of lightning went off and struck the tree they were handling, and instinctivly all three of them dove to the ground.
"Woah! That was close, huh Applejack? Applejack?" Then she saw her friend hadn't got up off the ground. Panicked, she rushed over to help. It was then that she saw a large piece of branch had struck her in the head, knocking her unconcious.
"Applejack!" She and Big Macintosh carefully carried her into the house, then proceeded to call 911.
Apple Bloom stuck her head into the room, with tears in her eyes. Big Macintosh was on the phone with 911, so it was just Rainbow Dash and Applejack in the room. A thick layer of blood matted Applejack's hair, along with the pillow she was resting on.
"Is Applejack gonna be alright?" Apple Bloom managed to ask between sobs.
Rainbow had begun tearing up as well. "I.. I dunno Apple Bloom. I just don't know..."
"Is my granddaughter okay?!" Granny Smith asked the doctor as soon as he entered the hospital room, which was also occupied by Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh, Rainbow Dash, and several of Applejack's closest friends.
The doctor put on a grim expression. "She is going to live.. but she obtained severe brain damage. I'm afraid Applejack will be mentally retarded for the remainder of her life"
The realization of what this meant hit everyone at once, and all at once they started crying. All except for Apple Bloom, who didn't really understand what was going on but nonetheless could tell the news wasn't good, and cried anyway.
"Granny Smith.. what's that mean?" Apple Bloom wiped her eyes on her sleeve.
"It means uh.. yer sister's gonna be.. different, from now on. She's.. she's not gonna be as smart, I guess. She might start acting like she's younger than you, even. We're gonna have to teach her everything again.." Granny Smith then broke out into tears.
It was then that Applejack woke up. "Hi guys.. hey Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith, and Big Macintosh, and bestest friends!" Applejack was cheerful and clearly oblivious to everything that was going on.
"Hey.. Hey buddy!" Rainbow Dash tried her best to appear happy for her friend, and smiled. "How you feeling? You doing okay?"
"I'm doing fine! But there was a firework that went off and then it made me go asleep.. but then I woke up here. How come I woke up here?"
Rainbow's eyes teared up. "You.. your head got hurt. These nice doctors are here to make you better."
"Are they gonna get me a shot? I don't like shots!" Applejack's face changed from happy to scared.
"No, no, Applejack.. no shots..." Rainbow buried her face in her friend Twilight's shoulder and began to cry.
"Why's Dashie sad?" Applejack asked, confused.
"She's fine.. why don't you spend a bit of time talking with everyone else? We were all so worried about you, after all!" Twilight was clearly better at hiding her emotions than Rainbow Dash had been.
Applejack spent the next hour or so, then eventually her friends all had to leave. All except Rainbow Dash.
:"Er.. Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh? Can ya leave me and, er.. Rainbow Fast alone? Wait.. Rainbow Dash. Can ya leave us alone for a second?" Granny Smith requested. The two silently left the room.
"Rainbow Dash" Granny Smith started, after making sure Applejack was asleep. "I know about the promise ya made to my granddaughter.. and I want ya to keep it."
"Huh?! You.. you want me to.."
"That's right, you made a promise. And you can't lie to the Element of Honesty, that's for sure. And anyway, look at her. She's gotta relearn to walk, to eat, to go to the bathroom on her own.. that's no way to live. If I had to live like that, I'd pull the trigger on myself, though she obviously can't do that..." Granny Smith wiped a single tear from her eye.
Rainbow did the same, wiping both eyes with the backs of her hands. "I.. Alright, Granny Smith. Er, Miss Smith-"
"Granny Smith is fine"
"Okay, thanks. Granny Smith.. I am going to take your granddaughter out for the best day of her life.. and then.." Rainbow looked down, unable to let the next words out.
"Thank you, Rainbow Dus- Er, Dash. Rainbow Dash. Thank you.."
With that, Rainbow left the room in tears.
"What was that?" Apple Bloom asked her grandmother.
"Nothing.. Rainbow Dash just had to go home" Granny Smith replied, looking out the window.
The Best Day Ever - Pinkie Pie
**At Pinkie Pie's**
"I baked you a cake, but it's just white. I want you to take the colored frosting.." Pinkie motioned to several different bottles of frosting, "And draw whatever you want on it. Then you can eat it!"
Applejack cheerfully used the frosting to paint all kinds of shapes, lines and color splashes all over the cake. She then made something that looked a bit like "ДϼԼƐ ʝДϗ" in the center. "Look guys! I wrote my own name on the cake!"
Pinkie and Rainbow both smiled, but in a sad way. "You sure did, buddy, look at that! You gonna eat it now?"
It was a small cake, about the size of a personal pizza, made just for Applejack.
"Of course I am!" Applejack proceeded to eat the entire cake in just under ten minutes, getting a large amount of it on her face, hands, and shirt.
"We'd better get you cleaned up, huh? Go wash your hands and face, please, then Pinkie can make you a balloon animal" Rainbow Dash did her best to brush some of the cake off her friend's shirt.
Applejack ran to the bathroom and several minutes later, came out with her face, hands and shirt completely wet.
"Applejack.. you forgot to dry off.."
"I don't want to! Can I please stay this way since Rarity's making me a new outfit anyway?"
"Okay, buddy, okay.."
The Best Day Ever - Twilight Sparkle
**At Twilight Sparkle's**
"Okay, first, I'm gonna show you an easy spell. I am going to levetate you." With that, Twilight Sparkle's horn started to glow, and then Applejack started to glow, then Applejack was about four or five feet in the air.
"Whee! I'm flying! I'm just like you, Rainbow Dash, see? I'm really flying!" She waved her hands back and forth while Twilight moved her around a little, mostly in a circle or "8" shape.
"Yeah, buddy, just like me.. you're even a better flier than I am!" Having to talk like this with Applejack, a woman she had respected since they met years ago, was extremely hard for Rainbow Dash. This was the way you might talk to a six or seven year old, but not a woman who was in the prime of her life.
"Next, I am going to make you invisible" A second later, Applejack started to fade and eventually became invisible. There was a pink outline of her, however, that Twilight put there for safety. Applejack ran around for a while invisible, making windmills with her arms. "Boo! I'm a ghost! Did I scare you Rainbow Dash? Did I?"
Rainbow Dash smiled. "You sure did, buddy, you got me!"
After a few more spells, Spike, who had been sitting next to Twilight, belched out a jet of green flame. The flame formed smoke, which materialized into several sheets of paper labelled "To Rainbow Dash"
Rainbow opened them. The first few were funeral arrangments. It had Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and herself as those who would carry the coffin to its grave. Rarity was to design the dress Applejack would be buried in, only this time she'd design a dress the old Applejack would have liked. She was to be buried with her hat.
Twilight, of course, was to manage the funeral, basically to make sure everything was running smoothly.
Pinkie Pie was to provide food and drinks for the wake, which would be held afterwords. The Apple family was also going to be providing apple pie, along with one apple that had been hand-picked by Applejack, nearly three weeks earlier, to each attending the funeral.
Fluttershy was going to be there to keep Winona, Applejack's dog, calm so that he could attend without disrupting guests.
And Rainbow Dash was to bury Applejack, being her best friend.
The last paper was an official looking document, which read:
"LISCENSE TO KILL Rainbow Dash to end the life of one person(s), on or before No Date Specified .Princess Celestia
The last line was for Rainbow Dash to sign. It was permission from Princess Celestia to carry out her promise. Documents like this had, hundreds of years ago, been filled out when someone was to be executed. This was the first one Princess Celestia had signed in nearly 350 years.
Teary-eyed and close to breaking down, Rainbow Dash signed the bottom line with a pen provided by Twilight.
"What's that say?" Applejack asked, looking at it but unable to read.
"Oh.. it's just a paper I have to fill out for, you know, flying" Rainbow Dash couldn't look her friend in the eye as she said this.
"Okay!" It was painful to see how completely oblivious to everything that was going on Applejack appeared to be.
"Well, say goodbye to Twilight, we have to go home now Applejack"
"Aw, okay! Bye Twilight! Bye Spike! Seeya guys later!"
"Seeya later!" Twilight said as if she meant it, clearly a better actress than any of her other friends. Spike, however, only nodded and waved.
"So what're we gonna do now?"
"We're going home, Applejack. We're going home..."
"Why do I gotta change into this boring outfit?" She was referring to her brown cowboy boots, an old pair of dark blue jeans, a green button-up shirt, and a brown leather vest, along with her hat and a special golden belt buckle that had an apple on it. It had been her favorite outfit before the accident.
"Well, just because. You don't mind, do you?" Rainbow was helping Applejack fasten her belt.
"No, I like this outfit. It's just not really good for sleep. I'm going to sleep now, right?" She looked at her friend and, for a second, Rainbow Dash saw the old Applejack in there.
"Well, yes.. but this is a different kind of sleep. A better kind. A more peaceful kind.."
"Okay. Cool! Now we gotta walk out to the middle of the orchird? Why?" She asked as she began to walk downstairs.
"You'll see, buddy, just come with me.."
A few minutes later they were in a part of the orchird that Applejack had always gone when she wanted peace, or to be alone. She had often sat and slept under a nearby tree.
"Okay, I need you to take your hat off and close your eyes.". Applejack did as she was told.
"Okay.." Rainbow was fighting back her tears. There would be plenty of time for crying in a minute. "Now.. count to three." As she said this, she pulled out a small black revolver and placed a bullet in it.
"Alright, Rainbow. What then?"
"Well.. you get to go on a vacation! Yeah, a really special vacation.."
"Neat! Are you coming with me?" Applejack smiled but her eyes remained closed.
"No, buddy.. I can't come with you. You have to go by yourself, okay?" Now that Applejack's eyes were closed, Rainbow was free to let her tears fall as long as her voice didn't crack.
"Alrighty then! One.."
Rainbow Dash put the gun to the back of Applejack's head.
"...Two..."
Rainbow reached forward with her thumb and pulled the hammer back, causing a dull click.
"...Three!"
Applejack heard a sound like thunder. Then she heard nothing.
Cross my heart, hope to fly...
"Well, thanks for letting me host my party at Sweet Apple Acres!" Pinkie said cheerfully to Applejack.
"No problem, Pinkie" Applejack replied in her distinct country accent. "Y'all're welcome here anytime"
"Yeah, thanks for letting us all come. Well I best be getting home now-" Rainbow Dash started to say as she left.
"Wait, Rainbow.. I need to talk to you. In private. After everyone's gone 'n all" Applejack grabbed Rainbow by the arm gently, keeping her from leaving.
"Yeah?" Rainbow was clearly tired, and wanted to get home. It would be hard enough flying up to Cloudsdale after all she had to drink, without the delay making her more tired.
"It's really important.. come out with me into the orchird. I don't want anyone else hearing this..."
**Ten Minutes Later**
"Ugh, Applejack, what is it?" Rainbow Dash was starting to get annoyed with waiting.
"Well, you gotta promise not t' tell anyone, kay?" Applejack looked Rainbow in the eyes.
"I promise, now will you tell me?"
"Well.. you and I are best friends, right?" Applejack looed down.
"Well, of course we are AJ, why do you ask?"
Applejack looked sad. She was looking out into the orchird now, rather than into her friend's eyes. "Rainbow Dash, apple farming is my life. You know that."
"Of course I know that. Apple farming to you.. is like what flying is to me." Rainbow looked over her shoulder at her wings.
"Exactly. The reason I'm tellin ya this it.. if at any point in the future, I were to go senile or somethin', and be unable to work the farm.. I want ya to kill me."
"Wait.. what?" Rainbow Dash couldn't believe what she'd just heard. "You want me to.. What?!"
"Ya heard me. I want ya to take me out int' the middle o' the orchird 'n put a bullet in my head. I don't never plan on goin' senile or anythin', but if I do, I trust ya to do this fer me. Promise?" Applejack was wearing her most serious expression.
"I..." Rainbow looked down at the ground. "I promise."
"I need ya to Pinkie promise, Rainbow Dash" Applejack did not show any sign that she was just kidding, or playing a joke.
Rainbow sighed. "Do I have to?"
"Ya have to."
Rainbow Dash sighed again. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye"
"Thank ya. This means a lot to me ya know.." Applejack tilted her hat down slightly.
"No problem, AJ. No problem..." Rainbow Dash decided that most of Applejack's family members seemed to live a long time without mind problems anyway. Her grandmother, Granny Smith, was nearing 100 and had the mind of a 25 year old, except she was obviously more mature. Rainbow was sure she'd be dead before Applejack ever went senile, and that she would spend her life happily working the apple farm.
Time, however, would prove her wrong.
The Best Day Ever - Fluttershy
"Rainbow I got out of the hospital today! Aren't you happy for me?" Applejack ased cheerfully.
"Of course I am, buddy! And.. in honor of that.. I'm gonna take you out for the best day of your life!"
"Really?!" Applejack's eyes got wide. "What are we gonna do?"
"Well first, we're gonna go see Fluttershy so you can play with the animals. Then, Pinkie's gonna make you a cake and some balloons. After that, Rarity is gonna make you a special outfit, just for you. Then, finally, we're gonna see Twilight. She's gonna show you some really cool magic tricks!"
"That sounds fun!" Applejack smiled. She was clearly oblivious to the sad smile Rainbow Dash was wearing.
**At Fluttershy's**
"Do you have a cow in here? I really like cows" Applejack was excited to get to play with the animals.
"Er.. no.. but I have a puppy! Do you like puppies?" Fluttershy had been crying, and her eyes were read. She knew what was going to happen to Applejack at the end of the day, as did all her friends. Big Mac also knew, but Apple Bloom had been told Applejack was going away for a while.
"I love puppies!" Applejack giggled. "I really really really like puppies! Do you have any puppies?"
"Er.. Yes, I have one.. let me go get him.." Fluttershy ran out of the room before she could burst into tears.
She returned several minutes later with a black and white puppy. Applejack giggled, picked it up, pet it, and played with the hyper puppy for around one hour.
"Well, Applejack.. we better get going if we wanna do everything by the end of the day, huh?"
"Yeah!" Applejack put the puppy down and hugged Fluttershy tightly. "I was glad to see you, Fluttershy!"
Fluttershy began to cry. "It.. it was nice seeing you too.. Applejack.. come by again sometime?" She asked, knowing full well it would never happen.
"Be glad to!" Applejack giggled before running out the door.
The Best Day Ever - Rarity
**At Rarity's**
"Applejack, today I'm going to make you a dress. Just tell me how you want it, and I'll do my best to accommodate you."
"Acamelwhat?" Applejack had never been able to understand big words, and the accident obviously hadn't helped any.
"I, uh.. I'll do my best to make your dress exactly how you want it, okay?" Rarity put on a fake smile, but in reality wished she could just be alone and cry. But she had to be a part of her friend's last day alive.
"So I thought we'd start off with a simple red dress, since that's your favorite color. Is that okay?" Rarity nervously chewed on the end of her pencil.
"Yeah! Then can you put tinsel on it?"
"Tinsel.. okay. How about some streamers, too?" Rarity would have never made a dress like this for a normal client, as it went against everything she believed in fashion. But this was obviously a special case.
"Yeah! And um can you put maybe balloons on it? Like Pinkie's dress that one time? And I like blue. Can you put blue on it. Can you tie dye it?"
"Tie dye? Oh, yes, right.. of course. Just a few minutes.."
**Thirty Minutes Later**
The end result looked like something Pinkie Pie might think up on an acid trip. It was a mix of tinsel, streamers, balloons, cardboard, and everything but the kitchen sink. Applejack adored it, and smiled when she saw herself in the mirror, along with her silver spray-painted light-up boots.
"Thanks Rarity! This is the bestest dress I ever saw in my entire life!" Applejack posed in front of the mirror, only to lose her balance and barely catch herself.
"Anytime, Applejack.. be sure to.. to.." Rarity fought the urge to cry. "To come back now, you hear?"
"'Course I will, Rarity! I gotta go see Twilight now, she's gonna do magic for me!"
As soon as they closed the door, Rarity curled up on her sofa and began to cry.
