Hardships and Truths

Twilight was sat with Applejack having her twice monthly debate with the stubborn earth pony about the benefits of using magic to aid the work.

Applejack simply refused to even compromise, so they got together every two weeks to debate the issue. They fooled nopony however that these were serious talks anymore.

It was a long held belief in Ponyville that Applejack was a lot smarter than she let on, and that with Twilight now in Ponyville for the past couple of years, that had been proven true, a lot of bits had changed hooves the day she was caught proving a scientific theory of Twilights wrong.

Applejack raised her hooves to rub at her temples; they had reached the same point once again where the argument always stopped. Twilight admitting she'd made a mistake during her first winter wrap up, and saying ok she got the wrong spell, but a combination of the right spells with the manual labour would always be the way to go.

Looking up to the somewhat resigned smile of Twilight she sighed. "Same tahm nex' couple o' weeks sugarcube?" Twilight nodded, as she opened her mouth to say more there was a knock at the door.

"Who in Tarnation would be here at this hour?" Applejack exclaimed as Twilight got up and answered the door. "Sweetie-Belle!! What are you doing out so late? Get inside where it's warm!" Twilight’s voice sounded out.

Once inside Sweetie-Belle passed on her messages and her cloak, not realising the pangs of fear she'd shot through Twilight and Applejack, as her words were what the bearers of the Elements of Harmony had come up with, so that should something bad happen to them and only one of the youngsters were there, the message was plain as day to the adults, Send people to take care of my body. I will already be dead and look after anyone I leave behind.

Applejack thundered out the library fast as her hooves could carry her. Flying through the doors she swept through Ponyville as fast as she could, not caring at the racket she was making.
Rainbow Dash flew down from her cloud that she was lay on when she heard Applejacks exit from the library, level pegging with her she started talking. "Whoa you’re movin’ real fast. Awesome, what's the rush?"

Still running Applejack panted out "Sweetie . . . Belle . . . Message . . . Generosity . . . Entrusting . . . Magic . . . Care for. . . Left . . . Behind" Applejack noticed Rainbow Dash's' expression take on one similar to her own. As this happened she paid full attention to her flying and streaked on ahead.

As Applejack turned the corner she spotted the Carousel ablaze and screamed out Rarity's name, putting on an extra burst of speed, silently thanking Rainbow Dash as she saw her peeling away to the storm clouds above ready for tomorrow's heavy showers, knowing Rainbow had fire-fighting under control she leapt through the flames with a determined whinny.

When she saw the state Rarity was in as she battled her way closer her anger shone anew. She knew this had happened after Sweetie-Bell had left as the young filly hadn't been anywhere near panicked.

As she got closer she managed to dodge a falling beam and got to Rarity's just side as water started pouring in through the burning roof. Looking up she saw Rainbow Dash and a team of specialist services Pegasi working to put out the blaze.

As she looked at her friend she saw she was still breathing, even though the smoke was getting to Applejack she braced her body above Rarity, protecting her from any more debris as she called out Rarity was still alive. Even with the heartrending sight of her horn laying on the ground away from her.

Looking down and following the blood trail left by the now unconscious fashionista Applejack saw how she'd turned to face the mantle, looking she saw the only photo on display anywhere.

Gritting her teeth as another beam came crashing down hitting her with a glancing blow she swore. Looking down she saw Rarity cough in her comatose state, blood flying out her mouth.

"HURRY THE BUCK UP!" Applejack called. Just then the wall she was nearest took on a purple aura, next thing she saw was Twilight Sparkle horn blazing with magic, As soon as the wall disappeared Pinkie of all Pony's dashed in and ignoring the inferno, started to run an assessment of Rarity's condition.

"TWI! She can't be moved yet! We need to get a doctor here!" As Pinkie called this, the fire started to die down as the Fire Teams overrode the weather schedule and pulled in a heavy shower.

As soon as it was declared safe to do so ponies of all three types, Earth, Unicorn and Pegasi swarmed in tackling the remainder of the blaze. Applejack though didn’t want to move, ignoring the fact her own back had suffered when a hot beam crashed down and broke off her spine, burning her coat and skin.

As soon as it was confirmed that debris had stopped falling the Doctor came up alongside where Pinkie had been checking Rarity, and listened as Pinkie reeled off the list of injuries.
“Five right ribs broken, four left ribs, left lung punctured, maybe both, horn snapped clean off, front left foreleg, Dislocated shoulder, broken Tib and Fib - Compound Fractures, heavy blood loss.”

The Doctor nodded as his hooves and magic went to work, desperately trying to save the broken white body of Rarity.
Applejack hearing this had to fight hard not to collapse as the full enormity of what had happened hit her. Trembling she sank to the floor near them.

A movement and a settling near her drew her attention as she looked up, she found her gaze locked with Rainbow Dash’s.
"Hey you did good Applejack, she'll be ok." Her eyes however didn't match her words. She was just as worried.

Applejack finally collapsed with the rush of emotions running through her. Her cries tore into everypony’s heart. As she cried on, ignoring the medics tending her, it was obvious to all, Applejack loved Rarity, and had only just realised it.

As her cries echoed she never noticed when another doctor stepped close, only registering as she saw a horn flare, unlike Rarity’s would ever do again, and Sleep claimed her conscious mind.