My Little Bokurano

"I'm the next pilot. My brain knows what's happening, but I haven't accepted it. It doesn't seem real." - Applejack

Princess Celestia stood in her throne room, letting the sun's rays warm her. She gazed at the window pane that depicted her sister, Princess Luna. Celestia had recently sent Luna to rule over the Crystal Empire due to Princess Cadance's recent passing.

Flash Sentry stepped into the throne room and bowed toward Celestia.

"Princess Celestia, a mailmare has arrived carrying a letter from Princess Twilight Sparkle," he said.

"Send her in," Celestia said.

Derpy Hooves stumbled into the throne room and collapsed, panting from exhaustion.

"I'm honored to be in your presence, your highness," Derpy said, still breathing heavily. "I brought you a letter from Ponyville."

"No need to be so formal, Derpy," Princess Celestia chuckled, taking the letter from her.

"Dear Princess Celestia," Celestia began reading aloud. "I wrote to report recent events. Big Macintosh won his battle and Ponyville suffered minimal damages. Applejack was selected as the next pilot. Dung Beetle forgot to summon you and Princess Luna for the last battle, but he promises to summon you both for Applejack's battle. I, along with everypony else contracted, promise to stand resolute against the threat of this invading menace. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

"We all promise to protect Equestria, even at the cost of our lives," Flash Sentry said.

"This is quite troubling," Celestia said. "If the monsters continue to appear at the rate they do, entire cities will be destroyed."

"What does that mean?" Derpy Hooves asked.

"We'll have to do everything in our power to make sure the next battle takes place in a desolate location." Princess Celestia said while writing a letter. Once she was finished, she handed the letter to Derpy Hooves.

"Take this letter to Princess Twilight Sparkle," Celestia continued. "I have to discuss the next course of action with her."

"Certainly, your highness," Derpy Hooves said with a bow. She then left the throne room and began the long trek back to Ponyville.

Later that day, back at Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy stood near Pinkie Pie's grave.

"I can't believe that Pinkie Pie is dead," Fluttershy said.

"I know it was only a few days ago, but it seems like so long," Twilight Sparkle said.

"I heard Mr. and Mrs. Cake have been taking it pretty hard," Rainbow Dash said. "It sucks without Pinkie Pie around."

"Missing the Element of Laughter is quite depressing," Rarity said.

"And soon y'all will be losing the Element of Honesty as well," Applejack said, looking at her striped cutie mark.

"Don't talk about dying!" Fluttershy cried, "It's too sad already!"

"No matter how much we deny it, our fates are sealed," Twilight Sparkle said, "We'll all join Pinkie Pie sooner or later."

"No way!" Rainbow Dash blurted out. "We'll find a way to survive! We can get out of our contract! Besides... I can't die until my little brother's born." Tears began streaming down her cheeks.

"All I want is for Apple Bloom and her friends to be saved," Applejack said. "They haven't lived a full life yet."

"Rainbow Dash, when is your little brother due?" Rarity asked.

"Mom says it'll be two and a half weeks, but I don't think it'll be more than five days." Rainbow Dash said, "My mom's stomach is huge right now! It's only a matter of time before he's born!"

"I'm sure he'll be proud having a big sister like you," Fluttershy said with a smile.

"Speaking of which, I wonder how Sweetie Belle is taking this all in," Twilight Sparkle said. "She's the only one that day that wasn't contracted and now she's watching her friends die in front of her."

"Actually, she's acted a lot calmer recently," Rarity explained.

"I've noticed that too," Rainbow Dash added. "When you brought out that shawl at the last battle, I expected Sweetie Belle to go nuts over it. I thought that was pretty weird."

"She's been acting weird in general," Rarity said. "Most of the time, she just sits quietly in a corner. She's also been doing more work around the house."

"I think it's because she being forced to grow up at a young age," Twilight Sparkle said. "When you're no longer around, she'll be expected to take up the family business."

"I wonder if Apple Bloom is going through that same phase now," Applejack said. "Big Mac is dead and Granny Smith can't take up the farm in the condition she's in."

"How is Granny Smith?" Fluttershy asked.

"She's been really sick lately," Applejack explained. "Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh, and I didn't want to go to the Crystal Empire the day we were contracted, but she insisted we spend time with our friends."

"Has she found out what really happened to Big Macintosh?" Fluttershy asked.

"No, the cat's still in the bag," Applejack said. "But I think it's only a matter of time before she finds out."

"Applejack, I got a letter from Princess Celestia," Twilight Sparkle said. "I think you should hear what it says."

"What was it about?" Applejack asked.

"Princess Celestia wants to minimize the damage for later battles," Twilight Sparkle explained. "Speaking of which, I've observed that all the enemies so far have appeared near where the current pilot is at. Since you're the current pilot, it's dangerous for you to be near a place where so many ponies and buildings are."

"What does that mean?" Applejack asked.

"It means we'll have to move you to a desolate area as soon as possible," Twilight Sparkle said. "I'm sorry, but it's for the good of Equestria."

"But... but... Granny Smith..." Applejack stammered.

"Applejack, Applejack!" Apple Bloom wailed, running over to the area where the other five ponies were at. "You need to come home right now!"

"What's wrong Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked, looking concerned.

"It's Granny Smith!" Apple Bloom said, "She's in even worse condition! I don't know how long she has left!"

"Sorry girls, I have to run!" Applejack said before following Apple Bloom out of the cemetery.

The two sisters trotted at breakneck pace toward Sweet Apple Acres, both with Granny Smith on their minds.

"Please hold out for me," Applejack thought.