Applejack was on track to outpace Big Mac as she bucked her way through the south field. She took her wrath out on the trees she worked feverishly to harvest. The more Applejack thought about the fight she had with her little sister, the closer she got to bucking holes straight through the trees.
“That Apple Bloom is going to be in a world of hurt when she gets home.” Her teeth grinding tightly as her hooves slammed against the defenseless apple tree. Apple Bloom knew that she needed to help out on the farm; she knew how many trees that needed to be bucked before the caterpillars got there. Applejack stewed in her anger to the point she barely heard the bell that was ringing back at the house, calling her back home.
“This better be important, we’ve still got half the field to harvest.” Applejack fumed as she brooded over her sister. As she crested a small hill, Granny Smith and Big Mac caught her attention. Granny Smith anxiously donned her traveling bonnet while Big Mac tapped the ground repeatedly.
“What are y’all callin’ me for? We got maybe three days before them caterpillars get here and only half the south field bucked.” Applejack complained through her furrowed brow.
“Applejack… there’s been an accident.” Granny Smith quivered.
The hospital room was quiet and cold as a winter night; the only sounds came from the monotonous mechanical beeping that signaled that Apple Bloom was still alive. The machines did little to assure that the Apple Family that sat in the room. No pony spoke, they all sat waiting intently for their filly to stir, and every minute that passed ate at Applejack more and more. The eldest sister had emulated her big brother and kept her emotions tightly in check, however, that did little to quell the civil war that raged inside her head. Applejack remained transfixed in thought until the turning doorknob caused her to jump.
“Good evening, I’m Dr. Coeur.” The doctor announced herself as she entered the room.
“Evenin’ doctor, I’m Applejack; this is my Granny Smith and my brother, Big Mac.” Applejack said as she introduced her family, Big Mac nodded while he continued to console their grandmother. “Doc, what happened to my sister?” AJ she asked cautiously, looking back at her sister.
The doctor sighed as she began to explain, “A stallion lost control of a carriage and Miss Apple Bloom likely didn’t see it until it was too late.”
“Then it can’t be that bad, right?” Applejack asked, hoping for a miracle.
“Except, when he tried to stop the carriage, it tipped and she was trapped underneath.” The doctor said, Applejack could hear the silent sobs slipping from Granny Smith as the doctor explained the situation.
“So, is she going to be okay?” Granny asked as she dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief.
“Well, at the very least, it is very likely she will be paralyzed, but it is still uncertain the extent of the damage.” Said Dr. Coeur. Granny Smith reached her limit and began sobbing louder, Big Mac walked with her as they left the room, her emotions audible from out in the hallway.
“You all can stay as long as you like, let me know if you need anything.” The doctor said as she left the room. It was just the two sisters in the room together. Applejack got up, and went to her sister’s bedside and adjusted Apple Bloom’s bow and began stroking her mane.
“Even if it’s a lie, say it will be alright, and I shall believe.” Applejack sang softly to her sister. “I do believe, that not everything is gonna be the way you think it ought to be, seems like every time I try to make it right, it all comes down on me, please say honestly you won’t give up on me, and I shall believe…” She sang as a single tear escaped.
“But I don’t want to applebuck! I want to see Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom whined as she followed Applejack down the stairs.
“Well, I’m sorry little sis’, but we have got to get that field harvested!” Applejack rejected her sister’s pleas.
“You and Big Mac don’t need my help!” Apple Bloom protested.
“Apple Bloom, we need all the help we can get! If those caterpillars get to the south field we’ll lose half the harvest!” The big sister tried to explain to the younger.
Well, I’m not gonna!” Replied Apple Bloom.
“’Xcuse me?” Applejack replied hotly.
“I said… I ain’t doin’ no applebuckin’!”
“Oh yes you are, little missy! Or you won’t be seein’ any of your friends for a month!”
The three siblings began working on picking the apples, one begrudgingly so. Apple Bloom dragged along as they worked through the morning and early afternoon.
“Apple Bloom, I need more baskets!” Applejack called out to her sister, but she didn’t respond. “Apple Bloom!” She said louder. Applejack began looking around for her little sister, but no sign of Apple Bloom. The big sister went to a hill and began looking around. If anger was combustible, the whole Apple Farm would be up in flames, for off in the distance, a little red bow galloped away as fast as its little legs would carry it.
“APPLE BLOOM, YOU GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!” Applejack screamed at the top of her lungs as the little filly disappeared into the distance, not hesitating from her sister’s wrath. “JUST WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?!? RUNNING OFF LIKE THAT, JUST WAIT TILL SHE GET’S HOME!” She spat bullets as turned as red as her brother.
Applejack’s face clenched as she bit her lip, thinking about the anger she had for Apple Bloom. All that the mare felt was remorse for how she had regarded her sister just hours before. She blamed herself, if she hadn’t been so harsh on her sister, they would still be in the field together, not in some hospital room.
“I’m so heavy tonight, but your love is alright, and I do believe.” She continued to sing in a whisper when the door opened slowly revealing Big Mac and Granny Smith. The stallion put a hoof on his sister’s shoulder; she never even noticed that it was 1 in the afternoon. Applejack gave both of them a hug and left for the farm. She had been up over 24 hours already, but her mind was hardly on sleep. As she got back home, the apples went ignored; the insects would have a banquet for all she cared. Applejack dragged herself up the mountain of a staircase and trudged longingly into her cave to languish quietly as a coldness crept over her. Applejack took a portrait off her nightstand and stared at it, kneeling against her bed; her body clinging to the mattress, too weak to pull herself on the bed. Applejack held the picture out, a single filly, with a red mane, a big red bow, and a bare flank smiled broadly back at her.
“I shall believe…” Applejack said quietly to herself as she gazed into the picture. “I shall believe… I shall believe… I shall believe… I shall… believe… I… shall… believe…” Applejack repeated over and over as she brought the picture into her chest and wept, laying her face in the mattress. “Open the door… show me your face tonight… I know it’s true, no one heals me like you…” Applejack she whispered to herself through her trembling lips. “Don’t give up on me…!” her muffled cries echoed through the room as she heaved.
“Applejack?” A filly voice called out to her.
“Apple Bloom?” Applejack lifted her head from the tear soaked mattress, she looked around and saw her little sister, standing at the doorway. “Oh Apple Bloom! I’m so sorry for yelling at you…” Applejack rushed to embrace her little sister, she couldn’t conceal the tears of joy that flowed from seeing Apple Bloom.
“It’s okay Applejack, I’m sorry for running off on y’all.” Apple Bloom replied.
“You know I love you little sis’, even if I yell at you, I still love you.” Applejack sobbed as she held Apple Bloom.
“I love you too, Applejack.” She replied as they held each other.
“AJ!” She heard a voice yell from downstairs.
“Big Mac?” She asked to herself as the sisters held each other.
Applejack was jolted off the floor when Big Mac flung open the bedroom door; the darkness shrouded everything in the room except the light coming from the hall. The light that emanated was enough to etch the panic in her brother’s face as he panted heavily. He didn’t have to say a word; she knew something was wrong…
Granny Smith wailed heavily as she clung onto Big Mac who wept in silence. The machines made no sound, Apple Bloom remained still, pale.
“Even if it’s a lie, say it will be alright…” Applejack mouthed as her hat lay under her sister’s hoof. She stroked her sister’s mane, and fixed her bow. “… and I shall believe…”
Author's Note
If you liked this, be sure to check out 'Whiskey Lullaby' by Eclipsis!