Life of an Apple

     Nine months after Redstreak's death, they moved on. Big Mac and Applejack still grieved every day, but they were able to look past their father's death and move on with school and work.

     Applejack could buck apples now. She was very strong, too. Big Mac enjoyed watching his sister grow into a strong pony, inside and out.

     Apple Drops, however, had problems. Granny Smith told Big Mac that she thought Apple Drops might have been going "wacko." She acted as if Redstreak were still alive. She talked to him. When she did it, her voice was shaky, like she was terrified of something.

     "R-Redstreak, where are the eggs?" she asked one morning suddenly, while Granny Smith was scavenging for ingredients and the foals were waiting at the table.

     They all stopped and watched as Apple Drops paused, as if Redstreak were right there answering her question. Then she fell backwards. Granny Smith hurried to take her to her room.

     A few weeks later, Apple Drops stopped into Applejack's room to tell her, "Happy birthday, sugarcube."

     "It's not my birthday," Applejack told her.

     Now, Big Mac, Applejack, and Granny Smith were waiting anxiously in the waiting room of Ponyville Hospital.

     Applejack cringed at Apple Drops' screams of agony as she gave birth to their new sister. She looked up at Big Mac. "Will she live?"

     Big Mac sighed. "I hope so."

     Suddenly the screams stopped short. The ponies' ears perked up at the sound of rapid galloping. Then a white mare shot into the waiting room, her blue eyes alarmed. She spoke to the alerted Apples. "Apple Drops...she...you have to come in!"

     The ponies galloped after the nurse.

     The mare was laying in a hospital bed, blood staining her blanket. Her eyes were narrow. She beckoned for her visitors to come. They hurried over.

     "I'm gonna die," Apple Drops whispered.

     "What?" Applejack screeched.

     Big Mac blinked rapidly. "But Momma, the baby--"

     "The baby's okay." Apple Drops smiled weakly. "Don't worry about her. But I ain't. The doctors don't know how much time I have left, but it's not too much."

     Applejack shook her head. "But it's only been nine months--"

     "That's what I wanted to tell y'all. Redstreak. He told me that he woulda liked it if the baby was named Apple Bloom. Personally, I woulda preferred Apple Slice. But now that he's gone...I want him to have what he wanted. Name your sister Apple Bloom."

     "Where is she?" Big Mac asked.

     "The doctors are cleaning the blood off her. They tried with me, but they soon knew I wasn't gonna make it." She looked over the three ponies. "I want y'all to take good care of Apple Bloom. Alright? Don't let her go through something like this. Stay strong, ya hear?"

     Applejack looked away. "I can't."

     "'Course you can, sugarcube. It'll just take a bit of time is all."

     Granny Smith leaned over. "Apple Drops...I never thought your death would be like this. I'm so sorry."

     Apple Drops blinked slowly. "Momma...it's not your fault. I'm sorry. You've lost so much. And me. But...you'll see us all in the foals. Big Macintosh has the strength of Redstreak. Applejack has the kindness of myself. I'm sure Apple Bloom will have something too. Trust me."

     Applejack was crying.

     Granny Smith sighed. "We'll take good care of her well as yours for them."

     Apple Drops smiled again. "Thank you so much. I don't want her to go through anything like this."

     Big Mac had too many questions to ask. "But what do we tell 'er about you and Poppa?"

     Apple Drops hesitated, her eyelids drooping. "That we'll be watching her live the best life a filly's ever had."

     Now Big Mac and Granny Smith were crying with Applejack. Any moment now, Apple Drops would close her eyes for the last time.

     "I hope you can stay strong without me or Redstreak here," she continued. "And take care of Apple Bloom, ya hear?"

     "Why can't you just stay, Momma?" Applejack turned back, tears streaming from her green eyes.

     "It's time. I'll be with Redstreak now, making sure you'll live a much better life with no more troubles."

     Big Mac closed his eyes, afraid to see the moment. Then he opened them again. He would see every last second of his mother's life.

     Apple Drops sighed. "I just don't know...don't know how to end. Ya know? I love you, and I'm sorry. Just give Apple Bloom that...happy life that we lost..."

     The mare was still. Her green eyes were sightless. The heart monitor let out a long, endless beep.

     Doctors rushed over. One, a unicorn stallion, headed over to the Apples, carrying a yellow bundle of fur with his blue levitation. He looked straight into Big Mac's eyes. "I'm so sorry about this. I really am. There was just too much blood..."