Applejack sat in her seat, watching the landscape roll by. They were heading through a desert, nothing but sand and natural desert life as far as the eye could see. The sun had set hours ago, and the moon had come to take its place giving the sand and its inhabitants an ethereal quality to their appearances. Scattered cacti grew across the barren land, each taking its own distinct shape, illuminated with a pale silver glow. Groups of camels steadily made their way to their destinations, many settling down for the night. Various bugs and reptiles retreated to their dens, taking great care to not be spotted as they made their way to shelter from the harsh desert night. It was a relaxing scene, and she yawned as she looked to her train cart.
Empty
She was all alone in the cart. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen that many passengers at all throughout her trip. She shrugged it off, and got up to explore the cart. It was rather large, made to accommodate at least fifty ponies. She looked at each seat, taking note of the intricate designs etched into each one. As she made her way around the cart, she began to get a feeling of unease.
She observed the craftsmanship that adorned each section of the cart in a futile attempt to relax herself. She noted how the bag holders above the seats had a sterling silver frame to help keep the luggage in place. She took a look at the shining, golden support beams. Each one was rather thin, but they were placed in every other row offering more than enough support to keep the roof above her head. The carpet was a nice scarlet, with various designs woven into it. The walls were a pearl color, with white patterns placed at random intervals. She began to get the feeling that somepony was watching her. Stay calm, she thought to herself, I’m the only one here. She made her way back to her seat and sat down. She looked back to the scenery outside.
She saw some shapes moving in the dim light. She quickly shut the blind and looked straight ahead. It was nothing, she thought, trying to calm herself, just my mind playing tricks on me. I should probably get some rest… She decided that sleep was the best course of action. She began to make her way to her sleeping quarters, but a feeling that exiting the cart wasn’t the best idea stopped her.
It would be better if I just stayed put. She thought as she made her way back to her seat. She did her best to get comfortable, but the thought of something waiting outside made her keep her eyes glued to the entrances. Now stop it! She mentally scolded herself, now you’re just being a little filly about it. She forced herself to close her eyes. After an internal struggle that felt like an eternity she finally managed to fall into a light, fitful sleep.
She awoke to a large bump. She fell out of her seat in shock. She looked around the train cart “Now what in tarnation?” She asked herself as she surveyed the scene around her.
Darkness
The cart was completely enveloped in shadows. Why is it so dark in here? She asked herself. She felt around her seat until she found the blind from before. She fumbled around until she finally grabbed the chord and yanked it. All the blinds in the cart opened at the same time, flooding the cart in a bright light and disorienting her. She slowly got to her hooves and stumbled into the aisle, blinking until her vision cleared and her head didn’t hurt as much. The cart looked exactly the same as before, yet it seemed so different, so unnatural. She looked at the cart, wondering why things seemed so off.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a hoof tapping her on the shoulder. “Pardon me mam, but you appear to be in a bit of distress.” She turned to see a dark brown earth pony looking at her with a smile on his face. He wore a coat that covered most of his body, and a black cowboy hat that hid a good part of his face. He appeared to be from a different time altogether.
“U-uh…” Applejack murmured, unsure how to respond. The stallion laughed.
“It’s okay lil’ missy. Many find themselves in distress the first time they board this train. Just thought I’d come and make things a bit easier.” Applejack had no idea what he was talking about.
“T-thanks mister…” Was all she said.
“No problem,” said the stallion, “and you can call me Kernel, Kernel Apple.”
Applejack gasped as the stallion revealed his name. She felt her legs go weak as her brain registered who this stallion was. Kernel Apple was one of the first, he fought during the Rise of Nightmare Moon, keeping the nightmare’s forces occupied on the ground long enough for Celestia to defeat her sister.
She took one last look at him as he flashed her a warm smile then walked through her. She felt a chill run down her spine as the image of her ancestor went through her. She turned to ask him a question but saw that he’d disappeared. Unsure of what just happened, she went back to her seat and sat down. She looked out her window and saw the exact same desert scene as yesterday. Was it yesterday? She thought.
She began thinking about what had happened a couple of minutes ago. At first she was shaken up, but she managed to calm herself enough to think rationally about it. She thought back to what he had said, about ponies finding themselves in distress when they first rode this train. Why? What happened here before? As she began thinking, she became aware of a whispering sound. Doing her best to ignore it, she looked outside her window, only to see that it was now sunset and the desert was devoid of any and all life.
What? She thought, how long have I been here? “Long enough.” Came a young voice, silencing the whispers. Applejack slowly turned her head to the source of the sound.
She saw a young filly. She had an orange coat, bright green eyes, a few freckles on each cheek, and had her blond hair tied into a ponytail that hung along the side of her head. Applejack sat there, eyes dilated to pinpricks as she silently looked at herself. Filly Applejack gave Applejack an energetic wave. All Applejack could do in response was give a small nod. She stared speechless at the young filly sitting across the aisle from her.
“Wh-what…” Applejack began to say, “What are you doing here all alone?”
“Ahm not alone!” Filly Applejack answered, sounding hurt. “Ahm just waiting for my Ma and Pa to come back!” Applejack began feeling a familiar pain in her chest.
“Ah… ah think you should stop waiting…” She said, barely keeping back her tears.
“Why would I…” She began. Applejack pulled her into a tight hug. Filly Applejack pushed her away and looked at her confused. “What are ya doin?” Applejack looked at her, feeling pity and sorrow building up in her chest.
“Just… never you mind…” Was all she could say.
The door opened and two familiar voices called from outside. “Applejack!” Called a firm, but gentle voice. “It’s time to go.” Came another voice. Gentle and caring, it brought back many memories.
“Coming Ma! Pa!” Filly Applejack called. She turned to look at Applejack, losing her child-like demeanor and becoming dead serious. “Don’t you fret none.” She began, “Your journey has only just begun.” And with that said, her childish smile and behavior returned and she ran out of the cart.
Applejack sat in her chair, curled into a ball. What is happening? She kept asking herself. “Legacies.” Came a familiar voice. She turned and saw Kernel sitting next to her. Too frightened to move, she stayed in her ball and watched him intently.
“Do you know what happened after the war?” She shook her head. “I was given a large estate as a reward for my services. Back then Equestria was going through an apple shortage, not that it was ever mentioned in the history books. I took it upon myself to buy one of every kind of apple in existence, then plant them all in my estate.” Applejack stared in wonder at the story he was telling her. “I grew and gave away so many apples… I remember I lost count during the first harvest,” he added with a chuckle, “Everypony was happy to finally have a treat. Especially those that suffered because of the war.” Although he tried to hide it behind a smile, she could see the flash of pain that crossed his face. “I was regarded as a hero, and I had finally found something that I liked doing. Eventually my wife bore children and we decided to raise them to be apple farmers. They took to the profession quickly, and even got apple-based cutie marks.” He said, with a smile of remembrance on his face, “Needless to say, they raised their kids with the same virtues and so on and so forth.” Applejack didn’t know what to say. She simply nodded, not taking her eyes off her ancestor as he recounted his tale. “When I finally passed on, I looked back on my life and thought about the legacy I left behind. Needless to say, I was pretty proud.”
Applejack had forgotten all about her fear and confusion. “By golly, that’s incredible!” She cried out, “but… what does that have to do with any of this?” She asked, motioning to the train cart. Kernel laughed.
“What? Can’t a stallion tell his life story?” He asked, smiling. Applejack blushed.
“No sir! I-I mean yessir! I… uh…” Kernel laughed harder.
“I’m just kidding,” he said, “but seriously, they should really clean this up…” He said, looking around the cart. Applejack did the same and saw that the train had aged quite a bit, the silver and gold losing their shine, the wallpaper dulling a bit. She look back at Kernel and saw that he had disappeared again.
She felt more at ease as she surveyed the barren, lifeless desert. She didn’t bother trying to exit the train cart anymore. Last time she had tried, she wound up walking right back in on the other side of the cart. She let Kernel’s words dance around in her head. She heard a hoof tapping the floor repeatedly behind her.
She turned to look and saw a familiar orange earth pony. This time as a teenager. “Hey.” She called, “Y’all right there partner?” The orange pony looked at her, a look of nervousness on her face.
“Ah’m not sure. Ah’m waiting for my Ma to finish givin’ birth to my lil’ sis.” Applejack felt her younger self’s enthusiasm and nervousness.
“Ah’m sure it’ll be fine.” She said, offering a warm smile.
“But… what if something goes wrong? What if she doesn’t make it? What if-”
“Everything’s gonna be just fine, sugarcube” Applejack said, “that’s the honest truth.” The younger mare seemed to visibly relax. The door opened.
“Applejack?” Called a gentle voice. Before either could say anything the younger Applejack quickly got out of her seat and rushed towards the door.
After a few minutes she walked in, tears in her eyes. “You okay partner?” Applejack asked, worried. The younger mare simply smiled and showed her the little bundle in her arm. Applejack teared up at the sight of her younger sister as a foal again. “They named her Applebloom…” Said the younger Applejack. Applejack could only look on at the happy sight before her, tears forming in her eyes. “Thank ya…” Young Applejack said quietly.
“No problem.” Applejack replied, nodding to her younger self.
“I’m gonna go take her back.” Said young Applejack.
“Go ahead.” Young Applejack nodded and went back through the door.
Many hours had passed, at least she thought they were hours. The sun outside was rising and falling very often, to the point that she lost count of how many “days” had passed since she entered this strange place. She was just about to fall asleep when she heard sobbing coming from across the aisle.
She looked and saw herself, almost exactly how she looked now, only a few years younger. Her cowboy hat looked newer, too.
“Hey sugacube,” Applejack said, moving to the seat next to her, “what’s the matter?” Applejack looked at her and began sobbing. “Are you-” before she could press on Applejack suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Th-they’re gone! Forever!” She said in between sobs. Applejack only stared at her, tearing up as the waves of emotion began transferring to her.
“Oh sugarcube…” She said, fighting to keep the tears at bay. She wrapped her forelegs around the crying Applejack and began comforting her. She remembered all the pain, suffering, self-hatred, and denial that she had felt and relived every moment of it as she was continuously barraged with the fresh waves of pure emotion. Though blurred vision she saw the cart visibly age and decay, then slowly begin falling apart.
You could’ve stopped it. Could’ve done something!
Why weren’t you there during their last moments?
Why did you wait to see them?
You’re pathetic.
The whispers returned, bringing with them her darkest thoughts. Her deepest emotions. They brought back all the pain and sorrow, the self-hatred, the feeling of emptiness. Eventually she cried herself to sleep.
She was awoken by the rise of the sun. She looked to the desert outside, which looked like nothing more than a blank canvas at this point. She remembered almost nothing from the previous night, just a feeling of pain. She looked around her once luxurious train cart. It looked ancient and decrepit. The once pearl wallpaper was now a monotonous white, falling off the walls and completely torn in many places. The silver bag rails were facing extreme amounts of rust and decay, falling apart and broken to pieces in many places. The support beams didn’t fare much better, facing similar amounts of decay. Most of them had snapped in half, causing the floor to be littered with once golden rods, the ones still standing were bent out of shape, caving in under the roofs weight. The carpet on the floor had a rotting smell to it and had several holes eaten out of it.
She looked back on the words of Kernel. About looking back at his legacy. She did the same, looking back to all the major moments of her life. She saw all her failures as a sister, friend, and family member. She saw her failure to bring back first prize from the rodeo, when she had feared the truth and began lying to her friends during the second rising of discord. She thought of when she had doubted Twilight and all of Equestria almost payed the price for it.
This can’t be it… She thought, her empty feeling growing, This can’t be how it ends. What I left behind… She began to tear up. All her life, she had been a failure, she couldn’t even save Applebloom from her little cutie mark episode. She grew angry. She clutched her head as she heard the whispers slowly returning, desperately trying to block them out. She felt herself slipping, then the train entered a tunnel.
She sat in the darkness for what felt like an eternity. She slowly calmed down, then thought of all the times she had succeeded. She had conquered her fear and stopped discord. She had gotten over her selfish desires to do everything on her own and learned to accept help. She had even managed to teach Applebloom some life lessons along the way. She had been the beacon that her friends could count on to help them. She chuckled, I guess that’s not a bad tail to leave behind…
The darkness was still present. She remained blind for what seemed like hours. So… is this what death feels like? She asked herself, It feels lonely… Eventually she gave up on the light returning and fell into a deep sleep.
She felt as though she had been hit by a construction cart. She slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by a blindingly bright light. She waited for her eyes to adjust before looking around her surroundings. She was in a hospital bed. Twilight sleeping in the corner of the room in a chair. “Twi?” She called out, her voice hoarse and her throat dry. Twilight woke up and stared at Applejack. She nearly fainted from shock, but composed herself as best she could before running outside and sharing the news with her friends.
Applejack watched as all her friends rushed in. They all just stared at her, not knowing what to say. There was an awkward silence, one that Applejack decided to break. “H-hey girls.” She said, before a massive wave of coughs took over her dry throat, “Can ah have some water?” A cup was silently levitated to her. She tried to take it but found her body too weak to do so. The cup was slowly lowered to her parched lips. She drank like a madpony before finishing and letting Twilight put it back with her magic. “So,” she began, her throat still feeling scratchy, “how’d I end up here?”
There was an awkward silence before Princess Celestia walked into the room. “Sorry I’m late,” she explained, “I was staying in the waiting room. I came as soon as I got Twilights letter.”
“Letter?” Applejack asked. Twilight cleared her throat.
“Applejack?” She cautiously asked.
“Yes?”
“Well… we were waiting for you to return from your family reunion in Manehattan. When your train never arrived we went searching, we found you in the middle of a massive train wreck… We didn’t see anypony else.” Applejack’s eyes widened as the realization hit her. She immediately broke down and began sobbing. “I’m so sorry…” was all Twilight could manage before she, and all the others, joined Applejack in her crying.
Kernel… she thought, please don’t let them go through what I did…
In the corner of the room stood four ponies. One of them a broad, muscular red stallion with a ginger mane and tail. The next a frail, green old mare. The youngest of them being a pale yellow filly with a large red bow in her mane. The final pony was a dark brown earth pony wearing a coat that covered most of his body. He wore a black cowboy hat that hid most of his face. “Don’t worry,” he said to himself, “I’ll take good care of them.” The other three ponies waved goodbye, tears in their eyes, as they faded into nothingness.
Author's Note
Hello everyone! Been awhile, hasn't it? Sorry for the delay, I've just been working on a large number of stories. Either way, I'd like to know if you liked the story and anywhere I could've improved upon it. Whether it be properly portraying the characters, pacing it better, anything. I'd just like to know how I could improve as a writer. Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your stay!