Chapter 1 - A Friend In Need
The breeze chilled Rainbow Dash as she glides down the sky toward her beloved town Ponyville.
She loved nothing more than flying, her friends, and of course, her family.
It's funny how she denied all of her friends to her parents to maintain her "cool" impression.
As she soar through the sky, gliding through the air gracefully, she saw an orange figure moving by a tree not too far below.
"Hey cowmare!"
Applejack almost immediately looked up at her friend with her sleepy eyes, Applejack saw nothing but a single cloud passing by. She hasn't slept for the last three days.
"Whoa, you look totally jet lagged! Have you even slept yet?"
And Applejack simply blinked, as if Rainbow said nothing.
With Applejack unresponsive, Rainbow sighed and landed beside her.
Now closer to the earth pony, Dash finally got a better look at her friend whose eyes look exhausted with dark folds beneath them and her fur dampened by sweat.
"Knock, knock, hello? Anypony home?" Said Rainbow frustrated.
"Huh?"
"Finally!"
"Rainbow what the hay are you doin' here? I thought you were up there in the clouds?"
"I was."
"Oh..okay"
"Do you need any help? You look like you need some."
"Help?" Said Applejack with a chuckle, "I don't need no help, thanks."
Rainbow rolled her eyes, remembering her friend's stubborn nature. She had hoped that Applejack would apply the lesson she learned months ago about accepting a friend's help, apparently she wasn't. Either Applejack had forgotten about it or simply being herself, Dash wasn't sure. But one thing was clear, she didn't want Applejack to cause troubles like she did.
"Come on AJ, go get some rest, I'll take over."
"Rainbow, ya can't even buck a tree."
"Yeah, but I can grab the apples."
"I can do it by myself." Applejack said irritated, "So leave me and mind your own business."
Rainbow sighed and spread her wings, she decided to fly and wait on a cloud for her orange friend to exhaust herself once again. She knew how to deal with stubborn ponies, especially Applejack.
"See you later then." Said the pegasus as she flew away.
Two hours have passed since Rainbow fell asleep on the cloud she was waiting on. She immediately rose and looked back down, searching for the orange pony. Then she smiled as her eyes caught the pony who had fallen asleep under a tree.
Rainbow Dash was never the kind of pony who had the initiative to help her friends, she doesn't know why she really wanted to help Applejack.
In the past, she'd rather practice her flying skills or go for a nap on a cloud, which she just did, but that was because she's exhausted by the flight back from Cloudsdale. Earlier today, the she had flown to the cloud-city to pay her parents a visit, and what a visit it was, she had lots of fun with them. Mostly when they talked about Rainbow's childhood, and how similar it was to theirs.
It was now midday, Rainbow could feel the sun's heat replacing the cold breeze of the morning, and it's even hotter than what she usually experienced because of her work. Collecting all the apples from the trees was an exhausting work, she had to admit that Applejack was much better than her at this, and she admired her for that. Her persistence, her well-thought decisions, how responsible she was, and the one thing Rainbow's jealous of, Applejack's hardworking nature. All those were enough to give Rainbow the urge to look at the sleeping mare once more.
Working in the orchard was never a problem for Ponyville's strongest mare, her only problem lies within her troubled heart. She missed her parents so much, she kept thinking about them everyday even during work. She knew that she should get rid of them from her mind and focus on the present instead, but it was too much; so she kept it in the deepest pit of her heart, hiding it from everyone including her own family.
"Wake up!"
Every night she would dream of travelling around the world looking for them, and for once she dreamed of speaking to them, but it was all too vague to be true. She doesn't remember anything. Her problem was in the present, she has an orchard to harvest.
"AJ wake up!"
Applejack opened her eyes wide from her friend's call, ignoring her heavy eyelids, dry mouth, and tired body. She wasn't paying attention to Rainbow Dash either, her eyes were fixed on the piles of apples behind her blue friend.
"...Applejack?" Asked Rainbow Dash before she noticed what was going on, "Oh, that? You can thank me. You're welcome."
"Those..those can't be all the apples!"
"Fortunately, they are. I double checked."
Rainbow's grin made Applejack feel even more uncertain, but she knew that Rainbow's a trust-worthy pony. Better than Twilight at least.
"I thought I told you that I can do it by mah' self.."
"While you're asleep? I don't think so."
"Fine, thanks Rainbow."
Applejack sighed and got up on her hooves as Rainbow stretched, then they heard it.
"HEEELPP!!!"
The two looked at each other briefly, confused of what they just heard.
"Did you hear that Rainbow?"
"Um..yeah.."
"HEEEEELP!! ANYPONY!!!"
The scream came from the Everfree forest's direction, knowing that danger was certain, the two quickly made their way to the Everfree forest.
Rainbow scouted ahead, trying to locate where that voice came from. Beneath her was a valley, and trapped between a massive green creature and the rocks was a colt.
Rainbow gasped, before the colt was a cragadile.
"AJ, quick! There's a cragadile down there!"
"A cragadile?!"
"Yes! And a big one! There's a colt down there, gotta save him!"
"Rainbow wait!!"
Before Applejack could finish her line, Rainbow swooped down the valley toward the beast, kicking its head as hard as she could with her hind legs. The creature was surprised by Rainbow's sudden attack but it wasn't staggered, and it swung its rock-hard tail towards Rainbow who was speeding toward the cragadile to strike it for the second time.
And above the valley was Applejack panting and witnessing her pegasus rival fighting the beast, she knew how strong a cragadile was, and Rainbow Dash certainly had no chance against it. So she ran down a slope toward the bottom of the valley, toward her friend's side.
"I'm coming Rainbow!!"
Her speed was no match for the slow cragadile, she sent blow after blows. Kicking, punching, and even spitting at the unruly beast. She flew down and grabbed several stones. But she didn't see it coming, she was about to throw one stone when the cragadile pulled her down and bit her wing hard.
"Over here you ugly beast!!" Screamed Applejack as she leaped from the slope toward the cragadile's head, hitting it right in the eye before jumping off the creature back to the ground. Applejack had completely forgotten about her friend who was held by the creature's mouth, and so she watched as her Rainbow's wing was taken from her and her limp body slammed hard against the rocks. Applejack nearly cried at the sight of her friend being torn apart, 'I can't win this!' She thought. At least that was what blinded her mind until she saw the boulder resting by a hill.
Applejack had its full attention now, and that's all that mattered, she needed to save Rainbow. So she grabbed her lasso and pulled down the boulder toward her. Toward the beast. She quickly rolled to her left and made the run for Rainbow's life. She kept running toward Dash's motionless body, ignoring the cragadile. She knew that she owed Rainbow something, and she vowed not to let her go this way. At least.
The colt was still standing there, motionless, only then did Applejack notice who the colt was.
"Pipsqueak!"
The young pony didn't react.
"Gosh darn it, ho-"
There was a loud sound when the boulder smashed the cragadile, the loud sound of two rock-surfaces colliding, the sound of stones hurled at every direction, pieces of a cragadile falling. Applejack ignored them and kept running, even as the sharp debris pierced her skin her. It felt like a million mile's marathon to reach her fallen sister, but she did it. The pegasus' cerulean coat was tainted red, one of her wings missing, and the other badly disfigured. Applejack let out another gasp as she felt tears running down her face. She grabbed her hat and tied it tightly with her rope around Rainbow's wound, trying her best to prevent Rainbow from losing more blood. Then put her across her back and took Pipsqueak with her as she ran back to town, panicking. She must get her to the hospital before it's too late.
Author's Note
This is my first fanfic ever, so forgive me if it's bad! Anyway, any reviews will be welcome, be it negative or positive :D I'm still young anyway, and there's still a lot for me to learn ;D Next chapter is coming in the foreseeable future!
UPDATED! Thanks to crowscrowcrow for all his (Or her?) suggestions!
Chapter 2 - Guilt And Sorrow
It was a rainy night when Rainbow Dash woke up with a headache and a stinging pain on her back, she had been in ICU for the last fifteen hours. Applejack was asleep on a chair right beside her bed; and she smiled at how peaceful she looked. However, she felt weird, as if she's missing something, but soon she felt drowsy and went back to sleep. Then images of the previous events flooded her mind, forcing her to jolt straight up with her eyes wide open and her mouth panting.
'It was just a dream..calm yourself down Rainbow..' She told herself, yet it felt very real. Rainbow saw her own wing was torn apart and her limp body thrown like a ragdoll before she passed out. The stinging pain swiftly returned, and this time even worse. Rainbow felt like she's about to die any moment now.
"Hey, Dash..you okay?"
Rainbow looked at her friend and smiled.
"Oh hey AJ, sorry to wake you up. I didn't mean to.."
"That's okay Rainbow, how are you?"
"I'm good aside from my wings hurting..."
Applejack gave her a sad look, Rainbow didn't know what really happened yet. And it all happened just because Applejack hadn't helped her sooner, it was all her fault. The blue mare stared at her friend who went awfully quiet, as if she was thinking of something. Though she knew Applejack would never lie to her, she was a downright honest mare.
"It's nothing Rainbow..just...just go back to sleep, it will be gone by tomorrow." Lied Applejack, she can't afford to have Rainbow crying over what she lost. Not now at least, she needed to wait until Rainbow's ready for the breaking news. She needed to wait until she's ready to announce it to her dear friend.
"Okay.." Replied Dash with a sour look on her face, then complied and went back to sleep. Applejack have planned something in mind, something that will hopefully buy her more time to prepare herself. If it won't go disastrously wrong that is.
As soon as Rainbow fell asleep, Applejack stood and left the room to go and see a doctor.
"Hey doc, I need something to reduce the pain."
The rain-clouds that had covered Ponyville the previous night have disappeared as the morning fog enshrouded the Everfree forest. It was a peaceful morning for the little town and the sun was shining brightly overhead, casting its light that illuminated Rainbow's room through the hospital windows.
"I can't feel my wings!!"
"Must've been the effects from the painkillers. Besides... yer wings are all bandaged!"
Rainbow could tell that something was off from the way Applejack spoke, especially from their short conversation last night. She noticed that Applejack have been unusually talking to her with a voice that sounded as if she's hiding something, the concerned expression on her face, and most importantly the nightmare she had last night. All of this was too much for her, she needed to know what's wrong with her, whether it's a minor wound or a severe injury she's suffering from, she doesn't care.
"Then why are they bandaged?" Asked Rainbow who shot Applejack with her angry face, "It's not like they're gone, right?"
"No..they are fine!"
"Then what happened to them?"
"I-I don't know! The doctor told me that they're j-just a bit..um..bent!" Applejack could feel her voice trembling, she was losing it, "They will be fine!"
Rainbow Dash simply sighed, she hated Applejack for being stubborn sometimes, and that hard head of hers can't be pried open easily.
"Applejack, I had a bad dream last night. I saw that cragadile tore my wing."
The orange mare gasped in shock, her mouth hanged open as if she was about to say something.
"So please, tell me.." Rainbow's voice suddenly went soft, yet full of anger, "What happened to my wings, AJ?"
"They are fi-"
"For Celestia's sake AJ, tell me the truth!"
Rainbow broke into tears and Applejack could do nothing, she looked down and nodded, avoiding Rainbow's raging eyes as she shed tears of her own and as silence filled the room.
Minutes later, the two knew that they should not hate each other for this, after all they're the best of friends. But Applejack hated herself and Rainbow could not help but to mourn over her loss. Still, Rainbow spoke when Applejack can't, hoping to lighten the mood a little.
"You know, i-it could have been better i-if you had told me the truth earlier."
"But..I thought that it would be better if-"
"NO!"
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, the two ponies looked up and saw the doctor there.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Ms. Dash, you may leave the hospital."
Then the doctor left as quick as he came. But the two mares' didn't say anything to him, both of their faces wet with tears, and Applejack full of guilt. The earth pony then opened her mouth and said, "It was my fault.."
"OF COURSE IT IS!" Replied Rainbow screaming, "YOU COULD HAVE BEEN THERE SOONER!"
Rainbow's last words was a great blow, Applejack knew it was her fault and knew exactly why. But it felt even worse when Rainbow screamed those words at her, she felt like a monster. 'Monsters are terrible creatures who shouldn't exist.' That was what Granny Smith told her back when she was a filly. Applejack knew what should she do, she's responsible after all.
"I suppose I should leave then.."
"YOU BETTER DO SO!"
And with that Applejack rushed out of the room crying uncontrollably, passing by Twilight who'd just arrived to visit the two mares as soon as she heard of what happened.
"Applejack! Where are you going?"
The orange pony ignored her and ran straight outside, Twilight worried that she might do something stupid, but she knew that there's no point in talking to her at that moment. So she went in to see Rainbow who'd just climbed off her bed, her face still wet with tears. Almost immediately after she entered the room, Twilight could feel the gloomy mood that had filled the room, and she had a good guess of what had happened earlier.
"...Rainbow Dash?"
"Hey."
"I came as soon as I heard of what happened to-"
"Yeah, I know."
"Are you okay?"
"No."
Twilight paused at that, she was aware of what had happened to Rainbow's wings and she dared not to speak anything about it.
"What's wrong with Applejack?"
"Her? It was all her fault and she knew it, she's probably gonna lock herself in her room or something."
Twilight gritted her teeth, she can't understand what made Rainbow think it was Applejack's fault, "But she saved you! She brought you here, without her you would have been dead already!"
"So?" Rainbow was starting to feel annoyed by their conversation.
"You owe her-"
"HEY! I helped her take care of the apples in her orchard, then she made me lost my wings! That's not even."
"Rainbow, you owe her your life!"
"Yeah, whatever, are we done here?"
"Rainbow please.. Apologize to her.."
"Are you kidding me? It should have been her who apologized! I didn't do anything." Rainbow bit her tongue, she knew that it wasn't Applejack's fault. But she needed somepony to blame so that she can keep her reputation clean.
"It wasn't her fault!"
"Not her fault? Are you saying that it's MY fault?!"
"Yes!"
"Ugh, whatever Twilight, I'll apologize. But I'll do just that, don't expect anything else."
"That's better, at least." Twilight was really annoyed at how Rainbow acted, she swore that she would've punched her that moment, but remembered how loyal the pegasus was. So she held it back and reminded her, "Oh, and you better hurry, who knows what that Applejack had in mind."
"Yeah, yeah." Mumbled Rainbow as she walked out of the hospital toward Sweet Apple Acres.
What felt like hours she spent running away from reality was really just minutes, she had been swallowed by her orchard and blinded by her own mind. She didn't know where she was headed anymore, all she knew was that she had to keep running. She wouldn't stop now even when her hooves were weak. She needed to find somewhere safe within her orchard, a place that can be her makeshift sanctuary until she's ready to do what she must.
She'd close her eyes to\ ignore the voices she kept hearing in her head. Voices of her own mind trying to convince her that it was never her mistake. And when she opened her eyes, there stood the tallest apple tree in her orchard ahead of her. She cried even more, she knew that she had just sealed her fate.
"Mom, dad, I'm coming home...soon..."
Applejack ran with all her might, convinced that she's doing the right thing. Then everything went dark as if the sun had disappeared. She had intentionally hit her head against the tree, leaving a deep crack on its trunk. She hoped that it would be enough to pay the debt she owed Rainbow, enough to end her miserable life.
Author's Note
Okay, so the first chapter wasn't so good for most people. But I appreciate those who gave it thumbs ups and favorite-d it! I hope you guys will enjoy this one, and maybe even those who didn't like it in the first place!
And I don't know if it's better to have the story spaced this way (Maybe it was too...tight on the first chapter?), like the conversations have spaces between another.. I'll leave the first Chapter as it is for now, tell me which do you think is better!
