The gentle pitter patter of rain on the glass window pane in Applejack's bedroom was accompanied by the faint crackle of thunder rolling in the distance. Hat hung on the bedpost, the orange pony laid in her bed with the covers drawn up tight around her. Even tighter was her younger sister Apple Bloom. Applejack gripped the shivering filly, the psychological effects of a nightmare were wearing off of Apple Bloom slowly. Only sniffling and drizzling rain could be heard in the dark room. Light only entered the room through brief flashes of lightning. Otherwise it was pitch black. Dark.
"Now, hush, AB," Applejack cooed, "There ain't nuthin' to be scared of. It was just a bad dream."
Wiping the lingering tears from her eyes, Apple Bloom's voice cracked a bit, recovering from her earlier fit of sobs. "A-Ah... But it-"
"Shush. The dark was just playin' tricks with yer eyes. That's all." Applejack gently stroked her little sister's mane, smiling in the dark. Lightning flickered, revealing Apple Bloom's large, amber eyes staring up at her big sister.
Applejack spoke in a hushed voice, as if she didn't want nonexistent eavesdroppers to hear, "I'mma let ya in on a little secret... Whenever ah get scared..." The orange pony pulled her hoof out from out of the covers. Ever so slowly she lowered it over the edge of the bed, nearly to the floor. "Ah just hang my hoof off the bed like so, and..." The rain seemed a bit more prevalent now as another bright flash of lightning illuminated the room for a brief second. For that moment, a small, pink tongue could be seen lovingly lapping at the orange hoof. Applejack smiled as Apple Bloom stirred, confused. "Winona always sleeps under mah bed. She hides down there to keep the ghosts and ghouls away. Ya hear her lickin' mah hoof? Mhmm. That shows that she loves me and wants to keep me safe."
Apple Bloom let out a small sound of contentedness, finding the idea touching. She even protested, claiming that Winona was Applejack's pet. Applejack only replied stating that Winona wasn't just a pet, but a part of the family. She would always be. A bit of sisterly arguing ensued, but that was nothing unusual. Hushed debates were common this late at night in the home at Sweet Apple Acres. This time it evolved into playful poking, then spiteful shoving, then loving tickling. As a result, Apple Bloom found herself growing weary, but now completely devoid of her initial fear. She smiled when her big sister told her that Winona could sleep under her bed from now on if she wanted. That smile lingered as the filly drifted off to sleep, off to pleasant dreams. Dreams of apples, probably.
As soon as she heard petite snoring begin rippling through the dark, Applejack brought her hoof back topside. Pleased with herself, she gave her sister a gently kiss on the fore head. "Sweet dreams, little apple." She craned her neck to look down upon the bedroom floor. "Good girl, Winona" she whispered. She heard slight panting and what she assumed was a tail gingerly wagging against the underside of the bed.
For at least an hour prior, Applejack had had the urge to use the restroom. Too much cider, she reckoned. She had to ignore it for as long as she could so she could comfort her sister without interruption. She would have hated to have left the filly all alone in a dark room while she went to answer the call of nature. Well, almost alone. Now that that was taken care of, she was free to go. Lightning illuminated the orange pony as she deftly slunk out of bed and onto the wooden bedroom floor. Glancing at the dark shadows beneath her bed, she shot who was beneath a look of gratitude before opening the door. That mutt had always been there for her. Even when she was making up things on the fly for the sake of Apple Bloom.
The rain was really coming down now.
Applejack navigated the dark hallway from memory without bumping into a single thing. Without so much as even a creak, she opened the door to the dark restroom and strode inside. Rain beat heavily against the glass pane above the toilet as she moved to take care of business, but something caused her ears to prick up. A rhythmic dribbling echoed throughout the tiny room. It seemed even louder than the rumbling thunder and deluge of increasing rain outside. It was coming from her left side, where the shower was. Applejack turned towards the curtained-off shower with a grin and a chuckle. "That Apple Bloom. Never turning the water off all the way. Silly filly..."
Applejack shook her head and turned away from the curtain, seating herself upon the toilet. She thanked Celestia that the seat was actually left down for once. Humming to herself, she sat in the cozy darkness as she took care of business. For several long moments she listened to the boisterous weather outside alongside the rapid dripping from within the shower. Rapid dripping that seemed to be picking up the pace.
Finishing up, Applejack rose to her hooves. Quietly she lowered the toilet seat and brought her hoof to the knob on the side of the toilet. Twisting the handle, it held no pressure behind it. The toilet did not flush. "Ah, apples. It's busted again. Better fix it in the mornin'," she concluded to herself, in a hushed tone.
Applejack went to return to the bedroom, but that dripping from behind the curtain piqued her interest once more. She decided it would be best to make sure the water was turned off entirely.
Lightning flashed and a loud tumult of thunder shook the earth and rain pounded heavily on the house as she pulled the curtain aside.
Illuminated for a brief moment was the brown pelt of Winona, strung up from the shower head with sharp wire, crimson dribbling from her lifeless snout and dripping down onto the porcelain below.
Author's Note
An urban legend my grandmother used to tell me before bedtime. Minus the ponies, of course.
