Lies.
Applebloom walked away from her friends, not turning to look back. She heard them shout for her but she ignored their pleas. She didn't want to see them now, perhaps never again. She broke into a run, the wind blowing her brilliant amaranth colored mane back. Her gamboge colored eyes teared up around the corners. She stopped and looked back. There was no sign of Sweetie Bell or Scootaloo. Good. Applebloom sat down and stared off into the distant sunset. It was halfway below the horizon. Those beautiful colors always soothed Applebloom. The pretty reds, yellows, and oranges all mixed together. Applebloom sighed.
Screw those two, Applebloom thought. They don't know anything. Applebloom looked back to the sunset, it lowered a little. Applebloom shut her eyes as a cold wind rattled her bones. It would be dark, soon. She should get back home, Applejack was supposed to make a Zap Apple Pie.
Applejack
A tear slipped out of Applebloom's shut eye. It rolled down her cheek, staining her pale olive coat. It slipped inside her mouth. Her tear tasted salty. Applebloom rubbed her eyes, determined not to cry, she couldn't cry now. She ground her teeth. She hated doing it, but she always found herself grinding her teeth when she was crying. Oh, Applejack, I feel so sorry for ya, Applebloom thought.
Applejack would not be making Zap Apple Pie tonight. Not because she was dead, but because she was in the hospital. She had been for the past week, leaving the rest of the Apple family to do her chores. Applebloom and Big Macintosh hadn't had a single time to themselves this past week. Even Granny Smith had to chip in here and there, depending on what her old bones could do. There were two theories as to why Applejack was in the hospital, and Applebloom was confused upon which was worse.
The first theory was that Applejack had been beaten, raped, beaten, and choked. The second theory was that Applejack had been having sex with stallions for money, and this particular "client," as the police put it, beat her, raped her, beat her again, and choked her. The stallion ran off before Applejack's mangled body was found. Applebloom can still remember the day clear as freshly polished glass.
Applebloom had been sleeping. She heard a shout and a loud bang, apparently no pony else did. She got out of bed and snuck out. She opened Applejack's door and peered inside. She did this whenever Applebloom had a nightmare. Applejack always knew how to make her feel better, telling her stories, singing her lullabies. And then they'd sleep together, and Applebloom wouldn't stir the rest of the night. But this time she wasn't there, so Applebloom went down the stairs. Perhaps she was making a midnight snack.
Applebloom entered the kitchen hoping to see Applejack eating an apple, but her hopes where dropped on it's face. Then she heard another shout and another bang. It came in the direction of the barn. Applebloom walked out and over, mostly blind in the blackness of the night. She looked up. The stars would have looked wonderful if there wasn't a thick layer of clouds blocking it. Applebloom grunted and continued.
She heard the barn door squeak and she froze still. Applebloom wondered if it was Applejack. But for some reason the atmosphere seemed heavy, and she felt apprehensive. Another squeak and the door shut. There were hoofsteps, they were running away. At first Applebloom thought it was Applejack, but they were too heavy. The hoofsteps got farther away and she heard somepony run through the forest.
Applebloom opened the door to the barn and peered in. The room was pitch black besides one corner of the barn. Applebloom could smell blood, and something else she couldn't figure out. She began to walk over to the corner, quickly making the assumption that Applejack somehow drew blood and was using the emergency medical kit kept in the barn, besides the ones in the house.
Applebloom's eyes adjusted to the room. And she could see Applejack now, the sight horrified her. Applebloom had seen Applejack get cuts and scrapes and bruises. She even saw Applejack sprain her back hoof while apple bucking. But this time was different. It took all of Applebloom not to shout out.
Applejack was lying on her back propped up against a bale of hay. Her hat was taken off and placed beside her. There was a little blood and some sort of white stuff on it. Applejack's mane was dirty and sloppy. Some of her hair had been pulled out. Her eye was black and both were shut. Her nose was bloddy and shifted a little to the left. There were bruises on her cheeks and her lip had been busted open. Applebloom didn't doubt that some of her teeth had been knocked out.
There were scratch marks on her face and chest. There were also bruises. There was more of the white stuff on her face and chest. Applebloom looked away and blushed. Her big sister's private parts were open. Her legs were spread apart, and they were bruised. Her sister was a mess. Applebloom regained her state of mind and closed her legs.
"Applejack? Applejack! Are you okay? Applejack, wake up! Please wake up, Applejack!" Applebloom began to cry. She shook her sister. Some blood got on her hoof and she rubbed it on the floor next to Applejack. Applebloom ran out of the barn and back into the house. Everything began to slow down. Applebloom couldn't think. Her mind was like a chalk board, erased of any writing. Next thing she knew she was at Granny Smith's door. She pounded on it, then opened it up. Granny Smith was sitting up, her eyes were wide with fright from the sudden intrusion.
"Applebloom? What are you doing up? You scared me the other half to death!" Granny Smith said. Applebloom cut to the chase.
"Granny! Applejack is in the barn, she's hurt real bad, you gotta help! Please!" Applebloom said frantically.
"Go get your brother, I'll go to her." Granny Smith got up and ran out of the room with surprising speed and agility. Applebloom ran out of the room and over to her brother's door, passing Applejack's room. Applebloom opened Big Macintosh's door and rushed through. She shook him and he lifted his head.
"Big Mac! Big Mac! Applejack is hurt! She's in the barn," Applebloom said. Big Mac was up and out of the bed. The door hit against the wall as Big Macintosh rushed out. Applebloom followed, once again passing Applejack's door. How could this happen? This can't be happening! Applebloom thought as she stumbled down the stairs. She leapt the last three steps and bursted out the door.
Applebloom began to walk down the dirt road, the wind picking up dust along her way. All she could think about was that day. Applebloom turned off the dirt road and into the forest. She didn't want to go back to the farm now, she had something else to do. Soon the forest engulfed her. She could not see the road anymore. The sun was out of view with the towering trees. They seemed to look down at her with disgust, holding their precious leaves up high so they can't be touched.
There was a crackle in a tree as a squirrel jumped to a different tree. Applebloom looked up, the sky was a mixture of mostly black and blue, with traces of orange still around. The sun must be one third the way below the horizon. More wildlife made itself known. Hoots of owls, more rustles of squirells. Applebloom thought back to her... no, she wouldn't say friends. At least not anymore.
As the rumors that Applejack was a prostitute spread around, people began to take sides. The whole of the Apple family believed Applejack wasn't a prostitute, that she was raped unwillingly. But others didn't feel the same way. Princess Twilight Sparkle said that the facts leaned towards prostitution, but Applebloom guessed she was just mad at her for accidently losing a book of hers. "Agriculture For Dummies," I think it was, Applebloom thought. Applejack didn't even need that stupid book. She could maintain the whole farm alone anyways. She's definitely gotten better at farming, living and learning off the land.
And the most surprising was her best friends. Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo were her best friends. Applebloom always expected them to be their for her, back her up when she needed it. Like the first day they met, when they stood up for her at that party. Did that mean anything anymore? Applebloom's friend told her that Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo were talking about how Applejack was a prostitute. Applebloom went to go talk to them immediately. When she brought it up they tried to avoid the question. When she just came out and said she knows what they believe, they looked away embarrassed. That's when Applebloom left.
Applebloom finally exited the forest and looked towards the hospital, lit up like a firefly. The sun was finally down and some of the more stealthier stars became visible. Applebloom lowered her head and shivered, it was beginning to get cold. Summer was wearing away, and so was the summer break. The hospital was three stories tall. With a window for every room. Applebloom had been there only once, and that was when her teacher took them there for a trip.
Applebloom opened one of the two conjoining doors and stepped inside.
Hospitals always had a distinct smell. She smelled it last time, she smelled it this time. It was a combination of latex gloves, wilting flowers, and blood. With a hint of scented candles. There was a sign that said to wait for a receptionist to treat you so Applebloom sat down and looked around. There were a total of four ponies, not including her. Two of them were sleeping while another was reading a magazine. The fourth was sitting across from her, staring at her. Applebloom awkwardly diverted her gaze and looked at a pile of magazines on a coffee table. Just stupid tips on how to look pretty, and be famous. On each magazine there was an interview with somepony famous. Applebloom never even heard of Glamar Gazelle.
Applebloom looked back at the pony across from her.
He was still staring at her, but he seemed oddly closer. It must just be Applebloom's anxiety and uncomfortableness. Nothing about hospitals seemed comfortable or inviting. The smiles that met you as you walk in are fake. Under those smiles were either a broken heart from seeing too many deaths, or ponies who just don't give a damn.
There was a fine line.
The pony was male, with a black mane the hung over his eyes. His eyes were two different colors. Red and yellow. His face twitched often between a smile and a frown. As if he weren't sure if he were happy or sad. He was wearing a single black tie with a white collar that seemed too tight. He reached up and fixed it, once again twitching and smiling. He had a black tail that drooped to the side of the chair. Applebloom couldn't see his cutie mark from this angle. His coat was white.
The longer Applebloom stared, the more uncomfortable she became.
The pony got up and walked over to the chair next to Applebloom. His movements were jerky, just like his expression.
"So, why are you here... little filly?" he asked, his voice was thick and deep. His words were strung out when he spoke, as if they weren't his words. Applebloom needed to decide whether or not she should tell this stallion exactly why she was here. What if he began to call her sister a slut? Or a whore? No, she'll just skim around the truth.
"My sister got... hurt," Applebloom said apprehensively.
"Oh, sorry to hear... my name's Ash Wood, you can call me Ash."
"Alright, Ash, why are you here?"
"I, uh, work here. I'm volunteering to help," Ash said, though Applebloom wasn't sold. Then why are you out here? There's nothing to help with out here. And why aren't you wearing some sort of medical outfit? Applebloom thought. But whatever reason Ash had for lying, Applebloom didn't care. If it were her decision, she wouldn't have talked to the pony at all. In fact, why was she still waiting here and not up at the reception counter now? But something kept her still, something made her keep talking to Ash.
"So what's wrong with your sister?" Ash asked, Applebloom blinked. Why did this guy want to know her life story? Geez. Applebloom decided to lie.
"She fractured her back leg while bucking apples." Applebloom kept it short and sweet. Ash smiled, then frowned.
"Sorry to hear, she'll get better though, I'm sure." Ash got up, waved a jerky wave, and walked back to his seat. He was still looking at Applebloom. Applebloom took this chance and went up to the receptionist. She was a mare with a soft blue mane and green eyes. She was wearing smart glasses, probably from staring at papers her whole career. Applebloom had to strain to see above the counter.
"May I help you, ma'am?" the receptionist asked.
"Um, yeah. Can I see ma sister? Her name's Applejack," Applebloom said, hoping she wouldn't get ridiculed. The mare flipped through a book and found Applejack's name. She made a tiny gasp and shut the book.
"She's not taking any visiters right now, sorry"
"Why not?"
"I'm sorry, did no one tell you?" Applebloom shook her head.
"No ma'am, tell me what?"
"Your sister, Applejack, is in a coma..." the words hung in the air. Just long enough for every one of them to sink in.
"A... coma?" Applebloom sat down. She couldn't stand. At first she didn't understand the severity of Applejack's injuries. At least not when she first saw them. She wanted to cry, to run down the hallways of the hospital until she found her big sister, but she couldn't move. All of her thoughts were confused.
"She had recieved several injuries to her brain, and that put her in a comatose state... I'm sorry." Applebloom looked up from the ground. The smile was gone from the receptionist, but luckily there was a face of concern, not of bore. Applebloom turned around and walked away, ignoring the mare's shouts to wait.
Applebloom didn't notice that Ash Wood was missing from his seat.
Applebloom ran away, in any direction. It didn't matter where. She found a tree beside the hospital and climbed it. She could still see some sick ponies through the windows. Applebloom lowered her head and began to cry. How could this happen? It all seemed so unreal to her. She hated to admit it, but she needed Applejack. Who else was gonna teach her how to buck apple trees. Who else was gonna take her to school and back? Who else was gonna read her bedtime stories and sing her lullabies? Where would she go now if she had a nightmare?
No, Applejack wasn't all that needed... was she? Applebloom continuously attempted to convince herself that Applejack's coma was not the end of the world, but the thoughts always trailed back. More heavier to throw away each time. Applebloom wiped away the tears staining her coat. Applejack had told her that at some point, everypony has to grow up and take on responsibility.
Perhaps that time was now. Maybe Applejack's sleep was a wakeup call to Applebloom. Applebloom raised her head to the moon. Luna, help me, Applebloom thought. Though she had given up pleading help from the princesses, now seemed appropriate. Maybe now they'll listen. Maybe now that her big sister, of whom she looked up to for guidance was in a coma, and their farm would most likely go bankrupt without Applejack, the princesses would help. Applebloom waited for Luna or Celestia to appear next to her.
Nothing happened. There was no sound except the whistling of the wind.
No, there was something else. Applebloom followed the sound to the hospital. Her previous thoughts ricocheted in her mind.
"Take responsibility, huh? Well I'll do jus' that," Applebloom scanned the hospital wall. There were three stories worth of windows on this side. Some of the rooms were lit up, some of the windows were... open. Applebloom shook her head. What am I thinking? This is crazy... but I need to see her, Applebloom thought as she looked for a nearby open window.
There was one nearby. It wasn't exactly a straight jump, but it would work. The light was on, though. If she were caught, she wouldn't be allowed to see Applejack. Applebloom strained her hearing for any sound from the room. All she could hear was the wind and the bustling of the hospital. A lot of time had passed since the sundown. The days were beginning to shorten.
Before she could think otherwise, Applebloom jumped. She didn't even remember jumping because the next thing she knew she was climbing in through the open window. Applebloom looked back outside, the tree looked farther away from the window than the window looked from the tree. Applebloom smiled to herself. She wasn't such a little filly. After all, she just snuck into a hospital.
Applebloom turned around. She held a gasp as she saw a pony with his arm slung up was asleep in the bed. Applebloom got on the ground and began to crawl. The stallion's hoof was right next to a help button. And if woke up to see a Applebloom, he might use it. Applebloom slowly opened the door and peeped her head out, her bow getting in the way. There was a sign that read, "FLOOR 2 SECTION B." Applebloom knew this hospital. There were three floors with four sections on each one. Applebloom went to go visit Applejack the day after the incident and she could remember the floor and room number. The section, however, slipped her mind. Floor Two, check. Room 52. Each floor has ten rooms each section, I know that, so room 52 should be in Section A. Alright, Appleblossom, let's find our sister, Applebloom opened the door all the way and creeper out. She looked back to shut the door and look at the room number. Room 62, and the one on the right read 61. She began to walk right.
As she turned right towards the fifties rooms. She heard to ponies coming down that hallway.
"Last night was great, we should do it again," a female said.
"Yeah, that bar got a little crazy, though. But then again, that was the fun part," another mare said. They shared a laugh. Applebloom panicked. She looked around. There were two doors. Room 60 or a utility closet. Applebloom ran into the closet and shut the door with a crack of space to see out. The two mares opened the door to Room 60.
"Well you're up late, Ms. Garden."
Applebloom sighed. If she had went into Room 60 she would have been caught. The mares said it was late. How late, though? Applebloom hadn't been keeping track of time, but now that she thought back, it must have been an hour since she heard about Applejack's coma. Applebloom left the closet and continued to the fifty hallway. A sign at the other end of the hallway read, "FLOOR 2 SECTION A." Applebloom made it. She saw Room 52 and made her way to it. She was about to turn the door handle.
The door handle turned before she grabbed it.
There was no utility closet this time, so she ducked into Room 53, which was open. Another pony sleeping, but frequently coughing horribly. Applebloom heard a pony exit, Applejack's room, sigh, and walk away. Applebloom counted to ten, but stopped at six and went outside.
The door was locked.
Applebloom held her tongue. She wanted to kick the door down here and now, but she kept her cool. She squeezed her eyes shut and thought. Once one idea came up, she did it. If she thought about others, it would take too long. Applebloom went back into Room 53. She passed the coughing pony and went to the window. She opened it and looked out to the right.
"Yes!" Applebloom shouted, but she regretted her outburst as she heard the pony wake up. Before she could think about it, she climbed up the window and leaned out. She jumped.
She collided with the tree and held on to the extended branch. The mini branches scratched her face. She pulled herself up and stood on the branch. Applebloom felt pretty stupid that she didn't just climb this tree in the first place and jump ton the one window of Room 52. But then again, she hadn't known where it was from the outside. Once again Applebloom prepared to jump. It's not that far, she thought. I've done it once, I can do it again. Applebloom jumped, she expected to just find herself climbing in through the window but this time it was different.
She found herself staring down at the ground. She looked up to see that she was holding on to the windowsill by a single hoof. She tried to keep cool but she panicked. She scrambled up and threw herself over into the room, making lots of noise along the way. She looked at the bed.
Applebloom broke into a sprint when she exited the hospital. She just ran down the stairs of the hospital, ignoring the shouts. When she bursted through the main doors, she ran out into the forest, tears welling in her eyes. A coma. Her big sister is in a coma, and by the way the receptionist said it and how it looked, it sounded serious. Applebloom was still trying to grip what just happened but at the same time she understood what it all means. Not everypony can wake up from a coma. And the thought of life without Applejack was no life at all. The moon was up and was covered up partially by a thin cloud. Applebloom couldn't see and she tripped on a root of a tree. She landed face down. She backed up against a tree trunk and hugged her legs. There was a crackling nearby and Applebloom jumped. It was heavy, not like a squirell.
Out of the darkness, Ash Wood emerged. He seemed different. More daunting and scary.
"Be careful," he said. He looked down at Applebloom with his bicolored eyes. They stared right through her. Applebloom's ears twitched as she heard her name being called. Ash Wood didn't seem to notice it. He was staring at her, never breaking his gaze. The shouts became louder and Applebloom's eyes began to play tricks on her. Ash Wood seemed to be dissapearing like a mist.
Taking his place was her big brother, Big Mac.
"Applebloom? Applebloom! I've been looking all over for you, it's past midnight! You need to get home now!" Big Mac had been talking more now, now that he had to explain himself often. Applebloom got up and followed Big Mac, too tired to tell him what happened with Ash Wood.
They didn't talk on the way back to the house.
"Applebloom! What were you doing out there so late?" Big Mac asked. Applebloom still couldn't get used to him speaking more than a few words a day.
"I was just walking through the woods and I lost track of time," Applebloom partially lied.
"You lost track, it's almost ten almost midnight! How can you lose track of that much time? That's just stupid."
"Your stupid!" Applebloom said childishly. This whole day was awful, and her brother wasn't helping.
"And why didn't you do your chores today-"
"Why didn't you tell me Applejack was in a coma?" Applebloom shouted back. Her patience level was low. Big Mac's eyes drooped a little. He frowned. Then his eyes narrowed and he whispered.
"Go to your room." Applebloom's eyes watered and she ran upstairs. She passed her sister's room and into hers. She ducked under the covers and cryed herself to sleep.