A War in Equestria

Dear Applejack

I know you're supposed to have some symbol thingy after that beginning part...I can't remember what it is. Twilight'd have a fit if this was addressed to her. Oh well, she wasn't lucky enough to catch the attention of an awesome mare like me! So...uh...I don't really know what to write because it's SO BORING here. It's been a week...which you probably know because it's been a week there too. Yeah. This is awkward. It's so much easier to have a conversation with you when I can hear your voice and see your face. Okay writing long letters with your mouth isn't the best idea, I wish I could float things. Seriously, it's taking a lot longer to write this than you think. I've been here for like half an hour already. Now I'm rambling. I should probably talk about what it's like here. So there's like NOTHING to do. Honestly, we just sit around and fake like we're doing stuff. We're so far away from the actual fighting that I don't even understand why they need us. Whatever, I just hope that I can be back soon, that's all I care about right now because this is SO BORING. Well I guess it's technically better being bored than dead. ...Wow that was terrible. I can't believe I just wrote that. Oh well. I guess that's really all, you're lucky I love you because my mouth is sore right now. If only it could be sore doing something else ;). Okay is that face thing even allowed in a letter? It feels weird. Oh well, TOO LATE. Celestia, I'm terrible at letters...well...bye! Or talk to you later...or write...or something. I promise I'll get the hang of this.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

You have no idea how much I was laughing while reading that whole letter, picturing how awkward it was for you to do all that. You'll get better at writing, I promise. However it's quite cute picturing how flustered I know you were getting. It's good to hear that you're not in any danger really, that's what I was really worried about. Just deal with the boredom till you can get home, I'd rather you be bored than in danger anytime. Plus if you were straight in the fight, that would mean you'd have to kill ponies...actually kill them. Think about that. Also that reminds me, Twi asked Princess Celestia why we couldn't just use the Elements of Harmony to fix this situation. She said to think about what it's done when we did use it, it completely destroyed the essence of Nightmare Moon, it turned Discord to stone. Apparently we're a destructive force that could kill half of Equestria if we used it on the other ponies. It kind of hurts to know that that would be US. We could just kill half of Equestria just like that. Why can't there be a simple way to finish this? Anyway, I don't wanna to talk about depressing stuff like that. Scootaloo is doing better now, the day after you left she refused to leave her room, but you know fillies. I just sent her to hang out with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle and she was better the same day. Every now and then I can see her just lying on the couch staring out a window, or at a wall or something. It hurts me to even see it. Just come back to us soon Dash. Please.

Love, Applejack.

P.S. I got Spike to write my letter for me. Jealous?

Dear Applejack

Crap I forgot that ending thing didn't I? This whole writing thing sucks. Seriously, Twilight should have made like a screen where I could just talk to you. That would have been so much easier than this. Plus I have to eat it...I mean seriously...eat it? I almost barfed last time. It felt so weird, then it was just gone. Twilight's supposed to be the smart one, I don't think I could ever let go of her making it so I have to eat this stupid letter. Scootaloo'll be better soon, I just know it. She's a lot like me you know? You probably do. I already told you why I liked her so much. Celestia this is just so awkward! Uhm...so yeah. There's just nothing to update on. Nothings happening. So I don't know...talk about there or something. Maybe I'll actually figure out what to write then.

Love Rainbow Dash.

P.S. Shut up.

4 Months Later

Dear Rainbow Dash

It's been a while since you haven't sent a letter on Friday. And you know I get a little more worried than I probably should be. Just write back when you can.

Love Applejack

2 Days Later

Dear Rainbow Dash

You've never waited this long after the last letter. I know you can't have forgotten, you've never done that before. If this is a prank it's not funny Rainbow Dash. Sometimes you don't realize you're going too far, and if that's what you're doing, it is too far. Just...answer me okay? I know you might be busy or something, but you promised you'd make sure you write me. Make good on that promise Dash.

Love Applejack

1 Week Later

Rainbow Dash this isn't funny at all. Why aren't you writing me back? You promised me you would...what is going on? I can only think of one explanation if you haven't written back yet...but that can't be it. I can't believe that to be true, you're coming back Dash, you have to. You have to Dash, I miss you, we all miss you, everypo-

“Applejack, can you come with me please?” Applejack had decided not to use Spike for this letter because of how different it was from any others she wrote, so as she looked up from the letter she found Twilight Sparkle looking slightly off to the side as she spoke to Applejack.

“But Ah...Ah have to finish this letter to RD Twi, she...she has to get my letter,” Applejack whispered. “Do ya think maybe your spell messed up and she just can't send letters anymore?”

Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed, “Applejack I told you already, it didn't mess up, trust me on that. However we...did find out why she hasn't been answering. Just please come with me.”

Applejack's eyes lit up and she jumped to her feet and shouted, “Ya did?! So she's okay?” As Twilight didn't answer Applejack's head dropped a little. “She's...okay right Twi? ...right?' Twilight just walked out of the room expecting Applejack to follow her at this point. They were both upstairs, where Applejack always was when she made her letters, usually having Spike write them. She gulped and followed Twilight out of the room and downstairs, expecting bad news because of Twilight's demeanor.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs she looked up to see both Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia standing in the middle of the living room with solemn looks on their faces. Applejack was too stunned to remember to bow, she just stood at the bottom of the stairs with her mouth slightly open. After a minute Applejack looked between the two ponies and gulped again, “What...what's goin' on Princess, why isn't Rainbow answering me?”

“I apologize Applejack, but it might not be appropriate for me to just tell you. I can show you what I found when I went there myself, but I can assure you it won't be pretty. I'm sorry to say it Applejack, but expect the worst whether I'm going to show you, or tell you. I am honestly really sorry Applejack, I never wanted this to happen to her of all ponies. That is specifically why I stationed her out of the way of everything else, I'm afraid it wasn't enough.” Princess Celestia hung her head and waited for Applejack's response.

As Applejack heard Princess Celestia talking, second by second her heart dropped further and further, by the end she was trying so hard to hold back her tears that she couldn't even speak. She just looked at Princess Celestia and nodded. Princess Celestia understood what she meant and conjured up a small screen in front of Applejack. On the screen Applejack could see a desolate field. As the screen panned right her heart raced, as the image on the screen reached where it was obvious where Rainbow Dash's building had been, Applejack lost her composure and dropped on the ground and started balling.

What was once a building was clearly only rubble, it looked like the place had been leveled and she couldn't see anyone still alive there. However what she could see was bits and pieces of what was obviously ponies, this is what made Applejack lose it. This was the place that her wife was living, any of those ponies laying on the ground could be her. Princess Celestia began commentating on the image, “This is all that I found, I couldn't identify a single pony there, but I do know for a fact this is the building that Rainbow Dash was located. I do not know what else there is to say Applejack, I can't tell you how sorry I am about this. I cared for her a great deal and it hurts me more than you can know.”

“But...but ya said that ya couldn't identify anypony there, isn't it possible that she made it out alive? She's a tough pony Princess...Ah can't imagine her just..gone like that. It doesn't make any sense.” Applejack was looking up from the ground at Princess Celestia with just a dash of hope in her eyes.

Twilight Sparkle walked over to Applejack and placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder, “Applejack, the Princess said she was able to deduce that the attack happened approximately 2 A.M. She would have been asleep by the time this happened. She had next to no chance to survive this, plus my spell that linked her letters with you was terminated.”

“But...but...” Applejack tried to think of a valid argument but she could find none. She choked as she unsuccessfully tried to hold back more tears, “Ah...Ah'm gonna go home.” She stood up and walked out of the library in silence, letting her tears fall but not saying a word as she walked past Twilight and Princess Celestia. She trekked towards her farm slowly and by the time she had she realized that it was already late into the night, with the moon high in the sky. She walked into her house and straight to her room, she looked at the sign where it said “Applejack and Rainbow Dash's room” she continued to stare at it until she suddenly smashed her hoof into it in anger. She turned around and looked at the room opposite hers, Scootaloo's room. She stepped to it and opened it up to find Scootaloo sitting in bed looking frightfully back at her.

“What was that AJ?” Applejack looked sadly back at the filly in bed and Scootaloo could see that she had been crying, her looked turned to one of worry, “Wait what's wrong? Why are you crying?”

“Ah'm so sorry Scoots....so sorry.” Applejack couldn't meet the filly's eye and her lip was quivering as she tried her best to keep her composure for Scootaloo.

“What is it? What's wrong? Please tell me it's not Rainbow Dash...”

At the sound of her name Applejack choked back another sob, Scootaloo jumped and and looked at Applejack with fury in her eyes. “What's wrong with my mom?!”

Applejack walked over to Scootaloo's bed and lay down next to her, she pulled her daughter into a hug and let her tears fall. “She's dead Scootaloo, she's not coming back to us.”