It was a sunny day, the clouds shone with their glorious shine that only clouds can muster, and the whole world was glowing with a lifted sense of accomplishment and ambition. The sky was the most gorgeous shade of blue, the birds sung happily. Rainbow dash wouldn't have had it any other way. She new how much her honored pony of the day loved that sky, longed for it day after day. Dash didn't understand why this day had come, how it could have come this soon, how unfair it was, or how much... emotion she felt. But it was real, not just some stupid nightmare. There she was, real as she ever was, the world around her perfectly materialized. She pinched herself again, hoping, hoping, hoping... she pinched herself so hard she drew blood, pained drips of scarlet. For now here she sat, in the rickety wooden chair, at the funeral of the three fillies known as the cutie mark crusaders. And it was all her fault... she hadn't payed attention when those crows came... dang, what she would have done to change the past and make sure those crows had never came to the fair town of Ponyville. She always remembered her dad telling her the story of the crows. One crow for... she didn't really remember the rest of the chant, except the last part.
"And six crows will surely mean death!" her father had told her, wrapping his wing around her. And she had told him that he was so superstitious and they had had a good laugh about it. But that last verse stuck in her mind. Because death was.. such a threatening thought. Something not easily forgotten once remembered. She never really believed her dad though. And that was why she hadn't really cared when six black crows showed up in Ponyville one morning, flapping their blackberry wings and cawing loudly and quite rudely at the weather ponies. Dash had simply said,
"Leave them alone. Its not like they'll cause any harm." She had shrugged it off and forgotten about it. She forgot, that is, until Cheerilee came to her with some terrible news. During an accident in which Scootaloo was riding her scooter near horseshoe peak, a nice, rocky hill with an outlook on the beach, dragging her two club-mates behind her in a wagon, that her scooter spun out of control and left the three fillies crashing down the hill. Their injuries were fatal, they died in the same hospital room 30 minutes after the vehicle picked them up. Dash, Applejack, and Rarity didn't even get a chance... to say goodbye... to their little sisters so dearly beloved. A voice broke Dash out of her flashback.
"Ah.. ah can't believe they're gone. It just ain't fair! She never got to grow up, become a true part of the farm, get her cutie mark for Celestia's sake!" Applejack pounded her hoof angrily on the chair in front of her, which, (luckily,) was unoccupied. Rarity hugged her friend.
"We'll all miss them darling..." Rarity said, beginning to cry. Applejack coldly shoved her friend off.
"I don't want dang comfort Rarity! Ah want my little sister back!" Through their argument, Dash simply sat, lost. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it! She heard the voices wring back out next to her.
"Applejack! You know very well that we all need comfort right now!"
"It just ain't fair! I just want to scream and kick someone!" one of the fillies in the front row, dangerously close to the seat in front of Applejack, shivered a little and shrunk down in her chair. Big mac nudged Applejack from the seat next to her. "I believe you already let some violence loose at home yesterday when we found out," The farm-pony said, his eyes cold with anger. Applejack sighed, remembering the breakout of last night. When Cheerilee had come to the door with the news, Applejack had only slammed the door in her face, Shrinking down onto the floor in a huddle and beginning to sob and pray to the heavens. Big mac had come in, hearing his sisters worrying noises. Applejack had looked up.
"Shes gone mac. GONE. SHES GONE. HER NOW... haven't we been put through enough?" Applejack had stood up and kicked the table, watching in satisfaction as the legs broke and splintered across the floor. She had to let some tension loose. She hadn't fully realized that applebloom was gone, and she was confused. Muddled. Ruefully angry. Applebloom was gone. Big mac had wheeled back in surprise and asked,
"Who?" and Applejack had screamed and thrown herself into her brothers hooves.
"Our little sister big mac." At this, Big mac bowed his head and turned his face to the heavens, as in prayer. Applejack looked up at him. "Please Big mac. Please do something..." She whispered hoarsely. And Big mac had looked at her.
"At least shes with ma and pa now..." he had whispered. Applejack had jerked her head up.
"Don't you DARE talk about that day! Ah've been put through enough already!" She had screamed, picking up a chair in her mouth and throwing it a Big mac. After her short rage was over, Mac and Applejack had simply huddled and cried together, knowing not what to do. Now Applejack took off her hat and sighed, looking at big mac. "Ah'm sorry big bro." Big mac only nodded in reply. They had barely time to finish their 'conversation' before the funeral organizer stepped onto the stage.
"Would anyone like to say a few words?" Before they were aware of what was happening, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, And Applejack all had their hooves up. Applejack sighed and looked at Rarity.
"Sugarcube... you can go first." Rarity nodded in thanks and daintily trotted onto stage, tears collecting in her blue eyes. She took the microphone and sighed.
"Well... dears, were do I begin? My lovely little Belle will be missed so, so very much. She was my... my everything. She made me laugh, cry... she wanted to be like me so much. She looked up to me, and I took her for granted. She always fought to help me, even when I didn't want help, and I will always be grateful for that. I only wish... that I could have spent a little more time with her... but now its too late. Sweetie, if you can hear me, you are missed and loved so much, you will never know it. You will forever be my little sister." Applause rang out through the small crowd of ponies, and Rarity walked from stage in the highest of dignity, trying not to crack like she knew she wanted to. The second Rarity stepped down from stage, Applejack walked up.
"Now, I ain't got no degree in literature, but I do know a little about love. And I know how much I loved my little sister Applebloom. I often got annoyed with her for not doing the chores quite right, or for fussin' over gettin' that dang cutie mark, but now ah wish I supported her. She was such a good filly, she always did what she was told, she worked so hard.. and she didn't deserve this!" Applejack stomped off the stage, biting back tears. Rainbow dash looked around. It was her turn. She flew up to the stage.
"I can't help but feel that this was my fault. I should have been there for her. I should have saved her... I could have in many ways. But I didn't. I was too busy dosing on a cloud somewhere! I knew how highly Scootaloo thought of me... she was such an awesome kid, really. I loved that kid. And now shes just... tearing me apart. Dangit Scoot, I never got to say this, but I loved you. I loved you with all my heart." The tears blurred her vision as she walked off stage and huddled close to her friends, wishing for their sisters beloved to rest in peace.
Author's Note
This is pretty messy... but I hope you give constructive critic and leave your opinions. I got the idea for this story when I saw some crows fighting in the sky, and the next day I saw a dead bird in the water near my house. I wanted to write a sad, dark story, something that would give me the feels. Thanks for reading! (Yes, I used superstitions.com in research for this story. :D)
Years had passed. The amber essence of life young was gone on that fine sunny day when the chain of events had struck like lightning. When one thing led to another, until a very regretful dinky, (who was now old enough to get a job,) Came by Sweet apple acres with tears in her eyes. That was the place where Applejack, Big mac, and Cheerilee (who was now married to big mac, no love spell needed,) found a place to reside in their middle life. And that was also the place where the death of a sister had taken place long ago. But no one could have imagined the death of another, so soon. For dinky came galloping up, her eyes, wide with eagerness and red stained with tears, her teenage hooves knocking on the door quickly. Big mac answered with a sigh, looking at Dinky, waiting for the panting young mare to say something. The second dinky caught her breath, she gulped and breathed,
"Applejack... shes dead." Something flashed in big macs eyes as tears began to drip down them. AJ? Dead? How? Cheerilee, at this point, also came to the door.
"Well hello Dinky! Whats wrong?" Cheerilee looked from big mac to Dinky in confusion. Dinky raised her head.
"Applejack's dead ma'am." Cheerilee looked around and sighed, coughing rather loudly as tears began to stream down her face. She hugged Big mac and choked a little.
"You know... this feels like deja vu!" She said, her voice growing slightly pitched. Big mac sighed.
"Yup."
Dinky bade them farewell, told them that she was sorry for their loss, and galloped to her next destination. A house made entirely out of clouds, lavishly designed with a rainbow trim. She stood outside the door and yelled,
"Miss Dash! Are you in?" She was met with a blue pegasus who poked her head out of the window and flew down next to Dinky.
"Yeah dinky! Sup?" Rainbow dash ruffled Dinky's hair, something she had had the tendency to do after Scootaloo's death. Dinky didn't even correct her hair. She just sat down, looking up at the waiting eyes of Dash.
"Dash? Applejack is gone." Rainbow dash snickered.
"Nice one kid. You almost had me there. Must be payback for that Apple prank or something, but gee was that funny!" Dinky painted a serious look on her face.
"I'm... not joking dash. Applejack was attacked by timber-wolves today while looking for a rare type of apple. She was killed." Rainbow dash flattened her ears.
"O.. OK, this isn't funny anymore. Wheres AJ?" Dinky began to cry.
"Dash, I'm not kidding. Shes gone." Rainbow looked around, her eyes threatening.
"No! AJ can't be gone! Where is she! Tell me where she is!" Dash half screamed, looking at Dinky. Dinky shrunk back.
"I'm sorry ma'am." Rainbow's scream could have been heard from anywhere.
"NO! AJ! DANGIT AJ, NO!" The mare began to panic, flying to and fro quickly and with little control. It was like nothing mattered anymore, just as long as she couldn't hear Dinky's taunts (they seemed like taunts to the frantic grieving mare.)Then, seemingly without noticing, the mares eyes closed and she spun to the ground, landing heavily. Dinky flattened her ears and looked around.
"SOME-PONY CALL AN AMBULANCE!"
Rarity sat daintily in the hospitals waiting room, her hooves tucked under her and her eyes red from grieving over her earth pony friend. Now she was here, hoping that Dash would be out soon. She sat next to Dinky, who was looking down, ashamed. Rarity turned her head and looked Dinky in the eye.
"Now darling, no matter what happens, you are not to blame for it. You did what you could, and you were very good to get an ambulance so fast." Dinky looked at the mare, wiping away a tear and smiling. "Th-thanks Rarity." Just then, Nurse Redheart came out, holding a clip board. Rarity almost jumped out of her seat. Nurse Redheart sighed, pinning her ears back.
"It appears that she had a heart attack. I give her a couple more minutes to live, shes almost completely out of it. Please go and say your goodbyes." A whimper escaped Dinky's muzzle and Rarity hugged her comfortingly, one hoof around her shoulder as they walked into the hospital room. The room was as cheerful as the day the fillies had died, and the mood was as sour as the funeral. Dinky looked at Dash.
"I'm so sorry miss Rainbow dash! This is all my fault! If I hadn't given you the message you never would have had a heart attack and you would still be here! Please be OK! Don't leave us... please!" Rarity gentle nuzzled dinky. The purple unicorn had become almost like a sister to her in the years since Sweetie's death. Rarity looked at Rainbow dash.
"I'm doing this for you. For you and applejack. Its time to be generous once more." Rarity walked up to Nurse Redheart. "If you wouldn't mind, miss heart, I would.. like to die with my friends." The nurse jerked her head up in surprise, and Dinky ran to Rarity's side.
"But... Rarity! You can't die too! You just can't!" Rarity sighed and smiled gently at Dinky. Nurse Redheart tilted her head.
"Miss Rarity, are you sure?" Rarity nodded. Dinky started to sob even harder. Rarity bent down slightly and kissed Dinky atop the head.
"You'll be fine Dinky. You're a strong little mare." Dinky hugged Rarity one last time and then stepped away.
"O...K Rarity." Rarity smiled at dinky
"That's my little sister." DInky smiled with sadness and glee, all mixed into a chaotic puddle of emotions. Nurse Redheart walked up to Rarity with an injection needle in her hoof.
"Are you ready miss?" Rarity nodded, and she could feel the injection go into her neck. She breathed deeply. The last words she heard were,
"I love you big sis."
Applejack straightened up. She sighed and took her hat off, rubbing her eyes.
"Where am ah?" She looked around at the vast expanse of.. clouds? Was she... "am ah dead?" Applejack didn't exactly remember winning her "battle" with the timber-wolves. Applejack looked around. "Ah'm either badly knocked out or dead..." AJ jumped as Rainbow dash materialized out of thin air next to her.
"AJ! I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!" She then threw herself onto her friend in a bear-hug. Neither one of them noticed Rarity standing there until she coughed daintily.
"Girls? We are dead." AJ and dash both looked up in shock.
"Rarity? What do ya mean?" Applejack put her hat back on and looked at Rarity.
"Well... AJ, you died when you fought the timber-wolves. Dash, when you heard that AJ had died, you had a heart attack. And I decided that I would rather be up here with you then down there without." Rainbow dash and Applejack just stared.
"Gee Rarity, ye didn't have to do that..."
Rarity gestured to something in the distance. "And there's your proof." Three little fillies ran towards them, eyes brimming with excitement. Rainbow dash rubbed her eyes.
"Scoot?"
"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo threw herself into Dash's hooves tears streaming down her face. "I thought I'd never ever see you again Dash! I-I... I love you big sis!" Rainbow dash smiled and cried happily.
"I love you too kid." The meetings of the other two pairs of sisters were the same, with many happy tears and a flock of sisterly laughter.
Author's Note
Well, there it is, my attempt at writing a tragic/dark fic! I hope you enjoyed it, and will give your awesome opinions! Thanks for reading!
