Death.
The word struck pain into him after his parents died in an accident, his sister and Granny didn't take it too well, while they were mourning over their parents death he kept the farm going but who was going to do that when he was gone? That question stuck in his mind ever since he got the news. Now he knew how it felt, knowing that there is nothing that can stop it from happening, it was a soul-crushing feeling, knowing that you are going to die no matter what. The cold hospital bed and the beeps from the machines only reminded him of what was to come.
But Big Macintosh didn't feel pain, he only felt a tidal wave of confusion, asking questions like "Why me?" and "Who will take care of the family?" With his sister by his side, crying, he felt sad, but he couldn't muster the tears to cry, he thought about all the opportunities he had to not work and have some time off, he thought about all the times he could have stopped but kept going, and all the memories he missed out on, he didn't care for them back then but now, now it pained him knowing all the times he could have played with his sisters, all of the time he could have spent with his family, and all of the times he missed when his sisters were growing up, suddenly Applejack asked Big Mac, stuttering and her voice full of emotion.
"Wh-Why aren't you c-crying?"
He then answered, tears threatening to break through,
"Because Applejack, Ah'm not 'fraid of death, Ah accepted that one day Ah was goin' t' pass, and was hoping that Ah could teach you to live without me" despite the situation, he managed a weak chuckle "but it seems Ah didn't have 'nuff time to teach ya'll, the only thing Ah'm worried 'bout is keeping ya'll safe, Ah didn't do farm work because Ah wanted to, it was so ya can have food on the table, a house 't live in, and the bits to support ya, it was never about me, Applejack, It was always about ya'll." And then he pulled Applejack close and whispered "Please Applejack, Ah want ya'll to stay strong, for me." He then laid down on the bed once again.
Then he felt it, it was like a blanket of darkness wrapping all around him, he felt his strength diminishing and the corners of his vision darkened, he guessed Applejack felt it too, because she ran out to get a Doctor, he laid there, knowing his time was up, he then heard a doctor shout something down the hallway and heard hoofsteps coming his way, nurses, a doctor, and his family walked in, Applejack quickly took hold of his hoof.
"This is the end, this is what it feels like to die." he thought.
He managed to say his last words to Applejack as Apple Bloom, Braeburn, Granny, and the rest of his family cried profusely, mustering all the strength he had left, he pulled his sisters ear close to his mouth, uttering what he knew were his last words
"Stay...strong."
The sound of the heart rate monitor going flat split everyones ears, Big Macintosh felt numb, and couldn't hold his eyes open any longer, and he was enveloped in pure, blinding whiteness.
Big Mac had passed...
She couldn't believe it, he was really gone...
No matter how hard Applejack tried to stay strong for her family she just couldn't, the farm was keeping up, Apple Bloom was getting her school work done, but Applejack just couldn't keep up with her emotions.
She would wake up, work, and then cry herself to sleep, and she had been like this for the past week and Big Macintosh's funeral didn't help, but she kept herself going with the help of her family, of course, but tonight she didn't cry, she thought if this is what Big Mac felt like when their parents passed, but she kept thinking about how much he did for all of them, and thought about if she took her brother for granted, because he took care of them, he did everything in his power to make them happy, he even dropped out of school to help them.
She decided he wouldn't have to die in vein, so she decided that, from that day forward, she would work her hardest, no matter how tired she got she would work, work for her family, work for her brother, to make him proud.
She got up early the next morning and did all of her chores without a complaint, her friends would come by and try to comfort her, but she didn't really pay attention to them, she just kept working, day in day out to do what she knew her brother would want her to do, she took initiative, she took pride in what she did, she wasn't fearful anymore, she was happy, because Big Mac was now in a better place, wherever that may be.
"So that was tha day Ah decided ta get off mah flank and do something about it." Applejack said to all of her friends that were currently sitting at a booth at Sugarcube Corner.
"That is truly amazing Applejack, I thought you would have been huddled up in that house forever, no offense." Rarity said with a sympathetic look on her face.
Applejack chuckled dryly "It about came tah that."
Rainbow Dash spoke up "Well I'm glad you didn't, then I would have to find a new best friend!"
Everyone, except Applejack who was currently trying to stifle a giggle, glared at her
"Heh heh, no offence, guys."
Almost instantly trying to forget what Rainbow Dash just said, Twilight turned to Applejack and asked
"What do you think you will do now AJ?"Applejack was silent for a moment before replying
"Ah actually don't know."
Rainbow Dash decided to express her frustration at staying still for so long by exclaming
"Lets go out and do something fun, I'm tired of being stuck in this place!"
They all agreed and headed out after Pinkie Pie cleaned up after them, but before Applejack left she looked at the window and expected to see herself, but Big Mac was standing there, and had a wide grin on his face and mouthed "Ah'm prouda ya." She smiled to herself and walked out the door of Sugarcube Corner ,thinking that her friends were all that she could ask for.
But at the end of the day
It all comes down to family.
