Chapters When The Ponies Neigh: Arc of Guilt
FIRST
Applejack warns Applebloom to not go near her Personal Chest ever again. Applebloom insists in her usual "Cutie Mark Crusader" motivation .
The matter is forgotten until a few days later, where Applejack surprises Applebloom attempting to spy on what's in Applejack's chest. She quickly trows herself towards Applebloom, but just like a surprised rabbit, Aplebloom escapes from her grip. Applebloom avoids Applejack for a while, letting things cool off, however, when Big Mac wasn't looking, Applejack smacks Applebloom in the face several times. Applebloom is about to cry but Applejack warns her threat-fully "Don't you dare to cry or I'll give you a good reason to do it"
The matter is forgotten once again, Applejack even recovers her usual playful self
One day Aplebloom and Applejack are playing on the Apple fields.
-"Sis, let's play hide and seek"
Applejack starts counting and after counting to 49, she hears everything's quiet, too quiet
-"Applebloom?"
Nothing, she usually blows her cover giggling, but this time, only the leaves could be heard
-"Come out come out wherever you are" Applejack is still with his mind on the game
She searches every possible place she could hide on the time ratio she counted.
Nothing. Nada. Zero. Zip
Applejack gets a chill running down her spine; she knows where she is. she runs as fast as she can, furious like she's never been before. As she approaches her home, she confirms what she thought; the door was ajar. She sneaks into the house, motivated with rage. Applejack's room's door is open . She slowly walks inside without making any noise to find Applebloom on her bed, watching the insides of her Chest.
Applejack simply looses it
She bangs the door behind her, Applebloom is paralyzed with fear.
-"Applejack, No,NO.NO--" Applejack starts smacking her sister, and I mean REALLY smacking her. Applebloom tries to flee but the closed door works fine as an obstacle, giving Applejack the perfect time to intercept herApplejack trows her to the wall where she bumps her head. Applejack starts kicking her, yes, she kicks her sister with all her might
-"Applebloom? APPLEBLOOM? Come on! Don't play like that! Applebloom ANSWER ME!".-There is no response
Applejack's eyes start to get wet, she has a "Blue screen of death" kind of moment that lasts for what seems like hours
-"Big Mac!" She finally recovers her shit and thinks on what to do. -She runs errant to the fields where Rainbow Dash usually hangs out. Luckily, she finds Rainbow Dash on her way back home from a day of doing nothing
-"Rainbow Dash! I- n--n-need yrrr yo--r help"
Rainbow Dash thinks on making a joke about her way to talk, but something on her grimace makes her get serious.
-"What is it? Applejack, what's wrong"
Rainbow Dash follows Applejack, concerning more and more as she sees Applejack weeping desperately.
-"Appleja--" Rainbow Dash can't even properly form her words on the shock "Wh--What have... WHAT DID YOU--?
-"Applejack, snap out of it! Calm down"
-"Rainbow Dash...I don't wanna go to jail"
-"What took you so long?"
-"Applejack, grab a pair of shovels"
Unseen by any pony, they make their way to a clear full of rabbit-warrens. Without talking, they start to dig
-"It looks natural"
Both ponies chuckle, but they stop soon after. Something has been broken between the two of them, something important
-"Applejack, we will never, EVER talk about what happened tonight, you understand me?"
Applejack makes her way back home, so does Rainbow Dash.The moon shines high in the sky, the Winter Wrap up is near.
When The Ponies Neigh: Arc of Guilt
SECOND
-"Diamond Tiara"
-...
For the third time this week, Applebloom's desk remained empty, Scotaloo and Sweetie Bell looked each other in distress
-"Oh...she's absent again. Does anypony knows if Applebloom is sick?"
All the small fillies gasp in awe, the chatting noises overcomes the teacher
-"Calm down, Calm down everypony, I'll talk to Granny Smith today, I'm sure they'll know about her. Now, let's take a small break before our classes begin, shall we? It's a beautiful day outside"
All the foals leaves their places and head outside, first talking about Applebloom, and then talking about anything else. When Scotaloo and Sweetie Bell leaves their places, Cherilee calls them over
-"Girls, what do you know about Applebloom?" .-both girls shrug
-"Oh girls...girls...I'll find out what's happening don't you worry."
That same afternoon Cherilee pays a visit to the Apples. She first encounters Applejack who seems to forget how to talk when Cherilee says 'hi'
-"Uh...hi Ms. Cherilee, what brings you about?"
Applejack lowers her head
-"Miss. Cherilee?" Big Macintosh comes by
Big Mac sighs
-"Why don't we go inside for a while?" Big Mac wants to speak this away from her sister, thinking that it might affect her somehow. Granny Smith is sitting on her rocking chair, staring at the window. It's obvious she's been crying for hours
-"Take a seat" Granny Smiths hears Big Mac and stands up instantly
Big Mac sighs, he is visibly shaken. Cherilee moves next to him to comfort him
-"Have you told the authorities about this?"
Cherilee holds in suspense, she can't believe something that awful had happened to Applebloom. She remembers the last time she saw her running from class. That cheerful smile of her, that big pink blossom wiggling on her mane, she can even remember her saying "Goodbye Ms. Cherilee, happy weekend, see you next Monday!" Cherilee weeps too.
When The Ponies Neigh: Arc of Guilt
FOURTH
It's been 6 days since the disappearance of Applebloom. Pegasus and Unicorns search all over the place. They send dog after dog to search for Applebloom, but the snow makes everything harder
Far from there, in Rarity's house, someone knocks at the door.Rarity opens to find the small Scootaloo
-"Can Sweetie Bell come out to play?".- It's been days since Rarity has seen the regular spirit on both Scootaloo and her sister. That breaks her heart to the point where she feels she's about to cry just by hearing her tone
-"Sweetie Bell, you've got visits".-Sweetie Bell comes out
They both walk by slowly
-"Sweetie Bell, where are you heading?"
As Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell walk off they remember the succession of events that lead them into that day
They remember the expression on Applejacks face as she told them she was playing hide and seek with her sister, and that she couldn't find her. Scoots' and Sweets' first reaction were that of excitement, as they thought they could have a "Cutie Mark Crusade" to find their missing member. They searched high and low, in the Everfree forest, in the Apple fields, In the house tree, they searched everywhere
Applebloom was playing hide and seek, and Applejack could never find her
Days went by and they couldn't stop wondering if Applebloom was still playing, since she still wasn't at home yet.They two went by the river, worried for their friend, they didn't let that depressed them, they only needed to try harder
-"Cutie Mark Crusader Finders!"
They searched again in the places they used to go all the time, even in places they never ever visited.By the end of the day, they felt defeated once more.
It was Tuesday.The fillies didn't lost the hope that they would come one day into Applejack's house and found her smiling saying "I've found her". And the three crusaders finally meet again. And play the games they used to play. And try once more to get their cutie marks. And keep their adventures going once more
Yet, that never happens
It's Thursday already, and no one can seem to find their friend. Determined to do so, they climb up the tallest tree they can find in the Apple Fields. Both friends, with their eyes filled with tears and their voices filled with tender scream from the top of their lungs:
-"Okay Applebloom, you've won. We can't find you anywhere.
When The Ponies Neigh: Arc of Guilt
FIFTH
Over a week and a half have gone trough since the Applebloom incident. There are posters with her face all over Ponyville captioned with "Have you seen me?" With that face, it's almost as she was really saying it. The news spread quickly all over Equestria, they were squads that had false leads on Manehattan and Fillydelphia, they conclude nowhere.
For the first time in days, the mane 6 goes out in a Pick-nick. It's hard for them to ignore the situation, especially with Applebloom's face plastered all over the town.
-"Come on Everypony! What's with the long faces? Hahaha, get it? Long faces?" Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie can't stand the general sadness regarding the group. Everyone rev up the spirit with Pinkie's Attitude, Fluttershy smiles weakly. She tries to feign happiness but fails miserably
-"Fluttershy..."
-"Give her some time"
Applejack frowns. She has never been so bothered by Fluttershy before. It's almost as if Fluttershy knew Applejack was guilty of everything and she had to show her a proper expression of grief. Applejack felt out of place, she could not hide her discomfort any longer. General awkwardness ensued.
-"W-why don't we have some cake?" Pinkie Pie retrieves the pink cake laying on her basket. That afternoon was a breath of relief in comparison with the last three days. Police Ponies coming in and out of Sweet Apple Acres, interrogating all of the residents to see if there's something else they can remember. Anything. They were desperate. The investigation in Ponyville was clearly not sophisticated enough for the job, their methods were very rudimentary.
They had to force their guts out to do it, but the Pick-nick resulted quite fine, they were laughing and joking as usual
-"Pinkie Pie! That was the last piece of cake! I was gonna eat it!" says Rainbow Dash in her usual squeaky voice
-"Twilight dear, there are only 4 muffins in the basket, even without Fluttershy, there's not enough for us all".- As Rarity points that, she, Applejack and Twilight pick up their own Muffins, Applejack eat hers right off
-"I'll have one!" yells Rainbow Dash as she picks a muffin"
Rainbow Dash looks at the cake for a second
-"Well, then YOU have the last piece of cake"
They both stared at each other"
-"okay"
Twilight picks up the delicious cake in her hooves. As she approaches the purple glowing pastry to her mouth, a chunk of snow falls from a nearby tree and spoils it completely.
-"There's the ice frosting" .-At this point, they are literally willing to laugh about anything
They cheerfully discuss on their expectation for this year and remember how well displayed last year was thanks to Twilight,
Applejack caught up
Waiting for a moment of distraction, they both walk apart from the rest of the tree
It's getting dark, the last sunbeams are leaving slowly
-"Ok, what is it sugarcube?"
How could they been so oblivious? Winter Wrap was near, there would be Ponies swiping the snow. Dozens and dozens of them. There was a really good chance that they found her buried somewhere near the warrens. The land on the Warrens wasn't meant to be plowed and seeded, but there was no doubt that Fluttershy was going to notice.
-"What are we gonna do"
-"AJ, what's on the chest?" Applejack stops dry. Dash's heart beats in expectation. Dash can't see her face, she wish she did.
Applejack isn't responding
"Rainbow Dash, you ain't having cold feet are you?"
Rainbow Dash flinched
-"Uh..w-what? what are you saying?"really trust me, or you're just saying it?"
Applejack turns to see her friend. It's like her usual face, that face full of freckles, the face that says "Howdy" by itself, but it's not the same. There's something uncanny about her face . Rainbow Dash understands that Applebloom is not the only one that's gone, Applejack is here no longer. Applejack slowly walks to her friend
-"Is that a Yes?"
Applejack is close from her. Very close, face to face.
-"I...yes, of course I trust you"
She walks away. Rainbow Dash noticed the cold running trough her mane. She was sweating. Badly
-"Come on Pard'ner! They're waiting for us" Applejack smiled like always, it even seemed as thought she was back. Rainbow Dash was paralyzed, she skipped from her trance a little later, when the voice of Pinkie could be heard saying "What took you two so long? We are leaving"
When The Ponies Neigh: Arc of Guilt
SIXTH
That night two ponies walked into a lonely meadow, just like they did ten days ago. Just like that one night, both were holding shovels in their mouths, but unlike that night, Rainbow Dash was way less confident.
Back then, She was solving the mistake of a friend, but she was not sure it was much of a mistake now after all...or much a 'friend' either...
"Where was it?" whispered Applejack
To tell the truth, all the rabbit holes looked the same. Both ponies came close to the place. It felt so familiar there was no doubt that was the right place after all. They moved the snow aside and found part of the plants they put up in the snow to cover the hole. They started digging once more. The soil seemed harder this time
-"Where is this lake you're talking about?".-Asked Applejack
They kept digging, the past days have been surrealistic at it's best. The plastering of Applebloom's face all over Ponyville the ridiculous campaigns that were determined on finding her, they would continue like that for a long time now, and with it, so would the guilt of Applejack. Rainbow Dash figured that if she felt bad about the whole movement, so would Applejack.
-"A.J, have you thought that, well..."
Applejack stops digging
-"And then what? getting caught?"
Rainbow Dash didn't stopped digging until that moment she finished speaking, when she felt the piercing stare of Applejack fixated on her
-"What do you mean by 'Faking some tears'? You don't think I'd cry in my sister's funeral!?
-"You don't think I've thought about that? You don't think I've thought that when I see my brother suffering all the time?!"
And that's when the saddest, most crushing bawling started.
Rainbow Dash had to hug her friend. It was Applejack after all, the good old Applejack. There was nothing wrong with her, she just got stray from the way a little, that's all. Rainbow Dash held the hope that things would be like they were before, but before that, certain things from the past had to be buried.
The digging continued for a few minutes. The more they dug, the more they realized of something really bad. Once they dug a bit too much Rainbow Dash pointed out their fears
-"What the hell?, it should have popped out by now"
Dash started to dig in every place that was ever near a rabbit hole, it dug deep enough for the bag to be seen, but no bag appeared in none of the holes they dug
-"Rainbow Dash?!"
Applejack finds it hard to accept, but she had to admit it's true. It's the right place after all, but there is nothing there.
A branch crunched next to a nearby tree
-"...! Who's there?"
Somebody outside the meadow ran away as she heard Applejack's voice. Both Ponies looked at each other and before they could even think about it, they followed it into a group of trees. It didn't matter how dark it was, it kept doing noises as it escaped. Applejack's face could only be described as the face of a desperate hunter. Rainbow Dash wondered what would they do with the spy once they caught it, she feared that Applejack got rid of her too. No, that was no way of thinking, Ranbow Dash refused to see her friend as a cold blood murder. Not after that display of sadness she had back there. Not Applejack.
Rainbow Dash soon caught the lead of what they were chasing. She even saw how it quickly jumped inside a small den on the ground
-"Ugh...It's a frikin' rabbit"
Both of them sighed in relief, but there still was the matter of the corpse
-"What are we going to do now".-asked Applejack
Once that was said and done, they covered the new holes they've made as well as the original one, they covered it with snow once more and walked away from the meadow, going home.
There were only 27 hours left for the wrap up.
When The Ponies Neigh: Arc of Guilt
SEVENTH
Winter Wrap up was finally here. This year they had their official organizer to make things more efficient for everyone. There was some issues about the investigation for Applebloom's disappearance going stall, but it was soon solved
There seems to be an unusual enthusiasm this year, as much as there seems to be a lot of gossips, all of them about Applejack: "Look at her" "She's so brave" "Her sister's disappearance won't stop her, no wonder why she's the Pony of Ponyville"
Before the Wrap up begins, the mayor gathers everyone for the usual announcement
-"Thank you ponies for once more being here so early. Before we start I'd like to thank Applejack who still managed to come despite the prior events. The disappearance of the little Applebloom has moved us, but let us have Applejack as a beacon of courage for everypony!"
As the Mayor finishes her words, the prancing of the ponies made itself loud. Rainbow Dash saw how Applejack face tried to fake thankfulness, but instead inspired shame. No other Pony seemed to notice, and those who seemed to just said "This must be very difficult for her".
Rainbow Dash and the weather control crew fly up high and start to take care of certain districts of clouds. They have to wait for the signal of the Animal team to fully free the sky of clouds
-"Applejack? Are you alright?" Asks Baritone, who's right behind her, plowing the snow.
Meanwhile, far from there, the Animal team just arrived a meadow of rabbit holes. They must hurry, so there's no time wasted for the weather control team.
-"Is everything ok in there?".- Fluttershy gets its head inside the hole, she can clearly hear that the critters in that hole are trapped
-"Somepony bring here a lantern!" Soon, Mochaccino brings them a lit lantern.
Vanilla Sweets flashes it into the hole and manages to see something, something that shines along with the light of the lantern
"What is that...?".- wonders Vanilla Sweets
-"Almost...there" .- Vanilla Sweets finally reaches out the plastic wrap.
She barely moves it a little when a very strong and disgusting stench comes out of the bag
-"Ewwww"
Mochaccino pulls but of them back, falling on his lap as they all are launched outside the hole. A family of rodent quickly escapes from the hole on the ground.
-"Oh dear, are you alright?"
A bunch of ponies gather around the plastic bag, who casts a very nauseating smell
-"By Celetia, what is that horrible stench?" is the general question. Written Script comes close and rips a hole on the bag with his horn. A bunch of flies scape from the bag, and the smell intensifies"
-"Gah...this is disgusting"
Fluttershy notices something in shock
"Wait!, what is that?" She points out at something now visible from inside the bag
-"looks like...a hoof" Everyone gasp in horror
Up high in the sky, the weather control team could hear multiple screams of horror. Rainbow Dash who was taking a nap from resting on her duty could hear it too. As she turned to see where it came from, her iris became really small, there was so much sweat running trough her face
-"What was that?" Asks Firefly, as she and other Pegasi descend to know about all the commotion.
A Unicorn with a solemn grimace comes immediately after
Applejack follows him into a big circular crowd. As they both arrived, the sights of sorrow and sadness surrounded them at the same time.
-"What in the name of Celestia is--" The mayor gasped mute. She too joined the silence when she noticed Big Mac coming a little closer, to touch the inert hoof of his younger sister. He took it despite the smell, moved it up and let the inertia put it back down.
When The Ponies Neigh: Arc of Guilt
EIGHTH
The funeral was everything that could be expected from funerals, raised to eleven
Miss Cherilee also came, and to worsen the matter, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo were present too, making the scene less silent with her bawling.
That very same day, after all was said and done, Applejack went straight to her room, Granny Smith asked if she wanted something to bite, but perfectly understood as Applejack declined.
-"Is there something wrong, sugarcube?"
Applejack looks inside the Chest, the chest where the voice came from
-"You know you are my very special Apple pie, and no matter what you do, I'll still love you"
Applejack hugged the Chest. Her hooves could hardly surround the whole thing. Applejack rested her head at the edge of the Chest
-"Aaaaaplejack"
From under her bed, Applejack pulls out a well-sealed jar. The contains of the jar could only be described in first sight as aversive. One could only see eyeballs and teeth as distinguishable features, as anything else was either guts or blood.
-"Applejaaack..." spoke the voice in a maternal nagging tone
The Chest didn't replied, it was as though it never spoke before. The shining blew off.
-"A-alright mom, I'll see you soon."
Applejack turns off the lights
-"Goodnight mom"
When The Ponies Neigh: Arc of Guilt
THIRD
Applejack can't sleep, Not after what she's done. She's not sure if it's the guilt built by seeing Big Mac and Granny Smith crying in secret or if she is actually feeling remorse for her actions She swears she can still hear the apologizing screams of her sister
-"SHUT UP--".- She screams as the incorporates waste up in her bed. Again, her absence is strong. She can't really swallow the idea that Applebloom is gone She didn't realized at first, but she yelled on direction of her Chest. That Chest, that powerful Chest, the only thing that kept her sane, the only soothing thing left in her life...
Applejack jumps in fright as she hears someone knocking in her window
-"What the hay?" She goes and opens. It's Rainbow Dash. As they see each other, they simply hug. It's a hug that lasts for minutes. Applejack breaks the hug and lets Dash come in
-"I couldn't sleep"
-"Applejack, can I crash here for the night"
Rainbow Dash prepares to move into the bed when she turns her sight to the left her eyes are fixated on a Chest; a chest that either is painted on a gracious fluctuating pink or actually shines in a dim red
-"Hey, is that the Chest you were--?"
Rainbow Dash is left cold speechless. The stare on Applejacks eyes, THAT stare...
-"I don't wanna"
Applejack doesn't buys it, she is looking Dash as if she was gonna jump in her chest at any second. Dash backs up slowly...
-"Rainbow Dash, I think you should leave"
Rainbow Dash gives a look to Applejack as she leaves, a look she has never give to a friend before, a look between fright and pure hatred. Lights start to lit downstairs, Granny Smith and Big Mac both wake up to that noise. Rainbow Dash doesn't says anything, she just looks at her friend as she leaves. Now that she is gone, Applejack feels a lot of relief, although she can't remember why. She is finally capable of going to sleep, leaving their older relatives clueless as they go to check on the commotion.
