Apples and Pies

Applejack fastened her grip around Pinkie's legs and shifted her weight back, yanking Pinkie from the window. The two toppled backwards before slamming into the far wall of the room. Where they once stood, a massive boulder crashed through and planted itself in the living room below. Applejack was the first to move.

"Snap to, Pinkie!" she cried, picking her friend up and planting her on her hooves. "This place is comin' apart! We need to get movin'!"

Pinkie looked at the gaping hole enveloping the center of what had once been her room. The only parts of her closet which remained were strewn about in tattered pieces. The glass shards of her window had scattered all around her hooves. The floor beneath her nightstand and bed caved under the pressure, the hole swallowing them both without pause. Applejack shook her friend fiercely.

"We're goin' now!" she shouted. Pinkie returned to her, tears swelling beneath her eyes. She wiped them clear, then nodded.

The two darted for the door, but were intersected by another boulder, taking out their path. Applejack turned her back to the wall beside them.

"Here's hopin' the walls aren't made outta rocks too!" Rearing up her back legs, she sprung out and delivered a powerful kick. The wall, made from the same decrepit and aged material as the floor, yielded to the force and collapsed into the next area. They hopped through the makeshift exit to find themselves in a room nearly identical to Pinkie's, save for the purple paint covering the walls and ceiling rather than pink. Applejack quickly located and slammed open the door before dashing out into the hallway, closely followed by Pinkie. Pinkie looked back at the room as she ran.

"Maud... I'm sorry," whispered Pinkie, as she watched the flurry of rocks destroy her sister's bedroom. She bit her bottom lip and turned her head forwards. Fortunately, the stairwell had remained in tact, allowing the duo to sprint down them and towards the entrance door. Pinkie's tear filled eyes shot open.

"The book!" she shouted, skidding to a halt. The book had been on Applejack's mind as well, but they hadn't any time to spare. The house would be gone soon and, if they didn't leave now, them along with it. Applejack slowed her pace.

"Pinkie!" she pleaded, stopping near the door. "We need to leave!"

"But..."

A boulder crashed down between them, busting the wooden floor into splintered bits which sprayed into the air. The dust that once coated them rained down like ashes onto the two ponies. Pinkie sat herself upright, the impact having knocked her to the ground. The colossal rock completely blocked the entrance, and Applejack.

"APPLEJACK!" Pinkie cried out. She slammed her ear against the rock's surface and repeatedly shouted the name.

"I'm alright, Pinkie!" Applejack responded. Pinkie sighed in relief, then tensed again as another rock fell close behind. On the other side, Applejack kicked and kicked at the boulder, but to no avail. It would neither budge nor break.

"Pinkie!" she called. "Can you find another way around?"

"N-No! The rocks are destroying everything!" Pinkie cried back. "I can't get out!"

Applejack stared at the boulder in horror. The sound of rocks crashing mixed with her friend's frightened yells filled her ears. Applejack thought back. The last time Pinkie was trapped in a situation like this, Maud saved her by drilling a falling boulder to dust with her bare hooves. The boulder in front of her seemed to be of the same make and size, so, maybe...

Applejack stamped her hoof down with resolve. Pinkie is an Apple, thought Applejack. Therefore, that makes me a Pie!

She raised her front hooves and rapidly drilled them into the bottom left corner of the boulder, mimicking Maud's technique to a tee. Strong though she was, her front legs lacked the power of her hind, and she could feel her strength waning.

Almost... Jus' a little more...

The last bit of sediment between the boulder and the wall gave way, creating small space between them. Applejack quickly pivoted herself against the boulder to prevent it from rolling and blocking the gap. The boulder's massive weight pushed against her, and she could feel every muscle in her body struggling as it did. She craned her head down.

"Pinkie!" she yelled through the hole. "Can you climb through here?"

Pinkie ran to the site of Applejack's voice, then inspected the narrow passage she'd created.

"Yeah! I think so!" Pinkie declared, ducking her head into the hole. It was a tight fit, but with a bit of effort she managed to squeeze through, crawling out from beneath Applejack's legs.

"Thank you Applejack!" exclaimed Pinkie, hurriedly climbing to a stand.

"Hah, don't, hah, mention it, sister," responded Applejack, attempting to catch her breath. Her head was sweaty. Her hooves felt like they were on fire. Her body became heavy as lead. Everything spun together into a dizzying blur. Exhaustion had overcome her, dragging her down to the floor. She struggled to keep her eyes open, but they kept closing faster and faster every time she tried reopening them. The last form she could make out was Pinkie Pie, now a pink, blurry mass, shouting over her. Applejack couldn't hear though. The sounds of rocks crashing all around them drowned out her voice. Everything went black.

"Applejack!"

Applejack awoke with a gasp. Pinkie was standing over her. The night sky was visible now, starlight shining down from above them. She rubbed the back of her throbbing head with one of her painfully sore hooves. Pinkie wrapped her arms around her, her face soaked in tears. Over Pinkie's shoulder, Applejack could view what had become of Pinkie's home, now just bits of wood and rubble crushed beneath a horrid mass of rocks.

"Ah, Ah'm so sorry Pinkie..." apologized Applejack. Pinkie clutched Applejack tighter.

"So am I," she said.

Pinkie gently let go of Applejack and turned to face the destruction.

"I never should have come back here," Pinkie decided, pain flowing in her voice. "I didn't deserve it. And because of that, this happened."

One of the smaller rocks at the top of the pile rolled down, splashing around dirt as it landed.

"This wasn't your fault," said Applejack, pulling herself to a stand on her sore legs. "Those rocks woulda fallen regardless a' whether or not we'd come."

Pinkie lowered her head, her hair deflated. She heard Applejack's words, but none of it stuck. Nothing would change her mind. She turned back around towards Applejack and the direction of the train station.

"I shouldn't have dragged you all the way out here," she said, walking dejectedly into the canyon they'd entered from. "We can go back home now."

Applejack followed her, unsure of what to say or do. She was too tired and pained to think; it took all she could to walk. Pinkie's pace was slow enough for Applejack to remain directly behind her, but never at her side. They made there way to the station platform in silence and took the first train that arrived. Pinkie stared out the window the whole way back, not able to muster even a fake smile for her friend.