The Fruit Falls

    “Quill, ya gonna be okay?” Applejack asked as they walked from Quill’s house for the last time.

    “Yeah, I-I just can’t be there, or here, anymore.  Too many bad memories, too many good ones,” Quill said looking to the ground quickly, wincing at the memories that flooded her mind, “If you hear of anypony that wants a house you have my address in Wind Falls, right?”

    Applejack forced a soft smile. “I do, but those pegasi cities are hard to get letters to so quickly, bein’ all up there and all.  Wish I could visit.”

    “Well,” Quill said looking to Applejack as they walked to the train station, “you can always get a spell cast on you, or just let me know.  I’m willing to touch the earth for my closest friends.”

    Applejack let her smile fall as she walked slowly with Quill.  “Rainbow isn’t takin’ it any better yet.  She ain’t seen death before, and ta see it like that,” she pursed her lips and glanced to Quill, “Ah didn’t mean ta bring it up, sugarcube.”

    Quill stopped and began to stifle her sobs as Applejack draped a foreleg over her shoulders and pulled her to her side. “Sugarcube, you’re gonna be fine and you’ll live for her, just like ya know she wanted ya to.”

    “Her last words, though.  I-I’ll never forgive myself,” she frowned and growled lightly, “or her.”

    Applejack turned to face Quill and pulled her into a hug.  Quill’s feathers bristled then she relaxed into the strong earth ponies hug.

    “Quill, ain’t nothin’ we could do.  Honey Well’s a farmer and seller, ya know the laws; she made a sale and that was how the law has it.  All we can do is make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

    Quill tensed up and flexed her wings, pushing Applejack back from her.  “I know the laws, and I hate them. They let the mare that killed my Lime get off with a fine.  A FINE!” she screamed as she flared her wings aggressively, startling and garnering the attention of a pair of guardsponies patrolling the street.

    “She died and Honey Well gets to sell her honey laced with whatever to whoever pays still.  It’s,” she fell to the ground in a heap, “it’s not fair,” she said curling up in the middle of the street.  Ignoring the looks of the passers by and the approaching guard Applejack walked to Quills side and leaned down to talk to her, but stopped.

    She stood up and looked to the sky, a single cloud was still following them.  Why won’t Rainbow just come and say something?

    “Quill, Lime loved ya more than anything.  The fact that she used herbs and whatnot ain’t yer fault.  C’mon, git up and help me.  Rainbow is right up there, maybe ya can say goodbye to her.  She needs something, but I can’t get to her while she’s up there.  Can ya help me get her down?”

    Quill huffed a chuckle and looked to Applejack. “I know what reverse psychology is, I studied in flight school, unlike some ponies,” she pointed to the cloud.  A short giggle between them and Quill stood up. “I guess I’m not immune to it, I’ll help you out, dear.”

    Crouching Quill opened her wings and hopped into the air, flapping and taking to the sky quickly.  She flew to the cloud and above it to see Rainbow’s mane and tail poking out of the top.

    “Rainbow, can we talk?”

    “...”

    Quill landed on the small cloud and kneaded it flatter until it was long enough to lay on herself.

    “Rainbow, you haven’t really said anything since the funeral.  Can we say goodbye like friends?”

    “...”

    “Rainbow, please?” Quill asked softly.

    Rainbow shuffled and slowly emerged to the surface of the cloud, a look of defeat on her face.  “I-I’m sorry.”

    “What?” Quill asked softly as she reached a hoof to Rainbow’s, “Why do you feel sorry?”

    Rainbow laid her head on her forelegs, crossing her other to hold Quill’s. “I should have been faster.  I should have been better.  I should have known something was up.”

    “Rainbow, what’re you talking about?  You didn’t have anything to do with this.  It was just bad luck.”

    Rainbow burried her face in the clouds and screamed.  Her muffled scream turned to muffled words.

    “Rainbow, honey, I can’t understand you.  The train leaves soon and I really want to say goodbye to the new weather manager, again.”

    Rainbow pulled her face from the cloud and looked to Quill. Seconds passed without Rainbow blinking, her pursed lips trembling as she sat like a statue, peering into Quills eyes.

    “I-I did it.  I’m so sorry, Quill.”

    Quill pulled her hoof back and looked to Rainbow, her brow slowly creasing as she watched the regret in Rainbow’s eyes.

    “What, what did you do?” she asked cautiously.

    “F-Fluttershy asked me to get some honey for Lime’s tea” she started, looking into the cloud; avoiding eye contact, “I remembered a traveling salesmare in the market and asked her to sell me some for my sick friend.  She asked and I told her it was for detox, then she said she’d deliver it personally,” Rainbow lowered her muzzle to the cloud and slowly sank into it, “I paid for it and told her where to go.”

    Rainbow looked to the saddened eyes of Quill, her mouth slowly opening in shock.

    “Honest, I didn’t know.  I’m so sorry, Quill.  Please, hit me.  Push me and I won’t stop my fall.  Do anything to me, just don’t hate me,” Rainbow pleaded as she stopped halfway into the cloud, she wouldn’t let herself cry this time.  This time it was put up or shut up.  She had to accept the consequences.

    Quill stared at Rainbow for what felt like a minute before she closed her mouth and blinked.  She wettened her mouth and took in a deep breath before raising a hoof high into the air.  Rainbow steeled herself for the strike.  She hopped to the surface of the cloud and laid, sitting tall and closing her eyes so she wouldn’t flinch or duck.

    She exhaled and didn’t inhale, so she couldn’t scream or shout, just incase it hurt a little too much.

    The silence was unnerving and sweat began to bead across Rainbow’s coat.  She relaxed her body as best she could.  Why is she taking so long?  She must be really trying to put a lot of power into this.  If she breaks my muzzle I deserve it.

    The sound of a shaky breath took her by surprise as she finally prepared for the hit.  Her body tensed as she felt her body being squeezed.  For a second she was afraid she was going to have to fall to the ground before she heard Quill.

    “I forgive you.”

    Rainbow opened her eyes and sniffed her lungs full of air as she processed the happening.  “Y-you forgive me?  No, you can’t, not like that.” Rainow urged. “You have to get revenge, or something.  I,” she began to tremble as she felt the weight of what happened crush her again.

    “It wasn’t your fault, or anypony’s for that matter.  She was sick and made a bad choice, don’t blame yourself.”

    Rainbow trembled as she returned the hug.

    Applejack had no idea what was happening but she sat and waited by the side of the street.  Finally the two pegasi left the cloud and landed in front of Applejack.

    “We’re okay now, I guess.  AJ, can I go with you to the station?”

    “Sugar plum, ya don’t have ta ask.  Let’s git ‘fore they leave without ya, Quill.”  Applejack had a genuine smile this time and trotted between the two pegasi as they walked silently to the train station.

    “Quill, ya know if ya need anypony to help ya, ever, ya call on me.”

    “And me,” Rainbow added softly.

    “Call on us.  Ain’t no problem to small or to far for us ta be neighborly.”

    Smiling to each other they joined for a final tight hug, Applejack causing the others to cough their breath out before she released them.

    “Sorry, earth pony and all,” she said sheepishly while rubbing the back of her head.

    Gathering a single bag and adjusting her saddlebags Quill backed to the train, looking at Rainbow and Applejack.

    “Wait!” A shout came.  Davenport and Muddy galloped to the platform just as Quill was almost on, right to her and hugged her tightly.

    “Quill, you’re the best and we hope you have the best travels,” Muddy said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

    “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to write and I’ll even give you a decent discount on any sofa, loveseat-” Davenport coughed as Muddy kneed him in the belly.  “Well, you know what I mean.  I love you, and it’s not goodbye, it’s see ya soon, right?”

    Quill walked with the stallions by her side to Applejack and Rainbow, who were smiling and holding back tears.

    “You guys are the best friends a pony can have, just use my place for parties like we used to.  That’s an order,” she smirked, “or else what would she say?”

    “Get over here,” Rainbow said gruffly, pulling Quill into a tight hug, “see ya soon.”

    The others joined in and said their farewells as the conductor called ‘all aboard’.

    “See ya soon, my friends.  I’ll write often and if you’re ever near Wind Falls, look me up.”

    Quill winked and giggled.  “Way up.”

    Her earth pony friends smiled and waved goodbye as Quill boarded the train.  The doors shut and they watched her walk to a seat as the train pulled away.  She sat on the far side of the train so she couldn’t see them wave her off, but she was still happy to have had such great friends in such a great town.

    “Who knows,” Muddy said turning to the group after the train had departed, “maybe she’ll come back.”

    “I don’t know, sweetie.  What I do know is it’s almost Saturday and we have a party to plan.  I have the keys to her place, let’s get ready for some games.”

    The group smiled and sighed, looking to the train as it distanced itself from them.  “It’ll never be the same, but at least we can remember the good times together.”

    “And make some new ones, I reckon.”