The alicorn strode down the empty halls of Canterlot Castle, tears streaming down her face as she looked at the windows depicting scenes from long ago. With shaking hooves she paused in front of one of the most memorable windows, the window depicting her rise to princessdom. She carefully touched the silly lavender filly in the mirror, fondly remembering her time back in Ponyville when she had first started out. Following this train of thought she moved to the next window, the one showing her dear friends as the Elements of Harmony. With a heavy heart she moved down the line of windows, smiling briefly at the sight of Spike holding the Crystal Heart. These were not the windows she had come to see but they brought her much joy to see them as they brought up so many fond memories.
She stopped at the first of the windows she had come to see, her tears nearly blinding her as she looked up to see the mare depicted. The sight of that ruby red apple staring out of the cold glass nearly broke her heart all over again. She flashed back to their first meeting, nearly laughing at the golden made basically forcing her to eat apple treat after apple treat. Her reluctance to even think of calling this strange new person friend and yet in their first meeting shehad already stated she was family. She stood there as the memories rushed through her mind, all the up until the very end.
* * *
"I came as quickly as i could," Twilight said breathlessly as she slid into the hospital room. "What happened?"
Fluttershy carefully trotted over to her, tears about to fall as she approached her friend.
"There was an accident at the farm," was all Fluttershy could get out before the tears fell.
Twilight quickly took her crying friend into her hooves and held her, looking beyond her to where Rairity stood looking haggard and tired.
"She was bucking the south field, teaching the little ones how to do it so that she could get more rest." Rairity said softly as she trotted over. "There was a freak tornado from Cloudsdale, something about inexperienced ponies trying to move water. Rainbow Dash is still trying to handle it with the Wonderbolts. She was able to save the little ones without serious injury, but when she tried to get to safety herself she got caught in the tornado."
She broke off into sobs as the doctor stepped into the waiting room. The doctor moved towards them, his expression grave.
"Princess Twilight, Lady Rairity, Madame Fluttershy," he sighed. "Miss Applejack is asking for you and for Lady Rainbow Dash and Mrs. Pinkie Pie."
"You can stop it with those gosh darn it titles," Apple Bloom stepped out of the room her sister was lying in, looking so much like Applejack that she had to take a second look. "Mah sister is askin for her friends, not some ponies who wouldn't give her the time of day."
"Apple Bloom," Twilight breathed as Fluttershy pulled herself away so as to compose herself. "I almost didn't recognize you..."
"Hi Twilight," even the way she said her name was so much like her sister. "It's been a mighty long time since ya came back to Ponyville. I sure am glad ta see ya."
"Have I missed anything?" Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie dashed into the room, the former speaking since the latter was sobbing harshly. "Pinkie just got me, she said that AJ was caught in that tornado. What happened?"
"It's not good," the doctor sighed. "She's asking for you all."
"Over here," Apple Bloom called, waving her sister's Stetson to catch their attention. "She's been asking for you all the entire time she's been awake."
The group of friends nodded towards the doctor and rushed into the room, gasping at the sight of their dear friend covered in sterile white bandages.
"Hey gals," her voice was hoarse and muffled slightly by the bandages. "I'm glad you all made it, though I'm sorry it's cause I got hurt."
She struggled to look around, frowning slightly as she realized someone was missing.
"Where's Discord?" She mumbled, shifting restlessly. "I thought he would be here..."
"I'm right here Applejack," Discord's disembodied voice floated around the room before settling in the air above her. As he slowly materialized he continued floating above her, trying to not overcrowd the other ponies in the room. "I wasn't sure you wanted to see me..."
"That was a long time ago mah friend," she weakly reached one wrapped hoof towards him. "I wanted to make sure you knew that you will always be mah friend."
Discord shrank and flew down to rest on her hoof, he was barely big enough to fit in her hoof.
"Thank you Applejack..." He muttered quietly, tears streaming down his face.
The battered pony looked around the room, pain in her every motion. Her eyes finally landed on Twilight, and she smiled faintly.
"Well ain't you a sight for sore eyes Twili," she gasped in pain and let out great coughs that had Apple Bloom rushing over with a glass of water. Once her coughs were under control she gestured her dear princess closer. "I am so glad ta see ya Twilight. I wish you had visited sooner than this."
"I'm sorry for staying away so long," the purple alicorn sobbed. "I should have come back more often, and there is no reason that I can give to-"
"Hush now Twilight," Applejack stopped her gently. "That's in the past now. You had responsibilities as a princess, we all knew this and none of us hold it against you. Heck we would all still be out there adventuring with you if it weren't for our families needing us. Can't very well adventure with a husband and fillies at home now can we?"
All the gathered friends, even Discord chimed in reassuringly.
"I have a request for you mah friend," the Element of Honesty reached out with her hoof not housing Discord and took Twilight's hoof in hers. "I know it's a hard request but I need to ask ya it."
"Anything Aj," she pledged whole heartedly. "Anything."
"Watch over mah family when I'm gone," Apple Bloom sobbed silently at this request, wringing her sister's hat in her hooves. "I know it seems like they will be ah right, but I worry for them. Mostly for little Apple Shine, she seems lost. Almost as lost as Apple Bloom was when she was a little filly. Please guide mah children like ya quided Apple Bloom and us all."
Twilight nodded fiercely, her tears stopping her from speaking.
"I don't have long for this here land," the injured earth pony looked to all of her friends, tears beginning to leak from her eyes. "Don't mourn mah passing friends, don't dwell on mah death. Pinkie Pie please throw the biggest party you have ever thrown, celebrate mah life. Just save a spot for me. Fluttershy, please take care of Winona's pups they need a tender hoof. Rairity, Rainbow Dash... Please take care of our friends, you two were always the strongest of us..."
She coughed hardly once more, everyone dared to move or even breathe for fear of missing Applejack's last moments.
"Promise me," she gasped once she could breathe again. "You'll take care of each other... I love you all so much..."
With that the Element of Honesty breathed her last and was gone, leaving her friends and family to mourn her passing.
Author's Note
Felt like writing this today. I will of course continue it and eventually get to the point originally it was supposed to be a one shot but there is simply too much for that. I hope you like it.
