So Take Your Cup and Raise It High
“What're ya doin' over here by yer lonesome Dash? I figured you'd be workin' the crowd around the bonfire.” Applejack walked up to where I was sitting on top of a snow bank, carrying a tray on her back. Her only protection from the cold was her hoodie.
I shrugged. “I dunno, I kind of overdid it last New Year's Eve. I figured I should tone it down this year. Besides, I've kinda been lost in my own thoughts today.”
“Wanna tell me all about it over a cup o' hot cider?” AJ reached for the tray balanced on her back and lifted a steaming mug.
“Aw yeah!” I grabbed the mug carefully with my front hooves and took a sip. The drink burned my tongue, but it was worth it for that sweet, spicy, apple-y goodness.
“So, what are ya thinkin' about?” asked AJ, setting down the tray in the snow and picking up a mug. “New Year's resolution?” She sat down next to me, wrapping her tail around her legs.
I laughed. “Come on AJ. I don't do resolutions. Everypony breaks theirs in a week or two anyway. I've always thought that if you want to improve yourself, just do it any time of year.”
Applejack took a sip of cider. “I reckon that makes sense.”
“Of course it does. No, I was just thinking about what a crazy year it's been. We saved Equestria, like, four times. That's an academy record!”
She blinked at me. “What?”
I waved my foreleg. “Sergeant Spitfire kept saying that in the Wonderbolts Academy. I guess you had to be there.”
“Well, that's another big thing that happened this year, you bein' on reserve for the Wonderbolts.” AJ winked at me.
“Yeah.” I looked up at the stars sprinkled through the dark sky. “Though, I'm kinda thinking that if I do join full time, I'm gonna reform it from the inside.”
“Really?” She tilted her head.
I glanced back at her and nodded. “Between Spitfire letting Lightening Dust get away with her reckless behavior until I called her on it, and one of my heroes using an underhooved trick to keep me from breaking his record, I realized that they've got a ton of problems. They keep failing to live up to the standards I thought they had. They used to be the best military branch in the world, and they could still be great. I'd like to be the one to help them change, but...” I looked down at my cider. “Sometimes I don't even live up to my own standards.”
“'Sall right sugar cube. Happens to the best of us.”
“Yeah, except for you.” I rolled my eyes.
AJ glanced at me out of the corners of her eyes and furrowed her brow. “Didn't I tell ya 'bout how I almost ruined Hearth's Warmin' Eve for both my family and Pinkie's family?”
“Uh, yeah, but that's not the way I heard it. Between you and me, the Pies' way of celebrating Hearth's Warming sounded really boring. You were trying to do them a favor.”
She sighed through her nose, blowing out a tiny cloud in the freezing air. “It felt more weird and frustratin' than boring. But that's no excuse for imposin' my traditions on 'em without even askin' first.”
“Trust me, you were practically an angel compared to the way I would've reacted.” I held my hoof to my chest.
Looking away, she said, “If ya mean an angel like that lil' white varmint, then yes, I was.”
I shook my head. “Oh no, you don't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as that Angel.”
Her ears flattened. “I appreciate ya tryin' to make me feel better, but you weren't there.”
“No, but I do know that you never sabotaged a factory just to keep a tortoise from hibernating.”
“Y'know, I talked to Thunderlane about that the other day, and he told me that the damage wasn't as bad as it looked from the ground. Evidently the machines just needed minor repairs.” Applejack's ears flicked forward as she took a sip from her mug.
I gazed at the snow apple trees glistening in the light of the full moon. “Even so, the truth is that if I knew for sure it would've stopped winter, I would've destroyed the factory.” It was shocking to admit, but if I was going to confess to anypony, it had to be Applejack.
She opened her mouth like she was about to say something, but I kept talking, rushing through my confession before she could convince me it wasn't that bad.
“Tank was the first and only pet I ever had, and I couldn't ask for a more loyal and faithful pet. He deserves the best. It was really hard to watch him slow down more and more and not be able to do anything about it. He should've spent Hearth's Warming Eve with me. He should be in my big empty house.”
“Aw sugar cube...” She reached her hoof toward me.
“I miss feeding him and getting him ready for bed and waking him up in the morning.” I smiled wistfully as I continued, “he always wakes up so slowly. And I'm kinda worried that this time he won't wake up again.”
“That's...”
I held up my hoof to stop her. “I know you think I'm being silly. He's just a turtle – I mean, tortoise. It's not like I've lost ponies like you have. And it's not like I'll never see him again. At least I hope. But I just can't help feeling really lonely sometimes.”
My ears drooped as I took a deep breath and drank from my mug. The cider was getting to that temperature that I felt I had to gulp before it got too cold.
“Are you finished?” asked AJ.
I swallowed. “For now.”
Applejack looked up at the sky, and as I followed her gaze, two shooting stars flashed through the night.
“You know the song 'Days Gone By'?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “Of course. Ponies sing it every New Year's.”
Keeping her eyes on the stars, AJ started to sing.
“When family cannot be here, havin' journeyed far and wide,
We sing a song to honor them, and days gone by.
So take yer cup and raise it high, just as surely I'll do mine,
And laugh we will at stories told, as we smile at days gone by.”
I froze. I'd heard her sing before, but not like this. Her voice was much softer and gentler than usual, and she put so much emotion into each syllable.
“For family not here, my dear, havin' journeyed far and wide,
For loyalty and kindness both, we smile at days gone by.”
To my surprise, she kept singing. I raised my eyebrows. There was a second verse?
“Our paths will cross again someday, in time to reunite,
For family is always near, even when the seas are wide.”
I thought about Tank, who was a part of my family as much as anypony I knew. I would see him again soon, and we'd make new memories together. And in the mean time, I would remember the good times we'd already had.
“So take yer cup and raise it high, just as surely I'll do mine,
And make a toast for family, and the tales of days gone by.
For family not here, my dear, havin' journeyed far and wide,
For loyalty and kindness both, take joy at days gone by.”
As the last note faded, I blinked back a tear. I guess the wind must've made my eyes water or something.
“That was really nice.” I shifted my wings. “Did you make up that second verse?”
She stared at me. “No, actually the song has four verses.”
I leaned back. “Really? All my life I've only heard the first 'days gone by' part over and over.”
“Eyup, there's a verse about pickin' daises and one about sailin' cross the sea.”
“Could you teach them to me?”
“Sure thing Dash.” She reached over and patted my foreleg. “I'm glad yer feelin' better.”
I smiled. “I really am. Thanks AJ. But...” I tipped my mug. “If I'm gonna take my cup and raise it high, I'm gonna need more hot cider.”
She chuckled. “Then let's go and get us some.”
And together we stood and walked toward the farmhouse.
Author's Note
This fanfic goes out to all those who, like me, have lost loved ones this year, whether human or animal companions. We'll always miss them, but it helps to remember the precious time spent together. Remember that even though you can't be with them, the love you shared will last forever.
