I yawned, coming out of my blissful slumber. I gave a small yelp as something in my foreleg popped. It hurt. Scratch that, EVERYTHING hurt. But it doesn’t matter. I’m used to it.

My tail began to wag as I stumbled out of my cloud-like bed. I assumed it was cloud-like. I’ve never been on a cloud. I just listened to the rainbow-friend. The joint at the base of my tail began to ache, so I stopped wagging it. It drooped to the floor, like that strange wiggle-animal that slid up to me once.

I sat down, remembering it. It seemed nice, and I walked up to it. It started to wag its tail too, and made a good noise. I couldn’t understand why orange-Apple had started running towards it with a stone. And then its tail fell as well.

A ray of light struck my eyes, and I squinted. I began to make out the blobs of the pretty hide-boxes. They used to be more…. clear. Now everything blurred into different shapes. Kinda like the clouds. Like my soft bed.

I felt a soft vibration reach my paws, and I looked over to the doorway. It was open, and orange-Apple stood there. I stumbled to my paws and limped over to her, panting. She came to meet me, her hooves tapping the floor. I felt it, I couldn’t hear it anymore. The memory was fading.

I felt her hoof come down and gently stroke me. It hurt, like everything, but I loved her. I wouldn’t let it show. I actually pressed up into her hoof. I felt her say my name through her hoof. Winona.

I sat in the small, stinky cage, whining. I wanted out. I needed out. I peered through the bars, praying for someone, ANYONE, to take me out.

I heard the sound of the heavy door that allowed access to the tiny space they kept me in. I looked over to it, and saw an orange pony walk in. I jumped to my paws, yapping. Her eyes snapped over to me, and I began furiously wagging my tail. She walked over to me and stretched out a hoof. “Howdy, pup,” she said in a funny voice. “Mah name’s Applejack.”

I yapped in response and licked her hoof. She laughed. “I like you,” she said. “Are you trained?” She looked at me. “Sit?” she asked hesitantly.

I began furiously searching my memories, trying to think of what that word meant. I plopped my flank down to the floor, thinking hard. The orange pony laughed. “Huh, I guess ya are.” I looked at her, confused. What had I done? She seemed happy, though, and I wasn’t going to complain about that. She walked back towards the door. I began to whine. Please stay, just a little more. She stared at me and giggled. “Now, don’t you worry none,” she said. “Ah’m gonna be right back.” I stopped whining. I think that was good.

I trotted back to my bed and lay down, tail thumping the fabric. I still needed out. Badly. I gave a soft sound of distress. I closed my eyes and began to fall asleep again.

The door banged open again. I was back on my paws, in front of the bars. The orange-Apple pony was back, along with bad pony. They were talking to each other, and bad pony had a pad of white stuff in her hoof. Orange-Apple took a shiny twig and scratched something onto the pad, then looked at me. “Bet yer all cooped up in there, aren’t ya?” she said. She then turned to bad pony. “What’s her name?” she asked.

“That one’s name is Fifi,” she responded curtly.

“Fifi…. that won’t do at all,” orange-Apple said. She walked over to me and pushed something on the outside of the cage. The bars swung open, and she lifted me out. She looked at me, and I licked her face. She laughed. “I think I’ll call you Winona.”

My tail feebly lifted off the ground and gave two waves before falling back down to the floor. I would never forget that. It was the first time I saw orange-Apple, and she took me to the best place ever. My home. That was ages ago. But I won’t allow that memory to fade. I looked up at her face, it being just within my range of clear sight. She was smiling, but a bit of liquid had gathered in the corner of her eyes. I tried to jump up, to lick it off her face, but I couldn’t get a more than a few inches off the ground. She gave a sad laugh. That stuttering vibration would never fade.

She looked away. Ah made your breakfast. I got back onto my paws and began to walk towards foodroom. I remember when I could still smell the wonderful smells coming from it.

“Ya see that house over there?” orange-Apple said. “It’s your new home. And we're gonna go to it.”

I followed her gaze towards a big red building. I began to strain against the leash she had on me. I wanted to run there, so badly. I needed to explore!

“Hold on there, sugarcube,” orange-Apple said. “I know yer excited, but I need tah make sure you don't go runnin’ away or sumthin’.”

Run away? After you saved me from bad pony and the metal box? Never. I strained against the leash again, and felt something snap. I became free of the leash and began sprinting towards the building. I heard a shout behind me, and the sound of hooves clopping against the ground. I barked. A game of chase! Fun!

I ran towards the open door of the house and jumped inside. Almost immediately, I smelled something sweet. I followed the smell, and ran into a room, startling a green pony. She jumped. “Wha?” she said. She then looked down. “Well then, who might you be?” she said sweetly. I yipped at her. She smiled. “Oooh, you’re so cute! AB will love ya!” She then reached up and grabbed something off the counter. She held it in front of my nose. “Ah’m Granny Smith. Consider this a welcome.” I gently took the morsel of food from her hoof and chewed it. An explosion of good met my taste buds. I looked up at her, tail wagging. She chuckled. “Welcome to the Apple family.”

I looked down to the spot where my food bowl usually was. I trotted over to it and yipped softly. A whole assortment of food was laid out for me, from a small amount of my usual kibble to a slice of pie. I ignored the kibble and took a small bite of the pie. I didn’t eat much. I just wish I could taste it. But that taste is fading.

I felt a strange vibration from my left and looked over. Yellow-Apple was crying, while big-Apple held her. I walked over to her, but that just made her cry harder. Big-Apple seemed to be holding back tears as well. I barked softly. Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. You were so happy when you met me.

“AH PUPPY!”

My ears folded back at the sudden outburst of noise. I looked over and saw a bundle of yellow fur racing towards me. I ran to it as well. It wanted to play. The bundle came to a halt, and I saw a small, yellow pony, grinning ear to ear. I yipped at her, and she squealed. “Oh mah gosh, Applejack! I can’t believe you got a puppy!” she yelled.

“Say hello to Winona,” orange-Apple said.

Yellow-Apple ran to me and began roughly stroking me. I leaned into it. This was the most love I’d been shown in my entire life. “I’m so happy!” she said. I smiled. I was too.

But now she was crying. I want her to be happy.

I hope that that isn’t fading.

I yawned. I was tired, so very tired. I’d been getting more legarthic over the past few days. I remember when I could run and play for hours. I remembered when I didn’t have pain. But those memories are fading.

I felt it. A sharp chime. I remembered that chime. I used to run to it when I was younger.

I ran, barking, towards the door. I heard something come from over here, and I needed to know what it was. I began scratching at the door, hoping someone would open it. Orange-Apple came, and standing there was a yellow pony. She looked at me in surprise. “And who are you?” she asked softly. I barked at her. She smiled. “Aren’t you just adorable!” she said. “I’m Fluttershy.”

I heard orange-Apple open the door. Soon after, shy-friend came in. She appeared to have been weeping as well, as evidenced by the lines that streaked her face. She turned to orange-Apple. I’m sorry. I felt her whisper, just faintly. There’s nothing I can do.

Orange-Apple shook for a moment. It would be best. I felt her strained voice.

Shy-friend nodded. I’ll do it. Say goodbye, everypony.

Yellow-Apple looked at me. Fresh tears spilled down her face. G-goo- She broke down, bawling into big-Apple’s chest. Big-Apple didn’t say anything, but a drop of water traced itself down his face. I barked. Don’t cry. Please don’t.

Come here, Winona. I looked over to shy-friend and slowly walked to her. She began to sob as well. I’m so, so sorry. She motioned for me to lay down, and I did. She reached into a bag that she had, and pulled something out. I felt a sharp sting on my leg, and kicked a little. But it didn’t matter. Everything else hurt more. And the pain was already fading.

I yawned. I am so tired. I feel like I want to fall asleep right now.

I looked up, and saw yellow-Apple standing above me. She had tears in her eyes.

Please don’t cry.

She reached out with her hoof and gently stroked me. The tears fell onto the rug in front of me. I wanted to lick her.

It’s fine.

I wanted to tell her everything was okay.

But I’m tired.

Sleepy.

Slee….

END

Author's Note

My first sad fic! The inspiration for this came from TLT's new song, specifically this lyric: "I got no time to live and I can't say goodbye."
I had a pet put down over a year ago, and I wanted to make a fic that showed how the pet felt. And it's inevitable for Winona.
Let me know if there are any mistakes with spelling or grammar, and I'll fix them
~Pyrepinna