Chapters Author's Note
Keep in mind that every pony that is finding out is doing so at roughly the same time.
Goodbye
The Cutie Mark Crusaders walk home after a long day at school. They are all tired and all just want to sleep. Ms. Cheerilee decided it would be a good idea to have a dodge ball game: colts vs fillies. The fillies won because of Twist's tail flips and aiming skills, but every pony was tired so Cheerilee decided to send every pony home early.
"That was hard," Sweetie recalls.
"My joints ache more than they do after working the farm!" Apple Bloom protests.
"I think I sprained my right hoof after I tripped over that rabbit hole," Scootaloo complains.
They walk on and continue to their separate ways. Apple Bloom to the farm, Scootaloo to the orphanage, and Sweetie Belle to her sister's boutique.
As Sweetie walks towards the boutique, she often stops by Sugar Cube Corner for a cookie and is always greeted by Pinkie! But this time, she walks in and sees Mrs. Cake waiting for Sweetie Belle. "Nice of you to drop by, Sweetie," Mrs. Cake says, trying to sound pleasant, but there is an underlying sadness to what she says.
"Hi, Mrs. Cake! Where is Pinkie?" Sweetie asks, concerned.
"Oh, up stairs taking care of the twins," Mrs. Cake says, in forced casualty. She waves her hoof dismissively.
"Oh," Sweetie says, not buying Mrs. Cake's charade.
"Here's your cookie, Sweetie Belle, you should start heading home now," Mrs. Cake says, handing Sweetie Belle her cookie.
Sweetie Belle takes the cookie, says thank you and pays, and then leaves to head for the boutique. "That was weird," Sweetie thinks. "What was wrong with Mrs. Cake? Why was she acting so strange?" she questions. She walks through the town wondering what was going on that Mrs. Cake is so forced. "Is it Pinkie? Is she okay? Is it the twins? Mr. Cake?" Sweetie didn't know what to think. Sweetie reaches the door to the boutique and walks in, not noticing the closed sign prematurely hanging on the door.
"We're closed!" Sweetie hears, walking in the door, triggering the bell.
"Rarity! It's Sweetie Belle! What do you mean closed ?" Sweetie Belle says.
From the back of the store, Rarity emerges. "Oh, Sweetie Belle, I wasn't expecting you for another fifty minutes," Rarity says.
Rarity walks up to Sweetie Belle, gives her a hug, and levitates her book bag to the top of the stairs. The hug is nothing new, but Rarity has never levitated Sweetie's book bag to the top of the stairs before. "What's wrong, Rarity?" she asks.
"What? Nothing is wrong. What would give you such a silly idea, Sweetie Belle?" Rarity asks in a tone that confirmed that something is, in fact, wrong.
Sweetie Belle looks up at her sister and notices that even though Rarity looks the same as any ordinary day, tear marks are noticeable. "Rarity? Have you been crying? What's wrong!?" Sweetie asks, panicked and concerned for her sister.
"Oh, Sweetie, there is nothing that get's past you, you should have gotten your cutie mark in detective work, fine. Come to the back room with me, there is something you need to see," Rarity explains, defeated. Fear creeps up and all around Sweetie Belle's insides. What is going on?
Apple Bloom is tired. After a dodge ball game against the colts at school, she feels as though she needs a nice relaxing bath. She is close to the farm when she is stopped by her brother Big Mac. "Wait sis! You aren't supposed to be home for another fifty minutes or so! What are you doing back?" he asks, panicked.
"Ms. Cheerilee let us go home early, why? What's going on?" Apple Bloom explains.
"What? Nothing, just surprised, that's all," Big Mac says, hiding something.
"Big Mac, What's going on?" Apple Bloom says, seeing through the obvious lie.
"Nothing."
"Really? Then I'd like to hear the truth. Where's Apple Jack?"
"Uh... not here, the map called her to... Appleoosa!"
"I don't believe that. Where's Granny?"
"In town!"
"Fine, I'm just gonna go to the house then."
"No! Why don't you help me with some orchard work instead!"
Big Mac is a terrible liar, and Apple Bloom knows that. She also knows that she is small enough to run under him to get to the house, so that's what she does. "Wait, Apple Bloom!" Big Mac calls, in panic, but she ignores him. Even still, he was trying to not go to the house and that makes Apple Bloom slow down a little bit.
"What is gonna happen when I open the door? What is Big Mac trying to avoid?" She asks, slowing down to a trot. She get's worried. She hates worrying, but Big Mac planted it in her head that something is wrong. What is Wrong? Apple Bloom walks into the house, Big Mac seconds behind her.
"I tried my best, A.J, I swear I did!" Big Mac calls, out of breath.
Apple Bloom, too, is out of breath, but that doesn't stop her from searching the house for Apple Jack and Granny. "Granny? A.J?" she calls.
"In the kitchen, Apple Bloom!" Granny calls.
"Granny, what's going on? Why is every pony on edge?" Apple Bloom asks, walking to the kitchen table. She sees Granny smiling at her, trying to hide the fact that she's sad. Apple Jack; however, has tears falling openly down her face and her eyes are closed tightly. facing her floor.
"What's going on?"
"How was school today, Apple Bloom?"
"Why is Apple Jack crying?"
"Never mind your sister, Apple Bloom, help me bake a pie while you tell me your day."
"What's that in her hooves?"
"Apple Bloom, let's just stop talking about it and move on with this pie," Granny says, warning deep in her voice.
"But-" Apple Bloom tries to say.
"No, Granny's right, you-" Big Mac steps in, but is cut off too.
"Dawgonnit you two! She want's to know, so I'll tell her! She has a right to know!" Apple Jack shouts.
"But, Apple Jack, you said," Big Mac starts.
"I know what I said, Big Macintosh! But it was wrong of me to try and hide this from her!" Apple Jack shouts.
"Hide what from me?" Apple Bloom asks, cautiously.
"This," Apple Jack says, handing Apple Bloom the letter.
Big Mac watches his sister's face go from scared, to confusion, to shock, to fear while she reads the letter. Apple Jack was drafted in a war between Yak-yakastan, the Griffon Kingdom, and Equestria and his sister is to be part of the fight. When Apple Jack came from the mail box, Big Mac knew something was wrong instantly. And when he read the letter, he was in shock. All three of them sat in silence, Granny and Big Mac trying to comfort Apple Jack. At the same time, Big Mac was trying to hold back tears of his own. "Who is gonna tell Apple Bloom?" Big Mac asked quietly.
"No pony," Apple Jack said in a quiet, broken voice.
"Say what now, young filly?" Granny asked, sternly.
"I said no pony will tell her! At least not yet. Not until we're all prepared. Actually, we just won't tell her at all. I can't break her heart like that," Apple Jack explained, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"But when you leave, won't she become suspicious?" Big Mac asked.
"We'll tell her the map called me," Apple Jack explained.
"Big Mac, go keep a look out for your sister. I need to talk with Apple Jack alone," Granny said, sternly.
"There is nothing to talk about Granny, I made up my choice," Apple Jack stated, coldly.
"What if you die , Apple Jack!? I'm sorry to have to bring this up, but there is a very real possibility that it's gonna happen! Doesn't Little Apple Bloom have a right to know how and why you died!?" Granny demanded, slamming her hoof on the table and shouting.
"I'll make sure I won't die then!" Apple Jack shouted back.
That was when Big Mac decided it would be a good idea to leave and look for Apple Bloom. He thought about what the two mares were fighting about and knew that Granny was right, but A.J's stubbornness didn't falter that easily. He was glad that Apple Bloom wasn't due until 4:00, otherwise he would have to stop her from going in until A.J and Granny stopped fighting. Only two minutes of thinking on that matter stopped because Apple Bloom was coming home early and was almost to the farm! He didn't think, he just did, and it ended badly.
Now he is going up the stairs where Apple Bloom just ran to. "I'll talk to her," he says, walking up behind her.
"Apple Bloom?" he asks.
"Go away!" he can hear through muffled tears. He takes it as a sign to walk in. "I said, 'go away!'!" she shouts, throwing a pillow at him as he walks in.
"Apple Bloom, let's talk about this," Big Mac says, as comforting as he can.
"Why are you not as upset about this!?" Apple Bloom demands, as Big Mac sits on the side of her bed.
"Now, Apple Bloom. Don't think for one second that I am okay with this. I am as heart broken as you are that Apple Jack is leaving us to go fight in a war no pony wanted," Big Mac explains.
"Sure seems that you are," Apple Bloom mutters.
"I am not. Ever since I found out I have been asking myself 'why?' and 'what would happen if she didn't come back?'," Big Mac explains.
"Don't say that, she will come back!" Apple Bloom protests.
"I'm just saying that this is a real thing that's happening and we can't rely on hope alone," Big Mac explains, staying calm.
Spike is locked in his room, crying. He just found out that Twilight has been drafted into war and has to leave the next day. The worst part about it is that he received the news before Twilight has come back with her flight with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. *Knock* *knock* *knock*. "Spike? I've been looking for you, are you in here?" It's Twilight. "Spike?" he hears again, and his door opening. "Spike, why are you in your room with no lights on?" Twilight asks, turning them on. He throws the crumpled, tear stained letter on the floor and hears Twilight levitate and un-crumple it.
"Any second now," Spike thinks.
"Oh, Spike!"
"Yup, just what I thought," Spike thinks.
"Spike..."
"Don't say anything, Twilight, it'll only make it worse for the both of us," Spike says, monotone. His back is towards Twilight so that he doesn't have to look at what he knows is her sad, fearful look; and so she doesn't have to see his broken, devastated face.
"Okay, Spike, I have to leave tomorrow, so just know that I love you and hope to see you soon," Twilight says, shutting the lights off and leaving.
It was only going to be him and Starlight for the next month or so, he wishes it's only going to be a few months. Until Hearths Warming at most.
"Spike? Are you still here?" Starlight. Twilight must have told her what had happened.
She walks in just as Twilight had. "Good after noon, Spike," she says, trying her best not to over step a boundary.
Spike let's her talk and tries to listen to her, but all he can think about is that letter Celestia wrote. Eventually Starlight gives up on trying to talk to him and leaves the same way Twilight did. He knows that tomorrow will be the most heart breaking day of his life.
Scootaloo enters the orphanage and is greeted my Sunny Smiles, the provider of the fillies and colts living there. "Hello, Scootaloo, glad you could make it so early! Supper is being cooked now, and I'm happy to say that Rainbow Dash is waiting in your room, Scootaloo," she says. Scootaloo is all excited and buzzes her wings excitedly. She runs down the hallway to her room and sure enough, Rainbow is there! But she's upset, and Scootaloo get's nervous.
"Rainbow?"
"Hey, Scoot. What's up?" she says, her voice more raspy than usual.
"What's up with you?" Scootaloo asks.
"Oh, you know, Wonderbolt stuff," she says, forcing a casual tone.
"What's really up, Rainbow Dash?"
"It's hard to say..."
"What is?"
"I'll be leaving for a while, Scoot."
"For how long?"
"I don't know... I don't even know if I'll be coming back..."
"Huh?... N-no..."
"I'm going to be fighting in a war, Scootaloo."
"NO!"
"I'm leaving tomorrow," Rainbow explains.
Scootaloo cannot believe what Rainbow is saying. "Don't go tomorrow then! Stay here with me!" she bags.
"I can't disobey direct orders from Celestia. The letter states that since I am the Element of Loyalty and a Wonderbolt, I am required to be present," Rainbow Dash explains, and if Scootaloo hasn't started crying yet, she starts now.
"Rainbow, you- you can't go! Youcan't go! I need you, Rainbow Dash!" she says through tears.
Rainbow Dash walks towards Scootaloo and hugs her. It is the first time Rainbow Dash has hugged her since the day she got her cutie mark, "Only two months ago, was it?" Scootaloo thinks to herself.
The next day they all stand on the platform waiting for the train in silence. A few of them are already starting to cry. Then, the train arrives.
"Goodbye, Sweetie Belle. Be good for Mother and Father, would you?"
"I will, come back though," Sweetie says, her voice cracking from tears.
"Bye-bye Mr. and Mrs. Cake, Pond Cake and Pumpkin Cake..."
"Goodbye, dear... be safe..." Mrs. Cake says, crying.
"Come back to us, Pinkie," Mr. Cake says, holding his wife.
Just tears came from the twins.
"Goodbye Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and Granny... I'll see you when the war is done."
"Bye, Apple Jack... I'm gonna miss you" Apple Bloom says, tearing up.
"Bye, A.J..." Big Mac says, doing the same.
"Goodbye, Apple Jack. Come back safely now, okay?" Granny says, smiling, not letting her family see her cry.
"Goodbye, you two. Keep each other company while I'm gone, okay?
"Sure thing, Twilight..." Starlight says.
"I'm gonna miss you, Twilight..." Spike says.
"See yah, kid, behave, okay?"
"Rainbow, please don't call me 'kid' right now..." Scootaloo says.
"Okay, Scootaloo. I'm gonna miss you..."
"You sure that you'll take good care of my animals?"
"Of course I will, Big Sis! Come back though, promise?" Zephyr says, tearing up.
"Okay, I'm going to miss you so, so, so, so much!" Fluttershy says, crying openly.
They all hug for as long as they can and the six ponies get on the train, leaving their loved ones behind.
During War
After the six mares left the train station, the ponies started hearing about the war and gave condolences to those who's family was in the war. A month into the war and the town's ponies found themselves in lock down most of the time because bombs were dropping every few days. The first time, they were all unprepared and thirty died while twenty eight were severely injured and taken to the hospital. Five ponies died from their injuries. After that, there were three main bomb shelters built. Under Town Hall, under the school, and Sweet Apple Acres cellar. Along with any other bomb shelters were made inside ponies' houses.
Letters used to come daily from Twilight, now five months into the war, there has only been one letter every few weeks. Spike and Starlight are worried for her and are always wondering how safe she is, where she is, who's with her, and if she's injured. Starlight was one of the ones injured during the first bombing which worried Spike greatly, Twilight too, when she received the letter about it. Her horn is gone, and she can't use her left foreleg as well as the other three because she landed on it funny when the bomb hit.
"Spike!" Starlight calls from the front entry way.
"Yeah, Starlight?" Spike runs from the library to where Starlight is as fast as he can. He get's there panting. He is taken aback by the lack of horn on her head, but then remembers the incident with the first bomb. Definitely something he has to get used to.
"I'm heading to the market. Do you want anything?" Starlight asks.
"Oh, no, but we are running out of carrots," Spike points out.
"Thank you! I totally forgot to put those on the list!" she says, placing the basket down, and taking out the list and pencil and writing down 'carrots' in the messing mouth writing that she has. "See you later then," She says, putting everything back and leaving.
"Bye!" Spike says and heads back to the library. As Spike walks, he scratches the scare of where his lower half of his left arm should be. He too was injured during the bombing, but he was just glad that Starlight was alive and that it wasn't his writing hand. Dragons heal fast too, so there wasn't really a huge rush to get himself to the hospital either, Starlight was who he worried for.
The CMC walk through the town and talk about their day.
"That was a lot of fun, Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle says.
"Awe, shucks, girls. I didn't know a dance recital would get you two so excited!" Apple Bloom explains.
"Are you kidding!? When Tender Taps leaped across the stage like that, I flipped out!" Scootaloo explained.
"It's nice to know that everything is going on normally, especially since a lot of the buildings are being blown up and rebuilt," Apple Bloom states.
"Yeah, but they gave up rebuilding things after the second round of bombs took down the buildings they were rebuilding as well as others," Sweetie points out.
"Yeah, I guess that's true," Apple Bloom says.
"Wait up, you guys!" Silver Spoon calls.
"Took you long enough to get out of there," Scootaloo remarks.
"Sorry, I got caught in the crowd of ponies," Silver Spoon explains. Diamond Tiara couldn't make it because her parents grounded her for skipping curfew.
"That's okay, Silver! We knew you'd catch up," Sweetie explains.
"Are we still having that sleepover?" Apple Bloom asks Silver Spoon.
"I don't know, actually, there have been rumors that there'll be another bombing tonight so I can't have any pony over," Silver Spoon explains.
"That's understandable, but I got to head home now, Mom and Dad said to be home by 1:00," Sweetie explains.
They all say 'bye' to Sweetie Belle as they walk into town square. Soon enough, they run into Starlight who is buying some food for her and Spike. "Hey, Starlight!" Scootaloo says.
"Hey, girls! What's up?" she asks, beaming at them.
"We just came back from our friend's dance recital!" Silver explains.
"Oh, how cute! Did you have fun?" Starlight asks.
"Yeah, he's a really good dancer," Scootaloo explains.
"Oh, a 'he'!" Starlight says.
"Yeah, and Apple Bloom has a crush on him!" Silver teases.
"I do not! I just think he's a really good friend," Apple Bloom defends.
"You also think he's cute!" Scootaloo adds.
"No, I don't!" Apple Bloom says, blushing.
"Okay, well, I'll leave you three to your argument. I need to finish buying these items," Starlight says, signifying her leave.
"Just admit it Apple Bloom," Scootaloo prods.
"I don't like him like that!" Apple Bloom insists.
"That doesn't sound much like a confession!" Silver Spoon teases.
"Come on, Apple Bloom, you're totally blushing!" Scootaloo says.
"I. Don't. Like. Him!"
"Ugh! I give up... I have to go home anyway, Sunny Smiles is expecting me to be home by 1:30," Scootaloo explains. They say goodbye and the two earth ponies head towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Sweetie Belle makes it home just as her mom is calling her dad for lunch. "Oh, hello sweet cheeks! Back so soon, eh?" her dad greets.
"Yeah, I didn't want to be late."
"Well, good girl then. C'mon, Mom will make you lunch," her dad says.
The stallion and filly walk into the dinning room and sit down at the table. An open envelope is placed on the table in between them.
"A letter from Rarity!?" Sweetie asks excitedly.
"Yeah! The letter came after you left for the show!" Her mom says, levitating a bowl of soup to her dad. "Open it!" She says, placing the bowl down.
Sweetie levitates the letter to her and starts reading.
Dearest Mother, Father, and Sweetie Belle,
I am alive and well over here, though I cannot specify where 'here' is as you should know. I am so glad you're well over there too, and I wish Sweetie Belle luck on her math test. Each day is like a new circle of Tartarus, but at least we get food, water, and shelter. The enemy is not letting up though, which we have all feared. What's even worse is the Griffon army is now building and the yaks and our armies are depleting. I fear that we need to start recruiting more ponies for our army too. And if we do, I hope that you, Mother and Father, are not one of the recruited. Twilight and Shining Armour are doing their best, but it looks like recruitment is inevitable at this point. Oh, and thank you for the wishes that I get more sleep, it hasn't happened yet, but thank you. Anyway, I must go now, Twilight needs me for something. Don't worry, it's minor and will cause no harm to me or ant pony involved. I love you all, Rarity
Sweetie sets the letter down to where she found it and starts eating the bowl of soup her mom placed in front of her while she read the letter. "We should send a letter back to her after lunch," she suggests.
"We were just thinking that, actually," her dad explains.
"Yay!" Sweetie Belle cheers.
Big Mac is cleaning the pig pen as Apple Bloom and Silver Spoon enter the farm yard. "Apple Bloom! Chores!" He calls, that the fillies stop in their tracks.
"I did them already, Big Mac!" Apple Bloom calls back.
"No you didn't! I did. That's okay though, all I ask is tomorrow you gotta do some of my chores as well as your own!" Big Mac explains.
"Thanks, Big Mac! I will!" Apple Bloom calls, running inside the house.
"Oh yeah! There's a letter from Apple Jack on the kitchen counter!" Big Mac shouts so she can hear.
Big Mac already read the letter, he already knows it by heart. Every day since her first letter Big Mac has memorized them word for word because he knows that letter could be the last, that's why he is always so excited to receive the next one.
This one says,
Howdy, ya'll!
Business as usual here, so can't complain much. The Griffon Army is gettin' bigger though, gonna need to recruit ponies soon if this continues. Anyway, how's the harvest comin'? Weather behavin'? Thanks for the victory celebration by the way, and yes it was as hard as it sounded in the letter. Probably worse. I'm holdin' up well, as well as every pony else they all say 'hi' too. Anyway, I should be gettin' back to it, I got scouting duty in about an hour so I got to be focused. Hope to be getting a letter from ya'll soon!
Love Apple Jack
He finishes up with the pig pen and heads inside the house. Granny, Apple Bloom, and Silver Spoon are waiting for him in the living room. "Hey, guys, is this an intervention? I told ya'll I'll quite when I wanna quite," Big Mac says, jokingly. But they all seem serious and Big Mac is the only one out of the loop. "What is it?" he asks.
Over all, life has been normal since the war started. Ponies go about their normal days and try to act like their loved ones aren't in constant danger. Or they themselves aren't in constant danger. the sun and moon rise and set, the birds fly in the air, the rabbits barrow below, and every pony goes along with the new normal.
The school bell rings to signify to the fillies and colts that school is starting now. "Good morning, class!"
"Good morning Ms. Cheerilee," the foals say in unison.
"How was everyone's weekends?" she asks.
Scootaloo raises her hoof.
"Yes, Scootaloo? How was your's?" Cheerilee asks.
"I got a letter from Rainbow Dash yesterday!" She announces.
"I got one from Apple Jack!"
"I got one from Rarity!"
"That is all very exciting news, girls. Any pony else want to share their weekend with the class?" Cheerilee says.
Snails lifts his hoof up, sadly, and says, "My Dad got grafted on Friday and left yesterday," a collective apology sweeps around the room. "My Mom and my sister got drafted yesterday," Dinky says, again apologies are given.
"Well, let's not dwell on the war for right now, let's instead focus on poetry!" Cheerilee explains.
Later at recess the foals didn't do much playing, they were all sad about what happened to Dinky's mom and sister, and Snail's dad. They all knew that soon enough their families might be called for the war too, and after that, it is only a matter of time before the war is done or they are done.
Never before was the entire playground in complete before today. No pony is saying anything, and no on lookers question it either. The bell rings, and class continues.
On Hearths Warming Eve, there was much celebration. Even though every pony waiting out a bomb shower. Starlight singing carols, Big Mac telling stories, Spike roasting Marsh mellows, the CMC drawing festive decorations on the walls with charcoal, it was pretty pleasant. The Cheerfulness was lost for a few moments after a really big bomb made the ground shutter. But after that was done things go back to the way it was. The bombs stop, almost on Que at midnight, Hearths Warming Day.
"Alright, every pony. Single file line out of the shelter! Be careful you don't step on anything, we have no hospital anymore!" Big Mac explains, half serious half joking.
The ponies laugh nervously as they follow the instructions of the farmer.
"That was fun, despite everything," he says, to no one in particular.
"Yeah, I had fun too," Spike says.
"I had fun!" Sweetie and Scootaloo say at the same time.
"Granny? Can we invite everyone to the farm for Hearths Warming? Please?" asks Apple Bloom.
"If there's a farm left, yes," Granny says.
So, Big Mac, Spike, the CMC, Starlight, and Granny all wait to get up from the shelter, and they are all taken aback by what they see. The reason they felt the earth shatter is because Town hall was bombed! Every pony's eyes go wide in surprise and shock. The most iconic and beloved building is now rubble. They cannot believe it.
Big Mac leads the ponies in the direction of the farm, careful not to step on anything that could be dangerous. "Oh my, I can't believe this is happening," he thinks. "And on Hearths Warming Day too," he adds. Big Mac looks back at every pony and knows that they are feeling the same way. He'd have to send a letter to Apple Jack explaining what happened. He thinks about Apple Jack and how this has always been her favorite holiday because it has always been about family. And he thinks of the day that the second letter from Apple Jack came. The enemy had taken their base from them and they had to find somewhere new to set up.
Spike walks in between Big Mac and Starlight. He makes a note about writing a letter to Twilight explaining what happened to Town Hall. He scratches his arm nub and thinks about what Twilight would say if she saw it. He never actually told Twilight about him losing half an arm, only that Starlight lost her horn and movement of her leg. He is sure she'd be shocked to see it, and ask him why she never heard about it. He knows the reason, because she would come back to Ponyville to take care of him, and even though he would have loved her back, he knows that Twilight is needed in battle and shouldn't come back even for him.
Big Mac leads the group to Sweet Apple Acres and they all sigh in relief that it is still in tact. There, in the mail box, there lay a letter. "It's from A.J!" Spike cheers, taking the letter out.
They all cheer in reply. Seconds after giving the letter to Granny, Spike burps up a letter in Twilight's writing. They all cheer to that as well!
They all walk into the house and sit on couches and the floor to read what the letters say,
This is Apple Jack. By the time you read this it with be Hearths Warming Day! In that case, have a happy one! Can't talk now, I just want to tell you that I am safe and you don't have to worry about any of us. I hope all of y'all are safe!
Hello, Spike and Starlight.
I am writing to inform you that the yak army has fallen and as I you read this we are attacking the Griffon Army. Everything is Tartarus, here, guys! But we finally have surprise on our side! Many have died, and many will die still. But We are finally winning! I give Hearths Warming wishes to both of you and hope you're safe!
Sweetie Belle looks around at every pony's stunned faces and is positive the same face is on her's right now. Yak army defeated? Griffon army being attacked? Is Rarity Okay? How long will the war be?
Apple Bloom is dumbfounded. The news they just received is shocking. Is Apple Jack okay? Is she hurt?
Big Mac's head races. He's glad Apple Jack is okay, but... the Yaks are down? How long did it take? How did they do it? After a year and four months will they finally be coming home?
Spike can't believe it. He rereads the letter over and over in his head. He hopes she is alright. How did they defeat the Yaks? Sure they were the smallest army according to Twilight, but they were the strongest too!
The fact that Rainbow Dash could be in more danger than ever at this point scares Scootaloo. The looks around the room and locks eyes with Sweetie Belle. Is this even real ? Will they be able to come home? She hopes so.
The rest of the day every pony stays on the farm and visits and eats meals, saying as there is no money for gifts. At the end of the day, Starlight and Spike offer to walk Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle home. Since the orphanage is closer, they go there first. Every pony walks in and sees that the foals are all still celebrating Hearths Warming. "Hey, guys!" Scootaloo says, as every pony else leaves for Sweetie Belle's home.
"Oh! You're home!" Sunny Smiles says, in a tone of voice Scootaloo hasn't heard since Rainbow told her about leaving for the war.
"Sunny? What's going on?"
"A letter came a few hours ago when you were with your friends..."
Her heart sinks. Sunny isn't happy, does that mean what I think it means?
"It's Rainbow Dash... she...."
Scootaloo doesn't want to hear the rest of that sentence, but knows she has to.
"She was attacked by a Yak soldier last Friday... she's dead, Scootaloo..."
Scootaloo drops to the floor and blacks out. She has no control of anything anymore. Scootaloo goes blank.
Day's later, and she is still in her room. Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Spike, Big Mac, and every pony else has visited her and gave her their condolences, but nothing they said has made her feel any better. Rainbow Dash is dead. It feels like her life is over. Completely demolished by the fact she will never hear or see her idol ever again.
What is she supposed to do now that Rainbow isn't with her? How come it was her who died!? Why'd it have to be her!?
Scootaloo barely sleeps, doesn't eat, she doesn't feel sun light, or see the stars, all she thinks about is Rainbow Dash. And how lost she is without her. Never before has Scootaloo felt this lost, this empty, this afraid. She never met her parents and she's always lived in the orphanage so she has never felt the love from her parents only Rainbow Dash. And. Now. She's. Gone.
Scootaloo can't accept it. She thinks about how she could have died, and thinks about it over and over, each time is cooler and cooler. "She's just, gone..." Scootaloo thinks. "Rainbow Dash is gone," she whispers.
I don't believe this. I can't believe this! She's gone, but I can't picture it in my mind... "Celestia WHY?? " she screams and Sunny Smiles comes racing into her room and bursts through the door.
"Scootaloo!? Is everything okay!?" she says, stunned and panicked.
"No! Rainbow Dash is dead ! NOTHING is okay anymore!"
Sunny looks at the filly's glaring and tear ruined face in pity. "Oh, Scootaloo..." she says with a sigh.
After hearing about Rainbow Dash, all Big Mac can think about is Apple Jack. Is Apple Jack alive? Is she dead? When will the letter come saying that she died? Should he start writing? Asking the army to send her home? Should it matter if it does?
Big Mac is hurt and confused. Rainbow Dash was a close friend of his sister's and of Scootaloo. Now she's gone. Never to step foot on the earth again. Never to fly and make a rainboom ever again. She's just gone... It is an impossible concept but it's very real. She is dead, and there is nothing any pony can do about it.
The snow is falling lightly and slowly covers the ponies waiting for the train. Eight ponies and one dragon stand in silent, anxious tension for the train baring four ponies. Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Apple Jack. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had died. Fluttershy after the first month, but no pony knew accept her family, and Rainbow Dash died several weeks before the end of the war. The others who had died are Soarin, Shining Armour, Spit Fire, Amethyst Star (Dinky's sister), Carrot Top, Filthy Rich, and many others.
The Ponies won, but have also lost so much. Eight ponies and one dragon stand at the platform waiting for the ponies to step out. And when they do finally arrive, each party sighs in relief. Twilight was unharmed during the entire thing, Pinkie too was unharmed, Apple Jack was hit by a claw to the face, and Rarity was deafened by a bomb dropping too close to her in battle. Each saw the injuries of their family members accept Zephyr and Scootaloo who just stand there and watch all the happy reunions.
"It's not fair," Scootaloo says.
"It really isn't, is it..." Zephyr agrees.
"They get to live out their lives knowing what they survived, while Rainbow and Flutters will never get that privilege," Scootaloo says bitterly.
"I can't believe she's gone," Zephyr explains.
"Neither can I..." Scootaloo agrees.
"Do you know what happened when I had to tell Mom and Dad?" Zephyr asks.
"What?" Scootaloo responds.
"Dad hid with his cloud collection, and Mom..." Zephyr says, not able to continue. He doesn't have to for Scootaloo to understand what had happened.
Joy. Never ending joy was in Spike's heart. Twilight is home! She is safe! The war is won!
"Spike? You never told me about your arm!" Twilight says, levitating him to her eye level.
"Well, you never told me about Apple Jack's face, or Rarity's deafness, or Fluttershy's and Rainbow's deaths!" Spike counteracts.
"But!... ugh... fine. I'm just glad you're safe. You too, Starlight. When I heard they were bombing Equestria, I got scared out of my mind," Twilight explains.
"We're fine Twilight," Starlight confirms.
"I am so thankful for that," Twilight says. and they embrace for their tenth hug.
Relief and happiness is all that Big Mac is at this moment. She is back and only has a scar of where she was attacked! Apple Jack, his little sister, is alive. She is alive.
"Howdy, ya'll... miss me?" she asks.
Big Mac chuckles and asks, "You were gone?" while holding back tears.
Every single Apple broke and cried tears of joy at the return of Apple Jack.
Sweetie Belle got the letter explaining Rarity's deafness and determination to stay and fight in the war. She admires her sister for that, even though Rarity could have been home for Hearths Warming. They hug. That's all they can communicate to one another right now. And they are both fluent in it.
Yes, Apple Bloom is crying, and yes she is over joyed that Apple Jack is back and here to stay.
"See, Big Mac? I told you she'd come back," She says, still crying and still hugging her sister for dear life. "Never leave me for that long again..." she says.
"I promise," she says, which makes Apple Bloom cry even more.
A week later, A funeral is held for every pony who died in the war. The families of the fallen sit at the front and friends sit at the back.
Scootaloo and Zephyr sit next to each other as Princess Celestia speaks about bravery and the sacrifices of war.
"I still can't believe that she's gone. And the worst part about it is, they weren't able to recover the body..." Zephyr says, holding back tears.
"I know, no pony was found, but every pony saw them parish in someway..." Scootaloo says, holding back tears too.
"What about Prince Shining Armour? He's Twilight's brother, right?"
"Twilight told me that there will be a funeral for the Fallen in Canterlot tomorrow, that's where the casket will be buried."
As Celestia finishes her speech, the caskets start to be lowered. Each grave stone is marked with the pony's cutie mark and a quote. Rainbow Dash's says I was always loyal. Even at the very end . Fluttershy's is, I always cared and was kind. Even 'til the very end . The caskets touch the ground and Scootaloo starts to cry. Derpy and Dinky follow suit, and Zephyr joins as well, soon every pony is either crying or calming some pony who is crying.
Sleep is hard for Spike, though he can't really complain, saying as he is waking Twilight up from a nightmare of the war every few minutes. He guesses that this will be happening a lot at night, in which case, Starlight and him will have to take turns each night. Tomorrow night it's Starlight. Shining Armour's funeral is tomorrow which neither he or Twilight is looking forward to, but he knows they need their sleep for. If only Twilight's nightmares would stop. If only Princess Luna would help. But Spike knows that Twilight isn't the only one having nightmares tonight, nor was she the first to get them. Some have been getting nightmares since they came back home a week ago. Poor Luna must have her hooves full...
The Canterlot funeral is a lot like the Ponyville funeral. Only this time, they did manage to find a few bodies in the wreckage. Shining wasn't one of them though. Every pony cries there too, but none as hard as the Princesses of Friendship and love, and the parents of the Princess of Friendship. Every pony is heart broken and lost with the loss of their loved ones.
None will ever be the same after this war. The civilians, the soldiers, no pony will ever experience anything the same way again.