My Little Immortal: A Story of Learning to Let Go

by Cinnamon Clover

Rating: everyone
Tags: Cutie Mark Crusaders, Tragedy, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Sad, Other
Length: 2744

After an accident claims the rest of her family, Sweetie Belle struggles to move on.

"It was all so fast. Her mom, dad and sister had all met Death's bittersweet embrace and she was left all alone to deal with the aftermath."

These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just to real, there's just too much that time cannot erase.
...
Small changes that will not require rereading are being made to the story (such as the title change you can already see) and the renovated chapters should be up soon.

UPDATE!

On hiatus till at least 5/82013.

Published 2012-07-25 02:24:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-10-27 18:42:19 UTC

Prologue: My Little Last Breath

My Little Immortal: A Story of Learning to Let Go

Prologue: My Little Last Breath

Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, Apple Bloom, Applejack or any of the main characters in this story. All those rights belong to Hasbro. I also do not own any of the songs, all of which are owned by Evanescence. I however DO own this story, a few minor characters and the other things I have written.

Summary: Her family has fallen into Death's mercy. Her mother got a glass piercing in her heart and bled to death. Her father's skull was crushed on impact from falling luggage. Her sister had inhaled too much smoke from the exploding boiler. They all died right infront of her, leaving scared and alone.

"Applejack?" a yellow filly asked as she laid down her head.

"Yeah, Sugarcube?" an orange mare replied.

"Is Sweetie Belle really gonna be home tomorrow?" the younger inquired.

"Yep, her and her folks are on the train back to Ponyville as we speak." the elder sister confirmed.

Sweetie Belle and her family had been gone on a summer trip to Manehattan for three weeks and it felt like an eternity to Apple Bloom since she had see her white unicorn friend.

Meanwhile, on the returning train from Manehattan, Sweetie Belle was preparing to fall asleep.

"Rarity, I'm really glad we're going home. I liked Manehattan but there really is no place like home." Sweetie Belle said as she tried to fall asleep.

"Me too, Sweetie, me too." Rarity said as she levitated a blanket over her sister.

Suddenly the lights on the train went out. Sweetie Belle thought at first, this meant lights out, but idealization faded just as quickly as it had come. A moment later a earth shattering boom shaked the train car. Rarity quickly pulled her sister under her, protecting her sister from the shattering windows. The last thing Sweetie Belle heard before loosing consciousness was the most terrifying, blood curdling scream. Her own.

Ring! Ring!

The telephone at Sweet Apple Acres rang a few hours later.

"Who'd be tryin' to call us at one in the morning?" AJ thought quietly to herself as she went to pick up the phone.

"Hello" she greeted whoever was on the other end.

"Hello, Applejack. This is nurse Red Heart from Ponyville Urgent Care." the nurse pony greeted.

"Why are you callin' here at one in the morning?" AJ sounded irritated.

"There's been an accident on the train coming in from Manehattan." the nurse explained.

Before the medical pony could say another word, AJ was off like bullet towards the hospital, leaving the phone dangling. The pony on the other end, confused about what just happened, tried again. This time, Big Mac picked it up.

"Eyeup" he gave his usual greeting. The nurse then explained to the eldest of the apple siblings who listened intently.

"Hold on to me, love

You know I can't stay long

All I wanted to say was

I love you and I'm not afraid, oh"

-Evanescence, "My Last Breath"

Chapter One: As I Whisper To Myself pt. 1

My Little Immortal: A Story of Learning to Let Go

Chapter One: As I Whisper To Myself pt. 1

Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, Apple Bloom, Applejack or any of the main characters in this story. All those rights belong to Hasbro. I also do not own any of the songs, all of which are owned by Evanescence. I however DO own this story, a few minor characters and the other things I have written.

Summary: Her family has fallen into Death's mercy. Her mother got a glass piercing in her heart and bled to death. Her father's skull was crushed on impact from falling luggage. Her sister had inhaled too much smoke from the exploding boiler. They all died right infront of her, leaving scared and alone.

"Miss, Applejack is it? I have troubling news. Your friend Rarity and her parents... they were killed in the accident." a nurse told the work pony shortly after her arrival, "Both her and her parents have you down as an emergency contact so we figured it would be best to call you."

"You see, it can sometimes take a while to find a foster home and Sweetie Belle needs temporary housing." the medical pony said gesturing to a small unconscious white unicorn with a few scattered cuts and scratches in a hospital bed, "Will you take her in and be her legal guardian for the time being?"

Applejack didn't know how to react. Her friend was gone. Her first instincts told her to be sad but her second instincts told her to be strong and put on a brave face for the orphaned filly.

"I'd be more than happy to have her stay with me and my family back at the farm." AJ said with no hesitation.

"Great. You can take her home with you in a few hours but we need to run some tests and we need a signature before we do so." the nurse replied giving over the forms and a pen.

AJ took the pen in her mouth and gave her consent.

"Thank you, we'll bring her out to you when we're done." the hospital nurse explained, "We have to make sure we didn't miss anything that was hurt in the explosion."

Applejack lead her charge back towards Sweet Apple Acres. The last few hours, several thoughts kept circling around in her mind. How was she going to explain what had happened to her family, especially Apple Bloom? Should she take Sweetie Belle in as her permanent foster child? What impact would the accident have on Sweetie Belle's emotional well being? How would she explain to her friends that Rarity was six feet under? The only thing she knew was for certain was that was not going to be easy.

Sweetie Belle was just as, if not more, silent than her guardian. It was all so fast. Her mom, dad and sister had all met Death's bittersweet embrace and she was left alone to deal with the aftermath. She didn't know what she was going to do. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. It was too soon. She felt so... empty. She didn't feel sad. It definitely wasn't anything close to content. No, anger wasn't the right word. Guilty, maybe but that word wasn't quite do justice for what she was feeling. Scared, yes a little but not as much as this unknown feeling. She felt like part of her was just... gone. It felt like this was a nightmare but it wasn't, she had even pinched herself with a clip to check. Her family really was gone.

The two could see the silhouette of the farm house on the horizon. Applejack looked down at her young charge. She had a depressed expression fixed onto to her face. Not quite sad, but no where near content. The work pony could only guess what was going on inside the young pony's mind. If it was anywhere as bad as she thought it was, Sweetie Belle would probably need some amount of therapy. Before the two had even noticed they reached the farmhouse door.

Upon opening the door, the entire Apple family looked up from their breakfast. Apple Bloom immediatly got off her chair and hugged her now orphaned friend. Applejack wasn't sure how the rest of her family knew what happened but, if she had to take a guess, it would be that the hospital staff had called her family while Sweetie Belle was having her check up. If anything, it made it a little less awkward for Sweetie Belle and a whole lot easier on Applejack.

After breakfast, Apple Bloom showed Sweetie Belle upstairs to the bedroom they would be sharing for the time being.

"This is my bed, and that's where you'll be sleeping. " Apple Bloom said as she gestured to her bed and the blow out mattress Big Mac had set out on the floor earlier that morning. It had the same bedding as Apple Bloom's bed

"I'm glad you're OK, Sweetie." Apple Bloom told her friend after a few moments, bear hugging the white unicorn, "I don't know what I would've done if something happened to you."

"Th-thanks." Sweetie Belle replied shakily, not truly being able to comprehend what her friend had told her but knowing it would be strange if she didn't say anything back.

Their was no doubt that Sweetie Belle was scarred from the death of her family. Apple Bloom understood this and let the awkwardness of the conversation go. She would be just as distressed if her family was to die suddenly.

"I know this might not be the easiest time, but if you wanna talk about it, I'm open anytime." Apple Bloom told her friend as she embraced her in a hug.

"I'll be back in a little bit." Apple Bloom said as she broke the embrace and going to do her morning chores.

Sweetie Belle just sat down on the air bed. She had never felt so alone as long as she lived. She wanted to blame someone for what happened but it would be undeserved blame if she did. Her parents, Rarity nor anypony else for that matter could of known this would've happened. She realized the blame game wouldn't fill the void in her heart where her parents once were, nor the even larger one that was once occupied by her sister. It wouldn't make the pain of knowing she would never see her family again go away. She just missed them so much.

"This truth drives me into madness

I know I can stop the pain

If I will it all away

If I will it all away"

-Evanescence, "Whisper"

Chapter Two: A Sad Day For The Crusaders

My Little Immortal- Chapter Two: A Sad Day For The Crusaders

Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, Apple Bloom, Applejack or any of the main characters in this story. All those rights belong to Hasbro. I also do not own My Immortal, which is owned by Evanesence. I however DO own this story, a few minor characters and the other things I have written.

Summary: After a fatal accident that kills her sister and parents, Sweetie Belle thinks about her family and mourns the loss the only way she knows how: to sing.

Scootaloo left a cloud of dust in her wake as she sped down the path towards the Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse. Upon arriving, she leaned her scooter up against the tree that held their HQ up. She trotted up to the tree house, only to find it empty.

"Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! Where are you guys!" she called.

She shrugged it off as Apple Bloom still doing her chores and Sweetie Belle wanting to sleep in a little after the late night ride back to Ponyville. She decided she'd meet Apple Bloom back at the farmhouse.

Before even making it down to the landing, Apple Bloom was spotted making her way over to the clubhouse with Sweetie Belle not far behind. Scootaloo run up to greet her friends when she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Sweetie Belle was trying (and failing) to retain a smile in front of her friends. In fact, it looked like it was taking a whole lot of effort not to have an emotional break down. Apple Bloom was obviously wearing a brave face for Sweetie's sake. Scootaloo looked worryingly at her friends, mostly Sweetie Belle. She gave Apple Bloom a questioning look which was met with pleading eyes and shake of the head. She knew what that meant, "don't ask".

Deciding to honor her friend's request, she let her friends by and followed them back up to the clubhouse.

"So, Sweetie Belle, how was Manehattan?" Scootaloo asked, trying to make some light conversation while Apple Bloom went to get some apple cider for all of them.

"It was ok, I guess." Sweetie Belle replied, silently praying that a) Scootaloo would drop the subject at that or b) Apple Bloom would return.

It turned out it was neither.

"Did you have a nice ride back to Ponyville? I heard that there was a train accident last night not long before you got back." Scootaloo said.

Sweetie Belle knew Scootaloo meant no harm in it, nor even knew what went down. She tried very hard to keep her composure, but her efforts were fruitless as her tear glands started to flow.

"Sweetie, you ok?" the orange pegasus asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." the white unicorn said through gritted teeth.

She was no where near fine but she didn't particularly wish to talk about it. Scootaloo didn't believe her for a second but realized that she was discussing a topic Sweetie Belle was rather touchy about and decided to drop it for her friend's sake, just as Apple Bloom was wearing the brave face.

Later that day, after Sweetie went to her magic lessons with Twilight, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo expressed their concerns of the unicorn's emotional well being.

"I'm really worried about her. I was trying to make some small talk with her while you were getting the cider and she broke out into tears." Scootaloo told her earth pony friend.

"What was the topic?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I asked her if she had enjoyed her ride back to Ponyville or if she had slept on the ride back." Scootaloo answered before getting a smack on the head from Apple Bloom's right fore hoof.

"Why did you HAVE to ask about that!" the yellow filly exclaimed, "Didn't you hear about the train accident last night!

"Yeah! It happened a train coming in from Manesota! Half an hour before her train was scheduled to arrived!" Scootaloo hollered.

"No, it was the train from Manehattan, the one Sweetie and her folks were on! When they were half an hour away from reaching the station! We're lucky to have her with us!" Apple Bloom argued before sinking back and continuing at barely above a whisper, "They're gone"

"What?" Scootaloo asked, her concern growing at a rapid pace.

"Sweetie's folks! They're gone!" Apple Bloom said a little bit louder than she intended, practically shouting at her friend and fellow crusader.

"That's terrible!" exclaimed her companion, her voice ringing with pure sincereness.

"Wait, how do you know this?" the small pegasus then asked..

Apple Bloom took a deep breathe in and released it in a sigh.

"She's staying here at the acres with my family." she then said, having now regained some of her composure.

There were a few moments of awkward silence. Even though it was only four, five seconds tops, it seemed to go on for hours on end in their minds. Finally, Scootaloo noticed that the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon.

"I should probably get going." the orange pegasus said excusing herself from the clubhouse.

"Yeah, I should probably meet up with Sweetie so she don't have to walk back to the acres in the dark." her yellow companion seconded before following her lead of exiting the tree house.

"I can give you a ride over to the library if you want?" the flightless pegasus offered as she retrieved her little blue scooter.

"Nah, I think I'll just walk." the pink maned earth pony replied.

"Kay, I'll see you later then." her orange fill bid farewell before speeding back down the path to Ponyville.

The youngest member of the Apple clan then took to the path herself, hoping that things would turn out all right for her distraught unicorn friend.

If you were wondering why I'm letting foals as young as the Cutie Mark Crusaders have open access to apple cider I'll tell you in the simplest way possible. In the human world, cider and alcohol aren't the same thing and children do have easy access to it. The only reasons adults sometimes won't let them drink it if they have it at home are sugars and punishment for misbehaving. Harangue me if you must but I don't agree with that common head cannon