Fallen Harmony

Broken Honesty

Applebloom curled up on her bed, her bedroom door locked, her windows locked, her bow thrown across the room. She didn’t want to see anyone, not even her brother or Granny Smith. The letter from the mayor’s office clutched in her grip. She’d always known it could happen. Always dreaded it happening after her mother and father had died. Granny Smith sat completely still in her rocking chair, leaning forward, eyes pressed into her palms. Big Macintosh rubbed her back, but Applebloom had decided against staying in the living room.

She’d never seen Granny Smith cry. Even her ever stoic big brother rarely cried. He’d hardly cried when she’d gotten her cutie mark. But today, his eyes were stained with tears. Sitting across from them was Twilight. She’d left Scootaloo with Pinkie Pie. She didn’t need to be here for this. Twilight was silent, the second letter in her grasp. She wanted Big Mac to finish crying first before giving it to him. Behind her sat the small crate housing the items Applejack left to her family. When Big Mac dried his tears, he looked up at Twilight. “Ah’m gonna go git Applebloom… she needs t’ be here fer this…” he said and Twilight nodded as he rose and trudged up the stairs.

She sat silently, Granny Smith sitting in the chair across from her, dabbing at her eyes with tissues. Upstairs, Big Mac reached Applebloom’s bedroom door. “Applebloom. C’mon… Ah know yer hurtin’, we all are… but Twi’s got ‘nother letter fer us.”

“Ah don’ wanna… muh sister’s gone… yer sister’s gone… ah don’ want anythin’ but muh sister back…” She said, her voice muffled by distance from the door and the closed door itself.

“Applebloom, yer sister would want ya t’ be strong… we gotta be strong fer Granny.” He heard some muffled sniffing then the padding of bare feet on the other side of the door before it swung open. Applebloom stood there, her ribbon out of her mane, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stared up at him. “Ah know it’s tough… but we gotta be strong fer Granny… and fer Applejack. Ya know she’ll be watchin’ over us.” She sniffled and nodded, walking out of her bedroom and following her brother downstairs. Twilight was still sitting in the living room.

“I’m so sorry Applebloom. I didn’t want to be the one to deliver this news… I didn’t want to ever have to get this letter…” She said as she unrolled it. As soon as it was unrolled, a sack appeared, as well as Applejack’s hat, lightly scuffed from the ordeal. Swallowing and wiping the back of her hoof against her eyes, she took a deep breath and commenced reading.

“From the Desk of Mayor Mare of Ponyville.

“Dear Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Applebloom, in light of recent events, I offer my condolences regarding the passing of Applejack. In accordance with her final will and testament, all of her winnings from past Rodeos, which were saved at her request, will go to Sweet Apple Acres in order to hire more help, should the need arise. Her winnings will also go towards repairing the farm whenever it is needed, and helping Applebloom further her education at any academy she may wish to attend. The accumulated interest added on to Applejack’s Rodeo winnings amounts to five hundred and fifteen thousand, two hundred and twenty bits. Half of which will go into the Sweet Apple Acres account, to be used by Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Applebloom as they see fit.

“Personal Note: If it is not wrong of me, I enclosed an extra seven hundred bits towards my purchase of Apple Cider next apple season which I wish to share with Ponyville, in honor of Apple Jack.

“Ink Well, Secretary of the Mayor.”

Granny sniffled a little as the sack of bits magically enclosed in the scroll levitated out and landed on the table next to her. She didn’t need to count it, Ink Well had always been good about paying her purchase of Cider forward. “There’s a second letter, Twilight… go ‘head an’ read it.” Granny said and Twilight nodded as she floated the first letter onto the table and levitated out a second letter, as well as Applejack’s hat, the special one she was wearing on the west field when they’d discovered the Apple Pear Tree their parents had left.

“Sorry if I don’t read this as well as Applejack wrote it… it’s hard to read it. Her hoof-writing is atrocious.” She said and Applebloom held out a hoof for it. “No… let me…” Clearing her throat as best she could, she levitated the letter in front of her and slightly to the side.

“Dear Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Applebloom,

“Sorry ya’ll’re havin’ to hear this from somepony else. Sorry somethin’ like this ever came up. Ya’ll know I ain’t one fer long goodbyes, but, as usual, Twilight’s the voice o’ reason when it comes to matters like this. I expect she’ll make some ‘justments to this here letter eventually, but that’s just how she is. So… here goes.

“Ah’m sorry Ah won’t be there fer yer graduation, Applebloom. Whatever might happen t’ me that’d keep me from it, just know that Ah’d never want to miss somethin’ like that fer the world. So, since Ah ain’t one hundred percent sure Ah’m gonna see it, congratulations. Ah knew you could do it. Ma and Pa would be so proud of you. Incase Ah am there, just know that Ah’ll always be proud of ya Applebloom. Whatever ya’ll decide to do from here out is ok by me. You’ll always be an Apple, no matter who ya get married t’. Whoever the lucky colt or filly is, they’ll just have to take yer name instead. Yer an Apple, no matter what, little sis. That’s why I’m leavin’ you mah hat. And Dad’s hat, hangin’ up in mah room on mah closet door. He’d want ya t’ have it.

“Big Mac, yer gonna have t’ tend the farm alone now, ‘least till Applebloom’s big ‘nough t’ help out. And don’t think fer a second Ah’d want ya quiet all yer life. Yer mah big brother, and ya gotta be there fer Granny and Applebloom and the rest o’ the Family. Gotta be th’ voice o’ reason sometimes durin’ family get t’gethers. Ah don’t got much t’ leave behind fer you, big brother, but the least Ah c’n do is leave b’hind mom’s diary. There’s nothin’ bad in it, promise. Mostly recipes, love notes t’ dad, and a few things she’d’ve wanted us t’ know.

“Granny… Ah know ya’ll were probably hopin’ somethin’ like this would never come up… and it breaks mah heart t’ be the one to shatter that hope… if this letter ever needs t’ be delivered anyway. Ah don’t got anythin’ to leave t’ you, cause ya’ll already gave me yer entire life when Ma and Pa passed away. Ya’ll always told me ya had a chance t’ go away from Ponyville for a while, go off to get a better education to come back and run the farm like a business, and ya gave that up fer us. Ah suppose sayin’ Ah don’t have anythin’ is a lie. Ah do have somethin’, if Mayor Mare’s taken care of it like Ah asked ‘er to. The day after ya’ll get this, Ah hope, the Mayor will come over with a contract fer ya t’ sign. It’ll give ya’ll access to the savin’s account Ah’ve been workin’ on from my winnin’s with the rodeos.

“If we’re lucky, there should be enough in it to keep Sweet Apple Acres goin’ with a few hired hooves to help out around the orchard and with the animals. Have Twilight show ‘em how Ah do things, so they know how it’s s’posed t’ be done. Ah think Ah’m runnin’ long now, Twilight’s givin’ me the stink eye, so Ah guess Ah’d better write up a closin’ statement. Funny that Ah never really appreciated that till now.

“Ah’ll always be watchin’ over ya’ll, no matter what. Whenever ya look up at the sky, remember that I’ll be lookin’ down on ya, always.

“With Love, Jaqueline ‘Applejack’ Apple.”

Twilight finished reading the letter, setting it down and looking up at the family. All of them were attempting not to snicker despite the tears running down their cheeks. “I… wanted to read it the way Applejack would have…” She said and Granny climbed off of her chair and walked over to Twilight, hugging the subdued princess.

“It’s alright dear. Ya did what she’d’ve done. Thank ya fer bein’ the one to bring these to us…” she said as Applebloom picked up Applejack’s hat. Twilight didn’t look at the filly as she hugged the hat to her chest, sniffling against the brim. Big Macintosh was unusually stoic, even for him. Looking over at him, his face was impassive, despite the tears rolling down his cheeks. She knew the letter affected him, just as any letter regarding a younger siblings’ death would. But he was trying to be strong. For Applebloom and Granny Smith. When he looked at her, she realized he was trying to be strong for her, too. Granny and Applebloom were crying, but Big Mac, even with tears running down his face, didn’t even sniffle.

Anyone who didn’t know him would see that as cold acceptance. Twilight knew better. Inside, he was screaming, beating down walls, tearing up rugs, raging that Applejack would leave them behind. But he was staying strong. For his grandmother and his littlest sister. Looking to her right, at the newest acquisition from Princess Celestia, her guard nodded and walked over to Big Mac, touching the other stallions shoulder.

“C’mon. Let’s go get a drink. You can even hit me if you want.” The armored guard said and Big Mac nodded and silently followed the equally large stallion out the door. Another guard trotted out after them as two other filed in. Celestia had insisted that she have guards. At least until the Elements discovered their new barers. Until such a time, even the Element of Loyalty remained in a glass case in the castle. Twilight watched her guards escort Big Mac out of the house and wondered when her newest additions would arrive. One of the things that bothered her about losing her friends was the constant influx of guards from Celestia. As if something was going to happen now that the Elements no longer had their barers.

She already knew two more were on their way now that Applejack had passed. Stonewall and Barricade had told her as much. Glancing at the door, she half expected the two guards to return black and blue after giving Big Mac “Fight Therapy” as they called it. Sighing a little, she felt Applebloom touch her leg and looked at the filly.

“Ya alright Twilight?” She asked, wiping a tear from her eye. Twilight couldn’t help but smile and swept her best friends sister into her legs and hugged her.

“Yeah, I’m ok. I’ll miss Applejack… just like you will. She was like a sister to me.”

“Well, you come by whenever you want sugar cube.” Granny said and Twilight looked over at her. “Yer like a part o’ the family anyways. Our door’s always open t’ ya.” She said and Twilight smiled.

“Thanks Granny Smith.” She said as Granny came to her side and embraced her as well. Hearing the door open, all three looked towards it and saw Big Mac limping in, supporting one of the guards on his uninjured side while the other sat outside, nursing a black eye and a bruise on his side.

“I think he’ll be ok now. As for your new guards, Princess Twilight, they won’t be coming. And Stonewall and I are being relieved. Princess Celestia has relegated your new “guard” to one. Chosen by Princess Luna, in fact, from the Secret Police. You’ll be well guarded.” Barricade said as Stonewall limped in, keeping pressure from his left foreleg.

“Miss Smith, your grandson packs quite the whallop. It’s a wonder he’s not in the guard. As for who’s coming, Princess Twilight, we aren’t sure. None of the normal guards get to know who the Secret Police are. All we know is they’re more specially trained than we are.” Stonewall said and Twilight blinked and looked up at him. He was almost as tall as Big Mac but not quite as stocky. More along the lines of the appearance of her brother. Looking at the two of them, Twilight could understand why Princess Celestia had chosen them.

Stonewall and Barricade were both as stocky as any of the guards, but they had hints of muscle that were just subtle enough to all but keep them hidden. The two of them shared the dark grey coats, topped with black mane and tail. Stonewall had blue eyes while Barricade sported one green eye and one blue. Heterochromia. Twilight couldn’t help but admire Barricade’s eyes. Despite their training as guards, which Shining Armor had once told her “drilled sentimentality out of the would-be guards”, she could see kindness in his two colored eyes.

“When will your replacement be here?”

“Tomorrow, at the latest.” Stonewall said and Twilight nodded, staring at Applejack’s hat, still clutched tight to Applebloom’s chest. Nothing more needed to be said. If the new guard was from the Secret Police, he was effectively classified as an Alicorn. Her brother had told her that the Secret Police were trained by Princess Luna herself to fight against magic, since the vast majority of them didn’t have magic. Their armor wouldn’t allow for its use. Closing her eyes, she let Applebloom hold Applejack’s hat while the family huddled around, crying silently. Applejack's official funeral was set for tomorrow, to lay her to rest beside Rainbow Dash.