Applejack was chewing an apple as she leaned against the fence that was by her family farm. The heat was bearing down on her. It was hotter than usual which was why she had put on sunscreen as soon as she stepped outside to finish up work. As she leaned against the fence with her work done she realized that it only got hotter and hotter. She wondered if it was considered a heat wave as she really didn't know. She groaned in annoyance. She decided that she had enough of being outside. She wanted to take a shower to cool off. She walked back to her house which was by their farm. She couldn't wait to get out of this heat. Even id she was a tough person and could withstand heat for a while she had to cool off some time. She went inside the shower and closed the door. She pushed the curtain to the side and turned the bath water on. She didn't want the water to cold but she wanted it cool enough to cool her down. She soon got the temperature that she wanted so she stripped off her clothes.
She got in the sheer and started to wash herself She was glad that she didn't get over heated or anything as that would have been worse. She had stopped and just the right moment today. She hated getting hot but it didn't bother to much so she didn't complain about it. As the water cascaded down her body she thought about what she could do after her shower. But soon her thoughts were interrupted by a knocking on the bathroom door. She groaned as she didn't feel like helping anybody at that moment. Applejack asked who it was and she heard a muffled voice coming through from me other side. Applejack tried to listen but couldn't she groaned again as she pushed the curtain aside a bit. She got out and opened the door a tiny crack so that the person couldn't see her nudity. It was Twilight. Twilight asked if she could talk to Applejack so Applejack nodded.
"Sure Ah don't mind. Can you wait though? A'm not quite finished yet." Applejack remarked. Twilight agreed to wait and Applejack closed the bathroom door and went back to continue her shower. Since she didn't want to keep Twilight waiting she started to scrub herself clean as she wanted to smell nice. Soon she finished the shower so she turned it off and stepped out of the tub. She dried herself off and then wrapped the towel around herself in order to cover her body and then she opened the door.
"What's the matter? It sounds like your in dire need of help. I just rushed my shower What it is?" Applejack asked. Applejack didn't mean to make Twilight feel bad by telling Twilight she had to finish her shower but she was kind of annoyed that she had to rush it.
"What is it Twilight?" Applejack asked. Twilight nervously looked behind her and rubbed her hands anxiously. Applejack raised an eyebrow at Twilight as she wondered why Twilight was still at her place.
"Applejack don't you have a dog? Her name is Winona?" Twilight asked. Applejack gave her a suspicious look as she answered with caution.
"Yes I do.....why?" Applejack asked. She was unsure of where Twilight was going with this as she wondered why Twilight would ask such a question. She wanted Twilight to tell her.
"Well....she's making funny sounds....I'm not an expert on animal behavior so I don't know how to describe it. Fluttershy could describe it better but I wanted to bring it to your attention." Twilight said.
"Let me see her." Applejack asked. Twilight guided her to Winona and Applejack looked at her dog and saw that she was wheezing. Applejack sat down and examined Winona as she had never heard Winona make that sound.
"She might be making that sound because she's overheated." Twilight said. Applejack picked Winona up and brought her inside. She laid Winona on her bed and Twilight examined her just to make sure she wasn't missing any detail that was making Winona make that sound.
"Just cool her off and if she's still making the sound take her to a vet and somewhere as Ponyville doesn't have a pet but if you don't think Winona would make a trip to a vet take her to Fluttershy." Twilight said as she left. Applejack thanked her and looked at her dog in concern. She petted Winona with her hand as Winona breathed heavily. She put on the air conditioner and put a fan near where Winona was so Winona would feel better. Applejack stayed by her dog and waited for Winona to get better. As time went on however she wasn't getting better in fact she seemed to get worse.
Applejack panicked she searched for her cellphone in her room and soon found it. She tried to think of any place she could take Winona to get checked out but couldn't think of anybody that she knew who was an animal Doctor. But soon as she had that though Fluttershy came to mind. Fluttershy wasn't an animal Doctor but she was an expert on animals.
She hurriedly dialed Fluttershy's phone. Their was a long ringing and then Fluttershy answered the phone.
"Um....Hello?" Fluttershy answered.
"Fluttershy is that you there? I need your help....something is wrong with my dog. It worries me as she was fine this morning. She's that small one." Applejack asked.
"Yeah I know what your talking about. What's wrong with Winona?" Fluttershy asked. Applejack started to get really worried for her dog. She looked at her while she made a slight hacking sound.
"She's breathing heavily and worn out even if she only played for a few minutes outside. I don't know what to give her in order to make her feel better. What should I do?" Applejack asked.
"Take her to an experienced animal doctor. They might be able to diagnose the problem there." Fluttershy suggested. Applejack started to get very distressed.
"There's no vet in Ponyville! What the hell am I supposed to do! Why can't you help me!? I'm scared!" Applejack yelled. Fluttershy sighed as Applejack waited for Fluttershy's answer. Fluttershy then spoke.
"I'll be right over Applejack." Fluttershy said. Applejack hung up the phone and waited for Fluttershy to arrive as she was becoming overwhelmed by anxiety soon Fluttershy arrived and Applejack opened the door for her. Fluttershy immediately went to see Winona. Applejack followed her.
"Can you help her!?" Applejack asked as she was so scared for her dog. Fluttershy took out a stethoscope and listened to Winona's heart beat for a few minutes. Applejack stared at them both in distress. Applejack wanted Fluttershy to help Winona. She didn't want Winona to die. Fluttershy didn't want Winona to die either.
As soon as she tried to help Winona Winona stopped breathing. Applejack was being overcome with anxiety. Fluttershy tried to find Winona's heartbeat. Fluttershy took off the stethoscope and gave Applejack a sad look.
"I'm so sorry Applejack. She's gone....there was nothing I could do." Fluttershy said as she tried to choke back a sob. Applejack picked up Winona and hugged her as she slumped to the floor.
She started to choke back sobs as Fluttershy watched helplessly. Fluttershy stood there not knowing what to do. She thought about leaving Applejack alone but didn't do that as she thought that Applejack might need comfort from her.
"Do you want me to tell your family?" Fluttershy asked. Applejack shook her head.
"I'll do it. What was the cause of death?" Applejack asked as she sobbed. She probably should wait before to calm down before asking questions but she needed know about what happened to her dog.
"Heart failure. Her heart just stopped working. I don't know much else I'm sorry." Fluttershy said. Applejack sobbed heavily but nodded. She stayed there and sobbed over her dead companion.
Applejack felt so torn up about her dog. She loved Winona. She raced him and played fetch with him and took care of him. He was part of the family and now he was gone. Applejack mourned over him for a few more minutes and decided to tell her family.
Applejack stood up and looked at Fluttershy.
"Can you break the news to my sister. I'll tell Big Mac. It will just make it easier for me." Applejack asked. Fluttershy gave a sad nod. Applejack and Fluttershy both split up. Fluttershy went to Applebloom while Applejack went to tell Big Mac.
Flutterhsy knew she had to break the news very carefully to Apple Bloom while Applejack took off her towel and got dressed into a simple pair of pants and a shirt. She also put her hat on. She knew that she had to tell her brother as she had no idea how hard her brother would take it. Applejack slowly walked to where Big McIntosh was chopping wood for the fall as it was the last month of summer. She stopped and tried to hold back tears. He chopped wood for a bit more but stopped when he noticed her.
"Big Mac....uh....I know this is going to be hard to take...but it's Winona...I noticed that she was sick so I called Fluttershy over without telling you about what was happening which I apologize for. Something was wrong with Winona and when Fluttershy came over to check on Winona...it was to late. Winona is gone." Applejack managed to say.
She watched Big Mac set down the axe and went towards the farm. Applejack started to break down and cry again as her brother went towards the farm. She sobbed heavily. She wondered if she should wait out there or go comfort her brother.
She knew that he was going to see Winona for himself. She kept sobbing. She tried to stay strong but she couldn't help it. Her pet was dead. How was she not supposed to react?
She didn't see Big Mac come back out in a while. He was probably reacting now. She stayed outside as she didn't know what to do in order to comfort her family. Fluttershy walked out to where Applejack sat. Applejack continued to sob silently.
"They aren't taking it well. I did all that I could to comfort them but I decided to leave them be. Big Mac begged me to tell him what happened so I did...I'm sorry Applejack I know that she meant a lot to you. I have lost countless of animals that were my friends to. It's....it's hard. We have a pet that we love to hold and play with and one day before we know it they are gone. They are our best friends sometimes." Fluttershy said. Applejack nodded as she knew what Fluttershy was saying.
Applejack hugged Fluttershy. Fluttershy sat by her and hugged her to. Applejack sobbed for a few more minutes until she calmed down. She released Fluttershy.
"Thank you Fluttershy you did all that you can. I'll bury her today." Applejack said. Fluttershy nodded.
"Do you want me to leave?" Fluttershy asked. Applejack shook her head no and hugged Fluttershy tightly. After a few hours of mourning Appejack put on her hat and went out with a shovel as she decided to put Winona into her final resting place.
She took the shovel and started to dig a hole on her property. She wondered if her brother and her sister should witness it as it might be to much for them. She quietly went to see her brother but her brother was already walking towards the grave.
"Do you want to spend some more...time....or..." Applejack asked but Big Mac shook his head telling her that she could go ahead with the burial. Applejack continued to dig. Soon she finished and hole so she took the box and placed it into the appropriate sized hole.
She stood there and took one long last look at the box. Big Mac closed his eyes he stood there thinking the memories he had made with Winona. They stood there for a few minutes and then Applejack covered the hole. She placed a marker on the grave and write Winona on it and then she removed her hat out of respect and placed it over her heart as they all stated there and mourned over their dog.
Soon they all went back inside. They wanted to stay out there but they knew that they needed go inside sometime. Applejack spoke to Fluttershy.
"Thank you for your help Fluttershy. You can leave if you want." Applejack said. Flutterhsy asked if she wanted her to leave and Applejack told her that she could leave anytime she wanted. Fluttershy went to check on Apple Bloom and Fluttershy comforted her which Apple Bloom appreciated. Fluttershy said bye to them both and left.
When Applejack went up to see her sister her sister saw her and immediately hugged her and Applejack comforted her sister for a few minutes as they both talked about Winona. Apple Bloom still felt sad but she felt a tiny bit better.
"I'll miss her big sis." Apple Bloom remarked. Applejack nodded.
"Me to Apple Bloom." Applejack said
Over the next year Applejack's family slowly got over the death of Winona as they knew for sure that Winona was happily in dog heaven. Winona just had to be there. They would always love Winona.
