Chapters Its early morning. Applejack is just waking up at the crack of dawn, like always to go out to the orchard and buck the apples off the trees. She was always the first one to wake, even before Big Macintosh. Starting with the closest trees, she began her work for the day.
Pinkie Pie woke up at around ten A.M. that day, and began her work for the Cakes. She got out the ingredients for cupcake batter and started mixing it up, humming a tune as she did. When the batter was mixed up enough she poured it into cupcake trays and put them in the oven. A few minutes later she took them out, and then put a couple of cakes in the oven while she decorated the cupcakes for the counter. When the cakes were done she took those out and decorated them as well. She continued baking the treats until just passed noon her work for the day was done, so she left Sugar Cube Corner to go see what her friends were up to.
Pinkie headed over to Twilight’s house and knocked when she got there. Twilight opened the door to see her standing there smiling.
“Hiya Twilight!” Pinkie said happily,
“Hey Pinkie” Twilight said in reply.
“Its reshelving day” Twilight says happily.
Pinkie giggled, “Well I guess you're busy then?” she asks,
“Yeah sorry Pinkie, maybe we can talk later on?”
Pinkie nodded with a smile, “See ya later!” she said, then hopped away, heading for Carousel Boutique.
She knocked on the door to Carousel Boutique and Sweetie Belle answered.
“Hi there Sweetie Belle!” Pinkie said, “Is Rarity here?” she asked her.
“Hi Pinkie, well uhm Yes she is. But she’s so busy with her work right now, She wont even let me walk in the room..”
“Oooh I best not bother her then, Can you let her know I was here though?” Sweetie nodded with a smile. Pinkie smiled back. “See you later then.”
she walked away, heading toward Fluttershy’s cottage.
Fluttershy was already outside, giving food to all of her animal friends. Pinkie smiled and hopped over to her.
“Hi Fluttershy!” she said happily but loudly.
Fluttershy squeaked “Oh..Hi Pinkie.. You startled me..” she said quietly.
Pinkie giggled. “Whatcha up to?” she asks her.
“I’m feeding all my animals their lunch.” she says.
“Sounds fun” Pinkie giggles again, “Need any help?”
“I think I can manage.” Fluttershy says to her with a soft smile.
“Oh.. Well alright then.” Pinkie smiled.
“is something wrong Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked her.
“Well.. It just seems like everypony is busy today..” she says.
“Oh..’ Fluttershy sighed, “we can get together later on if you like..”
Pinkie smiled. “that sounds like fun!” she said happily, “I’ll see you later on then.” she says, then heads out.
Fluttershy goes back to feeding the animals.
Pinkie Pie walked around ponyville, waving at everypony she passed, looking at them with a smile. But she can’t stop thinking in the back of her head, ‘I wonder why everypony is so busy all of a sudden.’ she kept walking through ponyville. Pinkie decided to try one more stop before going back to Sugar Cube Corner. Sweet Apple Acres.
She heads there and sees Applejack and Big Mac taking a break,
“Hi Applejack, Hello Big Mac!” Pinkie says walking up behind them.
Big Mac smiles and nods, Applejack smiles as well, “Howdy Pinkie, What can Ah do ya’ for today” she asks.
“Oh.. Nothing really,” Pinkie answers. “I just came to see if I can help out a little, nopony else this afternoon wants my help, so I thought I’d come and see you” she says with a smile.
Applejack puts a hoof on the back of her own head with an awkward smile. “Well Pinkie Ah don’t really know if apple buckin’ is your kind’a work.” she says honestly.
“Please, please please please please please Let me help” Pinkie pleas.
“Well.. “ she pauses. “no offense sugar cube, but Ah don’t think you‘ll be strong enough” she says sighing.
“Can you at least let me try?“ she asks. “I promise that if I can’t do it I’ll go back home so you can finish your work.“
Applejack glances at Big Mac looking for help, he nods. She sighs, “Alright Pinkie, Ah’ll let you help.“ she says then thinks to herself, ‘I’m glad we’re already almost done..’
Pinkie smiles “Thank you!”
she trots over to one of the unbucked trees, and starts to shake it back and forth, After about twenty minutes or so the last apple falls off and she starts collecting them in a basket. Pinkie shakes down two more trees, and Applejack can’t really take it anymore, she trots over and offers a little friendly advice.
“Hey Pinkie?” Applejack says to her.
“Yeah Applejack?” She replies.
“Why don’t you try actually bucking the trees.” she trots over to one. “Like this pinkie,” She raises her back hooves near the tree and slams them into it, All the apples fall off in about ten seconds. “It helps us get the work done easier.” she says.
Pinkie nods, “Alright I’ll try it.” she says
walking up to a tree. She does the same thing Applejack does, but only about half the apples fall off. Pinkie looks at the ground with a saddened look,
“Aw’ shucks Pinkie, don’t feel so bad.” applejack says comforting her. “I couldn’t buck ‘em all off when I first started out. Why don’t you try buckin’ it again.” she says.
Pinkie nods again, and bucks it. The rest of them fall off. “See you’ve got it now.” she says with a smile. Pinkie smiles back.
“Thanks Applejack” she says softly, then heads over to another tree.
Applejack watches her, she has never actually seen a pony buck a tree. it’s a bit different than doing it herself, She starts to get a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach as Pinkie bucks the next tree, about three quarters of the apples fall this time.
“heh see Pinkie? You’re already getting better.” Applejack compliments her.
Pinkie smiles at her, then bucks the tree again, and the rest fall. She starts collecting the apples.
“Pinkie Hold on a sec” AJ says. Pinkie looks at her. “You just buck the rest of the trees..” Applejack says “Ah’ll collect the apples.”
“Are you sure?” Pinkie asks her thinking she may not be feeling well.
“Yeah Ah’m sure.” she smiles, “Go on now, finish the work.” she says warmly.
Pinkie smiles and nods, heading down the path and bucking the trees. Applejack follows her all the way down, watching her. When Pinkie bucks the last tree, she leaves hoof prints in the bark of it. Applejack looks back and forth between Pinkie and the hoof prints. When Pinkie sees what she did she starts to worry,
“Oh Applejack I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to leave a mark in the tree..” she says
“Oh its fine pinkie, it wont hurt it, Don’t worry at all.” Applejack smiles
Pinkie smiles too and starts collecting apples. Applejack watches her, thinking to herself. ‘how can a pony who’s never done this before be strong enough to leave hoof prints in the trees..’ she blushes looking at her back hooves, ‘I can’t even do that..’ She lets pinkie continue to collect apples while she watches, still blushing a little bit.
Late in the evening, Applejack, Pinkie, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, and Fluttershy all went out to dinner together.
“How are all of you doing” Twilight asks everyone,
“Fabulous, just fabulous” Rarity says with a smile,
“Great” Rainbow answers,
“just fine.” Fluttershy says.
“Ah’m doin’ fine.” Applejack answers, though a bit quieter than everyone else.
“Doing great.” Pinkie says with a giggle.
“Rarity, you sound really happy.” Fluttershy remarks.
“Did you get a lot of work done today?” Twilight asks her.
“If you must know, I just got a very large order designed. And I am quite proud of it.” She answers them.
“That’s great to hear.” Twilight says.
“I hope you get it done on time.” Fluttershy says to her.
“They gave me plenty of time so I believe I will.” Rarity looks over at Rainbow. “Did you do anything interesting today Rainbow Dash?” she asks.
“Nah not really. Just kicked the clouds out of the sky then relaxed pretty much.” she says. Then turns to Applejack. “How about you AJ?” She asks.
“Ah’ did some work in the orchard.” she says, still being quieter than everyone else, but no one really notices.
“And I helped her!” Pinkie jumps in “I had So much fun helping Applejack out in the orchard, She taught me how to Buck the trees just right to get the apples to fall.” she says smiling,
“Ah’ did didn’t Ah Applejack says smiling.
“That was really nice of you Applejack.” Twilight responds to them.
“aw shucks.. There’s nothin’ to it.” she says blushing a little. She looks at Pinkie, “You’re welcome to come back tomorrow and help if you want..” she tells Pinkie a little hesitantly. “if ya’ ain’t too busy”
Pinkie beams a huge smile, “I’d love to come and help! I’ll clear it with Mr. and Mrs. Cake when I get home tonight.” she tells her.
“Alright then. Just try to get there Really early, we’re usually up by dawn.” Applejack tells her.
“Okay!” Pinkie says still smiling.
Applejack turns to Twilight, “What did you do today” she asks,
“Today was Reshelving day” twilight smiles, “I took every single book off the shelves, and reorganized them.” she explains.
Rainbow Dash accidentally lets out a giggle. “Oh Twilight you’re such and egg-head.” she says, still giggling,
Twilight giggles along. Soon they all burst into laughter. After a few moments, Rarity stands,
“Ladies I must bid you adieu, I have a long day of work ahead of me tomorrow.”
“So do I!” Pinkie says with a slight gasp,
“I guess that means Applejack will be going too?” Twilight says
“..Huh? Oh right..Yeah G’night y’all” Applejack says.
The rest of them say their goodbyes and goodnights. Then head home.
Applejack slowly walks home, she is trying to figure out what she was thinking about when Pinkie helped her with the apple bucking earlier. There was some sort of feeling there, but she just cant put her hoof on it.
“why was Ah’ feelin like that..” she says to herself, “what kind a’ feelin’ was it..”
She is starting to frustrate herself. Sighing softly she, looks up at the sky and, without realizing it, she visualizes Pinkie’s face in the stars. She sighs again, and keeps walking, eventually making it home and going to bed.
Pinkie Pie woke up before dawn the next morning excitedly waiting to see the sun start to rise so she can head to Sweet Apple Acres. Almost an hour later, it finally does rise, and Pinkie zooms out of the door. Applejack woke up when the roosters outside her window crowed, she had barely gotten any sleep the night before, so she was more tired than usual. She trots down the stairs and goes into the kitchen, getting some coffee, hoping the caffeine will wake her up before Pinkie gets there. About twenty minutes, and three cups of coffee later, Pinkie arrives at the door.
“Morning Applejack!” she says happily when Applejack answers.
“Mornin’ Pinkie. Glad to see you here on time.” she smiles.
“I would not have missed this for anything!” Pinkie says, “Apple bucking was so fun yesterday, and I only did a couple of trees. I can’t wait to do an entire day’s worth!” she says happily giggling and squeaking.
“heheh.. Tell me that again after Noon.” Applejack laughs, “Lets get to work.” she says. Trotting out the door passed Pinkie.
Pinkie smiles, “Yes Ma’am.” she giggles.
Applejack smirks, quickly running out to the section of the orchard they’re bucking today. All the trees are already surrounded in baskets for collecting the apples. She starts bucking the trees. Pinkie quickly follows suit, trying to work as fast as Applejack is. Applejack stops working for a moment to see if pinkie is keeping up, and her jaw drops when pinkie is passing her. The feeling she had yesterday while Pinkie was bucking the trees, has returned. She stands there watching her, still in awe.
“how in the hay can she do that..” she says quietly to herself.
Trying to snap herself out of it, she starts bucking the trees again, picking up her pace a little.
A few hours later, noon comes, and its their lunch break time. Applejack trots over to pinkie who just bucked a tree and was about to buck another.
“Pinkie Pie!” Applejack shouts as she’s nearing her. “Its break time!”
“Woo hoo!!” Pinkie yells, “I could really use a drink!” she smiles.
Applejack smiles too, “Come on over here and get a snack.” she trots away heading back toward the house.
Pinkie smiles following her. When they get to the house, Applejack gets a small cloth from a drawer in the kitchen, and wipes the sweat off her face. Pinkie walks over, Applejack smiles,
“We’ve done a lot today Pinkie” she says to her
“I know!” she replys “And it is so much fun!!” she squeaks and giggles at the same time.
“heh.. well ah’m glad you are enjoyin’ yourself.” Applejack tells her. “Ah didn’t even know ya had it in ya t’do this kinda work.”
“well that’s cause no pony’s ever asked me to do this kind of work. But I’ve always been able to.” Pinkie says.
“well shoot.. I should’a had ya come over sooner then. we coulda really used your help a week ago when we had to get all the apples down before that big storm hit..” Applejack tells her “Pinkie, ah’m really sorry..”
Pinkie gives her a questioning look. “about what AJ?” she asks,
“I had a mighty bad feelin’ about bringin’ ya out here.. Ah didn’t expect you to do this well.. Can ya ever forgive me?..” she asks.
Pinkie smiles softly and hugs Applejack. “Absolutely I can, I think the others would’ve felt the same way if I was helping them with their works.” she says. “so don’t worry about it.” she smiles.
Applejack smiles too, and blushes slightly. She starts nuzzling Pinkie’s cheek, Pinkie’s cheeks turn from her usual hot pink color to a deeper crimson red. Applejack stops, pulling away and taking a step back. Pinkie is just standing there smiling.
After their break was finished and they’ve had their snack, Applejack and Pinkie Pie go back to work bucking the remaining trees. Pinkie starts trotting a bit faster than AJ because where she was working is further away.
“Pinkie, hold on a sec” Applejack stops her.
She turns around, “What is it Applejack?” she asks
Applejack takes her hat off and puts it on pinkie‘s head, “There ya go sugar cube “ Applejack says smiling,
Pinkie blushes a deep crimson again, “Thanks” she nuzzles AJ for a quick moment, then runs off to her section of the orchard. Applejack does as well.
A few more hours pass, the sun is almost starting to go down. They finally finish their work. When they’re back in front of the house, Pinkie stretches, proud of herself. Her long day of work is finally over. She gives Applejack her hat back, then slightly bows to Big Macintosh and Granny Smith,
“Thanks for letting me work today.” she says to them.
They both nod, “Eeyup.” Big mac says,
“You’re welcome to work here any time.” Granny smith tells her.
Pinkie nods, and starts trotting home. Applejack runs after her, stopping in front of her. Pinkie looks at her questioningly for a moment.
Applejack sets her hat on Pinkie’s head again. “ah want you to keep it sugar cube.”
“Really?” Pinkie asks with an excited smile. “Are you sure?”
“Course I am.” Applejack says blushing a little.
“Thank you so much Applejack.” Pinkie says hugging her, “I promise I’ll take good care of it.”
“Ah know ya will sugar cube.”
Applejack steps out of her way, and Pinkie heads home for the night. Applejack heads back to the house, and goes up to her room. Laying down in her bed she stares at the ceiling thinking about Pinkie.
When Pinkie gets home, she does the same. She has an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach, she isn’t sure what it is. She hugs Applejack’s hat to her chest, thinking to herself, ‘what is this feeling.. How am I supposed to react to it.. Is Applejack feeling the same way?…why is this happening..’ as she lays there, her mind races with a hundred questions for which she has no answers. She sets Applejack’s hat on her nightstand sighing, then tries to fall asleep. After about a half an hour, Pinkie’s pinkie sense is making her tail twitch, but due to her mind racing she doesn’t even realize it. About an hour later, she falls asleep.
Little does Pinkie know, Applejack is laying in her own bed at home, doing the same thing she is. Thinking to herself, ‘what is this feeling, how do I react, is Pinkie feeling the same way.. Why is this happening,’ Applejack falls asleep in about an hour, her mind racing. She has a nightmare, and wakes up yelling about a half hour later, Apple Bloom is peeking through her door,
“Applejack.. You okay sis?” she asks concerned,
Applejack looks over at her, “Yeah.. Ah’m alright..” she says breathing heavily,
Apple Bloom gives her a worried look, “Are you sure? She asks.
“Yeah,. Ah’m sure” she gives Apple Bloom a reassuring smile.
Apple Bloom smiles back and heads back to her own room closing Applejack’s door. Applejack stares at her hooves for a moment, before laying back down. She then mumbles to herself, “Ah’ hope..” Closing her eyes she falls asleep quickly and stays asleep the rest of the night.
The next morning, both Pinkie and Applejack both wake up around the same time. Applejack, still worried about the nightmare she had, tries to snap herself out of it by eating some home made apple pancakes for breakfast. It helps take her mind off of the night before, which makes her feel better.
Pinkie Pie who was also still curious about what she had felt that night, tries to snap herself out of it by doing a bit of baking for the Cakes before she has to leave to go to Sweet Apple Acres. She still hasn’t realized her pinkie sense went off the night before either. When she’s done with her work for the Cakes she goes back up to her room to grab AJ’s hat. Then heads outside and toward Sweet Apple Acres.
When Pinkie gets through the gate of Sweet Apple Acres, Wynona comes running and barking, happy to see her. Pinkie lightly pats her head smiling. “Hello there Wynona.” she says happily. Applejack opens the door to see what Wynona is barking at, she smiles when she sees its Pinkie. Pinkie trots over to AJ, and AJ hugs her, Pinkie smiles hugging her back happily.
“Howdy Pinkie” she says, “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Hiya Applejack!” Pinkie says, “I’m glad to be here.”
Applejack looks at the ground briefly then just off into the distance, Pinkie senses something is wrong.
“Is something wrong AJ?” Pinkie asks concerned.
“Well.. Uh, Yeah kinda” Applejack replies.
Pinkie gets worried . “what is it..?” she asks
“Ah’ had a nightmare last night..” Applejack tells her.
“Oh..” Pinkie says, hugging her again, “well I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you..”
“Don’t worry about it too much Pinkie.” AJ tells her.
“I had already felt a bit better when I woke up this morning’ and had a good breakfast.”
“That’s great to hear.” Pinkie smiles, “When do we get to work?” she asks,
“Oh, right now ah guess.” Applejack says, almost sad that she just wants to get to work right away.
“Okay!” Pinkie says happily, quickly heading out to the orchard.
Applejack follows her, and they begin their work for the day. They work a bit slower than yesterday, but they get a lot of work done pretty quickly. After working on two or three lines of trees, Applejack starts collecting apples that didn’t land in the baskets surrounding the trees. She hears a very loud snapping noise, and her eyes go wide, she turns around to face a tree behind her that is starting to fall over. She gasps and tries to run, but her hooves are stuck in the mud and she can‘t get free. Pinkie’s pinkie sense causes her tail to twitch, She looks at it, then at Applejack. She can see the tree starting to fall. and Applejack struggling to free herself from the mud. She rushes over, running as fast as she can. “APPLEJACK!!!” Pinkie screams diving into her just as the tree falls. Applejack is shoved out of the way and to the ground. She shakes her head looking at the tree trunk where it broke, then looking back at the spot she was standing. She gasps loudly just as the rest of the family is running out of the house.
“Applejack!” Apple Bloom yells. “What happened..” She looks at what is under the tree, Big Mac, having already seen it, turns her head away and covers her eyes. A few tears start to roll down Applejack’s cheeks.
“PINKIE PIE!!” Applejack screams. “please be okay.. Please be okay..” Applejack repeats to herself as she slowly walks to her. She stares at Pinkie, the tree laying over her. One of Pinkie’s eyes twitch slightly and Applejack notices it immediately.
“Big Mac!” Applejack yells. “Get this tree off her, she’s still alive!”
“Eeyup!” he says rushing over,
Apple Bloom tries to follow him, but Granny Smith stops her and takes her into the house. Big Mac and Applejack hurry to get the tree off her, but also work very carefully. They have a hard time, because every time they move the tree, Pinkie grunts in pain,
“A…Ap..Apple..jack..” Pinkie says through the pain.
“Pinkie..” Applejack replies still in tears. “Don’t you worry sugarcube.. We’ll get this tree off you lickity split.”
“Apple..jack..” Pinkie says again. “I’m..sor..ry..” Tears start to roll down pinkie’s cheeks.
“Wh..What are you sorry for sugar cube…” Applejack asks her.
“You..Almost.. Got hurt..” Pinkie answers.
“It wasn’t your fault..” Applejack tells her. “Now you gotta conserve what energy you have left..” She turns to Big Mac, and he nods. “This will probably hurt.. And ah’m sorry..”
Big Mac and AJ start to lift the tree off of Pinkie. She grunts, trying to hold back screams. It takes a few moments for them to get the right leverage, but when they do they nod at each other.
“Brace yourself Pinkie..” Applejack tells her.
She does. Applejack and Big Mac heave the tree, and it is lifted off Pinkie. She screams nearly passing out. They put the tree aside.
“Pinkie..” Applejack says to her.
“Applejack?” Pinkie replies,
“You’re gonna be okay..” Applejack says to her, “Ah’ promise..” she nuzzles Pinkie, then nods at Big Mac, He lifts pinkie up off the ground, she grunts in pain as Big Mac sets Pinkie on her back.
“Hold on tight Pinkie..” Applejack tells her. Pinkie nuzzles the back of Applejacks neck resting her head on her mane. Applejack gallops off toward Ponyville hospital as fast as she can. It only takes her five minutes at the speed she’s galloping, she makes it to Ponyville hospital busting through the door to the emergency patient wing.
“Help! Help! Ah have a patient here! She is in trouble!” Applejack yells.
Two doctors and a nurse rush over with a stretcher, they carefully take Pinkie off of Applejack and set her on the stretcher,
“What happened.” one doctor asks,
“A tree fell on her..” Applejack tells him.
“How did it happen” he asks
“she was..” Applejack pauses looking at the floor.
“Well?” he says.
“She was saving me..” she answers him.
“I see.. We’ll do everything in our power to keep her alive.” he assures Applejack.
“Ah know you will.” she says
They start wheeling Pinkie into the ER, but she stops them by grabbing at Applejacks coat.
“My dear..” the nurse says in a sweet tone, “you’ll see her again, you have to let us help you though.”
Pinkie looks at her, then at Applejack. Applejack sighs sadly, “You’ll see me again Pinkie, They wont let you go..” she says,
Pinkie tries to get Applejack to lean in close. And she catches on, Applejack leans down, putting her ear to Pinkie’s muzzle. Pinkie whispers into Applejacks ear, she picks up her head, looking at Pinkie with a seemingly shocked look. The doctors wheel her away after that. AJ follows them into the ER Waiting room, its separate from the regular lobby for more important friends and family of the injured. Applejack paces back and fourth in the room for hours, waiting on an update from the doctors. About four hours later, one of the doctors comes out of the ER, his apron and mask stained in blood. Applejack notices the stains and instantly becomes more worried than before.
“Applejack, right?” The doctor says.
“Yeah…Is she okay?” Applejack asks.
“Pinkie Pie is going to be alright, but just barely.” he says.
Applejack sighs with relief,
“You got her here in the nick of time.” the doctor says to her. If you hadn’t gotten her here as quick as you did, she might not have made it. We had to do reconstructive surgery on several of her vital organs and bones, namely her spinal cord and her ribs. Her lungs and liver as well.” the doctor explains.
Applejack covers her mouth with her hoof, not realizing that Pinkie was in that bad of shape. “C..Can ah’ see her?..” Applejack asks him.
“Not quite yet” he says, “We’re still closing some of the surgery wounds, and cleaning up.”
“Oh..Okay.” Applejack says, seeming sad.
The doctor rests a hoof on her shoulder, “Don’t worry. She’ll come out of it.” he says, reassuring her.
“Thanks.” Applejack says, giving him a light smile,
The doctor goes back into the room to help the others finish the work. She sits down on one of the chairs in the room, finally taking a rest from her pacing. She stares at the floor, and tears slowly start to roll down her cheeks. She can hear the doctors talking in the room, and also hear the beeping of the heart monitor
“How is she” one of the doctors asks the other.
“She’s not out of the water yet.” he explains, “Her body still needs to recover from the surgery, and that could take time.”
“Should we take her to get a scan?” she asks.
“For now, no. She needs to rest a little.”
The doctor walks out of the room, to go speak with Applejack.
“Miss?.. Are you Applejack.” he asks her, when he sees her sitting there.
“Yeah.. Ah am.” She answers,
“We’ve done all we can do for Pinkie today, She needs rest, and tomorrow we’ll be taking her to get CAT scanned.“ he tells her. “You should go home, and get some rest yourself. “
She looks up at the clock, they’ve been there for hours and she didn’t even realize it. “Is there a place Here that Ah could sleep?” she asks the doctor.
“Unfortunately there isn’t.” he says to her, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “Go home, Get some rest and come back in the morning.” he tells her.
“Can Ah see her for just a minute?..” she asks the doctor giving him an almost begging look.
“Sure.” he says
Applejack walks into the room and looks at Pinkie. She nuzzles Pinkie’s cheek. “Ah’ll be back bright and early tomorrow morning..” she says quietly. “get some rest ya hear”
Applejack heads home after that, hoping that Pinkie will be okay.
Applejack returned to the hospital the next morning. As she walks through the door, she is met by the doctor that she talked to the night before.
“Hello Applejack.” he says to her.
“Hey.. How’s she doin’” Applejack asks him.
His look turns to slight sadness, “She.. Slipped into a Coma, in the night.” he tells her.
She puts a hoof over her mouth, speechless for the moment, with tears welling up in her eyes.
“I’m sorry..” the doctor says to her, “We’ll be monitoring her for the next few weeks, she may wake up.”
Applejack nods sadly “can ah go in t’ see her?” she asks.
“Sure.” the doctor says, walking to Pinkie’s room.
Applejack follows him. When they get to Pinkie’s room, she trots ahead of him. Applejack looks at Pinkie, laying there, she just looks like she’s asleep. Applejack nuzzles her cheek.
“Ah told ya sugar cube.. Ah’m here bright and early.” she says quietly.
The doctor walks out of the room to attend to business elsewhere. Applejack stays with Pinkie the entire day, talking to her every so often. A doctor comes in much later on.
“Applejack? Its nearly midnight, You should head home.” he tells her. “We’ll keep a watchful eye on her, don’t worry.”
“Alright..” she answers him, She nuzzles Pinkie, telling her the same thing she had before. Then leaves, heading home.
Applejack has to go out of town the next day to deliver an order of apple pies, fritters, tarts and caramel apples, to Canterlot for a banquet. So she is unable to visit Pinkie in the hospital. That doesn’t stop her from worrying about her through the whole train ride. She paces back and forth in the train car she is assigned, thinking about anything, and nearly everything that could go wrong at the hospital. ‘ah really hope Pinkie is okay..’ she thinks to herself. ‘what if something goes wrong, what if she wakes up and ah’m not there.. What if..’ she stops pacing and sits in one of the seats, starting to cry because of what she just thought. One of the train attendants comes in the car to check on her and sees her crying.
“Are you okay miss?” he asks slowly walking up to her.
Applejack rubs her eyes with her foreleg, “yeah ah’m alright..” she tells him.
“what is wrong? If you don’t mind me asking.” he asks her.
“one of my friends is in the hospital..” she tells him.
“Oh.. Well I’m sorry to hear that, I hope she does okay” he smiles lightly.
“yeah.. Me too.” she says.
“Well since everything seems to be alright here, I’ll just be on my way.” he tells her, then starts heading for the door.
Applejack sighs when he leaves, just wishing she could be in the hospital visiting Pinkie. About a half hour later, the train starts slowing down, and a voice comes over the loudspeaker in all the cars.
“We are now arriving at our destination, Canterlot, Thank you for choosing ETS, the best train service in all of Equestria.”
“finally..” Applejack says out loud with a sigh.
She pushes her desert cart out of the train and heads toward the castle garden trying to get there as fast as she can without losing any of the deserts. As she is approaching the castle, one of the guards stops her.
“Halt” he says
“Hello there..” Applejack replies.
“What is this cart for.” he asks her.
“Ah was asked by the princess herself to provide a selection of sweets for the banquet today.” she tells him reaching into her saddlebag and pulling out a scroll, “here is the letter she sent to me as proof.”
He pulls the letter away from her with magic and reads it. “Very well then, follow me please.” he says giving the letter back to her.
Applejack lets him get ahead of her so she can push the cart. The guard leads her to the castle ball room which has a door that leads out to the courtyard.
“Thanks” Applejack tells the guard, bowing to him slightly.
“Not a problem.” he says to her, then leaves.
Applejack begins transferring the sweets from her cart to the tables. It takes a couple of hours, but when she’s done she sighs with relief. Taking the cart back to the train station, she leaves it in the main building. And boards the train for Ponyville. By the time the train arrives at Ponyville station, its already dark, but she heads to the hospital anyway to see if they’ll let her see Pinkie.
“Can ah please see her.. For just a minute.” she pleads with one of the workers behind the front desk.
“I’m sorry miss but I just cant let you- “ she’s stopped by the doctor that Applejack had talked to before.
“its fine, let her through.” he says to the mare behind the desk.
“Alright, you can go through, Only for a few minutes.” she says.
“that’s fine,” Applejack tells her then she looks at the doctor, “thank you..” she says to him.
“not a problem, go on through.” he says smiling slightly.
Applejack walks passed him, and goes to Pinkie’s room. She smiles warmly, happy to be visiting Pinkie again. She nuzzles Pinkie,
“ah’m really sorry Pinkie, ah wasn’t here all day to day, the princess needed me to deliver some sweets to a banquet..Ah’m sure you can understand that right?.. Well ah hope you’re having sweet dreams Pinkie.. Ah have to go now.. Ah’ll see you tomorrow.” she says, nuzzling her again. Then heading out of the room.
As she walks passed the front desk she stops,
“thanks again for letting me through.” she says to the doctor who was still standing there making idle conversation with the mare behind the desk,
“Not a problem Applejack, Not a problem at all.” he tells her.
Applejack heads out of the hospital, and towards home again, worrying about Pinkie. ‘ah really hope she wakes up soon..’ she thinks to herself looking up at the stars. The stars seem to form the shape of Pinkie’s smiling face. Applejack starts crying and talking out loud to herself.
“please.. Please wake up Pinkie.. Ah just want to see you smile..” she says
Picking up her pace a bit she makes it home and goes to bed. Though she has trouble actually sleeping.
A day later, Applejack is visiting Pinkie. She’s sitting next to her bed, when one of the machine’s alarms goes off. A doctor rushes in, pushing Applejack away lightly. He looks at all the machines then pulls out a stethoscope placing it over pinkie’s heart. Her heart rate has slowed to an alarming rate.
“Pinkie..” Applejack says quietly. “Doctor what’s goin’ on?” she asks, placing a hoof on his shoulder.
“Her heart rate has slowed down rapidly..” he says quietly. “Its barely beating now..”
“No.. Please no..” she says becoming hysterical “Pinkie, Pinkie please wake up..” she says, tears beginning to fall.
The doctor calls to a nurse and the nurse takes her out of the room. As she’s walking out she stops and turns back to the doctor.
“Please.. Do all that ya can..” she tells him, almost begging him.
He nods, “I will do all in my power.”
She nods back and walks out to sit in the waiting room, she lays down on the couch in the waiting room crying. A nurse sits out there with her, trying to comfort her.
“what do ya think will happen..” Applejack asks her through the tears.
“well.. I can’t say for sure deary..” she replies, “but we can be sure that the doctors will do everything in their power to help her.”
“Ah hope you’re right about that..” Applejack says.
From outside the room, more machine alarms go off and yelling can be heard.
“Bring another IV bag!”
“Get a shot of --” She couldn’t understand the name of the medicine said by the doctor.
“Bring in the paddles, we may end up needing them!”
Applejack cries harder knowing what that last line meant. “Please Pinkie..” she whispers to herself, “Please pull through.”
She lays there quietly for the next couple of hours, watching doctors and nurses rush in and out of Pinkie’s room. She just keeps thinking to her self that Pinkie will pull through. One of the doctors walks out of her room and stops outside the door. Applejack looks up at him teary eyed.
“What’s goin’ on doctor” she asks him. “is everythin’ okay?”
“She’s still alive..” he says quietly. “but.. For how much longer, we do not know.” he tells her.
“Whadaya mean, you don’t know for how much longer..” she asks him.
“With how fast her heart rate dropped and how slow its going right now, Its amazing that she’s still alive as it is..” he says to her.
Applejack sighs sadly, “you can’t do anything for her?” she asks sadly.
He sighs starting to feel bad for her. “At this point.. No we can’t do anything more for her.. As of now, its just a matter of time..” he says to her. Then walks over placing a hoof on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry..” he says, then walks away.
Applejack starts crying again, “Pinkie.. Please don’t die.. You’re a fighter.. You can beat this..” she says to herself. “Please Pinkie.. Please..” she just keeps repeating.
She gets up from the couch and walks into Pinkie’s room. Looking at Pinkie, memories flash into her mind. Good, and bad. She sighs sadly, glancing at the heart rate monitor every few minutes or so. Its slowing down. Trying to think of something to help Pinkie live, she starts giving her a pep talk.
“Pinkie, ah’ve known you for a long time now.” Applejack says, starting to tear up almost instantly. “Ah know you’re a fighter, Ah know you can beat this.” she pauses choked up, the heart rate monitor has slowed further. “Pinkie, if you leave us.. We wont be able to beat anyone that attacks Equestria again” she says softly, nuzzling her. “You’re the element of laughter.. We need you Pinkie..” the heart monitor flat-lines. “Ah need you..” her tears are flowing freely now. “Ah love you Pinkie..” Applejack nuzzles her, after a few moments, the heart rate monitor starts showing a heart beat again. “huh..?”
Applejack looks over at the heart rate monitor, then at Pinkie. The frown on her face has turned into a soft smile.
“That’s all I needed to hear..” she whispers.
Applejack’s eyes go wide, she can’t believe it.
“Pinkie.. You’re alive..” she says quietly,
Pinkie nods slightly, barely able to move in the first place. “Eeyup..” she says, then forces a giggle.
Applejack kisses her cheek. “Pinkie, Ah’m so happy you’re alive.. I thought.. I thought..” her tears start flowing again.
Pinkie shakes her head. “I’d never leave you Applejack.” she says quietly.
The doctor from before comes in. “We got alarm out front that she--” he stops what he’s saying, seeing that Pinkie is laying there smiling, eyes half open. “How’s that possible..” he says completely shocked. “She..”
Applejack walks over to him. “Ah know..” she says.
“Well we’ll get right on helping her recover, don’t you worry.” he says with a smile.
He buzzes two nurses and they start doing their job. Applejack walks out of the room and sits in the waiting room like she had before. About an hour later, the doctor comes back out, tapping on her shoulder. She looks up at him.
“She’s going to make a full recovery.” he says with a smile.
“That’s great doc!” Applejack says happily, hugging him.
He hugs her back “She’ll be able to go home in just a few days. I don’t know how she did it, but she lived.”
Applejack nods, “Thanks so much for all your help doc.” she tells him.
He nods and walks away. Applejack looks through the window in the door to the room smiling. Pinkie’s talking to the nurses, they’re smiling and laughing. Applejack sighs happily.
A week later Pinkie is cleared to go home. Applejack walks home with her.
“Pinkie, “Ah’m so happy you’re okay.” she says.
“I’m happy too, the doctors told me you visited me every single day for almost two months straight.” Pinkie says.
“Yeah.. Ah did.” Applejack replies. “Except for one day, Ah had to deliver some food to Canterlot for a garden party.”
“I see, well I guess I can let that slide.” she laughs. Applejack laughs too, then sighs softly. “Applejack, is something wrong?” Pinkie asks.
“Ah shouldn’t have let what happened to you happen..” she says
“Applejack, it isn’t your fault. I wasn’t watching what I was doing. Don’t blame yourself, okay?”
“Okay, if you say so.” she smiles softly.
Pinkie then nuzzles Applejack. “I love you..” she says quietly.
“Ah love you too.” Applejack replies, kissing her softly.
The End.