When The Dead Start To Trot

“Ah’m so sorry, cousin,” Braeburn said sadly. “Ah'm sorry.”

Applejack together with the rest of her friends stood in front of Twilight's grave. The cheaply made cross was almost blown away by a wind breeze.

“Why? Why did that had to happen?” Pinkie stuttered out, uncontrollably crying. Her hair was completely flat and hanging down from her head. She turned to Applejack. “Why?”

“Ah don't know!” she quickly hissed before returning her gaze to the grave. “Ah didn't think she'd come to us to Release. Ah still don't know why.”

“She had heard rumours,” Rarity started to talk, “just before she went there. She wanted to make sure you're okay, darling.” She noticed it sounded accusing and wanted to take it back but decided she should just stay silent for the moment.

Rainbow Dash uncharacteristically stayed completely silent. She didn't cry but also couldn't get a single word out. She just wanted to fly to Cloudsdale and stay there until this was all over.

Fluttershy cried her eyes out. Her whole body was shaking significantly and her mane blocked most of her view.

Braeburn felt the need to do something about the situation but on the other hoof he knew that they needed their time to mourn.

Still, he silently asked, “What happened to Spike?”

“We don't know,” Fluttershy mumbled more to herself than to Braeburn, just loud enough for him to hear. “Twilight lost him when boarding the train in Ponyville. We haven't seen him since.”

Everypony fell silent again.

Applejack was the first to step away from the grave. She stayed silent while simply trotting away towards her home. The others looked at her leaving but didn't bother saying or doing anything.

Celestia could see her trotting away. She turned her head towards the grave in the backyard of the castle. Her room was dark. She has never felt as terrible as now before.

“Sis?” Luna entered the room. “Sis, please come out.”

Celestia continued looking out and sighed. “My window started breaking, my window in the throne room. I'm slightly beginning to lose my mind here.”

“Don't talk about this nonsense,” Luna tried to reassure her. “Why would you lose your mind? It means nothing good, I know that. But we don't know what it is.”

“Equestria counted on me,” she whispered as Luna stepped closer, “and I failed it. Canterlot is probably the only safe city left. We don't know what happened to the Crystal Empire. The only other city that has the potential to still be safe is Appleloosa because it's small enough to be protected by its citizens.” She turned her head to her sister. “About three quarters of all ponies are dead or undead. We keep losing ponies from day to day and have no idea how to keep everything under control. We don't even know how we can stop this mess!” She nearly collapsed. Luna tried to help her up.

“No, it's fine,” Celestia tried to calm her sister down. “It's fine. I will just lie down for a while.”

Luna left the room. Celestia let herself fall on the bed. She felt even more terrible now. “We won't make it,” she mumbled before starting to cry. “We won't make it.”

After about two months, everything has gone back to normal.

Canterlot was safer than ever since the outbreak and not a lot of undead ponies found their way to the city. Release had begun anew with a new leader who had thrown all of the pony meat out and traded food and other goods with Canterlot.

Applebloom had survived the amputation and Doctor Whooves was working on a prosthesis to replace her missing leg.

“Ya sure this will work?”

“No, I am not really, to be honest,” he admitted. “I certainly think it should but I never have done something like this before.” He put the last screw in. “Well, this should do.”

“Will it hurt?” Appblebloom asked, sounding a bit scared.

“Maybe a bit, but it should not actually.” Applejack gave him a somewhat angry stare. “What? I just cannot lie.”

It took Whooves a little while but in the end, the prosthesis was more or less bonded to Applebloom's leg. She tried to walk some steps with it. She was really careful and could only walk when concentrating really hard on it.

“Great, Appblebloom!” Applejack tried to reassure her. And it worked. Applebloom became a bit more confident in walking with the prosthesis and walked faster. Then, she fell.

“Ouch!”

“Careful,” Whooves said and helped her up. “It will take you a while before you can walk with this prosthesis without giving it too much thought. But you will get used to it, I promise.”

“But how long it'll take me? That's so annoying!” she asked.

“I do not know,” he admitted. “I have no experience with this kind of wound.”

“Ya'll have to be patient on that one,” Applejack told her little sister who then turned to her.

“Can I go now?” Applebloom asked. Applejack looked to Whooves.

“She can, carefully,” he added.

“Thanks, AJ!” She hugged her. Then, before going outside, she turned her head to the Doc. “Thanks, Doc!”

“No problem,” he smiled at her and began clearing up his room a bit. Applejack stayed with him.

“Ah wanted to talk to you about somethin’.”

“Sure, what is it?”

“About Rose,” Applejack began formulating her thoughts. “She began talkin’ about goin’ out there to look for her friends, Lily Valley and… Daisy.”

Doctor Whooves stopped in his tracks and fully faced Applejack. “And you do not want to let her outside because you know that they are dead?”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “Ah'd have to tell her that Ah knew the truth from the beginning. And Ah don't think Ah can.”

“Well, you certainly should not lie to her about this. But I appreciate you trying to protect her.” He stopped and thought for a moment. “I think every solution will be hard but confessing is probably the safest.”

“But she'll probably hate me,” Applejack added.

“It is possible, indeed, but as far as I know Rose, she will ultimately forgive you. And me. You are the Element of Honesty after all.”

“Ah'm not gonna name-drop you,” she said sternly. “It's not your fault Daisy died. Only hers and mine.”

“And I will not let you go through this alone. It could help if I defend you. Rose trusts us both, I can assure you that.”

Applejack smiled. “Thanks, Doc.” She as well went outside. He smiled and went back to his work.

“So, what now?” Charming Blade asked after their fifth game of Blackjack.

“I don't know,” Stellar answered and threw his cards on the table in frustration. “And why do you keep winning everything, Lyra?”

“Tactics,” she smiled. Caramel did too.

The four of them were sitting in a pub in Canterlot. Stellar personally wasn't really sure of the vibe there. He felt kind of lost but also cozy.

“I wish Big Mac would be here,” Caramel suddenly said sadly.

“What did you expect?” Charming asked rhetorically. “He found his sister. Of course he'd spend more time with her now.”

“Are you blaming him for that?” Lyra asked. “You'd do it too, wouldn't you?”

“Yeah, probably,” Charming admitted and took a big sip of his cider. He suddenly shivered. “Damnit! That tastes like somepony shitted in it!” Angrily, he took the cup and began shouting at the bartender.

“I still have a hard time around him. I just don't get used to him,” Stellar quietly admitted.

“I feel the same way myself,” Caramel whispered even more quiet.

Lyra stayed silent this time and looked at Stellar's cards laying openly on the table.
“You could have won with this deck. Really good one.”

Stellar sighed again and clenched his eyes. “Where did you learn all this?”

“Bon Bon.” They all suddenly became silent. Stellar had to think back to first meeting her and the others, how she got bitten and how he wasn't even there when she died. He shaked off the thoughts.

“It's a shame she had to leave but we'll continue for her,” he gathered his thoughts and hold a little speech.

“And what should we continue?” Charming Blade returned with a new cup in his hoof. “We’ve been stuck here for the last two months with nothing to do. I've drunk so much of this cider that I can taste a dust corn if it's in it.” He sat down again.

Nopony knew how to answer that. Stellar wanted to hold another little speech again but decided against it. He felt embarrassed enough that Charming had heard his first one.

“What are you proposing then?” Lyra asked rhetorically, snarling even to which Charming couldn't answer.

“She's become so aggressive since Sweetie's death…”

“Calm down, Lyra,” Stellar said slowly. It didn't work.

“Me? I should calm down? Why you never tell him that?” she responded aggressively and pointed at Charming. “He's constantly pissed and annoyed! But you're telling me to calm down?” She stood up and left, leaving Stellar no chance to answer.

“Lyra, wait!” Caramel then raised his voice and instantly became silent as he saw all the other ponies in the pub staring at them. He quickly followed her.

Charming Blade coughed and then asked Stellar, who was feeling extremely uncomfortable being alone with him, “So, you ever heard of Warranty?”

Outside, Caramel joined Lyra who was sitting on a nearby bench. Lyra didn't bother to tell him to go away. They sat there for a few minutes and didn't say anything.

“I think you should go visit a therapist. There must be one here somewhere,” Caramel then proposed. Lyra became angry again.

“I don't need a bucking therapist!” she yelled at him. He jumped up in shock and surprise and hid behind the bench. Seeing him so scared, she started crying.

“I loved her. I had loved her for such a long time and I never told her. I never had the courage to. Everyday, I woke up thinking, 'I can do it, I can do it, I'll do it today,’ but I never did. And now, she's dead. And I'll never get the chance to tell her anything.” Lyra started crying out Sweetie's name. Caramel sat back down on the bench and hugged her lightly. He could feel his own eyes beginning to water.

Caramel really wanted to calm her, to reassure her that everything was going to be fine but he knew it probably wasn't going to happen.

“Ah'm surprised to see ya like this, Rarity,” Applejack tried to think of what to say to her.

“I know, darling, but does it seem like it would change anything?” Rarity answered with a question and pointed at her mane. “Styling them would be nice, surely. But I don't feel the need anymore.”

Applejack thought shortly before responding, “Ya didn't lose your fanciness completely. But why out of all things styling your hair?”

Rarity looked at the ground. “I dont know, darling, I don't know. I just don't feel like it anymore. I can't explain why.”

Her mane was in an even darker purple tone now, hanging down her face. You could recognise the old style but it hasn't been taken care of in several weeks.

Applejack wondered and then asked, “Ya think we'll find Sweetie Belle and Scotaloo?” She knew it was a hard and not really understanding question but she felt the need to ask.

“I don't know anymore, AJ. I just don't know.” Rarity sat down sadly. “Since arriving here, I haven't seen her. I have no idea where she suddenly went or why, and I don't know where she could be. We searched the area multiple times already and found nothing. I feel like she's dead. Or worse.”

“Hey, don't give up,” Applejack calmly told her and sat down next to her. “She can still be out there.” She hugged her and Rarity hugged back.

“Of course she can. But it's very unlikely.”

Applejack didn't answer that. She knew it was very unlikely that Sweetie Belle was still alive. A foal, outside, all alone… The chances weren't very high. But she wanted to calm her friend down.

They stayed this way for a few minutes with neither one of them saying another word. Rarity then pulled away.

“Look darling, I appreciate you trying to make me feel better but you don't have to. It will not really help me much. No offense,” she quietly said and stood up, walking away. Applejack looked sadly at her going.

Rainbow Dash walked over to the bench and sat down where Rarity did before and started to talk. “I feel sorry for her. She lost her little sister. And she will probably never see her again. At least not alive. You know that, AJ, don't you?”

“Yeah, Ah do,” Applejack sighed.

“Twilight was always eager to go out and investigate the surroundings, sometimes even some cities,” Rainbow continued.

“And what happened to'em?”

“Manehatten and Fillydelphia are abandoned. Ponyville's overrun, as you know and probably even most other cities. As far as we know, Appleloosa and Canterlot are the only safe places for now,” Rainbow said, staring at the ground.

“And Release,” Applejack added.

“Yeah, and Release,” Rainbow repeated. “How's it going there anyway?”

“Since they put Luna in charge, it's goin’ rather swell for'em. She's doin’ a good job there.” She sighed again. “Ah sometimes wake up screamin’ during the middle of the night. Ah just see Lucky Charm shooting Twilight, over and over again. It ain't stoppin’. The nightmare repeats itself every time. Ah haven't had a good night's sleep in about a month.” She almost started crying at these thoughts.

Rainbow got closer to Applejack. “It's okay, AJ, it's okay. You're gonna be fine.”

“Ah won't. Ah can't. Ah can't be the same again. It's never gonna be the same again.” She started to cry. Rainbow didn't know how to handle the sight of a crying Applejack in front of her.

She calmed down after a minute and stood up.

“Enough crying. Let's check what the others are doing.”

“So, what happens now?” Ditzy asked confused.

“We have to wait now,” Doctor Whooves told here, “until you feel your body heat going up. That will feel a bit uncomfortable at first but it will help you later to handle these emotions you have because of Lucky Charm.” He shook his head. “Making somepony kill others to eat the corpses. Why did this have to happen?” He then put some test tubes back to where they belonged after cleaning them. “How do you feel now, by the way?”

“I'm not sure. I'm happy that I'm here but I still feel terrible from time to time. It were so many ponies…” she answered quietly.

“Hey, it is fine. It is fine.” He hugged her. “You did not have a choice. You are safe here.”

“I know. I know…”

Ditzy did not return the hug but Whooves didn't care. He was sure he understood although he knew he couldn't fully.

“I am sorry it took me so long to make this potion. It was way more difficult to retrieve enough juniper berries than I thought.”

Ditzy stayed silent and finally hugged him back. Rose came in.

“Well, if that ain't two lovebirds,” she grinned. Whooves and Ditzy turned to her, both blushing.

“Hello, Rose,” he said neutrally as fixed his tie.

“Hi!” Ditzy couldn't hide her blush but didn't bother to hide her emotions. She just smiled at Rose.

“Okay,” she began, “I don't want to bother you two but I gotta ask you. Maybe you heard this from Applejack already but I want to go out to look for my friends.” She stopped for a second and thought. “I know this question is really straight forward but I didn't plan to go right now. Tomorrow, I think. It took a while to get all the supplies nessecary but I got them now. I thought you would come with me…” She became quieter at the end.

Whooves thought about if for a few seconds before responding, “I think you should talk with Applejack first. There is something she has to cope with yet.”

Rose looked confused. “And what?”

“She will tell you, I know that. I feel a bit guilty but that is something she has to do. The past is the past. She needs to learn that.”

“Okay then, I guess. I'll talk to her when I've got time. I still have to prepare some things,” Rose said still confused and walked out.

“Guilty? For what?” Ditzy now asked him confused as well. “What happened?”

Doctor Whooves chuckled. “‘'Happen’, 'happened’ and 'will happen’. I seem to hear that a lot recently.” He faced her. “Her friends are dead. One of them already died when the apocalypse started, probably.”

“And you have to do something with the other pony's death?” Ditzy interrupted, a bit of fear for the upcoming answer in her voice.

“Yes, unfortunately. I was with her in Ponyville when Applejack arrived. She just went crazy, I suppose, after hearing that her one friend was dead.” He took a deep breath and looked Ditzy in the eyes. “On the train, she attacked me, threatened to push me off. Applejack was there and saved me. She feels like she is responsible for it and I fear that it dangers her mental health.”

Ditzy looked to the ground. “But did she die from falling down?”

He coughed and took another breath. “No, she rolled on the rails in a really unfortunate way. With her head…” He didn't need to finish his sentence as Ditzy began gagging before calming down again.

“How is Applejack supposed to tell her something like this?” she asked him, still under shock. He hugged her again.

“I do not know. But I guarantee you, it will turn out fine. I promise,” he whispered.

“You don't need to promise me anything. You can't. You can't know what will happen,” she said. Shortly after, the two of them snickered.

“'Happen’,” Whooves said. “What happens now?”

“Hopefully something hopeful. It could all be better here,” Ditzy said.

“But we certainly live good here considering the circumstances. It could be so much worse,” Whooves responded.

“True,” she admitted. “I wouldn't mind if it became better here though.”

“And what exactly?” the Doc countered.

“Well…” She thought for a while. “I dunno. Everything, basically.”

The two of them laughed shortly and then left the Doc's improvised laboratory.

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy knocked at Applejack's house. Doctor Whooves opened them the door.

“Oh, hello! Pinkamena Diane Pie and Fluttershy, right? Come in!” he said before the two ponies could say anything.

“You still keep forgetting our names?” Pinkie asked annoyed.

“I just want to assure that I remember them correctly. Besides, we do not get a chance to meet that often,” the Doc defended himself. “But I am right to assume that you did not come for me, am I not?” He smirked.

“Uh, sorry, sir,” Fluttershy whispered barely loud enough for him to hear.

“That is fine. After all, we do not have any business to attend to,” he calmed her down. “Applejack is upstairs in the bedroom.” He trotted in another room and left Pinkie and Fluttershy.

Upstairs, Applejack was helping Applebloom walk. She fell and Applejack helped her up again. Big Macintosh was in a corner of the room and tried to repair a closet door.

“It's so annoying!” Applebloom exclaimed annoyed. “But I have to, don't I?” She looked at her older sister.

Applejack simply nodded. “Ya want to walk by yourself again, right?”

“Of course! I'm not a baby anymore!” she then said determined and tried again. Pinkie entered the room.

“Hiya there, Pinkie!” she said and walked over to her.

“Hi, AJ,” she answered emotionless in return. “Can we talk?”

“Sure,” Applejack answered and closed the door behind them once they were outside the room.

“Don’t care to style your hair anymore either?” she asked her rhetorically and smiled. “Like Rarity.”

“AJ, please,” Pinkie just said. “Please just stop.”

“Okay, okay. Now, what is it?” Applejack smiled and asked. She then noticed Fluttershy standing at the wall.

“Hi, Flutters!”

“Hi, AJ,” she quietly answered.

“Can we please talk now?” Pinkie asked annoyed again.

“Sure, sorry,” Applejack said.

“It's quite late to ask this but I feel like I have to,” she began and took a short pause. “Is it your your fault that Twilight's dead?”

Applejack blinked a few times and looked at Pinkie confused. “'Scuse me?”

“I don't exactly know what happened, but I know that she went after you and then died. So, is it your fault?” Pinkie asked again in a neutral tone.

“No, of course not! Ya seriously think that?” Applejack responded angrily. “Ya think Ah'd let her die and keep quiet about it?” She then remembered Daisy and how she was thinking about telling Rose. In this moment, she realised that she needed to do just that. She didn't know how, but she knew she had to do it as soon as she could.

“I didn't say you left her to die,” Pinkie defended herself. “I just don't feel good about it. About you. I'm sorry.” She turned around and left.

Applejack stared after her in surprise and confusion. She looked to Fluttershy. “She hates me now, doesn't she?”

“No! No, of course not!” Fluttershy immediately squeaked. “But you're not on good terms with her for the moment.” She looked to the ground. “She never got over Twilight's death.”

“Ah guess Ah can understand. Ah don't think it's entirely justified but Ah can understand.” She paused. “That wasn't all she wanted to talk about, was it?”

“No, it wasn't. She just couldn't bring it up. She wanted to learn what exactly happened and… Nevermind.” She stepped back further.

“Come on, Flutters, ya know ya can tell me,” Applejack stepped closer to her, making Fluttershy step back away again.

“It's just… she's losing it, I think. She can't handle everything, I think. She wanted to ask you about… leaving Canterlot… for a while.” She became quieter the more she spoke.

Applejack didn't know how to respond. She looked away from her friend and thought about how to end this awkward and uncomfortable conversation.

“Just tell her that Ah ain't leavin’ anytime soon,” she then said and went back to Applebloom and Big Mac, closing the door behind her and leaving Fluttershy behind.

“What's the matter?” Big Mac asked. “Ya look pissed.”

“Mac, please,” Applejack said sternly. “Your little sister is here.”

Applebloom didn't listen to them however, as she was determinately trying to walk and she got a bit better each time. Applejack felt proud. Seeing her sister not giving up and continuing to try, refusing to give up, gave her hope.

“No offense, but for me, it seems like your friendships are fallin’ apart,” he tried to calmly tell her. She said down on the bed and tried to keep back the tears that started to form in her eyes. Her brother quickly got up and sat down next to her. Even Applebloom stopped in her tracks and looked to her siblings.

“Hey, hey! Didn't mean it like that!” he quickly tried to apologise but Applejack interrupted.

“Ya don't have to apologize. Ya are right. Absolutely right. Friendships break. My friendships break.” She started to sob. “Twilight's dead. Ah feel completely uncomfortable talking to Fluttershy and Rarity. Even with Rainbow, everything feels weird. And Pinkie wants me gone.”

“Pinkie wants you gone? Applebloom repeated in disbelief. “Really? She said that?”

“Not directly. Flutters told me Pinkie wanted to basically say that.” Applejack calmed down slightly. “Ah've been friends with them for such a long time. And this world just broke it. Twilight's death broke it. Our friendship wasn't as strong as we thought.”

“Come on, AJ, 'course it's hard these days. Y'all get this sorted out,” Big Mac tried to reassure her. Applejack only shook her head.

“The Element of Magic has fallen apart and so do the others, slowly. They're not broken but it's only a matter of time.”

Big Mac stayed silent this time. Applebloom also didn't know how to lighten the mood. Applejack then saw them depressed as they were and felt sorry.

“But you're probably right. Ah'm sure we'll figure it out eventually.”

Big Mac hugged her. Applejack chuckled. “Ah feel like there's a lot of huggin’ today.”

“Let it be. Not 'nuff affection these days anyway,” Big Mac said and smiled.

“Probably,” she shortly answered. Applebloom joined them.

“We'll handle this,” she said with hope in her voice. “We'll survive.”

“What are you talking about?” Stellar asked Charming Blade. “Warranty? What does that mean now?”

“A city, made inside the ruins of Manehatten,” he clarified. “Okay, maybe more of a village. Bit still, there are quite a few ponies there. And your safety is guaranteed.”

“Seriously? Another populated city? How does nopony here know about this?” Stellar asked shocked. He wasn't sure if Charming was actually serious or just trying to take him as a fool.

“I'm serious, believe me,” he reassured Stellar as if he just read his thoughts. “But the reason why nopony knows about it is really simple, honestly.”

“Well, what is is then?” Stellar became slightly impatient.

“I can't tell you. Only members, inhabitants are allowed to know. At least for now,” Charming said, smiling and leaning back in his chair.

“How do you know of it anyway? And why are you telling me about it?” Stellar asked, still unsure about what he was told.

“I'm just saying. Thought you'd want to know,” he said and continued to smile. He then waved a waiter over and ordered another beer. “Honestly, it's fascinating how society can't put itself back together but jobs continue to work, even if your money mostly ain't worth shit anymore.”

“Just tell me already!” Stellar almost shouted at him. He hated it when ponies were like that, keeping secrets from him when it's unnecessary. At least he felt that way that time once again.

“Damn, Stell, calm down.”

“No, Stellar!” he responded annoyed.

“Fine, fine! Geez, Stellar,” Charming said and stopped grinning. He sat down in his seat properly. “I'm just feeling like you could fit in there. You're a fine one. Maybe too fine, but that's okay. Maybe a bit too gullible...”

“I get it, I get it,” Stellar interrupted him again. He was actually surprised himself that he managed to speak up for himself against him.

Charming Blade became annoyed too slowly. “Yeah, that's the reason. Because I trust you enough, I guess.”

“Thanks?...” Stellar still was unsure and he knew he wouldn't get over it. “And what am I supposed to do with this information?”

Charming slowly stood up and went to leave. “Guess you'll have to decide for yourself.”

“How? This doesn't make sense?” Charming didn't answer. Stellar looked after him confused. He could understand why he would have been annoyed but not as angry as he has been.

With that, he decided to leave as well after he was sure Charming was actually gone and went over to Applejack. Before he arrived there, he was being approached by a pegasus mare.

“Hey there!” she shouted to get his attention. As Stellar saw that she was targeting him, he stopped.

“Hello,” he said neutrally. “Do I know you?”

“No. At least not yet,” she said and stopped in front of him.

“What do you mean with that?” Stellar asked before realising that this question wasn't really useful and instead asked, “What do you want?”

“Calm down there, buddy,” she said and continued before he said anything else. “First of all, I wanted to ask you if you can fly.”

Stellar was puzzled. “Why would you want to know that?”

“No, then,” she concluded and didn't answer his question again. “Almost thought so. But would you like to learn it? Learn how to fly?”

He took a step back. “Why would you offer that? To me, a complete stranger?”

She sighed and took a step forward. “You know, there still is good in the world. There are some ponies who just want to help other ponies out. I know, nowadays, trusting is a very hard, a very difficult thing to do. Friendship has gone busted. For the most part, at least. But not completely.”
He didn't answer but instead just looked at her.

She sighed again. “I'm Cloud Chaser. Nice to finally meet you!” She eagerly took his hoof and shook it without leaving Stellar any chance to.

“‘'Finally’? Were you following me or something?”

“I wouldn't call it that, exactly,” she admitted quietly. “It's just that I haven't really noticed you until a few days ago. And I didn't really had the courage to go straight up to you and tell you.”

“But you have now?” he asked again. He felt really uncomfortable. Cloud did too.

“Yeah, and I'm feeling really embarrassed right now but I finally wanted to do it. And at least I did.” She seemed somewhat satisfied with herself.

“Why would you want to teach me how to fly? I don't get it,” Stellar asked again. “There must be some other thing than just wanting to help other ponies out.”

“Not really, no,” Cloud answered but he interrupted her.

“'Not really’? So that means there actually is something else, isn't it?” he confronted her.

She thought for a few seconds, then answered. “I was a wonderbolt before all of this. At least, was going to be. I was just accepted the day everything started. I was halfway through my first training unit when Captain Spitfire called all of us. But when we were there, the things bursted through and we had to flee.” She paused. Stellar regretted having sounded so rude. “I think they got Soarin, maybe Fleetfoot, but I'm not sure. Haven't seen any of them after that. I think they could be still up there, trying to clean Cloudsdale. Or they're dead.”

“I, uh, I'm so sorry to hear that,” he said and thought about what else he could say. “And sorry for my, uh, behaviour there. I'm not like this usually, but I lost a friend two months ago and I think I'm still not over it.”

“Same goes for me,” she told him, “but I try not to think about it too much. I trust them, even if I haven't known them for long.”

“So, your offer's still standing?” he asked.

“Damn, you're naïve, aren't you?” she then suddenly said and grinned at him. “I mean, I love that I can train with you now but I wouldn't have accepted that offer.”

Stellar now looked confused again. He just said, “I can at least kind of feel if somepony's meaning harm.” It was a lie, for the most part.

“If you say so,” she said and walked off, smiling.

“Wait! And where do we meet?” he shouted after her but she either didn't hear or ignored him. He watched her walk away, going into another street and out of his view.

When arriving at Applejack's home, he was surprised to see Lyra there too. She was talking to Doctor Whooves about dealing with emotions.

“Like I said, I am not a pony you should come speak to about situations like these. I am not such a doctor,” he told her.

“I know, but do you really have no advice for me at all?” Lyra asked him hopelessly.

“Nothing special,” he responded. “Except the classical 'Do not give up’, I do not really know how to help you with your situation. Sorry. Maybe it would be better if you would talk with your friends about it. They know you better than I do.”

Lyra didn't seem happy with his response but nodded her head. Slowly, she got up from the chair she was sitting on. “Thanks, Doc.”

“Sorry for not being able to really help you,” Whooves said again and watched her leaving the house, not caring for Stellar who was standing in the door frame.

Stellar stepped in confused. “The door was already open for whatever reason,” he quickly defended himself as the Doc noticed him.

“No problem. Stellar Eclipse, right? Come in,” he invited him inside “You probably want to talk with Applejack? She is not here at the moment unfortunately.”

“Not specifically with her,” Stellar said. Whooves turned around. “I basically wanted to talk with your group.”

“With our group? What is it then?” Whooves asked in surprise.

“It's just,” Stellar began, “I thought after all this time, maybe we should, like, combine our two groups. Big Mac and Applejack have been spending a lot of time together. And Lyra came to you for advice without asking any of us.”

“Well, it makes sense to me, but where is this coming from all of the sudden?” the Doc wanted to know. He liked the idea though.

“I don't know, really. I just think it'd be better if we would be together in a big group than two small ones. Teamwork's important as you know,” he explained and hoped that Whooves would agree.

“Sure, it is, more than ever nowadays,” he confirmed. “I like it. Should I get Rose?”

Stellar thought shortly who Rose was but remembered and nodded. “Yes, that'd be better probably.”

“What about your friends?” Whooves asked him while almost being on his way. “Did you already talk to them?”

“Actually, no, I haven't. But I think they'd agree,” Stellar quickly answered. He didn't really believe what he said though. Lyra would probably actually agree now. Caramel would maybe, but it would take some good arguments to convince him eventually. Big Mac would definitely agree because of his sisters but he probably wouldn't spend any time with the Doc or Rose. And Charming Blade? Stellar wasn't sure about him. Originally, Stellar would never have thought he'd agree, under any condition, but now, that he told him about Warranty...

“Maybe it's more likely to happen than I thought.”

“Okay then,” Whooves said suspiciously and turned around to leave the house.

When ahe arrived Rose's home, he knocked gently. When nopony opened, he knocked again, a bit firmer.

“Roseluck? Are you home?” he carefully called for her.

He then heard somepony approaching from the inside. But when the door was opened, somepony else stood there.

“Hiya,” Applejack greeted him.

“Applejack? What are you doing here?” He then remembered something. “Is it Daisy?”

“Yeah, it is,” she confirmed and sighed. “Ah had just mustered my courage when ya came knockin’.”

“I am sorry,” he apologised. “I did not expect you to have already gathered up the courage necessary for doing so. But I think it is no surprise,” he smiled warmly. She smiled back.

“Well, what did ya want here?” she returned the question.

“Stellar came to me and proposed to unite our two groups. I wanted Rose to participate in that discussion.”

Applejack chuckled. “Why ya always talkin’ so fancy?”

“Why are you always talking this informal?”

They both chuckled.

“Guess we both grew up like that, huh?” Applejack rhetorically asked. Whooves just nodded. When they went silent, Applejack became nervous again.

“Bucking hell! Now Ah gotta prepare myself again,” she suddenly exclaimed somewhat loudly.

“For what?” Rose asked her when she arrived behind her. She had heard the Doc talking and had wanted to greet him. Applejack jumped slightly in surprise and started sweating. There wasn't really a way out now.

Whooves noticed and he saw Rose's worried look and decided to make the first move himself. “It is because of Daisy,” he said calmly and put a leg around Applejack to calm her down. It worked for the most part.

“Yeah,” Applejack just repeated, “because of Daisy.” Rose's ears perked up.

“What? Did you hear anything from her?” she asked happily, thinking that she was here. “Where is she?”

Whooves tapped on Applejack's shoulder and nodded. Applejack nodded back and took a step forward.

“No, she ain't. And she ain't gonna be.”

“What?” Rose asked confused at first, slowly trying to register what she meant. “Are you saying that she's dead?” Rose asked that last question in an almost joking manner but when she got no response and Applejack began looking to the ground, she gulped and started to cry.

“No, that can't be. That can't be. You can't know that!”

Applejack gulped as well. “Ah can.”

“We can,” Whooves interrupted. “I was there too. She saved me.”

“From who?” Rose asked broken, ready to just let herself fall to the ground.

“From Daisy,” Applejack answered and awaited Rose's answer. “She went crazy, tried to kill me, tried to kill him. Ah had no choice anymore.” She stumbled over her words. “She attacked him, so Ah pulled her off and then she attacked me, and then she fell off and under the train.” Applejack shivered slightly after having spat out the last part so quickly. Rose did too. Shakingly, she tried to formulate a sentence without succeeding.

“She did not have any other choice left, trust me,” Whooves broke the silence. “She did not want to.”

Rose stood in place shakingly. Slowly, she regained her consciousness and spoke up. “You two knew what happened to her all this time and never told me? So Lily's dead as well?” She became angry. Turning to Applejack, she shouted, “And you acted like nothing's happened?! Like you never killed one of my dearest friends?! I've got nothing left! Nothing!” With that, she ran off.

Applejack and Whooves watched her run away, neither of them attempting to follow her. They stood in silence and without a word, they decided to wait at her home for her to return. They went into her little backyard and sat down on the grass.

After about an hour without anything happening, Applejack became worried. “Shouldn't Rose be back? Ah don't like that she's been gone for that long now.”

“Leave her alone for now. She will regain her senses,” he dismissed her idea. “She technically lost her best two friends right now. She has kept hope for so long without any evidence that they are alive. And that hope was just destroyed.”

“Do ya think it was her only will to live?” Applejack suddenly said and rushed to look for her but was stopped by the Doc before she could leave.

“I first met her about six years ago. And although an apocalypse is something different, I had the possibility to get to know her better than most other ponies, except for Daisy and Lily of course. She is relatively stubborn but also mentally strong. She will not commit suicide because of this, I can assure you that.”

“Ya sure? She seemed really broken,” she asked him, unsure.

“What would you expect yourself to react if I told you I would have killed your friends, even if it was self-defense?” he answered back. Applejack understood and sat down next to him. They again stayed silent for about half an hour.

“Ya know,” she then said calmly, “ya helped me a lot. Like, a lot. Ah wouldn't be here if it wasn't for ya, Doc. And Ah don't even know how to thank ya for everythin’.”

“Do not mention it,” he replied and shrugged his shoulders. “I do not plan on sounding heroic but this is just my kind of thing. I like to help.”

“Ah kinda figured that out by now,” she answered, smiling. “It's not that hard to see.”

“Well, I have to thank you as well. You can be quite, well, I will call it stubborn,” he smiled, “but you certainly showed me to have the will to continue on with our lives. And even though at first, you were becoming aggressive rather quick, you changed. You can keep your emotions under control now. For the most part, at least,” he then complimented her.

Applejack thought about if for a second, then leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Whooves almost fell on his back from the surprise but was able to quickly return the embrace as they hugged each other. He let himself slowly be dominated by Applejack and let himself fall on his back and on the grass.