Soldiering On (Speedwrite verison)
The sun rose into the morning sky, just like it did every day. She groaned slightly, rubbing the sleep dust from her eyelids. She forced herself up out of bed. She could not simply laze about. There was so much to do, and so little time.
"It feels like you're still here my darling. If only you could see your three beautiful children. Big Mac reminds me so much of you. And Applejack has your stubborn pride. Little Apple Bloom is quite the feisty filly. I miss you…" she whispered as she glanced out the window, leaning against the wood. She felt her ears tickle, and heard crying.
She dashed upstairs to Apple Bloom's nursery. She saw her crying and making a fuss.
"Ssshhhh. Little one don't you fret. Momma is here." She said as she reached her hooves down and lifted her into her forearms, patting her gently on the back. Apple Bloom continued crying.
"Oh honey, I know it's hard, but ya have to be strong." Said Pear Butter as she laid Apple Bloom down on the wooden stand padded with hay and an old blanket they used to change their young's diapers. She unclasped the two pieces of tape holding the diaper together, cradling her face, as she saw the brown stains under her filly's bottom.
"Oh my. You've made quite the mess my little Apple Bloom. Don't worry. We'll get you all cleaned up." She smiled, as she shifted the dirty diaper away from her filly's bottom and tossedit into the trash. Then grabbing the wipes she began to clean her bottom, while doing her best to not crinkle up her nose. Once Apple Bloom was all clean. She reached for a new diaper, moving her hindlegs up to shift the diaper under her. She then taped the two sides around her waist. She leaned down to kiss her baby on the forehead, nuzzling her.
"That's my big girl. Oh you'll probably be out of diapers before daddy gets back." She said as she picked her up and went to sit in the rocker Granny Smith used. Sitting there as she glanced out the window, rocking her baby back to sleep mumbling a gentle melody to soothe her filly back to sleep. Once Apple Bloom was sound asleep she placed her back into her crib. She then heard shouting from outside.
"You think you're going to be as strong as dad? No one will ever be as strong as him!" Shouted Applejack.
"I wasn't saying I'd be as strong as dad!" Shouted Big Mac stomping his strong forehooves against the ground
"Seems your children are defending your honor again. I'd better go settle this before it gets out of hoof" said Pear Butter, as she trotted out of the barn to find her two older children nose to nose. She approached them with a kind and loving smile.
"Your father is out there fighting to keep us safe. Do you think he'd approve of you two bickering like foals?" Asked pear butter.
"Nope." Big Mac sulked slightly, ears drooping down to his sides.
"I reckon we ought to stop now and act like adults." Said Applejack
Pear butter shook her head, and came up between them, embracing them both with a foreleg, as the tears streamed down her face.
"No he wouldn't want you kids to be adults. He'd want you to be happy. To remember the good times, fighting with each other is normal for siblings, but the most important thing to remember is he loves you. Just as I do."
"Mum…" groaned Big Mac flushening, trying to hide his embarrassment from them both.
"Sugar. Mom I'm sorry. This just got all out of hoof. Can ya forgive me?"
"Of course, Applejack. You're my daughter. I'll always forgive you. Even when you make me hotter than a zap apple pie. You'll always be my little girl. And my precious child. Just try to remember the hero your father is."
"Mum…" began Big Mac.
"Yes Sugarcube?" She glanced towards him.
"Do ya miss dad too?" He asked as he felt the tears starting and he buried his head into her shoulder and sobbed.
"Of course I do. There's never a day I don't. But, he's out there fighting for our freedom and giving you all a happy life to enjoy. Even if he's not here, I know he'd want you to know he loves you."
"Mum...I love you. I wanna be a soldier too, I want to be like dad too." Said Applejack holding her chin high, and puffing out her chest.
Pear butter felt the tears running down her face as she held her two older children tightly into her embrace.
"Oh, Applejack. I'm sure your dad would be so proud." She Said softly. She held them and looked up into the sky, seeing the clouds rolling by.
"Looks like there might be a storm on the horizon, but it ain't nothing we apples can't handle. Let's go home you two " said Pear butter, guiding her children into the barn, shutting the door behind them just as the lightning struck down, and the rain began.
Applejack stood there on the familiar earth beneath her hooves, and yet her heart ached. She bit her bottom lip as she looked out over the horizon.
"Mum, I am glad you aren't here to see me like this. I didn't know being a soldier would be so...unnerving." said Applejack. She felt a strong hoof upon her shoulder.
“Hey now, don’t be all down in the dumps. Mum wouldn't want to see us like this.” said Big Mac as he sat down beside his younger sister.
“Yeah, I reckon you’re right. She was always so strong, so full of heart, stubborn pride, and had this feistiness about her. I miss her Big Mac.” said Applejack, as she tilted her head to the side, burying her eyes under both her blonde locks and her hat.
“Yep, we all do. She’s still here though.” said Big Mac, as he cupped his sister’s muzzle, and had her look into his soft eyes.
“What do you mean?” she asked, as she fidgeted a bit. The war was unnerving, she didn’t know if things would ever be normal again. Sombra ruled Equestria with an iron fist and things had changed far more than she had ever imagined, and yet somehow through it all, she still had her family.
Big Mac hesitated as he searched for how to tell her, how to show her. He lifted his forehoof and pointed it right at her heart.
“Here.” he said flatly, with a soft and reassuring smile.
Applejack smiled back, as she felt the waterworks streaming down her face. Pear Butter might not be with them physically anymore, but she’d always be a part of who they were. A grin spread on her face, as she tackled her big brother into a firm hug, and held him tightly, as his big form, wrapped his hooves around his younger sister.
“You think Apple Bloom will be alright?” asked Big Mac, slightly concerned for his sisters.
“As long as we are together, I think we’ll get through this, we just gotta remember our roots. Remember how strong mum was when we were all younglings ourselves.”
“Yep.” said Big Mac, as the two sibling just held each other. Apple Bloom was still in school, but Applejack planned to make her mom’s favorite recipe, as a way of letting them enjoy some quiet time with each other, and some time away from the factory that used to be the farm lands. Some things had changed, but one thing that would stand the test of time, was the bond of their roots. With that she let go of Big Mac and headed inside to get started on supper.
