Reconnection

Applejack

"I mean it sis, you go and rest up," said Big Macintosh. "I can handle everything around here for a while." His voice was soft but Applejack could hear the finality in his voice. Well, she wasn't a little girl anymore. Looked at a certain way, she was almost twice his age.

"Now you look here big brother," she began, locking eyes with him. "I don't need you to be coddling me just because you think I'm crazy. I ain't crazy! What I need you to do is just let me get back to my life! Now there's work that needs to be done on this here farm, and I aim to do my share!"

Big Mac sighed. "First, I didn't say I thought you were crazy. Second...." He looked at the cart that was strapped to her.

"Applebuck season ain't for another couple weeks."

"Huh?" Applejack looked around. The apples sure did look ready to be bucked. But then again.... "How was I supposed to know that? I forgot, it's been a long time, you don't understand!" She could hear desperation in her voice. Tears threatened to form again if she didn't calm down. Swallowing hard, she tried to force herself to stay calm.

"I didn't mean nothing by it A.J. I just think you need a little time to sort things out."

"Because I'm crazy." Applejack let her ears fall.

"I don't think you're crazy. I'm not sure I believe what happened is what you said happened, but I don't think you're crazy."
Applejack glared, before unstrapping the applecart from her body. She let it fall to the side.

"Well that's the same thing innit?"

"Nope." Big Mac moved to pick the applecart back up and set it properly to the side. "If I thought you were crazy, I'd send you to a doctor. But as it is, I just think you should take some time for yourself. If what you said happened to you did happen to you, you need all the time you can get. And if you're just stressed and had a bad, vivid dream or somethin', you'll still need time. Either way, I can handle the farm by myself for a while."

Applejack couldn't do anything but nod. Maybe when she was actually a younger mare she would have argued some more. But Big Mac was right. She didn't even have a good grasp on what was happening on the farm anymore. She needed time to, if nothing else, "catch up", for lack of a better phrase.

Silently, Applejack walked away. She didn't really want to, but maybe it would be best to find a quiet spot in Ponyville and just sit by herself. She took her time though, avoiding the path in an effort to waste more time and be alone, even if it wasn't what was best for her. She could downright feel herself falling further into depression as she walked slowly into town by herself.

As soon as Applejack got into town, she immediately regretted her decision to go. As if by magic, there was Pinkie Pie, bouncing along straight towards her.

Applejack was just too down now to fight it anymore though, and continued in the same direction she had been going.

"Applejack!" yelled Pinkie as she closed in. Applejack just looked passed her.

"Applejack I've been looking everywhere for you!" Pinkie took in a huge breath before continuing, and Applejack braced herself for a bout of long inane rambling. "First I went to Sweet Apple Acres but all I found was Big Macintosh and he told me you'd left and he wasn't sure where you were, so I checked your room and your barn and to the place where you foaled, but you weren't there either, and -"

Applejack's world shattered.

"What did you just said Pinkie Pie?"

The look on her face must have been exactly what Pinkie Pie wanted because she became even more excited.

"Oh Applerush, I'm so happy! I soooooo hoped you'd remember! I was really disappointed when Rainbow Dash didn't remember anything, so I set off to look for you! First I went to Sweet Apple Acres, but all I found was -"

"Pinkie Pie!" shouted Applejack. "What are you talking about? How do you know - did Big Macintosh tell you?"

Pinkie Pie thought for a moment. "Big Macintosh? No silly, he just told me he didn't know where you went."

"Then how did you -"

"Shh, Applerush, I've got a lot to tell you!" She suddenly looked very serious. "It's very important. Follow me."

Applejack was in a total state of surprise, and just nodded dumbly as she followed Pinkie Pie all the way back to her house and into her room. Pinkie closed the door behind them, locked it, and then went over to the window and shut the blinds.
Pinkie Pie sat herself across from Applejack, and motioned for her to sit down too. Applejack did so, intensely curious of what Pinkie Pie had to say. She certainly seemed to know about Applejack's situation. Applejack hoped that, somehow, Pinkie Pie knew what was going on.

Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash walked down the road, frustration etched on her face. She didn't know what was wrong, but something was really bugging her.

After waking up from her nap, rather than feel relaxed and cheerful like normal, she just felt tense. She tried to go on with the day, but as time passed, she just couldn't shake the feeling that she was wasting her time doing things like practicing flying, or moving the clouds away.

Which was another thing. She could have sworn when she woke up that morning it was supposed to be a clear sky. It was planned, that was one of the major reasons the terrible weather and all those tornadoes she remembered were such a drag. Not to mention the lives. But now that there were no tornadoes, not in the Everfree Fields or Ponyville, Rainbow Dash assumed she could go about her job to keep the sky clear without a problem. But the rest of the Pegasus Ponies kept stopping her and giving her strange looks, and then tried to convince her that today was supposed to be partly cloudy.

After they had undone all her work, she relented, but not before shouting at the other Pegasus Ponies for being completely crazy.

Now, she just didn't know what to do. Finally, she found a nice tree where nopony was around, and went up to lie down in its branches, where no one could see her.

It was just so frustrating! She couldn't even think of anything to do. Practicing her sweet moves seemed out of the question.

They just made her feel antsy. They never made her antsy before. And apparently there was no more weather jobs to do.

Maybe some time with friends would make her feel better.

Rainbow Dash looked down at her hooves. It was then that she realised, she wasn't wearing her magic horseshoes anymore! Where had they gone? Rainbow Dash mentally shrugged. She could always get Twilight to make her a new pair. It was then she had an idea.

Leaving the tree Rainbow Dash made her way towards Twilight Sparkle's place. Maybe she could spend the day with Twilight? That pony was always in need of some company.

Setting herself down at the front door of the library, Rainbow Dash knocked. She waited. Nopony opened the door, and she didn't hear anything from the other side. She knocked again. Again, no response and no noise. Gritting her teeth, she kicked the door, hard, and winced when a sharp pain went through her leg.

Stubbing her hoof just made her angrier. Teeth clenched, Rainbow Dash took to the sky, again with nothing to do and a sense of forgetting something very important.

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie took a deep breath before saying everything important she could think of as fast as possible. She was happy that Applerush never interrupted her story, which started around the time of her death, and continued all the way to Pinkie Pie's invitation to Twilight Sparkle's tea party. Which was when the story got a little hairy.

Pinkie Pie felt herself tense as she recalled, events that, to her, only happened a day ago. She tried to put up a happy front as she went through Twilight's story about taking the elements, about killing Rainbow Dash, and being the cause for Applerush's death, and her plans to kill the rest of them for their elements. By the end, Pinkie Pie could feel tears falling down her cheeks, though she couldn't remember where they came from.

Applerush wasn't taking it any better. Pinkie sniffled and wiped the tears away from her own face before moving over and nuzzling up against Applerush. Pinkie continued even though Applerush stood still. It was like trying to comfort a statue. But Pinkie understood. It was a horrible thing that had happened, and Applerush needed as much comfort as Pinkie could bring herself to give.

"You mean that Twilight...she told you she killed me?" said Applerush. "She said she did? And that she killed my - my f-foal?"
Streams of tears began to fall from Applerush's eyes, and Pinkie gave one last comforting squeeze before sitting back and nodding solemnly.

"I'm sorry Applerush, but that's what she said. And I'm certain she was telling the truth. Sugarcube Corner exploded, and I died."

"Stop calling me that," said Applerush in a low whisper.

"But that was your name!" Pinkie tilted her head in confusion.

"That was my name!" shouted Applerush. "I'm not married now! Me and Peanut ain't even met yet! 'Til' death do us part' remember?! Well, I'm dead so I'm just Applejack again."

Pinkie was surprised to find herself at a loss for words. There was just no way to make this situation any more cheerful.
Minutes ticked by in silence, as Applejack and Pinkie Pie sat together. Finally, Applejack lifted her head, and spoke, a sudden determined look in her eye.

"You know Pinkie, I told Big Macintosh about what happened to me." Suddenly she stood up. "I say we head over there together, you confirm my story and we tell him about Twilight. And we three go over to Twilight's place, break down her door, and kick that mare's head in!"

Applejack didn't wait for Pinkie to reply as she unlocked the door and ran out. Pinkie ran after her yelling, "wait!"

Applejack didn't listen. As they exited the house Pinkie noticed it was dark out. She wasn't as fast as Applejack, not even when actually running, she hoped she could keep up and stop Applejack from doing anything too hasty.

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight opened her eyes. Her head darted around, looking for any sign of Fluttershy or Spike. But she wasn't in her old castle anymore. She was back in her small, cramped library in Ponyville. She recognised it immediately. She looked down in front of her, and there sat something she hadn't seen in decades. Because she hadn't needed to see it. They were notes she had worked out to herself. Notes and plans on how best to do something which had already been finished and done with for a long, long time now.

A couple of seconds and Twilight understood. It was unexpected, but when such powerful magics were involved sometimes unexpected things happened. She had died, and here she was again, back in Ponyville, decades younger. She smiled to herself, reading her notes again for nostalgia's sake. She would get another chance. She wouldn't mess it up this time.
This time, Fluttershy would be dealt with first, and as soon as possible.

Twilight ignored the niggling feelings in the back of her mind that told her something was wrong as she thought about another problem.

Spike. He was probably sleeping in his bed right now. She could kill him right this moment, and get rid of the body. There were dozens of spells she could use for it, and nopony would ever know what happened. That would take care of a major source of her downfall.

But no, it might get ponies suspicious if he suddenly went missing. Mere suspicion is what started Spike on his path to help defeat her, after all.

Twilight magically levitated a nearby quill and inked it. Grabbing a piece of paper, she paused for a moment.
She could request another meeting, and see Celestia again as soon as possible. She could then explain everything. Maybe she could get some help.

Twilight thought of that for all of two seconds before shaking her head. No, this was a situation she should keep to herself, at least for now.

But there was still something that needed writing. Spike had to go, and she could ask of Princess Celestia to make it happen. She could assign Spike to somepony else.

I don't know what the Princess is thinking Spike, but she's adamant, she imagined herself saying. She says I no longer need your services and you could be more useful elsewhere. This could be a good thing for you, and you know, we can still keep in touch.

Of course, they wouldn't.

That would solve the Spike problem neatly. Now, if only she could solve the Fluttershy problem just as neatly.

Applejack

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," yelled Big Mac. Applejack had rarely ever heard him raise his voice. "My own baby sister, talkin' about killing somepony!"

Applejack stomped her foot down. "Haven't you been listening? I ain't crazy, this is really happening and we need your help!"

Big Mac shook his head. "No way no how, I'm not going to help your murder a poor little mare just because you two had some bad dreams."

Applejack could feel herself begin to tear up. "Don't you trust me big brother? I ain't lying to you I-"

"I know you're not lying!" he shouted. Applejack felt her heart break again. She had never, ever heard Big Mac take that tone of voice. Not ever. She stared at him for a moment, Pinkie Pie standing to the side, looking at both of them in turn, eyes also wet.

Big Mac sighed. "I believe you. But this is an awful big thing you want me to help with. Killing someone? I just don't think I could do it. Why can't we just tell the police or somethin'?"

Applejack went over and nuzzled against her brother. She'd felt awful ever since she'd 'gone back' and she was feeling worse by the second.

"Nopony would believe us," she whispered, head still nuzzled under her brother's chin. "This has to be taken care of ourselves, before anyone gets hurt."

"We could...." Pinkie Pie spoke up. "Wait a while? We still have about a year before Rainbow Dash is supposed to be killed. Maybe we can think of something?"

"Or maybe we can wait for an opportunity to get Twilight arrested for something else!" said Applejack, standing up straight.

"We just need Twilight gone! Maybe we could frame her for something? We can wait quietly until opportunity strikes! You know, just like she did with us!"

Pinkie Pie jumped in excitement.

"Oh that'll be fun, it'll be like we're in a comic book!"

Applejack looked her brother in the eyes.

"Is that okay? Could you help us with that?"

There was a pause before Big Mac said, "That sounds okay to me."

Applejack tried to smile convincingly.

After their discussion, Applejack and Big Mac walked Pinkie back to her house. Together, her and Big Mac then returned to the farm, then to their rooms, and then Applejack laid down in her bed.

Now that she was alone, she allowed the hatred and anger to appear on her face. A simple frame job wasn't enough. Applejack wanted Twilight Sparkle dead. That was the only way to be sure it wouldn't happen again. And that was the only way Twilight would get what she deserved.

As she fell asleep, Applejack smiled at all the possible "accidents" that Twilight could have while in prison.