Aftermath

I slammed my hooves into the tree and heard the satisfying sound of apples filling a basket. I sighed as I moved to the next tree and did the process over again. For the next few hours, it's all I did. I always did my best thinking when I was working. Just me alone with my thoughts. I stood on the hill and wiped my brow, looking down at my work. I heard the sound of trotting and glanced behind me. Apple Bloom stood looking at me curiously.

"Couldn't sleep?" She asked in a knowing tone. Guess I've fallen into the habit of working when I couldn't sleep. I gave a sigh and watched as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"Yeah", I admitted. "Ah've been having trouble sleeping recently".

Apple Bloom plopped down sighing.

"Ah can't either. Ah get nightmares now", she confessed. I leaned over and rubbed her mane. "It gets better, it just takes time".

Apple Bloom fixed a flat look at me. "Is anypony even really gonna remember her when we're gone? Is anypony gonna remember me or you or Babs when we die?" I was taken back by those questions, it was never really something I concerned myself with. With death, I always knew it was something that would happen and accepted it. I just focused on living my life and working with my kin. I stood back up.

"Follow me", I instructed. Apple Bloom warily stood up and followed me. After walking for thirty minutes, we came upon an open area. In front of us stood the pear apple tree combination our parent's made. I pointed a hoof at it.

"You see that?" I asked.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and deployed her recently acquired favorite weapon-sarcasm. "No, not at all. Ah totally don't see the combined tree in front of us". Fillies were stressful I decided and I gave her a look. She surprisingly matched my look and didn't back away like she used to.

"Ya know, ah miss the filly who didn't use sarcasm twenty four seven or act all grown up now. You're only fourteen". I kicked a hoof at the ground.

"Yah well, Ah've kinda had to grow up fast recently". I never thought about how Twilights death might affect Bloom. She was super close to Twi, so it did make sense she'd be growing up faster than before to cope. She wasn't old enough when our parents died so she didn't have to deal with the fallout. Now that she's older and dealing with death for the first time made me realize some things. I've been too focused on working, that I've been missing out on my family. I never thought I'd let anything distract me that much.

Shaking off that thought for now, I directed my attention back to the tree. "Remember how Ma and Pa planted those seeds years ago?" I questioned.

Apple Bloom nodded and frowned slightly. "Well yes, but what does that gotta do with being remembered?"

"The actions we do is what makes us remembered. Along with what we leave behind. Ma and Pa left that tree behind as a symbol. Sure at first it was because of their marriage and a symbol of their union but now it's something to remember them by", I explained smiling. "Equestria is changing. Ponies will remember Twilight by the changes she helped implement, not by what happened to her. Make sense?"

Apple Bloom looked to be in thought before nodding and smiling. "Ah reckon you're right". She got quiet for a bit, staring at the tree.

"Are you gonna keep working yourself to the bone and never spending time with us?" Apple Bloom suddenly asked.

I stared down for a moment. "Ahll try. We all cope and move on in our own ways. Rainbow working to make everything perfect and Twilights memory stays honored, Moondancer is an alcoholic, Rares is isolating herself or something ah reckon. Prolly in Canterlot or Manehatten. Fluttershy is being her nurturing self and that's how she's coping. Pinkie is just depressed and don't even get me started on Twinkleshine. That mare is messed up right now".

"Eeyup".

Me and Apple Bloom jumped at the sound of another voice. Big Mac walked up slowly to our side and gazed at us.

"Big Mac, how in Equestria did ya know we were here?" I demanded.

He gave a soft shrug. "Your rooms were empty and this place makes us more connected and grounded to our parents. Easy guess".

That did make some sense I suppose. It was unexplainable, whenever us three were at this tree, we just felt connected to it is the best way to put it. Almost like it's a part of us.

"How long were ya sitting there anyway?" Apple Bloom demanded.

"Not long", Big Mac stated and pulled his sisters in for a hug. All three of us gazed at the tree before I pulled away. "We should head home ah reckon".

"Eeyup".

I cuddled up next to Apple Bloom and wrapped my forelegs around her. After Twilights death, she refused to sleep alone. I can't tell ya how many mornings I have to change the sheets because she accidentally wet them from her nightmares. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a tad bit frustrating but I can understand things happen.

The next four years went by fast. Apple Bloom no longer slept with me every night. She was a full grown mare now and worked with me, the other girls, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo Starlight and Trixie at Twilights school. Granny Smith died the fourth year. Right as Apple Bloom got out of that depression state she was in, she surprised me by not getting back in it. I was proud of that mare and who she's become. Hay, she even got in a relationship with Diamond Tiara after DT changed into a nicer pony. Sweetie and Button Mash were dating and Scootaloo was seeing Rumble. Those three have really changed these past years.

Twilights death affected us all. Some more than us. Some who were fillies grew up faster than they should have because of it. If Granny Smith and Goldie Delicious were here, I reckon they'd be telling Apple Bloom how proud they were of her. It's truly crazy how time can fly. Apple Bloom married Diamond Tiara, Sweetie Belle and Button Mash didn't work out nor did Rumble and Scootaloo. Big Mac finally proposed to Sugar Belle and they got a couple fillies. I feel too old to be an aunt but hay I'm gonna spoil them little fillies just like Granny Smith woulda. I've lived a good, long life. I credit most of those good years to my friendship with Twi. She showed me there was a side of me I never even knew existed. I owe her for everything I've accomplished since we met.