The Long Winter

We kept exchanging letters after that. And a few months later I had a great excuse to invite him back: He had to see Apple Bloom's new cutie mark.

And I did want him to see it, honest! I was so proud of her when she got it. I even said "Oh, sugarcube, if Mom and Dad were here, they'd be so proud of ya."

It had been a good twelve hours before I'd realized what I'd said. Not just what I'd said, but how I'd said it. It had felt so natural in the moment. And it was, of course, I mean...well, naturally when a filly gets her cutie mark, her parents are proud! So of course I would say that! But even so, the way I'd said it...

I was glad when Troubleshoes arrived. He spent the afternoon fussing over Apple Bloom and her friends, sometimes doing tricks or sharing silly stories from the rodeo circuit. He really was changing. I'd never seen him smile so much, so often.

The next day, we took another walk together.

I had something on my mind. It seemed a little crazy, to be honest. I hadn't really known him all that long, and he was a guest of ours and I didn't want to impose on him of course...but as the day wore by and we kept walking, my wanderings drew us closer and closer to a certain place.

He looked over at the hill, which was covered with grass and buttercups. "Miss Applejack? Was there something you were hoping to show me?"

I sighed. "I suppose there is."

We climbed the hill, and I found myself thinking of all the times I hadn't come. All the times Granny or Big Mac or even Apple Bloom had climbed this little hill without me. I'd only come a few times by myself, and I'd never stayed for long. Troubleshoes walked beside me with gentle strength, until finally we reached the tombstone.

Bright Mac and Buttercup - Together Forever

A tear came to my eye. I couldn't find the words. "Well, " I said, "here we are."

Slowly, gently, he placed a foreleg around my shoulders.

"I'm sure this grief has been weighing on your heart for a long time, Miss Applejack."

I nodded, and my tears started to fall. "I try to stay strong. I try to be so strong. I don't want to worry nopony. But it goes on and on, you know? Day after day they're still gone, they're not coming back, and it's like...it's like a winter without a spring."

He pulled me closer. I cried against his chest.

"If there's one thing I know," he said, "it's that life ain't as predictable as the seasons. It's full of accidents and happenstance, meetings and partings. Sometimes there's a sort of winter that goes on for years. Sometimes ponies freeze."

He shifted slightly, and I looked up at him while he gazed down at me. "But if there's anything I can do to help you find your spring, Applejack, please let me know. It hurts my heart to think of you suffering all alone."

I sniffled. "Can you hold me a little longer?"

"Till the snow melts and trees blossom."