Applejack walked to the edge of the hill. The sun just peaked over the mountains and were heading back towards the west, hanging low and starting to turn a flaming orange in the sky. Buckshot came up next to her and looked across the valley that was once Ponyville. The smoldering building that were now ruble remained and the corpses of those lost strewn about the dirt floor.
Applejack held back her tears and tried hard not to show them to Buck. Buck looked down at Applejack, looking past the crusted blood on her fur. He could see her hard exterior cracking to show a softer, more fragile inside. Was it the water in her eyes, or was it the fact that he himself felt like breaking down and sobbing? All he knew was that he can’t afford to fall now.
“C’mon. We gotta get movin’. It’ll be dark soon.” he said, looking at Applejack with soft eyes.
Applejack looked up at him and nodded without saying a word. The two started walking away, turning their backs to the dead city. They journeyed for about five miles before stopping at the mouth of a cave, deep in the Everfree Forest. What was left of it anyways.
Due to the destruction of the Griffon king, Tyberius, the trees were cut and harvested to warm the Griffon population and leaving all of the ponies to freeze in the harsh winter. Because so many ponies were outraged, they began to rebel against Tyberius, but to no avail. He was able to rally his troops and destroy the rebel advances, wiping out most of the hope from pony-kind and with Celestia and Luna in captivity, there was no one left other than Tyberius to rule the land.
Buckshot lit his candle to brighten the cave. It was long and dark, but was obviously empty due to the fact of lots of spiderwebs as well as undisturbed, dusty floor. They both sat down and huddled close to the small fire, trying to forget that their whole life wasn’t just ruined in an instant. Buckshot looked at Applejack, his tired eyes wilting and sagging from lack of sleep. Applejack looked up to see him, and she smiled back, warming him up a little inside.
“Hey, Buck?” she called.
“Yeah?”
“Do ya remember when we had ta harvest all them apples fer the reunion, and Applebloom ate all the fritters?” she giggled.
Buckshot laughed, “Ha, yeah. Shame too. Ah really wanted one.”
The two laughed in the cave, letting their joy fill the cave and echo through the darkness. They laughed long and hard before coming to a stop, staring deeply into each other’s eyes. Buck blushed and Applejack blushed back. The two were childhood friends and they’ve only grown closer since the day they met.
“AJ? Do ya remember what Ah said to ya when we were near the pond?”
Applejack blushed and smiled back at him, “ Yep. You said no matter what, you’d protect me and never let the darkness git me.”
“Exactly,” he said, suddenly grabbing Applejack in a hug, “ that’s exactly what Ah intend ta do.” He then shut his eyes and began to sink in, forgetting the world around him and falling into her embrace.
Applejack did the same, letting Buck hold her close and nuzzle her cheek, making her tense up and then relax with comfort. They sat there for a while losing themselves inside each other, focusing all of their senses to the other. Nothing could break them apart.
Suddenly, the candle went out, shrouding the two in darkness. Their eyes snapped open and their heads whipped into the direction of the outside. They focused hard to cut through the darkness but couldn’t make out anything at the mouth.
Buck slowly moved, grabbing his shotgun and headed toward the exit. Applejack followed closely behind him, lasso in mouth, and ready for a fight. at the entrance, a cold breeze could be felt on their necks. Something not normal for the middle of summer. Buck moved further out but a squeal behind him made him whirl around.
Applejack was hoisted about 50 feet in the air, her leg caught in the mouth of a full-grown dragon, bearing the mark of Tyberius. Buck gaped at it but quickly snapped out of it as a black, spiked tail cam swinging toward him, he quickly ducked and took action.
He ran towards the dragon’s clawed feet and shot rubber pellets that smashed into the rough hide, but did no damage. More irritated than anything, the dragon, took a swipe with his arms. Buck saw this and jumped and ducked to avoid the strikes. He switched his ammunition from rubber to silver-tipped and got ready for another attack.
The dragon lunged forward, aiming it’s claws at the red pony. Buck jumped up and landed on the backside of its hand, it’s claws getting stuck in the dirt. Buck then ran up the length of the arm. He looked to his right and saw the second claw flying towards him. He jumped a second time and took aim in mid-air. He shat a cluster straight into it’s heart, making it flail and release Applejack, who slammed hard into a nearby tree.
The dragon let out a blood-curdling roar and fled, leaving a trail of blood as it flew away. Buck breathed heavy and stared after it with hard eyes as sharp as knives. He the snapped out of it and only thought of Applejack. He frantically looked around. He found her under the tree.
She was covered in dirt and fresh blood. Her right hoof looked broken and twisted. He moved her carefully so that he could get a good look at her.
“Applejack!” he sobbed, looking her beat up complexion.
Applejack coughed up blood and started to breath, but it came out harsh and shallow. She looked at Buck, but her once beautiful, emerald eyes were now just a pale green.
“B-Buck? Are ya okay?” she asked, clearly in pain.
“Ah’m fine AJ. Do ya think you can move?”
“Nah,” she coughed, “Ah don’t think Ah’m goin’ anywhere.” she smiled weakly.
Buck started to tear up and his voice began to waiver, “No! No no no no no! Ya gotta push!” he began to nuzzle Applejacks belly, trying desperately to scoop her onto his back.
Applejack didn’t move. She was no longer capable of feeling anything and she looked deep into Buck’s tangerine eyes. “ Let me go.”
Buck looked at her with scared eyes. “ No AJ! Ah promised to protect ya from the darkness!”
“Ya did.” she forced out. “You were my light, Buck, but now you need ta leave me.”
“But why?” he cried, letting his tears mix with Applejack blood in the dirt.
“Because you need to be the guide of other ponies trapped in the darkness.” She smiled at him one last time, her eyes tearing as she stared at him. “ I...love...you...” her voice trailed off and her last breath escaped her, eerily echoing in the dark night.
Buck sat there, next to her, crying. He never left her side until the morning sun came up, sending rays that shot through the trees and illuminate the forest floor. He slowly got up and dug a hole. He laid down as many flowers as he could find into the bottom the pit and lowered her body carefully on top. He then filled the hole and marked it with a large stone. Into it, he carved her name and just the words, “I love you too.”
He looked down at the fresh dirt and sobbed a little more before looking into the sky, finding the direction of the sun. He headed off into the distance in search of others who survived, still clutching his candle.
