Necrosis

I woke up feeling sore-headed. Things hadn't been right since my friends up and left. I felt so alone. Describing it was impossible. I had family, but they seemed so far away. My life as I knew it... was over. It was a chore to get out of bed, then another to drag my sorry self over to my own bathroom (I think Canterlot ponies called them en-suites). I looked myself in the mirror. I'd looked better. What I wouldn't have given for Rarity to show up and struggle with me to fix my mane. A service I took for granted, it seemed.

I barely registered my brother and sister as I traipsed past them in the hallway. That happened a lot lately. If I wasn't working, I was wallowing in self-pity and trying to drown it in cider. I knew this path would break my grandmother's heart, and that made me even sadder, encouraging me to drink more. That was the cycle. I drank because I was sad, and I was sad because I was drinking. And the sadder I got, the more I would drink. She would have called it a paradox, or something like that.

I stepped outside, skipping breakfast. It was time to work. I walked with my head hung low. My mind went through the days before the incident, trying to figure out why I hadn't seen the signs. It was obvious, really. But I was such a fool. How could I not have seen that she was unstable? How could the rest of us not have seen?

I was brought to a halt as my head hit wood. I lazily pushed my hat up, expecting to see a tree, but all I saw was a door. A very specific door. The front door to the Library. I sat there, staring at it. To me, it resembled her. It's locked frame resembling her having shut me out. Having taken all but me with her. Even Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle went with her, but I was left out in the cold, harsh storm that was everypony giving me distrusting looks.

"Why?" I asked the door. "why'd ya leave me, Twi?" tears began to well up in my eyes. I squeezed them shut and leaned my head against the door. "Why didn't ya take me with ya too?" I began to sob uncontrollably in front of the doorway. I didn't care who saw me.

I felt horrible. Not only had I broken down right in the middle of town, but I'd accidentally shirked my responsibilities on the farm. To top it off, I didn't have any cider. The house was decorated in the traditional Hearth's Warming decorations. Tinsel, baubles, a tree in the corner of the family room with a heart on the top and lights all around. This year it was just the immediate family. While I remained my depressed and shamed self, the others managed to enjoy themselves as best they could. They tried their best to cheer me up, but I wasn't having it.

Then a knock on the door came and I decided to answer it, if only to get away from the jolly folk. I opened the door and saw somepony I hadn't seen for a while.

"Hey there, Ditzy. How ya been?" I asked with as much interest as I could portray.

"Hey, Applejack. I've been good, I guess. My new job has had me working around the clock, so I haven't been able to get out much. Socially, I mean. Anyway, I've got a letter here for you." she said. The held out a fairly plain looking letter with my name written in very intricate writing.

"Boy, ya weren't kiddin' when ya said they had you workin' round the clock. It's Seven in the afternoon. On Hearth's Warming Eve, for Hay's sake!." I said, taking the letter.

"I know, but my new boss asked me to deliver this to you ASAP. So I zoomed on over here as fast as I could to give it to you." Ditzy replied.

"Thank you, Ditzy. Who's it from, anyway?" I asked. It was kind of creepy to see the wall-eyed pegasus act all cryptic.

"Somepony who loves you." was all she said. She then flew off with a wave and I was left to close the door. I made my way back to the dinner table and sat just staring at the letter.

"What's that, sis?" my sister asked. I didn't tear my eyes away from the letter.

"Letter from somepony." was all I said.

"Who from deary?" our Grandmother asked.

"Dunno. All Ditzy said was that it was from somepony who loves me. Family member, maybe?" I contemplated.

"Nnnope! We got all our letters from the family. Nopony left to write to us." My brother replied.

"Ooh, maybe it's from somepony who wants to be your special somepony, and they couldn't wait until Hearts and Hooves day." my sister speculated.

"Ah doubt it." I replied.

"Well we'll never know unless you open it, dear." Granny stated. I nodded in agreement and turned to the back of the letter. It was sealed with candle wax, and a familiar star was imprinted into it. I hesitated, wondering if I should read it. But I had to know. I wanted to know what she had to say for herself. I opend the letter and took the folded pieces of paper out.

As I read through the lines, I began to well up with that kind of happy sadness. Like the kind you get when you miss somepony and are sad they aren't there with you. Finishing the letter, I placed it down on the table beside my dinner and smiled at my family.

"Ah Guess Hearth's warming still has some miracles left to it after all."

Meanwhile...

I waited at the entrance of the Jagged Peak for any sign of her. It had been four hours since I'd given her the letter. The night sky made it difficult to see, but I was on the lookout for the sound of flapping wings.

Sure enough, clumsily, she approached. Ditzy Doo in all her glory. The stone grey pegasus landed next to me with a grin planted on her face.

"Did she get it?" I asked. Ditzy nodded.

"Yeah. She seemed really down, too. She probably needed that letter from you." Ditzy replied. I smiled at her and placed a hoof over her shoulder.

"Thank you, Ditzy. This meant a lot to me. Your daughter's waiting with Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. She refuses to sleep unless you're nearby." I said. Ditzy chuckled and made her way inside before I stopped her. "Before you go, I just wanted to show you how grateful I really am for this." I said. I dove towards her confused face and planted my lips against hers. I backed her into the cave wall and pressed myself against her. In the heat of the moment, I felt her wings flap open in arousal as the motion pushed her forward for a moment. I knew she hadn't really had any stimulus since her daughter was conceived, so she was begging for the attention.

I cut the make-out session short as I straightened up and looked her in the eyes. "If you ever want to go all the way like that, just come and visit me whenever. My door will always be open to you." I told her. Still caught in the euphoria, she nodded absent-mindedly, struggling to stay up. I gave her another light kiss before reminding her that Dinky was still waiting. Coming back to her snses, she staggered inside, leaving me to my own devices.

I'd decided to wear my augmented robes instead of the armour of the Necromancer Queen. As it was Hearth's Warming Eve, I decided to postpone my inauguration until the next week. I wanted to spend one more Hearth's Warming as Plain old Twilight Sparkle. In order to do that, I had to give something to my friends... all of them.

Dear Applejack,

I've spent the last few days wondering what to write to you. Should I apologise? Should I wish you a Happy Hearth's Warming? Should I do Both? The question that really tore at me was whether or not you'd bother to read this letter at all, or just throw it in the fireplace. Of course, I'd understand if you did. I wasn't honest with you, and you deserved my honesty more than anypony. Out of all my friends, you've always been the wisest when it came to everything. And you were always the most stubborn.

I don't know if you hate me because I've turned against Celestia and Luna, or if it's because you and Applebloom were the only ones I didn't take with me when I ran away (technically, I didn't take Pinkie either, but she wound up founding the Cult of Necrosis, somehow). The reason I didn't bring you along was because I felt you'd be divided by your friendship with me and your duties to your family. I couldn't do that to you. Another reason was because I didn't want Celestia or Luna using your family to get to us. I say us because I love Big Mac and Granny Smith as well. Like you said when we first met, I'm practically part of the family. Now, I guess I'm the black sheep, huh?

The fact of the matter is, Applejack, that in some form or another, I've broken your heart. And words could never express how sorry I am and how much I wish I could just take it all back. I miss you, AJ. As do the others. Rainbow Dash misses her greatest competition. Rarity misses her messy counterpart (yes, Rarity was brought back, but that was Trixie's doing). I think Pinkie just misses you in general (as well as using the barn for parties). Fluttershy cries whenever she thinks of you, so she deffinitely misses you. There's a hole in our hearts, AJ. And it's where you belong. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle send their regards to Applebloom, too. And hope she's coping in school. I've heard only bad things about Diamond Tiara.

With that said and done, We all wish you a Happy Hearth's Warming. We love you, Applejack.

Love,

Twilight Sparkle