SHE'LL BE APPLES
Golden light stretched like fingers through the trees across Sweet Apple Acres as though the sun had just gotten out of bed itself. The trees and grass sparkled with dew from the previous cool night. The light slowly crept into the room Applejack whose ears filled with the sound of roosters crowing. Sleepily, she yawned and stretched her body out as she came out from the sheets of her bed. Her tired eyes looked towards the window and a smile crawled across her face.
Her gaze slowly drifted from the window down to the picture at her bedside. Beneath the glass and frame sat a humble picture of her parents smiling to the camera and laughing. She only stared for a moment though, shaking the thoughts creeping in out of her mind. It was time to work, she thought to herself. With that, she pushed the sheets from the bed and hopped down to the floor to get herself ready for the day.
Applejack walked out of her home after her morning routine with a full stomach of Granny Smith's glorious breakfast. Another yawn came as she stretched again and set her green eyes out to the apple trees that made up the farm. It was the kind of sight, she thought, that she could wake up to every morning. The smell of the morning and the apples on the wind filled her nose as she breathed deeply.
It was all quite intoxicating in every sense. Another brief smell of the air, however, caused Applejack to nearly fall over in disgust. Her eyes watered as the odious scent wafted around her. Her hooves quickly covered her nose as her eyes darted about, trying to see where the foul assault was originating. She couldn't see anything that would cause such an odor; even the pigs were fairly clean despite the muck and slop.
She bowed her head low, hoping the smell would stay at normal nostril level where she'd originally caught it. A noise came from the barn that made Applejack suspicious. She had a feeling she was going to find what the smell was, as well as the culprit. Or in this case, culprits.
As the barn door opened, the smell became stronger. It was almost as though someone had taken an entire pile of tires and thrown them in a garbage dump before lightning the whole thing on fire. Through watering eyes, Applejack saw her sister Apple Bloom with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle standing by a table. They wore white coats and were surrounded by glassware. A fire burned up into one of the glass containers which was uncovered.
"Apple Bloom!" Applejack shouted, startling the three fillies. This seemed, however, to be quite the big mistake on her part. She was in the air before she had actually realized what happened. The ground was quite a ways away as well. Applejack blinked, trying to figure out why her ears would not stop ringing, and also why gravity had not yet taken over. Oh no, there it went. She watched as one of the trees in the orchard was getting larger by the second before catching her.
Flailing, she tried to right herself but managed, instead, to flop right out of the tree and on the ground. With a groan, she stared up towards the tree tops, flat on her back. There seemed to be a great many more trees than before though, triple however. She also seemed to have three sisters who were all moving their mouths at once.
"Applejack!" Apple Bloom cried, standing above her sister when Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came by Applejack's side as well. "Are you okay!?"
Applejack blinked a bit, shaking her head in an attempt to make everything stop spinning. Rubbing her head she looked around at the three of them before standing up. At least, she was certain she was standing up. Perhaps the ground had been that close all along? Moving her legs again she took note they were all still attached, she was simply on her stomach. Letting out another groan she looked back up to the three fillies who watched her.
"What in the hay were ya'll doin' in the barn?" she demanded.
"We were tryin' to become cutie mark crusader scientists by makin' th' best apple juice anyone's ever tasted," Apple Bloom answered with some apprehension.
"But you startled us, and I sort of put blew us up," Scootaloo interjected.
"Are ya'll okay?" Applejack asked, her expression softening.
"Uh huh, we're fine," Apple Bloom answered. "We jus' got tossed around in the barn."
"Lucky for us this isn't the first time we've been tossed around a barn, so we put up mattresses and pillows!" Sweetie Belle said with a proud smile on her face.
Applejack muttered a little bit. Her hearing seemed to be coming back, but when she stood up, she could swear one of her legs just wasn't pulling its weight. On three legs, she tried walking forward before pain shot up through her body. Falling over, she grabbed at her back leg, mouth open to scream but unable to let anything out but a small whimper.
"Oh no! You are hurt!" Apple Bloom cried out. "I'll get Big Macintosh an' Granny Smith!"
With that, Apple Bloom ran off towards the house as Applejack lay in the field, holding the hurt leg tenderly. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both looked at one another, trying to figure out what to do. The idea of becoming cutie mark crusader medics had crossed their minds, possibly at the same time, but this didn't seem the right place to go experimenting for a new found profession.
Soon Big Macintosh came rolling up with a cart that Granny Smith and Apple Bloom sat in. Applejack looked up at her brother and smiled meekly. He gave his sister a confident smile before helping her to her hooves and into the back of the cart. She bit her bottom lip, trying to put on a strong face for her sister. As she lay in the back, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle decided to get in as well to be with their friend. As Big Macintosh hooked himself back to the cart, he pulled it all the way to the hospital.
Granny Smith and Big Macintosh sat in the waiting area along side Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. They all stared at the floor, wondering just what the news was going to be from the doctor. Apple Bloom put her hooves to her face as she stared at the ground.
"This is all my fault," she said, closing her eyes.
"Aw, don't you worry none, whippersnapper," Granny Smith said, turning her eyes to the young filly and smiling. "Yer sister is as tough as they come. Ain't nothin' like a little fall gonna stop her."
"Eeyup," Big Macintosh added, resting a hoof on Apple Bloom's back. She gave a slight smile before the front door to the hospital opened. Twilight Sparkle entered followed by the rest of Applejack's friends. Twilight approached the Apples as Sweetie Belle ran to Rarity's side to hug her.
"We came as soon as we could," Twilight said with concern. "Pinkie Pie said she saw Applejack being carried here in a cart."
"It's cause of us, Twilight," Apple Bloom spoke up. "That science kit ya loaned us sorta blew up th' barn an' sent Applejack flyin' into th' trees."
Twilight frowned a bit. "But you're all okay, right?"
The three fillies nodded, though didn't seem terribly thrilled.
"Well, I'm glad you three are all right," Rarity said, hugging Sweetie Belle tightly.
"Yeah, buck up kiddo," Rainbow Dash said flying down to Scootaloo's side. "Applejack is tough, there's nothing that can stop her!"
The doors to the hospital opened as the doctor entered. He pushed his glasses up on his nose and cleared his throat.
"There seemed to be fewer of you, before," he said, looking around to all the people in the waiting room. "I have good news and I have bad news."
The group gasped a bit at the very notion of bad news.
"The good news is Applejack is going to be perfectly fine," the doctor said and was met with relieved sighs. "The bad news is she'll need to stay off of her leg for about a week."
The sound of squeaky wheels came from behind the doctor as Applejack was pushed out in a wheelchair. Her leg was casted and stuck straight out in front of her as she saw all of her friends around. Adjusting her hat a bit, she cleared her throat and seemed slightly embarrassed from all the attention. Her friends, however, rushed to her side in a cacophony of questions of her well being and a few offers to sign her cast.
"Might kind of ya'll to swing by, but I'm perfectly fine," Applejack said as the noise quieted down. "I jus' need some rest is all, then I'll be back on my feet."
"But it's harvest season again," Apple Bloom said, biting her lower lip.
"We can help though!" Twilight said with a grin. The others cheered in agreement.
"Well that's real neighborly, an' ya'll can drop in on Applejack while yer on th' farm," Granny Smith said as Big Macintosh gave a "Eeyup" of approval.
"Well shucks, ya'll," Applejack said with a smile. "I do appreciate it an' hopefully I can get back on my hooves soon!"
Applejack was soon back on the farm after the discharge from the hospital and the reminder from the doctor she needed bed rest. Big Macintosh helped her out of the cart and up the stairs to her room where she put her hat up on one corner and was placed between the sheets. Laying back in her comfortable bed, she looked out the window a brief moment before turning back and seeing her friends standing around her.
"Don't ya'll worry none about me, Big Macintosh is gonna need help out in them fields," Applejack said, motioning to the window. "We got mighty behind after this mornin'."
The others nodded and started to exit the room before Twilight frowned a little and walked towards Applejack's bed side.
"Applejack, are you sure you're going to be okay?" she asked, resting a hoof on the bed.
"I'll be fine, Twilight," she responded.
"Okay, if you need one of us just shout out the window."
With that, Twilight was out of the room and outside with the others. From her window, Applejack could see the group gathering around Big Macintosh. The house was quiet enough she could almost hear him giving each pony their assignments. Soon though, they were gone, leaving Applejack staring at the empty field with only the briefest of sights of Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy diving into a tree to pick it. Settling back in her bed, she sighed and stared up at the ceiling. It didn't sit well with her, all of this laying about. She'd only just gotten out of the hospital and was now realizing what Rainbow Dash had gone through when she was in the hospital with a hurt wing.
Her eyes drifted around the room, looking at some of the pictures hanging up. Most of them were sunny paintings of the farm but others were memories contained only by glass and small wooden frames. Spotting one of her and Big Macintosh standing before a newly raised barn made her mind wander back to that day. When she and her brother couldn't possibly get the side of it up just right. When she couldn't half way paint it and when it was all done the picture was taken by Granny Smith. The two of them covered in paint and tired but triumphant still that they completed the task together.
Another picture was from the first Sisterhooves Social she and Apple Bloom had entered. She swore she had never been prouder of her sister than that day when they both came in first. That was, of course, after an entire day of yelling at each other and swearing they'd never get along well enough to win the competition. Applejack's eye began to tear up a little before she heard the door close and someone walk up the stairs. Settling down again, she looked over and saw Pinkie Pie walk in.
"Hey Applejack!" she said cheerfully.
"Oh, heya Pinkie, what's up?"
"Twilight said you were looking down before she left, so she asked me if I'd come up here and check on you!" Pinkie said, hopping towards the side of the bed.
"Oh that's okay, really Pinkie, ya'll didn't need to do th-" Applejack stopped as Pinkie hopped up on the bed to sit with Applejack. Her eyes began to water as pain shot up from her leg. Pinkie had accidentally landed right on top of it but didn't seem really to notice. What she did notice, however, was the look of anguish on her friend's face. Of course being Pinkie, the oblivious tendencies always had to come out in the worst of times.
"Oh, are we making funny faces?" she asked excitedly before making a few herself, trying to match Applejack's own expression. Applejack in the mean time was doing everything she could not to cry as every time Pinkie made a new face she shifted just a little bit.
"P-Pinkie Pie!" Applejack finally managed to shout as Pinkie stopped and settled down, staring at her friend. "Y-You're...You're on my leg."
Pinkie smiled meekly and hopped off her friend's bed. Applejack let out a slow sigh from the pressure finally being off of her leg, but frowned a bit when she looked over at Pinkie.
"I appreciate what yer doin' for me, but really, I'm fine Pinkie," Applejack said running her hooves over the cast as though she were trying to work out a sore muscle. "Now go on an' help Big Macintosh get them apples outta the trees, please?"
"Okie dokie loki," Pinkie said before she marched off back down the stairs leaving Applejack to lay back in her bed. Her mind drifted again, if nothing else to ease the throbbing pain she felt in her leg. She stared at the other pictures in quiet reflection. There were no other pictures other than the one next to her bedside. It was the one that she didn't like to dwell on. Her parents.
Turning her head away, she tried to forget all about the picture. Her green eyes instead groped around the room for something to latch onto. Anything that would bring a happy memory rather than a sad one. The house was too quiet. She was suddenly wishing Pinkie had stayed and possibly jumped on her leg a bit longer. Her eyes went to the floor as she began to wonder if she could stand with the cast on. It was sore and it hurt but maybe there was a way to get up and do something without having to use it.
The sound of the door downstairs opening made her stop and lay back in her bed. She was thankful that there was possibly someone else coming to entertain her and keep her mind from going back to her parents. The lack of hoof falls up the stairs made her question just who it was that came in. That was when Rainbow Dash flew in and landed next to Applejack's bed.
"Hey Applejack, heard Pinkie sat on your leg," Rainbow Dash said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, she didn' mean nothin' by it though," Applejack explained giving a small smile. "She was jus' tryin' to keep my spirits up is all."
"Yeah, so I figured I'd come up and keep you company a bit. We're pretty much caught up out there all thanks to yours truly."
Applejack rolled her eyes at Rainbow Dash's boasting but was thankful for the interaction none the less.
"You know, I don't think I've ever been in your room," Rainbow said as she wandered around looking at everything.
"You sure do have a lot of pictures and medals hanging around."
"The medals are from the rodeos I've won. I made sure to hang up every blue ribbon so when I wake up, I can look at 'em and remember just how proud I should be."
"Huh, no posters though," Rainbow said.
"Aw, well I ain't got any posters to hang."
"No posters? How could you not? I mean, don't you have any heroes or anyone you idolize?"
Applejack thought about this for a moment but quickly shook her head as her parents crept back up into her memories. "Nah, not when I've got friends like you, Rainbow Dash."
"Yeah, I guess that's true," Rainbow said laughing a bit.
The two talked for a bit longer, mostly about competitions and other topics of interest they shared. They even began talking about Daring Do and how Applejack should read them while she was stuck in bed. It was by this point the door opened downstairs and Applejack heard everyone coming in. She turned towards the window and saw that most of the day had already gone by. Everyone soon joined Applejack and Rainbow Dash upstairs and sat around.
Conversations shifted then, everyone sitting around and laughing, talking amongst themselves to keep Applejack company. They'd sat around until the sun came down and it was time for everyone to leave. Everyone said their goodbyes, saying they would be back in the morning to help with the rest of the apples as well as to see Applejack. As they left one by one, only Apple Bloom was left standing in her room.
"What's wrong, sugarcube?" Applejack asked, looking down at the filly who climbed up onto the bed with her sister.
"I'm still sorry about this mornin'," Apple Bloom said staring down at the floor. A gentle hoof was placed on her back.
"Ain't nothin' to be sorry over, Apple Bloom," Applejack said sweetly, rubbing her sister's back a little. "Jus' don't try an' blow up th' barn next time, okay?"
Apple Bloom nodded and curled up next to her sister, now holding onto her arm. "I was really worried I'd lost ya or somethin'."
"Who me?" Applejack asked with a smile before she noogied her sister. "Ya'll ain't gonna get rid of me that easily!"
Apple Bloom gave a bit of a giggle from the noogie and settled back down, still wrapped around her sister's arm. The room was quiet once again save the subtle sounds of someone in the kitchen downstairs clattering pans. Apple Bloom soon squirmed a little and turned her head slightly to the side.
"Applejack?"
"Yeah, sis'?"
"Do you ever think about mom an' dad?"
Applejack felt her heart jump into her throat. The very thing she'd tried to avoid thinking about during her time alone now facing her again. She scrambled to find a good way to put things to her sister but ultimately couldn't. A brief silence was soon broken by Applejack clearing her throat.
"Well, Apple Bloom, I do. I think about them a great deal, even when it don't look like I'm thinkin' 'bout nothin' at all. They're always in my thoughts, especially now it feels like."
Apple Bloom nodded a bit and stared blankly at the open door of Applejack's room. "Tell me about 'em."
Applejack could do no amount of throat clearing for how much she didn't want to get on the topic.
"Well, ya'll were jus' born when they left. They were travelin' sales folk, goin' from place to place sellin' th' apples from th' farm. Ain't never been harder workin' folk alive."
"Were they nice?" Apple Bloom asked looking back to Applejack.
"Why you ain't never seen nicer people, Apple Bloom. Mom an' Dad both did everythin' they could when they weren't out sellin'. They were gone a lot though, I even ran away from home when they left. Managed to get back before they came home, not that it did my hide any good. Boy they were mad when they found out I ran away from home."
Apple Bloom nuzzled against Applejack's arm with a smile.
"Why, I remember th' reason they came back home was cause of Mom gettin' sick an' not bein' able to get back on th' road. That was when they were gonna have you. Mom an' Dad were so happy when ya'll were born. Big Macintosh an' I were green with envy. We swore things couldn' get better though. Havin' you around with Mom, an' Dad. Granny an' Big Macintosh, we was like a big ol' happy family."
Applejack stopped as her eyes moistened. She looked down to Apple Bloom who lay nestled against her sister's arm. Eyes closed and breathing slow as she drifted off to sleep. The slightest snore came before Applejack slid down in the covers and looked out the window into the darkness. Apple Bloom muttered under her breath a bit as Applejack slid her eyes shut.
"Good night, sis."
Morning came early as Applejack was roused from sleep by the sounds of pots and pans being clattered around loudly downstairs. Sunlight crept into the window as Applejack looked down. Apple Bloom was no longer on her arm and the house seemed far more lively suddenly. She swung herself out of bed and managed to get onto the floor. The sudden pain however was a quick reminder as to why this was all a horrible idea.
Crumpling to the floor, Applejack let out a yelp which was followed by the sound of hooves beating against the stairs. Big Macintosh made his way to Applejack's room as she smiled up to him for a moment. Big Macintosh shook his head and helped Applejack back to her hooves. She steadied herself on the three legs that didn't feel like knives were poking into them and sighed a bit.
"I'm sorry Big Mac, but there's gotta be somethin' I can do while I'm laid up, right?" Applejack asked as Big Macintosh put a hoof to his chin and looked deep in thought a moment.
"Eeyup," he replied, nodding.
"What is it!?" Applejack asked excitedly as she climbed back into the bed.
"You can rest and get better," Big Macintosh nodded as he walked back out of the room.
"That ain't what I meant!" Applejack shouted after him as Big Macintosh walked down the stairs. Applejack huffed and crossed her arms before turning her eyes to the window. The smell of breakfast wafted up the stairs before Applejack heard someone approaching her room once more. Big Macintosh returned once more, only this time with a tray in his teeth. Setting it on Applejack's bed, she looked down at the bountiful breakfast Granny Smith prepared filled with pancakes, toast and hay.
"Thanks brother," Applejack said as Big Macintosh turned to the door to leave. "Hey, Big Mac?"
"Eeyup?"
"Apple Bloom was askin' about our folks," Applejack said, her eyes on the window.
Big Macintosh stood in her room with a stoic look on his face, watching her before she turned back to look him in the eyes. Her own were filled with tears that ran down her cheeks. She covered her eyes and softly wept which caught Big Macintosh off guard. He went to her side and placed a hoof gently on her back.
"I jus' don't know what to tell her about Mom an' Dad. She knows they're gone but she'll never know th' kind of people they were."
"You can only do the best you can," Big Macintosh said with a smile before he brought Applejack closer for a hug. The two embraced, Applejack sniffling and wiping her eyes before smiling and leaning back on the bed.
"Thanks big brother," Applejack said before turning to the meal she had before her.
"Anytime," he said as he left her to eat in peace.
The day went on as Applejack's friends showed up to help Big Macintosh with his work. Rarity stopped by with a marker to do a few designs on Applejack's cast to which she was quite grateful. They spent time talking to one another, laughing and otherwise enjoying each other's company before Rarity walked back out to help with the work. Rainbow Dash even came up with her copy of Daring Do that she laid on the end table. The day had practically slipped away from Applejack who remained in bed like she was supposed to.
At the end of the day, just like the previous everyone was in Applejack's room hanging out and having a laugh. They joked and laughed as Granny Smith brought dinner to everyone to enjoy. As the sun sank once more, Applejack's friends left one by one. Soon it was just Apple Bloom and Applejack left in her room. The young filly hopped up onto her sister's bed and lay down with a happy smile.
"You seem a lot better today," Applejack commented with a tired smile.
"Big Macintosh started teachin' me how you an' him get all th' apples off th' trees so quickly," Apple Bloom said, curling up by her sister's side.
"Well that's great! Soon you'll be out there helpin' us durin' harvest season too."
Apple Bloom nodded happily as she lay next to her sister who put an arm around her and squeezed her. The two of them lay quiet as Applejack began to nervously think about the possibility of Apple Bloom asking more questions about their parents. Other topics came up though, such as other things that needed doing around the farm that Apple Bloom could do, much to the relief of Applejack. The two of them talked about various jobs around the farm before finally Apple Bloom yawned and walked out of Applejack's room rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"It's too bad you can't get outta bed an' tuck me in like you used to," Apple Bloom said looking back to Applejack.
"I know, sugarcube, but in another couple days I'll be back up an' around," said Applejack with a wide grin. "I'll even read ya'll a bedtime story."
"Will you do all th' voices?"
"You betcha, every last one of 'em."
Apple Bloom giggled and wished her sister a good night. Applejack then turned onto her side and looked at the picture of her parents. All the voices. That was on her mind the most. She was thankful Apple Bloom didn't bring up their parents. Even after the talk she and Big Macintosh had earlier in the day she still had no idea how she'd ever exactly tell Apple Bloom what happened. She didn't even know herself. All she knew was getting the bad news from Granny Smith one day and locking herself in the barn, swearing to never come out.
She didn't want that for her sister. She didn't want all that heartache, even with the nagging feeling it was coming. All the voices. Every last one of them. Her mother and father would read stories to her and Big Macintosh with all the voices. Sometimes even Granny Smith would wander in and do them too. When they were on the road though, there were no stories. Granny Smith would try, but sometimes she would just fall asleep or even forget. Applejack's eyes didn't tear away from the picture as her mind wandered.
Wandering off for weeks and coming back. It was for the good of the farm, of course. There was never any doubt that what they were doing was always in the family's best interest. Why did Applejack feel so mad suddenly though? Was it because of Apple Bloom not being able to at least know them? Was it because she felt like they were taken away so suddenly? Her mind continued to roam before suddenly she put the picture face down and huffed. There, in the darkness of her room she finally slid her eyes closed and drifted off to sleep.
The following days were pretty much the same, her friends showing up and keeping her company. The art on her cast grew as everyone eventually signed and put pictures on it. It made her smile to see her friend's handiwork all the time even if she couldn't quite get out of bed. She did get up every so often to try to walk around so her back wouldn't be so stiff. Hilariously, she even tried running though it became very obviously a bad idea after the dresser tripped her out of what Applejack was certain to be spite.
It wasn't until her friends left for another night that Apple Bloom once again decided to stay again and curl up with her sister. Apple Bloom seemed quiet that night, not really talking much about until finally she looked up to Applejack and bit her bottom lip.
"Hey, sis," she started. "Sweetie Belle was tellin' me how she was gonna go see her parents an' that I should go with her for a bit."
"Well I think that's not too bad an idea," Applejack said, rustling Apple Bloom's mane. "Ya'll might have a right good time hangin' out with your friend."
"That's just it though, it would be with her parents. I'm not sure I wanna do it on account of, you know."
"Don't let somethin' small like that stop ya from havin' a good time with your friend, Apple Bloom."
"I can't help it, I mean I know I've got you an' Big Macintosh an' Granny Smith but we ain't like other families."
"You're right, we ain't like other families. Cause what we got is special."
Apple Bloom bowed her head a bit and stared at the ground before Applejack pat her on the head. Apple Bloom however took this oppertunity to slide off of the bed and make for her room. Applejack heard as the door closed slowly and sighed, staring down at the bed sheets. Turning to the picture that was still turned down, she turned it back upright and sighed, placing her head in her hooves.
"What am I s'posed to do?" Applejack asked to no one in particular, which made the reply a bit startling.
"Well, sleep is usually what someone does at night," the voice of Granny Smith came from the door as she walked in with a bit of a smile. "Heard the youngin' askin' about yer parents."
"I dunno what to tell her Granny," Applejack said with a sigh as she ran her hooves together. Granny Smith stared at the ground for a few moments before moving silently into the hall. Applejack quirked a brow before she'd returned with an old shoebox in her teeth. Setting it on the ground, she opened the top of it and rummaged around. As far as Applejack could tell from her bed it was full of old papers but her gaze quickly shifted after Granny pulled out an envelope and placed it on the side of the bed.
"What is it?" Applejack asked bringing the envelope to her.
"It's a letter that yer maw an' paw left before they left last time they was here," Granny Smith explained closing the shoebox. "They wanted me t'make sure ya got it when you were old enough. Y'never asked 'bout yer parents though an' so I thought I'd hang onto it until either you or yer brother or sister got curious."
Applejack nodded and stared down at the old envelope that was simply signed "To our children". Applejack decided then to set it under her pillow for safe keeping, at least until Apple Bloom asked again. With that, her eyes turned once more to the picture of her parents until her eyelids grew heavy and she was once again lead into a peaceful slumber.
The morning came with Applejack out of bed and able to move around on the cast with relative ease. Every so often a pinch of pain would hit her, but it wasn't enough to deter her from getting around and at the very least remembering there is, in fact, an outside world. She was met with the smiling faces of her friends just outside of the house as she hobbled around, each of them excited to see her ambling about. The smell of the nice, crisp air filled her nose and lungs as she breathed deeply.
As the day went on, however, she saw no sign of Apple Bloom. It wasn't a school day, nor did she ever see her leave the house. It nagged at her as she walked along the trees slowly with her friends, sometimes missing questions the other ponies asked her. The day continued with no sign of her sister which by lunch had her very worried. Excusing herself, she hobbled back towards the house to see if she could find a sign of her sister.
As she entered the quiet house, a sound made her ears perk up. A soft sobbing noise was coming from upstairs. Applejack moved as quickly as her cast would allow, clumsily carrying her upstairs to her room door. There on her bed, she saw her sister hovering over a letter with tears running down her face and staining the paper.
"Apple Bloom," Applejack managed around the lump now in her throat.
"Why didn' you tell me about this?" she asked between the sobbing.
"I didn' know till last night when Granny Smi-" she was cut off by Apple Bloom hastily running past. "Apple Bloom, wait!"
Her sister had darted down the stairs and was already out the door by the time the last syllable of her plea had left her mouth. Grumbling, she tried to make it down the stairs as quickly as she could but with the awkward cast it only made her tumble. All the way to the ground she cried out before hitting the ground. Pain wracked her body as her hooves went to the casted leg.
The empty house certainly didn't help as Applejack lay on the floor holding onto her leg. Her eyes just watched the door hoping for Apple Bloom to come back. Time passed slowly though, and no one seemed to be coming back. Applejack turned her head towards the ceiling, tears falling from her eyes. Seeing her sister run away from her like she did was almost like looking into a mirror.
She remembered it all vividly. The news of her parents as Granny Smith tried to console her. Wrestling herself from Granny's embrace and tearing out the door towards the barn. The cold night air that hung in the barn as she tried to keep warm, wishing she could see them one more time. Wishing she could hear them just once more. All the voices.
The sound of the door opening made her snap out of it. Seeing Twilight come in filled her with some relief as she quickly ran to her side.
"Applejack, are you hurt?!" she exclaimed, picking her up in a gentle field of purple magic.
"Jus' my pride, Twilight," she answered quietly as she was carried up the stairs. "I got a letter from Granny Smith last night from my parents. Apple Bloom found it an' thought I've been holdin' out on her. I jus' found it though, I had no idea Granny had it. I had no idea how to talk to her about 'em. I thought th' letter would be perfect. Now she's run out an' I can't catch her."
"I'm sure she'll come back, AJ," Twilight said as she set Applejack down in the bed, removing her hat as well to set it on the bedpost.
"Yeah, you're prolly right, Twilight," Applejack said halfheartedly as she turned towards the window to stare out of it.
"Would you like me to stay?" Twilight asked with a slight smile.
"If it's all the same, I'd like to be alone for a bit," Applejack muttered as Twilight nodded and walked out of her room. Applejack sat silently, listening to the door downstairs shut. That was when Applejack's eyes turned to the letter on the bed. She stared at it blankly, contemplating reading it herself. Would it make a difference if she did?
Snatching the letter up, she crumpled it up and threw it at the picture that sat by her bed, knocking the picture of her parents down and onto the floor. The sound of crackling glass made her wince as she put her hoof to her head.
Stupid, she thought to herself, such a stupid thing to do. She leaned over the edge of the bed and stared down at the cracked glass. Her parents stared back up at her through the cracks. The paper ball settled next to the picture as Applejack reached down to scoop both of them up. She stared down at the distorted picture of her parents and sighed, bringing it to her chest to hug it tightly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered softly to the picture as she held it.
"I'm sorry too," Apple Bloom said from the door way. "Twilight came an' told me you fell down th' stairs tryin' to chase me."
Applejack gasped suddenly, seeing her sister standing next to her bed. Dropping the picture onto her lap, Applejack quickly reached down for her sister who gladly hopped onto the bed for an embrace. As the two held each other, Apple Bloom looked to the cracked picture of their parents and looked back up to Applejack.
"Got a little upset and knocked it over on accident," she said before settling back down onto the bed. Apple Bloom nestled herself against Applejack and picked up the picture to stare at it.
"Listen, Apple Bloom," Applejack began. "I was gonna read this here letter with ya but ya'll sorta barged in here an' read it before me. I don't know what's in it."
"I didn' read too much, you came in on me after the first few lines," Apple Bloom said looking to the floor. "I thought you were holdin' out on me."
"I wouldn' hold somethin' like this out on ya."
"So, should we read it?"
Applejack thought about it for a moment before smiling and patting Apple Bloom on the head. "We can have Big Macintosh read it later since it's for him too."
Applejack uncrumpled the letter, smoothing it out as best she could before clearing her throat and steeling herself for what was to come.
Dear Apple Bloom, Applejack and Big Macintosh,
By the time you're reading this, it means Granny has decided you're old enough to know what happened to your mother and I. The truth is, your mother was the first to get ill. I quickly followed close behind. Here in Fillydelphia we were making our usual rounds and sales when your mother fainted. I rushed her to the hospital here as quickly as I could but they couldn't do much for her. We were both admitted to the hospital in the same room and now lay together listening to the birds chirping and the busy city below us.
The doctor's just aren't sure what's wrong with us and even though they seem cheerful, your mother and I feel like this might be it for us. My heart grows heavier with every passing letter I write down on this paper but I'm sure that you kids are doing just fine. Apple Bloom probably already has her cutie mark by now and is tagging along behind you Applejack, following in your footsteps to help run the farm.
We wish we could come home to see all of you again. We wish we could hold you in our arms and see your smiling faces and hear your wonderful voices. We wish we could be together again. But as your mother and I lay here, we know that even if we go you'll always have each other and the wonderful friends I'm certain you've made over the years.
Applejack, please take care of Apple Bloom, and Big Macintosh, please take care of Applejack. The doctor is here now, so it's time for more treatment. I wish I could say that I had another letter I could write but I feel this might be the last one. We have always loved the three of you with all of our hearts. Be kind to one another and hopefully we'll be together again soon.
Love always
Your Mother and Father
Applejack put the letter down in her lap as she sniffed a bit, a tear falling from her cheek and hitting the paper. Apple Bloom hugged the photo of her parents to her chest as she leaned against Applejack and shook a bit, trying to hold back her tears. Putting an arm around her sister, she simply smiled a little and looked to the window. Her eyes watched the trees as they shook from Big Macintosh and the others hard at work. Her eyes then turned to the cast on her leg, looking over the pictures and signatures from her friends.
"Ya know," Applejack began, her voice wobbling slightly. "We're real lucky though."
Apple Bloom sniffled and looked up to see her sister's smiling face. "Wh-why's that?"
"Cause no matter what happens, we always got our family. Twilight, an' Pinkie. Rarity an' Rainbow Dash, an' Fluttershy. We got Granny Smith an' Big Macintosh. You got Scootaloo an' Sweetie Belle an' Babs. We even got th' rest of th' Apple family too. We've got each other too."
Apple Bloom just smiled and nodded a bit. "I love you, sis."
"I love you too, Apple Bloom," Applejack said as her eyes drifted to the window again.
Days went on as usual once again at Sweet Apple Acres. As the morning sun made its lazy climb into the sky, Applejack stepped out of her home with her cast removed, ready to attack the day. She took a deep breath, taking in the fresh, morning air and breathing out an elated sigh. The door to the house opened behind her as Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom stepped out with her. The three silently looked over the trees that lined the fields of their farm.
'Dear Princess Celestia,' Applejack thought to herself as she stood with her brother and her sister. 'The past few days have been tough on me, not bein' able to work. But I learned somethin' important anyway. Everythin' in life ain't forever. Sometimes ya gotta live through some rough times an' you'll lose things you were close to. But so long as you've got good friends and family to share your life with, then even the biggest wounds can heal.'
Her eyes watered a bit before she looked to the blue sky above them and felt her heavy heart lifted. The three then set out towards the fields. Above them, as the sun continued to rise two stars twinkled for a fleeting moment. Applejack just knew in her heart that even though she had lost her parents they were still watching over her proudly.
Author's Note
As I was writing this I hadn't had a clue of the number of "Applejack's Parents" fics that were out there. It came to my attention however after I'd finished the product and had the pre-read done. All I can say is that hopefully this one stands up on it's own.
