Two weeks later.
Applejack lay in the west field, a warm breeze trickled over the hills and blew against her muzzle gently as she looked towards the sunset.
Celestia's bronze disk seared the acres in a glorious, heavenly light that seemed to cascade down like a waterfall of sunny heat.
She never got tired of looking out over her families fields. Her fields. She was the fourth generation of Apples in Ponyville and she knew as sure as sugar that she wasn't going to be the last. The Acres and the Apples would be here much longer after she had gone. Somehow that thought comforted her. That no matter how short her own existence, some part of her and of her family would endure. She even for this brief while was part of something so much bigger than herself.
Comfort wasn't the only reason she liked to stay in this part of the farm. True it held the best view of the sunset as it lazily dipped below the three hills on the horizon, but the another reason for coming here was that it was the most secluded. Sweet Apple Acres was unusual for an Equestiran farm as instead of being a perfect square, the western portion stretched out, far towards the grasslands and uncultured fields that lay beyond its borders. After the western part of the Acres there was nothing for tens of miles until you reached Trottingham. While the rest of the farm was encroached by the Everfree, other farms or even Ponyville, the west remained wild and unfettered. Free as far as the eye could see.
Coming here was the best place Applejack could go to let her own thoughts run as free as the west.
She was trying, Celestia, she was trying to get on board with Big Mac dating Twilight, truly she was. But, there was something stopping her. Something she didn't even want to admit to herself.
Darling, you know you're going to have to talk about it sooner or later. the Manehattanite voice was back again, fast becoming a constant voice of reason inside her head.
Ah know, ah know Applejack answered ah just don't know what to say to her. Let's be marefriends seems awful stupid to me.
Is that what we're talking about? I thought... oh nevermind we'll get back to that.
Get back to wut?Aj asked internally.
Nevermind that now. We'll get back to that next. Now what's this problem with Rarity. I thought this was all sorted. Granny Smith approves, you already know that your friends will be supportive of your new relationship, Rarity loves you and you love her so what's the problem?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, now hold on a sec there sally. Ah never said that ah loved her. Ah just like her is all.
The voice in her head didn't even bother to reply to that piece of stupidity. Opting instead to emit an almost unbearable smugness, it seemed to Applejack, with overtones of patronisation. As if it was saying. 'Of course you don't. How adorable.'
Darling stop it. We both know you are just inventing problems, to avoid tackling the real issue here. One that actually could harm a few of Relationships.
Oh really? An' what relationships are you inferring to miss Fancy-britches. Ah ain't that kinda mare. Applejack thought annoyed now.
Really dear, do not be so obtuse. I mean not only could it hurt your budding relationship with Rarity but the current one you have with your friends and family. It's what I eluded to earlier. Your brother. You have been avoiding Macintosh for two weeks now, even your good friend Twilight has felt the cold shoulder as you purposely ignore them. They are in love and you cannot even look at them, let alone stand to be near them. You are hurting them by snubbing them.
T'aint snubbing them. Just don't feel like talking to them that's all. Applejacks nose scrunches a little at the lie.
You are a terrible liar Applejack Apple. I know why you are not talking to them. You cannot bear it can you? You really do think that Macintosh will hurt her. That you will end up hurting Rarity. You are afraid are you not?
No.Applejack thought vehemently. She shook her head back and forth. She had heard enough, she didn't want to be here anymore, she didn't want those memories back in her head.
He's not like him Applejack. The Manehattanite voice said. You are not like him Applejack.
Applejack kept shaking her head as she began to silently cry.
You are not like your father Applejack.
Don't you dare. She impotently warned.
Applejack, sugar. He's gone and you are nothing like him. You and Macintosh are- the Manehattanite voice was overridden by Applejacks internal yelling.
- exactly the same. You thought the same about him once. That he wouldn't abandon us. That he would love us an' stay but you were wrong, Momma. You were wrong.
It was stunned silence in Applejacks head for a while. After a few minutes, once Aj had stopped her crying her Momma's voice answered her.
Darling, I know. But I'm not wrong about you or Macintosh. My children. You two are the most dependable ponies I know. Do you really think that you could hurt Rarity that way? Or that Big Mac could hurt Twilight like that? Of course not. You are my children, you hear me? Stop beating yourself up for his mistakes. You are not him. You make your own destiny in this world Darling.
With Applejacks head quiet again, she looked to the setting sun. She knew that she had some apologies to make, some things to say and some ponies to see but for now she just wanted to watch the sunset.
She wouldn't run from anything anymore.
Back in Ponyville, in a room where one little filly slept, something was wrong. Ever since she moved into Rarity's home, her home she supposed, the nightmares had returned stronger than ever. She hadn't told anybody yet as she didn't know what to say. Scootaloo was a brave pony. Not some little chicken. She knew they were only dreams but... they still frightened her.
Fast, frantic muttering broke through the fitfully sleeping fillies mouth.
“No. Don't” were some of the words that managed to be clear enough to make out. But for the most it was just unintelligible. One thing was clear though. They were spoken in fear.
In her dream Scootaloo was in a field miles away from anywhere. Rain plastered itself to her fur, running down in greasy driblets as it mixed with her the hot tears streaking down her face. Through the tears and the rain she could barely see anything. The sky above her was as black as pitch while forked lightening flashed through the sky in contempt at the earth, illuminating all around it.
There was one thing though that the darkened sky did not hide. One thing that even the flashes of angry white scorching light could not have revealed. She didn't have to see it, she knew it were it was. There on the ground just ahead of her was a limp form. Scorched feathers floated down around the charcoaled lump, because it was a lump now. It had been something else, somepony else before it had been struck out of the sky.
As Scootaloo walked ever closer to the lump its crispy flesh crackled and sizzled with the remaining heat of the lightening strike. The first thing to hit her was the smell of overcooked meat. It was not something she had every smelt before as like all ponys she only ate vegetables. This was a sickening smell of fat searing and bones melting together only to be fused by the sudden coolness.
Pausing she retched. Yet she had to continue towards the lump. In her mind she called out in terror to stop herself but the dream filly did not slow instead moving inexorably towards the blackened lump.
She was level with it now. Close enough to feel the remaining heat. She tentatively reached out with her right forehoof to jab the lump. When she connected it rolled over in a squelching thud. If she hadn't already been sick this sight would have made her. The squelching mass lolled showing its underside to the frightened filly.
She wasn't prepared for this. No matter how many times she had the dream she was never prepared for it.
It was a face. IT had belonged to her mother. One side of it was melted into the lump, the other stared outwards in terror. That lone side with its eye looked at Scootaloo. The heat of the lightening strike had evaporated the very liquid in the eye causing it to droop mournfully outwards. Scootaloo thought it was boring into her very soul with its reprehensible gaze.
“No.” She whispered seemingly scared by her own words.
Shaking her head to try to add conviction to her tone, to try to shake off this terrible image she looked back at her mothers face.
It had shifted.
Rarity's face now looked at her.
Screaming she woke up, drenched in sweat.
Poor kid. I really really hope that's just a nightmare, and not a memory. I kinda get this sinking feeling that I'm wrong however.
Whoa, AJ's father did something not-too-grand in the past? Kinda worried, kinda interested.
Rarijack? Rarijack.
Well...that was f*cked up. Really interested in how Scootaloo learns to move on, well, if she learns to move on from her mother's death. Though seeing as how this is supposed to be a happy fic I'm sure everything will turn out fine.
Well let's see what is in here. Daddy issues: check, and nightmares about your family frying before your eyes...check. This got to be a one way train to "Holy Shitville".
This story has perhaps lost some of its fluff, but become a bit more interesting. Your chapters are so short though, heh. I always finish them and feel like I want more.
Proceed.
That sir is a foal-hood tragedy, it is very legit for pegasi to die to lightning strikes.
Only Derpy/Ditzy can take such a thing full on and live.
Can't wait till more chapters pop up.
You did good with the death of the family member. Dark is very appropriate when it's handled properly, as this was. Poor , with all that's gone wrong in her short life something perfect goes right and she's having nightmares about it. I wish I could hug her. And you got me interested in so thank you very much. and joining the family means much brighter future for the Apples.
2305376 Yeah, Scootaloo really has had a rough time of it as has Aj. I think the whole abandoned father thing really makes a lot of sense to Aj's character.
2305387 Hard not to love Rarijack.
2305446 Yeah it got a little dark there. Of course I intend for all this to end happy. It is meant to be a sappy ship fic after all. Just for now we'll have to sail some darker waters before reaching the bay. And don't worry about Scootaloo. She's tougher than people give her credit for.
2305556 Ah that line. How could I write Pinkie without having her be alliterative. I almost wrote all of her dialogue like that before deciding it would be a bit too hard to read through comfortably. Still I loved that line far too much to remove it. And the niece thing always cracks me up personally. It just seems like something Sweetie would say
2305674 It seems to be a recurring theme but I always make the most ridiculous and simple mistakes. One of these days I'm going to have to proofread my work (will never happen.)
Really? honestly a bit worried that Aj spends too much time with her inner dialogue. Glad you like it
2305709 Yep. Things have definitely gotten heavy around here. Hope you enjoy this admittedly startling change in tone.
2305773 Thank you. The fact that your biggest complaint is you want more brings a smile to my face. I'll try to make the chapters a bit longer from now on. They at least won't dip below 1500 words, as I'm aiming for around 2000 a chapter. Glad you're finding it a bit more interesting now and that the new issues haven't put you off.
2305808 Oh don't be so negative. I think it was jim butcher who said "There are no bad ideas, just badly written ideas." Yes the orphan thing has been done a lot but I like to think I've put on a new spin from the inevitable dash adopting scoots thing which is so common. Though admittedly I'm hardly the best writer so that butcher quote seems to be working against me now. Anyway if you need proof that orphan scoots can be great, read KiroTalons amazing No Longer Lost It really is a great fic and brilliantly written.
2305827 Yes our derpy/ditzy truly is one of a kind. I hope you liked it and that it wasn't too dark. And don't worry, new chapter in two weeks as usual. I'm sticking to my schedule
2305908 Thank you. I really was worried about the dark tone but I think you've put my fears to rest If you enjoy the twimac check out THIS. It's the fic that is a prequel to the TwiMac in WWUU. I think you might enjoy it. (WOO shameless self promoting) and honestly when doesn't adding make everything better.
I really want to see Rarity help Scootaloo with her nightmares.
2306659
No they are good. Nice touch of story telling. Started having a few suspicions that this kinda stuff might be going on but still bit of a....... I don't want to say "pleasant surprise" since that sounds wrong but ehh.
Probably the hardest barrier anyone can overcome is the one created by their own fears.
Scootloo needs to address those nightmares of hers.
That was so awesome!!
2306683
2306865 Well I'm glad you liked it. Yeah the fic has been moving in this direction for a while. Maybe its a bit cliche but something like this is kind of necessary I feel. Hopefully its not too melodramatic. One thing I have noticed though, Scootaloo has totally overshadowed Aj in the comments it seems. That one surprised me.
2306893 That was rather eloquent as always. I hope I surprised you with the inner voice reveal as you were the only one who mentioned it. I think its a pleasant yet appropriate choice.
2306997 Don't worry, she'll address them soon enough. Though she has got a lot on her plate. Perhaps this dream isn't exactly as straightforward as it seems and is really a representation of other fears.
2307801 Thank you. It;s always great to hear that someone enjoyed something I've written. Especially when I was so unsure about it to begin with. Thank you.
2309256
Scootaloo out doing AJ in the comments makes sense. Think about: dreams of your parents frying right in front of you is much more concerning and interesting than deadbeat daddy issues.
I have read a lot of Scootaloo orphan fics, and this one is definitely different from most of the others. I'm interested to see where this goes from here. I think this story needs a lot more Rarity Scootaloo bonding. those few chapters were my favorite so far
Damn some dream. MOAR!
Another question: I get the phrase 'Weak Wings' but where does the part 'Useless Unicorn' come in? Is more tragedy to befall this family?
2306893 I will save that thought somewhere
That...was a bit too gruesome. Does this thing have a gore tag? It should probably have a gore tag. Yech.
2474949 Yeah maybe you're right. This is literally the only scene that will even be that gruesome but yeah I'll have to fix that at some point.
2422687 Well actually the title is an odd story. When I first posted a chapter of this the story was called "Weak wings, a useless unicorn and an erudite earth pony." The entire story was actually going to be a lot more centred around Aj and her own bond with Scoots. Rarity would try to bond with scoots but ultimately fail, perhaps being too frilly or just missing the point of the activity all together while Aj would come to the rescue so to speak. Aj and scoots would have been the stronger relationship and there is hints of it forming in the early chapters. That would have lead to Aj hanging around more and the fledgling relationship of her and Rarity was meant to grow out of that. Aj helping Rarity actually be a mother and through her own struggles. Course since I hadn't set the story in stone, once chapter four came around, things started to change and went in a different direction. I think maybe the original idea was better but this is the path my writing lead down and I have no intention of stopping now. That made me change the title but I kept the first two thirds mainly because I liked it. Especially since the very first title of the story had them in it as well as a completely different adjective for Applejack. (back then the title was meant to be a hint at their own inadequacies i.e. Scoots=flying/general failings Rarity=cannot do anything right when it came to Scoots or Aj. And Applejack= it's a secret.) Like I said the story has been very fluid and it's honestly very different from the simple "Rarity adopts Scoots" idea I wanted at the start. So much has changed, that the title seems awfully nostalgic in its own way. (for example originally spike would have played a major role in the story, becoming both close to scoots and her rival (as she sees it) for Rarity's affection, climaxing in a kidnapping scenario with dragons.)
TL:DR So yeah, title doesn't really mean much anymore except that I liked the sound of it. Also wow I ramble a lot.
Next chapter?
I really love your story, I can't wait to see what is the problem with AJ's dad.
Keep up the good work !
I'm really enjoying this. Keep going!
To qoute someone somewhere: When's the next chapter.
Im hungry now... I am a terrible person...oh well time to go eat my big and meaty calzone.
nightmares suck ass, excuse my language