Any Port [Applejack]

--oO(Any Port)Oo--

>You hold your hat tightly to your head against the driving wind.
>The lined and embroidered bright green cloak flaps and snaps wildly around you as you walk.
>It's already hard to see where you're going, and the snow's getting worse by the minute.
>Shoot...You're gonna have to find a place to wait out the storm.
"Rainbow's gonna have a real good laugh when she hears about this..."
>Your rival had warned you about the upcoming scheduled blizzard. She said it would be "Epic".
>She's also been known to use that word to describe her morning smoothie so is it really your fault if you didn't take her seriously?
>When the weather team stopped by the orchard to issue the warning Granny and Big Mac sprang into action.
>Granny started potting water in everything with a solid bottom, and Big Mac started hauling in firewood and boarding up the buildings.
>You had tried to convince them that they were overreacting, and that Sweet Apple Acres never met a winter storm it couldn't weather.
>"You weren't grown enough to r'member the last one, Youngin'. When the Pegasi come a-knockin about a weather correction, y'don't just blow it off!"
>"Now mind yer elder ponies and help Applebloom git the livestock all fed up and locked down."
>Big Mac just agreed and kept on working, and there's just no changin' things when those two agree like that.
>But when they tried to stop your trip to the Whitetail Woods for a small town rodeo you had to put your hoof down.
>You don't ask for much to balance out your work on the farm, but by Celestia you needed this sometimes.
>You said it would be fine. You said you'd been through plenty of storms. You promised you'd be just fine. You probably made a mistake.
>The whole sky is black as tar and it's only about noon. The snows are already piling high coming full force into your flank from the north as you make your way east.
>If Rarity hadn't stopped you and pouted until you took the cloak and scarf you're now wearing you might be in some real trouble.
>You were at least careful enough to bring a lantern and some supplies in your saddlebags, but the help it's providing is limited.
"There should be a little shack 'round here where I can lay low until this blows over..."
>You really want to keep going, but you know the storm is centered on Ponyville and will only get worse the closer you come.
>The wind howling through the trees keeps trying to force you off the path, but you're pretty familiar with it from running the leaves and keep trudging onward.
>After twenty minutes of worsening storm and freezing cold you almost miss your goal.
>The tiny run down building is already mostly buried in snow and looks like just another part of the increasingly featureless landscape.
>But your memory is true and you hurry off the path and into the trees toward the oddly shaped mound.
>You reckon this is one of the old outposts Granny always said were along the roads of Equestria from the days when they were less safe to travel.
>You quickly bustle up to the front door and clear some of the snow out of the way. The thing doesn't budge when you try it, and you don't think it's just the frozen hinges.
>Lan' sakes, this is an emergency. No time to worry about breaking and entering when nopony uses this place anyhow.
>Two strong bucks smash the solid hardwood door back on its hinges allowing you to nip inside and slam it closed again.
>The sudden difference in noise from outside to in is enough to disorient you for a second. A light clank makes you take notice of the strong bolt on this side, now cleanly broken.
>You sigh as you stand back and look quickly around. You're in a small front room with a few pieces of old furniture mostly broken.
>You grab a few chunks of wood and wedge them into the doorjamb to hold it closed. Secure enough. You'd have to come fix that bolt later.
"Hokay, n-now lets see what kind of mess we've g-gotten ourselves into."
>Your saddlebags have enough food for several days of comfortable nutrition, so no problems there if you're careful.
>Water's no issue, and waste can be taken care of...but your teeth are already chattering against the handle of your lantern.
>The temperature is still dropping, and the lantern wont last forever either. You turn down the flame to barely more than a candle.
>You pull the collar and folds of your cloak tighter to your sides for warmth and then nearly fly out of your skin when you hear a soft noise coming from one of the adjacent rooms.
"I-is anyp-pony in th-there?"
>You tell yourself the stammer is just the cold getting to you.
>You tug your hat down tighter and pick up the lantern again.
"I'm a r-rodeo b-buckin' champion with the r-ribbon to p-prove it, so you b-better not b-be back th-there y'hear?"
>You slowly start to step your way over to the next room. The small building is evenly divided into four so far as you can tell, and this first room only has the door and a broken table.
"H-here I c-come. D-don't say ya w-weren't warned!"
>You think what Big Mac would say if he saw you being so timid and shake off a bit of your nerves. There's nothing here anyway.
>The next room has a couple of small round tables with stools, some broken glass on the floor, and a decent pot-bellied stove in the corner.
"P-praise Celestia..."
>You can hear the wind from outside gusting down the stovepipe and filling the room with frosty blasts of purest cold.
>You trot back into the first room and drag the remainder of the larger table back with you and start stomping it to pieces.
>Within a few minutes you've got a small but cheerful fire started up, and it takes all you've got not to hug yourself to the stove directly.
>With the flue adjusted the fire wont blow out, and there's enough wood in the piecemeal furniture to keep it going for as long as you'll need.
>You'll come back to fix the bolt lock and replace the furniture you use once this is all over. You know it sounds silly, but it wouldn't feel right to just use it up and leave it.
>You munch on a hoof-full of oaty granola and try to remember how long the longest blizzard you ever saw in Ponyville was so you can try to figure out how long a truly "Epic" one will be.
>You swallow slowly and think that it's probably more than just a few hours.
>A heavy sigh swells your chest and then gets caught in your throat as another noise (Sounded like a shuffle) comes from the next room over.
>Your ears twitch and swivel as you find yourself up on your hooves, your head lowered and your eyes wide.
>You had thought the sound you heard earlier must have just been the wind in the stovepipe, but now you weren't so sure.
>With a wistful glance at the warming stove, you muster the courage to check this place out thoroughly. You can't just keep getting startled and try to convince yourself it's all fine forever.
>"C'mon AJ, I'd have already searched every inch of this place by now. And if there WAS a ghost, I'd TOtally kick its flank."
>The words ring in your head almost as if she were right there next to you, flapping upside-down and grinning at your nerves.
"Aw, horseapples. I'm just bein' a silly pony. There may be somethin' else that could be a might useful in there anyhow."
>You still approach the connecting door with some caution. There could be a predator or somethin', right? No need to be careless.
>With your neck stretched to hold your lantern as high as you can, you turn the nob and push the door open.
>The little pool of soft light reveals an equally proportioned room. This time filled with the remains of several three high bunk bed frames and some footlockers.
>Just as you start congratulating yourself for finding another source of wood that doesn't require you to break something not already broken you hear a sort of 'fwoosh' sound from the last room.
"Hokay, now I Know there's somethin' in here..."
>You get riled up a bit now that you're sure there's something or somepony here sneakin' around and getting you all worked up. Any trepidation you had before gets buried by your frustration.
>A quick couple of steps takes you across the room to the last door, shut firmly. You try your hoof on the handle and see that it turns.
>You set down the lantern and turn up the flame a bit. Then you turn the handle and fling the door open, jumping into the room as it swings wide.
"AHA! I SEE YA! WHATS THE BIG IDE-uh...r'you alright?"
>Your grand charge is halted mid-stride as your gaze falls on a young mare across the room with her back to the wall.
>Even in the dim light you can clearly see that she looks malnourished and haggard. Her coat is dirty and ragged, her eyes receded in their sockets. She sways a bit and her eyes start to roll...
"WHOA THERE! Hang on!"
>You leap across the room and catch the mare as she starts to fall mid-faint. She doesn't seem hurt, but she's definitely gone senseless.
"You just hang on there, Missy. It'll all be okay."
>You haul the nearly weightless pony back into your campsite and quickly fold her into your cloak while getting her as close to the stove as possible.
>The young unicorn has a pearlescent lavender coat, a silvery mane, and an astrolabe for a cutie-mark. She'd be rather pretty if she didn't look like she'd just rolled across Equestria in a barrel.
>The howling outside continues to increase despite the fact that it seems further away thanks to the entombing snow. Doesn't look like it's gonna let up anytime soon.
>Another pony being stranded here was an extra complication. She has no obvious injuries, but you have to hope that's enough for now.
>You feed a few more chunks of wood into the stove and settle to the floor. You start to think about what your friends would do if it were them in this situation.
>Rainbow would just fly home above the storm, of course. You'd bet she'd have a harder time than you if she didn't have those wings though.
>Twilight would be reciting some handbook for wilderness survival and organizing all the supplies for maximum efficiency...
>Fluttershy would either be sharing some den with some animals for the duration or flying home too. (Nah, she'd have probably listened to the warning in the first place...you have to admit)
>Rarity...makes you roll your eyes. You sigh with a faint smile as you imagine her stomping around in a huff decrying everything about the situation.
>And Pinkie, somehow even if it was just her and an unconscious invalid you're sure there'd be cake and confetti and music and Luna knows what else.
>Your face is 90% toothy grin as you think about all of your friends just doing their thing. It'd be good if they were here.
>A loud yawn escapes from you as you smile and think about them. Weird, you must have tired yourself out with all the worry.
>"...ah...um...where am...I?"
>The groggy sort of croak snaps you back to reality.
"Thank goodness you're awake!"

"Are ya hurt anywhere? I didn't see anythin' wrong, but you look like you rolled down from Canterlot to Ponyville in a cider barrel."
>Her eyes snap open wide and dart around searching your face. You smile and try to make it look friendly in hopes that you don't come off as creepy.
"So, uh, what's your name? Mine's Applejack."
>"An-Anemone."
"Well, it's a real pleasure to meet ya, Anemone. Can't say I thought I'd find somepony else caught in this squall."
>She just nods and seems to relax if only just a little bit.
"C'mon now. Y'got no reason to be scared. I'm just here to wait out the storm."
>She nods again and rises to a sitting position. The cloak shifts and starts to fall. She notices it and makes to hoof it back to you.
"No, it's okay. You hang on to that for now. And stay as close to the stove as you can, you're still shivering. Are you sure you're alright?"
>"I'm...I'm okay for n-now...I've b-been.....sick."
"Sick? You must have it somethin' fierce, but I didn't feel any fever so you should be okay. Just keep the cloak up and stay warm."
>"Okay.....Applejack."
"There now, y'see? We can be right cozy in here and keep each other company. I've got some food here and water's just a trot away. It's not a lot, but enough to share if we're careful."
>You hoof out a bag with more balls of that oaty granola Applebloom's been making as travel food and hold it out towards your new friend.
"Oats, nuts, and dried apple chunks all held together with some gooey honey. Everythin' a growin' filly needs, right?"
>Your confident smile and wink falter a bit as she inches back from your outstretched hoof shaking her head.
>"Ah...no. N-no thank you, I m-mean. Uhm...I haven't b-been able to keep food d-down recently. And I don't like when it...y'know...comes b-back up."
"Lan' sakes! No wonder you look like a cellar grown celery stalk. Just exactly how long have you been sick?"
>"I-it's n-nothing to worry about. I'm s-sure I'll get better soon. Uhm...I was asleep in there until you...c-came in..."
>You hide your eyes under the brim of your hat and try not to blush
>"...and all this n-noise...how bad is this s-storm you were talking about?"
"Oh, yeah. Erm...it's a weather correction. Ordered straight out of Cloudsdale I expect. Somethin' to do with the stream of cold air movin' through Equestria."
>You look up into her dark ringed eyes and gather yourself.
"Ahem...they're, uh, they said it's the biggest winter storm in these parts in I don't know how many moons."
"I don't want to scare you, but we're probably covered all the way up in snow, and we wont be able to leave 'til it's over."
>You quickly glance up at her, but as timid as she's seemed so far she's taking the news like you just told her apples fall when you buck 'em.
>"I s-see. So, um...how d-did you end up here? If you heard the s-storm warning, I m-mean..."
>She would have to ask that, but hay at least she's talking.
"Well, y'see I'm a farm pony."
>Her eyebrow raises in an unspoken bit of sarcasm.
"Yeah, alright. Sorta obvious. Anyhow I was out to participate in the Hogtown Bi-Annual Rodeo and Livestock Show...hang on just a sec."
>You dive at your saddlebags and rummage through them, carefully pulling out your ribbon and holding it up in your teeth.
"See here? I won the Blue Ribbon for heavyweight buckin'. Got the record for longest distance too! Ha! Ol' Stonehoof's gonna have to up his game for next time."
>Well, at least she's smiling, if only slightly.
>"And you didn't j-just stay there?"
"Oh, well...you know...I pretty much run the orchards back home...Sweet Apple Acres...and I worry if I'm gone too long."
>"So...you just decided to m-march out into the blizzard of the decade and walk home? Alone? I...I could n-never do that."
"I may have underestimated just how bad the storm would be..."
>Your words are punctuated by a loud CRACK only barely muffled by the thoroughly padded walls.
>You look around wildly for a second, but remember Rainbow saying something about frozen trees exploding. You might have to stop assuming she's exaggerating out of reflex.
>When you turn back Anemone has vanished. No, wait, she's shaking like a leaf under one of the little tables.
>With the cloak left behind you're starkly reminded of her condition. Her ribs clearly visible standing out through her coat.
"Anemone, c'mon. It's alright. Rainbow told stories about trees exploding in real cold weather. I guess she was right about that one..."
>The pathetic little mare raises her head out from between her hooves, her tear stained face a patchwork of exhaustion.
>She nods and swallows audibly, tries to get up but her legs wont seem to support her.
"C'mere, it's all fine. Let's get you back wrapped up near the fire."
>"Th-thank you....Applejack. I'm sorry. I j-just..."
"Sh, sh, just shush for now Sugarcube. You just lay down right here all nice and cozy like. I'll get you a drink of water."
>Once you've got her settled again and tucked up tight against her resumed shivering you grab a tin cup out of your saddlebags and make for the front room.
>This Anemone...how did Rainbow Dash put it? She's a mystery wrapped up in an igneous. You grin as you pry open the front door long enough to scoop some snow.
>She don't seem to want to talk very much, but you may be able to get her to open up a bit. You re-enter Base Camp and put the cup of snow on the stovetop to melt.
>"Um...so...who's Rainbow?"
>You freeze, a bit freaked out. Did you say that bit about Rainbow calling somepony an igneous out loud?
>"Uhm...you said, th-that he told you about exploding t-trees?"
>Oh, right.
"Eeyup. Rainbow Dash is the leader of the Ponyville weather team. She's also one of my best friends. She's a hotheaded pegasus that don't take nothin' from nopony."
"And she's almost as good an athlete as yours truly."
>That smile is on your face again as you remember the Iron Pony contest.
>"You seem to really c-care for her. Th-that must be nice..."
>You scrunch your face up and look around the ceiling as you try to respond to that.
"Er...uh, yeah. She's one of my MANY friends and aquaintances up in Ponyville. We get along okay I s'pose."
>"Your other f-friends, a-and your family are th-there too? What are they like?"
>You grab the cup of cool water off of the stove and push it toward Anemone. She sips delicately at the rim, but her eyes are fixed on you waiting for your answer.
>Aw horseapples. If she wants to hear about 'em what's the harm in it?
"Well, s'far as friends go there're five of 'em. Y'got Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash."
"Now I get along with most ponies just fine, but those girls...they're somethin' special. Even Rainbow."
"They're all different as can be, and if you'd told me years ago that I'd be best friends with these ponies and them with me I'd have said you were hittin' the cider too hard."
"But even if I can't rightly say why, I can't imagine my life now without 'em. They make me the best me I can be."
>You wipe a tear away as subtly as you can and grab a quick swig from the cup on the floor.
"Now, back on the farm you got the real core of the Apple family."
>Anemone's just staring intently like she's drinking your words. She must have missed the hilarious pun.
"Ahem, you've got Granny Smith, she's my Granny, and she's one of the pioneer ponies that founded the town out there."
"Then you've got Big Macintosh. He's the biggest, kindest, apple buckin'est stallion in all Equestria, and he's my big brother."
"And last you've got Applebloom. She's my baby sister. She's got the brightest future out of all of us and can't wait to get to it."
>Your heart swells as you think about them all, and then breaks a little as you think of how worried you've probably made them.
"I hope they're all warm and safe, and not too worried about me out here."
>Anemone nods and nudges the tin cup toward you.
>You take a drink and stifle a huge yawn. It's only been a couple of hours, but you're plumb tuckered. Anemone seems to look a bit brighter though.
"So, uh...what about you, Anemone? You got family 'round these parts or were you out visiting friends?"
>She seems to collapse in on herself in the face of that question. What in tarnation happened to this little filly?
"Erm...you don't have to say if y'don't want to...I'm sorry if I-"
>"No...d-don't apologize. It's okay. I'm...I c-came out here l-looking for my family."
"Y'don't know where they are?"
>Her eyes well up with tears again and her chest starts hitching as she tries to sit up.
>You open your mouth to try to calm her down and take back your question again.
>"N-no...I, I lost them b-, a while ago. W-we were separated. I'd n-never been on m-my own...a-alone before. I've been s-searching ever since."
>Another big yawn rips it's way out of you, your eyelids feel tight and heavy.
"That's hard, Anemone. I can't imagine. If you want to talk s'more in a bit, I'd be happy to hear it...y'know, help if I can...but for some reason I can barely keep my eyes open."
>She gives a little smile. It brightens up her whole face. She's really starting to look better.
>"No worries....Applejack. We could both use the r-rest. It's still p-pretty cold in here. I'll put some more wood in-"
"Snxzzzzzzzeraaahhhhuhhhhhnzzzzz"
>"Sweet dreams."

>You yawn and roll over on the uneven floorboards, reluctant to open your eyes.
>You feel like you've probably been asleep for ages, but you don't really feel very rested.
>With a muffled groan you stretch your forelegs and back into an arch and open your eyes.
>You really shouldn't have bothered. The room is darker than an apple cellar after the noonday sun.
>You flail around a little with your hooves out in front of you and feel a bright flash of pain as your leg contacts the side of the stove.
>A low hiss escapes your mouth as you cradle your leg. Your eyes are just starting to make out the low red glow from the slits in the stove front.
"Anemone?"
>You don't know why you're whispering, but it just seems like the thing to do.
>As your eyes adjust to the fickle light from the stove you see the spot in front of it is completely vacant. No Anemone.
>A quick shiver runs through you. No cloak.
>Your teeth begin to chatter as you fumble around for some chunks of wood and hastily shove them into the the stove.
>A breath through the front grate is enough to get them to spark up and renew some heat in the immediate area.
>Your breath puffs out in glittery clouds and hover in the motionless air and thin light.
>From the entrance room you faintly make out the sound of the door scraping against the floorboards, and the wet sklosh of snow.
>You take a deep breath...
"Anemone? Is that you in there?"
>Your voice shatters the quiet and you hear a vocal squeak followed by a thump and a whoosh.
>"Uhm...yes.....Applejack. I'm here. I'll return in a minute. I'm just...getting some snow for water."
>You shrug as you hear much louder noises start to come from the front room.
>You reach over and grab your bag of trail grub and munch on some for a moment.
>The door on your right starts to open and allows in a comparative flood of light from your lantern as Anemone very carefully comes in.
>She's got the lantern in her mouth and the tin cup balanced on her right hoof as she does a wobbly three legged walk.
>You suppose she must still be pretty weak from her illness, the sway in her step isn't just from being unfamiliar with having to hoof everything around.
>You make to clamber to your hooves and help her, but it requires considerably more effort than you'd expected. Still pretty tired.
*yawn*"Here lemme help y'there, Annie. You walk, a little wobbly yourself, over to her and take the cup by the handle.
>"Ah...thanks. Sorry about the dent. I dropped it when you called out."
>You see the mark as you put the cup on the stove and sit down heavily.
"Huh, don't worry 'bout it. I can fix that in a jiffy. Any clue how long I was out for the count?"
>"Uhm, I really don't know. I'm sorry. I went to sleep not long after you, and only woke up a short time ago."
>You look around the dimly lit room and blow out the lantern. The stove still offers a tiny amount to see by.
"That's fine, Sugarcube. I've got an extra tin of oil here with me, but we may need it more later. We'll have to do without the extra light for as long as we can.
>She merely settles down onto the floor and nods. She still doesn't look well by any stretch, but she looks a might better than earlier.
>The room is very silent again, or maybe not. You can distinctly hear her breath, but you'd tuned out the ever present muted howl of the wind outside.
>It never sounded so far away before though. You try not to imagine a mountain of snow building up above beyond even your renewed expectations of an 'Epic' blizzard.
>If it got too thick up there, the whole lot could break through the roof and that'd be fresh chilled applesauce. And friend.
>A different kind of cold sends a shiver whiplashing up your spine at the thought.
>"Um.....Applejack? Is something wrong?"
>She sounds genuinely worried about you, but there's no need to fill her head with your own morbid thoughts.
"Nah, nothin', Sugarcube. Lemme just put some more wood in the fire."
>"You seem to say that when you're trying to be reassuring..."
"Hah, doesn't everypony?" You busy yourself with snapping a a chunk of wood in two and feed it into the fire.
>"No, not that. I m....I mean the pet name.     You'know, 'Sugarcube'.
>You stop dead in your tracks.
"What..."
>Your eyes meet and you can see hers widen at whatever expression you're making. You quickly look away and try to neutralize your face.
>"No...um...I'm sorry. I just noticed it a second ago, I don't mean anything by it. I'm really s-"
"DON'T...apologize...No, I'M sorry. I just hadn't really thought about it. That came out of left field."
>You look up and see her caught between her strong impulse to apologize warring with your command not to. You've gotta make this right.
"Look, you've got nothin' to apologize for. I never really noticed before how much I say...that. 'specially when I'm tryin' to soothe somepony...or myself."
>You notice some steam rising from the cup on the stove and quickly pull it away and blow on it a few times. Heck, hot water ain't so bad in times like these.
"You pick some things up from the darndest places. Sometimes even from ponies you can't really remember anymore..."
>You drain the cup of hot water letting the heat spread through your core to warm you a bit.
"Aw, shoot! I drank it all. Sorry, Su-Anemone. I'll get you some more."
>Before you can get to your hooves she half jumps up and grabs the cup.
>"No no. No need. Uhm...I'll go get it. I know the way now so I don't need the lantern. I'll be right back."
>You look her up and down. In the dim light the circles under her eyes seem smaller, but it could just be the surroundings...but...
"Sure thing. Fill 'er up, please. OH! And try to see if you can see any light through the snow when you open the door!"
>She looks back as she's walking out the door and nods.
>You hunker down and edge closer to the stove. The room isn't that bad this close to it.
>It's not long before she comes slowly walking back and places the cup on the stovetop. She then resumes her spot before the stove and tucks the cloak around her.
>She's trying to avoid your gaze. Your curiosity peaks as you look at her and think about her odd behavior. At least she seems nice. Still, time to at least ask...
"So, uh, before we both conked out I was askin' you about some things..."
>She doesn't quite meet your eyes, but she's not crying this time. Here goes.
"Where are you from? What were you doing before...y'know...you ended up out here?"
>You couldn't bring yourself to just blurt out the bigger questions. Try to be sensitive. Rarity'd be better at this...
>"Okay...uhm...well, I lived...near...Canterlot. C-Princess Celestia wanted detailed maps of the eastern coastline and currents."
>"I was helping...my family. Uhm, they were cartographers. Are cartographers. Uhm, they...my brothers, surveyed the coastline, and...the rest of us drew the charts."
"Now that sounds mighty int'resting. How's your family end up separated all the way out here?"
>"OH, uhm...they...OH OUCH OOOOUUUCH!"
>She had reached up to grab the cup of steaming water and managed to slop a good half of it over her hoof as she did.
>You bound to your hooves and grab hold of her to stop her flailing.
"CALM down! You're alright! You didn't get much on you!"
>In fact the reddish mark on her foreleg isn't as bad as you'd even thought it would be. Must've just scared her.
>"Ah...I'm such a klutz. Hang on.....Applejack. I'm gonna go fill it up."
"For Pony's sakes, leave it. You're hurt!"
>"No, uhm, I'm fine. Really. And I'm thirsty. You, you drank it all, remember? I'll just get some more."
>You heave a sigh and watch her hobble out of the room again. What is with this gal anyhow...
>She soon makes her way back in, carefully sets the cup back down and sits down across from you. Looking straight at you again for a change.
>"There. Uhm...okay so, my family...they took another job to go map the Western coastline. I was supposed to meet them there, but they disappeared in transit."
>It doesn't take the Element of Honesty to see through that one. It's weird though, you're positive she hasn't lied before now.
>"Uhm...what's wrong?"
"Oh nothin', Sugarcube. Just thinking. Hoping that maybe somehow I can do somethin' to help you."
"Y'know, my friend Twilight Sparkle is...what?"
>Her eyes had gone that wide open round again. Just like when she first woke up. Seems like a pony's eyes just shouldn't go THAT wide.
>"Uhm...you...*cough-cough*...what, ahem *cough*...what's arhem happ-*cough-cough*"
>The coughing fit hit you only a second later. A hot, burning sensation that outlined every nook of your lungs in searing pain. The taste of ash and woodsmoke heavy on your tongue.
*cough-GASP*"The stovepipe...*wheeze*...it's blocked..."
>You quickly dump the cup of water on your scarf and haul it up over your muzzle. Then you grab Anemone by the scruff and drag her to the floor.
>Your head swims as you tail swipe your saddlebags closer to you and shove your hoof in to rummage around. Found it.
>Your eyes are burning and stinging as tears stream down and fight to clear them. You blindly push your tailbrush into the hooves of the mare in front of you.
"You have *cough*, you have to push the brush...UP! Clear the Pipe!"
>For a moment you think that this might be the end. The hoof touching yours doesn't move. Your screaming lungs are paralyzed as you start to black out.
>But then you feel the brush get yanked out of your hoof. The other hoof hasn't moved, but you weren't counting on that anyhow. You hear a loud clang and wait for an eternity.
>"I think...*cough cough cough* it's done..."
>With the last bit of vigor you can muster you stand, grab Anemone and stumble at maximum speed for the inner door.
>You get both of you through to the last room and closed the doors between you. It's cold back here, but breathing isn't torture either.
>It takes several minutes to breathe normally. You feel at the pony under your foreleg, and you can tell that she's breathing, but...
"Sweet Celestia!..."
>The cloak fell off somewhere in the last room, but under your hoof you can feel the skin stretched across her frame. Tight. Like one of Zecora's drums.
>Her forelegs feel thinner than before. She's like a skeleton with skin now. What could do this to her so quickly? What changed?
"A-Anemone...can you hear me?"
>Her harsh, shallow breathing is all you hear for a few moments before,
>"hah, yeah. I can...h...hear you.....Applejack."
"Good. Now I don't wanna be mean, but somethin' bad is going on here with you. What're you not telling me?"
>The same shallow gasping wheeze is your only answer in the dark.
"Anemone! Tell me what's wrong!"
>"I'm a...I'm sick. I told you. I...my magic. It drains me to use it. I had to...to levitate that thing. Clear the pipe."
>That...didn't sound right. But she's not lying either. What in Equestria is happening here? You've heard of strange unicorn illnesses, but...dang it...
"Alright, fine. If that's how you want it. You sound exhausted again. Get some sleep. I'll check the other room in a bit to see if it's clear enough to go back and get warm."
>She coughs a bit more and rustles a bit around on the floor.
>"NO I...I don't want to fall asleep. I...I'm afraid to fall unconscious.....before we know it's safe."
"Fine. Just measure your breathing and try to get comfortable. Just in and out, like that."
>"aHA Ha ha...that'll put me to sleep for sure...just talk to me. Just for a bit.....Applejack. Tell me a story from back home. I want to hear about...a happy family.
>You can't see her face, but you can hear the pain in her voice. Both kinds. With her weakened even more than before it's hard to say no.
>Even if this filly is starting to make you feel like you're jumping through hoops.
>"Please..."
>You're givin' your sigh box a lot of exercise these last....however long...
"Sure, Anemone. I'll tell you a story. Heck, nothin' all that int'resting ever happens to me. Lemme tell you 'bout my baby sister and the stunt she pulled last week.

>You settle yourself against the various clumps of broken furniture trying to get comfortable in the total darkness.
>Anemone shifts a bit as well, and you can hear her breathing improving a bit.
>The cold is biting way back here, but the scent of smoke and ash is finally clearing from your nostrils.
>You gather your thoughts as you remember that foalish filly and her friends always underhoof.
>You can't help but smile, though. Applebloom has really come a long way since...
"My baby sister can be a hooffull. When she gets some fool idea under that ribbon o' hers she just goes off with both barrels."
"She never does anything in half measures."
"That's why when she met Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo and decided to work with 'em to get their Cutie Marks she wouldn't stop for nothin'."
>You hear Anemone sigh lightly and settle a bit more, breathing deeply.
"I tried to tell her that a Cutie Mark comes when it comes, an' there's no sense rushin' it. But she wanted to know who she was. What she was."
"She was desperate to find a purpose so she could know where she fit in with other ponies. She wanted to know where she belonged."
"And so after I gave 'em my old clubhouse from when I was a filly, they started tryin' any and everything to get 'em."
"When you come up against that kind of young optimism, there ain't nothin' you can do but stand clear and hope they keep safe."
>You pull your hat off your head and hold it in your hooves, turning it in circles as you speak.
"Sometimes though, hope ain't enough and those fillies think they're immortal. Can't nothin' touch 'em so long as they follow their dreams."
"You don't wanna tell 'em so, but they're just as fragile as anypony else. An' sometimes those dreams can bring some real danger."
"Last week Applebloom went out to the clubhouse late afternoon like she always does."
>You grin and stare blindly at the hat in your hooves.
"They hold these super official club meetin's. Just the three of 'em. An' they make lists of things they haven't tried yet to earn their Cutie Marks."
"Then they go harin' off all over Ponyville tryin' out whatever they can think of. Gettin' in everypony's way."
"They've probably done more by now than most ponies ever try in their whole lives. 'Cept maybe Granny Smith."
>You settle the hat firmly back on your head and take a deep breath.
"And then sometimes they try things that no sane pony'd even think of to begin with."
"So like I said she went out to the old clubhouse and met with her friends. They looked over their lists, but our little Applebloom had a new idea."
"Y'see I've mentioned Pinkie Pie before, right? She's an Earth Pony too, but she ain't like most of us. A while ago we had a Griffon visit the town."
"Pinkie was tryin' to keep up with this Griffon, Gilda I think, and Rainbow Dash so she went and made a flyin' machine. Just like that."
"After that whole mess was over she left it layin' around where any three devious lil fillies could haul it off."
>You shake your head thinking of Pinky's sense of responsibility
"They knew better than to have somethin' like that, but o' course that just made 'em think far 'nough to hide it."
"Scootaloo and Applebloom were always keen about flyin' an' Applebloom had the notion to try their hooves at skywritin'."
>You hear Anemone shift against the floor boards.
"I know, right? So they set up this whole plan to do it without askin' nopony o' course. They rolled the Griffonchaser out to the west field."
"Sweetie Belle dressed up in dayglo to direct 'em from the ground. Applebloom was pedalin' and steerin', an' Scootaloo was fanning some thick cloud out for the spellin'."
"I was out buckin' apples in the south orchard when what do I see, but this darn fool couple of brainless ponies flyin' a candy striped contraption around in circles."
"I didn't even believe my eyes at first, but then I was gallopin' hard for the west field like I had Timberwolves on my flank."
>Your heart fills with the shadow of that same worry and fear that gripped you that day. You swallow audibly and continue.
"I came shoutin' out of the treeline an' Sweetie Belle squeaked and tried to hide behind her tail, but those two loons up above just laughed and waved at me."
"They were almost done with the first 'Y', they were tryin' to write CMC SKYWRITERS YAY or some such nonsense, when the propeller up top started to wobble an' come loose."
>Your voice starts to tremble a little as you continue your story.
"Their little faces went from grinnin' like foals to open eyed terror as the prop locked and they started to fall."
"Scootaloo, bless her heart, grabbed hold of Applebloom and dove out of the useless machine. She flapped as hard as she could to slow their fall."
"But she can't fly properly even on her own, and Applebloom was too much for her. They started to speed up toward the ground."
"I don't know what I was thinkin' I could do, but I was sprintin' fit to break my legs. All I could see was those two fallin faster an' faster. Scoots' little wings beatin' fit to split."
>Your heart hammers in your chest.
"All I could think was this was the last time I'd ever see my baby sister. But then I saw a rope come flyin' out an' snap a loop 'round her forehoof."
"I nearly planted my face right into the dirt as I stopped in my tracks. Scootaloo was hangin' on to Applebloom for dear life as she came taught and hung by her hoof."
"I looked up an' saw Cherry Berry half pulled out of Twilight's balloon and haulin' up on the rope like it was her last duty to Celestia."
"When she got 'em to the ground they were holdin' each other an' cryin'. Applebloom's fetlock was swollen and a little twisted, but I'd never seen a finer sight."
>You feel a glimmer of that same relief wash over you as you remember your tears and fury and joy at finding them safe.
"Cherry helped me haul 'em all across to the Horsepital to get 'em looked at. I swear I never thought I'd see Cherry Berry throw a rope like that an' I told her so."
"She just shrugged an' told me it was a skill she picked up chasing runaway balloons all over Ponyville. She saw the fillies foolin' around and floated over to check up."
"Whatever the case, I still owe her more'n a small favor."
>You sigh again and try to loosen some of the tightness in your muscles, suppressing a yawn.
>You start to smile as you recall the rest of that day's events.
"O' course once we got her in to see the Doctor he said she had a badly sprained fetlock and wrapped it up nice an' neat."
"An' wouldn't you know it? No sooner had she set all four hooves on the ground again an' tested her weight than the full set of 'em started to ramble on about how WELL it had gone."
>Anemone snickers softly and coughs a little
"That's what I'M sayin'! The little monsters just trotted out of the building happy as y'please. I gave 'em a stern talkin' to an' they sat there an' took it. Their ears back an' their eyes big."
"Horseapples! Soon as I gave in an' told 'em they could go, there they went talkin' about cloudmolding, an' pilot's licenses, an' Luna knows what else."
>Another yawn nearly splits your head in two.
"Gracious. All this recollection really takes it out of you. Hum, I need to check the front room..."
>You try to get to your hooves, but your body feels immensely heavy. You settle to the floor for a moment to gather yourself. The extremely comfortable floor.
"Ahm gonna...just...rest here...a bit. I'm a might tired."
>You hear a clatter and the sound of hooves approaching.
>"No, it's fine. You just rest up. That was a real feat thinking up a way to clear the pipe and then getting us out of that room. And then you spent this whole time making me feel better."
>"You just take a few minutes for yourself.....Applejack. I'll go check the front room, and if it's warm enough I'll come back and we'll go together, okay?"
"S'fine...that sounds...real good."
>You hear the hooves move away and the creak as the door opens.
>Your head swims with fatigue and memories of your little sister. You smile thinking of her, and the next thing you know you feel hooves under your forelegs lifting you up, up, into the dark."

>A light breeze ruffles your coat as you stand in your favorite spot on the big hill overlooking Sweet Apple Acres.
>The Sun is setting and the sky is a multi-layered glory of hues. The first stars of the evening shining fiercely over the trees.
>When the Sun lies low in the sky like this the contrast of shadows renders everything in a sharp, breathtaking relief.
>The orchards already finished harvesting have every leaf outlined against the others, the unfinished ones bowed under the weight of their bright fruit.
>You take in the familiar scents in a deep, heavy breath letting the essence of the place fill your entire body.
>Off in the distance you can here shouts and laughter from several little fillies up to some mischief or another.
>From the farmhouse over yonder you can just make out the creaky cadence of Granny Smith followed occasionally by the baritone single notes of Big Mac.
>You run your gaze back and forth over your perfect little empire of comfort and as always whisper a prayer that it always be kept so.
>"Aren't you coming, Darling? We've nearly finished setting up."
>You feel a hoof on your flank and turn to see Rarity standing there with a questioning smile.
>Standing beyond her you can see your other friends putting finishing touches on a blanket smorgasboard that's more buffet than picnic.
>Just like that night not so long ago.
>As if on cue bright points of light start to streak through the velvety night sky, and everypony turns to look up in awe.
>You walk toward the picnic with your eyes on the sky and look down to see Applebloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith are there too.
"Well shucks! I thought y'all were down on the farm. I'm glad you're all here though."
>"What y'mean, youngin'? I'd sooner miss cider season than one of our family reunions!"
>"Eeyup"
>"C'mon sis! You gotta try one of these new cupcakes Pinkie Pie made!"
"Family reunion? Granny, what in tarna-?"
>As you look around you see the whole of the Apple Family spread around at their own blankets with food piled high as ponies laugh and play games.
>They wave as you meet their gaze and go on eating, playing, and setting up telescopes.
>Twilight walks over with an odd look on her face.
>"I know you're a little resistant to new things sometimes, Applejack. But I really think this new idea of a Nighttime Reunion is a good thing. A new tradition."
"Nighttime Reunion? What the hay is goin' o-"
*KABOOM FWHEEEEEP*
>You are showered in confetti and streamers as you catch a party cannon point-blank from behind.
>"Don't be such a PARY POOPER! Here have some cake! Now, lets turn up the MUSIC!"
>Pinkie Pie jams a large slice of cake in your mouth (hot dang that's tasty) grabs you by the hooves and spins you around as loud music starts blaring.
"Aw, what the hay."
>It's weird but you can't resist Pinkie's enthusiasm. Something seems off about all this. But your friends and family are all here and everything's fine. What could be wrong with that?
>You get into the swing of things and start to go around dancing with one pony, hoof wrestling another, pinning a tail on a donkey as you pass.
>You almost don't feel it as somepony grabs your shoulder from behind.
>"Applejack you must listen to me..."
>You shrug it off and continue to caper around under the starfall, enjoying everypony's company.
>"Applejack, please listen..."
>Wait, you know that voice.
>"...danger. You must list..."
>The music is so loud though, it's hard to make it out. You want to turn and see who it is, but you want to have fun with your friends and family too.
>"Appleja...rem...plea...com-"
>Why can't Princess Luna just find her own party? Why does she have to come and bother you when you're trying to enjoy your time with the ones you love?
>Wait. Princess Luna? You immediately turn and look back to see your friends and Applebloom and Big Mac all surrounding Princess Luna.
>"Applejack! Call them back! They wont let me reach you!"
>"Back off, Princess. Friends and family only!"
>"Eeyup"
>"You should probably go back to Canterlot now. You know...i-if you want to...."
"WAIT! Hold on ya'll! Princess Luna is my friend! Our friend! What's gotten into you all?"
>Your friends look at you and simply go off and continue to enjoy the party leaving Luna looking ruffled, but free.
"What in Equestria is goin' on here?"
>"This is a Dream, Applejack. I keep a lookout for the dreams of those who bear the Elements of Harmony to protect them from outside interference."
>A dream, huh. It makes perfect sense now that you hear it out loud.
>"I felt turmoil in your dreamscape and came to investigate."
"Turmoil? Thanks Princess, I'm sure you know what you're doin', but I'm just fine here. Everything here is real nice even if it is just a dream."
>Princess Luna shakes her head sadly, her look of concern puts you on edge.
>"No Applejack. All is not as it appears. You are dreaming too deeply. Something has taken hold of you. Your dreams are being used to ensnare you."
>She flaps her wings and begins to ascend. Light pulses enveloping her horn and gleaming out from her eyes.
>"Behold, friend Applejack. Look upon the forces that contend to bind you to this place."
>You flinch and brace yourself as a beam of pure blue/white light lances from her horn tip and slams into you in an instant.
"Oh...hey that didn't hurt at-...WHOA WHAT THE HAY IS THAT?!"
>You opened your eyes and looked around to take stock of yourself. After all, magic blasts that big from Twilight leave some pretty big holes.
>Your entire body is covered in what look like hundreds of tiny, grasping claws black as night.
>No wait, some of them are hooves. And some...tentacles? Wings? They seem to keep changing right as you look at them. All writhing ang clutching over your coat and mane.
"Wha-Princess get 'em off me!"
>You trot in a circle and try to buck them off, but they cling tightly still. It's even creepier since you still can't feel them there.
>"Try to be calm, Applejack. Now that I am no longer restrained by your desires, I can attempt to free you. I have not encountered this magic before, though I suspect I know its source."
"Whatever it is, just get 'em off me! What are they doing?"
>"There is a sinister power at work here. Stand still, and I will attempt to free you from them before they can seduce you back into the dreamscape."
>You try to stand as still as possible, but you can't stop your shoulders and flank from twitching and jumping as you try not to imagine the...things...crawling all over you.
>Again Luna rises into the air and ignites her magic along her horn, her head rears back and she brings it down with a........She stopped?
>"What deception is this?"
>You jump a little at the menace in her voice, but as you follow her gaze to your own hide you see that the desperate bindings of an instant before are all gone.
>She flaps down and alights right in front of you, her eyes narrowed as she looks you over only a few inches from your coat.
"Did your spell wear off? Are they still there? What happened?"
>She says nothing for a moment as she finishes her detailed examination.
>"No, friend Applejack. My spell did not give them form. It only removed the glamour they used to hide from us."
>She tosses her head and blows a derisive breath out from her nostrils
>"It seems you have been freed by other means."
>She looks at you intently, meeting your green eyes with her own deep blue.
>"I do not understand what is happening here this day, but I warn you to keep vigilant when you wake. Something or somepony wished you contained here in an eternity of sweet dreams."
>You shudder a bit at her words.
>"I suggest you speak with Twilight Sparkle about this when you rise. She may be able to find the source."
>Princess Luna turns and waves her hoof revealing a door standing free on the top of the hill.
>"Use this door to wake immediately. You have been asleep for quite some time now, so you should be well rested. You will recall all you have seen here. Goodbye, Applejack."
"Goodbye, Princess. And thank you. I'll definitely ask Twilight about all this. You can bet on it."
>Luna gives you the once over with a raised eyebrow one more time, but she turns and fades away without saying anything more.
"Whew, that was a load of old applesauce."
>You turn the handle and open the door, walking through as you do.
"It's time I got some real answers from-"
>You sit bolt upright in the little room with the potbellied stove.
"-Anemone!"
>Whatever you were going to follow that with gets lost as your mind completely derails upon seeing the room.
>The furniture from before that was a little worse for wear, but unbroken as of yet had been smashed to splinters.
>There are scuff marks on the walls, broken floorboards, and chunks of shattered wood everywhere.
"Anemone?"
>You clamber to your hooves, still a little weak in the legs, but alright to be gettin' on with.
>The most disturbing part of the dramatic change in the room is the perfect circle of neatness centered on yourself.
>You look around, only now realizing that the room is well lit by your lantern turned up to full flame.
>The contents of your saddlebags are all out in the open with the bags themselves neatly folded beside you.
>All of your belongings are sorted out and stacked or bunched in neat groups and arrayed around you.
>The only outlier is your cloak spread out over the remains of one of the little tables over near the doorway.
>You give a shout as you look toward the door (now hanging by a single hinge) and see the unmistakeable bright light of day filtering in from the other room.
"Sweet Celestia! Anemone, are you in there?"
>You canter over to the door and look through. The sight that greets you is even worse than the room you're in.
>The first room is an absolute shambles. The far wall is caved in to the room where you first found Anemone, the front door is just gone with snow piling in, the floor is a wreck...
"Shee-oot. What in Discord's sock drawer happened here? Oh, wow...!"
>You look up toward the source of the daylight and see the hole blown inward through the ceiling. Up, up, and higher through yards of snow you can make out the blue of the sky.
>Something came in from out. And it came through hard. You're starting to get a little worried about Anemone.
"Anemone? Answer back if y'can hear me, Sugarcube!"
>It doesn't take long to make your way back through the other rooms in a quick search to confirm you're completely alone.
>After you take in a little more warmth from the stove and start to head back to the first room you reach out to grab your cloak...
"What in the world?"
>The gold colored lining is covered in writing from a piece of charcoal.
"Dear Applejack..."
>You read the first words and then quickly and carefully drag the cloak over into the light from the the lantern.
>"Dear Applejack, Sorry I couldn't be there when you wake up. I have to leave in a bit of a hurry."
>"They came for me, Applejack! I was able to signal out from the front door, and someone from my family managed to find me."
>"I didn't tell you about the spell because using magic weakens me and I didn't want you to worry. But I'm back with them again, and it's all thanks to you."
>"If you hadn't helped me even though I was a stranger and cared for me despite my strange illness I probably would have died before the storm broke."
>"And wouldn't you know it, I got in an argument with my cousin as soon as he arrived. We disagreed about how to go about getting out of here."
>"My family can get a little violent when they throw a tantrum like that. But don't worry. I protected you. I just wanted you to know that."
>"I eventually convinced him to listen to me though. You really gave me the strength to stand up to him. I wish I could be more like you."
>"I'd be really happy if we could meet again someday, but that probably isn't very realistic. Still, thank you so much for everything. I've never met a pony like you."
>"I'll remember you forever. Signed, Anemone."
>You smile softly and straigten your hat. With a sigh you shrug the cloak back on over your back and flanks. It feels good to have it on again.
>After a few minutes of packing you start the arduous task of piling furniture up to the ceiling hole and beginning your climb.
>Anemone's parting words echo in your mind as you dig your hooves into the hard packed snow.
"Don't think she ever mentioned no cousins."
>You smile again as you finally reach the top.
>The world outside is a blinding radiance after the muted light of the tunnel. The snow laying everywhere reflects the sun's intensity back from every angle.
>The treetops look like weird skeletal bushes sticking up out of the snow.
>You look around at the hoofprints left around the tunnel entrance. Three sets including your own. But none going off in any direction.
"Eeyup. That's the clincher. Whelp, I hope she found what she was really lookin' for."
>You turn to the east to start the last leg of your journey...
>"APPLEJACK!"
>You are taken clear off your hooves and flying hugged a foot deep into the snow by a multicolored blur. You try to get air back into your lungs.
"H-hey there Rainbow. Where'd you come from?"
>"Are you INSANE? What were you thinking trying to travel through a storm like that? Didn't I tell you it'd be epic?"
>You shove her off of your chest and stand up again, opening your mouth with a witty rejoinder.
>"Ooh! You found her? Oh thank Goodness! Applejack, are you hurt? Do you need some hot cocoa?"
>"She was probably Fine until Rainbow Dash clobbered her into a hole, Darling. I'd love some more cocoa, though."
>"Prince Rutherford's Guide to Frozen Habitats says that hot cocoa is very useful to have if somepony has hypothermia, so don't drink it all!"
>"What's cocoa with out SPRINKLES? Here have a bunch, I've got PLENTY. Ooh, and ICECREAM!"
>You can't help but laugh out loud. They all came. They're all here. You look over at Rainbow's concerned face.
"You call that a storm, Rainbow? I know you like to sound all important when it comes to th'weather, but a strong Earth Pony like me can handle a little flurry."
>Her jaw drop is priceless
"Now c'mon 'fore your tongue freezes. That cocoa sounds mighty fine just about now."

The End

Thanks for reading.