Broken Wings, Chapter 9 - Muddy Waters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-7LIojfezw
“Alright Rainbow…you ready?”
>”Yeah…ready.”
“You know, you didn’t have to wait for me to be with you to do this.”
>Rainbow just turns red and glares at you.
>”Well, I wanted you here with me, you dunce!”
>You laugh and step back, giving Rainbow the room she needs atop a hill behind your home.
>It’s been almost two weeks since you last saw Applejack.
>She made it clear she didn’t want you around…and you respected that.
>Rainbow Dash takes a deep breath of the late morning breeze.
>She could have had her first flight weeks ago, but no.
>It had to be a perfect day. Perfect conditions, perfect wind.
>And you had to be there.
>You admit, you were not surprised in the least when you woke up after that first night spent with her.
>It felt almost natural. After all, in a perverse way, you knew Rainbow inside and out.
>That’s a little surgeon’s joke, there.
>Dash limbers up, stretching her wings slowly, like a diner sampling fresh soup.
>You think AJ would have come to talk to you long ago if she had any interest in it.
>Luckily for you, Rainbow was there to pick up the pieces.
>She flaps her wings a few times, getting a feel for it.
>It reminds you of the time you first settled in to your first car.
>Pure, unadulterated joy.
>”Ok Anon…you be sure to catch me if something goes wrong, ok?”
>You smirk and fold your arms.
“Rainbow, are you nervous?”
>”NERVOUS?! HAH! LIKE TARTARUS I AM!”
>You smirk as Rainbow hunkers down…
>…and takes flight.
>You cheer and clap your hands as Rainbow rises higher and higher, each wingbeat stronger than the last.
>You couldn’t imagine this day back when this all started, when your first introduction to Rainbow Dash was as a twisted lump of flesh and bone on your operating table.
>But, you made a promise to see her back to the sky she so loves.
>You hear her laughter spread in all directions as she turns and pitches, playing in currents and thermals you aren’t even sure she can see.
>You kept your promise.
>As you follow Rainbow dancing above you, your eye is drawn to the distant hillside, in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.
>More specifically, the blurry orange form on top of it.
>You blink…Is that…
>You rub your eyes and blink.
>Huh…she’s gone.
>Applejack…..ACK!
>Rainbow laughs as she barrels into your chest, sending the two of you rolling down the hill.
>You grunt as you come to a stop, your vision filled with the cyan mare on top of you, laughing through the tears of joy welling in her eyes.
>You can only smile as she kisses you tenderly.
>It makes your senses tingle, smelling the wild sky in her multicolored mane.
>You had definite feelings for Rainbow, that much is true.
>You just hope these feelings you also have for AJ die in time.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BirclTYVh74
>You are Applejack.
>He seemed happy…
>Rainbow seemed healthy, that was good.
>You had a lot of time to think.
>Leave it to your kin, your family has rallied around you, keeping Sweet Apple Acres humming along as it always has.
>It’s given you a lot of time to think.
>You walk slowly back towards the farm.
>You went there wanting to talk to him.
>To say the things you were too scared to say that day, when you chased him away.
>That deep down, you knew he did everything in his power for Mac.
>That your words were of confusion and blind anger.
>That you were sorry.
>”’ey Big Sis, how’dit go?”
>Applebloom.
“…ah didn’t talk to ‘im.”
>Applebloom grunts as she trots alongside her sister.
>”Ah thought yer’ was gonna talk to ‘im!”
>You stop and stomp your hoof.
“An’ ah thought ye’r gonna mind yer own business!”
>Applebloom does not respond immediately as you start walking again, passing row upon row of apple trees.
>The flowers are in bloom, soon the trees will be forming a fresh crop.
>”Sis…ah’m sorry, ah’m just worried ‘bout ya, is all…”
>You glare at the ground as you walk, not heading anywhere in particular.
“Ya’ don’t need ta’ worry ‘bout me. Now run along.”
>You stop as Applebloom dashes in front of you, getting in your way with an indignant look.
>”An’ why shouldn’t I? Ya’ been floatin’ ‘round ‘ere like a ghost for weeks now! Ah jus’ want t’see ya happy…”
>You pause and frown.
>”An…ah know Anon made ya’ real happy…”
“Applebloom…”
>It’s your sister’s turn to stomp her hoof.
>”No, AJ! It was Big Brother’s job t’knock sense into ya, but…he’s not here any more…”
>You go to try and comfort AB as she sniffles.
>She knocks your hoof away and looks up at you angrily.
>”He ain’t here, so ah gotta do it! But you know what? Ah miss him. You miss him. And ah bet Anon misses him too…”
>You step back a little.
>”Ah know Anon did everything he could…and he was hurtin’ just as much as any of us…”
>You snort.
“That’s enough, Applebloom!”
>She eeps and cowers a little, not used to you snapping at her like that.
“Ah appreciate you’re worried about me…but ah’ll address my issues with Anon when I am good an’ ready!”
>AB just stands there as the only answer you get is wind in the leaves.
>”Just answer me one thing, Big Sis…an’ be honest.”
>You sigh.
“What?”
>”Do you hate Anon? Do you blame ‘im fer’ what happened?”
>…
>You blink as your face falls, looking at your hooves.
“…no…”
>”So do ya’ like ‘im?”
>You feel a knot forming in your chest.
>You had an answer for this weeks ago…you thought blaming him would change your answer.
>But it didn’t.
>You voice is a whisper, barely audible above the autumn breeze.
“…ah’ love ‘im.”
>There are small damp spots forming on the soil at your hooves.
>Must be raining…
>”Then Big Brother would say ya’ know what ya’ gotta do.”
>With that, Applebloom turns and heads back towards the house.
>She’s such a smart filly.
>A little too smart, sometimes…
>You look up at the sun.
>It’s getting close to noon.
>You look back at the way you came, back towards Anon’s house.
“Yer’ right, Big Mac.”
>You turn around and start walking.

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>You are still AJ.
>It’s noon by the time you get to Anon’s front door.
>Deep breath, AJ…
>You knock.
>The door opens.
“…Rainbow.”
>Rainbow Dash nods.
>”Applejack.”
“Is Anon home?”
>Rainbow shakes her head. “Nope, hospital asked him to come in and consult on a case of severe horn rot.”
>Nasty…
“Excuse me…”
>Rainbow stands aside as you walk in.
“Ah think ah’ll wait for him.”
>You could cut the tension in the air as you and Rainbow stand in the waiting area, silently.
“Ah saw ya flying this mornin’…glad to see yer’ better.”
>”Yeah, thanks…”
>Something’s up here.
“How’s Anon?”
>Rainbow snorts.
>”Fine.”
>Yup, something’s definitely up.
“So Rainbow, you watchin’ th’place before you go ho-“
>”What are you doing here?”
>You blink, taken aback.
“Pardon?”
>”I mean, what are you doing here?”
“Now what in tarnation d’ya mean by that?”
>”I mean, I want to know what you’re doing here!”
>Rainbow stomps her hoof as she marches up to you.
>”Because I ain’t gonna let you hurt him again!”
>Well…this is going to be a problem.