A Fallen Apple

by Almost an Actress

Sometimes life just isn't fair. What would you do if the life of your best friend was gone in an instant? Sweetie Belle is riveted to staring at a wall, refusing to talk and burning with guilt. What part did she play in the death? Scootaloo retaliates with confusion and anger if anypony tries to console her. Will they ever be able to move on? (Contains Flutterjack.)

1. Denial and Silence

Scootaloo's eyes brimmed with tears. She couldn't belive what she was hearing, and refused to belive it, in fact. "No, it's not possible," she said, her voice husky with tears. "Fillies don't just… die. Old mares and stallions die. Not fillies!"

"Sugar cube, ah know it's hard," Applejack responded, trying to be strong in front of the young pony. "Ah didn't belive it either. Sometimes ya just gotta let go."

"I won't!" Scootaloo half-screamed half-sobbed. "She's not dead! She's not dead!" She ran away as fast as she could, shrugging off anypony who tried to stop her. She repeated the same phrase in head over and over: She's alive. She's alive. Apple Bloom is alive. Apple Bloom is alive.

When she finally stopped running she was in White Tail Woods. Nopony ever came here. Perfect.

"APPLE BLOOM IS NOT DEAD!" Scootaloo roared.

XXX

Sweetie Bell wasn't dealing with the death of her friend much better. She had stopped talking, and would take to sitting in Rarity's dress shop for hours, despondently staring at the walls, lost in her memories. Everypony was worried, most of all Rarity. She knew how close Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell had been. It would be like her loosing Twilight or Fluttershy or Dash or… any of her friends, really.

Right now, Sweetie was staring at a small black dot on the ceiling, immersed in memories of her friend.

"Last 'n t' the finish line's a rotten dragon egg!" Apple Bloom bellowed.

"In your dreams, girl!" Scootaloo cried with a laugh, and dashed off.

Sweetie Bell, as usual, was the rotten dragon egg. She didn't mind, though. As long as she got to be with her two best friends in the entire world, none of it mattered.

"Sweetie Bell!"

The cry brought Sweetie from her despondent state. She looked behind her to see her sister staring at her. What? she thought. Can't you just leave me alone? Let me think about her so that I don't lose her.

"Sweetie?"

WHAT?! she thought, glaring at her sister.

"Why won't you talk to me? Sweetie, you haven't talked to me for three days now. This isn't healthy. I know that you need to morn, but-"

Sweetie Bell cut out her sister's chatter and thought about why she wouldn't talk. If I start talking and living like this is normal, I'll forget her. Her little southern drawl, her cherry-red mane, her buttery-fur, her light blue eyes- Oh, no. Oh, no. Her eyes were… red. Wait, no. They were yellow. No, golden. No… were they actually blue? Or fuchsia? Oh, Celestia. I'm already forgetting her. She began to cry, turning away from Rarity. I promise, Apple Bloom. I'll never forget you.