-Dash-

She always kept to herself, despite every guy and girl wanting her. She knew that people would line themselves up in her wake to just see her smile. I stayed in the background, trying not to get trampled over by all those fighting for her attention.

I watched her for years now. Not saying anything. Loving her so much and hating that she doesn't know. It had gotten to a point where I had to tell her. I couldn't hide my love from her any longer. Today was the day.

It was time for school. Today I was over all the gym glasses. Applejack had taken more classes on teaching agriculture. Her and I usually tag teamed the gym classes, but today wasn't one of those days. I had flown to school like I always do and always lands hard in front.

That's when I saw her. The tall strong blonde pulling in a wagon filled with different sorts of plants. Her horse wasn't towing the wagon. She had seemed very sad and I found it odd and fluttered over to her,* "Where's Cinnamon?" *she just looked at me with sad eyes,* "Aj?"

"Cinnamon died some time in the night, last night," she let's go of the wagon and let's it drop down, "It's why I'm a little late."

"You should be at home tending to things instead of being here at school," she looks at me with her sad eyes, "What is it?"

"I can't leave everyone hanging because of my pet. I knew her time was getting close. I'm just dealing with the acceptance part of the mourning," she sighs and starts to head inside.

I flapped my wings so I could fly up and over her. I landed in front of her to stop her at the door. The giant blonde hardened her face into a scowl, "No, you're sad. You're clearly not going to focus today. Let's go to Twilight and tell her."

"Let it go, Dash!" Aj grumbled, "Just let me be."

Her being angry is always something that's hard to combat. She gets even more stubborn and it makes me sad. But my stubbornness can rival hers, "No! You're going to see Twilight."

"I'm not going to fight you here, Dash."

"That's what you're doing right now!" I got her. Her face hardened and she had to think, "Let's go see Twilight, okay?"

*All she does is nod and looks down. I give a small smile and takes her hand. I lead her into the school and cuts right. We push passed the Council Hall doors.

Twilight had her back turned towards the doors. She was reading a book she had in hand. Her large purple wings shifted on her back. She muttered to herself as Applejack and Rainbow Dash made their way across the room to her.

"Twilight?" Dash called and didn't get a response.

So she patted the purple woman's shoulder, "Eep!" Twilight yelped and flinched. Her wings shot out and retracted in a flash. She looks to see Dash standing there, "Don't sneak up on me like that, Blue!" She huffed.

"I called you, but you were so focused in your book, Egghead. Applejack needs to talk to you," Dash looked to Applejack.

"What is it, Aj?" Twilight noticed her friend's sadness and took a step towards her.

"Cinammon passed away last night," Aj sighed sadly and looked away.

"I'm so sorry, Applejack," Twilight went to go hug her, "Why are you even here? You should have stayed home."

"That's what I told her. But she didn't want to listen," I grumbled and crossed my arms.

"Because I have a job to do. I can mourn as I work," Aj pulled away from her.

"You and I both know that you aren't worth a damn if you're distracted. So go home."

"I'll stay here if you don't mind," Applejack fought, "I need to work."

"I know that's what you feel, but you need to be at home. When Granny died, you almost toppled the castle once. I don't want the stress getting to you again. As your boss and Princess of the South, I am ordering you to go home and have time to grieve. Call Red and Mac. They are going to need to know as well."

"That's not fair!" Aj yelled, "You know I can't call either of them! I'm not going to! You can't make me do it! I won't do it!"

"Saying no to an order given to you by a princess is punishable by imprisonment," Twilight stood up straight to try and make herself seem taller. But the blonde still had a head of height on her.

Aj leaned in a little and crossed her arms, "As part of your council, I advise you against passing that judgement. As you've just mentioned, I've brought this castle to it's knees. I'd rather spend a thousand lifetimes in prison, then talk to my sister."

Twilight shrank back and looked down defeated, "You two used to be so close. Now you are so far apart. I know what she did, but she's still your sister. And as for Mac..."

"He made his choice. It's just my fault for not being more convincing," the two fell silent. Silence gripped the room just as tightly as the sadness did. We stood there in quiet got a few moments until Aj sighed, "I'm sorry, Twilight. I don't know what to feel now. Cinnamon was the last thing that I still had of Granny's. Now it's gone. All I have now are my memories."

"Don't forget that you still have Apple Acres. You still have the rest of your family. Go back to them. Take the next couple days off. Send Brae over. I know he wouldn't mind teaching a couple classes. Besides, he's an Apple. What could go wrong with him teaching agriculture?"

"Um, him being scared to talk in front of people. My students would rather him alive. You know that they're monsters .All teenagers are monsters. Not all teens we're the pride of Equestria, like we were. But I'll still ask him all the same. So have Derpy cover the class for today."

"Derpy? Are you sure?" Twigluht looked confused, "She's gotten better, but she's still, well... Derpy."

"She knows almost as much as I do about agriculture. You forget, she wanted to learn how to fix thrings when she breaks them. So she came to me. After a while, she just started doing volunteer work at the farm."

"I didn't know that. But now I do. I'll have Spike send her a letter."

"I thought Spike was still on the mission with Ember," I asked.

"He came back last night without Ember. ImI guessing she went home to rest. But as for now, Aj, go home now. Call me when you get home," all the blonde does is nod before leaving.