-Celestia-

I watched as Applejack was managing traffic. The last week she's been having the guards give her orchards a jump start. We found stray animals and brought them here for cleaning and feeding. I stood on the back porch as she smiled at one of the female guards. They were both just sitting under a tree next to each other. It was good seeing her smiling again.

The two have pretty much been inseparable for the last week. The female guard was almost six and a half foot and very pretty. She had jet black hair and dark blue eyes. She too lost her parents at a young age and has pretty much been loner. It was good for both of them to smile and be together. Well, they're not together, but I can see that they are very close. This girl was the product of radiation. Her mother went in for radiation treatment and didn't know that she was pregnant. So this unassuming teen grew to abnormal heights.

-Aj-

I sat next to Nyiah laughing about how she messed up the training simulation, "I remember when I broke the Fissure Capsule," my laughter died down a bit, "I told them that it wasn't going to work on me since I was so big. They got so mad when I actually broke it."

"Life isn't easy being taller than most is it?" she smiled as she looked to the grass. She tried hiding her blushing and I just found it cute.

"No not really," I hooked my hair behind my ears, "But it's all okay for me. I am only sixteen, but I am six foot ten inches tall."

"I'm only seventeen I'm only six and a half feet tall. Maybe that's why we get along so well. We are both very unique."

That's the words Dashal said one time. She too was tall like as you readers may remember. She was the same height as Nyiah. I began thinking of her and how in a special place in my heart, I loved her. But Nyiah was creeping her way into my heart as well and I really wasn't fighting it. She was very pretty and I kinda struck out at the fact that she was really tall.

"You okay?" she asked me and got me out of my trance.

"Yeah," I groaned to my feet, "Just thinking about something is all."

"What were you thinking about?" she stood up too.

"Don't worry about it," I tried not sounding angry.

She backed off a little bit, "Okay. Sorry," her face went red and she turned to leave.

"Nyiah," I grabbed her hand and pulled her back toward me, "I was thinking about my last relationship was all."

"Who was it?" she looked into my eyes.

"Rainbow Dash."

"Holy Shit! I know her! She's my cousin!" Nyiah began looking around, "Where is she?"

"She's dead. Her and I were dating and have been for a couple years before a zombie got to her."

"Wow, I'm sorry. What's funny is that she told me she was seeing someone, she just didn't tell me that it was you. She did say that whoever the mystery girl was, was very pretty."

"Awe," I just blushed hard and giggled.

"You are very pretty," Nyiah stepepd forward and our faces now were a couple inches from each other.

"So are you," I closed the gap and gave her a quick kiss.

"Thanks," she whispered.

-Twilight-

I came out of the house talking to someone over the radio as I looked down at a clipboard of area maps. A hand snatched away the radio and turned it off, "What the hell Celestia?" I looked to her.

"Just stay quiet and look," she turned to show me, "Just look," two giants were holding each other and swaying together in the breeze.

Aj and this girl were hugging as they kissed. I was in shock, awe, and anger. It was like Aj had completely forgotten about Dashal, "How could Aj do this to Dashal?" I whispered.

"What are you talking about?" Celestia leaned over.

"It was only a few months ago that Dashal had died. Aj is now dating someone else."

"Maybe that's the whole point. Applejack is trying to just move on. I think it's good for her to move on. And trust me, Applejack would not forget Rainbow Dash. You would be wise to heed my words. Applejack is doing this so she can heal. Allow her this."

With it being explained that way, it finally made sense, "Okay," I nodded as I watched the blonde and the raven kissing.

Aj then looked up and around for something. That's when an all-black helicopter came soaring overhead. It darted north as Aj began running back inside, "I need Aero Specs on that chopper!: she said as she had a finger to her ear, "Also get me a chopper STAT!"

-Aj-

We were in the air chasing after the chopper from almost an hour ago, "Commander Applejack?" I heard within my helmet. It was Twilight.

"What is it Squint?" I responded.

"That Chopper as you know is from Dragon Republic."

"What's the really bad news?"

"It's an Assault Chopper. So it's carrying some heavy duty machinery on board."

"What do you know about Dragon Republic's current status?"

"I don't know. None of the Communicator Towers are responding back to me."

I heard another helicopter coming so I stuck my head out and saw an all-white and chrome one coming up behind us fast. It lowered itself so it could be under us as a 50 cal pointed up at us, "Prepare for heavy rounds!" I barked at the pilot as I grabbed my AK and pointed it at the helicopter. We both began firing at each other, but I wasn't getting any sorts of headway with my gun. So I tossed my gun behind me and swung my legs out.

"Wait!" Nyiah grabbed my shoulder as the tail rotor went out, "Where are you going?"

"I'll be back," I kissed her on the cheek before jumping out of the helicopter. I pressed my arms against my body and my legs together and collided head first into the helicopter.

-Nyiah-

Aj jumped out of the chopper and went head first into the enemy. I wanted to feel sad, but I couldn't. I knew that she wouldn't have done what she just did if she was going to die. Or maybe she did, but this didn't feel like one of those times.

"Everybody Hang On!" the pilot shouted as we came crashing into the ground. I was flung out when we spun upside down. I landed hard on the ground and my body skipped a few times before I finally landed in a river. I was swept away downstream until my feet began to drag along the bottom. I dug my feet into the rocks and stood up.

"Hm!" I stood up and the water only came to my chin. I forced my way through the water and made it to the bank. I pulled the top half of my body out of the water and saw two crash sites. One to my right was the one I happen to not be a part of; to my left was the one Aj caused. I fully pulled myself out and went left. The way the smoke and flames engulfed the airship made me begin to doubt that Aj had survived.

That's when I heard talking on the other side. I made my way around and there was a woman with green hair in one long braid. Aj towered over her panting as her hair was released from its red band. So it flowed freely in the wind. I was lost for a couple seconds because of her beauty. For me it was because of her hair. I don't know why she didn't wear her hair down like that.

"What have you done?" the woman panted.

"You guys shot at me! What else was I supposed to do?"

"You were chasing our presidential helicopter," she growled back at her.

"How were we supposed to know about this? We've tried contacting Republic Control and that Chopper, but no one responded. So all we were doing was chasing it down to ask questions."

"So you destroy my fucking Chopper to do so? Just who the hell you think you are? Some kind of giant asswipe?"

"I happen to be Commander Applejack. The last Apple alive in this whole god forsaken ball of shit we call earth. I didn't make it this far just to be shot at by some kind of dragon worshiper."

"At least we don't worship apples!"

"We don't worship apples! What a stupid idea!"

"Calling me stupid is practically calling the Dragon President stupid. I happen to be his right hand woman."

"Or are you his daughter and the only way to gain the smallest bit of respect from him was to act like the son he always wanted. Only because he wanted a son as his first child, but got you instead," Aj crossed her arms, "So with that being said Princess, your daddy is probably not coming back for you because he thinks of you as a disgrace by now. So if you were to face him again, he would have you either exiled or killed. So in turn, I think you should stick with us?"

I walked up to Aj and the woman took a few steps back and brought out her gun, "There's more of you?" she looked to me.

"Nah, it's just us two. We are partners in crime."

"So," Aj started, "Are you gonna come with us Dragon Republic?"

"I have you know," she scowled.

"What would your name be then?" the woman stayed silent, "Dragon Republic it is then," Aj began walking away and I followed her.

"You're just gonna leave her out here?" I looked back and the woman was staring at us as we walked.

"Don't worry, she'll come along eventually. She knows I'm right."

"Even though what you did was amazing, you're an ass. You totally chewed her a new one."

"But it was worth it. She seems like a smart girl and I could use someone of her talents."

"Where are we going now?"

"We are going to the other crash site. We need to see who all is still alive; or at the very least, see what we can salvage," Aj pulled out a red hair band and a comb. She wrapped the hair band around her wrist and then began combing her hair.

"Where's your helmet?"

"Got destroyed in the explosion. I have another one, so I'll be fine," she spoke as her hair was freed from its tangles and dirt. When it was, she pulled it over her shoulder and wrapped the hair band a few inches from the end.

"How long have you been growing out your hair?"

"All my life. It sometimes gets in the way, but I love my hair. I wish there was a way, I could keep it long, but still fight."

"Have you ever tried putting it into a braid?"

"I have, but I'm too lazy to do so."

"When we get back home, I could do it for you," I smiled.

"I think I would love that," she took my hand and held it gently.

"Ya know, I would like to know more about Rainbow Dash."

"She was obviously very special to me. She was about your height or so. She had wonderful pink eyes and her hair was, I think, literally was made by tube rainbow gods themselves. Her personality was a little on the cocky side, but she was very sweet. She was soft spoken and mild-tempered most of the time. She only wasn't whenever she competed with someone. She's a very competitive soul, but somehow she was still mild-mannered. Like me, she also had super strength and powers of the elements."

"What was her element?"

"She had two and a third that she was trying to master. She could bend water and air and she was working on being able to summon lightning. She wanted to be able to control storms because she loved the idea of being able to calm storms and tame seas. She never go the chance too though. But the time I spent with her was well spent. Any time she was upset, she knew how to keep me calm."

"Did she ever get upset?"

"No, not around me really. The only time she seemed even agitated was when she would try and get her training right. But if she ever did get upset, I've never heard or have ever seen it. She usually was calm all the time to me."

"She sounds like the perfect partner," I said with a little sadness.

"What's wrong?" Aj stopped and continued to hold my hand.

"It's just that, I don't know how I'm supposed to follow her. She was always nice; ever since she was younger and we would play. She would always offer her last piece of candy if I had ever wanted it. When she began doing government stuff to help the war against the zombies, was the last time I saw her. I didn't know she was dead until you told me. All the years that it took me to get to this point, all I cared about was me. All I wanted to do is only improve my own self, even if that meant sacrificing others. Then I met you and you are so ready and so willing to put your life on the line for others. You have lost everything, but you still are willing to give whatever you have left if that meant saving at least one life. How you are still able to stand after losing your parents, your grandmother, and everyone else you hold dear, makes me not really worthy of being called yours."

"Don't do this to yourself Nyiah. The things I have seen have been gruesome and the things I have gone through should have left me beaten down and broken. But all I care about is getting back up and surviving to fight another day. To be honest, I just feel as though even though I have truly lost everything, I still feel the need to wanting to not have anyone else lose what I have lost. Right now, all I have left are my friends and you."

"Do you ever feel alone?"

"All the time," she tried not to cry and it was hard seeing her struggle like this, "Even when I was with Dashal, I just felt like I was alone."

"Why's that?"

"All my life people have told me, 'Oh Applejack, you're the saviour' or 'Applejack, there is a problem and we need your help'!" she closed her eyes and turned away from me, "Nobody cared about what I wanted in life! Only Dashal cared about what I wanted and that's what really made me fall in love with her! She cared about what I wanted and didn't only want me to be a saviour! SHE MADE ME FEEL SAFE!"

"Aj, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you this upset."

"Applejack, we need you! Applejack, we need you!" she said in an anger mocking tone, "Applejack! We Need You! Applejack! We Need You! Applejack! We Need You! Applejack! We Need You! Applejack! We Need You!" she kept repeating, "No One Ever Cared About What I Wanted! Not Then! Not Now! NOT EVER! No One Would Ever Care For Me Like Dashal Did!"

"Aj, I promise on my life that if you cal-!"

"YOUR LIFE!" she whipped around to roar at me and I saw that her green irises weren't green anymore. They were now a dark red and I felt an unbearable heat wafting my skin, so I backed up away from her; but the heat kept coming, "You Just Said That You Used To Always Put Yourself Before Others! So What Makes You Think You Can Do It Now?" she roared.

"Aj," I closed my eyes to protect them as I began crying, "Aj, you're scaring me!" I yelled. When I did, I immediately felt the heat leave me. I opened my eyes and saw that she was just standing there, "I understand what you are feeling Aj, but please don't beat yourself up for it. You were born in a time where you are needed most. Instead of taking this as no one caring, take this as a chance to see that people do care about you. They care about you so much, that they think they can cast their cares upon you. Everyone trusts you Applejack."

"But I'm only sixteen," she sobbed, "I am too young to bare the burdens of being a Commander."

"Maybe not," I walked up to her and her eyes had returned back to normal, "You've come this far, haven't you?'

"That's beside the point Nyiah," she sighed softly, "I feel as though I'm just too young to be able to handle any more of this hell," she dropped to her knees.

I dropped to my knees, "Look at me Aj," ahe did. Her eyes spoke of sadness and shame, "No matter what the world, you are stronget than you think."

"No I'm not. I'm only sixteen. I can't handle grown up things. I'm not ready."

"Then why have you kept fighting?"

"Because all I have done was fight. I haven't been doing anything else," she shrugged.

"Ya know what I think would be good for you?"

"-sniff- What?" she used her sleeve to wipe the tears and snot from her face.

"I think it would be nice for you if were treated like a girl for once."

"What do you mean by that?" she asked me.

"Do you know what a makeover is?"

"Does it hurt?"

I laughed and she shrank back, "Sorry to laugh. I'll take it as a no then. And no, it does not hurt. I think it would make you feel better. A few of the other female guards and I were planning on having one when things died down anyway."

"What does it mean? Makeover? I really haven't heard of it."

"It's where a group of ladies get together and gossip about things while we put on make-up."

"What's make-up?" she sat up confused.

"You mean to tell me that you don't put on make-up?" I was really shocked.

"The only thing I put on is deodorant. Does that count as make-up?"

"Oh honey," I smiled, "Not even in the slightest."

"Wait," she blinked hard a couple of times, "Why are you suprised that I don't put it on. What is is specifically?"

"It's pretty much paint that women put on their face to make them prettier."

"Oh, Paint!" she exclaimed and I already knew that her mind went to actual paint, "If its paint that you wanted to do. Then I have lots of that. I usually put it on walls or on the outside of a house. But I never knew I could put in on my face. I was always told that it was bad for the skin."

I sighed as I rubbed my temples, "I have a long way to go."