Equestria Origins: Fallout

| chapter XII |

Willpower

noun

1. Control exerted to do something or restrain impulses.

Synonyms: moderation

Applejack Apple's POV

"What in the Hell is wrong with you, AJ?" More tears were streaming down the side of my face as I shoved open the glass doors of the hotel open, shattering them in the process. I swiped my nose with the side of my hand and refused to look back behind me.

I didn't even mean to do that to Rainbow. I was just so fed up with everything. I was tired of always having to wait around to do something. My significant other was literally dying, and we were forced to sit around and wait for Pinkie Pie to show up again. I have nothing against Pinkie, but I know how she is around her family and I doubt that visit would be cut short. I understand that we can't afford to be separated, but I'm not about to lose another person from our circle... And that's something I couldn't believe Rainbow Dash would wait around for, considering her element.

"You idiot..." I kicked at the dirt angrily and continued on down the paved streets of Las Pegasus. When I reached an intersection where Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had been training, a bright flash of white suddenly appeared in my field of vision. A small cloud of orange dust appeared just beneath Pinkie's feet once she hit the ground. She looked frantic.

"A-Applejack... We have to go. Now." Pinkie wasted no time to grab me by the arm and pull me opposite of where Rarity was.

"Hey, now..." I ripped my arm free from her grasp and stared at her. "I'm not going anywhere else. I have to rescue Rarity. She's dying, Pinkie."

"W-What?!" Pinkie's icy blue eyes widened in both shock and devastation. She only covered her mouth in response and shut her eyes tightly - something she always did to prevent herself from crying. We stood still together as I waited for another response from the girl in front of me.

"I have to go... I... Got in a fight with Rainbow Dash a few minutes ago. I don't think she wants to see me right now... I think it's best if you go and check on her -"

"Are you crazy?" Pinkie blurted out. Her eyes were misty and her bright pink hair was suddenly looking duller than before. "We're losing our friends, AJ. Look around you! We only have each other... And we're the reason why Twilight is in danger right now -"

"Wait, you found Twilight?"

"No... I don't know how exactly it happened, but I was with my family when suddenly I just got this huge headache that wouldn't go away. Soon though, I started... Hearing Twilight's voice in my head - as if she was standing right next to me! She's hidden out in the San Palomino Desert. She's really hurt, Applejack. She's fighting against... Well... Herself. She needs us!"

"You mean..."

"Midnight Sparkle is returning." Pinkie responded in a hush. Pinkie once again shut her eyes closed and held her head down. She was quiet for a moment, and for once I was actually left speechless. Pinkie exhaled slowly.

"... We have to get Rainbow, Fluttershy and Rarity." I replied in a more serious tone of voice. Pinkie stared up at me with the same broken expression in her blue eyes. "We can't rescue Twilight if we're low on numbers... With Sunset gone..."

"We need each other more than ever." Pinkie finished with the tiniest smile in her voice. I returned her smile and was instantly wrapped up in a tight embrace by her. I returned the hug and buried my face into the fluff of her pink hair. Somehow she still smelled like Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie suddenly released me and shouted, "Rainbow Dash!"