"It's fine " she said, looking straight ahead. "I didn't care." she added. But, nopony could not notice that her eyes were darker than usual.
Brisk looked down. She turned to Applejack and Fluttershy. "You knew my mother. Did she ever regret abandoning me for the dead?" she said dryly.
A laugh escaped from her lips. "My mother.. the element of generosity, she called herself.. Once she found out about Flitter and I, she decided it was too much pressure on herself. She left us in the Everfree, with the other 'animals..'" She turned to the older ponies. "Did she regret it?"
"She just... lied. Said you died... I..." Applejack was worried. "Brisk... how... did you and... Flitter... survive?" Narrowleaf asked.
"That's what I thought." said Brisk shortly. "Never wanted to make herself look bad, even when she truly deserved it." She turned to NarrowLeaf. "Have I ever told you what my special talent is?" she asked him.
"Wait. Brisk! I... I'm an idiot... I'd be... dead without those two. My friends... I'm just a burden..." Narrowleaf ran off, tears stinging his eyes.
Brisk sat in the remains of the park, crying. She was not one for it, but this was an extraordinary situation. She did not cower, or hide her face. She simply looked out onto the horizon, tears streaming down her face.
Narrowleaf ran into the crumbling ruins of Ponyville, running and crying. He didn't care where he was, just as long as it was away. He was a coward. He was dead weight. He knew it.
Brisk closed her eyes, and her horn started to glow. As the sun set, her horn turned orange, and red started to appear.
Narrowleaf slowed to a stop. He saw the setting sun. It reminded him of her. Everything. He felt as if he failed Bolt too, but knew it was only about Brisk. Narrow failed her. Again.
Narrowleaf found a dark store. This is it. This is where i'll rot. Like the Apple I am. he thought to himself. He sat inside, hoping nopony would find him.
Flitter passed by the dark store and looked at him. "Brisk has gone in for a while. She cannot hear any of what we talk about." she said finally. "If you want a chance to prove yourself, think of Brisk. Think of why you feel that way." she said. "Now apply that to yourself." she said.
"I-I can't... I don't want to talk to you, Bolt or Brisk. I failed you." Narrowleaf turned away. "You three are my best- No. My only friends, and I-I don't see why y-you'd want me 'round anyways."
"Keep acting like that, and yeah. You are what you say. Instead of, what, rotting? Do what the ones you feel the ones you look up to would do." With that, she turned and walked away.
"I... Don't... Know... The... Way... Back, Flitter." Narrowleaf called between sobs "Can... you take me back?"
