private Rebuilding Equestria (1x1 between C. Thunder Dash and ExplosionMare)

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

It did smell like sweet apples...well...leftovers of them. Global's snake lightly squeezed itself around Global's waist, then relaxed, letting out a soft and warm hiss. Panting and light sobbing could be heard. Perhaps this could be Braeburn's spirit...

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

The snake squeezed Global then relaxed himself on her back. Global wasn’t too knowledgeable about snake behaviors, but she did have a feeling he was telling her something. It was not a moment too soon that a mix of panting and sobbing could be heard. Global’s ears perked up; could that be Braeburn in the distance?

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

"That...sure sounds like Braeburn alright..." Fluttershy said. The sobbing suddenly stopped. It seemed as if Braeburn recognized Fluttershy's voice. "F-Fluttershy? I-is that you?" He asked. "Yes,..along with Pinkie, Celestia and a mare named Global..." Fluttershy answered. "Well I'm just glad to see you..." Braeburn said with a small sniffle. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global hung back for a moment, allowing Fluttershy and the others to have a moment with Braeburn. She understood that the situation might be sensitive. Once she felt comfortable, she stepped forward and properly introduced herself.

“Hello, Braeburn, I’m Global Gleam. I heard you know a lot of things about the orchard,” she stated.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Braeburn's spirit sniffled. "Y-yes...th-this orchard was my pride and joy...I don't even know how we're gonna replant everything and get this orchard back the way it was..." Braeburn said on the edge of sobbing again. "Where are your ashes Braeburn?" Celestia asked. "Th-they are...somewhere...out where the orchard was..." Braeburn stated. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

“Don’t worry, Braeburn, I’ll help you locate your ashes,” Global said softly.

If he wasn’t currently a ghost, she would put a hoof on his shoulder. For now, all she could do was help Celestia locate his ashes. She looked out onto the horizon for potential locations, but waited for the princess before she started heading anywhere.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Celestia lit her horn. "This is where that old ash finder spell comes in handy..." Celestia stated as she used her horn like a metal detector, only this time to search for ash. "I could only use this spell a certain amount of times before I must let it recharge." Celestia stated as her horn pulled her to the left. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global was about to ask “You had that spell the whole time?” until Celestia mentioned that the spell had a limited usage. She bit her tongue and waited for the spell to take affect. She looked back to check on Fluttershy and Pinkie in the meantime to make sure they were okay.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Fluttershy and Pinkie were walking next to each other. Pinkie was looking kind of sad because Apploosa was where she made some great memories. Perhaps a little chat with Pinkie would pick her spirits up again. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global looked to Pinkie, who was looking a bit sad, possibly over some memories. Curious as to what they were, Global asked,

“Have you been here a few times? I bet you have. I’ve travelled here before but it’s been so long that I only have fragments of memories of this place.”

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Pinkie nodded yes with a small sniffle. "I miss them..." She simply said. Them referring to the friendly buffalo she met on their first trip after Twilight and her friends helped resolve the conflict between the Apploosans and the Buffalo. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

“Did you make some good friends here? Knowing your personality, I bet you made a lot of them.” Global said with a wink.

She hoped that by encouraging the pink mare a bit, she could get her to release her troubles and feel a bit more relaxed.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Pinkie sniffled again. "Y-yes..." She said sadly. Seeing Apploosa in this condition really hit Pinkie hard, especially since she played piano for both the ponies and the buffalo, singing a song about sharing and caring. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global leaned in to nuzzle Pinkie. She knew Pinkie must miss all her friends dearly. Still, it was good to talk about them—the good times, more specifically. Global looked Pinkie in the eyes and tried to encourage her to think of some fond memories.

“What did you guys normally do together?” she asked.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Pinkie ended up breaking down into soft sobs. All the wonderful memories seemed to come back to her at once, but seeing Apploosa and the surrounding regions in this state upset her hard. Just then, Celestia found Braeburn's ashes. Braeburn reformed, but had a frown on his face. He looked as if he was going to cry himself. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global bent down and hugged Pinkie. She needed somepony to embrace right now more than anything. As she comforted the pink mare, Celestia successfully located Braeburn’s ashes and resurrected the stallion. Looking up, Global noticed he was close to crying. She glanced in his direction and asked,

“Would you like to join the group hug?”

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Pinkie and Braeburn hugged Global tightly. Pinkie was still sobbing softly. Braeburn was meanwhile trying to not start sobbing. Celestia watched. "As much as it pains me to say this but...we have to keep moving..." She said sadly. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

“Okay...Your Highness.” Global sighed.

She heaved herself up and encouraged the others to do the same. She held out a hoof in case anypony needed help getting up. After taking a deep breath, Global stretched and prepared herself for her next task.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

"Why don't we start by planting down some apple tree seeds. This way, we could get a start at rebuilding the orchard." Celestia said. Braeburn sighed. "I don't even know if that stash of appleseeds are still there..." He said sniffling again. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

“I’d be happy to help you look.” Global offered Braeburn.

She began scanning the ground for any seeds that happened to fall on the ground. It was unlikely that there were any just lying around but it wasn’t like Global knew where the seeds were normally kept. She swiped at the dirt to see if any seeds were hiding under it.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

It would be quite difficult just to search for seeds on the ground. Maybe..just maybe there was a storage place somewhere that had some amount of seeds left. It would be best to ask Braeburn if they had a secret storage of seeds. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Searching the ground would take forever. Global wouldn’t be able to find them for days at this rate. However, Braeburn probably had an idea of where they were.

“Braeburn, do you remember where the apple seeds were kept?” she asked him.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

"I don't know if I...even remember where the entrance to the secret stash is...it's been so...long..." Braeburn said with a sniffle, a feeling of hopelessness coming. He looked like he was going cry again, because he felt that by not remembering where the stash was, he let everypony down. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global trotted over to Braeburn and put a hoof on his shoulder.

“It’s ok, Braeburn, we can help you look. A lot’s happened, so it’s completely okay if you don’t remember everything right away.” she said reassuringly.

She waited for Celestia, Pinkie, and Fluttershy to continue down the path. The only way they could look for the seeds is if they kept moving forward. Plus, going further into town might spark some memories for Braeburn.

Edited May 3, 2021 by ExplosionMare
Forgot Braeburn isn’t a ghost

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

(OOC: Braeburn is restored now.) 

Braeburn pulled Global in for a tight hug finally breaking into soft crying. “H-how could t-this...happen?” He said hugging Global close, a few tears falling on her fur.