If you wanted to better show Applejack as being dead, I would make her face a bit more pale - not a lot more, just noticeably. Pallor generally implies illness or lack of well-being, and if you wanted to add bags under Applejack's eyes which imply the fact she hasn't slept in awhile, that'd add to the effect too.And God damn you for making me leak liquid pride. XD---"Applejack, please. No! Youdie! You know why? 'Cause you'd break my heart if you did..." Rainbow sniffed, trying to keep her tears under control. She had to keep her brave face... She promised. "You'd break my heart. You swore you'd never break it. You promised!"Applejack smiled wanly at Rainbow, weakly raising a hoof over her friend's."Ah'm... sorry, Sugarcube," she rasped. "Ah didn't mean to lie..."The pale orange pony took a pained breath."Ah always promised to love ya... and Ah always will..." Applejack quivered in Rainbow Dash's hooves. Something changed in her expression. "I... lo-"Applejack's once-lively green eyes became glazed with an expression Rainbow Dash had only seen in fear and surprise. Rainbow froze, as Applejack's breath caught in her throat. The earth pony became heavy, and began to lose her battle with gravity."Applejack?" She shook her friend. The earth pony slid down into her embrace, her expression unchanging.Oh no."Applejack, please!" Rainbow wept. She never thought she could let tears flow so freely, but in that moment, she understood despair. "Please..." she begged whatever force of life and death was present to let her friend stay, to pass Applejack over. "Please don't leave me..."But she knew. Applejack was gone."Applejack..." Rainbow Dash whimpered, shoving her muzzle into her friend's mane. "No..."She couldn't form the words to express her sorrow - they kept catching in her throat, and Rainbow Dash's sorrow left in her escaped as a mournful bawl.---It's ironic, if you think about it. I don't think Rainbow Dash would kick and scream and make a fuss with Applejack's death. Her impact would be much more profound than that. It would shake Rainbow Dash to the very core. She would lose her courage and confidence, and become a whimpering little foal who had no idea what to do.Applejack's death would probably be the hardest of any of the ponies, just because she's the rock on which the group is built. Without her, it'd kind of crumble them like the rain to a mountain.Wonderful picture. Now I need to go read something fluffy and happy.Happy writing.