My Little Pony:

Darker Days Arc

Warning: Dark
((Need I say more?))

((This story is in Granny Smith's point of view as she tells the story to the three children))

My Little Pony:

Rotten Core

When I was young...
When I was young...

When I was young
You were still here
I watched them grow
I kept them safe
But you had to go
You had to go

Granny Smith stares out a window and she see's many things.
From the past to the present and the in-betweens.
Love, Loss, limits, and Dreams, and even screams...
But that's life, and for her it's just a routine...
Or at least it seems...
Upon a desk a few feet away... a picture displayed.
A frame with a face and name that is placed on the corner of memory.
Traced to a time that's embraced by a many who have stayed
In this old house. Sometimes it's just a cold house.
Haunted by the fears and the old doubts.
She remembers being a foal, but admits she is old now.
Applejack throws her hair back. Applebloom laughs towed by her big brother Big Mac.
It's exactly the way you'd have want it.
The only thing missing is your presence here upon it.
It gets harder to remember you.
But when it happens I just look to your children for a better view.
I see your eyes in their tender youth
I see your smile when they grin I pretend that you're with 'em too.

It all started when Ponyville was founded. I didn't believe the saying back then, but “nothing good is ever free.” With the zap apples, there came a major price... Though, none of us would realize it for many years.

We had our first family reunion.

We had our second reunion.

It was almost time for our third reunion. I was taking care of the preparations. Two mysterious ponies showed up on the farm, both cloaked from head to hoof.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“Ma, it's us,” my daughter said to me from under the cloak.

“Now why in tarnation are you two in that getup?” I asked.

“There's no time, ma,” she said to me, “we must hide!” She was all flustered.

They ran into the barn and I followed.

“Now why are you so up in-” I started.

“Where are the foals?” she asked.

“Applejack and Big Mac are taking Applebloom apple bucking,” I said.

“Good. Ma, I'm going to need a favor,” she said to me.

“What's gotten into you?” I said.

“The royal guards will come and take us away,” she told me, “whatever you do. Don't tell them anything. Make sure the kids stay lost in the orchard.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“I wish I could explain, but-” she started, but was rudely interrupted by a knock on the door.

The doors to the barn opened up and ten Canterlot Guards flooded in. I watched them as they took my daughter and her husband away, wondering how a personal delivery of Zap Apple Jam could have gone so wrong.

Not even an hour later, the Princess showed up in pony. I wasn't expecting it, nor did I feel any suspicion.

“Princess,” I said. She looked the same as the day I first saw her.

“Greetings, Granny Smith,” Celestia said, “It's been a while. I remember when your father showed me his seed collection. It was quite impressive for such a worn-down family of ponies.”

“I could never forget that day,” I said.

“And how are the foals?” Celestia asked, “How have they been doing?”

“Oh, they've been doing just great,” I said, “They're having fun in the orchard.”

“How lovely,” Celestia said.

Just they y'all showed up. You'd just come out of the orchard and were heading back. Applebloom was laughing, being towed by Big Mac.

Y'all noticed Celestia and called out to her.

My daughter's words rang through my head, make sure the kids stay lost in the orchard.

All I needed to shout was “run! Hid in the orchard till ya parents get back!”

“If you say a word, you will be charged with treason and conspiracy,” Celestia whispered to me coarsely.

It shocked me and caused me to thing, what did they get us all into.

If only then I had I had listened too...
Then a granny they'd have lost, 'stead of both their parents is the truth.

I held my tongue. I didn't know of the consequences that awaited them both because I kept quiet until it was too late.

Y'all came over and gave a warm welcome to Celestia. She greeted y'all kindly back. It made me think that what I had heard her whisper was just my imagination playing tricks on me. She invited us all over to the castle to play some games and have some fun.

You three were left in the bedrooms while Celestia took me to the side.

“Your daughter and her husband have both committed treason and conspiracy,” Celestia informed me, “their time is at an end.”

“I'm sorry, your majesty, but I don't understand,” I said.

“Come,” Celestia said, walking off, “this is your only chance at a final goodbye.”

I didn't know what she was talking about, but I followed her out of concern for my own...

“Ma!” My daughter said, giving me a hug. Tears filled her eyes. “I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for any of this to happen,” she cried.

“Do you have any last words to tell your daughter?” Celestia asked.

“I know you weren't able to hide the kids, but it's not your fault,” my daughter said, “don't take this out on yourself. I know you don't understand what's going on. That's fine. I love you, ma. I'm sorry.”

I didn't know what to say; I couldn't have know what to say. I watched as they took her away, leading them somewhere.

Sudden realization hit me. I'd never see them again; they're going to be killed.

I survived as the living proof... but I'd gladly give my life in second just to switch with you.

And I can tell you you'd be proud of em all.

Applejack is worth her weight in gold, Big Mac stand'n Tall 

Applebloom so strong with her friends...
And it sends me shivers cause I see in them SMALL 

Images, and snippets of your life when you grew up.

When I was rough young and tough and I knew of 

The only thing that our family needed was a few of 
these bits and these apple-seeds and a bit of true love.



And who loves you more than I do...
I remember when you met that stallion... the shy dude.
When I had to meet him he would hide behind you.

In time love bloomed as he'd ride beside you.



I cried as you recited "I do"
Pride in my little foal grew to find you

A grown mare, and soon you'd have your own there.
Three gems you brought into our home here. 



No fear... cause clearly they grew up fine.

No father or mother... they had a tough time.

But they had each other and that's enough, right?
And I did my best to raise 'em up right. 



I still cry in my room, on various nights.
I wonder why so soon you had to just die.
No mother should ever bury her one child

When I was young, I died a little inside.

“Follow me,” Celestia commanded. I obeyed.

I took a seat in a side room connected to the throne room. Celestia waited for a while, leaving us in a tense silence.

Finally Celestia broke the silence, “I will tell you all that happened.” Celestia glared at me, “If you promise never to speak a word of this again. Understood?”

I wanted to know the truth; I wanted to know what my daughter had died for. So I nodded.

The two of them were personally delivering the Zap Apple Jam, as they always did if the Princess was unable to fit the travel into her schedule. They went to the throne room, but found the throne empty. They knew Celestia always said “thank you.”

That day was different. She had a meeting with some factory representative named “Doctor Atmosphere” and the meeting was running a little late.

They had accidentally overheard the conversation. It must have been something very secret, something that was an unbelievably controversial that nopony could be allowed to know about it.

Doctor Atmosphere came out of the room to find the two of them standing there with some Zap Apple Jam. Instantly he flipped out, and soon enough they found themselves in the dungeons of the castle.

They talked about what they'd heard. Whatever it was, it was enough to get them willing to sacrifice themselves for the truth to come out.

The couple walked to the dungeon door.

“Um... Excuse me?” he asked.

“What is it, conspirator?” the guard asked coldly.

He glanced quickly at his wife for courage before looking back and saying, “I'd move if I were you.”

“Is that a threat?” the guard asked, turning around.

The wife bucked the door with incredible force. It flew off its hinges, smashing into the guard. The guard was only knocked unconscious, though.

Meanwhile, Celestia fought in a battle of words against Doctor Atmosphere.

“They are a good family. They are understanding,” Celestia said.

“They heard too much, Princess,” Doctor Atmosphere said.

“I'm sure they're reasonable,” Celestia said, “They have a family. They have three young foals.”

“You allow countless foals die each day to keep the Factory working,” Doctor Atmosphere said, “You just feel attached to them; they do something special for you and where they are now is because of your help.”

“That may be so, but-” Celestia started.

A guard entered the room and informed them, “They're attempting an escape, your highness.”

“Recapture them by any means possible!” Doctor Atmosphere yelled, “It doesn't matter what happens to them. We cannot let those conspirators escape!”

The guard ran out of the room.

Doctor Atmosphere smirked at Celestia, knowing he'd won, “See, Princess? What did I say?”

“Fine... It's too dangerous to allow them to live,” Celestia agreed.

Doctor Atmosphere stood up and walked out of the room.

The couple ran down another hallway; another path through the seemingly endless labyrinth of a dungeon. It had been a couple of minutes since they broke out, but the labyrinth was already messing with their heads.

Then two guards appeared, coming from one hallway. The stallion barreled into them, bowling both guards over without any effort.

They continued down the path the guards had come. They found that they were closer to the way out than they thought. They came to the stairs leading to the main hall to find it covered in guards. There would be no easy way out for the two of them.

They burst into the main hall to find Doctor Atmosphere yelling at the guards who stood with him, “Stop them! What are you waiting for you fools?!”

In the end, the couple managed to escape and run to their farm for one last hope.

That was all Celestia was willing to tell me.

“I wish there had been some other way, but...” Celestia said.

There was a moment of silence before she spoke again. “And just to make sure you keep your promise. If you tell a word about this, I will personally send the foals to meet their parents.” She then bade me good day and left the room.

I went outside to get a breath of fresh air.

Outside, a pony I'd never seen before came over and greeted me. He wore a cloak that covered him entirely. He introduced himself as “Doctor Atmosphere” and admitted that he was the one Celestia had told me about. I yelled at him, but it seemed not to affect him.

Out of nowhere, in the middle of my yelling, Doctor Atmosphere laughed, “You know, Ms. Smith. I'll bet Celestia didn't speak the whole truth. Care to listen to it all?” He didn't even let me answer, “Celestia doesn't have all the powers she claims to have. There is a machine needed to maintain her powers.”

“I don't believe you!” I yelled.

“You know how your parents escaped?” Doctor Atmosphere asked.

“How?” I asked.

“I let them,” he said.

“Like hay you did,” I said.

“I have agents in the guards. Not even Celestia knows that,” Doctor Atmosphere said, “there were twenty guards on those stairs that day, and another ten with me. There was no way they could take them all on.”

“Then why?” I asked.

“After an escape attempt, they would have been sent straight to their deaths,” Doctor Atmosphere said, “I was being generous.”

“My daughter told me things would have been different if I hid the children,” I said.

“I made a deal with them,” Doctor Atmosphere said, “But I needed time. If Celestia never got the kids, they could have 'escaped' again.”

“Why are you telling me all this?” I asked.

“I lost my family through a very similar matter,” Doctor Atmosphere said.

There was silence after he said that. Before I could say anything more, he walked off.

When you were young...
You both too young...

When I was young...
When I was young...

Credits

Song used: Apples of My Eye by Feather, Flow Rhyme, and Legion

A special thanks to:
Aurora Dawn – Inspiring Doctor Atmosphere (with the Rainbow Factory).
Feather, Flow Rhyme, and Legion – Inspiring this story (with Apples of My Eye).

Extra special thanks to:
Mindless Gonzo

Author's Note

I do apologize that whenever I referred to Applejack's parents, I always used "they" and "the two of them" and "him/her" and "the couple" but I'm not going to give them names. They're Applejack's parents and it will more than likely be brought up in some episode in the future or something. Whatever, until they actually get names, I'm going to leave it as is.

On another note, this was never intended to be included in the story. This was actually a rather shocking discovery. I never intended it to come out this way. This is changing the story that I already had mapped out enormously. I mean, this is going deeper into the Apple's past than I had imagined. This accidental chapter is blowing my mind...

This is quite different from the normal for this story. It's told differently and gives a different view. It leave the path of insanity, yet builds so much for it (as you'll see in Dequestria Part 2). I guess it's nice to have a change of pace to have a rest of one kind of style?... Meh, whatever ^_^

One final thing: If there are any questions on this chapter, feel free to ask them. Due to it not being an omniscient narrator, I was unable to fill all the gaps. I apologize if this story was confusing. If not enough understand it, I'll try and remake it again... (Feedback is key for this chapter to be perfected)