When You Upset the Apple Cart...

 “Applejaaack! Where do Ah put this box at?! It’s heavier than an elephant after an all-ya-can-eat buffet!”

Applejack looked over her shoulder at her younger sister, who currently had an overflowing trunk that was twice as big as her balanced on her back. They were cleaning out the attic, and from the looks of it, Applebloom decided she wanted to get her cutie mark in heavy lifting.

“Well, if it’s so darn heavy, then why’d ya pick it up in the first place? Heh, Ah’m just kiddin’ ya. Here, gimme that.”

In one graceful swoop, the chest was transferred from the yellow filly’s back to the orange mare’s, “There. Better?”

“Yeah!” Applebloom bounced on the tips of her hooves before spotting a book that had fallen from the trunk, “Hey, what’s that?”

“Oof!” Applejack slid the trunk down to the floor before turning to Applebloom, “What’s what?”

“This book...looks like a journal ta me.”

“Hmm…This ol’ thing? Beats me, but it sure is dusty!” Applejack blew the faux leather-bound book’s cover off, revealing embossed lettering, “‘The Journal of Applejack the Forty-First’...? This ain't mine, so why does it have my na-Wait a darn tootin’ minute! Ah’m not the forty-first Applejack; Ah'm the forty-second! So this must belon’ to…Ma?”

“Well, Ah’ll be...Ah never thought we’d would find it…”

The Apples were sitting in the parlor. Granny Smith was holding the journal in her rocking chair, and the siblings sat in a row on the couch. Winona was curled on the floor, fast asleep.

“So is that really Ma’s, Granny?” Applejack questioned, her hooves fidgeting slightly; while the elder two siblings could remember their parents, Applebloom practically knew little to nothing about either of them.

“Yes, young’un,” The elderly pony rocked slightly as she flipped through the yellowing pages, “Ah recognize it. She used to write in it all th’ time after Applebloom was born…”

Applebloom perked up at the sound of her name, “...Granny? What was she like?”

“She was a grumpy mare, believe me, “ Granny chuckled slightly, “Honestly, Ah blame mahself for that one; she was quite attached ta me after your Grandpappy left.”

“Ooh, can we read it, Granny?” Applebloom bounced on the couch cushion, causing a spring to poke out, “ Ah wanna get to know mah Ma!”

“Yeah, Ah’m interested in what’s in there too. Right Mac?”

The red stallion nodded, “Eeyup.”

Granny Smith cleared her throat and adjusted her reading glasses, “Well, sure, sugarcubes. Here we go."

She squinted at the page slightly before beginning, “‘If there is one thing you need to know about me,it’s that I don’t like most ponies, I don’t like strangers, and I definitely do not like you. ‘Course, that’s mostly because if you’re reading this, then that means you’re snooping through my diary, which is a big no-no. Unless you’re one of my kids. Then it’s okay.’

“‘Speaking of which, if you areone of my kids,  and you’re reading this, then it probably means I’m dead. Now, don’t get all teary-eyed on me; I’m probably in a better place, and you wouldn’t want this old mare breathing down your necks, anyways. You have Granny for that.’

“‘I decided I wanted to write down my life for you kids to read when you are all grown up. Sappy, I know, but Granny thought it was a good idea. Actually, she said to tell you this stuff in person, but...considering what has been happening lately, I believe that, like I said above, I’ll be dead. So let’s get this story started, eh?’”

Granny Smith flipped the page and continued, “‘Now, it all started when the metaphorical apple cart of my life got upsetted...’”