Everyone Dies...eventually
Everyone Dies...eventually
Everyone Dies...eventually
Granny Smith sat in her wooden chair silently as the clock on the wall ticked on and on. The stillness of the house was soothing, and peaceful...but at the same time, it gave Granny a weary feeling...like she was being watched. Perhaps by the ones of the afterlife...from the other side.
As her eyes begun to shut, the sound of the front door opening brought her mind back into reality. She looked up to see Applejack standing in the doorway covered in sweat. Applejack walked in, taking off her hat and closing the door behind her.
"Another day of hard work by the looks of it." Granny spoke.
"Yup, you sure got that right. Man I could go for some shut eye." Applejack replied. "I'm gonna go wash up, is there anything I can get you before I go upstairs?" Applejack asked Granny. Granny tried to reply, but a cough suddenly forced its way up from her lungs. Granny coughed, and wheezed as she caught her breath.
"No deary, I'm fine for now." She managed to say. Applejack looked at her with a worried look on her face.
"That cough don't sound to good Granny...you sure you're okay? The last thing I want is for you to get sick."
"Don't worry about me, it's just allergy season. You run along and get yourself cleaned up now you hear?" Granny smiled as she relaxed in her chair. Applejack gave her a smile, before trotting upstairs. Deep inside she was worried for Granny. She knows the cough of an ill pony...and that was definitely a sickly cough.
She let it blow past her mind as she walked into the bathroom, and turned the shower taps on. The hiss of water filled the bathroom as the hot water turned the bathroom into a sauna. Applejack got in and begun to clean off a hard days work worth of sweat and grime.
The next morning, Applejack woke up as the sunlight broke into her bedroom. "Mornin' already..." She sighed, "Felt like I barely slept." She pulled herself out of the bed, and walked into the hallway. She turned toward the staircase to see Applebloom sitting quietly at the top.
"Somethin' on your mind sugarcube?" Applejack said before letting out a much needed yawn. Applebloom looked up at Applejack with a worried expression.
"AJ...I think Granny is sick." She said. Applejack's heart sunk.
"Where is she?" She asked. Applebloom didn't reply. She only pointed to Granny's room where the door was cracked open. Applejack walked towards the door, and stopped to slowly push it open. The sight of Granny lying weak in her bed was an awful sight...her breaths were heavy and hollow, and her room reeked of sweat.
"Oh no..." Applejack said. Big Mac suddenly came up behind her with a hot bowl of soup in his mouth. Applejack moved aside for him to come through. Big Mac sat the bowl next to Granny, and begun to feed it to her. She sipped, and swallowed slowly, making sure not to choke on the steaming liquid.
"Thank you Big Mac..." She said. Big Mac shushed her calmly.
"Don't talk Granny...you need to stay rested." Big Mac said. Granny understood, and continued to drink a couple more spoonfuls of broth.
"That's enough for now." She said. Big Mac stopped, and moved the bowl aside.
"Anything I can get for you Granny?" Applejack asked as she looked down at Granny. She replied by weakly shaking her head. She closed her eyes as the sunlight basked upon her.
Applejack sighed, and left the room with Big Mac not far behind.
"I don't have a good feeling about this y'all...I aint never seen her like that before in my life." Applejack spoke as Big Mac closed her bedroom door. Applebloom looked up at her big sister with a look of curiosity, and fear.
"AJ...is Granny..." She took a breath, "Dying?" Applejack looked at her hesitantly.
"Oh Applebloom..." Applejack hugged her younger sister, "Don't think like that...she's just a little sick...that's all."
"Right...just a little." Applebloom walked back to her room with her head hanging low. Applejack looked at Big Mac with the same look as Applebloom...one of fear and discomfort.
"I've known for a long time that this time will eventually catch up with us..." She said, "I don't know how Applebloom is gonna cope with this...she's so young."
"Yup..." Big Mac said in a low tone, "To be honest...I don't know if I can cope with dealing with another loss..." Big Mac sniffed, "You remember what I was like...you know, when ma' and pa' died?"
"Yeah...that was so long ago...I know how you feel." Applejack replied. She pulled her big brother into a warm hug, as tears formed in her closed eyes...
Later That Evening
"Applejack!" A raspy voice called from Granny's room. "Big Mac?" Granny called weakly. Within seconds, both Applejack and Big Mac stormed into Granny's Room.
"Yes Granny?" Big Mac asked.
"We're here Granny." Applejack said. Granny didn't say anything for a brief moment...she only looked at the two ponies who she had raised from the time of their parents death.
"I need to talk to you...all of you." She said. "Where's Applebloom?" She asked. Applebloom appeared from the hallway, with the same worried look on her face.
"I'm right here Granny..." She said. "What is it?"
"Come here little one." Granny held a hoof out, gesturing for Applebloom to hold it. Applebloom placed her hoof upon Granny's, and looked up at her eyes. "Now you listen, and listen good you hear..." Applebloom nodded. "I'm afraid this might be my time pretty soon...that's why I wanted to talk to you all before I pass on..."
Applebloom immediately begun sobbing, as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Applebloom..." Granny said, getting Applebloom's attention back again. "Dyin'...Dyin's a part of life sweetie...it happens to everyone. I've lived a very long life, and I've been waiting for this moment for a long, long while...but eventually, Big Mac here is gonna be on his way out...and so is Applejack...and one day, you will too...it's somethin' you'll have to get used to. You understand?" Granny spoke softly as she wiped a tear off of Appleblooms cheek. Applebloom nodded as she held Granny's hoof.
"You gotta take care of this here farm when I'm gone...as well as lookin' after your sister, and brother...you think you can do that for me?" Granny asked.
"Yes Granny." Applebloom replied slowly.
"Good...I'm glad to here." Granny looked up at Applejack. "AJ...you're a strong mare...and I know what you're capable of. No matter what you do, don't you ever stop...this is your farm as much as it is mine, and as much as it is Big Mac's. Keep the Apple Family name runnin' strong sweetheart."
"I will Granny...I promise." Applejack spoke.
"And Big Mac..." Big Mac looked at Granny. "I've seen you in times like these...and I'm gonna say the same to you as I did to Applebloom. Everyone dies...eventually...don't be sad that I'm gone...be happy that I lived a great life, with a loving family, and caring friends."
A tear grew on Big Mac's eye as he listened to Granny speak.
"What I'm gonna say next...I need all of you to listen, as it goes for all of you." Granny made sure Applebloom, Applejack, and Big Macintosh were listening. "When I'm gone...it's up to all of you to run this here farm. You three have done so much good to the family business...and it wouldn't have come all this way without you...and now, you can call it yours for good. I leave all three of you, the deed to Sweet Apple Acres."
Applejack begun to weep as well upon hearing those words. She held Granny's hoof tight, and spoke.
"Granny...we all love you so very much...and I personally can't thank you enough for everything you've done..." Applejack hugged Granny as she lied in bed.
"Me neither..." Applebloom joined the hug.
"Y...yup..." Big Mac hugged all three of them, and wept lightly as the family embraced one another...
...The next morning...Applejack, Big Mac, and Applebloom had awoken to a silent morning. Granny lied in her bed...except this time...there were no heavy breaths...no cold shiver...no pulse...no sign of any life.
Ponyville's founder...Granny Apple Smith, passed away on the night of August 31st, 2014. Her funeral was held in Sweet Apple Acres itself. More than 200 friends and relatives attended that funeral...Mayor Mare herself, gave her blessing to the Apple Family. A soft rain fell upon the farm that day, as the feeling of sorrow washed over the ponies...
Ponyville hadn't just lost a elder salespony...Ponyville had lost it's Founding Mother
It happens to everyone...
Eventually...
Rest In Peace,
Granny Smith.
Author's Note
This story was written more around the scene of Granny's final words, more than the actual death. So it was meant to be rushed at the end. Want to make the end feel longer, imagine Morgan Freeman narrating it. You're welcome
