IntroductionView OnlineApplejack's MisfortuneIntroductionAuthor's Note Note: This my first story I have published, I will most likely create more... and much better. Also I am not creating this story to have a poke at people who have lost loved one, if I have offended you; I apologize. Introduction Introduction: Applejack stood proudly over the Apple Orchard glad to see no fruit bats pillaging the crops, Applejack ran to the closest tree and without hesitation bucked the apples clean from the branches. The crimson fruit fell perfectly into the baskets set up the previous day. Applejack flung the basket onto her back and moseyed to the cart where she then poured the apples into the container, Applejack did this for the next hour until the cart was overflowing with apples. Applejack strapped the leather belt around herself and pulled the cart towards the barn where Granny Smith was waiting to turn them into jam. The trip to the barn was short but gave enough time for Applejack to recognize the pride and hard-work that had been put into Sweet Apple Acres by the entire Apple Family; Applejack heaved in a great sniff of the sweet scent of cut grass and loved the damp feeling of fertile dirt beneath her hooves, the legacy of the Apple Family had reached across Equestria and it seemed it would never disappear. When Applejack reached the barn she prepared to untie the strap constricted around her waist but was interrupted by Applebloom scampering out of the barn yelling Applejack’s name. “Applejack… Applejack… Help!” Applejack ceased pulling at her strap and waited for Applebloom to reach her. When Applebloom finally arrived, Applejack was horrified to see Applebloom in a bereaved state. Tears were flooding from Applebloom’s eyes and her hooves were coated in blood, “What? What’s goin on?” Applejack asked as she started to worry. Applebloom was constantly inhaling sharp breaths as a mix from her panic and her sprint to Applejack, “Its Granny… She’s… Granny’s having a heart… attack.” Applejack immediately reacted and tried to gallop to the barn but was stopped by the cart; only allowing her to move at walking pace so Applejack reacted violently when the cart denied her to aid Granny Smith. Applejack bucked the cart in anger and with one swift smack the strap ripped off Applejack and the cart smashed into multiple pieces across the Orchard. Applejack returned to her rush and galloped straight to the barn leaving Applebloom behind at the wreck, The doors of the house flew open in a violent manner and Applejack fell straight in, when Applejack noticed Granny Smith pressed against the couch clenching her chest and coughing blood onto the wooden floor she felt her heart rip from her chest and a lump begin to swell in her throat. Applejack ran straight to Granny Smith with a glass of water she grabbed from the kitchen bench and handed it to her, Granny Smith tried to reach for the water but was interrupted by a fit of coughs and coughed blood onto Applejack’s chest and into the glass of water. Applejack knew her first aid basics were surely not enough to aid Granny Smith, “Applebloom, get a doctor!” Applejack called out. Applebloom stood lifeless at the doorway and observed Granny Smith clenching her chest and groaning in pain, she then pulled her eyes to Applejack whose chest was covered in saliva mixed with blood and was screaming at her, “APPLEBLOOM! Get a doctor! NOW!” Applebloom snapped from her shocked state and scampered to the hospital, Applejack however stayed with Granny Smith trying her best to comfort her, unsure if she was even helping her, Applejack tried her best to help Granny Smith for the next 30 minutes until Applebloom barged through the door, tears still strolling down her face but accompanied by a doctor and 3 assistants who immediately rushed to Granny Smith and moved Applejack from the proximity. The assistants moved Granny Smith to a cart then rushed her to the hospital leaving Applejack and Applebloom frightened at the barn.
DenialView OnlineApplejack's MisfortuneDenialDenial: Applebloom, Applejack and Big Mac rushed to the front desk and asked to see Granny Smith immediately, without any problem they were sent straight to the room Granny Smith was administered to. When the Ponies saw Granny Smith wired to multiple tubes coming from beeping machines they were immediately stricken with dread and sadness, Applebloom couldn’t help but cry and throw herself into Macintosh’s arms; Applejack held back her tears and tried to move closer to Granny Smith but was stopped by a doctor who needed her attention. “Are you the Apple Family?” asked the doctor. “Yeah, a smidge of the family” Applejack responded trying to move around the doctor. The doctor stepped in front Applejack to stop her route, “Ok, we’ve administered her some nitro-glycerine tablets, applied medication to mask any pain and have taken some tests, were just waiting for results right now.” Applejack tried her best to listen to anything the doctor was explaining but her mind was completely fixated on Granny Smith, the world around her seemed to spin, when the doctor was done Applejack made her way to Granny Smith and sat silently next to her. “She'll be okay... right sis?” asked Applebloom though her tears. Applejack tried her best to speak but the lump in throat hindered her ability to speak so she whispered in anguish, “Ah don’t know.” The three Ponies sat quietly next to Granny Smith for the next few hours until the doctor appeared; Applejack immediately asked the doctor a bombardment of questions, “How is it?” “Will Granny be okay?” “What’s happening?” The doctor asked Applejack to leave the room with him, Applejack was reluctant to leave but she knew she had to take responsibility for now. When Applejack and the doctor were hidden behind the door the doctor began to speak, “The results aren’t good; as far as we can see you have only two choices. The first choice is that we can give the patient a lethal injection and she will pass on.” Applejack couldn’t believe what she was hearing, the very thought of Granny Smith passing on brought her tears immediately, no matter how hard she tried to hold them back. Applejack wiped away her tears but they seemed to come back as fast as she could remove them away, “What’s the other choice?” The doctor was reluctant to answer but knew it was his duty to answer their questions, “You can let her live for another 4 hours until her coronary muscle blocks the blood flow and she dies in a very painful manner.” Applejack froze, her mind went blank and every emotion left her body, Applejack’s mouth was filled with a bitter taste and her legs felt like jelly. When she left the doctor and joined the other Apple’s she found it hard to keep the truth from them when they continuously pried into the events that unfolded so she answered every one of their questions. When Applebloom heard the choices she returned to her crying fit and once again threw herself into Big Mac’s arm who was now tearing up. Applejack sat herself next to Granny Smith and held her face in her hooves for the next 2 hours; all the while she constantly denied the choices she was given, “There's gotta be another way” Applejack constantly whispered to herself “It aint true.” Suddenly the same doctor that had given Applejack the horrifying news trotted in and asked them what their decision was. Applejack was quick to reply while dodging his question, “Aint there another choice?” “Can't we perform some sort of surgery?” Applejack could feel the hope in her heart smash into millions of pieces when the doctor answered with the slow shaking of his head, “If you had brought her in earlier then she might have lived longer.” Applejack couldn’t believe this, the Pony that taught her so much and had so much to teach still was going to die within a short while, the Pony that knew so much about Ponyville’s legacy would be gone, Granny Smith would never experience another Apple Family reunion. Applejack didn't want to answer at the moment, or ever in her life, so she joined the other Ponies and discussed the choices. "Applejack, we can't let her die in pain" Applebloom pleaded. "Eeyup" Big Mac agreed through his tears. "What's your choice?" Applejack was shocked and even more miserable when the other Ponies could accept this, how they could give up on Family. Applejack didn't want to accept that this was real but she had to make a choice, "I- Applejack was stopped by the lump rising in her throat, "I'm... I'm..." Applejack looked to the plastic layered floor and wished time would stop, wished she could run from this grievance but her pleas were not heard or answered. "I'm going home." Applejack turned to the doorway, tears pouring from her eyes, just as she left the doctor entered the room, the door slithered into the doorway but Applejack found it hard to pull herself from the room when she heard sounds emitting from the room. "Are you sure about this?" the voice asked. "Yes" a sobbing voice answered, it was then accompanied by a scragged "Eeyup." Suddenly the world was quiet and the only sound that could be heard was the cacophony of beeps from the numerous machines connected to Granny Smith but even the machines started to fit the silent tone until only one machine could be heard and its constant beeping, 'beep' 'beep' 'beep' Applejack didn't have to guess to know this was Granny Smith's heart-rate monitor but then the sound started to slow. With each beep Applejack could feel the horrifying truth creep closer, but she still denied it. The constant noise started to lose its rhythmic beat and the 'beep' 'beep' 'beep' turned into a 'beep...' 'beep...' until the individual sounds slowed into one constant noise. Applejack felt today's breakfast reach into her throat and her vision turn white, however Applejack managed to keep breakfast from leaving her stomach and keep her balance, she couldn't stand to be stuck in a hospital any longer so she galloped to the barn only to face even worse horrors. The blood Granny Smith had coughed up was stained to the floor and broken shards of plates were scattered across the floor. Applejack couldn't stand it, the facts were too much to bear and accept so Applejack ignored any reminders of Granny Smith and trudged to her room.
AngerView OnlineApplejack's MisfortuneAngerAnger: Applejack woke up this morning in silence and no words to say to Applebloom or Big Macintosh, not with Ponies who give up on family as easily as they did. The floor, previously covered in sharp pieces of white glass, was now being cleaned by Applebloom and Big Mac, Applejack sat at the dining table as she usually does every morning and sat quietly but something was missing this morning. Applejack took time to realise but was amended quickly when she remembered Granny Smith would serve apple porridge each morning. Applejack could feel tears well up in her eyes and stream to her chin but before they could fall to the floor her grief festered into hatred. Applejack felt betrayal among her family, felt that the she was alone in this struggle. Applejack uttered only a few words to Applebloom and Big Mac as she felt that was all they deserved, "Ah can't believe ya'll two gave up on Granny." Applebloom and Big Mac turned to Applejack, both of their eyes were puffed and coloured from the constant crying, "Pardon?" Applejack couldn't suppress her fury towards Applebloom and Big Mac for any longer and acted in anger, violently standing up and sending the chair soaring into the wall and smashing onto the floor with a loud thud, "Ya'll heard me!" Applejack screamed. "Ah'm doing some bucking!" Out in the field Applejack knew she was unable to cart apples efficiently as the cart was ripped to splinters in her rush trying to help Granny Smith and that bucking wouldn't do anything for the family but she needed to do something. Something to keep her occupied, distracted. Applejack peered over her orchard but was not filled with any glee or sense of achievement but instead was filled with mournful memories, every inch reminded Applejack of the times she had spent with Granny Smith. The paddock that had been isolated for cider processing reminded Applejack of the contest between the Flim Flam brothers and how they celebrated their victory, the Sweet Apple Acre's river that supplied their apple trees with water admonished Applejack of when Granny Smith started swimming again. The whole Orchard was filled with cheerful memories now morphed into sorrowful reminders of how much Applejack missed Granny Smith. Each memory seemed to convey one message, "Why do you not understand?" and soon, almost like a constant nagging Applejack grew furiously mad at each memory, each reminder of what she didn't accept. Applejack reached an apple tree and approached it in her average bucking stance. Applejack positioned herself carefully and swung her hind legs into the air but before she could connect her hooves to the tree she caught sight of the wooden rocking chair situated in front of the barn where Granny Smith would spend most of time, Applejack as a young filly would sit with Granny Smith eagerly listening to the fantastic stories she would hear about Granny Smiths young life and the early days of Ponyville in the Orchard. This nostalgic memory nagged endlessly at Applejack and fuelled the maddening fire within her. Finally Applejacks hoof connected with the wood of the tree but instead of apples falling neatly into the buckets, the tree was dented by the enormous strength of Applejacks legs and the mixture of her acrimony, but the frustration wasn't released in one kick. Applejack smashed her hooves against the tree with great strength over and over again until the wood started to splinter and split as if somepony devastated it with a hatchet, Applejack started to remember old stories Granny Smith had told Applejack about the early days, so she kicked until no apples were cradled in the tree anymore and the wood was an obliterated mess of bark and splinters but it wasn't enough. Applejack kicked wildly and when she missed the tree she was sprung in the direction the momentum of her legs were sent. Falling flat faced onto the ground Applejack was still flaming with anger but was left with nothing to release her anger on, there were plenty of trees left to buck but they wouldn't help. Instead Applejack sat herself against the mangled wreckage of the tree. When against the tree Applejack noticed a plump apple that had been ripped from its stem and now found its way besides Applejack. Applejack grabbed the apple out of habit and held it between her hooves, Applejack rotated the apple between her hooves continually, thinking about how easy it would be to crush it, especially with her great strength but she found a bruised mark on the apple. This single bruised apple reminded her of the grandest moment she had experienced with Granny Smith; the day she was taught to make apple-pie, the single apple reminded her of when she was cutting the apples into wedges while Granny Smith was laying the pastry into the pan and she was taught to leave any bruised apples for the pigs to eat. This memory was held sacred to Applejack, it brought joy to think of Granny Smith passing down her teachings to Applejack so they could live on and like all the other sweet memories the thought became tarnished and reminded Applejack of Granny Smith. Applejack held the bruised and battered apple close to her chest and circumvented the anger held within her with one scream, the ending scream filled the air of the Orchard but was not heard by any Pony willing to help.
BargainingView OnlineApplejack's MisfortuneBargainingBargaining: For the whole day Applejack sat pressed up against the mauled tree, her hat covering her face and occasionally drifting off and in from sleep and only responded when Big Macintosh approached with a gentle hoof. Big Mac noticed the wreckage of the tree but tried to not pay any attention to it, Applejack was in a worse mess. A lump had swelled in Big Mac's throat and his voice cracked constantly "Are you okay?" Applejack was quick to retort, passively exhaling her anger, "Nah, do ya'll think any of us are okay?" Big Mac couldn't respond to Applejack's question with his usual chipper and supportive attitude, if he was to answer it, he would be lying. "The funeral is happening in a few days, do you want to help with arrangements?" Applejack responded by turning away from Big Macintosh, making an effort to keep the hat covering her face. Applejack couldn't go inside after the drama and tension she had caused between herself and the others, "I guess I'll go inside then, please... please come in." Big Macintosh still waited for a response from Applejack but his wishes were not responded so he decided to take action, "She's not coming back, I know it, Applebloom knows it, so why won't you accept it?" Applejack maintained her quiet and turned state, Applejack had never turned away from her siblings and ignored them, it's how she was raised but it seemed so easy to achieve now. When Big Macintosh left, Applejack pulled her Stetson from her face, revealing her detached expression. Three hours had passed and Applejack had kept her turned posture but her expression had become desperate. Applejack pounced from her stiff position, several cracks could be heard as her bones adjusted to a more active position, Applejack dashed to Twilight Sparkles library, it was hard to make her way to the library as it was midnight and the moon was hidden behind thick clouds. Applejack constantly stumbled over her own hooves but finally she made it to the door and without knocking barged into the library, including herself in Twilights reading session. As expected Twilight had piled books around herself as if replicating young fillies building a book fort and spike was curled into a ball fast asleep but still gripping a wooden pole that was suspending a jar filled with fireflies above Twilight Sparkle, emitting a lime glow within the library. Twilight Sparkles reaction was absent, her mind was far too indulged to hear or pay any attention to anything other than the turning of the pages on the dusty book. Spike however was quick to react, the constant calling of his name for assistance had given him quick reflexes when he hears the slightest sound, asleep or awake, "What's going on?" Spike said as he jumped to his feet, a red claw mark was printed on the left side of his face and a stream of saliva had travelled down to his chin, "Oh... hey Applejack, how are you feeling?" Applejack ignored Spike's question and tried to grab the attention of Twilight Sparkle but was found with inconclusive results, Twilight Sparkle was so involved in the book it seemed her spirit had joined the book. Spike noticed Applejack's struggle to grasp Twilights attention and decided to whisper into Twilights ear the name of the visitor. "Ahhh!" Twilight screamed as soon as she knew a visitor was present, especially the particular visitor it was, "Oh my Celestia, are you alright? I heard what happened, everyone has." Twilight placed her hoof on Applejack and pressed firmly on her shoulder. Applejack ignored the same question and pressed onto more urgent matters, "Twilight." "Yes?" Twilight Sparkle wondered. "Ya know how you're a fancy magic user?" "Yes, what are you getting at?" "Do ya know any spells to bring ponies back to life?" Applejacks question was rushed and mumbled towards herself but it was still able to be heard. Twilight Sparkle was aghast with what she was hearing from her friend, the very magic was forbidden and punishable by imprisonment for life, "You do understand you are thinking about Necromancy? Right?" "Whatever it is, if it'll get Granny back it will be the end of my sorrows, my pain and frustration." Applejack was desperate for anything, no matter the cost, even if it meant Apple Acres would go. "It's highly illegal you know, the Pony who created it was put to death by dismemberment from Oxen plus it requires a contract with other worldly beings, usually deceitful beings that have no morals and no care for Ponykind." Twilight was heavily insisting Applejack rethink her options now. Applejack ignored any advice or useless requirements and continued her pleas, she was now holding Twilight Sparkle by her shoulders and now gripping tightly onto her, as if she was going to fall into an abyss, "Please... Ah'll do it, Ah'll agree, anything to get her back." Applejack dropped to her knees but still gripped tightly onto Twilight's shoulders, "Anything to make the pain go away... or stop forever." Twilight Sparkle couldn't help Applejack, even if she knew a few Necromancy spells for the sake of knowing them she wouldn't commit such a heinous act or condemn her friend to participate in the act. Twilight was now staring Applejack down with a ruthless and piercing gaze, "No, I won't do it." Applejack peered back into Twilights eyes through her blinding tears, "Please." The answer was quick, and messaged the answer with a louder voice, "No." Applejack couldn't contain herself, tears streamed even faster and she threw her face into Twilights chest but she wasn't met with welcoming arms. instead Twilight Sparkle pushed Applejack off her chest and floated her out of the doorway, into the middle of the street, "You must find a way to accept it." and with that the door to the library hurled shut, leaving Applejack in the dark and silent street. Applejack rose to her hooves and shoved the tears aside, if Twilight wasn't going to help her there must be somepony else that can help but it seemed that no Pony could help, at least not a higher power like Princess Luna and Celestia but Applejack remembered that a certain someone lives in the Everfree forest, a certain Zebra. Applejack spent the next hour traversing the Everfree forest, seeking Zecora's hut. Lights could be seen escaping from Zecora's hut and constant tufts of smoke flew from the window which was then followed by an explosion of a fluorescent colours. Applejack barged in just as she did with Twilight Sparkle's home and got straight to the point, "Ah need Granny back." Zecora still trotted around her cauldron, pouring in different coloured liquids and throwing in an assortment of ingredients, most of which were barbed and coloured a mix of purple and black, with the occasional nightshade grounded into flakes and thrown into the pot. "I know of your desperate wishes and needs" "Which is why I am mixing this assortment of plants and weeds" "Twilight Sparkle warned me ahead of your visit" "I hope you know what you want is extremely illicit?" Applejack heard the same explanation and facts from Twilight Sparkle and her pleas were rejected, this time was going to be different, "If ya know what Ah need then can you make it, Ah don't care what it takes, as long Ah get it." "I cannot perform any acts of Necromancy." "For I have not studied any epigraphy." "But, I know of a way to end your suffering and pain." Zecora snatched a red stained, glass vial from her shelf and dipped it into the cauldron, taking extreme precautions to not come into contact with the liquid, when the vial was full she grasped it firmly and held it in front of Applejack, but instead of handing the potion to Applejack she slowly poured the liquid from the vial. Before the contents could leave the glass containing it Zecora finished her rhyme. "Though, to drinking this potion, I would abstain." With that Zecora tipped the concoction onto the floor without breaking concentration on Applejack, the liquid crashed onto the floor making the wooden floorboards fizzle and dissolve with a heated steam. Applejack was shocked and horrified by the display and started to realise her only options were Necromancy that no Pony would help her with or ending her own life to be rid of her sorrows. Applejack was set motionless before Zecora, both decisions were so dreadful but it seemed to give Applejack what she wanted. Constantly Applejack looked to the still fizzling hole in Zecora's floor and was reminded of her life, of how her world seemed to fizzle away when a horrible event had been forced upon her. Suddenly the concoction stopped dissolving the floorboards and disappeared from sight leaving a huge gaping hole, filling the hut with absolute silence.
DepressionView OnlineApplejack's MisfortuneDepressionDepression: The hut was filled with silence for a long while until Applejack spoke up, "Ah'll take it." Zecora was chilled to the bone, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, what the sound of anguish and depression would be like. At first she wanted to deny Applejack's wishes and tip the cauldron onto the floor, sending the horrifying liquid crashing to the floor, even if it meant her hut was obliterated but Zecora understood Applejack's wants and filled the vial with the dangerous concoction. Zecora then placed the vial in Applejack's hoof but was reluctant to release the poison from her hoof. Applejack gripped the potion and tried to pull away but Zecora held the poison with all her might, "Please rethink this Applejack." Zecora pleaded. "This aint none of your business Zecora!" Applejack snapped. Zecora was ready to retort against Applejack's aggressive reply but as it was against her peaceful nature, Zecora regretfully released the poison into Applejack's hooves. Applejack didn't waste any time inside Zecora's hut after she was handed the poison, Applejack dashed to Sweet Apple Acre's, leaving behind 5 bits for Zecora's assistance, and locked herself inside her room. When she was settled inside her room Applejack placed the poison onto the bedside table and rested her head against the her pillow, immediately drifting off to sleep. When Applejack woke up she immediately reached for the container and pulled the cork from the vial letting the putrid smell escape the glass, the vile smell caught onto Applejacks snout and refused to release, like a snake onto its prey. However Applejack had fewer problems to muscle through than the renching aroma perversing her snout, how would she bring herself to drink the poison. Applejack sat on her bed while cradling the poison in both her hooves for the next 2 hours as still as statue, the world around her seemed to fade away and the only point of interest or importance was the vial standing in her hooves, Applejack stared into the vial opening watching the green liquid move left to right as her hands shook from the adrenaline. Finally what brought Applejack to drink the poison was the idea of her sorrow and pain disappear with one swig of a putrid liquid. Applejack brought the poison closer to her mouth, the horrible aroma made Applejack want to push the poison away but it still crept closer to her mouth. Applejack placed the lip of the vial upon hers and tilted it slowly, the green liquid spilled closer to Applejack's lip and she could feel it approach her slowly, the warm heat of the liquid touched Applejack, but only slightly. The poison felt the soft embrace of Applejack's lips but it hated it, the poison tore at her flesh and squeezed the life from her lips. The pain was unbearable, before Applejack could let anymore touch her she ripped the vial from her lips, sending it hurling towards the wall, smashing into small shards of red glass and sending drops of poison across the room to dissolve everything it touches. Applejack screamed in agony, but it was not heard by anypony as Applebloom and Big Macintosh had left to plan for the funeral with other family members. Applejack grabbed her lip, the poison still dissolved her bottom lip and when she touched it she felt the horrendous pain welcome her hooves, the poison somehow transferred from her lip to her hoof. Again Applejack felt the excruciating pain on her skin, the dissolving liquid burnt slowly into Applejack's hooves turning her orange skin into a fleshy pink. Applejack dashed to the bathroom where she then made effort to turn on the tap through the painful sting of the cold steel against her slowly revealing flesh, when water flowed from the faucet Applejack didn't hesitate to throw her hooves under the water. When the water cleared the frothing poison away and made contact with Applejack's 3rd degree burns it was painful beyond explanation but after a while of forcing herself to keep her hooves under the rushing water it began to soothe her hooves, giving delight and pleasure to Applejack. After twenty minutes of standing over the sink with water flowing against Applejack's hooves blood started to drip hastily from her lip onto the sink edge, and not soon after her hooves started to mix blood with the rushing water on her hooves. Applejack pulled her hooves away and started to stingily wrap bandages around her hooves and lip, Applejack couldn't believe she was supposed to ingest that horrible liquid. After Applejack's painful episode she trudged to her room where she was met with horrifying consequences, the poison she had thrown from her lip onto the floor had splattered across multiple areas of the room, creating holes on every surface introduced to the poison, some areas were still dissolving and heating. Applejack painfully trotted to the wreckage left in the room. Inspecting closer Applejack realised that multiple items had become victim to the poison, her desk lamp had been ripped to pieces, her desk containing all her inkwells was now dripping with black ink but none of these things had mattered to Applejack, not more than the last Family Reunion photo that had been sitting above her desk and was now missing half of the family members. It was only by luck that Granny Smith was still smiling happily in the photo surrounded by Applejack, Big Mac and Applebloom. Applejack pressed the photo close to her chest and climbed into her bed, the picture still held against her chest. Applejack now had her bed sheets pulled over her head and was sobbing quietly until she finally fell asleep, even though it was early in the morning.
AcceptanceView OnlineApplejack's MisfortuneAcceptanceAcceptance: During her sleep Applejack saw Granny Smith die, she watched as a needle was injected into a pipe connected to Granny Smith and the contents were slowly injected into Granny Smith's blood stream. Applejack galloped to help, she wanted to scream Granny's name, yell at the doctor or say 'STOP' but no sound was released from her throat, she could only feel the strain on her throat as she ran to help, when she was close to Granny Smith. Applejack aimed to rip the doctor away from Granny but when she made contact with him both the doctor and Granny Smith disappeared. Applejack was left alone in the dark void until a stream of light lit the dark area. Applejack peered up to view what was causing this milky light. The moon shone brightly but was soon partially blotted out by Princess Luna, who was as usual flying swiftly from the moon to the ground. Before Applejack could ask what was happening or why she was seeing this, Princess Luna landed on the ground and spoke, "Why do you still cling to horrendous memories and useless antics?" Luna asked as she stared directly into Applejack's eyes, "Why must deny these facts, why are you turning on your own family and why have bought an illegal and disgusting poison and why have you been discussing Necromancy?" Luna was raising her voice with each and was stepping closer to Applejack until she was staring Applejack down at an almost vertical angle. Applejack tried her best to stand proudly but her legs trembled with fear for an unknown reason, maybe that she was found out or she was too embarrassed to stand. Applejack fell to the floor and sat quietly, she couldn't answer Luna's questions, she didn't know how to or if she even had the answers. Applejack stared at the grey floor, she couldn't speak at all, chills crept down her back every time she caught sight of Luna's shadow. "You understand your family cares about you very much?" Luna asked. Applejack didn't have an answer to any of Luna's questions, not even a nodding of her head would suffice. Princess Luna was now displaying her voice in the traditional Canterlot volume, but not out of royalty, instead by displeasure and disappointment. Each time Princess Luna spoke with her loud voice Applejack would flinch, expecting to be smitten for her acts and neglecting of Luna's questions, but each time she was met with a relieving pause, "Through all of your struggles and all the obstacles you hurled over, have you achieved anything? do you feel enlightened?" Applejack didn't glanced at Luna through her scorning, Applejack constantly kept her concentration fixated on to the floor, "Are you listening?" Luna asked, again Applejack flinched from Luna's voice and ignored her question. This time a sturdy hoof connected to the back of Applejack's head and she was hurled into the ground, Applejack felt the impact of the hit but no pain was present. "What the hell was that for?" Applejack yelled as she stood up rubbing her head. "Oh, it speaks, does it?" Applejack drifted off to the floor again. "You realise Granny Smith is gone right?" "Yeah." "And you loved her very much?" "Yeah." "And you miss her dreadfully?" Applejack's answer was much like the last ones, exact tone, volume and word, "Yes" "But do you think she would want to see you acting like this?" Applejack was close to answer like the last time out of growing habit but quickly reprimanded her answer, "Nah." "Do you think she would want to have you honouring the Apple Family like this?" "Nah." Luna was about to ask another question until she was hastily interrupted by Applejack, "Why do ya'll even care?" "Because Granny Smith was very dear to me too, she was of the first of the Pony folk to colonise Ponyville, and after you helped me at the Nightmare Night festival she told me all that had happened during the time I was banished to the moon and how to fit in normally... She mattered as much to me as she did to you." Luna could feel tears jerk at her, she felt the nostalgic memories play in her mind. Realising that other Ponies, even Alicorns, were affected by Granny Smith brought a sense of relief to Applejack, it reminded that Applejack was not alone in her struggle, that other Ponies were experiencing the same problems, for a strange reason it gave Applejack a sense of unison and relief, she felt as if she could relate or share her bereavement with others. Though who would she share with now, she had treated her family and friends poorly and it was expected that gossip of Applejack's mistreatment of others would spread like wild fire, "Ah know now Ah can lean on others and ask for their help, but who do ask for help now? I've treated everypony so badly." "Have you not learnt anything from your friendship, have you spent your many years with family ignoring and neglecting them?" Luna stopped her lecture and watched silently as Applejack's eyes widened at the floor and her breathing gradually deepened. "Family and friends will always be there for me, through the good times and the bad, right?" Applejack said as if finishing Princess Luna's speech. Luna smiled at Applejack but even through the growing mass of sudden realisations a smile was not returned, instead Applejack displayed a blank and emotionless expression, but it was still better than her saddened grimace. Applejack jumped to her hooves and went straight to work, "Right, can ya'll wake me up? Ah got some stuff to do" Applejack asked, pumping herself up. Luna answered quickly, as if she was too busy to stay around any longer, "Sure" Luna said, smacking her hooves together sending a ringing chime through the still empty void, yet it seemed the noise was reverberating and growing louder. Soon the sound was echoing in the void and through Applejack's mind. Applejack clasped her hooves over her ears, trying to deny the entry of the growing chime, yet the volume increased with her mind and continued to echo endlessly. Within a matter of seconds of when the volume reached its highest pitch, Applejack sprung from her sleep and hastily scampered from her bed onto the broken floor, The chiming sound still played through Applejack's mind. Through the irritating screech of echoed chimes, Applejack hurried down the stairs to find Big Mac resting on the couch and next to him was Applebloom curled into a ball on the couch, sleeping away the day. Big Mac spoke immediately at first sight of Applejack, "Well look who finally showed up, you misse- "Shhh!" Applejack pressed her hoof to her lips and quietly approached Applebloom's sleeping figure. The adorable filly had passed out from her sleepless nights from crying, she had been waiting on the couch for Applejack to appear from her room, it seemed she was too early to sleep. Applejack reached down to the sleeping filly and cradled Applebloom in her arms, trying her best not to rouse Applebloom from what seemed to be a calm sleep. Applebloom's head fell limp over Applejacks shoulder and both her arms habitually wrapped around Applejack. Applejack tried her best to not wake Applebloom while moving her to Applebloom's bed but promptly failed when reaching the top step of the flight. Applebloom rubbed her eyes, pushing aside any sleep residue, "Applejack?" Applebloom breathed. "Yeah" Applejack answered. Applebloom tried to strike a conversation regarding Applejack's wellbeing but the past few sleepless nights pulled Applebloom to sleep, making her questions incoherent and drifted. Applebloom accepted her sleep and nestled into the welcoming warmth of Applejack's neck. Applejack reached the side of Applebloom's bed and tried to pull Applebloom from her chest, as expected the small filly was reluctant to leave her makeshift bed on her sister but over time Applejack succeeded to peel the young filly from her embrace. Applebloom released a moan of frustration after leaving Applejack's warm touch but quickly subsided when Applejack pulled the bright tan blanket over her. Applebloom nuzzled into the soft pillow like she did with Applejack. Applebloom pulled the blanket further up her body, only revealing her head. Applejack leant over to Applebloom and kissed her gently on the forehead before wishing her goodnight, "Ah guess it's been hard on all of us." Applejack whispered. When Applejack reached the bottom step she knew she would have to talk to Big Mac, the last time they spoke was when she was resting against the mess that used to be a pristine apple tree. Applejack realised her rude manner to her brother, she had never spoken to anypony like that in her life but much to her chagrin she would have to talk. Applejack connected eyes with Big Mac, but only momentarily as she trailed off to a mark on the floorboards, just a few inches near Big Mac's hind legs, that's how close she could get to looking at Big Mac with a few quick glances at his face, "Hi..." Applejack was confused when she was returned a scowl from her brother, it was unlike him to contort his face into a position that would've been strange to him. Applejack tried to ignore this expression but each time she sneaked a glance she would catch sight of the horrible grimace worn by Big Mac, "Where have you been?" "We've been worried sick about you." Big Mac's voice was changed to a tone that almost seemed like a scorn. Applejack bit her lip and tried to answer Big Mac's question but couldn't muster the courage to talk, with each word coming from Big Mac's tirade Applejack would press harder on her lip. Big Mac noticed Applejack's discomfort but wouldn't suppress his words or even his growing anger in his tone, "What happened to your hooves, and your lip?" "Do you even know what today is?" Applejack pressed even harder on her lip until her wound split open again, sending a vile taste of copper through her mouth but she ignored the pain and disgust in her mouth to listen to Big Mac's lecture. Big Mac released a long sigh and placed his hoof against his head, his voice lowered and the tense feeling in his body drifted away, "You don't know? do you?" Applejack slowly shook her head. "You missed the funeral." As if someone shocked her, Applejack left her still state and jumped to action, she couldn't believe she forgot about the funeral, Applejack was about to leave the barn when she realised she had no clue where to go, "Where was the funeral?" Big Mac still kept his hoof placed against his head, and his eyes kept shut, "Like Granny Smith wanted she is buried in the spare fields by the singular oak tree, where she met her husband." Applejack immediately dashed to the field, wasting no time with routing around other fields, instead she jumped the fences and traversed through the trees, not slowing her speed at any point. When she reached the empty field a cold chill slugged down Applejack's spine. The single tree stood directly in the middle of the field, as if overlooking the entire field like a guardian. The walk to the tree was even more chilling, the fond memories of Granny Smith played in Applejack's head, the knee high grass rubbed against her legs and the tree's leaves wafted left and right, obeying the wind. When she reached the grave she was stricken. It was a simple thing, the headstone was average stone with carved writing that read, "Loving Grandmother." "Mother." "Wife." "We Love and Miss you, the stories and legends you hold will live on through the family." Applejack tried her best to hold back the tears but they flooded her eyes and profusely trailed down her cheek to the ground, It was fifteen minutes later until Applejack spoke, even through the tears Applejack projected her voice clearly. "Ah'm awfully sorry Ah didn't make it to the funeral... Ah really miss you." Applejack stopped momentarily to swallow the lump starting to squeeze her throat and wipe the tears obscuring her vision. "It'll never be quite the same without you... we'll never hear your wonderful stories or taste them fabled recipes that we had yet to learn." The lump in Applejack's throat returned and was determined to stay. Applejack tried her best to remove the lump before she spoke but each try was a failure and only brought more strain on Applejacks now weak voice. Applejack accepted her strained voice, "Everypony in Ponyvi- Equestria misses you... Big Mac misses you... I think?" "Applebloom." Applejack's grimace turned to a smile when she remembered the hilarious moments Granny Smith had with Applebloom, Applejack released a single laugh that could've been mistaken as a quick breath. "Applebloom really misses you." Tears dropped even faster, occasional sniffles would be heard but she still kept a smile plastered on her face, "Ah miss you, and Ah know all the grieving and wanting won't bring you back..." Applejack wiped away her tears again, trying to force them aside, but alas it was a useless effort, the tears were quickly replaced, "Ah guess Ah oughta said this earlier but Ah was a little naive, so Ah'll say it now..." "Goodbye."
