Applejack walked into the throne room of the Royal Castle in Canterlot. She easily bypassed all the guards since she was technically higher ranked than all of them. Saving Equestria multiple times did have it's perks (especially when it came to her business.) Once she entered, she immediately bowed before Princess Celestia, who had expected her visit. With a calm expression, Celestia stood from her throne and walked to greet the peasant farmer who happened to be special.
“You may rise, Applejack,” Celestia said, “You know I don’t too much care for those formalities.”
“It’s a force of habit, Princess,” Applejack explained, rising from the floor.
“Now, in your letter you stated that you had a question for me?”
Applejack’s expression turned to one that showed how anxious she felt. Still, the question had been bothering her for a while, and she needed to get it answered.
“Well, Princess, you know I’m a loyal follower of yours and would never doubt a word you say, though there is something in the royal doctrine you wrote. You know, the one that is mandatory to be posted in every home and business. Anyway, you never mentioned where ponies go after they…kick the bucket.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Well…Granny Smith is gettin’ old and nearing that age. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a strong mare with many years left, but I want to know, so I can feel better when the day comes.”
“Okay, my little pony. I’ll answer your question. It has an easy answer really.”
Celestia’s eyes glowed bright as the sun. Her wings unfurled to the furthest length. Her horn lit, emitting its strong magic. Applejack began to feel strange. She began to feel light, almost floating. Then she became warm. The kept temperature increasing, yet it never hurt. It felt more calming...soothing. She almost lost herself in the sensation until it abruptly stopped.
When the feeling of warmth began to fade away, Applejack heard the princess’s voice tell her to uncover her eyes. She expected something such as what Twilight spoke of when she became an Alicorn. Instead, she was somewhere familiar.and something else about
"Sweet Apple Acres?” Applejack questioned, “I’m pretty sure ponies don’t come here when they pass.”
“Of course. Were you expecting where I took Twilight? Nono no...you're not worthy of that land pony.,” Celestia responded, “ Anyway, in a way…they do come here.There are four major things that can happen when you mere mortals die. Follow me.”
They walked along the farm for a while. Celestia, modest and wise in her steps, while Applejack followed behind, confused by the information. She had always thought there was only one possible outcome- you go into the great farm in the sky. You live out your days in peace and solitude. That's what Granny said anyway.
Deep in her thought, Applejack didn’t notice when the princess stopped. She collided into the soft,pristine, desirable flank of the Princess before falling back on her toned, formed, lean, tight flank. The Princess, unaffected by the collision wrote it off as a commoner’s mistake. In front of them was Applejack’s older brother, Big Mac, who happened to be replacing the wooden letters that told visitors where they were. He set up his ladder, placed a container of glue into his mouth, and climbed.
“Applejack, tell me this: what does a pony do with a piece of plastic or paper?” Celestia asked.
“Recycle ‘em.” The orange mare answered, “Also stated in your doctrine.”
“Now what if I told you that a pony can be recycled?”
“What now?”
“A pony’s body-after they die- can be used for many things. It helps make the products you use every day.” Celestia looked towards Big Mac and grinned, “Just like the glue your brother is using.”
Shocked by her leader’s word, Applejack ran towards her brother and yelled for him to toss the container down. He was confused but did it without hesitation. Once the glue was in her hands, Applejack looked at it to see the smiling face of an elderly pony. She then read over the ingredients. Honestly, she couldn't pronounce half of the words that were listed but one caught her attention-Peanut Brittle. She wanted to assume the treat, yet she knew the name belonged to the smiling pony.
Disgusted, she threw the container down and found more that Big Mac had brought. There she noticed something. Each tube had a different pony smiling on it. Not all were elderly, but all smiling a sincere, money-back guarantee smiles.
“Shall we be off to number two of our afterlife tour?” asked Celestia asked, continuing to smile.
Applejack didn’t know why, but she followed. It was like she had no control of her legs. Still, she wanted to know the rest of the possibilities. How much worse can they get? Perhaps they become more reasonable.
Both ponies walked until they came to the Apple family house. Applejack opened the door, and welcomed the Princess inside their modest home. Wiona heard the door open and came running to check. When she saw someone new with someone familiar, she wagged her tale excitedly. First she licked Applejack and then happily jumped around the princess until Applejack calmed her down. With apologizes, Applejack grabbed a can of dog food and opened it.
“Excuse me, Princess. It’s around her feeding time,” stated Applejack as she opened the can of Dog food and poured into the pet’s bowl.
“You ever wonder what’s in that can, Applejack?” Celestia asked.
“Well, all it says is ‘meat flavored chunks’. I don’t mind since it’s in her nature; she’s only a dog.”
“Meat flavor from…”
Applejack looked down to towards her dog to see it happily eating the food. Loving every bite. She also looked at a bit that had landed on her hoof. She began imagining that that meat chunk had a life and a family before it became food. That there was a chance she walked by, waved at, or even spoke to the meat chunk. She needed a placed to seat; she hurried to the leather couch. There she took many deep breathes, trying to calm herself down.
Princess Celestia walked into the room and simply stood. She never talked even after Applejack calmed and accepted the canned pony. Time seemed to pass slowly as the clock ticked away. Soon, Applejack began to idly rub her hoof across the couch. In that moment, Celestia cleared her throat. Applejack knew it was a sign to something, she just didn’t know what.
Soon, Granny Smith slowly crept into the room. She seemed to have a huge smile on her face as she carried in two bags on her side.
"Applejack, you won't believe what I bought today," Granny said, " Oh and hi Princess Celestia."
Celestia nodded and let Applejack speak to her grandmother.
"Whatcha get?" Applejack asked.
"I got this cool leather jacket and a nice satchel to match." Granny Smith said as she took both items out to show." I know they are part of one set because they both have a matching symbol."
"Symbol?"
"Yes...look." Granny Smith turned the jacket to the back to show Applejack a familiar rose symbol. She then showed her the satchel with the same symbol on the back," Shame they only had two rose items. Actually, they only had two of everything with the same symbol. Think I saw a harp set there, but I can't remember."
Granny began to walk off, seemingly to go do whatever she does when she's off camera. When she was gone, Applejack turned to Celestia. She was shocked and confused. Plus the irony of the grandmother wearing a dead pony has yet to hit her.
"Well, once the cows demanded rights, fabric and cloth makers had to get creative." Celestia explained.
"But..."
“I’m sorry to say, but I’m out of all the spare time I have today.”
“But…there are so many questions and you haven’t told me about the fourth major use after death.”
“It’ll show up eventually…” Celestia said, turning around and spreading her wings.
“Wait! How do I stop those things from happening to Granny Smith?”
“You can’t. They have been in place for generations and for me to change them would be harmful to each industry and the economy. Enjoy her while she lasts…and then enjoy her after.”
Celestia giggled at her joke before taking off to the sky, leaving Applejack alone. Yes, her questions were answered, but did she need to know the answer? Was it worth it? Did she need the knowledge? She was beginning to believe she didn’t and regretted asking.
Her mouth was parched; she needed some water. With a shake of her head, Applejack stood from her leather couch which she presumed was also pony and walked to the kitchen. Weirdly enough, the kitchen was dark. She never turned off the lights. Weary, she walked into the kitchen.
“SURPRISE!!” yelled a mass of ponies as the lights turned on.
“Happy Birthday, Applejack!” Pinkie screamed above the crowd.
“Pinkie, my birthday isn’t for another four months…” Applejack sighed.
Just then, another pony, pulling a cart, walked into the room. In the cart, was an orange, wobbling substance shaped like Applejack. For some odd reason, her hooves hurt.
“Well, now what am I going to do with this Jell-O mold of you?”
