Prologue: The Ravages of Time
The Memoirs of Granny Smith: The Ravages of Time
Darned grass. Darned sun. Darned gravel. Most of all gosh-darn these creaky hips of hers! Granny Smith silently cursed at the universe for a moment before settling once again into a sigh and a slow, careful march through the streets of Ponyville. She’d already been walking for a good portion of the day, just down from the high hills of Sweet Apple Acres into the town proper, where all the young spry ponies moved around her with nary a notice or care. Nopony got in her way, but nopony rushed to talk to her either. There was a time when she was one of the most popular ponies in this town, goshdarnit! Now, she supposed that time was over, and here she was going… going…
Where the hay was she going? She didn’t leave Sweet Apple Acres if she wasn’t going somewhere, it took too long. She stopped mid-stride in the middle of the sidewalk in order to consider things. She’d gone to the doctor yesterday for her regular checkup, and been told it would help her failing memory if she would talk to somepony about her life experiences more often. With Applejack and Big Macintosh running the farm and Apple Bloom being an uncontrollable little filly who wouldn’t sit still long enough, she’d wandered into town to-
-It really was a nice day today, she noticed. The sky was blue, the birds were chirping, and the leaves on the trees were all in full bloom, even the leaves of the library the next block over were a powerful, vibrant green color with the scent of-
-The library! Of course! She clapped her hooves against the dirt street and began to move towards the library with a broad, victorious smile. Take that father time, you relentless curr! She could still find her way around Ponyville when she needed to. It only took her twenty more minutes to make it to the next block over and march up to the thick door on the front, on which she knocked with one slightly-shaky hoof.
“Coming!” Twilight Sparkle’s voice came from beyond the door moments before it opened with a squeak, revealing the purple unicorn standing just beyond the doorframe with a pleasant smile. “Oh! Granny Smith! This is a surprise!”
Granny smith smiled. “I’m sorry to disturb you deary, but I thought I could get a service from you. I brought bits…”
“Oh I wouldn’t dream of accepting bits from you!” Twilight hurried aside to shoo the aging mare into the house so she could close the door. “I’ll be happy to assist you in any way I can!”
“Thank you Twilight Sparkle, not enough fillies are so nice these days!” Granny smith moved into the living room and sat down on one of the cushions in the middle of the floor, while Twilight moved around her to sit on the cushion opposite. “Y’see, the doctor told me I should talk more about m’self, to help my memory problems, and I had the idea to record them down somewhere.”
“Record them down?” Twilight blinked in confusion.
“Yeah, like in some kinda record…”
“Oh! You want to write a memoir!” Twilight Sparkle grinned. “That sounds absolutely fascinating! I’ve always been interested in Equestria history, but I’ve never actually sat and talked with anypony who has first-hoof experience! Well, except for Princess Celestia of course, but I bet your perspective would be most enlightening!”
“Really?” Granny smith smiled. “I’ve never heard anypony so eager to hear the tales of a boring old mare before.”
“Nonsense, I’m honored you chose me for this! One moment!” Twilight Sparkle leapt from her cushion to rush into the next room, returning moments later with several stacks of parchment, a feather quill, and several small tubs of ink floating in the air beside her until they came to rest on the floor. “There, I have plenty of materials for everything you have to say! Oh, would you like a drink or something before we begin?”
“Oh no thank you, Twilight.” Granny Smith replied with a smile. “I hardly know where to begin…”
“Wherever you feel comfortable.” Twilight told her. “No pressure, just talk about whatever comes to mind first.”
Granny Smith hummed and placed a hoof against her chin. “Well then, let’s see…”
