Applejack was in the middle of picking up a few loose apples from the field, having bucked the trees into oblivion earlier that day with her unmatched hind leg prowess, when she heard a commotion coming from near the front door of the farmhouse.
That must be dear old Granny Smith back from Las Pegasus with the rest of the Gold Horseshoe Gals, she mused in her head, putting the stray fruit aside momentarily to meet up with her elderly relation, I hope that she enjoyed herself out there playing bingo, going on pedal-boat rides and sleeping the day away. Think I'll have a little downtime, and find out for myself...
She strolled leisurely over to where she expected Granny Smith to be, and lo and behold, there was the green-coated matriarch of the family in the wrinkled flesh. She was currently being greeted by Apple Bloom and Big Mac, but as soon as Applejack made an appearance, a strangely unreadable expression crossed her face.
"Big Mac, take yer littlest sister upstairs to pet Winona, or somethin'. I need to have a little chat with yer other sibling..." Granny Smith recited these words in a calm, composed manner, but there was obviously something volcanic bubbling just under the surface of her placid demeanour.
Big Mac recognised the imminent danger in her frown straight away, having been the victim of a few extended tongue-lashings himself, and hurriedly dragged the more naive Apple Bloom far away, so the 'girls' could have their own private conversation. The well-built stallion may have dressed as a mare for a brief period to enter a competition, and even had a girlfriend who lived in a far off town, but the mysteries of the other sex remained as much an enigma to him as when he was a far more talkative colt.
Applejack was somewhat confused as to Granny Smith's distracted mood, but quickly thought she'd figured out why the old timer seemed a bit under the weather. "Hi there, Granny. I'm sure you and the ladies had a lovely time in Las Pegasus and are just itchin' to tell me 'bout it, but maybe it can wait. The long balloon ride back to town must've really taken it outta yer, huh? How's 'bout you go get some shuteye, then come back and tell us all the details? I have yer teeth waitin' for yer in water upstairs, and I can help yer up there if needs be..."
"Yer cheeky little whippersnapper! I oughta tan yer hide for all that nonsense yer spout, makin' out I be some kind of helpless invalid! Come with me!" Without any further warning, Applejack found Granny's hoof firmly locked around her right earlobe, and she was pulled mercilessly back to where she'd been kicking trees earlier.
"Ow, ow, ow! Granny, that stings! Have you gone soft in the head, or somethin'?" Applejack winced in pain at the sensation of her ear being stretched, distant flashbacks of her punishment for playing up as a filly suddenly circling in her mind. "Are yer feeling okay? Maybe Dash forgot to give you yer medication this mornin', the one that controls yer mood swings? I'll be having words with her, I tell you what. It's very important for all seniors to take their pills..."
"Oh, you mean the yellow capsule thingymajiggers I threw out months back, 'cause they turned me into a drooling vegetable only fit for zombie duty? Yeah, betcha didn't know it was gummi ponies I've been swallowin' each day in front of yer." Granny Smith and Applejack finally arrived at their destination in the woods, which meant that the younger pony at last felt the pressure on her lobe cease. "Here are a few other things yer don't know 'bout me: I don't need no chaperone, I love tacos, I hate carrot soup, and I can dance the hoochie-coochie all night long without collapsin' into a big ol' heap of bones!"
"B-But yer let Dash tag along with yer to Las Pegasus, without any complaints!" Applejack spluttered in surprise. A lot of this was news to her. "A-And, you might not like me saying this, but yer getting old now! If I want you to be with us for as long as possible, then I have to take special measures to keep yer well now! I-I don't want to lose yer Granny, you're like the only parent I've got l-left..."
Despite crafting a well-deserved reputation for always remaining stoic and level-headed, even in the event of a crisis, Applejack had been known to shed a few tears before in rare emotional situations.
Such was the case now, and she quickly adjusted her stetson to camouflage her leaky eyes, only to feel Granny Smith's slightly trembling hooves on her head once more.
This was a far more gentle, pleasing touch than before however, and Applejack felt herself being consoled both by the soft neck rub her granny was applying, and the loving tone the elder mare now adopted while speaking face-to-face with her.
"Darlin', haven't you ever heard the expression 'yer only as old as yer feel'? Every time I see you or Apple Bloom or Big Mac running around everyday doin' your chores, it gives me all the vigour I need to keep pace with you young un's and live life to the fullest. I know one day I might have to start 'takin' it easy' and slow things down a tad, but 'til then I fully intend to do as I please, health permittin'. You get me, dearie?"
Applejack nodded as she attempted to fully absorb the entirety of her granny's 'unique' outlook on ageing, now that she'd actually taken the time to listen to her elder relation's opinions and concerns. The white-maned mare wasn't quite finished yet though, and continued talking into Applejack's lightly throbbing ear.
"Also, we let yer rainbow friend tag along thinkin' she was the fun one of your friends, not knowing what a wet blanket she'd turn out to be later on. Of course, as soon as we figured yer put her up to all the babyin', it began to make perfect sense. Just look at what happened with Apple Bloom. Poor girl was virtually a prisoner in her own room 'cause of your mollycoddin'. Course, both of us proved you wrong in the end. Apple Bloom by nearly makin' them deliveries across treacherous swampland, and me by ridin' the world's longest, fastest rollercoaster today..."
"Say, what now?!" Despite Applejack's earlier promise to fully hear her Granny's plea for more independence out, that last bit of shock news was a bit too much for her to remain quiet.
"Relax, darlin'." Granny was more amused than annoyed by Applejack's blurted interruption, and gently put a hoof over the younger mare's mouth so she could explain in a bit more detail. "None of the girls had a heart attack, none of us faintest mid-loop, in fact you could say we all had a rootin' tootin' good time. We really had no choice but to get on there, anyway. That multicoloured friend of yours would've groused all the way home 'bout it like an old maid if we hadn't. It was bad enough hearin' all 'bout Dairy-Doo this and Wonderdolts that for hours on end. I've never been so jealous of Apple Rose and her useless ear trumpet."
That last quip got a good laugh from both of them, and with everything now more-or-less out in the open, the two could at last unwind side by side. They watched the gentle fall breeze rustle the leaves in the trees to and fro, and this motion alone seemed to stir certain poignant memories in the oldest pony present.
"You know, have I ever told you how proud I am of yer?" Granny Smith suddenly came over all sentimental, for it was now her turn to get slightly misty-eyed. "You and yer siblings. While you're off gallivantin' 'round Equestria solving friendship problems and whatnot, the others stay behind and make sure the entire farm runs like clockwork. I couldn't ask for better successors when I'm in the ground eatin' dirt, and I'm sure yer ma and pa are lookin' down on us right now feelin' just the same as me. I'll tell yer more about them someday..."
"Oh Granny..." Applejack turned to face her cherished elder relation, and hugged her with a very real warmth and affection. "Believe me, it'll be a long time yet before we'll be readin' you your last rites. You're much too stubborn to go quietly, anyways. We'd have to drag you kickin' and screamin' into a pony-shaped box, with all the pent-up energy you've got! Not somethin' I'm looking forward to doin’, for more than one reason..."
"Haven't you listened to a word I said?! I told yer: I ain't going anywhere anytime soon! Now enough of the mushy stuff, and race me back to the house! Last one there is a rotten apple!" Granny Smith unexpectedly broke free of the strong embrace she shared with the younger pony, and hobbled off at quite an impressive speed for a geriatric equine. "And remember, I meant every word what I said! That means no more plastic tablets, no more midday snoozes and most definitely no more stewed prunes for dinner! I ain't incapable of digesting solid food, dagnabbit! Now: where did you say you put my dentures again, dear?"
A broadly grinning Applejack watched her beloved granny toddle back to the shack which had been passed down throughout generations, and been responsible for so many precious memories. Hopefully, there was time enough left to make many new ones, and she certainly wouldn't put it past the cantankerous old bark to last the course.
And they would start right now: Granny Smith was about to beat a pony roughly fifty years her junior in a clean, honest race. Applejack could, of course, have won the contest at a canter, but she decided to let this particular victory slide.
Strictly as a one-off, naturally.
Author's Note
Two Stories in one day, welp. Never let it be said I don't make the most of my time off. :p
Well, as always, hope you enjoyed it. Ciao! 
