Applejack and The Liquid of Life

It had been a week since Twilight Sparkle had last seen Applejack, and since them she was trying to find the “light” that Applejack had asked for. She’d read countless text over agriculture, but none had the right methods to fertilize the dying trees.

She suddenly remembered that she had a mentor that was knew of every cure, even some that the books couldn’t cover.

She got an idea.

“Spike!”, she called for the dragon.

Said dragon walked into the library and came to face Twilight.

“What’s up, Twilight? Do you need anything?”, the thoughtful assistant asked.

“Yes I do, Spike. I need you to take a letter. It’s urgent that Princess Celestia receives it”, Twilight said.

Spike nodded and retrieved the parchment from the cabinet nearby.

“All right Twilight, I’m ready”, Spike said.

Twilight nodded and began to speak.

”Dear Princess Celestia,

I wish this was a happy letter, but I must inform you of one of my friends recent hardships. You see, my friend Applejack is in a bad situation. One that would threaten her very livelihood.

Granny Smith is not in good health, and the apple trees are withering away due to the recent drought that’s been occurring in Ponyville. Her family is looking very grim, and I’ve never seen her look so down. So I come to you with a question.

Do you know of anyway to help? Applejack and her family would surely appreciate it.

Sincerely, Princess Twilight Sparkle”.

Spike looked up and saw that Twilight was done, and sent the letter away.

“Do you think that Applejack will be ok?”, Spike asked the princess.

“I hope so Spike, I really hope so”, Twilight replied as she looked towards Canterlot.

——————————————————————

Celestia sat at her desk, filing and sorting throng the seemingly endless pile of paper work that lay before her. That was until a familiar sound of flames broke her of her mundane task.

She got up and trotted to the noise, only to see a little scroll. With her curiosity high, she unraveled the paper and began to read.

The more she read, the more concerned she became. She knew not of Granny Smith’s health, nor did she know of the trees that were crumbling. It saddened her, but she carried on.

When she reached Twilight’s question, she looked to window for thought provotion. She could’ve sworn that she knew of such an object, but alas the memory was vague at best.

She thought once more, and decided that a quick check to her personal archives might do the trick.
She made her way toward a small door that lay opposite her bed. She opened the door and stepped down the stairs and into the room and knowledge.

There were several shelves, each labeled under a different kind of problem.

She looked in the file labeled “Farming”, but nothing close to Applejack’s problem stuck out.
After a while of looking, she decided that the section on “Life” might be a good fit.

She looked in the file, scanning the list of objects for a solution.

Then, she saw it.

“The Liquid of Life”, she said to herself.

Her eyes lit up, and she rushed to her room to write back to her former student.

——————————————————————

“Granny? You alright? It’s just me, Applejack”, Applejack called.

The elder pony was in bed, looking out the window at the trees and other plants that were dry and void of life. Upon hearing her granddaughter’s voice, she looked to the sound.

“Applejack, what can Ah do yeh fer?”, the mare smiled.

Applejack looked at the smile and lightened up a bit, but not by much.

“Ah just came to check on ya’, Granny. Are ya’ feeling fine?”, Applejack asked.

“Bout’ as fine as Ah can, youngin’. Ah’m a bit tired, but what can ya’ do?”, Granny said with a yawn.

“Ok Granny, Ah just came to check on ya’. Y’all have a good day, now.”, Applejack turned to exit the room.

“Applejack”, Applejack turned to face her grandmother.

“Ah know that yer’ worried about me; about my health and such. All Ah have to say is that no matter what may happen to meh, Ah know you’ll do me and this farm proud”, the elder said with a smile, then staring to snore.

Applejack held back some tears, but kept them in as she walked towards Granny Smith, planting a kiss on her forehead and walking out of the room.

On her way down the stairs, she spotted somepony in the kitchen.

Caramel, their farmhand, was sitting in the dining room. He was fairly sweaty and had fatigued look in his eye. He noticed Applejack and smiled at her.

“Hey Applejack, how ya’ doing?”, he asked with a friendly smiled.

Applejack tried to smile back, but her emotions beat her.

“A-Ah’m doin’ fine, Mel. Ah just checked on Granny, she looked fine. At least for right now”, Applejack said, a frown forming on her face.

“Ah’m sorry, Applejack. Ah know it must be hard”, Said Caramel.

“It is, Mel. It’s probably harder than any day of work Ah’ve ever been apart of. Ah feel so blind for not seeing it sooner”, the mare said with sadness growing.

Caramel felt sorry for Applejack. Granny Smith had offered him the job when he came from Dodge Junction a year prior, which he was very grateful for. The matriarch always looked at him with kind eyes.

He noticed her pain, spreading across her face like rain. He didn’t like seeing her like that, and felt he should try to help.

“Applejack, are ya’ ok?”, he asked.

Applejack looked to him, her emotions face speaking volumes.

“No, Ah’m not ok. Mah grandmother is sick, mah trees are dyin’, and Ah no hope left. Ah don’t feel like an Apple, Caramel. Ah feel like a damn joke”, Applejack spoke.

He looked surprised when she swore, but he could understand what she was going through.

“Mah words might not be helpful, but everyone’s here for you. Ah know that Mac and Bloom are, your friends are, Ah am too. Ah don’t like seeing you hurt, Applejack”, the stallion spoke.

Applejack looked at him and knew that he meant everything he was saying, and she gave him a kind look.

“Thanks Mel”, she said.

She made her way of the home and into
the pasture.

“No problem, AJ”, he smiled.