Applejack and The Liquid of Life

The Castle of Friendship came into view as Applejack trotted down the road. Behind her, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, and Caramel were coming to both hear the news and give their support.

The ponies made their way to the front doors of the castle. Applejack knocked, and the door opened to reveal Spike.

“Hey everypony, come right in!”, he happily said.

The Apple clan gave their greetings and proceeded into the castle. Spike led them to the library, where Twilight was sitting.

“Hey Applejack, how are you feeling?”, Twilight greeted her friend.

“I’m doin’ fine, Twi’. Ah’m a bit excited for the news, as is the rest of the gang”, Applejack motioned to her family.

“Oh, I didn’t notice them. How are you all doing today?”, Twilight greeted with an embarrassed smile.

“Ah’m doin’ good, I reckon”, Big Macintosh said.

“Ah have butterflies in my tummy, but I’m doin’ great”, Apple Bloom smiled.

“Ah’m just happy everypony else is happy”, Caramel grinned.

“Great! Well, the Princess should be here any minute, so you all can take a seat”, Twilight said.

They took their seats, having a simple chat until Spike came into the room.

“I just saw a carriage land from the sky. I think the Princess is here”, he said.

Applejack’s nerves suddenly rose. This news was extremely important to her and her family, and she didn’t know how it would go.

Suddenly the door opened, and in walked Princess Celestia, accompanied by her two guards. Everypony and one dragon bowed their head, including Twilight.

“Please rise, my little ponies”, she said with grace.
She then looked to the Apple family, who all bore thankful expressions.

“Greetings, Applejack. How are you doing?”, the princess smiled.

Applejack almost lost her nerve, but quickly responded.

“We’re fine, Princess. Thank ya’ so much for helpin’ us. We’re grateful for that”, Applejack said.

“The pleasure is all mine, Applejack. Now, let’s get to the good news”, she began, “I’ve come here with news that will help you all, but it has some choices and some catches. I have found a solution to both of your problems, being the health of Granny Smith and the dying of the apple trees”.

She paused, and look towards Twilight.

“Twilight, would you happen to have a map?”, The goddess asked politely.

“Yes I do, Princess. Let me fetch it”, Twilight said before exiting the room.

“Silly filly, I’ve told her time and time again that she can call me Celestia. Oh well, I guess some things never change”, she started ,”Now then, the solution. It is called the Liquid of Life. When the liquid is poured onto something, it will revitalize the organism: bringing it back to life. The liquid is currently in a temple that I built to conceal the liquid. There are two issues that make this journey”.

Twilight came in seconds later with a map, which Celestia brought to Applejack.

“The temple is east of Canterlot, in the mountains. The first issue is that the temple is very dangerous. When Discord first attacked, his chaos reached the temple, making the structure very dangerous. The second issue is about the liquid itself. It only has one use left. Meaning that you will have to choose between the trees, or....”, Celestia trailed off.

The family looked quite shocked. To them, this was the hardest choice they’d ever made. Their rock, their foundation, their granny: or the trees they had spent decades loving and growing.

Celestia noticed this, and spoke once more.

“Applejack, I suggest that if you are going on this journey, you need help. It can be the other elements, or it can be another pony”, the Princess warned.

Applejack looked to the floor, deep in thought. Who could really help her here? She didn’t rope her friends into this, seeing as how she’d bummed them out enough.

“Ah’ll do it, Princess. Though mah family and Ah will have to decide what to use it on”, Applejack said valiantly.

“Excellent, and who do you choose to go with you?”, Celestia asked.

Applejack was about to speak, but a voice interrupted her.

“Ah’ll do it, Princess Celestia!”, Caramel shouted.

All eyes were now on him. Caramel, slightly embarrassed, spoke once more.

“Applejack, yer’ family has done so much for me. Y’all have given me a job, made it able for me to earn bits, and most importantly; Y’all have given me a second family. If you’ll allow me to, Ah’ll help you AJ”, Caramel said with passion.

The other ponies were astonished. They had always known Caramel to be quiet, clumsily stallion; They had never known he had this side.

Applejack looked at him, and then embraced him. Soon after, Big Mac and Apple Bloom joined the embrace.

“Mel, thank ya’. Ah can’t think of a better pony to help us, seeing as how you’ve given us nothin’ but hard work”, Applejack said with appreciation.

“Eeyup”, Mac added.

“Thank ya’ so much, Mr. Caramel”, Apple Bloom said.

“You’re welcome, Bloom”, Caramel said.

Celestia, Twilight, and Spike watched on with smiles on their faces.