The Roots Are Drying UpView OnlineApplejack and The Liquid of LifeThe Roots Are Drying UpProlouge It didn’t matter if it was the West Orchard or the East Orchard, the apple trees were dying. A lone mare looked upon them with a look one might see on a mother who watches her children leave their life. For this mare, these were her children. They were most definitely her life. Applejack sighed and turned towards her home, which in the light of overcast looked very dim and dull. Heck, it had every right to be. Granny Smith, the patriarch of the family, was dying, withering away like the apples she had spent most of her life tending to. Her siblings were taking it hard, but it hit Applejack the hardest. With her trees, she was only losing something that could be brought back. With her grandmother, she was losing somepony that could never be replaced. Every tree needs a root, and by gosh Granny Smith was the root of the Apple Family. That root was now in a bed, slowly succumbing to age, and leaving Applejack to wonder if the sun would ever come out again. —————————————————————— Applejack was tending to a tree one afternoon. While the weather had cleared slightly, the trees had still maintained their look of fatigue. Nurse Redheart had examined Granny Smith and said that she didn’t have long; a couple of months at the most. The siblings, after receiving the news, didn’t really know what to feel. Apple Bloom, being young, was taking it very hard. Macintosh never said much anyway, but a look of despair was whitewashed over his usually stoic face. Applejack was tending to the trees, when a sign of life broke her train of thought. “Applejack!”, a voice cried. Applejack turned around to see her friend Twilight Sparkle standing by a shrub, a concerned sprawled across her face. “Hey, are you ok? We haven’t seen you in a few days”, The princess carefully asked. Her friends were supporting her as best they could, but their love wasn’t reaching the poor farmer. “Ah dunno’ if Ah’m ok, Twi. Mah grandmother is dying, mah trees are dying, it just seems like everything is dying. Makes me wonder if Ah’m next”, the farmer grimly stated. Twilight made her way towards her friend, leaning into an embrace when she made it. After a moment, the violet mare broke the hug. “AJ, we’re here for you; no matter what may happen”, Twilight spoke kindly. Applejack looked touched, but a smile never came. “Ah know y’all are, and Ah’m greatful to have such great friends. Thank ya, kindly”, she said. Applejack turned around, but Twilight spoke up. “Applejack?”, the alicorn called out. “Yeah?”, The farmer said back. “What can we do to help?”, Twilight asked. Applejack looked at the ground and then up at the purple princess. “Put the life back in mah life, and then we’ll see what happens”, Applejack said solemnly. She then turned to her home, and trotted away. “I’ll do that, Applejack. You can count on me”.
The Light Might Rise AgainView OnlineApplejack and The Liquid of LifeThe Light Might Rise AgainIt 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.
The Royal SolutionView OnlineApplejack and The Liquid of LifeThe Royal SolutionTwilight Sparkle sat in her foyer, and took a sip of tea. She had written to Princess Celestia ten minutes prior, asking if the sun goddess could find a cure for Applejack’s troubles. Twilight was hopefully that Celestia found something, and was waiting for a reply. As she took another sip, she heard a noise and looked to hall outside the foyer. Spike soon turned his head around the corner, bearing a scroll in his left hand. “This is for you, Twi”, he said. “Thank you, Spike”, Twilight responded. She magically brought it to herself, opened the scroll, and started to read. Dear Twilight Sparkle, I knew not of what hardships had been troubling our fair Applejack. Your letter opened me to her struggles, and made me want to find a cure immensely fast. I searched my archive, and I found an item that will help the Apple family immensely. If you’ll allow me, I’d like to talk to Applejack and the rest of her family in the flesh. I was thinking I could arrive tomorrow, so that they may receive the news as possible. With love, Princess Celestia Upon finishing the letter, Twilight’s eyes lit up. “Uh, Twilight? What’s wrong?”, Spike asked worriedly. Twilight, seeing his concern, snapped out of her trance. “Heh, nothing Spike”, she blushed,”I need you to watch the castle for a bit. I need to go see Applejack right away”. “Ok Twilight”, Spike nodded with a smile. Twilight rushed out of the castle, eager to tell Applejack of the news. —————————————————————— Apple Bloom trotted into the hall outside her sisters room, checking on her sister. Applejack was tired, and seeing as how the trees weren’t responsive, she took a rare mid-day nap. Apple Bloom peered through the door, and saw her sister sitting the edge of her bed. She was looking at a book, a look of both nostalgia and sadness on her face. “Hiya Applejack, watcha’ readin’?”, the youngest Apple said. Applejack turned towards the filly and tried her best to form a smile. “Hey Bloom, just looking at an album. Found it in mah closet”, Applejack began”,Has a bunch’a pictures of our reunions and relatives”. Apple Bloom smiled, but she knew why AJ was looking at those books. She may have been young, but she could see that their lives were changing. With Granny’s health and the trees on their last legs, she saw her siblings become more quiet and sad. She didn’t like it one bit. “Applejack?”, the filly called out. “Yeah?”, Applejack said back. “Why are ya’ so sad? You’ve always kept a head up and a smile on, but right now Ah don’t see either one”, Apple Bloom asked. Applejack looked up from the book, and for Apple Bloom to come sit on the bed beside her. The filly sat, and Applejack began to speak. “Yer’ right, Apple Bloom. Ah’ve kinda let this take over me. Ah’ve known Granny Smith for all mah life, and Ah’ve always seem her come back from any sickness. Ah guess Ah’ve lost mah optimistic side. Ah know you don’t understan-!”, she was cut of by Apple Bloom’s voice. “Don’t understand? Of course Ah understand what’s goin’ on, Applejack! Ah may be a filly, but Ah can still see that it’s bad right now. Yer’ forgettin’ that Ah’ve known her long too! She’s the closest thing Ah’ve ever had to a mother! If anypony doesn’t understand right now, it’s you!”, Apple Bloom said with passion. “W-What do ya mean?”, a shocked Applejack asked. “What Ah mean is that right now, ah’m not talking to the real Applejack. The real Applejack wouldn’t let the pain take over! She’d wipe off that pain and carry on. Ya’ don’t like you’re gonna start doin’ that anytime soon, AJ”, Bloom said,”Ah just want mah big sister back. Ah hate seein’ you so down. Ah love you, Applejack; Ah love you”. Applejack saw that tears were forming in her sisters eyes, and soon her eyes began to do the same. She embraced her sister, holding her for a while before a knock at the door broke the tender moment. “Ah better get that, Apple Bloom”, Applejack said before rising up and heading for the door. “Hey Applejack?”, Apple Bloom asked out. “Yeah?”, Applejack looked back. “Thanks for holdin’ me. Ah really needed that”, the filly smiled. “No problem, Apple Bloom”, the elder Apple smiled before exiting the bedroom. —————————————————————— Twilight knocked on the door of the old home, waiting for somepony to answer. She was excited to share the news with Applejack and the rest of the family, and she knew they’d be happy to hear it. Soon, the door opened to find Applejack, slightly misty-eyed. “Howdy Twilight, What brings you around?”, Applejack asked. “Applejack, I have great news!”, Twilight began”, I wrote to Princess Celestia about all the troubles you’ve been having, and she found a solution!” Applejack’s eyes went wide. A solution? An end to all this pain? Did the Princess really find something?! “R-Really? Ya mean it?”, the farmer said with shock. “Yes I do, AJ. I’m fact, The Princess will be stopping by to talk to you and your family tomorrow and explain what the remedy is”, Twilight said with a smile. Time stood still for a moment, and then for the first time in a long time, a smile made itself known across Applejack’s muzzle.
The Royal MeetingView OnlineApplejack and The Liquid of LifeThe Royal MeetingThe 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.
The Preparation (Bonus)View OnlineApplejack and The Liquid of LifeThe Preparation (Bonus)Caramel was beyond nervous. He wasn’t nervous about stepping up to help Applejack find the Liquid of Life, actually he was happy about that. What made him nervous was something he hadn’t told anypony; He was in love with Applejack. From the moment he saw her, he was completely head over heels. He’d had his fillyfriends, but they had all left him when his clumsy side reared it’s ugly head. Applejack never judged him, nor did she ever blow up at him when he messed up. Despite all of that, he wasn’t going to let his feelings get in the way of the bigger picture. He knew that Applejack and the rest of the family was depending on him, and he was not going to let them down. Currently, he was at home relaxing on his couch. Caramel lived in a home about five minutes from Sweet Apple Acres. As he was finishing his book, he heard somepony walk up his porch and knock on the door. He answered the door and saw Applejack, with a bag packed. “Well, howdy Applejack. This is certainly a suprise, come in”, he said,”What brings ya’ here, partner?”. Applejack entered and looked towards him. “Well, Ah came here to see if you were all packed up. We have a big day tomorrow”, she said. Caramel looked surprised at that. “Wait, it’s tomorrow?”, he asked. She sighed playfully. “Ah see nopony told ya”,Applejack said coyly. “A-Ah’m sorry, AJ. I-“, he said but was interrupted. “It’s ok, Mel. Want me to help ya’ pack?”, Applejack asked. He laughed to himself and smiled brightly. “Sure, Applejack. Ah’d like that”. Author's Note Hey everyone, this chapter is pretty much a transition into the next one. The next chapter is gonna be a long one. So get ready.
