Author's Note

This was a really emotional chapter to do- probably the most emotional yet in this story. But I really enjoyed it.

It took a while to get done considering there were six characters involved, but it got done in the end.

Hope you all enjoy!

4. The Apple Family

Granny Smith opened her eyes, vision blurred from sleep. She rubbed them a few times as her bedroom at Sweet Apple Acres came into view. The sun was up, completely over the horizon, but only an inch from it by her vision. It meant it was still very early. She didn’t need a clock to know that.

It took a few minutes for her to get out of bed. The wisdom that came with age was largely the only benefit to growing old, as her joints tended to ache and she didn’t tend to move quickly because of it. Not to mention her hip hurting her all the time. But, as a farm mare, she did what had to be done, always. She made her way down the hall and to the outhouse in the field nearby, and used the facilities.

Making her way out after, she saw Grand Pear there and smiled.

“Mornin’ Prickly Old Pear.”

Grand Pear smiled. They’d never quite gotten over those nicknames, despite reconciling. “Morning you Old Crab Apple.”

“The seedlings still asleep?” She asked.

“Still out. Probably won’t stay that way too long.” Grand Pear conceded.

“We best git to the train station, then. Braeburn is comin’ in from Appleoosa to help out with them.”

“Would you like me to go?” He asked.

“If it wouldn’t trouble ya none. I’d rather be here in case the sprouts wake up early. Ya can prob’ly move quicker than I can too.”

“I’ll be on my way shortly.” He nodded.

“Thank ya, kindly.”

“You’re welcome.”

Granny Smith returned to the house to keep an ear out for her grandchildren, as Grand Pear used the outhouse, and then started making his way to the train depot.

He managed to get there just as the train pulled in. A few ponies exited it, but he knew none of them were Braeburn. He’d seen the stallion in a few photos in the Apple Family albums. When Braeburn did exit, he smiled.

“Well howdy there!” Braeburn said. “You must be Grand Pear! Glad to meet ya!” He smiled, shaking his hoof.

“Good to meet you.” He said softly.

“I take it Granny Smith is with the little ones?”

“Yep.”

“Well, I can’t wait to see them!” He said enthusiastically.

Grand Pear chuckled. “I’m sure they’re looking forward to seeing somepony besides us old fogies.”

“You ain’t old, sir. You’re just full of wisdom.” Braeburn smiled.

“Thank you.” Grand Pear smiled back to him. “Shall we go to the farm?"

“With pleasure!” Braeburn nodded.

With that, they headed off.

Somehow, providence had favored Granny Smith, and her grandchildren didn’t stir until after Grand Pear and Braeburn had come back. Granny Smith looked at Braeburn with a smile.

“Howdy do, Braeburn.” She smiled, giving him a hug.

“Hey there, Granny Smith! Always a pleasure seein’ you.”

“Aw, yer bein’ too kind to an old mare, youngin’. It’s always good to see ya too.”

“Speaking of youngins, are the foals asleep?”

“Somehow. The little appleseeds must have tuckered one another out playin’ last night. Ain’t heard a peep from ‘em, and usually they’re as early as the birds catchin’ worms!”

As if the words had called forth some kind of indignity inside of them, One cry was heard, then two, then three.

“Speak of the devil.” Said Grand Pear. “Shall we divide and conquer?”

“Sounds good to me.” Braeburn nodded.

“And me.” Granny agreed.

They nodded, and went off.

Granny Smith went to Applejack’s nursery to find the foal in distress. She eased her way over to Applejack and stroked her hair. “Hey there, little Appleseed.” She crooned.

Applejack looked up at her, sniffling. It took a bit of maneuvering, but Granny Smith managed to pick her up, patting her back. “There ya go, youngin’. Much better.”

She checked her granddaughter’s diaper and found it wet. It brought forth a twinge of pain for her. Not arthritic as it was usually, either. This was emotionally painful. Her little Bright Mac should have been the one coming to comfort his daughter from what dreams may plague her, and take odd joy in the diaper changes while he could. If it hadn’t been for that accident…

Granny Smith shook her head, and focused herself in the present. It wouldn’t do any good to get upset now. Applejack was already upset, and she didn’t need to make it worse. It was time to get a grip on her emotions and carry on for her granddaughter’s sake. “Don’t you worry none, Applejack. Granny’s here.” She promised, taking her granddaughter to the changing table. The dark woods of the furniture went nicely with the wall color. Granny Smith changed Applejack, very proud to say that the furniture for all her grand babies was made from Sweet Apple Acres trees. She wanted those trees to come inside for them. The trees their father bucked. The trees their mother walked under. It was her way of keeping a little piece of them there for her grandchildren.

She finished changing Applejack and gave her a kiss. “There ya go, little one. Much better.”

Braeburn walked into Big Macintosh’s nursery, and found the boy lying on the floor weeping. He went over to him, speaking gently.

“Hey there, little one. What happened to you, huh?” He asked.

Big Mac sniffled. “Faww.” He pointed to his crib.

“I see. You fell out of your crib?” He asked softly.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Does anything hurt?”

“Owie.” Big Mac pointed to his head, and Braeburn gave it a kiss and him a nuzzle to make him giggle.

“Much better!” Braeburn chirped. “Now that’s the right way to wake in the mornin’!”

Big Mac sat up now, setting a hoof in his mouth as Braeburn looked at him. “What do you say we get you changed, huh?”

Big Mac nodded, and waddled over to the changing table where Braeburn changed him.

Grand Pear passed his nursery on the way to his youngest grandchild’s room. Opening it, he found Apple Bloom squirming and wailing in her crib. He lowered the side of the crib and picked her up, rubbing her back.

“Good morning, little seed.” He crooned, taking her to the changing table. His granddaughter’s wailing was heartbreaking for more reasons than one. He could recall hearing the near-exact sound coming from his daughter so many years ago. As he moved to change his granddaughter, memories of his daughter’s foalhood flickered before his eyes. Apple Bloom was the spitting image of Bright Mac, but she behaved just like her mother. It was a bittersweet taste in Grand Pear’s mouth.

He started to change her, and found himself telling a story about his daughter to his granddaughter. She was too little to understand, of course, but there was something about it that was calming to him, and apparently to her too- Though that may have been the change working it’s magic. He told the story of how his daughter ate her first pear and it somehow squirted juice all over the room. Grand Pear chuckled at that, and before he knew it, the change was done.

The three caregivers all shared one cohesive thought: It was time for breakfast.

They filed down the hall with their individual charges, setting them in high chairs in the kitchen and occasionally remembering to speak as Granny Smith made up the bottles, Braeburn got out the foal food, and Grand Pear started cooking breakfast for the adults.

Braeburn and Granny Smith went to work feeding their charges just as soon as everything was ready, and Grand Pear whipped up flapjacks in a flash. Around the time the flapjacks were being plated and topped off, the foals were finished eating and being fed, and they were lovingly placed in a playpen to play.

Granny Smith, Grand Pear, and Braeburn sat down at the kitchen table, eating their breakfast.

Braeburn broke the silence. “Everything goin’ alright with the others?”

“Oh, you know Applejack. She’s always stubborn. Even when there ain’t nothin’ botherin’ her she’ll find somethin’ ta pick at.” Granny Smith said. “Even after her change she was fussin’.”

“Sounds like an Apple.” Chuckled Grand Pear. “Apple Bloom was fine after her change. I… I told her a story about my daughter. She seemed to like that.” He said.

Granny Smith put a hoof on his, patting it lightly in her understanding. “It’s hard, knowing they ain’t gonna know the ponies who brought them into this world. But we’ll tell them their stories, and they’ll be remembered through ‘em.”

Grand Pear nodded.

Braeburn removed his hat in solidarity. “I’m sorry for your losses. I can’t even imagine what y’all have been through. But I’m glad to be here and help.”

“And we’re glad to have ya.” Granny Smith said with a slight smile.

Braeburn felt a small smile come to him too. “What else is family for?"

They didn’t notice Big Mac beginning to babble, Apple Bloom’s movements slowing, or Applejack beginning to struggle with sitting up as they talked.