Wish Gone Awry. Enter Equestria! Enter New Life!

"Granny, I'm home," Applejack said as she entered the farmhouse.

"I hear ya," Granny Smith yelled from the living room. "Where's Big Mac and Apple Bloom?" Granny Smith asked as Applejack shut the door behind her.

"Well, Big Mac has a client, so he's with her. As for Apple Bloom, she's hanging out with her friends at Rarity's place. Why do you ask?" Applejack asked as she walked into the living room.

"I wanted to know if they were with you; they're not, that's good. Come Applejack, sit down," Granny Smith told Applejack as she pointed at an empty couch.

"Why is it good that they aren't with me?" Applejack cautiously asked as she sat down. Looking around, Applejack sighed. "Usually, if you want one of us alone like this, it's nothing good. Look, Granny, whatever it is, I swear I didn't do it," Applejack protested as Granny Smith started to laugh.

"Hold your horseshoes, filly; you're not in trouble," Granny Smith laughed before taking a deep breath. "But yes, you are correct, this is something bad," Granny smith sternly said as she regained her composure. "Listen, Applejack, about your future," Granny Smith started to say.

"Oh no, we are not having this talk again," Applejack huffed as she went to stand up.

"Sit your rear right back down, young filly!" Granny Smith very sternly commanded, making Applejack sit back down, both in surprise and respect. "That's better," Granny smith huffed. "Now listen, I know that after Bright Mac and Buttercup passed, I mostly raised you. Now I like to think that I've done a decent job, but evidently, I didn't," Granny Smith sighed as she collected herself.

"What are you talking about, Granny? Of course, you did a fine job; just look at how we've turned out," Applejack said in protest.

"I have," Granny Smith sighed, "and I don't like where you and Apple Bloom are going," Granny Smith said as Applejack looked oddly at her. "You and Apple Bloom grew up hearing stories of me, my sisters, and my cousins. Heh, they were good stories, entertaining stories, but I think you two have gotten the wrong message from them," Granny Smith wistfully sighed.

"Again, what are you talking about? In case you haven't noticed, I haven't been going around trying to lay with every stallion around, and neither has Apple Bloom," Applejack firmly said.

"Yes, and that's a good thing, don't get me wrong. But you two have gone too far to the other extreme. Instead of being forever young, forever free, forever partying around, you two are growing up to be forever young, forever free, forever working," Granny Smith told Applejack. "You two took a lesson from my stories, but not the right one. That's my fault, really; I wasn't clear on what you should have taken away from them. Applejack, have I ever told you about the time I was pregnant with your father?" Granny Smith asked as she looked pensively into the distance.

"No, why?" Applejack asked as she started to look uncomfortable.

"I didn't think so; it's a story you should hear. I got pregnant with your father from a breeding contract; I won't go into details for both our sakes. Now, throughout the pregnancy, I was bitter about it. Bitter that the family decided that I had to be the mother of the branch here. Bitter that I had to give up the life that I wanted. Bitter that I had to go through months of 'the joy of life' while suffering. Oh, I was a cranky old biddy; make no mistake about it. While I was at home, being careful of my pregnancy, my sisters and cousins were out partying, well, the ones with the same idea that I had. There were a few with a more traditional mindset, like my youngest cousin and head of the family, Apple Orchard," Granny Smith sighed. "Apple Orchard always was that way, thinking of the family first and willing to make compromises. You know, she's the reason that the Oranges are our cousins. She got herded to Orange Grove. Oh, sure, it was a bit rough at first, but she ended up happy. A nice sized herd, a bunch of herd sisters to do things with, and oh, did she have quite a few foals. I thought she was crazy when she said that she was happier than she's ever been where she was. It took about ten years, but when Bright Mac was born, and I first looked at him, I knew that she was right," Granny Smith sighed.

"OK, and what does this have to do with me?" Applejack asked as she listened.

"Listen here, filly, I know the path that you're on, cousin Fuji Apple, that's who you'll end up like," Granny Smith firmly said.

"Cousin Fuji Apple? Who's that? I never met a Fuji Apple," Applejack said as she tilted her head at Granny Smith.

"Of course, you haven't; she runs an apple farm in the far east. Also, Fuji Apple is herded not to a stallion nor a bunch of mares; no, Fuji Apple is herded to her farm. I swear her personality starts and ends at work with that old mare. And you, Applejack, you are acting a lot as she did in her youth. Now, if you were only affecting yourself, that'd be bad enough, but you're also affecting Apple Bloom. She looks up to you, follows your lead, she respects you," Granny Smith said while pointing at Applejack. "Why just look at her little friends, that Sweetie Belle is already taking an interest in a few colts, what were their names?" Granny Smith asked as she scratched her chin. "Ah yes! Button Mash, Featherweight, and even Spike. It seems like she has an eye for the nerdy type," Granny Smith said while giggling. "Scootaloo hasn't been nearly as loud about them, but she does hold that conversation with Sweetie Belle well enough. Well, I suppose I've heard Scootaloo gush about some fictional stallions in some action books," Granny Smith hummed. "But Apple Bloom, no interest whatsoever. If anything, Apple Bloom balks at their talks about colts and stallions," Granny Smith sighed as she looked at Applejack. "That ain't right; she's hitting that age around now."

"And what are you suggesting? In case you've forgotten, she's still just a filly and will be for quite a few years to come," Applejack firmly said as she glared at Granny Smith.

"Don't you give me that look filly, I didn't forget, and I'm not suggesting anything like that," Granny Smith shot back as she glared back at Applejack. "I'm saying around Apple Bloom's age, it's normal for fillies to be getting interested in colts, and Apple Bloom isn't in the slightest. Well, that's a lie. She's interested in complaining about them, that's it. Tell me; Applejack does that sound familiar," Granny Smith sternly asked, her gaze growing ever more withering.

"OK, fine, so Apple Bloom is a slow bloomer, like I was, so what?" Applejack brushed off as Granny Smith recoiled.

"Slow, Slow bloomer, you?!?" Granny Smith stammered in surprise. "You're supposed to be the element of honesty, and you lie like that? Filly, you're twenty-five and have taken an interest in precisely zero stallions!" Granny Smith started to rant. "How many Earth Ponies did I try to set you up with, but you refused everyone for stupid reasons? What about Pegasi and Unicorns? I've tried Diamond Dogs, Deer, Griffons, hey even Dragons, but every one of them, nope, nope, nope, and nope!" Granny Smith firmly said as she walked up to Applejack.

"Oh, none of them were good enough for you, were they? Tell me, Applejack, what will it take for you? We both know Big Mac isn't good enough, already tired that in desperation. Do you want a prince, is that it? Want me to go up to Princess Celestia and ask for a prince for you? Maybe she has a secret colt; would that be good enough for you?" Granny Smith asked. Shoving a hoof in Applejack's face before she could respond, Granny smith immediately got back to ranting. "No, of course not. He wouldn't know the first thing about hard work. I know, I should go to the Griffon Empire, go to the temple of Boreas, ask for Boreas himself to come down for you, would that be good enough? No, of course not. He's not a pony or a mortal; he wouldn't understand our life," Granny Smith continued. "Tell me, Applejack, with all that you've turned down, what will it take? If you're waiting for mister perfect, then take my word for it, he'll show up, you won't recognize him, and either he'll pass you by, or you'll start some foolish rivalry with him," Granny Smith pensively said. "Or, in my case, both," Granny Smith nearly whispered under her breath.

"Why are you getting so uppity about this now?" Applejack asked as she pulled Granny smith's hoof away from her muzzle. "You never were before?"

"Because again, a stallion has shown up, taken an interest in you, and you're doing the same routine," Granny Smith firmly stated. "Look, I'm old, old, and tired. I've lived my life, and I can honestly say that I would do things differently if I could. I don't want you and Apple Bloom to make the same mistakes as myself or my sisters and cousins. I want you two to grow up and be happy. I want you two to grow up in such a way that when you're my age, you can look back on your life fondly instead of always asking 'maybes' and 'what ifs' alright? From what I see, the two of you will end up like one of us, and trust me, it's a lonely life. Look, I'm not saying you have to change right away; I'm just saying, give him a fair chance. Stop moving the goal post, like you do every time. Can you do that for me?" Granny Smith asked as she sat back down.

"Fine, if it really means that much to you, I'll try," Applejack grunted, somewhat annoyed.

"Thank you," Granny Smith said as she started to laugh. "Oh, I recognize that look alright; I had the same one when I had to get pregnant with Bright Mac. You might be mad now, but you'll thank me later," Granny Smith cackled. "Please though, deary, don't be a grumpy grump around him, OK?" Granny Smith said as she relaxed on the couch. "Now, how about something to drink and some snacks? These old bones could use it," Granny Smith said as she looked at Applejack.

"Yeah, I could go for a few, apple-cinnamon tea with some oatmeal cookies?" Applejack asked as she got up.

"Sounds perfect," Granny Smith said as she stretched out and relaxed on the couch.