The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

          Ch.25 Granny Smith's Gifts

Granny unwrapped the sheathed blade from the blanket, revealing the sword to the other occupant of Zecora's Hut: Apple Bloom.

"My old sword! Sting." exclaimed Granny Smith. She grasped the handle, and handed Sting to Apple Bloom.

"Here, take it. Take it." ordered Granny Smith.

Apple Bloom took the blade from Granny's hoof, and pulled the sword from the sheath. She was surprised at the weightlessness of the sword, even though its length and width were comparable to any other blade on the Ponvillian market. Apple Bloom admired the craftsmanship, the flawless curves of the blade, the padded handle; all features which proved the prodigiousness of Sting.

"It's so light!" remarked Apple Bloom, never betraying her gaze from the blade for a second.

"Yes. Made in Canterlot, you know. The blade glows blue when Changelings are close." Granny's mention of the Changelings brought Apple Bloom's gaze back to her dear grandmother, who also admired Sting's form.

"And it's times like that, my dear, when you have to be extra careful." conceded Granny, who finally made eye-contact with Apple Bloom.

"Here's a pretty thing." Granny turned to her purse sitting on the chair, and pulled out the most magnificent vest Apple Bloom had ever seen.

"Mithril. As light as a feather, and as hard as dragon scales." Granny's volume changed from high to low, respectively emphasizing the practical qualities of the illustrious, white vest.

"Let me see you put it on. Come on." beckoned Granny Smith, hoping to persuade Apple Bloom to try on the vest before she left for her journey.

Apple Bloom smiled, and placed The Ring on the nearest counter, freeing her hooves to try on the vest. Granny ceased, her gaze resting on The Ring. Granny smiled at the golden band, as if they were best friends, who hadn't seen each other in an Age.

"Oh!" Granny squeaked, surprising Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom found Granny points her hoof at The Ring, and moving slowly closer to corral the golden band.

"My old ring." mentioned Granny. Before Granny could grab The Ring, Apple Bloom snatched the band away from the old Earth pony. Apple Bloom wrapped The Ring in her hooves, hoping to put the dastardly item out of their thoughts.

"I should very much like... to hold it again, one last time." pleaded Granny, her hooves clicking together like a nervous filly on her first day of school.

Granny smiled innocently at Apple Bloom, hoping to show no ill intent, but Apple Bloom was not convinced. She knew enough about The Ring to know what it has, and could've done to her Granny over the many decades Granny possessed the cursed artifact. Apple Bloom gripped The Ring, and set it in her fur.

When Apple Bloom placed The Ring out-of-sight, Granny charged. The old pony's eyebrows furrowed, the color around her eyes blackened, and her teeth gnashed, expressing pure hatred. Apple Bloom noticed the decay on Granny's dentures, and the unusual sharpness of the chewing implements. Granny's hoof reached for Apple Bloom's flank, where The Ring resided, but Apple Bloom was quicker, and she dodged her old Granny.

Granny's madness was short-lived; however, her initial charge met with failure. The frail mare returned to her regular state. The defamation of Granny's features seeped away, but the damage was done. Granny was reduced to a shrivelling wreck, failing to Zecora's bed, whimpering, and hiding herself by means of her hooves. Apple Bloom stared, dumbfounded at the sudden aggression from her beloved Grandmother. The little Earth pony kept her distance, and clutched The Ring for safekeeping from the unstable old pony in front of her.

Granny resumed her gaze on Apple Bloom, her fearful eyes occasionally shifting to The Ring.

"I'm sorry I brought this upon you, my dear. I'm sorry that you must carry this burden." Granny's voice degenerated into tearful mumbling, the old mare turning her back to Applebloom, and falling into a tearful fit

"I'm sorry for everything." cried Granny Smith, her sobbing apparent from even outside Zecora's Hut.

Apple Bloom felt pity for her Granny. Long had her Grandmother possessed The Ring, and now, with the last possible chance to hold it, to be denied by her own granddaughter. Apple Bloom approached Granny, placing her hoof on Granny's shoulder, a reassuring sign that all was forgiven.

Granny couldn't bear to look on Apple Bloom after her erratic outburst. She only gripped her granddaughter's hoof.

"Please be careful, Apple Bloom. I couldn't stand to lose my favorite granddaughter." cried Granny, who now rested her head on Apple Bloom's hoof.

"I will Granny. I will." replied Apple Bloom, planting a kiss on her Granny's head.