Prolog. - Spring Mid-day
"TWILIGHT!" Rainbow dash screamed, bursting through the doors of Twilight's castle. "Twilight!!! Come quick!" Twilight ran into the room with spike on her heels.
"Rainbow? What's wrong?"
"It's Apple Jack! She..." Rainbow began, fear almost pouring off of her. "She's hurt bad..." Without another word Twilight and Rainbow Dash took off for Sweet Apple Acres.
"Twilight!" called Apple Bloom seeing her sister's friends approaching. "This way!" She shouted running deep into the orchard. On the far side of the orchard, out of sight of the barn, Big Mac pulled as hard as he could, but the tree remained still atop his crushed sister.
"Apple Jack!" Twilight shouted. "What happened?!" She flew over and started to lift the tree with her magic.
"She was bucking apples..." Apple Bloom began. "I was cleaning the barn with Granny." The tree hit the ground with a thud, away from the scene.
"How long has she been like this?" Twilight asked kneeling down.
"I flew over and saw her like this and went for help." Rainbow said.
"She went out at sunrise, like always." Said Apple Bloom. Twilight examined her friend, crushed and bruised.
"Rainbow, go get the doctor!" She called. Rainbow nodded and took off.
"Is there time? Is she ok?" Asked Apple Bloom. Twilight and Big Mac shared a look.
"We're going to do everything we can." Twilight assured. \
"Well do something then!" Apple Bloom said in a panic.
Twilight looked at Big Mac and back at Apple Jack. With a deep breath she closed her eyes and began to cast magic on Apple Jack, trying to mend her bones, check her heart, anything that might help. After a moment she looked up to Big Mac again and shook her head. Big Mac dropped his head in grief.
"No!" Apple Bloom cried.
Filled with sadness, staring at her friend's body on the ground, Twilight stood and closed her eyes again. With a deep breath she harnessed her power, digging deep and cast it on Apple Jack. AJ's body was lifted into the air. Twilight's eyes glowed with a purple light, she began to mumble something, something old. AJ's body started glowing, getting brighter and brighter until it was blinding. Apple Bloom stood by Twilight, mouth open, tears pouring down her face. Twilight was lifted off the ground, her mumbling now louder, her magic straining. Apple Bloom watched in fear as the blinding light overtook her sister. Twilights words now came as a shout, almost crying out as if pained. Upon completing the 5th incantation at this volume, there was a crack like lighting, and Twilight dropped to the ground as the light from AJ flashed around them. Opening her eyes, Apple Bloom saw her sister, standing, smiling.
"Hey y'all" Apple Jack said. "Why is everyone crying? Did I miss something?" She asked. Apple Bloom ran to her sister, hugging her tight. Big Mac joined them, hugging them both. "Aww, y'all, what's this about?" Apple Jack asked. Big Mac let go and stepped back. Apple Bloom looked at AJ.
"You don't remember?"
Back at the barn. "So, I was... dead?" Apple Jack cried. Twilight hung her head.
"You appear to be in perfect health. As if it never even happened." Said Dr. Greymare. "I'd take it easy for a few days. Traumatic experiences tend to cause more problems over time." He continued. "I'll be on call if you need me." Dr. Greymare nodded to Twilight and walked out.
"You're sure you're ok?" Twilight asked Apple Jack.
"I feel fine." Said Apple Jack. "Honestly, if no one told me I died, I'd be more likely to believe I woke up from a nap in the sun. Refreshed and ready for the day ahead." The two mares shared a smile. "Thank you, Twilight."
Chapter 1. - Summer Sunset
"Twilight!" Apple Jack yelled. Twilight and Rarity stopped their conversation. "It's Granny, I don't know what's wrong!" Apple Jack continued. Twilight and Rarity shared a look and ran after Apple Jack to Sweet Apple Acres. Granny laid sprawled on the floor of the kitchen floor.
"She can't stand. She's week and she says she's tired. I don't understand." Apple Bloom said to the mares as they ran inside. They helped her to her bed, to rest.
"It's gonna be ok Granny." Apple Jack said with hope in her eyes.
"Stop that." Said Granny. AJ's smile vanished. surrounded by her family, Twilight, and Rarity, Granny smiled. "I know my times up."
"NO!" Cried Apple Bloom. Granny chuckled softly as the other adults lowered their heads.
"You're not just a little filly anymore, Apple Bloom." Granny encouraged. "I told you my time would come, and this is it, but I got to see you, to love you, to see your cutie mark. You have many more adventures to come."
"Granny..." Apple Jack started.
"And you." Granny said, looking to Apple Jack. "You've done so many wonderful things. Never forget how much I love you." She looked to Big Mac. "And when the apples are green and fall from the trees with the ripe fruit, that's me reminding you I'm still here. I'm still in the field with you. I will always be with you." Big Mac lowered his head in grief, tears streaming from his eyes. Granny looked toward the ceiling. "I can see my son again." She said with a smile. She closed her eyes. The room held their collective breath for a beat, until Granny sighed, and they knew she was gone. Apple Jack sniffled and turned to her friends for comfort.
"I can't believe she's gone." She said through tears. As the adults began to leave the room, Apple Bloom looked up from her grandma.
"No. No, she can't go." Apple Jack stopped and looked back to her sister.
"I'm sorry Apple Bloom-"
"No! Twilight, you brough AJ back, bring Granny back!" Twilight stood in shock. AJ interrupted before she could speak.
"Now hold on, Twilight brought me back because I still have work to do. You can't just defy nature because you want to Apple Bloom."
"Why not!?" Apple Bloom cried.
"Granny said she wanted to go." Apple Jack replied.
"No, she didn't!" Apple Bloom Argued.
"She said it was her time." Apple Jack said.
"Why can she decide to leave if I can't decide she should stay!?" Apple Bloom yelled.
"It's not up to us, Apple Bloom." Apple Bloom jumped from the bed and ran out of the room. Apple Jack sighed. "Was I too harsh?" She asked. Twilight shook her head.
"I understand Apple Jack, but sometimes little sisters need the truth. That's what you gave her." Rarity said. The mares left the room.
Big Mac took a final moment. "Goodbye Granny." He said quietly. and sat in his grief until his tears ran out and he went to bed.
As morning light rose over the horizon, Apple Jack rose for the day. Today they burry their grandma, the mare that raised her. This was going to be a long day. As she walked into the kitchen, she noticed the door was open. "That's weird..." She stepped outside and in the rising sun light saw apples laying all over the ground. "What the hay?" She followed the trail of apples, realizing most were half eaten or just cores. In the middle of the orchard, sat Granny, eating apples as fast as she could. Apple Jack was stunned. "G-Granny?!" she called walking closer. Granny Smith slowly looked up from her apples. Her eyes were glassy, she had bits of apple and juice covering her jaw. She opened her mouth and a wad of chewed apple fell out.
"Granny!?" Apple Jack rushed over but stopped a few feet away. She looked at the chewed-up apple in disgust, and at her granny's mouth. Granny didn't have teeth! Her mouth was covered in blood where she had bitten into the apples with her bare gums, crushing them with sheer force. "I'll get the doctor... I'll get Twilight! Sweet Celestia..." Apple Jack yelled as she ran back to the barn.
"Big Mac!!!" As soon as she hit the doorway she hollered. "Big Mac! Get up! It's Granny!!!"
Big Mac, standing in the doorway of the kitchen froze.
"Granny!?" He questioned.
AJ stopped and panted. "Yeah... She's... eating apples..." Big Mac stared at his sister, stunned and confused. "Go get the doctor!!!" Apple Jack yelled.
"Wait-" Big Mac started as Apple Jack ran out the door.
"No time to explain, I'll get Twilight and meet you in the middle of the orchard."