It had been five days after the funeral, and a heavy air of sadness hung over the Apple siblings like a perpetually dark cloud. Applebloom was now constantly getting in trouble at school, Big Mac was working himself to the bone all day, every day, and Applejack couldn't bring herself to buck a single tree or eat one apple. Applebloom came home from school exhausted from the long day and wanted nothing more than to go upstairs to her room to be by herself. Applejack apprehended her as soon as she walked in.
"Good to see you here, Applebloom," Applejack said. "Big Mac has been working the harvest all day, and he could really use your help."
Applebloom glared at Applejack. "Then why aren't you helping him?" Applebloom asked angrily. "You've been here all day and you've done nothing!"
"Don't talk that way to your big sister!" Applejack huffed, "And I have been doing things. I've been taking care of all of the chores around the house today while you were getting in more trouble at school! Why, you ought to be grounded for your attitude!"
"You're not my mom!" Applebloom shouted, "And you ain't Granny, neither!" Applebloom stormed off to her room as Applejack was seething downstairs. Big Mac finally came into the house for a glass of water. He looked very pale and tired, and also looked unusually thin. Applejack looked at him worriedly.
"Big Mac! Haven't you gotten any sleep over the past five days?" Applejack asked. Big Mac simply shook his head, too exhausted to form words.
"You need bed rest now," Applejack said firmly. "You've been harvesting all the livelong day! Just at least promise me that you'll take a break."
Big Mac ignored her as he got himself a glass of water and went straight back to the orchard. Applejack continued to call out for him, but to no avail. As she watched him leave for the orchard, Applejack felt completely helpless. She tried to continue to do her chores half-heartedly, but all she was able to do was look out the window listlessly in the chair that Granny Smith used to sit in.
Applebloom continued to become more and more unhappy. Life could never be the same again after Granny Smith had passed away, but sometimes Applebloom had forgotten she was gone. Though Applebloom didn't mean to be rude to her siblings, she found that she couldn't help it and lashed out often. Applebloom often sat in the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse by herself and tried in vain to look for Granny Smith on the days she had forgotten that she was gone. One day, as Applebloom was looking hopelessly out of the clubhouse window, Applejack came up to check on her.
"You ok up there, sugar cube?" Applejack asked with concern, calling up to the window. Applebloom peeked through the window down at Applejack.
"I'm fine," said Applebloom. "I'll come down in a minute."
"You've been up there all day," Applejack replied firmly. "You need to come down here now."
Applebloom glared at Applejack down the window. "Leave me alone!" she shouted down to her. "I don't want you here!"
Applejack tried to think of something to say, but she couldn't think of anything that would comfort her sister. Though she continued to worry about Applebloom's well-being, she walked away from the clubhouse, dejected and defeated. When Applebloom saw her leave, she continued to look down from the clubhouse, tears blurring her vision.
The next day when Applebloom came home from school, she was covered in bruises. Applejack saw this and immediately ran up to her, her fear building up inside of her like a volcano about to erupt.
"Applebloom! What in tarnation happened to you?" Applejack exclaimed with fear. Applebloom sighed with exasperation.
"Nothing," she replied curtly. "I just tripped."
Applejack sighed sadly. "Look, sugar cube," Applejack said, "I know you miss Granny. We all miss Granny very much, but I need you now more than ever to be completely honest with me. I'm sorry if I've hurt your feelings by being too hard with you, but you don't know how worried I am about you. We're all worried about you, and I can't help you unless you tell me the truth." Applebloom looked up at her sister, and tears started to form in both of their eyes.
"I got in another fight at school," Applebloom said as she finally relented, "And I got beat up pretty good." Applejack gasped, but tried her best not to get angry with her.
"A fight? Why on earth did you get in a fight?"
Applebloom sighed. "I don't know. It just sort of happened. Well, me and this other filly were arguing over who should go first to play hopscotch, and I guess it escalated for no real reason." Applejack looked at Applebloom, puzzled, but she did her best not to pass judgment.
"I know it sounds a might silly," Applebloom continued, "But I've just been getting angry for the dumbest reasons. Applejack, does that make me a bad pony?" Applejack looked down at her sister with affection.
"No, it don't," Applejack said gently. "It's normal to feel anger after you lose somepony you love, but you have to promise me that you won't get into any more trouble, you hear?" Applebloom was surprised at how gently Applejack was treating her; normally Applejack would have grounded her on the spot for such insolence.
"I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you," Applebloom said sadly. "I know you mean well." Applejack hugged Applebloom tightly.
"Would a nice cup of cider cheer you up? I made it myself," Applejack said soothingly. Applebloom hung her head low.
"But it ain't Granny's cider," she replied. "I want Granny to make the cider. I want Granny to come and tuck me in at night like she always did. I just want her back." Applejack looked down at her sister sadly.
"We all wish Granny was still here," Applejack said. "Believe me."
After Applejack and Applebloom had talked, the fighting between them became less frequent. Though Big Mac was finally getting some sleep due to sheer exhaustion, he still worked almost the entire day and never took any breaks. Applejack watched helplessly as the life that she had built for her family continued to fall apart, and all she could do was look listlessly out the window. One night, when all hope seemed lost, Applebloom came down from her room and sat next to Applejack, who was still looking out of the window.
"Applejack, I can't sleep," Applebloom said tiredly. Applejack looked at her with equally tired eyes.
"Don't know what I can do for you there, sugar cube," Applejack said. "Just go back upstairs and go back to bed."
"But I can't," Applebloom said sadly. "Can you tell me a story?"
"A story? Aren't you a little old for bedtime stories?"
"I know, but can you do it anyways?" Applebloom pleaded, "Like Granny used to do?"
Applejack sighed, but relented; the last thing she wanted to do was start a fight in the middle of the night over something so trivial. "What story do you want me to read?" Applejack asked.
Applebloom paused for a moment. "Actually, can you make up a story? About Granny?" Applebloom asked sadly.
"Make one up? I'm no good at that," Applejack said. Applebloom looked up at her with sad eyes, and then Applejack said, "I'll try, but it won't be any good." With that said, Applejack began her story.
"Once upon a time, there was a mare named Granny Smith. She was the envy of all of Equestria because she was smart, talented, and beautiful. Granny Smith was a pioneer pony back in the day, and she had founded Ponyville and created zap apple jam. Everypony she met adored her. When Granny was older she married our grandpa Applepie. They lived a long and happy life together, and she gave birth to our mother, Candyapple. Granny Smith loved Candyapple with all her heart, and raised us when she and dad were gone. Granny would always play games with us, and read us stories. Her cider was the best in all of Equestria, and there was nopony who didn't want to taste it. Granny Smith loved all of us very much."
Applejack began to trail off as tears formed in her eyes, but much to her relief, Applebloom had fallen asleep. Applejack picked her up and carried her back to her room. "Sleep tight, Applebloom," Applejack whispered as she lay her in her bed.