At the top of the highest hill in Sweet Apple Acres, dreary clouds adorned the skies, matching the subdued colors of the clothing worn by the citizens of Ponyville, the workers from Sweet Apple Acres and most of the Apple Family. Just three days ago, one of the workers had found Granny Smith on her rocking chair, apparently sleeping with a smile on her face, but instead of loud snoring, there was silence. The worker summoned a doctor and instructed Noteworthy to fetch Big Macintosh and Applejack. By the time the two arrived, however, they received the terrible news. Granny Smith had gone to the big barn in the sky.
The service was nearing its conclusion, with most of the farm workers and every Apple family member having their say, the shortest being Applejack’s, which consisted of shallow words expected from a random well-wisher instead of one of Granny’s grandchildren. Then one of the family members played an old tune, one of Granny’s favorites, on the harmonica. Everypony who knew it rose up and released a harmonic symphony over the gathered mourners. Others improvised on the lyrics or blew their snouts on tissues, too distraught at the sight of pallbearers lowering the plain wooden casket onto the ground. A white gravestone already stood with an engraving on the upper portion saying, Here Lies Granny Smith, The Heart and Soul of Sweet Apple Acres. The middle had a carving of the matriarch’s face and the bottom read, Always be watching over the farm with loving eyes.
At the end of the ceremony, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, and Applejack stood by the grave, greeting everypony. Many threw in a flower or other small keepsake before leaving for their respective homes. The red stallion occasionally sniffled while Apple Bloom’s jaw shuddered and her eyes quivered, as the filly fought to hold back her sorrow. However, the dam restraining her emotions broke as she bawled, adding a saddening sting to the air. Apple Fritter took her to the bottom of the hill, where some of the Apple relatives, along with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, were waiting for her, ready to console the filly.
The long line of attendees shrank and soon only a few ponies remained, with Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash at the rear, each carrying an assortment of flowers and wreaths. Since the passing, none of them had seen or heard from Applejack and were hoping to provide words of condolence and whatever else their friend needed.
Twilight extended her head around the queue to look at Applejack, expecting to see the signs of distress, but instead her friend held her head up high. "That's strange. She's not crying at all. If anything, she looks…” She spotted clear eyes from her friend and the unicorn raised her eyebrow. “...normal?"
“Why would she not look normal?” said Rainbow, crossing her hooves. “She knew we were coming and doesn’t want to look all weak and sad in front of us.”
Pinkie’s ears went down as she peeked at a colorful bag she had with her. “Awwwwww! And here, I brought some balloons to cheer her up.”
Rarity snatched the bag with her magic and tossed it down the hill. "I already told you, dear, that balloons are highly inappropriate for this situation." She then peered at the guests in front of her with restrained admiration. “I will say the designs came out splendid, but there was no joy in making them. Oh, and thanks again, Spike, for assisting me the past two days.” She kneeled and gave him a soft embrace.
“Not a problem, Rarity,” said the small, proud dragon. His blush then evaporated. “But you’re right. I hope we won’t have to do that again for a long time. Still, it was really nice of you to provide the Apple family’s attire for free.”
“Why of course, dear. It’s the least I could do for them.”
The group turned around, hearing the approaching sounds of squeaky wheels and chirping birds. It was Fluttershy, tugging a wooden cart full of bouquets with her tiny, avian friends, carrying individual flowers within their beaks. The sight brought a sincere smile from the whole group except the cyan pegasus.
Rainbow dropped her tall stack of bouquets and prodded the newcomer. “What is all this? You’re trying to make me look bad?”
Fluttershy hid behind her mane. “Oh, I just wanted to be really nice so I brought at least one of each flower.”
“Well, you should have told me so that—”
“Cut it out, Rainbow,” whispered Twilight.
The cyan mare turned around and received disapproving head shakes from her friends, shaming Rainbow into giving up the argument. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. They look really good.”
Fluttershy stepped out of her shell. “Thank you. I couldn’t carry them all, so I had my little friends carry some for me.”
The line inched forward and all were now within earshot of the Apple siblings.
Twilight whispered, “Ok, everypony. I’ll go ahead and break the ice with Applejack and the rest of you can follow.”
With a final few hoofsteps, the group stood in front of the brother and sister.
Big Macintosh cleared his throat. “Howdy.”
Each of the ponies exchanged small smiles and gentle hoof shakes.
Applejack went through each item brought by her friends, keeping an upbeat demeanor. “Ah, that is so sweet of ya bringin’ all them pretty flowers. How about we spread them ‘round?”
Her friends complied, placing the wreaths and bouquets beside the gravestone and scattering the rest. When they were finished, Fluttershy dismissed her animals, thanking them for a job well done, and Applejack went back to her brother’s side.
Twilight bit her lip before she found her lead-in. “So, how are you two feeling?”
The big red stallion took a step toward the gravestone and rested his hoof on the top. “Still tryin’ to get over it, but—”
“Just fine and dandy!” replied Applejack, raising her head defiantly and away from everypony.
Big Macintosh directed a little snort of disapproval toward his sister but she ignored it.
The group exchanged puzzled glances at Applejack’s spirited response.
Twilight opened her mouth and raised her hoof, but out came weak and incomprehensible noise. She shifted her head toward her friends and motioned at Applejack as her jaw tightened.
Rarity covered her mouth, stifling her gasp. Oh, no, she’s lost, she thought. When the silence became unbearable, she cleared her throat, grabbing everypony’s attention, and added a tender note to her voice. “Excuse me. Applejack? Are you sure about that, darling? Certainly, losing a family member is not something that should be taken lightly, and we’ll be here for you. If not, you have your family to—”
“Naw!” said Applejack, shooing off Rarity’s concern with her hoof. “I don’t need to talk to nopony ‘bout this. Besides, somepony’s got to be strong ‘round here. Too much blubberin’ for my taste, even from you, big brother.”
Big Macintosh moved his head away, unwilling to hear more.
Pinkie went right up to Applejack and patted her shoulder, preferring a spirited approach. “Oh, no, no, no! That’s a bad thing to do! You shouldn’t keep such saddy, waddy feelings to yourself. We can help cheer you up or—”
“I told ya I don’t wanna talk ‘bout it,” replied Applejack through gritted teeth.
“But—”
The cowpony shoved Pinkie away, shocking her friends and attracting the attention of a few stragglers. Murmurs broke out amongst them, and even some disapproving glares from Twilight did not silence them.
Applejack bit her lip before giving her pink friend a small pat on the back. “Sorry, Pinkie. Didn’t mean to hurt ya. I’m fine, really.” She turned to the small crowd and forced a grin on her face. “Yep. Nothing to see here, nothing at all.”
Her audience didn’t buy it, and instead became more confused.
“Listen, I…” Applejack glanced at a faraway hill. “…need to get the workers to finish up here. Thanks for comin’!”
“AJ, wait,” Big Macintosh begged.
She dashed down the hill, giving the stragglers more to discuss as they departed. Soon, only Applejack’s brother and friends stood at the top of the hill, unable to do anything but watch.
Rainbow lifted off the ground, getting a better view of the galloping Applejack, but took no further action other than flaunting her assurance at the assembled ponies. "Told ya she's just putting up a front.”
Rarity gave a nod to the cyan mare and placed her white limb on her chest. “Yes, I got the same impression as well. She must be devastated but doesn’t want to show it. Do you think we should do something about it?”
Fluttershy sensed the genesis of a plan, but wanted to tread carefully. She did a soft cough and meekly replied, “Ummm, maybe we should just, you know, wait a little longer?”
“I don’t know, Fluttershy,” said Spike, rubbing his chin. “What do you think, Twilight?”
The purple unicorn was already deep in thought on a solution to the dilemma, but needed more information. “Hold on. Hey, Big Macintosh?” She strained to continue talking. “Has Applejack been acting like this since… you know?”
He kept watch of his fleeing sister until she vanished around a hill. The red stallion lamented, “Eeyup. Won’t talk to me or the family. Thought she would at least talk to you folks. Guess not.”
“Do you think really she’s okay, then?”
“Nope. Don’t matter what we do; she avoids everypony just like she did now.”
Twilight rubbed her hoof on the ground. “Look, I know this is a family matter, but is there anything we can do? Applejack’s our friend and we don’t want to abandon her if she needs help.”
He thought of letting Applejack come to him of her own volition, but he knew his sister well enough to be certain that it would take an hourglass to measure the time for that to happen. “Got any ideas, partner? We can’t force her barn door open, ‘cause she’ll just close it up again.”
Rainbow pounded her hooves together. “Maybe we can’t force the door open but we can loosen it up until it opens by itself! It’s just a matter of finding something that reminds Applejack of Granny Smith to make that happen!”
Twilight was taken aback by Rainbow’s suggestion. “You know, that’s not a bad approach at all. How did you think of it so quickly, Rainbow?”
Rainbow rubbed her mane. "Well, you see… when I was attending Flight School, I might have... lost... somepony close to me, and it was hard for me to accept it. Fluttershy helped me out."
The group turned to the yellow pegasus, who gave a small nod. They then gave astonished stares at Rainbow, as they were not accustomed to such openness.
She waved her hooves. “But I never cried! Right, Fluttershy?”
“Umm, well—”
“Never mind! The point is that if it worked for me, it will work on Applejack!”
Pinkie bounced up in approval. “Let’s do it! So what’s going to be our crowbar? Oh, any ideas Big Mackie?”
Big Macintosh raised his eyebrow at Pinkie, befuddled by his bestowed nickname. "I may have somethin', but if you don’t mind, I’d still like to deal with this myself first. I’m going to need ya at some point for this, so wait for me ‘til then."
Twilight spoke on behalf of the whole group. “Well, good luck, Big Macintosh. We’ll be here if you need us.”
The assemblage of friends took a few steps down the hill, but then Twilight remembered Applejack had cut off Big Macintosh earlier, and she wanted to show proper consideration for his emotions.
“Hey, Big Macintosh?” said Twilight. “Forgive me for asking again, but how are you feeling?”
Big Macintosh took a long look at the grave and shed a few tears, but he maintained his composure. “Like I tried to say earlier, it will take time for me to get over this, but I’ll be okay. Besides…” The red stallion placed his hoof on his chest and a smile finally appeared. “…Granny’s in here now. Mighty kind to ask.” He waved goodbye and walked down the hill in search of his sister.
The gathered friends went the other direction, walking toward the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres, with only the sound of the empty cart’s wheels to provide any ambient noise.
Spike seized his opportunity and did a little stretch and yawn routine. “Say, Fluttershy, you mind if I take a ride in the cart for a while? All this walking is making me sleepy.”
“Of course,” replied the kind mare.
The little purple dragon hopped in, rested on his back with hands folded behind his head, and let out a contented sigh.
“Wow, Spike,” remarked Twilight, rolling her eyes. “You sure must be tired after you rode on my back all the way over here."
“Oh, lighten up, Twilight. I got small feet, remember?”
Fluttershy decided to change the subject. "Umm, do you think we can do anything to get ourselves ready in case Big Macintosh does need our help?"
Spike chimed in. “Twilight and I haven’t been here long enough to know Granny Smith that well. What about you guys?”
The mares looked at each other, but none of them felt like answering.
“She was the announcer of the Sisterhooves Social?” replied Rarity.
“She doesn’t need help crossing the street?” said Rainbow.
“She doesn’t like loud parties?” added Pinkie.
Twilight stopped on her tracks, and her ears flattened. “Seriously, you mean among us, we don’t know much about Granny Smith?”
The band of friends sputtered out nonsensical words until they all gave up and hung their heads in shame.
The bookworm rubbed her forehead, pleading for her mind to pull up anything. She received inconsequential data, and the unicorn matched her companions’ guilty expression. “Well, I guess we’re going to go in blind.”
Then the skies opened up, and a continuous torrent of water drenched the group. All turned to Rainbow, the one charged with asking for a change in the weather forecast to accommodate the funeral.
Rainbow let out a nervous laugh. “Oh, you see, they only allowed me to call off the rain for a few hours. Didn’t I mention that to you guys?”
At the edge of the farm, Big Macintosh spotted Applejack by some freshly planted trees, along with two of the farm’s seasonal workers. He recognized them as the ones responsible for filling Granny Smith’s grave, but they had slipped out before the end of the funeral. Their distraught faces told the big stallion the reason why, and he sympathized with them.
Unfortunately, his sister didn’t share that sentiment as she finished her tirade. “Now what did I just tell ya? You two have a job to do, so stop whimperin’ and git to it!”
The two workers nodded, grabbed the shovels with their mouths, and made a slow march toward the big hill. When they reached Big Macintosh, he gave both of them a pat on the back, putting them at ease before they continued on. Seeing his chance, Big Macintosh walked down to join his sister.
Applejack trotted up to meet him, still miffed. “Heya, big brother. Sorry I took so long to get back to ya. I had to talk to them two to get their rumps goin’.”
He nudged down his eyebrow. “You shouldn’t be too hard on them, AJ. Those two might not have any relation to Granny, but she treated them as family and they did the same to her.”
She perceived an offensive attack and raised her voice. “That ain’t no good excuse! Besides, you ain’t seein’ me sobbin’ and cryin’ all across the farm, and I’m family! Yeah, this whole situation has been tough, but I can handle it! I ain’t so little anymore!”
“Now, hold on.” Big Macintosh relaxed his stance. “AJ, you’re just not bein’ honest with yourself. Maybe if you—”
The earth mare crowded her brother’s face and jabbed his chest. "Don't you dare say that 'bout me! You know I'm the most honest pony in all of Equestria! I already told ya, I'm fine! I gotta lot work to do, so stay out of my way!"
His voiced faltered. “AJ, please? Don’t—”
Applejack ran off deep into the grove of trees just as the rain hit the ground.
Big Macintosh stood pat, and placed his hoof over his face, weeping for his sister like he had done for his grandmother. He hated to admit it, but at least with Granny Smith, the stallion was too late to see her slip away from the world of Equestria. With Applejack, it was unfolding right in front of him and just now, when she told him about going back to laboring in the fields, it struck him at the core of his heart. Big Macintosh knew it ran counter to the fact that all activities within the farm had ceased until next week. He refused to accept the authenticity of her words until his ears picked up the distant sounds of hooves striking wood.
Applejack had just told a lie to her own brother.