//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Smarty Family // by Autum Breeze //------------------------------// Chapter 1 ___________________________________________________________ Twilight yawned as she stepped out of her room, plodding down the hall and entering the dinning room, where Spike was setting down a plate of sandwiches. “Mornin’ Shpike,” she yawned, pulling up a chair and sitting down. The little drake looked to her in confusion. “Morning? Twilight, it’s late afternoon.” The lavender mare blinked blearily at him, before lazily cocking her head to the side. “Huh?” Spike shook his head. “Man, whatever tired you out two days ago still hasn’t let up? Just what kind of spell took that much out of you?” “Sht’s a long story,” she yawned again, putting a hoof over her mouth and lazily levitating a sandwich over, taking a small bite and chewing very slowly. “Nurshe Redher’ shaid I should be fine by tchomorrow morning.” “Was kinda surprised she made a house call last night,” the drake said, putting some small saphires in his sandwich and munching. “And Applejack said Big Mac’s in the hospital too. Malnourished. Big Mac, malnourished, of all things.” Considering the emotional trauma I put him through, I can’t say I’m surprised, the Alicorn thought gloomily. The two finished in silence, before Twilight left, heading out into the town. She didn’t even know what she wanted to do, just that she felt she needed to go for a walk. After a couple minutes, she found herself outside Ponyville General, with no clue how she’d gotten there. She turned to leave, before a clearing of a throat from behind made her look back. Granny Smith was walking towards her, a frown on her face. “Twilight Sparkle.” At once, any grogginess the princess had been feeling vanished at the sound of the older mare’s tone. She knew that tone. It was the one adults used on foals when they were in trouble and having Granny Smith give it to her… made her uneasy. “Y-yes, Granny Smith?” she gulped, smiling nervously. The wizened mare looked her over, before her face melted into a warm smile and she pulled the winged mare into a hug just as warm. Twilight just blinked… not sure how to respond to that. “Ah’ve been waitin’ t’ see ya fer days,” she pulled back, looking gratefully at her. “Ya helped ma grandson, fer that, Ah can’ never repay ya.” “I… um… well…” for a mare so smart, Twilight’s brain was surprisingly blank at the moment. “Come on in,” the green mare turned, indicating for her to follow. “There’re some ponies who have been wantin’ t’ see ya fer some time now.” Twilight obeyed, if only because her mind was still rebooting, trying to understand just the situation she was in. Granny Smith led her through the halls to a room with 312 on it. Opening the door, she let Twilight in. Upon entering Twilight’s eyes fell upon a room filled with apple themed gifts, balloons, cards and streamers, a banner above the bed with writing in a very Pinkie Pie manner saying, “Get well soon and congratulations on becoming a daddy, Big Mac!”. Laying in the bed, fast asleep, an IV drip in his left foreleg, was the red stallion himself, looking much better, though a tiny bit stockier than he normally would. Resting against his side was a familiar small grey filly with a ragged mane, wearing blue shorts with white polka dots. “Little rascal an’ Ah sure didn’ have the best o’ starts,” Granny said, her eyes on the content face of the sleeping filly, “but, we’re getting’ there.” She chuckled, glancing at the other mare. “Was hopin’ Ah’d live ta see my first great grandfoal. Never expected her t’ have been a doll afore.” “Um… yeah,” Twilight rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. “Sorry that was so… sudden?” How in the world were you supposed to apologize for unintentionally creating life that you then had to recreate? Granny Smith just laughed, the grey filly stirring, but returning to sleep seconds later. “Ain’t nut’in’ t’ be sorry for, youngin’. Ah’m glad. Though, with you bein’ the ma, Ah guess yer kinda an Apple now, right?” “Wait, WHAT?” Twilight’s head snapped to the older mare, who was smirking fondly. “Ain’t never thought we’d have a blood connection to royalty afore,” she chuckled. “Wonder what that prickly old pear would say about us Apples now.” Twilight paused for a second, confused by the elder mare’s word choice, before shaking her head. “What are you talking about?” Granny glanced at her, an eyebrow raised. “Even if’n ya ain’t gonna get married, ya’ll that filly's mother, Miss Twilight. Doctor’s did all them dang fangled DNA tests an’ everythin’. She may’ve been a doll afore, but that filly is now by blood yers and Mac’s daughter.” Twilight just stared, her right eyes twitching, before she blinked and deadpanned. “Discord. Of course.” She looked up, yelling, “I never said you had to make her blood related, ya know!” Granny cocked an eyebrow. “Who’re ya talkin’ to, dear?” “Doesn’t matter,” Twilight grumbled. “He heard me. I know he did.” She gave a big heaving sigh, rubbing her temples with a hoof. “I’m still too tired to be thinking about this.” She looked to the elder mare. “Does Apple Bloom know yet?” “Uh…” Granny Smith shifted her eyes to the ceiling. “Applejack an’ Ah thought… it might be best t’ wait til Mac’s out of the hospital first. Give us time to get her room set.” Twilight cocked an eyebrow. “Apple Bloom’s?” Granny shook her head. “Smarty’s.” Twilight stared for a few moments, before giving a simple, “Oh.” The two mares turned to watch the father and daughter sleeping, both with content smiles on their faces. “Yer welcome t’ visit her any time,” Granny said, glancing at the princess. “She’s family and now so ’re you.” Twilight moved her eyes to the filly, focusing on her for several long moments, before closing her eyes, a small smile coming to her face. “Thank you, Granny.” She turned to leave, before freezing in place and facehoofing, groaning, “Oh no!” “Somethin’ wrong?” the other mare asked, an eyebrow raised. “I’m going to need to let my parents know about this,” Twilight dragged a hoof over her face. “And if the nobles or tabloids get word of this… the inaccurate stories… oh, sweet Celestia, I don’t even wanna think about them…” She flopped down on the floor, grumbling incoherently. “Urm…” Granny hesitated, not really sure what to say. “You know what? No!” Twilight stood up, her expression firm. “I’m too tired to think about that right now. I’ll worry about it tomorrow, when I can actually think. Goodnight, Granny.” She teleported away as the mare cocked an eyebrow saying, “But it ain’t even five, yet. Did Ah miss sumthin’?”