Applejack was being amazingly subtle about it; to the casual observer, the farmmare was just like she always was at parties, boisterous and easy-going, taking part in Dash’s latest challenge one second and having a quiet conversation with Fluttershy the next. But to Pinkie Pie’s trained eye, Applejack’s grin was a little too glassy, her laughter a touch too forced, like her fellow earth pony was holding onto it for dear life. No, Pinkie knew exactly what Applejack was: a party-goer who wasn’t having fun.
For other grumpy guests, the pink party pony might have staged an elaborate spectacle, a special game, or some other machination, but Applejack was one of her closest friends. For her, a simple, honest talk would do more than any ridiculous gesture, and so Pinkie approached AJ while the others were cooing over the amazing technicolour dreamcloth that Twilight had gotten for Rarity. “What’s got you feeling so down, Applejack?” she asked bluntly.
To her annoyance, Applejack’s somewhat sad smile grew wider - faker - at the question. “What? Ah ain’t feeling down, Pinkie. This is a great shindig, by the way, and Ah’m certain Rarity agrees.”
“No changing the subject, Applejack!” Pinkie replied forcefully, her eyes narrowing at her friend. “I know it’s a good party, one of my best, which makes it all the more suspicious that you aren’t having fun!”
It was Applejack’s turn to get indignant. “Ah’ve been having fun! Ah enjoyed the cake, Ah beat Dash at Pin the Tail on the Pony, Ah’ve been smiling and laughing! What more do you want, Pinkie!?”
“I want you to stop putting on this show and tell me what’s wrong with you!” At this point, the others had wandered over to see what the commotion was about, and a worried glance from Fluttershy told Pinkie that it was time to take it down a notch. In a more sympathetic tone, she continued, “Please, AJ. We’re your friends. We just want to help.”
“Ah… Ah…” Applejack glanced all around herself, looking for a way out, but her friends had surrounded her with a wall of kindness. Her green eyes finally fell on Rarity. “Ah don’t wanna ruin your special day, sugarcube.”
“Darling, if you’re not having fun at my party, then my day is already ruined,” Rarity replied with a gentle smile. “But if I can do something to help you…”
“Ah don’t think that’s possible, Rarity. Y’see…” Applejack swallowed hard, mustering the nerve to say it out loud, to make it real once again. “…Granny Smith didn’t wake up this morning…”
Silence filled the room, the news effectively killing the party — just what Applejack had feared. Nopony moved for a few seconds, and then, almost as one, the farmmare’s five friends moved to hug her, their own sniffles and sobs and condolences allowing Applejack to finally let lose the tears that only Pinkie had seen.