Xenophilia: Shotglass Oneshots

by TheQuietMan


38: Bittersweet Apples by BackgroundNoise

Bittersweet Apples by BackgroundNoise

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Granny Smith didn't normally walk the eastern edge of the fields anymore, her family, bless their hearts, worried about her constantly, and as much as she liked to pretend that she was just indulging them in their over-protectiveness, lately her hip had been giving her a worrying amount trouble; to say nothing of how tired she's been lately. "Feh, there's still some life left in this ole' gal yet."

Her body might not be what it used to be, but she still had her memories, back when this was her farm, back before it had even been a farm. It helped sometimes, walking along the borders of the old farm she used to remember, back when it had just been a simple orchard... back when she still had her herd. Suddenly a noise interrupts her bittersweet reverie, a pained groan coming from the border separating the old orchard from the Everfree Forest. "''m I hearing things again?" She wonders as she carefully trots towards the source of the noise.

It was a strange critter, that's for sure; all banged up and covered in scratches and burs like it'd just run pellmell through one of the nastier parts of the Everfree. The oddest thing about it wasn't how big and hairless it was (though that certainly threw her off), but the way it was covered in clothes like some kind of big-shot, but what sorta big-wig would be running around the Everfree? Broken from her train of thought once again by the strange creature's pain (her heart melts a bit when she recognizes it as stallion) "C'mon now big fella, I'll take care of ya.", despite her soft words and gentle actions she can't help but let out a pained hiss, the weight of the odd stallion is much less than she'd thought it'd be (and wasn't that a scary thought, just how long was he trapped in that thrice damned forest?), but it's still enough to make her hip positively throb with pain. Despair fills her as she realizes just how far she is from the homestead, in spite of this she grits her false teeth, a spark of determination in her eyes "'m not useless! I can still do this much!"; it was a long walk back...

"Granny, landsakes, what happened to ya? And what in the name of Celestia is that thing?!" Granny Smith huffs tiredly, legs shaking and coat covered in perspiration, her dentures having long since fallen on the perilous trip back, "AppleJack!" she snapped tiredly "I taught ya better than that. This here stallion just got outta the Everfree and he needs our help!" AppleJack looks taken aback for a moment, not expecting to be cajoled in such a way, but her expression quickly softens when she gets a look at the aforementioned "stallion"; "C'mon now, lets get ya inside... Big Macintosh get out here and help Granny!". Granny Smith collapses tiredly, the trek having taken everything she had left until even her determination had been snuffed out. She barely notices her grandson gently lifting her "I did it Zelda, I saved him..." she mutters tiredly, consciousness slowly draining from her as she falls into a peaceful slumber. She would dream of her strange, beautiful herd that night, and for the first time in long time it wouldn't hurt at all.