//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Small Stallion Is Small 
// by Fat1thatyoulove 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 2 – Lying through your false teeth

My trot around the farm towards the chicken coops on the opposite side has come to its end as I turn my attention to the light lime green coated and white maned mare. She does not immediately notice me as the older mare continues to toss some chicken feed from the saddle bag that sits around her.

However, her light orange eyes slowly takes notice of me. As she does I float the tea kettle that has now cooled a little to my left, "Hello Mrs.Smith."

The old mare's shaky hoof comes up to point at me, "What's all this Mrs talk, you know you can call me Granny."

Her words bring a slight smile to my face as I just nod, "Of course." I shift my eyes towards the kettle as I speak up, "I have that tea you wanted."

My words slowly bring the older mare's friendly smile down as she gives a little sigh, "It's already been a month hmm?"

I lower the kettle to her sentence, knowing that I no longer need to continue the little cover up ploy to the pony-less area around us, "Yes."

The mare turns her attention back to the pecking chickens as she toss a little more feed to the ground before turning towards the dull red house, "I suppose I should sit down..." Her old lady grumbling runs up from her a little as I patiently wait for the old mare to trot past me.

It takes a few moments for the older mare to bring her slow trot to the wood rocker that sits to the porch, but she does as she eases the feed saddlebag to the ground gentle below her.

As the old mare settles into her seat I trot up and onto the porch as I float the tea kettle to the empty rocking chair's seat that is next to where Granny Smith sits.

Just as my magic drops to the kettle I speak up, "The tea should help with any of the side effects you talked about last time should they arise."

The mare gives a simple nod as she stretches her front legs a little, "I do hope there won't be any of those leg cramps...They were terrible last time."

I give a respectful smile as I speak up, "Hopefully not."

However, my smile does not hold for long as I clear my throat, "Alright, now just clear your mind and relax."

To the words the light lime mare closes her eyes as she sits a little hunched over in her chair. My horn sparks up with the same spell I have used since the old mare found out about it; and like normal the spell runs through its motions. Granny's white mane gets a little less snow white as my spell continues to glow to the mare's body, the loss skin around her body does not tighten but it does look to become a little more faded.

After about two minutes of hold this higher kind of spell I feel my mind starting to pound and my legs starting to tremble. I slowly break the spell as I feel my heart starting to race a little more than normal, with a heavy sigh I speak up, "How do you feel?"

The old mare opens her eyes a little more from the relaxing magic that encumbered her only moments ago, her voice comes up a little more cheaper as she nods, "Why I feel like a spring chicken." She quickly hops from the seat, but the sound of something popping sends her back into the seat as she rubs her left hoof to her right leg, "I guess maybe i'm not that young no more."

A slight smile comes to my face as I shake my head, "I would suggest just taking it easy for a little." As the words sink into the mare I lower my voice, "You do understand that this spell is not really designed to keep a pony young correct? It's only to help a life extend, as long as the pony lives a healthy lifestyle."

"I know..." Granny Smith's voice gets a little shaky as she rubs her hooves together, "I just want to do anything I can to be their for Applebloom...I know that Applejack and Big Mac always act so mature, but they both had to grow up so fast to help me on this farm when their parents.-.."

The old mare stops as she just shakes her head, "I-I just want to make sure I can stay here to help as long as I possibly can."

I nod to the comment as I bring my voice back up, "And I hope you are to."

A slight smile comes to the mare's face as she rolls her hoof to me, "Your uh to kind Stony...Now how can I repay you?"

The word bring the same reaction I always give as i shake my head, "I already told you, it's no trouble."

Granny Smith rolls her hoof again as she speaks up, "Don't give me that, you've helped me and this family more than you could ever imagine the least I-..."

"Hey Granny!..."

The voice from inside the house gets a little louder as the door to the porch comes open to the orange coated and blond maned mare, "There ya are Granny, do you think you could lend Applebloom a hoof with the apple pies? I need to got and check on them darn fruit bats."

As the words come down the old mare nods as she points her hoof towards the tea kettle, "Could you take that inside Applejack?"

The orange mare trots a little more out of the house as the old mare slowly brings herself from her seat, as she does she speaks up, "Thank you again Stony."

I just give a little nod to the comment, "Of course." As the words come to an end the old mare trots into the house yelling something about pie, or something like that. My attention though has switched to the orange mare that stands a little closer to me as she brings her hoof to the tea kettle.

"So, you must be pretty good huh?"

The mare's comment brings a quick response from me as I continue to just stare to her, "I've had a mare or two say that."

“Beg your pardon?"

The mare's confused stare turns my voice as I clear my throat, "The tea, I've had a few ponies talk about my tea."

Applejack gives a little smile as she nods, "Huh, funny you know the last few months you been bring this stuff around the farm I have never had a taste-...."

"You can always have a taste." My slightly wider smile holds to my face as my mind quickly realizes the choice of words I used. Luckily though the mare's attention has been held by the item in her hoof as she nods.

"Um, what other kinda remedies you make?"

The mare's slightly lower and unsure tone sticks me a little off, but I speak up as I shift a little, "Well it depends."

Applejack shrugs as she cocks her head, "This here is one of those relax teas right?"

"Well, yes but its only for pain more or less." I hold my smile as I raise my hoof to point a little at the pot, "Its just a little think I learned."

"Ya." Applejack nods as she looks over the kettle again, "Well...I should get this inside before it gets colder then a lizard in snow. Bye Stony."

I nod to the stranger exit as i reply, "Good by Applebottom- Applejack!"

The misshapen in the name brings a slight chuckle from the mare, as she returns back to the house. As the sight of the mare leaves my vision I give a little sigh to myself. Truthfully, helping Granny Smith has its own moral reward...But seeing Applejack and making fun of Big Mac definitely has some added benefits.

I hold the thought as I turn my head towards the path back to my own house.

End of chapter 2