After a small conversation with everyone, you left the library with the Apple sisters. You walked patiently through the town and towards your destination. The three of you talked about a verity of things, apples, of course were included into the subjects.
It wasn’t until you reached the edge of the farm in which AJ decided to get serious. “Hey Applebloom can you go and tell Big Mac that we’re home and that we have company?” Applebloom quickly nodded her head and quickly ran off to the house in the distance. Applejack then turned and faced you. “Tell me. What’s been bothering Twilight?” She asked with an eyebrow raised.
“Wow. You’re good. How did you know?”
“Come on. We’ve been best friends since ah’ve met her, plus I also gain points for being the Element of Honesty.” She winked. “Zeal’s a good liar, but there’s no fooling me.”
“I’ll remember that.” You smirked. “Twilight has been stressing over the fact that she will outlive all of her friends.”
“Again? She’s still thinking about that?” AJ said while tapping her chin in thought. “Okay. I’ll go rustle up the other girls and we’ll go talk to her. Thanks for telling me.” You nodded your head and told her that it was no big deal.
“If you head towards the house, you’ll see my older brother Big Macintosh. He’s ah large red stallion, so he’s hard to miss. Just tell’em AJ sent you and he’ll let in. Also thanks again.” She said as she began to walk back into town.
You looked back towards the house and slowly began to walk in its direction. There were apple tress and crops everywhere. Apple acres was the model beauty of what a farm should look like, one of the best if you said so yourself. Gaia must have blessed them tremendously.
As you walked up to the house you were greeted by a large red stallion with what looked like a wheat straw in his mouth. Upon looking at him you were immediately reminded of Oceanus. His physical stature and that aura of calmness that wrapped itself around him reminded you of your younger brother. “You must be Big Macintosh.” You said outstretching your hand for a proper handshake.
He looked at your hand and a small smirk formed across his face. “Eyup.” He said giving you a firm handshake. If he had squeezed any harder, you would have felt some pain.
“So you’re AJ’s older brother?”
“Eyup.”
“You don’t talk much, do you?” You asked raising an eyebrow.
He formed another smile. “Nope.”
You gave him a smirk as well. “Good. I think we’re going to be good friends.” Big Mac nodded his head and walked back into the house. He didn’t really offer you to come in, but you could tell that he didn’t mind.
As you walked in alongside him, a familiar odor entered into your nostrils. The smell of death was all over this house. “Is someone dying?” You asked yourself as you quickly noticed Applebloom walk towards you.
“Hey Letum, do you want tah see mah grandma?” She offered despite Big Macs disapproving stare.
“Your grandmother?”
AB nodded her head. “Uh-huh. Well she actually wanted to see you. I don’t know why, but she has been very interested in meeting you.” She said causing you to raise an eyebrow. She must’ve told her about you. Perhaps her grandmother is dying.
You nodded your head and followed AB to the backroom where the smell was the strongest. As she placed her hand on the door, she turned and faced you. “I don’t know if you can smell it but Granny Smith has been smelling extra weird lately. Big Mac and Applejack said they don’t smell anything wrong but I do. So if you smell anything please don’t say anything.” You nodded your head and walked into the room along with her.
Inside of the room you could see an old pale lime green mare lying in her bed. She looked like was sleeping but you could tell she wasn’t. “Applebloom is that you?” Granny Smith asked, her breathing was slow and shallow.
“It’s me Granny and I also brought Letum.” She said urging you forward so you could speak with her. AB backed up slowly and closed the door with her as she left the two of you alone. Granny Smith was really was dying and if she knew who you were then she was probably about to bargain for a longer life.
“Come closer child.” She said urging you to walk forward. Despite being the older one in the room, you found yourself listening to her. You walked all the way to her bedside, where you looked at her face to face. “Ohh, those eyes. So old, you are much older than the previous one.”
Previous one? “You met my grandson?”
Granny Smith nodded her head. “Oh yes. The two of you almost look alike, it’s just that your eyes give you away. You’re so much older than he is, plus your eyes show much pain and sorrow. While his do not.”
You narrowed your eyes at the old mare. “How old are you?”
“And you’re much smarter than the other one as well.” She said chuckling to herself. “I’m 190.” The dying earth pony managed to cough out. You slowly waved your hand over her frail body as if you were checking for something.
As I thought, she’s not a demigod. How is it that she possesses such extended lifespan? You asked yourself. I don’t sense any magic prolonging her life. So what could be the cause?
“A gift from the God of Death.” She wheezed out.
“A gift from my grandson? Why would he do that? What’s your relationship with Ladius?”
“He’s an…old friend-”
“As in former lover. I should have guessed that as soon as you mentioned him.” You scowled.
Your grandson had a history with failed relationships, and whenever his lovers broke up/rejected him, he would take it extremely hard. You now found yourself dealing with another one of Ladius’ love affairs. You began to question whether or not this was the real reason why the Apple family wanted your help.