You're lying!
I don't need you!
Not my friends!
Hahahahaaaaa!
Applejack woke up with a gasp, jerking up in her bed. She gripped the sweat soaked sheets tight against her as she sat there, panting. Her lungs burned with each breath, and she could feel her heart slamming against the inside of her chest. She jerked her head from back and forth as she looked around, feeling like something was watching her.
There was nothing else that she could see. It was just her room, same as it always was. As far as she could see, there was nothing out of place. Slowly, her breathing and heart rate returned to normal. Applejack had no idea how long it took, but it was long enough for the sweat on the sheets to turn freezing. She hoped that it was that coldness that made her shiver.
Tossing the sheets and blankets aside, Applejack got up. She did not feel like going back to sleep. Maybe a snack or something to drink would help. She was not really hungry or thirsty, although her mouth did feel a little dry. At least going down to the kitchen and seeing what they had would get her out of her room and let her clear her head. Maybe she would be able to get back to sleep when she got back.
Normally, Applejack found the dark and quiet of the old farmhouse comforting. This had been her home her entire life, even when she had lived in Manehattan for a while. She knew every part of the place, including which floorboards squeaked when stepped on (which she did on purpose several times). It was like the entire place had been permeated with the love and kindness of her family, and it could still be felt even when the others were asleep.
Right now though, it felt wrong. It was probably just Applejack's imagination, but everything seemed... almost menacing. It just felt... empty.
The saying "as quiet as the grave," came to mind, and Applejack tried to push it out of her head immediately.
Once in the kitchen, Applejack looked at the contents of the refrigerator. She looked at the containers of food here and there -- leftover salad, fixings for a sandwich, pieces of cake and pie, a couple fritters -- but still none of them appealed to her. The same could be said for the stuff they had to drink.
They did have some barrels of harder stuff fermenting in the barn. Most of it was cider, but there was at least one that was her namesake. It was supposed to help relax. Maybe a cup or two would help her sleep. Maybe even--
No. Applejack stopped that line of thought. It was dangerous. Her father had warned them about drinking when feeling bad. Had made it pretty clear how dangerous it could be. Although he never did give the full story as to why. It was something he said he would explain when they were older.
The thought of her father made her miss her parents and wish that they were here. Well, more than she usually did. Her mother and father seemed so large, so powerful, and so smart. It had seemed like they could do anything and make everything right. But that was probably how all young foals feel about their parents. She probably would not feel the same now that she was older if they were still around.
At the same time, if her parents were around she would have to face them. That would mean she would have to explain how she lied to her friends, nearly ruined her friendships because of it, and had abandoned them when they should have been together the most. The fact that she had been tricked and manipulated into it really did not feel like it made things any better. She could just imagine the look of disappointment on their faces.
The sound of hoof steps behind Applejack almost made her jump. Turning around, she found the familiar old green form moving toward her.
"Granny? What are you doing up?"
"Ah, just stretching out my old bones," she answered with a smile. "Much fun as all that there flipping and flying was, it was a bit too much for my age. Already starting to feel as stiff as a board. Besides, I don't sleep as much as I used to. What about you?"
"Couldn't sleep," Applejack responded as she pushed the refrigerator shut. "Kind of wish ma and pa were here. Regretting some of the things I did when Discord got his claws into me."
"Did you kill a pony?"
"Granny!" Applejack yelled out in shock. "No! Why would you even think that?"
"Did you beat a pony 'til they went to the hospital?" Granny Smith asked.
"No! I didn't beat up on no innocent ponies!"
"Did you rob one?"
"Of course not. Why would you ask that?"
Granny Smith tilted her head and looked at Applejack from the corner of her eye.
"Did you burn a house down?"
"Granny!"
Granny Smith grinned. If it had not been so dark, Applejack would swear that she could see a mischievous twinkle in the old mares eyes.
"Oh, calm down," Granny said with a chuckle. "I'm just teasing ya a little. Come on now. Let's talk in the living room."
Applejack let out a huff, her face heating up in frustration and embarrassment. After a giving a shake of her head, she followed after her grandmother. The older mare sat in her rocking chair, turning on the lamp beside.
"Teasing aside," Granny said, "you didn't do anything that hurt another pony, did you?"
Applejack sat on the couch next to her grandmother and let out a sigh.
"Kinda," she responded. "I mean, I did kind of lie to my friends and leave them behind."
"Are they mad at you for that?"
"...No... They kinda understand that it ain't my fault. 'specially since they were going through the same thing themselves." Applejack gave a shake of her head.
"But it don't change anything," she continued. "Even if I didn't do anything to hurt anypony, even knowing it weren't my fault, I still feel like I betrayed who I was." She paused and sniffed. "Like I did things no Apple is supposed to. Like... like I let them down..."
"Applejack," Granny Smith said in a soft voice. "Applejack, look at me."
Applejack turned and looked at her grandmother.
"You have no reason to worry what your folks would think of you," the older mare stated. "You've helped keep this farm going, even helping to raise Apple Bloom, you've also helped a lot of ponies, and have even save not only this farm, but quite possibly all of Equestria. You have done a lot of great things so far. All the same, even if you hadn't done none of that, your folks would love you and be proud of whatever you had did."
"You really think so?" Applejack asked.
"I know so." Reaching out, Granny placed a hoof gently on Applejack's knee. "Because I was proud of your mama for everything she managed to accomplish, and I'm right proud of you too."
The sound of hoof steps on the stair got the attention of the pair. It had always been one of the most amazing things about life: somehow the smallest and youngest -- and thus the lightest -- somehow always managed to be the loudest when it came to walking or running. Applejack had known stampedes that did not seem as noisy.
"Is everything okay?" Apple Bloom asked as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "We thought we heard shouting." The "we" being her and Big Macintosh, who made his way down at a calmer and quieter pace.
"Everything is fine," Granny Smith answered before Applejack could say anything. "Applejack and I were just talking a little about your folks is all. In fact, Macintosh could you get me that old photo album over there?" She pointed at the shelf. "Apple Bloom, why don't you come sit down next to your sister?"
Apple Bloom ran over to the couch and hopped up before plopping down. Big Macintosh walked over to the bookshelf and grabbed the photo album Granny Smith requested. After she took it, he moved to sit down on the floor opposite his sisters.
"Now," Granny said as she opened the album, "I think it might be a good time to tell a couple of stories about your mother when she was growing up." She paused and turned to face Apple Bloom. "Before I tell you these, I just want to make something clear. Just because she did these things don't mean that you should. I ain't telling you these stories to give you ideas that might be right dangerous. Got it?"
"Yeah," Apple Bloom said with a roll of her eyes. "I got it. Why would you think you'd even have to tell me that?"
"Because I've known a foal or two who did just that," Granny Smith answered, at which time both of the older Apple siblings decided that it was a good time to contemplate the ceiling.
"Now," Granny continued as she opened the photo album, "where should I start?"