> The Strength of an Apple.
>  by Dark Flame
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> Reminiscing 
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        “Granny! Granny!” Applebloom shouted out as she ran in the house, “Hey Granny, Big Mac won’t let me help with the plow!”

        Granny Smith sat there in her rocking chair, slowly rocking as her youngest grandchild came running to her. As she stopped, she looked down and said to the youngest Apple “Now listen Applebloom, you gotta understand that plowing the fields is a lot o’ hard work. Leave Big Mac to get it done.”

        Applebloom looked at her aging grandmother with a big set of puppy dog eyes and tried to persuade her, “But Granny, what if my special talent is farm work and Ah just don’t know it? You and Big Mac could be stopping me from earning my Cutie Mark.” Applebloom looked down but kept her eyes focused on Granny Smith to further help her efforts.

        However, Granny Smith could see right through her and chuckled, “Well then Applebloom, Ah guess ya’ll have ta wait till you’re a big strong mare like ya sister.” She then leant forward and ruffled Appleblooms mane.

        “That’s it!” Applebloom exclaimed as her grandmother ruffled away, “Applejack! I can help her with managing what needs ta be done! Maybe that’s my special talent.” Once Granny Smith stopped, Applebloom got up and ran back out to find Applejack.

        Granny Smith sat there and watched as the daughter of her daughter ran out to embark on yet another adventure. Another day for Granny Smith. Since the day her daughter, Appleseed, passed away, she had looked after the children of her daughter and son-in-law, Orange Tangerine.
Nopony knew that the day of their death would come so soon. It was hard on all of them. The worst though, was Applebloom, as she never got to see the face of her father and her mothers was but a blur lost in her mind. Nothing was ever spoken about them as the memories were too painful.

        Laughter could be heard coming from outside, so Granny Smith got up from her rocking chair, and walked over to the window. Outside she saw Applebloom with her friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell. No doubt thinking of new ways to find out their special talents, was the thought that came to Granny Smiths mind. Applejack walked over the group and handed them some apple pie each as Big Macintosh came over with three glasses of apple juice on his back, which the three young foals quickly grabbed.
        Applejack and Big Mac sat down with the three who spoke about little adventures they had been on such as: zip lining, boating, origami folding, and other activities to find their talents. The two elder Apples listen to their sister and her friends, all whilst Granny Smith watched from the window.
Granny Smith then walked away, and went upstairs to her room. Once there, she went to her bedside and pulled out a picture. In the picture was Granny Smith in back next to her daughter and son-in-law, and in front was a very young Big Macintosh , or as she used to call him back then “Little Macintosh”, and next him was baby Applejack. All four back in more happy days.

“You’d be so proud of them, Appleseed.” Granny Smith said as she looked at the picture. “Big Mac’s a hard working stallion now, looking after all of us. Applejack’s an Element of Harmony would ya believe it. And Applebloom... Applebloom’s beautiful... you’d be so happy of her ya would.” She sat down on her bed holding the picture, a tear escaped from her eye and met the glass. She looked up and spoke, as if speaking to them. “Applebloom has your coat Appleseed. As well as your eyes Orange. Perfect mix if Ah may say so.”

She stopped and held her head down a little. Not a day went by that she wished she could switch places with them. Only there was nothing no pony could do to help.
After she regained her self, she continued. “Ah wish you could have been alive Orange to see Appleseed give birth to her. Ah really do wish somepony could have done something, but Ah guess, in the end, what can anypony do about what you had. Ah wish it didn’t have to be you. It hit all of us hard. None of us have spoken to Applebloom about it yet. It’s just too hard. One day though, we will. She needs to know and understand. And you Appleseed... Ah wish we could have done something to help you. The doctors said nothing could help though. You just wasn’t strong enough was ya...”

Granny Smith wiped her eyes and took a breath, “None of us blame Applebloom, it ain’t her fault. Ain’t no ponys fault. One minute you’re there, the next...” Granny Smith just looked at the floor and held her eyes shut before continuing on, “Ah stay strong for ‘em all, Ah do... but sometimes... it just gets too much. Ah love you both, Ah do. Ah wish ya were both here right now. That’s how it’s meant ta be.”

Again, she opened her eyes, looked up and said “Now, Ah know ya must both be real busy up there, and Ah don’t wanna keep ya too long, just remember though: We’re always thinking of you both, and we will always love you. Especially Applebloom. Ah’ll come back soon. Ah always do.”

As she said her goodbyes for today, she started to slowly weep and place her head in her hooves. Although, she heard Applebloom shout up to her “Granny, come down here me, Scoots and Sweetie wanna ask ya stuff!”

As she composed herself, she called back “One second youngen, grannys coming!” She walked over to the door of her bedroom, stopped, looked back at the picture she left lying on the bed, smiled, and left.

“Where’s Big Mac and Applejack?” Granny Smith asked.


Applebloom shrugged and responded, “Ah dunno, there went of to East Orchard. They didn’t say why but Big Mac looked a little upset. Has anything happened to him granny?”

        Instantly, she knew why her grandson and daughter went there. It was the resting place of the ones she was just talking to. Although, to keep Applebloom happy, as it wasn’t time yet, she simply said “Nope. Ah reckon ya just let him be for a lil’ bit though alright?”

        Applebloom simply nodded and walked off to meet her fellow crusaders with Granny Smith following close behind.