chapter 1
The cold winter's air was filled with joyful laughter from the foals, as they played in the white snow.
While the little ones threw snowballs at each other, the bigger ponies started getting ready for the big day ahead of them.
That day being Hearth's Warming, a wonderful time were everypony puts on plays of how the day was founded and to make time for those they cherish most.
This was a day for friendship to glow brightly in the hearts of everypony and for them to make time on catching up with family, who may not have seen one another for some time.
And no where in the world was this honor of friends and family more true, then the Apple Family.
The Apples were known for having the biggest and strongest family bond of anypony in Equestria.
They believed that family is the most sacred thing in the world and nothing can or could ever top it.
The Apples are also known for having the greatest apples in the entire world, with no objections.
Not even the Yaks dare say their 'yak apples' are better, and to boot, the Dragons of the Dragonlands even say, Sweet Apple Acre's apples are better then any gem.
This all comes down to the family tradition that was passed down for many generations and has never changed.
The secret of how the apples taste so good lies within the apple family and how they take care of their harvest, even down to the seed.
But, the cold winter's snow covers the trees and the farm is closed for the season. All that remains is Granny Smith at home, all alone to take care of the place.
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Granny Smith was sitting at the kitchen table, reading a letter that came to her later that day.
She read the mail at least five times, just to make sure she wasn't misreading it.
A tear had rolled down her wrinkled cheek. "Well...I'll be, my grand youngins are coming to see me for Hearth's Warming Day." She chuckled as she laid the letter down and wiped away a tear from her eye. "I haven't seem em in ten years"
The old mare smiled as she turned her head to see a picture of her family that was set next to her.
She never left the house, or even the room without taking that photo with her.
It was a picture of all of Granny Smith in the middle of a group hug with Applejack, Apple bloom, and Big Mac.
Granny Smith sighed with a bit of sadness in her tone. "my my..how time flies." She said as she cracked a smile, while grabbing the picture. "I remember when this here was taken..bout thirteen years i rekkon."
She placed the photo back down on the table and placed her hoof on the picture itself. "We a family..no matter what and even if time makes me wait fur you to come, then I'll w-" She was interrupted by a violent cough. Granny Smith clutched her chest in pain, as her eyes got watery.
After five seconds went by until she was done and thus, gasped in relief. She laid her head back in the chair and stared at the ceiling fat for a few minutes. "hooo doggy! I bought coughed up both lungs." The old mare stared before feeling a little bit better. She then grabbed a tissue from a box beside her and wiped away the tears. "I say..being ninety seven ain't what it's cut out to be."
As Granny Smith got done with the tissue, she placed it onto the table and turned her attention to a red gem that was in front of her. She grabbed it and looked at it with a confused expression on her face. "Em..now how did Princess Starlight say to work this do hicky ma bob?" She asked out loud, as she started tapping it three times. "eh..something something..will record if I..um.."
After tapping and rubbing it, the gem soon glowed, to which Granny Smith's expression turned from confused, to shock. "AH! That's how it's dun. rub it three times." She gave the glowing gem a sour look. "I'll tell you what, back in my day, we didn't have this magic hocus pocus. If you wanted to contact yer kin, you git off yer kister and wrote a letter. And if that didn't work, you open the door and say." She took a deep breath. "HEY PA-" she yelled, only for her to cough again and drop the gem onto the table.
The pain itself was like a fire burning in her chest with each cough getting hotter then the next.
After a few second, Granny Smith stopped and took a deep breath. As she did, she took the gem in her hoof again. "Sorry bout that...this here old body is warn out, ain't got much time left." She said in a sad tone. "To be honest...I'm not sure what I wanna say, or what needs sayin...I haven't seen you three in years." A tear went down her cheek. "Princess Starlight and Twilight made me this here recordin gem to record my thoughts...but here I am, no thoughts to give."
Granny Smith then turned her head and looked at the photo of them, a smile swept her face as she grabbed the picture and held the frame to her heart. The old mare closed her eyes as she felt the warmth of their love again and started to remember all the happy moments. She soon opened her eyes back at the gem that was still recording her.
Granny Smith took a deep breath.
"I wanna say to Applejack, thank you deeply fur having Princess Twilight set a magical thing-a-ma-jig on me to keep me safe from harm. I am pleased as pie, that you also, made sure these young stallions not only work on this here farm, but do it the Apple way." She said as her eyes got misty. "I was sad when you left with that there Mr. Apple Plantation stallion, but you showed me that it was truly good fur business and that we Apples will be known, world wide hehehe"
She wiped some of the tears away before going on. "Also, Big Mac...You sure did surprise me a lot. Who would've thought a strong silent type such as yerself would git a date..and her you are. Not only with a beautiful mare Sugar elle, but also making Sweet Apple Acers a name up yonder were you at..."
She coughed a little, but this time it didn't hurt her. She went back to smiling. "And to the Baby of the family..My lil Apple Bloom, I sure am proud of you to darlin.You and yer two friends are up there in...um, Manehatton. Doing great work in making ponies find themselves.."
SShe sniffed a little bit, as her voice got shaky. "I remember..when you made that there cutie mark cusaders...tryin find yer way, and yet here you are. Equestria's best shrink." She closed her eyes for a moment before going on. "And Applejack, you being a element of harmony, saving this here world from evil, like that baboon face donkey centaur fellah...showin him what fur. Plus, I remember when you were not so, honest hehehe" Her tone started to tremble as her eyes became watery. "Big Mac...I remember when you dressed like a mare to help yer lil sister..I thought that was swee.."
Granny Smith could hold it in and started crying, her tears dripped onto the table as her voice trembled. "sweet Ce;estia....I don't know what I did...but." She started to chuckle as she cried. "But..I guess I did sumthin right..haven been blessed with you as my grandfoals."
After a bit, she contained her poser to continue. She looked back at the gem with red eyes and tears rolling down her face.
"now listen here...dont you dare git mad at one another..it ain't nopony's fault that this here happened. I know I haven't seen you in forever...but that is cause you are busy with your own lives and family...its just how life is."
She looked down at the table. "There was time when I was a filly to, and every year me and my family would come together for the holidays." She said as she sniffed. "But..my granny passed away..and it seems that as time went by, my family saw less and less of one another."
She looked back up and wiped way her tears" So dont you blame yerselves..its just what time does to us all. We git other families and spend time with them. Its nopony's fault ok. sometimes...time itself gots other plans."
The old mare then grabbed a tissue and cleaned herself off a bit. She laid back in her chair and held the photo tightly to her chest. "Just like today...time has a plan." She said as her heart beat could be felt. "I would love to see you all fur the holiday..but." She closed her eyes and smiled.
"just remember, Granny loves you always..."