What Granny Would Want

>"Ah said no! This ain't what she would have wanted!"
>Applejack gets in Big Mac's face snarling fiercely.
>You sit in a nearby chair, with Little Applebloom in your lap.
>She keeps her head buried in your chest.
>"Now sis, Ah in charge now that she's gone and-"
>"SHE AIN'T GONE YET!"
>You gently stroke Applebloom's head.
>Granny Smith lies in her hospital bed.
>How her eyes are shut, she looks so peaceful.
>She had an attack. A stroke to be precise.
>A really bad one, and it seems she may not wake up.
>She was legally dead for about fifteen minutes before she was revived by emt's.
>Her brain lost too much oxygen.
>She's as ironic as it is, a vegetable according to the doctors who informed The Apple Family of her condition.
>Which led up to this point now.
>Big Mac thought they should pull the plug.
>Applejack thinks differently.
>Applebloom just wants her granny back.
>Though, one must ask now...
>Why are you here?
>"Ah swear! You're so stubborn! Ya think she'd have wanted this?! To be a burden on her grandkids?!"
>Big Mac is showing more emotion than you've ever seen.
>He towers over Applejack, and stares down into her eyes.
>"Are ya sayin she's a burden? She's family! I ain't gonna murder Granny!"
>You can feel Applebloom sobbing into your chest.
>You've been a faithful worker of the farms for nearly three years since coming to Equestria.
>You're pretty much considered one of the Apple Family.
>"It's not murder! It's easing her suffering!"
>"She ain't suffering!"
>This is day three.
>Three days.
>Three fucking days of arguing about this.
>"Applejack, ah need ya ta grow up, and accept that we can't hold on ta everypony in our family!"
>Applejack glares at him.
>"Ya think ah don't know what this is about? Ya don't want to let granny go, because of ma, and paw."
>SLAP.
>Big mac stares at the wall in shock.
>Applejack turned the big man's head with one strike.
>"Ya don't know anything! YA DON'T!"
>Her green orbs tear up, and she runs out of the room.
>You, and Applebloom who's taken to peeking over your arm watched the whole thing.
>Big Mac slowly turns his head frontward, and looks down.
>He looks like he may cry too.
>You stare for a bit, and look down to Applebloom.
"Hey, I'm gonna go check on your sis okay? Stay here, and console Mac for me."
>She nods, and wipes her eyes.
>"O-okay."
>You stand up, and sit her on the chair.
>You pat Mac on the back, as you exit the room.
>It takes you little time to find the out of sorts AJ, staring into a mirror in the visitors room.
>She stares at her reflection, with solemn, melancholy eyes.
>You approach her from behind so as not to surprise her.
>She briefly looks at your reflection, and back to herself.
"Hey."
>"Hey."
>You both stand there in silence for a while.
"Are you okay..?"
>She doesn't say nothing back.
>She merely stares at herself.
>"Mah ma, and paw died when I was just a filly."
>You rub the back of your neck.
>"Ah didn't understand at the time, what death really meant ya see, so ah thought that they just went on a long trip."
"You were a child Applejack. Don't blame yourself for not understanding."
>She weakly chuckles, and closes her eyes.
>"Ah shouldn't, but ah do. When ah think about it now though, ah knew what had happened ta them. Ah just didn't want to admit it."
>You step a little closer.
>"Ah...ah'm afraid of death Anon."
"We all are. No one wants to die."
>"Ah'm more afraid of what'll happen to those left behind. Ah've done mah best ta make sure everypony is healthy, and happy. Ta make sure they stick around for a good long while, and it--*sniff*-"
>You can see her eyes get glassy, and red.
>"-And it makes me sick that somepony is about ta die right in front of me, and all because ah didn't do a good enough job! She is suffering! She doesn't want ta be a burden on us! AH KNOW THAT!"
>She begins to weep openly now.
>The tough as nails Applejack, who never cries, is sobbing here and now before you.
>"But, Ah can only see her taking that long trip mah parents took..Ah don't want that...Ah want ta keep her no matter what form she has."
>You touch her back, and kneel down to her level.
"I don't want to hurt you more AJ, but you know that's selfish right?"
>She puts her head against yours.
>"Yes.."
>You put your hand on the other side, and scratch her ear gently.
>She hums out a little sob.
>"A-anon?"
"Yes?"
>"Am ah a good pony?"
>You smile, and peck her temple.
"You're an amazing pony. You know what you have to do AJ. it's what granny would want. She's passing the torch on to you."
>Applejack is silent.
>You close your eyes, and nuzzle her head.
>"Ah know."
>More silence befalls the two of you.
>"Just please...stay with me through it all Anon."
"It's what Granny would have wanted."
>The two of you head back to Granny Smith's room after a long while.
>It was decided the plug would be pulled, and she would be allowed to go peacefully.
>It almost looked like she was smiling, as she went.
>You promised you'll look after her granddaughter for her no matter what.
>As you walked the Apples home that night, there was no conversation shared between all of you.
>Just more tense silence.
>You'll leave them to grieve.
>They need it.
>But, you know they'll get back up on their feet stronger than ever.
>After bidding them goodnight, you began your old trek home.
>As you walk down the porch, you can hear the sound of a rocking chair behind you.
>"Ya'll take care of mah kinfolk Anon. Ah'm countin on ya-"
>You whip around, to see the rocking chair moving in the wind.
>You run a hand through your hair.
>You can't help, but smile through the sorrow.
>She'll be looking down on all of you.
>Watching over her grandkids as their next guardian.
>It's what Granny would have wanted.

END