Chapter 17: Young at Heart

One morning, at the Apple Family house, Granny Smith woke up to the sound of her alarm clock. She slowly opened her eyes, reached over to her clock, and turned off the alarm. After sighing, she slowly got up, and heard her back crack a little.

Then she got out of bed, and went to get ready for the day.

Later on, Big Mac, Applejack, and Apple Bloom woke up. After they got cleaned up and dressed, they went down to the kitchen.

"Mornin', Granny Smith." Applejack greeted.

"Morning Applejack." Granny Smith replied.

"You sleep well?"

"Ah, I slept alright."

"Hi, Granny Smith. What's for breakfast?" wondered Apple Bloom.

"Oh, just some flapjacks. Big Mac can you put the coffee on?"

"Yep." he answered.

At the table, while Applejack ate her flapjacks, she noticed that Granny Smith was eating some oatmeal instead.

"Didn't feel like flapjacks, Granny?"

"No, thought it would be better to go with oatmeal." Applejack was confused, but went back to her breakfast.

After they were finished, they all gathered in the truck, and drove off to school. The kids went to their classes, and Granny Smith went to the cafeteria.

"Hey, gals." Applejack greeted her friends.

"Hey, Applejack." they all replied.

"How's it going?" asked Pinkie.

"I'm fine. But I'm not sure Granny is."

"What's wrong? Is she sick?" wondered Twilight.

"No, she just seems a little deflated."

"I'm sure she'll feel better as the day goes on." assured Fluttershy.

"Yeah, that's probably it."

But at lunch, Granny Smith was still in a glum mood. Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac grew more concerned. So when school was over, and they all went back home; Applejack decided to get to the bottom of it.

"Granny, are you okay?" she asked.

"Huh, oh sure I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"It's just that, you haven't been acting like yourself today."

"Yep." Big Mac agreed.

"Is everything okay?" Apple Bloom wanted to know.

"(Sighs), it's just that...I've been feeling my age lately." Granny Smith admitted.

"Your age? But Granny you're not that old." piped up Apple Bloom.

She managed to give a little smile.

"Thank you, dear. But I know I'm not a spry youngun' anymore."

When they got home, Granny went straight to the couch, and turned on the TV. Still concerned for her granny, she decided she and her siblings needed to do something about it.

So on Saturday, the siblings decided to have Granny take them out. They were at her favorite clothing store.

"Now isn't this fun, Granny?" asked Applejack.

"I suppose. I did need some new duds."

After they were done in there, they headed down the street to get some lunch. As they were walking, they saw lots of people walking towards a tent in the park.

"What's going on?" wondered Apple Bloom.

"I don't know, but why don't we find out." Granny Smith suggested.

And they all followed the crowd. The Apples went into the tent, and saw two men step onto a stage.

"Hello everybody." said one of the men with a mustache.

"And welcome to our little demonstration." said the one without a mustache.

"I'm Flim, and this is my brother Flam. And present a cure for all your ailments."

"Whether you get aches or chill."

"Or have pains in your back or joints."

"This little concoction can help you."

Flim then held up a bottle with a green liquid in it.

"What is it?" asked a woman.

"It's our Flim Flam tonic."

"Just one sip and you'll feel like a million bucks."

Some of the people looked uncertain.

"It doesn't look like they believe us, brother." said Flim.

"Well then looks like we'll need a second opinion." Flam replied.

Just then, a man appeared on the stage.

"This here is Silver Shill." introduced Flim.

"Go ahead and tell us your story." encouraged Flam.

"Well I was a complete mess before taking the tonic." Silver Shill started.

Flim and Flam then brought out two pictures. One was of Silver Shill looking sick, and the other was of him in pain.

"I always had an upset stomach, my head always ached, and I had awful pains in my knees and elbows."

"But how do you feel now?" asked Flim.

"Like a million bucks."

He even did a back flip, to prove his point. The audience was impressed, except Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac.

"Do you guys believe this?" wondered Apple Bloom.

"Nope." replied Big Mac.

"Me neither, now what kind of fool will believe that?" said Applejack.

To their surprise, Granny Smith piped up at them.

"Say, I'll take a bottle of that stuff. How much?"

"That'll be twenty bucks." Flam told her.

Granny Smith reached into her purse, and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. Flim took her money, and gave her a bottle of the tonic.

Later that day, the Apples returned home.

"Uh, Granny are you sure it was a good idea to buy that tonic?" Applejack asked.

"Why not? You saw what it did for that Silver Shill guy. It could probably do the same for me." Granny replied.

So that night before going to bed, she drank some of the tonic.

The next morning, when the kids woke up, they discovered Granny Smith wasn't in the house.

"Where's Granny?" wondered Applejack.

"She wasn't in her room, or the bathroom." Apple Bloom answered.

"Have you seen her Big Mac?"

"Nope." he replied.

Just then the front door opened, and in came Granny Smith wearing a black t-shirt, leopard print pants, sneakers, and a green headband. This surprised her grandkids.

"Morning ya'll." she greeted.

"Granny where were you?" asked Apple Bloom.

"I was out for a morning jog."

"Jog, since when do you jog?"

"Yeah, and what about your knees?"

"Well it was no problem thanks to that tonic."

The siblings looked at one another.

"Are you sure it was the tonic?" Applejack wanted to know.

"Of course, it's the tonic. Why check this out."

She pulled out the bottle from the fridge, and took a swig. Then she did a little jig. This surprised the three.

"It's great you're feeling good this morning. But are you sure it's the tonic that's causing it?"

"Of course, I'm sure. I feel about 30 years younger. Now I bet ya'll are hungry, I'll get breakfast whipped up in a jiffy."

And just like that, she whipped some bacon and eggs. All day, Granny acted really spirited. She cleaned the house like lightning, did some exercise, and even paid all the bills in one day. And for dinner, she whipped up a meatloaf dinner.

"Wow, I haven't seen Granny like this for a long time." Apple Bloom said.

"She's like superwoman." Applejack said.

"Yep." agreed Big Mac.

"I guess that tonic really does work."

But Applejack was still skeptical. Could a tonic really take away all a person's ailments.

On Monday, before going to work, Granny took another drink of the tonic, and she and the kids went to school. Applejack's friends were surprised to see Granny acting the way she was.

"Gee, AJ Granny Smith's looking better." observed Twilight.

"Yeah, she is." Applejack replied.

"Is something wrong?"

"It's just that Granny bought this tonic from the Flim Flam brothers. They say it cures all your ailments and injuries."

"Sounds too good to be true." mentioned Rainbow Dash.

"I know, but Granny really seems to think it works. And look how happy she looks."

"You know Applejack, perhaps you better get some more information about this tonic." Fluttershy suggested.

"I think Fluttershy is right." added Rarity.

"I think you guys are right. After school, I'm gonna go see those Flim Flam Brothers."

"We'll go with you if you want." offered Pinkie.

Applejack smiled at her friends.

"Thanks, ya'll."

So when school was over, the six went to the Flim Flam Brothers' tent. Inside, the men were doing another show to advertise their tonic.

"If you don't believe us, just ask Silver Shill here." said Flim.

The same guy, who Applejack saw came on stage.

"Tell us your story." encouraged Flam.

"Before taking your tonic, I was in a bad state. My back hurt, and neck was always so stiff." Silver Shill told.

"Hey, that guy said he had different issues." Applejack informed.

"That's odd." said Twilight.

When the show was over, the girls investigated. First they went to speak to the brothers.

"Uh, excuse me?" Applejack asked.

"Why hello there, ladies." greeted Flim.

"We wanted to ask you guys some questions."

"Fire away." Flam said.

"What's in that tonic?" wondered Pinkie.

"Sorry gals, but it's a secret." Flim told.

"Yeah, can't have people knowing what's in it, then they'll just make it themselves." Flam added.

"Okay, but could we buy some anyway?" Twilight asked.

"But of course."

They bought a couple bottles, and left the tent. As they were leaving, Applejack saw something. It was Silver Shill, and he was collecting something from Flim and Flam.

"You did good out there, Silver. Here's your payment." said Flim.

And he handed him a check.

"Hmm." said Applejack.

When Applejack got home, she gave Granny the second bottle of tonic.

"Thanks a bunch for picking me up another bottle, Applejack." Granny Smith said.

"No problem Granny." Applejack replied, and she went up to her room.

She had let Twilight take the other bottle with her, so she could study it. At school the next day, Twilight informed her friends about what she discovered.

"So what was in the tonic?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"You won't believe this, but that tonic is nothing more than fruit juice." Twilight informed.

"What?"

Twilight explained that the tonic was made out of apple juice and beets. "

So they're basically just selling fruit juice. And sayin' it's a cure all tonic?" Applejack asked.

"It looks like it." Twilight said.

"Then that proves it, the tonic's a fake. And that Silver Shill guy must be in on it."

Obviously, something had to be done.

Once school was over, Applejack went to have a word with Flim and Flam. As the brothers were finishing up their latest show, she waited up for them.

"Hey, I need to talk to you guys." she told them.

"Oh, it's you again." said Flim.

"We didn't get your name sweetheart." added Flam.

"My name is Applejack, and I know all about your little scam."

"Scam? What are you talking about?"

"I know your tonic is nothing but fruit juice, and Silver Shill doesn't have any problems at all."

Before she could say anymore, Flim put his hand over her mouth, before anyone else could hear her. Then they quickly took her aside.

"Look kid, you can't go around saying stuff like that." warned Flam.

"Oh you're one to talk. At least I have the truth, you're just spitting lies."

"Ah but is a lie really that bad?" asked Flim.

"Yeah, its not hurting anyone, and besides, isn't your grandmother feeling better?" Flam wanted to know.

That made Applejack freeze. Granny Smith was doing better, and she did like to see her grandma happy.

"So what's a little white lie, if it's not hurting anyone?" Flim replied.

Applejack had no words to respond to that, so she just got up and left.

As she walked home, she was in a big debate with herself. It was wrong to lie, but she wasn't sure if she could hurt her granny like that. When she got home, she found Granny Smith in the kitchen, happily cooking.

"Howdy Applejack, hope you're in the mood for some tasty chili con carne." she said.

"Uh, yeah that sounds great, Granny. But listen, I gotta tell ya something..."

"And I gotta tell ya something, dearie. I feel better than I have in years. That tonic really works miracles."

Applejack's heart sank, she couldn't tell Granny the truth after hearing that. So she decided to keep her mouth shut for now.

Back at school, Applejack confessed all to her friends.

"That really is a dilemma." said Fluttershy.

"Yeah, I have to tell Granny that tonic's a sham, but I've never seen her so happy." Applejack replied.

"I'm sure you'll think of something, AJ." comforted Twilight.

Then the bell rang, and the girls had to go to class. While walking down the hallway, Applejack overheard her sister and her friends.

"Granny Smith is gonna do what?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"She's gonna show off her old biking skills." Apple Bloom told.

"Awesome." squealed Scootaloo.

That made Applejack freeze. Back when Granny Smith was younger she used to be a whiz on a motorbike, but hadn't been on one in years. If she got on one now, she could seriously hurt herself.

When her final class was over, Applejack quickly went to the cafeteria. Her friends noticed she was kinda frantic, and hurried after her

"Granny?"

She looked around the cafeteria, but it was empty.

"Oh no."

"Applejack, what's wrong?" asked Rarity.

"Granny is about to do something crazy, and I gotta stop her."

Suddenly, they all heard the sounds of students heading outside in a hurry. The girls left the cafeteria confused.

"What's going on?" asked Rainbow Dash.

A boy named Snips spoke.

"Lunch lady Granny Smith is about to show off some motorcycle moves."

Applejack headed outside with her friends following.

Outside, they found the students gathered around Granny Smith who was on a motorcycle. Applejack pushed through the crowd, and hurried up to her granny.

"Granny what are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm gonna show off what I can still do. With the thanks to those guys there." Granny told.

She pointed to Flim and Flam who was standing in front of a crowd.

"Granny you can't do this." Applejack pleaded.

"Course I can. With this tonic I can do anything."

She took a swig of the tonic, and drove the motorcycle out.

"And now you all will the see the miracle of our tonic. Just check out Granny Smith here." Flim announced.

Granny Smith drove up to them, and flashed everyone a smile.

"She'll now demonstrate, a spectacular stunt." Flam announced.

Applejack watched in terror, as some students put up a couple of ramps and in between them was a kiddie pool full of water.

"Okay, this has got to stop."

Just as Granny revved up the engine, Applejack quickly found a rope, and tried one end the back of the motorcycle and the other end to a fire hydrant. So when Granny tried to drive off, she halted.

"What the?"

Everyone turned around, and saw that it was Applejack who had stopped the event.

"What in tarnation are you doin'?" Granny wanted to know.

"This is the craziest thing anyone has ever done."

She then marched up to Granny.

"Listen Granny, I need to tell you this right now."

She grabbed the tonic from her pocket.

"This tonic is a fake." Everyone gasped.

"Fake? What are ya talking about?"

"This tonic is nothing but fruit juice, Flim and Flam have just been telling lies."

Everyone looked at the brothers.

"Aw come on folks. Who are you gonna believe?" asked Flim.

"Yeah. Two legitimate businessmen, or a hormone raged teenager?" added Flam.

"Hey!" Applejack protested.

But her friends stood by her.

"She's telling the truth. I studied the tonic myself." Twilight piped up.

Then another voice spoke up.

"It's all true."

Everyone looked and saw Silver Shill.

"I don't have any issues at all and never did. I just did it because Flim and Flam paid me."

Everyone then glared at the brothers.

As the two tried to talk their way out of the situation, Granny got off the motorcycle.

"I'm sorry, Granny. I hope you're not too upset." Applejack told.

Granny Smith smiled and put her hand on her granddaughter's shoulder.

"I'm glad you told me the truth, honey. I guess I should've known there's no tonic to make a person young again."

Apple Bloom went up to the two.

"But Granny, if the tonic was a fake, how were you so happy and vibrant?" she wanted to know.

"I guess believe that stuff worked made me feel good again. So I felt young again. I guess it just shows you that age is all in your mind." Granny explained.

From that day on, Granny changed. She became a little more active, taking some exercise and Pilates classes, but made sure to take things easy. It just goes to show a person, honesty was always the best policy.

And that age is just a number and state of mind.

That's chapter 17, plz review and Merry Christmas!