Carrot Top was a simple farmer. She sold vegetables in the Ponyville market on Mondays and Tuesdays, and farmed with her friends and family the remainder. After Twilight got to her, her every moment was one of intense pain and suffering. Why would the mild-mannered student harm her in such a way? Carrot Top tried to make the intense aching stop. At first, she just wanted her organs stitched back together the way they were. Rarity set to work designing clothing that would hide her hideous scars, and the pain was mild. When she tried to resume farming, however, a few stitches came undone and she was screaming in agony once more. Her doctor labeled her as 'perfectly healthy, but unable to sustain stress'. The Doctor refused to believe that Carrot Top could not die.

"Everyone dies, my dear, and you are no exception." Doctor Whooves was checking things off of a list. "You are a perfectly healthy pony that had a little rip in her esophagus is all."

"But you weren't there! She did things to me. Terrible things! She even removed my organs, just to prove a point!" Carrot Top coughed up a little blood after this statement, and Doctor Whooves rushed to her side to steady her.

"Don't yell, my dear. Your lungs cannot take such stress." Doctor Whooves sighed once more. "When I said perfectly healthy, I neglected to mention that your lungs are unusually small for a farmer of your age and stature. You should act under the notion that you have asthma."

"You neglected to mention that I have a potentially fatal condition that requires me to carry an inhaler." Carrot Top was being very rude, she knew that, but at this point the doctor kind of deserved it.

"No, well... err, sort of-" Doctor Whooves was very embarrassed to say that he forgot a patient's illness.

"If you're going to be a terrible doctor, at least make sure to tell me what I have before you start claiming that I'm a perfectly healthy pony." Carrot Top was getting impatient and had to be somewhere at three. She left in a huff and barely wished the good Doctor goodbye. She didn't bother with the inhaler either. It was impossible for her to die, so why would she need to take precautions against it?

Carrot Top walked with Berry Punch to the Apple Family funeral. Granny Smith was very kind to them and their farm when they grew up, so the least Carrot Top could do is attend her burial. Berry Punch married into Carrot Top's family and worked on the farm with them, so she decided she owed old Granny her respect too. When they arrived, there was a loud crowd of ponies, but they weren't crying. Many of them were having a joyous time. Carrot Top had been at many funerals before, and she found this in stark contrast to her father Leafy Green's funeral. She was sure that funerals were a somber affair, and this... party, for lack of a better word, was in no way somber nor reverent. Many of the Apple Family were having a good time. A few were even singing a low and hearty song.

"Umm..." Berry Punch started, but Applejack approached them with a few apples. She set them in front of the two newcomers.

"Glad you could make it, Carrot Top!" Applejack shook hooves with the two of them before continuing. "Why, you look like you've never seen an Apple funeral before!" Applejack gave a hearty chuckle as the two guests finished the apples set before them.

"I thought everypony was supposed to be wearing black and weeping. This is... well, it feels out of place." Carrot Top had a puzzled look written on her face, and Applejack knew just how to break it to her.

"Why, th' thought've that makes me want to laugh for everypony t'hear. I would want my family t'be happy when I die, not mope around an' feel guilty 'bout themselves. Sure, I was sad fer a bit, but I knew Granny's just gone t'live with th' family in the sky. She led a good life, an' nopony would regret that." Applejack stopped at the buffet and grabbed a few cupcakes for herself. "Dig in!" she motioned.

"Alright..." Carrot Top said, starting to get used to the idea. But a thought stuck her as she reached for a slice of pie. I've lived a good life, Carrot Top started. But now... now I can't die. So when is my work complete? Will anypony even be able to mourn?

She thought about asking Berry Punch, but the thought was too depressing. She watched as Applejack and Berry Punch joined together in a rendition of 'When The Flowers All Turn Brown'. She smiled. She could worry about immortality another time. For now, she had only to live for the future.

Carrot Top woke up in an unusual position. Sleeping in a stranger's bed with a hangover is even less glamorous than it sounds. She moved off of the bed to discover who her bedfellows were, but she felt a sharp jab from her torso as she moved off the bed. She coughed up some blood before turning around to find an awkwardly positioned Rainbow Dash hanging off the foot of the bed. One of the extended Apple family was asleep with his wife, which made it even more awkward than before. She slowly and painfully inched her way out of the room and closed the door, trying not to make a sound.

She trotted down the stairs to find Applejack asleep in Granny Smith's chair. She considered making breakfast to thank Applejack, but she counted far too many bodies to prepare an unfamiliar dish for. Carrot Top found Berry Punch passed out drunk in the fridge, so she tried to sling Berry Punch over her shoulder. It was already too late before she remembered the 'no stress' rule, and she screamed out in pain. Applejack shot awake and rushed into the kitchen.

"Ohhhhh!" moaned Carrot Top as Applejack examined her for broken bones.

"You hafta obey th' doctors orders, Carrot Top! You can't just be fergettin' whenever you feel like it!" Carrot Top squealed once more as Applejack lifted her onto her back. "I'm takin' you back to the hospital, okay?"

A bleary Apple Bloom walked into the kitchen, yawning. "I heard screams an' came as soon as I could..."

"Apple Bloom, thank goodness! Can you hold th' fort while I take lil' Carrot here to a hospital?"

"Alrigh' sis... but only because I was goin' t'make breakfast anyway..." Applejack suppressed a grimace. She set off quickly, making sure to be as tender as possible with Carrot Top's fragile body. Apple Bloom watched until they were out of sight, then turned towards the limp Berry Punch on the floor. I sure hope Carrot Top will be alrigh'...