A few days had passed with the same routine repeating itself over and over; the Apple Family gathering for breakfast, heading off to do their business, and returning home for dinner. With each passing moment together, Applejack and Caramel seemed to have became closer and warmer towards each other.

One fateful morning, Applejack and Caramel left the Farm together to do some delivery, with the mare pulling a wagon of apples, while Caramel carried the bags that were meant for the bits they would earn for selling the fruit.

"I can't believe that you are finally trusting me enough to let me go out in public with you, Applejack!" Caramel told his companion.

"You did a great work cleaning my barn for days! I thought that you should try something else, as in, help in some other way." Applejack replied.

"So, does that mean, you don't want me to clean your barn anymore?" Caramel asked, expressing concern.

"I never meant that! It's just...I don't just do apple-bucking or farm duties only! Sometimes, I cook! But my main point is, in this family, every creature helps in more ways than one, doing two or more tasks." Applejack clarified.

The two Earth Ponies then made their first delivery at Carousel Boutique, the residence of Rarity, one of Applejack's best friends.

"Oh, hi Applejack!" Rarity greeted, answering the door. She was surprised to see her Best Friend with a stallion whom she(Rarity) barely knew.

"And who is this?" the unicorn asked.

"Oh, Rarity, I would like you to meet Caramel. He's my guest currently and temporarily as he will move back into his house when it's rebuilt." Applejack explained.

"Applejack is telling the truth, Miss Rarity," Caramel added, "I'm helping her with some of her chores during my stay, and she's just trusted me enough to let me do some deliveries with her.

Rarity squealed after hearing what the two Earth Ponies said, to their confusion.

"Uh, Rarity? What's it that you're squealing about?" Applejack asked.

"What's it that I'm squealing about?" Rarity replied, unable to control her excitement, "It's just...that...I can't believe it! Finally, Applejack, you've found your true love!"

"What?! Rarity, the truth is..." Applejack begun, before being cut off by Rarity.

"I've always believed that you will find your true love someday like many creatures do, and now, it's happening! By the way, if some tomboyish pony like Rainbow Dash can find a gentle colt she loves, so can you, and you did!"

"Rarity, Caramel and I are just friends! And right now, he's my..." Applejack tried to explain, but was cut off by her sister's voice.

"Applejack!"

"Apple Bloom?" the orange-coated mare asked.

Apple Bloom raced towards Carousel Boutique, telling the ponies, "Applejack! It's Granny! She wants to see the whole Apple Family right now!"

"Now?! But...my deliveries...I haven't..." Applejack begun, before Caramel told the farmer, "Don't worry, I'll check on them while you're gone."

"No way! Granny says that she wants to see Caramel, too!" Apple Bloom told the ponies.

"Don't worry, AJ, as your Best Friend, I'll watch your deliveries!" Rarity announced, stepping out of her Boutique.

"Thanks, Rare." Applejack thanked the unicorn, before leading the Earth Ponies towards the Barn.

Upon reaching the Farm, the trio stopped to see the whole Apple Family gathered at the Barn.

"Whoa, are all those ponies your family?" Caramel asked.

"Yes, they are." Apple Bloom replied.

"But...if we were having a huge family meeting, Granny would have announced it weeks ago..." Applejack stated, before she realised that something unfortunate was happening, "It's Granny! No!"

The cowgirl raced towards the Barn, leaving a confused Apple Bloom and Caramel behind.

"Applejack! What do you mean, 'It's Granny'? Is something wrong?" Apple Bloom called out.

"Her time has come." Applejack sadly replied, causing Apple Bloom to gasp.

Inside the Barn, old Granny Smith was coughing and wheezing with her grandson Big Mac and his wife Sugar Belle taking care of her.

"More soup, Granny Smith?" Sugar Belle asked, levitating a bowl of warm soup with her magic.

"Granny Smith sipped the soup a little, before thanking her granddaughter-in-law.

"Granny!" Applejack and Apple Bloom called, arriving at the scene.

"Applejack, Apple Bloom, you came." Granny Smith said in a weak tone.

"I came here too, Granny Smith." Caramel approached, showing himself to the elderly pony.

"Caramel, I'm afraid that I won't be giving orders to any member of the Apple Family anymore, so the the duration of your stay won't be dependent on my decisions; I hope you can understand." Granny Smith told her guest.

"I...understand, Granny Smith. Don't worry...my house is about to be ready, I'm sure I don't have to stay long." Caramel replied sadly, not because he was afraid of losing his temporary home, but because he realised that Granny Smith was indeed about to finish her life.

"Apple Bloom," Granny Smith turned to her youngest grandchild, "I hope that you'll remain strong and true even without me, and no matter who bullies you."

"Granny, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon aren't my enemies anymore," Apple Bloom pointed out.

"Bu there might be more bullies than just them, there are chances of you running into them, and you might get bullied because of your age, you just became a teenager...you got to stay strong, and always do what's right, no matter what a bully does." Granny Smith explained.

"Don't worry, Granny, I may have made a payback mistake once, but it won't happen again...even when you're not around." Apple Bloom saluted.

"Big Mac," Granny Smith called, "I hope that you can finally speak up more often, to any creature and every creature, as we can't have some creature silent on our Farm. We are meant to be friendly and nice,"

"I won't let you down, Granny." Big Mac promised.

Granny Smith then faced her granddaughter-in-law, "Sugar Belle, you may not be born an Apple Family member, but you will always be treated like you were one, and will continue making the delicious Apple Treats. for our guests and costumers."

"I will, Granny Smith." Sugar Belle nodded.

"Applejack," Granny Smith called, "I actually wanted to pass my role as Leader of the Apple Family to you before leaving, but I didn't because of how harsh and unforgiving you were. I hope that now, in my absence, you will be the forgiving, friendly, pony that I need you to be. Especially now that everything that happens to our family will be your responsibility. Please, lead them and take care of them, well."

"I will, Granny, I promise." Applejack saluted.

"I know you will," Granny Smith said, using her last breath, before her eyes shut forever, causing every creature to let out a waterfall of tears.

Apple Bloom sadly leaned against her elder brother, while Sugar Belle comforted Big Mac.

"Goodbye, Granny." Applejack sadly nuzzled her paternal grandmother's body, before turning away to let out her tears.

Caramel, watching Applejack cry, felt sorry for her, approaching her, "I'm so sorry, Applejack."

Leaning onto him, Applejack cried, "Thanks, Caramel, for your...support."

The ponies walked out of the Barn, facing the whole Apple Family.

"Should we tell them?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Of course, we have too." Applejack sadly answered, "Maybe I should do it."

"Or maybe I can do it? If...you'd like...or accept?" Caramel offered, knowing how difficult it was for Applejack and her family to say what they had to say without being overwhelmed by their sorrow.

"Sure. Since it's going to be hard as fighting a dozen Timberwolves for us to tell." Applejack agreed.

Caramel stood up and faced the crowd, announcing, "Members of the Apple Family, from near and far, we have some very unfortunate news; Granny Smith has just...passed away."

Many ponies gasped followed by crying, and comforting each other. The other elderly ponies sadly wept as they mourned for their life-long leader's passing.

Applejack then sadly took over the announcement, "I know that we all are sad, but we have to stay strong without her. And like old times, we Apples host funerals for our family members in the field."

That afternoon, the Apple Family members sadly queued up to drop off their cards for Granny Smith, placing them on her dead body before joining Applejack and her immediate family. Once all the family members had given their cards, dirt was filled into the pit, covering Granny Smith's body.

"Every creature, thanks for making it to Granny Smith's funeral, to see...the last...of her," Applejack sadly announced to the crowd, barely able to control her tears, "Now, with her gone...its time...for me to lead you all...the ceremony shall begin at sunset, so...you better get ready for it."

The crowd then departed to prepare for the upcoming ceremony that was just around the bend. Applejack then let out a sigh, which Caramel quickly took notice of.

"You okay, Applejack?" he asked.

"No, I'm not." the cowgirl replied, "My Granny has always been there for me after my parents are gone, now that she's gone...I don't have some pony, or some creature who would always be there for me."

"What about your best friends?" Caramel pointed out.

"I was talking about family." Applejack clarified, "There won't be any other creature in my family to always be there for me; Big Mac has Sugar Belle, while Apple Bloom's too young!"

"I know that I'm not anything like your best friends or family, but...I would like to be there for you like a friend or family member would," Caramel admitted, "If you like that,"

Applejack looked into Caramel's eyes, sensing that he was indeed telling the truth, before replying, "Thanks, Caramel. I really needed it."

"Applejack!" Rarity called, as she galloped towards the farmer, followed by their best friends.

"We heard that...that.." Rainbow Dash begun, but failed o say the rest of the sentence.

"That Granny Smith is...is" Pinkie Pie tried to finish the sentence, only to find out that she was unable to say it as well.

"It's okay, ya'll." Applejack assured, with tars flowing out of her eyes.

"Applejack, are you sure it's alright?" Princess Twilight Sparkle asked in a concerned tone.

"It may be really hard for me, but I'm sure I can accept it that Granny's gone...leaving me in charge of the Apple Family..." Applejack replied, before gasping as she realised what she just said.

"In charge of the Apple Family! Oh no, it's almost sunset! And I told them all that the ceremony will happen then!" Applejack panicked, before galloping to the Barn.

"What about your deliveries?!" Rarity asked, "I can't keep them in my Carousel Boutique forever!"

"Just keep them till next morning! I'll deliver them then!" Applejack called back.

"It's alright, Applejack knows what she's doing," Carameltold the farmer's best friends.

"And who are you, Mister?" Pinkie Pie asked the stallion.

"Guys, this is Caramel," Rainbow Dash introduced, "His house got burnt down by a dragon by accident, and he's staying with Applejack's family until it's rebuilt."

"I'm so sorry about your home," Fluttershy approached Caramel.

"It's okay," Caramel responded, "My house is almost done, and it will be any day now."

"You sure are lucky to have a friendly pony nearby," Spike stated.

"And for a second I thought that Applejack is finally getting a special some pony or some creature." Rarity commented, causing Caramel to blush for a brief moment.

Later at sunset, every creature was gathered at the Barn, with Applejack's cousin from Appleloosa, Braeburn giving out an announcement, "Apple Family members, from near and far, today's a big important day for all of us. For many years, Granny Smith served as our leader, but now, the time has come for her granddaughter, Applejack, to lead. And no matter how much things change, we will always remember our beloved Granny Smith. Now, without further ado, I present to you all our new leader; Applejack!"

The new Leader of the Apple Family then stepped up in front of the crowd, and had the ancient Apple Family-tradition scarf that Granny Smith wore placed on her neck by Braeburn.

Looking at the audience, she took in a deep breath delivering her first-ever speech as leader, "Every creature, I would like to thank you all for your support, and for coming. Now that I'm Leader of the Apple Family, I'm going to be very busy with all my duties, but I'll still be able to make time for all of you. You still can treat me as for normal or the way you used to, but I really hope that all of you can be forgiving and friends no matter what, like Granny Smith wanted me to.. Thank you all for listening."

The crowd cheered as Caramel approached Applejack, "Nice speech, Leader of the Apple Family."

Applejack blushed a little, before replying, "Aw, shucks. You really didn't need to complement me, Caramel, I was just doing my job."

"So, you don't want me to complement you?" Caramel asked.

Applejack nodded," What I meant was, you can complement me if you'd like, I totally appreciate."

"Whatever you say, Applejack." Caramel replied, before asking, "So, now that you're the leader, does it mean that it's time for me too...leave?"

"Not until you got a place to stay in," Applejack answered, "In other words, you can stay until your house is completely rebuilt."

"Aw, thanks, Applejack! You really are the friendly pony they all say you are!" Caramel thanked.

Slightly blushing, Applejack responded, "Good to know that you think so, too, Caramel."