Based in a recent idea that I might turn into a webcomic, based in a previous posting: https://derpibooru.org/1034095
As mentioned in the picture, Granny Smith hides some things from her past, showing she isn't the sweet lady everypony thinks she is.
Granny Smith, since her childhood, was used to do everything her parents wanted. She did many tasks in Sweet Apple Acres and yet, was a sweet lady, much like Apple Rose and her other friends. Even during the feared Great Sadness, a crisis that threw many ponies in the misery, she aided her family to keep the farm working.
Then, Granny Smith became a lady, but something changed in her. The whole crisis affected her vision of the world. She wasn't feeling the same, and she was able to find out what was affecting her: Her own parents. Granny saw many young mares becoming independent, strong, being able to live by their own. Granny was always under her parents' shadows, with them promising arrange a marriage in a near future. All of this was suffocating her. And then… She grew tired of it.
Slowly, the bright, cheerful lady was being overwhelmed by a rebel, arrogant woman. First she just did the surface of her tasks. Then pretending she was doing something. Granny passed to visit the town more often. She started to smoke, drink alcohol, and even end in fighting. She met other friends whom she could identify, as bad as she was being.
Granny Smith was being able to keep her rebel side far away from her parents' eyes, but every day was becoming harder hide her ill actions. She ended drunk in the farm, during her tasks, at least twice, and she felt the police was investigating her and her friends after a robbery in a jewelry. Her deliberated actions were destroying Granny Smith and it was a question of time before her parents could find out everything.
Then, one day, in a Sunday at the town… Apple Rose, her best friend, found her smoking, holding a cheap whiskey bottle. Horrified, she berated Granny Smith for her misbehavior. In response, the rebel pony, hardly resembling the lady she was once, expressed her frustration about her older life, her parents and friends. Apple Rose insisted in convincing her friend, only to Granny Smith blows a dense cigarette smoke in her face, telling her to go away before she snaps. Apple Rose cries and runs away, threatening to tell everything to Granny's parents. Granny, furious, runs after her but she was unable to catch Rose due her current state.
Granny didn't return home that night. She was worried, thinking about her parents knowing the truth and punish the rebel cowgirl. Scared, she ran away from the town, leaving everything behind. While wandering, Granny Smith found herself at the outskirts of an army base. Many female mares were volunteering themselves, specially after the crisis. Granny was pretending to join the army sooner, but she feel in her ill actions. Ashamed, and with no other option left, she rubbed her hand trying to stay sober and volunteer herself as well.
Granny's life changed drastically in the army, for better. She was able to find her true vocation, she was never so happy and managed to learn several things. She mastered heavy weapons, machine-guns and anti-tank rifles. In two years, she became a sergeant, where she took care of the newcomers.
She was called by her superiors. There was an incoming war, and her country, maybe the whole Equestria, was under the threat of a terrible organization which raised strong recently, starting the conflicts. Granny Smith, aside her new colleagues, went to face many dangers to protect the world they knew.
It was really fun drawing the scene, Granny Smith's expression and the whole setting as well. Drawing can be something so pleasant to do, and I was really missing this in my last works…
Aside this picture, I did some other variations, where you can find in my account, if you're interested. In any case, I really hope you enjoy both picture and background story.
Flat colors:
http://regularmouseboy.deviantart.com/art/Bless-your-heart-Apple-Rose-Flat-colors-575711167
Full colored, based in IDW Publishing's My Little Pony comics:
http://regularmouseboy.deviantart.com/art/Bless-your-heart-Rose-Current-MLP-Comic-Style-575711034
Full colored with a darker mood:
http://regularmouseboy.deviantart.com/art/Bless-your-heart-MLP-Comic-Post-Crisis-mood-575711044