As intense as the chariot ride last night was, the one this morning was even more unbearable. Even when she was annoying, Pinkie was friendly. Applejack, on the other hoof, was more ornery than ever at being dragged away from her work.
“I still can’t believe you…”
“Talked you into this,” Rainbow Dash said, with a roll of her eyes. “I know, but you’re the only one that can help me with Twilight and Spike gone.” She took a deep breath as she watched the landscape roll by. “I’m never going to laugh at Twilight being an egghead again. She did us a favor doing all the boring stuff.”
“Well, maybe you’ll appreciate that more now,” the Earth Pony said, paying more attention to the scenery herself.
“You’re one to talk,” Rainbow Dash said. That got the conversation back in place.
“What?”
“You’re. One. To. Talk.”
The Pegasi flying the chariot were employing all their training to pretending not to notice, while at the same time preparing in case the conversation turned more confrontational.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Gee, how about the fact that, even after all this time, you still refuse to take those business classes that…”
“Oh, fer Celestia’s sake, now you’re going to go off on me? I get that from Rare enough…”
“Yeah, you do, because you’re stupid about the way you spend money!” Rainbow Dash rubbed her temples. “You have two products that sell out every year… usually without me getting any, I might add… and you still barely make your bills every month! You’d be right up there with Filthy Rich if you had any sense of how to save money.”
“Oh, now you’re trying to play ‘Miss Responsible’?”
“Considering ‘Miss Responsible’ has managed to afford a big house on a weather mare’s salary, yes.”
Applejack gritted her teeth. Rainbow Dash continued.
“You never have enough of anything because you won’t let anypony besides us help you. You nearly got run out by Flim and Flam because of that. You sell record crops, but instead of really improving anything you just use it to fix some supplies and keep things as they are. You refuse to upgrade anything, and still do everything by hoof.”
“Th’ stuff tastes better…”
“No, don’t even try that. Don’t think I didn’t notice Granny Smith after she tasted that cider. That machine made it just as well until those idiots screwed up.”
“Yeah, well…”
“You know, Rarity and Twilight have been trying to get you to just go take a business class and learn how to save money. Do something about it!”
“Rainbow, I can’t afford that.”
“Both of them offered to lend you the money. And, need we forget, Princess Celestia? The one that offered us free health care, tax breaks, scholarships for any foals we might have, all that stuff since we got the Elements…”
“I ain’t gonna be no charity case…”
“For crying out loud, it’s not charity!” That outburst startled Applejack. The pegasi also shook, but in the argument it was barely noticed. “For Celestia’s sake, we all want you to stop this! Ever since Twi left, you’ve been trying to be a leader, but you can barely lead yourself. You’re barely getting by, even with all four of you working. Apple Bloom might need bits for secondary school, and Celestia knows how long Granny Smith will last before she needs to be taken care of. You’ve already nearly had to leave town once, and who knows what would have happened without us together. You could fix everything if you’d just accept the money and go enroll in something that would let you run the farm better. Are you going to do it, or are you going to have to poison half the town again before you admit you need help?”
“What did you say?”
“Are. You. Going. To. Have. To. Poison. The. Town. Again.”
There was a long uncomfortable silence.
“Why don’t we just stay quiet until we get there?” Every syllable was dripping with anger.
The rest of the trip was done in silence.
Fluttershy spread some bread crumbs out for the ducks. As they nipped them up, occasionally quacking a thanks, Fluttershy smiled.
Peewee, on the other hoof, stayed silent. She scanned the horizon. Despite how often Fluttershy explained it to him, he kept expecting to see his master come up and scoop him up.
As Fluttershy continued her duties, she kept wishing one of her friends wasn't busy. With Rainbow Dash and Applejack gone, Rarity caring for her sister, and Pinkie working, she was getting pretty lonely, even with Owlowiscious and Peewee to care for.
After finishing her duties, she gathered up her basket and returned to her cottage. What she saw when she got there was three ponies being growled at by Harry.
"Goodness, what's going on here?"
One of the stallions, a Pegasus with a hammer and nail cutie mark, answered. "Y-you're Fluttershy? Please, tell your bear here to calm down."
"Simmer down, Harry," Fluttershy said gently. The bear complied, but still kept his eyes on the newcomers. "I'm sorry, he gets nervous around strangers."
"Yes, well… we're the work crew Princess Celestia hired. We're here to install anti-changeling wards on your house."
"Oh, yes. Well then, you best get to it. Let them by, Harry."
Harry complied without further complaint. As the workers, stepping slowly as to not enrage the bear, went to work. Fluttershy went inside and found Owlowiscious. She scribbled out a quick note and gave it to her. "Go get Rarity and tell her I need her."
After all, she wasn’t going to let the three leave without a changeling check.
“Hmmm..... nnnmmmm,,,,, uuuughhh…”
Sweetie had been moaning all morning. Rarity had fed her and gave her her medicine, but her temperature didn’t drop the slightest.
“Oh, I wish I knew what was wrong with you. Shh, big sister’s here.” She kissed her forehead again.
Sweetie quieted down. Within five minutes, she was asleep again.
Sighing, Rarity kissed her again. She needed to get back to work. Which is why it was inconvenient that a certain owl came in moments later.
Lightning Dust was a bit uneasy, and not for the first time since meeting Trixie. She gave off an unpleasant enough vibe, but this new guy…
He was a stallion, an Earth Pony, big enough that he would likely give a manticore a run for its money. He had a dusty brown and a black mane, tied into dreadlocks all the way down. Perhaps the most worrying was his cutie mark, which depicted a red horseshoe with stars around it. She had a pretty good idea what he got it for.
He hardly seemed to move. Ever since he had been brought in, he had simply sat in his chair and read the newspaper Trixie had given him, with only a slight nod to his other teammate. He was not only built like a mountain, he seemed to act like one too. It wasn’t just sitting still, it was almost like a statue. Even with his size, one might not notice he was there.
As Trixie fumbled with a few papers, Lightning whispered in her ear, “Are you sure about this guy?”
“Trixie assures you, she knows what she’s doing. He might not have the personal grudge the griffon had, but he’s as good as they come.”
“Where’d you hear about him?”
“When Trixie became a fugitive, she got entangled in criminal affairs. She heard rumors of him. It wasn’t until she began looking for allies that she truly learned of him. She ignored it, at first, but with Gilda saying no…”
“Why pick Gilda over him?”
“Surely you’ve deduced?” When Lightning shook her head, she continued. “When I… was humiliated by Twilight Sparkle, I felt a rage… something eating away at me. It drove me for months, months of humiliating work that was beneath me. Then when I put that Amulet on… it was clearer than ever. And it allowed me to do great things. I wanted that in my allies. Somepony who would feel the same burning desire I did. And I know you’ve felt it. You’ve been ruined, as I have.”
“I… have…” she said. “But not the way you’re talking about. I always thought of a way to show up Dash, but…”
“Yes! You haven’t felt the Amulet!”
Trixie’s look was starting to scare Lightning Dust. She was grinning ear to ear, and her breath was shortening.
“I felt it… all those emotions, pushing me… it was… amazing! It gave me such power! I… I took over, and it felt good.” Then, realizing how she was acting, she composed herself. “Once you feel that feeling, you’ll never want to go back. You’ll be the best of the best.”
“Well… I guess…”
“Trust me. You’ll be great, and even if Red Hoof isn’t as driven, he’ll do well. And it’s only a few hours away.”
Lightning Dust blinked. “A few hours? I thought we were going to get more…”
“No need. Trixie can match Twilight Sparkle’s magic, you can do the same for Rainbow Dash’s speed, and Red Hoof will handle Applejack’s strength. That’s all we need to worry about. The other Bearers, they’re nothing special. Still, we need to get them first.”
“What? Why?”
“If they contact Princess Celestia, we’re stuck. They’ll put tons of the security around Ponyville and we’ll never get another chance. We need to attack swift and mercilessly. Get them all before they can get the word out. Once they’re gone it doesn’t matter if Celestia is told. In fact, I’m counting on it.”
“Really?”
“Trixie know Celestia has Trixie’s Amulet. She’ll get it back and take her rightful place!”
Lightning (the weather, not the pony) flashed at Trixie’s statement.
Red Hoof turned a page of his newspaper.
“K.... b.... n...”
Those mumbles greeted Rarity as she walked back in from checking the workers. Her head felt like it was going to split in two, but it had to be done.
When she approached her sister, the mumblings stopped. “That’s right, Sweetie, I’m back, you can calm down.” She felt her sister’s forehead again. “Still up… if you’re not better by tomorrow, I’m going to send a message for Princess Celestia. You need a better doctor.”
Sweetie didn’t answer. She just moaned.
“Alright, you can drop us off here.”
The two Pegasi stopped out in a field, letting Applejack and Rainbow Dash out. They flew off rather quickly, having sensed the tension between them.
As Applejack watched them do, she turned to her friend, who was balancing the entire stack of notes the two had made that day. “Well, that’s it. And good thing to. I’m gonna need to work overtime tomorrow to make up for everything you made me miss…”
“Actually, Applejack…”
The Earth Pony looked at her friend incredulously. “Oh, no, no, I’m not coming back tomorrow!”
“Come on, AJ, I haven’t spent time with Scootaloo in days! I just want one day to spend with her…”
“But I need…”
“Get Celestia to send you a few workers. Come on!”
“No, no, I…”
“Come on, I already had to cancel that day out with…”
“I said no!”
There was silence.
“You know, Twilight would sacrifice her pride for her friends,” Rainbow Dash said, before she flew off, heading toward her home.
Applejack just gritted her teeth. After a moment, she turned and began trotting to Sweet Apple Acres.
A lot of emotional intensity between AJ and Rainbow here, though Dash does make some very good points. I see Lightning Dust is a little disturbed by the depths of Trixie's hatred.
Applejack is stupid.
But this is nothing new.
Why do I have a feeling Applejack is going to get injured when dealing with Trixie and the disonerables? I mean, I susspect her team will beat them but will walk way with broken bones where she is forced to lose her pride or lose her farm.
Geeze, Applejack needs a serious reality check. At this point, I'd almost suggest Rainbow right Celestia and have her - or Luna - come down and convince Applejack of the necessity of adaption in this situation, even if that comes down to a flat out Royal Command.
Tssssk, damm. This story is getting serious.
I like it
Suddenly back to the deconstructions.
Trixie is screwed. Not only has Celestia already proven she's not about to cave for the sake of a few ponies who wouldn't want her to anyway, but dismissing half the Bearers, especially Pinkie? (Of course, Twilight's magic not being available tips the scales back a bit....)
Really hoping this AJ/RD spat doesn't go on too long....
So Trixie the addict, she's really jonesing for that Amulet isn't she?
I really hope Sweetie gets a real doctor and gets better soon.
4993476 Indeed. It's sad when Rainbow Dash of all ponies, who's so laid back, has a point. What good does it do to be a leader when you can't even lead yourself?
I fear it's going to take Trixie's new "assistant" to knock some sense into Applejack's thick skull.
4994250
Either that or getting Granny Smith and Big Mac to gang up on her as far as being responsible.
4994260 Granny Smith probably should. But I fear that both her and Big Macintosh would just encourage Applejack not to take a hoof out, even if it's a small hoof up that keep them from running into finanical problems.
4994273
I don't know. If first I dismissed your comment and though no way Big Mac and Granny would do that....then I thought about it some and realized you have a very good point. At the same time...They are being asked by the Princess herself to do this if she wants to help them out especially while they are helping Celestia that comes across as a fair trade to me so there is that.
Really loved Rainbow Dash this chapter has really shown how much she has grown.
Owlowiscious is a dude
Can we get a round of applause for Rainbow Dash stepping up to the plate?
Thank you for using that point. It seems to me like it always gets forgotten, heck the show itself forgot it.
I know not many would agree with me but I want to ask, did this story really need the whole Trixie revenge plot? It feels like if that was taken out the story would be the same. I just get that question in my head when a story has a bad guy in it but it's like it's unessecary.
Maybe Walter White gave Sweetie some Ricin...
I see that Applejack still refuses to fully take to heart the lessons of Applebuck Season and Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. She seems to be conflating interdependence with good old dependence. I mean, Rainbow Dash is right. Sweet Apple Acres is stretched thin financially, though I think RD forgot to mention how many times the barn has to be rebuilt every season. I wonder if losing her parents at a young age has given Applejack a strong urge to make her own way without the help of anypony else. ...Or it could not be related to her parents at all.
Of course, the price of upkeep for a machine like the SSCS6K would be exceptionally high, especially if the technology is new. Even so, the fact that Applejack is getting so irate about it means that Rainbow is hitting pretty close to the mark and she realises it. It's just a matter of setting her stubbornness aside (no easy feat) and realising for real this time that letting other ponies help you out is not the same as becoming a dependent.
I find Applejack actually very unlikable when she lets her pride rule her judgement.
There's a reaon Pride is on the list with the sins, not a virtue.
4996438 To quote Superman from Injustice: Gods Among Us "Pride is a deadly sin!"
Applejack...
Rainbow has grown up. I like that.
Come on, AJ, don't view it as charity, view it as payment for services rendered to the nation. You might as well benefit somehow for risking life and limb as an Element Bearer.
4997082 Now if only Applejack would do the same. The trick is to not view it as a hoofout, but a hoof up. Use the aid to help improve yourself, so you won't have to rely on it again.
4999247
very well put. Eloquent I daresay.
Truthfully I'm wondering how long it'll be until rainbow snaps.
This whole thing is doing nothing but damaging her relationship with scootaloo.
All her "friends" are making (legitimate or not) excuses for why they can't help (with something that's supposed to be important).
And the thing is, right now, rarity is probably the only one with an actual excuse.
I.e. She has to care for her sick sister.
All AJ has to do is swallow her stupid pride for at least this crisis, and get some help from celestia, and then she can go back to being the stupid "that ain't th way we do it round here" mare she is.
OCD comes in many, MANY, forms. The form fluttershy has tells her that all her animal friends WILL die if she doesn't wait on them hoof and hoof... (Hmm... Hand and foot doesn't ponify very well) IF she, for instance, turned her attention more to the animals dire needs, injuries, illnesses, ect., she would most likely find herself with plenty of time to help rainbow.
There, two out of four mares that can help.
IMO rainbow isn't the most selfless of mares(she is getting better), and I have no doubt that she is perceiving the excuses of the others as selfishness. I'm just wondering how long she will last before she decides to put her hoof down and quit just so she can spend some time with scootaloo.
5029558 Well, maybe Rainbow Dash should just quit to prove a point. If the only way to break through Applejack's stubborness is to force her to take on the leadership role she wanted so badly, then so be it.
5031209
Multiple times have I seen rainbow try to put something important in her life (I.e. Scoots) first, only for AJ and the others to brush her off or get angry (in AJs case) and basically say that their lives are both, more important than hers, and more important than the task celestia assigned them.
5033290 Yeah, well this time Rainbow Dash should call Applejack out on her hypocrisy. Applejack can't claim the moral high ground, no matter what she might think. As you said before, only Rarity has a legtimate excuse as to why she can't take on more responsibilites.
5029558 ponies have feet. Hooves are their toenails.
5038976
Ok so, "wait on them feet and feet".
Nope.
Still doesn't apply very well.
5043776 hoof and foot, son. Adapt.
Commence read.
Rainbow with a good counterargument.
Applejack is definitely not doing any good here. She does needs to adjust herself. Honestly Rainbow is getting close to a breaking point. If things keep the way they are Rainbow's friends will lose her loyalty. Loyalty can be lost if mistreated enough. I can see how Applejack's lose of parents might subconsciously cause her to try to keep things the same. Still it is ridiculous at how Twilight's friends just completely implode... this is gonna get nasty with serious long-term issues being rooted into their friendships and with family dynamics. This could have all been lightened if Pinkie wasn't worse than useless and that if they would understand that this is a crisis.
5050403 The problem comes more from Applejack being stuck in her ways and being unable to see that her friends have a point. In her opinion, they're just trying to get her to become a dead beat, but in reality they're just trying to help her manage her lifestyle a little better.
Applejack also thinks she doesn't need help from anyone, and can handle things on her own. The only problem is, as "Applebuck Season" showed, she is not invincible, she has limits.
5052356
Yes alot of that is a part of why she does continue to stay as is like what you said. What you are forgetting is that the tools she refuses to replace and the methods she uses are probably identical if not close to how Applejack's parents did it. Not even saying that she is even conscious of this reasoning. Most of the deepest forces behind our reasoning we aren't aware of at all. That is just how it is.
So trixie is coming back with lightning And Sweetie is what i think haunted physical giving her this Fever Aj and rainbow are fighting and is a changeling need i say any more? You my friend have WAYYYYY to many plotlines to follow oh ye and dont forget the mirror twilight away Mane 5 figuring out who has inside info and the dragons are still a threat who knows if olive is doing anything ! holy crap this story has got ALOT which is bad but alot to think about which is good Idk good story
Sweet Apple Acres, the economic backbone of an entire town. They are partnered with a pony who is literally named Rich. They make cider so good that ponies camp out overnight and line up for over a mile just to get a taste. They are the only supplier of Zap Apple goods anywhere in Equestria. The primary caretakers are intimately connected with royalty, related to high-class, well-to-do individuals and most recently on good terms with a god-like being that can do almost anything with a snap. They get free demolition services when needed and their latest construction effort was completed in a matter of hours at most.
Yet they are eternally impoverished. Somehow.
5180641 Even without Celestia getting involved, there are probably a bunch of tax breaks that the farm could already use (owning farmland, an elder who most likely has some form of physical disability, etc ). However, there's also the possibility that there are tax loopholes that Applejack either didn't notice (not being a business girl and all) or refused to take advantage of (element of honesty).
Or maybe she put all her stock in Equestria's version of Enron, who knows?
5123288 wait did I miss something with how?
5260663 She went straight down every time she went next to a anti changeling thing. Ik its derpy but seriously this just looks like its hinting I mean 1 may be a coicidence but twice?! Really She even said she went down somehow when around raritys house And thats why... im confused when the next chapter comes...
5261557 oh ... oooh i didnt even pick up on that. I was to busy thinking YEAH DERPY
Its funny, I started reading this back in April and lost track of it, then refound it and read it literally in two hours from beginning to end. Then notice the last update was two months ago. Good story, here is hoping for updates soon.
knows
___________
5229395
It was pre-mentioned that Granny has a bad hip that acts up every now and then. So we now she has a physical disability. But the Element of Honesty has nothing to do with it, if Apple JAck was being honest. Rather she's a prideful, stubborn, and closed sighted mare. Who'd rather let the world around her burn, then accept that she needs help which is hteh honest thing to .
She has the abiity to as Dash said, be up there with Filthy Rich, and have the Princess help her and her family out. Both of which would happen if she was honest with herself and others. But she's too wraped up in herself that she'd let her friends suffer, take away time with Scoots and Dash, and let her far suffer. For the price of her pride.
4994273
I doubt that. Unlike AJ, Big Mac and Granny Smith know that there are times when you need help. And as long as AJ's earned it, accepting money for something you do is okay to do. What with her saving Equestria multiple times, being an Element of Harmony and what that entails, and the work that comes with it. She's basically being offered, something slightly better than your average Royal Guard benefits. So they'd tell her to get off her flank andbetter herself.
4995817
You'r fortgetting AJ didn't learn anything. She said she knew those things all along. Since her pride didn't let her outright say she was in the wrong and needed to learn anything.
5180641
Yeah, as I mentioned above. AJ has a love of self-destruction. For her, her pride and stubborness are more important than friendship, or even her farm. Since there are numerous ways that she could make that farm turn a profit, and really be that economic backbone. But if she can't do it on her own four hooves, without help from anypony. She doesn't care, and would rather see everything burn around her, then admit she needs help.
“Trixie know Celestia has Trixie’s Amulet. She’ll get it back and take her rightful place!”
I don't get it... like at all.
knows
________________
Pride is a rather vicious vice. One that AJ really can't afford.