Apple Bloom breathed in... and out. She let her lungs fill with the air and smoke of the campfire. Her mind began to unwind and tension in her body faded into oblivion. She opened her eyes and breathed, her natural earth pony magic unwinding and latching onto the world around her. The muscles in her hind leg were burning but she made no move to drop to her natural quadrupedal stance. In fact she made no move whatsoever, the only proof she was alive was her steady breathing and slow blinks.
Zecora watched her student patiently. Years ago Apple bloom had come to her to get a Zebra Shaman Cutie Mark. It hadn't worked but the Earth Pony hadn't given up simply because she hadn't wanted to give up. Zecora felt a sense of pride at her determination but also a fear of what was to come. Apple Bloom had picked up on all the potion making and meditation with ease but still struggled with the rhyming which Zecora's own mentor had assured her was vastly important to maintain an air of mysticism.
Shamans where required to pass certain tests in order to commune with Ancestral Spirits. That was what fed their near infinite wisdom. When families in Zebrica needed counsel, they sought out a shaman to ask their ancestors for guidance. It startled Zecora that Apple Bloom could call upon this with simple meditation and not a complex ritual or even completing her training. "What do you see, my little Pony?"
"Ah see an old Zebra mare with a Cutie mark of a fancy flower. She says her name is Zayn."
Zecora's ears perked up in surprise. "Does she speak or is she meek?"
"She says that She's proud you have you're own student and she hopes it ends better for you than it did for her." Apple bloom's pupils shrank. "She says you Did the Right thing, running from Zared. Who's Zared?"
Zecora Scowled. "A Zebra with no heart, now you may release that old fart."
Apple Bloom giggled. "She says the rhyming's getting old listening to it day in day out."
"What? you lie, my mentor would surly die." Zecora insisted.
The old Zebra mare leaned in and whispered in Apple Blooms ear, invisible to Zecora. "She still has her tail in a twist. Ask her about her sex life."
Apple bloom snorted and fell over laughing, Zayn fading from existence with a mischievous grin on her face. Zecora facehooved at her. Apple Bloom got to her hooves and wiped a tear from her eye. "Sorry Zecora, Same time tommorrow?" Zecora simply nodded and Apple Bloom waved good bye. the path between ponyville and Zecora's hut had become well worn over the years, wild beasts rarely wandered across it anymore, out of fear of the Alicorn who visited for her weekly tea. Apple Bloom didn't have reason to be afraid either way, between her natural Earth pony magic and her farm based lifestyle she was strong enough to defend herself.
As she exited the forest she saw some timberwolves watching from the shadows. She snapped her teeth at it and it ran. she laughed and continued towards Sweet Apple Acres, unaware of what awaited her.
"YOU DID WHAT!?!" Apple Bloom cried out in shock
Applejack checked off something from her list and went back to counting the jars of zap apple jam. "Big Mac did the Numbers, Ya know how much we're losing letting Filthy handle our product? Up to 3,000 a year. most of it never gets sold. Barnyard Bargains is a sinkin' ship an we got a life boat."
"B-but we don't know a thing about business." She insisted.
"Twilight let me borrow a couple a books 'bout it. Ah got a handle on it." Applejack began to walk through the feilds, overseeing the hardworking ponies that had begun working on the farm. "Y'all just need to handle the store in Baltimare."
"But.."
"Apple Bloom." Applejack glared down at her younger sister. "This is not up for discussion. Ah need somepony in the Family to handle it, Ah can't just send a worker away from his Family away just to look after the store. It's only for a few months and Y'all are all grown up. You can take care of yerself."
Apple Bloom hung her head. In the distance an old earth Pony trotted up the path toward Applejack, a confident smile on his face. A pink Mare trotted next to him, her smile far more sinister. "Hello there, Mrs. Applejack. The Apples are coming along nicely."
"Hello Filthy Rich, Ah, just wanted to tell you that Sweet Apple Acres is terminating their Contract with Barnyard Bargains."
Both of the Rich's were shocked. "But, we've been selling your jam for generations! you're the only Supplier For Zap Apple Jam in the world!"
"Exactly and you convinced us to sign an exclusive contract that became invalid three years ago, we don't owe ya nothin' an' ya never came around to renew it. So we're taken Zap Apple Jam and all our other products into our own Hooves." Applejack didn't so much as blink. "Ah'm sorry."
Diamond Tiara Stomped a hoof and got up in Applejack's face. "Who do you think you are? With out our family yours would be begging for bits on the corner of main street and your farm would've been sold to rickety old business men looking to build real estate!"
"Yer family ha done nothing but leech of our product since Granny first found the Zap Apples! An y'all think ya can come here and Demand we fork it all over so y'all can hog all the profit!" AppleJack turned her head. "Bulk! Abs! Escort these ponies off of our property."
Apple Bloom watched the two massive Pegasuses drag the two shocked Earth Ponies away from Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack turned her sister. "This is how business works, sis." She set a gentle hoof on Apple Blooms back. "Y'all should go get started packing, train leaves in a few hours."