I knew that I loved Granny Smith, that she had been my safe harbor since before Ma died, and that now I depended on her more than anything.
"Go in for supper," she said. "And doan' make trouble."
I obeyed. As I slid into my chair at the table, Dahlia gave me a disapproving look. Marigold set a bowl of mashed potatoes down in front of me, and Big mac, winked at me as if we had some secret. He was standing over Pa, pouring sweet tea into his cup.
"You're late," Pa observed.
"I was talking to Granny."
"And I was talking about my friend's daughter, Rarity. Do you think you could listen, Applejack?" Dahlia queried.
"She better, she's gonna be Rarity's companion while she's here," Pa said.
As it turned out, he was right. Rarity was coming to live with us. She was born here in Ponyville but is coming back from a long trip to Canterlot, and I was to share my room with her.
"You'll go to school together," Pa said.
"I don't go to school," I reminded him.
"You will. Next semester. You'll go to Ward's with Rarity. She'll be a good friend."
I don't want a friend, I wanted to say. I want my Ma back. I want you to love me, Pa. I want a puppy to show you love me. I want new clothes. I want to be an important mare some day, a hero. And I want your promise that you'll never abandon Grandmother Bartlett.
We ate supper. The conversation took another turn. And Marigold served.
I've always wanted to be somepony important when I grew up, somepony that everypony will remember. It was something I dreamed about the way other girls my age dreamed of marrying prince Charming.
The reason I'd never been to school was because in Ponyville colts started at six or seven and fillies at eight or nine. I'd be almost eleven when I started at Ward's in the fall. Only young ponies from important families went to Ward's, so my family must be important, in spite of what Pa's new wife had said to me last time she got angry.
-
"It takes seven generations to make a strong, independent mare, Applejack. You have a long way to go."
I didn't mind the insult to me. But I minded it to my family.
"My ancestors founded this town,"
"That still doesn't make you important," she'd retorted.
That was yesterday, and today there was the business with the soup and Rarity coming. She was trying to undo me all right, this lady. My spirit was brought low, exactly as she wanted.
It was time to go and visit Grandma Bartlett.