//------------------------------// // Applejack: Honesty and Obscurity // Story: Consequences // by shallow15 //------------------------------// When Applejack was called out of class to the office, she waited for Mr. Cranky Doodle to give her his usual exasperated nod, gathered up her things, took them to her locker, and made her way to the office. On the way, she thought about the conversation she'd had with Sunset during lunch. “I don't think I can do it,” Applejack said as she and Sunset took their trays to the designated area. “Do what?” Sunset asked. “Lie about everything that's been happenin'.” Sunset turned to see a rare expression on Applejack's face: worry. Normally, Applejack was confident and happy. Seeing her upset or worried was something to be concerned about. Sunset smiled and put a hand on her friend's shoulder. “I'm not asking you to lie, Applejack.” Applejack's eyes widened. “But... if'n I don't, Agent Shadow will find out everything that's been goin' on and who knows what'll happen then! Have you ever seen me try to lie? It's plain as the red on my apples! She'll know somethin's up! You even coached us on how to do it convincingly!” “I know,” Sunset answered. “But I have faith in you. I know you're... not good at lying. I'm not going to ask you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. If you find you can't hide the truth from her, don't.” “But that'll mean – “ “I know,” Sunset interrupted. “If the rest of us can't cover for you, and the worst happens, we'll deal with it then.” Applejack swallowed and looked at her feet, the brim of her hat obscuring her eyes. “I don't wanna let y'all down. You're too important to me.” Sunset enveloped the farmer in a hug. “You could never let me down, Applejack. You're the rock I can always depend on being at my back. Whenever I'm not sure of what to do, I always ask myself what you would do. You have the most integrity of all of us, and I love you for it.” Applejack looked up and held Sunset tighter. Her voice came out as a whisper. “I won't let ya down.” “I know you won't,” Sunset whispered back. The two separated and began heading for their lockers. It was while she was on her way to her science class that Applejack realized how to deal with the upcoming interrogation. And now here she was, staring across the table at the black-clad form of Agent Shadow. The agent brushed her flop of scarlet hair out of her eye, revealing the scar that ran across it, straightened the papers in front of her and spoke. “Miss Applejack, I presume?” “Eeeyup.” Agent Shadow quirked an eyebrow at the response. “I'd like to ask you a few questions about some events that have happened here at the school over the past couple of years.” “Eeeyup.” Another strange look from the agent. “You're a member of the Rainbooms, correct?” “Eeeyup.” Agent Shadow looked from Applejack to Vice-Principal Luna, who simply shrugged. The agent frowned and turned her attention back to the farm girl. “Now, if I understand things correctly, you won Battle of the Bands against... let me see... 'Trixie and the Illusions.' Is that correct?” “...” “Miss Applejack?” “... Eeeyup.” “Were the band known as the Dazzlings also competing?” “Eeeyup.” “Did you face off against them at any point in the competition?” “... Nope.” They were officially out of the competition at that point. Disqualified for not appearing when scheduled. “Was Sunset Shimmer a part of your band?” “Eeeyup.” Frustration was starting to form on Agent Shadow's face. “Since you first founded it?” “Nope.” A smirk passed across Agent Shadow's face. “Then why did you bring her into the band during the finals?” “We were all bein' pigheaded and wrapped up in our own problems with each other in the band to notice we were leavin' her out. When she pointed out what was goin' on, we realized not only were we fightin' with each other, we neglected her in the process.” “I see. Was Twilight Sparkle a member of your band as well?” “Nope.” Not a lie. They hadn't even met their Twilight yet. The frown returned. “Let me guess, she wasn't a CHS student at that time?” “Nope.” Tempest's fist clenched. “But she was crowned Princess of last year's Fall Formal, is that correct?” “Eeeyup.” Again, not a lie. Having two Twilights might be a problem, but if spun right, could also help muddy the waters. “But she wasn't a CHS student?” “Nope.” “Then how was she eligible to run in the first place, Miss Applejack?” Applejack shrugged. Agent Shadow's left hand briefly clenched into a fist before relaxing. “All right. Are you aware of the destruction at the Canterlot Mall two weeks ago?” “Eeeyup.” “Were you there that day?” “Nope.” “Where were you?” “At home,” Applejack answered. “Fixin' the barn with my brother.” Agent Shadow consulted her notes again. “A barn? So your family has a farm, is that correct?” “Eeeyup.” The agent paused. Applejack was secretly pleased to hear a snort of exasperation come from the agent's nostrils. “Then you'd consider yourself knowledgeable about various types of plants in this area, yes?” “Eeeyup.” “You were on the class trip to Camp Everfree last spring?” “Eeeyup.” “Did you see any strange plants sprout up while you were there?” Applejack paused as if she were trying to remember. Then: “Eeeyup.” Agent Shadow's eye twitched and her jaw tightened. When she spoke again, the strain was evident in the question. “And what, in your opinion, were those plants?” “Kudzu.” “Kudzu.” The agent almost spat the word. “Looked like kudzu to me,” Applejack confirmed. The vines Gloriosa Daisy had created to imprison them all bore a striking resemblance to the creeper vines. Agent Shadow took a deep breath, held it, then exhaled. “Last summer, there was another incident at the mall. Reports of a ten foot tall woman terrorizing people. Were you there for that?” “Nope.” Also true. By that point, Applejack and the other girls had been trapped in Juniper Montage's mirror. Juniper's transformation happened once all seven of them were together. Agent Shadow's fist slammed down on the table, causing Applejack to jump and Luna to lean forward sharply. “Is there a reason you seem to be deliberately avoiding giving me any sort of details in your answers, Miss Applejack?” “... Eeeyup.” The agent leaned forward, her expression dark. “And why exactly is that?” Applejack straightened her hand and leaned forward herself so she was eye to eye with Agent Shadow. “'Cause I don't like you. Ya come in here, all dark and edgy, usin' cheap intimidation tricks to try to frighten everybody into either given you answers, or just tellin' ya what ya wanna hear. I don't know what you want from a bunch of teenagers, Agent Shadow, or what you think it all has to do with what happened at the mall, but I've seen plenty of yer kind before. Angry and insecure bullies who think that fear equals respect. Well, I got neither for you. Maybe underneath all that fire and brimstone there's somebody worth knowin' and respectin', but if'n there is, y'all seem to have buried it under fifty miles of mean, and I ain't got time for mean. So you can ask yer questions, and I'll answer 'em honestly, but I ain't volunteerin' nothin'.” The hand had lashed out and grabbed the cowgirl's shirt before she could do anything. Applejack yelped as she was pulled almost fully onto the table. Agent Shadow's eyes sparkled with rage. “You will tell me everything that pertains to my questions, or you will find yourself in a lot more trouble than you're already in,” the agent hissed. “You don't get to pick and choose what to tell me. I've broken tougher than you, missy. Sometimes literally.” “AGENT SHADOW!” Luna's voice echoed around the conference room. “RELEASE MY STUDENT THIS INSTANT!” The authoritative tone caused Agent Shadow to release Applejack, who fell back into her chair with a sharp squeak. The agent looked at Luna, who was on her feet. The vice-principal looked at Applejack. “Are you all right, Applejack.” Applejack straightened her shirt. The collar was slightly torn. Dammit, that was Mom's favorite rodeo shirt. Maybe Rarity can fix it. “I'm fine, ma'am,” Applejack answered. “Shirt's a little worse for wear, but no real harm done.” “Good,” said Luna. “You can go back to class now.” “Yes'm.” Applejack got up to leave. “We are not done here!” Agent Shadow snarled. Luna fixed her with a piercing glare. “Yes, we are,” she replied coldly. “Or shall I get on the phone to the police and the media about how a government agent physically assaulted a teenage girl in full view of a member of school administration?” “I still have other students to question,” Agent Shadow muttered darkly. “And if you allow Applejack to leave, I will still allow you to do so,” Luna replied. “Try to detain her, or touch any of my students again, however, and I will not only end these interviews, I will have you arrested and removed from school property, as well as file an official complaint with your superiors.” Luna's eyes narrowed and her expression became dark. “You're not the only one who can bury the good in her under fifty miles of mean, Agent Shadow. Do not test me.” There was a tense moment. Applejack's gaze went from the vice-principal to the agent and back again. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Agent Shadow straightened up and glanced over at the cowgirl, her expression once again professional. “Thank you for your time, Miss Applejack. That will be all.” Applejack tipped her hat to Luna, gave Agent Shadow another cold look and walked out of the conference room. Out in the hallway, she barely made it to the bathroom before she threw up.