//------------------------------// // Chapter Five // Story: Old Traditions // by NightsGlory //------------------------------// Uneven hoofsteps were the only sounds echoing through the orange trees on the road out of Ponyville to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was leading the way, with her brother and Twilight trailing behind at a distance. No words were passing between either of the ponies present. Twilight was staring at the ground, like a mare on her way to the scaffold. Big Macintosh plodded alongside her, keeping his gaze straight and steady. As soon as they had received the news, Twilight had begun to grow nervous. She wasn’t freaking out, per se, but she certainly wasn’t what one would consider calm. Her thoughts were racing with different scenarios, and if what Applejack had said about them disliking unicorns was true, she was in for a wild ride. “Ah still think we could just go an’ see ‘em, an’ introduce Twi later,” Applejack called over her shoulder. “Eenope,” Mac replied. “Ah ain’t gonna change mah plans with Twilight just on account of them.” “Ya never were the stallion ta go rustlin’ yer schedule,” Applejack said under her breath. “Come up here fer a sec, Mac.” Macintosh glanced at his lavender marefriend, who looked up and gave him a weak smile. She gestured with her head for him to go, leaving her to walk behind them. He reluctantly complied, pulling up alongside Applejack with a few quick trots. “What’s up, AJ?” “Are ya sure she ought to be comin’ right away? For both her sake and the family’s.” “Eeyup.” “Any explanation there?” “Eenope.” Applejack sighed, removing her hat and rubbing her forehead. Replacing her trademark accessory, she said, “Ah just don’t know, Mac. This could all go real South, real quick.” “Maybe, AJ, but two things. Ah ain’t gonna leave Twilight out ta dry, and if Fuji an’ Devine got issues, then that right there tells me jus’ how much Ah’m willin’ to help em with their little apple problem.” “Ah’m worried about you, big brother. You act like yer bout ta go to war.” Mac was silent for a moment, before whispering, “Maybe Ah am.” Applejack just stared at him incredulously, unable to believe her ears. Before she could comment, though, a voice sounded from behind them. “Guys?” came the weak voice of Twilight Sparkle. Both ponies stopped as she caught up. They were in the middle of the road, and the farm was just in sight on the horizon. They would be there in ten minutes, tops. “I just wanted to say you don’t have to keep worrying about me, really. I know this might seem, um, frightening for you, but I’m familiar with the feeling. It’s the same way I felt when Celestia first told me that I had to make friends in Ponyville.” Applejack’s eyes softened as she wrapped an arm around Twilight’s withers. “Sugarcube, Ah understand what yer sayin’. Jus’ know that we’re right here backin’ ya up.” “Thanks,” Twilight said, smiling. The trio began walking towards the farm once again. “I’m sorry I’m causing such an issue. I don’t mean to be a burden.” “Ya aren’t, Twi,” Mac said. “We don’t even know what’s gonna happen yet. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen ‘em, after all. Maybe they’ve changed.” Twilight perked up at that statement. Her eyes seemed to gain a bit more light, and her ears stood straight. “Really? Well you could have said that a long time ago. That definitely would have helped ease my nerves.” Big Macintosh snorted. “Sorry, Twi. Ah didn’t even think about it. We got too focused on the negative, Ah s’pose.” The lavender unicorn beamed up at her coltfriend. “No problem, Mac! I guess we’ll know more about it in a few minutes.” As the ponies passed through the fence that marked the edge of the farmland, they spotted two small figures running towards them from the Apple’s homestead. One appeared to be Applebloom, and the other was a small filly the color of brown sugar, with a mane and tail that was as green as grass. “Big Macintosh! Applejack!” Applebloom shouted, as she neared the group. “Family’s here!” She and the other filly started running circles around the three ponies, laughing the whole time. Finally, Applebloom stopped and looked up at Twilight. “Hey, Twilight! Ah didn’t know you was meetin’ our family today, too!” Twilight couldn’t help but smile down at the small filly. She loved foals, not that she’d ever let that slip out around Big Mac. He’d probably be running for the hills. “I sure am, Applebloom. Who’s your friend?” “Oh!” Applebloom gestured towards the other filly. “This is Broomsedge! She’s cousin Fuji and Devine’s daughter! Broomsedge, this is Twilight!” “Pleased to meet you!” the little filly said, nodding her head. Her voice flowed like honey into Twilight’s ears, with a refined accent that resembled a rough-around-the-edge Manehattan dialect. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Broomsedge!” Twilight beamed down at the adorable filly. There’s no way her parents are as bad as they were made out to be. “Are y’all comin’, or what?” Applebloom cried, rising up on her back hooves before prancing a bit more. “Yeah, yeah, we’re comin’,” Applejack said, ruffling her sister’s mane. “Hey! Yer gonna mess up mah bow!” Twilight giggled and watched the two fillies run back towards the house, where the family was no doubt waiting to see them. “Broomsedge sure is cute,” Twilight commented, as they followed the excited hoofprints of the two little ponies. “She’s a trip, too,” Applejack said. “Last time we saw her, she was just a foal, ain’t that right, Mac?” “Eeyup.” “He ain’t one for talkin’ about foals.” “Somehow I get that impression,” Twilight said, giving her coltfriend a sideways glance. As she, Applejack, and Big Macintosh neared the screen door of the kitchen, they could hear Granny Smith yelling inside. “An’ tha’s when Ah took mah fryin’ pan, an’ Ah smacked that ole’ coot on tha head! He was tryin’a get at mah family makers, but Ah told that stallion, Ah did.” Bewildered, Twilight entered the kitchen behind Applejack and Big Macintosh, only to see the Apple family matriarch perched on top of the kitchen table. She was standing on her two back hooves, with a frying pan outstretched in one of her forehooves. “Granny!” Applejack yelled. “What in tarnation are ya doin’ up there? How are ya even standin’ like that?” “Eh? Don’t ask questions ya can’t understand, girlie,” the green mare said as she gracefully jumped off the table, sticking the landing. She then grabbed her walker and leaned on it as though her life depended on the contraption. Twilight simply stared, unable to understand how the elder mare did all the things she did. “Have ya seen yer cousins yet?” “That’s why we’re here, Granny,” Big Macintosh said. “Well they’re right there!” yelled Granny Smith, pointing across the table. “Why don’t y’all get a move on an’ say somethin’!” Twilight looked to where the matriarch was pointing. Across from her was a lovely earth pony couple. The stallion, who Twilight could only guess was Fuji, was a large pony, though just under Big Macintosh’s size. He had a blonde mane and tail, and a short beard that covered his jaw. His coat was nearly identical to Granny Smith’s, and his cutie mark was that of an apple tree. His wife, Devine, sported an alabaster coat with light brown curls atop her head, and a curly tail, to boot. Her cutie mark was a red barn. “Howdy, Cuz,” Applejack said. She moved to embrace the two ponies. “How do you do, Applejack! It’s been so long since I saw you last!” Fuji exclaimed, as he rose to embrace his cousin. “And Big Mac! Come here, you! I still remember when we used to wrestle at all the reunions. Bet you still can’t take me!” Mac was laughing as he embraced Fuji, patting him on the back as he did. “Ah think Ah could take ya from here ta next Tuesday, Fuji.” “Hello, Applejack,” chimed Devine. “It has been quite a while. Have you remembered any of your Manehattan learnings since the last time I saw you?” “Shoot, no!” Applejack said. “Ya know Ah was happier than a bee on a flower when Ah got outta that town!” Devine laughed as they hugged, knowing full well that her foalhood home of Manehattan was never meant for a member of the Apple clan. Well, a full-blooded Apple family member, at least. “Of course you remember little Broomsedge,” Fuji said to the ponies present, gesturing to his daughter. “Ah do,” Mac said. “She’s gotten big.” “Still looking for that cutie mark of hers, though,” said Devine. Her eyes then fell on Twilight. “And who might this be?” Until this point, Twilight had been watching the scene with a nostalgic expression, almost feeling the past connections that these ponies shared. As soon as Devine uttered those words though, her smile dropped like an anvil, and her ears twitched back ever so slightly. Fortunately, Mac came to her aid in an instant. “This here’s Twilight Sparkle, Applejack’s best friend and mah marefriend,” he said wrapping his hoof around her and pulling her close. He stared straight at his cousin Fuji and put on his happiest, brightest smile. “An’ she’s the best damned mare Ah ever did meet, Ah’ll have ya know!” yelled Granny Smith, shaking a hoof at the ceiling. “’Cept fer that princess lady, can’t remember her name fer nothin’…” “Granny! T’ain’t no reason fer such language!” Applejack glared at her grandmother. When she turned her attention back to the scene at hand, she felt her blood run cold. Devine was looking with horror at Fuji, who was staring a Big Macintosh. Mac, in turn, was staring back at Fuji, who kept switching his gaze between his cousin and Twilight’s horn. Meanwhile, the only unicorn in the room was staring at the floor, where there appeared to be something very interesting happening. “Everythin’ alright with the floor, Twilight?” Granny Smith asked. “I done told you kids ta replace it, but no, ya gotta go an’ buy new plows an’ whatnot…not knowin’ nothin’.” The matriarch was mumbling to herself, seemingly unaware of the silence that pervaded the room. She started slowly making her way towards the living room door. “Ah’mma take me a nap.” “That’s wonderful!” Devine finally said to Big Macintosh, cracking a smile. Her early city life had taught her more manners than her husband’s farm life. “It’s so very nice to meet you, Twilight!” She moved over to where the lavender mare was standing and embraced her. “It—it’s nice to meet you, too,” Twilight squeaked out. Fuji grunted, saying, “Nice to see Mac got himself a marefriend. ‘Bout time, even if she’s unicorn…” He trailed off at the end of his sentence, speaking from the corner of his mouth as he glanced sideways. “What was that, cuz?” Big Macintosh growled. Fuji’s eyes opened wide and he positively beamed at the threatening red stallion. “What was what?” “Ya heard me, Fuji.” “And you heard me, Mac.” The two ponies were glaring daggers at each other. Mac’s eyes held the fires of Tartarus, and Fuji’s contained the Great Wall of Chineigh. Neither was willing to give. Despite the growing tension in the room, Devine still had on her best smile. “Twilight, did you meet our daughter, Broomsedge, yet? She said she went out with Applebloom when they spotted you on the horizon.” Twilight was finding her voice coming a bit easier now. “Oh yes, she’s so adorable! Have her and Applebloom been friends for a while?” She nervously glanced at Fuji, who was still locked in an eye battle with her coltfriend. “Oh, since the two were foals! You should hear about the time when they first met, it’s a trip! Shall we retire to the living room? Applejack? Care to join? Girls?” The Manehattan pony quickly turned tail and retreated into the living area, followed closely by Applejack, and then Twilight. The two fillies looked between the remaining stallions, sensing the tension that was obviously between them. “Everythin’ alrigh’, big brother?” Applebloom asked. “Eeyup. Go on in the livin’ room, me an’ Fuji just got some catchin’ up ta do.” As she followed the older mares into the living room, Applebloom whispered to Broomsedge, “Ah know mah brother. Probably some sorta disagreement. Don’t worry none, they’ll sort it out.” Broomsedge nodded. “I think I know what it’s about.” “Ya do?” “Yeah. Want me to tell you?” “Absolutely!” Looking back at her brother, Applebloom said, “Actually, Mac, we’re gonna go play outside. That okay?” “Sure, little sis. Just give us big ponies some time here in the kitchen.” Normally, Applebloom would have protested being referred to as a little pony, but in this case, she wanted the information Broomsedge had for her as quickly as she could get it. “Thanks! See ya, cousin Fuji! See ya, Big Mac!” The Apple’s living room is what one would consider quaint. There were two sofas set up in an L-shape across from the fireplace, and two plush rocking chairs on one side of the room. Various pictures and farm knick-knacks adorned the walls, and an ironically merry fire crackled in its hearth. Devine walked across the fluffy carpet that decorated the wooden flooring and collapsed in the middle of a couch. She took a deep breath and sighed deeply, not even trying to hide her distress. A loud snore reached her ears, coming from Granny Smith, who was sleeping soundly as she rocked back and forth in one of the armchairs. Twilight sat across from Devine, and studied the ornately simple design of the carpet. “I’m sorry about my husband,” Devine began after a moment. “He’s very backwards in his ways.” “W—what?” Twilight stammered. “What do you mean?” “Don’t act like you didn’t hear him, dear. It’s okay, I’ve been through this before. Just not—not with family.” “I’m s—sorry. I really—I mean, I don’t mean to be a burden. I shouldn’t have come.” Twilight rose from the couch, ready to get the hoof out of dodge, but Devine held up her hooves. “Please, dear, sit. They’ll work it out. Let’s just talk for a bit, hm?” Applejack sat on the floor in front of the fire, keeping silent as the two mares talked. She removed her hat to the floor, and rolled to her side for comfort. “O—okay.” Twilight sat back down, fidgeting with her hooves. A tinge of red touched her cheeks, as she was left practically alone with Devine. “I really must apologize for his behavior. Just be glad Big Macintosh is family.” “Why is that?” Twilight inquired. “Well let’s just say, he can be rather unpleasant with ponies we don’t particularly know.” “I see,” Twilight whispered. Devine shifted on the couch slightly, watching Twilight as she looked everywhere but at her. “Did you know this was coming?” Twilight snapped back to attention. “Huh?” “Did the Apples warn you about my husband? About his, ah, preferences?” “Um, s—sort of.” Fluttershy really is rubbing off on me, Twilight thought, rubbing her neck. “Really, darling, it’s okay. I’m not one to get mad about such things. There are reasons, I suppose, why my husband is the way he is.” Twilight took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She wanted to have a genuine conversation with this pony. She seemed nice and extremely reasonable compared to her husband who, with just a few short words and eye contact, had already proven himself to be everything that Applejack and Big Macintosh had warned of. “Why would that be? I mean, if you want to talk about it. I understand if you don’t.” “Oh, nonsense, dear. You’re Big Mac’s marefriend, his first one at that. You deserve to know. The way the Apple family works, you’ll most likely be around for a good while.” Applejack chuckled, but otherwise was silent. Twilight gulped. There it is again, she said. What is it about these Apples and their future talk? Preparing herself for a story, she situated herself on the couch in a more comfortable position, though she was still on edge. “He grew up outside of Manehattan, on one of the local farms,” began Devine, casting a look of remembrance at the fire as she drew in a deep breath. “Being so close to the city, his immediate family sold their products to markets and restaurants, and this was how they made their livelihood. Now, being that Fuji is an Apple, their best selling product was their cider, and many restaurants gobbled it up. Most of the apples they grew went into cider making, and he takes great pride in it, bless his heart. Now, Manehattan can be a rough city, Miss Sparkle. They mainly sold to middle class eateries. “And just so you know dear, I did, in fact, grow up in Manehattan. I’m sure my accent gives it away. I come from a relatively high class of ponies, and they’re all unicorns, at that. I was born an earth pony. It’s funny how strange things like that can happen, is it not?” Twilight nodded, thinking about Pound and Pumpkin Cake in particular. “I’ve actually done some research on it. There still isn’t any solid evidence that suggests why that happens.” Devine laughed, a shrill sound of chimes and bells bursting from her throat. “Oh, darling, don’t I know it. Mother and Father had me checked several times to see if I didn’t have a horn somewhere in this old girl,” she said, tapping her forehead. “Alas, I did not. Anyways, one day Fuji came into town to market to higher class restaurants. As you may or may not know, only unicorns work at these places. Magic allows a much more subtle serving method. Well, he was refused. Profusely. Each location he went to, he was beat down more and more by the higher class of elitist unicorns. This, I suppose, was the start of it. He has this notion that all unicorns believe themselves to be better than the other races.” “Just like Hearth’s Warming,” Twilight whispered. “Precisely. That is a story that he whole-heartedly believes in. His whole family does, actually. You see, until he actually experienced it himself, he only had what his family told him of the upper crust of elitist unicorns. It’s a belief steeped in old traditions, I suppose. Fuji having to deal with my parents didn’t help much, either, with them being of that higher class and all. They were a bit more understanding than other ponies, but they always wanted me to marry a unicorn.” Twilight thought over all that had just been revealed to her. “I—I suppose I can understand where he’s coming from,” she said. “Does he just instantly look down on any unicorn he meets?” Devine sighed and nodded. “I’m afraid so,” she said. “I’ve calmed him down from how bad it used to be, though. He used to be completely unable to enter my house. Give him time, though. I’m sure that he’ll come around to you eventually. He’s even in good standing with my parents, though it still isn’t fully comfortable for him.” “How often has he been to towns like Ponyville?” Twilight asked. “Oh, hardly ever,” Devine chuckled. “If he never went before we were married, he certainly hasn’t been since.” “So the only real interactions with unicorns he’s had is the high-class of Manehattanites?” “Precisely.” Twilight giggled, raising a hoof to her mouth. “Then this is all just a big misunderstanding! Once he sees how Ponyville unicorns are, he’ll come around! We’re not all like that!” Devine joined in the giggling. “Oh, he knows, dear. He has a few unicorn friends that are of lower standing, mostly ones who run the small cafes and what-have-yous in the city. It’s just hard for him to get past unicorns being in the family, you know.” “Well, I’m sure this will all turn out okay,” Twilight said quietly, smiling. “I always like to give ponies chances. And I bet Big Macintosh is explaining things to him right—“ Crash. The sound of glass breaking reached the living room, and Twilight’s ears twitched in the direction of the noise. Without a second thought, both her and Devine ran into the kitchen, with Applejack in close tow. What they saw was unbelievable. Meanwhile, Granny Smith kept snoring.