//------------------------------// // Arc XXIV Episode V: Concerned Apple // Story: Family Begins With You // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// Meanwhile, on the Apple Family farm… Applejack…was not out in the fields like she normally was. This came as a visual shock to Adagio who approached the farm with a surprised set of eyes. “...that’s odd,” she muttered as she approached the farm and saw Applebloom working the fields with Big Mac handling another end. “...Since he’s not much for conversation, I’ll talk to her instead,” Adagio thought to herself. With her mind made up, she approached Applebloom. “Hello, Apple--er, bloom, right?” And she’d respond after placing a case of corn down. “Howdy, Adagi. Need somethin’?” “No no--well, I’m just here to check up on Applejack,” she explained with a concerned tone, “Apparently none of her friends have seen her in a while and I was wondering if she’d be willing to speak with me.” “...Yeah, that might be a lil’ hard,” Applebloom replied as she bit her lip with a worried expression on her face. Adagio tilted her head and asked, “What do you mean?” “Well…” Inside, in Applejack’s room… The Apple gal was busy pushing thumbtacks into pieces of paper on a corkboard that lined up with string along a map of the city. With stressed bags of restlessness under her eyes along with her fifth cup of coffee downed in the last hour, it was painfully clear that she was not exactly…calm. “So they was hidin’ out at the buildin’ near the fairgrounds, yeah?” she muttered to herself while tapping her finger on the map, “And they know somethin’ about ma and pa. So now I gotta start waitin’ fer Mr. Rich’ta call me. As soon as he does…I’ll get ‘em. I’ll get ‘em for ya, ya’ll…” Applejack shed a tear as she grabbed a framed photograph of herself, Applebloom, Bic Mac, and their parents when they were all younger. Tap-tap-tap. There was a knock at Applejack’s bedroom door which prompted her to put the photo down and answer it. “...Yello?” “Applejack? Oh…you don’t look so good--” Adagio caught herself and quickly tried to clean up what she said. “Er…I mean…you look--” Applejack cut her off as she rubbed her eyes. “...Ya ain’t gotta tell me. I’m in pretty bad shape. I can see that with my own two eyes, missy.” “...Your friends and family are worried for you,” Adagio continued, “Hell, I’m worried for you as well.” “Thanks, Adagi--I ‘ppreciate it, but I don’t want none of ya’ll gettin’ involved in this,” the farm gal shook her head, “...family matters and whatnot. You understand, right?” Adagio folded her arms, but ultimately decided to respect her friend’s words. “...I suppose. Even so, I’m here if you ever need my help with anything.” Interestingly enough, Applejack would actually respond amicably to her offer, albeit with some hesitation. “...well…there is actually one thing I’d like’ta ask ya for.” “Anything, name it,” Adagio replied. “I’d like ya to join me as I head out to a certain little…’store’,” she said with airquotes via her fingers, “It’s where one of mah leads is takin’ me.” Adagio nodded. “Alright. That sounds simple enough. Are any of your friends gonna join us or…?” Applejack shook her head. “Nah. The owners of this store already know all of mah friends. But you? Yer a fresh face that they don’t yet recognize. They ain’t got no read on ya.” “Hmph, some classic manipulation,” Adagio mused with a scheming tone, “Sounds delicious. I’m most certainly interested now.” “Implyin’ ya weren’t before?” Applejack raised a brow, then let out a laugh, “Heh--just jokin’ witcha.” “Ugh--don’t scare me like that!” Adagio huffed, “Anyway. What kind of store are we headed to exactly?” “That’s the neat part--” One 10-minute walk later…. “‘Flim and Flam’s Trinket Store’?” Adagio read the black and white sign located above the brick-clad building. “Sounds rather…gaudy.” “That’s what Rarity said,” Applejack said with a roll of her eyes, “Now I see what she means. But I have a feelin’ they know somethin’ about all this.” “What gives you that idea?” “They’re con artists,” AJ went on, “Absolute snakey sidewinders…but they always stay one step ahead’a the bull. This time, I’m takin’ it to ‘em.” “I see…” Adagio reached behind her head and started to fiddle with the scrunchie that held her poofy hair in place. “Let me go first. I have a knack for dealing with people who like to try and bullshit me.” “...ya know what? Go right ahead.”