//------------------------------// // Traditionalism // Story: Geoverse Part Six: A Season Of Adventure // by GeodesicDragon //------------------------------// CHAPTER FIVE Traditionalism "Well, it sounds to me like you three have had quite the productive day." John said to the three fillies in front of him. "Though I have to say that the pursuit of revenge is never a good idea. And I'm speaking from experience when I say that." Three sets of eyes focused on John intently, as if the ponies they belonged to were expecting him to continue. "But that's a story for another day." he said quickly, as though trying to avoid the inevitable surge of questions. "In the meantime, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle need to get home." The two of them groaned and walked towards the door, saying their goodbyes to Apple Bloom as they went. Apple Bloom returned the gesture and then made her way upstairs. "Ah'm goin' ta bed." she said wearily. "G'night, y'all." "Goodnight, AB." John replied. There was a click as Apple Bloom's bedroom door closed. John let out a heavy sigh and turned his attention to Applejack, who was looking at him with concern in her eyes. "Ah'm guessin'..." she said hesitantly, "... that when ya said ya were speakin' from experience, ya were talkin' 'bout yer brother?" John nodded solemnly. "Come on, sugarcube." Applejack said softly. "Ya can't keep yer feelings bottled up ferever. Ya know ya can talk ta me, right?" "I know, hon." John replied. "But I'm just not ready yet. Maybe soon I can talk about it. But in the meantime, I'd much rather get some sleep." Applejack smiled and the two of them headed upstairs to their bedroom. As they got into bed, Applejack kissed John tenderly. "Remember darlin'," she said, "that Ah'm always here for ya." John returned the kiss and the two of them went to sleep, wrapped in each others loving embrace. *** The next morning brought with it a loud clatter, causing John to wake up sharply. Rubbing the dust from his eyes, he clambered out of bed and walked to the window, where he was greeted with the sight of Applejack trying to remove something from the mailbox. "Dangit, Derpy!" she grunted. "Ya really gotta be more careful!" John chuckled and went through his morning routine. He left the house, chewing on a piece of toast, and saw that Applejack had managed to remove Derpy's head from its prison. The mailmare waved to him in greeting and handed Applejack a small pile of letters. She then adjusted her mailbag and flew off haphazardly towards Ponyville. "Ah swear," Applejack said, "Ah'm amazed that Derpy is still functionin' after all of the knocks she's taken. That mare must have a skull made o' iron or somethin'." John chuckled and motioned to the pile of mail. "That's quite a lot of letters." he said. "Are you sure they're all for you? You know Derpy can sometimes mix them up." Applejack looked through the letters and nodded. "Eeyup." she replied. "They're all fer me. We've got the Apple Family Reunion comin' up soon, so this'll be all the RSVPs Ah sent out gettin' returned ta me." She grinned. "Ah can't wait fer ya ta meet the rest of the family!" she beamed. "Ah sent out a copy of our weddin' photos with the invite, just to make sure folks know what ta expect when they get here." John nodded. "Good idea." he said. "Come on then, let's get these RSVPs sorted out. The sooner that's done, the sooner we can concentrate on getting everything set up for the reunion." Applejack smiled and the two of them went into the house, seating themselves at the kitchen table, where Applejack opened the letter at the top of the pile. As she scanned the paper, her smile faded, replaced with an angry scowl. "Ah don't believe this!" she growled. "Of all tha nerve!" John looked at her quizzically. "What is it, AJ?" he asked. "... don't tell me that they've decided to cancel the reunion? Or maybe they've decided that we should host it somewhere else?" Applejack shook her head. "No, it ain't that." she replied. "It's a letter from mah cousin Apple Seed... and it's about you." "Me?" John looked perplexed. "Why is your cousin writing a letter to you about me?" Applejack responding by passing the letter over to John, who began to read it curiously. Dear Cousin AJ, How are things going in Ponyville? Us Manehattanite Apples are doing well. Thanks for the invite to the family reunion. You bet that we'll all be there with bells on! However, this letter isn't just for me to confirm my attendance. There is something else I want to get off my chest. It's about you and this human. John, I believe its called. It sounds like the two of you have such an adorable little relationship! I bet you must be so proud to have tamed such a beast! How hard do you work it? Is it difficult to get it to comply? What do you do when it refuses? I must know! I seriously hope it doesn't get you with foal, Applejack. I for one would never be able to endure the shame of having a half breed in the family. Oh, the very thought of such a misshapen, poorly formed creature would make me ill. But hopefully you'll have him fixed before you make such a bad decision. It was a nice gambit, getting the creature to work for free because of marriage. I just wish you had wound up at least getting a nice stallion out of it, rather than some hairless ape. Oh, well. There's always adoption. Your loving cousin, Apple Seed. John scrunched the letter up and threw it on the table. "You're right, AJ." he said. "Of all the nerve!" "Well, at least she said she was comin' to tha reunion." Applejack replied. "... means Ah get to buck her teeth out fer bein' such a callous mare. Ah honestly thought mah family would be supportin' of me marryin' ya." She snorted. "An' who the hay does she think she is, sayin' that if'n y'all got me pregnant, it'd be a half-breed? Why, if Geo and Twilight could produce two healthy little foals, what's ta stop us from doin' the same... or even makin' triplets?" "Fuck her, and fuck her opinions." John retorted. "If she's too shallow-minded to see what we've got is real, then that's her problem. And if I have to say that to her face at the reunion... then I fucking will." Applejack smiled and nodded as she picked up another letter and opened it. Once again, her face fell as she read it. "Oh, for fu—!" she spluttered, cutting herself off. "Listen ta this one, sugarcube. It's from mah cousin Braeburn." Dear Applejack First of all, I would like to offer you a huge load of congratulations! Us ponies here in Appleoosa have only just got word of your little scuffle with King Sombra. You sure showed him that the Apple Family isn't one to be messed with! Secondly, I'm personally looking forward to the upcoming Apple Family Reunion. It will be good to see everypony again. Now, on to a more serious matter. Some of the family here in Appleoosa aren't too keen on you bringing a human into the family. Now I myself am very pleased for you — it'll be great to have some male company other than Big Mac and Spike — but the others just aren't too happy with you and John's future. They're worrying most about foals and basically the future of the Apple Family itself. What I'm trying to say is: I like John and I think he should stay. However, the rest of the folks think it's a bad idea, for the sake of generations of the family itself. I give you and John the kindest regards and I wish you all the very best in the future. I just hope everypony else will be so encouraging. Your gracious cousin, Braeburn Applejack looked perplexed. "Well, at least Braeburn is rootin' fer us." she said. "Pity Ah can't say the same fer the rest o' the folks in Appleoosa." "Remind me to buy Braeburn a drink next time I see him." John replied. "It's nice to see that somepony is on our side." "Eeyup." Applejack replied with a nod. She looked at the pile of letters and sighed. "So how many o' these d' ya think are from family who don't like the fact Ah married ya?" she said. "Ah reckon... all of 'em." John stood up and walked around the table, kneeling in front of Applejack. He tilted her head up so he was looking into her eyes. "When the reunion comes around," he said, "the family will have plenty of time to get to know me. And when they do, they will come to realise that I am as right for you as you are for me. If they still refuse to accept the fact that we're together and there's nothing they can do about it, then that's their problem, not ours. I married you because I love you — not to gain their approval." Applejack responded to John's words by kissing him. She pulled away with a smile on her face. "You're right, darlin'." she said. "If Ah wanted their approval, Ah would have damn well asked fer it! If mah family can't accept us bein' together, then they ain't no family o' mine. Ya may not be a pony, but yer still a stallion ta me." John chuckled. "Exactly." he replied, taking another letter from the slowly-dwindling stack. "Here's another one... from your cousin Red Gala. Now, I wonder what her problem cold be?" He opened the letter and read it. Dear Applejack A human. Seriously, is that the best you could do? Filly, you should know better! How is a human supposed to carry on the Apple Family name? In case you didn't know, I was part of that convoy to Appleoosa. Yeah, you know the one I mean. I thought I recognised Derek when I saw his picture in the paper. Then again, it's rather hard to forget somepony someone when they're stealing from you. Before he and his friends robbed us blind, he told us that we were 'weak, insignificant beings', and that he would use his 'technological advantage to its fullest potential'. I didn't know what he meant, until he fired that weapon of his at us. And let me tell you right now cousin, that I have never been so scared in my entire life. I still jump whenever I heard a loud noise. Anyway, my problem is this. John quite clearly comes from a family of deranged lunatics. Sure, he may look sweet — but on the inside lies a vicious streak just begging to be released. And those other humans, they're probably the same. I suggest that you warn your friends about them before it's too late. Your friend Twilight is a mother now, isn't she? With two precious foals to take care of... well, I'd hate to be there when that husband of hers finally snaps. And what's this I hear about Pinkie's husband and his army of robots? Not exactly the actions of a rational stallion man, right? The fact is that the three of them are not to be trusted. Mark my words, Applejack — they will turn on you. And when they do, the consequences will be catastrophic. That's all for now. I'll see you at the reunion in a few weeks. Hopefully I, along with the rest of the family, can talk some sense into you before it's too late. Your cousin, Red Gala John put the letter down slowly, his face changing between various shades of red and purple. Applejack nuzzled him affectionately, her soothing presence acting as a sedative. "Don't you worry about Red Gala." she said soothingly. "When she comes to the Gala, she'll no doubt be expectin' some talkin' and listenin'. Only thing is, Ah'll be doin' the talkin', while she'll be doin' the listenin'. By the time Ah'm finished with her she'll respect you, Ace and Geo a whole lot more." John smiled and scratched her behind the ears. "Thanks, hon." he said. "I guess being related to Derek has had a negative effect on how the rest of the family sees me." Applejack picked up another letter from the table and tore it open with her teeth, the melancholy atmosphere making her feel less joyous about the upcoming reunion, and more fearful of what her family had to say about her husband. "What a surprise," she said sarcastically, "another letter against our marriage. And it's actually addressed to you... from mah cousin Caramel Apple." John raised an eyebrow. "Caramel?" he repeated. "You mean the same Caramel who tried—" Applejack raised a hoof to cut him off. "No, that's a different Caramel." she said. "We ain't related, thankfully. Then again, Ah doubt he woulda cared if we were..." John shuddered as Applejack unfurled the letter and began to read it out loud. To John So, you've managed to get Applejack? First off, congratulations are in order. You probably don’t realize this John, but it takes a special somepony (somebody?) to get an Apple and get this far. You’ve done the near impossible. You’ve actually made AJ fall in love. And on that note, here's the second part of this letter. I don’t approve. And if I know my cousins and Aunt, they probably don’t approve either, even if they’re too polite to say it to your face. It seems to me that, well, a pony and a human relationship would never work out. Okay, there have been exceptions, but a human with Applejack? It wouldn’t work out. This letter is coming off as rude. I’m sorry about that, but the Apple family as a whole is a traditionalist one. Traditions are important to us. And this relationship is anything but. Even if you two absolutely love each other, the uphill battle that you’re about to face will tear either the family that AJ loves apart, or tear you two apart. But, I have to say that I am one for surprises. Prove me wrong when I come to the reunion, and we'll get along just fine. Caramel Apple. "Well," John said, "at least he congratulated me for getting you in the first place. That's something at least." Applejack nodded. "Yeah..." she looked at the letters which remained, "... though Ah have a feelin' that this reunion isn't gonna go well. The way things are goin', it's not gonna be a family reunion... more of a family interrogation, as everypony sits ya down and shines a light in yer face, tryin' ta catch ya out with questions." John shrugged. "Let them try." he said nonchalantly. "I worked for MI6. I'm pretty sure I can withstand an interrogation. Hell, I might even interrogate the family, so I can find out exactly what their fucking problem with me is. So far, I've established that they think that I'm a mindless animal who is going to sire you with a sorry excuse for a child." "Whereas Ah know yer anythin' but." Applejack replied. "Come on, Ah ain't in tha mood fer this. Let's read one more letter, and then go inta town and git some pancakes. Y'all like pancakes, right?" "Hell yeah I like pancakes!" John replied, as he picked up another letter. "Oh look, it's from your aunt and uncle Orange. Let's see if they've got anything to add to this whole thing." He opened it and began reading. Dearest Applejack At first, your uncle and I were most overjoyed to hear about your wedding to John. In fact, we were even prepared to give you our blessing, and wish you both the best in your new life together. That is, until we read the newspaper. Neither of us had any idea that John's brother was such a violent man. What if this violent streak runs in their family? What if John raises a hand against you in anger, much like his brother did to him and your friend Geo? We strongly advise you to be cautious, dear niece. Your uncle and I, we both fear for your safety. We know you are a strong and independent young mare, but even the strongest can falter in the face of overwhelming violence. If John is beating you, then please tell us. We will then take any and all steps to get you to safety, even if it means alerting the Royal Guard or the Princesses themselves. Please be safe, and write back as soon as you are able. Love, Aunt and Uncle Orange P.S. Yes, we are coming to the reunion. "Okay, that tears it." John muttered. "How dare they assume that I'm violent simply because Derek was! He had mental health problems, for fuck sake! He was ill, and that's why he acted the way he did. It's not his fault." "Ah know, sugarcube." she replied. "But mah aunt and uncle sure as hay don't. Ah guess we can add 'em ta the list of 'relatives we need ta 'take aside' during the reunion'." "Sorry AJ, but I gotta ask you something." John said. "Why the heck is your family so hung up on you not marrying a pony?" Applejack sighed. "The Apple family has always been traditionalist, darlin'." she replied. "Goin' all the way back back ta when even Granny Smith was just a lil' filly. Back in them days, Equestria was a different place. Nopony was allowed ta marry outside o' their species. Ponies married ponies, gryphons married gryphons and minotaurs married minotaurs. Ta marry outside yer species was considered taboo, and doing so got ya shunned from society, or even expelled from town in some cases." John nodded. "So I'm guessing the Apple family still sticks to these traditions?" Applejack shook her head. "Marryin' outside of yer species became acceptable a few hunner years ago." she explained. "But as y'all know, gryphons and minotaur — like humans — eat meat, and they can be violent. Ponies don't eat meat, and Equestria is the most peaceful place there is. So mah family decided that only pony/pony couples could be truly happy together. And they've stuck to that idea ever since." John put a hand to his chin. "So a pony marrying a gryphon or a minotaur would have to live with a meat eater who was potentially violent. Whereas if they married another pony, they would know everlasting peace." Applejack nodded. "Eeyup," she replied, "that's exactly what mah family thought. They had it in their heads that a gryphon or a minotaur would simply kill and eat their pony partner if things got bad. Celestia knows where they got that idea from, though." "I think I get it now." John said. "Your family is worried about your safety because I'm a part of a meat-eating species, which is prone to bouts of violent behaviour." He paused for a moment as the meaning of his words sunk in. "Fucking hell AJ," he muttered, "they actually think that I'm going to kill you?!" Applejack nodded solemnly. "Lookin' at the letters we've read," she said, "it would certainly seem that way." John buried his head in his hands. Seeing this, Applejack got up from her seat and walked around to him. She pushed his head up with her own and climbed onto his lap, laying her head against his chest before nuzzling his neck affectionately. "Don't worry sugarcube," she said softly, "once they see how much we love each other, Ah'm sure they'll see sense. Just remember that ya don't need ta prove anythin' ta them. Ah'm the one who chose ya, and that's all that matters." John nodded and wrapped his hands around Applejack's body, hugging her gently as he laid his head on hers. The two of them sat in contented silence for a moment before they separated and looked into each others eyes. "Feelin' better, darlin'?" Applejack asked. John responded by kissing her softly on the lips. Applejack seemed surprised at first, but soon returned the gesture, both of them moaning softly. John was the first to break the kiss. "Does that answer your question?" he asked. "Come on, hon. Let's just assume that everypony who wrote these letters is coming to the reunion, and plan accordingly. I'm still wanting to get those pancakes you mentioned earlier." Applejack grinned. "Sounds good ta me, sugarcube." she replied. "Let's get goin'." She got back on the floor as John stood up and opened the door. As the two of them stepped outside John scooped Applejack onto his shoulders, his wife laying her head contentedly against his. As they began walking into town, they left behind not only the letters on the kitchen table... ... but all of their cares as well.