//------------------------------// // 8. There Will Be An Answer // Story: The Apple Doesn't Fall Far // by KholdstareV //------------------------------// _________________________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 8: There Will Be An Answer… _________________________________________________________________________________________ "Have a seat on the porch swing there, Applejack. We gotta have a lil' chat about this reckless, high-falutin' behavior o' yours. You ain't gettin' any apple fritters 'til we do." "Aww, but ma, if I don't get inside quick, Pa and Big Mac'll eat 'em all before I get any!" "Well don't worry, cuz your PA ain't havin' none either 'til I have a chat with HIM! Now what in blue blazes were the two o' you doin' out in the orchard so dern late? The sun's about to set! You know it's almost timberwolf season!" "Yeah, ALMOST timberwolf season…" "Now don't you go coppin' that attitude with me, young lady! It's been happenin' too much recently, and I've just about reached the end o' my rope. Am I gonna have to give you a spankin' like when you were a filly?" "No! Please don't spank me, ma! I'm sorry for everything! Please, don't!" "Now, now, settle down, Applejack... I don't wanna spank ya, and I shouldn't have to. I think you're old enough now to understand right from wrong without needin' to be steered by fear o' pain on your buttocks. I'm not a hundred percent sure 'bout that, but I wanna give ya the benefit of the doubt. So, do you think you're capable of talkin' things out like a big mare?" "Yes, ma…" "Good. OK, so, my first question is very simple: what exactly were you n' your pa doin' out there so late?" "Well, pa was tryin' to teach me how to applebuck, cuz I really wanna learn how…" "Why? Ain't I told you that you're still a bit young to be learnin' how to do that? You could hurt yourself!" "I know, ma, but… I dunno, I just see pa n' Big Mac doin' it all day, and I just, I dunno, wanna help..." "Just wanna help? Is that so?" "Yeah…" "So you ain't doin' it to prove nothin' to nopony? To show off to somepony who told you 'no, you can't' that 'yes, you can'?" "N-no…" "Listen up, darlin'. I'ma give you some advice right now that'll save you a lot o' trouble in the future – there are only two things in the world that you can't avoid: death, and your ma's lie detection. Now answer me honestly. What's the real reason you're wantin' to learn how to applebuck?" "Awwww… Do I have to say it?" "Yes you do, Applejack." "OK, well… It's cuz that big dummy Big Mac told me that I'll never be a good applebucker cuz I'm just a little girl who shouldn't do nothin' except play with dolls and wear dresses n' junk! But it ain't true! I can applebuck just as good as him or anypony! And I AIN'T just a sissy little girl!" "Gosh golly! Your brother said those things to you?" "Yeah. But I know he's just blowin' hot air! Ain't he, ma?" "You're darn tootin', he is! Ain't right for a young colt to understate a lady's abilities like that, 'specially a brother to his own little sister. I oughtta have a chat with him, too." "…So you're on my side?" "Shoot, yeah! In fact, to illustrate why, lemme tell you a lil' story: When I was first gettin' to know your pa, he once took me to his grandpappy's orchard to show off his applebuckin' skills to me. He ran around and emptied ten red delicious trees in a row with one kick each, and then looked at me with a glowin' look o' pride, expectin' me to be all impressed. But ya know what he saw? He saw behind me a line o' FIFTEEN trees, all stripped clean, with apple buckets below 'em even fuller than his own. Turns out HE was the one lookin' impressed! He once told me I looked more beautiful to him that day than any other... Well, except our wedding day, o' course!" "Wow! So you were an even better bucker than pa?" "By leaps n' bounds, darlin'!" "That's amazin'! And hey, if you can show up pa like that, I'll bet a million smackers that I can do the same to Big Mac. It'd humiliate him so bad! And he'd take back all that hogwash he said about me, haha! Shoot, ma, I'd bet even YOU can still show 'em how it's done!" "Oh, I doubt that, sweetie. Been a long time since I've worked the orchards, seein' as I've had a big house and wild kids to take care of all these years. Your pa would prolly run rings around me nowadays. I taught 'im all my techniques, after all…" "You did?! But why? Wouldn't you wanna stay better than him?" "No, sugar cube, I wouldn't. Cuz that's not what it should be about." "Whaddya mean?" "Well, once again, I'll illustrate by tellin' a story… You see, when I first realized I was expectin' our first child, your big brother… your pa was right smack in the middle of developin' his plans for Sweet Apple Acres. He was mortified when I told him, wonderin' how he and I could possibly maintain such an enterprise if we had a little one runnin' around. In that moment, I realized the best thing I could do was to teach your pa my own superior applebuckin' skills, so that he could use 'em durin' the work day while I looked over the household and our firstborn… and then our second born, you, as it were! O' course, this was durin' a different time, when stallions and mares had different social roles. If the same scenario had happened today, it'd have been ME workin' the fields and HIM doin' the house-sittin', I guarantee you that! But, again, all that's beside the point. The point is, while my ego would've loved to remain a better bucker n' your pa, I understood that our circumstances meant reachin' a compromise was more important. By passin' my skills to him and accepting the roles we did, it allowed our farm and our family to become what it is today. By setting aside my pride in being better, EVERYPONY came out better. See what I mean?" "I think so…" "That's a good girl." "…I think I still wanna keep practicin' my applebuckin', though. Not to show off to Big Mac, o' course! But just cuz pa's already taught me some stuff, and I think I'm gettin' really good at it. Can I keep learnin' how, ma? Please?" "Weeell… I think you're still a little young, but… I remember bein' your age, havin' pretty much this exact same conversation with my own ma. It ended with her forbiddin' me from applebuckin', but with me goin' out and doin' it behind her back anyway… I see you've got that same spirit as I did, Applejack, and you're gonna do what drives ya no matter what I say. So… I think, for once, I'll go against my ma's example, and just tell ya… Buck away, lil' lady! "Really?! Ya mean it!?" "As long as you promise not to stay out practicin' too late, all these apple trees you see before ya are ripe for your kickin'. It's a good season for it, too; your pa n' I studied the star charts last week, and the verdict is that we're rarin' to have a jim-dandy of a harvest this year. So, looks like you'll be gettin' a lot o' practice, sweetie!" "Aww, thank ya kindly, ma! So much!" "Well, golly, it's hard to say 'no' to a daughter who knows how to say 'thank you' so well! Really, though, it's the least I can do. You're growin' up fast, sugar cube. You're conductin' your own train now. And as much as I might wanna sometimes, I can't stop ya. All I can do is lay down some good tracks to lead the way." "Don't worry, ma! I promise to applebuck only for the good of everypony. And if I end up gettin' better than Big Mac, I'll teach him what I know and I WON'T rub it in his big, fat face!" "Aw, well… it's OK if you rub it in his face a LITTLE bit!" "Really? It is?" "Siblings do that to each other. It's natural. You should only do it a little bit, though. It's just like with apple fritters – you shouldn't have 'em all the time. Just a couple every once in a while, and only when you've earned 'em." "Gotcha. And hey, speakin' o' apple fritters, can I go in and have some now?" "Well, I'd say yes, darlin', but we've been out here a while. I worry if there are even any left." "Huh?! But you said pa wasn't allowed to eat any cuz you still wanted to talk to ‘im!" "Well, if I know your ol' buffoonish pa, he loves my fritters too much to let a threat like that stop 'im. I'll take care of 'im, though. YOU'D best hurry your butt on in there if you wanna snatch up some fritters for yourself!" "Oh NO! Pa, Big Mac, don't eat all o' ma's fritters! I still ain't got any! Hold up-!" ~~~ *SPLAAASH!* Just as the dunk tank entered Applejack's field of vision, she heard the sound of a heavy body colliding with the water. From her vantage point, she could make out Sweetie Belle, Domicilia, Huevos Grandes, and Rarity all standing in front of the tank, shielding their faces from the droplets of rolling, disturbed water that flung over its edges. A moment later, Hoppin Barley's face popped up from the murky water, looking completely drenched and happy. Rarity appeared to be the only one not enjoying herself, watching the display from a few steps away with a clear look of disdain. She stood out from the others in a different way, too – she was the only one not wearing one of the white T-shirts that read ‘I RAISED MY DAUGHTER FROM FILLY TO MARE, AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT!'. Sweetie Belle, on the other hand, looked overjoyed, having clearly thrown the winning shot. "YES! I did it! I did it! I totally dunked dad! Mom, did you see me?" "I did, Sweetie Belle. You dunked your father wonderfully!" "Pbthbthbth! Goodness, what a DUNK! Good job, sweetheart. Ya got me good! Hahaha! Aw, woo-WEE this water feels good! Hey Rarity, none of the fancy clothes you sell could ever take a drenching like THIS! You oughtta sell some of these T-shirts at your booth!" "Oh yes, of course, father. I'm just DYING to appeal to the crowd that finds dunking one another in a filthy, glorified fishtank amusing…" "And you rightfully should. It's a big market! I'll bet Huevos Grandes would agree too. Wouldn't you, amigo?" "No me importa lo que esta chica vende. Solo que ella me cumpla mis fantasias sexuales!" "Ha! See, honey? You heard the stallion! In fact, I do believe it's now YOUR turn for a dunkin'!" "Ex-CUSE me? I do NOT think so!" "Oh, c'mon, it'll help you understand the mindset of the target demographic better, won't it? You can just call it 'aggressive marketing research', hahaha!" "No, that's a completely stupid idea. I refuse! And- hey! No, daddy, don't touch me! You're dripping wet! And I just got a briller de l'or coat-shining this morning!" "Aw, for Celestia's sake, will you can the fancy-schamcy talk already? C'mon, let's get you up on that dunkin' platform! Yo, Huevos, gimme a hoof here! Help me give your future lady a little lesson in hygiene and fun!" "Sería un placer, señor Barley. Hehehe!" It was difficult for Applejack to watch as Hoppin Barley and Huevos Grandes double-teamed to lift a screaming, kicking, all-out protesting Rarity off the ground and into the dunk chamber. Once she was inside, Hoppin Barley closed the latch behind her, securing her inside the small compartment that featured a large acrylic glass window, through which everypony could see her, and a trapdoor beneath her hooves, suspended two feet above the misty, chlorinated pool. Applejack could see that Rarity immediately began to call on the magic within her horn, hoping to cast a spell that could help her escape. However, the unicorn who was supervising the booth appeared to be sustaining a sort of crude, magic-nullifying bubble around the chamber, precisely to keep participants from escaping via magical means. Any spell Rarity tried to initiate was choked out right away. Had she been a more skilled magician, she probably could have easily overpowered this barrier and broken free. However, she had throughout her life limited herself to perfecting only simple levitation and clothes-designing spells. And so, she remained humiliatingly trapped, at least until somepony struck the nearby target with a ball, thereby opening her only escape – a swift plunge into the filthy, glorified fishtank of shame. It was a situation that must have been a gross nightmare-come-true for Rarity, but it induced a sly smile from Applejack, for she saw it as a golden opportunity to fulfill the next stage of her plan… "Geez, Applejack! Mind running a little slower than the speed of sound? I almost lost you!" Applejack turned toward her gasping, sweating cousin, who was just catching up. "Oh, sorry, Julius! Guess I shoulda kept a closer eye. Glad you could keep up." "I'm shocked I did," he sputtered, trying to fix his sweat-matted mane with his hoof. "So why did you stop? Are we where you want us to be yet?" "We sure are." "Well, where is that, exactly?" he asked. He briefly scanned the scene, and rested his eyes on a stand that featured a standard 'knock down the pyramid of milk bottles' carnival game, along with a myriad of flashy prizes. "Is it there? Are we gonna win a prize?" "Oh, YOU might," Applejack replied slyly. "But those prizes there ain't nothin'. YOUR prize, should you choose to play MY game…" She lifted a hoof, and swiveled it in the direction of the dunk tank. "…is on display right over yonder." Orange Julius followed Applejack's pointed hoof, and eventually settled his eyes on the pony within the dunk chamber. That trapped, pitiful, frowning pony. That beautiful, stunning, unbelievably gorgeous pony with the perfect hair… the perfect eyes… the perfect everything. "Looks nice, don't it?" Applejack questioned knowingly. Orange Julius' wide eyes remained fixated on Rarity. The infatuation he felt was palpable, to the point that Applejack half-expected him to levitate off the ground and float lovingly towards her like a cartoon character. The smallest, but most telling, of smiles crept across his wordless lips. "I'll take that as a 'yes'," Applejack surmised. Orange Julius turned his intense gaze to Applejack. "Take it as a 'Hell yes!' I've gotta meet her. Now!" "Now pull back your reins, pardner!" Applejack insisted. She surveyed the scene once again, and could see that Hoppin Barley and Huevos Grandes were debating over who should have the chance to dunk Rarity. "Not quite yet. I gotta go over there n' pull some strings first…" "The only strings to pull are those of that lovely mare's heart," he said with surefire cockiness. "Cuz even from way over there, she's pulling on mine!" "You'll get your chance," Applejack promised. "Just hear me out: that up there is my friend Rarity. Can you see that she's trapped in that chamber, about to be dunked?" "Yes, and it's terrible!" "…And do you see that feller with the tanned hide and the floppy sombrero? Rarity's parents are pushin' her to marry him, even though he and her don't even speak the same language!" "Unfair and intolerable!" "You betcha! And to top it all off, I'll bet you anything that he's the one that's 'bout to dunk her!" A fierce, chivalrous determination flashed across Orange Julius' face. "No way! This will not stand! I've gotta help her. I've gotta be her savior!" "You CAN be," Applejack assured, "and you WILL be! But first, you've gotta let me do my thing! I gotta set the scene just right for ya!" She looked again, and could see that Hoppin Barley was now gleefully handing the telltale ball to Huevos Grandes, who took it with a mischievous grin. There were only seconds to spare before he would make his throw. "So please, wait here while I do that. Ya understand me?" Orange Julius breathed deeply, resisting the urge to spring forth and make his daring, fairy tale rescue. However, he knew right then that he still owed it to Applejack to trust her. He nodded his head, though rather impatiently. "Alright. But hurry! He's about to throw the ball!" "On it!" Applejack said. "When the right moment comes, I'll signal ya!" She then whipped around and darted towards the dunk tank. As she did, she watched as Huevos Grandes quickly chucked the red ball in the target's direction. She winced, watching the ball's flight. *Swoosh!* It sailed right over the target, missing it by an inch. She sighed in relief, and sensed that Rarity had done the same. Then, just as Huevos Grandes was readying his second ball, Applejack halted in front of the group. "Evenin', ya'll! Enjoyin' the dunk tank?" Huevos Grandes froze, looking surprised. Hoppin Barley, Domicilia, and Sweetie Belle all looked at her with pleasant recognition. "Hey, Apple Schnapps!" Hoppin Barley exclaimed. "Good to see you again! And you're just in time – Huevos Grandes is about to dunk Rarity! Wanna watch?" "Really?! Oh my, well that'd just be the bee's knees, wouldn't it? I'd LOVE to see that!" Her wide grin then quickly transformed into a contemplative face. "Hmm… but ya know what? Rarity and Huevos Grandes are lookin' to get hitched, ain't they? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to give the two of 'em some private time? I mean, this dunking could become a VERY special memory for 'em, ya know? A story about the night they met that they could recount years down the road and laugh about. It'd be best if it was a moment they shared together, by themselves. Wouldn't ya'll say so?" Hoppin Barley didn't seem to heed Applejack's words too seriously. Domicilia, however, smiled gently at them. "You know what, honey? I think Applejack is right. Maybe we should leave them be for a little while…" Sweetie Belle just scoffed. "Pssh! Are you kidding? No WAY! I've been waiting my whole LIFE to see Rarity get slammed into a dunk tank. I'm staying and watching!" "Hmm, well that's a mighty shame…" Applejack said, "Seein' as the deep-fried cookie dough stand's gonna be closin' up shop in just a few minutes!" "It is?!" Sweetie Belle gasped. "It IS?!" Hoppin Barley exclaimed. "Darn tootin'!" Applejack said with a fervent nod. "So you better go n' round some up while it's still hot!" "Agh, no! I still haven't tried any!" Hoppin Barley complained, prancing frantically in place. "Is it really as good as you say it is, Sweetie Belle?" "As good as that and BETTER!" she squealed. "Let's go get some, dad! Before it's too late!" "You're right. We can dunk your sister later, but deep-fried cookie dough can't wait! Now c'mon, let's hoof it!" He looked at Applejack gratefully. "Thanks for the tip. I owe ya one!" Applejack nodded. Then, suddenly, a flash of inspiration sparked in her mind. Another genius nugget that could be applied to an upcoming stage of her plan. "No trouble, Mr. Barley. But hey, if ya don't mind, maybe in return you could lemme have a couple o' those brews you've been downin' all night." "Oh, these?" He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out two brown bottles. The paper labels on them, which read 'HOPPIN BARLEY'S BOMBASTIC BREW', were cheap and adhered with scotch tape. "Sure! This here beer was made usin' barley homegrown on my very own farm. It's some of the finest, hoppiest beer you'll ever try. Guaranteed!" Applejack took the two bottles and dropped them into her own bag. "Great! Pleasure tradin' with ya, sir!" "Right back at ya!" he replied hastily. At that moment, Hoppin Barley and Sweetie Belle took off running, leaving no time for the shocked Domicilia to protest, or for the confused Huevos Grandes to understand what exactly had just happened. Applejack, though, was delighted to have sent those two away. She glanced up at Rarity, who had her face and front hooves pressed hopelessly against the glass, awaiting her humiliating dive. She looked very surprised, however, to see Applejack had arrived, and had sent her father and sister running off. No doubt that she, along with everyone else, wondered what devious clockwork was clicking and whirling in Applejack's mind. Domicilia gazed with scrunched lips at the figures of her husband and young daughter as they disappeared into the crowd. "Sweetie Belle, you've already had some of that disgusting stuff! Come back here! And Hoppin, you should know better! Your high blood pressure…!" "Don't worry, Domicilia," Applejack said. "That stand is already closed up. I saw so myself on the way here." "Huh…?" Domicilia queried. She gazed at Applejack in wonder. "Then why did you…?" "Just come with me," Applejack said confidently. "There's somethin' you need to see." Applejack began to lead Domicilia away from the dunk tank, but before doing so, turned to Huevos Grandes. He was still standing by idly, rolling the red ball between his hooves, wondering when he should throw it. Applejack addressed him with a nod, "Cuando te dé la señal, lanza la pelota." "When I give you the signal, throw the ball." Huevos Grandes put on a face that was just as perplexed as those worn by Domicilia and Rarity. It was a face that questioned 'What are you planning?', but carried with it an addendum that said 'I have no idea, but for whatever reason, I'm going to trust you anyway'. And so, with some reluctance, he listened, and waited. Applejack then continued to trot away from the tank, with a curious Domicilia trailing behind her. When the two reached a spot about twenty yards away, Applejack stopped, and turned back around. She gave Domicilia a sly glance, then directed her attention to the two stallions ahead: Huevos Grandes, in front of the tank clutching the ball, and Orange Julius, several yards from the tank in the other direction, still fidgeting nervously, wondering when his moment would come. Both of them had their eyes on her, awaiting their command to make their move. Confident that she had everypony right where she wanted them, Applejack raised her hoof in the air. Then, with a small smile, she waved. The signal was sent. Huevos Grandes was quick to heed. He grinned with a sick satisfaction as he reared the ball back, ready to hurl it at the target. The determination in his face showed that he intended not to miss this time. Rarity shielded her eyes, unable to face what was coming next. However, Huevos Grandes wouldn't get his chance. Orange Julius, the noble steed he was, also heeded the signal, and boldly came galloping in at the last microsecond. He stopped square in front of Huevos Grandes, halting his throw. What transpired next was a dramatic and exciting display that Applejack and Domicilia could only watch with utter fascination. The distance and the sounds of the surrounding crowds made it impossible to hear, but they could see everything. Huevos Grandes at first showed aggression, trying to force Orange Julius out of his way so he could experience the fun of dunking his bride-to-be. Orange Julius stood firm, launching a verbal assault right back at him. Applejack knew Orange Julius was multilingual, and so assumed he was addressing Huevos Grandes in his native tongue. The two argued for several seconds, getting right up in each others' faces. Rarity stared at the quarrel with great anticipation, all at once afraid for her own fate, delighted that a dashing stranger had seemingly come to her rescue, and overall completely baffled as to what in the world was going on. The argument continued to escalate, and began to draw a growing crowd of onlookers. It soon reached a point where the two looked about ready to start trading blows with their front hooves. The possibility of things getting physical worried Applejack, for Huevos Grandes was the heftier stallion and would clearly have the upper hand. An urge to run to her cousin's aid began to rise up within her, but she forced it down, trying to maintain faith in him. Domicilia simply watched in silence, unsure of what to say or do. Then, just as the situation appeared ready to blow its top, Orange Julius made one last strong comment to Huevos Grandes. Applejack could only wonder what that comment was – her best guess was that he lied and said Rarity was already his wife. It made sense, given the look of astonishment and defeat that overcame Huevos Grande's face upon hearing it, and the crowd's resulting enthusiastic chatter. Whatever it was that Orange Julius had said, it had clearly been enough to seal his victory. It wasn't long before Huevos Grandes fell into a humbled silence. He then dropped the ball, bowed his head respectfully, pulled his sombrero down over his face, and walked away in retreat. Within seconds, he vanished into the crowd, never to show his face there again. Orange Julius held his head up proudly as he pranced over to the dunk chamber's door, with onlookers cheering him all the way. He undid the door's latch and let it swing open, revealing a stunned and ecstatic Rarity, who gazed down upon her hero in amazement. The two exchanged a few simple words, but that was all it took for Rarity to clap in glee and jump down from the elevated platform into his front hooves. He caught her effortlessly. The surrounding crowd let out all manner of hoots, hollers, and "Awwww"s. Applejack's smile was beaming. She had long humored the thought of introducing Rarity and Orange Julius to one another, for she had felt in her gut that they would make an excellent couple. It was an absolute joy to see this fantasy beginning to take shape right before her eyes. However, she knew that her reasons for getting the two together went beyond just Rarity and Orange Julius' potential happiness. She turned to Domicilia, who stared at her daughter and her mysterious, handsome savior with a mixture of delight and wonder. "Applejack…" she muttered, "What is all this? Who is that young stallion that's holding my daughter in his forelegs…?" She directed her gaze at Applejack. "Did you… orchestrate all this?" Applejack nodded. "I did, ma'am. And before you say anything, please, let me explain. That fine specimen of a stallion there is my cousin, Orange Julius. He comes from a wealthy, educated family in Manehattan, and is an up-n'-comin' film producer. As such, he's got tons o' connections in the entertainment industry. You know that kinda network could be extremely beneficial to Rarity and her fashion enterprise! That's why I assumed long ago that they'd be the perfect match. Just imagine, Orange Julius producin' the next big, sweeping blockbuster film, with Rarity's own costumes bein' worn onscreen by some o' the most respected actors and actresses in the world… Wouldn't that just be a dream come true?" When Domicilia did not answer, and merely continued to give the same bedazzled stare, Applejack knew she had to try a different angle. "And don't think the mutual benefits end with business. If I know my cousin, I know that while he's a hard-nosed business stallion, he's also a sweet-hearted family guy. He ain't above givin' hugs to his folks and his friends, and he certainly knows how to show love n' respect to his lady. If Rarity were that lady, I promise ya, she'd be happy not only with her business gains, but her personal gains as well. He can be everything she wants, as well as everything you want for her…" Domicilia still appeared somewhat dazed. "B-but… What about Huevos Grandes? And… Hoppin… Oh, what would my husband think about all this?" She swallowed heavily. "…He wouldn't approve. I know it. He would see that your cousin is wealthy and educated, and distrust him right away, regardless of any good qualities he might have… This simply won't happen, Applejack. I'm sorry. I know you worked hard for this, but I have to go over there and put a stop to this now. If I don't, my husband will before long…" She began to trot forward, aiming to do just as she said. "Now hold on," Applejack said firmly. "I can tell you're used to submittin' to your old man's opinions, but I know you’re capable of makin' your own…" Domicilia stopped in her tracks, curious what Applejack had left to say. "…For once, try not to just fall back on what you think HE would want. Try and actually look for yourself. Go on, look! Look over yonder at your daughter. Look at her excitement, her joy. Look, and tell me what you honestly feel." Domicilia took a moment to let Applejack's words register. Then, with a small swell of courage, she looked. The crowds from before had dissipated, but Orange Julius and Rarity remained by the dunk tank, talking, laughing, and enjoying getting to know each other. At one point, Orange Julius made an inaudible claim and an enthusiastic sweeping gesture with his hoof, to which Rarity responded with a delighted gasp. Even over the noises of the fair, her shrill cry of "That's so amazing!" could be heard. Applejack looked at Domicilia and cocked her head to the side. "So? What's your heart sayin' to ya right now?" Domilicia observed the scene with an intense focus. The look on her face appeared almost nostalgic, lost in memories of an era long gone, but not forgotten. "My goodness…" she barely managed to say, "I've never seen her look this way before. Certainly not with any of the suitors we've introduced her to. In fact… Yes, she looks just the way I did when I met her father…" She swallowed a rising lump in her throat. "That summer night, at the block party on our street… A friend of mine introduced us. He was so funny, so charming… My friend took a photograph of us. For laughs, to be able to poke fun at me. She would wave it in my face and say things like 'Aww, you look so in looove!' Of course, to her surprise, she turned out to be absolutely right. And now, to my surprise, I'm seeing that old photograph all over again. But this time, it’s my baby's face I see…" Applejack nodded in understanding. "And what would have happened if, during that meeting, your own folks had stepped in and interrupted? If that first meeting had been your last?" Domicilia closed her soggy eyes. "Oh, I don't even want to imagine that… We would not have married. My two daughters wouldn't be here. My happiness, as I know it, would never have come to be…" Applejack gestured towards Rarity and Orange Julius. "So… Do you still want to interrupt that meeting? Do you want to risk denying Rarity the possible happiness that you've already found…?" Domicilia's eyes shined more brightly than ever before. An invisible, but powerful truth seemed to have entered her heart at that moment. The emotion within her became so potent that she couldn’t keep her eyes from tearing up. "…I would never do that to her." "Then let it be," was all Applejack added. "Let it be..." Domicilia looked ready to concede, but let out a heavy sigh. "I'm still worried for her, though. After all, this fellow will only fuel her desire to make it in the world of big business. What if it proves too much for her? What if she fails?" "Indeed, so what if she fails?" Applejack asked. "According to her, you and your husband also had career goals early on that couldn't be fulfilled…" "Well, yes, that is true… When we met, he was aiming to be a professional football player, and I actually had a pretty promising career in manestyling." "I coulda guessed. That manestyle of yours is gorgeous as the harvest moon. I'll bet you did it yourself?" "I did, thank you! Rarity's manestyle is also my own design, in case you hadn't guessed." "I had indeed, ma'am. But please, go on." "Ah, yes. My husband and I did have our dreams, and for a time, things looked hopeful that we could both achieve them. However, I became pregnant rather unexpectedly. And then, when we had Rarity, raising her took priority over all else. We had to leave our dreams behind… But, in time, we were able to make new ones. Our dreams shifted from ourselves to our daughter. We dreamed that she would grow up to be a happy, loving pony, just as we both had." "If you ask me, I'd say you already achieved that goal," Applejack said happily. "But the point you've just illustrated is that, while your own career goals didn't pan out as you'd hoped, you still managed to find new happiness after that. And believe me, there is no reason to think that, if things don't work out for Rarity as she hopes they will, she wouldn't be able to find new happiness, too. It's by trying to restrict her, and protect her from unhappiness, you are in fact only making her more unhappy. It's FREEDOM that she needs, don't ya see? Sure, she also needs you to support her, to be there for her, to help her up if she falls… But she doesn't need you to make her choices FOR her. Whether she ends up in a high-falutin' penthouse in Manehattan, or some down-home farmhouse with a litter o' crazy kids, like her folks… It's not the outcome that matters. It's her freedom to choose how she ARRIVES at that outcome. And that, more than ever, is what you and your husband need to give her now…" Domicilia stood wide-eyed, astonished by Applejack's words. "You really think so?" "I know so. Rarity's conductin' her own train now, Domicilia. At this point, you can't stop her. All you can do is lay down some good tracks for her…" Domicilia managed a slow, but understanding nod. She looked again at the scene of Rarity and Orange Julius. They had moved from their previous spot, and were now at the bottle-pyramid-game stand. Orange Julius threw the baseball at the bottles, seemingly trying to win Rarity a prize. He managed to knock the top bottle off the stack, but that was apparently insufficient to win anything. He slumped in disappointment, but Rarity patted him on the back and gave him a smile. He smiled right back. With that, all was forgiven, and the two went right back to their flirtatious banter. "You know, Applejack. All that you've just said… All the wisdoms you've just expressed… Somehow, deep down, I've known them to be the truth for a long time. Somehow, I've known that trying to forcibly steer Rarity away from her dreams was wrong… That trying to make her settle down with any of those countless suitors was wrong… That all of our efforts to provide her with happiness were, in some effect, robbing her of the very thing we were trying to give… But I was never sure of it. The only other opinion I’ve ever heard was my husband's, and since he's the head of the household, I've always felt obligated to agree… But now, hearing those very beliefs that I held dormant in my heart expressed by a caring stranger, by you… That is all the confirmation I need. As Celestia is my witness, I will speak with my husband about all this. I will make sure he listens, and I will make sure we give Rarity the space she needs to forge her own path... Thank you so much, Applejack, for what you've done for my daughter, and what you've told to me. If nothing else, I treasure the fact that Rarity has managed to make such a wonderful, wonderful friend." Applejack found herself beaming once again. Domicilia wore a watery-eyed smile herself. She gave a gracious nod to Applejack, then aimed her gaze back toward where Rarity and Orange Julius were. Or, at least, where they had been. Scanning the area now, she realized they were nowhere to be seen. Her warm expression suddenly became traced with alarm. "Oh dear… Where did they go?" "Aww shucks, who knows?" Applejack said with a cool shrug. "They've prolly just gone off ta have a little fun." "Fun?" Domicilia gulped slightly at the word. "What kind of fun?" "Well, I'd reckon the same kinda 'fun' you and your husband musta had the night you two met!" Applejack snickered. "Oh my, oh my…" Domicilia stammered. "I-I realize I should give her some space, but… b-but there's a limit, right? I mean, I should put a stop to SOME things, right?" "That's between you n' her," Applejack mused. "But anyway, Domicilia, before you run off huntin' her down, can ya do me one last favor? When you can, round up all the members of your family and have 'em all meet at the barn at 8:30 tonight. There's a dandy of a hoedown gonna be happenin' then and there. Can ya do that?" "8:30 at the barn. Got it. Will do, Applejack!" With that, Domicilia began to trot into the crowd, sweat already dotting her brow. "Rarity! Rarity, darling, where are you? Please don't do anything you'll regret! Oh, I hope Hoppin doesn't find out about this…" Applejack could only smile and shake her head. On the inside, however, she felt a swelling sense of pride, knowing she had successfully achieved another milestone in her plan. She had done all she could for the situation between Rarity and her parents, she felt, but there were others that needed attention now. With this in mind, she opened up the mental checklist of her plan and again made some edits in bold: ~~~ - Find Orange Julius and use him to get in good with Twilight's parents - Introduce Orange Julius to Rarity as a reward for the previous step - Meet with Sweetgood Mac and hear his side of the story - Find Rainbow Dash and ask her to fly to Saddlem and Gomareah to bring Pinkie Pie's parents to the festival - Offer to help Rainbow Dash with her situation as a reward for the previous step - Find Fluttershy and get her away from Brawn Bones so she can meet with Softheart - Start spreading the word to have everypony meet at the barn at 8:30 pm for the "hoedown" - ? - EVERYPONY HAS A GOOD PARENTS' DAY! ~~~ Just as Applejack finished her edits and was storing the mental list away, she caught the familiar sight of a faded rainbow streak fly overhead. Rainbow Dash appeared to be heading in the direction of the barn. As Applejack followed her trajectory, she also happened to spot Fluttershy's father hulking his way down the line of hardware stands, with Fluttershy trailing slowly and obediently behind him. Seeing the opportunity to fulfill multiple parts of her plan right in a row, Applejack galloped onward. Considering how far she had come, there was nothing that could bring her to quit now…