Chapter 6: Wrapped Around Your Hoof
Some time had passed since the incident with Granny Smith. Although family tensions were high, Applejack's love for Twilight was still going strong as ever. Aside from living at the library, she also took comfort in chatting with Rarity over tea. It was something she would never see herself doing; but a little relaxation was exactly what Applejack needed, since there was still one thing nagging at her mind.
As she sat in the boutique lounge, she thought it was as good a time as ever to break the news.
"Applejack, darling," cooed Rarity. "It must have been just dreadful to be kicked from your own home like that."
"Yeah, it was pretty hairy." Applejack replied quietly.
"But it was so sweet of Twilight to give you her home. She's such a caring companion."
"She really is."
Rarity started to notice her friend's fatigue. "Are you alright, Applejack? You've hardly said a word since you got here."
After pausing for a moment, Applejack finally sighed. "Rarity, I've been thinkin' for the past few days. And I think it's time."
"For what, dear?"
She grew more confident as she answered. "I've thought about it long and hard, and now I'm finally ready to take a shot."
"What ever are you talking about?" Rarity grew impatient.
"I'm not holdin' back any longer. I'm comin' clean; cleaner than I ever came before! I'm-"
"Applejack!" interrupted Rarity as she shook her friend by the shoulders. "What...is...it?!"
"Rarity," smiled Applejack. "I'm gonna propose to Twilight."
For the next several seconds, Rarity only stared at her blankly. Applejack even waved a hoof in front of her face but without snapping her out of it. After a few more moments of silence, the dressmaker finally responded.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Applejack did not have time to cover her ears before Rarity grabbed her in a vise-like hug.
"Oh Applejack, I can't believe it!" she shrieked. "This is even better news than when I found out you two were dating! I am so so SO happy for you!!!"
She continued to squeeze the life out of Applejack, thrashing her from side to side in her chummy embrace. The farm pony could not even utter a single sound as she was suffocated.
"Ooh, I can just see it now!" continued Rarity. "Flowers around a big beautiful alter! Neat little crystal cider glasses! Octavia playing the wedding march! OH! And you absolutely must let me design the dresses! I just can't wait for you and Twilight; I have to go tell her right now!"
"Wait, what?!"
Like a puppy after a ball, Rarity immediately bolted out the front door. But before she could get any further, Applejack grabbed her curled tail in her teeth, bringing her to the ground.
"Have you lost yer mind, woman?" she glared. "Ya can't just go off and tell Twi that I'm about to ask her hoof in marriage!"
Rarity stood back up and fixed her mane as she realized her blunder. "Oh of course, you're right, AJ. What was I thinking? How foolish of me. It's just that I'm so excited for you both. Twilight is going to be absolutely overjoyed!"
"Well, that's what I'm hopin'. But there's just one thing I need if I'm gonna propose to her."
"I know exactly what you mean, my dear. You need the perfect ring to do it with. Come, I know just the place."
Before long, Rarity led her friend to the finest jewelry store in Ponyville: Jim's Gems. WIth their saddlebags, they entered the humble shop and immediately gazed around at the vast collection of beautiful sparkling gems fitted on rings, necklaces, and the like; the window featured a sign that read 'Not Allowed On Premises' and a picture of Spike. A look of admiration came over Rarity's face as she examined the precious jewels.
"Ah, sweet sweet luster." She beamed. "Quite impresive, don't you think, Applejack?"
"If ya say so." Applejack simply skimmed over the little rocks, not knowing what the unicorn saw in them.
As they entered, Jim himself addressed the mares. "How can I help you ladies?" the dapper jeweler greeted from behind a counter.
"Ah yes, good sir," said Rarity. "My friend here is looking for the perfect engagement ring for a special somepony."
Applejack only smiled awkwardly at the clerk.
"Oh I see," he replied kindly. "I have just the thing for mare couples. Why don't you browse through our latest collection of diamond rings over there?"
"Uh, thanks a bunch." Applejack said and wandered over to the case of silver banded rings displayed inside. At first, they all looked like the same pea sized rock embedded in a shiny little band; but then, her eyes caught the real prize. She gawked at the biggest roundest cut diamond in the display, fitted in heart shaped silver coils. Applejack was compelled by the large gem and spoke to the Jim.
"How much for this one?" she asked.
"Oh that one?" he looked over. "It's the most expensive in the collection; 2,500 bits."
"What?! To heck with that!" Applejack scoffed and kept looking. She then pointed to one of the same looking rings. "How about that one?"
"That's 1,800." Jim answered.
"Ya gotta be kiddin' me."
For the next few mintues, Applejack searched throughout the store over engagement rings of all different rocks, cuts, and metals. But looks were deceiving to her, and Jim was growing impatient.
"What about this one?"
"1,650 bits."
"That one?"
"1,400 bits."
"How 'bout this one?"
"1,050 bits."
"Um, uh, this one?"
"That's 200."
"Well I guess that's-"
"Plus a shipping fee."
"Tarnation!" she stomped her hoof and approached the counter at last. "Don't ya have anything for a, um, fixed budget?"
"Sorry, ma'am," the jeweler replied flatly. "Diamonds aren't cheap, especially not engagement rings. I'm not like one of those con artists outside selling flimsy knockoffs at a dime a dozen."
Applejack turned around and peered out the front window to see a shady looking stallion with a stand filled with diamond rings. They didn't seem any different than the ones she browsed through, which was all the assurance she needed.
"Thanks for the tip." She smirked and trotted off out the door.
"Hey!" griped Jim.
Outside, Applejack walked up to the street vendor and surveyed the rings which had little variety. She looked at the seller.
"How much is yer biggest one?" she asked.
"Fifty bits, lady." The stranger rasped.
"That's good enough for me!" Applejack happily reached for her saddlebag.
But before she could make another move, she was grabbed aside by an appalled Rarity. "Applejack!" she scoffed. "Buying an engagement ring from a common street vendor? For shame!"
"Well what do you expect me to do, Rarity?" retorted Applejack. "There's no way I can't afford any of those diamonds in there."
"But isn't Twilight's love worth every penny?"
Applejack paused and considered her words. She sighed with disgust at herself. "I guess that's true."
"Trust me, AJ, if there's one thing I know, it's diamonds; they're a unicorn's best friend. And I guarantee that if you get her the perfect one, she'll be the happiest unicorn in Equestria."
"You make a fine point, Rarity." Applejack replied. "If I wanna afford the perfect ring for Twi, I'm gonna have to work harder than ever for it." She then smiled with epiphany. "And I know just how I'll do it. I'm gonna sell my family's apple pies like hotcakes!" she said triumphantly.
"Uh, not to open old wounds, dear," said Rarity quizzically. "But how do you plan to sell apple pies when you're banned from your family's farm?"
"Oh I have my sources." Applejack smiled cockliy.
Then, the two friends looked to see a young filly trotting over. It was Sweetie Belle, with her mane mussed up by cat scratches. "Rarity, will you please come home?" she demanded her big sister. "Opal won't sit still for her hourly brushing."
"Hey Sweetie Belle," said Applejack. "Can ya do me a favor?"
"Sure thing, Applejack." Sweetie Belle smiled eagerly.
"Can ya give a message to Apple Bloom? Tell her and Big Macintosh to..."
...
Later that night, Applejack spent some quality time at her new home with her special somepony. She and Twilight snuggled together in their bed before some light reading and then sleep. They busied themselves with exchanging kisses and nuzzling before Applejack began to feel some nervousness in her lover.
"Somethin' wrong, sugarcube?" she asked. "Ya feel mighty tense."
"Oh, uh, it's nothing really." Twilight mumbled and continued to kiss her neck.
But Applejack could still tell she was troubled. "C'mon, Twi, what's gettin' ya down?"
Twilight finally sighed and explained. "Well, to be honest, the past few days have been a bit trying. The library has been getting a bit old in years, being it a tree after all, and I've been having trouble paying for maintenance. So I had to sell some of the books around here just to keep the place standing. It's really hard to see my books go."
"Why didn't ya tell me earlier?"
"I didn't want to let you down, AJ. I don't want you to live in a place I can't even afford to maintain. I'm sure it'll be fine."
Applejack saw the uneasiness in her marefriend's eyes. She knew then that she had to raise her spirits somehow, and the biggest shiniest diamond ring would do just the trick. She lifted Twilight's chin and looked into her purple eyes.
"Don't worry, darlin'," she smiled. "I know you'll make it. You are the brains, after all."
"You know just what to say, Applejack." Twilight smiled back and kissed her lips deeply. "Will you be home for breakfast tomorrow, babe?"
"Actually, I gotta leave early. I've got some work to do."
...
The next morning, Applejack found herself in the Ponyville marketplace. With some help from her little sister, she had successfully rebuilt the merchant stand where she would sell her family's crop pound by pound. After completing the stand, she hugged Apple Bloom.
"It's good to see ya again, big sis." The filly said joyfully.
"You too, Apple Bloom." Applejack replied. "How's Granny Smith?"
"She's still a bit steamed. But I'm sure she'll come around soon."
"Well as long as you're still with me, little sis."
Applejack then looked down at Wynona, who scampered up to her master with affection. "Woof! Woof!"
"Aw hey, Wynona," she petted the collie. "Did ya miss me, girl?"
Then, the two sisters spotted their big brother who wheeled a cart overstuffed with steaming apple pies. Applejack trotted over to hug him as well.
"Thanks so much for helpin' big bro." She said. "I can't believe you two managed to bake all these pies without Granny Smith suspectin' a thing."
"It's the least I could do for gettin' ya in trouble." Big Macintosh smiled back. "I really missed ya, AJ."
But then, she noticed the strange marking on his red shoulder. "Uh, Big Mac, is that a tattoo?"
Big Mac blushed and snapped his eyes at the heart shaped tattoo on his shoulder, which read 'BM + RD'. He turned away to hide the message. "Uh...no."
She stared at him for a moment then shrugged off her suspicion. "Well anyway, with our famous pies, we're bound to raise enough dough for Twilight's engagement ring."
"Um, Applejack," the youngest sibling queried. "Not to be a downer but don't ya think this is kind of, um, excessive just for a ring?"
"Trust me, li'l sis," said Applejack proudly. "When yer in love, you'll understand how much it means to ya."
"Ya mean I'm gonna marry another mare too?" Apple Bloom looked perplexed.
"Eh, no, I mean, uh, never mind." Applejack then walked up behind the stand and announced to the shoppers. "Alright, Ponyville, the Apple family pie stand is back in business; and we're open all day!"
"Not if we have anything to say about it! Right, Flim?"
"You said it, Flam!"
Applejack stared blankly. "You are freaking kidding me."
Strolling up the street came the Apple family's old one-time rivals: the obnoxious Flim Flam brothers. The eccentric unicorn twins approached the family's stand with cocky smiles.
"Sorry, sweetheart," said Flim. "But my brother and I have already reserved this space to sell our own fine goods."
"You two are back again?!" glared Applejack. "I thought we put you in yer place with our family's apple cider."
"It was a fair contest," replied Flam. "But now we're back in the apple business. We tried building a flying machine over in Baltimare, and let's just say it didn't go so well. It took me three weeks to regrow this mustache."
"So we needed to find better work and now we're back in the Ponyville scene." Flim added.
"Well ya can't sell yer crummy cider here." Apple Bloom protested. "We're tryin' to sell our pies and we don't want any of yer nonsence."
"Nnope." added Big Mac.
"Oh no, we're not here to sell cider." Flim scoffed. "You see, we also have been making apple pies of our own. And I'm afraid your cute little stand won't be able to catch up with our revenue."
"Really, yer gonna sell pies?" snapped Applejack skeptically. "And just what makes ya think you'll sell more than us?"
"With our latest invention." Flam stepped aside to reveal a tarped wagon he had been pulling. He removed the tarp unvealing what looked like a giant industrial leaf blower. "I give you the Ultra Quicker Pie Cooker 8000!"
Apple Bloom looked at the strange machine curiously. "How does it work?"
"Why we'll tell you! Ready, Flam?"
"Ready, Flim!" answered Flam who then blew through a tuning harmonica. Then the brothers broke out in song.
"Well you see it's no lie, that when you make a pie, you gotta add a little-"
"Okay, okay, never mind!" interrupted Apple Bloom.
"Look, I don't care what kind of crazy contraption you two clowns have now." Applejack argued. "Yer not gonna sell pies on our turf!"
"Well that's too bad." Flam smirked. "'Cause we have a permit that let's us do so. Looks like you'll have to open up another day."
Applejack paused to think. There was no way she was going to let these two try to oust her again. Then, a thought occured to her. "What if we made this a little fun?" she spoke to the twins.
"We're listening." Flim raised an eyebrow.
"Let's have a competition. Whoever can sell the most pies by sunset can keep their spot in the marketplace."
"Applejack, what are ya doing?!" whispered Apple Bloom. "Have you gone completely insane?"
"I'm not givin' up this stand, Apple Bloom; especially not for Twilight." Applejack turned back to the cons. "So, do we have a deal?"
"Are you kidding?" snorted Flam. "We'll sell more pies than you could bake in a year. You're on!"
"Then may the best pies win." Applejack narrowed her eyes.
Then, Flim approached Big Mac and held out his hoof to shake while staring him down. "Just like old times, huh?"
The draft pony only grabbed the hoof and gave it an agonizing squeeze, sneering without a word. Flim retracted his hoof from the painful grip with a cringe.
And so the competition began. As more and more ponies gathered around, the humble family and the shifty entrepeneurs prepared for their marketing face-off. Apple Bloom stood in front of the intrigued crowd wearing a sign over her shoulders reading 'Apple Family Homemade Pies'.
"Come on down, everypony," she announced. "Come get ya a nice fresh baked apple pie from yer neighborhood family farm!"
One by one, the hungry ponies lined up for the family stand. Not surprisingly, Pinkie Pie stood at the front of the line, jumping in place.
"Ooh, I just love your pies, Applejack!" the pink mare beamed. "They're even better than Mr. and Mrs. Cake's. Uh, please don't tell them I said that!"
"Thanks for comin', Pinkie," said Applejack as she handed her a pie. "That'll be ten bits."
"Only ten?" Pinkie cocked her head.
"Yup, we're markin' down the price just for this occasion. Come again soon, Pinkie."
"Are you kidding?" smiled Pinkie. "I'm getting back in line!" she then sprang off.
But unbeknownst to the Apple family, the Flim Flam brothers were doing some advertising of their own. Flam stood in front of their peculiar contraption and faced his potential customers.
"Step right up, mares and gentlecolts!" he spoke in a showman's tone. "Come witness this marvel of machinery produce apple pies faster than any one pony!"
Then, with a nod from his brother, Flim took a industrial hose which was attached to the machine. He flipped a switch on the end of the hose and began walking around the market by a row of farmers' baskets. Using the hose, Flim sucked up carious products including flour, sugar, cinnamon, nuts, and of course apples. As the ingredients were abrubtly vacuumed into the machine, Flam then switched several levers on the Ultra Quicker Pie Cooker. Immediately, the U.Q.P.C. began to hum loudly and make clunking and clanging noises from inside. After a minute of mecahnical tinkering, a green light blinked on above a moving conveyer belt and sure enough, a line of steaming pies quickly rolled out. The crowd of ponies stared amazed at the tantalizing tarts.
"That's right, folks," announced Flim. "That's ten hot and ready pies in just half a minute. And just to prove that they're just as good as any other, we're marking them down to five bits each!"
"Wow, that's a lot of pie!" grinned Pinkie. "I'll take twenty!"
"Pinkie!" glared Applejack.
"Oh sorry, AJ, I just really love pie!"
And just like that, the dazzled crowd flocked to the brothers with hooffuls of cash. Applejack looked from afar as half of her clientele migrated over to her rivals.
"This means war!"
As the day wore on, so did the pie battle. On one hoof, ponies prefered the authentic homemade honesty of Applejack's pies. But on the other, Flim and Flam were selling them at a much faster rate and at a lower price. It was tug-of-war between both sellers, and the pies were flying off the shelves. An endless stock of them continued to roll out of the Ultra Quicker Pie Cooker. However, Big Mac hurried to meet demand as he balanced a bunch at a time on his back, hooves and nose. Apple Bloom tried to help keep the customers interested with various advertising antics, including juggling apples and spinning pie tins on sticks. But the line for the family stand eventually grew to what seemed like a mile long. As the afternoon waned, the ponies began to file over to the chugging machine offering them pies by the tenfold. Applejack frowned as she gazed at the setting sun.
"This ain't good, guys," she said to her siblings. "Those Flim Flam brothers are stealin' all our customers and it's almost sundown. And worst of all, I don't have nearly enough for Twilight's ring." She looked in the cash box dissapointedly.
"Don't give up now, AJ," said Apple Bloom. "We'll make enough somehow. Right, Big Mac?"
Unfortunately, Big Macintosh had already stumbled and landed on his front, spilling pies all over him; it was not looking good for them. With just a few minutes of sunlight remaining, Applejack started to loose hope. Almost all of the ponies in the marketplace had herded over to the brothers' machine and her income of money had slowed dramatically. She watched longingly as darkness neared.
"No, no, no!"
Alas, Celestia's sun dissapeared behind the horizon; time was up.
"That's all for today, Ponyville," announced Flam. "Thank you all for your patronage!"
Applejack dropped her head on the table of her stand as her brother and sister walked over to comfort her. But then, the cocky twins came over after closing up their contraption.
"Sorry, doll face," said Flim. "You made it a good race, but it's all about the consumer. Maybe you'll have better luck in another town."
"Look, I get it, you guys won," trembled Applejack. "You proved to be the better salesmen. But you don't understand. I was just doin' this so I can afford an engagement ring for my marefriend. She's the best thing that ever happened to me. She took me into her home when I wasn't wanted in mine. And all I wanted was show my love for her in return, and I would do anything, even somethin' like this, just to prove it. But now I can't even afford a stupid ring." She wiped away a single tear. "I guess marriage will just have to wait. But please, I beg you, don't let this affect my family. Please, at least let the stand stay."
"No can do, kid," replied Flim soberly. "You got heart, I'll give you that, but a deal's a deal and we're here to stay. Right, Flam?...Flam?...Are you crying?!"
Flam's tried to hold back tears after hearing Applejack's plea. But he couldn't hold back any longer and burst out sobbing. "That's the most beautiful thing I ever heard!" He then touched her shoulder. "Sweetheart, your story has touched me deep. I once had a mare who I loved with all my heart, and I know just how you feel. Listen, I'm sorry about trying to run you out. So, I want you to take our whole profit from today."
"Flam, are you nuts?!" exclaimed Flim.
"You...you mean it?" Applejack looked up with hope.
"Absolutely," nodded Flam, giving her his brother's cash bag. "And for your family, we'll even let you keep your stand. I think the public will prefer quality over quantity."
"Bro, I really think you should reconsider this!" hissed Flim, ignored.
The three siblings looked inside the bag of bits with astonishment at how much the brothers had made.
"Golly, Applejack," said Apple Bloom. "There's more than enough in here. You could buy Twilight a hundred rings!"
"Thank you, ever so much." Applejack smiled at Flam. "I guess you boys ain't so cheap after all."
"Anything for a fellow entrepeneur." Flam smiled back and tipped his hat. He then walked off with his brother. "Come on, Flim, this town doesn't need us anymore."
"They never needed us in the first place, you idiot!" snarled Flim as they headed off with their Ultra Pie Whatever machine.
"So, what are ya going to do now, big sis?" asked Apple Bloom.
"Well, I suppose the jewelry store is still open." Applejack smiled then looked to her brother.
"Eeyup." Big Mac winked.
WIth newfound hope, Applejack took the cash bag and took off cantering into town before Jim's Gems could close for the night.
...
"Twilight, you home, sugarcube? I got a surprise for ya!"
Applejack called knowlingly before opening the door. But she was met no response as she stared into the darkened library. There was no light anywhere except for the lonely candle burning beside Twilight's couch. That's when Applejack heard the only sound. She heared what appeared to be quiet sobbing coming from the sofa and could just make out something moving. Applejack switched on a light and looked in heartbreak to see her marefriend weeping on the couch under a blanket. She walked over concerned.
"Twilight? What's wrong?" she asked.
The unicorn saw her enter and barely tried to compose herself. "Oh Applejack, I just got the worst news."
"What happened, darlin'?"
Twilight sobbed as she explained. "I just got a letter from the city. If I don't pay off the maintenance fees, the whole library will be shut down for good! And I still don't have enough! I'm so sorry, AJ; I tried but I couldn't even support our home." She dug her face in cushion and continued to cry.
At first, Applejack was struck by the troubling news. But then she quickly realized that she had already solved the dilema. "Twilight, you won't need to worry about a thing." She smiled. "I just made a killing off of sellin' my family's pies. Now we can pay off those darn taxes and then some!"
Miraculously, Twilight began to look up with hope. "Are you serious?"
"You bet. Don't you fret any longer, baby." Applejack touched her cheek. "We're gonna be just fine."
As she wiped the moisture from her eyes, Twilight rejoiced as she wrapped her hooves around her hardworking companion. "That was so sweet of you, Applejack. Thank you ever so much! Oh you did this just for me; I am such a pathetic marefriend."
"...How about a wife?"
"...What did you say?"
"Well, I had to spend some of that money on somethin' else too." Then, Applejack mustered every bit of strength in her will, and got down on one knee. She held out her front hooves holding open a small velvet box and proposed. "Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?"
Twilight gawked at the ring in the box. It held a large diamond which had been cut in the shape of her twinkling star cutie mark, and was even tinted with pink and purple. The intricate sliver coils surrounding it resembled apples, and an inscription along the shimmering band read 'To the mare with all the brains, who stole my heart'. After staring for another moment, she finally uttered a stunned response.
"It's...beautiful! Are you sure about this?"
"I've never been more sure about anything in my life." Applejack smiled. "I love you with all my heart, Twilight. Please, be my wife."
She was finally won over. Immediately, all the sorrow was long gone and Twilight responded overjoyed. "YES! Yes! Yes! Oh, Applejack, yes! Of course I'll marry you!"
With that, Applejack placed the laborate ring around Twilight's horn and instantly, the jewel began to shine from the unicorn's magic. Twilight got off the couch to be swept up in her companion's hooves, spun around and held tight. The two locked lips for nearly a minute before she spoke again, while nuzzling Applejack's neck.
"I can't believe you went to all this trouble." She said happily.
"It was worth every penny." Applejack replied, knowing that Twilight's love was priceless.
"Hold me, AJ." Twilight whispered, this time crying tears of joy.