//------------------------------// // 46. The Best Night Ever - To Sell // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Applejack pushed a roll-away stand out into the gardens, and looked around, seeing a lot of ponies present. She bucked it, and it sprang open, revealing several of her best apple-treats and stood up behind it, and just noticed somepony walk up and not just anypony but a Wonderbolt! “Howdy, partner, ya hungry?” “As a horse!” he replied with a slight cocky tone. “Well, what'cha hankering for? Caramel apple? Apple pie? Apple fritter? Apple fries?” Applejack pointed to each of her foods when the Wonderbolt pointed to the biggest item on her menu. “I’ll take that big apple pie!” He paid and Applejack hoofed it over, “Well thank ya kindly, sir!” She watched him leave but then reared, “Yee-haw! In th’ firs’ minute Ah made mah first sell, jus’ like Ah expected!” A minute later, Applejack hadn’t had another sell as she said, “Second.” Another minute later, “Third.” Another minute later, “Fourth…” “Applejack!” She perked and saw Rarity alongside her date, Prince Blueblood, as the fashionista requested, “Two apple fritters please.” “Comin’ right up!” Applejack cheered when Blueblood cleared his throat. “Um, Miss Rarity, not to dissuade you from enjoying a treat or anything,” he said calmly, “But why would you buy an apple fritter when there are plenty inside on the banquet table?” “Beg pardon?” Applejack was intrigued that the gala’s catering included fritters. “Why yes,” Blueblood said as he pointed out some other gala-goers enjoying apple fritters but not just fritters. “In fact, all the foodstuffs you’re selling here are a part of the banquet, so everypony is enjoying them.” “Wha- Tha’ cain’t be!” Applejack could not believe what she was seeing! She saw a couple mares enjoying candy apples, a stallion munching apple-fries, another cutting a piece of apple pie and serving it to his apparent marefriend. Deciding to investigate further, Applejack placed a ‘Back in 5 minutes’ sign on her stand and stormed to the banquet and was furious at what she saw. A fair amount of the foods being served were indeed the same kind as she’d been trying to sell. “Well no wonder nopony’s buying mah food, this gala is servin’ th’ same menu! …But Ah bet it don’ compare to mah fam’ly recipes!” She helped herself to a slice of apple pie from the banquet table and took a bite. A moment later, her eyes popped in realization that this wasn’t just the same kind of food she’d prepared for her stand. This pie was made with mah family recipe!! Applejack was furious! Somehow, the cooks for the gala had gotten a hold of her family recipes! She tested the other apple cuisine to be sure, and was absolutely certain of it! “Somepony’s hide is gonna be bucked black n’ blue…!” she seethed. “Hey Applejack!” She turned to see Midnight munching on a fritter he’d just levitated off the banquet table. “Isn’t this great?! All your foods are being served to all these upper-crust ponies so you’re sure to-” *Gurk!* “You know sumthin’ about this?!” she growled, grabbing Midnight around the throat. “Applejack! C-calm… down, please!” Midnight choked, so Applejack narrowed her eyes at him and let go. As he gasped for breath, he cringed at the malevolent glare Applejack was giving him as she threatened, “Ya hav’ thirty seconds to explain.” “Applejack, I swear, this is gonna work out great for you!” Midnight said quickly, afraid for his life. “Look, I know you intended to sell your foods here at the gala, but I realized everypony would be more interested in free food rather than whatever you brought, so I… copied down some of your family recipes and sent them to Princess Celestia.” “Wha’ does th’ princess have t’ do wit’ this?!” demanded the festering farmer. “Princess Celestia was glad to include your recipes for the gala catering,” Midnight went on. “But she placed special spells on the recipes before she gave them to the chefs! The chefs made the food as your recipes instructed but once the gala is over, the chefs will forget the recipes entirely and all traces of them will vanish!” “But why would ya do this, Midnight?!” Applejack demanded. Midnight gave her a flat look as he levitated up a parchment with the royal seal on it. “Take a look at this.” Applejack swiped the paper and read it. Realization dawned on her when her eyes popped and she whistled. “That… is a lot o’ zeroes!” “It’s payment for the use of your family recipes for tonight’s catering,” Midnight explained. “The princess asked me to give it to you myself.” “Midnight…!” Applejack was in awe. “This… this is enough to get all we wanted fer th’ farm and hav’ plenty leftover! …Ah’m still a lil’ ornery at ya fer doin’ this without mah permission, but…” Tears threatened to overwhelm her eyes as she scrunched her eyes shut, and suddenly gave Midnight a hug. Midnight smiled and gladly returned the embrace, whispering, “The least I could do for my sister…” Applejack collected herself as they separated, but she looked troubled. “But… Sugarcube, Ah, Ah’m not sure Ah cin take this. Ah didn’t make all this grub fer th’ gala!” “Well you can’t return it!” Midnight smirked, “No substitutions, no refunds, no returns, no regrets. Princess Celestia’s words. That money is all yours, AJ. Now why don’t you go and enjoy yourself?” “Y’know what, Sugarcube?” Applejack said as she stowed the parchment into her garb. “Ah think Ah’ll do jus’ that.” She trotted off, not noticing the proud smirk on Midnight’s face.