//------------------------------// // 73. Cadillac - by Thak // Story: RariJack - The Compilation of Prompts // by Titanium Dragon //------------------------------// Thak Cadillac “Look at this one, Rares! It’ll be large enough to handle the kids and haul half the orchards in one go!” “Silver, get down from there! That is not a toy for you to climb on! I’m sorry, Darling, what were you saying?” “I was sayin’ whatcha think of this one? Ain’t she a beaut?” Rarity glanced at the cart before her. While there were many aspects of farm life she had grown accustomed to, farm equipment was not one of them. To her, each cart looked the same: four wheels, a yoke, and an open box to haul things in. This one was no different. Although the intricate woodwork was nice, there was nothing to Rarity that seemed to distinguish this one from the first one they looked at several hours ago. Her patience for this little trip was quickly running out. That might have been due to the screaming foal she carried on her back, or the bouncing colt who insisted on climbing on top of everything. While she loved Applejack dearly and trusted she would come up with a cart for the family that wasn’t as old as Granny Smith, Rarity secretly hoped they would finish soon so she could foist the little rapscallions onto their other mother. “It looks fine, Applejack. Just like all the others,” said Rarity. She turned to the little foal on her back. “Aww, is little baby Topaz hungry? Yes you are! You’re a hungry little filly, aren’t you?” Rarity scrunched her nose at her daughter while sifting through the diaper bag with her magic. She pulled out a bottle and gave it to the now quiet foal, who was sucking quite contently on the bottle. “Howdy folks! How y’all doin’ today?” asked a white stallion in a vest and tie. He wore his black mane slicked back, and his cutie mark showed three bits stacked neatly on top of each other. “Name’s Quick Sales, at your service.” “Howdy, Quick. Names Applejack. This here’s my wife, Rarity. That’s li’l Topaz, and my oldest, Silver, he’s runnin’ around here somewhere. We was just lookin’ at getting’ a new cart for the family. The old one finally kicked the bucket.” “Well, sorry to hear that. Y’all have come to the right spot, though: We have the finest carts in all of Equestria! You lookin’ at just a family hauler, or were you lookin’ for somethin’ that can do a little more? Seems to me like y’all are the type of folks who do more than just sit on your haunches readin’ books all day,” said Quick. Applejack chuckled. “Your darn right, Mr. Quick. We leave that to Twilight and Rainbow. Nah, we need something more utilarian.” “That’s utilitarian, Darling,” supplied Rarity. “Right, like I said. Something useful. What can you tell me about this one here?” “Ahh, got your eye on ol’ Bessy, huh? Best cart we got. Largest cart, too. Great for hauling kids and cargo alike. Has a brand new, state-of-the-art suspension that allows you to haul as much as six times the capacity of other carts on the market. It’s made of solid mahogany, and the hoof-carved woodwork ensures that not only will you be hauling the largest load anypony has ever seen, you’ll look good doin’ it. Care to take it for a test drive?” “I would lo—“ began Applejack. “How much?” asked Rarity. “Rares, can’t we at least try it out ‘fore you get all miserly on me?” “I’d be happy to discuss price with you while your wife tests it out. I also forgot to mention that this is also top of the line when it comes to safety. Each spring on the suspension is independently certified to withstand the strain of a full load by itself, and it comes with a special magic crystal that automatically takes the weight off of a wheel in the extremely unlikely event something happens. And with our Deluxe Security package, even the tiniest of foals would be able to pull the cart without fear of losing control, thanks to our patented Loyal Dog system. No worries about it getting out of control, ever.” “C’mon, Rares? What do you say?” asked Applejack, a pleading look in her eyes. “Can you give us a second, Mr. Sales?” said Rarity. “Of course. I’ll be right over there in my office if you have any further questions.” “Thank you,” said Rarity. “Whatcha think, Sugar? That there’s one mighty fine cart.” “Yes, Applejack, it is fine. A little too fine, if you ask me. Do we really need all of that? And you don’t find it curious that he refused to mention the price? Every cart in here has a price out in the open except this one. Why is that, do you think? He’s hiding something.” “Well, he weren’t lyin’, Sugarcube. Everything he said felt like honest truth.” “It probably was, Applejack. It probably does have all those things. Which means we can’t afford it.” “But Rarity—“ said Applejack. “No buts, Darling. You agreed you would stay within budget. It’s bad enough I’ve got a fussy baby to deal with, as well as your headstrong son who won’t GET DOWN OFF OF THERE THIS INSTANT! I’m tired, and we’ve been out here all day. Pick a cart that is within the number I gave you earlier, or I swear to Celestia I’ll have Twilight figure out a way to banish you to the moon.” “You wouldn’t,” said Applejack, eyeing her wife. The glare the white unicorn shot at Applejack told her that Rarity would indeed follow through with her threats, as well as much more if she wasn’t obeyed, and quickly. Sighing, Applejack turned and walked towards the office where the young salespony was just finishing up some paperwork. “While I appreciate all your help, I weren’t able to convince the wife about Bessy. But she did agree on letting me take home a brand new cart today. So we’re gonna go with one of them Li’l Wagoneers.” “I see. Well, maybe next time. Bessy isn’t for everypony. Still, the Li’l Wagoneer is a fine choice. I guess I only have one question. “Did you want the silver, or the red?” Next prompt: Expectations