"Ahem." Applejack took a long, deep breath, then smiled pleasantly. "Howdy, Ms. Shindig! I'm Applejack, and these here are my wares. You have no idea just how big of a heapin' honor this is for me to be here. Feel free to sample my cider all you like. In the meantime, I'd very much like to discuss yer plans for the factory here. Anythang I can do to contribute to the mill's future success—as well as the orchards in general—would be downright spectacular! I think you'll find that I'm pretty darn experienced in dealin' with fruit buckin', be it apples or citrus. As a matter of fact, I've got oranges in my blood! If you have any doubt of that, I've included a signed letter from Aunt and Uncle Orange for reference. They're true blue Manehattanites, from my Ma's side, and I've always held a lifelong respect for oranges, lemons, and citrus in general!"
Silence. Applejack blinked forward. Then, with a nervous shudder, she glanced down at the ponies drawing the wagon in front of her.
"Ya reckon I shouldn't start the whole thang with 'Howdy?' I mean... ain't no use in hidin' the fact that I'm full of country grit n'all, but it don't seem too eloquent-like. And there's just no tellin' how fussy or refined Ms. Shindig is..."
"There's no point in pretending to be someone or somepony you're not, AJ!" Stu Leaves said while drawing the wagon down the lone dirt road. "If you ask me, there's nothing wrong with the tone of the dialogue..."
Applejack squinted. "...but?"
"Well, is that precisely what you plan to say?" Stu chuckled. "I mean, it's like you've got a gattling gun in your mouth!"
"How means you?"
"You keep vomiting out all of this... stuff. It doesn't come across as natural, but rather desperate. Yeah, sure, Shindig might ask you about your experience in citrus and oranges, but even though you anticipate that—don't jump the gun, for Celestia's sake!" He glanced back, smiling. "Just let the conversation flow naturally! If she asks about your experience, that is when you provide the information to her! Including the signed note from your Aunt and Uncle or whatnot. Just... don't rush into the conversation, firing on all cylinders!"
Applejack shuddered, leaning back in her seat. "Land's sakes... if I had known that the simple act greetin' Shindig would end up bein' so plum complicated..."
"Pffft! What's complicated about it?" Stu smiled wide. "You're Applejack! The most trusted and dependable pony in all of Ponyville! How could possibly not know how to have a pleasant conversation with somepony?"
"Well..."
"Just treat Shindig like you would the Mayor!" Stu said. "Or Twilight Sparkle! Or any of your visiting relatives from afar!"
"Hmmph..." Applejack smirked. "Ain't it rather presumptuous for me to pretend like she's related or somethin'?"
"Applejack, it's worth the suspension of disbelif if it means you're going to talk to her naturally and without coming across as stiff." Stu winked. "Take it from a stallion who's... er... had his fair share of practice when it comes to perfecting his first impression."
"Suffered a lot of trial and error, eh?"
Stu Leaves gulped. "More of the latter than the former. And you know what I've learned?"
"What?"
"Best not to sweat the small stuff... OR the big stuff. An interview is all about being yourself." He smiled again. "Just let your credentials speak for yourself, and treat the interviewer like an equine being. It'll all work out! Trust me! Your finesse and countrified dignity will win her over."
"Ya really think so?"
"Pffft. Would I lie to you?"
Applejack smirked. "I dunno, Stu. Sometimes I think ya ain't clever enough to."
"Awwwwwww... come onnnnn, AJ." Stu chuckled. "Don't cut me that low!"
Applejack giggled. "I can't help it! Yer always cuttin' yerself!"
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was rolling her eyes. When she finished, she squinted ahead, blinking at a curious sight. "Uhm... guys?"
"Well, m-maybe I wouldn't be... uh... cutting myself half the time if I had more friends like you to teach me how to shave straight!"
"What in tarnation does that analogy even mean?"
"So I'm not that good at improv! Sue me!"
"Guys." Rainbow Dash stopped trotting, which forced Stu Leaves to grind to a halt. The wagon jostled slightly, its cider crates rattling against one another.
"Guh!" Applejack flinched, squinting down at the blue pegasus. "Rainbow? What gives?"
"That's exactly what I want to know." Rainbow Dash pointed ahead. "Look."
Applejack and Stu gazed directly ahead.
In front of them, the rusted metal gate to a fenced-off farm loomed. Beyond the barbed wire divider, rows upon rows of orange groves loomed in neatly arranged plots of land. Off in the distance, a large concrete building loomed, flanked by a few smaller structures. Beyond the buildings, a smattering of trees with red fruit loomed.
Besides the open gate right in front of the three ponies stood a tall sign, almost like a billboard. Plastered across it was the faded image of a yellow-coated mare with orange-streaked red hair. She held a glass of orange juice in one hoof and apple cider in the other. Her eyes were thin, glistening with an alluring mystique, and she bore a calm, subtle smile. Below her face, large words stretched in a bold font: "Shindig Soils: The Richest Fruit Produce In the South". Despite the impressive design of the sign, it appeared frayed in the edges, with papery strips of colored print fluttering loosely in the humid breeze.
"Well... that's certainly... uh... rustic," Stu Leaves said.
"Well, whaddya know?" Applejack grinned. "We're here!" She glanced down. "Thanks for the head's up, Rainbow. Reckon I was a mite distracted."
"Uhmmmm..." Rainbow Dash squirmed where she stood.
"What's the matter, sugarcube?"
"I dunno." Rainbow glanced back at her. "Doesn't it seem a bit... strange?"
"What does?"
"The way the gate's flung open like this? With nopony around?"
"Heheheh... Rainbow, darlin', it's a farm. Business begins before dawn at a place like this."
"Yeah, but... where is everypony?" Rainbow gestured. "Shouldn't there be a guard or something around? I mean, Shindig is supposed to be pretty big news, r-right?"
"I dunno." Applejack adjusted the brim of her hat. "Maybe the guards are away at the moment."
"Nopony's in the fields," Stu Leaves muttered, also squinting. "It does look... exceptionally barren."
"Nonsense!" Applejack exhaled. "They're just... just..." She blinked suddenly, her mouth hanging open.
Another hot breeze blew through the orchards, carrying with it the scent of oranges and leaves. It was dreadfully silent at the entrance to Shindig Soils. While the whole group stared, they couldn't spot one single body amidst the large and expansive plot of land.
Applejack gulped. "Let's... j-just head on towards the factory."
"Ya sure about that?" Rainbow Dash whispered as if someone may have been listening beyond the nearest orange groves. "I mean... how do we know we're welcome?"
"Weren't we invited or weren't we?"
"Erm..."
"Besides, I didn't have us trot all this way just to turn away now." Applejack took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for this. Shindig's fixin' to retire, soon, ain't see? Maybe she's... downsized the fruit-buckin' staff since she sent out the invite."
"That would make some sense," Stu said, though his voice was monotone.
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "Well, you heard the mare, Stu. Let's go."
"R-right..."
Slowly, apprehensively, the two pulled the wagon through the gate and down the long dirt path leading to the heart of the farmland.