*Very* glad to see this continued. You are able to take 2 characters that, in-show have very little development, and spin a strong character piece. Even with the large amount in Diamond's introspection, it never seems tedious. Bravo.

I'm rooting for Diamond and Mac to work out a relationship even if she is dead-set on rejecting he contract. Eagerly awaiting more.

Hopefully we'll not have to wait 6 months for the next chapter.

Silly Cake twins, you can only mail kittens named Nermal to Abu Dhabi.

Mac leasing out land... Could someone explain how that works? At first I thought it was really weird and that it meant he was secretly rich all along, but then he still does back-breaking labor, so...?

I was afraid for this story.
I am glad that you continued.
WOW great continuation, Diamond Tiara has changed. Now having both good and bad but what I thought was funny was that Big Mac has has his own set it is good to know that he can be conflicted too. The definitely have a lot of parallels, and it leaves with many questions.
But I think that this is shaping up to be amazing relationship because now she is stepping out of her on personal darkness and into the light, as it where.

Thank for another chapter

At this point, I'm jealous of Mac for having her as a wife.

5041638 Eeyup

5041821 Mac isn't secretly rich, but he isn't financially hard up either, he is hard working and well planned looking forward. My background research indicated that it was Mac that was the financial brains of Sweet Apple Acres. The leases are actually more of rent-share agreements for the other farms (as a method to pay for the hired hooves needed to help work the farm after Mac's parents deaths), Mac helps out to ensure maximum profitability.

Another great chapter Sir Barton and it was well worth the wait, I just have a few questions/comments.

First I would like to say that you have alleviated one of my major fears about Diamonds epiphany about herself.
My fear was that Diamond would return to McIntosh ready and willing to become his submissive wife and broodmare,but after reading their exchange during the walk to the restaurant showed that the old Diamond is still in there but now shes tempered that emotion and it really shown how much she has grown as a pony (Also it was nice to see someone call Mac out on all his cryptic BS and monosyllabic answers to everything.)

Second: With Applejack going to Manehatten for some reason I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with my seven labors of Applejack idea I floated out there after the last chapter.
(As an aside from the last chapter I thought AJ was going to redeem herself going to get Diamond,apologize to her,and bring her back. and this chapter would be about Diamond and AJ apologizing to each other and burying the hatchet.)

Third: I don't know why but I was very happy I was right that Diamond parents are as it turns out are as bad as I always thought they were.
I mean I already wanted them covered in pitch and shot into the sun but i never thought that Silken would be worse then Filthy is, and Diamond showed a lot of maturity by not stabbing her mother in the windpipe with a salad fork which is what I would have done.

Anyway thank again for another great chapter I hope the wait isn't as long for the next one.

Once more glad to see that you have made a new chapter. This one is particularly pleasing in that it shows she is making some progress in Humility. Your philosophical writing style is very soothing to read. I can only hope you keep up the good work.
media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/dd/8c/73/dd8c73dd3bdeb7cef68208a32dec6dc2.jpg

5042552 Thank you very much for the kind words, would you believe this is a form of PTSD therapy for me? I certainly hope to keep this style up, I love character and world building. I'm looking forward to starting your Big G in Equestria, tale, I've been a fan of Big G since I was in kinderschool.

5042719

and that's why. She shouldn't have to look hard for something like that but she does. She's the Element of Honesty not Forgiveness and it's perfectly reasonable to decide that making Diamond Tiara a better pony is not her or her family's responsibility.

5042917 Exactly, and when somepony else (Mac) decides to try, it drives her bloody nuts. I love AJ and RD for their well channeled emotions at times, not the wild free expression of Pinkie or Rarity but sculpted response. It's what made AJ such a perfect foil for this piece, because at the heart of it she's very real.

5042985

Well really, there's no reason for Bloom to forgive DT either, so it feels kind of contrived to me. AJ is the designated villain and she'll be redeemed when she see's DT's turning into a fine young mare.

I mean the fact of the matter is DT has not only made Bllom miserable for a ton of her life she even drove a wedge, if a brief one, into the Apple family encouraging Babs Seed to pick on all the CMC

Nice to see this updated.

So in this continuity, the Apples actually have non-zero business sense? Actually kind of disappointing, since it gives Diamond Tiara less room to apply her talents constructively

“Dos Equuis, if you would.”

He once harvested an entire orchard...wearing his grandmother's girdle.
When Princess Celestia looks at him...she needs sunglasses.
His cleverness once made Filthy...Rich...
He is...the Most Interesting Stallion in the World.

Loved the update, Thank you!!!

5043444
Oh I'm sure she'll get plenty of time to strut her stuff in the future. Mac may have the brains to run things on his own, but Diamond has the charisma. For all his skill at keeping the farm and all of his other interests running, Mac isn't a very charismatic stallion. He's too quiet. Diamond, however, has no trouble throwing her weight around in the verbal arena, and now that she's finally getting a hold on her emotions and learning to use her attitude in all the right ways, she's gonna be able to do a lot for the Acres in contract negotiations.

5043012 Actually AB hasn't yet forgiven Diamond. She has forgiven her brother for accepting the contract, and her sister for being an ass about things. Di will have to earn her forgiveness slowly from AB and the other crusaders for her past. Acceptance and forgiveness aren't one in the same, but AB has a big heart like her brother and a more 'spiritual' connection to her family, more like Granny Smith. When AJ looks at Di, she sees herself when she ran off to Manehattan and everything that she could have been as a result. It's not so much AJ dislikes Di, but may not have forgiven herself for having left all those years ago.

5043444 Well from the background notes I found Mac is the financial brains of the operation. AJ is the 'frontmare' of the bunch, and Bloom is well the assistant or as yet undefined in the series (blank flank). Di here represents certain factors that AJ has shown an occasional total lack of at times. (Reference - why would you bring a personal pay concession cart to a catered function like the Grand Galloping Gala?) Mac's got the business sense but is too shy to get the most out of it.

5042719
I feel like Mac is rapidly approaching what you claim of Applejack. Worse, even. AJ has shown her flaws, but Mac has everypony wrapped around his hoof just by talking a bit, is always in control, always knows the best way about everything.

The last time I remember where that wasn't the case was with the doctor, and it's difficult to talk your way out of 'Don't bruise your marefriend's vagina, you dumb lug'. Diamond Tiara running away might count, but even then his letter made everything better again.

5044710 Very true. Mac's parts in the story have generally revolved around his areas of perceived strength, so yeah, he comes across as always 'in the right'. I do want to show that he does have other flaws, and that opportunity may be coming in the next chapter.

Im curious how much of Mac's Tale is going to be referenced. I know its considered canon, but are the events of those stories going to be heavily referenced. Im a huge fan of this story, but Mac's Tale wasnt for me. Is it going to be required reading to understand future events, or will it stay in the background?

5053913 It helps to have read it, especially to understand the subtle flaws in Mac's character that don't get shown much here, but this story is meant to be totally understandable on its own. Glad you like it.

ding dong the story is not dead!

5042514
I don't think that was ever a risk. She might return contrite, but never submissive. It really wasn't necessary of her to snipe at her parents that way even if they sort of deserved it. Her mother has no tact at all (apple doesn't fall far from the tree.. :P). I don't see how they're universally bad, just flawed in their own way. They could use to grow a little too it seems.

5043012
I get the impression that she felt sorry for DT (maybe even pitied her), especially considering that she didn't get to marry for love or anything. I'd say that what she got, her own decision or not, was a pretty humiliating way to start a relationship with a stallion. Applebloom isn't an idiot after all.

5044288
I don't really think that's the point. Charisma or no she needs to get off her high horse and manipulation is not the same as negotiation.

5441188
You obviously haven't spent much time negotiating with people who want to take your money. Most of the time, as soon as money gets involved manipulation is the same as negotiation.

But regardless, give her time. Mac agreed to the proposal in the first place because he saw more to her than most other ponies did, it might just take her a while to see it for herself.

5441188

Yeah after reviewing the story and gaining a better understanding of what Sir Barton was going for I realised I overreacted with the submissive broodmare thing.

It really wasn't necessary of her to snipe at her parents that way even if they sort of deserved it.

I believe Diamonds response was necessary because it showed that she is becoming her own mare and would no longer be used by her parents.

So is AJ going out to fulfill her "stud" contract? If so I would love to see that spun off into a squeal.