Chapter Three: New Soil
CHAPTER THREE: NEW SOIL
Rainbow Dash sat back and rubbed her full tummy. They had adjourned to the dining hall, where Cadance had peppered them with questions about Twilight, their friends, Ponyville, and just about anything that had to do with the mundanities of life in a small town.
They were finishing dessert when Shining Armor arrived.
"The Princess' Consort, General Shining Armor!" called the servant near the door.
"Sorry I'm late, Cadance. Don't get up on my account," the alabaster unicorn called out as he stepped through the entryway. He placed his helmet on a nearby pillow, and took a seat at the low table.
"Aw yeah, vanilla bean!" he commented to himself, as he used his magic to ladle a rather large helping of ice cream into a bowl, setting it before him.
The other three ponies sat in silence as he began digging in. This went on for several minutes until finally Cadance, with eyebrow raised in his direction, cleared her throat.
Shining Armor looked up from his half eaten bowl. "What is it, sweetheart?" he asked.
Cadance motioned toward her guests, a small smile on her lips.
Shining glanced over to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack sitting across from him. Both were grinning at the stallion, who began to blush furiously for not only missing the obvious fact that there were guests who had witnessed his informal behavior, but that he also happened to know these two mares as dear friends of his sister.
"Oh, hey," he replied as he quickly dabbed his lips with a napkin. "I didn't know the two of you had already arrived!"
"They arrived about an hour ago, and you shouldn't be late to dinner. You never know when Twily's friends will make a trip up here just to help you," said Cadance, a smirk on her face.
Shining Armor sputtered for a moment, flecks of ice cream dotting the table. "But you said they wouldn't be here until tomorrow!"
Cadance nodded. "Indeed I did say that, my oh so busy warrior, but do you remember when I said that?"
Shining drew a blank look, his years of experience as a husband telling him this was a trap. He answered anyway. "Umm, this morning? I think?"
Cadance shook her head. "Yesterday."
"Yesterday?"
"Mhmm. Yesterday. Which was also the day of our anniversary."
A high pitched squeak followed. "Really?"
"Really."
The air was quiet and still, yet somehow abuzz with an energy that was as yet undefined by the two observing ponies sitting across from the royal couple.
"Well," Shining Armor began again, after a moment of silence, "it seems I am in trouble. If you ladies will excuse me, I will avail myself of the couch in the guest waiting area, and will see you in the morning. Goodnight Applejack, Rainbow Dash, my sweet and understanding wife who loves me very much and won't forget that I love her very much."
A chorus of "goodnights" followed.
After Shining had left the dining hall, the three mares broke out into laughter.
"I didn't know yesterday was your anniversary, Princess." Rainbow Dash said as she rubbed her sore tummy; which was a result of the very rich dessert combined with the fresh giggles.
"Oh, it isn't." Cadance said, a mischievous smile on her muzzle. "But he'll think next time before coming home late to dinner."
A fresh flurry of giggles broke out among the group. After a few moments, they subsided, and Cadance motioned for a servant to remove the dishware.
As the servants began removing the dirty cups and saucers, Cadance rose to her hooves, and ask the girls to follow her. Together, the trio passed through the large hall, and into a smaller sitting room, replete with overstuffed pillows, and a crackling crystal firepit in the center of the room.
As they became comfortable, the Princess spoke first.
"So," she began, "the trials and travails of Ponyville and her residents aside, how have the two of you been handling married life?"
Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at one another, expressions of surprise on their faces. After a moment of uncertainty regarding who should speak, Applejack finally spoke up.
"Well, Princess, Ah'm not really sure what ta say. Ah mean, me and Dash get along right good, and we take care o' each other. Ya know, like good ponies do."
Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yeah, I mean, we fight sometimes, but we make up for it, and even when AJ can be a stubborn mule, it doesn't change how much I love her."
"Hey!"
"What?"
"Ah ain't no stubborn mule."
"Yeah, you really are sometimes."
"Well, if Ah'm a stubborn mule, you're a stubborn mule, too. Twice as one, really."
"Oh yeah? Remember that time we went running through Whitetail Woods and you got covered in tree sap? You got stuck to the tree, and wouldn't even let me help get you free."
"It's a matter o' pride."
"Matter of pride my flank, you were embarrassed."
"Ah was not."
"Were too."
"Was not."
"Were too."
"Dash, Ah weren't embarrassed, Ah was just stuck. Ah can get unstuck from a tree, ya know!"
"Applejack can buck 'em, but she can't unstuck 'em!"
Cadance sat back and listened as the two mares continued bickering back and forth. 'They remind me of an old married couple already', she silently mused.
"So how's the sex? It must be great!"
Cadance's question silenced the room in an instant. Both mares turned a deep shade of red, and began looking down at their forehooves.
"Uh, pardon me, Princess?" Applejack's question was tinged with a shyness that could rival her butter yellow friend's penchant for meekness.
Cadance smiled. "I asked you about the sex, though truth be known you don't have to answer the question. I just wanted to stop the arguing so that I could get a few words in edgewise."
She laughed softly.
"It worked. Also, the sex is way awesome. Like, blow your mind awesome!" The words burst forth from Dash before she could stop them. This caused Applejack to turn a shade of red so dark, she would have been mistaken for her older brother.
Cadance broke out into a deep belly laugh. Nervous laughter followed from the two lovers sitting across from her, deep blushes on their faces.
After a moment, Cadance managed to quiet herself, and cleared her throat. "Now that I have managed to gain your attention and get the blood flowing, as it were, I would like to discuss with you what my plans are regarding these new crystal apple seeds we have found."
She levitated a scroll from a small table next to her. Opening it, she placed it in front of Applejack, who began looking it over in earnest.
"As you can see from the report," the Princess began, as Applejack read, "it was about a week ago that we discovered an underground storehouse of these seeds underneath the Magic Theory wing of the castle library. From what we can tell, a unicorn apprentice managed to accidentally nullify a camouflage spell that revealed a small staircase. After consulting his Master, they notified Running Jade, who informed me of the development. Shiny, being the more accomplished defense caster between the two of us, investigated the hidden alcove, and found bags upon bags of these crystal apple seeds."
Cadance pulled from a tiny pouch lying by her pillow, a hoof-ful of what appeared to be tiny, crystallized apple seeds. She showed them to both Rainbow Dash and Applejack, letting Applejack hold them as if to inspect them, which she did.
"Princess," Applejack began as she closely examining the seeds, "why do ya need mah help on this one?"
"I'm not certain what you mean, Applejack. You're an expert in growing apples, you're Equestria's premiere apple product provider. You're the best choice." Cadance said to the orange mare.
Applejack blushed lightly. "Ah appreciate that, Ma'am, but Ah'm not a unicorn, and ta be honest, wouldn't a unicorn have ta plant these magic seeds?"
Cadance nodded. "You'd think so, Applejack, but the truth is, these seeds won't respond to unicorn magic. They won't even respond to Alicorn magic, at least not my magic, anyway."
"That's weird. Is there something wrong with them? Maybe they don't work." Rainbow Dash chimed in, looking over Applejack's shoulder at the seeds in her hoof.
"We considered that, Rainbow Dash, but I can feel the magic in them. It's vague, and weak, but it's there. I can't tell you how much it would mean to me if we could get these seeds into the ground and growing. Just think of the poultices, the extracts that could be made from the essences of these apples. Imagine how easy it would be to follow the old adage of eating an apple a day. It would truly keep the doctor away."
Cadance finished her impromptu speech, and waited as Applejack continued to sit in silence, studying the seeds. Finally, she spoke.
"Princess, Ah promise ya Ah'll do everything Ah can ta make these apples grow."
Cadance beamed. "Then we can start in the morning. In the meantime, let me show you two to your suite. We have a busy day tomorrow!"
Cadance rose from her pillow, and walked out of the sitting room, with Applejack and Rainbow Dash behind her. After a moment of walking in silence, Cadance continued.
"I really am happy to know you'll do this for us, Applejack," she said, slowing her long strides just enough to allow her two companions a chance to walk beside her, as they traveled down the large, crystal hallway.
"It means a lot not only to me, but to the Crystal Empire as well. Our nation has been out of the loop for a thousand years, and we really want to make a firm hoof-hold in the global economy. Crystal apples represent more than economic security, they represent further advances in our strive for civilization to improve itself; just think of all the non-magic creatures who would benefit from our apples."
Rainbow Dash piped up. "But I thought the Crystal Empire was doing great, Princess. You had the Equestria Games a few years back, there was the Equestrian Festival of Love and Kindness! I mean, I performed a double Rainboom there, and the crowds were huge!"
Cadance nodded and smiled as she turned her head to look at Rainbow Dash. "We are doing better, Rainbow Dash, that's true, but we are still struggling. I don't mind telling you that more recent budgetary meetings have become hotbeds of anger and heated discussion. Our Minister of Economic Diversification feels that if we can find a new market, something that the Empire can build upon. With Applejack's help, we can make that happen with these Crystal Apples."
She turned back toward Applejack, "So, once more, I thank you for choosing to help, Applejack."
Applejack blushed. "Ah would have done it for ya anyway, Princess. Ya have always been kind ta all o' us, and hey, you're Twilight's sister-in-law, which practically makes ya family, and Ah don't have ta tell ya what the Apples think about helpin' out family."
Cadance smiled, as she stopped at a set of double doors. "Here we are. This will be your suite."
Using her magic, she opened the large doors, and motioned for her two friends to enter.
As they did so, their eyes went wide, and their mouths agape. The room was the pinnacle of sumptuous opulence. The walls were crystal, which was to be expected, but the gold filigree that created intricate designs on the bas reliefs, the beautifully woven tapestries that depicted historical events during the better times of the Empire, the silver accents that lined the bed frame, the doorways, the water fountain that sat beside the entrance to a bathroom so large, it could easily fit a dozen ponies and still have room for the hot tub that sat in the center of it.
As her two companions stared about the luxurious suite, Cadance smiled. "This suite is normally reserved for the Lord High Seer of the Griffon Kingdom," she said, and then with a wink added, "but I don't think she would mind if I let two of my dear friends use it for a while."
Applejack, still wide eyed, nodded absently. "Thank you, Princess! Ya didn't have ta go through all o' this trouble. Ah mean, this is jus' too..."
"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she flew up into the air, and dove down into the huge Emperor sized bed. It was so soft, she sunk into it halfway and became stuck.
Cadance couldn't help but laugh as she saw the surprised expression on Dash's face. After a quick burst of her magic to pull Dash out of the plush crater in which she found herself, she made her way toward the doorway. "I'll let you two settle in. In the morning, we will be traveling to the Botanical Complex, where Professor Sparse Seed will be waiting with everything you'll need to get started."
***
The next morning, the trio, along with a small complement of servants and guards, arrived at the Botanical Complex. The large, horseshoe shaped crystallized glass and steel structure appeared to be made up mostly of large windows, and was adorned in hues of silver and gold, with what appeared to be an ivy motif running alone the outer facade of the building.
"Sweet Golly, Princess, y'all don't do nothin' halfway, do ya?" Applejack commented as they walked into the building.
Cadance chuckled. "While it's not really to my taste, the Crystal Empire has a long tradition of merging style with function."
Applejack couldn't help but think of Rarity at that moment, and what she would have to say about the utter truth of that observation.
"So, where will we meet this Seed fella, Princess?" Rainbow Dash interjected, bringing Applejack out of her momentary haze.
"If I have anything to say about it, right now!" came a voice from right beside Rainbow Dash.
Caught off guard, Rainbow Dash bolted upward, clinging to a strut that supported one of the many glass aviaries that dotted the lobby ceiling.
Cadance and Applejack couldn't help but giggle at the result of the pegasus' excellent reflexes.
Rainbow Dash, blushing hard from embarrassment, flitted back down to the ground and sat down, crossing her forelegs, her half lidded expression relaying all her companions needed to know about how funny she found the whole thing.
Their newest arrival turned to the Princess. "Forgive my sudden intrusion, Your Highness, I did not mean to cause alarm."
Cadance smiled and waved a hoof in dismissal. "It's no trouble, Professor, though Rainbow Dash may not feel quite the same about it."
"I apologize for startling you, ma'am," the stallion said, as he offered his hoof to Rainbow Dash.
She reached out with a foreleg, as if to shake his own, but he quickly leaned forward and kissed her on the top of her hoof, and continued before she could react.
"I did not mean to cause you any distress," he said, a warm smile on his face.
Rainbow Dash snorted, and raised an eyebrow at this display of chivalrous affection. A moment later, she stood to her hooves. "Yeah, it's cool. It's not like I was actually afraid or anything, you just startled me."
Applejack rolled her eyes.
The Professor, not seeing this, merely nodded his head at the young pegasus.
"Perhaps introductions are in order." Princess Cadance stated, in such a way that indicated that it was not a question.
"Applejack, Rainbow Dash, this is Professor Sparse seed. Professor Sparse Seed, this is Applejack, and her lovely wife Rainbow Dash." Cadance motioned to her two companions, raising an eyebrow at the Professor, who began blushing deeply.
"Ah, I see, Your Highness," he said, pushing down the desire to begin a nice, long, coughing fit. "Well, it is a pleasure to meet the both of you."
The silver stallion, sparkling ever so lightly as all crystal ponies did, shook each mare's hoof. "Well then, Applejack is it?" He said to the orange earth pony. "You'll be the one making our new seeds of hope grow into trees of success!"
He motioned to the party, bowing to the Princess. "If you'll follow me, Princess, I will take the three of you to the hydroponics chamber."
Cadance waved a foreleg. "Actually, Professor, I have duties I must attend to. Rainbow Dash, if you wish, I can assign someone to escort you around the city, you can go alone, of course, or you can stay with Applejack. It's up to you."
"Thanks, Princess, but if it's okay, I'll just go and take a look around by myself."
The Princess nodded. "Very well, then. Have fun!"
She turned to the Professor, and Applejack, "Professor, please keep me up to date on any progress that the two of you make. I will be at the castle if the need arises to summon me."
Professor Sparse Seed tipped his charcoal gray trillby, which complemented his charcoal gray mane, in deference. "Yes, Your Highness. I shall keep you informed."
With that, Princess Cadance took her leave, with Rainbow Dash following beside her. As they left, Applejack could hear Rainbow Dash mention something about a tofu dog stand.
After a moment of quiet, she heard her new companion clearing his throat. "Well, Applejack, are you ready to get to work?" the Professor asked, causing Applejack to turn to the stallion.
She smiled a friendly smile that she usually reserved for a farmhand new to the orchard. "Ah sure am, Professor. Let's get down ta business, and get some apples a' growin!"
Together, they made their way toward the corridor at the far end of the lobby.
***
As Rainbow Dash parted company with the Princess, she took flight, heading toward the Bazaar, a large marketplace that was situated on the outer ring of the city. Using her nose, it didn't take her long to find the tofu dog stand she had seen when they had first arrived the previous day.
"Hey, could I get a tofu dog with everything on it?" she asked the vendor behind the counter, who only grunted and began making the order. Seeing that this stallion wasn't really the idle conversation type, Rainbow glanced around at her environment.
The billowy purple and pink tents that made up most of the Bazaar had changed little in recent years, some of them still sporting the Equestrian Olympics logo that the city had hosted a few years ago. The pathway was no longer a dirt affair, but had since been filled in with cobblestone, giving it a more professional look.
Rainbow wasn't really impressed by cobblestone. Sure it kept hooves from getting muddy during the Spring and Summer Rain days, but it could get really loud when a bunch of ponies were walking by at the same time, and loud clopping sounds just didn't work for her when she was trying to take a nap in a nearby tree.
On the other hoof, she thought to herself, it makes it harder for Pinkie Pie to sneak up on me when she's pranking.
"Your order's ready, lady. That'll be twenty bits."
Rainbow Dash nearly choked as she turned back to the counter. "Twenty bits? For a tofu dog?! That's highway robbery!"
The vendor's expression didn't change. "That's the price," was all he said in response.
Rainbow Dash scoffed at the non-answer, and crossed her forelegs. "I'm not paying twenty bits for a tofu dog!"
The corners of the stallion's mouth curled into a sneer. "Then you ain't eatin. You should consider yourself lucky and just pay the twenty bits."
Rainbow looked at the stallion like he was mad. "Lucky? Why would I be lucky to pay you ten times the cost of a tofu dog?"
The vendor snorted as he tossed the tofu dog in the garbage can. "You chickens just don't get it, do you? You're here, in our city, stinkin' it up with your airheaded stupidity, and we have to deal with it like everything's okay. Well it's not okay. We don't want you here, and the sooner you featherbrains get that into your empty featherheads, the better off we'll all be. Got it?"
Any response Rainbow Dash might have had to the racist stallion's quip immediately died in her throat as she heard a voice rending, blood curdling scream ring out from across the way, where a large tent sat, its flap closed to any outside observer.
Not even bothering to glance back at the idiot stallion, and his probably crappy tofu dogs, she shot into the air, racing toward the tent.
(/)*(\)
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New chapter is up! I hope you all enjoy it.
update soon please
3874252 - I'm creating as fast as I can!
Racism? seems a little odd, especially with the one on the left there~. Though it might just be that one guy.
Can't wait to see what the scream is about.
What I would have said...cause I am a pegasi...."Oh yea?..Well, your a poopie head!" -he had a proud grin on his face-
All on bord the racism train! Choo Choo
This chapter. I liked it. ANOTHER
3874888 - When I saw that in the episode, my first thought was
but then I realized that I'm adaptable, and so not to worry, it does not affect the story much.
3875552 - You tell him, Valentine!
3879551 - Come on ride the train, and ride it! Woo Woo!
3881974
Can be a thing about the individual, yeah. Not a huge issue~
3881974 Hey mister mean..face! yer a poopie head!!
:3
Ah the old racism card, no offence
but I never really liked the whole concept in any fic just because such a harsh worldview 
seems really out of place in such a colorful (pun intended) and cute world of ponies, griffons, goats, cows, pigs, minotaur, dragons, buffalo, etc. and unless it's the main plot of the fic it is just kind of distracting, at least in my opinion.
Also: loud clopping sounds just didn't work for her when she was trying to take a nap in a nearby tree. Yeah it would be pretty hard to sleep with that going on right next to you, if you know what I mean.
I have read a lot i mean a lot of shippings and stuff like this
but this is one of the best
I'm waiting for Cadence's Squee moment at AJ's pregnancy.
You guys are so sweet.
3930976 - It's comin'.
Also, as a side note to everyone, sorry that there hasn't been an update yet, I have had the flu this past week. Hopefully there will be an update soon, it's just hard for me to concentrate while I'm coughing my lungs into next Tuesday.
Has your cold gotten better? I hope it has
I no want you to be sick
(For both that I would really love another chapter of this and that I want you to feel better)
LOL Cadence is a real prankster