When Sumac awoke, his mouth was dry and his eyes felt sticky. He could hear voices, ponies were talking around him. It sounded like adults… and Pebble. He yawned and forced his eyes open. He couldn’t see anything at first, his eyes were full of crud, and he struggled to see again.
The talking stopped and Sumac felt something wiping his face and eyes. A tissue. Some tissues? He couldn’t be sure. When he could see again, he saw Trixie smiling at him. He smiled back and wished that he had some water. Before he could say anything about being thirsty, a juice box with a bright yellow straw was tucked between his front legs.
“You have a visitor,” Trixie said in a soft voice as she continued to smile.
Before he took a sip of some much needed juice, Sumac looked around. He saw Pebble, Cinnamon, and then, much to his alarm, he saw Applejack. Before he got the hiding that he knew that he deserved, he slipped the straw between his lips and started drinking.
“We’re going to step outside into the backyard so the two of you can talk,” Trixie said as she scooped up Cinnamon in her magic. “Come on, you two. Let’s go and sit in the sun for a while.”
Sumac watched them go, they left out of the kitchen door, and he was certain that his impending doom drew nearer. He was groggy and had trouble thinking. Applejack didn’t seem angry, but he kept thinking about what Big Mac had said.
He lifted his head away from his juice box and asked, “Are you here to give me a hiding?”
Applejack’s response was not what Sumac expected. She chuckled. One ear tried to stand up, but failed, and his other ear just sort of stuck out sideways. He blinked a few times and his eyes still felt crusty. He watched as Applejack came over and sat down on the couch beside him. He resisted a bit when she embraced him, but then gave up. She was bigger and stronger by far. When she began stroking his back, he melted.He leaned up against her, now feeling safe.
“Big Mac said you wanted to give me a hiding,” Sumac said in a low voice.
“Sumac… I’ll be honest, I did,” Applejack replied, “but then I scratched my mad spot and got over it. Sumac… sometimes… how do I put this… sometimes, adults say things they don’t necessarily mean. They get angry, or frustrated, and when they get like this, they say stuff. They don’t always mean it. Sometimes, they’re just blowing off steam, sayin’ stuff just to be sayin’ it.”
Turning his head, Sumac looked up at Applejack and waited.
“Sumac Apple, sometimes adults ain’t always right.” Applejack inhaled, held it for a moment, and then let everything out in a huff. Then she took another deep breath and continued, “There, I said it. I was honest. Adults ain’t always right. Sometimes, they do bad things for good reasons. Sometimes they do good things for bad reasons. And sometimes… sometimes, they just do something wrong.”
“So I’ve noticed.”
One of Applejack’s eyebrows arched at Sumac’s words. “Do you think you’ve done something that deserves a hiding? Be honest.”
Squirming like a worm in an apple, Sumac didn’t want to answer this question. He felt Applejack give him a reassuring squeeze. He decided to trust her. “Yeah I did. I ran my mouth and I knew it was wrong even as I was doing it. But it felt good.”
“A long time ago, Big Mac and I had to set Apple Bloom straight. She had bullies to deal with too. Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. They’re all friends now though. Close friends. Friends that would do anything for one another. And do you want to know why that is?”
Curious, Sumac nodded. “Why?”
“Because Apple Bloom learned to be a better pony and not run her mouth. She has a whole lot of sass all bottled up inside of her. And she’s smart too… smart enough that she knows what to say to make somepony hurt.” Applejack paused and appeared as though she was chewing on a sour apple. “Now, if Apple Bloom had kept running her mouth, being all sassy and snarky, she mighta had the satisfaction of cutting Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon down to size… and it mighta felt good when she was doing it, but it would be at the expense of the friendship they now have. ‘Bloom had to learn to take the high road and be a better pony… just like you do.”
“But Olive is the worst—” Sumac was silenced by Applejack placing one hoof over his mouth. Frustrated, he blew a raspberry against her hoof and glared up at her with a petulant stare.
“Big Mac gave you some advice… he and I talked. He told me that you cried and you were sorry… he told you not to fight against Olive ‘cause she’s a filly.” Applejack sucked in a deep breath, shook her head, and then her muzzled crinkled. “Big Mac was right, but for the wrong reasons. Sumac, Big Mac has some old fashioned notions. It’s complicated. When Pa died, Big Mac didn’t have nopony to turn to, nopony to go to, and he had to do what was right. He dropped out of school to take care of the farm and he tried to act like Pa did. He took everything he remembered Pa saying on how to be a good pony and then Big Mac laid it out like fence rails, straight and true, and he followed it. He ain’t one to deviate from Pa’s teachings, ‘cause that’s how he honours Pa’s memory.”
There was a long pause and Applejack pulled her hoof away from Sumac’s mouth.
“Big Mac is not a learned pony. And if’n the truth be told, I ain’t either. But I am a bit more worldly. I’ve seen a few things and I’ve been around. And I’ll tell you the same thing. You shouldn’t fight Olive. You shouldn’t be running your mouth. And it isn’t just because she’s a filly and you’re a colt, though that should be a part of it, because there is something to be said for good manners. There is a time and place for that.”
Sumac waited, his ear that was sticking out sideways twitching.
“Sumac, you’re a smart little feller. Scary smart. Now, Apple Bloom, she’s smarter than Big Mac and I are… she’s gone off to university and she’s gonna make a good life for herself, but she’s gotta work for it. And she’s gotta work hard for it. But you… you… you’re gonna get a free pass through life if’n you play your cards right. You’ll have access to all of the best schools, you’ll have a fine education, several good jobs will prolly be just offered to you and you’ll have to pick and choose what you want.”
To show that he was listening, Sumac nodded.
“But you know how you can ruin that? By having a smart mouth, that’s how. If you get a reputation as a troublemaker, if you start sounding all slick tongued like your father, ponies are going to get the wrong idea about you. Those doors of opportunity are gonna slam in your face and that free pass you were lucky enough to get is gonna blow away in an ill wind… do you understand? And both Big Mac and I are real scared about that happening. Real, real scared. Big Mac has been up late at night pacing the floor ‘cause of you. You deserve better, Sumac Apple.”
Before answering, Sumac thought about everything Applejack had said. He had something of an understanding, but it was a lot to think about in his current state. He stared into her eyes and saw both worry and kindness. She was still stroking his back and he could feel her foreleg going back and forth over his spine. It was soothing and somehow eased the pain in his shoulders.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” Sumac said, “she demanded that I do her homework.”
“Sumac Apple, consarnit, being polite and not running your mouth doesn’t mean you have to let yourself be walked all over. Just say ‘no’ and then walk away, or at least do your best to try. There’s a lot at stake here… I know you’re a colt, and I know thinking about all of this adult stuff is hard, but you have a future that you need to do your part to look after. It’s rough, it’s tough, and I know it ain’t fair, but you gotta. More is expected out of you because you are capable of so much more.”
Sumac’s ear gave up the struggle and drooped, joining the other one that was limp against his face. He felt a weight bearing down upon him, something that felt as though it was pushing his body down into the couch cushions, and it wasn’t Applejack. He also felt himself being pulled closer to her, and he rested his head against her neck. He could feel her jaw come to rest on top of his head.
And then, out of the blue, without understanding or knowing why, Sumac felt like crying. That crushing weight was heavy on him, it bore down upon him, grew heavier, and it felt as though it was trying to squeeze the tears out. He struggled to hold them back, but he could feel the sting. He could feel his nose becoming snotty and it was getting harder to breathe. He shuddered and wondered when the floodgates would open.
“You… I love you like you was one of my own,” Applejack said as she squeezed. “Ambrosia and Hidden Rose, they’re nothing but trouble and I’ve said I was gonna give them a hidin’ too when I was at the end of my rope. And some days, I lose my temper and I’ve shouted at them. But I ain’t ever stopped loving them.”
Wiggling, Sumac managed to get the straw in his juicebox between his lips. The cold, sweet apple juice eased the sore dryness in his throat. He lay there, secure in Applejack’s embrace, keeping his eyes squeezed shut, hoping not to cry while he sipped his juice.
The pair sat in silence, Applejack squeezing Sumac without hurting him, and Sumac sipping his juice. Applejack stroked Sumac’s back and nuzzled the top of his head with her muzzle, tousling his mane.
The straw slipped from between Sumac’s lips and he angled his head so that he could get more of Applejack’s affections. Her tenderness and kindness soothed his hurt, made him feel better, but he still felt like he was going to cry. He heard her wickering and could feel the vibrations coming from deep within her barrel.
“Sumac, there’s a tough lesson to be learned. Adults ain’t perfect, life isn’t fair, and sometimes, no matter how well we behave, we still end up in trouble. Sometimes, stuff just happens no matter what we do.” Applejack closed her eyes and inhaled, drawing in Sumac’s scent. “No matter what though, you have family to turn to when things get hard. We’ll never stop lovin’ you.”
“Even if I deserve a hiding?” Sumac asked.
“Sumac, if I didn’t care, I wouldn’t get worked up enough to say something like that.” Applejack was quiet for a moment and then added, “I want what’s best for you. I’m sorry that things are tough and that there’s prolly a whole bunch of stuff you don’t understand.”
“It felt good to say bad things.” Sumac opened up his eyes and felt a few tears escaping. “I wanted to make her hurt and that was the only way I could do it. I really hate her, I do.”
“She’s a messed up little filly,” Applejack said to Sumac, breathing her words into his ear, causing it to quiver and twitch. “One day, she might turn herself around, or she might not. But I think if she has a few ponies that try to treat her with kindness and respect, there’s a better chance of her getting straightened out.”
“But she’s so mean…”
“She is, Sumac… and I’ve seen Fluttershy deal with some of the meanest critters around using kindness. But it ain’t easy. I don’t know how she does it, to be honest. I don’t know if I could do what she does. Me, I’m a fighter.”
“So Apple Bloom had bullies to deal with and now she is friends with them.” Sumac struggled to find more words to say, and all that he managed to get out was, “How did that happen?”
“Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon made better choices. They were rotten little cusses when they were little, they loved to torment Apple Bloom and her friends. A lot of ponies still hate them. It’s rough on them. Now, I ain’t gonna say they deserve it, but they did sorta bring it on themselves. They’re trying to do right though and I’m real proud of Apple Bloom for being their friend. Anypony can be a friend when it’s easy, but it takes a special kind of strength to be a friend when its hard.”
“With Olive, it’s impossible.”
“Sumac, one day, that might change.” Applejack’s brows furrowed. “You know, she might be mean to you because she likes you. Sometimes, fillies are like that—”
“Applejack, don’t tease!”
“Hey, she might be your future sweetheart—”
“Applejack!”
“Just sayin’ she might be the love of your life, waiting to happen—”
“No teasin’!”
“So you need to be nice to her, even if she’s being a snotty brat—”
“Don’t say it!” Sumac said in a, shrill, squeaky, pleading voice.
“Aw, don’t be like that,” Applejack said to Sumac.
“I’d rather be with Pebble!”
After blurting out his words, Sumac froze. He sat there, blinking, horrified by his mouth’s betrayal. He wanted to crawl beneath the sofa and die. That was the problem with words, once they were said, there was no way of unsaying them.
“Ah hah! I knew it!” Applejack crowed. “You sly little colt… you are sweet on her, aren’t you?”
“No!”
“I think you are—”
“I ain’t!”
“You is!”
“Ugh!”
Chuckling, Applejack gave Sumac a squeeze. “One day, you’ll see things in a different way. One day, you might be friends with Olive. If you treat her right, she might remember you as the one pony who tried to be nice to her when she was young and difficult. A friend like that can be good to have.”
Blinking, Sumac gave Applejack a sullen stare.
“I think you could use a little sun… how about we go outside and sit with the others?”
Wary, Sumac eyed Applejack, expecting treachery. He wondered where his glasses were. He wasn’t so sure he wanted to sit in the sun, but when the he thought about it, the warmth on his shoulders would probably feel good.
“You could sit with Pebble, you two are so cute together—”
“AAAAAAAAARGH!”
That teasing ...
Nice, I am adding this back story to my head-canon for Big Mac.
... Spike? Take a letter.
How was that?
derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/2/24/253960__safe_princess+celestia_image+macro_friendship+is+dragons_artist-colon-newbiespud.jpeg
Touché.
In all seriousness, excellent work here, Kudzu. I'm very glad to see you're still writing this story, and you make an excellent point about the long-term cost of short-term gratification. Thank you for this. I look forward to more.
This was very well written and I must say its very fitting that the element of Honesty would be the one to drop the "adults arent always right" bomb.
The Dawwwwww meter exploded ...'You're sweet on her...'
I'll say this. I still don't entirely agree with how you've presented your problem, but I am glad you addressed the most egregious issue of the previous chapter. Perhaps, though, you should look at the success you've had at generating a conversation than trying to take the high road and using that as an opportunity to look down on others.
Sure, maybe you had this all planned, or you wrote it in a huff to prove the naysayers wrong, but I'll not turn the other check and spare you the lash of my tongue should I feel you present ideals without consideration, proclamations without solutions, and statements built into a chapter in such a way that it feels like a message direct from author to reader.
7349313
Oh, I had this planned. If you look at my other stories, you'll find that this happens. Often. And people keep doing the same thing. It gets old.
Well I. I don't know if... You know what I'm going to drop the subject. Anyway good chapter and really I should have seen the set up. I don't know how you do it but all of these stories in this continuity are high quality. Good message and all that. Keep up the good work and I'll read you later.
-BFBL
The thing is, I don't completely agree with Big Mac and Applejack. What was Sumac supposed to do? Let a bully trample all over him and their classmates? Olive had no right to do what she did and she is old enough to know that she should not hurt ponies just because she is stronger than them. Sumac is just a foal. He doesn't have enough experience to know when not to run his mouth. He's learned and will be wiser for it. It really felt like Big Mac was kind of bullying Sumac. Another thing, you don't have conversations like this when a person is already hurting. It cuts deeper and makes the wounds worse (not that I speak from experience or anything /sarcasm), it can cause resentment or self-esteem issues.
Well...
7349209
Yeah he was right on for that.
But HA! Applejack is laced with treachery, honesty can be treacherous.
Maybe it's an issue with how you're presenting things, then. Maybe you shouldn't post a chapter with that kind of obviously flawed opinion, and no rebuttal, and not expect people to react to it. If the AJ scene had been in the same chapter, this never would have happened.
Or, put a note at the end, with a reminder that "the views expressed by X character do not necessary reflect the views and opinions of the author."
Or, just... don't take it so personally? People aren't going to agree with you 100% of the time, no matter what. They have every right to express their distaste with a given story element, and that doesn't mean that they're being rude or causing trouble. And you can't act like we shouldn't have reacted that way, because of chapter 29, because we can only judge based on what we know. Just because you know, doesn't mean we do. It's not fair to call us out for not taking into consideration a conversation that, as far as we know, will never happen.
So glad to get new chapters. I think this is my favorite of all the Weedverse story lines. Thanks!
This was more or less what I expected to happen, mostly because people are quick to judge before the evidence is fully presented. Now, if only someone would explain to Big Mac he was trying to explain things to a stoned colt...
7349516 I agree.
Don't get me wrong I have had to deal with many bullies in my life, and I have ended up becoming friends with some of them.
This however did not come about because I kept my head down and ignored them. These friendships came about because when they pushed me I pushed back, and we both kept getting in trouble until they finally decided to stop.
Want to know what is likely to happen if you tell a kid to ignore a bully? Look up suicides and bullies.
7349320
But you were supposed to write this story the way I wanted!
And where is my super-amazing red-n-black alicorn OC Super-Twinkles?!?!?
I honestly feel sad and scared for Sumac because even after AppleJack was done talking to him he still felt like he deserved a hiding...he is in the hospital after nearly having his forelegs ripped out by a bully/psychopath, after finally sticking up for himself...and he believes he deserves to be hurt worse.
This kids self-esteem is already in the crap per, and having friends and family warning him about not being a smart mouth while he is still in the hospital is only going to mess him up worse.
Shoot, might as well warn a rape victim about wearing provocative clothing, so they don't antagonize the rapist.
7349320 We are not trying to upset you, or make you stop writing.
Honestly a good deal of us like your writing, and we do apologize for making you feel unappreciated.
There are just certain issues that will get attention right away, and bullying is one of them.
It hits a little too close to home for a good deal of us, and we feel the need to respond accordingly if it feels like a character in the story is making light about the bullying situation.
People have lost friends and family to the bullying problem, so it is a bit of a hot button issue.
Not saying it is right for everyone to jump down your throat about it.
I am just saying that leaving the last chapter at that juncture was a bit much, and we are not psychic so we could not know if the next chapter would double down on it or go against it.
We still like your writing and hope you feel better
I'm excited for when we next get to see Olive. All the advice everypony has given him, all their opinions and views, it will be interesting to see whether Olive has in anyway changed her behaviour and whether or not Sumac will have the strength to follow it all through an be the bigger pony.
7349320
It's a trap one can fall into when enjoying serialized media, context comes at the pace set by the author, not the one set by the reader's stamina and free time. All one needs to do is wait, and if the narrative is effective an explanation or expansion will always be forthcoming.
You da best~!
7349636
So what you are saying is... the people who try to bully me because they don't agree with what is written or because they are unhappy with something... I should... I dunno... attempt to deal with them in some way?
And people in these comments want to talk about blaming the victim.
When a character is bullied, that's horrible. When the author is bullied, that's just fine. That's what I'm seeing in these comments.
i wonder if he tell apple jack about what that girl did to her own father?
7349320
It's great you're so prolific, but I honestly have read very few of your fics. If this is a trope you use often, perhaps you should ask if the problem lies with the author instead of the reader, who may not be aware of your normal writing habits. If controversy in a chapter is solved in the very next, perhaps instead of having two chapters you could have one. If you end a chapter on a controversial note, the comments should address the issue, not sit and wait for the author to feed new words like baby birds waiting upon their mother. Embrace the audience being willing to interact with the story.
7344843 I don't think I've ever seen that many downvotes on a single comment before...
Sorry kudzu
7350370
I'm cool with interaction, that's not the problem. My problem is people attacking the author or thinking that a character IS the author and holds the author's views. People need to calm down and remember that an author is more than their characters.
Olive (eventually) needs a colt friend named Martini so that he can stick an olive on his toothpick!
Big Mac an AJ really remind me of my parents these last two chapters, it really makes it all feel more realistic. I'm glad you decided to continue on with the story, you are my favourite fimfiction author and the Weedverse is probably the best world yet.
Glad to see you are continuing this. AJ was right about how we all sometimes say and do things without thinking about it.
I almost see AJ's point though it's a balancing act. People will form thier own perceptions be nice all the time and people will try to take advantage of it. Be a smart mouth all the time and you will get a reputation for that there doesn't seem to be a winning solution truthfully. The one person you mouthed of to could remember it years later and ding you for it. Likewise maybe a person you were nice too all the time could walk away believing you were too soft to do what needed doing
7350174
I guess it's because we are used to author tract: so many writters use their characters as mouthpieces for their views, and stories as soapboxes for their beliefs, that is difficult to realize when is not the case
And here we have poor Sumac thinking he deserves a 'hiding'. That's the problem with BM and AJ's approach, now the victim of bullying thinks he was in the wrong for standing up to her.
And it irks me that AJ once again reiterates the problematic view of gender inequality.
Also, trying to be friends with your bullies worked in that one episode, kind of, but it's highly unrealistic. Either they'll bully you more if you try that, or you'll end up becoming the bully's stooge and become a bully yourself.
Take it from someone who was bullied for his entire youth, bullies cannot be reasoned with, it's a power struggle. Either you're a bully too, or you're a victim to be bullied. The only other option is to give them an asskicking and make them think twice about picking on you.
Also, note to the writer: comments that express a displeasure with a character and their ideas, are not an attack on the author.
7350370
7351172
Just worth noting, people sent Kudzu PMs that were... less than nice. The comments on the chapter were not 100% why Kudzu is reacting this way. Though, as a writer who publishes online, negative reactions to what you write can feel very personal.
7350370 Writers create controversy in stories all the time. They address difficult issues in a difficult way and sometimes they never give an answer or a resolution. The difference is that the audience here, with stories that are published one part at a time, often mistake the gap between "controversy" and "resolution" as "all that the author has to say on the subject". Kudzu is prolific, and more so is followed by many because he can put together massive plot structures and weave interesting stories and viewpoints through them. I'd hope that, being a smart person who can make really solid arguments supporting your viewpoint (as you've proven to be), you are capable of inferring that in a story published one piece at a time one chapter with one view doesn't constitute the whole story. Creating tension, developing character, having characters interact in ways natural to that character, that's all part of storytelling, and often the story does not wrap up in a tidy bow when we would like it to.
See, if people were just disagreeing with the author or his idea, that's fine. Kudzu has had loads of reactions like this before. But lots of people were accusing him of some pretty bad stuff, like having an agenda or using the characters to push his own viewpoint. The comments shifted from critique to personal attack, and that's not remotely fair, especially when we're dealing with an unfinished story arc.
7350174
Constructive criticism is not bullying. Telling you that they disagree with what you've written is not bullying.
Most of what I've seen is people expressing legitimate concerns, in a reasonable, polite fashion, and you getting offended because they didn't know that you were going to completely reverse that train of thought in the future.
I never said that bullying was cool; some people took it too far, sure. But mostly, you were being oversensitive.
7351555
People sending me private messages and harassing me is bullying.
7351389
This.
Mmm. Dat nuance.
I think this does a good job of both navigating a difficult to navigate topic (how to handle bullying, and how to handle... hatred? Resentment?)... and to expose what the Apples are thinking as this happens.
7352000
The real nuance here are the things unsaid.
With Apple Bloom and her bullies, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, everyone involved was earth ponies. There was no magic involved at all and everything was verbal exchanges. Applejack was relying entirely upon her previous experience of earth pony on earth pony bullying and trying to apply it to the situation involving Sumac... who encountered unicorn on unicorn bullying... a whole different beast.
Applejack's words ring true; adults ain't always right. There's the real nuance behind everything said in the chapter. Everyone is so focused on the negatives that I'm guessing that nobody has even thought of this or properly deconstructed the entire scene. Applejack's advice is good, her message is good, but her reasoning is flawed. Sometimes adults do the right things for the wrong reasons, just as she said.
7351807
Do i have access to your inbox? No. So how am i supposed to take that into consideration? Hmm? You keep acting like we're supposed to just KNOW things, just because you do. That's not how shit works.
7352638 He literally said it in a blog post.
7352766
Sorry, i usually don't read them. I just go by comments.
7349675 Yup thats a huge problem with people.. ill admit it ive been that way more then ive liked to be.. i really hope he keeps going dispite what others say.
I really like how your having Sumac start to notice Pebble for not only a good friend but maybe more. although maybe I am getting ahead of myself. Keep up the great work.
Applejack is such a troll. XD
Reasonable Applejack, look at that.
Excellent example. Olive's issues aren't quite in the same category of bad as Diamond Tiara's, but Diamond was pretty terrible in her own special way.
Ahh, so there's the rest of the story (or at least more of it) regarding Mac and his advice last chapter.
Very good point regarding where Sumac's life is heading at this exact moment compared to the potential of screwing it up by being too cleverly stupid.
The new, friendly, terrifying, neighborhood ex-Warden turned child services worker might just be able to help with that too.
Bwhahahahaha!
There we go. Now that's what I expect from Apples.
7383893 I agree that while Silver Spoon & Diamond Tiara could be mean...they weren't really CRUEL, not even at that level of Emotional/Verbal Abuse at the same level as Oliver was physical to Sumac. They were bullies sure, but they weren't SOCIOPATHS like Olive seems to be.
I DO hope Wormwood pays her a very nasty visit. She could certainly use one!
SO. Applejack is mah nigga. That's a first on this site. Huh.
... and he said it to one of the Ponies BEST at detecting sincerity.
Yeah, I don't think AJ's gonna forget THAT anytime soon.
Sorry Sumac. Your life is being dictated by the lowest and most vile of internet dwellers. You, Sumac Apple, are being written by a shipper. You were doomed from the moment you were conceived.
That always come with clifhangers, its also an effect on this short chapters, and i still disagree with applejack