Dear Ma and Pa,
Celestia says that if Ah talk, y'all can hear me. Now, I don't know if that's true or not, but Ah hope you can hear this and send me an answer. ...Somehow... An' even if this is just me talkin', it'll still do me good. Cause... Ah got some things Ah need tah say...
The Apple Family is one of the oldest in this town. Granny and Grampy Smith helped make the laws of this town, way long ago. You and Granny remember how the town was back then? When it was smaller and safer. Things didn't change, because things didn't need to. Everything just... worked...
But now, everypony is making a huge fuss about the laws that have worked all these years. It is our traditions, our way of life to have the mare represent her family! That’s just how it’s always been. But now these hooligans are attemptin' to change it with nuthin' more than a few loud words!
How many more changes are tah follow, Ma? What will they come after next? What if some smooth talker decides we got too much land? What if they decide we’re not allowed ta sell our apples anymore? Things ain’t broke, so why do they need ta be fixed?
And Pa... Ah need guidance, Pa. You wer' always there when Ah needed' ya, and Ah need ya now. How do I stop this? Big Mac ain’t there for me. He ain’t talkin to me. He just... he just does his work, real quiet... I mean... quieter than usual. An’ Ah need tah know how to stop this.
...
Should Ah stop this?
Your daughter, Applejack.
---
The day was young. The breeze blew the grass slowly, and the apple trees swayed in the wind, slightly, as if stretching out their limbs, each one in order. An occasional over-ripe apple tumbled from the branches, but in general the tree simply swayed and never shook.
Applejack watched the trees move, that morning. Yesterday had been hard, and today was not looking easy. It was unusual, then, for Applejack's mind to be on something other than the harvest, other than getting the apples to the market, other than usual life on a farm.
Applejack was lost in thought. The serene scene of sunrise contrasted heavily with the uncertainty in her heart. As she sat in the orchard, watching the trees, her brain was going 100 miles a minute. She was so lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice Big Macintosh come up behind her. It was only when he cleared his throat, which was a very loud sound coming from a stallion of his size, that she turned around and noticed him. Big Macintosh wasn’t talking to her. Granted, he usually didn’t say much but... it was different now, and some part of her was deeply happy that he had approached her, instead of the other way around.
"Hey Big Mac. How'd ya sleep?" she said, throwing on a smile and standing up. "Looks like it's turnin' out to be a beautiful day."
Big Macintosh said nothing.
"Well, no use in sittin' around. We got a lotta work ta do. You eat yourself somethin'?"
Applejack stared at the scarlet stallion, hoping for a nod or a shake of his large head. Like a statue, he stood, unmoving save the rise and fall of his broad shoulders. His head was down, his eyes staring at the grass as if he couldn’t bare to face her.
"Mac, we need to get started on the day. Didn't ya hear?" Applejack's tone hardened. "We don't have..."
"Sis, Ah need to talk to ya."
Applejack was silent. Big Macintosh rarely spoke, so when he did, she knew to listen. Even Apple Bloom would halt whatever shenanigans she was up to if her older brother opened his mouth.
"Uhh.. sure, big brother. What do ya' have in mind?" she said uneasily. This better not be about...
"Ah wanna go with ya to the debate tonight," he said bluntly.
Applejack did a double-take. "Wait, what?" She paused a moment. "That's funny, fer a moment there Ah thought ya said ya wanna go see the debate." She chuckled nervously.
The green eyes of the stallion remained on her.
"Well, ther'd be no point. Ah already know who Ah... no, who we're votin' fer, and all the debate would do is muddle the matter with fancy poly-ticks. We need to stick to our guns, Big Mac, like Ma and Pa woulda wanted."
The stallion said nothing. Applejack couldn’t really tell if she was getting through to him or not, but she liked to think she was.
"And besides, you wouldn't be able to see anythin' anyway. We both know that unless a stallion is somepony's campaign manager, they don't let em' in. There'd be no point, seein' as ya don't vote anyway. Big Mac, the answer is no. We have work to do here. We can't just drop everythin' and run off to some town function."
Applejack was smiling as she looked to Big Macintosh, quite happy with the argument she had made. She expected him to turn and get to work, but he remained sitting there. She expected him to admit he was wrong, but his mouth didn’t move. His green eyes were focused on her, and she didn’t like it. Eventually, she broke the silence. "Cmon, Big Mac, let's go get some-"
"Ee-nope."
If Applejack had a drink in her mouth, she would have done a spit-take. "Whaddoya mean, 'no'?" she said, tone rising. "You don't want breakfast?"
"Ee-nope."
"Oh, I get it. You wanna go ta the fancy debate. You wanna stand outside with Carmel and his gang and protest the laws and try an' bamboozle the socks off the townfolk like they do every year. You wanna betray me, Granny, Bloom, Ma and Pa. You wanna betray your family just cause it’s the cool thing to do? Well no deal, Big Macintosh. We have work to do here and you are going to stay and help like the rest of the family."
Big Macintosh looked her square in the eyes, and a tense moment of silence ensued.
"Well, Big Mac? Ya ready to forget this nonsense an' go eat somethin'?"
The large stallion’s head slumped, as did his shoulders.
"Well, Ah'm goin. You wana join me, that's fine," Applejack said, and she began to walk off. When she knew Big MAc wasn't looking, she closed her eyes. Ma, Pa, it's gettin' harder and harder to fight. Please help me.
"Sis," Big Macintosh called after her. She turned around warily.
"Yes, Big brother?"
"Ah'm goin. With or without you." And with that, Big Macintosh turned and galloped off.
---
"...and, after reviewing the evidence, this court finds no need to hold the defendant any longer. Carmel Candy, you are free to go."
The judge rapped her gavel, and the courtroom adjourned. Carmel packed his things and prepared to leave. His movements were almost mechanical. There was no smile like one who had beaten the system, and no frown of one wrongfully accused. Just the slow packing of his things, and an equally mechanical trot out the door.
"Congrats, again," the Doctor smiled, as he and Carmel exited. "You ready for the debate tonight?"
"As ready as I’ll ever be. I fully expect Harvest to have a good showing. It's just a bit sad that we won't be able to see it."
"Ah well, perhaps next election will be different," the Doctor said with a smirk on his face. "Then again, perhaps that is just the dream of two silly colts who never grew up."
Carmel smiled. "You know, your particular brand of sarcasm is what I look forward to every day," he said, equally sarcastically.
They shared a laugh. It was a deep, mirthful laugh, the kind exchanged between old friends.
"So, what do you think of the news I brought?" the Doctor asked.
"Not a chance,” Carmel said a sort of sad acceptance. “No matter what Twilight thinks her friendship is capable of, this is a whole different matter. By the Sun, I wish this could all be fixed with some magic trinket. Besides, one of the ponies she would need to convince is Applejack, and we both know that's not happening."
The Doctor nodded. "So we proceed as planned?"
“We trusted the mayor, and look what happened. I don’t care what Twilight Sparkle says, it’s Carrot Top or nopony. That’s just the way it has to be. It’s great Twilight got Cloudsdale and all, but it means nothing in the long run.”
The Doctor shrugged. “Maybe Twilight is right... If public opinion is truly on our side, the mayor would be forced to..."
Carmel stopped in his tracks, right on the steps of the court house. He closed his eyes. "I can't support the mayor, not after what she pulled." He opened his eyes slowly, and looked at his friend. "That is final. We need to make absolute certain Ms. Mayor Mare is not in that seat come this time next month."
"If that is what you wish," the doctor said, and they continued walking. "You got your pre-debate speech ready?"
"Of course. I was up all night working on it." Carmel smiled. "It will be a speech they won't soon forge-" Carmel stopped once again, this time looking more like a deer caught in headlights.
"Ee-yup," the stallion in front of him said.
i know how to make rareity on your side, she care about her image way too mach. So what i can hlep you is you must ruin that image for her to join on your side maybe a porn pic of her hiving sex with other mares or clots in the works, or better yet wait until she guf up than take a pic and use more than one to black mail her.
After all sex chage the world in real life just look at our history for it lol. but really you have to use her image ages her to join the other side.
Big Mac should've said:
You're the betrayer here. Your discriminatory attitudes are a betrayal of every stallion in Ponyville, including Grampy, Pa, and Myself.
And then mic dropped as he walked slowly to Ponyville.
3438062 Big Macintosh, a stallion of few words.
3438055 ...
And that's how Equestria was made!
(sorry, no can do-do. I am keeping sexiness out of the story.)
3437935 I get that alot.
3438085 will you have to find some that work her image as a weapon so won't go down easy like rainbow dash is that's for sure, image she care too mach for it and can't take likely to this opening she keep giving her self.
With this it can add more story telling, after all it can't bee really about sex it can be about her taking durgs or money or making a pony look bad when no one looking just find it and take it to your agen in this game.
AJ is a hard nut for sure she not showing any weakness am seeing other than her wanting hlep from her dead mom and dead, she will be hard to be to get to the other side with this right here in my book.
image and money will not work on her that's for sure on this, money may work on the CEOs of ponyville but not her she one of the farmers that don't care about many but her family. The only way i can see her give in if big mac did a 180 on her at this ponit and not live or work for the apple no more becasue of this, and even than she'll be on the no colt right side.
"Well, ther'd be no point. Ah already know who Ah... no, who we're votin' fer, and all the debate would do is muddle the matter with fancy poly-ticks. We need to stick to our guns, Big Mac, like Ma and Pa woulda wanted."
Sorry, what was that?
"Ah already know who Ah... no, who we're votin' fer."
One more time?
"Ah'm votin' fer."
Th- thank you... I thought that's what you said.
YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY, APPLEJACK!?
AJ is a bitch
Strike! Strike! Strike!
I did especially enjoy the bit at the beginning where Applejack is talking to her parents, since it actually does a lot to underscore why things like this often take so much time to change, as demonstrated by the sloppy slope she cites: “If we give stallions the vote, then next we know, selling apples will be outlawed.” There’s obviously no connection between the two, but when people get whipped into a frenzy over something, they tend to see connections that someone on the outside wouldn’t see (because they aren’t actually there).
…
Speaking of connections, I’m suddenly very unsure of why none of the stallions have petitioned the crown to forcefully overturn the law that prevents them from leaving Ponyville. I’m pretty sure that crown law trumps local law when there is a conflict between them, and barring a pony from traveling where they want except in cases where national security is concerned does not seem to be in keeping with the Equestrian spirit.
3438275
This. A million times this. The whole "Only mares can vote" law is relatively harmless at best, considering Ponyville is the only town in all of Equestria to have a democratic tradition. Barring stallions from leaving the town if they were born there is so against the Equestrian values of "harmony" and "Friendship" as depicted on the show it's not even funny. I'm surprised and a bit shocked that not only is Celestia apparently aware of this state of affairs, but that she sees no need to swoop in like an angry goddess and tell the city council that she's exercising her royal powers to overrule them, they can all go suck an egg and be quiet if they don't want a stallion appointed as the new local count. Hell, if Equestria has a Magna Carta or Bill of Rights analogue, Ponyville's law probably is in direct opposition to said document, and thus invalid.
Still waiting to hear some assurance that Carrot Top isn't gonna just throw the stallions to the wolves the way Mayor Mare did.
Also, I know exactly the kind of pony who would be perfect to help Twilight change Rarity's mind. Maybe Twilight should ask Fancy Pants to come pay Rarity a visit.
3438351
I can understand the whole not swooping in part; Ponyville’s government is something of an experiment, so Celestia might be letting them have that also to see if it might work on a larger scale.
But at the least, overturning the law preventing them from traveling would set a precedent that stuff like that is not ok to do.
Not allowing stallions to own property is also kind of iffy, since it means they technically can’t open and operate their own businesses.
3438367
Probably never going to get that reassurance; decisions on laws ultimately come to the council, I think, so there’s no way to get that assurance unless Harvest is dead certain she’s going to be the swing vote. And if she does go against them, her rationale is going to go exactly like this: If she gets elected, pushes for equal rights, and it doesn’t pass, then not only will she bury her chances for reelection, the equality movement will almost certainly lose whatever traction it has and never gain steam again, because of erroneous public perception that nobody is interested in it. That’s how politics work; it doesn’t matter who’s right, just who’s loudest.
As for Fancy Pants, he is a rarity (hurr!) in Equestria: A progressive. I don’t really remember Rarity’s reasons for opposing equality, but I do seem to recall they had little basis in reality. Fancy Pants might actually be able to change a few minds just because of who he is; it’s a little disconcerting how fast some people will throw their support behind something once it gets a celebrity endorsement.
Big Mac seriously needs to lay the verbal smackdown on AJ. I know he's got the brains for it. Maybe something like:
"Either I am property and my life doesn't matter, or I am a pony and it does, and I am being treated unjustly. Which is it?"
Well isn't that what you want, Applejack, the stallion to keep his mouth shut and do his work?
Ah... AJ the traditionalist. The last bastion of the ignorant. It was always that way, so there.
Fight for your rights, Big Mac.
3438134
No, she is merely traditionalist beyond reason. For Applejack, is far less "stallions are inferior to mares" rather than "that´s how my family always did". Like when she got angry because Twilight was using magic on Winter Wrap Up.
Whatever, it´s typical in many fics like this one to see t least one of the Mares Six acting like a bitch until the rest make her to see reason.
[youtube=Ic0XIT6Sg0w]
You're*
Well I just don't have picture that properly describes how I feel about this chapter.
So I will just say that I liked it as usual.
~leonzilla
Pinkie pie
What about pound cake?
Applejack knows she can't truck on alone since early on in the show, and family to her has been the world ever since before the pilot. If Mac's allofness is affecting her this badly, his outright defiance should (keyword being should) punch a hole in her heart large enough for the traditionalism to leak out.
Good job, Mac!
Didn't Aegis Shield kind of do something like this already with "Stallions on Strike"?
3438126
That's more a choice of taste. It's a perfectly legitimate way of writing; Look at Stephen King!
Was Applejack there for the part where most of the male population of Ponyville got fed up and left?
3438969 Selective memory can be a very bad thing.
Anyway, I'm hoping Applejack gets the chewing out of a lifetime. And yeah, count me as another who finds the whole 'stallions can't leave' to be something that should've been overturned a long time ago.
3438969 Yeah, but now that it's illegal, there's no problem! Also, it didn't happen, because nothing used to change!
(If Twilight works on the Mayor, and Caramel sticks with Carrot Top, we could wind up having both sides for giving males the vote. That may force them to keep the campaign promise for fear they'd get annihilated in the next election's campaign for walking away from such a key issue that the other one would "totally never have done, ever". Alternatively, we could find out that Carrot Top is a fair weather friend and doesn't plan to really change things. Or, something else ... I forget, would it be possible to get suffrage before the mayoral election?)
3438115
You make it seem like Twilight is running some dirty scandal here.
Why would Twilight, or anyone associated with the movement for that matter, blackmail Rarity? That goes against the peaceful prospect that they have and negates everything entirely, in fact, that would just back up her belief that they would be uncouth.
What Twilight needs to do is change her perspective, exactly like she did with Rainbow Dash, not blackmail her friends.
3439272 when i say this sometime you have to blackmail someone in the potcail world.
The CEOs are easy they go for money alone if you pay them off they will say yes, you have to play it at there game.
Look at the NRA they are there to hlep make money for gun makers, but thx to people that want to remove our rights of that you have to pay people to do it to make it see your way.
And if Carrot Top doesn't win or the mayor doesn't change her view then we get to see the dark tag in action, right?
3439359
First, that doesn't address why Rarity in particular would need to be blackmailed instead of just convincing her.
Second, the anti-gun-control crowd is delusional in the threat to legitimate gun ownership they see from Democratic legislation; this is not entirely their fault but due to intense propaganda and misinformation from the likes of the NRA. However, I would not like to derail the comments by discussing this further here. Feel free to PM me.
3439359
That may or may not be true but it would be entirely out of character for someone like Twilight. She would sooner quit then to stoop so low as to completely trash her friend's reputation and ruin their friendship with lies and blackmailing. It doesn't fit within the context of the story. Rarity's status comes from the fact that she's an Element and knows a few Canterlot ponies, however, her real political pull only reigns over her dress shop and the popularity she gets from being an Element. Going to the extent of saying that Rarity is using sex or drugs in an effort to keep one old law in place simply because she finds it uncouth doesn't make sense, especially because it would be out of character for her.
This story is less about corrupt political drama and more about getting everyone to see that change can be a healthy thing. If Twilight needs a "weapon" against Rarity then it should be the fact that Rarity is the Element of Generosity, and only by sharing the freedoms that she has would she be exemplifying her element (i.e. exactly what was done with Rainbow Dash).
3439442 true you got a point there dude.
But than there the 7 CEOs that Who talked about there not frds and not know who they are for all we know this could will led to black mailling hell just showing someone true side will get the power back to nomeal people
Applejack, do you know what also used to be a tradition? Pegasi and Unicorns would demand a food tribute from Earth Ponies in order to change the weather and the position of the Sun and Moon. It "worked," but there were a ton of problems and hatred that developed due to this system. It ultimately proved harmful, and the ancient ponies abandoned that tradition.
Maybe if you're relying on history to make your argument, you should know about how it can also hurt it?
3439517
If you're talking about the heads of the councils for Cloudsdale, they're no longer really an issue.
It seems like Dash has enough sway to convince the other members of the Council to vote in favor of her, which is beneficial, but not really necessary. Dr. Whooves also stated that the Pegasi are the least numerous in terms of participating voters, and even then they don't have the same political say that Ponyville residents do. The fact that Twilight got Dash to change her perspective is great but she doesn't need Cloudsdale's support as much as she needs Ponyville's, which is the more tedious task. Since there are no big corporations in Ponyville, Twilight needs to go after the ponies that will have the biggest impact, the Elements of Harmony.
3439589 You forgot one more fanlty rich and others like him in ponyville, you know DT dad and let not forgot her frd dad and mom that say and own a big bussince in town show guys are a weaker sex you know what i mean.
Sure getiing all the mane 6 to say yes to the rights for the guys but in turn now she have to face ponys that are never frds in the 1st plach and now how no idea what she dailing with.
3439611
Diamond Tiara's parents more than likely wouldn't be on the same level as the Elements. They may have money, but given the time frame of this story, (which I'm estimating is between Seasons 2 and 3), the Elements of Harmony have saved all of Equestria three times, which has granted them enormous popularity. It would be nice to have Diamond Tiara's parents, but given the fact that they have status and a reputation, they're probably going to go the way of Mayor Mare and go with whatever the majority of the town wants. So if Twilight can convince the Elements (who have a big reputation in Ponyville) then her parents will more than likely follow, because they would be supporting the most popular choice, which would be best for repeat business.
3438767 i can't re-like this story so I'll just like commenrs that likes it
That's exactly how the speech should end, with Big Mac just saying that one word... Great chapter, keep goin and stay golden^^
You know what might work? Some kind of Gandhi scheme. Equestrians are so compassionate, threatening to starve yourself to death might do just fine! :D
3440573
It's a noun now?
I thought he meant N'wah as in "You know what?". Like he stopped himself mid-explanation to note how he gave up on the conversation...
And I'm still lost...
3440580
N'wah are from Morrowland (or skyrim, not sure.)
Urban Dictionary
3439581
Royal Guard live in Canterlot, not Ponyville.3440844
Looks like somepony is about to join the bandwagon.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
3438518
img.pandawhale.com/post-28882-Toby-Turner-OH-SNAP-gif-Imgur-JTRm.gif
I like the story so far, but there's something that is kind of bugging me.
I'm assuming, at this point, that the villain is Carrot Top, right? You don't have to answer that question if you don't really want to, but from my point of view she's not enough of a villain yet.
Yeah, she's kind of smarmy and mean, but the only real thing that we've seen her do is outwit Applejack and 'frame' Carmel for stealing a soapbox.
Mayor Mare, while being generally more amicable, has actively broken her word, and even fought against the stallion's rights movement.
So what we're looking at isn't so much a race of good guy vs bad guy, it's a game of 'pick the lesser of two evils and hope it doesn't come back to bite us in the ass.'
Of course, I could have read this whole thing wrong and you're NOT building an actual villain, and this really is just a political race with friendships at stake.
That's cool, too.
You know, this is the only story I've read where Carrot Top is (so far) the good pony and Applejack is the villain (mostly).
3441784 Villains? In this story?
No. I intended this story to be closer to a political race than anything.
No good or bad here.
3438945 Look at the dates. This story was in fact out like four months before Aegis Shield's.
But I didn't read Stallions on Strike so I couldn't tell you anything about other similarities than the basic idea.
Kindly,
~Sinrar
3443044
Ah. Very good. I guess I just read so much genre fiction that if there's no clear villain I start to create one.
3443823
It's pretty clear that AJ doesn't see it that way. There are a couple of different factors that contribute to her viewpoint.
First, there's a bit of hero worship going on here. She has literally idolized her parents to the point that they are incapabe of wrondoing. This means that whatever they did/thought must have been correct, ergo the laws and policies that they supported must have been for the best. We see this all the time in real life in politics, sports, and even martial arts.
Next, she's been caught by the slippery slope fallacy.
AJ is so afraid of change, and so certain that her parents were right, that ANY change must be a bad one. Even if the change in and of itself isn't necessarily bad, it must lead to changes that are.
Last, on account of these two reasons, she doesn't see this issue as an issue about equality. She sees it as an issue about loyalty, and differing opinions is tantamount to betrayal. Betrayal of friendship, betrayal of family, and betrayal of tradition.
All that being said, she's beginning to question the status quo, if only to herself. But what that really means is that until AJ comes out and admits that she's wrong, she's only going to dig her heels in more and more.
Probably.
Again, I haven't been all that great at reading the forshadowing in this particular story.
On a completely different note, I'm really looking forward to seeing Rarity's justification for this inequality.