The Rough Of The Diamond

Sunday morning arrived and there was a curious air of excitement in the Rich household. Usually Filthy didn’t do any business at the weekend, but there was one exception to this rule…the Apple family due to the historical importance of Zap Apple Jam, and the ongoing profitable symbiotic relationship.

Of course probably he would make an exception for any of the Princesses, in particular Ponyville’s own Princess of Books. And of course he wouldn't ever dare say no to any of the bearers of the elements… Actually, given that there were only eight exceptions to his rule and six of them lived within a quick trot away, the 'not working on sunday' rule started to seem to have more exceptions than anything else.

Regardless of this, Filthy was in a happy mood as he was going to spend the morning with his daughter. The sudden change in his filly’s interests was both surprising, but not actually unsurprising. She was always a bit obsessive when it came to anything she got interested in, and this could just be a bit of a phase. But he was going to take the opportunity to bond with his daughter whilst it was available.

Meanwhile Diamond was delighted that she was going to be taking part in her first business meeting. Regardless of what she would actually do or say during it, she knew this was an important milestone for her, and for her dad to even let her be involved showed a sign of trust…trust she was determined to make the most of.

Knowing the farmer family started every day early, the meeting was booked not long after breakfast and so the pair left their home early to walk over to Sweet Apple Acres. At first neither of them really knew what to say to each other, just filling the silence with the usual small talk between parents and children.

However, as they passed Golden Oaks Library, shimmering in the early morning sun (the shimmer caused by the magical security bubble that had been put in place against Twilight Sparkles wishes) Diamond absently minded thought out loud that she needed to speak to the royal resident.

“Oh, what do you want to speak to the Princess about Darling?” Filthy’s ears pricked up

“Actually, I want to speak to both her and Rarity about…er…stuff.” Diamond sort of fluffed, having caught herself out by speaking out loud. Obviously she didn't want to tell her father about her thoughts on her Cutie Mark, especially given what they were doing today.

“Is this…” Filthy coughed “…mare stuff? Or about a Special Somepony?”

“No!” Diamond cried, blushing a little.

“Because you should really speak to mother or Cheerliee about that sort of thing…” filthy continued in as much embarrassment as the filly.

“Daddy, it’s nothing like THAT!” Diamond exclaimed. The pair the walked in embarrassed silence from there all the way to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was waiting for them just outside the family home, and welcomed the pair as they walked towards her. She led them inside to the kitchen table, and offered them both a glass of apple juice, which they gladly accepted - they may have just had breakfast but nothing compared to fresh squeezed straight from the farm.

Filthy and Applejack exchanged a few pleasantries but just as they were about to get down Applebloom bounced into the room, having been allowed to have a lie-in. “Good morning sis” she called out without noticing the guests, before noticing one of the guests in particular.

“What’s she doing here!” Applebloom pointed to Diamond accusingly.

“Applebloom, mind ya manners young filly” Applejack scolded her sister. “That’s no way to talk to anypony, let alone a guest in this house!”

Before Applebloom had a change to mutter anything else “It’s no problem. I kind of deserve that given that I’ve been, well, mean to Applebloom in the past” Diamond chipped in softly.

“Well, it’s mighty decent of you ta say so, but that’s no excuse. Apologise Applebloom”

“I’m sorry” Applebloom said between gritted teeth

“Don’t worry about it” Diamond meekly smiled back. Whilst her instinct was to rub the situation in that Blank-flank’s muzzle, she knew better if she was here on business

With that out the way, and Applebloom sent off to do her morning chores, the farmer and the businesspony got down to discussing what they were here to do. Whilst of course many of the supplies for the Social came from the farm itself, the Apple family still needed various things which the Rich family had provided them with for years, such as the leaflets and help in building some aspects of the event.

Diamond listened in but kept her mouth shut, for this was a well established relationship and she was just there to watch and learn. Obviously Applejack and her father didn’t usually socialise much with each other, not at least due to the age difference, but it was interesting to see the dynamics of the business relationship. When the meeting was almost over, Applejack gave herself a facehoof.

“Oh, I forget, there was something else I wanted to ask you about this year. Rarity’s gunna make the winners jackets, as usual, but this year I was thinking it would be mighty nice if each team competing had matching jackets to compete in. Especially for this years social.”

Filthy and Diamonds faces were a picture of confusion, so Applejack continued

“Ya see, as there are a number of foals and fillies, and mares mind ya, without sisters. And so we thought that would open some of the events to any two ponies rather than just sisters”

Applejack looked at to the filly next to Filthy I know that Diamond is a royal pain in the flank for ma sis, but I can’t help but feel sorry for her. Not having any siblings must be a bit lonely and whilst she has her parents unlike Bloomy, I can’t help but feel that a lack of a older, or younger, sister is part of why she acts out.

“So we need some way to recognise which ponies are grouped with who. Rarity would of course make them for me, she’s too generous for her own good that pony is! But I wouldn't want to waste her time making something so basic when she could be designing all of them fancy dresses for the Rich folk…no offence”

“And I guess as they are only for competing in, you don’t want anything too fancy as they'll get dirty and possibly ripped?” Diamond chipped in, speaking for the first time in the meeting.

“Exactly little partner” Applejack found herself smiling at the filly, before turning back to Filthy “So, I know I asked a few years ago and you said it’ll be 10 bits each, so I was wondering if that price is still available? It’ll be a stretch to get there, but I think I can make it work.”

“Applejack, if you don’t mind, I’ll let Diamond deal with this” Filthy responded

“Sure thing partner” Applejack smiled I knew there was a reason the Apple’s and the Rich’s got on so well, Filthy is a family man at heart afterall.

“Me?” Diamond responded, almost squeaking in excitement

“Yes Diamond, it would have been in the price lists I gave you yesterday” Filthy smiled back.

Diamond Tiara went over the figures in her mind. To buy in a basic cheap jacket in a variety of colours would cost 7 bits each, 8 including shipping. Father offering 10 in the past was a low mark-up anyway, probably because of the Zap Apple custom She pondered a little and then inspiration hit her

“O-Okay, how about fi-five bits per ja-jacket?” Diamond offered with a bit of a nervous stutter

“Fifteen is out of budget I’m afraid”

“N-Not Fifteen, Five” the filly corrected

“Five bits? Are you sure about t'at?” Applejack asked in shock

“Er, Diamond, can I have a word?” Filthy asked, and Applejack nodded as she understood that Filthy needed to correct his daughters offer. The pair walked a short distance away as Applejack watched on thinking about the times she’s had to correct Applebloom.

“Diamond, the price would be eight bits per jacket to get them, you’re selling at a loss” the stallion explained to his foal.

“Father I remember the price list. I will pay you five bits per jacket on top of the five Applejack is paying…just give me time, I have a plan”

“If that’s what you want to do, fine. But if you don’t I’ll take it out of your allowance until you pay it off”

“Deal…in fact if I can’t give you the bits myself, either from what I earn or what I keep from my allowance before the end of the summer, you can take twice the bits out of my allowance”

“That’s quite an offer, but why given your giving me 2 bits profit anyway?” the father asked in surprise “That’s not normally how business is done”

“Because I want to prove to you that I can do this! Plus, you’re giving me free credit.”

Filthy looked at the determined face on his daughter, and smiled at her “Okay, but I’ll hold you to that” and they shook hooves on it

Applejack saw the pair returning Hopefully Filthy’s set his daughter straight, but she’s lucky I’m not the sort of pony who would use her naivety to push down the price

“So, what’s the price now then, ten bits the same as last time?” Applejack asked hopefully

“No, five bits each as a said but I have four conditions” Diamond responded.

Applejack looked at the filly standing as upright as possible, trying to act big and bold “Okay I’ll hear them; I guess you want to put an advert on them or something?”

“I had thought of that, but actually one of the condition is we get to put a flyer in with each jacket as you give them out. Not on the jackets, just with them”

“Sounds more than fair, what’s next?”

“You tell nopony else the deal I’m offering you”

Applejack nodded “I expect the same when I bulk sell to ya father”

“Next, I get to set up a stall selling souvenirs and stuff at the social…and only I can have an non-refreshment stall”

“Well, we don’t usually have anything like that, but I see no harm as long as you don’t do any hard selling ya hear! Plus, I want to know what sort of things you aim to sell”

“A veto over the goods seems fair. Lastly” she gulped a little “You don’t tell Applebloom about this”

This last one took the farmer by surprise “I know ya don’t get along with ma sis, but why don’t you want her to know. You do realise you’re doing something nice, right Sugarcube?” she asked with some confusion

“Look, if she asks you I don’t expect you to lie, Element of Honesty” and with that both her and her father bowed their head a little. This was a custom that had started up in Equestria after the Royal Coronation when everypony realised how much the five other elements had done for this nation, and how important they were personally to all four Alicorn Princesses.

“But please don’t volunteer the information” Diamond continued as she raised her head

Applejack was blushing at the sign of respect. Rarity and Rainbow dash enjoyed the limelight a little, but the rest of them, Twilight included, just wanted to be treated as normal ponies “Okay, it’s a deal. I don’t quite understand ya angle, but it sounds a too good an offer to let up” and with that the pair shook hooves.

You and me both Applejack Filthy mused as he racked his brains for his daughters intentions. The advert and the sole stall were good ideas, but he doubted the filly would be able to turn a profit on these alone.

With business concluded, and Applejack having a full days work ahead of her, they bid each other goodbye. The walk home between the father and daughter pair was filled with Filthy explaining all the logistics of what had been agreed. Filthy took his daughter to Sugarcube Corner to buy her a treat, and he explained he was exceptionally proud of how Diamond dealt with Applebloom earlier.

When they got home, they could hear the gramophone playing in Ruby Necklace’s study, and they both smiled to themselves suspecting that their mother/wife hadn’t even noticed that they had been gone…