Chapter 1 The Rains that Weep O’er My Soul
Lugging a heavy cart full of apples was never the plan. Usually her return trip load was lightened by sales only heavied by her coin purse. Applejack hated her own stubbornness. The warnings were all there, cloudy sky, moisture in the air, and even Granny Smith felt a tingle. Yet she had to go to market, their empty savings jar demanded it. The rain had driven off the competition and unfortunately her customers too. Applejack thought back, maybe she wanted simply to leave the house after what had happen...
Applejack stood at the doorway to her little sister’s room. She hated playing the ‘villain’. For two whole months her little sister had counted on her, however, their recent financial troubles had changed everything. Paying for an expensive school field trip to Manehattan was simply impossible. Breaking the news to Apple Bloom had not gone well… now Applejack was trying to put out the fire. Her every attempt only seemed to add more fuel to the blaze.
Apple Bloom screamed. “It’s not fair! I did all my chores for months now!”
Applejack set her hoof down. “Apple Bloom, you’re not going on that Manehattan field trip and that’s final!”
“Everypony in my class is going! It’s not fair!”
“We don’t have the bits right now! Big Mac needs a new plow more than ya need this trip. His hospital bill ain’t cheap either. That field trip is simply out of the question!”
“It’s not fair! Everypony is going to see all the sights! They’ll have souvenirs and photos! They’ll laugh at me! I’ll be the laughing stock of the whole school!”
Applejack stomped her hoof onto the ground. She had enough of her little sister’s little tirade. “Apple Bloom, now listen here! Sometimes we have to put family first because that’s all we have!”
A lamp was flung at Applejack’s direction. She caught the lamp flying out of the room.
“You’re not mom! Stop using her words!”
Both sisters froze; a line had been crossed in the argument. There was an unspoken taboo in the Apple household. A holiest of holies not to be addressed under any circumstance, it was especially not to be used as ammunition in any situation. Applejack was left speechless. Apple Bloom did not relent.
Her little sister was the first to recover. Apple Bloom slammed the door to her room. She nearly broke Applejack’s muzzle.
Applejack was tempted to break down the door but repairs would mean more bits. She instead slammed her head instead against the wall. She could hear Apple Blooms cries muffled by her pillow. Applejack growled at the door; however, her anger quickly dissipated and descended into melancholy. She hoped working would quiet the thoughts and feelings that pooled in her stomach.
In her present, frustration compounded with her desperation. The cart moved but the wheels were nearly locked in the slurry of mud and water. Applejack pulled double duty as sister and parent; she took care of Apple Bloom but who took care of her? How old was she when she and her brother had to start working the fields to support the household? Poor Big Mac his plow harness was his chain, now he was in hospital for work based exhaustion. Poor Applejack she thought; her own situation was no better. She’d be a bag of aching joints by the time she was half of Granny Smith’s age.
Where were her lackadaisical school days spent with friends? Before she had a say in her life she turned into a ‘career’ mare with precious little time for fun or games. She let herself fall limp letting the cart harness support her stand. The sky seemed sobbing along; she joined the heavens in their outpour. Her tears were washed away in the rain, her day to day secret pain.
His heart wrenched as he recalled reading the details from pages sandwich between a manila folder. Foals should not be orphaned at such an age… and in such a way. This Apple family had undergone a tragedy, the likes he hadn’t seen in new career. A year within his profession; he hadn’t even heard stories so sad even from older workers. He cursed himself that he would be the one to darken their door.
Antagonist was an appropriate appellation of his role. He heard more colorful slurs heaped at him through the cases he worked. Who wouldn’t hate somepony that separated foals from their mothers and fathers? Often these so called ‘parents’ were dangerous cider-holics with an even more dangerous lack of self-awareness. At times though they were apologetic and tried changing their ways. Inevitably they’d fail their third alcohol tests, and then the letter of the law was clear. He endured the curses heaped at him, some of which literal curses by unicorns. He endured because he knew while in the present they might hate him, he hoped later the foals might thank him. Still the gray made anxious him as some situations were not so simple. Heavy rain had already made the skies very gray that day.
His carriage did not drop him off directly at his location. The driver didn’t want to risk getting stuck in the mud by traversing the less established path. Using his unicorn horn he levitated his suit case with him. Trudging through mud and crud, he bemoaned that he ruined his black suit. The attire of an official was his second coat of fur. He was not entirely himself when he put on the uniform however it bestowed him the authority to execute justice. Now his second coat was tarnished. Raindrops also obscured his glasses’ lens. He took off the glasses and quickly snapped them shut into his suitcase lest the rain soak through to the documents inside.
His own miserable mud trekking was interrupted as he heard grunts and groans from the road side. Through the thick rain he saw an outline of an orange pony struggling to pull a cart…
“Consarn it!” Applejack unhitched herself and went around pushing the cart. She grimaced as she saw the rear wheels where glued up with mud again.
“Hi there Miss, looks like you could use some help.”
Applejack appraised the suited pony. He seemed too finely dressed for her comfort, but the mud knew no distinction and had already covered them both. “Howdy there, partner. Aren’t ya worried you’ll fuss up your fancy suit?”
The stranger smiled. “My suit is already ruined, what’s a little more mud?”
Applejack’s skepticism eroded away, her pride was at a limit. Her friends had taught her long ago to accept help when in need. She was indeed in need. She gave a glad smile. “Thank ya, kindly partner!”
The stranger hitched himself. “Where does this cart need to go?”
Applejack pushed. “Up the road, to the farm.”
He pulled. “Property owner, huh? That’s impressive.”
“Nope, we’re mortgaged up to the eyeballs. The bank owns us.” Applejack caught herself. Even as a self-deprecating joke it was a great family shame. Why did she open mouth to this stranger? Being the element of honesty really was a burden.
After minutes of grunting and groaning as they tried pulling and pushing, the cart had barely moved from the hold of the ground.
“We’re making no progress like this,” said the suited pony.
“Got a better idea, fella?”
“I got magic.”
Applejack had a mistrust of magic due the mishaps she’d seen done by Twilight. Her exhaustion though let her accept any short cut though. Applejack shuddered; Twilight had tried animating her broom to help carry water to her farm. The broom multiplied and almost flooded the farmstead.
“Alright, tell me what ya gonna do first. I don’t want some fancy come-to-life spell that turns my brooms into a crazed army.”
He chuckled. “Come-to-life spell that’s too complex for my tastes. We learn practical magic where I trained.” From his horn came a white beam. The trail ahead became frozen. The wet slog to pull the cart would be a simple sliding affair.
Applejack raised her brows in surprised. “Well, where did ya train, stranger?”
“The Mages’ Corp, several squads of us could cold freeze a Hydra.” He pulled the cart easily across the ice.
Other mares would swoon at a Royal Guard stallion, a member of the Mages’ Corp especially. Applejack however was less forthcoming. Mages were weapons in pony form; they reaped terrible devastation on the frontlines. Regardless of whether they served the crown, they took lives and in great numbers. It took some sort of psycho to enlist to be pony artillery; she wondered whether under his suit his cutie mark was of something violent. Applejack’s tone was less friendly than she liked. “Are ya now?”
“Yeah,” He replied, bluntly. “Is there a problem?”
“No, I just didn’t know yer were a military mage.”
The stranger picked up on her hostility and bit back. “Firstly don’t denigrate the the Mages Corp, we’re not all bad. Secondly I’m not a military mage; not anymore, I quit that life. I’m into honest living now.”
Applejack turned away and wistfully whistled. He said he was ‘living honest now’ that implied he wasn’t too proud of his service. Applejack didn’t want to go on and start a fight though. “I didn’t say nothing. It weren’t ma place to say in the first place. I’m indebted to ya for helping me here.”
The stranger relaxed. “That’s alright Miss. Let’s get this cart of apples to where it needs to be.”
Pulling the cart into the barn, Applejack and the stranger both sighed in relief at their job’s completion.
“Heya stranger, you done right by me. If ya want to, we have a hot shower and dinner for ya.”
“That’s alright Miss, I need to get going.”
“It’s still raining cats and dogs out there.”
The stranger looked outside the barn. “Yeah, I guess I could wait out the storm with a roof.”
Applejack entered her home leading the stranger in. Big Macintosh was still sick at the hospital otherwise he would have helped hauling the cart. Applebloom was hopefully doing homework in her room and Granny Smith could be heard by the creaking of her rocking chair.
Winona greeted Applejack with a friendly bark and a wag of her tail. However, when the dog sniffed the stranger, she flashed her teeth and began a low growling. She snapped her teeth at him.
Applejack scolded. “What’s wrong with you, Winona? Down girl! This is no way to greet a guest! You go without supper and think about what you’ve done.”
The dog whimpered and left with her tail between her legs.
The stranger gave a sigh. “I never was good with dogs. I nearly got my head chomped off while on patrol. Diamond Dogs ambushed us; luckily we beat the beasts back.”
“Maybe y’all shouldn’t have been on their land.”
“We need gems to power magic, Diamond Dogs wouldn’t trade. Captain said we should make them.” He trailed over with a regretful tone. “Orders are orders…”
“You want to go without supper?” Applejack smirked; she didn’t want to go into politics.
“No ma’am!”
Applejack showed the stranger to the upstairs shower. Halfway through his shower, Applejack forgot she didn’t give him a towel. She entered the washroom and examined his silhouette behind the shower curtain. He wasn’t a pencil neck or a jelly belly; she supposed his Guard training had evened him out. Unicorns relied too much on magic and often were scrawny or tubby, he seemed quite right.
“Miss?” The stranger poked his head out from behind the shower curtain.
“Ah!” Applejack blushed cover her eyes with her left hoof. With her left hoof she passed along the towel to him. “I just came here to bring you this towel.”
“Thank you.”
Applejack tried to spy his cutie mark however the stallion after drying his mane wrapped his towel around his waist and obscured his flanks. Nevertheless Applejack did enjoy seeing him in his natural coat as opposed to the suit.
A stranger with a mysterious past; Applejack reckoned he wasn’t so enigmatic. What she had seen inspired her interest.
After the shower he was led to the dining room by Applejack. He noticed while he was showering Applejack had rubbed her own mud off. As he followed her he couldn’t help looking. The farmer was well muscled and had a cute sway to her step. He was so focused looking he bumped into her as she stopped at the end of the stairs.
“Hey!”
“Sorry, I tripped,” he lied.
“That last step’s a doozy. I’ve been meaning to fix them stairs but never got around to it,” said Applejack.
He sighed. The type to lustfully leer at a mare wasn’t him, at least when he could help it. She would’ve been worth the look even if he got clobbered. Some would have been scared off by the muscles brimming behind her orange fur coat but he didn’t mind. The wire frame gals in Canterlot didn’t interest him.
Aside from the physical there something more to her that fascinated him. She had a simple and honest way about her. Emotions on her face were read as easily as a neon sign in the dark.
Applejack missed the communal family meals together with her family. Everypony nowadays was too busy or their time schedules didn’t align. She and Big Mac had to work extra hard to keep the lights running. The present meal wasn’t a special occasion either; she simply fixed them both up some re-heated leftover apple pie.
He devoured his plate hungrily, shoving his muzzle into his food. “I could eat this all day! Big thanks for the hospitality.”
“Help yourself, sugar cube.” She helped pour him a cup of cider from a bottle.
Sitting with a stranger, it occurred to her she never asked for his name nor did he ask for hers. “Where are my manners, I forgot to ask you your name. I’m Applejack.”
He bowed with a hoof held over his heart. “I am Letter Law, pleasure to meet you.”
Applejack swore the name was from somewhere but she shrugged her shoulders and offered him a hoof to shake. “Likewise, Mister Law,” she said shaking his hoof.
He chuckled. “This is a nice farm; a lot of my buddies always talked about settling down and farming.”
Applejack tipped her hat upwards and gave him a skeptical look. “Farming ain’t a cake walk, partner. Me and my brother work sun up to sun down. Come harvest season, we hardly get a wink of shut eye.”
Law nodded. “I agree. They were deluded fools to think farming could work for them.”
Applejack smirked. “Whatever happened to that? So did your fellows find out first hoof how hard it is to till the land?”
“They were spared their delusions… they didn’t make it past their tour of duty.”
Applejack didn’t wince; she knew guards knew what they signed up for. Casualties were high; it was why most towns had so many mares in them. She didn’t agree with recent conflicts either. She felt sorry for their loss but wasn’t going to have a pity party. “Honestly if yer know all this, why did y’all join up then?”
He laughed. “We were young and hot blooded stallions; recruitment posters seemed attractive. We all thought we were going to be Shining Armor and bag ourselves a Princess.” His words weakened. “Towards the end of it I may not have agreed with my orders but I sure as Tartarus wasn’t going let my buddies down. Problem is fate often says differently.”
“Mister Law, fate’s funny like that. I once went to that there big city Manehattan with even bigger dreams. I almost burned the bridge back home by leaving. I argue with my folks something fierce for that chance. Things didn’t go too well once I was in the city though. It weren’t the life for me. When I couldn’t hack it, I gave up… I came rushing home; I hoped I wouldn’t disappoint Ma and Pa and that they’d accept me…” Applejack sniffled, “—when I came back they weren’t there. Me and my brother suddenly became the heads of the household.”
Law tried smiling. “Reminds me of a sad story I read recently…” He used his magic to gently lift her head up. “Chin up, it looks we both are no strangers to hardship. My mother always said that built character. You seem to have character to spare, little missy.”
Applejack blushed. “Little missy?” She then smiled. “Yer getting too familiar, city boy.”
They shared a laugh in the light of the breaking clouds that shone through the kitchen curtains. It was still pouring heavily.
“I’m not a hayseed nor am I a city slicker; I grew up in between.”
Applejack pointed to Law’s drying suit that hung on a chair. “Wandering the back roads so sharply dressed, where was it that you were going, Mister Law?”
“I don’t know the lay of the land around here. I’m looking for a particular farmstead. The last locale was wrong. Some mare with a carrot cutie mark pointed me near here but I’m still not sure.”
“Golden Harvest or Carrot Top as we’d like to call her, she’s not too good with directions. Where are you aiming to go?”
“Sweet Apple Acres,” said Law eating away.
Applejack became very nervous. “What fer, Mister Law?”
“Believe it or not, I’m a social worker… a year into it.”
Applejack was forcing a smile now. “You don’t say.”
“Heh, sure was an odd fit. However, I came from a broken home; I figured I could help others avoid my childhood. Maybe if I was raised better I wouldn’t have been so inclined to pick up a lance and join the guard.”
Applejack sat up slowly and carefully. Dishonesty wasn’t her specialty she tried her best to fake a smile. “Mister Law, don’t you mind helping yourself to my plate. I’m a’feelin’ unwell. I’ll be back shortly. Don’t ya go nowhere, ya hear?”
Applejack rushed upstairs, her mind was racing. The social worker’s inspection was today?! She had to get things in ship shape and mighty fast. She nearly kicked Apple Bloom’s room door off its hinges.
“Applejack, knock first!” Apple Bloom shouted.
Applejack examined the condition of her little sister’s room. Paste and macaroni covered the walls. There were pieces of wood strewn about of what remained of a table and nightstand.
“Sorry Applejack, it was sorta a class project.”
Applejack looked at some of the broken furniture. Apparently Apple Bloom inherited the family strength without any of the self-control. “What about that?” She pointed a hoof at the smashed nightstand.
“I was angry. I still am… a little.”
Her sister’s room was a uninhabitable mess. Applejack’s heart was thumping like a racing rabbit being chased after by a fox, if the social worker saw he’d have a right reason to take Apple Bloom away. She needed to clean the mess… or something else.
Applejack pulled her sister away. “Apple Bloom, you don’t live here no more!”
“What?!”
Applejack carried her sister and stuck her into the adjacent room. “Apple Bloom, Big Mac’s room is now your room!” She swiftly closed the door and locked it.
“Wait?! What’s going on, big sis?!” Apple Bloom pounded on the door.
Applejack heard a holler from down stairs. “Miss Applejack, everything alright up there?”
“Fine and dandy! Thanks!” She jumped back downstairs.
Law looked at her with worry. “Are you alright there, missy?”
There was a lot more she needed to do to be ready for him. She needed a way to send him away. “Mister Law, I think I might know where this ummm Sweet Apple Acres is. I can point you in the right direction and you can make it today.”
“Do you?” Law looked out and saw the storm raging outside. He then bowed. “If you’ll beg my pardon, I think will stay until this storm clears up. I can pay bits for lodging and that fine food you served me up.”
Applejack’s face twisted up slightly. “Umm… that’s alright. Your bits are no good here. Food’s free, you have a nice day.” She ushered him towards the door taking and umbrella to give him. “Ya can have this umbrella too.”
“Hey, I’m willing to pay triple however much it cost for an inn. It was sudden for me to impose.”
His proper manners and charm weren’t making it easy. “Sorry, we’re umm… remodeling! No rooms are available.”
“How about the couch? I’ll pay for that if need be.”
“Not that either….umm we got a case of the couch mites! Nasty little ummm.. bugs.” She smiled. “Anyhow let’s point you the right way! I’ll even give ya my umbrella.”
Law frowned. “Deception doesn’t suit you, Miss Applejack. I had a pleasant meal; I was hoping we could be cordial continuing on. I happen to know this is Sweet Apple Acres.”
Applejack froze as if Law had used his earlier ice spell on her.
Law coughed, he oddly went back into the kitchen and put on his soaking suit. He left her stunned where she stood.
Law finished putting on his suit. Casting a small spell he tried to dry the wet cloth the best he could. He required his ‘second coat’ now; he couldn’t do his job otherwise. Hard questions and possibly decisions would be made concerning the future of a foal. He opened his suitcase and took out a clipboard and quill set; he needed notes to keep himself rational. He shook his head; Applejack was charming, however, he couldn’t be a ‘friend’ now. He remembered Ms. Berry Punch was charming too. The cider addict tried to sweet talk her way through her case. No, he was a soldier and steadfast in duty. Any sort of affection would have to be buried. He tried to bury his emotions when he went to war… he had to bury his friends due to his hesitation in combat… Eyes were windows to the soul. He put on the final touch that was his glasses.
Applejack was snapped back to reality when Law returned. The stallion’s presence seemed to be entirely different now. He wasn’t the friendly pony she invited in. Was this his real persona? Did he lie to gain entry to her home? She asked with a hint of anger. “How and how long did you know?”
“I had an inkling from the moment we met. That bottle of cider you served me had a label reading Sweet Apple Acres Preserve, your story matches up the file I have on your family, and your face tells me the rest.”
“Ya got me.” She had invited the ‘devil’ into their home. He led him straight through the door. Applejack spoke under her breath. “Curse my flapping gums and hospitality.”
He spoke in the lawyer’s language, affectless and official. “Miss, though I’m a social worker, this isn’t a social visit. My name is Letter Law. I’m here to ascertain the parental fitness of one Apple Smith and inspect the living accommodations provided to Apple Bloom.” He dabbed his quill and raised his clipboard.
“Granny Smith, she’s fit as a fiddle.” Applejack knew the opposite was true… Granny wasn’t doing too well as of late. Her old age was wearing the old oak down.
“For official documentation, who might you be in relation to Apple Bloom?”
“I’m Applejack her sister.”
He sensed a brewing hostility in her. She could be trouble. He scribbled her name with a big question mark at the end of it.
Applejack growled. Whatever notes he was taking didn’t seem to be for their benefit. “You should have said earlier who ya were and what ya were doing here.”
Law countered. “You shouldn’t have tried to send me on a wild goose chase through the rain.”
Applejack grudgingly accepted her guilt. “That weren’t right either... I’m sorry.”
“Rest assured,” His words of comfort were cold and compassionless, “if this interview and inspection goes according to plan I’ll be done and out in no time and we need never see each other again. I’ll pay for the meal and everything.”
“The meal was thanks for helping me with the cart.” Applejack spoke under her breath again. “We don’t need no fancy social worker telling us how to raise a foal.”
Law stepped into the kitchen again. He examined the many jugs of cider on the counters. “Alcohol is kept on the premises at easy reach of underage Apple Bloom?
“We sell cider, I don’t let her drink it! If we drank up our wares then we’d be flat broke.”
“Earlier you said the farmstead was mortgaged to the hilt. You seem to be worse than broke.”
Applejack grimaced, she had willy nilly betrayed that info. “We’re handling it. We have a payment plan with that banker Mr. Filthy Rich.”
“I see.” He scribbled more. A pattern was noticed, Berry Punch had taken loans from Filthy Rich too. The banker was a predator in practice; he could imagine the farm would be foreclosed on within a fortnight if they’d missed a payment. He wrote ‘future living conditions in doubt’.
“Ya want to speak to Granny Smith?”
“According to the paperwork she is the official guardian. However I want to inspect Apple Bloom’s day to day living accommodations first.” He sternly stared at Applejack. “Before you make a fake set up.”
Applejack froze up again; she willed her legs to work. “Sure, follow me.” Sweat dripped from her brow as she led Law upstairs.
Apple Bloom was bucking at the door when Applejack opened it. Apple Bloom stopped when she nearly kicked the suited stallion. Law saw the chipped wood at the door where the filly had been kicking.
“She’s just energetic. All kids are at her age.” Applejack smiled.
Law didn’t blink and gave her an aside glance.
The little filly, stared at the stranger with wide eyes. “Who are you, mister?”
Applejack was surprised as Law returned to his friendly tone he had been conversing with her with before he declared his identity. “Well hi there, I’m Letter Law. I’m your friend. I’m just here to see that you’re well taken care of.”
Apple Bloom looked at him skeptically. “Yer suit is soaking wet.”
Law smiled. “Well, I’ve been in the rain, sweetie.”
“Don’t call me that, ‘Sweetie’ is my friend’s name.” Apple Bloom sighed. “Yer that social worker my big sis told me about huh?”
Applejack sneered at Apple Bloom, communicating her desire for her sister to behave. Law was surprised by the filly’s deductive skills.
“Yes I am.” Law lowered himself to her level. “Now, I’m going to ask a few questions. I want you to be honest.”
Apple Bloom smiled mischievously at her sister.
Applejack gave her sister a serious stare that was akin to her friend, Fluttershy’s own legendary glare.
Law noticed the non-verbal exchange. “Miss Applejack, I’ll have to ask you step out while I question Apple Bloom.”
“No way. No how,” said Applejack flatly.
“You’re obviously exerting pressure on young Apple Bloom,” said Law. “I won’t have you influence her answers. This is standard procedure.”
“I don’t care.”
Law narrowed his eyes. “Push me and I’ll render my verdict right here.”
“Okay,”
“The door will be unlocked,” said Law.
Applejack bit her hooves in nervousness. After an agonizing half hour had passed the door was opened.
“Run along and play now,” said Law.
Apple Bloom passed her sister with a grin on her face. “Sure thing, mister!” She promptly ran down the stairs.
“What did she say?” Applejack asked.
Law’s expression was grim and without hint of sympathy. “What was told to me was in confidence.”
Applejack looked at Law demandingly. “What lies did she spout?!” She pleaded. “Mister Law, please understand fillies her age have active imaginations!”
Law ignored her and stepped in Big Mac’s room and looked about.
Applejack followed after quickly.
Law picked a magazine with his magic. “Is this appropriate reading material?”
Applejack snatched the magazine and threw it out of the window. She hoped he hadn’t read ‘Playpony’ on the cover and she cursed Big Macintosh for actually proving her wrong about his preference. The cover had a Pegasus mare sprawled out with wings extended. She needed an excuse, she thought of her friend Rarity and her outlandish fashion magazines. “Just some fashion magazine; some of those models skirt the boundaries of decency. The kids though can’t help but follow their idols.”
Law wrote more notes and pointed at the plain bed and lack of much else. “These furnishings are rather spartan for an active and growing mind.”
Her brother was a plain colt. He didn’t have much in the way of possessions. Big Mac lived that way his whole life. Even though it wasn’t Apple Bloom’s room she was offended by the implication that her brother was anything but an active mind during his youth. Big Mac actually did their taxes, with two years of university her brother was big but far from dumb. Applejack responded. “Anything wrong with that?”
“Children shouldn’t be left locked in their rooms without something to do.” He pointed a hoof at where Apple Bloom has smashed the door. “Stuff like that happens.”
“My sister is just a little too strong and too little to know how to control it.”
“There are reports Apple Bloom wanders Ponyville unattended long durations of time.”
Applejack was aware that somepony had tipped off the authorities. Law’s whole reason for being there was because of that ‘traitor’ and their exaggerated claims. She suspected it was somepony in town with a grudge. “What of it, Mister Law? I’ll have you know so do Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.”
“Ah Scootalo that’s another case. I’m here for Apple Bloom.”
She detected the ominous implication of his tone. “You’re not taking her away,” said Applejack. “We’re her only family. You can’t just barge into our lives like that! It ain’t right!”
“Believe it or not I care about foals. Thus far, I’m inclined to believe that your home situation may not be best for her. I’ll need to speak with Apple Smith next. Maybe she can reverse my judgment.”
Granny Smith rocked in her chair looking off into the distance. The clear sky wallpaper seemed more pleasant than the actual stormy sight outside the window.
Applejack stopped her rocking chair. “Granny Smith… the social worker is here.”
The old matron shouted. “What’s that?!”
“Granny Smith I said the social worker is here!”
“What? The steel worker? I told them the train line’s been built!”
Applejack shuddered fearfully as she saw Law take down more of his ‘notes’. She had to bring Granny Smith to clarity at least for the interview.
Applejack shouted louder. “Granny Smith I said the social worker is here!”
“You want to work at another career?”
She looked painfully at her grandmother. Over the years Granny Smith lost more and more of her mind as she went along.
Law shook his head. “Onset senility, Mrs. Apple Smith is clearly in no condition to be a parent. I think an interview is not necessary to determine this.”
“Who ya callin’ senile?!” Granny Smith seemed to snap from her haze.
Applejack looked on hopefully. Perhaps Granny could come back. The old matron was known to play a prank every so often.
Law was surprised but quickly composed himself. “Alright then, Mrs. Smith, I’m here to ask some questions regarding your granddaughter. If we can conduct this interview presently—”
Granny Smith lurched from her chair and shouted. “I said we don’t want any of your new fangled snake oil!” She promptly sunk back on her rocking chair and dozed off.
Applejack’s hopes were dashed by Granny’s outburst.
Law grimaced as he took more notes.
They left Granny and the room. Applejack’s spirit was lower than her head.
Applejack was on the verge of tears as they both stood in the kitchen.
“You seem to be the real head of the family. I remember before you said you work from sun up to sun down that probably doesn’t leave time for much else especially when caring for foals.”
“Yup.” Applejack mirrored Big Mac’s brevity for she had little to say.
“You’re young. It must be an incredible burden on you.”
“Yup.” Water was welling in her eyes.
“It doesn’t seem things are going too well right now.”
“Yup.” Applejack was full on crying now. “Mr. Law, before you take Apple Bloom away could you let her see her brother at the hospital? Please, give us a little more time. Just enough to say good bye.”
Law sighed. “You don’t look the type to skip town.”
“Our roots are sunk deep. The Apple family has lived this land for longer than we can count.”
Law nodded. “I know my name is ‘Letter Law’ but I know also sometimes the spirit of it is what counts. Apple Bloom told me about you. She said some mean things—”
“We had an argument before,” said Applejack.
“Yeah, she told me about that. As I got her opening up more, she only had nice things to say about you. Your sister knows your role in the family. She’s concerned that you’re killing yourself taking care of her and everything else. She told me she understands how much you sacrifice only that it’s just painful for her too sometimes.”
Applejack thought more fondly of her little sister then when she had before. She would miss her most. After all that they’d endured, it seemed surreal that their family would be so suddenly broken up. Apple Bloom was the core of their outfit, she was the reason Big Mac broke his back, and why Applejack worked her hooves raw. With that gone, what reason was there for the farm and their long suffering to keep the show running? Letting go would break her, thinking about it was breaking her right now.
Law lifted her chin again with a tiny bit of magic. He offered a small smile. “You’re in deep waters. Filthy Rich is a nasty loan shark; you’ll need to find a way to move your debt or you’ll lose the farm. I also passed by a good portion of your land, a lot of it is underutilized. With hired help you can increase your revenue perhaps enough to profit and turn around your debt. With finances improved, you can buy the time you need to turn everything else around.” Law ripped several pages off of his note book. “Here are some ponies I’d recommend to go to concerning debt. Also I can commission the crown to lend you money at low interest. I’m a social worker not a miracle worker. The legwork will still mostly be on you.”
Applejack was a wreck, her emotions were haywire. “Mr. Law?”
“A lot of ponies look at me like the bucking reaper pony. I left that behind in the war… I’m a civilian now. I try helping instead of hurting. I try…”
Applejack was overcome. She grabbed the stallion and hugged him hard.
“Miss!” He yelped as she embraced him. Her grip was vise like in her strength and squeezed the air out of him.
“Sorry.” Applejack blushed as she released him. Her imprints were still over his body. She was surprised that a Royal Guard Mage was so squishy; he supposed they fought mostly with their magic.
Law coughed to catch his breath. “It’s okay. I guess I’m more out of shape than I thought.”
“Mister Law, I insist you stay the night. I can launder that fancy suit of yours and get you dry to go tomorrow.”
Law touched his suit, his second skin, was still sopping soaked with water despite his magical attempt to dry it. His uniform was his protective layer from emotions. Could he take it off in the presence of this mare? Staying the night was skirting a dangerous line between his personal and professional life. He couldn’t afford to be invested into a case if he was expected to serve justice. “I don’t know, Miss…”
“It’s still pouring like the great deluge out there. You might catch pneumonia.”
Applejack sensed his hesitation. “Mister Law I’m not asking ya to live with us. We’re just offering a night.”
Applejack’s genuine smile was something that warmed his heart more than her cooking. He smiled in return. “I suppose I can’t object to that.”
link to mood music
Author's Note
Some experimental fiction with parts of my personal pain mixed in. Like if you want to see more.
