Bleak Todays and Sunny Tommorows
Applejack was lugging a large crate when he came over. He wore a grey suit and white tie today, probably think about dressing nice for the visit. Not that it mattered to her. It was always the same when he came over. Applejack’s father had came outside to greet the man. It didn’t matter what she thought of him or how little she cared for his presence. All that mattered was that he was a man and that all she was a lowly, filthy woman.
“Applejack!” called her father. She turned to him without the slightest hesitation.
“Yes father?” Her voice showed no sign of depression. No, annoyance, sarcasm, nothing. Nothing but fake joy.
“Come give the man a hug.” She did as she was told and walked over to the man, opened her arms, and wrapped them around him. He did the same, but he reached down to the young girl's rear. She allowed him. She had no choice but to allow him. She held onto this man. This man she barely knew. This man that smelled distinctly of tobacco, , and deodorant all mixed together. This man who she saw as nothing more than an owner. He let her go, whistling and fixing his hat afterwards.
“You Apples make for some fine times, if I do say so myself," he said with a smile. "I'm not here on usual business, however. That'll come later. You run along now." Applejack turned around, returning to her task.
"Morning Applejack," said her big brother, Big Mac. Big Mac was one of the only people in the town to plead ambivalent. He treated her with as much respect as he could. He was a large man, bigger than even his father and his green eyes set her at ease.
"Mornin'," she said, relaxing herself. "How's Vivi?"
"She's fine. Still trying to get her that passport. Behind your own, of course." In Ponyville, it is illegal for women to own passports. Vivi was the name of Big Mac's girlfriend. Unlike many who didn't show any sign of commitment, Big Mac loved Vivi. And although her virginity was a thing of the past, he said he wouldn't dream of having anyone but Vivi be his first. As for Applejack, Vivi was her first and only friend, a beacon of light in a world of darkness.
“Ah, that’s good,” responded Applejack lifting the box. “I gotta get back to work before pa thinks y'all's helping me.”
“Applejack!” said her father. Before she could completely turn to address her father, a streaking pain crossed her face. She looked at her father, the one who backhanded her.
“Yes...father?”
“Stop flirting with your brother, you stupid whore,” he said, his twisted into a snarl. “Big Mac, I need you for something.”
“Actually, I was just about to head out and meet Vivi-”
“What, that slut again? C’mon Big Mac, I keep tellin’ ya,” he said, wrapping his hand around him and pulling him away. “You could have much, much better toys than that one. All you really need to do is find em’.”
“Yeah,” he said in quiet. “Whatever.” Applejack looked at them leave, a bit of sadness on her face. Before anyone could notice, she started smiling again, picked up her box and led it into the small shed behind her house.
This was her only solitary place. The only place where she could relax when others weren’t telling her what to do. She placed the box in the middle of the small space. Kneeling down and opening the box revealed one of Applejack’s allowed pleasures. She revealed a half finished hat, it was orange and rag-tag, but she loved it none the less. She took it out along with the materials and started crafting her hat once again.
Applejack felt peace.
Rarity was, without a doubt, the most talented clothes maker in all of Equestria, maybe beyond. She regarded herself as a fashionista, a woman who deserves high respect, and very generous.
So when she got a call from the town of Ponyville requesting that a suit be made for a special occasion, she graciously accepted.
She was not informed, however, of the town’s terrible state.
She didn’t realize why everyone in town was giving her looks. Her friend and traveling companion Coco Pommel dismissed them as stares of awe, but as she walked through the town, she was becoming increasingly unsure.
Other than Coco, Rarity had two bodyguards named Klyde and Claus. They were two men Rarity found sulking after they’d lost their job as royal guards. Although Coco was opposed at first, probably because she was terrified of their presence, she grew to like the two as they traveled.
The 4 people walked towards the address of the person who requested a suit be made. She usually wouldn’t accept requests like this, but she felt that since her team wasn’t doing any large project as of the moment, she’d do what she could.
Rarity and her companions walked into the establishment, a large, white building with a golden spire at the top. It was probably the most eye catching building in the entirety of the town. Once inside, she was shown to the elevator which brought her up to the top floor.
“Um… Ms. Rarity?” asked Coco.
“How many times must I tell you, Darling?” she asked. “There is no need for the Ms. We are still friends, right?”
“Oh yeah,” she said with a slight blush. “Well, I wanted to ask you… does this town strike you as odd?”
“Odd? Odd in what way?”
“The people look different from anywhere in Canterlot,” she said. “They all look hateful.”
“Yes, quite,” responded Rarity. “If anything, those stares were far from friendly.”
“Don’t worry-” started Klaus.
“-We won’t let any harm befall you two,” finished Clyde. Rarity smiled at their comments.
“Thank you,” said Coco in with a smile. “It’s nice to know that you will look out for us.”
The elevator stopped, the door opening at the top floor. The floor was nothing but a large workshop. Men scuffled around looking for materials, weaving fabrics, and assembling suits all over. As soon as the doors opened completely, there was a hush over the room. Many looked in confusion, while many more looked in disgust. Ignoring the stares, Rarity addressed everyone.
“Where can I find the man by the name of Yevi?” she asked. A few mutters rose among the crowds before a very short man emerged from them. He was wearing a business suit, probably one of his own, and he looked the 4 up and down.
“Right here, madam,” he in a heavy accent. “Now, if you’ll follow me to my office,”
“If it is all the same to you, I’d rather we do this quickly,” retorted Rarity. The floor filled with gasps and grumbles. Yeri simply fixed his tie.
“As you wish,” he said. “Do you have the suit?” Rarity looked back at Klaus who withdrew the suit from his forearm. It was a beautiful jet black suit that was lined in silver. Other than that the suit was very high grade and nice no matter how you looked at it. Yevi’s eyes enlarged when he saw it. Rarity took the suit from Klaus.
“Here it is. Made special for you.” Yevi tried to grab it, but it was pulled out of his grasp before he could touch it. “Now, let’s discuss the price. I wager this suit to be about 2300 bits.”
“2300?” he asked, breath coming hard for him. “What is this foolishness? That suit is worth no more than 1000!”
“Maybe by your standards. As for me, I only deal in the highest of degrees.” Yevi started to display anger. “Maybe you might have some of these fine gentlemen to make you a 1000 suit.”
“You’re lucky I’m even dealing with your kind, filth!” he yelled unexpectedly. “A man could make and sell that suit twice as efficiently and at half the price!”
“I think you’re getting a little big for your britches,” said Klaus moving in front of Rarity. “Don’t you think Clyde?”
“All I know is he better start watching his tongue before I do something about it.” Yevi seemed to shrink in comparison to Clyde and Klaus.
“In short, Yevi,” continued Rarity. “Either you take it, or you leave it. Those are your only choices.” Yevi’s face was warped between fear and anger. After a long thought, he sighed.
“I’ll… take the damn suit.”
“Pleasure doing business.” She extended her hand. Yevi snapped his fingers, a woman rushing in with a clipboard, a piece of paper and a pen. He scribbled furiously before taking the paper and handing it to Rarity. She recognized the paper as a writ of service. Rarity looked down a smile on her face.
“The pleasure is all yours,” he said. “Now get out. I have to stress about all the money I just lost.” Rarity caught the glimpse of the woman who brought the supplies to Yevi. When their eyes met, the woman looked away quickly. Rarity shrugged it off before re-entering the elevator, the writ seemingly gleaming in the light.
Rarity felt happiness.
The fierce banging on her door startled her and almost made her mess up. Applejack sighed quietly and picked up her hat before putting on her smile and walking to answer the door. Once she saw that it was just Vivi, she relaxed.
“Applejack! I knew you’d be in here. Come with me!”
“W-wait!” said Applejack having her hand pulled. “What in tarnation is so important?”
“I want to show you someone! Come on, before she leaves!”
“Okay, okay, ah’m comin.” Applejack quickly followed her ecstatic friend until they reached near the end of town. They stopped just before a large white van. A woman was standing outside, happily looking at a piece of paper.
“Do you see that Coco?” she said. “With this money, I can finally get you that set you so desperately wanted!”
“I-I didn’t desperately want it!” she yelled back. “ B-but I would appreciate it.” Vivi brought Applejack out of the shadows to confront the woman.
“H-hello!” said Vivi, a hint of nervousness entering her voice. “How do you do?”
“If it isn’t the girl from the shop,” said the woman, regalness present in her voice. “And you’ve brought your friend. What may I do for you two?”
“No, I just wanted to see you again,” said Vivi. The way you stood up to those men was unheard of. You’re just amazing.” Applejack looked at this woman wildly.
“Yall stood up to men!?” she asked loudly. “What’re ya doing? Looking tah get shot!?”
“What do you mean, Darling?”
“Don’t yall know what happens when you disrespect the men in this town?” I said backing away from the woman. “You’re beat, killed. I might just be killed being around y'all.” Rarity looked at me with eyes of worry.
“You haven’t… been beaten have you?”
“I don’t want tah talk about it,” replied Applejack. “Anyways, I got to get back before anyone notice I’m gone-”
“It’s a little too late for that now, ain’t it?”said a voice behind her. She gripped her hands around the hat in her hands. As she turned around, she saw her father standing there, double barrel shotgun in hand.
“F-father I-” he flipped open the barrel of the shotgun and fished around in his pocket.
“I got a call from my good friend Yevi today.” He loaded the two bullets in their respective holes. “He said that some bitch was going around strong handing him for a suit he asked her to make.” The barrel clicked back into place. “Based off of the description he gave me, I can bet you’re the gal.”
“Father please-”
“You shut your mouth,” she said pointing the gun at me. “When we get home, you can expect a nice long pounding. After that, Mr. Yevi might need a… stress reliever.”
“That is enough of that!” yelled the woman. “I, Rarity, refuse to let this… charade carry one! Do you people have no respect for women? Even knowing that a woman is the reason you live and breathe?”
“Y’all’s is getting really go lucky for a person who’s about to get shot,” he said, tilting the barrel towards Rarity. “You know, maybe I might not. You’ve got yerself some nice curves. I might make you mah new wife.”
“What did you say, you malicious, ruffian?”
“Rarity, no!” yelled Vivi. “Just leave. You don’t have to feel bad for us-”
“Did you just speak?” asked Applejack’s father. “You… you’re that whore right? The one that Big Mac keeps goin’ on about. ‘Oh Vivi’ this and ‘Oh Vivi’ that,” he aimed the gun at her next. “Maybe you’ll be less of a topic once you’re dead.”
“Sorry, but that ain’t how this party’s going down,” said a voice from behind the man. He turned around, but was met by the colossal fist of Applejack’s brother, Big Mac. After dropping the gun, Big Mac picked it up and tossed it aside. “I’ve always wanted to teach you a lesson about badmouthing Vivi.”
“Big Mac!” said Applejack and Vivi in unison.
“You guys go with her,” he said pointing to Rarity. “Once ah’m done here, I’ll meet you in Canterlot. Be safe now.” Applejack nodded before getting shuffled into the van. Big Mac picked his father up and delivered another blow across his already bloodied face. Before anything else could happen, the car was started and the van whisked away from the town.
Applejack and Rarity felt thrill.
After the tension and action calmed down, the van became silent.
After introductions, Klaus and Clyde went to the front seats, Vivi stayed in the middle and sightsaw, and Applejack stayed in the backmost seats and twirled her hat. After a few minutes out on the road, Rarity joined her.
“What is that?” she asked as she looked into Applejack’s hands.
“It’s… mah hat.”
“What happened to it?”
“Nothin happened to it. It’s not even made yet.” Applejack’s lackluster tone brought a small frown to Rarity’s face.
“Do you want to hear a story?” asked Rarity. Applejack raised her eyebrows.
“I’m not a young’n no more. I’m 18.”
“Yes, but this story might interest you.” Applejack thought it over before turning towards Rarity. Without waiting for confirmation, she started.
“When I was a little girl, designing was my passion, my bread and butter, if you will. I was terrible at first, but my mom told me that if I kept at it, I’d be great one day.”
“And now you are?” Applejack asked. “That doesn’t really help.
“No, no, there is much more in between from being bad to being the best. The point I’m trying to get across hasn’t happened yet.” Applejack relaxed in her seat and started to listen. “Anyway, a lot of my attempts to make the perfect dress failed. I tried cotton, polyester, silk, acrylic, but nothing was working. So I thought I’d try something basic.” she rummaged through the back of her van. “I’d never lost it.” What she pulled out made Applejack smile.
It was a dirty, busted up hat. The same hat that Applejack was trying to make. In many ways it looked worse than hers. Applejack looked towards Rarity who was laughing at her hat.
“Why did you show me this?”
“Because yours is much better, right?” Applejack joined her in her laughter. “What I’m saying is you have a much better start than I did, right? Make something of it.”
Applejack looked at her unfinished hat and finally thought happy thoughts. It was at this moment that she felt something she didn’t dream of feeling before
Applejack felt hope.
Author's Note
Why did I write this story? Because of my grandmother. She's growing older now and isn't very adaptive to change. She grew up in a place where men were regarded higher than women. Fast forward to now, I'm the only son in the house so I get much more attention than my sisters despite me being the oldest. It's not as bad as it's depicted here, but it feels like it.
In a way, I wrote this out of pity for my sisters.
I reaaaaaally hope this offfends no one.
