The Apples' Debt

"The Apples are a proud and stubborn bunch."

His driver, Abiding Traveler loved to talk. Thankfully, Compound Interest didn't mind.

"Other farmers farm to live. The Apples live to farm." Traveler continued.

"If things go on like this, they'll end up unable to do either."

"Why did you lend to them?"

Why did he lend to them? Well, the hot blond mare that walked into his bank one year ago might have had something to do with it. The Apples were circling the drain, refusing to modernize like other farmers. He could see that clear as day now, but back then, there was something that distracted him from the numbers. Two things to be precise. She had either not noticed, or been too polite or desperate for money to call him out.

"Hard to explain."

The car stopped.

"We're here, boss."

Traveler then pulled out one of his thick geography books you could beat goats to death with and started reading. He was paid by the hour, so he'd be more than content to wait for how it took to sort this out. Interest stepped out and walked towards the farmhouse in the middle of the farm. The farm itself was in a sad state, its trees barren, its fields filled with wilted plants. He knocked on the door. The same blond mare opened. She was wearing a dirty red flannel shirt, a pair of shorts that accentuated her wide hips and of course her signature hat. This time, he swore to himself he wasn't going to make the same mistake though.

"Good afternoon." she said awkwardly.

"Good afternoon, Miss... Applejack was it?"

"Yes, just call me Applejack, Mister..."

"Compound Interest." he reminded her.

"Come in."

He stepped inside.

"I think you already know why I'm here." he opened.

"Want somethin' to drink? Some cider? This year's crop has failed but there's some from last year."

"I didn't come to drink, Miss Applejack."

He was purposefully avoiding getting too familiar with her.

"Who's this?" deep voice grumbled.

Compound Interest looked up. He had heard that his name sake was the powerful force in the universe, but the tall, wide red stallion made him doubt that saying. The giant before him could snap his delicate little unicorn spine and not even break a sweat, and he wouldn't be happy once it was explained to him why Compound was there.

"Mister Compound Interest, this is my brother, Big Macintosh. Big Mac, this is Mister Compound Interest, the banker."

Just because this Big Mac could snap his spine in half doesn't mean he would. They weren't animals, after all.

"Charmed." Compound greeted him, after calming himself down a bit.

Big Mac just grunted.

"Right, you behave yourself, Big Mac. Ah'll go get our guest somethin' to drink."

She then darted out of the room. Big Macintosh stared angrily for a while at Compound without saying anything.

"You here for the failed payments?" he grumbled.

"I am"

"Ah would leave if Ah were you." he said grimly.

"Don't make empty threats. Both of us know that beating me up will only make things worse for you and your family."

"Who's this?" an elderly voice asked, unaware of the exchange they just had.

"Granny, this is Compound Interest, the banker." Big Mac grumbled, pretending as well as he could that nothing had happened.

"Well, hello, young fellow." she started shaking his hand "welcome to our farm."

Clearly she was unaware of the financial situation her family was in.

"Sorry for the mess outside. We had a fungal infection and my old trick with baking soda only made things worse."

"Why didn't you use fungicides?" Compound asked.

"Fungi...what?"

That explained and confirmed so much.

"Ah see you've met my family. Here's the drink Ah promised."

She just left the cup on the counter next to the couch. Interest didn't touch it. He wasn't dumb enough to get drunk right now. She then took her brother aside.

"Big Mac, take granny and go to the town to do somethin'. Let me handle this. She doesn't know and you're not exactly the best talker."

He grunted affirmatively.

"Come, granny, we're goin' for a walk."

Applejack looked at Compound and put on a smile then looked down.

"Ah'm sorry. Ah wasn't expectin' you. Let me go and change."

She disappeared again. Interest was left sitting annoyed on the couch, tapping with his fingers on the counter.

"Are you goin' to take our farm?" a young voice asked.

Compound Interest at this point was getting really tired of being approached by people out of his field of view. He looked at the voice's source. A red haired little girl with a ridiculously large bow on her head had snuck into the room. She was clearly upset.

"Perhaps." he confessed honestly.

He never believed in sheltering kids from the real world. It only made things worse once the illusions shattered.

"Ah've lived here whole my life. This has been our home for so lon'!" she said, almost crying.

If he relented every time foreclosing caused a sob story, he'd be in the streets himself. He instead decided to impart some wisdom on her.

"Let me tell you a secret, kid. Nothing is certain. Nothing lasts forever. You get confronted with these facts on a daily basis in my line of work, but they apply to everyone."

"Ah,... Ah know. On what does us keepin' our home depend?"

"On how good your... she's your big sister right?"

"Yeah."

"...your big sister is at negotiating."

Said big sister returned. She was wearing blue flannel this time and her shirt was cropped. Compound had his suspicions if the stains weren't the only reasons for the sudden clothes change.

"Do your best, Applejack." the little girl said in a sad tone.

"Okay, go play with your friends, Applebloom. Ah'll be busy."

She then sat besides Compound. He waited until the girl walked out of the room.

"Is this the only shirt you had?"

"Ah... Ah was warm."

"It's Fall."

"Ah..."

"Listen, you're the element of honesty right? I've read about you in the paper. If you want to stand a chance of keeping your home, you better live up to your element and play open card with me."

Interest himself was being dishonest here. He just had realized he couldn't foreclose on an Equestrian hero. Not without risking a bank run from upset customers. He didn't have her as badly against the wall as he pretended to.

"Ah, ah... swear I'm not that kind of girl. Ah just can't lose the farm. Ah don't my family to be on the street. I'll do anythin'."

Perhaps breaking a promise he made himself wouldn't be that bad.