Chapter 3 – A Conflict of Interests

Twilight took a sip of whiskey as she finished off yet another equation. Piles of paperwork were carefully organized on the table, sorted by subject, year, and demographic. Trying to fix seventeen years of neglected tax policy was proving a challenge even to Twilight's exceptional mind. Her mind was both an ocean of equations and a battle between the looming headache and the whiskey.

The sound of the door opening and closing broke Twilight's concentration, she turned to see Rainbow Dash entering her office. Twilight was then rather surprised when Rainbow stopped to salute her.

“Oh! Uh...” she was rather taken aback.

“You're supposed to salute me back,” Rainbow said, not moving, yet the ghost of a smile upturned her cheeks. Twilight gave a sloppy salute in return. “Ivory was taken to the dungeon, as you commanded.”

“Right, that's good...” Twilight sighed, this was a mess. Not even a day into her ladyship and already the problems were beginning to show their weight. Thinking on it she then did feel guilt for her treatment of Ivory Scroll, the mare had served as mayor for seventeen years. From her perspective Twilight must have appeared rather upstart, marching into her town and declaring herself in charge, then throwing Ivory in jail. That could've gone better.

"Rainbow?” Twilight said suddenly.

“Yes ma'am?”

“Do... Do you think I was right to arrest Ivory like that?” Twilight asked.

“She was in the wrong wasn't she?”

“That's just it, I'm not completely sure, maybe I acted to harshly, I was too impulsive,” Twilight said. “I was too confrontational, too arrogant.”

“I respectfully disagree,” Rainbow said, her face was blank but her eyes softened. “She had broken the law, and it is your right and your duty to enforce those laws, Twilight, you can't second guess yourself like this, not when it comes to the law and your authority within it.”

“But I'm not infallible, Rainbow, if I don't question myself I can't recognize when I've made a mistake,” Twilight argued.

“Except you aren't questioning yourself, you're questioning the law, you didn't jail Ivory on a whim you did it with legal purpose and reason, the law is objective and absolute and as lord of these lands you are the law given physical form,” Rainbow aptly said. “And if you give question to the law then so will others, they'll smell blood and be on you like a pack of timber wolves and devour you until you are nought but bones.”

“My my, when did you become so well spoken?” Twilight asked, genuinely impressed.

“I... um...” Rainbow stuttered and looked away as she showed rare emotion, even rarer still was that it was a quality that Twilight did not often attribute to Rainbow Dash: embarrassment. “I uh... I always admired how smart you were, so during my... travels I made a habit of reading every textbook I came across...”

“Well...” Twilight said, still impressed. “It certainly paid off, and... you're right, I can't afford to be weak, and... I'm glad your here Rainbow, I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have at my side.”

“T-hank you, that means a lot,” Rainbow said, her voice cracking, a smile which she tried to hide lighting her features.

They slipped into a mildly awkward silence that was mercifully interrupted by the swift appearance of Honey Cream.

“Zere is a pony ere wishing an audience,” she said.

“Oh? Whom exactly?” Twilight asked.

“An Applejack she said she was.”

“Applejack? Ah she must have heard I returned to Ponyville and wanted to say hello,” Twilight said happily. “It'll be good to see her, coming Rainbow?”

“Yeah, okay,” Rainbow said.

They left Twilight's office for the main hall, what would soon become Twilight's throne room once she had the time to refurbish the castle. A servant opened the door for them and Twilight took a position at the top of the stairs, Rainbow Dash to her right and Honey Cream to her left. Twilight was about to call Applejack in when she realized she was still holding her glass of whiskey next to her in a magical grasp, she had a servant take it away.

“Okay, let her in,” Twilight said. The guards at the far end of the hall saluted and pushed open the rather heavy doors, and in stepped Applejack. Looking as she always did, Twilight couldn't help but smile, true to form Applejack wouldn't have changed much even after all these years. Applejack approached and came to stand just below Twilight, and after a moment she removed her hat and bowed her head in respect.

“I must say I didn't think is how ya'll would come back home... Lady Twilight,” Applejack said, raising her head and smiling. She looked over. “And Rainbow Dash too, this is a surprise.”

“Applejack,” Rainbow Dash greeted, a tad curtly.

“Oh Applejack it's so good to see you,” Twilight said happily as she quickly descended the steps and warmly embraced Applejack. “I've missed you more than I can say.”

“Good to see you too, sugarcube,” Applejack said softly, giving Twilight a squeeze. After a second she pulled away and held Twilight afar so she could look at her. “You look good and a noble lady too? How'd that come 'round?”

“Kind of a long story,” Twilight chuckled. “But here I am, oh but how have you been? I feel so bad for not visiting, you got my letters though?”

“Of course I did, every one,” Applejack smiled. “And I know how busy you were, it's enough ya'll didn't forget about us smallfolk, and I'd say the years have been good, for me as well for the family business.”

“I've heard! You've done quite well for yourself if the gossip in Canterlot can be trusted.”

“Well I'm no millionaire but the winters have gotten easier, my cousins keep barkin at me to put my hooves up and relax but I prefer to do somethin with my time you know?”

“Ever the workaholic,” Twilight giggled. “I certainly wish I had that sort of energy, what with all the responsibility I now have.”

“Yeah, I wanted ta ask you about that,” Applejack said, she let go of Twilight and replaced her hat. “It's a big change for this town, Mayor Mare was in charge for... gosh seventeen years wasn't it? She was around before ya'll first even moved here, a lot of folks maybe don't like the idea of a noble bein in charge.”

“You think so? Well... It's not like I have much of a choice anyway, I'm sure everyone will come around to the idea, I'll just have to be careful,” Twilight said thoughtfully.

“That's a start, but... well them notices around town say that there'll be changes made,” Applejack said carefully. “Folks round here don't much like change, I'm sure you know that.”

“Well this is a very traditionalist town,” Twilight laughed. “But I don't plan on interfering in their personal lives, only things I have planned is some minor tax policy adjustments.”

“A tax adjustment...” Applejack repeated slowly, she looked worried. “Of what sort?”

“Well I'm sure you thought very highly of Ivory Scroll but she made some major oversights when drafting her tax policy, if you can call it that, nearly seventy-five percent of the burden was being carried by ten percent of the population, mostly the merchants, entrepreneurs, job makers, while major breaks were given to the working class and land-owners, mostly farmers,” Twilight shook her head. “No wonder this town has remained rural for so long, all urbanization has been met with hostility, no matter, a simple tax burden shift should get the gears moving again.”

“Your going to...” Applejack caught herself and took a breath. “I see... Twilight it's good that you want to help this town, but, well, there's something you should probably understand before making any... changes.”

“Oh? And what's that?” Twilight asked, curious.

“You see, a while ago the farmers, loggers, and other hard working folks, well, we decided we could all do better if we worked together in a sense, and with most of the town with us we came to an understanding with good old Mayor Mare-”

“-What sort of understanding?” Rainbow Dash interrupted, staring accusingly at Applejack.

“A mutual one,” Applejack said. “She understood the sort of sway we have, so she passed a few laws in our favour, and in return... well she was mayor for seventeen years wasn't she?”

“Applejack...” Twilight said, she felt a bit hurt. “Did you only come here to offer me a threat? Because that's how this feels.”

“I'm trying nothing of the sort,” Applejack said, very quickly. “I'm just tryin ta protect you, because yer my friend, all I'm sayin is that folks won't take this sort of thing lying down, you arrested Ivory, right?”

“That's right,” Twilight said, taking a strong tone now. “She broke imperial law, failing to hold a census, improper handling of tax policy, I am within my right to enforce these laws.”

“And no doubt you're right, but it was still a bad idea,” Applejack pushed back. “Folks respect her, she's been the community leader for years, ya don't just waltz into someone's home and spit in their face, Twilight.”

“See, now I know you're threatening me,” Twilight said, feeling her anger spark just a little. “Look, I don't know what sort of understanding you had with the mayor, but it resulted in illegal actions being taken, I cannot turn a blind eye to such actions for I am divinely mandated to enforce the laws of these lands, I won't pursue legal actions against whatever group did or did not influence the mayor, but unlike her I do not rely on the fleeting support of the masses, I am a lady.”

“You can't exactly expect to run this town when half of it want's your head,” Applejack frowned. “Because with how you're talking, that's where your headed, people won't listen to an outsider who doesn't respect how things work.”

“Applejack,” Twilight said. “I hate to say this, because you're my friend, and that's why I'm allowing it, but you're speaking treason right now.”

“I'm not, I'm speaking honestly,” Applejack said defensively, she then took a breath, things were getting heated. “Why do you want to change the tax anyway? Don't ya care about the working folk? We make this town what it is, not some fancy merchants.”

“That's a nice sentiment but it makes no economic sense to put all the burden on the smallest portion of the population,” Twilight explained calmly. “I understand this may be hard for you to comprehend, but-”

“-What's that's supposed to mean?” Applejack interrupted, a dangerous edge to her voice.

“What? I'm just saying maybe you don't know much about economics, not your fault-”

“-Why? Because I'm an Earth Pony?” Applejack accused. “Just a commoner right? A peasant?”

“That's not what I said!” Twilight exclaimed. “I'm insulted you would insinuate that about me!”

“Yeah, sure,” Applejack said angrily. “If I'm bein honest, I think you spent too much time in the capital, too much time with fickle lords who's horns are bigger than their legs, I remember you as someone who respected tradition, but now you just look down on us like the rest of them.”

“That isn't true,” Twilight said. “This isn't about that, not at all, it's just reality.”

“Well, we'll see how far that excuse gets you,” Applejack turned and started to leave.

“Applejack!” Twilight called to her back, tears springing to her eyes. Rainbow Dash spoke up again.

“Applejack!” she barked, getting the farmer to stop but not turn around. “You have not been dismissed.”

Applejack just sighed and continued to walk towards the exit, Twilight waved away her guards who made to stop her.

“Let... let her go,” Twilight said, and with that Applejack was gone. Twilight sat down and let the tears fall as she choked out a sob, her chest ached. Swiftly Rainbow was at her side with a comforting wing around her shoulder.

“W-what did I do wrong?” Twilight asked.

“Nothing,” Rainbow said softly.

“B-but-”

“No buts, you were in the right, the entire time,” Rainbow said. “Come on now, crying ain't very noble like is it?”

“It... it's just I thought we could be friends like we used to,” Twilight croaked as Rainbow dashed the tears from her eyes with a soft wing-stroke.

“Things change, people change,” Rainbow said.

“No... this is just a misunderstanding, I'm sure once I actually implement the changes she'll come around,” Twilight said, trying to convince herself. “Yes, she'll see how much better it is for the town, she's just stubborn that's all, she's still AJ.”

“Well zen, what is our next move?” Honey Cream asked from behind.

“Honey, you finish of the last of the paperwork, Rainbow, you organize the garrison and get the word out, I'm going to host an introductory speech tomorrow in the town square, that's where I'll introduce the new changes,” Twilight commanded.

“Yes ma'am,” Rainbow said, pulling away from Twilight and saluting. “How much security do you want at the event?”

“Minimal, I don't want to appear like a militant,” Twilight said thoughtfully.

“Are you sure zat iz a good idea?” Honey asked, raising an elegant eyebrow. “As ze farmer said, zis change shall anger many.”

“I'm sure, even if I do twist some tails I don't want to provoke them more with an armed host at my back,” Twilight affirmed. “Now I have a speech to write.”

Sweet Apple Acres

Applejack stormed all the way home with a dark cloud hovering upon her mind. She found it truly hard to believe that the Twilight she knew would be so arrogant to pursue such actions, it was so uncharacteristically stupid least to Applejack's mind. She honestly could not tell if Twilight was doing this out of naivete or worse if the bigotry of the capital had truly infected her mind.

When she did arrive home she was awaited by a group of no less than six others, Oak Pine was still there along with Mac, joining them was Carrot Top, Roseluck, Burnt Oak, and Iron Hoof. Applejack could take a guess why they were here.

“Applejack,” Burnt Oak greeted her. He was an older stallion with a thick grey moustache and a booming voice.

“Let me guess, you're here because of our new liege lady,” Applejack. “I was just there.”

“Then maybe ya'll can put truth to the rumours?” Burnt Oak asked. “Word is Ivory has been put in jail.”

“Fraid that's true,” Applejack said sadly.

“What makes her think she can do that?” Carrot Top demanded.

“Twilight arrested her on the basis of so-called improper tax policy,” Applejack explained. “Meanin the agreement Ivory and the Union had.”

“What does this mean for us then?” Roseluck asked, she looked worried.

“Well she plans to increase tax on farmers and land-owners..”

A chorus of disgust and anger followed the noise and the group utilized every curse their rural speech had available.

“Damned typical horn-head,” Oak Pine spat. “The Union won't stand fer this.”

“Damned right they won't,” Iron Hoof growled, he was a large burly stallion. Well muscled from working in the mines for most of his life. “We gotta do somethin, what ya say Applejack?”

“Ya'll can do what you please, I ain't touchin this,” Applejack said.

“Don't tell me yer goin soft on us, Jack,” Burnt Oak questioned. “You've been the biggest voice these last few years, folks respect you, all it'll take is a word from you and that witch will be hung in the streets.”

“Which is exactly why I said I ain't touchin this!” Applejack snapped. “Twilight may be in the wrong, but she's my friend and I ain't going to be the one to do her in, that's not the way of doin things.”

“And what is the way of doin things huh?” Oak Pine asked. “She ain't Ivory, she got no votes to count, what else are we to do?”

“If ya'll do this yer inviting an army into this town,” Applejack. “You might be able to convince Twilight, but the Two don't give a damn about you.”

“Applejack's right,” Roseluck said. “We can't jump straight into extremes, Applejack was just one voice, but if Lady Twilight hears a thousand she might realize what she's up against.”

“Alright, we'll do it your way,” Burnt Oak shook his head. “Just never thought I'd see you bowing to a Unicorn, Jack.”

“You still haven't, she's an Alicorn,” Applejack quipped. “Immortal, and she could probably snap all our necks with a thought.”

“Gaia... go suck her teats why don't you,” Carrot Top rolled her eyes and Applejack rounded on her.

“Ya wanna say that again? How about I smash that pretty face of yers and salt your sad excuse for a garden, let alone a farm!” Applejack snapped, closing the distance between them. Carrot Top wavered under her gaze. “That's what I thought.”

“Applejack, calm down,” Big Mac said softly, and Applejack leaned back but only after she knew the point was driven home. Then before any of them could say another word there was the sound of galloping hoof-beats and a young colt came huffing over the hill.

“Mr Oak! Ms Applejack!” Rocky Road huffed. “Dad... sent... meeting”

“Get it out boy! C'mon!” Burnt Oak chided.

“Sorry, my daddy sent me, said that guards are puttin the word out that there's to be a meetin with that horn-head lady tomorrow afternoon,” Rocky said.

“Probably plannin on talking down to us on how much better life'll be now,” Oak Pine sneered.

“Good job lad, go tell yer daddy ta spread the word to the mines and other farms, I want the whole union there,” Burnt Oak said and the colt ran off. “We'll hear what she has to say, and if it's as bad as we think then we'll show her she can't walk over us.”

“I won't stand in your way,” Applejack said.

“C'mon AJ, we won't be a force without you...” Oak pine began.

“No, leave her be,” Burnt Oak said, he shook his head at Applejack. “Take care of yourself, Jack.”

“You too, old timer,” Applejack said as they all left, she turned to meet Mac's gaze. “Oh don't look at me like that.”

“They're right y'know,” Mac drawled. “Your letting Twilight walk over you because you used to be friends.”

“For the love of... I don't need this, not from you,” Applejack huffed and made to go inside. “Get back to work you big idiot.”

Author's Note

I hope the quick updates don't come at the price of quality. Expect the next chapter to take exceptionally longer.

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