It was the end of the Equestria Super Chef Competition and Applejack thought it was a good day. She and her friend Pinkie Pie helped their new friend Toffee Truffle to win the competition so she could have the Cherry Pit reopened. Plus they stopped a pony that was going inside, trying to freeze everyone involved in icing.
She was all ready to pack up and leave when she saw sitting in a corner having been defrosted was the mare that had gone made and caused the catastrophe, Marine Sandwhich who was trying to warm herself up in her red cloak while sitting in a corner looking down.
Feeling sorry for the mare she went up to her and asked “hey, Marine Sandwhich is it?” Marine then turned to her and then glared harshly when she saw who it was that was talking to her. Applejack coughed and asked “so are you alright?”
That simple question set off Marine in anger, she went up to her and asked “you ask me if I am alright? You stole my spot in the competition; all attempts to point out that they got the wrong pony gets me thrown out and I was frozen in icing...... you ask if I am alright?”
Applejack allowed Marine to calm down and told her “my apologies. I realise I overreacted with what I pulled and I understand I have caused my reputation to take a hit for this incident but.... I worked hard for this competition only for my spot to be stolen like that! What do you think my reputation will be once word gets out that Marine Sandwhich served worms and mud as an entry?”
Applejack paused and looked sheepish and told her “sorry about that. I didn’t think.... I just wanted to make sure Toffee would win so she could have the Cherry Pit reopened...”
“A nice gesture, trying to sabotage yourself so somepony else could have a pity victory!” Marine ranted before calming herself down again. She then glared at her and sighed.
“If that apple pie I ordered had shown up, then at least I would have had some sort of victory today. You think the farmers I ordered from would have brought it here considering they are literally THE Apple Family.....”
Applejack paused in realisation and silent horror as she realised that she had not thought about whom that pie was supposed to go through. Applejack sheepishly looked at her apologetically and Marine glared harder realising what had happened.
“What happened to my pie?” Marine asked and Applejack looked down. Marine guessed what had happened before she even asked her question.
“Typical so the pie ordered as used as your entry.” Marine told her before facing the exit.
“I am truly sorry Marine, honestly I am.” Applejack told her retreating form.
“Wonderful, you ruined my reputation, didn’t deliver my pie to me and stole my spot in the competition but at least you are sorry. Make sure your Granny Smith sends me back my deposit that I paid.” Marine told her sarcastically, not even bothering to spare her another glance.
Applejack dejected wondered how she could make this right. She turned and saw Toffee talking with the judges and got an idea. With a determined sprint she galloped towards them.
Later that day Marine Sandwhich was waiting at the train station to get on her ride home. What was supposed to be one of the most important competitions in her entire life, one that would surely exceed her path to stardom......... was a farce.
Granted she did share the blame for how she reacted when she had enough of how she was being treated. That would put a damper on her reputation once news of the incident reached her home in Gallopvania. But still to have her rightful spot taken away from her by somepony who was supposed to be delivering her lunch.
When she would get back to her home she would probably have nopony to vent to. Technically the home she lived in was also shared by her brother Cheese Sandwhich but most of the time he was exploring Equestria and throwing ponies. Rarely did he ever actually stay in their home.
If he knew what happened, he would probably come home just to throw her a ‘cheer you up for having your spot stolen’ party. She cringed at the thought.
“Wait sugarcube!” shouted a voice and Marine saw Applejack walking up to her.
“What do you want? Do you want to take my ticket home as well?” Marine asked and Applejack passed her several papers.
“I talked to the judges, staff and explained what had actually happened. They got mighty angry when they realised I was an imposter but I explained it was an honest mistake..... at least at first. Still they wanted me to give you this and Toffee Truffle joined in. Go on look.”Applejack told her and Marine decided to humour her.
Marine’s eyes widened when she saw it was a letter from the committee telling her that she would have a guaranteed spot in next year’s competition as well as a cheque for her treatment by the security. There was also a business deal offer from Toffee as well as contact details.
Marine looked at her wide eyes before switching to normal. “Don’t think that this will make us friends or that I will totally forgive you but thanks I suppose.” Marine told her and Applejack then gave her an apple pie plus a coupon for free apple cider next time that she was there in Ponyville. Applejack nodded to her with a smile. Marine returned the nod as she left.
She looked to the clock and saw she had ten minutes later. She then put the papers away and muttered to herself “well better late than never.....” she then began tucking into the pie.
Perhaps this trip was not a total waste, plus at least the pie was really good. Good enough that she then began hoping that she didn’t have to compete against her the next competition...
Author's Note
I noticed that Accusation Fics for the comics are pretty much all but dead except for Anon A Miss. This is one I wrote for the first issue of Friends Forever. Personally I really enjoyed the comic but still I noticed the problem of Marine having her spot stolen.
Plus a thought I had was that we never did learn who the pie was supposed to go to.
