6.2: Applejack trial

One lone orange earth pony was leaning on the wall, sitting comfortably, her cowboy hat tilt in a way that was covering her eyes. To any onlookers, it might seem like she was in a deep sleep, but it was the farthest from the truth. She was preparing, preparing mentally for whatever Mel might throw at her. She knew it was best to prepare for the worst so she was making sure to shoo away any unnecessary thought and not to think about winning or losing the trial but about just doing it.

The face of Melancholia then appeared before her through the holographic window.

‘’Greeting Applejack. I am here to tell you that your turn has come.’’

At first, our mare did not react but then, she just uses her right hoof to slightly raise her hat, showing to the gray pony her emerald eyes shining with the determination of a desperado ready for a deathly showdown.

‘’Ya sure had took yer sweet time. Ya had made me wait so much ha nearly took a nap.’’

She got up and went to stretch her muscles and limbs. They made audible cracking noises.

‘’Alright, now ah would rather that we don't lose time and get this show on the road. Cause ah quickly want to get rid of this foolishness.’’

‘’My my, you go straight to the point. But tell me AJ//

‘’Only mahn friends call AJ. Yer not one of them.’’

‘’... ...But tell me Applejack, you are not the slightest bit afraid that you may fail? Or that your friends may have already failed?’’

‘’Don't need. There is no way ah will lose to somepony like you. And ah know mah friends. They won't bite the dust that easily. Ah have a blind trust in them.’’

‘’Oooh, not an ounce of doubt! You really are a special mare. Not that I already knew that. You may at first glance to be the pony the least shinning compared to all your friends, but I know nopony is a better support than you.’’

‘’What in tarnation are you babbling about?’’

‘’I mean that you are a true symbol of diligence. Day after day you are working tirelessly without complaint on your farm and orchard to give food to your town. And all that with a smile on your face. It's just in your nature. And all of Ponyville recognize it. It will be no exaggeration to call you an important pillar of Ponyville since you give to it so much and not just with your day job. Such a good neighborhood you are. They all know well that you are a pony of ethics and integrity, so much that they see you as a true role-model who has deserved the trust and gratitude she constantly receives. Even if you don't like to brag, you will surely not deny that?’’

‘’...’’

‘’But even among all this praise, you stay down-to-earth and find joy in the simple thing of life. Like family, oh yes, especially family. You see it for what it really is. One of the most precious treasures there is. Even I can relate to that. The love that you have for your is just bottomless. And I am pretty sure that your see your dear friends also as a family. After all, are you not the big sister of the group that keep them grounded.’’

‘’... Are ya done now?’’

She answered with a deadpan expression. Something that made even Mel flinch for a second. But just a second.
‘’Yes... yes I'm done.’’

‘’Good. Because like ah had said, ah want to get rid of it the fastest possible.’’

Mel at first did not answer her and instead, looked intensely at this orange pony without blinking. He stayed like that, not moving like a statue but then, as if he had found something in his scrutiny, Mel half-closed his eyes and smiled softly. It was enough to freeze AJ blood.

‘’I seeee. You have understood right from the start who were those that may lose their life. You dear family.’’

But Applejack didn't react to this cruel comment and stayed in control of herself. Even though she couldn't help but to grind her teeth and her right-front hoof was pressing on the floor with such a strength that tiny cracks were coursing on it.

‘’Indeed Miss Applejack, a bomb is inside your house and well conceal. It had been put behind one of your walls on the second floor. Where, at this hour, everypony is sleeping.’’

‘’What! But how... Ohhh but of course, when all the family went to the trip to Appleloosa, the house was left with nopony inside. But wait, it was from a good three months. *gasp* Darn it... ya wanted to hurt us from that long!’’

Her rage became murderous and she was thinking that Mel could count himself lucky to have walls of concrete between them because if not... she rather not imagine. But she distracted herself from those dark thoughts when before her, the wall open up itself revealing a long and dark corridor.

‘’I hope that you are ready because your trial is just right ahead. I think I have no need to say what will happen if you refuse to participate.’’

‘’If ah go, would ya promise mah family would be safe?’’

‘’That it all depends on you. Tell me, what you will be willing to sacrifice to protect them?’’

‘’Everything.’’

‘’We will see then. Let's us begin.’’

She didn't even wait that he had finished talking that Applejack went running straight ahead, even went across the flat holographic projection without caring about it. Mel simply smiled at the straightforward attitude of this mare.

AJ just keeps running and running in this poorly lighted corridor with a face that could very well be the symbol of composure. But inside, her heart was beating with the fast pace of fear. She could lose her most precious treasure. That was the kind of thoughts that were submerging her though she was not even daring, or more did not want, to fully pronounce in her head that they could... die. It was just beyond her strength.

Yes, contrary to appearance, Applejack was nearly on the verge to lose herself in panic and to go into a fit of screaming. But she was forcing herself to stay in control for that she could save the ponies she holds dear. And for pushing away those intrusive thoughts, she was thinking about moments that were remembering her what was at stake.

|***|

‘’Granny Smith, please, ah think after all that time ah should know how to make a good apple pie.’’

‘’Hey ah just saying is that adding a bit of cinnamon, it will perfect. In mah time//

‘’Ohoho no, not that rambling about yer time. Ah all about traditions but this time ah'm confident that the student had beat the master.’’

‘’Heh! Oh reaaaly. But ah didn't teach ya all mah tricks. Maybe it's time ah tell ya about, hum... my secret ingredient to make mah pies mouthwatering.’’

‘’A... secret ingredient! Oh please do tell.’’

‘’Come a little closer. It would be a surprise but the secret ingredient is none other than... vinegar.’’

‘’Vinegar! In a pie! Yer pulling my hoof.’’

But against her better judgment she decided to put a dose of vinegar in her apple pie, put it the oven, waited thirty minutes and when it was well baked, she took a slice, tasted it and to her surprise... tasted so awful that her face shriveled like a dried dead pony on the dessert. As she was spiting that abomination in the garbage, Granny Smith was cackling like a witch.

‘’Hahahaha, ah can't believe you fell for that. Seriously, who put vinegar in a pastry.’’

‘’Ah admit ah got myself fooled like a turkey under the rain. That was pretty sneaky from you.’’

‘’Well an old coot like me must have some fun at the occasion before she goes to other horizons’’

‘’Heh no talk about that. Knowing ya, we will be stuck with you for decades more. Wait, that's exactly what worries me, heheh.’’

‘’Fiouhi. There, all done. That sure was all a hard day work.’’

‘’Eyup.’’

‘’Before we take those apples to the farm, ah think we deserve a nice break. What do ya say we go to rest on there.’’

Her head was pointing to a small hill. Once on top of it, Applejack went to a tree that was hollow, putted her head inside and took from it a tray that she was holding with her teeth. On this tray was two mugs full of cider that had long lost their mousse.

‘’Surprise. Ah hide those two mugs in the morning. Just an idea that came to mah. Ah thought we could have some quality sister-brother time. Hope ya don't mind cider at room temperature, humm, outside temperature more ah think? Anyway, is it a problem for ya?’’

‘’Nope.’’

The two earth ponies sat on the soft grass and looked with serenity at the sunset and at their beautiful orchard being bathed by the golden light of the soon to be sleeping sun.

‘’Ahhh no matter how many times ah see this it just never get old. May our simple and beautiful days may stay forever.’’

‘’Eyup.’’

And it was with a perfect synchronicity that each took a sip of their ciders and savor the specialty of their family. And then spited them out like geysers and rubbed their tongues with disgust. Hearing chirping noises, they turned their eyes toward the tree and saw a squirrel angrily shouting at them. The squirrel went then inside the tree and came out with a towel and a bath brush on his arms and furiously waved these objects to them.

With their tongues still out in the open, both brother and sister slowly turned their head toward each other having both came to the same grim realization.

‘’Little sis... let's never talk about this embarrassing moment to anypony.’’

‘’Hum... eeeyup.’’

‘’Come on Applebloom, more strength, more authority. Those sheep will not get into their pent by themselves.’’

‘’Righto big sis, ah show ya what little bloom is capable of.’’

Applejack and Applebloom were galloping among a flock of sheep and were forcing them to stay in line and to follow the direction of the pent. It was a first time for Applebloom since AJ had judged that she had become old enough to do this chore with her supervision. Naturally, Applebloom had seen that has a chance to impress her sister and show to her that she had the quality of a true farmer.

‘’Alright sheep, you are better to follow me because now ah am your troop leader.’’

‘’That good Applebloom but don't overdo it. Remember it's yer first time.’’

But she was too eager and once she saw one sheep deviate from the other, she had tried to tackle him to keep him in check but she missed her shot from a few inches and had hit noting. This made her stumble, making her to frantically try to regain control of her feet. But she failed and then she fell. She was preparing herself for her nose to painfully kiss the dirt but it never came. Applejack had run behind her and had used her head to lift her in mid-air and she safely landed on the back of her big sister.

‘‘Fiouf that was close. Are you alright sugarcube?’’

‘’Yes ah'm fine. Sorry Applejack. Ah really wanted to show you ah can do it but ah messed up before even begin.’’

‘’Hey there is nothing to be ashamed for, as ah had say, it is yer first time. It is normal that you do mistake, it was the same for me when ah had begun. That why ah am here to help ya.’’

‘’Thank sis. But ah getting more and more worried that ah probably won't get my cutie mark in apple farming.’’

‘’What wrong with that?’’

‘’Nothing but... even if my destiny is not to be a farmer, ah want to at least be able to help you all. But what if ah end up good at noting.’’

‘’Oh sugarcube, there is no need to rush. It has always been a bad habit of yer. Give time and you will learn eventually. And don't act like if ya will have to do it alone. We are a family. And family is there to help each other when things get tough like right now. No matter what happens, family stick together, so ya can take easy. Now, do ya feel better?’’

‘’Ah... ah guess so! Thank sis.’’

‘’Always happy to help. Now enough talk, what do you say we show to those sheep what the Apple sisters can do.’’

‘’You bet. Full speed ahead.’’

**|**

‘’Full speed ahead heh. Sometime, you know how to say fine words.’’

Those memories of fun moments with her family were squeezing her heart. But they were also giving her the strength to run even faster.

‘’Applebloom. Bic Mac. Granny Smith. Hang in there, your Applejack is here to rescue you all.’’

And after a long galloping that she thought will never end, she at last reached a huge open room where there was nothing except... for something that was leaving Applejack perplex.

‘’... ... What in tarnation! What the meaning of this?’’

Like Mel had said, there was indeed a big square button on a pedestal. But the problem was…

‘’Ah don't understand! Why there are two buttons?’’

That's right. There was not one but two pedestals besides each other separated by a few feet. Applejack, not knowing what to think about that, just wandered her gaze from one to the other.

‘’Aaaah I bet you didn't expect that there will be two.’’

On the wall in front of her, a screen appeared with the gray earth pony behind it. He had a light trace of smug in his smile.
‘’Do you like my surprise.’’

‘’Mel, at what game are ya playing? Why there is two buttons? Which of those will stop the bomb that threaten my family? Do ah must push both of them?’’

‘’Wellll, even though I did not lie I also didn't tell you everything. The truth is that for your case, I did not plant one bomb... but two.’’

‘’TWO BOMBS! You mean ah have to worry about two bombs! Why? Why did ya do that? Where is the second one?’’

‘’Let me tell you how we will do that. As you already know, the first bomb is in your farm where your family is.’’

Mel pointed his hoof to the left and a screen appeared behind the left button, showing the Apple farm under the night sky, all windows without light and the grass being caress by a gentle and ominous breeze.

‘’Nowww, as for the second one, the place where I had put is none other than a hospital.’’

Mel pointed his hoof to the right and a screen appeared behind the right button, showing a hospital and Applejack recognizes it instantly because she had seen it so many times.

‘’The Ponyville hospital!’’

‘’Indeed. The bomb is hidden in one of the wings of this hospital. If it explodes, it will cause massive damage and even if that establishment is rarely busy, there is no doubt that many lives will be lost.’’

The only thing Applejack could do was grind her teeth. Not only was he putting her family in danger but he also dare to hurt sick and injured ponies!

‘’And once I activate the timer, there will be five minutes before they both blows up. Got it? Five minutes, no more. Each of those buttons can deactivate one of the bomb. For the bomb in the farm, the left. For the one in the hospital, the right. But here the catch. You see, pushing one button does indeed shutdown its respective bomb once and for all... but it also shutdown the other button. Rendering it useless.’’

‘’What!’’

‘’In other words... deactivate one of the bombs mean that the other is fated to detonate. The farm is saved, then the hospital blow up. The hospital is saved, then the farm blow up. Two bombs, but only one can be shutdown. Only one of those places can be saved. So I ask you to choose.’’

‘’Wh... what! You ask me to choose!’’

‘’That right, you have to decide what is the most important thing to do. You are a community pony right? Then you should understand that if you chose to sacrifice the hospital then first, many defenceless patients will die but also many doctors. Doctors who have the capacity to save many future lives I must add. Seeing their number and importance, I think it is safe to assume that saving them is the choice that will give the most to the greater good.’’

‘’I... I...’’

‘’But on the other hoof, does your family is not supposed be the most important thing for you? So does that not mean that sacrifice them would be like denied the love that you have for them? You really have a tough choice.’’

This was too much for Applejack, she couldn't bear more to hear more of this cruel voice saying things that she wouldn't even imagine in her worst nightmares. So she did something that surprised everypony, even Mel. She put herself on her knees, her face against the floor... and took a posture of begging.

‘’Ah... ah beg you, please... please don't make me do this. There is no way ah can choose, it's... that... nopony should make such horrible decision.’’

‘’But you will have to make your choice or both bombs will blow up when the five minutes will be spent. And we will both agree that would be the worst scenario. Hum... but now that I think about it, it could be considered a third choice if you prefer to have no responsibility in this.’’

‘’AH BEG YOU, DON'T DO THIS!’’

She had shouted with all her might. All her strength had left and she was now like a terrified filly. Her pupils had shrunk and tears of panic were falling from her eyes.

‘’I promise ah do anything but anything if you stop. Mah life! Take mah life instead. The value of ponies should not be weighed//

‘’The countdown had already begun.’’

‘’Hun!?’’

‘’What will you choose? Your integrity to your town, or your personal feelings? Let us all find out.’’

‘’No come back!’’

But he didn't listen and the screen changed to now show a simple countdown. And it was already at four minutes and fourthly seconds.

The poor mare was at the loss of her wits. She let herself fall on the ground while holding her head in disbelief. And as much as she would want, she could not advert her gaze from the two buildings that may or not soon no longer be.

‘’This... can't be happening. This can't be happening. It's a nightmare and ah'm soon going to wake up right?’’

But the numbers going down were proof that it was real. And she now had least than four minutes.

Applejack soon found out that she could hardly breathe. So she held out her front hooves wide open and grasped the floor like if she wanted to hug it, maybe hoping it will hug her back and give her a little comfort. She turned her head constantly to look at both the farm and the hospital and the heavy weight of this responsibility was crushing her beating heart.

Only three minutes and thirty seconds was left.

‘’Ah... ah can't sacrifice my family. Not mah siblings and grandmother. They are everything to me. They are mah whole world. There is no way ah can just imagine to... to... let them die! Ah can't ah can't ahcan'tahcan'tahcan'tahcan'tahcan't.’’

Only two minutes and fifty-four seconds was left.

‘’But ah cannot either sacrifice those ponies in this hospital, they have nothing to do with this. If ah choose my family over them, it will be like I betray those ponies, they don't deserve this BUT WHAT AH'M SAYING, nopony deserves this! But... but what ah am suppose to do, there is no right choice!’’

She saw that only two minutes and twenty-one seconds was left. Her distress was so great that it was making her lose her mind and each second lost was breaking her more and more, so much that she had regress to the mind of a child and was begging time itself to stop. Again and again she was in her head screaming at the countdown ‘’stop moving stop moving stop stop stop stop stop’’.

But if there is there one cruel reality in life is that nothing, nothing can stop time to move forward. And so the counter continued to mercilessly going down.

Only one minute and fifteen seconds was left.

‘’Ah can't do it, ah can't do it, why ah have to be put through that?! Somepony, anypony, please make it stop, it's just to muchhhhh. Make it stop, just *sniff*... make it stop.’’

She felt trapped. And in a way she was. No matter how much she was thinking she could find nothing and soon, she was no longer able to think clearly. There was just one thing she felt she could still do and that was praying for a miracle. That somepony will come to save the situation, that the machines will suddenly broke or simply that she will soon awake in her bed. But she knew well that it was nothing more than make-believe and that it will never happen. She was even starting to find the third choice, doing nothing for the goal of having no responsibility, very tempting.

The countdown was now at twenty seconds. As for Applejack, she had sunk so deep into hysteria that she was feeling... a surprising feeling of calmness. She went upright on her four hooves and adjusted her hat.

Ten seconds. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three//

Fast as lightning, AJ pushed with all her might on a button... her face looking down and her eyes obscured by her hat.

And when the deadly countdown reached zero, all the room was filled by sound of an explosion. And the source was... the right screen. The one showing the hospital.

The left wing of the building had disappeared in a fiery blaze. The shockwave from that explosion was so powerful that any intact window burst on its silage. And soon the entry hall could no longer hold back and crumbled, leaving only the right intact, like a mockery remembering us what that hospital once was.

Applejack had seen nothing of that but she did not need to, she could visualize it in full detail. Her hooves were still pressing hard on the button and she was not moving an inch... except for a few shaking.

‘’Ah, figures. So you choose your family over everypony else. I would like to say I did expect that but the truth is I am no surprise at all.’’

The face of Mel appeared right behind her, no caring to leave the cowgirl mare a moment to her alone. But AJ didn't even react to this despicable intrusion.

‘’I mean, everypony knowing you just a little would easily guess that there couldn't be any other result. I'm even sure that you had already made your choice at the first second. You just wanted to prolong it the most possible because you did not want to do it. Not do it but you still had chosen it easily. I am right?’’

‘’Ye... ... yes.’’

How much she wanted to be angry at him. She was trying with all her might to be angry at him. But she couldn't muster any rage. The sorrow was taking all the place. Streams of tear were dripping on her cheeks. She turned around to look at Mel, and she had the face of the most miserable pony in the world.

‘’Why... why did you force me to do that?’’

‘’Why have you chosen to save them and not the others?’’

‘’How could ah have done any other way? Those are mah brother, mah sister and mah grandma. They are the most important ponies in mah life. Not to save them... was just impossible to me.’’

‘’Ahhh. There. You say it. They, are, the most important. The ponies that you love are the most important. Have... you any idea of where I am going?’’

Seeing that Applejack was too stunned to properly react, Mel sank deeper into his throne and nonchalantly rested his head on his right hoof.

‘’Since you are a good nature one, I am sure you make your motto to treat everypony equally. It is indeed a beautiful value that was told so many times in our society. But in reality it is not truly feasible because of one element that throw a mess at it. And I am not even talking about intolerance or prejudice, no, I am talking about the purest feeling of all... love.’’

Mel allowed himself to do a small chuckle.

‘’Let us think about it. By definition, love is to have special feelings over someone. And vlam, right here. Special. To feel love is to put special meanings to a person, to give him more value compared to the others. Have you not said yourself many times that your family is the most precious ponies in your life, hummm.’’

‘’Yes but... but that does not mean...’’

‘’But yes, it means that treating everypony equally is not truly possible. For you or anypony else. We may not be aware because it's rare than that concept may be tested. But now you, no, all could now see that love create inequality. If a choice like that had to happen again, what will you choose?’’

AJ orange face turned pale her pupils were shrinking of fear at the simple suggestion that she will have to relive that nightmare a second time.

‘’Don't make that face, your trial is all done. Anyway, I can already know that you will do the same thing again. The majority would choose to save their love ones over strangers. Well, some might instead choose to do the greater good but even there it will be because they love doing the right thing more than anything else. See. Love once again interfere in the equation.’’

Her legs were now shaking so much that she could no longer stay upright and fell on her hips.

‘’What are you trying to tell me?’’

‘’I am sure that those ponies in the hospital were the loves ones of many. But they were not saved because you were preferring saving your loves ones. So is it not said that tragedy hit those loves ones because of love itself?’’

‘’*gasp*’’

‘’And if the situation were reversed, that somepony else had your place, choose the same thing as you and that it was your family that had perished then would it wouldn't mean that those you love were stolen from you because of love itself?’’

‘’Please stop.’’

‘’But think about it. This scenario happens more often than you think. Well, rarely so intense but the point is that we are rarely all weighed the same. So that mean what has happened to you right now may well happen again and in any positions. That reality. But don't despair. All creatures on this planet is on the same boat as you.’’

It was then... that something happen to the young mare. It was like... like if everything had changed. The world that she thought she knew well... seems to have completely changed. No, it was more like could no longer see it the same way as before, present and past. Like if she was used to seeing the world painted by one color but now, that color had disappeared to be replaced by another. And she was not sure to find it pretty.

‘’It is time for me to say to you goodbye. I am sure that lesson will be very enlightening for you and our viewers. Farewell Miss Applejack.’’

Once Mel was gone, Applejack was left all alone in this dark and cold room. Alone with grim thoughts that were consuming her. She took her cowboy hat from her head and pressed it hard again her chest while she was nervously shaking and sobbing. She wanted to scream, but she knew well that no sound will come out of her mouth.

Applejack trial
The favoritism of love

Ponyville: the Grassy Pentagon

The ponies who had seen what just happen were dumbstruck. But they had listened to what Mel was teaching. Many would want to think all that as nonsense but... family, couple, friend... they could not help but to look at each other, and then at those around them wondering if they could be potential enemies. Even though they didn't want to think like that. But there were three ponies who were not preoccupied by that. Because they were too busy worrying about that poor farmer pony.

‘’Big sis. Please, hang in there, it's not yer fault. Sis.’’

It was the Apple family. They had just seen the entire ordeal of their beloved Applejack and it was heartbreaking that they could do nothing to help her. They could not have helped but to shout at her, first encouragement and then warnings, even though they knew well that she could not hear them.

As for why they here, well although it was true at first that Mayor Mare was against the idea to uselessly worries them, she soon quickly changed her mind and realized that as a family, they have to be there to see this. Which means that in a cruel twist of irony, for all this time, the Apple farm was empty and AJ family was safe of any dangers. And that means that in the end, she had made that hard decision for nothing.

But of course, she had no way to know they were safe. So maybe mentioning that was useless.

The screens of all the cubic monitors lighted up to show Melancholia.

‘’This is a brief interruption of the show. So please listen attentively at the words I am saying. You just had been witness of ponies who had fallen victims of tragedies and misery. You all well aware that they must be in so much pain. You are probably even saying to yourself that you know how much and that you are feeling their pain. But that is not truly possible because you can't truly comprehend a tragedy that is not yours. I can guarantee you that what those ponies feel is much worse than what you think. So when you will witness the rest of their misery, remember that what they will feel will be much more than you will feel. Then maybe you will be closer to understand what they are living. That is all.’’

Mel disappeared and the screens showed static once again.

Author's Note

And another one done. Fiouf, let me tell you, the moment when you reread and publish a chapter is the worst. All the joy and the excitement of the writting process is gone in a instant and instead you are submerge by self-doubt and you find what you have done bad. Did my writing style is easy for the readers to read? Did I fail to convey the emotions in those paragraphs?

It take me a lot of courage to publish a chapter on that site, trusting that in the end I did writ something good. Anyway, I hoe you will like it, I have sure worked hard on it.