Twists, Turns, Scars, and Steel

Two months later...

Filthy trotted along the dirt path along the edge of Ponyville, head facing the ground. The sun beat down on his back, and a sheen of sweat formed under his black mane. Normally, he would have the cart when heading to Sweet Apple Acres. However, he didn't have it anymore; a part of the settlement with Spoiled.

The Divorce case had ended about two weeks prior. Spoiled had shown no interest, and in fact, had denied taking Diamond Tiara, which was a relief to him. She also wasn't all that interested in the business, telling him in private that her new lover, Money Bags, didn't want a, quote, "Backwater general store". Instead, she had gone for many of his monetary resources. A large portion of his current bank account, along with many of the more expensive non-heirloom items in the house, had gone to Spoiled. He kept the house, his daughter, and his business, but she had taken most of everything else.

He arrived at the outskirts of Sweet Apple Acres, scanning the immediate field around the household for a member of the Apple family. Finally, after a bit, he spotted Applejack out in a field near the house, leaning against a tree and watching something. He couldn't quite see what it was from his angle, but he shrugged his shoulder and made his way towards her.

As he came up to her, Applejack shouted, "Come on, Blueblood! It's been an hour, and you've only plowed two rows!"

Another voice, one with a faint Bitanian accent, called back, "Well, pardon me, Miss Dirt-licker! But perhaps I've never used a plow in my life! Why can't I use magic, anyway!?"

"Pa said usin' a plow builds character", Applejack said. "And from what your Auntie said, ya could use some!"

A loud grumbling could be heard as Filthy came up next to Applejack. He looked past her, spotting a straining and sweating unicorn stallion. Despite never having seen him, Filthy knew of him from his description and a conversation with Applejack a few months ago. "Is... is that...?"

"Prince Blueblood?", Applejack said, smirking. "Eeyup."

"Why is he...?", Filthy questioned.

"Princess Celestia sent him down to me. Said she'd wanted to have 'im shape up. I figure the best way ta do that is ta put 'um to work", Applejack said.

Filthy just looked at her, before saying, "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

"Oh, don't worry about it", Applejack said, tipping her hat back a bit on her head. "So, what can I do for you, Mr. Rich?"

"Well, it has to do with the Zap Apple season", Filthy said, fidgeting with his tie. "I'm going to be taking half of my usual order."

"Half?", Applejack asked. "Why?"

"Well, I assume you remember I've been in divorce court with my wi- My ex-wife, as it were?", Filthy asked.

Applejack snorted in disgust. "Yah, ah remember. No good hussie."

"Well, due to the large cash settlement she made off with, I've been having to make a few budget cuts. This is the biggest one I could make without slashing overall inventory or store maintenance."

Applejack shook her head and said, "That's too bad ta hear, Mr. Rich. So, is this just a one-time thing?"

"I don't know", Filthy admitted. "She's cut into a lot of my bottom line, unfortunately. I don't know if it was cruelty on her part, but I simply can't afford to keep up our current production level. I can only hope that ponies pity, or kindness, can help me make back up the bottom line."

Applejack scratched her chin, before saying, "Ya know, ah have a... a friend that might be willin' to help ya make some of the interest up."

"You know a decent financier?", Filthy asked.

Applejack snickered, flicking her head to the side and said, "I got a Prince workin' for me. Ah'm sure that means ah get at least some access to the Royal Treasury. In all due seriousness, not like that."

It was Filthy's turn to shoot her a confused look. "Like what then?"

"Ah assume you can still afford a ticket to Dodge Junction?", Applejack asked.

++++~++++

Filthy stepped off the train car, immediately raising his hoof over his eyes as the sun beat down on his face. Somehow, it seemed all the more intense than it would be in Ponyville; must be some strange effect of the desert, he reasoned. In front of him, he saw ponies in cowpony outfits and large hats going about their own business. Large, bare wooden houses lined the street, with various signs sticking out, advertising a Saloon, a Pharmacy, and a Toy store.

He held up a piece of paper, squinting at the words as the seemingly reflected off of the paper. He made his way off the platform, looking down the trio of streets that ran out from the exit. He stopped one of the nearby locals, asking, "Excuse me, ma'am. Do you know where I could find... Madame Cherry Jubilee?"

"Who's askin'?", the mare asked, eyeing him up and down.

Filthy stood straight as a two-by-four. "I'm... I'm sorry?"

The mare just tilted her head back, laughter rolling out like water from a creek. "Ha ha ha ha ha! Ah got ya good! Anyway, Jubilee's down at 'er farm. Just down the road, take a left as ya leave town, then follow that path 'til ya see a big series of brown buildings. Just ask fer 'er there."

"T-thank you, ma'am", Filthy said.

"No problem", the mare said, already walking away. "And welcome ta Dodge Junction!"

Filthy did as he was instructed, soon finding himself at a large plantation. Fields of cherries stretched out almost as far as he could see, save for a series of buildings in front of him. He heard the tell-tale sound of machinery, as well as seeing dozens of ponies working in the fields. As he got close, another mare came up to him, asking, "Can ah help you, sir?"

"Yes", Filthy said. "I'm looking for a Miss Cherry Jubilee."

"Ah! Y'all are that stallion that mailpony said wanted ta see the bossmare, eh?", the mare replied.

"I, I guess so", Filthy said, making a mental note of how fast Derpy could fly if she didn't crash into anything.

The mare said, "'Kay. Ah'll take ya to her. Just follow me."

She lead him around the side of the largest building, arriving at a rather small building with a sign over the top saying 'Management'. The mare said, "The bossmare's in there. She'll be expectin' ya."

"Thank you, miss... eh...?"

"Dust Bowl", the mare said.

"Right", Filthy said, turning back to the building. He walked up the stairs, tapping on the door.

A voice inside called, "It's unlocked, dear!"

Filthy entered the room to find a rather modest office. A trio of chairs stood in a half-circle in front of a large desk. Several portraits of ponies in suits or fancy mane-styles lined the walls on either side of the desk. Light filtered in through several large drapes in the back, with an outline being formed by a tall-backed chair. In the chair was a cream-colored mare with a two-toned dark red mane done up in a large swirl that reminded Filthy of a Hayburger ice cream cone.

"Well, you must be Filthy!", she said.

"Yes, that's me", he said. "And you must be Cherry Jubilee."

"Oh, please. Just call me Jubilee. Even my employees do", she said, winking at him.

Filthy nodded, a faint flush growing on his face. He had to admit, she was a rather attractive mare. "W-well, of course. Now, to business?"

"Of course", Jubilee said as Filthy took a seat. "Now, Applejack explained your whole situation to me."

"So, you know I can't put too much into any commitment", Filthy said.

"Of course, dearie. Course, that means I can't put too much in myself. Nothing personal, but I am a business mare. I do want to make a profit off of this deal too", Jubilee said.

"Naturally", Filthy said. "I'd expect nothing less from somepony as shrewd as you."

Jubilee giggled. "Oh, thank you, dearie. Now, what were you interested in?"

"How much can I get for... er... for seven hundred and fifty bits?", Filthy asked.

Jubilee sat up straight and shot him a blank look, asking, "Only seven hundred fifty bits?"

"Well, yes", Filthy said, lowering his head. "Following my divorce case, I was left with somewhat depleted in terms of funds. Normally, I'd have a much bigger budget. But, between paying for ponies to transport any product I do purchase to Ponyville and renting a transport car, I only have that much left to spend on product."

Cherry Jubilee sat back in her seat, looking up at the ceiling. Filthy rubbed his hooves together nervously, concerned that she might be unwilling to make any sort of deal. He could make it without it, but such a deal could lead to a new product in the Ponyville area, which would help up his potential profit margins.

"How much would you have if you didn't have to rent the transport car?", Cherry asked.

"About an additional two-thousand bits", Filthy said. "Why?"

"How about I take half of the cost for the car?", Cherry asked.

Filthy was flabbergasted. "Wait, really?"

"Sure", Cherry said. "I'm putting some stuff on the line too. 'Spose I could go more into the deal."

"Why?", Filthy asked.

Cherry looked over at one of the pictures, pointing to it. "See that stallion? The one with the large white hat?", she asked.

Filthy followed the way she was pointing and nodded. "Yeah, I see him."

"That's my great-grandfather, Cherry Stem", she said. "He came to Dodge junction with nothing but that hat and a few packets of seeds. He partially relied on the generosity of other ponies, and got this orchard started. He died before we got to this size, but he would've been proud. I've never lived in hardship, but I can see from the story about him that I can afford to be generous. That ok?"

Filthy just nodded, a tear rolling down his face. "Y-yes. Th-thank you."

"Of course", Cherry said. "Now, let's go over product and the deal, shall we?"