The wind howled relentlessly around the trees, the apples on the branches clinging on for all that they were worth, and the rain that fell drenched anypony who was brave – or foolish – enough to walk in it. Yet, amidst it all, a group of ponies wearing raincoats made their way to the small farmhouse in the centre of the area, the smoke billowing from the chimney indicating signs of life — as well as warmth, a hot drink and shelter from the raging storm.
The lead pony of the group knocked once on the door, which was yanked open almost immediately by Applejack. She beckoned the visitors inside and directed them towards a steaming bowl of freshly made tomato soup, which they accepted gratefully.
"Thanks fer comin' by, y'all," she said, closing the door. "I'm mighty sorry ta drag ya up here in this weather but... I need yer help."
The other ponies removed their raincoats, hanging them on hooks above the fireplace, and nodded in turn.
"What's up, AJ?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Do you need help with the harvest again? If so, then I'd be happy to help you out."
"It ain't that, Rainbow." Applejack shook her head. "I'm afraid it's somethin' else entirely this time around."
"Why, darling, whatever do you mean?" Rarity said. "As your friends, there is nothing you can tell us that would make us any less inclined to help you in your time of need."
"Thank ya kindly, Rarity." Applejack took a deep breath. "Y'all know that I ain't one fer sugar-coating things, so I'm just gonna spit it out — I was kinda hoping fer a loan."
"A... a loan?" Fluttershy queried. "Oh, my, whatever for?"
Applejack sighed. "I've had to pay a few more bills than expected lately," she replied. "So much, in fact, I ain't got enough left to cover this years taxes. If I don't pay up, then we're gonna lose the house, the farm... aw, shucks, we'll lose everything."
"I'll gladly loan you some money, AJ!" Pinkie Pie said eagerly. "And then, when you pay the rent, I can throw a party to celebrate you not losing your home and business!"
Applejack tipped her hat. "Thanks, Pinkie," she said. "Now, if'n the rest of you chip in, I guarantee that I can pay ya back when—"
"Oh no you don't Applejack," Rainbow Dash said sternly. "I'm not gonna loan you the cash, I'm gonna give you it." She waved a forehoof dismissively. "You don't have to pay me back a single bit."
"Or me." the others – except for one – said in unison.
Applejack took her hat off, clutching it tightly against her chest as she wiped a solitary tear from her cheek. "Thanks, y'all," she said. "I couldn't have asked fer a finer bunch o' friends than you." She turned to the one who hadn't said anything. "And what about you, Twilight? Can I count on your support?"
"Perhaps," Twilight replied. "But I have to ask you something first."
"Go ahead," Applejack said. "I'll answer ya as best I can."
"Okay." Twilight nodded. "Sweet Apple Acres is the only apple orchard in Ponyville, and it also sells apples in stores across Equestria. You can instantly harvest all the apples on a tree with one hundred percent accuracy, you have a cider product that sells out yearly and you also possess the monopoly on the Zap Apples." She looked Applejack in the eyes. "So, with all of this in mind, why exactly would you be having difficulty paying your taxes?"
"It's as I said, Twi," Applejack replied. "I just had to pay some bills sooner than I expected, is all."
"What kind of bills?" Twilight asked. "If you tell me, then perhaps I could help you to reduce their impact somewhat; by looking at the accounts, I could potentially work out the best way to—"
"That won't be necessary, Twilight," Applejack interrupted. "I know what I'm doing, ya hear? Besides, trust me when I say that these particular bills can't be reduced, not even a little bit. Let's just say that some family matters needed attendin' to, and leave it be."
"'Family matters?'" Rarity parroted. "Oh, my, is Granny Smith in need of medical care again? Or has Apple Bloom been involved in an accident?" She thought for a moment. "Mind you, with the way she, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo have been acting lately, I wouldn't be surprised if that was indeed the case."
Applejack shook her head. "It ain't nothing to do with Granny Smith or Apple Bloom," she snapped. "Now, I appreciate y'all's concern, but I did ask ya ta leave it ta me so I can handle it."
"What about Big Mac?" Pinkie asked. "Has something happened to him that would mean sneaky bills sneaking up on you?" She looked behind her as though expecting to see something.
Applejack's eyes darted from side to side; there was a pause before she spoke. "No, it's nothin' to do with Big Mac either," she said. "It's, er, me, that's what." She nodded. "Eeyup, I've got some of them there 'mare troubles' that need seein' to. I didn't want ta have to give y'all the nasty details, but ya just had ta keep—"
"You're lying, AJ." Rainbow Dash put a hoof over Applejack's mouth. "When you do that with your eyes, it means you're lying, which – as we all know – isn't exactly your strong point."
Applejack was about to reply when a sudden knock at the door startled her and the others. She exchanged a quizzical look with them and glanced outside to see that the storm was still raging.
"Who on Equestria would be coming to see you in this kind of weather?" Rarity asked. "Unless we're not the only ones you invited to come over tonight, that is?" She winked slyly at Applejack, who rolled her eyes and smirked before going to the door.
"Only one way ta find out." the visitor knocked again. "All right, all right, I'ma comin'!" She opened the door to reveal a brown unicorn mare wearing a blue raincoat. "Darn it, Haywick, I told ya ta wait until the storm had passed 'fore you came to see me!"
Haywick walked into the farmhouse, put the hood of her raincoat down and shook her mane to fluff it out, inadvertently sending water all over the room in the process.
"I couldn't wait, Applejack," she said sternly. "You're not the only one who has bills to pay, you know; I need the money soon, otherwise they're going to cut off my water." She looked around, suddenly becoming aware of the other five ponies in the room. "Oh, um... hey, everypony, how are you all today?"
"Fine, thank you," Fluttershy replied. "So, um, what is so important that you came here in this weather, if you don't mind me asking?"
Haywick opened her mouth to answer but Applejack cut her off. "Oh, nothin' really!" she said loudly. "One of them there bills I mentioned was paying Haywick here fer some medicine I got fer Granny Smith; she's just here to collect the rest of what I owe."
"Oh," Twilight said. "That sounds... plausible, I guess." She thought for a moment." But medicine is quite cheap in Equestria, thanks to the Healthcare Bill, so I still don't understand why you are suddenly struggling for the bits you need for your taxes."
Haywick scoffed. "Applejack's reason for me being here is only partially true," she said. "I am indeed here to collect the fifty bits she owes me for medicine, but I am also looking to collect another five thousand for something else that I acquired from this farm."
"Five thousand bits?!" Rarity looked horrified. "Goodness gracious, Applejack; what manner of product are you selling which costs such an obscene amount of money? Are you growing 'medicinal' herbs?"
Applejack's eyes flashed with anger. "No, I ain't!" she snarled. "I owe her five thousand bits because... because of Mac." She sighed and looked over at Haywick, who had a smirk on her face. "Tell 'em, sugarcube; I ain't gonna try an' hide it no more."
Haywick opened her raincoat to reveal her saddlebags, from which she produced a small book. "You want to know what Big Macintosh has to do with what I got from Sweet Apple Acres?" she asked. "Well, take a look at this, and you'll see. Oh, and I'm not the only mare in Ponyville who has managed to get her hooves on this particular item; I know of five others who got one as well, because they all came to see me at the hospital afterwards."
Applejack looked away as Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Dash and Pinkie crowded around the table, upon which Haywick laid the now open book. The moment they laid eyes upon it, they realised that it was a photo album with several pictures in it, the first of which showed Big Mac and Haywick standing outside the maternity unit of Ponyville Hospital with a foal in a pram.
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash burst out laughing. "Holy Celestia, AJ, no wonder you're needing the money!" she snorted. "Not only are you having to pay for the services provided by the government, you're also having to pay for the 'services' of Big Mac Daddy!"
With that, she fell over laughing, while all Applejack could do was sigh and look forlornly out of the window.
Author's Note
This story is based on an idea I got from Mikazuchi many years ago; I hope I did it justice.
The 'Alternate Universe' tag is used because Mac is clearly not married to Sugar Belle if he's, um, 'attending' to many mares in Ponyville.
