The bright yellow sun hanging high in the sky shone down upon the forest below, caressing the tops of the tall evergreen trees that rose and fell with the land like the waves of a deep green sea. That sea of green stretched out for miles in all directions, kissing the horizon to the north, south, east, and west. The only thing that interrupted that vast expanse of green was a tiny line of asphalt grey that snaked its way through the foliage like a lazy river. It was along this old, dusty road that a tiny speck of faded red metal moved, mozying its way along as easily as a fish through a quiet mountain lake. Four dark tires spun beneath it, two bright white plates to its front and rear spelled out “APPULS” in dark lettering, and the polished silver of a rear-view mirror reflected the face of the one sitting in the driver's seat.
It was a beautiful face, its freckled features fresh with girlish youth, while also boasting a subtle maturity befitting of the young woman who it belonged to. Not that she cared, of course; she wasn’t the type to worry about such things. While other women might have gladly spent hours before a mirror styling their hair or applying cosmetics, she was perfectly content to leave her smooth skin unadorned, leave her deep green eyes without mascara or shadow, and leave her long, straw-yellow hair uncoiffed, those locks constrained solely by a humble hair tie and a worn, brown cowboy hat. This lack of effort did not diminish her appearance, however; if anything, it merely allowed her natural beauty to shine through. It was a humble kind of beauty, an earnest beauty, an honest beauty, the only kind that Applejack ever would have cared for.
When the trees to one side of the road sank low into a small canyon, letting the warmth of the sun fall upon her skin unimpeded, she smiled a comfy smile. As the road slowly curved through the trees, she casually turned the wheel before her, grasping it gently with the unpainted fingers of a single hand. Her other hand rested on her lap further down, absentmindedly caressing the fabric of her worn jeans and her red buttoned shirt.
Her keen eyes gazed through the windshield before her, passively taking in the world beyond the vehicle. She saw a babbling brook, no doubt filled with little fishies taking an afternoon swim. She saw a hawk soar through the air, its large wings visible even from a great distance. She was even lucky enough to witness a doe standing in a small clearing near the road with her child, the mother giving her little fawn a loving lick on its face.
When she had seen all of this, she looked closer, taking a quick glance at the clock on the dashboard before her.
I’m makin’ great time. Goldie’s house is only fifteen minutes away.
Her eyes zipped over to the passenger seat, where a wicker picnic basket sat, safely secured by the seat belt.
I remembered to put the cookies in her goodie basket, didn’t I? Yeah. Yeah, I did.
She looked back at the winding road before her, breathing a comfy, contented sigh. As the road bent into a long, slow curve, she twisted the wheel to the side to match it, twisting it back when the curve ended at a long straightaway. This section of the road sliced through the forest for quite a ways, letting her see everything for a fair distance ahead of her. Normally, she wouldn’t have paid much mind to yet another stretch of tall trees and dusty pavement, but that wasn’t all she happened to see on that particular occasion.
Way off in the distance, off to the side of the road, she saw what looked like a small speck of polished silver that glinted in the light of the sun. As she drew nearer to it, driving at the same slow, easygoing speed she had been for a while, the silver speck grew larger and more detailed. Eventually, the silvery mass took the form of a car pulled over on the side of the road near the treeline. What’s more, she soon picked out the distinct forms of two figures standing nearby the car, one about her size, and one slightly smaller. As the distance between them shrunk, she was able to notice the feminine appearance of those figures, and notice that they seemed to be speaking with each other. Their body language suggested that the two were not in the best of moods, which was soon explained by the sight of the clearly flat tire on one of their car’s wheels.
Most people in Applejack’s position probably would have just kept on driving. After all, what business was it of hers if someone was having car trouble? Either they would fix it themselves, or someone else would come along and help them eventually. Besides, she had things to do, places to be. Why should she spend her precious time helping a couple of strangers whom she would probably never even see again?
Applejack, of course, was not “most people”. It would have surprised no one who knew Applejack well to hear that, by the time she passed that car, she had already begun slowing down. After moving a short distance past the stranded vehicle, she carefully pulled off onto the road’s wide shoulder, then came to a gradual stop. She parked her car, twisted the key in the ignition, and the low rumbling of her engine was silenced.
Under different circumstances, she might have had a moment to enjoy the serene quiet that filled the air way out there in the forest. Unfortunately, the rumbling of her engine was immediately replaced by the rumbling of voices which, despite being muffled by her car, were still loud enough to be detected. As Applejack opened her door to step out, those voices only grew louder, their agitated tones clearly audible, if not their exact words.
Applejack swung her legs out of the car, stepping down onto the soft, earthen ground one cowboy boot at a time. She got out of her car, carefully closing the door behind her. She took a moment to look her old pickup truck up and down, reflexively inspecting her own tires for damage. Finding the old girl in as good shape as ever, she smiled, then turned her attention towards the car behind her.
She had little difficulty seeing the car and its owners from where she stood just a few car lengths away, and she had even less difficulty hearing them. As she had suspected, the two people standing nearby were not in good moods at all, the two arguing with each other with voices raised to levels just shy of shouting. So caught up in their bickering were they that they didn’t even seem to have noticed Applejack’s arrival, neither of them looking away from the other, even as Applejack slowly made her way over to them.
Now that she was not in a moving vehicle, Applejack could more easily see the two where they stood by their flat left-rear tire. One of them seemed to be a middle-aged woman, based on her physique and the deeper tone of her voice. She was facing away from Applejack, partially obstructing her view of the smaller woman standing in front of her. From the brief glimpses she was able to get of the younger woman, Applejack estimated that she was slightly younger then herself. Applejack didn’t recognize their voices, although she doubted whether she could have recognized her own friends’ voices had they been talking over each other as much as the two before her were.
As she neared their stranded vehicle, she glanced over at it, seeing if it bore any additional damage. Despite knowing more about cars than the vast majority of girls her age, and probably boys as well, there was little Applejack could say about the collection of gleaming silver metal before her. It didn’t seem to be damaged, at least. It looked sleek, it looked flashy, but above all else, it looked expensive...very expensive. It looked like the sort of overpriced foreign import people bought just to show off to their neighbors, not at all the sort of car Applejack would be familiar with. The license plate on the front of it read “SPLDRTN”. She wasn’t impressed; it didn’t look like it would be that good at hauling apples.
Applejack stopped a respectful distance away from the two women, looking back at them. They continued to not-yell at each other, apparently so focused on their argument that they didn’t even notice her presence. She raised a fist to her mouth, clearing her throat softly to get their attention. When that didn’t work, she tried again, slightly louder. Still, the two continued their bickering.
“Erm...excuse me?” said Applejack, her voice buried under a torrent of angry words.
“Excuse me?” she said firmly, getting the same non-reaction.
Annoyed, Applejack rolled up her sleeves, made a megaphone with her hands, then loudly declared, “Excuse me!?!”
The forest quickly grew quiet as the women’s mouths fell still. A moment later, the older woman slowly turned around to face her. At the same time, the younger woman peeked around her to see who had interrupted them.
As Applejack looked upon the younger woman for the first time, she realized that she was not as much of a stranger to her as she had previously thought. Applejack recognized that face, a face burgeoning with adolescent beauty, while still bearing traces of childish softness. She recognized those big, blue eyes, eyes which slowly drained of anger as they looked upon her. She recognized those wavy locks of purple-and-white hair arranged on her head in a stylish fashion. When she saw it resting atop that head, she even recognized the tiny tiara decorated with rhinestones that glimmered in the sunlight like diamonds.
She had met Diamond Tiara before, of course. Her little sister Apple Bloom had a bit of a history with her, and not all of it good. However, a few years back, the two had made peace, and had even become friends eventually. Apple Bloom had brought her by the house a few times since then, giving Applejack the chance to meet her face to face.
Applejack briefly marveled at the realization that she had been thinking of Diamond Tiara as a woman, not as a girl. She was no older than her precious, sweet little baby sister, and yet Applejack could see clearly that the person standing before her was indeed a young woman only a few short years away from adulthood, not a mere girl. As much as she would have liked to pretend otherwise, that fact forced her to realize that her own sister was nearing adulthood as well.
Pushing that gut-wrenching thought out of her mind, Applejack turned her attention to the other woman standing before her.
If that’s Diamond Tiara, then this must be…
Applejack knew her name, but she had never had the pleasure of meeting the woman in person before. Although, as she looked upon the face of Spoiled Rich, she wasn’t sure whether “pleasure” would have been the right word. The older woman’s face looked suspiciously taut, her relatively wrinkle-free skin suggesting the possible employment of preservative injections. Those few lines her face did feature were buried beneath thick layers of makeup that bordered on garish. Her lipstick-smeared lips were pursed in annoyance. Her thin, sharp nose was so upturned that it almost looked like it could scrape the sky. Her stylish purple hair was stiff with hairspray. Her blue eyes glared back at Applejack with a mixture of surprise and frustration.
“Applejack?” said Diamond Tiara, her tone calming as she recognized the older teen.
“Uh, howdy...Diamond Tiara...Mrs. Rich,” said Applejack, smiling politely. “I...couldn’t help but notice you two were havin’ a bit of trouble with your car. Is there...anythin’ I can do to help?”
Applejack saw Spoiled Rich’s narrowed eyes quickly wander up and down her body, taking in her old, worn clothing and dusty boots.
“I’m sorry,” said Spoiled Rich, “do I...know you?”
“Mom!” Diamond Tiara whisper-shouted, glaring at her mother. “This is Applejack...Apple Bloom’s sister.”
Spoiled Rich glanced back at her daughter, giving no sign that she recognized either of the names that had just been spoken.
“Apple Bloom?” said Diamond Tiara, visibly annoyed at her mother’s non-reaction. “My friend? The one I told you about?”
An awkward silence passed before Spoiled Rich spoke again. “Oh...right! Her,” she said, doing a poor job of feigning sudden recollection.
“My apologies, ma’am,” said Applejack. “I...should’ve introduced myself. The name’s Applejack. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Applejack extended a hand for a handshake, giving Spoiled Rich a smile. Spoiled Rich looked back at Applejack, then down at her outstretched hand, making no move to grasp it.
“Likewise,” said Spoiled Rich flatly.
Applejack awkwardly pulled back her hand, clearing her throat.
“Well, um...would y’all like me to...take a look at your car?” said Applejack. “If it’s just a flat, then I could get you fixed up and have you back on the road faster than a jackrabbit on roller skates!”
Diamond Tiara’s eyes lit up, and she quickly looked over at her mother. Spoiled Rich, however, looked significantly less enthused at the idea.
“That...won’t be necessary,” said Spoiled Rich. “I’ve already called roadside assistance. They should be here any minute, so there’s no need for you to trouble yourself.”
“What?” said Diamond Tiara, visibly confused. “When did you do that?”
Spoiled Rich’s brows furrowed. “Diamond,” she said, glaring at her daughter out of the corner of her eye, “be quiet while mommy talks.”
“Mom,” said Diamond Tiara, giving her mother a knowing look, “neither of us have cell service out here.”
Spoiled Rich’s eye twitched. “I said be quiet,” she growled, looking over at Diamond Tiara.
The two glared daggers at one another for a moment before Spoiled Rich faced forward again.
“In any case,” she said, “I’d much prefer to have my car looked at by...professionals.” The way that word slunk out of her mouth, and her accompanying look of barely concealed condescension, gave Applejack a good idea of what was really going through the head of that wealthy woman. “My husband spent a lot of money on it, and I don’t anything happening to it.”
Applejack, being the stubborn young woman that she was, naturally refused to take “no” for an answer, even in the wake of Spoiled Rich’s comment.
“Ma’am,” she said, her tone as polite as ever, “I’ve been workin’ on cars since I was your daughter’s age. I can fix your flat, no problem. And I promise I won’t leave a scratch on your car. Scout’s honor.”
“Mom,” said Diamond Tiara, “just let her fix the tire! We’re already late as it is! We can’t just wait around here forever hoping that— “
“Diamond Tiara!” said Spoiled Rich, whipping around and staring down her daughter. “That is enough!”
The mother and daughter stared at one another so intensely that it felt as if they might suddenly burst into flames. Wanting to prevent such an unnecessary conflagration, Applejack attempted to steer the conversation away from the point of contention for the time being.
“Erm...I don’t mean to pry, but...are you two runnin’ late for somethin’?” she said. “If y’all are headed somewhere nearby, I could give you a lift there, and you could call a mechanic to come take at your car.”
Spoiled Rich slowly tore her gaze away from her daughter, sighing melodramatically. “Yes,” she said, looking back at Applejack, “we’re running late.”
A sudden change came over the woman, her annoyed grimace replaced with a proud smile, and her posture relaxing noticeably. “My husband is hosting the grand opening for his new resort this afternoon,” said Spoiled Rich, gesturing towards herself, “and he, of course, wants his beautiful wife to stand beside him as he cuts the ribbon.”
Diamond Tiara silently rolled her eyes.
“Resort?” said Applejack. “You mean that fancy-schmancy hotel they’ve been buildin’ just north of here?” She had heard about the construction project located way out in the woods outside of town, but she hadn’t realized that Diamond Tiara’s father was the one behind it. He must have had to find somewhere else to build after losing control of Camp Everfree.
“The luxury hotel, yes,” said Spoiled Rich. “But it’s much more than that. Two swimming pools, a five-star restaurant, a spa…” She paused for a moment, staring dreamily off into space, as if imagining herself already partaking in these amenities. “Oh, I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
Her smile slowly faded as she continued. “If only he hadn’t built it way out here,” she said, taking in the natural beauty that surrounded her with a noticeable look of mild disgust.
“Is there...somethin’ wrong with that?” said Applejack, raising an eyebrow.
Spoiled Rich sighed a heavy sigh. “I know that some people enjoy...roughing it,” she said, “but not me. I told my husband he should have built the resort somewhere more sensible, but he was adamant about having it out in...nature.” She shivered slightly as she spoke the word. “You have no idea how long my daughter and I had to spend shopping for appropriate ensembles for wilderness activities.” She gestured towards herself with a flourish, drawing attention to her wardrobe.
Applejack reflexively glanced down at their clothing, which she hadn’t paid much mind to up until that point. She was quite confused as she took in Spoiled Rich’s short-heeled sandals, her tight-fitting pants, and her stylish blouse, the sort of clothing Applejack never would have associated with the great outdoors. She suddenly recalled the first time she had dragged her friend Rarity out on a camping trip with her, and how the fashionable teen had insisted on wearing clothing just as impractical. While Rarity had eventually learned her lesson and chosen more appropriate attire on subsequent outings, Applejack doubted whether Spoiled Rich was the sort of woman who would ever be willing to humble herself by wearing something as unfashionable as a pair of good hiking boots.
Glancing over at Diamond Tiara, Applejack saw that she was dressed in a similarly unfitting manner for spending time out in nature. Granted, the young woman’s designer sandals did not feature an encumbering heel, and her pants and top did not appear quite as immaculate as her mother’s. As Applejack looked at her, she saw Diamond Tiara cross her arms defensively before herself and glance off to the side, not meeting Applejack’s gaze. The slight blush on her cheeks suggested that she knew exactly what was going through Applejack’s mind at that moment.
“I...can imagine,” said Applejack, looking back at Spoiled Rich. “Well...the resort ain’t that far from here, if I’m rememberin’ right. I could drive you two over there in a jiffy...if you want.”
“You could drive us...in that?” said Spoiled Rich, glancing over at Applejack’s old, weather-worn truck.
“Yep!” said Applejack proudly, taking a quick glance over her shoulder. “Me and the old girl’ll get you there no problem. Might be a bit cozy with all three of us, but it’s better than bein’ stuck out here, right?”
The look on Spoiled Rich’s face showed that she was not exactly in agreement with Applejack. As she pored over the old pickup, no doubt imagining herself and her daughter pulling up to the entrance of her husband’s resort in it in full view of its wealthy guests, she visibly tried not to cringe from embarrassment.
“Uh...no...no, I...I think we’ll pass on that,” said Spoiled Rich. “I wouldn’t want to leave my car unattended out here.”
“Oh, come on!” said Diamond Tiara, seemingly reading her mother’s mind. “Nobody’s gonna care if we show up in a truck!”
“I’ll care,” said Spoiled Rich, turning to face her daughter and speaking in a low, menacing voice, “and so should you! I work hard to maintain our family’s image, and if you’re not going to help me do that, then the least you can do is not bother me with your nonsense!”
“It’s not nonsense!” growled Diamond Tiara. “We only have three options: let her fix our car, let her give us a ride, or just sit here and wait until someone finds us, and hope that we don’t get eaten by some bear or something before that happens!”
With Spoiled Rich looking back at her daughter, Applejack couldn’t see her expression, but she imagined that the look on the woman’s face could have curdled milk. Slowly, Spoiled Rich looked over at her car, then glanced back at Applejack’s, looking back and forth between the two a few more times.
“Besides,” said Diamond Tiara, “every minute we spend here is another minute you’re not getting your deep-tissue at the spa.”
Spoiled Rich looked back at her daughter, no doubt mirroring the younger woman’s glare. After several tense, silent moments, she looked away, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Fine!” she said eventually. Spoiled Rich looked back at Applejack, visibly struggling to hold back her frustration. “Just...fix my car.” The instant the words were out of her mouth, she stepped past Applejack, moving to the driver’s side door of her car. She grabbed the handle and yanked the door open, then looked back at Diamond Tiara. “And you! Keep an eye on her! If she breaks something, it’s coming out of your college fund. And as soon as she’s done, you get your little butt back in here, got it?”
Diamond Tiara looked like she wanted to say something; more accurately, she looked like she wanted to shout something, but she managed to hold her tongue. Instead, she slowly nodded her head.
Seemingly satisfied, or as satisfied as she was capable of being with her situation, Spoiled Rich quickly climbed into the driver’s seat, then slammed the door closed again. A few moments later, the sounds of music emanated from within, loud even muffled by the car.
Applejack watched Diamond Tiara glare at the back of her mother’s head for a few moments, before looking over at her. As the heat of anger slowly faded, Diamond Tiara’s expression softened.
“I’m...I’m sorry...about her,” said Diamond Tiara, looking away in shame. “It’s not personal, really. She’s...just like this. I know that doesn’t make it any better, but…”
If she was expecting Applejack to complain, to yell, or perhaps even to storm off after receiving such treatment, Diamond Tiara would have been wrong on all three counts. Smiling warmly, Applejack stepped up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Hey,” said Applejack softly. “It’s okay. Everyone has bad days.”
Diamond Tiara looked up at her, her dour expression not changing. “Yeah, well...every day’s a bad day with her,” she said. “But...thank you. Thank you for helping us. You’re not gonna hear it from her, but...I’m really grateful. I thought we were gonna be stuck out here forever.”
“Well, don’t thank me yet,” said Applejack. “I still gotta fix your tire. Why don’t we take a look?”
The warmth of Applejack’s smile finally seemed to take effect, and Diamond Tiara matched it with one of her own, albeit a weak one.
“Okay,” said Diamond Tiara.
Turning her attention towards the car, Applejack stepped over to it, squatting down before the flat tire. “Now, let’s see here,” she said, poring over the dark rubber before her.
Diamond Tiara stood behind her, watching her at her work. “You can...fix it...right?” she said.
“Well...I can get y’all movin’ again,” said Applejack, her keen eyes wandering through the tire’s ridges. “But...I think it’s too late to save this feller.” She soon spotted what she had been seeking. “Ah ha! There you are!” Applejack extended a finger and tapped the head of a large nail buried deeply into the thick rubber. “There’s your problem.”
Diamond Tiara looked down at the nail, squinting confusedly. “So...are you gonna...take it out?” she said.
“No point in that,” said Applejack, standing up again. “It’s already flat. We’re gonna have to put on the spare, and then later, you can yank that nail out and plug the tire. Although...knowin’ your parents, they’ll probably just wanna buy a new one.”
“Yeah, that’s...probably true,” said Diamond Tiara.
“So, why don’t we get the jack out and get started!” said Applejack enthusiastically. “Is it in the trunk, or is this one of those cars that has it under a seat or somethin’?”
Diamond Tiara stared at her blankly, as if Applejack had just been speaking in a foreign language. “Uh...the jack?” she said.
Recalling what her granny loved to tell her happens when one assumes something, Applejack blushed. “Oh...sorry, it’s, uh...probably in the trunk,” she said.
Applejack moved quickly to the car’s trunk, carefully pulling it open. The interior was filled with stylish suitcases and assorted totes containing what Applejack imagined was probably a whole week’s worth of clothing for both mother and daughter.
“You don’t mind if I...move these, do you?” said Applejack.
“Go ahead,” said Diamond Tiara.
Applejack began carefully removing the suitcases, lifting them out of the trunk and setting them down on the ground nearby.
“Here...let me help you,” said Diamond Tiara as she stepped up to the trunk.
With the two working together, the trunk was soon emptied. With the suitcases out of the way, Applejack had little difficulty noticing the large panel that covered the bottom of the trunk. After getting a good grip on it, Applejack lifted up the panel, revealing the spare tire hidden beneath it, along with the car’s tools.
“There it is!” said Applejack. “Just like I thought.”
“Whoa,” said Diamond Tiara, gazing down at the spare. “There was a whole wheel in there?”
Applejack chuckled softly. “Yep,” she said. “That’s your spare.”
Applejack reached down and retrieved the jack and accompanying wrench, setting them down nearby for the moment.
“But,” Diamond Tiara began, looking back and forth between the spare and the flat tire, “how are you gonna...switch them? Don’t you need, like...tools or something?”
“We got all the tools we need right here,” said Applejack with a smile. “Could you, uh...hold this for me?” She gestured towards the panel, which she was still holding up.
“Oh! Sure,” said Diamond Tiara, reaching out and holding the panel up.
“Thanks,” said Applejack as she reached down and began working the spare up and out of its resting place.
“Isn’t that heavy?” said Diamond Tiara. “Do you need help?”
“No, I got it,” said Applejack, “but thanks for offerin’.”
Having slung around her fair share of tires in the past, Applejack did not have that much trouble getting the spare out of the trunk, carefully maneuvering it down onto the ground to avoid bumping the car.
“There we go,” Applejack said. “Could you grab the tools for me?”
Applejack slowly rolled the spare along the ground, pushing it over towards the wheel with the flat tire. While she did this, Diamond Tiara walked over and picked up the tools Applejack had set nearby, staring at the unfamiliar implements confusedly. As Applejack laid the spare down on the ground near the flat, Diamond Tiara walked back over to her, handing her the tools.
“Thanks,” said Applejack.
Applejack got down on the ground beside the car and moved the jack underneath it, positioning it beneath the appropriate jack point.
“What are you doing now?” asked Diamond Tiara.
“I’m jackin’ up the car,” said Applejack as she proceeded to do just that. “I gotta get it up off the ground to get that flat off.”
“You’re gonna...lift the car?” said Diamond Tiara, amazement in her eyes. “With just that little thing?”
Applejack chuckled. “It may be little,” she said, “but it’s stronger than it looks.”
The extending jack soon bridged the gap between the ground and the car, then continued on, pushing the car upwards bit by bit. Before long, the flat tire was inching up off of the ground at a slow, but steady pace.
“Whoa,” said Diamond Tiara, watching the miraculous process with awe. “Do you...need any help?”
“No thanks,” said Applejack. “I got it. Besides, I...wouldn’t want you to get those fancy clothes of yours dirty.”
“Oh...right,” said Diamond Tiara, staring down at her stylish clothing with pursed lips.
As Applejack finished raising the car to the appropriate height, she caught sight of the troubled look on Diamond Tiara’s face.
“No offense,” said Applejack, “but...those ain’t exactly the sort of clothes you should be wearin’ if you’re plannin’ on spendin’ time out in the woods.”
Diamond Tiara looked up at her, then looked away, letting loose a heavy sigh. “I know,” she said. “This outfit wasn’t my idea, believe me.”
Applejack sat up on the ground, brushing the dirt off of herself. “Your mom?” she said.
“Yeah,” said Diamond Tiara. She breathed another heavy sigh, then briefly glanced over at the car, verifying that loud music continued to blare within. “She is just...so stupid sometimes! I’m not even an...outdoorsy girl, and even I know you don’t wear shoes like this in the forest!”
“Did you tell her that?” said Applejack as she scooted over towards the flat and grabbed the wrench laying nearby.
“I tried,” said Diamond Tiara. “You can imagine how that went. I have this adorable little pair of hiking boots I bought a while back. I thought when my dad finished his resort, I’d finally get an opportunity to wear them, but the second I brought it up, my mom was already going off.” She momentarily spoke in a cartoonish mockery of her mother’s voice. “No daughter of mine is going to go strutting about a luxury resort wearing dirty old boots! Imagine what people would say!”
Applejack’s feet unconsciously flexed within her worn boots. “Is that so?” she said, raising the wrench to one of the lug nuts before her and twisting it loose.
“Yeah,” said Diamond Tiara. “She always does this. She always has to do things her own way, even when she has no idea what she’s doing. And then she tries to make me go along with it! Ugh, it’s so frustrating!” Diamond Tiara turned away, kicking the ground angrily. “At least I know when I don’t know what I’m doing! I don’t pretend to know and then blame other people when the stupid things I do come back to bite me! She is just so...so...ugh!”
As the lug nut was finally screwed off, Applejack placed her hat upside down on the ground beside her, then deposited the nut inside it. She continued listening to Diamond Tiara as she began on the next nut, feeling for her, but unsure of what to say to comfort her.
Facing away from the car, Diamond Tiara angrily crossed her arms. “She’s stupid,” she said, “she’s selfish, she’s petty, and she thinks she owns me! She thinks she can just order me around like one of our maids or something! Ugh!” A moment passed, and then she spoke again, grumbling softly to herself. “Moms are the worst.”
Applejack’s hands froze in place, still grasping the wrench. Her big, green eyes fell closed. She took a deep breath, then released it slowly. She opened her eyes again, then forced her hands to continue moving. “I’ll take your word for it,” she said softly.
Diamond Tiara glanced back over her shoulder at Applejack, visibly confused at her comment. The confusion didn’t last long, however, being soon replaced with an expression of horrified realization. “Oh,” she said, turning to face Applejack. “Oh...my gosh, I...I didn’t...I didn’t realize, I...I’m sorry, I...I didn’t mean to…”
“Hey,” said Applejack softly, pausing in her work. She slowly looked up at Diamond Tiara, taking in her reddened cheeks and her wide eyes. She gave the flustered girl a soft, comforting smile. “It’s okay.”
Diamond Tiara looked back at that beautiful face, feeling the warmth of its smile like the gentle caress of a hand on her cheek. She closed her gaping mouth, then looked away in shame. She swallowed. “I’m...I’m sorry,” she said. “I forgot about…”
Applejack set the wrench aside, then slowly rose to her feet. She approached Diamond Tiara, grasping her shoulders and giving them a comforting squeeze. “It’s okay,” she said. “Really. I know you didn’t mean anythin’ by it.”
Diamond Tiara raised her head to meet Applejack’s gaze, finding comfort in those caring eyes of hers. Her mouth opened and closed several times, as if she wanted to say something, but was struggling to find the words. Eventually, Diamond Tiara managed to find her voice. “How...How old were you when…” she said.
Applejack took a deep breath, but her smile did not fade. “I was just a little tyke,” she said, “still in elementary school. Apple Bloom was just a toddler. She doesn’t really...remember.”
“But you do?” said Diamond Tiara.
“Yeah,” said Applejack, her smile widening. “I do.”
Diamond Tiara looked away, thinking for a moment. “What was...she like?” she said, looking back at Applejack. “Your mom?”
Applejack cast her mind back, reaching for those reverently preserved memories deep within her. “Well,” she said, “she was...gentle...and kind...and beautiful. Well, I suppose every little girl thinks their mama’s pretty, but...she really was. She was...an old-fashioned kinda woman. She knew how to keep a rowdy little girl like me in line. She might’ve made me mad on more than one occasion, but...she did it ‘cause she loved me; I know that now, and...I think part of me knew it back then too. I knew that...no matter what happened...no matter how mad she made me, or how mad I made her...she’d still be there for me. She’d always be there for me...and she’d always love me.”
As Applejack emerged from her reverie, she looked back at Diamond Tiara, finding the girl’s eyes closed in deep thought.
A few moments later, Diamond Tiara spoke again. “You were lucky...having a mom like that,” she said softly, “having a mom...who loved you.”
“Hey,” said Applejack, her voice gentle, yet firm. “Hey now. Don’t you go talkin’ like that. Your mom loves you...I’d bet my hat on it.”
“You’d lose that bet,” said Diamond Tiara flatly. “No offense, but...you don’t know what I’m going through. You don’t know what it’s like...having to live with a mom like her.” She slowly backed away from Applejack, turning away and crossing her arms before her.
Applejack watched her, seeing clearly the hurt in her eyes. She sighed. “No,” she said. “No, I don’t. I don’t know what you’re goin’ through. I don’t know what it’s like...growin’ up with a mom henpeckin’ you to death...but I wish I did.”
Diamond Tiara glanced back at her, shocked by the vulnerability she saw in the strong, confident girl’s eyes.
“Maybe your mom drives you crazy,” Applejack continued. “Maybe she makes you angry. Maybe she gives you more heartache than you deserve...but if it were me...I’d take a whole mountain of heartache...if it meant havin’ my mama in my life.”
“Applejack…” said Diamond Tiara, turning to face her.
Applejack took a deep breath, then released it. “You ain’t the first middle-school girl I’ve heard complain about their mama,” she said. “I heard that sort of thing from other girls all the time growin’ up. It made me wonder...what things would have been like...if she’d been around.”
Diamond Tiara watched her intently, but Applejack no longer met her gaze; her eyes had fallen to the ground before her feet, as if searching for something within the dirt.
“Maybe they were right,” said Applejack. “Maybe havin’ a mom is more trouble than it’s worth. Maybe...Maybe I would’ve been talkin’ like them eventually. I might have even...come to hate her. I don’t know. I don’t know what would’ve happened. I don’t know how my life would’ve turned out different. There’s a chance that...my life could’ve been a whole lot worse. But you know what?” She looked back up at Diamond Tiara, letting the younger girl see her misty eyes. “I would take that chance. I would take that chance in a heartbeat. If there were even a tiny chance that...I could’ve had a good life with my mama...I’d take that chance.”
Applejack slowly stepped forward. She reached out and grasped Diamond Tiara’s shoulders, holding her firmly. “You have that chance,” she said, looking her squarely in the eye. “You have the chance to have what I didn’t. I just hope you appreciate that.”
Diamond Tiara’s head fell, and she closed her eyes. Applejack felt her tremble, and heard her shuddering breaths.
“I...I know,” Diamond Tiara said softly. “But, I...I don’t know...what to do. I don’t...I don’t want this. I don’t want to...be angry at her. I don’t want to hate her. I don’t want things to be like they are. I just...I don’t know how to…”
Applejack watched her lips tremble, and listened to her little sniffles.
“You love her,” said Applejack, “don’t you?” It was spoken as a question, but there was no doubt behind those words.
The first sobs came gently, burbling up and out of Diamond Tiara’s mouth as she slowly nodded her head. Applejack pulled her close, wrapping her arms around the shorter girl’s shoulders. As Diamond Tiara felt the embrace, she instinctively buried her face into Applejack’s shoulder and wrapped her arms around her middle, squeezing tightly. Applejack reached up and slowly stroked Diamond Tiara’s hair as the girl sobbed into her shirt.
“Hey,” Applejack whispered into her ear. “Hey now. It’s okay. It’s okay, sugarcube. It’s alright.”
Those soothing words only further opened the floodgates, and Diamond Tiara let loose a deluge of tears that she hadn’t even realized she was holding in. Applejack held her tightly all the while, lovingly caressing and whispering to her. Diamond Tiara reveled in that touch, in those words, and in the calming, maternal warmth of that hug, a hug the likes of which she had not felt in years.
“Apple...Applejack,” whimpered Diamond Tiara through her sobs.
“Ssshh…” shushed Applejack. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”
“I...I...I love her,” said Diamond Tiara, fighting to regain control of herself. “Why? Why do I...Why do I love her? She treats me like dirt. So...why? Why can’t I just hate her?”
Applejack took a deep breath to steady herself. “Sugarcube,” she said. “I think...I think you love her...because...she's your mama...and because you know...deep down...she loves you too.”
Applejack slowly moved her hands to Diamond Tiara’s shoulders, then gently pushed her back. Diamond Tiara’s head hung low as she struggled to reign in her tears. Applejack put a hand underneath her chin and tilted her head back, looking down at those damp cheeks.
“Diamond Tiara,” Applejack said softly.
Diamond Tiara forced her sopping eyes open, looking up at Applejack’s serious, yet caring expression.
“Tell me honestly,” said Applejack, “have things really always been like this? Has there been even one day in your life...where you knew your mom loved you?”
Diamond Tiara breathed deeply to calm herself. She raised a hand to her face and did her best to wipe the tears from her eyes. When her lips finally stopped trembling, she swallowed, then gave her reply.
“She...She hasn’t always been...like this,” she said. “At least...I don’t think she was. I...remember things...little things...things that made it seem like...she really did care.” When she saw Applejack’s expectant look, she continued. “Like...one time...a long time ago...I got sick and...she yelled at the maids for not taking good enough care of me. She sent them away and...stayed by my bed all day. She grumbled about having to do it, but...she took care of me. She even read my favorite books to me.” She chuckled softly, and even smiled a bit. “She thought those kids books were so stupid...but she read them...every single one. I remember...being happy...happy that she was there with me.” She looked back at Applejack, and her smile slowly faded. “I haven’t felt that way in a long time.” She slowly shook her head. “What changed?”
Applejack stared back into that face, the face of a girl desperate for answers that she could not provide. “I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know how you two got to where you are now. I don’t know how you two changed. But I know that people do change. Some people change for the worse...but some people change for the better.” She gave Diamond Tiara’s shoulders a squeeze, and smiled down at that former schoolyard bully. “That’s what matters...not where you’re comin’ from...it’s where you’re goin’ to. If someone's willin' to change...then there's always hope.”
“But...how?” said Diamond Tiara. “How can she change? How can I get her to change?”
“I think you’d know the answer to that better than I would,” said Applejack. “I think you’d know...what sorta thing someone needs to hear...to get 'em to turn over a new leaf. Am I right?”
Diamond Tiara’s eyes fell. She pursed her lips, then slowly nodded her head.
“She’s your mom,” said Applejack, “and you’re her daughter. You probably know her better than almost anyone. You know what she wants. You know what she likes. You know what she loves...’cause one of those things is you. If she loved you once...then she still does...she has to. That sort of love doesn’t just go away. Maybe she forgot about it along the way, but...that don’t mean she can’t remember it.”
Diamond Tiara slowly shook her head in disbelief. “How could she just...forget?” she said. “I’m her daughter! How could she forget how she feels about me?”
Applejack sighed. “People are awful good at forgettin’ things,” she said. “I know that’s no excuse, but...that’s just how it is. People these days are just so gung ho about gettin’ wherever they're headed...and gettin' there fast...that they don't stop and appreciate what's around them. They lose sight of all the good things they have in their lives...and take 'em for granted."
"Even their families?" asked Diamond Tiara.
"Especially their families," said Applejack. "It's easy to lose sight of the big things...the things we have every day...the things we think about so much that...we just stop thinkin' about 'em...even if we love those things more than anythin' else."
"But that's..." began Diamond Tiara. "That's not..." She let out a heavy sigh. "It's not fair."
"No," said Applejack. "No, it ain't fair. It ain't fair to you, and...it ain't fair to anyone else in your shoes. She's your mom. She's the one who should be puttin' you on the right track...not the other way around. It ain't your responsibility to do this, but...you may be the only one who can."
Diamond Tiara met Applejack's reassuring gaze.
"Do you think you can help her?" said Applejack. "Do you think you can remind her...what she's been missin'?"
Applejack watched Diamond Tiara's thoughts through the windows of the girl's eyes, seeing her fear, her frustration, her desperation, and her tiny glimmer of hope.
"I..." Diamond Tiara began. She swallowed, took a deep breath, then spoke again. "I do. I...I think I do." Slowly, her lips stretched into a weak smile.
Applejack met that smile with one of her own. "Then I think things are gonna turn out alright for you," she said. "For you and her."
Diamond Tiara savored that brief moment of hopefulness, but slowly, her doubts made themselves evident on her face. “But...what if...what if I’m wrong?” she said. “What if I...can’t get her to change? What if nothing can get her to change? What if…?”
Applejack closed her eyes and exhaled softly. “If you’re wrong...then you’re wrong,” she said. “And I’m wrong too.” She opened her eyes, and met Diamond Tiara’s gaze. “You want to have a happy life together with your mom. I want that for you too, but...not everybody gets what they want outta life. That’s just how life goes. Maybe someday...you’ll get your wish...but I’m not gonna tell you that’s a guarantee. I won’t lie to you like that.
“People can change. I know that. You know that. But just because people can change...doesn’t mean they will. In the end, you gotta let people make that decision for themselves. You can’t control your mom, and you can’t control who she is. The only one you can control...is you. All you can do is give them that chance...and hope that everything turns out for the better...and if it doesn’t...then you have to make peace with that...and live with it.”
“You mean...if she stays like this...I just have to accept that?” said Diamond Tiara, a hint of confused anger in her voice. “I’m supposed to just let her...keep trying to run my life? Let her keep making me miserable?”
“No,” said Applejack firmly. “No you ain’t. I’m not tellin’ you to give her your whole life…but she is your mom…and she’ll always be your mom. She deserves a chance to be a part of your life. She deserves a chance to make you happy...like she used to. You need to give her that chance...even if she doesn’t take it. And if she doesn’t take that chance...then that’s her mistake...not yours.”
Applejack reached up and brushed aside a strand of Diamond Tiara’s hair that had become dislodged during their embrace. “You’re a good girl, Diamond Tiara,” she said, smiling. “You gotta be if my sister likes you so much. You know...she tells me you’re a lot like me: tough on the outside, but...lovable on the inside. Heck, even I can see that. I can see you’re a girl worth carin’ about...and it doesn’t take a fancy getup like that to get me to see it. Your mom’s got no excuse. If she can’t see why she’d want to love you for who you are...then you don’t have to spend your whole life waitin’ for her to find out.”
Diamond Tiara silently absorbed those words, allowing them to trickle through her frazzled mind. “How long though?” she said. “How long am I supposed to wait? How much more of my life am I supposed to spend...waiting for her to change?”
“I think...you have to be the one to answer that,” said Applejack. “It’s your life. You have to be the one to decide who it’s worth spendin’ with. You have to be the one to decide...what’ll make you happy. And if somethin' doesn't make you happy...or someone...then you have to decide if they're worth keepin' around...and for how long. You’re old enough to start makin’ decisions like that now.” She chuckled softly, and shook her head. “It’s silly of me, but...it scares me a bit...how old you and my sister are gettin’. Y’all are gonna be in high school next year for heaven’s sake. You may not be adults yet, but...you’re gonna be there before I even know it.”
Diamond Tiara smiled. “That’s still a long way away,” she said.
"Maybe to you," said Applejack, "but every time I look away from my sister...she goes and gets another year older. I've told her to cut it out, but...she just never listens, that girl."
Diamond Tiara chuckled, and Applejack couldn't help but join in. As their laughter faded, Diamond Tiara stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Applejack once more, hugging her tight. Applejack was momentarily surprised at the sudden gesture, but quickly recovered, returning the embrace just as tightly.
"Thank you," Diamond Tiara whispered.
Applejack petted her head in response, silently wishing that she could have done more for her. As they pulled apart, however, and Applejack saw that warm, happy smile on her face, she was reminded that that girl, that strong, hopeful, loving young woman, already had everything she needed within her.
"Now," said Applejack, "why don't we get you back on the road?"
The work went quickly after that. Applejack's strong hands soon had the lug nuts off of the problematic wheel, each one deposited into the worn cowboy hat Diamond Tiara held in her hands. When the wheel had been removed and replaced with the spare, those nuts went right back on, securing the new wheel in place. Applejack returned her hat to her head, returned the car to the ground, then returned the tools to their proper place in the trunk, along with the flat-tired wheel.
"There we are," said Applejack as she and Diamond Tiara placed the last suitcase back into the trunk and closed it up. "All done!"
"Wow," said Diamond Tiara. "That was...a lot easier than I thought it would be."
"Told you," said Applejack with a smile.
Diamond Tiara inspected the spare, marveling at the seemingly miraculous transformation.
Applejack chuckled. "Maybe next time, you'll be able to do it all on your own," she said.
Diamond Tiara chuckled in return. "Yeah...maybe," she said.
The two slowly walked around the car to the passenger's side, Diamond Tiara's smile growing smaller with every step.
"I guess I...better get going now," said Diamond Tiara.
"Yep," said Applejack. "Wouldn't want y'all to be late for your shindig at the hotel."
"Right," said Diamond Tiara, stepping up and grasping the handle of the passenger's side door. She paused for a moment, turning to look back at Applejack. "Thank you...for everything."
"It was my pleasure," said Applejack, and she meant it.
Diamond Tiara's eyes fell in contemplation. "If...If I ever...need help again..." she said, looking up at Applejack.
"Sugarcube," said Applejack, smiling a reassuring smile, "you come and find me whenever you want to. Any friend of Apple Bloom's is a friend of mine."
Diamond Tiara smiled a relieved smile. Her big, beautiful eyes threatened to water once again; she blinked them firmly to stem the tide. "Well...see you...Applejack," she said.
"Happy trails," said Applejack.
Diamond Tiara's gaze lingered on Applejack for a moment more before she managed to look away. She pulled open the door, and the previously muffled sound of loud music spilled out of it, an obnoxiously unfitting soundtrack for such a serene, natural setting. Diamond Tiara slowly lowered herself down into the passenger's seat.
In the driver's seat of the car sat Spoiled Rich, her eyes glued to the screen of the enormous, overpriced smartphone she held before her, and her fingers jabbing at it. "Are you two finally done with that tire?" she groaned, not looking away from her phone.
"Yes, mom," said Diamond Tiara as she reached for her seat belt.
"Good," said Spoiled Rich, allowing herself another moment of screen time before begrudgingly stowing her phone in her purse. "Your father better not have started without us. I swear, if we get there and I find out that—"
Spoiled Rich's grumbling was suddenly muffled by the closing of Diamond Tiara's door, reducing it to unintelligible noise. A few moments later, the car stirred to life, the roar of its powerful engine echoing through the quiet forest around it.
Applejack stepped back from the car, but kept her eyes on the face of the young woman sitting in the passenger seat. Diamond Tiara looked back at her, her expression weary, yet satisfied. She gave Applejack a smile; it was a small one, but there was more strength behind it than it seemed. Applejack smiled back at her, and gave her a wink. Neither girl looked away, not until the car slowly turned back onto the road, breaking their line of sight.
Applejack stood there, watching as the car quickly picked up speed, zipping down the road at an impressive pace. Gradually, it grew smaller, shrinking into a speck of sparkling silver in the distance, then vanishing entirely. The sound of the car's engine slowly faded away as well, that thunderous peal eventually melting into the background noise of the forest.
Applejack closed her eyes, silently absorbing the sensations of the world around her. She heard the twittering of birds somewhere nearby. She smelled the sharp, earthy scent of pine. She felt the caress of a gentle breeze that swept through the trees, sending tiny waves rippling through that sea of green.
She smiled. She smiled for herself, and she smiled for the beautiful young woman whom she hoped against hope would someday get to feel such contentment for herself.
