Outlet.

Chapters

Nous allons en fin nous regaler.
She's so rock-steady.
Each lash in her eye is really white roots.
Mon coeur qui bat, pour qui, pourquoi?
As you hang by the willow tree.
Que mon souffle repousse pas.
We stow our words in the cellar.
Que nul ne peut apprivoiser.
The needle tears a hole.
Libiamo ne'dolci fremiti.
Well, I wished I was a turtle dove.
Je vois la vie en rose bonbon.

Nous allons en fin nous regaler.

It was a bright sunny day in Ponyville. A town, which unsurprisingly, consisted mainly of ponies. It was small, it was poor, and it's population was low enough to have some attribute it to being more of a village than a proper town. These small irritations didn't put a damper on the colorful charm of the place. There were quite a few landmarks and even famous folks who had chosen to live there. There was an air of happiness that just seemed to flow through the town, hanging in the air, resting delicately on every surface before the wind kicked up and sent it around some more. It was moderately difficult to make your way through the streets without smiling. Besides a few sour apples, everyone was happy, friendly, and kind. And those who weren't generally tried to keep it to themselves.

Speaking of apples, they were one of the main exports of the town, along with many other edible goods. The rich soil surrounding the Everfree Forest that surrounded the city was incredibly fertile, making it a great choice for any earth pony wishing to eek out a living providing vittles to anyone with a sweet tooth. But the apples were king, in more ways than one. Ponyville itself had been founded by the Apples themselves, a small tribe of southern earth ponies almost all of whom were remarkably talented at growing plants. Sweet Apple Acres had been their main land and center of operation since the founding of Ponyville nearly a century ago. Plague, famine, war, the farms of Sweet Apple Acres had seen it all. But as the town grew and resources became more scarce, most of the Apple Family had moved back south to the arid lands of Appleloosa. Sweet Apple Acres was now run almost entirely by the mare who had founded it originally, whom folks simply called Granny Smith. She was old and dusty and getting somewhat senile in her old age, but she was bright, clever, and knew more than a thing or two about agriculture. The farm was hers, and she made the decisions, but most of the hard work was done by her grandchildren. Big Mac, the eldest, a red stallion who towered over most of the other horses in the town. A quiet and shrewd, very private guy. Applejack, the eldest of the two sisters, an orange freckled young mare who was second-in-command to Granny. Honest and wise, she had been chosen specifically to be trusted by the Princess of Equestria to help guard the land against evil, on the rare occasions it showed its ugly head. And finally, Applebloom, the adorable and tiny youngest sibling and member of the Apple Family. Light yellow hair and a shocking fluff of red mane made her very recognizable as she romped and played throughout the farm and the town, eagerly trying to discover her special talent.

At this very moment in time, Applejack herself was outside of the main barn of the facility shouting at her friend who was insistent to enter the cellar, a place that for anyone but Applejack herself, was entirely off limits. There was even a large sign on the door to the cellar that read "keep the buck out" in thick black print, just to drive home the message. Apparently it was not enough.

"I said NO!" Applejack shouted, slamming the cellar door shut with a hind leg and using a foreleg to stop the pink curly-topped assailant who was trying to get inside.

"But I just want some sugar, AJ! Pretty please! Please please please!" Pinkie flailed wildly to try to get to the cellar. In reality, the pink mare didn't need sugar at all. But her childish curiosity had flourished under the protective gaze of Applejack and now she desperately wanted to know what secrets lay in the cellar.

"I will get ya some MAHSELF, Pinkie. Y'all just sit right here and don't touch anything." Applejack leaned close, glaring at her hyperactive friend. "Anything."

Pinkie sat still watching the door closed. Her plan to get into the cellar had failed but it wasn't enough to dampen her spirits. She smiled as she looked around the beautiful farm, and it's acres and acres of apple trees, all with various species and subspecies of apple dangling from their boughs. She licked her lips hungrily. It had been almost ten minutes since she had eaten something sweet. Her biological clock was informing her that indeed, it WAS mealtime. The pink mare rose to her hooves and skipped happily to the nearest apple tree, feasting noisily on the bright red fruits before finding herself distracted by a suave voice from a ways away.

"Pinkie! Oh, Pinkie over here!"

Pinkie turned to see Rarity standing by the fence, waving one of her delicately manicured cloven hooves in the air. A pearly white unicorn with a gorgeous coif of curled purple hair for a mane, Rarity was perhaps the most fashionable pony in Equestria, though bad luck had hampered her from ever becoming too famous for her own clothing and uniform designs. She was generous, cheeky, and refined. And at the moment was trying to climb over the fence without letting the dirty wood touch her belly, each hoof straining to keep her as high above the fence as possible. She galloped over to Pinkie, her purple coiled tale bouncing delicately with each step.

"You told me you were going to meet me for lunch, Pinkie. Now here you are spoiling your appetite with apples right before noon!" Rarity looked somewhat hurt, her lower lip pouting.

"It's fine, Rarity! I'm not filling up on apples! I'm just protecting them from germs by keeping them in my mouth!"

Pinkie returned to feasting as Rarity sighed and shook her head, casting a glance at the cellar as it's doors creaked open and a familiar orange mare came stomping out of it. Talking to Applejack was rather difficult. She and Rarity shared very little in common and seemed to bicker a bit too much for either taste. Even describing the two as 'friends' seemed a bit of a long shot at times. However any Applejack conversation would be a welcome change from listening to the slosh noises coming from Pinkie who was still eating apples as if they were going out of style.

"Salutations, Applejack. You may have noticed Pinkie is eating your orchard." Rarity grinned.

"Yeh, not surprisin' but at least she ain't in mah cellar." Applejack dragged a large sack of cane sugar and dumped it next to the pink pony. "So what are y'all up to today?"

"Well, I was supposed to be having lunch right now but....well you see what's happened." Rarity waved a hoof dismissively in Pinkie's direction. "So I suppose I'll just go and get some rosebud soup down at the carry-out place. So, what are you up to today, Applejack?"

"Wellp, I was trying to clean all the wheelbarrows and I was going down to the cellar to get some soap and Pinkie suddenly decided she wanted some sugar."

"I didn't really need sugar, Applejack!" Pinkie suddenly interrupted, spitting out a core that landed in the grass. "I just wanted to see what you have down there! It's so spooky and mysterious!"

"I keep supplies in there, Pinkie. Nothin' else."

"It does strike me as rather odd..." Rarity began. "That I've seen pretty much the entire farm but that one room Applejack. It's also strange that you'd have a sign on the door telling ponies to keep out. Nothing quite like that anywhere else around here. Makes me think you're hiding something."

Applejack stood, her face displaying no emotion as she backed up towards the cellar doors, flipped the padlock, turned the key, and then placed the key around her neck. She raised a hoof, pointing it at the sign on the doors, grabbed the nearby wheelbarrow and hauled it off around to the other end of the barn. Leaving Rarity and Pinkie standing awkwardly by themselves. Rarity tossed her mane and glanced at Pinkie.

"Well that was certainly....odd. I was just having a bit of fun."

"We neeeeeeeeeeed to find out what's in there, Rarity!"

"No, we do not. Whatever is down there is clearly a sensitive matter for Applejack and I'm not going to damage her trust in me by breaking into her property! Besides it's against the law....probably."

"I bet you could unlock it with your magical powers, Raaaaaarity." Pinkie squealed, smiling widely and fluttering her eyes.

It was true, Rarity could open the lock with ease. Her ability to levitate and manipulate small pieces of metal was important for her efficiency at dress-making. And truth be told, she was dying to know what was in the cellar as well. Applejack was a pony of very few secrets. She wasn't vain in any way, wasn't self-conscious, and would gladly go to a fancy gala covered in mud and dirt from working all day if she could. The very idea she had a secret that she kept locked away was quite enticing. Especially for Rarity who loved to snoop and gossip. Whatever was down there could be juicy.

"Alright, fine. We will take a quick peek. Then we shall never mention this again to ANYPONY, Pinkie. You understand? And we must be fast. I have no idea how long it takes to clean the filth off a wheelbarrow and I would not like to find out by having Applejack catching us perusing through whatever is in the cellar."

Pinkie nodded happily. She was going to get her wish after all.

"Besides," Rarity continued. "It's most likely just hard cider or apple whiskey. I know they make that here, I just don't know where they keep it all. So don't be surprised if it's just a bunch of smelly barrels."

With a small shower of light blue sparks and a few rays of light, Rarity's magical unicorn horn had expertly unlocked the door and opened the padlock that kept it shut. Another small beam of light shot out and the two red wooden doors swung open, delicately resting against the concrete foundations of the barn. The two ponies quietly tiptoed into the entrance, closing the doors behind them. With a spark, a small orb of light gleamed from the tip of Rarity's horn as she and Pinkie delicately walked down the stairs into the darkness. A few oil lamps were placed around but the majority of them were doused, giving the basement a very dark and eerie feel. Eventually the two turned the corner right into......a stack of barrels.

"Awwww! You were right, Rarity. It's just drinks n' stuff. I wanted it to be treasure!" Pinkie pouted and sat on her haunches, looking as if the whole world has betrayed her.

"Wait a moment. There's something behind this." Rarity walked around the stack to find a small hallway with a room at the end. It was brightly illuminated with an orange light beaming through the hall. "There's another part to the basement, Pinkie."

The two walked down the hallway towards the light, their hooves clicking quietly against the stone floor. They soon found themselves inside the room seeing something that they'd never have expected. Canvases of various sizes lay everywhere. Some leaning against the wood beams that held up the ceiling. Some sitting on homemade easels made of twigs and branches and tape. Almost every canvas was blessed with some sort of unique albeit somewhat ungainly painting. They were sloppy yet, there was something about them. A sort of rugged skill to the form, the contours. Like a sort of impressionism made by a pony who didn't know what the word quite meant. Apples, fruits, ponies, and some scenery from the town were all various subjects of the pieces. Some minutely detailed and scarily accurate. Others simpler and stylized. It was quite a wide range of subjects. The paintings that were of ponies consisted mainly of people Applejack had known. Some of her friends, others she knew from town. Rarity silently walked through the room admiring each piece. As she got farther into the room, the age of some of the paintings became quite clear. Dust and film and bits of fungus were growing on some of the older pieces. In particular a painting that leaned against the wall featuring a happy couple of straw-colored ponies, one of which wore a stetson. Rarity frowned a bit, guessing who these two were meant to be.

Pinkie was eagerly scuttling to each painting eyeballing it eagerly, then quickly finding herself entranced by a different piece. All over the basement she ran from canvas to canvas, making small happy gasps as she continued to recognize many of the locales and citizens that were being depicted in the art. She had long since knocked over a can of red paint and had been tracking red hoofprints across the floor as she skipped.

"Rarity! Ooh look! This one is of Twilight! And this one has you in it! Oh oh! This one is of the Town Hall! Oh my gosh this one is of me, Rarity! Somepony painted me!"

Pinkie was hopping up and down in front of the splotchy pink art piece depicting a stylized pink pony with wild curls for hair and massive cerulean eyes. The silence caused Pinkie to turn and observe Rarity who was quietly nosing her way through the older dusty paintings that sat in the dark corners of the room. She trotted over and joined her in the silence, seeing the pieces featuring ponies whom neither of them knew.

"Who are these ponies, Rarity?"

"Probably relatives, old friends and such, Pinkie. These are all quite a bit older than the others. The skill in the colors and form is alot more....amateur. Yet still beautiful. I wonder if Applejack painted all of these? So many are simply divine."

She stopped at a somewhat less dusty piece that sat leaning against the dew-covered wall. Small mushrooms were growing on it, obscuring its appearance. But it was clear what the subject was. It was Rarity herself, painted elegantly, her purple curls becoming a series of violet and blue coils that swirled across the painting becoming a whirlpool of indigo colors that vaguely depicted her pet cat, Opal. Rarity sat in awe, shocked she had inspired a painting so beautiful. There was no doubt anymore that Applejack had painted these.

"WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK YER DOING IN HERE!?" came a angry labored shout from back at the hallway.

Rarity and Pinkie both turned to see Applejack standing at the end of the hall, sweating heavily in her panicked run to the basement, a look of anger and betrayal on her freckled features. She gritted her teeth and galloped forward, coming around Rarity and Pinkie and began shoving them out of the room.

"Applejack, there's no need to be so upset." Rarity chided as the orange pony started pushing her back up the stairs.

"NO NEED? NO NEED!? I TOLD Y'ALL TO KEEP OUT. I TOLD Y'ALL TO STAY OUT OF HERE BUT YOU JUST BROKE IN LIKE YA OWNED THIS PLACE. ITS MY CELLAR AND I SAID TO KEEP OUT." Applejack's voice was beginning to crack slightly as she screamed, her emotions beginning to tip over the boiling point.

"The paintings are all so pretty, Jackie! Why are you hiding them away from everypony?" Pinkie whined sadly as she was tossed out onto the grass outside the cellar doors. "You should show them off!"

Applejack said nothing, slamming the cellar door shut, locking the padlock yet again before turning to her companions. Pinkie and Rarity both frowned when they noticed Applejack blinking rapidly, trying to keep the quickly forming tears from falling down her cheeks.

"I said no." she grunted. "I want you both off my property. You've overstayed your welcome for today."

"Applejack don't you think you're overreacting just tiny bit?" Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow.

Applejack glared at Rarity, then turned her gaze to Pinkie, before she turned and sat angrily against the cellar doors, her back to her friends.

"Y'all should be ashamed of yerselves. I thought I could trust ya. Can't leave ya alone for a minute before yer both goin' through all my private stuff like a buncha goons."

"I just wanted to see what was in there, Aj! I'm sorry! But you were being so spooky about it!" Pinkie frowned, trotting forward to nuzzle Applejack's shoulder.

"Why on earth would you hide such things away from us, Applejack? Your pieces down there are beautiful. You've made such exquisite works of art, and you hide them away like they're nothing!" Rarity said, tossing back her made and sitting at Applejack's side so she could read her expression.

"They ARE nothin', Rare. It's just a hobby. An embarassin' hobby that I don't want to talk about. And I would appreciate it if you would both never bring it up again." With a small wave, Applejack wiped the angry tears out of her eyes.

"I always wondered who it was who painted all those lovely little vines all over the barns here." Rarity replied. "It seems like an awful shame hiding your special talent from the world."

"Mah special talent....is apples." Applejack said, adjusting her floppy old cowboy hat. "And I said I wanted y'all off my property. So go on."

Pinkie frowned and slinked away, hopping over the fence and galloping down the road toward town. Rarity let out a long sigh and shook her head at her friend, massaging her temple with one of her cloven hooves.

"Ugh. Fine, be that way Applejack." Rarity said as she stood to leave. "But we aren't finished talking about this."

"I am."

"We will see about that."

And with another toss of her mane, Rarity was off, delicately trotting across the field next to the orchard like a purebred showpony. With a small vault she had leaped over the fence and was making her way back into town leaving Applejack alone near the cellar. The orange earth pony stood quietly, took another forlorn glance at the padlocked doors before letting out a sad sigh and going back to work. There was a lot to do today and having to protect her secret from even MORE nosy ponies would have to wait til later.

She's so rock-steady.

"So what's all this here about, Rarity? This yer way of apologizin'?"

"Yes, I suppose it is. Would it to be safe to assume it's working?"

"A bit I... guess."

On the eastern edge of the main street of Ponyville was a small diner. It had been there longer than most establishments. There was nothing fancy about the place, though it looked nice with large lilacs drooping from every structure almost obscuring it from the street. The food was humble, but homemade. Cooked to order and delicious. Greasy, salty, and dirty with a sort of southern charm to it all. A guilty pleasure for someone who usually found themselves dining on meals that generally cost the same amount as a fine piece of jewelry. However it was generally agreed that no matter where a pony was from, the cuisine at the diner really hit the spot. Hence why it's name was "The Spot Hitter Cafe" which it wore proudly with a purple painted title above the entrance, which was also very hard to see amongst the lilacs. Rarity would never admit it but she loved the tiny establishment. The food was uncouth, but good. For Applejack however, it was one of her favorite places to go when she decided to eat out. Which was uncommon since she was a pretty good chef in her own right and generally saw little need to go out on the town when she could be at home, relaxing or talking to friends. To be at the cafe was a bit of a treat, even though she'd never admit it to Rarity, who of course knew better.

The two were sitting at one of the metal tables that sat outside the restaurant. Almost invisible to any passerby due to all the vines and flowers. The tables and chairs were all worn iron, twisted and curled almost into a lacy look. Almost like a sort of filigree that had been re-sized to be large enough for a few horses to sit around. Had they not been so rusty and covered in moss, the rather fancy furniture would have seemed out of place in the somewhat crude establishment near the cobblestone road. Rarity was wearing one of her favorite florentine hats that she had sewn herself. Light yellow in color, almost white, with a large white rose stuck in the band. Applejack, who never dressed up for anything unless it was a requirement, came as she often did. With her blonde mane tied back in a ponytail and brown rawhide stetson atop her head. She was sitting back comfortably on her chair, eyeballing Rarity suspiciously.

"May I take your order?" asked the waitress, a small lime-hued pony with a white apron on, covered in grease stains.

"Oh well I would like to have the eggplant fritters. Oh and the green pepper hash as a side. And I think as an appetizer some of those fried green tomatoes with chipotle peppers I smell. We can share them." Rarity smiled sweetly at Applejack who looked briefly down at her menu.

"uh...I'll have the same I guess." Applejack pushed the menu away. "And some grits."

The two sat in silence until the food arrived a few minutes later. Eating was a welcome distraction from the somewhat icy silence coming from Applejack who immediately dove into her meal, chewing loudly. As expected, the fritters were delicious, particularly when dipped into the ranch dressing with olive juice they had received as a dipping sauce which Applejack mixed into the grits. Eventually the two had cleaned their plates and Rarity decided the time had once again come to approach conversation.

"So......?" she asked sweetly, fluttering her long false eyelashes.

"So." Applejack was pushing a few crumbs around on her plate, not looking up.

"So are you going to tell me why you like to paint?"

"I dunno, Rare. I started doin' it when I was a young'n and I liked it. Made me feel better."

"So would you say it's an outlet for your desires, passions, pathos?"

"See, this is why I don't like talking about this sort a stuff."

"Why ever not?"

"Because I just like makin' stuff with paint and here you are tryin' to make me seem like it's somethin' special when it ain't. It's just somethin I like to do sometimes."

"Alright, I apologize let's start over."

"Fine."

"Applejack why do you feel you need to hide your paintings in that dank cellar of yours?"

"I don't like ponies lookin' at em."

"Does your family know you keep those down there?"

"Of course they know, Rarity. It's their farm, too."

"And they're perfectly fine with you hiding your special gifts away in the darkness?"

"Yep."

"Why don't you like ponies observing your paintings? I would think you'd be proud of them."

"I ain't. I make 'em cause I like 'em but that doesn't mean I feel like displayin' em or even talkin' about it. I don't even like talkin' about it with you or Granny."

"But WHY, Applejack? Why are you so frightened to receive compliments on your pieces?"

"Shucks, I dunno Rarity. I just don't."

Applejack was uncomfortably looking out through the lilacs onto the road. Rarity sat quietly, studying her friend.

"Would you like to know what I think, Applejack?"

"Nope. But yer gonna tell me anyway, so go ahead and shoot."

"I think you're shy."

Applejack's cheeks went slightly red and she turned to look at Rarity, furrowing her brow.

"I ain't shy!"

"Yes you are. You're afraid if ponies know you have an artistic side, they'll stop thinking of you as the tough no-nonsense farm pony everyone knows you are. You're frightened they won't approve of you if they know you like being creative."

"Th....that ain't....." Applejack fumbled quietly looking around.

"You're scared you'll lose respect."

"No it's just......." Applejack sighed. "I don't like artists, Rarity. And other fancy 'creative' folk."

"Oh?" Rarity replied, raising her eyebrows. "why ever not, darling?"

"Cause they're all stuffy and pretentious types who look for meanin' in things that don't got any. Y'all already know how I feel about the types over in Canterlot. All stuffy and stuck up."

"Not ALL the artists in Equestria are like that, Applejack."

"I'm sure they ain't, Rare. But most are. And I don't wanna be affiliated with em."

"What are you planning on doing with your art once you run out of room?"

"I dunno. I use some of it as firewood sometimes. And mulch."

"That's awful, Applejack, you are wasting your talent."

"Don't care, Rare."

"So if I told you that I think your art is good enough to be placed on the walls of some of the most revered and respected galleries in Equestria, I assume your answer would be no?"

"Actually it would be heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeck no." Applejack crossed her arms. "I already don't like the idea that you n' Pinkie know I do this. I sure as hay don't need half the country lookin' at me and my paints and judgin' me like I'm some sort of prized pig at a contest."

"What if I told you that you could auction your unwanted pieces off for lots of bits."

"Nah."

"It wouldn't be some paltry tiny amount of bits, Jack. I'm talking hundreds of thousands of bits. The nobility in this land compete to pay a fine price for any good art they can place in their homes."

"That much, eh?" Applejack's expression softened. Rarity smiled internally, she was finally getting through to her friend.

"You could afford to fix your roof, Applejack. Get Granny that new false hip she needs. Hire workers so you and Big Mac don't have to run yourself ragged anymore. And ignoring the practicality of all that, why you'd be famous, dear!"

"Why would I wanna be famous."

"Fame means attention. Attention means ponies take notice of you. Then they find out who you are and what you do and thus it drums up more interest in you and then......" Rarity waved her arm, expecting an answer.

"They'd come to the farm? And wanna buy goods?" Applejack asked, not sure if it was the answer her friend wanted.

"Exactly, Applejack. On the short term you earn lots of money for auctioning off art you no longer want. In the long term you become a popular individual in the art world whom ponies will learn runs a farm where she and her family made lovely produce. Then they'll want to try it. Hopefully."

"And they ain't just gonna ignore it and make fun of the food I grow like that jerk at the Grand Gallopin' Gala, right?"

"I can't be sure, Applejack. But considering all the renovations you could do for Sweet Apple Acres, with all the money we could potentially earn, doesn't that seem like a risk worth taking?"

Applejack looked at the floor, sweating slightly. The gears in her head were turning. On one hoof, she didn't really want to be needlessly exposed to the type of pony who generally made fun of folks like her. On the other hoof, the farm was in a pretty big state of disrepair. The land wasn't fertile as it once was. Applebloom's schooling was costly. And they weren't making nearly as much as they used to. Times were hard and would only get harder unless change happened. Maybe this was the change she needed.

"I'm......I kinda want to try this Rare but......." Applejack bit her lip. "I'm kinda scared."

"I'll be there to help you, Applejack. I'm your friend and I promise you I won't let you get hurt or embarrassed. I won't force you to do anything you don't wish to do. But I will encourage you to try new things, if you let me."

A chilly wind blew through the cafe, making all the vines of lilacs swing as the rays of sunlight poured through the delicate flower petals, casting oblong lavender shadows across the cafe as the two ponies sat. One expectantly waiting for an answer, as the other sat lost in thought.

"And Applejack." Rarity said quietly, putting a hoof on her friend's shoulder. "If it goes well, we can do it again and make more bits later. And if it goes poorly or you feel badly I promise you I won't ever ask you try anything like this ever again."

"Why do you want me to do this so bad, Rare."

"Because when I was in that cellar I was almost in tears. They may not mean much to you, Applejack, but what I saw down there was some of the most beautiful honest art I have seen in my life. Anypony would be blessed to have one of your canvases in their home, and it hurts me to know you feel ashamed of your talent. It really does, Dear. You shouldn't be frightened about being yourself."

The two sat staring at each other until Applejack grinned and nodded her head. She took off her brown hat and placed it on the table.

"Alright, Rare. Y'all have convinced me to give this a shot. I trust ya."

"Good! Then let's shake on it!"

"Sure thing!"

Applejack made a deep gurgle in her throat before spitting a large loogie into her hoof and outstretching it for a handshake. Rarity frowned deeply and withdrew her hoof.

"Let's shake without the spit, please."

"Aw c'mon, it's tradition."

"It's grotesque. I'm not touching that."

"Oh fine."

A few moist towelettes later, and the two finally put their hooves together and shook on it. The agreement was sealed, and now Rarity had a lot of work to do if she was planning on making Applejack's art famous amongst the nobility of Equestria. But for a high-class mare such as herself, connections were an easy thing to come by. What wouldn't be easy was trying to find a gallery willing to display art made by a completely unknown earth pony. But with luck, that would be the only major hurdle they'd have to cross.

*************************************************************************

Deep underground a lone young mare sat in a dark room, her serious face illuminated by the lanterns that sat near her. She was deep in thought, trying to make sense of her own feelings. She had never been a proud pony. In fact often, when it was quiet and dark and she had nothing to distract herself, she often wondered if she was worth anything at all. Did her friends really like her? For the most part they were far more educated and aggressive than she was. Did they think of her in the same way the snobs in other towns did? Like she was some sort of amusing yokel? Funny because of her mannerisms. A sort of cosmic joke? A hillbilly? A hick? Did anyone besides her own family really enjoy her for herself, or for what she could do. What she was capable of. Her strength, her power, her reliability and her honesty. These were all good traits to have. Her parents had raised her well. But had these traits made her too private? Why did curt words from those who had been more fortunate than her make her so.....frightened.

It was odd, looking at her paintings with a different perspective. Causing yet more thoughts to clash in her brain. Her friends thought the smears and splatters of dye she had placed on these canvases were beautiful. One claimed she was nearly brought to tears. Were they really that good? These silly little paintings she'd been doing ever since she'd come back to the farm as a child? These little tapestries she had slung together to help her feel less rotten about her brief stay in Manehattan, her vague cutie mark, the loss of the two ponies who had meant the most to her. Had it been an outlet? Was Rarity right? These pieces of art had made her feel so much better. Mixing the dyes herself and trying to place her feelings and thoughts on the canvas had been very therapeutic in a way. Granny had been the one to suggest it in the first place. Thought it would do her some good. So in a way Applejack had been expressing herself. Did that make her an artist? She assumed by definition it did in a way, though now as she thought of it she was being hit with a new emotion as she gazed over the large collection of paintings, some of which were crudely piled on the floor.

This emotion was an odd one. It was one she had felt whenever she had finished her chores early. When she had run the swindling Flim-Flam Brothers out of town. When she had received an accolade from the Princess of the dynasty herself, for converting and defeating her evil twin sister. When she had helped mend the broken trust between Rarity and her sister Sweetie-Belle. When she had managed to lift Rainbow Dash's spirits after her tryouts for an acrobatics team had failed. When she had managed to buck down all the apples for a season by herself, received a trophy from the mayor, and helped rescue the town from the clutches of a trickster god. Every one of these events, these memories, had always triggered this emotion in the back of her head. It made her shiver slightly, a pleasant tingle that ran up from her haunches across her spine and to her brain, making her grin slightly. They made her feel good about herself. Like she was worth something, like she was special. Was it......pride? It was, wasn't it? She was proud. She was proud that she had managed to get this far with so little help. She was proud of her independence, her strength, her reliability, her honesty. And for the first time ever in her life she was proud of her art. Her art meant something to ponies other than herself. And as she dwelled on it, she came to realize that meant a lot to her. She WAS shy. She was scared of her friends disapproving of her activity. But now that they had said it was beautiful.......she couldn't help but feel happy. It meant the world to her.

"Figured you wuz down here, honey."

Granny Smith came wobbling into the cellar, her wrinkled but muscular legs carrying her ancient sagging body along. True to her name, her fur was a light green color like the apple of the same monicker. She was very old and had pretty much raised Applejack and Applebloom all on her own. And nobody could argue she hadn't done an excellent job.

"Oh hey Granny." Applejack mumbled, distracted. "Is supper ready?"

"Yep, sher is. Din' see ya in the orchard and ya din' leave a note so I came down here. I'm like a super sleuth ya see. Followed the clues and have solved the mystery!"

Applejack giggled a bit. "Alright I'll come up in a bit, Gran."

"Whatcha been thinkin' about, honey? I don't normally see ya in here just sittin' around. Must be something on yer mind to keep yeh all cooped up."

The old mare sat down next to her granddaughter, her old joints creaking audibly. Applejack leaned over and rested her head on her grandma's bony old shoulder, glad to have company.

"I might be goin' on a trip soon, Granny."

"Oh ho ho? Where to?"

"Don't know yet. It was Rarity's idea."

"Oh she's that unicorn with the big curls o' hair aint she? What sort o' trips all this then?"

"Well......Rare and Pinkie got into the cellar earlier and saw all of my....stuff."

"MMmm hmmm. They liked it din' they?"

"Yeh. They liked it alot, Gran."

"Told ya, weren't nothin' to fret about. Yer friends will love ya no matter what ya do."

"You were right as usual." Applejack planted a small kiss on her grandmother's cheek. "Rarity wants me to put some of my ol' art in a gallery I guess."

"Ooh! Now that sound's awful fancy!"

"Yeah but it might mean going to a place fulla.....ya know. Ponies like Uncle and Auntie. I'm still not sure I even wanna go."

"Yer goin' whether you like it or not."

"Not gonna give me a choice then, huh?" Applejack grinned.

"Nope. Ya can't let one bad experience put y'all off of seein' the world, AJ. Ain't right for you and Mac to be sittin on this old farm all day."

"I like sittin' on this farm, Granny."

"Theres a whole world out there for ya, honey. There's a whole big beautiful adventure outside this here town and it's been passin ya by. Yer too young to be like me. Sittin around workin' all day. Yeh should go out and see it. I wish I could get Mac to take a vacation sometimes. That fool brother of yers is stubborn as a mule."

"Alright, I'll go."

"Good. Now git on upstairs. Supper's gettin cold! I made somethin' new tonight. Radish souffle. I don't quite know what a souffle is but it sounded awful fancy and the picture looked pretty good in the cookbook. And these old hands managed to get it lookin just like the picture, too. Mac's probably already eaten half o' it by now."

And with that the lantern was snuffed, and the two mares made their way out of the cellar, locking the door behind them. True to her word, Granny's souffle was one of the best meals they'd ever had. And soon the dinner conversation was full of laughter and questions about Applejack's day with Rarity and the paintings in the cellar. Things always seemed to turn out alright on the apple farm.

Each lash in her eye is really white roots.

After a few goodbyes and words of encouragement, Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight soon found themselves on a train. It's destination: Canterlot. The Royal City, where Twilight herself had grown up and studied as an envoy to the Princess. It was a beautiful place, nestled next to a proud violet mountain where large waterfalls cascaded onto the rolling hills below. Every building shaped like vases, tops, and and tents. Marble, porcelain, and gold trim for the walls of most homes, with streets made of polished slate, lined with cobblestone walkways and golden staircases, each covered in royal purple pennants that had the yellow sun-shaped stamp that had come to be the symbol of royalty. The taller more elegant striped buildings were dotted with flags, pennants, tapestries, antennas and weather vanes. Each of these used for recording fluctuation in the weather and magic. It was a city of science and progress and for the most part, very VERY wealthy ponies. The upper crust of society. They made up the majority of the population in town, the rest going to members of the castle staff, students, and members of the royal family. Every day was like a stampede, with the various aristocrats rushing out of their homes to do business and be social in the sort of way only those raised in lavish surroundings could. Networking, connections, and general stuffiness were the best way to make friends here. And for someone as sociable and clever as Rarity, it was the perfect sort of place. She knew how to bend these ponies to her will.

Twilight had grown up in the city, studying magic and various scientific applications under the tutelage of the Princess herself. She had become fascinated with knowledge and had become a very cold hermit of a pony until a year prior when the Princess had forced her to live in Ponyville. It was a reluctant change for the bookworm, but one she sorely needed. She had no real friends and had never formed a real relationship with anyone outside her family. It was unhealthy for such a young lass to sit in a dusty old library surrounded by grimoires and historical tomes all day. Twilight had never regretted the move. Ever since moving to the small dusty town of Ponyville, her life had changed for the better. She'd learned what it truly meant to have a friend, to love someone you hardly knew, to make a connection with strangers who shared your interests. It had filled her life with a new sort of joy. Even now, simply being sandwiched between Applejack and Rarity on the crowded train, Twilight experienced little else but excitement. While this was little else but a business venture for her companions, it was an adventure for her. One she could share with two of her closest friends. And simultaneously, she'd get to visit her old home and family. Whom she had not seen in quite a while.

Applejack tried to grin and seem as excited as her friends, but it was difficult. The few times she had been to Canterlot had left a bad taste in her mouth. Sure the city itself was gorgeous, truly a kingdom befitting of a goddess like Princess Celestia. But the inhabitants were jerks. Stuffy, stuck-up, rude, and generally unable to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, in Applejack's opinion. Every pony in the city, with their top hats and monocles, crowns and tiaras, waistcoats and lapels, corsets and cravats, just seemed to represent everything she disliked about city life. Everything she had disliked about her stay with her Aunt and Uncle Orange in Manehatten. Everything she had, at one time, disliked about her friend Rarity, until she had gotten to know her better. It was this thought that had finally made Applejack agree to come on this trip in the first place. A small part of her hoped that maybe she was wrong. Maybe she'd find something to like about these 'fancy folk' if she hung around them for a while. But she wasn't counting on it. The pony to the right of her was currently gabbing about how much he disliked the sound of birds in the morning. How they interrupted his favorite record he liked to play when he awoke. He was lucky to have birds at all, in Applejack's opinion. And she would have told it to his face as well, but she knew it'd just embarrass Rarity and Twilight and so she kept her mouth shut, and quietly rode the train, a look of frustration and boredom on her orange features.

*********************************************************************************************

"Still don't see why I gotta be here, Rare. I mean....I like coffee n' all but this place is kinda...weird." said Applejack, trying to lean away from a tall gangly stallion with a beret who was invested heartily in a board game with a young mare wearing a hijab. She'd never seen two ponies so enthralled with a game before. Whatever the 'Settlers of Catan' was, it was certainly making the two players shout a lot and point angrily at the pieces.

"It's also kind of small." Twilight peeped quietly from the large worn couch she was sitting on. A glass hookah sat to her right on top of a pile of art magazines and a few empty mugs that had, at one point, been full of iced coffee. The kind that kept ponies up all night. Opera laced with techno beats was being played quietly over the speakers.

"It's not weird. Or small. It is 'indy' thank you very much." Rarity shot back. "This is where budding culture comes from."

The three were sitting in a rather snug and smug art house nestled in the lower areas of Canterlot. The Painterly Pony Perch was a sort of all-in-one go-to spot for art aficionados, musicians, and hipsters. Paintings, live music, coffee, cuisine, and more made up the interior. A small well-lit stage harbored a few ponies who felt like reading poetry, singing, or perhaps trying a bit of improv comedy. Everyone inside had clearly come from all walks of life. Ponies, donkeys, deer, zebras, and a single giraffe were crowded into the establishment, each in very different sort of garbs, mingling. In an ironic twist, Applejack fit in more than her two friends, simply because of her oversized hat. Rarity's beautiful coif of curls and striking good looks made her stick out like a sore thumb. Twilight stuck out simply because of how uncomfortable she looked. Wallflower of the year! She turned to see that someone had painted her teacher and mentor Princess Celestia, only now that person had painted her as a tyrant, lording over armies of ponies with a red sinister light on her face. Twilight frowned at the art and it's misrepresentation of her teacher. She made a mental note to seek out whoever made it and tell them off.

"I don't think culture is the only thing buddin' here, Sugarcube. If y'all catch my drift." Applejack shot back with a grin.

Rarity took a quick sniff of the air. "Oh dear. Well I shall have to inform the owner then, now won't I?"

"I think he's the one smoking, Rare." Applejack pointed over at the owner of the art house, who was leaning against the tiki bar with a calm contemplative grin on his face. An old grey goat with his mane done up in several small dreadlocks, each tipped with a small colorful ribbon, including the one in his beard.

"I don't like this place, Rarity. It feels......dirty." Twilight grumbled from the couch.

"Oh for goodness sake, Twilight and Applejack. Would you two relax? We've only been here an hour and you two have whined incessantly the entire time. There is nothing wrong with a bit of culture. Why we should be very thankful that they allowed us to display Applejack's art in the window and out front for free just to attract customers. Now we get free drinks and food here and you two are just sitting here acting like you're in danger. Just lie back and drink it in."

"Drink it in, huh?" Applejack picked up her iced cinammon mochaccino and took a sip. She licked her lips and sat as if in thought before quickly downing the whole thing. "Mmm! That there ain't bad at all. Wouldn't mind waking up to one of those in the mornin'."

"There, see?" said Rarity, shooting a small glare in Twilight's direction.

"So lemme get this straight here." Applejack began as she swished the ice around the empty glass. "Folks come here to drink, eat, hear music and look at art, right?"

"Mmm hmm." Rarity nodded.

"Then why do we gotta come all the way here to do it? Shoot, Rare. I got plenty of food and drinks at home. And I can play the violin pretty good. Why not just do this sort of thing back in Ponyville with ponies we know?"

"Because the purpose of this whole thing is to try to get ponies to bid on your paintings, Applejack. Ponies with lots of bits who are willing to spend superfluous amounts on paintings that you no longer want. Nobody like that in Ponyville, but here? Oh goodness, yes. Plenty."

"Then why are we here?"

"Because plenty of very important ponies come here to scout out new talent. You're on display out front, which is pretty prestigious for this place. We're pretty much guaranteed to have a gallery owner waltz by and fall in love with your pieces."

"How longs that gonna take?"

"Can't be sure, really. It may not even happen today."

"You mean we might have to come here again, Rarity?" Twilight asked, as a mare in a sequin gown to her right began to play the national anthem through a golden harmonica.

"Yeah I can't see muhself wantin' to spend more time here, Rare. I'm with Twi. I don't like this place."

"Applejack you promised you'd at least make an effort to enjoy yourself. So please at least try. Please? For me?" Rarity leaned over and fluttered her long eyelashes sweetly, causing Applejack to blush slightly and frown.

"Ugh, fine. I will try." Applejack grunted as she leaned back in her chair and ordered another iced coffee along with an avocado muffin.

Rarity leaned back in her cushioned chair listening the chattering around her and the quiet opera over the loudspeakers. Ponies of all walks of life were sitting back in the casual atmosphere discussing a myriad of topics. She loved this sort of atmosphere and soon found herself so relaxed that she was nodding off. Twilight reluctantly found herself in a chess match with a complete stranger which she promptly won several times. Applejack grew bored of mundane activity around her and decided it was time to make her own fun. She cast a mischievous glance at the small lit stage where a pony in a fedora was playing a merry beat on some bongo drums.

****************************************************************************************

"Rarity...wake up....WAKE UP!" Twilight shouted directly into her friends delicate ear, causing Rarity's eyes to shoot open. She sat up straight looking around in panic.

"What? What ever is going on!?" she turned to see that there was a very elegantly dressed mare to her right.

The pony was studying Rarity intently, with an amused grin playing about her features. A red shawl and plaid ascot adorned her thin body, small beads of pearls above each hoof. Very small golden spectacles sat perched on her snout. Small pink buttons sat on the lapels of her purple overcoat. She had achieved a look Rarity often strove towards herself, managing to look fancy and approachable all at once.

"Hello, Miss Rarity." the mare began in a very clear voice with a similar accent to Rarity's own. "My name is Belle. Your friend here tells me you are Miss Applejack's manager?"

"Well, I uh, well that is.....I'm her old friend, really. I've sort of become her agent, trying to get her some exposure in the art world you see. Networking and such."

"Then you are precisely who I need to talk with! I have a little gallery uptown. It's usually more of a vanity gallery but I'm absolutely entranced by the pieces I've seen out front and would love to have a small exhibition for your friend free of charge. Is she present? I'd love to meet the unknown virtuoso of these things!"

"She is present....um, somewhere." Rarity realized for the first time since she had awaken that Applejack appeared to be missing. Rarity took a quick glance around, searching, before leaning over to whisper to Twilight. "Where is she?"

With a small sheepish grin Twilight pointed a hoof timidly over the back of the couch behind Belle and Rarity. "She's over there. Performing."

It was at that moment that Rarity became fully conscious of the atmosphere around herself. Gone was the chattering of various ponies. Instead all the patrons of the art house were all staring past her at the stage located in the back. Their faces ranging from confusion to stifled laughter and horror. The light opera music had stopped and instead there was a crisp sound of......was that....fiddling? Someone was playing slightly off-tune fiddle music onstage. Rarity felt her skin grow cold and her heartbeat speed up. Nervously she turned slowly around to face the stage. Silently praying to Celestia that it wouldn't be Applejack on stage, playing her fiddle.

Of course it was. That was just the sort of luck Rarity had when something important needed to get done. Applejack was just finishing up with a rousing pizzicato performance of "Turkey in the Straw" with the sort of gusto only she could manage. Small wisps of smoke flew off the strings of her tiny violin as she furiously played, smiling happily as sweat ran down her freckled orange face. The old goat who owned the art house seemed to be enjoying it, tapping his hooves merrily, his braided fetlocks bouncing about as he danced. When the song ended Applejack tipped her hat. The old goat whistled loudly as the other patrons clapped politely, unsure of what to think of the uncommon performance. Applejack had never received applause of any sort for her music and tipped her hat again, deciding to go on.

"Well thank y'all. Hmm what should I play next here....ooh! Oh I know! This one my Grandpappy taught me to play when I was just a lil' filly. It's called 'The Daffodil of Appleloosa'."

With a cough and a tweak of the strings, Applejack launched into a slightly more subdued bluegrass song, playing delicately with her eyes closed. A few of the ponies in the bar got up and walked out, unable to take anymore of this southern music. Rarity sat transfixed at what was happening around her, completely and entirely forgetting she had Belle and Twilight on either side of her.

"So...that's Miss Applejack?" Belle asked flatly, her face entirely expressionless.

Rarity slowly closed her jaw which had been hanging agape for over a minute. She swallowed nervously and smiled at Belle who was watching the stage intently. "Y...yes."

"I see."

*************************************************************************************

It had begun raining by the time the three friends exited the establishment. The paintings on display were packed back into a large leather portfolio and placed into a small cart that Applejack pulled along. A small blanket had been thrown over it all to keep water from getting onto it. The three companions had donned rain slickers as they trotted down the street. A sort of quiet silence coming from between them. Rarity was staring at the cobblestone ground, an unhappy frown on her face, made even worse by the running mascara from all the rain. Applejack seemed nonplussed, rain was no issue for a pony who spent most of her time outside. She also didn't see what the big deal was. So ONE pony had come forward with an opportunity and apparently left when she saw Applejack playing music on stage. Was it really that big of a deal? Twilight trotted along a few feet from the other two, a nearly invisible force field around her head, gleaming out from her unicorn horn, preventing any rain from getting onto her face and ruining her hairdo. She kept her eyes averted to the road ahead, but couldn't help but glance occasionally at the other two. This whole event seemed to be straining their friendship. Neither pony looked ready to speak to the other yet. Twilight decided to break the ice as best as possible.

"This new place sounds nice, Rarity. Maybe it won't be so bad." Twilight smiled as hard as she could within her waterproof magical sphere. "It can't be any worse than the last place we went to!"

"It's another downtown independent art coalition, Twilight. Just another meaningless sidestep to our real goal. Just MORE wasted time."

"Ponies could still discover Applejack's art there right?"

"I don't know. I've never heard of it, which means it's probably awful. And now that it's raining we'll have to ask if they have room INSIDE the building for display. This is assuming of course they even WANT to display anything from the likes of we."

"If ya ask me." Applejack began. "Would we really wanna be associated with someone as icy as that Belle gal anyway? I mean shoot, if a little fiddlin' is enough to turn her away, then clearly its a fault of hers and not ours. It ain't our problem."

"She's not the one walking through the freezing rain, Applejack." Rarity shot back. "She's also not the one who decided to put on an impromptu viola recital complete with yodeling in the middle of an upper-class socialite bar!"

"Rare you said, and I quote, 'please try to enjoy yourself, Applejack!'" Applejack replied, imitating Rarity's accent with a high-pitched falsetto. "And I did. I had a good old time up there. Isn't that what you wanted? Me to stop belly-achin'?"

"You could have had a good time without making us look bad."

Applejack stopped in the road, glancing at Rarity, a look of treachery in her green eyes. Her lower jaw clenched slightly as she squinted, the rain dripping off her brown stetson. Twilight bit her lip nervously. Maybe breaking the ice hadn't been such a good idea.

"So that's what this is all about, huh?" Applejack murmured. "You asked me to come, Rare. I didn't have to!"

"I know, I know. I'm sorry." Rarity wheeled around. "I'm just....I'm very stressed out right now."

"You think I ain't stressed!?" Applejack shouted.

There was a flash of lightning that tore across the sky, exploding with light that gleamed on every wet stone on the street, causing all three ponies to jump in fright.

"I can repel rain but not lightning, girls." Twilight squeaked as she took off down the street. "Maybe we can talk about this indoors!"

Belle had decided not to house Applejack's art in her gallery. But before she'd left the three alone she had given them a business card. It was for another gallery on the other side of town that was more suited for those with "robust tastes" as she had curtly said to Rarity before leaving the art house. It wasn't much but after half the patrons had left the bar and the three friends had been escorted out, it was pretty much their only option at this point. Being a mare of connections, Rarity was very worried that neither she nor Twilight had ever heard of the 'Bold Bronco Balcony' or any of the artists showcased there. But in times of desperation, Rarity would rather try her luck there then remain in the cold lightning storm that was passing over Canterlot.

The three ran down the slippery street, periodic flashes of lightning creating oblong shadows across the environment as they passed between buildings and around carriages, occasionally bumping into other ponies trying to find shelter from the weather. Eventually they saw it, an red building that had at one time been a bell-tower, now with large white flags fluttering violently in the wind from it's roof. Dim orange windows gleamed through the arched loggia of it's walls. A series of windchimes near the doorframe clattered noisily as the three ponies rushed into the building, dripping wet. They sat in the foyer for a moment, shivering. Rarity began magically plucking leaves out of her mane. On a good day her purple locks of hair were curled perfectly, bouncing with each step and gleaming in the sun. When it came to looking gorgeous, she was the talk of the town. But now her hair, in it's rain-slickened state, hung lifelessly from her head nearly reaching the floor as she sat, pulling bits from the stringy mess. Applejack took her stetson off and hung it on the hat rack near the door.

"This place is pretty nice, actually." Twilight said quietly, still out of breath as she looked around. "This seems more like an art gallery to me than the last place we were at."

"Yes I suppose it does." Rarity replied listlessly, pawing at the long purple ropes of hair that had one time been her perfect hairdo. "I hope they have some space here. How is the art doing, Applejack? I hope it wasn't ruined in the storm."

"Nah, it's fine." Applejack replied as she sat on the floor, glad to be under the warm fluorescent lighting. She glanced over at Rarity, who was still trying to get her abundance of hair under control. Rarity's natural mane style would probably have been described from herself as 'uncouth' but Applejack preferred it. It felt a lot more real than the hair-gel coif that usually sat atop her head. "I like yer hair that way, Rarity. Looks nice."

"MMmm hmm." Rarity hummed, trying to seem distracted. She liked the compliment but she'd disagree wholeheartedly with the statement about her hair.

"Also I'm sorry I got us kicked outta that.....fancy place."

"It's fine, really. I shouldn't have blamed it on you. I often forget how different this place is from Ponyville. Makes me appreciate my home much more. And my friends." She finished, giving Applejack an affectionate nudge with a hoof. "I'm the one who should be sorry."

"I'd forgotten how many jerks are in this town." Twilight mumbled. "How on earth did I manage to live here for so long?"

One of the white doors in the foyer swung open with a magical push as a brown unicorn stepped through it. He had a long curled mustache and a yellow frilly scarf tied to his dark grey neck. He was grey almost all over except down near his haunches where some brown splotches of hair messed with the uniformity of his coat. On his flank was a cutie mark of a camera lens, showing off his special talent. He grinned widely at the three young mares.

"Allo, allo, there. Rarity, Twilight, and Applejack the artist I presume?"

"Yes, that would be us." Rarity replied, extending a hoof to shake his. "How did you uh......"

"Old friend gave me a ring. Said you three might be showing up. I am Marciano Dervish, but you may call me Marco if you wish. I'm the curator of this whole.....eh, thing." He rolled his eyes and tilted his head at the ceiling. "It was just a strict gallery once but now I can't be sure what to call it anymore. Excuse me miss, but aren't you a representative of the Princess herself?"

Twilight shook his hoof happily. "Well yes, she trained me personally."

"Oh ho ho HO! A celebrity in my house! Well this storm isn't so bad after all, no?" He bent his head and gave Twilight's lavender hoof a small kiss. "The Canterlot Royal family has saved my life many times! Anything you want, I shall provide!"

"....Belle told you we were coming?" Rarity was shocked.

"One and the same, mademoiselle. Now, since we have the formalities over and done with, let us see this art."

"Oh it's uh, here in this wagon." Applejack began trying to pull the blanket off. A small beam of magic fired out from the stallion's horn, removing the blanket, unzipping the portfolio and quickly levitating the squad of paintings into the air in a matter of seconds.

"So, these are yours, yes?" he asked glancing at Applejack.

"Yup."

"Brutal. Honest. Strange. Dirty. Ugly. Yet beautiful all at once. Yes, these are going up. Plus any friend of royalty is a friend of mine. Come! Let us get you warmed up and set up shall we?"

With a flick of his curly tail and his yellow scarf the stallion exited one of the doors, follow closely by a parade of hovering paintings and three very amused but confused ponies. At least this somewhat gloomy day was brightening up, for the time being.

Mon coeur qui bat, pour qui, pourquoi?

The next day found the building filled with a relatively larger crowd than normal. Marco's small gallery was considered a bit avant-garde for most. Applejack's paintings were perhaps the most normal pieces in context with everything else. Rebellious and strange was a complimentary definition for the majority of the things on display. Fish tanks full of bones, a giant glass sculpture of an eyeball, a disturbingly realistic giant plastic model of a sleeping filly, strange paintings of insects and birds, cross-section anatomical drawings, zoetropes, and a magically animated water fountain that sent bubbles in the shapes of polyhedrons floating through the air sat in one half of house. Self-sustaining enchanted record players which belted out disjointed midi tunes, a collection of griffon feathers made into a portrait of Princess Luna, paintings made of mud and blood, and a perfect recreation of the royal palace made of jellybeans sat in the other half. It was almost like a museum of oddities for anyone unfamiliar with the place. But this was how it always was and every few weeks it changed, with new odd ponies arriving bringing new odd art. Applejack's cute and breathtaking works were a breath of fresh air for the overall strange tone and had brought a curious crowd in need of seeing less-than-curious things.

Marco had insisted that Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight stay as long as the works were on display. Many of the artists of the works within sat around talking with the ponies who had come to observe the art. And Rarity agreed with Marco's sentiment that it was good for the artist herself to mingle with the crowd and form connections. However as the day wore on, the strange questions began to wear on Applejack's patience. Twilight was always at her side quick to help her out of a social faux-pas if things began to get awkward. Rarity however, was dressed up in a bit of an odder getup then usual. Not one to usually wear clothes, like most ponies, she was in a jade green overcoat and beret, her purple locks done up in a loose bobtail bun, complete with a pair of dark green sunglasses perched on her snout. She was incognito. She was here to not be herself, and listen to the guests, ask them what they thought of the art, and overhear their conversations. Observation was key for deciding their next step. However this also meant she could not be seen socializing too much with Applejack, lest the mystery be broken and ponies realized she was in charge.

As expected the overheard conversations were all mostly the same. Confused ponies, wondering why on earth such fine art was being housed with such a collection of abnormalities in this strange gallery. After being asked for the one-hundredth time if there was something 'unique' about her paintings that had allowed them the luxury of being in this strange place, Applejack had all but given up trying to be social. This was the exact sort of thing she disliked and was one the primary reasons she'd hidden the art away in the first place. Eventually she had started eating the small hors-d'oeuvres as thoughtfully as she could, hoping the act of eating would cease the unending classy conversations the visitors tried to have with her. Twilight began answering the questions instead and soon Applejack had found herself sitting alone in the corner of one of the rooms, idly listening to the radio, bored and wanting to go home.

"Is it really that bad?" a familiar voice had asked, as Applejack's eyes began to droop, boredom becoming drowsiness.

She turned to see Rarity standing in the doorframe, a look of concern on her face.

"This is so borin' Rare. These ponies keep askin' me horrible questions about existentialism and post-modernism and other junk I don't know about. Then I look like an idiot cause I have no clue what that stuff is. And I don't care what it is either!"

"Yes, Twilight told me you asked her to pretend to be you for the next few hours. She can't do your southern drawl very well but the hat certainly helps." Rarity gave a small giggle. Normally her high-pitched laughter could raise anyone's spirits, but Applejack found herself leaning against the wall again, resting her cheek on her hoof.

"You seem more than just bored, Applejack. You seem rather distressed." Rarity took off her beret and sidled up next to her friend. "What's got you so glum, hm? We can leave if you really want."

"Nah, it's not this place thats buggin' me. This place ain't helpin' much, though. All this creepy old stuff makes me feel like I stumbled into a witch's attic or somethin'."

"Then what's wrong?"

"I guess....I figured we'd get to hang out more on this here hijink."

"Hang out? We do that all the time at home, Applejack."

"Yeah but I mean you and me don't hang out much, Rare. Not like how I do with RainbowDash or nothin'. Just havin' fun n' such. Twilight's kinda brought us all together but it's only been a few seasons. We never get to spend time together in Ponyville. I'm always workin'. You're always workin'. Figured comin' to Canterlot might be fun if I gave it a chance and you were around to talk with. But it ain't and you're pretendin' to be someone else."

"You're pretending to be someone else, too." Rarity said with a small wicked smirk. "Little Miss I'm-Not-Applejack."

"Heh, yeah I guess I am."

"Besides this is a business trip, dear. Not a vacation. We're here so you don't HAVE to work so much in Ponyville. So we CAN have more fun. All this mess will be worth it if I play the cards right."

"Yeah, I know. And I do appreciate it, honest I do. Nopony else woulda done this sort o' thing for someone as stubborn as me. Most woulda given up after I told them to get off my property after losin' my cool. Most woulda put it out of their mind and found somethin' else to do I guess." Applejack leaned over and nuzzled Rarity's cheek affectionately causing the white unicorn to blush slightly. "Thanks for not givin' up on me, Rare."

"You're very welcome, Applejack. Besides its the least I could do after you helped me figure out my sister. If it weren't for you my little family would probably be broken. So think of this as my way of paying you back for your advice and kindness to me. Besides you know why we don't hang out much. We always tend to get on each others nerves."

"OK, I am officially sick and tired of these ponies." Twilight shouted as she stomped into the room, pulling Applejack's stetson off with her magic and roughly shoving it back into it's proper place on it's owner's head. "I have never heard so many misuses of the words 'juxtaposition' and 'inspirational' and 'composition' in my lifetime. And if one more pony asks me if AJ's painting of an apple pie is some of ironic relativist statement, I am going to start using that hex Celestia taught me that removes mouths from faces!"

Twilight plopped herself to the floor next to other two, bags under her eyes from all the stress, and a grimace on her muzzle. Her lavender fuzzy chest heaving with exertion at all the talking she'd be doing and all the yelling she had just finished up with.

"Well!" Rarity chirped, folding up her glasses and shoving them into her jade handbag. "I can see you're both having an awful time. So let's go do something fun, shall we?"

"Like what? A bookstore?" Twilight asked. She'd never done many fun things when she had lived in Canterlot, preferring the library to enjoying the day in the sun. In fact, the very idea of fun was still a rather new concept for the bookish unicorn. One she felt she needed to research and dissect.

"There is a little nightclub down the street I've had my eye on. It seems rather...well fancy like everything else around here. But it's a dance club so it MUST be more fun than being here, right?"

"We won't have to talk about paint there, right?" Applejack asked, standing up and ready to get outside.

"I'm so tired, Rarity." Twilight whined. "I'm not sure I can dance or socialize."

"Oh, I'm sure you could once you've had a drink or two." Rarity made her way towards the door. "C'mon I'll pay for all three of us. It can be my treat for how rotten this trip has been so far."

"Sounds good to me!" Applejack said with a grin following the other two out the door.

*****************************************************************************************

Luckily for them, by the next night a far more distinguished and important curator had come into the Marco's shop and seen the few pieces of Applejack's that were hanging on the walls amidst the more abnormal modern art pieces. Immediately a deal was struck and a week later Rarity and Applejack soon found themselves displaying a large majority of Applejack's art in one of the lesser wings of the Canterlot Center for Modern Art and Performance. Or simply the "CCA" as many had taken to calling it, including the center itself which had large red pennon flags draped over the walls with the letters CCA woven into them in black colors trimmed with white. Half museum and half theater, the place took itself very seriously as a guardian for artists and their craft, funded by the royal family. Galleries, live performances, musicals, comedy shows, concerts, and educational conventions all took place every year at various times within the hallowed halls. The building had been given Celestia's blessing 99 years prior when it's foundations had been built. Now at it's 100th year, it was still looking its best and celebrating by having the best of the best on display in terms of both historical and contemporary art. Both Rarity and Applejack felt humbled to be included in the Center during such an important historical event. These were the big leagues. There was a lot of paperwork to be signed and forms to fill. Had Rarity not been there to supervise, Applejack felt she'd probably have hitched a train ride back home immediately. But a few inky hooves later and two found themselves sitting in the blissfully serene 'Rosedust Wing' of the modern art side of the museum, named after one of the original musicians who had helped found the Center a century ago.

They weren't alone, however. The upper crust of pony society sauntered majestically through the halls, studying each piece and talking in very quiet faint conversations. It was oddly pleasant compared to the hot air and hustle and bustle of the more independent art houses. It was also a lot stuffier. Applejack couldn't help but grin at the way a lot of these ponies held themselves, their snouts pointed upward, looks of disdain plastered across their chiseled faces, all dressed in their best and most expensive outfits. Snobs, as Applejack would have referred to them. She had been given a small private area with a few luxurious chairs and a heated pot of tea to lounge in with Rarity. Part of the deal for any new artists who wanted to be on display was they must be present unless sick or injured. Not only for publicity but also to show the Center took itself seriously as an open platform and soapbox. It took a bit of goading, but Rarity had convinced Applejack, once again, to spend the day with her instead of just sitting around in the hotel room they had been sharing with Twilight Sparkle. Twilight was not in attendance, having finally broken off from the other two a week prior to visit her family and newly married brother. Which left Rarity and Applejack by themselves with little to do at their booth other than chat casually about the patrons who passed by.

"You know, Applejack, they gave us this booth so you can talk to visitors feeling inspired by your work. Not so you can hide behind that curtain, doing crossword puzzles."

"Just pretend yer me!"

"They know I'm not you, there's a photo of you with the other artists at this show out at the main door now. None of these ponies know who I am and frankly I doubt they care. And I know they want to talk with you. It would be different if we all had nametags but we don't. They don't know who you are by name but they want to see you. Talk with you."

"How do ya know that?"

"Because they keep glancing over here with a forlorn look of longing. Wondering where the amazing artiste behind these paintings has disappeared off to."

"Maybe they just like lookin' at yer pretty face, Rare."

"That's the worst compliment I think I've ever received."

"OH alright, fine. I already did all these puzzles anyhow."

Begrudgingly Applejack sat out front with Rarity, immediately slouching over in her chair, resting her cheek on her hoof, looking as disinterested as possible. Rarity shook her head slightly with exasperation, not that this mood was entirely unexpected. Applejack could give a stubborn mule a run for it's money.

"You could at least PRETEND you're happy to be here."

"I am. Quite honored, actually. Just bored is all."

"Well you won't be for long, here they come."

A small crowd of ponies who had been hanging out in various parts of the wing immediately took notice of the earth mare who had appeared in her appointed booth. Eager to chat with an artist they'd never heard of, from a town many of them had never heard of. And the few that HAD heard of Ponyville would most likely have described it as an unrefined backwater town whose only claim to fame was having Twilight Sparkle, a member of the royals, living amongst its population. To think that such talent, such poise, from an earth pony of all things, had emerged from this quaint village out in the sticks was wondrous and fascinating. And now that she had finally revealed herself, hat and all, they swam in like hungry sharks to a delicate guppy. A guppy with a large floppy hat.

"Rarity, I'm kinda freakin' out here. There's like....lots of these folks."

"Just breathe slowly and don't feel intimidated. These are the sort of ponies who want to be fans of yours. They're here for you, darling. Bask in it."

"What do I say if they ask me somethin'....like.....fancy? You know I'm no good with that."

"Just do like we rehearsed. Improvise if you have to. Say as little as possible if it makes you feel more comfortable. Be honest, Applejack. It's what you're best at. Don't force yourself to be something you aren't for their sake."

A line began to form. Aristocrats, hipsters, quiet normal ponies, writers, and a couple of newspaper reporters all diligently began to form up single file. With a careful wave of her hoof Rarity beckoned them to come in, quickly giving Applejack a small reassuring pat on the back. The first pony in the long line stepped forward, a tall black mare with a white mane, purple eyeshadow hidden behind her purple glasses. A red griffon-feather stole sitting elegantly around her neck.

"Divine. These are absolutely divine."

"Well thanks!" Applejack said with a grin. She wasn't entirely sure what divine meant but Rarity tended to use the word a lot when describing things she liked.

"The polish, the professionalism, the raw emotion!"

"Thanks? I often uh...apply great...uh reflection in my...portrayals of...stuff?" Applejack winced. It had sounded a lot better when Rarity had said it earlier. But then again she managed to make everything sound pretty.

"Let me guess you got your B.F.A. from CU didn't you?"

"Y....yes?"

"Thought so, they always turn out the most elegant artists from there. Was there for two years, myself. The loans were barbaric. Oh, I just can't describe how much I love your pieces. The veduta is absolutely breathtaking."

"......Yeah uh, thank you." Applejack shot a panicked look at Rarity, who was trying her best not to giggle at the conversation.

"Thank you for bringing these scrumptious things to the museum miss...oh my gracious I never got your name!"

"It's...uh, Applejack ma'am."

"Apple....jack....?" the mare squinted her eyebrows slightly as if unsure whether the orange pony she was speaking with was pulling her leg or not. To her it seemed almost too....undignified to be a name. Rarity frowned slightly at her expression over the name. Time to cut this conversation short.

"If you please, we have a rather long line to get to." Rarity said as politely as she could, motioning to the others. The mare nodded graciously and thanked Applejack for her presence before departing back into the gallery.

"See now, that wasn't so bad now was it? I bet she'd buy prints of your work."

"I have no idea what just happened. What in the world was that, Rarity? The heck is a print? Why'd she act all funny when she heard my name?"

"Another alumni from CU, eh?" a gruff mustached pegasus stallion with an expensive camera around his neck asked, stepping forward. "Heard your convo with that last broad. Went to CU myself. Played on the varsity team."

"Oh, so....CU is like some sort of...school?" Applejack asked. The stallion suddenly looked very confused.

"Yes it is. One you....apparently did NOT graduate from I assume."

"I'm gonna be honest with you here, mister. I don't know what a CU or a B.F.A even are." Rarity choked on her tea a bit as she heard these words.

The stallion chuckled slightly. "It's a school and a sort of degree. Where are you from? I'm curious did you have any training at all?"

"Ponyville. No, sir. This is just sorta like a hobby."

"Ah, natural born talent. That's pretty special. A rarity these days."

"Yeah she's right here."

Rarity coughed slightly on her tea again. "No, dear, he means that your circumstances are uncommon."

"Oh! Well shucks, thanks!"

The stallion nodded quietly and gave the two a wink before he trotted off as well, eager to see the rest of the wing. The line began to move forward again as Applejack beamed at Rarity who was deciding if drinking tea during these short conversations was bad for her health.

"That went a lot better than the last one. He was sorta nice."

"Yes, it did."

"Salutations ladies, I'm Sparks Steeplechaser from the Canterlot Community Columnist. Would you mind if I asked a few questions, Miss...uh....Applejack I believe?" A small gawky unicorn mare stood before Rarity and Applejack, eagerly whipping out a small notepad covered in writing and a pen and began to scribble furiously into it before anyone could say anything.

"Uh...." Applejack turned to Rarity who nodded. "Sure if you want."

"Oh good. Now I suppose my first question would be....do you consider yourself an iconoclast? A rebel?"

"Do I incono myself a what now?"

"No she does not." Rarity answered, already feeling uncomfortable in the presence of the small reporter who flipped a page and continued jotting notes.

"So from what I've researched you've lived in Ponyville most of your life? Yes?"

"Yes'm. Born n' raised."

"And you're traditionally a rancher yes? Agriculture, gardening and such. Fruit farming. Not a fine artist?"

"Y...yeah I help run an apple farm. I mean...we grow other stuff but apples is our specialty." Applejack smiled, tipping her hat. She was proud of the work her family did at Sweet Apple Acres, even if others didn't understand it.

"I notice you paint apples a lot. Do you struggle with subject matter when it comes to your pieces?"

"I don't struggle with much. I paint what I feel like."

"Does it bother you to find yourself outclassed in one of the prestigious art institutions in Equestria?"

"Well no, not really. Art ain't really my thing. You can ask Rarity here if ya don't believe me."

"Do you feel guilt knowing that your anonymous amateur presence here may have shut out actual artists? Ones who have trained and studied for years to try to get to the sort of position you are in right now?"

"Heh....uh I gotta admit this is a weird line of questioning."

"Just answer, please."

"Nope. I don't feel much of anything right now besides annoyance. What is this anyway?"

"Would your parents approve of what you've done here?"

"HEY NOW!"

"These questions seem spectacularly rude." Rarity chimed in.

"I simply feel that sponsors and supporters of the museum, who uphold it to certain standards, deserve to know where the art comes from is all. And that....miss AppleJACK....is why I put these articles in the paper." said Sparks with a small nod.

"I know somewhere else you could put it." Applejack growled, rising to her hooves. A bead of sweat cascaded down the side of her face.

"That's enough! If you want a proper interview you will have to schedule one." Rarity retorted, putting her arm in front of Applejack and pressing her friend back into her seat. "But don't bother because we will decline. Next, please!"

The reporter pony frowned and scuttled off, leaving Rarity and Applejack sitting in an sort of awkward silence.

"I'm sorry about that, Applejack. Didn't think something like THAT would happen. Some of the local rags always bring out the slander chiselers."

"Ain't yer fault, Rare. Should of expected it I guess. Folks around here probably hate the idea of a farm pony bein' in their fancy art museum. Probably was a bad idea to come here after all. I don't really deserve it, I 'spose."

"That's not true, Applejack!" cried Rarity with a frown. "You earned your place here as much as anyone else."

"I don't like the way she said anonymous. It's weird these folks don't know my name. Maybe I should have signed my name on these paintings or something."

"Ooh! Or you could start putting a sigil on your work."

"Hmm?"

"Like a symbol. Something that represents YOU without actually needing to put your signature on each piece. It keeps your full name private but also allows ponies to draw connections between your work, you see. Every time they see that symbol they will think to themselves 'ah hah! This is by that artist I like!'"

"Oh! That sounds pretty dang clever, actually."

"Yes it's a lot like having a pen name. Just like how the author of Daring Doo never signs her real name to the novels. Keeps an air of mystery about the pony in question."

"I tried readin' one of them when Twilight recommended it. Kind of...a kiddy book ain't it?"

"They're not exactly mature reading material but they're enjoyable enough. They're making a musical, you know."

"Meh. Hey could ya get me another cup of tea, Rare? My mouth's awful dry."

Rarity went behind the curtain, grabbed the heated thermos their tea had been steeping in, tilting it only for a few stray drops to leak from its spout. She shook it violently, hoping it wasn't already empty. Of course it was! With a small sigh she returned to her seat. Applejack watched her, expectantly.

"We're out of tea."

"Aw heck."

"We can probably go out front and get some more later. We'll have to wait til after this line is gone, mind."

"Naw, I can get it! Get away from this area for a bit. Relax some. My head feels like it's full of bees."

"No, you need to stay in this booth. At least for a little while longer."

"Well could you maybe get it and I can sort o' patrol the fort, here."

"You'd be fine with me leaving you alone with these guests, Applejack?"

"Sure thing. It wouldn't be for very long, right?"

"Shouldn't be. Just...don't let any of the ponies here make you doubt our invitation."

"If another pony tries to find a clever way of insultin' me I'll give em a piece of my mind. And maybe my right hoof."

"Please, PLEASE don't say things like that. I can never tell if you're joking."

"I ain't gonna punch someone, Rarity. Too nice for that. I'm gonna be fine."

Rarity cast a concerned glance at the ever-lengthening line of Canterlot citizens who were demanding to meet the Applejack. It was going to be a long time before either of them got a real break from these fans. The majority of them looked rather disinterested, probably having visited the other artist booths and only paying respects here out of tradition. Applejack leaned back in her seat and gave Rarity a confident wink. With a small sigh the unicorn trotted out of the wing, her purple curls bouncing with each step. She dearly hoped her friend would be alright. Ponies in these upper-class towns tended to be a bit aggressive. Once they sensed any sort of weakness, they would pounce. Rarity herself only had so many connections here by feigning confidence and bending the truth as far as she could when she needed to. It had kept her from looking foolish, and had kept her fashionable clothing lines from ever losing their popularity amongst the elite. But it had taken a few failures for her to learn this lesson. Failures and some heartbreak, both things she dearly didn't want her friend to experience in her first and possibly only journey into the critical art world. Rarity felt in a way it was her job to not only ensure this venture was successful, but also as painless as possible for the both of them.

She soon reached the refreshment room. A few small chefs were idly sitting around, cutting up vegetables and cleaning counters, the majority of their work for the day finished. Quite a few small trays of foods sat by, particularly some toasted carrot sandwiches that Rarity eyed hungrily. With a few kind words and a batting of her long lashes she soon found herself on the return trip to the wing, a plate of assorted sandwiches, a cup of potato soup and a small pot of tea resting on a tray she balanced delicately on her back. There were quite a few varieties of tea on display for the guests, staff, and artists. She made the assumption that her friend would probably prefer a tea that tasted somewhat of apples, deciding that perhaps a lighter fruitier tea would be refreshing in the somewhat humid building. She passed by the sign out front of the wing, featuring photos of the artists on display. Applejack looked so different from the others. Most of the ponies were thoroughbreds. Tall, slender, alluring for the most part. Raised in high-class families to be high-class patricians. Applejack stuck out like a honeycrisp amongst a barrel of ambrosia. Short, stocky, and unkempt with a steely glint in her large green eyes. She looked tough and tenacious, even when smiling for the camera. But under it all, Applejack was just cute. Her blond messy hair that fell into her round face, her pale freckles in her short orange fur, and her large floppy stetson hat that she often refused to let others touch. She could be beautiful, Rarity had thought, if she wanted to be. If she took better care of herself, groomed more often. But Applejack had no interest in looking good. She didn't need it to be successful.

Rarity's train of thought was derailed as she noticed the line for Applejack's booth had grown ever longer. Worry began to weave its way into her thoughts when she noticed that several ponies seemed to be crowding around the desk, not taking head of the single-file line the other guests were following. Her worry only grew as she recognized the crowd as a group of wealthy aristocrats, which included two of the other artists who were using booths in the wing. She quickened her speed, her dainty cloven hooves clicking lightly on the marble floor as she quickly approached the desk, trying to overhear the conversation that was coming in over the laughter.

"Well she's certainly no bumpkin. I like this one." said a voice.

"Oh pish and posh. We could probably mold her a bit, you know. Teach her about the finer things in life." said another.

"Rather substandard wouldn't you say?" said another as more voices began to chime in.

"Some sort of miracle, this kind of talent in a pony of your...eh particular upbringing, miss."

"Maybe she caught it, like a disease from those changelings. I hear they carry a lot of nasty stuff. Like bugs."

"So curious. Last time we had a hick with this kind of flair with the brush was....oh bloody decades ago."

"Do ponies still eat naturally grown apples? That seems so...unhealthy."

"Clearly not. She seems healthy to me, eh miss? I kid, I kid. Having a laugh is all."

"This hat seems ancient. Probably older than this museum, I'd wager."

"Oh her accent is simply precious. Please, say 'y'all' again. It tickles me pink!"

Rarity felt herself flush with anger. Whatever disjointed conversations were occurring in this whirlwind of sound and laughter sounded like the exact sort of thing she had hoped to avoid this trip. The exact sort of things she knew Applejack had been trying to avoid ever since she had discovered she loved to paint. She felt a small lump in her throat as she pushed her way through the crowd. Applejack was still slumped over in her chair, her hat was off and being clung very tightly at her chest, as if afraid it might be snatched away. A large fake smile was plastered on her orange face, her cheeks pink trying to seem pleased at the attention. Her eyes however told a different story, there was a deep hurt in them. The kind that only a friend could pick up on. They glistened with tears that were being blinked away as soon as they formed, afraid of letting strangers pick up on the grief she was feeling.

With a rush Rarity had heaved Applejack out of her seat with her unicorn magic and had quickly sat her behind their curtain again, placing the tray of tea and sandwiches next to her friend as she turned towards the crowd, trying desperately not to let the hatred and rage that was broiling inside her make its way into her voice. Her brows shook as much as her voice as she addressed the crowd as politely and ladylike as she could. It took all of her strength not to reprimand them and start shouting.

"I apologize to those of you here and those of you waiting but the time has come for the artist to take a break. The poor thing hasn't eaten all day and as her.....butler....I must attend to her needs which above all else come first. She will be back shortly. Please enjoy the rest of the museum, if you can."

With a few mutters and sad sighs the crowd departed. Some left to check out the rest of the Center while a few stood idly by the booth a few feet away, waiting. They had little else to occupy their time with, more interested in the business of art then the beauty surrounding them. Rarity took a deep breath, and stepped behind the curtain, not sure what to say to her friend. But there was nobody there. The seat was unoccupied, save for the steaming pot of tea, crossword puzzles, and plate of sandwiches. Rarity panicked slightly, glancing around the room trying to see where Applejack had run off to. She clenched her teeth in fear when she noticed one of the emergency exits was now ajar and swinging closed.

****************************************************************************************************

The darkened alley behind the art museum was rather well kept, as far as alleys go. Almost pristine really, as clean as the actual establishment it sat adjacent to. The pink and purple brick wall that framed the alley took a sharp right turn as it hit the street, becoming the gate house for a small residential area. This gave anyone who happened to be in the alley a gorgeous view of the streets as they rolled downwards, framed on either side by all the meticulously fancy buildings that dotted their sides. The sun was setting, casting long red shadows across the street, the gatehouse casting a particularly dark shadow that left the alley in a state of complete darkness. It was a good hiding spot.

Applejack didn't move a muscle when she heard the door behind her creak cautiously open. She didn't avert her gaze from the sunset as she heard the quiet click of small hooves behind her. Nor did she cast a glance at her friend as the two sat together, staring out into the vast endless sky. The rays of light beaming through the pointed towers and steeples glistened across the tears that swam down the cheeks of the orange mare. It had been a long time since she'd felt this way. Her body shook as she tried and failed to hold in the sobs wracking her slouched form.

"I'm so, so sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone, Applejack."

"Nah, it's my fault." Applejack whispered, her voice hoarse from the sobbing. "I never should have come. Never should have left home again."

"Again? This happened before?"

"Kinda."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm an idiot, Rarity. Started feelin proud of my stupid hobby after all the nice things y'all had to say. Let myself think they were worth somethin'. Got full of myself."

"They're worth a lot to us. You've done nothing wrong. There's nothing wrong with feeling proud."

"Well, I shouldn't. That jerk at the Gala was right about me when he said my food was like carnival food. That's all I am ain't it? Just a carnie. A clown that everyone gets a laugh at. Everything about me is funny. My voice, my heritage, what I choose to do with my life. Me and my family are just stupid peasants."

"Don't you dare say such things about yourself, Applejack. What you do and who you are is far more honorable than anything they can do. Your art is a reflection of yourself. It's beautiful because you are."

"It's stupid. My daddy would be ashamed if he saw me like this. Chattin' with refined snobs like I'm one of them. Never learnin' my lesson from last time. Lettin' em make fun of me and treat me awful, just so they like me. I shoulda burned it all. I should burned all them paintings, Rare. Chopped em up and burned em and buried em. None of this would have happened if I'd listened to my own advice. But just like everyone else, I can't seem to take myself seriously because I'm so stupid."

"You are not stupid, Applejack. Listen to me, you aren't. You're one of the wisest most loving ponies I know!" Rarity shouted, putting her arms around her friend and holding them close together. "We both know you wouldn't be happy destroying your art. Come here, shh shh shh."

Applejack sniffled slightly, leaning her head into Rarity's chest, listening to her heartbeat as she sobbed. Having a friend to hold on to was certainly comforting, especially in a time like this. The two sat together as the sun set, rocking slightly.

"You're so odd sometimes, Applejack."

"How do ya figure?"

"You're so...oh I don't know. Tough. Strong. When you and Rainbow roughhouse, I'm always scared you're going to hurt each other. I remember she gave you a black eye once and you thought it was funny. I've seen you get run over my a wagon and act like it was nothing. I've seen you do such amazingly powerful things with your strength. Kicking whole trees over, splitting boulders, exhausting yourself to the point of unconsciousness."

"What's strange about that?"

"It's just strange that, after all the pain you put yourself through just to be happy and keep your family happy, a little pain from those strangers was enough to well.....cause all this. I never thought you were so....sensitive about yourself, that is."

"I try to not let that stuff bother me. It does though."

"I'm so sorry, Applejack." Rarity rubbed her friends back, feeling the tide of tears begin to recede. "I'm not going to ask you to go back in there. You've been through enough today I think. We both have."

Applejack wiped away her tears and sat up, grinning slightly. "Sorry I got ya all wet. Guess now I know how Pinkie Pie feels sometimes, wonderin' if the whole world is laughin' at her expense."

"Yes, I suppose it is similar. Poor delirious little thing. I'm glad that Rainbow is around to help her with her...quirks."

"Hm? What's that mean?"

"Pinkie has....issues. Mental problems she tries to hide. She hears voices and talks to things. Hallucinates. Rainbow discovered her doing it once. Around the time of her last birthday."

"Huh. Really? I knew she seemed kinda different but, shoot."

"Yes, Rainbow told me all about it when I saw Pinkie talking to a rock by herself in the park. I think that's why those two are so close now. Pinkie had kept it a secret. Afraid of what we'd think. Then Rainbow found out and now Pinkie tells her everything. Tells her how her problems are, her feelings, secrets and such. Rainbow does the same for her. Confides in her. She's not nearly as brave as she pretends to be. Pinkie is so fragile and Rainbow is so protective. It works out well for them."

"That's kinda cute. I never would of thought of Rainbow bein' that sympathetic towards someone. Guess that explains why I see the two of them sometimes just sittin' around starin' at the sky."

"Everyone has a sympathetic side, Applejack." Rarity cooed as she brushed Applejack's mane out of her tear-stained face. "Even you, apparently."

The two sat as the sun continued it's slow descent below the horizon line, finally disappearing, leaving the sky as a magenta ocean, dotted with small pinpricks of light. On the opposite side of the alley, Luna's moon began its slow ascent into the heavens, casting a calming blue light across the clouds, landscape, objects both near and far, cerulean beams peeking into the alleyway where the two friends sat. Applejack finally rose to her hooves, brushing her headgear off.

"M'sorry you had to see me like this, Rare. Ain't right for me to be bawlin' out in the street like a lil' filly. Not at my age."

"Nothing to be ashamed of, Applejack. Crying is good for the soul. I'm sorry this trip has been disastrous so far."

"Yeah.... it's been....." she made a face.

"Here's a solution, and a promise. From now on, I'll handle the business side of things entirely. If someone requests you make an appearance, we'll just find an excuse. And I'll try to find some more fun things for the two of us to do while we are here. Like that dance club."

"I liked that place. Never thought I'd be a fan of techno-y music. But that stuff was great."

"Fluttershy likes it too, you know. Keeps a whole collection of albums in her cottage."

"I'll have to see if she can lend me some!"

The two ponies exited the alleyway, making their way down the street, orange streetlights began flickering on as they pranced, becoming an array of orange fireflies scattered across the cityscape, blinking in unison. Two friends, one white and one orange, walked towards main street, where all the affordable restaurants sat. Now that the emotions were somewhat of out of the way, both had realized they were hungry. A particular place they had found and enjoyed was a small outside bar that make broccoli omelets that were considered by many as the best in the city. And it was a welcome distraction from such a stressful day.

"Hey....uh, Rarity?" Applejack asked quietly as the two made their way down the cobblestone. Her face was very serious, almost worried as she stared at the ground.

"Yes?" Rarity replied turning to her friend.

"I'm uh...not sure if I'm ready to be all open and stuff about my life yet. I kinda like my privacy. But.... If one day I decided I wanted a real good friend to talk to...you know like about secrets and feelings and life and things. Could I trust you to understand me? Like the way Rainbow does for Pinkie, I guess?"

Rarity's eyes went wide briefly at the proposal. With a small smile she nodded her head.

"Of course you can."

The two trotted side by side down the main street, passing through the crowds of hungry ponies as all the yellow lights from the eateries beamed across the road. There would be a grand amount of work to do in the morning. Explaining their disappearance from the museum in the middle of the day. Leaving the art booth unattended. Taking a perfectly good tray of sandwiches and tea and leaving them out. Using the emergency exit. Papers would have to signed, apologies given, and excuses made. But it didn't matter to either of them right now. They were just hanging out, as friends do, sharing a meal and chatting about things they both enjoyed. It didn't really matter how bad tomorrow turned out to be. Right now, in this moment, everything felt perfect.

As you hang by the willow tree.

Applejack had only been home for an hour and had only managed to tell a small portion of her tale to the others sitting around the table. It was good to be in the comforts of the farm again, away from the bright city with it's lights, sound, and fury. The stillness of the land was a welcome change to the metal chaos. It felt good to be eating a home-cooked meal made with love, as opposed to a finely tested expensive dish at a fancy bistro, loaded with more spices then it ever really needed. Yet most of all, it felt good to be surrounded by family. Ponies that she loved and who loved her back. Ponies who would always love her no matter what. Who knew the kind of mare she was and always would be.

The constant unending flow of chatter coming from the orange pony seemed endless as she explained all the things she had seen on her short trip away from Sweet Apple Acres. She'd only been gone for a short while, but in the strange and often unwelcome confines of the big city, it may as well have been an eon. The other members of the Apple family sat around, listening intently, asking questions when they felt it was appropriate.

"Oh and then the next day the two of us went to the Canterlot Zoo. They had all sorts o' stuff there. Goblins n' trolls n' will o' the whisps. Toucans, flamingos, kobolds and all manner of weird critters. They even had chickens there, Granny!"

"Chickens? In a zoo? Why in the world would they do that?"

"They were chickens from a far-off land I guess. They had these lil'....poofs of feathers sticking out of their faces. Made 'em look like walkin' q-tips. Can't imaging how they see nothin' through all that. They had black geese too. Black with white feathers on their tummies. Very pretty!"

"Did they have any elephants, AJ?" Applebloom asked from her highchair, waving her spoon around in the air.

"Shoot, they even had a mammoth there, Bloom. Twice as tall as any elephant I ever seen. And covered in long shaggy hair from his top to his bottom. Like a bear. If you gave the zookeepers a few bits they'd let ya toss whole heads of lettuce to 'em. Ate 'em in on gulp. Rarity thought they were flea magnets. Glad the mammoth couldn't hear her."

"I wanna see the zoo!" Applebloom squeaked loudly, her enormous eyes gleaming with excitement. "Can we go someday, Applejack?"

"A 'course we can. When I feel like sittin' on a train for a few hours again."

"Aww!"

"It was a pretty impressive pile of animals. Messy though. Made me re-appreciate how kindly all our cows and pigs are over here. Believe it or not I think Fluttershy still owns more animals than that there zoo does."

"How'd yer whole....art selling go?" Big Mac asked in his deep booming voice as he shoved a flapjack into his mouth.

"I....think it's goin' well. Rarity said that I am fully saturated which I think is her way of sayin' my art is popular. So now that ponies want it, I guess we find a way to sell it off and make some bits."

"Seems like y'all had a nice little adventcha there, Applejack." Granny Smith leaned over and gave her eldest granddaughter a hug. "I knew ye'd have a good time."

"Well it wasn't ALL great." Applejack replied with a small roll of her eyes and a grin. "But it was pretty good. Wouldn't wanna go there again anytime soon but....you were right Granny. I guess I'm glad I went. Me and Rarity are on real friendly terms after it all. Didn't even bicker any for the last week! She turned out to be a lot more fun to hang around with than I figured at first."

"Does this mean next time me n' Sweetie Belle n' Scootaloo have a sleepover, you could come to?" Applebloom smiled widely, her pink bow flopping up and down.

"I don't think so, Bloom. Last time I had a sleepover me and Rarity destroyed half o' Twilight's house."

"How is Miss Twilight these days?" Big Mac asked from around another mouthful of breakfast.

"She's fine as usual! She seemed real happy when she got back from visitin' her family. Said it helped straighten her out. Made her fret a lot less. Probably a good thing, I reckon. I'm always scared she's gonna pop a blood vessel or somethin' from worryin' so much. She said she's glad to be home now. Can look after Spike proper. "

"Seems like ya three had a real nice trip, Applejack. Least it got you out off the farm and relaxin' for a while." Big Mac went back to chewing slowly on his food, a look of serene tranquility on his face.

********************************************************************************************************

Later in the day found the orange earth pony trotting merrily down the road. She had a small hop in her step as she walked. It had been a good last few days. Confidence-building, having fun, understanding friends better, it seemed like everything was going pretty alright. The day in particular was pretty as well, which only added to her cheerful mood. The sun was perfectly positioned at it's noontime destination, beaming its rays to the planet below, fueled entirely by Princess Celestia and her love for her subjects. On a summer day, most ponies would be walking around with small parasols fastened to their backs to shield them from the sun. But luckily for everyone, it was fall. And the heat from the sun warmed the chilly air making everything pleasant without being humid. It was perfect weather for just about anything in fact. But today Applejack decided she was going to look for her old friend Rainbow Dash, assuming that she'd probably be napping somewhere on a cloud as it hovered idly above town, as she tended to do. It was sort of iconic in a way.

Applejack turned sharply at the street corner and entered Ponyville Park. It wasn't exactly a shortcut, but now with the leaves changing color and the environment just feeling so pleasant, going through the park would be a nice treat. She trotted happily down the road and smiled at what she saw. Her search for Dash had been cut short since at the moment the flying daredevil was conveniently in the park, hovering down the dirt path with a few pinecones cradled in her cyan arms. Applejack sped up to a gallop as she raced to meet her friend.

"Well howdy there Rainbow! Fancy seein' you over here! Just who I wanted to-" she was cut off abruptly by Dash's hoof that quickly ceased any sounds from exiting Applejack's mouth.

"SHUT IT, AJ!" Rainbow rasped, her normally rough voice becoming a hiss as she whispered in panic. "You're gonna wake her up and screw up Castle Pinecone."

Applejack glanced down at the park bench the two had arrived at and snorted with laughter. Pinkie Pie was lying across the bench, snoring sweetly as a large bubble of mucus sat perched on her nostril, growing and shrinking as she exhaled. Atop her body lay a whole systematically piled group of pinecones, each delicately adjusted to form a castle. There was even a group of tinier pinecones sitting in a circle around the park bench, small twigs at their sides like armed guards. One cone near the front had a small leaf placed on top of its head and a spiderweb dangling from it's side like a cape.

"That's the King." Rainbow muttered quietly. "I got bored waiting for Pinkie to wake up from her nap so I made this."

"Too bad she's gonna knock it all over when she gets up. Then yer lil' masterpiece there'll be ruined."

"Yeah, the fall of the great Empire of Pine. Their pineconey memory lost in time. Anyway, what's up AJ? Whatever you need, the Dash can provide!"

"Well..." Applejack began, nervously adjusting her hat. "I kinda wanted to talk to ya about....you'n Pinkie I guess."

Rainbow visibly tensed up, squinting her eyes as the pinecones fell from her grasp. "Why?"

"Well, Rare told me abou-"

"UGH! I knew I should never have told Rarity about that. Half the town probably knows Pinkie's crazy and I'm a crybaby wimp now! More junk I have to deal with."

"I think it's real cute that y'all are so close now, Sugarcube!" Applejack smiled in panic, trying to salvage the situation.

"What? WHAT!?" Rainbow bristled as her pupils contracted in alarm, her tail flicking wildly. "What are you implying? Huh!? Is that why you're here? To spy on us?"

"Oh, for the love of...NO! Dangit, Rainbow I don't care if you n' Pinkie are all buddy-buddy now after you used to think she was the most annoyin' pony in town. It's great that you got over it, realized she's nice, and made a good friend. I just wanted to ask ya some advice on that subject."

"Subject? SUBJECT!?"

"Friendship."

"Hmmph. Fine, what?" Rainbow sat on her haunches, crossing her arms and continuing to give Applejack a very skeptical look.

"Right, so you and I are pretty square, right? I mean we've known each other for a long time."

"Yeah, so?"

"Now I don't really know what it is y'all confide in Pinkie about, but I guess I'm kinda curious why ya never came to me with your problems n' such. Or even Fluttershy. You've known her since you were a filly."

"Jeez, AJ. Are you jealous that I tell Pinkie stuff? She makes me feel comfortable. It's not like I enjoy hanging out with her more than you."

"No that ain't it. It's just.....ahhh how do I put this. How did you like....start it off? Like I know you well enough to know you hate talkin' about yer emotions, Dash. I remember you managed to pretend like nothin' was up after you lost that Wonderbolts internship. Took near a week before we could tell there was anything botherin' ya."

"Yeah, I don't like being sappy and stuff with you guys. So what?"

"Why are you able to do it with Pinkie Pie, then? What's different?"

"Ah, geez I dunno. I guess....when I saw Pinkie kinda losing her mind and talking to herself it was like....I saw Pinkie. The REAL Pinkie. She pretends she's always happy and confident but she's not and I felt really bad for her. And she saw right through me, too. She knows I'm scared of failing and being alone and...heck just about pretty much everything I guess..." Rainbow trailed off, looking at the sky. "Pinkie doesn't care if I fail at something. I don't need to be the best near her. She likes me just the same."

"So then what?"

"Then what? Well, I don't know. I knew what she was really like and she knew what I was really like and we didn't have to be so....defensive? Evasive? That seems like the word Twilight would use to describe it. Can we stop talking about this please? Why are you asking me about this stuff?"

"Well you know I'm kinda like you in alotta aspects, Dash. I like my privacy. Don't like worryin' folks about my own troubles. But....with Rarity I dunno. I feel like I could tell her about things that make me all sad n' mopey and she wouldn't think any different of me."

"Well hey, neither would I. I just don't wanna hear about it cause it'd be boring!"

"Thanks." Applejack said flatly, frowning. "I guess I ain't real sure how to break the ice with that sort of stuff. I'm real worried these days about....well a lot of things. Things I can't really talk about with my kin."

"Can't really help you with that, AJ. It happened pretty much by accident for me. One day I thought I couldn't stand Pinkie and now....." Rainbow cast a small sad glance at her sleeping friend. "I dunno I feel like I need to be a bit more caring than I usually am. Think about her feelings, try not to hurt her, treat her more like a sister I guess. Keep her safe."

"What do ya get out of that?"

"Hugs? Free food? I dunno, AJ. I just like hanging out with Pinkie Pie. Is that a crime now? Do I need to go to jail?"

"Well I think that's awful nice of ya. I know ya like to think of yourself as some sort of cool lone-wolf character. Makes me smile to know you found a sidekick."

"Yeah, whatever." Rainbow began reorganizing the pinecones she had dumped on the ground, eager to get back to her castle. "You tell anypony we had this conversation and I'll pop you right in the mouth."

"Haha! Yeah I'd like to see you try that, hon. But don't worry yourself none, your secret's safe with me."

A bright flash of light arched across the sky. A moment later it was followed by the low rumble of distant thunder. A few small stray raindrops began to drip perilously from the sky, creating small dark spots on the dirt path over the park. Applejack looked up at the sky and sighed. What had once been a perfectly blue hemisphere was now becoming full of dark cottony clouds that threatened to cover the sun entirely. Rainbow ignored the small drizzle, continuing on her plant-based architecture unabated. She stretched one of her large blue wings protectively over the slumbering Pinkie, sheltering her from the rain.

"Well ain't that just the way, huh? Finally have a warm autumn day where I don't need to bundle up and it stars rainin'. Well I guess I'd better head home. See ya Rainbow."

"Figures the weather team would have a storm planned during one of my few days off." Rainbow muttered to herself with a grumpy snort. "Well I'm not going home yet. Gonna finish this dang castle if it kills me."

Applejack began her trot home, saddened at the sudden change of weather. How unfortunate now that in the midst of such an interesting and personal conversation with an old friend that the sky would suddenly strike down so harshly. It would almost have felt like an omen, and perhaps it was with the way the lightning shrieked through the sky. The wind quickly picked up, threatening to blow Applejack's soaked hat off her head as she swayed in the current, fighting her way back through the streets and storm to Sweet Apple Acres.

*************************************************************************************************************

Across town the rain pattered loudly atop the Carousel Boutique. A beautiful extravagant building that housed not only Rarity's popular seamstress business, but also served as home for her and her younger sister Sweetie Belle. True to it's name, it looked much like a carousel. Wooden horses mounted on posts went around the outer perimeter of the building, each decorated in a fancy dress of sorts, shielded by the outstretched circular roof of the building that looked like lace. Within it's confines the lights were dimmed as the sisters relaxed.

Sweetie Belle resembled her sister quite a bit. Both were pearly white unicorns with large beautiful curls of hair. Sweetie's had small stripes of pink in hers. She had little interest in fashion, but much like her friends, Applebloom and Scootaloo, she was willing to help her sister with anything if it might result in her earning her cutie mark. Such a thing would finally answer once and for all what the tiny filly was most talented at and destined to become. At the moment she was laying on her stomach, a short green crayon clutched in the bulb of her hoof. Not being able to play outside meant her plans to find her special talent in town would need to wait until later. For now she was thoroughly engrossed in the crayon drawing before her, a depiction of a dragon eating a cow that was wearing a top hat. The scribbles were coming to an end and the filly's mind wandered to a far more important subject.

"Hey Rarity?" she shouted into the darkness.

There was a small splash of water from another room, a few feet down the hall. "Yes, Sweetie?"

"Are we gonna enter the Sisterhooves Social again this year?"

"Of course we are, dear. It was good fun last year. I'm bringing a hairnet this time, mind."

"Scootaloo is gonna ask Rainbow Dash to go with her."

"She is not Rainbow Dash's sister."

"I know but she reeallllyyy reaalllly wants to be."

"Yes well, that little urchin is going to need to realize that breaking into Rainbow's house every night and holding on for dear life is not the same thing as adoption."

"You should come see this drawing I made!"

"I'll look at it later, Sweetie. I've been so busy today and I really do need this bath. Very badly."

"Can I join you?"

"I'm currently basking in the pore-cleansing embrace of camel's milk spiced with swan fat and eggplant rind, Sweetie. So unless you want to smell as rejuvenated and lovely as I do to your little friends later, I would not recommend jumping in here!"

Sweetie made a face. Indeed she did not want to partake of the same fancy baths and other beauty measures her sister took often to stay looking her best. While the two may have looked the same, Sweetie's interest in fashion was very shallow, and unlike her sister she preferred to play in the mud and run around the garden as opposed to sewing clothes. She began placing the crayons back into her box when suddenly she heard a very quiet ding from the kitchen. Her large ears perked up, standing at attention through her pink and lavender curls. There was that ding again. A very familiar ding.

"Rarity?"

"Yes, Sweetie Belle?"

"I think the telegraph is ringing."

"Oh good gracious, well isn't that just peachy! Right as I was starting to finally relax too."

There was a loud splash of water followed by the click of hooves on tile as the door swung open. Rarity stood in the doorway, two mint green towels wrapped around her dripping body, a mud mask on her face, and curlers in her hair, frowning vehemently. She made a dash towards the kitchen, slipping from the combination of clean tile and wet hooves as she ran. Sweetie sat in place, hearing panicked and rushed voices from the kitchen. There was some muffled shouting followed by a squeal of delight. A minute later Rarity came trotting out of the kitchen, holding her head proudly in the air with a smirk.

"I need to go and give some very important news to someone very special, Sweetie. Best news I've heard all day in fact!"

"Oh, ok." Sweetie wagged her curly tail happily. "When are you gonna be back?"

"Shouldn't be more than a few minutes. When I get back you and I are going out for ice cream to celebrate. Now let's see this drawing you've made."

Sweetie picked the drawing up in her mouth and craned her short neck upwards to give Rarity a view of her masterpiece while also shielding it from her dripping sister. Rarity studied it intently for a moment before raising an eyebrow.

"Why is this cow wearing a top hat?"

"He is a very fancy cow. He takes baths like you do."

"Well I feel honored to be compared to such a noble bovine. Note to self: eat less sweets. But I must run, be right back!"

And with that, Rarity turned and burst through the doors of the Carousel Boutique, leaving curlers, bobby pins, towels and wet hoofprints on the tile in her wake. Sweetie watched her big sister run into the rainstorm, quickly disappearing into the fog of grey and white as the downpour continued. She'd never seen her sister so eager to run out into bad weather, especially when she wasn't looking her best. Whatever the news was had to be really important.

************************************************************************************************************

Rain on the Apple farm was generally a good thing. It meant that the plants would be nourished, saving the family time doing it themselves. It meant the soil would be slightly easier to till for the next couple of days. But mostly it meant the unsaid agreement between the Apple family and the Weather Team of pegasus ponies that lived above Ponyville was still in check. Though neither side would admit it, refusing to even utter a word, the Weather team gladly made sure to send a few extra rainclouds towards Sweet Apple Acres, and in return they all got a discount on the produce they purchased there. All it took was a small nod of acknowledgement when harvest time came, and the two sides knew that the pact remained sealed. It was a good pact that made everyone's lives just a little bit easier.

Of course the rain caused a few smaller issues as well. When it rained, it POURED. Hard. And any vegetables that were growing in pots, needing special varieties of soil had to be dragged back to the barns one by one, to avoid being drowned in the downpour. With the way the weather was, the family had to work fast to get the plants to shelter, and by the time the chore had been completed they had worked up an appetite.

The four Apples sat around the dinner table, covered in rain and mud, digging into a quiche made of diced squash, crushed acorns, and garlic. It was a slightly more lavish meal then they generally prepared, often happy to simply eat the vegetables raw or tossed into a salad or baked into a simple crust, but today was special. The eldest daughter was home, the harvest was looking to be good this year, and Applebloom had brought home an A- on her math test. It was as good a time as any to celebrate. However their meal would be sidetracked halfway by a loud rapping on the front door. In fact whoever it was, happened to be hitting the door so hard that the wobbly knob managed to turn precisely enough for it to swing open and slam against the wall, revealing a completely drenched white unicorn, her hair flopping recklessly all over her petite form as she grinned widely.

"Oh goodness I didn't break the door did I?"

"Rarity?!" Applejack shouted, looking surprised which was not an emotion she regularly experienced. "What on earth are you doing out in weather like this? Y'all could get hurt. Heck ya could catch the flu like that!"

"Oh pshah, you are worrying far too much, besides." Rarity galloped in, seizing Applejack in a very drippy hug as she slid to a stop at the table. "I have some sensational news!"

"Uh...." Applejack sat awkwardly in her chair, half dragged off of it by the embrace. Big Mac shot his younger sister a devious grin as she flailed awkwardly. "You can let go now, Rare."

"Oh yes! Oh dear I almost forgot why I ran all the way here! We've finally crossed the threshold, Applejack! THE THRESHOLD!!" she tightened the embrace roughly, nuzzling her friend and laughing aloud, causing Applejack's cheeks to go very pink.

"What in tarnation is going on, Rare?!"

"The Manehattan Fine Art Society is what in tarnation! We're going to have a private exhibition and auction just for YOUR work, Applejack! Some pony recommended us! Isn't that wonderful? This whole thing will finally pay off!"

"I.....I....." Applejack's lower jaw trembled slightly, her green eyes darting around the room. She was unsure of what to say. Every thought, every instinct was going haywire in a mixture of fear and horror. A solemn knowing glance passed between Granny Smith and Big Mac. Applejack gasped loudly, fighting for breath, finally turning to Rarity. "Th....that's great...Rare."

"What's wrong, Applejack? You've gone very pale."

"Nothin's wrong I'm....uh...perfectly fine."

"You don't sound fine."

"I'm really fine. I'm r... real happy we can finally sell the art, Rarity."

"You don't seem happy. Applejack I've known you long enough to know you're an awful liar. Well now? Out with it!" She drew her face uncomfortably close to her friend, casting a dark menacing glare into her eyes. It was true, being the Element of Honesty meant Applejack couldn't fake anything, even if it meant an old painful memory.

"I've been to Manehattan before."

"Let me guess, you didn't enjoy it there?"

"Yeah, somethin' like that." Applejack winced slightly as Big Mac coughed uncomfortably. Granny Smith shot him a small glare and whispered a quiet "hush" in his general direction.

"How long was it since you last visited?"

"I dunno, Rare. I was a little filly when I went. Younger than Bloom is now. Six maybe seven."

"It's changed a lot since then, Applejack. But if you really don't want to go, then I will respect your wishes and not beg you to like I did with Canterlot. I'm sure I could handle things."

Applejack furrowed her brow as she stared into the deep blue eyes of her friend. On one hoof, she had promised herself she'd never go back to that particular city ever again as long as she lived. On the other hoof, getting to hang out with Rarity some more away from Ponyville sounded by far more fun and interesting than making cider for the next week or so. Could a town that awful truly change? Maybe it was time to take another leap of faith.

At first Applejack and Rarity hated each other, fighting constantly and nearly destroying Twilight's library during a slumber party. For a time they didn't even like their sisters being friendly with each other. But, Applejack had taken a chance and had realized Rarity was an amazing pony and fun to be around. Simultaneously, despite her initial dislike of Canterlot, she had found herself enjoying the extravagant albeit arrogant city and all the things it had to enjoy. And if it hadn't been for Rarity, she'd never had built up the courage to leave the farm in the first place, go on a trip, and see a small part of the world. When it came right down to it, Applejack realized she trusted the promises of a friend more than her own instincts. She took a deep breath, hedging all her bets on the next carefully chosen words.

"Do ya want me to go?"

"Of course I do! This is all for you, after all. It would be positively dreadful if I had to be there all by myself."

"Well....." Applejack cast a quick glance at her family. Granny Smith frowned slightly and looked down at the floor. There was a pleading look of dismay in Big Mac's eyes and an oh so subtle, almost invisible shake of his head. ".....I guess, I'll go."

"You are absolutely sure about this?"

"Y...yeah. Yeah I'm sure I wanna go this time. Just you n' me."

"Wonderful! Once I work out the schedule and find someone to look after Sweetie, oh and get the proper train tickets, oh and we have to see what Auctioneers are available and oh there's just so much to do!" Rarity nibbled on the end of her hoof, looking worried.

"You wanna stay for dinner? We're havin' quiche! Got salted acorns in it."

"OH! Thank you so much but I already ate. In fact I promised Sweetie Belle we'd go out for dessert."

"Can I go?" Applebloom squeaked, finally feeling it was her turn to speak.

"No, you need to finish yer dinner, dearie. Gitcha a big slice a' pie afterwards!" Granny replied, waving a fork in the air.

With another clatter of hooves and a slam of the door and Rarity was once again lost to the rain, enveloped by the grey mist that was shrouding the land. Applejack sat for a moment in her chair watching the galloping silhouette become lost from view as the broken door swung open on it's hinges again. For a moment the family sat in the silence, watching Applejack in her chair as she stared out into the rain, breathing quietly with an enigmatic expression. Big Mac was the first to speak and break the silence.

"AJ you know you don't.....HAVE to go this time. Miss Rarity clearly wouldn't mind if ya didn't. In fact I think you should stay here."

Applejack turned slightly staring at her brother. His face said it all. Worry etched across his chiseled and worn features. Applejack sighed to herself. "What if she wants to know why I changed my mind?"

"We can find something you can use as an excuse, AJ. I don't want you goin' back there. Ever. I don't want to.....lose my little sister again." Big Mac cleared his throat and stared at his meal. He'd never been good with words. The last thing he wanted was Applejack to return to Manehattan. Her last experience there as a child had broken the family, and caused deep hurt for everyone involved.

"What do you think, Granny?" Applejack whispered, not taking her eyes off Mac. "Think I made the right decision?"

Granny Smith leaned back in her chair, putting a comforting gnarled hoof on her granddaughter's shoulder. "Applejack, yeh know I should eh told ya this back when yeh asked me about Canterlot but ya needed a good shove in the right direction. I love you, dearie. I love you more than I can't even express. But....yer gonna have to start makin' yer own decisions."

"Normally I'd agree with ya. But, this is different. You know that."

"That I do. That I do. If you go, you promise me, Applejack." Granny Smith placed her hoof on Applejack's chin, forcing her to turn her head so the two generations could see each other face to face. Applejack's full of worry and Granny's full of grave concern. "You promise me yeh don't go near them Oranges. Nobody needs to know about them. If you see 'em, don't talk to 'em. Don't give em the time o' day. They don't deserve any more of our kindnesses, ya hear?"

Applebloom raised an eyebrow at the conversation. She'd never met these family members being mentioned in hushed tones. "Granny how come we never see Auntie and Uncle Orange? Ain't they our kin?"

"Not anymore, child." Granny responded in a voice very grave and quiet. She leaned forward and began to cut into her quiche again. "Eat yer food, dearie, it's gettin' cold."

And thus, the Apple family began once again to eat dinner. The joy and happiness in the room was gone, replaced by a melancholy tone, full of thought and reminiscence. None wished to speak after the conversation that had just happened. The topic was one they had all dearly hoped they'd never have to discuss again. One they hadn't discussed in more than a decade. Old wounds that had long since scabbed over now found themselves itching and oozing, ruining the celebratory gusto that filled the house. Even the lights seemed dimmer as the family ate. Their minds occupied by dark thoughts and old memories, betrayed by the sun, and moving from shade to shade.

Que mon souffle repousse pas.

It was ugly. Well, perhaps ugly wasn't the word. It was erratic, maybe even insane. It was certainly far more stylized than anything the mare had produced previously. Blobs upon splatters upon smears upon seemingly random swirls in the pigments that were being mixed mindlessly onto the canvas, the clashing hues threatening to become a repugnant brown as the orange messy hooves continued to strike the canvas forcefully. It was almost as if she weren't painting at all, as if she were engaged in a struggle against the art itself, hitting it repeatedly as if trying to punish it. The look on her face supported this conclusion. Her messy hair far more unkempt than usual, her hairband long lost in the puddles on the floor, her ponytail now but a memory. Her eyes were wide and wild, searching across the canvas like a small animal that had been cornered, desperately seeking a way out. Beads of sweat were beginning to form on the creases etched in her forehead. Her jaw remained clench in a steady silence as her hooves worked, continuing to batter the pigments onto the plaster, sending droplets scattering across the berth. The mess in the train car was awful. But there was no helping it now. They would simply have to pay to have it cleaned later. Another expense to be added to the list.

Rarity tilted her head in curiosity as she watched Applejack's feverish painting. This didn't seem right at all. The painting was a bizarre mess. And Applejack herself looked like a mess as well as she sat on the floor, hunched over, smearing the paint wildly around. There was no brush used to create this work, this thing being created. Applejack was in too much of a hurry to worry about that. Roughly she jammed her hoof almost elbow deep into the paint can, drawing it out and immediately starting on another colorful blur. Something had to be wrong. This looked nothing like Applejack's previous art. Even the more impressionistic ones. This was something created entirely out of emotion with little regard to form. Rarity ducked as a green droplet of paint soared by her snout, missing it by inches. She frowned slightly as she watched her friend. An hour ago as the city of Manehattan had come into view, the orange farmer pony had demanded to be allowed to paint. No-one had actually watched her paint before and Rarity felt honored at being one of the few to see one of these beautiful pieces happen. That is until the cans of paint and canvas had been very roughly torn from her grasp and set to floor. The cans were beaten open by Applejack's strong hooves and then this mess of paint had begun. Rarity had said nothing, assuming this was how things typically went for the process.

But now the smears of paint began to make their way off the canvas and to the floor. And now as Applejack's labored breathing was becoming a series of quiet painful yelps, Rarity realized something was indeed very very wrong. She had grown quite fond of Applejack, despite their differences. But the emotion on her friend's face was one she could not recognize. It was beyond anything she'd seen Applejack express. But as the pupils continued to contract and the flurry of hooves continued to mess up the floor, Rarity could feel the hairs on the back of her neck prick up. Applejack was feeling fear, that had to be it. But not just fear, this was mortal terror. It was time to intervene and find out for sure. But any questions Rarity had were answered quickly when the train car lurched slightly as it went over a hill, causing a high pitched squeak to emanate from Applejack's throat, large tears forming and immediately cascading down her face, falling to the floor and mixing into the paint.

"Applejack? Applejack! Dear, what is wrong you? I've never seen you like this! Do you need help are you sick?"

Applejack made a loud rasp as she cleared her throat, suddenly staring at Rarity as if it was their first time ever laying eyes on each other. "No I'm fine I'm fine I'm fine. Finefinefinefinefine."

"No you are not, you look awful and....you're hyperventilating!" Rarity hopped off her seat and put her arms around Applejack's neck, trying not too gently to pull her away from the painting. "Over here. Now."

"I don't...I don't need help I'm f-f-f-f-f-f-f-fine." Applejack began to stutter and shiver violently as Rarity stroked her friend's mane.

"What has gotten into you? What's frightening you? We can change cars if you'd like."

"I ain't s-s-s-scared, m'fine."

"Be honest with me, Applejack! WHAT IS WRONG?!" Rarity shouted, her voice rising as she continued to grow more frightened herself at her friend's bewildering state.

"Maybe I'm a little."

"A little what?"

"Scared." Applejack squeaked as one of the paint cans fell over with a quiet clang causing her to jump. She began to shiver uncontrollably, gasping for breath, her eyes rolling in her head as the volume of her voice rose in panic. "It's real hot in here I need to I uh I-I-I n-n-n-need to get off this! Off this train! HELP CONDUCTOR! HELP STOP THE TRAIN!!"

Applejack suddenly thrashed her way out of Rarity's grasp, pulling the door to their berth open with a loud crack. She paused for a moment staring at the opposite wall then immediately launched into the corridor, followed quickly by Rarity who was determined to help her friend.

"You really need to calm down, Applejack! You're scaring me and everyone else. You clearly need a doctor so just...... wait what....what's wrong?"

Applejack's eyes filled with tears as her face suddenly flushed. Her whole body seemed to grow very pale as her legs began to wobble, losing their energy. She tilted and slammed into the wall of the corridor with a deafening crack, sinking to the floor, her hooves shaking as she tried to keep her head up.

"Rare? Rare!? I can't see ya. Don't leave me!"

"Yes I'm right here!"

"I think I'm sick, I think I'm gonna throw up."

With a strength that surprised even the unicorn herself, Rarity soon found herself tossing Applejack's body inelegantly onto her back and galloping towards the back of the car where the latrines were kept. She kicked the door open and placed Applejack in front of the toilet, rubbing her friend's back. Applejack shivered again, lowering her head into the bowl, starting to make gagging noises. The hooves on her back were somewhat comforting and the feeling of fainting was slowly starting to pass. Rarity pursed her lips and exhaled a cool stream of air onto Applejack's neck, trying to cool her. The poor mare was burning up, her back alone felt like it had been lying on a hot sidewalk during a summer afternoon. Eventually the gagging noises stopped and Applejack's pained gasps of air became quiet breaths once more. After a few minutes she lifted her head from the toilet and sat staring at the wall before turning to her friend.

"Nothin' came out. I haven't eatin' nothin' so I guess I couldn't barf up nothin'."

"You haven't eaten all day? Why on earth would you not eat when you knew we'd be spending most of today on a train?"

"Too nervous."

"Do I need to get the doctor? He's only a few traincars away."

"Nah, I'm fine now."

"Mmm hmm." Rarity raised an eyebrow. She'd heard that before.

"Naw I mean it this time. Thanks, Rare."

"What frightened you so much? You've been acting like a crazed beast for the last hour and then suddenly you're having some sort of panic attack. It's not this train is it? Is the train bothering you?"

"No, I like trains, Rare. Even fast ones like this'un."

"Well, as your friend I am not letting you leave this bathroom stall until you tell me what is wrong. I'm not letting you spend this trip ill or injured for my sake." Rarity crossed her forearms and shot an upset look at Applejack. She had never seen the normally very brave earth pony act this way. Something was clearly giving the mare more anxiety then she knew how to handle.

"I'm afraid, Rare." Applejack whispered breathlessly, tears starting to form in her eyes again.

"Of...?"

"Manehattan." she squeaked out, her voice cracking as she fought to keep her composure.

"Oh you poor thing." Rarity hugged her friend close, patting her back. "What scares you about it? The high crime rates? The smell? It is a very smelly sort of town, I must admit."

"I can't really say."

"Why not?"

"It just....I don't want to talk about it. It just does."

"Applejack if just looking at the city is enough to make you this sick, why in Equestria would you agree to come on this trip in the first place? I told you I could take care of the auction if you wanted me to. Why do this to yourself?"

"I figured since Canterlot turned out ok, maybe this place would too and......and I wanted to spend time with ya."

Rarity broke the hug and gently pushed Applejack away to look into her face with a confused look, trying hard not to seem elated at these words.

"I never had many friends, Rare. Not close ones anyway n'....I like ya. Yer the best friend I've ever managed to have." Applejack bit her lip as she looked woozily up at the ceiling. "I figured if I could get over my heebie-jeebies we could be pals some more. Didn't think it was this bad."

"I'm touched, really. I adore our time together as well and I'm somewhat flattered you sacrificed your sanity to be here with me. But regardless, I'm taking you to the sleeping car. You clearly need to lie down for a while and calm your nerves. We don't need you throwing up all over the train. I wouldn't be surprised if you gave yourself motion sickness from trying to paint in a moving vehicle."

"Have....I been paintin'? Is that why my arms are all muddy-lookin'?"

"You don't remember?"

"Nope. Last hour's been a blur."

With Applejack leaning wearily on Rarity the two made their way back to their messy paint-covered berth. Applejack stared down in confusion at the deluge of random colors and smudges that had destroyed the carpeted floor and the canvas sitting in the middle of it. Colored hoofprints were everywhere.

"I made that, huh?"

"Yes you've been working on it for about an hour and a half. Just painting like crazy as if your very life depended on it. There was such passion in it. I thought it was beautiful seeing you work. Watching you create what I hoped would be a new magnum opus. Then of course I realized you were ill."

"Sure is an ugly son of a gun, ain't it? Hoo wee!"

"It's....not your best."

"Wellp. Let's hang onto it, maybe I can turn it into somethin' nice later when I'm feelin' less woozy."

Applejack glanced up at the window. It seemed the universe had yet another cruel joke to play as the absurdly large metal billboard that read "Welcome to Manehattan! The Industrial Capitol!" flew past, it's massive silhouette blotting out all rays from the sun for the briefest of instants, causing the traincar to fall into complete darkness for a mere moment. Applejack felt all the blood rush to her hooves again as she choked slightly, turning to Rarity with a wobbly grin.

"Heya, I think I'm gonna pass out. Wait. Yep. I am."

And she did. With a flutter of her eyes and a small burp, the orange earth pony crumpled to the ground in a heap, her face slamming into the paint soaked floor. Rarity sighed slightly as she watched her friend's unconscious form quiver while her uneasy breathing grew quieter. This trip seemed off to a bad start already. If Applejack was this nervous of the city alone, how on earth would the auction turn out?

***********************************************************************************************

Manehattan's namesake as the head of Industry was not to be lightly challenged. Every new device, design, and household product that ponies used every day had its origins, and often production, within the massive metropolis. If Canterlot was the mother of modern science, then Manehattan was the father. Textiles, food processing, chemical refinement, long production lines and happy workers, the iconic signs of the bustling city. Peaked brick and mortar skyscrapers dotted the landscape, festooned with stucco and wrought iron balconies and fences. Wrought iron bridges connected the upper floors of some skyscrapers that were close enough to allow such a marvel of midair travel, cutting down on transit time for those brave few who didn't fear heights.

For those who loved the calm serenity of nature, Manehattan was a blight. Foreboding, massive, and grotesque with it's billowing smokestacks, pumping colorful clouds of pollutants into the sky. But for those who loved the design of urban and metropolitan areas, the city was a shining jewel in a sea of mundane nothingness. It went by many nicknames as well, earned from years of complex capitalist culture. The Crade of Equestria. The Birthplace of Electricity. The Steam of the Engine. The City of Bits. The Brick Horseshoe. Manny's Town. The Big Orange. Luna's Pearl. The City So Large that it's In Charge. Empire of Dreams. The City that Celestia Forgot. All amusingly accurate in their own way, to be sure. However the mainstay nickname had always been The Big Orange. Founded almost 2,500 years prior by Maple Orange and Mercy Orange, a traveling plutocrat and his doting altruist wife who dreamed of having a place to live away from the naive aristocratic society of Canterlot. Together they had turned the barren infertile land into a small town. Then gold was struck a few years later inside a private strip mine owned by Gracious Pie, a mare prospector many believed to be mad. The city grew as ponies arrived in crowds, hoping to find their own fortune in gold. When they couldn't, they turned to other means. Housing, business, law practices, enforcement, and railroads soon all became large factors in the city's growth. By the time Maple Orange finally stepped down after nearly 30 terms as mayor of Manehattan, the humble mining town was no more, now replaced by a wealthy and inventive interurban region of technological progress. The last words in his will and testament had been "Never forget, we may not all be earth ponies, but we all came from the earth".

On the southeast side of the city, a beautiful white unicorn leaned on the bannister of her hotel balcony, staring out into the unfathomably large array of tall buildings that covered the sky. Clouds drifted leisurely between the buildings, mingling with the plumes of steam and smoke that gushed upward, interrupted only by the rare flock of pigeons or pelicans that would rush by, seeking the sea or ponies who weren't keeping an eye on their food. The air was pungent, smelling of cinders and copper that made the unicorn wrinkle her nose when the wind picked up. Muffled shouts and music occasionally broke through the dense layers of cloud and smoke, echoing across the expanse of the upper narrows of the city, reminding those who lived at these altitudes that there was a whole world just below them.

The unicorn sat quietly, an expression of sadness on her half-lidded eyes. Had it been a mistake to bring her friend here? Should she have picked up the signs? Why was Applejack reacting to the city this way? Her family's reaction to the news hadn't been great. Her friend's handsome older brother had seemed almost frightened at the news. The grandmother seemed disappointed. But the unicorn had simply carried on, unable to let their reactions ruin her pride and glee. Now she sat alone, her friend inside the hotel room, out cold and whimpering in her sleep, like a newborn. It was devastating to see someone so brave and calm in such a state. Had this all been a mistake, the unicorn thought. Was this all her fault? Should she have insisted to come alone? Insisted it would be no trouble? Now her friend was sick and it was all because she'd been too selfish to just observe and gauge the gulps and exchanged looks of her friend's family. Why had she been so adamant on bringing her friend anyway? Had they really grown so close? Being alone was nothing new. Not on a business trip. But the thought of being here without someone to talk to bothered her. Even now it bothered her, as she sat by herself on the balcony, deep in thought, wondering what her next course of action should be.

A rustling of fabric in the bedroom alerted Rarity that her sleeping friend had finally woken up. It had been a few hours since Applejack had fainted. With the aid of two bellcolts at the hotel they had managed to carry her unconscious form upstairs after the clinic on the train had informed Rarity that there was nothing wrong with Applejack, besides too much stress. The train conductor had been upset about the mess in their cabin, but quickly had solved the issue on his own. After plucking off his stately hat, and revealing a gnarled twisted horn on his forehead, he had soon removed all the paint from the carpet in a small sparkle of purple magic. He bade Rarity farewell, reminding her that if motion sickness was a problem, there WERE other forms of travel available. It had been somewhat embarrassing pulling the unconscious mare through the streets and into the hotel elevator. A few smirks and haughty looks had been flashed in Rarity's direction as she had passed through the lobby. But that was all over now, which she was quite glad for as she sighed and entered the bedroom.

"How are you feeling, Applejack? Want anything? We appear to have an endless stream of soda pop in the cabinet. Not sure if we're supposed to pay for it or not. Cross that bridge when we come to it, I suppose."

"Wuzzat? Who? Oh. Where the heck am I?"

"The hotel, dear. Ritzy Radcliff's Retro Resort, complete with an outdoor pool, and indoor pool, and a pool that's sort of in-between the two."

"How long have I been out?"

"Three hours or so. Ooh! They have a downstairs casino here you know. First time I ever came to this town I must have lost a third of my life-savings on some sort of money-eating contraption. Foolish decisions from a younger, more foolish me."

"Hey, Rare?" Applejack asked, lifting her head from the bed and looking sheepishly down at the comforter.

"Yes?" Rarity had poured two glasses of lime soda, placing one on a cart next to the bed for Applejack. "Here you are."

"Why um....what do you get out of this?"

"What do I get out the what? Hm?" Rarity cocked her head to the side, raising an eyebrow as she took a sip.

"I mean like....I mean besides a cut of the profits of these paintin's I guess my question is, why? Like, why are you so nice to me?"

"I'm not sure what you mean, really."

"Alright, um well lemme think here. I don't wanna sound like I ain't real appreciative of all the things you've done for me lately, I guess I just can't understand why you...uh, do 'em."

"Well you're my friend after all. I'm not just going to leave you on the train passed out."

"It's not just that. I mean.....you've been spendin' all this time helpin' me out. Bein' my friend and showin' me new things and you've paid so much money just to have us travel around."

"So?"

"It's so expensive."

"You have no idea how much I make!" Rarity quipped with a sly smirk. "What's REALLY bothering you?"

"I guess, well, you could be spendin' all this time hangin' out at the spa with Fluttershy or spendin' the afternoon with Pinkie Pie. Ponies you've known for a real long time. You've put up with me n' my bad habits and I know I've gotten on your nerves more than once on this trip. I guess I can't understand why.... me? When you got better options."

"Now hold on just one darn moment." Rarity's face went very stern as she put her lime drink on the table. "Are you insinuating that you are somehow not WORTHY of the same level of love and care I give to my other friends?"

"Well no, it's just it's so costly and out of the way and I feel like you keep givin' and givin' and givin' and I ain't done nothin' nice back for ya. I feel guilty about it all."

"So you feel that I, the Element of Generosity, am being too generous perhaps?"

"Sorta?"

"You worry about the silliest things, really you do. Let's make a list shall we? A list of all the wonderful things you've done for me and the others on a regular basis that you apparently don't think is valuable. For starters, you've saved my life twice, and Twilight's once. Fluttershy's I've love count by now. You've helped us defeat a chaotic spirit, an evil queen, a deranged emperor, an evil rock wizard, one half of the heads of the Royal Family...."

"But..."

"You frequently give me and others free food and shelter. You invite us onto your farm and treat us not like guests, but like family. You funded the effort to rebuild town hall after it was destroyed. You spend all your time every winter helping prepare for spring even though we all know you have more important responsibilities on the farm. You harvested almost your entire acre of trees on your own when your brother was injured, nearly killing yourself I might add. You helped me fix the town's dam. You funded the creation of the halfway house for all the orphaned foals in town so they stop running around the streets at night like hooligans."

"Yeah, but....."

"You helped Rainbow Dash train for the Wonderbolts and even though she didn't get the internship I know she appreciates it and thinks you are the best pony in the world. She'd never admit that, of course. You help Fluttershy round up all the smaller more defenseless animals every year so she can keep an eye on them, even though Celestia knows she could do it herself if she tried harder. You ran away from home and worked like a slave in a fruit factory simply because you didn't want to come home empty handed from a fundraiser. You fought off those ghastly wolves that tried to invade the town last year when everyone else was too frightened to do so."

"Yeah! But..."

"You have basically raised your baby sister on your own. You've taught her how to be a well-mannered and generous young lady. Oh but wait, I've entirely forgotten how your Apple Farm is one of the most important historical and business landmarks in our little town and you have kept it in tip-top shape for as long as I can remember since your Grandmother can hardly do it herself anymore. You've done everything in your power to keep the Apple name a pure symbol of hard work and dependability."

"Yeah but I don't do all that on my own!" Applejack spluttered.

"Then of course there's the barn-raising you do for the ponies without homes. The street-sweeping services your provide in fall after all the leaves flop all over the ground like lazy miscreants. Removing the termites from all the cottages in town when we were overrun. Letting me use you as a model for when I wanted to show off to Hoity Toity. You provide free apples for Sugarcube Corner, and I know they only stay in business due to the apple pastries they make with them. So by that logic, you're the real reason Pinkie Pie has anywhere to live."

"That's kinda stretchin' it."

"But that leaves us at the final point on the list here where you helped me make up with my little sister."

"Shucks, Rare that wasn't-"

"NO!! It was! Have you ever had your sister tell you she hates you? Has Applebloom ever EVER told you she hates you and never wishes to see you ever again? Even going so far as to run away from home and you? Causing you and your family to be besides themselves with worry wondering if she's ok?"

"I...uh..."

"HAS SHE!?" Rarity screeched.

"No."

"Well, it hurts! Alot, actually! And if it hadn't been for you I never would have realized what a selfish pony I had become and she and I would probably never have spoken again. If she hadn't found you and Applebloom after running away I might never have seen her again. I have nightmares about that. But I can rest easy now thanks to you. And all these things you do, all these great and wonderful acts of kindness, and I have yet to ever see you ask for anything from anyone. Whether it's out of pride or reluctant shyness, I have never seen you ask for help or money or even friendship. Even though I am fully aware you need all three of these things. Some more than others."

"I never thought of it that way, I guess. I just do that stuff cause it feels right. It's the right thing to do. It's what my daddy would of done."

"Why do you think I do things for you, then? Applejack you're going to have to learn to stop pushing us all away. You're almost as defensive as Rainbow is at times. I like you, darling. I really honestly do." Rarity leaned forward, planting a small tender peck on Applejack's forehead. "We all love you. You don't need to feel like you owe me or anyone anything, because you MOST CERTAINLY do not. Understand?"

"Yeah, I do." Applejack grinned. "Sorry, Rarity. I've been kinda down in the dumps lately, haven't I?"

"A bit, yes. And if you aren't willing to tell me why right now, that's fine. I am patient. Next time I ask you to enjoy yourself, think of it as an order. It is no longer optional. I am commanding you to be happy when good things happen. Yes?"

"Yes!"

"Fabulous. Now we have three days until the auction and I'd rather we spent them having fun instead of in this lavish little hotel discussing why you're fantastic."

"Heh. Well alrighty, then."

"Good! Now BEHOLD!" Rarity shot a small tornado of sparkles from the end of her horn, lifting her purple suitcase off the floor. The latch clicked open as the case revealed its contents. Two dresses flew out from inside. One was blue with glittery sequin stripes of purple along it's seams. Laced cuffs extended from the shoulders, glittering with lavender sparkles. The other was red with orange ruffles along it's hem. The red one landed next to Applejack as Rarity held hers aloft, admiring it.

"Lovely, aren't they? Not surprising I suppose; I did make them after all." Rarity winked. "We are going to look stunning. Every mustang in Manehattan's jaws will drop to the floor like cartoon characters when they see us, Applejack. Perhaps we can find a nice bronco who can tame the wild farm girl, hm?"

"Aw jeez, Rare."

"Oh I'm just playing with you. Take a look at what I made for you, go on."

"This is even prettier than my Gala dress!" cried Applejack as she studied the article, flipping it in her hooves.

"Oh those old things. I tossed mine out right after the Grand Galloping Gala. It was old fashion the moment I put it on! This however is fresh! Suave. Chic. I know you don't normally enjoy frilly things which is why I tried to make yours seem a bit less flashy."

"It's awful pretty. Prettiest dress I've seen in a long time. Thanks, Rarity. Thanks for everything. I'll try not get freaked out when we wander around Manehattan."

"If you start to feel ill, you let me know. Understand? Don't hurt yourself for my sake. Let me know right away."

"I will."

We stow our words in the cellar.

A chilly wind blew through the crowded streets of Manehattan. It was difficult for the sun's warmth to pierce through the smog that sat over the town like an upset cloud. Meaning every night, once night fell, it got cold. It didn't matter what season it was. If you were out in the streets, you bundled up. And at the moment, there were quite a few in the streets. Some ponies commuting, some going home to be with their families, and quite a few emerging for the first time today as the sun set, ready to enjoy the nightlife the city offered. Illuminated carriages road through the streets. Some pulled by ponies, some powered by small efficient electric engines. The smaller wagons were more like chariots, with seats for two, designed for romantic trips through the town or parks at night. The larger ones could sit a whole crowd, and for the most part were motorized, saving time and horsepower without the need of a fleet to pull them.

The sky was an ashen red as the white carriage carrying a small group of ponies sped through the late traffic jams in the streets. Within it sat Rarity and Applejack, along with quite a few others who were enjoying the expensive public transportation. Rarity was already chatting with complete strangers mere moments into the trip while Applejack sat soberly, trying to keep her eyes closed lest she peer out the window and see something, or someone she recognized. She was already feeling a bit nauseous from her nerves getting worked up as the wagon slowed to take a corner.

"You've been so quiet this whole trip, Applejack."

Applejack opened her eyes to see Rarity had turned to glance at her, aware something was amiss.

"I'm fine."

"You've been sitting like a statue with your eyes screwed shut."

"If I look out the window and see somethin' I know I think I'm gonna freak out, Rarity. Tryin' to stay calm, so I don't mess our night up like I messed our day up."

"I really wish you'd tell me why this town gets you so nervous."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Well it's not as if you'd have time anyway, because we are finally here!"

Rarity and Applejack exited the wagon to a few goodbyes from the other occupants, their hooves clattering onto the brick street as the wagon rode off into the night. Applejack glanced back at it, wondering if she should have stayed at the hotel and found something else to do. Like peeling tomatoes or checking out the casinos. With a small sigh she quickened her step, getting side by side with Rarity as they trotted down the street. As they walked Applejack glanced over at a small sewer drain, emblazoned with a brass orange stamp. She turned to peer nervously down the street. It was so familiar. She knew this street, and all the memories that came with it. They swam into focus in her consciousness, stirring up unpleasant feelings, making the young mare slow as they approached a glowing building.

"What's wrong? Feeling sick?" Rarity was sitting on her haunches a few meters away, a look of concern on her features.

"A lil' bit. I know this here street."

"From what precisely?"

"Nothin' important. Let's get going."

They began to walk again as Rarity slowed down so her friend could catch up, turning her head to study Applejack. Small beads of sweat were forming on the orange pony's head as she stared forward, stoic as possible.

"You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" Rarity whispered as pleasantly as she could.

"Yeah, I know. Is this the place?"

"Yes. I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine here."

The two mares had stopped in front of a large black building, embedded into the side of a brick apartment complex. Stairs were leading down to a doorway and the quiet dull thud of music was managing to eek its way through. Above the door sat a magically-infused neon sign. Small green and yellow butterflies made out of tiny beads of light were hovering around small tubes of light, artfully curved to form a glowing calligraphy that simply said "The Parasprite". Large brass bolts held the magical words in place. Rarity squealed and marched boldly down the stairs towards the door.

"So this here is a club in the basement of an apartment complex, huh?" Applejack asked, mesmerized by the enchanted insects on the sign.

"Not just the basement. The entire structure, darling! Brilliant, no?"

"Oh! I....don't know, Rare. This place seems kinda....swanky."

"Remember how I told you that having fun was now non-optional? I, Lady Rarity, command thee to come downstairs already, AJ. If anypony gives you a nasty look just remember something very important."

"What's that?"

"We're much better than they are." and with a sultry wink, Rarity tiptoed backwards into the darkened doorway, disappearing into the pitch black hallway that followed. Applejack glanced around briefly before lowering her head and following suit, vanishing inside the basement that lead to the interior.

***********************************************************************************

A few minutes later found the two friends sitting on cushions in a dark room, surrounded by other ponies on cushions. Small reflective tables sat inbetween them. On top was a small copper tray of hayfries and sushi, which Applejack was happily digging in to, after not having eaten all day. She definitely felt better now that the pit of her stomach was full of nourishment. She flashed a smile at Rarity and took a good look at her surroundings. They were on a sort of mechanical plateau, with a small bar and two waitresses scuttling around bringing drinks and food to the other patrons. Enchanted floating signal lanterns full of scented candles were floating lazily above the plateau, casting light onto it and the sweet smell of pumpkins across the room. Beyond the outer wall stood a very crowded dance floor. Dozens upon dozens of well-dressed ponies were dancing up a storm across the glass tile floor. Under the glass was a massive water aquarium full of large colorful fish that swam to and fro, seemingly unaware of all the citizens dancing right above themselves. And below that were more lanterns, each with colorful filters, sending their rays of colorful light up through the water and glass into the room above, illuminating all the dancers, the swimming fish casting kaleidoscope shadows onto the dim ceiling.

Electronic music beat its way through the air. Analog sounds mixed with erhu strings mixed into a light yet pumping house beat. Pretty enough to sit back and listen to, while remaining exciting enough to dance to. Applejack grinned as she leaned back on the cushion, squishing some more hayfries into her mouth. This was so relaxing and pleasant. A far cry from how the outside felt. Applejack snuggled into the cushion as she chewed thoughtfully allowing her mind to drift. Finally feeling her nervousness leave her body. Her thoughts were full of color and clouds when she was taken out of her dreamlike state by a small prod to her full stomach. Her eyes snapped open to see Rarity, giving her a disapproving look.

"Oh no you don't! This is a dance club not a sleep club. We are going to dance, so help me Celestia."

"Ha! Sorry, Rare. It's just so dang comfy. Haven't felt this relaxed in a while."

"See? I knew you'd feel better if you came inside."

"You were right, again! I should buy a beanbag chair for the farm. Where's that friend o' yers you wanted me to meet?"

Rarity pointed a hoof over the soft foam wall that separated the plateau from the rest of the dance floor. At the far end of the room was another much smaller plateau, covered in record players, phonographs, electric pianos, synthesizers, and a few towers covered in buttons, dials, and lights. In the center of it all sat a small lanky white unicorn, green sparks of magic firing from her horn in small pops, which whizzed through the air forming into complex fractals and dissipating as they rained down into the crowd. Her hair as an unkempt tuft of blue and turquoise, sticking out in every direction like spines. A large majority of her mane was falling into her face, casting shadows on the large black goggles with magenta lenses that sat strapped to her head, reflecting the dancers as she nodded in time with the beat. Rarity gave a small wave over the wall. As if on cue, the sparks stopped and the unicorn in charge of the music lifted her goggles, sharply squinting across the crowd. Her face cracked into a sly smirk as she grabbed the nearest microphone.

"Sorry my little fillies and colts. The greatest show on earth will be back soon enough. Don't get too sweaty out there, remember I have to clean this crap up later."

With a flash of green sparks the unicorn had taken flight, hovering in a small cloud of green light as she flew, landing with a whump into Rarity's cushioned chair, green clouds of smoke in her wake, pulling her goggles off and draping them around her thin neck. A large cocky smile grew on her face, threatening to split her head in half.

"Hello, hello, hello to you Rare-it-teeeee. It has been ages but I'm glad you are fashionably on time for once."

The lanky unicorn turned to Applejack, blinked twice, then grabbed a hooffull of the hayfries off the plate on the table, devouring them instantly. She studied Applejack for a moment as she chewed, finally clearing her throat.

"Yeah, so this isn't Pinkie Pie in a costume is it? This is that friend of yours, eh?"

Rarity grinned. "No, Pinkie Pie didn't come this time. This is Applejack. Applejack, this is my old friend Scratch."

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance! I like that there techno-y music y'all make a whole heck of a lot!" Applejack said, as she gleefully extended a hoof.

"Hey the pleasure is all mine." Vinyl spat into her hoof before shaking Applejack's hoof. "Now we are hermana. It's tradition when I meet someone new. Sweet Celestia in the sky these hayfries are good. Octy, remind me to give Herman a raise!"

"Do it yourself." shouted a grey mare who was lounging few tables away from the rest of the group. Scratch blew a raspberry in her direction before turning back to Rarity with a smug look.

Applejack wiped her hoof off on the beanbag chair and smiled at Scratch. Whoever this pony was, she was clearly a fun character to hang around.

"Is Hoity here tonight, Scratch? I've been dying to catch up." Rarity asked, grabbing a hayfry from Applejack's plate as well. Her face lit up as she chewed. "Oh! These are quite good."

"Yeah I think Hermy cooks these in garlic. Anyway if you're looking for Hoity, your loverboy is playing cards with the Mayor. I think the prize in tonight's game is the east convention hall. Hoity wants to use it for a new fashion show. Mayor wants it because he's the mayor. Get ready to cheer him up when he loses. That fat Mayor jerk cheats. He's as crooked as a spastic snake. And twice as venomous. Always hiding cards in those big old bat-wings of his. Gimme first prize in the analogy contest, someone. Anyone?"

"Oh excellent. Anyway I'll leave you two to get acquainted. Applejack, I will be right back I just need to see someone for a brief moment."

Rarity grabbed another couple of hayfries before galloping off, descending the staircase on the side of the black plateau, leaving Applejack sitting on her cushion.

"Never been here before, huh?" Scratch asked, leaning back comfortably on the cushion. "Allow me to officially welcome you to my little slice of Valhalla. I thought the Parasprite was a good name. The little critters are attracted to music. Plus they're colorful and destructive. I like them! What do you think? Enjoying yourself?"

"Yeah! Haven't felt this good in some time. I haven't tried dancin' yet. I tend to kick folks when I dance."

"Haha! Yeah southern dancing is pretty crazy. You are southern, right? Just like Pinkie Pie. She's pretty wild. We've had to escort her out a couple times for misconduct."

"I know Pinkie, an I gotta say I find that hard to believe. She seems so......innocent."

"Oh, she is. That's what makes it so funny when she misbehaves. She replaced all the stuffing in these beanbag chairs with whoopee cushions, once. I thought it was funny but all the combined fart sounds was apparently the most annoying noise in the world for everyone else. Freakin' humorless bureaucrats, lemme tell ya. Where do you know ol' Pinkanator from?"

"Yeah, she's a good friend. From Ponyville."

"Ah good ol' Ponyville. And Ponyville University, P.U. because it stinks. I lived there for a long while until I met Octavia. Oh, and speak of the discord, here she is."

The grey mare from earlier had pranced around to where Applejack and Scratch were sitting. Her long black mane shone vividly in the dim light, a small pink treble clef adorning her hip. She gave Applejack a quick haughty glance before plopping down onto Scratch's lap, causing them both to sink into the cushion even further.

"So you're Rarity's new discovery eh?" Octavia asked with a small sensuous smile.

"I dunno 'bout discovery....I mean I've known Rare for a pretty good while now.... but she's helpin' me out with some art-related business." Applejack said with what she hoped was a friendly nod. "Anyways, hi! My name's Applejack!"

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Jack." replied Octavia, her smile becoming a small coy grin. "Rarity was right about you. You are stunning."

"Oh....uh....thanks, heh." Applejack felt her cheeks blush. She wasn't accustomed to such compliments from complete strangers. She glanced at Octavia's cutey mark, deciding to change the subject. "So are uh...both of y'all musicians?"

"You could say that." Scratch said with a wink. "I like electronic stuff and Octy prefers orchestral ensembles and junk. After we moved out here we decided to sort of combine our talents. Two heads are better than one."

"So." Octavia began, reaching a hoof out behind herself. In a flourish, a passing waitress placed a small glass of champagne into her hoof and then dashed off as if on cue. "Has Rarity dropped the bomb on you, yet?"

"The bomb? Like an actual explosive?" Applejack asked, confused.

"Aw cripes. Not this story again, Octy. Can you stop scaring all our new friends away. Just once?" Scratch whined as she sank deeper into the cushion. "I want ponies to play blackjack with."

"No, this one especially needs to hear it." said Octavia, readjusting herself into a more upright position.

"Hear what exactly?" asked Applejack, feeling her nerves start to fire into overdrive again.

"Blah blah blahbedy blah, Jack. Rarity and Octavia were trying to form a small ensemble of Ponyville musicians once to compete with the Canterlot Orchestra. Screw up their musical monopoly in the fine art of being snobs. It failed because they can't work together like nice little fillies!" Scratch shouted in a muffled voice from the confines of the cushion, almost entirely lost from view.

"Me and Rarity get along pretty well.....usually." Applejack said meekly, trying to escape the grim prying eyes of the grey mare sitting a couple of feet away. "I mean I guess I think we do."

"Keep an eye on her, Miss Jack. She's as conniving as she is lovely. Don't become yet another gem in her crown. Another plaything for her to brag about." Octavia quipped, taking a long drink from her glass.

"Pffft. This is so freakin' CORNYYYY!" Vinyl laughed aloud from her cushion prison, only the blue spikes of her hair visible from where she had sank under Octavia.

"Oh for goodness sake." Rarity shouted, returning up the stairs just quickly enough to hear the last half of the conversation. "Are you STILL whinging about that failed project, Octavia? When it's your fault it failed in the first place?"

"My fault? MY fault? We had everything perfectly organized then you didn't feel like ponying up the bits."

"Organization means more than just a flow chart scribbled in pencil." growled Rarity leaning over to glare furiously at Octavia.

"Leading the team doesn't mean spending your time at the spa all day, you harlot." shouted Octavia, leaning forward to glare equally furiously at Rarity.

"At least I'm DOING something with my career instead of sitting around thinking about the past, you snollygoster!"

The two were almost touching snouts as they sneered, ready to start throwing punches. With a small wriggle, Scratch squeezed herself out from under Octavia, a devilish smile creeping onto her face as she watched the two argue.

"Now kiss!" she shouted with a laugh. "Let's make this a real party!"

In a move that surprised no-one, Octavia whirled around backwards and gave Scratch a slap that left her goggles spinning around her neck and a wide-eyed smile on her face. With another small glare at Rarity, the grey mare hopped off the chair and finished her drink before sauntering off the platform.

"When you three feel like having an ADULT conversation, I will be upstairs."

"I love her so much." Scratch squealed as she rubbed the red mark on her face where hoof had met jaw. "Sorry you had to see that, Applejack."

"Boy she really hates ya, huh Rare?" Applejack said with a grin.

"If grudges were candy, she'd be able to open a confectionery shoppe." replied Rarity with a tense edge in her voice. "Anyway, let's head upstairs where it's more relaxing."

"What's upstairs?" Applejack asked as she struggled to get off her beanbag chair. It was like watching an ant try to escape from a drop of water.

"V.I.P. room, my apple-themed friend." Vinyl said with a cocky grin as she put her goggles back over her rosy eyes. "A bit quieter than this but a lot nicer. Plus we can get more food."

"More food sounds good to me!" shouted Applejack with a happy grin as she followed the other two off the platform and into the crowd.

********************************************************************

Despite the name, which conjured up images of fancy settings and velvet furniture, the V.I.P. room of the Parasprite was basically the same as the floor below. In fact every floor of the building was mostly the same. Many ponies thought it was a brilliant move on the part of Scratch and Octavia. A way of poking fun at the generic copycat tactics that had been so prevalent in the music industry. Of course the truth was both ponies had OCD and having every floor feel the same just made them oh so comfortable.

And oh so comfortable was exactly how the four friends felt at the moment as they sat in beanbag chairs on the second floor. It was far less crowded and loud but still basically the same experience. The heaping plates of hayfries were soon covered in both hot sauce and ketchup and later pure paprika as Scratch and Applejack challenged to see who could make their hayfries the spiciest. Rarity and Octavia had begun the night with an icy cold silence between them, neither daring to glance at the other in the eye. But the mess and laughter of Applejack and Scratch was simply far too infectious and before long the two fancy ponies were chatting like old friends again, something they hadn't done in years. Applejack smiled as she watched them gossip about the town, happy that her new friendship with Scratch was enough to inspire the two to put away their grudgematch and talk civilly.

The night wore on as the conversation died down. With a few hoof-bumps Scratch went back downstairs to DJ some more. The crowd was expecting her when she arrived. The others could hear the cheers and shouts from the floor above. Rarity and Octavia found themselves discussing changes Manehattan had been going through ever since the new mayor had been elected. Applejack found herself craning her head to glance out one of portholes on the floor. There it was, the street she knew so well. It had changed, like the town itself had changed. It seemed so small now, when it had seemed massive before. What had once been an entire world was now a small brick road. The houses that had once lined the side of the street were nearly all gone, except for three. One of which was of utmost importance. Her green eyes narrowed as she squinted at the house in the distance. What had changed? Did they still live there? Were they even alive at all? Behind the house stood a newer building covered in spotlights and gas lamps. A glass curtain wall went around the outer edge, reflecting everything around it. On top were the words "ORANGE INC" in flat round letters, slightly illuminated by the beacons from below it. Even now she could hear the chug of machinery echoing down the street. Even now at this time of night, ponies were there, working. She wondered who they were, what their bosses were like, who was in charge. These thoughts bounced around her head as she stared, unaware that Rarity was taking note of Applejack's behavior. Something had been bothering the earth pony all night and she was going to find out what. Something was up.

*****************************************************************

"I'm surprised we spent six hours there, Rarity." Applejack slurred as she floated along. "Didn't feel like that long."

"Well you know what they say. Time flies when you're having fun. You did have fun, I hope?"

"Shoot! That was the most fun I've had in a long time. I thought everyone was gonna laugh at me when I started dancin'. Didn't expect the whole crowd to start square-dancin' with me."

"I liked that banjo song Scratch played. Very appropriate, and very catchy for banjo music."

"Plenty of good banjo music out there. You just gotta look for it, is all."

Applejack slowly stretched her hooves out of the water and pulled half of her body onto the walkway. Jacuzzis were uncommon in Ponyville and the feeling of the millions of bubbles swirling around the water jets was just heavenly. Particularly after such a heavy night of dancing and fretting over old memories. The small red band that kept her ponytail together had long since been lost in the froth of the pool. Rarity glanced up from the magazine she'd been eyeballing in the moonlight, watching Applejack flop contentedly onto the smooth porcelain barrier, her massive blonde mane splaying out in all directions like a mass of golden octopi. It had been nice enough to see the rough and tough farm pony actually get dressed nicely for a night on the town. But this was altogether different. She seemed so relaxed, and strangely feminine for someone who didn't care about how she looked. Rugged and gorgeous all at once.

"You know, Applejack." Rarity began, going back to her magazine. "You'd probably adamantly deny it, but you're very beautiful."

"Yeah, ponies have been tellin' me that all night."

"Oh, have they?"

"Yes, ma'am. Octavia said you thought I was stunnin'. Quite a nice compliment I thought."

Rarity blushed slightly. "Well I do have an eye for beauty, AJ. Couldn't be a seamstress if I didn't."

"Yup. I guess that means I inherited my momma's charms after all. Had quite a few stallions chattin' with me before we left. Some of them suckers was cute, too."

"You're going to say no to this idea, but I'm going to ask anyway. Would you be interested in being a model? Even if it's just once in a while?"

"Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeck NO."

Rarity sighed slightly. "You could, you know. You and Rainbow both could."

"Rainbow would have the same answer I just gave ya."

"Yes I'm aware. Although I know she'd love the attention. Such a shame. One of the few mares in the country with multicolor hair and she doesn't care for it at all. It should be against the law."

Applejack laughed loudly. "You're funny, Rarity! Didn't Fluttershy hate bein' a model?"

"No. She liked it until she got hired by one of my heroes, Photo Finish. Apparently Miss Finish is very aggressive and unpleasant to be around. Now Fluttershy won't even be a model for me anymore. Poor thing was sort of traumatized by the experience, I suppose."

"That's a shame."

Rarity cleared her throat and folded her magazine, placing it neatly next to the mimosa she had finished earlier. The time had come to change topics.

"Speaking of traumatizing experiences....."

Applejack frowned as she heard these words. She knew at some point tonight the conversation was going to wheel around to this subject. She really didn't want unpleasantries to enter her thought process again. Not tonight after she'd finally gotten a chance to relax. Her eyes grew wide as she heard a splash behind her, turning to see Rarity had entered the jacuzzi as well.Her purple locks bobbing across the glistening surface of the water. The white unicorn paddled over to where Applejack lay, half out of the pool, looking quite worried.

"Applejack. You've been hiding something very important and very disturbing from me, haven't you?"

"How do ya figure?" Applejack grunted, turning away.

"Passing out on a train. Anxiety attacks. Being afraid of Manehattan. You also coughed up half your hayfries when we passed that Orange Incorporated building on the way home. You were staring at it through the window when we were in the club as well. I thought you were going to faint on me again."

"I told ya, this place freaks me out."

"Applejack....." Rarity put her hooves on Applejack's shoulders, delicately pulling her friend into the water so they could look at each other face to face. "What are you hiding?"

"It's nothin' important."

"Do you trust me, or don't you?"

"Sure I do!"

"Then why? Why won't you trust me with this? What are you afraid of?"

"I ain't afraid of nothin'!"

"Do you think I won't care?"

"No."

"Do you think I'm going to gossip it around to every pony in town?"

"No!"

"Are you afraid it's going to scare me? Make me think less of you?"

"No it's nothing like that, Rarity. It's just nothin' I want you to hear about."

"Fine."

Rarity took her hooves off of Applejack's shoulders and floated a few feet away, looking deeply hurt, he bottom lip trembling slightly. Applejack took a deep breath and sighed.

"Rare, you know how Pinkie doesn't like to talk about her old family? You know before she lived with the Cakes?"

"Of course."

"Well I have a similar problem, I guess. And every time I look around this city it keeps remindin' me of stuff I tried to forget a real long time ago. Every time I see a place owned by the Oranges it just stirs up a lot of painful old stuff. Stuff I am tryin' real REAL hard to ignore right now, Rare. I don't want to talk about it because I don't want to remember it. I just want to move on from it, again."

"Is this why your family didn't seem very pleased at the news we would be visiting Manehattan?"

"Yes. So can we please drop it? Please, Rare?" Applejack begged, her voice starting to waver as tears formed. "I really just want to forget everything for at least a little while. When I feel like....I can talk about it without goin' to pieces I will. But not now. Just not now."

"Alright, then. I won't bother you about it any longer." Rarity swam back over, giving Applejack a small hug. "We all have our secrets."

"Thanks, Rare."

Silence filled the air as the two ponies went back to relaxing in the bubbling pool. Applejack was glad they'd finally moved past this issue. Her thoughts were soon filled with merriment as she realized how she and Rarity were sort of like potatoes. Two potatoes sitting in boiling water with clouds of steam going everywhere. She wondered if this is what the mud bath at the spa was like. Her friends had always recommended it to her, but she'd always flatly denied it. Mud was for hogs and chinchillas. Not workhorses. Maybe she needed to give it a second chance.

Rarity's thoughts weren't quite as happy. Something was troubling Applejack. Something deep and mysterious. Something involving the Orange company. It wasn't right, for this to happen. For someone this wonderful to have to hide something that was clearly bothering them. Something Rarity might be able to help with if she had some information. She still felt like she owed Applejack so much, for her kindnesses over the years. Maybe clearing up some hurt from her past could be a good step. With that thought, Rarity made a firm decision. She would find out what happened on that street, in that house, years and years in the past. And if possible, she would fix it. After all, that's what friends do. They help each other, right?

Que nul ne peut apprivoiser.

A cold smokey gust of wind blew across the front gates of the factory. It's large doors glared ominously out onto the street, framed by the mossy marbled walls that stretched around the property. Shadows seemed to stretch unnaturally across the oak, interrupted only by the brass hinges that held them place. As the sun rose over the city of Manehattan, it's rays stretched through the smog, piercing the darkness and leaving small emblems of warmth that slowly made their way across the streets. With a brilliant flash of yellow, the rays hit the doorway of the factory, reflecting off the two vintage worn silver letters that had been hammered into the oak.

O.O., an insignia that meant the world to a scarce few, and utterly nothing to many. Few knew the names of the wealthy family that ran the Orange Incorporated plant. But many knew what the company produced. Every product, from it's prolific perfumes and potpourri, to it's canned drinks and foods, every item that exited the plant was made from bits and pieces of oranges. Behind the plant sat a small orchard, abundant in the yellow spheres that gleamed in the sunlight. Far larger than any natural oranges, from decades of cross-breeding various sub-varieties and chemical treatments. The fruit was as beautiful as it was false, happily soaking up the minerals from the soil and fluids that the workers doused them with every day. A steel and glass dome covering them enclosure, shielding the workers and fruit from the filth, smog, and weather. It reeked of the smell of juice. You could be miles away from it and still smell it. In small amounts it was pleasant, as any fruity smell is. But once inside the plant, the scent became powerful and near unbearable, as Rarity would soon learn.

The white unicorn had snuck out her hotel room that morning, leaving behind a small note full of lies and a kiss on the cheek for her sleeping friend before departing. She stood in front of the plant, watching the workers slowly file in from the employee entrance, all wearing orange jumpsuits with nametags. She breathed in, enjoying the smell of the fruit before finally striding forward to the gate. She was going to solve this mystery today, even if it meant going inside a filthy fruit factory.

********************************************************************

Within an hour Rarity found herself sitting in a small round office on the top floor of the factory. She sat on an old couch in her favorite blue argyle sweater, dark shades, and winter's cap, hoping it would lend her an air of professionalism with whomever she was about to speak to. She glanced around the room. Old brown walls with paisley patterns in what at one time might have been red wallpaper. Wooden filing cabinets, briefcases, shelves upon shelves of books and an electric fan, continuously blowing warm air around the dusty humid room. A large dark pine desk sat in the center with a small plaque that simply said "Pres. O.O." in chiseled print. On the desk sat two stacks of paperwork, both of which had clearly gone untouched in some time, with thin layers of dust blanketing them. Several tiny black and white photos in plastic frames sat on a corner of one of the shelves. Rarity squinted and hopped off her seat to get a closer look. There were quite a few ponies she didn't recognize. But one photo in the back caused her to raise her eyebrows in surprise. It depicted a young Granny Smith, her hair braided, standing in front of a barn with a young couple. In the arms of the mother was a small bundle. A tiny baby foal, with a dark coat. This must have been Big Macintosh when he was a baby. How strange to see the parents of this family. Or to see Big Macintosh when he was not so big. Even stranger to see a young Granny Smith. Even in her younger years, there was still that playful mischievous look in her eyes.

"Can I help you miss?" came a clear and weary voice from the other door, swinging open to reveal a light yellow stallion.

Long in the neck and legs with a cutie mark of an orange on his flank. About his chest was a brown buttoned coat, complete with a black and red houndstooth tie that, despite his height, was far too long and slid on the ground as he walked in. His mane and tail were a dull green, streaked with bits of grey that fell off in strands over his face. His large blue eyes were also flecked with bits of grey, large wrinkles streaking out from under his thick brows. He walked over to where Rarity stood at the shelf.

"I heard a friend of the family had arrived. Looking at Macintosh I see, so I assume you're a comrade of his? A ladyfriend perhaps?"

Rarity smiled sweetly and gave a small bow. "I was not aware you and he were related, sir. I know him from Ponyville."

"He's my nephew. Haven't seen him in almost two decades now. Last I laid eyes on him, he was a still a little colt. Barely strong enough to walk."

"Well he's quite the man now. I'm no ladyfriend but I am a friend. However I'm actually here for a more serious matter involving a different member of your family."

The stallion's face fell and his eyes grew grave. He gulped audibly. "I knew this day would come, soon. Did she pass peacefully?"

"Did who? Oh my goodness! No, sir, Mrs.Smith is just fine in her old age. Healthy as a....er....horse. I get the feeling she's going to outlive us all."

"Oh thank goodness." the yellow stallion breathed a sigh of relief, dapping his neck with a kerchief. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small bottle of orange whiskey, taking a quick swig. He turned and sat in the large cushioned chair near the desk, placing the bottle back into his pocket. "Please, do have a seat Miss....um....I don't believe I got your name."

"You may call me Rarity, Mr.Orange." Rarity replied, wrinkling her nose at the smell of strong alcohol as she returned to her seat.

"Please, call me Opal. I'm curious are you the same Rarity who is head of the Carousel clothing line?"

"Why, yes! I am actually! I'm surprised you've heard of me."

"My wife has fine taste in fashion. You're one of Irma's favorite designers."

"I'm flattered!"

"Think nothing of it. Now if we could perhaps get to the matter at hand. You've come a long way to meet me in person. Ponyville is quite a journey." His expression of politeness melted away to one of curiosity as he leaned eagerly over the desk, resting his head on his hooves.

"Well, I'm here in town with a member of your family, actually." Rarity began. "Your niece, Applejack."

The stallion's eyes glazed over for a moment as an unreadable expression passed over him. "Applejack? Now that's a name I haven't heard in some time. Why are you two in Manehattan?"

"Well I recently discovered that Applejack has quite a bit of talent painting. We're having an auction in two and a half days."

"Painting....." Opal whispered to himself, his eyes glazing over again. "Painting? Figures. Who would have thought it'd be that? Little miracles."

"Anyway!" Rarity continued, interrupting his thoughts. "I noticed that Applejack seems to act very strangely in this city. Everything seems to make her nervous. She's constantly on pins and needles. We were down at a small hangout that's a particular favorite of mine and I caught her just sort of staring....at this factory of yours."

"She was our treasure, you know." the yellow stallion began, seemingly unfazed by Rarity's words. "We tried so hard to make her a perfect little lady, you know. Teach her how to be civil. Brighten her horizons. She was like a course gem, that we tried polishing. So many times."

"She lived with you?"

"Oh yes. For quite a while. I remember it'd been a year since my sister and her husband had left us. It was dark times. Then we hear a knock one evening and there she was. She'd walked all the way from Ponyville to our home. 'Could I stay with yew? And learn tah be a fanshy pony?' she'd asked us. Still remember it clear as day. Her little hick drawl with her voice. Those innocent bright green eyes."

"Things went....well?" Rarity asked as the stallion grew silent.

He leaned back to look at the ceiling. Reaching into his pocket to take another swig from his bottle. "There was progress. We wanted her to be a real Manehattanite. Just like me and the wife. It broke our hearts when she ran off."

"She ran away?"

"Yes. Decided she was too good for the Manehattan lifestyle, I suppose. Got hurt on the way home. We were hurt more though. Irma and I tried to have a foal of our own but it never happened. We're too old now. The family stopped talking to us and well...." He reached into his pocket for a third time, extracting the bottle. "That's how the story goes."

He began to drink then suddenly with a small guilty look, offered the bottle to Rarity.

"Apologies, madame."

"Oh! No thank you, it's a bit too early for me to get into that sort of thing. So, Applejack should have fond memories of this place I would think, yes?"

"We gave her everything, Miss Rarity. We did everything in our power to give her the sort of upbringing a young filly deserves. Needs. The best clothes, the best sort of friends, personal assistants, parties, books, a REAL education. So rough around the edges and we tried our best to smooth them. But time makes fools of us all and we endlessly came to realize nothing had changed. Then she left us. She was so little."

"So, when she keeps having these rather....perverse reactions...it's due to....?"

"GUILT!" the stallion bellowed, slamming his hoof into the desk. "Guilt, Miss Rarity. She's drowning in it. Poor dear probably fears the repercussions of her actions. The hurt she left in us. The way the Apples has extradited us from the family tree. But when it comes down to it.....we still do love her, Miss Rarity."

The anger in his voice faded as did the light in his eye, making him look older than ever. He leaned back in his chair, gazing at the ceiling, his breathing ragged.

"We loved her as if she was our own, madame. We still do. All we want is for our little April to come back home."

"April?"

"April Jacques. A nickname based off of my father and the wife's mother. It's what we used to call her instead of her rather uncouth birth name. She loved it, so."

"It's very beautiful. I'm rather sorry to hear this story, Mr.Orange."

"Please, please. Call me Opal. It's not a common name and I wear it proudly."

"Would you believe I have a cat by that same name?"

"A lucky cat it is, then. So now you know."

"Opal, would you and Irma be interested in perhaps....repairing the bonds broken with your niece?"

"Is this an invitation to the auction?"

"It's more than that, sir. I need help setting up....well rather a lot of things. I was going to ask for help from my friend Hoity Toity, the fashion designer and Fancypants who -"

"Yes, yes, I'm familiar with both of those gentlecolts." interrupted Opal, with a wave of his hoof. "I visit Canterlot from time to time to see the Wonderbolts derby with Fancy. Been ages, mind."

"I haven't asked either of them yet since it's rather short notice but, I've decided to drop the matter. I think it'd be a lot more special to perhaps theme the auction around family rather than pathos. I also think it would do a lot of good if I could have your help, Mr.Opal. The way Applejack has been, I think reuniting her with this broken piece of her family would really be the best thing for her. She helped me repair some broken bonds in my own family once. I feel as if I should do the same."

"You must care for her a great deal to go through this much trouble." Opal replied, raising an eyebrow.

"I do, yes." answered Rarity, trying not to avert her eyes.

"I see. And what if she doesn't agree to meet us?"

"I already know she won't. She's very stubborn."

"She gets that from her father."

"I think it'd be nice if it was a surprise. Some honored guests around the usual crowd of elites and nobles. Would you be able to help me with this? We could schedule it some other time, if need be."

The stallion leaned back in his chair, pouting his snout out a bit, as if deep in thought. He took one last swig from his bottle before placing it back into his pocket. With a quick motion he had pulled out a small white business card, and offered it to Rarity with a small bow. It was pure white with two golden oranges, side by side, over the words ORANGE INCORPORATED with a phone number and address. Rarity took the card glancing it over before looking up at the stallion who flashed her a crooked smile.

"I could never be too busy to help out a member of the family, Miss Rarity. I will help in any ways I can."

**********************************************************************************************

She was all smiles as she arrived back to the hotel. Karma had been against them during this entire escapade. Every time something good seemed to be on the horizon, disaster was soon in it's wake. Her desperation to make this last trip a happy one for her friend was overwhelming. If they couldn't find good luck, then she would just have to make some. Make her own karma. It was so perfect, too. She could truly pay Applejack back for her kindness. Fix her family the way Applejack had done for her more than a year prior. Truly, she could not think of a more perfect opportunity. The curtains on the stage would rise as she and Applejack sat together in the back of the crowd, almost anonymous to the collectors there to compete over pieces. During the shouts and holding of signs, she would whisper into her friends ear that she had a surprise planned. The two would find her estranged aunt and uncle. There would be tears, hugs, words passed between them. It would be perfect and beautiful just the way life should be. Rarity couldn't help dancing into the elevator as these thoughts passed through her head. She was positively giddy. It came as no surprise when she found the hotel room empty. It was still early and she assumed Applejack would have gone somewhere to get breakfast.

Next to the casino was a small deli in the bottom floor of the hotel. It was pretty nice, with several active chefs whom you could speak with to order just about anything. She found Applejack standing next to one, staring in awe as the pegasus stallion continued to flip an omelette several feet into the air, often whirling into a backflip and landing perfectly only to extend his frying pan and catch the airborn egg concoction with a small splat, never losing any of the various ingredients that sloshed about in the yellow curdles. Rarity crept up behind her friend to watch the show as the stallion continued to pull off amazing tricks. Near the end a small piece of celery managed to escape from the omelette pan and took to the air, doing its best to escape its fate as part of a healthy balanced breakfast.

"Oh whoops!" the pegasus shouted as he made a halfhearted attempt to try and catch the celery. It's horizontal velocity was too quick for him to nab it with the pan. Not that it mattered as a moment later Applejack had snapped it out of the air with the reflexes of a cobra and sat happily munching.

"No harm done!" Applejack quipped as she happily munched on the vegetable.

"First time I've lost a bit of food during a trick in almost two years! My perfect record has been tarnished." the stallion chuckled to himself as he slid the glistening omelette onto Applejack's plate.

"Well heck, mister. I ain't seen anyone ever toss an egg that high and not lose half of the thing on the way down."

"It's a rare mistake. I must have been distracted!" he said with a quick wink, causing Applejack to blush.

"Oh! Heh, thanks." Applejack mumbled as she looked away with a smile, her whole face going bright red.

Rarity tried not to giggle at the production. Her friend was so amusingly shy at times when it came to receiving compliments. Particularly about her good looks.

"Enjoying yourself?" Rarity asked, finally stepping up to Applejack and the chef.

"Oh hey, Rare! This place has got folks who cook food right here fresh when ya ask for it. You can even watch 'em make it. Never seen such a thing."

"Yes, speaking of could I have a blueberry muffin with apricot jam, my good man? And well...." she glanced at Applejack's plate. "I guess I will have an egg too."

The two friends found themselves sitting at a wicker table a few feet away as Rarity waited for her omelette to be completed as she eyed Applejack's hungrily. Celery, cilantro, and bits of potato all were perfectly braised, sitting in a very soft group of egg curdles. They had clearly been cooked very slowly to retain as much of the butter's moisture as possible. The smell was heavenly, but clearly not quite thick enough to disguise Rarity's recent trip.

"You been drinkin' already, Rare?" Applejack asked, her bright and cheery face suddenly seeming a tad worried. It was pretty early in the morning for a pony to be hitting the sauce.

"Of course not! A lady does not partake of the drink at this hour! Why on earth would you think that?" Rarity gasped, trying to look offended.

"I dunno, thought I smelled whiskey. Must be somethin' in the egg, homph homph!" Applejack buried her face in the plate, greedily devouring the meal as if it would be her last. When she finally came up for air her smile was even larger. "Mmm! Mmm! That there is good eatin'! Wish I could cook an egg that good. I'd make 'em every day."

"Oh good mine is finally done!" Rarity said excitedly as she noticed the pegasus chef waving a hoof to her from the banquet. She quickly dropped her handbag to the floor and galloped over to retrieve breakfast.

Applejack sat back in her chair, glancing briefly at the floor to where Rarity had dropped her handbag. She felt content. Waking up in the silken sheets of the soft hotel bed and eating one of the best omelettes she'd ever had the pleasure of seeing get cooked right before her very eyes. Her mood was shattered slightly when she saw a white rectangle peeping out of the pocket of the handbag. She craned her neck slightly. It was a business card with a small orange on it. An orange she recognized. Her pupils contracted as a small shiver rolled through her body. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as she stared at the orange. For most ponies, seeing this emblem would mean nothing. But for Applejack it was mortifying.

"What's wrong, AJ?" Rarity asked as she returned to her seat. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"What uh....is that?" Applejack pointed a hoof at the card, glancing up at Rarity.

"Oh that. Some representatives were at the auction house this morning. Traded some business cards. Marketing. Networking. The usual sort of thing!" Rarity lied, ending with a small chuckle. It was imperative the surprise not be ruined.

"Alright." Applejack leaned back into her chair, feeling the knot in her full stomach begin to subside, the feelings of contentment returning. "So what was happening at the auction house anyway?"

"Paperwork. Registrations. Boring stuff." Rarity took a sip of her coffee as she spooned a large chunk of omelette into her mouth. "There's margarine and whole milk in this omelette. No wonder it tastes so good."

"What's the plan for today anyway?"

"Other than a few phone calls, I am free. As are you. Meaning we can do whatever you like. Sightseeing. We can visit the casino. Take in a show at the theater. There's a music festival happening over on Brumby Street if you're interested. Octavia and Scratch will be there."

"Well shoot! Let's get goin' to that then. I wanna hang out with Scratch and Octy some more. I like 'em."

Rarity daintily dabbed at her mouth with a napkin while Applejack roughly shoved her beloved stetson onto her head. The two exited the establishment happily and walked down the street towards the music festival. Which luckily for Applejack meant that she'd be particularly far from the Orange building, the street it sat on, and the dark history that they contained for the young mare.

The needle tears a hole.

The canvas in the train that had originally been the subject of some brief neurosis on the part of Applejack had been laid in the hotel room against a chair. It had dried, baking in the sun that peeped through the blinds, having been nearly forgotten. It remained a deranged explosion of colors and streaks, signifying little but panic and fear. It was true expression, like many of her paintings. But the emotions represented in it were ones that Applejack preferred to forget. When she and Rarity had returned from the music festival, Applejack immediately set out to give the piece a fresh paintover.

The festival itself had been a cacophony of sound. Musicians of all various types had taken to the streets, completely disorganized. All seemed desperate to be heard over the din of the others. It had devolved into a contest to see who could play the loudest, and in some cases, the angriest. From complete percussion to experimental new instruments to whole orchestral ensembles to atmospheric ambient soundscapes, every genre seemed to have representation in some form. Scratch and Applejack thought the whole festival was very funny. The constant egging on of the crowds and competition by bands on both sides of the street proved to be wildly entertaining. Octavia had grabbed a cassette tape for every musician they had passed. She had an appreciation for any genre, and was eager to hear things that were new and different. By the time they had left the festival her saddlebags had been bulging with records and tapes, much to her delight. But as the afternoon began to end, the four ponies departed and Applejack and Rarity found themselves back in the hotel room, with the former staring at her strange art piece. The one she hadn't touched since their train ride.

"What are you planning on doing with it?" asked Rarity as she lay curled up on the bed watching Applejack stare at the ruined canvas.

"I ain't a hun'red percent sure yet. I think I have an idea about somethin' I wanna make. Still kinda thinkin' about it." Applejack scratched her head with the paintbrush. She did have something in mind but it was a little embarrassing. And she sure as hay wasn't going to do it with Rarity in the room.

She'd get her chances over the course of the rest of the night and the following day to work on the piece. Every time Rarity would leave the hotel on business, Applejack would go out onto the hotel balcony and paint. Whenever Rarity arrived back, Applejack would quickly throw a sheet over the canvas before the two went out to eat or see some new event in Manehattan. It was imperative the surprise not be ruined and Rarity see the painting before it was complete. Applejack had finally come to the conclusion to make this one a gift, specifically for her friend. It remained difficult to concentrate, however.

The Orange business card that Rarity had brought back had been placed on the dresser with a few other business cards to disguise its intent. Though a simple piece of paper, the emblem was enough to give Applejack the shivers. The light smell of whiskey that wafted off of it soon filled the hotel room, making Applejack woozy. When the feeling got unbearable she grabbed the card and hurled it off the balcony, watching with satisfaction as it was lost to the steam and smog, borne away on the unforgiving autumn winds. The stench the card left remained however and made it very difficult for Applejack to function, and she was quite glad whenever Rarity had a new activity for them to do. It was a blessed distraction from her memories.

*********************************************************************

The small rotary phonograph that sat in the hotel room began to ring a deep tone as Applejack finally pulled herself away from the painting, satisfied with how it came out. The canvas which had once depicted a chaotic blend of nothing now was a small orange hill. Grass covered in the red and yellow leaves of autumn. On either side were wiggly smudged maple trees, their leaves orange and brown. The tip of the hill was illuminated by the large rising sun, a great yellow circle full of small articulate white and sky blue swirls and shapes. The sky itself, a light see green, sat clearly with no clouds to ruin its perfection. Atop the hill sat two smiling ponies, one orange and one white. Very simple in design they were, made almost entirely of rectangular shapes in the form of horses. But it was clear who they were meant to be. Applejack grinned as she surveyed the work. It had been difficult. Now on the night of the auction, the mare felt more nervous than ever. The very idea that crowds of ponies were, at this moment, placing bids to buy her art was thrilling and frightening all at once. This mixed with her suspicions of the formerly smelly business card Rarity had found were working together to make her feel quite jumpy and light-headed. She slowly stood and made her way to the phonograph, using a paint-covered hoof to press the "RECEIVE CALL" switch as the yellow and jade trumpet-like ear piece began to putter out sounds.

"Applejack, are you there?" came Rarity's voice, hardly recognizable through all the noisy feedback and static. The sounds of the crowd were also evident. The auction was clearly in full swing.

"Yeah, I'm here Rare." Applejack answered as she leaned against the bed, staring at the painting.

"How are you feeling? Anxious still?"

"A lil' bit. Better than earlier by a long shot."

"Do you think you're well enough to come down to the auction house? There's quite a few guests here who would like to meet you."

"Not sure yet. But I'm darn sure gonna try. I got a lil' surprise for ya when I get there, Rare."

"I have a surprise for you here as well. But do hurry if you're going to come!"

With a click the call was over and Applejack sat up from the bed. The time had finally come. What she had originally assumed would be a hopeless venture had blossomed into something she never would have guessed. When Rarity had first told her that ponies would want to love and cherish her art, pay good bits for it, Applejack had scoffed at the idea. But now, on this night, there was a slight feeling of giddiness. And something else. The same emotion Applejack had felt when Rarity and Pinkie had first placed her abandoned paintings onto the lawn of Sweet Apple Acres. The same emotion she had felt when her friends had gathered around to observe and compliment her work. Pride and confidence intermingling. Applejack grinned to herself. When they had left Ponyville, she had been so frightened to even approach being a part of something so fancy as a gallery. But now she almost felt.....eager to see how this whole shebang would turn out. This journey had changed her. She was a more confident pony. No more waiting. No more worrying. With a small nod, the earth mare adjusted her hat, put on the dress that had been lovingly crafted by her best friend, strapped the painting to her back, and made her way out of the hotel room. With a happy trot she made her way downstairs.

************************************************************************************

With a click the call was over and Rarity stepped back from the ornate electrostatic microphone and speaker that sat fixed upon one of the walls within the auction house. With a small sigh she pushed her bangs back behind her ear and turned around to see Opal and Irma Orange both standing expectantly a few feet away. Rarity gave them a sheepish grin as she approached.

"She's not coming is she?" Opal slurred. He had been drinking quite a bit already, and it showed.

"She said she's going to try." Rarity said, trying not to frown at the drunken stallion. "But if she cannot attend, I already have a Plan B worked out."

"And what if I may ask, is Plan B, Miss Rarity?" Irma asked, her coif of orange hair slouching left as she tilted her head.

"I shall have someone chauffeur us to the hotel room. Then you can be reunited with Applejack and we can have a nice evening together!"

"Please, call her April." Irma asked, her face becoming a very delicate scowl. "I always disliked her birth name."

Rarity smiled and nodded, though inside she was a raging maelstrom of emotions. Every moment she spent with the Oranges she grew to dislike them more and more. They seemed to have no appreciation for anything under than aristocratic diversions and upper society conversation. Every mention of something Applejack had accomplished or said had caused the two Oranges to either frown or chuckle in polite unpleasant laughter. To top it off, Opal continued to drink, and had managed to finish off a punch bowl almost entirely on his own. Irma wasn't much better, having downed quite a few glasses of wine as the two had made their way around the auction house, hobnobbing with all the other art-lovers and rich ponies who had come to the event. They had barely even glanced at Applejack's beautiful art. It was almost as if they didn't seem to care their niece had an incredible talent. Rarity trotted off from them, her smile fading, to see how the auction itself was going, worried that her plan was falling apart at the seams. But luckily, she thought to herself, she was an expert seamstress.

******************************************************************************

Applejack sat slack jawed on the other side of the street from the auction house. It was like a giant octagon made of illuminated glass. Every panel of glass containing either a doorway or several arched windows that gleamed colorful rays of light out onto the street. Scarlet cylindrical towers, several stories tall, were bursting from the slanted aluminum roof, each topped with a statue of a famous pony philosopher. It was modern. It was beautiful. It was.....

"Coooool!" Applejack mumbled to herself as she looked at the building. Even now, quite a few fancily dressed Manehattanites were trotting towards the building. Applejack felt a knot start to form in her stomach. This was almost overwhelming to see. And she hadn't even been inside yet. With a sharp inhalation she hitched her dress up a bit and galloped across the street.

The interior was just as lovely as the exterior. Red walls of finely treated wood filed through every hallway, interrupted by unpainted bark-brown plastic upon which art pieces sat, small golden plaques under each, displaying the date, author, and price of the work on display. Sculptures of tremendous detail and quality sat on the floor, protected by small golden fence posts, topped with glass spheres. The floor was a deep jade color, with gilded designs under the finish. Griffons, drakes, cathedrals, and bits of vernacular architecture, very detailed, gleamed across the floor, shining golden in the colorful bulbs that cascaded along the ceiling. Deep red paneling divided the lights with burnished plastic carvings going down the length where ceiling met wall. Applejack stood for a moment as she entered, just admiring it all. It was fancy, and for the most part useless, but it was breathtaking all the same.

It took a moment for the notion to dawn on her that she had no idea where to go inside the building. It wasn't a large place, but it was certainly intricate. And she didn't even know where exactly her auction was being held. She glanced around until she saw an old moustachioed unicorn stallion sitting at what appeared to be the help desk.

"Pardon me, mister." Applejack called as she trotted up to him. "But uh, is there like a map for this place?"

"No, but I can redirect you to wherever it is you are looking for miss......?" the stallion never took his eyes off of the paperwork that sat in front of him.

"My name's Applejack! I'm havin' an auction in here today!"

"Really, now? I don't have any listings for an auction by an Applejack here. No apples or jacks at all."

"Huh. That's weird. Maybe I'm in the wrong buildin' though I coulda sworn this is where Rarity said it'd be."

"Oh you're with the Carousel Group with Lady Rarity. Ah yes, she's organizing a private auction just a few rooms over in the Archipelago Suite. Simply head down this hallway here, make a left at the third hall. It's right in the back of the building. Good luck finding her, miss. I imagine it's very crowded in there right now."

"Thanks, mister!" Applejack chirped as she took off.

The stallion went back to his paperwork. He wondered what she had meant by 'I'm having an auction', considering he hadn't heard the name Applejack before. He usually kept such good track of things. Maybe he was getting forgetful in his old age.

Applejack made her way through the hallways, trying her best not to bump into the other ponies who were trying to look at the various art pieces. A wood sign passed that confirmed she was heading the correct direction. Archipelago with a small arrow pointing down the hall. Applejack smiled as she noticed a young couple observing a painting she recognized as one of hers. It was one of her early paintings, a pine tree with a very large colorful bird sitting in it. The bird was quite fat and the entire tree was bending over due to its weight, trying to accommodate the obese avian. Applejack crept up behind the couple, curious to hear their conversation.

"Do you think the tree represents the Canterlot government, maybe? Like how Celestia's monarchy is sort of crumbling under the constant demand for a more representative democracy? Maybe mocking how slothful Celestia seems to have become, rarely leaving her tower except for publicity events to keep up the faith in her?" the mare asked as she fluttered a small dainty fan at her face.

"No, of course not!" the stallion to her side gruffly retorted. "It's us, you see. All this decadence we surround ourselves with. All our vices and peeves, our meaningless trinkets and riches that we enjoy at a purely carnal level with little care for how it affects the environment around us. No my dear, the bird is clearly representative of US and not a democracy. The tree is a mere allegory for nature itself as we continue to destroy it for our own baseless consumption."

"Heh!" Applejack chuckled from behind them. "That's a funny way of lookin' at it. I just kinda felt like paintin' a big ol' fat bird that day."

The couple turned to Applejack with a look of unimpressed curiosity. Applejack smiled and held out a friendly hoof.

"Howdy! My name's Applejack."

"That....nice. You said you felt like painting a bird that day?" the mare asked as she covered her hoof in a lace doily and gently shook Applejack's paint-covered hoof.

"Yes'm! Not sure why to be honest. Maybe in some weird subtle way I did want to paint all that fancy stuff y'all were talkin' about. Can't imagine why though."

"So you are claiming that you are the artist who produced this piece."

"Heck yeah, I am. I made a bunch of 'em actually. I think there's more of them in the Urkel-Pogostick room. We're havin' an auction today."

"Yes, I was aware of the auction." the mare replied, wrinkling her snout. "But, I'm afraid I can't abide liars. Good day to you!"

The two walked off in a huff as Applejack sat there confused. A liar? Applejack was no liar!

"Hey, wait a minute!" she shouted, catching up with them. "I really did paint that! I even finished a new painting tonight."

She turned around to display the canvas strapped to her back, backing up into their faces so the couple could see the finished work up close.

"See there? That's me and my good friend Rarity. She's the one runnin' this here auction tonight!"

"Oh goodness!" the stallion shouted, backing away from the painting and Applejack's flank as both were shoved a bit too close to he and his wife's face. "How maladroit! How gauche!"

"Why thanks!" Applejack said, not knowing what the words meant and assuming it was a compliment as she whirled back around with a proud smile on her face. "I gotta go look for Rarity, now! Y'all have fun now y'hear?"

And with that Applejack boldly skipped down the hallway, not realizing the canvas she had strapped to her back had been dripping a few droplets of paint on the floor, much to the annoyance of one of the maids who had been cautiously following Applejack with a mop and a look of frustration. The young couple sat there, confused. Who was that mare? And why did she have a priceless piece of art on her back? Surely she wasn't the one the paintings were accredited to? The names on the plaque were entirely different. Perhaps it was time to alert a security guard.

*********************************************************************************

"Well, I get the sensation she's going to be a no-show." Opal murmured as he checked his watch. "I suppose we might as well get on to the hotel, then. See if the poor dear fell asleep or something."

"Let's leave it up to Rarity. I wouldn't mind staying here if she's willing to display some faaaashiioooon adviiiiice!" Irma sang in a dialect that made Rarity cringe.

"You know I don't think either of you has had a good look at your niece's gallery yet!" Rarity replied with the most polite grin she could muster. "She paints portraits of ponies she knows, landscapes, monuments, sometimes just whatever seemed to pop into her head."

"I took a glance at some." Irma said, looking at her husband. "It seemed fairly pedestrian fair. What about you, Opey? It was your men who labeled the pieces. See anything you like?"

"Not sure. We might as well take a second glance I suppose. Considering we paid to have that art tutor try to find if April had a creative bone in her body so many years ago, we might as well think of this as a sort of justification for our expenses from back then. Let's take a look around."

The Oranges disappeared into the crowd as Rarity sighed. It was beginning to dawn on her why Applejack had seemed to react negatively to the business card she had seen. There was clearly a very bad stigma to these Oranges. One that had affected her friend deeply. Even a short time in their company had made this plainly obvious to the white unicorn. Rarity turned and decided to see how the auction itself was going, a welcome distraction from hanging out with this fragment of her friend's fertile family. There were quite a few rows of chairs in front of the auctioneer podium. Local celebrities, politicians, nobles, aristocrats, beatniks, and some very common-looking lovers of art sat about the rows, each with an assigned number and sign. A small chubby goat with a monocle was in charge of the proceedings, a small gavel clasped in his hoof as he announced the pieces and took bids.

"Our next piece is tentatively titled 'Candy Cottage' by miss Jacques." the goat announced as a painting of the Sugarcube Corner was placed on stage delicately in front of the crowd. "A bit of history on this piece. Apparently this colorful locale is an actual bakery somewhere out west. And is a particular favorite spot of the artist for brunch. Let the bidding start at 2,000 bits."

One by one, small signs were hoisted into the air, the bids going higher and higher as the ponies competed to see who would bring home the beautiful piece of art. Rarity smiled as she watched the price rise. In the back of her mind, she knew this was the most important thing she could do to help Applejack have a better life. This, above all else, was going to let them spend more time together. Maybe even allow Granny Smith to retire and live out her twilight years in relaxation. Eventually the bidding came to a slow as the goat adjusted his monocle, clicking his teeth in anticipation.

"And finally we have arrived at 15,000 bits. Will there be any other bids? Going once. Going twice. Going thrice? SOLD!" he announced, slamming the gavel onto the podium. "For 15,000 bits to Mrs.Butterbean in row three. Congratulations, madame!"

Rarity smiled as she watched the proceedings and listened to the mutterings of the crowd. Apparently this particular painting had sold LESS than many of the others. And it wasn't as if 15k bits was a trivial amount. That was enough to keep a pony well fed and sheltered for a long time. A sense of accomplishment filled the mare as she looked around. Despite some unmentionable rudeness from a few guests, the entire auction was going perfectly without a hitch. Nothing could possible go wrong at this point, she thought. That thought would soon prove to be incorrect as she got up from her seat to mingle with the crowd.

******************************************************************************

"Gotta get back. Back to the past with Apple Jack. Ja-jack-jack-jack!" Scratch's voice rang loudly through one of the rooms as Applejack entered. With a small hop she had slid up next to her new friend and thrown a friendly arm around her shoulder. "Hey there palsy. You know when Rarity said you made art I didn't think it'd be something like this!"

Scratch pointed a hoof at a painting of a moss-covered sleeping bear.

"I am disgusted, Applejack. DISGUSTED! That you can paint this well and I cannot. Friggin' heck, this stuff is choice. And you have no training or nothin' eh?"

Applejack couldn't help but chuckle at the DJ's antics. "Nope! Not sure what to say. It's just somethin' I found myself doin'. Kept doin' it cause it felt right."

"Yeah, I know that feel." Scratch said, putting a hoof to her chin and nodding solemnly. "What's that you got on your back, there? A new piece of resistance or whatever they calls it in these here fancy parts?"

"Oh this?" Applejack said, motioning to the canvas on her back. "It's a gift for Rarity. She's been awful sweet to me lately. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for her. I'd still be at home shuckin' corn and peeling taters and doing all my chores."

"Awww!" Scratch squealed as she walked behind Applejack to look at the piece. "It's you n' ol Rare-bear sitting on top of a hill. She's gonna love it, Jack."

"Yeah I hope so." Applejack replied, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "Anyway uh, what brings y'all here to this whole....event? Are you....participatin' in the auction? I still don't feel right chargin' friends for artwork I can give 'em for free."

"Nah, I ain't here to buy anything. I just swung by to take a look at your stuff. And for the free wine and punch in the main hall. Plus they have these little crackers with shrimp on them that are just...oh my Celestia....so good. They have them for the griffons, you know. I know ponies aren't supposed to eat meat, cause it's unnatural and blah blah blah. But you know what? Those shrimp taste good and I do not care."

"Heh, well alright. It was good to see ya again, Scratch. One day ya should come down to Ponyville for a visit."

"Sure. Next time me and Octy come down to visit her Mom, we can hang out with you and Rarity. Make it like a double-date or somethin'. Anyway Ciao! I got crackers to eat and then eventually a nightclub to run. Crackers, first."

Applejack grinned as she watched the strange unicorn depart for another room of the building. So far this night was proving to be pretty enjoyable. Maybe she'd have to try the shrimp as well. Or get some of that free punch. Her throat felt parched. Maybe she'd follow Scratch to wherever the food and drinks were kept, then try to meet up with Rarity later? Yeah that sounded like a good idea. However Applejack would not get that chance, as that very moment she was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder. She turned to see a sharply dressed stallion with a flat cap and overcoat, a small gleaming badge on the pocket and a flashlight strapped to his hip. One of several security guards for the auction house. He nodded grimly at Applejack.

"Pardon me, miss. But I received a note that someone may have taken one of the art pieces without paying for it."

"But.....ya don't mean this thing on my back, do ya?"

"Yes, actually. Although I can see from the trail you've left...that this is clearly fresh paint. I'm actually a bit confused now. Why do you have a still-moist canvas on your back, young lady?"

Applejack turned to look behind herself, noticing for the first time that the painting had been leaving a small series of colorful drips of pigment everywhere she had walked. She also noticed for the first time a maid had been following her, delicately cleaning every droplet off the floor with a deep frown on her face. Applejack blushed slightly and took the painting off her back, laying it flat on the floor so it could no longer drip.

"Aw heck. I've done made a mess of your nice clean establishment now haven't I?" Applejack said, leaning so she could shout to the maid. "I'm real sorry about that! I didn't know I was makin' a mess! Honest!"

"Are you trying to get featured in the auction, ma'am? This isn't the way to go about it. As nice as it'd be to just bring freshly painted pieces in here and just sort of toss them to the crowd, there's actually a rather large amount of paperwork to go through." the stallion said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh I know. I'm already featured, sir. My friend Rarity already took care of all the paperwork n' stuff."

"Well, please don't be offended if I find your claims....well, dubious."

"Hmmm?"

"I will cut to the chase, then. What is your name and which wing is the auction being held in?"

"Oh! My name is Applejack! And uh....it's the wing right past this room. The Arching Patio room or summat."

"The Archipelago Suite? But that's not reserved for a 'Applejack'."

"Well, sure it is!" Applejack said, as she looked around. "Almost all the paintin's here are mine. Made 'em myself."

It was at that moment that Applejack took a close look at one of the gold plaques that sat alongside her art. She crept up to it, squinting. What she saw made her flush as her blood ran cold.

[Artist: April Jacques. Donated by Carousel Clothing and Orange Industries.]

Applejack doubled over as the words hit her. The knot in her stomach growing in pain as a wave of nausea washed over her. That name...that was a name she hadn't heard in a long time. A name she hadn't wanted to think about for the rest of her life if possible. And why, why was it there? Why was it on HER art? Why was her art being credited to that name her Aunt and Uncle had given her out of shame? Why was her Aunt and Uncle's company listed as a donator? Why were they listed alongside Rarity? Was this a joke? Some sick prank? This couldn't be real, Applejack thought. She struggled to stand as the sickness continued to pound into her brain, old wounds ripping open as memories she had tried so hard to forget began to make their way out of the murk of her mind. The months she had spent here. The things she'd been through. Her failed escape. And now, here it was, in public alongside the name of her best friend.

Applejack started to panic as her nerves began to catch up with her brain. Her anxiety levels skyrocketing. Sweat pouring down her face as she struggled to stay standing. Why was her best friend part of this monstrosity? Where was Rarity? Had she been ok with this? How could she do this? How did she get in cahoots with Orange Industries? What about......oh no.

Applejack went white as a sheet as it hit her. That familiar smell of whiskey. The business card. And finally the words Octavia had spoken two nights beforehand, echoing into the present like an unchained fiend, thrashing its way out of the darkness:

"Keep an eye on her, Miss Jack. She's as conniving as she is lovely. Don't become yet another gem in her crown. Another plaything for her to brag about."

With a shout of dismay Applejack ran into the main room, determined to find out what was going on, as grief began to work its way into the cloud of fear that had formed in her head. Her final painting lay alone at the feet of the guard who simply stood in confusion, unsure of what was going on.

**************************************************************************************************

The auction was almost a third over and Rarity still hadn't even gotten to make a list of everything that had been sold and the prices. When Applejack arrived she wanted to give her the good news, along with the small family reunion of course. She had already planned it out in her head. Applejack would arrive in the room, wearing the ruffled red dress Rarity had made just for her. She'd look around, probably confused or uncomfortable, being in a room with so many famous and upperclass ponies. Rarity would greet her sweetly, taking her hoof and leading her to where the auction was, happily letting her know just how much money she had made so far. Then somewhere in the midst of it all, Applejack's pupils would dilate as her gaze fell upon something, someone she recognized. She would stand, and walk cautiously towards the elderly couple sitting a few seats over. Rarity would watch for a moment as they embraced, trying her best not to tear up. It would be beautiful, a moment she would cherish always, knowing she had performed the same sort of touching act for her friend that she herself had received once. It had been the perfect plan.

But it had already gone awry, as Rarity's train of thought was interrupted once again by Opal and Irma orange. They had only spent about 5 minutes viewing Applejack's entire portfolio of displayed work and were already bored of it. They plopped themselves into the empty seats at Rarity's right side, casually glancing at the auction while having their own little private conversation. Their whispers just loud enough to be overheard by Rarity who was trying with all her might to hold her tongue. To be seen and not heard. But it was proving to be quite the challenge.

"Well this has been a pleasant excursion but I've had just about enough, haven't you, dear?" Opal whispered to Irma.

"Let's not leave quite yet. I'm curious as to how many bits these odds and ends are actually pulling in." Irma whispered back.

"That one with the large pigeon sitting in the tree just fetched about 30,000 bits, I think."

"Goodness gracious. Hard to think it's April of all ponies who managed to create such a storm."

"Yes, particularly after how hard she resisted our attempts to culture her."

"I still remember how embarrassed I was was she talked about what mules were to Golden Key."

"Aha, yes I recall that. Golden didn't want to go outside for a week. Always was the skittish fellow, wasn't he?"

"Yes. Oh, April was such a strange girl. I wonder if her accent ever came back."

"Well she has been living with the Apples again for the majority of her life, Irma. Hard as we tried, there's only so much one can do to fix a problem like her voice."

"Do you think she still has...you know.....scars? From the accident?"

"Doubtful, my dear. The Apples may be uncultured bumpkins, but they are clever inventive folk. No doubt they've some sort of poultice made of beans and pine needles that probably clears up ailments such as that."

"I wonder how much she remembers of her time with us?"

"Enough I'd hope. Considering all the money we spent trying to get her right."

"What a fortune we wasted. It still upsets me. By all accounts, half the money these paintings are making should be yours, Opal."

"Should be? Yes. In the long run, perhaps. Maybe I'll run the idea by her later. If I say it with enough savvy perhaps the idea will fly right over her head like with the inheritance and she'll sign whatever contracts we need."

"I should think Miss Rarity would agree. She's a proper businessmare. No doubt taking some of the proceeds for this thing for her own liking."

"No doubt. Oh look at that. That painting went for nearly 100,000 bits. That's a shocking amount of money for such an amateurish rendition of a pig."

"There must be quite a market for such quaint art pieces, Opal. It's so funny in a way."

"How so, dearest?"

"We took her in. We tried. She ran off. And now years later she's an adult finding success and even a marefriend."

"I don't think Miss Rarity is a marefriend, Irma. Though it wouldn't surprise me if April grew up to be...you know....like THAT. Particularly when being raised by what's left of the Apples."

The fluorescent lamps on the ceiling above Rarity and the Oranges flickered slightly as Rarity's temper finally reached its breaking point. A few stray sparkles of red magic spewed from her horn as the white unicorn stood from her seat, her jaw clenched as she turned to give the Oranges a piece of her mind. She took a deep breath, inhaling as much as she could, ready to bellow a steady stream of scolds, screams, and insults on these awful, awful ponies. But she soon found herself interrupted by a tap to her shoulder. Rarity turned and felt a shiver pass through her body as she found herself staring into a familiar face and the saddest most grievous green eyes she had ever seen in her entire life.

Applejack stood before her, pale and shaking, large tears flowing from her eyes as she gasped, trying to keep in the sobs that were trying to force their way out. With a hoarse gasp she inhaled and rasped out a sentence that made Rarity realize that there had been a tragic mistake. One that would change their friendship forever.

"Rarity." Applejack coughed out, her voice breaking as she tried desperately not to scream and cry all at once. "Why.... are all..... my...... paintings credited.... to...... April Jacques?"

Libiamo ne'dolci fremiti.

"Why....is that....horrible.....n-name....on my art....Rarity." Applejack managed to splutter, her face taking on a small twinge of rage as she noticed the two ponies sitting next to her friend.

"You......you......why are you here with.....THEM?!"

There was a half second of silence where nobody said a thing. Rarity sat in shock, her mouth hanging open, unsure of what to say. The Oranges had only recently noticed their niece had joined them in the back aisle of the auction seating but had yet to finish their private conversation to speak with her. Several other ponies from the crowd around the chairs had stopped to watch the fiasco, silently staring at the orange earth mare in her red dress, who was trembling visibly, her face going pale as an idea dawned on her. An awful idea that suddenly made so much sense. Every strange reaction, every bit of generosity that seemed far too generous, every goad, every argument, every out-of-place sign that had come into view. All clashed together in one solid conclusion in the farm pony's mind, her eyes widening in sheer horror at the betrayal. She flushed, going pale and took a few steps back, her green eyes brimming with tears as she clenched her jaw, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're........ ashamed of me."

Rarity's eyes went wide as well at these words. No, this wasn't possible. But how could she deny it? It wasn't her intent, but now everything she had tried to do, every kindness she had managed, was suddenly turning on her. She looked like a monster in front of one of the very few ponies she truly cared about. Would do anything for. Would die for, if she had to. She felt cold as she stared into the face of her friend, unable to speak. What could she say? There was nothing that could make this situation better. This shouldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening. She closed her eyes for a brief moment. This had to be a nightmare. If she shut it all out, shut out the visual and audio fury that was bombarding her being, it'd simply go away. She'd wake up back in the hotel room. Enjoying the feeling of her silk pajamas in the luxurious hotel bed, ready to spend another fun-filled day with her friend. But as her eyes re-opened and she took in her surrounding she knew this was not to be.

"You are. You're ashamed of bein' mah friend." Applejack squeaked out, the tears flowing freely now as her body trembled even more, threatening to collapse. "You never....cared about me. All you cared about was.....using me. Just like.....these awful monsters!" She turned her frustrations on the Oranges who had finally realized all was not well.

"Monsters?!" Irma shouted. "You spoiled impudent little foal! We gave you everything! EVERYTHING! You owe us more than you could ever imagine."

"I DON'T OWE Y'ALL A DANG THING!" Applejack screamed, her bellows causing even more bystanders to turn and watch the tragic family reunion.

"We treated you like our own!" Opal shouted back, taking a long swig from his bottle of orange whiskey.

"YOU TREATED ME LIKE A STUPID ANIMAL! LIKE I WAS GARBAGE!"

"BECAUSE YOU ARE GARBAGE! BUT WE COULD HAVE FIXED THAT!" Irma yelled back.

"MAYBE I LIKE BEING GARBAGE!" she shouted, leaning close to Irma as she shrieked causing the pale yellow mare to hide behind her husband in fear.

"Applejack." Rarity finally managed to whisper, still motionless as a statue from the sheer shock of all that was happening around her. "I didn't.....mean.....for this to happen."

"DID YOU THINK I WOULDN'T SEE THE SIGNS? DID YOU THINK I CAN'T READ? YOU THINK I'M AN IDIOT JUST LIKE THESE TWO!" Applejack stomped her hooves into the tile with each word, the marble splintering as her powerful forelegs drove into the shingles. "I thought.....you were....different, Rare. I thought you were different!"

"What in Equestria is happening here exactly? Why are you blaming Rarity for your problems?" Irma demanded from behind her husband.

"It's a lover's quarrel, dear." Opal slurred flatly, taking a long drought from his bottle and placing it back into his breastpocket. "Something you should be familiar with." Irma stared daggers of hatred at him.

Time seemed to speed up as Rarity began to slip into a stupor. It was over. It was all over. Everything she had worked for. Everything she had tried to do. But most importantly, her friendship. This mare she loved like a sister. It was over. There was no recovery from this. As she pondered these thoughts, the world became a blur of motion and shouting and color. Apple and Orange continued to shout and in time, Applejack ran off into the crowd. The Orange shouted some curt words in Rarity's direction but she never picked up on them. Her position remained, backwards in her chair, staring forward, unable to speak or truly think. The sheer magnitude of the situation still colliding with her psyche, like a sledgehammer. All she could do was gawk, her mouth open as her jaw hung limply. There was no sound. There were no tears, not yet. The time required for such things had yet to pass. And the night wasn't over.

At that moment, the crackle of the loudspeakers became evident. Only now it wasn't the voice of the goat auctioneer she heard over the din of the crowd. Rarity felt herself grow cold, shivering as she turned towards the stage, hearing the last three words she would ever have expected to hear.

"Dear Princess Celestia."

At last the unicorn managed to look at the stage to see Applejack standing there at the podium, next to a painting of Ponyville. Her face and neck were soaked, and the tears hadn't stopped yet. Her eyebrows were quivering and she had the look of a pony crazed. Someone who had lost everything in a matter of mere moments. The microphone clasped roughly between her hooves as the goat stood a few feet away, looking confused and slightly frightened at the interruption in proceedings.

"Today I leaned that sometimes....." Applejack continued. "....sometimes it's the ponies you love the most who will take advantage of you. Today I learned that when your first instinct to somethin' new is not to bother, then you should follow it. Paranoia can be a good thing. And maybe it's not good to trust others so.....foolishly."

She cast her eyes downward.

"....sincerely your friend, April."

There was silence as Applejack stared at the floor, her green eyes darting around searching for answers. All at once she smiled warmly and looked up at the audience, all traces of grief suddenly gone from her face, though the tears remained.

"Howdy y'all! My name's Applejack!" she tipped her hat politely, it sat slightly off to the side on her head.

There were a few awkward coughs in the crowd as everyone in the room stared at the production on stage, unsure of how to react.

"And as y'all have probably guessed from my accent, I ain't from around here. I'm from Ponyville. Maybe ya've heard of it or maybe ya haven't."

Applejack licked her dry lips, her smile becoming slightly crooked as she thought of her next words.

"Some of ya folks might know me as April Jacques. That's the name on all the paintings in here so I don't blame ya for yer filthy ignorance as to the real owner of these here works. But the name April ain't real folks. My name is and always has been Apple. It's what my parents named me and what I'll be buried with."

"So yeah, all these pieces of fine art that y'all have been buyin' tonight come from me. A dumb earth pony farmer. Some of y'all might not know what a farmer is so lemme simplify it: it means I actually work for a living."

She glared slightly at the crowd before the smile returned.

"Here's another educational fact for ya. All this fine art y'all have been spendin' thousands of bits for? These fancy pieces y'all think are so valuable that you don't mind spendin' a fortune on it instead of more productive things? Well, guess what? I make these in my spare time. They are a hobby. I keep 'em in an ol' basement where they get all covered in dirt and mushrooms cause I don't care much for 'em."

There was a murmur of surprise over the crowd, the exact reaction the mare had been hoping for.

"You know how they say 'one pony's trash is another pony's treasure'? Well, enjoy it. I use these paintin's for firewood usually. Sometimes I grind it up into mulch so I can plant things in it and grow food. Food's alot more important than art, dontcha think? So yeah. All these things.....are GARBAGE! Y'ALL HAVE BEEN BUYIN' MY GAAARRBAAAAGE! AHAHAHA!"

A crazed chuckle escaped the mare as the crowd gasped, some shouts of anger could be heard. The goat with the monocle began to sweat profusely, stepping offstage to the back.

"See right now I can hear y'all, fishin' around in yer coinpurses. Wantin' refunds. It's cute n' all how finnicky ya folks are. But don't worry, see. I got a real good idea as to what y'all can do with all that money you lucked into. Since y'all disrespect earth ponies and our food so darn much.....why don't y'all try eatin' your money? Sure got enough of it! And shoot, maybe if we're all real lucky, some of you folks will choke to death on it!"

And with that, Applejack threw the microphone to the stage, causing a yelp of pain from the crowd as the feedback squealed over the loudspeakers. With a kick she sent the podium crashing off the stage, as it splintered onto the floor. Applejack bent her head, grabbing the pleated mandarin collar of her dress, and with a single heave had torn the entire article of clothing from her body, small pieces of the fabric floating to the floor in tatters. She hopped off the stage and trotted between the aisles and through the angry crowd. Rarity reached a hoof out to stop her on the way. The orange mare stopped in her path, but didn't turn to look at the white unicorn.

"Applejack."

"Listen. I'm gonna work real hard so I can pay ya back for all you've spent on this trip. After that I don't want ya comin' around the farm no more."

"Applejack, please!"

Applejack twisted her neck to look Rarity in the face. There was an unmistakable look of anger and betrayal in her eyes as she stared down.

"I don't want to see you. I don't want to know you."

In a quick motion, Applejack skirted around the foreleg impeding her walk, making her way towards one of the glass doors on the far wall of the Archipelago room. The din of the crowd died down to complete silence as every pair of eyes in the room watched her make her way out. She butted the door open with her head, made her way outside, and with a powerful kick of her workhorse legs, sent it slamming shut. It shattered and fell off its hinges, clattering to the floor in a pile of glass and bent steel.

Rarity sat, her jaw still agape as her friend's silhouette was lost to the street, covered by the crowds and carriages that rode through the town. How to react? She'd never been in a situation so awful and spectacular all at the same time. Applejack's words cut through her, causing her whole body to ache. She fought back tears as the finality of the situation began to dawn on her. Everything was ruined. Everything.

She was brought out of her stupor by a tender nudge on her shoulder. She turned to see Irma Orange glancing at her, a look of sympathy on her face.

"I apologize for her. She never was able to properly thank those who do nice things for her."

"Indeed. Always such a rascal. You lock a pony in her room for a few days and she acts like its the end of the world." Opal chimed in, peering into the empty whiskey bottle in the hopes he had missed a drop or two.

"Now we at least can see the full effect of letting Granny Smith raise her." Irma said with a nod.

"Indeed. Hard to believe such a nice though simple little filly grew up to be such a -"

Opal would never get to finish that sentence. Partly because he would be unconscious a moment later, and also partly because a large majority of his teeth would soon exit his mouth as Rarity's perfectly manicured and dainty hoof collided with his jaw with the raging force of a train, sending him flying from his chair and to the floor.

A few feet away, Vinyl Scratch sat at the table where the food was, munching calmly on a shrimp chip. Seemingly unfazed by the catastrophe that had unfolded inside the gallery. She smirked slightly as she leaned over to a security guard who was standing next to her, holding a dripping painting.

"Didn't think I was gonna get dinner AND a show."

The guard slowly turned to Vinyl, his eyes boggling that she could make a joke at this time. Vinyl frowned and grabbed another chip.

"Ugh. Humorless bureaucrats."

********************************************************************

For the second time in her life, Applejack ran from Manehattan to Ponyville. Never stopping to rest, never stopping to eat or drink. Never stopping to check her surroundings and think. She had the desert, the tundra, and the old railroad tracks alongside her as she galloped. The moon lit her way and the tumbleweeds parted, admitting her through. These were the only friends she'd need on this trip. It was the kind of journey her kind had made before technology had made their lives so easy. So simple. Her ancestors had made these trips, not for tourism. Not for sightseeing. They made these trips for survival. And now as grief wracked her body, her muscles screaming at her to stop, her brain telling her to move ever faster, Applejack knew she was in a race for survival. A race for her sanity. A race to get away from all the hurt, all the pain. Her empire of dirt, being mutilated by the eyes of the rich and the greedy. The time for words was over and the time to move had always been, her powerful legs toned from years of hard work, pushing her along at incredible speeds. A cloud of dry hot dust in her wake as she galloped, her blonde tear-soaked mane whipping wildly in the wind behind her. There would be no stopping on this trip. There would be no breaks. No eating, no relieving of oneself, no sleep for the weary. This was a one-way expedition to Poneville. Back to her home, and things that were pleasant. Things that were familiar. Back to where she could be herself and not be judged. Back to her family, her REAL family. Back to her friends. The ones who loved her unconditionally, who knew the kind of mare she was and always would be.

Luna's moon was full this night, casting its teal light across the landscape. Every twig in the sand. Every rock and pebble. Every quill on a cactus. All gleamed as the rays reflected off their polished surfaces, as they had done for thousands upon thousands of years. A natural ritual that could never, and would never be interrupted. It was the song the earth sang when night came to rest. Even the echo of the galloping hooves as the mare ran through the wilds, was of no consequence to the plants and beasts as they rested, the cool desert air embracing them. They sat, growing, rotting, germinating in the wild untamed sands of the desert, spoiled only by the steel and titanium train tracks that divided them. But in time, these too would be destroyed. These too, would be forgotten when nature felt it was time. Ready to cover them in sand and soil, forever removing the technological progress of the locomotive. And then, once again, the equines of this land would run. Run far, and fast, and never stop. The way they once did in ages long past.

But these thoughts were of little comfort to the young horse as she galloped. There was no thought that would make this hurt less. No mantra that could soothe the wounds she had suffered this night. She was alone, as she had been before. Alone with her memories. The very ones she had hoped to forget, now danced before her closed eyes, torturing her. The nights she had wept alone in her locked room, hungry and desperate for love. The scolds she had received for letting her natural accent slip into her dialect. The belts that had bruised her side when she accidentally let slip anything related to farm life in conversations. The looks of disappointment in their eyes. The night she had escaped her captors through the window. The collision with the moving carriage. The pain as she had wandered the back alleys of the town, wounded, feeling her life fade. The pinpricks of agony when the vermin had descended upon her collapsed form. It was all too much. All these recollections, they were simply far far too much for the mare. She whinnied loudly into the night as she ran, her tears leaving glistening streaks along her body as she continued to run far, run fast, and never stop.

Well, I wished I was a turtle dove.

The brown and pink steam train bore its way across the icy prairie, leaving twin trails of coal smoke and white steam as it rode. Winter was just starting to peek its head through the autumn weather, leaving the scrub brushes and shrubs tinkling with small bright specks of ice forming on their leaves. The few small ponds and villages that passed by in the morning were all calm and still. It was much too early for most ponies to be up, many comfortably wrapped in blankets. The quiet chugs of the train and howls of the wind were the few sounds that passed from the landscape, through the window, and into the interior of the traincars. Rarity sat in her berth, staring out the window, her cheeks still wet with tears. Despite her panicked attempts at calling the police, there had been no sign of her friend. When she had finally come home from the gallery, her hotel room was empty. There had been no-one inside it for quite some time. From street to street she had wandered, carrying a canvas on her back featuring two ponies sitting on a hill. Whenever she had passed a crowd, she took time to ask them if they had seen an orange mare, resembling that of the one in the image. But none had seen her. Eventually Rarity had given up on her search. She gathered her things and hopped on the late-night train to Poneville, unsure of what to do.

She wondered now where Applejack was. Was she in Manehattan still? Had she gotten lost? Had she tried to run home? Would Rarity have to beg Twilight to use some form of tracking spell so they could find the farm pony? And what to do once they'd found her? Assuming she was still alive and well. What could be said that would even begin to fix this situation? There didn't seem to be enough words in existence to clarify just how mournful the unicorn felt. Even the beautiful tundra, in it's early morning serenity, inspired nothing but cold emptiness in her heart. She felt empty. Grief, loneliness, and the recovery from the shock earlier had left her hollow. She stared out the window with a solemn blank expression. Every few minutes she would drum up the strength to take a bite out of the toast that sat on the platter to her side, or take a small sip from the cold tea that at one time had been steaming hot. She ate and drank out of necessity, feeling neither hunger or thirst in her sadness. Her thoughts focused entirely on the wonder of where her friend was, as she continued to lean against the glass window. Watching the world pass by as the wind howled and Celestia's star slowly crept into the sky, doing its level best to warm the cold landscape with it's love.

*************************************************************

Twilight Sparkle stood on the deck of the train station, pacing nervously. Back and forth, back and forth, she walked, mumbling to herself and occasionally swishing her dark purple tail. Her brow furrowed in worry and heavy thought. A few feet away Fluttershy sat on a bench, looking sad and dejected. Both ponies were worried and filled with questions, the likes of which wouldn't be answered until the train finally arrived, bearing their friend and some news. There was a worn edge to the old peeling wood of the platform where Twilight's hooves had walked over it countless times. Fluttershy glanced down at these, wondering just how many times Twilight had paced since the two of them had arrived.

"Twilight?" Fluttershy asked, her voice scarcely above a whisper.

"Yes, Fluttershy?" Twilight continued her circular path, not even glancing up.

"Well...um....I think maybe you should sit down for at least a little while."

"I don't really feel like sitting, Fluttershy."

"Yes I know....but.....it's not good for you to be so stressed out."

"I'm not stressed out!"

"Yes you are. But it's ok! I just think you know.....Celestia might be upset with me if I don't follow up on my promise."

"UGH!" Twilight groaned, remembering how her mentor had asked her friends to swear an oath not to let the bookish unicorn get herself riled into a tizzy again. Lest she once again endanger others with her magic in a fit of stressed crazyness.

"Plus think of your blood pressure! Or all the energy that you could be saving for later. You might need it!"

"Fine." Twilight grumbled, plopping down onto the old red bench next to Fluttershy. "Happy now?"

"Oh yes! Thank you, Twilight. I know if you sit for a while you'll feel better, soon. I just know it."

Fluttershy attempted a half-hearted smile at the grumbling unicorn. But it was to no avail. She too, was stressed out and worried. She bit her lip, trying to think of a way to alleviate the situation.

"You know.....Twilight. I'm very worried as well. You don't need to be upset. Are you upset at me?"

"No, Fluttershy I'm just really aggravated at how LONG THIS TRAIN IS TAKING!" Twilight shouted, suddenly seeing a small curl of smoke rise up over the horizon, signaling the arrival of the FriendShip Express IV, the main train that came to Ponyville.

"Oh thank Celestia. FINALLY!" Twilight shouted as she hopped off the chair and strode up to the edge of the platform.

"I really hope Rarity is on this one." Fluttershy squeaked as she cautiously stood up on the platform, too afraid to get as close to the track as Twilight was.

With a loud whistle and a blinding cloud of steam, the train screeched to a stop. It's old worn iron wheels grinding loudly as it wobbled on the track, finally coming to rest at the platform. With a loud hiss, an enormous column of smoke exploded out the smokestack, followed by a guttural click as the latches opened causing the doors on the traincars to slide noisily off their hinges. A few ponies made their way out, large briefcases and rucksacks clenched in their teeth. After a minute a small white unicorn with a curled purple mane finally loped out of a doorway, looking quite depressed as she glanced over at her two friends.

"Oh, Rarity I'm glad your safe!" Twilight called as she marched up to her friend.

"Good morning, Rarity!" Fluttershy whispered as she came up from behind Twilight.

Rarity gave them both a dry grin and nod before looking down at the floor, the joy quickly erasing from her face. Fluttershy glanced at Twilight who took a deep breath before stepping forward, stomping her small hoof into the floor in what she hoped would seem a very authoritative stance.

"Rarity, we need to talk." Twilight said in a stern tone. "Applejack came into town on foot a few hours ago. She looked awful and she was covered in dirt and dust that was stuck to her face like she'd been weeping. She looked like something horrible had happened. Now she's not talking to any of us and shut herself away on the farm. What the hay happened in Manehattan? Why aren't you with her?"

"We're very worried." Fluttershy softly cooed, giving Rarity an affectionate nudge with her forehead. "About both of you."

Rarity sniffed a bit before raising her head, looking into the sky, lost in thought. She turned to her two friends.

"Girls I'm not sure how to put this but....." Rarity bit her lip a bit as she stared at the floor. "....I really hurt Applejack. I tried to organize a little family reunion for her but I......just....got in over my head. I didn't realize her Manehattan family were such....awful abusive fiends. Some of the worst individuals I've ever had the misfortune of being in contact with. I was a fool and Applejack paid the price. I'm going to try....to speak with her....but....."

Rarity trailed off, feeling tears form. She quickly wiped her eyes.

"I'm not sure she'll ever forgive me." Rarity whispered as she looked at Twilight and Fluttershy. "I may have just broken the Elements of Harmony. I'm....so sorry."

"Rarity if you need help....with Applejack." Twilight began. "You can always call on the rest of us."

"We'd do anything to help you two be friends again." Fluttershy said with a small nod. "Whatever it takes so we can all be together again."

"Thank you, girls." Rarity croaked, wiping her nose with a lace kerchief. "But I fear this is the kind of thing I can't solve with mere words. I'm not sure what to do."

***************************************************************************

Rarity winced as she quietly trotted up the dirt path to the farmland. There in the distance was Sweet Apple Acres, beautiful as ever. And at the gate stood something she had expected, but simultaneously dreaded: Big Macintosh. The massive stallion, who towered over everyone else in town, was stoically standing behind the small wooden door of the fence, an expression on his face that could curdle milk. Next to him sat the small green form of Granny Smith, who looked sad and older than ever. Rarity could sense the hostility as she approached. They knew what had happened, she could tell from the way they watched her come up the road. It took all of her willpower to keep walking, to push herself forward as their combined gazes sent soundwaves of guilt across the road.

She stood before her observers, trembling.

"I'm sorry."

"I don't rightly blame ya, Miss Rarity." Big Mac said with a small grimace. "I know ya wouldn't purposely try to hurt my little sister. I know you two are real fond of each other."

Granny Smith turned to her grandson and gave him a small nod of approval. Big Mac glanced briefly at her before turning back to Rarity, his expression hardening.

"But then again...." he began, his booming voice growing louder. "How could you do that? How could you not ask first?"

"Big Mac...." Granny Smith whispered urgently.

"I didn't know!" Rarity yelped. "I didn't know they were so awful!"

"Are you just not a good judge of character then!?" Big Mac bellowed, losing his temper.

"Big Mac!" Granny Smith whispered again, much more harshly.

"They seemed nice at first. They told me they loved her!" Rarity squeaked, coming close to tears again.

"Course they did! They'd say anything to get more money from her! Did they tell ya how they locked Applejack in her room for days at a time cause they were humiliated of havin' her in the house?!"

"Big Mac!" Granny Smith shouted, trying desperately to get his attention.

"Did they tell ya how they took half of daddy's inheritance? Did they tell ya how they forgot to feed Applejack sometimes? How they burned the letters she tried to send to us?! How they didn't care when she managed to jump out a window and got away!?"

"BIG MAC!"

"Did they tell ya how the police found Applejack bleedin' in an alley with rats gnawin' on her wounds? After near a whole month of her going missin'? Did they tell ya how after she got back from the hospital with all them stitches, they locked her in her room again!? How they pretended the accident was her fault!? How they didn't even want to call her their niece anymore?!"

"MACINTOSH. GO INSIDE NOW!" Granny Smith screeched.

With a snort of anger, Macintosh turned away. He trotted angrily up to the farm, slamming the door shut behind him as he was entered the home. Rarity had her kerchief to her face, trying to hide behind it. She couldn't bear to look up at them. Granny Smith sighed quietly, pulling Rarity into a comforting hug. After a moment, Rarity hugged back, unsure of what to say.

"He's jes'......upset yeh know." Granny whispered. "Always tryin' ta' protect his baby sister. Doesn't realize she's all grown up. Makin' her own decisions."

The old green nag broke the hug, taking Rarity's hooves in her own wrinkled ones.

"Listen, honey. I don't know...the details o' what happen'd in the city. I don't need to know 'em. Don't wanna know 'em. But I ain't seen Applejack like this since.....that day." Granny Smith looked up at the sky for a moment, swallowing hard before looking back down at Rarity. "She needs her friends right now. She needs love right now and mine ain't workin'. She needs you more than ever. Go on."

Rarity passed through the gate, quietly thanking Granny with a small nod before trotting out into the green. It seemed such a shame that such a beautiful chilly day was being marred by such an event. Rarity began to pass by the gardens, the cabbages all covered in wax paper to shield them from the cold night air, now covered in the warm morning dew. She made her way into the orchard, surrounded by apple trees. A small dark shadow seemed to be passing across the ground, making its way toward her. All at once Rarity found herself being accosted by what seemed to be a million feathers, a whirl of color, and a pair of glaring but beautiful red eyes.

"Stop right there, buster!" came the sharp cry of Rainbow Dash. "You're not allowed near Applejack anymore!"

Rarity pursed her lips as she tried to extract herself from the angry flapping wings. "Oh for goodness sake, Dash!"

Rainbow Dash grabbed a twig from the closest apple tree and scratched a crude line into the dirt between herself and Rarity, quickly tossing the twig away and staring with a challenging expression.

"This line is the barricade. You aren't allowed to cross it."

Rarity folded her arms and frowned. "She's my friend too, Dash. I can see her if I like."

"Some friend you are!"

"I was misled, Dash. And I let my excitement cloud my judgement, now let me through!" Rarity tried to get around the cyan pegasus, who immediately blocked her path each time. Finally Dash pressed her forehead against Rarity's and flapped her wings, shoving them both farther from the unicorn's destination.

"I said NO!" Dash shouted, landing on the ground and flaring her wings as if she was going to pounce.

"I need to apologize!"

"You need to get away from here before you mess her up anymore!"

"Dash I realize you've never been in this sort of situation before....."

"Don't you start!"

"....but Applejack doesn't need your protection."

"Yeah well....um....she doesn't need you finding more relatives! Or something!" Dash spluttered, hoping her shot back at Rarity sounded in any way clever. "She trusted you, Rarity!"

"She didn't tell me about them."

"Oh." Dash's anger deflated a bit. "I thought she had."

"Why would you think that?"

"Well...." Dash sat on her haunches, rubbing her arm nervously. "She came to me asking like....how to be more open with you. Or something. She wanted to trust you with her secrets I think. I thought you guys were getting along great."

"I tried, Dash. I tried to find out what was making her so....uncomfortable. But she wouldn't tell me and I kept backing off thinking I was going to offend her. I wish I didn't. now. I wish I'd just let her stay here in town."

"A pretty jerky thing to do." Dash growled.

"I didn't know." Rarity hissed, feeling her temper rise.

"You don't see me trying to reunite Pinkie with her weird old mom and dad."

"What you and Pinkie have is very different." Rarity corrected in a very matter-of-fact tone.

Dash was up on her hooves again, her rainbow hair bristling. "How is it different?"

"Applejack and I...our relationship is well...more mature." Rarity said with a small nod.

"Is that so!?" Dash leered, clearly getting madder by the moment. "And what....PRAY TELL...do you two princesses do all day?"

"We discuss trivial and humorous matters while engaging in productive recreational activity."

"So you just joke around and have fun, right." Dash replied, her sneer becoming a wicked smile. "What do you think me n' Pinkie do all day?"

Rarity opened her mouth to speak, unable to come up with a real rebuttal. She shook her head as she realized how much time she was wasting standing in the orchard arguing with Dash.

"I don't have time for this, Rainbow." Rarity said as she stood back up and tried to shove her way around the pegasus again. "I need to at least try to fix this."

"I said NO!" Dash shouted, pushing Rarity backwards.

"Rainbow Dash stoppit!" came a high pitched somewhat squeaky voice. Both mares turned in the direction of the sound to see Pinkie Pie skipping her way through the apple trees.

She hopped over and immediately latched onto Dash, pulling the pegasus away from the etched line in the dirt. When she felt she had dragged her friend a sufficient distance, she walked around in front, giving her a somewhat upset pout.

"Look at her, Dashie! Can't you see you're making her sad! Stop being a big meanie and let Rarity in!" Pinkie gave Dash a small angry prod in the shoulder. "You know and I know that she'd never hurt AJ on purpose. So quit it!"

Any emotions Dash was feeling were soon replaced by a sheepish expression as she gazed at the ground, unable to look into Pinkie's innocent blue eyes as they scolded her silently.

"Yeah....I know. M'sorry."

"You don't need to apologize, Dash." Rarity said gently. "I'm the one who screwed up."

Pinkie gave Dash a gentle nuzzle with her snout before prancing over to Rarity.

"I'm sorry, Rarity. Dash gets kinda....." Pinkie rolled her eyes.

"I know, dear." Rarity replied. "She's the Element of Loyalty after all. I would be more surprised if she wasn't so overprotective of her friends."

"What happened, Rarity? Why's AJ all mopey dopey and not talking to anyone? I haven't seen her like this since that time when one of the cows fell off a cliff. And even then she wasn't this sad!"

"I stuck my nose into affairs that were not mine, Pinkie. And well....a lot of awful things happened. I need to know where she is so I can speak with her."

"Well AJ is over that way!" Pinkie chirped, pointing one of her bright pink hooves out into the orchard.

"She's hurtin', Rarity. She's hurtin' real bad." Dash muttered, still staring at the ground.

"Thank you." Rarity said, giving Pinkie a polite nod and noticing for the first time that there was a small blue feather tucked behind her ear, in much the same way one would tuck a pencil there. "Oh, well that's very pretty. Dash's I assume?"

"Mmm Hmm! She gave it to me as a present." Pinkie wagged her tail joyously as Dash's face went red as a beet.

"What's that?" Rarity asked, glancing upward, noticing for the first time a small dark stain in the sky above the tree line. It curled and dissipated almost like.....

"...is that smoke?" Rarity asked, suddenly feeling a twinge of fear.

"Oh....." Pinkie's face suddenly went very serious as her squeak faded into a solemn whisper. "Granny Smith didn't tell you about that part...."

**********************************************************

Rarity galloped through the forest of trees until she saw a few rays of sunlight peeping in, causing her to increase her speed. She reached a clearing past the orchard where one of the old barns stood, having not been used in some time. There was a hole, a large pit, dug into the earth, with a small pile of muddy spades and trowels resting a few feet away, glistening in the light. At the center of the pit sat a darkened kindled mass, smouldering. Even through the smoke and embers, the wooden frames and bits of canvas could be seen. The smell of lunt and burning botanical pigments filled the air, causing Rarity to slow to a crawl as she cautiously approached the fire pit. Nearest to the edge of the clearing, near the edge of the pit was a pile of burlap cloth, concealing some sort of lumpy object. Rarity swallowed as she approached, making her way around the hole.

There Applejack lay on the edge of the pit, wrapped in burlap sheets, staring into the fire. Her eyelids were swollen, and her eyes in general looked tired, large dark bags of skin under them. Her hair was a messy bundle of blonde strings, waving delicately in the wind. She was motionless as Rarity approached, and made no notice of her friend. Rarity sat as quietly next to Applejack as she could, trying her best not to disturb the peace. Several minutes passed as neither spoke. Rarity cleared her throat as quietly as she could, feeling her nasal passages dry out in the heat from the smouldering paintings. She licked her dry lips, deciding that if she didn't speak now, she may never work up the courage to do so.

"Applejack?"

There was a small rustle of movement under the burlap, which was enough to acknowledge the presence. Rarity continued.

"Applejack did you....run all the way back home?"

There was the quietest of small grunts, almost inaudible from under the sheets. Rarity sighed.

"You're really remarkable, you know."

She was met with silence again.

"I remember when we first decided to try this idea. We were sitting in that little cafe, eating eggplant fritters. You were so defensive when I wanted to talk about you. So shy to let me see your inner beauty. You were so frightened at the idea of letting me see that side of you. Your gentle side. I remember I promised you.....I swore..... I wouldn't let you get hurt or embarrassed."

Rarity lifted her foreleg, delicately placing her hoof on Applejack's still form.

"I didn't keep my promise to you. I'm not sure what I can say to you now."

There was still no sound. Rarity extracted her hoof, slouching forward slightly.

"I wish you had trusted me but I never let you try to trust me. I spent too much time being....me and not a friend. And I wish I had thought ahead. I wish I had realized right at the start of the trip that bringing you was going to end badly. I wish I had paid more attention. I wish I was like you and followed my instincts. There's so many things I wish I had done better, to protect you and your art. But I didn't and you suffered for it."

Rarity turned back towards the fire, watching as small bits of burning canvas bobbed up through the hot smoke, turning into ash in the cold air as the smoke continued to churn upwards.

"I know you didn't want me to come here. I know you don't want to see me ever again. I don't blame you. I'm not here to ask forgiveness. I just want you to know that....I...." Rarity sniffed as she felt hot liquid forming in her eyes. There was a quiet rustle as the bundle of burlap lurched upward from Applejack sitting upright.

"It's ok." came a very rough and dry southern drawl. "I forgave ya on my run."

"Hmm?"

"I already forgave ya hours ago, Rare." Applejack rasped, still nearly invisible under all the sheets. "Wasn't right of me to yell at ya like that. And rip up that gift ya made for me."

"Don't you DARE apologize!" Rarity shouted. "This is my fault. I should have talked with your family. Or talked with you. You did nothing wrong other than wanting to be left alone and I couldn't even do that. I couldn't just leave you alone and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Applejack!"

"What happened to your hoof?" Applejack asked, the tip of her muzzle just barely showing from under the sheets.

"Oh that. I may have...well....done something rather barbaric."

"You?"

"I sort of struck your Uncle in the mouth. And your Aunt. Several times actually...um....I sort of chipped my hoof."

The burlap sheets fell away as Applejack shook her head, turning towards Rarity for the first time. Her face was still dirty, dark brown streaks on her cheeks from where dirt and tears had intermingled.

"You of all ponies....got in a fight?"

"I wouldn't really call it a fight, it was somewhat one-sided." Rarity whispered, unable to look into Applejack's eyes.

A pair of orange hooves slowly reached down to grab Rarity's arm, as Applejack furrowed her brow to study the chipped cloven hoof of the unicorn.

"Well shoot, Rare. Y'all ruined your perfect foot." Applejack said with a sad voice. Her face cracked into a small grin as she looked up. "What else did you ruin?"

"Your Uncle's teeth. And your Aunt's eye. I'm sorry, Applejack!" Rarity coughed as she tried to fight back tears.

"That's the best thing I ever heard."

Rarity looked up to stare right into Applejack's green eyes. Despite the mess and dirt and grief, there was a warmth in those eyes. A warmth that made them both feel so comfortable to be near each other. Applejack let go of the hoof, her expression saddening as she turned back toward the fire.

"My insides hurt."

"I know."

Applejack went back to watching the embers as Rarity gave her friend a quick once-over. The orange farm pony looked like she'd been through a nightmare. And in a way, she had. Mud and dirt were caked onto her coat, with scratches and scars all over her legs. Rarity felt her heart break and she took it all in. Her beautiful friend had become this mess, and like everything else in the last few days, it was all Rarity's fault. She could feel a lump in her throat forming as she looked away.

"Hey, Rare."

"Yes?"

"What happened after I left?"

"Oh!"

Rarity nibbled at the strap on her side, extracting a large heaving saddlebag. She placed it on the ground between herself and Applejack, nudging it closer to the farm pony with her muzzle.

"Well, the stir you caused actually made your art more popular."

"That so?"

"There's about 30 platinum bits in this bag. And more in my luggage at home. You and your family are technically millionaires now."

"And if it wasn't for you, we'd still have nothin'...."

Rarity turned to see Applejack was shivering, large tears forming in her eyes that fell, clearing some of the dirt from her face. Applejack turned toward Rarity, her jaw quivering.

"Thanks, Rarity."

"Don't thank me. It wasn't worth it." Rarity whispered. "It wasn't worth seeing you like this. Seeing what I've done to you."

"I'm fine."

"Stop saying that, Applejack."

"Alright."

"And stop agreeing with me!"

"What do you want me to say?"

"You should be upset with me! Angry! After everything that's happened and you're still treating me like I'm anything but scum in comparison to you. Like I've done anything worthy of your forgiveness!"

"I can't hate ya, Rare. I love you too much. I mean yeah, some bad stuff happened. But alotta good stuff happened too. I don't wanna forget this chapter of my life."

"Then why are you burning your paintings?"

"Felt right to me. Time for a clean slate, I think. Something new."

"You really are the most dependable of ponies." Rarity said quietly, admiring her friend.

"Yeah, I guess I am." Applejack replied as she pulled the burlap sheets around her shoulders.

For a moment Rarity sat just watching her friend. What a curious individual she was. Unable to hold a grudge, even after all this. Even after what seemed like something so unforgivable. Rarity frowned and looked at the earth between her hooves.

"I wish.....there was something I could do to make this situation better." she whispered.

"Well, actually Rarity. There something you could do for me maybe." Applejack said, her voice growing very quiet, trembling slightly.

"What can I do?"

"Could ya....hold me.....like you did in Canterlot? I liked that." Applejack's voice broke as she started to weep again, her whole body shaking as she sobbed loudly.

Rarity scooted over and put her arms around her friend, holding her close. The two sat next to the pit until the substances within finally burned away. The memories could never be burned away, not even the bad ones. The ones that hurt the most. The ones that made you sick to your stomach. They'd always be there. But the reminders could be removed. The triggers that brought those thoughts up. They would be wiped away. A clean slate. It was time for something new, something pleasant.

The two sat in the embrace for hours, unable to move or speak for fear of ruining the moment. When noon finally came and the air became too humid and uncomfortable they departed from the clearing. Rarity made it a particular point to take Applejack to her house to clean her up. It was a very quiet affair as she rinsed her friend off, pulling the dust and dirt and leaves from her tattered mane. Cleaning her wounds and trying to get the humble farm pony looking her best again. When they were done, they carried the rest of the money to Granny Smith and Big Mac, whom despite their initial discomfort, were glad to see that Applejack's talent had allowed them so many blessings. It would be many weeks before Big Mac would ever forgive Rarity. And many months until Applejack could find it in herself to paint again. But in that time the two would travel. Sometimes with their friends, sometimes just the two of them.

But right now, in this moment, they were simply glad to be in each others company. As they walked from Sweet Apple Acres, giving a small casual wave to Granny Smith, the four ponies decided now that the time for grief had ended, it was time for something fun. And so, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie found themselves walking side by side down the streets of Ponyville looking for a place to have lunch. Later they'd be joined by Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle, the six friends sitting at one of the outside tables at the Spot Hitter Cafe. What would begin as awkward conversation about the events that had transpired over the last few days, would soon give way to laughter and the kind of high tempo conversation the six casually enjoyed as they ate. Things would always feel a bit different, but in a way things felt a bit better as well. Through all the tragedy and sadness, their bonds of friendship had remained unbroken. In some matters, becoming stronger. Applejack and Rarity would find in each other a confidant. Someone to share the good times and bad. Someone to share secrets with, and grow old with. To relish in each others achievements, and comfort each other in times of grief. Whenever someone referred to a period of time as "the good old days" the two knew that the good days had never ended, and so long as they had each other, the good times never would.

*******************************************************************

"Aww! Well aren't you just precious!" Scratch cooed at the tiny filly with the giant hairbow that sat before her. "Is your big sister around?"

"Are you missus Scratch?" Applebloom asked, tilting her head to the side. "And missus Octavia?"

"You hear that Octy? We're famous!"

"Applejack really likes yer music! I do too! And so does Big Mac! Granny doesn't though, she says it sounds like a phone booth being hit with a calculator and a hammer all at the same time!" the small filly jumped up and down happily.

"I'd agree with the grandmother." Octavia replied, trying her best not to laugh as Scratch's face went from joyful to unamused.

The two were led around to the back of the farm. All around were employed ponies working. Some farmed, some were building, some were digging trenches. All wearing overalls that had a red apple stitched to the chest. Octavia and Scratch looked around in wonder at all the vegetables and fruit that seemed to be exploding around them as they followed the little filly. Apple trees, orange trees, pear trees, eggplant trees, even pineapple trees. Almost every variety of fruit seemed to have a tree. Even fruit that generally didn't grow on trees seemed to have a tree. Like the bizarre pumpkin trees that towered over the rest. Octavia couldn't help plucking a grape from a grape tree and chewing it happily as she was led into a clearing where several husky stallions were putting together a barn, lifting the wooden framework to a standing position with levers and pulleys. An old wrinkly green mare in a hard hat was barking orders through a megaphone at them.

"C'mon yeh lazy bones! If'n yeh all can git this here barn up 'afore the afternoon, I'll git y'all a nice slice of my famous rutabaga pie!" the old mare shouted into the megaphone, causing every worker to stop and stare.

"Oh snap! Rutabaga pie!" shouted one stallion as the others worked themselves into a frenzy, causing the barn to be built twice as fast.

"Well." Octavia mused. "She certainly knows how to motivate her workers."

"Hey there Octavia n' Scratch!" came a familiar voice.

The two musicians turned to see Applejack was sitting a few meters away, painting onto a canvas, her blonde mane done up in a bouffant.

"Nice hair, Jack." Scratch said with an amused snort.

"Yeah, it was Rare's idea." Applejack replied with a small roll of her eyes. "I ain't too fond of it myself. Rare thinks it makes me look cute. I think it makes me look like n' old schoolmarm. Keeps my neck nice and cool though."

"And just where is Rarity?" Octavia asked.

"She's over with my other friends, they're pluckin' some of the cabbage trees."

"Cabbage....trees?" Scratch raised an eyebrow and pulled down her goggles.

"Yep! We're Sweet Apple Groves now. With all the money from the auction we were able to whip this place into shape. Me n' Twilight even found a way of getting things that don't normally grow on trees to well....grow on 'em."

"That sounds weird yet cool."

"Yeah, my friend Fluttershy thought it was an abomination against nature at first. Then she tried some of the broccoli from the broccoli tree. That changed her mind."

"Well I'm going to say hi to Rarity. I shall be right back." Octavia flicked her tail on Scratch's snout as she walked off, causing the unicorn to grin.

"So, Jack." Scratch began, walking around to the other side of the canvas. "What's this you be a-painting all up in here? Something funky and fancy?"

The canvas depicted a blue gem hovering in midair. A bunch of vines were snaking out of the ground, wrapping themselves around the base of the gem, hoisting it into the air, the sunlight gleaming off of it. Every vine was covered in small jade leaves tipped with orange like that of a fern, ending with tiny red apples that almost looked like cherries. Behind the gem and plants sat a series of twisted yellow mountains, peaked with green snow against a purple sky full of black stars.

"Whoa! Trippy stuff there, Jack! Like a prog rock band album cover. I like it!"

"Thanks!" Applejack said, smiling. "It's been nice not havin' to do everything around here lately. Been able to relax alot more. And paint without feelin' all......weirded out."

"So uh....." Scratch lowered her voice and sat down beside Applejack, with a concerned grin. "....how ya been? Hadn't seen ya after the whole....you know..... Manehattan thing. You and Rare-bear doin' ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. So's she."

"Good. Good. I was worried you two were going to end up hating each other."

"Naw! Heck, I trust Rarity like she was family. She might as well be. And she trusts me too. She's the best friend I could ever hope for."

"I could certainly say the same." Rarity said as she emerged from the trees with Octavia and Twilight Sparkle in her wake. She trotted over and gave Applejack an affectionate nuzzle on the forehead before turning to look at the painting. "I see you've been busy."

"Yep!"

They were soon joined by the others and departed into the streets of Ponyville, away from the massive plantation and it's large white sign that read Sweet Apple Groves for all to see. Their destination was Sugarcube Corner, a perfect spot for dinner on a cold winter's day. As they walked through the town chattering animatedly, one could not deny that this group of friends were indeed like a close family. Each was different and each was special in their own way, some in ways that didn't make sense. But they had each other and that was all that mattered. And as Celestia's star dipped down signaling the start of the evening, the eight ponies remained at Sugarcube Corner long into the night, happy to have each other.

DA END.

Je vois la vie en rose bonbon.

Quite a few paintings had been brought out from the cellar of Sweet Apple Acres. The ones Applejack was fine with parting with, which there were many. They sat on easels and boards out on the grassy lawn. Close enough where observers from the road could see them but not so close where it seemed like they were being 'shown off' in any way. It was all an experiment set up by Rarity. If random ponies on the road decided they liked what they saw, then she could try to calculate how much interest she might be able to generate at an actual gallery or art show for Applejack's work. The artist of the pieces herself was currently sitting behind a tree, trying to put a bit of distance between herself and the art. She'd been ok with having a couple of her friends suddenly seeing her art, once her temper had subsided. But having most of it sitting out, exposed in the sun, on the lawn, where everyone could see it? She quickly found herself out of her comfort zone once again.

At the moment Applejack was leaning against an apple tree, chewing idly on a piece of hay with her hat pulled over her eyes. She hoped with enough luck, if she pretended to nap hard enough she might actually fall asleep and wake up long after Rarity's experiment had ended. A few of her closest friends were on the farm as well, helping pull some of the canvases out from the basement, despite Applejack's initial objections. They stood idly around on the lawn, looking over the collection.

"Why do I look like a colorful fireball in this one, AJ?" Rainbow Dash asked. A young athletic daredevil pegasus with a shocking tuft of messy rainbow hair for a mane.

"Cause that's what ya look like when your flyin' around at high speed, RD." Applejack didn't move from her spot at the tree. She wasn't going to get involved in this experiment.

"Is this one of Rarity? Whoa she looks awesome in this one. Like some sort of supermodel or somethin' oh and her cat is painted in her mane. That is so cool!" Rainbow was fluttering around gazing at each piece, commenting loudly as her powerful blue wings gushed air around the lawn.

"Well clearly Applejack has an appreciation for beauty." Rarity quipped as she leaned another painting against the wooden wall of the barn. Applejack blushed slightly and pulled her hat farther down her face, glad the tree was covering the majority of her body as she lay.

"Haha, Pinkie looks like an explosion of swirly pink and white things in this one!"

"Well, to me, I think Applejack was trying to show Pinkie's sort of energetic personality in this portrait." Twilight observed, tilting her head slightly to study the piece. "That or maybe she was trying to show how Pinkie's hair reminds us all of cotton candy. Then again Pinkie is sort of sad-looking in this piece. Maybe this is a study on the juxtaposition of Pinkie's outer personality and her somewhat somber inner-thoughts we sometimes see her display in moments of uncertainty? I'm not sure. What is it, Applejack?"

"It's a paintin', Twi." Applejack grunted from behind the tree. Rarity stifled a chuckle at the flat response.

"Is this... one of me?" Fluttershy asked, gazing at a piece. It featured a vortex of butterflies and moths spinning into a tornado of warm colors that made up a vague form that looked delicately like the yellow mare who was observing it. "Are the pink caterpillars meant to be my mane?"

"Yeah, I guess." came the response from the tree. "And the blue flowers are meant to look like yer eyeballs."

"OH! I see it now. That's cool it's like a painting hidden in another painting." Rainbow hovered behind Fluttershy looking over her shoulder. "I think your tail is this bunch of vines in the corner."

"Here's one of you, Twilight." Pinkie chirped, flopping a painting somewhat clumsily onto the grass. "You have stars in your eyes in this one. And you are shooting outer space out of your eyes into some big cloud."

"Oh wow." Twilight said as she trotted over. "This is beautiful, Applejack. You even remembered to put my favorite constellation in this one! Thank you."

"Yep." Applejack tried again to sound disinterested, although the compliments were tempting her to extract herself from her hiding spot. That feeling of pride was starting to overcome the embarrassment at all the attention she was receiving.

"I wonder what kind of things I would shoot out of my eyes!" Pinkie asked, as she studied the painting of Twilight Sparkle, her pink tail waggling happily.

"Considering your diet, you'd probably fire beams of pure diabetes, Pinks." Rainbow laughed loudly at her comment as Pinkie looked confused and Twilight rolled her eyes.

Fluttershy pranced quietly up to the tree that Applejack was using as a shield from all the attention. She leaned down and nuzzled her friend's shoulder with her stubby snout.

"Thank you for painting me, Applejack. Your art is very lovely."

"Uh, yeah." Applejack wiggled away from the affection a bit, feeling another blush coming on. "You're welcome, Fluttershy. Glad y'all like it."

"Could I, um....keep the painting?"

"Well sure of course ya can."

"How much is it?"

"Pffffftttt. I ain't chargin' mah friends for them things."

"Oh thank you!" said Fluttershy happily, nuzzling Applejack once more before she extended her wings and glided back to the others.

"Hey what's this thing supposed to be?" Rainbow asked, gazing at a rather tall canvas, displaying what seemed like, to her, a strange colorful stalactite.

"It's Sugarcube Corner!" Pinkie squealed happily, recognizing her house instantly. She skipped joyfully around the canvas in the grass.

"How the heck is that Sugarcube Corner?"

"You're looking at it upside down, silly!"

Rainbow flipped herself over in midair with the kind of expertise only a pegasus could. "OH! Yeah there it is."

Applejack laughed loudly from behind the tree. Despite her initial protest this little art show on the lawn was proving to be very entertaining. With a final small sigh, she came to the decision that ignoring her friends and the warm sun on this particularly beautiful day for the sake of not talking about her art was probably just going to leave her bored and miserable. A quiet "ptoo" came from the tree as Applejack spat out the hay she'd been chewing on and flopped over onto her side, rising onto her hooves and sauntering over to where her friends were. Rarity beamed, glad that her talented companion in this escapade was finally getting involved.

"So you guys really like this stuff, huh?" Applejack asked as she trotted to the rest of the group.

"Heck yeah! I wanna keep this fireball one!" Rainbow announced, picking it up and threatening to fly off with it before anyone told her if it was ok or not.

"They are really really pretty, AJ. I bet Mr. and Mrs.Cake would love portraits done of them and the twins for the bakery. Would you wanna? Huh?" Pinkie danced merrily in place, overcome with excitement.

"The mayor said she was looking for someone to paint a mural on the town hall the other day. She wanted it to depict Ponyville throughout the decades. I bet you would be great at it, Applejack! That is, um, if you wanted to." Fluttershy whispered, her cheeks going pink as she hid her face behind her colossal mane that resembled the leaves of a weeping willow.

"Zecora and I were making a glossary of various creatures from around Equestria. But obviously getting photos of each one puts us in a bit of quandary as neither of us are good photographers, and the few good affordable ones wouldn't dare go near some of the wild beasts we'd want in the book. We were thinking of perhaps simply having a pony illustrate some of the creatures for the book in place of photos so nobody has to be in danger. Applejack I know this is rather sudden, but would you be interested in helping us out? We could just describe the monster to you and you would just need to scribble it with a bit of color." Twilight stepped eagerly toward her friend, a gleam of anticipation in her eye.

All these sudden requests were a bit much for the orange earth mare who grimaced slightly and shrank under their gazes a bit. She wasn't sure she wanted to do ANY of the things they wanted, but at the same time didn't want to disappoint them. She couldn't make up an excuse either. Being the Element of Honesty meant she was a rather terrible liar. Luckily, Rarity seemed to notice the discomfort surrounding the conversation.

"Uh...well er ya see. I ain't...erm." Applejack stuttered, unsure of how to approach these new subjects.

"GIRLS! Please." Rarity began, stepping between the eager ponies and Applejack. "Can't you see you're making the poor dear uncomfortable? She's been hiding these beautiful things for some time for a reason, and I'm sure you're not helping the case. If she decides she wants do commissions I'm sure she'll let us know."

"Thanks, Rare." Applejack said, silently thinking of a way she could thank Rarity from rescuing her from this situation.

"How long have you been making these?" Fluttershy asked quietly, trying to change the subject.

"Since I was a bit younger than Applebloom I guess." Applejack replied, "Granny taught me how to make dyes n' pigments and such out of plants and clay and things."

"Could you teach me how to...um...paint?"

"Well shoot, Fluttershy, I don't even know how I'd start. I ain't even sure how I make these. Never considered myself an artist. Didn't ever really practice or nothin' just kinda came to me naturally. I don't think I could teach anyone anything they didn't already know, unless o' course it was about farmin' and apples."

"How did you make these anyway, AJ?" Rainbow asked, suddenly curious about the process.

"Well....depends on what's convenient at the moment I 'spose. Sometimes I just dip some hay into the paint and use it like a brush. Sometimes I just use a brush if'n I can find one. If I can't find neither I sometimes just use my hooves to sorta....I dunno I guess squish the paint around on the canvas."

"The canvases look pretty...homemade is the word I should probably use. Did you make them as well, Applejack?" Twilight said, joining the conversation.

"Ha, oh them! Well back when Granny used to paint she'd just take some old flax from our cousins up north, and press it flat and bleach it in the sun. She taught me how. Figured it was better than spendin bits on it. Felt nicer to make it mahself. Cousins were ok with givin' me the fibers since I guess it ain't a very good crop these days."

Applejack grinned winningly. She didn't mind discussing the more technical side of how these pieces came to be. It was a lot more interesting than trying to listen to all the higgeldy-piggeldy nonsense of what the paintings were meant to 'represent' or whatever.

Rainbow flew over the small pile of art on the lawn. "I like how some of these are just like colorful smears that look like something, but others are really detailed like the ones of ponies you know. Speakin' of there's like twice as much detail in this one of Rarity than any of the other portraits of your friends."

"ANYWAY!" Applejack shouted, coughing loudly and trying to hide under her hat. "Uh, Rarity how do we know if this here experiment of yers is a success?"

"Well take a look over there, darling." Rarity replied, pointing a perfectly manicured hoof at the fence. "I'd say it's attracting a good amount of attention."

Indeed it had! Unbeknownst to Applejack and the others a rather sizable crowd of Ponyville citizens had begun milling around the fence. A few had bravely hopped over and were trying their best to get a better look at all the art that was dotting the farm's landscape, not sure if it was a private gathering or not. It wasn't every day that hundreds of paintings suddenly seemed to magically appear on the lawn of the largest orchard in town. Even the mayor had shown up during her early morning jog, adjusting her spectacles and squinting over the crowd. A few of the young mares in the crowd had quickly lost their attention on the artwork and were currently enamored watching Big Macintosh perform yardwork.

"Oh wow. We normally don't have a crowd like this 'til cider season comes up. Does this mean it's workin', Rare?"

"It means your work is eye-catching. Even if it's not the best in the world, some of the pieces are interesting enough to distract even the busiest of ponies. Which is good! Very good. Once I figure out which pieces in particular generated the attention the rest are getting."

"So....then what?"

"Then what? Then we make the pieces that received the most attention the forefront of your gallery exhibition. The initial eye-catching pieces become what we use to draw ponies in to see everything else you've made."

"Like a cookbook!" Twilight suddenly chimed in. All eyes turned toward her, confused.

"What do you mean, a cookbook?" Rarity asked.

"Well, cookbook's always have the most colorful looking meals on the cover. The ones they know will make ponies salivate and feel hungry just at a glance. Even if all the other meals inside are better or worse than the one they chose to advertise it."

"That's actually a very good similarity, Twilight. But yes, that's pretty much it. Some of the best art in the world takes time to appreciate. It needs to age gracefully. So we put the most colorful interesting ones out front and then let it draw in ponies who are hungry.....well....hungry for art anyway."

"They aren't gonna like....eat AJ's paintings are they?" Rainbow asked, confused.

"Well heck, Sugarcube, not if I bring some of my best apple fritters along with me to the gallery! Right, Rarity?" Applejack replied, unaware of what a ridiculous proposal it was. Rainbow and Pinkie nodded happily in complete agreement, as clueless about art shows as their friend was.

Rarity sighed and shook her head. It was difficult to explain the importance of design in advertising. Even aspects she herself practiced. It had always been very important to put the most frou-frou, striking, expensive, and often gaudy dresses out front of her boutique, to attract even the most superficial of ponies. Then all the far higher quality bits of clothing that weren't quite as interesting to observe at first were kept inside. It was a decent business model and had worked for years. She could only hope that it would work again with a somewhat different sort of element. And in the back of her mind she really hoped that the finicky ponies of the art world wouldn't turn up their noses to Applejack's talents. It would be embarrassing for them both if this plan nosedived. Everything was going to need to be perfect.

EVERYTHING.