The grass of the apple orchard was covered in morning dew. It glistened as the light of the sun reflected off of it. Diamond Tiara stood behind her father. She brushed her hoof back and forth in the dirt path as she let out a sigh of boredom. "Daddy when can we go home I'm bored," the pink-coated filly said in a pleading tone. Filthy Rich ignored the little filly as he continued to discuss the parameters of his proposition with Granny Smith. Diamond Tiara stomped her hoof in annoyance before using her other hoof to pull at Filthy Rich's tail. The business pony gritted his teeth before turning to face Diamond Tiara.
"I was going to give this to you later princess but I suppose now is a better time than ever," the stallion said with an annoyed huff as he reached his hoof into his front coat pocket. He then pulled a bright ruby pin from out of it and placed it in front of his daughter. Diamond Tiara looked at the pin and then looked at her father and rolled her eyes.
"Daddy you know I don't like rubies," Diamond Tiara said in annoyance. She then picked up the ruby pin and stomped away from Filthy Rich.
Diamond Tiara trotted down the dirt path of Sweet Apple Acres. She let out a huff as she took in her surroundings. "I can't believe he always forgets that I don't like the color red, let alone rubies," the pink pony muttered to herself. She looked towards the Apple Orchard and let out a sigh. "What I would give to have a family that wanted to spend time with me instead of bribing me with expensive gifts," she said to herself. She paused looking down at the gem in her hoof before throwing it as hard as she possibly could into the Apple Orchard. She then trotted off towards her home as tears ran down her face.
Filthy Rich waved goodbye to Granny Smith as he smirked. Now having finished his business with the Apple family for the day, he could finally get home and pack for his newest business venture. He shrugged his shoulders allowing them to relax as he picked up his briefcase and began trotting down the dirt path. "Maybe my little princess will be in a less sour mood by dinner time" he wondered aloud. Hopefully, that would be the case but he could never be too sure with her volatile mood swings. He'd considered sending her to therapy but was sure she would put up a big fuss about it. He smiled at the thought of his little drama queen as he trotted home.
Applejack glanced around the orchard before spotting a tree that had yet to be bucked. She trotted over to the tree before turning around her back now facing it. She then proceeded to lift her hind legs into the air and buck the tree with great force. She listened to the sound of apples cascading down onto the orchard floor. She brought her hooves back to meet the ground before wiping the sweat from her brow. "Whoo whee, I sure did a lotta buckin' today," Applejack said to herself with a chuckle.
She turned around to view her work and raised an eyebrow curiously as she spotted something glistening amongst the fallen apples. She leaned down pushing the apples aside with her hoof to reveal a shining ruby. "What in tarnation?" Applejack asked herself in surprise as she picked the small ruby up with her hoof. She examined it, flipping it over and coming to the realization it was a pin. "Well, this sure ain't something that should be out here," the earth pony said to herself confused. She shivered a warm feeling radiating through the hoof holding the gem. She blinked a few times, shaking off the feeling before looking at her surroundings.
"Now what was I doing?" she said to herself seemingly having a lapse in memory. She looked down at the apples before face hoofing with her empty hoof. "Collecting apples" she muttered to herself as she started placing apples into their baskets so that Big Macintosh could collect them later. "All done," the orange mare said with a grin before looking down at the ruby in her hand wondering what she should do with it. She settled on placing it in her saddlebag for the time being.
The next day Applejack awoke with an odd feeling in her chest. The sun shone through her window making the mare squint her eyes in discomfort. She sighed looking up at the ceiling of her room. “I feel like I’m forgetting something,” she said to herself worriedly. She shook off the feeling as she climbed out from under the covers. She then gently placed her hooves down on the wooden floor. She looked out her window towards the Apple Orchard an odd feeling settling in her stomach. She rolled her eyes and huffed in annoyance. "Darn farm" she found herself muttering. She glanced towards the saddlebag that was currently preoccupying her door knob. "That's what I'm forgetting," she said to herself, eyes lighting up and a smile creeping onto her face.
She walked over to the saddlebag removing it from the doorknob before pushing its flap aside. She then rummaged around inside it before her hoofs fell upon the gem. She pulled it out before tossing the saddlebag aside. She stared at the pin as she cradled it in her hooves, mesmerized by its bright red color. She felt that odd feeling surge through her body again but this time she let it consume her, relishing its warmth as she let out a content sigh. "I am never letting you out of my sight again" the earth pony muttered to herself as if she were in a trance.
Her body moved almost on autopilot as she turned the knob, opening her bedroom door and stepping into the hall. She found her hooves leading her down the hall to Granny Smith's room. Her free hoof moved to turn the knob before pushing the door open. She shivered as she stepped inside the room. It felt cold but she didn't linger in the doorway for long before her eyes landed upon her grandmother's closet.
She slowly but surely walked over to the closet pushing aside its sliding door. Almost as if a voice was telling her exactly what motions to do she raised her hoof up to pull a black and red dress off its hanger. A dress much more sophisticated than she thought Granny Smith would ever own. That warm feeling from earlier flooded her body again as if to tell her to put it on. She obliged its command as she pulled the dress on her body. Another warm pulsation ran through her and she smiled. As if something in her had shifted, she glanced down at herself admiring the gorgeous fabric that now sat atop her body. She hummed in delight the warm pulsations spreading throughout her, from the edge of her muzzle to the tip of her tail. She let out a small giggle before trotting over to Granny Smith's vanity. She picked up the brush that occupied the brown table top. She swiftly but surely pulled her man into an updo. She then sat down the brush before looking at the pin in her hoof. She felt warmth radiate in her chest as she slowly but surely fastened the ruby pin onto her dress.
Applejack trotted into the Carousel Boutique, before looking around the place and rolling her eyes at the eyesore that was the dark purple decor. “Rarity you really need to redecorate, that shade of purple is absolutely awful,” Applejack said, her tone sounding sweet as honey despite the insult lingering behind it. Rarity's ears perked up as she turned off her sewing machine. She then turned to look at Applejack with a look of annoyance but before she could say anything she eyed what Applejack was wearing and gasped. She nearly fainted from the sight that stood before her but quickly regained her composure, clearing her throat.
"Now darling that isn't very nice besides what do you even know about decor anyways," Rarity said with a hint of annoyance in her tone. Applejack felt a surge of warmth filling her chest and let out a sigh.
"Darling I'm just being honest," Applejack said, her tone coming off more mocking than sweet. Rarity groaned.
"Still didn't answer my question, what could a farm pony possibly know about decor" Rarity said anger now clearly residing in her tone.
"Well I believe even with my limited experience I definitely have a better eye for it than you do," Applejack said, gesturing to the shop's decor and wrinkling her nose in disgust. Rarity gasped a hint of sadness in her eyes before pausing and staring at the ruby on Applejack's dress watching it glow in confusion. Her eyes widened in realization. That gem must be affecting her behavior Rarity thought to herself. She looked at Applejack worriedly before walking past the other mare and pushing open the door of the boutique. She then trotted off into town on a mission to find Twilight.
Rarity trotted into the castle's library looking around frantically. Her formerly bright white hooves were now covered in dust and dirt. "Twilight are you here?" Rarity shouted into the library. The sound of things falling to the floor rang out. Rarity turned her head towards the direction of the sound, finally spotting the alicorn she was looking for. Twilight Sparkle stood up and groaned before picking up one of the books that had fallen and putting it back on the shelf. Rarity trotted over to the purple mare. "Sorry didn't mean to startle you, darling," the unicorn said as she helped Twilight to put all the books back onto the shelf.
"No worries Rarity, do you need me for something?" Twilight asked inquisitively. Rarity tensed as she was reminded of the current situation.
"Well you see I came here because I think Applejack is being controlled by magic," Rarity said getting straight to the point.
"What brought you to that conclusion? Twilight asked seemingly unphased.
"Well she came into my shop and started insulting my decor and eventually I noticed she had this ruby on her that was glowing," Rarity said as she rubbed her hoof against the floor nervously.
"Most likely an enchanted gem" Twilight said stating the obvious.
"What are we supposed to do?" Rarity asked as she continued to fidget with her hooves.
"Well we have to destroy it," Twilight said nonchalantly as she started to trott out of the castle's library gesturing for Rarity to follow.
The two mares stood outside the boutique neither one daring to enter. "Well, are we going in there to destroy it or not?" Twilight asked the unicorn mare curiously.
"Well uhm what if she's violent or something?" Rarity asked a shiver running down her spine at the thought of an angry Applejack. She knew for sure that those strong hooves could do some big damage.
"We have these for a reason," Twilight said with a chuckle using her hoof to gesture to her own horn.
"Are you not taking any of this seriously?" Rarity asked appalled that the alicorn could be making jokes at a time like this.
"Well after all that's happened, how can I not be used to situations like this?" Twilight asked rhetorically.
"I suppose you have a point but still I don't understand how you aren't nervous," Rarity said with a sigh.
"Oh, I am nervous I have just gotten good at hiding it" the purple mare replied with a sigh.
"No more avoiding this Rarity we have to go in there," Twilight said walking up to the door. Rarity nodded.
The two were now inside the Carousel Boutique or what was left of it at least. The place was trashed, fabrics were tossed all over the floor. Amid the chaos stood a displeased Applejack. Her face contorted into a look of utter disgust. She looked up at the two mare's and smiled.
"Thought I would decorate the place myself considering you have such bad taste Rares" Applejack said with a chuckle. She smirked admiring the mess that she had made of the boutique. Rarity looked like she was on the verge of tears. Her precious designs lay in tatters across the floor. She looked up from the floor and glared at Applejack. That was the absolute last straw for her. She started to charge at the orange mare but was held back by Twilight. "Easy there Rarity wouldn't wanna break a nail would you?" Applejack said mockingly as she slowly inched closer to the two mares. Twilight backed up pulling Rarity with her.
"Applejack calm down we are only trying to help you," Twilight said as she stopped the pair of scissors that were just thrown at her in mid-air with her magic.
"I am calm" Applejack replied trotting forward to meet Twilight's horrified gaze. Twilight let the scissors drop to the floor. She then lit her horn and flew past Applejack and landed standing behind the orange mare. The earth pony turned to face the alicorn and smirked. "Oh, are we playing tag how childish," Applejack said stomping her hoof to the ground and letting out a huff.
"We are just trying to prevent you from doing any further damage," Rarity said her horn lit as well as she trotted to stand at Twilight's side.
"Damage?" Applejack said before she started laughing. "This mess is an improvement," she said as she trotted forward. Twilight glanced at Rarity who nodded and the two assumed their positions. Rarity bolted to the side in an attempt to distract the orange earth pony. In her endeavor, she nearly tripped over the fabric strewed across the boutique's floor. Applejack turned her head confusion in her eyes as she watched the white unicorn, however before she could make sense of the situation and turn back to Twilight she heard a loud cracking sound. She looked back down in shock as she saw Twilight had blasted the ruby pin to pieces with her magic.
Applejack looked around herself confused and disoriented. Twilight and Rarity shared knowing looks as they watched the other pony adjust to her surroundings. "Welcome back," Twilight said offering a comforting smile to the earth pony.
"What happened?" Applejack asked her thoughts in disarray.
"You were under the influence of magic," Twilight said gesturing to the pin that was now shattered on the floor.
"What in the hay" were the only words the farmer could make out.
"It must be a shock for you but luckily you didn't do much damage darling," Rarity said as she looked forlornly at the ripped design in her hooves. Applejack noticed the fabric in the mare's hooves and the memories came flooding back.
"Oh, my buck I'm so sorry Rares" Applejack said sadly.
"No worries Applejack it isn't that big of a deal these were old designs anyways," the white unicorn said throwing the fabric to the side. Applejack then looked down at the clothes she was wearing.
"What in Celestia's sun am I wearing?" Applejack said with a groan.
"I think it suits you," Rarity said with a giggle. Rarity looked at Applejack and smiled. All was forgiven now because Rarity just didn't have the heart to be mad at the mare. She was the element of generosity after all.
