Saving Ponyville

A shiver ran up the millionaire’s spine. Filthy Rich couldn’t believe what he was reading, but he knew his source was reliable. Still, he read the short report over and over as if willing it to change. Maybe there was some small detail he had missed which would make everything alright. It was a forlorn hope and he knew it. There was no use denying it or ignoring it. Something had to be done.

He exhaled heavily and rubbed his temple in frustration. Sleep was tempting him. It seemed his body didn’t want to deal with this crap. Lifting a mug to his lips, he resolved to stay awake until he’d come up with a sound angle of approach. This was a delicate issue, and needed to be handled with due thought and care. Realising that his cup had been drained of the last ounce of coffee, his resolve instantly broke. Caffeine had become something of a vice for the stallion. With a grumble, he allowed himself to doze off for a moment. His desk seemed more comfortable than any bed. It was magnificent. To his dismay, he was snapped out of his sleepy state almost instantly by a loud clap of thunder. Peering out the window, he regarded the storm with disapproval.

“Well, this day just keeps getting better and better,” he mumbled to himself. It was unusual for anything to get him this down. His natural demeanour was calm and agreeable, and he made an effort to maintain it. Regardless, the content of the report on his desk forced him to make an exception to the rule. He’d never dealt with anything like this before. Now it had fallen on him to figure out a way to stop the newest tycoons in town from eliminating Sweet Apple Acres.

The stallion was too used to being a big fish in a small pond. Ponyville had always been so comfortable and safe. He inherited a healthy, prosperous business that was guaranteed to thrive in the small town as long as everything stayed the same. If he treated his customers and suppliers well, they’d have no reason to break their business relationship with him. They all made enough money to live their lives the way they wanted to, and all he had to do was keep his businesses running like well oiled machine. The system worked well, although it took a lot of time and energy that he’d rather spend with his family.

Filthy Rich tiredly rubbed eyes for what felt like the thousandth time. He realised he was procrastinating. In a sudden surge of motivation, he picked up a golden fountain pen in his mouth and pulled forth a blank roll of parchment. Eyes twitching from the report to his work and back again, he put his thoughts to paper in a burst of productivity. After four hours and several scrapped scrolls, he finally reached his solution. Smiling with satisfaction, the tycoon breathed a sigh of relief. He lifted his eyes from the desk. Lazily glancing out the window, he was almost glad to see it was still storming. His plan required him to head to Sweet Apple Acres, but the storm was potentially dangerous to any pony venturing outdoors. Satisfied that there was nothing more he could do until the storm cleared, Filthy Rich allowed himself to drift into sleep.

***

A day after the storm cleared and both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had left the farm, Apple Bloom was helping her sister tend to the apple orchid. The filly studied her sister carefully, trying to emulate her. Applejack would clear a tree with a single buck and Apple Bloom would buck a tree and shake an apple of two down. There were other jobs she was more suited to, but the filly wanted to show that she was capable of doing big pony work. Applejack didn’t have the heart to make Apple Bloom follow her around with a bucket at the best of times, let alone so shortly after the eavesdropping debacle. The filly felt like she was her sister’s shadow, and she desperately wanted to become more.

When the mare’s attention was taken by an approaching figure, Apple Bloom took the opportunity to frantically lash out at a tree. One apple at a time, she picked the tree clean before quickly regaining her composure and smiling up at her sister, pretending that she had cleared the tree in one solid buck.

Applejack smiled at her sister knowingly before acknowledging the approaching stallion. “Howdy there, Mr Rich,” she said enthusiastically.

“Hello, Applejack,” he replied, “mind if I have a word with you and yours? We’ve got problems.”

The mare felt her face droop. Swallowing hard, she forced an unconvincing grin as she addressed her sister, “think ya’all can handle the field for a moment?”

“Sure!” was her enthusiastic response.

Apple Bloom continued the harvest as the two grown ponies headed off. After a moment, she glanced over her shoulder. She was certain Filthy Rich was referring to the suited unicorns. Allowing the pair to gain a lead, the filly crouched to the ground and followed them like a shadow.

“So what’s the problem?” inquired Applejack in a hushed tone.

“It’s probably best I tell the whole family at once,” Filthy Rich replied.

“Granny Smith’s out in town gettin’ some supplies and Big Mac’s way out in the far western field. I’ll give the news to ‘em, don’t you worry about that. We don’t exactly got the leisure of having so much spare time out here, ya know.”

“I appreciate that. It’s probably best I just level with you. Ever heard of West Coast Produce?”

Applejack blinked blankly.

“It’s a fairly big company,” the stallion continued, “owns most all agriculture from Vanhoover to Los Pegasus. Well, now they want to expand into the Midwest, and Sweet Apple Acres happens to be smack-dab in the middle of the middle. They want the farm, Applejack.”

“I know that. Two city slickers rocked up here yesterday. Offered a pretty penny for this place. We can’t sell it though, you know that.”

“Already? They’re moving faster than I had hoped. Listen, these ponies are ruthless. Sweet Apple Acres stands between the west and the east. If they get Ponyville, they essentially expand their territory all the way to Dodge City. This is one of the biggest expansions Equestria’s ever seen, and they’ve got the resources and determination to pull it off. If they can’t take the farm, they’ll destroy it and establish their own. It’s all the same to them.”

Applejack stopped in her tracks. She stared at the stallion blankly for a moment, trying to study his face. He seemed genuinely concerned, but the mare didn’t buy it. She frowned at him in frustration, grinding her teeth for a moment. It didn’t make any sense to her. Between the dramas of everyday life and having to save Equestria every other month, the farm was the only enclave of permanence and security in her life. Now some rich pony in a suit was trying to tell her that some other rich ponies in suits wanted to take it from her.

“Good gravy, what in the hay are you going on about?” she demanded, advancing on Filthy Rich furiously, “You’re talking like they can just up and take what’s ours. They try to buy us out, we’ll say no. They try to bully us out, we’ll stand up for ourselves. They go too far, we get the authorities into it. This ain’t a problem.”

“You’re underestimating them. They’re patient, cunning and act only in prudence. Months before they offered to buy the farm, they were preparing to construct a processing plant upstream. Construction could start in as little as two weeks.”

“So?”

“So, the pollution and salinization from the plant will cripple the farm past breaking point. We need to act, Applejack.”

The pair stared at each other in silence for a moment. Applejack was racking her brain for some argument or retort, as if shooting the messenger would solve the problem. Surely there was some kind of law or rule protecting her. After all she’d given to Equestria, the nation ought to protect her. Before she raised this protest, she realised that the stallion wouldn’t be there if this was the case. The stubborn anger melted from her face. She swallowed hard to soothe her dry throat.

“Well, what can we do?” she asked at last.