The Trotstead Decree

Applejack forcibly kicked the trunk of a large apple tree. The apples plummeted into the baskets around the tree’s base. She wiped the sweat from her brow and sighed. A grey curtain of cloud shielded Celestia’s sun from Apple family’s orchard.
Celestia, the name had become less welcome at Sweet Apple Acres since the beginning of the prohibition. The announcement of the decree was met with mixed reactions from AJ’s friends. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were nearly outraged at the banning of a beverage that had become the basis of a near traditional, but still mostly friendly, rivalry between them.
Fluttershy squeaked her opinion, which went mostly unnoticed due to Dash’s and Pinkie’s ranting. Rarity had debated the right of the government to interfere in the personal lives of ponies in such a way. Once all had settled down Twilight had tried to justify the Princess’ action. Applejack recalled the conversation.
“She can’t take away our cider!” Rainbow Dash yelled.
“Well, technically she can Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said. “ and she has. Now the question is whether she should have.”
“It’s an abuse of authority!”
“When did you become such an expert on politics Rainbow?” Twilight had asked, sarcastically.
“Since it became important!”
That was just like Rainbow Dash, try to talk about taxes or foreign affairs with her and they’d be declared ‘Boring’, but as soon as her cider was threatened, well, politics were labeled as important and she got involved. She had even helped Filthy Rich found the anti-temperance society of Ponyville, though that wasn’t her first choice for the name, but Rich didn’t feel ‘Rainbow Dash’s awesome campaign to stop evil temperance ponies from stealing our cider!’ could be taken seriously.
“Besides,” Rarity countered. “It’s not as if she’s going against the will of the populace, there are plenty of ponies out there for temperance. And they are just as adamant about as you Rainbow.”
“Who cares?! Why do they care? They don’t like it, they don’t have to drink it!”
“But that’s not their point!” Twilight had said. “You see there point is,” after that she proceeded to start a long monologue on the perceived societal effects of cider, and why temperance societies wanted it banned. When she had finished with that she started another monologue on the history of alcoholic cider.
“Okay we get it!”
“Who do they think they are anyway? Trying to tell us all what to do!” Pinkie cried out while hopping. “Those big, bullying, bossy, boots, ponies can’t do this!”
“We already established they can, it’s happened,” Rarity said.
“They can’t stop us, from having our cider!”
“Pinkie for the last time…” Twilight countered.
“Just watch me!” With that she jumped and almost flew out of the room.
“She’s going to be trouble Twilight,” Rarity said. “Mark my words.” She gracefully left the library.
Twilight looked around the library, she saw Fluttershy had left, “Where’d she go?”
Rainbow Dash spoke, “She left while you were talking, said something about bunnies.” She hoofed at the ground, “Listen Twi I’m sorry for getting out of hand. But things are changing, and it’s not making anything better.”
“I think it’s still too early to tell the effects…”
“Trust me,” Rainbow said, “Ponies want their cider. One way or the other.”
She flew out the door. All that were left was Twilight and Applejack. AJ had remained silent throughout the discussion. Twilight looked at her, “What do you think? The decree has the biggest impact on you and your family by far.”
AJ was uncomfortable with the question, and afraid to express her true feelings. “Well Twilight, cider sales are important to us.”
“But only hard cider’s been outlawed. You still make and sell the non-alcoholic kind.”
“That is our plan but we’re afraid our customers probably won’t like that as much.”
“Do they have any alternative?” Twilight asked.
Applejack hoofed the ground, “Not that I can see.”
“Well then you don’t have anything to worry about!” Twilight said, trying to sound optimistic. “And don’t I’m sure the Princess will sort this out soon. She’s promised to make sure the prohibition will not cause any farms are ran out of business She won’t rest until everypony’s satisfied.”
“I’m sure she won’t Twi. You’re right, we’ll be fine in the end. And besides, cider season’s a while off. We’ll have plenty of time to make sure we’ll get through.”
With that she left the library. Despite her outward optimism Applejack was afraid, she knew her family couldn’t make it through the winter without cider sales. And while Twilight was confident ponies there’d be no supply of hard cider this season, AJ knew there would be cider-makers out there that didn’t care about the law. And ponies would still buy hard cider, it still wasn’t illegal to buy and consume it.
Thunder had rolled overhead, when Applejack returned to Sweet Apple Acres that day. A storm was coming.

Applejack stood in the barn with Big Macintosh and Granny Smith. Applebloom was asleep in the farmhouse. The three of them had met to discuss their plans for dealing with the prohibition. Applejack had related the conversation in Twilight’s library to them, including her optimism about the situation.
“So what are we going to do about this?” Applejack said.
Granny Smith spoke first, “We ain’t going to be able make it through winter without cider sales!”
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said.
“We never have sold only the hard stuff. And now especially ponies are going to be getting their hooves on whatever cider they can even if it isn’t their first choice,” Applejack said weakly.
“Despite what your friends say, you and I both know that the law won’t stop cider being made,” Granny Smith said dourly. “And it won’t stop ponies from drinking it!”
AJ nodded and looked down at the floor, “Then what are we going to do?”
Granny Smith lightened, “We just have to remain hopeful. We can pull through this if we remain hopeful!” Applejack and Big Mac smiled at this.
“Your right Granny! We’ll find a way through this.”
Eeyup.”
“We always do,” AJ said.

Cider season began tomorrow. The Apple Family was ready, the first cider of the season was pressed. They had sadly foregone their processes to ferment it. Twilight was surprised when she heard about the Apple’s quick fermentation processes. During her first cider season in Ponyville Twilight had expressed surprise it fermented so quickly. AJ had tried to explain it as old Apple family secrets, but Twilight just concluded it must have been the manifestation of some inherent Earth Pony magic. Applejack simply shook her head
Not that it mattered now, fermentation would be a memory as long as the Trotstead decree was still in place.
Applejack looked over at their cider stand. Every year ponies would line up for miles for a mug of Apple Family cider. There had always been rave reviews and then frustration from those who couldn’t get any due to limited supply. She hoped it would still be like that tomorrow. She was sure it would be.

Morning had come, ponies were lined up .The Apples manned the stand, a large stack of cider barrels were behind them. Their starting supply was larger than last year’s same as always after they worked to improve supply. Applejack looked down the road at the line of ponies. She could see the end of it, last year they were lined up so far they crested the hill just outside Ponyville.
A megaphone was perched on a stand to amplify the announcement the opening of cider season. Applejack stepped up to it and mustered all the enthusiasm she could, “Attention everypony! Cider season is now open!”
Despite the circumstances this triggered a surge of excitement in the crowd. They quickly approached and deposited their bits in the money chest in exchange for a mug or two of cider. The occasional pony would even approach with a sackful of bits and dump it into the Apples’ money chest then walk off with more mugs then they could manage.
Applejack kept a look out for any of her friends. Rarity was currently busy on a large dress order, and Twilight was away on business in Canterlot. But Pinkie Pie was usually at the front of the line, Rainbow Dash consistently found herself just far enough back in the line to miss out on the last cup of cider by one pony, there was no telling where Fluttershy was currently.
A half hour or so passed. Applejack saw a bouncing pink pony down the line. She came to the front of the line, and dropped two bits into the money chest.
Applebloom greeted her as she poured her a mug of cider, “Howdy Pinkie Pie.”
“Hiya Applebloom!” Pinkie said with a large smile, “How are you guys doing?”
“We’re doing alright,” Applebloom said, handing Pinkie the cup. “Just one today, you usually get at least a dozen!”
“Yeah just one today,” she said. Applebloom handed it to her and she downed it. Pinkie hopped her way over to Applejack, “That was pretty yummy, AJ!”
“Much obliged Pinkie,” Applejack said
“It doesn’t have quite the same pop to it as last year’s though,” Pinkie said.
“Well sugarcube it is different,” she said.
“I know it’s not hard cider, why do they call it that anyway? It wasn’t hard it was a liquid. Was it frozen before? Then it’d be hard, I suppose it would feel hard if you fell into from high. Did a pegasus fall into at some time, and then call it hard cider?”
“Umm, Pinkie, I’ve got a lot to do right now, and I’d appreciate it if,” Applejack said.
“Oh! Of course, sorry if I was distracting you,” she hopped off humming a chaotic tune to herself.
Applejack called after her, “Thanks again for coming down.” A few minutes passed when she saw Rainbow Dash in line. Applejack waited for her to buy her cider and drink it. Rainbow Dash flew over to her, and landed in front of her.
“Hey girl,” she greeted.
Applejack smiled, “Hey RD.”
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat, “You’re losing your touch, I actually got cider the first day of cider season.” They both chuckled.
“Well with the prohibition on I think ponies are hesitant to come out to even drink the legal cider,” Applejack said.
“Maybe,” Rainbow Dash said.
Applejack scowled inquisitively, “What do you mean?”
“Well it’s just…” she began.
“What Rainbow?”
“Just I overheard some ponies talking about a place where they were still making and selling hard cider.”
“But that’s not legal anymore!” Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash looked her in the eyes, “I told you ponies would still find a way to get their cider AJ. And Pinkie said she was going to go check out one these places.”
Applejack eyes widened, “I don’t want her involved in any this! We gotta talk to her!”
“Well…” Rainbow Dash averted her gaze.
“You’re going too?”
“I was thinking about it.” Applejack glared at her friend. “It’s not illegal to drink the stuff!” Rainbow Dash said.
“But you’re still getting involved with bad ponies! It ain’t right!”
“What’s not right is the Princess trying to dictate our lives.” Rainbow Dash stomped a forehoof on the ground for emphasis. “You should come with us.”
“No!” Applejack said.
“You’re going to need some way to keep yourself in business.”
“We have plenty of business here!” Applejack said.
“There’s already less than any cider season here. And there’ll be even less once word gets out that there’s still hard cider out there!” Rainbow Dash said.
“Rainbow I am not getting involved in any of this and you shouldn’t either!”
Rainbow Dash sighed, “If that’s how you feel about it. I hope you can pull through this. And if you need any help just call I’ll be there with the rest of the gang.”
“Well thank you Rainbow,” Applejack said.
“And if you change your mind about the cider call me then too, just be sure to speakeasy.” Rainbow Dash flew off.