Where the Apple Lies
Pony's Log Number 623: I figured Applejack's always been a stubborn mule since she was little, but I never knew she was a stubborn liar as a teenager...
Today was a fine day at Sweet Apple Acres as Big Mac, Applejack, and Mario were busy loading some freight cars for Filthy Rich. The Apple family had just finished the gathering and making of their annual supply of zap apple jam and the wealthy pony was there, along with Diamond Tiara pulling the train, to collect their share of the jam that he would sell at his family's store.
"Well, that's the last of it, Filthy Rich," said Applejack as she and Mario loaded the last of the crates onto the freight cars. Filthy Rich was riding the freight car at the very front.
"Just Rich, please," the wealthy pony replied, "And on behalf of Rich's Backyard Bargains, thanks for another shipment of zap apple jam."
"Our pleasure," said Applejack, "See ya next time."
"Sure you can handle the train, Diamond?" Filthy Rich asked. While he knew his daughter could pull loads far heavier than this one, he couldn't help but be a little worried, especially since she was pulling the train and himself.
"Yes, Dad, I can," said Diamond Tiara, feeling annoyed. Filthy Rich chuckled.
"Can't help but be a little protective after all," Filthy Rich replied as Diamond Tiara rolled her eye and smiled, "We'll be seeing you." Diamond Tiara gave a TOOT-TOOT with her train whistle and pulled the train away. Filthy Rich waved goodbye as Big Mac, Mario, and Applejack returned the gesture. The three ponies watched the train disappear before heading back into the barn to continue their work. It was then they noticed a few stacks of crates were stacked up inside. Usually this wouldn't have been a concern, but there was a reason for concern this time around.
"Uh, Apple Bloom, did you pack up the cider into the same crates as zap apple jam?" Applejack asked.
"Sure did!" said Apple Bloom proudly, "Now that I'm gettin' older, I wanna prove I can handle more responsibility on the farm."
"You mean a certain somepony still doesn't take you seriously?!" Mario remarked as Applejack had an annoyed look, "Apple Bloom runs her own business for cryin' out loud!"
"Nevermind!" Applejack snapped, "This has to do with the fact that these crates aren't marked." She then looked at Apple Bloom, "You kept track of what went into which crate, right?"
"Oh. Um...y-yep," said Apple Bloom nervously, "I totally kept track of everything." Mario looked at the yellow filly skeptically while Applejack seemed to believe her.
"Good," Applejack replied, "Because we wouldn't want Filthy Rich to get a shipment of cider when he's supposed to get zap apple jam. You know how Granny feels about sellin' cider anywhere but on the farm."
"No kiddin'," said Mario as he rubbed his left ear, "My ears are still ringing from the time I made the suggestion to sell some cider at Canterlot. I even said it would be in person and one day only. First come, first serve too, and she still gave me an earful about it."
"I'll admit it wasn't a bad idea," said Applejack, "But Granny can be mighty stubborn about tradition."
"Guess that explains why you act the same way," Mario remarked smugly as Big Mac snickered. Applejack just shot both stallion a loud raspberry.
"Gettin' back on track here," said Applejack as she looked at Apple Bloom again, "Are you sure he got the right crates?" Apple Bloom huffed indignantly.
"Sure I'm sure!" said Apple Bloom as she backed Applejack against a crate that was behind her, "Now why don't you, Mario, and Big Mac head on out to the house and let me finish up here?" As Applejack's hind legs bumped the crate, the four ponies heard a familiar rattling of glass containers.
"Wait..." said Mario suspiciously, "These particular glass containers didn't make any sloshing sounds..." Applejack then opened the crate and found that it was filled with jars of zap apple jam and not cider.
"If you gave Rich the zap apple jam," said Applejack, holding a jar in her fore-hoof as she and Mario glared at her sternly, "then what's this here?"
"Um...extra?" Apple Bloom said sheepishly and timidly.
"Nnnope," Big Mac said sternly as all three older siblings glared at her. Apple Bloom just winced and lowered her head in shame. She knew she was in trouble now.
(Main Theme)
Thanks to Mario's speed, it didn't take long for him to stop Diamond Tiara's train and have her return to the barn. This time, Big Mac and Mario both double checked all the crates to make sure each one had zap apple jam and not cider. While Filthy Rich knew this wasn't his fault, he was still feeling rather uneasy.
"Granny knows I-I wasn't tryin' to make off with a shipment of cider, right?" Filthy asked normally, "Because I would never do that."
"He's right, he wouldn't!" Diamond Tiara added worriedly, "Please have mercy on him. If Granny gives it to him, who knows what Mother will do to me if she becomes a single parent?!" Diamond Tiara couldn't help but panic at the idea.
"Calm down, Di," said Mario, "Granny doesn't know. It was just a mix up and we'll make sure she know that."
"Mario's right," said Applejack, "Don't worry. We know exactly whose fault it was." Filthy Rich and Diamond Tiara both breathed a sigh of relief. Then Diamond Tiara blew her train whistle once again and pulled the train away. Filthy Rich then waved goodbye the three Apple siblings once again as the three ponies returned the gesture. Inside the barn, Apple Bloom was busy pushing some crates about, waiting for the inevitable lecture and possible punishment for her mistake. Applejack was the first to walk up to the yellow filly.
"Now why in tarnation would you lie to us, Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked sternly with Mario behind her.
"We know you want to be helpful, Apple Bloom," Mario added, "But you could've told us you forgot to label the crates instead of saying you knew what was inside. Di and her father would have been in deep trouble if Granny had found out they had cider. Who knows what would have happened to them if she thought they were trying to sell the cider against her wishes!"
"I was kinda hopin' I could fix it before anypony found out," Apple Bloom replied sadly.
"Apple Bloom, being grown up means taking responsibility for your mistakes," said Mario, "Not trying to cover it up and making things worse."
"Mario's right," Applejack added as Big Mac put down a crate behind her, "Tellin' lies won't fix anythin'. Trust me, I know."
"What could you possible know about it?" Apple Bloom retorted angrily, "You've never told a lie in your whole life!" Applejack suddenly looked a tad uneasy.
"Pffffffft...hahahahahahaha!"
Mario burst out laughing. Big Mac joined him. Applejack glared at the two of them until she and the others heard a familiar chuckle. They all turned to see Granny Smith entering the barn and laughing as well.
"What's so funny?" Apple Bloom asked since all the laughter puzzled her.
"Apple Bloom, Applejack might be the Element of Honesty," said Mario, "But she's told plenty of lies since we've became best friends." Applejack looked annoyed and rolled her eyes, shaking her head about.
"Oh-ho, sugercube," said Granny Smith, "That's nothin'! Your big sister lied so much when she was a filly, the whole family ended up in the hospital."
"What?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed in shock as she jumped in the air.
"Eeyup," said Big Mac in agreement. Mario blinked.
"Wow..." Mario remarked, "And I thought a stubborn and honest Applejack got herself into deep trouble." Applejack just had a very annoyed and deadpan look on her face and said nothing.
"Oh, she was much worse as a liar, littl' bro," Big Mac remarked with a smile. Applejack face-hooved herself and groaned.
"You might as well tell Apple Bloom the whole story," said Applejack bitterly, "Might even do her some good."
"Oh, this story should be interesting," said Mario.
"You gotta know, Mario," said Granny Smith as she pulled over a rocking chair out of the blue, "You were there when all this happened."
"WHAT?!" Mario and Applejack said in shock and looked at each other.
"B-b-but, G-Granny," Mario stuttered, "My long term memory is top notch. How come I don't..."
"When Applejack and Big Mac were just a wee bit older than you are now," Granny Smith began as she started her story and ignored Mario's question...for the moment, "they kept a-squabblin' over who would run the farm better..."
Flashback
Teenage Applejack and Teenage Big Mac were glaring at each other. Teenage Applejack was just a little taller than Apple Bloom with long skinny legs, her blonde mane tied into two unbraided pigtails. Big Mac looked just a tad smaller than he did now, but he was already muscular but his mane was shorter and stuck out sloppily on his head.
"All I'm sayin' is that you may have plenty of brawn," Teenage Applejack protested, "but I'm the one with the ideas on how to run things better around here!" Teenage Big Mac laughed.
"Applejack, Applejack, Applejack," Teenage Big Mac retorted haughtily, "ideas are all well and good, but you can't plow a field with 'em. I don't know how many times I've told you that."
"Too many!" Teenage Applejack snapped.
"You two horned toads better stop jabberin' and get to workin'!" Granny Smith snapped, losing her patience over the two teenage ponies, "Yeah, they'd better. I need you to go to town. The apple blight's been awful, and if we don't get more spray, cider season will be shorter than a dwarf crabapple tree!" Teenage Applejack and Teenage Big Mac just snarled and stared each other down, but they did obey Granny Smith and headed into town together.
Along the way, Teenage Big Mac couldn't help but speak his mind. He was talking so much that Teenage Applejack felt her patience wearing out...very quickly.
"It's like I was just tellin' Cousin Braeburn last week," Teenage Big Mac continued, "Now there's a pony who knows how to put his back into a problem." Teenage Applejack just gritted her teeth and growled, making it pretty clear she wasn't listening to him at all. She quickly perked up when she saw a familiar pony walked up with an unfamiliar mare. This was actually a much younger Spoiled Rich. But at this time, she went by her maiden name, had her mane in a ponytail and she had a normal nose!
"Oh, hey there, Filthy Rich!" Teenage Applejack said cheerfully. This Filthy Rich wore a red bow tie instead of the necktie he wears now.
"Just Rich, please," the stallion replied and then turned to the mare standing beside her, "And I'd like you to meet my fiance, Spoiled Milk. Honey, this is Applejack and Big Mac, the two hardest workin' ponies at Sweet Apple Acres." Spoiled Milk smiled at first, but then frowned and rolled her eyes when Filthy Rich introduced her to the two farm ponies.
"You work on a farm?" Spoiled Milk remarked snootily, "How quant."
"Oh, now, dear, be nice," said Filthy Rich with a chuckle, "Sweet Apple Acres makes zap apple jam. It's one of Dad's best sellers." Spoiled Milk just glared, making it clear she didn't like being told what to do and stuck her nose in the air snootily.
"You mean one of your best-sellers," said Spoiled Milk and then stomped up to Applejack and Big Mac, "My amazing husband-to-be is running the Rich family business now. Did you know that? Well, now you do. And he's so important that he's got a very important sportspony sponsoring his business."
"Don't mind Spoiled Milk," said Filthy Rich as her walked up to her, "She's just proud of me. By the way, where is..."
"YOU CALL THESE STRAWBERRIES?!" said a very angry voice, "YOU MUST THINK STRAWBERRIES ARE BERRIES ACTUALLY MADE OF STRAW! THERE DISGUSTING! NOPONY IN EQUESTRIA WOULD EAT SOMETHING THIS PATHETIC!" Filthy Rich groaned as Spoiled Milk just smirked.
"He's on his way, dear," said Spoiled Milk smugly as a teenage unicorn colt appeared. This was actually Teenage Mario. But the reason why Applejack didn't recognize him was because he was wearing jeans that covered his cutie mark. A yellow and white jersey jacket and some dark glasses that covered his eyes. His mane was also greased to make it shiny and a darker shade of orange and even his tail had been rolled up since, according to Spoiled Milk, was what the popular racers did with their tails. Teenage Mario stomped up indignantly.
"Spoiled Milk, my friend, you are not kidding when you said this place was so...ugh...rural," Teenage Mario remarked in a very posh tone, "If it wasn't for Rich and his business, I would say this place is absolutely...dis...dis..."
"Disgraceful? Disgusting?" Spoiled Milk offered.
"Despicable," finished Mario. Filthy Rich just rolled his eyes as Spoiled Milk chuckled.
"I quite agree," said Spoiled Milk, "Care to introduce yourself to my husband's...business affiliates...?" Teenage Mario kept a stoic look on his face and then smirked.
"Brace yourself for the ever-glowing presence known as the Flying Unicorn," Teenage Mario boasted, "I'm the derby superstar! And I'm known as the fastest pony alive. I can finish a race before you ever leave the starting line!" Teenage Mario gave a very arrogant smile. Big Mac just looked unamused while Applejack glared.
"You seem more like a big headed snob to me," Teenage Applejack remarked as Big Mac glared at his sister for being rude. Teenage Mario was taken aback and snorted.
"And you look like a thick headed mule," Mario shot back indignantly in his posh tone.
"You got that right," Big Mac remarked aloud as Applejack snarled at her older brother.
"If that's so, maybe you should put her out to pasture with the other mules," Teenage Mario suggested. Teenage Applejack got into his face and growled at him. Teenage Mario growled back in the teenage filly's face. Filthy Rich quickly pushed them apart.
"That's enough of that," said Filthy Rich, "We're friends now after all."
"Yes...sir..." said Teenage Mario reluctantly through his teeth as he went back to standing beside Spoiled Milk.
"Right...sir..." Teenage Applejack said in the same bitter and hesitant tone before they each gave one another the stink eye.
"Uh, but Spoiled Milk is right," Filthy Rich continued, trying to change the topic, "I'm in charge of the store now, and I'm just burstin' with ideas I wanna try!"
"His decision to sponsor me, Mr. Fantastic, Wonderful, Charming, the greatest athlete of all time, was one of his best ideas," Teenage Mario boasted, "I go and be my awesome self and he gets lots of customers from all over Equestria! It's a win-win for the both of us!" Filthy Rich and Spoiled Milk smiled at that. Applejack just made a face of disgust before remembering something Filthy Rich had said.
"Ideas you say?" Teenage Applejack remarked, "Like what?"
"What how 'bout this?" said Filthy Rich, "Cider season's around the corner. Why not let me sell it for ya?"
"Not a bad idea," Teenage Mario whispered to Spoiled Milk, "Make em sell it to him on the cheap and then we sell it to these lowlifes at a higher price and pocket the profits." Spoiled Milk hummed in agreement. Applejack and Big didn't hear him.
"This is an interesting idea," Teenage Applejack replied with interest.
"Well, maybe it's interestin', an' maybe it ain't," Teenage Big Mac remarked, "But it's definitely not a new idea. Granny Smith told us your grandpa, Stinkin' Rich, used to ask her every year if he could sell our cider in your store, and Granny told him every year about the tradition of everypony in Ponyville linin' up out at Sweet Apple Acres."
"So start a new tradition," Filthy Rich suggested, "Someday, one o' y'all will take over the farm just like I've taken over the store. I'm guessin' it'll be the one with the best ideas." Filthy Rich leaned over to Applejack and gave her a wink, which made the teenage filly smile.
"Assuming any of them are even smart enough to think of any ideas at all," Teenage Mario remarked in a hushed tone.
"How true, darling, how true," Spoiled Milk remarked with a smirk on her face. Applejack grunted since she had heard both of them, but Big Mac or Filthy Rich hadn't heard.
"Well, now, as I've said many a time before," Teenage Big Mac replied, "ideas are all well an' good, but you can't plow a field-"
"Ya know what?" Teenage Applejack firmly interrupted as her patience hit her limit and because she felt like she had something to prove, "How 'bout we give you three barrels of cider early, and if it sells well, we'll make a deal for the rest?" Teenage Mario raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"Oh, hey, now! Perfect!" said Filthy excitedly as he and Teenage Applejack shook hooves and then turned to his fiancé, "Come on, honey. I've gotta get everything ready." Then he looked at Teenage Mario, "You too, boy."
"Yes, sir," said Teenage Mario irritably as Filthy Rich took his leave. before putting on a fake smile for Teenage Applejack, "Pleasure doing business with you Miss." Then once Teenage Applejack was out of hearing range. A devilish smirk appeared on Mario's face.
"Sucker," he muttered arrogantly. Applejack smiled excitedly.
"Hoo-wee!" Teenage Applejack cheered and did a hoof-pump, "I tell ya, if the future means me runnin' Sweet Apple Acres and you bein' quiet, I can't wait!" Teenage Big Mac just blinked and then gave the filly a stern glare. He was still fuming by the time they had returned back to the farm with a large amount of sprayers on their backs.
"I just can't believe you make a deal with Filthy Rich without even talkin' to Granny!" Teenage Big Mac remarked as he and Teenage Applejack dumped th sprayers on the barn floor.
"Aw, Granny with love the idea," said Teenage Applejack, "Besides, I had to prove that we've got brains after all."
"Filthy Rich has never called us dumb," Teenage Big Mac remarked.
"That so called Flying Unicorn did," Teenage Applejack retorted as she rolled her eyes while saying his name, "I heard him tell Spoiled Milk that we're too dumb to come up with a good idea!"
"You sure you weren't just hearing things," Teenage Big Mac said annoyingly, "You have a bad habit of..."
"No I ain't!" Teenage Applejack, "Just you watch! Granny will take my side and then she'll decided that I'm the one who should take over the farm. You'll see."
"See what?" said a voice. Both Teenage Applejack and Teenage Big Mac turned to see Granny Smith walk into the farm.
"Applejack here had another one of her "big ideas"," Big Mac told the experienced mare with an eye roll, "and I think we all know my position on ideas. You can't-"
"Can't plow a field with 'em," Granny Smith and Teenage Applejack said in annoyed and deadpan tons. Teenage Big Mac felt rather embarassed and lowered his head in shame.
"Er...right," said Teenage Big Mac quietly.
"Big idea, hmmm?" Granny Smith said as she looked at Teenage Applejack skeptically. The Teenage filly felt nervous as she backed away with a sheepish smile on her face. Once she was standing beside Teenage Big Mac, she plucked up courage to speak.
"Well, uh, since cider season is almost here, he-or, I-I mean," Teenage Applejack stuttered, "I-thought it'd be a good idea to give him a few barrels of cider to sell at the store before the season starts."
"Oh, is that all?" said Granny Smith in a sweet tone, making Teenage Applejack smirk at Teenage Big Mac's expense, but Granny then yelled, "Absolutely not!" Teenage Applejack just groaned and now it was Teenage Big Mac's turn to smirk. Teenage Applejack quickly recovered and scoffed.
"But, Granny, why can't we sell a few barrels o' cider early to Filthy Rich?" Applejack asked, "And how is it any different than when you gave zap apple jam to Filthy's grandpappy to sell?"
"Your cider and your jam ain't the same thing!" Granny Smith explained firmly as she held a jar on her fore-hoof, "Zap apple jam jars preserve the flavor for moons, but cider starts to spoil the second it comes out the press. That is why every year cider season, all of Ponyville lines up at Sweet Apple Acres. And first come is first served! Hmph!" Teenage Big Mac and Teenage Applejack stared.
"I get what you're sayin', Granny," said Teenage Applejack, "But couldn't you make an exception just this once? I sort of promised." Big Mac just looked very indignant.
"Mm, meh-ehh," Granny Smith replied as she walked over to two crates that separated the good apples from the bad, "Besides, cider-makin' is iffy business. And we're probably not gonna have alot this year anyway, what with all the blight. I am sorry, Applejack, but you's just gonna have to un-promise."
"Oh..." Teenage Applejack sighed in disappointment.
The next day, Teenage Applejack and Teenage Big Mac were making their way through town to Backyard Bargains. Teenage Big Mac then saw Teenage Cheerilee walked past, smiled at her, and then went back to sternly looking at Teenage Applejack, who had a long frown on her face.
"I hate to say I told you so, Applejack, but-" Teenage Big Mac retorted.
"You an' I both know you don't hate to say anythin'," Teenage Applejack interrupted irritably.
"Well, I've always thought that the most important thing a pony can do is say exactly what's on his mind to anypony who'll listen," said Teenage Big Mac, which made Teenage Applejack's mood grow more sour as they walked, "so everypony everywhere always knows everythin' they're thinkin', and-"
"And you don't ever have to listen to anypony else," Teenage Applejack finished huffily, stunning Teenage Big Mac.
"What?" Teenage Big Mac said in shock.
"Exactly," Teenage Applejack replied bitterly as they arrived outside of backyard bargains. As they walked inside, they found Teenage Mario to greet them. And he was still wearing his attire from yesterday but this time his jacket was green.
"Brace yourself for the presence of the great and breathtakingly amazing..." Teenage Mario then stopped when he saw the two farm ponies and his enthusiasm disappeared instantly.
"Oh...it's you again," Teenage Mario said in a deadpan tone before saying rudely, "What'd you want?" Teenage Applejack bit her lower lip to avoid saying something she'd regret and sighed heavily.
"We're here to see Filthy Rich," said Teenage Applejack bluntly and glared at the unicorn. Mario snorted.
"I don't know why he wastes his time with the likes of you," Teenage Mario remarked in a condescending tone, "But whatever! Follow me and don't get none of your disgusting farm grime all over the floor. We just had it waxed this morning." Teenage Mario turned away with a huff. Teenage Applejack snorted as she and Teenage Big Mac followed him to check out stand. Filthy Rich had just finished tending to a young Mrs. Cake when he saw the two farm ponies. Mario just stood beside Filthy Rich with his nose in the air, snubbing the two farm ponies.
"Well, if it ain't my new business partner!" said Filthy Rich warmly as Teenage Mario discreetly rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses.
"Uh, about the cider, Rich..." Teenage Applejack said nervously.
"Take a look at what I did last night after we made our deal!" said Filthy Rich excitedly and gestured for Teenage Mario to follow. The two ponies then zoomed off to another part of the store. Filthy Rich then opened a circular curtain as Teenage Mario stood snootily beside him. Inside the curtain was a rather nice apple display for the cider.
"Whoo! Ha!" said Filthy Rich excitedly, "Pretty great, huh?" Applejack looked rather uneasy.
"The thing is," said Teenage Applejack timidly, "I-I don't think I can get you any." Filthy Rich was stunned.
"What?" Filthy Rich said as he shook his head in shock. Teenage Mario scoffed.
"Like I said before, Sir," said Teenage Mario snootily, "I don't know why you bother doing business with them! This little filly can't even keep her end of the deal!"
"You might be right," said Filthy Rich bitterly before speaking sternly to Applejack, "Well, I did all this work on your say-so! We shook hooves and everything."
"Guess these so called farmers have no honor," Mario said condescendingly, which seemed to fuel Filthy Rich's fury even more. Teenage Big Mac went to do damage control as Teenage Applejack nervously held a fore-hoof to her mouth.
"Well, you see, at Sweet Apple Acres," Teenage Big Mac tried to explain, "we've always been about quality, and while your basic jam jar'll keep-"
"Plus it's been tough harvest this year," said Teenage Applejack, cutting her brother's explanation off, "what with all the blight."
"Nah-uh-uh!" Teenage Mario interrupted and put a fore-hoof to his ear, "You hear what I'm hearing, sir?" Teenage Mario then leaned into Applejack's face.
"Excuses!" Teenage Mario barked, making Teenage Applejack winced.
"Gah! He's right!" Filthy Rich snapped, "Sounds to me like you're tryin' to make excuses! Whenever Granddad dealt with Granny Smith, she kept her word! If you can't do that, maybe our families should stop doin' business together! Altogether!" Teenage Mario smirked deviously, enjoying seeing the two teenage ponies looking rather frazzled.
"Now, now the thing is, Rich," Teenage Big Mac tried to explain once again, "t ain't really up to us. Y'see, Granny's-"
"Uh, sick!" Teenage Applejack blurted out before sucking her lower up and looking away. Teenage Big Mac shot her a fast glare. Teenage Mario blinked twice in surprise, but it was hidden under his glasses.
"Say what?!" Teenage Mario exclaimed. Filthy Rich's glare softened instantly.
"Wait, Granny's sick?" Filthy Rich said in surprise, "I-I had no idea."
"Ee...yeah," Teenage Big Mac replied, "Nopony did." He then gave Teenage Applejack a subtle glare, only for the filly to kick him back in reply. Teenage Mario took notice and looked at the two teenagers skeptically, but said nothing.
"Uh, what Big Mac means is," Teenage Applejack continued, "Uh, we've been tryin' to keep it quiet. Don't want people to make rash decisions about doin' business with Sweet Apple Acres just because we're, uh, a little short hooved at the moment." Teenage Big Mac just glared at his younger sister. Teenage Mario just rolled his eyes. He didn't believe anything Teenage Applejack was saying, but Filthy Rich seemed to believe her.
"Oh, my!" Filthy Rich exclaimed, "O-Of course, of course! I am so sorry. Please let me know if there's anything I can do."
"Much appreciated," said Teenage Applejack, her eyes darting back and forth quickly while Teenage Big Mac just stood beside her with a long face, "But right now, we-we only ask for your understandin' during this difficult time." Teenage Applejack then quickly pushed Teenage Big Mac out of the store.
"Mm-hmm," said Filthy Rich in concern as he watched the two teenagers leave with a worried look on her face. Mario just snorted and watched them two teenagers like a vulture scouting its prey.
You think you've fooled us little country girl? Mario thought deviously, You've got another thing coming. Heh-heh-heh...
Back at the barn, Teenage Big Mac and Teenage Applejack were sitting at a table waiting for dinner. While Granny Smith was busy getting something ready for them to eat, Teenage Big Mac wasted no time venting his frustrations over what had happened at Backyard Bargains.
"You were supposed to tell Rich the simple truth!" Teenage Big Mac scolded while Teenage Applejack just sulked and ignored him as she sat across from him, "But instead, you made things worse with a giant lie!" He then stomped his fore-hooves on the table firmly to make his point clear.
"W-W-What was I supposed to do?" Teenage Applejack protested, "You heard Rich. If I told him the truth, he was gonna stop doin' business with us altogether."
"Yeah, but that's only because I..." Teenage Big Mac quickly stopped talking. At the corner of his eye, he saw Granny Smith walking into the kitchen backwards carrying a bowl of tossed salad, "I forgot to ask if we had any oat crumbles for this delicious lookin' salad, Granny." The two teenagers just smiled innocently. Granny Smith irritably grunted.
"Yeah, I'll go take a look," Granny Smith said annoyingly before heading back into the kitchen and muttering to herself. Once they were clear to speak again, Teenage Big Mac wasted no time getting into Teenage Applejack's face.
"That was only because you made promises you couldn't keep!" said Teenage Big Mac, "There's gotta be a better way out of this mess than by makin' up some story about Granny bein' sick!"
"Well, it worked, didn't it?" Teenage Applejack remarked as Big Mac huffed.
"You might have fooled Rich," Teenage Big Mac remarked, "but that Flying Unicorn surely ain't buyin' it. Wouldn't be surprised if he uses your lie against you!"
"Pfft, that ol' gas bag of a bragger don't scare me," Teenage Applejack said spitefully.
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK
Suddenly there was a knock on the front door, Teenage Big Mac and Teenage Applejack rushed to open the front door. There outside was Filthy Rich, Spoiled Milk, and Teenage Mario. The former was holding a bouquet of roses in his fore-leg, the second was just looking rather snooty, the third had a smile on his face that was anything but friendly.
"Sorry to drop by unannounced," said Filthy Rich, "But Mr. Flying Unicorn here suggested to come by to wish Granny a speedy recovery."
"Thought it would be a good idea to check on the poor dear," said Mario in an overly sweet tone as he gave the teenage farm pony's a sinister smile. Teenage Applejack chuckled nervously and smiled back at the three ponies.
"How...nice...of...him," Teenage Applejack said slowly through her smile as Teenage Big Mac took the bouquet.
"Look, Sis," said Big Mac in a tone filled with sarcasm, "Our good friend, Mr. Rich, his fiancé, and Mr. Flying Unicorn...are here Oh, and they brought flowers! For Granny! On account o' she's sick! Like you said. Ain't that sweet?" Teenage Applejack just grew more annoyed as Teenage Big Mac continued speaking that she found it harder and harder to mask it. Teenage Mario put a fore-hoof over his mouth to keep himself from laughing.
Oh, this is just too good! Mario chuckled inwardly at the farm ponies' expense.
Then the doors rattled as Granny Smith was about to walk into the room. Teenage Mario made an O in his mouth in surprise, waiting for the inevitable to happen.
"Uh, excuse me one second!" said Teenage Applejack as she took off, lunged at Granny Smith to shove her back into the kitchen.
"Aah!" Granny Smith yelped as she was sent flying back into the kitchen.
CRASH!
Teenage Big Mac winced at the crash as Mario fought harder not to laugh and quickly cleared his throat to recompose himself.
"How do farm ponies like you afford a maid under your...um...current circumstances?" Teenage Mario asked snootily.
"That wasn't a maid," said Teenage Big Mac quickly, "That's...that's...that's uh...one of our cousins. Yes, of course! One of our many cousins came by earlier today and was just leaving. But she's a little ditzy...she was heading for the front door instead of the back...because she's lives closer...to the back door." Filthy Rich looked puzzled, Spoiled Milk looked annoyed, and Mario just smirked.
"You don't say..." Mario said in a curious but devious tone.
Back in the kitchen, Granny Smith was still recovering from Teenage Applejack's surprise attack.
"Golly, what in tarnation?" the experienced mare retorted with their dinner salad on her head and all over the floor.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Granny," said Teenage Applejack, trying to sound apologetic, "I-I didn't see ya there."
"Ya came blastin' in so fast, t'weren't possible to see nothin'!" Granny Smith snapped, "Thought only that Flying Unicorn colt Filthy Rich is sponorin' could move that fast!"
"Nevermind him," said Teenage Applejack spitefully before coming up with another lie, "Can you got out to the barn? I, uh, I think I might've left a blight sprayer in the orchard."
"Are you outta yer apple-pickin' mind?!" Granny Smith snapped as she stood back up on her hooves and poked the filly's forehead, "It's suppertime, girl!"
"I know, but, uh, if we forgot a sprayer," Teenage Applejack tried to explain, "I'd wanna get it before dark. You go start countin', a-and I'll tell Big Mac we'll be right back, okay?" Granny Smith just glared before she headed outside. But Teenage Applejack quickly pushed her out of the house and slammed the door shut. She leaned against it while standing on her hind legs to catch her breath.
"Granny seems to be moving about quite a bit for being sick," said a voice. Teenage Applejack gaped and looked to see Teenage Mario, smirking as he leaned against the wall with his fore-legs crossed.
"What are you doin' here?" Teenage Applejack demanded.
"I came to see what was the hold up since your brother likes to monologue a little too much for his own good," Teenage Mario huffed.
"Somethin' we agree on I guess," Teenage Applejack said irritably.
"Indeed," said Teenage Applejack as Teenage Mario began to walked around her like a shark eyeballing its prey, "but he's not the one in hot water right now. Is he?"
"What do you mean?" Teenage Applejack asked sternly.
"I mean is how dumb do you think we are?" Teenage Mario said sternly as he got into her face, "Even if my boss believes you, I know for a fact that I just saw a fully healthy and competent Granny Smith get shoved right out of this kitchen!" He then added in an over-sweet tone, "Is that how you country folk treat your elders?" Teenage Applejack grunted angrily and shoved him back.
"So what now? You gonna snitch on me?" Teenage Applejack asked, trying to stand her ground against who she saw as a big bully. Teenage Mario chuckled in a posh tone.
"I could," said Teenage Mario before saying slyly, "I mean all I have to do is open my mouth, expose you, and all your business ties would go bye-bye and you and your entire family's farm would be doomed. Oh-so-sad. But...let's face facts. Just tattling on you wouldn't be any fun. I'm curious to see how far you'd go to save your farm. Despite how vulgar the place is. Eugh!" Teenage Applejack snarled and stood defensive, ready to fight. Mario snorted.
"You are so uncivilized you know that," said Mario, "I just said I'm not gonna snitch on you and here you are ready to rumble or tussle or whatever you uncivilized country folk to for the sake of honor and all that blah-blah-blah!" Teenage Applejack just kept glaring.
"Now if you'll excuse, I'm gonna enjoy this little circus you've come up with," said Teenage Mario smugly before saying in a devious tone, "and await your ultimate demise. Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha." He then shifted to an oversweet tone, "Of course, you could always do things the easy way, but by the look on your face..." He gave her an evil smile, "...you don't look smart enough to tell the truth. I mean, it's not like the entire farm is at stake...oh, well, your choice. Ta-ta!" Teenage Mario then hummed casually as he left the kitchen. Teenage Applejack waited until the teenage colt had disappeared before she began to sweat and panic some more.
"The whole farm is at stake?!" Teenage Applejack mumbled anxiously. She then took a deep breath to recompose herself as best as she could before peeking outside to see that Teenage Big Mac was just chatting away to keep Filthy Rich, Spoiled Milk, and now Teenage Mario busy. Mario saw her peeking in and gave her a not-so-innocent smile as he slashed a fore-hoof across his neck to emphasize she was doomed. Teenage Applejack gulped as she turned her focus on Teenage Big Mac.
"...so from that moment on, I look to referrin' to myself as Big or Large or..." Teenage Big Mac rambled on until Applejack zipped up to him.
"Oh, Applejack!" said Filthy Rich, "I'm glad to see Flying Unicorn found where you had gone off to."
"Yes, sir," said Teenage Mario, "The young filly and I were getting better acquainted, weren't we?" Teenage Mario gave the filly a fake smile.
"Yes, yes we were," said Teenage Applejack with a fake smile on her own.
"That's good news," said Filthy Rich, "I'm sure you two will be good friends." Both teenage pony discreetly made faces at each other before Filthy Rich continue speaking to Applejack, "By the way, Your brother was just explainin' why he always wears his yoke."
"Even though we asked him how your grandmare is doing!" Spoiled Milk said huffily.
"Could it be their stalling us for some reason?!" Mario remarked in fake shock.
"Oh, well, you know how Big Mac can get to...to talkin," said Teenage Applejack as her brother wiped his brow, "especially when he's upset. And right now, he's just as worried about Granny Smith as I am." Applejack then gestured for the three visitors out of the barn and shut the door. It wasn't long before they reached the outside gate of the farm land.
"Oh, dear," said Filthy Rich, "Is she doin' that bad?"
"Maybe we should head on up and see her, sir," Teenage Mario said in a very over the casual tone. It was then Teenage Applejack saw Granny Smith busily shoving a crate filled with sprayers into the barn.
"Well, one thing's for sure, she..." said Teenage Applejack with a wince, "she shouldn't be seein' anypony right now. In fact, I'm gettin' more upset just thinkin' about it. Excuse me." Teenage Applejack just zoomed off. While Teenage Big Mac started talking to Filthy Rich and Spoiled Milk again, Teenage Mario turned around and watched as Teenage Applejack head bucked Granny Smith inside the barn and headed inside. Mario just smirked sinisterly and shook his head before putting on a bored look on his face and pretended to listen to Teenage Big Mac's latest monologue.
"D'oh!" Granny Smith yelped as she made a hard landing, "What in the frilly fumidil has gotten into you?!"
"Sorry, Granny," said Teenage Applejack, "I just decided if I helped you, it would go faster."
"Well, you're too late," said Granny Smith, "All the sprayers are here." Applejack sternly looked at the crate, but was actually looking around it so she could see if her brother was keeping Filthy Rich, Spoiled Milk, and Teenage Mario busy.
"Oh, good," said Teenage Applejack, "Uh, say, Granny, when did you first fight the apple blight again?" Granny Smith smirked.
"It was my second year here in Ponyville," Granny Smith explained, "Uh, they was before I had the rick on the one knee." Teenage Applejack noticed that Granny Smith had her eyes closed as she told the story. This gave the teenage filly the chance to quietly tip-hoof out of the barn and get back to the others.
Once again, Filthy Rich had a puzzled look on his face, Spoiled Milk looked annoyed, and Teenage Mario...had actually fallen asleep standing up!
"...and others say that's how the trees got to growin' so tall," said Teenage Big Mac, "but to me, it's just how I got my cutie mark."
"But we asked when we could come back to see Granny," said Spoiled Milk and discreetly used a fore-leg to jab Teenage Mario awake. Teenage Mario jumped and quickly recomposed his demeanor before anypony noticed he had been asleep. It was then Teenage Applejack rushed up.
"Uh, Big Mac didn't wanna be rude, but you just can't see Granny right now," Teenage Applejack tried to explain, "because she's..got apple blight!" Filthy Rich gasped.
"I thought only trees got that blight!" Filthy Rich pointed out. Even Teenage Big Mac gave his little sister a glare that said he agreed with the wealthy pony, but it went unnoticed.
"Yeah, that's usually the case," Teenage Applejack replied, giving her older brother the stink eye, "The doctors think it's from workin' in the orchards for so many years. Y'see we had to take Granny to Ponyville General. We just got back right before you showed up."
"Really?" Teenage Mario said skeptically. Spoiled Milk also had the same look on her face.
"Yes! Really!" Teenage Applejack replied to the colt sternly before giving Filthy Rich a sheepish and nervously smile.
"Oh, my," exclaimed Filthy Rich, "That is terrible!"
"Ew! It's not contagious, is it?" Spoiled Milk asked worried. Mario groaned.
"Not to worry, my friend," said Teenage Mario, "I know how to do a health protection spell if necessary."
"Um, I'm sure you'll be fine," said Teenage Applejack as she walked up to the spoiled mare, "but you should leave..." Applejack gave a definitive cough, "...just in case." It was then Teenage Mario whispered something to Filthy Rich who nodded in agreement.
"You're right," said Filthy Rich to the teenage filly, "We're gonna have to hurry if we wanna get there before visitin' hours are over." The three ponies then trotted off.
"That's right," said Teenage Applejack and then blinked in realization, "Wait. Get where?"
"Why, the hospital, of course," said Filthy Rich, "Mr. Flying Unicorn says we should get there as soon as we can in case the place is busy." He and Spoiled Milk walked off. Teenage Mario gave the filly a sinister smile before following Filthy Rich and Spoiled Milk. Applejack was now panicking as Teenage Big Mac gave a deadpan and disapproving look behind her. He didn't wait long before speaking up.
"Tellin' Filthy Rich that Granny's in the hospital just made everythin' a hundred times worse!" said Teenage Big Mac, "and I saw that look the Flying Unicorn gave you. He's now blackmailing you isn't he?" Applejack grunted.
"Uh... not really..." Teenage Applejack said slowly and bitterly.
"Applejack!" Teenage Big Mac barked.
"Okay, fine! He knows I'm lying!" said Teenage Applejack. Teenage Big Mac groaned.
"It's only a matter of time now," said Teenage Big Mac worriedly, "He's practically setting you up! But instead of tellin' the truth, you're giving him even more applesauce that he can use against ya! He leadin' you right into a trap and you're walking head on into it because you're too stubborn to stop lyin'!"
"No I ain't!" said Teenage Applejack, "I'm gonna get us out of this mess one way or another and that Mr. Flying Unicorn is gonna be the one looking like a fool at the end of all this! Now let me think!" Teenage Applejack pondered as Teenage Big Mac snorted.
"Pfft, it's thinking that's gotten you into this whole mess in the first..."
"I got it!" Teenage Applejack exclaimed and cut her brother off once again. They both headed into the barn, where Granny Smith was still talking with her eyes closed. She never knew that Teenage Applejack had ever left. Teenage Big Mac was right behind the filly.
"Dropped my second best teeth right in the pigeon, and that was the worst case of apple blight I have ever seen!" Granny Smith finished as she finally opened her eyes.
"I'd love to hear more, Granny," said Teenage Applejack quickly, "but we gotta get to the hospital right away!"
"The hospital?" Granny Smith remarked, "Why? Who's sick?"
"You are, apparently," Teenage Big Mac remarked. Teenage Applejack gritted her teeth at him before speaking again.
"What he means is you're needed at the hospital," Teenage Applejack corrected, glaring at her older brother.
"Heh. Whatever for?" Granny Smith asked curiously.
"It's the apple blight!" Teenage Applejack explained shakily, "It's startin' to infect ponies now! The doctors need an expert opinion, and nopony knows more about fightin' blight than Granny Smith!" Applejack then smiled nervously.
"Well, what in tarnation are we waitin' for? Let's go!" Granny Smith said and started walked off. Teenage Big Mac tried to speak, but then Teenage Applejack shoved a green apple into his mouth and smirked smugly. Teenage Big Mac glared as he spat the apple out.
"If you fall into the Flying Unicorn's trap, I'm not gonna save you!" Big Mac warned in a low tone.
"You won't have to," Teenage Applejack said in a very smug and confident tone and she walked off. Teenage Big Mac rolled his eyes and followed his little sister and the experienced mare to the hospital. The walk was rather short as the Apple Family started making their way to the hospital. Granny Smith had a casual smile on her face, Teenage Big Mac had a long face, and Teenage Applejack was on high alert. She then gasped silently when she saw Filthy Rich, Spoiled Milk, and Teenage Mario approaching the hospital in the other direction.
"You know," said Teenage Applejack, "we're supposed to go in, uh, in the back! Uh, to avoid anypony in the waitin' room with the blight." Granny Smith and Big Mac looked at her skeptically but still followed her as they entered the hospital from a back door. As Teenage Applejack led the group down the halls, she winced once again when she saw Filthy Rich, Spoiled Milk, and Teenage Mario walking down another hallway in front of them.
"Oops! I almost forgot!" said Teenage Applejack quickly as she shoved Granny Smith into a nearby room. Teenage Big Mac just had a bored look and went to stand outside.
"Hrk!" Teenage Big Mac yelped as the teenage filly pulled him into the room. Then a few seconds later, Granny Smith appeared wearing surgery attire.
"This is perfect!" Teenage Applejack told the experienced mare as they walked out, "Now you don't have to worry about catchin' the blight."
"If you say so, dearie," Granny Smith replied in a muffled tone due to her mask.
"Now you wait right here while I, uh...check on your presentation!" Teenage Applejack said nervously, her eyes darting back and forth before she took off.
"What in the rotten rhubarb is goin' on here?" Granny Smith demanded but the teenage filly had already ran off. Teenage Applejack soon arrived in the waiting room and found Filthy Rich, Spoiled Milk, and Teenage Mario standing in front of the reception desk.
"Fancy meetin' you two here!" Teenage Applejack said with a nervous laugh. Teenage Mario rolled his eyes.
"Well, we told you we were coming," Spoiled Milk pointed out.
"Indeed we did," Teenage Mario reminded the teenage filly and smirked, "It was my brilliant idea we come here." Teenage Applejack nearly snarled but Filthy Rich turned to face her and she quickly put on a smile.
"Well, I'm glad we found you, because I can't seem to find Granny's room or any nurses who've even heard about a pony with apple blight," Filthy Rich pointed.
"No record of Granny or the apple blight?" Teenage Mario exclaimed in fake shock, "I wonder why that is?" Mario gave the teenage filly an evil smile. Teenage Applejack began to sweat.
"Granny's room. Sure!" Teenage Applejack replied, "Just go down here, take a left, then a right, go down some stairs, up a bunch more stairs, uh, through the cafeteria, left three more times, and then you're there! Easy as Granny's apple pie!" The teenage filly then laughed nervously, sweated, and then walked off.
"Uh, aren't you comin' with us?" Filthy Rich asked curiously.
"Uh, I'll catch up!" Teenage Applejack replied, "I gotta find Big Mac!" She then took off as quickly as she could. Teenage Mario just shook his head and rolled his eyes again, but then got an idea.
"Maybe I'll go make sure Apple...uh...whats-her-name, doesn't get lost," said Teenage Mario and then stomped off to follow the teenage filly. Filthy Rich and Spoiled Milk just watched him leave, shrugged, and went to try and find Granny Smith's room. Teenage Applejack was rushing as quickly as she could back to Granny Smith and Teenage Big Mac when Teenage Mario appeared in front of her, making her skid to a stop.
"Get out of my way!" Teenage Applejack demanded. Mario chortled.
"I've seen plenty of stubborn mules in my day," said Teenage Mario, "But you, country girl, are the absolute worst."
"Just get out of my way!" Teenage Applejack yelled.
"Wake up, stupid!" Teenage Mario snapped, "Just how far are you willing to go to keep these lies going? I mean, only a gullible fool is gonna follow your instructions to a patent that isn't even here but she isn't even sick to begin with!"
"Get. Out. Of. My. Way." Teenage Applejack warned through her teeth. Teenage Mario was taken aback but then snorted.
"You don't scare me, country girl," Teenage Mario said in a dark tone, "You had your chance but even I know when enough is enough. I'm going to Filthy Rich and I'm telling him the truth and you are gonna kiss your whittle Apple farm buh-bye. Buh-bye!" Teenage Mario chuckled and walked off around the teenage filly with a smug smile on his face before counting in a quiet tone.
"Three...two...one..."
SWISH!
PLOP!
Teenage Applejack lunged at the teenage colt in rage, but Teenage Mario quick stepped at the last minute, making the teenage filly land hard on her stomach. The teenage colt kept walking casually away. Teenage Applejack lunged again, but Mario quick stepped again to make her miss a second time.
"Oh Filthy Rich!" Mario called out in an over-the-top tone, "Did you know that...ACK!" Teenage Applejack had actually though one step ahead of the teenage colt. She had expected the colt to dodge her initial attack and she landed on her hooves beside him and then bucked him from the side, right into a nearby storage closet, slammed the door, and then barricaded it to make sure he couldn't escape.
"Open this door or I'm obliterating your farm and your family with my bare hooves!" Teenage Mario shouted as he banged the door with his fore-hooves.
"Sorry, can't hear ya, gotta go!" said Teenage Applejack as she walked away from the storage closet, but not before giving the raged teenage colt a loud raspberry and rushed off. She quickly rushed off and reunited with Granny Smith and Teenage Big Mac.
"Okay, Granny," Teenage Applejack told the experienced mare, "just wait here one second and we can go." She then went to shove Teenage Big Mac into another room.
"Where are you two going?" Granny Smith asked firmly.
"Big Mac can't come!" Teenage Applejack replied quickly, "He, uh, might be contagious!"
"Contagious?!" said Teenage Big Mac and Granny Smith together. But before the teenage stallion could protest, Teenage Applejack managed to overpower the larger stallion and shoved him into the room before Granny Smith could ask any more questions. The experienced mare just watched them disappear with a skeptical look on her face.
Inside the room, Teenage Applejack quickly grabbed a white sheet that was on a gurney.
"All right, climb up here and I'll cover you up," Teenage Applejack told her older brother, "Then I'll bring Rich in, tell him you're Granny Smith, but you're not allowed to take the sheets off. You moan a few times, he leaves, and this whole thing is over." Big Mac felt his patience reach his limit.
"This is spinnin' way out of control, Applejack!" Teenage Big Mac shouted angrily, "Now I know you thought sellin' cider in Filthy Rich's store was a good idea, but it ain't worth lyin' to him about Granny bein' sick and needin' to go to the hospital, or fibbin' to Granny about them wantin' her to come here to talk about the blight, or having to buck one of the most famous celebrity racers into a storage room and lock him inside! Do you realize what other ponies will say because you did that? We'll be lucky if anypony even gives our apples a second-" Applejack's patience faster than a pony gulping a fresh mug of cider until...
"BIG MACINTOSH, PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE!" Teenage Applejack yelled at the top of her lungs. Teenage Big Mac did stop talking, but still glared at her, "This ain't about my ideas. If Rich finds out about all the lies, he'll cut off ties with us and the farm'll go under! The Flying Unicorn was going to expose the truth! That's why I locked him up. If we can convince him that Granny is here sick, then that stuck up unicorn won't be able to convince Rich that I was lying! Now do you want the worst to happen, or do you wanna help?" Teenage Big Mac just looked at her bluntly.
"Why can't you be Granny?" Teenage Big Mac protested, "You're her size, and this is all your fault in the first place!"
"I would, but if I let you do the talkin', you'd just ramble on and on until we got caught!" Teenage Applejack retorted, "And I see there being a higher chance of you snitching on me than that Flying Unicorn!" Teenage Big Mac just groaned as he lay down on the gurney with a long face.
"Just lay down, keep still, and promise me you won't say anythin' for once in your life!" Applejack instructed as she grabbed the sheet.
"Eeeeyup," Teenage Big Mac replied in a dreary, unconvinced tone. Teenage Applejack quickly put the blanket over him and then saw Granny Smith walking past the room. Applejack winced.
"Granny!" Teenage Applejack called out, but then squeaked when she saw Filthy Rich and Spoiled Milk enter the hallway.
"Granny!" Teenage Applejack called out in a much quieter tone. She quickly walked up to the experienced mare.
"It's about time," Granny Smith remarked, "What is goin' on around here?!"
"Uh, Granny," said Teenage Applejack, "they need you to wait here! I'll come get ya!" She quickly shoved Granny Smith into a broom closet, shut the door, and leaned against it on her hind legs. It was then Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich approached.
"There you are!" said Filthy Rich, clearly out of breath, "We've been going in circles looking for Granny's room!" Spoiled Milk nodded in agreement. Applejack just smiled sheepishly.
SMASH!
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrah!" Teenage Mario snarled with fury as he stomped up to the group, looking very furious.
"Mr. Rich..." Teenage Mario snarled.
"Not now, boy," said Filthy Rich, "We're looking for Granny Smith's room."
"Actually, Granny..." Teenage Mario tried to say before Teenage Applejack got in front of him.
"Well, you're in luck," Teenage Applejack replied before Mario could keep speaking, "'cause it's - it's right over here, and this time I'll make sure you don't get lost." She then mumbled under her breath, "and make sure the Flying Unicorn keeps his trap shut." The teenage filly then lead the couple into the hospital room where Teenage Big Mac was. None of the ponies even noticed that another hospital worker was rolling that very gurney right out of the room. Teenage Applejack was surprised to see that the gurney was gone.
"What in the dadgum-?!" Teenage Applejack said in shock.
"What now?" Spoiled Milk asked impatiently.
"He - I mean, she was right here!" Teenage Applejack told the group and then rushed out of the room with a frantic look on her face.
"Really, little miss country girl," Mario added irritably, "Did Granny suddenly turn invisible or something? Because I certainly don't see her!" The something came to the teenage filly's mind and she winced.
"Oh, no. We gotta go!" Teenage Applejack said quickly.
"No we don't!" said Teenage Mario firmly, "Because Granny isn't sick! She's not on any gurney at all! She's..."
"I-Is that Granny Smith?" Spoiled Milk said in surprise. Up ahead was the gurney that Teenage Big Mac was resting on and heading off in one direction with a couple of other ponies wearing operating attire.
"Where are they takin' her?" Filthy Rich said worried.
"Wait...that is her?!" Teenage Mario exclaimed in shock and disbelief. He then looked at the teenage filly, "What'd you do to her? Beat her up or something?"
"Nevermind," Teenage Applejack snapped, "You three, don't lose that gurney!" Filthy Rich and Spoiled Milk rushed off as Mario glared at her.
"I don't know how you did it!" Teenage Mario snarled in a threatening tone, "But I'll find out one way or another!" He then took off to catch up with the wealthy couple and the gurney. Teenage Applejack glared and gave him a loud raspberry. It was then the real Granny Smith exited the closet.
"Granny, what are you doin'?" Teenage Applejack demanded, "You were supposed to stay there!"
"It was supply closet!" Granny Smith snapped. The teenage filly just smiled sheepishly.
"Oh. Uh..." Applejack stuttered, "Well, okay, come with me, but be quiet! You know, save your voice for the big presentation!" Granny Smith just gave the filly a suspicious look as Teenage Applejack walked off at a brisk pace to look for the gurney and Teenage Big Mac. Granny Smith simply followed behind her. Then they reached a pair of double doors and opened them. Teenage Applejack gasped at what was inside. This room had several ponies who were about to watch a live demonstration of a pony undergoing surgery or an operation. And Teenage Big Mac was the patient about to be operated. To make matters worse, Filthy Rich, Spoiled Milk, and Teenage Mario were sitting in the stands. Filthy Rich looked worried and uneasy. Spoiled Milk looked absolutely bored. Teenage Mario was fuming bitterly with his fore-legs crossed. Teenage Applejack gasped in utter horror as Granny Smith walked into the room. The teenage filly was about to follow when another pony, named Hippocratic Oath, stopped her.
"I-I-I'm sorry, but you can't get any closer without a gown and mask," Hippocratic Oath told her.
"But-but-but-but my brother in there!" Teenage Applejack protested.
"Don't worry," Hippocratic Oath answered, "This is our best doctor. She'll have your brother back on his hooves in no time." Teenage Applejack groaned loudly. Teenage Mario, who was still pouting in the stands, noticed Teenage Applejack standing outside the room and then took a look at the so-called doctor that was approaching and recognized her right away.
"So that's how country girl did it," Teenage Mario pondered quietly to herself and then blinked. He had heard that the teenage filly had said, "And her brother is the one under there. Oh-ho-ho! Oh, if she doesn't crack now, she gonna lost more than just her farm now." Teenage Mario snickered to himself and eagerly waited to see what would happen next. Granny Smith didn't wait long before she began her presentation.
"Now the apple blight is a serious disease!" Granny Smith began. One masked surgeon spluttered.
"Did she say...apple blight?" he asked a masked nurse standing beside him.
"I think she said "gasket mites"," Masked nurse remarked.
"More proof how backward this town is," said Teenage Mario quietly to Spoiled Milk, "I can hear their mumbling and they have no idea what they're doing down there!" Spoiled Milk scoffed.
"Hope Granny wrote her will," Spoiled Milk said bluntly, "I kind of feel sorry for her now."
"I feel sorry for the farm," Mario remarked, "Considering whom she's leaving it too."
"Such a waste of good real estate," Spoiled Milk remarked snootily.
"Such a waste indeed," Mario agreed as they snickered quietly to each other.
"And once your trunk turns red like this," Granny Smith continued as she grabbed Teenage Big Mac's fore-leg, "the only thing to do is prune the branches."
"Oh, no! Granny!" Filthy Rich said in shock as Spoiled Milk looked uneasy.
"Yeah, I don't believe this pony has ever been to medical school," Mario remarked to himself with an eye roll at Filthy Rich's gullible nature. Applejack just winced and clutched her teeth together fearfully.
"Did you say..."prune them branches"?" the masked nurse asked shocked and puzzled.
"Well, sure!" Granny Smith replied as Teenage Applejack danced on her hooves nervously in a panic, "What else you gonna do once the blight gets this bad?" Granny Smith then walked over to cart that had some tools covered up. She then removed the cloth to reveal an operating saw on it. A very sharp operating saw to be precise. Everypony, including doctors, nurses, Filthy Rich, Spoiled Milk, and the rest of the audience gasped in horror. Teenage Mario, however, was smiling?
"Oooooo! This is gonna be good," said Teenage Mario since he knew that wasn't Granny under the cloth and could see that Teenage Applejack was starting to have a panic attack. Even Teenage Big Mac was sweating heavily under the cloth since he could hear what was going on. In fact, he was so nervous that he couldn't even figure out if he should speak up at the moment.
Then...Teenage Applejack finally found her voice.
"Everypony, just stop!" Teenage Applejack shouted as she leaned her head back. Everypony stopped to look at her, "This is all a big misunderstandin'!" She then panted a bit to catch her breath and her words, "Actually...it's a big lie." Teenage Applejack rushed inside and pulled off the blanket to reveal her older brother underneath it. Everypony else gasped in shock.
"Big Mac?!" Granny Smith interjected as she removed her operating mask. Filthy Rich gasped.
"Granny Smith?!" Filthy Rich exclaimed, "What is goin' on here, Applejack?"
"This is a darn good question," Granny Smith added as she glared at the teenage filly. Teenage Applejack sighed.
"I'm not sure if I was worried that nopony was listenin' to my ideas or just nervous that I wouldn't be the one to end up runnin' the farm, but..." Teenage Applejack explained, "But...I promised somethin' to Filthy Rich that I couldn't deliver, and I was too embarassed to admit it."
"No kidding," Mario said to himself and rolling his eyes.
"So Granny was never sick?" Filthy Rich asked.
"And there ain't no apple blighted ponies?" Granny Smith asked as well.
"Nnnope," said Teenage Big Mac.
"Just a bunch of stupid ponies," Mario muttered to himself.
"Those were all lies," Teenage Applejack confessed, "A-And I thought if you found out, you'd stop doin' business with the farm. So I just kept tellin' more."
"So she's not a doctor?" was all Hippocratic Oath could say. Teenage Mario groaned loudly as he face hooves himself.
"Remind me never to get sick in this town," Teenage Mario mumbled.
"Please don't make Granny Smith and the farm suffer for what I did!" Teenage Applejack pleaded to Filthy Rich, "This whole thing is my fault!"
"That's...not entirely true," said Teenage Big Mac, "Maybe if I paid more attention to what you had to say instead of talkin' all the time, none o' this would've happened in the first place. I just need to...talk less and listen more. Especially to you." Teenage Big Mac then gave her little sister a hug.
"Thanks, big brother," Teenage Applejack replied with gratitude, "and whether it's me runnin' Sweet Apple Acres or you, I know it'll be in good hooves." They shared their tender hug a little longer.
"Bleh!" Teenage Mario remarked at the tender moment in disgust, and a great amount of jealousy, "At least she finally confessed."
"What?!" Filthy Rich retorted and looked at Mario sternly, "You knew about all this?" Mario blinked at being scolded, but then his face returned to its snooty demeanor.
"I thought it was pretty obvious," said Mario in his posh tone, "The way she suddenly said out of the blue Granny was sick right after you threatened to cut ties with their farm. The fact she and her so called brother kept making you avoid seeing Granny Smith all the time before finally admitting she was at the hospital. And she made you go running around in circles for hours on end trying to find her room!"
"A little heads up would've been nice!" Filthy Rich snapped irritably, "Instead you let her make a fool out of me!"
"I actually did try to tell you," Teenage Mario admitted sternly, "But that stubborn mule shoved me into a storage closet. And when I tried to speak up, you told me to be quiet!"
"He does have a point dear," Spoiled Milk remarked, "He did try to tell you and you could see the tell tale signs that this little filly was lying from the start." Filthy Rich groaned loudly as he face hooved himself.
"Well, that's nice," said Granny Smith quickly before adding sternly to both teenage ponies, "but I don't know what in blazes you two are talking about! I ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon!" Granny Smith blew a raspberry definitively before continuing.
"Runnin' the farm. Not after this display! Not likely!" said Granny Smith before walking up Filthy Rich, "And don't you go gettin' any ideas about cuttin' ties with Sweet Apple Acres, or I'm goin' right to your grandpappy. Get me?" Filthy Rich cowered into his seat from being scolded and sweated heavily. Both Spoiled Milk and Teenage Mario both scooted away from him.
"Um, yes, ma'am," Filthy Rich stuttered. Teenage Mario rolled his eyes.
"Guess we know who will wear the pants in your relationship," Mario whispered to Spoiled Milk.
"I thought it was obvious," Spoiled Milk remarked in a hushed tone as they both snickered once again.
"I don't know what you think is so funny, Flying Unicorn," Teenage Applejack snapped, "You were the one who kept convincing me to not to tell the truth."
"I most certainly did not!" Teenage Mario retorted, clearly offended.
"You kept telling me Filthy Rich was gonna cut ties with the farm if I confessed!" Teenage Applejack said firmly.
"I was only repeating what Rich said to your sorry face, country girl," Mario said casually, "It's not my fault you couldn't take a hint to be honest. You made the choice to lie, not me." Teenage Applejack growled.
"That's enough outta you!" Granny Smith yelled at the teenage filly, "He does have a good point, you caused this disturbance by choosing not to be honest. And you'll be punished accordingly once we get home!" Teenage Applejack lowered her head in shame as Teenage Mario snickered as her expense.
"AS FOR YOU!" thundered Granny Smith angrily, making Teenage Mario flinch, "You've been worse! You MADE the disturbance. Acting all hoity-toity just because you're some big shot racer from what I've heard! Well, let me tell you something right now Mister Flying Unicorn! If you think this is how an important pony carries themselves. Then you've got another thing coming!" Teenage Mario just snorted.
"Oh, what do you know?" Teenage Mario snapped, "I'm the fastest unicorn alive. You're just a small town farmer! So don't you go telling me what to do!" The others gasped, including Spoiled Milk. Even if Spoiled Milk looked down on the experienced mare, she, along with everypony else in that room, had great respect for Granny Smith. Granny Smith just gave Mario an icy glare.
"One of these days, sonny," said Granny Smith in a very low but stern tone, "You're gonna wind up all alone. And you'll have nopony to blame but yourself!" Teenage Mario gritted his teeth as his face contorted in pure rage. Teenage Applejack was surprised to see tears streaming down his face.
"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME YOU OLD LADY!" Mario screamed as he bolted out of his seat and rushed away at high speed. Nopony went after the teenage colt and there was a few seconds of awkward silence. Teenage Applejack and Teenage Big Mac shared worried looks with each other, though neither pony tried to go after him either.
"Now, who here still wants to hear about the apple blight?" Granny Smith asked, trying to change the subject, as several ponies raised their hooves, "Now when I was filly..."
End Flashback
Back in the present, Apple Bloom was just listening to every detail of Granny Smith's story.
"I can't believe you told all those lies!" said Apple Bloom to Applejack in shock.
"It's not a story I'm proud of, but it taught me a lifelong lesson about being honest," Applejack replied. Big Mac and Granny Smith hummed in agreement.
"Especially after all the extra chores I had her do," Granny Smith added, "That girl was too tired to even try lyin' again after that." Big Mac chuckled in agreement.
"I also can't believe Mario was there for all of this," said Apple Bloom, "And...I can't believe he used to be so mean and cruel. He practically got away with everything he did and said to ya! And to think I thought he was so nice and cool..."
"Now hold on there, sugarcube," said Applejack, "Mario has confessed several times over that he did alot of things he wasn't proud of when he was a famous racer. He's never hidden that part of his life to any of us."
"But you didn't like him after what he did to you, right?" Apple Bloom asked with a bitter look on his face.
"If I'm being honest," said Applejack, "I outright hated him. I always promised myself that if I ever saw him again that I would give it to him good. Then...during Twilight's welcome party, I found out that Mario Star and the Flying Unicorn were one in the same. I was rather shocked...I could feel all that anger and hate surge inside of me. I was 'bout ready to tell him off when...he told us the truth. That he knew he had done alot of terrible things and that he was sorry. I could see it in his eyes. He wasn't that same pony I met all those years ago. He'd changed for the better and if he wanted a second chance, I wasn't gonna turn him away for it, especially now that I know just how much he regrets his actions. I bet he didn't remember this because he's still struggling to forgive himself. And wanted to forget how he used to be."
"You got that right..." said a broken voice as the group turned to hear some sobbing behind the stack of crates. Mario had been crying once he fully remembered the entire incident and his tears had only increased as the story continued. Applejack and Apple Bloom shared worried looks with each other. To their surprise, Big Mac was the one who walked up behind the crates to the still sobbing Mario.
"Little brother..." Big Mac said in a gentle tone.
"Sure I even deserve..." Mario sobbed.
"You hush your mouth," said Big Mac sternly, stunning everypony else behind him and making Mario stop crying, "Now you listen to me, Mario Star, this story was not meant to make you feel bad. It's just a reminder that we've all made mistakes. We've all done and said things that we regret, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve to be part of this family."
"You didn't disrespect Granny Smith in front of a bunch of doctors and Rich!" Mario remarked, "Even I know that Granny's kicked ponies out of the family for less than that!"
"Oh, sugarcube," said Granny Smith as she appeared and walked up to the teary alicorn, "I forgave you for that a long time ago. I ain't gonna lie that what you did was pretty stupid thing ta do...but did I turn you away when you were looking for a family? No! I accepted you long before we knew you were actually related to us." Mario sniffled as he dried his eyes and still looked rather glum.
"I read all about your downfall," said Granny Smith, "and while I will admit you had that coming, you don't have to spend the rest of your life punishing yourself over it. You learned that acting that way isn't going to make you feel better about yourself. Real friends and family love you for who you are on the inside, not for what you accomplish. And you don't have to be a famous racer or work yourself to the ground to find a pony who will love and accept you!"
"I know that, now," said Mario as he wiped his eyes, "But I still have to tell you something I should've said all those years ago."
"Oh, you don't need to even say it," said Granny Smith, "Just git over here 'n hug yer Granny and all will be fine and dandy." Mario chuckled as he gave the experienced mare a loving hug and kissed her cheek, making Granny Smith giggle.
"I love you, Mario," Granny Smith said sweetly.
"I love you too," Mario replied as they pulled away. He then saw the other Apple siblings watching. Before he could say anything, they all gathered around him for a group hug. Mario just smiled and let their hugs tell him that they loved and forgave him too. Once the group had pulled away, they went back to sitting together on the other side of the crates.
"I hope you learned somethin', too," Applejack asked Apple Bloom as she snuggled into Mario's side.
"I sure did," said Apple Bloom, "I learned that nopony starts out perfect and sometimes you gotta make a few mistakes to figure out who you are."
"Eeyup," Big Mac said in agreement.
"Very true," Mario added.
"But I think the most important thing I learned is who really runs Sweet Apple Acres," said Apple Bloom.
"Granny!" said all four siblings together.
"You're darn tootin'!" Granny Smith replied sternly, "Now everypony quit your lollygaggery and get back to work!" The four siblings were startled, even Mario looked rather uneasy.
"Yes ma'am," said Mario nervously.
"Right after we have a glass of cider," Granny Smith added as she held a tin plate with a cider bottle and glasses.
Everypony laughed.
They might not be perfect, but they were Apples forever and they loved each other very much.
And that concludes another adventure of the stubborn mule. I hope I was able to make this episode more interesting by including Mario in the flashback story.
As was been mentioned since the very first chapter, when Mario was at the height of his career as the Flying Unicorn, he was very snooty, arrogant, and even boarder line cruel. Some might think I over did it on those qualities in this chapter, but if you remember from past chapters. Mario held alot of deep regret for his behavior. So I went all out to show why he would hold all that guilt and shame for years on end. I hope seeing this side of Mario will not make fan see Mario as a jerk, but understand just how far he was willing to go to find acceptance from his fellow peers and adversaries (aka Spoiled Milk/Spoiled Rich).
Next time: Shenran gets to go on his first cutie mark mission! And it's at the Wonderbolts Academy!
Peace Pony Fans!