Days later, Applejack and Caramel, clean and dressed nicely, met with two stallions, named Tilford and Carter, from Standard Oil Company to discuss what should be done with the newfound treasure. They all greeted each other, reserved and polite, and sat down. Tilford asked, "How's your sis Applejack?" Applejack glared at Tilford and replied, "Thanks for askin'...". He asked, "Is there anything we can do about her, you know..." and gestured to his ears. Applejack contained her fury and coldly stated, "Thanks for askin' is enough...". Tilford asked what her plans were. Applejack responded, "Is this about buyin' up my tracks here?" Tilford said it was. Applejack said, "The invit said it was 'bout my Varnity Hills lease.". Tilford replied they'd like that too." Applejack asked what their offer was. He said one hundred and fifty thousand bits. Applejack chirped, "Done deal. Now what's next?". Tilford said, "Well, you got eleven thousand acres in Applelooza. Over there, you've had one burned orchar-" until Applejack interrupted, "Well, now I have three PROVEN wells. That's THREE. Ya hear?". Tilford responded, "We'll make you a millionaire from one minute to the next while you're sitting there." Applejack thought, and replied, "Well, what else would I do? This here business has been in my family for generations." she looked away, and realized, "They must be ashamed...." Tilford was confused, and asked, "What...?" Applejack came back to reality and repeated, "What else would I do?". Tilford shrugged, and answered, "I don't know, take care of your sister...?". Applejack was still sustaining her anger, and was silent. Applejack muttered, "Y'all should get off of your lazy plots and go find oil yerself 'stead of buyin' land with oil off of gullible ponies..." Tilford said, "Well, just, what do you want?". Applejack asked, "Are ya gonna change yer shippin' costs?". Tilford said they don't dictate shipping costs and that was the railroad business. Applejack glared at the stallions and said, "Ohhhh, but I believe you DO....". Tilford reacted, "Well, how you gonna get this stuff outta here? Build a pipeline, make a deal with Union Oil, be my guest, BUT, if you DON'T pull that off....you've got an ocean of oil under your feet and no way of transporting it and making you rich. Let us take it. Give you some peace. Go have fun with your sister. It's a great discovery, so let us help you....". There was silence for a very long time. Applejack thought he crossed the line. She unleashed on him, ".....Did you....tell me....how to run....my family.....?" He explained, "Well, I'm just saying it could be more important now that we're going to buy your lots....". Again, silence. Applejack slowly began to come to Tilford, and maliciously stated, "I'm gonna come ta wherever you live......wherever you sleep.....and cut your throat out......and leave you to die in your own....bloody mess.......". Tilford was stunned, and asked, "What is this? Have you gone insane...?". Applejack was face to face with him now, staring him down, "Did you," she said, "hear what......I said.....?". Tilford nervously said, "Y-y-es. Wh-wh-why are you saying this...?". Applejack said, "You NEVER, EVER, tell me about my sis....". She and Caramel stood up and began to leave. Applejack turned and said, "....You'll see what I can do....."

Some time later, Applejack was packing in a bit of a trance. She was speaking to a close associate, named Fletcher. He asked how much Standard offered. Applejack was silent and said she needed to focus on packing. She was going to visit Bandy, who owned the only lot she didn't, and his property was crucial for building a straight pipeline. Fletcher asked, "Applejack.... How much do you REALLY know about Caramel...?". Applejack stopped and said, "Ye REALLY think I wouldn't know my own brother?! That I could be fooled like that?!" she paused, and said, "I think yer envious.... We;ve worked for a looooong while, but you ain't my brother...". Fletcher countered, "Well, just for the safety of the business, it wouldn't hurt to chec-" until Applejack said, "Ya know what? Don't even talk 'bout it. He's my brother...". "Alright." Fletcher agreed, "Well, another thing, what are we going to do about Twilight?". Applejack said, "Nothing. She's jus' a child. She don't know her place in the world yet.....". Fletcher argued, "Yes she does. I think we should pay her something....". Applejack ignored him, finished packing, and went outside. She and Caramel then set off to Dandy's territory.

As they traveled through the dry canyon country, they drove red stakes into the ground in order to signal where the pipeline would be built. They eventually came to a clearing and came up to the Bandy house. Applejack and Caramel trotted up, outside is a young colt named William, Bandy's grandson. Applejack asked, "Is yer father Bandy?". "Grandfather." said William. "Well, where is he?" asked Applejack. William said his grandfather was out. "Well, I'm Applejack," Applejack introduced, "I wanna talk to him 'bout buyin' this land...". William asked if she was the oilmare. "Well," said Applejack, "Recently, yes. I suppose ye can call me an oilmare...". William responded, "He's not interested in drilling.". Applejack said she wasn't planing on it and asked when he would be back. William said in a few days. Applejack said, "You tell him I'd like ta speak with him...not for drillin'...I'll be back in a week..." as she and Caramel trotted off, planting another stake, this one with a ribbon, to signify the start of the pipeline. Straight into Bandy's lot. They rode off, planting a trail of stakes where they went.

They eventually made it to the Union Oil refinery Machines grinded away. The head of Union Oil, old friend of Applejack's, L.P. Clair came up and greeted Applejack and Caramel. "Applejack!", he cried, "You're a sight for sore eyes.". They greeted each other. "congratulations, Applejack." said Clair, "You hit quite a strike! How's Applebloom?". Applejack looked down and said, "She's fine...". They talked and walked...and entered an office and closed the door. Applejack and Caramel were with six other stallions with Union Oil, led by L.P. Clair. They discussed pipelines, oil, etc. Maps and drawings and crude samples were front of them. It was scene for celebratory feeling, L.P. joked, "What's the relationship between your wife, Standard Oil and a free whore?". All asked what? L.P. answered, "You can always beat your wife, you can occasionally beat Standard Oil, but you can never beat a free whore!" and everypony laughed.

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