Applejack and Applebloom headed towards the house to eat breakfast with their kind hosts. However, Applejack could not forget the nightmare she had experienced, no matter how hard she tried. All was quiet, until Mr. Sunday asked Applejack, "Sister, may I ask you a...personal question?". Applejack whirled around and said, "...yes....". "Are you saved?" asked Mr. Sunday. "Uhhh......yeeess......", replied Applejack, not really caring for this dialogue. "Oh, of course! Applejack has pledged her allegiance to Celestia! I know she has! She's a very honest pony, right Applejack?" chirped Twilight Sparkle. "Uhhhh. Of course!" said Applejack, doubtfully, unsure of what has been happening. "Well, what church or orginization do ya belong to Applejack?" asked Mr. Sunday. "Oh yes. I'd love to know too!" Twilight eagerly responded. "Uhhh. Our church....is the Church of the World... lied Applejack. Mr. Sunday replied "I don't know that church, I don't know what their messag-". "Yes" interrupted Applejack, not wishing to continue this conversation. "Well, can you tell us their message...?" asked Mr. Sunday. "Hmmm. Welll, Mr. Sunday, we're told not to talk 'bout these things with strangers, and we oughtta keep things to ourselves...We believe you begin ta know a pony through friendship....and business....and talk about faith later...." replied Applejack. "What does your...church...say about earthquakes?" asked Twilight. "Uhhh. I dunno. You had one, huh?" said Applejack. Twilight replied, "Oh yes! It uncovered some fertile soil. Our faith tells us earthquakes are an omen, a sign Celestia has become mad at the presence of a corrupted sinner. And I MUST be right. The Princess says I'm now a healer and a vessel for her spirit. After all, I DO runher church here!" she paused, "You....have been alright, right Applejack...?" "WHAT ARE YE IMPLYING?!" shouted Applejack furiously. She knew not how to act next, she she motioned for Applebloom, and they left.
"OK, Applebloom, fire the rifle into the air. That'a way, they think we're hunting like we said." Applejack told Applebloom. "Sis, I don't see why we gotta lie to those nice ponies." said Applebloom in honest confusion. "Because, if they found out we was gonna take their fertile land, they wouldn't take too kindly to it... Now, head off, and I'll follow. I think Twilight's suspicious. We gotta act better!" ordered Applejack. Applebloom headed off. She got far, until she felt her hooves sink deep into familiar feeling ground. "Ohhh! SIS! I found it!" exclaimed Applebloom. "Hold yerself Applebloom. I'm comin'!" yelled Applejack. She felt the soft soil. "Well I'll be!" exclaimed Applejack, "This musta come straight outta the Earth. This oughtta be the best soil I've felt! There's gotta be more underneath all this rock and sand! Alrighty, here's what we're gonna do! Whatever we DO find, we'll plant with our apple seeds. We gotta preserve and spread this here fertility, keep it fresh. And most of all, we need to build our OWN shipping path. That way, we ain't gotta pay for shipping if we used the basic roads all other ponies use. We'll make a deal with union Apple, and then, THEN, we'll start makin' the REAL money. Otherwise...it's just mud..." It began to get dark, so they started back towards the little ranch, plotting how to take the precious soil.

Next Chapter: Chapter V: Negotiations Estimated time remaining: 52 Minutes