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There Will Be Apples

by RainbowDeadpool

Chapter 6: Chapter V: Negotiations

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Chapter V: Negotiations

Back at the ranch, the Sundays, Twilight, and the Apples began to eat. All was silent until Applejack asked how much their land was worth. Mr. Sunday eagerly replied, "The Great Celestia has sent you here! You're a prophet Appleja-"until Applejack interrupted, "Yeah, sure, lemme jus' tell ya. What do ya reckon is a fair price...?" Mr. Sunday replied, "5 bits an acr-" until Twilight pitched, "6", glaring at AJ suspiciously. "Yes, thank you Twilight." said Mr. Sunday, "And the improvements are 500-" "I'll take this land for 37 hundred bits." interrupted Applejack. There was silence, until Mrs. Sunday said that she couldn't leave and the ranch isn't for sale. "No no no." cautioned Applejack, "Y'all ain't gotta leave. Ye got the mineral rights, I'll give ye my word. I'll lease you the land for 99 years at 10 bits a year." but Mrs. Sunday told him they don't have money, so Applejack said she'd give them some. More silence, until Applejack asked if this deal seemed fair. "This is according to the Revelation!", said Mr. Sunday, "Twilight, this is according to-"And the soil?" demanded Twilight. Applejack was surprised, but remembered that Twilight wasn't like the Sundays. She was smart. "Uhh. What about it?" asked Applejack. Twilight reminded AJ that they had fertile land, and that was worth something. Applejack reminded her that unless in really trained hooves, the land was worthless, and in order to do so would be costly. "Well, what would you give us for that?" demanded Twilight. "I.....I don't....know..." replied Applejack. "AH HA! Something you do NOT know!" exclaimed Twilight. Applejack was furious, "Well, what would you like....Twilight...?!". Twilight grinned, "Well, I think you should share the land rights with the church...You shared mineral rights...why not land rights...?" By now the two were locked into verbal warfare. "IF we decide to cultivate, IF the land produces I'll give your...church a 500 bit signing bonus." fired Applejack. Twilight shot back, "That is not enough." Applejack unleashed, "Do you want to find somepony else ta do this for ye?! Twilight?! Make the investment AND do the heavy liftin'? I can 'Hunt for quail' on somepony's other ranch right now, ye know! So, 500 bits. No more. How do you fell 'bout this Mr. Sunday?" "Uh. Yes. What Twilight said." responded Mr. Sunday. "Fine. Fine. Let's draw up them contracts already!" said Applejack.
Now owning the ranch, Applejack now had to pitch her plantation ideas to the citizens of Applelooza. They were all called to the town square to listen to Applejack's speech. "Mares and stallions? Mares and stallions. Thank y'all so much for visiting with us this evening. Now, I've gone and traveled across half our state to be here and to see about this land. Now, I daresay some of you might have heard some of the more 'out-there' rumors about what my plans are; I just thought you'd like to hear it from me. This is the face. There's no great mystery. I'm a farmer, mares and stallions. I have numerous concerns spread across this state. I have many orchards makin' two thousand barrels. I like to think of myself as an apple filly. As an apple filly, I hope that you'll forgive just good ol' fashioned plain-speaking. Now, this work that we do here is very much a family enterprise- I work side by side with my jolly good sister Applebloom- I think one or two of y'all might have met her already. And I encourage my workers to bring their families, as well. Of course it makes for an ever so much more rewarding life for them. Family means children. Children means education. So wherever we set up camp, education is a necessity, and we're just so happy to take care of that. So let's build a wonderful school in Applelooza. These children here are the future that we strive for and so they all should have the very best things. Now something else, and please don't be insulted if I speak about this - bread. Let's talk about bread. Now to my mind, its an abomination to consider that any pony in this jolly good country of ours should have to look upon a loaf of bread as a luxury. We're going to dig water wells here. Water wells means irrigation, irrigation means cultivation. We're going to raise crops here where before it just simply was impossible. Y'all are gonna have more grain than ye know what to do with. Bread will be coming right out of your ears, ma'am. New roads. Agriculture. Employment, education. These are just a few of the things we can offer you, and I assure you ladies and gentlemen, that if we do find fertile soil here, and I think there's a very good chance that we will, this community of yours will not only survive, it will flourish." Her speech was recieved with unaminous praise for the grateful ponies. And so, work immediatly began.
The next day, Applejack and Applebloom traveled to a real estate agency, and began to negotiate with a Mrs. Rose. "I'd like ta buy some land. See, I just bought them Sunday ranch." said Applejack. They got a map of the entire area and began looking. "Each one of these lots are at 6 bits an acre." said Mrs Rose. "I'd like to buy it all." said Applejack. Silence fell upon them two. "I'd like it all. But I want it at a fair price. Ponies ain't gotta need to be boostin' prices. If they do, ye might as well tell 'em to forget it. Ye can collect yer commission from the seller in the usual way AND have five percent from me. And ye know we gotta keep this quiet, right?" asked Applejack. Mrs. Rose replied, "Well yes. But um, how quietl-". Applejack interrupted, "Ye make the buyin' from an unknown client. You buy the options for cash. That means, if somepony is home, ye should be able to make a deal right there...". Mrs. Rose asked surprised if Applejack had the money on her. "As a matter of fact I do." said Applejack as she gestured Applebloom to bring a large bag onto the table. She opens it, and pulls out some forms. Applejack said, "These forms will make it easy for ya, so let's bring write up an agreement."
A day later, Applejack was already in negotiations of building a well and proper roads in Applelooza, to makes things more efficient for Applejack. Then, when making their way away from the train station 2 stallions approached the Apples. "Ahh! The Apple family! Or at least, Apple sisters!" said one of them. "Howdy Gene. Charlie. Where y'all headin'?" said Applejack. "Oh, just passin' through and lookin' around." said Gene, "Funny to see you. Congrats on your orchard. I hear it hit nicely." Applejack proudly stated, "Two thousand barrels as a matter of fact. Y'all remember Applebloom?". "Ah yes." said Ablaze, "You all are a REAL family business!". "Well, I reckon ye got here too late. I gone and found some interesting prospects. But I tell you what Gene. I like you, so I wanna tell you. If y'all wanna make a stake, head East, cause all this here land is taken. Rather it be you than somepony else." reckoned Applejack. "Well, life must be real easy when ye got such a cute face followin' ye 'round." said Charlie. "Are ye tellin' me how cute Applebloom is?" asked Applejack, "Thank ye.". The 2 stallions began to leave, until, jokingly, Gene turned around and yelled at Applebloom, "Make sure you don't get swindled! Make at least half of what Applejack makes!" Applejack called, "Will do!", but when they were out of sight, Applejack turned and muttered, "Thank Celestia..."

Next Chapter: Chapter VI: A Welcome and an Unpleasant Surprise Estimated time remaining: 47 Minutes
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