“Hiya, Applejack!” the brown and white cow said, walking over to the apple cart with a smile.

“Well howdy, Daisy Jo! Ain’t seen you around for a while.” Applejack smiled back. The morning rush was just tapering off, so she turned to straighten the apples while she caught up with Daisy.

“Ooh, I’ve been busy, don’tcha know? Actually, that was kinda what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Applejack cocked her head and glanced at her. “Oh yeah?”

“Well, um, I’ve been dating somepony…” Daisy Jo blushed.

“Somepony.” Applejack raised her eyebrows, the smile falling from her face.

“Ya.” Daisy nodded with a sad smile.

“Well now… congratulations.” Applejack tried to give a smile, but it fell again as her eyebrows furrowed. “Is— is it a stallion at least?”

Daisy chuckled. “Ya, a real nice fella. He has an ice cream shop in Canterlot… turns out he likes big girls like me.”

“‘Course he does.” Applejack gave her a nudge as she moved on to the next bushel of apples. “There’s a pony out there for everypony, er, cattle. I’m real happy for ya’.”

Daisy’s smile turned sad. “I’m sorry, Applejack. I know how Mom is gonna take it.”

Applejack sighed and shook her head. “She ain't gonna be happy with us... but you just get out there and live your life. I'll worry ‘bout the herd.”

“Thank you.” Daisy nuzzled her.

“Any time.” Applejack nuzzled back. “Ya’ know, these days I can’t help lookin’ at 'em and wonderin’ if more of ‘em might be like you. I mean… well…” Applejack frowned and shook her head.

“How can anyone be happy living in the herd? It looks kinda nuts?” Daisy raised an eyebrow, still smiling.

Applejack gave a bitter laugh. “Somethin’ like that.”

“They say it's peaceful, letting ponies take care of everything, following the old traditions. And could you leave the herd, if it meant being cut off by your family?” Daisy caught Applejack’s eyes. Applejack tried to give a quick and firm answer, but the lie wouldn’t come out.

After some thought, she snorted and turned back to her apples. “You shouldn’t have hadta choose. That ain’t right.”

Daisy shrugged with a sad smile. “That’s how it is, don’tcha know? At least you can tell me they're okay.”

Applejack was quiet for a moment as she polished an apple and looked at her reflection in it. “I thought about takin’ the milk money and puttin’ it away, in case other folks wanna leave one day. Y’all could buy a pasture and help out cattle from other herds...”

“Now, Applejack… you're on shaky turf because of me. If they found out you were keeping money aside for anycattle, they’d never stand for it.”

“Part of me wants to say, let ‘em find somepony else." She tossed the apple back in the bushel with a little too much force and turned to look at Daisy. "It just ain’t right! I got nothin’ against grown cattle livin’ how they want, but trappin’ their calves in it, and cuttin’ off their kin if they don’t wanna be there… part of me wants no part in that.”

Daisy nodded. “But the other part?”

Applejack sighed and turned back to the cart. “They can trust me. I give ‘em a good pasture and a nice barn, and I dunno what the next pony might give ‘em. You know what milk goes for, and how hard the bulls work… if they won’t take bits, the folks that want it deserve the best life a pony can offer.”

“Cattle know Sweet Apple Acres is a good pasture, and you folks treat a herd the bovine way.” Daisy gave Applejack a gentle nudge. “And the cattle in your herd know you helped me learn to read and handle bits.”

Applejack smiled at her. “It was the least I coulda done.”

Daisy smiled back and gave her a nuzzle. “Keep doing it. If a cow or bull wants to leave, just give 'em whatcha can.” Daisy’s smile turned sad, and she sighed. “And tell Mom I love her, and I’m happy.” .

Applejack hesitated. “She loves ya’ too, ya’ know.”

Daisy gave a small laugh. “She didn’t say that.”

“No. But I know she still does,” Applejack said, looking Daisy in the eye.

Daisy nodded. “Thanks. Well, I guess I’ll see you later! Give my best to your family!”

“You take care,” Applejack called as Daisy walked away. “And bring that stallion by to meet me oneday!”