“If you don’t want your orchard to disappear —”

“— all you have to do is sign here.”

Applejack, taking the quill in her mouth, leaned forward but stopped halfway. She looked at Flim’s eyes, then at Flam’s, hoping to find anything indicating trickery, but, probably for the first time, she could only see honesty and concerns. They somehow even looked sad.

She wished she could have spotted the sly glint she was used to see from them. She would have smiled, she would have laughed, then she would have torn their contract in millions of pieces before kicking them out, making sure they wouldn’t be able to comfortably sit for a few days. Therefore, her mind wouldn’t have been fighting her heart to decide what to do.

“It’s for the best,” said Flim.

“We’ll take care of the rest,” said Flam.

They were right, it [i]was[/i] for the best. At least, the best for her family.

“And what if I need to go on your side of the orchard?” she asked.

“You’ll see on the third page of the contract,” said Flim.

“That as long you don’t interfere with our harvest,” added Flam.

“You’ll have full access,” said the former.

“And that’s a promise,” replied the latter.

Applejack searched for her brother’s eyes on her right, but they were only filled with a calm fatalism. Whatever she would choose, he would support her. It had always been this way — she hadn’t any real trouble convincing him not to enrol — but that wasn’t what she needed right now. She needed a confirmation or a disapproval, something, anything besides that cold resignation.

A loud snort came from upstairs. Despite her attachment to the land, Granny Smith had only said one thing before leaving her handling the negotiations. [i]Do as you must[/i]. Even with all her claims of being the one in charge, it seemed that, in the end, she was willing to let Applejack run the business.

Or what would remain after signing.

Applejack thought about who was also sleeping upstairs. Her little sister, she deserved the best and Applejack couldn’t give her less. Whatever would be her destiny, even if it meant she would leave the farm, she deserved the best. And if she was destined to run the family business, at least she would have something to run.
So she signed.

“You’ve made the right choice, Miss Applejack —”

“— we’ll put Sweet Apple Acres on the right track.”

Applejack eyed the twins with a cold stare. “Please, leave.”

The brothers quickly complied, leaving the two Apples 

Big Mac put a bottle on the table and Applejack nodded. A glass of hard cider sounded right at the moment.

She took her glass and drank it in one gulp.

If Celestia was right, the war wouldn’t last more than a year. A lot could happen in a year, but Applejack was sure she would be able to buy their share to Flim and Flam. The war over, everything would be back to normal.

It was only a matter of time.