Quote Originally Posted by Trixie View Post
Btw, when Major wants money to repair town hall, she doesn't go asking towns magnates, she asks AJ. More proof Equestria is still feudal to the core?
Maybe, unless AJ voluntarily entered the rodeo to make the money to repair the town hall?



Well, yes, but it still doesn't change the fact AJ with any business savvy would see her position is doomed in the long run and would cut good deal with FF Brothers while she is still the one holding the most cards.
I don't think her business was doomed at the start. There's always a demand for Apple Family Cider and until the episode there was apparently no mass production of cider known in the area. So the business was pretty safe with no competition. Even though not all ponies could get their hands on the cider, there wasn't an alternative yet.

However, now that we know mass production is possible with this episode, AJ's business is in trouble unless she updates her business model. The episode shows she can get a huge volume of cider done with an hour's time and five friends. So from then on, yes she has to keep the production up or lose business, but it seems that cutting a deal with the brothers isn't necessary as long as she increases her work force.