Applejack and Apple Bloom had just entered the schoolyard when they spotted Cheerilee coming out of the building. The way she stomped her hooves while walking suggested that something was bothering her. "Howdy Miss Cheerilee." Applejack called out.
"Hello A.J." Cheerilee replied through gritted teeth as she passed them.
"Something bothering you, sugarcube."
Cheerilee stopped and turned to face Applejack. "No, everything's fine. I was just expecting to be a full-time teacher instead of an on-call sub."
Apple Bloom looked to her sister. "What's all that mean?"
"It means I have a lot of free time that I don't get paid for." Cheerilee told the young filly. "And without money, I can't afford a lot of things."
"Well ain't that a kick in the head." Applejack replied. "So what happened to bump you down to sub?"
"Rosemary decided at the last minute, to postpone her retirement until next school year." Cheerilee replied. "She's been a teacher since I was a student. I think she should just settle down and spend her time doing something restful."
"I reckon she's trying to squeeze a bit more money for her retirement." Applejack mused.
Cheerilee nodded, then motioned to Apple Bloom. "Taking her to be enrolled?"
"Yep. She's jus' about that age." Applejack replied, ruffling Apple Bloom's mane. "Though she ain't happy about it."
"What's your name?" Cheerilee asked the filly.
"Apple Bloom." She replied in a tone that suggested that she was bored. "What's yours?"
"I'm Cheerilee." The magenta mare offered a hoof for a shake. "Are you one of Applejack's cousins?"
"She's my sister." Applejack replied. "You've been gone a few years, so you prolly didn't hear what all happened."
Cheerilee rubbed one of her ears. "Did something happen?"
Applejack sighed. "You remember mah parents?"
Cheerilee smiled. "Yes I do. I should come by and reaquaint myself with them again."
"Ya cain't." Applejack replied. "I'm sorry Cheerilee, but they's moved on." She motioned towards the ground.
Cheerilee held a hoof to her mouth. "Oh. My condolences, Miss Apple." Apple Bloom sniffled a bit, averting her gaze. "Listen, if you need an extra helper for the year, I have a large amount of free time."
"I 'preciate that Cheerilee, but Mac and me can handle it."
Cheerilee looked to Apple Bloom. "Apple Bloom. I want you to consider me a friend. If there's anything and I mean anything that you want to talk about, I'm willing to listen."
"Thank ya, Miss Cheerilee." Apple Bloom replied quietly.
- - -
A tan earth pony trotted over to a white unicorn entering his store. "Good day Miss." The earth pony greeted. "And can I just say that you made the right choice by coming to Davenport's." He motioned towards an arrangement of couches, chairs, stools, coffee tables and end tables.
"I'm looking for something soft yet sturdy." The unicorn replied. "Something that can withstand falling onto."
Davenport guided her over to a dark blue low-backed couch. "Here's a model that's popular with the college crowd. Built with a low back so you can flop onto it from behind if need be. And the dark color hides most stains." He prodded one of the cushions. "Care to try it out?"
The unicorn positioned herself at one of the arms, stood up, held a front hoof to her poll, then exhaled while falling backwards onto the couch. Afterwards, she frowned. "Oh nononono, no. The cushions need to have a third less stuffing, and the arm provides too high of a pivot point."
Davenport smirked. "Are you a thespian of some sort, Miss?"
The unicorn deadpanned at Davenport. "If you must know, I need it for my boutique. I design and sell clothing, and I want to be properly prepared for when I receive clients with large orders."
Davenport cleared his throat. "In that case, let me show you an item better suited for such an event." He lead her towards the back of the store. "This little beauty is a fine example of Pferdan hoofcraft." He indicated a chaise lounge with a brass frame and upholstered in scarlet velvet.
"Yes I think that will do nicely." The unicorn replied. "And the Pferd are known for their industriousness."
They trotted over to the counter, where Davenport took a few documents from a cabinet. "Now, in a small town like this, we offer you same-day delivery."
"That won't be necessary." The unicorn replied. "I have an enchantment ready that I can place on it."
"A teleportation spell, I assume?"
"A talisman spell, actually."
"What exactly will that do, miss?" Davenport asked, rubbing his poll.
"It will allow me to summon the lounge to wherever I am." The unicorn replied with a grin.
"Ordinarily I would take a down payment and have you pay off the rest, but if you plan to enchant the lounge in such a way, I'm gonna need the full payment of 1450."
The unicorn took a hoof-sized topaz from her saddlebag, and placed it on the counter. "I believe this will be sufficient."
Davenport made the transaction on a clockwork register. "And your change is fifty bits." He said, counting out five -B- 10 bills. "Just need you to sign a couple of papers, and we'll be done."
The unicorn looked around. "Perhaps you could loan me something to write with. I seem to have forgotten my quill."
Davenport chuckled. "Maybe I could start selling quills on the side." He hooved her a pen. She signed her name on the alloted lines. "Alright Miss...Rarity. It looks like everything is in order."
- - -
Granny Smith narrowed her eyes at the pony that was approaching. These kinds of ponies were known to lead others astray with temptations. This one in particular had some kind of trained critter following her. When the pony had arrived at the porch, Granny got up out of her rocking chair. "Sastipe pachivalo bibi." The other pony said. "I'm looking for-"
"Yew can just turn around, go back down the way you came, and take your timberwolf with you!" Granny Smith snapped. The other pony recoiled in shock. "I don't need your type to come strutting aroun' here, tryin' ta lead my gran'kids astray."
"I-I-I'm just looking for Fluttershy." The other pony held up a hoof trying to placate Granny Smith.
Granny Smith picked up a nearby broom and held it threateningly. "That Fluttershy's a good mare, you hear me? Yer not gettin' your filthy hooves on her. I done told ya once. Leave!"
"Please, just let me talk to Mr or Mrs Apple." The other pony pleaded.
In response, Granny Smith swug the broom at her. The dog grabbed the broom and yanked it out of her grasp. "Help! Thieves! Bandits!" Granny Smith called out while shuffling to hide behind the rocking chair.
"That's enough." A soft voice replied from behind the pony and dog. They turned and found themselves looking into Fluttershy's angry gaze. "You should be ashamed of yourself, Toola Roola." Fluttershy stated. "She's a defenseless old lady."
"I'm sorry." Toola Roola pleaded. "I didn't mean to."
"Get out of here, ya no good Gypsy!" Granny Smith snapped.
Fluttershy felt something well up within Toola Roola, then a sharp stabbing pain in her own chest. Fluttershy collapsed, clutching her chest with one hoof and gasping. Toola Roola ran off crying. Jasper hesitated for a moment, then dropped the broom and followed after her.
They passed by Applejack and Apple Bloom who were entering the front gate. "What in the hay?" Applejack said as they ran past. She then saw Fluttershy and dashed over. "You okay there? Need me to take ya to the doctor?"
Fluttershy looked up to the orange earth pony. "I'll be alright, A.J.." She replied as the pain subsided. "It's just like a panic attack. I thought Granny Smith was in trouble."
Applejack and Granny Smith looked to each-other. "Fluttershy, why don't you and Bloom go inside and get something to drink." She said without turning to look at them. The pegasus stood up, then accompanied the earth pony filly into the house. Applejack waited a few moments to be sure that they were in the kitchen and out of earshot. "What did you say to her?"
"To who?" Granny Smith replied, as she settled back into her rocker.
"Toola Roola. That unicorn that just ran by me bawlin' her eyes out!"
"I don't care what her name is." Granny replied. "That Ribbontail hussy was up to no good. You, Bloom and Mac would do well to stay away from the likes of her." Applejack facehoofed.
"Granny, she's an upstanding mare. Her father owns the Chateau to the west."
"Then her father didn't do a good job raising her. And how upstanding can ya be with ribbons in yer tail? Answer me that, Jacky?"
"That, that right there." Applejack pointed. "You ain't in Pericarp anymore Granny. You can't jus go around flinging insults at ponies."
Granny Smith pushed herself to a standing position. "Applejack Eugenia Smith!" She began. "You an' Mac may run this farm, but I run this family! My word is law, and I will be obeyed!" She settled back in her seat. "Now go get yer dear granny a drink. And one for yerself too."
Applejack sighed. "Fine." She trotted inside.
- - -
A little while after noon, Rainbow Dash and Starsong signed out from work, then headed to a toy and game store in the northern section of town. As they entered, a light orange pegasus filly who was seated at a low table and playing with some poseable plastic toys, turned to an open doorway and called out. "Dad, you got customers!"
"Thank you Scoot." Came the reply. A reddish-orange pegasus emerged from the doorway, carrying a clipboard under one wing. "Welcome to Treasure Trove." He greeted. "What can I interest you mares in today?"
Starsong pranced over to the pegasus. "You got any Wonderbolts merch? My friend here is a huge fan." She indicated the cyan pegasus who was trotting over to the table where the toys were strewn about.
"Whatcha got here, Squirt?" Rainbow asked the filly.
"These are uh, Techquin Troopers." The filly replied. She indicated one of the toys. "This one's General Gearwheel. He's the leader of the good guys."
Rainbow Dash picked up the toy. It was a white unicorn clad in yellow and blue plastic armor. "Is this like a show on T.V. or something?"
"Yeah yeah." Scoots nodded. "It's one of my favorites. I've seen every episode like twice already."
Rainbow Dash pointed to some of the figures that were clad in red and black. "I'm guessing that these are the bad guys?"
"Those are Blackrock Raiders. They serve the dragon tyrant, Bauxite."
Rainbow Dash snickered. "What kind of name is Bauxite? It starts with the word 'box'."
Scoot giggled. "Yeah, He even comes in a big box." She pointed to a small stack of such boxes at the rear of the table. "Baux in a box."
"I think that could go somewhere." Rainbow Dash said. "Putting something inside a similar sounding thing. Like a lock in a sock, or a book in a nook."
"Or a rake in a cake." A pink earth pony next to Dash added. Dash and Scootaloo stared in surprise. "But that would be silly, cause you can't eat a rake."
"Pinkie Pie, how'd you sneak up on us?"
"That was easy, Dashie. You were busy talking about the action figures so I trotted over quietly to take a peek."
"Hi, I'm Scootaloo." The filly stated, extending a hoof to Pinkie Pie. "Do you like cartoons too?"
"Absotively Posilutely." Pinkie replied. "I watch them whenever I can. That reminds me, I should get a T.V. for my room so I can watch shows when I'm not working. You should get one too, Dashie."
"Nah, it'd cut into my training time." Dash replied.
"Heya Rainbow, Pinkie, Scootaloo." Starsong replied. "Looks like we got a meeting going over here."
"Hey Stars." Scootaloo replied. "Think you could play C&C with me and Sweetie Belle again?"
"How about this weekend?" Starsong replied.
"Oh, I love that game." Pinkie replied. "Even though I never played it. I've made tons of characters. You should join us Dashie." She hugged the cyan pegasus.
"Sounds like fun. Maybe I could get Fluttershy to join in."
- - -
"Jasper, may I see her?" A light pink unicorn asked the Diamond Dog. Jasper thought for a moment.
"Miss Roulette said that she did not want to see anypony. But I am also to act in her best interests. And what would be best for her right now is her mother's presence." He stepped aside and allowed the unicorn mare to enter.
Toola was sprawled out on her bed, sniffling and clutching a pillow to her chest. "Paintdrop." The other mare began. "What's wrong, foalfilly?"
"A pair of mean nags at the Apple farm." Toola replied without turning. "They chased me off."
"Did they hurt you in any way?" Aurelina asked.
"One of them hexed me, and the other called me names." Toola replied.
Aurelina reached over and lightly stroked Toolas neck. "Did they hit you?"
"Tried to." Toola replied. "Jasper took the broom from her."
"Which one tried to hit you?"
"The green earth pony."
"And who hexed you?"
"The yellow pegasus. Fluttershy."
Aurelina nosed Toola's cheek. "What if I told you that she's sorry."
"I don't believe that." Toola turned and looked to her mother.
"Would you believe it if she came and told you herself?"
"Maybe."
Aurelina gave Toola a hug then exited the room. "Take a half-hour break, Jasper." She told the Diamond Dog. "I'll take care of this." Jasper departed, then Aurelina entered another room. "She's willing to listen to you now." She told a yellow pegasus. Fluttershy stood up then stepped lightly over to Toola's room.
She entered then paused a few steps from the bed. "I'm sorry Toola Roola." She began. "Granny Smith was calling for help, so I acted without thinking."
"What was that, that you did to me?" Toola asked.
"Oh, that." Fluttershy looked to one of her hooves. "It's called The Stare. It's how I get animals to listen to me when other methods don't work. It works on ponies tool, but I've never had it come back on me before."
Toola Roola gave a sideways glance. "How do you mean, 'come back?'"
"When Granny Smith called you that mean name, I felt how much it hurt you. That seemed to have reversed The Stare onto me."
"So your hex reflected back onto you?"
Fluttershy thought for a moment. "It's not a hex, Toola. It's just a talent that comes on its own. But I never meant to hurt you."
Toola Roola rolled onto her back. "I can tell that you genuinely feel remorse." She replied. "You had my forgiveness when you didn't repeat the earth pony's insult, and called it a mean name instead."
"Oh thank you Toola." The pegasus exhaled. "Does this mean I can go now?"
"Actually, no." Toola Roola replied. "The reason I was looking for you in the first place-"
"Was to offer me a loan for the house." Fluttershy finished. "Your father already took care of that."
"Oh did he now?" Toola Roola snarked. "What were the terms of your bargain with him?"
Fluttershy slowly stepped backwards. "Just that he'd put up the money to buy the cottage, and I could pay him at 100 bits a month for five years."
Toola Roola thought for a moment. "No, there has to be something else."
"He told me that he'd provide the contractors to make repairs and alterations."
"There we go." Toola Roola replied. "You'll be paying the ponies that he sends to you."
"Is that bad?" Fluttershy rubbed one of her front ankles.
Toola Roola grinned. "No, actually. I think I can work something out if you do something for me."
"W-what would you ask of me?" Fluttershy stammered.
"How many clouds do you think you can make in two hours?"
"I think I could manage 120, if I had a good supply of water." Fluttershy replied.
"There's a river and an ocean nearby." Toola Roola said.
"May I ask what you need 120 clouds for?"
"It's for your friend, Rainbow Dash."
"For Dash, I'll see if I can manage more in that time."
"You won't be the only pegasus." Toola Roola added. "I'll get a few more to help."
"I'll have to let A.J. know that I'll be here a while then." Fluttershy turned to leave.
"Where is Applejack?" Toola Roola followed her out of the room.
"In that room just down the hall." Fluttershy pointed. "She's the one that brought me here."
The unicorn grinned. "Miss Shy, How does five bits a cloud sound?"
"That's rather generous. You must really need these clouds."
"And an extra thirty if you help deliver them."
"How are you able to afford that?" Fluttershy asked.
"Here's the thing." Toola Roola replied. "It's kind of a value transfer thing. For every twenty clouds you make, that's one month of rent that you don't have to pay. I will get a few other pegasi, and they'll be working off some of the debt that they've incured."
"It sounds like a way to cheat ponies out of good honest work." Applejack stated as they entered the room.
Toola Roola smirked. "If I wanted to cheat her, I wouldn't have bothered to negotiate price with her."
"She is getting a house out of the deal." Aurelina added.
"A woodside cottage, with many animal friends." Fluttershy said quietly. "And that I can't put a price on."
Applejack rubbed her poll and chuckled. "Sometin' about you reminds me of an uncle of mine, Toola."
"I could say the same about you, Applejack." Toola Roola replied. "But this isn't about our families. It's about our communities."
"I must apologize about Granny though." Applejack replied. "She's from a much different community."
"I bit into a cookie once, expecting chocolate chips." Toola Roola began. "When I found they were raisins, I was disappointed."
"You don't like raisins?"
"No, they're sour, and wrinkly. Like your grandmother."
"Toola." Aurelina chided. "It's not good to insult the family of your friends."
"Ma'am, she's got a point." Applejack replied. "Granny is a wrinkly old mare."
"With cobwebs under her tail." Toola Roola added. All four mares shared a round of hearty laughter.
- - -
"I suppose it's my fault for not designating a meeting place." Rainbow Dash said, pacing back and forth on the roof of the Weather Bureau. "I don't think we even discussed when she'd have everything ready."
"I can go looking for her if you'd like." Starsong offered.
Rainbow Dash scanned the roads below. "You said that deliveries for the Weather Bureau would be brought here." She pointed to the space between the building they were on and City Hall.
"Hey, here comes somepony." Starsong pointed to a yellow pegasus who was gliding towards them.
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash zoomed over and greeted her friend with a hug and a smile. "How was your first day of work?"
Fluttershy hugged Dash then ended the embrace. "The actual work wasn't that bad, but I made a few mistakes with some of the ponies around here, and ended up ruffling a few feathers."
"Yeah yeah." Rainbow Dash twirled a hoof. "Listen, I was thinking we could get a bite from... Sugarcube... Corner..." Her words trailed off as she saw a convoy of a dozen pegasi-towed carts bringing loads of clouds to the Weather Bureau. Riding in the lead cart, was Toola Roola.
"Dash!" Toola Roola called out. The pegasus flew over and started stammering and pointing. Toola Roola reached into a saddlebag, pulled out a scroll, and hooved it to her. "That's your lease permit. Don't lose it."
Rainbow Dash quickly read over the permit. "You did it, you really did it." She exclaimed.
"And these pegasi here will help you assemble it." Toola Roola indicated the cart pullers.
"Just tells us where yous wants it." One of the cart pullers said in a cheesy Neigh Jersey accent.
Rainbow Dash took a quick glance around. "Let's build it over by Carousel Boutique."
- - -
Applejack entered the house and found Granny Smith seated at the table. Spread out before her was the genealogy chart. Granny turned and looked at the orange earth pony. "Where'd you run off to?" She stated in a tone that hinted that she already knew the answer.
"I just went over to the Roulette's place to calm things down." Applejack replied, placing her hat on a hook. "Whatcha doing with the chart, Granny?" Applejack asked as she trotted over.
Granny Smith carefully rolled the chart up. "I was considering some changes, but I've decided that it's fine for now."
"Thinking about erasing my name for going to visit a Roani?"
"Your deed ain't that bad." Granny replied. "And it's better to keep you on the chart. You and Mac have deep ties to this community, and erasing either of ya would be like cutting off one of mah own hooves." She grinned. "And it's partly my error cause I never said ya couldn't go."
"I'm not seeing her for that, Granny." Applejack replied. "She's friendly, but we don't have a lot in common. She has her interests, I have mine. So don't worry about me." She reached back and curled her tail around. "This here's the only decoration you'll be seeing." She indicated the red band near the end of her tail.
Granny Smith placed the chart in its' proper spot. "You go get yerself washed up for supper. We're having some special guests over tonight, and I wish to make a good impression."
"Oh? Who'd you invite Granny?"
"A trio of flower farmers." Granny replied. They're nice mares, a little high strung though. I'm sure that you or Mac might take a shine to one o' them."
Applejack rolled her eyes before heading to the washroom.
- - -
The construction of the house took about an hour. Rainbow Dash gave the construction crew a rough outline of her vision, and added some suggestions along the way, but for the most part she stayed back while they worked. As soon as the house was declared finished, a gray, yellow-maned pegasus zoomed over from another location and planted a mailbox on the porch. She then reached into a large bag that hung by her side, took out a bundle of letters and rolled ads, and stuffed them into the mailbox, then departed. "What the hay was that?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"That's Ditzy Doo, she's one of the mailponys for this town." Starsong commented. "She just added you to her route, congratulations."
Rainbow Dash trotted over to the box and examined the letters. "Cool, I got a bunch of coupons for the town's shops. I should go check some of them out."
Starsong chuckled. "Yeah, You'll like some of the places."
"And check this out." Rainbow Dash held up a flyer for Carosel Boutique. "Rarity's hat looks like the head of a fly." She showed the flyer around. There were snickers and guffaws from Toola and the various pegasi. Even Fluttershy managed a chuckle.
"Yeah, cause of those white mesh domes she put on it." Starsong stated. "
"Hey Rarity!" Rainbow Dash called to the store below. The window to one of the upper rooms opened, then a white unicorn peered out.
"Yes, what can I do for you?" She asked.
Rainbow held out the poster. "Your hat looks like a fly!"
Rarity's face turned red, she picked up the nearest available heavy object, and hurled it at Rainbow Dash, the pegasus dodged then laughed. "If I had wings I'd come up there and make you sorry! "
"I'm sorry Rarity." Rainbow replied, adopting a contrite look. "Sorry that your hat looks like a fly." She burst into another round of snickering. Rarity ducked back inside, returned a minute later with the hat, threw it out the window, then slammed the window shut.
"Oh, oh my. I think we were too hard on her." Fluttershy said. She flew down and picked up the hat, then flew up to the window and knocked on it. Rarity yanked it open a moment later.
"Yes what is it?" She snapped.
"Rarity, I actually like your hat, may I come in?"
"You're not just saying that?" Rarity asked with some skepticism.
Fluttershy put on the hat. "I can see that you put a lot of work into it, and Rainbow Dash can be incredibly rude at times."
Rarity sighed. "Alright, I'll accept that. Come on in." She stepped aside so Fluttershy could enter. "Normally I would sell that for thirty bits, but you can have it if you like it."
Fluttershy offered the three -B- 10 bills that she had. "I know a little about sewing, and you deserve some payment for making this."
"Well, I suppose this will be a good compromise." Rarity took one of the bills. "Consider it a discount due to damage."
"Thank you Miss Rarity." Fluttershy said as she put the remaining bills in her saddlebag.. "I think this could be the start of something beautiful."