//------------------------------// // Dr. Reinstein // Story: MLPU: Captain Equestria: The First Harmony // by TheInvincibleIronBrony //------------------------------// "Thank ya fer stoppin by," Applejack said as her latest customer walked away with a bushel of apples in a brown paper bag. Applejack opened a green tin on the end of her cart and dropped in the bits she'd gotten from the sale. "Not bad," Applejack told herself proudly, shaking the tin. She may not have been strong enough to do any of the heavy lifting back at the farm, but she was better than most at making sales. She'd always believed in being an honest salesmare, so when she said she was selling the best apples in ponyville she knew it to be true. "Just leave me alone!" Applejack heard a mare several yards from her stand say. Applejack hated eavesdropping, but the mare sounded less than pleased. Applejack peeked around her wagon to see a yellow mare in a flowery dress being harassed by a brown stallion nearly twice her size. "Oh, come on sweetheart. I'm just lookin fer a lil company. How bout ya come git a drink with me," the stallion offered, stepping closer to the mare. "I said no, now stop following me you creep," the mare seethed as she put distance between the two of them. Applejack watched as the stallion continued to follow the mare around the farmers market. Finally fed up with no one stepping in Applejack stepped away from her stand. "Ah jus wanna show ya a good time," the stallion pressed, smiling at the mare. "And she said she ain't interested," Applejack interrupted. The stallion turned and glared at the much smaller mare. "So maybe it'd be a good idea tah leave her be," Applejack suggested, mustering all of the confidence she could. The stallion towered over her as he started walking towards her. "And who's gonna make me half pint?" he asked, making Applejack back up, her confidence starting to fade. "What are you gonna do?" the stallion asked, pushing Applejack backwards into her wagon, making a few apples tumble onto the ground. "I believe she could call the police," a voice suggested, catching everyone's attention. Applejack turned to see a goat, not much bigger than her and dressed in an itchy looking cotton suit standing just a few feet from them. "Asking for help is the best way to handle a bully," the goat continued. The stallion glared at the goat for a moment, before turning back to Applejack. "Next time mind your own business," he threatened as he turned to walk away, crushing an apple under his boot. Applejack took a breath of relief as the goat approached her wagon. "Well this has been an eventful day at the market," he stated, a small smile on his face. Applejack gave a half hearted laugh. "Thanks fer steppin in fer me," she said gratefully. "I'm Applejack Apple," she continued, holding out a hand to shake. The goat shook her hand. "I'm Dr. Reinstein," he replied. "Tell me though Ms. Apple, why did you step in?" Reinstein asked curiously. Applejack looked at the goat, confused by the question. "Jus seemed like the right thing tah do I guess," she replied, shrugging. Reinstein smiled at the answer. "Of course. This may seem like an odd question, but what do you think of the war?" he asked looking at Applejack intently. Applejack stopped to think for a moment. "Ah think the Minotaurs shouldn't have invaded like they did. If the news is right they did it fer Goatany's natural resources. If Minotine needed help they should have asked fer it. Stealin what ain't theirs is just dishonest," Applejack said confidently, noticing the impressed look on Dr. Reinstein's face. "Well I have to admit, that is the best answer I have ever gotten for that question," Reinstein replied, a pleased smile spreading across his lips. "Ms. Apple I'd like to offer you a chance to help in the war effort," the goat said placing a hand on Appkejack's shoulder. Applejack looked at Reinstein confused. "Ah don't know what use you think Ah'd be, but Ah ain't a soldier," Applejack replied. "And Ah doubt Ah'd be aloud in the military anyway." "I am offering you this chance because you are not a soldier. At least give it some thought. I'll be in town at the recruitment tent tomorrow. Let me know if you are interested," Reinstein said as he turned to leave. "Oh before I go," he said turning back to the wagon. "How much for an apple?" "Two bits," Applejack responded, giving the goat a strange look. Reinstein picked up an apple as he deposited four bits into Applejack's tin before turning to leave. "Ah said two bits," Applejack called after him. "I know. The other two were for the apple the bully stepped on," Reinstein said, waving as he disappeared into the crowd. ////////////////////////// Applejack had plenty of time to think about Reinstein's offer throughout the rest of the day. It was taking up so much of her focus that she had barely noticed how reserved and nervous Applebloom was after returning from town hall, a trip that had taken far longer than it should have. Applejack only stopped thinking about the choice she'd been given long enough to help Applebloom pack up their wagon. "Ya okay Applejack? Ya look a lil... distracted," Applebloom asked as the pair walked along the road leading to Sweet Apple Acres. "What?" Applejack asked absentmindedly. "Oh, nah, Ah'm fine, jus' a bit tired is all. Ah'll be fine," Applejack explained, giving Applebloom a reassuring look and taking notice of her sister's apprehensiveness. "What about you?" Applejack asked curiously. "Umm, it's nothin'. I'll tell you an' Mama after dinner," Applebloom said scratching the back of her head and almost losing control of the wagon she was pulling. She quickly regained control and gave Applejack a nervous chuckle, picking up the pace. Applejack watched her sister in confusion as they walked. //////////////////////// Dinner had been laid out as soon as Applejack and Applebloom got home. Applebloom seemed to get even more nervous the longer she sat in her chair, poking at her vegetables with her fork. "Applebloom, those are carrots on yer plate, not toys," Ginger scolded her daughter, making Applebloom gulp. "Eat," she finished as she returned to trying to get Macintosh Jr. To do the same. Applejack watched her sister for a moment as she took a bite of her own carrots. "What's gotcha all fidgety Bloom?" Applejack asked, unable to hold back her curiosity. Everyone in the room turned to look at Applebloom, who seemed uncomfortable with the attention. Even Mac was quiet for a few moments. "Ah...," she started trailing off. Ginger looked at her daughter with concern. "Bloom honey, it's okay. Jus' say it," she said in a comforting tone. Applebloom took a deep breath before she spoke. "Ah signed up fer the army," she blurted out, looking away from her family. Ginger's jaw dropped as Applejack jumped out of her seat. "Ya did what?!" Applejack shouted in shock, surprising her little brother. "Ah had a good reason!" Applebloom defended. Applejack opened her mouth to reply, but Ginger cut in. "Stop! Both of you!" She yelled. "Let yer sister explain," she told Applejack as she lifted her son out of his high chair and started calming him down. Applejack still looked angry, but sat back down and gestured for Applebloom to continue. "Ah'll get pay as soon as mah trainin starts. It's a thousan' bits a month fer as long as Ah'm in the service," she explained. "Ah know things've been hard here on the farm. With me in the military Ah can send money back tah you and ya won't have tah feed me," Applebloom finished. Applejack hated to say it, but she knew her sister was right. This would make things easier. "Ah'm still not sure. Bloom there're ponies gettin killed. We might have more money here, but with you gettin shot at, it'll get even more stressful," Applejack argued. Applebloom sighed. "Ah know, but we're runnin outta options. Ah had tah do somethin. Ah'm sorry Ah didn't talk tah ya about it first, but this is what Ah have tah do fer meh family," Applebloom reasoned. Ginger sniffed back a few tears as she approached Applebloom. Applebloom was surprised when her mother hugged her, but didn't fight. Applebloom hugged back as Mac wrapped his small arms around her shoulder and leaned on her. Applejack joined her family in the hug as Ginger spoke. "Promise you'll be careful," Ginger said softly as everyone pulled away. Applebloom nodded, smiling. "Ah'll call every day," she promised. "Ya better. If ya don't Ah'm gonna come find ya and drag ya back home," Applejack joked, giving her sister a playful punch on the arm. Applebloom chuckled. "Well it's time tah git Mac ready fer bed. Don't you two stay up long. There's still work tah do tomarrah," Ginger said as she walked out of the kitchen, followed closely by Applebloom. Applejack stood alone in the kitchen, thinking about Dr. Reinstein's offer more seriously. "Ah suppose it couldn't hurt tah find out what he wants from me," she told herself. ///////////////////// Half way around the world in a small village between Canistan and Minotine a young Diamond Dog ran to a secret crypt on the edge of the village. He could hear the gunfire and explosions coming from the far end of his home. A large force of minotaurs had attacked in the night and had started killing villagers indiscriminately. The Diamond Dog entered the crypt and closed the door behind him. He turned only to be met with a gun held by an elderly dog. Recognizing his apprentice the old dog lowered his aim. "Were you followed?" the old dog barked as he put the gun away. "No sir, but it's only a matter of time until they find us. They know it's here. Maybe we should try to escape with it," the young dog suggested as his mentor lit a flashlight. The old dog shook his head. "We'd never make it. All we can do now is pray they never find it's hiding place," he explained shining his light on an ornate carving of a tree on the back wall of the crypt. The young dog nodded in understanding. "Right. I'll guard the-" a gunshot cut him off. The older dog whipped around only to find a yellow stallion pointing a gun at him while his student bled on the ground. "Won't be any need for that," the stallion said as the older dig reached for his weapon. The stallion shot him twice before he could raise it. "Thanks for showing me where the Tesseract is good sir," the stallion told the corpse as he picked up the flashlight and pointed it at the carving on the wall. The stallion searched for several minutes until he found a carving of a snake in the roots of the tree. "Here we go," he said as he inspected the snake. He found a small space separating the eye from the rest of the carving and pushed it in. A small drawer popped out, emanating a bright glow. "Oh, Flim is gonna be one happy stallion," the pony said smiling.