"Come on, pick up, pick up …" *beep**beep* "Dang it. Again? I KNOW you can go through, now come on."
"Uh, Flint? If you're done talking to that communicator, think you can give a hand on moving some of these trees?" called Rainbow Dash.
"Oh, yeah, I'm coming."
If anyone was on edge about things, it would be Flint. Even while lending a hand with the others of the mane six to plant a few trees around Ponyville, he still had his mind a bit stuck on Steven's situation. And how could he not be? Given how he was trying to teach friendship to something that could literally crush him like a bug, or even worse at any given time. Without any way to contact them though, at least for now, Flint could only hope they contact him back soon.
As for Ponyville, it had been getting some decent recovery, and with magic now a factor again it was a lot quicker too. For Ponyville, with buildings now better made all over again from months of preparation, the main work now was planting. In this case, some of the Mane Six were working on getting some trees planted around town.
"AND there," Flint said, placing the tree into its proper place nearby the Ponyville Café.
"Wow, this is going great; that's about twenty trees planted today. Ponyville's sure looking a lot better," said Starlight, going over a checklist she had with her. Work for rebuilding Ponyville had been going rather smoothly, the checklist indicating their works with rebuilding some Ponyville bridges, and some farm work over in Sweet Apple Acres.
"Yeah, though I dunno why you're making these extra changes: the Café by the river, that furniture shop by the main hall."
"There's nothing wrong with making some new stuff while remaking the town," said Trixie, who was oddly happy with the extra work.
"You're a bit chipper about this work, ain't ya Trixie," said Applejack, wiping some sweat from her brow.
"Yeah, well I just figured since you've all did such a great job, the Great and Powerful Trixie has decided to give her extra touch of magic to make Ponyville the best on Equestria!"
"And did "The Great and Powerful Trixie" write down to build a statue of herself by the front gate?" questioned Flint. Trixie blushed, and pretended to have no part of it.
"My, h-how did that get there?" Trixie asked, playing with her front hooves and turning away. Flint did the honor of crossing THAT off. The others had that look when looking to Trixie.
"... Ok, maybe I had a teeny tiny bit of involvement."
"Very funny," Flint sighed, "So, how's about the Great and Powerful Trixie work her magic to rekindle the school, eh? Heard they still need some floorboards."
"Oh fine," Trixie sighed. Well, she tried. Trixie turned, and trotted off to go and handle that. Well, as she did that, the others went off back to the checklist, Rainbow Dash flying off to move some clouds by the tree to give it some water.
"So Flint. I heard you've been taking guard duty at Canterlot?" Rainbow Dash asked after giving the cloud a good kick for some rain.
"Kind of; ever since Grogar's little jump at Canterlot, things had been a bit more edgy lately. I haven't seen any bit of him though, and I search Canterlot from top to bottom at least three times, so if you ask me he's been and gone," Flint replied, thinking back on just how much he looked.
"Oh Hey by the way, did you see Flash Magnus while there?" Rainbow asked.
"Eh, maybe a little bit, why? All I know is that he's working for the Canterlot Guard."
"Working for the guard? He's one of the top commanders now!" Rainbow revealed. This caught Flint off guard.
"Wait. Top commander already? It's only been a few months, how'd he go up the ranks so fast?"
"Beats me, but he invited me for some Military patrol and seriously, he's a pro at this stuff! Even YOU would've been impressed, Flint," Rainbow explained, a little smug at the end there. She didn't know jack about military guards outside of the wonderbolts, but that was a bit quick even for Flash Magnus. This conversation was overheard by Jasper close by, who herself was moving some materials for one of the bridges in town over her head - it was as big as a wagon, mind you.
"Flash Magnus was already a soldier with Netitus before being stuck in Limbo, I'd be surprised if he wasn't used to this."
"Hey, you two, I got your clay. Where do you want this?" Jasper then asked, showing the large piece of material.
"Oh, that uh, just put it aside for now. We won't be working on the bridge for a while," Starlight replied. The ground shook when Jasper dropped it by her side, and while the weight could've crush any of them Jasper made it pretty easy to handle. Jasper brushed her hands off of some stray clay.
"Alright, that's that. Anything else you need to move, or are we good?"
"We're good for now, Jasper, thanks," replied Starlight. There was a bit of alone time between Flint and Jasper for a brief moment as the ponies were off handling a few more plants. Jasper glanced to Flint, seeing the communicator in his other hand.
"You're still worked up over that?"
"Yes, I'm still worked up over that Jasper," Flint replied, knowing what she was referring to as he looked to the communicator, "Steven and five others are lightyears away somewhere with one of the most dangerous Gems in history. How could I NOT be worried about it, especially since this won't go through."
Jasper groaned, and suddenly Flint found his hand empty, the communicator in Jasper's hand now.
"You can worry all you like, there's nothing you can do about it. So stop staying in ten feet of this thing for a bit, ok?" Jasper advised.
"Give me that back," retorted Flint, "When Steven manages to call in -" Flint was cut off when one hand pushed against his face as the other held the communicator just out of reach.
"Then you'll be the forth to know," Jasper cut in, making sure to keep the communicator away from Flint. All these days of him hogging the communicator, especially since they last got through to them sometime ago, had gone on for long enough. Without anymore discussion, Jasper actually went as far as to bubble the thing, and with a flick of the finger got it moved back to the temple.
"You didn't have to bubble it," Flint stated.
"You know I do," Jasper stated back. Flint just groaned, but no matter. He can just go and get it later when he'll have time. He got calmed down, but Jasper still wanted to talk.
"Anyway, how'd you do with princess workaholic? Did you talk some sense into her while on your guard duty?" Jasper asked. Flint felt bothered all over again.
"I tried at least several times with Twilight, but before I can talk it's either she has to go off on "royal duty" or she's too busy with something else. Which reminds me …" Flint's gemstone then started to glow a little bit, as something started to come out, turning out to be a scroll. "I think you'd want this."
"And what's that?" Jasper questioned, opening up the scroll and checking out what this even was all about herself.
"Another one of Twilight's many "duties" I managed to slip by before anyone noticed," Flint replied.
"Settle dispute between ... The HoofFields ... and McColts. And you think we're better for the job? What's even the problem anyway?" Jasper questioned. Both names did NOT ring any bells in her head, nor ever mentioned much before.
"Not too sure. But I found that there's a LOT more paralleles between the ponies and humans, and considering that they literally have the same names as "Headfield and McCloud", I can make a good guess."
"I can't, who're they?" Jasper asked unamused, both names flying over her head. If Hooffield and McColt weren't getting through, Headfield and McCloud weren't doing much either. Flint took a quick breath.
"I remembered stumbling on some of this information during that whole Pink Diamond investigation thing. Supposedly these two families had gone after eachother so much, and so violently it's considered it's own "war" in human history."
"Let me guess: you think these pony look-alikes are doing the same thing?"
"It's not that farfetched of an idea, and NOT something Twilight would want to deal with. So, what do you say?" Flint offered. Jasper paused and looked back to the description of this "HoofField and McColt" family, considering the kind of idea that Flint presented. Two pony families at war with eachother …
"... Eh, pass."
"Pass?" Flint was given back the scroll, as Jasper moved on to the work in Ponyville.
"I've already gone through five thousand years of that drama, and I'd rather not get involved in anymore of it, unlike others. Besides, handling long disputes sounds more like your department than mine," Jasper replied. A bit unlike her to refuse work, but Flint still saw her point, and rolled back up the scroll again.
"Suit yourself. In that case, keep an eye on things while I'm gone will you?" Flint asked, as he put the scroll back inside his own head.
"Yeah, sure," Jasper replied. … Only to slip in, "I'm not telling you if the others call in or not."
Flint cringed.
"Dang it - Well, I'll be going. See you later," Flint said. Well, it didn't matter anyway. As Jasper said, he couldn't do much about what goes on in space even if he wanted to. He left to wonder why he didn't go on this trip with them from the get go as he started to walk off, as the others were left to tend to Ponyville. Another problem off the alicorn's to-do list for today. However, this didn't go unnoticed by everyone. As Jasper went towards some of the ponies, another Gem took notice of Flint walking away.
"Mind if I come with you?" asked a kind voice, not long after she finished handling some of the trees with the group. Flint knew that voice anywhere, stopping and looking back to see Jade not too far away, walking towards him.
"Oh, Jade, hey. Didn't realize you were listening," Flint said. "You sure you want to? My destination's kinda far from here."
"It's alright, Flint," Jade reassured "... Besides, it's been a very long time since you and I did something together."
Flint paused. Typically he wouldn't want Jade to follow him on a mission for his own protection over her, but then again most of his time had kept him away from Jade bit by bit, and he didn't want her to feel left out.
"Well I suppose. … You know what, come along Jade. I could use the company," Flint decided. Jade was glad to come along, but as the others were seeing this.
"That's ALL it took for her to go?! I don't get it, I've seen you argue with him for hours, and it only takes her one sentence to get him to do anything," Trixie said. Not that she wanted to test that with Flint, but Starlight's chats gave Trixie enough of an idea, whether she did see this argument go down or not.
"I reckon that's from them being so close," Applejack figured.
~~~~~~
So with their mission now in their sights, Flint and Jade were off and on their way to their destination. Just how long had it been since Jade and flint were only by themselves? Typically they were in company of one of the Crystal Gems or Off-Colors in recent years, so being together and only together was a nice return to basics, plus Flint could keep Jade safe during this outing this time around. Jade was feeling pretty good about it too: all of that time Flint had spent doing who knows what had left her lacking lately anyway.
As far as navigation went though, walking there wasn't gonna do well this time it seemed. He could run all the way there if he wanted to, but without knowing exactly how far the destination was, it was decided to use a more casual approach. Well, casual for them anyway, and a bit of a eye-candy for those still on the ground.
"How long did they have this hot air balloon?" Jade wondered.
"Not really sure, but it's convenient either way. We're making pretty good time anyway, and if we're on course we'll reach the Smoky Mountains in no time at all," Flint replied, looking back to the mission on the scroll.
"The Smoky Mountains. … Isn't that the same place they got that Healing Crystal from? They didn't say anyone lived there."
"True, but it's been a few years, it should've given whoever this is enough time to settle. We'll find out when we get there."
Jade quietly looked on to the sky for a while, though her eyes did glance over to Flint, seeing him looking more into the mission rather than much else.
"So Flint. We haven't talked in a while. … How're you doing?" Jade asked as they floated along.
"It's been fine," Flint simply replied. Well, not too much there. Flint looked over to Jade briefly, only to find a quick glance from her before she acted like she was just staring off to space again.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just … well, isn't it nice up here? Just you and me floating in the sky?" Jade pointed out. Flint took a look around for a bit before his eyes went to the scroll again.
"Guess so, but not now. We're trying to handle a mission, remember?"
"Oh. Yes, sorry," Jade sighed. She should be thanking her lucky stars Flint would bring her at all, so she wasn't gonna go and push the envelope persay. Flint looked over to Jade for a bit …
"... I think I see a Ruby space ship in the clouds there," Flint then said, going to Jade's side. Jade was caught off guard a little bit, but appreciated his statement. She followed his eyes up to the clouds, and found which one he was pointing to.
"Oh, I see it. And next to it is … well, it's either an apple tree, or Rhodonite after Fulgurite shocked her that time," Jade pointed out. Flint saw what she meant as well, a few chuckles escaping his mouth on the memory she brought up. Sure it was an accident, but Rhodonite having a round bush for some hair gave some of them quite the laugh, even Fulgurite herself.
"Oh, we're going the tricky route are we?" Flint smirked, and soon pointed out something else in the clouds. "Tell me then. Is that cloud over there Bismuth with her hair tied back, or is it a octopus with a smiley face from Mask Island?"
"Looks more like a Jack-O-Lantern with a hat to me," Jade stated.
"Yeah, maybe. Your turn now," Flint sighed. Flint didn't hear much of anything, but when he looked Jade was instead looking to him.
"See, Flint? It's okay to have some fun, even while during a mission," Jade stated. Flint cleared his throat.
"W-Well, it'll be a while before we get there so … Oh ok, so you're right. Still your turn," Flint said. Jade simply smiled, took a bit to look around the area.
"Okay. I think I see - … Emerald?"
"Emerald? Where do you see that?"
"No, no, down there," Jade corrected, pointing down from the hot air balloon. They were still up fairly high, so they could see much of the world down below them for at least a town square mile. Flint tried to find this source Jade was pointing on about, and sure enough there indeed was someone down on the ground. Course, it took a bit to point out it was indeed Emerald, as there was something odd over him, like a statue or something.
"Wait that is him. Hold on, didn't Jasper say he went on a mission for us to the White Tail Woods?" Flint asked.
"I believe so. Emerald! Hello!" Jade called, waving to him. Her voice carried on the wind, and sure enough Emerald actually did stop. However, they didn't realize it just yet, but he only realized that someone was there for the statue getting his attention to the object in the sky.
"It's about time too. HEY GUYS, DOWN HERE!" Emerald called.
"I think we're close anyway. Jade, pull the red line and try to release some heat, we're gonna land here," Flint instructed. Jade did as instructed, and with a tug on one of the ropes, which as Flint said was red in color. When she did that, a patch opened up on the balloon, some of the air slowly starting to release, and the balloon started to descend downward towards Emerald. The green Gem couldn't be happier to see some of the Harmony Gems FINALLY come for him after who knows how long. The hot air balloon landed on an open patch on the hillside, though Emerald needed a bit of time to actually reach them. Jade started going over to him first, but Flint felt reluctant. Especially when he saw what he was doing.
"Finally. What kept you rocks so long? Oi … heavy ..." And FINALLY Emerald collapsed, the weight of the object just a little bit too heavy to keep levitating any further. Jade was humbled seeing that, though Emerald did levitate it off just long enough to move himself out from underneath.
"It's so good to see you, Emerald. I hope your mission went over well," Jade asked, helping the winded Gem to his feet.
"Circumstance points to: yeah, whatever. Just load her on board and give us a lift home, will ya," Emerald replied, winded in breath and hand to his head. It didn't take them much time for Jade and Flint to see the object in question, Flint confused as Jade was left silenced. It sure was a pretty Gem-like object to be in Equestria.
""Her"? Emerald? Wait a minute, where'd you even get this?" Flint questioned, looking her over.
"One: that is indeed a her. Second, I found her by some scrapyard near the White Tail Woods along with A LOT of other stuff. And do me a favor and TRY to treat her like a actual person please, she's sensitive," Emerald suggested. Flint was still a little bit confused by the insistence of such, looking at the statue.
""She's" a statue, Emerald."
"Dude, you HAVE to notice something about her. Come on Sessile, say hi," Emerald insisted.
"..... H-Hello."
THAT was all it took for Flint to immediately jump back in alarm, now seeing this thing as alive. Sessile felt a blush coming on and tried covering her face in dismay, feeling like she did something wrong.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry. I-I shouldn't have said anything," Sessile said in panic.
"Sessile, relax, it's fine, they're just spooked. Flint and Jade, Sessile. Sessile, Flint and Jade. … I wanted to bring her back. Hope it's cool," Emerald quickly said, trying to calm everyone down. Flint took a bit before calming down himself. But as he was, Jade slowly went over to Sessile, looking the Gem object right eye to eye.
"... Sessile? ……. Oh Sessile … w-what have they done to you?" There was a moment of silence, which was quickly broken.
"WHOA, you know her?!" Emerald gasped. He clearly didn't expect that from Jade. But Jade didn't answer just yet, taking in one of her fellow Jades now turned into … well, whatever this is. Sessile needed a minute too as Jade placed both hands into Sessile's hands.
"I … Jade? ... Is it really you?" Sessile asked. Jade nodded.
"Yes, it's me Sessile. It's been forever. … Did Homeworld do this to you?"
"Well ... they thought I'd be better this way, and could be more useful like this. T-They're not wrong, but ... I'm sorry you have to see me like this."
"Sessile. …"
"Hello?! Questions! When was THIS a thing?" Emerald asked again. Jade snapped back to reality for a minute.
"As shocked as I am. I'd like to know too, actually," Flint commented, still frazzled. This was ONE thing Jade didn't tell him about at all.
"Oh. Sorry," Jade said. "Sessile and I, we used to work together back on Homeworld, before I met Flint actually. Sessile made the best reports, and stories.
"I-I think yours were much better Jade. Mine were barely anything," Sessile said modestly. Emerald was completely off guard by this, and actually expected BOTH of them to be shocked and slightly scared. Flint took a DEEP breath before turning to the one that brought her here.
"Emerald, you got ten seconds to tell me right now why you have a Homeworld harvested Gem with you?" Flint questioned, his voice growing in anger. Last thing they needed was someone stealing from Homeworld right now.
"Hey hey hey, I told you I found her in a scrapyard, don't ask me how she got there because I vaguely know!" Emerald said. Flint didn't look like he was buying it, but Sessile saw this going on.
"W-Wait, he's not lying!" Sessile said, "H-He … he found me. I-I told him to just leave me at the scrapyard, but he wanted me with him … I-I don't know why I was so important to him."
"Really? And how did you get here, might I ask?" Flint questioned. Emerald did some gestures for her to keep talking, as much as Sessile felt humbled by the Gem's look.
"...…. Grogar said he'll make good use of me, so he uh … brought. Me. Here?"
… huh?
"... Grogar? Brought you here? The angry old Ram. Got to Homeworld, and brought you here?" Flint re-stated. Sessile wasn't sure if she should just continue with that or change her story, so she kept quiet. Emerald though filled in the gap.
"Oh, her and a ton of other stuff! Seriously, he's got enough metal to fill an air hanger," Emerald said. Flint needed a minute to contemplate this turn of events. Far as he was aware, at least for a bit, Grogar sounded no more dangerous than some angry Bugbear, or some low-magic Unicorn perhaps. But hearing that he can not only reach Homeworld, but was taking who knows what from it and bringing it back here opened his eyes to the possible danger the ram now held against them. Flint got himself calmed down again.
"You know Grogar?" Sessile asked, a bit surprised.
"We heard he attacked Canterlot while Twilight was away," Jade answered. "We didn't take him very seriously, but if he was doing this …"
"Alright, here's what we're gonna do," Flint decided, "Jade and I are already trying to handle a mission right now, so either you two wait here, or -"
*THUD* and already Sessile was loaded up in the hot air balloon.
"You sure about this? I can just wait here," Sessile asked nervously.
"Oh come on, it'll be fine. Alright Flint, Jade, let's go flying."
"We're walking the rest of the way, I hope you know that," Flint said.
"... SERIOUSLY?!"
…….
"Don't be too upset, Flint. He did walk a long ways," Jade insisted.
It took some bit of working out, but next thing he knew Flint was stuck with carrying Emerald on his shoulders as he was levitating Sessile not too far away. Jade was saved in the manual labor work and was simply walking alongside the three, mostly trying not to have Flint go off on Emerald for basically using him like a mount.
"When I said we were walking, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind," Flint pointed out.
"Hey, I walked for at least ten miles, don't judge me if my dogs need a break," Emerald retorted.
"You don't have - … wait, that's an expression isn't it?" Flint realized. He may not know too many of the expressions on Earth as much as Emerald, but he didn't want to feed the troll any of his naïveness.
"Oh no, I'm too heavy aren't I? J-Just leave me here, you can get me later," Sessile suggested.
"No way Sessile, it's fine," Emerald insisted. It was a bit odd to see Emerald this generous, but Flint wasn't gonna try and question it with Sessile having as much doubt over her as it was. Besides, Flint was probably feeling the same thing.
"Pray to the stars the others don't jump to conclusions when we bring her back," Flint thought. Jade walked with the floating harvested Jade, now taking some time to see what truly happened to her fellow Gem. Sessile knew she was staring, but she didn't say anything to stop her. After all, she was used to it by now.
"So, Sessile. I hope you don't mind me asking, but is that your gemstone in the center of you?" Jade asked, trying not to be too invasive with her question.
"Well … yes and no," Sessile replied, "It's inside that glass casing. … They … tried to compromise for my glowing stone. Oh, n-nevermind me, what about you? I thought they -" Sessile asked, but quickly stopping herself before finishing. She didn't want anyone mad at her anymore than what they are.
"No. It's okay Sessile," Jade replied, knowing where she was going, "I was actually scheduled to be replaced, but before they could get me, it was Flint who saved me and got me out of Homeworld. I know he can look a bit rough sometimes, but he's a very nice one when you get to know him."
Sessile looked over to Flint, who was seemingly unaffected by the words and still just walking along. Emerald though could see that Flint heard every single word, and was trying not to have his faint blush shown to them. It was amazing after what wrong he did to Jade and she could still say that about him.
"I … felt it was unfair. She works so hard, and her reward is being shattered? Nonsense," Flint stated.
"...…. Thank you, Flint. That's … that's very … noble," Sessile said. Now Flint stopped moving.
"Noble? … You think so?"
"D-Did I say the wrong thing? I'm sorry I didn't mean -"
"You're fine, Sessile. And I agree," Jade said, "You were such a high-ranking Gem, yet you always consider those around you when no one else would, even while working for Homeworld."
"... Noble. … I never looked at it quite like that before," Flint admitted. Even after everyone basically told him so, he truly never thought it was too much like that.
"Oh? How have you looked at it?" Jade asked.
*SPLAT!*
Before their conversation could continue, a powerful impact suddenly caught their attention. This sounded much like a crash and splatter, and it sounded dangerously close to them too as some of the nearby birds scattered. It was almost enough to lose Emerald's concentration on Sessile, but it was enough to make him fall off of Flint's shoulders. Flint immediately drew out his pistol weaponry (scaring Sessile a bit actually), as he went over to investigate. And what did he find?
A splattered pumpkin. Or what was left of it, with the seeds and gunk inside said pumpkin splattered all over the place. Luckily the birds weren't hurt too much, though one bird did get covered in the gunk, finding it as disgusting as it looked. Flint barely had time to even process this himself when -
"Flint!" gasped Jade. Just in time too, as Flint looked to the sky to find another pumpkin flying his way! Pistol at the ready, he blasted it right out of the sky and the giant orange plant exploded into a orange mess … which still splattered him.
"... Yuck."
"Geesh, who's practicing their throws? Whoever it is, they're darn accurate," Emerald wondered, in a rare moment of NOT laughing at Flint getting splattered. The bird hobbled over towards Jade, trying to clean up its feathers of the gunk. Sessile looked to the bird, finding that the animal wasn't fazed at all by her.
"You poor thing. Here Sessile, can you hold her for a minute while I help clean her," Jade said, gently picking up the little bird. Sessile nodded and the bird was placed in the palms of her "hands". Sessile felt quiet as Jade cleaned the bird, still amazed it wasn't scared or disgusted with her appearance. As for Emerald and Flint …
"Eh, Flint? You guys said you were seeing some feuding family didn't ya? Think we found it."
And it sure seemed to be. Just up ahead beyond the next hill, and they soon found what looked to be the main destination. It wasn't exactly the smoky mountains, but more like two steep hillsides side by side, with a valley in between the two. However, much like most of the area they've been through so far, it didn't look really its best: the river in between the hills was dried up now, and plants weren't too notable outside of just grass for natural plants.
They saw two settlements, each one on top of a hill, and both settlements almost seemed like the opposite of one another. One of them was hardly built much at all but they saw a lot of the pumpkins and even a few trees growing there, whereas the one across the way only had cut stumps and dirt for plant life, but a strong sturdy foundation for their settlement. They even saw one side still shooting more pumpkins towards the other house, some flying off a different way.
"The HoofFields and McColts. This should be it," Flint concluded. He then turned to Jade and Sessile.
"Alright, looks a bit risky so you two wait it here until we get back. Sound good?" Flint asked.
"If you say so. Just be careful," Jade advised. Flint nodded and went back looking to the two settlements.
"Now, where do we even start?"
As if on cue, one pumpkin was launched way out of the way, and right towards them fast! Flint jumped aside, but emerald was clocked square in the face, him stumbling until he crashed into a nearby tree.
"... Let's start with those pumpkins, huh?" Emerald muttered from under the plant. Flint did smirk in spite of himself.
"Peridot would've loved to see this," he thought.
~~~~~~
"Ready! Aim! FIRE!"
And with another call, another pumpkin was launched clear off of the horizon, towards the stronger fort. This pumpkin didn't even get close to the mark though. Thanks to some more levitation of one of Emerald's polygons, travel to the settlement took far less time than walking, the two Gems arriving there in no time at all.
Now that they were closer to this settlement, they got a better look at what kind of home these ponies had to deal with: so many of the buildings looking VERY uneasy and unsteady, almost as if only leaves and sticks made up the foundation. Despite that though, a lot of pumpkins abounded along with tomatoes, corn, and other crops. As for the settlers themselves, they all were Earth Ponies. Mares and stallions, all having a sort of similar color scheme ranging from brown to orange. Some of these ponies were already loading up another wooden cannon, and with a pull of the rope launched another pumpkin across the way.
"Dang nabbit, missed again," one of the ponies griped.
"K, Flint how do you wanna do this? I was thinking about a whole good cop bad cop sorta thing -" Emerald was cut short when Flint was already going up to the oldest one.
"Uh, excuse me mam?" Flint asked, getting her attention, "Uh, may I ask what you're doing?"
"We're pumpkin-ing our neighbors," the mare stated, hoof aimed to the settlement across the valley.
"... Uh, we can see that, but why?"
"Because! The McColts are just plain rotten! … Wait a tick, who even are you two?" the mare questioned, "You're not spies for the McColts are ya?!"
"Eh, we don't even know who the McColts even are, so not really," Emerald replied, still trying to get some of the pumpkin gunk outta his spiked hair.
"My name is Flint - Harmony Gem. And we're sent by the Princess of Friendship to handle this dispute that's going on here between you and the McColts over there," Flint explained. Not exactly the truth, but their main goal was still the same. The older mare was sure pleased to hear that.
"Ma HoofField, please to meet ya," the mare said, shaking his hand with a smile. "Bout time we got our own back against those McColts."
Well, at least they wouldn't be shooting stuff at them now.
"You keep saying McColts over and over again. Just what did they do to you?" Flint asked.
"All sorts of things! Why just today they threw pebbles at our farmhouse and wrecked it," Ma HoofField said, hoof aimed towards their farmhouse. Or rather what remained of it. The house in question looked completely wrecked from top to bottom, nothing left but stray pieces of wood.
"We Hooffields were never good builders, and all it took was a few pebbles. But still!" Ma HoofField added. NO WAY a pebble could knock that thing down surely. Emerald laughed at the idea, leaning on one of the McColt wagons.
"A few pebbles? Come on, your work can't be that weak," Emerald said, knocking on the wagon. … Just for it to crumble into sticks. "... Oops."
"See what I mean?" Ma HoofField said. "that's the third time today!"
"Ok, ok," said Flint after some thinking. "So the Hooffields kept giving you a hard time, huh?"
"What you think I've been sayin?! Tall boy you help get the pumpkins loaded. Greenie, you can fly, try and get some better aim fer us!"
"What? Why?"
"Didn't y'all say you were gonna get rid of them McColts for us?" Ma HoofField asked, though she looked more suspicious than confused, as if that was what she wanted to think. Emerald and Flint began to see this wasn't gonna be that simple, Emerald gesturing Flint to speak.
"HoofFields, listen. We're here to handle the dispute for you, that doesn't mean we're fighting them for you."
"WHAT?!"
"No matter how many pumpkins you blast, that won't fix your house will it? Let us go and get their side of the story before we do anything, and in the mean time you hold off your fire. Ok?" Flint instructed. Ma HoofField felt a cringe coming on, but in the end she had to agree.
"Oh … fine. But be quick about it will ya? Who knows if those McColts would be sneaking fer another hit."
"Right. Sure. Come on, Emerald, let's go," Flint said.
…….
Emerald was more than ready to head off after accidentally wrecking the wagon. With a polygon out, he gave Flint a ride from one side of the valley, and right over to the other. They weren't sure if there was gonna be some extra firing power from the McColts side, but luckily they didn't get hit either.
It took them little time until they arrived at the front gates, Flint insisting for them not to just fly in, just in case things would get a bit more bothersome. The sturdy walls of the fort stood tall despite the attacks they've been receiving, and once they were there.
"So, still up for that good cop bad cop thing?" Emerald asked.
"Oh hush up," Flint sighed, before knocking on the door. At first none of the ponies really answered right away. In fact, there didn't seem to be any ponies around to talk to along the front line like the HoofFields across the way.
"State yer business!" called a voice. Flint and Emerald both looked up and soon they saw one of the ponies up on top of the wall looking down to them. Unlike the HoofFields, this McColt was blue tinted in his fur instead of brown, giving the idea that the McColts were a blue tinted clan of ponies.
"You the McColts by chance?" Flint called.
"It 'pends on who's askin. You one of those spies for the HoofFields, or what?" the pony asked.
"This again? NO, we're not spies for anyone, we just want to talk with you for a minute," Flint replied, a little annoyed with the accusation again.
"Yeah right!" said another voice, this one a mare, "Dun bother with em. The second they step in here they're gonna wreck the place."
"Would a spy just stand in front of your door, asking to come in?!" Emerald shouted.
"Huh … nah, but spies are spies."
"For stars sake, why do they keep thinking that?"
"Because we don't get a lot of visitors." And then they started to hear the front gate unlock for them. Seemed there was more than one pony that was keeping an ear on them here, and after at least twelve locks were removed, the gate swung open and revealed yet another pony. This one was a bit short, blue in fur and beard, with a BIG ten gallon hat.
"Oh. And you are …" Flint questioned.
"I'm Big Daddy McColt," said the pony, "You caught us at an odd time. See, we're in the middle of a giant feud with our … TERRIBLE NEIGHBOURS!"
And to their surprise, just that mighty shout alone went across the valley, scared some of the birds, and actually toppled one of the HoofFields houses! Either their houses were really weak, or McColt was a lot stronger than he looked. Emerald stepped back.
"Some lungs man."
"Why thank ya," said Big Daddy McColt. Flint cleared his throat as he and Emerald began following Big Daddy McColt into the base.
"W-Well. Well, that's why we're here: we've been brought here to help you handle your dispute with the HoofFields," said Flint, as Big Daddy went back towards the fortress that was the McColt base. Hearing this too got the pony's interest.
"So yer here to help us get rid of em," said Big Daddy McColt. Another assumption, but this time the McColts behind him suddenly started cheering and celebrating. Flint and Emerald both were having some trouble with this one, though with what the HoofFields had been doing, it wasn't entirely unreasonable to think all of this.
"Deja Vu," Emerald said, "NO, we're a couple of good joes here to stop this fighting, NOT kill one of ya. OKAY?" Emerald made clear. The celebrating stopped and Big Daddy McColt started to grow suspicious.
"... Well then if yer not fer us … you're against us."
And suddenly the gate closed behind Emerald and Flint, the other members of the McColt clan now down to see them and to try and figure them out.
"Knock it off, man!"
"McColt, we're not on anyone side, let's make that clear and out of the way. We're here to handle the dispute between you and the HoofFields on orders of the Princess of Friendship," Flint explained.
"The princess of what-now?" wondered one of the McColts.
"I thought there was only three princesses," noted another.
"Well technically there still is, but one of the Princesses were … well, let's just say a new princess took her place." Flint and Emerald could tell this group didn't have the exact "Celestia is dead" knowledge just yet, so with the feud going on it probably wasn't gonna help if they did tell them. Big Daddy McColt was still a bit suspicious over these two.
"Well if yer thinking about friendship you're wasting your time. We don't have a friendship problem, but a HoofField problem!" said Big Daddy McColt.
"And there ain't no friendship there. 'specially since they've been blastin us," added one of the McColt members.
"They're only blasting you because you wrecked their farmhouse," retorted Flint. This suddenly made Big Daddy McColt a bit triggered, suddenly jumping at em.
"NOW WAIT A DARN MINUTE! We only did that because the HOOFFIELDS pulled the pin outta our wagon wheel!" Big Daddy McColt exclaimed, his hoof again aiming towards the problem. It wasn't in as bad of a shape as the HoofField houses, but there indeed was a wheel missing from the wagon in question, the food in said wagon slightly squashed thanks to.
"Whelp, if it makes you feel better their wagon's wrecked too, so … call it even?" Emerald shrugged. That might be true but not enough for the McColt.
"I'd don't even call that close!" Big Daddy McColt explained, "A whole week's worth of food just rollin down the mountain! We McColts are mighty fine builders -" he explained this as he brought his hat to his chest, "- but we don't know the first thing about farmin. We have to travel plenty far to get our food."
And this statement was made agreed on by the other McColts. Now that they mentioned it, the McColts cutie marks mostly suggested construction work, and some actually looked more fancy than the farming HoofFields. McColt went over towards some of the splattered pumpkins now sprawled out around the main grounds of the McColt base.
"And now all we got is whatever those HoofFields throw at us! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin crepes, pumpkin pastries. … Actually that all sounds pretty good, BUT IT'LL GET OLD!" Big Daddy McColt said.
"I'm starting to sense a pattern here," said Emerald, feeling oddly uncomfortable. And in this rare case, Flint had to agree, as they watched the McColts beginning to clean up the mess the HoofFields had made: one member dumping the gunk into a barrel, just for another to scoop it and put it into a bag and bringing it onto the nearest table to make into stew. Whelp, this was a bit of an odd situation. Emerald and Flint began to go off and on their way from there, flying out of the base as the McColts tended to what'll end up being their next dinner. … Just as some tomatos suddenly began being shot at them!
"What the?!"
And where did they go?
…….
"Ready! Aim! FIRE!" Ma HoofField said, another barrage of tomatoes launching clear across the horizon and painting the McColt town red. Flint and Emerald had to avoid another blast just as they arrived.
"What're you doing?! I said to STOP firing," Flint said.
"Did ya? We saw you marchin outta them McColt place and we thought they rubbed ya the wrong way. so we tomato'd em fer ya. My Mistake," said Ma Hooffield. Though, emerald and Flint could tell that Ma HoofField didn't make any mistake in this call, just impatient.
"Mistake my butt," Emerald said.
"Now, Ma HoofField, the Mccolts told us that they only got your farmhouse because you wrecked their wagon wheel full of food," Flint informed.
"Well of course we pulled the pin outta their wagon wheel!" retorted Ma HoofField, the second after Flint and Emerald came back to them while they were loading up some tomato slingshots. "Those McColts took those crops right outta our gardens! All our hard work makin them ripe and prtty, just for those rotten rats to take them away!"
"Well they're not good farmers, McColt, they have to eat too. All they've been eating much of was what you throw at them," said Flint.
"Well tell em McColts to EAT SOMEPONY ELSE'S CROP!"
…….
"WHAT?! Well, alright, once or twice but y'all think it's easy keeping up food when we can't grow our own? Besides, we only did that after we caught em HOOFFIELDS swippin our logs for their houses! We spend days getting them prepped for foundation, just for them thieving beavers to take em away!" argued Big Daddy McColt.
"Seriously?" Emerald groaned, hand to forehead. THE SAME STORY.
"But the McColts don't have a home to live in the way you do, you saw what one pebble did to their farmhouse," said Flint, getting impatient himself. And guess what he said next …
"Well tell em HOOFFIELDS to GET SOMEPONY ELSE'S LOGS!"
…….
"What're those McColts feeding ya now?! They got more than plenty of logs to spare!" snapped Ma HoofField.
"And you got plenty of food to spare too, HoofField!" retorted Flint.
"SO WHAT?! They don't deserve anything after what they did," Ma Hooffield retorted, ready to shoot another tomato right back at them in one of the slingshots.
"And what did they do, dare I ask?" Flint questioned. He personally didn't want to, but as a detective questions had to be asked.
"They know what they did."
…….
"THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DID!" said Big Daddy McColt, blocking another tomato with a self-made wooden shield.
"What? Again?!" Emerald groaned, as Big Daddy McColt went to the top of the wall to see the opponent.
"Sounds to me like neither of you actually know what eachother did," Flint retorted sternly.
"Course we do! Them HOOFFIELDS did somethin wrong way back in the day fer some reason!" Big Daddy said, the other members SOMEHOW agreeing with him! No, that didn't answer anything at all.
"That doesn't explain anything!" Flint retorted, "Maybe if you can calmly talk to them and try to reach a compromise -"
"NO WAY! Them HOOFFIELDS would sooner throw away their lunch than to listen to us!"
…….
"Them McColts would sooner topple their walls down to the dirt than to listen to us!" said Ma HoofField.
"Have any of you even tried talking to any of them about anything? Or did all you think about was blasting them off their hill?" Flint demanded.
"Blasting them off their hill, of course! Haven't you been listenin to a thing I said?!"
"When will it end?!" Emerald cried.
…….
This pattern kept up for HOURS. Flint and Emerald, going back and forth, trying to find some middle ground with either side, only to find nothing of the sort with either of them. Their excuses were the same, albeit slightly altered, and this left Flint and Emerald more and more irritable. By night time, the two had FINALLY went back to Jade and Sessile, who had been taking the time to get to catch up with eachother.
Too bad Flint and Emerald were emotionally exhausted from this back-and-forth bunch of bull, and even physically exhausted from getting struck a few times during this. Emerald actually collapsed on the ground in defeat as Flint looked ready to blast the second a McColt or Hooffield would show up again.
"Oh dear … did they give you a hard time?" Jade asked.
"I mean, do we need to say it, or does it go unsaid?" Emerald asked, not even bothering to get up. Emerald probably they can understand, but seeing even Flint look just as worn out meant they must've been ESPECIALLY stubborn. Flint took a seat by Sessile, taking a breath to calm down.
"So in conclusion," said Flint, "both the HoofFields and McColts don't know WHY they're fighting, but they only want to fight and don't know when to stop. … And don't care who else they hit either." And he ended the statement by picking out some squash from his hair. Jade and Sessile would be lying if they said they didn't see the damage done, both in their firing and the emotional baggage.
"Well it's getting late. We'll try again tomorrow morning," Jade said, trying to be encouraging. However, this made Emerald bolt back up.
"WHAT?! We're going back and trying again? NO WAY, if you're gonna go ahead be my guest, but I'm not dealing with it," Emerald quickly stated, making Jade jump.
"Nobody asked you to," Flint sighed. "And actually I don't blame you, but at least you weren't assigned to this."
"Flint, you weren't assigned to it either," Jade whispered.
"Say it enough times it becomes the truth. Besides, it's for Twilight's sake," Flint quietly replied. After what he had gone through today though, he just wanted this to end before long, otherwise he might lose it himself. He looked up to the sky briefly.
"How is this supposed to work. At least the cases before I had some idea of what the core issue was, but how can I solve this if I don't even know what it's about?" Flint wondered. Emerald didn't put up any ideas here, but Sessile and Jade took a bit to think it over.
"... Maybe ……. an apology?" Sessile suggested, though was more worried if that idea wouldn't work. Flint paused on the idea.
"An apology, huh? … Considering this is literally just two pebbles fighting in the Kindergarten, maybe that can work. … Tomorrow," Flint concluded.
"Ok … I know I can't do much but is there anything I can do?" Sessile asked.
"Just make sure they get a good night sleep, Sessile. They need it after today," Jade advised, gently placing a hand on Flint's head.
"Um … I guess, but …"
"You don't know what that is do ya?" Emerald cut in. Sessile would nod if she could, so instead she just gave a thumbs up to him.
"Whelp, you close your eyes, and think about whatever you want and … well, you do nothing else. Allow me to demonstrate," Emerald said. Just before he fell onto his back and went motionless. Sessile still wasn't sure about the exact idea of this, but as long as he was okay, it didn't matter that much. Besides, what else were they gonna do? Emerald was already well into snooze land when Flint actually ended up taking a rest himself. He needed to rework a plan of action here for this apology, but for now it was time to sleep. Sessile went on to do the same thing after a while, closing her eyes and just left thinking about things.
The only one not sleeping was Jade herself, who was simply looking off towards the HoofFields and McColts, and the sad valley that stood between them. She may not have been meeting either side all day, but she knew the signs enough that these two weren't just gonna give up. Jade could only wonder if the plan will work. …
"Flint. Emerald. Don't be too upset …"
~~~~~~
The next morning came by a little before they knew it (which was funny to say since the sun wasn't under somepony else's clock this time), and things began to go underway. Either side needed to apologize one way or another, doesn't matter which side. So what was the end result here? …
"I'd want to say thanks, Ma HoofField for agreeing on this. This apology cake will surely help mend the boundaries between you two," said Flint, as Ma HoofField walked alongside him with what looked to be a GIGANTIC friendship cake the HoofFields had whipped up for this occasion. It was an impressive work of culinary art, second-fiddle only by their own Pinkie Pie mare: a three layered cake with pumpkin slices along the second level, and a ripe, freshly plucked pumpkin sitting right on top of it.
"Yeah, yeah, sure," said Ma HoofField, waving a hoof.
"Let's just hope this actually works this time," Emerald said. "All day yesterday literally got us nowhere!"
"I told you last night you didn't have to come Emerald," reminded Flint.
"Yeah well, I just wanna tag along to see if this actually ends so we can all go home," Emerald bluntly admitted. As a unicorn once said, it's one thing to say you did something, but quite another to do it.
"So what kind of cake is this anyway? You didn't add anything uh … non-cakeish in it, did ya?" Emerald asked.
"Nah, it's all just pure HoofField family cookin'," Ma HoofField reassured.
"It better be," Emerald thought. Flint glanced back to Emerald, finding him a bit more serious about this than typical. But there was time to look this over later. For now, the trio managed to reach the front gates of the MaColt estate, and sure enough one of the ponies already was there and on guard. No sooner than a shake of the tail did he see the three come in.
"Who's there?!"
"It's Ma HoofField," the mare called. That immediately raised alarm.
"HOOFFIELD ALERT! Arm the cannons!" the pony shouted. Two of the McColts already got their cannons aimed directly at them! That was, until Ma Hooffield continued talking.
"With an apology cake. A gift of good will, from us to you," she said, presenting what the McColts could only describe as a slice of heaven. It just looked so delicious, so appetizing. And it was made really clear with the first pony, who was simply staring down at the cake with muzzle agape, drool dripping from his hungry mouth.
"I haven't had cake in AGES," said one of the ponies. Soon as they smelt the aroma of said baked good …
"Open the gates!"
Excellent! It didn't take much longer until the gates were wide open for Flint, Emerald, and Ma HoofField to go right on inside. Of course they needed a hand in getting the cake inside, pulling it through the gates and bringing it right to the center of the base. Ma HoofField looked pretty good about this invitation inside their compound, and Flint and Emerald were beginning to see some good will already as the McColts were already feeling chipper about seeing the cake. Emerald got his fingers crossed that this would work out, as some of the McColts were moving a bit closer to the cake, ready to take a bite.
… But then …
"FOR GLORY!"
HoofFields! INSIDE THE CAKE! Just like that, the HoofField ponies ere suddenly fighting the McColts again, using the very cake itself to rain down on all of them! The McColts could only scatter as Ma Hooffield was laughing herself silly, much to the shock of Flint and Emerald.
"YOU PUT PONIES IN THAT CAKE?!" Emerald yelled.
"YEAH! HA! … wait. You really were serious about apologizing?" Ma HoofField asked. Flint looked ready to blast her, but before either could get a word in edge wise, suddenly the fighting Hooffields were suddenly captured inside a make-shift net, courtesy of Big Daddy McColt himself.
"MCCOLTS! FORTH DEVISION FORMATION!" Big Daddy McColt shouted, much of the McColt family getting together into what looked to be a V formation.
"Wait wait, HANG ON A MINUTE!" Emerald demanded, getting in the way of the McColt army. However, in the heat of the moment, the McColts basically didn't care, and trampled him as Ma HoofField made a run for it right out the gates! Now it was Big Daddy McColt's turn to laugh.
"MCCOLT, CALL THEM BACK!" Flint yelled.
"Why?! They ambushed us in the cake!" retorted Big Daddy McColt.
"And you just captured them and everyone's running after Ma Hooffield!" snapped Emerald.
"SO WHAT?! We're not goin far, if anything those HoofFields deserve WAY worse!"
"READY! AIM! FIRE!!"
Oh no. Emerald and Flint made a mad dash out of the base, just to find the McColt family down in the valley, with the HoofField family suddenly launching all sorts of crops right at them as weaponry. The cake was no offering, it was a setup! Immediately Emerald and Flint went right in there, straight for Ma HoofField, almost getting struck by some of their produce.
"What's wrong with you?! Someone apologize already!" Flint demanded.
"Why in Equestria would we do that?!" Ma HoofField demanded, before clocking him in the head and throwing him aside just to scream "WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!"
"What're you talkin about?!" shouted Big Daddy McColt, just in time to block some incoming carrots with a shield, "You've done LOADS of wrong!"
"Not as many as YOU!" retorted Ma HoofField. Soon, the two were suddenly brought it down to hoof power, and went right at it with eachother. Flint got himself back up on his feet, finding that both families were basically trying to kill eachother: both sides swinging hooves and looking for blood to spill. This pushed one Gem over the edge.
And it wasn't Flint.
"OK, THAT'S IT!!"
And before Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt would even realize what happened, they both were knocked right off of their own hooves by what they could only describe as a green stop sign.
"Lord cheese and rice, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO?!" Emerald snapped, FINALLY reaching a frustrated breaking point … which felt so foreign to Flint.
"Ask THEM that!" both said, aiming an accusing hoof at one another. Emerald responded pretty quickly, the same polygon swinging down and whacking both hooves into the ground, leaving both ponies with a red swell for a hoof. And yes, it hurt a lot, and their screams caught attention from the other family members from both sides.
"Listen here, I've been running around all day with you mules, and I've had it up to HERE -" he threw his arms to the sky "- with this dumb buck blame game routine! ONE OF YOU JUST APOLOGIZE AND MAKE THIS END, I DON'T CARE WHO AT THIS POINT!"
"Apologize to a HOOFFIELD?!" Big Daddy McColt asked, "I'd rather -"
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP OKAY?!" Emerald roared, getting right into both of the ponies faces, so forceful it made both of them fall onto the ground.
"Emerald?" Flint asked.
"Don't interrupt me while I'm raging!" Emerald snapped, which was shockingly enough to make Flint quiet. This side of Emerald just wasn't something Flint EVER saw Emerald to even have, let alone use so dangerously. And to further push the point, he was suddenly standing on top of Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt, one foot on each pony.
"But they've done WAY more wrong to us! Didn't you hear what I said! We didn't do -" Ma HoofField was cut short when Emerald slammed his foot on her throat, making her choke a little bit. Flint would intervene but there was something else off a ways that kept his attention first ...
"I DON'T CARE! All I wanted to do was get this to end so I can take my friend Sessile home, relax a bit with some manga, and maybe even try those cheese triangles because they're supposed to be tasty!"
"Now hang on a minute -" Big Daddy McColt was silenced by a slap from Emerald, who was NOT having any more of it. The family members would go in if they weren't distracted with eachother ...
"But NOOOO NONONO, I had to end up dealing with you dirt-eaters, and you're only interested in killing eachother BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO STUPID AND NAIVE TO KNOW ANY BETTER! YOU JASPERS SHAPE UP OR I'LL SHATTER YOU BOTH, GOT IT?!"
"Emerald, move!" Flint shouted.
Emerald's rage, and even the fight was stopped altogether, everyone there caught off guard when an echoing, almost ghostly roar caught everything's attention. Flint rushed in and tackled all three out of the way just in time before this newcoming threat could grab any of them. Emerald, Flint, Ma HoofField, and Big Daddy McColt were in an entirely different presence, of something that was absolutely unexpected. And very dangerous.
A dragon. A Ponyville Train-sized, Emerald green, Discord-looking Chinese Dragon!
"WHAT THE HAY HAY?!" gasped Ma HoofField. The dragon was floating in the air, making fast corkscrews and spins, giving off another roar down to them before suddenly rushing down to attack! Flint had to hold all of them and jump out of the way, the dragon flying through the air like an eel swimming in the sea.
"A dragon?! Where'd that come from?!"
"Doesn't matter," said Flint, arming up his Gem weapon pistol, "Get behind - ACK!" and just before he could fire, the green Dragon clocked him, and sent him flying away into the McColt mountain. The dragon bolted like lightning right down at them again, making them all scatter just fast enough to avoid getting caught, but the sharp teeth left Ma Hooffield's tail a bit singed, and Big Daddy McColt's hat being bitten in half, the top missing.
"Arm the tomatoes! We'll paint that thing RED!" Ma Hooffield cried. So, the Hooffields armed up and started shooting, but it was barely working: every shot either missing or being reflected with a flick of the tail. The beast started to inhale, but a few rather cheery McColts started to anticipate their enemies to be burned.
"Come on, burn em HoofFields!" one shouted.
… Just for the animal to spin around and blast right at them instead! The McColts scrambled and blocked the blast, which looked more like a rainstorm of green needles than fire, but still had the same effect. Emerald meanwhile went straight towards Flint, who was just now shaking off the hit.
"What's happening?" Flint asked.
"That thing's owning the HoofFields and McColts, that's what's happening. Look!" Emerald said, pointing back to the fight. Just in time too to see this Dragon bolt in and with a swing of the body like a whip, all of the defensive shield were knocked clear over the hill, leaving the McColts without defense for, well, anything. And just to remind that it wasn't on anyone's side, it spun around and released a barrage of green needles at the HoofFields, all of the family scattering to avoid the sharp pins.
"Wait here," Flint said, rushing towards the Dragon. In a good leap, he was high in the air and starting shooting down shot after shot. The dragon did notice him clearly, but oddly didn't dodge.
It didn't have to, as every shot went right through it.
"What?" Flint only that to think as the dragon knocked him away towards the forest again. Emerald didn't want to get hit next, plus his anger towards both families left him apprehensive in wanting to help them out, but the least he could do was help Flint to his feet before he could get attacked by needles. Both HoofFields and McColts were at mercy of this animal, but the Dragon had specific targets in mind. In a quick bolt and circle, it grabbed both Big Daddy McColt and Ma HoofField right out of the crowd, and throwing both of them right at the nearest steep wall of the nearest hill. Basically, the Dragon had them both cornered.
Soon, Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt were left right in front of the green dragon, it barring its teeth and ready to have a meal of two stubborn old ponies.
"Uh, ERE, eat her! She's WAY less chewy!" Big Daddy McColt said, pushing Hooffield towards the snout of the animal.
"No way, eat him! He's small but mighty tasty!" retorted Ma HoofField, pushing Big Daddy McColt to the animal. This seemingly didn't help either of them, and the animal roared right at them both, so strongly that the very ground started to crack, a huge claw pushing both ponies into the dirt and NOT letting either of them free.
"Oh no you don't, you're not cooking up our goal -" Emerald was ready to at least try to go in, but strangely Flint decided to hold him back. There was something familiar about this dragon, as both HoofField and McColt were shivering in horror, the dragon just ready to eat them right there.
"Alrigh, McColt, I didn't think I'd say this but … I always sorta liked ya!" admitted Ma Hooffield, thinking this was the end.
"You too, HoofField! And top that you make the best grub a pony could as fer!" said Big Daddy McColt.
"Same to you and your houses! Why'd we get into a feud in the first place?"
… And suddenly everything stopped. Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt waited for the killer bite, but nothing happened. Instead, the Dragon quietly and gently lifted its foot off of them, now humble and … satisfied? Is that the correct word? The Dragon began to fly again, this time a bit slower, and its body began to glow a very light green color, growing smaller and turning into a ball of light. …
Before disappearing in the palm of Jade's hands.
There was silence with everyone, but Jade only had one thing to say to Ma Hooffield and Big Daddy McColt as she wiped a single tear away from her eyes.
"So you won't get along unless you think I'm trying to kill you. …"
Oh boy. Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt needed a minute to take in what actually happened, and Jade didn't need to say anything else to them. But she didn't ignore Flint and Emerald nearby, as she walked over to them.
"Sorry about that, Flint. Are you okay? I didn't hurt you too much, did I?" Jade asked. Flint was more shocked that Jade would go this far, but he didn't push on that any further and simply nodded to her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. You've uh … been working on that, huh?"
"... So that Dragon that can clobber two families at once. Came from you?" Emerald asked, humbled. Jade simply nodded. But then Jade turned over to the HoofFields and McColts, both Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt now on their own hooves
"Little missy, what's the big idea nearly poundin us into the dirt?" Big Daddy McColt asked sternly.
"What's the idea? … McColt, HoofField, you two had been fighting for so long it seems, none of you remember what it was even about," Jade said. Ma Hooffield started talking.
"Well, course we do, because -"
"AND what it's doing to everything else," Jade cut in.
"Pardon?"
"Turn around and look around you. Tell me; is this really what you wanted?" Jade questioned. Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt didn't get it, but when they turned and got a good look at everything around them, they began to see more of the picture. The dried up, horrible-looking valley that split between both families hardly much life in it at all.
"Uh … no," said McColt, actually taken aback.
"I may not know personally what your fight was even about to begin with. But if you keep fighting, then … then this is all you'll have left."
"But with how much they've done?" said HoofField.
"You mean how much you've done?" corrected McColt. But before another fight could start, Emerald got another polygon and got it in between the two again.
"Don't start fighting all over again," said Flint, "What're you two planning to even get from all this?"
"To win! To prove our families the best," said both the HoofField and McColt.
"But then what? When either of you win, what next?" Jade then asked worriedly. Now, Ma Hooffield and Big Daddy McColt had been pretty good with answering the questions tossed at them so far, but this one left them a bit blank. what were the plans after the fight was won?
"You can't be serious," said Emerald.
"Eh … w-well uh … I'll figure out when I get there!"
"But you won't ever get there, don't you see?" explained Jade, "Not like this. … When your fight loses the reason it's even fought, then it's time to stop," and as if the world was proving the poetic point, a gust of wind brought up some dust from the valley floor, some which went right by McColt and HoofField. Now that they finally thought about it … what really was the point of all this fighting? Big Daddy McColt and Ma HoofField turned to one another, and eventually the silence was broken.
"Oh … oh shoot. … Ma HoofField. We promise we won't fight you no more," Big Daddy McColt finally admitted finally. Ma HoofField sighed.
"Yeah, us too. Only we promise not to fight you. Doesn't matter who's right, cuz we're both wrong."
"That's somethin we both can agree on."
And after a spit on their own hooves, both Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt shook hooves. Both families didn't need to be explained this time to what the results were here, and Flint, Emerald, and Jade all were glad to finally see some progress.
"Well done to both of you," Jade said.
"Aw, thanks. ... Though I would just like to point out that I was the, uh, first to admit I was wrong," said Ma HoofField.
"That may be, but I promised not to fight first. That counts for more!" Big Daddy McColt stated.
"Oh, yeah?!"
*AHEM* One clearing of the throat from Flint reminded the two ponies what they're supposed to be doing now.
"Oh alrigh," sighed Ma HoofField, "We know what you're tryin to say. Truce?"
"Truce."
~~~~~~
So from there, things ended up getting busy. But instead of both the McColt and HoofField families fighting and getting at eachother's throats work began to start in rebuilding the world around them. With combined efforts from both the Hooffield farming and construction work from the McColts making it all better worth it. Just yesterday there was nothing but crushed produce and sadness spread around the valley, and now as Flint, Jade, Emerald and Sessile looked onward, they were seeing two families making far better progress with their combine efforts.
"Alright. Looks like we're good here, so let's start heading back home," Flint confirmed.
"Got it chief K, Sessile, up we go," Emerald said, levitating her best he could as they started to go off on their way. It was still a heavy task, but he got his legs back thanks to the break.
"It's good seeing them working together now," said Jade, "... I just wish I didn't have to scare them to do it …"
"Hey don't sweat it, no one got killed so you're just fine. And truth be told: awesome dragon. Like, super awesome, RD would love it. See if you can make a race outta it when we get back," Emerald stated, matter-of-factly as well. Hard to deny the awesome display that was Jade's "dragon". Jade became flustered.
"Uh … maybe let's not," Jade suggested. Sessile just stayed quiet for the ride back, not wanting to be a burden to any of them despite being a witness to the event herself (hard to ignore a giant green dragon flying around the sky).
"Well anyway, Emerald, I did want to ask you something about that."
"What's up, Flint?"
"... You "Jaspers" shape up?" Flint questioned. Emerald stopped briefly when this was brought up.
"Huh?"
"While you were "raging" as you call it, you called Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt Jaspers," Flint said.
"Did I say that?" Emerald asked, thinking on what he actually said. Take it from anyone, sometimes they can get so wound up they forget what they're jabbering about in heat of the moment.
"You … kinda shouted it across the valley," Sessile said. Emerald took a breath, before picking Sessile back up.
"I just lost my head, k? I've been strung up all day, going back and forth with HoofField and McColt, and seeing them just jump at eachother," Emerald admitted, "Even a cool hunk like me can have a temper."
"... While I do draw the line at "cool hunk"," said Flint, "It sounds like there's more to it. Unless you and Jasper had a tough time when she tasked you to your mission."
Emerald stopped.
"OK, you want the summed up version, or the very long flashback version?"
"Summed up's fine," Flint replied. Emerald didn't want to go into too much detail anyway, so that benefited them all as they continued, Emerald explaining.
"Ok, it's like this. Emeralds are naturally made as spaceship pilots or captains, as you know. And during the Gem War, I was down on the planet with a fleet for some "tussling" if you get my drift."
"So you were working on Homeworld's side during the war. … I find that ironic, given how we found you," Flint noted. Emerald knew what he meant, but nothing's ever developed in a day.
"You were a Captain, Emerald?" Sessile asked, caught off guard.
"Yeah, surprised you eh? Anywho, I was down on Earth, and I got stuck commanding the two most stubborn, trigger-happy, cloddish Jaspers that fought over EVERYTHING. Where to find the enemy, which Diamond's better, which foot enhancers looked better for stars sake. I mean really, WHO DOES THAT?"
"Let me guess: Ma HoofField and Big Daddy McColt acted just like those Jaspers," concluded Flint.
"That sums it up, yep. You have NO IDEA how hard it is to keep control of two trigger-happy Jaspers when you're smaller than most Emerald cuts, so your boy needed to give some extra "OOMPH" in his job, ya know?"
"Uh. Sort of, but I see you're point. …"
"Too much for ya there, detective?"
"No, no. It's just kinda out of nowhere really. Someone so deep into Earth like you, fighting on the opposite end of the Gem War that wanted Earth dead," Flint pointed out. Emerald didn't comment on it any further.
Or rather, he didn't have time to. As the four continued going off along, they then began to notice something open up not too far away - the distinctive sign of a Portal Key once again. Flint, Jade, and Emerald were well used to seeing it, but Sessile yelped on seeing it, worried sick for whatever might be coming in from this sudden surprise of a portal.
"No, no, it's okay Sessile," Emerald promised.
"But what's -" and then the figure came through. Not a Gem this time, but actually Fluttershy coming through, looking like she had something important to say.
"Fluttershy?" Jade asked.
"There you are. I don't want to interrupt, but everyone's been looking for -" Fluttershy stopped when she noticed Sessile still trying to hide her face from the pony.
"Eh … yeah, Fluttershy, Sessile. Sessile, Fluttershy. She's a friend, promise," Emerald introduced.
"So you were saying?" Flint asked.
"We got through to Steven again, and … oh, you won't believe it," Fluttershy replied.