Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 2
By TDR
Lion Round up
[ Sweet Apple Acres, one week after the PETA incident. Spring]
Applejack sighed putting her awards up with the rest on the wall in the living room. She still wasn't proud of the fact that she hadn't won a single blue ribbon, nor any prize money, but that really didn't matter as much as she felt it should.
Her pride had always been a sticking point with her, and that had caused her a great deal of issue lately so she was trying to not get caught up again.
Having Twilight call out the Mayor on her begging for the prize earnings, and then threatening to go over the accounts of the town herself to find out why town hall was still a wreck, was a hoot and it took a lot off Applejack's mind. She didn't need to compete for any one other than herself. No telling what she might have done if she had thought she needed to give the money to the town to fix up the town hall.
Thinking on it, that place needed to be rebuilt almost as much as their barn.
She knew Mayor Mare was one of the few honest politicians out there, she could tell that, but sometimes she clearly got in over her head on stuff or got too involved. Particularly when bits were concerned.
Thankfully, no one minded that she didn't win it all, and everything had been pretty quiet since the whole PETA incident, Rahs and Twilight's arguments aside.
As she turned to head out she paused, looking at the wall over the fireplace and the images of her parents hanging there.
She remembered them, but the memory was faded. She didn't like forgetting them like this, but memories blurred with time. She wasn't even sure Applebloom remembered them at all. Granny did however and even kept their room as they had left it, not even letting other family use it when they had a reunion.
Her parents had been making a delivery when the Diamond Dogs attacked them. Hadn't even been any bodies, just her maw's shredded saddle bags and a lot of blood. Well that, and four Diamond Dog bodies that had been left in some seriously bad shape, showing her parents put up a heck of a fight. But that was all, no bodies, no mementos, not even a tail hair. The cart had been looted and smashed of course, but no one really cared about that at the time.
It wasn't until Luna took out the Bone Hounds that they even found any other trace of them. Paw's apple wood yoke, the one Big Mac based his off of.
She looked at the heavy wooden thing on the wall over the first place, reaching a hoof up to run along it. It had been polished and repaired, the dogs didn't do anything with it but keep it as decoration after all. But it was back home now.
She wished they were too, but life didn't always give you what you wanted.
She whipped her head, tugging her hat down with a snort, no sense moping. What was done was done, both in the past and for the Rodeo, she just needed to practice more for next year. She got the most over all ribbons, but no blue, maybe she should specialize like some of the fellars who beat her instead of trying for everything next time.
No sense worrying about it now, there was work to do on the farm, that wasn't getting done with her standing around.
[PETA HQ]
“Well they certainly were thorough.” Princess Celestia frowned looking over the rubble.
“Indeed.” Princess Luna nodded.
A collection of Guards milled about the sight checking through the rubble searching for any evidence that might have survived the fire or been missed by the first responders.
The mayor of Fillidelphia had come out to greet the royals and attempt to wheedle some bits for disaster relief from the Princesses, only to be solidly rebuked as the stallion was warned against letting this organization set up here to begin with. But the CEO's bits were more than enough to sway the proper channels.
Given all the bills had been paid the CEO wasn't even a issue at the moment where ever he was, there were numerous reports that he wasn't even at the building when it went down.
Pity.
“One building and a host of other damages to the city.” Celestia sighed.
“To be fair, Rahs was foal napped.”Luna pointed out.
“But isn't this a little excessive for that? There were no deaths , but nearly a hundred ponies were injured here and perhaps a thousand more at least inconvenienced by the parasprite swarm released.” Celestia sighed.
“We believed that with no deaths, or even crippling injuries that this was at best a moderate response. Half of the organization members we identified were minor nobles any way, thus falling under the hunting permits thou gave them, sister.””Luna pointed out. Besides after the first incident the mayor was warned to keep a Parasprite team on hoof, that he did not is his concern not ours.”
“I am so glad I only gave them a year before those licenses expired.” Celestia let out a sigh. “Still with the fines and payouts I don't think PETA is going to be around for very much longer, if it still is.”
“So then we are agreed?”
“Unfortunately. With what Bleu reported that Twilight did, even if she paid for it, trumps even Rahs' collateral damage here. A thirty foot swath four miles long of protected woodlands.” Celestia frowned. “ I hope you choke on that cake.”
“What's that? Is our poor sister giving us a hard time for the bet she made?” Luna smiled. “ Are thou glad we talked you down to a week of deserts instead of a month because thine, 'dear student' couldn't possibly have done more damage than my grand pup?”
“Shush you.” Celestia sighed.”I need to have a talk with her.....”