Lines of Communication
Rarity approached the small hill in Sweet Apple Acres, what had drawn her was Twilight standing and staring at something in the cleft between this hill and the next. Achieving the summit herself, she stared down at scene unfolding.
"Pi-pika pika pi," the yellow jerboa said. Rarity winced at the mutilated tail and the odd form it had been allowed to heal into.
Fluttershy would be in tears, she thought. The other three figures confronting Applejack looked like Twilight's explanation of Sunset Shimmer's compatriots. Although the coloration is unreal, she thought.
The blonde girl nodded to the jerboa and nodded. "Poi," she said sadly.
"Chibi-chibi," the comparatively tiny redhead said, "Chibi-chibi."
"Poi," the blonde said, "Poi, poi, poi-poi, poi."
Applejack glanced at the tallest, with his greasy black hair and disdainful expression. He seemed unwilling to comment.
"Pika. Pika pi," the jerboa said.
"Apples," Applejack said firmly.
"Pika, pika pi," the jerboa said.
"Apples," Applejack replied.
"Poi." "Chibi-chibi."
Applejack shook her head. "Apples."
What rolled over the hill near the next over orchard looked like a giant pepper shaker with a whisk and a plunger attached. "EX-TER-MIN-ATE!"
Applejack threw her hat down and pointed the way it had come. "Apples!" she insisted.
The creature spun around and headed back. "Ex-ter-min-ate," it announced.
The jerboa and the two girls seemed shaken by the creature's arrival. The sneering man only looked at Applejack with faintest hint of concern.
"Apples," Applejack replied with a shrug.
"Poi?" the blonde asked as he held the shivering redhead.
"Chibi-chibi," the red head said.
"Pika," the jerboa drawled, then in a fair imitation of the pepper shakers, "Pi pi-ka Pi!"
Applejack shrugged. "Apples."
"Poi?" the blonde asked the tall man, her voice laced with concern.
"Pi, pika pi pika?" the jerboa added, clearly afraid.
"Chibi-chibi!" the red head practically chirped.
At the last the tall man facepalmed then gave the tiny red head a truly withering look.
"Apples," Applejack said, almost offhandedly, examining her fore hoof.
The tall man gave her a spiteful smirk. "McClaine," he said and gave her a truly candy-eating grin.
Applejack covered her face with her hat.
The blonde and the jerboa facepalmed. "Pika." "Poi."
The man started to head off after the pepper shaker as Applejack continued towards Twilight and Rarity. The jerboa led the two girls after the man.
Applejack arrived at the hill crest and closed Twilight's mouth. "Catchin' flies yer Highness?" she asked.
From beyond the hill came the crash of gunfire and the strikes of lightning,
"Pika!"
"Poi!"
"Exterminate!"
"Fruitbats are bad this year," Applejack explained.
"Exterminateexterminateexterminate!"
"Poi! POI! Poi! Poi!"
"Pi. Ka! CHU!"
The horizon near the hill lit up like a sunrise.
"And aggressive too," Applejack said, "So I called in some professionals."
"Pika- poi-minate!"
"They must be expensive," Rarity said.
"Yeah, but they do the job," Applejack said.
"This close to harvest, how are you paying them," Twilight asked, shouting over the increase in volume and intensity of the gunfire and thunder beyond the hill.
"Apples."