//------------------------------// // 21 - Family Ties // Story: The Storm's Challenge // by OneLonelyPickle //------------------------------// Chapter 21 - Family Ties Applejack spun a gold bit on the fold-out tabletop of her wagon. Next to her was a register, seldom used since the morning. She sighed and glared to her right. There was Rarity and the “star” Ms. VeeVee, who wasn’t attracting any less attention than she had been since the day before. Rarity’s customers were giddy and plentiful. Applejack looked back at her side of the courtyard, and it was like a tumbleweed could have blown through. She looked up at the sky and grunted to herself. “That Boozebeard’s gonna get an earful when he comes back – IF he does. If he thinks he’s gettin’ any more cider now, he’s got another thing—” Rarity snuck away from the crowd and waved a hoof at Applejack, calling out to her. “Yoohoo!” “Oh great,” Applejack whispered to herself, “Wonder what SHE wants…” “Applejaaaack, how’s business going, hmm?” Rarity said in a sing-song voice. Applejack looked at her with half closed eyes. “What do you think, Rarity?” she deadpanned. Rarity looked around the wagon and the immediate area. Only one customer, a colt, was taking a look at the wares on offer. Rarity brought a hoof up to her face. “Oh… my. It’s positively BOOMING, isn’t it?” Applejack just stared at Rarity as the fashionista bit back a grin. “As for me, well, I had a moment to come say hello and, of course, I took advantage. I have some interesting news to share.” Before she could continue, Rarity noticed something and glanced around, genuinely seeming confused. “Err, where’s that Boozebeard fellow of yours,” she asked Applejack. Applejack responded with a loud sigh. She took off her stetson and dusted it off. “Ponyville, I reckon. Said he’d be back in the afternoon sometime, and now it’s close to supper, if the sun’s anything to go by.” Rarity looked up with a hoof above her brow. The sun, hot and heavy as always, was well past halfway across the sky. It no longer helped the Saddlebred Citadel cast a giant shadow over the courtyard. “Right…” Rarity said, quietly. “I’m sorry your sponsor isn’t here. I suppose that explains the, uhhh” – the colt from before dropped a bit in Applejack’s bucket and trotted off with an apple – “lack of enthusiasm for your wares today.” Applejack donned her stetson and pointed a hoof towards the rest of the courtyard. “That,” she complained, “And one of them EFL bigshots is over there helping a local sell their apples and fruits and such.” Applejack snorted. Rarity wrapped a hoof around her friend’s neck. “Hey, it’s okay, Applejack.” She smiled at her wary friend. “We’ll just… say today doesn’t count. I wouldn’t want you to lose by an exorbitant amount – it wouldn’t be proper to give you that much of a thrashing!” Applejack pushed Rarity away and tightened her brow. “Ah don’t need no pity from nopony on account of a poor sales day! Don’t you be worrying none about me, anyway! This competition’s still mine to win!” She twirled her hoof around. “Now, what’s this news you gotta tell me?” Rarity brushed off her chest, staring at the ground in front of Applejack as she answered, “Yes, well, you always WERE the stubborn type…” She cleared her throat. “Ahem… VeeVee has informed me that when she and Maelstrom visited the princess yesterday, one of the reasons for their royal visit was to offer a vacation to the Canterlot guard. That’s why we haven’t seen any of the usual guards all day, and why Maelstrom’s bodyguards have been all around town.” Applejack glanced around the courtyard. There were indeed more emerald armor-covered guards than there were in the days before, and there were none of the usual Canterlot guards to be seen. Applejack turned back to Rarity. “Alright, good to know. Not that that helps me at all right now. Speaking of Maelstrom, have you heard anything about him from Ms. VeeVee or anypony else?” Rarity shook her head. “Afraid not. At least, not anything to corroborate what Pinkie believes. VeeVee had only good things to say about Maelstrom – he’s a sweetheart, and all of that. Just the same as anypony has said. How about you? Anything on Maelstrom from your end?” Applejack raised a brow and motioned towards the emptiness around her wagon. Rarity giggled awkwardly. “Ah, yes,” she said, “Right.” She cleared her throat once more and looked around uncomfortably. “Well, Applejack, I should be getting back. The clients love VeeVee but, you know, I am the patron of the entire ensemble, after all.” Applejack nodded and rolled her eyes. “Yeah yeah, you git on now. Ah’m too busy to keep up our oh-so-engaging chat anyhow, can’t you tell?” Applejack turned away and started to spin one of her bits again. Rarity held out a hoof and opened her mouth to speak but decided against it. Her ears turned downward, and she frowned. Finally, she started to trot away. After a few minutes of staring at bits and the occasional rare customer who happened by, Applejack heard loud, deep-pitched singing. It was so loud that she could hear it over the noise of the crowd in the courtyard. ♫♪ Yo ho, hi ho, over the city we will go. T’ward the valley, through the snow, back to Tall Tale, forward ho!” ♪♫ Applejack looked up to see a swarm of pegasi flying right at her. In the center of the mass of beards and muscle was none other than Boozebeard. “Ello wee one! I’ve returned! And with me lads, too!” Applejack braced for impact as the swarm of pegasi stallions showed no signs of slowing down, flying dangerously close. She dove out of the way and turned back, biting her hoof, as she prepared for the worst for her wagon. Boozebeard noticed what was about to happen at the last second and broke his forward flying, instead bringing his massive wings back to break his landing and come to a halt. His entourage behind him all slammed into him, one after the other, and by the time everypony had stopped, Boozebeard’s snout was a tenth of an inch from the wagon. Applejack fell over from the stress. “Good… golly… Boozebeard… nearly gave me… ah heart attack…” she managed, picking herself up. All the stallion pegasi were rubbing their heads and looking around, talking among themselves. Boozebeard shook his head and bit both his lips as he apologized. “I’m right sorry for tha’, Applejack. We got a speck too rowdy, I imagine.” “No kiddin’.” Applejack said plainly. She looked over at the newcomers and smiled. “These your teammates, then? Howdy, y’all!” Boozebeard held his hoof out towards the lot as they lined up beside him. There were 10 in all. “Aye! These are me mates! Won’t bother you with the names as you’ll just forget – not a memorable bunch, alone. But together, they’re all my trusted friends – through thick and thin we’ve flown and trained. We’re the premier flyers of Tall Tale and area, not to mention adventurers, to boot! The Adventure Flyers, at yer service!” “Aye!” Boozebeard’s friends cried in unison, raising their hooves in cheer. The stallions all looked very similar to Boozebeard, with different shades for their coats and manes, but just-as-bushy beards and hair styles. Some were dressed in checkered kilts, and seeing this, Applejack suddenly remembered something. “Hey! Y’all are the same folks who come around buying Sweet Apple Acres cider every year! I remember those weird getups!” “Oi s’not weird ‘tall!” One of Boozebeard’s compatriots stepped forward, angry. Another stepped forward beside him. “Ahh s’okay mate! Thas here’s the lass who owns that farm where we get the best cider we’ve ever had, ‘member what Boss said?” All the stallions agreed. They gathered around Applejack and lifted her into the air. “Three cheers for the best cidermaker around!” Applejack beamed. She looked over at Boozebeard, who was equally as ecstatic. He saluted Applejack. “I’m right sorry fer being later than I wanted ta be, wee one, bu’ I’ll make it up to you.” He turned to his teammates. “Lads, spread ou’ and spread tha’ word! Applejack’s Sweet Apple Acres cider is on sale, and Boozebeard and the Adventure Flyers are fully endorsing the best cider in Equestria, as well as all the other tasty treats on offer!” The stallions all cheered and made off in different directions. Meanwhile, a crowd had already formed around just from Boozebeard alone. He bellowed. “GATHER ROUN’, GATHER ROUN’, THERE’S PLENTY FER EVERYPONY!” * * * A snake wrapped itself around Fluttershy’s neck. It tightened its muscles. Fluttershy was wide-eyed. “Oh… wow…” Fluttershy managed through a constricted throat. She smiled uneasily at Bushwhacker, who was seated opposite her on a pillow, freshly showered and back into his normal attire. They were both inside his tent overlooking Pepperheart Field. “That’s just Mindy’s way of saying g’day. I hope she’s bein’ gentle?” Bushwhacker looked concerned. Mindy the boa constrictor flicked her tongue across Fluttershy’s cheek, eliciting a giggle from the usually-shy pegasus. Bushwhacker relaxed. “I’ve never… seen a boa before…” Fluttershy shifted as Mindy loosened herself and slithered back to Bushwhacker, who accepted the large snake happily. “Is she a new addition to your pet friends?” Fluttershy’s own animal friends flocked back to her once Mindy was on the other side of the tent. They wore worried expressions, sweat gathering on their furry brows. Bushwhacker replied, “She is. Found this sheila in the Outback – remember I was telling you a few months ago that’s what my family calls the desert behind our estate?” Fluttershy nodded. “Well, she’d injured her tail, could barely move a muscle, poor girl. So, I brought her in, nursed her to health and, well…” Mindy licked Bushwhacker’s muzzle and he laughed. “The rest is history, as you can see!” Fluttershy beamed, flecks of pink dotting her cheeks. “Wow, Bushwhacker! What a terrific story! Most stallions wouldn’t even get close to a big snake like Mindy, much less nurse one back to health.” Bushwhacker was staring in Mindy’s eyes. They rubbed their noses together. “I’ve never been afraid of animals, ever since I was a little joey. Thought you’d know that about me by now, Flutters.” Fluttershy brought a hoof up to her chin. “Well, umm, yes, but…” Just then a stallion stuck his head through the tent flaps. “Bushwhacker!” the stallion called. The called-for stallion yelped and leapt into the air and wrapped his hooves around Mindy. His eyes were wide. Fluttershy quietly cleared her throat. Bushwhacker collected himself. “Y-yes, what is it, mate?” The stallion looked over at Fluttershy, then back to Bushwhacker. “Uhh, Maelstrom wants to see you. When you have a moment.” Bushwhacker clutched his heaving chest. He waved away the stallion and swallowed hard. “Crikey… some ponies, they just pop in and spook ya, y-yeah?” Fluttershy smiled wide and nodded. “Oh… yes. Anypony could have been scared by… that.” She got up. “But, well, I guess you need to go now, so we’ll see ourselves out.” “No way!” Bushwhacker cried. “Maelstrom can wait. I don’t know how much more time we’ll have to visit after today. There’s the first race tomorrow, then one more day after for training before the last two races the two days after that. And then I’ve gotta be back to the family on the other side of Equestria.” Fluttershy sat back down. “Oh okay. Then in that case…” She leaned in closer and spoke quietly, “do you mind if I ask you about Maelstrom? Since, umm, we’re sort of talking about him, and all.” Bushwhacker rose an eyebrow. “Sure Flutters, but I think I told you everything there was to say the other day. And why are you whispering?” Fluttershy played with her hooves, looking at the rug on the tent floor with her ears pressed down. “Well, you see, my friend Pinkie Pie…” Fluttershy told him the truth. After explaining everything, she smiled awkwardly, waiting for a response with pink-tinted cheeks. Bushwhacker shook his head and looked upset. Mindy was wrapped around his shoulders. “That’s just not possible. Maelstrom’s a proper bloke. Always been looking out for me since I joined the League. My family never thought I could be a flyer, said I didn’t have the vigor, but Maelstrom always saw something they didn’t.” He looked at the floor. “I don’t doubt your friend has this weird ability with her tail, because I trust you, Flutters, really,” Bushwhacker held up his hooves incredulously, “but if you’re asking me how I feel about it, I think her tail made a mistake this time.” He smiled at Fluttershy, and she felt he understood her. Bushwhacker continued, “Maelstrom’s never said one strange thing to me, or anything to make me doubt his intentions. He’s only ever been happy and excited about this Challenge of his for months, talking about how it would bring everypony together like never before. How it was what Equestria was waiting for. How it would deliver everypony from the despair of—” Bushwhacker stopped mid-sentence, his mouth open. He rubbed his EFL medallion. Fluttershy tilted her head. “Umm, Bushwhacker?” He snapped out of it and smiled. “It’s nothing. Maelstrom just likes to be colorful with his speech sometimes. You have nothing to fear. I’d tell your friend that, so she doesn’t miss anymore of the fun chasing after a boogeypony that isn’t real. Nopony is going to see another event like this ever again!” Fluttershy focused on the rug. “I… see,” she said slowly. Bushwhacker quickly changed the subject. “Tell me about your pal, Rainbow Dash! Is it true she actually performed a Sonic Rainboom a few years ago? That must have been ace!” Fluttershy hesitantly looked back up at her friend. Her face was partially behind her mane, and her lips were drawn into a small smile. “Of course it’s true. Rainbow’s the best flyer in all of Equestria – oh, no offense. You’re all so good, too. But I know Rainbow. She’s going to win the Storm’s Challenge! She’s been training ever since the news came to Ponyville, with the Wonderbolts, no less.” Fluttershy came out of her shell and smiled wide. Bushwhacker chuckled to himself. “You might yet be right, Flutters. Our own shining star, Zephyr, seems to have taken a liking to her. He doesn’t exchange small talk with most ponies usually, but he did tell me he was off to train with your Rainbow Dash after practice.” Bushwhacker crossed his hooves behind his golden locks. “Course, he wouldn’t tell Maelstrom that he was going to train with somepony affiliated with our rival flying group or he’d be furious.” Fluttershy looked concerned. “But I thought you said he’s always been pleasant and happy?” Bushwhacker continued. “Well, sure, with most ponies. But Maelstrom and Zephyr are family, so it’s a bit different. You know how uncles can be with their nephews. Sometimes they treat them like their own foals – my own uncle likes to tell me—” Bushwhacker noticed the expression on Fluttershy’s face, one of confusion. Bushwhacker quickly covered his mouth. “UHHH…” he looked all around the tent. Fluttershy rose to her own hooves. “Wait, Maelstrom is Zephyr’s uncle? I’ve never heard anything about that.” Bushwhacker flopped out of his seated position and avoided eye contact with Fluttershy. “SORRY FLUTTERSHY I’VE GOT TO BE GOING NOW. CAN’T KEEP THE BIG GUY WAITING, YEAH?” Bushwhacker walked to the tent entrance, stiff and uncomfortable. His pitch and volume was all over the place. “IT WAS NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE RACE TOMORROW!” “Wait!” Fluttershy called out, but before she could stop Bushwhacker, he took off like he had just seen a ghost, leaving her and her animals alone. Fluttershy turned to her deer friend. “Maelstrom and Zephyr are in magazines all the time, and I’ve never heard anypony say they were related. Why would that be a secret?” One of Fluttershy’s squirrel friends jumped in front of her and rubbed his stomach, chirping in some indecipherable language. Fluttershy smiled warmly. “Oh right. It’s getting late. Time to get home and get you all some supper and see how Angel’s been.”