"GET BACK HERE WITH THOSE APPLES, YOU THIEVES!" Applejack demanded angrily as she was galloping right through Sweet Apple Acres at full speed.
To think that Cider Season was just around the corner, and the Raccoons HAD to pick today to do some thievery of their livelihood. As much of the Apple Family were still going around bucking for apples, Applejack was stuck with chasing this group of four out of the fields, each one having one apple in their grubby mits. One of them even stopped to mock her with a good loud raspberry, only leaving her steamed up even more. One thing she HATED more than most was a cocky thief. She tried to lunge at the thief, but the Raccoon moved just too quickly and she was left with a muzzle full of dirt on landing.
It REALLY didn't help that by the time she got back up all of the Raccoons were laughing and mocking her. The mare snorted, tipping her hat down.
"You think you're funny huh? See who's laughin after this!" Applejack shouted. The Raccoons just mocked her further, one even eating one of her apples like it's nopony's business. But then Applejack pulled out something that suddenly made this not fun anymore. Her ultimate varmint weapon.
The Lasso.
"EEEKKKK!" the Raccoons shrieked. Applejack got right to work, the lasso being launched and the Raccoons high-tailing it out of there. AJ swung her rope at them a couple times, each time just narrowly missing the thieves by a few hairs. One Raccoon even just through a Lasso like a ring! By that point they were feeling cocky again and laughed, but this dropped their guard just enough for the Lasso to hover over them and grab them all in one smooth pull. All four Raccoons skidded and stopped immediately, the rope good and tight around their waists. They weren't getting away now, and Applejack confidently marched right over to em.
"This is the seventh time I've caught ya stealin my apples," AJ said crossly, "Y'all think this was gonna end any different? Now drop em."
Looks like they had no choice. Reluctantly, the Raccoons just dropped the apples in front of the mare, and only when every single ripe red apple was at her hooves did she start gathering them up. With a smirk the whole time, she picked up each apple gently, before tossing them in the air and giving each one a clean and quick buck into the nearest apple bucket, not a single one being missed. The last one she even swatted with her tail just for fun, much to the Raccoon's annoyance.
Once all the Apples were safe in the bucket, she turned her attention right back to the Raccoons.
"Now as for you sneaky, scrummy -"
*flash**flash**flash*
"Oh Ponyfeathers," AJ grumbled. Don't you hate it when your Cutie Mark just decides to flash? Applejack stopped and saw the glowing Cutie Mark, and she knew automatically what that meant for her. And just before the big rush too. Since the bucket itself was only half full, she bucked the apple tree it was under and got it filled up almost right away.
"There. I'll be dealin with you varmints later," Applejack said, before galloping right off out of the acre. The Cutie Map call waited for nopony, and Applejack was no different. All the Raccoons could do now was just sit there and stare at the apple bucket and all those delicious red apples. ...
From Sweet Apple Acres's dirt, to the Train Station's floorboards, Applejack got herself all packed up and ready to go. The station was fairly busy today with a few more ponies along waiting for the train, chatting in small talk but not bothering with her all that much, which was fine. Besides, the rest of the Mane Six were already there to see not just her off, but Twilight Sparkle as well ... who was a bit excited to have this happen herself.
"Ok, we got the scrolls? The Quills? the spare ink? The Friendship Log?" Twilight said excitedly as she went over her checklist (again) with Spike at quill and extra checklist. To put it simply, it was a typical Twilight list ... AKA rolling down five feet.
"I don't think we're gonna need all of that Twilight," Applejack admitted. Somepony had to say it. Twilight levitated all of her supplies into her saddlebag.
"I know, but we're going all the way to the coastal region of Farasi," Twilight reminded, "and it's so remote, nopony's been there for hundreds of moons! If we're gonna solve a friendship problem there, I'm making sure we got everything we need."
"Need" might not be the right word, but they knew she was always a Pony to get all of her pen quills in a row. Still at least one Pony was a little bummed out that she wasn't going with them on this trip.
"Oohh you two are so lucky," Fluttershy said, smiling despite being bummed out, "I've heard from a flock of flamingos passing by my cottage that Farasi is such a wonderful and beautiful place for all animals. I just wish I could come with you."
Twilight rested a wing along Fluttershy's back. "I know it would be ... if the map didn't call for Applejack and me to go. The map hasn't been wrong before, and if it thinks that we're the best ponies for the job, then that's what it's gotta be."
"Yeah, plus from what I've heard there's a lot of nasty critters there. We don't want anypony else getting into a scuffle while we're there," added Applejack.
"So why can't she go again?" Rainbow Dash had to ask. This surely sounded like her cup of tea.
"If the map wanted her to go, it would've said so. Sorry Fluttershy, maybe next time," Applejack said, though she did feel a little bummed about it too.
"I know ... can you at least send back pictures so I can feel like I'm there?" Fluttershy asked hopefully.
"Absolutely. And hey, maybe when we're done we can take a trip there just for fun, how's that sound?" Twilight offered. That helped make Fluttershy feel better. After all, Farasi wasn't going anywhere.
Good timing too: just after settling that, the mares heard the familiar whistle off in the distance of the Ponyville express just rolling in. With a screech of the wheels and a let off of steam, the Ponyville train was parked and ready for it's next voyage. Applejack and Twilight better get moving, and started to board with their stuff as the doors opened for ponies coming in and out.
"Y'all sure you don't mind watching over the orchard for me now?" Applejack asked while boarding, "Cider season's right around the corner, and we got a lot of apples to get."
"Don't you worry about a think, darling," Rarity promised, "We'll have it all spic and span by the time you get back. It'll be just like you've never even left."
Applejack chuckled. "Alright, just make sure nopony misses any trees. And watch for them varmints, they're getting a bit risky these days."
"You can count on us!" said Pinkie Pie, even giving a Pony salute to her.
Applejack knew she had good hooves for the job, and even if they didn't know what to do, the Apple Family would be there to give pointers anyway. With that reassurance, she and Twilight boarded onto the train and took their seats along with everypony else. It was a snug fit with all of their stuff taking up space, but they got seated either way, and with a goodbye wave to their friends on the platform, the Ponyville Train was off and moving yet again with a loud whistle and spin of the wheels. They kept waving until they couldn't even see the train station anymore before they settled down for some small talk.
"So Twilight, how far is this Farasi place anyway? You're the one who looked it up," Applejack inquired. It couldn't hurt to know.
"Well let's see ..." Twilight took a moment to look back in the stuff she brought with her, magic shifting around different quills and ink containers. It took a short bit of looking through before she finally got out a rolled up Equestrian Map. After getting it unraveled for them both to see was when Twilight started talking again.
"We just left Ponyville here, and Farasi is ... over here," Twilight said, pointing off to a FAR corner of the map by the sea. Already Applejack can see this was gonna be a longer trip as Twilight rolled up the map again and said "So we're gonna have some time to kill before we get there. ... Wanna go over the checklist with me? It'll pass the time."
"Nah, I got everythin I need right here," Applejack replied, waving a dismissive hoof to the Alicorn. Twilight though decided to go over the list anyway, finding it personally fun to do. As she was though, her eyes glanced over back to AJ's saddlebag. It had the main essentials for a more adventurous trip: from a pair of black horse boots, to some coiled rope. But as she kept eyeing it, she started seeing some ... peculiar things in there. Things she started to get curious over. Things she just suddenly pulled out with her magic.
"Hold on there," Applejack said, but Twilight wasn't listening. Aside from the horse boots and rope, she was finding some more protective items in it, which included a can of pepper spray, some hiking cleats, a wrapped-up bull whip, and -
"AAHH!"
A Jungle knife!
"Applejack, what's all this?! We're going on a Friendship Mission, not an animal hunt," Twilight said, surprised that Applejack even had one of these with her. Applejack got her stuff back from the frazzled Alicorn and got them secured in her saddlebag.
"Twilight remember what I just said back there? There's probably gonna be some nasty varmints there, and I dunno about you but I'm not going there just to be somepony's chew toy. I'm not lettin any animal mess with us if I have anything to do with it," Applejack explained. Twilight would have a better argument if that wasn't exactly true. It wouldn't be the first time she or her friends had run into some monster when they would leave Ponyville, friendship mission or no. Regardless they got a long way to go, so Twilight went back to the checklist ... or rather, she hovered it right over by Applejack.
"I know you got everything you need, but ... it can't hurt to re-check it, right?" Twilight said, trying not to sound like she was begging AJ to do this for her. Applejack could see right through her though, but rather than protest she just sighed, and with a knowing grin took the quill and the scroll.
"Alright, fire away."
"Great! And when we're done here we can check the other lists too," Twilight beamed, as she suddenly pulled out at least three more checklists to go over. Applejack was ... suddenly regretting her choices.
This was gonna be a VERY LONG trip.
VERY.
VERY LONG.
The day moved by slowly, and now the train was going through nightfall, and still they weren't in Farasi (as far as they knew). Many ponies had come and gone on the six to seven stops, some bringing in more, some losing more, but at this point Twilight and Applejack were the only Ponies still riding the train. After re-checking ALL of the checklists, Twilight found herself busy with some reading books she brought for the trip, already going through about five of them and onto her sixth one. As for Applejack, all she could do was stare outside at the world passing by them, looking as amused as somepony would be staring at paint dry, or watching trees grow.
Speaking of which, the world outside altered a lot since they left Ponyville. The smooth and grassy hillsides gave way to dry patches of savannah, where even the grass itself didn't look as inviting, and as yellow as the hay in AJ's barn. AJ did see some silhouettes of animals off in the distance, but it didn't really worry her. Some of them just stared at the train, while others turned tail and bolted off from them and disappeared into the clear night. She couldn't wait any longer, otherwise she was gonna fall asleep right there at the window.
"Alright, I'm finally gonna ask it. How much longer til we get there?" Applejack said in between a tied yawn, looking ready to fall asleep. Twilight stopped her reading and looked to the tired mare, looking only a little bit tired herself from the long train ride.
"At the rate we're going, and judging from when you last asked me ... I have no idea," Twilight sighed. Not even the princess of friendship was a master at knowing when the hay they're gonna get to places. Applejack just snorted and leaned back against the window. As she was, Twilight was levitating a book over to her.
"You sure you don't want to read to pass the time?" Twilight offered. Applejack just boredly glanced at the book before pushing it away.
"Nah, I'm good. You just worry about you," Applejack insisted. It wasn't that she wasn't much of a bookworm, but her mind was more focused on the friendship mission than anything else. Besides, reading a book wasn't gonna make the train go any faster.
"Well okay, but you don't know what you're missing," Twilight replied, just before she settled the book back in her pile and went back to reading her own. Applejack, with a sigh going pass her muzzle, just went back to watching the world going pass her once again. Even if it was so dark out there, the moon gave Applejack just enough light to see a good portion of the passing grasslands and nighttime critters, so at least she had SOMETHING to look at besides pure darkness.
But as she was looking on out to the world, and seeing a few more of the silhouettes in the distance, there was one that was just unique enough ... and big enough ... to catch her attention. And unlike the rest of the silhouettes who bolted away from the train, this one appeared to dig at the ground, and made a beeline towards the train at full speed!
Even with the train at full throttle, whatever this creature was was keeping a very good pace at full gallop, fast enough to keep alongside the train itself much to AJ's intrigue. The orange mare kept an eye on the animal as it kept running its own top speed, going so fast it was actually out-pacing the locomotive they were riding it! That wasn't the only thing it had on its mind though ...
"What in tarnation is that -"
*SCREEEEECH*
Before Applejack could even finish her personal sentence, the entire train suddenly locked its own wheels and started skidding itself to a screeching stop. The momentum inside the train kart swung most if not all of the luggage forward, and as for Twilight and Applejack they were lucky NOT to tumble to the front of the car with them, though that didn't mean they were still sitting down by the time the train finally stop completely, both the Alicorn and the Earth Pony now on the floor with many of Twilight's books now scattered around the place (including on them).
"What in Celestia just happened? Applejack, you alright?" Twilight asked, shaking off a book from her horn.
"All good over here," Applejack murmured, though she had to get about five books off of her back with a good shake before she said that. Twilight started levitating the books and luggage back in place and out the way of the train kart door, but during this the two were starting to hear some sort of commotion going on outside. Some muffled voices and even a few good snorts told them that whatever chased the train was now talking matters with the conductor ... which by what sound they can hear of it, was NOT going well.
"Something mighty fishy's going on here," Applejack said, getting her game face on for whatever had the apples to stop the train. The reading and staring off into nothingness can wait for just a minute or two to handle this problem. Applejack glanced over to Twilight and the Alicorn gave her a approving nod, giving them both the greenlight to head off towards the door and check out what was going on.
Without another hesitation, the Earth Pony took the lead and opened up the train kart door.
"Hey, everypony doing okay out here?! What's the stop for?!" Applejack called, stepping right off of the train and onto the dry grass next to the tracks.
*SLAM!*
Just like that the situation escalated far more than they expected. Applejack jumped almost when she saw their conductor suddenly get himself slammed into the side of the train by something big and ANGRY. Just one ram not only gave the conductor one hay of a concussion right then and there, but also powerful enough to actually tilt the train almost completely off the tracks! They weren't getting any help from the conductor here as he fell right on his head, a bump so big it looked like a Unicorn horn (he was an Earth Pony to make it clear).
As for his attacker, the animal looked very large and bulky, full of muscle by how easily it could knock the train over. A large bovine was standing in their way, but this wasn't just an ordinary cow or even a fighting bull. This large animal was black in fur all over, a large head supported by a very impressive set of curved bull horns, so big it could lift a Pony onto one of them and toss em like garbage. As for the expression, he was NOT happy to see them, not by a long shot.
"Hey! Leave him alone!" Twilight immediately shouted. The large bull towered over the two smaller Ponies, giving off a loud good snort. At first he just simply gave a loud "moo" at them before clearing his throat. Not that his mood would make it matter anyway.
"So there's more than one Pony on this train? Don't you all have anything better to do?" the hunk of beef asked in a rough and rugged tone.
"What're you talking about? we're just trying to get to the next town!" Twilight insisted, wings spread.
"And how's THAT a good reason to buck our conductor and stoppin our train?!" added Applejack firmly, hoof stomping the ground.
"If you two know what's good for ya, you'd stay on that train and forget you even had to deal with me," the bull threatened, going as far as getting his horns right in front of Applejack's muzzle. Twilight had to intervene before a fight could break out, her magic pushing away both the bull and the Earth Pony.
"I'll have you know that it's a crime to rob a train," Twilight stated firmly, "Maybe it is you who should stop and think about what you're doing before this all gets out of hoof."
All that got Twilight was another rough snort to her face.
"I'm not here to rob any pony things," the bull made clear, almost finding it disgusting they would even think of that of anything. Twilight and Applejack glanced to eachother
"Then what ARE you doing here? Stopping the train just to Pony-nap?" Applejack asked. The large bull raised his large head and ... actually looked a little impressed.
"And here I thought you Ponies were too proud to see the obvious," the bull warned, cracking the tough muscles in his neck for what they all knew would happen next. No WAY were they going to comply with a kidnapping, even if from a random bull. Applejack and Twilight got on the offensive but didn't jump right away.
"Seriously? You are talking to the Princess of Friendship! If the other Princesses find out that you're trying to -"
"I don't care," the bull snorted, "You could be Celestia and it won't make any difference. A Pony's a Pony no matter who or what they are or try to be."
Twilight gasped in complete shock. NOPONY can sass about the princess and get away with it ... even if it was only implying he was. Applejack though seemed in glee that she called this.
"Ha, I knew it! Don't worry Twilight, nopony's getting napped tonight. If you want us coming with ya, you're gonna have to take us out first!"
"That can't be too hard," the bull said.
So the fight began, beginning with the large animal charging directly at them, his mighty horns aiming right at both Ponies. Twilight and Applejack bolted to the side, but while it got them out of the way it only made the Buffalo ram right into the train again, only THIS time actually toppling it over onto the ground in a loud crash! Steam and metal splattered everywhere, but it gave the two enough time to get to their train kart for some of the supplies inside. The Buffalo raced over to the Train kart, his horns digging right into the windows so he could get this kart knocked over, but just before he could, suddenly he heard a loud hissing noise from just inside.
The bull reared back, his eyes stinging like bee stings as Applejack came right out with the can of pepper spray, smugly grinning before putting that away in her saddlebag. Twilight meanwhile got hold of Applejack's rope, and flew right out from the nearest window to get her magic to work with it. The Buffalo tried reaching either one of them with his horns but they both were going by just a bit too quickly. Twilight held one end of the rope with her magic while Applejack grabbed hold of the other, both Ponies making circles around the bucking bull. In a surprisingly short amount of time, and with a few good knots in for good measure, the Buffalo fell over onto his own hooves, and stumbled into the dirt with his legs tied up in a bull lasso's knot.
"Good thing you came prepared," Twilight said.
"Thanks," Applejack replied. Then they both looked at the bull on the ground.
"Next time if you're gonna go up against the Princess of Friendship and her friends, make sure you got an army behind ya, alright?" Applejack advised. For the bull though ...
"Good thing I got one."
*MMMOOOOOOO!* The moo bellowed from this Buffalo was as loud and as forceful as a fully-forced trombone on the face. The moo lasted good and loud for a good ten seconds, Applejack and Twilight's ears ringing for a bit.
... Before the ground began to shake.
"W-w-w-w-what n-n-n-n-now?" Applejack asked in between the tremors.
It was then that Twilight looked off towards the plains and began to see something else coming in from the horizon. This bull didn't come alone, as just across and visible by the moonlight, a huge herd of animals suddenly began to show up! A huge herd of Buffalo stampeding towards the call of a fallen comrade, the ground shuttering under hundreds of pounds of angry fighting bull.
"Applejack, the herd's coming! Get ready!" Twilight warned, her wings spread open and her horn ready to defend herself. Applejack and Twilight brought their attention off of one bull and over to the actual herd charging in ... which turned out to be just what the tied-up bull needed. Surprisingly flexible, he got the tip of his horn right into the tied-up rope and had just enough strength to snapped the rope clean off, making him free again.
"Twili -" *WHACK*
Right in the back of their heads, in one single whack of the hoof. A set of goofy faces later, and both Ponies passed out ...
"Ugghh ... huh? Wha? Twilight, wake up!"
Where were they and where were they going? Neither of them really knew what the answer was when both Ponies began to come to again in ... somewhere. It was very dark, and very cramped as the two were stuck on top of each other, curled up inside what they easily thought was some sort of sack or bag. Either way, they couldn't get themselves out properly just yet. They could feel themselves dragged along the ground.
"No no no, what even happened? Come on, we got to get out of this," Twilight said, trying to get back onto her hoofing for a busting out, but given how they were moving and being so tight it wasn't exactly easy.
"What're you waiting for, can't you teleport us outta here?" Applejack asked.
"Oh yeah! Hold on, I -"
Then they suddenly stopped moving. This broke off Twilight's concentration, but now they started to hear some sort of muffled voices.
"Well, look at you my boy. So you're the great king everyone's been talking about eh?"
"Well yes, but you don't have to be so formal about it. Just a friend's fine."
"Ha! Modest as ever, just like your father used to be. I can already tell you're gonna fit right in his paw prints."
"What's he talking about?" Applejack asked. Twilight just shushed her as the voices continued. They recognized the first one plain as day but the other one they didn't have a clue. Much younger by the sound of it at least.
"... So Samson is it? What's in that bag you got there?"
"Oh this? Just a token of my respect that's all, think of it like my welcome present."
"Really? Oh that's so kind of you, but you didn't have to go that far."
"Nonsense! Just you showing up's enough of a reason."
"Oh no you don't," Twilight stated through gritted teeth.
Then came the teleport. Her horn was just about to send them to safety but moving the sack made her lose just enough concentration to only teleport Applejack and Twilight outside of the bag and onto the ground. Unfortunately too, they might be out of the bag but FAR from being out of trouble, as they found themselves right in the middle of a circle of animals.
A LOT of animals. Leopards, Cheetahs, Rhinos, Gazelles, Chipmunks, Birds, all kinds were around them and surrounding any basic means of escape for them outside of magic.
As the two got themselves back up on their hooves and ready to go, they found themselves right next to Samson, but also found themselves looking at a particular animal amongst the crowd. He looked about Twilight's Alicorn height, but rather than just a Pony or even some other Buffalo or Bull, it turned out to be a large feline. His fur a complete white like snow except for the black tips of both his ears and his leonine tail, with his eyes a pure blue.
"You got exactly five seconds to tell us what you're planning to do, Samson," Twilight warned firmly. All of a sudden ...
"What happened to them? Are they okay?" Asked ... the white lion?!
"They're fine, a bit bruised up but these are all yours my boy. Enjoy your Ponies as my gift!" Samson announced proudly.
"WHAT?!" shouted Twilight, Applejack, and the white lion (for some reason).
(Commercial break)
(Back to the program)
"You're selling us to a Lion! THAT'S what this is all about?!" Twilight exclaimed in absolute shock. And it really didn't help anyone there that Samson didn't even looked so frazzled by the reaction. In fact, he was almost expecting it by the look on his face.
"Exactly so," Samson revealed, not even afraid to admit it as he turned to the lion and said, "My boy, you're glad for this gift aren't you?"
"I-I still don't understand. Where did you even get these two? There hasn't been a Pony near here in moons," the white Lion replied in disbelief. Samson raised his head high.
"I got these two traveling near that railroad track a few hours ago. It wasn't easy getting them to come here, but it was worth it in the end of it all. I know they're not much to look at, but I'm sure they're good for your liking anyway. Besides -" and he said this strangely casually, -"They'd be pretty good for a feast don't you think?"
"A-A FEAST? Did a tree fall on your head or somethin? We're NOT getting eaten, you can forget it!" Applejack made perfectly clear, but Samson just snorted at them, not even responding to their complaint. Besides, they didn't belong to HIM anymore. The white Lion cub looked frazzled, gulping actually.
"Y-You mean you want us to ... eat them?" he asked humbled, taking a step back.
"Of course! What's a celebration without a grand banquet?" Samson said. All this talk about a banquet was actually making some of the animals rather hungry, them noting a leopard or two licking their muzzles in anticipation for some horse meat. Strangely the white Lion didn't share that same enthusiasm and actually looked very concerned over Twilight and Applejack's safety.
"We didn't come all the way here to be somepony's supper! You can't just steal us and go off selling us and act like it's no big deal," Twilight said boldly against the Buffalo.
"YOU'RE ONE TO TALK!" Samson snorted, "And how many animals do you Ponies lock up in cages, keep away in pens, sitting there all day long just to either give you their milk or eggs, or whatever dignity they had left?!"
"Hold on, it's not like we're torturin them in there. The last I checked they were mighty happy with what they got: free food, a warn place to sleep at night. What's wrong with that?" Applejack retorted. But that response only made Samson even more furious.
"Just what I expect you to say, but now you're getting the taste of your own medicine! Stay there my boy, this won't take long," Samson said, as he began to charge again! Applejack and Twilight readied themselves for another skirmish, but just before the bull could go in and trample them into the ground, something else actually leaped in and shoved them both aside just in time to avoid the angry Buffalo. It took a few moments later for them to figure out it was the white Lion again, this time he being angry at Samson.
"Alright who did that?!" Samson demanded, his voice making the other animals nearby shutter.
"I did!" shouted the white Lion, "I'm not gonna stand by and watch you trample these two."
"You out of your mind?! Those Ponies -"
"Are MINE, remember?" the white Lion cut in, "Therefore, I'm the one that should decide what to do with them, not you! Wasn't that the reason you brought them here in the first place?"
Twilight and Applejack actually looked kinda impressed with this lion's tricky logic, as the Buffalo tried to make a comeback for him but couldn't come up with anything. In the end the large Buffalo slammed his large hoof into the ground, just inches away from the lion's paws before giving a bull groan. He couldn't get anything over his own reasons.
"Fine, you deal with them. But just know that I thought you were as strong of a king as your own father. I've clearly misjudged you," Samson snorted. The white Lion cub did feel a shiver run through his back when he said that, but he kept his claws down as Samson turned around and began to leave. The other animals made sure the Buffalo had a clear path as he marched out of there. The white Lion began looking around at the crowd.
"Alright everyone, that's enough for today. We'll meet up later once this is all handled," the white Lion ordered. The other animals gave their responses, which neither Pony really understood in Ponish but they did show enough to leave the area, leaving Twilight, Applejack, and their white Lion alone for a moment.
"Wow. Uhh, thank you for that," said Applejack.
"Oh it's no problem. Samson didn't hurt you both too much, did he?" he asked, checking over both the Alicorn and Earth Pony for any more injuries.
"Eh we're fine, we've been through worse scuffles uhh ..." Applejack paused at the name but the white lion helped with that.
"Oh, my name is Kimba. And you two?"
Well they finally got the name for their white Lion.
"Twilight Sparkle. Princess of Friendship," Twilight said, a hoof shaking the white Lion's paw.
"So let's get this right out of the way: HOW in Granny Smith's fritters are you even talkin?! Last time I've checked cats do NOT talk," Applejack asked as they strolled along.
"Firstly, I'm a Lion not a cat. Secondly, I taught myself to speak Ponish," Kimba explained, "I'd figure that it would be better that animals and Ponies to better understand eachother if we can at least sit down and chat once in a while."
"You taught yourself? That's wonderful! ... And convenient," Twilight admitted.
"Whatever works," Kimba said.
"Nice to meet ya, but we better get a move on to find our friendship mission. If we start hoofing it now, we should get to the next town before nightfall and anymore critters come out for us," Applejack insisted, trying to keep themselves on task for their friendship mission. Applejack even started pushing Twilight along a bit before things could get any worse for the two, but Kimba went alongside them.
"You two mind if I tag along with you? The animals aren't really used to Ponies just walking through here, I can help you on your way through my part of the Jungle," Kimba offered.
"You already saved us from being trampled, you don't have to do that for us," Twilight insisted.
"It's fine really. I know where the train tracks are if that's where you have to go. That and ... everyone thinks I own you two right now, so ..."
The Ponies were clearly seeing this white Lion's point.
"Well ... alright, lead the way."
"Thanks! We'll just pass by my farm and go from there," Kimba decided. He began to get a headstart, but that didn't mean the two missed what he just said.
"... Did he just say "his Farm?" Applejack asked, dumbfounded.
So next thing they knew, Twilight and Applejack were following Kimba through his thick greenery jungle home. Given how hardly any ponies had gone through here, the actual "road" back was more of a worn out path Kimba, with nothing but dirt and a few stray rocks under hoof alongside brushes and branches that grew over the path. Kimba went through just fine like any other day, and Applejack adapted fine but Twilight trailed behind a bit, having to be careful not to just let any flora whack her off her hooves. As they began to go through into the open -
"You made THIS?!"
That was the main thought running through Twilight and Applejack's minds when Kimba brought them to his corner of the Jungle. Out towards a more open part closer to the plains, the two were observing what could easily be described as a large farming field. One that easily stretched across thirty feet around. Rather than growing tall fruit trees, this one grew ground vegetables such as turnips, cabbages, rutabagas, and all sorts of others albeit fairly small.
"So, what do you think? I made it myself," Kimba revealed.
"You made this, Kimba?" Twilight asked in disbelief. Kimba nodded.
"It's not done yet, but yeah. Not many Ponies get a chance to see any of this, but since you're here, you would've bumped into this anyway," Kimba replied, which given where they had to go wasn't that far off. Applejack trotted over towards some of the crop and looked it over carefully, starting off with a line of cabbages planted and grown.
"Well I'll say this: I know hard work when I see it, and you've worked yourself down to the hooves! ... Er, paws," Applejack said. Kimba got his paw behind his head with a humbled smirk.
"Thank you, Applejack. It's fun to make, plus it helps all the animals not go hungry when it's harder to find food," Kimba explained, just in time for them to look out to the fields and see some antelope come by and pick their share of the crop, enjoying every bite of it. Watching this though, it did make Applejack think about something again, turning to Kimba.
"So by the way, Kimba, got any idea what Samson's deal is?" Applejack asked. Kimba's ears folded back.
"I ... really don't know. I only just met him this morning," Kimba admitted shaking his head, though the look on his face said he wasn't a fan of him already.
"You haven't met him? but he seemed so happy to see you," Twilight inquired. Kimba stopped just ahead of them, hopping up onto a small rock before turning back to the two new Ponies.
"I know he did, but I guess he already has his own ideas over what the "Law of the Jungle" should be. ... He's not the only one," Kimba explained, though sounding doubtful on the last part. It never was easy sharing new ideas to a community so set on previous laws.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked. Kimba sat down.
"All I want is for everyone in the Jungle to be happy with eachother, and not have to live in fear of anything. But I also wants Ponies to get along with us animals too, so the Jungle doesn't have to be scared of them either." Kimba's speech was actually making him feel somewhat hopeful. However this didn't last too long before his ears folded back again.
"But not everyone thinks it's worth it. They just ... don't like Ponies. Or anything they do. Like Samson, apparently."
It took a minute, but after they looked around the farm fields again, and then back to Kimba, Applejack and Twilight were starting to get the same idea. Both Ponies turned to eachother.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Twilight quietly asked Applejack.
"You really sure about this?"
"This has to be it. You heard what Kimba just said, and everything that just happened wouldn't without something to do with our mission. right?"
"I ... don't think that's how it works. Then again ..."
"Well anyway," continued Kimba, "let's keep going. If we keep from here we should hit the train tracks before the sun sets again."
Kimba got off his rock and began to walk along again, but he only took about five steps before realizing that Applejack and Twilight weren't actually following him just yet. Twilight spoke first.
"Actually, Kimba, we're going to stay around a bit more," Twilight revealed happily and proudly. "The friendship map of Equestria sent us here on our friendship mission, and Applejack and I both agree that the problem we're sent to solve ... is you!"
"Me? What'd I do?!" Kimba gasped angrily. He didn't start ANY problems outside of possibly interfering with Samson's charge, and NO WAY would Twilight and Applejack mad about that.
"No no no, we mean your problem with Samson!" Twilight quickly corrected. Kimba immediately calmed down.
"Oh. You two don't have to do that for me. Besides, he already captured you and dragged you here," Kimba pointed out more humbly this time.
"Don't worry about that, like Applejack said, it's not the worst thing we've been through. If anypony's coming up with good ideas in this Jungle, it's you," Twilight replied. Kimba waved a paw to her dismissively.
"But what about Samson? I don't want a war to start over the Jungle."
"He hasn't even seen this! Besides, who cares what some stuffy bull has to say about it?" Applejack questioned.
"Most of the animals in the Jungle," Kimba simply answered. Both Ponies looked back to the farmland again, seeing the animals in support of Kimba enjoying the hard work and reward from the food.
Just like that, Twilight got her eureka moment.
"But Samson said you're the king, right?" Twilight pointed out. Kimba however quickly caught onto where she was going.
"I can't just abuse my power on him, that's no better than what he just did on you two!" Kimba stated. Twilight paused but quickly regathered herself.
"Look, Samson hasn't even heard these ideas," Twilight confirmed, "All we need to do is show him just what kinds of ideas you have for the Jungle. I'm sure Samson wouldn't mind a "Pony idea" if it's just making food."
Kimba's spirits were starting to lift....
...
Until they found Samson again in the jungle.
"WHAT?! You two think you're making deals here?" Samson retorted toughly, hoof stomping the ground as he stared daggers at the Ponies.
"We're not just making deals, we just want to show you what Kimba's trying to do that's all, then you can decide for yourself," Twilight insisted. Samson wasn't having it though.
"I don't need to see any of Kimba's new ideas if they're PONY-related," Samson snorted, "We've done our own ways here for generations long before Kimba even came around, you expect me to just change now?"
"Samson you're talking like ALL the animals are on your side, but I have some that actually like them too," Kimba said, stepping up to the plate. All of this commotion was starting to bring more animals around again, most of which were with Samson on the argument. They did see them, but didn't address them just yet.
"Kimba, your father never wanted any of us to act like those controlling Ponies for the longest time, and now you're expecting us to bend over our hooves because you want us to?" Samson explained. Kimba cringed a little bit, a shiver down his back, but he tried to keep a brave face.
"No I'm not!" Kimba shouted.
"That's REALLY what it's sounding like, you traitor," Samson warned, horns lowered and ready to buck them over into the next jungle.
"Traitor?!"
"You heard me right: only a traitor to the Jungle would keep talking about Pony ideas and how "good" they are! Maybe you Lions never gone through it, but we cows are always shuffled under them."
"What the hay are you talking about?" Applejack asked. Samson stomped forward, his larger hoof landing in between Applejack's own hooves and leaving his bulk in her face.
"I can tell you're a farmer, so that means you got yourself cows. Cows you think can't think for themselves so you lock up and keep them there until you need their milk, or feed them hay, and treat them like babies. UGH."
Samson felt almost disgusted thinking about the fact his relatives are stuck in a barn somewhere for the Pony's sake. Applejack actually found herself drawing a blank: she did have a couple of milkers back at home, but they never complained once about how they were being treated. ... Right?
"O-Okay, so I do have them, but that's got nothing to do with what Kimba's doing. If you just hold yourself and come with us -" Applejack was cut short when Samson shoved her back off her own hooves, knocking her ten feet and whacked off her hat doing so.
"Not on your life."
Kimba had enough, and jumped in the way before he could ram her again.
"Samson, stop it! If you want to fight, then fight with me! I'm the one you're mad at," Kimba demanded.
"Alright, you traitor."
Then he started charging head on for them! Twilight, Applejack, and Kimba stood firm against this enraged bull, like standing in front of the Ponyville train as the ground shuttered underhoof and paw. The animals worried they were gonna get trampled, but before Samson could, the bull actually started skidded, his hooves digging down and actually stopping altogether.
None of them budged. A stand-off.
"Well you three are brave not to run, I'll give you that," Samson said, his breath huffing into them. Still, with this pause, Twilight glanced over towards the animals standing nearby. They might not talk, but maybe this could work in their favor yet.
"Samson, wait. You got your idea, and so does Kimba, but what does everypony else think?" Twilight questioned. The buffalo and lion looked to the crowd, and Samson already was seeing what she meant by that. Samson refused to admit it, but looked to Kimba.
"Alright Kimba, I'll give you one more chance: ask everyone whether I'm right, or you are."
"I will," kimba sternly stated. With that, Kimba walked away from the buffalo, and looked to the crowd beyond them as Twilight and Applejack waited it out.
"You all know my plans for the Jungle: building a farm for food, and getting along with everyone else. Everyone who agrees with me, raise your paw!" Kimba declared.
... Then came the trouble. The entire crowd standing there, while some very slight murmuring between them was heard, was eerily quiet. Not a single hoof or paw or talon was raised, and overall no one really was on Kimba's side.
"What's the matter? If you agree, speak right up! Doesn't anyone?"
Still nothing.
Samson then stepped forward.
"Obviously they don't. Who agrees with me?!" Samson bellowed.
THIS time the reaction was far quicker, as lots of paws and hooves were raised up almost immediately. If there was anyone who didn't vote for Samson none of them could see it. In fact, the only ones agreeing were Twilight and Applejack but that was about it. Kimba felt his heart sink as Samson moved over towards him, more stern than angry.
"See, Kimba? It's the Law of the Jungle, and Pony ways just aren't part of it. Nothing you can do will change that," Samson made perfectly clear.
Kimba took a moment to take in what was going on with everyone here. That settled it: the animals of the Jungle just weren't going to be on his side. The white Lion lowered his head in defeat. turned around. And began walking away.
"Kimba, where're you going?" Twilight asked.
Kimba didn't answer, as he disappeared into the bushes.
(Commercial break)
(Back to the program)
"Kimba! Kimba?! Come back will ya?!" Called Applejack, she and Twilight going through the thick jungle trying to find their lion cub.
"Where're you, Kimba?!" called Twilight. Alas, neither of them were receiving an answer from him. Their trotting through the jungle was met with low branches, and large rocks but no real sign of the white lion anywhere for a good half an hour, stray animals watching them go by calling for him.
It could be by pure luck or fate, but both Ponies began moving from the jungle and suddenly found themselves backwards to the open plains again. Sure enough, after some looking around in the open space, the two Ponies began to see someone familiar closer by in the open.
There was Kimba, laying there alone on a nearby savannah rock staring to what farm he made, with nothing but his thoughts and some dismay on his mind, his claws scratching into the rock too. Kimba only needed to hear a stick snap under AJ's hoof in a step to know who's there.
"Oh. You're both still here?" Kimba asked.
"We're not gonna go away just yet, Kimba, not now," Twilight insisted.
"You two really don't have to anymore. The Jungle's already side with Samson, and you've been caught up enough. The train tracks are just across here," Kimba said, as Applejack and Twilight sat by his side.
"Come on, sugarcube, don't let that big bull get you down like that. He's just actin' stubborn and won't listen to anypony," Applejack said, trying to cheer him up. Kimba however took a long breath.
"Well ... you two shown to be nice, or at least tolerate us, but there's a lot more Ponies who don't see it that way. He's not completely wrong, but I just don't know. ... I'm so sorry, dad."
Kimba collapsed down onto his stomach, still thinking about what.
"Dad? Kimba?" Twilight asked. Kimba then remembered these two weren't familiar with the Jungle history at all, but before speaking his paw started moving around in the dirt, drawing out something in the ground. AJ and Twilight soon began seeing the picture of a proud lion standing there, a large and adult king of the Jungle.
"That's him," Kimba began, "The mighty Panja. He made the Jungle the best place in all of the world for all sorts of animals everywhere. He kept the Jungle safe from anything trying to destroy it, and at the same time keeps everyone in the Jungle happy with what he does. As his son, it's my turn to take charge of the Jungle now, but what kind of king can't get anyone to help with a stupid farm?"
Kimba swatted the picture, leaving it only a smear in the ground. Applejack and Twilight ... almost right away got Kimba back up onto his paws.
"Kimba, nopony said that being a leader is ever going to be easy, you shouldn't give up so quickly," Twilight explained, as she brought her wing to rest on Kimba's back.
"It doesn't matter. Everyone already agreed with Samson," Kimba sighed.
"Well that bull ain't in charge of the Jungle," Applejack stated, "He might have an opinion, that's fine, but he's not the one that's supposed to be saying what's what round here. Besides, that stuffed-up cow hasn't even seen your farm yet, so how can he judge it just because "it's a Pony idea"? That ain't any better than what he did so far."
Kimba paused for thought for a moment, not replying straight away as Twilight continued.
"Look, friends can't always agree with everything they do all the time, but just because somepony's making their ideas stronger than yours, doesn't always make their ideas better. If you believe in your heart that this is what you think is best, then you're going to make an excellent leader, Kimba."
Kimba could actually feel some tears drip from his eyes after hearing all of this. He took a moment to wipe them away with his paws. They may not be from the Jungle, but they still got his back.
"So Kimba, what do you say we work on that farm together?"
"You'll do that for me?"
"Absolutely. I can help you organize the plans for the rest of the farm," Twilight promised.
"And my family didn't grow Sweet Apple Acres for nothin you know," Applejack added, "Just tell us what you wanna do, and we'll get it done in two shakes."
Kimba eventually got up to his paws.
"... Let's do it."
So things got busy. Without anymore hesitation on any of the three, the trio began the construction on the farm land. Kimba may have had a good start, but if they needed to feed the entire Jungle on it they were gonna need A LOT more space to make this work, something which Twilight made sure to go for an extra mile or two with some magic lining the ground. Each member made their contribution wherever they could: Kimba took care of the debris such as tree stumps and roots with his claws; Applejack had the honor of working the land as she would back at Sweet Apple Acres, and Twilight kept them both in line with her numbers, lines, and set-up so it would work the best. Each of them traded off wherever needed, and the work for the farm was getting done surprisingly well, even if slow. For the start it was only those three, as the rest of the jungle Animals were simply watching from the sidelines, observing just how much they were doing. Not much help from any of them ...
Well at first.
As the hours ticked by, slowly but surely, they were getting some more help: when Kimba was stuck pulling a large tree stump out of the ground, he found the roots gnawed off by some helping gophers. When Applejack tried to make a line to plant the seeds, some moles made five more alongside her with some fine digging, and even Twilight got some help when some birds flew along the borders to pluck away at the grass. Even the larger animals were starting to come around, such as when the trio were stuck trying to move a colossal boulder in the middle of the plains, just to get some extra help from a friendly Elephant who shoved it aside with ease.
The project was looking up.
...
A day or two later, Samson was going around the Jungle for some morning breakfast. He went through the Jungle for a bit, enjoying the morning grass as any buffalo would, but as he continued along from the Jungle towards the plains, he slowly began to notice something off ...
It was quiet. A little too quiet.
"That's it! Just bring that over here!"
"Hmm?"
Samson needed just a few steps to see what was going on out in Kimba's corner of the jungle. Peeking his large head out of the bushes, he found that the farm was VERY BUSY, numerous animals working all over to make the farm work: Antelope sewing the dirt, snakes and birds planting seeds, all directed by the trio that started it all.
Everyone sure was looking happy, and even more so there was A LOT more to the farm than how it started: each day added more acres to the land and now it was matching Sweet Apple Acres in size alone. Not too many vegetables yet, but it's a grand start compared to a few days ago.
"Good job, everyone, the farm's looking fantastic," Kimba said to everyone, while getting some stray roots out with a Gazelle and Parrot.
"Look at that. We already got ten rows planted and ready to grow just from this morning!" Twilight said.
"Yeah. Just wait until Samson sees all of this," Applejack chuckled.
"I am."
That settled it. Seeing all of this going on, Samson marched right out of the Jungle and right towards the farmland. The workers all stopped and turned his way as the Water Buffalo kept moving until his hooves stood right in front of the rows of vegetables. Just seeing him made many of them shiver, but the leaders weren't gonna be scared off just because he showed up.
The Buffalo just stood there. Looking around and seeing what everyone was doing, and how much was getting done for the farm project. From the smallest mouse to the biggest elephant, a lot of animals were trying to make this work except for him. No one spoke a word, just letting Samson look around and judge for himself, lowering his head towards the saplings, vegetables, and seeds planted.
He then turned to the Ponies again. Kimba straight away stood between them and Samson just in case. The Buffalo didn't say a single word to them yet, and simply stared for a long ten seconds before he began to move away from them, seeing a gazelle next to a fairly big tree stump....
Samson tore it out of the ground with his horns in one swing of the head.
"S-Samson?" Kimba asked.
"I've been watching you all for days now, working on this farm of yours," Samson began, "... I was wrong for calling you a traitor. Your father worked just as hard for what he believed in, and I apologize for misjudging you."
Now THAT was some good news.
"Thank you very much, Samson. Now, you don't have to help if you don't want to, but there's still a lot to get," Kimba said. Samson smirked proudly.
"Let me get my herd down here, and we'll have this farmed in no time!" Samson bellowed proudly. That was all Kimba needed to hear, as Samson looked to the two Ponies, this time not as angrily.
"As for you two. I still don't like Ponies and what they do, but if you two want to leave, I'm not gonna stop ya," Samson decided.
"Thanks, Samson," Twilight said.
Then, as Samson was galloping off to fetch his herd for Kimba's project, something else was starting to happen to Applejack and Twilight that, while making Kimba concerned at first, made the Ponies smile.
Their Cutie Marks flashed again.
"Well Kimba, looks like we're all done here," Twilight said, "Though if you still need our help finishing up the farm, we'd be happy to."
Kimba looked back to all of the support he had gained over the last couple of days before answering.
"I think we all can take it from here."
So there they were, standing just at the edge of the Jungle. The animals followed them only so far, and with most of them a bit away from the borders, Kimba stood right alongside them to see them off.
"This is as far as I'll go. Thanks again for all of your help," Kimba said.
"No problem. That farm's gonna work wonders," Twilight replied confidently.
"I know. Now ... can you two promise me one thing when you get home?" Kimba then asked.
"Anything. Just name it," Applejack replied.
Kimba, with some thoughts of Samson in mind, took a small breath to relax before answering.
"Don't tell anyone about this."
Both Ponies stopped and looked puzzled.
"Huh? Why not?" Twilight inquired.
"Because this is our animal kingdom," Kimba explained, "we only want to live in harmony and peace. I don't think the Ponies where you come from are ready to understand that."
Applejack can understand what he was talking about, the flashes of her own encounter with the Raccoons back at her farm going through her mind. Still, after everything they've seen today, they can reach a good decision with a nod of the head.
"Then we'll help them understand."
"Thank you."
With that, the two Ponies started their journey back home.
