//------------------------------//
// 5. Applejack and Bumblebee 
// Story: EqG Tales: DC Super Hero Girls Edition 
// by Brian Sheil 
//------------------------------//

The next day came. At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack woke up bright and early. As she was getting dressed to do her chores, Granny Smith noticed that she’s very upset.
“Are you still fuming after what Svengallop did you ya?” Granny asked.
“Yup.” Applejack replied sadly. “My friends and I are ready to shine on stage.” Soon, she started to get mad. “If I see that critic again, I’m gonna…..”
Suddenly, she got grabbed from behind by Big Mac.
“Hey!” Applejack gasped. “What’s the idea?”
“Sis,” Big Macintosh said, “I’m afraid it’s off to the barn for you.”
Later, Applejack found herself inside the barn. Her hands were tied behind her back and her ankles were tied together.
“I guess this is what I get for letting my anger control me.” Applejack thought. “Man, this is not my day.”
Soon, Apple Bloom walked in to see her sister.
“Feeling better, sis?” Apple Bloom wondered.
“I guess so.” Applejack replied. “Me and my friends felt so embarrassed.”
“Well, this little critter came by and said that she wants to help you.”
Applejack saw what looks like a tiny girl on Apple Bloom’s shoulder. This girl looks like a bee. She hopped off and grew to normal size. It was just a girl in a bee outfit.
“Hoo-wee!” Applejack said with a shock. “It’s Bumblebee!”
“Bumblebee?” Apple Bloom gasped. “Isn’t she one of them Superhero Girls?”
“That’s me.” The girl named Bumblebee replied.
The young hero soon talked to Applejack. “Granny Smith and Big Macintosh told me what happened. You must’ve been heartbroken.”
“That’s for sure.” Applejack replied. “The way that critic sprung this on us, the six of us were critically brought down.”
“The critic is known as Svengallop. Right?”
“I take it you heard of him.”
“I certainly did. Me and some friends of mine went to a movie premiere one day. But, Svengallop was there too. His criticism ruined the whole thing. Everyone there listened to him and walked away.”
This shocked the Apple sisters a lot. Bumblebee checked on Applejack to see how she’s doing. “Looks like you calmed down a bit. Hold still while I untie you.”
Soon, Bumblebee and the Apple Sisters went over to Granny Smith.
“Feeling better, AJ?” Granny wondered.
“I sure am, Granny.” Applejack replied. “Thanks to Bumblebee here.”  
Everybody felt relieved as Big Mac shook Bumblebee’s hand. “Thanks for helping my sister, Bumblebee.”
“No problem, Big Mac.” Bumblebee replied. “Just glad to help.”
Suddenly, they heard what sounds like stomping near the apple orchards. This is very concerning. The Apple Family depends on those trees so they can get enough apples for their homemade cider.
“What’s that?” Apple Bloom asked with concern. “An earthquake?”
“Nope.” Big Mac replied. “Earthquakes don’t make any stomping noises.”
The group saw a shocking sight in the orchards. It was a muscular woman with curly red hair and dressed in leopard skins like a jungle native. Applejack soon realized who this intruder is. “It’s Giganta. This lady has a temper as big as her size and muscles.”
“That’s not good.” Apple Bloom realized. “She’s going to tear our apple trees apart.”
Bumblebee shrunk to insect size and prepared to fight. “I dealt with this bully before. I’ll stop her!”
As Bumblebee buzzed off, Applejack decided to follow her. “I’m going to help her, all.” 
“Be careful, AJ.” Granny Smith warned. “If what you say is true, Giganta maybe a tough challenge!”
Apple Bloom got a little scared. “I think I’ll stay with you guys. That Giganta lady scares me.”
Meanwhile, Giganta stomps through the land and sees an apple tree.
“Mmmm.” Giganta hummed. “I heard Sweet Apple Acres has some of the juiciest apples around. I think I’ll grab a couple dozen.”
Just then, Bumblebee zipped in and buzzed around Giganta’s face. Needless to say, the super villain didn’t like it. After trying to swat the shrunken hero, Giganta got mad. Bumblebee soon landed and returned to normal size.
“I should’ve known you would follow me here, Bumblebee!” Giganta said angrily.
“That I have.” Bumble replied. “And, I have a partner with me.”
Applejack steps in to be by Bumblebee’s side. Giganta soon recognizes the farm girl. “Applejack: the pride of the Apple Family. I heard many tales of you.”
“We don’t appreciate thugs like you invading Sweet Apple Acres, Giganta.” Applejack informed. “I suggest you vamoose before y’all get hurt!”
“Oh yeah?” Giganta soon cracked her knuckles. “Try and make me, Hayseed!”
Soon, Applejack and Giganta grappled each other for a bit of strength testing. Bumblebee started to get nervous. But, the grappling was over and Giganta was shocked.
“You’re strong!” Giganta admitted. “Must be from all of that farm work.”
“I reckon so.” Applejack replied.
Then, the beastly girl took a fighting stance. “Even so, you won’t stop me!”
Giganta started to charge at Applejack. Fortunately, Bumblebee buzzed in and lifted Applejack away just as the brute missed and ran into a fence. The heroic pair landed to see Giganta on her face after tripping over the fence post. When she came to, she saw Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom looking angry at her.
“Ya better leave right now, Giganta.” Granny Smith demanded. “If not, we’ll call the cops on you!”
“Eeyup!” Big Mac added.
“Then, y’all change your looks from spots to stripes!” Apple Bloom said.
Realizing that she’s outnumbered five to one, Giganta decided to leave. She gave a departing statement. “We’ll meet again, Apple Family! That’s a promise.”
As Giganta left, Bumblebee and Applejack fist bumped each other, happy that justice was served. Later, the family had a nice barbecue after finishing their chores. Outside of the area, Bumblebee, back in her everyday guise as Karen Beecher, was on her phone. “Looks like Applejack got her get up and go again.”
“That’s good news, Karen.” Sunset Shimmer replied from her room at the yoga retreat. “Talk to you later. Bye, now.”
After hanging up her phone, Sunset picked up her mat, and proceeded to her next yoga session.