//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Idle Chitchat and Reflections // Story: My Little Wasteland // by ThatBronyWithTheClipOns //------------------------------// Spike and the Apple Gang made it into the Badlands without any real obstacles. Still, they kept their guard up. If what they heard was true, this had become pretty much a city for all sorts of criminals. “Well ah’ll be,” said Applejack. “Ah know the rest of the world is a basically a desert. But this, somehow feels different.” “I know what you mean,” said Spike. “There’s something other worldly about it all.” “Best stay on guard ya’ll,” said Applejack. “Keep yer weapons close to ya, and make sure they’re fully loaded.” “Gotcha,” said Apple Bloom. “Eeyup,” agreed Big Macintosh. “Don’t have to tell me twice,” said Spike. After nearly an hour of wandering through the seemingly endless desert, the group came across nothing. “This is so borin,” complained Apple Bloom. “Ah thought this area was sposed to have a shit ton of criminals!” “Watch yer tongue, Apple Bloom,” griped Applejack. “But you do have a point. Maybe all that info we heard was wrong.” “Did you really think we were going to come across something so quickly,” asked Spike. “It’s not like they’re gonna hold up signs, giving up their locations.” While walking through the desolate terrain, Apple Bloom decided to strike up conversation with Spike; both were walking behind Applejack and Big Macintosh. “So tell me, Spike” began Apple Bloom. “What was it like trainin with Magnum Mal Wesson?” “Not easy, that’s for sure,” said Spike with a little chuckle. “He’s a tough old bastard. When I first met him, I was trying to collect my first bounty and got my ass kicked. Mal gave the leader a warning, but he didn’t listen, and Mal shot him right between the eyes. The other two went running.” “Damn,” said Apple Bloom. “Was it the pony he shot that gave you that scar?” “He sure was,” said Spike. “If it hadn’t been for Mal, I probably would’ve died. I convinced him to train me, which started with him beating the shit out of me. He also fashioned my guns to work for me.” “Wow,” said Apple Bloom with awe. “Did he also make your clothes?” “Nah,” said Spike. “That would be Rarity who made these for me. The last thing she ever made before giving up on fashion.” “Sure is nice a nice coat,” said Apple Bloom. “Double stitched with special thread that’s tough as steel,” Said Spike. “She even lined the inside with some metal plating and secret pockets and such.” “Rarity sure is somethin,” commented Apple Bloom. “Sure is,” said Spike. “An Sweetie Belle’s been singin,” said Apple Bloom. “You bet,” said Spike. “She’s the number one act at the Musical Mare. I watch her show whenever I can.” “You two are sweet on each other, aint ya,” Apple Bloom said with a sly smile. “You could say that,” said Spike. “Think yer gonna marry her,” asked Apple Bloom. Spike gulped a little at this comment. “Hadn’t really thought about it,” said Spike. “Well ah bet ya’ll have already taken a roll in the hay,” Apple Bloom said with another sly Smile. “That’s none of your concern,” said Spike, tilting his hat down to hide his blushing. “Hell, we’re all grownups here,” said Apple Bloom. “Ah can tell ya right now that ah sure as hell aint no virgin.” Spike’s entire face practically went bright red at this comment. This got Apple Bloom laughing; that was the Spike she knew. Applejack could overhear the conversation and couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Can you believe the things she’s sayin back there,” Applejack said to Big Macintosh. “Eeyup,” said Big Macintosh. “What,” exclaimed Applejack. “How can ya’ll say that, Big Macintosh?” “She aint a little filly no more, AJ,” said Big Macintosh. “An the world is a far different place. Can’t say ah approve of how she talks, but she’s a grown mare, an ah aint her father.” “But we’re lookin out for her, Mac,” said Applejack. “Nope,” said Big Macintosh. “She’s choosin to stay with us.” “Ya mean ya want her to leave us,” said Applejack. “Nope,” said Big Mac. “Not sayin that at all. But if she wanted to, she could. Natural for children to eventually head out on their own. Circumstances bein what they are, ah’m glad she’s around. Ah’m glad yer both around.” “Ah aint gonna abandon family,” said Applejack. “But you said Twilight was family once,” said Big Macintosh. “That’s completely different,” said Applejack. “You and Apple Bloom are blood. And because of what she did, we lost Sweet Apple Acres. And Granny Smith.” “You know blood don’t mean a thing,” said Big Macintosh. “An what Twilight did wasn’t on purpose, an you know that too.” “So what, yer sayin ah shouldn’t be mad at her,” asked Applejack. “Nope,” said Big Macintosh. “Ah’m sad about the loss of Granny Smith like you an Apple Bloom, more so than the loss of our farm. But Granny wasn’t mad at Twilight.” “And just how the hay do you know that,” said Applejack. “Cuz ah was the last one to see her alive,” said Big Macintosh in a somber tone. “Why didn’t you tell me,” said Applejack. “Why didn’t you get me an Apple Bloom to come see her in her final moments.” “Cuz it wasn’t planned er anythin,” said Big Macintosh. “Ah was up late, an ah heard her cryin. Ah went to go see what ah could do. She told me to come close to her, and she spoke to me. ‘Macintosh, don’t be hatin Twilight Sparkle fer what happened. She had good intentions that just went the wrong way. Holdin on to hate won’t get you nowhere. Ah’ve lived a long, happy life, an ah’m so proud by how ya’ll turned out. An promise me you’ll look after yer sisters.’” “Why didn’t you ever tell us about that,” said Applejack. “You were so distraught an angry when she passed that ah didn’t think you’d listen,” said Big Macintosh. “Ah’m sorry fer that, Applejack, ah shoulda known better.” “Ah spose ya have a point there,” said Applejack. “But after all these years,” began Big Macintosh. “Can you honestly say ya don’t miss yer friends?” “Of course ah miss them, Big Mac,” said Applejack. “Ah miss them every single day. Seein Spike after so long specially brought back memories. Ah miss them all, an ah wish ah could see them all. Then again, we don’t even know if Rainbow Dash an Pinkie Pie are still alive.” “They are,” said Big Macintosh. “An how do you know that,” asked Applejack. “Ah’ve seen ya’ll do some amazin things,” said Big Macintosh. “Rainbow Dash is tough, and Pinkie Pie does things nopony should. If anypony can survive this hell on earth, it’s those two.” “Never thought about that,” said Applejack. “Ya got a point there. Ya really ought to say more things more often, Mac.” “Maybe,” said Big Mac with a proud smile. The group then came across a rock formation, set up in an odd pattern. “Well this is odd,” said Spike. “These rocks are clearly not part of this natural terrain.” “How can ya tell that,” asked Applejack. “It’s a dragon thing,” said Spike. “But they were definitely moved her by outsides sources.” “Maybe it’s a marker,” said Apple Bloom. “To keep track of where they were last.” “Could be,” said Spike. Just then, a group of ten earth ponies appeared out of nowhere, pointing their guns directly at Spike and the others. “Keep yer hands up,” yelled one pony. “Iffin ya’ll don’t wanna lose yer fuckin heads!” “Well aint this just fuckin fantastic,” said Apple Bloom with extreme sarcasm in her voice. Spike and the Apple Gang were surrounded by what appeared to be 10 earth ponies; and all were armed. “Ah can’t believe it,” exclaimed one earth pony. “We managed to catch us Six Shooter Spike and the Apple Gang. We’ll be gettin a shit load fer them hides.” “Ya’ll best put your weapons down,” said another. “We got ya’ll surrounded.” As much as Spike hated to think it, they were right. There were no gaps he could make out. But all of a sudden, he noticed a light glaring at his eye. He tilted his head slightly, and saw a smaller lone cloud floating high above them. And he swore he could see some sort of hole on the bottom. “Everypony get down on the ground,” he whispered to the Apple Siblings. “What the hell are you talkin bout, Spike,” asked Applejack in a whisper. “Trust me,” he said. All four fell to the ground as quickly as they could. Confused, one of the gang members was about to fire. When all of a sudden, a gunfire went off from seemingly nowhere.