//------------------------------// // For Pony's Sake! // Story: Rodeo Gaga // by Parchment_Scroll //------------------------------// Rodeo Gaga For Pony's Sake "Oh, Sweetie Belle," Rarity fussed, "I'm afraid I've bitten off more than I can chew yet again!" The fashionista's little sister frowned. "You always do that whenever I'm going to have a sleepover with my friends," she complained. "How come you never think about what I want?" Rarity froze, aghast. "Sweetie Belle! I am very sorry. It's just that I promised Applejack I would compete in her place in the Roving Rodeo this year, since it's my fault she is too injured to compete. I can't, simply can not abandon a friend in her time of need!" Sweetie Belle's frown deepened. "But what about my time of need?" She pouted at her sister. "Applebloom, Scootaloo, and me were gonna work on getting our cutie marks together!" Rarity gritted her teeth. She loved her sister dearly, and the group of friends they called the Cutie Mark Crusaders were, frankly, rather adorable when they weren't being completely exasperating. But a promise was a promise. Of course, she had also promised her sister... "Hay, Rarity," Sweetie Belle said with a sly grin. "I have an idea." The unicorn filly was already on the way to the door. "I'll go get Applebloom and Scootaloo, and we'll help you get ready for the rodeo! Then we can get our... our rodeo helper-outer cutie marks!" Rarity raised a forehoof and started to voice an objection, but Sweetie Belle was already out the door. * * * * * Twilight Sparkle was suffering from mixed emotions. On the one hoof, she was concerned for her injured friend's well being. On the other, she really needed help organizing the Roving Rodeo's stay in Ponyville. On another, Applejack clearly needed help tending to her duties on the farm. On yet another, she had to admit there was some humor to be found in her friend's current condition. "All right, Twi," Applejack fumed. "What in tarnation is with that thar look yer givin' me? It's like ya ain't seen a pony hurt before." Twilight snickered, then covered her muzzle in shock at her own behavior. "I'm sorry, Applejack," she confessed. "It's just..." Spike, on the other hoof (how many hooves was that, anyway? Five? What kind of pony had five hooves?), had no problem laughing out loud. "Wow, Applejack," he said, "I've heard of a pony having their butt in a sling before, but I never thought I'd actually see it!" "Haw haw," drawled the farm pony, unamused. After a moment, she let out a slight chuckle. "All right, Ah'll admit, when y'all look at 'er that way, it does make it a mite funny." "A, uh..." Twilight offered a sheepish grin. "A mite." "In any case, Ah'll do what I can ta help ya, Twi, but fer obvious reasons Ah'm not sure how much help Ah kin be." Twilight nodded, taking a moment to get her composure back. "Well, as I'm sure you're aware," she began. "Th' annual Equestrian Rovin' Rodeo's comin' ta Ponyville," Applejack finished for her. "Ah shore am aware. Wouldja believe Rarity wants ta compete on mah behalf?" Twilight was taken aback. "Really? That's... um..." Applejack grinned. "Aw, it's right neighborly of her is what it is. Anyhoo, what kin Ah do fer ya?" "Well," said Twilight, "it's just that I'm having a terrible time figuring out where they can set up the rodeo grounds. The only place I can think of is, well, your grazing fields. But that won't do at all!" "Why not?" Twilight blinked. "We can't just take over the fields. Your cows need them for grazing!" Applejack laughed. "Shoot, Twi, I knew y'all were a bit sheltered when it comes ta farm stuff, but Ah figured y'all would know pert' near anythin's in a book about it! Ain't y'all heard o' rotatin' crops?" Twilight nodded. "Well, yes," she said, "for crops like corn or wheat or barley, but not for your apples, or just grass!" Applejack could barely contain her elation. Things, it seemed, would work out nicely this year after all. "Naw, we don't rotate th' apples, that'd be plum crazy. But we got three grazin' fields and three more fer crops, and we rotate through all six o' them. So the cows're usin' the south and southeast fields right now, and the northeast, north, and northwest are bein' used fer grains, but the southwest field is layin' fallow 'til next month." "Won't having a bunch of ponies trampling the field cause problems down the line?" "Naw, not really," Applejack said. "We kin git along jes' fine with five fields 'stead o' six. And it'll mean Ah ain't gotta find a way ta git mah stand ta th' other side o' Ponyville. Now that is what Ah call lucky!" Twilight grinned. "That's fantastic! I'm so relieved!" Applejack laughed. "Y'all worry too much. T'ain't like ya ain't got yer friends ta help out when ya need us, Sugarcube." "See, Twilight? No problems at all," Spike said. "It's not like--" The little dragon hiccuped, then let out a colossal belch of green fire, a scroll appearing in the sparkling flames. With practiced ease, Twilight caught the scroll with her magic and unrolled it, scanning it quickly before showing all the telltale signs of a full-on Twilight Sparkle signature panic attack. "No problems?" she said with a twitch. "No problems at all?" She began to giggle maniacally, letting the scroll fall to the ground. Spike picked it up and read it aloud. "My Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle, "I am overjoyed to hear from the Mayor of Ponyville about your participation in not only organizing, but helping to judge the upcoming Equestrian Roving Rodeo. I can't say how happy I am to see you step forward and represent the town, and how much I am looking forward to judging the competitions alongside you and all the other judges. "Your loving mentor, "Princess Celestia" Twilight twitched again. "I'm going to judge the competitions? I can't judge the competitions! I don't know anything about judging rodeo competitions! How can I judge the competitions? I need to study!" So saying, she galloped off towards the library, leaving a bemused Applejack and Spike in her wake. "I should probably go help her," Spike said. "You take care of yourself, Applejack!" "You too. An' take care o' Twilight, okay?" "You got it!"