//------------------------------// // Prologue: Western Welcome // Story: Deserts and Dragons // by Metool Bard //------------------------------// Prologue: Western Welcome Hey, Cuz: It's been a while since we saw each other at the Apple Family Reunion, hasn't it? How have you been holding up? I've been doing alright. Listen, you know my second cousin Braeburn, right? Well, he's inviting me to stay in Appleloosa for the week, and I'm a bit nervous. I mean, it's not that I don't wanna go or anything like that. I just, haven't been that far west before. My big sis says she can't come with me because she's got work to do, and my fellow Manehattan Crusaders are on vacation with their own families. So, I was wondering if you'd like to come up to Appleloosa and stay with me and Braeburn. I asked him, and he said it was okay. Heck, bring Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo with you. It'll make me feel a lot more comfortable. If you can't make it, that's fine. I'll, manage on my own somehow. If you do decide to join me, I'll be heading out this Tuesday. Hope to see you then. Much love, Babs Seed Apple Bloom read over the letter in her hooves as the clicks and clacks of the train wheels became nothing but background noise. She had received the letter just a few days before, and truth be told, she couldn't be more excited. A chance to see her favorite cousin and finally get to see Appleloosa for herself? There was no way she'd say no to that! "Apple Bloom, are you even listenin' to me?" Apple Bloom looked up from her letter, and saw a very stern-looking Applejack sitting across from her. She racked her brain for an answer to her sister's question. "Um, of course I am!" she lied. "Alright, what did I jus' say?" Apple Bloom swallowed. Applejack was calling her bluff. "Uh, um..." she hemmed and hawed, only to come up with a complete blank. "She said to listen to your cousin Braeburn and do what he says," Sweetie Belle whispered in Apple Bloom's ear. "Oh, yeah! Um, you want us to listen to Cousin Braeburn and do whatever he tells us!" Apple Bloom said, repeating what Sweetie Belle had just told her. Applejack sighed. "Well, I'm glad at least one of y'all is payin' attention," she said. "Listen, Apple Bloom. I'm very glad you wanna help out your cousin Babs like this, an' I think a visit to Appleloosa would do you some good. But ya gotta promise me that you'll stay outta trouble." "C'mon, Applejack! Doncha trust us?" said Apple Bloom with pleading eyes. "It's not like we try to get into trouble." "And yet, we somehow have a knack for it," said Sweetie Belle glumly. "Not helpin', Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom growled through gritted teeth. "I don't see what the big deal is," said Scootaloo, who was busy looking out the window. "We're probably just going to go around town and find a way to earn our Cutie Marks like usual." "That's what I'm afraid of," said Applejack, folding her forelegs. "Now, I'm not against y'all tryin' to find your special talents, but I know how you three think. So no grandiose schemes or whatever, got it?" "Grandi-what now?" asked Scootaloo. "She means nothing too over the top or dangerous," explained Sweetie Belle. "Well, we can do that, no problem," said Apple Bloom with a confident grin. "Alright, Applejack. We promise to try and stay outta trouble." "Pinkie Promise me," Applejack said sternly. Scootaloo groaned. "Really? Do we have to?" "If ya don't, I'm gonna take it upon myself to watch y'all," said Applejack. "I don't think any of you want that." "Let's jus' do it, Scoot," said Apple Bloom. "We need to convince Applejack that we'll be fine on our own." "Ugh, fine," said Scootaloo, rolling her eyes. The three fillies then enacted the entire promise. "Cross our hearts and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in our eyes," they said in unison. "Good. I'm holdin' y'all to that," said Applejack with a curt nod. She then smiled. "That bein' said, I'm very proud of you for decidin' to do this for your cousin, Apple Bloom. I'm sure you're all gonna have a swell time." "Yeah, and thanks for inviting us to come with you," Scootaloo added. "I wonder what new Cutie Mark opportunities await us in Appleloosa." "I'm excited to see your cousin Babs again," Sweetie Belle chimed in. "It's been a long time since Scootaloo and I last saw her." Apple Bloom grinned from ear-to-ear. "Yeah. I'm sure she'll be glad to see us, too. And surprised at that." "Surprised?" said Applejack, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't ya respond to that there letter an' say you were comin', Apple Bloom?" Apple Bloom sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "Well, I was goin' to, but I talked about it with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and we all decided that it would be better if it was a surprise." Applejack sighed, but then chuckled a bit. "I guess there's no harm in it. But, try not to make a habit out of that, y'hear? Not everypony likes surprises." "I know, I know," said Apple Bloom. "Appleloosa station! Watch your step, everypony!" the conductor called out. "That's us!" said Apple Bloom. "Let's go, Crusaders!" "Yeah!" the Crusaders cheered as they high-hoofed each other. *** After Applejack and the Cutie Mark Crusaders disembarked, they were immediately greeted by a familiar yellow stallion wearing a brown vest and cowboy hat. "Howdy, y'all!" he exclaimed jovially. "Welcome to Aaaaaaaaappleloosa~!" "Howdy, Braeburn," said Applejack. "Listen, can we...?" "Hold that thought, Cuz!" said Braeburn, cutting across Applejack. "I gotta see if my second cousin's around an' about. I wanna make sure she gets the full Appleloosan welcome!" "Well, we haven't see her yet," said Apple Bloom, looking up and down the platform. "I wonder where..." She was suddenly interrupted by somepony grabbing her shoulders and spinning her around. When she recovered, she saw that it was indeed her cousin, Babs Seed. The Manehattanite filly smiled and blew back her combover. "Hey, Babs!" Apple Bloom cheered, running over to give her cousin a hug. "Nice t'see ya, Cuz," said Babs, returning the embrace. "I was almost worried that ya weren't gonna make it." "We figured we'd surprise you," said Scootaloo with a grin. "Long time no see, Bad Seed." "Bad Seed?" said Braeburn, raising an eyebrow. "She means bad as in good," said Applejack. Braeburn tilted his head. "What?" Applejack chuckled. "Look, I don't get it, either. Listen, we gotta..." "Now, jus' a moment, Cuz," said Braeburn, interrupting her again. "I think your little sister needs to introduce me to her compadres." "Oh, right," said Apple Bloom, releasing Babs and clearing her throat. "Well, this here is Scootaloo, and..." She then looked around. "Hey, wait a second. Where's Sweetie Belle?" A loud thump from behind answered her question. Everypony turned around to see Sweetie Belle standing in front of a large pile of luggage with a sweet smile on her face. "Gee, Sweetie Belle. Did you remember to pack?" said Scootaloo with a dry chuckle. "Just a few necessities," said Sweetie Belle, ignoring Scootaloo's sarcasm. "My sister Rarity says it's always important to pack everything you need when you're traveling." "Y'sure you need all that?" asked Babs, her mouth agape in astonishment. "There's gotta be like twenty suitcases there or somethin'!" "Fifteen," Sweetie Belle clarified. "We're only staying here for a week, after all." The rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders gave each other a confused look, unsure of what to make of Sweetie Belle's comment. "I'm sure Braeburn can find somepony to handle your bags, Sweetie Belle," said Applejack, turning back to Braeburn. "Now, as I was sayin'..." "No time for that, Cuz!" said Braeburn. "I gotta show these young'uns around town!" Before anypony else could say anything, Braeburn rounded up the Crusaders and ushered them away from the train station. "Now, I'll confess that Appleloosa ain't much like the big city, Babs," said Braeburn. "But you'll find that we've got a lot of fun stuff to do here! First, we've got our horse-drawn-horse-drawn carriages..." "Braeburn..." Applejack said, trying to get her cousin's attention. "Then there's our Wild West and Mild West dances..." "Braeburn..." "And of course, a visit to Appleloosa ain't complete without seein' our..." "BRAEBURN!" Braeburn looked up at Applejack. "Yes, Cuz?" Applejack sighed. "First of all, I think you should find somepony to help with Sweetie Belle's bags." "Oh, right," said Braeburn sheepishly. "Sure, I'll get right on that." "Second, I wanna make this absolutely clear," said Applejack. "Apple Bloom and her friends tend to get a bit, rambunctious. They promised me that they'd try to be on their best behavior, but you gotta keep an eye on them. Think you can handle that?" "Sure, no sweat!" said Breaburn. "Doncha worry your pretty little head, Cuz. Apple Bloom an' her friends will be jus' fine with me." "Alright," said Applejack. "I'm gonna head back to the station an' catch the next train back to Ponyville." She then walked up to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and smiled. "Now, y'all behave yourselves for Cousin Braeburn, alright?" "Sure thing, Applejack!" said Apple Bloom. "We promise, Applejack!" said Sweetie Belle. "Yeah, um, what they said!" said Scootaloo. Babs chuckled. "I knew invitin' you three out here was a good idea," she said, blowing back her combover. "I, don't feel that nervous anymore." "We're glad we could help ya out, Babs," said Apple Bloom with a soft smile. "Alrighty then," said Applejack. "I'd better get goin'. Don't wanna miss my train. I'll see y'all in a week!" With that, they all exchanged goodbyes, and Applejack went into the station house. "Well then, I'll jus' find the conductor and help you with your, bags," said Braeburn, clearing his throat. "After that, what's say we all head on over to the apple orchard? It's the pride an' joy of the town." "That'd be great!" said Apple Bloom. "I'd love to see how Bloomberg's doin'!" "Bloomberg?" asked Babs. "You'll know when you meet him," said Apple Bloom with a smirk. "Hey, maybe after that we can do some crusading!" said Scootaloo. "Crusadin'?" asked Braeburn. "Yeah! It's where we try to get our Cutie Marks by trying different stuff," said Sweetie Belle. "We haven't had much luck yet, but it's really fun!" Braeburn chuckled. "Heh, well ain't that adorable," he muttered before addressing the Crusaders. "Well, I'm sure y'all will get lots of opportunities to find your special talents this week." "Of course we will!" said Apple Bloom with a wide smile. "None of us have been to Appleloosa before, so there's probably a lot of new things here we can try! We're gonna make the most of it, right girls?!" "We sure are!" squeaked Sweetie Belle. "Alright, on three!" "What?" said Babs, tilting her head. "Jus' follow our lead," said Apple Bloom, giving Babs a pat on the back. "Alright, all together now!" "One... Two... Three!" "Cutie Mark Crusaders in Appleloosa! Yay!" The four fillies concluded their cheer with a shared high-hoof. Braeburn sniggered. "Well, this is certainly gonna be an interestin' week," he said to himself.