//------------------------------//
// Applejack Plays In The Clubhouse 
// Story: Games Ponies Play 
// by lunabrony 
//------------------------------//


Thanks to crystalflower0029 for the inspiration!


Young Applejack had no idea where she was being led. Big Macintosh, only a few years older than herself, led her down a twisting path near Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack had never been down this road before, she'd always played closer to the farmhouse.
"Are we there yet?" the filly whined.
"Nnnope." came the response.
"Are we there yet?"
"Nnnope."
"Are we there yet?"
"Nnnope."
"Are we-" 
Macintosh glared at her at this point, then his gaze softened.
"Eeyup." He said, and pushed aside large reeds blocking a hidden branching of the worn road. Applejack looked confused, and slightly annoyed. All she saw was a large tree. Wait, that was it?!
"Ah don't get it," she said. Macintosh had promised her a surprise, and what was it? A tree? Lame! Macintosh laughed, and gave her a slight nudge, encouraging her to look up. Applejack did just that, and her eyes widened.
A treehouse?!"NO WAY!"
Applejack raced away from Macintosh and up the ramp leading into the structure. The wood was shiny and polished, sanded smooth under her hooves. It wasn't painted or decorated or anything yet, but that was alright. She continued bouncing around the interior of the clubhouse, and just so happened to land upon a loose board. The board shot up from underneath her and smacked the poor filly in the face. Macintosh rushed forward to check that she was alright, then quickly took a nail from  a nearby toolbox and nailed the board back down while holding a hammer in his teeth.
"Can I play with nails too?" Applejack asked.
Macintosh shook his head.
"Aw, you're no fun. That's why you're gonna be the bad guy!"
Her brother just shook her head, picking up the toolbox and taking it outside. 
The large wooden fort was the perfect barrier against the scummy outlaws of the world. Applejack was asleep with her hat over her face, rear hooves propped up on the table. A silver star lay on the desk. It had been a quiet day, most days were. Her sleep, unfortunately was quite suddenly and rudely disturbed by a young white pegasus with an unruly golden mane who burst through the door.
"Sheriff Applejack!" The pegasus announced quite loudly, causing the other to lose her balance and fall backwards. "Whatwhatwhat?" Applejack sprang to her hooves. "...Surprise, right?"
"Yep yep yep!" The pegasus said cheerfully. Then adopted an uncharacteristically grim tone. "He's back."
Applejack turned pale.
"Big Red? He knows he's not allowed in these parts! What evil is he up to now?"
Surprise shook her head. "He's stealing all the poor little squirrelies acorn stashes and hiding them in different places so that they can't find their food in winter!"
The farm pony wasn't having any of this. "Ah'll handle this," she announced, and pinned the star to her hat. She strode outside, slamming the door dramatically behind her.
Surprise stood framed in the doorway. "Be caref-oof!" The door smacked her in the face, sending the pegasus flying backwards and bouncing off the walls like flubber.
Applejack stood on the porch of the sheriff's office, squinting into the sunlight as a large red frame appeared in her view. Face masked by a bandana, the sight of Big Red struck fear into the hearts of everypony, young or old.
"Ah hear yer causin' trouble in mah town." The filly announced.
"Eeyup." came the reply.
"While ah ain't havin' it. Leave now!"
"Nnnope."
Huh. She coulda sworn asking him to leave would have worked.
"Please leave now?"
"Nnnope."
That rascal! He'd exhausted all her options!
"Then y'all leave me no choice. Draw!"
Applejack whipped out a pistol from its holster around her waist, and aimed it with her mouth. Big Red did the same. The two young ponies stood there, face to face, several yards apart. Applejack rushed forward, determined to put an end to the crime spree that had plagued her town for so long now. She screamed a war cry, that way he would know she meant business.
"EULALIAAAAAAA!"
Big Red plunged forward as well, both ponies aiming at the other. Applejack squeezed down on the trigger of her pistol, and a stream of cold water burst forth towards her nemesis. Big Red ducked and rolled, the water splattering uselessly to the ground. "Nnnope!" He said defiantly, and squeezed forward on his own trigger. A flurry of a dozen or so large soapy bubbles burst from his weapon, and floated carelessly towards Applejack. 
"Hah! Is that the best y'all can do? Y'll hafta do better than- oooh, pretty!"
Running towards her from behind, Surprise waved her hooves frantically.
"Sheriff Applejack, look out! It's a trap!"
Mesmerized, Applejack watched the dancing rainbow orbs shimmer as they drew closer and closer. So entranced, in fact, she didn't notice how close they were getting until several of them burst in her eyes.
Applejack blinked several times, and started crying. Tears fell from her eyes and splattered onto the ground. Big Red dropped his pistol and ran towards her, what evil dark magic was this?!
The scene fell away, Applejack and Macintosh standing in the renewed clubhouse, Applejack clutching her face in her hooves and bawling, several bubbles still floating in the air, now abandoned.
Macintosh nudged his younger sibling sympathetically and hoisted her up onto his back. He'd get some cold water on her face and she'd be alright. The few remaining bubbles popped in the air behind them as he carried her home. Playing was fun, but for now his sister needed him.