Extremely Loud, Intensely Bright, Drastically Tense, Exceedingly Tight

by h4ns


Dancing Machine

Chapter 9: Dancing Machine

With that last basket Applejack had the wagon loaded up and ready to head back to the farmhouse, "OK Applebloom, wagon's set. Let's head on back."

Applebloom started to jump up but decided it best not to due to her injury. Instead she resolved to dance in place and let out a joyful squeal.

"Now don't go and hurt yourself. Since the wagon's filled to the brim your gonna have ta walk with me on the way back."

Applebloom quickly trotted over to the apple mare, getting antsy to hurry back and make sure Granny Smith had been able to help Bryce.

"And Applebloom Ah want yuh ta stay right next ta me. Ah don't wanna have ta stop every few seconds ta make sure you're all right...Yuh got that?"

"Uh huh, Ah got it. Let's go." Applebloom began to run off ahead of Applejack.

"Hey, what Ah just say! Get yourself back here! Ah haven't even gotten myself strapped in yet!"

Applebloom stopped and turned around, skidding to a halt, "Well hurry up Ah wanna get back and..."

"Ugh, Applebloom. Ah know yuh want ta get back, but Ah already told yuh before. Ah don't want yuh goin around that...thing until Ah get a chance ta talk ta him. And Ah've also gotten onto you about not listening ta me."

The energetic filly, wanting to try and stay on her older sister's good side for the time being, decided it best to comply and made her way back to the wagon. Sitting of her hunches in the dirt she let out a huff. After a minute passed Applejack announced it was time to head off instantly making Applebloom perk up and get on her hooves.

As soon as they descended the hill Applejack spoke up, "Applebloom...Ah want yuh listen ta exactly what Ah say." She continued to pull the packed cart as she continued, "As soon as we get back to the house Ah want yuh ta head straight up to your room."

"But Appleja..."

"Applebloom, Ah said listen. Now hush.":

The filly walked along, remaining silent.

After a heartbeat Applejack resumed her monologue, "Ah'm gonna bring that feller down to the living room and try and talk with him. If everything goes well Ah just might let yuh come down and be around him, but only when Ah'm in the room. If not Ah want you ta stay where yuh are until 'Ah' say it's all right. You understand?"

"Yea...yeah sis."

"Good. Now we've got about a good twenty minutes until we get within sight of the house so sit tight. In the mean time let's talk more about...what's his name?"

"Bryce Smiles?"

"Yeah him...Bryce Smiles?"

"That's what he said his name was."

"Well he didn't look like he smiled much at all ta me."

"Well that's what he said."

"OK, OK well did he say anything else to yuh last night?"

"Not much. He asked about his dog though."

Applejack stole a glance at the filly, "What all yuh tell him?"

"Just that he's with Fluttershy. Oh, and he also told me why his dog had such a weird name."

"Really, what'd he say?"

"That it was a character off a movie. Ah cant remember what he said, but he used to have a bitch but she..:"

Hearing her younger sister say that made Applejack stop in her tracks, "Applebloom...what did you just say!?"

Applebloom noticed and stopped as well, "Ah said he told me he used ta have a bitch but..."

"Applebloom, don't say that word!"

"Wha...what word, but?"

"No...the one before that."

"You mean bi...?"

Applejack quickly interjected, "Yes that one, don't say that word. Ever!"

"But...but Bryce was saying..."

"He said that to yuh?!"

Applebloom, unsure of what to say, simply nodded.

Applejack facehoofed. Gosh darn it, Ah knew there had ta be something wrong with him. What kinda pony goes around saying things like that in front of fillies? He better have a good reason for it or Ah'll buck him across the room. Aplejack lowered her hoof back to the ground, "Look Applebloom, yuh can;'t go around saying words like that."

"Wh...why not? All it means is..."

"Ah know what it means, bur yuh just can't. It's just not proper, and you're not old enough either." The apple mare grabbed the filly's shoulder, "Applebloom Ah only gpnna let yuh off with a warning this time, since yuh didn't know any better. But if yuh hear any words like that that you've never heard before just...don't repeat them, OK?"

"O...OK...Ah"

Applejack stopped her sister yet again, "Ah know, Ah know. Look, if yuh hear a word like that again come talk ta me first. If anypony else hears you saying words like that they'd think yuh aren't right and we might get in trouble. Now come on, let's get on, we'll be there in any minute."

Both ponies and dog continued on in silence, the only sound coming from the wheels as they rolled through the orchard.

Almost fifteen minutes later they finally came within sight of the farmhouse. Applejack broke the silence, "Now remember what Ah said Applebloom, when we get to the house you..." Applejack stood stark still. What in...tarnation?! From their vantage point she could make out the large form of the creature she had brought in just yesterday. Encircling him, from what she could tell, were a group of four earth ponies lying in the dirt. He seemed to be fighting with a fifth one in a business suit, if you could call it fighting. It looked more like dancing.

Applejack quickly unstrapped herself from the wagon and began to make her way towards the scene, Winona following at her heels, "Applebloom, stay here."

"Applejack what's going..."

Without looking back she snarled, "Applebloom, stay here and hide."

Applebloom did as she was told and quickly got under the wagon, peeking out so she could watch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Earlier, in the same location...

Now without a weapon of any kind, and Granny Smith safely inside the house, Bryce made his way to the center of the five horse things. Slowly turning around to try and mentally assess their individual locations and check for any weaknesses.

OK Bryce time to sift through the sands. The three farthest must be the toughest of the group or else they would have been brought out earlier. They wanted to keep it simple and quick and those two up front look the least intimidating. That one with the grease in his hair, mane...whatever is the most frightened of the lot so he'll be easy pickings, if he doesn't run first that is. The other one seems older, but confident, and can easily pull himself together so there's no telling how much of a challenge he'll be. He must be the leader of the group, he's got the looks of it.

Bryce turned around to face the three others that recently appeared, Now they're my biggest concern. They all seem firmly built, they'll definitely be able to take a punch or two. The question is how willing are they to stay by their leader's side if he were to be taken down. If they were willing to come out at the sight of me, I'd say very loyal.

Bryce stared down at the ground, Best course of action, take care of the weakest one first. If there's more of them we can't have him running for help. It'd be best to do it in a quick and unpredicted manner. With luck it may unsettle the other three and allow their weaknesses to show. As far as I can tell they're armless so that won't be a problem. If they know how to fight then they'll know how to take an attack. Taking them down will be tricky, but manageable. With their greatly decreased heights my attacks should be low and come from above or at their sides. The leader should hopefully become unnerved enough to be easy prey, but I wouldn't put it past him to stay and hold his ground. Bryce exhaled and shut his eyes, In any case my moves should be enough to greatly confuse them, for a while. With his eyes still closed, Bryce listened to the rhythmic approach of hooves.

"You're outnumbered fri...friend." It was the one called Bait-and-Switch, "Why don't you just give up now and..."

Bryce slid to the side of horse thing that had been foolish enough to approach him. Before Bait-and-Switch could even turn his head, Bryce punched him in the side of the head sending him to the ground and knocking him unconscious.

With the first part of his plan fulfilled Bryce turned to find the three brawny horse things shifting on their hooves. Good, it was super effective. He turned his body so it was facing them and stood up straight, "Who's next?"

The one in the center stood tall, "Come on you foals, let's bring down this ape." They instantly began to close in and encircle the human.

Bryce blew a tuft of hair out of his face and hung his arms at his sides, "Fine, let's dance" He began to do just that. He planted one foot behind the other, brought it back to its original position, and did the same with the opposite leg. Bryce repeated these steps as he swung his arms o keep his balance.

The same stallion spoke up with a smirk, "Are you serious? Do you thank some fancy dance steps are going to save you?"

Bryce stared down at the stallion, continuing his dance, saying nothing.

“Fine then, it just makes the pounding you’re about to receive that much more enjoyable.” The stallion rushed forward intending to head butt his adversary.

Expecting this, Bryce twisted his body so that his hands were on the ground and swung his legs over the stallion.

The stallion skidded to a halt and turned, his mouth agape, “What the buck?”

Bryce just stared back, resuming the previous movements.

Ponzi pointed a hoof at his two dilatory goons, “Don’t just stand there, help bring down this bucking ape.”

Bryce kept doing his routine, not bothering to take notice of the two remaining goons slowly forming up behind him. Then there was silence.

Bryce was becoming impatient, Ugh...this is getting nowhere! Stopping his repeated steps for a second be bent down and scooped up a pile of dirt in his right hand.

The two stallions behind him took notice and, trying to take advantage that he hadn't seen where they were, ran at Bryce in unison.

Perfect. Bryce hefted his right hand back and released the pile of dirt straight at the one in front of him. The stallion had been expecting this and covered his eyes giving Bryce the opportunity to turn his body out of the path of the galloping goons. It gave the desired effect as they both ran straight into the third, sending them all to the ground. Bryce then rushed over, picked up the closest of the pile, and tossed him on the ground behind him. He tried the same with a second one, but he proved much harder to grab.

Bryce swung his leg around and nailed him in the ribs. With this one doubled over in pain, Bryce lifted him up and tossed the stallion right onto the one he'd tossed back before, leaving just him and the original of the trio.

This one proved to be greatly unnerved by Bryce's demonstration and pushed himself back with his forelegs.

Bryce stepped forward each time he pushed back. When he was standing right in front of the stallion Bryce bent down with his back, starred him straight in the eyes, and let out one word, "Boo."

This was too much for the stallion and he got up as fast as he could and ran. He wasn't watching where he was going and ran his head straight into the front of the house knocking him unconscious at Ponzi's hooves.

With now only one opponent remaining, Bryce turned towards Ponzi and said in a sing song voice, "And then there was one."

Ponzi didn't say anything at first. When he found the words, he said, "That may be, but don't expect me to be as easy."

"That's good. I was hoping they were the headliners to the main attraction." He began to dance again.

Ponzi smirked, "Do you really think some dance steps are going to be able to help you?"

Bryce said nothing.

Ponzi nonchalantly added, "Well then, I'll allow you to make the first move this time. I mean it's only fair, you were so gracious to allow my...compatriots the privilege not once, but twice."

Well, white does usually get the first move, "Maybe I have been generous, but I have always started with enough space for them and myself," one should never take that advantage for granted.

"So you have," Ponzi made his way across from Bryce and stood still.

"All set?"

Ponzi smiled, "You may start when ready."

Bah, why is he smiling. He shook his head, OK Bryce, don't let him psyche you out. Now if he's smart the reason he didn't join in because he wanted to see what I'm made of. If he was then he knows what to do to both avoid and counter my attacks. Fortunately for me, I didn't show everything. But I need to see what he can do before I go on the offensive. He nodded he was ready. They both began to circle around, not once breaking eye contact.

Bryce moved forward and slid over to Ponzi's side. As he began to swing his leg back to kick him in the side, Ponzi poked Bryce in the belly toppling him. Bryce was able to recover by planting both of his arms on the ground, twisting his body so that he was on all fours, and turned back to face his opponent. Damn, he's fast. Bryce continued dancing, unphased by the small horse thing's prodding.

Bryce snorted and slid his foot in front of him, sending a cloud of dirt at Ponzi.

Ponzi reacted quickly and got himself out of the path of the cloud. He then ran to Bryce's side and rushed at his unprotected leg, toppling Bryce. He then lifted his forelegs to stomp Bryce down. Bryce rolled out of the way just as they came crashing down, followed by a swift kick to Ponzi's side.

Ponzi just shrugged it off and made a second attempt to pound Bryce into the dirt which Bryce easily dodged again. When he went to kick Ponzi's side again, but Ponzi was expecting this and stepped back out of reach.

"My, you continue to impress me Bryce Smiles."

Oh come on! "Enough for you to give up and maybe leave with all your teeth?"

"Well, no, you just impress me is all."

Bryce tucked one leg up to his chest and left the other extended, using one hand to prop himself up and the other to protect his face from the sun. "Well if you insist."

Ponzi then pulled out a knife from under his shirt and held it in his hoof, "All it had to be was a simple money grab, but you had to go and get yourself and everypony here killed."

"What you're really going to kill EVERYONE here just for money?"

"It would have been easy, but you had to step in and now, well, you're not going to live long enough to find out what happens next."

Bryce snorted again, "If you say so."

Ponzi stepped forward, "I'm going to enjoy skinning you, you pale skinned ape."

Ponzi stood over Bryce, knife held tightly in his hoof. Just as he lifted up the knife to Bryce again moved out of the way. Instead of rolling, however, he pushed with his leg off and hopped onto all fours. Looking down between his legs, Bryce yelled, "My name is Bryce SMALES!" He emphasized this last point by kicking Ponzi in the face with all his might. Ponzi fell to the ground, teeth flying out of his mouth in thin blood trails.

Bryce got to his feet and grabbed Ponzi by the neck. He brought him up to eye level before furiously slamming him into the ground a few times. Picking up the knife, Bryce slammed him against the side of the farmhouse, tighten his grip around Ponzi, and held the knife up to his throat. Gritting his teeth, Bryce said, "Give me one reason, just one reason why I should even consider allowing you to live!!!"

Ponzi could only answer by gagging, the human's grip around his neck growing ever tighter, threatening to crush his wind pipe.

Bryce slowly released his grip, "Answer me!!!"

"I...I..."

"You were going to kill me and that well aged horse thing in there over what?"

"I..."

"For money? Is everyone's life here really worth something you were just going to get rid of by the end of the day?"

"I..."

"You'd probably sell your own kid just for an afternoon with some whore that's only with you for your money."

"I...

Bryce pressed down on the knife hard enough to draw blood, "Well...answer me!!!"

"I'm sorry..."

Bryce was caught off guard. He loosened his grip and lowered the knife, "Do you really mean that?"

"Ye...yes. I'm sorry, I wasn't really going to kill anypony, honest. I'm no killer."

Bryce looked down at the ground, the knife lowering with it. He closed his eyes and gripped the knife tightly until his knuckles were white. Pulling the knife back he thrust it down towards Ponzi.

"No, please don't..."

Bryce stabbed the knife into the wall, a hair's width to the left of his face. Bryce breathed heavily. When he could talk again, he said, "If I let you go, do you promise that you, and your 'associates', never do anything like this again?"

"I...I promise, what ever you want, just please don't kill me."

Bryce pulled the knife back, cutting Ponzi across his cheek, "OK then." He brought the blunt edge of the knife to Ponzi's throat, "But if you ever try anything like this to anyone ever again...I'll know. And when I find you, well, do you know what a Columbian necktie is?"

"N...no."

"Well don't cross me or you'll find out. The hard way." He let Ponzi slide down to the ground as he turned away and stuck the knife through a belt loop, handle first.

Bryce walked away, but was stopped when Ponzi said, "I need to know, how did you know mine and Bait's names?"

Without turning back he said, "Lucky guess."

Bryce walked over to the axe he had thrown to avoid killing anyone.

"What the hay happened here?"

Thinking it was another of Ponzi's goons, Bryce grabbed hold of the axe and swung it at the unseen assailant. The axe only met air as the new horse thing ducked down.

He thought he heard this new figure speak, but in his rage couldn't understand what they said. Hefting the axe head behind his back he brought it down planting it into the ground.

Bringing the axe up, Bryce was about to split this one in half across the belly when he heard a familiar voice.

"Bryce, stop. Don't hurt mah sister!"

Bryce stopped in mid swing just before he could sink the blade into, "Sprout?"

Sitting there on her hunches, her forelegs stretched out, was the little yellow one he had spoken with earlier that morning. Lying in the dirt behind her was the orange one that had chased him just yesterday.

Sprout had tears in her eyes, "B...Bryce?"

Bryce loosened his grip on the axe allowing it to fall to the ground. Turning away, he choked out, "I...I'm..." The words died in his throat. He didn't know what to say to justify what he had just done. Pulling at his hair, Bryce ran towards the house.

He was stopped when Granny Smith opened the door, "Bryce, what's the matter?"

Bryce completely ignored her as he bypassed her and ran up to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.