//------------------------------// // Episode 2: Apple's Lament // Story: Mobile Fighter G-Pony // by Raryn //------------------------------// “Greetings and Salutations, everypony,” MR said as a spotlight shone down on the suited pony sitting on his stool. “I would like, if I may, to take some time to explain the pony fight tournament.” At that, a screen descended and settled itself next to MR and flicked on showing a video of several pony suits. “The pony fight tournament was decided to be a substitute for war between the colonies and Equestria. And as such, the fight has its own. The tournament is split into two different parts. There are the preliminaries, which take place all across Equestria. Then, there are the finals that are held in a different place each year.” The screen flashes as it shows off the various cities that had showcased the pony fight tournament. “To gain admittance to the finals, all a pony suit pilot has to do is survive until the start of the finals with their suit's head intact and arrive at the place of the finals. Now what does a pony suit pilot do during this tournament you may ask. Well, the pilots fight, and they fight, and they keep on fighting until at the end of it all, one stands at the pinnacle, having bested all those who stood before them.” “Today's pony fight match opponent is the representative from Neo-Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack, piloting the formidable Apple Buck pony suit. But there is something bigger going on here that neither Pinkie nor Twilight knows.” “Hey, mister,” Pinkie Pie said, appearing out of the darkness. She pulled a picture out of a saddle bag and handed it to MR. “You sure you haven't seen either of these two?” The picture showed three ponies. One was Pinkie, standing there but with her hair straightened out, the other two were colored purple and gray with like hairstyles, her sisters, Inkie and Blinkie Pie. “I mean, really really sure?” “Sorry, miss, can’t say I have,” MR said passing the picture back to her. “Oh, sorry to bother you again then,” Pinkie said and vanished back into the darkness. “What this picture has to do with today’s battle, we’ll have to wait and see.” MR jumped off his stool and in one swift motion, pulled off both his suit and eye patch, revealing a bright pink shirt and bow tie and a perfectly normal working right eye. “Now, pony fight all set. Ready, Go!” Mobile Fighter G-Pony Episode 2 Apple's Lament Twilight Sparkle stood on the edge of a cliff, magically floating a pair of binoculars in front of her eyes. As she scanned over the horizon, she saw an endless amount of apple trees as far as she could see. Every now and then there was the tell tale sign of a building. Here a broken down roof poking through the treetops. There a section of fallen wall. She soon found what she was looking for, a sign proclaiming “Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres. Equestria's number one source of apples.” “I was afraid of this,” Twilight said to Pinkie, who was lounging around on a picnic blanket rummaging through a basket of sweets she had somehow come to possess. As Twilight watched, Pinkie pulled out a fresh cupcake and ate it in one bite. “Just as I said last episode, Twilight,” Pinkie said, pulling out another cupcake. “You worry too much. Now come over here and have a cupcake, they're good.” “Pinkie,” Twilight said as she wrapped the cupcake in her magic and floated it over. “We're at the edge of Sweet Apple Acre territory. Have you forgotten how they feel about Ponyville ponies?” “Oh look!” Pinkie shouted, avoiding the question. “Something's going on over there.” “What? Where?” Twilight brought the binoculars back to her eyes and began to survey the forest of apple trees again. “I don't see anything.” “Try looking over there,” Pinkie said as she turned Twilight's head to face a different direction. There in the distance was a large clearing with a pony suit and a group of ponies. “How did I miss that?” Twilight asked herself as she scratched her head. She gave up the thought a moment later and devoted her attention to what was happening at the clearing. An orange earth pony mare with a blond mane and tail and a set of three apples for a cutie mark stood in the clearing in front of her family's home. Like the other buildings of Sweet Apple Acres, it was in a bad state of disrepair. One of the sides of the building was being held up by a few long pieces of wood, several windows were boarded up or missing, and the roof had more holes in it than swiss cheese. Yet, as she stood there, backed by her family; her sister, an earth pony filly, yellow colored with a bright red mane and tail and a large bow in her mane, her brother, a large red earth pony stallion with an orange mane and tail and half an apple for a cutie mark, and her grandmother, an ancient green earth pony, her hair gone pure white with age, with an apple pie cutie mark, she had a look of pride for her home. “Applejack,” the other pony, an older cream colored mare with a big red mane and a pair of cherries as a cutie mark, said cheerfully as she strode away from her suit, which looked surprisingly similar to its pilot and had a pair of guns mounted on the shoulders and forelegs, and approached the orange mare. “So good to see you again. Have you thought anymore on that proposal to sell me the rights to Sweet Apple Acres and take up a job with me that I sent you?” “It sure was a kind proposal, miss Cherry Jubilee,” Applejack said with a glance back towards her family. “But after talkin' with the family, I have ta say no thanks. It may be run down an' fallin' apart, but it's still mah home.” “Is that how you truly feel about it, Applejack?” Cherry Jubilee asked. “It's the honest truth, Miss Jubilee.” “I'm sorry to hear that,” Cherry Jubilee sighed. “I was hoping if I asked nicely, eventually you would come around. But it seems that that's not the case.” She sighed again before continuing. “The colony heads really want this land. I'll just have to persuade you physically. As the representative of Neo-Dodge Junction, and pilot of the Cherry Pony, I challenge you to a pony fight match. Do you accept?” “To defend mah home, you bet ah will!” Applejack shouted out in response. “Then let's get this started then,” Cherry said as she went back to her suit and entered it, awaiting Applejack to do the same. Applejack turned away from the Cheery Pony and Cherry Jubilee and walked over to her family. “You sure ya wanna do this sis?” her sister asked with wide-eyed concern. "Don't you worry none, Applebloom,” Applejack said placing a reassuring hoof on her sister's head. “This is yer sister yer talkin' 'bout. When have ah ever lost when somethin' impor'ant was on the line? Now hurry on back to the house with Granny Smith and make sure ya brace that wall. We don't wan' it fallin' again.” “Sure sis!” Applebloom said and grabbed onto the old mare, Granny Smith's leg. “Come on, Granny, let's get goin'.” Applejack turned to her brother as her sister dragged Granny Smith to the house. “Big Mac, keep an eye on Applebloom. Ya know how she is, an' I don' want her gettin' hurt from this.” Big Mac nodded to his sister. “Eeyup,” he said and turned and headed up to the house after Applebloom and Granny Smith. Applejack waited until she made sure they were holed up in the house before turning back to face the Cherry Pony. “Ok, let's get this rodeo started, APPLE BUCK PONY!” she shouted as her pony suit arose out of the vast apple tree forest, likewise similarly designed after Applejack, with the hind legs distinctly larger than the forelegs, and a large cowboy hat. She ran and jumped up onto the entrance lift to the pony suit and a few moments later she was suited up and ready to fight. “Let's get this started, miss Jubilee,” Applejack said, pulling up a video link to the Cherry Pony. “Whenever you're ready, Applejack.” Cherry Jubilee replied and charged at the Apple Buck. Applejack gathered herself, and with the added strength of the Apple Buck's hind legs, deftly jumped over the charging pony suit. Applejack gave a glance back and charged off away from the clearing and her house. Cherry saw this and gave chase, following as Applejack bounded through the forest to a large clearing with the remains of several worn out buildings. When she reached the clearing, Applejack turned and faced the Cherry Pony and pointed a foreleg at the pony suit. A hatch opened up and a gun barrel snaked out as the Apple Buck sent a short barrage of bullets at her opponent. The Cherry Pony dodged to the side of the bullet barrage and opened fire with one of its shoulder mounted guns sending Applejack for cover. The Cherry Pony took aim with both shoulder guns, driving the Apple Buck from cover to cover as the bullets tore through the buildings, demolishing them. The Apple Buck sent back a few retaliatory bursts when it managed to find cover that lasted for more than a few seconds, but otherwise stayed on the move. The video feed from the Cherry Pony lit up. “Hey, Applejack, how about we make this fight more interesting,” Cherry said, cutting off the bullet assault. “What do ya have in mind?” Applejack asked. “If I win, you come and work for me. Seeing as Dodge Junction will be the owners of this land, they'll probably go through and demolish all the buildings to set up new ones.” “And if ah win? What 'bout then miss Jubilee?” “Hum, well. I guess you get to keep your little piece of Equestria with all its rustic glory." “Well, ah guess it would be good ta have somethin' waitin' in the case ah actually lose. But no deal! Sweet Apple Acres means too much ta me ta ever abandon it!” Applejack replied and the Apple Buck sprang from behind its cover and charged the Cherry Pony, running right into its line of fire. The Cherry Pony let loose a barrage of bullets as the Apple Buck dove in. It grabbed its weapon as a beam shot out in the shape of a lasso which it swung round the Cherry Pony's neck. The Cherry Pony pulled at the lasso, trying to pull itself free, but the Apple Buck planted its large hind legs into the ground and stood firm. With a strong tug, the Apple Buck pulled the Cherry Pony into the air. Once it was airborne, the Apple Buck pulled the Cherry Pony towards it as it turned and drove both hinds legs into its head unit, cracking the head and sending the Cherry Pony to the ground. The Apple Buck reared up on its forelegs and drove its hind legs into the head unit of the Cherry Pony in a coup de grâce, destroying it. “Regulation one of the tournament, miss Jubilee, a suit whose head unit is destroyed is disqualified. Ah win,” Applejack said as she exited the Apple Buck and surveyed the damage to it. It had bullet holes through the legs, and the chest and neck armor was badly pitted and burned. “Hoo boy, tha's gonna take awhile ta fix. Ya okay there, miss Jubilee? Sorry ah had ta get a little rough on ya there at the end." “Just a bit of wounded pride, that's all,” Cherrie replied as she gazed at her pony suit. “But I can see how you feel about this place. Wasn't expecting you to drive in close so fast. The colony leaders aren't going to be happy about this, but, oh well.” At that, jets came into view over the clearing and dropped an electromagnetic net over the fallen pony suit. “And there would be my ride.” One of the jets had landed by Cherrie, she got in and gave a short wave to Applejack as it took off, following the ones carrying the Cherry Pony. Applejack watched as the jets flew off into the distance, then got back in the Apple Buck and returned home. “Did you see that‽” Pinkie exclaimed as the battle came to an end. “They were all like bangity bang bang, and whoosh, and then all 'oh noes', and—” “I know, Pinkie, I saw it too,” Twilight said, shoving her hoof into Pinkie's mouth to silence the endless stream of exclamations. She took out a small notebook and levitated over a quill with her magic. “The Apple Buck Pony, Neo-Sweet Apple Acres pony suit, piloted by Applejack of the apple family, last family living on the Equestrian Sweet Apple Acres,” she wrote. “We should approach with caution, we've seen her skills, and... Pinkie?” Twilight turned around to see that Pinkie was no longer lounging about on her picnic blanket; in fact, the blanket and the picnic basket were also missing. “Where did you go?” Twilight brought the binoculars back to her eyes and scanned around. She found Pinkie over by the Apple family's house. Twilight gave a loud groan and smacked herself in the face with her hoof. “Pinkie, what have I told you about doing things like this.” As Applejack arrived back at her house, she saw that standing outside was a strange pink mare that she had never seen before. As she stood there, the mare approached her. “Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie,” Pinkie said with a big smile. “I was just traveling through the forest when I came upon this house. Is it yours? If it is, do you mind me staying for the night. It’s been a long day of traveling for me. I don’t have much money on me, but I can help around the place if need be.” Assaulted by the endless stream of words coming from Pinkie, Applejack held up a hoof. “Ok, ok. Ah hear ya, Miss... Pinkie Pie was it?” “Just Pinkie please,” Pinkie replied. “Well then, Pinkie, ah don’ see why we can’t hole ya up fer the night. An if yer willin' ta do a bit of help around the house, then alls better. Hey all!” Applejack shouted to the house. “Come on out, we gots ourselves a guest fer the night.” The three members of the Apple family exited the house and gathered around Pinkie and Applejack. “Now Pinkie, this here's the family. Mah brother an' sister, Big Macintosh an' Applebloom, an' ol Granny Smith." Applejack's family greeted Pinkie in turn. "Now, we got ta get started on tryin' ta fix that old back wall before some errant gust of wind decides ta bring down the entire house. Granny Smith, how about you get some food cookin' fer when we're done with the repairs. Big Mac, yer with me. Applebloom, you show our guest around the house, then once yer done, bring her around back so she can help out.” “Got it, sis,” Applebloom said and dragged Pinkie off on the grand tour of the Apple house, showing here everything from the bedrooms to the kitchen to the bathroom and cellar. After that, Applebloom dragged Pinkie off to showcase the barns of the Apple house. Soon, Applebloom had nothing left to show to Pinkie. “Um, an tha's all, Pinkie,” she said as she thought of what to do next. “How 'bout we go and help out your brother and sister with the repairs,” Pinkie said, tossing a suggestion to Applebloom. “Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Let's go!” A little while later, Pinkie showed up with Applebloom in tow. “Applejack, your sister wants to help with the repairs.” “What? Oh sure,” Applejack said as she placed the hammer she had been holding in her mouth down on the ground. “Jus' grab a hammer an' some lumber. Applebloom, ya help Pinkie out by holdin' the wood fer her. An' try not ta put more holes in the wall then we're coverin' up this time.” “Got it,” Applebloom said and pulled on Pinkie's leg. “Come on, the tools an' stuff are over there.” A little while later, while Big Mac was out getting some more lumber from the fallen down houses, Applejack, Pinkie, and Applebloom were sitting around, resting after the work they had done. “This thing finally looks like it'll last more than a few days,” Applejack said, admiring their work. “Applebloom, why don' ya go and see if Granny has any food ready.” “Food!”was all Applebloom said as she sped off to the kitchen. “So, Pinkie,” Applejack began once her sister was out of view. “What really brings ya to these parts.” “It's as I said,” Pinkie replied with a wave of her hoof. “I'm traveling across Equestria.” “An why're you doin' such a thing?” “I'm looking for my sisters,” Pinkie said solemnly as her hair started to lose its poofiness. “Oh, ah'm sorry ta hear that,” Applejack said quickly. “Don't worry yourself with my problems,” Pinkie said as her hair regained its poofiness. “Now tell me, how'd you come to pilot that pony suit?” “Oh, tha's a long story there,” Applejack said. “But it seems that Big Mac won't be back fer a while more, so why not.” “Applejack! Pinkie! Ah gotsh sandwishes!” Applebloom shouted as she came around the side of the house, her shout muffled by a tray of food she carried in her mouth. “Ah, good,” Applejack said. “Bring 'em on over here, Applebloom. I was jus about to tell the story of how ah came ta be a pony suit pilot to our guest. It all started jus after ya were born, Applebloom, when ah was jus' a little filly...” At the edge of the Sweet Apple Acres forest, two cream colored unicorn stallions with red and white striped manes and matching blue striped shirts and bow ties stopped their vehicle and gazed at the old faded sign. “So, brother, here we are,” The one with a mustache and a cutie mark of an apple with a slice taken out of it said. “So we are,” the other with a cutie mark of a single apple slice said. “Let's continue then.” The two unicorns' horns glowed green as their magic was drawn into their vehicle's engine and it set off down the road way into Sweet Apple Acres. “...and so, we lost our parents when their ships engines malfunctioned and exploded on reentry inta Equestria from the colonies.” Applejack said. “And ever since, the three of us have been raised by Granny Smith. Now, fer awhile I had a hankerin' to get away from all this. With a blessin' from Granny, I set out into the world and eventually found mahself at one of the spaceports goin' up to the colonies. A quick ride later and I was standin' in the Neo-Sweet Apple Acres colony gazin' stupidly around at the amount of ponies there. Soon though it started ta get ta mah head. Ah saw all the ponies and the wealth that they had and remembered what it was like back home and it made me angry. Ah created quite the scene up there all right. Got mahself arrested and came up to the colony heads. They gave me the choice to either waste away in jail up there or ta fight mah way to freedom against other convicts usin' some old pony suits in the arena. Ah took the second choice obviously, and ah won mah way from one prison inta another. This time ah was given the choice ta either continue fightin' in the arena, or become the pony fight representative for Neo-Sweet Apple Acres. Ah agreed to pilot the suit fer them, but ah made sure that ah took it with some of mah own terms. Ah said ah would fight fer 'um as long as ah could still see mah family every now and then and on the condition that they fix the original Sweet Apple Acres back to its former glory. So, that's mah story.” “Wow,” Pinkie said, admiring Applejack's determination and drive. “You have a very special sister, Applebloom.” “Ah know,” Applebloom said as she gave her sister a big hug. “Oh shucks,” Applejack said, blushing slightly as Big Mac returned with a cart full of wood. “And it looks like Big Mac's back with some more lumber. Now we can get started on the roof.” As the three ponies rose, music began to float in from the front of the house. “Opportunity... Community.” Muffled as it was by the heavy tree cover and the house itself, few words were able to be heard over the heavy instrumentation of trombones. “What in tarnation is makin' all that racket?” Applejack said as she ran out towards the front of the house followed closely by her brother, sister, and Pinkie. As the four of them reached the front, Granny Smith was coming out of the front door to see what was making such a commotion. There in front of the house was a crazy contraption of a vehicle. It looked more like something out of a parade, with bells, whistles, and a line of trombones set at the back of it and a podium and couch set at the front where two unicorn stallions lounged. Upon seeing that they had an audience, they sprang to their hooves and approached Pinkie and the Apple family. “Greetings, ponyfolk!” one of the unicorns, the one with a mustache said as the music from the vehicle died down, then pointed to the other. “He's Flim...” “He's Flam...” Film said as he pointed back to Flam. “And we're the world famous Flim Flam brothers,” they both said in unison to a renewed blast of music. “Uh huh, sure ya are,” Applejack said, eying the duo wearily. “And what do the likes of ya want here in Sweet Apple Acres?” “Oh well you're in luck miss, uh...” Flim said. “It's Applejack.” “Miss Applejack,” Flim said. “Me and my brother here have a proposition for you.” “That's right!” Flam chimed in. “We would like to purchase these lands to be part of the new Flim Flam fields and would like to know who owns them.” “That would be the Apple family,” Applejack replied. “Us, right here.” “Ah, good then, no need to travel any further,” Flim said. “Now, how much do you want for the land?” “It's not fer sale.” “How's five thousand sound?” Flim said as he threw out a number. “It's not fer sale.” “How's ten thousand sound?” Flam said as he threw out a larger number. “It's not fer sale,” Applejack replied again, growing visibly more annoyed with the two unicorns. “How's—” Flim began before getting cut off by Applejack. “Fer the last time. Ah said the land ain't fer sale! Now get gone before I buck ya all the way to the entrance!” “I see we aren't wanted here,” Flim said to his brother as they turned away from the Apples and Pinkie and stepped back onto their vehicle. “But, mark my words, you haven't seen the last of us!” Their horns glowed a bright green as their vehicle spun around and drove off back the way they came. Once she had made sure that the Flim Flam brothers were gone, Applejack turned to Pinkie. “An'm sorry ya had ta witness that, Pinkie, but there ain't no way ah'm gonna' let anyone take away Sweet Apple Acres after all that's happened. Ah think we'll leave the roof fer tomorra. I need some rest after dealing with those two.” With that, Applejack walked off into the house, followed closely by Applebloom, who had a look of worry on her face. “What was that all about?” Pinkie asked the remaining two members of the Apple family. “Sweet Apple Acres has had a rough time since the colonies launched,” Granny Smith said in response. “Eeyup,” Big Mac said as he turned and trotted towards the back of the house to return the wagon of lumber to the barn. “Come on then, dearie, I'll tell ya all about it in the kitchen,” Granny Smith said as she made her way slowly to the house. “So, back in my great grandpapies time, this whole land was unsettled,” Granny Smith said as she began to make dinner. “Not a single house stood, nor were there any ponyfolk livin' here. It was us Apples that cultivated the land and eventually built a small town here which we named Sweet Apple Acres. Soon after that, another town sprang up not that far away. The ponies there called the place Ponyville and with the two towns bein' so close ta each other, they developed a good amount of trade. We supplied Ponyville with food and lumber while they provided us with the basic necessities fer livin', like clothes and the like.” “It all worked out fer a long time. Then came the assent of the colonies. Manehatten may have been the first colony to go up, but Ponyville soon followed. With that, the population of Ponyville here in Equestria slowly shrank 'till almost nopony was left. This drove Sweet Apple Acres into a drive to follow the other cities into space. It took years, but eventually, Neo-Sweet Apple Acres launched and the colony heads sought to reaffirm their partnership with Ponyville. But in the time between the launch of Neo-Ponyville and Neo-Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville's leaders had changed too many times and they had forgotten the deal between the two towns.” “Needless ta say, us Apples were not happy with that decision. We turned our backs on Ponyville, called them liars an' traitors an' the like. An' ever since, the kids have been taught ta always take pride in where yer from and how we got here, with our own hooves. Applejack's case is a bit heavier than others though. She was born here in Equestria, not on the colonies. An' her parents worked this very farm. So when they died in that accident, she saw it as another thing ta blame on Ponyville an' the other towns. That's one of the reasons she went ta the colony. Ta see if she could get any pony ta come back down here ta help revive this place. Ah know ya already know that tale. Now, Pinkie, can ya go an' call the rest of the family. Dinner's ready.” “Sure, Granny Smith,” Pinkie said and wandered off to gather the Apples. “We warned them, brother,” Flim said as he began the activation sequence for their pony suit. “That you did, brother,” Flam replied through a video feed. “If they won't see reason, then we'll just have to force them to give up the land.” “Like all the rest,” Flim replied. “Now, rise and shine, SUPER SPEEDY PONY SUIT 9000!” As night descended and the Apples retired to bed, Pinkie slipped out of the house and returned to where Twilight had been waiting all day. “Pinkie! What were you thinking doing such a thing!” Twilight shouted as Pinkie returned. “Twilight, I think we should head on to the next town,” Pinkie said in a low voice. “I don't want to fight her.” “What's gotten into you today? What's the matter?” “Such a nice family,” Pinkie replied. “Applejack is fighting for the revival of Sweet Apple Acres. She is so driven to her goal that she would have faced death for it. She almost did in fact.” “I know, Pinkie,” Twilight said. “I pulled up any records I could find on her. “She stormed the colony embassy and demanded to speak with the leaders. When they denied her, she struck out at them. She made it to the ambassador's room, leaving dozens wounded and dazed, then threatened them and held them hostage, saying that they would be let go once she got to speak with the leaders of the colony. The police force caught her and she was arrested and thrown to the arena up there to fight for her freedom. She got her meeting with the leaders when she manged to survive her ordeal, and she became the pony fight representative for them after proving her skill at piloting a pony suit.” “She did it all for her family” Pinkie said as tears began to form in her eyes. “I can't take that away from her. I know how she's feeling. Wanting just to protect and provide for her family.” “Pinkie, come on now. Don't cry,” Twilight said as she levitated a handkerchief to Pinkie's eyes. “You can't keep blaming yourself over what happened. We'll find your sisters, and we'll rescue your parents, I can assure you of that no matter what it takes.” “Thanks, Twilight,” Pinkie said as she went and gave her partner a big hug. “I know that we'll find them someday. I just hope it's someday soon.” Pinkie gazed back towards the Apple's home and her eyes grew wide with what she saw. “Twilight! I gotta go! RISE SHINING PONY!” She shouted, then she was off, racing to the Apple family home. A loud rumble in the distance woke Applejack from a fretful sleep. “What the hay was that?” she said as she sprang from bed and went over to her window. Outside in the distance stood a pony suit, a very gaudy pony suit. It was colored a striped red and white and it had a bow tie and boater hat on its head. As she watched, the pony suit slowly began to approach her home. “Oh no!” she shouted as she bolted down from her bedroom on the second floor to the outside. “Ah, miss Applejack,” Flim's voice said as it was projected out of a megaphone on the pony suit's head. “So nice of you to greet us. Say hello to the Super Speedy Pony Suit 9000. If you don't want you or any of your family to be hurt, I would say that you give us the land right now.” “I said ya ain't gonna get this land earlier an' ah still mean it!” Applejack shouted back to the pony suit as the rest of her family exited the house to stand with her. “We ain't intimidated by the likes of you! APPLE BUCK PONY!” Just past the edge of the apple tree forest, the Apple Buck Pony reared up and Applejack made a break for it. “Tisk tisk, Applejack,” Flim said as he situated himself between Applejack and her pony suit. “You didn't actually think I would let you do something like that now would you?” “YOU LEAVE THEM ALONE!” Pinkie shouted as she drove the Shining Pony into the Super Speedy Pony 9000, sending it to flying off down the road from the Apple house. As it picked itself up, the Shining Pony again slammed into it, knocking it back down. “HOW DARE YOU ATTACK THEM DURING THE NIGHT LIKE COWARDS!”Pinkie shouted at the fallen Super Speedy Pony Suit 9000. “YOU DON'T DESERVE THAT PONY SUIT!” “Deserve this!” Flim shouted as a pair of cannons rose out of the neck of the Super Speedy Pony 9000 and launched a laser blast at the Shining Pony. The Shining Pony simply ducked beneath the laser blast and kicked the Super Speedy Pony 9000. “Get up,” Pinkie said coldly. “Get up so that I can give you what you deserve.” “Brother,” Flam said though the video feed on the Super Speedy Pony 9000. “I think it is time to make a hasty retreat. We don't really need this land now that I think about it. There is a wonderful swath just on the other side of that river a good dozen miles south of here and—” “No, Flam, not this time,” Flim replied as the Super Speedy Pony 9000 pulled itself to its hooves. “Not after being insulted and demeaned. There will be no running from this one!” The Shining Pony drove both hind hooves into the head of the Super Speedy Pony 9000, tossing it again to the ground. The Shining Pony spun around and pinned the Super Speedy Pony 9000's head to the ground with one front hoof. “THIS HOOF OF MINE SHINES WITH BOUNDLESS LAUGHTER! IT'S LOUD CRY TELLS ME TO CRUSH YOU! TAKE THIS, SHINING HOOF!” Pinkie drove the shining hoof of the Shining Pony into the head of the downed Super Speedy Pony 9000 and crushed it. Pinkie then grasped beneath the fallen pony suit and lifted it into the air. “AND NEVER COME BACK HERE AGAIN!” She shouted as she tossed the pony suit off into the distance. Once Pinkie calmed down, she exited her Pony Suit and approached the Apple family slowly. “What jus' happened?” Applebloom said, breaking the silence. “Ya were a pony suit pilot!” Applejack shouted at Pinkie. “Where are ya from!” “I'm from... Neo-Ponyville,” Pinkie said apprehensively. “Ponyville!” Applejack shouted. “Were ya here just ta gauge our strengths and weaknesses then! Was all that ya said about travelin' lookin' for yer sisters a lie ta get us ta lower our guards! Were ya in line with those crooks!” “No, I wasn't—” Pinkie began as she was cut off by Applejack. “YOU BE QUIET!” she shouted. “Get back in yer pony suit. Ah'm goin' ta beat ya into yesterday fer all yer town has done to me an' my family!” Applejack turned away from Pinkie and made her way over to the Apple Buck Pony. Pinkie gave a pleading look at the Apple family, urging them to do something to stop Applejack without actually saying it. All three shook their heads, signaling that there was nothing they could do to stop her. Pinkie looked over to the Apple Buck Pony as it began its start up sequence, then turned and ran back to the Shining Pony. As Pinkie reached the cockpit, the Apple Buck Pony charged towards her, smashing into the Shining Pony before she could fully reactivate it, sending it crashing away through the trees. As she managed to get it started back up and on its hooves again, she saw the Apple Buck once again barreling down on her. “I don't want to fight you!” Pinkie cried out to the Apple Buck, hoping to get through to Applejack, but the Apple Buck kept its course. Pinkie dodged the charge and the Apple Buck turned and switched directions and continued charging towards the Shining Pony. “Why won't you listen to me!” Pinkie cried out again in an attempt to reach Applejack. “Ah won't listen ta yer lies anymore!” Applejack replied as the Apple Buck drew its beam lasso and whipped it about one of the Shining Pony's forelegs and began to pull it towards itself. “Nothing I said was a lie!” Pinkie shouted as she struggled to free herself. “BE QUIET!” Applejack shouted as the Apple Buck gave a mighty pull on the lasso, tossing the Shining Pony into the air. The Apple Buck then spun around and prepared itself to deliver a fight ending buck. As the Shining Pony hurtled through the air, its side opened up, revealing a large cannon, it took aim and fired behind the Apple Buck, the force of the recoil throwing it off its trajectory, causing it to land away from the Apple Buck. The Apple Buck tried again to lasso the Shining Pony and once again caught one of its fore legs. “Not this time, Applejack,” Pinkie said. “I can't lose, I need to keep going. If you want a fight, so be it This hoof of mine shines with boundless laughter. Its loud cry tells me to grasp victory!” The Apple Buck reeled in the Shining Pony as its hoof began glowing. Its foreleg opening to reveal a gun. Once again the Apple Buck gave a strong tug at the lasso, pulling the Shining Pony in close. It placed the barrel of its gun right against the side of the Shining Pony's head. “Ah win,” Applejack said. “Think again Applejack,” Pinkie replied. “You pull the trigger, I drive the shining hoof through your suit's head. I don't want to do that. You're fighting for a good cause. But, you have to realize that I did nothing to harm Sweet Apple Acres! In fact, I helped you fix it up. I can't say much about the leaders of Neo-Ponyville, but I'm not an enemy. I want to be your friend!” “Friend,” Applejack said as the limb of the Apple Buck holding the gun began to falter. “Friend,” she said again and dropped the limb to the ground. Pinkie gave a sigh of relief and depowered the shining hoof. She exited her pony suit and met Applejack who had likewise exited. “Friend,” Applejack said again. “Ah'd forgotten what that word meant. Why didn' ah realize that ya weren’t tryin' ta harm anythin' here. Why did ah let my hate drive me.” “Don't worry, Applejack,” Pinkie said hugging her. “Don't worry, I forgive you. We all have things that drive us and will do anything to protect them.” “Yer right, Pinkie,” Applejack said, pulling away from Pinkie. “And it's true that I'm looking for my sisters,” Pinkie said as she produced the picture of herself and her sisters. “Have you seen either of them around?” “Naw, can't say ah have,” Applejack said as she took a glance at the picture before handing it back. “Thanks anyway.” “Pinkie! Where are you!” Twilight's voice cried through the trees. “And that would be my cue. Applejack, you get back to your family. I hope to meet you in the finals.” Pinkie turned and jumped back into the Shining Pony and set off in the direction of Twilight's voice. “Ah feel the same, Pinkie,” Applejack replied. “Ah hope ya find yer sisters.”