The train ride was fairly uneventful, though Rainbow Dash and Hard Cider did occasionally exchange baleful looks. Eventually though, the train finally pulled to a stop as the trains steam whistle blew.
“All disembark for Appleoosa!” One of the train’s staff called out.
“Oh this is our stop!” Twilight squeeled excitedly. “Come on, let’s go let’s go!” She pulled her parents through the door as Rainbow rolled her eyes and she and Fluttershy followed after, carrying the luggage.
Rainbow yelped as she fell to the ground, something heavy on her back. She looked up behind her, seeing the small yellow, red maned filly that was sitting with Applejack’s family.
“And who are you?” Rainbow growled, annoyed at the filly’s antics.
“Ah’m Applebloom! And Ah ain’t lettin’ no weirdo pegasus help those mean ol’ unicorns!”
Rainbow frowned and got ready to push her off with her head, when Fluttershy flew by and picked up Applebloom. She grinned at the filly as she struggled.
“Hey! Lemme go!”
“Aww but you seem so grumpy-wumpy!” The yellow Pegasus giggled. “I know a good way to cheer up a gwumpy widdle filly....TICKLE ATTACK!”
“AH! Wait!” The filly laughed as Fluttershy brushed her feathers against her sides. “Ah said stop it!”
“Not till you apologise!” The yellow pegasus grinned.
“You will put mah daughter back on the ground this instant!”
Fluttershy blinked and looked down at Hard Cider, who was glaring at her. “But I was just trying to make her not as grumpy and mean.”
“AH SAID put her DOWN!”
“Ok, ok...” Fluttershy grumbled as she gently placed Applebloom back on the ground. “You don’t need to be so mean about it...”
Applebloom blew a raspberry at her as she run back to her father’s side, who was quickly joined by a quite bulky red stallion, Juicy Apple and Applejack, who was wearing a simple blue dress and green bonnet, using the bonnet to hide her face.
Rainbow glared, her wings flared wide as the Sparkles and Fluttershy stood with her, Fluttershy looking a little uncomfortable as Mrs Sparkle and Night Light frowned sternly at Hard Cider, Twilight too busy looking around at the scenery from behind them to notice the tense atmosphere.
“Ah! Hard Cider! May I say to you and yer kin...Welcome to APPPLEOOOOOOSA!”
The two groups turned to a yellow earth pony stallion with long orange mane and tail and wearing a brown vest and Stetson hat.
“Oh, is that you, Braeburn?” Juicy Apple smiled. “You sure have grown some!”
“Oh!” Applebloom yelled out excitedly as she run up to the stallion. “What’s that gold star on your vest for?”
Braeburn smiled wide and proudly. “I was recently made deputy sheriff of this here town, and I’m one of the three ponies in charge of this here hootenanny. Ya’ll are among the first to arrive.”
Hard Cider smirked. “Good for you Braeburn, you’re doing yerself proud, getting out of your family’s shadow...”
The younger stallion looked away nervously. “I’d rather not bring that up....”
Night Light trotted closer, his group following behind. “Ah, excuse me, I take it you are one of ze ponies to talk to about ze competition?”
“Sure am!” Braeburn grinned, and then frowned a little. “Why does a unicorn have any interest in the competition? This is a matter for Apple Family members.”
“We were invited.” Mrs Sparkle said, standing beside her husband. “We were sent a letter asking us to compete this year.”
“But...But you ain’t even Apples! Let alone earth ponies....”
“I know!” Twilight chirped, skipping over to the two groups. “We’re just as surprised as you are! I guess somepony in charge was really impressed by our business and wanted to see how we would do here!”
Hard Cider growled. “Surely there’s been some kinda mistake, there is no way ponies like YOU, who ain’t even kin, would be allowed anywhere near this event!”
“There’s only one family that would be as unthinkable of seeing here...” Juicy Apple added.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise of something heavy scraping along the ground as several ponies in the town shrieked and cried out, and occasionally there could be heard loud bangs.
“Oh Celestia...” Hard Cider breathed. “Not THEM...”
The two groups and the deputy sheriff watched as a broken, wheel-less carriage came into the centre of town, pulled along by two very large alligators as it noisily was dragged through the ground, creating a loud noise and large tracks of disturbed earth. On the carriage were three ponies: A very LARGE, very ROUND white earth pony whose eyes were hidden under a smaller but still just as round hat, tufts of short brown mane visible from underneath, their cutie mark showing a bruised apple; a slender black pony in a poncho, with long scraggly black mane and tail, his chin rather large, a single red eye unhidden by his mane, glaring balefully, his cutie mark displaying a green apple with several worms poking out from it; the third was slightly shorter than the black one, his coat a bright red, his green mane and tail were long, greasy and unkempt, he wore a tall white hat riddled with holes, his cutie mark displaying a strange long metal object with a large round end, which was the same object he held in his hooves. This pony smirked.
Several other pony families, evidently other Apples, who disembarked were keeping away from these newcomers whispering among themselves.
“Oh it’s those Bad Apples! Why are THEY here!? They give us all a bad name!”
“Yeah they can’t even farm! They live in a swamp for Celestia’s sakes!”
The shorter jumped at the offending speakers, getting up on his hind hooves as he hefted his large metal weapon, tugging on the large trigger with his hoof as he fired several shots wildly in the direction of the speakers. “Who’re yew to judge me!? Ah’m ‘n Apple, Ain’t Ah!? Yew try fermin’ ‘n a swamp!” He panted heavily, the offenders having run off, away from his wild gunshots. He turned and smiled at Hard Cider and his family. “Ahh, Cider, yer a sight fer sore eyes!” He grinned at Juicy Apple. “An’ Sis! Yer lookin’ perttier than ever!” He lifted up her hoof and kissed it, receiving a revolted look from the mare. “Hey now, is that any way to greet yer dear ol’ brother who came all this way jus’ to say hello to yer family?”
“Rotten, what in tarnation what are you doing here?” Hard Cider asked sternly. “You never come to this event; you know you aren’t welcome here.”
Rotten gasped theatrically, a look of hurt on his face as he held his hoof up to his heart. “Ah’m hurt, Cider, HURT that yew wuld say dat! Ah caint come along all th’ way ta Appleoosa jus’ to say hello to family, after so long? Ah’m simply shocked!”
Big Mac stepped over, pressing his face against the older stallion’s, glaring.
Rotten glared back. “What? Ya finally gonna step up and say somethin’, boy? Gonna smack talk yer dear Uncle too? Gonna get right up in mah grill and tell me how much of a disappointment Ah am to ever’pony?” He smirked. “Or ya gonna jus’ let me do all the talkin’, as per usual?”
Big Mac snorted and stomped back to his father’s side, his uncle grinning in triumph.
“You ARE a disappointment, little brother!” Juicy Apple scowled. “Instead of learnin’ the trade, stickin’ to your roots like everypony else, you went off to that fancy college, and what did that get you? You livin’ up in Dubbleyuk Swamp, not able ta do a darn thing to earn a livin’, unlike every Apple!?”
“What the HAY you sayin’!?” Rotten sneered and hefted his blunderbuss, aiming it at Juicy. “Jus’ cause Ah wanted to make somethin’ of mahself, now ever’one wants ta go off spoutin’ off at me!? Ah didn’t want to remain an unintelligent, under-knowledged HICK like the rest’a ya’ll seem to be! How ya think Ah got th’ smarts to build this beauty!?” He rubbed the barrel of his gun lovingly. “Cause Ah went off and got mahself an ejycation!”
Braeburn laid a concerned hoof on the stallion’s shoulder. “Now Pa, Ah think ya should stop before you cause more trouble...”
“AH’M th’ one causin’ trouble!?” He turned to the younger stallion. “Mah boy, who was it who funded yer ejycation, that allowed ya ta get this here posishun in th’ firs’ place!?”
The younger stallion looked down sheepishly. “You did, Pa...”
“Durn right!” Rotten looked at everypony else. “Ah’ll see ya’ll at th’ competition.” He looked towards the Sparkles and gave them a hard, envious glare before walking off.
Twilight blinked. “What was that all about?”
Braeburn sighed. “Sorry about that folks, I really wasn’t expectin’ him to come by, let alone compete.” He straightened up, smiling
warmly. “Anyway, I best show ya’ll where the competition is bein’ held.”
Hard Cider shook his head. “No need to trouble yerself, Brae, we know the way.”
“Ah certainly do not!” Applejack fumed.
“Sis, don’t be rude!” Applebloom piped up. “If ya really don’ remember, jus’ follow along and you won’t get lost!”
“Actually,” Braeburn interrupted, “Ah was talkin’ to the unicorns...and pegasi?”
Rainbow shook her hoof. “Oh no no no, we’re not competing, we’re just spectators.”
“Oh, well alright then. Not often we get non-Apples here, let alone non-earth ponies.” The earth pony turned round and slowly trotted westward. “Follow me, don’ dawdle.”
Applejack grimaced as she trotted next to Rainbow Dash, looking bashful. “Dahling Ah am so, so sorry! Ah didn’t even want to come...Ah don’t have any interest in farming...but my little sister and big brother insisted...they mean a lot to me...” She looked down morosely.
“Oh don’t worry Applejack!” Twilight smiled good-naturedly. “Just cause we’re competing doesn’t mean we aren’t friends right?”
Applejack smiled sheepishly. “Well, Ah do suppose...”
“Applejack!” Juicy Apple snapped. “Get over right now! Stop cavortin’ with the competition!”
“Coming mother!” The fashionista winced and trotted to her family, Rainbow frowning in concern.
“It’ll be fine Rainbow don’t worry.” Twilight reassured the Pegasus.
“Maybe...I don’t like seeing my friend in trouble though...”
“Rainbow! Twilight! Come along now, ve don’t vant to end up lost!” Night Light called out to them both, waving his hoof, grinning.
Twilight grinned back. “Ok dad! Come along Rainbow!” She and the cyan Pegasus ran over to the now moving group.
Braeburn smiled as he gave everypony a guided tour of the town, as well as introducing them to several Apple family members who had come for the competition and the reunion.
Rainbow stared wide eyed as they finished being introduced to Goldie Delicious Apple, a rather close aunt to Applejack’s family and who didn’t seem to respond well to the Sparkles. “I didn’t realise Applejack had such an...extended family...”
“Oh golly yes!” Braeburn replied excitedly. “Why, we Apples can be found all around Equestria, and we have roots everywhere! But even despite there bein’ so many of us, we never lost touch with our roots, and always hold these reunions and competitions to make sure that bond is never lost.” They soon came across a large field at the edge of the town with several seats and a small modest fence built around it. “Well, this is the place! This is where you and several members of the Apple family will be competin’ to see whose farmin’ skills are the best around!”
Twilight looked around excitedly, her parents smiling at her. She quickly turned to her friends. “This is so exciting I have never competed against other farmers before!”
“Yeah, we’ll be cheering you on.” Rainbow replied.
“And Jackie too!” Fluttershy cheered, spinning excited loops in the air.
The purple unicorn grinned. “Yeah!”
“Now Ya’ll best get yerselves organised,” Braeburn said, “there’s still some time ‘fore the competition starts. Ah suggest settin’ up your accommodations at a hotel and then explore the town a bit. But don’t be too long.”
“It’s perfectly fine,” Night Light replied, “I have already taken care of our accommodations ahead of time, giving us more time to acclimatise ourselves to zis fine town.”
“Alright!” Braeburn shouted excitedly. “Ya’ll take care now and be back here soon!”
“We will!” Twilight said, grinning wide.
-----------------------------------
Some distance away, watching that very group, were the Bad Apples. The younger ponies stood at either side of their father, sitting on a rocking chair, glaring spitefully, his metal contraption held in his hooves.
“Unicorns, Pa.” The black stallion said.
“Ah noticed, Worm-Eaten.” Rotten spat, polishing his invention. “Cain’t say I was expectin’ th’ world famous Sparkles ta be ‘nvited. But, this ain’t no probl’m. Don’t change the plan none.”
“Shame Granny Smith didn’t come along.” The large, white pony said with a smirk.
Rotten looked at his child, a stern glare in his gaze. “Now ya better not be insinuatin’ ya want my dear Ma anywhere near this fracas. Ah rais’d ya better’n that, Bruised.” His hooves gripped the barrel of his weapon tightly.
“Oh no Pa, sorry Pa.” Bruised Bad Apple answered, sweating nervously. “Was jus’....thinkin’ how we haven’t seen her in ages...”
“True...not really mah fault, nor hers...jus’ happ’ned.” He turned back, eyes widening as he saw the purple unicorn mare, Twilight Sparkle, running towards him.
“Hi!” Twilight greeted. “I was just so caught up in my excitement earlier that I never introduced myself properly! I’m Twilight Sparkle.”
“Rotten Bad Apple.” The stallion replied, quickly regaining his relaxed composure. “And these are mah kin, Bruised Bad Apple an’ Worm-Eaten Bad Apple.”
“Hi there!” She grinned wider, waving to the two other ponies. “I hope you do well in the competition!” She turned back to Rotten, looking his gun over with unrestrained glee. “I have never seen something like that before, it looks amazing! What is it exactly?”
The older stallion chuckled, hefting his gun to give Twilight a better look. “This here is mah own invention, th’ blunderbuss! It’s perty useful, and I dream of mass producing ‘em and sellin’ ‘em all over Equestria.” He chuckled dryly. “Ah ain’t exactly close to accomplishin’ that though.”
Twilight frowned. “Why? And why does everypony else avoid you like the plague?”
“Ya see, Miss Sparkle, Ah can call ya that raight? Anyway, Some years back, I made a decision ta leave home and make somethin’ of mahself, despite mah family’s protests. Of course, once I left, they made it clear I was no longer welcome, and after I grajyated, the rest of mah family turned their backs on me, and Ah ended up setting mahself up in a swamp, an’ lemme tell you-me, t’ain’t nothin’ more detr’mental to farmin’ and business than livin’ on a swamp.”
“I thought you left home to be something other than a farmer?” Twilight asked.
Rotten sat back, sighing. “Ah tried, but Ah failed. I fell back on farmin’ since I did know some skills from my time on th’ family farm. Of course, that didn’t work out. Though whether Ah live’n a swamp cause I’m a bad farmer, or Ah’m a bad farmer cause I live’n a swamp, Ah cain’t say.”
“That doesn’t sound pleasant...” The unicorn lowered her head in sympathy. “Jut name it and I would be willing to help you out in any way possible.”
“No need, Ah came here to deal with all that pers’nally. You just worry about havin’ fun at the comp’tishun and be with yer family an’ friends.”
“Alright.” Twilight smiled at him, but still clearly wanting to help him. “I will. Best of luck at the competition!” She called out as she ran off.
Rotten smirked, folding his forelegs over his chest. “No need ta worry none about that. Not at all.”
------------------------------------------
Applejack’s eyes were as wide as saucers as her family trotted around, greeting and being greeted by practically every pony they passed. The fashionista was sweating bullets, looking pale.
“Applejack, what’s wrong?” Big Mac said, speaking for the first time since they came here. “You seem nervous.”
“How many relatives do we have!?” She gasped out. “Ah mean, Ah know the Apple Clan is robust, but Ah don’t recognise any of these ponies, and mother and father and Applebloom and even you are greeting them like old friends!”
“They are family Applejack.” The stallion rumbled sternly. “We have known them for a long time, you just never met ‘em on account of you leaving the farm and staying in that gaudy building.”
“gaudy!?” Applejack fumed. “I’ll have you know Carousel Boutique is Ponyville’s best place to find clothing, makeup, hair dressing and supplies, as well as...”
She stopped as her mother glared. “Applejack, we asked you to come all the way here, the least you can do is show your family some respect.”
“I don’t know these ponies!” Applejack hissed.
“Then you will learn to know ‘em.” Hard Cider interjected, his stern gaze kowtowing his daughter and making whatever arguments she had die in her throat.
“Don’t worry sis!” Applebloom grinned cheerfully. “Once the competition starts you’ll see just how great bein’ an Apple really is!”
Applejack opened her mouth to interect, but sighed and slumped forward. “I suppose, if that is what you want...”
“That’s exactly what we want, Applejack.” Her mother said. “We don’t want you ending up like your Uncle. It’ll be better once you realise that what you’ve been doing isn’t what you want, or need...”
Applejack bit her lip, trying ahrd not to once again have the tired argument that went nowhere. “Why didn’t Granny Smith come along?”
“Mother is too old for these long trips.” Juicy Apple clarified. “She’d end up hurtin’ herself, and you KNOW she’d insist on competing with us.”
“’s for the best, AJ.” Hard Cider stated, Applebloom looking down sadly as Big Mac shrugged.
Applejack sighed again. “Right...Ah’m just here to help in the competition...”
“That ain’t true!” Big Mac interjected. “Sure you’ll be a big help, and we want to win, but that ain’t why we asked! We invited you here ‘cause you’re family, and we think you need to reconnect with your roots!”
“Ah am here, are Ah not?” The fashionista pointed out. “Is that not enough?”
Her family looked as if theyw ere each going to interject when Braeburn ran up from behind. “Uncle Cider, we’re ready to begin!”
Hard Cider smirked. “Alright, it’s time to win this, and show those Sparkles what bein’ an Apple is all about!”
Applejack didn’t respond as Applebloom cheered excitedly, Big Mac nodded stoically and her mother walked close to her father as they headed towards the arena.
--------------------------------------------