“YOU DID WHAT,” the Sisterhood of Evil shouted.
“Now, ladies…” Anar D said nervously.
“You’re telling me you literally had Saddle Rager in your hands,” the Sinister Sorceress said, “And you just let her escape?!”
“I did not let her escape,” Anar D protested. “I did try to stop her. Look, there’s nothing to worry about. If they’re heading for Sweet Apple Acres, their deaths are secured.”
“What makes you so certain,” Gryphon Galore asked. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t pound you into pudding.
“I’ll give you two,” Anar D said. “The Pish-Posh Brothers.”
The Sisterhood of Evil dropped their jaws and gasped with terror.
“You stuck a deal with Pish and Posh,” the Sinister Sorceress asked. “They’re the biggest crime lords in the countryside!”
“They cover their operations well,” Gryphon Galore said. “The law can’t find any evidence against them.”
“And no criminal would dare cross their path,” the Mane-iac said. “Even I’m not crazy enough. How’d you get their attention?”
“They think they’re so high and mighty,” Anar D said. “They’re no different from any mortal. You jingle a few coins and they’d sell their own mother. That, and I told them that they could be involved with the destruction of their most hated enemy. I convinced them to set up a surprise at Mistress Marevelous’ farm inspection. And when the country girl gets close enough… KABLOOEY!”
“Well, this I have got to see,” Gryphon Galore said.
“Funny you should mention that,” Anar D said. He snapped his fingers and a large screen appeared in midair. They saw the Power Ponies in their hard-light plane with their pets. “We can see it.”
“Why didn’t you show us this before,” the Mane-iac asked.
“Because you were busy constructing the wormhole generator,” Anar D said. “I didn’t want to distract you before it was complete or else we’d not finish it in time for Discordant Convergence.”
“Good point,” the Sinister Sorceress agreed with an evil grin. “After their deaths, we wait for that chaotic event so we can have our army. But for now, let’s watch.”
“Looking good, Applejack,” Granny told her grand-daughter. “Just keep painting that fence.”
“Will do,” Applejack said miserably.
From behind her, Granny and Applejack’s siblings, Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom, saw her sad face.
“Do you think she’s okay, Big Mac,” Apple Bloom asked.
“Nope,” Big Macintosh answered.
“If only there was some way to get her happy again,” Granny said.
“There is!”
Applejack recognized the voice and the Apple Family turned behind them. Hum Drum, Radiance, Filli-Second, Zapp, and Saddle Rager were standing proudly in their costumes.
“Oh, dear,” Applejack sighed. “Don’t tell me we’re getting the team back together.”
“Mistress Marevelous,” Hum Drum said, “We’re getting the team back together.”
Applejack smacked her own face with her hoof.
Later, the Power Ponies and Applejack were at a restaurant with an outside table. Applejack heard the whole story.
“…And that’s why we’re here,” Hum Drum said. “We need all the Power Ponies back if we’re going to stand up to Anar D.”
“Look, y’all,” Applejack said, “Even if I did want to come back, I couldn’t. The farm needs me. It took me a month to settle down the craziness.”
“Craziness,” Saddle Rager asked.
“Of course,” Applejack said. “As soon as I got here, I realized that Granny wan’t holding anything back when she explained the problem. Cows sang opera instead of give milk. The wood in the barn turned to rubber. Chickens have been marrying… for love. The farm did go all topsy-turvy for no reason at all.”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about your problem,” Hum Drum said. “And I thought of something: what if Anar D messed with your farm giving you a reason to return to your birthplace? Anar D’s method of killing you must be at the barn.”
“How would he kill me with chores,” Applejack said. “True, I’ve been working myself to death, but I wouldn’t call them fatal. Look, if there is something wrong with my barn, I’ll simply get rid of it when I win it back.”
“You mean… IF you win it back.”
The Power Ponies saw a pair of skinny stallions. They were dressed like half of a barber-shop quartet. One had a red mustache and the other had a clean face.
“If,” the other stallion said. “If is good.”
“The Pish-Posh Brothers,” Applejack said. “What brings you here?”
“Just trying to settle something,” Pish said. “After all, we keep hearing that the Power Ponies are getting back together.”
“I keep hearing that the circus was in town,” Posh said. He looked at all the Power Ponies “Now, I see I was right.”
“Hardy, har, har,” Radiance said.
“I’m surprised you’re considering going back to them, Applejack,” Pish said.
“Indeed,” Posh agreed. “After all, if you go back to the city, who’s going to keep your farm from our hooves?”
“Food for thought,” the brothers said at once before leaving.
Applejack squeezed her chair arms with great force and growled. “Those two have been getting on my nerves since before I got my powers.”
“You’ve known them that long,” Zapp asked.
“I never told you how I got my powers,” Applejack said. “It started a few years ago. The Pish-Posh Brothers just moved to town and attempted to buy the farm from Granny. Of course, she refused. The Pish-Posh Brothers then tried to contaminate the water supply with chemicals. I didn’t realize it until I fell in with my rope. I spent a couple days in the hospital, but when I woke up, I felt myself linked to my rope. I tried using it to expose the Pish-Posh Brothers’ sins, but I had no success. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was protecting the innocent with y’all.”
“If getting back at the Pish-Posh Brothers was all that mattered to you, why’d you stick with us all these years,” Saddle Rager asked.
“I… I don’t know,” Applejack said.
“BARK! BARK!”
Applejack looked at where the sound came from and her dog jumped to her and licked her face.
“Wynona,” Applejack cheered. “I can’t believe I forgot all about you.”
Suddenly, Wynona closed her mouth at Applejack’s hat and snatched it from her head.
“Hey,” Applejack laughed. “Give that back.”
Wynona dropped the hat right in front of the Power Ponies. Applejack picked up the hat and attempted to return to her seat, but Wynona stood in front of Applejack. The cowgirl tried to go around her dog, but Wynona stayed in front of her.
“Wynona, what’s the matter with you,” Applejack asked. Then, she looked around her and saw her standing with her friends.
“I think she’s showing you the truth,” Saddle Rager said.
“Truth.” Applejack stared at her dog and saw a flash of rainbow coming from her dog. She felt the same feeling in her eyes. “You’re right. I’ve been lying to everyone, including myself. True, I want to get back at the Pish-Posh Brothers, but the truth is, I want my friends even more. After I get my farm back, I’m joining back to y’all in a heartbeat.”
“That was faster than I thought,” Hum Drum said.
Watching the whole conversation, the Sisterhood of Evil exchanged to angry faces and glared at Anar D, who was drinking chocolate milk… or at least, the glass of it.
“Girls, girls, relax,” Anar D said. He threw his chocolate milk behind him and heard it explode. “It’s only half-time.”