Author's Note: Chapter 2:2 kicks off and finally, we see the Canadian city of Toront-*ahem* Equestrian City of Troronto. Note that soon, you get to meet a wonderful, self-insert OC! Yes, sadly, I step into OC boundaries. Normally, I'd rather not step into those territories unless I've Role Played in the setting as I've done with Mega Man, but, well why the fux not. Gotta have to make SOME OC's for this fic but don't fret about the OC's status. Not a main character or even a central character. Just the NPC Tavern Owner the party visits! [/FinalFantasyreference] Bonus points if you get the reference the title is making. Brownie points if you dislike the referenced thing itself. Oh yeah, OC #2 is not a self insert but an alternate version of another character of mine. Which one? Get into Mega Man and read my stories first. Huzzah!

Special thanks to user Civille/Bellum_Civille as my editor. Check him out on the site or FiMFiction and his stories, especially the Pinkie-Verse.

Now, on with the show!

Chapter 2:2:

The Author's Block and the Duke

The train sped along the tracks at a steady pace. Only an hour after departure from Ponyville and they were making good time. The conductor was excellent at his job and was well liked. The train cars were clean, spacious and yet cozy. The food they served at lunch was nice for a train ride. The ride itself was too darn long for one Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow sat back in the booth, staring at Applejack with cold, tempting eyes. She examined the Earth Pony's person; the way she looked down at the table, brow bent in concentration, eyes darting back and forth. After an eternity of staring at her apple bucking friend, Rainbow only grew nervous. Applejack smiled and raised her head to meet Rainbow's stare. She leaned forward, closing the distance between the two.

"Sugarcube..." she said in a quiet voice.

Rainbow gulped. "Yeah?"

*thok*

"Checkmate. Ya'll owe me 20 bits." Applejack let out a smug giggle.

Rainbow's eyes widened as she looked down at the table. Placed there was a foldaway chessboard; the white pieces all but annihilated with the black right-side rook, a pawn, and a bishop having cornered Rainbow's Sun-Princess piece, her Lunar-Princess piece being blocked by more pawns. Rainbow grit her teeth.

"Augh, y'know what? Fine. This game is dumb anyways." Rainbow lightly shoved Applejack back into her normal sitting position. Rainbow crossed her forehooves and stared down at her lap.

Applejack let out several smug chuckles as she quickly put away the small game.

"Well, ya don't have t' pay me. Jus' bein' here is enough." Applejack said as she closed the chessboard and placed it in a small box, then placing that small box in her saddlebags.

Rainbow smiled at this, feeling a nice sensation in her chest. Just being there made Applejack happy...

"You're a great friend, Applejack." Rainbow said as she stretched her limbs.

She was smiling like crazy now. She unfolded her forehooves and looked up at Applejack. The sun illuminated her face and the darkness of inside the car blended perfectly giving Applejack a golden glow. It was wondrous what the sun could do at times... and the dark too. Rainbow would really have to thank Princess Celestia sometime for enabling moments like this to happen. She wasn't sure what was warmer right now; the glow around Applejack, her smile, or the sun. It was midday and Rainbow let out a long sigh, deciding to end the moment voluntarily instead of a forced ending when she wasn't ready.

"... so, do you have anything else you wanna do?" Rainbow asked Applejack.

Applejack put a hoof to her chin as she pondered.

"Chess is out, since ah curbstomped ya in less than 70 turns..." Applejack said with a minor chuckle.

"Replace 'pay me' with 'ah kin gloat' it seems..." Rainbow said as she let out a small chuckle of self pity.

"Heh... ah'd say checker's is out too." Applejack said.

Rainbow sighed once more. They played Tic-Tac-Toe, Go Fish, and they hoof wrestled before being stopped on the account of lunch. Then they played Chess, and now this. She wished she had something else to do. Something Rainbow enjoyed more.

"'scuse me, ladies." a male voice said.

Rainbow and Applejack turned their heads to the aisle to see a rather tall pony with a way too slender body wearing a white windbreaker with a red saddlebag with an "AW" on the flaps. He had a maroon coat with a shaggy mane that went out to the sides. He had a half dull, half tired look in his eyes. His cutie mark showed a pen and blank paper. A writer?

"Uh, yes sir?" Applejack asked.

"I was just wondering if you could let me draw you." the maroon pony said.

"Draw us?" Rainbow asked suspiciously. "Is the train going to crash soon too?"

The maroon pony stared down at Rainbow with no concern or confusion. "Not that I know of, but..." he reached into his saddlebags and pulled out a black book with "Art" written on the cover in whiteout. He placed it on the table in the booth where they sat. "You see, I am an artist and... well, I'm okay... I just figured that... well, the lighting on this scene and your... interesting mane colour... y'know..." he said before trailing off, looking to his sides.

Rainbow scratched the back of her head, unsure if that was a compliment. She shrugged it off while Applejack dove right into opening the cover of the book.

"... so I came to ask permission and stuff." he finally said after his short pause.

"Well, that's jus' dandy. Y'all are pretty good and ya seem like a nice fellow." Applejack said as she flipped through the art book. "Name's Applejack." she extended her hoof to the pony.

Rainbow was curious and as if on cue, Applejack pushed the art book over to Rainbow to flip through. Rainbow flipped to the first page and saw a Pony with very detailed armour reminiscent of the Royal Guards but... sleeker, with more functions. Like something out of a science-fiction story. It was well done, some things were off.

"I'm Chibi Masato, but you can call me Mr. Masato." the pony said, shaking Applejack's hoof.

"Chibi Masato? That's an odd name." Rainbow replied rather bluntly, too engrossed in the art book to make a proper response.

Applejack gave Rainbow a dull glare before retracting her hoof.

"Heh, well... my parents gave me ironic names. In the far away land my father is from, 'chibi' means 'small' or 'runt' because I was a very small pony years ago... and Masato meant 'Pony of Truth'. Called me that because, well... I'd rather not say." Masato said as he scratched the back of his head.

Rainbow reached the end of the book; it was mostly sci-fi ponies but it was well done. She didn't care much for sci-fi, but she knew the drawings were good. She closed the art book and slid it back.

"Well shucks, that's a fine name." Applejack said as she leaned on the table.

Rainbow licked her lips, noticing they were getting dry. "You're a good artist." Rainbow said.

"Thanks Applejack and..." Rainbow never gave him her name. "Oh, um... I'm Rainbow Dash. Best Young Flier of Equestria. Future Wonderbolt." Rainbow said with a cocky tone.

Masato chuckled. "I heard about you. Thanks, Rainbow Dash." he cleared his throat. "Well, I'll just... be sitting at my booth across from you two... drawing... and stuff..." Masato said, grabbing his art book before waltzing away.

"Alrighty then, have fun." Applejack said as she did a quick stretch.

Masato sat down and began drawing. With that out of the way, Rainbow and Applejack went back to talking.

"... so anyways, I feel like expanding upon our barter, Apples." Rainbow said getting a sly smile on her face.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "'splain, RD." Applejack said, giving Rainbow an honest smile.

"You give me a massage which, from all the training I've done and post competition, sounds amazing... I give you my trust which still makes no sense..." Rainbow rubbed her temples with both hooves as she said this. "... and for another request of your choice," she then placed a hoof down on the table as she leaned her head on her shoulder, pointing her hoof at Applejack.

"You let me treat you to dinner." Rainbow said with a smug attitude.

Rainbow's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, what? That sounds..." she cleared her throat before slumping back in the booth.

"... victory reasons, and stuff." Rainbow said.

Applejack only smiled as Rainbow said this before leaning back.

"Well, that's swell, 'bow. My half of th' barter fer this one..." she paused, obviously having an idea in mind. "ya have t' wear one o' these when we buck." Applejack said as she tapped her stetson.

Rainbow smirked. "You're making this awfully easy, Applejack. How about another one? I wear a stetson but you have to get me the best one you can find." Rainbow said.

Applejack lost her smile and placed both hooves on the table.

"An in return, ya have t' spend extra time on the clouds above Sweet Apple Acre's. Pickin' th' best ones and such." Applejack said.

Rainbow also lost her smile, repeating Applejack's gestures. They stared at each other in silence, eyes locked on each others. Each examined their athletic rival's face extensively for any sign of backing down from what seemed to be a Bartering Contest. Rainbow was examining Applejack as hard as possible, not wanting to lose this self-establishing contest... but spent more time admiring Applejack herself. She looked amazing, was amazing and was one of the few ponies that could give Rainbow a run for her money in various things... as long as Rainbow played by Earth Pony rules.

Soon, Rainbow backed off, leaning back in her seat before letting a chuckle escape. She then started out in a full on laugh as Applejack slowly did the same.

"Ha, we were gettin' a little too serious there, RD." Applejack said as she calmed down a bit.

"Yeah, sorry... we tend to do that too often." Rainbow said as she leaned forward, slapping her face against the tabletop out of boredom.

"Ah still totally expect that dinner, Rainbow." Applejack said as she removed her stetson, placing it on her seat and proceeded to imitate Rainbow.

The surface of the table was warm. Rainbow and Applejack were both staring towards the aisle of the train, heads nearly touching while their mane's are touching. Rainbow and Applejack simultaneously let out a sigh, satisfied with how the day has gone so far. Rainbow actually had some fun working alongside Applejack. They proceeded to not say anything, merely enjoying each others company and the calm they had after their marathon board gaming. They finally noticed how loud the train was, how loud the kitchen was, how quiet the artist's scribbling was... Rainbow stared on into the aisle in a daze, feeling the heat of the sun's rays was actually rather relaxing.

Applejack had started eyeing the artist pony... he was a unicorn? Apparently so because he was holding a drawing clipboard and using his teeth to hold his pen. His horn must be hidden by his scruffy mane. He didn't seem to stare at Applejack and Rainbow Dash once as he drew, simply drawing non-stop. His neck must be sore from all that drawing. Finally, he stopped drawing, and placed the pen inside a pencil case. He held up the clipboard as he examined his art. He didn't smile nor did he frown. He didn't seem to show much emotion. He stood up and walked back over to Rainbow and Applejack. He turned the clipboard to the two ponies.

The drawing depicted Applejack and Rainbow Dash resting peacefully on the table. This was recent so he must have drawn it pretty fast. It had the perfect shading, giving it that warm atmosphere that the bright sun and the dark interior gave off. There was no colouring to it at all, just a light shading. The detail of shading was enough to show the wavelengths of colour Rainbow's mane had. (A/N: I seriously cannot shade but I am pretty damn good at shading digitally. Jus' go with it plz.)

"Woah, that's darn good." Applejack said as she admired the scene.

Rainbow stared, starting a mad blushing. The shade of the interior train car prevented anybody from noticing without staring hard. It was a cute scene, she had to admit... mentally only. She didn't dare say cute out loud.

"That's a good drawing." Rainbow said, unable to think of proper words without sounding... not like Rainbow.

"Thanks." he said. "You two want a copy?" Applejack was taken aback. "How long'll that take?" Masato cracked a very small smile. "30 seconds."

Rainbow's ears perked up. She would love to have that drawing copied.

"How much?" Rainbow asked, excitement in her voice but not all of it.

"Free. Figured it's a drawing of you two, I'd say you're entitled to a free copy, eh?" Masato asked as he walked over to his saddlebags.

"Well shoot. That's jus' dandy. Thank ya kindly, Masato. Ah'd love t' have that in mah room." Applejack said as she picked up her stetson, placing it atop her head.

Rainbow's blush deepened. She shared Applejack's thoughts. Meanwhile, Masato brought out a board slightly larger than the common sheet of blank paper and he got out another piece of blank paper, placing it in the space provided on the board. He unclipped the drawing and levitated it over to the board, horn glowing a perfect red, placing the drawing down and pressed it hard onto the piece of paper. After a few seconds, he pulled it back and repeated the process with another blank sheet. After he had them both done, he placed them on the table. There were very faint images left from the slightly damp markings made by the pen. Masato levitated a small jar of ink from his bag and opened it up. He then took a deep breath and levitated the ink out of the small jar. It spread out and soon, there were two very thin "sheets" of ink floating in the air. Extra emphasis on thin. It must take a lot of concentration to control each droplet of ink. He levitated it down and placed it onto the two sheets with the light outline of his sketch and the ink itself began building up in numerous areas and after a few seconds, the glow around his horn stopped. The jar of ink dropped, Masato having forgotten about holding it. He looked down and sighed. Another wasted jar... but he was satisfied. He looked down at his copy of the drawings, having perfectly replicated them. He reached into his saddlebag and grabbed two picture frames. He quickly wrote his name and the date onto the drawings. He then placed the drawings in the frames using magic and then handed them over to Rainbow and Applejack.

"Here you go." he said.

"Thank ya." Applejack said as she examined the replica and placed it in her saddlebags.

"Yeah, taaaanks..." Rainbow said, not thinking about her sentence.

"Want me t' hold on ta that, Rainbow?" Applejack offered.

Rainbow realized she had no bags and nodded in agreement. Applejack took the framed drawing and placed it with her drawing in the bag. Then...

"Attention: We have arrived at MacTier Train Station. All who are coming aboard, come aboard. All who are getting off, get off. Thank you, and have a nice day." a voice said, blaring out through the train car.

Masato gasped. "Oh, that's my stop. It was nice meeting you two." Masato said as he ran over, gathered up his materials and placed them in his bags. He then placed his bags on.

Applejack waved a hoof while Rainbow did a quick stretch in her seat. "You too," the two ponies said at the same time.

Masato then walked to the end of the car and got off. Almost as soon as the train stopped, it started moving. Masato waved as the train left while Applejack gave him a warm smile, waving back.

"He was a nice guy... lack of emotion though." Rainbow said as she yawned.

"Tired, RD?" Applejack asked as she looked at Rainbow.

Rainbow stretched herself out over the small bench. "Yeah, I'm gonna take a quick nap... could you wake me when we get there?" Rainbow asked of the Earth pony.

Applejack let out a chuckle as Rainbow let out a light yawn.

"Alright, sugarcube." she said as Rainbow slowly fell asleep on the hard seats.

. . .

"Wake up, furry lumpkins. We're 'ere."

The southern accent assaulted Rainbow's ears. Through her tired daze, the regularly simple, soothing voice blared as if on a megaphone. Rainbow covered her ears, rubbing them to drown it out. She let out a long yawn as she stretched her arms out. Her right hoof was warm... very warm. The right side of her head was too; obviously Applejack let her bake in the sun... she'll have to remember that. She slid out of the booth and stepped into the aisle and let her eyes adjust. The sun had been beating down on her eyelids relentlessly so the darker interior of the train was a little harder to see. She fluttered her wings and when she finished, her eyes had adjusted. She noticed Applejack walking down the aisle, tail bouncing with each step she took along with her flank.

If Rainbow was more awake, she'd be mesmerized.

She stopped thinking and she trotted after Applejack, letting out another yawn. She didn't know how long she slept so...

"Hey Apples, how long did I sleep?" Rainbow asked as she followed Applejack off the small step.

"'bout 15 minutes." Applejack said, stepping onto the sturdy platform.

Rainbow nodded. "A'ight." she followed Applejack onto the platform. Looking around, Troronto had a busy train station and was one of the larger cities of Equestria. It was near the boarders so it was one of the ideal places for trade; many ponies, and other various creatures, came from the Eastern countries and stopped here. Equestria's Bread Basket, Troronto. Known for it's crop-related trades and even the contest, Market Harvest. It also had a large lake next to it and a rather tall, free-standing tower. Not mounted onto the mountain, like Canterlot, not a monument, like Manehatten, but relying on it's structure to stand, which it has. It wasn't visible but Rainbow knew that they were close to the Market Harvest grounds. How? There were signs almost literally five feet away from each other with an arrow pointing to the grounds: "Market Harvest 2 Weeks!".

Rainbow trotted up to Applejack and walked next to her.

"We goin' anywhere specific or, such? Because I'm kinda hungry." Rainbow said.

Applejack was humming as Rainbow asked her. She finished up her mild tune and looked around herself. "Well, it is gettin' close t' dinner... 's almost 5 PM... ah know this great restaurant close by, RD. Ah'll take ya there."

Applejack quickly picked up her pace, Rainbow following suit. They left the train station and proceeded to the busy streets of Troronto. All around, it reminded Applejack of Manehatten... it sickened her, only if she saw one of those high-class ponies. To Rainbow, this city was large. It wasn't fancy Canterlot large, or Cloudsdale "high storms" large, it was busy large. She looked to the right, she saw a bundle of ponies and mixed in here and there, a few Zebra, Donkeys, Griffons, a lot of different races.

"Maybe I should have moved here... many from different lands to view my awesomeness... take home tales of the incredible Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow said quietly to herself as she followed Applejack's steps.

Applejack herself looked to the right and smiled, look to the left and frowned. Turned her head around to frown, then looked down a bit to see Rainbow, then smiled. Applejack was obviously bringing up memories of when she was a city pony. Rainbow really wanted to prod more out of Applejack's past, mainly about her short-lived life as a city pony out of curiosity but she decided not to aggravate her best friend.

After a few minutes of walking, they came across a plaza filled with enough people to make Rainbow make the comparison between a Wonderbolts Derby. Rainbow stared around, not noticing Applejack's nudges to her wing.

"Earth to Pegasus Pony. We're there." Applejack said as she grabbed Rainbow's wing and tugged on it slightly.

Rainbow snapped out of her minor daze and looked back with a slightly annoyed look.

"Alrighty then, fine. What's this restaurant called?" Rainbow said as she followed Applejack through the crowds.

Applejack didn't reply but let out a few quiet chuckles. Rainbow rolled her eyes with a smile. They passed a group and came across a rather tropical-looking building. It had tropical trees and lots of colourful animals. The name was "Rainforest Cafe" (AN: I am so sorry. I just had to mention the restaurant.) Rainbow raised an eyebrow at the almost chaotic inside of the restaurant; statues made, effects on the walls. Ponies and creatures of all sorts were inside.

"This place was such a mess. Ah figured it would be too c'nfusin' fer me when ah was first brought here by Big Macintosh durin' my first Market Harvest... not at all. Jus' startlin'." Applejack said as she lured Rainbow in.

Rainbow shrugged and trotted in after Applejack into the tropical restaurant.

Inside...

"You dare call THIS garbage 'Apple Cider'?" an enraged pony screamed.

The waitress Pony stared in shock as a rather wealthy-looking Pony let out his angry opinion of the Apple Cider. He stood up out of his booth where he sat with two mares dressed in a fancy fashion. He held a mug of Apple Cider in his hoof close to the face of the waitress pony. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were just entering as they heard the Apple Cider comment.

"Um, sir y-" the waitress began but never finished.

"Cider from Sweet Apple Acres should go by it's proper name... window washing fluid." the pony said as he tossed the mug of cider to the ground.

The rest of the restaurant was staring at the spectacle... and Applejack's eyes twitched. Rainbow immediately realized that Applejack was going to pick a fight with this pony.

"Woah, Apples, calm down." Rainbow said as she put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "We can talk to thi-" Applejack shoved away Rainbow's hoof as she stomped her way over to the wealthy pony.

The pony in question turned his head and spotted Applejack. Spotting the apple bucker, his face twisted into one of sheer disgust.

"Well, speak of Discord, the ghastly excuse for a farm saw fit to send one of their so called 'workers' to the grounds the same as I..." the wealthy pony said.

The waitress was already cleaning up the mess made from the mug which survived the slam. Rainbow had quickly followed after Applejack as she passed the various tables of the restaurant. Applejack stopped right in front of the wealthy pony who was taller merely by inches.

"And what in tarnation is that s'posed t' mean, Fullbody Moneybags?" Applejack demanded, stomping a hoof as she said the pony's name.

Rainbow leaned over to the side to see the pony, whose name was apparently Fullbody Moneybags, to spot his cutie mark: a vine of grapes with a bag of bits behind it. Rainbow didn't even have to learn more about him before realizing: this was the Pony that exploited everything he had. And was a snooty jackass to boot (No offense to any donkey's who happen to read my mind).

"Oh, thank you for correcting me." he said with sarcasm strong enough to make Rainbow cringe. "I mean toilet cleaner." Fullbody said, ending with a snort that could make Rarity blush.

Applejack's frustration and anger were building up well enough to hype up an army of thousands; if she could, she would lash out on everything the pony owned.

"As a Duke, I cannot fool myself any longer; I didn't stop at this backwater place out of curiosity, I did out of pity." Fullbody said as he stared around the restaurant in disgust. Several Ponies and misc. looked over with glares towards the outrageously loud wealthy pony before he spat on the floor of the restaurant. "But I can see that not even pity can save this place." he said.

Rainbow was attempting not to jump in herself; this pony thought he could just diss Sweet Apple Acre's, their Apple Cider, and Applejack, expecting to walk away? But, there was one thing on her mind: the duke part. Applejack was gritting her teeth largely right now but...

"Wait, duke? Of what?" Rainbow asked, thinking only about the duke part.

Fullbody gave Rainbow a deadpan stare before scoffing. "Why should I explain anything to a brat?" Fullbody said as he clopped his hooves together.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Seems like someone doesn't know the definition of 'duke'..." Rainbow thought. The two mares Fullbody sat with stood up from their spots and trotted around Fullbody before coming up front and attempting to push Applejack out of the way. Applejack's attitude almost snapped, but...

"... seeee you at the competition, and the Fullbody Grape and Wine team, Mr. Moneybags..." Applejack said as she quickly pushed the mare's hooves off her as she turned to leave.

Applejack and Rainbow left the restaurant, with Moneybags and his two mares staying behind to wait for the two ponies to leave the immediate area.

"Why'd you back down? He was being so rude... I mean, even I'm not that bad. We could totally have whipped his hindquarters." Rainbow said as she looked back, glaring at the Rainforest Cafe building.

Applejack sighed. "Ah can't get worked up... considerin' he's won every single Market Harvest th' past five years... even so, ah..." she sniffled. "... ah have t' be the bigger pony..." Applejack said, letting out another sniffle.

Rainbow realized this. Applejack was crying but... "Applejack, are you okay?" Rainbow asked, losing most of her anger at the sight of her distraught friend.

"... ah am... ah think..." Applejack said, turning her face away from Rainbow as they trotted through the crowds.

"... tch..." Rainbow refrained from flying up and going back to cold clock that Fullbody.

"... ah can't believe he said that 'bout Sweet Apple Acres... an our hard work... ah did my darndest t' be the bigger pony but..." Applejack held back a large sob, her voice nearly cracking.

Rainbow's anger began to rise. Applejack stopped walking, Rainbow nudging into her side gently. She took a step back.

"... but...?" Rainbow asked.

Applejack wiped her eyes with her hoof, and had one more sniffle. She turned her head to face Rainbow Dash directly. Her eyes were slightly red from the few tears but her eyes still shone. She was wearing a smile and her brow arched. Rainbow knew this; this was her game face.

"Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow took a breath before answering. "Yeah Apples?"

Applejack's smile grew. "... let's kick that Fullbody's butt."

=super turbo awesome spacer=

Author's Note: We meet the designated villain, the obligatory cameo (Chibi Masato, wanna see his look? Visit me at Deviant Art under the username of "Hunter-the-Hedgehog". Link on my profile too), and we also get our *CENSORED* in the story too *trollface*. But yeah, next part, we get to see the grounds of the Markest Harvest competition, and once more, I plead for reviews and stuff. Yeah.

Thanks, Mr. Masato/Arby Works.