Fallen Eagle

Chapter VII: The Broken Headphones

I can't believe it folks. NEVER have I been blessed with 3000 views and 22 favorites and 26 followers only eight chapters in, and I just want to thank you guys so much for the support that Fallen Eagle has received and we still have a long road ahead. I haven't had this much fun writing a story in quite some time and It's only going to get better from here.

And being a fan of Seinfeld, I'm just going to give the names of chapters to the plots of each chapter instead of trying to come up with clever titles which I believe haven't been all that good. Anyways, it's time for Chapter VII!

Just a quick warning though, this chapter contains borderline 'M' content, but doesn't cross over into 'M' territory.

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(Sweet Apple Acres. Cougar's POV)

Ever since I had that match of wits with that spoiled as crap Diamond Tiara, those school aged kids stopped coming over to stare at me like a freak in a sideshow. Though, I didn't mind Bloomin' Onion, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle talking to me after or right before I got off work. The trio kind of reminded me of myself and Reaper growing up, so optimistic and full of energy. "So, what are your plans today Bloomin' Onion?" I asked Applebloom while repairing a few broken posts in the fence that I'm sure Diamond Tiara and her little friend broke in the middle of the night.

"We're runnin' outta ideas Cougar," Applebloom replied whilst softly pawing at the ground with her hoof.

"Cheer up Applebloom," Scootaloo patted the yellow filly's back, "we'll think of something," the orange filly's wings rapidly flapped with excitement, almost like a dog wagging its tail in excitement.

"Yeah, maybe we should start thinking outside the box," Sweetie Belle chimed in. I couldn't help but grin at the three filly's. I guess figuring out one's career is far more important here in Equestria than back on Earth. When I was kid, all I remembered thinking about doing as a career was flying a jet, playing Major League Baseball or racing in NASCAR, yet I could change my career at any moment. Here however, once that mark appeared on a pony's butt, game over, whether they wanted it or not.

"Oh, and Bull Fightin' wasn't outside the box?" Applebloom glared at her two friends.

"Hey, that totally would've worked out if we could've stayed balanced on each other's backs," Scootaloo defended. Suddenly, a few ideas came to my mind to help them. I took off my aviators and leaned against a new post to talk to the fillies.

"Scootaloo, you like action and intensity right?" I asked her.

"Y-yeah, why?" She replied.

"Well, Rainbow Dash told me about the Wonderbolt Derby races in Cloudsdale and Canterlot, why don't you try talking to the pegasus that announces the races? Maybe you could get your mark in announcing races?" I offered up. Scootaloo's purple eyes lit up until her pupils covered up all the whites of her eyes. Her muzzle started grinning almost like Pinkie Pie does on a daily basis.

"That's like, the BEST idea ever!" Scootaloo hopped off the ground and hovered for a brief second before touching back down. "I better talk to Rainbow Dash when she gets off from Wonderbolt Training today!" The orange filly exclaimed and bit her lower lip to contain her excitement.

"And Bloomin' Onion," I turned to the little yellow farmer, "don't you like mixing potions?" I asked her.

"Yeah, but I'm still just a beginner," she replied with dejection.

"Okay, but if you keep practicing, maybe you could be a doctor or a pharmacist working with medicine; you could save the lives of countless ponies!" I exclaimed. Applebloom's front hooves began to pound the ground quickly, her mouth trying to suppress a squeal. I patted her head and turned to Sweetie Belle.

"And you, Sweetie Belle," I started off, "you need to start thinking about a career with singing," I exclaimed, "your sister is in a quintet; you have an amazing singing voice that I heard when you were in the clubhouse," I explained.

"NO!" the little white unicorn immediately replied and covered her face with her hooves.

"Why not?" I asked her and petted her mane.

"She has wicked stage fright," Scootaloo explained. I nodded, understanding right away.

"Well, have you talked to Rarity about it Sweetie Belle?" I asked her. Her hooves left her face and softly touched the ground. She shook her head left and right, not saying another word to me.

"Look, I think you should talk to her about it because she's your older sibling and she's a singer herself; she should have tons of advice for you," I remarked. Sweetie Belle's eyes looked up from the ground and back to me.

"Al-alright Cougar, I'll try, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna sing on stage the next day," she responded.

"Well that's a start," I replied while putting my sunglasses back on and picking up my hammer. "By the way, are you three excited to go camping tomorrow?" I asked them as I pounded a nail into the next fence post I was repairing.

"Heck yeah!" Applebloom replied, "we haven't been in almost two years," she explained.

"Why's that?" I pounded in a second nail and wiped the sweat from my brow.

"Our sisters just haven't found the time since," Sweetie Belle answered. Pound, pound, pound. A third nail was driven into the wooden post. 'Only a couple more to go,' I thought to myself.

"I haven't been camping since I was six years old, but I remember the gist of it," I explained to the trio. "As long as someone brings the marshmallows, we'll all be fine," I smirked at them.

"It wouldn't be camping without marshmallows Cougar," Scootaloo joked, "that's like peanut butter minus the jelly."

"French Fries without the ketchup," Applebloom added.

"Ice cream without chocolate syrup!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. I ceased working on the next fence post and lowered my aviators towards the unicorn.

"I don't even want to think about that Sweetie Belle," I shivered. The other two fillies nodded in agreement with me, thinking of the horrors of ice cream without the chocolate syrup on top.

"Anyways Cougar," Sweetie Belle continued, "Rarity says that Pinkie Pie is exhausting herself trying to think of ways to apologize to you, what did she do to you? My sister wouldn't say," Rarity's little sister asked. The reminder of the event frustrated me so much that I pounded in a nail with a single thrust of my hammer, rightfully scaring the little fillies.

"I don't want to talk about it alright? And plus even if I told you, your sisters would mutilate me," I responded. Now their curiosity is going to get the best of me.

"But Applejack likes ya," Applebloom told me.

"Yeah, as a farmhand, but I can kiss this job good bye if I tell you what Pinkie Pie did to me," I said under my breath. Before Applebloom replied to me, Sweetie Belle butted in.

"Rarity did come home that night after spending the evening at the lake really flustered and red-faced," Sweetie Belle pondered.

"And Rainbow Dash wouldn't talk right the next day," Scootaloo added.

"Let's just drop it and start thinking about the camping trip tomorrow alright?" I suggested, "and maybe you all could get a head start on your new crusader ideas?" I tried to get them to leave me alone for the day now. I liked talking to the three, but I did not want to keep reliving being pantsed by Pinkie. The three gasped and galloped away, kicking up dust in my face. 'Better than them pestering me,' I thought and resumed repairing the fence. I reached into my pants pocket and pulled my phone which I recently remembered having before leaving for my mission near Key Largo.

"It's really hot today," I said as I poured a bottle of water over my back and plugged my headphones into my phone. It only took a matter of minutes before my shirt was completely dry from the water and sweat began to from on the chest and armpit areas. "Ah, nothing beats working and listenin' to Rock 'N Roll," I sighed happily and turned the volume up on Armageddon It. I worked until I looked up and saw a maroon mare with a light pink mane trotting happily to the front gate where I was working on the final post to fix.

"Oh hello there," the mare said rather happily.

"Hi, who are you miss?" I questioned and took off my hat as a sign of respect for females.

"I'm Ms. Cheerilee, I'm Applebloom's teacher and Big Mac's mare friend," she smiled.

"Ah yeah, Bloomin' Onion talks about you all the time," I grinned, "she loves ya to death, constantly talking about you being the greatest teacher of all time," I went on and on.

"Applebloom is a sweetheart, but I'm here to talk to Big Mac, is he around?" Cheerilee asked me, shuffling her front hooves together. Either she was nervous about talking to me, (who could blame her) or she was really excited to talk to Big Macintosh.

"Uh, here, I have one last nail to put in this post and I'll take you to the west side of the orchard, I think that's where he and Applejack are working," I explained.

"That would would be sweet of you," Cheerilee said and sat down next to the gate. "By the way, what is your name?" She asked me nicely. You'd think I would get sick of that question by now, but not really. Only like a dozen or so ponies know my name, the rest of the populous was either afraid of me or was disgusted by me.

"Name is Cougar, and that's all anypony here knows," I replied and struck the final blow into the fence post, "Haha, finally fixed!" I declared happily and looked at the twenty posts I had to repair today instead of helping out Applejack with apple bucking, though she requested politely that I fix the fence to get out of my normal routine, which I was happy to.

"Cougar? But Cougars are felines, and you look more like a primate," the school teacher studied me for a second. I chuckled and gathered up my tape measure, hammer and box of nails from the ground.

"It's not my real name Ms. Cheerilee," I replied, "It's my call sign from the Air Force branch of my country's military," I explained.

"Oh, and what's a call sign, like a nickname?" She asked me as we walked and trotted through the apple orchard, looking for my bosses. To be honest, the shade from the apple trees felt like heaven.

"Yeah, it's a nickname a squadron leader decides for several of his pilots for either a mistake they made, a play on their last name or just a play on their personality," I elucidated. Cheeriliee's curiosity piqued and she pulled ahead of me.

"That's interesting, what did you- oh hi Big Mac!" Cheerliee waved to Big Macintosh as we discovered he and Applejack bucking at Apple Trees. They both had baskets on their sides that were filled with apples.

"Howdy Cougar, Ms. Cheerilee," Applejack wiped the sweat from her forehead after taking off her cowgirl hat.

"Hello mah beautiful Mare Friend," Big Mac rubbed his nose against Ms. Cheerilee's. "How ya holdin' up over thu summer?" He asked her.

"Oh, it does get a little boring, but I did get a job helping out Bon Bon at her candy shop part time," the maroon mare replied.

"Go on 'n take off early big brother, Ah'm just 'bout done here," Applejack waved Big Mac away. The two turned tail and trotted away towards the farm. "'N don't forget to drop them apples off in thu cellar!" AJ called after her brother.

"Eeyup!" Big Mac's voice echoed from behind the trees. My left eyebrow was cocked upwards and my eyes were darting between Applejack and where Big Mac's voice came from. The orange mare put her cowgirl hat back on and turned to me.

"So, didja git that fence fixed up Cougar?" she asked me and bucked another tree, causing numerous apples to plop down into new baskets. Her old baskets were sitting inside a cart full of other baskets.

"Yeah, didn't take too long," I replied and leaned against another tree, "those fillies sure like to talk," I added and plucked an apple from a branch and bit into it, savoring the delicious juices that cascaded over my tongue and down my chin. Applejack chuckled and loaded the now full baskets into the last empty spot on the cart.

"Yep, always goin on about getting their cutie marks. What crazy idea did they come up with this time?" She asked me. Crunch. Another bite taken from the juicy, succulent red apple.

"Well, they claimed to be running out of ideas, so I gave them a little push," I swallowed the bite.

"Oh really, like whut?" My boss inquired. "By the way, could ya help me hook up to this cart? One 'o thu straps keeps slippin'," AJ informed. I threw the apple core away (Applejack told me that it was fine to leave apple cores near the trees so we could feed them to their pigs) and helped her strap into the cart. "Thanks," she said and smiled at me. I smiled back and we both set off for the apple cellar.

"Okay, so I convinced Scootaloo to try and ask Rainbow Dash about becoming an announcer for Wonderbolt Derbies," I explained.

"Wow, that's a good one Cougar," Applejack complimented.

"Yeah, and then I told Sweetie Belle that she should definitely pursue a career in singing because I've heard her voice coming from their clubhouse while I've been working, and just wow," I continued.

"And lemme guess," Applejack cut in, "she refused all the way?" she asked.

"Oh yeah, but I at least got her to promise to ask Rarity for advice since Rarity is in that quintet with Big Mac and Fluttershy," I mentioned.

"Dang Cougar, yer excellent at givin' advice! Were ya ever a counselor before?"

"No, that's just something I'm good at besides flying a jet at 1000 miles per hour," I joked.

"'N shut about Applebloom?" Applejack looked over at me.

"Bloomin' Onion? Well, I remember her telling me that she is interested in mixing potions and other chemistry stuff so I told her if she pursued that, she could become a doctor or a pharmacist creating healing medicines," I replied.

"DAMMIT!" Applejack shouted, forcing me to jump a little and bonk my head into a tree branch.

"What? Is it because her career wouldn't involve apples?" I asked her and rubbed the top of my head. My hat had fallen off to the ground and I picked it up and put back on my head.

"No, sorry fer mah outburst Cougar," AJ apologized, "the axle on this cart broke, that's the fourth time this week!" Applejack angrily stamped the ground.

"Why didn't you tell me? I said I can fix things," I asked her.

"Oh you were doin' such a good job at all yer other chores that Ah didn't wanna bother ya," Applejack explained and unhooked herself to survey the cart's rear axle. I nodded, but didn't understand. She wouldn't have bothered me if she asked me to help fix the axle, fixing things is one of my hobbies. "Well damn, this axle is done for good. Couldja run back to the barn 'N git a spare? There should be a few next to the miter saw," she told me, "oh 'N the washers 'N cotter pins are sittin' on the shelf above the saw!"

"Yeah sure, be right back," I hustled to the barn. Leaving the cooling shade of the apple trees was a little bit of a let down, but I couldn't disappoint Applejack, so I pushed all the thoughts of it being hot to the back of my mind to I could accomplish my final chore for the day. My headphones were bouncing up and down on my neck while the wire swayed back and forth. Barrels of sweat were pouring down my body, but I embraced the sweat that was the reward for hard work. I rounded the bend that would lead me to the barn and stopped at the large door to take a breather when a peculiar sound caught my attention.

'Grunting? What in the hell?' I thought to myself. I caught my breath and ever so slowly, opened the door. The grunting seemed to be coming from the stall near the miter saw and spare axle parts. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what that grunting sound was. It sounded like a pig with a stomach ache, or a pig that was constipated. I crept closer, stepping around a bay of hale to get to where the miter saw was. If the sound was a sick pig, I'd tell Applejack right away, but something in my gut told me that it wasn't a sick pig.

"Oh Cheerilee," came a gruff voice that was extremely deep. My eyes widened at the sound of the voice. Having an idea of what was going on, I still tip-toed around the bay of hale and saw the miter saw and axle parts. Quietly, my hand reached out and grabbed one of the spare axle rods, two washers and two cotter pins.

"Bi-i-i-ig M-a-a-a-ac," came a feminine voice that sounded like it was on the verge of being able to shatter glass. I turned to hustle out, but knocked an unlit lantern off the shelf and it shattered against the ground loudly.

"COUGAR?!" Big Mac and Cheerilee exclaimed as the shattering made me jump and fall onto the stall wall, revealing all to me.

"GAH! OH GOD!" I screamed and turned to run out as fast as I could, trying to hold onto the tools I needed. Unfortunately, my foot caught the edge of the hay bale and I tripped, causing everything in my hands to go flying with a louder clatter. I fell to the ground with a hard thud. I also heard a loud crunch which I couldn't identify, nor care about.

"You peepin'!?" Big Mac shouted at me. Oh God, was he coming after me? Was he gonna trample me? I gathered up the tools and ran out of there as fast as my legs could carry me. I knew I would be scarred for life, the image of what I saw and the noises I heard weren't going to leave me any time soon. The run back to where Applejack was waiting for me was nothing but a blur.

"I'm never gonna be the same again," I exclaimed to myself and kept running and running and running. I stopped when Applejack waved me down.

"Oh good, ya found the parts- woah, whut in the hay happened to ya?" Applejack asked me and cocked her head.

"What do ya mean?" I asked, trying to cover up what I had seen.

"Well, yer paler than a baby cow! 'N yer eyes are shakin', whut happened?" She asked again. I gulped and wiped the sweat from my head with my hat.

"N-nothing Applejack, I just haven't had any water to drink lately," I lied. Applejack narrowed her emerald eyes at me and got into my face.

"Now Cougar, Ah can tell when sumpony ain't tellin' thu truth, 'n yer lying 'bout as much as a 2x4," Applejack glared at me.

"Look, if I tell you, I'm dead, if I don't tell you, I'm dead, I can't win this," I retorted. "Besides, what I saw will haunt me, probably until I've only got a couple marbles rolling around up inside my head," I said in a hollow manner and stared off into space. Applejack's expression softened, but she was still glaring at me.

"Cougar, Ah'm the element 'o Honesty, 'n yer my fri- uh acquaintance so please jest tell me thu truth," she asked. I collapsed near the trunk of one of the trees and my hands fell to my lap. At the time, I didn't notice her slip up by calling me a friend.

"Well, I went into the barn," I started, "and I heard strange noises coming from where the miter saw was, so I went to get the tools and when I rounded the corner I saw-" I paused, unable to continue.

"Then what? You can tell me Cougar," Applejack placed a hoof on my shoulder. I shuddered before resuming.

"Bi-Big M-Mac and Che-Cherilee were uh making baby foals," I said and covered my face. Silence. Nothing penetrated the airwaves, not even a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees. I uncovered my eyes to see Applejack have the creepiest smile on her face. Her right eye twitched and her pupils were as small as peas. "AJ, are you alright?" I asked, scared to death.

"Yeah, Ah'm fine, why don't ya go into town 'N git yerself sum new headphones," she suggested. I looked down to see my headphones were broken in half and hanging from the internal wires, probably from when I fell down. "While Ah go have a little chat with mah dear big brother, we'll fix thu wagon in the mornin'," her eye twitched again. She stood up to let me get off the ground.

"Where do I go for new headphones?" I asked her.

"Oh, jest go ta town 'N stop by Vinyl Scratch's shop, it'll have a picture of a musical note hoverin' over a turntable," Applejack replied before slowly walking back to the barn. I shook my head several times and then jogged to the dirt road and slowed my pace down to a calm walk. I used the walk to my advantage to clear my head and forget the scene that I unfortunately stumbled upon. I know that I might sound like I'm overreacting, but witnessing anthropomorphic ponies doing something like that, it was uncomfortable seeing dogs perform that, ugh.

I kicked a little pebble out of my way, concentrating on only the ground. I passed the time this way a lot in my life. Just staring at the ground and walking. It was nice when I was rewarded with $20 bills, a wrapped candy bar or a full bottle of Pepsi Max, that's a good reason why I just stare at the ground when I walk outside. But the odds of finding any of those on the ground here in Pony World weren't in my favor. Horseshoe prints, that's pretty much what I was rewarded with.

To my left, I could hear the sounds of colts and fillies laughing and playing, enjoying their lives. I even saw one colt wearing a propeller hat and playing what looked like a Gameboy color. And how do they push buttons with no fingers? I chuckled at that thought. A good majority of these ponies pretty much had the freakin' force and could use magic, and here I am wondering how they push buttons, whatever. The clock tower rang six times, indicating it was six 'o clock in the evening and the sun was gradually falling closer and closer to the horizon.

My head looked up to my front and I could see various ponies getting ready to close down their business for the day. Yet, I didn't have a clue whether or not it was because it was really time to close, or because I had shown up. I was leaning towards the latter when three mares who appeared to be running a flower shop dashed into their store and put the closed sign in the window. "Didn't care for flowers anyway," I said sarcastically and smirked. Several whispering conversations were taking place at the same time as I strolled through town. Looking around, I saw a sign that had several pieces of candy falling from a bag into a bowl hanging above a building entrance. An aquamarine unicorn and a lightly tanned earth pony with a dark blue and pink mane were chatting up rather closely together.

"Hello young Cougar, what brings you to Ponyville?" a regal voice asked me. I stopped in my tracks and looked back ahead of me to see none other than the midnight blue coat of Princess Luna.

"Oh hey Princess," I waved and bowed a little to Luna.

"Rise Cougar, with your military status, it is I who should be bowing to you," she replied and made me stand up.

"You do that and we're gonna have some problems," I joked with her, "it's my honor to be a soldier," I added. She smiled and turned to walk forward with me. I could see several dozen ponies' mouths drop at their Princess of the Night and Dreams casually strolling through PonyVille with me. "I could ask you the same thing though Luna," I referred back to her original question.

"I felt rather bored, so I decided to come down to PonyVille to see how you are fairing," Luna explained.

"Ah, well I'm here because I need a new pair of headphones," I held up the demolished pair in my hands.

"Oh my, what happened to your music listener?" Luna asked me. I seethed a little and put the headphones back around my neck. Though, Luna couldn't tell that I didn't want to talk about what had happened.

"I tripped and fell on them," I lied, grateful that it wasn't Applejack I was talking to. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, feeling more casual than ever here now that Luna was walking along side me.

"I am sorry that happened Cougar, it's most unfortunate for one to lose their beloved music," the midnight alicorn apologized to me.

"Eh, it happens," I replied, "now I'm looking for Vinyl Scratch's music shop, do you know where it is?" Luna rubbed her chin with her hoof and looked around several times before spotting a white unicorn off near the bakery. She appeared to be cleaning the display window of her store.

"There is the pony you are seeking," Luna pointed her out to me. I looked to where the Princess was pointing and saw a white unicorn with an electric blue mane, purple sunglasses and a musical note on her flank. "Let us go shall we?" Luna offered.

"Oh you don't have to go with me if you don't want to Luna," I politely told her.

"Nonsense!" She exclaimed, "it'd be my pleasure, plus we would technically be 'hanging out' as some of these younger ponies say," Luna quoted with her hooves. Not seeing a valid reason to argue, we both set off for Vinyl Scratch's music studio. "So, what are your weekend plans?" The princess asked me while we trotted and jogged to our destination.

"Well, Applejack offered to take me camping with her, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and all their little sisters," I retorted.

"Oh, Scootaloo is not Rainbow Dash's sister, though they both act like it very much," Luna explained to me. I snapped my head to look at Luna while we walked. She had to be joking, I mean, Scootaloo practically worshiped Rainbow and Rainbow really seemed to take the orange pegasus filly under her wing, no pun intended. "A sad story young Scootaloo's is, but my sister and I have faith that Rainbow shall eventually adopt Scootaloo as her daughter or sister shortly," Luna said.

"Especially with how Rainbow and Soarin' are," I added. Luna chuckled a bit, though I was actually being serious.

"Anyways, a camping trip does sound a lot like a good time, I hope you and your friends have fun," Luna said. There was that word again, friends. How could I have made friends in only three weeks more or less? I had to push that thought to the back of my mind as we approached Vinyl Scratch's store and I braced for the usual response using the word monster, freak, weirdo or hideous.

"Oh hey Princess, and you're that new creature the three princesses brought here right?" Vinyl greeted us.

"Hello," Luna greeted.

"Uh, yeah I am actually," I replied in shock. Vinyl stuck out her hoof and shook my hand.

"Well, it's great to meet you, my name is Vinyl Scratch, but my stage name is DJ-Pon3," she explained.

"You're not scared of me?" I asked.

"No, just because you're different?" Vinyl laughed, "forget about it! I'm different, we're all different," Vinyl said. "So, what can I do for you two? Need to book me for a show? Need a new record or record player, or do you need a new pair of headphones?" Vinyl looked from behind her sunglasses at my broken pair of headphones.

"I'll take that last one, I can't live or work without my rock 'n roll," I tossed Vinyl my pair of headphones.

"That's the smartest thing I've heard in my entire life, what's your name?" Vinyl questioned.

"Cougar, and I leave it at that," I replied, "so do ya have some new headphones to sell me?" I asked her.

"Yeah, come on in Cougar and Princess," the music loving mare led us inside her workshop.

"Damn, you sure love turntables and keyboards huh? Any guitars?" I took off my aviators.

"In the back Cougar," Vinyl replied and grabbed a pair of DJ styled headphones off a rack, "here, will these do you good?" She asked me. I plugged them in my phone and turned it on. I couldn't believe it, I felt like I was right there listening to a Van Halen concert! The most crystal clear headphones I've ever listened to. If these existed in my world, Bose would piss themselves!

"Now those are the best headphones I've ever listened to," I said to her, "it's like I'm at a concert!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, I make my own headphones, music's my life," she gestured to her shop.

"And you perform your career so well from what I've heard," Princess Luna commented while spinning a recored on a turntable, fascinated by the contraption.

"So, that'll be 12 bits please, they aren't exactly cheap to make," Vinyl apologized for the price. I took out my wallet and then realized a large error on my part.

"I'm sure my money isn't worth piss in a boot here huh?" I questioned and tossed a $10 bill and a $5 bill on the counter. Both Vinyl and Luna chuckled at my response but were intrigued by my version of money.

"Who are these people of your species?" Luna asked me.

"The guy with the beard is Abraham Lincoln, he was a president of my country about 130 years before I was born, and the other guy was our first secretary of treasury," I explained.

"President?" Vinyl turned Abe Lincoln upside down and cocked her head from side to side.

"Our leader is called a President," I explained further.

"Wow, your world is so cool!" Vinyl declared, "but anyways yeah I can't accept this money, sorry bro," she began to hand it back to me.

"Keep it, you can stick it on your wall, I won't need it." Vinyl smiled and taped ole Abe onto the wall. I'm guessing she wanted something cool from my world. Luna produced about twelve gold coins and laid them on the counter.

"Here are the bits you require Ms. Scratch," Luna said in her regal voice. Before Vinyl could take the coins, I snatched them and placed them in Luna's hoof.

"Don't even think about it Luna, don't waste your bits on me," I told her.

"But I am your friend, and I believe friends buy other friends gifts from time to time?" The princess asked me.

"Yeah, but-" I started but Luna silenced me.

"No buts, I shall buy you the headphones," she playfully narrowed her eyes at me.

"Hold on, I have an idea," Vinyl grabbed a guitar from another room and tossed it to me. "I'll cut you a deal, if you can impress me with a guitar riff with music from your world, then I'll let you have the headphones," Vinyl offered. I pondered the offer for a minute before replying.

"I haven't played the guitar since I was 15, but let's see how much I remember," I winked at her. I thought of a guitar riff before remembering one of my all time favorite guitar solos from Van Halen. And with that, I hooked the guitar up to an amp and began to murder the strings with Eruption. My fingers danced and slid across the strings with ease at what seemed to be an impossible speed which only Eddie Van Halen himself could accomplish. At first Luna was dead impressed, but Vinyl looked stoical, but that was apart of my plan.

As I neared the bridge, the music got faster and faster and faster until I came to a stop.

"Is that all 'cause if not-" Vinyl started before my fingers EXPLODED. I started tapping the neck of the guitar with one hand and letting my other hand strum the guitar so fast that I could smell the friction coming off the strings. My hands gained minds of their own as the song just kept getting faster, but it didn't stop me. I kept going and going, making Eddie proud until I reached the end and let my fingers rest. Sure they would be a little sore tomorrow, but the look on the mare's faces before me was worth it. Vinyl's glasses fell off her face and hit the counter with her jaw dropped all the way to the floor. Luna on the other hand looked as if she had witnessed the birth of the universe.

"So, how was that?" I asked and breathed really hard to get oxygen back into my lungs. I handed Vinyl the guitar back which was sort of smoking.

"Dayum son!" Vinyl finally said and slapped my hand, "that was the sickest guitar work I've ever seen! We've got to play some shows together!" She pretty much freaked.

"I've got plenty more songs where that came from," I said and took the headphones, "I'll see ya around. I normally get off work at six if you want to jam after that," I said to her.

"I'll keep that in mind bro!" Vinyl touched the strings of the guitar and yelped from the burning sensation of the friction as Luna and I departed the store.

"Hey Luna, what time do you have to raise the moon?" I asked the mare.

"Oh, not until ten o'clock in the summer time," she replied and looked up at the PonyVille clock tower which read 7:00.

"I'd like to see you raise the moon tonight Luna, I think it'd be cool to see you do it in person," I remarked. Luna smiled and wrapped her wing around me in a hug.

"I shall see you at 9:45 then, I do have some duties in Canterlot to attend, mainly seeing if Celestia hasn't eaten the kitchen out of cake, again," Luna said.

"See ya then," I patted her wing and we both went our separate ways. I grinned as I plugged in my headphones and relaxed as I walked back to Sweet Apple Acres.

(At the Farm)

"Heya Cougar!" Applebloom greeted as I entered the house.

"Hey Bloomin' Onion, where's Applejack at?" I asked her.

"She's in the kitchen with Granny Smith cookin' up supper," Applebloom replied. I followed her as she happily trotted into said kitchen where the heavenly aromas of baked potatoes, apple pie, gravy, baked beans, cornbread and tomato soup attacked my nostrils.

"Well, if it ain't the resident workin' machine!" Granny Smith pinched my arm and patted it at the same time.

"Welcome back Cougar," Applejack wiped her hooves, "supper's jest 'bout done," she told me and noticed my headphones. "Ah see ya got yerself sum new headphones, how'd you get them?" She asked me, remembering I didn't have their kind of money.

"Well, Vinyl lost a bet to me involving a guitar," I explained and set my hat on a hat rack. I tucked my sunglasses into the collar of my Thunderbirds shirt and sat down at the table. Big Mac suddenly walked in and I had to suppress a laugh.

"Wow Big Macintosh, where'd you get that shiner?" I asked him. He ignored me and hid his face behind a newspaper dated two weeks ago. Applejack gave me a knowing look which was all I needed. "Anyways, I ran into Princess Luna in town and she went with me to Vinyl's shop," I drummed up a conversation.

"Really, whut was she doin' in PonyVille?" Applebloom asked me.

"She said she was bored and went to see how our town was doing and she saw me so she decided to hang out," I explained.

"So, Ah'm guessin' you two are friends?" Applejack asked me.

"I guess, she said she would show me how she raises the moon tonight," I smiled. Suddenly, Applejack sort of slammed down the tin of cornbread onto the table.

"Supper Time," she said through gritted teeth. Woah, where did that come from? I had to ask her what was up after supper. I kept my mouth shut throughout dinner in case I accidentally pissed off AJ more. Once supper was concluded, Granny sat in her rocker chair while Big Mac and Applebloom went to their bedrooms. I stayed behind and helped Applejack clear the table.

"Hey, are you okay Applejack?" I asked her while washing some of the dishes.

"Ah'm jest peachy," she remarked while sharpening a knife. 'Oh crap. Don't talk to a pissed off female who is holding a knife you idiot!' I scolded myself. "It's jest, Ah try to be a good friend from when you woke up in the infirmary, but you refused and told all mah friends you wanted us to earn your friendship, yet you go and get all buddy-buddy with Princess Luna all of a sudden! Ah was fine with you bein' friends already with the crusaders since they're just kids and you understood that, but Ah can't believe you have the audacity to make us earn your friendship but you let Luna in!" She ranted. 'Is she jealous?' I thought

"I thought you and I were?" I asked Applejack whom put the knife down which made me feel much better.

"Whut are you talkin' about?" She remarked.

"Well, we talk just about everyday and you invited me to go camping tomorrow, I thought only friends did that," I asked. "And you helped me fix up the old shed so I could have a place to stay," I added. Applejack sighed and leaned against the counter.

"Boy I feel like an idiot," she said, "Granny Smith always taught me not to jump to conclusions, 'n here I go accusin' you 'o having double standards," Applejack scolded herself.

"You're far from an idiot AJ," I said, "I should've told you when you earned my friendship, I'm sorry for being selfish and keeping things to myself," I apologized. My friend turned to me with a smile.

"Guess we both done messed up sum huh?" She guessed.

"I'd say so," I checked the time. "Luna should be here any minute, wanna come with me to see her raise the moon?" I offered.

"Only if Ah can bring this," Applejack opened the fridge and produced a six pack of a beverage labeled "Marewaukee Brew."

"Is this, alcohol?" I asked.

"Best around, save for mah cider o' course," she winked.

"Alright then," I grabbed a can and cracked it open. "Wow, that's smooth," I commented after taking a sip. Suddenly, Princess Luna appeared in the kitchen with us.

"Ah, enjoying a more adult beverage I see," Luna remarked.

"Yeah, just ready to watch the moon be raised," I replied and held the can up. Luna transported all of us into the middle of the fields of Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack cracked open her own can and sipped it while Luna's horn glowed and the moon peaked over the horizon and the stars against the inky blue backdrop followed suit. The sun was gone, and a bright shining moon with twinkling stars lit up the night sky.

"Breathtakin'," Applejack said as she sipped her beer.

"That, was pretty sweet," I said.

"Thank you both," Luna bowed a thank you to the both of us.

"Wouldja like a can Princess?" Applejack offered.

"AJ, she's royalty, I'm sure she wouldn't drink a beer when she probably has fancy wine back at the cast-" I started.

"BUUUUUUUURRRRRRP," A loud belch stopped me from talking. Applejack and I turned to see Luna exhaling after producing the loud burp and crushing the empty can against her forehead with her magic.

"Princess?" Applejack dropped her can on the ground.

"Holy Crap!" I commented, "I didn't know you liked beer so much," I was awestruck. The midnight blue alicorn simply laughed at our response to her belch and can crushing.

"So many ponies think they know everything about me," Luna bragged, "but truth be known, I am a mare who loves to party, or just relax with a few drinks," she grabbed a second can and downed it. "But I do show restraint and know my limits," she finished the second can, not going for a third. "All the politeness, regal talk and sophistication is all an act, for me anyway," she added.

"Well then, we need ta have a special party sometime in the future," Applejack remarked, "Ah do occasionally like a good party."

"If there's chips, dip and rock 'n roll, I'm there," I smirked.

"Or perhaps just spending time like this with friends," Luna referred to what the trio were doing at the moment.

"That does sound like fun too princess," AJ responded with a tip of her hat.

"Yeah, count me in for that," I threw in.

"Very well, I must go patrol the dreams of my little ponies tonight, farewell Cougar and Applejack and have fun on your camping trip!" Luna dematerialized into thin air, presumably into the dream world.

"I guess I'll see you in the morning," I said, "thanks for the beer," I waved my can at Applejack.

"Hold on there partner," Applejack tugged at my arm, "why don't we watch the stars tonight?" She offered.

"You star gaze?"

"Well, sometimes, but since all we're doin' tomorrow is sellin' apples, we don't have to be up too early," she explained.

"Alright then," I said and sat down on the ground next to Applejack. I couldn't get comfortable sitting, so I decided to lie down on my back. "Your grass is so comfy," I remarked.

"Granny uses special fertilizer that makes it nice 'n strong, but soft as a cloud," Applejack sipped the rest of her can and lied down about a foot away from me. Unfortunately, that's the last thing I remember before falling asleep

End Chapter VII

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Next chapter, The Camping trip! Who knew Princess Luna loved to Party deep down? And now Cougar has Vinyl Scratch as a friend, where could that lead Cougar?

And the guitar solo Cougar performed was Eruption by Eddie Van Halen which I do NOT own.