Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x Rarity x Twilight x Fluttershy x Applejack x Pinkie Pie x Rainbow Dash x Ditzy x Luna x ? x ?

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For Normal Speech

Inner thoughts, Text read, Italics used to represent characters speaking in different language.

Demonic rage, Demonic characters, Kurama Speak

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Story Start

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The sun had not yet risen over Ponyville. Sitting in the kitchen were Scootaloo, Naruto, and Gryff. While the ponies were enjoying grain cereal Gryff was enjoying sausage.

What was a peaceful breakfast was soon interrupted by the sound of knocking.

"I'll get it." Scootaloo raced to the front door. A good two minutes later Scootaloo came rushing. "Come on! We have to hurry!" Scootaloo exclaimed as she grabbed Naruto's arm and started dragging.

"Whoa hold on sprout. What's the excitement?"

"Cider season. Cider season has officially begun."

"Cider?" Gryff asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"The Apples make incredible Cider once a year. Its one of the most popular items in town and everypony goes crazy for it. Let's hurry up and get there before its gone." He said placing his dish in the sink.

They were not the only ones getting ready and primed for cider.

---

Fluttershy was sleeping peacefully in her cottage. Suddenly however, the peace was disrupted. Fluttershy yawned as she woke up "Goodness? Who could it possibly be this early in the morning?" she asked out loud.

This question was soon answered when a cyan blur came crashing through Fluttershy's open window. In a matter of momets said figure appeared next to Fluttershy's bed. It was none other than Rainbow Dash. "Come on Fluttershy! We gotta get going! Cider season's about to start!"

Before Fluttershy had a chance to react Rainbow Dash yanked the covers off of her bed and simply whisked Fluttershy out of the house.

"Where are we? What's the rush? Couldn't it wait until sun rise?" Fluttershy asked.

"There's no time!" Rainbow Dash said "Cider season's about to start and I for one want to be first in for once!"

"But why?" Fluttershy asked.

"Because Pinkie Pie always somehow manages to get there first, and by the time I can get in line on the first day of Cider season they always seem to run out." Rainbow Dash explained as they made it only to see a tent had been set up.

"Good morning Fluttershy, and you too Rainbow Dash." Pinkie Pie said, emerging from her tent. Her mane was surprisingly a bit tangled, but she didn't seem to mind.

"Oh Pinkie, I love your new style." Fluttershy complimented.

"Thanks Fluttershy." Pinkie Pie said.

"Who are all these ponies?" Rainbow demanded taking note of all of Pinkie's guests.

" Isn't this great? I couldn't sleep last night 'cause I was so excited about cider season, and I had this brilliant idea to come down here and camp out, so I told a few others about it, and they all thought it was a great idea too, and now it's just a big old cider party! Woo-hoo! Oh, gosh, that's a lot of ponies. Hope they don't run out before you get any."

Rainbow let out a growl at the annoying reminder.

"Hey girls, we didn't miss anything did we?" he asked as he caught a dive bombing Pinkie with one arm.

"You're just in time Narry."She turned to reveal a rather long line of ponies that trailed far behind where her tent was in line. "Or maybe you are."

There at the official announcement stand Applejack began to make an announcement with a megaphone. "Attention, everypony! Cider season is now officially open!"

The line of customers all started chattering in excitement.

Then she turned to Apple Bloom as Pinkie Pie appeared with a sack of bits which she proceeded to dump into a chest. "Alright Bloom ya know what to do." Applejack said.

Apple Bloom pulled down on a lever, fresh cider came out of a pipe and filled a mug. Pinkie Pie took it and quickly chugged it down. She was amazed by the taste, and a few seconds later she walked away carrying a bunch of mugs. Rainbow Dash glared at her.

Apple Bloom pressed down on the lever again and again as pony after pony came up, and deposited their bits into the chest. Eventually, when she pressed on it no cider came out. Big Macintosh swapped out the empty cider barrel connected to the hose for a full one. The process went on to repeat itself several times as more ponies came up.

By the time Rainbow Dash approached all the barrels had been removed from the stack. She knew the cider in the barrel wouldn't last forever, but she was hoping that it would last until she got a taste of the cider. That hope was crushed however when she deposited her bits, only to see a single drop of cider make it into her mug.

"Sorry everypony but we're all out." Apple Bloom said.

Her announcement was responded with groans and sighs of disappointment, but Rainbow wasn't gonna leave it at that.

"Surprise-surprise, you ran out again!"

"Yeah, you always run out," Caramel seconded.

"Why can't you make enough cider for all of us?!" Rainbow demanded Rainbow, "Or at least for me!"

The Apple Siblings shared troubled looks as the ponies all started grumbling and complaining,

"Just once I would like to get a fresh batch of Cider? Is that too much to ask?"

The disappointment in Rainbow Dash's voice gave Pinkie a pause as she was about to down another mug. In another time or another place she would have been oblivious to her friend's pain. She would have been a thoughtless glutton, but something was different. She could feel Dash's sadness and she was the cause of it. 'Oh Rainbow Dash. Why didn't you ever ask?'

Rainbow was startled by the sudden emotional pull. She turned and there stood Pinkie presenting her a mug.

Rainbow Dash gestured to the mug.

Pinkie smiled.

Dash in turn took the mug and smiled in return. "Thank you." And that Cider. That sweet and cool cider was one of the best things she had ever tasted in her life.

"I still don't understand why you're always running out." a stallion said.

"This cider is home it takes time to be made so it can be the best it can be." Applejack said.

"You always say that!" Caramel said.

"Well if you think you can do a better job by all means do so." Applejack said "In fact if any of you have a problem with our cider, and think you can out do us, go right ahead."

As if to say "Challenge accepted" a mysterious machine appeared in the distance.

The strange contraption slowed as it loomed over the cider stand but it bumped into the fence, much to Granny Smith's ire, as a showboaty tune started up, and two lanky unicorn stallions hopped down from the odd machine. They were both yellow with wavy red and white hair, both with green eyes, wearing dapper vests over black shirts and deep blue, blue jeans and boater hats. They were clearly twin brothers, with only the differences to tell them apart being one had no facial hair while the other had a mustache, the former had an apple slice cutie-mark while the latter's cutie-mark looked like the apple his brother's slice had come from.

"Well well. Looky what we've got here brother." the stallion with the mustache said.

"Ah yes, it's the same in every town." the other stallion said.

"Ponies with thirsty throats and dry tounges. And wouldn't you know it, not a single drop of cider in sight." the stallion with the mustache said.

"Well we can fix that, can't we brother?" the other stallion said.

"Of course." the stallion with the mustache said "But first we must introduce ourselves to them. I'm Flam."

"And I'm Flim." the other stallion said.

"We're the world famous Flim Flam Brothers. Traveling sales ponies."

"…nonparallel."

"I suppose by now you're wondering 'bout our peculiar mode of transport…"

"…I say, our mode of locomotion"

"…And I suppose by now you're wondering, where is this promised cider?"

"…Any horse can make a claim and any pony can do the same"

"…But my brother and I have something most unique and superb. Unseen at any time in this big new world…."

"…And that's opportunity…"

"…Folks, it's the one and only, the biggest and the best…"

"…Flim Flam Brothers' Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000…"

"Young filly," Flim addressed Applejack, sounding slicker than the oil he'd clearly put in his greasy mane, "I would be ever so honored if you might see fit to let my brother and I borrow some of your delicious, and might I add spellbindingly fragrant apples for our little demonstration here?"

"Uh, sure, I guess," Applejack gave her family a troubled look, seeing hers mirrored in their faces.

"Watch closely, my friends!" Flim invited.

Then Flam began to speak."Now, here's where the magic happens. Right here in this heaving, roiling, cider-press-boiling guts of the very machine, those apples plucked fresh are right now as we speak being turned into grade-A, top-notch, five-star, blow-your-horseshoes-off, one-of-a-kind cider!"

The two unicorns lit up their horns, casting their green aura at The Super Speedy Cider Sueezy 6000. The machine roared to life. It moved it's giant funnel over to the one of the apple trees and sucked all the apples up.

"As we speak these apples are being turned into freshly squeezed, top notch cider."

The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 promptly shot out a barrel. "And that's how it works." Flam said. He and Flim then used their magic to shut off the machine as the Apple family approached.

Gryff let out an impressed whistle. "Fancy little machine they got there."

"Still, I feel as if things aren't that simple. They're traveling salesman. They always tend to have some sort of angle."

"Well if they are trying to market their machine they will need a fresh supply of apples. That means working out a deal with the apples."

Twilight who had been watching the whole ordeal, enchanted by experiencing another of Ponyville's traditions for the first time voiced her thoughts.

"Right," Naruto nodded. "It doesn't matter how fast their machine is if they lack the apples to even make the product in the first place."

As the two guessed the brothers were trying to work out a deal with the apples.

"We'll take care of the machine, and with our help you can produce a lot more cider then you could before." Flam suggested. "And we'll split the profits 75/25."

"Who gets the 75 perecent?" Applejack asked.

"Why, us of course." Flim said.

"But if we get the remaining 25 percent we won't be able to stay afloat during the winter months, and we'll have to shut down." They had put so much money into helping the town, Granny Smith's surgery not to mention replacing all the broken tools and covering the damages from the Nightmare Enthusiasts attacks. A few of their kin had their livelihood damaged and like any good family they looked after their own meaning they had to be a bit tight on managing their finances.

"Sorry, but this machine is expensive to maintain." Flam said "So we need a lot of money in order to keep it in working order. Without it you'll be on your own."

"Surely we can split the profits to a more beneficial split for both parties?" Big Mcintosh suggested.

"Well then the deal's off." Granny Smith said, "So take your machine and leave our property!"

"Very well then." Flam said "Since you refused our offer then we'll just have to be competitors." And with that he and Flim hopped on to The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 and promptly disappeared.

"Well, what are ya'll standing around here for?" Applejack said to the crowd "There's no more cider." Nearly everypony left after that. Scootaloo asked if she could hang out with Applebloom. Given permission the two fillies took off.

With that the Granny went back into the house to cool down. "Well that was something." Naruto commented as he and Gryff approached Applejack.

"Nerve of those greedy conmen. Look like a bunch of city slickers who wouldn't know a day's of hard work." Applejack grumbled.

"Hey," Naruto wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Forget about them. Not like they're going to last long without a supply." Despite the assurance it seemed Applejack was still fairly troubled.

"Hey, this is your home town right Applejack? Surely the locals can't be that fickle?" Compared to a lot of the other races, especially Griffins, ponies were known for their willingness to support each other and work together.

"Let's hope so." Naruto replied as he realized Applejack was still worried. He could feel it through their bond. "Hey, why don't we help you prepare for settings things up for tomorrow?" he prompted as Applejack looked up to him.

"Ah'd appreciate it." She said as something of a smile formed on her face.

The next day those who had not gotten cider the day before were first in line. Everyone seemed satisfied, but Applejack was still nervous.

"Twilight asked. "Still worried about Flim & Flam?"

"I wish I could say I wasn't worried, but I am." Applejack said "The money from cider season is often all we have to keep us from going under in the winter months. Without it, well I don't even want to think about what would happen."

"AJ you could ask one of us? A small portion of the treasure being assessed has been cleared. I'm sure if the herd puts our resources together we can work something out."

The others were quick to offer their support. "You're our family AJ, no way we wouldn't see to you pull through." Naruto remarked.

"Whatever way we can we will offer our support." Rarity said.

"Yeah, besides your cider is the best. No one could ever top it." Pinkie Pie said.

"You just have to have confidence in yourself." Fluttershy said.

"And show'em whose the…" Rainbow began pouring more Cider down her gullet. "…boss."

"Well what are you going to do if they do come back?" Twilight asked.

"I'd recommend challenging them at their own game. If they feel they can make better Cider than let the product prove it?" Naruto suggested.

"Ah rather not have a faucet of our way of business turn into a spectacle."

"What if they try to drive you and your family out of business and take over?" Ditzy wondered with a worried expression on her face.

"Like we'd let'em!" Rainbow Dash argued. "Let'em try. Applejack will kick their flanks any day of the week." Rainbow Dash then zipped back to the line for yet another cup of cider only for the last barrel to be empty. "Oh Cider…I missed you already."

'I hope your right.' Applejack thought as her ears picked up the sound of something. "No, it can't be!"

But it was, The Flim Flam brothers and The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 were back.

"What seems to be the problem here?" Flim asked sarcastically.

"Oh my, oh my, out of cider again?" Flam added.

"What have we here?" Flim stood next to a barrel that had rolled down from a ramp at the back of the machine. "Who'd like a cup?"

The group had to move themselves out of the way of the crowd of ponies that stampeded for a taste of the beverage.

"Don't worry, everypony, we've got the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 to make more in an instant!" assured Flam assured the crowd levitating a cup to an eager Rainbow Dash.

Naruto caught Applejack's eye and nodded to the barrel. She returned it, whipped out her lasso and wrapped it around the barrel, placing her hands firmly atop it when it reached her.

"You can't sell that cider! That's made from Apple family apples!" she shouted.

The brothers didn't seem fazed. "Don't worry, everypony, there are plenty of apples in Equestria. We'll find some others and make more cider than all of Ponyville can drink!"

The crowd gasped in amazement from this announcement, but it only increased with the challenge that Apple Bloom issued.

"We'll make more cider than you could ever imagine!"

"Now, it ain't about the speed, young'un, it's about quality," Granny Smith reminded her, much to the disappointment of those listening.

"Oh, look at these poor, dissatisfied ponies," despaired Flim.

"Ponyville is Sweet Apple Cider country!" the youngest Apple claimed.

"Our cider speaks for itself!" agreed her sister.

"Let's put it to the test!" Flim challenged.

"Anywhere, anytime!" Apple Bloom matched.

"Oh yeah, she went there!" called Ray.

The crowd descended into shocked mutters and Granny said something he couldn't quite make out to her granddaughter.

"With our machine, we can make enough cider in one hour to satisfy this entire town!" Flam challenged.

"We'll do it in 45 minutes!" Apple Bloom countered. That really got the crowd talking. Granny Smith looked all the more worried and said something to her again, probably advising caution. It wasn't lost, however, on the brothers.

"What's the matter, Granny Smith? Chicken?" Flam taunted from his couch.

Anger clouded the elderly pony's features. "What did you call me, sonny?"

"If you're so confident in your cider, then what's the problem?" added his brother.

That got her riled up and she accepted their challenge, though it was on terms that Naruto seemed unsure about. Whoever won got the exclusive rights to sell cider in Ponyville.

"Wow that escalated quickly." Gryff murmured.

"I can't believe this," Naruto remarked. "They might as well be betting the whole farm for what they've done here."

"Tomorrow mornin', right here!" Granny Smith declared the when and where.

"But I'm afraid we haven't any apples," Flam reminded her in a mock-despairing tone.

"You can use our south field," Granny Smith conceded, "It'll be worth it t' teach y'all a thing r' two `bout cider makin'!"

"Excellent! We have a bet," Flim agreed.

"Whoever produces more barrels of cider in one hour gets the exclusive rights to sell the stuff in Ponyville. Until… tomorrow," Flam bade them as he and Flim rode the machine away.

Applejack watched them leave, Naruto going over, saying, "AJ, everything will be alright."

"Ah hope so, cuz if we lose," Applejack fretted, "wer' gonna lose our farm!"

---

That morning Naruto began tracking down the Flim Flam brothers. He felt he had to at least try and do anything he could to help out his mare.

He soon found the SSCS 6000 parked at the end of a lane that led to roads leading out to town.

"Hello there sir. If you're looking for Cider you'll have to wait until after the contest." Flam greeted.

"Look I'm not here for Cider. I'm here to discuss today's competition. Look I know you're business ponies, but how could you be so heartless as to try and drive the Apples out of business?"

"They should have thought of that before they entered this venture," replied Flam.

"They had little choice, when you threatened to run them out of business."

Flim shrugged. "That's how business works. The ponies wanted good cider at an affordable price and this service we are happy to provide."

"A service the apples provided long before you showed up. If you really care about providing a service to the populous then you can negotiate a fair deal."

"Our deal was perfectly fair," argued Flam. "We designed and built the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, we deserve the majority of the profits."

Naruto clicked his teeth. Uncaring bastards. "Do you guys even know how to farm apples?"

"Ppsh, can't be that difficult. They grow on trees and fall off." Flim dismissed.

It would have been so easy to threaten them. It would have been so easy to use his position to run them out of town, but he couldn't do it. It would make him no better than the corrupt individuals he fought for most of his life. Just because the brothers were being dicks was not enough of a justification to use force on him.

"Then there is nothing more to discuss." Naruto sharply remarked as he begun to leave.

The cider, the money, the profit that was all they cared about, no matter who might get hurt in the process. He couldn't wait until those two lost the competition and was driven out of town.

---

By mid-morning, both sides had set up shop, the ponies all watching from the fence. Big Mac got himself psyched for running the cider-presser, Granny Smith had on her special glasses to help her in determining the good apples from the bad, and Apple Bloom was helping Applejack make sure her apple-bucking was top-notch.

"Applejack," they looked to see it was Twilight. "Are you sure this is such a good idea?"

"Me an' th' family" she bucked the heavy bag Apple Bloom was hanging onto "are one-hundred percent confident"… in our cider-makin' capability!"

"An' besides! Nopony calls Granny Smith a chicken!" Apple Bloom added .

"Attention everypony!" called Mayor Mare, Twilight telling the Apple sisters, "Well, good luck."

The teams listened as Mayor Mare declared the rules and particulars.

"The teams have one hour to make as many barrels of cider as they can! Upon the conclusion of the hour, whichever team has produced more barrels will win the exclusive right to sell cider in Ponyville! Are both teams ready?"

"Ready!" Applejack called.

"Ready," the FlimFlam brothers said arrogantly.

"Then let's…" Mayor Mare said as she raised her hoof and the local time-keeper, Time Turner, spun an hourglass to get it started. "Go!"

The Apple Family sprung to action while Flim and Flam just lazed on their machine's sofa but their horns lit up with green mana and the machine got started. The vacuum extension reached out to a nearby apple tree and sucked up all the fruit.

Applejack bucked her first tree, shaking some apples down that Apple Bloom caught with the basket. They quickly brought them to Granny Smith and took some empty ones while Granny Smith got started checking the apples' individual quality, throwing the "bad'uns" away and adding the "good'uns" to the cider-presser. Big Mac ran the treadmill that powered the presser, to which poured into the empty barrel that was below the nozzle.

"Great job, y'all," Applejack called to them as she still bucked.

"We've already filled two barrels!" Big Mac called.

"Oh no, look!"

What they saw made the whole Apple Family gasp!

The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 had already produced six barrels neatly-stacked, Flim and Flam waving mockingly. The machine sucked in its next batch of apples.

"Come on focus!" Applejack called to the others. "We gotta ferget those guys if wer' gonna have a chance at winnin'!"

Bloom brought the baskets over to Granny Smith, Apple Bloom saying, "Better keep up, Granny!"

Granny Smith wiped away her sweat and kept up her work, while Big Mac was panting and slowing down.

In the crowd, Rarity fretted, "This is just dreadful!"

The barrels on both sides rose up in mountains but it was clear which side was winning. Twilight then had an idea and approached the mayor.

"Um, Ms. Mayor! Are honorary family members allowed to help in the competition?"

"Well, I'm not sure," Mayor Mare considered, "Flim, Flam, would you object to honorary family members helping?"

"Are you kidding?" Flim scoffed as he wet his whistle, Flam boasting, "We don't care if the whole kingdom of Canterlot helps; it's a lost cause."

"I guess it's ok," Mayor Mare conceded before saying, "Applejack, what do you think?"

"Ah'd think Ah'd love t' have th' rest'a mah fam'ly helpin' out," Applejack said with a grateful smile.

"Alright!" cheered her friends as they stood single-file, Twilight then began giving out instruction. "Naruto, Fluttershy you two should help Applejack with the trees," Twilight instructed.

"Got it!"

"You can count on us!"

"Pinkie Pie, Ditzy, you're on apple-catching detail!"

"Okie-dokie-lokie!"

"We won't let you down."

"Rarity, you've got a discerning eye, help Granny Smith at the quality-control station!"

"Of course!"

"Rainbow Dash, do you think you can help Big Macintosh press?"

"In my sleep!"

"Alright, everypony, let's save Sweet Apple Acres!" Twilight declared, everypony cheering, "ALRIGHT!"

Before long the extra support allowed the Apple family to produce as many barrels as Flim and Flam were making.

Now, the tide was turning. Fluttershy shot through the trees, shaking out the apples while Naruto zipped from tree to tree knocking down more apples together than Applejack could conceivably do alone.

Pinkie's bounciness was of great help to Apple Bloom in the orchard. Rarity, with her critical eye, could tell good and bad apples at a glance. Rainbow's added power made the press run faster, giving Big Mac something of a break Twilight alternated on the barrels, sealing and stacking them.

Once again, utilizing efficiency with knowledge of skills. Twilight did some quick math for these new turn of events.

"Based on these figures, we're making five barrels for every three of theirs!"

Time's up!" The Mayor's words were heard clearly in his ears.

"I'm proud of you, Applejack," Twilight told her. The Applejack of before would have been too stubborn or prideful to accept help, but for the good of her family she had accepted help.

"Thanks."

But the Mayor's next words were like a stone being dropped in his stomach. "Flim and Flam win!"

The crowd let out shocked gasps, the Apples stared in disbelief at the mountain of barrels the twins had produced.

"We... lost?" Applejack gasped.

"Applejack, its going to be okay." He told her as Applejack began to tremble.

"Okay? How is it going to be okay? We lost! We're going to lose the farm!" Her voice swelled with emotion.

Naruto's face broke out in a grin. "They didn't quality check their apples." He told her as Applejack's eyes widened in surprise.

If that was the case that means…

"Daww, too bad, Apples," Flim remarked, in a tone with no sympathy at all.

"Guess you'll just have to find a new line of work that doesn't match your names quite so... perfectly."

"Now should we tear down all these tacky old buildings and put up new ones, brother?"

"I don't see why not, brother. After all, this isn't Sweet Apple Acres anymore. How about 'Flim Flam Fields'?"

"I ought to press you into jerk cider!" Rainbow Dash was about to shoot right at them only to be stopped by Applejack.

"No Rainbow Dash. A deal's a deal." The flighty way Applejack said it confused Rainbow. "I mean they did use 'every single apple' they could get their hands on. So of course they would produce more barrels." She stressed the words as her family and elements caught on.

"Congratulations to y'all. The cider business in Ponyville... is yours. C'mon, Apples. Let's go pack up our things." She winked at her family who played along.

"Fear not, everypony, there's more than enough cider to go around," Flim said to the saddened crowd, laughing with his brother again. In the past the citizens would have been rather careless, but the past year had let them to see just how important each other were, and it hadn't settled until now that their greedy desires would see an end to the livelihood to one of their saviors.

"Go ahead, everypony," Applejack prompted before she left. "Go on, y'all. It's okay."

As they all shared their tears at the family's loss, it was evident the citizens of Ponyville weren't so concerned with cider anymore.

"Drink up, Ponyville! Down the hatch!" offered Flim.

They all took cups of their cider, drank them… and immediately spat them out again.

Chunks of apple, twigs and rock floated in the cider.

"I can't get the taste off my tongue!" squealed one mare.

"Mine's got rocks in it," added another.

"I wouldn't pay one cent for this dreck!" shouted a stallion.

The brothers didn't look so smug now. "You wouldn't pay even one cent?"

"No!" replied the crowd.

They convened with each other for a moment. "How about two cups for one cent?"

"No!"

Another quick discussion. "Two bits for a barrel?"

"No!"

They glanced at each other nervously. "It looks like we've encountered a slight... problem here in Ponyville."

"Nopony wants our product. Next town?"

"Next town. Let's go, Flim!"

"Let's go, Flam."

Their horns glowed and, for the last time, the Flim Flam brothers drove off down the road, leaving an angry crowd and terrible cider behind.

"They're gone," Applejack said with utter relief.

"That means Sweet Apple Acres is still in business!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Plus we can have high quality Apple family cider!" put in the stallion from before.

"Because of this silly competition, we've made enough of our cider for the whole town!" Apple Bloom announced.

Everypony cheered from this, but it wasn't just because of the cider. It was because Ponyville's favorite family wasn't going anywhere. They were safe and Flim and Flam were gone, certainly not on a high note. They had failed, driven out by anger and distaste.

"Well then." Applejack said turning to her friends, "Since all of you are honorary family members you each get to be first in line, and get a cup of cider free of charge."

"Now you're talking!" Rainbow Dash said. Not long afterward the group had settled with their mugs.

"Probably not what you had in mind for your vacation?" Naruto asked Gryff. The griffon had been strangely quiet today.

"No its okay man. You had to help out your mare. A good pack leader looks after his mates." And he had to admit this Cider was pretty delicious. From what he could glimpse this Applejack was a hard worker with much pride. She was a family mare. That much was evident by the way she interacted with her clans, particular her little sister.

"So, usually one a week the boys and I would get together for a game of cards, but I'd thought it'd be fun if the boys and I were to welcome you to our circle for this up and coming weekend for the evening. You interested?"

"A day with 'the boys?' like I'll say no." Now the blond was talking. That was something to look forward too.

Next Chapter: The Eventful Morning! (***) Estimated time remaining: 23 Hours, 26 Minutes