"Awww, Ah done need 'dis." Tough Apple mumbles a bit as he lies in his hammock, relaxing a bit the next day. The stallion has got his chores done and is in need of some relaxing time. Nothing much, just him and...

"Tough Apple," A familiar voice calls, causing Tough to yelp as he flips over in his hammock, sending him to the ground. The purple stallion groans as he saw his cousin Applejack nearby.

"Shoot, AJ, what gives? All mah chores are done!"

"Ah know, Ah know, but yew ain't going 'ta be planning on sittting here all day, are yew?"

"Well, maybe." Tough said in a thoughtful look then shrugs a bit. "Ah ain't got anything planned today anyhow."

"Well, yew is now. Mah friends an' Ah noticed how yew was having an interest in Feathermay." Applejack said to her cousin with a smile, making Tough blush a bit. "Yew like her more than as a friend, don't yew?"

"Shucks, come..."

"Tough."

Tough sighs a bit then he admits, "All right, yes, Ah do have feelings fer her...but why bother? She won't be interested in somepony like me. Ah got problems."

Applejack shakes her head while adding, "Not anymore. Yew barely loses your temper anymore. We y'all saw how yew two were having 'dat moment. We believe she likes you more as a friend as well."

"Okay, okay! Maybe there is something there. Why 'de big deal?"

"We have decided 'ta arranged a date fer yew two. No exceptions!"

"What?" Tough ask his cousin in shock and alarm. His cousin has arranged a date with him and Feathermay? "But Ah..."

"No buts." Applejack said with a smirk while winking an eye. "Yew loved this gal don't yew?"

"...more than anything."

"Then now is 'de time 'ta come out o' 'dat there hammock an' admit yer feelings. Yew will be having yer date at Feathermay's restaurant today; Perfect romantic place, if yew asked me."

Tough sigh a bit; Perhaps his cousin is right. If there's a way for him to confess his long-hiding feelings for Feathermay, perhaps now is the date to do so.

-------------------------------------

"You did what?" Feathermay ask, blushing more redder as her friends told her what she is going to be doing.

"We set you up on a date with Tough!" Plumsweet giggles happily. "Isn't that amazing?"

"But...I..."

"Come on, Feathermay, it's obvious to us that you love Tough Apple." Roseluck said while putting a hoof around her friend's shoulder. "You just need that extra push."

"Which is why we decided to arrange this get together for you," Flitterheart said gently. "No worries, we will be working so you will get some help if you need it."

"Oh, I...I don't know." Feathermay said with a sigh. "I mean, I feel something for him...but what if he doesn't?"

"Oh, don't worry yourself." Roseluck remarks with a giggle, "That song of his shows that he does love you. Come on! We can't let you hide these feelings any longer. Who knows how long Tough will be staying in Ponyville."

"Right, if you must tell him before he goes back to New Neighleans, now is the time to do so." Firecracker said sternly. "Now is the time."

Feathermay hesitates a bit, but knew her friends are right. She nods while saying, "Yeah, you ponies are right. My little Toughie-Woughie needs to know."

'"Toughie-Woughie'; A pet name, that's good." Cherry Pie said with a smile. "That proves you do love him, pet names shows it."

"Yeah, you're right."

-------------------------

Silver Spoon looks concerned as a delivery pony delivers something right in front of Diamond Tiara's room, the filly signs the form. The pony remarks, "Okay, here you go...whatcha say this animal is for again?"

"Never you mind, here's your form and bits." Diamond snaps as she pays the right amount to the delivery pony after signing. "Just don't tell anypony that you send this to me, got it?"

The delivery pony nods. Once the delivery progress is done, he took his leave. The bully smirks as he goes over to a cage that was delivered. Silver Spoon asks, "You sure you want to do this? You know how unpredictable these things are."

"So am I. If anything, this also proves how unpredictable Tough Apple is as well." Diamond Tiara said as she opens the cage. "Okay, little guy. Want to have some fun?"

Inside the cage, two glowing eyes appear and chuckles wildly. He loves the sound of that.

---------------------------------

"Oh boy, oh boy; I cannot believe this!" Pinkie exclaims as she and her own group of friends are waiting outside the restaurant, "Tough is finally going to get the mare of his dreams."

"Yes, but shouldn't he be here by now?" Fluttershy ask, noticing that her unofficial big brother is nowhere in sight. "It's almost done."

"Tough is done getting ready, but he would be here." Applejack said with a smile. "We worked so hard 'ta make 'dis set-up date work an' by golly, our efforts will be paid off."

"It's like getting a date for egghead here." Rainbow commented. She notices Twilight looking down in sadness. "Err, what? Did I say something?"

"No, no...you're fine, just fine." Twilight said in sadness. Spike looks worried; she has been acting like this for years now. Unknown to him and the others, the filly is pining for a love lost long ago...

"Well, we're set." Cherry Pie said as she came out of the restaurant to her friends. "Feathermay is dressed; we reserved a table for her and Tough Apple. Now we need to bring the stallion."

"Oh, he should be here...I hope." Fluttershy said a bit nervously. Where is Tough?

----------------------

Tough appears to be in his very best as he looks in a mirror back at the Apples' farm. The stallion wonders what he himself is going to say or do. Tough wants so much to be with this filly and...

"Nah, why should Ah be worried," Tough mumbles a bit while smiling in front of the mirror. "She would loved me as Ah am. Ah shouldn't worry none as long as Ah keep mah cool."

Unknown to Tough, something is peeking in through a window, a little small brown looking devil animal, chuckling sinisterly. This Equestrian Devil is about to cause trouble that could upset our improved stallion.

The Equestrian Devil opens the window and sneaks in. Tough hums while getting some spray for his mane, he wants to look nice for Feathermay.

The creature smirks as he got out a spider that has suction plastic legs and throws it onto Tough Apple's back neck.

Tough Apple feels something on his back neck and sees it. The stallion's eyes and screams in terror, running around crazy, trying to run, kick and scream while charging around, even to bash stuff to get the thing off (but since it's a rubber toy, it'll absorb the brutal damage and not be damaged.).

"Get it off me, get it off me!" Tough exclaims in terror.

The Equestrian Devil laughs madly as Tough finally got the spider off himself, seeing it as a fake. The stallion turns and saw the one responsible.

"Ay, whatcha doing in here? Git," Tough scowls as he throw a hoof at the Equestrian Devil who dodges it. The little guy goes around, knocking down a few of his stuff. "Ay!"

Tough growls, he is about to lose his cool, but stops.

"No, can't lose mah temper...mah friends wanted me 'ta do better," Tough mumbles to himself. If he loses his temper, his friends would be disappointed and Tough would be in big trouble. "Ah will just catch him, let him out an'..."

Suddenly, a snapping noise is heard, Tough turns and saw a shocking terrible sight: his banjo Joe being broken in half...by the Equestrian Devil!

Tough's eye twitch then his right one did...his true friend since New Neighleans...is snapped in front of him...by this little psycho!

"Joe....JOE! YEW LITTLE..." Tough snarled furiously. At this point, steam came out of his ears. "NO ONE DOES 'DAT 'TA JOE!"

The Equestrian Devil laughs as he fall down in laughter...but yelps as a gunshot hit the floor to him. The little creature yelps as Tough is now holding his 'pea-shooter', his Southern shotgun, in fury and in his mouth.

"NOW YEW WILL PAY!" Tough roars as he fires at the Equestrian Devil, blasting holes throughout the house.

The little creature jumps through the window and rush outside. So did Tough but he broken through the whole wall in the progress

"COME BACK HERE, AH WILL HUNT YEW DOWN LIKE A DOG!" Tough roars furiously as he pursues his prey to Ponyville.

--------------

At the restaurant, the ponies there are getting a bit anxious, checking their watches.

"Well, where is he?" Rainbow asks impatiently. "Tough should've been here by now!"

"Yeah, we arranged this for him and Feathermay to get together!" Roseluck exclaimed.

"Ponies, please," Feathermay said, blushing a bit. "I'm sure he is just late."

"Right, give Tough some break." Fluttershy said meekly. "He should be here...I hope."

"Right, come on, at least he isn't doing anything dangerous right now." Firecracker said thoughtfully.

--------------

Caramel, Lyra and Bon-Bon were talking when they heard gunshots. The three ponies look puzzled.

"What the...this isn't hunting season." Lyra said a bit concerned.

Suddenly the trio is surprised as they saw some creature being chased...by a cheesed off Tough!

"Tough Apple," Caramel, Lyra and Bon-Bon ask in surprise and alarm.

"AH KILL YEW!" Tough roars as he opens fire but miss, hitting too close near the trio.

The three ponies screamed as they dodged the bullet.

"What are you doing?" Bon-Bon ask Tough frantically as he rush by. But the stallion ignores her, chasing after the one creature that broke Joe.

"COME BACK HERE, YEW LITTLE RUNT!" Tough roars as he opens fire on the Equestrian Devil, destroying any stuff that got hit by the bullets.

The chase goes near the school as class is in session. At least it was until the gunshots disturb Cheerilee and the students.

"What's going on out there?" Cheerilee ask puzzled as she and the students, including the CMC, look outside.

"Oh, no; It's Cousin Tough Apple!" Apple Bloom cried in concern as she sees the purple stallion chasing the Equestrian Devil.

"What the hay is he doing?" Nyx ask in horror.

"AH AM GOING 'TA SHOOT YEW!" Tough roars as he opens fire on the Equestrian Devil, causing him to snap a rope of a swinging tire.

The Equestrian Devil got on the jungle gym, giving a raspberry to Tough. The stallion snarls as he rush at it, smashing the whole thing while trying to get his prey.

Tough ended up breaking the whole playground as he chases after the Equestrian Devil once more. Cheerilee and the students look stunned by this display.

"Our playground," Sweetie cried in horror.

"Oh, man!" Scootaloo groans a bit. "He is out of control!"

None of the ponies saw that one student wasn't upset and that's Diamond Tiara. Her plan is going swimmingly...

Tough chased after the Equestrian, firing off shots, causing ponies to scatter in a panic. One shot knocks down Daisy's stand while one blasts the sign for Sugarcube Corner.

"COME BACK!" Tough roared in fury at the Equestrian Angel who raspberry at him some more.

The Equestrian Devil jumps onto a table where Derpy and Time Turner are at, both of them gasps as Tough opens fire at it. All three abandons the table as it got blown up by the gunfire.

"HOLD STILL, YA VARMINT," Tough bellowed in rage as he keeps chasing the Devil.

----------

At the restaurant, the gang decides to wait outside for Tough to show up.

"I'm starting to feel a bit disappointed by Tough." Rarity said with a frown. "He is overdue, not good for a date."

"Ah am sure Tough has his reason fer..." Applejack yelps as she saw some ponies rushing by in a panic. "What 'de hay?"

"Hey, Daisy, what's going on?" Twilight calls out to Daisy in alarm.

"Run for it! Tough is on a rampage and HE GOT A GUN!" Daisy screams as she rushes inside her home in a panic.

"What," Rainbow yelled in shock and horror.

"Oh, great; Mah cousin got his pea-shooter out!" Applejack groans. Feathermay looks stunned and horrified. What is Tough Apple doing?

"Oh my goodness," Fluttershy whines as she and her friends rush to where the danger came from.

-----------

Most of Ponyville is a-wreck due to Tough's rampage and shooting, trying to get that thing. During this time, Big Macintosh was pulling a cart through town through a part not destroyed yet with Granny Smith in the front seat.

"Come on, Big Mac, we got to get this milk to the barn by nightfall." Granny Smith said to Big Macintosh with a nod.

"Eeyup," Big Macintosh said with a nod as he goes a bit faster.

Just then, the Equestrian Devil appears behind them, with Tough growling as he fires at it, almost hitting a wall.

"COME BACK HERE!" Tough roared furiously. The Equestrian Devil jumps onto the cart, laughing madly causing the mad stallion to fire at it some more.

"What the...?" Granny Smith yelps as one shot almost hit the cart. Turning, the old mare saw what's going on. "Tough! What the hay are you doing?"

"TRYIN' 'TA KILL 'DIS VARMINT FOR WHAT HE DID 'TA JOE, 'DAT'S WHAT!" Tough yelled.

Tough opens fire some more like mad. Some of the bullets make holes in the milk bottles, causing them to leak milk like mad as well.

Big Macintosh yelps as one shot almost got him. Granny Smith glares angrily. Enough is enough. She signals her grandson to stop before getting off the cart.

Tough rushes at his prey but yelps as he saw a glaring Granny Smith in his path, causing him to skid to a halt, stopping right in front of her.

"Tough Apple, you trigger happy lunatic of a relative, give me that gun!" Granny Smith exclaims furiously as she swipes the gun from Tough.

As the Mane Six and the lookalikes rush onto the scene, along with some ponies, frightened or no, Tough yelps as the old mare was aiming the gun at him. He protests, "Now, come on, Granny, come on; 'Dat thing is loaded!"

Granny Smith glares then fires...into the air various times, causing ponies, especially Fluttershy, to yelp or cover their ears from the noises.

Clicking noses came from the pea-shooter, signaling that the gun is now empty. Granny Smith tosses it to Tough Apple while snapping, "Now it isn't loaded!" The purple stallion grunted as the gun hits him.

"Dang nab it, Tough, what were yew doing?" Applejack growls to her cousin as she trots up to him.

"'Dat little pest broke Joe!" Tough Apple snaps as he points furiously at the Equestrian Devil, who raspberry him some more. "An' Ah aim 'ta break his little neck!

"Just look at what you did to Ponyville!" Rainbow screamed furiously as she points at the damage that Tough has done while trying to shoot the Equestrian Devil.

The CMC went through the crowd of ponies until they got a closer look at Tough Apple and Granny Smith, watching in concern.

Tough frowned but yelps as he finally saw what he himself has done, especially the terrified and upset looks on the ponies' face.

"Shucks, Ah didn't..." Tough begins to say but the stallion was cut off.

"He's a menace, look what he did!" A random stallion exclaims angrily.

"He almost shot a school full of foals!" Lily cry out in terror. Some of the Mane Six, Feathermay and the CMC are worried. The crowd who is now liking Tough are turning against him.

"But it wasn't..." Tough begins to say in concern.

"Honestly, what were you thinking?" Cherry Pie ask Tough furiously. "We got something good set up and you ruined it by acting like a ruffian!"

"Someone should chase you out of home, you hillbilly freak." Cherry Berry mumbles. Some of the ponies shoot out insults and remarks, getting Tough upset.

"GRRRRRR," Tough roars as he swipes at the mad crowd, making the ponies jump back with a gasp.

"Sweet trouble," Diamond remarked cruelly as she was watching this with an evil grin. Her plan is working.

Fluttershy is beginning to get scared, much to Tough's notice as he calms down, looking sad as he said, "Wait, hang on, Ah..."

"Just go home, Tough Apple!" Granny Smith snaps to Tough with a scoff. "I will talk to you when I get back."

Tough looks down in sadness, then begins to trot away. He may as well face faces. The stallion will always be a rampaging stallion with a bad temper. The ponies whose made bad remarks or got upset watch him go, as did the saddened Fluttershy and Feathermay.

"Cousin Tough Apple, don't go!" Apple Bloom cried in despair as she started to go after her cousin.

"Leave me alone...just...leave me alone," Tough said in sadness as he trots off, not wanting to talk to Apple Bloom, out of fear of losing his temper and scaring her as well.

"Tough Apple, come back!" Apple Bloom cried as tears started coming out of her eyes.

"It's too late, Apple Bloom." Diamond said evilly, "He's gone. Wherever do your loyalties lie, Blank Flank?"

"Shut yer pie hole or Ah will break it right off, Diamond Tiara!" Apple Bloom snaps furiously at Diamond Tiara.

"I'd like to see ya try it, Blank Flank!" Diamond snapped with an evil grin.

"Okay, okay, back to class, students." Cheerilee said with a sigh as she motions her students to head back to the schoolhouse.

"Show's over, everypony; Go back to whatever business you were doing." Rainbow said to the ponies as they disembark to go back to what lives that they still have.

"It's over, Blank Flanks! The monster is gone, and VICTORY IS MINE!" Diamond shouted, and then she started laughing evilly, "I WIN, I WIN, I WIN, I WIN, I WIN, I WIN; YEAH!"

"SHUUUT UUUUP!" Apple Bloom roared in rage as she charged towards the bully foal with tears of rage in her eyes, and then, shockingly, she pounced on her and started beating her up, "YEW DID 'DIS! YEW CAUSED 'IM 'TA LEAVE! 'DAT WAS NO ACCIDENT!"

"Okay, okay, stop 'dis! Enough!" Applejack exclaims as she pull Apple Bloom off of Diamond Tiara. "Apple Bloom, we will discuss 'dis later; Diamond, same 'ta you!"

-------------

Tough looks down in sadness as he returns to his room back at Sweet Apple Acres. The stallion looks up and saw the mess that he has made which is a preview of what Tough has done.

"Who was Ah thinking?" Tough ask in sadness. No pony would ever forgive him for what happened. And even then, what's going to stop the stallion from losing his temper? He is a ticking time bomb that could endanger every pony around himself...even Feathermay.

Tough sighs in sadness as he tore off his outfit, put his overalls back on and packed up what hasn't been broken yet, including the remains of Joe, his true friend and will always will be.

No pony will ever want to be his friend, not with a temper like his. Why does he even bother? Tough, once he's done, sighs in sadness as he leaves the room and head outside.

Tough shed tears as he walks away from Sweet Apple Acres, leaving hoof prints in the ground. May as well face it, no pony will ever want him around here...and the stallion doesn't want to go back to New Neighleans. No one would want him anyway.

"Only one thing left fer a monster like me," Tough mumbles in sadness. "Goodbye, Applejack, Big Mac, Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, yew were 'de only family 'dat Ah connected with again...up 'ta now. Goodbye, Fluttershy. Yew are like 'de only little sister 'dat Ah never have. Goodbye Feathermay, mah..."

Tough sighs in sadness as he heads off to the only place where he himself truly belongs: the Everfree Forest, home of monsters, freaks, and the forgotten. The stallion disappears from sight...