"I hate salad."

"Well Mr. Wildcat, Ah don't think y'all've got a choice in th' matter, seein' as how you're a pig an' all." Apple Bloom looked to her right, finding the pig in question staring back at her with a dumbfounded look. She giggled, placing her spoon onto her plate. "Y'all are lucky we were able ta bring you inside. Usually, it's not really okay ta bring in livestock-"

"Livestock? Are you insulting me? Listen little girl, I'll have you know I could kick your-"

"Wildcat?"

He looked up, a calm look on his face. Shrugging, he asked, "What?" as nonchalantly as an innocent child. Rarity gave him a look from the end of the table, a frown playing at her lips. Shaking her head, she was able to make Wildcat grumble something under his breath, now passive as he began to reach for his fork again. Apple Bloom continued to laugh as her hoof went to the middle of the table, intending on grasping at the ketchup bottle.

A hoof slapped hers, causing her to snort in response as her sister glared at her.

"Apple Bloom, Ah know y'all ain't used ta this, but you need ta try ta watch your manners. Ain't no Hayburger in here..."

"Yeah yeah yeah," Bloom replied, nudging Delirious next to her. He glanced her way expectantly but silently, and watched as she pointed a hoof to the bottle. Rolling his eyes, he got out of his seat and snatched it quickly, getting back into position before Applejack had a chance to slap him as well. Twirling the ketchup in a hoof, he whistled and threw it onto the table bottom up, earning a giggle from Apple Bloom and a blown raspberry from the orange mare.

"Anyway," Vanoss suddenly piped up, placing his fork and knife down as he looked to the end of the table, "thanks for the food, Rarity. Shit's been hard as hell working all day."

Rarity screwed up her face in disgust at his word choice, but cleared her throat and responded, "Why, it's the least I could do. After all, I can't just leave you all to go to some... wretched... fast food restaurant. My friends deserve nothing but the best, after all. Plus, I'm very good acquaintances with the owner, and I'll have you know he was honored to have us here today."

Wildcat smirked, "Yeah, that's no shit."

"Hey now Wildcat," Applejack chuckled, "could y'all possibly keep it down? Macintosh over here," she said, pointing a hoof to the stallion next to her, "is tryin' ta get some sleep-"

"Ah ain't sleepin'."

"Well ya sure ain't talkin'-"

"Ah know." Applejack followed his trail of vision toward Delirious at the opposite end of him, the Pegasus currently feasting away at his burger in silence and unable to notice his suspicious recognition. She bit her lower lip, turning to her right as she thought. Maybe she could defuse the situation-

"Hey AJ!"

She flinched, looking to the source.

Rainbow Dash waved a hoof her way, her own plate filled with chili fries and cheese piled on top. She grinned wildly, almost devilishly as she called, "Yo, you mind tossin' me the mustard?"

"What kind of weirdo eats chili with mustard?" Applejack asked genuinely, an odd expression on her face as she reached for it anyway.

Rainbow Dash threw a hoof to her chest, "I do!" She quickly received the mustard bottle, much to her enjoyment. Applejack glanced back to talk to Delirious, but raised a brow as she saw him quickly scrambling out of his seat.

Involuntarily getting out of her own, she stuttered, "Wh-where y'all goin', Sugarcube?"

Delirious regarded her, his mouth full of hayburger and ketchup. Standing motionless, he looked at her as if she had caught him stealing out of the cookie jar before finally swallowing his food and belching softly. Whispering an excuse for himself, he shrugged, his blue eyes darting to Macintosh for a split second. "Bathroom," he said, and then he left, pushing in his chair. About to go, he suddenly leaned back, stealing a fry from Apple Bloom's plate. Though she attempted to get it back, he threw it down his throat as quickly as he had gotten it, smiled, and then trotted off.

Walking through the corridor, he gave out a long breath of satisfaction, thankful for his lunch meal. Delirious sighed. Just so much as strolling down the restaurant felt odd somehow. He didn't belong here, but it, for some reason, felt like home. It felt friendly. He looked every which way, surveying the area around him. Ponies round and round were enjoying themselves, talking with one another and genuinely having a good time.

The mask frowned.

But Delirious began to feel a smile tug at his lips.

Looking to his left, he walked past a pair of ponies currently fidgeting with what he now noticed were school ties. He recognized the blue one easily, but the stallion seemed to not notice him. Instead, he was completely fixated on the grey mare across the table from him, who was currently fixing her own tie. Delirious chuckled and stepped past, not wanting to disturb the two. Suddenly, his train of thought was thrown off the rails.

Oh shit.

He actually had to pee.

"Fuck."

Going into a jog, he took a right past the bar's counter, intending on running into the restroom as fast as he could. The last thing he wanted to do was piss all over the restaurant's floor. That wouldn't bode well for him, and that wouldn't bode well for Applejack either- wait. No. He shook his head. It wouldn't bode well for Rarity. He raised a brow to himself, wondering why he made that mistake. Clearing his throat, he continued on his way, finally spying the bathroom across the hall.

He glanced about, hoping no one would see him if he accidentally piddled at some point. Turning left, he nodded and stepped faster toward the bathroom, but stopped as he suddenly recognized something. His eyes went back west, and he froze. Blue eyes narrowed as he looked for what he had seen. They widened as what he had seen noticed him as well.

"Whoa... H2O, right?"

Delirious blinked, trying to find his voice. He gulped, and found it. He decided not to use it, though.

"Yeah, that's it. H2O Delirious. Hey man! How've you been?"

The Pegasus gave his left and right quick glances of recognition, before he took a step back.

"Oh c'mon man, don't be like that. C'mere!"

Delirious grit his teeth, cursed, and sighed, begrudgingly trotting over to the stallion currently sitting at his table. Stopping less than a foot away, he stared vacantly at him. The stallion tilted his head, obviously confused. Raising his hooves, he pressed them against his chest. "You uh, you remember me, right? Quick Time-"

"I remember you," Delirious interrupted.

"Good, good! Hey, you wanna take a seat-"

"I'll stand."

Quick threw a foreleg up innocently, apologizing, "Ah, I got it man. Sorry." Turning back to his table, he picked up a beer and began to drink, completely ignoring the stunned look he was being given from across the bench. Finished with the bottle, he threw it onto the wooden surface of the table and burped, much to the disgust of the mare, who snapped.

"Seriously?"

"What, can't I enjoy a little drink?"

"No," she spat, eyebrow knit. Pointing accusingly at Delirious, she explained, "that."

Quick Time laughed, "Oh, he's just an old friend-"

"Well," she began, looking at Delirious as she pushed a black lock out of her eyes, "I do hope you don't mind leaving. Me and my associate were currently having a business discussion, and we'd both like it if you left so we could finish-"

"I'm okay with him-"

"But I'm not."

Delirious frowned, suspicious of the two, "Just what kinda business discussion is this?" He raised a brow as the mare looked to the ground. "Go on, think of something to tell me. I know that's what you're doing right now."

She crossed her forelegs, glaring at him. Quick Time licked his lips, still staring at his beer bottle currently grasped in one hoof. Tapping it against the table, he held in a breath and spoke, "You want a job?"

"Quick Time!"

"Hey, calm down Silver Tongue, let me finish."

Silver hissed, getting out of her seat, "You are not discussing this with a complete stranger. No ifs, and's, or buts, you hear me? You're lucky our acquaintance requested you and not anypony else. It just had to be you..."

Quick laughed, turning toward Delirious, "Like I said, you want a job? We could use an extra pair of hooves."

"Quick..."

Delirious fumbled for his words, wary on what he was getting into. He found his throat dry, and worked his jaw to wet it once again. Licking his lips idly, he asked, "Job? Like what?"

"Oh, a job." He ignored the cries of displeasure across the table. "A well paying job, might I add but uh.." he suddenly glanced about carefully, before leaning in to speak in a hushed tone, "here ain't someplace to talk about it."

Delirious narrowed his eyes. He stared blankly at the Unicorn before speaking bluntly, "So it's illegal, then. Really? You just got out of jail and now you're trying to get back in?"

"Hey, it's not that simple. It's not even that hard."

Silver Tongue blew a raspberry from across the table.

The Pegasus took a step forward, placing his forelegs onto the table as he scrunched his face up. He hissed, "And just why the fuck are you telling me this, huh? I was just your cell mate-"

Quick poked a hoof into his chest, grinning, "But you, my friend, have weapons. Explosives. We need that, so we need you. I would've had to call in a few favors from some pals of mine, but, hey, just my luck to see you here. What'cha doin' here anyway? You don't strike me as the kinda pony to eat at fancy restaurants-"

"Neither do you."

Quick grinned at him, waggling his eyebrows. "What say you, man? You want in? Hell, I'll give you more than fifty percent of what we get." He stuck a hoof out, one which Delirious frowned at. "C'mon, H2O. You in?"

Delirious looked to the right, then looked back. Breathing in and out audibly, he spoke, "How much."

Quick Time gave an evil chuckle as he reclined in his seat. Eyes darting toward Silver Tongue, she rolled her eyes in response, waving a hoof toward the Pegasus. Quick nodded, then replied, "...why don't you come with us and see-" He stopped, blinking rapidly as Delirious turned tail, walking back as quickly as he had come. Biting his lower lip, the Unicorn stole a glance at Silver, who was busy eating her food.

"Your fault, bucko. Now, if he tells the cops, you want me to bust you out again, or you want ta keep your hoof?"

Delirious trotted back, his bladder forgotten but completely satiated. Stalking down the hall, he shook his head and got back into a positive mood, pulling out his chair much to Apple Bloom's chagrin. Settling into it, he mussed the filly's hair up, fucking up her bow. She groaned at it and swatted at him to no avail as he dodged, picking up his burger as he did so. As he looked around, he found Applejack smiling at him, and he smiled back.

His vision flew to the left, and found Big Macintosh's glare upon him. Quickly, his mood fell, and he frowned at the table as he resumed the eating of his burger.

"Ah, Applejack. So, you forgot to answer the question, haven't you?"

"Uh, what?" She tapped her head with a hoof, "Sorry, Rares. Lost track. What was the question, a-again?"

Rarity rolled her eyes playfully, but repeated it for all to hear, "I asked, 'How has the Harvest been so far?' I mean, of course it's going swimmingly, seeing as how you've got quite a few more helping hooves around the farm."

Applejack laughed, settling against the table as she looked to the far end of the table, a smile on her face, "Well, Ah can't lie. It's been doin' well so far, no thanks to Mr. Pegasus and his friends here. We really needed 'em, without, Ah think we'd still be toiling away at the western fields with the promise of still havin' to do the eastern fields after." Looking at Delirious, Vanoss, and Wildcat, she smiled, "Ah sure am glad y'all are here ta help, honest. Hey, Ah'll make sure we whip up a good batch of cider and pie for you guys for all your hard work, okay?"

"Applejack, you know we can't do that."

The mare looked to her right, finding Big Macintosh glaring at her. She raised a brow, "Ah'm sure we can-"

"We can't. You know that."

"And why not?" Rarity asked, a look of curiosity on her face, "I'm not quite sure I follow."

Applejack sighed, dipping her head. Delirious furrowed his brow in concern, watching her as she stared at her hooves for what seemed like hours. Macintosh waited as she did so, and stood motionless as she got back up. She swallowed down dozens of lumps in her throat, looking away from her friends and family.

"Applejack dear, whatever it is, it can't possibly be so bad, can it-"

"The farm ain't doin' so hot."

Rarity leaned back. Rainbow Dash leered at Applejack, throwing a hoof to the air, "What the hay's that supposed to mean? Whaddya mean it's not doin' so 'hot'-"

"Ah'd rather not talk about it, alright Rainbow?"

"No! Whatever it is that's bothering you, we need to know!" Rainbow grinned, "Hay, maybe we could help you if we can! Isn't... isn't that right, Rarity?" The Pegasus nudged her, a sly grin on her face. "C'mon Rares, we can help, right-"

"Do you have about five-hundred bits on ya?"

Rainbow froze. Delirious' eyes widened. Vanoss and Wildcat stopped eating, their forks raised in midair. Rainbow mouthed hundreds of things under her breath, but spoke only one, almost out of air, "Wh-what? Five-hundred bits-"

"That's how much we owe the bank right now, last Ah checked." Applejack sighed heavily, lowering her head to stare at her plate, "We've been tryin' so hard ta make due, but it hasn't been workin'. The farm... it's the most important thing to us. All of us... and we might be losin' it. We... we might be in a lotta debt soon..."

Nothing but the idle chatter from the restaurant filled their ears. Delirious' heart beat loudly in his chest, threatening to burst out at any given moment. He, along with everyone else, gave the mare a shocked, horrified expression. This seemed to last a lifetime before it was Mac's turn to speak, his deep voice reverberating in Delirious' ears.

"Even with y'alls help, Ah doubt we'll still have enough even after we sell all of our apples this fall. The fields are full, but they ain't that full. Ah thank you as well for helpin' out, but it just ain't gonna be enough." Big Macintosh slowly turned to Delirious, eyes narrowed, "Ah don't hear none o' your input, kid. Got anythin' ta say?"

Delirious remained quiet.

"Ah'm sure y'all could get some money somehow. Ya know, maybe kill a few innocent ponies here and there, Ah'm sure with yer kinda behavior it'll only last 'bout a-"

"Big Macintosh!"

The stallion glared at his sister, who scowled back with her teeth grit, "Y'all. Watch. Yer goddamned mouth," the ponies at the table jumped, "ya hear me? Ah don't want another word out of you..."

"Ah could get the money. Ah'm sure the Cakes wouldn't mind an extra pair o' hooves workin' there what with Pinkie Pie suddenly up and leavin'. Ah'd do it better than he could anyhow-"

"How much?"

Applejack and Macintosh turned. The rest of the table leaned over to him in kind. Delirious was breathing heavily, his brow knitted to impossible levels. Growling, he asked once again, "How much?"

"Delirious, Ah don't wanna talk about it right now-"

The ponies flinched as Delirious' hoof slammed into the table with enough force to break bone. Tilting his head up slowly, he spat once more. "How. Much. I know it's not just five-hundred. Don't fucking lie to me."

Applejack sighed, shaking her head at him as she shut her eyes. She raised a hoof to her mouth and gulped loudly, before placing it back onto the table and staring him blank in the face. A glint in her left eye, she gave out a few shaky breaths in his direction. Blinking rapidly, she assumed the best casual position and finally stammered out her answer.

"...seven-hundred an' thirty-five."

The table fell to a dead silence, each and every attendee giving the orange mare looks of absolute horror.

Delirious stared at the table, as still as a statue. A light caught his attention, and he saw a pair of ponies walking calmly out of the restaurant, their idle chatter filling up the otherwise quiet restaurant that had been listening to the jazz band play. Delirious looked up at Big Macintosh and found his green eyes leering at him. Delirious growled down in his throat somewhere, gripping the table with deadly force. The two had a stare down, before the Pegasus quickly got out of his seat and walked out.

"Delirious? Where you goin'-"

The mare was shut off by the sound of the door closing, the masked stallion now stalking swiftly outside. Walking toward the two ponies, they took notice of him and stopped trotting away, allowing him to advance to them. He did so quickly, stopping less than a foot away from them, his face darkened by the mask. Tilting his head, he found them staring at him expectantly as he remained quiet.

He hissed like an animal.

And sneered as menacingly as a cold-blooded murderer.

"Let's go."