Applejack woke up with the rooster call like every morning. The first thing he did was a little exercise, some small stretches and push-ups, then, a hot and nice shower, a nutritive breakfast, give Grandpa Smith his medicines and finally, coming out to the open field. He took a deep breath, absorbing all that fragrance of fresh apples. He looked at the orchard, at the old battered barn, at his big sister plowing the land, the giant birds sleeping in that tree, his little brother trotting away from the cow ba-

“What in tarnation?”

The giant bird crowed or something and peeked its wing, seemingly unaware of the ponies gathering under the tree.

“Well?”

“Well, it’s a big bird.”

“Ah already know that, Dusk Shine! Ah want to know what type o bird it is!”

“I don´t know! Butterscotch here is the expert in animals!”

“So he´s an expert in ponies because ponies are animals, right Dusk Shine?”

“…shut up Spines.”

“Oh my, it´s that I think it is?”

“Scooteroll´s mom?”

“I heard you!”

“No Applebuck, it’s a roc.”

“Ta ain´no rock! That´ a rock!”

Inside the boutique, a romantic dinner was taking place.

“Oh Susan, I´m so terribly sorry we have been separated for so long! I just couldn´t let my friends found out about us, they wouldn´t unders-Excuse me Mr Narrator but this is a private meeting!” and Elusive closed the curtains.

“…creepy.”

“Oh come on! Even a giant boulder?”

“My love…”

Ignoring all of his friends Applejack demanded for an explanation.

“And what ta hay it´s a roc?”

“According to this book, a roc it´s a giant bird from a faraway land that preys on innocent horses.”

“So this here is dangerous?” Applebuck asked, trying to hide his fear.

“I don’t know. Let’s check.”

“Woah!”

Dusk Shine magically levitated Spines and tossed her to the roc´s beak. The bird swallowed the little dragon but soon spitted her back.

“Guess she is not hungry.”

“Well if it ain´ hungry, what does it want?”

“I´ll go ask her…” and Butterscotch slowly hovered to the giant tree.

“Her?”

Since Butterscotch was a soft spoken pony they couldn´t hear what he was saying so they have nothing else to do but wait.

“…so Macareina, doing good?”

“Eeeyup.”

“Doing anything this weekend?”

“Eeenope.”

“So, want to hang out?”

“…Applejack, I´ll be leaving to uncle Orange house for the next two weeks. Make sure that Grandpa Smith takes all his medicines and that Applebuck does all of his homework. The cows have been having nightmares these last few days so make sure to throw away all the milk and the door of the sheep´s fence it´s broken. And don´t get into any more fights with that Rainbow Blitz! I´m sick of fixing the barn roof every time you two get into a hooves fight, understood? Good!” she took her saddlebags and hat and leave for the train station.

“…”

Finally Butterscotch descended.

“So, what did it want?”

Without uttering a word, Butterscotch put on a hard hat, placed some warning tape and beacon and flew back to the tree.

“…well, ah´m off ta get some milk!” the little caped pony proudly announced.

****

The next few days were a war turf that neither side was willing to loose. Butterscotch had entrenched inside the apple tree while Applejack had brought all the Apple family to his side.

“Scotch, take that damn bird outta mah tree!”

“No! This roc has every right to make a nest for her!”

“She invaded Apple family territory! She is trespassing!”

“She is just acting on her natural instincts! And I have a lawyer to defend them!”

“Ah brought mah own lawyer! Rotten Apple, your turn!”

“Oh you brought your cousin? Solaris forbide you for spending two bits in some professional service!”

“Don´ call me a niggard! And he´ a fine lawyer!”

“Actually that´s not true, cuz. I´m pretty bad…”

All the ponies in Ponyville gathered around the farm, worried about the outcome of this conflict.

“Come on everypony! Place your bets! Who´s going to budge first? Will the animal lover win and turn the Apple farm into a poor pony zoo? Will the Apple had a Summer Sun Celebration with a really big bird on the table? You decide!”

“Rainbow Blitz!”

The cyan pegasus put down his sunglasses and hovered a little to greet his lavender friend. “Oh hey Dusk! Wanna bet?”

“Shame on you, betting over your friends´ misfortunes!” Dusk Shine reprimand him but Rainbow Blitz did not take the hint. “…I´ll place ten bits on Butterscotch.”

“Sure you will.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing nothing…”

“Ah had enough! Time fer action!”

Tired of all the peaceful negotiations and talking, Applejack decided to take matter on his own hooves. He jumped at the old family tractor and rammed against the apple tree. The tree had been for generations in that land, since Grandpa Smith was but a small pony fighting the Cyberpony army or whatever crazy adventure the Professor kept dragging Equestria into, so its roots were firmly in place. The roc cackled again as her house trembled.

Just when everypony was wondering where Butterscotch was he showed up wearing nothing but a lion skin. Rainbow Blitz put down his glasses again, this time with reluctance. Around the yellow pegasus was an army of small critters led by Angela Bunny. Butterscotch roared or more like meowed and the creatures attacked Applejack, easily subduing him and hogtied him.

“Now, are you going to let that poor creature alone?”

“No! She invade mah land!”

“How can you be like that, Applejack? Can you respect the needs of toher creatures?”

“Bu-but that ´what ya doing! Ya forcing me to give up ma house and livelihood because tha ´what yah think it´s right!”

“I…I…Oh my, that’s exactly what I´m doing! Oh I feel so terrible! You´re right Applejack, nopony should force other pony their own beliefs!”

“And ah shouldn’ go straight into a fight over a disagreement, especially with a dear friend of mine. Talking is always ta best solution!”

“I’m sorry Applejack.”

“I´m sorry Butterscotch.”

And since the animals had untied him they both shared a hug.

“…okay, who bet on they resolve their difference and learn a valuable moral lesson? Nopony? Of course not. You see? This is exactly why Tv these days its filled with girly shows about friendship and whathaveyou. That´s not how boys solve things! You should put your hooves in the air and get ready to rumble!”

“You´re right, Rainbow Blitz! Picture if that time we pretended to be Stallion Do-Good we have took your feeling in consideration! We will have never done that knowing you´ll be public humiliated!”

Rainbow Blitz put down his glasses a final time, this time with tears on his eyes. “W-why did you bring that up?”  

“No wait, Blitz! I didn’t mean too! Come back!”

Unaware of this whole drama, Applejack and Butterscotch placed a hoof on each other shoulder and pose for the local diary. Just then the roc cackled a final time and left the apple tree. They peeked inside the leaves and found a nest with two big eggs inside.

“So that´s what she does? Leave the eggs behind?”

“Yes, she brood the eggs for a few days but once they´re close to hatch the mother leaves the nest so the roc chicks learn to take care for themselves.”

“Well, mother nature knows best!”

“So, what are you going to do with the eggs?” Spines asked.

“Ah know exactly what tah do!”

…

“Soups on everypony!”

The smell of fried eggs was enthralling and the food was enough for the whole Apple family plus a few guests.

“Ah, don´be like that Scocth! Ah leave one of the eggs back in the barn!”

“You´re a horrible pony…”

Inside the barn, the cows were peacefully sleeping when suddenly a huge green monster jumped in.

“Booga-booga!”