"You shoulda seen it!"

Rainbow Dash was busy telling the others, Meowth included, all about what her and Josh had done in getting the clouds cleared so quickly. All the while everypony else was slurping on shakes and munching on pastries at one of the tables inside the bakery.

"It was like zoom zam zoop!!!", Rainbow Dash exclaimed waving her hooves in the air with a flourish that would have rivaled that of Pinkie Pie before taking a bite from her pie and talking, crumbs spraying everywhere through her muffled speech, "We lit up the sky! It was so awesome!!"

"Yech...", Rarity groaned, shielding herself from the crumb shower, "Say it, don't spray it!"

Applejack merely grinned as she munched on the triple-decker smore and butter sandwich she had ordered. "Sounds like you both were workin' up a mighty storm!"

"Nah... It wasn't anything special...", Josh blushed, "Rainbow Dash did all the real work."

"Don't be so shy!", Meowth added getting a nod from Fluttershy, "It sounds like ya did a darn good job!"

"Yeah!", Twilight added, "I saw the sky on my way here. It looks beautiful!"

This brought a blush from both Josh and Rainbow Dash and made the others giggle as the pegasus swallowed with pride.

"Well, like I've said before, I'm the best there is here!!!", she boasted.

"Oy.. here we go again..", Applejack muttered as she turned back to her sandwich. But before the cyan equine could say anything, a sharp husky voice cut her off.

"Oh I do beg to differ, oh ho ho!"

Hearing that voice made the cowpony, as well as everyone else but Josh and Meowth roll their eyes in annoyance.

"Not him again...", Applejack muttered.

"Every year he does this... why here???", Fluttershy whimpered.

"Who???", Josh couldn't help but ask. "Who is it???"

"Huh! I see someone here doesn't know of the great Champange!"

Turning around, Josh got a good look at who the others were shirking from. It was a large white unicorn, although the aura around him was far from the one around Rarity and Celestia, rather one of narcissism and false pride. A wave of thick blonde hair comprised its mane and tail, a mark depicting a giant sandwich with an olive in it adorning its flank.

"I'm surprised someone hasn't heard of the royal eater and conniseur of Equestria!", he boasted.

"You think you're so special just because you can gorge yourself??", Rarity replied, "That's just grotesque!"

"What makes you so much better than us??", Applejack demanded, "Just because your stomach's massive doesn't mean your ego should be too!"

"Whoa! Whoa!", Meowth cried, putting his paws up to try and stop the argument before he spoke again, "Could someone tell me and Josh who dis guy is????"

"Hmph! It's typical a new nobody like him knows nothing about my greatness! I'm the 10-time champion of the Equestria-Wide Royal Eater's Competition!"

"The wha???", Josh asked as he scratched his head bewildered.

"Ugh...", Rarity groaned, rolling her sapphire-colored eyes, "It's this ghastly eating competition where a bunch of ponies get together to see who can gorge the most food down before revisiting it..."

"Yeah, and ChamPAIN here has won it 10 years in a row!", Rainbow Dash added, making Meowth snicker and the unicorn snort in disdain.

"I have set a streak unlike any other equine in Equestria... one I know not even your shoddy Rainbow Dash could end!", he scoffed.

"Wait just a second!", Applejack growled, "Rainbow Dash could beat you in 10 seconds flat! I could do the same!!!"

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but blush a bit at Applejack standing up for her, but she cleared her throat and joined in. "Yeah! We're two of the biggest chowponys in all of Ponyville!"

"I can back that up...", Fluttershy whispered to Meowth, "I've seen Rainbow Dash put away 4 full pizzas after a hard practice and Applejack can wolf down a buffet quicker than any other pony here."

The cat-pokemon whistled as he looked at Rainbow Dash. "So why not join??", he asked.

This made the unicorn burst out in laughter. Hearing the snobby equine howling in laughter made the cowpony and pegasus both scowl at him in anger.

"And just what is so dang funny?", Applejack asked with a snarl.

"You two... you think YOU could beat me?!?", Champange whooped, "That is richer than my expensive chocolates! A cowpony and a scruffy pegasus beating a world-champion glutton?!?"

"Hey, who says they couldn't beat you???", Pinkie Pie piped in, "I could beat you too you big meanie! But I'm getting paid big bits for announcing it!"

"Yeah, you're just using that as a pitiful excuse to hide the fact you can't beat me...."

"Ok! THAT'S IT!", Rainbow Dash shouted as she got to her hooves, bumping the table and nearly spilling the milkshakes, "You think we're small stuff??? Well I think maybe I'll be joining that competition after all!!"

"Count me in too, sugar!", Applejack shouted, standing beside her, "We'll both whoop you in anything!!!!!"

"Oh???", Champange asked bemused, "And how do you two ruffians expect to get trained in time??"

"I'll do it!"

As everyone looked towards him, Josh got to his feet and pounded the table. He had never heard such a blowhard in his life and it was getting on his last nerve... especially when he was mocking his friends. "I'll train them! Hell, I bet we'll all help, right?!?"

"Yeah!!!", Pinkie Pie squealed rubbing her hooves, "It'll be super-duperiffic fun!!!"

"I... I could prepare some good dishes for them....", Fluttershy added.

"I'll help with exercises for their bellies!", Twilight piped in.

"I'll get together some big recipes for dem!", Meowth added as well.

"Well count me out!", Rarity scoffed, turning away, "This is one contest I want no part of! If you want to go ahead and make yourselves vomit, that's all on you."

"Well look at it this way," Champange grinned, "At least when they spew, they can use your ratty clothing to wipe themselves down!"

That one sentence produced an almost audible snap in the fashionestra's head as she looked at the fellow unicorn, her eye twitching in shock. Everyone else, even Rainbow Dash, was scared to say anything. If they knew anything about Rarity, it was simply this.... NEVER EVER INSULT HER WORK!

"What.... did you say???", Rarity whispered, barely containing her rage.

"Your designs always were pathetic! Compared to my own private designers, barf bags is all those scraps are good for! In fact, I bet that's why you got passed over by Photo Finish!"

This left the element of Generosity sputtering and stumbling as she tried to speak. Seeing her at a loss for words, Champange grinned and turned to head off.

"If you choose to do yourselves in trying to beat me, that's up to you.... it'll be fun to watch you both fail like every other eater! Ta-ta!!"

With that, the blonde-maned unicorn strolled off, using his magic to steal not only Applejack's sandwich, but the sandwiches of the two pegasi at the next table over. Rarity couldn't do anything but look in shock at him heading off. As scared as the others were, they knew one of them had to break the silence and to their surprise, it was Fluttershy who spoke first!

"Rarity... are you ok?"

It was then Rarity let out a scream, one of sheer unfiltered rage. It was so loud Twilight swore she could hear the windows in the library rattle from the vibrations. Meowth had to cover his big ears from the sound in order to stop the ringing that was going through his head and Applejack was faring no better, pulling her hat down on her ears to try and diminish the sound somewhat. Rainbow Dash, Josh, and Fluttershy were trying to use their wings to shield their own hearing, to no avail. It was almost 15 seconds before her scream finally died down, allowing the others, as well as every other pony in a 4-mile vicinity, to uncover their ears. As they all looked at her in shock, they could see her face was no longer white, but now beet red! Even her irises seemed to glow with that red sheen and it scared the bits out of all of them.

"HE...... CALLED MY WORK........ SCRAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", she roared, her voice so fiery it was a miracle flames weren't spraying from her throat, "HOW.... DARE...... HE!!!!!!!!!"

Finally, she turned towards Rainbow Dash and Applejack, both of whom were looking at her in a mix of shock and fear. "Count me in!! I'll make beautiful blankets for you both..... We'll show that horse's ass whose work is nothing but scraps!!! Gahh!!!"

With that, the unicorn ran off with steam still almost literally shooting from her ears and leaving 5 ponies, a human, and a cat-pokemon looking at her in shock for a few moments before all the eyes turned back towards Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

"Are you two sure you want to do this??", Twilight asked again, "You do know what this could end up leading to, right?"

"So we lose our lunches once or twice... it'll be worth it to put that creep in his place!', the pegasus asserted.

"No one backtalks Applejack and gets away with it!!!", Applejack added with a snort, "Why we're two of the most skilled ponies around!!!!!"

"Somehow I don't tink dey're joking..", Meowth thought to himself before he turned towards Twilight, "So what do we do to help dem train???"

"Well first thing is to gather everyone at the library so we can strategize!"

"Um, wouldn't it be better to meet at Sugarcube Corner... since there's so much food there?", Josh asked only to be met with a shake of disagreement from the unicorn.

"If we're going to do this right, we need to plan a schedule and everything... Everyone follow me!!", she replied before trotting off towards the library and leaving Meowth looking at her in awe for a moment before he turned to Pinkie Pie.

"Is she always that stuck on details??"

"Hee hee, you should see her at our annual Winter Wrap-Up!", Pinkie Pie laughed before she went off after her with Meowth and Fluttershy following behind. But Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Josh stayed behind.

"Are you guys sure about this?", Josh couldn't help but ask.

"That creep called us lame!", Rainbow Dash seethed.

"He called us pathetic!", Applejack added before they both spoke in unison.

"NO ONE TALKS ABOUT US LIKE THAT AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!!!!"

Without wasting another second, the two equine sped off towards the others leaving just Josh standing at the table for a few seconds.

"Rainbow Dash, my love..... Applejack, one of my best friends...", he whispered to himself as he picked up his half-drunk shake from the table and slurped from it, "I'll do all I can to help you both....."

Finishing the chocolatey treat, Josh set the cup back down on the table and took to the air. His legs were still a bit wobbly from his limp so he tried to fly whenever he could... he just hoped that soon he'd be able to walk again.

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

As everyone gathered in Twilight's library home, the unicorn couldn't help but be amazed at the group that had amassed. Not only had all her friends shown up, but Sweetie Belle and Rarity's parents Diamond and Jewel, as well as Granny Smith, Applebloom, and Scootaloo as well. But the question was why??

"I thought you told me only your friends, Meowth, and Josh were gonna be showing up.", Spike remarked, "Why are Rarity and Applejack's families here too??"

"Spike, I'm as lost as you are..", Twilight admitted before Rainbow Dash flew up next to her.

"I told them all!", she grinned before heading back over to Applejack, since they were both the subjects of the gathering.

"Yeah!", Granny Smith chirped in through her shaky voice, "Seems her and my Applepoo are going in for some fancy eat-em-off!"

"That Champange... he's always been a thorn in Canterlot's side!", Diamond added, resting his hoof on his daughters back, "But ridiculing our treasures designs..... UNFORGIVEABLE!!!!"

"The NERVE!!", Jewel added, padding back her bouffant mane.

"It's great so many of you want to help us...", Fluttershy admitted before turning to Twilight. She noticed one individual hadn't shown up yet and it had gotten her worried. "Um, Twilight... what's keeping Josh so long?"

Hearing that question sent shudders through her head, remembering what happened at the last gathering he was late for.... How he'd almost died.... Immediately, she ran over to Pinkie Pie, who was busy talking with Meowth about the contest.

"So then all the remaining ponies go through one last round... which I call the sweet finish!!", the pink party pony squealed

"Why do ya call it that?", Meowth couldn't help but ask as he scratched his cheek with a claw.

"Because there's so many desserts that by the time it's over, EVERYONE will have their sweet teeth filled!", she smiled, "Plus, Sugarcube Corner always gets to serve the excess goodies after the contest! It's a free dessert spectacular!!!"

Meowth rubbed his belly in hunger just thinking about it, but then he noticed the lavender unicorn approaching them and he called out to her. "Hey, Twilight! What's up???"

"Pinkie Pie? Have you... felt any Pinkie senses today? Josh hasn't shown up and...."

With a unusually soft smile, Pinkie Pie shook her head. "Nope! Not a twitchy-twitch all day!!"

Meowth was about to ask what Pinkie senses and twitchy-twitches were, but a knock at Twilight's door broke his thought and as he watched her open the doorway, he smiled at seeing his best friend standing at the threshold and a cheer ran throughout the library at seeing him get there safe.

"Jeez!", the pegasus human grinned, "You all act like I just won the lottery!"

This got a big laugh as all the eyes turned to Twilight Sparkle, now back at the head of the library where a podium had been set up. Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat behind her, a blush in both their cheeks at everyone clamoring over them.

"As everypony here has probably heard by now, Rainbow Dash and Applejack are going to attempt to give the Equestria-renowned glutton and jackass, Champange, a taste of his own sugar-coated medicine!"

Another cheer rang through the library, this time directed at the two ponies behind Twilight, making them both chuckle softly.

"I know to a lot of you this may not seem a big deal.. but I've done a little research on Champange and I've learned that he's got a habit of bringing down not just the champions of other towns... but their entire cities. By the time he's finished with them, it takes MONTHS for their markets to recover from his CLEANING them out, taking every bit of food for himself!!"

A loud gasp echoed through the small crowd. Their market was pretty small as it was compared to some of the bigger cities like San Franciscolt, Manehattan, and Las Pegasus. If Champange tried to clean them out, it would take months, if not YEARS to fully recover from his sting.

"What makes him think he has that right???", Granny Smith cried out, "Doesn't he know what that can do to a poor town!!"

"Um..", Applejack blushed, "Granny, we ain't exactly poor..."

"You know what I mean!!!"

"Indeed I do.", Twilight added, "But now we've got two of Ponyvilles biggest chowponies ready to take him on in 2 weeks at the EWREC!"

This produced a big cheer as Rainbow Dash and Applejack waved to the crowd, the former posing and blowing kisses.

"But if they want to win, we're all going to need to help them train! Are you ponies with me???"

In unison, the whole crowd yelled their support, making Twilight clap her hooves happily. "Fantastic! So I've divided up the duties for each pony so we'll each be able to take turns helping---"

"Um, Twilight...", Josh cut in shyly, "I was wondering if maybe I could take care getting training set up. I do know a few tricks from my world."

"Yeah, but if we plan it all out, we can get it done efficiently and get in the maximum amount of training!"

"Twi, sugar...", Applejack butted in, "We're just training for an eating contest, not for one of your fancy magical tests."

"I know...", Twilight replied, looking down, "I just like being organized..."

Josh smiled as he looked at the lavender unicorn. "I know and there's nothing wrong with that. But I'd like a chance to show my skills as a trainer. I've heard that you run the Winter Wrap-Up with precision and poise and I'd like to see if I can't do for this training what you do for that."

Twilight was flattered that the others had talked about her organization so fondly and at the same time, she began to wonder what Josh had in mind. "Ok, ok... Josh you can take the helm, but I'm gonna be watching you. Understand?"

The human pegasus nodded, but couldn't help giving a silent "Yes!" in his head as he rubbed his palms together and took a spot at the podium up front. Looking at the sea of expectant faces, he swallowed and took a breath before he spoke.

"Ok, so if we're gonna show this SHAMPange pony what Applejack and Rainbow Dash can do... we all need to help them train! I was doin' a little thinking on my way here and I think I got an idea what we all can do.... everypony listening?"

"We're listening! Get on with it already!", Granny Smith shouted, getting a big laugh from everyone and making the three at the head blush.

"Ok, ok! Granny Smith, you're one of the best bakers in Ponyville, so you, Pinkie Pie, and the Cakes work on the more fattening foods. I get the feeling we're gonna need to expand their stomaches for this contest.."

"You got it, Spanky!", Granny Smith called out, causing a wave of hysterical laughter to ring out. Spike and Meowth were laughing so hard they were nearly crying and Rarity already WAS! Applejack and Rainbow Dash were supporting each other in shaken guffaws and even Fluttershy was on the ground laughing.

"Yeah, ha ha...", Josh muttered as he looked at everyone laughing and carrying on. Admittedly, he wasn't exactly at ease with everyone laughing AT him, since he was still self-concious about all his injuries. He knew Granny Smith hadn't meant anything bad by Spanky, but he was still a little uneasy. "Fluttershy and Meowth, you two I know are some of the best healthy cooks around. If anyone's tried Meowth's sandwiches and Fluttershy's Springwater Salad... you know what I mean!"

At this, everypony started clamoring again making the two blush. In his short time in Ponyville, Meowth had already come up with a recipe for sandwiches that could have rivaled that of any great chef and Fluttershy's salad was renowned throughout town as a favorite not just of all the ponies, but of all the creatures in Ponyville!

"Um... thanks, Josh...", Fluttershy squeaked out, "We'll do our best...."

Josh looked around the room and let his gaze fall upon the big red colt standing near Applebloom and Granny Smith. He'd already learned from Applejack that it was her big brother and he had a feeling there was something in particular he could help them with. "Big MacIntosh??", he called out.

"Eeyup?", the red colt calmly uttered, a single strand of hayseed hanging from his mouth like a lollipop stick.

"Applejack told me that you're sort of the brawns of the Apple family, is that correct?"

"Eeyup.", Big MacIntosh repeated.

The fact that he was only saying the same word over and over began to unnerve the human and he couldn't help but gulp in nervousness. "Um... I was thinking maybe you could maybe help your sister and Rainbow Dash in physical exercises and maybe helping with their share of the chores since they may get a little too heavy to be able to move much?"

"Eeyup.", The colt repeated with a shrug and this time Josh's nerve broke.

"Oh for gods sake, can you say anything else?!?", he blurted out before covering his mouth in shock.

To everyone's surprise, Big MacIntosh strolled up to the podium and looked at the human quizzically before replying in the same cool drawl.

"I di'nt think I needed to, Spanky."

The laughter grew uproarious as Josh just smacked his head down on the podium, letting his arms fall limply as he listened to everyone shrieking in hysterical guffaws as Big MacIntosh merely grinned at having gotten such a reaction from the teen. He could hear Josh muttering to himself in frustration and it was all the colt could do to keep from snickering himself. Finally, the human lifted his head up from the podium and looked back at the crowd, focusing his attention on Rarity, Diamond, and Jewel.

"Rarity, can you and your folks get together some blankets and shirts and the like? I'm betting we all want to show Champange that Ponyville's got the skills to the pay the bills, am I right?!?"

The crowd cheered as Diamond called out. "It'll be no problem! We can whip something up in a jiffy!"

"It's going to be fun watching this royal contest... seeing all the action and glamour of the cameras!", Jewel squealed, clapping her hooves.

"But most of all... it'll be a pleasure to put that... that....", Rarity steamed, trying desperately not to curse in front of the younger fillies, "That CREEP in his place!!!!"

Josh nodded as he turned to Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, I need you to help me in taking care of them if.... if things get messy. I'm sure Sweetie Belle knows what I'm talking about."

This produced a blush from the unicorn, knowing that Josh was referring to her losing her breakfast on Applebloom after trying to get a cutie mark in tire swinging.

"Anything else? We want to do whatever we can to help as...", Applebloom called out before the three of them shouted out in unison

"THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!!!!"

The wave of sound from their shouting actually knocked Josh back against the bookshelf, his jacket blown back like a cape. Managing barely to stay on his wounded legs, Josh staggered back to the podium and looked at the beaming faces of the blank-flanked fillies.

"Well I certainly admire your enthusiasm. Maybe you gals can help Granny, Pinkie, and the Cakes with the baking?"

"You got it! Cutie Mark Bakers to the rescue!", Scootaloo cheered, spreading her forelegs out with a flourish.

The teen just shook his head in amazement as he turned to Twilight Sparkle. "Twilight, Spike and I will take the helm of the training... since it's not likely I can do this solo and Twilight DOES have some exceptional leadership skills."

At hearing the murmuring of agreement from the other ponies, Twilight couldn't help but blush as Josh turned around towards the two ponies behind him on chairs.

"Applejack and Rainbow Dash.... I want to make sure you two are up to this. This isn't gonna be easy."

"Sure, we're sure!!", Rainbow Dash asserted, "That jerk made fun of us! We're not gonna let him get away with it!!!!!"

"That's right! It's time for Ponyvilles chowponys to put this blowhard in his place!!!!", Applejack added, getting a big cheer from the crowd.

"Ok, ok! I believe you two!", Josh said, putting his hands up, "First thing though.... I need to know what kinds of foods are your favorites? Obviously, one of the parts of getting you ready will be massive eating and I want to know what to prepare! I don't want to make a big meal and have it be wasted... I don't think any of us do!"

"Spanky's got a point there!", Granny Smith agreed, getting another chuckle.

"Ok seriously, Granny Smith.... stop. My name's not.... oh forget it!", Josh sputtered before refocusing on the two ponies.

"Well, sugar... I'm partial to apples, sandwiches, and pastries.", Applejack admitted.

"I'm more into a nice pizza or a burger.", Rainbow Dash added. The second item made Josh start sputtering again, his eyes widening.

"Whoa! Hold up! You eat meat????"

"Well sure.", Big MacIntosh replied in a drawl, "You didn't think we were all vegetarian, did you?"

"Actually... I kinda did!", Josh admitted rubbing his hand behind his head.

"Nah, we do eat meat.", Applejack replied, "We just don't eat it from Ponyville. We always get shipments from other places in Equestria. That way, we know we're not----"

"Ok, I get it!", Josh cut her off, not exactly wanting her to finish that sentence, "But it sounds like we've all got our jobs planned! Tomorrow... we start prepping Rainbow Dash and Applejack for the EWREC! We're not just doing this for pride... we're doing it for all of Ponyville!!!! He may take our food... but he'll never take our FREEDOM!!!!!"

Raising his fist in the air, Josh let out a whoop. Then he looked at the ponies all staring at him and a deep blush ran onto his cheeks. Even Spike and Meowth were looking at him puzzled.

"Sorry... I got a bit carried away.. heh heh...."