Author's Note

It's the Apple Family vs. the Flim Flam brothers and Dazzling in a game of Quixort.

July 9-Quixort

Apple Bloom lays down in the hammock, thinking about her little victory at Drawful. Soon, she sees something in the sky.

"Looks like them clouds are getting darker." Apple Bloom said to herself. "Maybe I better head back inside before it starts to rain."

Getting off the hammock, she heads back inside. Only to be met inside by Applejack.

"Howdy, sis." Applejack greeted warmly.

"Hey, Applejack." Apple Bloom said nervously. "What did I do now?"

"Nothin'. I'm trying to put your dark past in the past. Remember?"

Apple Bloom soon realized that her sister is trying to rekindle their relationship. "Oh yeah. Sorry."

"No worries. I don't blame ya for being nervous." Applejack said as she gives her sister a small hug. "Anyway, me and the family can use your help."

"Help in what?"

"Well, slip on your sneakers and grab your rain gear. The way them skies look, you might need them."

Later, Applejack and Apple Bloom are on the road in Applejack's truck. They both see rain coming down.

"Good thing this won't be a hard rain." Applejack informed. "That always makes traveling more hazardous."

The truck stops in front of a factory where Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Braeburn were waiting. They wore rain gear and holding umbrellas to keep dry. The Apple sisters got out of the truck.

"Howdy, Apple Bloom." Granny Smith greeted. "Welcome to the Quixort Factory."

"Quixort Factory?" Apple Bloom said in confusion.

"Let's just get inside before we get soaked."

The family were given clearance to enter the factory. Apple Bloom looked around, and sees all of the small robots flying around.

"So, what are we doin' here?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Well, sis." Applejack started to explain. "As you know, in Quixort, players use robots like these to put words in a certain order, depending on the prompt."

"I remember."

"Anyway, our family is challenged to a Quixort game." She then got annoyed. "And, those are the ones who threw the gauntlet."

Apple Bloom got upset when she saw the Flim Flam brothers and the Dazzlings.

"You twin tricksters are at it again, huh?" Apple Bloom said angrily.

"Indeed we are." Flim answered. "A game of Quixort is a great way to defeat you foolish Apples."

Flam stepped up. "And, who better to join forces with us than the Dazzlings. Right, Miss Dazzle."

"Correct, Flim Flam brothers." Adagio Dazzle replied.

Soon, a female robotic voice called to them. "Okay, teams. Now that you're here, we can begin the challenges. You'll each receive a prompt. Then, put the words you'll be given into the correct order."

The two sides agreed. The voice calls to them again. "Team Flim Flam, your prompt is 'Presidents of the 20th and 21st century. Team Apple, your prompt is 'Train cars of the Defeatist Limited'."

Apple Bloom's eyes widened. "I think we got the best prompt."

"Ya sure?" Braeburn asked.

"Uh huh."

"Teams," the female voice calls out, "man your stations and let's begin."

The two teams got to respected stations. When the whistle blows, the game strated. In the base of Team Flim Flam, Aria Blaze directed a robot with a block reading, Nixon'.

"This can be a bit tricky." Aria figured. "Determining the order of these blocks will have to require knowledge of the correct order."

After placing the block down, it was Flim's turn. His robot carried a block reading 'Bush'.

"I know this block could be later than Nixon." Flim said.

Meanwhile, Team Apple had a block labeled 'Hot Air' set. Braeburn directed a block labeled 'Apple Cart' at the far end.

"Are you sure about this, Apple Bloom?" Braeburn asked.

"I'm sure." Apple Bloom replied. "I remember watching that animated short, Hell Bent For Election, as part of a class project."

"That's right." Applejack realized. "The Defeatist Limited represented bad things that could happen if the wrong person is elected for President."

As the block was set, Apple Bloom guided a robot carrying a block reading 'High Prices'. "That goes in the middle, between Hot Air and Apple Cart."

On the side of Team Flim Flam, Flam directed a robot with a block reading 'Grant' over to a furnace.

"Even I know some of these blocks are red herrings." Flam said proudly.

The block that didn't belong got melted as Flam turned to one of his team mates. "You're next, Miss Dazzle."

"Thank you, sir." Adagio replied.

Over with Team Apple, Granny Smith directed a block reading 'Business as Usual', and placed in on top of a block reading 'Poor housing'.

"There we go." Granny Smith said happily. "How's that?"

"Excellent." Apple Bloom replied. “Right where it should be."

Minutes later, the whistle sounded. Both teams stepped away from the machinery. The female voice called out to the first team. "You did good, Team Flim Flam. You did make a mistake though."

The five fiends saw that blocks reading 'Bush' and 'Bush Jr.' are next to each other.

"That's right." Flim realized. "Clinton came after Bush senior and before Bush Junior."

"Nobody's perfect." Adagio said with comfort.

The robotic voice spoke again. "Team Apple, you did a good job. In fact, it's a perfect alignment."

The Apple Family looked at their station. All the blocks were positioned perfectly. From Dewey engine to Jim Crow Car. The family cheered, knowing they won the challenge. Their opponents realized that Applejack and her family did a good job. Sonata Dusk gave them an evil eye. "We'll get you next time."

Later, the rain stopped as the Apple Family exited the Quixort Factory.

"How about that." Apple Bloom realized. "The sun broke through the clouds and the storm is over."

"Just like the storm I caused is over." Applejack added. "You lead us good, Apple Bloom."

Apple Bloom shed tears of joy as Applejack gave her a warm embrace. Big Mac, Granny Smith, and Braeburn each gave her a hug, knowing that she lead them to victory. Later, after returning to her summer house, Apple Bloom took off her boots, and laid down on her bed, considering the hammock is too wet from the rain.