Equestrian Diaries

"I still can't believe you did that," Trixie commented as the train rushed through the countryside.

"The Princess will understand, although I suspect the guards will be updating their wards. Say, Fluttershy, do you see anything useful on your Diary?"

Fluttershy nodded. "It looks like we'll be dealing with the same two who tried to run Applejack and her family off of their farm."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Flim and Flam?"

"Who're they?" Trixie asked.

Twilight replied, "Two brothers who seem to care about bits and nothing else, even of what happens to ponies that their business affects. They came to Ponyville with a machine for automatic cider, and tried to drive the Apple family out of business, but their arrogance eventually caught up to them."

"Hmm. Arrogance is indeed a very exploitable flaw. I would know."

"Yes, but we should still be careful. We shouldn't assume of what we're up against."

"Umm," Fluttershy said. "It seems they're on a sort of machine again."

"Well then we'll just bust their machine and chase them out of Ponyville!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"Which is all we're going to do. Our only goal is to stop them from hurting anypony and taking their Diaries back to Celestia," Twilight stated. "No pony will die today."

The other three nodded as Ponyville loomed ever closer.

The normally mostly peaceful streets of Ponyville were awash in an assortment of colors as various ponies streamed out of their homes, concerned about a growing fuss. A peculiar locomotive-like vehicle rolled through the middle of town—familiar, yet different in design. Whistles and horns sounded as if from a normal train, albeit a rather distorted one, but blew from an assortment of strange gears and tubes. On a pair of seats sat two nearly identical unicorn stallions, both with red and white manes and a light-tan coat. The two were distinguishable only by the mustache adorned by one, as well as their cutie marks.

The towns people glared, and some even booed, very clearly remembering the trouble Flim and Flam had caused them previously. The pair glanced towards the audience, then back to each other, smirking.

"Why look at these shining faces, they do seem excited. Why of our proposition, they should be delighted!" Flim shouted.

The crowd responded with more boos, a tomato making its way through. A green shield appeared and the fruit splashed on it, dripping onto the ground where a couple ponies were just standing before having backed up.

"I dare say, dear brother of mine, they are brimming with joy. Why don't we share it with them?" Flam continued for him.

"Nopony cares! Get out of our town!" shouted one.

Flim and Flam's expressions shifted to a glare, and the two whispered to each other briefly before shifting their attention back towards the crowd.

"We were going to do this civilly, even conduct a most lovely patter, but fine. We'll get to the point. Bring us Fluttershy, and we shall bid you adieu," Flim announced

After a pause, the crowd parted in the middle in front of Flim and Flam. The brothers grinned at first, before seeing the two ponies walking through. Applejack and Rainbow Dash, glares fixated on their faces, made their way in front of the machine.

"You're crazy if you think we'll just hand over our friend," Rainbow concluded, wings flaring and ready to take her into the air.

"What in tarnation do you want her for anyway?" Applejack asked.

"It's nothing of your concern, Miss Old Fashioned. Our business with First—I mean, Fluttershy, is between us and her."

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened briefly before she settled back to her glare.

"One of you is a Diary owner."

Flim and Flam glanced back towards each other, grinning widely, before turning back to her and simultaneously answering, "Incorrect."

Rainbow leaped into the air, leveling herself with them but still keeping back, narrowing her eyes.

"What's this diary thing, Dash?" Applejack asked.

"It would be more accurate to say we're both a Diary owner. Tenth, to be specific," Flam replied.

"And what does your Diary do? Something lame, I bet."

"Oh no. We believe ours to be the very best. Why, our Genius Diaries proclaim every genius moment of the other," Flim answered, smirking.

Dash smirked in return. "Actually giving out your Diaries' abilities doesn't sound very genius."

Flim and Flam frowned.

"It matters not," Flim retorted. "We'll crush you, whichever number you are."

This time, it was Rainbow's turn to frown.

"I'm not a part of this dumb fight to be a god thing, but I will not let you lay a hoof on my friend."

Applejack, irritated from being ignored, shouted, "Would somepony tell me what's goin' on?"

"Stay out of our way, then," Flim threatened. "Hurting others is not in our policy. As long as we have our way to the other Diary owners, we will happily leave everypony else alone."

"Go buck yourself."

In response, the horns of Flim and Flam flared up. From the machine extended a large claw, which extended to a nearby apple tree, ripped it out of the ground, and snapped the trunk with little time. A few pieces of shrapnel flew from the force of it, though luckily no one was hit. The crowd began to thin as more and more ponies started to back up, although Applejack and Rainbow stood their ground.

Applejack galloped over and attempted to give the machine an orchard's worth of bucking, but before her back hooves could connect, a green shield pulsed and rebounded the force back, tossing her several meters. The tough countrymare merely stood back up, however, ignoring the new scrapes she earned.

"Why that is the tackiest piece of metal I have ever laid my eyes on!" announced Rarity, casually trotting over to Applejack and Rainbow. "Your last machine was alright enough for me not to comment, not to mention your musical number was spectacular spectacular, and the suits complemented it rather well—"

"Rarity," groaned Applejack and Rainbow simultaneously.

"—but then you made these horrific additions, and what's more, you're using it to hurt my friends. That's two lines you're crossing."

The three mares prepared themselves to charge, only for a flash of magenta to appear between them and the machine. Fluttershy, Twilight, Trixie, and Apple Bloom all assumed defensive stances, the eyes of the last three daring Flim and Flam to make a move.

"Stop right there!" Twilight shouted. "The three behind us and the rest of Ponyville have nothing to do with this insane game. Don't involve them."

"They left us no choice." Flam shrugged.

"Somepony tell me what the hay is goin' on already!" Applejack shouted. "You ain't honestly telling us to stay back, are you? And Apple Bloom! Ah nearly wrangled Rainbow to find out you were runnin' to Canterlot to go find Fluttershy for some reason. Ah want you to run back home this instant, missy, and we can talk once we've run those no good con ponies out of town."

"Ah ain't budgin', big sis'," Apple Bloom replied.

"Applejack," Twilight interrupted. "We need her here. Please, we'll explain everything after."

"You may be one of my best friends, Twi', but ah ain't lettin' you put my little sis' in harm's way. Now—"

A pink hoof on Applejack's shoulder silenced her. The others around nearly did a double take upon suddenly seeing Pinkie Pie there.

"Applejack," Pinkie started, her voice startlingly low. The state of her mane, utterly flat and lifeless, caused Applejack to shudder ever so slightly. "Twilight is right. You need to let them handle this on their own."

"But Pinkie—"

Pinkie shook her head. Applejack gulped and stepped back. Rainbow Dash flew down towards them.

"Pinkie—" Rainbow started.

Pinkie shook her head again. Rainbow's shoulder's slumped. Rarity, after a pause, stepped back as well. Pinkie then stepped back with them, her knees twitching ever so slightly, nodding to Twilight.

Rainbow gasped as a claw was extending straight for Fluttershy while her back was turned. She was about to dash into the air, when a pink hoof holding down her chromatic tail stopped her.

Fluttershy extended her wings and jumped to the side. The claw grazed her side, eliciting an "eep", but beyond a scrape, she escaped without harm. The claw slammed into the earth, tossing dirt and a few pebbles around. The others around jumped slightly.

I want to hide so badly, Fluttershy thought, but with a gulp, forced the thought down and turned around to face the brothers.

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow shouted, then desperately looking at Pinkie Pie, who simply shook her head again.

"Please," Pinkie pleaded. "Just stay back."

Rainbow attempted to wiggle away, but Pinkie's grip was surprisingly far too firm. She finally settled, defeated. "Fine. But you four better make it out alive. Oh, and watch out, they have some sort of shield. Also, they both make up Tenth and their Diary allows them to see into their future genius moments, or at least so they say."

"Ah don't like it either, but Pinkie's never like this. I'll stay back—for now. Apple Bloom, you better come back so ah can tan your hide later," Applejack added.

"It looks like I was right about Fluttershy needing it," Rarity whispered to herself.

Fluttershy briefly turned her head back and gave a warm smile. "It'll be alright, girls."

With another magical application from the brothers, the machine extended a different component. It was cylindrical with a hole in the middle, resembling an odd sort of cannon. The mechanism began to spin, as a different component reached out to a nearby apple tree and started to suck apples, branches, and then the trunk. Out of the cylinder rapidly fired the remains of the tree. Twilight and Trixie's horns flared, and a mix of magenta and pink protected the group from the assault.

Flim and Flam continued to suck in trees, earning a grimace from Applejack, and pelt the shield with the machine's rapid fire.

"Psst," whispered Apple Bloom to Fluttershy. "Follow me."

As Flim and Flam were busy sipping cider while the machine was pelting the shield, Applejack and Fluttershy sneaked around the barrier and circled over to the machine.

"Try to climb onto the back here."

Fluttershy nodded and flew up. No barrier met her as she flew around to confront Flim and Flam directly.

"It's a good thing our diary lets us know of our genius ahead of time, isn't it, Flam?"

"Oh yes, Flim. This way we aren't too late with our ideas."

To that, as Fluttershy was stepping around, a jolt arched from the machine and caught onto her, frying the mare with electricity and causing her to fall into the waiting claw component.

"Fluttershy!" Apple Bloom and everypony else aside from Flim and Flam shouted. Apple Bloom added, "Ah don't understand, the Diary said it would work!"

The brothers smirked.

"Ah'm sorry, Fluttershy," Apple Bloom whispered to herself.

"Dead End for you, First," Flam announced.

"Fluttershy, the machine is strong, but it's powered and controlled by their magic! Use that against them!" Twilight shouted, desperately.

The claw began retracting, but it didn't go very far. The light glow of green instead flickered and the claw refused to retract further.

"What's going on!?" Flim and Flam shouted simultaneously.

Smoke flowed from the component as the green glow sputtered out. The claw opened up slightly, enough for Fluttershy to free herself and fall to the ground. Beyond being shaken up and somewhat singed, Fluttershy's smile to her friends calmed them. Turning up towards the brothers, however, Fluttershy's gaze turned into a frown—one of the very epitome of disappointment. Flim and Flam gulped.

"Now look what you've done," Fluttershy scolded. "You've attacked innocent ponies, tore up several apple trees, of which aren't yours, and nearly crushed me. What do you have to say for yourselves?"

"I, uh—"

"Well, we—"

The two stammered, before Flim finally managed to hoof a button. A dome slid into place, blocking the pair from view. Twilight and Trixie, in the midst of it, had ran over to Fluttershy and Apple Bloom. The machine stirred to life again, and the four opted to circling the machine to avoid the projectiles hurled by the cannon.

"I'm so glad you're alright, Fluttershy," Twilight sounded between breaths as they avoided more apples and wood from the now blindly firing cannon. "Now that we know their weakness, we can fight back. We don't need to attack directly, we just need to prevent them from using their machine."

"Actually attacking it to begin with is easier said than done, though," Trixie commented. "Any attack I thought of making would've failed."

"Which is why we're going after it indirectly. Fluttershy, do you think you can find a way to disable the shielding?"

"I-I can figure something out."

"Trixie, help me disable the cannon."

Trixie nodded, and the two unicorns conjured up their magic together to form a moving shield in front of the cannon. Wood and fruit splashed against it, and while the mares conjuring the shield were sweating with the effort, it held.

"Apple Bloom, see if you can help Fluttershy out with disabling the machine, but please be careful."

"Ye-yes."

With then cannon unable to hit them, Twilight focused her magic to then lift a nearby boulder and lead it over to the sucking component. The effort of both maintaining a shield and moving the boulder showed, but only a short few seconds passed before it was over. The component attempted to suck it up, but upon doing so, it sputtered and shook. Lacking a supply of ammunition, the cannon ceased fire, and the unicorn pair dropped the shield.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy, after a quick check from Apple Bloom and her own Diary, opted to press her hooves on the shield and disrupt it directly. While it threatened to push her back, Fluttershy focused with all of her ability, her pulsing gem glowing bright. Flim and Flam, realizing her intent, brought the machine into motion, rolling away and disrupting her concentration. Fluttershy fell onto the ground, but quickly stood up and leaped back to avoid being flattened.

Lacking weapons, the brothers opted for chasing the mares around. The large, clunky machine could not keep up with the small targets, however. Finally, it stopped, and a shimmering appeared before falling completely. The dome raised, revealing the pair.

Flim and Flam shot a few raw bolts of green magic towards the mares. Twilight and Trixie stopped the ones heading to themselves without problem, but Fluttershy covered Apple Bloom as one headed for her. The blast hit her, eliciting an eep, but she turned back around to glare at the offenders.

With the shield gone, Twilight decided to fire several shots of raw magic at key areas of the machine, smoke billowing.

"Give up," Twilight ordered. "We've wiped out your machine. There's no escape. Hand over the Diaries and step out of the vehicle. Princess Celestia will ultimately decide what to do with them."

Flim and Flam turned towards each other, a hushed conversation taking place. They then looked at their respective Diaries, grinned, and pressed separate buttons on opposite sides. The chairs flung them sideways, revealing a spring beneath. The two were flung into the distance before any could react.

"We were so close!" Twilight shouted, exasperated.

"Ponyville is safe, though. That's the important thing," Fluttershy quickly said to ease the failure.

"But they'll be free to try again."

"Please!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "I can go after them, there's no way—"

"This isn't your fight," Fluttershy argued, shaking her head. "And as much as we hate fighting, it's ours to bare. Please don't put yourself in danger, Rainbow."

"Well, whatever they try, they ain't gonna be able to wreck Ponyville. Ya showed them that," Applejack added. Then, frowning, she continued, "Now, one of ya'll better explain what the hay is goin' on."

Several ponies were cautiously making their way back towards the scene, several cheering in the process, others nervously looking around to see if the situation really was settled.

"Let's head over to a quieter area." Twilight suggested before leading the group of eight over towards the library.

Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie all listened, rarely interrupting, as Twilight explained the events of the past couple weeks, assisted a little by Trixie, and added to by Apple Bloom for her parts.

Throughout, Pinkie Pie was simply a melancholy statue. Rainbow Dash was stoic, already being partially familiar with the situation. Rarity wore a grim expression. Applejack, meanwhile shook in her seat. Her expression continuously hardened, and slowly clenched her jaw further and further. When Twilight recounted to the train ride that current day, Applejack appeared ready to buck someone's head off.

"The nerve of her—" Applejack said, quietly. Then, shouting, "The nerve of her! Ah don't care who this Harmony thing is, ah don't care if she's a bucking god or what, what gave her the bright idea of putting my sister in this situation? She's just a filly! A darn filly, told to kill or be killed. Harmony! Wherever the buck you are, show and explain yourself!"

After the outburst, Applejack became eerily silent, waiting for a response. The seconds ticked by, none saying a word. Applejack shouted, and started galloping to the door, when a smaller form jumped on her back. She instinctively threw the pony off, sending her into a bookshelf on the opposite side. Turning around, her anger faltered upon seeing she just tossed her own sister.

"Apple Bloom! Ah-I—"

Apple Bloom stood and shook off the books that had fallen, much to Twilight's dismay, who re-shelved the books while still taking note of the situation.

"Ya gotta calm down, 'sis." Apple Bloom walked calmly towards Applejack.

"How can ah, Bloom, when ah hear you were nearly killed twice, and could very well lose your life as this drags on? Ah don't want to lose you too."

Apple Bloom embraced Applejack in a tight hug. The pair stayed in the hug for several seconds before letting go.

"Don't worry, big sis'. Princess Celestia said she would make it all alright."

"Can she really? Even if it stops here, she can't undo what just happened. At the very least, though, ah ain't losing you. Come back with me to the farm, Apple Bloom."

"That would be unwise," Trixie interrupted. "They'll target her."

"Ah'll stop them. They ain't touchin' my family," Applejack argued.

Twilight shook her head. "You'll be no match for them. We'll take Apple Bloom back with us to the Princesses. She'll be safer with us until this whole thing blows over."

"Don't ah get a say in this?" Apple Bloom asked.

"And then ya'll will run back out after some other attack, and Apple Bloom will follow you, and she might not make it alive."

"Please, big sis'. Ah followed them cuz Ponyville was in danger. You would've done the same thing."

"Darnit, Apple Bloom, would ya just listen?"

"Would you listen?!"

"Girls!" Rarity interrupted. "Please, let's be more civilized. Applejack, I agree with Twilight, Trixie, and Apple Bloom here. I'm sorry, but it probably really would be best if she follow them to the safety of the Princesses."

Applejack looked towards Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie to see the two of them shaking their heads. She then looked desperately towards Fluttershy, who shifted her glance towards the ground.

"Fine. Ah'll be at the farm. Please, Apple Bloom, please come home safe when you can."

With that, Applejack, defeated, silently headed out the door.

"Why couldn't the new big crisis be just a large scary monster?" Rainbow asked. "You know, something we could gather up the elements for and shoot it with a giant awesome rainbow?"

"We'll get through this," Twilight halfheartedly stated. "Just as long as we stick together and remain friends, we can get through anything. Right?"

"Darling, what if you have to finish it?"

"F-finish it?"

"I must say, this Harmony is going about choosing a successor in a truly barbaric way. But do you even have a plan, Twilight?"

"A plan? I-I—Princess Celestia will think of something, I'm sure of it."

"If you say so, Twilight." Rarity turned towards Fluttershy. "How's the pulsing gem, dear?"

"Oh, it's been a great help. Thank you again, Rarity."

"Stay safe, all of you. I'm afraid I must go check on Sweetie Belle. Did you want to see her, Apple Bloom?"

"Ah don't think she wants to see me."

Rarity worriedly looked towards Apple Bloom for a second before heading out the door.

"Hey, Pinkie? How'd you know to keep them—" Twilight looked around and realized Pinkie was no longer in the room. Shaking her head, she looked towards the nearby desk. "I better write Celestia a letter."

Twilight, with a small application of magic, drew out a quill and a piece of paper and began writing.

"I really should go check on my animals—"

"—wait, Fluttershy, we shouldn't split up, and I need to deliver this to Spike, anyways."

Fluttershy nodded, and a minute passed as Twilight wrote.

"—and, done!" Twilight announced, then nodded. Twilight, Trixie, and Apple Bloom followed Fluttershy as they made their way towards her cottage. Several townsponies waved or said hello, but beyond polite reciprocation, nothing was said.

Inside the cottage, Spike slept on the sofa with Owlicious on his head and Gummy biting the dragon's tail. Beyond incomprehensible chatter from a few animals scurrying about, the home was quiet and devoid of chaos.

"Hey, Spike!" Twilight called. "I've got a juicy topaz for you!"

Spike leaped, much to Owlicious's displeasure but with Gummy still attached, and with a rush appeared at Twilight's side, drool dripping from his snout. Twilight dangled a topaz just over, and he attempted to grab it, only for it to float above its grasp.

"Wait, Spike, I need you to send a letter."

Spike raised an eyebrow.

"That's it? Not that I'm complaining, but usually a topaz means more than sending a letter." Spike rubbed his eyes. "Morning, by the way."

"Well, I needed you up to send this letter now, plus you've been performing your mission quite admirably."

"Oh yes," Fluttershy commented. "It's quite calm. Though, why is Gummy here?"

After sending the letter away with a breath of fire, Spike looked back and forth. "What are you talking about? Gummy isn't here."

Before one of the ponies could retort, Spike belched, a letter appearing.

"That was fast," Twilight commented.

"What does it say?" Trixie asked, as Twilight quickly scanned the letter.

"Celestia wants us to stay put in Ponyville until a carriage picks us up at about 7:45 in front of the library."

"Aww, you're leaving again already, Twilight?"

"Yeah, sorry Spike. Still counting on you to maintain the cottage for Fluttershy."

Spike saluted, which briefly earned a giggle from Twilight before she glanced solemnly at Fluttershy, then Trixie, and then Apple Bloom.