Applejack watched One Tone roll the body-containing barrel into the back door of his pet supply store in Ponyville. A small sack of her coin was clenched in his teeth. Well, that's taken care of. She pulled her cart away from the shop and mentally reviewed her to-do list.

Talk to the guard chief, train tickets for Granny and Apple Bloom, get these letters sent... After that, we just have to hold out and hope the Brothers are too busy making money to finish us off.

Applejack stifled a yawn. She hadn't slept at all last night; every sound, from the creaking of the house to the animals milling around outside, echoed in her ears like a trumpet. As she had lain there, wide-eyed awake, she realized there wasn't any way for them to win. The Brothers had them out-produced and out-ponied, and Granny's rifle wasn't nearly enough of an equalizer. It was only a matter of time.

That's when a new plan began to form in her head.

She shook her head, pulling herself out of her memory. As she passed the Town Square, she noted the time on the big clock: almost nine in the morning. By now, the townies have seen our stall closed, and the mill broken. Hopefully, Mac got all the cider stored away. Her family had been puzzled at the change of plans, but Applejack had put her hoof down and headed off into town before anypony could start arguing or questioning.

The way the locals gossip, it'll be all over town about how we're closed up. Then its sure to reach Flam and Flam. Playing opossum like this might give me enough time to make this work. She unhitched her cart and walked into the post office.

"Heya Applejack," said the pony behind the counter. "What brings you in today?"

Applejack pulled five envelopes from her bag and dropped them on the counter. "Need these sent pronto, fastest delivery Ah can get."

"Hey, that's a coincidence." said Ditzy the mailmare as she stepped out the back room. "I was just about to take an express letter to Big Macintosh. Is he with you?" The grey pegasus rounded the counter and looked around, one eye cocked to the side.

Applejack furrowed her brow. Who'd be sending Mac an express letter? "Give it to me, I'll take it to him."

Ditzy smiled nervously. "Supposed to give it to the pony who-"

Applejack glared hard at her; her hat slid forward to hood her eyes. "Give it to me." she whispered.

A grey blur shot out of the building, the sudden rush of wing blowing several mailing forms from a nearby counter. Applejack was about to yell after her, when she noticed an envelope was clamped in her teeth. She tore it open, took the letter out, and read it. The pony behind the counter busied himself getting her letters ready for delivery, pretending not to notice she was reading somepony's mail.

As Applejack read, the room was filled with the sound of her teeth grinding together...

Applejack stormed into the barn. "Big Macintosh! What in tarnation is this?"

Big Mac looked up from his barrel-stacking to find a sheet of paper being held up against his face. He glanced at it, face expressionless. "Its a letter, Ah reckon." he answered laconically.

"Darn tootin' its a letter!" She lowered the note and glared into his eyes, stabbing at his stoic calm with hot anger. "This letter is from Apple Rose, to you, saying yes she can spare some muscle for a small bit of our take!"

"Sounds like ya already know what it is."

She stepped closer until their muzzles almost touched. "What the hell do you think yer doing, going over mah head like this?"

Mac exhaled through his nostrils. "Somepony's gotta save this family. Reckon if yer too stubborn to know when we're in a fix, then Ah gotta be the one to do something."

"How's that gonna look at the next reunion, every Apple hearin' how Ah can't handle mah own business? And that mah own kin are goin' behind mah back?"

"If its what Ah gotta do, its what Ah gotta do. This family is more important than yer pride." he responded, his voice touched with heaviness. He stepped around her and headed for the door.

"Big Mac, wait a minute!"

Mac kept walking.

"Please."

Mac sighed, hearing her pleading tone. He stopped and waited, not turning around.

Applejack walked up next to him. "Its not just mah pride," she began. "Ah need you on mah side, big brother." She looked up at him. "See, everypony- especially those in our kind of business- needs to have That One Pony. That One Pony who will always be on their side. No matter how tough things get. No matter who or what they're up against. Even... Even if it came down to them against the whole rest of their family. And you've always been That One Pony for me, Big Macintosh." She put a hoof on Mac's shoulder.

Big Mac turned to look at her, saying nothing.

"So when ya go over mah head like that instead of talking to me, its like ya ain't That One Pony no more. And I need you to be that for me, big brother." She blinked and looked into his eyes. "Please be That One Pony. Please be the one Ah can always trust."

Mac sighed again, his head bowing in surrender. "If ya trust me, sis, please listen to me. We can't win goin' on like this."

"Ah know, Big Mac. Ah realized that last night. And Ah done told you all this morning Ah had a new plan, didn't Ah?" Her face cracked into a smile. "Ah went to the post office today, and sent five first class express letters. Five."

Big Mac blinked. "And Ah reckon you make six?"

Applejack nodded. A hard gleam in her eye chilled her smile. "The FlimFlam Brothers might think they're a couple of curly wovles, but they ain't even gone up against the Mob Six..."

That afternoon...

"Awww, do we have ta go?" Apple Bloom whined. She looked over at the train that would soon be leaving for Manehatten.

"Sorry sis," Applejack said, fondly patting the filly's head. "It's gettin' a bit too dangerous for little fillies and family elders. Don't worry; the Oranges are old hat at hiding ponies. You'll be safe as a bug in a mattress."

"Ok..." Apple Bloom said with a sigh.

"No reason for such a long face," Granny chimed in. "You'll get to meet some of the family; there's even a cousin of yours about your age." Granny leaned down and whispered. "And on the train, Ah can tell ya some stories from when Ah ran the business. Like when we caught us a snitch, and we locked him a cellar full of rats. How's that sound?"

The young Apple's head perked up. "That sounds swell, Granny!"

Granny winked. "Good. Now Ah gotta talk to yer sister for a spell."

Granny left Apple Bloom with Big Mac and lead Applejack to the far end of the platform, away from the other ponies.

"Applejack, when Ah decided to step down and let ya run our thing, Ah also decided Ah was gonna let ya run things yer way." said Granny quietly. "Figured you'd learn better if Ah let ya make yer own mistakes, without me holdin' yer hoof." Granny sighed and looked away. "But now Ah'm thinkin' Ah coulda gave you a little more advice."

"Well, shoot Granny; I-"

"Ah ain't finished." Granny snapped. "Ah knew Mac was right about how competition was gonna move in one day, but Ah didn't say nuthin'. That was a mistake. From now on, when ya need advice, Ah'll give it."

A moment passed before Applejack realized Granny was finished. "Thanks, Granny." she finally said with a smile. "And don't fret about the Brothers. They'll get dealt with."

Granny nodded, her face still serious. "Yer gettin' yer old crew back together?"

Applejack nodded. "Yup."

"Even Pinkie Pie?"

"Hold on, Granny. Things have changed. She's off the happy rocks now. Ah trust her."

"Well, here's mah first bit of advice: ya can always trust a friend, but ya can never trust an addict." She tapped her hoof on Applejack's muzzle. "Make sure ya know which one Pinkie is."

"I will."

"All aboard!" the conductor called out.

The Apples all said their goodbyes, then Granny and Apple Bloom. got on board. The train pulled out, and Applejack watched it until it faded into the distance.

Author's Note

I apologize for the lack of violence in this chapter.