Apple Family Business

Mayor Mare let out a heavy sigh and rubbed the side of her head. "Are you sure this will turn into a war?"

Chief nodded. He was seated across from her in her office. The shades were drawn, and the door closed and locked. Files and reports were scattered on the desk, many of them with brown coffee rings.

"I think so. Neither side is going to back down. Applejack can't; hard cider is the only racket she has left. The FlimFlam Brothers won't, because they're new players who have to prove themselves. Flim and Flam have the upper hand, but that could change..."

"Alright..." The mayor ran a hoof along her grey mane, which was steadily growing more frazzled. "Can you bust them both, right now? Stop the whole thing before it explodes?"

Chief shook his head. "Can't. I don't have the pony-power to bust them both at the same time. And if we bust one, the other will find out and have time to sweep everything under the rug. Besides..." He shrugged. "Even if we brought them all in, it goes to the courts...."

"...And then their lawyers take over." Mayor Mare huffed, opened a drawer and pulled out a metal flask. She opened it and took several swallows before putting it back. "You didn't see that."

Chief shrugged. "Damned if I didn't."

Mayor Mare sighed. "There has to be something we can do. You know what will happen if word gets back to Celestia that we're in the middle of a gang war?" She leaned closer. "She will have her horn up my ass."

Chief nodded ruefully. "And the CBI will walk right into my office screaming 'Jurisdiction'."

The mayor rubbed her temple as she thought a moment. "I'll issue a sundown curfew. The gangs will ignore it, but it gets the citizens off the streets and out of the crossfire. Now... What else can we do? Should we cut a deal with Applejack? You know what they say: Better the draconequus you know..."

Chief nodded slowly. "If it comes to that. The Apples like to follow the Old Ways, and the Old Ways are.... manageable. But..." He scratched his mustache. "Maybe it won't come to that."

She said nothing, simply looking at him expectantly.

"Eventually, one is going to try and wipe out the other." Chief continued. "And they're gonna go all in. When that happens, here's what we do..."

A breeze blew through the trees, carrying their scent and the warmth of the evening sun. Rainbow Dash lifted her head to inhale the sweet autumn smell. Smiling, she looked down at the coffee-colored earth pony she was straddling and resumed pounding his face with her hoof.

Big Mac bucked at the crudely made stand, which collapsed in a heap of boards. He made sure his saddlebags, heavy with bits, were secure, adjusted his derby, and looked over to Dash. "C'mon, Rainbow Dash. We got what we came for."

"Awww, c'mon, Mac. I just got started. This guy is still conscious."

Seeing Mac's calm, insistent look, she sighed and wiped her hoof off on the other pony. "Just you two remember: the Apple Family owns this town." The pony she had pounded groaned. His partner, quite unconscious after meeting Mac's hooves, said nothing.

Dash brushed herself off and followed Mac back to the farm.

Twilight looked up from her counting when Big Mac set the bags of coin beside her desk. She had set up a small accounting area in the living room, and stack of coins were organized on the desk. Bags of bits still waiting to be counted were on the floor on one side, and sacks marked with their amount were on the other.

Spike was leaning against the wall nearby, flipping a coin, with his hat tilted forward.

Twilight smiled at them both. "Any trouble this time?"

"Nah, these guys are pushovers." Dash answered with a smug grin. "C'mon Big Mac, I think we earned ourselves a mug."

After they left, Twilight went back to counting. Bits glowed purple with her magic, grouped themselves into tens, and dropped into a bag. She updated her tally sheet, then paused to check the uncounted bags. "Spike, did Applejack and Fluttershy close down the stand yet?"

"Yeah."

"Did they bring in today's take?"

"Uh huh."

"Well, where is it?" she asked with growing impatience.

"Mmhmm."

Twilight blinked and looked up at him. He hadn't stirred from his position against the wall, and his eyes were fixed forward. She followed the line of his intense gaze until she saw the clean, soft curves of Rarity's flanks. She was fussing over a dressing dummy which was wearing the traditional Apple Family suit: black jacket, white dress shirt, no tie.

Twilight grinned. "Hey Spike, dragon penis is a delicacy in some places. Can I cut yours off and use it to make soup?"

"Uh huh."

She chuckled softly and went back to counting.

Later, Applejack joined Dash and Mac in the kitchen to hear them report on their success (Dash speaking and Mac correcting her embellishments).

"...And then we got back here with a whole sack of bits." Dash concluded, and followed up by guzzling half a mug of cider.

"Still just two ponies a stand?" Applejack asked, frowning thoughtfully.

"Eeyup." Mac answered before Dash could again claim there was twenty.

Applejack rubbed her chin. "Something ain't right here. "Y'all been hitting one of their stands everyday for the past three days, since we reopened the stand. And they ain't done nuthin' about it."

Rainbow Dash waved a hoof dismissively. "These guys are small time. We're just too awesome for them."

A small smile crept on Applejack's face. "Ah agree we're pretty awesome, sugarcube. But Ah reckon they got more numbers than they're showing. Takes at least four ponies to make a day's worth of cider for one stand. Especially with how the townies drink it up. They got to have at least twice as many ponies as we've seen to make all that cider."

Big Mac nodded. "Can't really figure why they don't put a few of 'em out as muscle."

"Exactly. Something here Ah ain't seein', and that's got me nervous. Ah got Pinkie out in town, seeing what she can find out. Soon as we sniff out Flim and Flam, we send 'em home in a box. Then it'll be done with."

Dragon Chaser looked around, trying to act casual. He thought he saw that pink pony from yesterday. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to walk casually, keeping the box of cupcakes balanced on his back.

Yesterday, he'd just finished smoking some happy rocks, and it gave him a strong craving for some sweets. He went over to Sugarcube Corner for some cinnamon buns, and the pink pony with the straight mane was there. He didn't notice her at first; she was just another customer, drinking a milkshake at her table. He'd gotten his order, turned, and saw her looking right at him. He looked into her eyes, and felt that she somehow knew. Knew why his mane was frizzled, why he had a permasmile, and why he smelled like a mix of sugar and winter ice. He hurried out and went straight home.

Today, he decided to play it smart and get the sweets first. He was on his way back home when he thought he saw a glimpse of pink behind a lemonade stand.

Shit shit shit. Was that her? A muscle twitched under his left eye. What is she, CBI? Vice guard? A leg-breaker? Shit, do I owe somepony money? Mentally, he reviewed all the ponies who ever gave him a loan. Aw fuck, I owe everypony money...

He turned from his usual route, taking a roundabout way home, clinging to the growing shadows of late evening. He glanced at the windows of shops and homes as he passed them by, trying to use the reflection to look behind him. What if she knows where I live? What if she's there right now? He stopped to open the cupcake box and check his purchase. His eyes flicked about, seeking out anypony following him. Seeing nopony, he quickly ducked behind a store, then up the stairs in back.

He opened the door at the top, and entered the loft he rented out of Davenport's shop. Closing the door behind him, he then peered out the peephole for nearly a minute.

Finally, he turned from the door, set the box on the table, and headed behind the curtain that separated his sleeping area. He pushed aside his bedding, pulled up a loose plank and pulled out a glass pipe. The pink, translucent rocks inside rattled from his shaking hooves. He pressed the button on the side and flames whooshed to life in the pipe, igniting the rocks and filling the inside with smoke. When the haze was thick enough, he released the button, put his lips to the mouthpiece and inhaled.

He felt his anxiety melt away, and he sighed with relief. The air filled with the smell of frozen sugar as he exhaled.

"That stuff is bad for you." He voice toneless and flat.

Dragon Chaser slowly turned his head. The pink pony with the straight mane was sitting next to him, as if she had been there the whole time. The happy rocks kept him from feeling any fear, like a warm blanket keeping out the cold. He paused long enough to blink twice. "I know. But quitting is even worse."

The pink pony said nothing, merely nodding her head and turning her blue eyes to the pipe.

"Are you here to break my legs?" he asked her.

She shook her head. "No... I don't know why I'm here. I'm supposed to find out where the Flim Flam Brothers make their cider."

Dragon Chaser's mind immediately reviewed his current anemic financial situation. "I might know something..."

The pink pony pulled her gaze from the pipe to look at him. She took out a sack from her saddlebag and shook it. The contents gave a metallic rattle.

Dragon Chaser kept his eyes on the sack. That much coin could get him at least two more fixes. "One of their guys came by my dealer, shaking him down for some money. Said to bring the coin to warehouse five, over near the train station. Big place like that would be fine for making cider, right?" His eyes crept up to look into hers.

She opened her mouth, letting the bag fall to the floor. The coins made a dull thud. "Thanks." He caught a whiff of apple and cinnamon as she got up pushed aside the curtain.

"Who are you, anyway?" he asked, as he hugged the sack to his chest.

She paused and looked back. "Pinkie Pie. See you later, Dragon Chaser."

Once she was out the door, he realized he hadn't told her his name.

"There she goes. And no other Apple thugs around" Hank Ketchup watched Pinkie descend the stairs at the back of the shop. He pulled his head back around the corner of the building he was hiding behind.

"Why she visitin' that rockhead, anyway?" one of the other three earth ponies asked.

"How do you know he's a rockhead?" inquired another.

"Shhh!" whispered the third.

"C'mon, y'all. Quiet as rabbits in winter." He lead the way, the other stallions following. The sun had just set, and stalls and shops were closing up. There were still too many out and about for Hank to want to risk taking her out in the open.

He followed Pinkie along a parallel street, glimpsing her through gaps between buildings. She started heading for an ally between two large shops.

"Here's our chance." Hank whispered. "Ain't no windows or lights in there. You two," he said, pointing to two of his accomplices, "run up ahead and circle around to cut her off. Me n' Sidewinder will catch her from behind. When you hear me yellin', come runnin'."

The ponies hurried to trap their prey. The light was dim, but Hank could see her silhouette disappear between the buildings. At the mouth of the ally, he whispered "Stay here, just in case she tries to run past me." He hurried up the ally, trying to pick her out of the gloom. Suddenly, he saw the other end up ahead.

"Tarnation! Why didn't you stop her?" he asked in a hissing whisper.

"What do ya mean? She didn't come through yet." one whispered back.

"Sheep dip." Hank softly trotted the other way. He could still see his partners tail at the other end, so he paused to check the dumpster, which was the only thing large enough around to hide a pony. Seeing nothing but a few bags of garbage, he closed it and headed back to rejoin the other pony.

"Shoot, you see her, Sidewinder? Ya reckon she got on the roof somehow?" He turned to the other pony and froze.

Sidewinder couldn't answer because he didn't have a head anymore.

"Sun and motherfucking Moon!" The body fell over on its side. Blood, colored black in the dim light, poured onto the grass.