Apple Family Business

Applejack bit the mouth-trigger between her teeth. A bolt shot from the crossbow strapped to her back, impaling a cloth target draped across a pile of hay bales. The chenk sound of her weapon was echoed by several others, as the ponies in her crew (except for Dash and Pinkie) practiced on their own targets. Even Spike was training on his own unmodified crossbow. The simple shooting range had been set up in the barn. Applejack wished she had a bigger space to train in, but she didn't want any pegasi from Flim and Flam's outfit to spot them and ruin her little surprise.

Applejack walked over to her target to pull the bolts back out. She and everyone else paused when the barn door opened with a creak, and Rainbow Dash stepped inside. Her steps were slow and heavy, but her eyes and smile were bright and clear. A crisscross of bandages were applied to her back between her wings.

"Good boy, stay." Dash said to the guard dog outside before closing the door. She limped up to the others, basking them in her grin. "Morning, everypony." Her voice was even cracklier than usual.

"Look what the cat dragged dragged in," quipped Applejack. She walked over and pointedly craned her neck to examine Dash's back. "You okay to practice today?"

Dash waved a hoof dismissively. "I'm fine. Gilda was really happy to see me again. Heh, she totally-"

"Darling, please!" Rarity exclaimed. "Spare us the details." She adjusted her fashionable black beret and turned back to her target.

Applejack gave the pegasus a smile. "Well, save it for when we're drinkin'." Her expression quickly reversed into a frown. "Now, if Pinkie would just show up, we'd be all set..."

"She's out in town again." Spike offered. He fired a bolt and grinned as it hit close to the bulls-eye.

"Don't worry, you know Pinkie can handle herself." Twilight said reassuringly.

"Yeah..." AJ muttered.

Twilight waited until Dash walked off to grab her own crossbow, then leaned close to Applejack and spoke quietly. "Worried about her, huh?"

"Nah." Applejack shook her head and spoke again more firmly. "Nah." She checked over the straps of her weapon. "Like ya said, she can handle herself. Shoot, most every pony in the business has a vice of some kind. If she's off doing rocks, its no big deal."

Twilight laid a hoof on AJ's shoulder. "Pinkie never let you down before, Applejack. She won't start now. That's friendship."

Pinkie giggled and shoved two whole cupcakes in her mouth. A gob of frosting ended up on her snout. Her eyes crossed to examine it, then her long tongue flicked out to lick it off.

Dragon Chaser rolled in the grass laughing at her antics. The rocks made his skin sensitive, and he rolled around some more to enjoy the rough feeling of the grass. His ears picked up a distant rumble of conversation. "Are you sure no pony will find us here?" he asked, examining the trees and bushes tightly clustered around them.

"Uh huh! The trees and bushes will keep us hid. And ponies are always coming in or leaving the park, so it'll be hard to notice us going in." She reached out a hoof and slid the pipe over to her. "So we just have to be sure not to get followed." She took a long drag from the pipe and fell backwards. The sugary smoke was exhaled in a contented sigh. She looked over at one of two boxes nearby. "That sure is a big chunk of rock you got."

"Worked out something with my dealer." He quickly reached into the second box that was full of cupcakes, pulled one out, and bite off half. Pinkie could hear him chew as he took his time and savored the flavor. Despite the euphoria of the happy rocks, a frown creased his face. "I'll be glad when this whole thing with Flim and Flam is over. I liked it when the only thing I had to worry about was keeping up my habit."

"Aww, don't worry!" She pushed the pipe over to him with her hind hoof. "Its going to be over really soon."

He pulled the pipe to him, but paused to blink at her last statement. "It is?"

"Yup!" Pinkie grinned cheerfully. ""Flim and Flam will be rubbed out like a bad answer on a test!"

Dragon Chaser looked inside the wood box and stared at the hunks of happy rock. It was enough for a week; two if he stretched it out. In his mind, he pictured the whole box filled with rocks, enough for a month. He turned his drug-glazed eyes to Pinkie and made himself smile.

"How?"

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and rested her head on the edge of the bathtub. The tingling-hot water had, at first, stabbed her knee with pain. But now the warmth was easing and relaxing her injury. Sheesh... Knees and wings are the worst injuries. Take forever to heal. Dash slid the rest of her body into the water, letting it cover her head a moment before pushing herself back out. A sigh of contentment eased out of her nostrils.

The air pressure in the room eased, and Dash heard hoofsteps walk softly towards her. She opened one eye to glance at her visitor. "Heya, AJ," she said languidly.

"Howdy, Dash. Howya feelin'?" There was a wooden creak as Applejack pulled a stool over to the tub.

"Better." Her mouth pulled back in a grin. "Tonight's the night. We'll have Ponyville all to ourselves."

"Yeah." Applejack glanced from side to side. "Ah was wondering something. About tonight."

Rainbow Dash made an inquisitive grunt.

"Ah was thinkin' you could guard the farm..."

Dash's eyes blinked open. "What?"

"Hear me out, alright?" Applejack raised a hoof in a warding gesture.

Dash sat up. "Hear what out? I'm the best enforcer you got!" Her voice slowly raised in volume as her languidness flowed away. "Not having me along on a hit, that's like heading to the casino with no bankroll!"

"You are my best enforcer, and Ah want you to stay that way!" Applejack paused to take a deep breath. "Y'ain't exactly been easy on yer leg during practice, Dash."

"I'm fine, alright? The doc even said its not all that bad!" Rainbow Dash was nearly shouting from frustration.

"Sure it ain't now. But what happens when we're doing the hit and somepony blindsides you?"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "What, are you my boss, or my grandma? Since when do we worry about getting hurt?"

Applejack paused as a mental image formed in her head; the same one that had been nagging her lately anytime she thought about Dash. She saw Dash sitting at a table in a club, with a heavy brace on her leg. She cheerfully greeted and waved at all the high rollers who came in, and invited them to sit with her. And she told the same old boasts and stories she's been telling for years, acting like she was still that pony. Occasionally she'd get asked to dance, and Dash would look anywhere but her leg and say that she's too cool to do that. And despite her big smile, hey eyes had a bright and desperate accent to them.

AJ forced herself back to reality. "Well, y'know.... we ain't gonna be young forever." She awkwardly rubbed her hoof on the edge of the tub. "We won't always be able to snap back like we used to. Yer one of the toughest ponies Ah know, and one of the fastest-"

"The fastest."

Applejack couldn't keep herself from smiling. "Right. And I'd hate to see that cut short because you let a little injury become a big one."

"And I'd hate for any of my friends to die without me being there!" She sighed and leaned back. "I know I might get hurt. And that's scary, yeah. But I don't wanna play it safe." She looked AJ in the eye. "If I start playing it safe, I'll stay alive until one day I'll be old. And it'll be just as bad as if I got my leg ruined, or my wing. I'll be sitting in a body that's falling apart, thinking about how fast I used to be. Don't let me get old, Applejack. I wanna die while life is still good."

"Dash..." Applejack's counterargument fell apart in her throat. She'd heard that attitude from others in "the life" before, but hearing it from her friend shook her. She had always pictured herself one day being one of the Apple Family elders: old, powerful, respected, feared. And she had always imagined her friends standing behind her. The idea that somepony might not be there...

"You're really worried about me, huh?" Dash gave her friend a worn smile. "Well, I'm worried about you guys, too. And I don't want any of you guys dying without me there to- I don't know, stop it, take revenge, something. Anything but not be there."

Applejack sighed and slumped. Ah could just order her. She'd be here, safe, while we handle our business. But she'll never forgive me. She lifted her head to look at her friend. "Alright, Rainbow Dash. But promise me something."

"What?"

"Maybe ya wanna die young. But don't die tonight. Wait until we're in the big time again. Ah wanna be able to say that ya died while you were on top."

Dash's smile widened. "You got it."

Applejack slid the black jacket over her shirt, then checked herself in the mirror. She smoothed a bunched bit of cloth, then pushed her stetson onto her head.

"Darling, I know this outfit is traditional," began Rarity, who was dressed in a similar outfit, "But are you sure you don't want to try something new? I mean, not all of us can pull off two-tone. I have this lovely earth-tone ja-"

"Rarity." Applejack gave her friend the look.

"Alright, dear. But do keep it in mind."

Applejack made her way out of the house, followed by her friend. It was dark out. The crickets were chirping loudly, and Luna's moon was near its apex. The air was a mix of ripe apples, dew, and fallen leaves. The rest of her crew were waiting outside, all dressed in the family suit, even Spike.

She walked over to the young dragon, who was standing beside Fluttershy. "Y'all hold the fort for us, ok?"

Spike mumbled something and sulked. Fluttershy ducked her head and spoke quietly. "Ok. We don't mind. I'm very glad to let other ponies handle the fighting and other scary stuff." Something snapped a twig somewhere in the distance, and Fluttershy yelped and jumped under a wagon. Spike gave her a sidelong, contemptuous glance.

Applejack nodded but couldn't manage a smile. "Well, don't get scared. Spike and your dogs will keep ya company." She moved to the rest of the crew, taking her place in front. After giving them each a quick look in the eye, she turned and headed down the road into Ponyville.

"C'mon, y'all. Let's handle our business."