Disharmony Rises

Twilight shoved the necklace into her bag and lead the group out of the cave.

"Where to now?" Wind asked.

"I guess there." Twilight said as she pointed off into the distance towards yet another looming cloud.

"Judging from the position of that cloud to our current location. It looks like its looming over Appleoosa." Dash said.

"How do you know that?" AJ asked.

"I'm a weather pony. It's my job to know that stuff." Dash replied.

"Right. Forgot about that." AJ said.

"To the balloon!" Pinkie yelled as she ran up the hill and got in the basket. Just then lightning struck the balloon and it exploded in a flash of light and cloth.

Pinkie was thrown out of the basket and slid down the hill. She came to a stop just in front of Twilight.

"Well shit." Pinkie cursed.

"Looks like we're taking the train." Twilight said as she lead the group to the train station.

She approached the ticket window.

"Excuse me, when does the next train to Apploosa leave?" Twilight asked the teller.

"It doesn't." He said.

"What do you mean, it doesn't?" Twilight asked.

"All train routes in and out of Appleoosa have been shut down." The teller replied.

Twilight huffed and took a seat on a bench next to her friends outside.

"Well now what?" Rarity asked.

"How we supposed to get to Appleoosa? Walk?" AJ asked.

"Did y'all say ya was heading ta Appleoosa?" Someone said from behind them.

They turned to see a guy standing beside a pickup truck. He had striped orange hair with a brown Stetson planted on his head. He was wearing jeans, cowboy boots, an orange button down shirt, and a brown vest with a red apple on the lapel.

"Braeburn?" AJ asked.

"Applejack? Well Ah'll be. What are tha chances ah'd find y'all here." Braeburn said.

"No time fer that cuz. We gotta get to Appleoosa fast." AJ said.

"Well, ah'd be more than happy ta take ya. Hop in mah truck and we'll head out." Braeburn said.

"Thanks cuz." AJ said as she hopped in the passenger seat.

The others climbed into the back. Once everyone was seated, Braeburn started the engine and headed towards Appleoosa. While the truck rumbled along, AJ and Braeburn chit chatted in the cab.

"So, crazy weather right?" Braeburn said.

"It ain't just normal weather cuz. It's from a whole heapa dark magic around Equestria." AJ replied.

"Dark magic?" Braeburn asked.

"Eeyup. That's why we gotta get to Appleoosa. And fast." AJ said.

"Well, ah'm drivin' tha speed limit cuz." Braeburn said.

"Braeburn, in case ya ain't noticed, there ain't too many cops around right now." AJ replied.

"Ah ain't gonna speed cuz. I don't care what's at stake." Braeburn said.

"Braeburn, Equestria is about to be destroyed and you're worried about a speedin' ticket?" AJ asked.

"Applejack. Ah ain't goin' ova tha speed limit." Braeburn replied.

AJ and Braeburn continued to bicker back and forth for what seemed like forever.

"Guys!" Twilight yelled through the sliding window in the back of the cab.

"What?!" They both said at once.

"We're here." Twilight pointed ahead of them.