Ray was a enjoying his work so far. A week had gone by since he moved in with the Apples, and the work was enjoyable, and if a few baskets of apples went missing, the excuses were easy to make.

Ray was finding that Mac was a trustworthy fellow, and enjoyed working with him, even more so since he was a quiet fellow he later found out. Ever since he had moved in, Mac had considerably calmed down with the words.

However, today was different. Ray was helping Aj set up a stall outside their farm gate, and Mac was getting barrels of cider out of a cart and setting them nearby. He could see ponies in a line all the way back to the town. He was impressed very much, “You must have some good quality cider.” Ray commented, looking at Aj, who only scoffed, “Course we do, we pretty much own the business.” She said simply, “So… It’s not that it’s good, you’re just the only supplier.” Ray quipped.

He’d never seen somewhat give him the ‘eat shit and die’ look faster, “Now listen here! We have quality cid-” “Relax, it’s just the way you worded it, I mean, I enjoy working with businesses.” He said passively, “If I got into the business, I’d feel bad for the other players.” He said, smiling to himself, knowing he was egging her.

“You threatening me Monkey boy?” Aj said, standing and glaring at him, Mac seeming ready to jump in. Ray feigned hurt, “My lady, you wound me. I would never threaten you.” He said, smiling at her warmly, “It doesn’t build a healthy business relationship.” He said, “and that advice is free.” He said.

Aj grumbled, going back to working on the stall, which was pretty much done already, and Mac began loading in a barrel, shaking his head at Aj.

Soon, the cider rush began, Pinkie at the front of the line. She began to grab multiple mugs, and Ray smiled, “Good day Pinkie, I see you’re quite the drinker.” She nodded, “Oh, of course! Applejack’s cider is some of the best there is!” She proclaimed, getting Aj to grin at Ray, who only nodded, “I’ll bet.” Once Pinkie had grabbed her drinks and managed to balance them all, confusing Ray, she dropped a sack of bits, proceeding to leave.

Aj started to stop her, but Ray stopped Aj, “If they leave the money and don’t ask about it, we call it a tip.” He said, taking the bag, and setting it under the stall, smiling as he waved at those in the line. Applejack almost couldn’t believe Ray, but… the bits were nice, so she remained quiet.

After a few hours, the sun now high in the sky, the cider finally ran out, and when Aj announced this, the line of ponies all grumbled, the most coming from Rainbow Dash.

Aj was trying to calm the ponies down when a snazzy car/contraption pulled up, knocking over part of the fence.

Out stepped two dapper dans, standing proud. To Ray’s entertainment, they had begun to sing, explaining their mode of transportation, and what it could do. Ray was very impressed, this was exactly what he was looking for. When the singing was done, he began clapping, getting their attention.

Flam began first, “Well aren’t you a tall glass of water.” He said, chuckling, walking past Aj, Flim following. Ray only laughed, “I’d like to think I’m full of other things, liquor being one of them.” He said, kneeling and holding out his hand, “Ray Tanner.” He said warmly, smiling. Flam shook his hand, grinning, “Are you the owner of this joint?” “No.” Aj cut in.

“What ya’ll want?” Aj said, upset and wanting to get to the point, “ya done messed up our fence with ya thingy there.” She continued, pointing at the broken area of the fence, which wasn’t really that much.

“Glad you asked dear, we’d like to help you sell cider with our machine. The hash would be 75-25 percent, us in the favor.” “N-” Aj went to deny the request, and Ray stepped in, “33-67, your favor.” He said, putting his authority into his voice. Flim and Flam went a bit away, and began discussing with each other.

“What in tarnation are you doing?” Aj asked, growling in her words, “Saving your damn farm, now hush.” He said, causing Aj to boil with anger, “You’ll thank me later.”

Flim and Flam came back, “I think we can agree on that, but we’ve also got a deal for you, we can discuss it later.” Flam said, smiling, he then looked at Aj, “Dear, you should hold onto him. He could be the difference between you and bankruptcy.” He continued, trotting over to the machine.

Aj looked up at Ray, looking angry, sad, betrayed, he couldn’t tell, but she ran back into the farm. Mac trotted up to him, also looking angry, “Why’d you do that.” “Mac, that machine produces product at three times the speed ya’ll do. If we let them do the work, and let ‘em sell it, you have no net loss, you’re sell making what you got now.” Mac’s eyes widened, “Never thought about that.” He said, rubbing the back of his head. Ray patted Mac’s back, “Neither did your sister, don’t beat yourself up.”

Ray stood, smiling, “And so far, it’s a pretty beautiful day, and we’ve got cider to sell.” And so the rush continued.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ray was tired, and laughing, the sun low in the sky. Mac was sitting with him, “It’s a good thin’ ya made that deal.” He said, Ray smiling, “I thank you for your compliments. I’m here all the time.” He said, running a hand through his hair, it was matted, and sweaty, but he could shower later.

Flam came over, grinning, “I’m glad everything is going well over here.” He said, then looked at Mac, “I’m afraid I need to talk to Ray alone.” Mac didn’t move, and Ray looked over, curious, “Mac, it’s alright, go and check on Aj for me, I’ll talk to her later.” Mac looked between them, and sighed, slowly getting up, and trotted off.

Ray leaned back against a hay bail, “Yes?” He asked, looking at Flam, “My brother thinks you could be useful, mostly because of your bronze and you’ve got something in your head.” Ray rose a brow, “And?” He said, getting curious, “What kinda useful?” He pried.

Flam looked around, and smiled, “Getting rid of competition.” He said quietly. You’ve got to be shitting me. Ray thought, slumping, “And by take out?” He asked, know the answer. Flam drew his hoof across his neck. Of fucking course. “You’d be paid handsomely.” Flam said, grinning, and Ray thought about it. Well, money in a new world, take out other markets, we could become kings. He thought, suddenly starting to like the idea, a grin coming to his face, “Alright.”

“Wonde-” Ray cut him off, “But I need to lay some things out, I’m not killing children.” He said simply, causing Flam to stare at him, “I… That’s fine.” He said, stuck on that. Ray leaned forward, “I also… Need more of these.” He said, reaching into his vest, the vest was his original, but it’d been patched, and pulled out a bullet, “Can you replicate these.” Ray asked, as Flam looked it over, smiling, “I think I can, yes.” Ray grinned wider. I can see a beautiful friendship. He thought

Ray stood, and stretched, “Also, I’m thinking of a market we could set up, but this’ll be far more… Dangerous.” He said, looking around as Flam leaned forward, wanting to hear about it, “Firearms, or guns if you want to say that.” Flam looked confused, “They aren’t allowed, in Equestria.” Flam said, “And the ones that exist are from Gryphonia, and aren’t even that great, it’s not a-” Ray pulled out his PMM, “This thing, is now the most advanced firearm in Equestria.” He stated simply.

Ray looked at the gun, “I’m going to take it apart and send you notes on how to remake and build them. The problem is, we have no access to factories or metal.” Flam suddenly perked up, “That can be arranged! An underground factory, using Diamond Dogs.” Ray nodded, “Yes, I’ve heard of them. That could work well.” He said.

Mac made his way over, “Applejack wants to talk with ya when ya get the chance.” He said quietly, looking at the two before turning and leaving again.

Flam watched Mac leave, “You trust him?” he asked suddenly, to which Ray nodded, “Yeah, we’re… Decent friends, hasn’t hurt me yet. But no, I don’t trust him with this. Not yet anyway.” Ray said quickly. Flam nodded, “About the Diamond Dogs, we should go meet them within the week.” Ray said, to which Flam nodded.

“Do you have a line in that house?” Flam asked, to which Ray nodded, “Only one, living room. Call at night, I sleep in the living room and can answer quickly, numbers 1835.” He said, looking at Flam, “I hope this can turn into something great.” Ray said, turning, “I gotta go take the heat, cya Flam, say hey to your brother for me.” He waved over his shoulder, heading towards the farm house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ray sat on the couch, stoking the fire in a stone fireplace, sighing as Aj came up to sit next to him. She sighed deeply, and hugged him, giving him a start, “Big Mac told me why you did it.” She said, sniffling, “Ah wasn’ thinkin’ about what we’d get, only ‘bout what ah thought we’d lose.” She continued, Ray rubbing her back.

He chuckled, “That’s fine Aj, everyone makes a mistake. Just didn’t want ya’ll to lose out on an opportunity, but this actually help you even more.” Ray said, thinking, “How so?” Aj asked, causing Ray to chuckle lightly, “You can still hoof pick and make product, then sell it in Ponyville as a premium, only place to get it.” He said, rubbing her back.

“That don’t sound like no bad idea.” Aj said, agreeing, “I’ll talk to granny and Mac ‘bout it.” She continued, stepping away from Ray, “I’m gonna go to sleep.” She said, going to take the speaker off the telephone. It was an old timey one, from the 1920s, made Ray feel young, “Wait, I’m expecting a call later.” He said, shrugging as Aj nodded, “I see… Well, take it off once you’re done.” She said, then went upstairs to sleep.

The fire would crackle and pop, now that it was quiet, Ray could actually hear it, sighing as the sound made him calmer. I hope this all go- His thoughts were cut off by a shrill ringing, and Ray quickly turned, grabbing the phone and pulling it close, taking the speaker off and held it to his ear, “Yes?” He said, wondering if it was Flam.

A garbled voice spoke, “2,000 bits, Drake Strongdraw, Black mane. Blue coat. Bow and Arrow Cutie-Mark.” Click.

Ray sat there in silence. I guess killing never can wait. He sighed, setting the speaker piece on the table beside the phone. He then laid down, shutting his eyes. I really hope this goes well. He thought, soon letting his mind slip to sleep.

Author's Note

Dun dun dun.
Ray's turning into a bad egg. However, he was always one.
In this Chapter, Ray helps the Apples and gets a side deal, hoping to earn more cash, and maybe begin running a gun business. Wonder how far they'll get. And Big Mac does like Ray(Not like that), and trusts Ray to do good things. Wonder how well it'd go over if he found out about the deals.

Also some slight Ray/Jack but there will no Romance in this story... Maybe, I don't really know. Love can really sink a Business.

Note: Please let me know about mistakes.

Good day.