Reserve Stock: Growing Competition

Applejack wasn’t sure why she was at the train station. That is, what she was doing there, precisely.

Rarity being there she understood. Rarity owned their business, would need to speak with the lawyers, and might have a few choice words for the ponies and dragons of Fuze’s Brewing Company. Ember’s presence she also understood. Ember was the Dragon Lord, and so if they met this Fuze in person, Ember could simply order them to shut down their operation.

But, Applejack wondered, why did she need to be there to greet the train? To meet their rivals? What did she contribute to this moment? For that matter, what did she contribute to the company?

She wasn’t sure, and it was hard to think with Ember around. Even drained, her breasts were bigger than any AJ had seen. It was all she could do not to nuzzle her in public.

“It’s too dang hot,” she complained.

“It’s a chilly day, actually.” Ember ran a hand along AJ’s back. “You’re pretty hot though.”

“Might be sick,” AJ mumbled.

“I’ll do something special for you this evening,” Ember smiled. “I’ll come by the farm. So it’s just you and me. Something a little more intimate.”

AJ’s heart fluttered and a bright smile appeared on her face, but she said nothing. The smile faded before long, dipping into a frown as the train they were waiting for approached the station.

“Alright,” Rarity reminded them. “So we’re looking for two lawyers, plus three brewery staff, and I think one of those three is Fuze. Ember, if you can order her to shut down operations, wonderful, but I remind you not to start a brawl in the middle of the train station. Even if you win, it will destroy our reputation as an honest business.”

“Yeah yeah,” Ember cracked her knuckles. “I got it.”

The train screeched to a halt in the station. The doors opened, and a crowd of Manehattanite ponies spilled out. They wasted no time in rushing out into Ponyville, pushing past Applejack and her friends.

But then, a sound carried through the air. Not hooves, but claws on metal, and a new figure emerged from the train. She was a dragon with scales as black as night, not unlike Ember in build.

Though she was bigger than Ember. Quite a bit bigger. Where Ember’s breasts were the size of common melons, each of Fuze’s was the size of two watermelons pushed together. They were so large she obviously struggled with the weight, both forward and top-heavy, and with every step she jiggled. She swayed. She bounced.

Applejack bit her lip, and decided to say nothing. It was just as well; Ember and Rarity were gaping as well.

“Oof!” With a loud groan, Fuze cracked out her back. “Those were getting heavy. Dragon Lord Ember, a pleasure.” She smiled just like on the bottle, showing off her fangs. “Which means you two must be Rarity and Applejack.”

“That can’t be real,” Ember snapped, more out of a matter of disbelief than anything. She covered her own chest reflexively.

“Oh, it’s real. Just not natural.” Fuze giggled. “Rarity did a little magic trick, you know.”

Ember and Applejack both looked at Rarity, whose expression had turned befuddled. But before she could defend herself, Fuze went on: “No no, not her, my Rarity. Come along, you two.”

From the train behind Fuze emerged two ponies. One was nearly the spitting image of Rarity: white coat, purple mane, and three gemstones for a cutie mark. The only way to tell them apart was age. Fuze’s Rarity was obviously a young mare, and kept her hair in a spikey, punk style. The other pony was an orange stallion—an earth pony with two apples for a cutie mark, and a black stetson on his head.

“Oh.” The strange twist seemed to snap Ponyville’s Rarity back to her senses. She not only recovered her composure, but managed roll her eyes, uttering a dry retort. “How shocking. Terrifying, even. A mare who resembles me in all regards, save for a dark disposition. A black mirror to all my faults. An evil clone, if you will. Why in all my days as bearer of one of the Elements of Harmony, this is the first time I have ever encountered such a thing."

She sighed, and inspected her hoof polish. “What shall I call you? Other Rarity, perhaps? I expect you’ll start monologuing soon.”

Other Rarity sneered and reached a hoof up to her head, brushing back her mane. "Oh, I'm no evil clone. I'm just a young mare trying to find her way in the world. Really, I'm a fan of your work. I'm named after you."

"How creative. Were you conjured by some sorcerer? Bred in a lab?"

"You misunderstand," Other Rarity said, her tone turning sickly sweet. "My parents named me after you when I was born."

Rarity paused a moment, looking up from her hoof. "That seems unlikely."

"Oh, no." Other Rarity grinned ear to ear, her expression absolutely delighted. "They were honored! You saved their lives, you know, that one summer day. You thwarted Nightmare Moon, and saved all of Equestria, including a certain stallion and his pregnant wife. It was the least they could do to name their child after you."

"But that was..." Rarity paused. "No."

"It was sixteen years ago," Other Rarity's tone picked up a cruel edge.

"No." Rarity took a step back. "No!"

"That's right. I'm named after you, and I'm sixteen." Other Rarity grinned, her eyes wide and manic. "I'm sixteen." Her voice rose to a shout. "And you're past thirty!"

Rarity clutched her heart, screamed, and fainted on the spot.

“Rarity!” AJ shouted, as she and Ember each leapt to Rarity’s side. “What do you do?”

“I won, darling,” Other Rarity said, polishing her hoof against her coat. “It’s a phenomenon you might not be familiar with.”

“You little punk!” Ember whirled to face her. “I’m going to tear you—”

But before she could deliver her threat, Fuze stepped between Ember and Other Rarity. “I’ll thank you not to take that tone with my friend.”

“You,” Ember growled. “You… you, ugh! I am the Dragon Lord and you think you can rip me off? You’re done with this, and you’re done with Equestria. I command you to return to the dragon lands and wait there until I decide how to punish you.”

Red flashed as Ember used the Dragon Lord’s natural magic, but no corresponding light appeared around Fuze. “I refuse,” she replied. “I renounce my identity as a dragon, and I renounce the dragon lands. I will live the rest of my days in Equestria, a friend to ponies and a subject of Princess Celestia. You have no authority over me.”

Everyone in the station paused a moment, waiting to see what would happen. Ember’s eyes jumped over the scene. “Hah,” Fuze said. “I don’t feel the urge to obey her. It worked.” She reached a talon back to scratch Other Rarity behind the ears. “You’re a pretty good wizard.”

“You traitor. I’ll rip your wings off!” Ember screamed, a blast of fire shooting out of her muzzle. Other Rarity and the stallion in the black stetson both scattered, leaping out of the way in the nick of time. Fuze was unhurt by the blast, but fire scattered all over the train station, setting a trashbin alight and sending ponies fleeing in terror.

“Woah woah!” Applejack put a leg around Ember and pulled her back. “Don’t. Don’t! Remember what Rarity said about starting a fight.”

“I don’t care about our stupid reputation,” Ember snarled. Fuze’s manner was only making her angrier, as the black dragon stood there with a confidant smirk. “That punk thinks she can defy me and I will teach her a lesson!”

“If you really want to pick a fight, pick a fight you’ll win,” Applejack urged. “Fuze showed up ready for this, Other Rarity seems to be some kind of spellcaster, we’re already down one, and the stallion with the stetson is wearing brass horseshoes. You pick a fight now, you’ll be the Dragon Lord who got her face pounded into the concrete in a Ponyville train station.”

“That… you. Ugh!” Ember let out a blast of smoke directly into AJ’s face. “Fine. You betray me too then. I thought I could count on you. I thought you were there to support me!”

“I…”

“Forget it.” Ember picked up AJ. “You want to go make friends so bad? Fine. Do. I’m going to go help Rarity.”

“Smelling salts,” called Other Rarity. “Perk her right up.”

Ember made a rude gesture, first at Other Rarity, then at Applejack, spread her wings, and flew away. With the considerable weight on her chest and the added burden of carrying a pony, her flight was unsteady and lopsided. But it still offered a spectacular view.

“Hate to see her leave,” said the stallion in the black stetson, “but love to watch her go.”

AJ turned back to the three new arrivals, slowly casting her gaze over them. She glanced at the burning trashcan. Finally, the asked the stallion in the black hat: “So who are you then?”

“Jackapple,” he said. “I farm apples, mostly. Do some other things. Sorry about your train station.”

“Yeah.” Applejack cleared her throat. “So uh… if we ain’t gonna throw down right now, I guess we’ll see you in court then?”

“Guess you will,” Fuze said, mimicking AJ’s southern accent. She reached out to scratch Jackapple behind the ears in turn. “Say, anywhere in this town we could stay until the trial’s over?”

“Ponyville doesn’t have any hotels.” And yet, after a moment, Applejack added: “But the Carrots’ have a few extra rooms to rent on their farm. They’re nice ponies. No problems with dragons or other creatures.”

“Thank you kindly,” Jackapple tipped his black hat. “No hard feelings, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Applejack stared at Fuze as the three of them walked past. At their closest point, Fuze stopped, reaching out to Applejack with her claws. AJ pulled back, flinching like she was about to be cut.

Then, Fuze scratched her behind the ears. “Earth ponies are cute,” she said.

Applejack didn’t want Fuze to leave, but she did enjoy watching her go.