“Hello? Granny Smith?”
“Eh? Who’s that?”
Taking the response from inside as a rough invitation, the tall maroon coloured unicorn entered the Apple family farmhouse and softly closed the door behind her. She looked about the empty kitchen she’d walked into and called out again. “My name is Tempest, I’m a…” She hesitated before calling herself a friend specifically. While the bearers of harmony had all forgiven her past mistakes, it was difficult to forget what she had put them all through.
“Well, I know your granddaughter, Applejack.”
“Do ya now?” the same voice came from further inside, as well as some shuffling of movement. “Do ya also happen to know why she ain’t back from market yet? Daylight’s burnin, and there’s work to be done.”
Tempest followed the voice, her hoofsteps echoing on the wooden floorboards. “That’s actually why I’m here. She got called by the map for some friendship emergency. In fact, all the bearers did. Some kind of problem in the dragon lands.”
The memory of the map flashing with power and the flurry of activity it caused was still fresh in Tempest’s mind. The princess had been particularly animated… and anxious. Apparently, the only time all six of them had been called was when something particularly important or dangerous was happening, and the knowledge had put princess Twilight on edge.
She was broken out of her thoughts when the mare she was looking for poked her head out of a doorframe to stare curiously at the newcomer.
The elderly mare was a good head shorter than Tempest, accentuated by the stoop of old age. Her coat was a pale green colour, and her grey mane was tied up in a bun. The way her skin sagged off her frame made the earth pony look positively ancient, but there was something about the way she held herself that told Tempest she wasn’t ready to give up the ghost anytime soon.
“Figures that’d happen today,” Granny Smith mumbled.
Granny frowned as her eyes travelled slightly northward of Tempest’s eyes. Tempest grimaced inwardly. She knew all too well what was coming next.
“Huh, don’t see that too often. What happened up here?” Granny asked, indicating at the remains of Tempest’s horn.
Tempest sighed. “I was attacked by an ursa minor as a filly.”
Granny gasped. “Oh horse apples! Sorry about that sugar. That was a might insensitive of me.”
“Oh, it’s okay,” she replied, trying not to hold it against the elderly mare. “It happened a long time ago, and I’ve… I’ve gotten used to the idea that it’s not coming back.” What she didn’t mention, was just how long it had taken before she finally let go.
“Suppose that’s fair,” Granny said, nodding sagely. Then she frowned again. “So, Applejack’s goin on one of them missions from that map whachamahigger. How’s that explain what ya doin in my farmhouse?”
Part of Tempest was glad the topic had moved from her horn, but she was also surprised at the elderly mare’s switch of conversation so swiftly. “I happened to be at Twilight’s castle at the time,” Tempest explained. “So, Applejack asked if I could come over and lend a hoof with some of her chores, seeing as she’s needed elsewhere.”
Granny Smith sniffed with a frown. “I wish she’d stop worryin. I ain’t so helpless I can’t take care o` meself.” She stopped herself and rubbed a hoof across her chin. “Course, I guess it’s probably a good thing you’re here now. On account of I just realized we been robbed.”
It took a moment to register what Granny had said because of how casually she delivered the news. “Wait, What?!”
“Now don’t you go getting your tail in a twist,” Granny groaned, trying to hush Tempest. “I get enough of that from Applejack.”
“Okay, fine, but shouldn’t we be calling the authorities or something?” Of course, after she said it, Tempest suddenly wasn’t sure who the general authorities would be here in Ponyville. She didn’t think she’d seen a police station or anything similar.
“You ever seen the Royal Guard? They’re kinda a mess, and ain’t much use for anything more than appearances. Besides, I know what’s been taken, and where we’re goin to find it.”
“Hold on, we?”
“You’re here to help, aintcha?”
“Yeah, but…” Tempest groaned, rubbing a hoof across her face. “Applejack said I’d just be bucking apples, or at worst, feeding the pigs. Not thwarting a robbery.”
“It’s not thwarting if it’s already happened. This is retrieval. And maybe a bit of revenge if we got time,” Granny said with a cheeky grin and confidently strode past Tempest back towards the front door. “Now come on, we gots an airship to catch.”
“Airship?!”
Granny stopped and gave her a look. “Nopony’s gonna be dumb enough to steal from the Apple family in Ponyville and stick around. They may have a head start, but like I said, I know where they’re going, and we need an airship to get there, ‘fore they run off anywhere else.”
“Well then I guess you’re going on your own,” Tempest replied sternly. “Because this is not what I signed up for.”
“Oh really?” the earth pony grinned knowingly. “Then you’re plannin on runnin off with yer tail between yer legs, and letting a poor old mare wander in to danger all her lonesome, when ya coulda helped? Guess yer not as tough as you look.”
Tempest’s eye twitched. The audacity of this mare! Tempest had been the second-in-command of the Storm King once upon a time. Sure, he had lied and betrayed her when he had gotten what he wanted, but Tempest had inspired respect and fear from ally and foe alike. If this pony had spoken to her like that back then, Tempest wouldn’t have hesitated before casting what magic she could to electrocute her to her core.
But Tempest wasn’t that pony anymore. Thanks to the Princess of Friendship, Tempest was trying to turn over a new leaf. She was giving friendship a chance, and frying Applejack’s grandmother didn’t seem the best way to do that.
Through gritted teeth, she took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. “Fine, you’re the boss.”
“Atta girl,” Granny Smith said with an annoying level of enthusiasm for her age.
Tempest had a feeling this was going to be a long day.
“Klugetown!?!” Tempest exclaimed as she followed Granny Smith off the airship. “You brought us to Klugetown?!”
Granny gave a hearty chuckle. “I was worried you’d run off if I told ya where we were goin. But now that we’re here, you may as well stick around. Only airship back to Ponyville ain’t till the afternoon, so we got a few good hours before then.”
Tempest scowled. She would have been happy if she never set hoof back in this ramshackle, crime-filled shantytown in the middle of the desert for as long as she lived. As much as she hated it though, it made sense for them to come here. If a thief was trying to hide with stolen goods, hiding in a city of thieves would be a good start.
Tempest cast a wary look around the dock. It was looking nicer than the last time she was here, but it still had the rough edges and shady characters she’d come to expect. “I’m not running off. Just some warning would’ve been nice. I made a bit of noise last time I was here, and I would’ve preferred more time to prepare.” That said, Tempest wasn’t so much concerned for her own safety. She no longer wore the armour she had when she worked for the Storm King, but between her martial arts and her broken, yet still potent magic, she knew she could handle herself against some of Klugetown’s rougher edges. Of course, she had to worry about Granny’s safety as well, and that complicated matters.
“This place isn’t like Ponyville, and the rough sort you find here won’t show mercy because you’re old.”
“I sure hope not, I don’t need to be coddled,” she grunted. “Now come on. If we want to find our thief before the last airship home, we’d better hustle.”
Granny Smith moved to venture deeper into the scum filled city, and Tempest grumbled to herself, following close by. She carefully watched this way and that, keeping a close eye on their surroundings. Ponies were rare in this town, and they were already getting a few curious glances.
“It would help if you actually told me what we were looking for,” Tempest grumbled.
“That’s Apple family business, and while I appreciate you helpin’, you ain’t family.”
She sighed. “Fine, keep your secrets. But also keep your wits about you. This town will steal, swindle, and suck you dry if you let it.
“Sounds like you been here before?” Granny asked.
Tempest was caught off guard by the question. “Uh yeah. A few times actually. Last time wasn’t too long ago actually. I was only passing through, but… it certainly leaves an impression.” She snorted a little. “Of course, I also left a bit of an impression on the town.”
Granny chuckled. “Sounds like there’s a story hanging there.”
Tempest looked away. “Yeah, I guess so. But I probably shouldn’t go into it.”
“Not much else to do right now. We’re gonna start lookin for information down at the markets, and that’s still a ways away.”
Tempest sighed. She was hoping she wouldn’t have to talk about herself like this, but she guessed it was inevitable whether she were here or back at the farm if they were working side by side. “At the time, I was actually chasing after Princess Twilight and the rest of her friends, which of course included your daughter.”
“Now why were ya doin that?”
“Well, I… used to work for the Storm King,” she admitted hesitantly. “He sent me to capture the princess, and at the time I stupidly obeyed.”
“Storm who?”
Tempest was caught off guard by her lack of understanding. “The Storm King? He took over Canterlot and briefly stole the powers of the princesses?”
“Gonna have to narrow it down for me,” Granny said plainly. “We’ve had a few of those.”
Tempest’s jaw hung open for a second as her words abandoned her. “You know? I guess it doesn’t matter that much. Just that in the end, the Princess showed me how wrong I was being and even forgave me for what I did. I’ve been trying to fix what I’ve done ever since.”
“Yeah, Twi has a habit of doin that,” Granny chuckled. “So, you were chasin my Applejack and her friends, what happened next?”
“You sure you want to hear this?”
Granny huffed. “I never hear what that granddaughter of mine gets up to these days. She worries I’ll have a heart attack just listening to half what she gets up to. But I ain’t that frail, so gimme something that’ll make that girl o’ mine squirm.”
Despite herself and the topic, Tempest couldn’t help but chuckle at the crazy mare’s enthusiasm. She hoped she had even half the gumption when she reached Granny’s age.
“Okay, well. Despite the state of my horn, I can still use it for some magic. Only it’s more… destructive. Great for intimidation or smashing something in my way with extreme prejudice. Not so great for fine control or delicate work. By the time I caught up with the bearers this creepy slaver was trying to buy, and he tried to lump be into the group. Only I gave him something to think about,” she said, sparking magic from the stump of her horn to emphasise the point. “The girls ran away in the confusion and in the chase there was… quite a bit of collateral damage. Honestly looking back it’s a wonder any of them survived holding on to that runaway windmill at all.”
Granny burst into laughter. “Runaway windmill?!”
“Yeah, it was pretty crazy,” Tempest chuckled. She looked up at some of the buildings they were passing by, and noticed a few gouges in the stonework, where it looked like supports had been violently torn out. Behind her, she could see the air dock back where they came. “In fact, I think this might even be the street we ran down. They were trying to catch an airship just as it left port. Not sure though, it was pretty hectic at the time.”
“Hoowee,” Granny whistled. “Sounds like you had fun time of it.”
Tempest’s smile wavered as she thought back on the moment, and looked again at the rough state of the street. It didn’t look like it had recovered much since the incident. “Yeah… fun.”
“Welp, markets are just round the corner here,” Granny piped up, catching her attention before she lost herself in thought. “Gotta ask around and see where to go next.”
Tempest shook her head and buried her thoughts for another time. “Okay, so do you know who we’re looking for?”
“Nope.”
Tempest blinked. “Oh… so can you at least tell me anything about what was stolen?”
“It’s kept in a suitcase with a combination lock. Only I know the code.”
“… so we’re looking for a stolen suitcase.”
“Mention it was stolen from the Apple family from Ponyville. That’ll raise a few eyebrows,” Granny said confidently.
Tempest groaned and rubbed her hoof over her eyes. “This place didn’t even know Ponyville existed until recently,” she sighed inwardly to herself. “All right, fine. Let’s get this started. We’ll split up, but stay within sight and give me a shout if you need help.”
Trying to find information about their thief with so little to go on felt next to impossible.
Tempest decided against mentioning Ponyville or the Apple family in particular. She guessed they wouldn’t make much difference, and didn’t want to paint a target on the gentle town. It seemed to get enough problems as it was. Instead, she focused more on subtly trying to find who to talk to about stolen material. She met plenty of resistance, with the various inhabitants obviously pretending not to know what she was talking about, but after some time she found the various characters who loosened their tongues with greased palms, or a threat of force.
Unfortunately, those who talked, kept pointing her in one direction. A certain crime boss, that every lowlife, knave and villain that made Klugetown home answered to.
Tempest sighed, looking up at the indicated building. “Typical,” she grumbled, recalling the foul creature that had meant to sell the bearers into slavery, and even tried to bunch Tempest in that group at the same time.
“Whassat? Ya learn something?” Granny asked, walking up behind her.
“Sort of,” she replied, not taking her eyes off the ramshackle building. “Sounds like the best place to get information would be from the crime boss of this town up there.”
“I see,” Granny mused. “So to find our rat, gotta be meeting with the king rat of town huh?”
“Mole rat, actually,” Tempest amended with a smirk.
“Really?” Granny paused thoughtfully for a moment. “I wonder. Welp, no time like the present,” she shrugged. “Let’s get a move on,” she said, moving to take the stairs.
Tempest froze, only to leap in front of Granny Smith and place a hoof on her chest to push her back. “Woah, no no no no, there is no way I’m taking you to see a crime boss. Applejack would never forgive me. Let me handle this one by myself. You stay out here where it’s safe while I get the info we need and come back.”
Granny scowled and knocked Tempest’s hoof aside. “I wish ponies’d stop worryin ‘bout me. I ain’t some delicate artpiece that’ll shatter if ya look at me funny. I helped build Ponyville from the ground up with my own hooves, I made the Apple family orchard into an empire sellin all across Equestria, and turned the Apple name into a household name! I raised two generations of Apple kids, and I can safely say each one of them is a bona fide hero. My age ain’t a hinderance, It’s experience! And you may have had a hard time after that ursa, with your broken horn, and you might feel real tough for getting over that, but I’ve seen more fights and struggled to survive more than you’d ever understand. And I didn’t have to go for any dark powers or nuthin like that to get there.”
Tempest was stunned. She could tell Granny Smith was a strong and determined mare, but she didn’t realize there was that much passion behind it. But it made sense now that she thought on it. Granny was certainly past her prime, but refused to let others coddle her.
“Okay, I’m sorry if I gave that impression. I don’t think you’re weak, far from it in fact. But I’ve dealt with this guy before, and I’m pretty sure it’d be best if I go alone. Remember when I mentioned a slaver? Turns out it’s this guy.”
“Hmm,” Granny pondered, visibly calming. “So, ya wanna pay him back for last time? Got something to prove to yourself huh? Alright I understand, go on ahead. But if ya take too long, I’m comin in anyway.”
Tempest smiled. It wasn’t exactly what she intended for Granny to take away from it, but if it was keeping her out of danger, she would take it. “Thanks. And don’t worry, I won’t be long.”
“Reckon he remembers you as much as you remember him?”
Tempest chuckled. “Oh, I’m sure he does. I’m sure he found our first meeting quite… shocking,” Tempest sparked a charge of magic from her horn to punctuate the moment.
The door slammed open and crashed against the side wall, reverberating loudly in the dank office of Verko, crime boss of Klugetown. As the dust settled, Tempest strode in slowly yet confidently. “Knock knock Verko.” It had taken very little effort for Tempest to get back into the tough persona she had worn during her time as the Storm King’s second-in-command. She had a feeling it would be the right approach in this instance.
Yes, she was trying to be a better pony, but this was a crime boss and a slaver. Twilight would understand.
The office was cluttered and ramshackled, matching the aesthetic of the town. There was only a single, small window at the other side of the room, which barely cast the outside light in the room. Perfect for a mole, but not so convenient for pony eyes.
A couple of scaled bipedal creatures she didn’t know the name of, were reacting to her entrance and stepped forward. They were quite mismatched, as one of them was thick and stocky holding a thick wooden club, while the other was lanky and tall with some kind of sickle in his hand. She mentally labelled them as “Fat” and “Skinny.”
Fat stepped forward to loom over her and brandish his club threateningly, but flinched back in surprise when Tempest sparked electricity from her horn. “If you want it to be the last thing you do, be my guest and try,” she frowned menacingly at him.
“Well well well, to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing your cute little face again my little pony?” said a familiar voice from deeper inside.
“If you want a repeat of last time, keep calling me cute,” she snapped, and pushed past the scaled biped with another glare.
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she found the mole rat didn’t look any different to the first time they met. Still wearing the same patchy three-piece suit and ragged top hat. He was sitting at his desk with his chin resting on is interlocked hands with a smug grin on his cheesy face.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your face here after the last time we passed ways.”
“This won’t take long,” Tempest said calmly. “Depending entirely of course if you waste my time or not.” As she reached the desk, she lifted herself with her front hooves so she could leer down at him to continue. “Someone stole something from… my employer,” she said vaguely, deciding it would probably be better than saying she was running an errand for an old lady. “From Ponyville, and they’ve come here to hide. You know every lowlife who makes this place home, you must’ve heard something about somepony moving something valuable from Ponyville. That sort of thing wouldn’t go unnoticed.”
The smile shrank from Verko’s face and gradually was replaced by a snarl.
“You come here, after the mess you made of my town last time you walked these streets, and make demands of me in my own office, after stomping around like a minotaur in a chinashop, and expect me to just give you what you want?”
“Don’t be so dramatic. I held back.”
“My door might say otherwise.”
“It’s still on its hinges.”
The two of them glared at each other in silence a moment, the tension thick in the air.
Then, he began to chuckle darkly, surprising her a little.
“I’ve done my research after last time. I must apologize, I did not realize you belonged to the Storm King last time.” Tempest narrowed her eyes, but kept her tongue at that comment. Verko tapped his goggles. “I have to get close to see properly you understand, my eyes are made for dark tunnels and passages, not sunlit deserts. I couldn’t see his symbol on your armour. Of course then you went and defeated your old employer, and you’re now taking friendship lessons from the pony princess,” he guffawed.
“What’s your point?”
“As I said, I’ve done my research, Fizzlepop Berrytwist.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Wait wait,” one of the goons behind her giggled. A quick glance revealed it had been Skinny. “Her name is Fizzlepop?”
“Tempest!” she said, glaring back and arching magic from the remains of her horn. She didn’t exactly hate her old name, but hearing it ridiculed on the tongue of these thugs was sickening.
“Is that all you do now?” Verko asked. She could hear the smug grin on his face. “Sparkle from your busted horn and toss around threats? You wouldn’t have hesitated to toss my boys around last time we met. You’ve gone soft, and you don’t have the Storm King’s soldiers to hide behind anymore. Which means, for all your bluster, you’re just a sad little unicorn with a broken horn.”
“Just because I’ve learned better than to lash out right away, doesn’t mean I won’t,” she sneered. “And I don’t hide behind others.”
“Of course, let’s not forget that the utter destruction of your old boss left a lot of folk without a place of their own, and some looking for new employment.”
Verko snapped his fingers, and a couple of new figures stepped out of the shadows. Tempest recognized what they were instantly. They were a couple of Storm Minions, originally shock troopers for the Storm King, and they still held the spear and shield they would have been issued while under his command.
Outwardly, Tempest smiled, but still stepped back from the desk. “You really are an idiot. I was second-in-command to the Storm King. These guys know exactly what I’m capable of.” Though internally, the situation was starting to get a little worrying. She was quickly getting outnumbered.
“Perhaps,” Verko said, his smile never wavering. “But they’re also well aware of what you did to their king. And sometimes the desire for revenge outweighs self-preservation.”
She stole a glance at the two, who she now noticed were glaring at her with anger in their eyes behind their masks. The way they gripped their spears told her how eager they were to fight.
“And let’s not forget my own boys who have you surrounded,” he said, eagerly leaning forward on his desk. “You cost me a lot last time, but now, you’re gonna make me a mint. Maybe that flashy horn of yours could save on explosives in the mines. Just got to figure out how best to muzzle you!”
Things had quickly gotten out of hand, and Tempest took a cautious step back to keep her opponents from surrounding her too badly. Four against one would be a struggle, but the goons at least looked like they were just that, dumb muscle. It was the angry Storm minions however that would be the real issue, she could tell they were well trained by the way they were eying her movements and the room.
Her mind quickly went through her plan of attack as they closed in. She could disable Fat and use him as a shield for a start. Then if she could manage to tangle Skinny’s lanky limbs with at least one of the soldiers, her magic could shock both of them at once, which could leave one soldier left. It would be tough and it would rely on everything going right, but it was still within her abilities.
“Time’s up Tempest,” a voice from out in the hall said, and now Tempest froze, wide eyed. “Yer takin too long and I’m getting… bored?”
Tempest turned to see Granny standing in the doorway, apparently confused at the scene she saw.
She swore inwardly. Granny Smith couldn’t have picked a worse time if she’d tried. As tough as she was, the old mare wasn’t a fighter, and that meant she’d be a vulnerable target. Tempest couldn’t reliably fight four opponents while keeping her safe from harm.
She had to change tactics, and fast. Maybe if she took Verko hostage, they’d think twice about fighting? Tempest charged magic in her horn, ready to make a dash, but when she turned to her new target, the sight of him gave her pause.
Verko looked… smaller? No, he was just sinking back into his chair as if he were trying to disappear into it, and had a terrified look on his face. But he wasn’t looking at her. Instead…”
“S-s-s-Smith?!?” he sputtered. The mole stole a nervous glance at Tempest. “Wh-why didn’t you just say you were working for her!”
Tempest was struck speechless. Verko was terrified… of Granny Smith? She watched, dumbfounded as the goons dropped their weapons and stood back in fear. Even the Storm minions no longer had bloodlust in their eyes, and were holding their spears across their chests defensively.
Just what in Equestria was going on?
“Well, looky here,” the elderly mare chuckled darkly as she stepped further into the room and closer to the desk. “Is that little Verko?” he flinched at his own name. “Looks like you’ve moved up in the world. Still causing mischief you little rascal?”
The crime-boss-turned-terrified-toddler, shook his head violently in response. “N-n-no! Not at all.”
“Oh really?” Granny said, eyeing around the room, and taking obvious note of the armed guards who flinched under her gaze. “Doesn’t look that way to me.”
Verko made an odd noise in his throat and pointed at his goons. “What do you lot think you’re doing!? Put those weapons away you idiots! Get out of here!”
A scramble of activity erupted as the two goons floundered for their discarded weapons and scrabbled out of the room, as the Storm Minions also backed out carefully, not taking their eyes off the elderly mare.
“There, s-see? Nothing to be worried about.”
Granny watched the exiting mooks slowly and deliberately, before turning back to the snivelling mole. “Well, it’s a start. But you could also gimme the rundown of why you’re wasting my associate’s time here. Somepony’s stole something from the Apple family, and we want it back.”
“W-well I tried to tell her. It’s nothing to do with me,” he insisted, shaking his head. “None of my boys would be dumb enough to steal from you of all ponies!” he insisted.
“So what you’re saying is, you don’t know anything that could be useful to us,” Tempest guessed, trying to not let her confusion break whatever spell the old mare had cast on the crime boss.
“Really? Is that it?” Granny said with a displeased tone about her, casting her disapproving gaze over him.
Verko shuddered and dug even further into his chair. “B-but I know who might!” he squeaked.
“And who would that be,” Tempest asked for Granny, who simply stared down her nose at the snivelling mole.
“One of my old informants. Capper Dapperpaws! He knows almost everything that goes on in this town.”
“The abbysian?” Tempest asked. She remembered that sly character. She was surprised the two of them were still in touch.
“Abbysian huh?” Granny mused. “One of them cat fellas?”
Verko nodded violently. “That’s right, the very same. He owns a pawn shop not far from the docks district.”
“Yeah, I remember the way to his place,” Tempest mused.
“Well, it’s better than nothing. Come on Tempest, we’ve wasted enough time here,” Granny said, making here way to the door. She paused before crossing the threshold and cast a sideways glance back in the room. “And Verko?”
“Yes?” he squeaked.
“Stay out of trouble.”
Outside the crime boss’s lair, Tempest finally had a moment to breathe easy again, and tried to comprehend what she had just witnessed. “What… just happened?”
Despite Granny walking in front of Tempest, she could practically hear the smile on the old mare’s face as she replied. “That dear, is whatcha call a negotiation. Now, you know this Capper fella?” Granny asked, not giving Tempest a chance to catch up to her thoughts.
“Yeah, I ran into him around the same time I, uh… was chasing your granddaughter and her friends,” she admitted. Tempest ran a hoof against he back of her head. “Could be a little awkward. I haven’t actually seen him since that whole mess, and we didn’t exactly part on good terms. Considering I kind of… blew up the airship he was on,” she mumbled the last part quietly.
Was that really the last time they actually saw each other? It felt so long ago now. Tempest knew she’d spotted Capper in the celebration after the Storm King had been defeated, so she knew he had managed to survive somehow, but she hadn’t exactly reached out to him. How could she?
She sighed. “Guess it has been a while.”
“Sounds like a good time to apologize then.”
Tempest blinked in disbelief. “I don’t think you heard me right. That airship was in the air at the time. I tried to kill him. I don’t think a simple apology would be enough.”
“You’d be surprised.”
Tempest had no trouble facing down thugs or monsters. She wasn’t the type to shy away or hide from a confrontation, and she felt she had made great strides in becoming a better pony. But looking up at the ragged, yet charming pawn shop filled her with an indescribable dread.
“You know, it might be better if you ask on your own this time. I can wait out here till you’re done.”
“Not a chance,” Granny said with a smile. “You’re doin this one way or another. You’ll thank me later.” And she began pushing Tempest toward the door with a surprising amount of strength for her light frame. Tempest had dug her hooves into the ground, but it didn’t seem to matter, as she was simply carving grooves to the front door.
“I don’t think this is a good idea. How do you say sorry to someone you almost murdered?”
“Start with an ‘I’m sorry.’ Now get in there and let me know when it’s done.”
“Wait, but you’re coming too, right?” she protested. “The whole reason we’re here is for your stolen stuff.”
“Not this time. You gotta face this demon on your own.”
“Maybe if we just…”
“Nope,” Granny said, and unceremoniously shoved Tempest through the door. A tinkle of the bell rang in her ear, and again as the door closed behind her. Well, no chance of getting out quietly before he realized she was there now.
Of course, that relied on Capper actually being there, and as far as she could tell, the strange hybrid of shop and museum was absent it’s owner. She stepped closer to the counter and cast her gaze around the place. Walls lined with shelves with odd displays and items of varying reported value or exotic nature. She doubted the validity of some of the items for sale.
‘Hollowed Chaos Egg,’ ‘Crystalized Love,’ ‘Salubra’s backup blindfold.’
Though her eyes caught a glimpse of something that she found herself immensely interested in, labelled “Piece of the Storm King’s Sceptre.” A thin blue crystal, slightly transparent, protected from dust and prying hooves under a dome of glass.
“There’s no way he would’ve gotten his paws on that,” she thought to herself as she peered closer, raising a hoof to get a closer look.
She was interrupted by a voice coming from somewhere within the shop.
“If my ears to not deceive me, I hear the sound of pony hooves in my humble store.” The voice came in a smooth and confident accent from behind another shelf. The voice was quickly joined by its owner, the sly tabby Capper, who slipped smoothly into view. “Exploring the world beyond your borders, braving he unknown, but do not fear. You shall find no friendlier shop in all…” his smile and cheery face faltered as he laid eyes on his customer, halting his introduction briefly. “… of Klugetown,” he finished, much less energetically than before.
An awkward pause followed as they stared at each other, neither breaking the silence.
“Hi… Capper,” she said with a forced smile. Her opening exhausted, she took a breath to give her time, hoping to think of something to say in the interim. She failed, and found herself holding the breath, and her strained smile as she struggled to get her brain working and say something.
Capper, for his part leaned back with his arms crossed and stared suspiciously at her, glancing at the glass case she had been reaching toward.
“No! no,” she blurted out, realizing how it must have looked. “I didn’t come here for this… I have absolutely no interest in it… I mean, I didn’t even know it was here, let alone existed. I just wanted a closer look because, well it seemed unlikely you’d actually have something like… I mean, not that I thought you’d fake it! just that it seemed so… so…”
Capper didn’t move an inch through her entire floundering and Tempest found herself running out of breath trying to explain herself. She closed her eyes and placed a hoof over her face to calm down. “I’m sorry, can we start over? This is not going at all how I pictured it in my head.”
“That depends,” he responded, finally breaking his silence. “On what this is.”
Tempest wilted under his disappointed gaze. Who was she kidding? He had every right to hate her for what she’d done. There was no way he’d be welcoming her with open arms. This was probably as best as she was going to get. She could reason it was what she deserved, but it still hurt.
She took a breath to settle herself. “I’m… I’m sorry. For… everything,” she said, head hanging low. “I’m sorry for everything I did to you, as well as sorry for how long it’s taken me to actually tell you that I’m sorry. I made you fear me, forced you to betray your new friends, I even tried to kill you. And I did so much that I dread reaching out to all those I hurt, now that I need to make things right. Both for myself, and everyone I owe an apology.”
“I’ve made so many mistakes, hurt so many that it’s a long list of those I have to apologize too. It just doesn’t get any easier, owning up and trying to set things right. I’m trying to be a better pony, travelling, helping where I can. I don’t know if that helps you at all to hear that, but I thought… maybe it shows I’m trying?”
Capper for his part, remained still, regarding her coolly.
She felt a lump growing in her throat, but pure force of will, Tempest kept her eyes dry. She wasn’t going to break down here. She still had some pride.
She swallowed, shook her head of the thoughts, and went to leave. “I’m sorry, that’s probably not important for you. I just… I needed you to hear that. That’s all. I won’t waste any more of your time. Goodbye.”
“Wait.” He spoke softly, but firmly, and she did so, turning back to him once more.
He stepped closer, staring at her with an unreadable expression. He leaned down closer to her level, bending at the waist with his paws clasped together behind his back.
Tempest withered a little under his stare, barely inches from her face, but she refused to break eye contact. She was ready for whatever reprimand or retribution Capper would take out on her. He was a good person, and she had hurt him.
But the cool expression suddenly softened into a charming smile, and he offered an open paw towards her. “Apology accepted my dear.”
She blinked, speechless, even as she placed her hoof in his paw and shook. “Is… that’s it? So easily?”
“Were you expecting some loud tirade how I’d never forgive you? Or maybe perhaps some difficult quest of redemption before I’d deign to look upon you?” He shrugged and shook his head theatrically. “No, I can tell that was spoken from the heart. I could see it the moment you began to apologize.”
She gave a snort. “Not enough to tell me not to embarrass myself I see.”
He tilted his head and gave a wink. “I won’t lie, there was some small satisfaction watching you squirm out your apology. But yes, all is forgiven. I can tell you’ve changed a lot since we last met.”
She laughed out loud as the tension was finally bleeding away. “I will never cease to be amazed at the forgiveness of others.”
“Oh, I understand exactly how you feel. But I must say it feels nice to be on the other side for once,” he grinned. “But I learned a valuable lesson from those girls. One I’m sure you’re familiar with yourself. That forgiveness and friendship is so much nicer than spite and suspicion.”
“Very true.” She glanced over at the glass cabinet again. “You know, that’s not the genuine article. It’s the wrong shade of blue. I can tell, I… helped make the thing in the first place,” she mumbled the last part under her breath, but she could tell by the twitch of his ears he had still heard her.
“Perhaps,” Capper added confidently. “But tourists don’t really want the genuine artifact, they want the story that goes with it. And who am I to deprive them of their dreams?”
“While you deprive them of their bits?”
“We all need to eat. But enough about me, charming though I am. I doubt you came all this way just to draw particulars about my merchandise. Why don’t you tell me more about why you’re really here, hmm?”
“Oh of course! Just a minute.” With the rush of emotions from earlier, she had legitimately forgotten about Granny, and went to fetch her from outside.
“Granny?” she asked about as she poked her head out the door.
She heard a snort to her right and found Granny apparently rousing herself. “Hmm, wha? Oh, yer done, are ya?” she mumbled as she rubbed at her eyes.
Tempest frowned. “Did you… fall asleep in that short time?”
“I did no such thing,” Granny snapped, and made her way inside. “Just rested my eyes a moment. There’s too much sand here. Gets everywhere.”
Not quite seeing how the two statements matched, she still made room for the elderly mare inside the shop. “Capper, let me introduce Granny Smith.” She thought for a moment then added with a smile “Matriarch of the Apple family.”
“Oh ho?” Capper smiled and stepped forward with an exaggerated bow. “The Apple family? Might you be Applejack’s mother?”
“Hah! Don’t be tellin fibs now, I obviously ain’t that young,” Granny laughed, though clearly she was enjoying the attention. “Though you’re not far off, she’s my granddaughter.”
“Now now, don’t sell yourself short. I see a fire in those eyes that give the impression of a beautiful young mare. I can only say I’ve heard good things about you from your granddaughter, and I must say the stories do not do justice.”
“Oh, go on.”
Tempest rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but smile at the interchange. “Laying it on a little thick don’t you think Capper?” she thought to herself, but she decided against being rude and saying it out loud.
“I’m afraid we’re not here for pleasantries though” she said, butting in before they started full on flirting with each other. “Somepony stole something from Granny, and we’ve heard they’ve come here to Klugetown. Maybe to pawn it off, or just hide out, but either way we heard you listen to just about everything worth knowing that happens in this town. Any idea where we should start?”
Capper rubbed his chin with a paw and stared off in the distance as he pondered. “Hmm, truly a greater fool has never been born, to steal from the Apple family.” The cat began pacing back and forth, his coat swirling as he spun around. “Though it would give some credence to some other things I’ve heard in recent times.”
“How so?” Tempest asked. She could tell he was building up with the theatrics, and he wanted their participation in his show.
“Though we’ve seen a few more ponies here in recent times, there have in fact been a couple of families that made their home here for some time. Those who know how to keep their heads down, or take part in the more illicit goings on this town is well known for. A certain earth pony known as Field Tiller however has been running his mouth in some circles. Saying how times were changing, and it was high time he “took back what was stolen from his family” to change his fortunes. Perhaps this is your thief? I do recall he took an airship to that area of Equestria and returned shortly after with a much broader smile, and an even louder voice.”
“Tiller?” Granny Smith mumbled as she thought.
“You know him?” Tempest asked.
Granny shook her head. “Can’t say I do, but does he have much family? Maybe a father or grandfather named Earth Tiller?”
“You know? That actually rings a bell,” Capper smiled. “Can’t say for certain as I don’t pay much attention to lineage, not my style. I’m more interested in the now and times more recent, but it sounds like the sort of name he would swear by on occasion.”
“Well there we go then. It’s the Tillers.”
“Who are they?” Tempest frowned.
She sighed and shook her head. “Branch of the Apple family if you can believe it. Though not one we’ve kept in touch with for many years. Back when we were still wanderin, before we helped found Ponyville, the Tillers were gettin tired of looking for the right spot to settle down. They wanted to just make do and tame the land they found, rather than find the best spot to settle. But they were alone in their want, cause you got to have the right soil for the strongest roots. There was a bunch of arguin, and eventually, they went their own way, back the way we came from. Guess they made their way here and settled in their own. And they had a youngin named Earth Tiller among em. I remember that brat spat in my face and called me a liar when I told him his folks were makin a mistake.”
“Didn’t seem they found much fertile soil in these parts. Unless there’s some secret farm I haven’t heard about,” Tempest mused.
Granny shook her head sadly. “No siree. If this Field Tiller has been raised on the type of stories I imagine he has, his head’s probably filled with slander and lies his folks told him. The Tiller’s I knew were always looking for the quick and easy way out. And they were quick to blame their faults on anypony else. We never stole anything from them, they left on their own, despite our protests. That’s just sad.”
“Sad as it may be, it appears you have found your quarry,” Capper pointed out, taking a piece of paper from his jacket and scribbling on it. “I know around which area you may find him, but now I leave it to you to decide what to do.”
He handed the paper to Tempest, which was a small, makeshift map with directions from Capper’s shop to a specific area of town.
“Ain’t it obvious? We’re goin to get our property back.”
Tempest chuckled. “Our property? Thought you said it was family business?”
Granny joined with her own chuckle. “What can I say, you’re growin on me. Stick around long enough, and we’ll make you an honorary Apple yet.”
“I’m flattered, but I don’t think I’m the type to stick to one place.”
“Well, one of these days you’ll look forward to stickin your roots in one set of earth you can call home. Might not be Ponyville, but you’ll find it. Just remember, you gotta search long and hard to find the right soil for the strongest roots.”
“Such a touching moment to be sure,” Capper said with a smile. “I do believe I’ve been witness to something beautiful. But as much as I do hate to interrupt, I might suggest you two get a move on. If you haven’t been quiet in your search, Mr Tiller might catch wind you’re looking for him and make himself scarce.”
“True enough,” the elderly mare nodded sagely. “You been a big help Capper. Anythin we can do in return?”
“Well, normally I’d charge for information, just like any commodity, but for you lovely ladies, consider it on the house,” he replied with a bow.
Granny Smith shook her head. “Nonsense, the Apples don’t take charity. We’ll pay ya back one way or another.”
“Hmm, then consider it a favour, and perhaps I’ll come visit Ponyville sometime.”
Granny thought once more. “You ever had our Sweet Apple Acres cider before?”
“To my deepest regret, it is one pleasure I have not had the opportunity to partake in.”
“Well, if you find yerself down our way durin cider season, I’ll save the first mug for ya. No charge.”
Capper smiled warmly. “Well then, it seems I have a vacation to Ponyville to prepare for in the future. I look forward to your hospitality.”
“Always a pleasure. Let’s get a move on Tempest.”
“Yeah, just give me a second,” Tempest said, suddenly thinking of something.
Granny frowned, but relented and went to leave. “Don’t take too long. Remember, we’re on a timer now,” she called back over her shoulder on her way out.
Tempest held back until Granny was out of earshot. “Hey, Capper.”
“Yes, my femme fatale friend?”
Tempest sighed. “Stop it, real question time. Would you happen to know how Granny Smith managed to scare the pants off Verko? Just by walking in the room?”
Capper let out a chuckle. “Oh really? I must say, I’m jealous I wasn’t in the room to see that. I’d pay good money for that kind of entertainment.”
“I’m serious!” Tempest whispered, not rising to the bait. “He was shaking in his chair as if he was staring down an Ursa major.”
The cat gave her an odd stare. “You say that like that’s unusual.”
Now it was Tempest’s turn to return a confused stare. “What are you talking about?”
Capper blinked twice and then his eyes went wide in realization. “Oh… Oh my.”
“What is it?” Tempest asked, suddenly very concerned.
“You really don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself involved in, do you?”
“Know what?” Tempest said, looking between Capper and the door where Granny was waiting outside. “Are you saying the Apples are some kind of Mob family or something? What’s going on?”
He took a step back and breathed in sharply through his teeth, refusing to meet her eyes. “Well, I wouldn’t want to spread any untoward rumours but… Actually, no, I really don’t want to go talking about this if you don’t already know.”
“Capper, what aren’t you telling me?” she asked, fear starting to creep in.
“You comin or what?”
“Uh… Be right there!” Tempest called out, with a hint more concern than she intended.
The cat leaned down to Tempest’s level and whispered gently in her ear. “Just… don’t piss her off.”
She didn’t look at the cat as she mumbled her reply. “Yeah… sure.”
This was ridiculous, she was getting worked up over an old earth pony mare. Tempest was a battle-hardened warrior for crying out loud, and she’d never felt this nervous or on edge before. It was the fact she didn’t know what she was afraid of that was the real kicker, and nopony would tell her!
She kept stealing glances at the innocent looking mare, wondering what in the world they could all see that was so worrying.
“Still got the map?”
Tempest started, broken out of her thoughts “Uh, yeah!” she said, a little too quickly, which gained a raised eyebrow from Granny Smith.
“What’s got you so jumpy?”
“Nothing,” she insisted. “Thoughts were elsewhere, that’s all.” She looked at the directions, and then looked up to find they were already in the area noted on the map. And she could tell. There were more ponies making home in this part of the town than any other. Most of them looked a little rougher around the edges than Tempest was used to seeing. Almost reminding her of herself in some respects. “We’re here I guess.”
“Hmm, guess so,” Granny mused, looking about. “Any ideas how to single him out? He might not even be here.”
They were already gaining a few odd looks, and Tempest was still feeling a bit antsy. Tired of wandering all day and worrying, she stepped forward and cleared her throat to get the assembled ponies attention.
“Excuse me everypony, but would any of you happen to know anything about stolen property from the Apple family? Or better yet, know where we could find a pony by the name of Field Tiller?”
All eyes were on them as a confused tension filled the air. Then suddenly, there was a clatter of noise across the square, and all eyes turned as a young earth pony stallion with a cream coloured coat and dark blonde mane, grabbed something in his mouth from under a cloth and galloped at full speed out of the quad and down an alley.
“Welp, he’s runnin.”
Tempest mouthed uselessly. “I… didn’t think that would actually work.”
“Well what ya waitin for?” Granny snapped. “An invitation? After him!”
The order snapped Tempest’s focus to an edge, and she shot off like a bullet the way she’d seen her target escape. The adrenaline had wiped her mind of the confusing thoughts, and now all she had was the hunter instinct, as her hooves thudded the dusty ground.
There was a kerfuffle up ahead, and as she turned the corner, she saw her quarry storming through some stalls like a madpony, catching the ire of their tenants. The pony was tearing down stands or carts as he passed, scattering their contents on the street behind him in an attempt to waylay pursuers.
It did nothing to slow Tempest however, as she easily danced and leapt around the scattered obstacles.
He gave a pathetic yelp saw she was gaining on him, and slammed into a fruit stand, causing it to buckle and collapse, and the stall’s owner to duck for cover.
He bucked an entire tray of some exotic fruit as it fell, sending it into the air towards her, and unfortunately she had no room to dodge to the side. Given barely any time to react, she blasted it instead with magic, splintering the wooden crate, and splattering her with the juices as she didn’t even slow down. Thankfully none of it obscured her vision, so she could just make out the terrified expression on the other pony’s face as he released his hold on the suitcase, and grabbed a loose plank in his teeth.
He swung at her head as she came in range, but it was a sloppy, lumbering strike and gave her plenty of time to duck under the makeshift weapon and kick his legs out from under him.
Field Tiller let out a yelp as he fell, dropping the plank, and in an instant, she was on him, pressing her hooves into his prone chest and sparking magic from her horn as intimidation.
The stallion quivered under her, but stole a glance at the plank of wood, still barely in reach.
“Oh go ahead,” Tempest snarled, dripping fruit pulp and glaring at him. “I have had a day, and I wouldn’t mind an excuse to beat your sorry ass for the chase you’ve put us through.” She knew she wouldn’t actually hurt him, but it did feel good to see his scared reaction.
“Well done Tempest, that was quick work.”
“Granny?!” Tempest exclaimed in surprise as the elderly mare walked up to them. “How did you catch up so fast?”
She chuckled. “This ain’t the first time I’ve been to Klugetown. I took a shortcut.”
Tempest’s mouth flapped uselessly as she looked around. Had they been running around in circles?
Granny reached for the suitcase and picked it up. “You better hope you didn’t damage anything, otherwise… we ain’t happy,” she said with an icy tone.
“I couldn’t even open the dang thing,” Field spat. “I just needed a little more time to figure it out.”
“Hold him down Tempest. I gotta check this.”
Tempest did so, and tried not to think about what would happen if they weren’t ‘happy.’
There was a clicking of the combination lock as all eyes were on the case. One latch unlocked. Then the other.
Granny opened up the case so the contents were hidden by the lid, and Tempest saw some kind of glow, coming from the open case.
Granny smiled slowly and seemed entranced by whatever it was she was looking at.
“So, we happy?” Tempest asked, but Granny didn’t respond right away. “Granny?!”
“Hmm?”
“We happy?”
Granny gave a smile and a single nod. “Oh yeah. We happy,” and with that she closed the case, locking the mysterious contents away once more. “You can let him go now. We got what we came for.”
Tempest got off the stallion, who scrambled to his hooves and glared at the two of them with a barely contained rage.
“As for you Field Tiller,” Granny started, somehow glaring down at him, despite being shorter. “Yer family might not’ve had much respect after walking out on the Apples, but you brought shame to your family name all the same with this silly game. Now go home, and never try something this stupid again. Come on Tempest,” she said turning to leave. “It’s time we headed home.”
“No!” Field yelled at them and began digging in his saddlebag. “I don’t care if this takes me out too. This is for everything your family has done to mine!”
He was suddenly holding a small red tube in his mouth with a sparking fuse on one end, glaring with death in his eyes.
Tempest’s heart skipped a beat. Was he trying to blow them all up out of spite!
A few screams were heard as everyone in the area ran for their lives, but there was almost nothing to the sparking wick, and Tempest had only a moment before it would end. She leapt onto Granny, who yelped in surprise.
Tempest covered her ears and waited for the end.
The next thing she heard was a high-pitched whine followed by a loud bang and crackling sparks. It was certainly booming, but it was hardly the building shaking explosion she had been expecting.
Stealing a glance back at Field Tiller, she was surprised to see he was still standing there, totally fine. Other than his mane blown back, his face blackened with soot, and shocked expression he was now wearing.
“But… but…” he stammered. “The flyer said it would be the ‘biggest boom you’d ever seen!’”
Tempest looked around the rest of the street where there was a little collateral damage, but only in the sense of tiny spot fires or burning embers, that were quickly dying out on their own. She slowly pieced it together. “Did you just… try to blow us up with a firework?”
“Fire… work?” he said, looking at a piece of paper he fished out of his bag.
A gust of wind blew it out of his hoof and toward Tempest, who managed to catch and frowned at what was on it. “Tiller, this looks like one of Pinkie Pie’s. She’s a party planner.”
“P-p-party… planner?”
“Tempest, not that I don’t appreciate the concern, but you’re drippin juice on me,” Granny muttered from underneath.
“Gah, sorry!” Tempest blurted out as she leapt back. “Sorry about that, are you okay?”
“Nothin I can’t handle, thanks for the save,” the mare said as she got to her hooves and brushed herself off. “Even if it wasn’t needed in the end.”
She glanced once more at Field Tiller, who was sitting pathetically on the ground, bottom lip trembling as if he was about to burst out in tears.
“Field Tiller, this is a sorry state you put yerself in. You listened to stories yer folks told ya they just dreamed up. We haven’t had nuthin to do with your family for generations, but we woulda welcomed you back if ya just asked. But now? Thievery? All the damage you caused? Not to mention attempted murder! I’m afraid we just won’t tolerate that kinda behaviour among the Apples.”
“Hah!” Field Tiller spat and began laughing in an unhinged manner. “You think this is over? I’ll take my birthright one of these days, and nothing you say will stop me.”
“Maybe so,” Granny nodded sagely.
“Wait, really?” Tempest frowned.
Then Granny grinned. “You’re not gonna listen to me. But I’d guess a lot of these fine merchants won’t let you get away so easily, not after you destroyed their product and businesses like that just now.”
Tempest looked around, just as Field Tiller did, to see all the angry faces slowly enclosing on the poor stallion.
“Wait, please,” he whimpered at the surrounding mob. He gave a nervous smile. “Maybe… you’ll take an IOU?”
There were a few indignant shouts as the shopkeepers began demanding he fix or pay for the damages caused, and Granny pulled Tempest away, balancing the suitcase carefully on her back.
“Best leave them to it. He made his bed, now he’s gotta sleep in it.”
“Wow, don’t you think that’s a little cruel?” Tempest asked. “I mean, I’m not saying he didn’t deserve it, but just leaving him to the mob?”
Granny shook her head. “That poor boy ain’t gonna learn his lesson from a gentle touch. He’s gotta learn it the hard way. Now we’d best get a move on if we wanna catch the last airship back to Ponyville.”
Tempest blinked in surprise and looked at her dripping self. “What? So soon? Don’t we have time to clean up first? I didn’t realize we were in such a hurry.”
“Nah, you can clean up when we get back to the farm.”
“Are you serious?” she thought to herself. The dust and sand was already clinging to the sticky juices.
Tempest almost wasn’t allowed on the airship in her state, but one of the crew managed to find a plastic tarp they were able to lay on top of her seat to catch any of the drips. Tempest had to sit there on the crinkly tarp, with her matted coat caked with sand, dust and drying fruit pulp. She tried her best to ignore the curious looks, but couldn’t help the heat of embarrassment under their stares. She looked like a tramp.
All the while, the suitcase never left Granny’s presence. Honestly, Tempest was still curious what it could possibly contain, but at this point, the events of the day were catching up to her and she was exhausted. And given everything she’d half-learned, she was sure she was better off not knowing.
Eventually, they made it back to Sweet Apple Acres without any more hassle. The sky was turning orange with the glow of evening by the time they came inside.
As they entered the farmhouse, Granny stretched and groaned. “Hoowee, well that was certainly a day. You go sit down and take the load off. I’ll run the bath and you can get yourself cleaned up. You’ve earned it.”
“Appreciated,” Tempest agreed tiredly. She wandered over to the kitchen table and flopped on one of the seats, resting her head on the table.
She barely got a satisfied sigh out, when the front door opened again. “I’m home Granny!” Applejack’s voice loudly rang out, causing both of them to cover their ears.
“Sweet Celestia AJ, I’m right here, there’s no need to shout,” Granny complained.
Applejack looked suitably sheepish as she put a hoof over her mouth. “Whoops, sorry bout that Granny. I didn’t see either of you out in the field. Thought you might be upstairs.”
“Well check next time before runnin your mouth. Consarn it, your gonna gimme a migraine one of these days.” Granny picked up the suitcase she’d left on the ground and walked down the hallway.
Applejack frowned. “What’s with the suitcase? You goin on a trip?”
“I’ll tell you when you’re ready,” Granny called back from the hall.
She shook her head. “I swear I’ve seen that bag before, and she never tells me what’s in it. You got any idea?”
Tempest smirked. “Nope, and quite frankly, I don’t want to know.”
Now that she looked at Applejack properly, she could see her coat was mildly singed, and there was a sense of exhaustion that matched her own.
“What happened to you? You look like you’ve seen better days,” Tempest asked.
Applejack rolled her eyes and sat at the other end of the table. “That friendship mission weren’t no walk in the park, trust me. Apparently some kinda ancient Dragon Lord woke up from some centuries long hibernation and didn’t like how Dragon Lord Ember was runnin things. And he had some awful particular ideas on how dragons were supposed to treat ponies. Managed to get some of the more aggressive dragons on his side too before we arrived. Took every one of us to wrangle things back to normal and show him how the world’s changed since then. Just be happy you weren’t there. It was a whole mess.” Applejack frowned as she looked over Tempest.
“Anyway, you’re one to talk about not lookin too great. What happened to you?”
Tempest paused before answering her, thinking back on the day of running around Klugetown, dealing with thugs and criminals, meeting old enemies and friends alike, and dodging near explosions. She really didn’t feel like going through all that again, and quite frankly, she didn’t think Applejack would believe her.
“I fed the pigs,” she lied flatly.
“Ah,” Applejack sighed. “Say no more.”
Author's Note
Hoo boy this one was fun to write.
As mentioned in the description, this one was written for the May Pairing Contest 2021, and to the best of my knowledge, I haven't seen a story featuring these two anywhere. The basic concept somehow came to me almost fully formed right after reading the prompt for the contest, but it still took a while to really get everything down.
It was certainly fun coming up with the random shenanigans these two could get up to while together, and had a lot of fun with the characterizations.
As usual, thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoy, and let me know what you thought in the comments 
