Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 22 - Spice Things Up!

The time: One month after the recent parasprite infestation.

Virtuna hums as she dusts her game machines with her tail, the screens being dusted by her new pet, the grey parasprite from the last chapter.

Virtuna: Thanks a ton, Pixel.  You're a big help for a little parasprite.

Pixel chirps in delight as Virtuna tosses him an apple half.  He catches it in his mouth, spitting the seeds out the window.  Virtuna laughs, then hears a knock at the door.

Virtuna: Huh?

Virtuna answers the door and find Derpy Hooves standing there.

D.Hooves: Mail call!

Virtuna: *giggle* OK!

Derpy Hooves hands Virtuna her mail, Pixel lending a hand.  Virtuna murrs as she looks it over, then.....

Virtuna: This one's for Sweet Apple Acres.

D.Hooves: *checks* Oh.....

Pixel chirps and murrs at Derpy Hooves.

D.Hooves: *smile* Aw, thanks, fella.

Pixel chirps as he nuzzles Derpy Hooves.  As the mailmare heads to Sweet Apple Acres, Virtuna smirks at Pixel.

Virtuna: Show-off.

Pixel chirps loudly, making Virtuna laugh.

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

Applejack is hard at work, bucking apple trees and storing apples.  She hums as she heads to a tree to buck it, only for the apples to fall off.  Applejack looks up with a chuckle.

Applejack: Heya, Derpy.

Derpy Hooves lands on the ground with a thud, letters falling down around the cross-eyed pegasus.  One of them was the letter for Applejack she accidentally delivered to Virtuna.  Applejack picks this letter up and opens it, reading.

Applejack: ...............It's from my cousin, Jalapeno.  She's coming for a visit tomorrow!

D.Hooves: Sounds good, right?

Applejack: Not really.  Jalapeno was gonna help us work the orchard here in exchange fer some land fer her peppers.  Couple weeks before she was ta start, however, she upped and left.  Never spoke to her since.

D.Hooves: Well, what if she's here to apologize?

Applejack: I ain't sure, Derp.  Alls I know is... this is a total shock.

Applejack takes the letter and the rest of her mail and heads back to the farmhouse.  The rest of her family is gathered there.

A.Bloom: What's up, sis?

Applejack: Cousin Jalapeno's coming over for a visit.

B.MacIntosh:  Jalapeno?  I reckon I haven't heard that name for a long time.

G.Smith: That pepper-plantin' pony was gonna give us a hoof with this place, but she left without explanation.

A.Bloom: Aw, c'mon, Granny Smith, there's gotta be SOME explanation, right?

Applejack: If there is, I'd love ta hear it.  She ain't called or wrote or came over since she left.

B.MacIntosh: She's got a lot of nerve coming back.

Applejack: Indeed.  Tomorrow's gonna be interesting.....

Nods all around as the Apples eat up.  The next day, a train arrives at the Ponyville Train Depot and out steps a dark green earth pony with fiery red hair and two crossed jalapeno peppers as a cutie mark, one red and the other green.  She steps out wearing a sombrero and a smile, carrying a suitcase and two saddlebags.  She looks around for a bit, then trots off into the town, running into Pinkie Pie.

P.Pie: *GASP!* New pony!

???: *laugh* Hola.

P.Pie: Hola?

???: *chuckle* It means "Hello."  My name's Jalapeno, I'm looking for my prima (cousin, female), Applejack.

P.Pie: Didja try Sweet Apple Acres?

Jalapeno: Where?

P.Pie: C'mon, I'll take you there.

Jalapeno nods and follows Pinkie Pie to Sweet Apple Acres, the two mares running into Trixie.

Trixie: Hello, Pinkie Pie.  Who's your new friend?

P.Pie: Her name's Jalapeno.  She's talking in some new language I've never heard.

Trixie: Well, with a name like Jalapeno, the Great and Powerful Trixie can probably deduce that she's speaking Spanish.

Jalapeno: Clever deducción (deduction), Trixie.  How did you figure it out?

Trixie: Trixie has a cousin that comes from Los Pegasus.  He's always teaching Trixie Spanish words.

Jalapeno: Sounds like you two have a close relationship.

Trixie: Indeed.  He's my number-one fan.  That's why Trixie used to over-blow herself on stage.

P.Pie: Well, THAT'S a good reason.  It's so good that you have a cousin that looks up to you, Trixie.

Trixie: *nod* Outside of Ponyville, Trixie's family are the most important ponies Trixie knows.

P.Pie: Aw.

The two mares hug up, then Pinkie Pie continues on to Sweet Apple Acres with Jalapeno.  Along the way, WHOOSH!!

Jalapeno: Ay carumba!

Rainbow Dash and Pitstop hurtle through the air side-by-side.  The two spiral around each other, braiding their trails as they punch holes in clouds.  The two finish by sucking all the clouds into a tornado and spinning them out over the Everfree Forest.  The two exchange a high-hoof, then fly down, spotting Pinkie Pie, but more importantly Jalapeno.

Jalapeno: *whistle* Muy rápido!

R.Dash and Pitstop: *They exchange a quizzical glance, then look back at Jalapeno* Thanks?

Jalapeno: *chuckle* It means "very fast".

R.Dash and Pitstop: Oh! *chuckle*

R.Dash: Sorry about that.

Pitstop: We never heard that language here before, luv.

Jalapeno: Aw, it's no problema (problem).

P.Pie: This is Jalapeno, she knows Applejack.

Jalapeno: Si, Applejack's mi prima.

The pegasi exchange another curious glance.

Jalapeno: She's my cousin.

R.Dash, P.Pie and Pitstop: Oh!

All four ponies laugh.

Pitstop: You sure seem nice, luv.

Japaleno: Si.  I learned how to be friendly by living with mi prima.

R.Dash: When was this?

The quartet walk on towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Jalapeno: A while ago.  We were the best of compadres and we were gonna be partners on the land of Sweet Apple Acres.  She'd have her apples and I'd have my jalapeno peppers.  But then, an emergencia (emergency) happened and I had to go home.  Mi familia's farm was gonna go under and they needed me to go back and help.  If not for me going home, mi familia would've been bankrupt and homeless.

R.Dash: Wow.

Pitstop: You really care about your (slowly): familia, (normal speed): don't'cha, luv?

Jalapeno: *laugh* Si, my family's the most important thing to me, and that's why I came back, to talk to mi prima.

As the four talked, they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, only to hear.....

Scootaloo: HALT, NEW PONY!

All four look up at the sound of the voice.

S.Belle: You are trespassing on the land of.....

A.Bloom, S.Belle and Scootaloo: THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!

Jalapeno: *laugh* You three remind me of when I was a potra (filly).

Scootaloo: What kinda language is that?

Pitstop: It's Spanish, Scootaloo.

Jalapeno: Si, I come from Los Pegasus, name's Jalapeno.

A.Bloom: So YOU'RE Jalapeno.  Sis has been talking about you.

Jalapeno: Sis?  Oh, you mean mi prima, Applejack.

A.Bloom: Mi-what-now?

P.Pie: "Prima" means "cousin" in Spanish.

A.Bloom: Well, you'd better hope sis'll forgive your flank.

Pitstop: Apple Bloom, what happened wasn't her fault.  Jalapeno had-!

A.Bloom: NO!  There's no excuse for her just leavin'!

Apple Bloom stomps off back into the clubhouse, slamming the door and leaving six stunned ponies.  That night, Pinkie Pie threw a party celebrating Jalapeno's arrival.  Everypony was there - everypony except Applejack.

P.Pie: It's just not the same without Applejack.

Jalapeno: *nod* I wonder what's taking mi prima so long.

?????: YOU!!!

Jalapeno whirled.  Standing by the DJ booth was a ticked-off Applejack.

Jalapeno: *laugh* HEY!  *rears up happily*  Hola, mi prima, how are you?!

Applejack just stood there.

Jalapeno: Haven't seen ya in a while, what's shakin'?!

Still nothing.

Jalapeno: O.....K?  So, heard ya beat Nightmare Moon, wanna talk to me about that?  *10sec. pause*  What about Discord?  *10sec. pause*  The wedding?  *10sec. pause*  ANYthing?

Applejack: Let me tell ya'll something, you turncoat pony.  Ya'll left for Celestia-knows-where and left me and my family in the lurch!  We were gonna be partners and you balked at how hard the work was!  AND NOW YA'LL HAVE THE NERVE TO COME BACK HERE?!

Jalapeno: Mi prima, please listen to me.....

Applejack: AND STOP USIN' YOUR FANCY SPANISH ON ME!! I have no idea what the haybale ya'll're sayin'!

Applejack stomps off, leaving a shell-shocked and close-to-tears Jalapeno.  Trixie's eyes narrow a bit and she follows Applejack.  After walking off for a bit, Applejack found she could go no further.  She looks around and realizes she's floating over the ground.  She looks around fast and spots Trixie, horn glowing.

Applejack: What do ya'll want, Trix?

Trixie: Applejack, you can't forgive her, can you?

Applejack: She left!  She saw how hard it would be to work on my farm and she left.

Trixie: But you MUST have had a close relationship, otherwise you wouldn't've gotten so mad.  *she sets Applejack down*  Look, Trixie understands what you're going through.  Trixie has a cousin in Los Pegasus, too.  And Trixie keeps in touch with her cousin.  From what Rainbow told me, she had a good reason to go.  Family is important to Jalapeno and Trixie.  So, please, go talk to her, *sniff* before you lose something truly important.

Trixie walks off back to the party, Applejack watching the showpony leave.  Applejack sighs, feeling ashamed of herself.  Meanwhile, Jalapeno tries to enjoy herself, Discord's antics helping a lot.  Trixie trots back to Jalapeno and sits by her.

Jalapeno: Well?

Trixie: I dunno.  Trixie has never seen Applejack like this.

T.Sparkle: *sits by Jalapeno on the other side* Nor have I.  She really let you have it.

Jalapeno: *sigh* Yeah.  I dunno if I deserve it, but.....

Applejack: *clears throat*

Everypony looks in shock.

Applejack: Listen, Jalapeno, you really walked out on us when ya'll just took off the way ya did.  It broke all of our hearts, ya know?

Jalapeno: Mi prima, listen, mi familia was in trouble.  They were gonna lose their house if I didn't go back to Los Pegasus.

Applejack looked at Jalapeno dumbstruck.

Applejack: What'cha'll talkin' about?!  I didn't hear a thing about your family bein' homeless!

Jalapeno: Because I made it back with no time to spare!  Didn't'cha get my letter?

Applejack: What letter?

Fluttershy: *holds up a letter* This one.  Derpy Hooves must've mis-delivered it.

Applejack snatches the letter from a gasping Fluttershy and reads it.

Applejack: To Mi Prima Applejack,

I'm sorry to have to leave you and your farm, but I received some horrible news from mi familia.  Their house is in foreclosure and they're six weeks from being thrown out on the street.  I cannot let that happen, so I must return to Los Pegasus.  I do hope you understand.

Your loving cousin,

Jalapeno

*She lowers the letter*  Jalapeno, I.....  I had no idea.....  I just thought you.....

Jalapeno: Mi prima, listen, *approaches Applejack* I wouldn't've left if it wasn't muy importante (very important), YOU know that.  So, can we move on, please?

Applejack hugs Jalapeno tight.

Applejack: I'm so sorry, Jalapeno.

Jalapeno: Aw, *hugs back* no problema, mi prima.

Trixie smiles as she witnesses the cousins making up and the party continues on without a further hitch.

Applejack (letter is a voice-over to Applejack and Jalapeno having fun at the party): Dear Princess Celestia,

Sometimes a misunderstanding happens between two ponies and it's easy to get roped inta thinkin' the wrong thing.  You MUST be willin' ta hear the other pony out, or you may lose somethin' mighty special.  No matter how many miles or how many years, any conflict can be resolved with some good ol' fashioned communication.

Your faithful servant,

Applejack.

Applejack walks to and hugs a dumbstruck Trixie.  After Applejack breaks the hug, Trixie smiles at her.

Trixie: Wh-what was that for, AJ?

Applejack: Fer showin' me what a fool I was ta let my assumption cloud my thinkin'.

Trixie: Aw, it's no problema.

Applejack and Trixie laugh, then Jalapeno joins in.

TO BE CONTINUED