Are You (Getting) Ready To Rumble?
Wrestle-Mane-Ia
Chapter 1: Are You (Getting) Ready To Rumble?
By: Mister Clacky
(Mr_Clacky@yahoo.com)
Applejack sighed. Her eyes locked on the busted roof of town hall. The market bustled with activity around her apple stand, ponies trotting to and fro on errands or just enjoying being near other ponies. She leaned out over the makeshift counter and laid her head on her crossed forelegs. She heaved another sad sigh.
A massive, if comforting, form cantered up behind her. The big red stallion shifted a bushel of apples from his back and sat beside her. His easy, half-lidded gaze met hers, a lifetime of familial love allowed the older sibling to immediately gauge his headstrong younger sister. The eye contact lasted a bare moment before she turned away to stare back to Town Hall.
Silence sat heavy over the pair, the shifting of Big Macintosh’s ever-present sprig of wheat from left to right resounded like a gunshot in Applejack’s ears.
“Ya need somethin’, Brother?”
“Nnope.”
“Ya sure?”
“Eeyup.”
“Nowhere else ya need to be?”
“Nnope.”
“Chores all done?”
“Eeyup.”
“...”
“...”
They sat in uneasy silence again, the sounds of the busy marketplace washing over them. Applejack rested her head back on her hooves, staring off. Big Macintosh gently cleared his throat.
“Bah. Let’s just hear it already.”
“You don’t look happy, AJ.”
“Really?” The word jumped sarcastically out before she even realized it. She turned to offer a quick apology, but a plate-sized hoof pressed gently on her nose.
Big Macintosh gave an understanding smile as he lowered his hoof. “Ya only get sarcastic when ya really get your bridle in a bunch. It’s Town Hall, right.”
A ghost of a smile played across her lips. “Eeyup.”
His smirk twisted into a small grin. “We’re just happy to have ya back, Sis.”
“I know. I’ve learned my lesson. I just wish I could do something to come up with the bits. I did give my word on it.”
“Ya said you would give your winnings toward the costs of the damage, and ya woulda. Ya kept your word.”
Her ears flattened and she turned back toward Town Hall. She absentmindedly rolled an apple in circles across the counter. Her head drooped. “Still feel like Ah failed.”
Her stetson tumbled off her head as she pitched forward from a none too gentle punch to her shoulder. She swooped it up and wheeled on her brother, glare meeting big dopey grin.
“Buck up, Sis!” He leaned in conspiratorially close. “Ah gotta plan on how ya can earn the bits.”
She quirked an eyebrow, silently imploring him to continue.
“It just so happens I have a promoter buddy from my rodeo days that could help us out. He’s gonna be passin’ through in about a week. Ah done asked him if he’d be willin’ to help us put an event together. He owes me one from way back.”
Her eyes lit up for the first time that day. “That could work! Yer smarter than ya let on.” He snorted. “A rodeo could bring in plenty of bits for that roof. An’ we got plenty of room on the farm ta set it up. Why we could..”
“Now, hold up. Don’t be puttin’ the cart before ya. I ain’t never said he was a rodeo promoter.”
“Waddaya mean?”
“Well, ya see. He’s a promoter for...”
000
“WRESTLING!” Twilight’s surprised outburst echoed through the small library.
“Yep, that’s the idea.” Applejack nodded, looking between her assembled friend’s varying faces.
“This could be SO awesome!” Rainbow Dash was hovering, literally, with excitement.
"I don’t know, Applejack... all those sweaty stallions grunting and straining against each other. It just doesn’t seem... couth.” Rarity pulled a foreleg to her chest. “I don’t know if I can support such a barbaric event.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I don’t want to see anypony get hurt.”
“Ain’t nopony gonna get hurt. It’s fake. It’s like those stories Rarity reads...”
“Oh my!”
Applejack continued through gritted teeth, “Not those stories, Rarity.” She turned away from the blushing unicorn. “It’s like a drama. Good ponies and bad ponies fightin’ against each other. It’s storytellin’.”
Twilight tapped her chin, locked in thought. “I guess it could work... but have you given the logistics of it any thought?”
“Big Macintosh has it all figured out.”
“I don’t know...”
“Now, listen here Twi’. I know ya got organizin’ in your blood, but Macintosh has been running the books and the farm since he was younger than any of us. He ain’t no slouch at plannin’. If he says he’s got it under control, he does.” Applejack’s words held just a tinge of defensiveness.
“I didn’t mean to imply anything, Applejack. We’re here for you. Right girls?” They enthusiastically agreed. “Just tell us the plan and what we need to do.”
“Well, He’s back at the farm wheelin’ out the bleachers and putting together a ring. Rarity, Ah was hoping you could help him with the canvas and the entryway.”
“It will be fabulous, dahling.”
“Pinkie, I’d like ya to take care of the performer’s entrances. Music and whatnot. Maybe see if that DJ friend of yours could help us out.”
“Okie dokie lokie!”
“We’ll also need to get the word out. Fliers and whatnot. We need to work out where the wrestlers are gonna stay. We’ll need to find some jobbers and...”
“Jobbers?” Twilight looked up from the list she had unconsciously started while listening to AJ’s plans.
“Yeah. Mac says his buddy rounded up some names to volunteer to help, but to put on a real show we’ll need to recruit some local talent.” She looked timidly at her friends. “Ah was hopin’ y’all might... ya know... perform.”
“Buck yeah!” Rainbow nearly vibrated in excitement.
“Rainbow! Language!”
“Sorry, Twi’.” Rainbow calmed, somewhat. “But this is so awesome! Performing in front of all those ponies! Showing off my athleticism. Maybe I’ll get noticed by the Wonderb...”
“Whoa there. Plenty of time for that kinda thinkin’ later. But for now, y’all are in?” Around the room they all agreed. Applejack smiled. “Thank ya, you’re all good friends. I’m lucky to have ya...”
“That’s what friends are for, silly.” Pinkie appeared beside her instantly from across the room, sweeping the whole group into one massive hug.
After the spine-crushing hug, and a moment to remind her lungs how to breathe, Applejack trotted to the door. “Thanks again, girls. There’s a lotta work to do, but we can pull it off. I’m gonna check on Mac. Y’all work on your ring personas and get to crackin’ on that list. This’ll be the best show ever.”
000
To say preparations went off without a hitch would be a lie. There was a small fire, some problems getting enough canvas, and an occurrence with a family of angry badgers that Rarity insisted ‘never be spoken of again.”
Even with all that and a dozen other little challenges, the stage was set. A ring sat in the middle of a large fallow field. The weather patrol dispatched a pegasus to keep tabs on the improvised arena to make sure no clouds from the Everfree floated too close. The barn’s face was obscured, dark fabric masked the front of the building that would house the competitors on the day of the event. Pinkie had come through, securing the services of DJ-Pon3 for audio and lighting.
Twilight ran through her mental checklist again while she paced back and forth on the empty train station platform. Tomorrow was the night. Today she was to meet Big Macintosh’s promoter friend and lead him back to Sweet Apple Acres while the rest of her friends put on the finishing touches.
With a hiss the colorful steam engine came to a stop. A solitary stallion stepped off onto the platform. An older pony, thickly built. Squat and heavy, his bulging muscles had run to fat with age. A black stetson, similar but different from Applejack’s iconic headgear, sat straight on his head. He smiled a warm greeting. “Howdy! You must be Twilight Sparkle. Red’s letter said a pretty purple filly would be meetin’ me.” He offered her a hoof, which she tentatively took. “I’m Gym Hoss. This is gonna be one heck of a slobberknocker!”
