Balance within Harmony

My little pony...

Previously on My Little Pony - Balance in Harmony

Twilight: "What, I'm a colt now?"

Rainbow and Applejack: "Us to?"

Rairty: "Twilight and I are getting married"

Pinkie Pie: "Party!"

Fluttershy: "Rainbow, I love you" *kiss*

Celestia: "Thats one of the orbs found"

Scootaloo: "Yay, Rainbow and Fluttershy adopted me"

Derpy: "Muffins!"

and now the adventure continues

..friends!

A few uneventful weeks had passed since the new pegasus family had moved in together. Everything in Ponyville had seemed to settle down for a while and whilst the group was always learning new lessons, it seemed to be things had reached a bit of a lull between the seasons.

The six friends had arranged to have a Saturday brunch every week, which allowed them all to catch up before their sisters and daughter went off crusading, whilst Spike usually had a lie in to himself at the Library with Twilight and Rarity spending all weekend together.

“So, where are you off to again?” Rarity asked as she delicately nibbled on a breakfast muffin, casting her sister and fiancée a dirty look as they messily munched through a big pile of syrupy pancakes.

Noticing his loves face, Twilight licked his lips and laughed “What?” he exclaimed as he winked at Sweetie Belle “We don’t moan at how you eat” he finished with a playful smile. Twilight loved Rarity of course, but he also loved working with Sweetie Belle to tease her prissy side. Afterall, growing up in the royal palace Twilight knew perfectly well how to behave, but he also enjoyed pretending to forget just so Rarity could have a rant at his manners.

Applejack rolled his eyes, used to the double acts his friends had started to form after becoming couples. “It’s an annual convention of Earth pony land workers”

“You mean Earth-con” Rainbow Dash looked up from his porridge, breakfast of champions. Scootaloo had the same breakfast and since being taken under Rainbow and Fluttershy’s wings she emulated them all the time…especially Rainbows recklessness which the foal already had mastered, and probably could teach the colt a thing or two.

“Well, that’s a bit of an insulting name, but basically yeah. The Apple family always send some representatives along to the annual Farming, Mining and Construction Guild Meeting, and now Big Mac is back it’s been decided that I could do with the break.”

“Sounds very nice” Fluttershy whispered as she wiped Scootaloo’s chin

“Yeah, this year the focus will be on new technology and the impact on all aspects, including farming. But there is a special focus on non gem mining, so it’s taking place in Gravelford”

“Non gems? How dull! Wait…Pinkie, isn’t Gravelford where you grew up?” Rarity asked, and looked over to her friend. Everypony was shocked to see that the usual happy pony mane had lost a little of its bounce and colour. Rainbow instinctively thought about dashing of hiding all of Pinkie’s ex tea-party buddies, especially the turnips.

“Yeah, which is why I’m not going” she responded with a sigh.

“Come on now silly, this would be a great time to catch up with them!” Rainbow exclaimed, slightly less then delicately. Afterall, he was the only one to have dealt directly with sad Pinkie and wanted to prevent that from ever reoccurring...ever…EVER!

Twilight shot a look at his colt friend, and went over and put a hoof round Pinkie “Look, I know you have some family issues, but perhaps this could be a good way of finally seeing them again, without having to make it a special trip and a big deal?”

“And besides, I want to show off my best worker at the convention!” Applejack cooed softly.

As the crusaders left the table to go off and find the supplies they needed for today’s harebrained adventure, the rest of the ponies discussed Pinkie’s problems with her. Eventually they managed to persuade her to join Applejack on the trip, as the worse that could happen would be that she just came home again. Besides, she always liked train journeys and there would be hundreds of ponies to make new friends with.

***

A few days later, two Ponyville residents got off the train at Gravelford station. It was very busy with ponies from all over Equestria arriving for the conference starting tomorrow, and Applejack recognised some of his extended family dotted around the crowd, as well as some friends from previous gatherings.

All the ponies started heading towards the accommodation - being basically an earth pony conference, it wasn't at a hoity-toity conference centre in Manehattan or the like, but just a series of tents in fields. Applejack was looking forwards to camping, whilst Pinkie had liked the rumours of all night parties and hoedowns that she had heard happen at previous meets – she had an opportunity to spread her reputation around the whole of Equestria!

A few hours later, after a very slow walk through thousands of ponies, Pinkie and Applejack had settled into their assigned two pony tent. To their delight was right in the middle of the tent city, meaning that they would be able to keep ontop of all the social events, both of them looking forwards to blowing off some steam.

There were no planned activities for the arrival day, and so like most of the ponies the pair decided just to have a look around the town. There wasn't much to see, as it was a mining town that worked hard and didn't do much else. There was a lot of bits to be made in mining, but the sort of ponies who mine didn't go for the fancy things, preferring a simple life.

Walking around together, Pinkie recognised most of the places as it had not changed in the decade or so she had been gone, and despite being full of ponies for the conference it the main streets still had an air of quiet about it Well, this is just as about anti-Pinkie as it could be Pinkie thought to herself I would need a party orbital cannon to make this place over!

Applejack had run into a number of old farmer friends, and a few long-distance Apple family members, whilst Pinkie had been looking around, fearing bumping into her family. But as the pair continued to walk the filly didn’t see her family or anypony she knew. However, being distracted from hiding in places no other pony could fit in, Pinkie Pie hadn’t noticed where Applejack was leading her as they walked down a well worn, but quiet, dirt track.

As they approached a group of buildings, suddenly Pinkie realised where she was “Wait, this is the Pie family home? Why are we here?”

“Look Pinkie, it’s time to at least see your family. You are lucky enough to have one unlike Rainbow, Fluttershy, Bloomy and I, so you need to see them!”

Having one of her best friends resorting early to the absent parent blackmail, Pinkie decided it was best not to argue with Applejack. Afterall, how bad could it really be?

As the approached the front door, it opened before they had a chance to knock to find a kindly looking mare smiling at the pair “Oh Pinkie, it’s so good to see you again”. Pinkie went running up to her mother, and gave her a big hug. A stallion and mare then appeared at the door and joined the pair in the hug.

Applejack stood there rubbing his hooves and looking at the four ponies hugging, feeling a bit alkward at observing this touching family moment. Eventually the four managed to break themselves away from each other, and the older mare then turned to Applejack.

“Pinkie, why don’t you introduce your handsome friend to us”

“Oh, of course mama. Mum, Inkie, Blinkie, this is Applejack. He’s one of my best friends from Ponyville”

“Applejack, one of the other five holders of the elements?”

“You know all about that?” Pinkie turned to her mother in shock

“Oh, of course darling! Everypony, even in backwards town like ours, knows the story of Luna’s return Ms Element of Laughter, and that Discord fella too! Just to think, My Daughter the national hero and honoured by Royalty”

Pinkie fell back into another hug with her Mother, and the five ponies entered the house. On the couch sat an older stallion who looked unimpressed as the quintet entered the room.

Mr Pie slowly got up, came over and shook Applejacks hoof “You must be Applejack – I’m looking forwards in hearing from you and the Apple clan. We may not be exactly the same sort of industry, but I'm sure as dedicated workers of the land, above or below, have a lot in common”

Applejack noticed that the father had not yet looked at, let alone spoken to his daughter. Mr Pie turned his back on the others and walked out of the room and upstairs. Applejack looked over at Pinkie, who didn’t show any signs of caring as she chatted like the madpony she was to her sister and brother. He turned to Mrs Pie, who just shrugged her shoulders and went to the kitchen to get her guests a drink.

Applejack was torn at galloping after Pinkies dad and confronting him, but didn’t really feel it was right to make a scene in somepony else’s home. Besides, there were a couple of days of the conference and Applejack decided he would seek Mr Pie out at some stage.

Mrs Pie returned from the kitchen with some hay and water, simple food but obviously that was the taste of the town. Applejack sat mostly in silence as the Pie family caught up with everything that had happened since Pinkie left them only a few weeks after getting her Cutie Mark.

Of course not much had happened to the miner family, they led productive but boring lives, but they were simply amazed at some of Pinkie’s stories – apart from the Elements of Harmony, there was walking on clouds, confronting dragons, going to the grand galloping gala…The family almost didn’t believe their youngest daughter, and if it wasn't for Applejack nodding along and confirming the details, they probably wouldn’t.

***

Later that evening and back in the tent, Applejack and Pinkie were lying down to sleep. It was a nice evening, warm enough to keep the flap open and to lie there without any sheets.

They had missed the opening night party as they had spent the time with Pinkie’s family, except her dad of course who had stayed upstairs the whole time. Pinkie was delighted to have caught up with her family, whilst Applejack hadn’t really minded missing the parties seeing how much he made his friend happy Huh, imagine me making Pinkie happy for once whilst she dealt with family issues, what a turnaround from usual! he smiled to himself.

Pinkie lay looking at the night sky, which had been painted specially by Luna for the convention, a message of welcome written in the stars. The Princesses knew how important their Earth ponies were to the kingdom, despite the lack of attention they tended to receive compared to the flashy Pegasi or powerful Unicorns.

“Applejack…you have a big family, right?”

“You could say that Pinkie” Applejack laughed at the sudden question “Depending on how far you want to spread the family tree, there’s thousands of us”

“So, do you ever think about, you know, having foals and extending that family tree a little more? I know you like trees to grow” Pinkie laughed at her own bad pun

Applejack mused for a moment “I guess…I mean, I always felt I would do when Applebloom had grown up so she could help out on the farm whilst I was pregnant…”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore” Pinkie dug an elbow into the colts side

“True” Applejack mused back “I must say, that with myself and Big Mac working so hard, I wonder if we’ll ever find our special someponies” Or in big macs case, if he’ll ever admit to Cheerilee how he really feels the colt thought to himself. “Besides, I’m not sure anypony would want to be with me”

“Oh Applejack, you are an amazing catch. Your hard working, dependable, have your own business, handsome…” Pinkie suddenly stopped and put her hoofs over her mouth

Applejack sat up and looked at Pinkie “Ha..Handsome?”

Pinkie looked at the colt “Okay, Applejack you have to Pinkie Promise not to tell anypony what I’m about to tell you”

Applejack did the movements without a word, actually being a bit speechless.

Pinkie blushed a bit “Look, I always liked you growing up, you were so different from me it was great how we had nothing in common and yet were always best friends. And then, when you turned into a colt, I didn’t think anything would change. But then…”

Pinkie blush deepened “…with Twilight & Rarity and now Rainbow & Fluttershy together, I just feel it’s fate somehow that we should be together”

Applejack was a bit lost for words. He admired Pinkie, but he had no idea Pinkie felt the same. Afterall, she had continued to act exactly the same inappropriate ways towards him as she always had to everypony.

“Look Pinkie, you don’t have to feel like we have to be together or anything…” Applejack started

“I know that silly” Pinkie interrupted boinking the farmer on the nose “It’s just, I want to but I’m scared”

“Scared, of what?”

“Scared that whilst we are good friends, we’re not meant to be lovers or anything. Scared that once we cross that line, if things don’t work out I’ll lose you”

“Look Pinkie, I’m sure the others felt the same. Hay, I don’t even exactly know what I feel. But didn’t you have save Equestria by singing about not being scared?”

Pinkie started humming the ghostie song much to Applejacks amusement at first, and then fear that she would start singing. Suddenly she jumped up, put her front hooves around Applejacks neck and planted a big kiss on the colt before he had a chance to react.

Drawing away after a few seconds, Pinkie had a big smile on her face “Well, that’s done! Goodnight Applejack” and she lay back down to sleep.

Dazed, Applejack lay down What on Equestria do I do now? I mean, Pinkie’s great, she works hard, great around the farm, is great with Applebloom… Don’t be silly, you can’t think like that, what do you think about her as a pony, not a worker The colt stopped and looked at the filly By Celestia, she is pretty isn’t she. And she is fun, great to be around, friendly, loving…”

Eventually, the colt finally feel asleep, joining the carefree filly who had nodded off seconds after her head had reached the pillow.

***

Despite a certain amount of awkwardness the next morning, neither of them mentioning the night before, Pinkie and Applejack were enjoying themselves. The next day’s conference had started well - there were talks on the latest developments in steam engines, discussions over the general economic situation, as well as discussions over the next years requests for weather to the Pegasi. It was the standard argument that the farmers wanted more rain, whilst construction workers wanted more dry weather, so a delicate balance had to be reached.

Of course most Earth ponies thought that the Pegasi seemed to ignore their wishes, but some like those from Ponyville knew the weather teams better than that, and that it was harder work then other ponies thought it was. Applejack and Pinkie were especially vocal about that, being the only ponies there who had been to Cloudsdale and seen the Pegasi at work.

In the afternoon a particularly lively debate had started about new machines fuelled by unicorn magic, in which Applejack could contribute a lot given the run in with the Flim Flam brothers. And despite the lack of sleep, Applejack excelled at talking about Earth pony stuff and was the centre of the whole thing. Just as the debate was heating up, a pony came bursting into the large arena and blew a loud whistle.

“Come quick, there’s been a cave-in!” the pony gasped through ragged breath

***

All the ponies had ran out of the conference, and over to where ponies were gathering outside a mine entrance. Pinkie and Applejack were some of the first to arrive, the youngsters being speedier than the average pony. Applejack could never work out how Pinkie kept up with him or Rainbow dash, but there wasn’t time to dwell on that now.

The miners were still leaving the dust bellowing entrance, and there was general chaos and panic in the surrounding areas. Nopony seemed to be paying any attention to anypony else. Applejack jumped up to the top of a pile of rocks, and clearing his voice, reached deep inside.

“EVERYPONY, CALM DOWN!” he shouted in his best Royal Canterlot Voice.

All the ponies seemed to stop and turned to the colt “NOW LOOK, WE NEED TO ORGANISE AND WORK OUT IF ANYPONY’S MISSING. LISTEN TO YOUR SUPERVISORS AND STAY CALM” With this, everypony seemed to remember their training and the situation quickly became less chaotic. Pinkie looked at Applejack and despite everything else going on, had to admire the colts leadership abilities.

Mr Pie arrived, surprised at finding the ponies in a very organised state so quickly. Being the town’s emergency controller he usually had to start the process of damage control, and was surprised to learn the young colt Applejack had managed to calm everypony down. All the ponies had already started gathering into their work teams whilst some of the conference attendees and other towns-ponies started treating the injured.

“Where’s my brother and sister?” Pinkie suddenly blurted out

One of the foreponies looked around “They were in team six – we haven’t seen any of them”

“Blinkie and Inkie are still down there? We have to get them out” Pinkie shouted at Applejack. They both started running towards the entrance of the cave.

“Hold on there. You can’t go in there, it could continue to collapse!” Mr Pie shouted

Pinkie looked over at Applejack “I don’t sense it, we’re good to go!”

Applejack looked at one of his oldest friends and smiled I may not understand her odd feelings, but it would be foalish to ignore them! the colt thought to himself, and without a second thought went running into the mine, followed closely by Pinkie.

Mr Pie cursed his daughter impulses, and that of her friend that he had thought he could get round to liking. He quickly started organising a rescue team, gathered supplies and maps, and after checking that only one team was missing, the rescuers slowly ventured into the cave.

***

The rescue team weren't sure where the trapped miners were, but followed the sound of talking and rocks being moved. After a while they came across a tunnel with Applejack and Pinkie in it, the pair had already started digging through a cave-in.

Pinkie had taken Applejack straight to where the trapped ponies where, navigating by her sense alone despite the pitch blackness,. They had heard tapping from the other side, so knew somepony was alive down there, but they couldn’t make verbal contact. They had been digging a while before they noticed the laterns and noise of the approaching team, led by Pinkie’s dad.

Mr Pie was surprised to find the two ponies safe. He trotted right past his daughter, and asked Applejack what they were thinking running into the cave, and how they knew they were digging in the right place. Applejack explained that Pinkie has a sense for these things, and when they arrived they heard sounds from the other side. Mr Pie seemed more than a little sceptical until one of the other team members pointed out that this was the most likely location Team 6 would have been in during the collapse.

Pinkie withdrew from the front of the tunnel, and the stronger mining ponies joined Applejack in starting to clear the rocks. Mr Pie stood there watching, and just ignored his daughter standing right next to him. Pinkie was too worried about her siblings to really care about her father's attitude right now. It was taking a while, but good progress was being made.

“Twichy Twichy Twichy Twich!” Pinkie suddenly yelled out, as she vibrated uncontrollably across the ground, causing Mr Pie to look at distain at the randomness of his daughter.

“Okay Everypony, get out of here, now!” Applejack shouted, and grabbing Pinkie by the mane raced out of the area they were digging in. Confused, the others ponies including Mr Pie instinctively followed. Moments after the final pony had raced out of the tunnel they were in, it collapsed in on itself sending a cloud of dust over the rescue team.

Everypony was coughing, and Applejack went over to Pinkie. “Thank god for your Pinkie Sense™! But what are we going to do now?”

“Hold on, I’ll find another route” and with that Pinkie seemed to disappear, the air being so dusty that any quick movements were hidden.

Pinkie’s dad looked stunned and continued to stare where Pinkie had been a moment ago “So, she can really sense the future and stuff?” he said slowly as if trying to comprehend what happened.

“You bettch partner” Applejack laughed back, internally acknowledging that the father had mentioned his daughter for the first time “Not like super far into the future, but the next few minutes. It’s saved some ponies lives on many occasions, it’s a miracle. And it’s helped the prissy ponies avoid the occasional rainstorm” Applejack always had to have a dig at Rarity, even if Twilight would make him pay for it anytime he heard.

The dad coughed a little more “And she is one of the bearers of the elements…” he slowly continued

“Yep! She’s saved us all from our fears to lead us to the elements! And she even managed to help us defeat that varmint Discord…despite the two of them bonding over chocolate!”

“And you and her…” the dad trailed off as most dads do when the conversation leads that way.

Applejack coughed “No sir-ree, not like that. I’ve known Pinkie since she moved to Ponyville, we were BFF’s for ages, were in the filly scouts together…”

“Filly scouts?” the dad interrupted surprised

Applejack explained what had happened with the elements and everything since, including up to when Pinkie started helping around the farm.

“So, she isn’t just a big kid who just wants to have fun all the time?” the dad whistled, the thought probably acting as a good distraction from the fact two of his children were missing.

“With all due respect towards ya daughter sir, she is probably one of the most frivolous party ponies in the whole of Equestria! And that seems to be one of her special powers. But that doesn't mean she doesn’t know how to work hard and take responsibility when she has to. In fact, no-pony works harder than Pinkie, even if she isn’t as fast and strong as other Earth ponies.”

“Sounds like you’re mightily impressed with my gal!”

Applejack blushed a little, but before he had a chance to respond to the father, Pinkie suddenly appeared in the middle of the rescue team, taking them all by surprise.

“I’ve found another route through, follow me”

***

The ponies followed Pinkie through the mine, now completely trusting the filly’s instincts despite the fact she had never being in the mine before. She took them round all the various tunnels that had caved in until the reached the other side of the area the trapped team were suspected to be in. The rescuers, lead by Applejack and Pinkie’s father, started digging out the caved in tunnel, whilst Pinkie helped where she could. But this was strong Earth pony stuff, and she was out of her depth here.

Back on the surface, everypony from the community and the conference was gathered outside waiting for the news. Pinkie’s mother was right at the front, awaiting news of the whole of her family underground. She cursed he foalish daughter in running in to save her beloved other children, and cursed her husband for leading the rescue team.

Hours had passed since the last cave-in had been heard and Luna’s moon was rising up to replace Celestia’s sun. Suddenly, everypony noticed some lights and sounds coming from the entrance. Slowly, some of the ponies from the rescue team and trapped team emerged, before Mrs Pie saw the five ponies she most wanted to see. Applejack was carrying Blinkie, Mr Pie had Inkie on his back, whilst Pinkie took up the rear.

Over all the emotions of seeing her family again, the mother didn’t notice that the father and youngest daughter were in deep conversation…

***

A few days later the whole Pie family was at the train station, waiting for the next departure to Manehattan via Ponyville. Pinkie was saying goodbye to her family for the thousandth time, promising to come back regularly and extending yet another open invitation to come and visit her in Ponyville.

Mr Pie gave a look to Applejack, indicting he wanted to have a quiet word. They went to one side and the father gave the colt a warming smile “Thank you for your help down in the caves young man. My family and I owe you so much.”

“Sucks Sir, it was nothing really”

“I know it’s a bit old fashioned, but I suspect you Apples are as old fashioned as us Pies…most of us anyway” he laughed as he noticed his daughter had somehow pulled a candle covered goodbye cake out of seemly thin air.

“We sure are Sir” the colt laughed

“Well, in that case I just want to say, in advance...” the father started to well-up a little “…that you can take my daughters hoof in marriage”

“What, I…” Applejack started to blurt but was interrupted by Mr Pie raising a hoof

“Now, I’m now saying you even want to, or right away anyway. But I just want you to know I would be proud to have a colt-in-law such as yourself!”

“That’s a mighty big honour Sir” and Applejack turned to look at Pinkie bouncing around her family and a smile formed on his “Thank you…I suspect that perhaps one day I might just need that”

“If you do so, make it soon young colt. Gals like my daughter don’t come along everyday!”

“That sir, we can all agree on. I think even Celestia herself hasn’t seen a pony like her in all her years”

“It’s just a shame that I had to send her away and miss her growing up”

“With all due respect sir, I don’t think that would have been fair on her. This town isn’t right for Pinkie, in the same way Ponyville isn’t right for you. And if she had stayed here, nothing that has happened would have happened, and where would Equestria be then. Still under Nightmare Moons control or destroyed by Discord!”

“And there would certainly be a lot less laughter in the world” the dad summarised, almost breaking into a rare smile and the pair rejoined the family just as the train arrived…