Apples for Ebony 3: Sweet Shipbreaker!
By misterebony
 
 
Pinkie pie paced pondering pretty ponderous plans persistently.
 
"Hey, nice use of words starting with p!" She said to no one in particular.
 
Why thank you.
 
She glanced out the window again at her newest neighbors. It had been shortly after the winter wrap up that the home had been finalized, a home that also doubled as a potion shop. Pinkie knew the owner thanks to Applejack introducing them and he seemed really nice.
 
But then she began to suspect that something was wrong. Applejack was not doing as many things with Rainbow Dash as she used to, nor was she seeing that one stallion who stopped by her farm. Pinkie had shipped Applejack with both of them and now those ships seemed to have been wrecked.
 
And now she knew why. She saw Ebony, her neighbor, prepare her and Dash in a stew. She saw Rainbow Dash leave with a big grin on her face. And she saw Applejack stay much later, the two cuddling by a big fire.
 
"And if that isn't a sign that we have a shipbreaker I don't know what is!" She said to the reader poking a nose with her hoof. Don't ask how you just got booped, it's Pinkie Pie.
 
She then froze. "Wait a sec.... idea! An awful idea! I just got a wonderful... AWFUL idea!!!" She gave a grin that would scare children, rubbing her hooves together as she went to get her patent pending super sneak suit. She slipped it on and keyed in the earpiece.
 
"Gummi, you mind the store. I'm going potion shopping." She pat Gummi on the head and headed out into the night.
 
Gummi just stared for a moment before he walked toward a book on complex quadratic equations. He quickly knocked it over and fell asleep on the counter.
 
*************
 
**Incoming Transmission**
 
*pssh*
 
Pinkie, you there?
 
*pssh*
 
"Yeah boss, I'm here."
 
*pssh*
 
Ok, I have marked the target on your heads up display. Be careful of security systems.
 
*pssh*
 
"Got it. Over and out."
 
**End Transmission**
 
Pinkie Pie looked over at the potion shop. She knew what she needed for her plan was in there. She had to sneak in. Carefully she opened the front door, peeking inside, then sneaking in through the shadows. She chuckled at the security the shop had, several of Zecora's runes carefully hidden on the floor, traced with an itching potion that would be a clear identifier for any would be thief. The pink mare stepped around them carefully but froze when she saw movement, an exclamation point appearing above her head. She watched as a screen on a far wall lit up.
 
Pinkie Pie knew Ebony had a state of the art security but did not expect to see a monitor with a face on it, a female one made from code and light. It glanced around the room, a curious look on her face.
 
"Strange." She said. "I know I heard something... perhaps it was just a mouse. No matter. Initiating shut down."
 
Pinkie Pie watched as the face closed her eyes and the monitor faded.
 
*"so... that is SHODAN."* The mare said. She knew only by name about the security system so seeing it in person was creepy... but kinda cool. *"Note to self: look up how programs have welcome parties."*
 
Once she thought it safe to move she crept to a shelf of potions. She looked at their labels.
 
Body Coolant. Take a bath in lava with dragons and come out unsigned. Single use lasts 12 hours.
 
Crop grower. Aide your ailing garden with this little potion. Use in small doses for best effect.
 
Coldcure. Cure for the common cold.
 
Pinkie Pie sighed as she read the potions. They were all so useless for breaking a ship. Surely there had to be one she could use to....
 
Wait.
 
This.
 
She smiled as she plucked a single, out of the way vial from the shelf. The label it had pleased her, and when she read it she had a plan.
 
Her mane flattened for a moment as the Pinkamena side of her came out. She began to giggle as she held up the potion. Yes. This was it. This would stop that shipbreaker once and for all. And better still she would get a treat out of it.
 
She snuck out and began to plan. Tomorrow. Tomorrow he would be out of the way!
 
*************
 
Ebony trotted around town with a smile in his heart and a spring to his hooves. He hummed a happy tune as he went, suddenly breaking into song.
 
*All my life of wandering,*
*I never thought this place would bring*
*The kind of home that all folk hope will be.*
 
*But now at last my heart's at peace,*
*I feel the joy inside increase!*
*Could it be I am finally happy?*
 
*And why would I not be, when all I can see,*
*Cant ever go wrong even I try?*
*And why that will be, is because SHE is with me!*
*The girl who is the Apple of my Eye!*
 
*I never thought I'd feel this way,*
*My heart filled with delight each day!*
*But thanks to her happiness is all I see!*
 
*And now my hope my one true wish,*
*Beyond even the most delish,*
*Is that I hope she feels that way about me!*
 
*And why would I not be, when all I can see,*
*Cant ever go wrong even I try?*
*And why that will be, is because SHE is with me!*
*The girl who is the Apple of my Eye!*
 
*Applejack is the Apple of my-*
 
"Hey there! Gonna walk by without stopping for some sweets?"
 
Ebony eeped as suddenly Pinkie Pie popped up in front of him. Of all of Applejacks friends Pinkie Pie was the most enigmatic. He could swear she was some kind of demigod with some of the powers she seemed to have. But he said nothing about it yet.
 
"Not yet. See I was going out to lunch with Applejack and I didn't have much time. I hoped to get some flowers for her before we meet. You know. Something simple but sweet."
 
Pinkie Pie chuckled some. "Oh I could help with that! Or do you forget what I do for a living silly billy?"
 
Ebony chuckled. "Yeah you got a point. Sorry Pinkie. Just I thought you were real busy with work. I mean between party planning and... HEY!"
 
But Ebony did not get to finish as Pinkie pushed him inside her bakery. The gingerbread house styled building was truly a marvel for every sense. Helped that it was the best place for super sweet goodies in this or any town. Pinkie bounced around him and gave a sly look.
 
"Sayyyyyy... maybe now that you are here... you can.... *test something for me?*"
 
Ebony blinked. "Test something? Like what?"
 
Pinkie Pie knew she had her quarry now. Soon this Shipbreaker would be out of the way, then back to AJ and RD in L-O-V-E! She pulled over a cupcake, her tool for the job.
 
Ebony blinked as he saw it. It was light blue and had pretty cyan frosting. Ebony took a sniff and smiled.
 
"Smells delicious!" He said. "Lije fresh picked berries."
 
Pinkie Pie giggled. "I know right? It's what I want to call Berry Suprise! Gove it a taste!"
 
And so Ebony did, chewing it happily. It was quite delicious and went down smoothly. He ate quickly and loved the flavour and light texture, the whipped frosting on top the perfect compliment.
 
But in his belly it began to make him quiver. He moaned a little as he grabbed it.
 
"Uggghhh... Pinkie, I think it had something bad in it." Ebony moaned out.
 
"No it didn't! It's the suprise!" She held up the potion bottle with a devious grin. "CakeMaker Potion! Suprise!"
 
Ebony went wide eyed. He went to speak but felt intense pleasure waft over him drowning out the discomfort. His body began to soften as Pinkie grinned deviously.
 
"You see Ebony, your not supposed to ruin Rainbow Dash and Applejacks ship. That has been going on for so long! Then you show up and steal her away... and eat Rainbow Dash to boot!"
 
"Pinkie... P...i....e..."
 
"But now I am getting rid of you. See I decided to eat you up. And I took something so when I do, you won't digest. You'll be trapped inside me forever!" She giggled.
 
"Help..."
 
Pinkie Pie hmmed. "Now to speed things along." She picked up the vial, her mane a twitching...
 
****************
 
Applejack whistled as she trotted down the road. She was sad she and Rarity would be in Canterlot for a few days, but her family and Ebony had been very understanding. Today was a final farewell for her and Ebony, then off to Canterlot to help Rarity and compete in the High Equestrian Derby, a race with huge prizes.
 
She decided to get something special for Ebony and headed for Sweet Apple Acres, hoping to get a tart or two for them to share. She smiled as she saw Pinkie Pie decorating a small cake. It looked like one of those specialty single serve ones.
 
Strange... she rarely made a small cake... she walked in curious as she saw her friend carrying the cake. She then noticed blue liquid dripping from it. It looked like one of Ebony's potions!
 
"Yum! One shipbreaker cake, coming up!" Pinkie said as she licked her lips. Applejack growled. She saw the cake. The vial. THE GLASSES.
 
Oh. No. She. Did. Not.
 
"PINKIE PIE!" Applejack shouted just as Pinkie Pie almost bit into the cake. She went wide eyed as she turned, giving a nervous giggle.
 
"Eeeehehehehe.....uh..... hi Applejack.... um.... this isnt what it looks like? I totally wasn't going to eat and trap your ship breaking boyfriend in my tummy... oh maybe I was...." her name deflated. "I'm sorry... it's just... I thought you and Applejack were an item and... I thought he ruined it..."
 
Applejack was upset... but managed a small smile. She looked at Ebony. "Well he did come out mighty tasty lookin. But Pinkie... Dash and I ah just friends. We ain't gonna get together like that. Doesnt mean we gonna stop being friends if ah get with Eb."
 
Ebony bounced around in his cake form. "Yeah! And besides, there is no way I would break up their friendship. Or yours!"
 
Pinkie Pie sniffled. "But... I really thought... I'm sorry."
 
Applejack hugged Pinkie Pie. "Ah forgive ya. But ya do need ta be punished."
 
Pinkie blinked. "How?"
 
Applejack held up the vial and gave a smirk.
 
"Oh."
 
**********
 
"Well... at least failure is delicious. " Pinkie said as Ebony took another bite of the Pinkie Pie.... um... pie. How sweet it was! Like creamy cakes and cotton candy! Pinkie was delicious!
 
And Pinkie smiled as Ebony and Applejack shared the treat. She had been wrong to make a ship that really did not exist. Ebony never would have stolen it, and Pinkie Pie should have known that to be true.
 
And besides, she thought as she was gobbled up, maybe they still could be fun. Would be silly to see them in a three way...
 
"Don't even think about it sugarcube."
 
"Can't help it! It's adorable!"
 
Ebony hmmed. "She isn't wrong."
 
Applejack smiled at him. "Don't encourage her Eb." She gave him a peck on the cheek. Pinkie's mane reinflated, and she smiled. Never again would she doubt her friends.
 
She began to think of something better: a big pie the two could cuddle up in for a dragon...
 
**********
 
A few days past and Ebony was running frantically. His shipment of CakeMaker for Celestia was mixed up with a delivery for the theatre! He ran as fast as he could to prevent an incident. If someone got that who wasn't supposed to...
 
**WHAM!**
 
As he ran into the theater, he slammed into a massive green form. He thought it was a fuzzy wall... until he looked up. He was wide eyed as he saw a red eyed pony... no. This was no pony. This was more like a Clydesdale horse, and those teeth! Sharp like a predator!
 
"Sorry!" Ebony said. "But I got to get to the owner of the Theater before it's too late!"
 
"You found him." The horse said in a deep voice. "Name is Stage Manager."
 
Oh horseapples...
 
To Be Continued...