Part 3: To Start a Revolution
Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Breaburn walked through the front doors of the town hall. Inside, the leaders newly formed pony class, the Terras, were gathering in the meeting room, a room that was normally only used when the mayor had important politicians from Manehatten, Fillydelphia, or even Canterlot visit Ponyville. Macintosh pushed the doors open, and the three were greeted by a small group of ponies, all sitting around a large table. The Apple kin took their seats, and Applejack scanned the filled chairs.
All but one of them, Earth- no, Terra Ponies. Twelve in all. Each of them wearing the Terras armband. Each of them hoof picked by the Apple Family heads; Applejack, Macintosh, and Breaburn included. Most of the ponies in the room hailed from Appleloosa, a town that was funded by the Apple Family, and consisted of all Terras. It is a very well hidden fact that Appleloosa was not a "frontier settlement" as the papers had said, but actually an Earth Pony separatist colony. The higher-ups in Canterlot tried to keep them contained by allowing them to do as they pleased, but it was apparently not enough.
Members of this hoof picked group included AJ, Macintosh, and Breaburn, of course, but also included were: Sheriff Silverstar, the legendary outlaw-turned-sheriff of the Mild West, who was willing to give up his life at one time, fighting the Buffalo herds; Bluegrass, a pony who was in the front lines during the Buffalo Invasion of Appleloosa; Toffee, Caramel's much more competent sister, who had moved to Appleloosa to improve the town; Black Stone, another pony who had received recognition during the Invasion; Ruby Rhubarb, a green pony who had somehow gained the Apple Family heads' attention during the Invasion, though Applejack had no idea what; Marmalade "Jalapeño" Popette, a filly who showed fierce determination when preparing for the Buffalo; and the last pony hailing from Appleloosa was Promontory, the lead stallion of the freight train that went to the Mild West town. Years of pulling the locomotive, while simultaneously beating back Buffalo after Buffalo, has made him one of the strongest ponies in Equestria, along with his team, who were positioned just outside the meeting room.
Aside from Applejack and Macintosh, there were only two other ponies among them that lived in Ponyville. One of them being Nurse Redheart, the white mare and her extreme medical knowhow proved to be an invaluable asset in the Apple Family's eyes. The other pony was Firefly, a Pegasus. She was the first Pegasus to talk about a revolt in Cloudsdale, and had even formed a small band of Pegasi to follow her. However, they were stopped before they could do anything. Banished from her cloud home, she came to live in Ponyville. Her past well known by the entire town, Applejack was the one who nominated her to be part of the group. Almost all of her former associates joined her once again; others that didn't had already moved on.
The group hushed as Silverstar began to speak when the three had settled, "Okay, Applejack, we've taken over Ponyville. And if Ah do say so myself, it went pretty quickly." He smoothed his moustache with his hoof, "Definitely the fastest hogtie of a town Ah've ever seen."
The others mumbled in agreement. The take over of Ponyville went much faster than anticipated.
"So what's next?" Toffee piped, looking around the table, but stopping momentarily on Applejack.
"'What's next'?" Applejack stroked her chin, "Well, listen up an' Ah'll tell ya. Breaburn, would ya kindly..." Applejack's cousin nodded and pulled a folded piece of paper of from the inside of his vest and laid it out on the table. He and Macintosh began to unfold it to reveal a large map of Equestria.
"First thangs first," she pointed to the turquoise Pegasus, "How many ponies d'you have that can fly now?"
Firefly thought for a minute, "Let's see, I have twenty-two…plus the eleven that just joined…thirty-one!"
Silence.
"Uhh, that's thirty-three, ain't it?" Black Stone pointed out.
"Oh…yeah, thirty-three." The Pegasus blushed and laughed sheepishly, "Duh."
Applejack gave an unamused stare before looking back down at the map, "Firefly, I want you to send nine of yer number to Hoofington, along with Promontory and Team Locomotive; and take about sixteen more others with ya." She marked the town of Hoofington, which was South of Ponyville, "That should be enough of y'all to git the job done." Promontory nodded, stood, and headed for the door. Taking the heavy hoof steps as a sign, the three other members of Team Locomotive-Caboose, Evening Star, and Steamer-appeared outside of the opened meeting room door. Promontory motioned them outside to the square.
"He don't talk to much, do he?" Big Mac commented.
Breaburn chuckled, "Speak for yerself, cous."
Applejack circled a location just Northeast of Ponyville, "After you tell those nine to head on over ta Hoofington, Firefly, you need to take the rest of yer number to Cloudsdale. Since Terras cain't walk on clouds, t'ain't no need to take it over. Just go an' try ta rally some more supporters."
"I think we can manage that!" Firefly chirped and flew out of the room, but not before doing a small loop from her seat.
"She's awful chipper for bein' a revolutionary." Bluegrass said, rubbing the back of his neck. Black Stone agreed.
"As fer the rest of y'all, Toffee, Ah need you to come up with plans fer the bigger cites like Manehatten, Fillydelphia, an' Stalliongrad."
"Roger that!"
Applejack pointed to the other two mares in the room, "Ruby n' Marmalade'll help ya out."
"Sure thang!"
"Please, call me 'Jalapeño'"
The three ponies stood up and walked out of the room.
"Sheriff, you take Black Stone n' Bluegrass and start gettin' everypony to carry all those Unicorns back ta tha farm." Applejack paused, "Bring the mayor and that other filly too. Macintosh, you go ahead with 'em too."
"Eeyup."
The four stallions left the room.
"Miss Redheart, you go directly to the farm. Ah've got no doubts that they'll be needin' you right away."
The nurse pony didn't say anything. She wore a look of concern as she slowly trotted out of the room. Applejack knew for a fact the nurse felt uneasy about her job, as it went against the oath she took. However, Redheart knew that, while it wasn't what she wanted, it was for the greater good of the Terras. She knew that was where her loyalties lied.
"And Breaburn…"
"Uh, yes, cous?"
"Jus'…find somethin' ta do."
Applejack stood up and left the slightly disappointed Breaburn alone in the big meeting room. He sighed and adjusted his hat as stood to leave the room, "Whelp," he said, "Ah'll hazard a guess that by tomorrow mornin', lotsa ponies ain't gonna recognize Equestria no more."