Life in Allspark Wells

Part 21; Safety First

If there was one task that annoyed Apple Bloom above all else, it was helping to clean Wheeljack's workshop. As she approached the aging barn, the former farm girl could only groan, "Would it kill him to use some air freshener once in a while? This place reeks worse than a hog pen." Taking a deep breath as she straightened her shirt and kilt, she opened the door as she thought, 'Here goes nothin'.'

Entering the workshop, Apple Bloom was surprised to see that, smell aside, Wheeljack had kept his home surprisingly tidy, with the worst she could find being a few discarded cans of cheap pasta and a few other food items. Of course, there was still a few piles of scrap metal and blueprints strewn all over the work desk. Letting out a sigh of relief, the former farm girl remarked, "This shouldn't so bad after all."

As she stepped forward into the workshop, Apple Bloom heard a familiar voice call out from above, "Hi Apple Bloom!" Looking up, the former farm girl found herself greeted by both Wheelie and Brains, the two robots staring down from their little walkway. The young girl let out an amused chuckle as she replied, "Hey Wheelie. Hey Brains. You two have a good day so far?"

As the two robots approached a small stairwell, Brains replied, "Aye. Rather nice and pleasant day, especially without that Sassenbach Wreck-Gar." Wheelie nodded as he added, "Yeah. We've just been working on fixing electronic wires and stuff like that." He then added, "I still don't understand how this all works." Leaping from the stairs to a nearby desk, Wheelie asked, "How was your day Apple Bloom?"

"Not too bad." Apple Bloom replied, "Just a normal school day, nothin' too excitin'." The young girl was about to continue, but the unpleasant odor of decaying food reentered her nose, forcing her to begin coughing and gagging. Watching her friend struggle, Wheelie asked, "You alright there Apple Bloom?" The former farm girl caught her breath as she replied, "Ah'm fine, just… Not used to that stench."

Thankfully for her, Brains reassured her, "Don'ne worry lass. Oi'll deal with the master's food rubbish, you two can sort everytin' else out." As Apple Bloom took this in, Wheelie turned to his big sister and asked, "We can handle that, can't we?" The former farm girl gave her little brother a smirk as she reassured him, "You bet we can."

A Short While Later

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Apple Bloom held her hands to her hips as she remarked, "That should just about do it." Making her way to a trash can she'd filled with random pieces of scrap metal, the former farm girl said to herself, "Can't believe this Wheeljack would have these just lyin' around." From the other side of the workshop, Brains was pulling a large trash bag filled with rubbish as he groaned, "Remind me to give master Wheeljack a good kick to his ovaries for bein' so sloppy."

Turning to face Wheelie, Apple Bloom found him standing on the main worktable, stacking all the blueprints into two piles. From the way his eyes were lit (a half circle facing upwards that reminded her of a smile), the former farm girl thought, 'Looks like he's havin' more fun than me.' As the small robot continued his task, Apple Bloom continued, 'Maybe it's just because Brains is behavin'.'

At that moment, Wheelie noticed something lying on the table. Kneeling down, the small robot asked aloud, "Huh, what's this?" Seeing this, Apple Bloom asked, "What's goin' on Wheelie? What'd you find?" As the former farm girl made her way up to the table, Wheelie answered, "Some sort of weird metal tube thing with some sort of cylinder and a wooden thingy." Reaching out, the small robot revealed what the strange item he found was.

It was at this moment that Apple Bloom found Wheelie aiming a revolver at her.

'Oh shit.' Apple Bloom thought to herself. Slowly stepping backwards, the former farm girl gently began, "Wheelie? What are you doin'?" Hearing this, the small robot tilted his head as he replied, "Just showing this weird thing to you. Why?" Thinking quickly, the burgundy haired girl asked, "Would you mind just puttin' that thing down?"

As Wheelie lowered the revolver, everyone was caught off guard by the sound of Queue's voice shouting, "What in the name of Primus almighty are you doin' you daft little twit?" Turning to face the workshop entrance, Apple Bloom found the old man hobbling inside, his cane slamming into the ground with every other step as he continued, "Where the hell'd you find thart?!" As he closed the distance between himself and the small robot, Wheelie dropped the revolver as he held his arms over his face as he begged, "I'm sorry Mr. Queue! Please don't hurt me!"

To everyone's surprise, Queue didn't immediately lash out at anyone. Instead, the old man simply scooped up the revolver, aimed it downwards, and inspected the gun's cylinder as he muttered something to himself. 'Well, at least he doesn't seem to be super angry.' Apple Bloom thought to herself. Tiptoeing up to him, the former farm girl asked, "Uh… Mr. Queue? Everythin' alright?"

"Damn good ting that boy at least doesn't leave these things loaded." Queue muttered to himself. As he set the weapon on the table, Apple Bloom asked, "Unloaded? What are you talkin' about?" The old man let out a sigh as he explained, "Me boy left this revolver here lyin' around, completely unattended." He then continued to inspect the weapon as he continued, "Damn stupid of him to do, especially wit you an' your sister Sideswipe around."

Confused, Apple Bloom asked, "What do you mean by that?" Wheelie then asked, "And what's so dangerous about that thing anyway?" Turning to the small robot, Queue pointed his cane right at the small robot's chest as he sternly warned, "This "ting" is a weapon that can seriously hurt or kill someone!"

The moment they heard the word "kill," Apple Bloom and the two robots felt a cold chill shiver run down their spines. The former farm girl couldn't help but think, 'Ah mean, Ah know what a gun can do, but to hear him say it just…' Shaking her head, the former farm girl asked, "Well, you said it was empty, so at least things turned out alright, right?"

Shaking his head, Queue bluntly answered, "Not a damn bit. The fact he left it unattended is…." Sighing, the older man began to hobble away as he continued to mumble to himself. As he walked towards the door, Apple Bloom turned to Wheelie as she said, "Ah got a feelin' we better follow him. Come on."

The Garage

Following Queue into the garage, Apple Bloom and Wheelie found Wheeljack and Ratchet dismantling a car's engine. As the former farm girl approached the group, she could hear the old medic remarking, "I keep telling you, you have to be precise, otherwise you'll just turn these things into nothing but scrap metal." Wheeljack let out a confident smile as he replied, "Oh please, isn't that what we do here?"

As the maverick mechanic said this, Queue cleared his throat, catching his son's attention. Turning to his father, Wheeljack greeted, "Oh, Hi dad! What are you doing here?" The aging man didn't say anything, simply giving his son a disappointed glare. Apple Bloom then tiptoed towards the group as she added, "Uh… Ah think he's mad because you… Well… Wheelie found somethin' in your workshop."

Before Wheeljack could say anything in confusion, Queue revealed the revolver and presented it to his son, sticking the grip forwards as he held the barrel. Not even thinking, the maverick mechanic accepted the weapon as he said, "Thanks dad. But what are you doing with one of my…."

Wheeljack stopped himself when he realized that his father had presented one of his revolvers while glaring at him.

"Shit." The maverick mechanic muttered to himself. Lifting his cane and pointing it at his son's chest, Queue angrily replied, "Shite indeed boy! You left this layin' aboot in your workshop! Oi found one of yer little robots pointin' it at Apple Bloom!" All Wheeljack could do was gulp and nervously ask, "Uh… Was it Wheelie?"

Apple Bloom and Wheelie stepped forward to make themselves known as the latter replied, "You do know I'm right here, right?" Wheeljack began to speak up, only for Ratchet to pat him on the back as he said, "You're already up shit creek. You might wanna reconsider what you say next." Realizing that he was screwed, the maverick mechanic simply sighed and threw his hands up in defeat as he asked, "Alright. I messed up. What are you gonna do? Tell Ironhide?"

That Night

"You left a gun lying around?!" Ironhide screamed at Wheeljack. As the maverick mechanic turned whiter than a ghost, Apple Bloom, Wheelie, and Chromia watched from the couch while Queue stood in the corner, glaring at his son like a vulture at its next meal. The former farm girl couldn't help but recoil as her uncle continued, "I can't believe you'd do something so unbelievably stupid!"

Gulping, Wheeljack nervously replied, "Look on the bright side! At least it wasn't loaded!" Ironhide shook his head as he shot back, "That's the only reason I'm not kicking your ass all the way to Nova Iacon! Your damn lucky Wheelie didn't hurt anyone!" Hearing this, the small robot held looked up to Apple Bloom as he lamented, "I could have hurt you?"

Before Apple Bloom could say anything, Ironhide's furious voice barked, "As of this moment, you're on latrine duty for the rest of the year! You're also on half pay for the next month!" He then folded his arms as he asked, "You have anything you want to say to the kids?" Sighing in resignation, Wheeljack turned to Apple Bloom and Wheelie as he said, "I'm sorry for putting you two in this situation. I was careless and neglectful."

Standing up, Apple Bloom replied, "Ah accept your apology, and Ah think you'll have plenty of time to reflect on this while your cleaning toilets 'round here." Wheelie then added, "And now I know I'm not the only one around here who's been called stupid." Wheeljack could only shrug as he muttered, "Huh, that went down better than I thought."

His optimistic mood was interrupted when Ironhide ordered, "Alright buddy, now go clean the upstairs bathrooms." Wheeljack could only groan as he began to make his way to the stairwell, lamenting, "Me and my big mouth."

Once Wheeljack was gone, Ironhide said, "Well, now that that's taken care of, I think we better start getting dinner ready." He then turned to Chromia as he asked, "You mind giving me a hand dear?" The family matriarch smiled as she replied, "I thought you'd never ask." As she got up, Apple Bloom asked, "Um… Uncle Ironhide?" The former sergeant replied, "What is it kid?"

Taking a deep breath, the former farm girl explained, "Ah was just thinkin', knowin' Wheeljack, would it be possible for me to learn how to deal with a gun lyin' around?"

For several moments, everyone stood there in silence. Apple Bloom herself couldn't help but think, 'Ah got a feelin' Ah might have just made a stupid request.' As everyone turned to her, the former farm girl elaborated, "Ah mean, in the event somethin' like this happens again, Ah'd like to be able to properly and responsibly relocate any weapons layin' around." She then let out a loud gulp as she added, "If that's alright with y'all of course."

At that moment, Queue stepped forward as he replied, "Oi can help you with thart." As Apple Bloom took this in, Ironhide asked, "What? Are you sure that you want to…" The old Fenian interrupted with a gentle, "Don't worry boyo. Since she'll have to learn about this sort of thin', Oi tink it be best she learn from someone who knows all about these tings." He then turned to Apple Bloom as he reassured her, "Don'ne worry lass, Oi'll help make sure you know how to handle a foirearm safely."

Taking this in, Apple Bloom remarked, "Well, thank you Mr. Queue." Lighting up, Queue declared, "There we go. We'll be once you get home from school tomorrow." He then began to hobble away as he continued, "Of course, Oi'll need to get everyting ready, set up a makeshift range…."

Once the old man was gone, Ironhide walked up to his daughter as he warned, "Listen, you need to listen to everything he says, do what ever he tells you too." Apple Bloom was about to respond with a simple "yes sir," but the serious and concerned look on her uncle's face made it clear that this would not be something she could take lightly.

Taking a deep breath, the former farm girl solemnly replied, "Ah understand sir. Do everythin' he says."

Satisfied, Ironhide began, "Very well. We'll handle dinner tonight, as I believe you have some studying to do." Nodding, Apple Bloom replied, "Ok." She then began to make her way towards the stairs as Wheelie asked, "Can I help?" The former farm girl smiled as she replied, "Ah don't know how much, but you're welcome to try." The small robot pumped his fists as he squealed, "Awh yeah!"

Watching the two kids disappear, Ironhide could only whistfully think, "Those kids."

The Scrap Yard, the Next Day

Making her way through the junkyard, Apple Bloom found herself wondering, "Where did Mr. Queue say that he was gonna be? Somethin' about bein' "across the yard from Wheeljack's workshop," but wasn't there." Now she was just trying to find the old man, only to find herself completely lost in the sea of scrap metal. Groaning, the young girl complained, "Remind me to make a map of this place."

After a few minutes of trekking throughout the scrap yard, Apple Bloom eventually found Queue, the old man opening a briefcase on a folding table next to a makeshift counter. Looking up, Queue called out, "Good to see you me girl!" Hobbling with his cane over to her, the aging Fenian asked, "You ready for yer first safety lesson?"

Scratching the back of her neck, Apple Bloom, "Ah guess. Ah mean, Ah just wanna know what to do when Wheeljack leaves one of these things lyin' around." The old man patted her on the shoulder as he continued, "Oi know, but Oi tink it'd be best if you understood everything about firearms." He then added, "Especially since it ties into the first rule of gun safety."

Curious, Apple Bloom asked, "First rule? What's that?" Making his way back to the table, Queue answered, "Always, and Oi mean always, assume a weapon is loaded. Oi know Ironhide has probably stressed this already, but it bears repeatin'. Guns are not toys, and if you feck around with one, you could get yourself or someone else seriously hurt." He then motioned for the burgundy haired girl to approach him. Making her way towards him, the old man continued, "Now then, let us begin."

Reaching into the briefcase, Queue pulled out a revolver, one nearly identical to the weapon from the day before and set it down on the table as he said, "Alright. Pick up this weapon." Confused, Apple Bloom asked, "You want me to pick up that gun?" Nodding, the older man replied, "Yup. Just pick it up and remember not to point it at me or anyone else."

Confused, Apple Bloom replied, "Uh… Yes sir." She then reached for the revolver and, taking a deep breath, grasped the revolver's grip and allowed her index finger to slip through the circular loop at the bottom. As she held the weapon in her right hand, the former farm girl couldn't help but think, "This is… kind of a weird feelin'."

At that moment, Queue barked, "Alright! You've just made two big mistakes!" Hearing this, Apple Bloom jumped as she released the revolver, allowing the weapon to fall to the ground as Queue sighed, "Make that three big mistakes." The burgundy haired girl apologized, "Ah'm sorry sir."

Walking up to the young girl, Queue reassured her, "Don'ne worry lass. Oi believe we learn best through failure, hence me allowin' you to "fail" you you'll learn." Confused, Apple Bloom replied, "Uh… thanks?" Seeing that his pupil wasn't quite getting it, the old man made his way to the discarded weapon and picked it up as he reassured her, "Now then, let's go over your mistakes one by one."

Flipping the cylinder to the side, Queue explained, "Rule number one, always make sure the weapon is unloaded unless you're ready to fire." He then presented the revolver and pointed to the cylinder as he added, "As you can see here, there are no rounds inside." Apple Bloom looked down the cylinder to see that there were six holes through which she could see the ground beneath them.

Pulling the weapon back, Queue asked, "Now then, what do you tink the second mistake you made was?" Apple Bloom hesitated for a moment before she replied, "Ah have no idea sir." The older man presented the revolver as he pointed to the circle she'd stuck her finger through as he explained, "Rule number two, always keep yer finger off the trigger until your ready to fire."

Aiming his weapon down the makeshift firing range, Queue held his finger along the metal frame as he explained, "Notice here, Oi'm not actually placing me finger on the weapon. But as Oi get ready to fire…." He then, making sure there was no one in front of him, moved his finger over the trigger and pulled it, producing a loud clicking sound.

Taking this in, Apple Bloom asked, "So, always treat a weapon like it's loaded and keep mah finger off the trigger. What was the third mistake?" Setting the revolver on the table, Queue answered, "Always treat a weapon with respect. When you dropped it, it could have possibly gone off." He then stepped away from the table as he commanded, "Now then, please try again, and this toime, remember the three tings Oi taught you."

Nodding, Apple Bloom approached the table and began to reach for the revolver. 'Wait a minute.' She thought to herself as she hesitated. 'Ah don't know how to open… Ah mean… work the thing….' Turning to Queue, the burgundy haired girl asked, "How do Ah open this thing?" Letting out a gentle chuckle, Queue pointed to a metal switch on the revolver as he explained, "Just press down on that little guy right there." Apple Bloom gave a confirming nod and, with a deep breath, picked up the weapon again.

'Ok…' The former farm girl thought. 'First, make sure Ah'm not holdin' the trigger.' Aiming the weapon straight downwards, Apple Bloom made sure her index finger wasn't resting over the trigger. Once she was certain her finger was resting against the weapon's frame, she continued, 'Two, make sure this thing is unloaded.' Pressing against the switch, Apple Bloom was greeted by the sight of the cylinder, showing all six empty chambers.

'Remember the third rule. Treat this thing with respect.' Apple Bloom thought to herself. 'You can do this.' Taking a deep breath, the former farm girl grasped both of her hands around the revolver's grip and aimed down the range.

Holding the weapon in her hand, Apple Bloom couldn't help but feel like something was wrong. There, in her hands, was a piece of metal that existed for no reason other than to end life. A weapon that existed only to kill.

And she hated it.

Feeling her heart beat faster and harder, Apple Bloom couldn't help but think, 'Ah don't like this. Ah really don't like this.' Seeing his pupil beginning to panic, Queue gently warned, "Alright young lady. Go ahead and set that down." The former farm girl didn't hesitate, immediately setting the empty revolver down onto the table. Once it the weapon was out of her hands, Apple Bloom stepped away from the table and began to back away as she struggled to calm herself.

Seeing the young girl panicking, Queue walked up to her as he asked, "You alright there young lady?" Apple Bloom took a deep breath as she replied, "Ah think so, just need a moment to catch mah breath." She then pointed to the table as she asked, "If it's alright with you, can we skip the part where Ah actually shoot that thing? Ah just wanna know how to deal with these things."

Solemnly nodding, Queue replied, "Then we're pretty much done here. Those are the three things you need to know about safely dealin' with firearms." He then began to place the revolver in the briefcase as he continued, "Oi was preparing for the possibility of testing yer sharpshootin' skills, but it seems like we'll save that for another day."

Taking this in, Apple Bloom asked, "So, may Ah leave now?" Nodding, Queue replied, "Of course." The moment she heard this, the former farm girl departed, wanting to get as far away from the gun as possible.

Apple Bloom's Room, Later that Evening

Laying on her bed, Apple Bloom stared at the ceiling as she thought, 'So, Ah did it today. Ah actually held a gun.' Thinking back to earlier that day, the former farm girl, couldn't get the feeling of holding the weapon in her hands, as well as how it made her feel like she had more power than she could handle.

Apple Bloom was distracted from her train of thought by the sound of Sparkplug's barking. Turning her head, she found the small highland terrier sitting beside her bed looking up at her. Letting out a sigh, the burgundy haired girl asked, "You know Ah had a bad day, didn't you?"

Sparkplug replied with a confirming "Bark" before leaping onto her bed and licking the former farm girl's face. Letting out a gentle chuckle, Apple Bloom replied, "Guess Ah can always count on you to cheer me up, right?" The small terrier wagged his tail and continued to lick his owner, doing everything he could to cheer her up.

At that moment, someone knocked on her bedroom door. Rising up from her bed, Apple Bloom replied, "Come in." The door opened, revealing Chromia, who asked, "How'd that little safety lesson with Queue go?" The former farm girl shrugged as she answered, "Alright Ah guess. At least now Ah know what to do when Wheeljack leaves another weapon lyin' around. At least if it's a revolver."

Walking over to her daughter, Chromia sat down next to her as she asked, "Holding that gun make you feel weird?" Apple Bloom found herself flabbergasted as she asked, "What? How'd you know?" The family matriarch gave a small smile as she answered, "Queue told me. I think he was a little disappointed you didn't want to try shooting it."

Apple Bloom felt herself shiver with disgust as she remarked, "Ah'm glad Ah didn't. Ah don't wanna have to even hold one ever again." She then asked, "Aunt Chromia? You ever use a gun?" Letting out a small sigh, the older mechanic answered, "A few times." Intrigued, Apple Bloom inquired, "What? Really?"

Nodding, Chromia explained, "While Ironhide was away during the war, I took some self defense classes since I knew I'd be on my own. Most of them were stuff like CQC or karate, but I did do a few trips to a gun range." She then let out an embarrassed chuckle as she added, "I think the guy running the place tried hitting on me." Apple Bloom couldn't' help but laugh as the family matriarch added, "Once I told him I had a boyfriend in the army, he quickly stopped."

Once the former farm girl had regained her breath, Chromia continued, "And I know how you feel. Holding something that can kill someone is…" Pausing for a moment, she solemnly replied, "It's a surreal feeling, I'll tell you that." She then turned to her daughter as she added, "Good thing we have the boys to deal with that sort of thing, right?"

Apple Bloom nodded as she replied, "Yeah. Ah guess we do." She then asked, "Can Ah ask somethin'?" The family matriarch answered, "Of course you may." Taking a deep breath, the former farm girl asked, "Does uncle Ironhide have a gun?"

Chromia rested her arm around her daughter as she answered, "He does, but he also keeps it locked up and hidden away. Trust me, he's not careless like Wheeljack." Hearing this, Apple Bloom replied, "That's good. Ah think." The family matriarch reassured her, "Don't worry. Ironhide is far more careful than Wheeljack." She then carefully darted her eyes around the bedroom before whispering, "He's probably the dullest knife in this here cabinet."

While Apple Bloom laughed at her aunt's statement, on the other side of the property in his workshop, Wheeljack was distracted from his work by the sense that someone had insulted him.

Once both parent and child had finished laughing, Chromia said, "Now then, I think we both better start getting ready for bed." As she began to walk towards the door, the family matriarch bade, "I love you. See you in the morning." Apple Bloom nodded as she replied, "Ah love you too." With that, Chromia departed through her daughter's bedroom door.

Now that she was alone, Apple Bloom took a deep breath as she said to herself, "You know, given everythin', today wasn't so bad." She then turned to Sparkplug as she added, "And besides, at least no one got hurt." The small terrier gave a confirming bark as the former farm girl continued, "Well, guess Ah better start gettin' ready for tomorrow. You never know what could happen."

All she did know was that, more likely than not, there wouldn't be any guns involved.