A Clone Gargoyle's Equestrian Tale

First Lessons: the Ticket Master

Malibu's eyes opened to the sound of the breakfast bell at Sweet Apple Acres being rung. A smile showed on his face when getting up, looking forward to eating breakfast with the Apple Family.

My first morning in Ponyville. And my first Friendship lessons, too! The former gargoyle clone thought with excitement as he came down the stairs to the smell of eggs and pancakes. He had learned from his mother that the ponies in this world didn't eat meat like gargoyles did. But he was fine with that as the food he ate was pretty good, even those dandelion sandwiches.

Applejack smiled at him as well as the rest of the family. He gave his own smile back, sitting down with them.

"Mornin', youngin. Enjoy your first night?" Granny Smith asked in her elderly voice. Malibu nodded when having some juice. "Sure did, thanks," he said. "Looks like pancakes for breakfast, looks good!" Big Mac nodded. "Eyup!" Though he looked a little awkward about something.

Malibu looked questioningly at Applejack who was laughing quietly while serving. "What's going on?"

"Well, Big Mac and I made a dare; if I can collect all the golden delicious into the barn by lunchtime, he'll have to walk down the street wearin' Granny's girdle!" She snickered. Big Mac glared a bit but didn't say anything, since he hardly speaks at all. Applebloom too was laughing.

"If you're getting apples I can help," Malibu said wanting to try his hand at applebucking. A.J. had told him about it. The orange earth pony smiled a bit.

"That's mighty generous but you're a guest, I can't let ya do all that hard work," she said. Malibu shook his head. "It's no trouble, besides, I want to try this applebucking."

Eventually they finished breakfast, sent Applebloom to school, and after that Applejack brought Malibu and Twilight to the orchard. Malibu had invited Twilight and Spike to come on their way back from dropping off Applebloom.

It wasn't too hard to applebuck at first. Malibu had a hard time figuring out where to hit his hooves on the tree until on the fifth time he felt the satisfying slam of his hooves on the bark; golden apples falling off the branches into the basket. Malibu smiled proudly for himself.

"Great job!" Applejack praised, as the three of them gathered more apples, getting huge amounts.

Applejack was smiling as they walked back that afternoon around lunch, Spike trying to find an apple to snack on. "Thank ye kindly enough Malibu and Twilight for helpin' me out. Soon I shall be seein' Big Mac in Granny's girdle!" She chuckled after that. Twilight nodded.

"No problem at all, Applejack. I'm glad the goal is lunchtime, all this hard work is making me hungry!"

Malibu too felt his stomach growl. "Yeah, me too. I can go for an oat burger!" He found a love for them when Celestia once took him to a fast food restaurant.

"I know, right?" Spike asked, throwing an apple that landed on Twilight's head. She glared, and he grinned nervously.

"Puh-leeze, Spike. You've been lounging on my back all morning while we worked!" Spike nodded. "Exactly! You guys take so long I miss snack time!" Malibu just rolled his eyes. "I declare, Spike, there's no end to your bottomless stomach," he said, before being hit on the head. "Hey, watch it!"

Twilight giggled before feeling her stomach growl. Malibu flinched a bit from his growling as well. "I guess we better get some food," she said. Malibu nodded. "For sure," he said. "Being hungry is making me feel a bit sour," He stated. Spike kept up his moment of finding the perfect apple.

"Nope. Nope. Aha!" He pulled out the perfect ripe juicy red apple. Malibu stared, mouth open in longing. Twilight smiled, slurping. "Oh, Spike! That looks delicious-!" Spike automatically put the apple into his jaws, swallowing whole. The two ponies frowned. "Spike! You could've shared!" Malibu said grumpily, stomach growling even more. Spike grinned sheepishly before he suddenly belched out a letter from his mouth. Twilight caught it with her magic.