A Clone Gargoyle's Equestrian Tale

First Lessons: Look Before You Sleep

It was now a month for Malibu living in Ponyville. One morning he was snoozing peacefully when Applejack had woken him up.

The clone snorted, opening his eyes, seeing AJ smiling. "Hmm? Wha?" Malibu slurred in tiredness for it was rather early.

"Rise an' shine! The rainstorm is due soon. Gotta be up and at em to help take down the branches so they don' fall onto anypony!" Applejack exclaimed. Malibu pulled the covers over his head.

"But Applejack... it's too early..." Applejack took them off. "Ah know. Best way to get started," she said. Malibu mumbled sleepily, collapsing before nodding. "Be right there..." he grumbled. Applejack smiled, nodding before trotting away.

Malibu fell out of his bed, rubbing his eyes, wishing to keep sleeping. But a storm was coming so he knew he needed to help. He did his best to stand, sleepily walking down to eat breakfast. He did say that he would help out, but didn't realize it would start so early.

Guess life hits you unexpectedly sometimes... he thought while eating before they headed out.

....

Malibu now found himself among the other ponies in helping pulling the loose branches off of trees. He used his magic and his flying to do the job. Even Rarity was there, but from what he saw at one point she wasn't pulling them down; rather levitating the branches back, repairing them.

He wandered over, seeing Rarity looking over the bushes in thought, before getting an idea, using magic to transform the leaves into pony shapes. This baffled Malibu a little.

"Uh, Rar, you think you should really do that? Those branches could hurt somepony if the storm knocks them down. It would also ruin your designs." Rarity waved her hoof.

"Nonsense, Darling. I'm sure my creations won't do anypony any ha— hey!" Applejack used a rope to yank down her branches, glaring then spitting out the rope.

She spat it out afterward. "Jus' take the broken limbs down, Rarity. "Don't y'all care about nothin' but prettifyin?" Rarity huffed, and Malibu knew another AJ and Rarity showdown was about to start. For some reason these two always shot fire at each other about their preferences, and it had gone on for weeks now.

"Well, somepony has to! You and Malibu are making an absolute mess in the town square, Applejack," Rarity protested. Malibu backed away a little. "Leave me out, please..." he said quietly as the two kept it up.

"Yeah, well, the storm's gonna make an even bigger mess if we don't prune all these loose branches so they don't tumble down on anypony." Applejack bit back. Rarity didn't buy it. "I simply cannot imagine why the Pegasus ponies would schedule a dreadful downpour this evening and ruin what could have been a glorious sunny day."

Malibu came back over. "Rarity, the Pegasi had accidentally skipped the sprinkle scheduled for last week." He said. Rarity nodded. "Yes?" She said, then Applejack spoke up.

"And they just need a downpour to make up for it," she said, right as Malibu felt a rain drop on his head. Perfect timing, Malibu thought to himself, while Rarity panicked, as usual.

"Oh, no! My wonderfully styled mane shall be ruined!" She wailed. Malibu groaned a little. "You can always brush it later—" he said, but Rarity glared.

"Easy for you!" She shouted. Applejack glared. "Ya should'a hurried up and finished the job already!" But that didn't help matters. Rarity whimpered and ran about, the rain pouring. "Oh, ah! Oh! It's coming down too fast! Help me!" She cried out. Malibu looked around to help out, suddenly spying a table.

He pointed. "Over there," Malibu said. Rarity didn't object, going over to the table, but backed away. "No, no!" She screamed.

Applejack moaned. "What now?" Malibu saw it was rather muddy under there. Rarity cringed. "I'd prefer not to get my hooves muddy!" She whispered. Malibu's face was blank, giving her an incredulous look. For real? It's just mud!