Dry Lands

Chapter One: New Faces

As you may know, apples have many, many uses: apple pie, apple cobbler, Zap Apple Jam and, of course, apple cider. One family that makes great apple cider is, well, the Apple family. That is, used to...

Ever since Princess Celestia invoked laws against cider (and all other forms of alcoholic beverages), sales of it have been non-existent. However, this opened up more... adventurous business opportunities for those who are willing to take the necessary risks against the Royal Guard, and certain Elements of Harmony--except for two or, maybe, three of them. Times are hard even for friends, when such a lovely thing such as cider is on the line and can drive a wedge between them. One of these Elements is none other than Applejack, The Element of Honesty herself.

Applejack is the head of the rising Apple Family Mafia, selling cider to all ponies willing to help her in her “financial struggle”. All expenses that  she charges are due to the necessary risks involved in such a business, of course. Not only from the illegality of it, but from other “families” as well. The only Family you can trust on the norm is yours, and that’s only if they feel as though you’re competent.

Now, bodies are always on demand in such a business. Just like cider is being sold illegally, so are other things, like firearms. Yes, guns are on high demand in this time of unfair prohibition among all ponies in the business--for protection against other ponies in the same business and, in rare cases, protection from the law. One pony would soon be working with one of these Families--the Apple one specifically. The only Family Applejack cares for more than hers is, well, her own real family--Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh, and, of course, Granny Smith.

******

“HAY, GET OFFA ME!”

“Shut up, you damn brat!”

Five Holes quickly snapped his head around to the screaming foal’s voice. The gray-coated, black-maned unicorn stallion with a plumber's wrench as a cutie mark hurried himself towards the panicked voice. Just outside of Sugarcube Corner, he saw a young yellow filly with a red mane held by a bow being manhandled by some stallion in a light-brown trench coat and matching fedora. “‘Ey you! What’d you think you doin’ to ‘er, ‘ey?!”

Looking upwards to meet the voice, the strange stallion locked eyes with Five Holes. “Why doncha mind your own business. Pal?”

“Well, when your ‘business’ as you so call it, involves grabbing a small, defenseless--”

“Hey, I ain’t that defenseless!” piped Apple Bloom, and proceeded to kick in the one spot no stallion wants to be touched... unless it’s for that other reason, of course.

“OMFF!” The stallion fell to his stomach with his forelegs covering his pride.“You damn little bitch! Just you wait! You and your fucking sister, you’ll all get it!”

“Hey!” shouted Five Holes, causing the stallion to turn his attention back to him.“Instead ah slinging profanity towards such a young foal, ‘ows about you try it wit me instead, huh?”

Still in pain from his testicular assault, the stallion said, “Oh you really wanna help her out, do you?! Well--urgh--fine, c’mon!”

Standing up on all four legs (albeit with a small struggle) the strange stallion went towards Five Holes head-first. Moving out of the way swiftly, Five Holes lifted up a foreleg just as he dodged, hitting the stallion in windpipe and sending him tumbling to cold ground coughing and wheezing. “You feel like a big pony now, do ya? Nice picking on lil’ fillies is it, ya prick!?”

Still coughing, the stallion responded nastily with, “You don’t even--cough--know who the fuck--cough cough--she is, do you, you idiot?!”

“I know shes just a lil’ foal, and I know you’re just a bleating stallion. What more is there? You can tell me more whilst you’re lying in a ‘ospital bed, alright? Now, go jog on!”

Rising to his feet, the mysterious stallion spat on the floor, looked Fives Holes in the eyes once more, then ran off into the night. Looking at Apple Bloom, Five Holes said, “So, what’s ya name?”

“Ah’m Apple Bloom. Who are you, stranger?”

“Five Holes. What were you doin’ out ‘ere so late?”

“I was just collecting some money from here for mah sister.”

“Sister, huh? Well I guess I better get ya back to ‘er ‘fore something else ‘appens, yeah.”

“Yeah, you bet’cha! I reckon Applejack would love for ya to work wit’ us!” Apple Bloom said with glee.

“Work with ya? What kinda work you talking ‘bout?” Five Holes asked hesitantly. After all, you can’t be too careful with all these gang ponies running amok. It get’s dangerous to be out alone now. Especially at night.

“Ah can’t really say to be honest wit’ ya. Ain’t mah position to, but if ya come with me, Ah’m sure AJ would tell ya and take ya on board too! Ah’m real happy you came when you did, we weren’t expecting nothing to happen. Everything’s been real quiet as of late.”

“Huh. Well I guess we’ll see when we get der, won’t we.”

Apple Bloom nodded and showed Five Holes the way back to her home. Not much was spoken between the two, and every step they took made Five Holes worry just a little more. He had heard the name Applejack before. After all, she was an Element of Harmony, helping take care of both Nightmare Moon and the Master of Chaos. However, he couldn't help but wonder: had Applejack turned to a life of crime because of the new laws on cider that Princess Celestia invoked? I suppose I’ll find out when I arrive.

******

Once they both arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom knocked on the front door three times, waited for three seconds, then knocked a fourth. A big, red, muscular-looking stallion with a blonde mane answered, looking down at Five Holes, then further down towards Apple Bloom.

Suddenly, Five Holes felt a wave of worry overtake him as he hoped the stallion didn’t get any wrong ideas. Apple Bloom, calm and happy greeted the stallion. “Hey Big Mac. Where’s Applejack? Ah reckon she’s gonna want to meet this pony. If it weren’t for him, Ah don’t think Ah’d be here right now.” Bloom turned around and gave Five Holes a warm, friendly smile, which made him relax a little.

Looking at Apple Bloom, then back to Five Holes, Big Mac simply said, “Eeyup. She’s down in the cellar but, you best go alone. No strangers. You know that, Apple Bloom.”

“Ah know, Ah know Big Mac.” Looking back to Five Holes, Apple Bloom smiled and said, “You wait here while Ah go and speak ta Applejack. Don’t you worry none. Have a seat.”

Looking to Big Mac, who moved aside for the two, Five Holes looked to Apple Bloom, who turned and walked in. He swallowed and followed behind slowly, but still fast enough so he seemed calm. His face gave a different story. Damn Five Holes, stay cool. Oh damn it, what ‘ave you gotten yaself into.

******

A few minutes later (which felt like they dragged on forever), Apple Bloom came back up from the cellar and trotted into the kitchen. Waiting anxiously, Five Holes looked at her, waiting for her to speak. Finally, Bloom spoke. “Well, alright. Mah sister said ta bring ya down. So, let’s go.”

Standing up from the chair at the round dining table, Five Holes followed Apple Bloom down the cellar stairs, closing the hatch behind them.

The cellar was dark and cold. Barrels lined the walls with more stacked upon them. The only light in the dark room was at the back. There was a single light hanging from the ceiling above a dark brown, oak table with a single wooden chair in front of it. There was a black leather chair behind it, and on the leather chair sat an orange mare with a yellow mane and brown Stetson atop her head. The mare wore a black, silk coat and white, collared shirt.

Applejack, the Element of Honesty, sat with her forehooves planted firmly together on the table in front of her. She eyed the shaky-looking stallion in front of her, noting his facial expression and body movement as he hesitantly walked forward. As he sat down, Applejack leaned back and relaxed.

“So,” Applejack began, “Apple Bloom tells me that you saved her from some stallion outside of Sugarcube Corner. Is this correct?” Looking her in the eye Five Holes simple nodded. “Well, Ah wanna thank ya personally for that, so, ‘thank you’. Ah don’t know what Ah’d do if I were to lose mah sister, or any of mah family for that matter.” Still keeping quiet, trying to keep his cool, Five Holes let AJ continue. “Now, here’s the question: do ya know what it is we do?”

Looking around the room at the barrels, Five Holes finally replied, “I reckon so.”

Keeping cool-headed and calm, Applejack said, “Well, Ah need to know what it is ya reckon.”

“Well, I ‘spose ya’ll sell cider... right?”

Keeping her unblinking eye contact, which kept Five Holes on edge, she answered, “That’s right. The Apple Family’s been selling cider for as long as Ah c’n remember. That is, until Celestia brought them new laws in about selling cider. Now, we ain’t the only ones selling, an’ Ah reckon ya know that. Ah don’t reckon you’re that stupid, but coming to a place like this is stupid. Not all the Families in this business are as nice as we are. Sure, we’re breaking the law, and we all done some things we regret, but, we only do what is deemed necessary, and try to keep things as quiet as possible. We don’t want, or need, any attention, from anyone. Be them pony or otherwise. Understand?”

“I understand.”

“So, the real question is this: do you want to join our Family? The Apple Family. We take care of our own as best we can, in both protection and bits. For the same services in return. Of course. With your allegiance sworn to the Family, of course. Now, we ain’t ever gonna ask for you to kill your own, but, there may very well be a time you gotta protect one of us, or yerself. You understand where Ah’m going with this. right?”

Feeling much more relaxed and calm now, Five Holes said, “You mean, ya want me to kill only if I ‘ave to, right?”

“Right.”

Silence took room and air between the two. After a moment of mulling it over, Five Holes asked, “What if I say no?”

Leaning forward and placing a bag of bits on the table, Applejack responded with, “You’re free to go. Ya get fifty bits to keep your muzzle shut and we leave you alone, but you get no protection from us. Get in the way, and we will do whatever is necessary. Ah got plenty of stallions and mares working for me, so Ah don’t need you. However, you can still be useful an’ Ah reckon Ah c’n help you more than you c’n help me.”

Thinking carefully about the proposition laid before him, Five Holes wondered and asked about the benefits that would come with such a risky allegiance. “What do I get specifically? Like, what are da benefits o’ working with you lot?”

A slight grin appeared on AJ’s face. However, it didn’t make Five Holes uneasy. In fact, it made him anxious about what she was about to say. “Well, for one, we’d make ya a nice rich pony if ya play your cards right. Secondly, you’d be under our protection; if anyone were to mess with ya, then we’d mess with them. Thirdly, you get a nice bit of cider. At a discount, of course. Can’t be giving hand outs now, can we?”

Five Holes sat there, silently contemplating on what to do. His past wasn’t the best, but, nopony was perfect now, were they? However, he’s never killed before. That’s something he never thought he’d have to do. Were things like riches and cider important to him? Well, he was being offered fifty bits to keep his mouth shut so... maybe he’d get a lot more for going against the law. The worst he had ever done was steal. All this really amounted to was selling an illegal substance that was once legal. She did say I’d only have to kill if needed. Fifty bits just to stay quiet? Could I try for more? It’s only selling cider. I used to be a bit of a thief. Never had to kill, buuuut...

Growing slightly impatient, Applejack pressed, “Look, I’m going to need an answer now. So either take your bits and get out, or tell me what Ah wanna hear.”

Coming to a conclusion finally, Five Holes said, “Okay. I’m in.”

Smiling, Applejack look towards Apple Bloom, who was sitting on a stool she retrieved from the kitchen. Applejack said to her, “Bloom, get him a piece an’ a coat.” Rising from the stool, Apple Bloom trotted over to a drawer that was hidden in the darkness next to the stairs. She opened it and pulled something out with the coat. When she came back, she handed him a black coat with a white, collared shirt and black tie. On the table, she placed a pistol. Applejack explained, “That there’s a Stallion .45. Now, Ah do hope ya ain’t gotta use it, but just in case. You can’t be too careful in our line o’ business.”

Looking at the coat, Five Holes noticed a holster hidden inside it. “I ‘spose dat’s what der hostlers for,” he said, a grimace shooting across his face.

“Eeyup.”

“This what all o’ da new recruits get, yeah?”

“Eeyup.”

“Do things eva get so bad, ya need something bigger?”

“Sometimes. However, Ah mahself try ta stay away from situations like that. But, like Ah said, we all done things we regret.”

Looking at the floor, then back to the pistol in front of him, Five Holes put the coat on and enwrapped the gun in his magic, placing it in the holster. Curiously, he asked, “So you let anypony join dis Family? Ya know, like pegasi, unicorns, etc or, am I ‘special’ since I saved ya sister?”

Applejack smiled and chuckled slightly. “‘Special’? Ya ain’t special, pardner. Ah am real grateful ya saved her, don’t me wrong. But, ya ain’t ‘special’. Ya gotta prove you’re special. That’s when ya become a ‘made stallion or mare’.”

Confused, Five Holes asked, “Made stallion?”

“Yeah, a made stallion. Ya get a few special perks, if ya will. Like, ya get ‘control’ over some ponies, but ya gotta report to me before ya do anything too... hasty. Power can change ponies. Make ‘em worse. Even if they were bad to begin with. When ya got power, ya either stay the way ya are, or ya get worse. Ain’t no good come offa nopony who was given power.”

There was a pause. Five Holes digested what he had just heard and nodded silently to Applejack. Sounds like she’s got some personal thoughts there. Best not to push forward with that. “So, when’s me first job?”

Smiling again--she’s got a real nice smile, huh?--Applejack said, “Ya keen to work already, huh? Well then, alright. You can help Big Mac deliver a few barrels of cider to the quills and sofa pony, Davenport.”

Confused again, Five Holes asked, “What’s he want with a few barrels? Stockpiling?”

Laughing slightly this time, AJ informed, “Well, kinda, yeah. Ya see, I don’t know if ya know, some ponies seem ta be living unda a rock, it seems. But there are places you can still get cider from.” Five Holes raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t had cider since the laws passed. Applejack continued, “We call them places ‘Speakeasies’. When ya get there, knock three times, wait for three seconds, then knock once more. Iff’n he asks for a password, say, ‘Unicorn’s feather,’ got it?”

Nodding once more, Five Holes repeated, “Unicorn’s feather. Got it.”

“Alright. Well, nothing should happen, things have been real quiet as of late. Ah don’t like it, but we can’t waste time hiding if other Families are planning instead of selling.”

Quiet? Wouldn’t that be a good thing? Well, I don’t know nothing ‘bout this business, so I guess I’ll listen.

Raising her head, Applejack called out, “Big Macintosh!”

It was silent for a moment, then AJ turned to Apple Bloom. “Go git ya big brother, Bloom.” Apple Bloom ran upstairs, leaving Five Holes and Applejack together. Neither spoke. They just waited in silence. Shortly afterwards, Big Mac and Bloom came back down stairs. Applejack said, “Big Mac, Five Holes here is gonna go wit’ ya on yer delivery tomorrow afternoon, okay?”

“Eeyup.”

Looking towards Five Holes once more, she told him, “Alright, since ya first job’s tomorrow, you can stay here in the guest room upstairs. Bloom’ll show ya where it is. Be quiet though, Granny Smith is sleeping already.”

Five Holes nodded and said, “Thanks, Applejack, I ‘preciate it.”

Five Holes, Bloom and Mac all left and retired for the night leaving, Applejack in the basement.

Alright Five Holes, don’t mess dis up. Ya got what seems like an alright job ‘ere with the benefit of cider. Plus, dese ponies seem real nice, wouldn’t wanna make a bad impression on ‘em now, would I?