Love and Slavery.

Chapter 19.

Applejack watched as Matthew just sat there near the bonfire. She could see he was still in deep thought after meeting his family. She looked over at Sunset who was sitting next to their father "I-I know this s a lot to take in."

Matthew just sat there looking into the fire "You all made it here safely!" Everyone looked to see Luna, Twilight, Rarity, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Night Fire walking towards them.

"You won't believe what's going on." Dash said.

Everyone spent most of their time setting up camp.

Matthew however just remain sitting in front of the bonfire, his mind just empty. So much has been going on, he finds out he's the air to the throne of Avalon and now he finds out his father is here along with his brother and sister. He didn't know how to feel or react to such a thing.

"Matt, ah got our tent set up if you wanna go lay down." Applejack said walking up to him.

Matthew looked at Applejack and she could see his mind was blank "I-I think I need some sleep."

Applejack helped Matthew to the tent. Matthew looked at the bag of clothes before him "Do ya want help changing'?" She asked.

Matthew didn't reply as he lifted his shirt off and Applejack's eyes went wide. She could see all of the scars on his back, each one overlapping each other "Ah swear whoever did this ta him I'll kill them."

Matthew put on a new shirt and some joggers as he sat on the sleeping bag and just stared at the tent.

Applejack sat down next to him and placed a hoof on his hand "A-Ah don't know what ya thinkin' or how ya feelin' but if ya wanna talk about it Ah'm here for ya."

Matthew looked at her "I-I don't know how I should feel about all this." Matthew said feeling tears beginning to form "I-I'm chosen to be king.... I-I'm supposed to free everyone from slavery... a-and to top it off m-my family is here." He looked away from her as the tears started to run down his cheeks.

"A lot is on ya plate, Ah don't know how ta help but Ah'm here ta help ya if ya need it." Applejack said looking at him.

Matthew felt something strange wash over him as he looked into Applejack's eyes "T-Thank you A-Applejack."

Applejack felt her heart start to race as she leaned forwards and kissed his cheek. Matthew felt his cheeks heat up "A-Ah'll let ya rest, Ah'll be outside if ya need anything." Applejack said leaving Matthew alone.

Matthew's heart was racing as he was left alone with his thoughts.

Midnight sat across from his old teacher and leader of the Night Children.

"That is a lot to take in." Luna said looking at Midnight "All this time you are the son of both Mark and my sister." Luna looked over towards the tent Matthew was in "That would make you my Nephew." She looked back at Midnight "I'm gonna have to speak with my sister about this when I see her, I would have helped her hide you better."

"I never knew, Night informed me tonight about it." Midnight said.

"That would explain why I had such a bond with you, the magic you held and wisdom you had was something my sister always had." Luna said looking back at Midnight "You kept the children safe and passed the torch to your son and daughter to keep fighting and freeing the humans."

"I fought for over a thousand years." Midnight said looking into Luna's eyes "I've saved as many as I could but in the end I found love and moved on." Midnight said.

"Alright, we got whiskey!" Sunset said walking over towards Luna and Midnight "You two want some?"

Applejack watched as everypony was drinking and having a good time. Yet her mind was in deep thought, she was worried about Matthew.

"You alright Aj?" Dash asked sitting down next to her.

"It's about Matthew." Applejack said looking at Dash "H-He's actin' weird."

"After what you told us, of course he's gonna act weird, he's being told he's a king and to top it off he has a pony family here." Dash said taking a sip of her drink "Aj, you're not falling for him are you?" Dash asked raising an eyebrow, Applejack couldn't look her friend in the eye "You do!" Dash nearly yelled.

"Shhh do ya want everypony ta hear ya!" Applejack said glaring at her friend "A-Ah might." Applejack said looking back at the tent "We've been through so much, he's been so kind and helpful, after what happened in those trails..... Ah can't help but... ya know." Applejack looked at Dash.

Dash looked away "I know, I think you should get some rest. We're gonna have a lot ta do tomorrow."

Applejack gave Dash a hug "Ya always be my friend Dashie, you'll always have a place in my heart."

Dash hugged her back.

After their hug Applejack walked over to the tent and went inside.

Dash watched as Applejack went inside and then "If Matthew makes her happy, I might as well let her be happy." Dash took another sip of her drink and went and joined the other.

Blaze watched as Ember held her breath as the votes were coming in.

Ember stood up as every dragon had voted "Votes have it, we will help the ponies." Ember said looking at everypony.

The dragons around roared as they flew out of the cave leaving Ember and Blaze alone.

"Can you get to Luna?" Ember asked looking at her brother.

"Yeah, I can be there by tomorrow night." Blaze said.

"Get to them and tell them they have dragons to back them up." Ember said giving her brother a hug "Send word when you get there."

"I will." He said letting her go and flying out of the cave.

Applejack stepped into the tent with a bottle of her homemade hard cider. She could see Matthew was still sitting on his sleeping bag still staring into space "Here, this might help ya relax." She said handing him a glass.

Matthew looked at the glass and sniffed it "W-What is it?"

Applejack took a seat next to Matthew "It's mah families hard cider, it will help ya relax."

Matthew took a sip then shook his head "T-That taste weird."

"Well it's alcohol, ya might have never tried it." She said taking a sip of hers "Just take little sips and you'll start ta feel more relax."

Matthew took another sip "I've been thinking."

"What about?" Applejack asked looking at him.

"Your farm." He said taking another sip "How peaceful it is there, how much I would rather be there then here." He said taking a bigger sip.

"When this is all done ya more then welcome ta come stay at the farm, we can build ya own room." Applejack said taking a sip of her drink "Ya will be able ta paint and draw without any worries."

Matthew notices his pad of paper sitting near him "Can I ask you for a favor?" Matthew asked looking at her.

Applejack felt her cheeks heat up as she looked into his eyes "Y-Yeah, anythin'."
"Do you mind if I sketch you?" He asked.

"S-Sure." Applejack finished her drink "W-Where do ya want me?"

"J-Just lay on your sleeping bag." Matthew said as Applejack did as he asked a laid on the sleeping bag.

"H-How do ya want me ta lay?" Applejack asked.

"Lay on your side and let your hoof hold your head." Matthew said grabbing his sketch book "A-And if you could cross you lower legs and have your tail lay over them."

Applejack did as she was told and crossed her legs and laid her tail over her legs.

Matthew began to sketch.

Luna stepped into the ruins of the castle as she saw Twilight digging through the books that were still intact "Find anything good?"

"You won't believe what I've found." Twilight said using her magic "They were so close in making the first steam engine! Something we didn't invent till two hundred years later!"

Luna blinked "Really? How did you find this out?" Luna asked walking forwards towards Twilight "I found these books in what I can only say as a lab, they were working on so much that would change the world! Steam power engine, along with a new type of power using steam. Stuff we made two hundred years later. These are all over a thousand years old." Luna looked at the books Twilight were reading "If they weren't enslaved when they were they would have changed the world."

"My sister always said they were smart." Luna said looking at Twilight "I remember being on the battlefield with them, when they faught they fought as a group, using their shields as weapons and even as a wall when arrow's rained from the sky."

"This shows how they used their shields." Twilight said using her magic to show Luna the book "There are so many books on how they trained and how the fight." Twilight looked at Luna "With everything that's going on maybe this could help teach Matthew how to use a sword and how to fight hand to hand."

"Hopefully he'll understand this." Luna said "I'm gonna take a look around." Luna left Twilight alone.

Luna found herself inside what looked like the living area of the castle. She notices a room and felt a strange feeling wash over her, she couldn't tell what this feeling was. She walked into the room and saw old armor laying on the ground and a bed. She saw a book laying on the nightstand. She used her magic to bring the book to her. She notices something weird about the book. She felt a familiar magic over the book.

She used her magic to open the look, the book flung open as a 3D picture of her sister and a human sitting on the bed smiling.

"T-This is Mark." Luna smiled as she closed the book and placed it in her bag as she continued to explore the room. She found a few books written by Mark about new fighting techniques. She saw a small box and opened it and her eyes widen, it was a diamond ring inside with a note on the top of the box "You are my Goddess." Mark was gonna ask Celestia to marry him. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Luna! You're gonna want to see this!" Twilight yelled.

Luna placed the ring in her bag and took off running. She saw Twilight standing near the bookshelf and she saw the bookshelf was open and inside was a set of golden armor "I see we found the king's armor." Luna said walking up to the armor "I wonder if this would fit Matthew."

Applejack watched as Matthew sketched. Her eyes fell on his eyes as they kept looking at her and back at his sketch book. Her thoughts were on why Matthew wanted to draw her.

Matthew placed his pen down and placed the pad of paper in front of her. Applejack looked at the pad of paper and saw she was laying in her spot at Sweet Apple Acres.

"A-Ah drew me at mah farm?" Applejack looked up at Matthew with a confused look on her face.
"I wanted to make you smile, I-I know you're missing home and I was wanting to do this for you." He said feeling his cheeks heat up.

Applejack felt her cheeks heat up as she smiled at him "Thank ya Matt, this does make me happy." She moved from her spot and kissed his cheek.

Matthew looked deep into Applejack's eyes and he felt himself lean forwards and he felt Applejack's soft lips touch his. He felt Applejack kiss back as his hands wrapped around her pulling her closer.

Applejack felt her eyes close as their kiss deepened. She felt her body lose control as she felt Matthew lay her down and was now on top of her kissing her.

Matthew pulled away as he looked into her eyes "I-I'm s-sorry." He quickly sat up "I-I d-don't k-know what c-came over me."

Applejack sat up and looked at him "Ya don't need ta be sorry Matt." Applejack said placing her hoof on his hand "Ya a good kisser." She said blushing.

"B-But... t-the law, I-If Luna finds out... I-I could d-die." Matthew said stuttering scared.

"With everythin' goin' on here Matt, Ah highly doubt Luna will do such a thin'." Applejack said looking at him "Ya don't need ta worry, ah wouldn't let Luna harm ya or anypony else." She kissed his cheek. Matthew looked back at Applejack and could see she was still smiling "Ya have been there for me when Ah needed you the most, Ah'm here for ya."

Matthew smiled "S-So, w-what now?" He asked.

Applejack leaned in close and kissed his lips "Whatever we want." She said with a grin.

"T-There is something you should know." Matthew said making Applejack blink.
"Ah'm all ears." She said giving him a warm smile.

Matthew took a deep breath "B-Before I was sold to Sawdust I was always kept away from most of the other humans, My old owner's wife h-had a thing for male humans." He said making Applejack understand where this story was going quickly.

"She used ya for pleasure." Applejack said "Ya don't have ta say anymore, Ah understand."
Matthew looked into her eyes "S-She made me drink this weird drink, then." He looked away as he felt Applejack hug him.

"Ah won't make ya do anythin' ya don't wanna do." She said "W-We are movin' fast but there are a few things we can do without doin' that just yet." He felt her lips kiss her cheek "It's up to ya what you wanna do."

Matthew kissed her forehead "I think we should take this slow." He said looking into her eyes "T-That's if you w-want too."

"Ah agree, Ah think we are takin' this a bit too fast." Applejack scooted closer to him "Ah think we should get some sleep, tomorrow we can talk about us." Matthew nodded "We can connect the sleeping bags so we can..." Applejack started blushing.

"O-Okay." Matthew stuttered blushing.

They connected their sleeping bags together and crawled into bed with each other. Matthew felt Applejack's back push up towards his stomach and the back of her head resting at his chest. He slid his arm under her head as and wrapped his other arm around her stomach. He felt his hand be touched by Applejack's hoof.

"That day on the train, when you risked everything to save me, wounded you pulled me through the snow, all ya had ta do was keep me warm in that train car and just wait for them ta save us, instead ya did everything ya could ta save me that day." He felt Applejack's mane under his chin, he could feel her scooting closer to him "Ya saved mah sister's life when she fell into the river. After everything mah kind has done ta ya you could have just let all this stuff happen to us, ya could have let Apple Bloom ta die and just let me die in that train as well." Applejack felt Matthew's hand pull her closer.

"You showed me kindness the moment you took me in, you made sure I was taken care of and you treated me not like a slave but as a friend." Matthew said making her smile "Your sister, she may have been angry at me but it doesn't matter if somepony does me harm, I-I would still help them."

"Ah hate knowin' what ponies have done to ya, you deserve a better life than this." She turned around looking at him "Ya have such a kind soul."

She felt his lips touch hers "So do you." He said looking into her eyes.

She lowered her head into his chest as he held her close "Goodnight Matt."

"Goodnight Applejack." He said kissing the top of her head and closing his eyes.

Matthew felt his mind calm as he held Applejack in his arms. Applejack could smell his musk, it smelt sweet and relaxing. She felt her mind fog as his scent wash over her as she felt herself fall into a deep sleep.

The Next Morning.

Matthew was wide awake as he held Applejack in his arms. His mind was still in shock over what happened last night, he didn't know what came over him, he felt as something was pushing his feelings out last night.
"Ah see your up." Applejack said looking up at Matthew "How did ya sleep?"

"I-I slept really good, h-how did you sleep?" He asked looking into her eyes.

She smiled and leaned in forwards and kissed his lips "Ah slept great."

Matthew felt his cheeks heat up.

"Alright you two, wake up! Twilight found some stuff in the castle she wants Matthew to look at." They both heard Dash yell.

"We'll be out soon Dashie." She yelled "Tell Twilight we'll be awhile."

"Whatever." Dash said leaving the two alone.

Matthew looked back at Applejack was now sitting up in the sleeping bag "Ah wanna talk about last night."

Matthew felt his heart racing "W-What do you wanna talk about?"

"Us." She said looking at him "Ah have feelin's for ya, Ah know ya have them for me as well." She said with a light smile "Ah want ta see where this goes, Ah wanna call ya my boyfriend and you can call me your marefriend." She kissed his cheek "Ah don't care about the law, and chances are the law will be gone after your kind is freed from the chains." She could see a bit of worry in his eyes "Ah know Luna will encourage us ta be happy and Ah know my friends will be happy for us."
"What about your brother and sister?" He asked.

"Mah brother will understand and Apple Bloom, Ah think she'll just wonder how we'll have kids." She chuckled making Matthew chuckle "So, what do ya say?"
Matthew kissed her cheek "Let's do it." He said with a smile.

She kissed his lips "Ah'll go ahead and see what Twilight wants, ya go ahead and get dressed alright?"

"Alright." He said with a smile as he kissed her before she left.

Matthew watched as Applejack leave and he couldn't help but stare at her flank as she left "Ah see ya starin'." She said closing the tent making Matthew blush.

He got out of the sleeping bag and got some clothes to wear from the bag. He put on a pair of jeans and a red t-shirt. He slipped his shoes on and made his way out of the tent.

He saw Midnight and Night sitting by the burnt out fire. They looked to have been talking.
"Morning Matt, how'd you sleep?" Matthew turned his head to see Sunset standing near him.
"I slept pretty good." He said giving her a smile "H-How did you sleep?"

"Slight hangover." She said chuckling "Other then that, I got a pretty good night sleep." She looked over at her brother and father who were still talking "I know this is a lot to take in, so much is being thrown at you all at once, but, I'm gonna be here for you just like I am for Night, you're my brother and I want to be the sister you needed growing up." She said looking back at him "I know it will take time but we are all here for you."

Matthew looked over at Midnight and Night then back at Sunset "T-Thank you Sunset, that does mean a lot."

Matthew walked towards Midnight and Night "C-Can I talk with you Midnight?"
"I'll leave you two alone." Night said leaving Midnight and Matthew alone.

Matthew took a seat where Night was and looked at Midnight.

"What do you want to talk about Matt?" Midnight asked.

"T-This is hard for me." Matthew said looking away from Midnight "A-All my life I grew up without a real family, only one who really cared for me was my friend Amber, I watched over her and we watched each other's back." He looked back at Midnight "I-I really don't know how to act or feel about having a real family, I've always wondered about it, heck I-I've dreamed of it but now that you're here." He looked down at the ground "I-I don't know, I-I want to hug you yet I-I feel something would happen or this is all a dream I'll never wake up from." Matthew felt the tears break free as they ran down his cheek.

He felt Midnight's hoof touch his shoulder "The day I lost you was the die I died." Midnight said "I lost you and your mother, I wished it was all just a bad nightmare but it wasn't. I thought you were dead, seeing you here now I'm afraid like you, I'm afraid I'll wake up back in Sunset's home with a killer hangover and me wondering if your alive." Matthew looked at Midnight "I know this isn't a dream, you're here, you are alive, your brother and sister are both here for you just like me, if you want a hug I'll hug you, if you need time I'll give you time, whatever it takes for you to feel like I'm your father, I'll be here."

Matthew smiled and gave Midnight a hug "I'm happy to know I have family."
Midnight felt his tears escape from his eyes and he hug Matthew back.

Sunset and Night watch the scene unfold "They both have been through so much, it's finally good to see something good happen to them both." Sunset said with a smile.

"And to think, he's our older brother." Night said chuckling.

"He still has a lot to learn in a short time before he's ready to free everyone from their chains." Sunset said looking at her brother.

Applejack found Twilight and Princess Luna standing in front of a bookshelf that was opened "What did ya two find?" Applejack asked walking towards them.

"We found a set of golden armor with the king's seal." Twilight said "I've done a lot of research and the dragon on the armor matches the king's seal."

"So? What does the armor has ta do with Matt?" Applejack asked.

"Well, we wanted to see if this armor will fit Matthew and if it does he can wear it when he free's the other humans." Luna said "If it doesn't fit we plan on making him his own armor."

Applejack looked at the armor and felt her heart sink in her chest "Well A-Ah'm glad ya found the armor."

Luna notices the stutter and the sadden look on her face "Something wrong Applejack?" Luna asked.

"Everythin's fine Princess." Applejack said faking a smile.
"Your fake smile says otherwise." Luna said.

"What's going on?" Twilight asked looking back and forth at the two.
"It's nothin' Twi." Applejack said.

"Can you give us a few minutes Twilight?" Luna asked still looking at Applejack.
"S-Sure." Twilight left the two alone.

Luna walked over towards Applejack and looked at her "Something tells me your worried about Matthew putting the armor on."

"Of course Ah'm worried." Applejack said looking over towards the entrance way.

"I'm worried about him as well." Luna said "I won't let anything harm him Applejack." Applejack looked up at Luna as she was staring out of the building "I will do everything in my power to keep him safe." Luna looked back at Applejack "You'll still have him in your life."

"Ya know don't ya?" Applejack asked.

"About the make out and cuddling, yeah I know." Luna said with a grin "I knew he liked you." She chuckled as she saw Twilight peeking her head out "I'll let you tell your friends." Luna said leaving Applejack to sit there shocked.

"Are you alright Aj?" Twilight asked walking over to her.

"C-Can ya get the other girls together? Ah have somethin' Ah wanna tell everyone." Applejack said breaking out of her shock.

"Alright." Twilight said looking at her with a strange look.

Amber looked at the stallions putting on their armor and other humans being trained for a fight.

"That dome will not old forever." Shining Armor said to his troops "Many of you haven't been trained to deal with an army like this, yet I know you all can handle this battle, this is your new home, a place where you all can be free from chains wrapped around your wrists."

Cadance stood next to Shining Armor "We all fight together! The Crystal Empire will not fall to the darkness! Fight with honor, fight with freedom, fight for love." Cadance looked at every last soldier.

Ponies and Humans stood side by side ready for battle.

The ponies and humans moved down the streets towards the battlefield.

Amber watched as the dome broke and the sounds of swords could be heard.

Dragon's appeared from the sky and rained fire down onto the battlefield.

To Be Continued.