Edited by Cartoonfan20.

Chapter 4. Greed, Freedom, Big Mac.

Braeburn made his way into his office and notice a stallion in a guard's uniform waited for him.

"What brings ya by Flash?" He asked as he walked passed him.

"I'm here for my weekly inspection." He said.

"Oh, Well, Give me a second, I just got back from a trip from Ponyville." He said stepping over towards a picture farm and pulling it down as he a safe hid behind it "Turn ya head."

Flash did as he was told. Braeburn turned the nob as the gears inside click, When he heard the last click and opened it and pulled out some bit's and tossed them towards Flash.

"Two hundred bit's as always." Braeburn said closing his safe and putting his picture frame back up.

Flash placed the bit's inside his uniform "I'll still need to look around, Gotta make sure everything is fine." He said.
"Let me show you around." He said with a smile as the two walked out of his office.

They walked through the barns and Flash notice stallions to his right lined up at the stall's waiting for their turn with the female human's. He looked to his left to see mare's all lined up waiting for their turn's with a male human "You're making sure these humans are taking birth control potions?"

"Yes, we make sure each human takes one so we don't have to worry about these good mares or females have any unwanted foals or child." Braeburn said as they walked.

Flash notice a female human with a chain around her neck as a stallion walked into the stall closing it behind him.

They made their way out into the barn and Flash saw the entire human's hard at work out in the field's pulling apple's off the trees while other's picked corn. He heard the crack of a whip which made him turn his head to see a pony cracking a whip "Do they work faster with the whip?" Flash asked.

"Yes, Ah have been doing a test and Ah notice they work faster with the whip then without it." He said as they walked "So, when the next shipment of human’s will be coming in?" Braeburn asked looking at Flash.

"They would have been here a week ago but some rebel's attacked one of our ship's and took the human's aboard." He said as they walked "I told Princess Celestia we should arm these ship's, Yet she doesn't care what happens to our ponies on those ship's."

"Do you know who have been attacking these ships?" Braeburn asked.

"We managed to learn who is running this group of rebels, His name is Night Shimmer." Flash said as they turned the corner.
"If Ah don't get human's going through this town soon, I'm going ta lose my costumer's."

"I'm trying to get Princess Celestia to send armed ship's to search for these ponies but so far she fight's me on this matter." They came to a halt at the front gate to the farm.

"Do what you must, but if she doesn't do anything, we’ll have to think of a new plan." Braeburn said.

"I'll see you next week." Flash said leaving Braeburn to thinking.

"Sir, A Mr. Filthy Rich is here to see you." A stallion said walking up to Braeburn.
"Is he in my office?"
"Yes."

Braeburn made his way back towards his office.

Filthy Rich looked around the office as he waited for Braeburn.

"Sorry I'm late Mr. Filthy Rich, Ah had to take care of a few things." Braeburn said "What brings ya all the way from Ponyville Mr. Rich."

"I've came to speak with you about human slave ship that was attacked a week ago but some rebels." He said taking a seat in a chair in front of Braeburn's desk.

"I just heard about that, I don't know what I can do about this, I'm just a simple farmer."

"I'm putting together a special team, one that I wish to keep a secret." He said "I need somepony to help me run it, since you have supply's, I could use a stallion like you."

"If ya mean my apples, Then Ah doesn’t see why ya need me." He said.

"I know you sell more than just apple's Mr Braeburn, I know you make cannon's and pistols." He said "I need them shipped to Baltimare in a week, if you can supply my ships with them I'll pay you handsomely."

Braeburn cracked a smile "A week, Ah think Ah can arrange that, But Ah'll need to be paid first."

Rich pulled a big bag of bit's out of his saddle bag and placed it onto his desk "This should cover it for now, I'll have the rest for you soon."

Braeburn opened the bag and looked a the gold coin's "It's nice doing business with you."

The moon was high in the sky as the water below was calm as the ship sat in the moonlight.

"Captain, a slave ship off the port bow." Said a human.

A light blue earth pony with a dark blue mane walked up towards the human as he took the spy glass from him and looked out at sea "On time, get the crew ready, I want all cannon's ready and every man and stallion ready to fight." He said as he made his way towards the ship's wheel "Hoist the color's!" He yelled.

The flag ran up the poll as a moon was clearly seen on it showing a pony skull with two swords under it.

The ship caught the wind as they set sail for battle "Tonight, These human's will learn what freedom mean's." The captain said as he watched the men and stallion's moved around the ship as they preparing for battle.

"Sir! Cannons are loaded and ready."

"Good, when this is all done with CIDER ALL AROUND!" He yelled as he heard the crew cheer as they held up their swords and pistol's ready for battle.

"May Luna help us if we fail." The Captain thought as they got closer towards the slave ship.

Luna stood watch over the land as her moon shined bright abound the land.

"Princess, We have received word Captain Night Shimmer has attacked another slave ship." The mare said walking into her room.
"How many were saved?" She asked looking at the mare.

"Fifty, the crew surrendered the moment they opened fired on them." The mare said.

"Inform Night a ship will be coming in with supplies, tell him to capture the ship and add it to the others." She said turning back to look out at the night.

"As you wish, anything else I can do for you?"

"I am good, thank you Sunset for asking." She said turning away from her window and making her way towards her bed.

"Goodnight Princess."

"You too, Sunset."

Luna took one last look out the window "My our secret order protect those who need it." She looked back down at her book and a picture of Matt looking at his painting he was working on and this brought a smile to her face "Soon, You're freedom will come."

Night smiled as he watched his crew drink and eat the night away.

"Brother, I have word from Luna." Sunset Shimmer said walking into the room with a letter floating into the air.

"About time, what’s our next hit?"

"A ship with supplies will be coming through, Our order is capture the ship and add it to our fleet." She said.

"Alright." He said taking a sip of his cider "Any rum aboard? I wouldn't mind having that right about now."

Sunset chuckled "It might." She said taking a seat next to her brother.

"So, how are you and Nick?" He asked with a smile.

"We're doing just fine." She said blushing "But I won't be able to see him for a while."
"Why's that?" Night asked raising an eyebrow.

"I have a mission from Princess Luna herself to go to Appleloosa and check on a farm." She said taking Night's cider and taking a sip from it "She think's a guard sent there is being bribed and I have to see if it's true."

Night took the mug from her and use a rag to wipe the edge where she took a sip from "Wish you would stop that." He said taking a sip "When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow, Taking the first train out of here."

"Make sure Nick knows you're leaving, I don't need a sad crew member on my hoofs." He said.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he'll be in a fighting mood when I leave." She said getting up and flicking her tail as she made her way back towards the exit "Enjoy the rest of your night, Night."

Night just chuckled as she left.

"Captain, we got word from our spy who dug up something." Said a human girl.

"What did they find?" Night asked.

"Princess Twilight and Princess Cadance will be on their way to Canterlot for a meeting at the castle sometime tomorrow night." He said.

Night brought a hoof to his chin "Tell our spy to find out what their meeting is about."

"As you wish." She said turning to leave.

"And when you're done, Relax and enjoy yourself Amber." He said raising his mug "You're a free women, Have some fun."

"I would, but you know me, I'm always busy." She said with a smile as she made her way through the crowed as she went to go speak with her spy.

Night looked at the newspaper in front of him and saw Princess Twilight Sparkle waving to the camera "Wonder what they're up too." He took a sip of his cider and watched the crew enjoy their freedom.

Applejack sat inside the library with her friend's as they waited for Twilight to come down the stairs with whatever news she had for them.

"So, I-I heard you got a human." Fluttershy said breaking the silent as she looked at Applejack who just stared at her.

"Ah didn't get a human, Mah cousin brought him to the farm as a gift." She said "Only reason why Ah took him in is because Ah made a deal with Braeburn to set him free if things don't work out."

"I thought humans were free." Pinkie Pie said looking at Aj.

"They aren't free, they are slaves." Aj said looking at Pinkie Pie with a shocked look on her face.

"Oh... I thought they were my bad." She said with a smile.

Pinkie Pie notice Rarity and Rainbow Dash just keeping to their self's "Did you two get to meet this human?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Yes, I made him these wonderful clothes! And gave him a paint set." She said with a smile.

"You do know its against the law to give a human a paint set." Twilight said walking down the stairs as she overheard them talking.
"I-It is?" Rarity asked.

"Yes, you can get fined three thousand bit's just for giving paint to a human." She said "Don't worry; I'm not going to tell anyone." She said with a smile as she notices Aj "I overheard this deal you made with your cousin, And I'm afraid he can't set him free by law."

"There is a loop hole Ah know, if the owner set's free a human, that human is free ta do as he or she pleases." She said shocking everypony in the room.

"I did not know that... And how do you know that?" She asked curious how your friend knew about this loop hole and she didn't.

"Mah parent's found it." Applejack watched as Twilight smiled.

"I'll remember that, next time I buy a human and want to set him free." She said as she took a seat on a pillow as she used her magic to pull down a scroll "I know you all are wondering why I asked you all to come here, Celestia herself as called a meeting for all princesses to come to Canterlot to speak on slavery."

"Is she gonna fix the law allowin' human's ta read or be free?" Applejack asked.

"I don't know. All I know is i'm needed for a while and you all have to come." She said.

"Great, Ah have ta miss work just ta deal with a something Celestia could handle on her own." She thought as she sat there listing to Twilight talk about what they will be needing.

"And Aj, You can bring this human along, I'm sure he'll enjoy a trip to Canterlot." Twilight said.

"Ah don't know, Everypony is already talkin' about me owning him, Ah heard the whisper's."

"Well, Not many ponies here own a human, I barely see any human's around here ever since I moved here from Canterlot, I'm sure he misses his kind... He might even meet someone he once knew."

This made her wonder if he did miss seeing other human's "Ah'll ask him when Ah go home, If he doesn't want ta go then he'll just stay on the farm and do whatever he wants till Ah get back."

"You just let him do whatever he wants?" Twilight asked surprised.

"Yes, Yet when Ah tell him ta relax and just do what he wants he goes and does mah work." She said as she remembered the wagon was missing after she took her sister inside to put her to bed and when she came out it was gone and the barn had been open.

"That's all he knows, Work; He's never been trained to anything else." Rarity said cutting in "I mean besides him painting, I don't see anything else he could do bedsides work and paint."

"She has a point, If this human knows just these two thing's that's all he'll ever learn."

"That's not true! Just before Ah came here Ah was teaching him how ta read and he seemed ta be understanding."

The room went silent as she notice everypony eyes were wide besides Pinkie Pie who was confused "Why is everypony staring at her like she just said a bad word?" She asked.

"It’s against the law to teach a human how to read." Twilight said still in shock.

"Ah don't care what the law say's! Humans are just like us! They feel and know pain like the rest of us!" Applejack slammed her hoof down onto the ground as her eyes were filled with rage "What gave us the right ta enslaves these human's!? They didn't do a thing ta us! If anything we should be the ones enslaved!"

She notice Fluttershy wasn't hiding in her hair or trying to find a way out of the room to get away from the yelling "I agree with Applejack." She said very quietly.

Twilight took a deep breath and exhaled as she tried to wrap her brain around this "Why are you willing to break these law's for this human?" Twilight asked.

Applejack blinked as for the first time in her life she didn't know why she was helping this human "Ah... Ah feel sorry for him."

Twilight used her magic to and book's came off the shelves and landed in front of her "These books will help this human read when you're not around." Twilight said as she gave Applejack a smile "If he does come, I'm willing to help him learn to read."

Applejack smiled as she looked at the books in front of her "Ah guess Ah was worried for nothing." She looked at the group.

"How long has this human been in town?" Pinkie Pie asked in a whisper as Twilight talked about a list of things they will need.
"A couple of day's now." Applejack said looking at Pinkie Pie.

"And you didn't tell me? I'll have to throw him a Welcome to Ponyville!"

"Ah don't think that will work."

"Why? Everypony love's a Pinkie Pie party!"

"He's not much for... Parties, Ah had a hard time getting him ta open up ta me about what he like's ta do and what he like's ta eat."

"Just let Pinkie Pie handle everything and I'm sure this human will enjoy my awesome party's... And don't worry." She looked at her friends who were not paying attention then back at Applejack "I'll make sure only our friends are invited."

Celestia's sun began to rise over the hill's shinning down on the land as ponies below began their day.

Our young human was sitting outside of the barn watching the sun slowly make its way up as he waited for his owner to awaken and being her day so he could help her.

"Ah see ya up early." He heard a male's voice say making him turn his head to see a red stallion with a light orange hair "Ya Matthew right?" He asked.

Matt nodded "Yes, I'm Matthew."

"I'm Big Macintosh; Ya can just call me Big Mac." He said giving Matt a light smile "We haven't had a chance ta meet ya, Ah wanna thank ya for savin' Apple Bloom yesterday."

"It was nothing Mr. Big Mac; anyone would have done the same if they were in my shoes." He said.

"Ya saved her life, Ya alight in my book." He said "Ah hear ya like ta paint, Tell me, Ya ever done pencil work?"

Applejack walked outside as she had a cup of coffee in her hoofs as she notice Big Mac and Matt sitting by the barn as he seemed to be drawing something "Wonder what they're up too?" She thought as she watched the two.

"Can ya add some roses?" Big Mac asked.

"Just one sec." He said as he took the pencil and started drawing some roses.

When Matt was finished Big Mac smiled "Ya really are good, Ah didn't even show ya a picture and ya manged to get every detail right!"

"I'm glad I got it right." He said chuckling "I hope Miss Cheerilee likes it."

Big Mac chuckled "You and me both."

"Are you sure you don't want me to add color to it?"

"I'm sure, this will be a lot better in black and white then color." He said "How much do Ah owe ya?"

Matt blinked "Y-You don't owe me anything."

"Ah wouldn't feel right taking this from ya without payin' ya."

Matt looked back at the picture then back at Big Mac "I wouldn't feel right taking your money."

Big Mac sighed "How about this, what will ya takes for the picture?"

Matt just stared at Big Mac "Ah think you broke him Big Mac." Applejack walking over as Matt quickly snapped out of his daze and looked at his owner.

"I-I didn't break, I've never been asked for somepony to buy my art work." He said looking at her.

Applejack looked at the picture and her eyes went wide as she notice Miss Cheerilee on a bed with roses all over the bed as she winked at everypony that looked at the picture "Big Mac! Ya had him draw that!?"

"It's an anniversary gift for her." He said blushing.

Applejack rolled her eyes "Well, Ah have ta say this is really good, Ya haven't even seen her and ya manged to get everything right."
"Big Mac just gave her features and I just drew what he told me." Matt said looking back at the picture.

Applejack blinked as she couldn't believe he did this from what Big Mac said "As Ah was sayin', what will ya take for the picture?" Big Mac asked making Matt and Applejack looked at him.

Matt blinked as he thought, and then it came to him "I'll take a new canvas, I only have two more left."

"Alright, that’s a good trade." Big Mac said "Ah'll have ta run to the market ta get it."

"Then you better hurry, Ah might just do this trade just to keep this picture." Applejack said chuckling making Big Mac take off running down the path quicker than anything she has ever seen.

"So, Ya enjoyin' ya self?" She asked.

"Yes, I am." He said with a smile as he looked at her.

"Can Ah ask you something?" She asked. Matt nodded "Do ya feel alone here?"

Matt looked at her with a puzzled look on his face as he was confused on what she mean's "What do you mean?"

"Do ya feel alone here?" She asked again.

"I don't understand the question." He said.

"Do ya miss being around your own kind?" She asked.

Matt thought for a moment, did he miss being around other human's like himself? And if he did, why does she care? As he thought about it, since he's been here in Ponyville he hasn't really seen any human's besides the one at the restaurant they ate at but other than that, He hasn't seen one. Did he miss his own kind? "It's been a while since I've talked with another human, And since I've been here I've only talked with Ponies. But do I miss my kind?" He looked at Applejack who waited for his answer "Kind of." He said truthfully.

"Would ya like ta go ta Canterlot with mah tonight?" She asked making Matt very confused "Twilight has asked for us girl's ta go to Canterlot ta night, And Ah thought ya might want ta go so ya can be with ya kind while were there."

"If you want me to go, then I will go."

"Don't ya start that now." She said staring at him "If ya want ta go, Just say ya want ta go."

"I want to go, but... There is something you must allow me to do." He said making Applejack blink in shock.
"W-What is it you want to do?"

"I've been to Canterlot a few times with my last owner, they have even stricter rules, So, You allow me to carry you're bag's." He said "If you don't, you’ll have problems."

"What kind of problems?"

"Well, There are a lot of guards who patrol the streets who are bribed to make sue human's do as they are told, If a human isn't doing something they will be either beaten or taken away and placed in a cell till they learn to keep busy, My last owner learned this the hard way." He said remembering how the guards beat the crap out of him because he wasn't carrying Sawdust bags.

"That's just wrong!"

"I know, but that is what it's like in Canterlot." He said "So, Please allow me to carry bags when you need them carried."

Applejack thought about it for a moment "Alright, but ya better not like it."

"I'll try not to." This made Matt chuckled which in return made her chuckle as well.

"What time do we leave tonight?"

"Sometime around nine." Applejack took a sip of her coffee "Well, Ah got some work ta do."

"Do you need some help?"

"Nah, just gotta buck some trees, Ya go ahead and just relax and do whatever ya want ta do." She said with a smile as she walked away leaving Matt to sit and think.

"Maybe I should go finish that painting I was working on... Yeah, that’s what I'm going to do." He stood as and made his way into the barn to go get his painting.

To Be Continued. Stuck In Minecraft

Author's Note

I want to thank Cartoonfan20 for his help with this chapter. My other editor Alternivity has been busy and Cartoonfan took it abound himself to proof read this chapter as a thank's for giving him a hand with his fanfic Stuck In Minecraft Hope you all enjoy!