Though Hell Should Bar the Way

“Oh good, Applejack’s here! We can start now!” Twilight exclaimed as Applejack entered the room.

Applejack watched as Twilight hopped up from where she’d been sitting cross-legged on the floor of the library, talking to Rainbow Dash. Despite not a stitch of clothing covering her light purple body, Twilight moved with a comfort and confidence that came with her red collar and wing sheaths, all showing that Twilight knew her place and was happy there. She even kept her tail raised teasingly as she walked over to a closet and started rummaging around inside with her hands-- her magic was long gone, along with the horn that had been sawed off. Not that Twilight seemed to mind; according to her, mares were for the pleasure of stallions and didn’t need magic or wings.

Applejack was never sure which was creepier: the fact that every mare in Equestria, from Celestia down, had been turned into toys and slaves for the males by the invading caribou, or Twilight’s brainwashed enthusiasm for the new order.

“Howdy…” Applejack waved, carefully keeping her other arm at her side. It took her a long time to keep from trying to cover her naked body, and it was exactly the sort of thing Twilight would get her in trouble for. Dash seemed to be holding her arms behind her back as she sat against the wall, to avoid temptation.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash locked eyes for a moment. It had been over a year now since they’d last seen each other; the day of that brutal, magical coup that turned every corner of Equestria into this living nightmare. That day, the magic had brainwashed most of the stallions into domineering slavers who saw mares as lower than animals. Most of the mares were quickly captured or overpowered by the invading caribou; the princesses were tortured and brainwashed into twisted puppets, while the rest of the mares were offered a choice between relative comfort as a willing sex slave or rape and torture as an unwilling slave. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were among the latter, those with the the willpower to remain resistant in the face of overwhelming odds.

Having Dash see her like this, naked except for her black slave collar, brought a blush to her cheeks for the first time in ages, as if Dash would think less of her. But, she reminded herself, Dash was in exactly the same state. The only difference was the torturous black wing sheaths Dash wore on her back, lined with nails so that the pitiful remnants of her plucked wings wouldn’t be forgotten for a second.

Beyond her own embarrassment, Applejack read the changes in Dash’s face. She’d heard rumors that Dash’s new life was bad, even by the standards of rebellious black-collar slaves, and that seemed to match the pony she could see. There was a tension in Dash that seemed too tightly wound. She reminded Applejack of an injured animal, and Applejack just tried to wordlessly tell Dash that she understood.

“I was thinking that the three of us could put on a little show for my master by rubbing each other down with oil.” Twilight spoke up cheerfully as she looked up from the supply closet, interrupting the moment. Applejack had to wonder if it was intentional or not. “Then he could fuck us, and when he’s done with us we’ll have a chance to catch up. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Dash hesitated, glancing around nervously. “Could he… not fuck us?”

Twilight rolled her eyes as she brought over a big bottle of massage oil and a stool with two dildos fixed into the seat. “Oh Rainbow, this is why you get punished all the time. You’re thinking about what you want, and it’s never about what we want. It’s about what males want, that’s why they’re the masters. If you thought more about what they want, you’d get more treats like this play date.”

Applejack saw a familiar look cross Dash’s face. That look went with the feeling Applejack got just before she said something to a stallion they were going to make her regret, so she spoke up quickly, “Maybe you could suck ‘im off? He can ride me after, if he’s lookin’ for that.”

Dash’s face softened as she looked at AJ gratefully. “That would be better… you don’t mind?”

“Nah, I’m used to it,” Applejack said with a sad smile.

“You sure? I think he’s really… big…” Dash swallowed.

“Oh, he’s huge!” Twilight added happily. “It took me a while to learn to enjoy it, but it’ll be an interesting experience for you, Applejack. No stallion can really compare.”

“It’ll be okay,” Applejack said to Dash. “Y’all know how often I get apples shoved up there? Some stallions seem to think that never gets old. I’ll be fine.”

Dash responded with a cringe and a sympathetic look.

“Well, it’s good that you’re in shape. Would you like the stool to warm up?” Twilight smiled and motioned to the sex toy. Then she wrapped an arm around AJ and leaned in as if sharing a secret. “If you come now, you’ll be extra sensitive when he takes you and you might even come a few times.”

“Aww, thanks, but I couldn’t when ya’ only got one,” Applejack said politely, unwrapping Twilight’s arm from her waist and sitting down on the floor next to Dash.

“Why not?” Twilight asked suspiciously, hands on her hips. “I can use it later, it’ll be more fun while I’m watching you.”

“Because some ponies aren’t trying to come when they’re being raped?” Dash said, narrowing her eyes.

“She wouldn’t be getting raped if she enjoyed it,” Twilight pointed out.

Dash just smacked her palm into her face and let out something between a groan and a growl.

Twilight rolled her eyes and turned back to Applejack. “I keep writing to Mac and telling him that he needs to take more responsibility for training you, AJ. Maybe he needs to make sure you orgasm a few times every day, so it’s not such a big deal.”

Applejack glared sharply at Twilight. While the exact arrangements at the Dirt Pony Farm were a closely guarded secret between the Apples, it was well known around town that Mac did not use his sisters. “Twilight Sparkle, you leave my master alone and let him run his farm! I can take what I gotta take, and I sure don’t want-- I mean, Master’s got plenty purple collar mares who don’t do nothin’ but beg for him. Those poor things need his kindness more than I do.”

“I’m not saying Mac’s not a good master, AJ. Just that I worry sometimes that he’s not keeping you and Apple Bloom trained as well as he should be. You do have a kind of… reputation for being disrespectful to stallions.” Twilight gave Applejack a disapproving look. “I almost had to cancel this again when you tried to pull away from Flam pinching your nipple.”

Applejack snorted and glared at the ground. “He didn’t have to try and pull it off.”

“And does it matter what you want, or what a stallion wants?” Twilight raised an eyebrow, but Applejack just ignored the condescending question.

“Did you get punished?” Dash asked. Applejack felt Dash’s hand rest on hers and offer it a squeeze.

Applejack just stared harder at the floor. “I… made it up to Flam. Master thought that was enough punishment.”

“Mac sounds like a good master.”

Applejack glanced up to see a sad smile on Dash’s face. She nodded. “As far as that goes, I’m darn lucky.”

“Well, you should act like it more often. You could always just give in and take a red collar. Think of how proud Mac would be, knowing you were submitting to him willingly.” Twilight sighed and looked down at Applejack. “It must be so hard for him knowing you’re still unhappy with your place, when he’s trying so hard to be good to you.”

“Yeah, think of the poor stallions.” Dash gave Applejack a cynical smirk.

Applejack chuckled. “I’ve missed ya’, Dash.”

Twilight frowned and shook her head. “You know I always said that if you’d both take red collars, we could get together more often. I’d love to be able to have all of my friends together again, and all of the other girls are red collars. It would be so much easier if you two would just give in.”

“Do you know how they’re doing?” Dash asked them both.

“Don’t they write to you?” Twilight asked, walking over and grabbing a padded, throne-like chair from next to a pet bed labeled ‘Twily.’ She brought the chair to the center of the room. “I know Rarity and Fluttershy are busy, but I hear from Pinkie all the time.”

Dash shrugged. “I only get letters when I’ve been good.”

“So ya’ never get letters?” Applejack smirked and gave Dash a nudge.

Dash smirked back. “Pretty much.”

“You two…” Twilight sighed, kneeling next to the chair. The frustration on her face was becoming evident. “Maybe I shouldn’t tell you, then.”

“Fine.” Dash raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me.”

“Rarity’s workin’ at the boutique…” Applejack spoke up. “She was doin’ okay at first, but then she got in some real bad trouble for somethin’ and spent some time at the farm as punishment. She wouldn’t say a word to me, though. I guess she wanted anypony watchin’ to know she was a good red collar and all that, so talkin’ to a black collar wouldn’t have looked good. Whatever she did worked, ‘cause she’s back there now, makin’ costumes and whatever stallions want. You know she always would do whatever it took to get what she wanted.”

“Yeah…” Dash nodded. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Why are you encouraging her?” Twilight said to Applejack, waving a hand towards Dash in exasperation. “It’s bad for her, she’ll just get punished more.”

“I reckon I’m just the encouragin’ sort.” Applejack said, then turned back to Dash. “Now, Pinkie’s… well, she’s half okay. She’s usually a red collar and seems to be havin’ fun makin’ stallions happy, but I hear every now and again… she ain’t. I dunno what that’s about, but I’m pretty sure it ain’t healthy.”

“You think she’s gonna snap for good one day?” Dash asked warily.

Applejack shrugged. “Couldn’t say. She always has had a mind made outta rubber, but even rubber only goes so far.”

Dash nodded, then hesitated. Finally, she took a deep breath and said, “And… Fluttershy? I’ve... heard things…”

Applejack frowned and looked down sadly, taking Dash’s hand again. She knew how close the two pegasi were, but what Fluttershy had become since the fall was sickening. “I’m sorry, Dash. She don’t even need a master. If anything, stallion or beast, seems to want her to fuck it, she’s happy to help. Same with other mares… she’ll bring critters to the park so the stallions can watch ‘em rut their slaves. She don’t bat an eyelash at it.”

Swallowing hard, Dash looked to AJ like she might cry. All Applejack could offer was a squeeze of her hand, a silent promise of strength. Had Twilight not been there, Applejack would have offered so much more.

“See, the rest of your friends are all good mares,” Twilight pointed out.

“Thanks, AJ…” Dash whispered.

“You too.” Applejack said softly back. Then she turned, “Say, Twilight, why don’t ya’ go get Spike, and we can get started?”

“Don’t worry, I can just call him when we’re ready.” Twilight smirked at them, clearly proud of herself as she rose to her hooves. “I promised the guards that since you’re both black collars, you’d be under constant supervision…”

“Oh, good,” Applejack said with a sigh. She really could have used just a few minutes alone with Dash, to explain things. But that was exactly what Twilight wasn’t going to give her, and it just meant Applejack had to count on Dash’s reflexes and wits. Of all the ponies in the world, she felt like Dash was the pony she could count on for that.

“Master?” Twilight called up the stairs. “Twily’s friends are here, and we’d all love to serve you whenever you wish!”

Applejack heard the thump of heavy footsteps on the stairs, and then Spike filled the doorway into the library. Owning Twilight and his other slaves had given him a monstrous growth spurt; he was around eight feet tall and built like a gorilla, with the intelligence to match. But what made Rainbow Dash’s eyes grow wide, while Applejack closed hers in a silent prayer for strength, was the massive cock between his legs. He stroked it with one clawed hand, already half-way hard as he sat on the throne like chair.

He grinned at Applejack and Rainbow Dash, drool dripping from his muzzle, and growled, “Spike want ponies.”

***

Three Nights Earlier

Applejack stood in the kitchen of the farmhouse and stuck her head into the living room. “Master, can I close the windows and lock the doors and all?”

“Eeyup,” Mac said, looking up from his newspaper. He folded it and set it aside while Applejack rounded the room, making sure windows were closed and blinds were tightly drawn. She locked the front door and the door to the kitchen, before turning to look him in the eye.

“Mac, we gotta talk.”

He nodded, and Applejack sat on the couch corner closest to his recliner. She grabbed a large throw pillow and held it in front of herself on her lap, covering her breasts and sex. It wasn’t like Mac didn’t see her naked all day, but when they could talk like this, as brother and sister rather than master and slave, the relative modesty felt more normal.

It was the saving grace in Applejack’s life, and the only thing she thanked the stars for every night, that Mac hadn’t been brainwashed like other stallions. They both knew that if he had been, he probably would have wound up abusing his sisters in ways that made them sick to think of.

As it was, she could talk to him… about most things, at least. She sighed and finally said softly, “Apple Bloom is growin’ up, Mac. It ain’t gonna be long before she’s lookin’ like a mare, and you know what’s gonna happen then.”

Mac cringed. “I don’t wanna think about that.”

“Well it don’t matter if you wanna think about it!” Applejack snapped. “They’re gonna do to her all the things they do to me, and I ain’t got the luxury of not thinkin’ about it, cause it happens every damn day!”

“I’m sorry.” Mac looked down and rubbed his temple with his hand.

“I know you are.” Applejack sighed. “I didn’t mean to shout. It’s just, we gotta do somethin’.”

He looked up and looked her in the eye. “If I knew somethin’ to do, I’d be doin’ it to keep you safe. You’re my lil’ sister too, ya’ know.”

Applejack nodded and was silent for a moment. Finally, she said quietly. “Mac, would you do anythin’ to keep us safe?”

He nodded solemnly. “Anythin’ I can do.”

“Swear it.” She looked him in the eye. “Swear it on Ma’s grave.”

“I swear to you, on Ma’s grave. If there’s something that’ll keep you safe, I’ll do it,” he said, but he was starting to look a little scared.

Applejack just nodded bravely. “I’m puttin’ my life in your hands, big brother…” She took a deep breath, then went on, “I’m gonna run. I’m gonna run away durin’ that play date at Twilight’s, and take Dash if I can. We’ll head for Bayou.”

Mac just frowned, and Applejack nodded.

“I know, we dunno if the rumors are true, that’s why I’m not bringin’ Apple Bloom right now. If it ain’t safe, or I don’t make it… you can do the best you can here. I’ll be runnin’ away on Spike’s watch, so no one can put it on your head. But if I can find a place, I’ll come back for her. And for you too, if you wanna leave.”

Applejack searched his face for a change, but it seemed frozen in that same frown. Finally she said meekly, “So… there ya’ go. You can tell ‘em just where I’m headed, or lock me up. I’ll go fetch the paddle if ya’ wanna beat me. But I know in my soul this is the right thing to do, Mac. Even if I never see this farm again.”

Mac closed his eyes and looked down, that same frown around his mouth. “Applejack, I can’t run this place without ya’. We both know that.” He sighed. “If you get caught, or if ya’ don’t come back, they’re gonna take it away from me and send me and Bloom who knows where. You’re bettin’ everythin’ on this.”

“I gotta try. Apple Bloom can’t grow up to what I am, Mac. If I see a stallion usin’ her, I’ll… they’ll have to make me a purple collar to get me to stop.” She clenched her fists, squinting her eyes shut to block out visions that were too awful to think. “You know it, Mac. Tell me ya’ won’t feel the same.”

Mac thought for a long time, staring at the floor. The rise and fall of his broad shoulders was the only movement. Finally he said slowly, “I guess ya’ better be quick about findin’ someplace else, before they see how bad I am at managin’ the farm.”

Applejack let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She smiled at her brother with eyes full of love. “They already know it, ya’ fool. Why do ya’ think they let me stay here, as much as I run my mouth?”

Mac smiled back, but Applejack could see the fear in his eyes. “Ya’ think they’re right about Bayou?”

“Hard to say.” Applejack shrugged. “It seems too good to be true, but that place is a son of a bitch to get to, and the ponies almost never come to town. If the spell didn’t take as strong there, maybe the caribou left it be.”

Mac nodded. “Ya’ got a plan for gettin’ away from the library? The dragon might be dumber than a sack of hammers, but Twilight Sparkle ain’t gonna let you two waltz outta there.”

Applejack rested her chin on the top of the pillow and stared into space thoughtfully. “I been thinkin’ ‘bout it. I gotta plan, but it’ll be two on one if I don’t have Dash. If she’s the Rainbow Dash I remember, I know we can do it.”

“It’s been a long time…” Mac pointed out.

“She’s a black collar, I know that much. If we got really lucky, just that’d be enough.” Applejack bit her lip. “If we ain’t that lucky, it comes down to how in shape she is.”

“What happens if she don’t come through?” He raised an eyebrow.

Applejack raised one right back. “Then I’m goin’ up against Spike and Twilight on my own, and I’ll go down swingin’.”

Mac chuckled. “I remember when we were both foals, playin’ horseshoes. Didn’t matter how far behind you were, you’d never give up until you threw that last horseshoe. Hell, a few times there wasn’t even a way for you to win, but ya’ just wouldn’t quit…”

He smiled at Applejack and nodded. “Just let me know how I can help.”

***

Applejack rested on her elbows on the floor of the library, her ass held high, and bit her lip as the rhythmic shoving continued behind her. She knew that the longer Spike kept it up, the more worn out he’d be and the better a chance that this would work.

It didn’t hurt, not really. He was big, but Twilight had talked him into using lube since AJ belonged to someone else. That was more consideration than a lot of the stallions who’d raped her in the past year had, and stretched and wet was better than being pounded dry any day.

She felt his drool drip onto her back, and he reached up with a clawed hand to yank her hair by the ponytail. Her head jolted back, wrenching her neck as the pistoning in her sex just kept on. She snorted, but wouldn’t let herself even grunt. It seemed like after a year of this, stallions needed to push her; to make sure she knew she was being used, to make sure it hurt, to try to make her say something that would give them the excuse to beat her, since most of them suspected that Mac didn’t abuse her often enough… she wasn’t going to give Spike the satisfaction today. She’d waited too long to be here, in the same room as Rainbow Dash.

Twilight sat on the stool, bouncing on the sex toys that filled both of her holes as she watched. “Oh good girl, AJ. Take it all… That looks so good…”

Dash sat just behind Twilight, on the floor. Her face and chest were covered in Spike’s cum, and she alternated between furious glares at Twilight or Spike and longing looks at AJ.

Applejack noticed a change in Spike’s rhythm, an increase in speed, a loss of control, and finally he thrust firmly into her and stopped with a series of grunts and moans. He pulled her ponytail harder as he came, nearly bending her backwards, then he let go as he slumped against her.

She held her breath, moving her arms in front of her. He seemed to lean against her forever, and she was almost hopeful he’d just pass out right there. Then she felt him shift backwards, pulling his softening cock from her body and letting his cum drip down her her inner thighs.

In that moment, Applejack sprung into action. Launching off of her forearms, she kicked backwards with both legs, her hooves slamming hard into the dragon. She glanced over her shoulder and saw him fall backwards to the floor, her heart pounding. There was no turning back now, the punishment would be brutal and the goal was too close.

“What are you--” Twilight started to shout as Applejack leapt to her hooves.

“Dash! Shut ‘er up!” Applejack yelled, on her hooves in a flash and racing towards the toy closet Twilight had been digging in earlier.

Without a moment’s pause, Dash threw herself on top of Twilight, knocking her off the stool and clamping a hand over her mouth. She moved to pin Twilight with her body weight, and Twilight struggled to break free.

“Mmmph-- stop it! You’re going to-- Mmmph! Mmm mmmph!”

Applejack reached in the closet and snatched out what she needed, just as Spike was rising to his feet. Whatever she might think of sadistic bastards, she could count on them to have plenty of rope. While she was there, she grabbed a ball gag and tossed it towards Dash, who caught it easily despite the distraction of a thrashing mare beneath her.

There was no time to tie a lasso, so Applejack held the rope loosely between her hands, watching Spike. She saw the deep breath he took, and she waited for the last second before diving to the right. Spike’s bright green flame followed her path as she tumbled behind Twilight’s sleeping basket and turned it on its side as a shield.

Thank the stars and all the apples in the trees, she guessed right. The whole basket could have burst into flames, but instead it just became blisteringly hot as whatever flame retardant Twilight coated things with started to bubble and melt. Good ol’ Twilight-- selling ponies into slavery for a pat on the head was one thing, but she couldn’t just have a fire hazard sitting around.

As soon as the flame stopped, Applejack was ready. She grabbed a throw pillow that had fallen to the side, rope still in hand, and lept at the dragon. Shoving into his already injured collarbone, he tumbled to the floor, her on top. He inhaled for another try at roasting her, but she stuffed the pillow firmly in his muzzle, wrapped the rope around the back of his head, and tied a quick, tight knot. His eyes went wide as his flame melted the material in his mouth, and he sat up, using raw strength to throw her off.

Applejack slammed into the floor a few feet away, but she smiled. The end of the rope was still in her hand, and the other end was tied around the head of the dragon starting to climb to his feet.

“What’s going on?” Dash said frantically, sitting on top of a gagged Twilight and looking between AJ and Spike.

“We’re gettin’ outta here.” Applejack grinned. She gave the rope a good yank, and combined with Spike’s forward momentum and top heavy body it sent him falling to the floor with a hard thud. Using the other end of the same rope that held his gag in place, Applejack proceeded to bind his arms and legs behind his back with the efficiency of a rodeo champ.

Then she looked up, sweat dripping from her naked body, thighs still wet with cum, and beamed at Dash. For the first time in a year, Applejack felt strong and in control, and she had a friend she could count on. In spite of her collar, and the caribou, and everything that stood between her and real freedom, she felt confidant.

She patted the helpless male on the head as she stood up. “Spike, ya’ might wanna remember that if ya’ rape enough bitches, one of ‘em is gonna bite ya’.”

Dash just stared at her, mouth open. “How-- where-- oh. my. gosh. You don’t mean it. You can’t mean it! Please, please tell me again AJ.”

“We are gettin’ outta this, Dash. We’re runnin’ away. I gotta plan.”

The smile that came across Dash’s face couldn’t half compare to the light in her eyes. “You have a plan? I love plans! What is it?”

“Unh!” Twilight grunted through the ball gag, shaking her head.

“Shut up!” Dash shouted, using Twilight’s hair to turn her head to the side, so that she could at least half see the deathly glare Dash was giving her. “You. Betrayed. Us. You-- you did this to us! You let them rape us. You cut off your horn, and you let them pluck your wings… and you let them pluck my wings. You don’t get a say in anything, ever, understand?”

“Dash! Stop it. We ain’t got time for all that. We gotta get as far from here as we can be.” Applejack went back to the toy closet and grabbed some leather straps.

“Fine. She can rot here--”

Applejack turned and tossed the straps to Dash. “We’re takin’ her.”

“WHAT?!” Dash caught the straps automatically, but otherwise froze with an incredulous look on her face.

“Will ya’ keep your voice down? I said we’re takin’ her. We can use her as a hostage if we have to-- she’s a princess, so they’d probably wanna take her back alive.” Applejack raised an eyebrow at Dash. “Think they’re gonna worry ‘bout that with us?”

“Fine.” Dash roughly pulled Twilight’s arms behind her back and used the straps to bind them, using more force than was probably necessary. “Just so she knows that she’s a traitor and I don’t give one shit about her. Got it, princess? My loyalty to you is dead.”

Applejack offered a hand to help Dash to her hooves, then leaned over and lifted Twilight to hers. “Come on, you two. And please don’t try nothin’, Twilight. I do believe Dash is itchin’ to hurt ya’, and we don’t wanna give her an excuse.”