Game Over

As she walked toward the town, Applejack contemplated what she had in mind, and how the past days had gone by. Thankfully, their parents had quickly accepted their excuses once they explained themselves, which had been a relief, as none of them wanted their snuggle time shortened, or worst, the bench.

She waved at the few ponies that happily had saluted her on the road, many of them happy customers that she and Mac has quickly helped when no one else would due to how minimal or useless those Quest tended to be on the loot department. None of that mattered to the pair, as they used that low leveled Quests to refine their weaknesses on battle, increasing their armor levels, or a technique finesse.

Which had been how Rarity had refined her magical use to such an extent that her aura had turned gold, an obvious sign of a quite good control.

Crossing the door, she quickly found herself in a matter of minutes in front of the Mayor mare, who had received her promptly once she was announced, a preferential treatment that the Apples often received due to how important the family was to the town itself.

“Greetings young Apple. What can I do for you?”

“Salutations, Mayor... I hope I'm not interrupting something important?” Added the palomino, looking around her and seeing a lot of paperwork around the place.

“None dear, in fact I thank you greatly, I needed a break from that dreadful things...” Offered the earth pony, who then walked slowly toward a chair and a small table. “So, how can I be of help?”

Taking seat at the other side of the small table, Applejack didn't took long to narrate her adventure on the other side of the forest, and what they had found there. Which the Mayor heard with rapt attention, nodding there and then.

“So you see, Mayor... I was wondering why the existence of those sites, and other villages aren't deeply regarded on the school curriculum.” Finalized the palomino, who seeped her chamomile tea with gusto, relieving her dry throat. The white haired mare on the other hand, had closed her eyes as she drank her black tea, wondering how to answer such a question.

“That's a quite good question, with I'm afraid a not so good answer.” Another sip, then the mare put the cup back on the table, as she began to explain, “For you see. While we delve into the existence of Pony kind, we most often than not, put aside the villages of other creatures mostly because those are scarce on Equestria.”

“Why...?”

“We don't know, dear. Outside our borders, on the other nations we have found that this pattern repeats itself over, and over. It would surprise you to find that on faraway nations, the pony kind are part of the mindless enemies that constantly attack the population?”

A gasp, but then Applejack couldn't do anything else, truly surprised by such information.

“An startling fact, but yes... each nation has been always governed by the most predominant species of the area, while other sentient beings are scarce.” Looking at the window, the white haired mare sighed, then said, “On the mountains reign supreme the Griffins, on the desert the horse herds command, and in the far away north, are the Moose, Deer and Caribou.” Now looking at the palomino, the mayor firmly added, “On the south also live the Dragon Empire...” The mayor then filled once more her cup, while saying, “As you see, we're surrounded by opposing factions, many of them just want to be left alone.”

“But why isn't this taught at School?”

“Because it doesn't matter in the end, Applejack.” Simply said the mare, as she sipped and ignored the aghast expression on the young mare. “Don't look so surprised, but, before you judge us, I ask you this... how many sentient creatures have you found so far?”

“Not many...”

“If we suddenly told you when you were an tiny and uneducated filly that some of the monsters you usually found are sentient... would you fight against them, would you kill them?”

Seeing the look of horror on her listener, the Mayor sighed and put the cup back on the table, this time untouched.
“It might sound heartless and cruel, but desensitization is primordial on our survival. What happens out there, if you doubt to fight back, Applejack?”

“We die...” It was a sour admission, but the palomino had to admit it. If you didn't kill out there, you usually died. It was that simple, but it didn't meant that it wasn't cruel.

“Also, even if many of us hope against it. War always looms in the horizon, Applejack. While some kingdom and races just want to be alone, other want to conquer and domain. Our soldiers can't doubt in battle to strike another sentient being... not if they want to live and protect their loved ones...” With a sigh, the mayor then closed her eyes, “The fact remains that few of the beast out there are sentient, Applejack. Many had died when they thought that they could try to use reason with an attacking enemy.”

“So... what about that village?”

“What about it?”

“Would other ponies attack it?”

“Its probable, there are some quite ruthless ponies out there. But as long as they're strong to stop them, they shouldn't worry.” Putting a hoof on her muzzle, the mayor pondered deeply, before she finally said: “Though, it doesn't meant that we couldn't establish a partnership relationship with them. Sentient monsters can produce quite usable items that we can trade back. But, it always depends on the will to interact with us. If they don't, we usually left them alone...”

If not, we'll take what we want by force.

It wasn't voiced, but Applejack could almost hear it... the tiny sparkle on the mare eyes sending a chill on her spine. Smiling a little, the white haired mare then took the cup of the table, which was still hot due to it charms, and sipped contently.

“You will understand it as you grown older, Applejack... but for now, please... tell me more about that town...”

The palomino said little, but she knew that she had already said enough for the mare to concoct something deep inside of her head. Once Applejack left the office and walked toward the farm, the mare simply deflated, as she now saw this world for what it was, her rose colored glasses truly and utterly broken.

The more she examined her memories, the more she found that yes, this world was definitely Chaotic in its nature. Capable of beautiful and quite lovely feats of magic and friendship, but it was also quite cruel and cold blooded.

“I wonder if that rat of Discord changed something in the spell?” She gazed at the sky, wondering deeply, and founding that while mischievous, the Draconequus wasn't cruel, crazy, perhaps, but never so twisted and cruel. Which meant that something else had shaped this world as the spell took effect, but, who? And better yet, why?

Deep, really deep inside of her, she had to admit that she was afraid to find such an answer. But she was sure that in the incoming future she would find the answer, not mattering if she liked it, or not.

XxX

It shouldn't have surprised her that McIntosh had shared her view on the possible attack on the Monster village by the Mayor. Which they had then quickly told their parents who had confirmed that the Mayor mare had attempted to fill a Quest on them, which had only been denied due to the fact that Tangerine was still quite busy with Applebloom, and Jack was always full with the farm duties, which only left the two of them free to take such a job.

It didn't surprise them when Mayor mare then took back the request, citing a quite busy schedule, but that saying that as soon as the adult pair was available, she would then fill the request again, for the good of Ponyville.

Which was why the young pair had been training harder on the forest, knowing that the both of them needed to become quite powerful and fast as they had maybe one or two years at best before Applebloom was old enough to be taken care by Granny Smith alone, freeing their mother.

They doubted that their parents would accept such a quest, especially as they hadn't shared that view of expansionism that some ponies had, content with how things were and had been so far. But that didn't meant that there weren't other quite powerful ponies at the town.

Which was why the two had quickly convinced their parents to left them move temporarily to the Monster town, which could only happen if the town fixed up their transmission portal, which would made teleportation quite easy between the towns. And the reason for the rushed travel of the young pair.

“Halt! Who dear to breach the sanctity of this Sanctuary?!” Bellowed a female voice, that had stopped the both of them cold on their tracks, as they raised their shields and tried to look were such a warning had come.

“Beware strangers, and don't move a single hoof closer for you might unleash my extraordinary and quite abysmal rage upon you!”

“Rainbow Dash?” Muttered Applejack, incredulous for a few second, as she had once again, found another changed friend on this world. “Show yourself!” Screamed the palomino, looking up an low for the quite elusive mare, when to her surprise she saw some movement upon them, then around them as the mare easily moved with ease on their surroundings, her speed and control quite unbelievable.

“Behold the amazing sight of the blue thunder! The undefeated lightning, the beautiful... holy s-” With an abrupt stop, Applejack felt someone simply appear behind them, her gaze firmly put on their behinds or more specifically, McIntosh. “Are those real?!” Asked the quite surprised mare, who was blushing deeply as she pointed at a now blushing Mac and his dangling bits.

“Do you mind? You're ogling at my Coltfriend there!” Snarled Applejack after seeing the mare almost about to touch a part of the quite frozen colt that she herself hasn't still, and would touch for quite a while. Which quickly put the attention of the pegasus on her, and her own rear.

“Don't worry darling, you also have a quite nice pair of teats down there... whoa!” Screamed Rainbow Dash, who quickly evaded the attempt to buck the lights out of her by the now flushing Applejack, laughing the whole time... “Aw, don't be mad... I can show you mine if you want to even the deal!!”

“Rainbow, that's enough...” Added a now slightly scarlet Fluttershy, who was demurely walking toward the blushing pair, who looked at her. “Do forgive my best friend lack of manners...” said the mare, glaring lightly at the still chuckling pegasus who landed neatly beside her, “With time, you learn to live with her crudeness, as your tolerance gets quite upgraded when she's present...”

“Oh, don't be like that... I had to make sure that you and Zecora weren't pulling my tail when you told me that this two had a quite nice set of...” A hoof now firmly put on her mouth, the blue pegasus glared good humorously at her blushing friend, who looked at the two earth ponies with a mortified expression.

Applejack on the other hand, quickly exterminated the rush of jealousy that had nearly took her control away, Mac was hers, and sadly, despite how much it hurt. Rainbow Dash wasn't her best friend on this world, Rarity was.

“If... you had ogled my teats and his balls enough... can we go to Monster city? There's a lot that we need to talk...”

As they traveled and the feelings turned less festive with what was being told, they soon found that yes, they could stay at the town, which was aptly called The Sanctuary. Quickly finding a spare house that thankfully had two rooms for each one, as they had promised their parents that no funny business would happen between them.

It didn't take long for them to establish themselves there, and soon the two of them were chatting amicably on what appeared to be an small restaurant that an quite flamboyant Hydra took care of with his mate... Mac enjoying some seaweeds and cheese while Applejack ordered an Daisy cake with some Gouda. The both of them doing their best to ignore Rainbow Dash and her stalking issues, as the mare had followed them the entire week.

“This is a nice date...” Offered Mac, which quickly took Applejack attention, as she blushed lightly at his handsome face.

She looked around them, and smiled.

“Yes... our first one...”

“Of many, I hope...” He added, getting closer to her, his eyes firmly put on her wavering lips, his intentions quite clear.

“Mac... w-we made a promise...” She closed her eyes, hoping to enjoy their first kiss with gusto, as she could smell the ozone on his coat, a slight tinge of rain that was quite enough as she made contact with his... cheek?

Opening her eyes, she quickly found herself kissing a smiling Rainbow Dash, who had put herself just in the middle of them, as she received a pair of kisses.

“Oh my... if this is the beginning of a quite randy proposition, I accept!”

“I'm going to Kill you!” Roared Applejack, a little angry that the mare had interrupted her first serious kiss with McIntosh, when out of nowhere, a now blushing but glaring Fluttershy appeared and caught the blue pegasus with her Gorilla manifestation, who shook a finger reproachingly at her before she took the still giggling mare away from the pair.

“Please, excuse her rude behavior... c-continue!” Added the demure mare, as she dragged back the multi-colored mare.

Applejack just stood there, before she looked back at McIntosh, who had a pair of amused eyes that she knew, only meant problems.

“What?”

“Didn't you notice that Miss Fluttershy eyes might have lingered a little too low and too much on you?”

Looking down, toward her exposed and quite pointy teats, the mare sighed before she nodded.

“I noticed...” She closed her eyes, enduring his mirth, awaiting for the right moment to attack which quickly came when he thirstily drank his soda. “I also noticed that Rainbow Dash nearly mounted an altar to your balls...” She smiled as she saw him choke, as he patted his chest loudly while glaring at her.

Your relationship with Big McIntosh had grown yet deeper...
You feel that you're close to reach another level...

In the end, Applejack stared at him, surprised that such a moment had only served to united even more. Making her chuckle, then laugh followed by him, simply enjoying the moment for what it was.

A pair of strong-headed and quite randy teenagers flirting with each another in the absence of their parents watchful eyes.

As the days passed by, it didn't surprised the palomino that they had established a good friendship with the townsfolk, quickly finding themselves surprised by how similar the towns were in their day to day interactions, which served to point out the fact that maybe the system was wrong on their approach.

“It is as you say, an unfair system... but your Mayor is right to think that out there are far too many things who only mean you harm.” Said Zecora, who was now chatting amiably with the curious pair, as the two of them munched on a local treat.

“But... maybe we can offer a chance to change that?” Prompted Applejack, trying to establish a more peaceful existence between the villages, which earned her an loud scoff from Rainbow Dash.

“Be serious here, do you really think that ponies care for other creatures?” Added the elemental pegasus, who looked at them seriously for once, “Do you think we haven't attempted it before?”

“Rainbow...” Tried to appease Fluttershy, who then got glared by the now quite indignant pegasus.

“No, Fluttershy... I will not hide the fact that we're both outcasts, vanished from Cloudsdale for daring to befriend an monster!” Said the mare, pointing at a sad looking Fluttershy, “Or for standing up for a friend when no one else dared to do so...” concluded Rainbow, as she pointed at herself. “Pony kind doesn't care about others... and even among our kind, we segregate and judge each another by our race and social standing...”

Applejack just looked at the rainbow colored mare, seeing that indeed, this version of her best friend was quite loyal, but also quite different.
“She was the most gifted recruit on the academy... The Wonderbolts had even took an interest on her as a possible recruit for their army...” Explained Fluttershy, smiling at her now flustered friend, “She left all of that behind to stand beside me...”

“A true friend doesn't give you their back when they need you...” Declared boldly the mare, before she looked at the pair and added, “I'm going to make them regret it for vanishing us, and deeply.” Standing up, the mare hovered a little on the air above them, before to their surprise she simply equipped an armor and still kept floating with little to no problem at all.

Applejack saw McIntosh narrow his eyes, as he judged the quality of the armor, but also making a quick use of his quite advanced 'observe' ability, which surpassed her own by a long margin despite her best efforts.

“Its a quite heavy middle leveled armor... level 50 if my eyes don't fail me... urk!” Recoiling back, the male then tried to look at anything else but the now laughing and quite naked Rainbow Dash, whose position above them give them quite the view of her entire anatomy at the moment.

“That's what you gain for using 'observe' on me, stud!” Admonished Rainbow Dash, who smiled toothily at the pair, especially at the resigned Applejack, who had grown accustomed to the mare tendencies to expose herself, something that McIntosh was still working on.

“Moving on...” Added Zecora, an coy smile on her face as she tried to turn back the conversation where it mattered, “As you see, we might not be the most powerful bunch on the forest, but we're quite resourceful, and have a lot of secrets that might prevent the village from being forcibly overtaken.”

Applejack nodded, and slightly suspected that it had to do with the runes that covered the whole place, but said nothing about it, not wanting to pry on their secrets.

“But that doesn't meant that we're not interested in some business,” Declared Fluttershy, who looked firmly at the palomino, who blushed and gulped slightly. “We want to increase our levels, so please...”

You received an Party invitation.
Do you accept?
Yes No?

“You both are powerful, probably the most powerful beings on this village, which would meant that you two can delve even further into the forest than ourselves...” Said the yellow mare, as she looked firmly at the two of them, “I want to trust you, and what a better way to get to know each another than in battle?”

“Dibs on the Rock wolves!” Declared Rainbow Dash, as she then looked at the pair in her full regalia, looking ready for action.

Applejack looked at McIntosh, both of them having a quick conversation with just a glance, taking a decision right there.

You have joined a Party