Chapters Game Over - Want to play again?
Author's Note
This is my first attempt to write an MLP story in English, at least a multi-chapter one. I'm already reaching the end of it, as I had the idea to pre-write the idea for each chapter when my muse was inspired and leaking juices all over the place, which had been a great help to continue this.
English is not my first language, so this story will have mistakes. I'm searching for help on a patient Beta-reader.
I claim nothing, MLP and its characters belong to Hasbro Inc, I make no monetary profit from this work... its not that original to begin with.
Game Over - Want to play again?
Game Over
“What ta hay?”
Game Over
“What's this? A joke? What happened?” Muttered Applejack as she tried to stand on to her hooves, her legs wavering for a few seconds, before she finally stood steady in front of the giant floating letters.
“This must be a joke... isn't it? Har Har Discord, ya rat...” She cried, still angry about the Draconequus betrayal. But not mattering how she waited for the letters to disappear, they didn't, and continued titillating in front of her increasing her frustration by the minute.
“Hello? Can anypony hear me? Twilight? Girls? Big Mac?” She tried to walk away from that spot, but not mattering how much she walked, the letters followed her. “This can't be the end... there must be more than this...”
Applejack didn't knew how long she walked, but after awhile she stopped trying. Seeing that she was going nowhere, despite her attempts.
“Ah thought that Ah was a good filly, Ah did mah chores, ah loved mah family. Ah saved ta world many times. Ah resisted the temptation to buck the life out of... Him... So why?” She closed her eyes, remembering her life, the good and the bad. It was a shame that she had sacrificed herself, yeah. But she did it for a good reason, Twilight was the key, that much she understood. So giving her life in exchange of the chosen one? There wasn't even a doubt on her soul that she did the right thing.
So why was she being punished like this?
Game over
Want to retry?
Yes No
Sighing, the palomino slowly walked toward the panel that insistently tried to capture her attention. It was obvious that whatever this was, it was the only way to get out of this place.
“Ah bet that this is another trick of that rat of Discord...” Quickly pressing yes, she was suddenly surprised to see the world around her suddenly change, as an huge screen appeared in front of her, also the sudden apparition of music caught her by surprise...
“What's that?... Mah Little pony, ta game?”.
She backed off, now slightly scared as she saw her friends and herself on the screen, fragments of her life passing in front of her eyes, with excruciating detail, every moment was resumed in front of her. Building up to an hurried end that hinted of an incoming enemy. The palomino just stood there, seeing the sequence repeat itself over and over, not comprehending what was happening, when, after who knew how much, a new panel appeared in front of her. Gray in color, with her name written in apple red.
Applejack quickly tapped it, seeing to her surprise that in front of her the panel took the form of Discord.
“Ah knew that this was yar fault!” She screamed, angered that she was again on another scheme of the creature. When, to her surprise Discord looked at her emptily and said:
“This is a message for Applejack, who's sacrifice marked the beginning of the end for our world: Honey, you weren't supposed to sacrifice yourself like that. Twilight would have survived unscathed, probably shaken a little, but unscathed no less.”
Applejack looked at the creature, recognizing the voice of Rarity, despite the body.
“Horse Apples...” Muttered the Palomino, feeling mightily dumb after hearing that her sacrifice had been for nothing.
“The magic that we thought vaporized you, instead send you to another universe, where we can't reach you properly, darling. We're your friends, all of us, and none could accept it, especially Twilight.”
“Tell her about how Twilight became a Nightmare, uh, uh, uh!!!”
“Easy, Pinkie. You already did. To summarize dear. Your parting caused Twilight to change, she annihilated that foul demon. But at the prize of her own sanity, as her body wasn't supposed to deal with such an amount of magic in such an unstable form...”
Applejack gasped, not believing what she was hearing, and was about to voice her displeasure to the empty eyed Discord, when to her surprise another voice began to talk.
“Applejack, my little pony. In the end, Twilight trapped all of us in a powerful spell to protect us. A powerful prison created with a twisted mix of love and despair. It doesn't need to be said that Nightmare Twilight hasn't deemed fit to give us back our magic. Fearing that we would break free of her magical trap, which we would...”
It was unbelievable to hear Celestia of all ponies speaking against her pupil. Especially as the situation seemed quite severe on their end.
“So in the end, we reached a compromise. Discord had been slowly recovering some of his chaotic magic with the passing of time. Enough to modify some things on your side. You're the only pony outside of Twilight control, so you would be the only one to conserve your memories intact once you choose to reset the reality. Please, I beg of you, guide Twilight better than I did. Do not let her commit the same mistake again...”
The more the palomino heard, the more she understood that her friends were waiting for her to make a decision, a really easy one if you asked her. Sure, it would be awkward at first. But that also meant that she would be back with her friends and family again. So not doubting it for even a single second, she tapped 'Yes'. And saw the empty world and the screen suddenly disappear as it reformed around her.
Congratulations, you have chosen to play again. Choose your Name... Choose your avatar...
“What da...”
In front of her a panel with a screen that showed the palomino a series of options about what to choose.
“Hooey, look at me! An Alicorn. Look mightily nice with wings and a horn Ah must admit.”
Alicorn: Unavailable... Unicorn: Available... Pegasus: Available... Earth Pony: Available...
.
“Horse feathers... Ah knew that it was too nice to be true... why be another race, when Ah'm already happy with who Ah'm? ... it's easier this way...”
You selected: Earth Pony Yes No
“Ah did...”
Choose your Family:
“This is going to be annoying quick”, added the mare as she was asked to make sure for even the slightest inch of information. Which took her far longer for her tastes.
You Selected: Applejack Apple Yes No
“Of course Ah did, dang it!”
Select your race:
“What gives!!? Ah already selected. Also, ya can only be an Earth pony when you're an Apple...” The palomino immediately closed her mouth, as she saw new version of herself appear in front of her, all fully grown with an Apple motif.
Curious, she walked toward the winged Apple version of herself, and tapped it. Reading what it had to say about her.
Jacqueline Apple, Born on Fillydelphia, married to Big Macintosh... She was an active filly...
“Oh Goddess yes!... Ah always wanted to buck... err, Ah mean Nope! Nope! Nope!” The palomino quickly closed the panel, her cheeks completely rosy at what she had just read. Her breath was heavy and she was shuddering. Many of her most private and quite repressed thoughts quickly coming to the surface thanks to that.
“Horse apples! Ah thought that Ah got over it! Ah was a filly for Celestia's sake! A dumb filly that thought that she was married to her brother... and that along him she was raising their filly...” Shaking her head of her long repressed thoughts now resurfaced. She contemplated them:
“Yeah, many ponies gave us grief with that deal. But Ah can't blame them... Ah was a little possessive of him... but that was it... so no wings for me...”
Sunset Apple, Nee Leaf. Born on Ponyville, married to Big McIntosh...
“What gives! No, really, why? Its already hard to fight temptation every damn day! Ah'm not a going to sleep with mah deliciously looking bro... Damn-it!” Examining the panel and the story of the unicorn version of herself, the palomino soon realized that if she selected another race and wanted to become an Apple, she only could do that through marriage, and as she was firm to stay a mare, and wanted to live in Ponyville, Mac was quickly chosen for the spot. Curious of the results, she changed the city and race, finding that if she stayed in Manehattan, she became an Apple when her uncle of all ponies, cheated her aunt with her . “Bab's surely going to turn even worst if Ah do that...” Appleloosa? Then became the wife of Braeburn... yep.
She was doomed. But at least with him she had an second option that wasn't available, that of being his sister if she selected the Earth mare.
“Ah'm sorry, cousin. But ah don't like ya like that either, so no Appleloosa for me... even if Ah had a fantasy or two with ya and lots of ropes...”
She quickly selected her old good self, noticing to her satisfaction that she was then born an Apple. Which satisfied her needs, and put to rest her thundering heart. Though she had noticed that she could also select as an earth pony a different set of cities and towns to live by, where still available.
“Hooey, who would know? Pinkie and Ah really are cousins... Ah can also be her sis!... but, no. Sorry sweetheart, mah family needs me... and Ah love Ponyville too much. Also, I can't even select it... so that's it then...”
With a single tap on the panel, she quickly found herself as an earth mare, or more exactly an filly.
“Horse Apples! Ah'm a runt again! Nope, nope, nope! take me back, back Ah tell ya!”
Sadly, not mattering how much she tried to reverse it, she found that she couldn't do it. And that it only left her with a single choice.
“This is going ta suck... Ah know it...”
You've got a new level!
With an ease born from experience, Applejack quickly tapped the panel. Enjoying how her body slowly grew stronger as the rush of magic was devoured by her anatomy.
Many things had happened since she rebooted the universe. One of them was that this world wasn't at all like her original one. Thanks to the tutorial, she had found that her dimension had been modified to fit what Discord called a video-game. She didn't had an inkling of an idea of what one of those was, but as she grew up on this new world. She found that it was vastly different from her original world.
For example, this world had levels. In her original world you had to work your plot off to gain muscles and power. But here, you gained experience and many other things by just increasing your level, which simplified many things, but also complicated many others.
House chores actually became quite fun to do, when you did them in a matter of seconds thanks to the mechanics of the game. They also benefited you with experience, and some talents, which she had exploited beautifully until she couldn't level them anymore. Part of her thought of it as dishonest, but that part was quickly disappearing with the passing of time, as she understood that on this world, she wasn't doing anything wrong.
Sadly, that's only one of the few things that she found quite entertained and fun on this new world. For example, she found that she also had to literally work to increase something called Social Links, which determined how closer she was to someone.
It hurt a lot to have to literally work to gain the love of your parents. Who to her surprise hasn't perished yet in this world, which was good. But the more she spend time with them, the more she understood that it wasn't that different than her old world. As you really had to spend time and invest in your friendship to get closer to them, the more you leveled the Social Link, the closer you were to that pony.
Applejack had also noticed that if you weren't careful, you might end in love with someone if your Social Link went pass the 5 rank. Which tended to complicate things a lot in that department once you went by that point with someone, as she discovered with Rarity on the school, once their Social link went pass 7. And the mare had developed some doubts of her own sexuality as she developed a kind of crush on her that thankfully, came to pass. Reinforcing their friendship in the process to be at an healthy 8.
Another thing that wasn't entirely fun at all, was that this universe was full of monsters. Literally, many normal animals had mutated and become quite aggressive toward ponies. Such encounters caused a few series of changes to appear on their society, the most important of them was that you had to actually fight to live on this world. Her family had to actually defeat monsters daily to survive and protect their farm, as they lived near the forest. Which was infested with monsters and creatures that routinely fought against them for many reasons that she wasn't really interested to know.
“Hooey! good job Applejack. That's the last spider...” Added Big McIntosh, who was beside her as part of her farm party, an shield was firmly put on his back, unneeded this time. She quickly smiled at him, noticing that she was now only ten levels under him, as above his head floated an impressive 35.
“Be careful Big Mac, that level is looking flimsy now.”
He chuckled, and the both of them walked toward the loot, quickly recovering the items and the coins that the beasts had left behind. The Palomino scowled, as she noticed that this time the most valuable object on the pile were the coins.
“Those spiders are becoming quite useless on our campaigns. There are too many of them on this orchard, with little reward for our efforts.” With a quick use of her menu, she quickly added the sum and objects to her inventory, satisfied that she had touched the half million. Which meant that she now could buy better equipment at the town.
She looked at the big lug (Or at least, the one who would become one, as he was still quite small), who was now examining the trees carefully, trying to see how much damage the critters caused on this attack. Quickly using some key objects to cure the most damaged of them into an healthy condition, their bar now on the green instead of the flashing yellow. He guard was held low, confident that they were safe at the moment. Applejack on the other hoof, used that moment to revise her stats. Quickly noticing that she had gained two abilities on that battle.
“Sweet, a regeneration ability, and... observe ability?” Muttered the teenager, slowly adding the abilities to her inventory, and immediately reading what kind of use they had. The first one being quite useful and self explanatory, the second on the other hoof...
An skill to find the target's information. Observe is obtained through continuous observation...
“How is that useful...?” Applejack looked at her panel, then at her brother. And Quickly put the ability to use, as it was obvious that it was an pretty harmless ability, probably useless. “Observe!” She enchanted, looking at the colt's frame that was suddenly enveloped by a lot of information that she wasn't able to see before.
Name: Big McIntosh Apple/Wine.
“What the hay!?”
Race: Earth Pony Age: 16 (Sixteen). When he was barely two months old, an accident left him orphaned and alone, his godmother, Tangerine Apple, Nee Orange, quickly took him under her care, believing that she was unable to conceive after years of trying. Renamed as Big McIntosh by Jack Apple as he was adopted into the Apple family. His coat, despite its color, has more to do with his old family, the Wine's. Destined to be the heir of the family, until two years later when Tangerine found that she was pregnant, despite the new arrival of a new heir, they still raised him to be their son despite his origins. With hard work, he had become an exemplary and proud member of the Apple's large family.
Applejack couldn't believe what her eyes were seeing, especially as she noticed that her panel had lowered itself as her brother had finally initiated a chat with her, to caught her attention.
“So you learned the truth, Jackie?” Asked the colt, his eyes holding a fragment of doubt, mixed with anxiety... “I hope that it doesn't change things between us?”
Was this part of this new universe? Yeah, she had her doubts about McIntosh in the past on her world, especially when she was a filly on heat and she didn't felt physically repulsed toward him as she was supposed to be when the estrus made its appearance. But with time she had learned to ignore it, and toss it aside, until it hadn't bothered her anymore as it used to. Was the original Mac adopted too? He certainly was unique on their large family. Being the only one with a coat that wasn't a shade of green, gold or yellow which was the norm, not the exception on her family, as only he and few others shared the red coat, brownish red in the case of the other exception. Who she actually knew was an adopted colt.
She closed her eyes, feeling a little dizzy at such a discovering... How was she so blind? And also, why? Why would they hide something like that from her? Why the need to lie? Then it hit her, did it matter? Did she loved him less just because they didn't share any blood between them? The answer was a firm no, with or without it, he was something quite precious to her. Her dear big brother, though, this discovery did have some deep implications that merited some thought.
“No, it doesn't change a thing, Big Mac...”
You feel your relationship with Big McIntosh grown yet deeper... Your Social Link with Big McIntosh is now Rank 7. Your level has increased by two. Big McIntosh level has increased by one.
Applejack smiled at him, her cheeks burning at the feeling of the link increasing its rank between them. She had been quite close to her brother in the original world, but not like this. Though, deep inside of her, she knew that part of this closeness was simply because of the social link own magic.
“Let's go, Big Mac... there's still work to do...”
The both of them trotted toward the east field, as they saw on their map that a bunch of monsters were consuming their trees, literally, as they saw the dots that marked them disappear with each new minute.
“So the final horde appears? What do you think they would be this time, Mac?” Asked Applejack, as an lasso was firmly put on her waist. Ready to be used in a few seconds. At her side, the small frame of McIntosh suddenly stopped, as both of them saw the huge horde of Fire Beetles consume the orchard with ease.
“I believe that this might be a little harder than the rest, Applejack. Stay at my side and don't let them separate us. They're five levels about you, so if they gang on you. You're a goner then I'll be one too...” He quickly activated the shield on his back, which suddenly divided itself in pieces of metal that enveloped its body, covering each inch on a tick and powerful armor.
“Got it, don't forget that the armor consumes your magic. And the bottles to replenish it are quite expensive, so don't consume them too fast.” Said Applejack, as they ran toward the distracted beetles, McIntosh ramming its frame upon them and dealing a huge deal of damage on their health bars.
Using her lasso, she quickly captured the more sturdy of them, enveloping him with her magical lasso with ease, paralyzing the creature on the spot.
“Now, the fun part, UP!” with ease, she raised the Beetle, and soon used it as a hammer against it's brethren, their chitins cracking and breaking with each impact, until she reached the minute. And her Lasso deactivated and returned to her hip, leaving and horde of dizzy insects that she soon pounced upon, bucking, kicking and hitting as hard as her metal protected hooves let her.
In a matter of minutes, the whole horde was eradicated. Leaving two partially exhausted ponies behind, who quickly consumed health and magical potions, restoring their energy bars as the fight was far from over. As the second wave appeared, this time instead of orange chitins, they all were brown. Meaning that they were Earth Beetles with some endurance to physical damage.
Applejack prepared to use her lasso, hoping that it would work a second time, when she was suddenly enveloped by a magic miasma, that told her that Big Mac had activated the special ability of his armor. Increasing her stats.
“Thanks Big Mac!”
She ran toward the insects, ramming her front hooves on them as fast and brutally as she could, knowing that the empowering feeling would soon come to pass. So she killed as much of them as she could until, to her horror, her hoof's protectors finally cracked and fell on to the orchard ground. Her defense and attack decreasing dramatically with that.
“Horse feathers! MAC!” She screamed, as she used her lasso special ability to create a defensive dome around her. As she was quite too weak without equipment to fight against this beasts. Soon, to her relief, the locomotive that was McIntosh rammed itself into the awaiting beetles, killing the beasts in a matter of seconds, at the cost of his armor. As it deactivated and transformed into an shield. That he quickly grasped with his front hooves, as he pushed and rammed the heavy thing against the insects.
Meanwhile, Applejack closed her inventory, her emergency equipment now equipped. As the lasso returned to her hip. She ran to her partner side, knowing that both of them were dangerously low on magic.
She ran and fought at his side, bucking the creatures, topping them upside down. Leaving the delicate bellies exposed to be hit with the shield. It was a much more brutal method, as it splashed them with Beetle junk all over, which decreased the efficiency of their armor and weapons. But thankfully, it was enough for them to finish the final wave of the day.
Applejack panted as she sat on the field. Gasping desperately for air as she surmised the earnings of such an intense battle.
You reached a new plateau , congratulations... Your current level is 31...
She smiled in satisfaction at reaching such a level, as it enabled her to use a similar armor than that of her brother. She soon noticed too that she had now a huge amount of bits on her account, which meant that she might even have enough to not only buy said armor, but actually also buy some potions.
“By Celestia, that was a hard battle, those things chitins managed to destroy my equipment!” Said Applejack, as she smiled in the direction of the red colt, who smiled at her and continued to collect the spoils, on his head the number 39 was visible... apparently his increase hasn't been as huge as her own, but that was understandable, as apparently leveling would become harder to attain from this point on.
“Pa can kill those waves with a movement of his hoof, Applejack.” Added McIntosh, as he slowly recollected the last item, and began to walk toward her, a smile on his muzzle.
“So can Ma...” She answered, smiling back. Both adults were actually so high that none of them could see their levels, only three question marks. She looked the frame of McIntosh, huge compared to her own. He was an handsome colt, despite the gore and bits that covered his body and mane.
“I admit that it's time to re-spawn this field... the trees are way too damaged to collect anything.” Said McIntosh as he finally reached her, nuzzling her playfully as he offered her some of his magic so she could recover faster, which she was grateful for.
“Yeah, Pa's not gonna be happy with that. But then, he should have helped us if he wanted a perfect job.” She raised onto her hooves, enjoying the feeling of Mac's magic rushing through her body. Easing the pain, and the aches. “But then, he still has the most hardest missions on the farm...” It was scary to know that some missions usually required both of her parents to deal with, and even with their forces united, sometimes they constantly came back badly hurt and in huge need of potions.
As Applejack walked back to the farm, she thought deeply of what was to come. Her mother was due to gave birth in a few months. Which meant that the tragedy could repeat itself. Increasing the harshness of their life to an amount that she wasn't really sure if she or Mac could take care of.
It was why they had insisted on increasing their levels as fast as possible, knowing that soon their mother would be unable to assist them on the farm due to her pregnancy. Granny's Smith was then left with the duty of protecting their house, as it couldn't be left unattended, or it would be destroyed or invaded by beasts.
When they reached the barn, both of them quickly ran toward the cleaning room, desperate to take off the gore that made them feel so down, as it affected their status.
They entered the shower, a huge room that quickly bathed them with water and other substances that took away their ailment status and also the gore. Leaving them as clean as new. It was funny how something so private as a shower on her original world, was something so different on this one.
Applejack walked toward their discarded equipment, seeing that some of it was damaged beyond repair due to the amount of damage that it had received. Her hoof's protectors among the most damaged of all.
“Horse Apples, it seems that now a visit to the town is inevitable. I guess that we could visit the armory once the school is done?” Asked the mare as she noticed her brother looking at his shield critically, perusing the damage carefully.
“Yeah, my armor received some nasty gashes. It needs some maintenance, and maybe an upgrade...” Added McIntosh, as he sighed and stored the shield on his inventory. Then looked at her, his golden locks sinfully attached to his skin, making him look quite...
The palomino frowned, recognizing immediately the feeling that now coursed through her body.
That explains why I've been ogling him... I reached my first Estrus... it would also explain why he was so touchy after the battle, he seems as affected by the pheromones as the original one...
“Well brother... I... well, you see. I need to see Ma... I'll... see you later!” She hadn't wasted any second on that spot, knowing that if she stayed there with the rank of their social link, and her actual condition, things might become quite too intense for her tastes.
Thankfully, her travel toward the house wasn't that long, so she reached the house quickly, opening the door and barging inside at top speed, as she needed to speak with her Ma as quick as possible.
“What have I told you about running on the house, young filly?” Said Tangerine Apple, followed closely by an scowling Granny's smith.
“Ma, quick, hide me! I've reached estrus!” Added Applejack, as she really tried to hide herself from that point on. Too afraid of what will happen now that she knew that McIntosh wasn't exactly her kin by blood.
“Oh dear...”
“Ah told ya that just because ya raised them together, wouldn't meant that once she reached estrus she wouldn't notice him. It's nature... ya can't cheat it, at least not that easily...” Said Granny Smith, as she walked toward Applejack, and slowly directed the filly to a comfortable chair, so they could talk easily.
Tangerine followed them, fear on her eyes of how Applejack would receive the news, when to her surprise the palomino added:
“I've... I've reached a level high enough to learn the Observe Skill, I know that Mac's not my brother by blood. It doesn't matter to me, I love him already as my big brother... but...” Added the Palomino, as she tried to explain to them what had happened to her, and how she felt.
The first time this happened, she was too ashamed to ask Granny's Smith about it. She had heard the townsfolk speak about it, and how wrong it was. Which had ignited her stubbornness to such an level to ignore just how delicious Mac used to smell when the estrus came. Both of them had learned to evade the other on that time, knowing that it wasn't a good idea to be together for long in such an state. Deep inside of her, she always believed that Mac had been also as attracted to her at some points. Thankfully, the Cherilee incident created an opportunity for him to know another mare. Sadly, she also knew that he had deep doubts about the teacher mare, especially as he didn't knew if the attraction that he felt toward her was natural or a remnant of the love poison, as he knew that he wasn't attracted to her before that event.
In that world, years of seeing him as a brother suddenly disappeared with a single sniff of his aroma when she was on heat. Which normally, forced her to hide herself on her bedroom, masturbating savagely while thinking things that she later did her best effort to ignore and forget.
With a sigh, Tangerine and Granny's looked at each another. Then at the palomino.
“Honey, it's complicated... you see. Naturally on estrus, we find the aroma of a sibling quite a turn off, it's a magical defense to prevent incest. It's why it's safer to stay with the family when such a thing happens. Our pheromones usually help us retain some control over the urges... but...” Tangerine gulped, not sure of how the filly would take the news...
To her relief, Granny continued:
“The problem is that, while emotionally Mac's your brother... physically he isn't. So his pheromones attract ya, and yours attract him. This doesn't mean that just because the both of ya find attractive the other, ya should be rutting like savages...”
“Mom!”
“There's no need to sugar coat it, Tangerine. She's reached her estrus, so we will treat her as the grown mare that she's now. Just because she's still a runt, doesn't meant that she isn't a mare.”
With a sigh, Tangerine nodded, before looking at the palomino and saying:
“I've love Mac like a son, darling. But even I'm affected by his aroma at this stage, even your Pa. Which is why you need to make a choice...”
This, actually was quite familiar to Applejack, as she understood what her mother was telling her, on the original world, she decided to ignore it. Using her natural stubbornness to grown almost accustomed to it. The aroma affected her, but not enough to make her lose her mind, though, it had taken her almost three years to reach such an mental state. Mostly because the time she spend at Fillydelphia set back her schedule.
“Or you could let nature decide...”
Blushing madly, Applejack looked at her mother with surprise at what she had heard. Granny's Smith hasn't said that to her the first time. Actually, she had reinforced her resolve to ignore it. To her relief, the old mare quickly explained:
“Do not mistake this, young filly. Just because we're offering ya the choice, it doesn't meant that we would let ya on your own. A pregnant mare on this house is enough... so if ya choose to embrace it, ya and Mac will be betrothed. As it would solve easily the problem of who's going to inherit the farm in the future. But this is only possible because your Ma and Pa are here to help me with the farm and the finances. Without them, Celestia forbid it, that option wouldn't be available. As I'm too old to be chasing ya two, also, if ya chose to ignore it, there are some herbs that might help you.”
After hearing Granny, Applejack couldn't stop from gaping at her grandmother. Now knowing why the old mare had insisted on adding some funny tasting herbs to her food the first months. It was a deceitful thing to do, but a necessary one, as she now understood that Granny couldn't supervise 24/7 the two of them. Applejack closed her eyes, and thought deeply of how much it would have complicated her life if she had a daughter at such an age, and with their conditions. And found that yes, Granny did the right thing when she helped her to ignore her natural urges.
She still didn't understand how the old mare managed to get over losing her loved ones, and the responsibility of raising three young equines, and survive. Now though, there was finally another option for her problems, the kind that she hasn't the courage to speak with her friends on the original world.
It wasn't a secret to anyone that the ambiance on her house was that of a married couple, she and Mac raised Applebloom as if she was their filly. With her filling the role of the mother, and McIntosh that of the father. Yes, they never told her to call them nothing but her brothers, but the feeling was there.
“I... I wouldn't mind, I mean... to be with him. I already like him...” And the fact that now that she knew that he wasn't her blood brother, had seemed to increase the attraction toward his aroma. Making it more powerful than it should be.
Tangerine sighed, then hugged her child, her hoof massaging the long hair of the Palomino.
“If you're sure. Then I don't see a problem. Though, we need to go to the town and clarify things with at the town hall... also, I need to buy some contraceptives. I know you, Applejack. I can see you already scheming on your head, don't deny it young lady.”
Granny just laughed, also saying:
“I wonder where did she get that, hum? My son could testify how intense could a filly be when she put her eyes on an Apple...”
Clearing her throat, and trying to ignore the blushing of the mares in front of her as they obviously reminded a lot of things that she wasn't too keen to find that much details of. Applejack quickly told them:
“I need to go to the town, it's school day. And Mac and I need to go to the Weapon Store to update and buy new equipment...”
Nodding, Tangerine looked at her daughter and said:
“Then I'm coming for you two after school. We will go and register you two, and after that, as a gift I will pay your new equipment... how does that sound?”
Observe, Applejack found. Was a quite handy ability to posses, especially when you were too embarrassed to look at someone at his face. Which was her case, as she walked toward school with an equally shy McIntosh at her side.
Tangerine had been quite explicit of what she was willing to permit between them now that both had actually accepted to explore the possibility of a relationship.
The adult mare had been actually so explicit. That Applejack was horrified to know more about sex right now, than she did on her original world. Which, was pretty basic to begin with, as she was usually too busy on the farm to actually care about romance.
She had been certainly approached several times, by different stallions and even some mares. But frankly, no one had interested her, or been enough to take her attention from where it mattered the most to her.
Her family.
The palomino gazed lightly at the colt, while he was big compared to her. He was still a runt compared to what he would become in the future, as both of them were barely over their puberty and entering their teens. She was barely two years older than the Applebloom of her native world.
Contrary to her original self, she hasn't gone to the city to find herself, knowing pretty well that farming was her life, her destiny.
So it wasn't a surprise that like almost all farmers, she developed an Cutie Mark focused on it. Though, she had noticed that she hasn't the level to actually fully use the unique ability that such a mark would bring her. Even Mac wasn't powerful enough to use his innate ability. So it would take some time to fully know what exactly she was capable of doing, that nopony else in the world could replicate.
“Are... are you mad at me, Mac?” Applejack had to know, he had been so quiet since he accepted the chance to explore something more between them.
He looked at her, his deep green eyes looking back at hers. How had she not noticed that despite the color, his had been of a different shade than her own?
“Enope,” He answered, falling back into his southern accent that she knew their mother deeply disliked, as she hated how ponies often mistook such a thing with ignorance and illiteracy. Which wasn't the real deal with them.
He often fell back into it when he was nervous, or playful.
“Ah'm sorry...” So did Applejack.
McIntosh immediately stopped his march, his eyes deeply focused on hers:
“There's nothing to be sorry for, Jackie. I also like the idea... It's just... I'm worried how will the town take it, how would our friends take it?”
Applejack sighed, already knowing that it wouldn't be an easy transition. Ponies loved to talk, especially about the failures of others, it probably made them feel less bad about their own fails, but it didn't mattered. Things could be ugly for them, and the friendships would be put to a harsh test.
She knew that some of her Social Links might turn negative once they found about it.
Public opinion could shape or redefine relationships by mere peer pressure, so this was a test that both of them weren't sure to take.
“If they're our real friends, they will come to accept it. I mean, we're just testing the waters... It isn't as if I'm madly in love with you...” The palomino laughed awkwardly at what she was saying, looking down at the ground, suddenly noticing that it was instantly quite more interesting that she thought possible.
He chuckled too taken by surprise by what she had said. Applejack was quite happy that he hasn't sputtered something idiotic that would ruin the moment.
Your bond has strengthened...
They both gasped when the message appeared, both blushing madly when they found that yes, despite some of their fears and reserves, they actually liked the other for more than just the pheromones.
For Applejack, who had been in denial far longer than him, this had lifted a huge weight off her back, that she hasn't know was there until it was now completely gone... as if something on her mind had simply changed at that moment.
Maybe it was just puppy love, maybe not. Only time would tell if her fantasy was just that, a fantasy. Or something far more complex and fulfilling.
Fifteen minutes later, and a lot more of blushing. They both were at the school with their respective age peers. So it wasn't a surprise to her when her Observe ability, found to her surprise that she was the stronger fighter of her grad.
Rarity Level 25 Carrot Top Level 22 Cherry Bunch Level 20 Rose Bud Level 18
“Oh my, Applejack. You look radiant this day!” Offered Rarity, as she quickly trotted toward the palomino, an huge smile on her face.
“Howdy, Rares... girls!” Answered Applejack, as she proceeded to do an complex and silly 'secret' dance with the unicorn, a testimony of how close they both were.
The other mares just waited for their routine to finally reach its end, before they approached.
“As you might see, Rarity learned a new word today, and she had been dying to use it...” Offered Rose Bud to the Palomino. As they just shook their hooves and patted their backs. “But now that I look at you closely, I must admit that Rarity is certainly right. You look different Applejack.”
“It must be because little Applejack finally reached her first estrus...” Added Carrot Top a bit haughtily, as apparently the girl wasn't particularly enamored of the fragrance. “I really hope that you drank the herbs to appease it, because if not. It's going to be a long and really frustrating day...”
In the past, Applejack had hated Carrot haughtiness, always believing that the mare thought herself and her family much better than her own. But thankfully, with age had come experience, then wisdom. And she had understood that the mare was just like that, and that you only needed to see beneath her mask to find a mare that usually was as frank as Applejack used to be.
So this time, the palomino hasn't committed the mistake to shun the mare, or regard her as an bitter rival as she had.
“Do I hear a hint of longing there, Carrot? Do not tell me that you're going to send me an date request soon?”
“On your dreams... Applejack. Only on your dreams.”
“Girls, girls, please desist from your bartering and let us be at peace... you two can resume your feeble attempts at courting later, when we wouldn't be running the risk of being late...” Interrupted Rarity, an huge smile on her face thanks to their reactions, followed closely by laughter from Rose and Cherry. Who ran behind the unicorn, as she giggled madly at the now furiously red mares that menaced to end her life right there on the spot.
Once classes began, it was a matter of spending mere two hours of learning through grinding, which make studying basic concepts ridiculously easy at first. The Novice pamphlets, usually offered the information and they just proceeded to grind said knowledge until they reached Medium levels.
It was mandatory that all colts and fillies had at least all their knowledge set on Middle in all of their basic areas. Creating there a more balanced being that could later specialize on whatever he or she wanted for the future. This basically reduced learning time to a total of four years. One year to learn their low Novice Pamphlets, and three years to grind them into Middle. Applejack's class was one year behind McIntosh Class, which would graduate this year. Making him legally an 'adult' citizen of their nation, as usually, said colts were now just young stallions and mares.
It was a system that encouraged reproduction, as the cruelty of this world was that not many ponies had the patience and the luck to reach the Advanced class. As it took years of hard studying and grinding to actually reach such levels in knowledge. Which usually, sacrificed a lot of time that could be used to increase their physical fitness, which was a need if you wanted to survive the most violent and powerful beasts that the world could offer against you.
It was an unfair system, which many ponies most often than not, said only favored the unicorns in the long run. Which, Applejack knew was pretty false. Unicorns were academic by nature, their horns made them capable of magics that other ponies couldn't even grasp or think about.
They were indeed quite powerful creatures. But they could be easily defeated by a well armed Earth pony, as their physical endurance was quite low, as it had been sacrificed to increase the magical power through knowledge, which could only be increased by studying and reaching a “Mastery”.
Maybe it was because she hasn't been born to this world that she didn't saw things as the naturals often did. But to Applejack, all ponies had high and low stats depending on the race.
Earth ponies were physically the stronger and the more endurable breed, but they're weak against magic attacks, so they depended on enchanted armor and weapons to protect themselves. And even with it, it didn't always helped in the least if the equipment wasn't in the same level as the magical opponent.
Unicorns were magically gifted, but the search for said power most often than not left them too physically weak to use more advanced and heavy armors. So their defense was quite lacking. A well equipped Earth or Pegasi could take upon any Unicorn and defeat it easily by forcing it to waste its magic on defense, leaving them most often than not, at the mercy of others when it ran its course if they didn't have others to support or back them up in their time of weakness.
And then, there were the Pegasi, who were awfully fast and capable of harnessing the natural elements to their whims. Quite powerful creatures indeed. But too physically frail due to the constitution of their bones and bodies, pegasi were forever condemned to be long range supporters, as any attack could easily break through their nimble magical defenses, knocking them out or simply killing them on the spot if the hit was powerful enough, but to do so, you had to catch them first which was the problem.
Despite all of this, ponies still thought that the system was unfairly created to satisfy Unicorn needs.
On her mind, Applejack knew that she wouldn't change the prejudice of this world by herself. And was glad that Ponyville was such a mixed village that supported themselves as much as they could, despite the differences between the races.
She knew that not many cities held such an scheme, as her studies had shown her that usually, the big cities were mainly unicorn domain.
It had been almost similar to her original world, with unicorns living in great numbers on cities as Canterlot, Fillydelphia and Manehattan. Easily doubling the numbers of Earth Ponies and pegasi.
A status that would only begin to truly change when the elements of Harmony re-appeared. And showed everypony that your race didn't matter in the long run...
You've failed to advance the Book: Medium Mathematics.
“Miss Apple! I suggest you to focus more on your grinding than on daydreaming, young mare!” The severe voice of Tomes Trigger, as he reprimanded Applejack brought quickly the laughter of the entire class.
“Sorry, Mr. Trigger...” Answered The palomino, a little red on her cheeks for committing such a rookie's mistake. Quickly engaging upon the book again to ignore the still chuckling voices of her schoolmates.
One thing hasn't changed for sure, even when school was relatively easy on this world... it didn't meant that school was always an enjoyable experience.
XxX
The end of classes was the respite that all children in the world learned to enjoy to the max. In this world, recess was basically the end of knowledge classes. And the beginning of a day of whatever activities that they choose to do on the magically enchanted backyard. This place was basically, a secure room for children on the village, as the monsters that routinely attacked and roamed the town at this hours were just too powerful for anyone here to deal against, as you had to be at least level 50, to fight against the most weakest of them.
Here foals were watched and protected carefully. So that meant that the teachers not only needed to be strong, but actually quite dexterous on their hooves too. As they most often than not, had to defend the perimeter from overly interested monsters.
But for Applejack, there wasn't anyone that could help her against her now curious friends.
“OK, spill it Applejack! What got your tail twisted the whole day?”
There, this was the moment that the palomino had been dreading the whole day. Not sure of how they would react to such news.
“Ah'm...” She cleared her throat, which was rather dry at the moment. “I'm engaged...”
The silence reigned for a few seconds, before to her surprise it had been Berry Bunch who broke it.
“Congratulation, Applejack!”
The mare smiled weakly at her friends, knowing that on this world, an engagement at her age wasn't that rare or unusual. Berry for example, had been engaged two years ago. Though, all of them even Berry herself, doubted that the attempt at a relationship would actually work, as both lovers had grown and found that so far, things weren't working as their families had hoped.
Berry liked Flan, and quite a lot. But Flan had some... doubts lately. So it was a matter of time if the colt about to turn stallion decided to fully accept the engagement, or not. The fact that Flan had been quite close to a quite flamboyantly gay colt, had convinced Berry that things simply wouldn't come to pass between them, they were friends, but nothing else was going to happen there...
“Congratulations, dear... who's the lucky colt or mare?” Asked Rarity, a huge smile on her face as she hugged the palomino tenderly. Noticing how nervous she was about the deal. “Poor thing, you're trembling!”
“There's nothing to be afraid of, Applejack. It's not a marriage, much less a herd. Its just an engagement... think of it as a test, to see if you can get along with your future partner.” Offered Rose Bud, who got a nod from Berry.
Carrot Top was looking at her closely, almost scrutinizingly. But didn't comment anything more from that point, just waiting. With a sigh, Applejack knew that she couldn't hide anything from them, even if she wanted to.
“It's Big Mac...” After hearing the horrified gasps, Applejack explained the situation, and found herself at ease when their faces quickly changed from disgusted, to attentive and then delighted... as if something had just clicked on them.
To her surprise the most relieved of them, seemed to be Carrot Top.
“I've been watching you, Applejack. For a long time...” The mare frowned at the chuckles and sound kisses that Berry and Rose gave her after hearing that, followed by the giggles of Rarity. “Despite what this airheads might think, I'm not attracted to mares, at all. I just like to watch... a lot. You can learn a lot from a pony by just watching them, and letting them be themselves...”
“Carrot, darling. If I didn't knew that your cutie mark was about farming and carrots. I would be quite distraught, as you seem to be an natural stalker.” Added Rarity, her face serious for a few seconds at the gaping expression of the farmer and friends... before she snorted, then guffawed. Not able to resist it anymore. “Oh, dear —hahaha—, Celestia... —haha —, the l-look on your face... haha!”.
Applejack chuckled a little, especially as Carrot huffed haughtily, her cheeks completely rosy from a few seconds, before she continued.
“As I was saying... —before I was rudely interrupted! — I've been watching you, Applejack... Specially your interactions with McIntosh. And yes, I must admit that this revelation wasn't a surprise to me, or many others. As it was quite obvious at some points.”
It was to say that Applejack found to her relief, that while initially surprised and disgusted. Her friends had accepted the deal, maybe too easily for her tastes... Which was later confirmed when to her horror, only two of them increased their Rank on the Social Link.
Maybe she was being overly dramatic, maybe don't. But something deep inside of her knew that in that instance, her friendship with Rose Bud and Berry Punch had changed.
Only time would say if it was for the better, or worst.
XxX
Tangerine Apple knew the instant that she saw her foals, that not everything was right with them.
Applejack was looking at McIntosh, who was unusually down. It seemed that she knew then, whose friend had shown their true colors and whose not.
So the first thing that she did when they were in front of her, was to hug them. Soothing their pain as much as she could, knowing that it was just the beginning of a long road for them. She wasn't entirely sure with this deal, and if she was to be honest with herself, she was uncomfortable with it.
They might not be blood related, but they had been raised as brothers. So, it was mightily unfair that a bunch of pheromones created a breach on such a routine and belief, that could later break the rather inseparable pair.
But estrus was like that, and it usually worked well for the ponies involved. But sometimes, it was only a sexual attraction. Still, both of them were quite responsible foals, no... Young adults... as they worked hard on the farm, much harder than they should, but that didn't dismiss their contribution.
So it wasn't a surprise that the way to make them happy was to procure a way for them to make their work even easier at the farm, and enjoy it.
“Hello there, Heavy Hammer. How is the business doing?” She greeted the old stallion, who smiled widely at them, and quickly moved its body toward them.
“Look who's here, then! What a wonderful surprise. Tangerine, as beautiful as ever... Thank you for helping my daughter out there in her last mission.” Said the gray stallion, who quickly shook her hoof effusively.
With a chuckle, Tangerine just smiled, before she added: “It was my pleasure... after all, she's such a sweet mare.” Flor was quite an artisan when weapons and armors were involved. But sadly, she was and awful warrior. Like always, there was a bunch of creatures that enjoyed to mess with ponies, among them were the Diamond Dogs, who had enslaved the mare when they found of her ability with the hammer.
Tangerine was sent to recover her, and ended up annihilating the pack as they had been building up their forces to attack Ponyville in mass. Hoping to capture a huge amount of slaves and workers on the process.
Not all Diamond Dogs were like that, but that pack was simply rotten to the core. So she dealt with them. Gaining a lot of precious gems and metals that later, were simply given to the Smith, so he and his family could recover and help equip the village.
“Indeed... Though, I wouldn't mind if you took her as an apprentice for a few months, to teach her how to defend herself when I'm gone...” The old stallion smiled at her, winking. Which brought a laugh from the mare.
“We'll see, old man. We'll see. For now, I have my hoof completely full with this rapscallions, and another one to come.” She patted her belly, then smiled wistfully.
Chuckling, and nodding, the gray stallion looked at the teenagers, and examined the equipment that both of them had put on the counter when he was talking with their mother.
He frowned when he saw the state, not satisfied with what he was seen.
“I'm afraid that this things are worthless, youngsters... especially the Shieldmore .”
Tangerine nodded, now truly seeing the state of the objects. Then looking at her foals, seeing their distraught faces, but saying nothing. Knowing that they would only learn with the experience. Hammer touched the Shieldmore, and examined it for a few seconds before he put it back on the counter, then looked at the hooves protectors and the lasso.
“From this pile, only the lasso is salvageable. But it's in desperate need of an upgrade... Huum... yes, you use it to lift heavy objects young lady... and interesting use for a lasso. But it had weakened the fabric, and it's a few months from breaking... I think it's time for you to use a more adequate weapon to your style.”
“I've seen her style, Hammer. I think that she's ready for the beads... and if she master those as well, I think that we might have in front of us a Whipsword user in the making. An a darn good one, I might tell...” Added suddenly Tangerine, enjoying the squirming and blushing frame of her daughter.
“Yeah, a lasso of magical beads would fit very well with her style. Quite resilient, and can also be used to slash and cut. It's slightly more dangerous to use on the first days, but once your magic adapts to it, you will be immune to the weapon sharp edges. Have in mind that I said you, not your party partners. So be careful...” With ease, the stallion brought out of his inventory some magical objects and materials, hammering in a matter of minutes a new weapon.
At first glance, the rosary just looked like an passive equipment. One that was merely aesthetic, but it was far from the truth. This was a dangerous weapon that would take quite a lot of grinding to master, which was why it was awfully expensive...
“But Ma... its...”
“Shush, Applejack. Like I said before, its a gift, think nothing of the price, as it's quite cheap compared to my own equipment, honey.”
Applejack and McIntosh just gulped, not seeing how so many zeros could be considered in any way, cheap.
“Take it easy, youngsters. Once you reach the three digits on your level, you will understand of what we're talking about.” Said Hammer as he walked passively toward the palomino, he put the rosary in front of her. Which was left untouched for the moment, then quickly took the Shieldmore and said: “It seems that your son it's quite powerful for its age and level, Tangerine. This poor object was barely holding by the seams. He needs a new one, reinforced... probably a level 40 armor. Which he cannot equip at his current level. So I will reinforce the old one so he could level up and change it. Remember son, this Shieldmore is done, be careful who you fight against from now on as it could fall apart in the middle of a battle...”
Now on the counter were two sets of armors, one of them was floating slightly as it was heavily enchanted to do exactly that.
“This new armor would be blank, then. You would need to teach it some techniques in the process. So it could upgrade itself, it will serve you well until you reach level 54. Then you would need to upgrade her... be careful though, this new armor haves a magical Glaive. Like your sister, you need to learn to use your new weapon with responsibility.”
“Hum, Mr. Hammer, I would like a Shieldmore too. If that isn't a problem?” Added Applejack, getting an quite fierce look from her mother, who looked contemplative before she nodded after a few seconds. The old stallion looked startled for a while at the odd petition, until he noticed that the mare was actually one level above the required one to use it.
“Children this days, I mean, I was barely twenty at her age... let's see. If you want to use the Rosary well, you need one that doesn't limit your movements. So this one will do, be careful though, even when its classified as medium weight, it stills weights a lot. I suggest you train a lot with it until you get accustomed on a safe environment before you try to fight any monster your lady...”
Applejack looked at her new armor, then at Big Mac and nodded... they would do their best to make this equipment as useless as their last one.
Applejack whimpered, wheezed and struggled to simply walk with her new Shieldmore. It wasn't like anything she had equipped before on her short life on this world.
Right now, the palomino had just discovered the small but quite important difference between common armor, and a Shieldmore.
The weight.
Her legs wavered and trembled under her, unaccustomed to carry such an amount of weight upon them, it was strange, she knew that she was strong, undoubtedly so. Without it, she could carry this piece of metal with ease, and don't even struggle.
But that sadly, was an illusion it seemed. And to her horror, it was where she found the second reason for why so many mares decided to ignore the Shieldmore route.
The thing consumed her magic by the gallons, and the more she struggled with it, the more heavy and demanding the armor seemed to be, which was why Heavy Hammer had warned her to not use it in combat.
Doing so would only end up badly. Incredibly, utterly and horribly bad. Dead bad.
Which was why she was practicing under the watchful eye of her mother, and Granny Smith.
“Go on, darling. I know you can... just endure it until the item upgrades itself...” Added Tangerine, while she sat on a comfortable chair, apparently her hooves were too sore at the moment after her little adventure on the town with her foals.
“Hoo-wee, Ah am mighty proud of ya, Applejack. There hasn't been a Tank female on our family since mah mother.” The green mare seemed quite enthusiast at the moment, “Ah tried it, but sadly couldn't pass ta third upgrade... Didn't have ta patience.”
That quickly captured the struggling palomino attention.
“T-third upgrade?”
Tangerine chuckled, literally chuckled at her daughter distress before she explained.
“Honey, you need to pass three upgrades before your Shieldmore becomes settled on you. The next level is harder than the other. This is to encourage many things, strength, which is obvious, magical quality, which would then refine the use of your magic to a finer detail so it would do much, for less. And lastly but not least important, endurance.”
Wheezing one last time, Applejack let the armor recede then fell to the ground, completely and utterly exhausted, she was also unconscious.
“Ah wonder if it was yar tale, or ta test what knocked her out...” A quick use of a restoration potion, had the young mare as good as new, or at least, conscious.
“This is harder than I thought...” Conceded the palomino, who then looked at her mother and quickly asked, “When did McIntosh had the chance to do this?”
“When your father took him to that 'male’s only' travel.”
“Why did you two give up on the Shieldmore?”
“Well honey, you see. We didn't had the patience.”
“And...?”
“And that's it... Ah barely reached ta second upgrade before Ah gave up. Didn't meant that Ah didn't had some benefits from ta experience, as Ah was faster and stronger. But ta third upgrade made ta other ones feel like the most easiest thing on ta world.” Rocking on her chair, the old mare chuckled lovingly at that, Tangerine nodding after hearing it.
“You need to understand, Applejack. That maybe being a Tank wouldn't fit your style... it certainly didn't fit any of us. But we at least tried it... your third upgrade will be taxing beyond belief, but if you manage to endure it. Then, congratulations, you're in the ten percent of the female population that could make it.” Again, the pregnant mare chuckled at her daughter expression. “Don't be so surprised, honey. That's the reason for why you don't see a Tank mare on the town. They aren't common, doesn't mean that there isn't another ways to also grown stronger.”
Applejack nodded at that, but her stubborn nature refused to admit any defeat.
“Ah will become ta first Tank mare of Ponyville!”
Tangerine, who cringed slightly at her accent just nodded then smiled... Granny Smith simply whistled loudly, as she celebrated her granddaughter choice. Though, both older mares still chuckled at how much the young mare struggled with her new chore.
XxX
With a rush of his body, Mac made a quick use of his ability to stun his enemies, hitting them on their bellies as quick as he could, knowing that if he remained still for too long, some of them might get a lucky shot that could change the flow of the battle toward them.
So he kicked, stomped and at one point even bit some of his opponents until only he remained on the field. His life bar incredibly low, but still away from the deadly red.
“That's an ugly brown there, son...” Said Jack Seed, as he quickly reset-ed the orchard as the trees had been too damaged on the battle to produce any worthwhile apples. It also prevented a new wave of enemies to swarm the now recovering colt, as he slowly consumed bottle after bottle of magical potions.
“Its better than the Apple red that I got on my first try.” Admitted McIntosh, as he knew that his first attempt to tackle this particular field alone, hasn't gone particularly well for him. “Mightily grateful for the save there, Dad. They took me by surprise.”
“Think nothing of it, son. It happens even to the best of us...” Looking at the sky, Seed gathered that they could at least take it easy for a few minutes, before they needed to tackle the next field. “Son, I might need to ask a mightily unpleasant question, and for that, my excuses.”
“Ask away pa.”
“Are you sure that you want to remain engaged to Applejack?”
“Mightily sure, Pa.”
“I know that you love her, Mac. She had been the Apple of your eyes since I could remember. But the route you're both taking is harsh, and full of displeasing things. Are you aware of it? Will you do your best to make of Applejack an honest mare?”
McIntosh pondered on what had been asked, and closed his eyes. He was already paying the price for his choice, but despite the pain that he had already suffered and also caused to Applejack, deep inside of him he knew that he had made the right choice.
“I'm sure, Pa. We might have been raised as brother and sister. But you can't escape nature, to some, our union might be unholy and unnatural. But shame for them, as their worries and opinions matter little to me. I love her Pa... like no brother should love his sister. To find that she reciprocates has been a relief and a blessing, and for her, I might even accept a Quest to Tartarus itself if needed...” Looking at the Stallion that had adopted him at the eyes, he also added: “I might even renounce the Apple name for her, that far I'm willing to go. But, fret not dear father. If it comes to that, again it matters little to me. My love for you and Ma doesn't depends on others opinions, but my own... and no one could change the fact that you both are my dearest parents.”
“And you our dearest son. McIntosh... you have moved me, Son. You have my blessing. Both of you...” With a quick movement of his hoof, Seed cleansed his face from his tears. Before he looked at the approaching enemies and added: “Consider this a gift...”
You feel your relationship with Jack Seed Apple grown yet deeper... Your Social Link with Jack Seed Apple is now Rank 10. Your level has increased by one.
McIntosh hasn't even seen him move when his armor felt off him, torn into pieces by a quick and well directed blow of his father hoof.
“That my son, was Armor Breaker, an ability that will come to you once you reach your next plateau... consider it my gift to you.” With a quick movement, McIntosh found himself added to his father party, who then proceeded to eradicate the whole herd of monsters from the orchard with outstanding ease, annihilating the incoming waves of enemies as if they were nothing. The young colt just stood there, surprised at the amount of power that Jack Seed Apple held on his hoof.
You gained a new Level You gained a new Level You gained a new Level...
XxX
“No, no, no, no!” Cried Applejack, as she poured potion after potion on the inert body of McIntosh. “Don't do this to me!”
It had been an accident, she had just been so confident of her new abilities, so hardheaded on her approach and use that she hasn't noticed that Mac had lowered his Shieldmore, confident that they were done on the field. Which was why he brutally received the full brunt of the damage that her incredibly sharp -and at the moment- cursed beads could offer.
“Fight it, dammit!” She bellowed, as she saw his health deteriorate with each passing second. The cursed blood of the beast that they had slayed now coming back with a vengeance. Making it quite hard to heal his wounds with his status still set on ailment, his blood seeping out of his wounds despite her bests and continuous attempts to stop its flow.
Applejack was quite aware that her potions weren't infinite, and that their numbers were getting desperately low by the minute. But she couldn't stop, not when McIntosh laid there.
Then, when she finally hit the dreadful number ten on her inventory window. She heard a glorious 'bleep', which signaled the end of this nightmare. As he finally woke up, his body immediately stabilizing, his health bar now becoming brown, and his ailment status turning back to normal.
“That hurt,” He said, looking at her reprovingly, to which she lowered her ears, her eyes completely wet by tears.
“I'm sorry!” She cried, hugging him as hard as she could, wailing at how close she got to kill him for being an overconfident fool. He hugged her back, trying to sooth her to no avail, as she continuously berated herself for such an idiotic mistake until he simply got tired of it.
“That's enough, Applejack!”
Startled, Applejack looked at him, completely taken aback by the tone of his voice, and the look on his face. Her ears now completely flattened against her mane, a little surprised by that.
“Yes, it was a really stupid thing... yes, it hurt! Yes, you shouldn't have done it, especially when you've been warned over and over that the beads are dangerous... but I don't hate you for it, it was an accident, and you did your best to keep me alive.”
“But...”
“No butts!” He answered back, smacking her lightly on her rear which startled her a great deal, but also procured a blush from her. “Just promise me to be more careful from now on, and be grateful that it happened after the battle, and not during it...”
“Don't say that...” Said the palomino, hugging him again. Still a little upset by the accident, doing her best to snuggle up against him as much as it was possible. “Let's go home Mac, I don't want to be here...”
“But our chores...”
“Please Mac...”
Sighing, the colt simply nodded then messed her mane a little with his muzzle, before he planted butterflies kisses her forehead.
“Okay...”
Your bond with Big McIntosh has grown yet stronger
As it turned out, their parents were quite understanding of the situation, though, it didn't meant that they didn't punished Applejack for such a mistake, as she had been quite idiotic when she shouldn't have.
But despite this, they knew that she was too scared of what would happen if she lost sight of him, which was why they haven't said anything when she broke curfew and went to his bedroom to sleep at his side, which McIntosh they noticed, didn't seemed to mind.
This unusual behavior lasted for weeks, until to their relief, her clinging tendencies began to lessen once she was firmly reassured that he wasn't going anywhere. That, and that Mac had simply draw a line when he got tired of it, which ended up with the two of them rowing about it, and going back to how it used to be.
The fact that they had later solved their differences in a rather adult way, had lifted any lingering doubts about their situation and how real their feelings were.
XxX
Applejack had to admit that she was quite proud of Mac as he proudly smiled at her and the family, he had just earned his adulthood by graduating with the highest honors and quite a good deal of recommendations upon him. Which was no easy feat for an earth pony.
Most impressive of all, was that he had also received an invitation to join Canterlot's army just as he had graduated, which he politely declined despite his teachers urging, as he had already plans to engage on Ponyville as an apprentice to the Apples.
The palomino had to admit that many things had changed in the past months, among them was the fact that, as her family had expected, some things haven't gone well since the public announce of their engagement, the memories souring a little the festive feeling from the mare, as she quickly noticed that around him were his family and some of her friends, but none of his.
It had been a low blow to her that he hasn't even cared in the least about those that had turned out against him, often saying that they had made their choice, and he his own. The palomino looked around them, and frowned sadly when she saw the mutterings and frowning ponies who pointed up at them, snarling, smiling, mocking.
But what hurt the most, were who she couldn't see among those present at their side. Which reminded the young mare that she too, had been hit hard on the friendship department. Rose Bud had made quite clear the last time they crossed words that she found her a disgusting “horrid mare”, words that still stung.
She hasn't been aware of her friend romantic interest, most often than not taking her praises and attentions as teasing, as Rarity also flirted a lot with her in jest quite often, so did the rest of their small friendly herd.
But apparently, Rose Bud hasn't been playing, at least not entirely.
She had been patient, almost waiting for the engagement to fall due to peer pressure, or by natural causes just as Berry Bunch own engagement had fell apart. But it hasn't, and when it had become quite obvious that Applejack had no inclination or desire to cut it out, her friend had decided then to take a risk and confess.
Applejack had to admit that the confession had taken her aback, as she hasn't honestly seen it coming. She had been flattered, incredibly so as Rose Bud had been quite poetic as she attempted to court her away from McIntosh.
To renounce at that foolish and rebellious attempt to flirt with such an uncouth Taboo, and give her a chance ... Had been her finishing words.
Her denial, even as tactful or polite as it has been, hasn't been well received, and enraged by it Rose Bud had said quite a lot of awful things, which she later refused to retire or ask forgiveness for. Which with time had turned sour their relationship as their Social Rank turned negative, finally ending for good their relationship.
Cherry Bunch, who was Rose Bud best friend. Wasn't on negatives with the Palomino mare, but their relationship had also downgraded to level 2. As she simply couldn't and wouldn't choose Applejack over Rose, which in the end had simply left them as mere classmates as nothing more, which the palomino had to admit she respected a lot, even if by doing so, she has ended up hurt.
It didn't meant that their problems ended there, no. Ponyville was a quite peaceful place with lots of friendly locals. But that didn't meant it hasn't its bad side. The individual pony was quite intelligent, but in mass they were quite stupid, and as they did their best to ignore the mutterings and jeering's that came from the population, the most the mass increased their jeers and mutterings, apparently enjoying the experience of trying to take down a notch the proud and quite well respected family.
In the end, it didn't truly mattered to Applejack, as McIntosh has constantly said, the opinion that mattered the most was their own, and that of their loved ones, who openly supported them despite the popular opinion.
And the fact that Rarity and Carrot Top remained at her side and tried their best to get to know McIntosh, was enough salve to help cure and move on from old wounds.
XxX
She nuzzled him, enjoying the feeling of his nose against her as their interchanged magic, a quite intimate but useful ritual that helped them to recover their energies after a hard day of work. It was one of the many perks of reaching level 9 on the Social Rank, as you grew quite close to someone that your magic easily supported and helped your partner.
It wasn't necessarily a sign of sexual attraction, —though, in some cases it could be perceived as such,— but it was quite sure a sign of confidence and intimacy between party partners. Who usually nuzzled up each another to help themselves after a particular hard battle, gender and sexual orientation didn't mattered to engage it.
Doing it, had become their routine on the mornings. It helped them to magically inspect each another before any chore on the farm, as they could feel if something was amiss with the other on the interchange. Also, the fact that the experience could be quite pleasurable if you wanted it to be explained why the new pair of teenagers most often than not went for it.
“Hem-hem!”
Hearing the disapproving voice, both Apples jumped far from the other scared by the intrusion, but also a little wary of how bothered , doing this usually made them.
“We're sorry, please not the bench!” Screeched the pair at unison, their heads lowered and their ears down in submission, both pleading for forgiveness, when to their total surprise they heard a giggle, then a laugh at their plea.
The pair raised their heads, their eyes narrowed slightly at the laughing unicorn as she really tried to keep it together, which was obviously a lost cause.
“I-I'm So-wee ha, ha, ha!” Said Rarity as she failed to control herself, loving the startled and flushed appearance of her friends. “I-I couldn't resist it.” She simply admitted, once she finally got some self restrain, her horn shining brightly as she cleansed the tears from her face, making sure that her appearance was once again, immaculate.
“So, Miss comedian... what brings you here?” Asked Applejack, still a little miffed at her friend from interrupting her morning routine. Hoping to all gods that her friend wouldn't notice the aroma in the air, which by the way she was looking at them, she knew was a vain and vanishing hope.
“Its hard not to smell your arousal, Applejack. Especially when the wind seems to direct it at my quite delicate but sensitive nostrils. But fear not! I'm quite accustomed to your particular fragrance , after all.” An coy smile then appeared on the unicorn face, before her eyes went to McIntosh and added. “Also, its quite hard to miss the big on McIntosh...”
Looking at what her friend was looking at, Applejack sighed then nodded. That was really hard to not to look at.
“But I admit that despite the quite alluring and exciting sight, that isn't what concerns me the most...” Clarified Rarity, her eyes now firmly put on her friends own, apparently sparkling a little. “Do forgive my curiosity my darlings... but... the bench?”
Mac, whose coat was almost brown by how much he was blushing, seemed to snap out of it when he heard that, apparently satisfied to change the flow of the conversation.
“When our parents chastise or punish us, they force us to remain still on a bench. Just sitting there, and do nothing.”
The unicorn nodded, knowing her friends quite well, and how such a simple thing would affect them, as both of them had to be doing something, so be it chores, or grinding.
“Understandable... and quite devious I might add...” Then, eyes sparkling in mischief she said, “Though, I have to admit that things could have been... interesting , if I hadn't interrupted.” A laugh then emerged, full of enjoyment at their reactions. “Oh my beautiful friends... you're quite too easy to rile up...”
“Hardy har, Miss Comedian... now, are you here to harass us for being horny teenagers, or will you tell us what brings you by?” Asked Applejack, sighing tiredly as she felt her cheeks burn hotly due to her friend jokes.
That seemed to somewhat calm the unicorn mare, who finally managed to collect herself and say:
“I'm quite sure that you're aware of my attempts to establish my own boutique...” seeing their nods of confirmation, she smiled a little then, her head held a little high before she continued; “Well, I think that I found the perfect spot for my store... but after I bought it, I found myself quite short on money, and obviously materials to work with, so I came here to recruit help for a Quest at the Everfree forest.”
Fifteen minutes later, the whole Apple clan heard the tale, the adults nodding at the mare needs, while Applejack and McIntosh watched intently, both of them hearing for a second time the petition.
Curiously, it was Granny Smith who answered first:
“Well, color me surprised. Ah think it is time for ta runts to take ta next step...” This was said while looking at Applejack and McIntosh, who smiled widely at the offer. “Don't look so happy ya two. We aren't adding ya, or helping ya. Yar doing this on yar own...” That on the other hand, quickly erased the eagerness from their faces.
“Mother, let me explain it... please?” Asked Jack Seed, who was a little less happy by the prospect than the old mare, who merely nodded. Her eyes quite still on the young members of the family. Jack walked up to them, quite serious at the moment, “While our farm give us a good amount of money, many of our incomes are from Quests... which offer not only experience, but quite a lot of loot to later sell on the market.” He raised a hoof when he saw his children open their mouths to say that they knew about that. “We aren't refusing Miss Rarity request. We're assigning you two to it.”
That seemed to capture their attention, as it was openly supported by the quite obvious hint of their grandmother.
“The reason for why you're doing it alone, is because you're both more than ready to tackle this on your own.” The Stallion sighed, then closed his eyes and clarified, “Its another rite of maturity in our clan...”
Granny Smith smiled toothily at them, her eyes now firmly pointing to their nursing mother.
“As ya might have noticed. We have less income nowadays since the arrival of that beauty...” And effectively, Tangerine was quite too busy with a foal at her hooves to take any Quest or chore on the farm. Which put a great deal of pressure upon Jack Seed back. “Since yar Pa can't go with ya, yar lot have to take care of this without our help...”
“It doesn't meant that we can't offer some help...” Quickly added Tangerine, as she glared up at her husband who immediately draw three strange objects for them to use. The things were purple, and were shaped like wings.
“Those are called Chimera wings, it is a magical method of transport that can be programmed in your panel for emergency cases...” It didn't take long for him to explain how they should add it to their armors or battle dress in Rarity case, who lamented greatly how the thing clashed horribly with her clothes.
“That extra slot on your armor and clothes is attached to your emergency panel. If any of you find problems use it without a doubt and they will bring you to the farm.” Explained Jack ignoring Rarity's comment, “I warn you, if your armor breaks or your health diminish too fast, they would then activate on their own and take you to the hospital instead... be careful, some monsters can block them, forcing you to face them for good or bad.”
That seemed to erase Rarity complains about the emergency object.
“Now girls and boy, go to the armory and make sure to fill your inventories to the brims with potions and whatever you might need for this endeavor...” concluded the Stallion, as he smiled one last time at them, then disappeared, as he had a lot of things to do on the farm before he began to tackle his own Quests.
Applejack simply frowned as she and her party walked toward the armory, not liking at all how brutal this world could be at times, but enduring it, knowing that she and her allies didn't have any other choice at the moment.
You have created a Party. You have created a new Bond by creating a Party. Your bond with Big McIntosh has grown yet stronger. Your bond with Rarity has grown yet stronger...
Author's Note
I hope that this chapter leaves clear that I'm not doing a "Re-do" of Canon with game characteristics... this is totally AU. Give me some thoughts on this battle, as I can't get better without some input.
Chapter 4
Questing with Rarity had ended up being a quite demanding routine, as both Apples had to constantly protect the unicorn when things turned sour, as the mare was more of the supportive kind.
It had been a struggle at first, but as they delved deeper into the forest, their teamwork began to increase in efficiency.
“Hoo-wee! Those Cursed fire bugs were certainly a challenge.” Said Applejack as she bathed herself with the contents of a magical bottle, quickly hearing the 'ping' that notified her that her ailment has disappeared and she was back to normal.
“They're certainly difficult to deal with...” Added Rarity as she drank her magical restoration potions, her bar increasing with each one. “I'll need to say that I'm deeply thankful for that save there, McIntosh.”
“Think nothing of it, Miss Rarity.” Answered Mac, who was at the moment serving as the sentinel of their group, his guard high as the mares took their time to fix themselves. “I myself am amazed at how dexterous your hooves are, Miss Rarity. The monsters didn't ever noticed it when you took those items from them.”
“Oh, it comes with the job, dear. My career as an enhancer forced me to touch a little from the thief's... I might not have the best attacks or defense, but I'm quite useful in my own ways.” With a effeminate giggle, the unicorn batted her eyes at the teenage colt, who smiled back at her before he put his attention were it was supposed to be.
“Rarity the thief... never pegged you to that career...” said Applejack, which immediately caught the attention of the unicorn, who blushed lightly when she saw the tiny smirk on her friends face, as she had been caught ogling the derrière of an engaged colt. “Though, I'm glad that you're increasing so fast your level... sooner or later you might learn a offensive attack... which could be useful.”
Rarity frowned, deep in thought for a minute before she nodded.
“Indeed, it would complement my set of abilities to gain an offensive attack.” She looked at her level, and frowned... feeling slightly inadequate due to the 49 that floated upon her. “Though, I must admit that I'm quite surprised by how much you two have grown in just a few months...” The unicorn looked at Applejack, who held a proud 72 over her head, while McIntosh has a recently updated 75 upon him.
“Don't fret Rarity. We'll have you up in shape before you could say...”
“Incoming!” Bellowed McIntosh, who quickly ran toward them and covered them with his magic, increasing their defense as a huge Bigfoot appeared in front of them, the debris of his impact barely doing any damage to the trio.
They didn't talk, already doing their jobs on their team as Applejack went to the offensive with her beads, inflicting some damage to the legs of the simian monster, who roared in pain as he tried in vain to swat away the beads from him, only to cut his hands in the process.
McIntosh then ran toward him as his attention was fully focused upon the beads, his glaive shining brightly and taking a purple hue as Rarity enchanted it and enhanced its properties to increase the damage.
The teenage colt hit the struggling beast like a train, taking out the air of it and causing extra damage as the Bigfoot impacted against the trees demolishing them in the process, their splinters inflicting extra damage.
Such an attack left the beast dizzy, an golden opportunity that all the team capitalized.
McIntosh quickly channeled defensive magic on the mares, as Applejack prepared to launch a chain attack toward the dizzy beast, accumulating magic on each bead to increase the sharpness of their edges, while Rarity quickly stripped the beast of any valuables that it might posses. Quickly yelping in fright when a hand tried to capture her.
“Done, finish it!” Screamed Rarity urgently as she dashed away from the enraged simian, his attention completely put on her and the huge ruby that she now held on her back.
“Cutting Storm!” Exclaimed Applejack, as her beads suddenly began to gyrate around her as she jumped beside the beast, mauling and cutting with quite too much ease, destroying the already weakened defense and turning the simian into a gathering of specks of light and finally loot.
They remained still for a moment, waiting for a possible renaissance that gladly didn't happen. Which gifted them with an small windows of rest before they were attacked again.
“That's the fifth one that attacked us on this part of the forest...” Added the palomino mare as she quickly began to collect the loot from the battle, “Gives a nice amount of loot, but it doesn't do much for our experience...” She locked at Rarity, who examined closely the ruby, “Is it fake too?”
“No, this glorious and quite handsome baby is quite real. That makes it the third Ruby in our inventory.” Offered the unicorn as she finally put the ruby on her inventory, smiling broadly. “One for each one of us, I guess... its fair after all... so, do any of you need a potion?”
“I'm good here...” Declared McIntosh as he walked up to them, smiling slightly. “What of you, Applejack?”
The alluded mare just trotted toward them, “I might need a magical restoration potion after that... Cutting storm takes a lot of my magic...” Quickly accepting the offered potion, Applejack chugged it with gusto as they walked toward their next area, hoping to find better monsters.
They hasn't even reached the next area, when to their dismay a horde of Chimera pounced upon them.
The horde…
“Horse Apples!” Screamed Applejack as she saw three of those beasts jump against McIntosh, who battled against them desperately, trying to evade being poisoned in the process. Rarity screeched in fright as other two tried to maul her pretty face with their wicked claws, while the palomino tried her best to shake her own attackers from her.
All of them noticed that the Chimeras keep preventing them from regrouping, apparently using their own strategy against them, which could only meant that this horde had been tailing them for quite a while.
Applejack surrounded herself with her beads, creating a cutting shield around her as she tried to recover some of her breath, her health bar being of a dark yellow. She studied her opponents, who were now walking in circles around her, testing now and them her barrier and getting cut in the process. She looked at Rarity's direction and frowned in worry, as she saw the mare was put under a severe poison ailment that was slowly consuming her life with each passing second.
McIntosh too wasn't doing very well at the moment, his life bar had turned purple, revealing that he was deeply poisoned at the moment. But despite that, he had already killed two of his attackers, while the third one used his ailment against him.
This fight might be their last one this day, as she suspected that sooner or later the Chimera wings would activate and whisks them away from this place. When, to their surprise Rarity began to emit a purple glow that of all things, seemed to temporarily stun the monsters with quite precise rays that the mare shot from her horn.
The palomino looked at the unicorn and saw that McIntosh kills had increased the mare's level by three, as she now held a proud 52 above her head.
Taking her chance, the palomino quickly made use of the window that Rarity's new ability had offered, as she diced, cutted and chopped with glee at the immobilized beasts, making sure to kill each one as viciously as she could, momentarily angry at how close those creatures had come to defeat them.
She saw her weapon shine a bright blue glow, another of Rarity's enhancements that seemed to have been improved by her new level.
Applejack quickly chugged potion after potion to restore herself, watching careful for her partners as they too did their best to fix the damage of the first battle. Sadly, none of them had managed to turn their health bars green when a huge Chimera materialized in front of them, over it floating an sign that proudly stated:
The Horde: Papa Chimera.
Unlike their last beasts, this one didn't cared about strategy. Fast and nimble, it ran toward Applejack and with a swat of his paw, send the palomino flying against the closest tree, her armor shining lightly of blue before the impact, her health bar barely standing at the moment in a horrid maroon that was slowly turning into red, as the mare was critically hit over and over by the creature, who had followed her the whole time with feline glee.
Then, there came the paralyzing ray again, which seemed to force a change of status on the beast, each new ray making it slower and less powerful. Thankfully being enough to take its attention from the now dizzy Applejack, who's armor was titillating, a warning that it was about to recede and change into an Shield, this was also a quite dire discovery as they found the mare was still there instead of teleported to the hospital, which meant that this was one of those battles that you couldn't escape of.
The beast ran toward the unicorn, who hasn't stopped firing her new technique, her magical pool getting drier with each new shot, increasing the effects upon the now enraged beast, who now wasn't even half as fast as it initially was, which offered an enraged McIntosh the chance he was looking for, his whole body covered in a crimson aura as he battled against the beast with total abandon. Taking huge gaps of life from the monster while almost taking little amounts of damage himself due to his condition.
Rarity ran toward Applejack, and quickly doused the still dizzy downed mare with health potion after another, stabilizing the mare from her bleeding.
“What the hay happened?!” Asked Applejack as she shook her head, the dizziness disappearing with each new bottle, her attention quickly captured by the interchange of punches between her beau and the magical beast. “Is that crimson aura yours?”
Rarity for her part, was also drinking magical potions with desperate need, refilling her depleted and abused magical pools as fast as she could.
“I'm afraid not, that's Rage... he lost it when we saw the beast pummel your life bar away with each new hit...” Chugging one last big bottle, the mare glared back at the Papa Chimera before she added, “I must admit that I was quite close to Rage myself, but thankfully, I managed to held some control of my mind and use my new ability against that monster.”
Then, with a mighty roar, McIntosh was tossed aside with a powerful hit, the beast preparing itself to reproduce its earlier attack on the teenaged colt, which put the mares into action, as Rarity began to abuse her new attack, giving Applejack the chance to charge up to the beast, interrupting the attack by putting the beads around its muzzle, forcing it to kneel on the ground in pain as the whip sharp edges cut easily his quite hard skin... when to their surprise, a scream interrupted them.
“Hold him still!” Ordered Mac, who had shed his armor and turned it into a shield that peacefully floated on his back, while his croup glaive accumulated huge amount of magic from its surroundings, forcing the teenager to grind his hooves on the ground as hard as he could, digging himself so deep on the land that his pasterns and fetlocks were covered by dirt. Applejack nodded, she instinctively shed her beads, throwing them at the monster into an improvised magical net who forced the stunted beast to remain still.
Slightly surprised, she quickly saw the name of the attack and smiled, seeing that it was a collaborative technique in the making. Rarity fueled her magic on to the net, increasing its efficiency as McIntosh screamed loudly and simply rushed at top speed toward the struggling monster, the teenager leaving after him a magical trail as his glaive cut the air unnaturally.
Then, with a white flash, the teenaged colt stood at the other side of the monster, who to their horror simply vanished as their lasts foes, which meant that the battle was still far from over.
“MAC MOVE YOUR HIDE HERE!!! QUICK!” Screeched Applejack, all of them dreading their upcoming battle as they consumed their lasts bottles of magic.
Warning!!! warning!!! boss approaches!!! Warning!!! warning!!! boss approaches!!!
With a deafening roar, a slightly bigger Chimera appeared, upon its frame it held flashing red letters:
Mama Chimera.
Unlike his mate, Mama Chimera wasn't fast, she was simply a juggernaut. Her defenses and hide being impossibly strong and durable, her roar apparently being able to affect their statuses. As they became slower when she had appeared in front of them, her glare sending chills upon their spines.
Thankfully, despite their new ailment, they were considerably faster than the bellowing beast, who attempted to crush and bite them with all of her might.
“What do we do?” Asked Applejack, as she jumped aside of a crushing paw that would have flattened her on the ground, the debris causing some damage in the process. The answer to her question came with a shoot from the ray of Rarity, whose body was now covered in a crimson coat.
“We fight it, and we crush it!”
Unlike McIntosh who had become nearly invulnerable and stronger by Rage, Rarity seemed to have become faster, her spells even causing more damage in the process.
McIntosh was the first one to notice it.
“Her attack, is causing damage now!” And indeed, Rarity had once again increased her level. As the mare now stood proudly on an 57. Her new attacks now not only affecting the enemy status, but also taking a quite considerable chunk of its health bar. “Cover her, Applejack!” Ordered the male, as he quickly donned his armor and offered his defensive magic upon the mares.
The palomino nodded, her beads once again forming a cutting dome this time around the trio. Its defensive power increased due to Mac's magic coursing through her body. Enraged, the beast soon tried to pounce upon them, only to be brutally hit on its face and recoil back, struggling to recompose herself for a few valuable seconds.
“Did you see that?!” Screamed Applejack, seeing a window of an opportunity on the beast attack, as it was rendered temporarily vulnerable to a front attack.
“Its neck! The weakness is its neck!” Confirmed McIntosh who then, stopped sharing his magic and prepared itself when he saw Rarity lost her crimson coat. “Hit her on the eyes, Rarity... blind her!”
With a nod, the mare charged her magic while the earth ponies closed their eyes, preventing the huge flash of magic to affect them as the now roaring beast was.
“Now, the collaborative attack again!” Ordered Mac, who had quickly discharged his Shieldmore and only attached his glaive, quickly accumulating magic while Applejack and Rarity quickly created a powerful net around the monster, who struggled in vain to escape to no avail.
Then, with another flash, McIntosh inflicted a quite powerful slash on the beast neck, leaving badly hurt the Mama Chimera behind him, who recovered quickly and batted a paw toward him, hitting the uncovered colt with brutal force tossing him aside, his body skipping painfully on the forest ground before he finally clashed against a tree, where he remained still, his body turning gray.
“MAC!” Screamed the girls, Applejack trying to keep the now crimson beast from them, as the monster had recovered quite too fast from the attack.
“We need to use a Phoenix Down on him, and quick!” Said a frantic Applejack, as she saw his bar dangerously close to be completely empty, a counter now firmly set upon the downed body, obviously saying how long they had to use the miraculous potion before his state turned permanent.
“How dare you... you, MONSTER!!!” snarled angrily Rarity, whose body was once again covered in a magical coat, this time of a golden hue.
“Rares... what's that!?” Asked Applejack, who then grunted painfully as her beads dome was simply crushed under the enraged monster attack, the palomino cringing painfully due to the magical backlash crying painfully as she felt to her knees.
“LET MY FRIENDS ALONE YOU HORRID BEAST!” Exclaimed Rarity, her protective gear and clothes simply tearing themselves apart into tiny shards that soon showered the now surprised monster, tiny specks of cutting purple light cutting its body over and over until the beast, to the duo relief, roared one last time and disappeared, leaving orbs of light where it used to stand, signaling and end to their battle.
Rarity simply stood there, completely naked and exposed as she breathed hard, her legs trembling under her as her magical pool had been utterly and completely depleted after that particular attack. But regardless of how exhausted she felt at the moment, the unicorn quickly made use of a Phoenix Down, turning the gray colt to normal, his health bar now dangerously set on 1. The mare felt exhausted, her hooves ready to collapse at any moment, only being sustained by a magical feeling that still managed to keep her going.
Which was when a quite battered Applejack immediately saw on the mare left buttock her Cutie mark shining proudly.
“Rarity, you unleashed your unique move...” Whispered Applejack, before the mares suddenly squealed and the colt grunted as a powerful rush of power coursed on their bodies
You've reached a new level! You've reached a new level! You reached a new Plateau, Congratulations!
Applejack gasped as she suddenly found herself slightly healed due to the increase of her level and plateau, as a proud 81 hovered upon her head. She saw McIntosh, who thankfully was now out of danger as his increase in level had put him away from the dreadful blood red, as his health bar proudly stood now on a brownish yellow, thanks to the 82 that he now had.
Rarity on the other hand, was a surprise, as the mare now proudly stood at 71.
“Hurray!” Giggled the unicorn, before her eyes rolled up on her head and she simply fell to the ground, unconscious.
Applejack to her surprise with a quick move of her hoof suddenly found all of the loot collected, and her party partners at her side, her hoof shining slightly. She looked at her buttock and as she expected, her cutie mark was shining brightly and proudly.
“How... convenient.” She said, before she put herself beside her partners and with a quick use of her Chimera wing, all of them left the forest.
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. 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.
“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.
“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
Applejack looked at her new party members, watching closely how they moved on this new zone of the forest, learning something from their bodies language which spoke of how dangerous this zone was, as all of them were doing their best to sneak as silently as possible into the new zone.
“Why are we attacking this monster?” Asked the palomino, her voice nearly a whisper.
“Living on Everfree has taught us one thing and that's to strike first, and think later...” Offered Rainbow Dash, her eyes firm on the far away waterfall
Applejack looked at her new partner and frowned... but to her surprise, Fluttershy also scowled lightly at her friend, before she clarified:
“Not all sentient monsters are friendly, Applejack.” Added the mare, her eyes a little downcast as if some painful memories were crossing her mind, “That waterfall can create a pack of wolves that maim and murder for pleasure alone... we have lost many of our townsfolk on their attacks...”
That surprised the palomino, so this was for revenge?
An snort from Rainbow Dash then caught the entire group attention, as the mare looked at Applejack knowingly.
“I know what you're thinking... is this revenge? The answer to that is a yes, it is... is it unjustified? That would be a no...” the blue pegasus flapped lightly her folded wings against her torso... a sign of frustration for being grounded...
Fluttershy, seeing the lack of explanation coming from her friend, sighed then explained.
“The waterfall is cursed... something awful happened there, we don't know exactly what... you can only guess about it due to the huge amount of bones and carcasses all over the place...” the yellow pegasus looked at Rainbow Dash, then at the newcomers, “this curse creates wolves made of mud, stone and water that hunt, maim and kill anything that cross their territory.”
The sudden sound of something on the nearby bushes stopped them cold, as McIntosh and Applejack quickly donned their armors, expecting for an attack that never came.
“They're surrounding us... studying us like the Chimera horde...” Said McIntosh, his brown deeply frowned as he examined the surrounding area before he looked at Applejack, who nodded slightly, she had also noticed it.
“What can you tell me about this waterfall?” Asked the palomino, slightly worried about the trustfulness of this versions of her past friends.
“That there's a monster that control those wolves on that waterfall, it needs living beings to sustain itself, and can use the abilities of those that it had killed... many of its victims are young... cubs... we can't let it live any longer... not when it had been preying on the younglings of the village.” Answered Fluttershy, her voice low but commanding, which surprised Applejack a great deal, as there was some steel on the pink maned pegasus eyes.
“Why haven't you tried to hunt it before?” Asked McIntosh, who looked at the pegasus for a few seconds before he returned his gaze to the forest, wary of what awaited for them.
The derisive snort from Rainbow Dash was then heard.
“Because we have been quite too busy feeding and protecting the village, also only Fluttershy seemed to cause it some damage, so we have been grinding as much as we could... which isn't much as we don't have a safe way to increase our levels on this part of the forest...”
That was what Applejack didn't wanted to hear...
“Horse Apples...” She muttered, as she deactivated her armor alongside her brother, as they began to prepare for what was to come, which surprised the pegasus mares.
“What are you doing?” Asked Rainbow Dash, as she saw the pair bath their armors on a green potion.
“You should have told us about that before we delved into its territory...” reprimanded Applejack as she purified her Shieldmore with a Holy Potion, “We're about to fight an undead, probably a quite powerful Wraith... we need to purify our armors to prevent corruption from its miasma...” once she had finished, she also tossed the blue mare a bottle, “While you're a long range warrior, we don't know what kind of especial ability this monster will have, so its better to bath in Holy your armor... or its going to end cursed...”
“I have healing and purifying powers...” Added Fluttershy, who had taken the spot as sentinel while her party prepared itself for battle... “I can purify low to mid curses, my job as an animal guardian makes such abilities a need to cure or save a suffering patient...”
“Then... what are those energy animals...?”
“That is light manipulation,” clarified the mare, who flushed lightly at the incredulous stare that Applejack and McIntosh gave her... “I... its... its not a great deal...”
“Oh yeah, she can manipulate light at will, even make it solid enough to hit and injure a target... and its not a great deal.” Added Rainbow Dash mirthfully, enjoying her friend slight distress, “Its nothing to gawk at, I mean... its just the most advanced level of weather manipulation that a pegasus can manage, an ability that had been thought as mere exaggerations... a metaphor... and she always pretend that its nothing... good luck trying to convince her of...”
“INCOMING!” Bellowed McIntosh, who suddenly raised his shield above the group and created an magical dome as a shower of black pestilent goo began to rain over them.
Ink Wolves
“Shit! That's new!” Exclaimed Rainbow Dash, as she saw the pools of goo shift and take form in front of the dome, taking the shape of what appeared to be ink wolves.
“That's Poet's ability...” Mumbled Fluttershy, which finally broke the frozen spell on the group as she looked at the ink constructions for a moment, before she closed her eyes and sighed, “Please McIntosh, keep that dome... Rainbow!”
“On it!” A quick use of her wings, and the temperature on the dome began to drop harshly enough to snow,a movement that was later explained as Fluttershy suddenly opened her wings and let a shower of scalding light outside the dome, evaporating the beasts in a matter of seconds... leaving nothing behind, no points, no loot, nothing.
“I-I-its as I F-f-feared!” Stuttered Applejack, as her armor had grown uncomfortably cold under Rainbow spell.
“If you want some heat you only need to stand at my side... my awesome aura would heat your body instantly... leaving you randy and prepared for a good...” The blue mare quickly evaded the swipe of Applejack hoof, laughing and cackling mirthfully at her the whole time... when a second attack was made, this time leaving Rainbow Dash away from the dome as she had been forced to fly away from the attack... which had left exposed the whole team to the heat of Fluttershy scalding technique.
Applejack panted hard, as she downed a restorative potion to prevent an overheat status to appear on her bar, while her partners gulped gladly their own solutions.
“Where's...?”
The sudden sound of battle interrupted the palomino, as they saw in the distance a blue speck showering the land with lightning over and over, as she evaded black shots of goo with ease.
They all ran toward her direction, only to find a rock infested field with wolf like beings growling at them...
Rock Wolves
“They're trying to separate us...” Screamed McIntosh as he used his armor and his unique ability to ram his body against the magical constructions, creating a path of debris and destruction as he passed by, using his strength to pummel the wolves with ease to the surprise of the pink maned mare, whose wings were slightly raised at the mere sight.
“Chain Storm!” Screamed Applejack, as she used her Whipsword to cut clean the weakened foes that survived the initial attack, which seemed to spurn Fluttershy into action as a huge gorilla materialized beside McIntosh, covering his flanks from shrapnel and many other things.
It didn't take that long to clear the path, but they didn't cared about it, going toward the sound of battle that came from the distance, as Rainbow Dash did her best to kept her rivals away from her.
“This is too easy,” Said McIntosh while they ran toward the flying mare, which immediately caught the attention of Fluttershy, as Applejack nodded at him.
“Yeah... those monsters aren't that strong...”
“Which meant that they're luring us into a trap...” said the teenage colt, who looked slightly at Fluttershy, “They want us to be overconfident, to attack the waterfall without any doubt...”
The palomino then opened her eyes widely, as Fluttershy gasped in fright.
“Rainbow Dash!” She whispered, frightened to not hear or see any sight of her old friend on the smoking field, debris and nauseating pools covered the whole place due to her continuous use of lighting against them...
“No, RAINBOW DASH!!!” Screamed the pink haired mare, which took Applejack by surprise, as her own version rarely raised her voice...
“She isn't here,” added McIntosh whose eyes glowed lightly due to his continuous use of Observe, an ability that Applejack knew he barely had deactivated since they had nearly died against their first horde.
“Quick, take us to the waterfall... I bet you that she's over there...” Concluded Applejack, as she gave a slight nudge toward the almost catatonic Fluttershy, who seemed to be having a painful flashback at the moment. “Fluttershy!?”
“Uh, oh yeah... the waterfall... follow me!” Opening her wings widely, she flapped once and she was soon on the sky, flying as fast as she could while they struggled to keep her pace.
It didn't take them that long to reach the place, just to find a downed Rainbow Dash being dragged toward a black bubbly cesspool by a huge gooey claw, that was quickly cut in half by a well directed use of a light beam from Fluttershy, which only left a unconscious and throughly cursed pegasus behind.
Wraith's Waterfall
“Oh no...” Said Applejack, as she saw the mud suddenly move and shift, then take the shape of wolves that soon pounced upon them.
With a quick use of Haste, the mare crossed the distance and soon began to chop and cut mud creations to no avail, as their bodies quickly repaired themselves and reformed in mere seconds.
“MAC!” Cried Applejack, forcing the male to suddenly sprung once again a dome above them as they tried to regroup and rearrange themselves, only for the magical to fall under the sudden appearance of a huge Golem of stone that shattered the barrier with too much ease, which made the adolescent colt cringe harshly due to the backlash.
Applejack cursed, then tried to cut the Golem only to find herself suddenly surrounded and covered by the mud beasts, who bit into her armor, trying to reach her flesh to no avail.
“Get off me!”
“Purification Breath!” Suddenly cried Fluttershy, who was them enveloped in a white mist that soon covered the surrounding area, making the mud wolves cringe then flee away from the Holy attack, giving the party a few precious seconds to finally regroup. The palomino trotted toward the now recovered pegasus, and a trembling McIntosh, who apparently had been cursed in the short struggle against the wolf Golem, its body was heavily letting out a tick black mist as the Holy attack purified the cursed armor.
“I'm sorry guys... this is my fault!” Added Rainbow Dash, who had her ears completely flat against her head, her eyes looking at the ground.
“Yes, it is... but that isn't important at the moment... we need to work together if we want to survive this monster...” Said Applejack, who ignored the slight cringe of the mare at her words, “Physical attacks don't work on those Mud wolves... so that leaves magic.”
“That doesn't work either, that's how they got me... I tried to fry them... but they absorb the spells and the magic out of your body if they catch you, then the Golem knocks you out with a well placed punch!” Informed the blue mare, who was looking at Applejack at the eyes, her eyes now firm, obviously having a huge desire to redeem herself.
The palomino looked at McIntosh, who was busily feeding potion after potion to the trembling Fluttershy, who tried in vain to keep the purifying mist going, as it kept the enemies at bay.
“Then... as I suspected it, Fluttershy it's our only hope...” Finally conceded Applejack, as she had seen the mud wolves dissolve under the attack, the palomino looked at Rainbow, then said: “This is just the beginning, its first wave...”
“Incoming!” Warned McIntosh, who saw the Golem finally lost its patience and run into the mist, his body smoking heavily but still standing, which forced the Earth ponies to run toward it, their armors shining brightly as they prepared an collaborative attack against the now defenseless monster.
A swipe of his monstrous arm tried to catch McIntosh dead on, who simply jumped over it and ran over the rocky surface taking the beast attention for a few minutes from Applejack, who brandished her Whipsword against its torso, the enchanted beads cutting the stone easily as she had infused Armor Breaker, on her sword, bisecting the beast in two as McIntosh punched the head of the monster with his entire force, sending the body to crash against the surface of the waterfall, which screeched and roared as if in pain, which caught the couple by surprise.is the waterfall...” Muttered the palomino as she saw the holy mist slowly disappear around her, as the mares had taken to the sky at that moment, which caused a whole lot of things to happen as another Golem raised itself in front of them accompanied by more Mud wolves.
The falling water then bubbled, and shots of ink suddenly began to rain upon the field, as the wraith attempted to down the flying pegasus who began to pelt the surface of the pond with lighting and holy attacks, which seemed to inflict considerable damage, as the mud wolves dissolved, and the Golems fell apart.
“Keep going, its dying!” Exclaimed Applejack as she cut and sliced huge chunks of rock that Big McIntosh then simply bucked toward the screeching Waterfall, their victory obviously quite secure by the minute when, with an loud scream an explosion suddenly happened and all of them saw their emergency kits flash lightly before all of them suddenly disappeared and reappeared on the middle of the town, where the local monsters watched the party warily, as all of them were simply bathed in cursed miasma...
You flee from the battle
“What... what just happened?!” Asked Applejack, trying to understand how they ended here to no avail, when Rainbow Dash simply cursed and bellowed obscenities at the sky.
“That damned foul thing used Roar with us! That's what fucking happened!”
“Roar ?” Questioned McIntosh as he quick put the armor into its shield form, and put it away from him as its miasma was obviously affecting his bar, which was slowly seeping life of him due to its curse, something that soon Applejack and Rainbow Dash imitated as they fully noticed how compromised their equipment was at the moment.
“Heal !” Softly enchanted Fluttershy as she healed her injured party members with a frustrated frown on her forehead, “It's... an attack that young creatures have on this part of the forest... it forces the contrary to flee, or in some cases, it makes our emergency kits activate...”
“That fucking...”
“Dash... that's enough!” Warned Zecora, who had suddenly appeared among them her reproaching glare soon shutting up the obviously angry pegasus... “You knew that it wouldn't be an easy opponent to defeat... now just shut up and stop cursing, there are children around you!”
Mollified the mare simply nodded, letting a sigh of frustration, Applejack who was also as frustrated as the blue mare also sighed, before she smiled at Fluttershy, as the pink haired pegasus did her best to cleanse her body from the remnants of the curse.
“This is going to be one of those enemies that are frustratingly hard to kill despite how weak they are... isn't it?”
XxX
“So, we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by this wolves made of mud, quite durable and nearly immune to physical damage, and magical attacks.”
“Oh dear, that sounds quite challenging...” Added Rarity, as she levitated a cup of her favorite drink as she heard Applejack, her entire attention put on her friend, the both of them slightly divided by their reunion, as they were both delighted to see each another, but sad that Carrot Top had been send to Fillydelphia due to her own engagement, none of them truly knowing if they would see their friend ever again, so they busied themselves talking about Applejack adventures on The Sanctuary.
“It was more annoying than challenging if you ask me... only Holy attacks seemed to affect them, so we depended greatly on Fluttershy...” Said Applejack, who looked at her empty plate and sighed, finally noticing that her sandwich had been long gone. “It was a ridiculous hard to kill monster, especially with that annoying tendency of his to send us away with that Roar attack... but in the end, we got it... gave us quite a lot of loot, but not much experience... the Jade stones I gave you came from it.”
“For which I'm quite thankful of, as they're beautiful.” Rarity smiled at her friend, truly grateful to see her back after an entire month of not hearing anything about her at all. The rumors on the streets saying the foulest things about the pair, which had nearly drove her to punch or kick some of her customers, which she had thankfully not done at all. “Tell me, darling, how is Mac dealing with Rainbow harassment?”
“He's doing quite well, at first both of us were quite uncomfortable with her displays... some of them are borderline sexual harassment, I tell you.” Clarified the palomino, as she sighed at the knowing smile of the mare, knowing that the two of them would be thoroughly questioned by the curious unicorn.
“But as time passed by, we got accustomed to her displays. Realizing that she enjoyed the power that she had over us by being overly brazen... once we realized this, we put our stoicism at work and she finally tuned it down... she's quite a loyal mare once you gain her confidence, that I have to admit.”
And indeed, the pegasus mare was downright lethal with her domain of the elements, shooting ray after ray of lighting, sharp icicles and scalding winds. Her Hoofs blades being quite deadly due to her surprising strength and incomparable speed, making her an tricky and hard opponent to deal with.
“In the last week, we went as much as we could into the forest so they could increase their levels with good old grinding against the Hordes... Rainbow and I even developed an collaborative attack!”
“Oh... Is that... oh dear, it is!” Exclaimed loudly Rarity, who smiled knowingly at her friend.
“What?”
“Oh my... it could be that dear Applejack is developing something else for a certain mare?” Added the unicorn, wiggling her eyebrow sultrily at the gaping pony. “If that's so... I can take claim of poor Mackie...”
“Rarity!”
“I kid, I kid...” Laughed the unicorn, as she enjoyed the flustered and heatedly gaze of the earth pony, who tried to keep her smile in check without any success. When an explosion, followed by some screams interrupted their time, both of them rushing out of the store to see in the distance the rising smoke.
“An attack?” Gasped Rarity, her eyes slowly hardening as she looked at the direction of the smoke, “That's...”
“Let's go, Rares...” Commanded Applejack, who jumped into action as she equipped her armor, followed closely by an also deadly dressed Assassin.
You have formed a Party
It didn't took long for them to reach the site, finding a lots of curious ponies gazing at something, talking non stop about the intruder, but doing nothing about it. Which forced the pair to open up a road among the townsfolk.
“A gunner mare...” Heard Applejack, followed by “Dreadful things... I tell you.” Which told her that whoever was on the other side was probably an outsiders, as no one in Ponyville used guns.
“Celestia above,” Exclaimed Rarity, who had used her magic to move an obstinate mare from her road, giving her a first gaze of their possible rival, “The poor thing... just... look at her!”
Applejack just stared unbelieving of what her eyes were gazing at, there in front of them, was a nearly broken transmission point who had backfired badly, a few feet's from it, was a blue eyed mare, her whole coat bleeding and scorched due to the explosion, her blood seeping on the ground while she simply glared back at anyone that dared to get too close to her. Her smooth pink mane cascading around her face, a 105 floating upon her, which surprised the palomino, as the mare was two levels above her.
Pinkie...
Thought Applejack, unable to believe the state of her friend, her ability to observe quickly offering her a lot of information about her condition, which wasn't good as her health bar was downing with each second that passed by.
Rushing toward the mare, and ignoring the full glare that Pinkie offered in her direction, Applejack tried to bring out a potion, when she suddenly found a floating and quite lethal magical gun on her face.
“D-Don't take an step closer...” The voice of the pink mare was cold, raspy and undoubtedly tired.
“I promise you that I'm not here to hurt you...” Added Applejack, lowering her armor and turning it into a shield, to the townsfolk horror, Rarity following her example quickly, leaving two naked mares in front of the armed strangers. “I promise it...” She lastly added, making an 'x' on her chest but nothing else, which seemed to be enough for the confused, but tired mare as she nodded once, then collapsed.
“Hold on!” Screamed Applejack, who quickly began to use potion after potion on the downed mare, when the voice of the Mayor interrupted her.
“That's enough, Applejack. We'll take care of her from now on...” Beside her stood her two bodyguards, glaring lightly at the intruder, their intentions quite obvious for everyone to see.
“Its no problem, Mayor... I'll take care of her...”
“You don't understand...”
“She does...” Added Rarity, who was now back on assassin mode, her hood giving her shining eyes a more sinister look. “But as you see, we don't agree...”
The mayor simply looked at them, unmoved by the unicorn display.
“Then, so be it... but be aware that the cost of the reparations will be taken from your accounts, ladies...” Warned the Mayor, who inclined her head and then simply walked toward her office, followed closely by two heavily scowling guards.
“You shouldn't have done that, Rares...” Scolded lightly Applejack, whose attention was now fully put on curing the incredibly injured pony, trying to stabilize her to the best of her abilities before she tried to move her toward the hospital, not being able to give the unconscious mare a Chimera Wing.
“Rainbow Dash isn't the only one that's loyal, honey...” Added the unicorn, as she glared lightly at the still gazing ponies, who flinched lightly at her disapproving gaze. “They will attempt to sabotage my store, but sadly for them I'm already registered on the merchant guild. They would find such actions quite unpleasant, for the guild doesn't tolerate an attack on one of their members...”
“The Mayor isn't like that...” defended Applejack, sighing lightly in satisfaction when she finally stabilized the mare, as she raised herself on to her hoofs, making sure to touch the downed body. Feeling Rarity's hoof graze her own left hoof.
“I know, she's quite aware that my business will bring a lot of income for the town, but those brutes she had hired aren't as well educated...”
Applejack nodded, knowing quite well why the Mayor had contacted swords for hire in the past month that she hasn't been on Ponyville. Using her absence as an excuse to increment the security on the town, never expecting her to increase her level so much in such an short amount of time.
With a quick rush of magic, the trio appeared on the hospital, were the pink mare was quickly stripped of her weapons on an especial room that left them access to some parts of her menu, leaving the mare quite naked for the medics to work with.
“This things are quite worthless...” Added Rarity as she examined the clothes that the unknown mare had been using, frowning in distaste at the low quality of the garments. “The charms are barely holding together the whole thing, its no wonder that she's so injured.”
Applejack nodded, looking at the guns which were the only item that was worth a bit or two, and even then it wasn't worth the problem, as some of them were rusted while others had some quite visible cracks in their cannon.
“She's poor...” Muttered the palomino, who then looked at the operation room with a sad and quite hurt expression on her face. It was strange to find an poor pony in a world where slaying the weakest of beings gave you some gold and earnings. But it happened, especially in zones were the beast usually didn't leave anything behind with each slay, only offering lots of experience in the process. Which explained why Pinkie had such an high level on her.
With a sigh, Rarity put back the garments on the table, noticing that their deplorable state confirmed Applejack words quite too much for her tastes.
“Its no wonder that she pointed that gun at you, she probably doesn't have many friends.”
Frowning painfully after hearing that, Applejack just stood there, hating what had become of her friend on this world. Not hearing the door open and Red Hooves appear on the room, looking for them until Rarity touched her shoulder.
“Uh?”
“The doctor's here...”
“I'm not the only one...” Explained the doctor, just as Jack Seed and Tangerine entered the room, their faces quite passive despite the situation, probably already in the know of what had happened.
“The Mayor?” Asked Applejack, looking at her mother, who nodded once.
“What can you tell us about this mare, Doctor?” Asked Jack, who's attention was now focused on the doctor, who opened his notepad.
“The patient has been put on a magically induced coma, she's famished, and had a severe case of malnutrition. Her wounds are fully healed thanks to the dexterously intervention of your daughter, no scar tissue would appear. We also extracted a lot of poison from her body, Basilisk.” A look at the whole group told them that the doctor didn't knew how the mare was alive if she had encountered a Basilisk. Once the message was given, she continued, “We also found some claws inside of her that we had to extract... three to be exact. Each one belonging to a different species.”
With a rush of her magic horn, the doctor put the claws on the table, which the adults then proceeded to inspect. Tangerine being the first one to talk.
“This one is from a Gorgon...” She said at a finger with quite a wicked claw, then she pointed out at a mucous covered stone, which seemed to be an onyx. “By the color of that, I dare to say that it used to belong to an Stone Serpent,” Tangerine frowned at the mucous that covered the stone, “It seemed that it had been inside of her for a long while... isn't t?”
“Indeed...” Confirmed the doctor, before Jack finally added on the last fragment.
“That's the claw of an Charcoal Wolf, quite dangerous beast they travel in quite big packs... which made her survival more extraordinary... for they are quite tenacious and powerful.” Looking at the doctor, he quickly asked... “What level did you say she was?”
“105...”
“Strange...”
“Why, Mr. Seed?” Said Rarity, quite curious with the intense gaze on the stallion face.
“Those beast are usually above 174, Miss Rarity... for someone as weak as her to survive such an encounter... quite remarkable luck. Might also explain why the transmission point collapsed by her arrival, probably teleported randomly and ended up here, the backlash damaging the portal.”
Applejack just gazed at her father, not truly believing what she was hearing, when the doctor brusquely interrupted.
“I find this incredibly interesting, really, but I have a job to do, and sadly this mare doesn't seems able to pay the hospital bills...”
“I'll pay...” Offered Applejack immediately to the surprise of no one, who quickly was backed up by Rarity.
“Why would you do such a thing for an unknown mare?” Asked the doctor, apparently unable to understand such an action, his lack of empathy not even surprising the palomino anymore.
“Because its the right thing to do...” Said Applejack, before she looked at her parents, “And because she's family...”
“How do you know that?” Asked Tangerine, now quite curious, while Jack just looked at his daughter.
“Because she's a Pie.”
XxX
Looking at the sky, Applejack tried to appease her mind on the last worries that seemed to inundate her world. The most recent being the most heartbreaking of all, as Pinkie Pie hasn't regained consciousness despite the doctors best tries.
She was surprised that her parents hasn't questioned how she knew that the Pies were part of the Apples Family, but she knew that sooner or later one of them would approach her. In fact, she could feel the sound of hoofs softly walk toward her and knew that the moment was now.
What did surprise her was that it wasn't her parents, but Granny Smith, who smiled lightly at her before she sat at her side, grunting lightly in the process while the palomino simply gazed at her grandmother, surprised by how nimble and able was her beloved grandma despite her advanced age. One of the many miracles of the medicine of this world.
“Ah knew that that deep inside that hotheaded head of yars, was a great mind.” Said the old mare softly, while she also watched the starry sky. “Ah knew it all along as Ah saw ya grown, ya had an spark, and old but kind soul deep inside ya, that Ah couldn't explain.”
Applejack looked at her granny, wondering if she should tell her the truth.
“Ya don't need ta tell me anything, honey.” Added the old mare, not even looking at her, “Ya don't need to explain yarself ta me.” There, the old mare finally looked down, her eyes firm and mischievous, “Ya and McIntosh are ta pride of yar family. Ta best that we could offer... both of ya will become legends... Ah only hope to live long enough to see it.”
“You will...”
“No one can know ta future, or what's going to happen to us. But know this, Ah am proud of ya, Applejack Apple. Ah am proud that despite yar great power, yar heart remains ta same.” Granny looked back at the sky, smiling contently, “All of us are proud of ya for saving that mare, even when the fools at that town don't share your view.” An slight scowl marred the old face of the mare, who had remembered the attack on Rarity's store, which had nearly sent Applejack into a rage fit. Only the calming and soothing voice of McIntosh reminding her that Rarity was quite well protected by the business guild.
And protect her they did. Hammer and Flor quickly coming out of their stores alongside a great deal of associates to help the mare against the pair of imbeciles that had tried to settle the score. A pair of thugs that had been forced to flee the town as they found themselves outnumbered and outsmarted.
“How did you...”
“Ah saw ya reading ta family records after ya were engaged to Big Mac...” Chuckled Granny smith at the rosy cheeks of her granddaughter, “Ya might believe that yar good at sneaking, but ya aren't good enough to cheat these old ears... Ah know that ya had yar doubts, so Ah let ya be.”
Applejack simply remained silent, letting her believe her own conclusions, already accustomed to the fact that her reincarnation had forced her to lie to her loved ones not only for their sakes, but her own. It was a quite bitter pill to swallow for someone who used to be the embodiment of truth, but change was part of life, and change she had.
It didn't meant that she wasn't capable of lying on her past life, she was simply just bad at it. But as always, you could change that on this world.
“You also have a big heart, honey...” Added Granny Smith, taking her out the palomino of her fuss, “You've helped ta townsfolk even when most of them are a bunch of ungrateful jackasses.”
“Granny!”
“What? Is ta truth!”
A half choked laugh that came from the nearby bushes, then revealed the presence of a now quite maroon McIntosh, who tried to not look guilty of being spying and failing big time to do so. His suffering seemed to give some pleasure to the old mare, who just cackled in mirth at her grandchild.
“Come here ya big dunderhead...” Ordered the old mare before with a grunt, she finally raised herself on to her hoof, and with a quick movement of her head, planted a kiss on the still blushing teenaged colt. “Don't do anything too advanced ya pair of rascals!”
“MOM!” Screeched Tangerine from the house, who apparently had been listening on to the conversation, which made the old mare laugh even more before she teleported herself away, probably toward her own bedroom. Leaving a pair of quite flustered teenagers relatively alone on the dark.
Applejack found herself looking back at Mac, still wondering why so many things in this world were going so well despite how messed up it was, quickly inviting him to snuggle against her by tapping the ground beside her with her hove. He quickly does, sitting beside her and sharing the heat of his body on the quite chilly but beautiful night, the two of them enjoying the stars for a few minutes, before the palomino soon felt him get yet closer to her, his hot and shaking breath feeling her ears as he nuzzled her mane, which caused her to close her eyes and tremble slightly at such an intimate touch, his lips grasping lightly her ears which Applejack felt were about to explode in flames due to how hot she felt them.
Then she felt his lips, enjoying how he dexterously planted kiss after kiss on her mane, then her coat. Breathing hard and labored by each caress, until she couldn't resist it anymore and so she turned and finally kissed him deeply, moaning a little in the process as their lips tingled with each passing second. She changed her position to make the experience more comfortable, the experience being raw bliss for the pair, until with a doubtful and shaky moan, they put an end to it.
When they broke apart from each another, Applejack looked longingly at him, her body asking for more, quite much more than her ages and their engagement period left them have. He looked warily at the house, the lights were out, but the windows were still open. Which meant that they were being closely watched for any funny attempts, which put an end to their exploration.
“Good night Mac...”
“Good night Jackie...” He went away, and she just remained there... just happy, especially as she found herself not sad anymore, reminding herself that this world despite its many failings, had quite good things too.
You only needed to look further for them.
XxX
Applejack smiled up at the blue eyed mare that looked at her from her bed, her mane quite puffy, which the palomino had to admit was quite the relief.
“Oh, hello...” Said the pink mare, who tilted her head to the right, as if she was trying hard to remember something...
“Hello there... my name's Applejack, Applejack Apple!”
“Oh, hi Applejack, name's Pinkie Pie...” Added the mare exuberantly, her eyes sparkling with life and happiness despite her situation.
And as time passed by, and Applejack chatted more and more with the pink mare, she quickly found that as it had happened with her other friends, this world had changed deeply the mare that she knew as Pinkie Pie. This version of Pinkie while exuberant and cheerful, was quite calmer and less hyperactive than her own, especially as no weird transformation, disappearance or shenanigans had come from he. Which was a slight relief, as Applejack wasn't entire sure how she would deal with her own Pinkie on a world like this.
“So you see, I left my family Rock farm to make a life of my own, didn't do that well apparently.” Finalized Pinkie, as she signaled her surroundings. “I get I got big headed because I was the most powerful mare of my age in my village.” The pink mare then sighed, smiling slightly, “I wanted to get away from the weddings petitions, and the look of mares and stallions. Don't take this wrong, I love being a warrior, I really do, but I felt... unhappy about it. Something lacked, which was why I left the town, to find myself...”
“What are you going to do from now on?” Asked Applejack, a little wary of Pinkie, as she seemed to have become a wanderer on this world instead of a party mare, which was strange, as her Cutie mark was still a bunch of balloons.
“I want to focus on myself right now, probably set my own business if I manage to find a place that have monsters with quite good loot to recollect...”
Surprisingly, it hasn't taken that long to convince Pinkie Pie to stay at Ponyville, especially when the mare told the palomino that this was the place she had been searching for, as she had found a pamphlet, on an carcass of a pony about someone recruiting on Ponyville, promising good pay and a lot of experience, which made Applejack narrow her eyes after hearing that, explaining to the mare what the job consisted off, which seemed to be enough to put off the gunner mare.
Applejack also offered her own house for the mare to live by while she made a life of her own, especially as Pinkie finally saw the true conditions of her equipment. Part of the palomino wanted to take Pinkie to the bakery, but she knew that unlike her original world Pinkie didn't knew the Cake family as well, much less would those two accept such an powerful mare on their roof without knowing her.
In the end, as the days passed by and Pinkie recovered, the only downside of such an arrangement, was that the pink mare seemed rather smitten with Big McIntosh.
Only time would tell how long such a thing would last.
An seventeen years old Applejack looked around her and frowned, quickly taking notice of what had changed or not in the past years since Pinkie arrival. The town was flourishing due to the business partnership with the Sanctuary, who had remained still despite the Mayor attempts at conquest.
The palomino mare snorted, as the political mare had managed to make such a defeat a victory in the end by managing a peaceful resolution of their problems by signing a peace treaty that established many things that in the end, benefited Ponyville a lot, as the new potions and anti-venom at the stores sell quite well, preventing many deaths on the Everfree, and increasing the populations levels quite considerably thanks to that.
The fact that the runes on the sanctuary prevented any violent breach of its perimeter, probably had to do with the Mayor surrender and the locals lack of fear for such attacks.
Looking at the distance, she smiled when she finally saw Pinkie party and cakes store, happy that the mare had finally found what made her truly happy on this town, her business flourishing greatly as she had partnered up with the Cakes after moving out from the Apple's farm.
Sighing, Applejack contently reminded herself that her friends crushes on herself and McIntosh had thankfully diminished greatly.
“Happy Birthday!” Was then heard, followed by the explosion of her newly made confetti cannon on the distance, revealing that Pinkie Pie had surprised yet another client. If the distressed cry and the laughs that came after were to judge by.
“Hello, darling! I hope you weren't here for much... were you?” Suddenly asked Rarity, who smiled at her in delight as their weekly reunion, beside her was a newly wed Carrot Top, who had married and to the surprise of everyone, brought her Husband to Ponyville, who seemed quite content with the simple life that such a village could offer.
“Hello Applejack, how have you been?” Said Carrot Top, whose big belly revealed her advanced state.
“As the boys usually say when they're alone... I'm mightily fine.” Added Applejack with some mirth.
“That's mightily good, dear...” Said Rarity, her eyes sparkling a little, before Carrot Top sighed, and sat herself promptly on a nearby chair.
“I mightily declare this mightily chat session as mightily open!” Declared officiously the pregnant mare, before she soon joined her friends in merry enjoyment of such a silly moment. Soon delving into a happy chat that soon was marred by the whispering of a nearby couple.
“That awful rumor again...” Added Rarity, her brown burrowed in distaste and slight pain. Soon finding a pair of hoofs over her own, supporting her in such a dire time.
“How is your sister taking the change?” Asked Applejack, knowing that Sweety Bell had been incredibly shy when she finally arrived to live beside her sister when a monster had killed their parents a year ago.
“She's taking it well, Applebloom and Scootaloo are slowly taking her out of her shell... she's more active and rambunctious.” Despite her words, the unicorn mare was smiling widely while saying that, truly happy for her sister. “Those three are becoming quite tight, don't be surprised if they end up as powerful as we where at their age...”
Carrot Top nodded, then glared at the still chatting couple who simply didn't seemed to care about how awful the trio found their conversation.
Applejack on the other hand, didn't had the subtlety or the patience to endure such a thing, loudly clearing her throat, then glaring back at the pair, who quickly left the installations once they noticed who exactly they had annoyed.
“Hot Dinner will scold you again, Applejack. You shouldn't be scaring his customers like that,” Scolded lightly Carrot Top, as she looked in the direction of the slightly glaring owner, who seemed resigned at the moment.
“I'll always leave a quite considerable tip, which is why he endures me... besides,” Inclining into her friends, the palomino then softly added, “He wants to tap me, and badly. He simply doesn't have the Apples to approach me in such a way...”
Her friends laughed after hearing that, Rarity quickly adding:
“Afraid of Mackie?”
“Not in the slightest, he's afraid of me, and what I did to the last stallion that attempted something funny with me.” A slight frown was then on the palomino's face, which prompted another laugh from her friends.
“Its not the same, that dumb fellow spanked you. He wasn't valiant, he was suicidal!” Clarified Carrot Top, who also chuckled a little when her friends laughed even more. A happy atmosphere that didn't lasted long as all of them were deeply worried by the rumors.
“What do you think is happening?” Finally said Rarity, whose frown was now furrowed in fear and pain. “At first I thought that what happened to my parents was simply a bad encounter... but, if those rumors are true, then it might not be what I thought it was...”
Carrot Top was the first one to answer:
“I don't know, girls. I mean, the crown is quite tight lipped about it. But that awful rumor is taking strength with each passing day, and each new attack...” She looked at the floating confections and drinks that Hot Dinner had spelled to their own table. “My husband acceptance of this place had been initially sustained by fear of the culling...”
Applejack simply frowning, truly hating the fact that something out there was killing stallions and colts by the dozens, even going as far as to wipe whole squads from the royal army. At first, this was taken as a sign of an invading army, or maybe an attempt from the Misandrist groups on Canterlot, but the news that the other realms had been suffering similar occurrences quickly changed the tune of war to something quite more alarming.
“Let's just hope that such things are just that, rumors of an scared population... there had to be an logical explanation to this!” Said the Palomino.
Carrot nodded, but it was surprisingly Rarity who spoke:
“There are quite a good amount of people giving Misandrist united the blame for such horrid things happening,” there was some heat on her voice, still hurt that not only her father had paid the price of something or someone that had a thing for males out there, but also her mother... only leaving a quite traumatized filly behind.
“They lost their old ways, they didn't used to be like that...” Added Carrot Top, who had an quite well know interest on history.
“What made them change?”
“An attack, one orchestrated by a quite powerful and influential group of males a long time ago who tried to take away the power from the princesses, believing that males were superior because of their strength and usefulness on battle...” The pregnant mare looked at her friend, who snorted incredulously that a group of ponies had believed in such a thing, as the stats easily demonstrated that all of them where born in the same circumstances and level, with only the will of the user defining how far it would go.
“The failed, obviously. But on their attempt, many mares were killed and brutally raped and enslaved. The group managed to slip the princesses attempts of capture, and established themselves on the south of Equestria, on Caribou lands...” There, all kept silent, knowing pretty well that on that lands such an abomination as slavery was still quite legal, sighing Carrot then continued, “As years passed by, this particular group kept stealing and capturing mares to sell on the market, which nearly caused an schism on our society, as mares felt betrayed by their counterparts as time passed by, more and more colts and stallions leaving Equestria to join this group ranks, as their social rights at that moment were pretty low and non existent on the matriarchal society...”
Sipping a little of her juice, all of them took the time to contemplate about what they had heard, before Carrot top continued:
“This group had the belief that their gender was oppressed because of their natural superiority, and the females fear of the males. With, as you all know, was the spark for the first war, which they ultimately lost due to the princesses power. All that suffering for naught, as it was later found that such an organization never existed, their leaders being faked by the Changeling nation and the Griffin empire to destabilize and weaken Equestria... which led to the second war.”
Applejack nodded, before she added:
“That I remember well, to fight the two fronts the sisters divided themselves and their troops, Celestia fought against the Griffins, while the Changelings were left to Luna to deal with. Celestia managed to reach an cease of fire with the Griffins after ten years of battle after battle, while Luna apparently wiped out the entire Changeling kingdom.” There, the history took a turn that left the palomino with quite a sour mouth, as Luna was later deeply distrusted and deemed a monster for what she did, which had lead the ponies to believe that the true Princess of the night had fell on battle, being replaced by a Changeling, labeling the poor mare Nightmare Moon despite what she might have sacrificed for her people.
“Curiously, the distrusted princess was the one who sacrificed herself to seal two powerful beasts that nearly destroyed the realm due to their power, sealing herself and the old ones on the moon.” Supplied Carrot Top, concluding their tale for a few minutes, before Rarity sighed and said:
“Enough of this dreadful topic! I want to know of more interesting things... as How is Mackie on the sack?”
Applejack sputtered, then blushed madly while trying to avoid their eyes at the same time...
“No way...!” Screeched Rarity, smiling widely.
“Yes way! talk mare I command thee!” Ordered Carrot Top, who was getting closer to the blushing palomino, who tried in vain to look relaxed to no avail.
“We... haven done it, in the true sense of the word...” Admitted Applejack, while looking at her friends, her eyebrows raised a little in disbelief, “But I must say that we made a quite good use of the showers... were I might have Jack-i-fied , the poor sap...”
A rambunctious laugh then appeared on the table, getting a lot of attention as the mares chatted softly about the dirty details of the ebullient sexual life of Applejack Apple, and her soon to be husband. Which left a giggly Carrot Top and a flushed and quite flustered Rarity, who had taken out an fan of her inventory to magically refresh herself, looking at the palomino with a quite knowing smile:
“Oh my... you're a naughty mare, honey, tell me more!”
XxX
“Girls Party!” Screamed Pinkie as she shot monster after monster with her floating magical guns, inflicting a lot of damage while the girls simply watched the mare fire at the poor beasts until they simply perished.
“That's... a way to take care of them, I guess...” Muttered Applejack, as she swiftly collected the loot with a single move of her hoof as the whole gang trotted toward the victory dancing pink mare, who appeared to be also singing a song.
“Ta-da-dada-da-da-da-daDA!”
“Do you really need to do that every time you win a battle?” Asked Rainbow Dash, who was slightly annoyed that said tune was now stuck on her head... “I'm hearing that thing even when you aren't nearby...”
“Great!”
“Girls, girls! Remember where we are at the moment,” Said Applejack, who looked at the pair cringe slightly after hearing her, “Yeah, that's right... the Deep Everfree... just because we're a powerful bunch doesn't meant that there aren't powerful monsters out there...”
The palomino walked away from the pair, examining the surrounding forest, trying to search for any possible treat.
“Rarity, where is the cave?”
“Just a few miles ahead of us, dear...” Offered the beautiful cloaked Assassin, who was closely looking at her inventory window at the moment, inspecting the loot that the palomino had just collected.
Fluttershy, who was in the middle of the entire party, sighed quietly, as her abilities hasn't been of use as nopony had been hurt thanks to Pinkie enthusiasm, which Rainbow Dash quickly noticed.
“Relax Flutters, the village is going to be fine... Zecora is there, and we made sure to recharge the runes before we left, The Sanctuary its fine...”
“I'm... just nervous, I guess... Angel is all alone at the house...”
Applejack snorted lightly after hearing that, before she added:
“Sugar cube, he isn't alone... he haves lots of kids to take care of, and let's not forget about that randy mate of his...”
“That's why I'm worried...” Offered Fluttershy, looking at the palomino at the face, “He's alone... with her, and without supervision... I'm afraid that there's going to be even more bunnies in the coming days...”
“Ow, Applejack... I know that you don't like the poor bastard, but... really?” Asked Rainbow Dash, looking slightly green at the palomino suggestion.
“While it sounds horrible and harsh, it might be the only solution to the problem... The Sanctuary can only sustain a number of bunnies before things turn ugly, especially when the carnivores citizens begin to notice an easy snack already available on the town itself...” Answered the palomino, trying to make her point clear, sighing in relief when Fluttershy nodded after hearing that.
“I might touch the point with him... maybe if I hang that over his head he'll be more responsible about it...”
“Incoming!” Warned Pinkie Pie, who skipped toward the approaching wolves with glee, her magical guns floating around her as she pointed and shot the Alpha, who had a different shade and size, each shoot causing a different effect and damage to its status, which left it pretty vulnerable for the shower of lighting that soon fell upon the pack, courtesy of an smiling Rainbow Dash.
“Nice shot!” added Rarity, who fired with her horn at the closest pair, immobilizing them for Applejack who quickly sliced the duo with ease, leaving her temporarily exposed to an attack that was soon stopped cold by the huge energy manifestation that stomped on the last remaining wolf, breaking its frame and showering the mares with bright bubbles of light.
“I'm incredibly thankful that those beast turn into specs of light when they die, or that last attack might have given us a quite unpleasant shower.” Clarified Rarity, as she bumped Fluttershy lightly on the rear with her own, smiling slightly at the blushed face on the poor mare.
“Sorry...”
“Oh, darling... there's no need to apologize, I know that you aren't a fan of wolves, so its understandable.” Said the purple haired assassin, as she opened her inventory to inspect the loot, frowning slightly by what she saw. “How... distasteful. Those beast leave pelts behind when you kill them...”
“Wolf pelt? Zecora might have an use for those...” Added Rainbow Dash, who immediately caught the attention of the group, “as potion ingredients, you know? For the sentient monsters at the village?”
“Well, I guess that's OK then... still distasteful, but OK.”
Fluttershy blushed lightly before she clarified,
“Medicine isn't a beautiful career, there are a lot of unpleasant things on the job...”
“Oh, no, no, no my dear... just because I don't like it, doesn't mean that I think less of you or Healers like Zecora, forgive me if I offended you.”
“Girls... where is Pinkie?” Added Applejack, who was looking around them in confusion, as she hasn't heard the accustomed tune or victory song from the enthusiastic mare.
The whole group looked around them, confused for a few seconds before they finally noticed an hole on the forest ground... the four mares now surrounding it, trying to see what laid beyond its darkness deeps.
“How is her life bar?” Asked Applejack, noticing that Fluttershy had immediately opened the inventory to scan the data from the pink mare...
“She lost a good percentage of life, but its still on the greens...” Clarified Fluttershy, who attempted to retrieve their lost partner by the forced use of her Chimera Wing, which refused to activate not mattering what she attempted to do... “We need to follow her...”
“Fluttershy, Dash, can you slow our fall?” Said Applejack as she quickly deactivated her armor, which took the shape of a shield that floated on her back, before it disappeared as it was put on her inventory, an action that left the palomino completely exposed in front of her friends, a signal of trust that was soon emulated by Rarity.
It didn't take long for the pegasus to fly down the hole noticing while going down, that there were a few pony shaped impressions on the solid rock, were the pink mare apparently had collided on her fall.
“How... how is she alive?” Asked Rainbow Dash, looking at an smiley face on the rock, wondering how such a thing was possible with so little damage.
“With Pinkie Pie everything is possible...” Added Applejack, smiling slightly at her friends, finding such an oddity comforting. “Just don't question how, and you're going to be OK...”
Thankfully, the descend wasn't that long and they soon reunited with an bemusedly Dizzy mare, who smiled at them:
“Hi girls!” Said the pink mare, who galloped toward them almost drunkenly due to her Dizzy status... which was soon rectified by a quick use of Fluttershy abilities.
“Thanks Fluttershy,”
Giggling mirthfully, the palomino mare then examined her new surroundings, quickly noticing that this particular cave was inhabited.
“Perk up gals, we're on Diamond Dog territory!” Warned blonde, who quickly donned her armor after she brought it out of her inventory, followed by Rarity who had her cloak back on again.
“What can you tell us about the Diamond Dogs, Applejack?” Asked Fluttershy, who once again was firmly put in the middle of her party, protected from an possible attack.
The palomino frowned a little, trying to remember everything about that particular species, when to their surprise, Pinkie Pie said:
“Why don't we ask them ourselves?” Pointed out the party mare, as she smiled at a pair of Diamond dogs that were openly glaring at them a few meters ahead of them, obviously doing guard duty in front of a mine entrance.
“Attention girls, Diamond Dogs are sentient... like ponies, they can be friendly...” Seeing the pair of canines soon raise their lances at them, quickly eroded that notion, “And, as ponies, they can also be quite unfriendly...” Supplied the palomino.
“Halt! What are your intentions here, Equines !?”
“Who did you call an Equine!?” Menaced Rainbow Dash, who was barely contained by Rarity and Fluttershy.
“We are equines, Dash, dear...” Supplied Rarity, who then glared at the canines and said, “Though I can clearly hear the contempt there...”
“If you want to pass, a test you need to have!” Added the Dogs at unison, who slobbered and snarled at the ponies, making a mess of themselves.
“How vulgar...” Added Rarity again, which was the signal for Applejack to intervene.
“What kind of test?”
“A battle of course, to gain the right to pass, you have to defeat three of us on a one on one battle, Equine ...”
“I'm in,” Said Dash, followed by Applejack and Pinkie, who jumped on the same spot over and over, an huge smile on her face, their acceptance quickly igniting a combat zone.
Applejack looked around her, amused to find that she was literally on a box ring, facing an smiling Bulldog who appeared to be too smug to her tastes.
“No armor or weapons... just raw strength... Equine !”
The blonde looked at her rival, and simply smiled at him, amused at his cockiness despite how weak he was compared to her.
“Sure, why not?” Said the palomino, putting her whole equipment away on her inventory, just remaining there as she had been born on this world, soon finding her muzzle stinging at the cheap punch that the Bulldog had given her as soon as she was out of her armor.
“It's that all?” Asked the blonde, before she raised her hoof and with a quick spring knocked the teeth out of its mouth, knocking the bulldog out with a single movement ending the battle zone.
Were she soon found herself surrounded by her friends.
“Here, Applejack... let me heal that gash on your face”, said Fluttershy as she quickly used her abilities to heal the small bleeding gash on the palomino muzzle.
“Did any of you have any problem with the fight?”
“Nah, this guys are pretty weak...” Boasted Rainbow Dash, who cringed lightly as her muscles still stung a little... “compared to you and Big Mac...” Finally admitted the mare, at least acknowledging that her own short fight hasn't been as easy as she thought it would be.
“Mine was easy!” Giggled Pinkie Pie, who was still sitting over the downed Rottweiler that had been her opponent...
Nodding, Applejack then looted the poor saps with a quick use of her hoof, before the whole party walked toward the mine, all of them chatting loudly about what had just happened, forcing the palomino to inquire...
“Rarity... where are we?”
“At our destination, my dear... it seems that Pinkie's accident was quite fortuitous as it had taken us directly to the mine entrance...” Said the assassin, who smiled beautifully at the pink mare before she added: “we might need to fight our way out on the first level, though...”
“What's so especial about this particular cave?” Asked Rainbow Dash, who was looking at the flying bats with some trepidation, as if waiting for an sudden attack from the pesky things to happen at any minute.
“The loot of course, we can find a rich variety of gems, monsters and mushrooms here that you can't find anywhere else...” Answered Rarity, who then opened her inventory, and with a quick use of her hoof, send the information to the whole party...
“Here's the list of our objectives...”
100 fluorescent Mushrooms 20 Jade stones 5 Diamonds 10 Rubies 10 Sapphires 25 Pearls 50 Brown headed Mushrooms 50 Red headed Mushrooms
“Why so many mushrooms?” Inquired Applejack, who closed the window, quickly memorizing the whole list so she wouldn't need to open it every once and then.
“The fluorescent Mushrooms and the gems are for my Boutique, I want to use them on my next batch of dresses and armors, the rest are for consumption, I've heard that they're a quite tasty treat, and I wanted to give your lot something worthwhile for helping me once again...”
“Rarity's cooking us a meal?! What are we waiting for? Let's go!” Declared Rainbow Dash, trotting happily toward their next destination, followed closely by an mirthful group of mares.
The whole thing was particularly boring, they soon found. As the monsters were simply too weak to make it enjoyable or challenging, giving low amounts of loot and damaged items that could be later sold as metal scraps.
“Girls... don't you find this particularly suspicious?” Inquired Fluttershy, who was looking around her, examining the surrounding area with care, trying to find anything out of place.
“Not much, Flutters...” Answered Rainbow Dash, who stomped on another walking Mushroom, apparently bored out of her mind by the whole thing so far, her enthusiasm completely gone.
“Ta-da-dada-da-da-da-daDA!”
“Pinkie!”
“What? Its fun!”
“No, it isn't”
“GIRLS, stop it...” Commanded Applejack, whose eyes were strictly focused on the surrounding area, her eyes shining lightly as she employed her Observation ability. “We should have brought Mac with us...”
That quickly captured the attention of the whole group, as they quickly enveloped Fluttershy on a circle, all of them facing an different direction.
“How many?” Asked Rarity, her magical daggers now floating beside her head... waiting for an signal to act.
“I... don't know... my Observe isn't as advanced as Mac...” Confessed the palomino, who got an scowl from the blue mare.
“How couldn't it be? That guy keeps that thing running 24/7! I don't know how he keeps it together with such an huge amount of information flowing thorough that skull of his... Fluttershy, you're the monster specialist, what do you think?”
“A Predator...” Mumbled the yellow pegasus, who was inspecting her surroundings with a calm gaze, “Remember those annoying bats and mushroom monsters that constantly harassed us?”
“How could we not? We couldn't give two fucking steps without stumbling against one!” Snarled Rainbow Dash, who got a giggle from Pinkie, and a “how vulgar!” from Rarity... “Oh don't be so stiff, Rares! Even you found those things annoying!”
“Well,” Interrupted Fluttershy, who continued to study the surroundings, deeply in thought, “They aren't anywhere... they disappeared... which meant that something had been hunting them...”
“Powerful enough to kill the most experienced monsters...” Concluded Applejack as she glared at a huge column of rocks in front of them, her Whipsword shining brightly as she infused it with magic...
“We should have brought Mackie Wackie with us...” Added Pinkie Pie, unusually serious at the moment, as all of them looked at he now obvious Rock Worm in front of them...
That which lurks in the darkness Goliath Worm
With a surprisingly fast movement, the worm launched an strike at the group, separating the mares into two groups to prevent being flattened by the hulking mass of living rock, who soon dived into the ground with outstanding ease, causing an earthquake that soon bathed the girls in falling debris and stalagmites who nearly bisected or speared the whole party... who didn't had a simple minute to reunite, as an emerging Goliath soon appeared in the middle of the groups, spitting rocks at them that quickly morphed and took the shape of defeated enemies, in this case Rock bats.
Applejack made a quick use of her Whipsword, cutting in half the annoyances with ease, only to cry in pain when the things suddenly exploded and showered the blonde mare in rock shrapnel, her status soon changing to poisoned.
Fluttershy who was at her side attempted to use an Antidote on the mare, only to lost the bottle when another earthquake shook the whole cave, which pelted the yellow mare with rocks, breaking her bones in a painful shower... giving the mare the awful gray.
“FLUTTERSHY!” Roared Rainbow Dash, who flew toward her downed friends, only to find an stalagmite painfully piercing her body by the middle, spearing her on the ground with brutality, turning her gray.
“WE SHOULD HAVE BROUGH MAC!” Screamed Rarity, who used her magic to create a feeble dome around herself and a frozen Pinkie, who was looking at the timer of Rainbow Dash with dread.
Once the earthquake stopped, the pair soon took out the rock from her friend, and bathed her in potions to return color to her, both of them looking toward the palomino direction, who was doing the same to Fluttershy despite her ailment... all of them doing their best to be as fast as they could, knowing that the Goliath wouldn't miss the chance to finish them up.
Applejack coughed, ignoring the blood as her whole attention was now focused on restoring the pegasus, afraid that without their healer, they wouldn't live to tell the tale, when a rumble under her hoofs quickly warned her of the incoming Goliath, which forced the mare to launch the still injured Fluttershy toward her friends knowing that the mare wouldn't survive another direct hit.
With an explosion of debris, the worm emerged from the ground, its mouth opened whole as it attempted to gulp the blonde mare in a single bite, only to find itself stopped cold when the palomino used her Whipsword to create a metal bubble around her.
The Goliath tried to get the metal ball away from its mouth to no avail, hitting the thing against the walls of the mine, causing short but manageable earthquakes in the process, with each hit an huge amount of damage was being inflicted on the trapped mare.
“That's enough!” Screamed Rarity, who had turned scarlet at the sight, old memories resurfacing again at the sight of her suffering friend, her daggers soon flying toward the rock worm, slicing its rough skin, creating sparks all over the place as she took chunks from the beast, who finally had spat the metal ball from its mouth, causing the palomino to crash tiredly against a nearby wall.
Rarity used her moment to afflict the beast with her magic, making it slower, stripping it strong defense from him with each strike of her magic, victory getting closer with each new attempt when, to everybody surprise, the Goliath screeched turning red itself. Its eight eyes now fully focused on the unicorn...
“Oh dear...”
Was everything that the assassin could say before a direct hit of its tail flattened the mare against the ground, creating a crater around her now gray body, as the Goliath speed had increased immensely due to its rage.
Applejack opened her eyes, groaning painfully due to the trembling of the ground... she felt sick, dizzy and unstable, her magic and life leaving her by the gallons due to the monster poison. With a quick use of her hoof, she opened her inventory to bring out an Antidote from it, when to her surprise... the world simply froze.
She looked around her, trying to understand how such a thing could happen, seeing the floating debris and stalagmites on the air, one of them about to fall upon her.
“What the!?”
“Unlimited Guns Work !” whispered a voice, the words echoing on her ears over and over, the voice was raspy, cold but more importantly, familiar.
The palomino looked around her, quickly noticing that Pinkie Pie was on the center of the mine, glaring at the frozen Goliath, her mane flat and silky.
“Pinkamena...” Muttered Applejack, surprised to see her friend so angry at someone or something, it was unusual, and slightly creepy... as her friend basically manipulated space and time at the moment. Her movements as she attempted to raise on to her hoofs soon attracted the attention of the blue eyed mare, who looked at her, her face impassive, uncaring, cold.
“How... unusual” Said Pinkamena, looking at the palomino carefully, before she nodded lightly. “But fortunate, please... heal the girls before I initiate the attack... or we might lose them...”
Applejack looked at her friends and gasped, Rainbow Dash was still gray, her counter dangerously close to zero, an ugly and quite red three stood over her, while Fluttershy was barely gaining some colors, but looked pale, Rarity on the other hand had an orange ten floating above her broken body, which quickly broke the frozen spell from the palomino, as she ran toward her injured friends and gathered the whole gang with a use of her gathering ability, once reunited, she quickly made use of a Phoenix Down to bring them back, each one now stable and pale, then began to bath them in healing potions.
“Yippee Kay Yay...” Was then heard, which made the whole world go white for a few seconds, as Pinkamena suddenly discharged her attack on the Goliath, leaving in a matter of simple seconds a pile of debris and a cackling Pinkamena who stood proudly over the defeated opponent. Her eyes shining brightly, blood red instead of blue, before with an anti-climatic 'poof', her mane went back to puffy just as the pieces of the monster finally turned into energy specs.
You've reached a new level! You've reached a new level!
With a groan, the injured mares soon raised themselves from the ground, all of them looking at the huge amount of gold, jewels and objects in front of them were the Goliath used to be, a giggling Pinkie Pie joyfully swimming on the gold with childish glee, the metal behaving as water instead of an solid.
“W-what happened?” Inquired an still weak Rainbow Dash, who was looking at the pink mare with an incredulous gaze on her face.
“Ow, ow, ow... my poor, beautiful body!” Offered Rarity, who went back to the ground as she abruptly sat, as her body was suffering strong spasm.
Fluttershy, who was soon making good use of her healing abilities, then added:
“We nearly died, that's what happened,” Said the healer, as she looked at the surrounding area, frowning at the huge amount of damage that the mine had taken on their short fight... “While we're powerful, a lucky hit could take us out... that those stalagmites caused critical damage despite our defenses didn't help either...”
Applejack nodded, looking at the roof and glaring at the rocks for what they had nearly done... before she sighed.
“We nearly died because we let our emotions run the whole battle, once one of us went down, the rest were too focused on the downed member than on the fight, and in the process went down themselves...”
Nods all over the place, let the blonde mare know that everypony understood that, before she looked toward Pinkie's direction and added:
“It was Pinkie's unique ability what saved our sorry selves... without her, the falling debris would have been our end, and we would be monster food right now...” With a frown, then she added, “It was an stroke of luck that our situation triggered her ability...” Then, with an smile she said, “Though, this would have been far more easier if we had McIntosh with us, or one of us also specialized on defense... which none of us do...”
“But darling... what about your domes?” Inquired Rarity, looking at the palomino with some surprise at that admission.
“I can only use those when I have equipped an rope, Rares... which I haven't, my Whipsword doesn't work like that... My only defense with my sword also nearly ended up killing me when it got stuck on that Goliath mouth... and it left me unable to do anything else than sustain it... something I need to correct...”
“Sadly, we Pegasi don't have defensive magic... we depend on our speed and or long range attacks... but we saw how effective those are in a close environment as this one.” Added Fluttershy, which made Rainbow Dash scowl then sadly nod, ashamed to have been taken down by a falling rock.
“I not accustomed to look up, the sky usually doesn't drop things at my back...” Was her only commentary, before she looked at her pink friend and added, “I guess we own her a big deal...”
“Oh yes, you do!” Said Pinkie Pie, who suddenly appeared just beside the blue mare, who let out a girlish frightened scream at the sudden appearance.
“HOW!? BUT... I SAW YOU DIVE ON THE PILE OF GOLD!!! HOW!?”
Chuckling, Applejack just patted the frightened mare on the back, before she walked toward Pinkie and asked:
“I own you one, Pinkie... how can I pay you?”
“By sleeping with me!”
The palomino just stood there, looking at her friend with something akin to surprise, before she nodded, then added:
“OK, but no tongue!” She teased, knowing that the party mare only wanted to sleep beside her friends, obviously scared by how close she had lost them on that battle.
“AW!”
It took the whole group an hour and a half to get back to the first level, and the Diamond Dogs who obviously were surprised to see them, apparently never expected them to survive the experience, which earned the pair a glare from Fluttershy, who was quite angry at them from omitting such valuable information.
An sight that earned them a quick an easy travel back to the surface as the cowed canines did their best to earn some respite from the glaring pegasus.
Once in the forest, the whole group hasn't even doubted on activating their Chimera Wings, all of them then taking their time on the communal shower, enjoying a hot bath and finally of a comfy Queen sized bed, were the whole gang fell asleep beside the other, finding comfort in the closeness.
Applejack stood in the middle of the bunch, simply enjoying a quite randy dream with McIntosh, who was feeling adventurous and seemed quite eager to explore how perky and tasty her teats could be under his oral ministrations, when to her dismay, the sound of giggles and the feeling of actual pleasure coursing through her body felt too real to be a dream.
With a gasp, the palomino woke up to find herself in front of the most intimate place of Rarity, who the blonde quickly saw was sucking one of her teats while asleep, her blushing face now earning a new round of giggles, which forced the mare to raise her head and look at Pinkie and Rainbow, but more exactly at Pinkie an the artifact that soon discharged itself, making the blonde see spots for a few seconds.
“Wait until I show Mackie this!” Said Pinkie, which caused Rainbow to lose it, waking up Fluttershy and Rarity, who looked what she had been doing and screamed in fright, which made Applejack scream and Fluttershy to lose consciousness, her face scarlet red and a silly smile on her lips.
“Give me that Photo, Pinkie! Give me that!”
XxX
Days had passed by since the incident, and Applejack had to admit that things had been quite horrible since, as monsters and quest alike suddenly became more harsher and deadlier. It was an odd occurrence that had the whole town on edge, as many unlucky members of the community had been deeply injured or in the worst case, killed.
Such a thing had forced the whole town to sequester itself, depending on Jack and Tangerine to defend the town from the most aggressive monsters that dared to attack.
Applebloom had been quite rebellious of late too, which had forced the hoof of Granny the whole time to focus on the hyperactive filly, which sadly, left the whole orchard and the farm in the care of the older siblings.
Applejack had to admit that it wasn't an easy job, even with their high levels, there was the occasional treat or surprise that made the duo fight as hard as they could for their lives, knowing that a defeat would mean an direct attack to the house, or the more productive Apple orchards. This new level of responsibilities didn't came cheap, as the pair had quickly found that something had been killing their living stock by the droves, terrorizing the cows, sheep and annihilating their goats.
Forcing the pair to take a risk and hunt the beast to put an end to its reign of terror.
“I don't know Jackie... I think that we should call our parents on this one...” Muttered Big McIntosh as he walked on the soft soil of the forest, his eyes shining brightly as he scanned the surrounding area, reading the information that his ability brought to him as quick as he could.
“We can take it, Mac,” answered Applejack confidently, her own eyes sparkling with magic on the darkness of the forest, her confidence also perceptible on her voice: “Ma and Pa are too busy defending the town, we have to do this...”
Her only answer was a grunt of acknowledgment, which was enough for her to continue, knowing that despite his reservations, the red pony understood their situation better than anybody else. The palomino mare looked at the floating 135 float above him, while she watched her own 138... feeling confident on their shared power to be enough to deal with the pesky beast that had been terrorizing their farm.
Applejack heard McIntosh sniff, which prompted her to do the same, quickly finding what he had detected, humidity, which was soon followed by the sound of running water.
“How weird... there wasn't a river on this part of the forest...” She saw him nod, both of them knowing that there was only a lake a few miles from the farm, a quite placid lake that usually didn't had running waters... so with some precaution, they quickly approached the place finding in front of the lake shore a quite stunning and gorgeous Stallion.
The blonde mare looked at the hunk in front of her, and frowned... as she didn't recognized him, a quick gaze at her brother also gave her the same frustrated expression. The stallion was blue, with a purplish long and silky mane that moved on the wind sinfully, his piercing blue eyes looked at them as they approached him, apparently amused by their sudden intrusion.
“Hello beautiful...” His voice was smooth as silk and husky, which soon made Applejack frown, as she saw were exactly was this stallion looking at.
“Howdy stranger...” She said, trying to call his attention, anything to make him look at her and not her brother, who squirmed a little by his intense stare.
“Why don't you get closer, beautiful? And we get to know each another?” It took an step toward McIntosh, which made him take an step back which seemed to amuse the stranger, “Don't fear me... I don't bite... much! I'll assure you that, it will be the best experience of your life...” A chuckle then emerged from his mouth, which simply caused Applejack to nearly implode of indignation...
“Listen here...” But her rant was soon stopped when a hoof appeared in front of her muzzle, the red fetlocks obviously revealing the identity of the owner.
“Calm down... he's riling us up...” Warned McIntosh, who had finally broken free from the spell that had been affecting his status in the process doing the same to Applejack, who soon noticed that she had been far too aggressive on her approach.
With a deep breath, Applejack then was able to finally calm herself enough to use her Observe, her eyes shining brightly as she saw the magic float in front of her, attempting to enrage her to no avail now that she was aware of its subtle intentions... she soon noticed that her stats had been also affected, her strength increasing by a huge margin at the expense of her defense which was now nearly non-existent.
“An enraging spell...” Muttered the palomino, glaring daggers at the now frowning beauty in front of her... “Stop it!”
And stop it it did, as he snarled at them as his shape shifted and morphed in front of them, his body becoming translucent as it was made of water, its back legs merging together and forming a fin that soon submerged itself on the surface of the lake.
Applejack then raised her defense, confused by the fact that no warning or signal has appeared that named her rival, or the level of her opponent.
The equine shaped beast then roared to the sky, its cry raising seven water demons from the deeps of the lake, each one a perfect copy of its past frame as the original one now floated on a column of water over the surface of the lake, cackling and smiling at them, its clones were weak and feeble, a quick or well placed touch of their weapons rendering unusable as they became puddles around them, which seemed to amuse even more the demon.
“Surrender yourselves to the power of Kelpie! ” It shouted when its last copy fell under the careful movements of the pair, its eyes shining brightly over its translucent frame, “Let me feast on your flesh! ”
Without warning, a beam of energy suddenly shot toward them which forced McIntosh to put himself in front of Applejack, receiving the full brunt of the attack, which cracked his armor with ease as it had barely resisted the attack.
“Big Mac!” Shouted Applejack worriedly, glaring at the cackling entity as it jeered and mocked them from its column of water, apparently giving them time to recover.
“Cover me, Applejack!” Warned McIntosh as he began to repair his armor with a well placed items, as the palomino used her Whipsword to cut and maim anything that the demon launched at them at the moment, which seemed to amuse even more the monster, who finally submerged itself in the column of water, then changed and grew in shape, taking the form of a colossal demonic equine.
The monster raised a hoof, which soon came crashing down against the pair, only to be easily cut in half by the cutting edges of the magical sword of Applejack, which only left the pair soaked to the brims but unhurt or affected.
“Drown, and let me feast on your flesh! ” Roared the huge colossus, who then suddenly submerged itself, causing a tidal wave to violently crash upon the pair, its current quickly dragging them toward the lake, forcing each one to use their weapons to anchor themselves to the ground, their bodies receiving quite a lot of damage in the process, putting their life bars on a ugly brown.
Both of them gasped desperately when the water finally went back to the lake, the monster then slowly taking back its original form inside the protection of its water column, seven replicas emerging again from the deeps of the lake, but this time their speed had greatly increased due to the soaked ground, getting some direct hits upon the pair that had forced McIntosh to drop a magical dome around them, if to just have a few minutes of respite, the watery demons hitting the barrier with desperate need, while the original monster simply laughed at the whole deal.
Once recovered the dome went down, replaced by Applejack Cutting storm, which quickly disintegrated the monsters into pools, despite the damage that she had also inflicted upon Big McIntosh, who had endured the whole deal valiantly, his armor taking the brunt of the attack.
The monster once again roared, taking its colossal form which put him closer to them, which was what the pair had been waiting for, as they dropped their armors and attacked with only their weapons, their speeds increasing dramatically, Applejack made a quick work of its legs with her sword, which made the beast recoil and expose its torso to the incoming attack of Big McIntosh, who cleaved in half the water demon with outstanding ease, his cutie mark shining brightly as he used his strength against this particular opponent, making an critical and quite fatal attack in a single movement, the divided pieces soon finding themselves assaulted viciously by Applejack, knowing that she had to gain its attention at the minute as McIntosh impulse had directed him to the lake, or at least it would have done so hasn't the water receded incredibly fast at its original resting place once they had defeated the monster, which made the teenager colt land on the muddy ground with a pained grunt.
The pair just stood there, gasping loudly as they had consumed a lot of magic into that final collaborative attack, both of them looking incredulously at their stats as the defeat of that monster had suddenly brought upon them a huge increase of power that came out of nowhere, as there hasn't been the usual warnings and congratulations that usually happened once you defeated an opponent.
They looked at each another, smiling slightly at their victory, the adrenaline on their bodies and the cold water dripping from their coats and manes causing their bodies to tremble profusely, they had won. It had been a fast and quite strange battle, but they had defeated Kelpie. But then, the puddles trembled and in a fast display of dexterity they moved and reformed the beast once again who glared at them for a few seconds, giving them enough time to snap out of their surprise and regroup themselves, when it smiled, a vicious and disgusting smile that chilled them to the bones.
“Good... keep going, entertain ME! ” It bellowed, before it submerged itself once more on the lake. Which send another colossal wave at them, who this time were too tired to anchor themselves, the current dragging them at the lake and toward the awaiting maws of the beast. Applejack screamed in fright, seeing her life past in front of her eyes when to her surprise, almost as it had happened on the mines, a bubble had surrounded her, stronger than before, the palomino mare looked at McIntosh, who was openly struggling as his magical dome saved the duo from being consumed whole by Kelpie, who despite this setback, laughed and jeered at them, punching the bubble away from him, playing with them with gusto and glee.
But in his fun, he had separated itself from the lake, its speeds decreasing significantly, which the palomino had quickly noticed.
“Mac, take him far away from the lake!” Ordered Applejack as she donned once more her armor as McIntosh let the protective bubble retreat as he also equipped his armor, both of them charging once last time against the monster, who received the full brunt of their thrust with an roar, its body becoming unstable as they took it away from its source of power.
Both Apples hasn't noticed that their Cutie Marks were shining brightly with power, their movements becoming one, until with an last push, they send the beast away toward the trees were it staggered and glared at them, a tinge of fear on its eyes now that it was away from the lake. Applejack felt alive, her body burning with power despite the fact that her magical pool was about to empty itself with the effort, beside her stood Big McIntosh, supporting her, protecting her, loving her like no pony else did in the entire world.
Then, with a bright shine, and a last synchronized movement, there was a bang, a display of power and were two bodies used to be, one remained.
Alicorn: Unblocked
Applejack stood there, glaring at the monster that had dared to attack their farm and animals, the beast that had attempted to drown them and consume their meat, the demon was shaking and confused as this bright shining mare of energy who with a single beat of her wings, suddenly disintegrated the smiling and laughing beast into oblivion.
Which left the mare there, staring confused at the pool at water at her hooves, as she looked at her image on it, she was an Alicorn, an Alicorn made of energy... she...
“Wait... a minute... uh?!”
Then with a bang, the synchronized ponies weren't one anymore, both of them now back on their old forms, exhausted beyond belief as they stood there on the muddy ground, looking at each another incredulously at what they had just done...
You feel your relationship with Big McIntosh grown stronger Your social Link with Big McIntosh is now level 9 You gained a new level Congratulations, you reached a new plateau! Congratulations, you've unblocked Fusion powers. Congratulations, you've unblocked Alicorn form.
Applejack couldn't prevent it, she laughed, it was all she could do at the moment, soon finding herself joined by him by how ridiculous this seemed to be, they had grown incredibly stronger thanks to that anomaly of an monster that had come out of nowhere. It had been gruesome, but they had survived, they were alive.
“Good, good, I love it when prey earn my respect!” Added a new voice out of nowhere, which took the pair by surprise as they found themselves in front of blob of darkness that was floating above of them, its wicked smile big enough to be seen as blood red eyes looked at them, judging.
“Congratulations... you reached the mayor leagues now! ”
And then with a single and unholy fast movement, both of them only knew darkness. Until, with an abrupt jerk, Applejack found herself awake in a quite familiar room in the hospital, surrounded by her friends and family who smiled at her, their eyes shining brightly with tears.
The palomino looked around her, searching desperately for Big McIntosh, who was thankfully resting on his own bed, apparently still asleep.
He was safe... but more importantly, he was alive, and so was she.
But why?
