Applejack walked through the market place of Pullānus, the small village near Sweet Apple Acres. She made most of her money off the crops sold at her own stall in the market, but it wasn’t enough for much more than replacement seeds and basic needs.
Sometimes, however, she got lucky enough to buy her sister Applebloom a toy or two. But today…
“Damn, 30 bits? That’s more than what I paid for food!” Applejack grumbled, a little too loud apparently because the shopkeeper was giving her a nasty look.
At that point she decided she had enough to keep her family fed for a week, so she trudged off back to the farm. Before she left, though, her hearing picked up several townsponies discussing an upcoming attack by the Chkruglings. Applejack ignored them for the most part, thinking that it was just a silly false rumour, but she couldn’t help but wonder what brought everyone to talk about it so much and in such a scared tone.
“Applebloom, you silly thing, don’t’cha know that you shouldn’t bury the seeds so deep? Make more of a blanket for them, in the earth enough so they don’ wash away, but close enough to the surface that they can grow.”
“Sorry sis, I was just trying to help.”
“It’s fine, sugarcube, one seed won’t change nothing big.”
The walk back home was longer than usual. Bucking apples nearly nonstop and then taking a trek isn't all that easy to do.
“Big Mac, can you teach me how to buck the trees as good as you?”
“Why, sure little sister! I’ve seen you before though, you’ve got mighty strong legs for a schoolfilly like yourself.”
“Thanks, you’re the best brother ever.”
“Eeyup.”
***
Sweet Apple Acres finally came into view, though it seemed…darker than usual. Applejack figured it was because of the lateness of the hour.
***
Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. Applejack, seeing the horror but not yet believing it, galloped at tremendous speed through the gates of the farm.
“Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no…”
And then she saw it. Her farm was smoking. Someone, or something, set it on fire.
“No!”
Completely fazed, she stumbled into the charred shell that was her home. There she saw the horror – a few bones burnt black, and the truth smacked her once again.
Finally, she saw the culprits. It was the Chkruglings the town was warning itself about.
“YOU SONS OF BITCHES!”
Rage filling her otherwise good-natured and honest heart, she choked, beat, and killed every creature of damnation that had the unfortunate luck of meeting her. It goes without saying that she wasn’t outmatched by them.
***
When the awful deed was done, she broke down and cried, her tears mixing with the blood on her face and hooves. She couldn’t even choke out the fact that her family, her best friends, were gone from her, taken by dumb minions of a greater threat.
Applejack couldn’t bear to walk back into what used to be her home. She couldn’t go back into town. She didn’t want to see anypony. She didn’t want to do anything. But her mind bested her heart, and she gathered the strength to pack some food, a small sword and shield, and head off towards Stone-Ponybridge. There she could find help. She would take revenge on the Chkruglings, but couldn’t do it alone. Surely someone in the neighboring village could assist her.
***
The journey to Stone-Ponybridge was fraught with danger. Thank Celestia she had decided to bring the sword and shield, regardless of their weakened state due to age. They became invaluable to fight off hostile animals and other creatures. At various times she would find…
“70 bits? That’s more than I make in a week! How could some dumb animals have more money than a hardworking earth pony like myself?!
“Well, I shouldn’t bite the hand that graciously feeds me. Thank you, dead black wolf!”
***
For what seemed like weeks, but in reality only about three days, she came upon a two-story household in not-so-good condition. Opening the unlocked door, she saw a stallion fending off a small group of vicious Chkruglings.
“Not on my watch!” Applejack exclaimed as she struck down two of the creatures as the stallion, regaining his morale, took down the last one.
“Thanks! You saved me!” the stallion said, shaking Applejack’s hoof vigorously.
“Anything to help out a fellow pony with these creatures of the devil. My name’s Applejack, what’s yours?”
“My name’s Thunderblade.” Thunderblade had a dark navy blue coat, with a jet black mane. Despite his initial impression, he seemed to be a somewhat-brave colt. “I know this is all of a sudden, but it looks like you’re on your way to another town. Stone-Ponybridge, I’m hoping.”
“Yes I am, as a matter of fact. Why?”
“Well…can I go with you? Even if it’s only until we reach town, any assistance is better than any.”
“You can say that again. Yes you may, Mr. Blade.”
“Oh bless you!”
“It’s no trouble, sugarcube. We can leave right now. Well, after you pack up your things.”
“It’s all right here.” He motioned to a canvas bag in the corner.
“Alright, then, let’s head out!”
***
After a few hours of alternating between killing fiends and just walking, Applejack decided to strike up a conversation.
“So…what are you doing out all here by yourself?”
“Well, less than a year ago, it wasn’t that way.
“I had a wife and two foals, which explains the size of my house, but then a disease swept through the forest. We noticed it first when my chickens began to pass on prematurely. But then my son was getting sick.”
Applejack’s eyes were getting wet, but Thunderblade kept his complexion.
“Then my daughter passed on shortly after my son did.
“Finally, about 3 months later, my wife headed out here to get some mushrooms for my favorite meal of hers.
“She never returned.”
Applejack wiped her tears. “That’s…so awful.”
“It is, but I try to look past it to a brighter future. Since I’ve told you my big sob story, what’s yours?”
Applejack recounted her tale, following Thunderblade’s advice and not even coming close to crying this time.
“I will say the same thing you did to me. Such a tragic occurrence, and so sudden.”
“I’m going to be recruiting people in Stone-Ponybridge, but if you’d like to tag along instead, we could both get our revenge.”
“I don’t like to think of it as revenge, but I want it as much as you do. I’ll take you up on your offer.” Thunderblade then shook Applejack’s hand once more, and that was that.
