Brand stood over the unconscious bodies of several mares, while his men held the others at bay. When he had returned to the camp alone, Rainbow's mares were immediately suspicious, and about five of them came to him in a group to ask what had happened.

"Where's Rainbow and the others? We haven't seen them all day," asked one of them.

Brand stared at them all before answering. He knew this would be a problem, but he'd made up his mind on the long walk back that he'd be honest. He squared his shoulders and began.

"Rainbow and three other mares tied me and another stallion up, and raped us for hours." He paused, knowing this next part would be hard to take. "So when I broke free, I tied them all up and marched them into town."

The mares gazed at him in horror. "In...into town? But, that's being run by the Caribou!" shouted one. "What did you do?!"

Several of them drew their swords as the other one was speaking, but Brand was quicker. "Stallions! Get over here!" he shouted as he laid into them with his fists. He took down three of them before the rest could react, and the others were quickly surrounded, then disarmed. Brand panted, "It's your choice: either stay with us, or join Rainbow with the Caribou."

Fine watched the goings-on with his wife from their tent, then he grimly turned to her."We need to get out of here. Now." Without another word, the family gathered their belongings, hefted backpacks, and marched resolutely across the clearing. This of course did not go unnoticed.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" shouted Brand.

Fine stopped and faced the group. "We're leaving, Brand. Don't try to stop us." The big stallion stared at them.

"You won't last five minutes out in the Forest away from the Group."

Meadow faced Brand and the others with a scowl. "You've lost control here. Maybe what those mares did to you and my husband was wrong, but you had no right to turn them over to the enemy! I thought you hated them?!"

Brand stared at the stallion and his wife, then exchanged a look with the others. "I did what I had to do."

Fine scowled. "You had no right to turn them over to the enemy!"

Brand was unmoved. "Whatever. Those bitches got what they deserved." He gestured to the fallen mares and the ones being held at bay. "Besides, it will keep the others in line. I did it for the good of all of us."

"If you can decide, on your own, to betray some of us to the Caribou, what's to stop you from doing it again?" asked Fine. He adjusted his pack. "Regardless, we're not waiting around to find out." He turned to his family. "We're going."

Brand stepped in front of him and crossed his arms. "Suppose I don't let you leave?"

Fine looked up at the big stallion, one half again larger than himself, and said without fear, "Then, you'll have to kill us. Are you a tyrant now?" He turned to the others standing around. "Is this what it's come to? 'Might makes right?' Have you all given up your freedom to follow somepony who might betray you if it suits him?" The ponies all shifted their gazes and looked anywhere but at Fine and his family. Fine grimly smiled. "That's what I thought." He faced the big stallion again. "Get out of my way."

He and Brand locked eyes for what seemed like an eternity, but then Brand sighed and stepped aside. "Go on if you're going. But don't blame us when you get into trouble. We won't help you." Fine merely snorted and motioned his family forward. They kept going, not looking back.

Then, just before they reached the edge of the clearing, they heard a "Wait!" and they turned to see Pinkie running after them. She panted as she caught up with them, a pack of her own thrown over one shoulder, and her massive chest heaving. "Take me with you," she managed to utter. Meadow stared at her in disgust and was about to speak, but her husband cut her off.

"No mare is safe here. You're welcome to join us." He bore the furious look his wife gave him and turned to go. But she wasn't about to be put off so easily.

She matched his stride and said, "What do you think you're doing?!" making no attempt to lower her voice.

Fine kept his gaze forward, but his cheeks showed a bit of color. "It's as I said: no mare is safe with that group. We can't turn anypony away."

"I don't trust her!"

Fine opened his mouth to reply, but stopped when they heard a meek, "Can...can I say something?" They all stopped at looked at Pinkie. She shuffled her hooves and said, "I want you to know I hate the Caribou more than anypony. They enslaved my friends, they corrupted me into what you see before you, they treat all mares like filth. I will do anything to get back at them!" Here she lifted her eyes and stared straight at Meadow. "So you can trust me when I say I'd never betray you to them." Her face darkened as she added, "And they don't even like parties!"

Meadow stared silently at her, as the two locked gazes. Finally, she said, "Stay away from my husband," then turned and walked off. Fine gave an apologetic smile to Pinkie, who just stared back at him in return. He then hurried and caught up to Meadow.

As Fine came abreast of his wife, she said, "So, where are we going?"

He sighed and said, "I'm not sure. I know we have to find shelter before nightfall, or else we'll have to camp out under the stars until we think of a plan." He shuddered and added, "Hopefully before any of the creatures out here decide they'd like to learn what pony tastes like."

She looked at him. "That isn't very reassuring."

"I know where we can go."

They both turned to look at Pinkie. "Where?" asked Fine.

She smiled. "The Princesses' old Castle. It's deserted, 'cause everypony thinks it's haunted. I haven't heard of the Caribou going there either."

Fine exchanged glances with his wife and daughter. "I'm sure it's better than nothing. Lead the way."

Three hours later found them within sight of the Castle. The place was dark, even with the westering Sun shining down upon it, and had an air of perpetual gloom. Tendrils of fog wafted about the base, and all the windows were unlit. "Do...do we have to go in there?" asked Blossom as they all crouched behind some trees. They'd arrived and had been staring at the place for several minutes, trying to detect any movement.

Finally, Fine said, "I'll go in and check the place out. If I see anything, dangerous, I'll yell. Then, the rest of you get as far away as you can."

"I'll go in with you," said Pinkie. "I know the layout, as my friends and I used to come here often."

"You're not going anywhere alone with my husband!"

Pinkie was about to say something when the stallion cut her off. "We need her help, Meadow. Trust me, nothing is going to happen between us." He stepped close to her and whispered, "Besides, I don't find her attractive. She's been with Celestia only knows how many stallions and Caribou."

Meadow looked at Pinkie with her tiny skirt and too-small top, her boobs practically spilling out of them, then stared him in the eyes and said, "You're lying."

He stared back. "No, I'm not! We need to find shelter and we need to know this place is safe. You'll just have to trust me." Before she could further protest he turned away and said to Pinkie, "Let's go."

Again, Pinkie led the way as they ventured into the Castle. As they came to the massive doors, Pinkie said, "Help me." She and Fine set their shoulders to the door and gently heaved, as it opened a crack. Stopping for a moment to listen, they were both relieved when nothing untoward happened. Motioning him forward, she whispered, "Follow me." The outer doors opened into the Great Hall, where faded tapestries and high windows lined the walls. In the dim light, they could see the Princesses' sigils adorning the columns, which held up a vaulted ceiling. The air was musty, and they could see puddles of water where the rain had come in through the open windows. Cobwebs were strewn everywhere, but they could make out no other signs of larger animals having been there. Faded carpet runners led off to other doors, so their hoofsteps were muffled as they went along. At the far end of the room sat a raised dais, upon which sat two thrones, one with the Sun, the other with the Moon carved on top.

"What a dreary place," muttered Fine. Pinkie smiled.

"It's not so bad once you get used to it. My friends and I came here a few times to spruce the place up." She pointed at the tapestries. "Rarity insisted on restoring those. As you can see, she never finished." Then her eyes brightened and she said, "Oh! Look at this!" She bent over at the waist and raised her tail high as she picked up an object from the floor, putting her ass and vulva in full view of the stallion. She wasn't wearing panties. He stared speechless as she remained bent over, and his erection became almost painful at the sight. She stood up and faced him with a smile, holding a golden goblet. "I don't know how this got out here." She held it out to him. "Isn't it beautiful?" she breathed.

With difficulty, he found his voice. "Umm...yes...Yes, very beautiful..." He stared at her with a hungry look, which didn't go unnoticed.

Pinkie looked down at his crotch and smiled. "Is there...something I can...do for you?" Fine grit his teeth and began to sweat. Pinkie ran a finger over her lips, then slowly, gently, ran that same finger over her breasts. "I'll be quick..." she whispered.

Fine closed his eyes and turned away. "N...no. I...can't."

Pinkie dropped all exhibitions of sensuality and brightly said, "Okay! Why don't we make sure the place really is deserted, and then go get your family?"

"W...what?"

"Come on! Follow me!" With that, she turned and led the way into the castle's inner rooms. The dazed stallion followed rather stiffly, his erection making it somewhat hard to walk, but he managed. After a few moments, he was back to normal, grateful she hadn't pushed the issue any further.

There's no telling what he would have done if she had.

After about ten minutes of searching, they determined the place was indeed empty. "Let's get the rest of your family," said Pinkie. Fine nodded, and they started on their way when the stallion heard yelling.

"Fine! Where are you?!"

He and Pinkie hurried back to the main hall, only to see Meadow standing with arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Blossom stood behind her. "What took so long?" she seethed, her eyes narrowed at both her husband and the pink mare. Fine spread his hands.

"Nothing happened between us, honey. We were just making sure there were no enemies hiding in here."

Meadow snorted and turned away. Looking around the Hall, she said, "So, where do we sleep?"

"Pinkie knows." He turned to her. "Right?"

Pinkie smiled. "Of course! Follow me! The bedrooms are back this way. I'll show you."

"That's quite alright. Just point us in the right direction." Turning to her daughter, she added, "Let's go, Blossom. I'm sure your Father wants some alone time."

"Meadow! Nothing. Happened."

Not deigning to answer him, the mare said to Pinkie, "Which way?" When Pinkie pointed she took Blossom by the arm and led her out of the Hall. Fine stared silently at them as they left, then turned to Pinkie.

"I think it was a mistake letting you come with us, Pinkie. I'm sorry."

She gave a grim smile. "Don't apologize. I know mares don't like me, and that was long before the Fall. I'm used to it." She went to her belongings and picked them up. "I'll find somewhere else to go."

Fine hesitated, then said, "You don't have to do that. We would never have found this place if it weren't for you. We owe you, and when my wife gets over being angry, she'll realize that too."

Pinkie looked downcast, then her face brightened. "You mean it? I can stay?!"

He smiled down at her. "Of course. Just...stay out of Meadow's way for the next few days, alright?"

Pinkie bounced in place and cried, "Yay!" then she dropped her things, fell to her knees in front of him and reached for his trousers. He took a hasty step back.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

She looked up at him with genuine puzzlement. "I was only going to suck your dick to show my gratitude?"

He stared sadly down at her."You really can't help yourself, can you? What did they do to you?"

She looked up at him as tears began to form. "Did...did I do something wrong? Again?"

Fine shook his head. "There isn't enough time to explain." He went to his bundle and picked it up. "I'm going to go find my family." Without another word, he left. Pinkie remained on her knees and hugged herself, her face the picture of confusion. Then after a few minutes, she gathered her things and went to a different part of the Castle.

After some minutes of searching, Fine found the bedroom his wife and daughter had chosen. They both looked up when he entered, Blossom with a neutral expression, a grimace of distaste on his wife's face. "What do you think you're doing?" she asked. It had been a long day, and his temper hadn't improved by his wife's cajoling.

"What does it look like? I'm staying in here with you two."

"No, you're not. Go find that slut."

That did it. "Enough! I've told you nothing happened, we're on the run for our lives, and I don't have any more time for your bullshit! Now I'm done talking about this!" He threw his backpack into a corner, walked past her to the bed and flopped down on it. "Blossom, find another bedroom. Meadow, get up here." When they both stood there speechless, he sat up and said one word: "Now." Their daughter hurried and got her things, then left without a word. Meadow stood there staring at him.

"I've never seen you like this before..."

He scowled. "You've never seen me after being raped for hours, then ignored and insulted by you after trying to find us safety, either. And that was after I watched you being drugged, and thought you were dead, and there was nothing I could do about it!"

Her hands flew to her mouth. "I...I'd forgotten about that." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "I'm sorry."

She walked up to the side of the bed. Quietly, she asked, "Do you want my clothes on or off?"

He stared at her. "What do you think?" She lowered her eyes and nodded, then started to slowly disrobe. When she was completely naked, she crawled up beside him and faced him.

"Are you okay down there? May I suck it and make it better?" When he curtly nodded, she smiled and got to work.

First, she caressed his cock through the fabric, then slowly undid his pants. "Raise up," she whispered, as she got to her knees and used both hands to pull down both his underwear and his trousers. She took her time taking them off and finally got them past his hooves. Throwing the garments off to one side, she leaned down and began licking his thighs, making her way upward. He shuddered as she finally reached his balls and gently took one, then the other into her mouth, getting them dripping wet with her spit. "So good..." she moaned as she then ran her tongue lightly up his shaft. She tickled the underside of his head with the tip of her tongue, then opened her mouth wide and took him in. She began humming as she swallowed him past her throat, going up and down, up and down, letting him slide in and out of her warm, wet mouth. Her hands were not idle. She caressed his balls lovingly as she continued giving his cock her full attention and skill.

She pulled off of him just long enough to whisper, "Do you like that?" then began sucking him again without waiting for an answer. She felt him swell and his breath grew rapid as he suddenly took her by the head and forced her down, pumping furiously. He arched his back as he released a flood of cum into her mouth and throat, his cries echoing off the walls.

"Meadow...I love you..."

She swallowed his load before answering, then wiped what was left off her lips. "I still love you too, you big, stupid lug..."

Author's Note

This is a rewrite where Meadow survives the assault from a few chapters back, as I finally
couldn't bear to have her die, just for the sake of having Fine have sex with his daughter.

So I rewrote it to bring her back. I love the character far too much to have her die for such an ignoble reason.