Fall of Equestria: Choices

“Master loves my ass!”

Meadow clapped a hand over her own mouth to keep from screaming as she heard these words, words that left little doubt as to what was going on inside the house. When Fine had been gone longer than ten minutes, she’d crept over to see what was the matter. All he was supposed to do was let Wines’ wife out of her cage and maybe talk to her for a few minutes. They needed to get out of there before the Caribou arrived, didn’t he know that?! Just as she’d put her hand to the door, she’d heard Melody cry out…then the sound of her husband…grunting. She knew that sound.

She felt her heart shatter, not only for the betrayal but for the dying of hope. She’d believed he was different from all the other males. But if he’d have sex with a nasty mare like Melody, he’d have sex with anypony! If it wasn’t completely crazy she’d take her daughter and go, right now! But she knew she couldn’t. He was still their best chance of escape. Even so, she’d never forgive him for this. Never.

She turned away and went back to her home. She stopped at her door and held herself as she shook with tears. Then she forced her hurt down, down where it would stay buried until she could face it. She couldn’t allow her feelings to get in the way, not now, not with her daughter still in danger. Drying her tears, she stepped back inside the house. Blossom looked up at her and frowned. “What’s wrong, Mom?”

Forcing a smile, Meadow said, “Everything’s fine, sweetie. Mom’s just anxious to get going.”

“Where’s Daddy?”

Meadow closed her eyes and fought for control. “He’ll…he’ll be a few minutes, dear.” In keeping with her decision, she added, “As soon as he gets back, we’re leaving.” Then she went over to her daughter and held her close.

**********

That was how Fine found them when he entered the house, sitting on the floor and huddled next to one another. He took a moment to stare at them both, as neither seemed to want to meet his eyes. “Are we ready?”

Meadow startled at the sound of his voice, then simply put on her bags, stood and nodded. Fine watched her, as guilt burned through him like a hot knife. She knew. Somehow, she knew. “Meadow…I…” he began, but she held up a hand.

“We have to get out of here and keep our daughter safe. Nothing else matters, for now.” She spared him one look of intense hatred, then her face closed like a vault door. Fine swallowed, but didn’t dare make a sound. Meadow took Blossom by the arm and led her outside. With her back to him, Meadow said, “Are you coming?” Fine grabbed his things and followed them out.

Luck was with them, for the streets were deserted at this hour. They quickly made their way through town, and soon found themselves on the outskirts of Sweet Apple Acres, the last buildings before they reached the Everfree Forest. All was silent as they crept past. The farm was deceptively quiet in the stillness, but Fine knew the Apple place is where mares are brought to be…”trained” by the red stallion, if half the tales were true. It took him a moment to recall his name. Big Mac. That was it. Fine didn’t know if the stallion extended his “training” to his family, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He didn’t know the Apples beyond buying fruit from them on occasion, but he’d heard that one of the mares was still a black collar and resisted all efforts to put her in line. Fine wished he knew for certain if that was true, for she would at least be sympathetic to their plight, though he wasn’t sure if she’d be any help.

As they continued past the fences and were just about to enter the orchard, they all heard a sound of somepony weeping. It was hard to make out in the dark, but by squinting Fine could just recognize a figure lying in the dirt. The family stopped and looked at each other, but Meadow shook her head and continued walking. But they’d been spotted.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!”

Panic filled them all as the mare, for mare it was, continued speaking.

“Give me some water, please.”

“Be quiet!” hissed Meadow.

“A mare? What are you doing out here?” whispered the figure. Meadow looked at her husband, then put her burdens down and climbed the fence.

Walking over to the mare, she kneeled next to her in the moonlight and said, “You have to be quiet!” Then Meadow stared at her. She was naked and chained to a stake by the neck and it looked like she’d been out there awhile. “Don’t I know you?” asked Meadow.

The mare stared up at her and whispered, “In another life, maybe. I’m Golden Harvest, or at least I was. Who are you?”

“I…I’d better not say.”

Golden Harvest looked past her at the other two standing there, then something seemed to click. “You’re trying to get away, aren’t you? Take me with you!”

Meadow stood. “We can’t. We have to get our daughter away. Nothing else matters.”

The mare gripped her knees and begged, “Please! You can’t leave me like this!”

Meadow took a step back, out of her reach, and said, “I’m sorry.”

Just then Meadow heard movement behind her and turned to see Fine had climbed the fence and joined her. Golden looked up and him and cowered.

“There’s a stallion with you?! Are you going to hurt me?”

“I’m not…” Fine began, but Meadow elbowed him in the ribs and shot a look at him.

“…going to hurt you, unless you disobey me,” he finished.

Golden closed her eyes and sighed, "I know what you want." She then shuffled close to him on her knees and began to reach for his belt. Fine took a step back.

Golden couldn’t keep the shock from her voice. “What’s the matter? Don’t you want me to suck your cock? I’m really good! I’ll make you cum like a fountain!”

Any feelings of pity Meadow had for her quickly evaporated. “You disgusting slut.”

Golden stared up at her. “But I’m thirsty! Please!” But Meadow turned away.

Fine hesitated, then said, “No.”

Meadow turned on him. “What did you say?”

Fine looked her in the eyes and answered, “I said ‘no.’ We can’t leave her like this.”

“Oh, you need your cock sucked? Again?!”

“That’s not what I meant! Let’s get her some water, then we’ll go.”

Meadow balled her hands into fists and said, “You’re going to get us all killed.” But Fine was determined.

“We turned our backs on Bottom Line, Meadow. I can’t do that again.”

She looked at him, to the mare still on her knees, then back to him. “Do what you want. But if we get caught, it’s your fault!” She turned away and went back to their daughter.

Fine looked at the mare, then said, “I’ll get you some water, but you cannot give us away. Understand?”

“Yes, Master.”

He started to correct her but then decided it was probably for the best. He looked over to the farmhouse. There was probably a pump somewhere near the house, or at least a faucet. He’d never been out here, so he did not know the layout. In any case, he had to be quiet and he had to get this done quickly. His wife was right; he was taking a big chance on them getting spotted, but he couldn’t just leave the mare in her condition. He felt a surge of anger pass through him at the big stallion, for he was most likely the one who’d staked her out here, for Celestia knows how long.

As quietly as he could, he ran over to the barn and looked around. There, he quickly spotted what he needed: a pump, with a bucket sitting under it. Thanking whoever was looking out for him, he picked up the bucket and began using the pump. It creaked loudly in the stillness, causing him to freeze in place and his heart to start racing. He looked over at the farmhouse. No lights came on, and all seemed to be as it was. He used the pump more slowly as water began to trickle out. Even this seemed to be too loud, so he directed the flow to the edge of the bucket. When it was halfway full, he stopped and trotted back to Golden. She took the bucket from him and began to greedily drink.

“Not so fast! You’ll throw it up!”

“Sorry,” she panted, “but I haven’t had any water for hours!”

Though he knew he should just leave, curiosity got the better of him. “Why are you out here?”

She kept drinking for a few moments, then set the bucket down and sighed. “I needed that!” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and looked up at him. “For disobedience.” Fine nodded and began to turn away. It was just as he’d suspected; the stallion was being cruel just because he could. But her next words stopped him cold.

“I kept trying to have sex with him, but he turned me away.” Fine turned back to her.

“He did?! Why?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s gay, or maybe it has something to do with his sisters.”

“What about them?”

“One is a black collar and I don't know how old the other one is. We never see the other one, but I’ve seen Applejack lots of times.” She looked thoughtful. “I get the impression he’s trying to protect her.”

Hope surged through him with these words, but he quickly pushed it down. How could he trust the word of somepony like her? Then he realized she probably had no reason to lie. If it were true, Big Mac could be a valuable asset. But could he take the chance?

As he stood there wracked with indecision, Golden took what was left of the water and poured it over her head. The water caused her breasts to glisten in the moonlight and its coolness caused her nipples to harden and perk out. Fine swallowed as he looked down at her. Golden smiled up at him and in a sultry voice asked, “See anything you like…Master?”

But Fine shook himself and said, “I don’t have time for this. Remember our agreement, mare.”

She pouted and said, “Am I that ugly?”

“N…no. No, but I have to go!” Before she could reply, he trotted away. When he reached his family, Meadow refused to look at him. He sighed and said, “I may have found us some help.” At this, she did turn to face him.

“What do you mean? From her? What good is she?”

Fine frowned at her, then said, “No, of course not from her. From Big Mac.”

“The apple farmer? Won’t he turn us in?”

“Maybe, I don’t know.” He indicated the mare behind him. “She says he doesn’t have sex with her, possibly because of his sisters. If he’s protective of them, then maybe he can be trusted.”

“How do you know she’s telling the truth?”

Fine shrugged. “I don’t. But if it’s true, we could use the help. We’re literally in the dark here.”

Meadow’s struggle was visible on her face. “It sounds too risky, Fine.”

At this, he knew he’d have to make the decision. “Look, just stay here with our daughter. If it’s safe and he’ll help us, I’ll call you in. If not, and I’m in there longer than five minutes, get her away.”

“But…”

“No ‘buts!’ We need the help, and it will be light soon.”

She turned an accusing look at him. “If you hadn’t wasted your time with that slut, we could have been halfway through the Everfree by now!”

There were about a hundred things he could say to her, but he settled on, “Just do as I say!” He then turned and ran to the farmhouse.