Seeking Safety

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue: The Wedding

Chapter 1

Lilac picked herself up from the floor, her legs trembling. A mess of broken glass and the scattered remains of an unfinished meal littered the floor. She made her way into the kitchen, wincing. Coming up to a stop beside the sink, she turned on the tap. She carefully began to wash her face, clearing the dried blood from her bruised muzzle and upper lip. When she had finished, she turned off the sink, looking at her reflection in the window.

Violet eyes stared miserably back at her under a disheveled brunette mane. Her tawny brown coat was pale from too much time spent indoors, and the white marking on her forehead was dull. Bags hung under her eyes from lack of sleep.

She looked terrible.

Her bottom lip trembled, and she felt tears welling in her eyes. She blinked, and looked past her reflection out into the streets below. Hundreds of lights glittered in the night, their displays distracting her from the pain.

She'd been living in this tiny Manehatten apartment with her husband Fleet for almost a year now. In the beginning, things had been all right. Fleet worked as an officer, while Lilac had been happy to work in a nearby flower shop. Everything seemed to be going well for them, until Fleet became convinced that Lilac was having an affair.

It had all started when Fleet had begun working late. The precinct he worked in had been letting off officers, and this meant more work for those that remained. From seven in the morning to eight at night, Fleet was gone. One night on his way back from work, he came by the flower shop. At the time, Lilac had been helping a stallion find some flowers for his wife's anniversary. As it was, she was behaving the way she did with all customers: Smiling, making small talk and overall just being friendly and helpful. Even so, Fleet had always been the jealous type, and seeing her having a conversation with another stallion had set his blood boiling. The result had been a disaster, and the first of many nights that ended with him hitting her.

He was getting worse. Not only had he hit her tonight, but he'd also made a terrible mess of the dining room when he'd knocked the table over. Then he'd hit her again while she was still on the floor before storming out of the apartment. That was an hour ago. As she stood in front of the tiny window, Lilac knew that she had to leave. She couldn't stay here and keep hoping things would get better, otherwise he would undoubtedly end up killing her.

She had to get out. Now.

Quickly, she cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. Then she trotted to the bedroom and quickly packed a bag; pulling out random drawers and stuffing clothes into it, throwing on a jacket and tucking a bag of bits into her pocket. She hurried to the door, and without looking back she opened it.

Once she was outside the building, she took jumped into the first carriage she found and told the driver to take her to the train station. When they arrived, she paid him and trotted over to the booth to buy a ticket, biting her lip nervously when she saw a guard standing not too far away on the platform. Tugging her hood further over her head, she glanced up at the destination board. She wanted to get as far away from Manehatten as she could, but to her dissapointment the tickets for Vanchoover and Las Pegasus were sold out. The only option left was Ponyville.
She stepped forward.

"One ticket to Ponyville, please," she said.

"Yes ma'am. That'll be five bits."

Lilac quickly gave him the money, and he smiled as he handed her the ticket. "Thank you, ma'am."

Lilac gave a small nod. "Excuse me sir, but when does the train arrive?"

The pony glanced at his watch. "In about ten minutes, ma'am."

Lilac gritted her teeth. Ten minutes. This was going to be close.

She forced a smile. "Thank you, sir."

She turned away, and walked over to a bench to sit down, opting for the one furthest away from the guard. She tried to sit still, eventually beginning to chew the inside of her lip. What if Fleet was already home? Was he searching for her? What would she do if he found her? Hopefully he'd passed out drunk outside the bar again. All she could do was sit and wait, her ears straining to hear any sound of an approaching train.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the screeching of steel that meant the train had arrived. Heart hammering, it was all she could do to get up calmly and make her way to the platform with the other passengers that were waiting. Finally, the train's doors slid open. Lilac waited, chewing the inside of her lip as the passengers disembarked. When she was finally able to step into the train, she allowed herself to sigh with relief. However, as she looked out of the window, she froze. There, approaching the guard on the platform was Fleet, accompanied by his partner. Quickly, she made her way to the back of the train car and sat down, hoping they hadn't seen her. As she risked a peek out the window, she saw the guard from earlier point to the stallion selling the tickets. Heart in her throat, she watched as Fleet marched over to the pony.

Although she couldn't hear what was being said, Lilac knew they were asking questions about her. For a brief moment, her eyes met with the stallion's, and she felt as though her heart had stopped. She hardly dared breathe.

"No!" she mouthed at him. "Please, for the love of Celestia, no!"

The stallion's expression gave nothing away, and a moment later Fleet and the other guard turned away and headed towards the exit of the train station. Lilac breathed a sigh of relief, and the stallion gave her a sad smile.

"God speed," he mouthed at her.

Lilac closed her eyes, and let her head fall back against the seat. Then, as the last passenger boarded the train, the locomotive began to slowly move forward. Glancing at the ticket booth one last time, Lilac opened the window. She waved to the stallion, feeling tears of gratitude run down her face.

"Thank you!" she shouted.

The stallion merely smiled and waved goodbye as the train picked up speed. Once they were clear of the station, Lilac watched as the city was swiftly left behind by the locomotive. When at last the city was a mere collection of twinkling lights in the distance, Lilac turned her face to the far horizon, praying the train would take her safely to Ponyville.

Chapter 2

With a grinding of metal, the train came to a halt at Ponyville Station. Lilac yawned, and stretched her neck as she stood up. After a twelve hour train ride, she was relieved that she'd arrived at her destination. As she stepped onto the platform, she was greeted by sounds of birdsong. The sky was clear and blue, and for a moment she stood letting the warm sunlight seep into her coat. She allowed herself a small smile, and began to make her way deeper into the town, gazing all about her. Everywhere she looked, ponies were going about their daily routines with smiles on their faces. Here and there, the residents walked side by side, chatting to one another. The entire town's atmosphere was peaceful and welcoming, and Lilac once again gave thanks to Celestia that she'd made it here.

"Oof!"

Turning her head forward, she realized that she'd walked straight into a mare with a bright pink coat and mane. But what startled Lilac the most was the expression on the pony's face: Her blue eyes were wide as dinner plates and her mouth hung open in astonishment.

"Oh, sorry!" Lilac said quickly, worried that she'd upset her. "I didn't see where I was going!"

The pony said nothing, but continued to stare at Lilac with her jaw on the floor.

"Um, are you oka-"

But at that moment the pony gasped loudly, jumped in the air and zipped away. Lilac remained on the spot, staring after the mare with confusion. It was a moment before she heard the loud giggling from somewhere not far off. Glancing around, she saw an orange pony with a blond mane and green eyes wearing a cowboy hat. Lilac raised an eyebrow at her as the mare stepped closer.

"You're new around here, aren't you? Haven't seen Pinkie Pie that excited in a long time."

Lilac blinked and gave her head a little shake. "Pardon me, but who are you?"

"Apple Jack, that's me," the earth pony answered proudly.

Lilac held back a snort. "Nice to meet you, Apple Jack. I'm Li-" She stopped, realizing she didn't want to use her real name. "Violet," she said, forcing a grin. "My name is Violet."

"Violet, huh?" Apple Jack answered. "Cool. So where ya from?"

"Oh. Manehatten." Lilac's smile faltered. Wanting to change the subject she said, "Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to know where a mare could get a bite around here do you? Train travel makes my stomach a little nauseous."

AJ grinned. "You bet I do! There's a great hayburger joint not too far from here. Follow me!"

Without further ado, the two mares set off side by side. As they walked along, Apple Jack was so friendly and laid back that in time, Lilac's shyness went away. By the time they arrived at their destination, she felt as though they'd known each other for years.

"So Pinkie Pie does that to everyone who's new?" Lilac said as they were led to a booth table by a waitress.

"Oh yeah!" Apple Jack smirked. "I still remember when Twilight first arrived here. Whoey, was that a night to remember!"

Lilac's eyes widened. "Wait...you know the Princess of Friendship?"

"Know her?" AJ snorted. "A better question is who doesn't! But yes, we're very close. You know, Elements of Harmony and all that." Apple Jack waved a dismissive hoof.

"So who are the other Elements?" Lilac asked, fascinated.

Apple Jack grinned at her. "There's Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty. Pinkie Pie is Laughter, Fluttershy is Kindness, Rarity is Generosity, I'm Honesty, and Twilight is Magic."

"And you all live here in Ponyville?"

"Yep!" Apple Jack replied. "Anyway, you'll have a chance to meet the others soon."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see," Apple Jack said with a shrug. "So what brings you here? You're a long way from the city."

"Oh, heh," Lilac chuckled nervously. "Well, I just needed a change of scenery and a quiet place like this seemed perfect."

"So how long are you planning on staying in the area?"

Lilac smiled. "I'm hoping it'll be permanent."

Apple Jack put a hoof to her chin in thought. "Pardon my asking, but have ya thought of what you're gonna do for work?" she said.

Lilac shrugged. "I'll probably just work at a restaurant or shop."

"Well," Apple Jack said slowly. "If ya like, we could always use an extra pair of hooves on the farm. Especially with Applebuck Season startin' next week."

Lilac stared at her, hardly daring to believe her ears. "You really wouldn't mind?"

"Sure! You can come by the farm tomorrow to get started."

"Yeah. Yeah, okay. Perfect."

AJ grinned. "It's settled then."

Author's Note

Just so you guys know, if it seems my OC's name changes it's because Violet is the identity she assumes while she's on the run. Hope that clears things up. :twilightsheepish:

Chapter 3

By the time they'd finished lunch, it was already past one in the afternoon. As they exited the restaurant, Apple Jack asked a question that took Lilac completely off guard.

"That was a good lunch, wouldn't ya say? How would ya feel about heading to Sugarcube Corner for something sweet to finish it off?"

Lilac stared at her. "Are you sure it's all right?"

"Sure!" Apple Jack said. "Anyway, if we get there and ya don't want anything it's fine, you can just have a look around the place. As for me, I've got some things I need to get for Granny."

Lilac thought for a moment, then smiled. "Okay," she said. "Let's go."

Apple Jack grinned. "Great! Let's go."

.....

After about half an hour, they reached the bakery. Lilac gaped when she saw it. The building's design made it look like a giant gingerbread house. Although, Lilac thought, it was probably intentional. Even now, delicious scents of various baked goods were wafting through its open windows, beckoning her closer.

"Violet. Violet!"

"Huh? What?"

Violet blinked, realizing that Apple Jack was waving a hoof in front of her face.

She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I zoned out for a second."

Apple Jack snorted. "I know the feeling." She sniffed the air. "Ahh, they're baking an apple pie, too! Can you smell it?"

Lilac sniffed, and her eyes widened. "Yeah!"

She hadn't before, but she could definitely detect apples now. And cinnamon. Her stomach growled.

Apple Jack laughed. "Come on, let's go."

She walked over to the entrance, and knocked. The door opened, and she stepped inside. Lilac followed her.

"SURPRISE!"

Lilac only had a moment's glimpse of a room packed with ponies and decorated, with all manner of cakes and other foods on every table, before an explosion of confetti hit her in the face. Startled and confused, she yelped and fell back on her haunches. She coughed, spitting out bits of confetti that she'd inhaled.

"Oops!" a pony giggled. "My bad! I was a bit too close!"

A pink hoof reached out to her. Lilac accepted it gratefully and stood up, coming face to face with the pink mare from earlier. There were five mares behind her, and Lilac realized that the four standing with Apple Jack were the other Elements. She smiled. "Hi, Pinkie."

Pinkie's eyes widened. It was as though she'd been struck by lightning. "You know my name? Wait, I didn't tell you who I was yet!" She gasped, and an enormous smile engulfed her face. She leaned forward sharply, forcing Lilac to lean backwards to avoid butting heads with her. "Are you a psychic? Oh! Can you tell what I'm thinking right now? Try and guess! Guess!"

An orange hoof appeared on Pinkie's shoulder, and pulled her back. Apple Jack laughed. "She's not a psychic, Pinkie. I told her who we all are. Let's give her room to breathe."

Lilac giggled, and dusted a few strands of confetti from her muzzle as they sat down at a table. "It's fine Apple Jack." She turned to Pinkie. "Thanks for the party by the way. I hope it wasn't too much trouble pulling all this together."

Pinkie was still staring at Lilac with that awe-struck expression, but at her words she was roused from her trance. She beamed with pride. "Thanks! I'm glad you like it! I wasn't sure what kind of sweets you liked though, so I made plenty!" She grabbed Lilac by the should and steered her over to several tables that were lined against the wall. "There's vanilla cake, chocolate cake, rainbow cake with vanilla frosting, vanilla-chocolate swirl cake, carrot cake, angel cake, pound cake..."

On and on Pinkie went, pointing to every conceivable dessert, talking at breakneck speed. When she was finally done listing each dessert she began rambling out more questions and thoughts. Lilac wondered how she found time to pause for breath between each word. Eventually she began glancing at the others for help. Pinkie didn't seem to have noticed, as she was still jabbering at a reckless pace. Lilac was starting to get dizzy just listening to her. However, Rainbow Dash recognized the situation and came to her aid.

"Uh, Pinkie Pie?" she said.

"...anyway, it seems like a lot," Pinkie was saying, "But it's because I didn't want to risk something going wrong at your first party, I mean, gee, it would be terrible to mess up your first party, wouldn't it!"

"Pinkie..." Rainbow Dash was scowling now.

"Also do you like games? I've got lots of them planned tonight! I mean it's okay if you don't but if you do there's plenty to choose from!"

"Pinkie!" Rainbow Dash said, louder this time to make herself heard over the chatter that filled the bakery.

"...and then I thought what about decorations? What's her favorite color? Does she have a favorite? What if she like a bunch of different colors? So I got lots of balloons and streamers and..."

"PINKIE PIE!!!" Rainbow Dash bellowed.

Pinkie stopped in mid-sentence and looked at her, confused. "What?"

Rainbow Dash face hoofed. Twilight held back a smirk.

"I'm sure Violet understands and appreciates the trouble, Pinkie," Twilight said. "And at the rate you're going, you may wind up giving her whiplash."

Pinkie glanced at Lilac, who looked dizzy enough to fall over. Pinkie laughed, and scuffed her hoof on the ground with a sheepish expression.

"Sorry, I got carried away."

Twilight smiled. "It's fine, Pinkie. I'm sure she'd love to try some of the cakes you made her now, though."

Glad to be rescued, Lilac nodded earnestly.

Pinkie giggled. "Okie-dokie lokie! One plate of cake coming right up!"

Chapter 4

The first thing Lilac was aware of the next morning was the acute pain in her stomach. Groaning, she rolled out of the bed and stumbled over to the dresser and mirror.

"Oh...mother of Faust!" she grumbled. "I ate too much cake."

Groggily, she poured water from the jug on the dresser into the bowl kept for washing. She splashed her face a few times, taking care to wet her mane before drying her face with a towel. Feeling considerably better, she began to brush the tangles out of her hair and tail, before carefully taking her comb in her hoof and grooming her coat. When she was satisfied with her appearance, she went over to where her bag lay on the ground. She extracted a silk purple scarf, wrapping it around her neck as she exited the small room.
She made her way down the hall, turning at the end and descending a set of stairs. When the pony sitting at the front desk saw her, she beamed and waved to Lilac as she exited the inn.
The morning was warm and bright as Lilac strode briskly through the town. Now and then a gust of wind moved through the streets, bringing far off scents of flowers. Now and again Lilac would pause to inhale the fresh air, letting the warm sunlight soak into her fur.

"Hi, Violet!"

Violet's eyes opened, and she smiled when she saw Pinkie Pie bouncing towards her.

"Oh, hey Pinkie."

"So where are you headed today?" Pinkie asked as she bounced alongside the trotting mare.

"I'm on my way to Sweet Apple Acres," Lilac answered. She paused and looked around, realizing she couldn't quite remember Apple Jack's directions. "Um, I'm sorry but could you help me find it? I don't want to be late."

Pinkie Pie grinned. "Sure! It's this way!"

She turned and began bouncing away. Lilac trotted after her.

.....

Fifteen minutes later, they had arrived at the outskirts of the farm. As they drew nearer, Lilac found herself in awe of the farm's sheer size. Rolling hills and apple trees stretched as far as the eye could see, and in the distance Lilac could hear the peaceful mooing of cows that lived in the pastures down the way. And at the forefront of it all stood the old barn and the Apple Family home.
When she looked at it, Lilac couldn't help feeling impressed. Although the house was not new by any means, the old beams and wooden planks stood strong, a testament of the dedication shown by the many generations of Earth ponies that lived there. The storage barn was just as worn, but its paint was bright and cheerful. Like the house itself, the structure was old but in good repair, carefully maintained by the Apple Family through the years.
And there was more. The air here wasn't just fresh with the smell of apples. Lilac shut her eyes, digging her hooves into the ground a bit. This soil...the atmosphere, the trees themselves...they felt vibrant, filling her with a sort of happiness she hadn't known in a long time.
Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie had bounced over to the barn. As she neared the double doors they swung open, and Applejack emerged, pulling an apple cart. Behind her was her brother Big Mac, strong and quiet as always.

"Oh, hey Pinkie Pie!" AJ said. She seemed surprised she was there. "What brings you here today?"

"Just helping Violet find her way here. Well, I gotta get going! The Cakes said they need my help with a super big project! See ya!"

She trotted away. Once she had gone, Big Macintosh turned to his sister with a raised eyebrow.

"Are ya sure it was a good idea asking a city filly to help out?" he said.

Apple Jack managed not to roll her eyes. "She needs this as much as we do, Mac. Trust me."

Big Mac looked skeptical. "Ya barely know 'er, sis. How do you know she ain't one of them cons?"

Apple Jack narrowed her eyes. "How do ya know she is? I think I can tell a liar when I see one," she said flatly. "On another note, I think you've been listening to Granny too much. Not all the folks in Manehatten are bad, Mac."

Big Macintosh made no reply. Apple Jack shook her head, and as she went back into the barn she stopped and turned around when she heard hoofsteps approaching. When she saw Violet, she smiled and trotted over, extending a hoof in a friendly hoofshake.

"Hey Violet, glad ya made it."

Lilac smiled, and looked past Apple Jack. When she caught sight of the larger red stallion a few feet away, she froze. Both mare and stallion stared at each other, both taking in details of the other's appearance.
Like most ponies, the first thing Lilac noticed about Big Macintosh was his size. The fact he was taller that most stallions Lilac had seen, coupled with the sheer power in his thick muscles, meant that Lilac was left feeling considerably shy and even a bit fearful. However, upon looking into his green eyes she felt calmer, for Big Mac's face showed no sign of hostility.
Big Macintosh was equally surprised by the filly in front of him, for he could now see what his sister had meant. There was a large bruise on the mare's face, and he knew in a split second that it was not from an accident. It was a deliberate injury, inflicted by another pony. Possibly even a stallion. Looking at her eyes, he could see there were bags under them. She clearly hadn't slept well in weeks. Not only that, but she was thin, and her brown coat seemed just a little too pale to him. And unless Big Macintosh was imagining it, she seemed a little afraid of him.
Deciding it would be best if he spoke first, Big Macintosh stepped forward. Apple Jack raised an eyebrow curiously but said nothing. She wanted to see how things would go.

"Hello," Big Mac said, a little awkwardly.

"Hi," Lilac answered shyly. "Um..." she blinked, and scuffed her hoof on the ground. "My name's Violet. I'm here to help with the Applebuck Season?"

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Violet. My name's Big Mac." He paused, trying to think of what to say next. "We appreciate the help, ma'am."

This made Lilac smile. Big Mac smiled back, a bit sheepishly this time. Apple Jack grinned. This was going much better than she'd anticipated. But that was enough for now. She cleared her throat.

"Well, we'd best get a move on," she said. "These apples ain't gonna harvest themselves, ya know."

As the three exited the bar a few minutes later with baskets on their backs, Apple Jack winked at her brother and nudged him in the ribs.

"Told ya she wasn't so bad," she whispered in his ear.

Big Mac blushed.

Chapter 5

Fleet sat down at his desk, fuming.

It had been twenty-four hours since Lilac had disappeared, and with each passing minute his frustration mounted. He scowled at the ceiling and laughed bitterly. It was funny in a way. There were thousands of ponies in this city, yet no one had seen her?

He clenched his teeth and tried to concentrate. He knew he was missing something, if he could only figure out what it was...

But Fleet didn't have long to brood. A moment later, he was literally brought crashing back to earth as a hoof collided roughly with the back of Fleet's head. Ears ringing, Fleet was about to start cursing out the offending stallion when he realized who he was looking at.

He froze, and cursed under his breath.

Standing in front of him was none other than Captain Frostfall, a gray pegasus stallion with a mane white as paper and a bushy mustache to match. (It wasn't always like that, but had instead turned white from age.) He was livid, and Fleet silently gave thanks to Celestia that he had not soiled himself then and there; such was the intensity of the captain's gaze.

"My office," Frostfall said menacingly. "Now."

Reluctantly, Fleet followed him.

A few moments later, the captain's door was slammed violently. The officers on duty remained where they were and glanced anxiously at one another, each nervously pondering the unpleasant outcome that was sure to follow. And though they strained their ears, they could hear nothing coming from the hall leading to the captain's office.

Then the screaming started. As to what the captain's rant consisted of, the less known the better. Suffice to say, everyone was soon desperately stuffing their hooves into their ears in an attempt to blot out the captain's savage roars. In fact, the level of rage was so extreme that afterwards it was noted that all the wall shelves in the precinct had gone crooked from the sheer force of the captain's voice alone.

From what they understood later, Fleet had been suspended for an indefinite time. This was on account of the fact he'd been caught printing warrants for the arrest of his own wife, who he'd clearly been abusing for some time as evidenced by his rampant alcoholism. As punishment, he'd had his badge taken away. In addition, Captain Frostfall had made it painfully clear that Fleet had a week to clean up his act and grow a backbone, "or else."

Now dismissed and disgraced, there was nothing left for Fleet to do but beat a hasty retreat from the building. No one was sorry to see him leave. Within a few minutes of his departure, everyone got back to work as though nothing had happened.

But Fleet was far from being finished. After a few minutes the shock of what had just transpired had worn off, and he stood on the sidewalk, feeling a terrible rage build within him.

In less than two days, he'd lost everything. And why had he? Because that stupid cunt couldn't take a few bruises and ran away. If she'd stayed put like she was meant to, he wouldn't have had to go looking for her, right? Everything was her fault.

Without hesitating, Fleet began walking in the direction on the train station.

He was going to find that stallion who helped her get away that night and make him talk.

No matter what it took.

.....

As soon as Fleet had gone, Frostfall sat back down at his desk. Quickly, he pulled a piece of paper from the drawer and began to write a letter. When he finished, he placed it in an envelope and sealed it shut. After including the name and address of the pony he wanted it sent to, he walked out of his office and spoke to the first officer he saw.

"Get this to the post office immediately," he said. "Tell them it's urgent."

There was no need for him to explain further. The officer took one look at the red seal and nodded with wide eyes.

"Good lad," said Frostfall. "Now go."

The words hardly left his mouth before the officer was was sprinting for the exit.

Frostfall returned to his office. He sat down behind his desk, thinking. He knew that it was only a matter of hours before Fleet figured out where Lilac had disappeared to. From what he'd been told by his informant (a stallion called Rod) at the train station, the place she'd gone was none other than Ponyville. As everyone well knew, it was the home of the Elements of Harmony and Princess Twilight Sparkle. Meaning that even if Fleet did find her there, it wouldn't be easy to go through with whatever he was planning. In any case, when he turned up at the station and asked if Rod had seen her, Rod, having been told of Lilac's situation by Frostfall, (who in turn had been made aware of it through a friend at the shop Lilac worked in) had then told Fleet with an expressionless tone that he hadn't seen her. Fleet obviously wasn't convinced, but knew better than to harass a senior citizen in public. Rod never even batted an eyelid. He'd taken hits from far worse characters in his lifetime and therefore knew to stand his ground. If Fleet so much as laid a hoof on him, he would soon discover why Rod's first name was Iron.

Still, Frostfall knew Fleet wouldn't stop until he'd found out where Lilac was. That was why he'd written the letter to Princess Twilight Sparkle urging her and the local authorities to keep on the look out for him. With luck, she'd receive it in time and would be able to stop Fleet from doing further harm.

Lilac's life depended on it.

Chapter 6

"All right, let's get this show on the road!" said Apple Jack.

She and Big Mac trotted over to the first group of apple trees.

"First,"began Apple Jack. "Ya gotta make sure you're in the right spot under the branches here. Then you turn around like this."

Turning around with their backs to the trunks, they were surprised to find Violet already standing beneath a tree between them, her stance matching theirs. Glancing at the branches above her, Big Mac realized that she was out of alignment with the branches above. If she tried to buck the tree, a majority of the apples would miss the baskets and tumble to the ground, bruising her and themselves in the process.

"Uh, pardon me, Miss Violet," he said. "You're a little off to the side, there."

For a split second, Lilac seemed confused. Then her expression cleared and she quickly readjusted her position under the branches. After a few seconds, she glanced up at the branches and then again at Big Mac for confirmation.

"Better?" she asked.

"Eyup."

Apple Jack pressed her lips together, schooling her face into a neutral expression as she fought back a laugh. She couldn't help it. The fact her brother was completely smitten for this city filly was just too good.

However, as much as she was enjoying this, they still had a job to do. With this in mind, she cleared her throat. Lilac turned to her expectantly.

"So, the first part is simple enough," Apple Jack said. "Getting your bearings, it's simple. This next part though, that's what's a bit harder. Here, I'll give the trunk a few kicks so ya-"

Thud!

Without waiting for a demonstration, Lilac had narrowed her eyes and bucked at the tree with her hind legs; hind hooves coming back to earth just as the red apples fell into the baskets on her back.

"Did I get all of them?" she asked.

"Eyup," said Apple Jack. "Say Violet, are ya sure ya never bucked apples before? Cause from what I saw just now, I'd say you've had practice."

"Oh," said Violet. There was a hint of pink to her cheeks now. "Well, I think it's because although I've lived in the city most of my life, I was actually born on a farm myself."

"No kidding," said Apple Jack.

On the other side of Lilac, Apple Jack could see Bic Mac looked surprised. She smiled to herself. Clearly, there was more to this mare than he'd initially thought.

"What was it like?" said Apple Jack as they moved to the next group of trees.

"Well, it was nowhere near as big as Sweet Apple Acres, that's for sure," Lilac answered as she gave her tree an expert kick. "Just your typical little cherry farm."

She was smiling, but there was a wistful undertone with her words that Apple Jack couldn't help noticing as they continued with their steady progress among the apple trees. Big Mac noticed too.

"You must have really loved it there," he said.

"Oh, you have no idea," Lilac answered. "The best years of my life were spent there. Holidays, birthdays...even earned my Cutie Mark on that farm, you know."

"So how did you end up in Manehatten?" asked Apple Jack.

Lilac paused. Her expression when she looked at Apple Jack was somber. "We lost the farm."

"Oh..." said Apple Jack. "I'm so sorry."

Lilac shrugged, aiming another hard kick to the tree she was under. Apples tumbled down into the baskets. "I admit that it's not the way my family wanted it," she said. "But, we didn't have a choice in the matter. Life for me since then hasn't exactly been easy, but I've managed just fine on my own." Until Fleet found me, she thought bitterly. I can't believe I ever fell for his crap.

"So what made you decide to come here?" asked Big Mac.

Lilac hesitated. The truth was that she had come here to escape an abusive relationship, but she couldn't very well tell these ponies that, could she?

"I think..." she said after a while. "It's because I realized what I should have years ago. I'm just not cut out for life in a big city. My home is in the orchards, and it always will be."

Apple Jack nodded sympathetically. "I know how that feels."

Lilac stared at her, surprised. "You do?"

"Yeah," said Apple Jack. "I mean, I had a similar experience once when I was just a filly."

"Mind if I ask what happened?" said Lilac.

"Not at all," said Apple Jack. "I just hope I don't bore you with my story."

For the rest of the afternoon, the three farm ponies spent their time talking as they went about the trees knocking down the apples.

.....

Elsewhere, more serious matters were being addressed.

Princess Twilight Sparkle was sitting quietly in her bedroom, with a large book floating in front of her face. Now and then, a quill would scribble notes on a paper next to her. There was an air of concentration about her, broken only when she paused to sip from her tea cup. In fact, she was so engrossed with her studies that she didn't even look up when a distant knocking was heard on the castle's door. Spike, helpful as ever, responded immediately to the noise. Abandoning his comic book, the dragon jumped off his bed and bolted down the hall.

"Coming! Coming!" he shouted.

Moments later, he'd reached the doors and pulled one open.

"Oh, hello Derpy!"

"Hi Spike," said the gray male mare. "I've... got a letter somewhere in here for the Princess." She opened a rather disorganized satchel and then grinned awkwardly. "Uh... one moment, please."

"No problem," said Spike. "Take your time."

After a couple of minutes, Derpy successfully extracted a small envelope. When Spike saw what he'd been handed, he felt his stomach drop.

The envelope bore the seal of Ponyville's Captain Frostfall, the stallion in charge of the fifth precinct in Manehatten. From what Spike knew about police (and he knew a lot, because Shining Armor had often spoken to his family about what it was like being Captain of the Royal Guard,) letters such as these were considered confidential. No one but Twilight or Mayor Mare would be allowed to see its contents. What could have possibly happened in Manehatten that they would send a letter to the Princess of Friendship? And so fast, too?

"You okay, Spike?" said Derpy.

Spike hadn't realized he was swaying slightly on the spot. He quickly checked himself and straightened up.

"Huh? Oh yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Maybe the weather's just a bit warm."

"Really?" said Derpy. "Well, if you're feeling a bit dehydrated, drink some water and eat a healthy snack. Nothing salty though. That always helps Dinky feel better."

"Yeah. Yeah, maybe I'll do that," Spike mumbled. Then, not wanting to be impolite he added, "Thanks for getting the letter to us, Derpy."

Derpy grinned. "Your welcome. You have a nice day, okay?"

"Okay, bye."

A moment later, Derpy was airborne again, flying rather clumsily to her next destination. Spike quickly stepped back inside the castle and shut the door. He quickly walked to Twilight's bedroom, pausing momentarily to knock on the door. A few seconds later, he heard an answer from inside.

"Come in, Spike."

Spike entered and strode over to the end of Twilight's bed.

"Who was it at the door Spike?" Twilight asked without lowering her book.

"Derpy," Spike said quietly. "She was delivering a letter."

"Is that so?" said Twilight.

She sounded interested, but had clearly missed Spike's somber tone. Spike cleared his throat.

"It's from Frostfall," he said. "They're the captain of a precinct in Manehatten."

For the briefest moment, Twilight didn't react. Then the letter was engulfed in her magic, forcing Spike to let go. Just as quickly the book was shut and lowered onto her bed. Quickly, she broke the seal on the letter and started to read; her expression sharpening as she examined the contents.

"What does it say?" Spike asked nervously.

Twilight stood up. Spike recognized the look on her face: It was the same expression that she had worn when Celestia contacted her about Discord. Her voice when she spoke was grim.

"Spike, I need you to find Mayor Mare. Quickly."

"Why? What's going on?"

"No time to explain," Twilight said shortly. "Just do it. Now."

Spike knew better than to argue.

"All right," he said. "Do you know where I should start looking?"

Twilight put a hoof to her chin in thought.

"She should be at the Town Hall," she said. "She mentioned having some paperwork to do." Glancing at the clock, she added. "If not there, try the cafe. She may be at lunch."

"Right," said Spike. "I'll be back soon."

Author's Note

The plot thickens! I wonder what will happen next... :raritywink:

Chapter 7

It was roughly half an hour later when Spike returned with Mayor Mare. Twilight was waiting for them in the castle library. When they entered, she waited respectfully until the mayor sat down. Once the mayor had done so, Twilight dismissed Spike. He was a little reluctant to leave, but again knew better than to argue. The mayor for her part couldn't help gazing at her surroundings. She'd been in the castle a few times before to discuss town related matters with Twilight, and each time she was taken aback by how beautiful the castle was. Still, it was clear that Twilight had sent for her because she had an urgent matter to discuss. Turning her attention to the purple alicorn, she waited respectfully for her to speak.

Twilight wasted no time. "I apologize for asking you here on such short notice," she said. "But I'm afraid this is a matter that can't be put off."

"It's no problem, Twilight," the mayor answered. "Tell me, what is it you wanted to discuss?"

"It's not good, I'm afraid."Twilight's expression was serious. "Mayor, a little earlier today I received a letter from Captain Frostfall, Manehatten's fifth precinct leader. It said to be on the lookout for a stallion called Fleet arriving in town in the next few days. The letter didn't include much else, only that Fleet is a dangerous former officer and should be arrested on sight."

"You think there's something more they're not telling us?" asked the mayor.

Twilight nodded. "I'd call it a hunch, but yes."

"Well," the mayor said encouragingly. "Whatever it is that's going on, I'm confident you'll get to the bottom of it." After a moment of silence she spoke again. "Shall I go inform Captain Blaze at the station?"

Twilight considered this for a moment.

"Yes," she said finally. "That would be best. And tell the captain I'll see him in an hour to help organize the arrest."

"Yes ma'am."

After the mayor left, Twilight sat alone for some time, thinking. She didn't know how, but something told her that this Fleet and the recent arrival of a certain mare were somehow connected. But what was the connection?

Twilight got up and started pacing. From what she could tell, there was something about Violet that didn't add up. Sure, Violet had said that she had come to Ponyville looking for peace and quiet, but that statement seemed off somehow. Then there were the bruises on her face. Anyone who saw them could see they were from a fight. Not to mention, Violet had seemed worn out, like she hadn't slept in weeks. And now Twilight had received a letter warning of a dangerous former cop?

Then it clicked. Violet had run away from an abusive relationship. Since Fleet was an officer, she'd have no other choice, would she? As for Frostfall's letter, clearly they'd caught wind of Fleet's abuse. Knowing that he would likely try and pursue Violet, they had written ahead to warn the authorities of other towns to prevent Fleet from causing further harm.

Now that she'd figured out the truth, Twilight knew that she had to tell Violet what was going to happen. She had a right to know, after all.

Twilight stopped pacing. Turning around, she walked out of the library. She found Spike sitting outside the doors and nudged him. Spike stood up.

"Oh, hey Twilight," he said. "What was all that about?"

"I'll explain on the way," said Twilight. "Right now we need to get to Sweet Apple Acres. There's something important I need to tell Apple Jack."

.....

"Hooey!" exclaimed Apple Jack. "I gotta tell ya, nothin' works up an appetite like an honest day's work!"

"Tell me about it," said Lilac. "I'm so hungry I could eat a haystack!"

This statement was answered almost immediately by a loud growl. Startled, Lilac glanced around and realized that Big Mac was blushing. He grinned sheepishly.

"Tell ya what," said Apple Jack. "Whataya say we take a break? It's time we had lunch anyhow."

"Sounds good to me," said Lilac.

.....

A little while later they were seated under the apple trees. Apple Jack leaned against a tree trunk, occasionally sipping from a bottle of apple juice. Lilac sat opposite her, quietly munching her way through a dandelion sandwich. Sitting beside her was Big Mac, who was gradually chomping through his second sandwich.

The silence, broken occasionally by the sound of wind rustling through the leaves, gave Lilac a sense of peace that she hadn't known for a long time.

It wouldn't last long. Out of the corner of her eye, Lilac could see a pony approaching them. Turning her gaze, she felt her stomach sink.

Princess Twilight Sparkle was walking towards them, and next to her was a small dragon. Although Twilight's expression gave nothing away, Lilac was unsettled by her sudden appearance. Cold sweat broke out on her as her mind began to race. Suppose Twilight knew the truth? No. If that was the case she would have been arrested. Or would she be arrested? Surely she'd be given a chance to explain herself?

Big Mac noticed Lilac's worried expression.

"Are ya feelin' all right, Violet?" he said.

"Huh?" Lilac turned her head. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. But I think we might have company."

"Really? Who?"

In answer, Lilac pointed a hoof in Twilight's direction. Realizing what she meant, Apple Jack stood up just as Twilight reached them.

"Hey Twilight!" said Apple Jack. "Hey there, Spike. What bring you...."

She broke off. Now that Twilight was up close, she looked awkward. Spike, for his part, seemed to be trying very hard not to look in Violet's direction. This made Apple Jack raise an eyebrow.

"Are you all right, sugar cube?" she said to Twilight.

"I'm fine," said Twilight. There was an awkward pause before she said, "Mind if we sit with you?"

"Sure," Apple Jack said slowly. When Twilight and Spike had done so, she did the same. "So, what's up?"

"Well, um..." Twilight said. "It's a little hard to explain. Uh..."

"I know why she's here."

Everyone looked at Lilac. The brown mare was sitting rigidly, and they could see that she was shaking.

"What are ya'll talking about?" said Apple Jack.

Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but Lilac held up a hoof.

"No, I'll explain."

Big Mac didn't understand why, but he scared. He didn't know if it was because of Violet's downcast expression or the resignation in her voice, but this whole situation seemed wrong somehow. He suddenly had the urge to wrap his forelegs around her. But that wouldn't be right. So he remained motionless, watching her.

"The truth is," said Lilac. "I'm not who you think I am."

Author's Note

Oh snap... :pinkiegasp:

Chapter 8 Author's Note

Lilac tells the truth. How will Big Mac and the others react? :pinkiegasp:

Oh, and I decided to let the ponies have a little fun at Fleet's expense. :rainbowlaugh:

Really, it's the least he deserves after what he's done. :eeyup:

Chapter 8

After a long and painful conversation in which Lilac had explained the events leading to her coming to Ponyville, Twilight and the others at last knew the truth.

What surprised Lilac the most was their reactions. When she had finished speaking, she had expected them to be furious with her for lying to them. But they weren't angry at all. Quite the contrary, they were extremely sympathetic and were disgusted that Fleet had been treating her so poorly.

As for what they planned to do about it, Twilight had explained that the guards would be given orders to arrest Fleet on sight. The sheer relief Lilac had felt at those words was enough to leave her feeling lightheaded. When she returned to her room at the inn, Lilac breathed a sigh of relief. At last, the nightmare she'd been living was coming to an end. All she had to do now was let the guards do their job. That night, Lilac slept peacefully with a smile on her face.

.....

That night, Big Mac found himself sitting in the chair by his bedroom window, his gaze focused on the distant lights of Ponyville. Since learning of Fleet's imminent arrival, a strange restlessness had come over the red workhorse. He felt...anxious. Big Mac didn't like it. Eventually he began pacing back and forth, his green eyes repeatedly being drawn to the lights of Ponyville.

He honestly didn't know why he was so nervous. It's not like he had anything to worry about. Twilight and the guards knew what they were doing. Lilac wasn't in any danger.

Still, he was on edge, and the unease he felt inside refused to go away.

A quiet knock on his door made him stop and turn.

"Come in," he said.

The door opened, and Big Mac wasn't surprised when his sister walked in.

"Can't sleep, huh?" she asked.

Big Mac shook his head. He returned to the window and sat down. His sister joined him a moment later. Both ponies gazed towards the twinkling lights of Ponyville, each in their own thoughts. After a time, Apple Jack spoke.

"You're thinkin' about her, aren't ya?"

Big Mac nodded, his eyes still fixed on the distant lights.

"It's something about that stallion coming after her," he said quietly. "Somethin' ain't right, sis. I..." He paused, suddenly sheepish. Apple Jack said nothing, but waited for her brother to finish his sentence. "I'm worried."

"I'm a bit worried too," Apple Jack said. "But I know she'll be fine, Big Mac. She's in safe hooves." When Big Mac didn't answer she added, "Anyway, I wanted to remind you that Granny said to take the apples to town tomorrow. We've had a good harvest this year and we can't let that surplus go to waste."

Big Mac's face seemed to brighten a little. Undoubtedly it was the prospect of running into Lilac again. But all he said was "Oh yeah. Right...right."

He didn't say it, but Apple Jack knew that his heart was still in Ponyville with Lilac. She smiled knowingly, and gave her brother a reassuring pat on the shoulder as she stood up.

"Okay. Get some sleep, big brother. We've got a big day tomorrow."

.....

The following morning, Lilac was up at sunrise. Knowing that Fleet could arrive at any time, she briefly debated whether or not to stay indoors. In the end though, she decided that it would be best to retreat to a more populated area of the town. After all, there was safety in numbers. But first, she was going to pick up some breakfast.

Exiting the inn, she set of at a brisk trot towards Sugarcube Corner. As she went along, the sound of wing beats made her glance up nervously, but she dismissed the feeling when she realized the town's pegasi were gathering the clouds together. Still, there was suddenly a lump in her throat she couldn't quite get rid of, and she promptly quickened her pace as her destination came into sight.

From his vantage point on a cloud a few yards away, Fleet watched Lilac as she neared the front steps of Sugarcube Corner. He was in fact about to descend when a voice startled him.

"Hey, buddy, do you mind?"

Fleet glanced up. There, hovering in front of him, was a cyan pegasus with a rainbow-colored mane and tail. Her rose colored eyes regarded Fleet with a somewhat mischievous expression. Annoyed, Fleet quickly descended to the ground below.

"Thank you!" the mare called after him as she quickly steered the cloud away.

Fleet rolled his eyes. "Hmph. Mares," he muttered scathingly.

As soon as Rainbow Dash had corralled the cloud with the others, she motion for a couple of pegasi to move closer.

"Hey. Cloud Kicker, Flitter, mind getting the rest of the clouds together for me?"

"Sure Rainbow," answered Flitter.

"Great," said Rainbow. "I'll be back in a bit. There's something I need to do."

With that, the cyan pegasus shot off in the direction of the Ponyville marketplace, where Apple Jack and Big Mac were just unloading their baskets of apples by their stall.

The previous day, Apple Jack and Twilight had explained Lilac's predicament to the rest of their friends. Rainbow Dash, being the Element of Loyalty, had promptly volunteered to keep an eye out for Fleet. Since she was helping the pegasi prepare a much-needed rainstorm that day, it meant she had the perfect reason and opportunity to be out patrolling the skies. When Apple Jack and Big Mac saw her, they went straight to the point.

"Where was he headed?" Big Mac asked.

"Sugarcube Corner," Rainbow Dash answered promptly. "You guys were right. The dude's a real piece of work. I mean seriously! The way he was looking at Lilac just now gave me goose bumps. I'm going to tell Twilight he's here."

Before either of the Apple siblings could say anything, Rainbow Dash had taken flight as was streaking off towards Twilight's castle.

She arrived just as Spike was entering through the door with a wagon full of paper and bottles of ink. Luckily, he caught sight of her in time and was able to pin them down with his arms and wings as Rainbow Dash shot over his head like a bullet. She didn't even slow down until she reached the castle library, whereupon her momentum generated a massive gust of wind that nearly tumbled the books from their shelves. Twilight looked up at her expectantly.

"Princess," Rainbow Dash announced with an exaggerated seriousness. "The eagle has landed."

"Fleet's here?" Twilight said.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "I spotted him near Sugarcube Corner. He was being a total creep and stalking Lilac."

Twilight looked worried. "How did he manage to sneak past the guards?"

Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Beats me."

Twilight's expression grew serious. "I need to inform the captain. You go back to sorting the weather- and keep an eye on Fleet if you see him again."

Rainbow Dash saluted. "On it, Twilight!"

.....

When Lilac entered Sugarcube Corner, she was relieved to find that it was indeed crowded. Quickly, she made her way to the back of the store, where she sat down at one of the tables.

"Hey, Lilac!"

She knew without turning who that voice belonged to.

"Pinkie!" she hissed. "Please, keep your voice down."

"What's the matter? Oh wait, is it because Fleet's here?" Pinkie whispered back.

Lilac's face drained of color. "What?"

Pinkie pointed towards the entrance with a hoof. Now that she had pointed him out, Fleet was clearly recognizable. All at once Lilac's hooves began to shake, and she bit the inside of her lip.

"What am I going to do?" she whispered to Pinkie.

"I have an idea," Pinkie whispered back. "I'll distract everyone with a trick, and you slip out the back. Ready? Go!"

"Wait, what-"

But Pinkie had already bounced to the center of the room. Clearing her throat, she began speaking loudly and clearly. With everyone distracted, Lilac began to quickly and quietly make her way towards the kitchen, where she could exit the shop via a small door.

"Everypony, I have an announcement to make!" Pinkie was saying. "We have a special guest here today! A good friend of mine from out of town. May I introduce the one, the only, the totally amaaazing Officer Fleet! Let's give him a big round of applause!"

Lilac couldn't help it. Pinkie's words were so outrageous that she had to sneak a peek at what was happening.

She promptly found herself having to fight down a laugh. Fleet's face was the very picture of bewilderment and embarrassment; his ears were laid back against his skull, and his face was flushed a beet red as everyone applauded and cheered. If Lilac hadn't known any better, she'd have thought Fleet's head was about to explode from sheer humiliation.

It was priceless, and Lilac's amusement was to such extremes that she promptly bolted out the back door so she could laugh without being heard.

By the time she'd regained her composure, she noticed Apple Jack and Big Macintosh trotting towards her. They were accompanied by a pair of pegasus guards. Feeling nervous again, Lilac trotted over to them. The guards turned to her immediately.

"Did you see Officer Fleet?" they asked. "Is he inside the bakery?"

Lilac nodded. "Yeah. One of the locals is keeping him distracted. You can't miss them."

"All right miss. We'll take it from here."

Without another word, one of the guards went around to enter through the bakery's front door while the other remained at the back to head Fleet off if he tried to make a run for it. Lilac went to stand beside Big Mac, feeling her heart in her mouth as she anticipated what was coming.

All of a sudden, one of the windows on the upper floor of Sugarcube Corner was flung open, and Fleet came streaking out of the opening, the guard right behind him. In the same instant, the guard keeping watch on the back exit noticed what was happening and took off. Moments later, a fierce aerial battle had commenced, with Fleet flying and spiraling every which way to evade capture. Pretty soon other ponies had noticed and had stopped to watch. All eyes were wide with confusion and horror as Fleet flew higher and higher.

What happened next came as a complete shock to everyone. All at once Fleet froze in midair, his body encased in a distinct purple glow that prevented him from moving a muscle. It was then that everyone caught sight of Princess Twilight Sparkle, her expression stern as she and the guards made their way back down to earth.

Lilac let out a sigh of relief. When the guards marched past her with Fleet between them, Lilac made eye contact with him and didn't react when he glared back. She felt Big Mac's foreleg come around her shoulders, and she leaned against him slightly as Fleet gradually became farther and farther away.

"Good riddance!" said a voice. Turning to look, Lilac realized that Rainbow Dash was standing beside her. "Now we can all forget about that creep!"

"Yeah, he was a real party pooper wasn't he?" Pinkie said as she came trotting out of the bakery. A tray of cupcakes was balanced on her back. "But he's gone now, and we can all celebrate! Cupcake, anyone?"

Epilogue: The Wedding

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