Money Is Everything

When I woke up the next morning I had felt like I slept for a week.

I woke up so full of energy and ready to just go. I rolled over on the hay and looked at Rose, who was slowly waking up. Sleepy eyes, frazzled mane, and a big yawn to top it off. Sometimes I felt a little too lucky. Maybe I am, who knows.

"Did you sleep well?" I chuckled and nuzzled her face.

"Considering you don't snore, I think I could give you some credit." Rose smiled at me and kissed my muzzle before stretching out. Sometimes it was all I could do not to pull her back in, but we'll get our moment again one day.

At that very moment Applejack came in and nodded her stetson. "Ah thought ah'd heard y'all laughing! Care to take a visit with me to a friend's place? Uh, when y'all get woke up, that is.."

We politely agreed to Applejack's offer and she grinned. "Good, ah' think she can help y'all find a home around here somewhere, maybe even close to the farm. If y'all need any work, we'd be happy to hire ya. Family is family, after all."

She then left us alone again, and we were thankful for that- as well as her humble suggestion. It felt good to be welcomed again. It was something that I hadn't felt in a very long time.
Maybe if I had felt that at a younger age, I wouldn't have been a criminal.

I got to my hooves and looked down at Rose with a soft smile. Like a gentlecolt, I helped her up and we trotted out of the barn.

The sunlight was blinding at first, so bad that both of us squinted or covered our eyes for a moment to let them adjust. Once our eyes were focused, we made our way over to Applejack who was leaning against a tree. "Y'all ready?" She asked.

I was more than ready, meeting new ponies was always interesting, but more than anything I just wanted to get settled in. To be honest, I was starting to become concerned about everything.
I've never been okay with what I've done, but I know that up until the bank heist it was a necessity. The bank heist was the only way I was going to be let out of relations with the older pegasus and Rose's brother, for good. I had to get them out there. Doing what they desired. It was my only escape at that point.

I was young, stupid, and easily influenced when I was pulled in by the older pegasus. He kept me alive and off the streets once my mother disappeared. I always thought he was just some older pony who lived locally when I was younger, but I would have never guessed he was an actual ex-outlaw. In his youngest years he was apparently the most dangerous in Equestria, and disappeared off the map after a successful heist fourty years ago.

Once he took me in, I was raised doing typical hoodlum crap and I didn't enjoy any of it. But it was all I knew, and I didn't know how to get away from it. He kept an eye on me all the time when I was young, even as far as paying off ponies to watch me as bystanders to be sure I didn't try to get out or rat him out.

I've known better about the things that I'd had to do for a long time, but only a few years ago was I given the chance to get out of his life controlling grasp. After all the threats and examples made to what would happen should I try to rat him out or leave, he decided upon one final score to set him up for a decent retirement in his old age. Should I help him pull it off, he'd let me go without coming after me again.
How could I say no? If I hadn't, I'd either be dead or still committing crimes like a puppet.

"Ready as ever." Rose perked up and the three of us left Sweet Apple Acres.
After a bit of walking we reached the line of town where the houses and shops started to come into play.

"So, who's this friend of yours Applejack?" I asked in a desperate attempt to spark a conversation.
She didn't respond at first, as if debating whether she wanted to tell me just yet. Which in fact, was exactly what she was debating.

"Well.. It's Princess Twilight Sparkle, she still owns the library in Ponyville and loves to visit whenever she gets the chance. At the moment she's on a vacation from Royal Duties for a few weeks."
My stomach kind of dropped at the thought, but I quickly remembered that I had nothing to worry about. She wasn't born an alicorn, so maybe she wasn't all regal after all.

Rose grinned and seemed even more happy now. "The Princess Twilight Sparkle? Element of Magic?"

Oh boy. Well, Applejack seemed to be surprised, to say the least. "You know of her ah' see. Did ya' know I was the Element of Honesty? Just wondering."
Rose felt bad, I could tell, but she kept her happy face on. "I did actually, but I wouldn't have guessed Princess Twilight was in town- it's not every day you get to be introduced to a Princess by one of her friends."

Among this I was staying silent, but looking between them when they spoke. I had no clue who either of them were, really. I knew about Princess Twilight because of her newfound status, but nothing of Applejack, other than her family history of being pioneers of Ponyville. All of this came as sort of a surprise to me. I never really expected this to be how things would turn out once I finally had freedom.
"Geeze, I feel like I've been living under a rock. I knew Twilight Sparkle became a Princess not long ago, but I don't know anything about her, or you Applejack- other than your family history of pioneering Ponyville, that is."

She shrugged and looked over at me with a smile. "Ah' wouldn't sweat it, Outlaw. Yer not the first pony who's not heard of us, surely ya won't be the last."

Well, that made me feel better at least. When I looked forward I saw that we were approaching the library. Once you noticed it; you couldn't miss it.

Applejack announced out loud that this was it, and went up to the library door. As she drew her hoof to knock, the door opened up and a little green drake appeared in the doorway. "Oh, hey Applejack."
His purple eyes looked past her, in our direction. "Who are your friends?"

The orange mare introduced us happily. "This here is Cross, and the newest addition to the Apple Family. Rose is Granny Smith's third cousin three times removed."

The little green drake shook his head. "Okay- well, that's cool I guess."

"Is Twilight home?" Applejack blurted out without hesitation, and Spike waved us in. I can only assume he probably thought that it was important, or that Applejack was just being impatient.

"Hey Twilight, Applejack's here with some friends." He called up, and went back to putting books on shelves.

A few moments later the princess came down to greet us, with freshly preened wings and a recently brushed mane. Something about Applejack's reaction told us that Twilight might not do this often. That thought was confirmed when Applejack spoke, too.

"Wow, ya' getting ready for a meeting or something?" Applejack asked her friend with a smile that was returned back.

"I haven't preened my wings in a bit, nothing wrong with looking girly." Twilight turned her attention towards me and Rose, which seemed oddly natural. It was like she had known us forever, since she greeted us without hesitation or acting like she was higher than us.. But then again, I suppose I just expected her to be more regal, being a princess and all.

Rose was flushed though and couldn't quit smiling. For her, it was probably like meeting a celebrity and being greeted as a friend. "Hi, I'm Rose- it's so nice to meet you!"
I could understand it, but I still had to try not to laugh at how excited she was.

Applejack stepped forward and introduced us to each other. "Twilight, this is one of my distant cousins and her coltfriend, Cross. She's Granny's third cousin, three times removed." Applejack then turned to Rose and I.
"Rose, Cross; this is one of mah' best friends, Princess Twilight Sparkle."