Chapter 1View OnlineApplewoodChapter 1Knock knock. "Who could that be at this hour?" Fluttershy asked herself. Opening the door, she finds a skinny, dirty, scratched up, bruised pony collapsed on the ground. "Oh my! Are you alright?" She asked worried. "Harry, I need your help! Don't worry you'll be okay." "Bring her up to my room, but be careful, she's hurt. I'll get the first aid kit." When Fluttershy returned she found that Harry had placed her on Fluttershy's bed. "Thank you Harry." She said thanking him. I can take it from here, you should get some sleep." After cleaning her up a bit and treating her wounds Fluttershy thought she looked familiar. Fluttershy continued to treat her throughout the night. The next morning the mare began to stir. "Uugh, what happened?" The mare asked waking up, finding herself in an unknown bedroom. She smelled something coming from downstairs. She winced in pain when getting out of bed and headed downstairs to the kitchen. "Oh, good, you're awake." "Who are you? Where am I?" "Shh, take it easy." Fluttershy lead her to the couch. "I'm Fluttershy and you're in my cottage. I found you last night." "I don't really remember about last night." "It's alright. Why don't we start with your name?" "I'm Pear Butter." "I'm sorry, but have we met? You seem really familiar." Fluttershy asked. "I don't know. I can't think, my head's killing me." "Do you want me to run you a nice warm bath and you can just relax, or I made some breakfast if you want that?" "A bath would be nice." She answered. Fluttershy headed upstairs and started the water. "Poor thing, I should tell the others that I can't hang out today. But I can't leave her here alone?" Fluttershy said. Once the bath was ready, went to tell Pear Butter. "The water's ready. Do you need any help?" "Just getting there and getting in probably." Said Pear Butter. Fluttershy helped her upstairs and get in the bath. "There, do you need anything?" asked Fluttershy. "No, I'm okay now. Thank ya." "You're welcome, I'll be downstairs, just call if you need anything." "I will." Knock, knock. Fluttershy opened the front door. "Girls? What are you doing here?" Asked Fluttershy. "You didn't come to the breakfast we had scheduled today." Said Twilight. "Oh, ah, I'm sorry, it's just something came up, and I well forgot. Sorry." "Is somthing the matter Darling?" Asked Rarity. "Well, a mare came here last night. She was pretty weak and and I'm helping her right now." Answered Fluttershy. "Oh no, the poor dear. Is there a way we can help?" Asked Rarity. "I, um." Pinkie ran past Fluttershy into her cottage. "Ah, sure, thank you." Said Fluttershy "Where is she?" Asked Pinkie. "Uh, She's upstairs. I'll let her know you're here." Knock, knock. "Um, Miss Pear Butter, my friends are downstairs, they wanted to help and make sure you're okay." "Miss." Pear Butter whispered to herself, remembering that her husband is gone. "Miss Pear Butter?" Snapping out of it. "Oh! Ah? Yes, thank ya." She answered Fluttershy. The girls heard Pear Butter coming down the stairs "Do you need any help?" Asked Fluttershy. "No, I'm okay." Pear Butter answered. When she came down to meet everypony they all stood in shock. With her mane done and coat clean Fluttershy could now recognize her. But it was Pear Butter and Applejack that couldn't take their eyes away. "Mom?" "Applejack?" They ran to each other in a tight hug, tears of joy poring down their faces. Pear Butter didn't care how much it hurt, she just wanted to saver the moment. "What happened to ya?" asked Applejack. "I'm sorry, Applejack. It's just... I just,,, Somethin happened." "Would it be alright if you told us?" Asked Twilight. "Please Ma. What happened to ya? Where's Dad?" Buttercup began to cry. "You don't have to Dear, we all understand." Said Rarity. Gaining her composure. "No, ya'll should know." (Flashback) "Me and Bright Mac were lookin for Apple Bloom, we asked in town but nopony has seen her, so Bright Mac wanted to ask Zecora in the Forrest." "Bright Mac are you sure about this? What if she's already back at the farm?" Buttercup asked, scared. "If she is than she's safe and y'all got nothin to worry yourself about." Bright Mac answered. "What about us? It's gettin late and this forest ain't safe at night, even durin the day ya gots to be careful." "Don't worry ya'self bout it, ya got me protectin ya." (Snap.) "What was that?" Asked Buttercup, scared. "Get behind me!" Bright Mac, ordered. "We was ambushed by a pack of timberwolves. Your father tried to protect me before... before he..." She began to cry again. "It's alright Ma, ya don't need to continue." (Sniff) "Yes, I do. I was captured." "Wait, why would they capture you instead of killing you? Asked Pinkie. "I found out that when one kill a pony, that timberwolf's able to mate with the opposite sex." "Are ya'll sayin?" Asked Applejack. "You've got yourself a half timberwolf baby brother." Buttercup answered, nodding. "I've been captured for two years and sense your brother was born, only now he's gettin close that age for breeding and my estrus is soon. I needed to escape before my own son tries breeding with me." "How come the timberwolf that bred you after you gave birth, also 2 years isn't long enough for a colt to produce sperm." Asked Twilight. "Somepony must have killed it, cause it and 2 of em never returned from a hunt, and 2 years may be to short for ponies but not for wolves." "That sounds absolutely horrible being trapped in that dirty forest for so long. And the fear of being bred by your own son." Said Rarity, shivering at the thought. "Can you guys just say it, she didn't want to get raped by him." Replied Rainbow. "RAINBOW!" Her friends all yelled. "No, she's right. I can't keep pretendin to hide that it never happened. We all can't keep avoidin the fact that "I was raped" by that timberwolf. And dancing around the subject won't change nuttin about it." "But why now? Why were ya gone 2 years?" "Applejack, you've got Apple Bloom, Big Mac, Granny and all your friends. He had nopony but them timberwolves. I thought that maybe with me there, there might be hope for him, but there never was." Buttercup confessed, crying still. “But if killing a pony give them the ability to breed with ponies, I’m wondering why they don’t kill your son, so one of them could instead of him.” Asked Twilight. “He’s a member of their pack, they won’t kill one of their own.” “But he’s my baby brother, we’ve got to help him.” "Applejack you don’t understand, he’s more Timberwolf than pony. We should let him live with his kind, his family.” Buttercup said, sadly, having to give up her son. "Mom, I gave up on ya when I should have kept looking. I ain't gonna do the same to my brother." Applejack said before heading out. "We should go with her." Said Twilight. All her friends agreed. Before leaving. "Will you be okay here by yourself?" asked Fluttershy. "Yah, I'll be alright." Answered Buttercup. Everypony followed after Applejack to the Everfree Forest, leaving Buttercup at Fluttershy's. Author's Note Because of the subject matter of rape and what will happen at the end of chapter 2, I keep debating that's enough for a mature rating or keep it as teen?
Chapter 2View OnlineApplewoodChapter 2(In the Everfree Forest) "Applejack, are you sure this is a good idea?" Asked Twilight. "He's my brother Twilight. You ain't stoppin me. Whether or not my ma believes, I need to have faith. If y'all don't, than y'all can leave. But I'm bringing him home." "That's not what I meant. I just mean it might be dangerous, we should be careful." "Twilight has a point Dear, we don't want to end up being attacked." Said Rarity. "You mean like how we're about to?" Pinkie said as her usual cheerful self. SNAP They all paused. "Do y'all smell that." Asked Applejack. "Yup!" Answered Pinkie cheerfully. They started to look around, worried. Seeing glowing green eyes in the shadows, but one looked different. Seven timberwolves with a young pony colt came out of the bushes growling and snarling at the six ponies. "Don't worry A.J. We'll take care of the timberwolves while you take care of your brother." Said Rainbow. "You mean I'll talk to him while ya'll distract them." Replied Applejack. "That's what I just said." "Not really, and usually I'm the pony that gets corrected like that." Said Pinkie. "Pinkie you-." "If you two don't mind, WE Could USE SOME HELP OVER HERE!" Rarity called, yelling at them. Rainbow and Pinkie turned their heads to see their friends were already fighting the timberwolves. Rainbow flew, slamming a timberwolf and herself into a tree. Dizzy, Rainbow shook her head, ready for more. Focusing back on the task at hoof. Applejack went looking for her brother. Spotting him in the commotion, Applejack ran over to him. Her brother spotted her coming and ran deeper into the forest. "Wait! Please stop!" She shouted. It was so dark, Applejack couldn't see. She didn't realize he was creeping up from behind her. He attacked, knocking her down scraping at her face. Despite having hooves they were just as sharp as timberwolf claws. Applejack kicked him off her and started running with her brother chasing after her. Applejack could see the Castle of the Two Sisters up ahead. She ran across the bridge, with her brother still chasing not far behind. The bridge snapped. “No!” She yelled, reaching out her hoof grabbing him. While pulling him up, her brother pulled himself higher, biting her leg that was holding him. The reaction caused Applejack to let go, causing him to fall into the moat. Staring down into the bottom of the abyss, Applejack watched, hoping for movement. She was trapped, unable to help her brother who might still be alive down there. Applejack just sat there, tears pouring down her face, unable to do anything. She heard hoof steps heading her direction. "Applejack, are you okay?" Twilight called out sounding worried. Applejack looked up with tears in her eyes seeing her friends coming. Stopping at the end of the bridge, they saw Applejack's condition. Twilight used her magic to repair the bridge and was ready to head over to comfort her. Applejack ran across the bridge and into the moat before anypony had a chance to react. She stopped infront of her brother lying there in a pool of blood, not moving. Her friends all stopped behind her in shock of what has occurred. They all looked at each other, not sure what to do or say. Finally Rarity spoke up. "Girls, maybe it's best we let her be for now." "WHAT!" Rainbow rejected. "I think Rarity is right Rainbow, we should give her some space." Said Twilight. "But... Okay." Rainbow gave in. They all turned back to Fluttershy's cottage, leaving Applejack with her brother. Hours passed and everypony was waiting for Applejack to return. Finally, the door opened, everypony turned to look at Applejack who walked in with her brother she was carrying on her back. She carefully placed him on the couch. Buttercup walked up next to her. "I'm sorry I couldn't leave him, I couldn't save him." Applejack said, crying. Buttercup pulled her into a deep hug, letting her cry onto her. After staying like that for a few hours, they both headed to Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack still carrying her brother. Apple Bloom was working closest and noticed them coming, her eyes widened at the shock of seeing her mom. "MOM!" She cried out, dropping everything and running to them. "BIG MAC, GRANNY SMITH, IT'S MOM, SHE'S ALIVE!" Big Mac and Granny Smith both walked out of the barn to see what she was yelling about. Both could not believe what they were seeing. They started running over to where Apple Bloom was headed and where Applejack and Buttercup were at. Apple Bloom stopped in front of them, happy. "I can't believe it, you're alive! I, I I... I Just can't, you're alive!" Apple Bloom said, pulling her mother into a big hug. "Well if I didn't need glasses, I sure do now, or are you really Buttercup?" Asked Granny Smith. "Eeyup." Big Mac confirmed. "Of which one? You need to be more clear when somepony asks a question like that." Granny Smith asked, playfully annoyed. Both Apple Bloom and Buttercup chuckled at that. Applejack didn't react. Finally, Apple Bloom noticed the pony on Applejack's back. "Hay Applejack, who's that?" She said, looking trying to get a better view. Applejack looked behind herself, sad, then turned back to Apple Bloom. "That's your brother." Apple Bloom was confused. "Uh? But I only have one brother.?" "I'm sorry everypony, but we..." Buttercup turned to Applejack. "I, need to tell you everything, about what happened to me... and your father." They all headed inside for Buttercup to tell the rest of her family a long story, about that day and of her son. (At dinner) "So all that really happened?" Asked Apple Bloom. "Yes." replied Buttercup. "And my brother...?" "I failed him." Said Applejack. Everypony turned to look at Applejack. "Now, what do you mean you failed him?" Asked Granny Smith. "I failed him as an older sister." "Now, Applejack, you haven't failed anypony." Said Granny. "And Ma said he was a lost cause." Said Apple Bloom. "Eeyup." Confirmed Big Mac. "He was only that because I failed to save him! I could... I know, I could have saved him." Yelled Applejack, with tears starting to well up. "Or you could have died trying." Said Big Mac. "Yah, then you'd be blamin yourself in death that you not only failed him, but also failed us." Said Apple Bloom. "APPLE BLOOM!" Yelled Granny Smith. "But, she is right Applejack. Don't beat yourself up over what could have been. But, right now let's be happy now that Buttercup is home, and in time we'll have a funeral for ya'll brother to celebrate the pony he was." Buttercup smiled. Author's Note Sorry it took so long, I originally only needed a break do to having written that many stories, including 12 others that are ether not finished, I only the title or only the description of. And with the trouble I was having with Chapter 1 of “Applewood”, I just needed a break, but then I just kept getting distracted and just kept putting it off.
EpilogueView OnlineApplewoodEpilogueIt's been a week sense Buttercup returned home, and Applejack is still depressed, blaming herself for her brother's death. It was storming, Applejack was back in the Everfree Forest, hanging from the bridge and holding on to her brother. Lightning cracked, and he fell. Applejack could see for a split second the fear and sorry in his eyes. "You did this, Applejack. You let him die." She could hear her mother say to her. Lightning cracked again, she was in front of her brother's body. Lightning struck where her brother's body was, before it was gone. Her eyes widened, all that was there was a puddle of blood. Applejack was sitting there crying. The storm clouds were clearing and she could hear hoofsteps approaching her. “Apologies Applejack, for I could not help you sooner, for your mother was in need as well.” Said Princess Luna, calmly approaching her. “My mom’s havin nightmares too?” Asked Applejack, still crying. “Indeed, but as of now, we’re here to talk about you.” Said Luna. Applejack sniffed. "I couldn't do anything. I couldn't save him." "Do not blame yourself Applejack. We can not save everypony." "But, I saved the world, many a times... But couldn't save my own family." She sniffed. "What if I fail again? Like, what if I fail to save Twilight? We need the Elements." "The Elements are just a physical representation for what you ponies already possess." "Honesty?" She chuckled, sarcastically. "What good did that ever do?" "To many then I can list. Applejack, as you say it, you tried and you failed, but do you know what the true failure is?" Luna asked. Applejack turned to Luna. "Not trying." She answered. "Indeed, everypony has faults, but you'll never succeed at anything if you don't try, including saving the ponies we love." "Thank ya, Princess Luna." Applejack said, hugging her. (The day of the funeral) "We are all here to mourn the loss of Applewood, a pony who never got to be with his family and to know where he belongs." Buttercup looked down as Mayor Mare spoke. "Now would anypony like to come up and say a few words?" Mayor Mare asked. Applejack walked up on stage, as the Mayor walked off. "I..." Sniff. "I never got to know him, but he was my brother, my family and if I could change what happened, I would, but right now, all I can say is, I am sorry Applewood." Sniff. "I'm sorry I couldn't save ya." Applejack started to cry. Applejacks family gathered around her, hugging her, all crying together while also comforting each other. Author's Note Now that "Applewood" is finished, should I change it Teen or keep it as Mature? Manely because of the themes of Rape, Accident/Murder?, Gore, Depression, but no real overly descriptive details. P.S. I don't like how this chapter turned out, but I'm not sure how to fix it/make it better. P.S.S. The dinner scene at the end of Chapter 2 was originally intended to be the beginning of this chapter, but thought it fit better there and so moved it. What do you think?
