Chains

Nightmare Moon, part 2

The Air Cab flew through the sky, the Pegasi guiding it majestically and safely. The passengers in the chariot took a moment to watch the ground as they were held aloft on the winds.

Twilight’s mind was elsewhere, feeling betrayed that her mentor didn’t trust in her instincts, and was now sending her away to tend to something that couldn’t be half as important as preventing a potential disaster.

But what could she do? It was all so frustrating. She would admit it was silly to believe in myths and legends, but she had a cold feeling deep down in her gut that she was right.

Chains noticed his Mistress’s melancholy and was about to try and cheer her up when Spike began to read the orders he was handed for Twilight’s overseeing of the preparations.

“My Dear Twilight,

There is more to a young pony’s life than studying, which is why I’m sending you to supervise the preparations for the summer sun celebration in this year’s location, Ponyville.”

As he read this the town in question was just beginning to come into sight.

“And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete, make some friends.”

This was answered with a groan from the unicorn.

“Look on the bright side Twilight, the Princess arranged for you to stay at a Library, doesn’t that make you happy?” Spike was trying persistently to get her to cheer up about the situation.

It seemed to work as Twilight perked up a little and then smiled, “yes, yes it does, you know why? Because I’m right,” She said as in an assured tone. “I’ll check on the preparations as fast as I can, and then go to the library to find some proof of Nightmare Moon’s return.”

“Then, when will you make friends like the Princess said?” the baby dragon asked.

“She said to check on preparations, I am her student and I’ll do my royal duty,” she told him as they were coming to a landing. Some of the townsponies were watching the Air Cab as it was coming down, though most went on with their business. “But the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends.”

Spike and Chains shared a worried look as the Cab landed.

Twilight went to the Pegasi Guard who had transported them, “thank you sirs,” she said with a smile. They smiled proudly in return, and went on their way to return to their posts in Canterlot.

Spike came to her side, as did Chains, all three of them were looking around, and Spike tried to persuade Twilight to be social. Seeing a pink pony with a poofy mane approach, he pointed her out to Twilight, “Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about.” The pink pony came to a stop near them and seemed to be studying them as if thinking on something. Spike didn’t seem to notice and urged Twilight further, “Come on Twilight, just try.”

Twilight looked at the pink earth pony and start to speak, “uh, hello?”

The Pink Pony as if panicked or if sudden realization hit her, gasped deeply and shot through the air like a pink cannon ball over the three newcomers’ heads, leaving them all equally confused and at a loss for words.

“Well that was interesting all right,” Twilight said as she turned to find the first part of her assignment.

Chains silently wondered to himself if it was his fault, but shook his head, and followed after his Mistress, Spike sighing from his failed attempt.

…………………

They were walking outside of Ponyville towards a nearby farm. It was clear from the apple trees that were already in view that it was mostly an Apple Orchard, but fields nearby also hinted that they also grew vegetables, most likely corn.

Spike started to read from the checklist that came with Celestia’s official orders for Twilight, “Summer Sun Celebration, Official Overseer’s Checklist, Number One;” he started just as they entered the archway for farm. “Banquette Preparations, Sweet Apple Acres.”

They then heard a joyful, “Yee-Haw!” and turned their attention to see an orange earth pony with a blonde mane and tail tied into ponytails charging straight at a tree, and turning at the last moment to put all the momentum into a single buck straight into the tree’s trunk, knocking all the apples free from the branches and into the apple barrels waiting beneath. She smiled and crossed her legs, proud of the feat of strength.

Twilight, Chains and Spike looked on impressed before Twilight sighed and approached slowly, “let’s get this over with.” The blonde pony turned her attention to them as they approached, and Twilight put on a more friendly face, “Good afternoon, my name is Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight was suddenly surprised as the earth pony took her hoof in her own and started to shake it vigorously, “Well Howdy-do Ms Twilight, a pleasure making your acquaintance,” Her hoof shake didn’t let up a bit, “I’m Applejack, we here at Sweet Apple Acres, sure do like making new friends.”

“Friends?” started Twilight, the hoof shake causing her voice to shake as well, “actually-y-y-y, I…..”

“So, what can I do you for?”

Twilight’s foreleg was still shaking in the air, before Spike stopped it with a suppressed giggle.

Twilight cleared her throat, and put a smile on her face, “well I am in fact here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration, and you’re in charge of the food?”

Applejack smiled widely, “We sure as sugar are,” she said with pride. “Would you care to sample some?”

“Well as long as it doesn’t take too long,” Twilight said, a little hesitant.

But the farm pony was already ringing the triangle and let out a call of “Soooouuups on Everypony.”

At that a stampede of ponies, who were likely out working, came through, sweeping up Spike, Twilight and Chains and taking them to a gazebo with a table set under it.

Applejack quickly appeared next to them at the table, “Now, why don’t I introduce y’all to the Apple Family?”

Twilight smiled nervously and tried to talk her way out of it, “thanks but I really…” before she could finish a yellow pony with a green mane placed a plate of fritters on the table.

“This here is Apple Fritter,” the blonde farm pony introduced, before a red maned pony tossed more snacks on the table, “Apple Bumpkin.” As more ponies placed more snacks on the table she introduced them, “Red Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tarts,” She went on until she had to take a deep breath before introducing a large Red Pony, “Big Macintosh,” followed by a small filly holding a cake on her back, “Applebloom, aaaand,” she finished by putting an apple in Twilight’s mouth and pointing out a sleeping elderly pony, “Granny Smith.”

“Up and at ‘em Granny Smith, we got guests,” Applejack said, the elderly earth pony awoke with a snort and looked around confused, and speaking though it was difficult to understand whatever it was she was saying.

Applejack then put her arm around Twilight, “why, I’d say you’re already part of the family.”

Twilight’s reaction was to spit out the apple that had been shoved into her mouth; she laughed nervously again, “ahahahah, okay, well, I can see the food situation is handled, so we’ll be on our way.”

A small voice chimed in, “aren’t ya gonna stay for brunch?” asked the young Applebloom, looking up with sad eyes.

Twilight seemed to shrink before the pleading filly, “sorry, but we have an awful lot to do.”

This earned a disappointed sigh from the Apple Family.

Finally, Twilight caved, “Fine,” she said with some amount of agitation.

The Apples cheered with joy, their mood turning quickly. Chains could only smile, though his Mistress was frustrated with being stuck with the jovial ponies, who continued to try to convince her to eat more food.

“Shucks, where are Lock and Stock?” Applejack wondered aloud. “They always forget that they’re part of the family too,” she put her hoof to her mouth and called out, “Lock, Stock, come on and get some grub.”

Twilight looked to her, tilting her head, “more family?” she asked, somewhat scared to ask.

“Well, not in the traditional sense,” a smiling Applejack explained as two tall humans came into view. They were twins it seemed, both with short cut blonde hair and green eyes. The only discerning feature to tell the two apart was that one had a scar on his left cheek and the other had one on his right.

Another thing worth noting was that neither of them wore collars. Chains involuntarily reached to feel his as he observed them.

“We’re almost done loadin’ up the apples AJ,” the one with the scar on his right cheek said.

“That can wait Lock, when grubs called everypony should come a runnin,” the farm pony said. “I’d like you two to meet Twilight, she’s our guest, checking in on things for the Princess,” she explained, pointing out the purple unicorn.

The two humans bowed respectfully, “t’sa pleasure Ma’am, mah name is Lock,” said the human with the right scar.

“An I’m Stock,” said the one with the left scar.

“Nice to meet you too,” said Twilight with a smile, having resigned herself to already being stuck with the Apple family for the time being. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, and this,” she pointed to her dragon companion first, “is Spike, and this,” she pointed to her own human, “is Chains.”

“Sup,” the dragon greeted with a wave.

“Hello,” said the shy human, he took his hand from his collar as he greeted the other two humans.

“My, he’s a quiet one, I almost didn’t notice him,” Applejack said with a chuckle to herself. “These two ratchet-jaw so much I guess I’m not used to seein a quiet human.”

“We don’t talk that much AJ,” the twins said at the same time.

“So you have humans working here too?” the Unicorn asked curiously.

“Just these two, found ‘em a couple years back, the Apple family never really was one for using slaves, but we got attached to these guys pretty quickly, like ah said, they’re really part of the family.”

The rest of the Apple family was talking amongst themselves and eating their brunch together while the two human owners talked.

“Big Macintosh found us on his way to the next town, our part of the slave wagon fell off the trail and over a cliff, so the slavers just left us fer dead,” explained Stock.

His brother Lock added, “since we’re s’pose to be dead anyways, we got a place to eat and stay, and in return, AJ and Macintosh get some help on the farm.”

Twilight was almost more shocked about how relaxed they were with their supposed owners.

“Hey, AJ, we really are just about finished with those apple crates, if Chains here helps us we could be finished before you even got to the second course,” said the first twin.

Applejack thought for a moment, “well, what do you say Twilight?” she asked.

The unicorn looked to her human, “um, I wouldn’t mind Mistress,” he said quietly.

“Then I guess it’s okay,” Twilight said with a small smile, “just be careful.”

Chains nodded and went with the two other humans. Honestly he wanted to go because he hadn’t spent any time with any other humans since he was in the Slave Market.

The three slaves made their way to the back of the barn, the two twins looked to Chains, “You don’t look like you’ve done much work in your life,” the one called Lock said.

“Well, I help my Mistress in the Library, I’ve carried stacks of books around a lot,” the smallest of the three said. This got a laugh from the twins.

“Well, we carry stuff a bit heavier than books,” one of them said with a friendly smile.

“Don’t worry Small Fry, we won’t expect you to carry too much right away,” the other said.

Chains was starting to notice the slight variations of the twins. Not just with their scars on opposite cheeks, but also their tones. Lock had a much more energetic and jovial tone, while Stock had a more easy and relaxed tone.

They reached the far side of the barn, where a wagon sat, nearly filled to the limit with apple crates, each about two feet longwise and a foot wide, and another foot deep. Inside the barn were many more crates, much more than the little wagon would ever hold.

“Well, let’s get ta work,” said Lock with a smile. He went and stacked a couple crates from the barn, and lifted them up with ease, stacking them on top of other crates. He was soon followed by his brother, and the two loaded up more and more at a quick pace.

Chains went to help, and lifted one crate, and was surprised by its weight. It was much heavier than the twins made it seem. It wasn’t too much though, and he brought it to the wagon, and stacked it in, and started to fall in pace with the twins.

He tried going for two crates at once, about half of what the twins were carrying, but that proved nearly too much, and his arms nearly gave as he rushed to the wagon. He almost tripped on the way, but he and the crates were grabbed by Stock, “careful there Partner,” he said.

Chains looked up at him, “s-sorry, I’m just not used to carrying so much,” he said, looking back down.

“Don’t worry about it,” said the older human, who straightened him up. “Looks like we’re done anyways,” he said, looking back at the wagon as Lock filled the last gap in the crates.

“Yup, that’ll do ‘er,” Lock said, “these will go to town for the caterin’,” he said.

Chains was able to put a smile on and looked at the two other humans before he went to put the crates back where he got them. He looked back to the twins, and once again remembered they didn’t have collars. His hand going back to his, he looked at them, “um, can I ask something?”

“Sure,” Lock said, looking at him. “Whatcha wanna know?”

“Well, you aren’t wearing collars, I was just…….”

“Well, it wouldn’t make much sense for us to wear magic collars when we don’t got a unicorn around ta use ‘em,” Stock answered.

Chains shrank, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…..”

“Ya didn’t,” said Stock as he rested a hand atop Chain’s head. “That Mistress of yers seems mighty nice, I’d say you’re pretty lucky,” he said.

“Yeah, Stock n I are lucky too, we could have just as easily landed in one of those farms where they whip ya if you don’t move fast enough,” The other twin chimed in. “I think the word in the wagon train we got detached from was that we were heading to some mine or someplace, we were working most of our lives in a Quarry before that, we got mighty lucky to land here.”

Chains looked up at them, and back down to his feet, a small smile on his face, “I just wish I could have helped out more.”

“Hey ya did fine for some scrawny little thing,” Lock said with a laugh. “If ya worked a couple of weeks on the farm, I bet you’d be able to lift just as many crates as us,” he said.

Chains smiled and thanked him.

The three humans then made their way back to the brunch, where Twilight was trying, and failing, to refuse more and more food being served to her. Chains couldn’t help but laugh a little as he saw his Mistress’s plight.

For the next hour or so, Twilight and her two friends ate with the Apple family, eating a lot of baked goods, and several, “world famous” family recipes.

Twilight herself was more or less forced to eat three whole pies, and her stomach began to distend from eating so much.

At the end of the Brunch party, Twilight and Spike said goodbye to the Apple family, and Chains gave a fond farewell to his newfound friends in Lock and Stock.

As they left, Chains looked to his Mistress with worry, her stomach swollen from the food she was made to eat.

Spike opened up the checklist again as the group made their way back into town.

…………..

AN: I’m not Dead!

Okay, this took a long time, and I’m sorry for the wait. You wouldn’t believe how troublesome it is to try and write out an actual episode. It got much faster after I brought in Lock and Stock.

And no, I won’t have a full chapter for each of the ponies. I hope to have the rest all in the next chapter. Honestly I don’t think it will be too hard, Applejack’s meeting was so long because so much happens there compared to everywhere else.

Well, I’ll get on Part 3 of the Nightmare Moon arc right away.

See ya around.