Saffron arrived at her first charge. She wasn't sure what he meant with choosing this name as the first one. It was far from the top and nowhere near her father's name. He mentioned something about a kinder start before closing the chariot of her and leaving her behind.

It had taken some time for Saffron to slowly turn around and face her obstacle. The lad around the house was huge and stank of classic farming work. As she made her approach to the door, a big hair dog trained its eyes on her. They were narrow enough to imply anger, but it never stepped away from the doghouse. Instead, it just watched her reached the door and knock three times.

There was no answer, but the dog howled regardless. Its voice was loud enough to alert its owner inside. It wasn't long before the door opened. A loud tumbler echoed behind the walls around the door and much to her surprise it open without the owner behind it at all. She raised an eyebrow at this as there was no way that was magic. This close to the Canterlot's imprisoned shadow wouldn't remove magic completely, but it would at least disturb it enough to be seen. There was no spark, or reaction of any kind. Could this be mechanical?

She had very little time to ponder on this, Hoo'Far would be back in an hour. So the mare took her chances and entered the home.

Saffron entered the house quietly and slowly. She didn't want to do this, but the stallion said he would pay good money for some company. Plus her true mission was to find out his connections to the rest of the names. Her eyes stopped on several pictures on the walls, lining the front hallway, leading into the living room. Seeing all the dusty pictures of all the ones who had passed on and left this old fool behind disheartened her greatly. Did he scare all of them off, or just outlive them?

A loud thump and a grunt of pain caught her attention. Holding her eyes followed, she made her way to the top of the stairway. There she found a few empty blackened rooms. They were covered in a layer of dust and looked to have not been touched for quite some time. She was beginning to doubt she had the right address, but then heard another groan and thump. This led her to a final room at the end of the hallway. The bright on the otherside showed her this was the destination.

"Come in!" His voice echoed from the otherside, acknowledging that he could hear her every step. Opening the door, he found an old stallion sitting in a chair in front of the window with the curtains wide open. He whispered a few soft words and turned to meet her. "So, you are this Saffron that Hoo'far mentioned?"

"Yes," Saffron bowed her head at him. The stallion was nearly twice her father's age. Was Hoo'far really asking such a thing of her with this doubting fool? There was no way he could be connected to the list, let alone her father.

"Please... join me." He grumbled softer while pointing to the bed. He closed the curtains and walked over to the bed. "Close the door behind you." She grit her teeth and did as he asked. He sat down on the bed, removing his clothes. The old stallion placed them in a neat pile at the foot of the bed, and placing his hat over a picture of his wife. His old mane draped around his shoulders and his large cock limped around as he bounced carefully onto the bed.

Seeing it all made her shiver to no end. This was clearly her first charge, and she wasn't prepared. Saffron hoped her assumptions were wrong about Hoo'Far, that he didn't actually need a whore. Maybe he had chose her purely for her father's connections to the list? Couldn't he just have an extra slut do this kind of work for him why she got the information? All her thoughts were stopped as the old stallion tapped the bedside twice.

Saffron bit her lip, looking at the old stallion. He had a pleasing smile and was far more ready then she was. He wasn't rushing her, but clearly expected a paid product from her. She couldn't turn back now. "Yes," She whispered softly, stepping up to the bedside. The mare did her best to hide the deep gulp. She gripped her dress and slowly lifted it up.

"That won't be needed... yet." The old stallion tapped the spot beside him. "Just sit with me for a moment first." He sounded just as hesitant as her. The old stallion even grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.

Saffron took a deep breath and climbed up onto the bed. She sat down beside him with the dress still covering her body. It was the only barrier she had to his utter nakedness on full display beside her. "So... if there something specific you asked from my... employer."

"Nothing much, dear. I just wanted some company." The old stallion's hand moved along the bedspread until it was on her own. Finding the right channel with the other hand, he gently placed her hand on his hairy thigh. "I am a lonely old fool." He laughed. "You don't have to move fast. You might break me."

Saffron's hand tensed ever so tightly the closer her fingers were dragged to his flaccid member. She was almost glad he wanted her to take it slow, because she didn't have the slightest idea how to please a stallion is such a barbaric situation. Sure, she was far from a virgin, but lack all experience is such dank and disgusting foreplay. "I'm sorry... I'm a bit new at this." The mare decided to be blunt, trying to get a conversation going. Anything to pass the time until the hour was over and she could leave this horrid place.

"That's fine." He chuckled at her softly. "Don't try to make this a date." His fingers stroked the back of her hand, caressing it lightly into his thigh. "It's been a long time since I truly could love a mare... These are simple satisfaction." He groaned as the tip of her finger finally touched the side of it.

Saffron shivered in a mix of horror and confusion over how vainly it felt. She bit her lip and gave a heavy breath as the finger traced up and down the side of his member. The stallion sighed contently while watching the show. Saffron didn't know what the program was, but it was clear that this stallion's interest lied solely in her. The sounds were there purely to keep things in motion.

"Don't be afraid." The stallion whispered. "You can touch it more, if you want." He was giving her far too much freedom and far too many chances pull away. She couldn't understand why this old fool would be so nice.

Saffron winced and turned back to the matter at hand. She almost forgot the main reason she was here. "I will... touch more... If you continue to talk to me." The mare hated herself from doing this, but took a firm grip around the member, assuring him some trust.

The old stallion smiled and retracted his hand, letting her work with no barriers stopped her from leaving. "My name is Burnt Oak. My family owned this land a long time ago. Before Ponyville and even before Canterlot was founded. We were a small settlement in the forest, before the trees were cleared. We were a strong clan of wood carvers, known for our great craftsmanship."

Saffron's hand began a soft pump and listen closely to each word coming out of his mouth. "Why did your clan move out here?" She kept her questions short, but directly without revealing too much.

"A fruit..." He stopped before answering her what kind. "I know it sounds strange for a group of wood carvers, but that's what drew first my ancestor here." He moaned and placed a hand on her shoulder. His voice was still calm and his cock slowly reached a full stride. "There was a strange fruit, it looked just like a zap apple... but was different." He waved his head back and forth before stopping. Turning to her, he changed the subject on her. "Can I know you name?"

"My..." She gritted her teeth and tried to be a bit more forceful on her pumps. She didn't want him to learn too much. While he had been kind so far, he could just easily turn violent on her. She was a mare he paid for pleasure, nothing more. "Saffron." She didn't give her last name.

"Hmmm, Saffron... it sounds sweet." He chuckled and gave a louder moan. His hips bucked slowly and his hand stroked her mane with softer effort. "Such lovely hair too... Just like my wife." He turned away and gave a heavy sigh. "I miss her."

She sighed at all his compliments. "Your wife..."

"Dead... children, dead too." He answered colder than he wanted, his sadness cutting through the pleasure. "Had some friends of the family visit every few months, but I've helped raise most of them... so asking such a thing like this would be improper..." He shivered away from her and tried to find the remote again. "Maybe some more TV..."

"I see..." Her eyes dropped. "You don't wish them to touch you."

"Yes... That would be wrong. A stranger should be the only thing." He gritted his teeth and cheek blushed. "You're a very pretty mare." He pulled her closer. "I would love to take you right now..." His voice hissed hard and the eye eyes shifted away to the hat and the picture it was covering.

"But, you're not sure... either." She hinted to him that she was just as hesitant as him, hoping that this would make things easier for both of them. "Truthfully, I don't want to be here... but..."

"You need the money." He dropped the remote to the floor as the pleasure became too intense. "Don't worry... we'll get there eventually." He patted deep breaths as his edge peaked closer. "Just talk with me for a bit more until I... finish?"

She sighed. "As you wish." Saffron lay on her back and continued to pump his cock. "You mentioned you helped raise most of your friends' kids. What about your own?"

"Died extremely young..." He waved his head back and forth. "Please, try a different subject. I need... I need." He pulled her head over and shoveled her mane into his nose. "That smell... Such a sweet... and familiar smell."

"Fruit..." Saffron remembered what Hoo'Far mention before leaving her behind. "It was a zap apple wasn't it? A strange one. What made it so strange?!" She pleaded, her fear overcame her need for distance. "You have to tell me, or... or..." Too late, the white liquid rushed out in quick sprays. The mare barely had enough time to take cover from each small weak shot.

The old stallion held his eyes shut and screamed his pleasure out. The warm cum landed all over his stomach and chest. Luckily, all of it missed her completely, only the overflow dripped onto her glove. After a few long seconds, the old stallion gave a heavy sigh. His entire body relaxed as the tension faded. His breathing slowly returned to normal, but the eyes stayed shut.

"Why..." Saffron growled softly as her eyes focused on the ceiling. She retracted her hand and removed the glove. Placing it the trash beside her, she turned back to him and conceded. "I... I can't continue." The mare was far too uncomfortable in the bed beside him.

"No... No, please..." He tried to stop her, but she jumped off the bed and came clean.

"My name is Saffron Masala!!"

His eyes popped open and turned to her with a mix of confusion and terror. "As in the Masala Industries." That answer stopped her right in her tracks.

"No..." She stepped away from the bed entirely. "My father owns a restaurant in... Canterlot." Her eyes widened just as big as his and looked right at him again. "Who are you?" She pleaded at his pale face. "You know something."

His fear faded as he stopped off the bed. The old frail form, turned strong and domineering. The stallion grabbed the hat from the photo and put it on his head. "I knew your father a long time ago..." He opened a draw and pulled out a gun. "For that reason, you will leave alive!"

"Wait... What?" She stumbled back against the door, not understanding what was happening.

"Get out!! Leave this house now!" He screamed at her, his voice echoing through the entire house. The dog began barking loudly downstairs, adding more fear to the equation. Saffron gritted her teeth and realized she had said far too much. She nodded and ran for the door. Opening it, she bolted out as quickly as possible. As she reached the bottom, the mare kicked her way outside.

The panic turned to solid terror as the hairy dog chased after her. The mare's eyes widened at the sight of the dog's teeth inching closer to her. It was far faster then she thought. In an attempt to flee, she tripped over the front step and landed face first onto the dirt road. The dog caught up to her, his fangs bared, and his drool dripping onto her back.

It was only stopped from chomping her head off, by the chariot returning and ramming it head on. Saffron screamed as her body was shoved across the road. Stopping only when she felt Hoo'far against her back, pulled her to safety as his trampled over the mad beast. Looking out the window reveal the massive dog somehow unharmed, but shaking its head in an attempt to recover.

"Are you okay!?" He shook her carefully as he pulled her into the chariot.

"Yea..." She nodded and gripped his hand tight. She tried not to face hi, fearing that she already failed her mission. "I'm sorry..."

"That went as expected. He's never been a strong soul." He puffed the smoke in her mane to cut the tension. Seeing the shyness in her face, he grabbed her chin. "Calm down, do you really think I would send an amateur like you into the deep end at the start."

"You knew he would hesitate." her eyes slowly widened as everything fit into place. "What do you mean?!" She knocked his hand away and coughed at the smoke. "This was all your plan!"

"Exactly!" He leaned forward, took her hands and rubbed them together. "And I can't let you be broken on the first try." With a quick push, he leaned her carefully onto a soft cushion and presented her with an icy drink. "It wouldn't be fair to you or to me."

"What does that matter?" She grumbled and took the drink. "I failed either way."

"Did you?" He held out strange apple in his hand. Much to her shock it matched Burnt Oka description perfectly. A common zap apple, but something already seemed off. "Was he talking about these by any chance?"

"Yes," She blinked and reached out.

"Good girl!" He pulled the fruit away and placed in a suitcase alongside other material he dare no show her. "That dog was guarding a tree the whole time. I suspect that's why he is so big and why he was able to survive a cart running clear over him with ease." Hoo'Far locked up the case nice and tight before continuing. "When I saw the dog threatened your approach but didn't stop you from going inside. This told me, his greater mission was in guarding that tree."

"You sent me in knowing not truly know what you were after!" She snarled at the stallion's smile. "And yet, you act like this was planned out."

"That's because it was!" He grinned at her and took another smoke of his long pipe. "You're a lot more important then you know." Hoo'far laughed as the chariot pulled away from the house and continued down the road.

"Let me go!" Saffron slapped him across the face. "This has gone on long enough!"

"Good. I expect some fire from my charges." He backed off but took her arm in a tight grip. "Now, get back home and take a shower. Your next job will be much... different."

"I'm not doing anything for you!!" She struggled but it was futile. The mare knew very well the mystery of her father's disappearance was too tempting to ignore. "I just... I want to find him!" She finally gave up and dropped her head.

"You will." Hoo'far let go of his condescending voice. He moved a hand to her shoulder and gave her a soft pat. "And if you follow my lead, you will also become a far more powerful mare in this life. If you can learn to trust me."

Saffron lifted her head, her tears tipped in her eyes. The stallion was still a smug asshole, but he had given her something she lacked in her life. Hope. He had her hook line and sinker, as much as she didn't want to admit it. This was the only truth she could accept.

Author's Note

Don't worry, we will see Burnt Oak again. And even ponder on his connections to the Apple Family and their mysterious extra fruit.