Violence doesn't solve anything, exept for all the things it does!!
Applejack was usually an even tempered mare.
She prided herself on her kindness, on her reliableness- She loved helping others.
Yes, at times, her anger could get the better of her. A natural symptom of a difficult childhood with plenty of support, she knew those outbursts were an issue that she needed to quell quickly, and many times, she knew right from wrong.
But in rare times, feeling angry felt right.
She was an honest mare, after all. She tried not lying to anyone, least of all herself. If she could feel it in her core that what she was doing was right, that the injustice that incurred her wrath needed to be fought, then she was okay with being a little angry.
Today she was not a ‘little’ angry. She didn’t take the time to think about it thoroughly– She made her decisions swiftly and without hesitation, and believed in them wholeheartedly.
Seeing one single thing, witnessing one single event outside her orchard made her decide her next course of action fairly quickly.
On this calm, breezy Ponyville afternoon, Applejack’s anger made one very simple and decisive decision for her.
Today, she was going to kill the Flim Flam brothers.
“That’s IT!!”
Twilight, who was thankfully near the event horizon of this issue, was quick to fly to the farmer and try to calm her down. “A-Applejack! I know it looks bad, this is definitely one of the weirder schemes they’ve tried pulling, but–”
“--No buts. No ifs, no buts, no NOTHIN’!” Applejack declared as she stomped a hoof on the floor. “I’ve had it! This bomb is goin’ off, they CROSSED A DAMN LINE!”
Grimacing awkwardly, the princess tried defusing this bomb. “Applejack, c’mon– They’ve done worse than this, right?”
“It ain’t just this. It’s everythin’! They won’t ever stop with their fibbin’, their lyin’, their connin’, this is only the beginnin’!! If we don’t stop them now– If I don’t stop them now…” her expression hardened, as she turned around, facing Ponyville. “That’s it. I know what I’m gonna do.”
“A-Applejack, come on, be reasonable–”
“I’m gonna kill the Flim Flam brothers.” She muttered with all the sincerity and anger she could muster.
And Twilight felt it, deep inside her core, as a cold wind gusted through her heart, and her wings shivered with fear.
The Element of Honesty has just stated out loud that she intended to commit murder.
She was far, FAR from lying.
“O-okay. Okay. Applejack, let’s take a moment to breathe, okay?” Twilight forced her legs and wings to move, accompanying the Farmer’s unflinching movements. “M-murder is a bit too far! W-we know what they’re doing, I can pull some by-laws, use the rules against them, convince them to pull out of Ponyville…?”
“That ain’t gonna stop em’ for good.” The Earth Pony’s gaze was entirely hardened, as she moved with unwavering, strong steps towards the town. “But I know what will. Me.”
“L-look, violence isn’t always the answer–”
“It is right now.”
“K-killing is wrong!!”
“Not always.” She gritted her teeth, side eyeing her friend. “Ya ain’t gonna stop me, Twilight. I’m offended yer even tryin’ to talk me outta this. Ya don’t need to be a part of it, go back to yer castle, shut yer blinds, it’ll be over quick.”
“Can you blame me?! You’re my friend, I don’t want to see you do something you might regret!!” She fidgeted nervously, glancing at Ponyville fast approaching. “B-besides, we’re meant to protect life, we’re meant to save Equestria, I don’t think going out being judge, jury and executioner is a good thing for any of us– None of us should cross this line, you’ll regret it!!”
“Twi. Read my lips.” For a moment, she actually smiled. “I ain’t gonna regret this.”
Once again, her heart sank– Applejack was telling the truth.
Her eyes searched around them frantically, looking for a way out of this mess, some way to convince her friend to stop.
Right then, Applejack’s family was in sight, at the edge of the orchard, and fast approaching. Granny Smith, Big Mac and Applebloom were all glaring at one of the several booths that were distributed around Ponyville– Even around the orchard, all belonging to the Flim Flam brothers.
The alicorn flew forward, and despite how much she was sweating, tried her best to use her diplomacy. “G-Granny Smith!! Listen to me– Applejack is about to do something crazy, but she’ll listen to you– You have to stop her!”
The old mare tried her best not to scowl– It had been a long and annoying day already, given the action of the two brothers. “--Scuse me, Princess– Yer a sweetheart, but we’re havin’ a pretty bad day already.”
“Yeah!! Have you SEEN what the Flim Flam brothers did this time?!” Applebloom pouted angrily, pointing to the town, at all the new booths that littered the place. “T-this is unforgivable!! They crossed a line!”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac nodded in complete agreement.
“I-I can bring them to justice! Probably!” Twilight stuttered. “They won’t get away with this, I promise!”
Just then, Applejack passed by them, without saying a word, eyes set on her destination.
“G-Granny Smith! You have to talk her out of this, she said she’s going to kill the Flim Flam brothers!!”
The old mare took a single second to process what she was told. “Eh. Good riddance.”
The Princess blinked in shock, nearly knocked back by the statement. “B-but killing is wrong!”
“Eh!” The grandmother shrugged.
“W-wait, my big sis is gonna kill the Flim Flam brothers?!” Applebloom’s jaw dropped, as her eyes were filled with surprise.
“Y-yes! And she–”
“Awesome!!” The little foal cheered, hopping up and down. “That’ll teach them!!”
Twilight dragged a hoof across her face as she groaned. “Okay, I get that none of you like those two, but they don’t deserve a punishment THAT steep. L-look, can you all just get Applejack to stop, and I'll see if I can at the very least get the brothers to be punished for what they did??”
“Meh!” The grandmother shrugged.
Big Mac simply blinked with disinterest.
Applebloom raised an eyebrow. “Those two jerks have been conning and lying and cheating ponies all over Equestria, and they never get punished!! At least she’s gonna stop em’!”
Desperately, the princess beheld the older brother. “B-Big Mac! You can probably stop Applejack, could you maybe block her path or something??”
“Nope.”
She ran through the options on her head pretty quickly. “...What if I gave you and Sugarbelle a ticket to a cruise or something… Would you help me out here?”
He took a few seconds to weigh the pros and cons. “...Nope.”
She cringed, but still tried. “...What about entry to a romantic getaway spa in Canterlot…?”
Once again, he spent little time thinking. “...Nope.”
“D-do you REALLY want Flim and Flam dead THAT MUCH?!”
“Eeyup.”
Twilight put on a smile, switching her target. “...Applebloom, she’s your big sister, If you convince AJ to stop, I'll let you in some of the friendship classes at my school– For a week only.”
“Hm… A month.”
“A week.”
“Three weeks.”
“A week.”
“No deal.”
“Fine! Two weeks!”
“Hm… Only if Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle get to join.”
“Then it’s only one week.”
“Fine! Twist my leg, why don't ya!! One week, but my friends get to join! Deal!”
With determined movements, Twilight picked up the little foal, and flew towards her friend, who continued to walk unflinchingly towards Ponyville.
The princess of Friendship landed right in front of her, but Applejack didn’t stop– She had to constantly walk back not to be pushed aside.
Floating the little sister before them both, Twilight smiled awkwardly. “H-hey, Applejack!! You wouldn’t kill somepony in front of your little sister, would you?”
She didn’t even raise an eyebrow. “I would if it’s the Flim Flam brothers.”
Applebloom pouted, giving her big sister the biggest wet eyes she could. “Applejack… What kinda example are ya setting for me if ya take a life in front of your lil sister…?”
“Applebloom, violence ain’t always the answer, but sometimes it is.” Applejack stated simply. “As a big sister, it’s my job to teach ya to stand up for yerself and fight for what’s right. Now, I don’t necessarily want ya seein’ what I’m about to do… But what I'm about to do is a lesson, no matter how ya spin it. And the teacher is now in session.”
“YAY!!!” The little foal cheered.
“It’s ‘class is now in session’-- Damnit, AJ!” Twilight huffed in frustration, as she still held the sister. “Are you really okay with killing two ponies in front of your little sister??”
“Um, yeah. ‘Cause two ponies are Flim and Flam.” She raised an eyebrow smugly. “Besides– As if ya’d ever let her watch.”
“Touché…” The Princess groaned in frustration. “Deal’s off, Applebloom.”
“Aw, c’mon–” Was all she could say before Twilight moved her back to the farm with her magic, and hurried after Applejack.
And the Farmer was not stopping, she was closer and closer to the town and wasn’t slowing down.
“A-Applejack, come on, do you really want to get your hooves bloody like this?? Y-you’re better than that!” The Princess pleaded.
“Eh. Blowin’ up our enemies with the Elements of harmony, crackin’ Flim and Flam’s skull… I don’t really see the difference.” She shrugged, but then smiled. “Well– Those two are gonna be missed less than King Sombra, that’s for sure.”
“AJ, I’m begging you to slow down and think about this.” The Princess stopped in front of her, and the farmer stopped too. “This is wrong, and t-too drastic! And if you don’t stop… I'll have to stop you!” Her horn flared and sparkled.
“Go ahead and try. Be my guest.” Her gaze narrowed, she gritted her teeth, but did not falter. “I dunno what kinda friend you think ya are threatenin’ me, but yer not doin’ anythin’ for the greater good, Twi.”
“I’m trying to stop a friend from committing murder.” She put her hoof down, trying not to lose composure over the glare of the taller Earth Pony. “I-I think that warrants a bit of force, if necessary.”
“...Really?” Raising an eyebrow, the Farmer tilted her head, knowing the answer already. “You’d hurt a friend? For Flim and Flam, no less…?”
The princess knew herself well, she knew she couldn’t maintain this facade. “...No. I wouldn’t.”
“Then stay out of my way.” Applejack moved past her, towards the town.
But the Princess was not done yet. Taking flight, she intended to get to their friends beforehand, and enlist their help.
If she could help it, Applejack would not take any lives today.
Applejack let out an angry snarl as she saw more and more booths that belonged to Flim and Flam around town, and several ponies getting served around them– The machines were self-serving, too. Place your bits, get your samples.
She was disgusted.
But none of it slowed her down– She promised to herself nothing was going to stop her.
And Rainbow Dash was the first to try.
Landing with agility in front of her, she spread her wings, as if to block her path– To no avail “Hey AJ! I, uh– I challenge you to a hoof wrestle!”
“Later.” She paid the pegasus no mind, moving past her easily.
“R-really? Ah, crap, um– How about a race? Through the fields, whoever knocks the most leaves outta the trees–”
“I’m busy.” She continued to move unflinchingly.
“D-dude, come on, uhh–” She frantically tried thinking of anything that could slow her down. “How about we see who can buck the most apples in your orchard?”
Applejack barely looked back, just gave Rainbow a piercing gaze.
“Y-y’know, how about right now? Whoever wins, uhh…” She hesitated, she was sweating, she had never seen her friend this serious. “If you win, I have to help you with chores, and if I win, you uh… Don’t kill Flim and Flam?”
“Of course Twi put ya up to this.” Applejack ignored her completely. “Yer not slowin’ me down, Dash. Besides– In an apple buckin’ competition, ya don’t stand any chance against me.”
“Oh really? You wanna bet on that?” She tried putting on a cocky grin, but it didn't last long.. “Because I’m pretty free right now, if you wanna head back to your orchard, we can–”
“Later. I got somethin to do first.” Again, her eyes were narrowed, and she did not stop moving forward. “Don’t try to stop me Dash. I don’t need to say ‘or else.’ Ya know yer playin’ with fire, I ain’t in the mood.”
“Um…!” She could barely muster to raise her voice above a fearful whisper. “...What if I tell you I’m going to go do some pranks on sweet apple acres right now… And the only way you can stop me is by following me back there…?”
If the Farmer’s gaze could kill, the pegasus would be incinerated on the spot.
She instantly folded, sitting down, locking her wings firmly to her side. “O-okay! Okay! D-do whatever you want! S-sorry! Sorry! Oh my gosh– You’re really doing this aren’t you???”
“Look around ya, Dash. They crossed a line.” She stated simply, with a shrug. “And I ain’t holdin’ back.”
“...Ooooookay, Twilight wasn’t kidding, you’re about to off those jerks. Oh gosh.” Cold sweat ran down the speedster’s forehead. “Um, is there anything I could say that would–”
“--No.”
“Welp, I tried.” She took flight, looking around. “Heads up, the others are gonna try to stop you– But I figure you guessed as much. I’m gonna go tell Twi that this was a dud. Bye!”
The Farmer barely gave out a grumble as a response.
She kept moving stalwartly towards where she suspected the two brothers would be– They had to have parked their carriage somewhere around the town, after all.
And annoyingly for her, another distraction and attempt to slow her down was fast approaching.
“Hey! Hey AJ! AJ!” Pinkie called out loudly, trying to hide her desperation, getting her attention. “We need your help!”
“Later.” She huffed, looked away. “I’m busy.”
“B-but the Cakes's carriage has a broken wheel, you’re totally the mare to fix it, right??” The party pony put out an awkward smile. “And after that, I think Cranky Doodle has a broken door, I’m fairly sure you could patch it up if you go grab your tool belt back at the farm– Also Aloe and Lotus complained about the pipes on the spa, Muffins said her mail shelf in the post office fell over, and–”
Applejack silenced her with a hoof to the lips. “What’s next, Pinkie? Did ya burn down a house in town and want me to rescue a baby inside?”
Pinkie froze, afraid to look her friend in the eye. “...Oh, um, that’s not a bad idea actually, maybe I could–”
“Save it.” She turned away. “If there is anypony actually needin’ help, they’ll ask me– And I’ll tell em’ the same thing I told you– Later.”
“B-but Applejack, maybe you could–” She froze again, as the Farmer shot her a glare. “...Not kill those two…?”
“Goodbye.” Applejack runed around.
“I-I’m just saying, m-murder is not very friendship of you!” Pinkie smiled awkwardly.
“I don’t care.” She complained, moving away. “If ya wanna stop me, you’ll hafta try harder than that.”
“D-dangit!!” The Party Pony moved in the opposite direction. “The Apple is still falling from the tree! Repeat, the Apple is still falling from the tree!! Unleash the diamond!!”
Applejack rolled her eyes, ignoring whatever that meant, focussing on her path forward, on her two targets.
Even now, she could tell more and more townsfolk were looking at her, all wary of the expression on her face, maybe word was spreading of her intent.
And her next obstacle was fast approaching.
“Yooooohoooooooooo Applejaaaaaack!!! ~” Rarity was next in line, approaching her elegantly and flirtatiously while dressed in a scandalous dress.
From afar or squinting, she resembled what seemed like a glittery male peacock. Otherwise, with the benefit of looking closely, she looked beautiful, if not overdoing it with the amount of feathers, frills and shiny bits in her outfit.
Applejack, for once, was completely focussed and unaffected. “Heya, Rares.”
“Darling, it simply cannot be helped…!” She turned her wiles up to a thousand, dragging her flank across the Farmer’s and even smacking her side with her tail for good measure. “Here I was putting on this beeeeautiful dress, and now I simply cannot remove it!”
“Hm. I’m a bit busy, Rares.” Again, she maintained perfect composure, not even dignifying the unicorn with a glance. “Maybe later.”
“Applejack, dearest…” She tried forcing herself onto the field of view of the Farmer, with questionable success, her voice melodic and sweet. “How about you and I head to the boutique and you can tear this dress off my body, perhaps–”
“Sugarcube.” Her voice was rough, stern, dominating, freezing Rarity on the spot, stopping only for a moment to make eye contact. “I’m gonna go off and kill the Flim Flam brothers now. Ya can’t stop me, ya can’t slow me down. If ya’d like, as soon as I’m done, I’ll come back to the Carrousel boutique and tear that dress off of ya with my teeth and we can make love so hard we’ll make a crater in yer living room. Until then…”
She turned around and left.
Rarity swooned so hard she fainted.
And Applejack kept moving.
She hoped this obstruction would be the last, but it was not.
Fluttershy’s bear friend was in one of the plazas of the town, making rehearsed ‘savage’ motions, and several ponies around them were also trying to act panicked.
Fluttershy herself approached Applejack with a poorly rehearsed script. “Oh no! Applejack, you have to help us! I forgot to feed my friend Harry the bear and now he’s cranky, could you help me take him back to Everfr–
Applejack galloped towards the bear, grabbed him with her front hooves, and suplexed him.
The earth quaked with the enormous impact of the animal’s back hitting the dirt, and Applejack dusted off a speck of mud off her own cheek, walking away.
The force that came from the blast knocked several ponies away and rendered the bear unconscious instantly.
Fluttershy was utterly dumbfounded, unable to speak.
“I’ll help ya move him back to yer shack once I’m done.” Applejack noted as she moved away. “Bye, Fluttershy.”
And there it was. The Flim and Flam carriage was in sight.
Nothing was going to stop her, not even divine intervention.
And just then, the Princess of the Sun descended from the heavens and landed before her.
“Applejack…” Celestia beheld her with a soft empathetic expression, tilting her head. “...Taking a life is not the solution here, much less two. I’ve been where you are, many centuries ago, and I must tell you– It will not go as easy as you hope for. Please, let me tell you the story of how I–”
Applejack walked to her side and tipped her over like a cow.
“Oh.” The Princess was surprised for only a second, as she laid in the dirt sideways. “Oh dear.” She let out a sigh of annoyance.
With a huff, Applejack kept moving.
“Go on then! Don’t mind me!”The Princess complained behind her, and was ignored.
Twilight Sparkle was frantically trying to talk to the two brothers, trying to get them to leave, with questionable results.
The two of them wore cocky smiles as usual, completely unbothered. “Please, Twilight Sparkle– That Farmer hick wouldn’t hurt a fly! Sure, she may not be our biggest fan…” Flim began. “...But she is much too honest to stoop to senseless violence! Be it for one con or another!” Flam completed.
“I-I’m saying you two are in danger!! You need to leave Ponyville, now!” She desperately tried warning, glancing back and seeing the farmer fast approaching. “S-seriously, she’s going to do something crazy!!”
“Leave Ponyville? Why, we have the proper permits!” Flim teased, completely unafraid. “Would you like to see the paperwork, Princess? Our business is as legit as it comes!” Flam mocked.
“N-no it isn’t!! The mayor didn’t approve of–” She looked back and panicked, Applejack was really close now. “S-she’s going to kill you!!”
The two brothers gave each other surprised looks, and for a moment, considered the severity of the situation.
And then they simply burst out laughing. “O-ohoho, I did not realize the Princess was a comedian as well!!!”
“Good one, Twilight Sparkle– Deeply amusing, but our business is perfectly legitimately, and there is nothing she can do! Go on, run along now, there’s a customer behind you, eager for our products!”
“L-look, you don’t understand–”
“Twi.” Applejack commanded her with a raspy snarl. “Move.”
The Princess was out of moves. Unwillingly yet resigned, she left the trio, considering her options, and realizing Celestia needed to be lifted. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
And the two brothers continued to underestimate the bearer of the Element of Honesty.
“Come to deliver us a customer complaint?” Flim raised a mocking eyebrow, and with his magic, brought forth a tiny trash can. “Here is the receptacle, if you have any complaints to file!”
“We are always accepting constructive criticism!” Flam lied and joked at the Farmer’s expense. “I’m sure whatever it is you have to critique will surely be a flaw in our–”
“--I’m here to kill ya.” She stated simply, coldly, her voice rough and ready, her muscles tensing, dragging a hoof across the dirt..
Once again, the two brothers froze for a second, looking amongst each other…
…Then burst out laughing at her expense.
Applejack blew air out of her nostrils. “If I let y'all keep runnin’ around, you’ll con my Granny out of her own hip replacements– Nevermind stealing candy from the occasional baby. I can’t let ya continue yer dishonest lifestyle any longer.”
They laughed even more, leaning on each other. “Why, isn’t this just rich! The even tempered farmer is going to put us out of our misery, dear brother!”
“I am simply quaking in fear! Why, our business must have not been up to par with her expectations!” He turned to her, with a mocking grin. “Afraid of a little competition, farmer?”
“YA BUILT SELF-SERVICE BOOTHS THAT DELIVER ORANGES TO ANY PAYIN’ COSTUMER AND PUT EM’ ALL AROUND PONYVILLE!!” Her screams echoed through the valley. “AND FOR THAT, I’M GONNA KILL YOU!”
Flim laughed at her screams, but Flam fell silent.
Because he came to a horrifying realization.
“B-brother!! Oh, good heavens, brother, stop laughing!!” He pleaded in horror, trying to pass his realization onto Flim. “S-she never lies!!”
But it was too late.
Applejack was upon them.
Author's Note
I don't even hate the Flim Flam brothers lol. I just wondered how funny it would be if Applejack finally snapped and took matter into her own hands.
Also Applejack's anger is a subject that's always a fun time to explore, she's usually so kind and sweet, but there's ample reason for, in the rare occasion, for her to snap. It's very nice to see how against injustice and dishonesty she tends to be, and I disagree with anyone that ever considered Applejack to be the most boring of the mane 6 tbh (though I don't find any of them boring, rly)
I love how in the comics she gets so furious at beurocracy, heh. Same, girl. Same.
I even considered having a lot more characters trying to slow her down, like all of Ponyvilles side cast, maybe Rarity rallying more femmes to try and slow her down, but I realized nah, the scope is focused enough already
Either way, i think this will be the last fic I write for a while. I don't know if it was apparent as I wrote this, but I was kind of exhausted through the whole process. I hope it didn't show in the quality of the work, really!
I need a BIG break to work on other big projects that aren't writing-centric before I consider coming back and writing more of my bigass ideas xP Shimmerverse really tuckered me out! See you all around, I hope you enjoyed these goofs, and whenever i'm back to writing I'll finish the Tartarus Heist. Bye! o7
