Queenpin

Applejack was rarely roused from sleep, it just didn't happen. If all of Ponyville were to be considered not quiet, Sweet Apple Acres would be unusually quiet, but Ponyville as a whole is a tiny quiet town most of the year. The loudest citizens Applejack was already good friends with, and knew how to address them personally.

But danger is a prowling panther in the night that stalks it's delicious prey in the night silently, and Applejack might consider herself a fool not to think so, especially tonight. It was this night she was awoken, all too lucky on her part to be aware of it. As the normal pattern goes, she was a heavy sleeper, and proud of the hard work that made her so tired; such a disturbance would have to be extremely loud, this implying it was in her home.

Applejack's golden opportunity had come, perhaps not to assess the scale of the danger, but to address another root of her problems. The intruder was very good, however, and moved silently across the creaky floorboards with ease, and thereby removing the only security measure implemented in the old home. Actions not questions were needed however, and Applejack could deliver.

Maybe the first mistake she made was to leave the house so easily, when she knew the apple cellar was accessible from inside, but her logic most likely was to get to the exit and block it off. Her silence was no longer needed as she galloped to the door across fields of grass.

The shovel was the weapon of choice for the night; Applejack slid the handle between the doors that jutted out of the ground, disabling the lock from any surprise tricks. It wasn't too long, however, before there was a blast and the doors came off. The only light came from the lamp inside the masked pony's muzzle, as it ran straight through the door, and sent wood splinters among flying chunks of dusty board. Applejack was struck; there wasn't much she would be able to do.

As she lie in the dirt, realizing that she had been asleep for a couple hours and the sun was rising, she made a promise. It had not been a dream, the door was still blasted off, but it wasn't premeditated. Entering the cellar shed more light on the empty walls that were devoid of any apples, and leaving saw the defaced apple truck whoever had used to cart the apples; professionals planned this, maybe in multiple stages.

The promise made was that she would try to solve her problems seriously now, without pride or hesitation. She would go directly and ask for help, get authorities involved.

A meeting with Twilight Sparkle went quickly disappointing. Applejack's affairs were considered personal affairs, and while she could apply for compensation, the apples were gone forever. In short, none of the royal guards would be dispatched to help. While Twilight was apologetic, Applejack was not settled. A meeting was arranged, inviting all of her friends to arrange an effort.

The point is, nopony wouldn't learn their lesson today. Nopony runs around Ponyville inconsequently.

***

Chapter 1

This is where Applejack sat now, her apple-covered end pressed into one of the plush stools that decorated the ever-colorful Sugarcube Corner. The lamp inside flickered as the bulb inside died, but provided ample entertainment for Applejack as she waited for her meeting. Mrs. Cake had already come out to offer several delectable treats already, to which Applejack turned down, while thanking her for providing a spot to meet after hours. Way after hours, as the night got later and later.

Rainbow Dash stumbled in through the door, and while Applejack was glad to see she didn’t use a window, there was business to take care of. The flustered pegasus quickly filled herself in on her surroundings before dropping down on a seat by Applejack.

“Very funny sugarcube, sit down. You’re painfully late.” Applejack giggled.

“Lighten up old-timer, I’m a busy gal!” Rainbow snickered.

Applejack recalled a sheet of notes on the white spotted table. Apple Bloom recommended having a list of points to keep a larger meeting organized; this did not become the case. She should have known that if Pinkie was willing to host but not attend was a pretty poor sign, but still remained thankful for her inability to help her friends.

“Alrighty, since everyone happened to drop out last second, it’s just you and I. Bu-“

“What? Twilight always does these kinds of things! She loves to be accepted!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Actually, she’s a bit of the trouble this time around. See, she told me about how there’s no real protection unless it’s major, and she won’t give us any of that leverage she has.”

“Why would we need protection?”

From out her saddlebag, Applejack pulled out a notebook filled with spreadsheets containing their inventory. The spreadsheets abruptly ended in the month's apple stock hitting zero, followed by dwindling numbers leading up to this point.

"Wow, this sucks." Dash said ignorantly.

"Not everything is gone, however." Applejack directed her attention to one of the few full numbers that wasn't deficit.

A number was still in the cider section, meaning the cider refrigerator remained unchanged.

"Now, the varmint will have to return for the cider! Then we'll be waiting! Even if the Princess won't help a bit, we will!" Applejack proclaimed.

“Well of course Princess Celestia isn’t gonna help with some apple thieves, that’s embarrassing!” Dash tried to be serious, but it wasn’t happening.

“So we’re gonna do it ourselves!”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack shared a grin, but Applejack was playing a biased move.

“That sounds just as sketchy. We’ll get caught!”

“Now now, we’ll just be as much of a misdemeanor as they are! We just gotta teach them a lesson and send them home! If the guards won't help us, they won't help them!”

Applejack smiled proudly, knowing she had a convincing argument and a convincing cause that Rainbow would easily stand behind. It was just too easy. But it was too fun, and Applejack figured she’d learn a lesson on self-restraint this week as well.

"Look, these aren't real bad guys, just bullies. We're big enough to take 'em! I could really use the help, I can't manage to swing my friends this time to my side, could you help?" Applejack patted Dash on the back, eyes filled with earnestness and care.

The final blow to Dash's restraint: helping a friend out when nobody else could. But on the inside, Rainbow really wanted to. She had missed out on the last couple of big fights, and her reputation was sinking.

"You can count me in!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Great! I hope you brought your best, because we're going now!" Applejack proclaimed determined, getting up and heading towards the door.

Rainbow Dash was not so ready.

***

There was still one massive mystery, and it was only apparent to Rainbow Dash.

"So why do you think he's coming back?" Dash asked.

"It was planned, there's no way he wouldn't known his way around the farm!"

"You know your way around the farm though, you should have gotten him?"

"It's a bit more complicated than th-"

"That's ridiculous! You should hav-"

"He knocked me cold and got away!" Applejack shouted in the privacy of the truck.

Rainbow Dash smirked and giggled. Applejack said a silent prayer that the night covered her blush, but still cursed for her misfortunes that caused the accident. Still, the giggles were pouring out, and Applejack was getting annoyed quickly.

"You LOST them? Don't you have any sort of training? Hehehehe Applejack! Sheesh hahaha!" Rainbow laughed.

"I'm sorry if I'm ashamed of not doing good work for once." Applejack glared.

Rainbow Dash folded her arms and squashed up against the seat of the apple truck. As it were, they sat parked under a stack of hay, looking out over the dashboard to enjoy the stars and the quiet cool atmosphere. Waiting out the thief was hard work with such colorful personalities from such colorful ponies.

The plan was shock and awe; the thief would enter the barn, invade the apple storage, where the truck would jump out and scare the apples out of him/her. Rainbow Dash would then catch when they run away, and the Apple family would get a year's share of justice in about an hour, or however deemed necessary; more than what kept Applejack in the drivers seat.

"How come you're so sure it was a him?" Dash quietly asked.

"That's a stupid po-"

There was a shuddering from the barn door in front of them, with a black-clad trouble tugging it open.

"NOW!" Applejack shouted.

The engine revved and the headlights flicked on. A black outline of a colt froze on the inside of the barn, and the truck roared, leaping across the pit they were entrenched in. Rainbow Dash rolled down the window, climbing onto the roof, and conveniently blowing in a draft to pump Applejack's adrenaline.

The colt turned and booked it straight into the rear wall of the barn, before that wall exploded in sheer force. Applejack drove the truck straight after, with a cursing Rainbow Dash sliding off the roof and into the truck bed. While the colt broke into a full gallop, Rainbow Dash climbed to the truck rear door and held on, signaling to Applejack to drift.

Applejack spun out and Rainbow Dash shot off the bumper straight towards the thief. He conveniently ducked under a ledge, while Rainbow Dash shot into the dark. An engine revved up and out came the colt on a motorcycle, now trailing behind Applejack, who had skidded into the direction of the bike's escape route and was now ahead of the colt.

The motorcycle kept its distance behind Applejack, and Applejack began to gain speed, expecting the bike to do the same. Suddenly Applejack slammed the brakes, as the colt continued forward with momentum previously. His defense was to glide to the right, quickly going to pass the truck. Applejack dove across the seats to hit the latch on the door, throwing it open and slamming directly into the side of the bike where it spun out and crashed into a field.

Rainbow Dash returned seconds later, blasting the open door off the truck into a farther field and knocking over a tree. None of that mattered, however, besides getting to the colt unconscious in the wreck. Applejack tackled him and ripped away the mask with her teeth, impatient for the truth, but coming face to face with Big Macintosh.

Applejack did not explode in anger as predicted, just sat there and wept. She had scarcely wept so hard in her life, and thinking of how long it had been made her weep more.

A clod of dirt kicked up in Applejack's peripherals and Rainbow Dash landed behind her. Her mouth briefly dropped, before giving Applejack a steel glare; Applejack could barely return a look. Her anger subsided into quiet realization.

"You knew, didn't you." Rainbow Dash said without her usual attitude.

Applejack nodded.

"It was an awful suspicion I've had, but it shouldn't have been true. It shouldn't have." Applejack muttered defeated.

Rainbow Dash walked over, briefly made eye contact with Applejack, before lifting Big Macintosh and walking away, back towards the home the Apple family might not hold so dear any longer.

TO BE CONTINUED...