Another day, another shit shift, serving drinks, and getting rutted for money. Applejack sighed quietly to herself as she stepped around the bar, the cordial smile never leaving her face. The mask had been ingrained to deep to drop it. She knew it herself, she was becoming jaded and cynical. It didn’t even hurt anymore when she realized she was a whore. The nights passed in a blur of alcohol and shame, but it was worth it. She kept telling herself that. It was worth it for her family.
Applebloom was in her teens now, and nearly about to graduate high school. She’d earned her cutie mark in construction, just like the Apple family had guessed. Big Macintosh was still working for Flim and Flam, surprisingly. Applejack guessed it was because they liked seeing the farmer suffer. Granny Smith was still alive, but not exactly kicking. Still all she did nowadays was sit in her rocking chair, staring forlornly at their former pride and joy, now reduced to heartless, loveless industry.
And Applejack? Applejack was still working at the Frosty Mug, serving drinks, and getting paid for sex on the side.
Pigpen never stopped coming in, which may have been part of why she was so jaded. She wasn’t even sickened by his stench anymore. In fact, she was fairly sure her gag reflex had completely and utterly vanished. Getting plowed by him didn’t even hurt anymore, and she could look at herself in the mirror afterwards without screaming. It wasn’t that she liked who she’d become, she didn’t care anymore. All her anger had burnt out a long time ago, leaving an empty hollow in her chest.
Her five best friends kept in touch, but she didn’t see them much anymore. Not because of anything they did. Twilight still ran the library, Rarity the dress shop. The Cakes had retired to take care of their kids, leaving Sugarcube Corner to Pinkie, who was running the bakery as well as ever. Rainbow Dash was still pursuing her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt. There were even rumors that she was actually in the running. Fluttershy maintained her cabin by the Everfree, taking care of the animals, and sometimes visiting Zecora.
That was one thing her cynicism hadn’t broken. She loved her friends still… but she simply couldn’t face them after what she did for a living.
And speaking of livings, there was her “favorite” customer. Pigpen walked into the bar, and immediately caught her eye, that same smug, sadistic grin on his face. He trotted past her, up to the bar, ordering four shots of hard cider. Applejack made a last, quick round, setting down the drinks with a silent smile.
She came to the last customer, sitting at a booth in the corner. The brown earth pony didn’t have much of a choice, as the chairs were too small. He’d become a regular customer recently, and though she didn’t know his name, she actually enjoyed his company. The pony was, in a word, massive. His sheer size put Big Macintosh to shame. She always knew when he came in, because he was the only customer who had to duck to do so.
Even sitting, the stallion could look at her on eye level. His brown eyes had always held a youthful sparkle that Applejack enjoyed. It reminded her of happier times. His plain black mane and tail were cropped short, and he always wore button down T-shirts, blue jeans, and sturdy looking boots, and he always carried a black duffle bag. It made her wonder what he did, but she’d never found that out either.
“Howdy there, pardner.” She said, with one of her rare, genuine smiles. “Gotcha the same thang ya’ll order ev’ry naght.” Sheh said, setting down a pint glass full of whisky. He always nursed the first one, but after that, he downed the pints of powerful liquor as if they were shots. He smiled over at her, picking up the glass.
“Howdy yourself, Farmgirl.” He rumbled, taking a sip. His voice was a deep baritone, and often reminded her of thunder in the distance. As he moved his arm, the muscles rippled. It may have been what attracted her to him every time. He was as muscular as Big Mac, maybe even more so. But after mental comparison, she had realized it was a different structure. While Mac was big and burly, this stallion looked quite flexible. The muscles were huge, yes, but not in a way that impeded his movements.
“When are ya’ll gonna stop callin me ‘Fahrmgirl?’” she asked, though a smile graced her lips again. “Ah stopped workin on a fahrm a long time ago.” She said, trying to keep the hint of sadness out of her voice.
“I’ll stop calling you ‘Farmgirl’ after you stop calling me ‘Pardner.’” He said, smiling jovially.
“An Ah’ll stop callin ya ‘pardner’ once ya tell me yer gol darned name.” she shot back good naturedly. “Anyway, gotta go. Lotsa customers ta serve.” She said turning away. As soon as she did, a cold shiver ran down her spine.
Pigpen was standing at the bathroom door, glaring daggers at her. He stepped in without a word, and shut the door with the usual “out of order” sign. Applejack set her tray on the bar, and gulped down her fear.
“Ah’m… uh… takin a bathroom break…” she told Frosty nervously. The older stallion looked at her, but slowly nodded. The walk to the bathroom felt like she was walking on Death Row. She opened the door, and stepped in. As soon as the door closed, a pair of greasy, dirty hands grabbed her by the shoulders, and flung her into the wall. She yelped as her spine hit the heater, but she didn’t fall to the ground.
Because Pigpen had already grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the wall.
“What the fuck do you think yer doin, talkin to that colt?” the filthy stallion snarled, his rancid breath hitting her in the face. “Yer MY whore, do ya understand that?” he growled, “MINE!” he barked for emphasis. Applejack couldn’t respond, she couldn’t get air in her lungs to do so.
“I’ll teach you a lesson you fuckin slut” he said. He dashed her to the ground, still holding her throat, as he undid his pants with his other hand. His member freed itself from his pants, and he pushed it into her mouth viciously. “Yer gonna choke on my cock until you pass out, you hear that, whore? Yeah, I’ll bet you’ll fuckin like that. And you can bet yer not getting PAID for this either.” He said maliciously.
But Applejack wasn’t looking at him. She was looking at something much more terrifying.
The stallion from earlier had ducked in, unnoticed by Pigpen. Applejack would’ve gasped in fear, if she could breathe. The mirth and kindness was gone from his face, replaced by a terrifying mask of anger. His eyes no longer sparkled youthfully, but burned with an inner fire that terrified the mare. His lips were peeled back in a snarl, further clouding his face. In fact, if it weren’t for his sheer size, she wouldn’t have recognized him. In one hand, he held a massive hammer, that looked like it would’ve taken two normal ponies to lift. In his other, he held a golden badge, in the form of a shield with a sun emblazoned inside. The emblem of the Royal Guard.
“Unhand the mare and get on the fucking ground!” he roared. Now his voice didn’t sound like thunder in the distance, it sounded like a storm directly over her head. It echoed in the small room, and caused Pigpen to turn around. It was almost comical, the look of startled fear on his face with his dick hanging out. “Adamant Ironhoof, Equestrian Royal Guard! Get. On. The. Ground.” He commanded, the thunder never leaving his voice. Maybe it was the authority, or the look of fury on Adamant’s face, or –most likely- the hammer the size of Applejack, but Pigpen dropped like a sack of potatoes.
Adamant’s steps shook the room, as he knelled down, putting handcuffs on the filthy stallion. “Damn.” He muttered spitefully. “I was really hoping you’d resist.” He growled. He slipped the hammer into a loop on his belt, and hefted Applejack up, like one would hold a kitten. She probably weighed about the same to him. Despite his size and frame, he held her gently.
He opened the door, stepping out, and Applejack was startled to see ponies with weapons and badges standing all over the bar. At least half the ponies in there were Royal Guard.
“On order of their majesties, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, this establishment is hereby being shut down on counts of prostitution!” he barked. He trotted to the door, and the two guards there made no move to stop him. “There’s a John cuffed in the bathroom, haul him in and hose him off for Celestia’s sake. He smells like a fuckin sewer.” He growled. The guards nodded, and headed into the bathroom to get Pigpen.
Adamant carried her down the road, to her home. She stared up at him incredulously. “Y-you were a-“
“Sergeant Adamant Ironhoof, at your service, Miss Applejack.” He said, smiling softly.
“H-how did ya know?” she asked. He sighed softly.
“Your friends suspected something was going on when you stopped visiting them. They’d also heard some nasty rumors flying about. When Celestia got wind, she sent me and some of the guard to check it out.” He said. “You don’t have to work there anymore.” He said. Applejack stared, gratitude and despair wrestling in her head.
“But… but that’s how I was supporting my family! We won’t have enough money, and we’ll be evicted, and-“ Adamant put a massive finger to her lips, and arched a brow.
“You’re Applejack. The bearer of Element of Honesty and the savior of all of fucking Equestria. There are benefits to being a hero, you know. I already have a couple of my guys arresting Flim and Flam right now, on terms of unsafe distribution of food and drink. There’ve been reports of food poisoning after consuming their products. They’re being fined and jailed, and the deed to the farm is being returned to the Apple family.” He said. It was as if the sun had broken through the clouds. After all these years, her life was coming back. In one night, this amazing stallion had changed her dark and depressing life.
Applejack didn’t say anything, she just flung her arms around his thick neck, buried her face in his shoulder, and sobbed uncontrollably. But the tears that rolled down her face weren’t tears of despair, they were tears of joy. If she’d been told she’d earned one hundred million bits, she couldn’t have been happier.
Adamant walked her to the farm, pushing the door open, and setting her gently on the couch. The tears had stopped, but she couldn’t stop sniffling. “Thank you… thank you so, so much…” she said weakly. Adamant smiled.
“Don’t thank me, thank your friends. They’re the ones who brought this to our attention. You should trust them more.” He said. “I’ll come back in the morning, to inform your family of the good news.” He said. He stood up, and started to turn away, but Applejack grabbed his wrist and stopped him.
“No.” she said firmly. “Please… stay here tonight.” She said pleadingly. “Stay… stay with me.” She whispered. Adamant stared at her, before a smile graced his face.
“I think my boys can handle clean up detail…” he decided. He picked her up again, and carried the mare to her room, closing the door behind them.
And Applejack paid him back in the one single way she thought fitting. She’d had to coax him to the floor, he was too large for her bed, but he didn’t seem to mind, and she certainly didn’t. For once –and she could hardly believe this herself- she thanked Celestia for all the time she’d spent as a prostitute. She didn’t think she could take him if she hadn’t had some experience. It was safe to say, he was proportionate.
That night, she slept not on a bed, but on a stallion she could only call her hero. And it was the most peaceful sleep she could remember having. When she woke up in the morning, he was still there, sleeping soundly. She carefully stood up, wrapping a sheet around herself. She made sure not to wake him as she went to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, combed her hair, and got dressed quickly, before practically running down the stairs.
When her family and Adamant awoke, they were shocked to see Applejack had made breakfast, and was grinning like a schoolfilly. The Apple family had had questions for the giant, of course, not the least of which was why he was there. It hurt seeing the looks on her family’s faces when Adamant told them the story, and what Applejack did to keep the family housed, but it was worth it. The dirt was finally floating to the surface, and the waters of Applejack’s soul were cleaner for it.
They were all disappointed, and angry, but Adamant had jumped to her defense, and after some coercion, they came to understand. That didn’t make them happy, or mean they forgave her. But the smile the threatened to split her face at Adamant’s next piece of news was the best she’d felt in years. Applebloom had looked disbelieving, Big Mac looked like he could kiss the bigger stallion, and Granny Smith had broken down in tears, repeating “thank you” to Adamant over and over again.
Afterwords, Adamant had left with her. She had more ponies she needed to face. The scene in Twilight’s library was one she thought she’d never find herself in. She faced down five ponies and a dragon, and confessed her sins, and poured out her soul. She felt the warmth of six bodies as they all wrapped her in a tight hug. Pinkie had wanted to throw her a “getting the farm back” party, right then and there, but Applejack had politely declined, opting instead to have the party when the deed was back in her hands.
She and Adamant walked slowly down the road, back to the farm, Applejack reluctant to leave the guard’s company.
“Ya sure ya’ll can’t stay?” she asked quietly, looking away. Adamant shook his head.
“I’m sorry, Farmgirl. I wish I could, but the princesses have other duties for me.” He said, setting a hand on her shoulder. “But… I promise I’ll visit you. And I’ll do so as soon as I can” he said, smiling warmly. Applejack turned to him as they arrived back at the farm. She grabbed him, and pulled his head down to her level, filled with more vigor then she’d felt in years.
“Ah’m holdin ya ta that, Pardner.” She said, and planted a long, passionate kiss on his lips. He seemed surprised, but eagerly reciprocated, and when they pulled away, they knew it wouldn’t be the last time they saw each other.
Applejack walked in, to find her family waiting for her, and for the second time that day, she found herself in a group hug. The family stayed like that for a long time, and Applejack knew she was forgiven. When they finally parted, Applejack trotted upstairs, and climbed in the shower, letting the water cascade down her body. She climbed out, and combed her hair, and for once felt clean, both inside and out. The scars would take some time to heal, though the memories would never leave her, but when Applejack looked in the mirror, her reflection smiled back beatifically.
And for the first time in years, Applejack liked what she saw.
