Legacy

Chapter 1: Small Beginnings“Great adventures always seem to spring up in the strangest of places“

(Song #1)

I huffed as I pulled the heavily laden cart up the hill towards our families’ large two-story barn. The wheels creaked softly as its peach-filled insides rocked back and forth slightly with the small pot-holes in the dirt path. I felt the cart begin to list heavily to one side. I slowed down to make sure the cart wouldn't tip over. Shuffling to the side, I gently pulled forward, slowly teasing the cart back into properly re-balancing itself before I continued.

I was always sure to keep the cart centered. My accident last year had been embarrassing enough, even if it wasn't entirely my fault. How could I have known that those cats would just happen to be sunning on the path, and that the cart would just happen to run over their tails, startling them and in turn me, causing the cart to tip over.

Either way, Dad didn't really care about the 'why', and result had been me missing supper. Also, I would never hear the last of it from my family if I managed to tip another cart over. Once had been enough and I didn’t plan on getting my supper taken away from me like it had last time.

Making sure the old cart was okay, I took in another huff of air and continued my ascent towards the barn, enjoying the mid-summer weather.

The cool air at least made work bearable, though. The temperature had shifted to that comfortable in-between time in the season when the air was still warm but not humid, while the cool wind blew crisply by, ruffling my strawberry red mane and the solitary pink stripe.

The perfect weather for finishing the yearly peach harvest. This year’s harvest had been good as well, ripe enough to fall off the tree with barely a poke while staying juicy but not being rotten. I admit I may have… sampled a few for consistency. Possibly a dozen. Alright, a baker’s dozen, I admit it. But, damn, they were good!

With one last huff, I strained my neck against the yoke attaching me to the cart, and pulled the cart the last little bit. When I crested the hill, I happily trotted the last fifty or so feet to the barn’s entrance. I came to a stop by the large barn doors, reaching up to unclip the yoke around my neck from the cart, gently leaning it down.

“Hey, Peach Tea!” I shouted, “I brought the last cart-full up for the day.” I shook my peach-orange coat a bit, letting my sweat fly off me so I could cool off.

The yoke rested heavily on my shoulders, but I didn’t see any point in removing it yet. 'Might need to bring something else up to the barn, never know,’ I thought.

Knowing Dad, it’d probably be the case too. Seemed like there was always something else to pull up the hill, and Dad always had me pull it up. I groaned a bit at the thought as I made my way deeper into the barn.

The sunlight streamed into the barn in ribbons of light, illuminating the barns' interior and its two permanent inhabitants, our two cows: Anne and Maybell. The cows ate quietly off to the side, giving me only fleeting glances before returning to munch on their late lunch.

Hay bales stood in the upper loft in neat stacks. Towards the back of the barn I could see the low wide shed-like building that we used to can and preserve our peaches. The door to the room was slightly agar.

'Peach Tea must be inside. But, why hadn’t she answered me when I’d called?'

“Peach Tea?” I called again, a bit uncertain. As I continued on, I began to scrutinize my surroundings. “Peach Tea, come on, stop joking around!”

As I reached the door, I put out a tentative hoof to push it open. As I reached out, a whining noise suddenly began to become louder. I tilted my head a bit to raise up an ear, confused, trying to hear it a bit better. Was it coming from above, I tilted my head up, eyes widening as I saw a red blur falling down straight for me, a huge grin plastered across its face.

“… ggggggeeeeeeeeeEEEEERRRRRONOMO!” With an ‘oof’ of expelled breath, I felt it land square on my back, knocking me down into the soft straw floor. I felt like my eyes were rolling as Blossom, my little sister, laughed. I just lay there, dazed after her sneak attack.

“Oh my gosh, Sweets, you should have seen your face! I was falling, and then you looked up at the last second, and then WHAM!” Blossom hit her forehooves together for emphasis. She seemed to try and say something else, but just rolled off of me and continued to laugh maniacally. In the meantime I decided to make sure my lungs were still working as I tried to remember how to breathe.

“Sweet Peach, are you ok?” giggled Blossom, giving me a poke.

“Blossom, I think… I think.” I said quietly, my words mumbling off. Blossom looked quizzically at me. I motioned for her to come closer as I whezzed in air. Cocking her head, she approached, her eyes widening in worry now.

“C-Closer” I said, motioning her towards me. She tilted her head down even further so I could easily whisper in her ear. With a grin, I suddenly twisted around, wrapping her up in my hooves as I rolled over to pin her in place.

Blossom gave a little screech of surprise, “Sweet Peach! You trickster, I thought you were actually hurt. How could you, you… sneaky sneak!”

“Oh? After that little stunt you just pulled? That was very dangerous, and your big brother is going to have to teach you a lesson about jumping off the second floor on unsuspecting ponies!”

Blossom’s eyes became wide as she was listening, she began to twist and wiggle as she tried to escape my grapple. Not that she could, I was possibly one of the best wrestlers in town. It also helped being such a tall, long limbed and large pony. Lots of natural advantages that made it easier to grapple with other ponies. Blossom continued to squirm anyways in an attempt to escape, knowing what would come next if she didn’t.

With an evil grin, I locked her in place with my back legs and began to tickle her with my forehooves. Blossom began to laugh uncontrollably as I continued my assault. Her squirming became desperate as she tried to cover her ticklish spots from me. I just grinned, and continued as she gave littles shrieks.

“S-Sweets,” She laughed, tears beginning to leak out her eyes as she gasped from air between laughs, “You, you gotta. Hahahahaha! S-stop! I can’t breathe!”

“ Promise me you wont sneak attack poor ponies who walk into our barn.” I say calmly,  as I stopped tickling her so she could catch a breath. She sucked in a lungful gratefully before responding,”

“I-I promise, now let me up!”

I give her a rueful grin, “Oh, but I never said I’d let you go now did I?” With that, I pounced back.

“You… you, traitor. Sweet Peach, stop. Hahahahaha!” yelled Blossom as she began to laugh against her will again. I loosened my grip around her so she could escape, and with a twist of her body she was suddenly free from my hold. Scampering up, she ran to side of the barn that led up to the loft she she tried escape me, still laughing as she looked over her shoulders to see if I was chasing her.

“Oh, you think you can escape me? I am Sweet Peach! Bringer of giggles and taker of breath! Flee while you can!” With that, I gave chase, running up the stairs after her as she scampered away, squealing excitedly.

When I topped the stairs into the loft, I looked up to see a pinkish-red leg disappearing over a hay bale above my head. The loft had always been her favorite hiding place, and she always ran up there. I decided to play around a bit; she always liked it when we played this game.

“Now where could she be?” I mused out loud. I lifted my large hooves and began stomping around the loft loudly, my hooves thonking heavily across the sturdy wooden boards. I heard a giggle from above, but ignored it.

“Fee, fi, fo fun! I smell the blood of a little one,” I said, deepening my voice as I stalked around the loft noisily. I heard Blossom give a little gasp from her hiding place, failing to keep quiet.

“I’ll smash you, and mash you, and turn you to bread!” I continued dramatically, slowly making my way towards her hiding place. I could see a bit of her pinkish-red mane peeking out from between a pair of hay bales. I smiled and began to stomp directly towards her hiding place. I could hear her barely contained giggles and gasps as she continued to fail hiding from me.

I stopped for a second below her hay-bale, and then continued to the stairs where I began making gradually softer stomping steps to give the effect I was walking back down the stairs. As I finished, I tip-hooved back towards the hay bales and waited below, poised to pounce. I knew she wouldn’t be able to resist looking, I would just have to wait a second… any second now…

The little red filly poked her head up, looking towards the deserted stairs. Her eyes relaxed as she believed she was safe, before widening as big as saucers as she looked down to see me crouched below. I gave her a wolfish grin,

“Found you, and now I’ll gobble you whole!” I pounced up and grabbed her as she gave a little yell and tried to flee once more. As I pulled her down, I gave her some playful nips and bites and made nom-nom noises with my mouth. She laughed in delight as the fear of being found vanished and was replaced by laughter once again.

“Stop that, stupid brother. You’re being silly!” giggled Blossom

I gave her one more playful nip before settling back into the hay bales, holding her loosely in my forelegs as we both just sat there and panted, enjoyed the respite from the familiar game.

I heard an impatient cough from the stairs, surprised Blossom and I looked over to see my father standing at the top of stairs; his earthy green coat and orange mane seeming to glow in the filtered light coming into the barn.

He gave Blossom and myself a long look, his face neutral, but I could tell he was displeased with our antics. My face reddened with embarrassment.

“I see you two are having fun, “He said.

“Yes sir, just finished bringing up the last cart-load for Peach Tea,” I responded quickly, try to move past the awkward moment he had caught me in with Blossom. Blossom seemed happy to just sit where she was, smiling innocently up at us.

“Well, if you two are done wasting daylight with your antics I could use your help Sweet Peach. Unless you’re still busy…?”

“No, Sir. I’m ready to get back to work if you need me,” I said, getting back up and trying to blow all the straw out of my own strawberry red and pink streaked mane from my tussle with Blossom.

“Good, cause Tea’s gotta head inta town, and I’d like you to escort her and haul the wagon to the store for her. She knows what to get, so you just need to walk.”

“Got it Sir, I’ll unload the cart into the cannery, and head out with her right after.” I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice. Any excuse to cut out in the middle of a work day sounded like a good deal to me, even if I did have to spend it with Peach Tea.

My Father gave a nod, turning to Blossom. “Blossom, I need you to return to the house and help auntie Pie with dinner tonight.”

Blossom pouted, “But I don’t WANNA go and help Auntie Pie with cooking.”

“You’ll get right back into the house and help out your Auntie if you know what’s good for you, young lady, now march!” Dad said, pointing with finality towards the stairs.

Blossom continued to pout in silence as she realized Dad wasn't in the mood for games today, and sulked down the stairs. Dad followed after her to make sure she really went to the house. I stood for a second in the loft and picked some more of the hay out of my mane as best I could before walking down myself.

It took me a while to transport the peaches to the cannery and deposit them, but I was soon rolling the empty cart out of the barn. I was met by a waiting Peach Tea, looking a bit annoyed at having had to wait for me.

Her Golden hair cascaded down in tangles around her fine face and shapely neck, complimenting her orange coat perfectly. Her cutie-mark stood out in the late afternoon light, a refreshing-looking glass pitcher of iced tea, tipped to the side in mid-pour.She gave me an irritated sigh as I came out to join her.

“Took you long enough, what, where you doing, masturbating in there or something?” Said Peach Tea.

I waggled my eyebrows in response. “Yeah, left a nice little surprise for you in the cannery.”

Peach Tea scrunched up her face. “Pfft, you would, you lech.”

“Must be a family trait. Besides,” I said, a little grin worming its way onto my face as we began walking down the road towards town, “it’s not like I've been bringing over a certain stallion late in the evening to 'inspect' the barn.”

Peach Tea visibly blushed at my reference to Bean Sprout, one of the helping hands who worked around the farm during harvest season. She cleared her throat, and began walking a little faster. She always did that when she was flustered. “T-that’s… I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Peach Tea said indignantly.

I trotted to catch up, not ready to relinquish the tease yet. I tilted my chin thoughtfully, pretending to think really hard as I continued. “Oh, but surely you must know something. I mean, just this morning I swore I could hear something weird when I was picking up the cart this morning. I think it sounded like screams… but, oddly, it sounded a little like your voice...’ I trailed off, leaving the sentence open to interpretation.

“What, you hea- I mean, how... odd.” My Sister’s responded, quickly covering her own slip as she dramatically rolled her eyes in mock ignorance.

‘And now for the finisher,’ I thought. I went into a falsetto for the last part, grinning from ear to ear as my Sister’s face went from its pink blush to a deep crimson.”Oh Bean Sprout, my only stallion, take me now you great big stud!”

My Sister sputtered, so flustered she couldn’t form words for a while. “I-I do NOT sound like that.” My Sister gave the cart a kick as she stormed ahead of me, the cart rocked a bit but she hadn’t really kicked hard enough to do any damage. Dad would have killed her if she’d actually damaged the family's only cart.

I just laughed as we finally made it into town, walking between the houses and stores that made up the central section of the little town of Haystead. Peach Tea composed herself after a little while, and I stifled my laughter to occasional giggles as she led us to the trading post.

We came up to the entrance of the trading post, a large sign over the building read: "The Fair Trade". I moved the cart over to the side of the store as Peach Tea entered. slipping off the yoke, tossed it into the cart after tethering it to the side of the building. The bell over the door jingled as I walked into the store.

“Hey, Tea, I got the cart parked around back, so we’re good to…” I came up short as my eyes adjusted to the stores dim lighting.

(Song #2)

A triplet of mean looking ponies ringed the counter facing the owner. The two closest were earth ponies, one a very massive brown earth pony stallion with a fierce white mohawk of a mane. who seemed to have his face stuck in a continual glower, which only made his cutie mark, a fractured piece of bone, that much more menacing.

The other was a much skinnier, yellow mare, with a long curly red mane, The whip cutie mark on her flanks complemented the half-uncoiled bull-whip next to her. The handle held loosely in her teeth.

The last member of their little group was a blue unicorn stallion with a complimentary blue mane. The unicorn kept talking to the owner as the two earth ponies looked back to glare at me as I walked into the shop and came to a silent stop. His cutiemark was strange, it looked like a red line with a pair of golden bits atop it.

We stared at each other for a while before both seemed to decide I wasn’t much of a threat. The yellow mare whispered something to her brutish counterpart, and he waved me towards the side of the store where Peach Tea was already waiting apprehensively, growling at me threateningly.

I took a glance at Peach Tea, who gave me a little shake of her head, a glint of worry in her eyes. I flicked my eyes back towards the two ponies, waiting a second before slowly sliding over to join my Sister. Big Boy continued to glare at us while the slim mare dismissed us altogether, returning her attention to the owner of the store and the unicorn.

The proprietor, Fair Trade, was a smallish red pegasus with a short black mane, and looked visibly intimidated by the large (or, more accurately, larger than himself) ponies facing him, as he audibly gulped and all but shook behind his counter. Peach Tea fidgeted in place as I stood solidly besides her, offering her my silent strength as we waited.

“Like I said, Fair Trade, Nothing more needs to happen. Just hand over what we want, and we’ll head on out. You pay us the protection fee, and we keep on protecting your fine wares,” said the unicorn, carelessly flipping a steel-flanged mace in his magical grip. A shattered display stand lay nearby, it and its contents scattered across the floor, a victim of Fair Trade's apparent failure to comply with the unicorn’s demands.

“I-I…I j-just don’t h-h-have what you need, Deadline. If you came b-back next week though…” Fair Trade’s voice squeaked as he saw the unicorn’s face darken.

“Listen up, you winged mule,” said Deadline, the unicorn. “You owe us five bags of your finest harvest grain. We extended the deadline, and we’re here to pick up our order along with the bonus. So cough it up, or I have Lash and Crunch here show you how they got their names and cutie marks.” Deadline tipped a hoof in the direction of his goons, Crunch and Lash. Lash, the yellow mare, went ahead and smirked as she deftly cracked the whip against the ground lightly. Crunch just stomped a brown hoof down heavily on the floorboards.

“But, we agreed on only three bags last time,” said Fair Trade meekly.

“The deal changed. Like I said, little T, we’re collecting a little bonus on top our deal. It’s only fair  that we get a little something extra for waiting so patiently, isn’t it?” Deadline asked silkily.

“B-b-b-but, those other two bags were bought by the Golden Branches, and if I don’t deliver them their order after they’ve paid then it’ll be a problem for me!”

“Tell me Little T,” said Deadline, leaning towards Fair Trade, “Do you think it would be wiser to give that grain to us, and solve one of your biggest problems. Or, give the grain to the Golden Branches, and risk an… accident, happening to your fine store.”

Fair Trade visibly paled at the insult, his eyes darting to the destroyed display nearby. Deadline smiled at him, Fair Trade flinched as Deadline give him a little pat on the shoulder. “You’re a smart pegasus, Little T. So, what’s it gonna be?”

The entire store went silent as the pegasus fought with himself internally with the decision. I looked on with disgust, my body tightening. I wanted nothing more than to launch myself at them, smash in the face of every one of these bandits, especially that smarmy unicorn fuck. I tightened my legs, getting ready to spring forwards. I suddenly felt a light bump against my side.

I looked over to see Peach Tea looking at me again. Her eyes implored me not to do anything rash as she mouthed a ‘no’ at me, shaking her head.

I grimaced as I looked back towards the counter, and watched as Fair Trade hung his head and came to some sort of whispered agreement with Deadline. Deadline gave him a wide smile, congratulating Fair Trade on his answer as the defeated merchant went into the backroom to retrieve the goods for the goons.

Deadline turned around to finally scrutinize me and my Sister, that smile still plastered on his muzzle. “Ah, the Peach family if I'm not mistaken. Come to do some late shopping I presume?” asked Deadline, as he eyed us, sizing us up. His eyes fell on Peach Tea, and he slowly rolled his eyes across her body, as if assessing her value. For all I knew, he probably was.

Everyone in town agreed that Peach Tea was quite a catch, and her golden mane was the envy of many mares in Haystead. It was fairly well known by most of the stallions in town that Tea had gotten around, and had more than a few coltfriends. She had always been a one mare/one stallion kind of gal, but it didn’t matter much in a small town like Haystead, where most people considered you a whore after sleeping with more than one stallion: no matter the circumstances.

“So, did Daddy send you over to buy some supplies for the coming winter?”

Peach Tea nodded in reply, I just continued to hold eye contact. Deadline ignored me as he moved across the store towards Peach Tea.

“My my my, girl, you are quite catch, aren't you. I can see why so many of the stallions in our fine town just love to visit your family's stall during market. I wouldn't mind sampling some of your fine goods myself, you look like you have some utterly delectable things for sale.”

Peach Tea stiffened a little, but didn't flinch back from him as he came to a stop in front of her, leaning in to leer at her.

I moved to the side, protectively next to Peach Tea. “Hey, we don’t want any trouble. Just here to buy some stuff from Fair Trade, so leave us alone and beat it.”

Deadline flicked his eyes towards me, annoyed at my interruption. Crunch took a threatening step forward, and Lash seemed to tense up. Deadline flicked a glance back towards them and then to me: trying to figure out if kicking my ass was worth his time. We all waited for the otherpony to make the first move. Crunch licked his lips in anticipation, and I just stayed passive, readying for the fight to come.

We were all spared, though, as a certain small pegasus returned from the back.

Fair Trade, grunting with exertion, pulled a a little cart behind him heaped with five sizable bags of golden grain. “Here you go Deadline, the five bags, as agreed…” Fair Trade trailed off as he finally noticed the stand-off in his store between me and bandits.

Deadline looked towards the Pegasus, and smirked back towards me as he slowly withdrew. Taking his time to remove himself, taunting me as he swished his tale at me and Peach Tea, the light glinting off the red line and two gold bits that composed the cutie mark on his flank as he turned away. I felt rage twist my gut.

“Impeccable timing, Little T. I suppose that with all our… business taken care of, there is little reason for us to stick around.” Deadline mused out loud. He motioned for Crunch to get the grain, the big brute simply turned towards Fair Trade and wrenched the cart from him.

The thugs all left the store together, Lash glaring at me as she walked past, followed by Deadline who just pointedly ignored me and smirked at my Sister. Crunch gave me a look that could break stone, and I just stared daggers back at all of them as they left, the little bell ringing lightly as they left the shop. Peach Tea let out her breath all at once, her legs visibly shaking.

I just looked over towards Fair Trade, looking embarrassed at the entire ordeal as he averted his eyes from us.

I took in a deep breath, letting fresh air cool my smoldering rage. “I can’t believe you just let them walk all over you like that, Fair Trade.”

Fair Trade looked at me, a hurt expression on his face. “Oh, come on Sweet Peach, what am I supposed to do. Fight them?” Fair Trade gave a little anxious hic-up of laughter at the idea.

“Yes! You need to stand up for yourself, you can’t keep letting them just take what they want.” I said. Wasn’t it obvious?

“ Well, unlike you, Sweet Peach, not all of us cann't be so care-free in how we deal with our problems. I can’t just fight Deadline and his cronies, you know what they’d do to me? Or to my wife, Sunset Smiles?” Fair Trade gulped as he envisioned everything horrible that could probably ever happen. He did stuff like this all the time, always had, even when we were kids. I rolled my eyes at him, I’d always needed to stick up for him when we were growing up cause he never would.

For a while, too, he’d been pretty ok when I had been watching out for him. But. I’d had to start working more and more at home as I got older and stronger. I’d stopped hanging out with Fair Trade altogether once I was thirteen. Since then, he’d pretty much just cycled back into old habits, and now ponies were walking all over him again. I just sighed at the whole hopeless situation.

The point of the matter was, though, that Deadline and his thugs were a completely different deal then the bullies of our youth. Deadline and his bandits were organized, intimidating to most ponies, and brutal at times.

Ever since they had popped into town five years ago and bribed the town's sherif, they’d effectively taken over as they implemented their own twisted laws and “protection tax" for keeping our little town safe.

Everything about the situation made me feel sick. How did we ever let it come to this? But I couldn’t shake the feeling that if the town united we could kick out Deadline and his goons once and for all, be free from his tyranny! Now if only I could convince everyone else in town, then maybe something meaningful would actually happen…

I snapped back to reality when I noticed Peach Tea talking to me.

“What?” I said, completely missing what she had just said. She gave a small sigh as she repeated herself.

“I said, help me get these bags over to the cart. If your just going to day-dream over there, then at least put your body to use and help me haul these out.” Peach Tea pointed at the stack of supplies next to her, freshly delivered by Fair Trade who looked fairly exhausted from bringing all out himself.

I grunted, and moved forward to help carry them out. I Shifted two bags of oats onto my strong back, and walked briskly out the door. Rounding the corner of the shop, I came up short when I noticed a little problem. Alright, make that a big problem. A wheel from our cart had been destroyed. It looked like something, or more likely somepony, had shattered it. The remains of the wheels broken spokes lay across the ground in splintered fragments and chunks.

The now one-wheeled cart sat lopsidedly, only half its bulk supported of its remaining wheel.

‘Deadline and his thugs, must have been,’ I cursed internally.

I heard somepony walk up besides me. Peach Tea came to a stop nearby, her eyes widening as she looked at the cart. She threw an accusatory glare at me.

“What, why are you looking at me?” I said, confused at her sudden hostility.

“Oh, you know,” said Peach Tea angirly, still glaring.

“No, I really don’t,” I said stubbornly.

“If you had just left well-enough alone, then this,” Peach Tea pointed a forehoof towards the dilapidated wagon, “would have never happened.”

“Oh, and what? Just let Deadline and his thugs walk all over you? Treat you like some sort of accessory to be bought and used.” I snorted. Now I was angry that she was angry at me for sticking up for her. What in Celestia was her problem?

“Sweet Peach, you have to learn when and when not to just keep out of it. It wasn’t any of your business, and I’m not some helpless little filly you need to protect. I can take care of myself, “huffed Peach Tea.

“Besides,” continued Sweet Peach, nearly yelling at me, “if you hadn't provoked Deadline back there, then he would have just wandered off and we wouldn't be down our one, and only, cart. Now we have to deal with an unnecessary problem that could have been avoided, entirely.”

“Well, I did. And so what? We can just fix the cart, we’re right next to a trading post if you hadn't noticed, I’m sure Fair Trade can get us something.” I said, snorting.

“Oh, and how are you going to pay for that, huh? Last time I checked, neither of us was rolling in bits here, and a new wagon wheel is going to take time to install and set, and that's if we can even find one in the right size. Bucking think for once Sweet Peach. Without that wagon, we can’t get these supplies home. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend the entire night hauling all these bags back to the homestead on hoof!”

My ears fell down a bit as she yelled at me. She was right, of course. It was most likely my fault that Deadline and his thugs had crippled the cart, even if my intentions had been for the best.

Peach Tea fumed next to me, dropping her bags down by the downed cart. “Just drop your bags and help me figure something out with Fair Trade. Hopefully, he can help us and we can cut some sort of deal that won’t end up with either of us indentured to him for the next few years.”

Going back into the store, we were lucky enough to find out Fair Trade had an old wheel out back that would fit our cart. Fair Trade definetly lived up to his name, giving us a very good deal in the end, despite my words at him earlier. He let us take the old wheel in exchange for a few choice jars of our first batch of preserved peaches this year. It was a hell of a good deal, and we were thankful for his help. He even let us borrow his tools so we could install it onto the cart.

By the time we were headed out again, it was getting late. Night was coming on fast, and the town and its shops had closed down. Neither Peach Tea or I talked the entire trip back, the silence stretched like a blanket over us as we marched back.

As we approached the gate that led up to the barn and house, Peach tea came to a slow stop in front of me, breaking the silence.

“Thanks,” she said quietly, not turning around to look at me.

“For what?” I said, confused at the sudden change in attitude towards me.

“For sticking up for me against Deadline. You didn’t have to do anything, and it probably would have been better if you hadn’t. But, the point is you did and I… just, thanks.” Peach Tea shuffled her feet a bit awkwardly as she glanced back at me.

“Yeah… no problem,” I said lamely, giving her a nod as I looked to the side, still feeling a bit guilty about the entire situation. She nodded back, moving forward to open the gate for me. We made our way up towards the barn to unload the cart and its brimming contents.

It was night now, and the only lights came from the lanterns mounted above the barn and from the house windows. As we approached, I made out the silhouettes of three very distinct ponies by the barn’s entrance.

I gulped, ‘crap. ’

My Dad stood stoically in the lamplight of the barn, his signature mask of neutrality on his face, awaiting our return. Bean Sprout and  Pits, my cousin, were with him. Dad scowled at us as Bean Sprout just looked on, amused. Pits looked a little sorry for us, and gave me a pitying smile from behind Dad.

Pits was a big handsome red earth pony with a blaze orange mane. He was actually a cousin to the family, and had come to live with us when his parents had passed away. He was bigger than even me, with defined muscles that just rippled under his coat. A pile of different seeds made up his cutiemark. I had always been slightly envious of the strong and silent stallion.

Pits wasn’t really his name. Pits was a nickname everyone had called him after he had developed a habit of eating peaches whole, seed and all. The nickname had just sort of… stuck after that.

Bean Sprout, on the other hand, was your average earth pony. Sure, he was strong, but the yellow coated and green maned pony wasn't nearly as large as Pits with his slab-like muscles, or even myself. While I wasn't as tall as Pits, I was pretty close, and it wasn't uncommon for me to stand a good head taller than most ponies I met.

But, for what Bean Sprout lacked in physicality, he easily made up for in dexterity. He did most of the gardening and upkeep around the house when he wasn't helping us with picking the peaches. His cutiemark showed a small sprout bursting through fertile soil.

“So,” said my Dad, “mind explaining why it’s taken so long for you two to return?”

“Just a bit of trouble at Fair Trade's, nothing major. Just held us up from getting back faster.” I said, avoiding the encounter at the trading post with the bandits.

Dad didn’t seem very convinced with my pseudo half-truth. I felt myself sweating a bit as his eyes moved from me to Peach Tea, who just stood quietly nearby. I swear Dad has a sixth sense with stuff like this, he always seemed to know when I was holding out on him.

He looked to the cart, checking the supplies loaded in the cart, and I almost felt relief before I noticed his eyes narrow dangerously at some small detail.

“Why,” said my Dad slowly, “is there a different wheel on the back of the cart? I just had them replaced last week with Pits help. Mind telling me the entire truth this time, Sweet Peach?” A scowl slowly bloomed across his face as he glared at me.

“What? Why are you immediately assuming it was my fault!” I said defensively, a little irritated he seemed to be ignoring Peach Tea. I mean, sure he might have been right in his assumption that it had been my fault, but jeaz. Rude.

Bean Sprout and Pits both gave a snicker from behind Dad as they seemed to share some inside joke between each other. I looked at them, annoyed.

“What's so funny,” I insisted.

“Oh, come on, Sweet Peach,” Chuckled Sprout, “You sort of have a habit for causing trouble. I swear it's in your nature to start problems where there are none.”

I gave Sprout my most venomous glare as he and Pits just continued to laugh to themselves. I looked back to see Dad looking at me with that neutral face of his, not sharing in Sprout and Pits mirth at the situation, but definetly sharing their sentiments. My ears flattened as I realized I had been found out. Before I could utter a response, Peach Tea stepped forward, speaking up for me.

“We ran into Deadline and two of his goons. They were harassing Fair Trade, and then turned on me when Fair Trade went to get them what they came for. Sweet Peach stood up for me, there was a bit of a stand-off, and then they just got their stuff and left. When we came outside, the wheel to the wagon was gone. Nothing serious,” said Peach Tea calmly. I thanked her for trying to downplay the entire situation, praying Dad would accept it.

“Oh, yes. You get into an argument, and the wheel to the cart just happens to disappear afterwards. Of course there wouldn't be any connection between the two events. Mind explaining where the new wheel came from then? or how you were able to afford a new one?” Dad said, continuing to scowl at us as he waited for somepony to answer.

Peach Tea explained the deal she had worked out with Fair Trade, and how we now owed him some of our preserved goods. Dad gave a deep sigh, and shook his head as he squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his head.

“Really, you two, what am I going to do with you. And you, Sweet Peach, I expect better from you. This is just ridiculous! I’ve warned you time, and time again, to not stick your muzzle where it doesn't belong.”

My Dad took a breath, before continuing, “Now, we’ve been waiting all night for you two to get home so we can finally have suppler. Your Aunt Pie has been worried sick about you two. I just was about to head into town myself along with Sprout and Pits here to look for you. Now, when you get back I find out you've been causing trouble with possibly some of the most dangerous individuals in town? Get back in the house, and be quick about it! Not you, Sweet Peach. We need to talk...”

Pits gave me another sympathetic smile as he left, not envying the tongue-lashing I was sure to receive. Peach Tea just gave me a worried look as she walked off reluctantly. Sprout smirked as he walked by, enjoying my predicament. I returned his smirk with a dirty look, making a mental note to give the jerk a good kick to the face at some point in the near future.

After they had all left, I was left alone with just Dad.

“Sweet Peach, you have to stop. This selfish behavior is getting out of hand. It was bad enough when you were fighting the Redtail’s twins in the streets as a colt. You can’t just keep fighting all your problems. Butting heads with Deadline was stupid, and nothing good will come of making yourself, and this family, enemies.”

“Oh, and what was I supposed to do? Just let Deadline and his thugs walk all over Peach Tea, let him say whatever he wants about her and just treat her like some whore?”

“Words are just that, Sweet Peach, words. Your doing nothing but escalating a problem into a hazard,” Dad said, “what if Deadline had decided to do more than just vandalize the wagon? He could have seriously hurt you, broken a leg. And then where would you be? Injured, and unable to help out the family with the harvest!”

“Oh, I’m so glad you care about my well being. Good to know that as long as I don’t break any limbs, keep the damage minimal, it won’t matter so long as I can haul the bucking wagon all day for you,” I hissed at him.

“Oh, don’t whine like some foal, Sweet Peach. This is more than that, and you know it. Deadline could have seriously hurt you, or even worse, Peach Tea. Did you even think that when you decided to provoke him?”

I just kept my eyes locked with his, refusing to relent the point. I had helped her, done what was right. Why couldn’t he see that!

“Well, somepony had to do something,” I began to yell at him,” Somepony has to stick up for this family if nopony else is. If you aren’t going to do anything, then I just will. For Celestia and Luna's sake, it’s like you don’t even care what happens to her!”

“How dare you assume I don’t care for my own daughter’s well-being, I’m her Father!”

“And I’m her Brother,” I shot back.

“Half-brother,” said Dad dryly. It was a simple pair of words, but coming from Dad it was like a verbal buck to the face. I The reminder that I wasn't a true family member to Blossom, Peach Tea, Pits, or even the pony I was arguing with. I was just the extra baggage dropped on them by an absent Mother that'd dumped me on their lives before suddenly leaving again.

I just stood there, shocked at what he had said. He just looked impassively on at me, his mask of neutrality covering his face again. I felt my anger boiling inside me as I clenched my teeth painfully. I wanted to hit him, to shatter every bone in his body.

In the end, I reached up and unhooked the cart from myself, throwing the yoke to the side. I turned around and began to walk back down the path towards the gate, and further still towards town.

Dad Called after me as I turned my back on him. “Where do you think you’re going, Sweet Peach, we aren't finished here. I’m not done with you, and you still need to unload this cart!”

“Shut up!” I shouted at him, whirling around on him as my hatred bubbled out of me.

Dad stopped dead in his tracks, looking surprised as he took a step back from me.

“Unload the cart yourself, or go get one your your true family members to help you out. You wont get any help from me,  prick.” I trotted off, leaving my step-dad flabbergasted in the lantern light of the barn as I made my way down to the gate, kicking it open.

I fumed down the dark lane towards Haystead and its Inn to drown my woes.