The Worm in the Appleby Craftygun1ChaptersA Prologue of DarknessBlanker Than a Filly's Flank (Part 1)Blanker Than a Filly's Flank (Part 2)Red ApplesA Prologue of DarknessI stared blankly into the dark void that was my mind, unsure of what to think anymore in my limbo state. I had forgotten so many things...and was barely able to clasp onto any of them... Memories of death and despair... Burning houses... Armed Robberies... I could only make so many accusations to who I was...A mass murderer set on edge? A pony who just couldn't take life anymore, and went insane? Or a disciple of an evil being, sent to this world to set all things right, wrong? These questions raced through my mind...but then I found a memory I couldn't quite make out... A hat...My hat to be exact. A white fedora, an ace of spades tucked neatly into the red silk fabric that circled it. It was, supposedly, my fathers hat. Something I wore until the bitter end of my life, whatever that was. I didn't know what to think of it, just that it was a symbol of something, or somepony, I would never forget...Ever. A began to felt a strange sensation, as if I hadn't been around air in forever. I felt dry, none of my limbs would respond, and my eyes wouldn't open. All I felt was the feeling of hooves grabbing onto me carefully, and taking me into the air, cautiously taking me out of something. "Careful...don't set off any alarms..." I heard a voice said cautiously. I had no idea what to think, except the fact that I tried to congratulate them on what they're doing, me remembering what I have so far, but my voice had set off no sound at all. I felt like I was stuffed into something, like a bag of some sorts, along with other various metals and such. I couldn't see a thing, but I could feel all of it, and damn I must have been really flexible! Soon the entire world began to feel kind of...light. I had been taken out of whatever bag I had been in and I felt this sudden airy sensation, somepony yelling for me to come back in the distance. I must have been weightless or something to be off in space by now, or at least that was what it felt like... I didn't know how long I had been in limbo...but I do know I was going to be taken out and put in a familiar situation... It happened about two hours later, I'd been floating around for awhile and the only thing I heard other then the wind blowing me away was a loud sound that only someone of my stature could remember so vividly. A gunshot. The memories began to flush through my head as the pitch of the sound echoed in my mind, and all types of guns rang through my non-existent eyes. The weapon had to be a Desert Griffon. It was a common weapon used by multiple terrorists that I may or may not have come across. It was a very powerful weapon at close range and if taken to the head there was almost zero chance of survival. It took me a moment to realize that there was only one bullet shot, so whoever the pony that fired the shot must have planned an execution, quickly and semi-quietly. The fact that they also used a Desert Griffon in these types of executions must have meant A) It was friendly turf, anything goes and B) Somepony owed somepony something of high value, and was unable to pay it in time. My brain ached as I was able to formulate these things, but have no recollection of where I had learned these things. They just came at random and whenever I try to grasp onto them again my mind goes blank...but that one shot was something I would never forget. Probably how I was sent to limbo probably? I don't know anymore...whatever happened I was going to wake up from it riiiiight.... Now...I felt a large killer headache, I moaned as I attempted against whatever force Celestia had cast on me to get myself on my hooves, which would prove to be quite a problem. My front hooves were tied behind my back... I knew I had been in a situation like this before...but I don't know where... I rolled over, something falling off my head as I attempted to get my hooves infront of me. I payed no attention to it at the time as I was too busy attempting my escape. After a couple of moments I managed to get into a seated position and slide my hooves under my hind legs and over, allowing me easy access to the rope that was not so neatly tied to my hooves. I gnawed viciously at the knot, pulling at the insides of it with my teeth and pulling it apart. This went on for a couple of minutes before they had finally given way to my teeth. I smiled as the rope slid off my hooves and the sweet sensation of air rubbed up against my rope-burned hooves. Dear Celestia it was good being a free colt...Or...Mare...I couldn't even remember that part at the time, all I knew was the sweet sensation of freedom as I got up slowly. My headache quickly brought me back down, the pain searing through my brain and entire body. I looked around as I realized just what was going on. Apparently, I was a failed execution, stuck in a room that was either locked or unlocked, it depended on how much of an idiot the pony who wanted me dead was. I looked up and strangely enough, there was no ceiling, which meant one thing. If I wanted to make a stealthy exit, I needed to climb over a couple of walls. I looked around and something on the ground caught my eye...not one something but indeed two somethings. There sat a familiar hat at supposedly where I had been sitting earlier, along with a second one, which looked like a brown farmers hat. There happened to be a hole, surprise surprise, in the farmer's hat. I picked both the hats up, putting on the white hat and stuffing the brown one someplace into a nearby bag that had been discarded here, along with whatever waste was here. I slung the one-sided saddlebag onto me and looked for easy exit access out of this dump... Thank the moon that there was coincidentally a pile of boxes set at the opposite end of the normal exit, which I was pretty sure was guarded in some way. I quickly and quietly began climbing up these boxes and peeked over the wall that was not very securely barb wired... and what I saw was definitely godsend. I quickly climbed out of the garbage dump, my hooves landing in some soft mud as I landed. I sniffed the air and I could definitely smell it now. Sweet, saucy freedom! But sadly, all hopes of said freedom had vanished, along with my hopes of escaping as I began to see a pair of flashlights. I quickly hid behind a tree and waited for whoever decided it was a good time to mess with my progress at freedom. "Hey man, you hear about what they say goes on in the dumps?" Said a colt's voice, obviously at a young age. "No, why what goes on in there?" Said a mare's voice, soft as silk, as fear almost seemed to leech out her vocal chords. "I heard they do certain...'Buisness' here in the dumps..." Said the colts voice, a scaryishness in his voice, in an attempt to scare the mare mildly. I decided that was enough of that as I quickly made my way around them, ducking behind bushes and such. Nothing could stop the inevitable from happening though as I continued through the small forest. *Crack!* Everything froze stock still, the wind, my breathing, and the young couple's conversation... "If they blow my cover..." I swore silently at them. "M-maybe we should just go..." The mare said, obviously shaken by the sudden noise. "A-after you..." Said the colt cowardly. I could hear the hooves quickly clopping against the soft mud and onto harder road as they began fast walking, then they began galloping in fear. If I knew anything about those two, they probably lived somewhere, and that somewhere was where I was headed! The faster I get to civilization the faster I can try to contact my family, whoever they may be, and the faster I can get my head screwed on right! I quickly galloped after the two at a safe distance, enough to keep me seen but not enough to make a full recognition of me in the darkness that was the nighttime sky. I swore I saw them look back at me, and their pace almost instantly quickened, and so did mine. They were scared...I could tell....And I just had the most sickening rush as I chased them down like a rabid dog. It all played out in my head... I would follow them until they ran out of breath... Slowly and painfully start with the mare's fate... Then chase down the colt, the mare's head in my hoof as I chased him down like a wolf. I would show him the face of his lover and scar him for life, then let him go so that I would be feared yet again... My mind stood still for a moment as I attempted to process what I had just said...What in Luna's name did I just say? There was no way, not even on the MOON I would attempt something like that!...But it felt like the thing I would do... My mind agonized me too much to think about it, there was no way I would do something like that, I needed their help to lead me to civilization...to a hospital even! I felt something drape down against my face and I quickly tried to wipe it off. I looked at my hoof and it was red. I knew that color way too much... Blood... This confirmed it, I was wanted dead by somepony, they had shot me and it was some large stroke of a miracle that I was still alive. There wasn't time to think about this now though, I needed to keep running towards some kind of town, and this couple was going to take me there. It slowly came into view, the sun was only just beginning to rise...but I was beginning to fall as my vision soon began to go blurry by the loss of blood. I had reached the top of a hill and that's where I stopped to marvel the beauty of the small town. So close...Yet so far... I began to stop caring for the two, even as they stopped to turn around and look at me in the new light that was growing amongst the east. "A-Applejack?!" The moment those words hit me, it hit me hard enough to send me onto my knees. It felt so easy to lay down and sleep right now...I was just about to hug death himself at this point but...My body told me otherwise though, as my breaths started to shudder as I attempted my best to get up. I could almost feel the two ponies hooves beat on the grass as they made their way up to me to help me get to town. I almost blacked out just then and there, but I must have been a natural born fighter, as my mind was doing in it's power to stop me from losing myself to death...but it was a losing battle as my vision soon began to go dark as my eyelids slowly caved in on me. I felt myself roll down the hill, and that must have been when I had lost consciousness. I couldn't help but feel I was meant to be dead...That I shouldn't fight off death's scythe with my own hooves and just let him do his job. It just felt so easy but yet I didn't want to die...My mind was flooded with images I wasn't fully one hundred percent sure how to decipher... Four ponies stood together in a family photo that had been burned in my mind. And in the middle stood a pony with a very familiar, brown stetson hat on her head...one that just so happens to have a hole in it as of now as it sits inside my makeshift backpack... Blanker Than a Filly's Flank (Part 1)I swam around in the familiar limbo that was my mind yet again, new memories rising through the ones of despair and death. I saw friendship, mares that I had no idea even existed, large family reunions, my mind was competing on which one was my true life, which one was really the one that I had grown up with... Or maybe it was a combination of both? By some slim chance the two somehow....linked in a way that just made sense, and made none at the same time. I wasn't sure what to think anymore other then the fact that I had literally no idea who I was whatsoever. My mind was slowly rotting as it tried to accumulate as much as it could from whatever amnesia I might have obtained. My head began to hurt as I groaned in slight discomfort. Feeling began to come back to my body as I found myself face to face with the silhouette of a doctor...or at least I thought it was a doctor. "Wake up Applejack..." I heard her say into my ear, a comforting sound, soft as a fluffy pillow... "Wake up...." Was all I heard before my hearing began to go off again. Not this time, death... I struggled to grasp life again, as vision began to come back to me. My eyes were penetrated with blinding light as I slowly but surely began to wake up. My brain was hurting so much, I couldn't bear to take it much longer, but I just needed to for a small bit... I slowly lifted my head up, taking in the dull surroundings of the hospital. My head pounded with each and every slow move I made. I thought I would just die right then and there if it weren't for the fact that I was still hooked up to some kind of adrenaline machine. I attempted to speak but I was apparently stuck in the same situation as before. I had no voice to carry out my wishes. "Applejack? How are you feeling?" The mare said to me as I slowly got up. My throat was parched and dry, as if I haven't drunk anything for days. "Water..." Was all that escaped my lips. The doctor thankfully understood my shattered voice and nodded in agreement. I was stuck waiting for the doctor to come in, feeling in my body slowly lost itself and came back again. When I hydrate my mouth again somepony better give me some answers... The mare walked back in, a tray in her mouth with a blue plastic cup on it. She held the cup to my lips and helped me drink once she realized that I couldn't move my arms very well. Probably sedatives to keep the pain out of my body. It was certainly working, at one point or another. I had greedily finished drinking my water and began squirming my way into a seated position. Better start getting to know as much as I can... "Excuse me miss?" I said politely as soon as my voice regained its composure. I sat up more comfortably, adjusting the pillow behind me to prop me up as best as it could. The mare looked at me with a kind smile, encouraging me to go on. "Where am I?" I began simply. The more I talked the stranger I felt talking. I'm not sure why but I guess I was expecting to be a bit more...Masculine, I suppose. "Why, you're in Ponyville Hospital! Don't you remember where you live Applejack? You're only a couple miles from here!" She said, as if I was supposed to know all of this. I shook my head slowly as my mind tried to process it all. It kinda rang some sort of bell, but not enough for my taste... "And...where exactly is...'There'?" I persisted as I began to slowly gain feeling in my limbs to the point where I could very weakly lift them to a certain point. "You know, Sweet Apple Acres! You remember your own farm, right?" she said, her voice shaking on that last word. I had to say no but...somehow I felt that saying yes seemed to be the better option here. I slowly nodded my head as I began to lay down. Maybe I should stop asking questions now... I heard the mare sigh beside me, her breath almost reaching my ear. "Applejack...Your family is here to see you..." My heart finally jumped in joy, finally somepony I could recognize! I quickly sat up in anticipation. "What are ya waitin' for? Bring 'em in!" I said, my body jolting up in excitement. Maybe finally I could learn who I was now, and this definitely got me excited. The mare seemed to jump back at me in fear as soon as I jumped in my bed. She quickly nodded and gave a quick smile before fast trotting out the door. I completely forgot about the pain my head was giving me as it began to rip apart every fiber of my being from doing so much movement within a few seconds. I was able to shrug it off after awhile and then I began to wait... A couple minutes go by and my mind starts thinking... What if I really don't wanna find out who I was? My mind flashed back to the memory of the Desert Griffon. The powerful shot rang in my ears, and I was able to remember vividly a large amount of situations where I, Or somepony else, have used this weapon. I couldn't place any names on the blank faces of the images that ran through my mind...Except for two. There in the corner of a gunfight stood a mare...Her hair was viciously mangled and disfigured. Her hooves were tied behind her back as she scampered and shivered in the corner. Then there was the second face. The face of a stallion. His eye was scratched and scarred, and he wore a strange pinstripe suit as he ran around, carrying a miniature machine gun with a small drum can attached to its barrel. I couldn't place names on either of the two...but the stallion was wearing a hat. A certain white hat with a certain red ring going around it, with a very familiar Ace of Spades tucked neatly between the conflicting fabrics... My mind began to hurt the more I tried to think. It was taking awhile for my family to come and see me... I needed to distract myself with something to keep my memories from doing any harm to my logic. I idly played with the empty cup I had drank from earlier, ripping it and then folding the plastic in ways that shouldn't really be possible...But I managed to do it. After a few moments of folding, my hooves taking on a mind of their own, I had finished my masterpiece. It was a rose, the rose part being blue, the outside of the cup that I had used, and the stem was made white, the inside of the cup I had used. I stared blankly at the roses conflicting colors, reminding me vaguely of the Colt and his hat. I quickly placed the rose under my pillow. I didn't want to think about it at the moment, it hurt my brain too much... I layed my head back down on the pillow and rolled onto my side, my mind oblivious to my movements as I began to grow tired. Maybe I'll just nap for a small mom- "Applejack?" I quickly stopped all movement towards going to sleep and started motoring my body back to a seated position. "yeah?" I said as I sat up to look at the red stallion that stood at the foot of my bed. My mind was nagging something in the back of my head. I swore I knew his name... It was...big...something, Big Tac? Big Shack? My mind was going through these names that made no sense, until one popped up...but it was by the stallion, not me... "It's me...Big Macintosh..." He said. His voice was a bit lighter then I would have imagined, what with his size and all. I couldn't help but smile at the Colt. "Well would ya look at that..." I began as I surveyed my surroundings again. I noticed something standing beside Big Mac. A small, yellow coated pony, with a red mane and a cute little bow tied behind her head. I couldn't help but smile at the little adorable fluff ball that stood beside Big Mac. "How ya'll feelin'?" Big mac asked, the silence in the room diminishing slowly. I nodded moved my shoulder around, since it felt a bit misplaced and stiff. "Alright, I guess...The only problem I got though is, what I think is amnesia, or somethin'..." I admitted, glad that no doctors were around to hear it. The little filly's ears drooped down, along with her little face, and I couldn't help but feel really sad for her... But what could I do? I didn't know how to make her happy, I just knew that she was a little filly, and genuinely I got a bit curious to who I was...I would have to ask big mac when we got home. "So...When am I gonna leave this place...?" I asked. The colt's eyes darted away from mine. "So...It's like that huh?" I asked, getting a general idea of what he was gonna say. "...If yer amnesia don't clear up...Years..." I stared blankly at the stallion...and couldn't help but laugh at this. They gave me a look of confusion as I almost laughed my lungs out of my throat. After I settled down, I gave them a serious look, going straight back to buisiness. "If I know anythin' 'bout myself, it's that I ain't gonna stay an eternity away from my family..." I said as I got out of the bed. My headache was quick to protest, but I just shook it off as I got onto my hooves. "Amnesia Shamnesia, Let's get goin', I got alotta things t' learn." I said putting on the most friendly smile I could muster. They looked at each other and then back to me. "A-are ya sure sis?" I heard the little filly say to me. I looked over to Big mac and smiled. "Eeeyup" We both said at the same time. I had a feeling too... I was about to open the door to get outside, but before I could, I heard something... "Excuse me good miss...." I heard a stallion say, probably to a doctor. "Yes?" I heard a doctor respond. I held a hoof up to hold the two in their tracks. This all felt waaaaaay to familiar to just shrug off as a mere nothing... "I'm looking for an 'Applejack' here...she is here right?" I heard the stallion say, a dark tone in his voice. "Sorry...I'll need to see some ID first..." she said. "I got it right here..." there was a moment of silence, then... Bang... Blanker Than a Filly's Flank (Part 2)The filly was first to react to the gunshot, and I was just a second late to hold down her screams. "Sush!" I said quietly, holding her mouth closed. I had to move fast, otherwise we we're going to be swiss cheese... I ran over to the window and opened it. "We escapin'?" I heard big mac ask silently. I shook my head. "Hide, I'll take care of our lil' 'friend' here..." I said as I ran to the opposite side of the room, right next to the door. I looked around for something to use and saw a scalpel, thankfully clean, and took it into my hooves as Big Mac and the little filly hid under the bed. I was convinced they weren't there at all actually! I shrugged this off as I readied myself for the intruder. I saw the door open and I froze as the stallion walked through the door. "Damn! She got away!" He yelled in anger as he ran over to the open window, just as I suspected he would. No time to dilly dally, I sneaked up behind the colt and readied the scalpel. Just as he turned around to leave he saw me, and was a second late to stop me as I brought down the knife into his neck. I looked away as I heard the colt take in his last, shuddered breath. I looked to the bed, they were still hiding under it. I took the gun from the pony and held it in my mouth as I looked for my pack. Thankfully it was't very far away from my bed, as it was sitting neatly on a nearby chair. I picked up the bag, placed the gun inside it and slung it over my back. "Alrighty fella's, time t' go!" I said as I dragged Big Mac from under the bed, the little filly hanging on tight to his tail. I quickly started heading out the door, Big mac and the filly following closely behind me. The hospital was empty, probably evacuated while we were taking care of business back in the room. We made our way out and nodded for Big Mac to lead the way. We made a run for it through the streets, which was clear of anypony other then us. Soon we were reaching an unempty part of the town and we were already panting. "Well that was certainly somethin' to wake up to!" I said, trying to catch my breath. I had no idea what to think other then "Holy Luna in a tin can on the sun!". My heart was racing faster then Rainbow Dash could make a sonic rainboom! Wait...Who do a what now? My head began to hurt as I, again began processing what had just went through my mind. My mind was conflicting with itself, two different memories, one of betrayal and hurt and another of friendship and...magic? I clasped onto my ever throbbing head, these memories were hurting too much for me to make any sense of it all. "Come on sis, I wanna go home..." Said a trembling filly next to me. I smiled at the filly. "Yeah...I don't wanna be here either..." I admitted as I regained my composure. "After you Macintosh..." I said. He nodded as he began trotting down the long path that would lead home. It was a very quiet walk, none of us wanted to say anything...except me of course. "What in the bucking hay was with that pony?!" I proclaimed, confusion of the recent incident finally peaking anger. Big Mac looked at me and shrugged. "Heck if I know..." He said, genuinely confused about the situation as much as I was. I sighed in frustration as I continued the painstakingly long walk ahead of us. My mind was a complete clusterfluff of things that just made absolutely no sense. And the timing of everything was just off too. Everything just came so fast! I shrugged this all off as I decided to watch the beautiful scenery of the apple trees that began to surround the path. It was a pretty calming scenario despite what had just happened earlier. I walked up to big mac and whispered. "So...tell me about th' farm on our way there, would ya?" I asked. Big Mac sighed. "We ain't goin' back to that hospital...so I might as well..." He said with a sigh. "It all started way back, with Ma' n' Pa'..." I found myself zooming out of the lecture into the apple tree forest. Something felt off about it, like we were being followed by something... Or somepony... Nah that was stupid, why would somepony follow us?...Oh...Wait a second...Maybe it links back to the hospital crises we had just earlier. I shook my head, the idea was kinda stupid. I mean why would somepony really follow us to the farm? It just didn't make quite alot of sense to me but at the same time, it was actually quite an effective strategy, like one time when- I stopped in my tracks and held Big Mac in spot with a simple hold out of my hoof. My ears perked up, as I couldn't help but feel it helped the sound come to me easier. Snap! The familiar cracking of a bush. Pure instinct took over as I rushed into the apple field towards the noise viciously. I quickly headbutted somepony who was hiding behind a tree. He was wearing a suit, a hat on his head similar to the one I had in my backpack, but black without the card. The pony quickly backed up as I slowly closed distance between him and I. "A-Applejack?!" I heard him whisper. "Why are ya here?!" I spat out furiously, not wanting to deal with him for long, as I had to get back to whatever it was that my home was. He gulped, and crawled away from me with fear evident in his eyes. "B-But, we thought that th' boss and I..." He started out, and only got bucked in the face by a furious...well...me... I spat on his unconsious body, unknow hatred welling inside of me as I started trotting back to the family, who was waiting for me at the rode patiently, worry mixed with relief. "Let's get goin'..." I said, suddenly groggily. I felt weakness in my legs as I began to get a headache of massive proportions. I never asked for this... Red ApplesI had Big Mac holding his hoof over my shoulder to try and keep me upright, as I began to get sick. I'm not sure whether it was the fact that I left the hospital in a hurry, or that I was just getting a bit sick of walking so far. Seriously, how far was this damn barn?! My prayers were soon answered as we reached the barn. Sweet Apple Acres was emblazoned on a sign that was on a fence. It rang a bell, at least now that I saw the full picture of it. My mind was too groggy to care, I wanted to see how comfortable my bed was right now. I looked up and saw an elderly pony, wearing something around her neck, although I....kinda forgot the name of it. And she had a walker, so I know she was very old. Probably had a name, like after an apple or something. Which would make sense, since this was an 'apple' family. It made about as much sense as a food being named after Big Macintosh... What's the next Apple name I was gonna find in this Apple tree? Granny smith? I groaned the moment I thought that up, and my head pounded. "Well, would ya look at this! I thought ya weren't comin' back fer a second there! Said ye wer' in th' hospital! So I got worried!" Said the elderly mare. I nodded. "Yup, funny, 'ain't it?" I went along with her conversation, trying to keep my voice from sounding sick, although I think the eyes would have gave it away. 'granny' laughed a bit, patted me on the back and almost made me throw up everything that was inside my stomach. Me and Big Mac, with little AppleBloom tailing us closely, went inside, and we all sat down, including Granny. Not sure what I was supposed to do here, but AppleBloom simply just went upstairs after sitting in silence, probably to her room. I envied the kid, but I thought I was in this room for a reason, so I didn't get up. We all just sat there in silence, before Big Mac decided to be first to speak up. "So, ya don't remember anythin' that ya left fer...?" He said, with a bit of terror in his voice. That's strange I thought, I was thinking this stallion was more of a hardened pony. I groggily shook my head in response with a simple 'no' being mouthed out. Did I still have that freaking bullet in my head or something? I patted the bandage and wherever the bullet hole was, and groaned. Yeah, it was probably still lodged in there...somewhere.... Big Mac let out a sigh, as he walked over to a different room, and then came back, with a notepad and a....checkbook, I guess.... He placed it infront of me, and nodded. I took this as a sign to read it, and I hesitantly opened the book first. It was a normal checkbook, but there were many ripped out pages, and there was one page left, one that was billed out for....TWO MILLION BITS?!?! Who's crazy enough to sell THAT MUCH MONEY?! And for what?! my brain purged with pain and anger, mostly against myself. I thought that this was mine, since it had the signature 'Applejack' written in plain letters, right there. I sighed, and put that book down. I looked to the notepad, and began reading that too. There were lots of notes in there, about multiple different things, like money, gangs, and this 'gun' that keeps getting mentioned in here, as if I had no idea what it was when I actually do know a lot about the word. It's an Equestrian's right to bear arms against others who sought out to use it against another pony's well being, and I knew that very well as I had a million of them in one of the banks I built in manehatten... Wait, how did I know that? I only shook it off, probably just my memory coming back to me, which was a good thing, if anything. I kept reading, and when I finished, I learned a lot about myself. I didn't write a lot, but apparently, I owed some ponies some BIIIIIIG money, and they let me work for it by doing....Well, it's better to not say it.... So now that that was settled, why did Big Mac show me all this? I put down the notepad and looked at him, and he was holding a gun in his mouth. I blinked. Did he know how to even hold a gun? It was a normal revolver, with a small rose surrounding an apple on the side of the handle. That actually looked very familiar.... I was about to ask where he got that marvelous killing machine of a magnum, but there was a sudden knock on the door. I got up, claiming that "I got it" and I calmly trotted over. I opened the door, and I saw two big burly ponies standing over me. "We're lookin' fer an 'Applejack'..." One of them said. I gulped, and Big Mac quickly hid the gun, which was silently fumbled into hiding somewhere. Granny, now interrupted from her nap which I just noticed she was in, quickly woke up, and saw the two burly beasts of ponykind, and began trotting away, walker guiding her forward. She smelled trouble, Big Mac smelled trouble, I smelled trouble... I was the trouble... I gulped again, and nodded for the two to come in, putting on a smiling face. "She ain't here right now, ya'll gotta wait here till' she came back...." I said calmly. They seemed to buy it, as they walked inside, ducking to avoid breaking the top of the door. They were really big ponies... Joe and Smhoe, that's what I called 'em. 'Smhoe' was the only one that took a seat, while Joe mumbled to himself in anger. I started walking around, looking for wherever that pistol was that Big Mac hid from those two ponies. "So then, when do you think the boss will get the apple house?" I suddenly heard Smhoe say, quietly to Joe, of course. Yep, these had to be mafia members. I smelled it in the air....kinda...They smelled like dried blood, like they just got out of a recent clothe wash, but forgot to dry their clothes from the bloodbath. I shivered almost as Joe walked up behind me. I just could feel the pervert staring up my body. "I dunno, but when he does, I think I'll take this one for my own..." He said, which made me gulp and I just simply walked away, but he followed me wherever I went. "Come on boss, let the mare have what's left of her privacy..." said Smhoe, which made me glad he had some common sense for what rights that mares had in Equestria. I had to find that gun...and fast... But then, Joe thought it was 'polite' to grab onto my flank... And that's when things went horribly...
A Prologue of DarknessI stared blankly into the dark void that was my mind, unsure of what to think anymore in my limbo state. I had forgotten so many things...and was barely able to clasp onto any of them... Memories of death and despair... Burning houses... Armed Robberies... I could only make so many accusations to who I was...A mass murderer set on edge? A pony who just couldn't take life anymore, and went insane? Or a disciple of an evil being, sent to this world to set all things right, wrong? These questions raced through my mind...but then I found a memory I couldn't quite make out... A hat...My hat to be exact. A white fedora, an ace of spades tucked neatly into the red silk fabric that circled it. It was, supposedly, my fathers hat. Something I wore until the bitter end of my life, whatever that was. I didn't know what to think of it, just that it was a symbol of something, or somepony, I would never forget...Ever. A began to felt a strange sensation, as if I hadn't been around air in forever. I felt dry, none of my limbs would respond, and my eyes wouldn't open. All I felt was the feeling of hooves grabbing onto me carefully, and taking me into the air, cautiously taking me out of something. "Careful...don't set off any alarms..." I heard a voice said cautiously. I had no idea what to think, except the fact that I tried to congratulate them on what they're doing, me remembering what I have so far, but my voice had set off no sound at all. I felt like I was stuffed into something, like a bag of some sorts, along with other various metals and such. I couldn't see a thing, but I could feel all of it, and damn I must have been really flexible! Soon the entire world began to feel kind of...light. I had been taken out of whatever bag I had been in and I felt this sudden airy sensation, somepony yelling for me to come back in the distance. I must have been weightless or something to be off in space by now, or at least that was what it felt like... I didn't know how long I had been in limbo...but I do know I was going to be taken out and put in a familiar situation... It happened about two hours later, I'd been floating around for awhile and the only thing I heard other then the wind blowing me away was a loud sound that only someone of my stature could remember so vividly. A gunshot. The memories began to flush through my head as the pitch of the sound echoed in my mind, and all types of guns rang through my non-existent eyes. The weapon had to be a Desert Griffon. It was a common weapon used by multiple terrorists that I may or may not have come across. It was a very powerful weapon at close range and if taken to the head there was almost zero chance of survival. It took me a moment to realize that there was only one bullet shot, so whoever the pony that fired the shot must have planned an execution, quickly and semi-quietly. The fact that they also used a Desert Griffon in these types of executions must have meant A) It was friendly turf, anything goes and B) Somepony owed somepony something of high value, and was unable to pay it in time. My brain ached as I was able to formulate these things, but have no recollection of where I had learned these things. They just came at random and whenever I try to grasp onto them again my mind goes blank...but that one shot was something I would never forget. Probably how I was sent to limbo probably? I don't know anymore...whatever happened I was going to wake up from it riiiiight.... Now...I felt a large killer headache, I moaned as I attempted against whatever force Celestia had cast on me to get myself on my hooves, which would prove to be quite a problem. My front hooves were tied behind my back... I knew I had been in a situation like this before...but I don't know where... I rolled over, something falling off my head as I attempted to get my hooves infront of me. I payed no attention to it at the time as I was too busy attempting my escape. After a couple of moments I managed to get into a seated position and slide my hooves under my hind legs and over, allowing me easy access to the rope that was not so neatly tied to my hooves. I gnawed viciously at the knot, pulling at the insides of it with my teeth and pulling it apart. This went on for a couple of minutes before they had finally given way to my teeth. I smiled as the rope slid off my hooves and the sweet sensation of air rubbed up against my rope-burned hooves. Dear Celestia it was good being a free colt...Or...Mare...I couldn't even remember that part at the time, all I knew was the sweet sensation of freedom as I got up slowly. My headache quickly brought me back down, the pain searing through my brain and entire body. I looked around as I realized just what was going on. Apparently, I was a failed execution, stuck in a room that was either locked or unlocked, it depended on how much of an idiot the pony who wanted me dead was. I looked up and strangely enough, there was no ceiling, which meant one thing. If I wanted to make a stealthy exit, I needed to climb over a couple of walls. I looked around and something on the ground caught my eye...not one something but indeed two somethings. There sat a familiar hat at supposedly where I had been sitting earlier, along with a second one, which looked like a brown farmers hat. There happened to be a hole, surprise surprise, in the farmer's hat. I picked both the hats up, putting on the white hat and stuffing the brown one someplace into a nearby bag that had been discarded here, along with whatever waste was here. I slung the one-sided saddlebag onto me and looked for easy exit access out of this dump... Thank the moon that there was coincidentally a pile of boxes set at the opposite end of the normal exit, which I was pretty sure was guarded in some way. I quickly and quietly began climbing up these boxes and peeked over the wall that was not very securely barb wired... and what I saw was definitely godsend. I quickly climbed out of the garbage dump, my hooves landing in some soft mud as I landed. I sniffed the air and I could definitely smell it now. Sweet, saucy freedom! But sadly, all hopes of said freedom had vanished, along with my hopes of escaping as I began to see a pair of flashlights. I quickly hid behind a tree and waited for whoever decided it was a good time to mess with my progress at freedom. "Hey man, you hear about what they say goes on in the dumps?" Said a colt's voice, obviously at a young age. "No, why what goes on in there?" Said a mare's voice, soft as silk, as fear almost seemed to leech out her vocal chords. "I heard they do certain...'Buisness' here in the dumps..." Said the colts voice, a scaryishness in his voice, in an attempt to scare the mare mildly. I decided that was enough of that as I quickly made my way around them, ducking behind bushes and such. Nothing could stop the inevitable from happening though as I continued through the small forest. *Crack!* Everything froze stock still, the wind, my breathing, and the young couple's conversation... "If they blow my cover..." I swore silently at them. "M-maybe we should just go..." The mare said, obviously shaken by the sudden noise. "A-after you..." Said the colt cowardly. I could hear the hooves quickly clopping against the soft mud and onto harder road as they began fast walking, then they began galloping in fear. If I knew anything about those two, they probably lived somewhere, and that somewhere was where I was headed! The faster I get to civilization the faster I can try to contact my family, whoever they may be, and the faster I can get my head screwed on right! I quickly galloped after the two at a safe distance, enough to keep me seen but not enough to make a full recognition of me in the darkness that was the nighttime sky. I swore I saw them look back at me, and their pace almost instantly quickened, and so did mine. They were scared...I could tell....And I just had the most sickening rush as I chased them down like a rabid dog. It all played out in my head... I would follow them until they ran out of breath... Slowly and painfully start with the mare's fate... Then chase down the colt, the mare's head in my hoof as I chased him down like a wolf. I would show him the face of his lover and scar him for life, then let him go so that I would be feared yet again... My mind stood still for a moment as I attempted to process what I had just said...What in Luna's name did I just say? There was no way, not even on the MOON I would attempt something like that!...But it felt like the thing I would do... My mind agonized me too much to think about it, there was no way I would do something like that, I needed their help to lead me to civilization...to a hospital even! I felt something drape down against my face and I quickly tried to wipe it off. I looked at my hoof and it was red. I knew that color way too much... Blood... This confirmed it, I was wanted dead by somepony, they had shot me and it was some large stroke of a miracle that I was still alive. There wasn't time to think about this now though, I needed to keep running towards some kind of town, and this couple was going to take me there. It slowly came into view, the sun was only just beginning to rise...but I was beginning to fall as my vision soon began to go blurry by the loss of blood. I had reached the top of a hill and that's where I stopped to marvel the beauty of the small town. So close...Yet so far... I began to stop caring for the two, even as they stopped to turn around and look at me in the new light that was growing amongst the east. "A-Applejack?!" The moment those words hit me, it hit me hard enough to send me onto my knees. It felt so easy to lay down and sleep right now...I was just about to hug death himself at this point but...My body told me otherwise though, as my breaths started to shudder as I attempted my best to get up. I could almost feel the two ponies hooves beat on the grass as they made their way up to me to help me get to town. I almost blacked out just then and there, but I must have been a natural born fighter, as my mind was doing in it's power to stop me from losing myself to death...but it was a losing battle as my vision soon began to go dark as my eyelids slowly caved in on me. I felt myself roll down the hill, and that must have been when I had lost consciousness. I couldn't help but feel I was meant to be dead...That I shouldn't fight off death's scythe with my own hooves and just let him do his job. It just felt so easy but yet I didn't want to die...My mind was flooded with images I wasn't fully one hundred percent sure how to decipher... Four ponies stood together in a family photo that had been burned in my mind. And in the middle stood a pony with a very familiar, brown stetson hat on her head...one that just so happens to have a hole in it as of now as it sits inside my makeshift backpack...
Blanker Than a Filly's Flank (Part 1)I swam around in the familiar limbo that was my mind yet again, new memories rising through the ones of despair and death. I saw friendship, mares that I had no idea even existed, large family reunions, my mind was competing on which one was my true life, which one was really the one that I had grown up with... Or maybe it was a combination of both? By some slim chance the two somehow....linked in a way that just made sense, and made none at the same time. I wasn't sure what to think anymore other then the fact that I had literally no idea who I was whatsoever. My mind was slowly rotting as it tried to accumulate as much as it could from whatever amnesia I might have obtained. My head began to hurt as I groaned in slight discomfort. Feeling began to come back to my body as I found myself face to face with the silhouette of a doctor...or at least I thought it was a doctor. "Wake up Applejack..." I heard her say into my ear, a comforting sound, soft as a fluffy pillow... "Wake up...." Was all I heard before my hearing began to go off again. Not this time, death... I struggled to grasp life again, as vision began to come back to me. My eyes were penetrated with blinding light as I slowly but surely began to wake up. My brain was hurting so much, I couldn't bear to take it much longer, but I just needed to for a small bit... I slowly lifted my head up, taking in the dull surroundings of the hospital. My head pounded with each and every slow move I made. I thought I would just die right then and there if it weren't for the fact that I was still hooked up to some kind of adrenaline machine. I attempted to speak but I was apparently stuck in the same situation as before. I had no voice to carry out my wishes. "Applejack? How are you feeling?" The mare said to me as I slowly got up. My throat was parched and dry, as if I haven't drunk anything for days. "Water..." Was all that escaped my lips. The doctor thankfully understood my shattered voice and nodded in agreement. I was stuck waiting for the doctor to come in, feeling in my body slowly lost itself and came back again. When I hydrate my mouth again somepony better give me some answers... The mare walked back in, a tray in her mouth with a blue plastic cup on it. She held the cup to my lips and helped me drink once she realized that I couldn't move my arms very well. Probably sedatives to keep the pain out of my body. It was certainly working, at one point or another. I had greedily finished drinking my water and began squirming my way into a seated position. Better start getting to know as much as I can... "Excuse me miss?" I said politely as soon as my voice regained its composure. I sat up more comfortably, adjusting the pillow behind me to prop me up as best as it could. The mare looked at me with a kind smile, encouraging me to go on. "Where am I?" I began simply. The more I talked the stranger I felt talking. I'm not sure why but I guess I was expecting to be a bit more...Masculine, I suppose. "Why, you're in Ponyville Hospital! Don't you remember where you live Applejack? You're only a couple miles from here!" She said, as if I was supposed to know all of this. I shook my head slowly as my mind tried to process it all. It kinda rang some sort of bell, but not enough for my taste... "And...where exactly is...'There'?" I persisted as I began to slowly gain feeling in my limbs to the point where I could very weakly lift them to a certain point. "You know, Sweet Apple Acres! You remember your own farm, right?" she said, her voice shaking on that last word. I had to say no but...somehow I felt that saying yes seemed to be the better option here. I slowly nodded my head as I began to lay down. Maybe I should stop asking questions now... I heard the mare sigh beside me, her breath almost reaching my ear. "Applejack...Your family is here to see you..." My heart finally jumped in joy, finally somepony I could recognize! I quickly sat up in anticipation. "What are ya waitin' for? Bring 'em in!" I said, my body jolting up in excitement. Maybe finally I could learn who I was now, and this definitely got me excited. The mare seemed to jump back at me in fear as soon as I jumped in my bed. She quickly nodded and gave a quick smile before fast trotting out the door. I completely forgot about the pain my head was giving me as it began to rip apart every fiber of my being from doing so much movement within a few seconds. I was able to shrug it off after awhile and then I began to wait... A couple minutes go by and my mind starts thinking... What if I really don't wanna find out who I was? My mind flashed back to the memory of the Desert Griffon. The powerful shot rang in my ears, and I was able to remember vividly a large amount of situations where I, Or somepony else, have used this weapon. I couldn't place any names on the blank faces of the images that ran through my mind...Except for two. There in the corner of a gunfight stood a mare...Her hair was viciously mangled and disfigured. Her hooves were tied behind her back as she scampered and shivered in the corner. Then there was the second face. The face of a stallion. His eye was scratched and scarred, and he wore a strange pinstripe suit as he ran around, carrying a miniature machine gun with a small drum can attached to its barrel. I couldn't place names on either of the two...but the stallion was wearing a hat. A certain white hat with a certain red ring going around it, with a very familiar Ace of Spades tucked neatly between the conflicting fabrics... My mind began to hurt the more I tried to think. It was taking awhile for my family to come and see me... I needed to distract myself with something to keep my memories from doing any harm to my logic. I idly played with the empty cup I had drank from earlier, ripping it and then folding the plastic in ways that shouldn't really be possible...But I managed to do it. After a few moments of folding, my hooves taking on a mind of their own, I had finished my masterpiece. It was a rose, the rose part being blue, the outside of the cup that I had used, and the stem was made white, the inside of the cup I had used. I stared blankly at the roses conflicting colors, reminding me vaguely of the Colt and his hat. I quickly placed the rose under my pillow. I didn't want to think about it at the moment, it hurt my brain too much... I layed my head back down on the pillow and rolled onto my side, my mind oblivious to my movements as I began to grow tired. Maybe I'll just nap for a small mom- "Applejack?" I quickly stopped all movement towards going to sleep and started motoring my body back to a seated position. "yeah?" I said as I sat up to look at the red stallion that stood at the foot of my bed. My mind was nagging something in the back of my head. I swore I knew his name... It was...big...something, Big Tac? Big Shack? My mind was going through these names that made no sense, until one popped up...but it was by the stallion, not me... "It's me...Big Macintosh..." He said. His voice was a bit lighter then I would have imagined, what with his size and all. I couldn't help but smile at the Colt. "Well would ya look at that..." I began as I surveyed my surroundings again. I noticed something standing beside Big Mac. A small, yellow coated pony, with a red mane and a cute little bow tied behind her head. I couldn't help but smile at the little adorable fluff ball that stood beside Big Mac. "How ya'll feelin'?" Big mac asked, the silence in the room diminishing slowly. I nodded moved my shoulder around, since it felt a bit misplaced and stiff. "Alright, I guess...The only problem I got though is, what I think is amnesia, or somethin'..." I admitted, glad that no doctors were around to hear it. The little filly's ears drooped down, along with her little face, and I couldn't help but feel really sad for her... But what could I do? I didn't know how to make her happy, I just knew that she was a little filly, and genuinely I got a bit curious to who I was...I would have to ask big mac when we got home. "So...When am I gonna leave this place...?" I asked. The colt's eyes darted away from mine. "So...It's like that huh?" I asked, getting a general idea of what he was gonna say. "...If yer amnesia don't clear up...Years..." I stared blankly at the stallion...and couldn't help but laugh at this. They gave me a look of confusion as I almost laughed my lungs out of my throat. After I settled down, I gave them a serious look, going straight back to buisiness. "If I know anythin' 'bout myself, it's that I ain't gonna stay an eternity away from my family..." I said as I got out of the bed. My headache was quick to protest, but I just shook it off as I got onto my hooves. "Amnesia Shamnesia, Let's get goin', I got alotta things t' learn." I said putting on the most friendly smile I could muster. They looked at each other and then back to me. "A-are ya sure sis?" I heard the little filly say to me. I looked over to Big mac and smiled. "Eeeyup" We both said at the same time. I had a feeling too... I was about to open the door to get outside, but before I could, I heard something... "Excuse me good miss...." I heard a stallion say, probably to a doctor. "Yes?" I heard a doctor respond. I held a hoof up to hold the two in their tracks. This all felt waaaaaay to familiar to just shrug off as a mere nothing... "I'm looking for an 'Applejack' here...she is here right?" I heard the stallion say, a dark tone in his voice. "Sorry...I'll need to see some ID first..." she said. "I got it right here..." there was a moment of silence, then... Bang...
Blanker Than a Filly's Flank (Part 2)The filly was first to react to the gunshot, and I was just a second late to hold down her screams. "Sush!" I said quietly, holding her mouth closed. I had to move fast, otherwise we we're going to be swiss cheese... I ran over to the window and opened it. "We escapin'?" I heard big mac ask silently. I shook my head. "Hide, I'll take care of our lil' 'friend' here..." I said as I ran to the opposite side of the room, right next to the door. I looked around for something to use and saw a scalpel, thankfully clean, and took it into my hooves as Big Mac and the little filly hid under the bed. I was convinced they weren't there at all actually! I shrugged this off as I readied myself for the intruder. I saw the door open and I froze as the stallion walked through the door. "Damn! She got away!" He yelled in anger as he ran over to the open window, just as I suspected he would. No time to dilly dally, I sneaked up behind the colt and readied the scalpel. Just as he turned around to leave he saw me, and was a second late to stop me as I brought down the knife into his neck. I looked away as I heard the colt take in his last, shuddered breath. I looked to the bed, they were still hiding under it. I took the gun from the pony and held it in my mouth as I looked for my pack. Thankfully it was't very far away from my bed, as it was sitting neatly on a nearby chair. I picked up the bag, placed the gun inside it and slung it over my back. "Alrighty fella's, time t' go!" I said as I dragged Big Mac from under the bed, the little filly hanging on tight to his tail. I quickly started heading out the door, Big mac and the filly following closely behind me. The hospital was empty, probably evacuated while we were taking care of business back in the room. We made our way out and nodded for Big Mac to lead the way. We made a run for it through the streets, which was clear of anypony other then us. Soon we were reaching an unempty part of the town and we were already panting. "Well that was certainly somethin' to wake up to!" I said, trying to catch my breath. I had no idea what to think other then "Holy Luna in a tin can on the sun!". My heart was racing faster then Rainbow Dash could make a sonic rainboom! Wait...Who do a what now? My head began to hurt as I, again began processing what had just went through my mind. My mind was conflicting with itself, two different memories, one of betrayal and hurt and another of friendship and...magic? I clasped onto my ever throbbing head, these memories were hurting too much for me to make any sense of it all. "Come on sis, I wanna go home..." Said a trembling filly next to me. I smiled at the filly. "Yeah...I don't wanna be here either..." I admitted as I regained my composure. "After you Macintosh..." I said. He nodded as he began trotting down the long path that would lead home. It was a very quiet walk, none of us wanted to say anything...except me of course. "What in the bucking hay was with that pony?!" I proclaimed, confusion of the recent incident finally peaking anger. Big Mac looked at me and shrugged. "Heck if I know..." He said, genuinely confused about the situation as much as I was. I sighed in frustration as I continued the painstakingly long walk ahead of us. My mind was a complete clusterfluff of things that just made absolutely no sense. And the timing of everything was just off too. Everything just came so fast! I shrugged this all off as I decided to watch the beautiful scenery of the apple trees that began to surround the path. It was a pretty calming scenario despite what had just happened earlier. I walked up to big mac and whispered. "So...tell me about th' farm on our way there, would ya?" I asked. Big Mac sighed. "We ain't goin' back to that hospital...so I might as well..." He said with a sigh. "It all started way back, with Ma' n' Pa'..." I found myself zooming out of the lecture into the apple tree forest. Something felt off about it, like we were being followed by something... Or somepony... Nah that was stupid, why would somepony follow us?...Oh...Wait a second...Maybe it links back to the hospital crises we had just earlier. I shook my head, the idea was kinda stupid. I mean why would somepony really follow us to the farm? It just didn't make quite alot of sense to me but at the same time, it was actually quite an effective strategy, like one time when- I stopped in my tracks and held Big Mac in spot with a simple hold out of my hoof. My ears perked up, as I couldn't help but feel it helped the sound come to me easier. Snap! The familiar cracking of a bush. Pure instinct took over as I rushed into the apple field towards the noise viciously. I quickly headbutted somepony who was hiding behind a tree. He was wearing a suit, a hat on his head similar to the one I had in my backpack, but black without the card. The pony quickly backed up as I slowly closed distance between him and I. "A-Applejack?!" I heard him whisper. "Why are ya here?!" I spat out furiously, not wanting to deal with him for long, as I had to get back to whatever it was that my home was. He gulped, and crawled away from me with fear evident in his eyes. "B-But, we thought that th' boss and I..." He started out, and only got bucked in the face by a furious...well...me... I spat on his unconsious body, unknow hatred welling inside of me as I started trotting back to the family, who was waiting for me at the rode patiently, worry mixed with relief. "Let's get goin'..." I said, suddenly groggily. I felt weakness in my legs as I began to get a headache of massive proportions. I never asked for this...
Red ApplesI had Big Mac holding his hoof over my shoulder to try and keep me upright, as I began to get sick. I'm not sure whether it was the fact that I left the hospital in a hurry, or that I was just getting a bit sick of walking so far. Seriously, how far was this damn barn?! My prayers were soon answered as we reached the barn. Sweet Apple Acres was emblazoned on a sign that was on a fence. It rang a bell, at least now that I saw the full picture of it. My mind was too groggy to care, I wanted to see how comfortable my bed was right now. I looked up and saw an elderly pony, wearing something around her neck, although I....kinda forgot the name of it. And she had a walker, so I know she was very old. Probably had a name, like after an apple or something. Which would make sense, since this was an 'apple' family. It made about as much sense as a food being named after Big Macintosh... What's the next Apple name I was gonna find in this Apple tree? Granny smith? I groaned the moment I thought that up, and my head pounded. "Well, would ya look at this! I thought ya weren't comin' back fer a second there! Said ye wer' in th' hospital! So I got worried!" Said the elderly mare. I nodded. "Yup, funny, 'ain't it?" I went along with her conversation, trying to keep my voice from sounding sick, although I think the eyes would have gave it away. 'granny' laughed a bit, patted me on the back and almost made me throw up everything that was inside my stomach. Me and Big Mac, with little AppleBloom tailing us closely, went inside, and we all sat down, including Granny. Not sure what I was supposed to do here, but AppleBloom simply just went upstairs after sitting in silence, probably to her room. I envied the kid, but I thought I was in this room for a reason, so I didn't get up. We all just sat there in silence, before Big Mac decided to be first to speak up. "So, ya don't remember anythin' that ya left fer...?" He said, with a bit of terror in his voice. That's strange I thought, I was thinking this stallion was more of a hardened pony. I groggily shook my head in response with a simple 'no' being mouthed out. Did I still have that freaking bullet in my head or something? I patted the bandage and wherever the bullet hole was, and groaned. Yeah, it was probably still lodged in there...somewhere.... Big Mac let out a sigh, as he walked over to a different room, and then came back, with a notepad and a....checkbook, I guess.... He placed it infront of me, and nodded. I took this as a sign to read it, and I hesitantly opened the book first. It was a normal checkbook, but there were many ripped out pages, and there was one page left, one that was billed out for....TWO MILLION BITS?!?! Who's crazy enough to sell THAT MUCH MONEY?! And for what?! my brain purged with pain and anger, mostly against myself. I thought that this was mine, since it had the signature 'Applejack' written in plain letters, right there. I sighed, and put that book down. I looked to the notepad, and began reading that too. There were lots of notes in there, about multiple different things, like money, gangs, and this 'gun' that keeps getting mentioned in here, as if I had no idea what it was when I actually do know a lot about the word. It's an Equestrian's right to bear arms against others who sought out to use it against another pony's well being, and I knew that very well as I had a million of them in one of the banks I built in manehatten... Wait, how did I know that? I only shook it off, probably just my memory coming back to me, which was a good thing, if anything. I kept reading, and when I finished, I learned a lot about myself. I didn't write a lot, but apparently, I owed some ponies some BIIIIIIG money, and they let me work for it by doing....Well, it's better to not say it.... So now that that was settled, why did Big Mac show me all this? I put down the notepad and looked at him, and he was holding a gun in his mouth. I blinked. Did he know how to even hold a gun? It was a normal revolver, with a small rose surrounding an apple on the side of the handle. That actually looked very familiar.... I was about to ask where he got that marvelous killing machine of a magnum, but there was a sudden knock on the door. I got up, claiming that "I got it" and I calmly trotted over. I opened the door, and I saw two big burly ponies standing over me. "We're lookin' fer an 'Applejack'..." One of them said. I gulped, and Big Mac quickly hid the gun, which was silently fumbled into hiding somewhere. Granny, now interrupted from her nap which I just noticed she was in, quickly woke up, and saw the two burly beasts of ponykind, and began trotting away, walker guiding her forward. She smelled trouble, Big Mac smelled trouble, I smelled trouble... I was the trouble... I gulped again, and nodded for the two to come in, putting on a smiling face. "She ain't here right now, ya'll gotta wait here till' she came back...." I said calmly. They seemed to buy it, as they walked inside, ducking to avoid breaking the top of the door. They were really big ponies... Joe and Smhoe, that's what I called 'em. 'Smhoe' was the only one that took a seat, while Joe mumbled to himself in anger. I started walking around, looking for wherever that pistol was that Big Mac hid from those two ponies. "So then, when do you think the boss will get the apple house?" I suddenly heard Smhoe say, quietly to Joe, of course. Yep, these had to be mafia members. I smelled it in the air....kinda...They smelled like dried blood, like they just got out of a recent clothe wash, but forgot to dry their clothes from the bloodbath. I shivered almost as Joe walked up behind me. I just could feel the pervert staring up my body. "I dunno, but when he does, I think I'll take this one for my own..." He said, which made me gulp and I just simply walked away, but he followed me wherever I went. "Come on boss, let the mare have what's left of her privacy..." said Smhoe, which made me glad he had some common sense for what rights that mares had in Equestria. I had to find that gun...and fast... But then, Joe thought it was 'polite' to grab onto my flank... And that's when things went horribly...
