Chapter 37: Politics, Economics, and Slaves
The two shook hooves on the deal, and Smithy began her tale. She told Crab Apple all about her family and her father’s prison sentence, and how his trial lead to acquiring Sweet Apple Acres from Princess Celestia after she had accidentally captured a runaway slave. She then explained how the runaway slave had become her friend and eventually her lover, going into details about the night she had conceived his child. She explained everything about her horrible, abusive relationship with her husband and why she had hired Crab Apple to kill him. By the time she was finished telling her story, she was a crying wreck.
Crab Apple was stunned into silence as he listened to the story. “Wow,” he finally said after a long pause. “Never would a thought dis about you, but I’m glad ta know what makes you tick. And if I gotta be honest, I’m glad ta know you tick for all da right reasons.”
He handed Smithy his bloodied handkerchief to help her to dry her eyes. While she appreciated the gesture, she instead used the back of her arm to wipe her tears away. “So yer not all weird 'bout everythin’ I told ya?” she said, sounding surprised as she looked up at him with moist, puffy eyes.
Crab Apple smiled as he shook his head. “I dunno if ‘weird’ is da best way ta put it,” he explained. “All I know is dat we got a lot more in common than I was expectin’ ta hear, especially when it comes ta zebras.”
Smithy was now intrigued by what Crab Apple had to say. “So ya don’t like slavery too?” she asked. “Don’t get me wrong, but what 'bout Salty Ron? Ain't he yer slave?”
Crab Apple smirked as he thought back to the gristled zebra who made his pecan ice cream. “Me and him go way back,” he explained. “He’s more like a brudder than a slave. He’s been with me since I was a colt, and we grew up togetha. Dad bought him when I was a kid, and at first I thought slavery was great.”
Smithy looked at him with disappointment, but Crab Apple held up a hoof to quiet her. “Lemme explain,” he said in his defense. “When you was a kid, didn’t you hate chores too? Imagine lettin’ somepony else do it all for you. I didn’t think anythin’ about it back then, but dat was more me bein’ a product a my environment."
Crab Apple leaned back against the wall as he reminisced about his childhood. "Salty Ron was my guy for everythin’," he said with a far away look in his eye. "I never heard him complain about anythin’, and we got on like a pair a dogs. ‘Course he always accepted da blame when we got in trouble. You know, like a slave's supposed ta do. I didn’t understand what he went through until one night I caught my dad beatin’ da snot outta him for somethin’ I did. Changed my perspective on lettin’ him take da blame, dat's for sure. Things changed after dat. I got ta know him and he got ta know me like friends are suppose ta do, and next thing you know we’re da best a pals him and me.”
Smithy was glad to know that the relationship between Crab Apple and Salty Ron was based on a genuine companionship. “So that’s why ya treated him so good in Baltimare,” she said with relief.
Crab Apple tilted his head sideways while nodding a little bit. “Sorta, but there’s more ta it then dat,” he continued. “See, he told me about where he came from and why he was in Equestria. 'Course, I didn't know nothin' about dis 'cause I was a kid, but it scared me. Here I thought he just lived with us for some kinda benefit, but boy was I wrong. I felt terrible, but I knew if Salty Ron tried gettin' out on his own he'd be a sittin' duck. I wanted him ta be safe 'cause he was my pal, so after dat we did everythin’ togetha. We were thick as thieves all through growin' up, and he even helped me with dis romance I had with another zebra when I was a teenager.”
The mention of slave romance had peeked Smithy’s interest. “Ya loved a slave too?” she asked enthusiastically.
Crab Apple sighed sadly as he thought about his first love. “Yeah, it didn’t end so good,” he replied. “Dad bought dis beautiful gal named Kizzy, and lemme tell you she did not wanna be there. I tried bein’ all nice and what not, but she didn’t like me at first. I’d a never got anywhere with her if Salty Ron wasn’t my wingman.”
Smithy was enjoying Crab Apple's story of his youth. “Ya musta been a real nice boy back then,” she said, glad to see Crab Apple smile a little at the compliment.
In spite of the compliment, Crab Apple still held his head low as he thought more on his adolescence. “Dad called it weakness,” he replied. “Him and me never really got on, see? He said I was too much like mom, and I hated him for dat. Kept callin' me soft, spineless, a real spaghetti noodle like mom. Mom used ta let dad walk all over her all da time, never standin' up to him. She just kept bein' da good little wifey ‘til da day she died, and after she was gone, dad drank more than ever."
Having come from a good, loving family, Smithy couldn't even imagine what that kind negative impact an environment had on Crab Apple. "That's a real shame," she said, setting a comforting hoof on his shoulder to show her support. "I guess it explains why yer so rough 'round the edges."
Crab Apple chuckled at the remark. "Hey, it ain't all bad," he explained. "I ended up standin' up ta him one night when he got real drunk. I got beat up real bad for it, but it was better me then Kizzy. After I woke up from gettin' my lights punched out, I found out I saved Kizzy from dad’s advances. See, dad used ta get drunk all da time and go force himself on da slave girls. He used ta tell mom it wasn’t cheatin’ since zebra’s weren’t ponies, but I had dis feelin’ it was a lie. He’d never did it ta Kizzy before, but he was gonna try it dat night. After da fight was over and dad wondered off, her and Salty Ron came back for me and patched me up. We ended up runnin’ away togetha dat night.”
Smithy covered her mouth with her hooves as she thought about the dangers they were facing. "Where'd ya go?" she exclaimed. "I know how hard it is fer slaves to run away after everythin' Bladire told me. Were ya ever caught?"
Crab Apple waved a dismissive bandaged hoof. "Na, we were good," he replied. "We were livin' outta da dock warehouses like we do now, and with me around, folks just thought they was mine, so nopony cared. 'Course we knew better, and before you know it da three a us became pretty good friends. Kizzy kept callin' me her hero, so dat helped with da flirtin', if you know what I mean."
Smithy blushed at the talk of flirtation. "Oh, go on," she encouraged, just now realizing how long it had been since she'd last enjoyed anything like that.
Crab Apple rolled his eyes at Smithy's demure looks. "Her and me talked a lot," he said. "While we liked da romance and all, she used ta tell me she wanted ta go home more than anythin', and try ta find her brudder she lost when she was dragged on a boat ta Equestria. She was really hopin’ he made it back already. Just listenin’ ta her and Salty Ron talk about slavery made me feel like I had ta do somethin’ about it. They were my friends, you know? I didn’t want ‘em unhappy."
Smithy nodded her understanding, and couldn't help feeling a bit excited as more details unfolded. “So she had a brother she was lookin’ fer?” she asked optimistically. “Bladire was lookin’ fer his sister when I met him. In fact, I named mah daughter after his sister. Ya think it’s the same zebra?”
Crab Apple shrugged as he thought about it. “Could be,” he replied. “Dat name you keep sayin' sounds familiar, but I could never remember how ta pronounce her brudder’s name. It started with a B, and dats all I ever got right. She’d tease me all da time about it. Man, she’d laugh and laugh, and she had da prettiest laugh you ever heard.”
For the first time since starting the tale, Crab Apple smiled nostalgically. “Them early days was great,” he explained. “We met all kinda ponies on da streets. We met runaway slaves and ponies who thought just like us. Dat's how we formed a gang of our own. Me and Kizzy ended up da ring leaders, and it didn't take long for us to become a serious item. We were even gonna have a baby, and we didn't see dat one comin'! But what do you expect from a couple a wreckless teenagers. Smarts over hormones? Fogetta ‘bout it! Anyway, her and me kept talkin’ about goin’ back ta Zebrica where she came from and makin’ a life for ourselves, just like a married couple is supposed ta do."
A smirk crept across Crab Apple's face as he spoke. "She came up with da idea on how we were gonna go home," he explained, a tone of regret creeping into his voice. "We were gonna hijack a slave ship like a bunch a pirates and sail it home. We still use dat idea today for gettin’ runaways outta Equestria, but we never woulda guessed our first try was gonna end so badly.”
A tear trickled down Crab Apple’s cheek as he talked about his lost love. “We hijacked dis one boat comin’ in at night ta sail back ta Zebrica, only we weren’t alone," he explained. "Da Faction was nearby and didn’t want their inventory stolen, so they attacked us while we were tryin’ ta sail away. Kizzy tried ta fight back, but with da baby in her belly she just wasn’t fast enough. They killed her on dat ship.”
Smithy was shocked to hear that Bladire’s sister had been killed. “I’m so sorry fer yer loss,” she said, remembering how painful it was to lose Bladire after her daughter was born.
Crab Apple tried to smile for Smithy’s sake. “Fogetta ‘bout it,” he said. “She went out doin’ what she knew was right. Not everypony has dat luxury.”
Crab Apple wiped frustratedly at the tears he had fought to keep back. “She was a proud gal, my Kizzy,” he said with a shaky breath. “After I found Kizzy dead, I just jumped over da side of da ship. I was gonna end it all, you know? Felt like I couldn't live without her, but Salty Ron jumped in after me and threw me on a lifeboat. He told me I needed ta keep up da work we started for Kizzy, or she'd be gone for good. Her spirit was in everythin' we put inta motion dat night, and he said dat he wasn’t gonna give up on dat cause if I didn’t."
Crab Apple was couldn't fight with his emotions any longer. He blew his nose out of frustration as he ended his story. "We sailed dat lifeboat back ta Equestria, lettin’ da rest of da run away slaves steer dat ship home," he explained, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. "Salty Ron insisted on stayin’ with me ta da bitter end. He’s just as dedicated ta me as Kizzy was, and keeps tellin’ me I can’t do it alone. I really couldn’t ask for a better friend, you know?”
Crab Apple had to take a few more deep breaths to calm his nerves. He was afraid to look Smithy in the eye for fear of losing his composure. “After dat, me and Salty Ron dedicated our lives ta trafficin’ slaves outta Equestria,” he continued. “Usin’ Kizzy’s idea, we been hijackin’ boats and lettin’ runaway slaves sail back home. It ain't always successful, but we sure give it our all every time we go out there. Salty Ron's stuck with me da whole time because we both believed in what we were doin’, and we never forgot how much we both cared for Kizzy. Honestly, dis whole ordeal brought us closer togetha as friends. He’s like a brudder ta me! Dat’s why we call ourselves da Brudderhood a Steeds.”
Smithy was impressed by how Crab Apple was able to turn something so tragic into something to help benefit society. “So that’s why y’all don’t get along with the Faction of the Stud,” she said. “They killed yer woman, and on top of that they’re all fer trafficin’ slaves in while y’all traffic slaves out.”
Crab Apple was glad that Smithy understood why his gang had such a strong rivalry with her late husband. “Exactly!” he replied optimistically. “Ta tell you da truth, da only reason I agreed ta kill your husband is because he was a king pin for da Faction. He took over after my dad died, and my old man used ta be da old king pin. His bunch was da ones who killed Kizzy. Him and me both had chips on our shoulders about each other after dat. Just knowin’ I could use his property ta hide runaway slaves on their way ta freedom was too perfect ta pass up. I can also make some money ta buy slaves who can’t run away on their own and help ‘em outta Equestria. Granted, these methods of trafficin’ out slaves ain’t perfect, but until da laws change it’s da best we got.”
Smithy remembered the day she met Princess Celestia, and often thought why such a lovely monarch would allow slavery to exist in her kingdom. “I wish the princess would do somethin’ ‘bout that there law,” she said. “How could she let her own subjects do somethin’ like this to innocent zebras?”
Crab Apple shrugged his shoulders, often wondering the same thing himself. “Politics and economics are da root of it all,” he answered, shaking his head as he thought about it. “Slavery didn’t start up ‘til around da time Cloudsdale went on strike. You remember when dat happened?”
Smithy nodded her head as she listened to Crab Apple’s reasoning. “I sure do,” she replied. “That’s when we got the farm after daddy was arrested. ‘Course we got the farm in exchange fer the princess payin’ off mah daddy’s debts since his seed business went belly up.”
Happy to see that Smithy was following along, Crab Apple continued his explanation. “Lotta folks went belly up ‘cause a dat strike,” he said. “Equestria was fallin’ on hard times when dat drought happened, so da timing on da Cloudsdale strike just made everythin’ worse. Ta top it off, we weren’t all dat friendly with da Griffon Kingdom at da time. They were lookin’ ta cut off trade routes with us since we were gettin’ weaker, and Equestria needed da money we got from exports. Equestria owed da Griffon Kingdom a lotta bits dat we couldn’t pay back. Da Griffin King got real mad at Princess Celestia for all dis, and da griffons were thinkin’ about declairin’ war on us.”
Smithy had no idea that all of this had happened, especially since at that point in her life she was more concerned about her family’s welfare. “So what happened next?” she asked, nearly on the edge of her seat with interest.
Crab Apple cleared his throat before continuing. “Da powers behind da throne knew they needed help ta get Equestria through dis,” he explained. “So dis up and comin’ politician named Carpet Bag noticed da griffons usin’ slaves, and he thought up dis crazy idea. He arranged an agreement with some high up slave merchants ta borrow some salves ta build irrigation ditches in fancier cities, using da money from those well off cities ta help pay some a da debt Equestria owed da Griffon Kingdom. His original idea was ta get irrigation goin’ so da manufacturin’ a goods could continue, which would help pump money inta da economy dat he could tax, and then use dat tax money ta pay da debts ta da griffons. Da plan worked, and Cloudsdale noticed dat with da slaves around they weren’t gonna win their strike. In da end, they gave up da strike ta save their jobs, which was a load off da princess’s economic plate. With da strike over, Equestria started ta profit again and everythin’ went back ta normal. Da Griffon Kingdom was finally paid in full, they were happy with us again, and trade routes stayed open.”
While Smithy was glad to see that war had been avoided, she still realized that there was an unaddressed issue. “So we really didn’t need slaves anymore,” she commented. “If we don’t need slaves anymore, than why didn’t Princess Celestia just let ‘em all go?”
Crab Apple knew that Smithy was right, but he also knew pony nature. “You’d think, right?” he said. “Problem was, da Equestrians started gettin’ spoiled with da forced labor. So dat’s where da politics really comes inta play. Da power behind da throne knows dat in order ta keep their constitutes happy and backing ‘em for reelection, they have ta phrase things just right. Senator Carpet Bag coined da phrase ‘migrant worker’ ta make it sound like da zebras wanted ta be here for work, and dat they were here legally. He’s kept da whole thing under wraps for years, and da media loves dis guy. With dat kinda reputation, da princess is bound ta trust him, even sign law papers without really readin’ ‘em due ta her busy schedule. Da man’s got Equestria eatin’ outta his hoof.”
The reality of what as going on in Canterlot made Smithy sick. She remembered seeing him speak as a filly, and read about him several times in the newspaper, and he was always presented in the best light. How could the press do such a thing? “Somepony’s gotta stop him!” she exclaimed.
While Crab Apple agreed, he also knew from experience that it wasn’t that easy. “Da Brudderhood’s been tryin’ ta expose him for years,” he explained. “Da media likes makin’ anypony who apposes Carpet Bag look like a bad guy, so we’re cornered. Da only way we can undermine him is with traffickin' slaves out. We call da operation da Underground Junction, and with your help, dis farm can become a perfect hub for runaway slaves.”
As the two ponies spoke more about the Underground Junction, the sun began to peek over horizon. Smithy was the first to notice a ray of sunlight streaking through the dirty bunkhouse. “Oh stars!” she cursed. “We’ve been up all night!”
Crab Apple smiled as he watched Smithy fret about the time. “Fogetta ‘bout it,” he said, setting a calming hoof on hers. “If I gotta be honest, I feel kinda refreshed after gettin’ all dis off my chest. I know where we stand now, and dat makes up for it. Besides, it’s light enough outside ta get back safely ta a house with a shower and a real bed.”
Smithy blushed at the compliment. It had been years since she had told anypony anything about her past, and letting it out really was refreshing.
Before they left, they shook on an agreement that anything they said to one another would not leave the bunkhouse. Not even Smithy’s secret maternity with Kizzy. While Crab Apple knew it wasn’t easy on Smithy, he knew that revealing her lineage would be too much of a taboo. “Ponies are fickle,” he explained as they walked out into the much needed fresh air. “Bein’ discrete is da only way we’ll be able ta make dis work. Her freedom and da freedom of da other zebras is at stake here.”
Smithy hated having to agree on it, wondering if she’d ever get a chance to be honest with her daughter. “I understand,” she replied. “Now we better head back and make sure she ain’t set the bees on anypony.”
The walk home took longer than the walk out due to Crab Apple still needing to lean on Smithy. It was, however, a far more pleasant walk since they had something to talk about. Now with a mutual understanding for the use of Sweet Apple Acres as a safe haven for runaway slaves, the talk of construction projects for the slaves to use for shelter took up the majority of the conversation home. They even discussed tearing down the worn out old bunkhouse, and they laughed and joked about how they planned to do it.
They were greeted at the door by Kizzy, who had spent the night on the porch swing waiting for them to come home. “Misses! Mr. Crab Apple!” she exclaimed as she ran to them. “I worried for you! You were gone so long. And look, while you were away, I got my cutie mark. It is a bee!”
Kizzy displayed the tribal depiction of a bee on her flank with pride, and Smithy couldn’t have been prouder. “Would ya look at that!” Smithy declared, hugging the little zebra without caring what anyone else thought. “Mah lil’ honey bee. I’m so proud of ya.”
The commotion outside had stirred every sleeping pony and zebra on the property, and soon the yard was filled. Sunflower rushed up to Smithy and Crab Apple, paying most of her attention to Crab Apple. “You’re hurt!” she exclaimed, holding tenderly onto his bandaged limb. “You poor dear! You come right inside so we can clean you up. I’ll call for a doctor to have a look at this so it doesn’t get worse. Lizza, get a shower started, and Tess, be a dear and get some fresh clothes for him, and get these two something to eat for heavens sake! Amos and Homer, start a fire in the fireplace. Salty Ron, you and Kizzy make the bed and get a few fresh blankets out of the hope chest while I call for a doctor. And kids, play outside today so Mr. Crab Apple can get some rest. Oh, and Smithy, can we talk a bit dear?”
Smithy did not like the way Sunflower acted as if she was in charge of running the house. She seemed far too comfortable ordering the slaves around.
Before she could say anything, Sunflower had brought Smithy away from the house. "Just what were you two up to last night?” she asked like a worried mother. “I was up all night pacing the floor and worried sick about the two of you! At first I thought there was some hanky panky going on, which I might add I do not approve of since you are a widow to a good man, but to see you both coming home looking like this! I mean, the man is in bandages for heavens sake!”
Smithy held out her hoofs to slow her sister-in-law down. “He needed to check out some land in the west fields,” she explained, rather annoyed by how accusatory Sunflower was being. “We got attacked by timberwolves while we were out there, so we had to stay overnight in the old bunkhouse 'til it was safe to come home. That’s why we’re late, dirty, and why Crab Apple got hurt.”
The explanation only served to bother Sunflower more. “Timberwolves!” she gasped. “Oh, you poor dear! You’re not hurt too, are you?”
Smithy shook her head at her sister-in-law’s concern. “I’m fine,” she replied. “I’m just a lil’ tired and could use some rest.”
Relieved to know that her sister-in-law was unharmed, Sunflower breathed a sigh of gratitude. “Thank goodness,” she said with a smile. “Now you’re sure there was no hanky panky going on? You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”
Smithy’s cheeks burned red at the question. “No!” she declared uncomfortably. “That’s just unladylike, and I ain’t lookin’ fer lovin’ anyhow. Why ya askin’ such a rude question?”
Sunflower took a turn to blush as she let out a romantic sounding sigh. “Because I like him,” she admitted, much to Smithy’s surprise. “Don’t get me wrong, I miss Happy Trails like crazy, but you have to admit, Crab Apple is awfully cute. And he’s good with kids. He’s kind of a catch, don’t you agree?”