Sweet Apple Acres has finished a long expensive building project and a bright future is ahead. Too bad Thunderlane was careless and crashed into it, toppling it completely. Now he has to work to pay off the damages, but will he even survive two minutes in the Apple family work environment? Better yet, can the rest of the Apple Family keep Applejack from working him too hard? A story of accepting and carrying responsibility, and of knowing when to share the load. Stress can drive one to not act like themselves, and a little extra help can make all the difference.
Featuring fan art by: Angel Blossom, shad0w-wo1f!, and PhonicBoom
This story has not been fully edited yet, i apologize for anything sloppy.
Chapters (9)
Wonder what's going with Rumble and the Pegasi twins?
As much as I detest laziness, Applejack is being way to hard on Thunderlane. At this rate she's going to get him seriously injured or killed.
This is really good so far, I can't wait to read more! You, good sir, have earned a fav! :3
3866155
Thank you
You've got a really good premise here, a Pegasus with his man hood being brought into question, plus the whole thing with the apple family. this is a really solid story thus far. Can't wait to read more!
has this got any connection to head In the clouds
3876434
All of my stories are loosely connected withing the same timeline (the order i've submitted them in)
Soft spoken > Head in the clouds > Hard pressed > Apple in the corner > Weight of responsibility
Rainbow Dash is doing farm work in this one because she started in Head in the clouds. Fluttershy's relation with mac is explained in soft spoken, braeburn is there because of what happened in apple in the corner, etc etc.
It isn't totally necessary to have read each one to understand what's going on, but little things will make more sense if you've read them in order.
I've got one more short planned after this story before i plan on writing a larger work, where each story will have relevance.
To be more specific to your question, yes, this story will make MUCH more sense in later chapters if you read head in the clouds. As the character tags suggest, Soarin will be making an appearance soon and be a relevant character in this story.
Hope that helps
3876752 thx
Applejack nearly crossed the line.
Also where's Winona?
I love this story so far! I can't wait for more!! I think this is one of my fav fics so far! Keep up the good work! But if you want my opinion, I think you should remove the comedy tag because while this is a great fic, it isn't very funny, unless you plan to put more comedy in future chapters that is. It's more like a feel good slice of life so far! Still great though!
4001573
oh jeez, that's a good point.
Well, both romance and comedy will be big themes as it goes on. Taking a little longer than first expected for them to show up.
Thanks for reading again, i appreciate it
4001647 of course! I'm loving this story so far! Can't wait to see how the romance plays out!
Also, it'd be awesome to read this story while listening to rascal flats.
I am very, very certain that what the Apples are doing to Thunderlane is very, very illegal. Or it should be if it isn't.
Although if the police came to arrest Applejack for her treatment of her forced worker and Thunderlane was the one to defend her, that'd be pretty sweet.
looking good so far.
4053751 You have to remember, he did break a building. The rules is, you break it, you bought it. It's only fair that he works to pay it off.
4053802 Yes. The rules also state that assaulting someone is illegal and forcing someone to work on your property to pay back a debt is considered slavery.
My idea stands.
4053810 it's not slavery. It's paying a debt. I know what slavery is. my ancestors fought against it during the civil war. People sometimes have to work to pay off a debt. Even working at some ones house. sometimes, it does require physical labor.
4053839 And I quote from Anti-Slavery.org:
Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, The Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, 1956, lists modern forms of slavery: “Debt bondage, serfdom, forced marriage and the delivery of a child for the exploitation of that child are all slavery like practices and require criminalisation and abolishment.”
Debt bondage is the first one mentioned. It is recognized by the U.S.A. and this website as a form of slavery. The labor is also forced; Applejack has used physical violence and threats to try and force Thunderlane to work. She TIED HIM UP. That is slavery.
4053861 you really believe that the internet is always true. During the old days, sometimes people would have to work to pay a debt. being tied up was a little far, but what would make sure that he would help out, if he flew away from them. I'm old fashioned. you damage property, you need to pay for the damage. either by actual money, or repairing the damage. You also notice that he is not alone. there are others helping him. If it was slavery, he would be doing EVERYTHING! by himself.
4053861 If you want to talk about slavery, WW2. Japan had POW's build rail-roads and they would hardly ever be fed. THAT is slavery. Thunderlane is getting a place to sleep and food. He's more of an indentured servant. Big difference.
4053880 I'm old-fashioned, too. I do believe that when property is damaged it should be paid for and replaced. I can condone that. What I cannot condone is something that is intrinsically evil and morally reprehensible.
Okay. Maybe I am a moron who believes stuff off the internet. Maybe I'm full of crap. That is one possible perspective. I admit that maybe I am being too serious about this; after all, it's a fan fiction based off of a cartoon show intended for little girls. I'll admit that. Maybe I am just looking to argue with someone online - something I usually don't do.
However, I cannot and will not just sit down and withhold my opinion. What Applejack is doing to Thunderlane is slavery. If my previous citation wasn't good enough, here it is from the Constitution of the United States itself:
Amendment XIII: Section 1.
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
To the extent of my knowledge, Thunderlane has not been tried by an actual judge and jury and ordered by the court to work on Applejack's farm until his debt was repayed. And even if he was, beating someone and tying them up to encourage them to work is illegal. Okay, I know that I don't have the Constitution of Magical Alicorns or anything, but I'm fairly certain that Celestia would not approve of beating, threatening, and tying up forced labor. I'm also fairly certain that she wouldn't stand for forced labor whatsoever.
4053891 Slaves before the Civil War were fed and giving housing. Did they not count as slaves? Jews were fed in Concentration Camps until they were gassed and they were forced to work, too.
...Okay, I just mentioned the Holocaust in a review for a My Little Pony fanfic. What the hay am I doing with my life?
Sigh...
My point stands.
4053949 the Constitution is better than the internet. We both know Applejack went too far, but Big Mac and Breaburn are there to make sure he doesn't die. only Applejack is treating him bad. the rest of the family are helping him. So only one is trouble.
4053976 That's not an excuse.
4053958 they were beaten though. not all were beaten, but you have most that would runaway because of the way they were treated.
You also have to remember, they were killed, beaten, and other things. They weren't paying off a debt, just being tortured.
4053979 let's view it like this. If I did the same thing as Thunderlane did, and tried to get away without paying for the damage, what would you do?
4053989 What about people who were forced into slavery to pay off their debts or sent to prison to pay of their debts? That happened too.
Thunderlane is being threatened and beaten by Applejack when he either does nothing or isn't working fast enough for her. She tied him up and is forcing him to work in the hot sun against his will at a job that he is not physically built for. I'm fairly certain that can be considered a form of torture.
4053999 I would seek legal aid. Because if I did what Applejack is doing, I'd be the bad guy and I'd go to jail, plain and simple.
Another amazing chapter! I'm really liking the story so far, and those comedic moments are awesome!! Keep up the amazing job! Also little side note, I like how you're making references to your old stories.
4054016 looks like we both have good arguments. when one thinks of something, the other counters. Maybe we should run for oval office. lol. How about we agree to disagree on this subject. Neither one of us will really win. Truce?
4054024 I would as well for running away and not paying the debt. we'd both be bad guys with different situations.
4054038 I am still fairly certain that I can wind, but fine. Truce.
4054052 And both are wrong. You're right. That's where the tried and true expression comes in: Two wrongs don't make a right.
4054082
4054243 You too.
4054243
4054256
Jesus murphy o bastard lord in heaven likes cheese...
next time if you two want to argue do it elsewhere. Don't make me think i suddenly have 24 new comments
4054977 sorry
4054037
Thank you once again
And im glad the references are to your liking. This is the first story that has true direct connections to the older ones and i was worried about how it would all work out. Thanks
4054977 That wasn't an argument. It was a completely friendly and completely civil debate. Not one cross word was said... er, was typed.
Sorry to fill up your comment box, though.
Finally, finish every single one of the series and caught up. Enjoyed every single one of the series and can't wait to see what you have in store for us.
4096038
Thanks for taking the time to read them all!
I'm glad you liked them all, and again thanks for all the faves
UPPPPDATE! PLZ
4099057
Shouldn't be too long till the next chapter.
Thanks for the strong interest
not looking good.
Oh I hope things get better. I'm glad that Thunderlane is finally starting to see the effects his actions truly had, but being a gigantic Thunderlane fan I'm hoping that things get easier for him too. I'm loving this story by the way!
See that? That's loving it
Woah, heavy stuff. I guess Thunderlane is feeling the weight of responsibility in more ways then one huh? Another great chapter! I really feel Thunderlane's emotions of anger and sadness through this. I look forward to the next chapter, whenever it comes.
Okay... seeing the back and forth between Thunderlane and Cloudchaser, and his thoughts about her sister, I can't remember if that's just flirting or they're together.
If not... I know what AJ will be wringing by the end of this!!
...what?
Soarin, Spitfire... can't be Rapidfire, Mac would kill him if he saw him again.
Surprise, maybe? Fleetfoot?