This story is a sequel to Sweet Apple Anthology
Far in the West, out in the frontier, Babs Seed and Apple Bloom have found an adventurous, satisfying life. Business at their bar is booming and supporting Sweet Apple Acres, ending Applejack's economic woes (for the time being). Babs has reunited with her father and the savior of her foalhood, Turner. North of no-pony's land, Citrus, Libra, and Braeburn are thriving in Appleloosa, though tensions between the locals and an influx of emigrants threaten to shatter peace in the tiny town.
Far in the East, in the belly of the beast, the once-glorious city of Manehatten has collapsed into a haze of unimaginable chaos and depravity at the hooves of its King. A King whose chessboard is rapidly expanding and whose Knights march to conquer and annex in the name of their Master.
When East and West clash at last, who will be left standing?
Third installment in the alternate universe timeline started by Tangled Roots. Preceded by Sweet Apple Anthology and beginning from the first story's Epilogue.
Coverart by the awesome artist Lulubell.
Now with a TVTropes page! Thanks to vren55 for putting it up!
Rated Teen for strong violence, language, and darker elements. Sex tag is for implied sexual situations.
YES!!!! Been waiting for this one!!!
Finally! Drop everything and read!
And away we go.
Wait... TURNER is Babs' actual father, and not that madpony Bernie reigning over Manehatten?
Well that took all night to go live... MOAR!
Been waiting forever, so off I go to read!
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Yes, the series has returned!
Now, I shall read!
congrats on the Feature
OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH YYEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!
It's here!
If studying for finals was not keeping me down, I would drop everything and read this right now.
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2466939
The box is messed up again.
2466997
it's still up there.
EDIT: do you have the Mature box checked?
EDIT 2: never mind. it's not a Mature-rated story.
Welp, time to get to reading! :D
So wait...Babs and Apple Bloom are shipped here?
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2467229
You didn't know?
2467476 Nope. Not at all.
Not my ship at all.
Just feels a little close to incest for me (and I know that marrying your cousins is okay, but still...REALLY AWKWARD....at least for me)
2467509
Oh, well, it makes more sense if you read the two stories before this, which are really, really, good.
2467516 Oh I believe they are.
Just not my ship man.
IT BEGINS!
2467532
OK.
Oh lonely soul, where are you from?
Is there anywhere you can call home?
A crowded casino, pungent with life,
To you could only feel so alone
Beautiful lady, mysterious mare,
Who is that colt you adore?
A faceless figure, blurred silhouette?
Or somepony infinitely more?
Lonely soul, walking to her, focused
Only on her glistening smile,
Legs feel like jelly, nervous breaths sputtered,
With each step feeling like a mile
Mysterious mare and lonely soul
Touch, and merge into one body
Two souls connect, two lives discovered
And tonight only they call themselves free
Lonely soul, seek your whiskey,
Rest at the bar for a while,
From the bartender order some cider--wait!
The bartender...
She has Libra's smile....
2466817 my thoughts exactly
Hotel California FTW! Such a great song....are there not any comments here?
....in that case: first!
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Thank you all! I hope you guys enjoy the story and that it was worth the wait!
It's gonna be a hell of a ride, this story. 
2466823
Yup, he is her actual father. Not Madhoof.
2466939
Thank you! I was very surprised to see it Featured.
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2468258
It's an awesome song!
If you comment just on the story's front page (rather than the chapter), your comment goes to the latest chapter that was posted when you commented. 
AWW YEAH!!! Definately worth the wait!
2468329 thank YOU for this awesome story! I've been looking forward to this story for so long! I can't believe it's finally here!
It was definately worth the wait!
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Thank you both, I'm glad it was worth the wait!!!
...the return...
2469372
Indeed...
Yeeeeees! You have no idea how shocked I was to see this out! Thank you so much for getting it out!
THIS story... THIS story, has gotten me to understand Babs Seed on a totally different level, and has made her one of my favorite characters by far. Besides Pinkie & Twilight, of course. X3
Going to start reading straight away!
2469472
You're welcome!
I hope you enjoy this story as much as the others! And I'm very flattered that it has made you like Babs so much. She is pretty damn awesome, I think! 
2469484 In all honesty, you are an excellent writer. I've not been disappointed by any of the three stories in the series. Something about it that I can't explain just pulls me in, only making me want to read more and more! And in my opinion, AB x Babs Seed is a great and adorable shipping. The whole cousin thing doesn't really bother me. Its love, and there's nothing wrong with that, no matter who it is between. Write on, Bad_Seed_72! Write on! :D
-Gyrofest96 (On My Phone)
I demand more awesomeness! More, I say, MOAR!!! That is, um... if you don't mind.
2469606
Thank you, Gyro, I will! Always glad to hear someone enjoys the stories!
2469646
More shall be had soon! New chapters every few days (but Wednesdays and Sundays for sure)!
Hoh boy... Things are about to get immensely serious, again. Nothing good lasts forever, unfortunately. The anticipation is killing me! X3 Great job so far! :D
2469678 Huzzah!
Why is it that whenever I see the ponies on the right side of the cover image, I think ponified Harry Potter?
2470076
Hmm, not sure.
They definitely aren't HP-like ponies...think more "The Godfather".
2469802
Indeed, things will be getting serious!! Glad you're liking it so far!
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2470082Well I'm mainly going by hairstyle. The one on the left looks like Hermoine. The one on the right looks like Ron. And the one in the middle looks like Harry.
2470094
Ahh, I see. Well, they are all male...
Though the one on the left is a coward.
2470100Wait, that feminine looking one is male?
I swear to god, if he has a female sounding name... then his parents were seriously high when they thought about having a child. Birth defect and a name that implies you're of the opposite gender. Yeah, that would leave him with no lasting scars whatsoever (sarcasm). I hate the internet's inability to translate sarcasm without it being overkill.
2470113
LOL. Well, his name is Card Slinger, and his parents are dead.
I agree, the Internet needs a sarcasm font.
2470122Okay then. Feminine looking dude with an appropriate name. I can relate (sorta). Best of luck with this story.
2470127
Thanks!
It's nice to see the old Manehattan CMC again. It looks like Rustler is one of the few non-corrupt cops but knows that everypony has it's price, and she's afraid she gonna fall sometime. But it's cool to see she still calls herself a Crusader.
I'm not sure what Turn Keý's deal is. When he entered the bar first and asked for orange I thought he was a Servant of the King, but he had the chance to do so much worse when he broke into the bar.
Guess we will see Flora and Quick Step soon. And I hope they all meet each other again. Have the feeling it's gonna be The Crusaders and Apples VS the King VS the Crazies, and it's gonna be epic...
2469382
To be honest, I never read Sweet Apple Anthology, I never even knew it existed until a couple minutes ago...better get reading before I continue this story...
Finally here w00t!
So, I was looking for something to listen to while rereading the epilogue. I think it fits this first chapter well (in fact, I'd almost go so far as to say that if there were themes being assigned to the characters, this would be Turner's theme):
On a side note, I know it's WAY too early to make any sound judgments, but I can't help but get the feeling something bad is going to happen to Turner at some point...
I just hope he gets to reunite with Libra before it happens, though...
Oh dear...
...Well, if that isn't one of the saddest things I've read today...