> Alicorn gunslinger > by Moonking > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Gunslinger > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack pov I stood over the graveyard I'd filled over the last ten years. All for the purpose to which I dedicated my life’s path to avenge my family, friends, lover, and unborn child, who were all taken from being by a large-scale group of thugs and outlaws. A group killed the wrong people who didn’t own the land they so desperately wanted, all for a river and gold. My dark brown hair fell into my face as I turned away from the gravestone. “Jack?!" I pulled my right revolver out halfway, recognized the voice the second time, and reholstered the gun. "You haven’t been here for three years.” I looked to the right and saw the gravedigger Mark with flowers for his wife, who was also killed by the group. I tipped my great grandfather's hat then turned to walk again, but he stopped me once more. “It wasn’t your fault Jack. You fought them as hard as you could that day; we all did.” I stayed silent as he spoke to me, then turned to look at him. He sighed, then pulled a few flowers he had and placed them on the ground in front of him. “Place them on their grave, Jack. You haven’t placed flowers there since their death or spoken a word to any of us in the ten years you’ve been gone. Don’t you think it's time to move on?” I opened my mouth and uttered only one word. “No,” My voice was raspy from so long, but that is all I need to say. However, I picked up the flowers and then walked over to my wife and child's grave. I got on my knees then placed the flowers right in front of the only tombstone in the graveyard. Covered in the stone was her name. Sandra Marshall, wife to Jack Marshall, a Loving wife, and dutiful wife. Gone but not forgotten. I looked at the gravestone and felt a tear run down my face from the grief I never let myself let go of. ‘I didn't even mourn them before I went after them.’ "You're in the town's preys, Jack. Know no matter what, you will always have a place to come back to and call home." I whipped my eyes, then stood up and took my hat off, and held it to my chest. I said a quick prayer for my wife and the child. I put my cap back on, then walked away back to the wastelands to the north. 'Hm, maybe I should buy more ammo before going home.' I stopped halfway to town, and my house then looked down the road to town. I hadn't stepped foot there since I left to hunt down the group who took my reason for living away. I blinked and shook my head and walked down the road to town. My boots crushed the dry dirt as I walked down the dusty road-ready for anyone who thinks they could gun me down. Five minutes later, I walked into town, and everyone stopped and looked at me. "Is that, Jack?” “Ya, it is!” I tipped my hat to a few of the people who remembered me. A few, however, looked ready to get into a gunfight with me to test their skills. As I walked, I heard the sound of thunder in the distance. Many looked at me as if I was a bad omen to the town. I huffed then walked up to the store and saw a large carrying bag sitting on a stand with a letter from Peter, the store owner. I took the bag and felt the weight of the contents, then opened it up. Inside was another bag I knew held eighty bullets from the past business. There was a wool blanket; leather-gloves that matched my leather coat. I put them on and flexed my hands a few times to see how well they fit my hands. They were a little big on me, and I sighed then put them back into the bag. The last thing in the bag was a bag with the word seeds written on the side. I opened the bag to see what kind of seeds were inside. I saw both tobacco and cotton on the inside. 'Um, that man is just giving me some of the most expansive things in his store.' I closed the bag, then closed the large carrying bag and looked at the letter from Peter. I took my pocket knife out and cut the top. I pulled the paper out then started to read it. 'All your debts were paid when you avenged my sons. My wife and I will always be here to help you when you need us, Jack. You have faced the worst life can throw at you and walked away alive. I know you had to have suffered when your wife and child were murdered before your eyes. Know that our door is always opened to you, and I hope you will one day find some measure of peace in your life.' I smiled, then folded the paper in half and put it into the envelope, then spoke lowly. ‘Thank you, Peter.’ I pulled my coat forward then placed the letter into a pocket I had inside my coat. I tied the bag up with a bit of rope I had on my side then threw it over my shoulder then walked away from the storefront as storm clouds started to roll in with strong winds blowing. I then pulled the rope and then began to walk down the dirt road to my old home with the rain beginning to hit my back. I pushed my hat down harder as the rain came down hard. About halfway from my house, the wind suddenly kicked up, and the rain started beating down around me. "What is with this storm!?" "Twilight... stop!" I heard a voice and looked around, trying to find that voice. "No... Pinkie, you can’t use that!" I heard the voice again, then a circle with a massive star with six small ones formed in the sky above me. A beam of light shot down as I tried to run. But, the light trapped me and formed a wall around me. I backed up and drew my right revolver, then fired two rounds into the wall. They just vanished, no burned when they hit it. "What was that!?" "I don't know, but the spell is about to active get back!" I started to float off the ground then started to go faster as the circle began to speed rapidly. I started to panic as I was pulled up into the storm. Applejack pov "Twilight, we got to get back before something happens!" Twilight opened her wings then jumped away as the summoning circle grew brighter and brighter. I tried to look into it, and I could swear to Celestia I saw a pony appearing in the center star. "Is somepony in that Circle!?" I heard Rainbow as the spell forced Twilight's castle to shake. I looked into the circle, and she was right; a large pony was forming in the circle. Then a ball of magic built around the pony as the spell finish, I think. But, I was wrong as the ball suddenly shot out through a window and headed for the forest. We all looked at the window as Twilight looked out the hole in the wall. "That wasn't supposed to happen, not at all." The rest of us walked over and looked out the hole. The ball crashed into the forest and left a large trench in the trees. The orb vanished, and we all looked at one another. "Twi, I think the Princess needs to hear about this now." "Right, the rest of you go and see if you can find the pony that was in the orb. He or she could be hurt badly." "Y'all heard the mare. Let's move!" I waved for the girls to come on, and we let the castle for the forest. Jack pov I felt myself lying on the ground as I started to wake up. I opened my eyes and saw I was in a forest with twisted trees. I begin to get to my feet, then slipped and landed on my ass. I tried to move my foot to see if it was hurt, then I noticed I couldn't feel my toes.l didn’t feel my toes or feet, so I looked down at them. My boots and feet were gone; in their place were two large hoofs. I sat up and touched the hoofs and felt my hand on them, which made me a little worried about myself. I tried to stand, but I lost my balance and fell back down, and hit something on my head.  I reached up and helped something hard and pointy on my head. If I had to guess, it was about a foot long and would be about as wide as a quarter at the top of my skull. I moved a hand down but stopped when I saw it. My hand's tain skin was covered in an ashy black fur and doubled in size; then I noticed how tight my shirt was around my arm. I tried getting up again to see what the rest of my body had become, and I felt something on my back dragging on the ground. I turned my head as far as I could to see what was on my back. To my shock, there was a set of large black wings on my back which had tore through my leather coat and shirt. I looked a little farther back, saw my hat about ten feet away from me next to a stream. I slow and unsteady walked over to my hat, then fell when I tried to reach down and grab it. When I landed, I smacked my face into the ground and grunted as I picked myself back from the ground. I looked at myself in the water and saw a horse face looking back. I ran a hand over my face and saw the reflection do the same. With that, I had finally seen everything as I grabbed my hat and put it on. ‘Ok, I must have hit my head on something, or maybe I’ve finally lost it!’ “Hello!” I turned my head and grabbed one of my guns with I was glad to feel still hit well in my hand. I stood up and led on a tree next to the steam. I moved to the tree was and hid as I held my gun up, ready to shot. I took a deep breath and slowly turned my head to see who was there. I think two women walked out and from the trees with bodies a lot like my own. She was a bright pinkie with large blue eyes. She had on a dress over a yellow striped shirt with some shorts on, I think. I looked over to the other one. She was tall, maybe as tall as I was, but she had wings on her back. She showed even more skin, fur? Whatever she had a very well tone body, one would get from years of work. She had large green or teal eyes. “Do you see anything Fluttershy?” The tall mare opened her wings and took to the air. My eyes widened, and I quickly moved deeper into the shadows then put the gun back in my holster. ‘I need to slip by them and find out what is going on.' I moved slowly and as quietly. I started to go around them then get a sound. I stopped when I heard a stick snap in front of me, and I saw a wolf made of wood jumped from the tree line. It charged the two scared women. I pulled my right side revolver and jumped from the bush I was hiding in. I shoot a few rounds into the things head and chest. It dropped down to the ground, green blood coming from the wounds, then it hit me. I showed myself, and the two of them looked at me. I tried to push my hat down, but the horn on my head stopped it. I just stood back up and holstered my revolver before turning away from them. “S-sir!” I ignored them as I walked back over to the water then picked up my bag. I looked back at them then nodded my head before starting to walk away. ‘Don’t try and stop me.’ “Girls!” I looked up at the sky and saw another flying woman with a damn rainbow head of hair. Two more came out from the trees under her. I frowned, seeing them all around me, but I couldn’t kill them. I tried to take a step back but stopped when I looked at the orange one. My eyes widened as I looked at her. I thought I was looking at Sandra until I shook my head a little then looked at her again. Her body was a lot like Sandra's, but her eyes were emerald green instead of sky blue. "Hey, this guy has wings and a horn!" I turned to look at the pink one but held someone jumped onto my back. Out of instinct, I grabbed whoever it was, and through them. The Pink girl grabbed hold of my arm, her legs wrapped around it with one hand holding my wrist. She whipped her forehead with a hand. "That was close another second, and I'd gotten hurt!" I grabbed her leg then turned quickly, making her let go of my arm. I threw her to the ground, then drew my left revolver. I pulled the hammer back, but the Orange one grabbed hold of my arm. I looked at her as she struggled to make me move.  I holstered the gun as she kept trying to make me move. ‘Well, let me see what they did when I walked away.’ I pinched her arm, and she let go as I started to walk away again. “GET HIM!” They all jumped at me, and I blinked. ‘Well, this is a surprise.’ > Meeting the group > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight pov I paced around my throne room. Celestia and Luna were on the way from Canterlot with Blueblood much to my displeasure.   "Twilight you just need to relax. I'm sure the girls will be fine." I looked back at Spike and saw him sitting on my throne reading a comic book. I felt my right eye twitch as I looked at him. He looked up from his comic as I stared at him. “You’ve all faced the worst villains in Equestria's history. Besides Applejack and Rainbow are good fighters so don’t worry so much.” When he finished, he looked back down at his comic book. I sighed then nodded my head as I went back to waiting for the princess. “Twilight we’re back!” I heard Pinkie yell as she burst there the throne room door with a black cowpony hat with what sounded like a very angry pony running after her. Pinkie laughed as she hid behind her throne. I heard somepony sprinting behind her and into the throne room. My jaw dropped as I saw an Alicorn stallion with Ash colored fur with a black mane and tail. He had a beard of black and ash-grey in lines. He was dressed like a pony from Appaloosa but had no shirt on under his coat. Pinkie looked out from behind the throne a laugh that the angry stallion who ran into the room. “HA HA!” Pinkie laughed as she pulled the hat down on her head harder. He ran over to her as she bounced away from the throne. He chased after her as the other girls ran in. Rainbow flew over and grabbed Pinkie under her arms. "Pinkie for the love of hay give the stallion his hat back." Pinkie struggled as she tried to get free, but the stallion walked up to her then grabbed his hat off her head. He dusted his hat off then put the Stetson back on his head. He walked past me and heard him muttering something but I couldn't hear him. I turned and looked at him as he made his way to the door. “Um, Sir can I take a moment of your time?” He stopped them looked down at me. His eyes were dark blue, and I felt like when I was a filly when Celestia looked down at me. He smiled after a second the patted my head. He walked back over to the girl's Rarity held a plain white bag with a rope around it out to him. "Thanks" Finally, he said something! Rainbow yelled, and I had to guess he doesn't like to talk. I wave to him and spoke. “Um, Sir I’m one of the three princesses of Equestria.” He looked over at me with a raised eyebrow and scratched his head. Jack pov I looked down at a purple pony who had both wings and horn the same as me. I scratched my head as I looked down at her. 'I' m not to sure what to do. Did I now, shack her hand or kids is it may be.' “No no, it's okay I’m still new at being a princess. So, you don't have to do anything like that besides your an alicorn too and.” She was throwing her arms around and so I grabbed her arms making her stop, and she stopped talking as I looked at her. She laughed awkwardly as I let her go. "Right sorry Sir." "Jack." My voice was still rough and three words in one day when was the last I spoke that much. She nodded then took a step back with a light blush on her face. I laughed then walked over to the wall then leaned my back on it. She smiled as I gave her the chance to think of what she was going to say to me. The mare orange mare what a Stetson. I'm calling these horsewomen a mare like I would a normal female horse. “Twilight we’re here.” I looked over at the door when I heard a voice. I looked over to the door as I slide my thumbs into my belt beside my guns as I felt a heaviness in the air. ‘What is that?’ Two more like me and the Purple mare walked in a stallion behind them with a very annoyed face. The two mares were about a head shorter than me, but they gave me a strange feeling as I looked at them. One was white with a white dress with gold trim and a sun on her right thigh. Her hair was green pink and blue as with her tail. She had white fur and wings with purple eyes. The one beside her had dark blue fur and was wearing a dark dress. She had a long light blue main with light purple strick going down the top of it. Her wings were the same as her fur with blues. He had on a tux with a red rose in his front pocket. He had blonde hair with white fur and blue eyes. They all eyed me with jaws near the ground. I eyed the two mares that gave me a chill as they looked at me. ‘These two are going to be trouble.’ “A-a male alicorn!?” The white mare yelled as she started to walk over to me. I drew my right revolver as she got close to me. She stopped, and the mares that came to get me looked at me like I was crazy. I turned my gun to the side then waved it back a few times. She backed up, and the orange mare walked in front of me. I lowered my gun as I looked at her. “Move," She started to sweat as she looked at me. She put her hands up as she looked at me. “Why are you acting like this now? You were calm and collected before so why are you all bad now?” I held my revolver backup and pointed it at the white mare again. “Instants." “Ok, well why not just put that thing away or maybe just lower it.” I used my thumb to pull the hammer back. She gulped then back away from her. I looked at her as she put her hands up as the orange mare had. “Um, Sir Jack was it? I don’t know what I could have done, but maybe we could talk this out?” I looked around and saw the blue one trying to walk around with the white mare and both of their horns glowing. I drew my other gun and pointed it at the blue one. “Don't.” The glowing stopped, and she held her hands out in front of her. “Ok, lets calm down Sir Jack.” I looked at the stallion who had hidden himself behind the white mare like a small child. I lowered and holstered my guns and grabbed my bag from off the ground. I started to walk to the door but the smaller alicorn I think it was rushed in front of me. "Wait we need to find out where you came from and were you born like this or..." I grabbed her mouth as I felt myself getting angry. "Stop." I let her mouth go and she back out of my way. I started to walk out of the room, but the white one grabbed my shoulder. "Sir I can't just let you walk away from us. You are the only male alicorn we've ever seen.” My killing instinct kicked in, and I dropped my bag. I grabbed her wrist and forced her to turn as I forced her arm into her back. “last warning.” She nodded her head then I let her go. I turned to grab my bag then walked out the door, but the orange mare rushed out behind me. “Wait I can at least offer you the spear room we have at the farm.” “Applejack are you sure?” I heard the white mare say as I looked down at her. “Why?” “You don’t know, do you? Any alicorn is considered royalty in Equestria.” I blinked as I looked down at her. She nodded then I saw some of the other poke their heads out into the hall. “We have a loft if you don’t mind staying in an old barn?” For the first time in years, I spoke at length. “I don’t trust any of you yet, and I know you all don’t trust me after what just happened in there. All I ask is for a cot or maybe a small bed, and I can work for you to pay you back.” She smiled then held a hand out to me. “That sounds just fine Jack.” I shook her hand, and we left for her farm once the others calmed down. Everyone in the town looked at me as I walked than when we walked into the town square something hit my leg. I looked down, and I saw a little girl with light purple fur with blonde hair. She looked up at me, and she had golden eyes then looked back down the street. “Dinky what’s wrong?” The mare beside me asks as the child hid behind us and used my wings to cover herself. “Dinky! Where are you!?” I looked back the way she came and saw a mare with pink fur. She had a purple mane and tail. She was wearing a pair of pants with jeans on with a plain white shirt on. I looked down at the little girl, and she was watching the mare as she walked around. I pulled my coat around and covered her more as the mare looked at me, and I think her name was Applejack. She looked up at me then dropped to a knee. “Y-your Highness!” I raised an eyebrow as she looked at the ground. I looked down at her as I looked up at me.  " Stand back up,” I spoke much more kindly as I looked at her. She stood up a moment a later, and I grabbed my coat moved my wing without really think about it moved on its own... ‘That‘s strange I don’t even know how I did that.’ “Hi, sis!” The young girl yelled as she stood behind me. The young mare’s hair stood on end as she looked at her. “DINKY!?” I laughed as I patted the young girl’s head as she looked up at me. Her eyes widened as she looked at me. “Your an alicorn so cool!” I smiled then ruffed up her hair as she looked up at me. “Come over here!” She was jerked over to the mare by some pink glow. I blinked as she grabbed the young girl by the shoulders. “Dinky you know that you can’t just address royalty so freely!” I smiled as watched the two of them as they talked. I moved my bag and opened my bag then reached down to the bottom to grab one of the apples. I held them out to them, and the little filly grabbed the apple, but the mare took a second before taking it. When they had them I started to walk again Applejack quick to lead the way. After a long walk, we arrived at a farm. Out front of a barn was a large red stallion. He saw us walking up the entrance and he walked up to us. He walked up to me and I looked down at him. I had about five inches and he had long darker fur in his forearms with a bread starting to grow off his chin. He was in a pair of work jeans without a shirt and I could see he was no lightweight if he wanted to fight. But my shoulders or arms may be larger than his. We looked at one another then Applejack spoke up. “I’m going to go and see if dinner is ready.” She ran off leaving us alone and I looked at the stallion as he chewed on a piece of strew. I nodded and he nodded back then we walked over to the fence. He rested his back and arms on it as he looked over the fields. I sat my bag down and looked over the farm. It seemed to be a fruit farm but all I saw was apples. “Mind if I ask what an alicorn is doing here?” I looked at him out of the corner of my eye as he looked over the farm. I sat down on the ground then answered. “Applejack offered me a place in your loft.” He nodded and I had a feeling we were going to get along well. I followed him to the barn and he took me up a set of steps hidden behind a stack of barrels. I nodded my head when he left and I went up to the loft and saw a door at the top. I open the door and saw a small room with a bed, standing closet, and a nightstand was beside the bed. 'Nicest place I've seen in years.' I walked over to the bed placing my bag down then laid on the bed-hopping to get a little sleep. 'I think I'll like it here.' > first days > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applejack pov Two days had gone by, and Jack hadn't said another word to any of us, but somehow he and Mac could talk to each other. The Princess had also been coming in the morning to try and talk to him, but their word fell on deaf ears as he helped Mac over stuff in the barn so he could get to his room easier. Sighed and came out of my thoughts as I started to buck apple trees again. Four an hour I was bucking trees as "Lady Applejack where is Sir Jack?" I felt my eye twitch as I looked over my shoulder and saw both princesses. Princess Luna dressed in a fancy dress with stars all over it, and her lower part of the dress was a long shirt like clothe. Her mane was the traditional blue, not the stary mane she usually had. I looked over to Princess Celestia. She was in a long white dress with gold all over her body. She had her mane hanging down free and unflowing. I looked at the two of them then nodded my head as I looked at them. "He's in the far field with my brother helping to pull up dead trees. Give me a few minutes, and I'll take you there." "Ok, do you mind if we go to the house for a drink while we wait?" "Sure, go ahead Granny is making sweet tea." They smiled and walked off to the house as I bucked the next few trees. I was done after ten minutes and started to move the apple barrels to a wagon. I was having trouble lifting the third barrel with so of our delicious red apples. I was about to lose it when a large black hand reached around me then grabbed the barrel. I looked back and saw Jack standing behind me ax on his shoulder. He didn’t have his coat one but had his hat on with a red handkerchief tied around his neck. He lifted the barrel then placed it on the wagon for me. “Thanks.” He nodded then helped me get the rest. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and each time I did my cheeks grew red. He had a body much like my brother, but his chest and shoulders were a size larger. Like my brother he had abs, and I couldn’t help back keep looked at him as he worked. He had his back turned to me and was loading the wagon. I looked at his wings and spoke up. “Please stop looking at me.” I jumped as I looked at him then turn my face burning as I looked at a barrel of green apples. When we finished, he walked over to the well, and I pulled the wagon to the barn. Jack pov I was looking at Applejack as she pulled to the barn surprised that she could pull the wagon. I turned to the well then pulled the bucket up. When I had it up, I took my hat off leaving it off to the side then purred it over my head cooling myself down. “My, my~.” I turned my head seeing the white one behind me a cup of tea in her hand my hat in the other. I walked up to snatched my hat surprising her when I walked past her. “H-hey!” I put my hat on my hat then walked up to the barn then started to help Applejack move the barrels into storage. “Sir jack can we have a word with us?” I looked at the two of them then looked forward as I walked. “Talk.” They looked at one another as I finish moving the apples. I sat down on a hay bail and looked at them. The white on cleared her throat and spoke first. "I am Princess Celestia co-ruler of the Equestria ruler of the day and this." I waved my hand in front of the blue one beside her. "Is my sister, Princess Luna co-ruler of Equestria ruler of the night." I moved my hand in a circle as I looked at them let them know I didn't care about their names. "Well, we've come to ask you once again to come to canterlot and live. We will be there to help you and…" I stopped my hand holding it up them looking at me. I signed nodded my head the stood walking away. "JACK!" 'No." I was getting tired of them quickly and didn't want to deal with them anymore. I walked up into my room then laid down on the bed. I heard screaming, and things being thrown around under me. ‘I guess they hate the word no very much.’ I looked over at my revolvers handing over by the window. While I looked at them a black light wrapped around them. I blinked as I looked at them the same light above my head. I looked up at the horn and panicked when I saw the light. It stopped, and the light around them disappeared. I grabbed the thing, but it didn’t do it again. I sigh then shook my head thinking I saw things. I got up then walked to the door and opened it and Applejack was standing in front of me. We looked at one another, and she had two glasses of tea. I moved to the side, and she walked in a smile on her face. I let her sit down on my bed as I stood next to the window drinking some tea. “So, why did princess Luna crush a barrel of our apples?” I just took another sip of tea as I looked at her. I looked at her then talked a little. “Told them no.” She looked at me then laughed before taking a sip of tea. “You know the princesses won’t give up that easily. From what I know they want to take you to the capital. Something about royal business or something.” I looked at her for a moment then huffed as I looked at her. “Sure.” I finished my tea then gave it back to her as I walked past her. “Thanks.” I walked down the steps and grabbed my ax again going to bust some wood Mac pointed to earlier. When I walked down the steps, I saw three little heads looking at me. Saw the red headed filly I think granny smith called them. I walked over to them, and they took off running. I blinked as I looked at them then grabbed the ax. I walked through the tree hearing the three following me close behind me. When I was near the forest, I heard a large foot stomping around. I stopped dead in my tracks as I looked at the tree line. I saw a large shadow near the edge. I narrowed my eyes then spread my leg getting into a fighting stance. “Go now!” I heard three sets of hoofs running, and a beast burst out of the tree line. The creature was like a massive bear with the body of a lion head. On it’s back was a boar a set of wings with claws on the tops of the wings. Its tails were like a scorpion’s tail. I ran in front of it as it was running passed me going to the little one. It kept charging me, and I started to raised the ax when it was close. I swung it down just missing its face. I buried the ax deep into the group, and the beast swung a massive paw at me. Five large claws came out, and four slashed me across my chest and sent me flying into a tree behind me. I slammed into it feeling one of my wing breaking. My hat flew over to the side, and the beast stomped on it. I gritted my teeth and got up then charged the thing. I grabbed the ax from the ground and swung it again. I cut a deep gash in the beast front leg. It roared as I stomped a hoof into the ground cracks forming under my hoof. “JACK!” I looked out of the corner of my eyes and saw Applejack, Mac and the two Princess came running this way. I looked back at the beast as it jumped at me. I dropped to the ground, and it flew over me. I jumped low from the ground and slammed my shoulder into the nose of this thing. Its head flew back then pulled the ax back then cut the side of this thing. It roared again then stabbed me in the right tonight with its tail. I saw a purple liquid coming from my wound. The beast was covered in yellow lights and was sent fly through the trees breaking them with its body. My head started to fog up as I began to stumble around. I fell to the ground then blacked out hearing Applejack yelling my name. Applejack pov a week later. I sat in Jack's hospital room alone after kicking out the princess when they tried to have him taken to canterlot while he couldn't stop them. I forced them out then sat by his side to make sure they didn't try anything else. I had gotten his hat back leaving it beside his bed as he slept. I patted his hand as I looked at his face. "Get well soon Jack." > family dinner > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applejack pov I stared down the new captain of the guard an entitled unicorn stallion with a group of guards behind him, but I had my brother and Braeburn with me. "For the last time move Lady Applejack!" "And for the last time, I said no! Now leave him alone already!" He sighed as he pinched the top of his nose. "Lady Applejack I have orders to take him unless I get orders that tell me otherwise. My hands are tied. I have to take him to canterlot. Now, please make this easy and...." He reached out to grab me, but Mac grabbed his arm then started to crush the armor on his arm. The guards pointed spears at him, and things were getting out of hands quickly. He looked at my brother as if he spit in his face he pulled his arm free and looked at us. "Lady Applejack come on!" The door behind us slammed open, and we all looked back to the loud noise. Jack stood over us his chest wrapped in bandages his chest, and he had put his pants back on. I could see the bandages on his legs through the hole in his pants. He put a hand on my shoulder then pushed me to the side me not fighting him as he walked up to the much smaller stallion. All of them looked at him shocked her was an alicorn. There was a noticeable two-foot difference between the two of them. The guard's head barely reached the middle of Jack's chest. "Stop bother Applejack and Mac. Now, or I'll make you!" That was the first time he yelled, and with the point made. The guards turned then ran away as Jack stood over them. Jack breathing was deep breathing with his shoulders. He stumbled and fell into the wall; his breaths still heavy. I walked over and pulled his arm over my shoulder. "Ok, come on, you scared them good enough. Let's get you back into bed." "B-but..." "No but." I helped him back into his bed then walked back into the hall. I sighed then took my hat off to run my finger through my mane. "Darn stallion needs to learn to stay in bed; he's hurt." "Haha." I looked at my brother, and Braeburn smiles on there faces. "What?" "Good to see you finally have a coltfriend Applejack." I blushed as I looked at him then kicked his leg. "He ain't my coltfriend!" Braeburn jumped up and down on one leg as he held his injured leg. I stomped down the hall as I heard mac telling him it was only a matter of time. "Stupid brother, stupid Braeburn and stupid Jack for trying to act all tough." I walked into the mares room and turned on the sink. It filled with cold water, and I splashed some cold water in my face. I sighed then walked out of the mares room drying my face with a few paper towels. "Hey AJ." I looked up and saw the girls with the crusaded who were looking very guilty. "What did you three do this time?" "W-we didn't do anything." I looked at Scootaloo a blatant lie on her part. "What did you three do?" Applebloom spoke up shame in her voice. "W-we're the ones that brought the manticore to the farm. We thought we could get our cutie marks for as manticore tamers, but we had to run when it started to chase us. We managed to give it the slip, but it followed us back to the farm. We thought he could help, but we didn't think he'd get this hurt." I looked at the two of them my anger clear to the girls. "You mean to tell me you three went into the everfree by yourself and tried to tame a manticore!?" "So you three did?" I turned back when we heard Jacks voice right behind me. I turned around and saw Big Mac and Braeburn trying to hold him back. I looked at the floor and saw drag marks on the floor from where they had tried to stop him. He walked passed me both of them trying to stop him. He stood in front of the three of the girls his face unreadable. "Jack hold on before you...." He reached down and rubbed Appleblooms head all of us looking at his smile. "You're not mad at us for getting you hurt?" He laughed a little then picked Applebloom up then sat her down on his shoulder. Her ears were touching the ceiling as she looked down at us. "We're good, You three didn't get hurt right?" "No, we're fine." He nodded his head then started to walk again as they let him go. Jack walked around acting like he was fine, but I saw him clenching his fist as tight as he could. Jack pov 'Damn this hurts.' My chest burned as I walked around the youngest apple kicking her legs as she rode on my shoulder. My leg was aching, and it felt like it was going to start burning from the heat of my wound. 'When I get out of here I'm going to hunt that thing down then bury it.' I saw some chairs next to a set of glass doors. I sat down her down and sat in the chair when the other showed up. I rubbed my chest a little, and she looked at me. "So, why is an alicorn living in ponyville?" She smiled as she looked at me. "I hate cities." "Why?" I when back to classic silence and she looked at me annoyed. "Back to the silence great." I rubbed her head then the rainbow headed one walked over to me. "Come on dude you can't always be quiet and keep to yourself. Besides I want to know why you didn't fly off once the girls were safe or use your magic." I blinked as I looked at her and she narrowed her eyes as she looked at me. "SAY SOMETHING!" I dropped my slime then glared at her. She backed down very quickly as I stood up. I walked passed her back to the room I slept in. I wanted that hat again, and I'll be damned if I leave it. I got the bedroom and found a mare in the room. She was different from the rest; she was pure blue with yellow eyes and had a set of bat wings on her back. She was in purple and black armor a slightly open part near the top with a moon in her chest under it. She was standing at attention in a corner as she looked at me. "Good morning Sir." I walked in then took my hat from the nightstand and put in on my head. "Morning, care to tell me who you are?" She looked at me silently as she reached into her chest plate then pulled out a latter from between her breast. I walked over to her then took the letter as she faded back into the shadows. Dear Jack From Princess Celestia, I know we have asked you many times, and again we ask you to come to Canterlot. We must speak, and you must listen to us. You have no Idea how much you truly matter when it comes to my sister and I. The future you could help shape if you'd only hear us out Sir Jack. I put the letter in my pocket as I walked out of the room but stopped when I walked into someone. I looked down and saw another new mare in front of me. Her fur was cotton candy blue, and her mane was a swirl of light and dark pink. Her height was more significant than most mares I had seen in my time here. Her head came up to my chest, and she was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a v-neck shirt. I'd say she was a lovely looking mare with pink eyes. She looked up at a smile on her face. She had such kind looking eyes like a mother would give her child. "Sorry, Sir." I waved my hand and leaned down to be face to face with her. "No miss, I'm sorry I ran into you." She looked at me for a second then saw my body. She saw my wings and horn her eye shrink. "S-sorry your highness!" She when to bow but I put a hand on her shoulder not wanting anyone to bow to me. She looked at me before looking at my hand on her shoulder stopping her bowing. "I'm your equal, so no bowing to me miss." She looked at me surprise on her face before I turned and walked away from her. "Um, Sir can I have your name?" "Jack." I walked back down the hall and as Applejack walked up with my coat, guns and had a shirt in her hand. "Rarity made this for you." She gave me the shirt, and I put it on my wings going through a set of holes on the back. I rubbed my chest after putting my coat on. I strapped my gunbelt back on then a shot of pain came from my back as I stretched my back straight up. "It hurts doesn't it?" I looked at her and nodded as she looked at me worry on her face. "Will you be ok?" I laughed as I looked at her a smile on my face. "I'm fine; just happy the girls are ok." She smiled then grabbed my hand then pulled me along as she walked to the front doors. She pulled me out the door, and I stopped when I saw a large crowd around us. It seemed to be the townsfolks, and all of them looked at us. I smiled as I looked at everyone and some of the young ones rushed up to us. They were asking what it was like fighting a manticore head on and did the stinger hurt. I was a little overwhelmed as they crowed me. "Hey Now leave the stallion alone his still hurt y' all." A few didn't want to go, but a few of them laughed as they looked at her smiles on their faces. "She just wants her coltfriend to herself." Applejack blushed and let my hand go as she yelled. "He ain't my coltfriend!" The little fillies laughed as they ran off and I looked at Applejack her face red. I raised an eyebrow as she looked back at me. I smiled then grabbed her hand then pushed it down hiding her face. Everyone stopped and looked at us surprise on their faces. She grabbed her hat as I took my hand off and put my hands in my pockets as I walked away with Mac and this other stallion. I took my 44 caliber six-shot revolver. Rounds checking the rounds to see how many I've used. I had four left out of six that I didn't fire. I took out the two empty ones then pulled two rounds out of a hidden pocket. I loaded them then closed the wheel. Then I checked the other and saw all the bullets were still ready to fire. Soon enough, Applejack caught up the red-haired filly with her. "So, sis is he your coltfriend?" Her face was red then snapped at her. "NO!" She jumped as she looked at her. I laughed then took my hat off-putting on the fillies head. She looked up at me then I smiled. "Give it back before bed." She smiled then ran ahead tipped my hat to everyone she passed. "Thanks." I looked at Applejack, and she hid her face behind her hat. I smiled then patted her back as Mac and the other guy laughed. "Mac maybe you'll be an uncle soon. I mean look at these to it's going to happen sooner or later." I felt my face heat up and started to reach for my hat, but the little filly had it. I huffed and walked my face red as one of the farm's apples. We didn't look at each other, and we couldn't talk to one another. I was looking at the sky and Applejack was looking at the ground. "So, when's the wedding?" I punched the other stallion in the face having had enough of him and his voice. I grabbed him then threw him over my shoulder; I didn't care about the pain. When we reached the farm I threw him on a hay pill then started to head to my room But the filly grabbed my coat. "My names Applebloom Mr. Jack. Now come on were having dinner soon." I looked at her for a moment then smiled as I looked down at her. We walked back to the house then walked into the living room. Applejack quickly rushed upstairs before we had to talk to one another again. Mac cleared his throat getting my attention. I looked at him then he waved his hand then pointed to the kitchen. I nodded then followed him into the kitchen, and we washed our hands before Granny reached to get the dishes. I walked over and took them for her and set the table as if I'd done it a hundred times. "Mac please get the cornbread out of the oven." Mac grabbed a pair of dishcloths and opened the oven then took out a large pan of cornbread. He put on the table, and I saw everything the grandmother had made. There was biscuits, corn, mash potatoes the cornbread with large farmhouse casserole sitting in the middle of the table. Then granny noticed what I did. "Where's your plate and silverware?" I looked at her then rubbed the back of my head as I looked at her. "Well, where I'm from we don't eat with the family if not invited first. I was going to wait then take what's left and eat outside with the stallion I knocked out." Granny looked offended and walked up to me then grabbed the ear on top of my head and jerked me down to her face. "Now, you listen to me, Jack. You risked your life without a second thought to protect part of our family without a second thought. I saw you when they brought you out of the fields. You were cut up and bleeding everywhere, and I knew as sure as my life if you'd not been there I would have lost my youngest granddaughter to that monster, and the other would have lost parts of their family too. You think you need to be invited to our dinner table?" I wasn't sure if I should say yes or no. "I'm saying this once and only once sonny. There will never come a day your not welcome to this table or this farm. Far as I'm concerned your part of the Apple clan now. Now get yourself a plate and sit down dinner getting cold." She let my ear go, and I rubbed it as I looked at her as she looked up at me. "What are you standing there for I said get your plate!" I quickly did as she said not wanting to make her and angrier than she was. I got my plate and silverware and sat down in an extra chair that Mac pulled up for me. Then for the first time in ten years, I sat down to a family meal. We made our plate, and they said thanks to Celestia for a good day and thanked the stars I was there to save Applebloom and her friends. I smiled as I took my first bite of the meal hoping it was the first of many to come. > sleepover violence warning > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I sat on the porch with granny standing in the doorway as I fixed her rocking chair. They wouldn't let me do any heavy work with my body will a little weak, but I didn't mind much. It was nice to do the simple things again, not being off hunting men down in the wild of the west. "Granny, I need to replace the leg it's rotting away." "Can you fix it?" I nodded, and she sighed then rubbed her eyes. "There some extra chairs in the back in a little room near the back. There's a box of chair parts on a shelf, and you'll find them." I nodded then got up and walked to the barn to find the wood I need. In and headed for the back, and saw a few chairs just like she said. I found an old chair with a leg close to the one I took off the rocking chair. I was taking the leg off and heard someone walking up behind me. "Can I ask you something?" It was Applebloom, and I smiled. "Um?" "Do you like my sister?" I got the leg off and looked back at her. I picked and put her on my shoulder, then walked out. "Ya, she's a sweet mare and a good friend." She pinched my cheek and turned my head to looked at her. "That's not what I mean, Jack! I mean, do you like, like her. Like kissing her and stuff like that." I laughed then put her down, and I started to put the leg on. "W-well, I don't know." She pressed it as I just tried to finish until granny spoke up. "You know she is in her prime. Plus, I don't mind if you sleep with my eldest granddaughter." I blushed my and fixed the chair before I walked away. As I walked a heard a tree getting kicked hard. I stopped and saw Applejack. She was wearing a pair of short blue jean shorts with a button up shirt tied under her breast, and I noticed that her chest was bigger then I thought she had. She even had a six-pack like me. I watched her for a minute, and then someone grabbed my shoulder. I jumped then caught the arm of whoever it was then started throw whoever this was. Mid threw I saw a red fur then let him go. I let him go and turned to look at him as he rubbed his wrist. "So, ya, do like my sister?" I looked at him my cheeks still a little red, but I turned and stopped looking at him. He laughed a little then yelled for Applejack, asking her to take her turn at the stand and to have me come with her. "Sure, Big Mac, I'll be just a minute." I looked at him, and he smiled as he looked up at me. I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him. "Go get her, cowpony." I flipped him off, and he laughed as Applejack walked off to the barn. I walked out of my hands in pockets and walked up to the barn then helped her load up the wagon. I couldn't help but look at her as she bent over. I shook my head and loaded a barrel into the wagon. I started to pull the cart, but the whole way Applejack tried and failed to make me move so she could it. She kept walking in front of me, and I saw her breast bouncing as she walked. I just looked forward as I walked straight for the town. Soon enough, Applejack understood I wasn't going to let her pull the goods. Soon enough, we go to a stand in the middle of the Townsquare when we were setting up a group of ponies lined up in front of us. "Well, never seen this many ponies at the start of the day." I smiled then sat a chair down behind her and pulled out my pocket knife then started to work on a block of wood. A few hours went by as the crowds came and went shopping. As we sat there, Applejack would talk to me just happy to have someone to listen to her while I worked on the wood. Soon enough, I finished the wood apple and gave it to Applejack. "Wow, your cutie mark must be woodworking, right?" I didn't say anything and took out a two by four then started on another piece. I was carving Applejack's name into it, and she saw what I was doing. When I was on the J, the rest of the girls walked over up to us. I looked up at them and saw they had all kinds of snacks, drinks, and bags on their backs. I figured that they were going to invite Applejack and went back to work on the letter. They were talking for a few minutes, and I just toned them out then someone patted my right hoof. I looked up then saw the pink one was looking at me. I closed the knife and put the two by four down on the table. "Do you want to come to our sleepover at the castle?" I blinked as I looked at her, then shrugged my shoulders. "Why not." I stood up, but my leg buckled as I put all my weight on it. Applejack jumped up and helped me stand up straight. I could feel my bone cracking as I stood up. "Ok, you sit back down, and I'll go get some stuff for us at the farm." I nodded then started to walk back to the farm as I heard Applejack talking about how stubborn I was. Quick enough. Her friends ran up beside me, and I smiled as the purple mare walked beside me. "So, jack, do you have any family or other friends?" I stopped, and they all looked at me as I reached up taking my hat carefully in my hands. I took it off then looked at it sadly so. "Not anymore." I looked at the hat my wife bought for me on my twenty-second birthday. I put it back on then started to walk again hoping none of then ask about it. They didn't, and I was grateful for it. I got back to farm Applejack not far behind, but when we were getting close to the farm, I saw more guards standing around. I saw Luna standing at the gates, and I walked up to her. "Jack a word please." I looked at her for a second then started to go around her, but she stepped in front of me. I tried the other way, but she did it again. I got annoyed then shoved her out of my way, but she grabbed my coat. "I asked for a word, Jack!" I sigh them looked at her again. "Your desperate right?" She blushed the nodded her head the red on her face leaving. She looked at me a determination on her face. "You need to listen to me, Jack, what I have to say could change our worlds as we know it." I looked at her for a moment, then sighed and nodded my head for her to follow me to the loft. She smiled and quickly followed me as I climbed the stairs to my room. I opened the door and saw walked in then walked over and sat on the bed while I leaned on the wall looking at her. I waved my hand then she patted the spot on the bed beside her. I narrowed my eyes as she laughed awkwardly then put her hands up. "Ok, well since your finally willing to listen, I'm just going to be blunt. Would you like to have a foal with me?" I blinked as I looked at her, and she looked back at me. "Um, no." "WHAT!?" I covered my ears and looked at her a look of shock on her face. "Look at me!" She jumped up and waved a hand over herself. Then she looked down at herself. "Are my breast to small or my hips?" She saw coming closer, and I put my hands up as she stood in front of me. I nodded my head then slowly started to talk. "S-sorry, but you aren't the type I like." She looked at me then looked at the only window in the room she walked over to then looked down. "I see, I think I know what you like Jack. Have a good day and night." There was an edge to her tone, and I grabbed the handle of one of my guns as she walked out of the room. I watched as she walked to a carriage and they all left. I watched them go, and the girls walked over to me. "She didn't look happy." I looked down at Applejack and nodded my head as I rubbed my eyes. "I see, well whatever happened isn't my business. Now, come on; we're ready to go." I smiled then walked with them to the large crystal castle. It appeared to have multi-level in its branches, which includes a high balcony, two spires, and a tower. There was a banner with a massive star on it flying off on one side and the top bears an enormous crystal star. Two sets of five strings of beads hang off the bottom of the structure. At the foot is a grand golden stair for the two-leaved golden door into the tree's body. Two open lancet windows flank the entrance. The lobby's two stairs lead into the castle rooms where lancet two-toned green glass windows and crystalline lathed columns with scrolled tops line the hall decked by a brown rug with scrollwork. At its end is a golden-framed green glass fanlight door to the throne room were six thrones about a star-shaped dais on a golden dish on a violet rug with scrollwork. Even with its door are a set of green glass spire lights. We set up in the throne room, and I set up a pillow off in a corner. Once we were inside, the girls told me their names. "Care if I sleep over here too?" I looked down and saw Fluttershy with a pillow and a bag of some kind. I smiled as I looked at her and nodded. Fluttershy smiled, then set up a few feet away from me. I sat down my back on the wall as Applejack walked over to me. I looked up at her, and she had bandages in one hand with a wet towel in the other. "We need to change the bandages and clean the wounds, Jack." I took my coat off then my shirt, and I saw her blush a little as she looked at me. I heard someone whistle then the sound of a smack. I took out my knife then cut up the side of the bandages, and the fell to the ground, and I saw the wound for the first time. "Damn, that's bad looking." I nodded, and Applejack handed me the towel as she sat down behind me as I cleaned them. When I had them cleaned, I raised my arms, and she started to wrap the bandages around my chest. But couldn't reach all the way around. I grabbed the roll and when around then gave it back to her. After a few minutes, we had my chest wrapped then I took the rest and when to a room to change the wrap my leg. I cut the wrapping off and saw something on my hips. I looked at them and saw on both my hips had twin 44 pistols on them. I ignored them then got my pants back on then before I walked back out I heard something. I pressed my ear to the door and listened. "Applejack come on I saw you staring at him. If I were you, I'd jumped him by now!" "Rainbow! Jack is an alicorn, and that means he's royalty! Jumping him would be the worst thing you can do!" "But, if he was like the princess, why does he want to live on a farm and not in the castle?" I listen to the silence, and when none of them said anything, I walked out. I walked over to my spot then sat down as the girls looked at me. An hour passed went back of me watching them do there manes and makeup. I closed my eyes and fell asleep but woke up when I heard a lot of moving around. I opened my right eye and saw Pinkie dancing like chickens. I blinked then looked down at the bottle and saw it pointing at her. "Look who's awake again." I heard Twilight's voice, and Rainbow grabbed the bottle and spun it. I watched it turn on the floor until it landed on Applejack and she looked scared for some reason. Rainbow smiled as she looked at her. "Truth or dare Applejack?" Applejack looked at her for a second, then spoke. "D-dare?" Rainbow smiled and grabbed Applejack then pulled her close and talked into her ear. Applejack's face when red as she looked at her. "I can't!" Rainbow smiled and pointed over to me. "You know the rules now go, and I want to see something that shows you two did something." Applejack blushed and stood up then walked over to me. "Please, come with me." I raised an eyebrow the shrugged and stood up then followed her to a room. I walked in then noticed the only thing in the room was a desk and bookshelf. I turned at face her, but she wouldn't meet my eyes. "Applejack?" "T-turn around for a second, please." I looked at her for a moment then turned my head and heard her doing something. Then I saw her shirt on the ground beside me. My eyes widened, and Applejack wrapped her arms around me. "A-applejack?!" "Rainbow dared me as intimate with you as I could." I blushed as I felt her breast on my wings and back. I knew they were bigger than Sandra were just by the feel. She started to move her hands up my chest, and I grabbed her hands. "Stop." She stopped dead, and I pushed her shirt back to her with my hoof. "Put that back on, please." She didn't move but pressed her breast more into me. "Jack, am I ugly?" I was caught off guard and turned my head and saw her head looking up at me. I noticed her hat was gone, and she had tears in her eyes. "Why are you asking me that, Applejack?" She spoke with a shack to her voice. "Some stallions around town say my body didn't have any size in the right places or I wasn't much to look at all. So, am I ugly, or do you think I'm pretty?" I looked at her then took my hat off then hesitated for a moment. Then, I put it on her head as I closed my eyes, and slowly turned in her arms. When I felt her breast just under my rib cage, I opened my eyes and looked down at her. Her breast pressed up against my chest as I looked at her. I took a deep breath then spoke up. "Applejack, true beauty doesn't run skin deep. True beauty is in the soul and in how the ones who love you see you. If you ask me your beautiful Applejack." I moved some hair from in front of her eyes as she looked at me. She smiled then before I knew what happened Applejack had let go of my chest then grabbed my face then pulled my head down. She pressed her lips into mine, and my hat fell off to the side. I lifted my hands to her side and the back of her head. It had been so long since I had felt such a tender touch, and I just melted into as she got on her hoof tips to get a little higher and moved her arms around my neck. Knock Knock! Our kiss broke at the sound of knocking, and I pulled Applejack into my chest. "Jack, AJ, we need you two out here now; we have two new guests!" We looked at one another, and I turned around as Applejack put her shirt back on but left her shirt gap open a little wider, showing more cleavage. I tried to take my hat back, but Applejack walked out before I could stop and take it. I walked out of the room and stopped no small amount of anger as I looked at Luna and Celestia. Luna was in a pair of white shorts and a tight button top on with a full white hat. "Howdy!' Celestia dressed in the same type of clothes but her top was brown, and her shorts were blue jeans with a pair of boots on with something pink above her eyes. "Howdy, Jack." I felt my eye twitch as I drew in a deep breath then let it out as I looked at them. I walked over to them, then grabbed them both by the back of the tops and started to force them to walk to the door. "HEY!" "STOP!" "I've had it with you two!" I threw them out into the hall and slammed the door behind them. The second I moved back the Luna slammed the door back into the wall. "JA...: I drew my gun then shot at her taking her hat off her head. Everyone's eyes were wide as I pointed my gun at her. "Last warning, leave me alone or die." My tone was cold, and I saw fear in their eyes. Soon enough, they left, and I laid back down over in my corner. When everyone when to lay down they moved a little farther but about an hour after I felt someone beside me. I turned and saw Applejack's green eyes looking up at me. She smiled as she looked at me, and she laid her head on my arm. I smiled then moved my still right wing over her to act as a blanket. "Thanks." I smiled and moved an arm under the wing then wrapped an arm over her. "Night, Jack." "Night, Applejack." I held her tight as she closed her eyes, and a few minutes later, she was asleep. I felt a small spark of hope as I held her. 'Maybe, this time, things could be different.' > shattered peace > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Third person pov A month had gone by, and things between Applejack and Jack had steadily been getting better. Slowly, they started to grow close. Once Jack had healed enough, Jack made a business carving names or items on or out of wood. Soon word spread of a new alicorn was living in ponyville and was making master class woodworks. Ponies all over Equestria came to see, and many were shocked to see him sitting in next to the Apple family stale, cutting away with his pocket knife. Jack covered items such as fruits, names, ax handles, and the toys for foals. But, things came to a head when Cadence Came to see with her husband Shining Armor and their month old daughter Flurry Heart. Jack, at first didn't feel like talking to her, but she asked to speak to him in privet. Applejack told him to go, and since Applejack told him to go, Jack was more willing to trust Cadence. Cadence took him and Flurry in her arms to an out of the way part of the street. Cadence told Jack that while non-alicorns could impregnate a female alicorn but they would either be a healthy Earth, Unicorn or Pegasus pony and some rare cases be like Flurry a winged unicorn. Only a male alicorn could help give a full-blooded alicorn foal. Jack understood why the two were so diligent in not leaving him alone and dressing in the ways they did. Cadence had gone on to tell him that they were planning something later that week, and Jack thanked her happy to see an alicorn that wasn't trying to get in his pants. Jack pov A few hours after talking with Princess Cadence Applejack and I left for home. I was pulling the cart Applejack walking beside me. "Hey, Jack." I looked down at Applejack as she leaned into my arm. I smiled then wrapped the arm around her shoulder. She smiled as she took her hat off and left it hanging on her back but a strap I had put on it for her. She was reaching for mine a sign I started to get used too. I took my hat off then put on her head in a way that it would stay on her head but I could still her eyes. Applejack smiled as she looked at me; her smile was so sweet and caring. "Thanks." I was smiling until I saw something saw someone moving around the barn as we got close to the farm. I stopped, and Applejack asked me what's wrong, but I heard a rifle fire off twice in a few seconds. I pushed Applejack behind me and took off running my guns drawn rushing to the farm. "JACK!" I heard Applejack yell, but I keep rushing prey no one was hurt. I ran into the farm and around the barn. Then froze and saw granny had a wound in her back and saw she bleeding out as Applebloom held her tears running down her face. Mac was on the ground holding his left arm as he glared that the stallion blood was coming from a hole in the back of his arms. He was an earth pony, but I hadn't seen him before. He was in a long black coat with what looked like a colt single action army in hand with an ammo sling around his chest. But it had a sun and moon crossed out over the wooden stock. Applejack ran up beside me as a second later then screamed. "GRANNY!" He turned and saw both of us. I pointed my 44's at him, but he took off knowing full well he wasn't getting away. I took after him and yelled over my shoulder. "Stop their bleed I'll catch him!" I didn't hear anything back, but I didn't stop chasing him. I aimed my right 44 at his leg then fired, but I only grazed him as he turned and fired at me. He just missed my head but missed by an inch. I shot him in the foreleg, but he got another shot off, and my ear rung as I looked at him. He had either hit my ear, or the bullet flew near it, either way, I had it. I aimed for his hands and shot then shot off one finger and put a hole in his other hand. He fell dropped to the ground screaming, and I walked up then stomped his face knocking him out cold and broke his nose. I grabbed his rifle and coat then dragged him behind me. I wasn't going to kill him if I had my way he'll get the death sentence by my hand or by hanging. I got back to the barn after a few minutes and found the apple family crying as they looked down at granny. She wasn't breathing or moving what so ever. Applejack looked at me tears streaming down her face. "J-jack, granny's..." I dropped the stallion and rushed over to the family. I dropped to my knees, hugging Applejack and Applebloom tightly as they cried. Mac cried too and was punching the ground with his right hand a few times. We sat there for a little while until our friends showed up with the princess and guards. I held the apple sisters as they took granny to the morgue with get her body ready for a funeral. Mac had his arm sewed up and wrapped up at the hospital. I had a hold shot into the side of my ear, leaving a hole in my ear. Celestia and Luna tried to pull some bullshit when they said I was to rough with him. Mac snapped at them as we sat in his room. "Stay away from our farm! Jack stopped him from getting away. He was too rough with him!? That bucker killed our grandmother in cold blood!" Ponies surrounded Applebloom and Applejack; letting them know how sorry they were about what had happened. After they had gone only the girls and Princess were with us. Applejack and Applebloom laid into my sides, and I let Applebloom wear to hide her crying. I patted her shoulder as she cried and Applejack had tried to stop crying but she couldn't. When at Mac, I saw a dark look in his eyes as he looked back at me. "Don't think like that, Mac." "Why not?" Everyone looked at the two of us as we looked at one another. I nodded as I looked at Mac, then spoke. "Revenge isn't worth your soul Mac trust me on this." "How would you know?" I grabbed my coat then pulled out the letter I got from Peter. I threw it over to him then stood up and walked out of the room my jacket in my hand. I walked out into the hall then walked down the hall. I wasn't sure where I was going, but I knew I had to go somewhere that wasn't that room. Applejack pov I looked at my brother as he pulled a piece of out from the letter Jack threw at him. Mac started to read out loud, and I felt my heart drop as he did. "All debts were paid when you avenged my sons. My wife and I will always be here to help you when you need us, Jack. You have faced the worst life can throw at you and walked away alive. I know you had to have suffered when your wife and child were murdered before your eyes. Know that our door is always opened to you, and I hope that you will one day find some measure of peace in your life." All of us looked at him, and he looked at the door Jack had walked out of minutes ago. I didn't need to hear it again. I took off out of the room, grabbing Jack's hat off Bloom's head as I took off after him. I raced around the hospital until Red Heart told me that Jack had walked out of the hospital and seemed to be going to the town hall. I ran faster as that was the only place that had a holding cell knowing what he may be about to do. I got to the town hall sitting on the steps a metal box in his hand. He hadn't seen me yet, and I watched as he pulled out a white stick, I think. He reached something else but couldn't find what he wanted. He got annoyed, then put it back and leaned his arms back on the steps. I slowly walked up to him, and he looked at me. He smiled as he looked at me then I rushed up to him. When I was close, I jumped and grabbed his shirt then hugged him as hard as I could. He rubbed my back and sighed as he leaned back up, holding me in his arms. I sat in his lap as I clung to him tears coming from my eyes. We sat there for a while until the Town Hall doors opened. I got a good look at the stallion who killed my Granny. He was a slim stallion with white hair and red coat. He dressed like an average pony I would see in Appaloosa. Jack patted my side a few times, then started to push me off. I got off his lap then he stood up then walked up the steps and looked down at him. "What?" He spoke with a cocky tone, and Jack grabbed his throat then lifted him out the ground. The guards grabbed Jack, trying to make him let go, but he spoke as he looked at him. "You'll die by my hand or by the gallows mark my words." Jack dropped him; he coughed loudly as he laid on the ground. Jack forced the guards off as he walked back down to me. He grabbed my hand, and he helped me to my hoofs. "Let's go pay our respects." I nodded as a smile grew on my face as we walked to the morgue. On the way, the friendship pulled in, and Braeburn walked off with a few cousins close behind. He saw us, and he smiled as he saw us. But, once he looked at us for a moment, his smile dropped as he looked at us. "What happened to you two?" > Apple family rage > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack pov I woke up the next morning earlier than the Apple family and checked around the farm, making sure no other attacker was around. I saw no signs of any of them and went back to the farmhouse as the sun came up over the horizon. I saw the whole apple family dressed in black, and Mac talked to the family. When Applejack saw me coming, I saw a black coat in her hands. "Jack, this is for you." She held the coat out to me, and I took it putting in on as we started to walk. As we walked others from the town began to walk with us our friends with Applejack. Soon enough, we got to Granny funeral, and everyone took a seat. I stood off to the side, watching as the family I knew shared a few stories, memories, and good times. As I watched, I noticed something moving around a tomb. I saw a rifle barrel come around the side when Applejack started to talk. I drew my left 44 and rushed the front as a few members of the family tried to stop me. I tackled Applejack to the ground just before a rifle fired. It struck the stand that Applejack was standing at a second ago. Everyone started to panic as I got off Applejack and rushed the tomb when I saw the rifle. Someone started to fly, and I aimed at the wings as I fired. I put two holes in the right one as it flapped then charged the downed pony. "AHAHA!" I was on top of a mare a second later and grabbed her as she tried to get up. I slammed her into the wall, hearing a crack and her scream. I dragged her out from around the corner as Mac, and a few other stallions were running up. The saw the mare crying my grip but all Mac seem to notice was the rifle in my hand. Then Mac grabbed her and dragged her up then got in her face. "You tried to kill my sister!" Mac threw her to the ground as the rest of the family hurried up after Mac's yell. The mare looked up, scared, and back up to the wall. She covered her face with her arms and started to beg. "P-please, I was just following the princess orders!" That stopped Mac as he was about to go after and I looked down at her my anger rising. "Jack." Mac looked at me, and I nodded as I held the rifle out to him. He took it, and the family started to head to Twilight's castle, where we knew the two of them stayed overnight. But, as we walked Twilight go in front of us, her arms and wings spread wide. "STOP! YOU CAN"T!" I pulled the hammer back on my 44 the sound alone scared her as she moved to the side. Then Applejack stood in our way nodding head. "We need to lay Granny to rest, and then we'll deal with the princess." I stopped and looked at her for a few seconds then holstered the 44 as she looked at me a sad look on the face I had come to love seeing a smile on every time I saw her. I sighed then looked back at the still scared mare, and she looked at me. I narrowed my eyes as she looked at me. "ATTENTION!" She jumped to her hoofs and stood at attention hands to her sides back straight as she looked at me. "Go get your wound treated and never get in my line of sight again or so help me. I'll put a bullet between your eyes, understood?" "Yes, sir!" "Dismissed!" She took off running not a second later, and I saw everyone looking at me. "Let put Granny to rest then." She smiled, but it was empty, not a pity joy in it. I saw her hands shaking out of anger or fear I didn't know. Everyone but Twilight went back to the funeral. She left to warn them, and I thought about stopping her but let her go. I would gun the two down if they tried anything again. Near the end, Applebloom walked over to me and grabbed my hand. I looked down at her as she started to pull on my right hand. "It's your turn to say something, Jack." I blinked as some of the family looked back at me. I was about to say something when Applejack spoke up. "It would be nice if you said something." I looked between the two of them then looked at the front. I rubbed the back of my head then sighed as I started to walk up to the front. I took the front next to Granny's coffin. I thought for a moment then spoke. "I didn't know her well but, I knew she was a kind soul with a heart of gold. I'm not sure what her last thoughts were, but I hope and pray it was thoughts of all the joy her life brought her. I don't want to think that she was in pain. I hate the idea of that. A mare with a heart like her's is hard to come by. I've met many, but she may be one of the greatest I've seen in my life. I ask for you all gathered here today not to think of this as a loss but as a celebration of her life. Of the love she gave, of the joy she brought you all of you and the light she brought to the family. I wish you all a blessed life and hope you all pass on the love and joy she spread." Once finished, I went back to the back as they lowered, her coffin into the ground. I heard Applebloom crying beside me, and I took my hat off then put it on her head. She pulled it down over her face to hide the tears. I patted her back as the coffin was lowered into the ground. "Jack." I turned and stopped as I looked at the two I was about to go after. I pushed Applebloom behind me then drew my right 44. "Leave, now!" Everyone looked at me, and the mood changed as they saw the whole family looking at her. Luna's face took on a very nervous look as the large stallion's of the apple family walked a surrounding them. Celestia didn't look worried, but a glimpse of slight fear edged on her face when I made eye contact. "We're just here to say a few words about granny death is all Jack." I waked at me, and he held up the rifle, then Luna took off fear and terror on her face. Celestia's eye went wide, and she vanished in a flash of light right as I shot at her. A second later, once the light was gone, I saw a small amount of blood in the grass where she was standing at not a second ago. I growled then kicked the ground hard as I could. The ground cracked under my hoof, and I gripped the handle of my 44 a few drops of blood coming from my hand. A hand rested on mine, and I looked down at Applejack. She nodded her head, and my grip loosened on the handle. "It's not worth it." I looked down at her as she looked at Twilight and her friends. I took a deep breath then patted her back and rubbed her back. "Go with your friends." "Ok." She walked over to them, and I looked at Mac. He nodded, and we walked off, heading for town, my mind made up. I stopped by the Apple stand and got the rope I took from the barn yesterday as I walked by. Soon enough, we walked up to town hall and, looked at the soul guard looking down at us. I started to head up to the doors, but the guard put up a hand. "Your Highness, I have to ask you to stay there." I ignored him and kept walking up the last few steps. When I stood up in front of him, sweating bullets as he looked up at me. “Move, or I move you.” He stepped aside fear on his face as he looked straight ahead. I walked in Mac behind me, and we walked up to the cell. Red Earth looked at us, and his face went white as I snapped the rope. “HELP!” I shot the lock, and we walked in, and Mac kicked him as hard as he could. The Stallion coughed up a mouth full of blood as he dropped to the ground. I had Mac grab him, and we took him out of the whole town to see me dragging him be him us. His hands and hoofs tied then pulled him where I was going to the place I was going to kill him. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO RED EARTH!?” A female guard in golden armor ran up to me. I shoved her to the side as we walked down the road. “Alicorn or not, you can’t treat an elite Solar royal guard!" I kept walking, dragging him slowly to his death. The female guard tried to stop two more times but, I'd had enough and shot her armor taking a strap off making her scream and runoff. After a long walk, we made it back to the farm. The whole of the apple family was walking around the farm and saw us. We walked to the barn, and all the stallions followed us. I tied him to a chair then walked out as Mac along with the stallions looked down at him. I walked out as the barn door closed, and I heard it lock from the inside. I smiled then as I walked over to the house where the mares had set up enormous cooking pots the biggest I've ever seen. Applejack was next to one, and I walked up behind her, then wrapped my arms around her. She jumped after I wrapped my arms around her, but when she saw my arms around her, she relaxed into my hold, leaning back into my chest. "So what did you and Mac do with that stallion?" I nodded over to the barn, and she smiled. I heard a blood-chilling scream as I looked at it. "Good, let him feel so of the pain Ganny had to feel." I smiled as I held her close and heard some of the mares laughing. Celestia pov "Sister hold still!" I laid in my bed as Luna a doctor wrapped a bullet wound on my leg. Jack shoot me just before I teleported away and I almost bleed out before they found me. I pushed them back with my magic and held my leg blood coming from my leg. I was crying as I held my leg the pain, unlike anything I've felt before. I looked at my sister an angry look on my face. "Sister?" "Whip that family off the map!" > first date / meeting Cream heart > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A week had gone by after I left the stallion with Mac and the family. I buried him out back behind the barn making the grave with stones which surprised the family. Applebloom hadn't given me my hat and was wearing it around as Applejack wore hers. I had saving going, and I decided to do something to take a step forward in our relationship. I had Rarity make us some clothes without Applejack knowing about what I was having made. Rarity made me a standard suit and tie, which I liked. Rarity made a black dress from silk for Applejack with a cut going up the side and would show her right leg if she was to wear it. Three red apples were on the other side of the dress, but I didn't know why. I paid her for them much to her annoyance, but silk wasn't cheap by any means. I walked downtown to the best restaurant in town. I got there and walked in, then was noticed right away. I knew I was something rare, and anytime I went somewhere, Ponies watched as I moved around the town. I walked up to a mare standing behind a counter as she looked down at a list. "Miss a moment please." "One second, please." I waited then she looked up at me and her eyes shrink. I smiled as I pulled out a large bag of bits then set them down on the counter top. "I need to make a reservation for tomorrow night for me and my mare." She quickly nodded, then pointed to the bag. "A reservation for tomorrow I'll see to it and would you like to go ahead and pay as well?" "How much does it cost?" "Well, all the meals are twenty bits per pony, but they are five-course meals, you'll get your bits worth. Drinks are free unless you want wine or cider with your meals. Your table will be ready by six pm." I nodded then counted out the bits and left a five bits tip for her, which she thanked me for before I left. When I got back to the farm, I walked into my loft then hid the two outfits. (the dress) "Ding Ding!" I heard the dinner bell ring, and I walked down the steps then headed to the house. I walked into the house and saw Applebloom sitting in the kitchen with my hat. I slowly walked up behind her, then snatched my hat back. She gasped then looked back up at me with a smile on my face. She frowned up at me as I put it back on my head. I sat down in the chair beside Applejack as she made Applebloom's plate. Mac walked in a few minutes later, and I stood up. I nodded for him to follow me for a second before he sat down. He followed me out into the living room. I looked back to see if they were looking in. I looked at him a little worry on my face as I looked at him. "Macintosh I'm going to ask you first as I should. I want to take Applejack out on a date." He looked at me, surprise on his face as he looked at me then smiled. "Ha, I wondered when you were going to take her out but." He grabbed my shirt at the collar then got in my face. "You touch her without a ring on her finger then I kick you so hard you'll never stop feeling. We clear?" I nodded my head, and he smiled then let my shirt go. I gulped as I looked at him while I rubbed my neck as I looked at his back. I walked back into the kitchen, and we had a good dinner. Applejack rested into my side as I sat with her, Applebloom making kissing noises as she looked at us. Mac laughed then picked up a fork then stabbed it into the piece of pie on his plate. I looked away from him, and when dinner finished, I took my turn to clean the dishes as I washed them orange arms wrapped around my chest. I smiled as I felt Applejack rubbed her face into my wings. "Where you take off to earlier Jack?" I smiled as I dried the last plate. "Oh, not much but I need to ask you something." I finished the dish then turned in her hold and looked down at those gorgeous green eyes. She smiled as she put her chin on my chest as she looked at me. "Would you like to go out for dinner with me tomorrow night at that fancy place in town?" Applejack looked at me, and her eyes widened as she looked up at me. "R-really?" I smiled as I looked at her then she let out a girlish scream then jumped up and wrapped her arms around my neck. Once she let me go, she rushed off to her room to try and find something to wear. I left for my loft and laid down with a book on this country's history. As I read a knocking came from the door, and I looked up at the door. "Come in." A second later, Applejack walked in her head, hung low as she stood there. "I-I don't have anything to wear for a restaurant like that." She looked at me a few tears in her eyes. I smiled then pointed over behind the door. She walked in then saw the dress and suit. She smiled as she ran over and grabbed the dress as then looked at it. "This is Rarity's work, and is this silk?!" She looked at me a shocked look on her face as she looked at me. I smiled as I looked at her, and she gave me a broad smile then walked over a gave me a quick kiss before run off to try the dress on. I laughed a little as I watched her go like a happy school girl. I didn't bother closing the door guessing she'd come back sooner or later. Half an hour later, I heard hoofs on the steps and slightly looked over the top of the book. I dropped the book as I looked at her. Applejack had her mane pulled back and had it in a bun with a golden neckless around her neck. The dress fit her like a glove and had on red lipstick. With red something like Celestia was wearing. "Good god." "I take it you like the dress on me?" I nodded dumbly as she smiled then walked over to me, swaying in her hips. I blinked as I looked at her a faint blush on my face. She leaned down in front of me, and I saw her breast were almost falling out of the dress when she leaned over. She kissed my nose then walked out of the room me watching her go. Her rear was excellent, and it bounced a little with every step she took. When she was gone, I slammed my head into the wall to clear my mind. "God damn it!" I hit my head a few more time my horn tip scratching the wood as I hit my head. I whipped the lips stick off my nose then laid down for the night. Jack dream pov I walked down the rows of Apple trees with Applejack. I laughed as we walked, and a little earth pony filly ran out from behind us with an older Applebloom close behind her. The filly had the same fur color as me with Applejack's hair color. I saw her eyes were the same as Applejack when she ran up to me. "Daddy pick me up!" I smiled then grabbed her by her underarms and lifted her. I smiled as I hugged her as Apple wrapped her arms around us and kissed the filly on the cheek. I smiled then we started to walk again. We walked out to the rows of trees and headed up to the house. I was her friends waiting with Mac and the rest of the Apple family. "Come on y'all it's time to eat!" I smiled as I smelled Apple pie and stew cooking. "JACK!" I jumped the drew one of my left gun as I turned and saw both Luna and Celestia standing behind us. I gritted my teeth as I looked at them. "GET LOST!" Luna horn glowed then everything turned black, and my daughter and Applejack vanished along with everyone else. I looked around my gun was gone, and I clenched my fist. "Bring back my family!" "They're not real this is a dream!" I started to walk up to them, but they didn't back down. When I was right in front of them, I grabbed both of them by their dresses. "Listen to me," I growled with every word as I looked at them. "You come near her or this family, and I'll kill everything you love you understand me?" They smiled then laughed a little. "Trust us, Jack, before it's over, you'll be with us, and we'll have a great life J..." I slammed my fist into her mouth as hard as I could. Her head flew back blood in the air as she fell back. A flash of white light covered me. Jack awake pov I shot up in bed a cold sweat covering my body. I grabbed my guns then rushed down the steps while I put the belt on. I ran out into the front yard, looking around. I didn't see anyone around but I knew they were planning something and I wasn't going to have it. I took a walk around the whole farm, checking everything, and everywhere anyone could hide or set a trap. Two hours passed as looked around the farm for anything. I started to walk back when the sun began to come up. While I walked up to the house, I saw Applejack walking out of the barn. She had my hat in hand and was looking around the yard. "Applejack!" She looked up and saw me coming out of the fields. "Jack!" She ran up to me then jumped into my chest and hugged me. I held her in my arms a smile on my face as she rubbed her head on my lower chest. I ran a hand down the back of her head. "I thought you left Jack. I found your room empty with us your hat in there I got scared you left." I laughed as I ran my fingers throw her mane as she held onto me. "Why would I leave my mane behind?" She looked up at me a teary smile on her face. I pushed her hat off the top of her head then took my hat from her hat then put in on her head. She smiled up at me then got on her hoof tips getting midway my chest. I leaned down, then kissed her softly as she wrapped her arms around my neck. Someone cleared their throat, and we broke the kiss then looked over to the right quickly. Mac stood over by the front door to the farmhouse. "Breakfast is getting cold and Jack, what did I say?" I let Applejack go, but she didn't let go of my neck. "Please Applejack." She looked at me a frown on her face. "Jack?" I frowned then looked back over to Mac. I know I could take Mac in a fist fight, but those legs of his are deadly. Applejack let my neck go a few seconds later then huffed as she walked back to the house. When she was close, she kicked Mac in the leg. Mac hissed as he held his leg as he looked at her as she walked passed. She walked into the house, stomping her hoofs in annoyance. Mac and I followed a minute later then sat down for breakfast. There was scrambled eggs, hay bacon muffins, and grits. We ate in silence Applejack sending staring daggers at Mac who looked back at her. Applebloom looked at the two of them then she asked a question. "Hey sis, I heard you groaning last night is everything ok?" Applejacks face turned red then quickly pulled my hat down over her face. I looked away, still chewing on my food my face red. 'Ok, this is going to be a long day. I finished my bowl of grits then cleaned the bowl then walked out of the house. I walked to the barn then started to get the wagon, and buckets we'd need for the day. While I moved the wagon out of the barn, Mac and Applejack come out of the house Applejack quick to run up to me. She wrapped her arms around mine then started to pull on me. "Come on we have to open the stall!" I nodded then walked back into the barn Applejack, trying to pull me the other way. I grabbed a lot of wood when she let my arm go then I loaded the wood. "Can I come?" I looked down at Applebloom then smiled as I picked her up and put her on the wagon. I started to pull the cart with Applejack beside me Mac waving as we walked away. But, when I was at the gate, I stopped as I felt as if someone was watching me. I drew my gun then looked back at Mac. "Catch!" I threw the 44 at Mac, and he caught it then looked at me. He looked at me for a second, then nodded his head as he put the 44 in his pocket. I nodded to him, and we walked off to town. While we walked, I heard Applebloom humming a song as I pulled the cart. "What's you humming Bloom?" "A song I heard in school, yesterday sis." They talked with one another and another while I pulled the wagon. "Hey, Applebloom!" I stopped and saw Appleblooms friends running up to us. Applebloom jumped off the cart then ran up and hugged them as they hugged her. I laughed, then punched Applejacks's arm, and she laughed. "Go play Bloom just be home by dark." "Ok!" She took off running to town in front of us Applejack still laughing. We started to walk again, and as we walked, Applejack wrapped her arm around my right arm as we walked. I looked at the clock tower and saw it was ten a clock. "We'll need to leave by five to get ready and be at the restaurant by six o clock." "Ok, so when did you set this up?" I smiled as I pulled my arm free then hugged her with the arm. "Yesterday, already paid and set. But, I don't know if you drink, so I didn't pay for wine or anything, but I'm bringing more bits if you'd like some." She smiled as she looked up at me, but we stopped when we heard someone whistling and hotting. I stopped and looked down a side road where the sound was coming from. I let Applejack go then walked up to the side street and saw Three stallon's holding down a mare. I started to run when I saw one with his hand under her shirt with a colt out cold on the street. I ran up behind the biggest one while his back was turned. I pulled my fist back then slammed my fist into the side of his face. He dropped to the ground blood coming from his mouth. The other two looked at me, and I grabbed the second standing one then pulled his head down then slammed my knee into his nose, breaking it blood burring him his nose. The last stallion let the mare go then pulled a knife out then tried to stab me, but I grabbed his arm then started to force his arm up at the elbow. Soon the bone snapped, and his arm bent back the wrong way making him scream as he dropped to the ground. When I was done, I looked at the mare and colt. The colt was an Earth pony colt with a brown coat, two-tone orange mane, and tail. He had a pair of jeans with a blue shirt on. I looked at mares, and she had on a pair of jeans with a white shirt on with an apron on. Her mane was brown, and her tail was the same shade of brown. "Jack!" Applejack ran up beside me and saw the three stallions then saw the mare. "Cream Heart!" Applejack helped the mare up, and I picked up the colt then started to walk away Applejack, helping Cream walk away from the stallions. We walked then back to the cart, and I had Cream sit down on the wagon, and I handed over the colt to her. She held him close, and I cupped her face then made her look at me. “Did they do anything beyond touching?” with a few tears in her eyes, she nodded. “N-no… they just touched me, but they hit Button pretty hard on the back of his head.” I nodded then let her go then drew my 44 then started to walk down the street again. “Jack, stop!” I stopped and looked at Applejack as she stood in my way. “You’ve done enough you don’t have to kill them! We were having a good day, and we have a date later tonight, so please don’t do anything stupid.” I looked at her then again gave in and holstered my 44 then walked back over to the mare. “We’ll take you home.” She smiled then nodded and told me which way to go. I was taking Cream Heart home while Applejack took the cart to the market. Cream was having trouble carrying her son on her back, so I knelt and spread my wings. "I'll carry him rest of the way." "I can't ask you to do that your highness." I looked back at her a smile on my face as I looked at her. "I don't mind besides a pretty mare should have to carry all that weight around and hurt her back." Cream blushed then put the colt on my back. I stood back up the started to walk with the mate again. While we walked I looked around not having come to this part of town before — the house where we're older some in desperate need of repairs to the roofs and walls. Creamed walked up to one in slightly better shape, but it still needs work done. I looked at the roof, and a part of it was about to fall in if something wasn't done. I looked back at her, and she hung her head as she spoke. "I know it's not to look at, but my husband left us for a younger mare, and this is all I afforded on my own." I nodded then looked at her yard. It needs to be cut badly, but I knew for a fact she couldn't get this done alone. She opened a small gate then started to walk up to the house. I followed and walked in when she opened the door for me.i walked into the living room and placed the colt on a couch in the living room. I looked around at the house and saw a lot of old things most likely someone else gave It to her and because of her husband. "It a shame such a life all because he let his urges take over and married to such a pretty mate too." "Well, thank you, sir." I jumped spun on my hoofs and saw the mare a blush on her face. "Nopony has called me pretty for a long time." I smiled as I rubbed the back of my head. We didn't know what to say to one another, so I gave a polite waved then walked to the door. "Excuse me, but can I ask a favor of you, sir?" I looked back at her and looked away from me as my hand rested on the doorknob. "Yes?" "I know this is rude, but can I ask for some help with my house. I can buy the wood and all the other stuff if you know how to work on the house. I know I have no right to ask, but everyone else in town has forgotten about us." I blinked as I looked at her home the up to the roof of the house. "It would be a job, but it was doable. The first thing I'd be doing is fixing the roof then I would move down to the next level of the house." I looked at her, and she smiled as she looked at me. "Thank you, your highness." I smiled held out a hand. "It's Jack, Jackson, if you're the fancy type." She looks at me, eyebrow raised. "Is your name Jack or Jackson?" I laughed the explained. "It's Jack, but some of my friends used to say Jackson would look for me better." She smiled then waved at me as I walked out the door and held back to Applejack. While I walked, I waved to the towns pony, and they waved back. 'This is nice. No more gun battles, not a bandit in the land and most of all I have a good mare. Life couldn't get better even if I tried.' I saw a flower shop then stopped and bought a bundle of blue roses. I walked up to Applejack as she set up the stall. I set the roses down then I grabbed her sides, making her jump then turned her right leg pulled back. She saw me my hands up a smiled on my face. I bent down the grabbed the roses then held them out to her. She smiled as she looked at them, then took them from my hand then took a bite of one. I blinked but didn't question it because technically we were horses or ponies as they call themselves. We took our seats, and she snacked on the roses. "Do you want one?" I looked over at her as I carved a large heart with Derpy x Doctor on it. "Thank you, but no. I bought them for you." She smiled then ate another, and I saw a stallion walk up to the stall then looked down at Applejack didn't see him my hat blocking the view. He was a slightly taller stallion with A brown mane and yellow fur. He was wearing a green shirt with a pair of jeans with a brown belt. "Hey, Applejack." Applejack looked up at him while chewing on a rosa. He smiled then put a hand on her stall then leaned in close to her. I stopped covering then took my hoofs off the stall counter and waited to see what he was going to do. "You want to go out sometime tonight many go for a few drinks?" Applejack frowned up at him then nodded her head. "Sorry but I already have a date tonight, and even if I didn't, I wouldn't go with you. I've heard about all the mares you got drunk the buck when they couldn't say no." He looked at her, and he was not happy as he reached for something in his pocket. I stood up, and he bucked up on me. "Oh, you going to try something? Alicorn or not I'll!" I grabbed his then slammed his head into the stall then stabbed my knife right in front of his eyes. "I'm going to let you go in a second but first listen. Blink if you understand." He blinked then I spoke again as Applejack looked at us. "You're going to leave and leave my mare alone, or I'm going to cut you open like a manticore rips a deer apart you got me?" He blinked then I let him go, and he stood up then ran off. I watched him go then sat back down the few ponies in the market looked at us as I started the work on the heart again. Applejack leaned into my arm as I got back to work on the heart. "So?" I looked at her, and she looked up at me. "Do you drink wine or cider?" I looked down at her then started to finish the t in Doctor. "Never been much of a drinker." Applejack laughed as I started on the o. "How about you?" "I like a nice mug of cider every once in a while. My family makes the best cider in the country." I laughed then started on the r. After another twenty minutes, we left for the farm and meet up with Applebloom near the edge of town. She said goodbye to her friends then went with us. While we walked down, Applejack was talking to me about the dinner. "So, you too are final dating?" We looked at Applebloom a broad smile on her face. Applejack blushed as she looked away, but I smiled at her then wrapped an arm around Applejack's shoulder. She blushed more as she looked up at me, but a small smile was on her face. Applebloom laughed as Applejack wrapped her arms around my chest as best she could. We walked up to the farm meeting Mac at the gate my 44 in hand. When we stopped he held my gun out to me I took it from him the holstered it. Applejack ran to the house to get ready, and Mac let me use the shower on the ground floor of the house. Once clean, I had my suit on, and I have a bag of fifty bits with my 44's on my sides. "Here, Jack." I looked down at Applebloom as she held her hands out with my hat. I smiled, then took it from her and thanked her. I walked over to the front door and waited for Applejack. A few minutes passed, and Applejack came down the stairs. She was dressed like last night, and Applebloom looked at her with stars in her eyes. Mac smiled as Applejack walked to me. "Ok, you two be back before it gets too late." We waved as we headed down the road to town. I took Applejack's hand as we walked and she smiled as we walk. As we walked, I heard her humming another song as we walked into town. While we walked through the town, I watched as stallion after stallion had their jaws on the ground seeing Applejack. We made it to the restaurant then walked in. The mare who helped me before saw me with Applejack as we walked in. She smiled as she grabbed two menus and a smaller red book. We followed her in into the main room with large tables. She took us to a large table in the back, and I pulled out Applejack's seat for her. She sat then thanked me as I sat down the mare setting the book and menus down. "Take your time." She walked off and pushed the books to Applejack. "You pick what we have Applejack." She smiled as she took the menu, then started to look over the food. "How about full west dinner with wine to drink?" I nodded, and she then picked the small book up. "How about a black rosa wine it's a good wine, and it's only ten bits." I smiled then nodded my head, and she smiled, then held both up. A moment later the mare came back a note pad in hand. "What will you two be having tonight?" Applejack smiled as she looked at her. "The west dinner with a bottle of black rosa wine." The mare nodded as she wrote the order down then took the menu and wine book. She walked off, and I noticed everyone looking at us as we waited for dinner. I saw a few stallions looking at Applejack, and I pulled the coat back showing the 44 without Applejack seeing. They quickly turned their heads, and I let the jacket fall back down. A stallion came up to our table with a bottle of wine in hand with two wine glasses in an orange glow around them. "Would you like any other wine Stallion and Mare?" I nodded, and Applejack said no. He purred the wine then placed them on the table but left a piece of paper on the table. I took it and saw it was a bill for the wine I laughed then put it on the table then pulled out my bit bag I had then placed the bits down then put five more bits to the side for the mare. The Stallion took the ten bits then the mare came back with the first part of the meal a soup. She seemed surprised to see the bits left for her but thanked us she walked back to get our food. I looked down at the black wine with a slight red tent to it. I picked up the glass then tried the wine, and it wasn't too bad. The soup was a mix of potato and carrots with a side of bread, but Applejack said we eat the flowers she brought out with the soup. She brought us a bowl of flowers, and we ate them to my surprise they tasted good. When they were done, we ate the soup slowly drinking our wine. "Hey, Jack I have a question?" I looked at her as I took a bite of bread. "Hm?" "Why didn't you go with the Princess? You could be living in the castle in the capital eating stuff like this all the time." I smiled as I sat the spoon down in an empty bowl. "Well, I hate cities and mares like them. Thinking they know what I want or what is best for me. But, the most bothersome in the fact the blue one wants to have a foal with me." Applejack spits some of the wine she had in her mouth back into the cup. She looked at me a shocked look in her face as she picked up her napkin then whipped her lips. "I-i see, well that aside may I ask why you stay on the farm?" I smiled as I looked at her as the bowls were taken away and a bowl of fruit salad. We started to eat again as we keep talking about this and that. "So, would you like to go to the beach with me and the girls this weekend?" I smiled as I looked at her, then nodded my head. "Ok, wait, do you have a swimming suit?" I nodded my head, not having any. "I'll go ask Rarity for some tomorrow." She smiled as she looked at me then finished the salad. Then our main meal came, and I smiled as I looked at a plate full of mashed potatoes, corn, beans biscuits, and a large cut of fish. She set the plates down then we started to eat the meal, and I looked at her. "Say, Applejack. Would you like to be my mare?" She stopped as she looked up from the plates. "R-really?" I nodded, and she smiled as she looked at me. Once our meal was done, we took our dessert to go, and we walked home nither of us too intoxicated from the wine but enough to have a little trouble walking. When we got out of town, I saw someone in the sky. Whoever this was quickly flew off when they saw me look them. Applejack didn't see it, and I didn't tell her as we walked. When we got the house, Mac greeted us and Applejack kissed my cheek then went in with the dessert. I left for the night, and I laid in bed, awake worried about who I saw in the air. > Revenge violence warning > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack pov I walked down the streets of ponyville, heading for the train station. I have the rifle on my back with a bag of ammo on my side. I bought a ticket earlier in the day for the last train going to canterlot. I was mad at myself for not acting when I knew what was coming, and I did nothing to stop them. I can't bring Granny back, but I can kill everyone who was part of her death. I got on the train sitting al the way in the back. I looked around when five large stallions walked in behind me, and I knew something was going on when I noticed hidden guns in their coats. I pulled my knife out when one was getting too close. They all sat three seats away from me, and then one jumped from his seat, drawing his gun as he turned. I pulled my arm back then threw my knife into his forearm. It went through his arm, then dropped the weapon as I drew my left 44 then shot the farthest stallion in the chest. The closest one tried to grab me, but I grabbed his throat then slammed his head into the wall then put my gun to his gut then put two rounds through his body. I pulled then the body in front of me, blocking rounds from remaining guards. I heard the empty clicks then dropped the now hole filled body then pulled the hammers back. "BUCK!" "I'M OUT!" "WERE BUCKED!" I shot two of them in the head and the last one in his leg. He fell to the floor of the cart blood coming from his leg. "So?” "W-we were hired to capture or wound you!" I smiled as I lowered my weapon then pulled out a box of medical supplies. I dropped it on his chest, then started to walk to the next cart. "So how many are left?" "Twenty all spread out through the train." I smiled as I opened the door to the next cart the four occupants already having weapons drawn. "Haha, your all dead." They fired, but I ducked behind a bench then stood when two of them emptied the guns. I shot the two still with ammo then shot to two without ammo as they tried to reload. Two hours went by as I gunned them all down only leaving the one I left in the far back. I saw in the front car of the train loading a few more rounds into the rifle. “We are arriving at Canterlot station.” I smiled as I got off the train into an empty station. I looked up at the engine then walked up to see where someone could get me from behind. Nothing on the other side then I drew my guns before I walked out of the station. I was here to find out why they killed granny to know why no of these ponies were asking about it or questioned it. While I walked, I noticed there were no guards, no one, in fact, was around then I stopped when I stood in front of the castle. I holstered my guns as I started to run then jumped as I got close to the wall. I jumped over the wall holding my hat as I flew over the wall. The grounds were unguarded, and I couldn’t hear anyone moving. I was getting worried waiting for something as I drew my pistols again. I started to run it the doors and found them locked. ‘At least that normal, maybe all the guards are inside the castle.’ I slowly started to move around the castle, looking for a lease obvious. As I walked, I started to heard voices coming from a window. “Captain, why aren’t we just taking up arms and taking jack from the farm. I know he’s tough, but even he can’t take a hundred guards.” I pulled my hammers back then looked into the window and saw two guards. I smiled as I smashed the window then jumped through the flying glass scaring the guards. I slammed my hoofs into the faces of the two guards knocking them both out cold. I holstered my guards then grabbed both the guards then pulled a rope from into my bag then tied them up. I threw them in a closet and locked the room as I started to walk around the halls. I dodged guards as I moved around. After a little while and ten guards knocked out guards, I found a broad set of golden doors. “Celestia…” I opened the door slowly and saw her sitting on her bed, looking at the door as it waiting for me. She was in a white dress with a red stain over her legs. “About time, the train guards told me you were coming.” I holstered my guns then walked into the room. I closed the door behind me then leaned on it. “Tell me why, now!” She looked at me, then sighed. “That bullet wasn’t meant for Granny smith. It was meant to wound Applejack or Mac not kill granny. I wanted to get you off the farm so we could catch you off guard.” I nodded, then drew my guns as she looked at me. “Now, why aren’t any of the ponies in town asking about what happened?” She looked away from me then sighed as she looked up at me. “Luna used her dream magic to make everypony think she died of old age so we could save face. We couldn’t risk that as we are the face of Equestria, we can’t have our ponies thinking we’re heartless killers.” I narrowed my eyes as I looked at her waiting for her to make some move. Then I noticed it my guns are covered in the black energy. She looked at me, scared as she tried to move. But, she grabbed her leg, and I knew my bullet hit better then the blood let on. “Huff, your not worth the bullet neither is your sister.” The black energy faded, and I holstered my guns as I looked at her. “Keep away from my mare and her family.” A snarled formed on her face as I looked at her. “You don’t get it do you!?” I looked at her then sighed as I looked at her. “I do, but I feel as if I can’t allow another alicorn to be born.” Her snarl faded as she looked me in the eye. “It’s too much of a risk." I turned then opened the door but stopped as I heard the sound I know all too well. I turned my head, and I saw a thirty-eight-pointed at me. "If you take one more step I'll shoot you in the back. I'd rather go back to the slow death of our race than watch you have foal's with Applejack." I turned to face her my hand at my sides, ready for a quick drew if I had to fight. " What about Cadence's foal?" "Flurry is a winged unicorn, not a true alicorn. Sure, her power will in time be equal to ours, but she'll never be one of us. But, that's neither here nor there." I nodded then lunged at her and grabbed her wrist then took the gun. I threw her back then opened shoved her back onto the bed. "You know if you'd tried a much less aggressive way about this there may have been a chance I may have ended up with one of you." She looked up at me then l laughed a little. "Maybe so but that's far too late to think about that now." I walked out of the room, Celestia didn't try to stop me this time and I was out the way I came then head back to the train station. I was far from happy but I wasn't going to murder her for killing Granny but I was going to tell everyone the truth when I have everyone together at the beach. > Beach day > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I sat on the porch on the Apple family house with Applebloom looking over my shoulder as I carved a pirate sword for a colt named Pipsqueak. “Do you think you can teach me to do this.” “Maybe.” I finished the handle as she looked down at it. I held it up to her, and she grabbed it then looked over it.  “Pip is going to love this.”  I smiled as I looked at her as I pulled out a few bits from my bit bag. “Here, get yourself a treat when you take it to your little coltfriend.” She blushed then swung the sword at me. I laughed as I leaned my head back a smirk on my face.  “Idiot!”  She turned then ran away as I laughed as she ran away from the farm. ‘Now, I just have to wait for Applejack.’ I sat in my chair for another twenty minutes I saw Applejack walking down the road to the farm. She was dressed the same as she left, but I noticed black knots on her sides and going around her neck. She had a bag in her hand when she saw me waving she smiled then started to run up to me. I stood up and grabbed her when she jumped into my arms. She kissed my cheek, as I set her down on her hoofs. She took a step back with a smile on her face.  “Here, your trunks.” She held the bag up to me, and I took it then gave her a quick kiss before walking into the house Applejack walked upstairs to get out beach bag as I walked into the bathroom. I took my clothes off then put the shorts on. They were a little tight on my thighs, so I tried to loosen them a little. It wasn’t happening so I let it go as I put my shirt back on. I walked out of the room and found Applejack waiting. I smiled as I walked up to her then pushed her hat down onto her back and but my hat on her head.  “Thank you, Jack.” I smiled as I grabbed her hands, and we left for the beach. We walked down the streets, and I noticed stallions looking at her as we walked. Over the last few days the male population of the town as taken a liking to Applejack. More than a few came to our stool flirting after our date night. Applejack would tear them a new one and sit back down until the next one showed up. “Who’s all coming?”  “All of the girls are coming. Pinkie and we are bringing food and drinks.” I laughed a little as I pulled her arm, making her fall into my side. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders as we walked up to the others. Rarity and Rainbow were making jokes about us both being clingy to one another. Applejack kicked at them as we were halfway to the I picked her up holding her like a bride. Her face turned red as she tried to get me to put her down.  “Jack come put me down, this is embarrassing!” I laughed as I smiled down at her. “Nope your red face is cute.” She punched me in the nose and I looked down at her shocking her I didn’t drop her. “Please?” She pulled her fist back and all the girls saw the blood coming from my nose. I quickly walked to the water of the beach then took the bag then threw her in. I walked away as she got up from the water a second later. “JACK!” I cleaned the blood from my nose as I looked back at her. She sighed as she looked at me.  “I guess I deserved that one.”  I saw my hat in the water in front of her then it covered in the black energy. It floated over to me surprising me for a moment then I took it then sat it down on the grass. I stopped the bleeding as the girls pulled off their clothes. I was a little shocked at how open they were with their bodies but I let it go as I was getting used to this crazy world.  “Ya know, I’m right here.” I jumped as I looked back at Applejack as she pulled off her shirt. I blushed as I watched her breast fall down from the shirt only covered by triangle pieces of black cloth. Then she took off her shorts, and I saw the same black cloth but her thighs both had three red apples on them.  "Stop staring before she hits you again." I nodded at I shook my head then pulled my own shirt off. I stood to my full height as everyone on the beach stopped to look at me. I noticed for a second all the girls looking at me as I stood there. “I’m not a piece of meat.”  Mares were blushing and a few stallions looked at me pissed as they looked at their mare. I put my shirt into the bag then looked over at the girls as the ran passed me and jumped into the water. I laughed a I sat down on the beach with my legs crossed as I watched them. I sat there for about an hour then I heard a voice calling my name.  “Jack?” I turned my head and saw Cream and Button walking onto the beach. Cream was in a suit somewhat like Applejack’s but white with red dots. She had a skirt tied to her side and she walked over to me. Button stayed with as Cream sat down beside me.  “Here with Applejack?” I nodded and she smiled as she looked out to the water. “So when do you think you can come and help us with the house?” I looked down at her then thought about it for a second. “I’ll be there in the morning.” She smiled as we looked out over the water. All the girls we playing around I noticed someone I didn’t think I'd see coming down from the sky. Luna flew down to us I quickly stood up pushed Cream and her son behind me.  “I’m not here to fight you Jack.” I keep a close eye on her as she pulled a bag out from her back she sat it down on the sand then back up a few steps. I waited until she moved far enough back then I grabbed the bag. I opened it then saw strange steel colored bars with a ten thousand on it then with ten gold with a five on it all about the size of the palm of my hand. There were twenty or so of them in the bag and I took one out as Applejack walked up one of my guns in hand but stopped when she saw the bar. “Platinum bars and gold bars!” She jumped and everyone who was already looking stopped breathing for a second before I look at her. “Platinum?” Applejack looked at me shocked as she looked at the bar in my hand. Not sure had her going off before putting the bar back in then closed the bag as I looked at Luna again. “A pay off?” “No, I’m trying to make things right between you and the crown. It’s clear you want nothing to do with us or the crown’s interest. There is enough to keep you and the apple family happy for the next ten generations.”  I looked at her for a second then I looked down at the back and frowned. I dropped it to the ground then kicked it back over to her shocking her more as well as everyone else. “Keep you blood money I don’t want it. I can work like I have my whole life and the apple’s? Do you throwing money at them will erase what you did?” Luna started back up more as I heard the hammer of my gun get pulled back loading a round. “You took someone from them someone who no matter what you offer can’t be replaced.” She put her hands up then used her magic to set the bag at my hooves.  “I know that, but I want to do this to prove we’ll leave you alone. Just, take that start a new chapter in your lives.” I huffed then looked down at Applejack as my gun shock in her hand a look that could kill on her face. “Applejack.” She ignored me but I grabbed the gun when she tried to raise it, I took it from her hand then opened the ammo holder then took the rounds out. She kicked the ground hard shocking the area then turned and walked off. I sighed then put the rounds back in seeing she wasn’t going to try and take it from me. I looked to Luna one more time and spoke. “I guess you also want to know why I didn’t shoot right.” She nodded as she looked at me then I sighed as I spun my gun on my right trigger finger. “To be honest, I’ve grown sick of all the killing of my younger days. It’s not worth the bullets or the trouble that would have come if a had shoot. I’m not young anymore and I just want to settle down grew some crops maybe raise a few youngins.” She looked at me for a few seconds then smiled as she looked at me. “Guess we really did over step didn’t we?” I smirked as I grabbed the handle stopping the spin then pushed the front of my hat up. “Maybe, but at least you're trying to make it right.” She smiled then in a flash she was gone. I rubbed my eyes then looked down at the bag. ‘Stubborn mare.’ I looked at the bag for a second really considering not taking it. “You should take it Jack.” I looked back at Cream and saw Button was hiding behind her. I smiled down at him then reached around her and messed up his hair some. “You be up in the morning your the stallion of the house you should learn how to maintain it.” “I think that’s a great Idea Button get you off your games for a day.” “WHAT!?” I laughed as I tapped his head. “We’ll go get sweets after ok?” He smiled then nodded his head and I waved him over to the water. He took off running as Applejack came back and I noticed a deep in the woods with a hoof print in the wood. ‘Ok, that’s a little scary.’ She grabbed my arm then pulled me back grabbing the bag with her other hand. “Hun?” She blushed that being the first time I called her that.  “Just come with me, were going back to the bank.” I sighed as she dropped the bag beside her clothes then quickly got dressed as our friends came running up. “You’ll are leaving already?” I nodded then Applejack pulled the top of the bag up and all their eyes popped open wide as they looked at it. I closed it then nodded for everyone leaned. “This is Luna’s way of saying sorry for everything that’s happened between me and them as well as the apple family.” They nodded then quickly got dressed and we left the beach. Everyone left for home as we walked to the bank. We walked in catching everyone’s attention and a well dressed mare quickly rushed over a smile on her face as she looked at me.  “Sir Jack in our humble little bank how can I help you?” I held the bag up and she looked at it as I spoke. “I want to open a savings and investing account account as well as pay off any loans or debts the apple apple family has.” Applejack looked up at me as the mare nodded as she took the bag and waved for us to follow her. I smiled as I pulled Applejack’s arm a little then she followed me into an office. She set the heavy bag on the desk as we sat down into slightly uncomfortable chair. Applejack held my hand as she pulled a fill out of a cabinet. She sat down in her chair then pulled out some papers as she pulled calculator a device I first saw Applebloom use on the farm.  “Ok, let’s have a look at what the Apple family still owes the bank from the last loan.” She looked at the papers for a second then she started to punch in numbers then looked at the papers again before punching in more numbers. A few minutes went by then she stopped then spoke up. “Ok after adding up interest and loan amount and the payments are they still owe four hudred bits.” “WHAT?!” Applejack yelled then stopped when I squeezed her hand. I nodded my head when she looked back at me then pointed to the bag. “Take out the four hundred from my saving.” The mare smiled before opening the bag and I swear to god her heart stopped for a second. She quickly snapped out of it then excused herself for a second then rushed out of the room. A minute later the back owner if I had to guess walked in. He was an older stallion and he had a weigher and weights as well. The mare walked back in then closed the door with papers in hand. He was an older stallion with some grey just starting to show as he weighed the bars and I watched as he smiled a little more with each one. Soon enough he had weighted the bars and talked to us for the first time.  “All these are real and I don’t mean disrespect your highness but we have to check. But, that’s not what you want to hear I’m sure. The full amount of the deposit minus the debts is over three hundred thousand and eight hundred bits.” Applejack fainted and fell forward out of her chair. I grabbed her quickly and looked back at the two. “Move half to her family's account then use the other half of the remaining for what I’ve asked for.” “Yes sir, now would you like to choose the investments yourself or have us pick?” “Do you have anything in the way of weapons for military companies?” He smiled as he looked at me.  “Four all are doing well right now as well.” “Split the amount not going into the saving between the four of them.” He nodded then I signed the papers and I left carrying Applejack in my arms as if she were my bride. I smiled as her hat rested on her chest. I ran into Big Mac as he was packing up the stall. I smiled as I walked up to him but he pointed to Applejack. I explained what I had done and he damn near passed out to but a swift kick to the back got him back upright. He thanked me all the way back until Applejack woke up screaming.  “Why did you do that!?” I smiled as I leaned back from another punch. I let her down as Mac grabbed her pulling her back. “Hun you’ll are like my family, I take care of my own.” these words seemed to stop the two of them for a second and as I looked at her tears started to form in her eyes as she looked at me. She threw her arms around my chest she softly started to cry into my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her back and head as she held onto mine. As I hugged her Mac patted my shoulder then smiled as he looked at me. Applejack calmed down after a few minutes and picked her hat off the ground then rushed ahead back to the farm. I sighed as I watched her run off. I rubbed the back of my head then Mac cleared his throat. I looked at him then he smiled as he looked at me.  “I’ll be able to get the family together in a day when you pop the question.” I nodded then put a hand on his shoulder and shook it. “Not that far yet but glad I got your blessing.” “Just don’t knock her up yet.”  I looked at him for a second then he laughed then nodded his head.  “We both saw that look, may not be tonight but it will be soon.” I looked him in the eye for a second as a firm smile was on his face. I smiled as I looked at him making him raise an eyebrow. “When you going to get a mare then brother.” He laughed as he looked at me then patted my shoulder.  “Well not sure how I only wanted to get rid of our debt before I started looking.” I smiled then I walked behind the cart and started pushing the full cart as Mac pulled. After a few minutes we got to the barn putting the apples away then took what was left of the apple foods back to the house. The cmc ran out of the house after I and Mac walk in. I laughed as Mac nodded his head before pointing for me to go up the steps.  “Aj room is the second door on the right. Knock before you go in then and if she’s ok with it your free to sleep in the house instead of the barn.” I looked at him for a second then he smiled then waved me on. I laughed a little then I grabbed his shoulder and shook him before walking up the steps. When I was at the top of the steps I heard Applebloom and Applejack talking. “So were rich now!?” “No Bloom, we have enough that we can live without worry for a while.” “So can I get some new dresses then?” “Well see if Rarity will make you some.” “YAY!” I laughed into my hand a little then walked up to the door with three apples on the door. I knocked on the door and waited for them to open the door. The door opened and Bloom looked up at me and I waved down at her then pulled a ten-bit out of my pocket. “Go get some sweets with your friends I need to talk with Applejack.” She smiled then grabbed the bit from my hand. ‘ “Thanks, Jack you rock!” I smiled then looked at Applejack as she looked at me her hat off her mane and tail a little roughed up. I walked in closing the door behind me as she sat up then hugged her pillow. I stood beside her bed as she looked at her hoofs.  “You can sit if you want Jack.” I nodded then sat down on the foot of the bed then I felt her moving around then she sat down beside me and rested her head on my arm then grabbed my right hand. I smiled then wrapped a wing around her as she leaned more into me.  “You really didn’t have to do that you know.” “I know.” We smiled and we sat there for the rest of the day. > New day, old friend > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applejack pov I sat on the porch watching Mac and Jack fixing up the fence.  “Hey, sis why aren’t you helping?”  Looking down I saw Bloom looking back up at me. “I’ve got food cooking and the two of them chased me off when I tried to help them. I’m glad though Mac hasn’t had a friend to do things with for a long time. Plus the bits he gave us have made it so we don’t worry for years or have to take out more loans.” “So, can we go and see family more often now?’ With a smile, I roughed up her mane as she laughed. “Sure sugar cube but, it will have to wait for the harvest season to end before we do anything. We still need to make bits even with the bits Jack gave to us. Nither I or Mac don’t want it to mess with it instead we want to put the bits in a safe mutual fund to make sure it lasts.”  “I guess that’s the right thing to do.”  She smiled as she turned then walked back into the house then I looked back and saw that they had stopped drinking from lads in a bucket neck to the fence post they had just fixed new wood too. I smiled as I looked at Jack and saw the scar over his chest was mostly covered but his chest fluff. They finished then they grabbed their shirts and Jack grabbed his hat off the post behind him. They started to walk over to me and Jack leaned down and kissed my cheek before walking into the house. I followed as they walked onto the kitchen and washed their hands as I took my apple pie out of the oven as Jack took the vegetable stew off the stove and set it on a wooden block he’d carved in the shape of an apple he made so the table wouldn’t burn. We sat down and said thanks then we made our plates.  “Jack, can I ask a favor?” We all looked at Applebloom and he nodded as he chewed on a large piece of carrot.  “Well, Miss Cheerilee was asking if you can help fix up some of the stuff around the school. The desk needs to be sanded and some of the roof shingles need to be replaced.” Jack smiled then nodded as he spoke in his slow and calm way.  “Sure, I’ll go with you tomorrow morning.”  Bloom smiled as she did a little dance in her seat making us laugh. I looked between Jack and Mac as they seemed to be talking with their eyes again. I rolled my eyes then jack spoke up again.  “Say, hun would you like to go out tomorrow night?” I smiled as I looked at him then Mac punched his shoulder a smile on his face. Jack punched back a smile on his face. “Sure what were you think of this time?” “I heard a movie I think she called it the night of nightmare moon is playing in the town hall.” I smiled as I looked at him then nodded as I chewed on a white potato.  Jack pov After dinner Applejack and I walked out to our room and I waited outside of the room while she grabbed clothes for a showed. I walked in when she walked over to the restroom to clean up after the day. I sat down on the bed then grabbed the book I kept on the nightstand opening to the page I left off on. I read about ten minutes then I started a new chapter. ‘Hm, heat?’ I started to read more and stopped then I when I read that mare go into heat at the beginning of spring and the end of fall. I looked at the calendar and saw that the heat was a month away. I looked back at the book then quickly closed it then put it back and sighed as I walked over to my side of the dresser and pulled out another shirt some underwear and a pair of shorts. I had taken a liking to in sleep while wearing shorts rather than the sweat pants Rarity was nice enough to make for me. I heard the door open and I looked back and saw Applejack with a towel tied around her chest with a towel on her head.  “Your turn Jack.” I nodded then I grabbed my stuff then walked out of the room. I walked into the restroom then closed and locked the door and caught the scent of apples in the air but there was something else I didn’t know. ‘This is a strange but somewhat nice smell.’ I walked over to the shower and turned it on the water flew out steam quickly following it. I smiled then undressed and got in and the scent was even stronger in the shower. ‘What is that?’ I sniffed around then looked around and saw a washrag threw outside of the shower in the corner you wouldn’t notice if you looked straight ahead. I reached down and took a quick sniff of the rag. It was like I was punched by the smell as the rag was covered in it. It was strong and my body shock and I looked down at the rag. Then I felt a part of my body reacting to the scent. I looked down at my crotch and saw my shaft coming out of my sheath. I was shocked at the size as it grew out more than two feet out with two inches wide. ‘Good God!’ I turned the water to cold and it quickly went back into my body as the water froze my body. I shook my head then I out of dried my body then got dressed quickly. “Knock knock!” I looked at the door then heard Applebloom’s voice. “Come on Jack I still need to get in!” I walked out with the towel around my neck as I walked back to the room. I knocked on the door and Applejack yelled I was good to come in. I walked in and saw she was in a short t-shirt or so tight shorts on showing off her wide him. Applejack was not I'mall mare that was for sure but a bit of worry did slip into my mind about what I just saw.  "Jack are you ok?"are you ok?” I nodded as I looked at her then sat down on the bed my wings ruffled as I sat and looked over at my old coat and gun belt. Both my old friends gathering dust for the last few days. “Just thinking over a few things is all.” I laid down and pulled the covers over us and Applejack moved closer to me. I smiled as I turned then hugged her to my chest wrapping my wing around her.  “Night Jack.” “Night Hun.” I reached back over and turned off the light as the sun finally set. Applejack laid her head on my chest and after a few minutes, her breathing had slowed. I smiled as I held her into my chest then I closed my eyes as I held her in my arms.  Jack dream pov I opened my eyes and saw I was on the side of a river still in my alicorn body. I sighed then looked around and saw I was at a campsite. I smiled then walked over a fire that was already burning. I threw a few pieces of wood on the fire as I sat on a rock. “Come on out Luna.” A second later she walked out from behind some trees. “How did you know that I was here?” I smiled as I pointed to my ears. “You’re breathing too heavily.”  She laughed a little and I gestured to the other log across the fire. With a smile, she walked over to the log then moved her dark dress to the side and moved her tail to the side. She sat as the fire started to grow back up.  “So, Jack, how was your day?” I looked at her then grabbed a long stick and poked the fire. “Not bad, helped around the farm.” She nodded and I looked at her then she smiled. “Mine was ok I had to wake up during the day. Nobles can be so annoying to have to deal with.” I laughed a little then I poked at the fire again. “I would guess so, but we need to talk.”  “Ok?” I put the stick down and she gave me her full attention. “You and your sister came on way too strong. Your sister crossed a line and I will have nothing to do with her but you. I can work with you, Luna. You tried to make right a wrong for which there is no making right but you tried. Your actions speak higher of you than your words.” She smiled as she looked at me then spoke in a softer tone. “Friends?” I gave her a kind smile then tipped my hat to her. “Friends.” She smiled then stood up and started to walk away. “Have a good night Sir Jack.” I smiled as she walked back into the forest then she was gone. I looked back at the fire as the wind started to blow around me.  Applejack dream pov “Jack come on!” I looked back as Jack walked down the road Applebloom sitting on his shoulder. “Coming Hun, and you know you shouldn’t be running around.” I laughed as I looked down at my new slightly round stomach. I laughed a little as I looked back up at him. “You know Twi is crazy about being on time. Besides, we’re about to find out if it’s a colt or filly!” When he was close I grabbed his free hand and started to pull him along.  “Applejack?” I stopped as the world around me and I looked over to see a very nervous looking Luna. I narrowed my eyes as I glared at her. “What do you want?” She put her hands up as she looked at me. “To talk is all Applejack, you are the element of honesty and we need you to help protect everypony in Equestria. And, I know with what we’ve done I’m asking a lot of you but I’m not asking for your forgiveness not will I. We took a member of your family from you. We scared your family which is something I fully expect you to never let go of.” “Oh, don’t get me started on that! You two took our Granny the oldest member of our family.” I started to tear up as I looked at her my anger giving way to sadness. “The mare who was Applebloom’s only mother figure and the strongest mare I knew.” I pulled my hat down as tears rolled down my face. A second later Luan wrapped her arms around me and I wanted to scream and kick but all I could do was wrap my arms around her. She rubbed my back as I started chucking up as I started to cry harder in the airs of a mare I once thought of as kind and as a friend. “It will be ok Applejack and I promise we will make restitutions for what we have done. If you or your family ever needs anything I promise we will get it.” I only nodded then pushed her off as I looked at her through my tears. “Nither I or my family want anything from you two! We want to left alone from you two!” She flinched and I glared at her for a moment then turned my back on her. “Get out of my dreams and stay out.” A few seconds passed in silence then she spoke. “Very well Applejack, but know my offer is always open.” A few seconds later she was gone and everything turned back. Applejack awake pov I snapped awake jumping in bed and blocked the sunlight from my eyes. I looked around my room and stopped when I spotted a tray with a piece of my apple pie with eggs and toast with a glass of orange juice. Beside it was a note telling me to eat up with a love Jack at the bottom. I smiled as I grabbed the tray then sat up my back on the headboard. “Jack you’re a sweet stallion.” I started to eat the eggs with a smile on my face. Jack pov I walked down the main street with Applebloom on my shoulder. Mares walked with their sons and daughters many waved at her. She smiled waving back at them as we walked up to the schoolhouse and I saw she was right about the roof. It was in a bad way some shingles were about to come down. ‘This will come after I handle Creams home.’ I waved goodbye to Applebloom then turned and walked off. While I walked I stopped in the center of town when I caught sight of someone wearing a coat I recognized, by owned someone I never thought I would see again.  “Southern Wind!?” A large stallion with a long brown mane turned and I saw a long scar going down his right cheek. In his right hand was his compounded bow and he was wearing an arrow sheath on his side.  “JACK!?” We ran up to one another then hugged each other and patted each other back as we laughed. He pulled back holding on to my jacket.  “Oh, let me look at you, my old friend.” “Good to an old friend but how?” “Talking a lot today I see, but I have no idea I fell in a cave than in a flash I landed in a mountain range.” I nodded then waved him along as I turned to start walking again. “Come, I’m going home.” He smiled then waved his hands.  “No, no I’m looking for something to eat.” “Got money any bits?” He looked at me confused as he pulled a few dollars out. “Guess dash isn’t the money here?” I nodded then waved him along then started to walk to the only dinner in the town. “Come on a thing called a dinner has some amazing food.” He looked at me strangely then followed me as we walked into the business area of the town and we walked into the dinner.  “Jack, how are you doing?” I saw Cream in a pink uniform with a white apron around her waist. “Cream? I haven’t seen you here before.” She smiled as she looked back down to the table she was talking too.  “I just started, I need the extra bits so here I am.” I smiled then nodded as the two of us walked behind her and Wind down at the table beside the window but I stood fixing my belt. A few seconds later she turned then the stallions sitting there turned to look at her as she walked away. One pulled his arm back like he was going to slap her rear. I glared at the two and they quickly turned when I took my coat off seeing my guns. With a smile, I sat down as she walked over to us. She turned a page and had a pen ready.  “What can I get the two of you?” Wind no sure what to say look at the menu. I smiled as I looked at her. “Two hashbrowns with two flapjacks each with two cups of coffee and orange juice .” With a smile, she wrote everything down then walked over to the cook. She gave him the orders then filled all our drinks and walked back over giving each of us our drinks. When she was over to the two stupid stallions they seemed to stare straight at her breast and I saw one moving something on the ground. I saw a fucking mirror on the floor and I pulled a bullet from my belt. I threw it right as the bullet mirror was in full view if you were looking down. The bullet smashed the mirror scaring all three of them and the cook. Southern Wind turned a long knife in hand as he looked at the two.  “Pay this young lady and leave.” Quickly doing as they were told they threw down bits then bolted out the door. With a huff, he turned back to look at me.  “I noticed them when we walked in.” “Same.” I took a slow spit of my coffee as the cook looked at me annoyed. I set my cup down then stood up and he turned back around as I walked over to the broken glass. I tried to use my magic as Twilight called it. It worked as I lifted all the pieces into the air then moved them into a trash can Cream was holding. “Sorry.” With a smile, she set the can down then took the bits off the table and set them in a register then I pulled out six ten-bits then grabbed her hand. I gave her the bits shocking her a little then I smiled as I closed her hand around them. “Yor owed this keep them as a tip.” With a smile, she put them in her front pocket then I walked back over and sat down. A few minutes later the food came and we ate. Southern was shocked how good the food was and took Cream and the book as we stood to leave and I quickly left the payment and a few my ten bits. We walked out of the dinner and we heard the sound of angry people kicking something. We walked down the road a little and looked into the alley. We saw the two stallions kicking a now heavily damaged trash can. We looked at one another then I pulled my left forty-five. I whistled and they looked back snarls on both their faces.  “WHA….” I smiled as they looked at us and saw the gun and knife as they looked at us. I opened the ammo cylinder then took out four of the bullets then moved one to the other side. I closed and spun the cylinder as I looked at the two. “Leave that mare alone or I’ll find you two again understand?” “Y-yes!” We stood aside and they ran off when they saw the opening. We laughed as I put the bullet back in then looked at my friend. I pulled out my bit bag then gave him a hand full of ten bits. “I’ll go home and talk with everyone and see if you can come to stay till you get on your feet.” He put all the bits into his side bag then nodded as he held a hand out to me. I took his hand and shook he walked off as I holster my gun. With a smile, I started to walk down the street spinning my forty-five on a figure. ‘I wonder if I need to get food before we go or after this movie thing.’ I stopped holstering my gun as I started to walk down the road to the farm. While walking down the road Mac came walking up a cart full of products. We waved as we walked passed each other. After a few minutes, I walked onto the farm and saw Applejack moving out the buckets they used to catch them as they fell. “Hey, hun.” Applejack looked at me with a smile on her face. She waved as she stopped the smaller wagon.  “Hey, Jack, thanks for the food this morning.” I smiled while I started to walk with her to the trees. I set up the buckets for each tree as she kicked the trees making the apples fall. I took the buckets, set them in the wagon, then set empty ones under the trees.  “Want to try? I looked up at her as he knocked on the trunk with her hoof. I looked at my large hoof and looked back at the trunk of the tree. “I don’t see why not.” I stood all the way up and she moved aside.  “Stand beside the tree then pull your strong leg back and strike the center in one strong kick.” I nodded then stood beside the tree and pulled my right leg back then slammed my hoof into Trunk. The tree and ground shook and the apple fell but I saw cracks had formed on the tree. “Oh… I'm sorry.”  She laughed as she looked at the cracks. “No problem, it’s one of the older trees we have and Mac cracked them from time to time. Give it a week or two and it will heal up.” I nodded then took my hat off and pulled her’s off and put my hat on her head. “Hun we need to talk.” She looked at me as she fixed the hat the way she liked.  “Ya?” I rubbed the back of my head then sighed and looked straight at her. “An old friend showed up in town today. I gave him some bits to get a room in the inn at the end of town. I was hoping maybe we could have him do the same I did when I first showed up. Work on the farm for room and food.” She looked at me with a raised eyebrow as she crossed her arms.  “How well do you know this friend?” I smiled as I put my hands in my pockets. “I’ve trusted him with my life more than once. Saved my flank one than ones too.” She looked at me with a slight smile then looked back at the barn and then the sky.  “Winter will be here in a few weeks. He’ll need the extra heater brought up to the room. He gets a week to prove he can be trusted.” I smiled and pulled her into a hug and she laughed as she hugged me back. With smiles, we got back to work until it was almost time for the movie to start. With an hour to spare, we walked to the house and got cleaned up. We took turns getting quick showers then got dressed. Applejack was in a pair of nice jeans with a belt and a tied red flannel shirt with a white undershirt rolled up under the knot. I was dressed in something similar but I had a black flannel open with a white undershirt with my gun belt. I put my hat back on her head as we walked out of the house. While walking I grabbed her hand and she smiled as she leaned into my side as we walked.  “Say, Jack, can I ask you something?” “Hm?” She looked up at me and we stopped as the light of the un was fading fast.  “Did Luna come into your dream too?” I frowned then nodded as I started walking again Applejack looking sad.  “She was a good friend you know. She was a kind pony who just wanted ponies to love her night as much as they did Celestia’s day.” I looked down at her as we walked down the road. “Do you want to forgive her?” With a nod, she spoke in a sadder tone.  “Yes and no, I’ll never let go of what happened with granny but I’m one of the closest ponies to Twilight throne. I will have to deal with her and Celesta a lot more before it’s over.” I nodded and then rubbed her hand with my thumb. “I understand it’s hard to deal with forgiveness as sometimes it’s hard to deal with one after it’s all said and done.” She nodded as we walked into the town and saw many ponies heading to the hall. While walking I noticed a few ponies in darker clothes and then I saw two guards at the hall doors. We walked in and Applejack walked off to get us some seats while I went to get something for us to snack on during the movie. I walked over to the stand that had a sign that said snacks. I bought a large bag of something called popcorn and a few nonalcoholic ciders then walked back into the main hall and stopped there sitting beside a very angry Applejack were Celestia and Luan a shameful looking Luna. Luan saw me first and mouthed a sorry as I held all the food with my magic as I pulled out one of my guns. I pulled the hammer back the click got everyone’s attention. Celestia and I locked eyes with one another,  “Jack…” “Horse.” Her face turned red and Applejack snickered as Luna looked horrified as she stood up.  “Sister I told you it was a bad idea to come h...” “Shut up Luna.” Celestia stood up and I noticed a gun similar to mine on her side. “Getting brave.” With a dark smile, she looked at me. “I’m here to make a point Jack. As long as I’m alive I will be in your life as a friend or as an enemy.” I put my gun away walked up to her and before she could realize what was going on I snatched her gun popped out the bullet cylinder out then dropped the gun. “Get out!” I used a cold tone clearly scaring her and Luna stood up grabbing her sister then in a flash of light they were gone. I was clenching my fist so tight a few drops of blood fell. I took a few deep breaths and unclenched my fist. I sat down beside Applejack and grabbed the food and drinks out of the air as everyone seemed to settle back down. After a few minutes, the movie started up as Applejack leaned into my side. I chewed on the popcorn and watched as this Nightmare Moon destroyed the minds of crawl and evil ponies who would harm the young. Two hours quickly passed as the movie ran on. When it was done we left the hall Applejack half asleep as we walked, With a smile, I picked her up and she blushed as Ponies laughed as I carried her as my bride.  “Why do you always like to do this?” I smiled as I looked back down at her then leaned down and kissed her cheek making her blush more. The walk back as nice as I looked up at the sky and Applejack was humming a song, I smiled as I looked ahead. Soon we got back to the house and I set her down and she walked back into the house but I turned back and sat down on the well. I leaned back into the wood as I looked up at the sky. I pulled out my gun as I turned and saw Luna with two dark armored guards standing at the front of the farm. I stood up then walked over to her and the guards backed off as I got close. “Luna…” She put a hand up as she looked at me.  “Before you say anything I want to say I’m so sorry. My sister wouldn’t listen to me and her mind was made up when she left the castle.” I nodded then holstered my gun and waved her along. With a smile, she quickly followed me to the porch and we took a seat. The guards stood beside the porch and I pulled out my smokes and the matchbox I got a few days ago. “What is that?” I looked at her as she looked at my cigarette. “Something that’s going to kill me someday.” I truck the match and lite the cigarette then took a long breath then pulled the cigarette and blew out the smoke. I sighed as I looked at the red embers. “This stuff helps me relax after a long day.” I looked back at her and she didn’t seem to mind the smell. “You got something like this?” “Yes, we don’t really have a name for it but most call it a weed. It doesn’t grow like  normal weed but it can be farmed.” I nodded wondering what this weed was like. Taking another breath in the smoke burning my lungs later after not smoking for a long time. I blew out the smoke again then pulled the case back out and held it out with the matches. “It will burn at first but your free to one if you can get me some of this weed stuff. Heaven knows I need this once and a while.” She smiled and nodded her head.  “I’ll have it to you in a few days.” She pulled out one the lite the match. She took a few breathed then coughed a little but quickly adapted to the smoke. Soon we were talking about the day as we smoked and soon we were done and she wished me a good night and I left my coat on the porch. Most of the smell was on the coat but I could still smell it on myself so I walked up to the restroom and opened the cracked door and stopped. Applejack was standing there holding a towel to her chest. I saw her round cheeks and the apples on her his and I could see the edge of her nipples from the top of her towel. I quickly closed the door and rushed down the hall as I heard the door open as I quickly walked down the hall.  “Jack!?” “I’ll sleep in the barn!” I half yelled at the front door not sure what would happen if I stayed in that hall. I walked into the barn up the stairs and opened the door. I looked at my old bed and walked in locking the door behind me then walked over to the bed and sat down. I rubbed my eyes as I sighed. ‘Did I just screw up?’ > Babs seed > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack pov "Careful, Button!" Cream yelled up from the ground cutting the grass with Winds helping. Button was helping me fix the roof of the house by moving tools and roof tiles. He's don't used to working like this, but he was trying. We spent the better half of an hour before they finished the yard as we just about finished the roof. "Hey, Jack, can we break for lunch?" I looked up from the little bit we had let to finish. "Come on, Button. We only have a little left, then well call it a day." He sighed and wasn't happy about having to finish the job. "Come on now; we're almost done, so tough it out." He frowned, then we spent the next ten minutes, finishing the work much to his annoyance. But, when we finished, then got off the roof, and he took off running into the house as Cream walked over to me. "I'm sorry about him, Jack." I laughed a little then wiped my hands on my pants as I looked at Cream. "It's fine, he's a young colt, and he has pushed him into helping me." "Jack, we have company." I looked over to see Wind pointing to the CMC, who we're looking at us. We looked at one another then laughed as I pulled my bit bag off my side as I walked over to the. "Bloom, go get yourselves something sweet." I pulled out ten chopper bits and three gold bits. "Thanks, Jack!" They all hugged my legs before quickly running off. I laughed, and Wind laughed a little too. "Those three seem to like you." I laughed a little then nodded as I looked over to them. "Ya, and Bloom's sister is the light of my life now." Wind laughed then walked up beside me, arms crossed as he looked around. "I wish my tribe were here." I nodded as I put a hand on his shoulder then shook his shoulder. "I know, brother." He nodded as he rubbed his eyes, and I pulled out a few gold bits. "Go get some food; I need to go meet Applejack at the stand." "Thanks." He walked off, and then I started to walk down the second street. I hummed a tune as I walked down the street. As I walked, I noticed a commotion in the market and started to run up worried about Applejack. But, I was ready for what I saw. A young and pregnant mare was on the ground, blood came from her mouth and nose, and Applejack struggled with a larger stallion with a smaller teen smiling and was him cheering for him to teach this mare her place. A snarl formed on my face as I started running through the crowd. I knocked two stallions out of the way as he pulled his fist back, about to punch Applejack. I pulled my right revolver and turned it to be holding the barrel to use it as a small club. He looked at me out the corner of his eye as I swung my arm, aiming right for his nose. Everything slowed down as he turned his head to look at me. As the but end of the grip hit him, I yelled with.a voice fill with rage. "FUCK OFF!" I slammed the handle straight into the center of him square in the nose, throwing his head back, blood coming out of his nose as he fell to the ground. He landed hard, not moving as blood pooled in his nose then running over the side. "JACK!" I ignored Applejack as I kicked him onto his side, the blood pooled on the street. I looked down at the smaller stallion, and he looked at me, his eyes full of anger. I spent the revolver, cocked the hammer, grabbed him, and slammed him back into the wall, the barrel pressed to his forehead. "Give me one good reason not to pull this trigger." "Behind you!" Applejack yelled, and I threw my leg back, catching this fucker in the nose again. I pressed my hand into the colt's throat as I turned, looking at the stallion on the ground. He looked up at me, snorting blood as he laid there. I slammed my hoof into his chest, and he screamed as the sound of bones snapping echoed. I left him there as I holstered my gun, then looked back at this teen if I had to guess. He struggled to get free, calling for somepony to help him, but no one moved. I noticed he'd pissed himself in his struggle. "Son, by the time I'm done with you, you'll wish you never been born." I looked back to Applejack as she helped the mare as she cried, holding her stomach. "Applejack, who is that?" She looked at me, a frown on her face. "She's Babs seed my cousin and the teencolt you've got a death grip on his her coltfrined who knocked her up and beats her." I looked back down at the colt, who looked like the fear of God was just put into him. "Oh, son, I think a grave is calling you." I started to drag him as he kicked and screamed, begging for help. The mares in the crowd didn't care, and the stallion's looked scared as I glared at them as I literally dragged the kid. "Come on, dude; she's a mare!" I ignored him, and for good measure, I grabbed one of the wings on his back. "WALK!" He did as he was told as I started to walk. Doing as he was told, we walk down the road. Halfway to the farm, he opened his mouth. "Come on! She tried to leave me! She's mine!" I slapped the back of his head, making a loud smack. He groaned as he held his head as we walked down the road. I glared down at him as we walked. "She's free to do as she pleases you, little mother..." "JACK!" I shut my mother after Applejack yelled, and I shut my mouth then looked at her. She was holding the mare, and I breathed out my nose as I looked at her. She frowned then nodded her head as she looked at me. "He's not worth it, Jack." I huffed then nodded as we walked up to the farm, and Mac and Wind looked at us as I walked him over to him. I closed the door, locked it before kicking him to the center of the barn, and then leaned on the door as he looked at me. "So what if I beat her? She needs to learn to keep her he..." I smiled as Wind kicked him in the gut, and he knocked him back into the wall. He coughed as I looked at Big Mac, who looked very confused. I explained everything, and he had a look at could kill as he stood up from the hay pile. The three of us stood over him as he shook, terrified as he looked up at us. "What should we do with him?" I shrugged as I looked at Wind, then smirked as I looked down at him. "Castrate him, maybe?" He turned white as we glared down at him. Knock! I got off the door then unlocked it, seeing Applejack standing there with Luna. "Where is he?" I opened the door, and I looked back, seeing Wind holding the colt by his hair as he had a grip on his knife. "Be still or lose the wings." He did as he was told to, giving up the fight as we saw Luna, and I let them in. "Princess Luna, help! They're going to castrate me!" Luna crossed her arms as she looked at him. "So? I came after Luna used a magic journal to tell me what you and the stallion with you were trying to do. As far as I care, Jack and these two can do whatever they wish too." I laughed as I looked down at the little piss ant. "Well, I say we give the young mare a say in this. He is the pa of her foal after all." Wind nodded. Mac seemed annoyed but nodded as well, knowing I was right. "Hun?" Applejack nodded then walked out of the barn leaving Luna with us. I smiled at her, and she smiled back at me and started up a small conversation as Mac walked over to the wall and grabbed a rope. "So, how have you and Applejack been?" I nodded as I took my hat off, looking at the leather's condition as I spoke with her. "Ok, having a good time working in the fields." She nodded, then started to speak with me about the state of canterlot. "Many of the nobles are in an uproar that you haven't come to the city or the fact that you dare to date a mare of lower birth." I rolled my eyes as I set my hat on my head, then pulled right my forty-five and shoved in the teen's face as I got sick of hearing him struggle and kick. "Thanks, Jack." I smiled as I holstered my gun as Applejack came back in with the mare. She seemed shocked when she saw Luna as she waved to her as Applejack sat her down on a hay bale. But, she was gitting pocked by the hay. I took my coat off, then walked over, and she stood up. I laid it down on the bale and sat back down. She smiled up at me as she rested her hand on her stomach. "Thanks." I nodded as I wrapped an arm around Applejack, then turned to see what those two had done. I looked at the teen tied upside down to one of the barn's support beam. They'd also stuffed a rag into his mouth, and I blinked then looked at them. I pointed to the teen, and Mac smiled as he raised a hoof then faked a few kicks. I rolled my eyes as I looked back at the young mare. "Ok, Sweetheart, We're giving you a say in what we do with the little bastard over there." Applejack slapped my chest, but I ignored her. She seemed a little worried as she looked at me. "Well, it looks like your about to sacrifice him." I laughed then nodded my head as I looked down at her. "Well, we could scalp him if you'd like." Wind smiled as he pulled out a stone ax and his knife. The teen started to struggle as he looked at the mad man before him. She laughed a little then waved her hand as she looked at me. "No, no need to do that, Sir. I think he gets the lesson you're trying to teach him." I sighed as I turned and looked down at him. I let Applejack go, then walked over and kneeled in front of him. "If you ever hit her again, I will hunt you down and do what I think is necessary to stop you." I pulled my forty-five, tapped the butt of the gun to his chin. "Understand?" He nodded as he looked up at me with fear-filled eyes. I smiled as I holstered the gun, then pulled the knot from the side, and he fell to the ground hitting his head as he fell. I laughed as I watched him pull the rag out of his mouth, and he seemed panicked as he looked between us. "Get..." Without another word, he ran out of the barn. I sighed as I stood up, arms crossed as Luan and Applejack laughed as they walked over and sat down beside Babs. Mac and Wind laughed, then we walked out of the barn, leaving them to talk. "So, what is scalping?" Wind and I looked at each other, smirking before jumping onto him. I pinned him as Wind grabbed his hair and put his knife at the top of his forehead. I smiled as I looked at the surprised look on his face. "Oh.. ok." We laughed as we let him go. I sat my legs crossed as Mac sat up with Wind smirked as he sat down legs crossed hoofs on his knees. Mac sighed as he spoke up. "We do what we have, too, if and when they come back?" Wing held up his knife, and I held up my revolver. His eye twitched as he looked at us. "Is that how you two solve everything?" I laughed, and he sighed as I stood up, then walked off. > Simple times returning > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack pov “Hold it steady, Button.” “Right.” I sawed off the end of the wood and smiled as I looked at Applejack and Cream as they painted the outside of the house. “Wind!” Wind stuck his head out the window a minute later and looked down at us. “Ya?” I smiled as I waved for him to come down. He nodded, then pulled his head back into the house. “Ok, Button, you can take a break for a little while.” “YA!” He ran back into the house, and I walked around the house. I saw Wind in the window, bow in hand. I looked down the road and noticed these two colts. They were trying to hit him behind corners or trash cans. I knew what they were trying to do and huffed, annoyed. ‘So they want to try this game. Well, game on, you little fuckers.’ I was about to start walking when a hand grabbed my shirt. “Come on, tough guy. We need to go and pick up Applebloom from school. Plus, you need to talk with Miss Cheerilee.” I looked up at Wind, and he nodded down to me. I saw him slipping his knife and stone-throwing ax onto his side. We walked onto the street, and I hummed as I turned, and Applejack grabbed hold of my hand. She quickly dragged me down the street. “Hun, please slow down; my revolvers are trying to fall out.” Applejack looked back and laughed as she came to a stop. “Sorry, I just realized that it was later than I thought. And I promised Bloom we’d all go to Rarity and get her some new clothes. She was so glad not to have to wear my old hand-me-downs.” I laughed and nodded as we started to walk again. I smiled as we walked down the street and noticed a new mare in the market. She was a unicorn with a black mane and with a purple coat. She was wearing a dress close to the one Luna wore to the farm once. She was looking at the veggies, and I stopped as I looked at her. Something about her wasn’t right; she even looked a little like Luna. “Applejack, look at that mare.” She did, and she looked surprised. “She looks a little like Luna.” I nodded, and we started to walk again. “Crazy how some ponies can look like that mare.” “Ya.” I huffed and nodded as I looked, and we started to walk. Luna pov four hours ago I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror at the unicorn transformation I used to use back before I was named the princess of the night. “Luna, why are you Stargazer again?” I looked back at my door and saw my sister standing there. I smiled as I looked back at the mirror and fluffed up my mane. “I was thinking of using Stargazer as a way to study how Jack lives. I was thinking that if I learned more about him then maybe we could get his goodside.” I smiled as I looked at myself and stood up to start working on fluffing my tail. “Do you really think you can do that? Jack has proven to hate us.” “No, he hated our actions. I have spoken with him every so often in his dreams, and he’s willing to be friendly with me. But, it never hurts to know more about how he lives to see what he’s like.” I smiled at myself as I looked in the mirror one last time before I stood up. “I’ve already got a home rented and items moved in. I’m hoping to get to know him and maybe feel out if he’s willing to form a herd or if he’s a one mare stallion as rare as that is it a chance.” I grabbed a purse off my bed and looked at my sister again. “Celestia, I will see you in a week. " Jack's POV two hours later I hummed a tune as I sat at the Apple’s Applestall, working away on one of my carvings. "Jack, what are you working on now? I don't mean to pry but you don't look like your usual work." "Working on a custom order, some stallion called Filthy came by. Asked if I could do some work on a chair. But, he told me one of the legs is busted so I had to make a new one. " "All right then should you but be careful around that Stallion. He's a real varmint, trust me on that.” I nodded, then set the left down and stood from the chair. I stretched out my arms as I looked down at my leg. I grabbed the photo the mare gave me off of the stall disk. I had a rough shape. 'Okay, I can sand the rest down. The shapes groves will be a little rough but doable.' “I know that look, what are you thinking about?” I looked over at my mare and smiled. “Those two sisters.” Applejack hummed as she looked at Jack. Seeing that she wanted answers, Jack set his knife and wood down. “I went to the castle at night and shot Celestia in the left and killed those that were armed with guns. They were going to kill or capture me.” “WHAT!?” Applejack's yell caught the ponies' attention, but I waved them off. They returned to what they were doing as I looked back at Applejack. “Applejack, I understand that it may be shocking, but I’ve lived a long life, and I’ve taken more than one life in that time. But now I’m in the position where if I kill the two, the whole country could collapse and fall the infighting. Or other countries could attack us to take over the lands and harm the ponies. I also figured out why they are acting like this.” Applejack was shocked at how much I was talking and how I was talking. ‘I guess by that look, this maybe too much, but she needs to know.’ “J-jack, do you know what you're saying?” I nodded as I took the knife back up, then grabbed the wooden leg and gave it a once over. “I’m not defending their actions. Nothing else to say there. I should have finished this the first time. But, before, I had nothing or anyone to lose or to care about. I can also see why they started doing what they did. I know they’ve lived quite a long time as well and have watched everything they loved and cared for die around them. Now, they saw a chance to have someone. Who could stay with them only to see that person to have him not want anything to do with them.” Jack watched and saw Applejack understood but hated it and wouldn’t admit it anytime soon. I sighed, then set the items down and wrapped my arm around Applejack, and she leaned into my hold. I could tell that how I had talked about it may have hurt her, but I needed to get that off my chest. Next day, Applejack pov I sighed as I watched Jack and Mac as they started to close up the apple barrels for shipping. It was always a lot of work shipping to the other cities and stores they sold their apples to. Standing up from the hay pale I was sitting on, I walked out of the barn. What Jack said yesterday was still on my mind. I knew that Jack had made good points and was right about them. Celestia and Luna were desperate to have something that they could hold onto for more the a normal life span. “Sis, is something wrong?” Applejack blinked, then looked over at her sister as she walked off of the front porch. Applejack put on a smile as She watched Applebloom rush up to me. I smiled, seeing her new shirt and shorts. Getting on a knee, I grabbed her and pulled her into a hug, and I smiled as I heard her laughing. I was so glad to see her smiling after everything that has happened.