//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Life-Led // by Trevor Rain //------------------------------// A jolt from the train awakened Applejack from her unexpected slumber. She raised her head and shook the sleep from her eyes and body, then looked out the window at the passing countryside that was still shrouded in the darkness of night. After the train left Ponyville, Applejack walked back to the passenger car and found an unoccupied seat. Her mind was filled with worry about her friend then, but the rocking movement of the train coupled with the long day of work eventually lulled her to sleep. Rainbow was in over her head. the sea was forbidden to everypony, for too many have died trying to cross. Due to it’s expanse and how little known about it, any chance for rescue efforts was a fool's gambit. Rainbow may have been a strong flier, but she had no idea what lay beyond the sea, and whatever she had to face, she would have to face it alone. This fact is what scared AJ the most and she quietly cursed Rainbow for making her friends worry. AJ didn’t like to imagine the reactions of their other friends would have when they saw the letter and the evidence that AJ left behind. She looked around the passenger car at all the empty seats. There were only a few other passengers that took up a few of the many seats that took up the space. Most were like Applejack, and were sleeping off the long train ride that continued on through the night. Most of the ponies that were on before got off at the few stops between Ponyville and Manehatten. Applejack didn’t think any would mind if she opened the window next to her. The air inside was uncomfortably warm and stale. She braced her hooves at the base of the glass and slid it open, welcoming the chill the cool night air brought to her. It awakened her mind and refreshed her body. With the chill, the wind also brought a scent that gave Applejack pause. Memories came to her of a time she had once traveled here herself. The salty smell the seawater gave off at the harbor drew her to another time. In her childhood, Applejack longed for the life that only the city could provide. The towering buildings that showed the pinnacle of what a Pony could accomplish, and the seemingly simple lifestyle appealed to her. Applejack’s Aunt Orange would always send letters that old of the glamorous life that she lived, and the exciting people she rubbed shoulders with. Food that came from all over Equestria, and show performers that Auntie Orange said there were Earth ponies which would put a Unicorn to shame with their magical ability. But it was wrong, it was not home. home was not the company of strangers. Home was not hiding your thoughts and opinions just to be more liked, or to keep an appearance other than who you are. Applejack could see her Aunt cursing half those ponies behind that smile of hers. The company cared more about image than making any actual friendship, and it seemed to suck a part out of Aunt Orange that she never gained back. Applejack could see the lie. And the food was horrible. Applejack laughed at what became part of the final straw for her to leave the care of her Aunt and Uncle and return back to Sweet Apple Acres where she was raised by her Grandmother and, in part, her brother. She nearly chose to forget about them. It was one night where she gazed out the window to her room and looked towards the horizon that held her old home, thinking about the difference between that life and the one she had at the time, when a sign came to her that led Applejack home. A bright rainbow that arced across the sky and pointed to the home she left behind. Lacking faith in herself, she took this as a sign for something she had, which she took for granted. Applejack came back to Sweet Apple Acres and back into the arms of her Grandmother. She knew then what her purpose would be, and she never regretted it. That rainbow was created by Rainbow Dash, when she reached a speed that brought forth the legendary Sonic Rainboom. It was thanks to Dash that Applejack found her purpose, gave that final push to help her realize her own calling. Applejack found herself day-dreaming, and pulled herself back to reality. The horizon from her past bled into the moonlit, rolling, expanse she saw now, shaking away the past once more. AJ leaned out of the window to look in the direction the train was going. She could see the reflection of the moonlight on water, and the many lights that adorned the buildings in Manehatten, showing that it truly is the city that never sleeps. The watery expanse that separated it from the rest was connected by the newest marvel in pony engineering. A bridge made of iron and steel, wide enough to allow numerous carts to travel to and fro, giving the city a constant supply of goods. The tracks were also built upon the bridge, which the train thundered against with a new sound and feel, the vibrations taking Applejack by surprise. Knowing the station was only a few more minutes away, she stood up and stretched her legs in the aisle between the seats to come to the final stage of wakefulness, pulling the stiffness from her limbs. Applejack reached up and grabbed her saddlebags from the bar above the seats with her teeth, and deftly threw it across her back. The new feel and sound from the terrain woke the others, all earth ponies, that were waiting for this stop. They sleepily got up and began their own process of waking. Applejack winced as one stallion stood up and stretched his neck, letting out a series of cracks and pops as his joints protested the action. Two others awoke from their slumber in surprise, as they had laid on each other, two stranger, during their slumber. AJ could see color come to their faces as they realized the mistake, and quickly stood up and looked away from each-other. Applejack may be attempting to handle a crisis right now, but life moves on for everpony else. Some of these ponies were going to meet old friends. Some were going to reunite with family. One mare at the back of the car had a small amount of luggage in the area surrounding the racks around her seat, but kept a smaller bag tightly clutched to her chest as she slept. Applejack noticed something else about her; the mare’s eyes were shadowed like this is the first sleep she had received in well over a week, further evidenced by the fact she’s still sleeping when everything around her is still awaking. Applejack stepped closer, and saw that her ribs were starting to show through her blueish grey hide with each exhaling breath in her sleep. Hungry, alone, and scared. This pony was moving to a new life. Applejack’s expression lowered, saddened by the sight. Without another thought, Applejack reached into one of her saddlebags and brought out two apples and laid them next to the mare. Applejack started to walk back to her seat when the train started to break, causing her to hold onto the nearest seat to steady herself. She turned around to see the grey mare awaken at nearly falling off her seat. She caught herself, then looked to the two apples that were set next to her. She looked down the aisle to see where they came from, but all she saw was other ponies preparing their belongings for the stop, as Applejack already took a seat. A smile came to Applejack’s face as she heard the loud crunching sound that comes from one enjoying a crisp braeburn. The train continued to slow and came to an eventual stop at the station on the outskirts of Manehatten. A large building that let the train in to drop off it’s passengers. It would move further into a switching area ahead that would change it’s direction, and allow it to continue it’s purpose. Everypony got up and made their way for the nearest exit, including Applejack. AJ stepped out into the station and continued onto past the waiting area, heading straight for the exit. The building was mostly empty, rows of unoccupied benches placed in neat rows not too far from the train platform. Applejack was saddened to see some forms that slept among the seating, they were not passengers but just a few ponies wanting somewhere to sleep away from the cold. Another fact she didn’t like about this city. Applejack looked up to the clock that hung down from the ceiling, showing that it was only a few hours till daybreak. She quickly trotted down the stairs and through the doors that led to the road outside. Every building was at least two stories that she could see. The roads formed straight lines in several directions, but that was the only mode of travel in a city dominated by pony-made structures that needed every inch of space they already had. Applejack took the East road in little short of a gallop. He haste did elicit some glances from the different shopkeepers that were preparing for the day, sometimes a second glance at the stetson and unkempt mane she kept in a tie to keep it out of the way when working. Applejack saw their glances, but paid them no mind as she continued to where she knew the docks were. She would have to visit her aunt another time. Every second she wasted would be another of danger that Dash had to face. The only reason Applejack knew that she was alive right now was the obsidian pendant that gave off warmth when she faced the east. Absently, AJ reached up to touch the pendant, to feel it’s heat. There was none. It was cold. Panic gripped Applejack. She pulled the Obsidian closer as if to warm the stone with her own body, but there was no warmth to be found. She looked at the surface of the black stone and found it to be dripping with condensation that soaked into the feather that was tied to it. The stone was leaking water, and AJ didn’t know what it meant. All she could do was run as fast as she could, mind racing at the implication of a cold stone that was supposed to be linked to the life force of the other. How long had it been cold for? She didn’t remember the last time she checked on the stone, it could have happened while she was sleeping at the train. Applejack narrowly dodged a vendor that was wheeling out a cart of watermelon, jumping over the stand and deftly landing on the other side, leaving the foul-mouthed vendor to let out a curse in her direction. The stone was wet, dripping wet. Why would it do that? There was no water around, and the air was dry as it was dead, the buildings blocking any sort of blowing wind. Applejack thought of Rainbow flying over the ocean, and what would happen if she were to fall into the waters. Applejack saw that Dash was not a strong swimmer. She wouldn’t be able to stay afloat, and if there were a storm- Applejack ran faster, not thinking of how hopeless the action was. Water, cold, Rainbow had drowned, and the stone showed it the only way it could. Applejack couldn’t ignore this thought or reasoning, and she slowed down to a trot, then to a walk. She stopped completely at the edge of the docks, looking out to an expansive ocean that continued past her sight onto the horizon. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of her friend out in the water, her body being whipped by the winds and by the waters to be hidden from sight and to never be found. Applejack grabbed her hat and threw it down while trying to hold back sobs, silently cursing the stone for giving off such morbid signs. She reached up and pulled the stone from her neck to throw it into the sea, but stopped whens he felt something. The stone came alive with a slight throb, a pulse, and then a flash of heat that burned her hoof, causing her to drop it. The blackened stone had lines of glowing red that showed through the surface. The water that once covered the stone hissed and spat, steam rising off the stone and wisping into the cold air. Applejack grabbed the tether that secured the stone and looked closely at it, seeing the red lines pulsing with obvious heat, then start to die down. The red once again blended in with the black stone that reflected Applejacks eyes as she saw the red lines had been there the whole time. She remembered something Twilight said about rocks, that if there was red, it was iron that was... oxipized? Applejack shook her head to focus, then touched the stone to find it once again warm to the touch. The surface still being smooth as it was before and, thankfully, dry. Applejack looked around her to see if anybody saw the display, but she was alone. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at the new hope, but knew that the danger was present. Applejack saw that she was at her destination. Applejack stood near a guard rail that lead down a paved switchback that lead down to the wooden docks below. She could see many small boats dot the sides of the wooden protrusions that extended from the central dock. Applejack wasn’t looking forward to the task she had ahead of her. She had to ask, beg, and do anything within her power to ask one of these sailor ponies to risk their lives and livelihood to take her on a fools errand across the sea. She needed to do this, the stone already gave her a taste of what would happen if she failed. Applejack tied the stone on her neck once again. She then made her way down the slope to the docks. The wood of the docks against her hoofs clapped loudly as she walked down to the first boat she came to. - - - - - - “You’re a darn fool girl, that friend of yours is already dead. Go back home and dig your dirt!” Said the stallion, still angry at being awoken from Applejack banging on the hull. Applejack was holding back every single urge she had to buck the stallion upside the head. Before she could lose the battle of her will, he turned and went back into the room in his boat, no doubt going back to sleep and cursing the tan mare for waking him from his dreams. Applejack stomped off the deck and jumped back on the dock after giving the hull a swift kick to ease her anger. His words weren’t the worse that had been shouted at her that morning as she went from boat to boat, one yellow mare spouting a string of words that would make even Celestia lose her composure, but it didn’t make it any easier. There were still more boats out there, and Applejack would offer them everything she had on her person. She brought money, what little she had in her savings, but it never seemed to be enough for any of these ponies to even think about chartering towards the unknown. Applejack looked over at the watery horizon, seeing light start to bleed into the darkness, knowing that she was losing precious time. She was close to the point of buying a rowboat and trying to get there on her own, but she knew that would be suicide, besides the fact she knew next to nothing about sailing. Sailing wasn’t something that many ponies did. There was no real need to go out in the water. You couldn’t grow food out there, you couldn’t drink it as the salt would drain the water from ya faster than anything else. You couldn’t bring the water to land for growing. The salt would ruin the soil and kill any plants that are worth something. The water killed ponies, that’s all it’s ever done. All Applejack could remember it for. The ocean took away her family, and was now in the process of taking away one of her closest friends in the worst way to die that she could ever imagine. The ocean took away so much, what did it ever give back? Applejack’s mental assault against the water was interrupted by the sound of a splash to her left. She looked to see that a stallion had fallen into the water off the side of a rocking boat. Running to the edge of the dock, Applejack could see the stallion flailing and trying to keep his head above the water. Without a second thought, Applejack leaned down and quickly clamped down on the drowner’s mane, and pulled hard. The stallion screamed in pain as the hairs on his head were nearly yanked out of their roots at the forceful pull of the workhorse, but he was able to get a hoof on the dock next to Applejack. She continued to help him as he pulled his sopping wet form out of the water, sprawling on the wood. “Ya’ll alright?” Said Applejack, voice showing a bit of concern. She bent down to try and pull the stallion up to his hooves, but he waved her away with a grunt. “I’d be more fine if I didn’t have some random pony feel the need to pull the hair from my head.” he said as he stood up and coughed. The stallion shook the water from his form, Applejack lowering her hat to shield herself from the water. “What you talkin’ bout? You were drownin’!” “That what it looked like? Missy, I was merely taking a stroll.” He looked at Applejack with a scowl, taking in her appearance with gray eyes before pushing past her towards his boat. Applejack could smell the alcohol on his breath as he passed. The pungent smell made her nose wrinkle in disgust. She noticed the stallion had an unkempt blond coat. His mane was a dirty (going by taste) brown color that was now matted against his form from becoming soaked in the water. The stallion walked up to the boat and tried to jump the small gap that separated it from the dock. he made it halfway before his hind leg caught the edge, causing him to fall into a heap onto his deck. Applejack brought her hoof to her face at the sight of the stallion embarrassing himself. She took pity on the drunk, though, and hopped across to once again help him up in his drunken stupor. He was less willing to shrug her away this time, rubbing his head from the impact when he failed his fight with gravity. Applejack simply held her breath as not to take in too much of his smell. The sea water did very little to wash off what stink he had before. The stallion wordlessly pulled away from Applejack and went to one of the bags he has around the deck. He rummaged through it and brought out weirdly shaped bottle. He pulled the cork out of it with his mouth and took a large gulp after spitting the cork to the side. Applejack could add another unpleasant smell to her memory. That wasn’t alcohol he was drinking, but it stunk more than anything else she had encountered before. Whatever it was, it seemed to sober the stallion enough for him to navigate without toppling over anything. Applejack thought about asking him about the boat, but was begining to think she would be better off trying her luck with another. Before she could walk off, the stallion turned towards Applejack and questioned her, “You’re here to hire a boat?” She stopped and turned back towards him. “How would you-” “You’re a farm pony that’s been walking around the dead of night waking ponies less sober than I. You probably woke the whole harbor knocking on Silver Tongue’s hatch to get her up. She always has something interesting to say, depending on the time of day.” He took another swig of the foul smelling liquid. He offered it to Applejack but she quickly denied it with a raised hoof. He shrugged and continued, “You’re a long way from any farm, missy. Why else would you be out here?” Applejack could see he wasn’t as drunk as he seemed. She guessed it has something to do with the drink. “Yea, I need one. You offerin’?” “It’s how I make my living, missy. Where is it you want to go?” The Stallion took a large swig out of the bottle. “To the land beyond the sea.” The stallion choked and started coughing, spitting out whatever he had been drinking. He took a moment to recover before looking Applejack straight in the eye. “Get off of my boat.” He growled, wiping his mouth with a forehoof before turning his back on Applejack. Applejack had enough. She stomped on the boat with enough force to crack the wood. The sound of which was enough to give the Stallion pause. “Just wait there a minute, now ah’ve been waking ponies all mornin’ and not one of them asked just why I need ta get there!.” Applejack said, frustrated. “There is no good reason to go out that way, foalbrain! What do you want? Riches? There is nothing out there but wind and water. Do you want adventure? You’ll sure get that, death is the last great adventure any of us will go on. That’s the only thing that waits for those who seek the land beyond the waters!” the stallion pointed a hoof over at the brightening horizon while grimacing at Applejack.”What possible reason could you have searching for death, missy? Go home and dig your dirt, you have no place out here .” Applejack heard his words, but they weren't anything she didn’t already say to herself. It’s very likely she would already be mourning the loss of her friend if not for the talisman around her neck. She would have waited for Twilight to come back.Twilight would do something magical to find Dash and things would be better after that. But what happened with the stone proved to Applejack that she could not wait. It also proved that Rainbow Dash was still alive. Alive, but in trouble. Applejack knew that when the stone went cold, so did Rainbow, she died. By whatever miracle, the stone was warm again to the touch. Applejack lifted a hoof to it, but never broke her eye contact with the Stallion before her. “Mister, Ah’m not goin’ there fixin’ to die. Ah’m goin; to save a life! A pegasus with half the sense of a rotten apple frew out there.” Applejack pointed past the stallion. “Ah Jus’ happen to be unlucky enough to be her friend. Ah’ll bang on a hundred doors if it meant a chance to get to her, an’ it’s not that I think she’s dead, ah know she’s alive out there.” The stallion stared at her, and a moment of silence passed before he spoke. “That mare I mentioned earlier, Silver Tongue? She had a son.” The stallion walked over to the right side of the boat (Applejack later learned was Starboard) and looked at the home of Silver Tongue. “His father would go out to sea, always said something about finding his soul. He would make a habit of weighing anchor within sight of the harbor, sometimes taking his son out just to look at the sunset . One evening, he left his son home while he went out alone. A strorm blew in from across that cursed land and swept the boat out of sight. The Silver Eyes stole a boat after the storm ended, and tried to pursue the father he ‘knew’ was still alive out there in the empty.” “It took everything for Silver to convince a team of Pegasi to search for them. They found both boats after a day of flying, but the father and the son were never found.” He turned and looked down at his ship. “I searched every inch, I couldn’t find one trace of them. Neither could they find it on the father’s ship, which Silver lives on now. I’m surprised she didn’t buck you into the water for asking something like that of her.” He looked back at Applejack, “If you go out there, you’re going to die, and you’re going to drag the poor sod dumb or drunk enough to take you down to Tartarus with you. Who are you to ask for such a thing?” His last words stung, but did nothing weaken her resolve. Applejack looked down at the obsidian around her neck, and felt its warmth that she attributed to hope. “Mister, she’s like family. Now Ah don’t blame that boy for trying to get to his father. There was a chance, afterall, if he left right after the storm. Ah was raised an Apple, and the Apple family never leaves family to die!” The stallion’s eyes shot with surprise, but only a moment before taking a step closer to Applejack, staring at her intently. “What is your name?” “Applejack.” The stallion turned around and went towards one of the ropes holding the boat to the dock and untied it. “They call me Sky.” He said without Applejack asking. “I’m the colt dumb and drunk enough to take you on your offer.” Applejack looked surprised, then a frown covered her face as she became confused at the sudden change of heart. “What in tarnation are you getting on about?” “I’m taking you to save your friend.” “But why are ya-” “First rule on the Jacklyn Rose, miss, is not to speak unless the captain says you can.” Skye interrupted while throwing off the last rope to the dock. “Second rule is to do as the captain says or get a swift kick overboard, and the captain says for you to strongly observe the first rule.” He walked over to Applejack and looked her in the eyes. “Now, Miss. Do you know anything about sailing?” Applejack kept Rainbow Dash in mind to help quell her anger against the disrespect Skye was showing right now. This was most likely to be the only chance she had at getting to sea, and she wasn’t going to let pride be the death of her friend in this instance. She didn’t know what would cause Skye to suddenly change his mind, but the questions would have to wait for another time. She simply shook her head at Skye in answer. Skye turned and went to another part of the boat and started pulling an assortment of rope that Applejack couldn’t see being relevant to anything. “Well I expect you to learn and to work, but if there’s one good thing they can say about dirt farmers is that they know how to work.” Skye yanked on one rope with his teeth, and suddenly a sail billowed out from the mast at the front of the boat. It instantly caught wind and pulled the ship forward towards the east. Applejack, who could never be moved from the ground, instantly lost her balance and fell on her side in surprise. Skye simply walked over her as he tended to the other side. “Missy, you have alot to learn.” Applejack gained another reason for her to dislike the waters. (Authors Note: Thank you very much for reading this chapter. It’s the longest one I’ve ever penned, and it was also a bit frustrating. I found that writing Dialogue is not something I’ve very familiar with, so it took a bit of driving. I’m going to try and update the fiction once a week, it’s as much practice for me to focus on it than anything else. Sorry for being a week late. Also, something I want to say about what I’ve found. This is my first attempt at writing in a great many years, and I’m starting to see it more of an experiment. I don’t think it will live up to my vision, mainly because I’m not yet skilled enough, but it should provide an interesting read if not to see one person steadily improve, chapter by chapter. I do apologize for the rough waters that the earlier chapters have been. Again, I thank you for taking part in my metamorphosis. ~Justin.)