Consequences

by Exelzior


Ch.1

Consequences

Chapter 1

Applejack swore under her breath as she looked out the windows at Sweet Apple Acres. The sky was absolutely packed with grey rainclouds, all of them dumping their content over the farm and the rest of Ponyville. She cursed those pegasi. Why couldn’t they have scheduled this kind of weather for the evening when everypony would be tucked inside their homes? It was like Rainbow Dash knew Applejack had to go down to the market today and was playing a prank on her, and Applejack didn’t appreciate it. She growled and went away from the window into the kitchen where Granny Smith was busy making breakfast.

“Mornin’ there Applejack” she said in a creaky voice, “What’s with the sour face?”

“It’s rainin’ ” Applejack mumbled, “An’ me an’ Big Mac have ta get them apples down ta the mark’t place before all the shops open fer business.” She sighed heavily and went to cutting some apples to go with the oatmeal.

Granny just kept stirring the pot. She was used seeing her granddaughter like this, getting all worked up over the weather just like her father before her.

“Speakin’ of which, where is that red lump anyway?” Applejack asked, “Shouldn’t he be up too by now, he’s always the first one ta wake up.”

“Don’t know, why don’t ya go check on ‘im?” Granny Smith answered dryly, not taking her eyes away from her work.

“Yeah, guess I’d better do that” Applejack said and put down the knife. She trotted up the stairs to her brother’s room, listening to the smattering against the tin roof and the windows. This rain sure wasn’t letting up anytime soon. She winced as she thought about how muddy the roads would be. It would be a living Tartarus for Mac having to haul that large cart of apples down to Ponyville. She stopped outside his door and knocked. No answer. She knocked again, harder this time. Still no Big Mac. “Is he sleepin’ in or somethin’?” she wondered and pushed the door. It slid open without a sound and Applejack stepped into her brother’s room. To her surprise Big Mac wasn’t in there, but his bed showed signs of him having been there. She stepped back into the hallway. Where could that big oaf have gone to? He knew they’d be hauling apples today, and knowing Big Mac she was sure he wouldn’t be trying to skip on it. That just wasn’t his style.

Suddenly her ears twitched a little as she heard something from down the hall. She followed the sounds to the bathroom door and pressed her ear against it.

“Big Mac?” She asked, “You in there?”

Her question was answered by a loud “Bleeeeahhhh” and the sound of something sloshing around. Without having to actually see the mess Applejack felt a little sick, knowing exactly what was going on behind that door.

“You okay in there big brother?” She already knew the answer to that, but she asked anyway.

“Nnnnnope” was all that came before she heard him hurl again.

“What happened, how long have ya’ll been in there?”

“Last night, bad daisy sandwich, too much cider….” He barfed again.

“Oh horseapples” Applejack said, “Ye’re not gonna be able ta help wi’ the apples today are ya?”

“Noooope” Big Mac groaned “Ya’ll have ta take Applebloom with ya instead.”

Now it was Applejack’s turn to groan. Her little sister was still way too small to be able to haul the apple cart, and besides, it was Saturday. Getting that filly out of bed would be a feat unto itself. As if to add insult to injury she and Applebloom weren’t exactly on the best of terms with each other right now. Still, there was no other option it seemed, and she reluctantly agreed.

“Alright, I’ll take AB with me. You make sure ta get better in there, ya hear?”

“Bleeeaaahhh!”

Applejack walked away from the bathroom and headed for Applebloom’s room. Inside the bathroom Big Mac was pressing his ear against the door, listening to Applejack’s hoofsteps disappearing down the hall. He gave a sigh of relief and put down the bowl of oatmeal he’d been using to fake his vomiting. With the weather as it was, there was no way in Tartarus he was going out there. For once in his life he just wanted to spend a single weekend at home, not having to drag that huge-flank applecart with Applejack. He looked around in the little bathroom and smiled. With the bathtub in there he could probably spend the day relaxing with a hot bath and Applejack would be none the wiser.

He quickly set this plan into action and went over to the tub and turned the dials. The old pipes rumbled a bit and a stream of steaming hot water started pouring into the tub. After maybe 15 minutes it was full enough and he turned off the water. Big Mac smiled and went over to a small cabinet. It was locked. He pulled away the rug on the floor and uncovered a key to unlock the door. Inside the cabinet was a tiny wooden box with another key in it. He grabbed it and then pulled away the rest of the rug, revealing a hidden door under it. He used the key to unlock this one as well and pulled out a cardboard box. He opened it to reveal a bunch of old magazines and stepped into the bath, taking one of the magazines with him as he went. The warm water enveloped his body, sending a wave of relaxation throughout him as he sank into the hot steamy embrace. He held the magazine in his hooves, somehow, and opened it. A wide grin spread across his face, and something started happening under the water. Soon the periscope of an enemy submarine broke through the surface.

“Helloooo Playcolt,”

*******

With heavy steps Applejack made her way to Applebloom’s room and walked right in without knocking. The little filly was still snoozing under the covers, the covers rising and falling as she breathed. Applejack smiled for the first time this morning. No matter how much trouble the little filly got in, or how many times Applejack had to confront a teacher or parent, she still loved the yellow little goofball over everything else, especially when she was asleep. At least then she wouldn’t cause any property damage. She trotted over to the bed and looked at the sleeping filly. She was hugging her pillow like a stuffed animal and her mane was a complete mess, her pink bow laying on the nightstand.

Applejack carefully nudged her sister with a hoof. She didn’t react. She just twisted a little, hugging the pillow tighter. Applejack nudged her a little harder, and this time the filly seemed to notice.

“Ah don’t wanna go ta school mommy….” She said in her sleep. Applejack nearly melted out of the sheer cuteness. She didn’t think Applebloom still remembered her mother, seeing as how she’d died shortly after Applebloom was born. She kept listening to the little filly speaking. “Naw, I don’t wanna go, all the other kids are mean to me.” Applejack’s expression saddened a bit at this. Her sister was still upset over the whole not-having-a-cutie-mark thing, and Applejack knew of at least two fillies that kept picking on her over it. She nudged the filly again.

“Applebloom, wake up sweetie.” She said in a soft voice, her previous anger and frustration seemingly gone.

“An’ Diamond Tiara keeps sayin’ that AJ ‘n Big Mac did sumthin’ behind the shed last Tuesday.” Applebloom whispered and twisted a little under the blankets.

“WHAT!?”

Applejack’s shout scared the filly half to death as she tumbled out of bed, quickly untangling herself from the blankets. She looked around to see Applejack standing by the side of her bed with a horrified expression on her face.

“Ouch. Sis, why’d ya have to scream like that?” The filly said and rubbed her flank. Applejack just stood dumbfounded for a second before collecting her thoughts.

“Ehhh, ah was just tellin’ ya’ll to get up, Applebloom, you’ve slept long enough” she lied, and Applebloom could probably tell, but she still put on her best liar face, although that just made her look like she’d broken wind. “Now come on, it’s time ta get to work.”

“Work?” The filly groaned, “It’s Saturday, and I was planning to go crusadin’ with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo today.”

“Sorry sis, but you’ll have ta postpone them plans. Big Mac has gotten a bit under the weather and ya’ll have ta help me haul the apples to the market today.”

The yellow filly just groaned even louder, but she knew there was no use arguing with her older sister. Reluctantly she made her bed and brushed her hair before putting it in place with her iconic bow. Slowly she trotted down the stairs into the kitchen where Granny Smith had finished making breakfast. Applejack was already munching on a bowl of oatmeal with applesauce and some toast. Applebloom made her way to the table and sat down at her usual spot, helping herself to some oatmeal and a few slices of apple.

“So what’s wrong with Big Mac?” she asked while chewing down an apple slice.

“Oh he just had some bad food last night is all.” Applejack said. “He’ll come around eventually.”

Applebloom didn’t respond and just kept eating her breakfast. There was tension slowly building in the room, though nopony seemed to notice aside from Granny Smith, whom quickly finished her breakfast and made a hasty (for her, at least) retreat to the living room for her post-breakfast nap. Applejack and Applebloom just kept eating in silence, but something hung in the air, and it wasn’t coming from one of them. Applejack finally broke the silence.

“So, Applebloom, how’s the week been?” Applejack asked awkwardly.

Applebloom just kept munching on her oatmeal, but after a while she finally spoke. “Fine, well, at least as fine as it could be.” she said plainly without looking at Applejack.

“Now don’t start with me Applebloom” Applejack said, trying not to sound stern “Ya’ll have to realize that actions have consequences, an’ that Ah wasn’t tryin’ ta be mean to ya.”

Applebloom just frowned. During the week she and the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been playing around a little too rough while trying to get their marks in demolition and accidentally broken somepony’s fence. As punishment for such recklessness Applejack had decided to pull Applebloom’s allowance for 3 months to pay for the damages, even though Applebloom insisted that it had all been Scootaloo’s idea. Truthfully, it was, but Applejack still did it to teach her sister a lesson about consequences. Needless to say Applebloom was not happy with that outcome, but her sister had stood firm, and over the course of the week Applebloom hadn’t really been talking much with her older sister. Applejack of course just let things go as they did. She knew what it was like being young and having something taken away like that. At first you were angry, but you’d eventually get over it and things would go back to normal.

“Ah still don’t think it’s fair Applejack. It wasn’t mah fault Scootaloo didn’t secure that wreckin’ ball.”

“Be that as it may, ya still shoulda kept an eye on her Applebloom. You didn’t, an’ now ya’ll just have ta accept things the way they are. Now Ah don’t wanna discuss this no more young filly, let’s just let things be. Now finish your breakfast, we have a lot of work ahead of us.” With that Applejack left the table and put the bowl in the sink. She then went and put on her raincoat and Stetson and stepped out into the rain, heading for the barn.

Applebloom was still upset, but realized there were no other options coming her way. She finished up her oatmeal and put the dishes along with Applejack’s. She grabbed her own coat and threw it on. She shivered as the cold cloth made contact with her fur and stepped out on the porch. It was raining sheets, and large puddles of water were everywhere. The barrel under the drainpipe was overflowing, and the ground was all soft and muddy. Normally Applebloom would’ve been overjoyed by the prospect of getting to play around in this weather, but right now she just wanted to get back inside. With a sigh she stepped of the porch and out into the rain. Her hooves instantly disappeared into the thick mud and the rain hit her over the back like a million tiny cannonballs. She quickly trotted over to the barn where her sister was busy hauling out a large four wheeled applecart loaded with a huge pile of red apples.

“Oh good, you’re here. Grab that plastic quilt over there an’ help me cover up the apples. Don’t want the cart getting’ all filled up wi’ water now, do we.” Applejack said and pointed towards a large rolled up cover. Applebloom grabbed it and threw it over the pile of apples, then she and Applejack secured it in each corner of the wagon so it wouldn’t blow away. The whole process took about ten minutes, and once they were done the cart looked like a big black lump on wheels. Applejack strapped herself to the metal harness in the front and gestured for Applebloom to open the door. She breathed in a couple of times and started pulling. Every muscle in her body strained at the heavy weight of the apples as she pulled out of the barn and onto the muddy road. Applebloom closed the door after them and trotted after her sister.

It was a long and tedious walk down to Ponyville that usually took just under half an hour, but with the roads being muddy and the rain constantly hitting her in the eyes despite her hood, Applejack had a feeling today would be a whole different story. Applebloom just kept a steady pace next to her, ready to help in case anything happened, like the cart getting stuck in the mud, or some of the apples falling out. She was way too small to pull the cart just yet, but everyone in the family had to put everything they could into helping out.

For what seemed like forever they just walked alongside each other, neither of them having anything to say. Applejack especially, since she had to concentrate on the road. She groaned in pain with each step she took. She clearly didn’t think it would be this hard to pull the wagon, and in hindsight she started to really appreciate having Big Mac around for these weekly trips. She glanced over at Applebloom whom just trotted along, admiring the scenery, picturing herself in the little filly’s place, skimping along with her mother. She remembered those days fondly, her mom and her going into town every weekend to do grocery shopping, how excited she always was for a chance to meet all the other little fillies and colts. Growing up on the farm hadn’t given her much time to play with other foals when she was little, and Applejack had always relished those Saturdays when she could let go of all bonds and just live a little. Those days were long gone now though. Ever since their parents passed away Applejack and Big Mac had been forced to take over the farm, as well as trying to raise Applebloom on their own. It hadn’t been easy, but Applejack had made sure to at least get her sister enrolled in the Ponyville school to make sure that she at least got to experience a slightly more playful childhood than Applejack had had.

Applejack’s thoughts were interrupted as the cart suddenly came to a grinding halt right before a large hillside. No matter how hard she pulled, the damn thing seemed to have been welded into the ground itself.

“Oh great. Applebloom, can you check an’ see why the cart won’t budge?”

The yellow filly looked over the cart. The wheels had sunken pretty far into the mud, but not enough to just come to a grinding halt. She walked around for a minute, looking at the ground around the wheels until finally she saw something. Beneath one of the front wheels lay an apple that had fallen out of the cart. It had wedged itself between the wheel and the solid dirt underneath the mud, causing the whole cart to stop. She nudged it a little to no avail.

“There’s an apple here sis, it’s ground itself in between the wheel an’ dirt. I’m gonna pull it out okay?”

Without waiting for an answer Applebloom went to work. Turning her behind to it and raising a leg she took aim and kicked. During a fraction of a second, right before her little hoof hit the apple, a gust of wind came from behind, pushing the cart ever so slightly forward. Applejack barely had time to react as she felt herself being forced forward just as Applebloom’s little hoof made contact with the apple, sending it rolling down the hill.

“Wait...” Applejack’s voice came in a tiny little whisper, but it was too late.

The cart started rolling. Slow at first, but as it made its way to the edge of the hillside it started picking up speed. Applejack tried putting her hooves down to stop it, but the slippery road made it impossible. For a split second everything froze again. The raindrops falling against Applejack’s exposed muzzle seemed to explode like meteorites upon contact with her orange fur, their residue splashing into her eyes and blinding her. Slowly the cart went over the steep drop, and in that moment time seemed to get back to normal speed. The cart rolled downhill faster than Pinkie on a sugar rush, with Applejack strapped to the front, her eyes wide in panic as she went along for the ride. Applebloom set out after her, but the cart quickly made it down the hill and continued on the road towards Ponyville, carrying the screaming farm pony.

The raindrops felt like knives as they bombarded Applejack’s face. The cart didn’t stay on the road for long and made a beeline right through a couple of bushes, narrowly avoiding collision with a tree. Applejack tried setting her hooves down on the ground, but the mud had by now been replaced by slippery grass, making it utterly impossible to stop this madness. The best she could do was to try and steer it in the right directions, and with all the strength she could muster she heaved her body to the right. It worked as the cart turned slightly to the right, getting back out on the road. She heaved to the left to make sure it stayed on track. Her raincoat was matted with leaves and branches as she continued her little single-pony road race down some more hills until she finally ended up on the main street leading towards the Ponyville marketplace.



The marketplace wasn’t as lively today as it usually was. Most ponies stayed in from the rain, and only a few were browsing. The shopkeepers all looked rather miserable. They couldn’t afford to stay in from the rain, they had to be out there every day, rain or shine to earn their living. Those who were lucky enough to own a store and not just a stand at the market fared a little better. Sure, business was slow, but at least they didn’t have to freeze. One of these shopkeepers were the Cakes, the owners of Sugarcube Corner and Pinkie Pie’s employers. The hyperactive pink lunatic wasn’t in at the moment, making the day go seemingly slower.

Carrot Cake stood in the doorframe, looking out into the rain with a frown on his face. He was expecting a delivery from Sweet Apple Acres. A cartload of red delicious apples for a massive order he and his wife had been tasked with. “I hope the rain didn’t slow them down too much he thought We really need those apples here soon so we can get to working. It’s gonna take at least the whole day to bake all those apple muffins.” He kept looking out into the empty streets, expecting Applejack and her brother to emerge from the rain at any time now. Instead he noticed several ponies running away from something. At first he figured it must’ve just been due to the rain, but soon he heard something. It sounded like somepony was shouting, and the sound was getting closer. Soon he noticed something moving. It looked like a big heap of branches and leaves loaded onto a wagon that was rushing towards the marketplace like a rocket, and in the middle of it all was a mare strapped to a harness screaming her lungs out in panic. Carrot’s eyes went wide as dinner plates as he realized what was about to happen.

“Honey! Get the kids into the safe house and secure the cash register!”



Applejack’s throat had almost given up by this point as the cart approached the marketplace. With only seconds to disaster she knew she’d have to try one last time to get a stop on all this. Forcing her hooves into the muddy soil one last time she pushed with all her might, trying to get the speeding cart to a halt. It seemed to be working! Slowly but surely the cart seemed to be slowing down. Applejack’s hooves were getting buried deeper and deeper into the ground, but she couldn’t care less. At this rate, at least she wouldn’t cause any property damage or harm to anypony.

The cart kept slowing down as it approached Sugarcube Corner and it finally came to a grinding halt, leaving a trail of red apples in its wake. Carrot cake was still standing there and was soon joined by his wife whom was carrying their two foals in one hoof and the cash register in the other. “Aren’t you coming into the safe house too, Carrot?” She asked, trying desperately to get the twins to stay put.

“No, I don’t think we have to go there after all.” Carrot Cake said, still looking at the mess of apple cart and tree branches that was parked neatly in front of the store. Applejack was nowhere to be seen, but she’d left a mark in the form of a long ditch in the ground that stretched all the way to the bottom of the stairs leading into the store. Carrot Cake slowly walked down the stairs to the pile of dirt that had formed right below the last step. He brushed it away with his hoof, and soon enough a pair of orange ears popped out of the ground, quickly followed by a dirty, wet and overall beaten-within-an-inch-of-her-life Applejack. Carrot cake helped her out of the ground as ponies started gathering on the scene, and soon enough Applebloom made her way there as well, forcing herself through the crowd.

“Applejack! Are you okay!?” She yelled as she threw herself over her sister, hugging her.

Applejack just coughed up dirt and rocks, but overall she was fine. Her entire body ached like mad, not helped by the fact that Applebloom was all over her, chattering about how awesome the whole thing had been and how she wanted to do it too. Applejack couldn’t pay any mind to her sister though, as she was just too focused on a single thing right now. She forced Applebloom off of herself and stepped up the stairs, putting on a forced smile for Cup and Carrot Cake.

“Here’s yer apples Mr. and Mrs. Cake” she said before collapsing, falling off the stairs into a puddle of mud.