A Slice of Pie
Big Macintosh sat back in his chair and watched as his little sister ate her meal. Applejack had just eaten the last dandelion they had after sending Applebloom to bed. As Applejack chewed, she contemplated about her life, remembering when she could afford an apple pie. Those were the days, the heyday of her career.
“What I wouldn’t do for some pie right now.”
At first glance, she did not look inviting. Her body was as solid as a rock. Her muscles toned every inch of her body, showing up even the strongest of stallions. Her face, riddled with scars from past opponents contacting their hooves to her face. She looked like an animal that had escaped its confines and was ready to attack. But this said nothing about her personality.
Applejack, in reality, would not hurt any other pony unless she needed to. The only purpose she had now was box to win. Since the farm needed to be sold, the Apple family made money by fighting. Applejack was well known amongst the fighting community yet times were harder now. At first they would pool in money and would be rolling in it, but Equetsria was in a slumping depression, forcing Applejack to get a few extra jobs here and there. She was committed to her family and would do anything for them.
Applejack stood up from the table and began to walk toward the door. As she reached it, Big Mac called to her.
“Good luck!”
“Thanks big brother.”
As they said their goodbyes, they hugged, which has never happened before a fight. Applejack pulled away in surprise but accepted it as she prepared to walk the two miles to the arena.
As she walked, she reminisced of the past fights she had won, allowing her to achieve maximum praise for her style. She remembered her fight between her and Stallion Bill. She had beaten him with a striking punch to his left eye, making him black out for a good ten minutes. Later in the locker room, she heard him crying through the vents.
Her new opponent was a pony by the name of Slydel. He was supposed to be the next up and coming fighter, half her age. He was coming from Marizona and had quite a record to back him up. Even though he has a reputation, not much is known about him in Ponyville, so they set him up with Ol’ Applejack to see how he would do. If he won, he would move on to better fighters with bigger purses, allowing him the chance at fame and glory.
Applejack entered the venue to the screams of a massive crowd. She could make out a few mumbles that involved her name but was unfazed by the attention she received. She could see Young Pinto making a side bet for challenging the winner of her fight and offered fifty bits. After doing so, Slydel and Applejack took to their respected corners, seeming to inspect the other. Though she felt no ill will towards Slydel, every muscle in her body clenched with the intention of murdering this kid in the ring.
As Slydel removed his gown, she could see the contours of his body. He was sleek, with a broad chest and sizeable arms. She could see every inch of this stallion, and he was a hundred percent all masculinity. She was sure that his youth and drive would be there to counteract her age and experience.
They both got their front hooves wrapped up and gloved by the observing judges. They were signed off and cleared to fight. As they joined each other in the center of the ring, the gong sounded, and the fight began.
Slydel didn’t hold back, coming at Applejack with a flurry of jabs and hooks. His speed and grace matched each other and made the crowd stare in awe. Applejack was not phased however. In her days of boxing, she knew exactly what these small attacks did. Absolutely nothing. Applejack ducked, accepted or avoided Slydel’s attacks by blocking, ducking and clinching. A punch or two would occasionally daze her, but she shook them off and continued her strategy. Slydel kept up his pace until the end of the round.
As they both left to go to their corners, Applejack could here crowd members yelling at her.
“Why don’t you fight? Your not scared are you?”
“I bet sixty bits for Slydel. Two to one.”
Applejack ignored the spectators, as she got ready to reenter the fight. The cheers of the crowd intensified as the two fighters advanced with the sound of the gong. The second round went the same as the first. Slydel delivered the blows, while Applejack took them with utmost precision, making sure not to get the full force of any attack.
The crowd got tired of this fight and watched the second round end with a unanimous feeling of boredom. The third round, again, began with Slydel attacking. Sure that she wasn’t going to fight back, he lost focus and left an opening for Applejack. Just as Slydels eyes left his target, Applejack thrust her right hoof up in an arch that connected with the stallions jaw, knocking him to the ground. The audience watched on in first, stunned silence, but then, roaring applause. Slydel, confident to avenge his dignity, tried to stand up but his corner yelled at him to take the count. As soon as the ref said nine, they were at each other again.
As Slydel advanced towards Applejack, she backed up into her corner just as the bell rang. She immediately sat down while her opponent had to walk the length of the ring to his corner. This would tire Youth but only in the long run. Every round began with Applejack advancing the shorter distance, and ended with her in her own corner.
Two more rounds passed and the original fight continued. Slydel, confident in himself, drove punches at Applejack who effectively defended herself and completely stayed safe. In the sixth round, Slydel’s focus, once again, slipped and Applejack was able to connect another shattering blow to his jaw, knocking him to the mat. Again he took the nine seconds and continued on.
As the seventh round came, Slydel began to realize that this was his toughest fight to date. Though Applejack was older, she was tough and wise in her movements. Her experience carries her to the point where Slydel is completely harmless to her.
Applejack never missed an opportunity. Every time she clinched with Slydel she drove her knee into his as they stumbled about the ring. This was just as effective as any punch she could throw. As Slydel would throw what seemed to be an effective punch, was no more than a nudge to Applejack.
It was only in the ninth round did Applejack go at him. She attacked Slydel with punches to his ribs and a punishing hook to his jaw, leveling him to the mat. The crowd watched on as the ref began the count. Slydel lay, shaking on the floor, and Applejack was sure that she won. However, at count four, Slydel rolled over on his face, trying to balance on all four hooves. At count seven, he was able to pick his front hooves from the mat. Finally, at count nine, he was back up and in high guard.
As soon as Slydel picked himself up, Applejack was at him, not letting him recuperate. She knocked him into the ropes, letting go a rush of blows. However, her blows were depleting in force. Her hooves felt like lead and her feet dragged across the mat with a strain of effort.
In her moment of weakness, one of her punches missed all together and she flopped against Slydel, clinching him to stay clear of the mat. As she held him, she could feel him growing stronger. When they released, Slydel came at her, his punches, slow at first, grew in power and blurred Applejacks vision. Slydel released a right hook that Applejack saw coming. She tried to block it, but it felt as though her hoof was tied down to her side. Unable to lift the block, Slydel’s hoof contacted Applejacks face, and a black veil dropped in front of her vision.
When she reopened her eyes, she could see Slydel and his corner celebrating the victory. Her own corner had been trying to comfort her while she lay slumped in her chair. As she left the ring, she hastily left to the street. The night was well almost over and she needed to go home. It was two miles to the apartment, and she needed to build up some courage.
As she walked, she could only think of her brother and younger sister. The news she needed to break to them was harsher than any blow she could receive, Half way home, she stumbles across a grassy knoll on which she rests her injured hooves. As she looked up at the night sky, she cried. Now she knows how Stallion Bill felt all those years ago. Poor Stallion Bill.
The End