//------------------------------// // Damsel is Distressed! // Story: Applejack Through the Ages // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// Damsel is Distressed! They had you tied to the tracks? Wow! How did you get free?!? Well, I know it's gonna sound clichéd, apple blossom, but every cliché had it's start somewhere... "I'm really sorry it came to this, Miss Candy..." Curly told her with a fake apologetic tone. "...But I just can't have you telling anyone about what I'm planning!" "Save your breath, you ornery sidewinder!" Applejack spat angrily, as the two tied her down to the tracks. "You'd send your own mother to the glue factory for a hundred bits!" "Aw, come on now, Candy!" Cherry Sweet reapplied with a sneer. "Do try to show a little dignity for your last performance!" "Why you miserable-!" Candy started, but was cut off as they slipped a gag over her mouth. "Well, we're off ta make a fortune in the real estate business!" Curly chuckled, as the two ponies galloped away. "Hope you have a nice final trip!" As her attackers disappeared into a dust cloud, Candy Apple struggled helplessly against the ropes. But no matter how hard she pulled against her bonds, the saloon mare just couldn't seem to break free. A thousand ideas raced through her head- from trying to bite through the gag and then the ropes, to somehow wiggling herself free- but they all ended with the same failure to be able to implement said ideas. I was then, as she struggled and strained with all of her might, that Candy Apple Came to a most terriflying conclusion; For the first time in her long long life, after all the fights and battles and conflicts in which the apple bucker had played a part, she was helpless. One of the greatest heroes in all of Equestrian history, who had stood up to demons and darkness and Discord, now lay helpless on a railroad track, with nothing to do but wait for the 7:15 to splat her into something resembling mangled tomato paste. How her friend Rarity would be laughing at her now, unable to even raise a hoof to save herself. It's wasn't too long, however, before she heard the faint whistle and felt the track vibrations of the approaching train. Candy heard the chugging of the engine grow louder and louder, and she saw the large light on the front of the train grow brighter and bright as it bore down on her. Closing her eyes tightly as the mighty iron behemoth barreled straight, the terrified mare braced braced herself for the end.... ....only to feel a rush of wind, and hear the mighty roar of the train zoom harmlessly by her. Finally opening her eyes, the mare stared up in disbelief at Butterfly Hunter, who held the rescued pony in his hooves. "Are y'all right?" He asked, his soft blue eyes staring down at her. "Ah reckon you were lucky I was riding back this way!" "I-I all say..." The flabbergasted Candy replied, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. As the bounty hunter untied her, the saloon mare told him everything about Curly and Cherry's evil plans. Wait, you were rescued? Aww, that really kinda lame you couldn't save yourself! Hey, you think I had a problem being rescued by a handsome stallion? Just because I got saved ONCE in my life does not make me a damsel in distress! Anyway, after he got me loose, the two of us raced back to the saloon... In he darkness of the night, two ponies sneaked towards the town's saloon, carrying a stack of firewood and kindling. As Curly packed the scraps under the bar's main doorway, Cherry Sweet looked on with some reluctance. "I'm really okay with destroying the saloon- good riddance to the place, I'd say." She asked hesitantly. "But are you sure we have to kill Countryside, too?" "You know we have to get rid of her, or that stubborn mare will just rebuild after we burn it down." Curly snorted in response. "Don't worry darlin! Once we get this whole town sold, I'll let you buy a fancy place back east, where y'all can dance to yer heart's content!" But just as the stallion was about to spark the fire with his lighter, a solid hoof slammed straight into his face. "Shoulda stayed back east yerself, Curly!" Butterfly snorted, plowing into the other stallion. "Now, yer headin off to the hooscow!" The two stallions began punching, stomping and kicking at each other- Curly landing a kick across the other stallion's face, and Hunter headbutting his opponent in the skull, as the two males brawled, Cherry snuck up towards the two fighters, raising a log from the firewood to stike one of the opponents over the head. But then she felt a hoof tap on her shoulder, and turned around in shock to see a familiar face. "Now, you really don't think I'm gonna let y'all brain Buttterfly..." Candy snorted angrily, glaring at the mare who had tried to kill her earlier. "Now do ya?" This time, it was Apple who got the drop on Cherry. Candy spun around and hit Sweet with a powerful back kick, sending her flying through the air, and smashing clean through the window of the saloon. The angry orange mare jumped through the broken window after her, and continued to stomp on her face again and again. By the time Apple was finished, Cherry sweet's face was a bloody, unrecognizable mess under Candy's strong hooves. "Agrahhhhh!" The mare heard from outside, as Butterfly Hunter slammed Curly with a final, powerful punch. The other stallion went out like a light, just as another angry mare came galloping down the stairs of the saloon, carrying a candle in her hoof. "Whut in tarnation is goin on down here?!" Countryside snapped angrily, scowling at Candy Apple as Butterfly Hunter tied the two rapscallions up. "Whay're you two rasin' such a ruckus at this late hour?!" "Sorry about that, boss!" Apple told her with a sigh, wiping some of the blood off of her hoof. "Just clearing a pair of undesirables causin’ trouble out o the bar!"