(What's that? Another chapter? But Howitzer, you just posted chapter 8!)
(As usual, any errors, let me know.)
You watched the city approach in the distance, and it filled you with a sense of bittersweetness. You were finally coming home, and yet you felt like you would rather be anyplace else. The skyline, iconic to so many, filled you only with a sense of finality. Within the next three days you’d be making some of the hardest decisions of your life, and you weren’t sure if you were ready for all of this. You glanced at Applejack, and a surge of rightness filled you. You weren’t doing this for just yourself. You were doing this for Scootaloo, and the rest of Ponyville.
The bridge approached quickly, and soon you are crossing the Hoofson River. You looked down the river, and out in the distance you could make out the bay. And from there it took mere moments to find the massive statue of Celestia that lit up the bay at night. You recall walks in the southern park, watching as the shining beacon illuminated the entire bay.
A few moments later, and your view was cut off, as the train went below ground, heading for the massive terminal near the center of the city. The abrupt change from light to dark startled you, and you nearly fell backwards. You looked over at Applejack, and she had a smile on her face.
“I never rode the train in, or out of, the city. The sudden change startled me, is all.” She gives you a larger smile, and she shakes her head. You quickly stuff your things back into your saddlebags, and then you take a seat once more, waiting for the train to arrive at the station. It only takes a few more minutes of traveling to arrive, and soon the train grinds to a halt at the platform.
The two of you make your way off the train, and into the station, and you look around you, taking in the familiar sights and smells of the station. Without missing a beat you begin walking towards the most convenient exit, and Applejack follows close behind you. You effortlessly weave between the ponies rushing to their destinations, and before you know it you’re standing on the sidewalk outside the station. Applejack takes a few moments longer than you, and you can tell that she’s not used to such an environment.
You take a deep breath, and the smells of the city fill you up, bringing back memories of all sorts. You look down the road, and then back to Applejack. You motion for her to follow, and she does so. It takes the better part of an hour to make it to the exterior of your old apartment building, and it looks just like it did the day you left. You look up to the window that you knew was for your old room, and before your gaze can make it all the way up a hoof rests on your shoulder.
“Don’t look, sugarcube. You can’t afford to get sentimental just yet.”
“I know, AJ. It’s just… It’s hard to come back here.” You shrug off Applejack’s hoof, and then you walk up to the door, and you quickly enter the combination that it was when you left. Much to your surprise the door quickly opens, and you make your way inside. Applejack follows, and soon enough you’re standing outside your old apartment. Apartment one on the ninth floor. Numbered 9001, it was home for longer than you ever thought it would be. You raised a hoof to knock, but something held you back.
You held your hoof out for almost a full minute before you dropped it back to the ground. You looked up at the ceiling, and you closed your eyes, before taking a deep breath. Without stopping to think about it, you quickly raised a hoof, and knocked on the door three times in rapid succession. A brief pause followed, and then you knocked two more times. That was the way you and your sister had always knocked. It was how you knew that she was home, or how she knew you were home.
The silence that followed your knocking filled you with dread. If she’s not here… Sweet Celestia, let her be here. You lowered your head slowly, not wanting to accept the fact that your easy solution was so quickly cast aside. You moved one hoof over to the doorknob, and the other to the small knocker that was centered on the door. With difficulty you managed to get your hooves into their appropriate positions, and then you pushed on the knocker, and the knob, in just the right fashion, and you were rewarded with a soft click.
The door slowly swung open, and you pushed the door open faster, wanting to get the first look over with as quickly as possible. The small living room was a complete mess, littered with empty bottles, and other pieces of garbage that weren’t so easily identified. You gingerly entered, taking care not to step on anything too fragile. A sickening squishing sound came from below your hoof as you put it down, and you looked down to see a pale fluid oozing out of a rubber tube, and you quickly looked back up, desperately trying to forget what you just stepped in.
The remaining steps to get to the kitchen were, thankfully, free of any squishes, but you still didn’t want to think of what you were stepping in that didn’t go squish. The kitchen wasn’t much better than the living room, but at least the floor was mostly clear of debris. On the table, though, was a stack of parchment that caught your eye. You walked over, still watching your step, and then you saw what the stack of parchment was.
You quickly looked through the pile, and a frown appeared on your face. Almost all of it was bills that had to be paid, that your sister had deferred. But on top of the stack was a collection of almost a dozen drafts of her letter to you. They were almost identical to each other, save for the shaky hand writing, and stains littering the pages. The wording was almost the same across all of them as well, and you just put the stack down, unwilling to look further than you had already.
With a sigh, you turned to look down the short hallway that led to the bathroom, and the bedrooms. You began the walk, and the first room you checked was your own. Surprisingly, it was almost exactly how you left it. It was as if it had been preserved. Memories threatened to boil to the surface, but you beat them back, unwilling to reminisce right now. You turned from the room, and then you headed to your sisters room. Again, to your surprise, it was incredibly neat. Not like yours had been, but compared to the rest of the apartment it was practically spotless.
As you turned to leave the room you noticed a picture frame sitting on the bedside table, and you went over to look at it. When you saw what it was a picture of you couldn’t stop the tears that rolled down your cheeks. It was a family portrait, taken just a few weeks before your parents had died. You quickly put the frame back down, and then you walked out of the room. Applejack quickly moved to embrace you, but you pushed her back.
“One room to go, AJ. One more room, and then I’ll let myself break down. But not yet.”
You stopped at the door to the master suite, and you pushed it open. The sight that greeted you filled you with revulsion, but you still entered, unable to look away. The room was filled with the most perverted instruments you had ever seen. You felt the ground beneath your hooves, and it had an awful moist feeling to it, but you didn’t care. You continued making your way into the room, until you were at the foot of the bed. A tear ran down your cheek, and it landed on the carpet with a soft sound that was lost to your senses.
You turned to look back at Applejack, and she just met your blank stare with a sad expression. You made your way out of the master suite, and then you managed to make your way back to your old room. Once you got there, you just stood in place, trying to rationalize what you’d just seen. Applejack’s presence did nothing to calm you, and so your mind just continued to shut down, until finally you blacked out.
You woke up some time later, your head throbbing. A soft hoof made its way through your mane at regular intervals, and when you finally opened your eyes you saw Applejack looking at you with tears in her eyes. When she saw you open your eyes she quickly pulled you into an embrace, and you returned it half-heartedly.
“You just collapsed. I didn’t know what to do, so I just held you.”
“It’s okay, AJ. I just… I just need to get out of here. I need to go, and never come back here. I thought it would help, but this has only made it worse.”
“Come on, sugarcube. Let’s go.”
Applejack led the way out of the apartment, and soon the two of you were standing outside the building. You finally managed to shake your stupor enough to start moving on your own, and so you looked up and down the street, trying to remember just where it was that you needed to go next.
You began delving into the loathsome depths of your mind, dredging up the worst things you remembered about your sister’s profession, and all the nuances that came with it.
As your memories returned, you turned left, and began walking down the street. You began to see eerily familiar faces, but none of them seemed to recognize you. After almost an hour you made it to your destination. To nearly any pony it would just seem like an ordinary intersection, but to those who knew the streets it was a veritable cornucopia of carnal pleasure. You spotted a few ponies working the oldest trade, and you shook your head slowly, unwilling to watch as they tried to entice the passing stallions.
You nudged Applejack, and she looked at you, and you motioned to one of the bars near the intersection. She followed, and you walked into the bar, the bouncer barely acknowledging your existence. You took a seat at the bar, and the bartender eventually worked his way over to you. He looked you up and down once, and then did the same for Applejack.
“What’s yer poison?”
“No poison, just a glass of ice, and a glass of water.” The bartender narrowed his gaze for a moment, before he moved back just a bit.
“You sure you want that, kid?”
“Yes. And don’t skimp on the ice.” The bartender’s eyes widened a bit as you completed the brief exchange. He went into the back of the bar, and left you to your own devices for a bit. You turned to look at Applejack, and her gaze was flitting from pony to pony, unable to sit still in this hellhole of a bar. You put a hoof on hers, and her gaze flicked over to you.
“AJ, I need you to calm down, and let me do the talking. You’re acting so nervous that it’s rubbing off on me. And I can’t afford that when I’m dealing with these ponies.”
“I just can’t help it. There’s so much wrong with this place.”
“I know. Hopefully we won’t be here for long.” Several tense minutes passed before the bartender returned with a glass of ice, and a glass of water. You clutched the glass of water, and then you pulled it closer, along with the napkin that was below it. Scrawled on the napkin it said:
Meet me at the corner booth in five minutes.
You let a small smile cross your face before you brought back your emotionless visage. “We’re okay, AJ. They don’t think we’re cops, so hopefully things will be okay.” After five minutes you got up, and made your way to the corner booth, and then you sat down. You were only seated for a moment before a red unicorn came over and took a seat across from you. Right behind him came a massive earth pony that would make Big Mac look small in comparison.
“So, I hear you’re looking for some exclusive services?” The unicorn narrowed his gaze as he looked you over. “Name the slut, and I’ll name the price.” You had to bite your tongue to keep from shouting at him, and so you stayed silent for a moment.
“Yeah, I’m looking for Sunburst. Orange pegasus, microphone cutie mark.”
“I know the mare. She’s a real feisty one. Likes it rough, that one does.” The stallion looks at Applejack for a moment, and his eyes widen a tiny bit, before narrowing once again. “But, clearly you have better company than that slut. Unless, of course, you’re looking to get into the business with this fine catch of yours.”
Before Applejack can respond you put a hoof on hers, and you can feel her shaking. “No, she’s not for sale. She’s a fine catch I’ve made, and I won’t have her soiled in such a way.”
“I’m sorry, I think that came across as a question. I wasn’t asking, I was telling. Lock Jaw, take this mare to the back. She’s a fine one, and I know a certain stallion who’d be quite interested to see this mare again.” You turn to look at the massive pony, just as he wraps a hoof around Applejack. You leap from your seat at the pony, but your attack simply falls off of him, not even moving him. “You see, I remember you. You’re not going to save your sister, you stupid colt. You should just count yourself lucky that I’m not taking you in, considering how much some mares pay for a good slave. And even some stallions would pay to have you.” He pushes you back into the booth, your strength leaving you as you watch the massive pony carry Applejack away.
“Just leave the city, and consider yourself lucky that you’re alive.”
You hold back your words, knowing that for once, silence would serve you better than a sharp tongue. Just before she gets pulled into the back you meet Applejack’s gaze once more, and the terror present in her eyes shakes you to the core. You look around the bar, only to see that not one pony was even looking at you. Not even one pony had taken an interest in what was happening.
You were alone in Manehattan. Again.
Dude! You wrote another chapter for today to leave a cliffhanger her?! I'll never get to sleep now thinking about what you have planned in that devious head of yours!
nooo Applejack Nooo
One problem small but noticeable
You recall walks I the southern park, watching as the shining beacon illuminated the entire bay.
I think you miss spelled "in" dear sir
Oh no...
>Initial reaction before reading: Yay new chapter!
>Reaction after reading: Mother. Of. FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUCK.
I really, really hope nothing happens to make me die on the inside.
929937 After reading the chapter, I literally screamed "GOD. FUCKING. DAMNIT"
...Well...Looks like I need to kill more people in Fallout again. Reading the ending of this has made me...very...very...unhappy...and when I'm unhappy, I go sadistic
Okay, it's hard to find a fic that does this to me. Usually it's just...meh, he will save her and that'll be it. However, I've read one other fic that did this to me. My friend said I could vent to him...and what I told him...he thought I wasn't human. So, I think it's time I vent on Fallout a little. The Bloody Mess perk should help, but only a little.
Still, it takes a skilled writer to do that to me, and you did it. I mean yea, I may be in a mood of where I just want to take the stallions that grabbed Applejack, put them in a secluded room, the-...I'm going to stop there. It goes to R ratings very quickly. Unless, you want me to vent?
929995 Vent, I need something to keep me preoccupied, cause my mind won't stop telling me possible bad outcomes from the story. Anyway, I know how you feel, being called inhuman for something like that.
930018
Ha, someone whom is like me. Still, my anger has...vented a bit already. I've read another chapter of a fic I really like. So, I don't know if I will or not. Still, if it's anything like the Rarity and RD thing....Oh man, I was pissed. I really don't know what happened to me. I said I would do so many things to Rarity...then kill her in the end. Which I would probably do to the stallions XD
930029 Hah, it's funny how something like this can set someone off, and the wait for another chapter isn't helping either. Y'see, I've got a bit of a thing for unorthodox methods of torture when I get sadistic thoughts, such as using sewing needles and thread, drills, nails, hammers, power saws, belt sanders, etc. But this chapter made me feel complete and utter hatred toward those stallions at the end.
Oh Celestia, NOOOOOO! NOT APPLEJACK!!!
FUCK! GOD DAMN IT (Nappa)! I..I..I...................I need to vent. If you excuse me, I'm going hunting.......for authors...
WOW I GOT IT I knew she would get draged into something that you will have to get her out of !!!
Noooooo!!!! save applejack! DO IT!!!
930058 I'm hoping that nothing happens to make me want to die inside by the end of this.
930067
Agreed.
930084 By the way, I love your picture.
930088
Thanks!
930045
That's the same for me! Basically (shortening this) what I did to Rarity was.
1. Make a fire and proceed to lift her up over it, slowly burning all of her hair off.
2. Proceed to use her as a living pin cushion.
3. Proceed to remove said needles from her body.
4. Take a kitchen knife. Cut her tongue out to stop the screaming and pleas for help. Then cut her ears off and make her eat them. Why you ask? Because I was pissed.
5. Crush each one of her hooves slowly. Mainly by just sitting it out and putting my foot over it. Eventually, I'd begin to crush the foot. Seeing the skin bulge out due to the force I would be putting down. Eventually, there would be a *splat* as her leg busted open, or got crushed one of the two. I'd proceed to do that to every leg.
6. Finally, I'd pull out all of her teeth with a wrench and make her eat those as well. Next, I'd roll her onto her back, cut open her stomach (If she's not dead already, it's just getting to the worst part), then proceed to choke her with her own intestines. After cutting it from that annoying thin layer of meat that holds it together, then after she would finally be choked to death, I'd drop her on the ground and proceed to slowly crush her skull under my foot. After I apply so much pressure, her skull would cave in, making blood and brains go everywhere. Then, I'd laugh like a sadistic person who just got done killing someone.
That's only part of what I did to her....I...wasn't human at the time I guess you could say. I still said too much XD Still, it's never good to piss me off. It's kind of hard to do in the first place.
930092 You're welcome, but w-we can save Applejack... r-right?
930101
I certainly hope so...
WHY??? Why the cliffhanger?
When I wake up tomorrow I want this problem resolved with another chapter!
...That is, if you don't mind...
930096 Hah. I wouldn't cut their tongue out, but I'd have sewn the stallions mouth closed, slowly but surely. Drills for the bones, the belt sander would be used to grind someone's skin until it was gone, nails and such used for pincussioning and nailing them to the wall or a board, and the power saw for mutilation of the limbs. Fire, for... Well, many many many things, a very small knife for making tons and tons of cuts (Thousand Small Cuts method of torture, wiki it) I have other ways but I'm too tired to list them all, and they don't have a specific order... Wow, we're fucked up.
930125
Well, I have been since I was born (not really, but I see it that way. I'm naturally weird). But yea, I'm tired as well. With that, I shall prepare for band camp tomorrow and bid thee a good night.
930135 Sleep well, and it seems we have something in common.
930143
What? Band? Or the other thing?
930114 I'm literally gonna cry if we can't save her before something happens.
930151 The other thing, I shall talk to you more often if I can though. xD
930157
No! Don't say that it'll only make it worse!
If a certain pony doesn't save her though I might just have to throw 'em in the oven..
930161
Oh, yes. I shall as well. However, I won't be on tomorrow til like 8-9 Eastern Time. I have band camp from 3-8 -_-
Still, goodnight.
930166 Yeah, something good better happen.
( I realize that I'm indeed taking up most of the comments. )
What.
WHAT.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT
images.4chan.org/mlp/src/1342595198582.png
His address...it's OVER 9000!!!!
I'm sorry i just had to do that
'Tis be a nother grand chapter, well done
See, now this is the part where all the fans break the 4th wall and the the whole place is stormed by angry bronies.
This sort of thing makes me glad we have ratings and categories on this site.
*checks*
No dark or tragedy, and we're still teen. (And for the love of ponies, Howitzer, don't sneak in and change them now!)
929977 Yeah, sounds about right.
Oh, you evil....I can imagine you going, "All according to plan." But then, you have this in the bag, right?
930739 I am aware that there is no Dark or Tragedy tags. The story is sad, and may have a few moments that are a bit darker than the rest, but I didn't add the tag for what would amount to a half a chapter, or so, of dark stuff. For me a tag is usually something that covers the entire story. Since there will only be a small amount of that, there is no tag for it.
931162
Please don't misunderstand, I wasn't griping at you, but reassuring myself (and others?) that this was just a part of the story, and not a sudden change of direction. I trust the authors to tag appropriately, and I choose stories to read accordingly (I don't do well with TragiDarkGore ponies, even though I can enjoy it in other universes). So if you didn't tag it that way, I don't need to get too worried....
930523 Sounds like a plan.
929937
agreed. I cant stand this chapter. HURRY UP AND GET HER SAVED ALREADY!
"Numbered 9001"
images.wikia.com/meme/images/2/20/Over9000S.jpg
Applejack NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
929977 I did the same.
932535 ... Sorry, not scared. He ONLY has the LMKS, and an MKS. If he had the DRAGONIAN Equipment, THEN I'd be scared. But unless he's level 100, I ain't scared. (Still, gotta give ya a /] for Dragon Quest pic! XD)
/]
To the problem of a missing Applejack. Call Princess Celestia, explain how situation was definitely not your fault, sit back as Manehatten is razed to the ground. Optional; meat grind giant stallion, slowly dismember pimp. Problem solved.
Second paragraph.
"You recall walks I the southern park"
Maybe?
"You recall walks In the southern park"
933320, 932535,
Yes, I've gotten that correction listed quite a few times now. I've been at work, and haven't had the chance to fix it.
930157 I hope those tear ducts are prepped for a good cry. Heh. Ha ha. Hahaha. MWAHAHAA! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
933331 Well, I guess I'm going to go hang myself with a towel. See you all in hell, love you guys.
933331 But not before I use that condom I stepped on to choke you.
(I swear, if you make me cry, I'm gonna tell Fluttershy on you. )