Login

Being Tini

by Fuperbooper

Chapters

Chapter 1

I work at Sweet Apple Acres with my mom, Applebloom, who has peach colored fur with a hot pink mane, and has worked as hard as Big Mac since Aunt Applejack disappeared. I have to work all day just to supply the ponies at war, so I could keep living, which is the only thing I don't want to do. My mom always tells me to make a game about my work, which I try to do. She said she'd work with my late Aunt Applejack, and have fun all day. I can't have fun anymore.

I've been told many stories about Aunt Applejack. Most of the stories are about how hard working she was, how honest she was, and the wacky adventures with her friends. I was told about one specific adventure that I know by heart, and that's the time Applejack and her friends got poisoned by the poison joke, because that's where I got my name from, Appletini.

I have yellow-orange fur, and a darker orange mane, and am the smallest of my siblings. I'm weak and depressed all the time. I can't work without getting tired or just completely bored. I just walk a very slow pace, keep my head down, and carry pales of apples from the orchard to the house. Those apples get put in containers, and sent off to the ponies at war.

My mom tries to cheer me up, telling me jokes, and stories that I've heared many times before. I haven't smiled once in the past few weeks, and I've been walking slower every day. I guess it's because of the darkness in my life caused by the war. Mom told me it's time for me to get a break from the work, so she let me go to Lemon Wedge's house.

Chapter 2

When I arrived at his house, there were no lights on. Everything seemed dark. I knocked on the door with my hoof gently. No one answered. I knocked a second time, and this time the door opened, and standing behind the door wasn't Lemon Wedge, but a crying Mrs. Wedge.

"Mrs. Wedge, may I talk to Lemon?" Mrs. Wedge wasn't very tall, had dark green fur, and a strange pink and black mane. She was already crying, but when I asked this, she began bawling. "What's wrong?" I asked. She answered with uneven breathing, which tells me she has been crying for a very long time. "Lemon... c-can't be speak with you right now, because he's... he's..." She couldn't finish before she fell to the ground, crying. "What happened?" I asked, as Mr. Wedge walked up, with a look of depression on his purple face. "I'm sorry, Tini, but Lemon's been abducted by the dragons," said Mr. Wedge, as he closed his eyes, and tilted his head down as a single tear went down his cheek. "You can come in if you want, and I'll tell you what happened."

The Wedge house always had a smell of fruit that's been ground down into juice, but it was gone; the only smell in the house was the smell of salty tears. "I know you're great friends with Lemon," said Mr. Wedge, "and I won't try to soften the story at all. He's gone, we don't know where he is, why he's gone, or where he could have gone. It's not like him to run off." All I could think of is the little yellow boy that looked happy all the time, but with a frown on his face. All I could do is listen while I began to feel tears well up in my eyes. "The only thing we can think of is that he's been abducted by dragons." I looked over and saw Mrs. Wedge crying silently into her hooves, with a deep breath,  she lifted up her head and said "I... just want my baby home..." She put her face back in her hooves and started crying worse than before. Mr. Wedge sat next to her, and handed her a tissue and some bread to eat while he put his hoof on her shoulder to try and cheer her up. "Don't worry, we'll get him back," he said, forcing comforting smile, "you just have to have faith in our son. He's tough and will pull through." He signalled me to leave, so he could be alone with his wife to cheer her up.

As I walked home, I looked up at the sky which had gotten hazy from the smoke caused by the dragons, wondering where Lemon Wedge could be. When I approached the yard, I heared my mom yell "Appletini, quickly, get inside, now!" With that, I ran as fast as I could, not because that mom told me to, but because of the loud roar of the dragon that was running swiftly towards me. I've never ran this fast in my life, and it hurt every muscle in my legs. I ran so fast that I could almost not watch my footing, and my hoof clipped against a rock, and I stumbled a bit. That didn't stop me, though, I just ran faster. The dragon was faster, though, and stopped in front of me, stopping me in my tracks immediately. All I could do is wait.

Chapter 3

I braced myself, shaking, and waiting for what's next. It seemed like the longest time of my life, just standing there. That's when it hit me. I was poked by a large claw, and was surprised that nothing happened. I looked up and saw a large purple and green dragon, with green eyes, and realized, that's not an enemy. That was Spike! I looked towards my mom, to see her laughing on the ground, and then I looked at Spike, who had that friendly smile that says "Haha, gotcha!" that he has constantly. For the first time in weeks, I smiled. In the first time in months, I laughed. I'd forgotten what it felt like to laugh. I was as happy as I could be, then I remembered why I went home. The laugh died out immediately and my face went back to the state it's been in for a the longest time: a frown.

I told my mom and Spike what had happened to Lemon, and they looked at the ground, with a look of extreme sadness on their face, mom kicked a rock over. "So you think you guys could help?" I asked, hoping to see if their faces would brighen up. Mom's face turned to a face of serious thought, the same face I saw her have when we were told that we would have to supply the Equestrian military. Spike looked at me, with a smile I've never seen him have, and that was determination. Mom walked up to Spike and whispered something in his ear, and he shook his head, indicating a yes.

Mom walked into the house, and closed the door behind her. Spike walked up to me, and said "I might be able to tell you where Lemon is, I just have to go to the dragons and ask if they know if anypony is being taken anywhere." I stood there in shock, thinking if this was the prankster that I've always known. Mom walked out the door with a bag, she walked up to me and placed it on my back, "It's for your little 'game'," she said with a slight smile. They told me the plan, I was to go with Spike and act as an abducted child. Spike has heared rumors of where they took children that has been captured, and they all go to the same place. With faith, I'll be set there, too.

Mom has always had great trust in me, knowing that I was a small child, but I was also very strong; meaning that I have great determination, and won't stop until the job's done. No matter what. I haven't noticed this about me, but it must be true, even if I am depressed and sad, I always get the job done. Spike had blueprints of the jail that he'd found at a battleground. Spike enjoys exploring when he doesn't have anything to do at the library, which means he knows exactly where to go so I could find Lemon. I was also told I was very vigilant, and could look around at any place and notice things other ponies don't. This could be used to my advantage.

Good-bye's were always hard for me, but this was these were the worst good-bye's of my life. Everypony in Sweet Apple Acres gathred around me, hugging me, shedding tears of sorrow for when they see another pony leave. Uncle Mac cried the most, though. I've known for as long as I've been alive, that he's a softie. On my way out the door with Spike, I gave a smile to my family, telling them that I'll be back. Spike and I walked towards dragon territory.

Chapter 4

As Spike and I walked, I took in the sights. There wasn't much to see, other than houses that have been destroyed in a large fire. It surprised me to see the towns that have been destoryed completely. Why wasn't Ponyville destoryed? Was everypony dead or captured? How did we get into this mess? I had too many questions, and no answers.

We kept walking, it's been quite a few hours now, and the sun's going down. "Hey, Spike, where do we go for shelter?" I asked, hoping that there was something we could do. Spike nodded, and we walked into an abandoned town.

The town hall was collapsed, most of the houses were destroyed, some were abandoned. We walked into a decent looking abandoned house, wondering if anypony was there. No answer. We walked in, and found a spot to sleep. Spike said he'd protect me as I slept, so I simply went to sleep.

I had troubles sleeping. Spike had kept his word, but I had a feeling something bad would happen. I wasn't quite sure what, or when, but it was going to happen. Mom says me being able to detect things like that reminds her of an old friend she had. Her name was Pinkie Pie, I've been lead to believe that she would be the weirdest pony I've ever met, but I highly doubt it. I won't be able to meet her, because she disappeared when a lot of ponies disappeared, when Applejack disappeared.

When I woke up, it was unusually bright. I could hardly open my eyes. All I could do was squint. I looked up and saw another dragon attacking Spike. I haven't been spotted, yet, so hopefully I'll have a chance to run. I ran, but I didn't make it far, a huge fireball hit Spike, knocking him in my way, and then I was spotted. I got hit by the other dragon, and began to black out. I saw something I'll never see again, a cutie mark, on Spike! I didn't know dragons got cutie marks, and his was a quill. I would never see it again, and I had to remember it.

Chapter 5

I woke up in a cold, grey room. The walls were thick with concrete, and the only exit was a large, heavy iron door. I noticed a small crack in the wall, and could hear heavy breathing. I whispered into it, and I got an answer. It was a quiet "hello?" I'd never heared this pony's voice before. I didn't know what to say, so I forced myself to say "Hey."

"Who is this?" the voice spoke quietly, it sounded female, and scared. "Appletini," I said in the most comforting voice I could, knowing the situation, "my name is Appletini. What's yours?" The voice let out a very quiet squeak that I couldn't hear. "Come again?" I said, hoping that the voice didn't pass out. "Fluttershy" she said at last. My heart sunk, I've heard of Fluttershy. Everyone told me she had died when the war started, when a lot of ponies disappeared, the same time Applejack disappeared. I stood there, speechless, I couldn't say anything. Eather could Fluttershy, all I heared were her hooves gently sliding against the ground.

"Quiet in there!" I heared a loud, husky voice say, "or we'll have to use force." I heared a whip, and was startled by the loud crack. All I could do is sit there, and think. I've been known for my cleverness, and I thought up a plan to escape. I had to spark up a conversation with Fluttershy. "Hey, I have a plan." I heared Fluttershy give a quiet "mhm" and she leaned in on the crack in the wall. "I'm going to make loud noises, to try and get the guards' attention." I began cackling really loudly. I heared a guard yell "HEY! Quiet in there!" I got louder, and finally the iron door opened, revealing a large pony that has been hired by the dragons to act as a guard. I was pulled out of my cell, and carried.

I was taken throughout the prison, going past the closed cells, where ponies had just been captured, passed open cells, where ponies that have been there for a while. A few ponies stood out in my mind as we walked by. I saw a pink pony that had a straight mane, looking at the ground and crying. I saw another pony that had cyan fur, and a rainbow mane, who's wings had been injured and tied on their back. I saw a purple pony, with a purple striped mane, who just sat there, eyes closed, breathing sadly. And lastly, Lemon Wedge, who looked like he'd seen things that he'd never want to talk about.

Chapter 6

After the prison was the torture rooms, for punishing ponies. There I heared various screams, loud crying, and saw ponies' blood on the floor. I looked around on to where ever I was going. I noticed large cracks in the wall, spider webs everywhere, and a possible escape route. Walking through, I heared a very familiar voice... Spike's voice. They had him tied on a post, were throwing rocks and food, and were whipping him on the back. I heared the loud roars of the large dragon, and I could feel the excruciating pain of the whips.

I heared another voice that stuck out over the rest, maybe because this voice had the same accent everypony on the ranch has. I looked to see who it was, and my fears were correct. It was Applejack, being tortured. All I could do is watch as I saw the whip hit Applejack in the back with a loud "CRACK!" and her loud, stomach twisting yell. I saw blood fly off the whip as it was brought back for a whip. I watched in terror as I saw Applejack weaken, close her eyes, and pass out. She might be dead. They detached her from the post, and took her to another room.

They put me in the room where Applejack was. I guess they knew by the look on my face that this would be the worst place possible to punish me. They didn't even clean up the blood caused by Applejack's whipping. They tied me up and said "Eight lashings." Lashings... whippings... just for making noise. They tightened the rope extremely tight on my hooves, and I heared the air as the whip got brought back to start whipping. I braced myself, expecting the sharp pain of the whip on my back.

I've never thought what it would be like to be whipped. When I came up with this plan, I never expected to be whipped. I thought it would be to easy break out. I never expected be wounded and suffering. The time from they pulled back the whip and to the time the whip hit me seemed like forever. I've never felt this much pain before. I felt the whip hit me with an extremely loud "CRACK" that was deafening to me. I let out a loud scream, and got whipped a second time. It hurt worse than the first. I braced for a third time, the whip contacted me, and I almost blacked out. That's when it happened.

Chapter 7


After having my eyes closed from the pain, I could hardly force myself to open them. I saw Applejack attacking the torturers. I was amazed, it seemed like she forgot all of the pain done by the whippings. She does live up to the stories I've heared, brave, strong, and tough. I've never seen any pony do such a thing. I watched in total shock. I couldn't say anything, I couldn't do anything. I just watched, amazed at Applejack's determination in her eyes, how all of the pain has left her body in an attempt to save me.

She untied me. "Ya alright, sugarcube?" She asked me as I got on my hooves. "Yeah... fine..." I wasn't fine, though, the marks on my back proved so. Applejack had knocked out, or possibly killed, every guard in the room. She was letting out all of the ponies that were captive I tried walking, but the pain on my back due to the lashings hurt with every step.  I think I passed out. It must have been when I had troubles opening my eyes. I had bandages around my back that I don't remember getting. Applejack must have patched me up.

I had troubles walking, the pain was too unbearable. Unfortuneately, I had to begin running. Applejack only cleared the guards from this room, and not the others. I heard the hoof steps of the guards as they ran towards us. I knew that I had to help defend. I could tell by how many loud stomps there were that I would have to be prepared to fight. I readied myself for battle.

I heared a few doors slam open, and I was about to buck, then I looked up. I saw all of the ponies held captive break out of their cells. Applejack's distraction must have worked for the plan. Fluttershy actually did what I told her to. It didn't really surprise me, though, I've been told that Fluttershy forgets that she's shy and can assert herself. That's how she tamed a dragon, which I can't see her doing. She spoke in her quiet voice "We're ready." I told Applejack about the plan, to break out. She said she'd lead, which is usually what she's good at. I've noticed ever since I was brought in the torture rooms.

Chapter 8

As we walked through the prison, I noticed one particular pony missing, the same pony I'd came here to rescue. I had to go back to the cell block, only to see that my fears have been confirmed. Lemon Wedge's cell was still closed, him sitting inside, shaking, eyes wide open, terrified. I opened his cell, and tried to get a few words to him. "What's wrong?" I asked, wondering what he might say next. He replied with quiet, uneven breathing, it almost seemed like he was cold. I had to force him to get up.

This wasn't a normal prison, I could tell. This must have been a base of operations. There wasn't a reason for all of these guards, and why the ponies were locked up. I began reading the signs, as I forced Lemon to walk with me. I saw a sign that said "Arena" and another that said "Contestants" that was pointing towards the cell block. They were using us for entertainment. I couldn't move, I was stopped by the sudden jolt of Lemon sitting down, staring at the arena. It was then that he spoke.

"I-I killed..." he could hardly get his word out, as he started sobbing between sentences, "I killed Pipsqueak..." Pipsqueak, who loved Luna, who grew to be a very large person, despite his name, was killed by Lemon? This amazed me beyond belief. I guess Lemon was tougher than he looked, like his dad said. I didn't believe him when he said his son was tough, but I guess it was true. He killed Pipsqueak.

That must be why he didn't talk, or move, or do anything. There wasn't anything I could do. He's scarred for life, he won't respond to anything. He'll starve if I don't try to do anything. I'll have to carry him out. He was amazingly light for his size, I guess he hasn't eaten in a while. I just wish there was something I could do right now.

Chapter 9

I caught up with the group, they all gave me a certain look. A look that said "Why would you pick some crazy guy up?" I'm afraid that's exactly what I did. Lemon will never be the same. His parents will be expecting the same Lemon that they always had, but that's not the case. Lemon Wedge, who was a good friend to me, is gone. He was one of my few friends, and the only friend I had at school.

We got outside of the prison, only to be greeted by the ruler of the dragons, the one who started this war. He blew out a large fire wall, blocking our path. "Good luck getting out, my little ponies," he said in a deep, earth shaking voice, "I've got you surrounded." I saw a look on Fluttershy's face, as she motioned towards a purple unicorn, who's name I've never gotten in the prison. Applejack told me her name was Twilight Sparkle. Twilight got up, used magic on the fire, and it died down.

We moved forward, with a look in our eyes, letting the dragon know we're not going to stop for anything. We knew what we were getting ourselves in to. We were going to have to fight this dragon, all ponies versus this one dragon. The odds were against him, but I still expected to lose this fight. I know that ponies will fall to their doom, in this concrete prison that he calls his own.

The fight began, many ponies died. It was a horrific sight, blood everywhere. Ponies with broken legs lying on the ground, screaming out of pain and terror, tears running down their frightened faces. The plan I won't work out, with all of the ponies scattering around, not knowing what to do. I motioned towards Fluttershy, who knew exactly what to do. She got the Mane Six (which is what I was told they were in the stories mom told me) and the carnage began.

Chapter 10

Twilight used her magic, and stunned the dragon. Applejack got ropes, and threw them over the dragon. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy tightened the ropes down. Rarity and Applejack tied the ropes tightly, so the dragon stayed in place. Fluttershy was able to negotiate with the dragon, in what I like to call her "mother mode." I saw the fear in the dragon's eyes as Fluttershy's voice got louder, I knew that it was working.

"Okay! I'll stop! I'll stop!!!" I heared the dragon yell, completely out of fear of Fluttershy. It amazed me, really, that a shy pony like Fluttershy could actually tame a dragon. I couldn't help but to smile. Pinkie Pie was next to me, with her hair poofy again, laughing on her back. The plan had worked, we won the war. The ponies at the front line couldn't do this. I felt proud of myself.

Life returned to it's normal state in Equestria. I had to take Lemon to Twilight and have her use some magic to make him forget that he killed Pipsqueak. The Wedge family was happy to get Lemon back. The Applebuck family was happy to have Applejack and I back. The looks on their faces as they saw me walk up with Applejack were priceless! I wish I could have taken a picture, but that was the last thing on my mind. I was glad to be home.

I think about this as I look up to the sky. No matter what, my life would never be the same. I always kept a chin up where ever I went. I was thankful to be alive, the sky cleared up, and my depression is gone. My family was happy, as they watched me walk through the house, with a large smile on my face. I was able to talk to Aunt Applejack, who is surprisingly a lot like me. Now, I look up at the sky, a large smile on my face, eyes glistening with happyiness, loving life. I'll never be the same.

The End.

This took me four days to write... one hour per day. Now my brain hurts.

Return to Story Description

Login

Facebook
Login with
Facebook:
FiMFetch

Register