Chapter 8

>Day Don’t Drop the Soap in Appleloosa.
>You groan groggily as you wake up from your slumber – In your cell.
>After you and Arid Star had been spotted at the entrance to Appleloosa, you had been taken into custody ‘until further notice’.
>Now it had been a day since.
>You were pretty dang confident that it wasn’t really out of lawful duty that the sheriff threw you on the block, arresting you because you were a human (they didn’t even have humans in this world!) – But more out of fear. Understandable, though – It’s pretty natural to fear the unknown.
>Horse-Bird-Narwhal comes to your mind.
>Regardless. Each of you had been thrown into a separate cell, with Iron bars in a square-area and a bunk bed and holy fuck was this stereotypical.
>All you needed now was Morgan Freeman to narrate your thoughts and this would’ve been that Red-Shawshank-whatever the fuck movie all over again.
>You’re now reading this chapter in Morgan Freeman’s voice.
>Glancing over towards Arid Star, you find her curled up in her cell on the top of her assigned bunk-bed. She seems to skitter her eyes across her surroundings, her body shaking lightly.
>You slowly make your way to her, but are hindered by the bars between both of your cells – You  let out a grunt of pain, moving around made your over-stung torso ache from the pounding it had taken the day before.
>Perhaps seeing the city didn’t make you realize just how much it hurts pleasuring a cactus with your own flesh and blood.
>As you look back at Arid Star, you notice that she is staring right at you – her lip quivering.
>Shit. That made you feel bad for her. You wouldn’t call her a friend just yet, since she was only with you to feed, and because Celestia had ordered so – and you don’t fuck with hose-bird-narwhals
>But she had saved your life yesterday, and you couldn’t forget that. You hated being in debt.
>You had to do something.
-
>You really don’t like this, you really don’t like this, you really don’t like this, you really don’t like this.
>Why can’t I go outside? Why is Anon on the other side of these bars? Why did the mean ponies put us in here?
>You couldn’t quite place it, but there was something about being trapped in here that made your mind reel in terror – held against your will somewhere you couldn’t get out from.
>It went against every instinct you had, and they were screaming at you to get out – It really didn’t help that you hadn’t had any substance since you bit Anon’s finger, making your stomach turn in hunger.
>You’ve been up for more than a day now, too scared to sleep when you were confined into this small amount of space that you couldn’t escape.
>You were strangers in a stranger town, and so far – it totally wasn’t friendly!
>”Arid Star, come over here” Anon’s voice whispered to you from his cell – and with slow, cautious movements you made your way down from your bed and over towards Anon.
>He didn’t look very good either; his face was covered in dirt – the minor wounds you could spot on his chest from behind his open shirt, were slowly starting to get infected from dirt. His appendages were tattered from being tossed around during the train incident – and he even still had some apple-pie crusts on him!
>You sat yourself right before him, only the annoying iron bars in the way between you and him now. With a hesitant look on his face, he rolled the remains of his sleeves up before shoving his right arm through the bars, into your cell.
>”Drink” he said with a commanding voice - short cut out of breath. You didn’t have to hear that twice! With a swift, agile movement you dig into his arm with your fangs – The blood dripping down on your tongue as you sucked with vigor.
>This process dulled your frantic mind. You started not to breathe as heavily and you began to calm down – All that mattered in this world right now was the blood that coursed through your mouth and the taste of iron that came along with it.
>For a few golden seconds everything was fine, everything was alright.
>Anon lets out a stifled grunt – usually that was a sign that he was starting to get dizzy and you would have to stop , but you were still so very, very hungry, just a minute more – no, just two more!
>”Arid, it’s starting to hurt” Anon called somewhere in a distant land – but it was all but an inaudible noise to you, the blood mixed with your own saliva was so delicious.
>”Arid Star.”
>You would bathe in Anon’s blood – That would be far better than washing yourself in cheat-blood.
>”Arid Star!”
>Maybe you could convince him to storage his blood – then your dream could be a reality!
>”Arid Star – Someone’s here!”
>You blink, snapping out of your blood-roused mind and look to your side – outside of the cell.
>Before you stood a yellow-coated earth pony with a light-caramel mane to suit. He also wore a deep, hazel jacket along with the same kind of hat that the Sheriff from yesterday wore.
>His deep-green eyes were fixated upon the act that you and Anon were currently processing – His facial expression looking rather disgusted from gazing upon what took scene in front of him.
>”Ah’ sure hope I ain’t disturbin’ none” he said, taking a few steps back from the cells. His reaction made you feel ashamed, for some reason – was your drinking really that weird?

>You are Braeburn, and you weren’t really quite sure what in the hay you had just witnessed, but you were pretty sure it was quite intimate.
>You were surprised that the sheriff had asked you to go and check up on the prisoners – there hadn’t been any prisoners in the cells for you couldn’t remember how long! Appleloosa was a quiet-some place, everp0ny were friends here in AAAAAAPLELOOOSA. 
>But what surprised you even more was the fangs upon the gal’ inside the cell, and that she were biting the bipedal creature with said fangs – both of them was just staring at you, completely and utterly flabbergasted.
>From the looks of their surprised faces, you had just seen something that weren’t meant for prying eyes.
>This was a secret.
>The sand-coated pony quickly retracted herself from the creature and hopped back up on her bed, refusing to look at you – apparently counting the bars were much more interesting to her right now.
>The door behind you bustled, and Sheriff Silverstar came stumbling in with a nod and smile towards you, you responded in kind.
>”Sorre’ ‘bout that Brae’. Ol’ Hay-Dust was causin’ a ruckus again. ‘E kept saying the cows wer’ planning ta’ overtake the town” he said, the twang in his accent as thick as usual.
>”Frankly, I don’t know wha’ to do ‘bout them new folks here – not exactly your typical pair, eh?” he continued as he peered at the two prisoners.
>”One of them is an unusual Pegasus, ‘n the other be some sort of monkeh without fur. Ye’ a respected stallion ‘round here Brae’, whaddya’ say we do ‘bout them?”
>You look from one prisoner to the other – You couldn’t deny Silverstar that you had never seen a pair like those in your entire life out here.
>But the apple in your heart told you to give them both a fair chance – they had done no wrong, and you wouldn’t want a repetition of the buffalo incident
“I don’t know Sheriff. If they haven’t done any a thing wrong, I suppose there ain’t a reason for us to keep them in ‘ere, is there?”
>”Ah’ won’t let ‘em at the children and elderly – I’ve to protect this town. I need some sorta insurance with these two ‘ere.” He countered – and you couldn’t deny that either after what you had just witnessed. They were as liable to be good as they were to be rotten.
“Hm. What about I take ‘em to the Appleoosa orchard, ‘n keep ‘n eye out for them? We have a few sick hooves currently anyway – We sure could use a few new ones.”
>The sheriff sniffled with his nose, the moustache above his lip twitching lightly in reaction before he sighed quietly.
>”Ah’ can’t say it to be a bad idea, but ‘cha better keep a good eye on ‘em then.” He said before going over towards the dusty key-ring, hanging loosely from a small nook fastened to the wooden walls.
>Proceeding, SIlverstar went up to the ape-creature’s cage and turned the key around in the cells keyhole, letting the iron barred door fling open.
>Slowly, the scarred creature came out of the cell room; he looked about awkwardly as the Sheriff trotted over to the Carnivore pony.
>You solemnly swear to yourself that you’re going to keep a keen eye on that pony in particular – she ain’t gonna eat no foals on your watch with those fangs of hers.
>”So let me just get this straight. Two new guests arrive after they’ve almost been squished by a train – only following the orders of an Alicorn with a super-gay mane, only to be thrown into two cells and forgotten about for a day?” The ape creature spoke up suddenly.
>Admittingly you didn’t like it when he put it that way – You had always seen Appleloosa as a welcoming town that were open to all shapes and forms.
>Yet, these two were some pretty peculiar cases.
“Now look ‘ere you wha’ever you are. The Sheriff was simply trying to do his job – which is protectin’. There can be a real mean difference between guests and strangers if ‘cha ain’t careful”
>The ape-creature opened his mouth, only to close it again. You figured he wanted to say another smart-flank remark at you, but decided it was not the best course of action for him right now.
“Here’s the deal. Ye’ work aroun’ on the farm wit’ me ‘n the Apple-family ‘till we’ve figured out if what ‘cha sayin’ is true – You can’t just contact the Princess in a heartbeat, so until then we’ll ‘ave to keep an eye on you if y’ wanna stick around. “
>You turn around and proceed to walk out of the prison – Putting faith in the fact that the Carnivore-Pony wouldn’t suddenly jump at you and eat you while she had the element of surprise.
>That wouldn’t be the first time a girl had tried to do that – Although it wouldn’t have been as literal.
“Also, people that ain’t workin’, ain’t gonna be fed.”
-
>Whatisthishit.jpeg
>If the Alicorn had made you and Arid Star travel all the way out here, simply to go around and pick apples from apple trees – You were going to drop kick her in the face the next time you saw her, even if it would cost an eternity in some sort of dungeon.
>this made no sense at all.
>Arid Star was looking better at least – She was flying about the trees and rustling the crowns with the force of wind her wings brought upon them.
>It was surprisingly effective, since it made a helluva lot apples fall down that you could pick up and gather in baskets. You had to clear a quarter of a designated area before you could call it a day.
>Your wounds still hadn’t been washed clean, you would have to take a bath and rinse yourself pretty damn good once this was over – not to mention how much you smelt of sweat.
>Then again, everyone around here was working hard – even Arid Star’s seemingly endless energy had to take a break from fanning apples down every now and then.
>The sun was beginning to set as you hauled the last fallen apples into the large bucket, sitting down and leaning against it with a long heaved breath.
>Arid Star came flapping down and positioned herself next to you whilst peering towards the last few workers of the apple orchard, signing off for the day.
>it occurred to you that you had no place to sleep tonight, and the temperature didn’t seem to slow down in decreasing – It wouldn’t be long before it would start to get seriously cold around here.
>Well, shit. Where could you go and sleep? Arid Star could probably sleep up in one of the trees, and if you coated yourself in enough apples, you could totally make an igloo out of them.
>That was the stupidest idea you have ever had.
>”Nice job getting’ them apples there collected” a voice rang, as Braeburn trotted up towards you. You didn’t even want to ask if he had been scouting on you all along, it’d be terribly creepy if he would say yes.
>You decide to play the silent card towards him, and so does Arid Star – In fact she just stares down at the ground and starts to play with some tuffs of grass.
>”Look ‘ere. I ain’t meanin’ to pry none – but did that gal’ there really you know – swallow your blood?” he mumbled, trying his best to come off as casual as possible – leaning up against an apple tree and everything.
>You look at Braeburn for a few seconds, before letting your head swing over towards Arid Star – Now she was almost ripping at the Grass in order to occupy herself.
“Look. I know it might frighten you – It even did for me at the beginning – but so far she has been just as much of a Pony as I’ve seen you and your people be. I would appreciate it if you didn’t yell it across town.”
>Braeburn looks at you consideringly for a few seconds – the deep green eyes colliding with yours.
>You felt him judging your entire being – What were it with Ponies and their lack of private space?
>Finally he sighs, tipping his hat towards you and Arid Star before he turns his tail to you and begins to walk away.
>”I set the town I live in before your preferences if need be.” He mutters out suddenly, making you girth your teeth – Did he really have to pull that jackass trick, leaving someone in the unknown?
>”Also, you can sleep in the Barn.” 
>..Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy after all.
>You gaze over at Arid Star again, she still seems like she wasn’t in the best of moods – but you couldn’t really prioritize that right now. If the entire town started to get the idea that she was a carnivore, it would ensure in a ruckus and possibly a witch-hunt for the both of you.
>You didn’t really feel like getting burned on the stake just yet.
“Arid Star, I know it’s annoying – but we have to set up some rules here. We can’t let the city know that you drink blood, so I can’t let you drink in public”
>Arid Star looked up towards you with her Quartz colored eyes – The silted pupils starting to water slightly as she looked into yours.
>”Why not?” she simply asked – no complexity to her question other than the simple complexity of simplicity.
 “Because sometimes, ponies get scared of the silliest things”
>Fuck, you should be a poet.
>”I see..” She said beneath her breath – she looked quite down right now – Peering about you pick up a random apple from one of the buckets and give it to her.
“Try to eat one of these whenever you’re hungry.”
>She doesn’t look particularly excited by your proposal, but succumbs to your request and nibbles slightly at it – However she merely spits out the piece with a sullen frown.
>”Who would eat something like that! That’s so way too sweet!” she peeps, throwing the bitten apple away.
“Well, it’s what’s on the menu while we’re among the others, so you just have to.. Bite it in you.”
>She looks at you, a deadpan look smeared across her face, before she breaks into a snickering fit.
>”Keekeekeekeekee! That was such a bat pun.” She utters between her snickering – and you attempt your best not to cringe at her own pun.
>Whelp, at least it helped her feel a bit better – Raising to your feet you stretch your tired arms and crack your fingers, it would take a little walk to get to the barn from here – but nothing that your body couldn’t handle – The scars would simple have to wait till tomorrow, again.
>Making your way to the barn, Arid Star flies up in the air and flutters about for a while – The silence except for the occasional flapping sound was deafening, but neither you nor Arid Star wanted to break into chatter again, it would appear.
>The Barn was a quite simplistic one. Big and red with white trims around it – An ample clock tower resting upon it to ring everyone to work and to freedom. Inside was even simpler – for some reason you expected there to be small stalls for, well, horses.
>Then you remembered you were in a fucking Technicolor land were ponies were sentient, dominating beings – You idiot.
>All the barn really kept was apples, apples, apples and apples – with the occasional apple to go with the apples if you felt like changing it up and be all exotic-like.
>The Barn creaked to the response of the outside wind every now and then, sending a small shiver down your spine.
>There was also a small stack of hay, which you assumed was going to be the spot you should sleep on for tonight – there were plenty of beams around for Arid Star to hang on and sleep upside-down, but she didn’t even cast a simple glance at them.
>With a light shrug you waddle over towards the haystack and lay your tired body on it – It was sticking and irritated your bare skin every time it touched some, yet beggars couldn’t be choosers, and it was a far cry better than sleeping out in the cold desert.
>Arid Star shifted about aimlessly for a while, which resulted in you popping your head up and peering at her, a question mark splatted across your face.
“What are you doing?”
>She shifted around some more, before looking at you with the eyes of a thousand kittens.
>”Anon, can I sleep with you tonight?” she murmured softly into the open air, making you quirk an eyebrow at her.
“I am too tired to let you suck my blood this time around Arid - It’ll have to wait till the early morning”
>Arid Star shook her head violently at you before going closer to up towards you.
>”I’m.. I’m scared of this place” she whispered at you before looking down at the ground again, embarrassed.
>You weren’t terribly keen with the idea of a pony sleeping next to you, it was more than enough that the hay was sticking at you – fur would only further increase the irritation.
>But she looked like she really meant what she said, and she had been really down earlier.
“Fine, but don’t set your fangs into anything, or I’ll suffocate you in the evil apples”
>Arid Star rolled her eyes before trotting over next to you and pushed at you slightly, forcing you to give more space to her – Damn women and their space-need.
>Eventually she found herself in a preferable position beside you, her head nestled right under your neck – Slowly she unfolded one of her wings and gently wrapped you with it, tugging you in a slight tad more.
>Your body temperatures started to mix together, making the otherwise cold barn convert into a sauna – especially with the leathery wing that shrouded you.
>This wasn’t so bad, all in all.
>“Anon. I don’t like being different..” she cooed sadly as her eyes closed down and the breathing coming from her became slower and heavier.
…
“I don’t like being different either.” 

>You are the butt of the sun, sitting in your enormous bedroom in the highest tower of Canterlot castle.
>A princess should always own the highest tower in a castle.
>You sister didn’t count.
>The ire of the bat-pony you sighted still irks at you. You thought they had all gone into total solitude at the Hollow Shades. At Least that’s where you condemned them to.
>How had Anon found one of them so far away from home?
>But enough about the foreshadowing.
>You wonder if Anon and the Batty had finally reached Appleloosa, and if he was learning his lesson about Equestria.
>Each and every place on the list that you had made was written with a lesson in mind – You had a fetish for giving lessons.
>Except this was slightly more serious. Anon had to learn and understand the way our world thinks, if he came from such a troubled past as you sensed in him – there was no telling what he would become if he didn’t learn the ways of your people.
>You hoped that he would learn, hoped that he could see – It would be the biggest accomplishment of not only for him, but of your subjects as well, your world – Shifting the course of a being with so much darkness in it.
>But the subjects would also learn from him, the light that shined beneath all that darkness was brighter than one might would think.
>But all that could only happen if he learned, if he listened.
>If not, then this world would have failed him as he would have failed this world – and you weren’t sure you could take such failure once more. It almost broke you last time.
>”Sister, are you allright, it is rare to see you so enwrapped in your own thoughts” a familiar voice called out.
>Princess Luna, the watcher of the night – Your sister.
“I am fine, dear sister – I was merely thinking about the travels of our newcomer.”
>Luna looked out of the window and into the cold, endless night.
>”The one with the Night-child, correct?” she mumbled with a troubled tone in her voice.
“Yes, the one with the Night-child”
>Luna makes no reply, nor does she cast any glance towards you until she reaches the entrance of your bedroom once more. Turning around she smiles warmly at you, despite her cold colors and natural booming voice.
>”Perhaps his nights won’t be as lonely as they could’ve been, then” she states, before trotting out of your room, readying herself to guard the beautiful stars that beamed across the sky.
“No, perhaps not.”

End Chapter 8.