Title:           The Story That Never Was - Chapter 2
Author:          Shermanator
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/Rxr3dsRL
First Edit:      Monday 17th of December 2012 08:07:57 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Monday 17th of December 2012 08:07:57 PM CDT

>>The mental games are starting to effect you more and more in your life
>>Your sleeps are more and more restless
>>Celestia has taken to implanting unpleasant images in your brain. Flashes of your past life.
>>Never the good parts
>>As far as you know, there are no good parts
>>Not like in Equestria
>>Under the rule of the benevolent Celestia, life is better. You love Celestia. She is your God. You owe her everything
>>You have taken to praying to her for a cure to your insomnia
>>The cycle is vicious
>>Celestia made sure of that
 
>>The fighting is good money. Good, and you're good AT it
>>Save for Applejack, there are only a few fights you've lost
>>And you're confident that you could have won those just as likely as they did
>>But it isn't perfect
>>It's underground
>>Frowned upon by Pony society
>>Ponyville is but one stop on the yearly tour, and you cannot follow it
>>You are anchored to Ponyville. Celestia made certain of that.
>>So your employment is far from permanent
>>You supplement your fight money, which needs to last you most of a year, with income from odd jobs around ponyville
>>Just like when you were new. Help people move, help stock stores when they are short on horsepower
>>Every once in a while you serve as a bouncer at a bar
>>But your business opportunities sometimes get squandered when people like Twilight are around
>>Fucking magic
>>Poor girl does not realize it, but she makes your life harder than it needs to be
>>You can't believe where you've ended up as a result
 
>>While the others buck, you haul
>>Sweet Apple Acres, home of the best apple trees in Equestria
>>It's also the home of your stalker
>>Anonymous is not stupid
>>You keep an eye out
>>Brokintosh gets a little impatient with you sometimes. You cannot haul as fast as some of the others
>>After hours and hours, he takes pity on you. You're only human.
>>“Anon, yer' hands would be more useful in the cellar sortin' apples.”
Ten four.
>>He doesn't get it, but when you leave to the apple cellar being filled today he smiles.
>>“Eeeyep.”
>>When you're done for the day, you get in line with all of the other hired hands and get your bits before you depart
>>Applejack is always the one handing out the coinage
>>When you pass, she grins at you wantingly
>>Express your disinterest by taking your bits and leaving
 
>>And so your days go.
>>Sorting green apples, yellow apples, and red apples
>>It's hard to keep up with the volume of apples coming in to the cellars, but you manage
>>Harder, still, you have to serve as the first quality control screen
>>Work
>>Get paid
>>Hang with your best bro, Rainbow
>>Sleep
>>Your life is regimented mediocrity
>>And you thank Celestia for it behind every breath you take
 
>>Last day of the season
>>Brokintosh is aware of your financial troubles. You refuse to ask for hand outs
>>You must have had a conservative vein in you in your previous life, not that you would know that
>>You want to work hard. You want every bit to reflect your blood, sweat, and tears
>>You want to be proud of your money
>>You want Dash to be proud of you. Proud of discovering you, proud to call you Broski
>>You also want Celestia to be proud of you. Proud that she chose you. Show her that you are thankful
>>Brokintosh approaches you
>>“Hey, Anon. Want some overtime?”
>>The sun is setting, but you have nowhere to be.
That would be great.
>>“Alright. Just come to me when you're done.”
>>You get to work in the cellar, the last one to be filled before the season is out
 
>>Your fingers trail off the last plump, red jewel as you place it in its appropriate crate and hammer it shut
>>Your job is done
>>You know not what time it is, but it is dark, it is late. You turn to leave.
>>You won't bother Brokintosh tonight. Head home, come back tomorrow for payment
>>But you stop half way up the steps. You hear hoof beats
>>Applejack stands over you, and step by step she comes down the cellar
>>“Big Mac sent me to pay ya, Anon”
That's nice
>>Anonymous is not stupid
>>Even as the cellar closes behind her, you beam a hostile glare at her
>>You're too tired to deal with this shit tonight
>>“Kinda reminds ya of that one time, don't it?”
We were in a silo 'that one time.'
>>She tosses her braid over her other shoulder as she throws her head
>>“Pssh! Yer' a picky one. Good thing ya don't got a choice.”
>>She creeps lower and lower down the steps, and you creep back further and further from her
>>She is wholly content with this feeling of power over you
 
>>“Too bad Big Mac reassigned ya to organizin'. Ah was enjoying the view when you were hauling those heavy crates.”
>>You get off the steps and make your way back against the pile of crates
>>She hops off and homes in on you like a bloodhound
Why do you do this?
>>“Mmm~ what's that, sugarcube?”
This. We both know where this is going. You're going to try and rape me, I'm going to esca
>>She puts a hoof to your chest
>>“No escapin' for you, this time. An' besides, I wouldn't have ta do this if'n you would just let it happen”
>>She starts crawling up on you
>>You put your hand to her chest and push her off
No.
>>Applejack stumbles back onto all fours and snorts, clapping a fore-hoof to the ground
>>“Well...! Why not! Ah'm a perfectly doable young mare, ain't I? What is it, am I not pretty 'nuff fer' ya, city-boy?”
You're a pony
>>“Should I wear my hair like Fluttershy? Or that Dash... yer' always hangin' out with her!”
Applejack
>>“Why, I bet you've bucked her brains out more'n...”
APPLEJACK
>>She looks to you, wide eyed
You're a pony.
>>“Yeah, so what?”
I am Anonymous.
>>She glares at you
I do not forgive, I do not forget.
>>“What's that got to do with anythin'?”
>>You narrow your eyes at her
I'd hate for our friendship to be dashed over this.
>>The orange mare beats her hoof twice on the ground
>>The 'f' word appears to have been effective
>>Emotional crit
>>“But... why's it gotta be like that?”
 
Just let me go, Applejack.
>>Pause
Please
>>She looks down to the ground
As a friend
>>Her hoof beats the ground once more
>>“Ah... awright. But next time, Anon...”
>>Her voice is laced with frustration as she moves up the cellar doors and easily opens them
>>“Git, before ah change my mind.”
>>You consider asking Macintosh for hazard pay
>>You decide against it