Chapter 8: Cold Water
It was the middle of the night, Applejack was waiting with 5 loaded wagons outside sweet apple acres, she had to be careful, and pulled each one to the gate. She saw a lantern signal, it was the ponies that Lightning sent to pick up the supplies, he was personally there to see things over. Applejack sent them the all clear signal. The ponies were hitched up to the wagons, "sorry it's not a lot, but it should last you guys until I ready the nest shipment." lightning was relieved, "Any amount of food is good, what about the blankets." Applejack thought for a moment, "I'm working on it, I need to convince my friend to help you out first." Lightning nodded, "OK, write me when you do, and be careful, if anything seems wrong, you can stop helping us immediately, you don't have to stick your neck out for us." Applejack shook her head, "I do, and I will." That was all she said before walking off. Lightning smiled, and joined the convoy.
The camp was cheering as the supplies came in, the wagon was full of apples, apple fritters, hay sandwiches, and fresh water. Lightning was glad, he now had an ally, and ally who was willing to help feed his starving army, and that was all he needed at the moment, an ally, and maybe a friend.
Applejack went to Carousel Boutique, she had to see Rarity about the blankets and tents. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she had to try. She opened the door, and Rarity was sewing a dress. "Oh Applejack, good to see you darling." Applejack smiled, good, rarity was in a good mood. "rarity, I need to speak to you, alone, I need to ask you a favor." Rarity put down her sewing materials. "Of course, follow me into my room, it's quieter there. The two friends went to the bedroom, as soon as Applejack was sure no pony was listening, she told Rarity what she needed. "I need you to help me fix up blankets and tents for the Confederate troops near Ponyville." Rarity was about to scream in disbelief, but Applejack stopped her. "I know, it's treason, and we could both get in trouble, but I saw what these ponies are going through. They are getting sick, and freezing because their blankets are damp, and their tents have holes in a lot of places, I'm already giving them what I can spare for food, but they can't eat if their in a bed with malaria." Rarity was in total shock, when she found the right words to say, she said them, "Applejack, they got themselves into it, if they did not rebel against Equestria, then they wouldn't be sick, or cold, and we would not be having this conversation, Applejack, if we get caught, we're looking at life in prison, or worse, a noose around our necks." "I know, but I also know that these ponies aren't monsters, they are ponies who are fighting for what they believe in, and they are willing to die for that very reason. I want to help them survive, I don't think what they're doing is right, but I have respect for them, and I feel like it's my duty to help them as an Apple, if I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have said any of this to you, but I need your help, those poor, young ponies need your help, now will you help me or not." Rarity looked at the floor, then at Applejack, she bit her bottom lip, "I need to know what the tents and blankets are made out of first, then I'll see if I can get the materials to fix them up." Applejack could not have been happier, she hugged her friend, "Thank y'all, but this stays between us." Rarity nodded in agreement.
Applejack began to write a letter,
I got some pony to fix up the blankets and tents, send a sample of the blankets and tents that you have in the camp, so that we know what materials we need.
Signed, The Feeder
The Feeder was her nickname, so in case the message was intercepted. Applejack called a bird to her window, tied the letter to it's foot, and sent it off. The bird was trained to fly to the rebel camp and back. They were widely used by the Confederates to avoid sending messenger ponies, who could easily be spotted and ambushed by patrols. It was so simple, yet so clever.
Lightning soon got the message, and ordered, parts of blankets to be cut, and prepared for flight. When all the samples were together, he tied them to a bunch of birds, as well as a letter for Applejack. He was thankful for this, Applejack, he thought to himself, is a blessing.
After a month of gathering supplies, and making new blankets and tents, Applejack had about 7 wagons this time,as she was waiting for the usual haulers to take the food away, it was routine, signal asking for clearance, and the all clear. Unknown to her, Rainbow was flying towards the farm to see her. She saw Applejack talking to a blue Pegasus, as other ponies were being attached to wagons. She recognized the blue Pegasus almost immediately, at first she thought he was kidnapping her and taking her food, but as she watched the conversation between the two, she saw that they were talking like old friends, which ended in a hug. She flew off to go see Twilight.
Lightning and AJ had no idea Rainbow had watch the whole exchange go down, "Thank you, we were starting to run out of food, and the blankets are greatly appreciated." "I was also able to get some medicine for the sick ones, for every type of disease known to pony kind." Lightning then hugged Applejack, she hugged him right back, they were now great friends, and maybe a little bit more than that. "I could kiss you right now, but I don't think you would like that very much." Applejack laughed, "Take me out to dinner first, then I'll consider that offer." She was able to visit him a lot, and got to know him more, she even knew that he was a Fire Sage, an ancient warrior from the Fire Land, he told her everything, what happened to his people, why he hates Celestia, and why he wanted to help Equestria rather than burn it, as most loyal to Celestia claimed, and she actually felt sorry for him. They said goodbye, and both went their separate ways, they even looked back at each other and waved like little fillies saying goodbye after school. So Applejack went to her room, and went to sleep. Applebloom was in her room sleeping with sass, as usual, and snored loudly. Granny Smith was in her bead, sleeping like old ponies do, with a snore, and mild talking in their sleep. Big Mac was at camp, having to stay with the army, training them for the spring fighting.
Rainbow dash burst into the throne room, Twilight was having a meeting with the General in charge of the Federal troops stationed in and around Ponyville, "Twilight, I have to speak to you, in private." Twilight could tell Rainbow Dash was worried about something, "Of course, Generals, wait here, I'll be back in a moment." The Generals saluted, and Twilight walked into the room next door, as soon as Rainbow was sure that they couldn't hear her, she spoke, "I was on my way to Sweet Apple Acres to give a letter to Big Mac, and when I did, I saw her trading 7 full wagons of food and supplies to a bunch of suspicious looking ponies, so I watched the deal go down and_" Twilight interrupted, "Rainbow, I'm sure Applejack was just giving some supplies to the local refugee camp." That's the thing, the pony she was talking to, was Lightning Strike." Twilight's pupils shrunk. "They were talking like old friends, and even hugged. I think Applejack is making deals with the rebels, but I wasn't sure who to talk to, so I came to you." The room was silent for a minute. The General was listening through the door, he heard everything, he sent one of his Colonels to go and arrest Applejack. He then walked away from the door. Twilight was silent, so was Rainbow dash. They did not know what to say, their friend Applejack, was working with the enemy, "Rainbow, what you told me tonight will not leave this room, you will not tell another soul of what you just told me, understood?" rainbow nodded, she was hoping Twilight would say that.
Applejack was getting up to answer her door, some pony was knocking on the door, "Alright, alright, hold your horseshoes, I'm coming." She opened the door to see 20 pony guards waiting with a prison wagon outside. "Applejack, you are under arrest, for treason against the Celestial Empire." They grabbed her, and tied a rope around her front hooves, and tossed her in the wagon. She was crying, she got caught, and now she was going to face what ever punishment they saw fit. It was over, but she had no idea how they found out.
