TRIGGER WARNING: This is the darkest chapter in the story and should probably be rated mature. It is not very explicit, but the subject matter is extremely dark. Please proceed with caution. Rarity

The hoof slammed into my stomach and I let out a cry. "H-HEELP-"

A tendril of magic wrapped around my muzzle and forced it shut. The red maned mare chuckled. "Silly stallion. We're all alone."

Another hoof slammed into my face. I felt a tooth crack. I whimpered in pain and tried to struggle, but it was no use... two of the Earth Ponies were holding me to the wall while the third worked me over. I'd tried to use my magic, but the first thing they did was crack my horn... Now I couldn't even speak.

The mare was laughing. "Oh this is rich. How does it feel tranny? Do you feel all special now? Boys don't take it kindly when you pretend to be a girl."

"Fucking rapist!" The earth pony shouted. He slammed a hoof into my stomach and a burst of hacking air spurted from my nose. He glared. "You think you can trick men into fucking you? You think you can walk into women's bathrooms and have your way with them?"

He tore my dress open and forced my head down. "This is what you are... And for all our families, we're going to make sure you remember."

He certainly tried. They did... things to me. There was pain, shame... fear.

I couldn't fight it. I couldn't move. All I could do was stare up at the stars and pray this was a dream.

But Luna would never be so cruel.

I don't know if it went on for minutes or hours. I cried. I cried, and cried for so long that I ran out of tears...

Then I heard a sound.

It was a harsh sound, a rapid, meaty smack followed by a sickening crunch. The stallion in front of me fell to the ground and I saw an orange hoof take his place. A new pony stepped in front of me. His... No her Stetson covering a short cropped mane.

Applejack snarled at my attackers. "Back. Off."

They were on her in an instant.

The unicorn was the greatest threat by far, and Applejack knew it. The second she fired up her horn AJ grabbed her by the mane and flung her against the far wall.

I heard ribs crack and with a desperate teleport she vanished in a puff of magic.

The others proved more resilient.

Earth ponies are not flashy fighters like pegasi or unicorns. What I watched was a brutal, bloody slog of bruising flesh and snapping bones.

AJ was outnumbered, but she was also trained in the martial art of rodeo. Any time they tried to grab her she shook them off. Every time they tried to land a blow, she would dodge it...

At least at the start.

The two ponies that were holding me down fled quickly, clearly they hadn't been expecting anything like this, but the one who... The one who hurt me kept at it, matching AJ blow for blow.

He lashed out with so much rage that I had no idea what to make of it. I tried to get up and help, but the pain was just... I could barely move.

He bore down on her. She was stronger, I knew that, but she had burnt far more energy. His blows landed again and again until eventually he saw an opening.

He swept her hooves out from under her and she stumbled to the ground. He slammed his hoof into her throat. She opened her mouth in pain, but no sound came out. I croaked in fear.

The stallion spat on her. "You don't get to touch me farm boy..."

He turned to me. "You think this perv you seduced is your knight in shining armor don't you?" He pressed down even harder. AJ started jerking around, writhing in pain.

The stallion smirked. "Some knight... But you know, at least he's honest. At least he doesn't pretend to be something he isn't. You're stupid stal-"

He cried out in agony as Applejack's back hooves crushed his groin.

The hoarse mare cried out and body slammed him into a corner. She raised up her hoof and smashed his face again and again.

I'd never seen anything like it. The stallion's rage had been burning, terrible thing, but what was in AJ's eyes was different.

There was no fire, no rage, just a cold, desperate hate. She slammed her hooves down on him again, and again until there was nothing left of the stallion but a quivering, bloody pile sobbing into the dirt.

"She's a mare..." Applejack growled, her voice was very low. She raised her hoof high, ready to smash in his skull. My eyes went wide.

"S-Stop!" I croaked.

The farm pony froze mid swing.

"Applejack please... You've won. He's not worth it." I coughed and groaned from the effort.

She stopped. The stallion stayed on the ground. He was in terrible shape, His ribs looked like they were shifting on his chest... but at least he was alive.

I saw a rocking horse on his flank. I had no idea what to make of that.

Applejack stared at what she'd done. She shook herself and turned to me, bruised, but mostly okay. "Do- Do ya'll need help?"

I coughed, my eye was swelling closed and my throat was bruised, but I managed a nod. "Could... Could you take me to the hospital?"

She gingerly lifted me onto her back... Then after a moment she turned to the stallion.

"He... He should go too. Are... Are you going to be okay riding with him?" She asked.

I gulped... But the stallion clearly needed medical attention and I didn't want to make my friend a murderer. I nodded.

Applejack gave him a nasty look... But it didn't have the same ice as before. "You start any shit and I'll- I'll finish what I started you hear?"

The bloody stallion nodded, he looked absolutely looked terrified.

AJ picked him up, draped him over herself and started trotting.

I turned to the bleeding, broken pony next to me. He'd beaten me, he'd made me feel like I was nothing... But in that moment all I could feel was pity.

"My name is Rarity." I said lamely.

"C-Carver." He sputtered.

The rest of the ride was silent.

# Applejack

"Applejack what happened!"

"It's okay little sis. I just had to get some roughhouser off a friend, that's all."

"Lan's sake boy, that cut on your leg looks really deep... Did he have a knife?"

"I- I mean I guess he did."

"We should take a look at that. Should we get you to the clinic tomorrow?"

"Don't worry Granny, it's... It's not as bad as it looks."