The Earth-Pony Revolution (An Equestrian History Story)

by Quartez

Pony-So Number Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen: "Pony-So Number Fifteen"

"Spontaneous Demonstration" was what the newspaper had said.

There was no mention of the fact that attendance was mandatory, or that it had obviously and carefully been planned and choreographed.

Just that the entire population of Ponyang had chosen to express their gratitude to the Ponyburo in general and Golden Eyes in particular.

The newspaper also claimed that the event was only supposed to last an hour but "popular demand" made it stretch on for three hours.

In truth, nopony was told coming in how long it was supposed to last and Apple Scruff personally witnessed a number of ponies collapse from the cold, primarily colts, fillies and the elderly.

But he had a plan, he was running away, if it wasn't too late he was going to escape, he wouldn't let himself be disappeared like Rose Garden or Lustre or Silver Tongue.

He cursed himself, silently, maybe he should have questioned it before, ponies didn't just disappear into thin air.

Scarlet Quill had come to Apple Scruff for apples before and Apple Scruff now came to him for fake travelling papers.

He handed them over but he pleaded Apple Scruff to reconsider, he didn't know if they'd fool the guards.

But Apple Scruff was going to try, he'd rather get killed trying to escape then live like this for any longer.

Apple Scruff was leaving everything behind, even his family photos, it would look too suspicious, all he had was a cart of apples and two sets of fake papers; one giving him the right to leave Ponyang and another claiming he had to deliver Apples to Cherponyl.

As soon as he crossed the border he was going into the Hayseed swamp and then west to the Frozen North Wall, he was going to follow it along until he found a safe place to cross it.

His best bet was Rambling Rock Ridge, once he was over he was going to tell Celestia everything he knew about the Brony Union and how it worked and he was going to spend the rest of his life trying to let ponies know the truth about what went on behind that wall.

He approached the border, there were three ponies there.

They were all unicorns and they were in uniform, the youngest looked the least scary so Apple Scruff went to him.

"Papers, please" he said;

one of the guards glared at him, he quickly corrected himself: "I mean, papers! Now!" he looked over at the guard who was still glaring at him and added: "Citizen!"

Apple Scruff reached into his saddle bag and handed the guard the papers, he studied them for a moment, then called the other guard over, Apple Scruffs heart raced.

"This says you're delivering apples to Cherponyl"

"That's correct" said Apple Scruff, trying not to let his voice shake.

"Cherponyl?" asked the guard suspiciously,

"Cherponyl" he repeated.

The guards looked at each other, then one of them walked into the guard post, levitating the papers with him.

"I should run", thought Apple Scruff, but it was useless, where could he go?

They had his papers, they knew who he was; Apple Scruff wondered if he should have used a fake name, but that would only make things worse; two lies were more likely to get him caught then one.

Two guards left the guard post and then, all three of them pointed their horns at him:

"Apple Scruff, you are under arrest for the crime of un-permitted travel."

In less then two hours it had happened.

They had put a bag over Apple Scruff's head and dragged him away by his tail, he was on a cart at one point and then when it was over, they brought him inside.

Inside where, he didn't know, all he could see was a long corridor with numerous doors, they opened one and threw him inside.

It was blank and windowless; the light seemed to come from every surface.

He stood their for what seemed like an eternity, wondering what was going to happen, what happened to the ponies who never came back?

Were they locked up in a dungeon?

Or banished to some place far-away?

Or locked in a dungeon in some place far-away?

He had a long time to think about it, he stayed there for hours, in his more hopeful moments he wondered if this was the extent of his punishment, maybe he'd just be kept here until he died?

Then, after so much waiting, came the voice:

"Apple Scruff, Pony-So Number 15."

Another bag was placed on his head, but first a gag was placed on his mouth, there was a bridle and reins attached to it, so the guard could steer him around.

His legs were bound so he could walk, but not buck.

He was led outside, he could feel the cold, he was sure it was night, things always got colder at night.

Was this how all those ponies disappeared?

Moved at night, where nopony else could see or hear them?

He was sure he was being put on a train, there were no seats, he just stood.

There was a noise like somepony tapping the side of the train with his hoof and it took-off, swaying so badly Apple Scruff fell over.

He didn't know where he was going but it had to be worse then where he left and that was a tall order.

When he was taken off the train, the bag was removed from his head.

A sign ahead said: "PONY-SO, FORCED LABOUR CAMP # 15, PONYODOK"

He had heard the name: "Ponyodok" before; it was one of those cities most ponies weren't allowed to visit. Even those rare few who had permission to leave their home town.

He was led inside, there was a great open courtyard flanked by guard towers.

Then he was led into a building, it was filthy and small and he was thrown into one of the cells; his restraints were removed, the door was locked and the guard left.

There was somepony else here, with a long, shaggy beard and mane, Apple Scruff's eyes widened:

"Silver Tongue?"

The pony jumped up:

"Apple Scruff??!" Simultaneously they exclaimed:

"THEY GOT YOU TOO??!" Silver Tongue smiled bitterly:

"They got me a long time ago."

"What are you in for?" asked Apple Scruff

"I was spying for the Royal Sisters" said Silver Tongue matter-of-factly.

"I tried to escape" sighed Apple Scruff.

"I'd like to talk more, but we'll have plenty of time for that, in two-hours they're going to wake us up and bring us out into the yard. Keeps us cold and tired, stops us from thinking too hard."

He indicated some loose slats of wood on the floor, "Your bed, see you tomorrow".

They were woken up by the guards and marched at horn-point towards the yard.

Once there, they were simply left to their own devices,it seemed the guards didn't care what you did as long as they were cold and hungry.

Silver Tongue said simply: "The name's a bit deceptive, we're only forced to work when there's things to do. This place is as inefficient as the rest of the union; there are long stretches where there's just nothing to keep us occupied."

Apple Scruff was looking at the wall, smooth and polished:

"Do you think we could form some kind of pony-pyramid and climb over?" he whispered.

Silver Tongue laughed: "Of course we could! But we're in the Frozen North! There's no escaping for us, we'd die long before we managed to trot back to civilisation! But we could die in Equestria if that's what you want"

"What?"

"That's the Frozen North wall, part of it anyway. See the sign?"

Silver Tongue pointed up, it was so small, you'd never know it was there; unless somepony pointed it out:

"YOU ARE ENTERING THE EQUESTRIAN SECTOR.

CARRYING WEAPONS OFF-DUTY FORBIDDEN."

Silver Tongue continued:

"We're somewhere between the Crystal Mountains and the border. They're aren't any Equestrian guards nearby so we're not escaping to the west if that's what you think. Not in the traditional sense, we could climb over the wall and die trying to get to Vanhoover though."

"Doesn't sound very appealing."

"It's more of a moral victory then anything."

At that moment the ground shook, like a very gentle earthquake.

A few hours after they were allowed back inside.

They weren't taken outside for the rest of the day, which, according to Silver Tongue was most unusual.