> No Such Thing > by Garbo > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > No Quarter > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The first rays of white sunlight shone over the grassy Hills as the stallion made his way into town. The soft Earth under his hooves was almost therapeutic, not Resembling what he was used to. In fact, nothing in Equestria was familiar. He'd come from far across the Sea, and had not welcome there or anywhere so far. Notional was his name. As those went, it was a lousy One. It did seem to sum up his life, though. If ponies Saw him, they did a terrific job pretending they were Unable to. Did a lone alicorn roaming around stir up Controversy every once in a while? Surely, but only Here and there. It wasn’t frequent enough for others To notice, yet the nonstop scrutiny was too much for Him. They would stare and then suddenly look away In disgust. He could be Celestia’s son and they would Never cease the ridicule. That was life; it was always Going to be that way. He was a creep and he knew it. As he crested the final hill, he looked up and he could See the town, streets bustling with activity, he let out A cry of excitement. Swiftly, he got to the downward Slope of the hill, and thought things might be all right This time. These ponies seemed as if they might not Ostracize him as many others had. He only wanted to Rejoice with them and share his ideas and his stories, Yet he feared these ponies were the same as the rest. Tentatively, he took his first steps into the small town, Outwardly and inwardly scared. At first, nothing came Out to confront him. The few ponies he passed didn’t Bother to look up, paying attention only to what was At hoof. If felt good to not be noticed, without all the Demonization he often encountered. Now being free To move without prejudice, he found himself smiling. Oh how long it was since he’d worn a content simper. Behind him, suddenly, he heard a blaring gasp which Echoed through the town, soon reaching the market, Town center, and far beyond the last cottages. The Open expanses carried the wave to its finale, at long Last dying into a whisper, which soon faded into the Din. It froze him in his tracks, unable to move in fear. Other cries of astonishment soon joined the first, the Raucous cries coming from all over. They vilified the Alicorn before them, his excrescence a horror they’d Never soon forget, though not through lack of effort. After the initial shock set in, there was silence. They Uttered not a word for fear of what the monster of a Thing before them might do. Notional was terrified. How he would respond was as much a secret to the Other ponies as it was to him. Now Notional started Racking his brains for something—anything—to do. Ultimately, a small filly was first to journey from the Noose of ponies around him. Slowly, they started to Draw in tighter, as if to choke he who found himself Entrapped at the center. Despite the cold, iniquitous Strength of the circle, it only took one filly’s fearless Example to bring it to a halt. She spoke words to the Ring in the native tongue, which he had become very, Very familiar with by so long into his travels. But the Important part of it was not known to him. He could Not decipher the words, nor find their meaning. The Ground wasn’t as soft as it had seemed to be at first. Often during the speech, she was interrupted by the Fierce cries from the others in the circle, seemingly Ponies who disagreed with what she said. Soon, the Reluctant silence she’d been given to speak became A tumultuous outcry. He had no way to be sure, but It seemed as though the crowd wanted her to move Somewhere else, get out of their way and allow the Events to unfold as they should. They wanted a war. Why was this little filly doing this? One out of many, Emphatically willing to listen without even passing A premature judgement? He’d never know for sure, Relying on his imagination to fill in the blanks. The Enraged crowd did not give him the time, however, Not so much of thinking of the filly as they cast her To the side, ruthlessly, like a bag of rancid garbage. As a small colt, his father had often told him that all Life’s full of people with good intentions & now this Lot seemed to think just the opposite, despicable in Getting rid of the very young filly’s smart, innocent Idea. With tears in his eyes, Notional lept stealthily From the circle, flying away on his long, rose wings. The townsfolk grew smaller and smaller as he sadly Evacuated. He left to go to an unknown destination, Destined to roam always, never finding acceptance. With the fleeing alicorn to focus on, the equine mob, In their apathy, had completely forgotten the young Terrified filly they had left on the ground, without a Hint of guilt or recognition. She stood up, shook the The dust and dirt from her coat, and coughed quite Hoarsely to free that which had gone down into her Esophagus. Like Notional, she watched the ponies Slowly fade into the horizon, blind in pointless hate As they hopelessly ran after the stallion. The young Mare could not comprehend the hatred and sadistic Euphoria that had overtaken the group of what had Seemed like reasonable ponies, who now showed a Killer instinct she couldn’t place. How could recent Innocents turn against the new equine in town over Little more than his appearance? The mare walked, Limped down the street, her body and soul feeling Bruised, though the former made her smart deeper Under her skin. It said a lot that ponies could be so Torn up over the superficial. These issues haunted And pursued her as the made her way about town, Leaving her direction to chance. Why couldn’t they Leave him alone? It wasn’t any of their business. If He was a visitor to their town, they should’ve been A welcoming bunch. The filly passed by the town’s Very best bakery. The smell of fresh rolls, normally Enticing, now seemed sour. It’s bright colors were In stark contrast with her emotions and the realities Deep in her soul which now surfaced. She looked up Either side of the street and found a place that more Accurately describes those feelings. She looked at a Stone brick wall and pillars, as well as the inscribed Words carved over the doorframe: Bank. She never, Over her currently short life, had come to realize the Reason why ponies ever go to the bank. She walked Through this part of town on her way to school, and Had often watched the ponies on their business. She Saw them all go in with big smiles on their faces and Hardly a care in the world, then return a week later, Ailing from an empty heart and emptier saddlebags. Really nothing more than tax-supported harassment. It, and the harsh treatment of the pony, were normal Nowadays. After all, it is much easier to shun these Glaring stories than to change your way of thinking.