//------------------------------// // 005 - Consequences // Story: Welcome to Distopia // by LucidDreamer //------------------------------// John yawned as he heard a pounding on the front door. “Yeah, yeah. M’comin’.” He bumped into something fluffy. On clearing the sleep from his eyes, he noticed that a equally tired Lorraine was already at the door. Said dragon yawned and opened the door. Both blinked at the bright light, only to see an anxious-looking Spike. “Hey, is everything okay?” Lorraine slurred sleepily. “Applejack and Rainbow Dash are being racist again and Twilight’s starting to listen to them, and Pinkie isn’t helping! Fluttershy refuses to talk and Rarity can’t seem to talk sense into them!” Spike blurted out. “Oh great…” John yawned and trotted into the kitchen. He called out. “Grabbing caffeine, not awake enough for this.” “I’ll head down now, I’m used to running on little sleep.” Lorraine said stepping out and joining Spike. “Go ahead, just nuking some coffee real quick.” John replied. “I’ll catch up.” “Kay.” The dragon replied. “Darling, there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this.” Rarity said from within the cloak that was her fur. She was trying her best to style it so she could see better as she sat on the couch. “Twilight, Fluttershy, and I told you to stop, but no. You three had to rush in, and now look what's happened to us. At least Twilight had the sense to stay back.” Fluttershy, who’d been silent, leaned over and whispered something in the white unicorn’s ear. “Hmmm, oh right. Fluttershy says it might have something to do with those blue flowers, Zecora did say to beware the flowers, in her own roundabout way.” “That’s bull and y’all know it!” Applejack snorted angrily. Which was quite comical as the mare was little more than the size of a mouse. “But Applejack-” Applebloom tried to speak up. “Hush Applebloom, the adults are talkin’.” Applejack snapped. That was when Lorraine came out of the kitchen with Spike, the young dragon bearing a platter of refreshments. The noodle dragon immediately went over to Applebloom. “What’s up?” Applebloom blinked. “What? I can say somethin’?” “Of course you can, it’s your sister affected by this.” Lorraine nodded. “She’s just a filly, what does she know?” Applejack fumed from the table she was pacing on. “Applejack, that’s no way to talk about your sister.” Rarity said with a gasp. Lorraine frowned and glared at the tiny mare. She snorted. Steam actually came out of her nostrils. “Let’s give a quick run down, shall we? You’re disabled. You had to rely on Applebloom to get here and she’s most likely scared and worried about you.” It was at that moment that the front door opened and John came in. He gave a once over to everyone in the room. Rainbow was sulking in a corner, her wings looked off. Pinkie looked frustrated that her tongue was swollen out of her mouth as she sat across from Fluttershy and Rarity. A long straw had been slipped into the side of her mouth and she was drinking from some kind of smoothie. Twilight was sitting amid a pile of various books, seemingly scanning through them for something. She looked perfectly fine. As did Fluttershy, yet she wasn’t speaking. The smol bug trotted over to his girlfriend and sat on the other side of Applebloom. “I am not disabled, you unnatural bitch!” Applejack snapped. Silently, and apparently calmly, John trotted over to the refreshment tray, picked up a cup, chugged the contents and trotted over to the table. He flipped the cup over and slammed it down over the mare. He then put a book on top of the cup. “Time. Out.” He said then gave a slow breath out. He then returned to Applebloom. “Now, let’s think with clear heads please. What happened, cliff notes please.” “Well yesterday-” As Rarity began her explanation, Spike went around and looked through the shelves himself. He hummed and pulled out a book, then brought it over to Twilight. “Supernaturals? Spike, this can’t help, we need books based in facts.” Twilight held the book out to him and immediately returned to looking through books like a machine. Spike sighed. “Give it here.” Lorraine said, causing the small dragon to perk up. He waddled over quickly and held out the book, which the luck dragon took. She flipped through it. “This is a book on magical plants.” She said aloud in a slightly monotone voice. She wandered over to Twilight. “Is this it?” She held out the book with a page showing a blue flower. Twilight paused and looked over at the book. She blinked, seemingly processing. Then she gasped. “That’s it!” She yelled snatching the book out of the dragon’s claw. “Are the effects of that permanent?” Lorraine asked. “No.” Twilight shook her head as she read. “Thank Celestia.” “We cure Applejack last.” Lorraine deadpanned then looked over at Spike. “Good job.” The small dragon blushed bashfully. The cure wasn’t all that hard to make, and the girls went off to get things prepped. All except Applejack. She was still in Time Out. Thus Lorraine and John were left to “foalsit” Applebloom and Spike. Spike and John chilled on the couch and read comics, occasionally glancing at the shaking cup on the table. Muffled threats and swears could be heard from said cup. “So, y’all seem nicer than what AJ says about ya.” Applebloom spoke up. “What have you heard about us?” Lorraine asked. “She says y’all are against herds and that yer unnatural.” Applebloom sighed. “That Ah need ta stay away from ya, and that y’alls relationship is, and Ah quote, a crime against nature.” “What the fuuuu…. Really?” John said, correcting himself mid-sentence. Lorraine cleared her throat and raised her voice. “Well it’s a good thing I’m giving that talk at the schoolhouse tomorrow.” “She’s what now?!” Came a muffled shout from the cup. “Yer comin’ ta school tomorrow?!” Applebloom gasped happily. “Yep. Since you guys are learning about Cutie Marks and herd dynamics. Your teachers wanted me to come in and share my own experiences as someone who can’t get a Cutie Mark, and showcase other options aside from herds. Not that they’re wrong. They’re just not the only way.” Lorraine explained to the filly. “Oh!” Applebloom blinked, her mouth agape. “So y’all don’t have to form a herd? Y’all can just find a special somepony? Just one special somepony? Cause bein’ a part of some kinda group kinda sounds complicated.” “Preach.” John said from the couch. “It’s never good to get shoved into a herd and expect to act as if everything’s fine. Consent and conversation are key to making sure a relationship works, well those and affection, love, some common interests, I could go on.” “Trust.” Lorraine added. “That too.” John nodded, looking over at the pair. “And what about havin’ foals?” Applebloom asked. “Well, there are people who simply can’t have kids, it happens. And I’d say giving a kid a home is just as noble a pursuit right?” Lorraine replied with a smile. Spike seemed to perk up at that comment. “And it’s okay if you don’t even like ponies. Everyone’s different.” Lorraine added. “What about stallions liking stallions or mares liking mares?” Applebloom asked, looking a little hesitant. “That’s perfectly fine. I knew someone in high school who was gay. He was fun. I had no problem with it. It was fine.” She smiled at the filly. “If people are happy, that’s what’s important.” “So, what yer sayin’ is, it’s more about love than anything else?” Applebloom said, chewing her lip in thought. “Pretty much.” John spoke up. “Baring some exceptions, that’s pretty much right.” “Yeah. People here don’t seem to understand that though.” Lorraine said with a nod. “God, the amount of times I’ve been called some not so nice things.” “Ah’m almost an adult, y’all can swear.” Applebloom giggled. “Your sister’s already mad enough at me as it is.” Lorraine snarked. “Yeah, Twilight, everything went fine.” Spike said as he slid his comics back into their box. “Applebloom took AJ once we heard the cure had been complete.” “That’s great.” Twilight smiled as she looked over at the luck dragon. Lorraine was staring intently at a quill sitting on the table. John was sitting in a chair next to her, it looked like he was saying something to her, but she couldn’t hear it. The front door opened and Rainbow Dash came in with a bag on her back. “Lorraine, Gilda caught me on the way here.” She trotted over to the table and put the bag down. The noodle dragon opened the bag. “Tuna!” She said happily and pulled out a plastic bag with a couple tuna sandwiches in it. She pulled one out and started to chow down. “Anyone want one?” She asked with her mouth full. “Isn’t that cat food?” Spike asked, giving the luck dragon a confused look. “Nah it’s just tuna and springwater. Pegasi have it all the time.” Rainbow replied, taking the other sandwich. Lorraine then reached into the bag and pulled out another plastic bag of tuna sandwiches, which she held out to the small dragon. John reached in and decided to pull out the other three plastic bags, as well as a note. The note simply read. I know you’re not eating enough. Eat. Or I’ll force feed them to you. - G “Huh.” John blinked. “Thanks.” Spike took the sandwich and put it on his comic box. Then he hefted the box and started waddling upstairs. Twilight watched him go. “Huh, if he likes it I’ll have to buy some. Garble says dragons need to eat meat. Did you know that dragons are part-carnivore, part gemmavore? They need gems and meat in their diet…. Huh.” She blinked and got a worried look. “I hope we haven’t been making him sick by not feeding him meat or enough gems.” “Does this mean I should start eating gems?” Lorraine asked, moving onto another sandwich. “You could try.” John offered. “I’m sure Rarity could help you test that theory.” “AJ’s bathin’ and she’s pissed.” Applebloom announced as she came in followed by Rarity. “Darlings, you might want an entourage home. I believe Applejack is on a warpath.” Rarity added somewhat darkly. “I am not surprised.” John rolled his eyes “Eh.” Lorraine shrugged. Applebloom trotted up to the table and opened one of the bags. “What’s this?” She asked before taking a bite out of the sandwich. “Tuna sandwich.” John commented. Applebloom slowed her chewing for a moment, then shrugged. “Huh.” She took another bite. “She’s not gonna get sick, is she?” Lorraine asked, pointing at Applebloom. “No, ponies can eat fish. It’s fowl and red meat that we don’t digest as well.” Twilight commented. “I overbought cans of tuna for Opalescence and ended up trying one out of curiosity. After some encouragement from Fluttershy. She only got me with the comment that it’ll make my coat shinier.” Rarity giggled. “That’s Sweetie Belle’s lunch normally, as well.” Lorraine smiled, quite happy that she could bond with friends over food. This was not to last, as the front door opened with a loud bang. Applejack stormed into the library. “Ah’ve had it up to here with ya, ya long-bodied bitch! Y’all think Ah’ll let ya correct the youth a my family with lies?” She stomped over to Lorraine. “Y’all can’t control yer stallion, and yer givin’ the rest a Ponyville a bad name!” “Applejack! You can’t say tha-” Rarity tried to cut in. “No! She’s a blight on the town! Her and her bug!” Applejack snapped, snorting. “That’s hurtful.” John commented, giggling nervously. Lorraine had had just about enough of Applejack’s attitude. She put her food down, got up, and took a step towards the angry farm mare. “So? I’m not hurting anyone.” “Yeah AJ, they might be weird, but they aren’t doing anything wrong. Aren’t they kinda doing their job?” Rainbow countered, getting up herself. “Y’all are blind!” Applejack snapped at Rainbow then returned to glaring at Lorraine. “Maybe Ah’m not gettin’ my point across.” She turned around, planted her forelegs, and bucked Lorraine right in the nose. Lorraine’s head snapped back and instantly John was at her side. In a matter of moments: Rainbow slammed into Applejack’s side, sending her sprawling. Only for a blue glow to encompass the farmer. Rarity, quite violently, threw her out the front door. The moment she was clear, a purple aura slammed the door closed and locked it. Seconds later there was a banging on the door. “Y’all better think hard on what the proper thing ta do is!” Applejack roared from the other side of the door. Lorraine was dazed. She was hunched close to the ground, shaking like a leaf. John was hugging her head, as the poor noodle dragon looked terrified. Like a puppy that had just been kicked. “We might need to appeal to a higher authority.” John said, calm despite the fact that he too was shaking. Suddenly a soft hum started to fill the room as she started to glow with a yellow-white light. “Oh dear…” Twilight said, igniting her horn and yanking the bug away from the luck dragon. Lorraine seemed to blank out for a moment, only for her face to twist into a frown. Lorraine was pissed. She was taking slow, steady breaths. Her eyes blinked back tears. She was still glowing. In fact, she was getting brighter. The hum grew louder as well. “Lorraine. Sweetie. I know you’re pissed. It’s gonna be okay.” John attempted to calm his furious girlfriend. With a small voice, Lorraine asked. “Twilight, what can I do?” “Do?” Twilight blinked, then understood. “Oh! Ummm, how to term it… Ah! Your magic is like a sink faucet.” “You mean a tap?” The noodle dragon asked. “Sure! A tap. Currently it’s on full blast, you can turn it down. Think about turning the tap off.” Twilight instructed. “What about doing something with it?” Lorraine replied. “Doing something? Oh no! That’s a bad idea! You haven’t had any proper training, or reading, or teaching-” Twilight babbled. “Sweetie, wanna go home?” John asked. “I wanna give AJ a piece of my fucking mind!” Lorraine snapped. “I just wanna go supervillain for the day!” “Hon- Lorraine. I know you want to, but that won’t help our reputation in the town, and that’s already not the best.” John warned, speaking slowly. “I know but it’s My Little-fucking-Pony! Maybe if I got hit with a rainbow laser of friendship the town would treat us like fucking people! Because nothing else has worked at this point! We have interviews scheduled, but what good is that gonna do when half the town thinks I’m a bloody predator, and the other half think I’m a fucking homewrecker!” Lorraine seethed, shining brightly as the hum was more like a subwoofer blasting a deep bass note. “Well, what would you do?” Twilight asked, sounding oddly calm. “Well obviously I’d call a town meeting, and basically just take over and implement rules that stated that you can’t force someone to do something. Like, if a stallion didn’t want to be in a herd, they wouldn’t have to be in a herd. And I’d set up a safe space where people can just talk and stuff.” Lorraine replied, sounding more annoyed than angry. “That and I’d chuck AJ in a jail cell for a day.” “Why was I expecting anything different?” John blinked. “I feel stupid.” “That’s like, not being a super-villain. At all.” Rainbow said, actually looking disappointed. “Yes it is, because I won’t be giving them a choice in the matter.” Lorraine nodded at her. “Ah. There it is.” Rainbow nodded. “While those are all great ideas, darling.” Rarity said slowly. “And we can start promoting ideas like that, doing it immediately might not be the best idea.” “Ya. The safe space for stallions sounds great.” Applebloom nodded. “Ah know Mac would love it.” “It’s not just for stallions though, it’s for everyone.” Lorraine said, starting to calm down. “Maybe market it as the Safe Space for Stallions but make it for everyone?” Rarity offered. “That name is quite catchy.” “Oh, okay.” Lorraine said, quieting down as the light and hum started to fade. “I’m sorry.” John trotted up to her and hugged one of her forelegs. “It’s okay. You’re allowed to be mad at stuff.” “I sent a letter to the Princesses, is everything okay?” Spike called out from upstairs. “This cannot stand! Applejack has laid hooves on you and shall be cast to the deepest darkest dungeons of Canterlot!” Luna fumed as she paced in front of the gathered forms of Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, Applebloom, Spike, John, Lorraine, and Celestia. All of them were watching her pace back and forth. Near the door, a still quite ticked Applejack sat fuming between a pair of Royal Guards. “I am sure we don’t need to go that far, Luna.” Celestia said calmly. “But attacking somepony that is basically working for the crown can’t just be let off.” “You could make her an example?” Lorraine offered. Everyone looked at her. “An example? Do tell.” Luna said with an almost mad grin. “What’s the usual punishment for physical assault?” Lorraine asked, looking between Luna and Celestia. “Normally some jail time and probation once they got out.” Celestia said with a hum. “The severity can vary though.” “Does anyone know how badly I would’ve been hurt if I wasn’t a luck dragon?” Said luck dragon asked the room. “A buck like that?” Rainbow asked. “Maybe a broken nose?” “Y’all woulda been knocked out, probably earned ya a night in the hospital, at the very least.” Applebloom spoke. “She looked ta be sendin’ a message, not kill ya.” “So broken nose, a splitting headache, and possibly the risk of brain damage.” Lorraine listed. “So, treat this as if I were a pony. AJ gets the jail time equivalent of the injuries I would’ve sustained.” “Bullshit! Y’all are fine!” Applejack snapped. “Well of course I’m fine! Because magic! What would’ve happened if you pulled that on someone else? So it’s no excuse.” Lorriane frowned at the earth pony. “Lorraine does have a point.” Luna nodded, glaring at the apple mare. “There is the fact that, because you are a luck dragon, additional laws apply. Since you are a luck dragon, you also fall under the laws for assaulting royalty, as well as attacking an endangered species.” Celestia added. “Okay, fine. Add that onto her punishment.” Lorraine agreed. “Now hold an apple-pickin’ minute here! If Ah’m gone, who’ll run the farm?!” Applejack snapped loudly. “Granny’s too old, and Applebloom’s not a mare yet!” “Big Mac will.” John said. “I’ll help.” Lorraine offered. “Well, we’re your friends. We can help take care of the farm.” Twilight added with a small, yet pained smile. “Oh no, she’s not settin’ a claw on mah farm! And Big Mac’s a stallion! Stallion’s aren’t meant ta do hard labor!” Applejack yelled. “Sister, should we add resisting arrest as well?” Luna asked Celestia. “At this point, yes.” Celestia nodded, frowning at the farm mare in the same way a mother looks at an unruly child as she announced Applejack’s sentence. “Applejack Apple, you are hereby ordered to serve six months in jail, and on release, serve two years on probation, as well as attending anger management and sensitivity training classes.” Applejack’s anger seemed to drain out of her. She paled as a look of fear and despair grew on her face. She let her head fall as she was led out of the library. “Oh now she cares.” Lorraine said bitterly.