Life in Equestria became substantially harder. Attacks on Ponyville became more frequent. Renegade human criminals like Team Rocket, the weird Sith assassins and the Shadowbolts forced them to remain on high alert at all times. Several unicorns banded together and created a shield to protect the town, while the walls and sonic emitters set up by Vinyl Scratch prevented stealth incursions. Gust's griffons helped keep a round-the-clock vigil of Ponyville, Canterlot and Cloudsdale. Fortunately, it was enough to keep them safe.
Other towns and what was left of the Crystal Empire did the same. When ponyfolk traveled, they did so with either unicorns and their magic to protect them or they flew as fast as they possibly could. Those were the only real options. Everypony had to adapt to the new reality of survival being the priority. No new buildings, no new businesses, a lot more tents and makeshift houses. Although there were no food shortages, no problem clean water, there was a lack of something equally as vital: progress.
"Hi Rarity."
"SUGAR CUBE CORNER IS CLOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSED!!" Pinkie's voice echoed from down the street. Yes, she was continuing to wail about Sugar Cube Corner. You can set your watch to it. If you can afford a watch, that is; Ponyville can't.
"Hello darlings," Rarity said. Outside Carousel, she and Sweetie Belle were showing off their latest fashions for the season, freshly-made and hanging on racks for all to see. "Would you care for a blanket?"
"No thanks," Twilight said. At the very least, she was no longer in Nightfall mode and was back to her regular Twilight form.
"I'll take one."
"No, Dan," they all had to stop him.
"But-but-buuuuuuuuueehehhhhh!" He reached for the blankets but was restrained by Twilight's magic, plus Phoenix and Spike holding back his limbs.
Rarity smiled. "It's nice to see at least someone appreciates my work. With such the state that it's in." Her eyes were sad and apologetic, but with the effort of gladness, at least. It was all taking more effort than usual. The Equestrian fashion industry, tied with baked goods and pet supplies for its largest industry, was one of the casualties of the economic crisis. No new fashion shows meant no new fashion designs. Carousel Boutique had to be repurposed to mass-produce and distribute blankets, sheets and canvas for tents.
"No, he wants your blanket to burn things with," Phoenix said.
Rarity nodded. "I know, Nicholas. It's still nice. For next time, Dan, this Zebra-buffalo cotton hybrid burns the best and it's easiest to store."
Dan stopped struggling. "Thank you. Thank you, Rarity, I'll... remember that."
"It also has a very lovely pattern and a low flashpoint, comparatively."
"Even the smoke makes a nice pattern!" Sweetie added. She had the day off from the CMCGB(Cutie Mark Crusaders Ghostbusters).
"SUGAR CUBE CORNER IS CLOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSED!!"
A burst of magic rose up into the sky and exploded. The shield surrounding Ponyville was replenished, as it had to be periodically.
They moved on from Carousel Boutique. Dan, Twilight, Phoenix, Spike and Kent were making their rounds. Chrys, Fluffle and the horde of flufflapons stayed at home. There wasn't much to do aside from visit and check up on things. Even though they were nobility now, Twilight and Dan enjoyed virtually no luxury different from any other being in Ponyville. Except, possibly easier access to other princesses.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack were working around the clock. Sweet Apple Acres had to produce enough food to feed all the new mouths and Cloudsdale had to keep producing water. The power company and unicorns were needed to maintain security, leaving non-critical components of society without much to do. Even so, things had to be maintained in shifts and they all had one. Dan, Phoenix and Spike kept the night watch while Twilight bolstered the shield from noon to, well, dusk.
There was no progress or advancement, research was scaled back into only the most crucial of areas. Instead of lessons on friendship, there were lessons on survival, taught repeatedly and harshly. Even though the zebras had gifted Equestria with a massive amount of land, it was now useless because of the economic crisis. There were initial thoughts of trying to sell it to the griffons but it would've been worthless to them, too. And now, there was no one who could develop said land.
Some ponies even talked of going to war against the griffons. But even Dan had to realize that would've been a fruitless endeavor(aside from revenge). The griffons had purchased extra defenses with their wealth and with their own Magic Gear, they could fend off even Equestria's best projected conventional attacks. It was a reality they all had to face.
Yes, they were all adapting to the new standard. But some were having difficulty adapting. Dan and friends were about to pay one of them a visit now.
"NOOOOOOOO PLEASE! PLEASE PLEASE PLEAAASE!!!"
"Oh boy," Twilight said. They approached Discord as he stood, back towards them, quite bewildered at what he saw.
"THIS is the noise complaint?" Dan asked. He looked back to town. "All the way out here? There's no way-"
"PLEEEEEASE! WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK!!!!!!!"
Dan rubbed his ears. "Okay, then. I get how that can reach that far."
With the recent cutbacks in supplies and services, not all were able to keep the same standard of living they had enjoyed before. It was extremely unfortunate. Some larger families had to split up a bit, which for some, was nearly unbearable. For Fluttershy, it was completely unbearable.
"NOoooooooooooooooooooooo...!" Fluttershy moaned. Outside her cottage, her various creatures and critters had all packed their bags. They all had various needs, special needs in some cases, and Fluttershy was only one mare. Even a very giving mare such as her couldn't accommodate all of their requirements, which were extensive even for pets. Her birds Ray, Cay, May and Rodney needed regular allergy medication, the gerbils Gil, Bert and Sullivan needed specialized toothpaste and Monty, her python and the Cobra Commander(again, just a cobra named Commander) needed training for their stand-up comedy career.
Some of them had to get jobs. Harry was one of them.
"Arrarroo-ra," Harry the bear said in bearish. "Arr-ra." He patted Fluttershy on the head. He was probably thanking her for the chiropractic therapy she'd given him. He had mild scoliosis but was making great improvements with Fluttershy's treatment.
Fluttershy nodded, picking herself off the ground. "I... I understand, Harry."
"Rarrar-ra-ra-ra."
"I've learned a lot from you, too. I'll miss you."
Harry smiled, leaned down and kissed her. He adjusted his hat, grabbed his briefcase and headed off. Just as he passed Dan and the others, he waved good-bye. "Rar-rar-aa-ra-ra."
"Thank you!" Fluttershy waved.
Dan and friends plus Discord approached Fluttershy. She dried her tears.
"What did he say?" Dan asked.
"I'll be home around seven," Fluttershy said. "He's such a sweetheart."
Dan turned back around and did a double-take. "Wait, so he's not leaving?"
"He just now left, Dan. That happened." Her other friends were quick to console her, but not Dan. And oddly enough, not Discord either.
"But he's coming back!" Dan protested. "I thought you were having this emotional outburst because your animals were all leaving you!"
Fluttershy sniffled. "Why would they leave?"
"I. DON'T. KNOW. You were crying, they all had their bags packed, I think that turtle had a train ticket-"
"For Manehattan. He's applying for a management position at Denny's."
Spike elbowed Phoenix. "Hope he's not working the register."
*laugh track*
"AAAAAARGH," Dan growled. "You're upset because your animals are getting... jobs?!"
Fluttershy nodded. "I worry about them so much. I barely had time to pack them all lunch."
Dan balled his fists. He shook with rage, it boiled inside him up past his eyes, all the way to the end of his hair. He raised his fists and shouted, "AAAAAAarrrrggagade-bleh," and then it fizzled out.
"You're not gonna do a shout, Dan?" Twilight asked.
"I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO ONE. Come on, let's go back to the town. I wanna buy a blanket."
"Dan-"
"NOT TO BURN THINGS WITH."
Twilight caught up to him, leaned down and added, "Or to strangle, whip, choke, rug-burn, beat or otherwise maim anyone or anything with."
"Fine, just go take the fun out of everything."
"SUGAR CUBE CORNER IS CLOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSED!!"
Discord looked around. "Am I going to get to say anything? What, is Discord best background pony now? Why was I even here?"
"Would you like to come inside, Discord?" Fluttershy asked.
"I really should get back to the mayor's office. Interim mayor, and all that."
Timidly, she looked up at him. "For some coffee?"
Discord stopped. "A...ah. THAT'S why I'm here. Sounds great!" They both entered the empty cottage together. They had it to all to themselves until seven that night. This was another way ponies adapted to the depression; without money, there were fewer ways to keep themselves busy.