//------------------------------//
// True Design 
// Story: Recluse 
// by MellowSoul 
//------------------------------//

Scootaloo trained at the clubhouse for a while before catching up with her friends. The rush of adrenaline helped calm her nerves. In town, they bought both Mega Man Legends games, a new dress for Sweetie, and a scythe for Applejack. Sweetie and Apple Bloom made their purchases quick to set Scootaloo's anxiety at ease. They returned home within two hours time.




Back at the clubhouse, Apple Bloom came up with the idea to sing karaoke. She and Sweetie went first. When it was Scootaloo's turn, the young girl did the only she could think of. She threw her friends into the deep end of the metal pool.

"Apple Bloom, I'm scared." Sweetie said emotionlessly.

"Same here. I didn't know anyone could shout like that. I kinda like it, though."

"You're nuts."

"Ain't we all?"

"Not me."

"Guess we just gotta wait and see."

"Whatever you say."

Scootaloo let out a scream which rang out across the woods.

"YOUR LOVE FAILED ME!!!"




After hearing the raw emotion in the recesses of the rock scene, Apple Bloom requested an encore. Sweetie Belle plugged her ears.

"I haven't practiced this one yet," Scootaloo acknowledged, "If I sound weird, that's why."

"We gotcha." Apple Bloom noted.

"Here goes."

Scootaloo hit play. This song was faster and more aggressive than the last one.

"IT'S TRUE, THERE WERE BETTER ONES THAT LED THEIR PEOPLE! IT'S TRUE, THERE WERE BETTER ONES TO LEAD THEIR COUNTRY! IT'S TRUE, THERE WERE BETTER ONES WHO CARED FOR THIS WORLD! IT'S TRUE, THERE WERE BETTER ONES, BUT WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE!? WITHOUT THE STRENGTH OF ALL, THE NATIONS WILL CRUMBLE!"

Sweetie unplugged her ears, surprised by the level of thought put into the lyrics.

"FEED LIES FOR WAR! BRING THE NATION TO ITS KNEES, RISKING WORLDLY STRUCTURE AND INTEGRITY!"

The instrumentation transitioned to a more melodic sound.

"The balance of our kind, controlled by hatred: distorted truth and lies! UNITED IS THE ONLY WAY TO STAND! LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD LEADING TO THE LAND OF THEIR UN-FREE! GOD-SENT POLITICS HAMMERED DOWN WITH A FIST TOO BOLD! PLAY THE COUNCIL OF PAWNS IN THE QUEST OF TOTAL CONTROL! FREE US FROM THIS HATE!"

The song went into the final crescendo.

"Take over the world. Does hate mean freedom? Divide our home. Does hate mean freedom? Take over the world...DOES HATE MEAN FREEDOM!? TAKE OVER THE WORLD, DIVIDE OUR HOME! DOES HATE MEAN FREEDOM!? TAKING OVER THE WORLD, DIVIDE OUR HOME! DOES HATE MEAN FREEDOM!!!?"

The breakdown slowed, allowing the message to sink in while the song reached its conclusion. Sweetie and Apple Bloom gawked at each other with stunned expressions.

"Looks like our childhood's over." the country girl concluded.

"Yep."