“Limestone?!” shrieked Matilda, bewildered by the idea of so heartless an act being performed by one she had once felt was an admirable friend.
The cosmonauts turned to face the killer, all keeping their distance as they did so. She, however, only glared at them all, as if they were just fools that got lucky in coming here.
“You idiots! Did you really see her as a friend? I know none of you were there, so I’ll explain for you. Applejack does nothing but encroach upon others’ territory and meddle in everypony’s business. When she came to my farm, she nearly destroyed Holder’s Boulder! You may have been too busy with your own trivial matters, but I know she was going to take over this ship while nopony was looking. What happened to being a crew, everypony? Do you plan to ditch me after I’ve worked harder than all of you to protect this ship?”
“ Could you, like, take it down a skosh? I’ve always really digged your vibes, man. But now, you’re really bumming me out,” said Treehugger, attempting to clear her chakras.
“Everypony!” shouted Surprise. “I’ve always been in favour of forgiveness, but here, I don’t think it’s possible. It’s far too dangerous. I think it’s best we send her off on her own. Everypony in favour of launching Limestone Pie off in the shuttle, raise your hoof!”
Almost simultaneously, all but two creatures other than Limestone Pie raised their hooves: Treehugger and Bloomberg. This was not, in the case of Bloomberg, for lack of hooves. After all, a lifted bough would hold the same meaning. Like Treehugger, Bloomberg saw the potential for goodness in all creatures, but alas, a vote of seven to two had only one possible outcome.
Shortly after the meeting, the ponies gathered in the dimly lit room near the base of the ship. The event which led to the occasion had cast a pall over the entire crew, and now, they sought to lift this veil of gloom through removal of the unwanted. Bloomberg and Treehugger looked on at the event, watching as they forced Limestone Pie into the escape shuttle and blasted her into the infinite chasm of the cosmos. They knew it was totally not righteous, that Limestone Pie could have been rehabilitated, yet they said naught, for they saw clearly how none so much as batted an eye at the sight of their own friend being cast aside in such a way.
Their only comfort lay in each other. Bloomberg carefully wrapped his brambles around his beloved Treehugger and shielded her eyes, while Treehugger embraced him, weeping at what had been lost. Indeed, it was a blessing that two creatures, so perfectly matched in frequency, could find each other like this - some call it destiny. Whatever it was, Treehugger felt his groove every time she was around him, and whether the other ponies felt any remorse for the loathsome fate they had sentenced their friend to or not, they could make it through each day knowing that nothing could separate them.