//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 — Packing The Bags // Story: Dictators Of Ponyville // by Dragon-In-Black //------------------------------// They would have never believed that their life would end like this. It was kind of funny, really, you think you know the ponies around you—that you have known forever—but at the same time; you cannot say whether you genuinely know and understand that pony. You can always be wrong, but never to the point where you start questioning the other pony. Something extreme would have to happen, something that feels unfathomable to happen but at the same time, have a lot of merits depending on the circumstances leading up to that very moment. When you learn your friends’ secret, neighbour, family member, or even a random pony, it can change you for the better or worse. Sometimes, it can be something completely unexpected, something you would never believe the other pony would do, or be interested in. There are so many things that could go wrong however, the ones closest to you, if they were to find out, could either become angry at you or be embarrassed to the point where the relationship you have with the other pony might be severed because of it. And sometimes, it can be much worse than a simple “I cannot talk to you right now,” Sometimes, the closest ones want nothing to do with you anymore. They want you out of their life, disown you and don’t see you as a family member, just a pony they used to know. That hurts more than a slap to the face. A slap to the face would be merciful, kind even. But life is never easy, never that easy. This is why three fillies were packing their bags at their respective homes. They weren’t welcome in the small little town where they had grown up in. Every time they went outside, the ponies there whispered behind their backs, and not kind whispers either. They whispered about how they were a disgrace to their families and town. They would close their respective shops and restaurants until they had passed. They glared at the three fillies over the last few days with such hatred that one of them even cried. They didn’t think it would be that bad. They truly didn’t. All they wanted to do was earn their cutie marks, the one thing every pony of all tribes wished for when they were young. The one thing that determines what they will do with their lives. But at what cost? They printed newspaper articles for the Foal Free Press where they revealed embarrassing secrets about the ponies of Ponyville, something that everypony silently demanded, wanting to know their friends’ secrets. However, the one running the press wanted more and more secrets, even resorting to blackmailing the ones finding the secrets—The Cutie Mark Crusaders. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are Ponyville’s known trouble makers that do everything and anything for their cutie marks, always ending up in trouble for it. Obviously, they didn’t want their secrets exposed, so they did everything the other filly wanted; giving her more juicy gossip that became the talk of the town, even going so far as to spread rumours about couples around town how they were breaking up or cheating on the other, leading to a lot of distrust around town. When it was revealed that it was the Cutie Mark Crusaders spreading the secrets, it wasn’t long before everypony hated them and wanted nothing to do with them. They were humiliated by one of the element bearers named Rainbow Dash who pushed rainwater on them. They had been suspended from school for an entire month. Their family members didn’t take it very well—not for being suspended—but for spreading their secrets. They were told to go away. They were told to go away by the brother of Applebloom, one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. He said that to his baby sister. That is when they knew they were beyond hated. There was no redeeming from this. They tried to print an apology, even explaining why they did what they did in exact detail, but when it reached everyponys’ hooves they just became angrier than they were before. Many ponies told the three fillies to go away and never return. Many chanted it when they saw them walking aimlessly around town. After that, they ran to their clubhouse and never left. They cried, they cried so many tears of sadness for the friends and family they had lost. They never would have believed that they would be ridiculed to this extent. It seems and even feels unrealistic still. They spent an entire two days inside there, never leaving to be ridiculed anymore by anyone else. It was on the first day where it began though, the first line of thinking that caused them to start packing. Day One Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse. “What shall we do?” Came the weak voice of Applebloom who had red eyes. She had been crying nonstop and couldn’t even stop even if she wanted to. On the other side of the clubhouse was Scootaloo who sat in the corner beside a boarded-up window. Her coat didn’t look as orange as it used to be. It almost looked greyish. Her eyes were also red, but she had gotten a blank look a few hours ago. Everything about her seemed ... robotic as if she had given up. “What shall we do?” Scootaloo repeated with a monotone voice “There is nothing we can do. We shall just wait here until our punishment from the school is complete.” On the other corner facing Scootaloo sat Sweetie Belle who covered her eyes with a pair of sunglasses so no pony could see her eyes. Her eyes to herself, however, showed great pain and sorrow that sloshed inside of her, ready to break free but she held back. What was the point? What would crying solve? “Is that what you want to do, then?” Sweetie asked with no clear emotion in her speech which made Applebloom raise her eyebrow slightly at her friend. “Are ya alright, Sweetie?” The apple girl asked. Sweetie turned her head to face Applebloom who sat in the middle making their sitting positions into a perfect triangle. She nodded to Applebloom, knowing what the girl was referring to. “No,” Came Scootaloo’s voice, making the two face their friend again. “But what other choice do we have? We have spent almost the entire day inside here. We cannot continue this. You both know that.” The clubhouse fell in silence once more while contemplating Scootaloo’s words; she was right. They couldn’t continue like this. They had to go out at some point. But when? When would the time be right when they can go out and be accepted by the townsfolk? From the looks of things; not anytime soon. “Well, what do you suggest Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle asked. She already knew the answer but it was better to hear it be said. “We run away,” The clubhouse was in silence again, Applebloom didn’t look fazed. She also seemed to have expected the answer. Still, they realised what they were discussing. This wasn’t something they could back out from. They could try, but they would always remember what they did. They would be reminded of it every day. “Do yall think they’ll notice?” Applebloom asked with a far-away look on her yellow coat. The Pegasus and unicorn respectively glanced at their earth pony friend. They knew what she was talking about. Their family would maybe notice, but it was no guarantee. From the angry looks they had been getting, they would not be noticed going away from their beloved town. They certainly wouldn’t care. They didn’t answer their friend. There was no need to. “Yall know what?” Applebloom asked. They looked at her again and saw a sad smile on her face with no more tears running down her cheeks. “Let’s do it, There’s nothin’ left in this town for us.” The Pegasus and unicorn glanced at each other and nodded. They didn’t have a choice. Day Two Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse. “Okay, so we are sure about this? There’s no turning back now.” Scootaloo said, glancing around their small table where they would have normally had meetings about cutie marks. Their last meeting, however, would be about their escape plan from their hometown. “Yes, Scootaloo,” The other two said at the same time, making it clear that they are willing to do it. Scootaloo may have been the one who brought up the idea, but it was something that originally was for herself but now that her friends were on board, she felt a little thrill of it all. But she would be lying if she said she wouldn’t miss Ponyville. Despite all that happened, it was still her home, even if the other two didn’t see it that way. She smiled a little bit at the two as they discussed the routes that would lead them outside the town. “If we walk past mah former home, we’ll only hafta worry abou’ Applejack if she’s in the area,” Applebloom stated as she pulled a red pen across the map. “Okay, we can try and take the train but the possibility of us being spotted is very likely. There is an area through where Fluttershy ... lives.” Sweetie Belle faltered for a second before Scootaloo jumped in. “Yeah, that’s right. But it’s a very high possibility that we’ll be spotted by the animals who have been cared for by Fluttershy and will probably inform her about our whereabouts.” Applebloom nodded and crossed Fluttershy’s house with the pen. “That just leaves the Everfree forest ...” They said in quiet unison. They looked at each other, hoping that the other would speak. They did have experience with the forest with their former friend Zecora who lived there, but they weren’t on speaking terms ... “Should we try?” Scootaloo asked. “What choice do we have? It’s not like Zecora would care if she saw us there.” Sweetie Belle crossed her hooves in a huff and glanced to Applebloom who had a solid friendship with the zebra mare before the fiasco. “Ah don’t necessarily believe tha’ but Sweetie has a point,” Applebloom said making the other two look at each other knowing it was difficult for their friend to cope. “We don’t have a choice,” She clarified. They nodded and without saying anything, they went their separate ways. At present, they had finished packing their bags and glanced around their room, giving sad smiles at the memories they had spent there. A part of them couldn’t believe what they were doing, not wanting to leave their home behind while another part wanted nothing more with the place they once called home. Eventually, the later emotion became unbearable. They grabbed their bags and stealthily left their homes without being noticed. They had agreed to meet at the clubhouse once more before they left for good. While dragging the bed behind her, Applebloom started to remember when she was a child, how she had been informed how her parents had ... departed. She had been so depressed. She couldn’t even do her chores properly because of how sad she was. It took a week before Applejack knocked on the door one day and they talked about everything, from their parents to their cousins, to the Apple family feud with the Pears. Applebloom grit her teeth as she remembered one thing Applejack said she didn’t do. “Ah will always be by yer side,” “No, you weren’t.” She furiously stated to herself. How could her sister lie? She’s the element of Honesty and yet, she lied. She lied to her younger sister. Applebloom couldn’t understand why an apple could lie and yet sound so convincing? Perhaps it was because she was so young. Maybe her brain wasn’t able to see when her own sister lied along with her brother. It didn’t surprise her now. She understood it was all fake. When she reached the Clubhouse she was greeted by Scootaloo sitting by one of the chairs glancing at the map with her bag by her side. She slowly approached the filly who looked to be contemplating deeply. When Applebloom was close enough, only then did Scootaloo react. “Oh, hey Applebloom,” She greeted with a sad expression on her face. “Heya,” Applebloom greeted back with an equally sad expression before she sat down to face Scootaloo. They sat in silence, waiting for their last crusader before they would go on a very real crusade that would no doubt change their entire lives. When the both of them sat down with their packed luggage, they realised how real this was. It wasn’t some horrible dream they could just wake up from. This was something the three of them had discussed and came to the realisation that it was their best bet because they weren’t welcome in their hometown. What else could they do? It wasn’t as if the other ponies of Ponyville were even willing to listen to them, hear their side of the story, they shunned them and wanted nothing to do with them. They wrote the apology paper as well, but the other citizens just became angry. Why should they even bother? They truly had no choice in the matter. If they could take it all back, they would. They wanted to be loved by their families above all else, but they weren’t willing to listen to them. Applebloom wanted to chuckle, but she couldn’t. The hurtful words her brother said to her were still ringing inside her ears as if he had just said them. It would probably always stand out to her. It was one of those rare times when he speaks in full sentences. Just when she was about to dive deeper into her dark line of thought, the door opened and it revealed Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo and Applebloom greeted their friend with nods. She walked up to them and sat down. None of them wanted to leave their home, but because they couldn’t show their faces in town without getting shamed, they decided at that moment to use the clubhouse to have their last memories of the town. They looked around the clubhouse, bringing tears to their eyes as they did. They have wonderful memories of their first crusade to the other fun times they had with their families that would always make them smile. “I can’t believe it’s over,” Sweetie murmured. “I can’t believe that they shunned us for something they demanded,” Scootaloo neutrally spoke. “Ah can’t believe that mah family would ask me tha’ go away,” Applebloom sadly stated. They looked at each other and nodded. They’ve had their moment, now it was time to leave their beloved town. But for how long?