//------------------------------// // Chapter 31 — Investment // Story: Dictators Of Ponyville // by Dragon-In-Black //------------------------------// True to her word, Supreme Leader Applebloom made investments that would not only benefit Lyra and Bon-Bon but would also benefit the regime. Scootaloo had been hesitant to allow commoners to have such luxury but did admit that they had good candy. When it came to candy, Bon-Bon was the best in the business. Scootaloo had obliged, opening up the borders specifically for the transportation of the investments. Applebloom took over the rest, being the one that knew the most about culinary arts and what is needed. So the former apple farmer was the head of the food industry. Because of this, many businesses had begun to ask for permission of continuing their stores. At first, it had been confusing because they had never banned them from trying to earn money, but they pointed out that they received a lot of their hardware from different parts of Equestria and needed to be in constant contact with them. Due to this, the Crusaders realised that the dome may not have been the brightest idea and did have ideas of shutting it down so they could flourish better. Applebloom was all for the idea and pointed out that they could simply build large walls surrounding their country and have a magic dome on the top so the fliers wouldn’t be able to get inside or out. Scootaloo had liked that idea while Sweetie Belle seemed indifferent to it all. So, the construction began. Scootaloo started to see over the large walls that were made from concrete stone that had several spells protecting them from strong magic users like Trixie Lulamoon who hadn’t returned to their country in a while. But you never know. Applebloom started to secretly watch over the country she was proud to call her home. She looked at the education system that needed… there was major room for improvement. Applebloom did not see it fitting that their friends and newer students “learn” that Supreme Leader Scootaloo is the “mother” of Princess Celestia and Luna. Speaking about the former farmer, Applebloom had slowly begun to date, Lieutenant Spike. They had confessed their feelings one day when they were at a restaurant enjoying themselves. Originally, it was meant for all Supreme Leaders, Captain and Lieutenant to be there. But Capper couldn’t come because he needed to finish paperwork he had not finished. Sweetie Belle was working on creating a law that allows the death penalty but needed to create a strong argument to convince the other two Supreme Leaders. Scootaloo couldn’t come because she was paranoid. She claimed she had seen a pony hiding inside a cloak. What she meant by ‘hiding inside a cloak’ remains to be explained. So that just left the Supreme Leader and Lieutenant Spike alone in the restaurant in the restricted section for specific leaders like Applebloom and to a lesser extent, Spike. They talked, ate, danced and had a lot of fun. When it was getting into the early hours of the morning, Spike had admitted the truth to Applebloom about the mission he had received. The dining area was empty like it usually was. There weren’t many creatures there that bothered them except the staff who were doing their job. The dining room they were in was large with wooden doors with beautiful carvings of the three pony tribes holding the hammer and sickle together, showing the peace the Crusaders had brought to the lands of Equestria. The room had a large circle table with a white cloth and wooden chairs for five creatures but there were only two occupying them. The floors had a beautiful red mat with a few white and gold stars that decorated the frames. The walls were painted dark blue while the ceiling was wooden brown. On the walls hung multiple portraits that showed the dictatorship that the Crusaders had accomplished. There were portraits of Scootaloo with different texts like; Scootaloo For World Peace! And The Oldest And Greatest Alicorn To Ever Walk Equus! Scootaloo wasn’t the only one who had gotten a big ego. While Sweetie Belle didn’t have ridiculous propaganda saying she was an alicorn, that didn’t mean that she never spoke lies every once in a while. On one of the portraits, Sweetie Belle was giving her best puppy dog eyes with a text that read; Supreme Leader Sweetie Belle, The Most Beautiful Mare In All Of Equus! Scootaloo was trying to become a goddess, while Sweetie Belle was trying to top her sister in the beauty department. Applebloom did have a few propaganda posters but Spike did believe that it warranted her good behaviour… even though the artists had exaggerated. Beside the large double doors, was a portrait of Applebloom giving a salute to her troops below her. Supreme Leader Applebloom For The Future Of Ponyville and Badlands! Spike had been a little amused by the posters and had giggled when he saw the poster about her. The earth pony had tried to make him stop but her blush had made it difficult for the dragon to take her seriously. Nonetheless, when he had calmed down, they had together walked home to the apartment Applebloom lived with the other Supreme Leaders and kissed him on the cheeks goodnight before departing. ~~Dictators Of Ponyville~~ “Applebloom?” Came the voice of an orange-coated pegasus filly who was clad in her military uniform. “I gotta ask, do you think it’s a good idea to give visas to foreigners like the Equestrians?” Applebloom who had been writing an agreement had been so shocked by Scootaloo’s sudden question that she spilled the ink all over the papers and parchments. She grumbled and looked at the pegasus sourly. “Oops… sorry,” Scootaloo had the decency to blush. Sighing, Applebloom took a chug of apple juice and looked over to her friend. “Where did this idea come from? Didn’t you want to isolate the country for as long as possible?” Scootaloo shrugged. “That’s what I desire, but we need ways to earn money and become famous around the world. What if we offer Visas, but we are one of the hardest countries to please?” “Elaborate,” Applebloom commanded. “I mean; what if we offer Visas but we are almost impossible to enter? What if getting a Visa is very difficult, so difficult that it ends up on paper? Wouldn’t many creatures want to visit such a country?” Scootaloo had a gleam in her eyes that she hadn’t had for over a year. “Ah think they would be afraid,” Applebloom deadpanned at the pegasus. “No offence, but if Sweetie Belle manages somehow to convince us of putting a death penalty in place, then many creatures would be too afraid to visit.” Scootaloo seemed to think it over and kept nodding her head as if she was listening to the voice in her head. Applebloom went back to the parchment that was soaked and grumbled once more. Luckily, she had made copies of the contract in case something happened to the first one. She brought forward the parchment and letters and began to sign her name and stamped it with the hammer and sickle that became the true symbol of their regime. With that, she placed the parchment and paper inside an envelope and placed it into a metal bag she would take to the post office and send out the letters. One thing that sucked was that they did not have any fast ways to send letters, the fastest one would be Sweetie Belle with her magic, but she had other things to do. “I suppose you’re right,” Scootaloo finally spoke and began to sign papers and read them over. They didn’t speak for a few hours, too busy making sure everything was going according to plan. The hours from one-thirty P.M. were quickly making their way to seven P.M. The day had been exciting, long and short. Applebloom couldn’t stop thinking about Spike’s confession. ‘Applebloom, before you disappeared I noticed that my love for Rarity began to wane down and I started to set my eyes on you but I wasn’t ready yet to date and then the entire… fiasco happened and I hurt you. Because I hurt you, I was disgusted with myself. I… was offered by Princess Luna a better job if I brought you guys back to Ponyville which I did. Even if this isn’t what she imagined, I did it. My end of the bargain is completed. I understand if you only see me as a dragon that is also the Lieutenant of you’re military, but… just know that I love you.” The confession had warmed her heart. Truth be told, she started to fancy him when they were together in the Badlands. He would cook and clean the apartment, would talk to her whenever she needed advice and always listened. Unknowingly, she began to smile widely with pink decorating her cheeks. When she saw that she had finished that day’s work, she waved goodbye to Scootaloo who was too invested in her work to notice and walked through the hallways of the building that controlled Ponyville, but soon—according to Scootaloo—would be the building that controlled the entire planet. Applebloom didn’t believe that for a second. She put on her hat and placed it on top of her head and walked out the front door and was greeted by the moon that was passing by over the horizon. The night was beautiful, the darkness welcomed them with open hooves and made the city look beautiful. The street lights that they had built made the experience better. Crime was at an all-time low due to the military being everywhere they walked. It was impossible to steal or assault another creature without being noticed. Not that the military would stop a pony from assaulting another pony. Applebloom made her way down the street looking for a restaurant that could satisfy her craving for a hayburger. It had been a long while since she last had one. One year to be exact, so she was looking forward to getting some food. When she entered the food district, multiple pubs were open that revealed creatures drinking beverages and laughing loudly. In the restaurants were multiple creatures eating and having fun. Applebloom saw the popular place “Hayburger Queen” In big bold red letters. It was a three-story building made from metal and had large glass doors. On the inside was a polished marble floor that echoed her hoof steps. Two cash registers stood ready and looked a bit afraid when they saw Applebloom enter. Seeing no creature stand in line, she walked right up to the cash register. “Howdy, can I have a cheezy hayburger with some fries, onion rings and a milkshake?” She asked as if everything was normal. The unicorn stallion behind the counter nodded and rushed throughout the restaurant to get all the ingredients on time, not wanting to upset the Supreme Leader. The Stallion placed the hayburger, fries, onion rings and milkshake on a black tray with the Hayburger Queen advertisement on it. “Here you go, Supreme Leader Applebloom!” The stallion spoke with respect while he bowed. Applebloom didn’t move an inch, she simply continued to stare at the stallion who got out of his position and saw that the Supreme Leader was still there. He started to sweat. Did he get her order wrong? Did he get the wrong milkshake?! Well, to be fair she didn’t ask for a flavour… “Uh, Is something wrong?” He asked, unsure of how to break the ice. “Yes, I need to pay for my food, so how much is it?” Applebloom asked with a blank stare. Did this grown stallion believe that because she was a leader of his country that she wouldn’t pay for anything? “Oh, you don’t need to pay you—” “How much is it?” This time, Applebloom added firmness to her tone which sent shivers down the stallions’ spine. “Twenty-five bits!” He admitted. Applebloom handed the stallion the money and an extra five. “Keep the change,” she muttered and made her way to the third floor. When she reached the third floor, she saw that there were almost no creatures there apart from herself and a Griffin that belonged to the military. When the Griffin saw Applebloom, he stood up and bowed in respect until Applebloom ordered him to enjoy his food. Applebloom sat down by a window where she had a clear view of the middle of Ponville. Where the large fountain had once stood now stood a sculpture of the Crusaders together giving a salute with text on the bottom that read; Crusaders Is The Way To Freedom! Slowly, Applebloom raised her hayburger to her mouth and took a bite and felt the lovely sensation she had missed for so long. It was a worthy investment.