//------------------------------// // Preamble // Story: Prevention // by Mind Matter //------------------------------// Broken was in the closet again. Rainbow Dash and Applejack paced angrily in a small semicircle around the door, which shook constantly due to unknown actions from the stallion within. The other four were placed around the room, Twilight serving as the midpoint between the door and the remaining three. She watched it cautiously, wincing every time another loud crash signalled more damage to the interior of the closet. Rainbow Dash flew up to the door and banged on it, eliciting a temporary end to the many sounds emanating from within. When her demands were made, however (“Get your powdered plot out here so we can kick it back to the Canterlot Dungeon!”) the sounds resumed, many of them sharper and more grating, as if to spite the prismatic pony. Applejack turned to Twilight. “Y’sure y’can’t get him outta there?” she asked. Twilight shook her head. “If he wants to stay in, he’s staying in. I tried to get him out for quite a while last time, and he ended up blocking the entire area with a barrier to get me to leave.” Applejack cussed under her breath and returned to her guard of the door. Twilight sighed and flicked a glance at the others of their group; Fluttershy looked worried, as usual, Pinkie was staring intently at her hoof, Spike was seated near Rarity, glaring at the closet door, and Rarity was watching Applejack with an almost fearful look on her face. “Rarity? Are you alright?” The white unicorn didn’t answer. Twilight poked her, causing the mare to jump. She repeated the question. “Oh… I… I’m not sure, darling.” “What’s the matter?” In response, Rarity nodded slightly towards Applejack. “I’ve never seen her like this before. She’s always been the most gentle pony around me, allowing me to set my own pace, never rushing me or roughing me, apologizing repeatedly for slights against me real or imagined…” she sighed. “Seeing this, now, I’m reminded that behind everything she puts up for me is still a mare capable of the negative elements of life. I’m worried that one day I may do something to earn her ire, and that I shall be the one on which that rage is focussed.” Spike stood up and rubbed a claw on Rarity’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Rarity, Applejack would never do that to you. You would never do anything bad enough to get her that angry at you.” Rarity turned and gave a small, grateful smile to the dragon. “Thank you, Spike, but I-“ “I would recommend that you voice your concerns to Applejack, so that she is aware of how her actions affect you, then work together to determine a suitable course of action in which there is a net benefit in the relationship.” A masculine voice intoned. Everypony froze, heads swinging to a shadowed corner of the room, out of which a one-eyed stallion stepped. Twilight found an odd relaxation hit her as she recognized the pony; the others all stiffened, unsure how to treat him as he walked up to take a place slightly behind the purple unicorn. “Er…” Applejack broke the silence. “What were y’sayin’ about me back there?” Pip turned his eye to her, and Twilight noticed a small shiver as his gaze met hers. “Rarity has voiced concern on your aggressive qualities, and how she may affect them in future interactions with you. I was attempting to provide counsel to her.” “Wait, you heard us talking from over there?” Twilight blurted. “Applejack was way closer than you, and she apparently didn’t hear a thing.” “You were talking very quietly.” Fluttershy mumbled. “Even I was having trouble hearing you…” “Milady saw fit to imbue all Risen Guards with advancements to accentuate our capabilities in the expedient capture and destruction of all forces that posed any palpable menace to the new leadership of Equestria.” Pip stated. “Elements of these advancements include sensitized eardrums and increased ocular photosensitivity.” “…and that means what exactly?” Rainbow Dash gave the stoic stallion an odd look. Twilight picked up her question. “He can see and hear very well.” She clarified. Rainbow nodded, then shot her head around at a new, vigorous pounding on the closet door. “Would Milady like me to remove the aberrant from the storage space?” Pip asked. Twilight’s brow furrowed, but she gave a small nod. “Just don’t hurt him.” “I shall avoid all physical actions likely to lead to his injury, Milady.” With that, Pip walked up to the closet door, eyeing Rainbow Dash out of the way (Applejack, Twilight now noticing, having retreated away from the door, to Rarity). He stared at the door for several seconds before turning his head. “Milady and guests may wish to evacuate the area directly in front of the door.” When the ponies had all moved to either side, he gave a sharp knock. The rumbling from inside the closet ceased. Pip leaned slightly into the door, his words sounding quite loud in the tense silence. “Timber Field.” There was a second of silence. Nopony moved. Then, a low sound seemed to emanate from the closet. It grew, at first a slight whine that roughened into a dull roar. Pip turned to Rainbow Dash and Applejack. “Be ready to-“ The door exploded outwards, and the stallion was launched back through the air, large splinters piercing his side that were only further stuck into him as he hit the wall, with the main bulk of the door crushing him into the hard wood moments later. He slid down from the wall, leaving a wide streak of blood, as the dull roar became a tenor shriek. A white blur shot from the closet, rushing towards Spike and Twilight, who threw up a barrier on impulse. The blur smashed through it, staggering the purple unicorn, but slowing enough for her to see the mop of blue hair in its mane. Then it was past her, and Twilight spun to find Broken Shield maddenedly pounding on Pip’s form with his forehooves. She sent a line of magic around his hind legs, tugging him to the ground, and before he could recover his two designated guards were dragging him back. He struggled and thrashed in their grip, leading Applejack to buck him in the head. With that, he stayed still long enough for her to tie him up. Twilight’s focus turned back to Pip, who remained unmoving on the floor, Fluttershy hovering over him worriedly. “Is he alright?” Twilight asked, then smacked herself for the question. “Is he going to-” “I don’t know…” Fluttershy mumbled. “Only a few of the splinters look big enough to go in dangerously deep, but he’s still losing a lot of blood, and he probably has some broken bones from the impact…” “LET ME GO!” The other stallion in the room bellowed, apparently having regained enough wits to speak. “He’s not dead yet! Let me finish him off before-“ Pip gasped and coughed, a large glob of blood and mucus hitting the floor in front of him. Fluttershy, Twilight, and Spike backed off as he stood on wobbling legs, shaking himself and sending shards of door falling from his side onto the floor. His eye opened and fixated on Twilight. “Are you injured, Milady?” Twilight, for reasons she didn’t precisely understand, found this question funny. She gave a small laugh, though she strangled its continuation under a strange look from Fluttershy and Pinkie. “I-er, I’m fine, Pip. Are you going to be alright?” “I shall be back to proper condition in several minutes, Milady.” Twilight nodded, once more turning to Broken, who was being stared at intently by both Rainbow Dash and Applejack. She walked over, and his eye, red and watery, focussed on her. “Y’just couldn’t lemme kill him, could’j’a?” he slurred. Twilight stepped back a bit; his breath was rancid, and had a strong overlay of some scent she couldn’t place. His two guards noticed as well, both retreating away from his mouth. Applejack leaned in again to sniff, then shot him a disgusted look. “Dangit, are you drunk?!” Broken looked at her. “No.” He shook his head. “I’m plastered.” He began to laugh. “I’z whackin’ my head on d’closet wall t’knock some plaster off, but it was just wood ‘in sap. So’s I guess I’m wooded? Sapped? Barked?” His voice gave way to a set of inequine giggles. Applejack sniffed the air again, then growled. “That’s hard apple cider! Mah cellar is the only place in Ponyville that has any this time’a year!” “So he’s a tribalist and a thief, huh?” Rainbow Dash glared at the tipsy unicorn. Broken gave her a glazed look. His horn lit up, sending Twilight skittering away from him and putting a barrier between him and the rest of the room. “Twi, what-“ “Drunk magic! Unstable and lack of control! Very bad!” Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at each other, eyes wide, before quickly shifting away from the barrier. Through it, Twilight could see Broken’s magic reach under his eyepatch, pulling out a small metal disc. He then swung it into the barrier, and seemed surprised that the magical wall existed. Tapping on it confusedly, his eye moved to Twilight. “Why’zis here?” His tapping became more urgent. “Broken, I need you to stop using magic. Then I’ll let the barrier down.” “Zis shuddn’t be here. Why’zis here?!” He began slamming his hoof on the barrier. “Let! Me! OUT!” Twilight watched warily as he brought his horn to the barrier, ready to concentrate her magic should he attempt to force his way out. One small black spot later, she was admiring the grain of the ceiling wood. “Hold on, Ah think she’s wakin’ up…” a voice drawled. Twilight’s vision was filled with concerned pegasus mare and stoic earth pony stallion, both of whom started talking at once. “Ohmigoodness, are you alright? There was a bright flash and then you were out cold and Broken was yelling and-“ “Is Milady injured? Do you require medical attention?” Twilight sat up, waving a hoof to get both ponies to back away. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. “I’m okay, I’m okay… what happened?” She swung her head around the room. Broken was huddled in a corner, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash watching him while Rarity had several bands of magic around his legs and horn. Applejack stood closer to Twilight, watching her as if she expected the unicorn to fall over any moment. Fluttershy and Pip were the closest to her, and it was Pip that answered. “Broken Shield performed some action upon your magic that resulted in its rapid retreat back to your horn. The shock from this apparently rendered you unconscious for several minutes. During this time, Broken Shield began making numerous threatening remarks and gestures, and was only stopped when Fluttershy performed ‘the Stare’ on him. After this, he was restrained by Rarity and has been guarded since.” “Oh, for the- He backwashed me?!” She groaned. “I tried to explain it to them, darling, but Fluttershy remained unconvinced.” Rarity called. Spike rapidly nodded. “Yeah. We told you, Fluttershy, it doesn’t do anything.” “But-“ “Fluttershy, I’m fine. This happens to unicorns sometimes, intentionally or not. It basically just makes us fall asleep.” Twilight shook her head, beginning to walk towards the room’s captive (who had gotten to the other side, meaning that she had to walk back across the room to her original position), who glared at her sullenly. “Are you calmer now, Broken?” “Y’shuddna locked me up.” He slurred, appearing to still be hammered. “I don’ like bein’ locked up.” “You were drunkcasting. Every unicorn knows what a bad idea that is!” “I was tryin’ to pay Applejack back for her booze. An’ her lock. An’ her door. I thought you wanted me t’play nice with ever’pony.” “Do you count trying to stomp somepony to death as ‘playing nice’?” Twilight asked. She felt Pip step in slightly behind her. Broken’s glare deepened. “He ain’t a pony. He’s a buckin’ rabid thickskull flathead that needs t’be put down like any other dangerous animal. Quickly and mersh…mercil… messily.” He hiccupped, apparently not noticing the looks of shock that were on everypony else’s faces (except Pip), and the mix of confusion and surprise on Spike. “So, wait, what does ‘flathead’ mean?” the dragon asked. Rarity coughed. “That term, Spike dear, is a very, very offensive term against the earth pony tribe, used only by those most vulgar ponies who still think like Commander Hurricane or Princess Platinum.” She added this last part with a glare at Broken, who simply laughed. “Y’expected t’pay me back with one bit?” Everypony’s eyes turned to Applejack, who was carrying the disc that Broken had removed from his eye socket, glaring at the unicorn. “The lock’d cost more than this, let alone the cider an’ the door. What, y’think Ah’m stupid, too?” “That is not a bit, Applejack.” Pip stated. She turned to him in confusion. “That is a piece. It is made of platinum, and is worth approximately five-hundred bits.” The farmpony stared at him, wide eyed. “Five hundred, y’say?” “At the time it was minted, yes. With supplies of platinum as low as they were at this time in my Equestria, that much platinum may be worth up to two-thousand.” Applejack suddenly became much more interested in securing the coin in a small pouch hidden under her hat. Broken laughed again, and she returned her glare at him. “Even if y’paid back what y’stole, yer still a tribalist. Among yer other offences.” His laugh stopped, and he stared her in the eye. “Can I ask y’a queschin, Applejack?” The earth pony tensed, but nodded. “Y’know what branchbite is, right?” “A’course Ah do, every tree farmer does. It’s just about the worst thing that can happen t’an orchard.” “Yeah. So, so, answer this. If you have one tree tha’s showin’ branchbite infection, whaddya do?” “Well, y’cord the area off and cut down all the trees in a radius around it. Usually the closest ten or twenty trees.” “An’ why d’you do that?” “Because branchbite’s infection only shows when it’s ready to spread. If one tree shows, ninety percent around it already have the disease.” “Right. So say that almost every tree in the orchard is sitting beside a tree that’s showing infection. Whaddya do?” Applejack shuddered. “Celestia forbid, but you destroy every tree in there. The uninfected ones are too few an’ far between to worry about.” She watched as his brow rose, a mild confusion feeding into her face. “What?” “Broken… are you trying to compare the earth ponies and the trees?” Twilight asked. Broken grinned. “Ding ding ding! Y’win the prize.” “Ah still don’t get what’s goin’ on.” Applejack said. Spike and Rainbow nodded, while Rarity and Fluttershy shared Twilight’s worried look. Pinkie simply bounced. “It’s easy, silly! Us earth ponies are trees, and almost all of us were infected with something bad, so Broken’s saying that he couldn’t worry about the earth ponies that weren’t bad because… almost all of us were.” She stopped bouncing as she heard what she was saying. “Oh. Oh, that’s not fun…” “That’s right, Cotton Candy. As of the latest poll, eighty percent of earth ponies supported the Revolution and Rising Dawn, compared to sixty of unicorns and fifteen of pegasi. It was around ninety-five percent during the Revolution itself.” Broken fixed a now-paled Applejack with a glare, breaking her own and shrinking her down. “So I’m sorry for my choice of words, Applejack. It’s kind of hard to care about the feelings of the food-growing tribe when the majority of them are either willingly letting you and your children starve or actively poisoning their fields to try to kill you. Or just plain trying to stomp you to death.” “…y’don’t sound drunk anymore.” Applejack managed to say. Broken barked a laugh. “That ‘Stare’ of Fluttershy’s is a potent sobering agent, when mixed with a certain cocktail of brain chemistry.” He glanced around the room at the clear discomfort of everypony, resting with a murderous eye on Pip. Twilight quickly stepped between the two. “No, Broken.” He stayed glaring. “If you knew, if you had any idea what that thing has done-” He cut off, putting his head to the floor and breathing deeply, growling as he exhaled. When he looked back up, his eye was much colder. “You wanted to know what you did to make Applejack fight against you, right?” Twilight’s brow furrowed. “Yeah…” “Then sit down. It’s time for a history lesson.”