//------------------------------// // Her Story // Story: Depressio // by RosaryOmen //------------------------------// As they walked, they were joined by Rainbow Dash who had just finished clearing the sky of the clouds. She trotted alongside the group as they passed by Sugarcube Corner, the Mayor's office and stopped at Carousel Boutique. Rarity was too busy to stop for long, so the group left the seamstress after a short visit and went out to see Fluttershy. The pink and yellow pegasus was relaxing in the garden, Angel by her side. As the group approached, Depressio hung back; remembering how timid this pony was. “Hello, Fluttershy.” Twilight smiled at the pegasus, who jumped up in surprise. “O-oh, hello, Twilight. I didn't hear you...” Fluttershy said with a sheepish smile. “Oh and hello Pinkie, and Rainbow and uh...” She stared for a moment at the pony in the cloak before lowering her voice. “Who is that?” She whispered to Twilight Sparkle. “This is the alicorn from the Everfree Forest. Pinkie went back out there and helped her come into Ponyville.” Twilight replied with a smile, gesturing to the pony with a forehoof. “So, we're showing her around.” “Oh, I see. Well, that's lovely. I'm glad you came into Ponyville.” Fluttershy smiled. “So, what's your name?” The alicorn's blue gaze peered out at the shy pegasus from under her hood. “Depressio.” She replied. “D... Depressio? My goodness that's a... “ “I know just... don't ask.” The monochrome sighed. Pinkie slid -right- next to Twilight to whisper in her ear. “Does she -ever- smile?” Twilight just shrugged. “Maybe she's just nervous.” The unicorn shuffled a few steps away from Pinkie. “So, Fluttershy we're going to see Applejack next; do you want to come?” Fluttershy smiled and nodded. “I'd like that.” She turned to Angel. “Now Angel, you stay here and look after everyone, alright?” The bunny nodded and watched as the group of ponies left, heading out of the town towards Sweet Apple Acres to find Applejack. The orange pony trotted out from the barn as soon as she heard her friends nearing the farm. “Hello everypony!” She smiled at her friends one at a time, realising there was no Rarity and in her stead was a pony in a cloak. Strange. Twilight looked between Depressio and Applejack, before quickly introducing them to each other. Applejack offered a hoof to the cloaked pony, who took a half step backwards. “H-hello.” The orange pony blinked as Depressio backed away, and twisted her mouth a little. “It's okay. No need ta' be nervous. I won't bite.” The alicorn peered out from under the large hood sheepishly at Applejack, then nodded as she took a half step forwards again. “Who is your new friend?” Granny Smith asked as she walked slowly over to the group, her eyes narrowed a little as she studied the cloaked pony. “Oh, hello Granny Smith.” Twilight smiled at the elderly pony. “This is Depressio.” “Depressio?” Granny Smith muttered in question before fixing her gaze on the quiet alicorn. “Take off your cloak, let Granny get a look at you.” “I uh...” Depressio raised a hoof uneasily, her ears twitching a little. Before she could even say anything more, Pinkie grabbed the cloak and pulled it from her with a mighty TA-DA! Leaving the pony uncovered. Granny Smith's eyes widened as she backed away. “Cursed!” She cried out. “She's the cursed pony! Cuuuuuuuuuuursed!” Her cries followed her as she bolted into her home and peered out from the windows at the grey alicon. “Cursed?” Everypony turned to look at Depressio in tandem. “W-what does she mean, cursed?” Fluttershy squeaked as she cowered away from the alicorn. “She means cursed! Like... Oogity boogity bad luck forever kind of thing!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, waving her hooves at her fellow pegasus. The monochromatic pony's ears drooped, her worry quickly changing to sadness. While the other five ponies were busy talking amongst each other, she took this chance to turn and bolt. “Hey! HEY! HEEEEEEEEEEEY!” Pinkie bounced manically. “Guys! GUYS! She's gone!” The remaining four ponies stopped their talking and watched the alicorn dashing through the town, a trail of dust behind her. Twilight sighed softly, the others doing the same thing shortly after. “I guess we... scared her off?” Rainbow scuffed the ground with her hoof. “We should really go apologise.” “Soon.” Twilight nodded in agreement. “First, I want to find out what Granny Smith knows about her.” “Yeah! Granny saw her and went...” Pinkie took in a huge, loud gasping breath. “And then she ran away! She's gotta know something!” “Agreed.” Applejack nodded. “Somethin' sure spooked her good an' proper.” The group made their way into the house to find the green elderly pony, who was sleeping against the windowsill. Applejack gently shook her. “Granny? Wake up, we need ta ask you a few questions.” Granny Smith muttered and smacked her lips together. “Huh? Wha? Who? Questions?” Her eyes slowly cracked open. “What kind of questions?” “It's about that pony, the alicorn.” Fluttershy asked softly. “Pony? Alicorn? Which one? The Princess?” Granny Smith blinked a few times. “No, no. Granny. The grey one from just before...” Granny Smith's eyes shot open. “The cursed pony?! Where?!” She darted behind her chair suddenly, shaking. “She's already gone, Granny. She ran away.” Rainbow Dash hovered above the chair, peering down at the scared pony. “What do you know about her?” Twilight asked, helping the elderly pony back into her seat. Granny Smith settled back down in her chair, accepting the glass of water that Applejack bought her. “Sit down, let me tell you the story I was told.” The five ponies nodded together and sat down around her on the floor, their attentions on the elderly earth pony. “It was about a year and half ago now, I think... and I was coming back from Appaloosa. There was a lovely pony on the train, and he told me this story.” She sipped at the glass of water. “Many years ago, in a city outside of Equestria there was a pony. She wasn't like the others, and it wasn't just because she was an alicorn. This pony held darkness inside her, she seemed to be born with this darkness. She was a mean-hearted pony, spiteful for no good reason. She would steal from other ponies, insult strangers, insult her family. One day, she met a travelling pony and stole her prized necklace. The travelling pony, who was a unicorn; dabbled in dark magics herself and cursed the pony. She cursed her to never smile, never feel joy ever in her life. The curse drained her colour, and gave her a cutie mark. The pony never found her special talent.” “You mean her cutie mark is a fake?” Rainbow Dash asked, disbelieving the tale. “And she wasn't always grey?” Applejack added. Granny Smith nodded her head in answer to both questions. “Her cutie mark is a reminder of her curse.” “We have to help her!” Pinkie Pie leapt to her feet and trotted on the spot for a few moments. “Maybe we can teach her to be a better pony and... and... help her find her real cutie mark!” “If we can find her again...” Fluttershy said softly, sighing. “I wonder why she used to be the way she was?” “I dunno, but I reckon we need ta' go find 'er and find out.” Applejack replied with a shrug. “Maybe we can throw her a party!” Pinkie offered with a huge grin, hopping happily in place. “I don't think that would be helpful, Pinkie. As much fun as your parties are, I think she'd get scared and run away again.” Twilight said with a soft sigh. “Then let's just go find her! I bet she went back into the forest again!” Pinkie beamed.