//------------------------------//
//  If At First You Don't Succeed... alternate ending 
// Story: The Viral Video Voyagers 
// by CassandraMyOCisBestpony 
//------------------------------//

"Maybe next time" said Scootaloo, "I've got an idea too, and it'll work better if it's just me.  You understand, right?"

"I guess so." replied Applebloom glumly.

"Great!  See ya tomorrow!" she hurried off too, leaving Applebloom standing alone in the corridor.  Applebloom stood still and watched her friend go.  She leaned against the wall and slid down into a sitting position.  For a long while she sat there, sniffling as tears welled up in her eyes.  



"Applebloom?  What ever are you doing down there?"  Applebloom looked up to see Ms. Cherilee standing over her, looking quizzicaly down at her.  She noticed Applebloom's tear-streaked face.  "Is everything all right, dearie?"

"P-please don't ban us from th' library, Ms. Cherilee!" sobbed Applebloom, "we weren't watchin' lewd videos!  Honest!"

"You and and your friends have had several... unusual outbursts the past couple of days.  What in the name of Canterlot are you three getting up to?"

She wiped her eyes, "We're tryin'a make a viral video, but nothin's workin!  I-it's kid stuff, you wouldn't understand."

"Applebloom, please, give your teacher some credit.  Video-sharing may be a new technology, but people have wanted to get famous overnight since the dawn of time, and most of them failed.  And the ones that did succeed?  Well, they had to work at it for years!"

"Years?  But ah want it now!!!" whined Applebloom.

"Walk with me, Applebloom.  There's something I want to show you."  She led Applebloom over to the audiovisual section and pulled a CD off the shelf.  "Do you know who this is?"

"Course ah do, that's Elvis!  Mah granny has all o' his records!  But he was born with his singin' voice, it was obvious he'd get famous."

"You'd think.  But in his early years, many people told him that he couldn't sing, and that he'd never, ever make it as a musician."

"They musta been crazy!"

"Well that's obvious now, but just think about how a kid, not much older than yourself, would deal with that kind of feedback."

"Prolly none too good." said Applebloom pensively, "he'd prolly just give up on music ferever...but he didn't!  He kept at it an' now he's one of th' most famous singers ever!"

"Now you're getting it, Applebloom!"

"Thanks fer cheerin' me up, Miss Cherilee!  Ah know what ah gotta do!"

"That's wonderful, Applebloom!  I'm so glad I could help you."

"Can ah borrow this CD Miss Cheerilee?"

"Of course you may."

"All right!" cheered Applebloom, and she dashed towards the exit.

"Oh, and Applebloom?" called Cherilee.

"Yes?"

"Use headphones." 





"I can't believe it!  50 thousand views in a single day!" exclaimed Scootaloo

"Ah know right!  All ah had ta do was make a slideshow of th' lyrics in Windows Movie Maker an' splice in th' song"

"I like how you used a picture of blue-suede shoes in place of the words," complimented Sweetie Belle, "but won't people notice the stock-photo watermarks?  Or that you misspelled a word right there?"

"Nah, nobdody's gonna care." said Applebloom, "they get ta listen to some of th' most famous music in th' world!  Who wouldn't wanna watch our videos?"

"And just look at all these comments!  Elvis for the win....best song ever, they love us!"

"Well girls, looks like we've done it!" cheered Applebloom, "we've finally become internet famous!  Viral Video Voyagers, mission complete!"  They high-fived.

A week later, the FBI arrested Applebloom for copyright infringement, and she was sentenced to life in prison without parole.  Her entire family was ashamed of her, even her dog.  Her cellmate, Queen Chrysalis was appalled when she heard what Applebloom had done.

"You disgust me, Applebloom." said Queen Chrysalis.




This message brought to you by the Recording Industry Association of America.  Don't copy that floppy.