The alicorn filly had a lot on her mind. Didn’t she truly have everything she ever wanted? Apple Bloom had either gotten rid of the undesirables or severely limited their impact on the world. She was now the most powerful being in Equestria – well, she was the second most powerful being in Equestria.
Apple Bloom had mixed feelings about her father, Tirek. She knew that he was a selfish and power-hungry monster. However, he also had helped her a lot. Bloom wondered perhaps her father was capable of caring for others – it just had to be the right others. Did Tirek care for her mother? And if so, how could have Tirek killed her? Would Tirek kill Apple Bloom if she defied him openly? Of course, there were important differences between Apple Bloom and her mother. Apple Bloom was an all-powerful alicorn with intellectual abilities that surpassed anypony. Apple Bloom inherited her father’s intellect. She inherited her father’s strengths and his weaknesses. Yes, the most important thing that separated her from Cherry Blossom was that she was Tirek’s biological daughter. The reason behind her existence was to help her maintain her father’s legacy if he were to die. He wouldn’t kill her. The question though, thought Apple Bloom, was would she kill him.
************************************************************************************
Behind Tirek’s powerful and action-oriented exterior was a centaur who was always in deep contemplation, he had gotten closer to exactly what he wanted in his entire life. Equestria was finally a beautiful place because he was its ruler… well, one of its rulers. Tirek’s daughter, Apple Bloom, had exceeded his expectations. Apple Bloom was as much centaur as she was pony. She knew instinctively that Equestria’s current setup wasn’t ideal for someone like her. Apple Bloom used that instinct to prepare a list of ponies who needed to die – those whose deaths would cause the world to improve. However, the fact that Apple Bloom could even think of differentiating between the good and bad ponies showed that she was as much pony as she was centaur.
The purpose of Tirek’s rule was to destroy ponies and not help them. His kind was mostly extinct… a thousand years ago… the ponies all acted kind and benevolent, but they used to be the savage barbarians. The centaurs were the ones with the advanced society. Ponies used to fight all the time and wage wars on one another for no reason. The centaurs were wiped out – simply because the wars had destroyed their small and insulated society. Tirek was the only one who was still alive. The only good thing that came about it was that Princess Celestia felt sorry that the centaurs were almost entirely killed during the Pony Wars, so she granted him immortality – so his kind wouldn’t go extinct. Tirek almost felt sorry that he had to kill Celestia. She wasn’t a savage like the other ponies – Celestia sincerely felt regret and sorrow after the genocide of Tirek’s kind. Celestia’s death was for his daughter. Apple Bloom was better fit to rule by his side.
With all of that, Apple Bloom had a mind of her own. Tirek knew that he would never be able to completely control his daughter. In the same way, that she would never be able to completely control him. Tirek hoped he wouldn’t have to kill his daughter. However, this dream was too strong for him. Some of the things his daughter said worried him. Apple Bloom might still have some loyalties to the ponies. She is part pony after all. However, her mother was weak – he deliberately picked a weak mare so that his daughter wouldn’t look up to her as a role model. He needed to be his daughter’s role model. Tirek knew that there was still some hope. Apple Bloom despised weakness and admired strength. She was still Tirek’s daughter – one that can’t be misguided due to years of living with dull-minded farmer ponies. He would talk to Apple Bloom right now.
Tirek shouted at the top of his voice, “APPLE BLOOM – COME HERE - MY DAUGHTER!!!”
His tiny alicorn daughter flew in that instant.
“Daddy, what is it?”
“I think we have been heading in the right direction, Apple Bloom. Together, we have achieved more than anyone has achieved in over one thousand years.”
“So, you look at the world outside our wall and see a better place.”
“A better place for us. I don’t think that the well-being of the ponies concerns me. Do you know the true story why no pony has ever seen a centaur before?”
“Ah.. I… heard that the centaurs went mostly extinct due to breeding problems.”
Tirek couldn’t help but smile. His daughter was working hard to rid herself of that “farmer pony” accent she was taught.
“That is incorrect. Pony propaganda at its most disgusting. I am the second-to-last centaur alive. My kind was wiped out when the three different races of ponies were fighting over every last stupid thing. We had the most advanced society in all of Equestria, but had a small population. Our village, Taurus, was unfortunately surrounded by various selfish tribes of ponies. They didn’t seek out to kill us. They ignored us and used our grounds as a fucking battlefield. Every centaur was killed – except me. Princess Celestia met with me after she unified and desavagized the ponies and granted me immortality – since she wanted to save face and not have to take responsibility for the destruction of the centaur race. However, I think Celestia was truly saddened by the destruction of my kind. She knew the great advances our society had made and that learning the “centaur way” would make the ponies better. In fact, Taurus became Canterlot.”
“I never knew that, Daddy, but it seems like that Celestia has some impressive accomplishments.”
“Yes, she did. Her intellect was so strong that I always wondered that she had centaur blood in her- Star Swirl the Bearded was half-centaur. No pony ever taught you that, I bet. Celestia is of no use to us though. Her love for the ponies – for everypony- was her greatest weakness. She knew what was lost when Taurus, our village, was destroyed. However, she didn’t do anything to punish those who were responsible for Taurus’ destruction. I did not desire for her to be killed. Celestia needed to die for our benefit.”
“I understand. I guess I’m the last of the centaurs.”
“Yes, you are, my sweet daughter. This will be a world where the ponies shall suffer – and do exactly what we want them to do. I think this is the world your centaur instincts were truly looking for.”
“But Daddy, I’m just as much pony as I am centaur. I have pony inclinations.”
“You need to destroy those inclinations. Ponies, on the whole, are a weak bunch. Celestia was strong of mind – but she was weak of heart. She actually thought her leadership would change the ponies around her. You can’t change savages – I am sure you have noticed how extraordinary you are compared to the ponies around you. The “cutie mark”, while a pony concept, reflects very much the talent of the pony- and yours, “the black apple”, shows that you are more like me than your mother. The black apple destroys apple farms – as you know, that is its meaning behind the folklore from your apple farmer kind.”
“Easier said than done”, responded Apple Bloom gloomily.
“You are my daughter”, said Tirek, “you can do anything that you want. I think the question is not in capability but in willingness. Are you willing to abandon the lies you were taught when you were Apple Bloom of Sweet Apple Acres?”
“Okay, daddy”, said Apple Bloom, “I get what you’re saying.. but I think we’re going to need more on our side than just you and me.”
“The griffons”, said Tirek, “are fond of what we are doing. You think any of them liked ponies? How about the changelings? Beings who were considered, at best, second-class citizens under Celestia’s rule will now be superior to ponies.”
“I know Gilda likes us because we pay her”, said Apple Bloom, “but do we have anyone that is truly loyal to us? Beings that will die for our cause.”
“It doesn’t matter”, said Tirek, “if we stay strong – most beings will be far too afraid to defy us. This has been a long time coming, Apple Bloom. I’ve been waiting over a thousand years. I will admit, at first, I didn’t pay too much attention when I heard that there was somebody quietly murdering ponies. However, I had heard about the tactics the murderer used. I admired what the murderer had done. Imagine my delight when I learned that it was you – an earth pony filly from an apple farm in Ponyville with dead parents – this brought my spirits up tremendously. I thought you were done for since you’d be raised by that senile Granny Smith, but you are my child.”
“My mom and ‘dad’ are dead because of you. I know I shouldn’t be mad at you for that, but I am. You killed them because you were jealous. You wanted to control my mom and she didn’t let you control her. I think that’s why you killed my parents.”
“The ponies have their purpose”, said Tirek matter-of-factly, “it was a mistake to kill Cherry Blossom. I admit that I sometimes have issues with anger. My power can be most dangerous. Like you, I am not particularly fond of weakness and seek to destroy it with my strength. Appleseed was a buffoon who wanted your mother to work in the fields until her body broke down from exhaustion. She was a city mare from Manehattan – not a strong and sturdy farmer. Appleseed was incapable of seeing the world from any perspective that wasn’t his own. You think I was horrible to your mother. Yes, I killed her and I am sorry for that. However, Appleseed was a monster to her. He would beat her if she defied him. She bore two idiot farmers from Appleseed and one future ruler of Equestria from me.”
“I saw visions from the past. My ‘daddy’ didn’t seem like a bad man. He just cared a lot about his farm. I grew up always making Sweet Apple Acres top priority. Plus, I don’t appreciate you talking about my siblings like that – they may be all about the farm, but they’re both really smart.”
“It’s okay to admit that your family has idiots. I had an idiot brother and I’m not ashamed of admitting it.”
“Because you truly don’t care about anyone except yourself.”
“After what you have done, do you really think anyone besides me cares for you?”
“Ummm.. I…ummmmm….”
“All the dead ponies who died directly and indirectly due to your actions, you think Applejack and Big Mac are going to welcome you back with open arms. Do you really think so? Their beloved Granny Smith, who isn’t your grandmother anyway, died because she was so heartbroken over what you did. Do you think those two brats you would run around with could forgive you? If I remember correctly, it was Sweetie Belle who turned you in so she wouldn’t get in trouble for whatever involvement you made her go through. We killed Scootaloo’s loser dad – a kill which I quite enjoyed for the record. Do you think you would be able to go back to school? You got rid of half of the fourth grade class thanks to your brilliant schemes. I know what you’re thinking, Bloom. However, you should keep in mind that no pony is going to forgive you. Things will never go back to once they were. The smartest thing you can do is to accept your new role in life and to live up to your potential. I didn’t make you kill most of those ponies, Bloom. You did that on your own and I’m proud of you.”
Light tears began to trickle down his daughter’s eyes. Yes, thought Tirek, the words were strong. However, he had to get rid of Bloom’s pony past. He knew that was what caused Apple Bloom to doubt her role in his.. he meant their master scheme.
“I know you’re right, Daddy”, said Apple Bloom with a sniffle, “and I’m sorry. It’s just I thought I wanted a world where my friends and family can live happily without the undesirables. But, I see now that perhaps they are all undesirable. They aren’t worth the trouble. They need our guidance and direction to make the world a better place.”
“The world will be a better place as long as they don’t disobey us, Bloom. I am approaching the end of my life soon. Once I die, I will expect you to continue my legacy. I will expect you to continue what I have started and to ensure that the world is the way it was always supposed to be. Your alicorn powers will make you long-lived.”
“I thought you said you were immortal.”
“Not entirely immortal as you saw with Princess Celestia”, said Tirek, “an immortal can be killed by another immortal – including by his own hand.”
“Hold on”, said Apple Bloom, “are you saying you’re going to kill yourself?”
“I want to eventually die”, said Tirek, “immortality is such a bore.”
“I don’t want to lose you, Daddy”, said Apple Bloom, “even you said, you’re all I have left.”
“I have spent a thousand years all alone and isolated. I will be kind though and wait until your pony instincts are gone. Ponies struggle with the concept of death and are terrified of it. Centaurs accept death as a normal part of life. With my training, you will become a centaur and only a centaur.”
“I understand”, said Apple Bloom, “I am fortunate to have such an intelligent father who can guide me through these changing times.”
“Good”, said Tirek, “now, we must prepare for Zecora’s execution. She’s a danger to our rule and must be stopped.”
“I agree, Daddy. I will make an announcement to Equestria that Zecora shall be killed. She isn’t going to give us any useful information anyway.”
“Unfortunately, she won’t. I hate that stupid potion she concocted. Now, we have to worry about the well-being of four undesirables. It makes me fucking sick.”
“Me too, Daddy.”
*************************************************************************
Apple Bloom had a decision to make. She knew that Tirek didn’t cause all of the destruction – however, he had committed horrible crimes to society. Apple Bloom wondered if she should kill her father. But was he right? Would Apple Bloom simply suffer from killing him and trying to bring society to what it once was? Apple Bloom had lost her advantage of being an “invisible killer”. Everypony knew now she was a murderer. Apple Bloom would only suffer if she tried to redeem herself. Her father was also the most powerful being in all of Equestria. He would be Bloom’s toughest opponent if she decided to kill him. For now, Apple Bloom needed to announce that Zecora was to be executed to her subjects.
Apple Bloom was getting ready to transmit the message. However, she heard a soft voice, “Apple Bloom… my blooming flower.. please listen to me. I think I can help.”
Apple Bloom turned around. She didn’t see any pony. She shrugged and figured it was her imagination.
Apple Bloom lit up her horn and began the process of transmitting the message, “Zecora to be executed tomorrow” to Equestria. However, she felt a tap on her shoulder.
Apple Bloom wanted to scream but she didn’t want to show any signs of fear. She turned around and saw a mare… one that had been in her visions before. It must have been a vision. The mare looked like a hologram. She didn’t look real. She looked like a ghost pony… bah… ghost ponies didn’t exist.
“Bloom, I know you must not think I’m real“, the mare spoke, “however, I am very much real. I have come back from my resting place to deliver some important messages to you. I am your mother and I love you very much.”