//------------------------------// // (R)Interval+02_SEGREGATION // Story: R.3.A.R. // by Wand3r3r3 //------------------------------// R.3.A.R. {----- [[[[[-Interval+02_SEGREGATION-]]]]] -----} By the time the three young mares made it over to Sugarcube Corner, the sky was beginning to take on a deep, dark, pearlescent tone. The color was strong and saturating, but, being stretched across the sky, it was rather thin and left only the exact imitation of daybreak. Apple Bloom swore that the ever-growing darkness warranted the return of Pinkie's ghost, and the reprisal of that feeling of dread that consumed her; that the fear would consume her once more. She tried to use her friends' company to forget that sight—in the deepest corners of her mind—that she had seen. She confronted that harrowing, grinning face up close. There was no way she was going to shake off the feeling of being stalked, now. . . “Well, we’re here. Just gotta go to the back. Follow me,” ordered Scootaloo in an urgent manner. Sweetie Belle promptly got behind Apple Bloom, who then kept file in front of her. Scootaloo got to the front of the line and kept her side against the wall, taking a quick glance at the back alley. “Darn, where's a dude when you need one?" Sweetie's voice piped up from the back, and it took much of Apple Bloom's gumption to ignore her. She managed much easier than any other situation she could recall. Apple Bloom ignored her, though. “Wait, what do you mean 'follow you'? I think me and Se2 know how to-“ Scootaloo gently pushed her hoof against Apple Bloom’s lips, to which a small, slim knife slid into her hoof's grip, as she saw for herself. She clenched it with the cleft of her hoof, pressing the cold, flat side of a single knife against Apple Bloom's neck: she understood now, and nodded in agreement. “I don’t trust anyone.” Scootaloo concealed the knives once more. “Even if we knew this guy back then, ponies can change, and we know he could very well be up to something putting you away. Good lessons to learn, you know.” She taunted Apple Bloom for her gullibility of tongue, for how she gave most ponies the benefit of the doubt, but she kept it friendly: she pressed her lips to her forehead before looking at her. "But you're my friend, and I can say I love my friends with all of what little heart I actually show." She turned back, but not before reassuring the filly with a smile. Apple Bloom had. . .trust issues. Before Scootaloo came along, she was always getting herself into small snippets of trouble, as her family hadn't taught her much of the world outside of their own. Even though she lived with her 'family', the ones she considered to be related to only by blood, there were never any other times where she felt more alone, surrounded by those who merely tolerated her. After living in such a hostile environment for more than half of her life, she couldn’t have any better reason to consider as such. ------ Macintosh, AppleBloom’s big brother, had become little more than a bully after his three years of nonstop service to Sweet Apple Acres. Back then, he had only considered the family as a paycheck to him, after an entirely different set of circumstances caused him to distance himself from the family. They realized he never wanted a thing to do with them, but they desperately needed his help, and he needed a job just as badly. He knew that there was very little purpose in continue miserably working on that farm, aside from the money, and Apple Bloom herself, who was only just about to start her six-year career at elementary school. The sweet child: she was the one out of the whole family that he really cared for—or yet, the only one who hadn't given him an a reason to despise her, yet. But again, after three years, his bitterness grew exponentially bigger, for even his biological family. And so, with his final incoming pay from the Apple family, Macintosh was gone. He had ripped himself from their guilt-tripping grasp for the last time, happily leaving town for the lonely, free life of the road. He had taken everything the family ever lived for, and they were left with nothing. He was nearly nothing but a fraud who destroyed the family's loyal reputation, with all the more shock coming when he told them to "just fuck off." Mac's sister, AppleJack, saw his outrage as a unique opportunity, as disgusting as the thought was, but honesty was important to her, and she also needed to stay true and honest to herself as well. Like the family, she had also grown angry with Macintosh—she threatened to leave, and leave she did, much to the everyone's ineffective pleas. Most of the other members had left as soon as Macintosh did, as he was the reason why they had dealt with the family's ugly transformation for years. She made a heavy point to them before she left by taking Apple Bloom with her. The filly was still too young to properly understand all the conflicts that plagued her family, but the one thing that Apple Jack implanted in her mind was the only thing she came to know for the next few years: that the Apple Family was completely. . .dead. She had been born after the prime of the family's life, and now it had all fallen apart thanks to her bigger siblings. Apple Jack stole her away, and the remainder of the family couldn't afford a legal battle, so they also couldn't stop her and her incredible resolve. She promised her sister that she would do her damndest to support her, and raise her right. But the very first night that she promised to always be by her side, through thick and thin, for better or worse— She abandoned her. Even after such a promise, she left her vulnerable side. Apple Jack, the Element of Honesty, a national savior. . . How could she do such a thing. . . ? ----- Those particular memory came back to her, however brief the moment allowed. Okay, I’m on it this time," she whispered. Scootaloo was creeping alongside the building once more. She was almost like a second role model to her; Apple Bloom was that dependent. Sweetie whispered, too, but directly into Apple Bloom's ear. "I bet Scootaloo's gonna rape this guy!" They both continued follow her, keeping themselves close to the side of the building. The lamplight could guide them only so far, however, and it was getting harder and harder to see as they kept pushing forward. "Wonder why she brought that little ClopTop with her," Apple Bloom asked. Sweetie answered her, enthusiastically. "Recording all the action?" Loitering was dangerous anywhere at any time in the town of Ponyville. The town was becoming so violent so fast, becoming less of popular pick for tourists to spend their days—and their nights—in, and also cared about less and less by everypony who lived there, with more residents relocating than ever. If Pinkie Pie had been 'murdered' only a little more than a week ago, wouldn't more time need to pass before everyone's spirit would fall into disrepair? “Kay, guys.” Scootaloo whispered, keeping her head forward and still, though her eyes looked in all directions. “Keep your guard up. He's here somewhere, but he's gotta be different by now. Still sounded like a puss to me, though.” The three kept their right sides to the nearest wall, trying to prevent any ambush by actively looking for the stallion, David, through the growing darkness. With how far they'd gone into the alleyway, there was hardly any more light to help them in that endeavor. They knew that crime had been lurking in their peaceful town, especially in the many alleyways around, and their cautious actions would help defend them against any criminals as well. Though, the idea of Sweetie fearing an encounter with any sexual predator was entirely controversial. And now, with the artificial light so far away, the three friends had couldn't see a thing, and there was absolute silence, exemplified as they reached the end of the building, right about to turn a dangerous corner. Scootaloo, being the one ahead of them, stopped them. "What the hell is this? she whispered. She slowly reached up to her face and flicked off a cold, sticky and slimy substance from her face. She proceeded to touch the very end of the wall, where it contorted to an angle and led them a new path to follow, however blind. But, when she placed her hoof on the cool surface, she felt more of that same substance from before, reacting accordingly. "Seriously, what the hell is this. . . ?" Apple Bloom, right behind her, brought up the observation—or, rather, the smell—of whatever the substance may have been. "To me, it's like it just rained or somethin'," she said. "It feels like it, too, doesn't it? Or is that part just me? Dew-ey?" Sweetie agreed. "I feel like it's gotten way colder, yeah. "It feels really wet, too, but that might definitely be me." She made her friends chuckle for all but a moment, but they also kept their faces straight, serious, for an encounter that was bound to be shady in some way or another—and Scootaloo was the most cautious of all, as she always had a tendency to be. "No, it does feel like it just rained or something," said Scootaloo, to neither friend on particular. "But it's not, and it didn't. If he's here, I'm sure he's up to something. Grab the comp out of my bag, would you? And be careful." Peeking around the corner, she immediately caught sight of something: It was a dim light in a rectangular shape, slightly slanted, with the silhouette of someone's hoof entering it, moving and casting a shadow. The light then became nothing more than a wall, all in but an abrupt second. She felt around behind her for a friend to assist her, and it was Sweetie Belle who ended up at Scootaloo's side; she expected Apple Bloom to be the one to get the ClopTop out of her bag, and not the obnoxious-at-times Unicorn. Though, Sweetie just went ahead and grabbed the whole bag off of Scootaloo's body, sliding the cloth strap up her neck and down her own. “Hey, that’s him! That's Davy over there!” Sweetie said, louder than necessary. After cringing a bit, Scootaloo gave her a warning to keep her voice low. Sweetie suddenly launched herself at herself at Scootaloo, throwing her behind the cover of the wall, and the Pegasus then fell on top of Apple Bloom. The biggest sound they caused was the thud of their three bodies, and Scootaloo was sure that their cover was blown. But then again, the sound of rats and other night prowling critters knocking objects over could have excused their presence to him. She gritted her teeth and swore. . .silently. "God dammit, Se2!" The angry words slurred through her teeth as she threw her friends off of her—gently, of course, as she was worried enough that David would ran off. She thought that, with a few thuds in the dark alley, his preconceived 'pansy ass' would have scared him away; either that, or he feared for his life just like they did. They all rose to their hooves once again, and of course, Scootaloo was eager to check around the corner again, taking time to do so carefully. "Fuck, where'd you say you saw him again?" Eagerly, the Unicorn jumped to her side again, looking out into the darkness. "I don't see him anymore," she said, bringing a look of distress to Scootaloo. "He was on his phone earlier, or I guess it was a phone." "You mean that light we saw?" "Yeah, it was shining off the back wall and stuff." "Well, where else could he have gone? This back alley is just a dead end. I would know. Sneaking around, maybe." Her and Sweetie were about to turn the corner when they instructed Apple Bloom to follow. But when there was no response, they didn't move on; they wouldn't do so without being assembled as a group. They both looked back where she was and saw her back turned to them, and, upon ignoring their instincts and staying silent, they heard her talking to herself. Sweetie was just about to say her name when she head another voice in the filly's direction. "Hey, it's alright," it said. "I swear I'm not here to hurt you." But even with the words that the soft and rather gentle voice spoke, Apple Bloom started to groan in pain. "Hey, calm down!" The sounds of her suffering only grew louder, as her painful grunts turned into moans that exemplified her pain even more. "Uhm. . .please? Are you okay?!" Sweetie and Scootaloo took no effort to keep quiet anymore as they jumped in Apple Bloom's direction; the filly's cries resonated off the dark walls, and that warranted a little bit of recklessness. On their way, the voice spoke to them this time, and they were able to make out its masculine nature, despite the medium pitch. "Hey, you guys!" he called, once again, seeing only slivers of their bodies. "Is this girl with you? Can you help out here!?" He quickly turned around and ran away from them, their slowly highlighted selves looking like they were going to attack him. Sweetie took the lead ahead of Scootaloo as they split paths; she ran toward the stallion's voice while Scootaloo took care of Apple Bloom. The male voice asked them for help one last time before Sweetie jumped at him, only able to see his silhouette from the distant light. She hit him hard and brought him down to the cold asphalt, and even she was staggered by the fall. "Alright, let's take off this mask!" she called out as she proceeded to pull on the David's mane, with the the two of them under the wide cone of light, in its furthest reaches. His face was hardly visible, but she was able to see the whites of his eyes before he slammed his eyes shut. He fought back, trying to pry Sweetie from his torso, and yelling at her while he did. But the sounds of Apple Bloom's suffering seemed to subside, and when the last echo came to pass, so did Sweetie's attack on the stallion. In the brief silence between them all, including a muffled David, she broke it. "Scootaloo!" she called, keeping heavy pressure on his body. "Everything okay?" "Everything's fine." Apple Bloom was the one who answered her, pushing her words through her heavy heaving. "Sounds like you got him, so. . .everything's fine, right?" She was suddenly so weak, and Scootaloo had to help her stand. "Let me at him . . . I mean, let me talk to him." Sweetie looked back at them, assisted by the light from the cloptop she pulled out of Scootaloo's bag, draped over her own shoulders. She saw that Scootaloo was helping her approach, and she turned back around, shoving the bright screen right in front of David's face, taking care not to impale the device on his horn. The computer was 'asleep', and, even with all the rough shaking it endured, all she needed to do was open the top lid to attain a bright screen again. "What the heck is this, mister?!" she said forcefully. David placed his hooves on the computer and gently pushed it back toward her. His face, lit up by the uncomfortably bright screen, was properly revealed. His confused face hadn't ever changed; she couldn't see his expression before, but it still spoke volumes. "I don't understand," he said. "You guys are looking for me, of all ponies? What the heck is this all this about?!" Not much about his appearance changed, either; over the years that passed since they last saw him. His auburn-colored mane and tail leaned toward a darker shade of brown, but the hint of redness definitely complemented his eyes, with multiple hues of green that mixed to give off a lush, beautiful hazel. One of his eyes was halfway obscured by a part of his mane that was also a mixture of colors: many small strands of his hair hung down over the left of his forehead, completely separate from the rest of the hair on his scalp thanks to his horn, piercing in between the his two-toned colored mane. The fur on the majority of his head, his strong facial structure, was a pure white that saturated the rest of his body, no traces of any dirt anywhere, despite them being in an area where filth and scum would thrive. The last thing that they all noticed about him, as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stood at his sides—the most appropriate vantage points—was his Cutie Mark: His flanks only featured the pencil that Sweetie spoke of, upon his white-coated skin "Sweetie, get that out of his face." Apple Bloom was angry at this stallion, and she made it perfectly clear within her words: when Sweetie hesitated to take the ClopTop away from his face, she shouted. "Now." Sweetie obliged, backing up and keeping the device's light on him, then Apple Bloom approached him, standing at his side and trying to get a good look at his face. To her benefit, he looked at her, dead into her eyes, asking them all, once again; "What's this all about?? Why are you guys after me?!" His own demeanor took a more serious tone than before. "Leave me alone!" he told her. "I haven't done anything to you guys!" Scootaloo backed her up. "So, you didn't see what you put out? That bullshit?" "What're you even talking about? Are you . . . Wait, you mean on the screen?" "You know it," said Apple Bloom. "I wanna know why in the hay you wrote that!" "I couldn't see a thing," he argued, pointing at Sweetie Belle. "She had it all up in my face, and I can barely see anything now because of how bright that screen is!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at each other, and then they both gave Sweetie one order each. "Don't go anywhere, Sweetie," said Apple Bloom. "Show him again," said Scootaloo. "And turn down that screen!" David looked at each word carefully, as Sweetie had fixed the text to be fairly large and easily readable. He skimmed through, but made cohesive sense of what they wanted him to see, what they wanted him to understand. "No . . . No no, I didn't write this at all! I don't know why the hell my name is in this thing at all! You have to believe me!" he said. Scootaloo promptly got up in his face as soon as his echoing voice cleared the area. "Didn't ring any bells, huh?" She looked at Sweetie, but her voice still directed at him. "If you don't tell us the real story behind this, I'll have to sic my pal Sweetie on you." Sweetie put on a devilish look. "What?" She gave her a quick look before looking back at Scootaloo; he noticed her 'evil' frown and chuckled. "But she's too. . .I have to say. . .cute." He took a moment to catch a bit more breath. "Look, you have to believe me." "It's because she's so cute that all the stallions want her, and why she's seen quite a bit of penis. She can give, oh, let's just say. . .pretty bad blowjobs sometimes. We're talking teeth, here, boyo." "?Wait, huh? I really hope you're not threatening me," he said, his head turned away with one eye squinting at them, eyebrow scowled. "But this isn't the worst one ever. I guess." He blushed ever so slightly; they couldn't see the fluster in his face. "She told me she ate a guy's dick before." David jerked his head back to them. "Yeah, like, with a fork and knife." David looked back at Sweetie, who had somehow gotten a fork and a knife in her hooves, and was staring him down. All of a sudden, David's face took a sour turn, pulling his jaw back and still forming a frown. "I'm pretty sure she had 'em tied down, too." "Oohh. . ." he stammered. Then he got up and started yelling, all so suddenly. "Oh god, no! I swear I don't know anything, like I've been saying!" Scootaloo got in his way and shoved him to the ground, Sweetie coming down to his side, holding the utensils in front of her face, looking at him. "I'm serious, I promise you I don't know anything!! Leave me alone!" He tried getting up again, but Scootaloo put her heavy leg on his tightened abdomen. "You're not going anywhere, man." She leaned on the same leg on slapped his face. "Not till you tell us what we know you know. We'll let you talk when you look ready." Then she moved her leg down his body, and that was when Apple Bloom started to look away: even though David was their immediate enemy, she felt bad even for him. "Aaaaaahhhhg!!!" The girls tortured him in various ways, but it wasn't his loud, half-muffled screaming and their echoes that brought weight to Apple Bloom's head: She backed into the a thin cover of darkness, but nothing too dark where her fear would only amplify the pain in her head. She massaged her head and looked at them from afar, holding her hoof to her head. She sighed and mumbled to herself. "They can be. . .really violent when they want to be. Dang." With another heavy sigh, she took slight comfort in the distance she added to the scene, but the silence was immediately broken when she heard the steps of hooves behind her. She swung herself around, but saw nothing; only blackness. David and her friends’ voices faded drastically as she focused her eyes and ears on whatever had caught her attention; she rather stayed still while the source can to her. Soon, though, another bipedal figure came into view; its physical presence made clear, with its menacing approach, but identity unknown. This character, whoever it was, had come from nowhere, and that's exactly how Apple Bloom remembered him before she felt weak in her bones all over again. He quickly slammed his hoof over her mouth, muffling her before she even took the breath she would need to scream. "Relax." The atmosphere in which Apple Bloom saw the distant structure was within a dark, suffocating haze. The building was merely a silhouette, in front of a likewise hazy horizon, saturated in a sickly twilight that seemed to take the mountains it touched. AppleBloom knew she was trying to move her body, but she remained stationary; and with every step she took, the barn began to disintegrate. Flashes of her life with her family raced across whatever part of her was conscious during the whole episode, and she started muttering to herself. “Why, Big Mac. . .?” Each flash that passed, she caught a glimpse of the barn once more, only with more and more bits missing from it; and with less and less structure, a figure began to form from where it stood. It, too, came to stand on two legs, and it closed its distance from Apple Bloom as more flashes passed her by. First it stood on one leg, upright, and then another leg grew from it's body, making greater strides now. Then its other legs appeared on the sides of its torso, one after the other. And then finally, when the creature was only feet away from being able to touch her, its head appeared from her grounded view—it was just the shape of a head upon the creature’s shoulders. She looked up, seeking better understanding of this creature, however she could. Her head was thumping, perhaps along with her quickened heartbeat, but she saw nothing at her front, as it had disappeared. Her body was so difficult to move, it was as if gravity focused solely on her. She gave in, her sight falling back down to the ground, but her ears still told her where the creature had gone: It was breathing directly into her right ear. She didn't dare to look, even if it were easy, but she suddenly felt five sets of hooves wrap around her head, turning it in the same direction. She could hardly see anything during that split second, aside from the silhouettes of numerous other creatures through the legs that held her. More of them must have come from behind, as even more legs and hooves laid across her body and head. A good half of her fear was exerted through her screams and whines, however muffled they were: though, she was not the first to speak words that were nearly unintelligible. She couldn't make them out, with what little she could see, and she wasn't given a real chance to after they started closing in on her, their bodies pressing up against her vulnerable frame. She could do very little, struggling feebly and heaving her limbs at them before she one of them struck her cheekbone with enough force to lift her from the ground, even an inch. She slid into a gathering of the creatures, in which they surrounded her further, all of them. The pain was so real, as if it were real. It could have very well been real. . . ------------ "Did you see where she went?" "Nope, sorry. Maybe she's humming one of her happy tunes? Like, quietly?" "Fuck it, you stay here and watch Davy." Scootaloo gave Sweetie Belle one last direction as she parted ways into the far reaches of the cone of light. She soon started to hear Apple Bloom, fortunately for her, but the moaning that she heard in the filly's voice heightened Scootaloo's senses again. They felt more comfortable that they found and technically captured David. . .but now, not so much.