It's been 6 years since Appleade left the roost. Ponyville has never been so subdued. Both the parents, AJ and RD and the child, Appleade Dash, blame themselves for the argument.
It's been 3 years since Appleade left the roost. Ponyville has never been so subdued. Both the parents, AJ and RD and the child, Appleade Dash, blame themselves for the argument.
But today is different. Today would have been the day little Appleade became a Mare.
There was a subdued feeling in Ponyville as the day they had all been dreading had finally come. All shops were shut, all parks empty, the sorrow felt by all.
However sad these villagers might have been, it didn't compare to the extent felt by one particular family, and two particular mares.
Rainbow Dash sat motionless on the cold hard floor, utterly absorbed in the photos before her. They were old family photos, the kind all tight-kit families, of herself, her partner and a brightly smiling filly. She sniffled, and brushed her eyes, trying to accept the harsh realities. I'm so sorry, A.D," she whispered in the silence. "I should have stopped you."
"T'wasn't yer fault, sugarcube," a voice replied from behind Dash. Applejack walked up to her and wrapped her front hooves around Dash's heaving chest. "We were all ta blame fer what happened."
"But if I hadn't yelled at her, she might still be here," Dash whimpered, resting her face in A.J's coat. "Especially for today."
"We both said stuff we regret now, Ah regret telling her ta leave."
Dash closed her eyes, "I can still hear the argument," she whispered, and Applejack tightened her embrace. "She told us she hated us and wished we weren't her parents, and ...I...I said..."
"Sssh darling," Applejack interjected. "Don't focus on that, it was spur-of-the-moment."
"I t-told her..that...she w-was...a f-f-freak, an...ab-aberration," Rainbow choked out, tears falling faster. "I t-told her, sh-she...w-wasn't meant t-to be..born. What k-kind of s-stupid, horrible mother w-would s-say that, to her own d-d-daughter?"
"Dashie, we were both at our wits end with her, chances are if'n yeh hadn't said it, ah mighta," A.J replied, tears of her own flowing.
"It's b-been six whole y-years sine we l-last saw her!" Dash was overcome by sobbing and Applejack stroked her hair slowly.
They sat like that for a few moments, A.J comforting her grieving partner, and fighting off her own emotions. Hold on, she told herself. Soon, you'll be able to hit the orchards.
Eventually Dashie cried herself out, and exhausted by the raw emotion, fell asleep in Jackie's hooves, leaving A.J to carry her up to their room. She tucked Dash into bed, then sat down on the blanket.
Today was a day neither of them wanted to see. Today was the 10th birthday of little Appleade Dash, their estranged daughter, the day she officially became an adult mare. However, she had broken contact with them when she walked out of their door six years ago.
I shouldn't have told her to leave, A.J told herself, smacking her forehead. Hell, I miss her so damn much!
Her grief became too much to bear, and kissing Dash gently, she galloped out of the ban and down to the orchards.
Her brother was stacking crates of apples, ready to be used for that years cider store, when he heard hoovesteps run past him. Looking up, he saw Applejack disappear into the apple trees, followed by the sound of her strong hooves hitting rough bark.
Applebucking again, He shook his head sadly. She'll hurt herself, at this rate. He would've said something to her, but he knew the deep hurt she was trying to relieve, it wasn't his place to interfere.
His own heart heavy, Big Macintosh stacked the last crate and stood by the orchard, keeping a protective eye on her.
Tyrone shivered as he drew his raggedy blanket around his skinny frame and tried to ignore the gnawing hunger he felt. The electricity had been turned on for once, and he was taking advantage of the rare occasion, watching the television for updates on other countries.
The news was on, (in fact, it was the only program available, all others forbidden by the government.) and it rarely, if ever, held good news. War in one country, famine and sickness in another. It seemed like the society of Earth was slowly declining towards it’s unfortunate demise, and yet very few seemed to take notice, though if they did, they didn’t seem to care, too busy caught in the petty, useless battles between mankind.
Whatever happened to peace and tolerance? He sadly wondered to himself, as he watched the depressing imagery. There was a time when everyone was friends... and harmony reigned above all.
...And now, in this world of eight billion people, there was no friendship. No love, no harmony.
Nothing, nothing at all.
Only war. War and sickness.
In fact, the last time people had united in friendship against hate and prejudice had been when the last generation of that supposed child’s show aired. What was it called?
Oh yes; My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic.
In its heyday, the show had 7 seasons, four movies and tons of fan-made stories, art nad music. People all around the world, from young girls, to elderly men had bonded together, forming a beautiful fandom based upon their love for this seemingly unforgettable show.
Despite originally being aimed at children, the show rapidly gained ground, because of it’s message for friendship, love and tolerance, and the six Elements of Harmony; Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, Honesty, Generosity.
And Magic, the element to unite all elements in friendship.
The show, with its message of togetherness had risen during a time where the global phenomenon known as the internet had begun its own corruption and sealing Earth’s doom At first, it was just a small handful of threats and trolls, which then escalated to terrorism, and in turn became a wave of worldwide hate crimes. The show, and it’s fandom, had suddenly found themselves as one of the major supporting beams of society; the keepers of whatever shreds of humanity there was left on the planet, the basic humanity, men had long since forgotten.
Hasbro had yet to reveal the next generation due to unforeseen consequences, and with this, the fandom began to churn out a near-endless line of works, and at one point even an unofficial eighth season. But all to no avail. The fandom began to lose it’s charm not too long after, and became stagnant.
First, the superficial bronies and pegasisters, the ones who said they liked the show, but weren’t as deeply committed to the ideals and beliefs as the rest. They were the first to fall, followed by the regular bronies and Pegasisters who reluctantly gave up on the show, their various fan site accounts dead and buried, their art forgotten and their music unheard.
As one of the biggest influences over society, the fandom had been mainly balancing out evil, and occasionally changing the minds of a large group here and there. Now with the fandom fallen, there is was now nothing to combat the hate and prejudice of the common man, who have since turned on each other, creating wars and sickness through horrifying methods.
Many peacekeeping organizations were destroyed in the first few days of the Third World War. Large organizations such as Anonymous fell to the destruction of society, by the means of internal conflict.
Even Hasbro, the original publisher of the series-- thus the founder of the fandom-- couldn’t stand to the chaos. Just a couple of years afterwards, it’s headquarters were utterly devastated by a series of various attacks.
However, there still exists a fragment, however small compared to the much larger, and once-proud Brony fandom.
The die-hards, who despite everything, had never given up on the show, and continued to defiantly publish their stories and art, defying the inevitable doom that glared in their faces.
The once great gem of My Little Pony; Equestria now lies in ruins, lost and forgotten by all but those loyal to the end, who continue to this day in attempt to prop up the sad facade of the show.
The loss of the fandom has greatly weakened Equestria, with only the true fans keeping the structure sound. They have to be careful, lest any action they make may forever change the land itself.
Eventually, the news became too upsetting, so Tyrone turned it off, plunging the damp room into stygian darkness. He glanced at his computer, fighting off the waves of memories it held for him.
In his time, he had been one of the loudest voices and biggest supporters for the fandom, but like many, he had eventually lost hope and abandoned the fandom to die it’s slow and miserable death.
As he stood before it, unbidden images sprang to his mind. The ponies themselves, brightly coloured and as happy as ever, the beautiful capitol, Canterlot; a gem among gems, the Crystal Palace, stunning in its radiant glow.
He had experienced many happy occasions, as well as sad with the fandom he had once called his true family.
He missed the fandom, missed the show, missed the Old Earth.
It had been too long now. What was it? Two? Three years ago?
His gaze met the dusty calendar hanging on the wall.
Five years.
No, He realized, hope springing to his heart. It doesn’t have to end here. If no-one will do anything to save this world, I will.
He glanced back towards his computer. He would need help... He couldn’t do this on his own.
Hopefully, the network will cooperate… he thought as he picked up an old cellphone.
A few quick dial tones later, Tyrone found himself connected to an old friend.