The Outcasts

A large group of earth ponies were gathering in the square of the city, casually sauntering to the riser seats surrounding a large stone pedestal that rested directly in front of the city hall. It bore no glorified statue of the proud founder of the city or of a historic event, instead bearing chains and shackles that snaked across its feather-laden surface. The citizens talked amongst each other, some about rumors they had heard, others about which store had the best supplies, and others still of things that had no real importance whatsoever. A loud whine was heard from the aged speakers on the flag poles that flanked either side of the entrance to city hall and all the crowd went silent.

"Citizens of Earth's Haven! I have called you all here to witness the trial of a monster caught within our walls, whose horrid figure bears the horn of the devil horse and the wings of a dragon! This mutant sought asylum in our walls, but we shall not live among such filth so long as your leader, Stalwart Shield, watches over this city." As the city's leader continued, a creature was led by four guards. Two of which held chains leading to a collar around its neck, while the other two wielded batons in case it decided to try and break free from the pair that was leading it to the city square. When the group reached the pedestal, the shackles laying about on it were closed around the creature's ankles with loud clanks. Stalwart Shield, the city leader, stepped out onto the balcony of the city hall, high above the square. Many citizens cheered upon his arrival while others stayed quiet. All of them knew what was to come. The loudspeakers whined once again as the proud leader prepared to speak.

"Each day, we are plagued by monsters and mutants that threaten to tarnish our perfect society!" The guards on the pedestal violently tackled the creature, pinning it to the ground, ignoring its cries for mercy. "One stands before us this very day. They believe themselves better than us, better than nature's design!" Two of the guards began furiously ripping clumps of feathers off the creature's wings as the other two kept it pinned. "We will prove that no creature is above what nature intends." A shaky, middle-aged mare approached the microphone next to Stalwart Shield clutching a piece of paper in her hooves. She was almost on the verge of tears. She regained her composure as best as she could, adjusted her glasses, and cleared her throat.

"This... Mutant is charged with crimes against the design of nature, as well as threatening to corrupt the minds and bodies of these uh... untainted denizens of the city known as Earth's Haven. The punishment is... Oh god why... Cleansing through means of public execution. Final verdict, as... decided by the people?" she said, silently praying the ponies in the stands wouldn't say the creature was guilty, for somepony to speak out against this trial. Her prayers were crushed when a unanimous cry of "Guilty!" rang from the stands, soon followed by chants of "Hang the mutant! Hang the mutant!". The mare looked down at the floor underneath her hooves, tears welling up in her eyes. She practically shoved the piece of paper she was meant to read into Stalwart Shield's hooves and galloped off sobbing.

"As decided by the people, the mutant will be cleansed through execution! Prepare the gallows!" Stalwart announced proudly. The guards, having finished tearing all the feathers off the beast's wings, unlocked the shackles that kept the beast chained to the pedestal and dragged it by the collar around its neck to the edge of the city, where the gallows stood in the light of the setting sun. The captive creature saw its destination, and began frantically clawing at the ground in a futile attempt to get free.

"No, no please! I don't want to die! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!" Again, the guards ignored its cries. After a short bit of struggling, the guards managed to attach the gallows' chain to the loop on the collar and jumped back before the trapdoor opened underneath the mutant, sending it plummeting to its death, screaming all the way and flapping its now useless wings as it fell. Several moments passed before the chain finally snapped taut. A roar of cheering rose from the crowd once again.

Much of the crowd had returned to their homes, and the guards had returned to their posts. There were still a few denizens that stayed behind, but they were mainly talking with others near the local pubs and inns. One pony, a light brown colt wearing small square glasses and a dark green hoodie stood near the gallows, staring at the chain, a remorseful expression on his face. He stepped closer to the edge and kicked a small stone off, watching it as it fell. His eyes drifted to the hanging corpse and he quickly looked back up. "They shouldn't have to kill another pony just because they've got a horn or wings." he muttered.

"Ah'd stow that kinda talk if ah were you." said another pony. The colt turned around to see an orange mare with a blonde mane wearing a Stetson standing behind him. She didn't look pleased. "Tell me something sugarcube. Do you want to get locked up for sidin' with them mutants? I wouldn't waste a second in gettin' you turned in."

"Applejack, think about it. Those 'mutants', as folks like you so fondly call them, wouldn't be here if it wasn't intended by this 'nature's design' crap." he said. The mare closed the distance between them, quickly coming face-to-face with the colt.

"Now you listen here ya ungrateful little punk, those mutants ain't nothing more than dirt stains on nature's boots. We're here for a reason, and that reason is to live off the land and kill off whatever nature says ain't fit to live on this world. Those mutants ain't fit to live on this world, so we kill 'em. That's it." said Applejack sternly.

"I don't care! Those ponies are here-"

"Those things sure as hay ain't ponies, Sugar Buzz." she said, her expression unchanged.

"Regardless, they're here, living and breathing like us, and we just have to kill them?! What good does that do for us? Tell me what good it does us besides 'keeping us ponies and our city from gettin' dirtied up by them mutants'. Go on."

"Why, it does quite a few good things fer us ponies. Fer one, no more mutants stealing our crops. Then there's less worry of an invasion. Finally... Uh..." Applejack scratched her head, trying to think of other reasons.

"Only one reason stated and you're already losin' steam AJ." mused Sugar Buzz.

"No ah'm not! There was something else and ah'm just tryin' to remember it is all." Applejack snapped. Sugar Buzz wasn't convinced. The mare looked up at the clock tower. "Aw hayseeds... Look, ah'd love to keep chattin' with ya on this, but I got... uh... some crops back home what need harvestin' and all that. Bye!" she lied before galloping off past a pub. The colt shook his head. Sure, use the time as an excuse to get away from an argument you already lost AJ, he thought. Sugar Buzz looked at the clock tower as well. Seven-thirty-two. He remembered a concert being performed by Octavia that was scheduled for eight in the Daisy district, and set off at a brisk trot, hoping to get there before the opening act.