Les Mareables

Chapters

I

Les Mareables

Equestria has always been known as a land of plenty. The most technologically advanced country in the world. The highest standard of living. And the highest rate of employment. And so it was that the ponies of Equestria lived contently and in harmony. That was the case until the Equestrian stock market crashed. In only a matter of days ponies were losing their homes, their businesses and were forced to either live on the streets or in impoverished homes. And if anypony was lucky to find a job to replace the ones they had lost they were forced to work outrageous hours and for a horrid wage of only five bits a week.

And so it was that Equestria’s citizens were plunged into debt and despair. And as the ponies plunged deeper into poverty then they also became desperate. And desperate ponies do stupid things, so it was decreed by our Royal Highness Princess Celestia and our equally benevolent Princess Luna that the first ever Equestrian prison would be constructed in Ponyville. The prison became an oppressive symbol for Equestrians everywhere, a symbol of what poverty can turn us into.

And was the Apple family in the midst of this? Where they exempt from the growing poverty sweeping Equestria? Most sadly they were not. The Apple Family’s orchards weren’t doing well. And the few trees that did give the poor family fruit had to be used as food and not as a source of income. And even when the few trees did bear apples they were usually stolen before Applejack or Big Macintosh could collect them.

And so it was during the winter that Granny Smith had died of the feather flu. The old mare had lived to become a goodly age of ninety three. And soon Applebloom would join her grandmother in death unless some food could be brought to her soon. Applebloom had been suffering from malnutrition for weeks now. Her small bones were showing through her skin, her coat had become sallow, and she could barely trot even a few feet.

“Big Mac if we don’ get Applebloom some food soon she ain’t gonna make it.” Applejack muttered to her older brother Big Mac. Applebloom had fallen asleep but Applejack still talked in a low whisper.

“Eeyup. Don’ ya worry lil’ sis I ain’t gon’ let our sister die, ya hear?” Big Mac said to his sister. Despite Big Mac’s reassuring words he could barely believe them himself. It wasn’t like they had much money. The only money they did have was five bits and that wouldn’t get them far. Considering how inflation has increased the prices on anything in Equestria, even the simplest of commodity’s such as food.

But Big Macintosh did not lose hope on his sister. He immediately grabbed the small coin purse off of a table near him and galloped outside.

***

Ponyville was not the same as it once was. All of the old establishments that once stood tall and proud were now shadows of what they once were. Big Mac trotted along, making sure to keep a quick pace if he ever came by any homeless ponies. He sure as hay didn’t want to get robed of his only five bits! Big Mac continued on the cracked streets and veered away from anypony that looked starving or in need of money. Poverty can make anypony paranoid, even the calmest of stallions are affected by it. In this case Big Macintosh.

Big Mac stopped at a dilapidated pink building. He could swear that the building seemed oddly familiar. But it wasn’t until he stepped on a small sign shaped like a cupcake and various greying colors that once made the sign looked vibrant, lively, and full of life.

Sugar Cube Corner

There were a few more lines underneath that but Big Macintosh could not discern them, so he moved on. As he continued on the path he remembered Pinkie Pie. She had once been a happy party pony until the economy went to hay. She had lost her job and ended up wandering the streets in solitude. It wasn’t until she started drinking hard cider that Pinkie’s health started to deteriorate until she was just another drunk wandering the streets.

He never knew what happened to her. Big Mac had always tried to coax the truth about what happened to Pinkie out of Applejack but she refused to ever talk about it. So Pinkie’s death was left as a mystery to Big Macintosh. He trotted along until he took a right down an alleyway where three ponies were standing huddled around a garbage can with a burning flame in it.

Big Macintosh recognized these ponies just by their clothing. They were a local group of ponies that terrorized the town whenever they had the chance. Big Mac began to step back until one of them turned their heads and stared at Big Mac. The pony looking at Big Mac tapped his friend with his dark grey hoof and pointed to the coin purse in Big Macintosh’s red hoof. Big Mac began to step away a bit faster now, he knew that if it came down to a fight he would surely lose despite his large stature.

“What have we here, hmm? A little lost now aren’t we?” The dark grey pony that first spotted Big Mac said in a menacing tone.

“What’s in the little bag?” A light blue one asked.

Big Mac gulped, “S…seeds.” He lied.

“S…seeds?” The dark grey pony mocked Big Macintosh. “Bullshit. We heard you jingle jangle with those bits before you even came down the alley.” The trio began to get closer to Big Mac.

“Just give us the money. We don’t want anypony to get hurt.” An olive green pony said. And as he finished his sentence he took out a small life from his saddle bag with his teeth and began licking his lips eager for blood. “But we don’t mind some blood on our hooves.” He said maliciously.

Big Mac began to feel a trickle of sweat go down his coat and his heart began to pound, hard. The ponies began to get closer until the olive green one began had his knife at Big Mac’s throat.

“Ya’ll think it’s really a good idea ta mess with me? Ah’ve dealt with ponies like ya before, so ah’ll give ya’ll a chance to rethink yer choice and scurry along now ya here?” Big Mac threatened, even though his words felt hollow.

The olive green pony gently poked Big Mac with the blade of the knife, drawing blood, and letting it drip on the floor. And that was when Big Mac attacked. He leaned back and gave the olive green pony a good hoof to the chest.

The green pony gasped and the knife clattered to the floor. The light blue pony stood with his mouth agape and realized that the tables had turned. But the grey pony eyed the knife and lunged for it with Big Macintosh doing the same. The grey pony grabbed the knife first but Big Mac quickly shoved him into the alley wall causing the grey pony to drop the knife. Big Mac quickly picked the knife up with his mouth and started to wave it around at the blue pony who was still standing there.

“HELP! HELP! SOMEPONY ANPONY HELP I’M BEING ROBBED!” The blue pony screamed at the top of his lungs. The grey pony began to snicker on the ground, so Big Macintosh kicked him to shut him up.

Big Mac began to hear the sound of hooves hitting the ground and the clanging of metal that one usually hears from a guard’s armor. Big Macintosh dropped the knife and began to gallop back home.

***

“Whaddya mean ya don’ have any food!?” Applejack exclaimed.

“Ah’ mean what ah’ told ya sis. Ah’ was attacked by the local gang. An’ now the guards are after me but-”

“What did ya do big brother!?” Applejack asked.

“Listen it ain’t what yer thinkin’. They attacked me an-”

“Applejack are you home?” A voice came from the door.

Big Macintosh leaned in close to Applejack’s ear, “Don’t say nothin’ sis.” Big Mac whispered then quietly trotted off to the second floor of the house.

AJ went to the door and opened it, and to her surprise there was Twilight Sparkle with two guards behind her. “Hi Applejack.” Twilight said happily.

“Uh, howdy Twilight.” Applejack said nervously.

“Is your brother home? I need to speak with him.” Twilight responded.

“Nope, he’s uh, not home right now. Can ya’ll, uh leave a message?” Applejack said with a sheepish smile.

Twilight narrowed her eyes and stared into AJ’s green eyes making Applejack feel uneasy. “No its fine. I will come back tomorrow.” The guards began to trot away but Twilight stayed and looked at AJ one more time. “You have a good day now.” She said with a firm smile.

Applejack smiled back and without another word closed the door. “Big brother!” She whispered loudly.

Big Macintosh trotted down the stairs with purpose, “Are they gone?” Big Mac asked.

Applejack nodded, “Yup.”

“What’re we gon’ do?” Big Mac asked.

Applejack put her hoof to her mouth and was plunged into a pensive state. If she let Big Macintosh stay she might get arrested for harboring a fugitive. But if she turned him in then what kind of sister would that make her? So that left her with only one option, he could leave and be safe. “You gotta leave Big Mac.”

“What?”

“Ya gotta leave ah’ can’t let ya go to prison. Ya’ll be safer if ya ran big brother.”

“But-”

“This ain’t a discussion! Ya gotta leave. Now!”

“Ah’ ain’t leavin’!”

“If ya don’t ah’ll get the guards.”

Big Mac looked saddened, “Why?”

“Cuz I want ya to be safe.”

Big Mac looked at her sister and then up at the stairs where his dying sister lay in her bed. “Fine.” And with that he galloped out of the house and into the forest.

II

Twilight Sparkle has always been a mare of rules and systems. So when poverty struck Equestria it seemed fitting for her to enlist for a job at the local police station. She was like nothing Equestria had ever seen. She continually solved cases even the hardest of crimes where the culprit left very little evidence to his or her dastardly deed.

Twilight excelled as a police officer, going to great lengths to see any wrongdoers punished by the law and its unrelenting systems. And so as time dragged on she became the prefecture of Ponyville police. She was ecstatic from the news! She swore that with evermore responsibilities she would never fail in keeping her town safe.

But despite being a nation-wide heroine of the law this did not mean that ponies took too kindly to her. Why you may ask? Because Twilight’s mindset was that if you committed any crime then you were not fit to live in society, and were a danger to the community.

Yet this did not mean that Twilight did not harbor any good traits. Twilight was honest, very honest. Honest meaning that if she were wrong about somepony she would admit it. But that did not mean she had to necessarily like that pony. And she was also known for her intense loyalty to the law.

Loyalty and honesty. Two great traits. But if used for the wrong cause then it could make you into something ugly. In this case that ugly vessel was Twilight Sparkle. Once a creature of sympathy and all things good, she had been morphed into a vessel of the law. Unrelenting, stubborn, apathetic, hard, and cold to anypony that fell out of society’s standards.

But thanks to her loyalty to the law she grew an obsession. She thought that if there was a crime of any sort she had to solve it. In this case she had heard of a mugging that occurred in an alleyway near the dilapidated Sugar Cube Corner. And according to the testimonies from the three respectable ponies that were attacked it was most likely Big Macintosh.

Twilight always knew that Big Mac would eventually stray from the law, she saw it in him. And Applejack had lied right to her face about Big Mac’s whereabouts! She wanted to step into her house to have a look about the house but knowing AJ’s intense love for her family she wouldn’t allow it.

And so Twilight retrieved a search warrant from the town’s court and trotted to Applejack’s farm with an animal like grin on her face. She would catch the culprit and then her mind would be at ease. Knowing that she had kicked another criminal off of the street.

“Oh, uh…howdy Twilight. Ya came by again.” Applejack said with a nervous laugh when she had opened her door to see the prefecture of police at her home.

“May I come in?” Twilight asked with utmost courtesy to her friend.

Applejack swallowed, “Why?”

Twilight began to play with the collar of her uniform, “I just need to conduct a search, apparently your brother has mugged somepony and I’m looking for him. So might I come in?” Twilight asked again.

Applejack narrowed her green eyes, “Ya’ll got a warrant?” Applejack asked, this was her last hope of keeping Twilight out of her home.

Twilight grinned triumphantly at her friend and pulled out a roll of parchment from her coat pocket, “Actually I do,” She put it into Applejack’s hoof, “Just got it this morning.” Twilight said with an air of superiority.

Applejack scanned the paper for a while, realizing that Twilight had every legal right to enter her home she stepped out of the way and motioned for Twilight to enter, “Thank you.” Twilight said while entering her house.

Twilight immediately started scanning for any sign of Big Mac being here recently. She checked everywhere. Under the furniture, in various cabinets she rifled through everything without the common courtesy of putting things back the way they were. “Is Big Mac’s room upstairs?” Twilight asked.

“Y…yes.” Applejack stammered.

“Thank you for your cooperation AJ.” Twilight said as she began to go up the flight of stairs to the second story. “I will try to leave soon, I wouldn’t want to intrude any more than I have to!” Twilight called from upstairs. Twilight began to search about Big Macintosh’s room, going through his drawers’ only stopping to take a small breather.

Twilight continued her search until she stumbled upon a cracked frame that once held a photograph lying on the floor near Big Mac’s bed. Twilight carefully picked it up and examined the photo frame. It was cracked and a few insignificant shards of glass lay strewn on the floor.

So as AJ finally came up the stairs Twilight inquired, “What happened here?” She asked.

Applejack began to sweat, “Um. Accident. I was cleanin’ up his room when ah’ accidently tripped over somethin’ and broke the frame.” Applejack lied.

Twilight grinned, “One hay of an accident wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, yeah it was.”

Twilight began to look around the floor, “Where’s the picture that was in the frame?” Twilight asked.

Applejack jerked a little. Had her brother been so stupid as to not cover his tracks? “I…I don’t know.” Applejack lied.

“Ah. Shame. Well I think I’m done here.” Twilight said, walking down the stairs and out of the house. “Have a pleasant day Applejack, may our next meeting be more fruitful.” Twilight said, leaving the premises

***

Lies! Lies! Twilight stomped her hooves on her desk in the police headquarters. How could her own friend lie to her!? Twilight gritted her teeth, how could the element of honesty possibly lie right to her face!? Can’t Applejack see she just wants to rid the world of criminals!? To keep the community safe, from scum like Big Macintosh!

Twilight ran her hoof through her purple mane and started to enter a relaxed state. It would all be fine. After all where could Big Mac gallop off to? The Everfree forest? Impossible Zecora would never agree to harboring a traitor. Unless of course she wants to spend a few decades in prison.

Twilight thought, and thought, and thought. She went through every scenario but none added up to Big Mac’s whereabouts. Where could Big Macintosh possibly be?

***

And what of the other Elements of Harmony what had happened to them? As we know Pinkie Pie is presumably dead, and Twilight had become prefecture of police, but what of the others? Rainbow Dash’s whereabouts are unknown along with Fluttershy’s. But the fair Rarity had maintained residency in Ponyville for many months after the Equestrian stock market crash.

Rarity having owned a boutique was out of a job, nopony had enough money for the luxuries Rarity offered. So in a few months Rarity closed the Carousel Boutique and left Ponyville to try and find a job in Manehatten in order to support herself and her sister Sweetie Belle.

Rarity went on hoof to Manehatten for months, stopping only at night to rest. It wasn’t until they had reached a small town outside of Baltimare that they at last would be able to stay at an inexpensive tavern. Rarity had wanted to continue on saying that the tavern was “uncouth” but Sweetie needed her rest so her sister obliged.

Before Rarity had entered the tavern however she caught sight of a mare playing with two, well dressed, and well fed, fillies. Sweetie Belle started to motion to the two fillies wanting to play with them.

“Excuse me? Ma’am?” Rarity called to the woman sitting outside of the inn.

The mare turned to her revealing her exceptionally ugly face and misshapen muzzle. The mare appeared to have applied too many cosmetics, which gave her the appearance of a clown. And she was quite round almost resembling an egg.

“Yes?” The mare asked.

“Can…can my sister play with your children?”

The mare turned to the small fillies and motioned to Sweetie Belle, “Go on go play with the new filly.” The two fillies obeyed and began to play with Sweetie Belle while Rarity relaxed with the mare next to her. The mare put her hoof out for Rarity to shake, “I’m the co-owner of this inn.” They shake hooves, “You’re going to stay here tonight?” The mare asked.

“Yes, yes my sister and I will.” Rarity told the mare.

The mare clapped her hooves, “Splendid! I hope you have a nice stay.” The mare said.

“Thank you.” Rarity said in a curt manner, for she was preoccupied watching the three fillies chase each other in circles on a grassy spot. It was then that Rarity realized that Sweetie Belle would be far safer with this mare and her children than in a bustling city where crime runs rampant. For Rarity wished for her sister to retain her innocence for as long as she could despite the circumstances.

“Miss please listen to me.” Rarity said holding the mare’s hooves in her own white ones. “I’m going off to Manehatten tomorrow and I don’t want my sister mingling with those ruffians in Manehatten. It would change her.”

The mare furrowed her brow, “What are you proposing?” The mare asked.

“I’m proposing if she can stay with you and your family.” Rarity said, at the same time looking at the three fillies smiling with glee at each other.

“We will have to see.” The mare said.

“Please I will pay.” Rarity told the mare.

The mare slightly grinned she had gotten what she wanted. “I-”

“Thirty bits and no less!” A stallion’s voice came from inside the tavern.

“Fine thirty bits.” Rarity said pulling out a coin purse, she took out thirty gold coins.

“And we insist you pay in advance…um I’d say three months!” The stallion called again from inside.

Rarity reluctantly pulled out ninety bits and gave it to the mare. And so later on that evening Rarity and Sweetie Belle slept in the inn. And the next morning Rarity trotted away from the inn continuing her exodus to Manehatten leaving her sister behind. And she went out of ear shot the stallion from inside the inn stood next to his plump wife.

“Good thinking darling I was almost late on paying those loan sharks down the lane!” The stallion said feeling very relived thanks to his wife quick thinking.

The mare smiled smugly, “And I didn’t even plan it.”

III

He was a stallion of about thirty two years. Quiet but with a kind heart towards all in the city. Through the months Manehatten was the most notorious of cities in Equestria. Unsanitary, Unsafe, and unruly. That was until a stallion from Appleoosa came three years ago. He was an ordinary worker in town when he first arrived. Only taking minimum paying jobs around the city fitting in perfectly with the lower class, until he discovered a new way for earth ponies to perform surgeries with a hoof made chemical called anesthesia.

Thanks to this doctors were able to operate more efficiently on patients that were harmed at the dangerous warehouses in the city. And thanks to this stallions discovery of anesthesia he was elected mayor of Manehatten. But to the city’s surprise he did not want to be mayor he merely wanted to help without the temptation of power. But due to the law he was required to take on the role of mayor. And with that he came upon a vast amount of riches.

With these riches he bought a small cottage in the underdeveloped area of Manehatten, where the poor are abundant. The citizens of Manehatten were surprised he decided to live in an area where everypony is very likely to be mugged or killed. But the mayor was happy there he gave money to the poor and had various buildings to benefit the poor built expending his own money.

In one year two public schools were built one for boys and one for girls. And many new factories rose out of the old cracked streets to make way for new jobs and opportunities in the city. And so Manehatten thrived thanks to one fair stallion.

And the citizens were grateful for the mayor’s work. The mayor would constantly be barraged with gifts from his neighbors or new employees in his factory. They usually brought him an apple or a bottle of water which the mayor would take graciously. And in return the mayor would find that charitable pony and bring him or her a basket with a full course meal free of charge. And if they were ever to ask about what they owed him the mayor would say, “Just give to those whom need.” Then he would smile and trot off.

And with that the mayor of Manehatten became a symbol of hope for all of Equestria. A symbol of virtues long forgotten. Generosity, Kindness, and Loyalty.

***

Rarity was not used to the hours of working at the factory in Manehatten. Rarity had lived in Manehatten for three years now and she still was not accustomed to waking up in the early hours of the morning and having to stand at a factory table for twelve hours constructing tiny cheap bracelets.

What was evermore worse was the fact that she could not see her sister. Only speaking with her through letters sent to her from the innkeepers in Baltimare. Every time she thought of her sweet little sister she imagined that she was living in utmost comfort. According to the letters she had been receiving from the innkeepers she was growing well but she had fallen ill with a minor malady and they needed thirty bits for medicine plus the thirty for letting Sweetie stay.

How could Rarity accomplish that? She could barely support herself she was still overdue with her rent, and she needed to feed herself too. Rarity took a tiny glimpse of herself in her small mirror, time and poverty had done a number on the poor mare.

Her once well done mane was becoming thin and silky with stress and age. Her perfect white coat hadn’t been cleaned in days and she smelt of the Manehatten sewers. Her eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep and her eyelashes were falling. Poverty had ravaged her once pristine body and made her into a poor wretch. But this did not bother her. She had a sister to support and that was well worth the undeniable side effects.

***

The mayor was having a weekly inspection of his factory in downtown Manehatten. This was one of his finest factories, the colossus stood before him tall and proud and that made the mayor smile. First he checked the stallion’s side of the factory.

When the factories were built the mayor insisted that the factories be segregated by sex in order to keep the mare’s virtue and dignity. And also to make sure the stallions were not distracted by the mares in the factory.

The factory was large and consisted of various metal machines where a multitude of stallions made horse shoes at their stations. The mayor smiled at his workers. He beamed with pride mostly for his workers rather than his own accomplishment. The mayor trotted by everypony until he came by an emerald green pony having trouble.

“Mister Mayor I’m sorry I’m honestly doing my best it’s just that-”

The mayor raised his red hoof to cut off the ponies rambling, “Don’ ya worry son. Watch you’ll learn a thing er’ two here.” And so the mayor went about showing ponies that were struggling with their new jobs how to create horse shoes effectively.

And when he was done he beamed with pride at the increased rate of productivity in his factory. He bid his employees farewell and he went on his way to the mares section.

The mare’s section was much simpler than that of the stallions. The factory only consisted of many tables crammed close together and various mares sewing away. Creating works of art, such as clothing or repairing various damaged articles of clothing.

“Afternoon ladies.” The mayor said as he examined the ponies working on their own task. Nopony responded but that didn’t bother the mayor, even when the foremare demanded that they greet him in return. The mayor trotted back and forth going from table to table, passing the apathetic ponies whom were ruined by poverty.

“Mister Mayor.” The foremare called to him.

The mayor beamed with joy back at the foremare and trotted over to her. The mayor utterly radiating with pride that it almost affected everypony in the room. Well. Almost everypony.

“Mister Mayor I’ve just gotten a letter today from Canterlot.” The foremare told him. Her sour old face sagging as she spoke.

“Well ain’t that awful nice ah’ them rich folk.” The mayor said in a giddy tone. “What did it say?” The mayor asked.

The foremare swallowed. The wad of spit going slowly down her old wrinkly throat. “Mayor you’re not going to approve of this.”

The mayor clapped the foremare’s old back making sure to do it gingerly so as not to hurt the aged mare. “Not to worry whatever it is ah’m sure them Canterlot folk know what they’re doin’.”

The foremare felt the creep of regret overcome her for even telling the mayor. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna require every major city to lay off at least thirty workers but they say fifty is recommended in order to attain a better economy.” The foremare told him.

The foremare half expected for the mayor to burst into a flurry of rage. But instead he composed himself completely and sighed, “It’s a darn shame. Real bad. But if they insist lay off fifty workers from the mare’s department.” The mayor began scratching his blonde mane nervously at the same time feeling a pang of shame in his chest for his decision to lay off the poor and needy. “In the mean time I will go inform the forestallion about this.” He turned to all of the workers, “Good day.” And with that the mayor left, leaving with him his air of pride, and security for all.

***

“Rarity?” The foremare called.

Rarity looked up from her needle and thread to see the sour old face of the foremare. “Yes?” Rarity asked.

The foremare only raised a hoof for Rarity to come to her. And she obeyed. The foremare sat in a small impoverished office with paint chipping from the walls. Rarity looked took a seat at the foremare’s desk and waited for whatever was coming next. “Rarity you’ve worked here for a good five years, and it is my abominable duty to inform you of your dismissal. And this takes effect today.”

Rarity was shocked! How could she care for her sister now? “But why? How?”

“Miss Rarity all major cities are required to lay off thirty mare at least-”

“Please! I need this job! You know how life is now! It’s not the way it used to be.” Rarity said her head hung low.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t going to let you go. By Celestia I didn’t but I had to.”

“Who!? Who would do this to me?” Rarity yelled bitterly feeling as though the world had betrayed her. Despite her intentions to stay an honest mare. Even with these circumstances.

“Please leave the factory,” The foremare brought out a coin purse and placed Rarity’s five bits payment on the desk which Rarity took with a placid expression. “I’m sorry-”

“WHO!?” Rarity shouted causing the other mare’s in the factory to turn their heads wondering what was going on.

“The mayor.” The foremare said. Her face plastered with an expression of guilt. For she had just let go one of her best workers.

***

Rarity was in the depths of despair she had sunk lower than ever before. She trotted around the factories in a pointless patrol, a dance of desperateness. Maybe they would re-hire her? Of course they would they would find it in their hearts to give her another chance, for she had a sister that needed caring for.

But Rarity had fallen into debt, she would soon be evicted from her apartment if she did not pay the landlord what he was due. She owed him sixty bits and to add up the sixty that she owed the innkeeper ponies, that made up a sum of one hundred and twenty bits. Rarity had grown sour to the country that she lived in.

It was Equestria that she blamed for all of her problems, and if she dwelled on the subject for a long while she blamed the mayor. The mayor! The mayor was the cause of her misery it was he that sent her out of her workplace. Out of the only place that she could work at to support her sister. Well at least the only honest place she could find employment.

Many stallions around town had labeled her as “Young and pretty” so she could…NO! She would not stoop to such a lowly level. After all she had a long luscious mane to sell she could get a nice amount of money. Maybe fifteen bits? But then, were else would she get the money?

And so the next morning Rarity trotted up to the nearest barber shop and asked how much she could receive for her mane.

“Nice mane, purple, nine bits.”

“Nine bits!? It’s worth fifteen!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Another word out of you and I might call the police.” The barber pony said sternly.

And with that Rarity accepted the nine bits, and the barber shaved her scalp clean of her once precious purple mane. Rarity had left the barbershop with nine bits and a head without a mane.

“There is no price not worth paying for Sweetie Belle!” Rarity said her voice hopeful as she trotted out of the barbershop.

It wasn’t long before Rarity had happened to come across the Flim Flam brothers at a cart with pairs of false lashes and teeth. “Come one, come all, everypony! Step right up to try the greatest pair of lashes in Manehatten!” Flam leaned into his brother’s ear, “For a price.” Flim soon caught sight of the fair, hairless, Rarity.

“Why come up little lady! We have just what you need!” Flim called to the white unicorn. Surprisingly he had not noticed her despite having met Rarity before. Rarity was timid at first but went up to their cart. “Well my little mare I think what you need is a new set of eyelashes! Whaddya say!?” Flam exclaimed with false enthusiasm. Rarity had opened her muzzle to speak and that was enough time for Flim to see her perfect white teeth.

“Say! You have a nice set of teeth there! Whaddya say to a…” Flim winked, “fair trade?” Flim asked.

Rarity was hooked with hope, “What will you pay me?” Rarity muttered.

“Why how about a good sum of…” Flam shuffled through his cart, “A pair of eyelashes free of charge!?” Flam asked.

“I mean money.” Rarity said.

Flim looked insulted, “Oh, um, in that case! Thirty bits for your two bottom teeth young mare!” Flim cried.

So later that evening Rarity trotted to her apartment with an aching mouth, a bald head, and her purse with thirty nine bits in total. But also her mind had hardened, she had broken. Rarity had realized that the world was not kind to those that were too trusting, too naïve, and too generous like the mayor.

Generosity had ruined her life, people that were generous like the mayor had degraded her. She would not let it happen again. It was in her small apartment in that oppressive environment that she swore that she’d fight anypony that were generous. She had lost faith in pony kind, to her ponies were just instruments of destruction leaving a trail of hurt wherever they journeyed. It was then that Rarity ended her life of living honestly and instead ventured into a world of crime and treachery. It was then that Rarity worked in the lowest part of the lower district in the late evenings selling herself for twenty bits per pony. It did not matter how degrading it was as long as she got the money she was promised, degradation had no meaning to her anymore, for she had already been degraded by society.

She had lost her sister, her boutique, her mane, her lower front teeth, and her virginity. Degradation was just another word to Rarity after these events had transpired. Rarity was hollow.

IV

The Flim Flam brothers. Surprisingly they were not ruined by poverty, as a matter of fact the new state of the economy was a better outlet for selling their products than ever before. At first nopony bought their “tonics” or “cure-alls” they were at named frauds, but as time dragged on and as weeks became months, and months into years, they were suddenly met with a wave of customers coming to them for hope.

And that’s just what they gave their customers, false hope. In just one day Flim and Flam had created two hundred bits by selling their cure-alls. (Which just consisted of alcoholic cider mixed with a few petals of a daisy, it was quite pathetic) Flim and Flam had made a fortune in just one day, finally they could pay off the debt on their cart, and pay their rent!

So they thought why stop? They were making plenty of bits as it was, so why stop? And so they continued reeling in customers with the hope of a better future. You can say their cart was a mixed blessing, by that I mean while they were robbing ponies blind they were instilling hope into the Manehatten populace. So that counted for something too.

Nevertheless the Flim Flam brothers amassed a great fortune of two hundred thousand bits. And yet they still wanted more. It is a tragic ordeal when one comes upon a great fortune, for if not wise your fortune could give rise to evermore problems.

Luckily for the brothers this was not the case, despite being associated with gambling, and prostitution they were never caught. With these new “opportunities” they’re fortune came to five hundred thousand bits. Throughout the city they were viewed as scum by the common ponies but due to their abundant amount of money the government applauded them for being able to rise from nothing. Even though they did it dishonestly.

***

Inspector Sparkle. She liked that title, it suited her. Twilight had been stationed at Manehatten, since Manehatten needed a police force that consisted of capable ponies. And Twilight was one of those ponies. Twilight trotted around the streets of Manehatten, whenever she came upon a beggar she would give him or her a disgusted look.

According to Twilight these homeless ponies had no place of refuge due to their own shortcomings. Twilight was never charitable to these ponies to her they deserved nothing but poverty. And thanks to this mindset she decided to speak to the mayor to have a new law put into effect to keep ponies from soliciting on the streets.

When Twilight was outside of the factory where the mayor usually resided it disgusted her. To Twilight this factory was blemish to the good name of Manehatten. But despite these feelings she kept them hidden because it was her duty to serve the community and the mayor.

“Mister Mayor.” Twilight said with a short bow when she came into the mayor’s small office. “Mister Mayor it is strange that you have the smallest office while those lower to you receive the bigger ones.” And Twilight was right the mayor’s office only consisted of a small desk and two chairs for the occupants to speak to each other.

“Why Miss Sparkle that is mighty kind ah’ ya ta worry for me but ah’ insisted that the foremare and forestallion have the larger of these offices.” The mayor responded kindly.

Twilight was disgusted with the mayor’s stupidity! “But Mister Mayor just know that I do not say this out of kindness but out of necessity. You are the mayor and should be treated as such. But if you insist then it is not my place to argue.” Twilight said looking at the mayor.

The mayor smiled, “Your right it is not.” The mayor motioned for Twilight to sit, “Please relax ya’ll must be very tired, protectin’ our community and all.”

Twilight shook her head, “No I must stay standing it is not correct if I sit with somepony with such authority as you Mister Mayor.” Twilight said with a stone face.

“Alrighty then whaddya need inspector?” The mayor asked.

“I have come to request that a new law be passed, don’t fret I will do the enforcing.”

The mayor put his red hoof on his desk, “And what law is this?” The mayor asked.

“One that will keep the community safe from the scum of the street, what I propose is a law that keeps ponies from soliciting the streets.”

“And why do this?” The mayor asked.

“It is creating a disturbance and these ponies have become a nuisance to deal with.” Twilight said her face contorting in an expression of utmost disgust.

“And ya’ll want me ta approve ah’ this?” The mayor asked.

“Yes and I also ask your permission to evict any of the ponies seen soliciting.” Twilight said.

“Yer plan is marvelous Miss Twilight and I agree to your terms.” The mayor said smiling.

Twilight nodded feeling triumphant now she could really keep Manehatten safe. “Ah’ will start construction of the homeless shelter tomorrow!” The mayor exclaimed.

Twilight turned stiff, “Excuse me Mister Mayor?”

“Ah’ said ah’m gonna start construction tomorrow ah’ just gotta-”

Twilight was flabbergasted! “But I thought you agreed.” Twilight interrupted the mayor midsentence.

“Ah’ agree to the law but not evictin’ innocent ponies, so what ah’m proposin’ is building a shelter for the ponies not gettin’ rid of em’ Miss Sparkle.” The mayor said managing somehow to maintain his calm tone.

“B…but we haven’t got the budget for this project.” Twilight muttered.

“Don’ worry yerself about the budget ah’ got it covered.” The mayor then motioned to the door for Twilight to exit his office. “Now trot along ah’ got a builder ta talk to.” The mayor said.

And with that Twilight left the room feeling defeated for the first time.

***

Twilight was in an awful mood the rest of the afternoon, she trotted around the streets her hooves stomping on the ground. Whenever a pony saw her they would quickly turn their heads in the other direction for everywhere she went she brought with her an air of authority and hatred but also a sense of justice, but to ponies now justice was a cruel thing. Twilight was trotting around attempting to find any lawbreakers to bring to justice.

And so far today was not her day, apparently Manehatten had no wrongdoers. So she decided to head to the lower district where crime is bountiful. And today was her lucky day. In the lowest parts where the Flim Flam brothers hang around was a crowd of various ponies staring on at a minor squabble.

Twilight caught sight of two guards and ordered them to come with her down to the fight to which they obeyed, when Twilight made it down to the fight she forced herself into the crowd and when everypony saw her they galloped away. In the middle of the “arena” was a white unicorn with a cutiemark of a diamond sitting on the cold ground and an angry looking stallion.

“What seems to be the problem?” Twilight demanded.

Rarity opened her mouth to speak but the stallion spoke first, “Oh Miss Twilight allow me to explain. I was trotting along from my house just down the way.” He pointed to a tiny cottage. “When this psychotic prostitute came and attacked me!” The stallion said pointing at Rarity.

Of course this was not true, what had actually occurred was that the “noble” stallion came around made snide comments to Rarity and punched her with glee. To which Rarity defended herself by picking up a nearby rock and hitting her assailant over the head with the rock.

“Rest assured mister this pathetic mare will receive justice to the fullest.” Twilight told the lying stallion who then ran off. Rarity was at her old friend’s mercy lying on the cold, hard ground. “Now what must we do with you?” Twilight said with a smug smile.

Rarity rung her hooves in an attempt to plead her way out of this situation. “Please Twilight you know me! I’m your friend! You have to let me go my sister, you remember her right? Sweetie Belle my little darling! If you arrest me she won’t survive! I won’t have money to support her!”

Twilight knew who she was after Rarity exclaimed her sister’s name. But that did not mean Rarity was off the hook. “You should of thought of that before you committed a crime now shouldn’t you have Rarity?” Twilight said in a cooing way.

Twilight motioned for the guards to put the hoof cuffs on her to which they did with such zeal that the cuffs cut into her skin. “Please Twilight you can’t do this I’m your friend! Would Celestia want this!?” Rarity exclaimed.

Twilight smiled and bent over to reach Rarity’s eyes, “Yes, yes she would. I’m here to keep Manehatten safe from ponies like you Rarity, and whatever friendship we had before is gone. You are only a petty criminal now, and I am an honest mare of the law. And nopony can stop this.”

“Whaddya think yer doin’ Miss Sparkle?” A deep voice came from behind.

Twilight turned with anger written all over her face, but when she saw the mayor her expression of anger turned to one of respect. “Mister Mayor.” Twilight bowed.

The mayor’s dark green eyes examined Rarity the poor wretch was on the ground crying to herself, “Who is this? And why have you detained her?”

Twilight composed herself, “You see Mister Mayor this mare attacked a fair citizen not too long ago and she is under arrest for assaulting an innocent stallion.” Twilight informed the mayor.

“Ah’ve heard differently.” The mayor said. “From what ah’ heard from ponies that watched the fight that citizen started the brawl not this mare. So with that knowledge in mind ah’ order ya to release her.” The mayor said in a polite tone.

Rarity was shocked! The mayor the one that started her downwards spiral was dismissing her! “Is it true? I am free?” Rarity mumbled.

The mayor approached Rarity and stooped down to gaze into her dark blue eyes. “Yer sufferin’ is over young mare yer free.” He turned to Twilight, “Please release her.”

The two police ponies that came with Twilight began to unlock the hoof cuffs, “What right do you have to do this Mister Mayor?” Twilight asked.

“Every right, right ah’ righteousness, right ah’ morality, and what ya seem to idolize the most, the law.”

Twilight went silent she was beaten at her own game she was again defeated by the mayor. When the police ponies had finished unlocking Rarity’s hoof cuffs she stood up and smacked the mayor square in his cheek. “You awful wretch! You know what you have done to me!?” Rarity exclaimed.

The mayor stayed calm and only took out a hankie to wipe the blood from his cheek, “What do you mean young mare?” The mayor asked.

“My name is Rarity and you are the reason I was laid off and forced to commit atrocious acts!” Rarity screamed in the mayor’s face. She opened her mouth wide to show the mayor her missing teeth. “I had to lose these in order to support my sister!” She then pointed to her scalp where a few strands of her purple mane remained. “Along with my mane! You did this to me!” She exclaimed shoving the mayor a bit so he was pushed back a few feet. And then to the mayor’s surprise Rarity broke down in tears.

Rarity’s blue eyes were streaming with tears and this filled the mayor’s heart with grief, what had he done to Rarity? She was broken because of him it was his fault. The mayor stood up and pointed to one of the police ponies, “She was a prostitute correct?” The mayor asked.

The brown Pegasus pony nodded, “Yes mister mayor.”

“Then take her to the hospital.” The mayor said.

The two guards glanced back at Twilight to see if she would protest but she didn’t, this whole situation was incorrect. It broke her. So the only thing the guards could do was grab Rarity’s hoof and take her to the hospital. When Rarity and the guard left the mayor approached the contemplating Twilight, “Listen if ah’ ever see ya terrorize innocent ponies again when ya don’t even have the facts ah’m gonna make sure yer fired.” The mayor said sternly as he trotted to his home. Leaving Miss Sparkle baffled by the mayor’s unruly decision.