Hard times

          Section-1 Exile

    The wasteland stretched as far as the eyes could see. Hazy clouds and ash floated freely in the skies. Dark clouds blotted out the once beautiful and vibrant sun, little more remains than a dim light that stretches across the land. Desolation and decay now own the outskirts of the cities. The once lush, gorgeous land is now nothing more than a cold dark graveyard. Few manage to survive in the wasteland and even fewer call it home. Unfortunately for some the wastes are a punishment laid upon them by the so called 'Royal Council', little do they know, not everypony is subject to servitude and submission is not always as it seems.

    In front of the high council she sat, persecution eminent. In a room of disapproving eyes and judgmental minds she sat, still and quiet. "A perfect society is only maintained through the enforcement of harmony, you do understand this correct?" A member of the high council asked. "Yes." She replied calmly. "Then why are you now on trial for an act as deplorable as heresy?" He continued. "Because my mind is free and so am I." She answered. "Yes, a free mind indeed." Another council member added with a scowl. She looked to him and asked. "If your society is really as free as you say it is then you would have no disapproving voice to tell me not to look into history before your time in power." The scowl now grew to an expression of sheer hatred. "You'd be wise to watch your tongue here!" He growled. The first member raised a hoof to silence the room before speaking. "I have made my decision. I decree from this moment on that you are be banished to the wastes and never to return. You may indulge your 'Free Mind' alone in exile. This is your punishment from here on out, your sentence begins now." He then stood up and walked away.

          ~Later~

    Around her neck a collar was place to keep her from attempting to flee or fight. Besides her freedom the collar stole something just as important, her magic and without it she was practically incapable of doing anything aside from walking. Her lips had been sewn shut and shackles were placed around her legs. The shackles slowed and shortened her steps drastically. Her bleeding lips were sore and had begun to get infected. She slowly walked the staircase to the tower reluctant to leave the city she had grown up in. No matter how corrupt it had become it was still her home and she hated to see it be torn away from her. The two burly guards that lead her to her destination looked cold and free of any emotion except hate. She noticed that both there coats had been dyed a dull grey, the same as hers. She looked down there backs, across there blank flanks and down to there tails. Everything seemed the same as her, the grey dye covering her coat and mane, everything aside from eyes and gender was exactly the same. She had never noticed this simple fact about the ponies in the city around her until now, everypony was the same, every pony except the council...

    After finally arriving atop the tower she groaned. A plane grey chariot with two pegasi waited patiently. The two guards that guided her trip instructed her into the chariot and then got in themselves. "Exile." Was the only word the guard said and with that command the pegasi set off into the clouds. For an hour or two they soared through the hazy sky, cutting through the thick clouds of ash and smoke until suddenly they stopped. "Drop'er  here." One of the guards said casually. She looked over the side of the chariot but could see nothing through the thick clouds. Her eyes widened and she started to panic. 'They wouldn't really just kill me like this, would they?' She thought to herself. She looked into the eyes of the colt reaching for her and saw no emotion. 'This is it.' she thought fearing that her life may almost be rendered null. The colt lifted her over the edge of the chariot and released her. She plummeted to the ground below and crashed to the down with a thunderous clatter.