Envy, Greed, and Ignorance

It has been only several seconds, but it felt like several minutes. That amateur writer Crimson Prodigy had stated his statement, at Writing is Potential. This event is a monthly activity, that was held on the first of every month. It was founded and hosted by Princess Twilight Sparkle in the Canterlot Gardens, to promote young writers, and to help others unlock the locked potential of Literature. It was a simple Thursday noon, and it would turn into something not so simple.

Crimson Prodigy didn't expect the reaction he got, in fact he expected little reaction. Like plenty of others, the Princess would simply come up to the stage, after each statement, say something nice, and call up for the next. Some ponies got a round of applause, along with a more generous statement by Twilight. While other simply got nothing, but a few hushed statements from the crowd, the Princess would smile at them, and call up for the next.

Crimson Prodigy got confused faces from everypony. He looked over at Princess Twilight, and she appeared to be in deep thought. He spotted Princess Luna in the back row, she had attended the event each month since it began, 17 months ago . He couldn't see her full face, but she was definitely crying. Crimson stepped away from the mic, and was about to head off stage when Twilight stopped him. He was sure she was upset with him, but her face seemed to be emotionless.

"What makes you think this?" asked Twilight.

Crimson knew exactly what to say if it ever came to this. He always thought ahead, and carefully planned out every major decision to the worst case scenario. A lot of his Ponyville neighbors, and what little friends he had, always thought he was too paranoid. Each time he responded, with a smile and said. "It's better to be prepared for something and not need it, then not to be prepared for something and need it."

Crimson simply responded. "I grew up in a small town called Ponyville, where everypony is a friendly face, and is happy to help those in need. At the age of of 13 i was able to get a steady stream of income, from plenty of local jobs, and found a small 2 bedroom house at the South-Western edge of town. I bought it, all it needed was a bit of renovation. About a year later, i became the adoptive father of a filly, who's mother died. Just after giving birth, she went into cardiac arrest. Trillium pushed the filly into my hooves, and told me to take her. I lost a friend that day. About 2 years after that, i decided to go on a small personal tour to see what bigger communities, such as Manehatten, and Canterlot were like." said Crimson.

"What i found was a complete shock to me. Things like Ignorance, Envy, and Greed, manifested themselves there. I knew that shortly after i arrived, it was almost like it was everypony for themselves. While there was groups of ponies on top, that did not share their well-being with those who are not as fortunate. I was back-stabbed multiple times, before i just completely disconnected with these communities, and returned home. It was like, the moment i arrived there i was being used by others greed, treated lesser for my more of a farming community origins, and i could tell that ponies who were not as fortunate as me, were getting upset with me for simply being there, and now 3 years later. I've finally decided to do something about it" said Crimson with even more firmness in his voice.

"There is not a doubt in my mind, that at the rate our civilization is expanding, although it would likely not be in my life time, but never the less, this will exist almost in every community. I state this now in hopes of other ponies realizing that, we may be on this path, and at the end is something alien and horrible. I a state this now in the audience of two Princesses who are a shining beacon of light to me. In the hopes that they may realize this too. I state what I've just stated, like when a judge slams his or hers hammer down, to add emphasis on my truths and ideals." said Crimson calmly, ending the climax with light note.

Crimson Prodigy glanced back to where Luna had been sitting, and noticed she was no longer there. Instead he noticed her high above the Canterlot Garden, on the balcony of Princess Celestia's quarters, and was speaking with her elder sister. "This can't be bad. Why had it hit Luna so hard?" said Crimson under his breath. Crimson Prodigy suddenly realized that he had struck a nerve, and could be in trouble he did not anticipate.

"I understand why you believe this. I to, noticed this while i was helping my friend Rarity in Manehatten two years back. In the end i didn't think anything of it, but with this statement you just made... you've made believe as well. That we are indeed on this path." said Princess Twilight Sparkle.

"I hope that is also the reason for Princess Luna's breakdown, and why she is currently talking to her sister." said Crimson. He ended that using his Unicorn Magi to project an arrow pointing towards the two speaking.

Twilight looked up, and saw the two speaking. Luna had a tone in her voice, like she was crying, and Celestia had a comforting and understanding tone. "I didn't expect that." Twilight Sparkle thought to herself. She turned towards Crimson, who had a worried look on his face. "I'm sure she is fine." said the lavender princess with a forced smile.

"I do hope you're right." said Crimson Prodigy.

"Take the next train back to Ponyville, and simply continue on with your usual. If anything important involving you comes up, i'll be sure to notify you." said Twilight with a comforting smile.

"Yes my princess, right away." said Crimson with an ending royal bow. Crimson hurried to the train platform, and managed to make it with only 3 minutes to spare. He paid is 5 bit fee, and boarded to Ponyville. It was an hour long trip. When the pure blood red stallion arrived, he immediately headed home, to get out of this irritating clothing, hopped into bed, and drifted of.

Almost immediately Crimson drifted off to sleep, he found himself in a dream, which is a rare occurrence , since he usually never remembers such trivial things. He was in a grassy field, but everything was extremely vivid, like he was actually there. Memories of the cities he had visited, and his truths and ideals shot into him, like a thousands knives hitting is mind, and eyes at once. This completely blurred everything, it scared him, and he did not understand. All of a sudden, he was surrounded by faces, emotionless, and it was like they were piercing into his soul. Then everything set ablaze, and the stench of burnt flesh, and fur hit him. Crimson awoke coughing, with tears streaming from his eyes. He could still smell the horrid scent.

"What the fuck just happened?" Crimson thought to himself. The disturbed pony got outta bed, and headed off to take a shower. He looked at the clock, and noticed it was  7 PM, and had been sleeping for 5 hours. "Guess 'll be spending the night under the stars" Crimson said out loud. Crimson spent an hour in the shower, hot water hitting him. He was simply, in deep thought. Crimson was really confused about the recent disturbing event.

After he dried himself off, he decided to make himself a nice tomato soup, while the whole time just thinking about the dream, "What had it meant? Why was it so disturbing? I rarely have dreams, and when i do they are nice. Maybe Luna had something to do with this? She was a dream walker." thought the Crimson.

There was a knock at the door. "Come in!" shouted Crimson. Petunia burst into the kitchen hugged her adoptive father. With Charcoal Flank following behind. "How was your day Petunia?" asked Prodigy.

"It was fun! Ms. Cheerly taught us about how to shop smart and handle bits properly! Charcoal brought me to the park, and taught me how to fly a kite! Plus we saw Princess Luna!" the excited filly shouted. Crimson smiled, and put his daughter down.

"You really saw the princess?" asked Crimson.

"Yes we did. She was sitting under one of the Great Oaks, and appeared to thinking deeply about something." said the Charcoal.

Crimson mentally cringed at the thought. Had he really affected her this much? He started to worry that she might lash out at him. Crimson corrected the previous thought knowing that his benevolent ruler would not go to those lengths. "It was probably about what i stated at the young writers event. After i read my truth and ideal, the whole crowd had confused faces, and Princess Luna was in the back crying, plus Princess Twilight was in really deep though." said Crimson.

"Wow! You made the Luna cry? You should be more worried about yourself right now. She could smite you, or banish you." said Charcoal with concern.

"Don't be ridiculous! She is a benevolent ruler, and Celestia or Twilight would never allow such a thing. Why does the common pony always have the weirdest thoughts on how they would get punished by royalty?" said Crimson with annoyance in his voice.

"I guess you're right on that, and coming from the paranoid type too. Well i'll be heading off!" said Charcoal with a smile. Crimson got up, levitated 15 bits into his saddlebag, and gave a small wave.

"Now don't give your father a hard time, he has been through a lot today." Charcoal said to Petunia."

"That's an understatement." said Crimson under his breathe. Crimson turned to his daughter. Levitated her to a chair, and set a warmed bowl of soup down. "Eat up, and when you're done, take a bath, then head off to bed. Daddy had important business he needs to attend to. I'll likely be out all night." said the Prodigy with a smile.

"You got it daddy! I won't let you down!" shouted Petunia, who then gave a salute.

"You've never let me down." said Crimson. He got up, and headed out for walk. He has a visit to make with his parents. Hopefully they understand just as well as Twilight did.

Crimson trotted to the center of town, and made a right heading North, until he arrived at a classical, but new age designed home. He approached the door, and knocked three times with his left hoof. "Just a minute!" shouted a voice within. The lock was fumbled with, and the door opened revealing his mother.

"Crimson! what are you doing here?" asked his mother.

"Is dad home? It's important." asked Prodigy.

"Lava Plume? Who is at the door?" asked Aillious.

"It's Crimson!' shouted Plume. His mother smiled at him, and gestured him to enter. Crimson nodded, smiled back, and walked past her, into the kitchen.

"Well? what are ya waiting for? Have a seat!" shouted Aillious. Crimson sat down, looking embarrassed. Lava Plume sat across from his father, making Crimson uncomfortably in the center.

"Is this about Petunia?" asked his mother.

"No. It's about that young writers event i went to." said Prodigy. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He could feel the shakes coming on, from the anxiety.

"How did it go? Was it bad or good?" asked Aillious.

"I'm not sure. It happened so fast, right after i stated my statement, everypony in the crowd was confused. Princess Luna was crying in the back, and Twilight Sparkle was in deep thought." said Crimson. His parent's mouths dropped in shock.

"You made Luna cry?" asked Lava Plume. Her eyes widened in fear.

"A-a-are you gonna be alright? Did Twilight say anything to you?" asked Aillious, who had started stuttering.

"She told me to take the next train back to Ponyville, and that if anything serious happened, that she would notify me." responded Crimson. Not even his hired Foalsitter had this kinda reaction, an he was always the worrying type, he cared for others greatly.

"I'll be fine. We have 3 very benevolent rulers, and they wouldn't allow harm to come to other ponies from this incident. Stop with the worries, i'll be fine." Crimson Prodigy stated again.

"Yeah... i guess your right." his parents responded both at the same time.

"Thank you for understanding, i'll be off. I'm gonna go over to the park, and rest under the stars." said Crimson with assurance in his voice. He then got up, and left. He headed Southward down the street, and made right. When he arrived at the park, he went over to the Great Oak, rolled over onto his back, and looked up at the night sky. He admired it for it's beauty, and drifted into his thoughts.

The smell from that horrid dream, still lingered in his nose. Crimson was beginning to doubt if it was ever gonna go away. The images were burned into his mind, and he knew that he was gonna remember this for the rest of his days. He suddenly felt sleep overtake him again. He tried to fight it, but he was out in 10 seconds.

Once again, he was dreaming. Except this time it was immediately the emotionless faces. They all once again, burst into flames. The smell did not hit his nose though. Instead the horrid sight changed back into the grassy field, everything was still extremely vivid. He saw himself and his daughter playing. Petunia was on a swing, and he was pushing her.

"Higher daddy! Higher!" shouted Petunia in glee.

"Safety first my dear filly, never can be to careful." responded Crimson.

"Oh! Stop being such a bore daddy." said Petunia with irritation in her voice.

Crimson watched the two. When he heard a sob coming from behind him. He shot around, and saw his parents crying over a casket. The scene immediately turned to a service, and he was surrounded by mourning ponies. He didn't recognize this, thinking it was the funeral for his friend Trillium. He approached the casket, and looked inside. Shock hit him, as he saw himself lying there in the casket in such a peace and tranquil state. All of a sudden everypony started to scream. The screams were deafening, and just like that. They all burst into flames, including his deceased self. That smell hit him again.

Crimson Prodigy awoke in the morning, once again hacking, and tears streaming from his eyes. "Not again!" shouted Crimson. The sun was breaching the horizon, and he was stiff. "Well... That's what i get for falling asleep on my back, and on a hard surface." Crimson said to himself. He also was now thoroughly disturbed. Crimson got up, stretched, and sighed. He walked back home, and returned any greetings that went his way, with a nod and a smile. He was not beaming what so ever on the inside.