Blade

It was only a few days or so before Scootaloo started saying ‘mom’ or ‘mommy’ automatically without thinking anything of it. When she did give it thought, she guessed the reason for its falling into habit so quickly was thanks to her desperate need for a mother. This really was what she always wanted anyway; somebody to love her the same way her father did. She was very happy around Pinkamena. She would smile all the time and even get excited sometimes. Scootaloo was very happy indeed.

Pinkamena didn’t smile nearly as much as Scootaloo did now, but she certainly did more often than usual. Pinkamena was also generally less depressed and angry and even sometimes perky on a good afternoon. She hadn’t known the kid very long, but Scootaloo had changed her life. She hadn’t heard from The Voice in the longest time, and frankly, she would probably have killed herself with anxiety trying to make sure the kid didn’t see the body she would’ve had to drag back. She hadn’t gone down to the basement either. She would read in her bed or in the living room now like a normal person. Yes, this was easily the best time in Pinkamena’s life. She couldn’t think of a time less stressful and glad.

It probably would have gone on for the rest of both their lives.

But it didn’t.

No, fate can be shaded but it can’t be repelled. And fate just hated the two of them. There isn’t a reasonable explanation as to why, but what does it matter anyway? They could take refuge in those little periods of happiness until it came back and stole it away from them. No sir, nothing good could ever stay with poor, worthless, stupid, useless little Pinkamena. Not since she was born, not ever.

Now, fate can’t just will things into being. It must seek a path through cause and effect, and in this particular case, it was The Children of Discord that ruined Pinkamena’s happiness. The Children of Discord didn’t know Pinkamena, and they hardly intended to know her. Though fate set up an event that would ruin everything like the sick twisted chaos it is.

It started when the Flim Flam Brothers case was opened up again. Their mother had finished her grieving and decided to take action by suing Sweet Apple Acres. Though there was clearly no evidence linking him to the murders, Ian “Big Mac” Apple was summoned to court as the primary defendant.

Despite regaining the farm, Big Mac was in financial trouble at the time and couldn’t afford a proper lawyer. So, he made a choice he’d later regret.

Big Mac saw the cab roll up to the entrance of the east orchard. It stopped, and out from the carriage came his little sister Applejack, dressed up all fancy with a red bow in her mane to keep the bun up. She carried a black leather brief case out as well, making herself look even more official. Big Mac had pictured the reunion being more memorable. He remembered his sister being bright and beautiful, her eyes with a twinkle in them that reminded him of a ripe and fresh granny smith. The pony now approaching him was flat and drab, no sparkle in her eyes. When she was close enough he saw that the greenness of her pupils were a cloudy forest color, like the hide of a snake. Still, he had missed her and reached out to embrace her.

“Applejack!” He said heartily as he tried to hook his elbow around her.

All she let out was a confused “Oh!” when he succeeded.

“I missed you a whole dang lot since you were last here.”

She humored him and smiled quickly back when he took another look at her face. “Yes. It’s been some time, Ian. You got a lot bigger than I expected.”

Big Mac let go and backed up a little bit. His sister had never called him Ian. Nobody did, ever. The only time he ever really mentioned it himself is if somebody asked or he was signing something. His sister had changed. He knew then and there that things weren’t going to be like they had been. She would hardly be his sister during this visit. She was his free lawyer.

This made Big Mac very sad very quickly. But thankfully, he was a solid stallion and he had quite the poker face, so he went with it. “Uh…yea. I guess I am pretty big…”

“Let’s get started then. Is there somewhere we can talk more properly?” She asked.

“Eeyup...up at the house.” He said without really looking. Then a little light popped into his head. It shoved away some of the darkness in his heart too. He had remembered that Granny Smith was in the house. Applejack loved Granny. Granny was AJ’s hero.

“Granny is here, you wanna see her?”

“I’d much rather talk to you about the plaintiffs. I’ve dealt with them before and they’re very serious. I’ve actually been looking to settle a score with them anyway.” She said, grinning slyly. “It’s just lucky that you called me to the case.”

“Oh…” Big Mac answered somberly. “Well, alright then. Maybe we’ll see Granny after that.” He added as he started toward the driveway.

“We also need to talk settlements, Ian. That’s very important too.” Applejack threw in, rather greedily.

Early spring it was, and Canterlot shimmered like a diamond every morning when the sun rose. For hundreds of miles the brilliant capitol could be seen perched ever so carefully on the mountains, serving as a beacon of prosperity and glory.

Then there was the princess. Oh did the citizens of that city shout and cheer when she would pass through the streets in her lectica. The undying, burning love and worship for their motherly matriarch was profound. It wasn’t a very rare occurrence when those within proximity of her would break down and cry. And she would wave and smile at her subjects, because she loved them too. Not the way other leaders feel for their people, but true and nurturing love. She would be nothing without them and she knew that better than anyone.

But she couldn’t show her pain. No, that would crush the people and she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t tell them either. It would cause too much panic. So she smiled and waved to the loyal girls and boys and tried to revel in the moment, for every second that passed, she was closer to the return of her sister; who had sworn to kill her the day after the Summer Sun Celebration.

“Nightmare Moon is not going to kill anypony and especially not you, my princess.” swore Shining Armor, the captain of the royal guard. “I’ll roll heads before anyone harms a hair in your mane.”

She did not face him. She only stared at the oracular stained-glass window in her throne room, depicting the corruption of her sister. “No blood will be spilled, Captain. Please. I can’t hurt her again.”

Shining paused. “I’m sorry, your majesty. I hardly meant to insult your sister.” He apologized sincerely.

“I know that, Captain. You’re a good soldier and I know that you’d never directly insult anyone, let alone me.” She said, still facing the window. “You’re kind of heart and I understand you only want to protect me. But this is my concern.”

The captain waited for her to finish.

“I will face my sister alone. You will defend this country…”

Silence befell the room with such intensity that one could hear steps from the other wing. Then she spoke again. Her voice cracked momentarily however, and Shining only knew why when a tear hit the floor.

“And when she kills me…” She sniffed. “I can finally forgive myself…”