Definitely not Cloudsdale

by LilyLizard

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, Dark
Length: 700

The pegasus city of Brandsfield is very different from the happy-go-lucky city of Cloudsdale. The cutie marks are not earned, they are created by force. Can a little filly named Candibomb change the Red King's ways?

The Red King Infernious has ordered that all fillies that reach the age of ten must be taken to the castle to be branded. The white hot iron of his dictatorship is felt by every pegasus in Brandsfield.
On Candibomb's tenth birthday, she escaped the grasp of the king's guards. Flying free on her own, she sees the world for its true beauty.

Alas, her adventure must come to an end. Infernious' guards have been searching all of Equestria for her, bribing anyone who would help them.

Candibomb must return to Brandsfield and save her family.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-03-16 19:08:34 UTC

The reign of tyranny

Cloudsdale; the city responsible for all of the rainbows in Equestria, is not the only city run by the Pegasus. There is another city, in the middle of the Celestial sea, high above the clouds, called Brandsfield.

Life in this city is difficult, poverty-stricken, and filled with misery. The Red King known as Infernious rules with a dark and heavy hoof.

Unlike all other ponies in Equestria, the fillies born here cannot earn their cutie marks. When the young ones turn ten, they are ordered by the king to report to the castle. They are then branded on the flank by white hot irons. It is a horrific and traumatizing experience that requires months to recover from. Many never recover at all.

They are then forced to work their profession as literal slaves, kept in check by guards at all times. The only time the citizens of Brandsfield are unsupervised is when they return home to rest for five hours.

The sun's rays reflected off of the magnificent silver castle. The houses within close proximity were the royal guards' properties, privileged with running water and daily meals. Any area beyond that was considered to be the slave's territory; riddled with vermin and crime.

Infernious looked out upon his kingdom, standing on the great open porch of his castle.

"What a wonderful day to be out in the sun," He said, watching his slaves build a new house in the sweltering heat. "Almost makes me want to join them."

Infernious spread his red feathered wings wide and leaped into flight. He soared above well-constructed houses, rickety old shacks, and countless ponies in rags.  The shadow he cast sent slaves cowering in fear; who were immediately punished by the guards watching them.  Inferious smiled at their authority.

He landed a small distance away from the house in progress. The guards around him bowed low as he made his way to the construction foreman.

"Infernious, what a pleasant surprise." The foreman bowed. He was a middle-aged stallion with a mahogany coat, glasses, and messy black hair. The scar on his flank was in the shape of a house.

"You are doing a wonderful job RedOak. I am very pleased with the cooperation of your subjects." Infernious raised his head high.

RedOak's ears fell back. "They are your subjects, my lord. We are not worthy of being in your presence on this marvelous day." RedOak learned at an early age that brown-nosing will get you far in this life.

Infernious glanced around at the shivering workers. There was one that stood out among them, a young deep blue colt with a white mane; this one seemed, determined. Infernious stepped up to this colt, towering over him.

"And who," He asked, narrowing his eyes. "Are you?"

The colt swallowed hard and cleared his throat. "My name is Ashmane ... Sir." His voice disdainful.

Irnfernious bit his lip and nodded to the guards, who immediately seized Ashmane. There was a flurry of wings and yells from Ashmane who was now tied up tight with some nearby rope. The commotion in the audience of slaves grew, but was ignored.

"What is the meaning of this?" Ashmane yelled. Infernious was immediately in his face, eyes blazing.

"Noone opposes me, do you understand?" He snarled. "Noone even thinks to oppose me."

Ashmane was appalled. "No sir, I wasn't-"

In one swift movement Infernious had snatched Ashmane and carried him off to the edge of the city.

The dark clouds that supported the city rumbled as the never-ending storm below raged on. Infernious flew a short distance out above the sea. Ashmane wriggled in his grasp.

"Please don't!" He cried. "NO-"

Infernious flung the helpless colt as far as he could. Slowly following the screams as they fell. Infernious witnessed, from afar, the tied up colt hit the water down below. It wasn't long before there were a swarm of sharks around the lifeless body. Once he saw the ocean stained red he returned to his castle.

Infernious sat upon his throne, very pleased with himself. A royal guardsman asked about his brief absence. Infernious just smiled.

"There is a reason they call me the Red King."