The Musical Rent Imparted In Our Collective Consciousness the Falsehood That Squatting in a Highrise is Romantic
Sir Cumferance was perplexed. His discoteque was a happening place, and he could see why thieves might target it. That's why he had all the security enchantments installed. But somepony--or something--had evidently gotten past all those charms. That wasn't the odd part. The odd part--and the good part, he supposed, was that as far as he could tell, the only thing that had been stolen was... the disco ball. Now, disco balls are pretty cool, but they're like twenty bits at Lyre Center. Maybe fifty if you're getting a nice large one. So why was all the expensive sound and lighting equipment untouched? Heck, at least strip the place of copper wiring. Geez. It was certainly a mystery for the ages.
Apple Bloom followed Babs Seed up the stairs past the last of the residential floors. They reached a small unmarked door, and Babs produced a key from her mane, proceeding to unlock the door.
It took Apple Bloom's eyes a few moments to adjust to the dim light, but when they did, she "ooohed" in awe. "Wow, Babs, this is super cool. What is this place?"
"I know right?" her cousin answered. "This is inside the roof's spire, but it's too small to rent as an apartment, so it's just been sitting empty. Well, not any more. Apple Bloom, welcome to the Manehattan CMC's new clubhouse!"
"Gosh, what a great idea!" She looked up. "Oh, and you even got your hooves on a disco ball. Nice!"
"Ah shucks, it ain't nothin'."
"You kiddin'? I love disco balls. They remind me of that time I stared at an apple on mushrooms for two hours. Where'd you get it?"
"Well, since my cutie mark is a pair of shears, I snipped open a hole in the space-time continuum, and cut myself a portal into the Bees Knees dance club and uh... 'borrowed' their Disco ball."
Apple Bloom shot Babs a look of concern. "So... y'all stole it."
"Oh no, Ah'll give it back when I'm done using it."
"Right. And when you reckon that's gonna be? This don't seem like a temporary endeavor."
A change in demeanor settled upon Babs' visage, and her eyes glowed evilly. "Bwahaha, the Manehattan CMC Clubhouse will last FOREVER!!!" Evil-looking flames sprung up around her.
Apple Bloom slowly backed towards the door. "Uh, Cuz, this is getting really weird."
Babs Seed grinned evilly, and when she spoke, it was with the voice of a thousand demons. "Mortal fool, there is no escape from the hadescape we call life. Join me, and together we shall conquer all of Manehattan!"
"Babs, this isn't like you! Snap out of it!"
The orange filly cackled. "Babs? I am not Babs. I am... Nightmare Shears!"
Apple Bloom reached the door. "Yeah, okay, I'm going to come back when things are less weird."
"Wait, Apple Bloom, I have a secret I must tell you!"
Apple Bloom poked her head back into the doorway, fully expecting an attack of some sort, or maybe to get stabbed with scissors. I mean, it wasn't something she had pondered too much, but she figured if a pony with scissors on her flank turned evil, there really ought to be some stabbing or at least cutting involved. So far, Babs Seed was just stealing disco balls and being a ham. "Yes?" she asked nervously.
"Apple Bloom, I am your cousin!"
The Ponyvillian rolled her eyes. "I know, Babs. Was that supposed to be a shocking reveal? This isn't Star Horse."
"Oh, darn," the shadowy figure of Shear Terror (hey, that's not bad.) muttered, clearly a bit deflated. "Alright, well, look, I've just... I've been under a lot of stress lately, and... and maybe I haven't been making the best decisions, getting caught up in all this Nightmare business. I... I think maybe I'm just lashing out to get attention. Please, don't leave Bloomers. I'm lonely. I'm so lonely and scared. Manehattan is so huge, and I'm so small. A million ponies trotting in the streets, and I look down on them from this lonely loft, and I ask myself where do I fit in? Where do I belong in all this crazy mess called life? I don't know, and it's tearing me apart. Bloomy, this city tears the ribs from your spine! It's a fatality mine! It's a self-harm rhyme! We gotta escape while we're youthful! 'Cause vagabonds like ourselves--"
Apple Bloom held up a hoof. "Babs, three things." She cautiously edged a little farther into the room. "First of all, you're not allowed to use copyrighted lyrics on FimFiction. Second of, all, 'Born to Gallop' is about Neigh Jersey, not Neigh York. Third of all... I... I didn't know you were feeling this way. And... and I'm sorry. I'm sorry you feel this way. I sometimes feel overwhelmed living in Ponyville, and we only have about twenty thousand ponies. I can't imagine how overwhelmed you must feel. But stealing a disco ball and letting Nightmare Forces into your body isn't the way to go about things. You... you should have talked to me. You have to let ponies know you're hurting. We aren't psychic. So next time, please, let me know. I mean, I know you have now, but you know, uh, let me know sooner. Please?"
The flames and lightning and evil glow slowly dissipated from around Babs Seed. She blew her bangs out of her face. "Ah, shucks, I-I'm sorry. This whole thing has turned into such rubbish. I'm sorry for actin' so crazy. Will you forgive me, AB?"
Apple Bloom trotted over to her deflated cousin and wrapped her in a tight hug, which Babs reciprocated.
"Of course I forgive you. I love you Babs, and I want you to be happy. In less destructive ways."
"I love you too, Apple Bloom. Love you to... die!" Still embracing her victim, Babs Seed plunged a pair of scissors into Apple Bloom's back. The filly screamed in pain.
"Babs! How... how could you?! How..." she collapsed weakly onto the dusty floor, blood trickling from her back.
Babs Seed towered above her. "You fool! You thought you could rid me of the Nightmare Forces so easily? Cherish this free haircut, my little pony, for it shall be your last!" Then she got out her styling supplies and gave the dying Applebloom a haircut.
Author's Note
Speaking of New Jersey, it's state mammal is the horse. https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/new-jersey/state-horse-state-mammal/horse
Also, Derpibooru has exactly one Nightmare Babs Seed picture:
