Mammals

"Incoming!" The warning cry was followed by an increasingly loud whistling sound; with what power she could muster, the former ruler of Equestrian began shrouding the crystal castle in her protective spell for the umpteenth time heavily breathing during the ordeal.

While the former princess of friendship was busy helping her former professor, others in the room began taking refuge under their desks and chairs, hoping for some ounce of protection.

A loud, roaring sound, followed the noise, as large dust clouds, and bursts of orange flames could be seen in the eruption.

Opening her eyes for a brief second, The lavender alicorn looked on in horror at what she saw.

It wasn't the smoke residue that caused her to grow a sadden look on her face, nor the fact that the mare who had trained her for almost her entire life, fell down covered in sweat; But the image of the outside world is what caused her to walk towards the balcony, with her mouth agape.

The land was desolate, except for a few houses what withstand the blast, due to the missile's radius. But other than that, the land looked almost dead, as sounds of screaming, chaos, and absolute terror echoed the streets. Emotionally confused by such an event, Twilight mumbled out one question, "Why-" she quivered, turning back to her sweat-drenched teacher, "How could this have happened to my home, to Equestria..."

...Two Year Ago...

Like another day, it was a bright, clear-skied day; with many ponies going about their daily business.

The confectioners at sugar-cube corner were having their usual spring celebration sale; many of the agricultural and floral ponies opened up their kiosks with high expectation and even high aspiration. The sun shined brightly in the sky, with not too hot of a temperature, allowing many colts and fillies to go out and play.

The bustling streets of the small town were as crowded as they usually were when it came to the low-price sales at the farmers market, setting up for the spring celebration, or obtaining cleaning supplies to get some seasonal cleaning done while they had the time.

Although the day seemed uneventful one particular meeting was taking place later on in the day; an event held by the mayor of ponyville herself, one which pertained to that of the parliament, and Princess Celestia.

Later on in the day, a large meeting was held in the town hall building, the room was filled to the brim with almost every citizen, even some of the children decided to attend the important announcement.

Once all was quiet, the mayor entered the room with a deadpan look on her face and began he announcement.

"Citizens of ponyville ," she began "as most of you know, the upcoming Spring celebration is a time of fun and excitement-" she paused, her face shifting to a dispirited expression. "But I have just been given some, troubling news by parliament."

"Are they canceling the celebration !?" shouted one pony; his outburst was met with immediate dejected moans, most of which came from the children.

"No," she replied, "but something equally as saddening..."

Most of the crowd seemed confused by her last statement. "As some of you know, Equestria has been dealing with some economic issues." Her statement was met with several nods of agreement. "Well," she looked away in disillusion, "as of yesterday, a few members of the Equestrian parliament brainstormed, and collaborated on a plan to save us from this economic crisis."

Once again, the majority of the crowd seemed unaware of what solution that the legislature had agreed on. The princess of friendship herself, despite being Celestia's disciple and having family in royalty, had not the ounce of knowledge on what new plan, one formulated by her own government no less, was drafted.

A few ponies in the crowd began to cheer at the idea of their financial issues ending.

"Please," the mayor pleaded, "do not cheer this is something that, honestly has no need for excitement." The crowd quickly died down, now worried about what plan was being put into action.

With a deep sigh, Mayor Mare explained the soon to be enacted law, "As of this season, the parliament will vote on passing the Animal Companion Tax in three weeks or less. For the act itself; it will tax ponies who have ownership over any, and all pets."

"What!?" Shouted a rainbow-maned pegasus.

"The act will tax pet owners on, the residency of their pet, the goods, and services of any pet, including, food, hygiene products, accessories, etc."

This brought immediate outrage from the citizens, with most of them shouting such things as, 'how the hay can they do that!?', 'I already pay enough taxes as it is, fuck that!', or the common retort of, 'This is bullshit!'. Amongst all the angered yelling, one stallion seemed intrigued by this and asked the mayor. "Wait, how much is the tax rate?"

The mayor paused in thought, try to remember what was on the bill. "Well it's based on the number of animals you own, so...", she quickly did the calculations in her head, "about fifty percent."

"Again, what!?" The rainbow-haired Pegasus shouted once more, completely enraged by such a bogus charge.

Once more the room erupted in irritated and infuriated shouts. "Everypony-" the mayor, with what authority she had, attempted to quell the chaos that ensued. Attempt being the keyword, as each time she tried to control them, her pleas would fall on deaf ears.

Having enough of this, one pony finally silenced the hall with a clam and modest request, "WOULD YOU ALL JUST SHUT THE HELL UP, AND LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAYOR HAS TO SAY FOR SHIT'S SAKE!" Shocked by such an discharge, almost everypony in the hall turned their attention to the abrasive pony; the equine in question turned out to be one of the spa mares, the blue on to be specific. Contrast to her blue fur, her face turned beet red from the metaphorical spotlight being pointed at her.

"Well," she began slowly shying behind her pink sister "when you're working with the brashest pegasus in ponyville you pick up a few things." The attention directed at her now fell on to Bulk Biceps, who was as wide-eyed as the others.

With the crowd silenced, Mayor mare continued her speech, "Well," she awkwardly stuttered still affected by the missus mare's rage-fueled yell, "anyways, the vote is in one week, so please, if any of you have a heart let's show parliament that ponyville-no, that Equestria, will not submit to such an outrageous law!" The mayor's encouraging speech was followed by yet another uproar of shouting, not one of anger, but one of passion, of encouragement, of hope.

The meeting concluded on a more than uplifting note, with many ponies, leaving the hall in good spirits.

Although the meeting ended with a blithe crescendo, five, very-well known equestrians, and one baby dragon left the building with a sinking feeling in their stomach, a feeling of worry for a certain pale-blond pegasus, and her large group of animals.

"Poor 'shy," moaned Applejack, staring down with a saddened look, like Applejack, most of the girls' faces had mixes of concern, disillusion, or both.

Rainbow was the next to place her complaint on the matter, immediately going after Celestia, Sombra, and her 'goons' as she called them, "I can't believe Celestia or Sombra would do this," she scolded, "I mean, I know the economies been bad and all, but you can't just put tax on something you love, especially if it's living."

"It truly is sad darling," Rarity said, her usual posh tone was now attuned to a more serious one, "But what is there to do in such a short amount of time?"

Suddenly, the pink, hyperactive member of the mane six began galloping towards the Everfree forest. As she was closing in towards the entrance of the enchanted woods, her friends, mainly the cyan pegasus, orange cowpony, and lavender alicorn, finally caught up with her; the vigorous flier asked the baker, "Pinkie, where the hell are you going!?"

"To help on Fluttershy's opposition campaign, silly!" The pink mare giggled, making a full sprint for the forest, and entered the woodland area, as her coat was shrouded in darkness.

Somewhat dazed by their friend' actions, the five friends, begrudgingly followed their hyperactive friend into the deep woods.

In a nicely lit cottage, the element of kindness herself, Fluttershy sat on her couch, drinking Earl Grey tea and taking care of a mouse with a broken leg. The mouse had gotten himself caught in one of the gaps of the floorboard and, poorly, attempted to free himself, leading to him twisting his ankle in the process. Taking one small sip of her tea, she attended back to the rodent, "You poor thing," she cooed to the grey rodent.

As she continued working on the small animal, a loud knock at the door echoed through her almost quiet house. "I wonder who that could be?" Finishing up on her patient, the butter colored pegasus placed her tea down and trotted towards the door. When she opened the door, she was delighted to see her six friends. As happy as she was to see them, however, their sour expressions caused her smile to sink into a concerned frown.

"Oh, hi girls, what's wrong?"

The girls turned to each other with worried glances, wondering how their friend with handle the news. Spike was the first to speak to the worried pegasus. " 'Shy," he began, rubbing the back of his head with his claws, "This isn't easy to say, so I'll just say it."

Before Fluttershy could ask what the drake had meant, he began explaining about the Equestrian Council's decision, and the act as well. Once he finished his explanation, Fluttershy's yellow face had gone entirely red with anger, "How the hell could they do such a thing!" she bellowed, pacing around the living room, absolutely irate.

In an attempt to calm her friend down, Rainbow Dash trotted over to the enraged vet. "Now listen 'shy, it's not like it's over,"
The butter pegasus turned to her friend in confused irritation "There's still a chance, all we need to do is for everypony to vote against it." Without notice, the irate pegasus almost galloped to the door. With much force, she wrenched the door open and turned back to her friends. "Shy, where are you going?" Rainbow asked in bewilderment.

"What do you think!?" she chided "I'm going to start up my campaign, and make sure that, that law never sees the light of day!" With that, she exited the cottage, leaving behind several confused ponies and dragons.

Two weeks later

The town hall building of Ponyville was booming with noise, with many ponies of the town happily partying as they waited for the results of the vote. On a large teleprompter, live video footage displayed on the Equestrian News Network of cuts between the two news anchors discussing the events of the polling, and the vote percentages. Somewhere in the center of the building, Fluttershy happily hummed, waiting for the final results of the vote. As she waited, all of her friends walked up to her. "Wow," Rarity gasped in surprise at the events of the party, "I wasn't expecting a turnout like this."

Fluttershy looked at her friend with a determined gaze, "Well obviously everypony would be here, they want to make sure that this vote doesn't go through." Fluttershy stared back at the screen with exhilaration.

As Fluttershy stared at the screen with excitement, Rainbow trotted over to the yellow pegasus with a worried expression, failing to keep her smile intact, "Look 'Shy," she began "I don't want to break your spirit or notin', but aren't you afraid that this bill will pass?"

The butter yellow pegasus waved offer friend with a dismissive hoof, "I have nothing to worry about Rainbow, I have complete trust that everypony here will make the right decision I'm-" Before she could finish her statement, Mayor Mare walked up on stage announcing the incoming votes.

"Alright everypony please be silent," she commanded, everyone in the room went completely quiet, "the votes are coming to a close, let's watch!" The mayor, as well as everypony else, watched in anticipation. On the screen, the two anchors were finishing their conversation as they were about to announce the results of the vote. "Alright," Mayor Mare said with excitement, "With a vote of-" she paused as she continued to stare at the screen, her smile faltering, "with a vote of forty-to-twenty the bill...the bill passes." Everyone looked on at the screen in bewilderment, the entire room was dead silent.

After what seemed like a long moment of silence, small groups of ponies began piling out of the building, and soon, only the mayor, the group of eight remained. Fluttershy stared at the screen with wide eyes. After staring at the teleprompter for a good ten minutes, Applejack walked over to the pegasus to consult her, "Fluttershy," before the farm pony could even touch the mare, Fluttershy burst into tears and ran out one of the pew rows, and out of the building.

The group of seven stared at the double doors with worried glances. Starlight was the first to speak up, breaking the long silent tension, "Do you think she'll be fine?" she asked concernedly.

"I'm sure that she'll be fine," the rainbow-maned pegasus reassured her, "I mean, it's not like this will change anything...right?"

Nine Months Later...

In the center of Ponyville, there stood an old bar owned by the Apple Family. Inside the old tavern, many of the patrons of Ponyville were either sitting in one of the several booths, enjoying the company of their friends and partners, or sitting on one of the bar stools by the bar alone. Among the many lonely mares and stallions, there sat a yellow pegasus, her mane was disheveled sporting a slightly darker, redder tint.

The yellow mare gulped down her glass of whiskey, a disgruntled look on her face; slamming down her glass, she glared at the bartender as if signaling him for another drink, "Another drink, and would it kill you to fuckin' add a little somethin' to it," she demanded, pushing her glass in front of the lime-green stallion.

The stallion frowned at the pegasus command and denied her, " Look lil' filly, I think you've had enough-" the lime-green stallion's shirt collar was clutched by the mare, and she looked back at him with dead, yet enraged eyes.

"Look here fuck face," she began "if you haven't noticed, I've been having a tough year, and the last thing I need, is some skinny green asshole like you tell me I've had enough," she pulled the stallion closer to her face "so why don't you go back there and get me a drink before I go behind this table and gouge your fuckin' eyeballs out."

The stallion's face paled after hearing the pegasus's grotesque threat, slightly shaking over her intense brooding stare. After she released him from her tight grip, he turned back to the row of assorted mugs and glasses and began pouring yet another glass of whiskey for the mare.

The moment the drink was placed in front of pegasus, a group of six ponies entered the bar with worrisome expressions, "Fluttershy," a white unicorn mare exclaimed with a mixture of delight and worry. As group quickly trotted over to the mare, the pegasus quickly downed her drink, pulled out a large sum of golden coins, got up from the stool and trotted towards the exit of the bar.

As she got closer to the door, a bright purple light flashed in front of her, and after the light quickly dissipated there stood the princess of friendship herself, "Twilight. Fuckin'. Sparkle," she hissed, "How awful it is to see you."

"Fluttershy..." Twilight said in a sympathetic tone, "Listen, I know It's been a tough year with your animals being gone, but you can't shut yourself out like this, " the lavender unicorn trotted over to the yellow mare attempting to console her, "I know what it's like-" before she could even finish her statement, the mare pushed the princess away, and continued her trot towards the door.

Before she stepped out, Fluttershy turned back to her former friends with an intense glare "You don't know shit," she muttered "All you lost was your house, but that got replaced," her usual quiet, calm voice, lowered to a deeper tone, "You know what I lost," the six friends looked at one another with confused glances, before finally turning back to the disheveled pegasus, "...Lives, families, children, things you girls will never understand."

Fluttershy turned her glare at Rainbow Dash and Twilight, "At least you two got to keep your pets," without another word, Fluttershy walked out of the tavern, not even noticing a slightly taller, and winged, Spike.

The drake attempts to quell the pegasus but ultimately fails, seeing that the mare was too far away. Once the irate mare enters the Everfree forest, the group of six exits the tavern to stare at the forest in bewilderment. The purple dragon turned to the princess of friendship with a concerned glance "I guess it didn't work huh?"

Inside a dark, and deathly empty cottage, Fluttershy sat on her couch in silence and stared at an old picture of her, and her favorite pet, Angel Bunny. Although his name contradicted with his personality, he was an undeniably cute little thing. She continued to stare at the image with a furrowed brow, her anger continuing to seethe from the events at the bar, "I don't need any of those little bastards," she hissed "All they did was hold me back!"

As she exclaimed this, her body began to shake, and her vision became blurry, "I don't need Harry," her voice became hoarse with every breath, "I definitely don't need Timmy," large tears rolled down her cheeks as she continued to stare at the picture.

"And I don't need..." pausing mid-tirade, her throat becoming tighter with each word, "I-" She dropped to the ground and began balling her eyes out, her wails of loss and despair echoed through the dark house, "Angel, I miss you!" She sat there sobbing for what felt like an hour.

Unknown to the sobbing mare, a pure-white rabbit stood on the window sill with sorrow in his eyes; he had always taken his mother for granted, but seeing her in such a state made his stomach sink. His expression of sorrow changed to that of absolute hatred as he turned to the sound of two giggling mares somewhere in the far off woods. He turned to the distance of the noise and spoke, "Do not worry mother," he said, as a sickening grin grew on his face, "we'll make everything right again." The bunny leaped off from the sill and walked closed to the noise.