Peterloo

by Inucroft1

Rating: mature
Tags: Tragedy, Violence, Princess Celestia, Death, Alternate Universe, Princess Luna, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 2440

After years of hardship, the citizens of northern Equestria gather at Marechester. There, to hear speak Stallion Hunt of reform. The local magistrates, however, regard this as inserection.

The great Marepoleonic War is over. The Equestrian-allied forces have overcome the Tyrant Sombra and restored the rightful monarchy to the Crystal Empire. With this victory, sees the demobilisation of the guard and restoration of international peace. The victory, however, turns sour seeing economic depression sweep through the recently industrialised Equestria.

Unemployment, starvation, disenfranchisement and rampant political corruption ravage the population. Driven with hardship many of the labouring classes flock to the "Radicals", a political movement aimed at political reform.

Local ponies of Marechester have written to Stallion Hunt, a leading Radical from the aristocratic class to speak before them. This proved to be the last straw for the majority of the local magistrates.

This was their Mareterloo: their Peterloo.

This is inspired and based upon the events that lead up to the gathering at St. Peter's Field (Manchester) which became known as Peterloo. First published on the 16/08/2019, on the 200th Anniversary.

Published 2019-08-16 17:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2021-02-08 00:34:52 UTC

End and beginings - Prologue

November 28th 1815

Canterlot Times

Sombra defeated

On November 20th after his defeat at Mareterloo, vile tyrant Sombra finally capitulated and was banished by the Princesses for his crimes. With the end of the Seventh Coalition War, peace can finally return to the continent that has been in turmoil for over 23 years.

Sombra’s capitulation was formalised at the Congress of Vanner, ensuring his banishment and readdressing the borders of the various states to ensure that another Crystal Tyrant would never again would capture vast swaves of territory without opposition…..

December 19th 1815

Canterlot Times

Farm crisis solved

Fears of destitution that were rife within our farming communities, can be assured to be solved. Her Majesties’ Government has announced the Corn Laws. These laws will ensure a minimum price for all grains paid to our farmers, while imposing harsh tariffs on all grain imports.

The Prime Minister, upon the passing of the law through the House of Lords, proudly spoke about how this Government responds quickly to the needs of all citizens of Equestria. He continued about how foreign grains will not ruin our industries and that this will ensure help to all of the labouring classes. I feel, rest assuredly, that we are in good hooves….

August 8th 1816

Marechester Observer

Economic Crash

Stallions and Mares of Marechester, once again the economic news worsens. With the end of the Seventh Coalition War and restoration of the continent markets closed to us by Sombra, the post-war boom has ended with economic depression. The markets have become oversaturated with textiles, caused by drop in demand from the military and restoration of the textile mills in the war raved countries.

Worse still, with the collapse of wages, the cost of food has rapidly increased due to the Corn Law. A loaf of bread now costing 1 Shilling…

February 14th 1817

Cloudsdale Flyer

The wicked are punished and the righteous rewarded

Pegasus employment rises as the Cloudsdale Weather Factory expands to meet the demands of the farmers below. This has only been feasible due to closure of the factories below, giving a vast new pool of pegasus recruits. While unemployment grows in the Equestrian cities, we at the Cloudsdale Flyer agree with the Government, it is down to their own wickedness and lack morals that they are facing such destitution. We appeal to all Members of Parliament to maintain our current course, and let these vile sinners face the consequence of their lifestyle. We write, to remind our readers and leaders, that this is their punishment from our Divine Princess for their corrupt ways…

Author's Note

Well, here it begins.

Home

One hoof after another.

He limped down the dirt track, his scar tissue making it awkward to move his hind left leg. The few passing cart ponies hardly batted an eye at the young stallion. They’d seen enough soldiers returning home from the war to care.

One hoof after another

He forced himself on through the summer heat. Each step kicked up a cloud of dust, coating his scarlet tunic in yet another layer of grime.

One hoof after another.

Each step, his bugle bounced on his withers. Bar his uniform, it was the only thing he was issued with he was allowed to keep. Its tarnished brass reflecting the summer sun.

One hoof after another.

Looking up, he spotted a junction ahead. A small stone humped back bridge ahead or carry along the current path, he pondered.

One hoof after another.

As he reached the junction, a mare hauling a cart behind her passed. Waving, he staggered over to her.

“Marechester?” he stammered.

She silently nodded towards the bridge. Without speaking a word, she resumed pulling her cart knocking him back.

One hoof after another.

The indoor market was bustling, the cries of each vendor trying to be heard over the other. Cabbages, eggs, carrots, apples, nuts and various other foods were being sold and bartered for. Many wives and daughters toiled through the market, bartering or haggling for enough food to survive the week.

Lilly Lee dragged her heavy basket through the thronging crowds, laden with produce pressing into her azure fur. With her last purchase, she pushed through the crowded market onto the street. Walking through the streets of the new city, the sight of poverty was everywhere.

Women of ill repute, beggars, and the jobless cluttered the streets of Marechester. Their shouts just flowing into the general ambiance of the main throughways. Sidestepping them, Lilly eventually made her way to the more residential streets. Small dirty terraced housing crowded the narrow streets, washing lines hanging across the street. Passing increasingly familiar faces, she turned a corner into a ginnel using it as a short cut to her own, small, grubby street.

Seeing she was on the home straight, Lilly picked up her pace. Weaving past a few colts too young to work, she finally reached her house. Pausing to take a breath, she pushed the door open entering the front parlour.

“Rose? ROSE! Come her and help me”

Her shout was shortly accompanied by a clattering of hooves in the kitchen. Stepping in, Rose was carrying a foal in a sling across her front. Both sporting fur similar in colour to Lilly herself.

“It’s no mither, mother”, Rose gently replied, assisting with moving the goods, “been watching em pies in the oven. Ought to be enough time for nother batch fore shift out at the mills”

“Good. Get shifting, sooner we put these away sooner we can get the next batch ready”

The clattering of the mechanised looms, rumbling of the belt feeds, the rumbling of the drive shafts and shuffling of products dominated the room, and the dozen other identical rooms across the mill. Dark and damp, various ponies manned the hundreds of looms within while others trotted all over.

A scream cuts through the noise, with only a few stallions looking over while majority just carry on with their work. Those next to source of the noise move over to assist, a Pegasus whom had managed to get his left wing caught within the loom’s mechanism. Harrowing screams continued to echo as they tried to remove the stallion from the still active mechanisms. Finally, they drag him out of the room with his wing torn off. Sinews of muscle and flesh hang limply at the base of what was his wing, blood streaming down his side and onto the floor.

Moonstone Lee winced as he saw the maimed Pegasus be dragged out. He had grown use to the near daily injuries that occurred at the mill, but it didn’t make it easier. Moonstone was just glad that it was only a wing, sure he’d never fly again however he’d manage and retain the ability to work.

Trying to stay focused, he continued to operate the loom he was stationed at. Unlike the Pegasus, if one of his indigo limbs got caught, he’d likely never work again condemning him and his family to being a cadge family.

“Daft ‘apeth” he muttered, giving the Pegasus one last thought.

One hoof after another.

He walks down the road. Slowly transitioning from a dirt track to cobble stone. Smoke rises in the distance. Marechester.

One hoof after another.

He walked uphill, hamlets and villages become more frequent as he walks onwards. Cresting a hill, he looks ahead. In the distance, he now can see Marechester itself in the distance.

One hoof after another.

He started to enter Marechester itself, the stench and smog assail his dulled sense of smell. Some parted to make his walking easier. While other times, he was assailed by cadges trying to take the last of his army wage.

One hoof after another.

He limped on, leaving the main throughways, passing ginnel after ginnel. Following the true streets, he passes row after row of terrace houses.

One hoof after another.

He stood before a plain wooden door. Shuffling on his hooves, the young stallion enters the house.

He was home.

Author's Note

___ Lee is based upon John Lee. In reality, John was not born to a poor family, but rather was a bastard son of a wealthy local Mill owner. He joined the army in 1812 and served with the Royal Artillery.

The change has been made here and in the Peterloo film to make it easier to incorporate him into the narrative.

Example of a 19th Century cotton loom. Vid
https://youtu.be/Rq9WMwn5lXg

Work & Play

Lilly and Rose were busy in the kitchen, a small cramped room filled with wood smoke along with dirty pans and cutlery. Smell of freshly baked savoury goods wafted throughout the home driven by a draft from the open rear door. Unspoken grunts arose from the pair as they placed the final batch of pies into the basket, trying not to wake the sleeping foal in the corner.
Flour coated their fur muting their colour, matching the various surfaces and basket they worked across.

Each steaming hot pie was gently placed into the basket, wrapped in not so clean cloth. Both mares trying to make sure greatest care handling the fragile pastry.

"Now Rose, you get to cleaning and see if you fettle that there ladle" Cream spoke calmly yet with authority, dusting the flour off her forelegs.

"Ye ma, I'll see if Mr Monger can help me fettle th-"

The sound of the front door closing echoed through the house. Flinching, they gave each other a worried glance. It was too early in the day for Moonstone to be home. Lilly's azure fur stood on end as she reached over and quietly picked up the nearest rolling pin. Raw pastry fell off as she hefted it. One hoof after another, each hoof touching the floor sounding as loud as a canon in the silence.

Looking back to Rose, she waved a hoof towards the young foal praying that Rose would get the hint. Without confirming that her adult child had got the message, she peered through the door into the front room.

Corner of her sight, a flash of red!
Gripping the rolling pin tighter in her hoof, she breaths deeply steadying herself.
With the determination of the matriarch of the house, Lilly strode confidently forward. One hoof after another. Rage etched across her face thinking about the audacity of the thief.

"Now look here you-" the angry tirade is cut off. Only the sound of a rolling Pin clattering across the floor tiles could be heard.

Standing before her, was a bole coloured stallion, donning a worn scarlet military tunic with a bugle attached to his belt. With a weak smile, he looked to her with admiration and a deep longing.

"Comet?"

"I'm home ma" gently spoke the earth pony stallion, with a pained smile.
His eyes rolled upwards, and he collapsed onto the floor.

Moonstone wiped his fetlocks across his brow.

Clitter clacker

He risked taking his attention away from the loom to glance up towards the forestallion's office, muttering a curse under his breath. Cursing the sow whom bore that entitled buff coloured pegasus, and cursing the fact the bastard had not sounded the end of shift.

Clitter clacker

As he looked back the loom, he locked eyes with the stallion opposite. His workmate, confident, best friend friend, comrade- Stout Bailey. The unkempt cadet coloured pegasus gave him a knowing nod. Returning the nod, he refocused his attention onto the machine before him. A smirk stretched across his muzzle, for today, today was payday.

The last hours of work dragged tediously by, yard after yard of unbleached linen cloth was woven under his hooves. Collected by colts old enough to be sent to the factory. He pitted them, knowing that this would be their pitiful lot in life, until their death.
Relief washed over him, as the forestallion finally sounded the end of the shift. Machines slowed as their operators stepped away, filing towards the exit. He joined their ranks, heading towards the pay desk though accidentally bumping into the odd stallion as the new shift entered the factory.

He shuffled hoof to hoof, waiting. Eventually, he reached the kiosk, the unicorn clerk paid him no heed as they levitated a bag of coins across the desk. Snatching it, Moonstone cantered out of the factory onto the street outside. Head swivelling side to side, looking through the throng of workers and street vendors.

There!
He spotted Stout waving him over.
Dodging, dancing, and barging his way though the bustling crowd he made his way over.
Moonstone pulled Stout into a firm hug, grinning ear to ear. Stout returned the favour, and soon they were tussling each other playfully by the factory wall.

"Payday, hopefully we can get a decent treat this week for our families!" he bellowed into Stouts now pained ears, breaking the silence between the pair. Panting for breath.

"I wouldn't be too chuffed, take a look " cautioned his friend, gesturing to Moonstone's pouch.

Worried, he quickly reached for the pouch and counted the coins out. Ten-pence, ten-pence...
"Bastards! They've cut our pay again, down three pence compared to six months ago"

"Aye, but don't worry Moon we can talk about it at the meeting" came Stout's beleaguered and weak reassurance. "Look, at least we've got work... plus we can afford a half a loaf with this. Now, lets find your wife and walk her home. She's probably made a good penny since it's payday"

With a frustrated nod, Moonstone pushed past Stout heading towards the street vendors. As he and his friend drew closer they we accosted over and over and over by the various mares trying to sell their wares as they made their way through the crowd.

"Last cherry pie-"
"-pears, buy your pe-"
"buy some apples"

Finally, he heard a familiar voice, but something was wrong. Moonstone started to move with more urgency pushing through the crowd of ponies.

"Buy your pie here," cried the familiar voice, "last pie, only a penny. DA!"

"Rose, why are you here, shouldn't you be looking after your newborn? Where is Lilly?! She's meant to be here!"

"Da, it's okay, it's okay. Ma is at home, she's-"

"She's what Rose?!" Moonstone shouted, gripping her shoulder's in panic.

"Comet is back, da" she exclaimed, pulling him into a hug tears streaming down her face, "Comet is home"

Author's Note

Trying to get back into writing.
Not my best work, but it's something.