A New Generation, and an old mare

Chapters

Morning in Maretime Bay
Harmony no More
A Sunny Day
Taking Flight
Pegasus Problems
A Counseling Council
Equine Explanations
Into the wilds

Morning in Maretime Bay

She always enjoyed journeys like this.

It was so wonderful for the earth pony mare, to be traveling the roads of Equestria as the first rays of the sun began to poke out over the morning sky. It was that time of day when only a few ponies and other creatures were stirring about, It was a time to enjoy the warm weather and golden sunshine, with an open road and only the sounds of nature greeting your equine ears. There had been an age gone by, of course, that ponies had controlled that weather and raised and lowered that sun. But such things were now part of the past, and along with nonsense like alicorns and harmony, and belonged more to the realm of fairy tales than to the world around her.

The mare was a nomadic agricultural worker, migrating from place to place, and working the apple harvests at pony orchards, in exchange for a share of the crops. The white and orange pony with long fetlocks had only left the earth pony town of Coltonville as few weeks ago, bringing with her two satchels and a cart she was pulling full of golden delicious apples. The earth pony was making her way down the coast, carefully avoiding the unicorn and Pegasus towns along the way. There were few equine travelers who were to be seen out here in the wilderness, and the unicorns she saw would often try to zap her with their horn beams, while the Pegasus flying over hear would angrily attempt to.... excrete waste on her, like some angry pigeon on a statue. Thus, it was best to avoid members of the other pony tribes, and stick to her own kind.

It was after several hours of traversing these roads, that the earth pony finally neared her destination. Maretime Bay... a bustling port city on the southeast corner of Equestria, this earth pony community was one of the few connections the now-fractured land of ponies had with the other parts of the world. Everything from large galleons, to medium-sized schooners, to several tiny dinghy were docked in the harbor, as sailor ponies went to and fro on the docks. It reminded the mare of the old Equestrian port town of Baltimare, except for the fact two of the pony tribes were missing from it's equine population. The little earth pony with the satchel always enjoyed coming back here, for nearly everypony who lived here were eager to buy her apples, and she also enjoyed taking in that wonderful seaside breeze.

As she trotted up into the outskirts of the town, the mare was amazed by how modern everything looked. Colorfully painted townhouses, standing side-by-side with buildings of glass and steel, lined the streets of this seaside community. Other earth ponies of every shape and size trotted everywhere, while the dinging of the streetcar's bell could be heard, as ponies got on and off at their stops along the tracks. A pair of visiting filly tourists stopped the farm mare, had handed her their hoof phone to take a picture of the two of them in front of the town fountain. Most of the other ponies simply smiled, waved, or nodded at her, before quickly turning to rush back to whatever business they were going about. It was obvious to her that the terrible important ponies in this town were far too busy going about their terribly important business to give her the time of day.

As the farm mare trotted past the Town hall, the light amber stallion who served as the town's sheriff recognized her, and turned to greet the visiting mare.

"Hey, Applejack! How's it going?" The stallion smiled, trotting up to her. "Welcome back to Maretime! I trust you had a safe journey?"

"Oh! Howdy, Hitch Trailblazier!" A.J. greeted him with a laugh. "I just arrived from the apple orchards south of Coltonville, an' ah got a fresh crop a' apples ta sell at mah stand this year."

"Sounds great, I can't wait to buy a few this season." Hitch narrowed his eyes. "Say, you didn't have any trouble with those Pegasus or unicorns on the way here, did you? You know how dangerous other kinds of ponies can be."

"No, them horned and winged critters didn't bother me none." Applejack replied in annoyance, rolling her eyes. "Just like they rarely bother me, or anypony else these days."

"Well, you just let me know if you spot any of those suspicious characters around here." Sheriff Hitch looked down the street suspiciously, as if one of the other types pf pony were about . "Because if any of those monsters were to show their face here, I'd teach em' a lesson, but good!"

A.J. winced at that remark. She recalled a unicorn stallion from Bridlewood, who had been foolish enough to wander into the earth pony town of Rainbow Falls, only to fall prey to the torches of an angry mob. Or the fact that very skilled earth pony bounty hunters were known for collecting unicorn horns and Pegasus wings as trophies after a hired kill of members of the other two pony tribes. And Applejack recalled her own visit to Zephyr Heights a few decades ago, when the Pegasus tried to kill the earth pony mare by dropping her off the city's high cliffs, and dashing her onto the rocks below. No, It was best for the apple bucker to try and forget current pony attitudes each tribe held towards one another. Best to not think about that in her day, the friendship between each tribe had truly been magic.

"Ah'll be sure ta let ya know if ah see one of them ornery critters."Applejack lied, starting to trot away with her apple cart. "See y'all later when ah open my seasonal stand tomorrow!"

The Sheriff only nodded, before returning to his daily patrol.

As the mare passed through the town, she headed towards the lighthouse that sat on the hill high above Maretime Bay. Years ago, Applejack had befriended the lighthouse's keeper, a pony named Argyle Starscout, and his wife during one of her visits to the town, they seemed to be the only two earth ponies who put up with Applejack's 'strange' ways, and so she found it easiest to stay with them in the lighthouse for the few weeks she spent in Maretime Bay, running her apple stand to sell a portion of her crop. Applejack was far older than the earth pony couple, or course, though she actually looked to be the same age as their young daughter.

The family, of course, politely never mentioned the fact that A.J. had never seemed to age, in all the years they had known her.

Trotting right up to the lighthouse, Applejack knocked with her hoof, before calling out;

"Argyle, y'all here? It's Applejack!" She called out, knocking a second time. "Anypony home?"

Her inquiry was met, with the door suddenly being thrown open, and a young mare excitedly pulling her into a hug.

"Aunt Applejack, I can't believe you're back!" The excited pony of average height exclaimed. "Just wait until dad hears you're back!"

"Howdy, Sunny Starscout." Applejack replied with a smile, as Sunny helped her unhook her apple cart, and the two mares trotted inside. "It's really good ta see y'all again."

Harmony no More

"Aunt Applejack! It's so wonderful to see you again!" The young mare named sunny exclaimed, as AJ walked into the lighthouse's kitchen. "What's new? Where have you been? You have to tell me everything about everything you saw when you traveled!"

"Okay, Okay! settle down Sunny." The farm pony smiled, pulling out a chair with her hoof to sit down. "Where is your father? I was hoping to say howdy to him, as well."

"Oh, dad up in the tower, changing the bulb in the lighthouse lamp, and prepping it for tonight." She ran to the stairs. "Hey dad! Aunt AJ is here to see you!"

"Oh, what?! She's back?" The blue stallion with white streaks in his tail and mane came trotting down from the tower. "Oh, AJ! It's so good to see you again, old friend." He gave the earth pony mare a hug. "Tell me, how was the journey here from Coltonville?"

Applejack smiled at the father and daughter, happy to see some familiar faces once again. The earth pony mare had been coming to see this family every year since Sunny was a tiny foal. She visited every year after the harvest, staying for two weeks after the harvest season, before moving on to Ponyville for the next apple harvest. She had been very good friends with Sunny's mother, having met the mare at a baking contest in Rainbow Falls several years ago. Before Mrs. Starscout passed away, she has asked Applejack to keep an eye on her family. And she had returned every year, watching the young filly named Sunny grow into the beautiful young mare who now sat in the chair beside her.

"Oh, it wasn't too bad. Jest tried to stay out of trouble, and avoid any... problem areas." Applejack rolled her eyes, thinking about the other pony types. " Ah was even goin' ta head up towards the crystal empire, and visit Princess Flurry Heart an' her crystal pony subjects."

"The crystal empire?! Wow!" Sunny exclaimed, nearly jumping out of her chair. "The other ponies my age in town don't even believe that the crystal ponies exist!" She grabbed AJ by the hooves. "You so have to tell me all about the ponies that live up there!"

"That's enough of that, young lady." Argyle told his daughter in a gentle but firm voice. "Applejack just got here, don't you think you could wait to bother her about fairy tales later?"

"Oh, right..." Sunny replied sheepishly, looking embarrassed. "Sorry, aunt AJ you must be tired after your visit."

"It's all right, sugar cube." AJ laughed, looked back to Sunny's father. "Hey Argyle, how about something warm ta drink?"

And so the three ponies talked, discussing what they had all been doing since their last reunion. Argyle warmed up a pot of coffee for the two older ponies, as Sunny regaled A.J. with the tale of her last year Maretime high, along with her graduation. The apple bucker was disappointed to hear Sunny hadn't made any friends over the past year... or gotten herself a boyfriend, either. When she asked Sunny about this, the young mare just sighed.

"I don't know, aunt AJ, it's just so strange." Sunny shook her head, as Argyle poured himself and Applejack each a cup of coffee. "Ever since I was a little filly, everypony in Maretime Bay has treated me like I'm... odd. No filly in town wanted to be my friend... and no colt wanted to date me." Her ears drooped. "Maybe it's my breath, or my mane style, or something?"

"Maybe, sugar cube, maybe..." A.J. looked at the door. "Say, shouldn't you be heading out to your new job you told me about? Those smoothies aren't going to deliver themselves."

"Yeah, I guess your right." Sunny smiled, putting on her helmet, knee pads, and skates. She reached over, and gave her father a hug. "Bye daddy, see you this evening."

After the young mare had left, Argyle slumped in his chair. "Sigh, even as old as she is, Sunny can still be a hoof-full."

"Just what the hay do you think you're doing, Argyle? Filling her head with all of that harmony bearer nonsense?" AJ grumbled, taking a sip of her coffee. "The ponies her age probably think she's plum loco, talking about all other ponies being friends. She'll never make friends talking about fairy tales, and whatnot."

"Why Applejack, I you would be the last pony to say something like that." The stallion protested, slugging down a hot mouthful of coffee."You're the one who told me the stories of Equestria in the first place, and gave me all of those harmony bearer toys and posters to give to her in the first place."

"Yeah, but those were the stories for a little filly, not the sort a' things a grown mare should be worried about in modern Equestria." AJ grumbled, slurping the hot caffeinated beverage in her cup. "Most of the Alicorns are gone, and harmony between the pony tribes went with them."

As the two ponies were talking, Argyle used the remote in his hoof to turn the television, where a commercial for a Maretime earth pony corporation appeared on the screen.

"Greetings, fillies and gentlecolts, my name is Phyllis, and I am the CEO and founder of the Canterlogic corporation." The pony who spoke on screen was a pink mare, with a beehive hairdo in her mane, and a stock market cutie mark on her flank. AJ realized her pink glasses were the logo on the giant Canterlogic corp building she had seen standing at the very center of town. "For nearly a century, Caterlogic corp's scientific innovation and technological progress has pushed ponies forward. We have made life here in Maretime Bay better though our corporate philosophy of putting earth ponies and their needs first."

"Great, an earth pony corporate propaganda PSA." Applejack snorted, as both she and Argyle rolled their eyes. "Just what this already xenophobic city needs."

"I am also here to remind every earth pony in town, that it is their civic duty to report any kind of suspicious activity related to the other two pony tribes." The mare's expression turned serious. "For too many centuries, our Pegasus and unicorn oppressors have marginalized us with their horn and wing privilege, and they will try to use their sinister magical powers to undermine the earth pony equity we have achieved." The mare on screen adjusted her glasses. "If you see anyone collaborating with, or speaking positively about, the other two types of pony, please notify your local sheriff immediately." The mare saluted, as the flag on the old pre-equestrian earth pony nation flapped in the background. "It's up to all of us to protect and defend the earth equine way of life."

"Great, that's just great." Applejack yelled angrily, slamming her hoof on the table. "Whoah nelly, if Princess Twilight had lived to see what the pony utopia she had worked so hard to create has become, they would be able to fill up galloping gorge into a lake with all the tears she'd cry from weeping!"

"Applejack, keep it down, Canterlogic corp's eyes and ears are everywhere." Argyle covered her mouth with his hoof, looking around nervously as if listening devices everywhere. "Ponies in this town have disappeared in the middle of the night for speaking out against earth pony supremacy."

"Then why in tarnation are you raising your daughter in this xenophobic slime pit?" AJ asked."You could move to a safer earth pony community, like Ponyville."

"Because somepony has to stay here, and just like this lighthouse, be a beacon of sanity in this storm of hate, until the rest of the earth pony tribe comes to it's senses." He looked out through the curtains, to make sure nopony was listening outside of the house. "But right now, there is something I can use your help with... somepony who needs to be snuck out of this town quietly and discretely, by a traveling merchant pony like yourself."

"What?! Who is it?" AJ whispered, leaning in conspiratorially. "Somepony who spoke out against canterlogic corp?"

"Worse, it's a pair of newborn foals, whose mother had them at home, and has hidden them from the local authorities." Argyle explained. "She and the father reached out to me, because they know I have contacts like you, who have connections in the Pegasus and unicorn communities."

"Well yeah, I have friends among the Pegasus of butterfly island, and among the equines of Unicornia. Both communities are friendly with earth ponies, but why-" Suddenly, AJ's eyes went wide with realization, and she felt her blood run cold. "Don't tell me..... is one of them foals a Pegasus, and one a unicorn?"

"We think the parents had unicorn and Pegasus ancestors in the past, these genetic throwbacks are born once in awhile in earth pony societies." Argyle nodded gravely. "If these two foals are discovered, the town's Canterlogic corp-backed 'earth pony purity' agents will judge the children's continued existence a threat, and have them...liquidated." Argyle closed his eyes. "Applejack, you must help me get these foals to the safety of Unicornia and Butterfly Island, before it is too late!"

A Sunny Day

"Whoa... I cain't believe the earth ponies of this town would stoop to... 'eliminating' other kinds of ponies." Applejack shook her head in disbelief. "I know relations between the three tribes have degenerated in the past few centuries, but things seems to have gotten worse than I could ever have imagined."

"Yes, I was rather shocked by it, myself." Argyle replied, adjusting his glasses. "I know that in past years, each pony community used to send such foals to the tribe they resemble- unicorn babies to Bridlewood, Pegasus newborns to Zephyr Heights, and so on. But I think the xenophobia in the eath pony lands has gotten so intense, that those in power want to eliminate ponies of the other types altogether."

"If that's the case, we've got to get those two foals out of here." AJ pushed her coffee aside. "So, who are these two poor little foals?"

Standing up from the table, Argyle trotted over, and pulled out a photograph, and set it in front of Applejack. She looked down to see two newborn foals wrapped in blankets; a purple and pink unicorn colt with an aqua mane, and a pink Pegasus mare with a pink and green mane.

"The colt's name is Sunrise Song, and the filly's name is Twinkle Bloom."Argyle sighed, sitting back down, and drinking his coffee. "The mother chose to give birth at home with the aid of a midwife mare, and the parents and the mare agreed to keep the Fraternal twin's secret, and they have been hiding them from family and friends under the excuse of them having equine colic since birth."

"Then we'd better get them outta here before them ornery government troublemakers find out about these two youngins'." Applejack noted, finishing her cup of coffee. "The best plan would be ta run mah stand fer the normal two weeks, then quietly pack em' up an' take with me when I leave."

"That would be the best decision, as it will be easier to not arouse suspicion that way." Argyle agreed, cleaning up their coffee cups, and taking them to wash in the sink. "Just stay here with Sunny and I, and act like nothing has happened."

"Ya'll better do a good job of keeping them hidden, Argyle. And I'll just pur-tend I'm not trying to save to foals lives" AJ sighed, trotting over to the window, and lifting the curtain with her hoof to look out at the town. "This is going to be quite an interesting two weeks."

.....

As the day wore on, the earth ponies of Maretime bay went about their business. Mares and Stallions typed away on their hoof computers in their office cubicles, pony landscapers worked on lawns with their trimming tools in mouth, and window washer equines scrubbed all of the dead bugs and filth off with their wipers. Everypony was annoyed and grouchy about the overly long work day, unhappy they were only halfway through...

....until afternoon break time came, and Sunny zooming through town on her roller skates, pulling her delicious smoothies along in a freezer trailer behind her. She stopped at stores and office buildings all along her route, doling out her frozen treats to anypony who would buy, turning the grumpy frowns of her customers into smiles as delicious drinks helped them through their dreary day.

"Here's your order, Miss Whinnymane." Sunny passed a bag containing two drinks to the secretary with her mouth. "Have a nice day!"

"Thank you, Sunny!" The office mare replied, tossing her a coin. "See you tomorrow!"

As she skated along and delivered the smoothies, Sunny was happy to hear the grateful thanks from many of her customers. But the mutterings and grumblings of other ponies also reached her ears, including many unkind words from those who did not truly understand her.

"Stupid filly, when is she going to stop with all that harmony bearer nonsense, and grow up?"

"She thinks we can live in peace with the Pegasus and unicorns? What a dreamer!"

"If she loves other pony types so much, why doesn't she leave here, and go live with them?"

Even though she pretended not to hear, their cruel words hurt Sunny. Why couldn't they understand, she just didn't think it right that different kinds of ponies for no reason! And she didn't believe all those stupid propaganda films and stories- the horror movie where Pegasus hunted down and ate earth ponies. But so many of her friends family, and neighbors regarded her as a naive little filly. It was so hard, when so many ponies saw her hopes and dreams as a stupid joke.

As Sunny continued skating along her route, she noticed a familiar young stallion step out in front of her path. Bringing her cart to a screeching halt, The mare rolled her eyes in annoyance at the male pony with the sheriff star on his sash.

"Heya, Sunny." He smiled at her, trying to be cool and failing. "Funny meeting you here this time of day."

"Oh, hi Hitch." She replied putting on a fake smile. "No surprise I'm here, this is part of my smoothie route."

As the sheriff learned in close to her, Sunny tried to hide her annoyance. She had known this stallion since kindergarten, and he had been trying to get her attention since he was little; first as a friend in elementary school, then as a boyfriend in high school. He was kind of adorkable, in his own way- his desire to protect and help other ponies was strong, it was why he had become the town sheriff. But Hitch was far too serious for her tastes, and the stallion and her had fallen in and out of friendship over the years. Right now, she just wanted him to get out of his way so she could get back to her job.

"Say, I just happen to get off duty about five today, and you should be done with your smoothie route by then." He motioned towards a local restaurant with his head. "Want to meet at the Rainbow cafe for a hay burger?"

"I don't think so, Hitch, I'm kinda busy today." Sunny shook her head, trying to move around Sunny. "My aunt AJ has stopped by for a visit this week, and dad wants me home early."

"Applejack? The farmer pony? Yeah, I saw her in town this morning." Hitch started to follow her. "Hey, let me walk you home after we're both done, I want to talk to her about buying some of her crop."

"Thanks, sheriff Trailblazer." She smiled back at him, "But I think I'd prefer to skate home by myself tonight."

"Hey, why do you always try to ignore me?" Hitch asked in frustration, turning to face her. "I protect you and every other pony in this town, Miss Starscout!"

"Yeah, like you were protecting me when you threatened to arrest my last boyfriend." She stopped, narrowing her eyes. "You don't even try to hide it, ya know?"

"Yeah, just like you spiked my last girlfriend's smoothie to give her the trots!" Hitch snapped, before turning away in anger. "I don't even know why I waste my time on you!"

"Well, your a waste of time, too!" Sunny snapped back, also turning away. "Good bye!"

The two started off in opposite directions from each other in anger. But as they moved away from each other, a small smile formed on each of their faces, as they looked back over their shoulders at one another.

"Geek"

"Doofus"

The two tried to hide their soft smiles from each other, as Sunny skated off with her smoothie cart, and Hitch trotted away on his patrol.

.........

It was past evening, when Sunny finally came skating home, and found Applejack out gazing up at the stars. Taking off her helmet and knee pads, the younger mare when over to join the older mare, in gazing up in wonder.

"They all look so amazing up there, aunt AJ." Sunny said in awe, totting over to sit beside the other pony. "I wonder if the old legends are true, that an alicorn pony named princess Luna fashioned the stars long ago, and raised the moon to bring on a beautiful night."

"Yeah, Sugar Cube, that's true. And we earth ponies once were in tune with the land, and had our own magic to make plants grow." The farm pony replied, not taking her eyes off the stars above. "There was once a time that ponies controlled all of the major workings of this world... now they can't even control themselves."

"I think it's so sad, that we can't get along with the other ponies anymore." Sunny closed her eyes. "You and daddy used to tell me all sorts of stories of old Equestria, aunt Applejack. What happened to that wonderful world where everypony got along?"

Applejack winced at the question, before answering it with another one. "What do the stories say happened to it, sugar cube?"

"There are lots of different legends. Some stories say Princess Twilight Sparkle ruled Equestria for a century in a golden age, before passing the throne to her student, Luster Dawn, who failed to keep friendship alive in Equestria." Sunny looked at the other mare. "Other stories say Twilight was betrayed and killed by another student of hers who went mad, named Starlight Glimmer. The history classes only say that after the alicorns went away, ponies stopped being friends with anypony who was different than them."

"The alicorns had nothin' ta do with the fall of friendship, Sunny." Applejack shook her head. "There are still alicorns alive- Princess Flurryheart's daughter Empress Dazzleglow in the Crystal Empire, Princess Skyla of blissful island... heck, maybe even Cadence is still out there somewhere." AJ looked back up at the stars. "No Sugar cube, it was ponies losing love and kindness for their fellow equines. If the three tribes won't open their hearts to each other, if hatred is more important to a pony than friendship. Well, that;s a problem that not even an alicorn can fix."

"So it's up to individual ponies to restore friendship and harmony." Sunny looked back up at the stars again. "I really wish I could be one of the ponies to do that."

"Who knows, sugar cube." AJ laughed, putting a reassuring hoof on the young mare's shoulder. "Maybe some day, you will."

Taking Flight

Sitting beside her unconscious form, Star Flight and Heart Bright regarded Applejack as she slowly came to, staring at her curiously. As the earth pony mare opened her eyes, she saw through her blurry vision that the two pony sisters were now looking down on her, and both smiled as she began to stir.

"Oh good, you're awake." Star Flight beamed, reaching down to help the farm mare up with a hoof. "We were afraid you had hurt yourself."

"Yeah, we didn't mean to plow into you like that." Heart Bright agreed. "Those wings we built really weren't that sturdy, or easy to control."

Shocked at their statements about the wings, AJ noticed that the two mares standing before her were actually earth ponies, and the glittery wings that had been on their backs were crumpled up over in a heap by the edge of the clearing.

"What is.... how...." The farming mare stuttered out looking between the two of them. "Who are the two of you?"

Star Flight and Heart Bright glanced at each other, realizing they had a lot of explaining to do.

..............

"Star Flight and Heart Bright? The earth pony aviators who build wings to fly?" Applejack asked, as the three sat around a fire AJ had built. "I've heard stories about you two when I visit Ponyville."

"Yeah, other earth ponies think we are weird, because we make our own artificial wings and want to fly." Star Flight explained, as she and her sister played with the two giggling foals. "But we so much want to soar among the clouds, like the birds and the breezies do."

"That's a pretty big dream, considering most Pegasus don't even fly anymore... expect the Butterfly Island and Dream Valley ones, of course."

"Yeah, but it's a dream we hope to fulfill one day." Heart Bright replied, a dreamy look on her face for a moment, before her head snapped over towards the farm pony. "But that doesn't explain what you are doing out here with these foals, miss Applejack."

AJ thought for a moment, then remembering these two were harmony sympathizers from Ponyville, she decided she could trust them. With a sigh, Applejack laid out the whole situation, and how she had to try and get these two foals past the Pegasus cities, without being detected. The other two mares looked at each other, and immediately started to giggle.

"Hey now, what's so all gosh durn funny?" Applejack snorted in annoyance. "Ah've got areal problem here!"

"You know, I think the wings would fit on the three of them." Heart Bright noted, looking the foals and AJ over. "But the unicorn's horn might be a problem."

"We can just style his mane over the horn, it's big and poofy enough." Star Flight added. "And the wings don't have to be able to fly, since Pegasus don't fly anymore."

Applejack looked annoyed, felling left out of the conversation. "Hey, what're you two-" The farming mare looked back had the broken wings the two aviator sister had built by hoof, and suddenly it dawned on her. "Oh, ohhhhhh.... I see how you can help us now..."
............

elsewhere...

The city of Zephyr Heights; the shimmering capital of the Pegasus ponies, perched high atop the peak of Canterlot mountain. Towering spires, domes, and elevated bridges reached towards the heavens, as if they were supplicant ponies with their hooves outstretched skyward. Once the capital of a united Equestria, it had fallen under the control of the Pegasai during the Coltural Revolution, after they drove the unicorns inhabitants out. The city was a shining beacon of modernity, hope, and optimism to all of the winged equines in the land.

It was among these towering buildings, that a lone green Pegasus with a purple mane and tail, weaved his way through the endless crowds of winged ponies. The mass of Pegasai denizens trotted all around the streets of the city, bumping into each other and barely noticing, as they stared down at the little screens they carried in their hooves. The ponies all around him were fixated on their cell phones and electronic gadgets, on the giant screens and advertisements plastered all over the buildings and digital billboards that surrounded them.

As the stallion looked around, he saw the mares and stallions of Zephyr Heights barely paid attention to their surroundings. They were all like zombies, bombarded with so much media and content that they were overstimulated into a giant mass of equine antipathy. Few of these ponies even noticed the green stallion trotting towards the royal palace, and and even fewer even looked up from their phones to socialize or say hello. These ponies were too lost in the world of social media to socialize, the stallion mused...

.....and that's the way Chancellor Bellerophon liked it.

"Hey Sugarloaf, look at this!" A stallion walking by told his girlfriend, showing her his phone. "Somepony just posted on Peeper that some unicorn jerk just called all of us Pegasus feather brains!"

"Eww, Sunflower! Can you believe it!?" A passing mare looked down at her tablet in disgust. "Another earth pony actor just came out as a Pegasus-phobe! Gross!"

The chancellor smiled as he passed by, chuckling to himself. A population so wrapped up in social media, passing trends and fads was far easier to get to vote for you, than a herd of ponies that thought for themselves. And as these foolish Pegasus had had their snouts stuck staring at a video screen for so long, they had lost the ability to look skyward, spread their wings, and fly.

Arriving at his destination, Bellerophon adjusted his striped tie, tugged on his blue suit top with his wings, and trotted into the entrance to the royal palace. A massive, towering edifice that crowned the very top of the peak, the castle served as the centerpiece for sprawling equine metropolis. The modern royal residence was built over the remains of the ancient Canterlot castle, although the current palace was far more gaudy and ornate than the one used by the alicorns long ago.

The Pegasus guards all saluted their chancellor, moving aside for him to head down the hall towards the elevator, and up towards the royal throne room. Being around only the guards in the palace, who didn't carry phones and tablets on duty, the chancellor was able to get a momentary break from all of the beeping, buzzing, and dings. But that quickly ended when Bellerophon entered the throne room, and was greeted by a lot of loud yelling and shouting.

"OMIGOSH! Zipp! Take a look at this!!" A pink unicorn mare with fluffy feathery wings exclaimed, zipping all around the throne room, like a foal high on the sugar from pixie sticks. "My latest song video got a hundred thousand hits! And eighty thousand likes!"

"Yeah, yeah Pipp! You got a bunch of ponies who you don't even know to 'like' your vid, big deal!" The white Pegasus with a toothpaste-colored mane rolled her eyes. "Trust me sis, that doesn't really mean anything! A real friend is one who is right beside you, not on some dumb screen."

The chancellor groaned. Princess Pipp Petals and Princess Zipp Storm, the Pegasus royal sisters whom the ponies of this city adored. Unlike the equine royalty of other times and places, these ponies were the social media darlings of Pegasus society, adored by their subjects as they made television and personal appearances. Although adored by their subjects, these royals spent very little of their time actually ruling, and mostly left such mundane tasks to Bellerophon and his ministers. The two royal heirs barely payed any heed to him as he passed by, only sparing him a momentary greeting.

"Hey, Belph!" Pipp looked up, smiling at him, before looking back down to her phone. "Good to see you again!"

"Hello, Chancellor." the more serious Zipp inclined her head towards the throne behind them. "Mom's waiting for you."

Though he mostly had the authority to govern Zephyr Heights, the chancellor still had to get approval for any major decisions from their mother, the queen.... a mere formality, in most cases. As he approached the throne, Bellerophon bowed before the pink Pegasus with the blue and purple mane seated there.

"Your Majesty." The chancellor started, trying to sound subservient. "It is an honor to serve-"

"Ah, Bellerophon! Just the pony I wanted to see!" Queen Haven looked up from her tablet, dismissing a guard standing over her. "Have you heard this news about the Pegasus and unicorn foals that recently got posted in the royal pony usenet group? Most distasteful actions carried out by the earth ponies, most distasteful!"

"Yes, my queen. Our Pegasus spies were the ones who found about this information from the earth pony intelligence, agents and posted it publicly for all Pegasus to see." The chancellor nodded. "This should prove to all earth pony and unicorn sympathizers among our tribe that all other pony types are bigots, and are not to be trusted!"

"Yes, yes... unicorns and earth ponies are bigots, who think they are better than us. That's why we cast both of the other types of pony out. I've heard that rhetoric since I was a foal." She shook her head. "What I want you to do is send out a squad of Pegasus troops to rescue that poor winged pony, and bring it back here to Zephyr Heights, where it will be loved."

"Of course, my queen. "The Chancellor smiled. "And what of the unicorn sibling, or earth pony mare who is taking them to safety?"

"I don't care about the unicorn or earth pony, Bellerophon... although make sure our Pegasus guards understand they are not to be harmed. As much as we mistrust them, I will not have the blood of other ponies on Pegasus hooves." Queen Haven waved her hoof dismissively."Now go, I have to plan for my next public appearance."

"As you wish my queen." The chancellor bowed, and headed towards the elevator. "Your will be done."

But as the Chancellor made his way towards the exit, the expression on his face darkened. as soon as he was on the elevator, the chancellor pulled out a small communication device.

"Captain Shadowbolt, this is the chancellor." He spoke to the Pegasus officer who appeared on the screen. "There are three targets who are coming to Zephyr heights soon, that I'd like you and your troops to deal with." Bellerophon's eyes narrowed. "Make sure there are no survivors...."

Pegasus Problems

The royal guards were looking for somepony.

Word had spread among all of the Pegasus villages, all the the communities of winged ponies that surrounded the mighty peaks of Zephyr heights. The armored military forces that served Queen Haven, who usually kept to the capital itself, had set up checkpoints along all of the major roadways and thoroughfares. Every saddlebag was searched, every cart was rifled through and picked over. Since most Equestrian Pegasus could not fly, the soldiers could easily stop ever merchant and traveler who came through Pegusai lands, and there were long lines going in and out of each town as the patient ponies waited to get through the roadblocks.

"Identification, please." One of the guards at the checkpoints asked the Pegasus stallion who was next in line. The complaint pony handed over his card, before two of the other guards inspected his wings and belongings. After the winged soldiers were satisfied the stallion did not have what they sought, they motioned him on through. "Next!" The lead guard called out, as the next pony in line trotted forward. Such was the procedure at all of the road blocks.

It was at one of these checkpoints, that a nervous Applejack waited, tapping her hoof nervously, and trying not to act suspicious. Few of the other Pegusai paid attention to the winged mare carrying two foals in her saddlebags, as they were busy preparing for their own goods to be searched. The troops of Captain Shadowbolt were carefully looking over every pony that passed through, checking for fake wings and hidden foals. As small trickle of sweat dripped down her brow, Applejack realized that this plan had a serious chance of not working. The two Ponyville mares, who had been accompanying Applejack and the two foals ever since they had met them out in the wilderness, were whispering to the earth pony mare to keep her calm.

'Come on AJ, try and keep it together." Star Flight muttered in the distressed mare's ear. "All of us are in disguises, there is very little chance they'll catch us, if you manage to keep it cool."

After Applejack had first encountered the duo, the pair of Ponyville craftsmares had manufactured two sets of artificial wings for AJ and the unicorn foal. So convincing and realistic were the fake feathers and fold-out wings, that nopony in the village or ion the roads they had traveled down took any notice of the small group making it's way through the communities that lie in the shadow of Canterlot mountain.

"No, no... they'll see through our disguises!" Applejack whinnied nervously, taking a step back, as the line slowly moved forward. "This was a bad idea, we'll never make it through the checkpoint!"

"AJ, no! You have to keep moving forward!" Heart Bright exclaimed, mushing the mare with the two foals forward. "If you back out and try to run away now, they'll notice, and discover the children!"

The farming pony tried her hardest to stay calm. But the sight of the armored Pegasus guards checking everyone's passports and identifications, of rifling through the bags of every Pegasus and carefully inspecting their wings, it all made Applejack want to drop the cart she was pulling, and gallop away at top speed. It was Star Light and Heart Bright keeping a strong hoof on either side of her, preventing AJ from running away in a panic.

"Identification, please." The stallion guard ordered, as Applejack stood there frozen. "I haven't got all day, miss."

"Oh, here you go." Heart Bright smiled, pulling the fake ID out of AJ's bag, and handing it over to the guard. "We're just a group of merchants, traveling from Rainbow Falls to Zephyr Heights, taking our fruit crop to market."

"Ah, then you fine mares are performing a noble service to Pegasus kind." The guard complimented them, looking over the I.D. carefully. "It is rare to find a Pegasus who is willing to lower themselves to agricultural work, usually the trade of a brutish earth pony. It is thanks to hard working farm mares like yourselves, that we Pegusai don't have to do business with those sardine-smelling dirt eaters!"

"Gee, thanks so much, y'all." Applejack snarled, trying to keep a fake smile through clenched teeth, as her fear morphed into anger. "We do try tah do our best for our pony tribe."

The guards quickly looked through their documents, and looked over the two foals in the saddlebags. One guard whispered to the other. "Both babies are PegUsai, these aren't the foals we are looking for." He looked back at three mares and two foals. "You can all go about your business, move along, move along!"

The three of them continued on through the gateway, disappearing into the crowd of ponies that surrounded them.

"Ha! I can't believe we made it through that checkpoint!" Star Light laughed smugly, as soon as they were far enough away from the guards. "I told you the wings we built were good enough to even fool the guards!"

"Yeah, nopony will ever find us out." Heart Bright agreed with a laugh. "Come on, lets have a look around at this town."

It wasn't very often Applejack got to look around a Pegasus town, so her curiosity was piqued by this rare opportunity. It was so different from an earth pony town. Instead of talking to one another or socializing, all of the Pegasus ponies were staring at screens, watching commercials and internet videos, swarming about and barely paying attention to the ponies around them. AJ watched in bewilderment, as a nearby stallion was so busy looking at his phone screen, he nearly fell into an open manhole.

"Good grief, these ponies are soooo distracted!" Star Flight exclaimed, looking around in disbelief. "One of them is going to get hurt if they don't watch where they are going."

"It's all that danged newfangled technology stuff!" AJ snorted, looking around at the Pegusai with contempt. "Ponykind woulda been better off if they never invented the stuff!"

"Now Applejack, there's nothing wrong with tech, if used properly," Heart Bright pointed out. "Think of all the medical advancements the three tribes have made, along with rescue and life saving stuff..."

"She's right, AJ. And it's tech and innovation that make the fake wings you're using as disguises possible." Star Flight agreed, while looking around at all of the distracted equines. "Though these ponies prove there is such a thing as taking it too far."

As they walked among the crowd, AJ noticed video screens everywhere in the town, in every storefront window, advertising every product imaginable. She saw Pegasus celebrities hawking their fame to sell merchandise and useless knickknacks, and was appalled at how these ponies ate it all up. On one TV however, was a news report that reminded the earth pony mare just how much danger they were in.

"..in other news today, many ponies have commented about how the royal guard seems to be out in force in many of the Pegasus towns and cities. Many believe this is due to the fact princess Zipp is out in many pony communities today, making public appearances, and-"

AJ's attention was pulled away from the news report, as she had the distinct feeling they were being watched. Looking across the bustling crown of Pegusai, Applejack could've sworn she saw a yellow Pegasus with a pink mane, and almost.... glass-like, twinkling eyes staring at them. But when she looked away for a second and looked back, the figure was gone.

"We should really get off the street, girls." Star Flight muttered nervously, looking around at the ponies who were starting to notice them. "I think these two little foals are starting to attract unwanted attention!"

The disguised mare's was proven right, as Applejack noticed everypony in this town started taking notice of the two foals, and immediately started to swarm around AJ.

"Awww, what cute little foals!" A mare exclaimed, taking a camera out to snap a selfie with the two and Applejack. "Aren't they just the cutest things?"

"What an adorable set of twins!" Another mare squeed, pulling out his own phone to snap a pic. "You don't see a matching set like that every day!"

As the Pegusai all crowded in; snapping pictures, cooing, and wanting to hold the foals. all wanted to melt into the ground.

"Oh no!" AJ exclaimed, rearing up and panicking. "There's too many of them, we're surrounded!"

"Girls, we gotta get outta here!" Star Flight agreed. "Somepony might check the internet, and recognize the foals from a social media photo!"

"We're trapped!" Heart Bright wailed. "What're we going to do now?"

"Hey ponies, look over there!" A voice called out from somewhere in the group, there's a doggie doing something cute over on main street!"

"What? Eeeeeeeeeee!" A mare cried out, a the whole herd of Pegusai turned and galloped away. "I gotta get over there, and livestream it!"

The three bewildered mares just stood there for several minutes, until they noticed a white Pegasus mare with a toothpaste-colored mane still standing there, staring at them.

"Hey." The mare greeted them, in the same voice that had spoke and lured the crowd away, " You three and the foals all right?"

"Yes... were you the one who saved us, weren't you?" AJ asked, her voice slowly slipping back to normal. "Thank y'all so much, we really-"

"No time to talk now, we gotta get you three outta here, pronto!" The white Pegasus motioned for them to follow. "You three and the foals are the ones the guards are looking for, right? That gaggle of social media mares will be back in a flash!"

Looking at each other for only a moment, the three disguised earth ponies nodded to each other, then followed the Pegasus mare out of the alleyway, and away from the town. And on the other side of the now-empty street, the yellow Pegasus mare with twinkling eyes watched them go, before talking into the enchanted communication medallion around her neck;

"This is royal agent Masquerade of Dream Valley, calling queen Sky Skimmer." The twinkle-eyed Pegasus whispered, as she flapped her wings, and took to the sky. "Your highness, the mares and foals have been found by Pegasus princess Zipp Storm, and are believed to be following her to Zephyr Heights. Please inform all agents of the Pony Unity underground resistance, including agent Argyle in Maretime Bay, of this development, and I will continue to follow and silently observe, unless I am needed."

With that, agent Masquerade silently flew off in the direction Applejack and the other mares had gone.

A Counseling Council

In the land of Equestria, some things never change.

Deep in the heart of the once great kingdom, surrounded by the various unicorn, Pegasus, and earth pony towns and cities, was the great forest that was once called the Everfree. Still sitting at the edge of Ponyville, the ominous sea of trees was still a place of foreboding, mystery, and magic.

The vast forest had changed somewhat over the centuries, many things had happened to these ancient trees. The unicorns of Equestria had retreated into these ancient woods, forming a series of unicorn cities like Bridlewood. The area around the tree of Harmony had been cleared, becoming a vast field, and the tree house surrounding it had been wiped away. A pony from the harmony bearer's time perhaps wouldn't recognize this vast stretch of wilderness, but there were still many things that remained from the ancient days.

At the very heart of this vast forest, stood an ancient castle at a bend in the rainbow river. This small, four turreted keep was known as Dream Castle, home to one of the last communities in Equestria that had all three types of ponies living together in harmony. This was called the kingdom of Dream Valley, where several hundred thousand equines of four kinds (Earth Ponies, Pegasi, unicorns, and Sea Ponies) lived, worked, and played together, without prejudice or hate. Founded in the last years of Celestia and Luna's reigns by a group of exiles and outcasts from Equestria, this band of hearty and strong ponies had lived and thrived within the walls of this castle for centuries. Their society had been unaffected by the events in the lands beyond, including the separation of the pony tribes, and the loss of magic.

Within these castle walls, mixed pony families walked through the long stone hallways, going in and out of their apartments,shopping at the merchant stalls at the castle bazaar, and doing their daily routines throughout the vast structure. Dream Castle was an enchanted fortress, being the size of a vast city inside, while being only a small keep on the outside. It had been built from materials quarried from the ruins of the palace of the two sisters, and many of the secrets of it's magic and enchantments were lost with the castle's builders.

It was through these halls, that a yellow-colored mare with a golden crown trotted towards the castle's throne room, flanked on either side by a pair of royal guards in medieval-looking armor. All of the ponies they passed bowed to the crowned mare in reverence, and as she approached the great doors to the main audience chamber, the royal chief counselor pony bowed to her.

"Queen Sky Skimmer." The stallion greeted her with respect and deference. "Everything is ready for the royal summit."

"Thank you, Majordomo." Sky Skimmer replied, trotting up to the throne. "Once again, you proved you value as a servant to Dream Valley."

"I live to serve the kingdom, your majesty." Majordomo bowed again. "Tell me, will Princess Fleur be joining us for this conference?"

"Sadly, no. My daughter will not be joining us for this conference." Sky Skimmer replied with a sigh. "She was far too busy playing Super Mare-io sisters 3 on her ponytendo."

"Ah, the foolishness of youth." Majordomo chuckled, shaking his mane."Please be seated, and we will begin the magical transmission."

Sky Skimmer nodded, and sat down upon her throne. The queen of Dream Castle, Sky Skimmer came from the old unicorn royal bloodline, the oldest pony royal family in existence, dating all the way back to the dawn of Ponydom. Her direct ancestor, Princess Rosalina, had been the first queen of Dream Valley. And her family had ruled Dream Castle ever since. It was because of this pedigree that her royal family held a prominence among the pony kingdoms, and why all the other royals had answered her call to council.

The queen gazed down at the magic mirror in front of her, as the royal unicorn court mages activated it with a spell. As the enchanted holograms emerged from the magic mirror, and projected onto the throne room floor, Sky Skimmer welcomed her fellow royals; Queen Rose Dust of Flutter Valley, Empress Dazzleglow of the Crystal Empire, and Princess Skyla of Blissful Island.

"Salutations, my royal sisters." Sky Skimmer inclined her head to the other ponies, greeting the other royal as sisters as a symbol of their equality in this meeting . "I am pleased you could all join us."

"I am glad to here, Queen Sky." Empress Dazzleglow, the crystalline alicorn returned the greeting. "With the tragic passing of my mother, Princess Flurry heart, with a heavy heart I am honored to take my place as Ruler of the Crystal empire, and a member of this esteemed council."

"I hate to dispense with the pleasantries here, but I believe we should get to the matter at hoof." Rosedust, the flutter pony queen, grumbled in annoyance. "So, we now know that former harmony bearer Applejack is on the run with the baby unicorn and Pegasus. What exactly are we doing to aid them?"

"We're doing everything we can, Rosedust, without directly interfering." Skyla, the alicorn of Blissful island, responded. "We secretly fund the underground Unity resistance movement that is working covertly against the corrupted governments of the three divided tribes. We can't be seen directly aiding the resistance, it would reveal unity's existence, endangering the ponies who favor the re-integration of the tribes."

"Then why don't we just march in, and put a stop to this?!" Rosedust Flexed her butterfly wings in annoyance. "Together, we all posses the magic and power to overthrow the corrupt regimes that now rule Equestria, and force these stupid and stubborn ponies to stop hating each other!"

"Really? Just march an army of mixed pony types into all the Equestrian pony cities, and force them to get along again?" Dazzleglow shook her head. "That would only confirm the fears of each tribe against other pony types, and make them hate each other even more. That's the kind of attitude that caused the anti-unity revolution in Equestria in the first place."

"The revolution- bah!" Rosedust spat at the mention of the historic event. "Pony 'equity' being achieved by making all ponies homogeneous, xenophobic propaganda whining about being 'oppressed' by those who are different, fear and hatred of outsiders.... thank almighty B'zekre we all prevented that perverted ideology from spreading into our lands!"

"Yes, our subjects studied and understood this ideology, and as a group rejected it." Queen Sky Skimmer agreed. "But we must still have compassion for those who have fallen under this terrible brainwashing. Only by showing them by example and education can we change their hearts, not by force... until then, the resistance must secretly help move those ponies who are in danger to safety, such as the foals Applejack is currently transporting."

"Which is why we should covertly send all the help we can, to make sure the former harmony bearer gets those children to safety." Dazzleglow replied. "I can't believe how much Applejack has given to Equestria over the ages..... it seems the magical curse that made her immortal turned out to be a blessing." The crystal alicorn shook her head. "Ponyville and Unicornia are Dream Valley protectorates, are they not? Surely the foals will be safe in ether town."

"Yes, I have been in contact with both Princess Royal Beauty of Ponyville, and Princess Crowning Glory of Unicornia, and they are ready to receive the two foals with open hooves." The queen of Dream Valley responded. "Getting the foals through hostile lands to safety is the problem. I have my Masquerade spies watch them from the air, and my sea pony herd can keep an eye on them whenever they get near a river."

"We should still be helping our agents in the resistance more, they are in the most danger from the bigot ponies' wrath." Skyla added in a worried tone. "Sky Skimmer, you need to get the crafts-stallion Argyle and his Daughter Sunny to safety in Dream Valley. The Canterlogic corporation knows their sympathies lie with other pony types, and it's only a matter of time before the two of them fall victim to xenophobic equine treachery."

"I know, Skyla... I have tried again and again to convince Arygle to move himself and his daughter here, but he stubbornly chooses to remain, in order to 'stand up for what is right'." Queen Sky Skimmer sighed. "And if Canterlogic takes out the one stallion of noble principles in Maretime Bay... almighty B'zekre help us all."

.....

It was nearing sundown, and Argyle was working on another toy for the foals in town, as he waited for his daughter to come back from her smoothie route. He was holding a small carving of Princess Celestia in his hooves, carefully putting the finishing dabbles of paint it's face, when he suddenly felt a stabs of pain in his forehead.

"Oh, I have such a headache...." Her groaned, dropping the toy, and putting both of his front hooves to his temples. "I-I think I need some medicine..."

Argyle stood up, and tried to trot over to the medicine cabinet, but stumbled and fell to the floor. The stallion lay there, unmoving for nearly an hour, before his daughter came trotting back into the lighthouse.

"Hey dad, I'm home! I still have an extra smoothie from my route, wanna split it?" She trotted inside, and dropped the drink onto the floor when she caught sight of Arygle. "Dad? DAD! DAD, GET UP! DAD!"

Sunny Starcout's wails carried over the entire town, bringing earth ponies running from every direction to help. There was chaos at the lighthouse for nearly ten minutes, before several stallion were seen carrying the silent form of argyle out, covered with a sheet, while Hitch Trailblazer comforted the wailing Sunny in his hooves, trying to console the inconsolable mare.

High in the window of the Canterlogic factory, a middle-aged mare with glasses gazed through the window blinds at the lighthouse, and smiled. It seems like the poison that had been secretly placed in Argyle's shipments of tea he bought from Canterlogic shipping had worked, slowly poisoning the stupid stallion without his realizing it. The poison would be untraceable by the forensics experts on Sheriff Hitch's police force, and if any did discover the secret, they could either be paid off, our Sprout could make them... disappear. The executive mare was unconcerned with what Sunny might do, nopony would listen to the ravings of a silly little filly; and besides, killing her too would raise too many questions.

Closing the blinds, the mare trotted back to her desk, and smiled. The biggest threat to her company's future had been removed, and now the future of earth pony supremacy was assured.

Equine Explanations

These Pegasus.... She thought to herself, shaking her mane. How in the name of Celestia do they live like this?

Shoving and pushing her way through the endless crowd of Pegasus, Applejack tried her best to keep herself and the twins from being noticed. It wasn't that hard, however, as most of the winged ponies had their attention everywhere but around them, as the distracted herd shuffled through the crowded streets. The lights, sounds, and glowing screens all around her was too much for a mare who had spent her whole lifetime in the countryside. Sure, she had lived in the city of manehatten for awhile back in the Harmony era, The cacophony of sights, sounds, smells, and other stimuli were almost overwhelming to the point of freezing A.J. in her tracks. It was only her concern for the twins in the stroller in front of her, the kept the ancient mare pushing onward.

Following the directions the Dream Valley Pegasus spy had given her, the disguised earth pony made her way towards an abandoned area in the city's middle district. Pushing against the sea of equine bodies, the youthful-looking old mare made her way to a mostly boarded- up area in an alleyway, with stairs leading down under the street. Glancing around to make sure no one was looking, AJ tore off the boards, and slowly trotted down the stairs into the under city. Total darkness and silence now enveloped her, replacing the awful din and brightness of the city above. Pulling out a flashlight from inside her bag, Applejack lit up the darkness, trotting forward into the shadows as she pushed the stroller along.

The two foals, whose crying and wailing had been drowned out above, had now fallen silent in the shadows below. As Applejack trotted along, she found herself in an old subway tunnel, probably dating back to the later years of the harmony era. travel posters from every corner of Equestria- bearing names of cities that no longer existed- Phillydelphia, Vanhoover, and Trottingham- with the departure times for trains and airships. ignoring these relics of the past, Applejack continued onward towards a large train platform unloading are, which seemed remarkably free of cobwebs and fallen debris. It was almost as if somepony had been here many many times before...

"Welcome, harmony bearer Applejack," a voice called out from behind her. "we have been expecting you."

The earth pony mare spun around, and was surprised to find two mares covered in cloaks with hoods, and wings sticking out from underneath. A masquerade spy from Dream Valley, looking exactly like the twinkle-eyed Pegasus mare who had first led her into Zephyr Heights, was waiting with the two disguised Pegasus.

"Oh, you must be with the resistance." A.J. sighed with relief. "I was almost afraid I had been caught by the Pegasus royal family's guards."

"You were lucky to make it past those guards, Applejack. Your Pegasus disguise put together by Stalight and Heartbright were all that saved you from capture." The Spy mare's twinkle eyes glittered in the dim light. "The plans have changed, my fair harmony bearer. With all of the pony communities on the lookout for these foals, the twins must be split up, and each placed in the corresponding pony community for their own safety."

"So they do have to be split up?" A.J. replied sadly. "Oh well.... I suppose it is for the best." Reaching down with her hooves, she picked up the Pegasus child. "May I ask who I am giving this child to?"

The two ponies pulled their hoods back, revealing a pale yellow mare with green mane, and a blue stallion with an orange mane. "I'm Shutter Snap, a photographer for Zephyr Heights media. And this is my husband, Philly, he's a Pegasus construction worker." The mare opened her wings to take the baby. "We will take care of the little one, and raise it as our own."

AJ held onto the Pegasus child for a moment, hugging the foal tightly, before handing the baby off to Shutter. The two Pegasus bowed to Applejack, before trotting back though the tunnels towards the surface.

"I'm gonna miss that little foal." A.J. replied with a sigh, watching the new family go. "But at least that child is safe."

"There is still the matter of the other foal, who still isn't safe here in Zephyr Heights." Masquerade spoke up, snapping AJ back to the present. "The unicorn foal must be taken to Bridlewood, where our agents there will make sure and provide anew home for the child there."

"And the two children will grow up in the same cesspool of hate, becoming just like all the rest of these bigoted equines." The earth pony mare sighed. "This is madness, how in the hay did Equestria go from a place where everypony could be happy to... this awful, horrible society? I lived through the Coltural Revulsion, and even I don't know what the heck happened around me!"

"Only the few remaining alicorns know the actual answer to that, last of the Harmony Bearers, though there are many theories." Masquerade explained with a sigh. "Most believe it started with the advent of the philosophy of equine equity, which arose in the earth pony town of Coltonville, and taught earth ponies were oppressed by the equines who could use magic."

"Coltonville, yeah... ah lived there fer awhile, ran a baking shop during one of my lifetimes." Applejack winced at the memory. "They were cuttin' off the wings and horn of newborn foals ta make everypony equal, until Celestia and Luna went there undercover an' put a stop ta it."

"But they didn't manage to stop the ideology, which spread from Coltonville into all of Equestria." Masquerade continued. "But equine equity did not manage to get any traction, until Twilight sparkle cast that tragic spell to the magic of Equestrian ponies into some magic crystals, to thwart the evil fallen alicorn princess of fire, Opaline. The loss of magic caused each pony type to believe the others were oppressing them, each blaming the others tribes of the disappearance of magic."

"Yeah, I remember that mess with Opaline, happened in the last years of Twilight Sparkle's reign." A.J. replied sadly. "So the loss of magic is what allowed that 'equine equity' hooey ta take hold, and the coltural revolution split everypony in Equestria up."The former harmony bearer looked up. "But why didn't Ponyville, Flutter Valley, the Crystal Empire of the snows, and the other kingdoms fall to that junk, too?"

"Some say because those ponies had stronger wills, a stronger sense of individual identity, and a stronger faith in horsemasterism and alicornism- though I personally think it was not losing their magic to Twilight's spell." The twinkle-eyed pony replied. "And those dream Valley ponies... I think you could drop the whole world on those stubborn equines, and present them with every 'logical' argument and concept ever thought up by Pony academia-and it wouldn't shake their beliefs one bit. They are totally and utterly immune to any kind of new radical ideas."

"So when are the Pony council of monarchs going to take a stand against this evil society?" Applejack asked, annoyed. "How much longer are these stubborn ponies to hate one another?"

"The council has decided that while we can work to quietly educate them, the pony mystics have foreseen that a new group of pony friends may soon reunite ponykind, and restore magic to deal with the returning threat of Opaline once and for all." Masquerade sighed. "But even if they don't succeed, there is a more ancient threat stirring beyond the borders of this land, one that will burn Equestria away like a cleansing fire."

"W-what are you talking about?" AJ asked nervously, felling her blood run cold. "What threat could be worse than Oplaine?"

"Have you forgotten, Applejack? It has been four hundred and fifty years since you and your friends banished the city of Tambelon and it's evil lord to the dark Dimension. We are fifty years away from Tambelon's return to the light world." Masquerade stared right into A.J.'s soul, with her two blank gemstone eyes. "Applejack... he is coming."

"W-we need to get this child to Bridlewood quickly, and then I need to get back to Ponyville, to help them prepare." Applejack began to pace nervously, an uncontrollable panic rising in her throat. "If only some of our old powerful allies from the harmony era was still around..."

"Celestia and Twilight Sparkle are long past, and Princess Luna disappeared long ago- though the mystics say will return to lead Equestria in the war when Tambelon returns." Masquerade shook her mane. "Discord perished centuries ago, as well... though I have heard part of his spirit still lingers in the mountains to the west, haunting a replica of Canterlot he built for himself. So there is no one left who can help us, I'm afraid."

"Then I'd best stop worrying about things I can't so anything about and try to help this child." Applejack trotted towards the exit, motioning for Masquerade to follow her. "Now, help me get to the edge of this city safely, so we can get this little tyke out of Zephyr Heights."

Into the wilds

The days in Maretime bay passed quickly, Applejack spending her days working her fruit stand in the town square, while sending her evening with the young mare whose family she had befriended so long ago. The apple pony had sold most of her crop by the end of the second week, and on the evening of the last day Sunny had helped her pack up the contents of her cart once more, and seen her to the edge of town.

"Good bye, aunt AJ! Sorry dad couldn't be here to see you off." The young mare gave her a hug. "See you again next harvest season!"

Applejack smiled, saying her goodbyes, before leaving Sunny behind, and trotting a little ways down the road outside of town. The earth pony mare trotted until Maretime bay was entirely out of sight, then stopped her cart to wait at the edge of the forest. She stood there for several minutes, staring into the darkness, until three earth ponies emerged from the shadows, and stole silently towards the apple cart.

"Hello Applejack, here we are." One of the ponies called out from the darkness, whose voice the earth mare recognized as Argyle. "Let's get this over with, quickly and quietly."

The other two ponies with Argyle were covered in cloaks and robes, so AJ could not make out who they were. Each of them carried a small, wrapped bundle, which both ponies set in the back of Applejack's cart. Both of the bundles started to cry when they were put down, and the two ponies immediately put a hoof on each of the little foals to calm them.

"There there, it's going to be all right." The one cloaked figured whispered in a stallion's voice, which seemed on the edge of cracking as he talked. "Miss AJ will take care of you both, and get you to your new home."

"Goodbye, little ones." The hooded mare beside him sobbed softly, caressing each of the foals she would never see again. "May this mare take you to where you will be safe, and where you will be loved."

The two parents softly sung and caressed the little foals to sleep. Then the foal's father quickly led the sobbing mother away, tears streaming down both of their faces. It tore at Applejack's heart to see these two being forced to abandon their children like this, but she knew it was the foals best chance for survival. As the couple slowly trotted back towards Maretime bay, Argyle came forward to say his farewell.

"You'd better get going AJ, before anypony from town who might be out late notices we are missing." He quickly trotted up, giving the older mare a hug. "Goodbye Applejack, I hope to see you again next season. Have a good journey... and good luck."

As the three other ponies melted away into the darkness, Applejack walked back, and silently slipped the tarp over the back of her wagon. Quickly hitching the cart up, she trotted away from the direction of the town, and deeper into the equestrian wilderness. The two foals in the back were still fast asleep for hours, as AJ pulled the cart along through the darkness. Although she wanted to go back and check on the little ones, the mare knew she had to make as much time on the road before daybreak.

"Hold tight back there, little fellers." Applejack muttered softly. "We'll be stoppin' at daybreak, and ah'll try ta tend to y'all then."

They continued this way through the woods, until the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon. Finding an out-of the way clearing in the woods, Applejack finally parked her wagon in a secluded clearing, and went to check on the pair of little ponies. She found the pair were yawning, and just beginning to wake up. There were the adorable little foals, looking just as they had in Argyle's photographs, looking up at AJ with their bright and inquisitive eyes, and giggling happily.

"Aww, ain't you the sweetest little angels?" The earth pony cooed, picking each foal up out of the cart one by one. "C'mon, let's get y'all taken care of!"

Sitting down on the back end of her cart, AJ used the baby supplies she had left Maretime bay with to diaper, feed, and clean both babies, before rocking both of them back to sleep. Then, she quickly worked to set up a campsite, before sitting down to look over a map.

"Now, let's see..." The earth mare scanned the piece of unrolled parchment, trying to gauge things by her yellowing map of the Equestria she had known, and comparing it to what she knew of modern Equestria. "Which way would be the safest to go, to avoid traveling ponies, and equine electronic surveillance?"

Right now, she was at the edge of the forest north of Maretime Bay (listed on the map by it's old name of Baltimare), and she and the foals had several options. If they tried to head north, they could catch the train from New Pegasopolis (Formerly Fillydelphia) to Zephyr Heights (formerly Canterlot) though they would have to be carefully disguised. From there, they could probably follow the old broken up railroad tracks south to Ponyville, where it would be easy to get the colt and filly to Unicornia and Butterfly Island.

Of course they could try going over the mountains, past the rambling rock ridge and through the everfree forest, but that would take them through the dangers of Dream Valley. The feudal ponies of Dream Castle, with the three tribes still integrated and magic still powerful and plentiful, despised the xenophobic and paranoid ponies of modern Equestria with a passion. They wouldn't recognize Applejack because she looked different now, and the earth pony might be vaporized by unicorn horn-zap on the spot. So it was better to take the long way back to Ponyville.

As she rolled up her map, AJ groaned had how cumbersome and wrinkly the parchment was. Many of her friends in the different towns had suggested the earth mare should get a cell phone; it would be easier to use for communications and location/map purposes. But it would also make Applejack easier to track on her journeys around Equestria. Besides, this earth mare was old fashioned; let Argyle and Sunny use those newfangled contraptions, AJ would stick to the old ways.

As the earth pony mare readied her bedroll for an early morning nap, She suddenly felt a rush of wind in the trees overhead. The two foals woke up and began to cry, as AJ tried to calm them, and looked around to see if what was going on.

"Shhh, little fellers," See whinnied soothingly, while looking around in every direction. "It's gonna be all raight... I think."

A rush of air and a shadow went by on her left, followed quickly by a another on her right.

"Anypony out there?" Applejack called out into the trees. "Ah'm warnin' ya, ah won't go down with a faight!"

AJ took a defensive stance ready for an attack from all sides. Everything was silent for a few moments... as if the air around her was holding it's breath in suspense. Suddenly, two winged ponies came flying in from opposite directions, tackling the surprised Applejack right off of her hooves, and sending her and the two newcomers tumbling to the ground.

"Hey, what do y'all think yer doin'?" AJ yelled, kicking at the two winged mares. " Get off me, or y'all gonna be sorry!"

"Uh oh, Star Flight!" A white mare with a turquoise and violet mane yelped, jumping free from the tangled pony pile. "It looks like we ran into another pony!"

"Oh dear, Hear Bright, that is not good!" The other winged pony, a mare with a hot pink coat and mane the same color as the first pony. "We are, like, so sorry miss! Are you all right?"

As they helped her back onto her hooves, Applejack was too dizzy from being knocked over to do anything, and too shocked that these winged ponies who had plowed into her didn't attack because she was an earth pony. "I... uh... what the hay...?" With a gasp, the shocked farming mare stumbled a few steps, before collapsing back onto the ground in a faint. The two winged ponies were left staring at her in confusion.

....

Back in Maretime Bay, a deputy stallion was making a report to an executive pony in privacy of her office. It was a report meant only for her ears, and it troubled her greatly.

"Our spies have confirmed your worst fears, ma'am." The red pony with the blonde mane stated, a troubled look on his face. "The farm pony has taken the twins away from the town, and may be as far as Zephyr Heights by now."

"Thank you, Deputy Sprout, you have been most helpful." The executive mare narrowed her eyes, leaning back in the office chair at her desk. "Send out word to all of our agents in the other earth pony communities; I want those twins brought back here and on dissection tables for experimentation before the week is out."

"Of course, ma'am. I'll see to it right away." Sprout cocked his head. "Should I alert my superior, Sheriff Hitch, about this matter?"

"No, officer Sprout. Hitch Trailblazer is too 'moral' and 'good' a pony to support murdering two innocent foals." The executive adjusted her glasses. "He does not have the stomach to do what is necessary for the good of earth pony equity."

"I don't understand, ma'am." Sprout asked in confusion. "What is so important about these foals? They are already gone from town, so they are of no threat to Maretime bay. Why eliminate them?"

"Because they could be used as a symbol, deputy Sprout." the mare got up out of her chair, and walked over to the large office window to look out at the town. "The children of two earth ponies... a brother and sister who are of the winged and horned oppressors ... all in one pony family." The Executive pony shook her head. "Their continued existence threatens everything earth ponies achieved in the Coltural Revolution, when the three pony tribes of Equestria were forcibly separated, and every monument and reminder of pony unity was torn down and destroyed."

"I understand, Ms. Ma'am." Sprout replied in a confused tone. "I-I think."

"Some foolish pony dreamers, who believe we can all reunite as friends, must be sacrificed for the good of the herd." She glared angrily out across the town, toward the lighthouse Sunny and Argyle lived in. "Of course, we are all working towards the day when separation will no longer be necessary." The business mare closed her eyes, thinking of her ideal future. "One day, we shall achieve total pony inclusion. For once we wipe the filthy slime of the winged and horned oppressors off the face of Equestria, there will be nopony left for us to exclude."