Version: 1

Broken Quill made his way through the empty fields and over the small hills. The clouds were still in the blue sky above the pony's head and the temptation to fly up and move them was strong. But the pegasus didn't have time for that right now. He had a... meeting to get to. He gave his blood red mane a flick and ignored the sweat that was building up in his black fur as he trudged toward his destination.

He came to the top of a larger hill and spotted one of his fellow students. He didn't know her very well, but that odd color scheme was unforgettable. A baby blue mane and a coat of golden brown. Baroness Moonstone. Unicorn and total bitch. At least he wouldn't be alone on his way to class. He hurried down the hill, cutting grooves in the delicate ground as he did so. Not that he cared or anything.

"Hey Moonstone!" he called.

Her ear perked and her head snapped in his direction. "That is BARONESS Moonstone to you," she snorted and turned her nose up.

Quill rolled his eyes and stepped up beside her. "Yeah yeah your highness."

"And commoners are supposed to either lead the way or stay behind those of royal blood," she growled. "To stand beside me is to--"

"Not one of your subjects," Quill cut her off with a smirk. "I can stand where I want."

Moonstone glared and her lip quivered. "I aught to tear out your... your..."

"Mane?" he offered teasingly.

Moonstone huffed and looked away. "You are insufferable."

"That's me!" he cheered with a smug grin. "The Insufferable Lord of Broken Quills!"

Moonstone eyed him from under her mane. "Your humor is truly that of a court jester."

Quill didn't know if that was supposed to be a compliment or not, but he felt he had antagonized the mare enough. So he didn't respond. The two of them walked together in silence for a while. There was no road to their destination. It was an isolated place. And for... good reason. He guessed.

"Why are we doing this?" Moonstone asked suddenly.

Quill raised a brow. "I don't know. Because we want to become better ponies?"

"Is that why you are going?" Moonstone glanced at him incredulously.

He thought about that for a moment. "I... think so. I don't know. Isn't that why you're going?"

Moonstone's eyes widened in surprise at him tossing the question back at her. Then she looked away. "My lands are... failing. The ponies are leaving in large numbers. Soon I will be the baroness of empty towns. Some pathetic fool told me that the cause was my... recreational activities." She swallowed. "I want to rule. So I must be... cured."

Quill blinked in surprise. It took a lot for a proud pony like her to admit she needed to change. Impressive. She knew why she was going, yet he didn't? This total bitch could describe in detail why she needed this lesson and all he could say was "I want to be a better pony"? His ears dropped and he bit his lip. What did that say about him? He wasn't stupid.

While he was lost in his thoughts they arrived.

A patch of rocky terrain. Dirt and stones making up a circle almost a kilometer wide. Six stones in particular were large enough for the ponies attending today's meeting to use as seats. Two ponies were already here when Moonstone and Quill arrived. Already seated and already talking.

The third student was another mare named Mellow Doll. The name suited her well from what he knew of her personality. Her mane was chocolate brown and her coat was a dark blue, almost purple. Mellow's eyes were always half-lidded. Even now.

The fourth pony was not a student, but the teacher. A changeling with a pink shell and large compound green eyes. Miss Azalea. The only thing he knew about her was the name.

Miss Azalea stood from her rock seat and clapped twice. "Good, the other two have arrived. Should we do introductions?"

Quill chuckled. "I've already met Moonstone and Mellow before. Plus, I don't think any of us needs an introduction. We all have a bit of a reputation you know."

Moonstone huffed once. "Well I haven't met this 'Mellow' before and it is only proper for royalty to be announced upon entering a room."

Azalea nodded to Moonstone. "I think we should do introductions just to be safe. That way nopony feels left out. Who should go first?"

Mellow just blinked slowly and silently. Quill shrugged, not really caring. That left Moonstone and Azalea to stare at each other, having a silent debate who should be first. The teacher or the royal. Eventually Azalea conceded with a nod and Moonstone proudly raised her head and cleared her throat.

"I am Baroness Moonstone!" she declared.

There was an awkward silence after that and the mare shifted uncomfortably upon realizing she was expected to say something more. But before she could the only stallion in the group decided to jump in.

"My name is Broken Quill!" he shouted and raised a hoof dramatically.

Moonstone glared at him as he held the pose and Azalea giggled. Then the teacher glanced at the last mare.

The blue mare sighed in boredom or disgust. "Mellow Doll. Happy to be here." She sure didn't sound happy to be here.

"And I will be your spirit guide through this journey. You may call me Miss Azalea. I look forward to our time together." Her smile was so genuine and friendly. Her voice was overflowing with kindness and understanding. She made Quill cringe.

"How long is this going to take?" Mellow asked.

"That depends on you," Azalea explained patiently. "These lessons will be as long or short as they need to be to help you three."

Quill glanced at the two empty seats in their... classroom? "We're the only students?"

"For now," Miss Azalea nodded. "The last two..." she looked down sadly, "canceled. So we're going to have some empty seats." There was a brief period of silence before the changeling took a breath and clapped her hooves. "Alright, let's get started. The first thing we need to do is realize why we are all here."

Why did that question make Quill uncomfortable?

"We know why we're here," Mellow mumbled.

Azalea nodded. "Yes, but I think it would be a big help to the others if each of you stated why you are here."

Mellow rolled her eyes and spoke with the most monotone voice he had ever heard. "We are here because we each have an addiction to rampaging in little pony cities."

Miss Azalea nodded. "Yes, that is the general reason. But I want to hear why each of you specifically came today. Why do you rampage? Why does it appeal to you? How did it become a problem for you?"

Mellow's eyes widened. Quill coughed into a hoof discretely. Moonstone sat up straighter while looking away. What a way to start.

Miss Azalea pointed her muzzle at Mellow. "Come now deary, why don't you tell us your story. We won't judge you here. This is a place of compassion and healing. Your fellow ponies know how you feel."

Mellow glanced at them. Took a breath. Closed her eyes. Then regained her composure. "I am not addicted to rampaging. I do not rampage. I just... have places to go. And other ponies are always... in my way," she growled.

Quill thought that was actually pretty reasonable.

Azalea nodded. "We'll have to talk about what 'rampaging' means in a bit, but that's a good start. Now what about you Baroness?"

Moonstone tensed. "I... am of royal blood. I have subjects that must... be reminded of their place. Below me. Less than me. I rule them and must instill that in them."

Azalea nodded twice. "But your attitude of superiority went too far."

Moonstone looked like she was about to challenge the teacher, but stopped herself. "Yes. My subjects flee from me. And not in a good way."

"Good good, realizing that our behavior is damaging our relationships and responsibilities is the first step towards repairing that damage."

Moonstone shifted uncomfortably but didn't say anything to that. Then the changeling was looking at Quill. It was his turn for the guillotine it seemed.

"What about you mister Quill? Why do you rampage? What about it excites you?"

The stallion scratched his leg. "Well... I'm bigger. So... I should be allowed to do what I want?"

The teacher raised a brow. "Is that really why you rampage? Because you can?"

"I... don't know," he admitted with a shrug. "It's just... fun. I like breaking stuff."

"Your cure might be as simple as getting a new hobby," she commented in a gentle scolding tone.

Moonstone buried her giggling behind a snort. Quill felt himself blush. Therapy was going to be tough.

Author's Note

Each character in this story is sort of a half reference to famous rampaging macros in the fandom over the years. Broken Quill = Snap Feather. Baroness Moonstone = Starlight Dazzle. Mellow Doll = Ultramare. Even took their color schemes and inversed them to get new colors. Though Starlight looks weird with inverted colors, Ultramare actually looked kind of badass. Especially when her trademark uniform turned bright orange.

When I decided on the premise, macros addicted to rampaging going to therapy, I had the brilliant idea to reference famous OCs from the macro/micro pony fandom. But when I went to write this short I had the crisis that... I couldn't actually remember many such ponies besides Starlight and Snap. I know there were other well-known rampagers, but I could not recall a detail or a name about them. So, in desperate need of a third reference, I grabbed Ultramare. Doesn't really fit, but whatever. Good enough.