Muselpferde

Applebloom stood alone in a hallway just beyond the stage. A shadow slid off the wall, creeping toward her.

"Do you think," it said, "that your little display out there changed anything? Or did you think you were invulnerable?"

The shadow was everywhere now. The Ministry Purple cape swirled out, banishing the world and leaving her with nothing but white lenses in a dark face. It was impossible to tell if it was the same pony that had spoken to her before.

"No," Applebloom replied. She had no interest in dragging this out or giving anypony satisfaction of seeing her squirm. When nothing further came, she asked, "Well, aren't you going to do it, then?"

"All hours are ours to decide. Even the hour of your death. For the moment, know that we've terminated your position at the University of Ponyville. It would be overly optimistic to expect employment anywhere else. I wouldn't expect to fair a welcome at the gates of the capital either."

The cape drew off of her, and it was gone. Vanished into whatever nightmare spawned shadowy government operatives.

As the former Head of Practical Neuroscience walked toward the back exit, she was greeted by the former Pegasus.

"I heard about your ..." Scootaloo wasn't sure how to finish.

"Everypony will have heard about it soon enough. I've been fired."

"Well, what do we do now?"

Applebloom turned back to her friend. "We?"

"You can't expect me to take your place up on stage, can you? Or work for whatever goon replaces you? Besides, how long do you think I could keep my race a secret?"

The night outside was black and empty. A formless abyss hung over the heads of the two ponies rendering them equals. Small and weak.

"We leave. Run away from them all, and keep running until ..."

"They find us?"

"I was going to say we die, but I guess it is the same thing."