The Swarm

Shoeshine cracked her back and sighed as she rolled out bed to start going through her normal morning routine. Take a shower, brush her mane and teeth, use the restroom and then head downstairs to greet her roommate.

“Hey Carrot,” Shoeshine greeted the mare sitting at the table with a newspaper and a cup of coffee. A plate of toast and another cup of coffee sat across from her. “Uh, Carrot?”

Carrot Top said nothing and Shoeshine sat down awkwardly at the other end of the table. Shoeshine couldn’t remember the last time Carrot gave her the silent treatment and tried to remember if she did anything to piss her off recently.

“Where’s Noi?”

“At school,” Carrot Top answered finally and turned a page of the newspaper. “Why do you care?”

“Uh because I live here?” Shoeshine tilted her head in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“I’ve know you for a long time. You can’t lie to me,” Shoeshine pointed out and Carrot Top dropped the newspaper onto the table. “What’s going on?”

“None of your concern. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get to work,” Carrot pushed her chair out and Shoeshine grabbed her shoulder. “Let me go.”

“Like hell.”

Carrot growled and flicked her tail at Shoeshine’s hind and the blue mare yelped.

“Ow!”

“Sorry,” Carrot winced and Shoeshine glared at her. “I may have smacked your leg a bit harder.”

“Oh, it’s on now.” Shoeshine pushed her back and bit her mane, pulling some of it as Carrot Top yelped.

“Ow! I didn’t bite you!” Carrot shot her a scowl as Shoeshine spit out some hair.

“That was payback, plain and simple,” Shoeshine answered simply as she took a sip of her coffee. “I don’t know what you’re mad about, but I can wholeheartedly say I’m not gonna fight you.”

“I don’t want to fight you either. If you hadn’t grabbed me, I wouldn’t have flicked you. You know I don’t like being touched randomly,” Carrot sighed and Shoeshine winced.

“Okay, yeah that was my bad. My apologies. But at least you’re talking to me. You haven’t said a thing to me since yesterday morning.”

“You should know. Ask Roseluck. She said she will be there this morning,” Carrot picked up her empty coffee cup.

“I’m asking you,” Shoeshine answered and hesitantly rested a hoof on her back. “Carrot, what is going on?”

“The farmers are mad,” Carrot answered simply and Shoeshine sat back down. This was the dumbest fight ever in Shoeshine’s eyes.

“Because of us,” Shoeshine guessed and Carrot nodded at her. “Why the hell did nopony tell us? Why didn’t you tell me, more importantly?”

“Because I’m mad too,” Carrot said and glanced back at her. “The plan was to refuse service to all of you except Derpy. And Roseluck, naturally. She’s the one who told us all. Don’t be mad at her. We had every right to know and prepare.”

“So Roma lied to me,” Shoeshine growled and Carrot nodded again.

“I refused Trixie service. The same thing happened to Silverspeed yesterday and most likely is right now. Same with Trixie again.”

“How could you do that? I thought you were loyal to us and Equestria?” Shoeshine paced around the room and Carrot glared at her.

“I am! But I’m more loyal to my daughter and you than the Princess? You think I wanted this? You all put me in this position picking sides between my daughter and the Princess, not me!” Carrot shot back and jabbed a hoof at a picture of Noi. “What would you think would happen? Us to just go along with it? You and the others put countless others in this exact same position I am. This is my lifes work. This is how I pay my bills, pay for Noi’s food and school supplies. This is not my fault!”

“Then talk to me!” Shoeshine shouted back and Carrot stepped back nervously. “I’m not a fucking mind reader. I can’t tell how you’re feeling by you giving me the silent treatment. What are we, five?”

“It sure as hell got the point across!”

“What point? That you’re friends are being immature or that you’re dumb as hell?” Shoeshine snapped and her eyes widened. “I didn’t mean that.”

“You’re one of us. You’re an earth pony. You know how important it is that we stock pile food for the other ponies in Ponyville. We can’t afford to lose any rain. Not with winter being three, four months away. It falls onto us to do this. Sure, there’s outliers like Strawberry or Blossomforth or Holly Dash, but it’s primarily us earth ponies. I’m not about to force everypony to die this winter just because our princess is coming to town,” Carrot sneered and turned around.

“Yet you’re perfectly fine making Trixie and Silverspeed die right now,” Shoeshine shot back dryly and Carrot paused.

“I’m not a monster. I’m a mother who’s trying to look after her daughter. So is half of the other farmers trying to take care of their families. You think me or Berry can afford our houses with loosing a shit ton of bits just this week? No, we can’t. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry it came down to this,” Carrot looked back at Shoeshine. “You’re my friend. Cherry Berry has a meeting with the Mayor today. We’re forming a union to stand up for ourselves. The other towns nearby have them and it’s helps them out a lot. This way the farmers of Ponyville can formally work together and have written agreements. I didn’t tell you this.”

“Okay. And for the record, I forgive you. And I know you aren’t a monster. You just are stubborn as hell and don’t think when angry,” Shoeshine opened the front door and stared down in confusion.

On the doorstep sat seven beefsteak tomatoes in a bag.

Cherry Berry trotted around her balloon, occasionally tugging on some ropes to make sure they were probably tied.

“Alright, ropes are a check,” Cherry muttered to herself before checking a box. “Next, fuel.”

Cherry examined the fuel and frowned to herself.

“Alright. Fuel is half tank. Reminder to get a new propane tank today at the market. Check. No cuts or tears. The basket is in pristine condition and-”

“Uhm hi.”

Cherry Berry turned to look at an orange pegasus filly with a purple mane standing in front of her.

“Sorry kid, I don’t give out rides for free. And I’m a bit busy right now,” Cherry Berry turned back to her clipboard.

“I wasn’t gonna ask for a free ride.”

Cherry turned back and raised an eyebrow. Kids weren’t her strong suit. Hell, not even adults were her strong suit. Ponies were complicated.

“Uh huh,” Cherry took the bits the filly held out and counted them. “What’s your name exactly?”

“Scootaloo.”

“You’re a pegasus. Why don’t you just fly instead of riding my balloon?” Cherry Berry pointed out and Scootaloo glanced at her wings.

“No reason. I wanna see from a new perspective. I’ve been on clouds before but never on a hot air balloon. I see you flying around all the time.”

“I see. I’m sorry Scootaloo, but I gotta get this done then run to the Mayors office for a meeting to get paperwork. Maybe another time we can,” Cherry Berry commented and hoofed back her bits.

“I can’t fly.”

Cherry faced her and gave her a confused frown.

“Come again?”

“I can’t fly. My wings don’t work. People never will,” Scootaloo repeated and looked her in the eyes. Cherry Berry watched her flutter her wings and fall back down. “Sure, Rainbow Dash takes me up flying on her back but it’s not the same. Being in a balloon won’t be either, but it would be close. You’re one of the only ponies really who can help me-”

“Okay, okay. You had me at the wings part.”

Cherry gestured for her to step into the basket and Scootaloo grinned as Cherry helped her in.

“Rules are no playing around. I don’t want to be responsible for your death. Understand?” Cherry Berry gave her a stern frown and Scootaloo nodded as Cherry Berry started her pre flight check. “I’m Cherry Berry, by the way.”

“I know. Ruby talks a lot about her earth pony aunt who can fly. She’s pretty proud of it.”

Cherry hid her blush and rubbed the back of her head.

“Does she now?” Cherry asked dismissively as she stepped inside the basket and shut it.

“Mhm!”

“That’s nice,” Cherry grunted as she pulled on another string and Scootaloo watched as some flames shot into the air. “Cool, right?”

“Yeah.” Cherry gave a dry laugh and gave Scootaloo a confused look.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in school right now?” Cherry asked and Scootaloo gave a nervous laugh.

“Maybe?” Scootaloo offered weakly and Cherry narrowed her eyes. “Are you gonna tell Miss Cheerilee?”

“Depends.”

“On....?”

“On how well this flight goes and if you annoy me or not,” Cherry deadpanned and looked away. Scootaloo paled slightly at that.

“We’re so high up,” Scootaloo commented and peered over the edge, getting a look from Cherry.

“We’re only seventy feet up. This is nothing.” Cherry glanced at the altimeter. She figured a little over one hundred feet or so was good enough for Scootaloo.

“We can higher?” Scootaloo asked in awe and Cherry gave a dry laugh.

“Kid, we can go much higher,” Cherry answered with a chuckle and pulled the rope again. “But we won’t. Because you-” Cherry poked her gently in the chest. “Have got to get to school.”

Scootaloo stood silently and peered over the edge.

“Woah.”

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Cherry Berry asked and Scootaloo nodded. “Up here, it just stretches for miles. Ponies truly don’t know what they’re missing on the ground. Damn pegasi take all this for granted. They don’t slow down to take in the sights from up here.”

Scootaloo nodded and looked around. They weren’t that high according to the the instruments Cherry Berry had. She didn’t know what they were, but based on the one Cherry checked often said one hundred and thirty feet.

“Why do you fly?” Scootaloo asked and Cherry shrugged. “You have cherries for a cutie mark.”

“Cutie marks don’t define you,” Cherry glanced at Scootaloo’s blank flank. “You’ll understand one day. I grew up one my parents cherry farm. I always knew I was meant for more than farming. When I was your age, my fellow earth ponies and pegasi always told me if I was meant to fly, I’d have been born a pegasus.”

“Kids can be cruel.”

“Ain’t that the truth. It stung for a bit, sure but who gives a damn. You control your destiny, not some mark on your flank and certainly not anypony else. Or in your case, lack thereof a mark.”

“You think I’ll ever get my mark?” Scootaloo asked and looked back at her flanks. “Twist has one. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon has one. Everypony but me and my friends have one. Some ponies like those two don’t deserve marks.”

Cherry gave another laugh and opened shut off the burner to descend.

“Anytime you wanna come for a flight Scootaloo, come find me. You’re welcome aboard anytime,” Cherry Berry told the grinning filly and Cherry slid the bits back.

“Thanks Cherry Berry!” Scootaloo grinned wider as Cherry’s balloon hovered in place above the school yard and Cherry tossed out a rope ladder.

“You should be good climbing down. I don’t wanna get swarmed by children again.”

Scootaloo nodded as she started climbing and a crowd of school ponies stared up at her.

“Oh shit. Cheerilee,” Cherry muttered to herself as the purple earth started trotting up with a frown. “Well, see you later Scootaloo. Time to go!”

“Cherry Berry! Get back here!” Cheerilee called out and Cherry Berry hastily started pulling the ladder back in. “I know you hear me!”

“Sorry, too loud up here! Really windy!”

“It’s not even windy out!”

“Love to stay and chat but I got a meeting. Bye sis!” Cherry grinned and waved before before pulling on the rope.

“I’m gonna kill that mare one day,” Cheerilee growled to herself. “And as for you, Scootaloo, you have detention for being late.”

Scootaloo paled and groaned as the others laughed excluding Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Dinky.

They all fell silent as Cheerilee glared at them.

“Excellent! Now back into the classroom children.”