Chapter 1
"Teach me to feel another's woe, to hide the fault I see, that mercy I to others show, that mercy show to me", anonymous
It has already been at least half a year since the war between the pony races started. Will the war ever end? Well, every war ends at one point really, even if it seems to drag on forever. Come to think of it, every war seems to go on forever if you're really affected by it. But I digress, sorry. I'd like to tell you a happier tale, I really would. But you need to know this one. Now you're probably wondering to yourself, how could the happy land of Equestria become such a world of poverty, hunger and depression? Well sit tight and I'll tell you how, I'll try not to drag the story out for too long since you probably have some important business to attend to. So without further ado, I will tell you the story.
The war started about 7 months ago and had already past Ponyville. But that doesn't mean things don't still happen in Ponyville. The Earth Ponies and Pegasus' are currently fighting over owning Ponyville so any Earth pony caught by a pegasus would be either killed or told to go back inside, depending on their age. Same with pegasus but vice versa. Lucky for young foals and fillies, the genocide only happened in Canterlot and Filliedelphia. Soon enough though, it will come to Ponyville. It was up to young ponies to leave the shelters or houses to get food and supplies.
Almost everypony lost their jobs, most Earth Ponies had to turn to prostitution, stealing and suicide. Pegasus who aren't in the war left by flying away, the ones that stayed were facing the same fate as the Earth Ponies. Since the unicorn population is smaller, the Earth Ponies and Pegasus wiped out most of them, and many uncirons are killed on sight. The plan was to keep the war going until there was only one race of ponies left, so they started with the smallest race. Unicorns
…..
It was the day after winter wrap up, so the ground was a bit wet from the left over snow. Applebloom was walking to school, not because she had to go or anything, since the war started nopony was really forced to go to school. Instead they made all the foals and young fillies stay in their houses or cottages (Or really whatever they lived in). Applebloom was walking to school because she felt like it. I wish I could say she had a reason, to meet up with Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo, see Miss Cherylee, but since the war they were rarely ever aloud to see each other. The cutie mark crusaders didn't crusade much since the war started.
When foals walk, they usually walk with their hooves moving fast, but Applebloom walked slow today. Her big brown eyes darted around looking at all the dead trees and leaves everywhere. Her eyes didn't sparkle as much as they used to, since the Pegasus' don't get rid of the clouds anymore so there was no light to make them shine like they once did. The sky was black with clouds, the trees were as equally dark from being dead or rotting. Ashes caked over the dirt paths and trees and leftover snow, making the white snow black and dirty looking. Everything was darker than before, making nighttime impossible to see in. Ponies with bright colored coats, which was almost all of them, had to cover themselves in dirt and soot so they wouldn't stick out too much.
Applebloom walked a bit faster hearing another pony walking nearby. Since Applebloom was only a little filly, they'd show some mercy if it was a unicorn or a pegasus. To her fear it was a unicorn, she saw a white horn poking up from the thorny bushes, but her heart raced even faster when she heard a familiar voice mumble "ouch.." but not with fear, with joy. Sweetie Belle fell out of the bushes, flat on her face. She got up and saw Applebloom. Appleblooms joy instantly turned to sadness when she saw the state her friend was in. Sweetie Belles beautiful white coat was now covered in black ashes, soot and a few scars. Sweetie Belles horn had a large chip taken out of it on the side, which thankfully didn't look like it was too serious. The two formal friends stared at each other for a long time, before Sweetie said in a quiet and slightly squeaky voice, "Hey there Applebloom…"
Sweetie's voice was always beautiful to Applebloom, but her voice was even more comforting now since she hasn't heard her friend's voices in weeks. Applebloom replied in a equally quiet voice, "heh…hey there…". An awkward silence fell between them, Applebloom wanted to ask what happened to her horn or why she had so many scars, how she's been since the last meeting, if she's heard from Scootaloo, how Rarity and the others were and if she was safe. Instead, she stood silently. Sweetie Belle didn't say anything because she didn't know what she would say. Eventually Sweetie turned around and kept walking. Applebloom wanted to cry, but ever since the war started she hasn't cried a bit, in fear that it would show weakness. Over time she forgot how to cry, I know it seems impossible but its very possible indeed. Anyway, Applebloom watched her friend walking away until she was a greyish white dot in the horizon. She turned and kept walking to the school.
By the school, Applebloom would sometimes see other little ponies her age, which was kind of nice. She's been cooped up in her house for the past few months and had no one to talk to but Applejack. Now that the war passed, she could go outside when she needed to. Today Applebloom walked slow to enjoy the silence of the land but had to be a bit swift since there was a constant risk of getting caught. Finally in view of the school, she saw a pink figure outside of it. Diamond Tiara. Applebloom grumbled a bit, but deep down she kind of missed Diamond Tiara and often wondered if she was still alive. Diamond Tiara was sitting outside the school a ten feet away, staring up at it. The school wasn't as beautiful as it once was, much like the rest of equestria. The roof had a huge hole in it from the flag pole falling on it, the bell on the top of the building was missing and each window was broken. Half of the place had burn marks all over it from ponies trying to burn it down. Now homeless ponies lived in the abandoned school after being kicked out of their houses.
Applebloom walked up by Diamond Tiara who looked a lot like Sweetie did. Scars, dirt all over her pretty pink coat, messy mane and so on. But Diamond Tiara still had her tiara, though it was half broken. Her eyes were bloodshot and had tears in them as she stared blankly at the school. Applebloom sat down next to Diamond Tiara and looked at her. Diamond Tiara didn't even notice Applebloom for a while until Applebloom sniffled a bit. Diamond Tiara's head turned over to Applebloom so quick her neck made a snap. She got up and jumped back before noticing who it was.
"Oh Applebloom. What are you doing here?" she asked in her usual snobby voice. Applebloom was a bit annoyed by her voice but felt kinda nice knowing not all fillies were gone. Applebloom responded "Can't 'ah ask y'all the same thing?", "Its none of your business what I'm doing." . "Well shoot, Diamond Tiara, I'm just tryin' to have a conversation. Can't y'all quit that proud act for five minutes? No ones around for y'all to impress anyway!" and once again a silence fell. Applebloom then noticed Silver Spoon wasn't around. She instantly knew what happened. Silver Spoon had been killed more than likely. Applebloom mumbled out an apology but was interupted by Diamond Tiaras grumbling. "Its not like I care… Its about time Earth Ponies stood up for themselves anyway. Always being treated like we have no talent, treated like we're not special and can't do anything just because we can't fly or do magic. What's magic good for anyway if it can't even win a war. What's flying good for if it can't even fucking get us away from one?"
Appleblooms ears bent back at Diamond Tiaras words, more so at her swear. The sudden outburst made Appleblooms stomach churn and she felt the need to defend the two other pony races, but decided not to, seeing the state the formal bully was in now. Applebloom looked down, "ah'm sorry Diamond Tiara…" Diamond Tiara scoffed and lifted her head up, "Sorry?! Oh please I don't need some blank flanks apology. Besides its not like a dumb old apology is gonna bring back all we once had! You think some stupid 'ah'm sarry' is going to bring it all back? You think its going to bring the school back? Bring the color blue back into the sky? Bring back Silver Spoon or the green back into the trees? You thi-", "AH DON'T!" interrupted Applebloom in a squeaky voice, "Of course ah don't! I just thought..", "Then DON'T apologize to me! Your apology isn't worth my time!" she cocked her head up and walked off, tiny hooves leaving a tiny mark on the burned up path.
It grew darker, that meant Applebloom had to go back to the barn. She walked home with a lump in her throat, a low head but no tears in her eyes. She forgot how to cry anyway.