My Little Pony: Guernica

Part One

Chapter 1: Falling Down

If you've found this note, you should know, your standing in a dead world. Oh sure, where you're standing it may seem bright and colorful now, that is, if your new world is anything like my old world. A world once bright and vibrant. A peaceful world, of sentient ponies… A world that thanks to the Red Mist, is currently a white void. The story I'm about to tell should serve as a warning of things to come. An apocalypse so powerful that all our collective efforts to survive are pointless and hopelessly worthless against the gaping maw of the abyss.

This is a story…. Of a paradise, lost.

Cutting straight to the point, the dimension you're standing in is nothing more then a soundstage for a 30 minute long commercial designed to make inter-dimensional aliens richer in their home universe. Everyone around you, including yourself, are nothing but characters, ideas of living beings design to sell cheap plastic wears to the masses in that world… and once you stop being profitable, the fog horns will sound, and the horrible Red Mist will come and start the process all over again.

To much to take in? I know it sounds comedic and absurd, but don't worry. We'll revisit that point later. I think to make it make any sense of this we have to go back to beginning. Back to when my first real memories come into play…

Back when the world still made sense. Back when it was a lie to me.

I… was…

….

You know… It's funny to me now, considering the horror that would follow, how much of an idiot I was. I had chosen at my young age to don a mask and cape and fight crime at night. A costume vigilante, I fancied my self I suppose. In reality I was nothing more then a socially awkward young horse with no true way of expressing myself as I slowly lurched into my rapidly oncoming adult hood. Whatever it did for me, be it the costume or that occasionally I got to rough up a few crooks, it left me with an overall positive feeling. I felt good about myself, more mature, responsible. As if I could realistically handle what was rapidly being expected of me in adulthood… to parlay myself into a something economically successful, to find a nice mare and settle down. Raise a family, the Equestrian dream.

That's not to say it was easy or merely treated as a hobby. Far from it. I took it seriously, overly so. I was fortunate when a long distant relative of mine left me a small fortune in rubies in my teens. I used the funds to take time away from my academics to learn various fighting styles, to craft the suit and utility belt. After that I took courses in criminology at the community college before I dropped out. Before the particular night in question, the night that'll set our plot rolling, I had already been actively crime fighting for three months, and prevented a handful of night time assaults around Ponyville.

On the particular night that truly begins our story, I was stalking along the roof top of the local bakery, my cloak over my shoulders, covering me like a shadow.

I know considering Ponyville's outwardly reputation, you wouldn't expect much in terms of crime in a hick town like this, but the town has an odd way of covering up anything that would attract otherwise negative attention from press. Past midnight, the vermin, scumbags and the whores of the place float to the top of the glass like a sweet crème. A sinners playground of greed, lust and debauchery. The truth, the hard reality that they sweep under the rug. The hidden world they don't want you to see.

I exaggerate. But I wouldn't be vigilante if there wasn't crime to fight. For example usually the husband and wife duo of this bakery, breaks into a domestic dispute around this time. Mrs. Cake is an alcoholic, always drunk and mean during the off hours of the shop at night. She spits out her side comments. making Mr. Cake feel not only useless and aggravated but annoyed. Annoyed everyday he remained with that fat bitch, stealing his youth, for if he did decide the leave her he be left at the mercy of the criticism of the neighbors… how could he leave his sick wife? They'd wonder. Aloud. Their criticism would slice his self-esteem like a razor. Mr. Cake usually snaps on Wednesdays, you can set your watch by it. He calls her a cunt, and starts bringing down the hooves. In a way I don't blame him, but he doesn't hesitate to commit the acts of violence in front of his kids and that I can't stand. What's more revolting? Everypony in Ponyville knows the situation, but no one chooses to fix it. It makes me sick.

But this Wednesday all is quiet. The wife has passed out early. The young husband, glances over from the TV at his sleeping wife, feeling sad. Feeling a small ember of a lost love for his wife, but it's only a memory. The feelings are hollow, the ember is cold. He shuts off the TV and goes to share the guest room with his pink haired tenant. He doesn't cheat on her, just sleeps on the floor.

My reaction to this non-situation is an apathetic shrug. A non-incident is a win as far as I'm concerned. No casualties and the children get to sleep easy tonight. I don't get to pat myself on the back, however. Down the road, I spot a mare… a cute one, I admit. Yellow skin, flowing pink hair, butterflies on the flank. My heart sinks, it's dangerous out here at night for an innocent pony like that. I decide then and there to follow her, watch over her. With any luck, I hope, she'll arrive at her destination with out even knowing any better.

Then I see, she's already being stalked. And everything was going so well…

It was Snips and Snails. Two foolish young punks with delusions of being big time crooks. One time hoodlums that once stuck to mischief and purse snatching, in recent weeks, Snips has been pushing the envelope, any night now I expect him to make good on his threats of rape. I decide to make a promise that he'll never touch mare consent or otherwise for the rest of his life.

The punks donned their ski masks, confronting the poor girl. She apologizes and tries to step past to the side. first the left. then the right. Every time she attempts to leave the situation, they block her. Now she's afraid.

"Um... excuse me, I don't need to be rude… however, you're in my way." She says sweetly, innocent as to what's really going on. I almost find myself laughing from the gut, no way anypony is that naive, I want to believe.

"You're not going anywhere! Give us what you got!" says nips, his unicorn threatening glowing with magic.

"Okay here.." she hands over her basket Then after a pause, adding sweetly… "I'm afraid you'll find what's in it useless to you though. It's only Angel's cold medicine." She explains.

Snails kicks the basket to the side. "Those weren't the goods we were talkin' about toots!"

Snips licks his chops "We want a piece of…" He paused, savoring it, the sicko. "…Dat flank!"

She squeaks in horror, and suddenly I'm overwhelmed by the feeling that I've had about enough of this scene. She's learned her lesson. I jumped down from the bakery, directly on to Snail's back. There's a sickening snap. Instantly, the young colt is freaking out, apparently frightened by not able to feel our use his hind legs. I smirk, knowing the next place he robs is going to have to have a wheel chair ramp, or maybe it'll just be a glue factory.

"Your friend here needs medical attention or he will die soon." I state to Snips, who has the fear of God in his eyes. "Take him there now, and don't let me catch you out there again." I order, he scoops up his friend and scampers off into the night. I hope they don't find a doctor for at least an hour.

I don't even look at the victim as I ready my grappling hook. "I don't want to see you out again here either. This roads are dangerous at night." I state, about to fire…

"Wait! What's your name?" She asked, hastily. I turn and look at her, and she seems to get shy all of a sudden "I mean… if you wouldn't mind… You did save me."

First time anyone has ever asked, I smirk to myself. "Brightside. Call me Brightside."

I take off. Semi-proud of myself, I had called myself that name many times in practice but that was the first time saying it to another person. In a world full of sickness and darkness, I am the silver lining. I am the Brightside.