The Terrible Tens
[The scene opens with a shot of Thomas crossing over a stone bridge with Annie and Clarabel in tow behind him. It transitions to a shot of the narrow gauge railway as Duke and Millie are shown passing by one another on opposite lines, the former hauling a rake of blue and creme coaches while the latter is pulling v-shaped mine trucks]
[The scene transitions to the platform of Maple Station as Oliver is shown coming to a stop on the platform to let off his passengers. Along with two coaches, the autotank's trusty brake van, Toad, is accompanying him at the back]
Oliver: Here we are, Maple Station! Mind the gap, please.
[Passengers begin to disembark off the train, consisting of; Arnold Shortman, Hakura, Michiru, Tod, Copper, Nala, Dexter, Frankie, Mooch, Hansel, Fergus, Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, Professor Utonium, Petunia, Norbert, and Daggett. The last to exit the train are Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, along with the former two's younger sisters, and the latter's protege; Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. The fillies immediately rush out of the coaches in a flurry]
Apple Bloom: First one ta' town's a rotten apple!
Sweetie Belle: I'll get there first!
Scootaloo: In your dreams!
Applejack: [whistles] Now hold on, you three! Ya' can't run around this place all willy-nilly. Just cuz we ain't in the city don't mean ya'll gotta be careless.
Rarity: Besides, I'd rather not deal with the anxiety of my darling little sister getting lost or worse, kidnapped, by some dirty street mugs. [shudders delicately]
Rainbow Dash: Even if that did happen, I'm sure I could give 'em the ole one-two, hehe-AHEM, I mean, just stick close with us, kids.
Apple Bloom: [sighs] You always say "stay close" this, "stay close" that, and we never have any fun cuz of it.
Applejack: Safety is just as important as havin' fun.
Apple Bloom: AJ, please don't go on another safety lecture, last time ya' did that, you were practically stalkin' me.
Sweetie Belle: Plus, we're not that irresponsible, you know.
Rarity: Do I need to bring up the list of times you three have gotten into trouble?
Sweetie Belle: Um…no? Anyway, we just wanna look around town to see if there's anything we can find.
Scootaloo: I hear they've got real good stuff around this time of year, might be worth taking some back for…reasons, hehehe.
Rainbow Dash: I hear ya', kid, just don't go running around where we can't see you. Seriously, the last thing you want to see is me in panic mode.
Applejack: [rolls her eyes] I can see more than a few reasons why…
[Rainbow Dash dons an "excuse me" look on her face]
Rainbow Dash: Says the overbearing traffic warden.
Rarity: How about we don't revert back to when we first met, alright? Good.
Rainbow Dash: [sighs] Fine, I'll let it slide…
Scootaloo: C'mon, let's go, let's go!
Rarity: Girls, wait!
[Toad watches the scene before him with bemusement]
Toad: Hehehe, children can be little rascals for sure, Mr. Oliver.
Oliver: Hmmhmm, don't I know it, Toad?
[The fillies are already running down the road that leads to the town of Maple, past the railyard where BoCo and Whiff are seen snoozing in one of the sheds. It cuts to a pan- down shot of the town of Maple. It's a quaint little locale one might see on a road trip with buildings consisting of red, brown, and gray palettes. Several people are shown before the six ponies come into view; Eric, Aladdin, Li Shang, and Naveen are shown chatting amongst one another, Cooler and Fantomcat are passing by in opposite directions, Postman Pat and Fireman Sam have exited a tea shop, Hoity Toity and Photo Finish are chatting next to a set of posters, one appears to be a parody of The Godfather titled "The Godparents" with the white outline of a wand depicted in the top right portion, another poster is an advertisement for the Krusty Krab, a close-shot of the restaurant's logo with the caption "Service with a Smile." Garnet and Peridot are shown walking amongst each other, past Penelope Pitstop and Derpy Hooves. Jack and Salem are leaning against one of the buildings as Kaa slithers around the corner of another. Finally, Ash and Kristofferson are shown looking through the glass of an antique store when the fillies come rushing in, followed by their flustered adults]
Rarity: There you are! What did we say about running off?
Sweetie Belle: Oh, sorry, we just got a little excited is all.
Rarity: I understand that, but, please, I don't want to lose you in a place like this.
Apple Bloom: Anyway, I heard there was sum special attraction in this here town.
Applejack: We'll find it if you promise to stay close.
Apple Bloom: Yeah, no problem, sis, we'll be on you like a worm to an apple.
Sweetie Belle: That…actually sounds really gross.
Scootaloo: What's so gross about worms? I've used them plenty.
Rainbow Dash: For what?
Scootaloo: What else, sticking them in people's shoes.
Rainbow Dash: …Now it all makes sense.
[A flashback is shown in a shoe store as Tramp and Balto have set down their respective pairs of shoes and gone off to speak with a store assistant…Scootaloo quietly sneaks up, flanked by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and puts a few worms in the shoes before the grown-ups come back. Upon getting back to the seat, when the two canines put their shoes back on, a "squish" is heard. Tramp and Balto's faces contort into a look of queasiness]
Tramp: Uh…did you feel that?
Balto: Yeah…something's…in my shoes.
Tramp: Mine too…
[Both canines pull off their shoes to reveal a whole bunch of worms squirming around]
Tramp: Euuuuuuugh! Who put these in here?
Balto: Someone with a weird sense of humor.
[The CMC walk away from the scene as innocently as possible while Rainbow Dash struggles to stop herself from laughing. It cuts back to present day where the blue Pegasus is chuckling]
Rainbow Dash: Okay, okay, that was a good prank for sure.
Applejack: [clears throat] Dash, we're not meant to encourage such behavior.
Rainbow Dash: Oh, give it a rest, mom, kids can have fun every once in a while.
Applejack: You wouldn't be sayin' that if you had a lil' sister.
Rarity: Either way, let's peruse around a little bit, there's some thread and jewels I wanted to purchase.
[The ponies begin to make their way down the street, passing by Falco and Hercules on the way. Once they get to the tailor shop, Rarity looks through the window at the various palettes of threads available for purchase. The fillies wait beside the grown-ups, feeling rather bored]
Apple Bloom: [sighs] I wish somethin' excitin' would happen.
[As if on cue, the fillies notice an arm peering from behind the corner of a building. It gives a "come here" gesture with its finger…the trio glance at each other with slight hesitation, but speak in hushed voices so as to not alert their elders]
Apple Bloom: What do ya' say?
Sweetie Belle: Should we really follow a random hand's request?
Scootaloo: Okay, I know it looks bad in most cases, but…maybe it's not in this case…? Besides, if anything happens, I could use some fisty-cuffs.
Apple Bloom: Alright then, we'll unleash Scootaloo in case anythin' goes amiss.
Sweetie Belle: Sounds like a plan, at least, I think…
[So, very quietly, the Cutie Mark Crusaders tip-toe in the direction of the hand while Rarity is rambling about the possible threads to Applejack and Rainbow Dash]
Rarity: …and I believe this Crimson Lake will go nicely with the Fall Harvest, wouldn't you agree, Sweetie Belle…Sweetie Belle?
[The three ponies look to their left, only to find that the fillies have disappeared]
Rarity: Sweetie Belle?!
Applejack: Apple Bloom?!
Rainbow Dash: Scootaloo?!
[The scene cuts to the girls talking with Salem who's leaning against the wall of a building]
Salem: So, what's a group of bored little fillies doing in a place like this?
Apple Bloom: Well, we were hopin' ta' find somethin' interesting here. You know any rare antiques or places around?
Salem: [pseudo-Cajun accent] Why, ma' stars and garters, I do believe I know just the place.
Sweetie Belle: Oh! What's the place?
Salem: You just gotta go down yonder and you'll find this vintage movie theater. Trust me when I say they've got some pretty cool stuff up there. Got the highest quality cinema there for sure.
Scootaloo: How good are we talkin'?
Salem: Even Disney himself would have been on his knees for collaboration.
Sweetie Belle: Huh, if that's the case, then I guess there's no harm in it…where is it anyway?
Salem: Continue down this road and you'll find it at the end.
Scootaloo: Cool! Thanks, Salem!
[The fillies run off down the road as Salem waves them off, the grin on his face widening with devilish glee]
Salem: Oh, you're welcome, my little ponies, hmmhmmhmm, they're about to enter the place…of fear…
[The scene cuts to the fillies approaching a movie theater known as the "Squeam Screen". The building is painted in brown with large white letters displaying the theater's logo on top. The clash of lightning in the background gives the rather creepy building a more unsettling air]
Apple Bloom: Uh…is this really a good idea?
Scootaloo: I mean, we got this far, didn't we? Might as well go in.
Sweetie Belle: Okay, but I don't like the look of this place…
[The fillies slowly walk towards the entrance of the theater as the doors fling open as if like magic. Inside, the main hall appears rather decrepit, dirty floors, stripped paint on the walls, and spiders crawling about the floor, causing Sweetie Belle to light her leg up in fright]
Apple Bloom: Um…hello? Is anyone here?
[There is no reply]
Apple Bloom: I'm startin' to think we should lea-
[At that moment, an arm pops out from the ticket box, holding three black tickets in their hand, shocking the girls. Scootaloo recovers as she takes the tickets]
Scootaloo: Uh, thanks…I guess…
[Upon splitting the tickets amongst each other, the girls proceed down the hallway, across the red floor and teal walls littered with posters and the floor littered with trash…they approach the entrance to the screening room as the door opens on its own. Sweetie Belle in particular appears quite tense]
Sweetie Belle: I think this place is haunted…
Scootaloo: Oh, come on, it's probably just some really good effects. At least, I think it is…
Sweetie Belle: If you say so…
[The girls enter the main theater room and head towards the very back row of seats. A stagelight flashes above as it spins around as the fillies take their seats]
Sweetie Belle: AAH!
Apple Bloom: What's wrong?!
Sweetie Belle: Something just touched my head!
Apple Bloom: But who would-EEP!
[Apple Bloom suddenly looks down to see a popcorn bag in front of her, but it's not filled with popcorn…instead, it's filled with bugs crawling around in it]
Apple Bloom: Ewwwwwww!
[Unbeknownst to the girls, a silhouette walks behind the movie screen before a sound of glass breaking echoes around the room, causing all three to look up in shock. What sounds like a ghoul screeching is also heard above them before a deep thumping sound is heard. The fillies look to the stage as a hunchbacked old man wearing a leather suit and pants walks to the center of a stage, blowing out a torch in his hand. He turns to the audience, speaking with a thick Brummie accent]
Uncle Grizzly: You are welcome to Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids! A series of cautionary tales for lovers of squeam!
[The Cutie Mark Crusaders all glance at each other, unsure of what to say]
Uncle Grizzly: I am of the firm belief that no one is too young to commit acts of evil. You heard of adults kidnapping children? How about children kidnapping children? Toddlers even! Isn't that right, Spindleshanks?
[At that moment, a large purple spider slings down next to the old man, wearing a baby blue vendetta and a net in his hand. He puts it on himself as if to emulate being captured]
Uncle Grizzly: Very classy…anyways, are you all sitting comfortably?
[There is a pause as the girls all look at each other with uncertainty]
Uncle Grizzly: Good, because you're about to be very uncomfortable in a minute! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
[Uncle Grizzly continues to cackle as he disappears from the stage, cutting to a shot of him turning on the screen projector above the audience. In a reenactment of the intro from the show, with a recreation of the soundtrack, a similar angle is shown of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo looking up at the projector before looking towards the screen as the title of the film is shown in big black letters against a white background]
Uncle Grizzly: [V.O.] I call this tale; The Terrible Tens!
[The film sequence is shown in the style of the animation from the original series, i.e., the first four seasons, as Uncle Grizzly narrates over the footage. A gentle flute piece plays over a quaint little house where a little boy is crawling about the backyard while his mother plants in the garden.]
"Little Alex Sauler was a gem of a child. At only two years old, he was the pride of his mother Emily and his father George. They were a humble family living in a quaint little neighborhood, and it seemed nothing could spoil their little slice of happiness."
[A blonde toddler is shown picking up a flower from the garden and giving it to his mother, who smiles cheerily]
Mrs. Sauler: Awwww, you knew primroses were my favorite.
[The mother leans down to kiss the top of her son's head, the boy's father watches from the window with a smile as he tends to the dishes]
"On the other side of the spectrum, there were two of the worst children you could ever meet! Bernard Spite and Daniel Venom were absolute terrors, they would often skip school, steal from stores, and delighted in making everyone's lives miserable!"
[An aggressive rock tune plays over two brunette boys with sinister expressions who are shown doing exactly what the narrator stated; sneaking away from school under a window while a class is in session, swiping candy under their jackets in a store, and tossing rocks at a stray cat sitting on a fence]
"Of course, because they were so vindictive, they didn't care what anyone said about them. Once, they covered their classmate, Lisa Atkins, with a bucket of yogurt!"
[The boys are shown dumping a bucket of strawberry yogurt onto a redhead girl as she walks under a bridge, causing her to drop her school supplies in shock before bursting into tears]
Bernard: "Well, don't you look good enough to eat?!"
Daniel: "I think she looks better this way!"
Lisa: "You jerks! I'm going to tell my mummy!"
"Of course, Bernard and Daniel just snickered as poor Lisa ran crying home. Another time, they put a farm of fire ants into a man's shoes. He'd just gone to speak with a worker about his new ones and when he came back to put them on…"
"YOWCH!"
[A man with black hair and a beard is shown running out of the store, scratching and clawing at his body, without any shoes on, much to the surprise of onlookers. Bernard and Daniel just watch from the store window, smirking with delight]
"They even tripped up old Mrs. Twitchett as she was taking her cat out for a walk!"
[An elderly woman is shown holding a Persian cat in her hands as she walks slowly down the street…that is until the boys come up with their bicycles. Daniel smacks the old woman in the back with a stick, causing her to fall to the ground, dropping her cat in the process with a frightened YOWL!]
Daniel: "Take the bus, granny, you're blocking the street!"
[Poor Mrs. Twitchett barely has the strength to shake her fist as she struggles to get back up]
"Indeed, Bernard and Daniel were the cruelest children this side of Liverpool. Some could say they were born criminals, without a care in the world. However, one day, they could commit a crime that would shock the country to its core!"
[The boys are shown setting a fire behind a doghouse. The pitbull at the front of the wooden structure sniffs the smoke coming from behind and barks in terror as it leaps out of the way of its home being burned to the ground. The camera focuses on the fire as it then cuts to Mrs. Sauler walking Alex down the street along a shopping center]
"One day, Mrs. Sauler had taken her son to the market to do some shopping. Normally, she would push Alex in a pram, but on this day, she chose to walk alongside him by the boy's hand. Little did she know on that very day, things would turn South in a heartbeat."
[Mrs. Sauler is shown passing by a few stores with Alex in tow as Bernard and Daniel pass by in the opposite direction, clearly concealing items in their jackets]
"Being the snot-nosed little brats they were, Bernard and Daniel had been playing truant from school once again, shoplifting various items from the market, with a twisted plan in mind."
[The boys take to a secluded area in the market, revealing sweets, batteries, a tin of paint, firecrackers, and cigarettes in their collection]
Bernard: "I'm bored of stealing, I wanna do something bigger."
Daniel: "How about we take a kid and push them into traffic?"
Bernard: "Or we could take them to the canal and drown them."
Daniel: "Better yet; set them on fire."
[Daniel pulls up one of the firecrackers for emphasis]
"The boys scoured the area for small children, toddlers in particular would be easy for them to take away. They almost got lucky with one, a little girl and her two-year-old brother had wandered off and were walking in the boys' direction. Quickly, Bernard and Daniel sprung into action and confronted the pair."
Daniel: "Well, looks like we struck the jackpot."
Bernard: "Hello, you two, wouldn't mind giving us a hand with something?"
Daniel: "We'll need your brother especially, he'll be a great help."
"The girl didn't understand their intentions, and her brother was just as clueless, but he decided to go along with them…that was until his mother intervened."
Mother: "Stop right there!"
Bernard: "YIKES!"
Daniel: "Let's book it!"
"And the two boys ran off just as the boy's mother caught up with her children. She shook her fist as she called out to the terrible twosome."
Mother: "And don't come anywhere near my babies!"
"The boys ran till they thought they were safe, feeling snubbed from their failed kidnapping."
Daniel: "That was bogus!"
Bernard: "Now what do we do?"
Daniel: "We'll just have to pick a fresh target, one where no parents can intervene."
"As luck would have it, the boys noticed Alex and his mother walking into a butcher's shop. They looked at one another, and immediately began to form a devious plan."
[Bernard and Daniel are shown tip-toeing over to the butcher's shop as the scene cuts to Mrs. Sauler holding onto her son as they look around for what to buy]
"Now, Mrs. Sauler was a very attentive mother, because Alex wasn't in a pram, she made sure to keep him very close to her. One would think this would guarantee a child's safety…unfortunately, Mrs. Sauler could never have predicted that a few short seconds were about to turn everything upside down."
[Alex and his mother approach the counter to pay for their shopping. Mrs. Sauler sets down the groceries and pulls out her wallet to pay for the items, letting go of her son's hand in the process. Daniel pokes his head into the door and gives a "come here" gesture with his finger to Alex]
"She had only taken a few seconds to pay for her shopping when Alex was led out of the store by the boys…"
Clerk: "Will that be all, Miss?"
Mrs. Sauler: "Yes, it will, thank you very much. Come along now, Alex…Alex? Alex?!"
"But Alex was nowhere to be seen! He had vanished! Meanwhile, the little boy was being let out of the shopping centre by Bernard and Daniel, unaware of the horrors he was about to face…"
[Mrs. Sauler stands with a horrified expression, the clerk himself also looks surprised. In a recreation of the infamous CCTV screencap, Alex is shown being led away by Bernard and Daniel, holding onto the latter's arm. Mrs. Sauler bursts out of the butcher's shop looking frantic]
Mrs. Sauler: "Alex?! ALEX!"
"Unfortunately for the poor mother, she turned right, while the boys had gone left! Such a decision was only the beginning of worse to come…"
[The frantic mother runs to shopping security before it cuts to the boys leading Alex to a canal]
"At first, Bernard and Daniel seemed hospitable to little Alex, almost like he was their baby brother."
[Alex is shown looking content in the older boy's company. Daniel looks down with hidden malice while Bernard scowls]
Bernard: "How much longer do we have to wait?"
Daniel: "Quiet down, ya' fat oaf. We're here now, time to teach the little brat a lesson."
"With that, the boys picked up Alex and threw him down to the ground!"
[The boys lift up the unsuspecting toddler from the ground and tossing him onto the patch of grass by the canal's entrance. Upon the impact, the boy begins to bawl, much to the chagrin of the older children]
Bernard: "Nice one, Dan, now he won't shut up."
Daniel: "Well, if we drown him, we won't have to listen, now will we?"
Bernard: "Ooooooh, not a bad idea."
[Bernard and Daniel go over to the sobbing Alex, pick him up, and slowly begin to walk over to the canal when a man driving his narrowboat is about to pass by. He sees the three boys and calls out to them]
Boatman: "Oye, 'eck! Wha' are you lads playin' at?!"
Daniel: "Uh, we betta' scat while we can!"
"And so, Bernard and Daniel hightailed it with their captive in tow! They traveled several miles across Liverpool where several people saw them with Alex, but of course, nobody stopped to ask about the circumstances. A couple of onlookers stopped out of morbid curiosity, such as in the case of two teenagers walking home from school."
Girl #1: "What are those children doing?"
Boy #1: "Probably just some little brats mucking around."
[At one point, Alex's whimpering becomes too agitating for Daniel and he raises his fist to shut the toddler up]
"Just then, Mrs. Eberty and her mother noticed the trio as they walked down the street. Bernard and Daniel tried to look as innocent as possible, while Alex looked up at the two women."
Mrs. Eberty: "I say, what's going on with that little boy?"
Miss Eberty: "Ehhhhh, is that a bruise on his head…I can't see well without me' glasses…"
Mrs. Eberty: "Dear me, I think I can see it too. Where did you find him?"
Bernard: "Uh…on the side of a dumpster?"
Miss Eberty: "Dear oh dear, poor little thing."
Mrs. Eberty: "You boys should take him to the police station, in fact, I'll do it. I just need someone to look after my children."
[Daniel rolls his eyes as the brunette woman signals over to her neighbor]
Mrs. Eberty: "Excuse me, Mrs. Hall? Would you kindly watch over my kids while I take this one to be checked over at the police station?"
Mrs. Hall: "HUH! Not on your chuffin' nelly with that bloody dog barkin'!"
Mrs. Eberty: "Oh…how rude!"
"Unfortunately, in the distraction, the boys had scampered off without notice. Eventually, they did pass by the police station…there was a moment of hesitation."
[The scene shows the boys standing just on the opposite street of the police station, Bernard gives an uncertain look at Daniel]
Bernard: "So…are we going to do it?"
Daniel: "What do you think, genius?"
Bernard: "Point taken…"
"The boys skirted off from the police station before going into several stores to bid their time. Of course, given they were regular shoplifters, most of the owners kicked them out."
[The exterior of a pet store is shown before the door is flung open. Bernard and Daniel run out of the shop with Alex in tow as an angry shopkeeper waves a broomstick at the boys]
"Eventually, Bernard and Daniel took Alex to the railway track and set him down like a big stone."
[Alex is shown being dropped onto the ground without a care by the two older boys]
Daniel: "You still got the paint?"
Bernard: "I do, how about the batteries?"
Daniel: "I got them…and a bucket of bricks…"
[Daniel lifts up the bucket and pulls out a brick, a look of satisfaction in his eyes as he hands one to Bernard]
Bernard: "Good, now then…what say we put this little brat out of his misery, eh?"
Daniel: "I've been waiting since we entered the market…let's do it…"
[Alex can only look up at the older boys with helplessness as they begin their onslaught of horror onto him. The damage to the toddler is shown mostly by focusing on the boys' actions as opposed to the effects on Alex himself; throwing bricks, spilling paint, stuffing batteries, setting off firecrackers, kicking, punching, throwing dirt, dust, mud. Any sound from the infant is also omitted due to the graphic nature of the content involved…a shot of an express train is shown from the perspective of the wheels on the rails]
"The next day, a group of children were playing in a field close to the railway when their ball got tossed a little too far and onto the tracks."
[The scene cuts to a shot of some children playing catch with a ball before it flies into the air and lands by the side of the tracks. It then shows them going to retrieve it]
"But when they came to get the ball, they discovered a truly horrific sight, one that would stay with them for the rest of their lives."
[The children's shocked reactions are displayed, followed by a shot of a police car surveying the area for the suspects]
"The police began a manhunt for the assailant, no one could imagine such harm being done to a child, let alone someone who was only two. Bernard and Daniel tried to flee town on their bikes, but they were caught out by the police."
[The boys are shown on their bicycles coming down the street when a rotund police officer with grey hair flags them down with his hand. Flanking him is a black male officer and a white female officer with black hair. The head officer smacks his baton in his hand several times]
Officer #1: 'Ello, 'ello, 'ello, what have we got here then?
"Ironically enough, being the numbskulls they were, Bernard and Daniel had done a very poor job at concealing the evidence, as shown by the paint on their clothes and redness on their shoes! They were booked into the station and placed under arrest."
[A camera flash cuts to a recreation of the mugshot of the boys is shown with the names on the boards rewritten to match the characters]
"They were eventually taken to court, and what a surprise it was seeing two ten-year-olds convicted of such a heinous crime. As they were being led to the courthouse, the people in the crowd jeered and cursed at them, calling for their blood!"
Man #1: "Hang the little brats!"
Woman #2: "Lock them up and throw away the key!"
Old Woman #3: "Give them an eternal spanking!"
[The rest of the crowd is shown giving out curses to the boys as they are led up the stairs into the courthouse. A gavel is shown being banged on the desk by the judge before it cuts to a juvenile facility]
"Bernard and Daniel were found guilty for the crime, and were sentenced to live out the rest of their adolescence in Her Majesty's Pleasure, a facility that held the most juvenile children in the country. There, the boys would stay until they were deemed fit to be brought back into society."
[Bernard and Daniel are shown sitting in a classroom setting with the other children being held in the facility. Bernard looks down at his desk while Daniel looks up with a sneer]
Bernard: "What's going to happen to us now?"
Daniel: "Probably just some old hag is gonna come in and lecture us on how to be good."
[The rest of the children all glance at each other nervously. At that moment, the sound of large thunderous footsteps can be heard coming towards the room]
"Suddenly, the children in the room went pale as the silhouette of a large person came to the door. Upon entering the room, Bernard and Daniel's eyes gawked! There standing before them was a tall woman with a long wooden stick in her hands and eyes that were as fierce as a bull. This was Miss Trenchwell!"
[A broad, bulky woman with dishwater blonde hair donning an olive green suit and gray slacks, with her name tag reading "Alice Trenchwell", smacks the stick in her hand with a loud SPECK! The children quiver as she looks down at the newest additions with a stare so cold, you'd think she was shooting daggers. She speaks with a thick Scouse accent]
Trenchwell: "So you're the new filthy rascals, eh? Let me tell you something, there will be no tomfoolery in my facility! Because I will not hesitate to beat the trouble out of you if I must! Do I make myself clear?!
[Miss Trenchwell slams her stick on Bernard's desk as the boy shivers under her gaze. The two boys gulp as the rest of the children keep their heads down]
"And so, for the next ten years, Bernard and Daniel were put through the wringer into learning how to behave themselves. They kept their heads down around Miss Trenchwell because they came to realize any funny business would set her off like a stick of dynamite. Daniel especially had to learn to mind his mouth when she stuck a bar of soap in it! Other times they were poked, prodded, and whipped!"
[A montage of the boys' punishment is shown as Trenchwell keeps her eye on the two like a hawk, including the bit of stuffing a creme bar of soap into Daniel's mouth, poking Bernard's side with her stick, and giving the two a harsh spanking]
"After a grueling decade behind the concrete walls, the two were let out into the world. They had to be given new identities due to vigilantes hunting them down for justice. To his credit, I suppose, Bernard never re-offended again, he went into seclusion after being released and never made mention of his criminal life. Daniel, on the other hand, had been aching to get out of juvie and seemed to throw away any sense of discipline. Which came back to bite him in the backside at least twice!"
[Bernard and Daniel, now depicted as grown-ups, are shown leaving the facility. Bernard keeps his head down as he walks to the left and down the street, Daniel on the other hand goes to a smoke shop to purchase a carton of cigarettes, giving a casual smoke of one of them, right up to him being placed behind bars]
"On his second outing in prison, he met a familiar face as they came by his cell."
?: "Well, well, well, if it isn't Danny boy."
"In spite of her now being an older woman, there was Miss Trenchwell donning a police uniform, still carrying the stick in her hand. She gave a cold, sadistic look to Daniel as she approached his cell."
Trenchwell: "Looks like you've got yourself in trouble again. Don't you worry, there's plenty of time for you to think it over. But until then…"
[Trenchwell smacks the stick on her palm as Daniel recoils from the memories]
"The Saulers never got over what happened that day, Mrs. Sauler especially felt immeasurable guilt for not being able to protect her son from such a horrible endeavor. The parents refused to accept any sort of apology from Bernard and Daniel as nothing they said could ever fix what happened…"
[The Saulers are shown mourning over a photo of Alex in the living room, back in the day to them now being older and still looking at the photo with solemn expressions]
"And every day on the date of the incident, Bernard and Daniel would hear the moaning wails of an infant in their heads, all throughout the night as it screeched and cried in anguish, as if Alex Sauler would never let them forget what they had done to him…"
[Bernard and Daniel are shown holding onto their ears as the sounds of a toddler crying echoes in their heads, occasionally calling out "Muma!" It happens in a sequence of them growing up, aching and clutching their ears as if to dull out the pain, but instead, it leads to a hallucination of the two having bricks chucked at them, paint splattered on their bodies, batteries stuffed in their mouths, dirt, dust, and mud being thrown or splattered on them. The final blow is delivered by Mrs. Sauler who stands defiantly above the two as she throws a brick onto the camera, ending the story with a crack]
[Cut back to reality in the theater]
Uncle Grizzly: If you doubt my word from this tale, let me assure you that every word of it is the truth. Still don't believe me?
[A quick cut to the audience shows Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo looking thoroughly traumatized from what they just saw]
Uncle Grizzly: Well, how would you like to see the photographic evidence?!
[The old man produces several photos hidden behind his back, the fillies scream in terror as they dash out of the room]
Uncle Grizzly: BAHAHAHAAAAAA! HUHUHUHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Spindleshanks: HEHEHEHEHE!
[Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo burst out of the theater in a terrible fright. They're so scared that they don't see Officer Bonkers and Officer Plod walking down the street on the lookout for them. They bump straight into the duo and all five fall onto the ground. Bonkers' eyes whirl around with star swirling around his head]
Bonkers: [dazed] Duuuuuuuuhhh, I knew I'd be a star one day.
Plod: [groans] Dear me…oh, I say, it's just you children, what the devil were you playing at?
[The three girls all begin talking at once]
Apple Bloom: There were two kids torturing an infant!
Sweetie Belle: They had bricks, batteries and buckets!
Scootaloo: A kid almost drowned!
Sweetie Belle: They're dead, they're all dead!
Apple Bloom: They took him from the store!
Scootaloo: They tied him with rope!
Plod: Calm, calm down, one at a time!
Bonkers: Yeeeeah, I can't write all this down, you got my head spinnin' like a top! My writing hand's gonna wear out!
[The fillies continue to fluster out random responses to the point where Mr. Plod has to pull out his police whistle to get their attention. This causes them to quiet down]
Mr. Plod: Now then, will you please state your names so we can sort this out?
Apple Bloom: Uh…Apple Bloom, officer, sir.
Sweetie Belle: S-Sweetie Belle, sir, Mr. Officer, sir…
Scootaloo: Scootaloo…sir…
Bonkers: Heeeeeey, now I remember, you're the lost kids we were told about!
Plod: Why, yes, indeed! You're Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash's children! Your guardians have been terribly worried over where you've been.
Bonkers: Weeeeeeell, now that we've got everyone accounted for, let's all go back, reunite, save the day, pie in the face, all the rest, wait, what-
[Bonker's hat opens up and smushes a banana cream pie into his face. Mr. Plod groans as he pinches the bridge of his nose]
Plod: Either way, let's get you girls back home, what-what?
[The fillies follow the police officers down the road, keeping their heads down until they reach their guardians who are waiting with bated breath. Once they see the fillies, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash all exchange a grateful breath and run towards their respective fillies]
Rarity: Oooooooh, Sweetie Belle, my darling little sister!
Applejack: Apple Bloom, you're alright!
Rainbow Dash: Scootaloo, still kickin' as always!
[The fillies are embraced by their elders, showing the most relief they've had all day]
Rarity: Where were you girls, we were frightened half to death!
Sweetie Belle: [gulps] We got led to this…theater…and saw a scary flick…
Apple Bloom: I-I don't feel too good…I wanna go home…
Applejack: Don't worry about that, sis, we're goin' right now.
Rainbow Dash: You gonna be okay, Scoot?
Scootaloo: I…I don't know…hmmmmmmmm…
Rainbow Dash: Ehhhhh, either way, thank you for your help, officers.
Plod: No problem, ma'am, just another day for the officers of the law.
Bonkers: Oh yeah, just another day of nearly getting blown up or shot to death or rescuing those in need.
[Bonkers gives a wide smile while Mr. Plod looks towards the camera like "...the f**k?"]
Rarity: There now, Sweetie Belle, let's go home and get you some warm cocoa…
The ponies are shown coming back to the station as Ryan passes by hauling the breakdown cranes Judy and Jerome behind him. The fillies keep close to their guardians as Bear arrives to take everyone back to the city. Upon boarding the train, the CMC watch outside of the window towards the town with anxious eyes…Salem stands on the platform with a content expression on his face]
Salem: Hmmhmmhmm, well, they did find something interesting after all.
[Salem chuckles as the commuter train leaves the station and heads back towards the mainline as Toby passes by on the opposite line with Henrietta in tow]
[The cuts to night time with a shot of the Apple Family's barn before panning towards the house…in her room, Apple Bloom is not having a pleasant sleep, indicated by the tossing and turning in her bed, accompanied by an incoherent mumbling…it cuts to the little earth pony standing in the middle of a black void…she looks around to see if anyone else is there…at that moment, a whistle causes her ear to flicker…Apple Bloom turns around and her pupils shrink at the sight of a cloaked individual standing in front of her…it stares at the filly with its red eyes piercing through the darkness]
?: It's quite ironic how fast a life can be taken just as it's started…but even then, I cannot prevent the inevitable…you've been lucky enough to make it this far…take my advice; …stay close with the ones you know…because one day, you'll find yourself with no one to turn to…and when that day comes…we'll meet each other again…
[The figure's cloak unveils to show a tall grey wolf with red pupils, revealing the sickles tucked behind his back. They clash with a metallic clang and a few sparks shoot up from them…Apple Bloom opens her eyes…the door to Applejack's room is shown opening as Apple Bloom peers in to find her older sister asleep…she knocks on the door a few times, causing AJ to stir]
Applejack: [groggily] Wha…huh…Apple Bloom, what's goin' on?
Apple Bloom: AJ…this is a bit embarrassin' to ask, but…can I sleep with you for tonight?
Applejack: [yawns] Couldn't sleep?
Apple Bloom: [shakes her head] No…
Applejack: Well…alright then, come on up, sugarcube…
[Apple Bloom walks over to the bed and climbs up on it, Applejack moves over to give some space…the younger sister settles into bed with her older sister keeping company…but as Applejack goes back to sleep, Apple Bloom stays up a little longer to think about the day's events…eventually, she decides to relax and finally goes back to sleep herself]
[A final shot of the exterior of the house before it cuts to black]
Character Guide:
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Derpy Hooves, Photo Finish, Hoity Toity - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Balto - Balto (1995)
Bonkers - Bonkers
Mr. Plod - Noddy
Salem Saberhagen - Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Tramp - Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Uncle Grizzly, Spindleshanks - Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids
Death - Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Oliver, Toad, Thomas, Toby, Whiff, Ryan, BoCo, Bear (D7101), Annie and Clarabel, Henrietta, Judy and Jerome, Duke, Millie - Thomas and Friends
Aladdin - Aladdin (1992)
Arnold Shortman - Hey Arnold!
Ash Fox, Kristofferson Silverfox - Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, Professor Utonium - The Powerpuff Girls
Bolt - Bolt (2008)
Cooler - Pound Puppies
Dexter - Dexter's Laboratory
Falco Lombardi - Star Fox
Fantomcat - Fantomcat
Fergus Fox, Hansel Husky - 101 Dalmatian Street
Fireman Sam - Fireman Sam
Frankie Foster - Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Garnet, Peridot - Steven Universe
Haruka Tenoh (Sailor Uranus), Michiru Kaioh (Sailor Neptune) - Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
Hercules - Hercules (1997)
Jack - Beastars
Kaa - The Jungle Book (1967)
Li Shang - Mulan (1998)
Mooch - 101 Dalmatians: The Series
Nala - The Lion King (1994)
Naveen - The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Norbert and Daggett - The Angry Beavers
Penelope Pitstop - Penelope Pitstop
Petunia Pig - Looney Tunes
Postman Pat - Postman Pat
Tod, Copper - The Fox and the Hound (1981)