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Raot
|
800
| 1 |
Braeburn,Gilda,Original Character,Prince Blueblood,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Rainbow Dash,Rarity,Trixie,Twilight Sparkle,Zecora,Crossover,Adventure,Comedy,Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Deduction is Magic- The Mysterious case of the Missing Magic
|
A silly sequel about Sherlock Hooves and Clopson.
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>Sherlock continues his case, but now he faces a much more powerful threat, and losing will have much more dire consequences.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-10T18:31:23+00:00
|
2011-09-10T18:31:23+00:00
| 1,614 |
“Sherlock, are you still on this?” Clopson asked, walking into the library, where Sherlock had set up camp and was currently residing in what seamed to be a fortress of books.
“Nothing. Absolutely bloody nothing.” He threw another book into the walls that surrounded him. “Mooriaty is nowhere. There is nothing on him.” He stomped against the ground. He took a deep breath and sighed. “It seams that that trail has gone cold.” He said sadly.
“Well, I might have some news to cheer you up.” Clopson said smiling.
“…Is it a murder?” Sherlock asked hopefully.
“Er, no… I just got back from a date.” Clopson said excitedly.
“Oh, who’s the lucky filly.” Sherlock said, feigning interest as he looked for another book that might hold the secrets he desired.
“Rainbow Dash.” He said. “Gave myself a spell to walk on clouds, she gave me a tour of Cloudsdale.”
“Hmm.” Sherlock acknowledged.
“…Isn’t that surprising?” Clopson fished.
“What? That you would ignore my advice? Not really. But I had hoped…” Sherlock was interrupted.
“She seamed to enjoy it very much!” Clopson said angrily. “I truly think that you are mistaken in your assumption of her. We had a good time, she showed me some tricks, gave me a tour of the rainbow factory, and she said she wanted to hang out more often…”
“That’s what FRIENDS do Clopson.” Sherlock responded. “Now if you are done vainly trying to prove me wrong could you help me look for anything concerning this bovine and his want for the Elements of Harmony…”
“We may have something for you.” Said a deep voice. Sherlock looked around and saw a guard at the front door. “The princess has asked for your presence immediately.”
Sherlock took on a grin. “It seams my enemy has made the first move my dear Clopson...”
“Wait! I was going to meet Rainbow Dash down at sugar cube corner…” Clopson said.
“She will also be present.” The guard responded. “It is very urgent.”
“What? Why…” Clopson asked.
“Did you not hear him? It’s urgent. I’m sure we will learn what happened once we get there.” Sherlock spoke, showing uncharacteristic patience.
“What?” Clopson asked in greater surprise. “Sherlock, you aren’t being yourself…”
“I’m usually eager to get the game over with… but this time, I may have an equal.” He smiled. “I will have to watch my step this time, I lost him before. I must think out my plans in much more detail. Clopson, you may have to be prepared to not be in the loop.” He said.
Clopson followed Sherlock and the guard and sighed, defeated. “So you mean it will be like every other day?”
Clopson took accounts of everything he saw when entering the palace. Gaurds were everywhere, security was very high, and there were almost no ponies without an armed escort. As they reached the throne room, and Celestias personal chambers, he began to hear somepony yelling…
“The GREAT and POWERFUL Trixie will not be treated in this way…” the doors were opened and Clopson took note of the blue Unicorn, with her star covered cloak and hat and her commanding demeanor.
“You just shut up you freak! I have half a mind to…” the other speaker was not a pony, and was in fact, a griffon.
“Stop it Gilda! The’re here…” It was Rainbow Dash flying in through the two.
“Dash! I’m so happy to…” Clopson started.
“Out of the way.” Sherlock pushed Clopson as he walked past. He seamed to ignore everyone else in the room… and there were quite a lot of ponies at that. There Vinyl Scratch, Prince Blueblood, many other royal ponies, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Breaburn had come all the way from Appaloosa, and countless others. There was even a Dragon, though, not fully grown.
In the middle of the room lay Celestia, a blanket wrapped around her legs, sides, covering all but her head and face. She seamed very sickly, and tired.
“Oh… Sherlock… thank you for coming.” Celestia said in relief with a smile. Sherlock did not respond, and instead looked around the room… She continued, hoarsely, “Tea…” a guard obliged, quickly leaning and coming back with a tray of tea. “Please sit.” She said to Sherlock. He did so. Celestia poured them both a cup.
“I have not been feeling well.” She said. “And… I’m afraid… I know why.” Sherlock nodded as she bent down to the cup on the floor and soothed herself with sip. “I… I suppose I should tell you all why you are here now.” The room went deadly silent. “… I can no longer lift the sun.” there was a collective gasp inside the room. Sherlock nodded calmly, indicating to go on. “… and that is not all.” She nodded to the cup. “My magic is gone. I can no longer even lift a cup to my lips.” She bent down once more, but had not the will to take another gulp. “and… I was given this message…” he nodded to a scroll by her side.
“If you would please read it… I fear that my voice is going too.” She closed her eyes in sorrow as Sherlock stood, took the letter, and read it aloud…
“Dear Princess Celestia, for too long have you ruled this land. I have acquired the Elements of Harmony, and with them, I have stolen back what is rightfully mine by birthright. Then sun and moon are now mine to command, And if you ever wish to see the sun again, you must relinquish you tyrannical hold over the throne as well as it’s treasury, it’s castle, and all other privileges.
Your faithful sister, Luna.”
The room was once again silent.
“She was gone this morning.” Celestia said. “Half her breakfast was eaten, but nothing else. As if she left on a whim…” Celestia stopped, trying not to let herself cry. “I… I called you over Sherlock… to make sure this was her writing.” She sniffed, a single tear going down her face. “The other detectives said there was no doubt… but if there is, please… please, tell me.” Sherlock kept quiet, deep in thought. He took his time, going back to his seat before the princess, reading the letter over and over again, and sipping his tea.
“I am keeping this a secret now.” Celestia broke the silence once more. “but when the next morning comes, and the sun does not rise… All of Equestria will panic. And I will be forced to give into her whims. That’s why I brought you all here. Twilight, all your friends, and Gilda and Trixe… to spread to word to Ponyville, the other griffons, and Hoofington. This disaster affects us all…”
Sherlock quickly stood, and all eyes fell upon him. He said not a word, turned, and walked to the door. No one stopped him. He opened the door, and trotted off.
“What does that mean…” Twilight said from her place in the room.
“Sherlock!” Clopson yelled, going after him. He quickly left the room and found Sherlock looking closely at the dirt in a nearby flour pot.
“What wrong?” Clopson said, immediately alarmed.
“Interesting plant.” He said.
Clopson eyed him suspiciously. “This is one of those things your not letting me in on isn’t it?”
“You getting more perceptive by the minute my dear Clopson.” Sherlock said with a wry smile and turning his attention to him. “Did you get the names of all the ponies… er, creatures inside.” He asked.
“Of course.” Clopson nodded.
“Now… when I walk back into that room, just act natural, and pretend to believe everything I say.” Sherlock ordered. “When everypony… er, every… one? Everyone? That’s sounds weird…. No, lets stick with everypony, sounds better.” He said. “Anyway, when they leave, stay. Eventually, there will be another letter. But do not be alarmed by what it says.” He continued. “well… act concerned.” He corrected himself.
“Sherlock, are you sure this is necessary…” Clospon asked.
“If we are to arrest all those involved and bring them to justice, yes.” He responded. “Now, I will need that list,” he said. Clospons took it from his pocket and gave to the detective. “Good.” He trotted back into the room.
“Sherlock?” Twilight was waiting nervously by the door. Everypony awaited Sherlocks next words.
“… I’m sorry. Those are in fact her words.” He said. Celestia bowed her head in shame. “However, all is not lost. If we can find her, I’m sure we can fight back against her.” Sherlock replied.
“… I am so sorry everypony… I am so sorry.” Celestia spoke, putting her head down against the ground.
“I am personally not feeling very well.” Sherlock said. “I believe we should warn our respective nations, and return here before the ‘morrow .” He said. “by that time I’m confidant I will find the location of your sister.”
“… of course.” Celestia said raising her head, and mustering the strength to reply. “I… I’ll rally the guards. And make an official statement.”
“I’ll help with anything you need…” Clopson said politely.
“You won’t leave her side.” Sherlock added.
“Oh, you really mustn’t, my guards are more the capable…”
“He must be there to… take notes… just in case.” Sherlock stated. “Now I really must go, I’m truly not feeling well, but I assure you, I will settle this.” Sherlock then left the room rather quickly.
The others then began to leave, Trixie, Gilda, Twilight and her friends, the small dragon, and all the others. And once they had all left, Clopson was alone with Celestia and her guards.
“Don’t worry your majesty, I’m sure things will clear up soon. Sherlock is on the case…” An incoming letter then interrupted Clopson. It appeared before Celesta and fell to the ground. “Oh, I will get that for you.” He picked it up with his magic.
“Will you read it out for me?” Celestia said. “I did not wish to scare anyone… but I feel my sight is failing me as well.”
Clopsosn obliged, but was dumbstruck by what it said,
“If you attempt to fight back, I will use my magic to tear Sherlock’s brilliant brain apart, piece by piece.” Clopson paused and his heart skipped a beat. “In fact, I have already started.”
|
Raot
|
800
| 2 |
Braeburn,Gilda,Original Character,Prince Blueblood,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Rainbow Dash,Rarity,Trixie,Twilight Sparkle,Zecora,Crossover,Adventure,Comedy,Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Deduction is Magic- The Mysterious case of the Missing Magic
|
A silly sequel about Sherlock Hooves and Clopson.
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>Sherlock continues his case, but now he faces a much more powerful threat, and losing will have much more dire consequences.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-17T18:01:41+00:00
|
2011-09-17T18:01:41+00:00
| 1,593 |
After the letter, Clopson decided to leave the princess and return to the library once more. There was nothing else for him in Canterlot, and he needed to find Sherlock. He returned to find no pony home, but he did find a letter sitting right inside the door with Sherlocks crude writing style all over it…
“Twilight, since you will probably find this first, I would like to ask you to ignore anything Clopson, or anyone, says about my mind. I am perfectly sane, for the time being at least, but I will need some materials. By Froggy Bottom Bog is a peculiar light blue plant by the name of “Brazzalberry.” It is a berry with a bitter, acquired taste, and the juice will easily stain, so do be careful not to get any on your coat. I will need about two buckets full.
Now then, Clopson, if you are reading this then you have disobeyed my orders. Good for you, your taking the initiative. I doubt I will be able to dissuade you from attempting to aid me so I have a job for you as well. I have a contact in the criminal underworld that I was about to meet later today, but under the circumstances, I am currently preoccupied. They were to meet me just south of Ponyville when the sun was at it’s highest, they don’t know what I look like, so you will have to impersonate me. The password is, “password”. They are not very intelligent criminals.
And if you are worried for my well being, rest assured, I have everything taken care of. I am currently on my way to an old friend and the one of the greatest and most knowledgeable scientists in Equestria. Good luck, if all goes well we will see each other soon. But I must cut this letter short, I am short of time, and truly do not feel well…”
And from there, there were no comprehensible words. It looked as if he had given up halfway through and simply scribbled a few words of goodbye in chicken scratch.
Clopson considered trying to track down his old friend, but finally reasoned to follow the directives. If it was true that Luna could disassemble his mind… he had to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible.
Clopson arrived at the scene at the designated time. “Hello?” he asked. The rocky and dirt covered landscape was very different from what Clopson was used to, especially the holes that eerily littered the ground all around him.
“Password!?” Asked a hissing sound from the blackness of one of the holes. Clopson jumped and tried to look down.
“Password?” Clopson responded.
“Yes password!” A diamond dog jumped from the crevice, followed by two others from behind Clopson, surrounding the unicorn. He prepared for a fight, but continued to look at the diamond dog in front of him with the most diplomatic intention possible.
“You are Sherlock?” asked the one that Clopson supposed was the leader.
“Yes.” Clopson replied. “I heard you had information…”
“First, deal.” The leader hissed. “We want gems.” He said manically. One of the others started to drool. “Precious harmony gems! We give you information, you give us gems!”
“No deal.” Clopson replied. “Those are the princesses...”
“No No No!” The dog interrupted. “News travels fast, yes, we know Luna is the one. The one he called Gappy. She is who you want. Princess wants sister more then gems…”
“Gappy? Him?” Clospon asked.
One of the diamond dogs smacked the leader from the back of the head. “No! Why did you tell him that! Now the bull will stop giving us gems like said he would…”
“Stupid!” the third dog smacked both of them to silence them. “No talking about Gappy! No Bull talk till he promises Harmony gems…”
Clopson thought for a moment. “… I don’t think you know anything.” He started. “You could just be making it up…”
“We no lie about Gappy, Bull had paper with Gappy’s name. Said she gets the gems and not us!” the Dog said in a rage. “We no lie! We want gems, you want Gappy, we give you Gappy, you give us gems!” the dog reasoned. “No lies!”
“Really?” Clopson asked with a smile. “I don’t think you even know what the bulls name is.”
“Yes we do! He is…” on of the diamond dogs covered his mouth with a paw.
“Mooriaty said not to say his name!”
“Oh… right…” the other remembered.
“…Well, this has been very illuminating.” Clopson said. “but I am afraid I will have to decline to your deal…”
“NO! Wait! We have more…” said one.
“Yes! Yes! There is more!” spoke another. Clopson hesitated; he wondered how much more he could trick out of them…
“I don’t believe you. Besides, everything you’ve given me already is useless. I can’t deduce anything from it, nor can I find a trail to follow…”
“A cave!” said the leader.
“Where?”
“A cave in a mountain is where we met with a dragon. No one sees Mooriarty except the dragon. No one else knows…” the dog said. “Promise us the gems, and we will tell you where. But we will say nothing else till then!” he shrieked.
Clospon could tell that was all he could get without any promises. “… I’m sorry, I can’t promise anything. Because they are not mine to give…”
“What?!” the leader exclaimed.
“But I, and the rest of Equestria, thank you for your information…”
“No No No!” the leader shrieked again. “Pony give us gems, or we take pony and make you find gems!” the dogs stepped forward.
Clopson quickly knew what his odds here against three diamond dogs, and waited no time in turning tail and fleeing from the scene diamond dogs where known for digging, not running, he could easily escape them.
At least, that is what he thought before a dog in armor came up from a hole right in front of him. Clopson quickly dodged the fiends claws, just to find his path blocked by another. He zig zaged between the numerous holes in the ground, barely keeping out of the reach of the dogs, until he realized, to his utter horror, that he was already surrounded. They had herded him into a corner, with his back to a rocky stone wall, he turned to face his pursuers, who now numbered in the dozens, and tried to ward them off with a glow from his horn… he was not nearly talented enough to actually cast some sort of combat spell, but perhaps it would scare them off…
It didn’t and they closed in, their tall bodies started to block out the sky and cast his body in shadows. He soon lost sight of the sun, the clouds, and the sky.
He then suddenly heard a kind of cracking sound that shook the foundation of the earth he stood upon. He looked up and saw the huge rock wall he had his back to start to crunble and fall, forwards, onto him and the dogs. They all began to bark out wildly and Clospon knew that he had no chance to escape. It was chaos, everywhere, and he would not be able to weave through the crowd and save himself in time. He closed his eyes tightly, shutting out all color and light from his sight as he prepared himself for a crushing pain and an eternity of darkness.
But to his surprise, he felt no pain. In fact, he felt a sort of… weightlessness. And instead of darkness, he saw light. Bright light, in the form of every color of the rainbow, and, with no small amount of fear, he peaked open an eye to see what death looked like.
He was looking down upon the world from hundreds of feet up, traveling at a dizzying speed. He was flying. There was no pain, and no darkness, and no cold. He felt a strange, tight warmth in his chest and he found great wonder in simply staring down at the world as a spirit, like a god.
“Your welcome.” He heard Rainbow Dash say. Clopson felt great confusion and looked around, unable to see the Pegasus. Until he finally chose to look up, and saw her bright blue face looking down at his own. He then looked down and saw her hooves wrapped around his body.
“Oh… why yes, thank you.” Clopson said, still in shock.
“The diamond dogs sometimes don't look where they’re digging and make the mountains fall. Not very bright.” Dash said.
“Yes... quite.” Was all Clopson could muster. “You uh… thank you. Very much.” He let out a long sigh of relief as they began slowing down and gracefully falling lower to the ground. They touched down and Clopson returned to his shaking legs trying to regain his equilibrium.
“So.” He shook his head, turning towards Dash once more, with his senses slowly returning to him. “You… how did you know? How did you get there so fast…”
“Well, I saw the letter on Twilights door and I thought it could be dangerous around here so I decided to, you know… check up on you. ” She said with a smile.
“That’s very thoughtful, and dare I say, I owe my life to you because of it.” She blushed.
“It was nothing, really.” Clopson began to feel another warmth inside his chest when he saw her face, and cleared his throat, trying to keep his mind on the task at hand.
“So, er, they said something about a dragon. Do you know of any dragon caves nearby.” He asked.
“Yea, there’s actually only one close enough to reach in a day.” She said. “I’ll take you there.” Clopson smiled as she once again held him tightly and lifted him up into the air. Clopson truly felt that he was bonding with her now. He began to scoff at Sherlocks warnings now. What did he know of relationships.
“Thank you, I’m not sure what I would do without you.” He said with all the charm he could muster.
Rainbow Dash smiled and responded, “What are friends for?”
|
Raot
|
800
| 3 |
Braeburn,Gilda,Original Character,Prince Blueblood,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Rainbow Dash,Rarity,Trixie,Twilight Sparkle,Zecora,Crossover,Adventure,Comedy,Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Deduction is Magic- The Mysterious case of the Missing Magic
|
A silly sequel about Sherlock Hooves and Clopson.
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>Sherlock continues his case, but now he faces a much more powerful threat, and losing will have much more dire consequences.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-21T01:02:53+00:00
|
2011-09-21T01:02:53+00:00
| 1,662 |
“Are you okay?” Dash asked, setting Clopson down at the caves entrance.
“Yes, of course.” He said, attempting to hide the degree at which her previous statement phased him. “You uh… you should stay out here. In case things get hairy…”
“No way!” Dash responded quickly. “I can handle myself. I saved you last time didn’t I?”
“I just don’t want anything happening to you that’s all…”
“Well, I don’t want anything happening to you either. We’ll go together.” She said. And that was that. He didn’t try to convince her further, but he did lead the way, with his horn aglow. Through many twists and turns they found themselves in a huge cavern, with the biggest dragon Clopson had ever seen taking up most of the space. Surrounding him were mountains of gems and gold, so much so, that if the cave went any further, Clopson could not tell, because the dragons girth and the treasure abounding around him filled every last crack. The dragon, at the sight of them, bared his fangs, each tooth was the size of Clopson, horn to tail, and he spoke in a booming voice, but Clopson realized by the tone that he must have been whispering. The Dragons voice could bring the whole Mountain crashing down with a word if he wished…
“What business do you have?” the Dragon asked. Clopson looked over the dragon once more. The teeth had distracted him, but he now looked along the face and body of the creature, finding a long beard coming down from his chin, a moustache stretching from one side of his face to the other, and his scales chipped and torn. Clopson had never known an old dragon, and wondered how old the thing truly was… he nervously introduced himself.
“I am Clopson, and this in my… Friend. Rainbow Dash. I am a detective, and I would like to ask you some questions…”
The huge eyes wavered on him, and then turned to Dash. His massive eyelids blinked for a moment, and showed a slight dilation.
“You… the rainbow one.” He spoke. “…My son spoke of one such as you. He said you kicked him in the face.”
Clopson gulped and looked to Dash, who, wide eyed, nodded and winced with a degree of fear, and remarkably, a bit of pride.
The titanic beast giggled, making the earth shake slightly, and debris fall from the walls and ceiling. “I’m sure deserved it… little brat. But I am sorry, I digress..” He spoke slowly, like every word was precious, and deserved great care to speak. “My Name is Death-Engine McRail-Spike.”
“Er, that’s… that’s quite the name.” Clopson started.
“Dragon names are a bit… Different then Pony names.” He explained. “My father, Rail-Spike McDagger-Fire, once told me a story…”
“Not to, um, interrupt, I am sure you have many good stories.” Clopsosn tried to interrupt the slow speaking dragon as politely as he could. “But I am trying to find The Elements of Harmony, And Luna, Celestias sister.” He said. “I heard that a dragon in the area has some… connection to the crime. That is why I am here.”
“Oh.” The dragon scales cracked loudly from disuse above his eyes as his one of his brows rose. “And who told you that?”
“A Confidential source.” Clopson said, fearing for the Dogs safety against this thing. “They told me you had a connection with Luna, Mooriatry, the Elements of Harmony, and someone called Gappy…”
“Gappy?” the Dragon showed genuine confusion. “Gappy… Gappy…” he mumbled to himself. And then in a moment, a loud booming sound came from the belly of the beast, Dash and Clopson covered their ears in pain and fear before Clopson finally realized that the roar was one of laughter. Once he had his fill, he continued, “Those illiterate Dogs…”
“What do you mean by that?” Clopson asked.
After a short, not as loud chuckle, the dragon responded, “Nothing. Nothing at all. I’m afraid I can’t help you with your investigation.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?” Clopson asked.
“What are you going to do?” the dragon moved his gargantuan face, which was the size of a three story house, and moved it closer to The Unicorn. “Arrest me?” Clopson kept silent for a moment, and the dragon continued, “I’d like to see you try.”
He quickly realized that this dragon would not give him anything. And there was no way force way he could force a confession…
“Challenge accepted!” Clopson heard Dash cry and leap into the air in response.
“Dash! No!” She darted over the slow dragons head and grabbed one of his massive, bone horns, and tried to pull it back with all the force in her wings… to no avail.
She then dashed down to his beard and moustache and grabbed a clump of hair in her hooves, using her legs and wings to pull as hard as she could towards the mouth of the cave.
Again, the Dragon did not budge, and simply watched the poor pony make a fool out of herself.
With a grunt, she tried to lift on of the dragons claws from the stone ground, but it stayed stiff, and unmoving. With roar of anger, she zoomed out of the cave, turned, gained speed and aimed a hoof to the dragons forehead.
A horrible sound, resembling the sound of a bell shattering onto hard earth, was created from this clash. Dash hit the ground nursing her fore hoof in agony as the Dragon maneuvered his old eyes down to gaze upon the tiny creature.
“Dash…” Clopson made his way over to her and tried to comfort her.
“I’m fine!” she snapped in anger, ripping her hoof away from the doctor. Dash curled into a ball on the floor, facing away from Clopson in shame. He heard a sob and tried laying next to her with a comforting hoof on her side.
“Was there anything else you wished to try?” the Dragon asked wryly. Clopson now looked at the old dragon with more confidence. A more powerful instinct to beat this thing gave him the will to try. But what? What could he possibly do to get this dragon to talk…
“…How about a game?” Clospon asked. The Dragon raised his brow once more. “A battle of witts. I will ask you a question, a fair question, and you will do the same. And we will continue until one of us outwits the other.” He said. “If you win, I will leave, and whatever plans you have with Luna and Mooiraty will go on unmolested. But if I win. Then you will tell me everything.”
The dragon smiled, using muscles and scales that had obviously gone unused for perhaps a century. “I have a mind that has eons on yours. Do you know how many I have triumphed over in the past?”
“No. But I doubt you have ever had a true cause other then treasure motivating you… and I have something I fight for.” He said.
“Fine. But what is a, “fair” question?” The dragon asked.
“It cannot require information that either party is not privy to. No ‘what is jingling in my pocket’ bullocks.” The dragon nodded his house of a head. “And if multiple answers exist, all must be accepted.” Clopson racked his brain, trying to think of anything the dragon could use to corrupt that game.
“Sounds fair.” The dragon agreed. “But if I win, I want a reward”
“What do you want? I suppose I could help you get more gems…”
“I don’t want gold or gems. I have enough riches.” He spoke. “I have gold and Emeralds, and Rubies and Topaz, and Turquois and Opal, and Diamond and Perl, they have simply lost their color in my eyes.” He spoke with great age. “I have had every treasure known in Equestria, from food to books and magical items. But there is something I have not had. In many, many eons… youth.” His eyes went down upon Rainbow Dash. “I can no longer see your colors, but I can feel the vibrant life inside her… I want her. Should I win, her life is forfeit.”
“I can’t let you…”
“Do it.” Dash said. Clopson gaped at her for a moment as the pony wiped her eyes.
“But, but…”
“We need to get the elements, and this is the only way I can help… fine.” She said. “Do it.”
“I will let you start.” The dragon responded with a smile
Clopson gulped. He was not Sherlock, but he had his fair share of puzzles to ask. “Alright, so, a plane flies and crashes on the border of Equestria and Canterlot…”
“Survivors aren’t buried.”
“Horseapples. I guess you’ve heard that one.” Clopson said. He now realized what kind of predicament he was in. this dragon had probably heard every riddle ever made…
“My turn.” The dragon spoke. “The man who made it does not want it, the man who needs it does not know it, and the man who bought it does not need it. What Is it?”
Clopson knew this one! What was it though?! It was on the tip of his tongue… no… no… He stomped his hoof against the ground and shut his eyes tight. Think Clopson think…
“Time is ticking.” The Dragon spoke. “I am getting impatient.”
“There were no rules on a time limit…” Clopson said.
“That was your fault.” The dragon responded. He then, slowly, took a claw to one of his treasures, a huge hourglass, and turned it over. “So now I get to make my own. And I want an answer before the sand runs out.”
“I… I…” he had to think of something. The hourglass was not set for an hour… he had only a minute. And the seconds went by at the speed of his every breath.
“Three, two…” the dragon counted down as the last grain was about to fall.
“A bra!” Clopson screamed. The cave was filled with silence.
“That’s not the…”
“But it works. ” Clopson smiled, his face filled with sweat. “The rule says if a question had multiple answeres, they must all be acceptable.” The dragon was deep in thought for a moment,
“The man who made it does not want it…” the dragon repeated under his breath. He chuckled. “Fine. It passes.” He said. “This time.”
Now it was Clopsons turn. He tried to think of the most abstract riddle he had ever heard…
“Your turn.” The old dragon spoke again in impatience.
“Okay, so…” Clopson started. “Two brothers stand at a crossroads, one always tells the truth, and one always lies, and you get one question to find out which way leads to salvation…”
“If you were your bother which way would you say lies salvation?” The dragon stated.
“So I… guess you heard that one too?” Clopson said awkwardly, tried not to look into Dashes glaring face.
“I swear, next you will be asking me what walks of four legs in the morning.” The dragon rolled his eyes.
“I hadn’t actually heard that one…” Clopson said, but then he quickly corrected himself. “Oh, well, I mean, yes, everyone has heard of that one. Four legs and all that. Good classic.”
The dragon sighed and then spoke, ”Many years ago, Before Luna fought against her sister, and before The Elements of Harmony were ever created, Celestia and Luna where testing their magic. I had only just spawned, I was a baby dragon, in an old world that many say is filled with arcane magic… but to me, it is simple magic…”
Clopson knew right away that he had not heard this one before…
“It was Celestia who opened my egg, but it was not her face that I saw first… it was Lunas. She was beside Celestia, and try as she might, she failed to open my brothers egg.” The Dragon closed his eyes, remembering the sad fate he witnesses so long ago. “She never passed that test. And I grew up an only child, and though I had been hatched by Celestia, I bonded with Luna at birth, and always saw her as a teacher… and a mother.” There was a silence. And then he spoke.
“What is my brothers name?”
“That’s Bull!!” Rainbow Dash accused with a scream. “You’re breaking the rules…”
“You already have all the information you need.” The Dragon spoke nonchalantly. “But I will give you time. If you need it.”
Clopson took a deep breath and Dash continued to curse and cradle her injured hoof. He looked at the dragon, his eyes, his scales, his horn, his moustache, he recalled the dragons name, “Kill-Switch McRail-Spike…”
Clopson had an epiphany… but was it possible?...
“…Your Brother.” Clopson started. “…Is it Spike?”
The dragon sighed. “Correct. Though, I doubt even Celestia recognized the egg.”
“Wow… Spike’s gona look like you?!” Dash asked in surprise.
“Yes… the mustache is unique in our family.” He said. “It shows our sea serpent lineage… but I digress. It is your turn Clopson.” The Dragon continued.
“…” Clopson had an idea. “Though I never hide, I only come out at night. The blacker it is, the brighter my light. Only in darkness am I seen. Death is my brother, and life my bride to be. What am I?”
The Dragon paused… his eyes shifted up and to the right, and then he smiled once more.
“Where did you hear this riddle…”
“Answer, and then I will tell.” Clopson responded. The mass of scales shifted and he brought a single claw to his temple in thought.
“… I give up.” The Dragon said in pleasant defeat. “Now tell me.”
“The answer, is “A Dream”.” Clopson said. The Dragon snapped his claws in frustration and smiled.
“Of course! But where did you hear it…”
“I made it up!” Clopson said with pride. The Dragon guffawed and slammed his hand against the ground, shaking the mountains very foundation.
“Of course you did! It has been so long since I spoke to a creative soul…” he took a short breather to regain his composure.
“A deal is a deal, I will cooperate.” He said happily. He rested his body back onto the stone earth and finished, “What do you want to know?”
|
Raot
|
800
| 4 |
Braeburn,Gilda,Original Character,Prince Blueblood,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Rainbow Dash,Rarity,Trixie,Twilight Sparkle,Zecora,Crossover,Adventure,Comedy,Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Deduction is Magic- The Mysterious case of the Missing Magic
|
A silly sequel about Sherlock Hooves and Clopson.
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>Sherlock continues his case, but now he faces a much more powerful threat, and losing will have much more dire consequences.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-02T18:35:09+00:00
|
2011-10-02T18:35:09+00:00
| 1,473 |
“Where are the Elements of Harmony?” Clopson asked the immense dragon.
“Further in my cave.” The dragon answered. “Hidden by the Bull, Mooriaty.”
“And who is Gappy?” Clopson asked.
“Oh, you will meet her.” The dragon said, raising one of his arms. Beyond the wall of scales was a thick swath of darkness that Clopsons eyes could not penetrate.
“Just remember… all is not as it seems.” The dragon whispered as Clopson began walking. He heard another set of hooves and turned back to see Dash limping after him.
“No, Dash…”
“You can’t stop me, I’m going with you.” She said in annoyance. She winced at every step. “I’m fine, I think it’s just a sprain…”
“You can’t. Look, the best thing you can do is go back to Ponyville and get help. Tell them I found the Elements and to come here.”
“No! I Said I’m going with you!” Dash insisted. “I won’t let you go in there alone.”
“I can take care of myself…”
“So can I!” She fought back. “See, I can walk…” She winced and fell to one of her knees in pain. Clopson tried not to show his annoyance toward her, as he helped her up. She flew a foot into the air with one flap of her wings and smirked.
“Dash, Please, I love you, but you need to go back…” he tried to push her out of the cave with his forehead on hers.
“Well what if I love you too! I don’t want you to…” Clopson turned his head up, and met her lips with his own. Dash was immediately silenced in the air as Clopson kissed her in anger and passion.
It lasted only a moment, or at least, it felt like only a moment, and then Clopson broke it off and spoke, “If there is any trouble, I want royal guards on their way here. That it the best way you can help.”
Dash, still shell shocked, nodded once.
“Thank you. I promise I will come back safely after this is all through.” Clopson then turned and walked into darkness, still wondering what had come over him.
After a few moments the dragon lowered his arm, and all light was gone. Clopson sighed and spoke to himself.
“Ha… if only Sherlock could have seen that.” He began to light up his horn. “Just wait until he finds out…”
“You can tell him in just a moment.” Clopson suddenly noticed two eyes, and two horns, just inches away from his face. He could not react fast enough, the eyes burst forward at him, the horns going to either side, and he felt the massive skull of a big black bull crash into his own.
“I used to wonder what friendship could be!” Clopson awoke to the singing of some horrendous creature and a pounding headache. Clopson observed his surroundings, he was in a dimly lit room with some obnoxious Pony singing the tune.
“Until you all shared this… this… erm…” Clopson suddenly recognized the voice and stood up. Clopson was in a small cell with a iron bar door. The voice was coming from an adjacent Cell that he could not see into.
“Sherlock?!” he asked in amazement.
“No…No… not Sherlock… Horseapples, what’s the next word…” The voice said. “Sherlock is definitely not the right word… wait, what is a Sherlock?” There was no doubt. That voice was Clospons companion, Sherlock Hooves.
“Sherlock, it’s me, Clopson.” He said anxiously. “How did you get here? Did you find the Elements? Are you okay?!...”
“Big adventure, tons of fun!...” Sherlock carried on, but stopped. “Tons of fun, tons of fun… what comes after tons of fun?… The song can’t end there.” Clopsons heart sank. “Hey, er, who’d you say you were? You know the next part?” he asked Clopson.
“I’m… I’m your partner, Clopson…” He tried to remind the deteriorating Sherlock.
“No no that’s not it…” Sherlock said in anger. At this point there was a metal clang from elsewhere down the hallway. “Oh, it that who I think it is?” Clopson heard Sherlock say. “The old G.A.P.T. is it?”
Clopson recognized those letters. Gapt, Gapy… he could see a Diamond dog misreading that… but whos G.A.P.T.?
“That’s Great And Powerfull Trixie to you!” Shouted the blue unicorn as she passed Clopsons cell. Clopson was immediately at the bars.
“You! It was you!” he said. Trixie flinched at the sudden movement, but then smiled.
“Hmm, foalish colt…” she continued walking until she got to Sherlocks cell. Clopson tried to adjust his head, but he was still unable to see what was going on.
“Get up!” Clopson heard a smacking sound
“Don’t you hurt him!” Clopson yelled, slamming himself against the grate. there as a silence, a grunt, and Sherlock walked out of his cell with a ball and chain around his back leg. Trixie then unlocked Clospons door and locked another ball and chain around his leg as well. Sherlock seemed to be nursing his eye as both Colts were pushed down the hallway as fast as their chain would let them.
“Well well well.” A booming voice was heard after traveling through the darkness for some time. They were now in a large cavern, and with a click, a skylight opened and the coliseum type room lit up from the moons rays up above. The voice belonged to a large black bull near the center, waiting for them. The Elements of Harmony were on the ground around him at his feet.
“We finally meet face to face.” Mooriarty finished as the Colts were forced to bow down below the Bovine.
“Face to face… to face… to face…” Sherlock mumbled incoherently. The bull chuckled. “Now you see the power of the Elements. Now you know that Lunas threats were justified. She has an army on her side, and a new Republic is on the rise.” He said. “With me as treasurer, And Trixie in second command. You were good to come this far. But even you could not fight against The Magic of the Elements. Even you, can loose” He spoke to Sherlock.
Sherlock looked up, around, and then stood up as if at a dinner party and dusted himself off. As if he had suddenly become sober, “You sir are mistaken.” He took a hoof up and pointed at the bull. “You are the one who has lost.” Mooriarty chuckled loudly again. Clopson kept hoping that Dash and the Royal Gaurds would show up soon…
“Please, Explain.” The Black Bull asked politely, like a gentlecolt. ”I want to hear this because when absolute power shifts, and Luna demands that you be sent to the sun along with her sister…”
“You have no magic.” Sherlock interrupted and explained. “And you never did.” He spat on the ground, trying to remove something unpleasant from his mouth.
“I realized,” he started his story, “The moment I saw Celestia, that the Elements had nothing to do with this crime. And I knew that my greatest challenge would not be securing them, but finding you.” He looked deep into the bovine’s eyes.
“Celestias entire body was covered by a blanket, but she was not suffering from fever or cold, so the blanket must have been to cover some deformity…” He cleared his throat, every moment seamed to portray the brown colt as a little more sane then he had been before.
“And when I got a good look at her up close, my theory was confirmed. She was covered in blue spots under her cloak. It was Poison. She was suffering from Poison Joke. A peculiar plant that grows in the Everfree forest, sometimes the effects of which take away the magic from unicorns, and betray the natural abilities of anyone who touched it. It’s highly potent, but I needed to know how it had gotten into the princess system.”
“This too was easy to solve, as I recognized the taste in the tea immediately. Realizing that the culprit had access the tea, they must have been able to sneak about the castle, and they were almost certainly in the room at the time as well to make sure their lie was believed. Also, I knew it could not have been Luna…”
“Why not?” The Bull was actually impressed, and was enjoying the spectacle before him.
“Firstly, she had left her room on a whim, with breakfast half eaten. No one commits treason on a whim. Secondly, the letter. It was addressed as “Luna.” Not “Nightmare moon” but, “your faithful sister, Luna.” And Luna would never do this. Not to mention that, while the writing was her style, her word choice and syntax portrayed vanity and greed, not jealousy or anger. So I knew that some greedy, vain person in the room was the prime suspect.”
Sherlock smiled. “I quickly left the room as calmly as I could and spat my tea into the nearest flowerpot. I had already touched it, but I knew it was only a small dose. Lunas kidnapper, and the thief I was looking for, had seen me drink the poison, and I knew they would believe that my mind, my greatest asset, would soon be deteriorating. A good criminal would jump on the chance to take credit for such an event. Especially one that is already accustomed to taking undue credit.” He motioned to Trixie with a smile.
“So my mission was three fold. Get myself cured quickly, find the criminals involved, and save both princess Luna and the Elements of harmony. I told Clopson to stay and give me a list of everyone there so I could start my search, and I also gave a note to Clopson on the door so that he would eventually meet me here as well. While this was going on, I visited the greatest chemist I know, Zecora of the Everfree forest. She quickly gave me a cure and I was on my way…”
“And that was when we found you.” Mooriatry chuckled.
“… yes. You did find me quite quickly…”
“That’s because I knew.” Mooriarty laughed. “I’m not just muscle Sherlock, and I’m not just a criminal… my job is to think like you. To outsmart the law. I knew every step you would make. I knew your would find the poison joke, and I knew you would not tell anybody.” The Bull then leaned down at the small ponys before him “And I know your plan now. You just want to waste time until the Royal Gaurds come to rescue you.” Clopson gulped. “Well, that’s not going to happen. Because you’re not in the Everfree forest, and your not in a dragons cave. No one knows where we are. Face it hooves… you’ve been outmatched.”
“That was Clopson plan.” Hooves motioned to Clopson. “Not mine.”
“Oh?” The Bull giggled. “And what was your plan?”
“Brazalberry.” Sherlock spoke the single word.
“… And that is?” Mooriarty asked.
“A peculiar berry found in Froggy bottom bog. Very bitter tasting…” He spat on the ground again. “But a little goes a long way. It is a very powerful light blue dye that can make even the darkest pony look a bright blue, especially in moonlight. Concentrated and filtered, about a bucket of berries can be swallowed, but easily vomited. And a stomach full of the berries is enough to dye a small Alicorn…”
Trixie lifted her eyes and threw off her cloak, showing a pair of wings. “Luna wasn’t that hard to free, and it wasn’t that hard to knock out Trixie… you really need to get smarter comrades.”
Mooriatry flinched at the realization that he was now alone. “So, as I was saying.” Sherlock once again spat out the last of the dye in his mouth. “You are the one who has lost.” Mooriarty quickly tried to dash towards an exit, but Luna quickly blocked the exit with her horn aglow. Sherlock and Clopsons manacles were quickly released and they two went after the Bull. He jumped up, climbing up onto the wall and inched his way up towards the skylight
“Don’t let him get away!” Sherlock yelled as Luna swooped up and rammed the huge Bovine off the wall and back to the ground. Morriarty reeled and rolled back to his feet, trying to exit through one of the doors.
But Clopson blocked his way “You’ll have to go through me first…” Mooriaty lowered his horns and charged faster. “Oh bugger.” Clopson dived out of the way as Mooriarty charged out the door in order to save himself. He quickly gave chase along with Sherlock and Luna as well through the caverns of the huge underground tunnel. Clopson wondered where they were for a moment, but could not keep his mind on that for long. The bovine kept blending with the shadows around him, making him harder to follow and track, until finally the three reached an exit.
As they found the opening to the outside, Clopson gasped. They were exiting the very mountain that supported the Princess castle. He could very easily see Ponyville from here…
“Stop!” The ponies turned to see a patrol of guards flying their way.
“Mooriatry just escaped!” Sherlock stated. “Luna has been apprehended and the Elements are in that cave.” He motioned to the cave. The guards quickly divided, and checked the authenticity of Sherlocks story as well as sent out and search party for the missing Bovine.
The gaurds quickly authenticated and acquired the Elements of Harmony, but after many hours, the guards had returned with nothing. Mooriaty had escaped.
12 hours later.
“Well, at least the sun is up.” Clopson said cheerily, Sherlock holding a steak to his bruised eye. He gazed out of the window of their apartment in Canterlot at the sunrise. “And Luna gets a bit of attention. Until Celestia gets better, she will be doing double time I guess with the sun and the moon.”
“Yes, And the Elements were found… Job well done.”
Clopson looked to his friend in surprise. “Your not angry that Mooriarty escaped? After all that work to corner him?... you even vomited on a princess! I’m sure she didn’t appreciate that idea…”
“We will find him.” Sherlock assured Clopson, not addressing the other issue. “But we won this time,” Clopson suddenly noticed Sherlock was holding a blue syringe in his hooves.
“What that?” Clopson asked in surprise.
“Concentrated Poison Joke…” Sherlock explained with interest. “It seams that it actually had the opposite of the intended affect. While under it’s influence I felt… clearer. Faster. I actually doubt that I would have outwitted Morriaty if it weren’t for this drug…”
“You can’t be serious, don’t…” it was too late, and Sherlock stuck the syringe in his arm and injected the poison. ”Sherlock!” Clopson exclaimed in surprise.
“Don’t worry.” Hooves sat back in his chair “It’s just a test. I made sure it was a safe amount.” Clopson angrily left his seat and the stormed out of the apartment. “Oh don’t be like that!” Sherlock said, rolling his eyes, but by that time, Clopson had already slammed the door
“He never listens to me!” Clopson said in Pony Joes donut shop next to a cup of hot chocolate. “I can forgive him most of the time but now he’s gone too far. I’m his Doctor! And he went and…”
“I think we should stop seeing each other.” Clopson stopped rambling and turned to Rainbow Dash in shock.
“W… What?” Clopson asked. He felt his heart skip a beat.
“It’s not you, it’s just… I want to stay friends.” She shrugged in embarrassment. “And… we’re just not right for each other I think.”
“What do you mean?” Clopson asked in dismay. “Do… did I move to fast? I’m I too British? Is it because of Sherlock? Oh, of course it’s because of Sherlock…”
“No, that’s not it.” She said awkwardly. “I just… lets just stay friends.” She tried to smile.
Clopson was silent, and speechless. Dash awkwardly grimaced and muttered, “I’m sorry,” as she left his side and trotted out the door.
“Wow.” Pony Joe put down another donut down by Clopson, “Here, This one’s on the house buddy.” He then walked back into the kitchen, leaving Clopson utterly, and completely alone, with nothing but a lukewarm Chocolate and a jelly donut to ease his sorrows.
Elsewhere
“Mooriarty sends his regards…” spoke a messenger as she passed a letter to another pony. The pony opened up the scroll a read the lone sentence on the parchment…
“10,000 bits for Sherlock’s head.”
|
Snow
|
803
| 1 |
Main 6,Original Character,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Alternate Universe,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Friends Forever
|
A look into a possible future for Twilight and her friends, years after the show ends.
|
complete
| 262 | 9 |
<p>Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.</p><p>Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!</p><p>Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-09-09T22:58:57+00:00
|
2012-09-09T22:58:57+00:00
| 5,638 |
My name is Twilight Sparkle. I am ninety-eight years, two hundred and fourteen days, three hours, and sixteen minutes old. When I was young, or well, younger, I met the five most wonderful ponies in Equestria, maybe even the world. My heart fills with remembered joy and laughter as I think over their faces.
Pinkie Pie.
Rarity.
Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy.
Applejack...
It's Applejack's face I'm looking into now, a soft kind face, weathered by dozens of wonderful summers, full of hard work, matched only by the fun we, and all our friends had together.
Seventy six years. Seventy six years I've seen that face and for all but seventy four, I knew this day would come. Today is my last day with my last, dearest friend. She's asleep now, dreaming no doubt of when she was still young enough to buck the apples now tended by her children, and her children's children.
Perhaps I should explain a bit... I am ninety-eight, but I haven't aged a day since my friends and I rescued Princess Luna from the darkness in her own heart; a blessing that has become a curse, as I've said goodbye to each of my friends in turn, and now, I am forced to say goodbye to the last of those dearest to my heart - dearer than Princess Celestia, and dearer than Princess Luna, though I love them both.
I apologize; I seem to be losing my train of thought a little. When Nightmare Moon was defeated by the power of my new found friendship, granted by the Elements of Harmony, something changed inside of me. Maybe some of Princess Luna's power found a home inside of me, maybe it's a result of channeling the Elements of Harmony themselves, or perhaps it's my 'reward' for saving Princess Celestia's sister. I've never had the courage to ask, and now, I don't know if I want to know.
My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I am an Alicorn.
These are my thoughts, you see, as I have them. Princess Celestia, or 'Tia' as she seems to prefer from Luna and I, suggested I record them, that one day in a thousand years... It hurts so much to think of a thousand years without my friends.... one day in a thousand years I'll be able to look back, and remember.
Remember my family, now past. Remember my friends now.... now passing... and remember myself.
"Well hey there sugar-cube. Come to see yer ol' granny Applejack have ya?"
My heart skips at her voice. It's so sweet, like dear old Granny Smith before her, and there's still a strength that I don't think I'll ever posses. She's managed to look on my 'blessing' as nothing but a gift, and jokes about her own age even now.
"Of course I have Applejack. There are still apples in the fields that need bucking. What'll Big Macintosh think if he finds you lying in bed, lazy-hooves?" My face is a gentle smile I don't feel, but I think she can see the tears in my eyes.
"Shoot, sugar-cube. That won't do t'all. Maybe after my nap ah'll go show those little foals how it's done." She yawns and smiles, looking up at me with those vibrant green eyes, just as sharp as the day I met her. Her coat is a faded orange, and her mane is stark white, but when I look at her I still see my friend bucking apples like nopony’s business.
"Of course, Applejack, you need your rest before the big harvest. I remember a certain stubborn mare always bites off more than she can chew, as Big Mac used to say."
"Aw hush now lil’ filly. Ah'll get them apples harvested in no time at all. Ten seconds flat." Her face turns up in a smile, but all I can feel is my heart breaking. Rainbow Dash.... I can't hold back the tears anymore, even if I wanted to, especially since I can see her eyes starting to droop.
"...I'll miss you Applejack. Say 'hi' to Rainbow for me -- And Pinkie, and Rarity, and especially Fluttershy. I wish you didn't have to go." I don't know how my voice is steady, and I can't see for tears.
"...Ah will sugar-cube, don't you fret. Take care o' the farm would ya? Them young'uns need all the help y'can give 'em. Ah've lived a long, happy life, especially thanks t'you, so don't go cryin' bout me none." Her eyes close and she smiles, her breathing slowing, and stopping. She looks for all the world to be just asleep.
Before I can break down and let my emotions out, Applebloom pokes her head in, her mane still the beautiful strawberry-pink coloration, if a bit tireder, and still worn in a bow now much more suited to her size.
"Oh hey Twilight, how's Granny Applejack...? Oh... Oh dear Sisters..." She looks from my tears to Applejack's smiling face and the last bit of resolve in the mare, venerable herself, wilts. We sit with each other, crying, and mourning. I for my friend, and her for the closest thing to a mother she's ever had.
I... I don't want to remember how much this hurts. I'm stopping the spell now.
It's been a year since I said goodbye to Applejack, and I dare say I spend most of my time in Ponyville, rather than the Palace. It's alright though, Tia and Lu have things covered, and I won't be coronated as a princess for another few decades, so I have no official duties. I think that's a decision they both made when it became apparent what had happened to me.
I'm truly grateful to them both. In the past year, they've managed to help fill the void in my heart left by the last of my friends leaving me. Nothing can ever. Ever. Take their places... But at least I have family, even if they have adopted me - or perhaps especially because they adopted me.
I help run Sugarcube Corner, like I promised Pinkie, and I throw a party every year on her birthday for the whole town, just for her.
I own and help maintain Rainbow's cloudhouse. She asked it to be turned into a museum for the Wonderbolts, past and present, when she died. I display her own uniform in a glass case in the entry way. The only time I ever saw her happier than when she wore it, was when she was with Pinkie Pie.
As for Rarity, she left me perhaps just over one hundred sketchbooks full of her ideas, thoughts, and plans. She worked on them until the day… the day I lost her. I swore to her I'd make every single dress, real or imagined, no matter what it took for her, and I've kept that promise. Every year I make ten dresses, and host the fashion show in the Carousel Boutique. Sweetie Belle still comes to visit to catch the show, and a glimpse of her sister's memory. We talk a little, but mostly she spends her time with Applebloom and Scootaloo once a year.
For Fluttershy, every spring I wake up the descendants of all her animal friends, every winter I help them to sleep, and whenever I can find time, I go visit her cottage, and sing for the animals at night like she used to. She didn't ask me to do anything for her, but I like to think it makes her smile, wherever she is.
Applejack... Even now I'm taking a short break from applebucking. I don't know how she used to do it with just her and Big Macintosh. I've gotten used to it though, and promised myself I'd do it like AJ did. No magic involved. I'm paying for it, but I'm glad for my decision, though I think Apple Seed, Applebloom's youngest, is still surprised to see me carting in a load of apples. The little colt's still afraid to talk to me for more than a sentence or two at a time, but I don't mind; he has very expressive eyes.
I need to get back to work before I lose myself in emotions and thoughts again. It's nice, being able to just go out and do something simple, and exhausting like this. Even if I did send the first tree flying.
It's been another few years since my last 'entry' I guess. I've been keeping all of my promises, and that's been keeping me busy. The pain of losing Applejack is starting to fade enough that doing my 'chores' makes me feel close to my friends again. I love them all so much, and I miss them every day.
My heart aches but I don't start crying every time I hear one of their names anymore at least, or see a pony that looks like them. I may not have mentioned this before, but Applejack passed on her hat before she got too old to applebuck anymore. Apple Cider, the spitting image of Applejack, though with yellow coat and orange hair, has taken over for her, and Apple Bloom's starting to get on in years too, and I'm afraid soon I'll need to say goodbye to the 'cutie mark crusaders'. We still talk about some of the things they got up to as fillies and laugh.
It feels so good to laugh. I haven't really been able to very much since the past year or so. I still remember Pinkie Pie's first song when I met her. Giggle at the Ghosties indeed... I wish I could hear her sing it again...
So, before that goes someplace depressing, what else can I talk about? Spike still lives with me in the Library, and he's actually taken over as its custodian since I do have to spend some time in Canterlot at least. He's becoming a very handsome young dragon and he's even starting to grow horns. It's so cute. Still the same ol' Spike though, whatever he says. I'm grateful he's going to be around for a good long time.
Speaking of the Library, I actually found an old diary from when I first came to Ponyville. I remember most of what I said, but it's still a bit strange to read over the old book. I guess I really have changed a bit since then. Heh. Hehe. 'All the ponies in this town are CRAZY!' I had written that at least five times in the first two days, and another ten in the following month. But every time I did, it was with more affection. 'Study the magic of friendship' indeed. I think Tia knew how I'd feel at this very moment before she even said those words.
Still, that reminds me. I haven't been able to find Applejack's pendant anywhere, or any of the other elements. I know I've kept my tiara either near me or on me through the years. Usually in a nightstand or someplace I can find it just in case... What? Just in case I need it...I guess. It makes me wonder about the Elements of harmony. Do they vanish when their holders die? Have they passed on to new ponies that deserve them? Are they back at that old castle in those big marble balls? I'll ask Tia sometime and see.
Time is flying so fast, I can't keep up. Between the business of my studies on court law and etiquette, my promises to my friends, and all the other things that occupy my time, I haven't realized just how long it's been since I updated this!
Let's see... It's been about fifty years since my last entry, and I still don't look a day older. The only differences between now and when I first found my friends is about a foot of horn and two wings that I still don't use all that often.
In the meantime, things have gone on, much as life does. I've said goodbye to Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. It hurt, but I wasn't quite as devastated as when I lost my friends. They actually passed all on the same day, and I think it seems appropriate somehow. They got their cutiemarks together too, it's only right they're together for one more big adventure.
Ponies have started forgetting what the party I throw every year is for, and I think it's begun to take a life of its own. Other towns have started celebrating, and Tia told me they're even starting to celebrate it in Canterlot. Oh how I wish Pinkie could be here. It used to be called the Pinkie Pie Palooza, now it's just called Pinkapalooza. Some ponies seem to think the proper way to celebrate is to decorate in pink, make pink cupcakes, pink cakes, wear pink dresses... I honestly don't have the heart to tell them otherwise. Pinkie would be happy just to see them having fun.
Sweet Apple Acres has become something of a center for the apple family, though they still live all over Equestria, the farmhouse has gained several additions over the years, and I'm honestly thrilled it's become so lively. The apple trees have never been tended better, and I'm sad to say my contribution to applebucking season is minimal, only about an acre of trees that Applejack herself planted. I still think they're the sweetest that's ever grown there.
As for Fluttershy's cottage? A family of ponies has moved into it. I was really hesitant about it at first, but they all wanted to be close to the animals, so how could I refuse? I've introduced them to every critter that lives in or around Ponyville, and even a few of the more harmless things from Everfree.
The Rainbow Dash Museum has had to be expanded actually, but I still make sure at its heart, it's still my friend's home. I've walled off her bedroom because... I just need a little something about all of my friends to stay the same. Something I can see, and go and visit, someplace to go when I miss them.
The boutique has actually gotten something of a ponytail going on about it in the past few years. It seems not everypony realizes I'm the one making her dresses, and finding the gems like she taught me how to. Some ponies seem to think that Raritys ghost haunts it or something. Still... I wouldn't turn down seeing her again, even if it was like that. She could make more designs and I could sew them for her. I've gotten quite good at it.
Oh and on the note of Everfree, the forest has actually started receding a bit. Nopony is cutting down the trees but... It seems like it's taming itself, as the years go on. I don't think anypony would realize it, to look at it, but after so long near it, I can sort of pick up on the little shifts. The poison joke field, for example, has lost its vibrant blue color. Goodness I miss Zecora too. Her hut's remained unchanged, oddly enough. Nothing ever goes near it but me. I still visit and smile at the masks, and remember old stories she told my friends and I.
Let's see... One more thing I'll add before I probably forget again; the Elements of Harmony. Tia smiled at me when I asked about them, and that's about all the answer I got out of her. Lu wasn't much help either, though she at least made an effort.
I found my old entries in my old room at the palace today. It's been nearly four hundred years since then, and as I read back over them, I remember how much it hurt to say goodbye to Applejack. I remember how much I miss my friends, though I've never forgotten. Not for a moment. I guess true to my prediction, I've forgotten about it.
There's simply been so much going on, so many things to learn, and still my old promises to keep.
Ponyville's become a city, though it's grown in the direction of Canterlot. Everfree is still old and weird in ways ponies are hesitant to approach, and Sweet Apple Acres is magnificent, as always. I still go to applebuck in the fall, every year. I meet Applejack's family, I tell them old stories. They think of me as one of the family and my heart sings whenever I see their freckles and happy, honest faces. AJ's hat still continues to be passed down, and I think it will for as long as there is a sweet Apple Acres. At least, it will be as long as I'm watching over them.
Pinkapalooza has become a national party holiday. I don't think anypony except me, Tia, and Lu remember Pinkie Pie as a pony anymore, but I'm not upset. I think this many ponies being happy all at once and partying is the greatest gift I could give her.
Fluttershy's cottage is still there, in a way. It's become a hospital for animals and ponies alike. It's still held in the family that I met when they first came to Ponyville. At my request, they've actually built the entire thing to the same decor as Fluttershy's home, and there's a special room hidden away in one corner that's actually Fluttershy's old parlor where we had tea on warm afternoons with our friends.
The Rainbow Dash Museum has become a bit of a national treasure. Every flying group in Equestria has at least an entry there, and a ramp has been installed with unicorn tour guides so Unicorns and Earth ponies can visit too. I still go see Rainbow's old bedroom though. I keep everything looking as if she had just left; which I'm pleased to say means it's still a royal mess.
Rarity's old boutique is still turning out the promised ten dresses a year, though I'm down to the very last book. It's... it's the one she left unfinished. Next year will be four original dresses, and the six she made for us for the Grand Galloping Gala. I could probably start making new designs but... The old yellowed sketchbooks are fading a little, no matter how well I take care of them and... I feel like I'd be breaking some kind of unspoken trust. I could never do that to one of my dearest friends, not even after over six hundred years since I last saw them.
As for me... Well I've aged a little. I've grown a bit lanky, and Luna is starting to resemble Celestia, though Tia herself seems to have stopped aging as well. Perhaps to let us catch up to her? Hehe. Oh! I'm a princess now. That happened ages ago, and at my request, I wear the Element of Magic as my crown. It's starting to look like one too instead of the massive head piece it once was. My responsibilities are the dawn and evening sky, and I color them like my old friends so I'll never, ever forget them. I think Tia and Lu approve.
So... What else to tell? Ah! Spike has found himself a mate, and I couldn't be happier for him. He still thinks of me as his mommy, even though I can fit on his muzzle now. He seems to still prefer vegetables and gems to anything else, and he's encouraging his new mate toward the same diet. The Library is long gone, I'm afraid. In its place is a grove of trees built into a much larger library instead. I may have had a hoof in that. Hehehe.
Hmm. Before I end the spell, I think I'll share a few dreams. Back when I lost Applejack, I dreamed of them every night without fail. Sad dreams, happy dreams, it didn't matter. I'd wake up in the morning crying. I've started to do so again; memories as fresh as the dawn dew play over in my mind when I'm asleep. How selfish I was when Rarity offered her generosity to make dresses. I still keep my old dress and the failed design as well. I have all of my friend’s dresses, and their horrible counterparts. I keep them preserved like Rainbow's Wonderbolt outfit, in my room with pictures of them... I wonder why I'm having them so much lately.
It's been only a single year since my last 'entry' and I just got home to the palace after showcasing the last ten dresses, and making the announcement that the boutique is closing. Rarity's dress show had become sort of a national event as well, but then it has been going on for the past five hundred years. I think everypony there was shocked when I explained that I had been keeping a promise to my oldest and dearest friends, and working from designs she had left behind.
When they asked if that meant the yearly fashion show was over, my heart broke a little bit. I think I might turn the whole thing into something for new and upcoming fashion fans to show their stuff. Rarity got, and deserved, her first chance, after all.
I considered making dresses in her style and not telling anypony but... I feel a little fulfilled now that I've completed my promise to her. I'd still trade anything to see my friends again though... anything save my new family.
My dreams have been constant for a little over a year now, and I still wake up with tears from emotion. I miss them so much. Still, I have to hold court twice a day now, and between that and my chores I don't have time to reminisce. I think Luna and Celestia are grateful for their mornings and evenings off. I think they spend them together, and it makes me so happy that they have each other again.
I think I'll leave off for now, maybe for good. I don't think I'm going to ever forget my dearest friends, no matter how long they're gone. I still don't know what happened to the Elements of Harmony, but the spark they ignited within me so long ago has become a flame that will keep me warm until the end of time.
If I don't return to my writing, and these memories ever dull, please. Please. Remember them. If I forget my own name one day, or forget everything I've ever learned about magic, remember their smiling faces. Remember the wonderful times we had together. Remember the joy and sorrow I feel even now.
The old document ended, and a tear fell onto the bottom of the yellowed paper, the magical ink still refusing to fade. A purple Alicorn sitting on the third throne between her two sisters looked up from it with a smile on her face. She and Luna looked akin to Celestia, as if triplets, though the sun princess had yet to age another day in the two thousand years she's spent with her family.
"Of course I'll never forget them. Not after Celestia's sun burns cold, and Luna's moon turns black, and the world beneath my hooves splinters to nothing." The words were spoken aloud, and the two listeners smiled to one another, perhaps a little too widely.
To be continued in Part II: Hopeful Dreams
|
Snow
|
803
| 2 |
Main 6,Original Character,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Alternate Universe,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Friends Forever
|
A look into a possible future for Twilight and her friends, years after the show ends.
|
complete
| 262 | 9 |
<p>Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.</p><p>Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!</p><p>Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-09-09T07:24:48+00:00
|
2012-09-09T07:24:48+00:00
| 5,145 |
"Twi-i-i-light" Celestia's playful tone woke the once-unicorn from her slumber, the resting mare's eyes wet with fresh tears.
"Tia? What time is it?" Twilight’s voice had matured in the nigh two thousand years since her 'ascension' to the status of immortal, and she had still yet to develop a working internal clock. This worked out just as well since her province was the dawn and the dusk, which left her to pick either Celestia's Day, or Luna's night to sleep through.
"It's time for you to get out of bed lazy mare. Lulu and I have a surprise for yo-o-u!" The day princess, ever since having truly settled back into having a sister, much less two, had lost much of her somewhat aloof mannerisms, at least in the privacy of the royal wing.
'Uh oh. I know that tone of voice.' Twilight told herself, crawling out of bed and stretching her wings with a yawn. 'It means either she's either gender-swapped Equestria for the day again, or I forgot my own birthday again.'
Celestia often reminded her of Pinkie Pie; she was always quick to laugh and loved little jokes she saw as harmless. It was one of the qualities that had grown on her in their time together. As a mentor, Celestia was very kind, but a little unapproachable because of the stigma of being a princess. As equals, she was mischievous, playful, kind, and loving; a very sweet older sister.
So, with a head full of memories and a polite smile learned from Celestia herself on her face, Twilight strode from her bed after giving five heartfelt and true smiles to five photographs hanging in front of dress forms. "Good um..." a quick check of the wall clock, "Afternoon, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack. I miss you." It was how she woke herself up every day and every night, and though was a deeply ingrained ritual, the mare meant it. Her final stop before following Celestia into the common room the three Princesses shared, was a tiara that had become just the right size for a crown and inset with a purple gem. She's worn it every day since her coronation, after all.
"OK, I'm up Tia. What's all...the...como...tion?" From left to right stood Luna, five dress forms, and Celestia, spread in a curve before her. What had caused her shock were the familiar sparkling pendants that adorned each dress form's neck. Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, each shaped like a very familiar cutiemark. The Elements of Harmony.
"Told you she'd be speechless." Luna grinned to her older sister, though as the three princesses stood now, their age was apparently identical.
"Hush, Lulu, let her have a mo-" Tia got cut off as a pair of purple forelegs found their way around her neck in a hug. "-ment?" She finished with a squeak before returning the hug gently.
Not one to be left out, Luna joined in on the hugging, the three having grown very close in the somewhat boggling amount of time they had spent together, and the shy bookish filly of a Luna had grown into an empathetic and kind ruler, like her sister, if a bit more quick to show her affection through more direct means.
"How did... Where were... What is all this?" Her voice betrayed the emotional upsurge within the purple Alicorn, both in its shakiness and the stuttering.
"Well, we had to dig a lot, the information was hard even for us to find..." Luna began.
"Nearly took a millennium actually!" This from Celestia.
"But we managed to dig up information on the Elements of Harmony as they existed back when mom and dad were around. Apparently the Elements of Harmony are only in those spherical marble shapes when they're dormant. Once they've found appropriate spirits to embody them, they take a form until there's nopony left that can adequately handle them." Luna again, looking proud of herself, and happy to be delivering the news.
"This is only half of your surprise, actually. The other half is that when the Elements of Harmony pick hosts, they sort of become them. The stronger the host embodies that element, the more of them that gets carried over..." Celestia spoke that time, apparently struggling to keep from blurting the other half of the surprise.
Twilight listened, her ears perked, and a growing sensation of... Hope? Fear? Excitement? Horror? Perhaps all of the above? "Then. Then... They're...?"
"Your friends were the closest to their elements as anypony could hope to be… Perhaps even supernaturally so. We managed to gather the current hosts, and manifested the elements themselves. They're all asleep, and we were wondering if you'd like to meet them." Luna followed the offer with a small smile, though Celestia soon cut in before Twilight could completely lose her stack.
"These aren't your friends, though perhaps with the right memories they could be. There is a chance though. You see the characteristics from the previous owners only really shine through after the elements have been used in that pony's lifetime. Surely you noticed the behavior of your friends altering slightly as time progressed, making them more in tune with their given element. If you, the Element of Magic called on them, they might recall who they once were, after all the connection was very strong." In contrast with the previous tone of her voice, Celestia had sobered, making sure to remind Twilight to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
There is no one word to describe how Twilight felt then. She was possibly being told that her friend's souls were on display right now in front of her. That there was a chance, however slim, that she'd get to talk fashion with Rarity; tell Rainbow that in the two thousand years she's been gone, not a single pony has pulled off a double rainboom since her -- and only two have pulled off one in their lives. It was mind boggling, and even more, it was terrifying.
The purple Alicorn simply sat down, tail curling around her hooves, and stared at each of the gemstones in turn. It seemed to her like they sparkled like little stars as she looked at them. "There's a possibility I'll have my friends back. With all the memories they had up until our goodbyes." Her voice was controlled and evenly measured; both princesses recognized it as a sign Twilight did not trust herself to act evenly at the moment.
"A possibility, yes. It's possible that the ponies they are now would be completely overwritten with who they were..." Luna's voice was soft, gentle, but reminding Twilight that first, it's only a possibility, and secondly, it may not be a good one.
"And it's possible that their personalities might change, but without any memories to go along with them. I… know how hard it can be to be reminded of someone you love, but can't see." Celestia's voice was somber, a sympathetic look on her face.
"So, there's a chance it'll be looking at something that might have been, and there's a chance I'll get exactly what I've wished for, for the past two millennia at the cost of five special ponies, who have lives to live ahead of them." Still there was the calm, even tone of voice despite tears falling fresh from Twilight's eyes.
"..Yes, Twilight. We don't really know what will happen but... We know how much you love them, and how much you missed them. It's your right to make the choice for yourself what you want to do. There was a time I may have tried to urge you one way or another, or make it for you but... I'm afraid my days as your mentor are long over. All I can offer is my love and friendship no matter what happens, sister." Celestia's voice was to Twilight's reserved facade as dynamite to a dam.
Sobbing, Twilight buried her face into her two sisters. They may have not been her birth sisters but it didn't matter anymore. She loved them, and was loved in return. That was all that mattered.
"Is there any way I could ask them? They deserve the right to choose for themselves. If I could just see AJ or Fluttershy one more time..." It wouldn't be enough. She knew it, the other two knew it as well. Still, if what they said was true... every generation she could have her friends back, in possibly varying degrees but...
"Actually, I might be able to help with that. Dreams are a funny thing, and many ponies think they're windows into the soul." Luna, goddess-princess of the Night offered, smiling. It was all Twilight could do to avoid trying to choke her in a hug.
"Alright Lu, let's start with Honesty. Even if it's just a dream her, I want to see her the way I remember her at least one more time. Please."
With that, the two of them vanished into a side passage, leading to a guest room, while Celestia sighed softly and returned to her court; after all family came first but work didn't rest.
Meanwhile in another room, five young fillies slept peacefully, never having met one another in their lives, but looking strikingly similar to a certain other five ponies. One with freckles, blonde hair, and a dark orange pelt snoozed in an ancient and worn hat, one that wrenched at Twilight's heart upon seeing it...
To be continued in Part III: The Truth in Friendship
|
Snow
|
803
| 3 |
Main 6,Original Character,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Alternate Universe,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Friends Forever
|
A look into a possible future for Twilight and her friends, years after the show ends.
|
complete
| 262 | 9 |
<p>Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.</p><p>Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!</p><p>Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-09-09T07:36:58+00:00
|
2012-09-09T07:36:58+00:00
| 4,446 |
Honey Apple was young, a year older than Applebloom at the time of the Nightmare Moon incident, and had long loose blonde hair, and a burnt orange coat, with no cutiemark. She slept soundly, dreaming a familiar old dream; she was on her family farm in Sweet Apple Acres, which had grown so large as to require several branches of the Apple family to tend it. In that dream, she was bucking the ancient, massive apple trees like they could do in newer sections of the orchard; she was doing it all by herself.
Many of the older trees in Sweet Apple Acres had simply grown too ancient, and had to be cut down before they became hazardous the next time a storm blew in. A particular grove though, was reputed to be a little over two thousand years old, and it took an entire team of Apples to buck those apples! They were Honey Apples namesakes. These were the ones she was dreaming about bucking all by herself like the Princess that was rumored to come tend to a few trees for some reason.
Princess Twilight was the only pony to ever buck a honey apple tree all by herself in anyponies living memory, and for that reason she was usually the one that brought in the most honey apples. Not a single pony knew how that had gotten started either, but she was always so friendly it seemed natural to treat her like one of the family.
"Good afternoon, Honey Apple, it looks like you're enjoying yourself." The filly jumped at the voice; it was Princess Twilight herself!
The filly found herself blushing a bit, shy around the princess, but couldn't help nodding. "Ah was just applebuckin' th' honey apples, Miss Twilight"
The smile Twilight gave that filly could have melted a patch of ice that had never even heard of sunlight, as she always did when talking to a member of the Apple Family. The reasons why were never revealed save as a polite, "A promise I made somepony very important to me” which caused no end of rumors.
"I can see that! You're doing a wonderful job of it too. Your parents will be so proud." The tall, regal-looking Alicorn with her purple fur and mane of varying hues smiled down warmly at the filly again as she spoke, putting her head level with her.
"Thank ya kindly Miss Twilight" Honey Apple's voice was a squeak, and her cheeks red as the apples filling the baskets around the trunk of the ancient tree.
"Did you know I once knew the pony who planted these trees with her own hooves? No magic or anything. Her name was Applejack." Twilight spoke conversationally as she lowered herself onto her knees, leveling herself with the young filly, who was flabbergasted; just wait till she tells Granpa Apple Stem about this!
"Ah...Ah didn't know that Miss Twilight. We got ourselves two Applejacks right now though. There's grandpappy's cousin's nephew Applejack, then there's momma's cousin's uncle's brother's sister's son's daughter named Applejack, but she's only three." Even the foals are apparently as familiar with the Apple family tree as they are any other apple trees.
"My, my. I think for a few hours I may have forgotten just how expansive your family is." A laugh flavored Twilight's words, but a kind one. "But in fact, it's you I've come to visit, little one. Could you take a little break from applebucking and have a talk with me?"
The filly was torn, truthfully enough; it really was a request, even she could tell that. On one hoof, Princess Twilight was practically family, and for all anypony knew, was family. She sure bucked like an Apple. On the other, she was actually having fun with the big trees, and knew somehow that she'd probably never be quite this good again. Still...
"Well, these here apples aint gonna buck themselves but... Well if ya aint got time for yer friends, yer a bad Apple." The words had a practiced feel to them, and it was a piece of advice that Twilight remembered Applejack saying to her own foals, once.
In that funny way of dreams, the two made their way to the kitchen without seeming to cross any of the intervening space between the orchard and that homey little room. Though, something seemed a little out of place to the filly; it was a cozy warm wooden room, smelling like years and years of cooking apples and had the old Apple family feel to it, but with a start she realized what it was. She hadn't ever actually seen this room before.
In the truly massive expanse of time since Twilight laid eyes on Applejack last, she never forgot the kitchen where she'd eaten more than her fill countless times, to the chagrin of her belly. It was her memory that the two found themselves within.
"Where...are we, Miss Twilight? This aint th' farmhouse kitchen." Honey Apple's mind was starting to struggle against the dream, but between the magically induced sleep, and being within one of Twilight's own memories, the filly couldn't quite wake up, even though she had realized she couldn't be awake.
"Relax, Honey Apple, it's OK, you're safe and nopony is going to hurt you. I just needed to talk with you about something important. You can leave anytime you want, just let me know. Alright?" A wing draped over the filly as Twilight stood beside her, her voice softer than silk.
"Ah'm... Ah'm dreamin'. Gotta be." Honey Apple looked up at Twilight; that wing felt real, as did the Alicorn’s presence. Realer than anything in a dream had any right to. "But you aren't a dream, are ya...?"
A quick poke that drew a giggle from a still-ticklish Twilight gave further evidence to that particular observation.
"Well, Ah guess it can't hurt none, 'specially since Ah guess Ah wasn't really applebuckin'." The prospect makes the filly wilt a bit, but something about being draped in those warm downy feathers just made it difficult to feel blue. "What didja wanna talk about?"
Twilight stood for a moment longer, considering. Truthfully she hadn't given too terribly much thought as to what she would say when it actually came down to explaining it. Since this was the Element of Honesty though...
"I wanted to talk about my old friend Applejack, actually. You see... A long, long time ago, Ponyville was a small, small town; nothing like it is today..."
Together, they sat in that cozy little kitchen, Twilight talking about an age gone by, and Honey Apple listening intently, interrupting only to ask a question or two. They talked about how Sweet Apple Acres had grown, about how Twilight met Applejack, how they found the Elements of Harmony, and used them to rescue Princess Luna, and how Twilight missed her friends every day.
"...And that's why I wanted to talk to you, Honey Apple. You see, you inherited the Element of Honesty, and..." She sighed, starting to buck herself sideways for what she was about to ask. "And, I was wondering if you'd be willing to help me see my friend again."
Honey Apple sat dumbfounded, dozens of thoughts fighting for attention like, 'What does she need me to do?' and 'I inherited an Element? Can I even do that?' All the while Twilight just sat here patiently, allowing the filly all the time she needed to think.
The filly took awhile to respond, but she did so with a somewhat hopeful smile. "Ah wanna help Miss Twilight, but um, how? Ah mean Ah'm glad t'help but Ah don't rightly know how Ah can, with some'n like this."
"Well Honey, Applejack's spirit sorta gets passed down with the Element of Honesty. If the Element was activated, any number of things could happen. You could get Applejack's memories, her personality, or both. You could become a mix between you and her, or..." Twilight took a deep breath and sighed before continuing. "Or... You could end up being overwritten with Applejack entirely. This hasn't been done before, and it has to be your decision if you want to or not. I miss my friend, but not so much that I'd force something like that on one of my wonderful little ponies."
The filly looked up at the Alicorn, at one of the mares that she had been taught were goddesses, at the serene and ancient being before her. She looked up at all of those things, and yet all she saw was a friend, and member of the family. She couldn't imagine the kind of emotions Twilight must have been going through, and she, Honey, knew she could help.
"Miss Twilight..?" she asked, after another contemplative silence, "Ah still wanna help. If Ah do get... um... what you said, 'overwritten' then 'least Ah did it helpin a friend. 'Sides, maybe then Ah could finally buck one o' them honey apple trees by m'self!" She turned up a somewhat worried smile, but she meant it.
Facing a hard decision, Twilight weighed her own feelings, and the willingness of the filly before her against the very real risk of losing a special, unique pony at such a young age. She knew that each pony was special, each life a wonderful unique thing that needed to be valued, and that she as one of the Princesses should try to take care of each one to the best of her abilities. Yet, she also knew the emptiness in her own heart where her friends used to be, and the sorrow of waking up every day without them.
"...Honey Apple, are you sure? I don't know if we can undo what might happen..." For the first time in the conversation, her voice cracked, letting some of the emotion show through; a tiny spark of hope, fear, worry, and even the shadow of disappointment, though that was directed at herself.
As young as she may have been, Honey had a big heart, and she'd be lying to herself if she thought she could have said no. "Ah'm sure Miss Twilight."
It was all the Alicorn could do to choke back a sob as she nodded. Not trusting herself with words, she reached deep inside of herself to a place she hadn't touched in ages. Her crown lit, and the gem set within glowed with an inner light. It was a warm and comforting sensation, like sinking into a bath on a cold day.
Light coalesced around Honey's neck, forming the familiar necklace of the Element of Honesty, and the gem set within it began to glow in harmony with Twilight's crown, but before the magic could activate beyond that, the necklace sparked, a mote of light shooting out of its heart.
Before the two's eyes, a third formed. She wore a brown Stetson, wore her golden tail and mane tied back into a pony tail, and looked out with brilliant green eyes. It was Applejack, exactly as Twilight remembered her in the days of her youth. Not even all that much older than when they first met. The next thing the dusky mare realized was that she, the apparition, bore a very confused look.
"What the hay..?" That was it. When Twilight heard her friends voice, she lost all composure and threw her forelegs and wings around her old friend, hugging her so tightly that even the stout Earth Pony had to squeak a bit.
Honey Apple watched this with confusion, looking down at the necklace wound around her throat, then over at Applejack and Twilight. She noticed what Twilight had not; Applejack wore the same necklace as her, glowing in harmony with her own.
"Miss Twilight? What happened?" The filly's voice broke the spell, and the two friends that had been hugging one another looked to her, then at each other, and laughed a bit, settling down onto their hooves.
Neither moved to answer at first, then both tried to reply at once. Twilight quickly shook her head and smiled at Applejack, giving her the floor. After all, Twilight was just as confused as Honey, because strictly speaking she didn't feel the element activate. She just felt it start to.
"Ah...Well, y'see sugarcube, when y'all did whatever it was y'all were doin', this here thing," Applejack tapped a hoof against her own glowing necklace. "Pulled me plum 'cross creation t' right here. Other'n that, Ah couldn't rightly tell ya."
"Wait," Twilight began, "Pulled you... You mean you were... and you came.... And you're..." She boggled, giving an expression she used to reserve for Pinkie Pie.
"It did, Ah was, Ah did, and Ah am. Was. Ah don't rightly know m'self at th' moment." A familiar little grin appeared on Applejack's face, followed by a shrug before she turned to Honey Apple, giving Twilight time to piece together her thoughts.
"Hey there sugarcube. Guess that hat means yer family, even if th' freckles didn't give it away. Ah'm Applejack." She offered her hoof.
"Um, Ah'm Honey Apple..." The fily took applejack's hoof in hers and gave it a nervous shake. That is to say, it lasted five seconds instead of ten, and neither pony had trouble putting their leg down after. "So um, you planted the Honey Apple trees?"
"Ah sure did, sugarcube! Me'n Big Macintosh even got a few harvests outta 'em 'fore... Well, we got a few harvests outta 'em anyway! They still 'round?"
"Course they are! They're th' biggest trees on th' farm! Bout th' oldest too!" The ice was broken between the two on the subject of apples, and Apples, discussing plants and family both.
Meanwhile, Twilight had been trying to sort out what all this meant. If Applejack had been...wherever it was dead ponies went, then that probably meant that the information Celestia and Luna had dug up was a bit flawed. That was understandable, she supposed, since the Elements didn't exactly come with an Instructional Booklet of Harmony. Beyond that, her thoughts kept turning to Applejack; she was sitting there in the apple kitchen chatting away with her great great great great..... Chatting with her descendant as merrily as if it was over a picnic. It did her heart a world of good, and yet old wounds had been reopened. There was only one question she could think to ask, and she was honestly afraid of the answer.
"So..." she began, cutting off the other two, "What...happens now?"
Applejack looked at her friend of over two thousand years, and smiled a warm, healthy, happy smile. "Well sugarcube, Honey Apple here has a decision t'make. Ah'm here 'cause of this fancy necklace." She tapped the gem again. "And Ah can stay, or leave, dependin' on what she wants. It's up t'her how much o' me gets let in, an' what happens to her. Fer instance, she could boot me out, and the Element along with it, or on th' other end, she could let me move all th' way in and sorta take over. She'd still be here mind, but as a part o' me. Leastwise that's how it got explained t'me."
There were so many things in what Applejack told them that confounded the daylights out of both mares, though Twilight recovered first. "Explained to you? By....?"
The question was answered with a shrug. "Don't know, sugarcube. One minute Ah'm havin' th' saturday picnic with th' gang, next Ah'm surrounded by orange light an’ this voice soundin' awful lot like mine talks to me. Right when it quit talkin, Ah'm here."
"So um, Ah gotta choose?" The question sounded hesitant as Honey Apple looked from Twilight to Applejack and back. "Ah want Miss Twilight t'have her friend back but Ah'm a little scared. Ah wanna still be me but... Could Ah be you too?"
It wasn't the most eloquent phrasing of the question, but the light orange and blonde mare nodded in understanding. "Course, sugarcube. Th' Elements of Harmony are 'bout helpin ponies, not hurtin 'em. Now, Ah think Honey Apple here an' me have some details t'work out" Applejack turned and smiled to Twilight again, her green eyes glimmering.
Twilight took the hint, and nodded. "Alright Applejack. And... no matter what I'm so glad to see you again. I missed you so much." They embraced again, Applejack nodding in response.
"It's OK sugarcube, Ah missed you too. An' one more thing? No matter what happens we'll all be there for ya when your own time comes. T'aint nothin t' be afraid of."
Luna's horn dimmed and Twilight's eyes opened. She was resting on a cushion next to Honey Apple's bed, and tears were pouring down her cheeks. A smile was on her face though, and her eyes shown with happiness. Even as she sat up, there was a soft flash, and the Element of Honesty appeared around Honey Apple's sleeping neck.
"So... What happened?" Luna nuzzled her younger sisters tears away, and draped a wing around Twilight.
"...I think we need to update the information Tia and you found... And, I got to see Applejack again." Another choked back sob later and a bit of rearranging, Twilight was looking at a very young unicorn filly with a silver mane, dark grey fur, curled up into a comfortable ball. Luna had told her that she had inherited the Element of Kindness, and Twilight was excited to see Fluttershy again.
To be continued in Part IV: A Kind Heart.
Notes: Sorry for the delay. I hope you all enjoy the story thus far.
|
Snow
|
803
| 4 |
Main 6,Original Character,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Alternate Universe,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Friends Forever
|
A look into a possible future for Twilight and her friends, years after the show ends.
|
complete
| 262 | 9 |
<p>Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.</p><p>Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!</p><p>Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-09-09T07:56:40+00:00
|
2012-09-09T07:56:40+00:00
| 3,597 |
Sunlight drifted in warmly into a small unicorn's window, illuminating a room that would perhaps not be out of place in a palace. It glimmered across polished surfaces of heavy oaken night stands and a magnificent vanity mirror. It shown over precious silks of vibrant purple hanging from a four poster bed large enough to sleep a family at once, and illuminated oil portraits of a family of somber-looking ponies, all with dull colors, polite smiles on their faces that did not touch their eyes. Most of all, however, what those golden rays washed over were more books than were contained in many small libraries, turning the spines of storybooks vibrant hues, and blazing merrily off of embossed lettering of textbooks.
This was the bedroom Twilight found herself starring at in awe, eyes roaming over the plentiful plethora of playful ponytales and exciting enumerations of encyclopedias. She couldn't help wonder if she was in one of her own dreams, at least until her eyes pried themselves from the books to behold the severe family they seemed to belong to. That brought her back to reality, such as it was, and her eyes scanned the room, already excited to meet the owner of the dream,, almost as much as she was at the prospect of seeing another of her dearest friends.
"Um... Excuse me.... um......."
The voice came from behind her, and was so soft and timid that for a long moment Twilight thought it may have belonged to Fluttershy herself. In fact, it was followed by a squeak so familiar that Twilight found herself about to pounce the source in a hug.... only to find nopony behind her, or rather nopony where she was looking. Instead, she had to direct her eyes downward.
There, seated primly on the floor was a unicorn filly that couldn't be more than a few years old. She bore no cutiemark, and couldn't yet have graduated magical preschool, much less kindergarten. She had large red eyes, silvery-white mane neatly brushed back, and dark grey fur. On her small muzzle was perched a pair of frameless, round glasses. She looked positively terrified, but still held herself poised and dignified with mannerisms that had the air of being enforced rather harshly.
"F-Father's study is d-down the hall t-to the l-left..." Soft didn't begin to describe the tone of her voice. Perhaps fragile would be a better word.
Even as Twilight stood somewhat dumbfounded, she managed to take in the view of the dream she had apparently interrupted. The small filly was seated on a cushion with a book nearly as large as she was open on the floor in front of her, and in a small semicircle were several dolls, which were looking up at the Alicorn as well with glowing blue eyes. It hit her as a little creepy until she recalled that they were a kind of toy invented in the past few years, very very expensive. They were enchanted ten ways to Tuesday, almost as much mechanical as magic, and could learn to a fair degree, even talk, if one purchased the higher end models. In fact, to her knowledge the older ones could become roughly as smart as eight year old foals, and as long as they were maintained, could last years and years and years. The ones in front of her looked pristine, and numbered as a cat, a puppy, a bunny, and even a small pony, almost the same size as the filly.
"..Oh!" Twilight exclaimed, she had realized she was standing there staring for a long moment while the foal very obviously was resisting the urge to hide behind something. "Well um... Actually, I'd like to talk to you a little bit, if that's alright with you."
The tall purple mare lowered her head level with the filly, and offered her a warm smile that truthfully came from the heart, trying to communicate wordlessly that it was, in fact, a request, and not one that needed to be obeyed.
It took a long moment of the small foal sitting there, staring into Twilight's warm lavender eyes, quivering now and then, before she could muster an answer. "I-I was r-reading t-to my f-friends..."
They sat in silence for another few moments before Twilight realized that was all the response she was going to get. It wasn't quite a refusal or acceptance, but she could guess well enough that the filly gave answers like that rather frequently. So, she went out on a limb, and knelt down. "That's just fine. I rather enjoy stories myself. Would it be alright if I stayed and listened until you finish? We can talk after if you like."
Consternation replaced fear for a moment on the girls face; she was not expecting to be allowed to continue, much less have somepony interested in her storytelling too. The fact that this huge, strange pony had knelt down nearby without preamble or ritual surprised her as well. So, off kilter, the filly responded with a nod and a squeak.
And so, the nervous and shy filly tried lifting the book in her magic, a thin veil of sparkling silver, only to lose grip on the heavy tome after a few long moments. It was obvious she was either too young or too nervous to hold it, even in her dreams, and as a result the filly eventually had to give up and lie down in front of it, peering through her glasses, and began to read aloud.
At first, her voice continued to stutter, almost too soft to hear, though the dolls finally turned back to her. The sound of her own voice and the steady, written words beneath her eyes reassured her and emboldened her voice, until she spoke with a flowing tone that rather surprised Twilight. It was melodious, and once it had lost that nervous stutter, rather pleasant to listen to. This girl was a born story teller! On the note of stories, the one being orated appeared to be a retelling of the founding of Canterlot and the crowning of Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna.
Time passed in that odd way of dreams, and by the end Twilight was beaming, her eyes closed. For the filly to narrate this well, she had to know the book by heart. After all she literally was reciting it in her sleep.
'Even if she weren't the new Element of Kindness, I think I'd like to get to know this pony.' Thought Twilight, which brought her mind back to current events. She always could get distracted by a good book. It was on that note she opened her eyes as the filly was closing the book and floating it with difficulty onto her back. Without thinking, the Alicorn took it gently in her own magic and helped the filly with the task, which in turn made the straining girl's eyes snap open in surprise.
"T-Thank y-you." The stutter had returned, but the filly's voice was neither soft nor timid. It seemed that unless she had the reassurance that her words were the correct ones, she spoke that way.
"Oh it's no problem dear." Twilight's reply was warm and she stood with a stretch, extending her wings which made the filly squeak again, jaw dropping.
"H-holy... Y-you're P-Princess Twilight!" The filly stumbled over herself, tripping on her front hooves as she tried to bow mid-step, and ended up on the floor in a heap, glasses askew. It was the most adorable thing Twilight had seen in... Years, now that she thought about it.
"Calm down! No need for that!" The Alicorn held back laughter only through sheer trained discipline, and leaned down to nuzzle the filly gently, helping her back up with her muzzle. She couldn't hold back a somewhat Celestia-esque smile, however. "Though, I'd like to know your name in exchange, please."
"S-Silver Chalice, Y-your hi-highness...." Her voice was back to its subdued, fragile, and shy state, apparently adopted around anypony she thought to be 'important' as far as class went.
"Silver Chalice..." Twilight combed her memory. Chalice...chalice... Oh, one of the older families. The Ponyville Spoons married into the Rich Family a few generations after... What were their names, Silver Tiara and Diamond Spoon? No, that's not quite right. Still, that clicked a few things in her memory. "Oh yes! The Chalice family mansion in Ponyville."
That caused Silver Chalice to blink in confusion. First one of the Princesses was there to see her, which only clicked shortly after giving her own name, and second, how could Twilight not know where she was if she was standing there in her bedroom. This was so surreal to her she must be...
"Oh. I'm dreaming." The small fillies voice evened out, as though she were no longer concerned with her own words. With that realization, the room flickered a little, and the dolls vanished, the book as well, edges starting to soften as the pony pressed against the sleeping magic instinctively.
"Easy now dear. Yes, we're in your dreams, but I still need to talk to you, if you feel up to it. Of course, if you'd rather not I can leave and let you wake up." Twilight did still very much want Fluttershy back, or even just to see her again, but she could wait if she needed to, and it came down to Silver's decision anyway.
"Wait. You mean I-I'm not d-dreaming y-you?" Caution and nervousness began to creep back into the filly's voice once again, and her ears wilted at the prospect of having slipped up in front of one of the Princesses. Father would be furious if he found out.
Twilight answered by walking over to the grey filly, and draped a wing over her, much as she did Honey Apple. It was a gesture rather alien to the filly, who rarely interacted with Pegasi, and never experienced being wrapped in warm feathers, and so obviously couldn't dream such a sensation. Still, it wasn't unpleasant, and for a short moment the filly caught herself relaxing against the mare's leg.
"W-what d-do y-y-you w-wanna t-talk ab-about?" She had no clue how to handle the situation. She had been taught not to speak unless spoken to, to always carry herself with dignity, etcetera, etcetera; lessons that a pony that young really shouldn't be subjected to, and as a result, her stutter was getting worse in accordance with her nervousness.
Not being quite as slow on the uptake as she once was, Twilight knelt down, still draping her wing over Silver Chalice, and smiled over at her. "Well, I wanted to talk about you, and an old friend of mine named Fluttershy..." The Alicorn began regaling the filly with stories of her old friend, such as how they met, how Fluttershy faced down a manticore (a creature that had since largely passed into myth), and later stared down a cockatrice, and even faced her worst fear of a full grown dragon. She talked about how she flew fast enough to catch Rainbow Dash (a name even Silver Chalice recognized), took care of every animal a pony could imagine, and even befriended an Ursa!
Silver Chalice, for her part, sat enraptured. She had very rarely been read to herself, and this Fluttershy pony sounded like something straight out of one of her storybooks. Eventually, however, she had to ask. "P-Princess Twilight... I-I'm sorry to interrupt b-but how does this have a-anything t-to do with m-me?" Her question ended as almost a squeak.
Twilight, for her part, paused and blinked a few times, before laughing softly. "Oh I'm sorry Silver, I got lost in memories. Have you ever heard of the Elements of Harmony?" Upon recieving a shake of the head in answer, she continued. "Well, I'm not surprised, The Elements haven't been needed in a long, long time. The Elements of Harmony are the physical embodiments of the most powerful magic in Equestria, probably even the whole world. Loyality, Generosity, Honesty, Laughter, Kindness..." She paused, giving the filly a smile. "And when those five come together in friendship, it creates the spark of Magic. Fluttershy was, a long time ago, the bearer of the Element of Kindness. I'm here because the one pony in all the world with a warm enough heart, and a caring enough nature to inherit that element, is currently tucked under my right wing."
There are advantages to breaking shocking news to somepony while they're asleep. For one thing, they can't faint. Not for lack of trying, though. Still, Silver Chalice managed to squeak out a sound that sounded suspiciously like, "Me?!"
That particular grain of cuteness broke the Alicorn's back (or at least her ability to hold back her laughter), and she started laughing warmly, somehow managing not to sound as if she were laughing at Silver, and laughter like that is contagious. The two were soon giggling together, though the little one didn't know exactly why.
"Yes, Silver dear. You're the new Element of Kindness." Twilight resumed after getting her own giggles under control.
"Um... I won't have to f-fight a manticore or anything will I?" Silver Chalice asked after a few more giggles, the stutter temporarily all but gone.
With a shake of her head, Twilight gave her a reassuring hug with her wing. "No I don't believe you will. The thing is... Well Fluttershy was one of my dearest friends, and because you're the new Element of Kindness, the two of you are connected. If you're willing, we can meet her, and maybe if you wanted to, I could have my old friend back, in a way."
That piqued the filly's interest, but confused her as well. "Have her b-back? But how?"
"Well Silver, once she's here there would be a few decisions to make. I'm not too clear on the details exactly, but if you wanted to you and her could become the same pony, to varying degrees. That's up to you to decide though; it's your body, your life, and your choice. Either way, I'd be happy to get to know you better." Twilight was careful to stress that it was Silver's choice, and that she liked the pony for who she was, not just who she could be.
Judging by the look on Silver Chalices face, however, it was obvious it went over her head. Twilight inwardly sighed, she couldn't be expected to make a decision like this at such a young age.. At least that's what she thought till Silver looked up and said, "I-if it's alright, I-I'd like to meet her, at least... We can t-talk about what will ha-happen next r-right?"
Relief, and a little guilt at feeling it, welled up inside of the Alicorn, who nodded in response. "Of course. As one of my other friends said, the Elements are for helping ponies, not hurting them. You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
With that said, Twilight once again reached deep into her heart, where she still felt the fires of her friendship burning brightly, and her tiara showed with light, light which left the gem atop it and coalesced into the necklace around Silver Chalices neck, and from behind the two of them, there was a small, surprised squeak.
Looking slowly over her shoulder, Twilight's eyes alighted on her butter-colored, pink-maned friend, who looked sufficiently shocked to be hiding behind her mane, peeping out with one eye. At least, till she recognized the large purple mare as Twilight, at which point the pink and yellow Pegasus turned her expression from one of shy surprise to joy, aqua-green eyes sparkling.
"Twilight, it's so nice to see you." Fluttershy's voice was just how Twilight remembered it, and it brought tears to her lavender eyes. Soon she had not just Silver Chalice tucked under a wing, but she hugged Fluttershy in under the opposite wing as well, the buttery-colored mare not entirely sure how she ended up there. Normally, she was too timid to engage in many physical shows of affection like hugging, but after seeing her friend for the first time in... Goodness however long, she made an exception gave up a tentative neck-hug to the larger mare beside her.
"It's wonderful to see you too Fluttershy! You have no idea how much I've missed you. Or Rainbow, or Rarity or Pinkie or Applejack..." The excited Alicorn's voice caught in her throat, and she had to fight back tears. Fluttershy for her part seemed to be trying to think of something to say.
Taking advantage of the momentary silence, the white-maned filly tucked beneath Twilight's wing greeted the stranger in her dream with a squeaky "H-hello m-miss F-flutters-shy M-my na-name is Silver Chalice." Of course, the end was barely a whimper by the time she had finished speaking.
The fact that she had spoken at all surprised Twilight a bit, but no more than Fluttershy un-tucking herself from her wing, and zipping over to the filly that might perhaps rival her in timidity. In fact, at the sudden movement Silver Chalice tucked herself further under the wing, as though trying to hide.
"Oh dear. She is possibly the cutest thing ever!" Fluttershy's voice bore the same tone as it had upon meeting Spike for the first time, and Twilight couldn't help but grin at the memory. In fact...
"Well, why don't I let you two talk? I'm... guessing you got the rundown like Applejack...?" Twilight inquired of her friend, who took a long moment to pry her eyes from Silver Chalice (much to the filly's relief), and received a nod.
"Um, yes I think so. One minute Applejack was sitting there about to eat a slice of apple pie then her necklace popped up around her neck and she vanished! I guess I know what happened now." Flutter smiled down at her own necklace, and then seemed to recall something else she was going to say. "Oh um, also, we um... We saw what you did for us, Twilight."
Saw what she.... "...Oh gosh." Twilight blushed, possibly for the first time in... Decades? Centuries? "Was it... Was everything OK? I mean I know you didn't ask for-"
Twilight was cut off by a warm smile from her friend, who then nodded. "I love the hospital Twilight. Thank you for taking care of all my animal friends for so long, too."
Unable to think of a single thing to say, the purple Alicorn simply sat there, eyes full of tears and her breath caught in her throat. Her friends were watching her, all this time! Why didn't Applejack... Oh, probably because she got distracted by Honey Apple.
By the time she surfaced from her thoughts, Fluttershy had knelt in front of Silver Chalice, and her warm, approachable demeanor had the filly talking with barely a stutter to be heard.
"-from P-Ponyville, but Father doesn't let me get out m-much so I like to s-spend most of my time reading to my f-friends.." Silver Chalice's words filtered in mid-sentence, and received encouraging nods from Fluttershy.
"That's very nice of you. When I was little my mom used to read to me too. What are your friends names?" This was from Fluttershy, when Silver trailed off. Twilight couldn't hold a smile back. It seemed her friend would be getting the life’s story from this little filly and, though she longed to stay and listen to the two talk, she knew now that if the others- Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie pie- didn't know what to expect by now, they probably would soon, and would be waiting for her.
Her drive rekindled, Twilight gave her two friends, both old and new, one more wing hug before standing and excusing herself, receiving distracted nods from both, and a smile from Fluttershy.
Luna started in surprise when Twilight awoke from where she was seated nearby, a stack of scrolls neatly arranged to either side of her, and one open in front with a quill out. It had been a few hours since Twilight first ventured into Silver Chalices dream, and in the interim it had passed from Celestia's court to Twilight's, and Luna's. Celestia was happy to cover for Twilight of course, and most of Night Court was scroll-work anyway. No important visitors in Canterlot, either, so Luna had simply asked an attendant to have her work delivered to the royal wing.
"How did it go...?" Came the inevitable inquiry from the Night Princess, a hopeful tone on her voice.
Twilight, who had woken with not a tear to beheld grinned. "It went absolutely spectacularly!" The grown mare bounced a little in place and it was obvious the only reason she didn't make more noise was for the benefit of the still sleeping ponies.... And on that note, she glanced at the clock and blinked rapidly. "Oh uh, sorry for taking so long. How much longer till the sleeping spell wears off?"
Luna just laughed softly and set her quill and paper down. "As long as you need it to, their parents know where they are, and I've got all night." That made Twilight smile, and the lavender mare stood, stretching as she did. Or she started to; a gentle flash announced the second element necklace appearing around its owner’s neck. "I guess they reached an agreement."
Not one to dally around after so long waiting, she looked over the other three sleeping ponies. One more foal, and two ponies in their teens perhaps. One of the latter, an earth pony mare with a bright azure coat and a nearly black mane was smiling in her dreams, and wiggling a hoof. Twilight cast a questioning glance to Luna, and was answered with,"Loyalty."
That surprised Twilight, and she wondered how Rainbow Dash would react. In fact, she definitely wanted to see her speedy friend again... So, mind made up, she carried her cushion over and, after stretching out a cramp or two, settled back in, and with a soft flash from Luna, ventured into dreams...
TO BE CONTINUED IN: Part V: Promises To Keep.
|
Snow
|
803
| 5 |
Main 6,Original Character,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Alternate Universe,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Friends Forever
|
A look into a possible future for Twilight and her friends, years after the show ends.
|
complete
| 262 | 9 |
<p>Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.</p><p>Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!</p><p>Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-09-09T22:50:30+00:00
|
2012-09-09T22:50:30+00:00
| 3,733 |
Speed, hooves pounding on a racetrack, or darting nimbly through trees, with crowds of cheering fans at every turn; dreams of soaring through the air, or riding down a frozen slope on a sled. These were the kinds of things that Twilight had come to expect after seeing the similarities in Honey Apple and Silver Chalice to their respective counterparts... What surrounded her, however, was...
In a word, tranquil. The sound of waves cresting time and again against a sandy shore drifted through the air, and in time with each soft roar of sea-foam, the sound of calm weak creaking could be heard, like the sound of an old rocking chair. She didn't have to look far to spy the source, either. There, inside of a large, spacious parlor filled with soft greens and blues offset with occasional bursts of yellow or orange, was the new bearer of Loyalty, sitting beside a cradle containing three sleeping foals, all the same age by the looks of it. She was rocking it in time with the sound of waves with the tip of her nose, and had yet to notice the purple Alicorn.
Taking a moment more to look around Twilight saw light streaming in from over the ocean, the sun turning the waves a sea of gold, accented with blue bordering on black, a view granted by a large bay window facing south, so that dawn or dusk, the sea to the south and west would be lit in a way that bordered on magical for the family that lived there to behold. As for the parlor itself, toys were strewn here and there out of the way on the wooden floor, blocks, dolls a few story books, mostly things for small foals. The furniture was simple, two chairs and a sofa, all of which looked well used and cushioned, but kept clean and pleasant, with a low coffee table nearest the chairs, all of which was arranged in a corner atop a sea green area rug to open up the rest of the floor for play and walking space. On one wall was a fireplace, complete with mantle, with several photographs of the family, including a somewhat round mare and tall stallion, the mother and father presumably.
"Oh, good evening, Highness." The voice came quietly, accented just slightly of Trottingham, and it took Twilight a long moment to realize that the azure mare was looking at her while still rocking the crib. Her eyes were the sharpest gold she had ever seen, and instantly reminded her of the sun gleaming outside. "I had thought I was dreaming, and I suppose now I know for certain." The mare continued rocking the cradle despite this. However, she did begin using her hoof rather than muzzle.
Twilight stood somewhat dumbfounded for a long moment, and the look on her face caused her host to laugh, albeit quietly in respect to the sleeping triplets.
"Err- Good evening... I... apologize if I'm interrupting..." Still off balance, Twilight was unsure of how to proceed, and so she fell back on cautious politeness for the time being.
"Not at all, Highness. I admit I'm surprised to see you, however. It's been... Years I believe, since I've dreamed of you. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? Another adventure across the waves or perhaps you've come again to whisk me away on a life of adventure before I wake?" The mare's voice wasn't bitter, though it was not far. Instead, that azure mare sounded sad, and perhaps a little hurt.
"Oh dear..." This wasn't going at all like she had anticipated, and it seemed to her as though every time she thought of something to say it slipped from her grasp. "I'm... afraid not as such, no. In fact I'm afraid this is our first meeting..."
A brow quirked over one of those golden eyes in curiosity, but the mare it belonged to shrugged after a moment. "I see, so it's going to be one of those dreams, very well." She finally stopped rocking the crib and leaned down to nuzzle each of the sleeping foals within, receiving a little squeaking yawn from the middle one. That done, she knelt with a practiced motion, head low to the ground. "Princess Twilight, my name is Morning Waves. Won't you please take me away to a land across the sea where dreams come true and every day is spent filled with fun?" The words had an oddly practiced feel to them, and once again bore a tone that was just shy of bitter.
'Oh my...' thought Twilight beginning to realize what she had gotten herself into,
"Morning Waves... I'm sorry." It was all she could think to say at first, "I-"
"For what? Leaving me to grow up staring out that window and waiting for you? Stringing me along with dream after dream, promise after promise of something better?!" The room around the two of them darkened, thunder rumbling out above the sea, matching the fierceness in her voice. It seemed that this was a pony with old wounds and, and pain in her heart, "You're sorry for letting me wake up to the same old room in the same old life with nothing to look forward to but another day of- of..."
Tears poured from those golden eyes, staring at Twilight in accusation, rage, and pain. The room went dark, lit by lightning and the light all but snuffed as a storm raged outside and the intensity of the mare's reaction staggered the Alicorn, who was left breathless. Morning Waves, meanwhile, seemed to be trying to choke out another accusation while holding back a sob when a scared cry stopped them both. The center foal, bright pink filly with a short yellow mane was awake, and hiding her muzzle under her blanket, watching the two and shivering.
With a deep breath, Morning Waves turned from Twilight, and leaned over the crib once again, nuzzling the small filly's forehead and murmured to her, the sound of the storm outside calming noticeably. "It's alright Coral, big sister's here. It's alright. Go back to sleep." Her voice was once again soft and reminded Twilight of Fluttershy tending to a sick animal. The crib began to creak again as Morning Waves rocked it with a hoof, mastering herself before turning back to Twilight.
"Look, you’re just a dream, and I've woken up crying enough because of you. If I try, I can make you disappear and enjoy the rest of my evening." Those sharp, golden-orange eyes closed, and Twilight could feel the dream world around her attempting to reject her as though she were nothing but a figment of this mare's imagination. It was a fair tug too; it seemed Morning Waves was a strong dreamer. Still, between the magic from Luna and Twilight's own determination to see this through, she stayed precisely where she was, for all appearances unphased by the sleeping mare trying to push her away.
In fact, the azure pony opened her eyes fully expecting an otherwise empty room, and seeing the concerned-looking purple mare still before her rendered her gast pretty well flabbered. She stood mouth somewhat agape in surprise. "What the hayseed?"
"...I apologize for wearing out my welcome, but I needed to speak with you, if you'd be willing to. You are dreaming, but not of me. If you truly wish me gone, however, I will leave, and this will be nothing but another dream." Twilight spoke softly, matching that fiery gaze with her own lavender eyes. Truthfully, she was sorry for imposing on her like this, and perhaps irrationally, lamented any harm she brought on this pony even if she had no hoof in it.
With a heavy sigh, Morning Waves sat upon a chair which was not there a moment before, still absentmindedly rocking the cradle with one hoof. "What's the difference? Either you're just a particularly stubborn dream or for some reason you're actually here and I’ve just made a foal of myself. Regardless of which is the truth, I'm too tired to care. Talk if you must, I have nothing better to do while you're here and I doubt I could wake if I tried." She sounded defeated and, true to her word, tireder than anything else.
"Well then..." Twilight began, walking tentatively forward, and sitting upon the floor in front of the smaller mare. "Why don't we begin by talking about you? Believe what you will about me, I've never intended to cause pain like this on anypony. “A snort interrupted her for a moment, but she continued on, "So.. I guess first I'd have to ask why you hate me, so."
That gave Morning Waves pause, and she began her answer with a sigh. "I don't hate you, Princess, and I know in my heart you wouldn't deserve such a thing if I did. No, Highness, I don't hate you, but you have hurt me, whether you meant to or not.
"When I was little, maybe their age," Morning Waves nodded to the three sleeping foals before continuing, "Mother used to sit with me in that window in the evenings when she got home. She would tell me stories about tiny ponies with butterfly wings that played in forests and a secret world of ponies with flippers for back hooves beneath the waves. Always these fantastic tales when the sun was going down, turning that ocean gold.
"Now, don't get me wrong I've never had a bad life, my mother and father have always taken good care of me, and my little brother and sisters, but when you're told all these wonderful stories about things you've never even imagined, you can't help but want to live them, or at least I couldn't. Well, one day in preschool, we were learning about the Sisters- You, Princess Luna, and Princess Celestia- and how Luna rose the moon and the stars, and Celestia raised the sun, and how you painted the sky to celebrate the coming of both, and keep the magic of the day alive.
"Well, as you can imagine, in my heart I associated you with these ponytales mother had taught me in the hours of twilight, and so in my dreams, you would come and take me away from my life of school and routine, with promises of wonders and always new games. I dreamed, and I waited, because I thought if I wished hard enough, one day you'd arrive.
"Time passed, and I got tired of waiting, so I worked extra hard for a whole month doing my chores, and I saved my allowance till I could afford to send a letter to you. Well, I couldn't just ask you to come whisk me away, what if somepony read it? Instead, I wrote,
'Dear Princess Twilight,
I have a special dream that I want more than anything to come true, and I would do anything in the world to see it happen. Please, tell me how I can make my dreams come true?
Your Faithful Subject,
Morning Waves'"
The azure mare closed her eyes, tears having begun to well within her eyes once again, and by the time she had finished reciting her letter from heart, she needed a moment to collect herself. Twilight, for her part, was shocked. Now that she mentioned it, she remembered that letter. She remembered telling her-
"You... You wrote back the very next day. My heart felt like it was going to burst before I opened the scroll. I waited until the sun was going down, I wanted it to be perfect.." Morning Waves continued, her eyes closed, and Twilight's own heart was sinking.
"I waited till the sea was gold when I opened your letter. It said
'Dear Morning Waves,
Having a special dream in your heart is a wonderful and important thing, and I promise you, if you stay true to your dreams and to yourself, and always be the best pony you can be, it will come true. Never give up!
Best wishes,
Princess Twilight.'
"It wasn't what I was hoping for, but I had thought that you somehow knew what I meant, that this was your way of saying if I was good enough and was patient, one day you'd come, and one day all those foalhood dreams would come true. After all, I had your promise" The word was spoken as though it were a snake, coiled to strike.
Twilight was searching for something, anything she could say when the mare in front of her opened those golden-orange fiery eyes, and once again found herself without words.
"Well Princess, I waited. I waited, and hoped, and I was such a model pony that ponies I'd helped showed up and brought toys, storybooks, bits, and my parents always asked why. I didn't accept any of it, I didn't feel I needed any of it, and I always told my parents I was keeping my end of a promise. I grew older, still no cutie-mark by the time I was thirteen, and still doing the best I could.
"By then, I was having nightmares from time to time that you came, and told me I wasn't good enough, and left without me. Other times, I'd dream you finally came, just like you promised, and took me over the sea in a chariot towards the sunset, and just before we arrived, I would wake up. I lost hope Highness in everything, one by one. I still helped, I still did the best I could, but out of habit, out of expectation. Then, one day, mother came home and announced she was pregant.
"That's when it finally clicked, I guess. You weren't coming, and your promise was empty." The azure mare's voice was flat but her eyes seemed to be trying to bore into Twilight's soul, and she felt as though they were doing a fair job.
"Well, I swore from then on that I'd never do that to anypony else. I would never break my word like you did, and when my mother had triplets, one colt and two fillies, I promised my parents I would watch over them always. I promised my little sisters and brother from the moment they opened their eyes that I would take care of them. I got my cutiemark that day."
The azure mare stood and showed her flank properly, and Twilight couldn't help but look. It was a single purple ribbon, tied in a bow. Simple, highly symbolic, and had she not heard what she had, the purple mare likely wouldn't have understood its significance.
"On the upside, I now have one brother and two sisters I love with all of my heart, I've made some friends now that I'm not constantly pining for a dream that will never come true, and overall, I think I've managed to be happy. Is that what you wanted to talk about?" Story told, Morning Waves visibly deflated, and it was obvious to Twilight that the mare had likely told no one of what was gnawing at her.
Words came slowly to the Alicorn. She had never imagined that such a simple encouragement might have caused so much pain. Or perhaps she had simply grown disconnected from her subjects as time passed.
"Morning Waves..." Twilight began, pausing a moment when the mare before her flinched, "If I had known what you were asking, if I had known what it meant to you I would have..." What? Whisked her away from her family? Made dreams a reality somehow, regardless of the consequences with her not in-substantial magic? What could she possibly say to this mare? "...I would have chosen my words more carefully, and have paid you a visit long before now. However...."
Morning Waves was watching Twilight tiredly, sadness in her eyes. Her silence seemed almost as cutting as her words.
"However... Even I cannot change the past. I can only apologize for my errors, and causing you pain. Will you accept my apology, and take my friendship in exchange?" Twilight lowered herself first to Morning Waves' height, and then bowered her head low, closing her eyes.
"I... I want to be mad at you. I want to tell you to get out for the spiteful relief I would feel in my gut. I want to make you feel the same pain of rejection I did..." The mare in front of Twilight spoke slowly and carefully, and with her eyes closed she could only guess at what was coming next, her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach. "I want to... But that wouldn't be fair to myself, or to you." She felt a hoof on her shoulder. "I forgive you, and I'm sorry too."
When Twilight opened her eyes, Morning Waves sat before her, smiling a small, somewhat tearful smile down at her, and for a brief moment, the purple Alicorn gained a flash of insight into some inkling of her eldest sister's feelings upon the return of Luna. So, taking a leaf from Celestia's book, Morning Waves found herself being wing neck-hugged, and was even more surprised to find herself returning it.
"So... I'm fairly sure you aren't a dream, but I'm also confident you knew nothing of all this when you came to 'visit', so what's the real reason for coming?" The words brought Twilight out of a momentary reverie, and she was relieved to hear only curiosity rather than accusation or more pain.
"Well Morning Waves, a long time ago, before I was even a Princess, I had a very dear friend, named Rainbow Dash--" She began, only to be cut off mid-sentence.
"Wait, Rainbow Dash? As in the Rainbow Dash? The one Sea Foam-" A nod toward the colt on the far right of the crib, light blue with a green mane, "-can't hear enough about?"
That made Twilight smile for a plethora of reasons, "The very same. She was one of my best friends, and I miss her very much. Well, I learned that she- and five of my other dearest friends- shared a connection with five equally special ponies, through a kind of magic called the Elements of Harmony. Each one represented a special quality of friendship. Honesty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, and Loyalty. Rainbow Dash, and you, share the Element of Loyalty."
"So..." Morning Waves began, trying to fathom what that meant. "I have this special magic or something that Rainbow Dash had? Or like, I'm her greatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreat grand daughter or something?" Her voice was flat and somewhat disbelieving.
"Well, in a way I suppose, as far as the magic goes, but what I mean is, you're both bearers of the Element of Loyalty, and that means the two of you are connected. The truth is, I miss my friends very much, and through this connection I could see my friends again, possibly even have them back..." The Alicorn felt somewhat nervous as she trailed off. While on one hoof, she was being as honest as she knew how, and she was confident none of the ponies were being made to do anything they didn't want to, saying it like that made it seem...
"Alright, so let me get this straight..." Morning Waves' voice broke Twilight's train of thought, "You want to use this special connection to see your friend again right? OK I can understand that, but what do you mean 'get them back? Where would that leave me? Are you talking about something of the sort of bringing her back to life...?! Or....?"
The question was more than reasonable, but Twilight, for all her experience and magical knowledge, still didn't really know what the answer was. "Well... The way it's been explained to me what could happen ranges from not a thing, to you more or less becoming the new Rainbow Dash- but don't worry, you don't have to do anything you don't want to, and the Elements of Harmony are a force of good, they wouldn't do anything to you to harm you." She hoped it was a good enough answer, and though if Morning Waves refused she'd accept the answer, she truly, in her heart of hearts, hoped that the other mare would accept.
"Wait, so you are coming back into- err, well coming into my life, anyway, asking for my friendship, and then immediately wanting a favor like that?" The azure mare sighed a deep breath, closing her eyes. "So basically what you're saying is, if I wanted to, I could give up... well, give up being me, my old life, and become this... This... Nearly-mythical pony, fastest ever and go on adventures with you and who knows what. Princess, you, or somepony out there, has a very cruel sense of humor."
The words broke Twilight's heart, and it showed. She visibly sagged just enough to be noticeable before masking it behind a neutral expression. The mare opposite her continued speaking, for that moment not reacting.
"If you had come to me with this offer five years ago, I would have taken it without question. Four years ago, I'd still be seriously tempted. But now...?" Morning Waves looked from Twilight, to the three siblings still asleep in the crib. "Princess.... Twilight. I can't give up being me, I can't leave my friends, my family. I can't leave them for all the fun, for all the adventures, for all the magical experiences in the world...."
The words fell on Twilight's heart like a hammer nails in the lid of a coffin, but at the same time, she understood. Loyalty. Loyalty to ones friends, to their family, and to themselves, even when faced with the offer for everything they ever wanted. If Morning Waves had accepted, she wouldn't have deserved--
"...But." Once again, Twilight's train of thought found itself derailed, and her heart again leaped into her throat. But...? "I'd like to help you see your friend again.... And... You said a lot of things could happen right? It... Wouldn't hurt to just talk-- But I'm not agreeing to anything yet, understand?"
There's no feeling quite like falling into the jaws of despair only to be snatched aloft by a faint butterfly of hope before they snap shut, and it was that feeling that Twilight found fluttering through her belly. If nothing else, she'd see Dash again, and that was more than she thought she could expect only a few moments ago.
It was with a nod and grateful smile that Twilight reached within herself once again, touching that special place in her heart where her friends dwelt, and as before, her crown lit, light gathering in its heart before shining out to coalesce around Morning Wave's throat in that familiar necklace bearing a lightning bolt. What happened next made both ponies jump.
"oooooooOOOOH YEAH!" That was all the warning either of them received before, chased by a rainbow of light, Rainbow Dash made her entrance in her old manner; by crashing in through a window and ending up in a pile atop Twilight, leaving a very surprised Morning Waves looking over at aftermath of a supersonic glomp.
"Hey Twilight! Miss me? Of course you did! I'm the one. The only. RAINBOW DASH!" The cyan mare managed to extricate herself, and pose, wings spread, looking proud of herself, before blinking a few times, and actually looking around, especially at Morning Waves, and the crib beside her. "Ummm. Did I miss something?"
Dash looked... Not entirely how Twilight was expecting (once her vision cleared). She was older, about the age she finally managed to get into the Wonderbolts, for one, with a somewhat longer, shoulder-length mane, worn straight. Come to think of it, wasn't Pinkie usually telling her she'd look good with...?
"Uhhh Twilight, Equestria to Twilight?" Rainbow stepped curiously closer to the still sprawled Alicorn, only to be summarily glomped in a hug. "OK! OK! I get it! You missed me! Uncle!"
Twilight kept hugging her friend for another long moment before looking over to Morning Waves, who was at that moment calming the foals in the crib again. "Morning Waves, meet Rainbow Dash-"
"Fastest flyer in all of Equestria-" Dash herself interjected.
"...Fastest flyer in all of Equestria." Twilight added with amusement, "Rainbow Dash, meet Morning Waves, the new Element of Loyalty."
Morning Waves took another moment to make sure the foals were alright and calmed down before looking to Dash and holding out a hoof somewhat hesitantly. "Hello...?"
Rainbow grinned and gave Morning's hoof a shake, then looked her over. "Well, you definitely aren't what I was expecting but at least they found a better replacement than Spike!"
That sent Twilight and Dash both into a fit of giggles, leaving Morning Waves looking rather confused for a long moment before she ventured again, "Alright so...You're here. What now?"
That brought the two reunited friends back to the moment, and Twilight looked to the cyan Pegasus to answer and, perhaps demonstrating just how much Dash had grown over her life, actually picked up on it.
"Right! Well how would YOU like to be the new Rainbow Dash? We could fit you up with a nice pair of wings- Twilight you can do that right?" "-Uh-" "Great! With your colors you could be like, fifty percent cooler with a big pair of wings with black-tipped pinions and- ooh! Maybe gold flecks! Yeah that'd look awesome when we're flying over and-"
"Excuse me...!" Morning Waves interrupted, holding a hoof up to interrupt the excitable Pegasus. "I don't know about wings, but I'm not becoming the new anypony! Like I told the Princess, I'd help her see her friend again, and we'd talk about what came next! I'm not going to abandon my friends and family for anypony, not her Highness, and not you."
Rainbow's face turned from surprise at being interrupted, to confusion, then indignation. "What?! This is the opportunity of a lifetime! I mean with some training your name could TOTALLY go down right beside mine! I bet I could get you up to Rainboom speeds in a year, maybe two! And your family and friends-?!"
"Rainbow...!" Twilight began, watching the ire grow in Morning Wave's eyes.
"Yeah yeah Twilight just a sec." Rainbow waved a hoof at the purple Alicorn, her magenta eyes never leaving Morning Waves. "Your friends would have me! And besides, with all the bits and fame we'd have, we could get them anything they ever wanted! I mean hay, do you know how much I made in the Wonderbolts, much less giving lessons after?!"
Morning Waves sat perfectly still, but her golden orange eyes looked for all the world like gates into the fiery heart of the sun itself, and even Rainbow stuttered as she began talking again, and trailed off. "Miss Dash, I don't care who you THINK you are, but I will not break my promises for some pompous, arrogant, full-of-herself MUSCLEHEADED pony like you..." Her voice was crisp, hard, and angry.
Dash sat there completely stunned the whole while, and blinked repeatedly at the mare while Twilight hid her face behind her hoof. 'What has gotten INTO her?' she thought.
Then, Rainbow's face turned up in a smile, her eyes softening and she nodded, the next word out of her mouth stealing the fire from Morning Waves' eyes: "Good."
Both Twilight and Morning looked at Dash, then each other, then back. "What?" They spoke in unison.
"I said good! I don't like ponies who'd give up their friends, much less family, for something like fame or money. In fact, I don't even like the kind of pony I was, once. Humility and empathy are almost as important as loyalty to those you care about, and keeping your promises." Rainbow's eyes sparkled, and Twilight let out a sigh of relief. Morning Waves was still speechless.
"What happens next is up to you, Wavie. I can go back to watching and next time a new Loyalty pops up, we can see what happens. After all I'm not going anywhere and neither is Twilight, or we could work something out where everypony's happy. S'up to you." Rainbow's voice was calmer and had lost a fair portion of the brash tone. It sounded to Twilight like it did in her later years, after retiring from the Wonderbolts and settling down. In fact, it was almost matronly.
"I... err... Uh... Guess...?" Morning Waves looked to Dash, then Twilight respectively, still off her even footing.
"Great! Twilight, Pinkie and Rarity are still waiting for you. We kinda figured what happened after AJ and 'Shy vanished a second after their necklaces popped up, more or less, and Wavie here and I have things to talk about." Dash smiled to Twilight, and started to turn back before a purple hoof found its way to her shoulder.
"Rainbow, it's really wonderful to see you again. Before I go... Before whatever happens, happens... I kept my promise, right? I did the best I could." All this talk of promises, especially Morning's accusation of breaking hers had Twilight rattled, and it showed. Her face was worried, and it was on her voice as well.
The question seemed to stun Rainbow, who blinked again in surprise, before she grinned an honest and full grin. "Twi, you did everything I asked for and more to boot. We're all grateful. In fact, Rarity, Pinkie, and Applejack wouldn't stop talking about it. Now, go on. Watching you snooze beside these ponies was getting dull when I got here."
Tears in her lavender eyes, Twilight stood and gave Rainbow another hug, and even one to Morning Waves, though the latter wasn't sure how to respond, before turning, and lighting her horn, breaking her connection to the dreaming spell.
The smell of hot tea and daisy sandwiches met Twilight's nose as she opened her eyes, a tray sitting in front of her featuring a steaming mug of peppermint and a sandwich cut in half. Luna was nearby as well, looking up from one of the last of her scrolls as the purple Alicorn stirred.
They sat quietly for a moment, the middle sister giving Twilight time to sort her thoughts, and eat.
"So, how did it go?" Luna finally asked after Twilight had finished half her sandwich, and was working on her second mug of tea.
"...Luna, even a thousand years isn't long enough to learn all of life's lessons, and every now and then I'm reminded of how little I really know." Twilight looked to her sister, a somewhat shaky smile on her face. "It... went well. I do have a question though."
"Oh?" One of Luna's brows was quirked, and she took a sip of her own mug of tea, a blend of lemon and orange.
"Which of--" Twilight was cut off by a dull flash of the Loyalty necklace appearing around Morning Wave's throat, and the sight made her smile, pausing for a long moment, then resumed her thought as she looked upon the remaining ponies. "Which of these two is the new Generosity?"
"Her." Luna directed her muzzle toward the younger of the two, a Pegasus filly older than Honey Apple by a year, perhaps two. She was a small thing, thin, with a soft, nearly white, yellow coat, and a mane of aquamarine. "Her name is Sun Dew. We found her in an orphanage in Old Manehatten. We.... thought it was best to put her under before we left since... We didn't want to give the wrong impression." The Night Princess gave Twilight a helpless look, then looked somewhat sadly to the sleeping filly.
Twilight on the other hoof felt her heart, already soft from the emotional roller coaster she had just ridden, break clear in two as she looked at Sun Dew, curled up with her head resting on a wing. ".. An orphan...? The new bearer of the Element of Generosity is an orphan?"
"It... looks that way, Twilight. Medicine's advanced, as has healing magic, but sometimes there are still complications. Her mother passed away shortly after she was born, and she has no registered father, or living relatives." Luna sighed softly and sealed the scroll before her. "The matron at the orphanage said she's the sweetest child she's ever met, but she doesn't talk much..."
Twilight continued watching the filly sleep, almost afraid of the dreams she might be having, and her heart continued to break. There's a reason the Royalty tended to distance themselves from their subjects, even if they didn't try. Eternity was a long time to bear emotional scars, and trying to heal the world all at once was too much even for them. Still, her mind was made up then, and there.
"Luna, while I'm asleep, could you please get the adoption papers ready? No matter what happens, I'm not letting her go back to that orphanage unless she wants to." Her voice was a whisper, and Luna quirked a brow, only marginally surprised, before giving a nod, possibly of approval.
"Of course, sister. I'll see about a room for her as well."
'We live in such a peaceful land, and between my sisters and I, we keep it that way, but maybe a guiding hoof isn't enough. I'm going to talk to Tia about Sun Dew tomorrow...' Her decision made, and aching heart mollified for the moment, she settled her cushion down beside the small sleeping pony, and closed her eyes. Shortly after, she felt Luna's magic carrying her away.
TO BE CONTINUED IN: Part 6 – Meaningful Gifts.
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Snow
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Main 6,Original Character,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Alternate Universe,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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Friends Forever
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A look into a possible future for Twilight and her friends, years after the show ends.
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complete
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<p>Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.</p><p>Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!</p><p>Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.</p>
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everyone
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2012-09-09T11:23:55+00:00
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2012-09-09T11:23:55+00:00
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There are orphanages that are sadly underfunded, overcrowded and meager in their means and appearances; institutions in which unwanted children are housed until mercy is shown upon them or they grow enough to leave on their own life's journeys; sad places that happy families do not often consider, or dwell upon, for fear of an orphans fate becoming their own, or that of their child.
...This... was not one of those orphanages. The walls were colored brightly with playful designs on wallpaper that looked new, the air comfortable with no drafts to be found, and plentiful toys were stacked neatly where they belonged. There were foals of all sorts and races playing games with one another, or practicing a weak grasp on magic by stacking blocks. By the looks on their faces, they were happy enough, a few colts and fillies singing a nursery rhyme while jumping rope.
Suffice to say that Twilight was rather pleasantly surprised by the sights and sounds around her even as her eyes scanned the various ponies for Sun Dew. She did notice that only a few of the dreamed ponies had any real definition beyond a cursory glance, though. Many older ones lacked a cutiemark, and their motions were somewhat repetitive. Only a small number of younger ponies had details such as cutiemarks, or individual hairs, whereas the rest were merely smooth, nearly cartoonish figures of color.
'They must be ponies she actually knows.' Twilight thought to herself, but as she looked about the room she couldn't spot the filly in question until she had turned almost a full circle. There, in one corner doodling on a piece of paper was Sun Dew. She sat by herself, but frequently glanced over at the group of ponies that Twilight figured were her friends.
Normally, the purple mare would have approached quietly and watched, waiting until she was noticed, so as not to interrupt the activity, and she started to do just that, but Sun Dew noticed her immediately upon looking up, and some of the other ponies began fading from the dream, the Alicorns presence startling the small Pegasus.
"Oh! Um, hello there." Twilight ventured, closing the distance at a sedate walk, carefully watching the small Pegasus.
No answer came, however, just a pair of large green eyes looking back at her, a curious look on the filly's face. She didn't shrink away at the approach, nor did she make any move toward the new face. It seemed that she was fairly used to strange ponies visiting. Still, Twilight stopped a short distance away, and despite being several centuries old, she still hesitated. Making good impressions with new ponies never was her strong suit, after all.
Her proximity did let her see the drawing, though. It wasn't particularly detailed, and the exact image seemed to shift with the dream, but the focus appeared to be several ponies with older ones present, and that made Twilight somewhat curious, and gave her something to hopefully start a conversation with.
"That's a nice drawing. Are they your friends?" Twilight put on her best smile, her face and eyes soft, and the mare positively glowing gentleness (a far cry from a few other 'smiles' in her lifetime). For her effort, she received a small smile in return, and a slight nod, those green eyes still peering up at her.
"Um..." Twilight reached for something to say; the silence was a little awkward for her. "Who's that with them...?" The question was both born of curiosity, and an attempt to encourage the girl to talk. For her effort, the filly turned and looked up at a Monday-Sunday calendar on the wall, with events written on it. On Saturday was marked 'Adoption Day'.
"Oh... So, those are their new parents?" Nod. "...Aren't you... hoping for somepony to be yours, too?" The question was a bit more probing, but the filly didn't seem bothered by it. In fact, it seemed to Twilight almost like the filly was trying to seem... distant. As for the response, Sun Dew tilted her head ever so slightly for a long moment, and then rolled her shoulders in a shrug before nodding.
'Translation: I guess..?' Twilight's thoughts were the only words she had for company, and she started to become more and more sure that the filly just didn't want to talk. She could keep fishing for a topic to talk about, anything really, but something told her she would receive much the same responses.
"...Alright then..." The Alicorn decided aloud, receiving an ear-flick from the filly. Twilight couldn't force her to talk, and though she certainly wanted to see Rarity, she figured that maybe a discussion in the waking world would go over better. Therefore, as she turned and began to walk away, Twilight said, "It... was nice meeting you Sun Dew. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."
Just before Twilight began working the waking spell, however, a small voice, sweet and very soft, almost inaudible, stopped her with a single word.
"Wait."
Surprise, more than anything else, stopped Twilight at first, making the tall mare blink a few times, sorting out whether she had actually heard anything. That was soon answered as a light touch on her hind leg registered. She turned, surprise still evident on her face, to see the young Pegasus, looking up at her again with those green eyes wide. The filly stared at Twilight a moment longer, then looked over at the group of ponies who still seemed to be playing, her gaze lingering there, then looking back up at the lavender mare, face questioning.
It took her a moment to understand the question being asked, but Twilight shook her head in response. "No, I just came for you Sun Dew, though I'm sure your friends will be adopted in no time."
A pregnant moment followed as the other ponies in the room faded from the dream one by one, until the two were left alone. Those emerald-green eyes never fell nor lifted as the small pony watched the Alicorn- who at this point was feeling a tad more uncomfortable than before.
"This isn't like my normal dreams." Sun Dew's voice came again, still quiet, perhaps out of habit, and was neither a question nor a dismissal. A simple statement of fact, "After they talked to me, grownups would go over and take my friends to their new homes. I make them happy, even if they don't know it."
Twilight could have expected any number of things from this quiet little artist; shyness, shock, disbelief, even fear. What she got, however, was calm, reasonable ('Or maybe "logical' would be a better word...'), and a little more analytical than she expected from a foal Sun Dew's age.
"You knew my name, too." The words stirred Twilight from her thoughts, and surprise, the little Pegasus going on, and canting her head to one side at this, suggesting it was meant to be a question as well.
"Um...” The lavender mare stated, oh-so-eloquently, her head leaning back a bit and a hoof rose. It wasn't that Sun Dew bothered her as a pony, but the personality was such she'd expect it with a mare, or at least an older foal than this. Come to think of it, was she like this as a foal?
"Um..." Twilight tried again a moment later, before setting her hoof down and taking a deep breath, then letting it out. "Well, I guess there's no point beating around the bush is there? My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I know your name because you're actually at the palace right now. I'm visiting you in your dreams because..." Saying it out loud like this made her feel kind of like some kind of ghoul, visiting ponies in their sleep to try and resurrect her long gone friends.
It must have shown on her face, because Sun Dew's head was canted to the other side when Twilight emerged from her thoughts, and the princess took the time to study the filly's expression.
At first she had thought it almost disturbingly neutral, but the little cream-colored Pegasus' breathing was a bit too fast and her eyes a little too large, pupils dilated. It wasn't fear, exactly, but a mix between hope and trepidation.
"...Because you are a very special pony." Twilight continued, and in her heart she knew she was speaking the truth, not just sugar-coated words. "You see Sun Dew, a long time ago I had a dear friend named Rarity who was kinda like you; she always offered up anything she had to those needed something more than her, and even a few occasions where she'd give something she needed away she needed..."
The Alicorn descended onto her belly, to put herself on level with the green-eyed gaze directed onto her. She talked about Rarity's generosity, making her friends gala dresses even before her own, about how another of her friends became a model; something Rarity envied a great deal, but encouraged and helped maintain because she was truly, in her heart, happy for her friend, and wanted their happiness more than her own. She of course told the filly that everything worked out, but she talked, openly and fondly, answering a question or two, and soon Sun Dew was lying down, listening too.
"...and you share a very special connection with Rarity. You, in your heart, are as generous as she was. I just met you and I can already tell that. That special connection would let me see her again, but you have to be asleep to do it. And... if you wanted to.... you could help me have her back." The smooth and confident voice the princess had adopted for story telling cracked at that, but she tried to hold a smile.
A moment passed, Sun Dew looking into Twilight's eyes for a long moment. Her expression had softened a bit as she relaxed. She had listened without a word outside an occasional question , such as for clarification or to ask what happened next. Then, after making sure the story was done, she nodded. "Alright."
"You- You don't have to Sun Dew." Twilight was a little taken aback at how readily the filly agreed. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to, and I don't want you to if you're afraid or-"
"It's alright. I want to." The cream Pegasus didn't speak any louder, but there was conviction in her tone, and she even let a small smile touch her features.
"...Sun Dew..." Twilight felt a smile tugging at her lips. 'Generosity. Right.' "I want you to know... No matter what happens or what you decide, you're still a very special pony, and... I also want you to know that when you wake up there'll be the offer for a new home for you at the palace. With me I mean." The smile turned a little unsure. Even after a thousand years, this just wasn't a situation with which one can become familiar.
Being visited by an Alicorn in her dreams? No problem. The idea of bringing back a thousand-year-dead mare? Alright, if it'd make her new friend happy. Being told that she'd have a new home- a new mother- if she wanted one? Altruism or no, that was enough to shatter the overly mature facade, and in a moment of deja vu, there was suddenly an excited foal prancing around Twilight, a very excited voice going "YesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesYES!"
With a laugh, Twilight interrupted a view into her own foalhood by trapping Sun Dew under one wing and hugging her to her side, before standing up and looking at her. "Alright, knowing that, do you still feel comfortable?"
There was an excited nod; the subdued filly had taken a vacation and in her place was a jubilant foal, seeming excited even then, and it was with that jubilation, that warmth, the joy, and hope that Twilight reached within and touched on the old ember of her friendship, which had begun fanning into a healthy flame once again.
So it was with that warmth and light that Twilight's crown lit, bathing the dream in a brilliant glow, only part of which had to do with actual light, and when Twilight's eyes opened again, she found herself with two white forelegs around her neck and a familiar purple mane tickling her nose.
"Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you thank you." The cultured tones of Rarity’s voice were alone enough to bring tears of joy to Twilight's eyes, even though she knew what to expect. "Thank you, darling. I'm so proud of you, and I'm so so grateful. You have been positively wonderful, and I daresay you've gotten absolutely stunning with your sewing, if I do say so myself."
The hug was broken as Rarity settled onto all fours again, her crystalline blue eyes meeting Twilight's lavender ones, sharing emotions, and tears.
During this exchange, the aquamarine-maned filly looked between Twilight, and Rarity with curiosity and interest, though remained respectfully silent... even if she had wiggled her way beneath one of Twilight's wings again during the conversation.
"Rarity..." Twilight finally found her voice, "I just wanted to keep my promises. To keep you all close and in my life for as long as I could. I never expected to get to see you, any of you, again. I did my very best to-"
"Twilight dear," Rarity interjected, holding up a hoof. "You did wonderfully. I thought I was being very clear. I know what you did for me, for all of us, and I couldn't be happier with you, or prouder of you as a friend. Or as a pony for that matter! Why, I was telling Sweetie Belle just awhile ago how lucky we were to have you in our lives for as long as we did, and there's not a day that's gone by that we haven't thought of you, too."
Rarity held Twilight's gaze, an understanding and warm smile on her muzzle, before breaking it and looking to the cream filly that had been content to fade into the background, as was her wont. "And who might you be dear? Well the new bearer of my own element of course but as much as that tells me of your character, why don't we get to know one another a bit better? Oh and those wings are simply gorgeous!"
Sun Dew had emerged from Twilight's side upon being addressed, and shuffled the very same wings being praised by the alabaster mare, unfolding one a bit hesitantly. The feathers, much like her fur, were a shade of cream; yellow and nearly white, but her contour feathers (those feathers providing shape and more warmth than actual support in flight) were a darker shade of yellow, bordering on golden.
"Oh yes those are positively divine. But I'm sure we have plenty to talk about beyond that. My name is Rarity, a pleasure to meet you."
"...I'm Sun Dew." replied the filly, unused to being lavished in so much attention, and still out of her shell because of Twilight's offer. In fact, her resemblance to another Pegasus had Rarity beaming, and Twilight shaking her head with a similar smile.
'I should leave these two to it, I still have a certain pink typhoon to say hello to after a thousand years, and I need to get some restful sleep soon myself!' The words played through Twilight's mind, but Rarity, glancing at her during the inner monologue, broke off from describing her special talent as if she had read the mind of the Alicorn.
"Now Twilight, don't you even think about leaving without a word." Another hug startled the twilit mare as well, more-so because she found herself nuzzling back, a long elegant foreleg curling around her friend. "Now Twilight Sparkle, no matter what happens we'll always be your friends, and not just because of what you've done for us. We all love you to pieces Twilight, and we've each lead the happiest lives, and happiest afterlives we could have imagined thanks in no short part to you." Rarity held Twilight another long moment, before returning to Sun Dew. "Now dear, I believe Pinkie was about to bounce a hole through the ground when I left, and there's no telling what she'll do if she gets too excited."
It wasn't a dismissal so much as an offer for Twilight to continue, one which the Alicorn took with a grateful smile, and bow of her head, but not before looking to the filly. "Sun Dew, remember what I said. Don't do anything you don't want to or feel comfortable with, and Rarity, she's a smart filly, make sure she understands what's happening OK?"
Sun Dew smiled, and smiled wide to Twilight but didn't actually respond, she just let the warmth in her eyes speak for her. Rarity, however, was much more vocal, as always. "Of course dear, I wouldn't dream of anything less. Now off you go."
With one more look at her friend; knowing that even though Sun Dew had a good heart and wanted to help, it didn't mean that she'd have Rarity back; Twilight lit her horn with a soft whisper of magic, and found herself stirring awake to... humming?
Princess Celestia of the dawn sat by her sister, humming a familiar little jingle, the words long forgotten, but it was pleasant enough to wake to.
The radiant light of the morning sun filtered in through one window, igniting white fur in a glow that only partially had to do with the physical world; it was as if Celestia's own warmth and love radiated out from her just as the sun's spread from its heart.
It was a sight which Twilight had become familiar with, and yet through all her years it never failed to make her reflect on how blessed she was to share such a close bond with her, and Luna as well.
Luna, on that note, was sipping another cup of tea, and helping Celestia with her scroll-work while she maintained the spell… Or at least she had been before Twilight woke with a wiggle and yawn. "Good morning Celestia, Luna."
"And to you my dearest student." Celestia responded, rather wryly. It was a ritual they shared since the early days of Twilight's youth, harkening back to her first lesson, in which she was deathly afraid about proper protocol of greeting the Princess in the morning, worrying that perhaps suggesting it was a good morning indicating there were bad ones, or other worries that seemed nonsense to think about now. Likely this was why the ritual had prevailed for so long.
"Mm. Good morning Twilight. The papers you requested are waiting for you in your bedroom, whenever you're ready to deal with them either way." Luna sounded tired. Even if she didn't actually require sleep, it certainly helped, and the mane of stars and moonlight reflected that, drooping listlessly across the Alicorn's back.
"Papers?" Celestia asked with a brow quirked as she smiled and draped a wing over Luna. "Why Twilight, I thought you hated the tedium of scroll work."
"Um... hehe. Well Tia... It... turns out that Sun Dew here is an orphan... and a very special pony as well. I... I'm going to adopt her, whether she ends up Rarity, herself, or anypony in between. And... on that note we need to talk. A guiding hoof for our subjects has lead ponies to be far happier than not, and peace that's stretched for centuries... but I worry that it might not be enough."
Celestia, in turn, canted her head to one side, considering Twilight's words, and then bowed her head in acknowledgement. "Of course Twilight, we can talk about anything you want, and I must say I'm proud of you for your decision."
After the exchange, Twilight looked over to Sun Dew's sleeping form and saw there... no necklace. "Oh..."
Disappointment weighed heavily on Twilight's mind, but the pillars of the other elements, shining in the morning light around the necks of their new bearers gave her the strength to keep smiling, as did the knowledge that either way, she was gaining a wonderful new friend.. or perhaps 'daughter' would be more accurate. Now there was a thought that would take some getting used to.
Still, she had one more pony to-
Wait.
Wait wait wait.
"Buh."
Twilight realized something that had been poking her in the back of her mind from the moment she learned which of the two remaining ponies was the new Generosity.
"That..."
Celestia and Luna couldn't help but smile, looking to each other curiously, amused by Twilight's reaction, then looked back.
"That's a unicorn." Twilight's voice came, finally. Her wings had unfurled uneasily and she found herself standing up and back, away from the sleeping pony; a cheerful red filly in her early teenage years, with a golden-yellow mane tied back in a ponytail, with the cutiemark of six confetti streamers.
Luna, drawn from her fatigue by the odd reaction, tilted her head. "Yes that is generally a given, what with the horn and all." Humor flavored her voice.
"But-- That's a unicorn. The new element of Laughter is a UNICORN." Twilight announced, exasperated, and staring at Celestia and Luna.
"....And?" Celestia ventured, her smile turned into a look of mild concerned.
"Celestia... don't you remember who that is? That's Pinkie Pie. Pinkamena Diane Pie. Could end up. With magic. Don't you remember what she used to do without magic?"
Now that gave both Luna and Celestia pause, looking at one another in concern, then back at Twilight in unison. "Oh my."
Pinkie Pie... or a pony that might end up very much like her. A unicorn. Well, Equestria had handled worse.... Right?
"...A unicorn!"
To Be Continued in Part VII: Warming Laughter.
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Snow
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803
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Main 6,Original Character,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Alternate Universe,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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Friends Forever
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A look into a possible future for Twilight and her friends, years after the show ends.
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complete
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<p>Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.</p><p>Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!</p><p>Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.</p>
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everyone
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2012-09-09T11:30:22+00:00
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2012-09-09T11:30:22+00:00
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"A unicorn...!" A slew of emotions tumbled from the lips of the lavender Alicorn, with those simple words. It was the seventh time she had repeated it in half as many minutes, her mind a record skipping over that fact even as elegant legs folded.
"Seven...."
"A UNICORN!"
"Eight..." Luna counted, unable to keep a smirk off her face, and a titter from her voice. Then again, she wasn't exactly attempting to do so either.
"I know. I know! but for Harmony's sake, she's a-" Twilight responded in exasperation, shaking her head as she cut herself off. Her mind was restless, as indecisive and unstable as a foal angling for a cutiemark after ten mugs of Pony Joe's black coffee, and twice as many donuts.
"Twilight dear, be she unicorn, earth pony, or otherwise, Pinkie Pie in any form is still your friend in your heart. You know that. One way or another everything will work out for the best." Calm serenity, as warm as a summer morning filled Princess Celestia's voice, cutting through the miasma of doubt within Twilight's mind, smoothing the edges of her psyche and endowing it instead with a measure of the kind reassurance.
"You're right, Celestia... Thanks..." Twilight took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh, expelling the remnants of her inner turmoil in one cleansing exhale. "It doesn't matter if she's a unicorn, or an earth pony, or anything else. We don't even know what'll happen anyway. Barring acts of chaos, Pinkie's always done her best to help and be a good friend. Everything will work out."
As if by some cosmic cue, a sound akin to a breath of wind accompanied a soft flash. There, on Sun Dew's neck was a familiar golden necklace, bearing a blue diamond, and on the face of the sleeping filly? A smile, content, and happy.
The three mares looked to one another, surprise turning into amused smiles before a wordless nod from Twilight sent her off into dreams once more.
After she was out, Luna turned a questioning look to Celestia, who just smiled for a long moment... and shrugged. "Isn't fortuitous timing allowed to occur on this world without me arranging it somehow?"
Silence.
Silence and darkness.
An endless black void of weightless quiet that stretched deeper than the depths of Tartarus.
"Is... this a nightmare?" Too quietly Twilight's voice echoed, but only in her mind; the words were swallowed by the dark.
"Nope!"
With a lurch, the alicorn fond herself rocketing in a direction her senses told her was 'up' at a pace that made her heart pound a mile a minute, which incidentally may have been the speed of her ascent. Wings flared and tried to make sense of this sensation of shooting upward, cork-like, to little effect.
Then, with the sound a kazoo being played backward through a hallway full of party favors, Twilight found herself.... shot from the barrel of a brightly colored canon amidst a cloud of confetti and streamers.
"SURPRISE!" A bright, excited and jubilant voice called at the top of its owner’s lungs; A neon pink mare with a mane as puffy fluffy poof-filled as a cotton candy cloud, sparkling blue eyes, and a grin that could split the sea.
"What the-OOF!" Twilight managed midair... before smacking straight into a post, which rebounded with a rubbery sound and launched her onto a strategically placed cushion. "...Hay?!" She continued, after spitting out a few squares of brightly colored paper.
There, standing behind her trusty party canon, was Pinkie Pie, beaming at Twilight in absolute joy as laughter erupted from the teenage filly whose dream Twilight occupying. At least, she severely hoped this was the case.
For a long moment Pinkie just stood there beaming to Twilight, that familiar smile full of the combined joy of every pony that had ever seen it, the only sound the chorus of the as-yet-unnamed filly presently on her back and clutching her stomach.
"Pinkie...."
"Were you surprised? Oh you were SO surprised! C'mon admit it, you were so surprised! In fact I'd bet you were so surprised you were super-ised! Are you super? Of course you are! You're the bestest most wonderfullest nicest-"
"Pinkie...!"
"-caringest pony EVER!" Pinkie paused, possibly to actually inhale, or perhaps even realized she was being addressed. "Yes, Twilight?"
"PI--! Oh... Um.. Why.... how.... What in the hay are you doing here?!" Twilight grasped at the words, completely flabbergasted. In fact her gast was so well flabbered that she found herself starting to smile despite herself. Somehow, this made some kind of sense, in a mind-warping kind of way, and that thought simultaneously made Twilight want to laugh and flee at the same time.
"We-e-e-elll.... I got so tired of waiting for you to come get me or call me or whatever it is ended up yoinking the other girls away with these neat little 'WOOBLEVOWRM' sounds soooo I decided to come meet Joy here myself! She's got a great sense of humor and loves parties. In fact..."
'Maybe it's because I haven't seen her in a thousand years....
"- streamers everywhere and then we had this HUGE CAKE I mean like it was so big even I couldn't eat it all and then she was like 'Let me show you something' and then she-"
'Or maybe I've gotten wiser in my lifetime...
"-marching band playing a DIDGERIDOO, which is a hilarious word by the way, didja redo? Did grrrr I do! Hehehe. So anyway-"
'But she's starting to make sense'
"-juggling tubas on a unicycle in June and that's just crazy! I mean tubas are such an autumn instrument to be juggling in June so they totally had no taste in fine dining whatsoever-"
'.... Then again...'
"...Twilight?" At some point Pinkie had stopped her monologue after realizing the alicorn was just staring at her, and to Twilight's surprise, smiling.
Without responding, (and still listening to the red, golden-maned filly, Joy, cackling, pausing only to breathe,) Twilight stood from where she had landed on the cushion, walked toward a still smiling, but head-canted Pinkie.... and promptly draped her neck over the smaller mare in an affectionate equine hug, nuzzling her.
Pinkie blinked a few times. She didn't mind of course, it just wasn't something she was actually used to. Mostly because it had been quite awhile since somepony that tall actually could! Still, after a few moments she leaned her own head up, returning the hug.
"I missed you Pinkie." Twilight said, softly and still smiling, the candyfloss mane tickling at her chin.
"...I missed you too Twilight." Pinkie replied in one of her rare moments of calm seriousness.
Once she might have said something silly to lighten the moment, trying to fill every instant with as much joy and laughter as she could, but thanks to the patience and care of her friends, the hyper mare learned a very important lesson...
'Even though it’s important to laugh with your friends, it's important to listen, and share your heart with them as well.'
During this quiet, shared moment, Joy finally caught her breath, and rolled to her hooves, helping herself to some punch as she sat down properly, looking between the two with a mix of expectancy and jubilation.
Momentarily ignorant of the other pony, Twilight looked on the last of her best friends after disengaging the hug.
"Pinkie-" Twilight began, starting to search for words. She knew from Rainbow Dash and Rarity that they had been watching her, and appreciated what she had done, but she wanted to hear it, had to hear it. She-
"Twilight." Pinkie cut her friend off, voice firm, but touched with a smile brighter than the sun itself. "You made Sugarcube Corner the cornerstone of sugarcubes all across Equestria, you kept each and every promise to all of us and beyond. I mean for the love of hot sauce cupcakes! Twilight every year just about every pony in Equestria smiles, dances, plays, sings, and plays pin the tail on the pony. They have so much fun, and it's all because of you, and you did it for me." Her voice cracked, even though she was smiling as wide as she could. "Twilight Sparkle, you are the best friend a pony, past, present, or future, can ever or will ever have."
It was at that point Pinkie Pie reared up onto her hind legs, and hugged Twilight around the neck as tightly as she could, which meant it was a fairly good thing none of them were actually awake or it very well w could have been painful.
Between the reassurance and the embrace, Twilight felt warm. Warm, inside and out, by the roaring inferno of her friends, both old and new. When Pinkie drew away, she was wearing her element necklace, looking down at it in surprise, then laughing, with Twilight joining in after a moment of confusion.
"Sooooo I hate to interrupt but now seems like a good time. Hi, I'm Joy! Pony-party-planner nonpareil! Well, mostly; I thought I was, until I met Pinkie Pie here." Joy's voice drew the attention of both mares, and Twilight was stricken with just how close Joy's voice was to... Rainbow Dash, actually.
"Oh RIGHT!" came an exclamation from Pinkie, energy regained tenfold for the brief interlude of sanity. "Twilight this is Joy! Joy, this is Twilight Sparkle!" Pinkie suddenly sidled up beside Joy, faux whispering, "She's a Princess y'know!"
That earned another bout of giggles, from Twilight and Joy both. It was infectious! Pinkie, however, just looked sort of confused between the two of them, before shrugging and laughing right along.
"P-pleased to me-heehee meet you Joy." The serene, cultured, and even voice of Princess Twilight had long since taken a vacation, and after seeing the company she'd have to come back to, decided to spring for awhile longer, maybe go visit a spa. In its place was a hopeful, almost unsure, and bright bouncy tone, almost too happy to be believed, and vaguely reminiscent of her speech in ages gone by. "So you're a pony who likes to party?"
Joy's response treaded the line between enthusiastic and over-excited, "You bet your hooves I do! I love partying, the bigger and wackier the better. In fact I got my cutiemark on my very first-"
"PINKAPALOOZA!" Pinkie Pie set off another round from her party canon, laughing in such happiness that it bordered on mania. "I love that word! It's so much fun to say! Pinkapalooza pinkapapinkapinkalooza!"
"-Err, heheh, yeah! I got my cutiemark the very first time I could actually be a part of a Pinkapalooza party! So we partied twice as hard cause it then it was a cutiemark party on the day you party your hardest every year! Seeing ponies having fun is just one of the best feelings I can get! Which after talking to Pinkie here, is why--" Despite (or perhaps because of) her good humor, Pinkie just wasn't a pony that one got used to all in one sitting., and Joy found herself giggling at each interruption bearing the fruit of nonsense.
One such interruption came in the form of a pink hoof suddenly inserted in Joy's muzzle. "Tut-tut-tut! No spoiling the surprise! Twilight's just gonna have to wait to find out like everypony else!" Pinkie's jubilant, bright voice chirped to cut Joy off, as if her hoof hadn't done just fine.
"Um, Pinkie? Who else? And also, please tell me how in the hay you got here without me bringing you." Academic curiosity and disbelief could only be suspended for so long before the purple Alicorn had to ask, for better or worse.
"Hmmmmmmmmm....." Hoof still in Joy's mouth, Pinkie shifted her head, brows furrowed as she considered. "....OK!" With a -pop- her hoof withdrew, and the pink mare was suddenly right beside Twilight in the space o a blink. "Well first of all, I'm your friend too silly, so why couldn't I use the same special connection to come visit without you having to call me? Second, you talk in your sleep. Did you know? That's totally how I knew what you were gonna ask! Third, I got sooooo bored of waiting that as soon as Rarity kerpoofled I came to visit Joy here and figured I'd introduce myself and explain what was going on!"
"I... you...." Stammering, Twilight couldn't actually fault anything Pinkie just said... even if it was vague on several points... and for some reason that was almost as frustrating as when Pinkie gave completely unhelpful answers. So successfully was she distracted, in fact, that the first of the two questions went completely unanswered without a fuss.
"Yep! So here we are! Well 'scept you need to actually get some real sleep in your own head instead of other ponies, believe me it gets weird if you don't! Of course weird can be good like the time I tried this awesome hot sauce that's like made from rainbows or something? Never had a cupcake liquify before but it made a darn good smoothie!"
During this exchange Joy just shook her head, and smirked a little to herself, speaking up only after Pinkie had finished. "Yeah, Pinkie and I have a party-pony party to finish. Besides you do look kinda tired, and you're asleep!"
"But I'd really like to get to know you Joy! What if-"
"Twilight I promise. I Pinkie Pie Promise that I know what I'm getting into. Pinkie's been very forward... even if she gets distracted every other second. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a pie-"
"Cupcake!" Pinkie corrected, incredibly seriously.
"...Right. Stick a cupcake in my eye!" Joy jabbed herself in the eye, and jumped. "Ouch!"
"But-" Twilight interjected, raising a hoof and taking a step toward Joy.
"Twilight you silly filly, just trust ol' Granny Pie, you'll have plenty of time to get to know Joy later. Now shoo!" Pinkie Pie gave a wry grin, and on the last word Twilight felt a lurch, once again ascending like a cork with the world around her fading into a blur, and the next thing she knew, light.
"What." Luna asked of nopony in particular as her spell... quite simply ended with the distinct sensation of a beep on the nose. She stood, and took a few steps over to Twilight, who at that moment was opening her eyes blearily looking around, looking far too tired for somepony that had just slept from dusk to dawn.
"....Pinkie Pie," Twilight responded tiredly, but smiling. Before she even had time to stand up, the Laughter necklace appeared around Joy's throat with not a breath of wind or a flash, but a pop of confetti and a party horn.
Both Luna and Celestia, the latter of which had been signing a few more scrolls, shared a look, then peered at Twilight. "Should we wake them?" Luna asked, as if by some unspoken cue.
"Not yet... I wanna know what happened to them all but... At the same time I need to sleep and dream some dreams of my own. I feel better than I have in a long, long time, and I can kinda imagine that when I wake up my friends'll be there waiting for me." A yawn punctuated Twilight's statement.
"Then go to sleep Twilight. A little longer in dreamland won't hurt them either. We'll wake them this evening when you rise." Celestia brought her head to rest on Twilight's withers in an affectionate hug, one which Luna joined in on her opposite side.
"Thanks Tia, Luna. For... everything really. I don't say it enough." Sleep, true, restful sleep, had caught up with Twilight, and was demanding her attention.
"You tell us every day -" Celestia began, grinning.
"- And every night!" Finished Luna, a smile soft on her features.
"Mm..." Another most eloquent and wordy response from the tired mare, who for some reason... felt as if this ordeal had lasted months! "Good morning everypony."
It was only the proximity of her sisters that kept Twilight from collapsing into dreams; her own this time, and it was those same two sisters that carried her to her room, and tucked her in.
TO BE CONCLUDED.
Whaddiya mean 'to be concluded'?! The readers have been waiting bucking forever for you to get off your-
Pinkie.
-and finish this story! You can't do all the elements and leave-
Pinkie!
WHAT?!
I said you could help. This isn't helping. I'm building dramatic tension and letting the readers speculate over what's happening.... and taking a moment to refresh myself with my own story to make sure the ending I have in mind fits.
Oh. Why didn't you say so?
THWACK
Oooh. That looked like it hurt. Is there a doctor in the audience?
|
Snow
|
803
| 8 |
Main 6,Original Character,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Alternate Universe,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Friends Forever
|
A look into a possible future for Twilight and her friends, years after the show ends.
|
complete
| 262 | 9 |
<p>Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.</p><p>Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!</p><p>Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-09-09T11:31:20+00:00
|
2012-09-09T11:31:20+00:00
| 2,990 |
"Mmnnngh!" A tickle, poke, a tickling poke and a prod to my nose disrupted a view into saccharine nostalgia so vivid that were I more awake to enjoy it, I perhaps would have worried of cavities.
My insistence to descend back into sleep went unheeded as well; "Tia... stop it. 'M having the best dream..." I received a honk on the nose for the effort, and one of my wings informed me something small was wiggling its way underneath it. If that weren't enough to wake me, what happened next surely did.
"Suuurrrrr-PRISE!"
Krak-BOOOOOM!
I didn't even realize I owned a chandelier prior to that moment when I found myself clinging to it, staring down at... a party cannon. Five party canons, in fact, lined up like howitzers while confetti and streamers floated about.
There, before my eyes were five ponies of varying ages, wearing five necklaces and delight shining on their faces. Even the voice that greeted me, belonging to Joy, sounded familiar, full of jubilation and happiness.
This could work, I thought, with a smile on my face... before Pinkie Pie or Joy or whatever I was to call her set off her pentapartillary, powerfully packing pounds of playfully-picked party paraphernalia. Even as I fell onto my bed from the noise, my thoughts changed to 'I know this will work.'
"Know what this calls for?! A--" Joy began in true Pinkie Pie style, leaping into the air before we all answered her at once, joining in. "PARTY!!"
So, here I am making another 'journal' entry on probably another of the most important days of my life.
After spending breakfast with Tia, Luna, and my five old...new.... my five newest, old friends, I spent most of the morning asking – and answering – every kind of question imaginable, and only now find enough presence (and peace) of mind to record my thoughts.
Sun Dew, or Sunny as Joy's started calling her hasn't left my side since I woke. She hasn't really spoken much either, but what she has told me is that she and Rarity made a deal. Rarity refused to take Sunny's foalhood away from her, but Sunny wouldn't let Rarity or me lose our friends, even for a few decades now that we had the chance. So, as she gets older Rarity's personality and memories will start surfacing for the little filly and the two will become much the same mare. I don't really know how that will work but I have faith that if things have worked out so well this far, there's no reason they won't just keep on.
Morning Waves has been a little quiet too at times, but she seems to have... something about her that reminds me of Rainbow. It turns out that Dash understood the promise and gave her some memories and a touch of her persona, but decided to just 'hang out' for the most part. I'm really proud of her.
Silver Chalice and Honey Apple hit it off pretty well, too. They're both from Ponyville after all but the kicker is Silver Chalice's mansion isn't even twenty minutes away from Honey's home. As for Fluttershy and Applejack.... Well Fluttershy's apparently sharing Silver's body with her so that she'll always have a friend, and Applejack let herself become an 'honest' 50-50 with Honey Apple, and it really seems like they're both one pony.
Now as for Joy, well she's asked to just be called Pinkie, if that's any indicator. Joy's still in there, she assured me, but by and large wanted to be as much like the original Party Pony as possible and she got her wish.
I know it's probably... not ideal and the actual metaphysics of just how all this was done just fascinates me to no end, but looking back at it all, and looking forward to the future... I'm happy, and it feels so good to be able to say that.
I'm happy because I have my old friends, and new ones both.
I'm happy because I have two wonderful sisters who loved me enough to make this all this a dream come true.
I'm happy because I know now that friendship is something that you don't lose when that friend passes away or drifts apart from you. It's always there in your heart, and your friends are always, and will always be there for you, watching over you, wishing the best for you.
I'm happy because when Celestia's sun burns cold and Luna's moon is dust, the three things that will endure forever are Love, Hope, and Friendship.
I have to go now, Joy...Pinkie's... wanting to throw the biggest party she can before Morning Waves has to go home tomorrow for a week or two, and I don't want to miss a moment of it.
"Twilight!"
"Coming!"
- End.
|
Snow
|
803
| 9 |
Main 6,Original Character,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Alternate Universe,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Friends Forever
|
A look into a possible future for Twilight and her friends, years after the show ends.
|
complete
| 262 | 9 |
<p>Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.</p><p>Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!</p><p>Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-09-09T11:32:44+00:00
|
2012-09-09T11:32:44+00:00
| 2,720 |
Thanks to Pinkie Pie scaring the Fourth Wall into hiding along with Logic and Physics with her newly acquired magic, we have Twilight Sparkle with us today to answer some questions that readers, critics, and lurkers have voiced!
Hello everypony.
Let's jump right in shall we? Princess Twi, during the time of the show there weren't really any indicators that you are, were, or ever would be an Alicorn like your mentor or her sister. Can you explain then how you find yourself one?
Well luckily Pinkie managed to fish up some DVDs so we could watch some of our old antics so I know what you're even talking about but really this is something you should probably have addressed as the story teller.
...Humor us, please?
Oh alright. I suppose, first and foremost, I should say that the episodes that many of your readers consider canon fall in a slightly different reality than mine. For example, I was born an only child and while I'm certain Shining Armor would have made a positively darling big brother, I'm rather glad I didn't have to say goodbye to him as well. Similarly, there is no Princess Cadence in my world, though I admit I do wish I had a foalsitter like her when I was young.
The events of most of season one and even a large portion of season two were rather accurate, overall though I'd say, and I didn't even start having growing pains in my horn until three or four years after Luna's return, and it took almost a full decade for my wings to grow in fully. It was quite a slow process.
Fascinating, and while I'm sure we could get into quite the interesting existential discussion--
Oh yay! I haven't had a chance to--
--I'm afraid we don't have the time to get into that just now… Questions to answer and all that. Maybe next time.
Oh.. Well, at least you're organized.
Anyway, next question. What happened to Spike after the first several journal entries? Is he still around?
That's two questions, but yes, he's still around, if getting rather old. He sleeps most of the time, and we still see one another once every few decades. We ran out of subjects to really talk about a long time ago about our old friends, and sometimes I think if it weren't for my reminding him he may have forgotten a lot of the adventures we had together. He was just a baby for most of them, after all.
Spike settled in with a dragoness, and has maintained a diet consisting of vegetation and gemstones for the majority of his life, though he has not eaten (and never will eat) anything that can communicate. Unlike many dragons he and his mate keep in touch with local ponies and though they're reaching the end of their considerably long lifespans, seem happy with their lives. I'm considering introducing Sun Dew to him once she gets old enough for Rarity's personality to start really showing through but... it may be better to leave him with the peace he's made.
I'm glad to hear he's well, but speaking of Sun Dew and your new friends, do you have any idea how the metaphysics of all this works, what with the Elements and dead souls and all this?
Actually I do have a working theory! In short I believe that while their minds may be combined or even shared to accommodate the souls of both ponies, the souls themselves do retain their individuality and upon their deaths will separate into two distinct ponies once again -- providing they want to, of course. As for my new friends' souls, I do believe that my old friends will drastically impact their own psyches and spirituality but at the same time I feel that this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Through new experiences and views they can grow and develop in ways that would be otherwise unthinkable, so overall I'm willing to say that even in cases like Pinkie Pie's where it's almost a complete replacement - if not a total one - it's a net gain for both parties.
As for the Elements of Harmony themselves, some research and poking around, as well as judicious checking with Pinkie Pie and her 'cheat sheet' (that she refuses to show me), I've come to discover that the Elements of Harmony are actually separate form my friends souls, even if their personalities leave a very large impression on the sapience behind them. This means that should a pony come to represent that element even better than they in the future, I wouldn't necessarily lose my connection to that friend.
Truly the fourth wall must be sobbing. Remind me to thank Pinkie later. There is a small question I have though. In the story, it's briefly mentioned that it's been two thousand years since you lost your friends, yet the journals end after about 457 years, give or take. That's over fifteen hundred years that you've maintained your friends outfits and Ponyville's been growing. What happened in the meantime?
I don't really think I can go over fifteen hundred years of history in the time we have if I can't have one little existential debate but frankly technology's progressed slowly and population's evened out. There's been a little legislation involved but it's lead to overall happiness and a high quality of life for just about everypony and it is improving by the year. Most of our advances have been in entertainment and medicine; things that make ponies happy. As for preservation, I utilize a combination between preservative magics and careful repairs to maintain their appearances.
As for Ponyville, since population's stable it hasn't actually expanded all that much, and it's still a fair deal smaller than Manehatten, though it does rival Fillydelphia, and several other towns and cities have popped up in the meantime. In fact, some parts of Ponyville look like something out of a history page, as the town's very proud of its past and has dedicated resources to maintaining places of historic significance, including Sweet Apple Acres, and Rainbow Dash's cloud house, or rather the museum it's become.
Let's see... Twilight, some stories feature all of the Elements of Harmony becoming Alicorns, what are your feelings about being the only one to become immortal when the Element of Magic is so closely tied to each of the others?
I used to ask 'why me' almost every day, and I guess it would even seem like a curse to some but I've accepted a long time ago that there are other forces at work in our world than just those Celestia, Luna, and I are responsible for...
I suppose I like to think that I was the only one of the six of us to become an Alicorn was because there was, or is something yet to do, that could only happen with my life taking that turn. With me, and my friends learning the lessons we have because of all of this. I can very safely say that I have become a better pony for all that I've been through, and I like to think the same of my sisters, and my friends.
That's actually... an inspiring way of looking at it I think. So, one more question I suppose. Do you have anything to say to the readers, your fans, or just anypony that stumbles upon this?
Well let's see... To my fans I guess I'd have to say "Thank you" for supporting me, even if I never really get to meet you all... To the readers who have gone on this journey with me, I'd like to say that I hope you all have learned something that you can take away from my experiences, as I have and overall enjoyed it and shared in some of the joy and happiness I've felt.
I think if I could give a little advice and share in my lessons? It's important to never give up hope and keep your promises. Be honest with yourself and your friends, cherish the time you have, and never stop living just because you might lose somepony dear to you. They're still there in your heart, and wouldn't want to see you sad.
Thank you, Twilight for your time, and I hope we see you and your friends again soon.
|
Fragezeichen
|
805
| 1 |
Original Character,Adventure,Comedy,Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Diamond Dog's Guide to Equestria
|
Recently banished Rover, Fido and Spot must travel Equestria together, searching for a new home.
|
incomplete
| 10 | 1 |
<p>Being defeated by a pony was the last straw for the local Diamond Dog pack. Now Rover, Fido and Spot have been exiled from their home by their chief and father Biscuit. Now the trio must travel across a land that despises them in search of a new pack that will accept them. Will they be able to work together well enough to over come their faults? Or will the Equestrian Wildlife Rangers force them into a terrible reservation?</p><br/><br/><br/><p>(Updates saturdays or sundays)</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-11T01:14:40+00:00
|
2011-09-11T01:14:40+00:00
| 2,397 |
Entry 1: Diamond Dogs
The Equestria Bestiary describes Diamond Dogs as one of the the hated animals in Equestria. Though they do have some sentience, Celestia has described them as "Needy" creatures, as in, "Needs help to function properly in society." Unfortunately, Diamond Dogs do not wish to join society and would rather instead collect precious gems, which is why the ponies dislike them.
Ponies use gems in decoration, clothing, and just about everything but since the Dogs collect a vast majority of them (Like dragons, trolls, ogres, Manticores, and one deranged stallion named Mortimer), they obtain less than they'd like. Many attempts have been made to trade with the Diamond Dogs such as offering meat, their primary food source, and other shiny things like metals but to no avail.
Diamond Dogs, while, as mentioned before, sentient do not properly grasp the concept of living like the ponies do. Towns and buildings are foreign and confusing to them (One group of scientists introduced a Dog named Dribble into a standard pony city. There he quickly bought a house, got a job and promptly became mayor. Unfortunately this was considered a failure merely because he ended up losing the second election. And devoured the winner.) so they instead maintain their ancestor's Pack Mentality. Staying in tight groups of immediate families, inbreeding, and following an Alpha male or female.
Upon closer studies of the Dogs, it is shown that they collect gems for mating purposes. The more gems a male has, the more likely he is to obtain a mate. This fact has of course not stopped some hunters from attempting to eradicate the race (Because dragons are too scary) and collect their gems for themselves. What these hunters don't know though, is that killing a Diamond Dog is not an easy task. Their hides are entirely rough and strong against steel blades due to the constant digging through dirt and rocks. Their claws are capable of cutting through a great oak and they can successfully catch said tree before it falls, carry it to a hill, and toss it down for no apparent reason. The most amazing part of the Diamond Dog Physiology would have to be their skeletons. It has been said that, thanks to their strong bones, A single dog can have a six ton boulder fall on his head from the height of about three miles up and still survive with only a rather nasty headache.
Rover growled as he started to stir awake, morning dew dropping onto his nose as it fell from a tree above him. "Grrr...sleeping outside is stupid!" He cried as he rolled over onto his belly, lifting himself up and shaking his fur of the wet dirt he laid on. "Fido! Spot! Wake up you two!"
"Huh? Whuzzut? What is it Rover? Why did you wake us up so early?" Asked the little brown Diamond Dog named Spot. Fido whined lowly as he, the youngest of the trio, slowly stood up on his hind legs and wiped his eyes.
"We have to keep moving! If we slow down someone will find us and we don't want that!" Rover declared as he adjusted his vest and collar, carefully making sure the diamond hanging from it was safe.
"Erm...we don't?" Fido asked, tilting his head and mimicking his elder brother with his own vest and collar."
"Nooo Fido, if someone finds then...then...um...wait, what happens then Rover?" Spot asked. Rover growled again and sighed.
"If someone found us, they'd capture us and probably do bad things to us!" This realization made Spot and Fido whimper. They had just been banished from their pack, now someone would want to hurt them more? Being exiled wasn't very fun at all.
"I-I don't want to get captured Rover..." Fido whined as he and Spot began to follow the oldest Diamond Dog.
"Neither do I Fido, neither do I."
|
Fragezeichen
|
805
| 2 |
Original Character,Adventure,Comedy,Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Diamond Dog's Guide to Equestria
|
Recently banished Rover, Fido and Spot must travel Equestria together, searching for a new home.
|
incomplete
| 10 | 1 |
<p>Being defeated by a pony was the last straw for the local Diamond Dog pack. Now Rover, Fido and Spot have been exiled from their home by their chief and father Biscuit. Now the trio must travel across a land that despises them in search of a new pack that will accept them. Will they be able to work together well enough to over come their faults? Or will the Equestrian Wildlife Rangers force them into a terrible reservation?</p><br/><br/><br/><p>(Updates saturdays or sundays)</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-18T14:17:23+00:00
|
2011-09-18T14:17:23+00:00
| 1,789 |
Diamond Dogs are territorial creatures. It would be extremely unwise and incredibly stupid to wander near one of their mines. Luckily, they are also quite stupid so if you're capable of outsmarting them, you might be able to escape with your life still properly affixed to your body. A Diamond Dog's mine can be anywhere from a small cave to a massive complex of tunnels including working mine carts, torches lighting the paths, wooden or steel support beams to prevent cave ins, and of course a snack bar. Celestia has commented that while the dogs are indeed dumber than the rocks they dig through, their amazing attention to detail when building their homes has impressed her enough that several Diamond Dogs were recruited to build her own personal underground lair.
Unfortunately, a Diamond Dog without a mine may be one of the saddest things a pony could ever witness. Like normal, feral dogs, stray Diamond Dogs will wander aimlessly, beg for food, and generally live incredibly scared until the day when they either die alone somewhere or are taken by the Equestrian Wildlife Rangers to an unknown location. If one were to see a stray Diamond Dog, it is highly advised that they avoid the poor beast. Feeding one would only mean it would follow you around, attempt to move in with you, shower you with gifts and state that you're it's soul mate and then attempt to marry you.
------------------------------------------
The three dogs trudged on rather glumly. Not even 14 hours ago, they were living happily in their pack's brilliant mine. Now they were banished, forced to wander Equestria together without a home to call their own. Had their failure been that bad? So bad that their own father hated them enough to force them away? They only lost the entire stock of gems to six mares...
"Don't remind me." Rover groaned as he placed a paw on his face in disgust. Rover was the elder of the trio and also the second tallest. His fur was a lighter shade of black and he wore a red vest, his last symbol of authority. Around his neck he wore a diamond studded collar with a golden tag hanging from it. He spoke in a raspy, constantly disgruntled voice regardless of his mood (though for now it fit his current mood). His paws were large, like any other Diamond Dog's paw and his claws were strong and unbreakable. He was the more average of the group, his intelligence was the highest, if you could call it that, he was somewhat fast and somewhat strong. He was average.
"But don't you think it wasn't our fault? I mean, she...was...unstoppable." Spot whined, pressing his ears against his head for his mind was remembering the fatal noise that was uttered by that white mare, he almost lost his hearing that day. Spot was the second oldest the three and also the smallest. His fur was a light brown that bore a resemblance to their mother and on his body was a black vest and a studded collar similar to his elder brother's but it lacked any sort of tag. Though he was the weakest and smallest of the three, he was the quickest at least. If that could count for anything.
Fido walked slowly behind them, taking larger strides with his massive legs. He was larger than his older brothers and was also the strongest. Fido didn't talk much, he'd rather let his elders order him around and would like nothing more than to avoid confrontation. His body was coated in light gray fur and he wore a black vest like Spot. Fido wasn't as dumb as most would make him out to be either, he just liked it when others felt happy, and to Diamond Dogs, there was nothing that made them happier than being superior. His intelligence, while above average for a Diamond Dog, was in fact mostly on par with a teenage pony, he had gained his knowledge by silently studying the ponies who lived their days in the nearby town of Ponyville. He trudged on silently, occasionally spotting a bird he remembered the name of thanks to a light yellow mare with a pink mane constantly making a big deal about them.
The trio pressed on, not exactly sure where they were going but hoping that they'd get there soon. They figured they'd try to see if someone in Ponyville would help them, perhaps they needed someone to dig for gems? That's all they had to bet on.
----------------------------------
It didn't work out like they had hoped. They sat in the center of town surrounded by angry faced ponies, all ready to buck them out should they make any sort of move.
"Really now, you'd think you dogs had learned your lesson after last time. Bolder as you may be for sneaking into town to steal me away, you're still as dumb as ever." A fancy voice called out to them. It's familiarity made them cringe. There, standing in front of them was the white mare.
"W-we weren't trying to steal you away!" Rover cried as he covered his ears. The white mare, Miss Rarity as they learned to call her, frowned down at the whimpering mutt and stomped a hoof.
"Right, you're only here because you're visiting, is that it?"
"Um...yes?" Rover replied nervously, his younger brothers cowering behind him. Miss Rarity looked away in disgust.
"If it's one thing I cannot stand it's liars! You dogs should have stayed in your little cave." This struck a nerve with the poor dogs, they looked down in unison and whimpered lowly, though Miss Rarity didn't seem to care. "You're not allowed around here, did you forget?"
"N-no, no! We just...we were...uh..." Rover attempted. Miss Rarity cut him off again, calling to the other ponies and telling the tale of her capture, enslavement and eventual escape. The other ponies stared angrily at the dogs who now bunched up closer together. Just as the other ponies were ready to beat the gems out of the trio, a tender yet concerned voice cried out.
"Waaaaait! Don't do this!" The Pegasus called as she landed in front of the dogs. "Don't you see? They're so scared!"
"Fluttershy, really, don't you recognize them? They're the dogs who kidnapped me!" Miss Rarity replied, stepping out in front of the crowed again. Fido's eyes widened as he finally opened them to see the mare who defended them. The yellow mare who spent most of her time with animals, was she really helping them now?
"Yes Rarity, I do recognize them, but I also see that you're scaring them to death!" She turned to face Rover and his brothers, they shook in fear, whined and whimpered, and were to nervous to say a word.
"What...but I...They deserve this Fluttershy! They're just after gems!" Miss Rarity retorted, stomping her hoof again and raising her voice. This caused the dogs to howl out and clutch their heads, they're sensitive ears unable to even take this level of screeching.
"M-Make it stop!" Spot howled, the other ponies looking around confused. Fluttershy quickly pressed a hoof against Rarity's mouth.
"Shhh! Don't you know? Diamond Dogs have highly sensitive ears. Make a sound that's too high for them and they could die!" Fluttershy warned, Miss Rarity's eyes shooting open.
"....What? You're not serious are you?" Miss Rarity asked, remembering the dogs' pleading with her from before. Fluttershy nodded slowly and turned back to the dogs.
"It's okay you three, Fluttershy is here." She gently petted a hoof against each of their heads. "C'mon, you three must be hungry."
---------------------------------------
It's worth noting that if a Diamond Dog has any weakness besides it's love of gems, it's their sensitive hearing. A Diamond Dog's ear can hear a butterfly flap it's wings from about three miles away while deep underground. Upon hearing such a noise, they might be somewhat bothered to hear a butterfly flap it's wings and then disregard it in favor of the shiny new gem they just found. While a dog's ear is sensitive and useful for hearing gems reverberating in the ground, play a sound that's too much for them and it could be fatal. The sound would break their ear's inner walls, penetrate the defensive wall and enter the brain, shake it violently, violently enough that the trauma could force the brain to shut down, permanently.
Only a few of these deaths have been recorded in recent years, mostly due to new farming technology that will occasionally let out a loud screech upon a sudden error. Any dog in the vicinity of said screech, would be dead instantly yet somehow quite painfully. Luckily, ear plugs designed for Diamond Dogs have been invented by the Ponies for Organized Unification of Neutrality with Dogs and have successfully lowered the rate of noise related deaths.
|
Fragezeichen
|
805
| 3 |
Original Character,Adventure,Comedy,Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Diamond Dog's Guide to Equestria
|
Recently banished Rover, Fido and Spot must travel Equestria together, searching for a new home.
|
incomplete
| 10 | 1 |
<p>Being defeated by a pony was the last straw for the local Diamond Dog pack. Now Rover, Fido and Spot have been exiled from their home by their chief and father Biscuit. Now the trio must travel across a land that despises them in search of a new pack that will accept them. Will they be able to work together well enough to over come their faults? Or will the Equestrian Wildlife Rangers force them into a terrible reservation?</p><br/><br/><br/><p>(Updates saturdays or sundays)</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-25T16:19:40+00:00
|
2011-09-25T16:19:40+00:00
| 1,689 |
The group known as the Equestrian Wild Life Rangers is a collection of ponies hoof-picked by Princess Celestia to deal with all things nature. They ensure that animal habitats are undisturbed, poachers are stopped, and of course that animals are happy. It is an enjoyable job but it also requires a lot of patience and kindness.
The mare who currently heads the group, one Fluttershy, is the epitome of this idea. She bears the patience of water as it slowly cuts it's way through rock. She's kind enough that she'd clip her own wings to help a bird who lost one or two. Some might say this is over dedication but Celestia believes this is the kind of fanatical love for animals that a Wild Life Ranger needs. The original leader of the group, one Greenie Pastures, was quite crazy over the protection of animals as well, having found one nuclear device left over by the forerunners and threatened to set it off if nopony followed her rules of dealing with animals, which was basically let them rule over us. After Celestia destroyed her, Greenie was given the Medal of Dedication as well as the Patch of Insanity.
The Rangers are quite good at their jobs, they often work in teams of two or three and have the ability to communicate with animals to a certain degree, Fluttershy on the other hand can talk to them as if they were speaking plain ponese to her. Greenie reportedly heard the voices of animals in her head, this has been rumored to actually be schizophrenia and not a telepathic link. [i/]
-----------------------------------------------
"You poor things, you must have had an awful time getting here from your mine." The Pegasus inferred, placing a bowl of freshly cut meat in front of each of them. Rover looked toward his brothers with a confused look.
"Erm, yes, it has been a hard walk..." The elder dog stated, lifting up the slab of meat with a paw and examining it closely. Fluttershy smiled as they finally started eating, finding the most pleasure when the animals in her sector were happy, comfortable and well fed. The Diamond Dog brothers fed ravenously on the meat provided for them, consuming bowl after bowl before falling on their backs, their bellies quite round.
"Ah, good boys, are you all full?" Fluttershy asked as she tossed the remaining bowls into her sink to wash. The brothers nodded and sat up again looking around at the house then at each other. "Is something wrong guys?"
"We've been looking for a new home since we were...uh...ban-wished from our old home." Spot attempted, scratching his head. Fluttershy blinked and stood before them with a concerned look.
"That's awful! Well don't worry you three, you can stay here with me for as long as you need!"
------------------------------------------------
"You did what?" The purple unicorn asked flatly.
"I let them stay at my cottage for as long as they needed, I couldn't let the poor things wander around aimlessly across Equestria, they might...die!" Fluttershy squeaked the last word for she was quite nervous about saying it.
"So what? Everpony dies, or...dog...well you know what I mean." The blue Pegasus commented, flipping her rainbow-colored hair out of her right eye.
"But they were so pathetic when Rarity cornered them, I'm the leader of the Equestrian Wild Life Rangers, I have to protect the animals, no matter what their species is."
"Fluttershy, did you forget that they kidnapped her and basically used her for slavery?" Twilight reminded her friend who shook her head in disbelief.
"As I remember it, Rarity declared that she had them wrapped around her hoof the whole time. They weren't very good at holding her against her will....Also the fact that Rarity could have killed them with her whin-er, 'complaining' means that we really can't hold much against them." Fluttershy replied. Rainbow Dash stared in disbelief.
"C'mon Fluttershy, you can't seriously think they'll behave or something! I'll be they're destroying your house and eating your other pets right now!"
Fluttershy frowned and looked at her two friends before her eyes descended upon Applejack. "Applejack, you're a Ranger too, can't you tell them I NEED to help the dogs...?"
The orange, blonde-maned cowpony moved her eyes between the three mares she called her friends and blushed. "Well...uh...*cough* I uh..."
"Well AJ? What do you think?" Asked Twilight.
"Well you see, it's all...um...in that there Ranger handbook that uh...we gotta..." The other ponies stared at Applejack impatiently before she finally sighed and nodded. "Yes ya'll, accordin' to the handbook, we gotta help all the animals, regardless of anythin' they've done."
"Well that's a dumb rule!" Rainbow shouted with a stomp of her front left hoof.
"But it's still a rule, I guess it can't be helped." Twilight shrugged. "Are you at least sure they're behaving Fluttershy?"
"Oh yes, they're just so pleasant. They're really not that bad when they warm up to you." The yellow Pegasus responded with a smile.
"Yeah well still, I wanna make sure, can't be too careful with those dogs." Rainbow declared, lifting off the ground. "C'mon Fluttershy." Fluttershy sighed and nodded, following Rainbow Dash into the air, waving goodbye to both Applejack and Twilight before flying off after the rainbow Pegasus, toward her cottage.
-----------------------------------
"I don't think I like it here Rover." Spot admitted as he waddled over to his elder brother who was lounging on a couch. "I think we should leave....find a new pack and a new mine like we were gonna do before."
"This place is perfect for us Spot! No one to tell us what to do, no more digging, yeah, I think it's pretty good here." Rover chuckled as he pulled another slab of meat towards him, biting it.
"Errgh, but still, what about gems?"
"We'll dig around here, the pony won't mind."
"And If she does?"
"Well, we'll just keep digging. Simple really." Spot sighed and walked toward Fido who was laying outside, basking in the sunlight and occasionally eyeing a squirrel and deciding whether or not to chase it.
"Fido, you think we ought to find a different place right?" The smaller dog asked his younger but much larger brother. Fido sat up and tilted his head with a shrug.
"I follow you guys, but I do kind of miss our mine. All the gems and rocks..." Fido smiled as his small tail wagged. Spot nodded and sat beside him.
"I wish we could get Rover to leave with us but he's too lazy now...." The smaller dog groaned as he lightly dug at the ground. Fido look at him then back at the cottage.
"Rover likes gems more than either of us, maybe he will want to dig again if we tell him."
"I already tried that. It's no use." Spot sighed.
"Well, let me try big brother." Fido said with smile, his large hulking body slowly standing up and trudging into the cottage.
----------------------------------------------
"Booooys! Here boys!" Fluttershy called and whistled as she and Rainbow landed in front of her cottage. "Huh...they usually come running when I call..."
"Maybe they're too busy breaking things! C'mon, let's go check!" The rambunctious mare cried as she quickly opened the door. "Alright you dogs! Stop breaking that-er...wait...there's no pony here..." Fluttershy blinked and stepped inside, looking around quickly, almost in a panic.
"Oh no! Ohno ohno ohno ohnoohnoohno!" She said repeatedly, dashing this way and that trying to find paw or tail of the diamond dogs. "They're gone!"
----------------------------------------------------
It's funny to think that Diamond Dogs are some of Equestria's oldest creatures and are yet still so young. They came into sentience around the same time the ponies did about one hundred thousand years ago, after evolving from their feral ancestors. Despite this fact, they still seem to be new to everything around, unable to understand laws, unable to function properly in society. Odd really.
But the Dogs DO have one thing over the ponies. Simplicity. Diamond Dogs are easy to please, they do not rely on lavish homes and clothes, they don't need to go out to fancy balls or dances, they don't need money, they don't need the burdens that the ponies bear. All they need is a family, a simple mine, a few gems, food, and a place to sleep and they are happy. Many ponies who study the dogs find this simplicity to be quite refreshing, those who have lived among a pack of Dogs have stated that while the work is hard, it is rewarding to have the others in the pack congratulate you as you head off to sleep.
It takes a lot more to earn the same respect from ponies. To earn a typical pony's respect you must either be royalty, rich, famous, talented, and/or an element host. This may seem like a daunting task to complete, but that's only because it is! There is no pony harder to please than us ourselves, or Celestia.
|
Skellitor301
|
809
| 1 |
Derpy Hooves,Main 6,Original Character,Adventure,Random,Romance,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Lore's Tales
|
Follow Lore and the ponies in wild adventures through the Ever Free forest and beyond!
|
cancelled
| 11 | 1 |
<p><span style="font-weight:bold;color:#F00">[Canceled]</span><br/>Though this is my first story, it is unfinished, and will likely remain that way since the idea for it died off, and so many plot holes and errors in the story, coupled with my lazy, will likely leave this story unfinished. I will leave it up incase anyone would like to see the original writing style I had and the idea I had going.</p><p>Also any questions or concerns can be asked freely</p><p>Follow an adventurous pony Lore, as he and mix groups of ponies take on the Ever Free forest and beyond. Lore is my ponysona, or OC for those who call it that, and this tells the tales of his adventures through the Ever Free forest with random ponies. All ponies but Lore are either official or a background pony, a list of them can be found on the FIM Wikia.</p><p>I've recently finished Lore's Wiki page. It'll have info on Lore I might or might not write too much about. This can be viewed here: bronies.wikia.com/wiki/Lore_Venture</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-17T03:44:53+00:00
|
2011-10-17T03:44:53+00:00
| 1,263 |
It was a beautiful day in Ponyville as Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle were sitting at a local restaurant, enjoying a few grass seed bun dandelion burgers and hay fries. While Rainbow munches down on a few hay fries, Twilight turns to Rainbow holding one of her burgers. "You know, I've always wondered what a dandelion burger was." She mentions as Rainbow swallows a big bite. "Aren't they awesome? I wonder why no ones ever told us about these sooner?" With that, Rainbow chomps the last of her burger and chews with a big grin covered in crumbs.
"Uh Rainbow, you got a little..." Twilight points a hoof at her mouth trying to be subtle. Rainbow only responds with a clueless gesture, "Hm? A thwittle whaht?" Rainbow asked with a mouth full of the burger. Twilight sighs rolling her eyes, "Ugh, nothing..." Twilight suddenly perks up as something catches her eye. "Hey Rainbow, isn't that one of the weather ponies you work with?" she pointed as Rainbow swallows her burger and turns. There stood a panicked pegasus pony with a light tan coat, thick red mane and tail, green eyes, and a blue star on his flank. "Hey yea, that's Cool Star, better go see what the emergency is." Rainbow hopped down off the chair and was starting to leave, Twilight followed her with a slightly confused look. "Um, what makes you think it’s an emergency?"
"Cool Star is usually a chill pony, it takes a lot to make his mane go in a knot like that." Rainbow responds as she and Twilight catch up to the frantic pony. "Hey Cool, what's going on?" Rainbow calls out causing Cool to turn to Rainbow panicking. "Rainbow! Thank Celestia I found you! There's a class 9 storm headed here!" Rainbow gasps at this while Twilight looks at them. "A class 9 storm? How bad is that?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow turns to Twilight with worry in her eyes. "A class 9 storm is bad, very bad! It has winds that topple trees, lightning that can cause big craters, and rain that can flood within seconds! A class 9 storm can destroy Ponyville within seconds!" Rainbow franticly explains meeting Twilight eye to eye. Twilight stares back, as Rainbow backs off. Cool then continues, "Thankfully it hasn't fully matured, there's still a chance for us to handle it before it causes some real damage!" Rainbow let out a small sigh of relief as Twilight started to turn away looking back at them. "If it’s that bad then you two go ahead. I'll try to find other pegasus ponies to send. Where is it now?" Twilight asked. Cool looks to twilight. "Currently its over the Everfree forest. Send any pegasus pony you know is on the weather team. Ask them to keep an eye out for others on the team as well." Twilight nods while the pegasi fly off. Twilight starts to gallop while muttering under her breath "Good luck guys."
-( On the way to the storm Rainbow and Cool find other pegasus ponies headed to the storm. Winds start to pick up as they near the forest. )-
Rainbow leads the other ponies above the forest before coming to a stop to give the plan. "Ok team, we have a rogue class 9 storm coming in! I need everypony to split into teams of three. Start to disperse the clouds to calm the charges and lessen the rain and winds. Cool, you and Cloud Kicker are with me." Everypony nodded and split into the teams. After everypony was ready they all nodded to Rainbow and her team. "Ok, lets go!" Rainbow yells charging ahead leading them into the storm. The winds really started to pick up as the air soon turned to static filled rain. Noticing this Rainbow yells out, "Everypony watch your selves! The charges are stronger than normal. Its being carried through the rain!" most acknowledged this as they all started to pick apart the storm. Lightning strikes every few seconds as the pegasi start to dwindle the massive storm.
Cloud Kicker spotted a group of pegasi heading towards the storm. She then turns to Rainbow. "Hey Rainbow! I spotted more pegasus ponies heading here from Cloudsdales direction!" Rainbow turns to Cloud Kicker, "Good! Go tell them the plan! Cool and I'll manage till you get back!" With that Cloud Kicker nods and flies back out of the storm to meet the arriving pegasi. Rainbow Dash turns back to the storm only to see a flash of lightning strike her on the side.
"AAAAAAGHHGG!" Rainbow yelled in agony from the shock and went limp, she started to fall towards the forest. Cool didn't see nor hear what just happened being distracted by the noise of the storm. Rainbow fell towards the trees, barely conscious, thinking to herself *oh man, that was a big hit! I can't move!* She closed her eyes tightly as the trees came whisping by her. She went through a few leaved branches and landed on a patch of grass knocking her unconscious...but not before she sees a shadowed creature approaching her.
-( Rainbow Dash has been knocked out cold. Time passes until she started to come to )-
Rainbow Dash slowly starts to come around as her head was throbbing. "Ughn, wha- where?" She looked around with one eye seeing she was in a bed in a room with scrolls and various objects used in exploration and research on one side of the room, and shelves of books lined the other side. There was a fireplace giving the room a warm glow to the room. A voice emanates from one of shadowy corners, "Ah! I see you are alright. Thank the elements." Rainbow turned her head to the corner to see a dark grey unicorn coming around one of the bookshelves. The pony has red eyes, red tips on the spikes on his black mane and tail, red hooves that swirled into his dark coat, and a strange red symbol with a red quill writing on it for a cutie mark.
"Who are you?" She started to try to sit up but cringed under the pain of her injuries. The gray pony rushed to her side with a bucked of water and a cloth. "Please! Don't move. You suffered major injuries from the fall you had, You must rest. I am Lore Venture, and I brought you here to my cottage, This is my personal library. You were banged up really badly when I found you not far from here. Might I ask what your name is?" He asked as he uses his magic to wring the wet cloth and lay it on her forehead. "I-I'm Rainbow Dash. Thanks for rescuing me." She smiles as the warm rag started to fell good.
Lore smiles contently, "Not at all. I couldn't leave another pony stranded in the Ever Free forest, especially after taking a dive like that. Erm, might I ask what you were doing out here?" Rainbow gasped as eyes shot open as she quickly sat up and cringed, hurting herself in the process. She laid back down tenderly as Lore looked at her worried.
"UGNH. I remember now! There was a massive class 9 storm brewing and headed to my town. The other pegasi and I were coming out here to handle it. I was struck by a bolt of lightning and passed out. I'm sure you know the story from there. How is the storm? Has it been taken care of?" Lore gave a nod with a smile. "The storm was taken care of by the other pegasi. Now you need your rest, I'll be in my study if you need me." Lore smiled and turned towards the door as Rainbow looked back at him, but gave a smile back before falling back asleep.
-( The next day )-
Rainbow starts to wake up, feeling the warm rays of the sun beeming through the window. "Mmmh, what a night! Haven't slept like that in a while." She sits up, tenderly rubbing her shoulder. "Man, I am stiff. Need to stretch out a little." With that she sits up, starts to get out of her bed but tumbles out and hits the floor.
"Omph! Ugh, Still sore... Well, I better walk it off. I wonder what Lore's up to?" She ponders putting a hoof on her chin. She gets up and starts to head through the room and into the main part of the cottage. The living room is filled with stacks of books that reached the ceiling. Many sheets of paper litter the walls with drawings of many creatures, most Rainbow didn't recognize. A warm fire in the fireplace and a few candles lit the room as Rainbow looks around.
In awe at the many papers and books, Rainbow makes her way through the room. "Man, Twilight would have a hay day in here! So many books and scrolls, she'd hate the mess, but dang!" She looks around the room until she spoted Lore hunched over in a stool, sleeping on his desk while drooling on a few parchments he was writing on. Rainbow giggled at the sight, "He MUST be related to Twilight some how, he studies till he falls asleep." Rainbow looked around and found a blanket. She took it and covered Lore while he slept, he gave a small smile. Rainbow smiles at this and sets off to the rest of the cottage to explore seeing so many rooms. "For a cottage, this place is pretty big. I wonder why there are so many rooms around here?" She wondered out loud. With that she heads to a door and opens it to see another pegasus pony laying on a bed sleeping, looking pretty banged up as well. Rainbow immediately recognizes the blue pegasus, "Hey! it's Blue October, she must've been hurt from the storm as well... I wonder how many others were hurt?" She proceeded to close the door and go through the other rooms.
Most of the rooms were empty bedrooms, a few were used as storage with many books lining the bookshelves on the walls. Rainbow found three other pegasi, Cool Star, Firefly, and Derpy Hooves all asleep and shown signs of damage from the storm. Rainbow starts to walk down the hall in thought. "Wow, five pegasi, that's better than usual. But I wonder how Derpy got involved, she's not a weather pony, she's a mailmare." Rainbow ponders about this but decided to shrug it off and ask later when they all were up.
Rainbow's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a low growling coming from her stomach. "Heh, that storm made me hungry. Hey! There's an idea, I can thank Lore for his help with some breakfast." She smiles at the thought and sets out to find the kitchen. “Aha! Here it is. Now to cook up something yummy for Lore." She smiles looking at a big kitchen, surprisingly kept clean compared to the rest of the cottage. She looks around and finds a cookbook and starts to cook up some breakfast.
Lore starts to stir as he is awoken by a strange smell. "*sniff* hmm? What's that? *sniff* Smells like...is something burning? *sniff* Doesn't smell like burning wood... more like *sniff**sniff*...like...” Lore gets up to follow his nose towards the kitchen and opens the door to see Rainbow Dash over the stove reading a cookbook while some hash browns start to burn on the stove. "Um, Rainbow Dash?" Lore calls out making Rainbow turn to him and smile. "Oh hi, sleep well?" she asked as Lore approached her slightly confused. "Um, yes. Might I ask why your burning hash browns? They are done when they turn brown, hence the name." Rainbow looks at the stove and noticed them burning. She quickly grabs a mitt and removes the pan from the stove placing it on another mitt.
Rainbow looks at the burnt food and laughs sheepishly, "Eheh, um... well, I wanted to thank you for helping me and the other ponies, so I thought it would be nice to cook you up some breakfast as a thanks." She smiled while glancing at the extra crispy hash browns then looks down slightly. "Guess cooking isn't a strong point for me huh?" She and Lore chuckled a little. Lore tosses on an apron and a chef hat.
"Don't think so, and don't worry, I'm just happy you all are alright. Seeing your smiles is enough thanks for me. The others might be waking soon, I'll start up some breakfast, care to greet the others as they come?" Lore asks as he started to open cabinets and pull out spices and ingredients.
"Sure thing! By the way, out of curiosity, why is this place so big if you’re the only one living here?" Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow. Lore started to knead some dough. "Well, this used to be an inn a while back, placed here for travelers to rest their hooves. It closed down due to lack of business. Then I came across it and bought it for myself. I love to go on adventures just like my foalhood hero Indiana Pones. So since this is the Everfree forest, there is always a new adventure around here, which is why I bought this inn. Plus I help the occasional traveler who needs a place to stay for the night." Lore finishes explaining as he started to cook up some eggs.
Rainbow looks back to him and smiles, "Wow! That's so cool that you manage to survive out here. Must be hard!" Lore looks back at her slightly confused as he was boiling some eggs. "What do you mean by that? It's not that hard." He notes as he turns back to the fresh hash browns he just placed while Rainbow looks at him slightly confused. "Um, it’s the Ever Free forest. It’s dangerous out here." Lore gave a chuckle at the comment as he places some hay seed biscuits into the oven.
"It's not all that bad, you just have to know how to survive in places like this. Where to go and not go, what plants to avoid. It’s simple for adventurers like me." Right then they hear hooves clopping in the hallway above them. "It seems some others came around. Could you see to them Rainbow Dash?" Lore asked as he flipped some carrot pancakes. "Oh yea, sure thing!" She nodded as she left the kitchen and headed to the hallway to see that Cool woke up looking slightly groggy. "Hey, morning Cool. Sleep well?" Cool turns to Rainbow and gives a small smile. "Yea, sort of. My head hurts slightly. Know where we are?"
"Yea your in an inn within the Everfree forest. A unicorn pony downstairs, Lore, he owns this inn. I'm guessing you were knocked unconscious by that storm too huh?" Cool looked around before responding. "Uh, not really the storm that knocked me out. I ran into another pony head first." He looked back at Rainbow who was smiling as she was relieved to know he wasn’t struck by lightning. She turned and headed towards the stairs to the living room/study as Cool followed. "Yea, well a total of five pegasi were hurt. Including Derpy the mailmare, not sure how she got involved. But we have Firefly and Blue October sleeping here as well. Come on, I'll show you to Lore." Rainbow beckoned showing Cool to the dining area.
Lore was placing food across the table and six places for him and his guests. Lore looked up as Rainbow and Cool enter the room. "Oh, it's good to see you’re alright, a bump on the head like that could knock out a pony for a few days." Lore sighs as Cool looks at him, then to Rainbow who looked back at him. "What? He's cool, he found us in the forest and brought us back here to help us recover." Cool looked back at Lore, "Ah, thanks... I guess. How did you manage to carry both of us back to Ponyville?" Rainbow and Lore looked at him slightly confused.
"Cool, are you feeling ok?" Rainbow asked him while he stared at her blankly. "Um, yea, I guess... where are we?" Rainbow stared at him really confused now. "I've told you, we're in an inn run by Lore in the middle of the Everfree forest." Cool, stared at her confused. "Ok, how did we get here?" He stared at her as she stared back. Lore looked at Cool concerned. "He hit his head harder than I thought. He seemed to develop a case of short term amnesia. Hopefully it isn't permanent."
Rainbow looks back at Cool now really worried. "He was fine a minute ago, he told me how he was knocked out too." Lore looks at Cool's lump and responds to Rainbow. "It must've just developed then." Rainbow didn't like this at all as she stomps a hoof. "Aw man, he's one on my best weather ponies too! Do you know how long until he recovers?" She looks at Lore with worried eyes. Lore only shakes his head. "It's hard to say, amnesia like this is very unpredictable. It could last for one night to even years." This caused Rainbows eyes to shrink. "Years! Isn't there anything you can do?" Lore looks back at her, shaking his head slowly. "Unfortunately no, my medical skills aren't enough to help in cases like amnesia. He will need a hospital to help speed up his recovery. Unfortunately the closest one is in Ponyville which is a 3 hour walk from here."
Rainbow Dash looks back at Cool, who was looking around. "I can fly him there. It'll be much faster and I know exactly where it is since I live there." She suggested as Lore looks back at her with a raised eyebrow. "You both are still hurt, are you sure you’re able to fly?" Rainbow flaps her wings a few times. "I can, they aren't hurting any more so I can carry him there. I'm a very strong flyer. I can get him there in no time." She and Lore looked at Cool who looked around with a worried confused look on him.
Lore gave a small sigh, "Ok, just be careful. Be sure to be back before sunset. That way I know you two made it safely." Rainbow nods and lead Cool into the living room/study where they found Firefly and Derpy having an idle conversation. Firefly was the first of the pair to notice Rainbow and Cool come in. "Huh? Hey Rainbow, Cool, Thank Celestia you’re safe. What happened?" Rainbow stops to greet them. "Hey Firefly, Derpy, We all were knocked unconscious from the storm last night and Lore, the unicorn who owns this place, found us. Cool here was hit on the head pretty hard, now he has short term amnesia and I'm taking him to Ponyville for help. By the way, Derpy, how did you get caught up in the storm?"
Derpy looked at Rainbow with her crossed eyes, "Oh, I got lost and was sucked into the winds of the storm. I couldn't keep steady. Eventually the storm wore me out and I collapsed from exhaustion. But not before my leg is sprained, I hit something in the storm with it really hard." Rainbow looks at Cool for a second then back to Derpy. "I think I know what you hit. Cool was hit on the head pretty hard, which is what caused his amnesia. Don't worry he'll be fine."
Derpy gasps and turned to Cool. "Oh my, Cool I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!" Cool just responded with a blank and slightly confused stare. Rainbow rolled her eyes, "Uh, Derpy, he has amnesia. He doesn't remember it. *sigh* Come on Cool, I need to take you to the hospital." But Cool looked at Rainbow confused "Why? I feel fine." This caused Rainbow to facehoof as she grumbles, "ugh, it's going to be a long day." She turned to Firefly and Derpy, "There's food in the dining room where we just came from. Lore should still be in there. Blue October is upstairs still asleep it seems." Rainbow explained tugging Cool along while Firefly and Derpy headed to the dining room.
Cool turns to Rainbow before she reached for the door, "Hey Rainbow, I’m not too sure what's going on, but I'm hungry myself. How about we eat before we leave?" Rainbow nods forgetting she was hungry herself. They head back to the dining room where Lore, Firefly, and Derpy were already chowing down. Lore looks up noticing them come in.
"Hm? Rainbow Dash? I thought you were headed to the hospital with Cool?" Rainbow Dash and Cool sat down as she turned to Lore. "Yea, until I remembered how hungry I was. Can't fly on an empty stomach you know." She winked as Lore chuckled. He nodded and proceeded to serve their plates with pancakes, hash browns, eggs, all sorts of food as the two pegasi sat at the table licking their lips. Lore placed the plates in front of them and Cool and Rainbow chowed down until their bellies were full. Rainbow patted her stomach letting out a satisfied sigh, "Ah, now that was awesome. Thanks a bunch Lore. I'll be back soon. Come on Cool." Rainbow said as she hopped down from the stool with Cool in tow. Lore called out to them as he waves them off. "Good luck, stay safe!" he calls, Rainbow waves her hoof as she and Cool fly towards Ponyville.
As they flew off Blue October finally came down and Lore began explaining to her what has transpired the night prior, right after they both started to chow on some breakfast.
-End of Episode. 1 Part 1: Storm of the Season
Author Notes:
Quite a storm that was. Poor Rainbow getting hurt like that, luckily my pony was near by or who knows what could've happened?
I've started this fic mostly to introduce my OC pony Lore. He is part of a different story I am writing on dA and various other sites. You can find it on my dA: Skellitor301.deviantart.com. I couldn't figure a good plot to start me out until I saw a pic on dA, linked below, that gave me the idea for these first few chapters.
I rewrote this chapter because I finaly got a full pledged computer with a copy of Word. I've gone back and gave it a full revision. I hope you guys enjoy!
http://rizcifra.deviantart.com/gallery/31020403#/d3ekrqx
All ponies used are either official, background ponies (mlp wiki has a list of these), or created by yours truly...which is really only Lore.
|
Skellitor301
|
809
| 2 |
Derpy Hooves,Main 6,Original Character,Adventure,Random,Romance,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Lore's Tales
|
Follow Lore and the ponies in wild adventures through the Ever Free forest and beyond!
|
cancelled
| 11 | 1 |
<p><span style="font-weight:bold;color:#F00">[Canceled]</span><br/>Though this is my first story, it is unfinished, and will likely remain that way since the idea for it died off, and so many plot holes and errors in the story, coupled with my lazy, will likely leave this story unfinished. I will leave it up incase anyone would like to see the original writing style I had and the idea I had going.</p><p>Also any questions or concerns can be asked freely</p><p>Follow an adventurous pony Lore, as he and mix groups of ponies take on the Ever Free forest and beyond. Lore is my ponysona, or OC for those who call it that, and this tells the tales of his adventures through the Ever Free forest with random ponies. All ponies but Lore are either official or a background pony, a list of them can be found on the FIM Wikia.</p><p>I've recently finished Lore's Wiki page. It'll have info on Lore I might or might not write too much about. This can be viewed here: bronies.wikia.com/wiki/Lore_Venture</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-16T20:27:30+00:00
|
2011-10-16T20:27:30+00:00
| 1,536 |
Lore was in the kitchen cleaning the dishes from the lunch he made earlier for Derpy, Firefly, and himself. Blue October left earlier after she recovered and flew home. Lore gazed out his window as the sun was getting ready to set. "Come on Rainbow, let me know you made it." He sighed as he looked out at the empty forest skies. He started to put the dishes away to try and keep himself occupied while he waited. Bowing his head, he let out a sigh. He put the rest of the dishes he had back into the drying rack. "All right." He grunted, turning to exit the kitchen, into the living/study room where Firefly and Derpy were talking.
Derpy and Firefly fell silent as the watched Lore start to pack his saddlebags. Derpy was the first to speak up. “Um, Lore? What’s going on?” Lore finished strapping the bags on his back and reached for his hat. “Rainbow Dash has promised she would return before sunset. It’s running late and I can’t relax unless I know she and Cool Star are safe.” Derpy and Firefly immediately started to rant about how unsafe the idea was and about the unnatural occurrences that plague the forest, like growing trees and self moving clouds. Lore headed for the door, “I know you are worried about the forest, but I have been living out here for a very long time. I know what dangers lay from here to Ponyville and the surrounding areas.” Lore grabbed the door as he was getting ready to dash out to the forest. “I’ll be back as soon as I-”
He didn’t see where he was going and bumped into something, surprising him to the point the weight of his gear knocked him back onto his flank. “Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry!” a female voice called out. “No no, It’s my fault.” Lore looked up, “I wasn’t pay-“ he stopped as eyes went wide and his mouth dropped seeing Twilight in his doorway as the sun set behind her. She looked back at him slightly confused and with a hint of uncomfort. “Um, are you ok?” She asked, he only replied with the same awe struck stare. He didn’t notice that the rest of the pony gang was behind Twilight, Rarity started to get impatient. “Can we move along? It’s impolite to leave a lady waiting outside.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and invited them in. She then looked at Lore confused as the others passed by the petrified pony. “Hello? Lore? You there?” she waved a hoof in front of his face. Lore still didn't move which made Rainbow frown. She then started to clop her hooves together next to his ear causing him to flinch. "Huh? What? Oh Rainbow! You made it back, thank the Elements! I was getting worried you and your friend didn't make it."
Rainbow looked back at him slightly confused, “Um, yea, I got Cool to the hospital. The nurse told me that he will be fine, and he's lucky too. Another few hours and he would've gone into a coma because of the lump on his head." Lore sighed a breath of relief hearing the good news, completely oblivious to the group of ponies having small conversations around the fireplace behind him. "But out of curiosity, what took you so long to get back?" Lore continued the conversation. Rainbow gave a small smile, "Well, I when I left the hospital, my friends were outside waiting for me all worried. I told them how you saved me and Cool, and how awesome you were for living out here. Seriously, we only know of one other who lives out here, but she isn't a pony and we figured she lived in a place like the Everfree forest where she came from. Heck, we thought she was the most civil being that lived in this forest." This caused Lore to look at Rainbow with a hint of curiosity, "And who is this, erm, being that lives in the Everfree forest?"
"Her name is Zakora, the zebra, at least that’s what Twilight calls her." Lores eyes lit up at the mention of the name. "Ah yes, Zakora! She and I swap notes from time to time about our findings on the creatures around here." Lore continued, "Your friend, Twilight, sounds smart to know what a Zebra is, and you can tell her that's something to be proud of because I rarely say that about anypony I've helped in the past." Lore gave a smile as Rainbow smiled looking past him. "Well, you can tell her yourself, she and my other friends came to thank you for helping me." She winked and pointed a hoof towards the others who were too deep in conversation to notice Rainbow mentioning them.
Lore smiled and started to turn "Ah, ok the-" he stopped dead and gave the same awestruck look he had earlier. Rainbow looked at him slightly annoyed and gave him a nudge, "Hey! Lore! What's gotten into you? You're starting to worry me." Lore looked at Rainbow and replied weakly, "I-I don't know. I keep on getting this feeling every time I see your friend. It’s really weird." Rainbow looked at him very confused, then to the others.
Suddenly a light bulb goes off in her head, "Lore, this feeling. Where is it?" He looked back at her and placed a hoof on his chest. "Around here, it feels so strange. It causes me to freeze up." Rainbows eyes really lit up now and smug little smile found its way onto her. "I've never felt anything like it." He continued, "What if I'm getting sick?" She gave a small giggle as he looked at her confused. "Don’t worry, I think I know what your feeling. But tell me, which one of my friends did you say made you feel like this?" She looked on at him with an anxious and excited stare. Lore pointed a hoof in Twilights direction. "The purple unicorn made the feeling the strongest."
This made Rainbow grin from ear to ear as she leaned into his ear. "That unicorn, her name is Twilight Sparkle, and this feeling, is called love." Lore shot his eyes wide open and his face turned a dark red. "Uheh, um, I must. Um... Excuse me everypony!" He bolted out of the room leaving Rainbow giggling to herself and everypony having looks of confusion
-( In the Library )-
Lore was franticly pacing around muttering to himself. "Love? That's what it feels like? I've never felt this way before, not even towards mom and dad. I love them, but they are the only ones I've ever loved as parents. I've never felt that way towards anyone else... Twilight. Twilight Sparkle." His heart started to flutter thinking about her, and what he was told about her, and- "Lore? Are you ok?" He turned around quickly snapping out of his thoughts to see Twilight standing in front of his door. His heart raced as he tried to scrounge up something to say.
"Uh, hehe, Yea, I'm, uh, g-good, uh, T-Twilight. Eheh" he started to sweat as she approached him. She looked into his eyes as if she was reading him like a book, looking over his expressions and reacitons. "That’s good. anyway, I wanted to come by and thank you properly for saving my friend Rainbow. She may be thick skulled, but she is very resourceful at times that still amazes me." She smiled as Lore gulped, "P-Properly?" He asked weakly.
She smiled and nodded "Yup!" With that she walked up to him and hugged him around his neck causing him to freeze up. She smiled while nuzzling him, "Thank you very much. I don't known what I would do if I lost a friend." She whispered in his ear causing him to smile weakly not knowing what she was going to do next. "And don't worry Lore, I like you too." She gave him a small kiss on the cheek and trotted back out the door to the commons area to meet with the others winking as she closed the door behind her. He stood there for a short while holding a hoof up to his cheek, "She...Likes me...too!" He an ear to ear smile appeared on his face as he started to jump around happy she felt the same way he felt for her.
Little did he know, Rainbow was looking on through the key hole with Twilight right outside his door. "See? Told ya didn't I?" Rainbow whispered as Twilight turned to her. "You did good Rainbow." Twilight proceeded to hum a happy tune down the hall towards the commons area with Rainbow in toe.
- End of Episode 1 Part 2: The Blossom -
Chapter Notes:
I was originally going to end this chapter as a cliff hanger and reveal the feelings Lore has for Twilight next chapter making this a three chapter pilot. Three things stopped me from doing this:
1. During my initial writing I lost all my progress from not saving. This pissed me off so much I was about to not write it again until a few days later. But I decided to continue right then and there.
2. The part about the sun setting behind her and Lore awestruck was a big give away.
3. I wanted to, at this point, try to follow the show and stick with the first two chapters as pilots.
Also, I want to point out that Twilight isn't my top pony. My tops are currently, as of this post; Fluttershy, Rainbow, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie, and AJ. The reason why I didn't stick with this is because I don't want to do the whole alicorn thing going around. I'm sticking with the only alicorn characters being the princesses. So Lore, being a unicorn, wouldn't match up with my top two, so I picked Twilight. Plus they are a better match than any of the other 5. There was even a subtle, and unintended, hint of this in chapter 1. Unintended because I didn't think of this until after chapter 1 was posted. The rest of the chapters are going to be 1-2 chapter plots, so when chapter 3 rolls around don't expect to pick up where left off. The plan is to run plots like the show.
I’ve rewritten this chapter as I recently got a computer with Word. I’ve fully revised this chapter and the previous one. I hope you guys enjoy!
|
Skellitor301
|
809
| 3 |
Derpy Hooves,Main 6,Original Character,Adventure,Random,Romance,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Lore's Tales
|
Follow Lore and the ponies in wild adventures through the Ever Free forest and beyond!
|
cancelled
| 11 | 1 |
<p><span style="font-weight:bold;color:#F00">[Canceled]</span><br/>Though this is my first story, it is unfinished, and will likely remain that way since the idea for it died off, and so many plot holes and errors in the story, coupled with my lazy, will likely leave this story unfinished. I will leave it up incase anyone would like to see the original writing style I had and the idea I had going.</p><p>Also any questions or concerns can be asked freely</p><p>Follow an adventurous pony Lore, as he and mix groups of ponies take on the Ever Free forest and beyond. Lore is my ponysona, or OC for those who call it that, and this tells the tales of his adventures through the Ever Free forest with random ponies. All ponies but Lore are either official or a background pony, a list of them can be found on the FIM Wikia.</p><p>I've recently finished Lore's Wiki page. It'll have info on Lore I might or might not write too much about. This can be viewed here: bronies.wikia.com/wiki/Lore_Venture</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-12-05T16:38:03+00:00
|
2011-12-05T16:38:03+00:00
| 1,168 |
Lore’s Tales
Episode 2: Mix and Match
Early morning dew covered the Everfree Forest as Equestria was blessed with a miraculous morning, Celestia rose the sun to warm the lands as she always has. The sunlight washed the trees with a warm radiant glow, and they reached the windows of a particular colt sleeping in his cottage. The sunlight landed on his face causing him to stir from his restful slumber. He opened his eyes, and gave a big, hearty yawn. He jumped out of his cot and started his day with eggs and a blueberry muffin as he has done most of his mornings. After breakfast he washed up and groomed his mane with a brush using his magic.
“Let’s see where I feel like exploring today.” He wondered over to his study, picked up a dart, and headed over to a large map on his wall that was labeled as “The Everfree Forest”. He closed his eyes and with his magic, he threw the dart towards the map making a low ‘thunk’ sound. He opened his eyes to see where he landed and was completely satisfied. “Alright! I haven’t been there before. I wonder what secrets I’ll uncover.” With a planned direction, Lore started to pack his expedition gear; a tent, kindling, small hatchet with a blade below the handle, some quills, ink, scrolls, rations, and climbing gear. He knew he could carry more than this, ‘but where’s the fun in that’ he thought as he strapped on his saddlebags. “Ok, looks like that’s everything!” he exclaimed as he looked himself over making sure he had everything he needed. Satisfied he headed out the door and locked up the cottage. He put his key in one of his pockets as he heard the sounds of a set of hooves lightly clopping, and approaching him.
“Um, excuse me, Lore? Um… Hi, it’s me, um, Fluttershy…” Lore turned to the shy mare, he couldn’t help but smile at her shyness towards other colts. “Greetings Fluttershy, What brings you here?” She tried her best to look at him but her head hung slightly causing her pink mane to cover most of her face. “Well, um, Twilight wanted me to come by and, um, let you know to keep an eye out for anything… strange.” Lore raised an eyebrow at this. “Strange? As in what way?” She looked towards him slightly gaining a little more composure as the conversation continued, “Well, I’m not sure if you remember the new pony which started living in Ponyville a few months back, um, I think his name was Smokey?” Lore shook his head having heard of the brown pegasus. “Well, apparently, um, one of his friends from Germareneigh, he, um, he recently appeared around the Everfree forest, like Smokey, but unconscious. He’s fine now, but um, Twilight wanted me to ask you to, um, keep an eye out for strange things like that.” Lore pondered at this for a short while, “Well, I haven’t seen anything like that lately. Where exactly was his friend found?”
“Oh, um, it was not too far into the forest, just to the side of the mane path. Maybe less than a minutes trot from the entrance.” Lore couldn’t wrap his head around this as his puzzled expression grew. “Hmm, normally monsters never come that close to the entrance especially this late in the year. Is there anything else about this that may explain him being unconscious?” Fluttershy only shook her head, “Not much else, it’s like he just got there and passed out.”
“Well, I’ll keep an eye out for any other ponies, Thanks for the heads up Fluttershy. Erm, by the way, what’s the colts name?” Fluttershy looked up to him and smiled, “Um, I think his name is Ticks. Well, I need to go Lore. Good luck on your expedition.” Lore nodded as Fluttershy flew off towards her cottage, leaving Lore to check over his map. “hmm, well, on the way to the area I’ll check the major paths for any signs of such ‘strange’ things. Maybe Zecora has seen something, she’s also on the way.” He pulled out a quill and ink well and made a few adjustments to his planned route. Once he finished he rolled up the map and put everything back in his saddle bags. He noticed where the sun was now and groaned “Aw horsefeathers, its almost 10 in the morning, I’ve wasted enough time, lets go!”
He broke out in full gallop into the Everfree forest. It was a few hours before he reached Zecora’s hut where she was found brewing a strange potion, as usual. “Greetings Zecora, I hope you are well?” he asked as he came in. She looked up and gave him a welcoming smile as he sat on one of her chairs. “Ah, Lore, It is good to see you, I am well, in every way. I see your on another expedition today.” Lore gave a small chuckle to her rhyming accent amused at her ability to speak in rhyme so easily. “Yes, I am headed to a new area I’ve yet to travel to.” He smiled as he pulled out his map showing her his planned destination. “Ah, So deep into the forest most avoid because of fear, you are a very brave pony, Lore, to travel to Green Sneer” one of Lore’s ears popped up at this, “Green Sneer? You mean this place has been named?” Zecora gave back his map and walked to her cauldron to continue her brew. “Why yes, there is a bit of legends that hold ties to that place. Tales of such dangers makes a pony’s heart race. Rumors of treasures long forgotten, protected by traps that grow weary and rotten. Tales of spirits that haunt those which trespass, but now are all gone as time took pass. Be careful my friend Lore, even though the spirits are no more, the area still holds many hostilities, even for a pony with your abilities.”
Lore gave a hearty chuckle, “I appreciate the words of warning and wisdom Zecora. But I’ve handled many dangers in my life time. I’d doubt a rundown ruin would give me too much trouble.” Zecora shook her head “Oy Lamie, Lore your just as proud in your abilities as any other, but being too proud is my bother.” Lore only grunted at this comment. “Zecora, have a bit of faith in me. After all, I am the one who mapped more of the Everfree than any other pony.” Zecora shook her head and opened her mouth to continue the argument until Lore raised his hoof to stop her. “There is another reason why I wanted to stop by. Apparently a new pony is living in Ponyville, Smokey apparently knows this colt. Ticks is his name and he is from Germareneigh like Smokey. The thing that makes this odd is he was found near the path to the entrance of the Everfree forest unconscious. Not much else was noted about this, like he just straight up passed out heading out of the forest. Now, I’m not a doctor, but ponies don’t just pass out for no good reason. There were plenty of rest sites along that path so it couldn’t have been exhaustion. Can you keep an eye out for anything strange that might relate to this? I’m not sure exactly what this is all about but… it just seems too familiar to ignore.” Zecora stopped what she was doing with eyebrows raised. “familiar? As in what way? This happened to you before? Is that what you say?” Lore shook his head. “No, I’ve passed out before, but it was normally when I was in trouble or exhausted from a long day. Plus, I can’t help but… never mind, forget that last part”
Zecora walked up to the table and sat with Lore, very interested in this. She never heard Lore speak like this before. “Lore, is there something on your mind? You can tell me, talking to a friend is easier than hiding, you’ll find.” Lore looked away, he wanted to tell her, but he also didn’t want her to think he was crazy either. “Well…” he began “…I never tell anypony this. It’s too weird I’m afraid others may think I’m crazy.” Zecora leaned in with a ‘try me’ look on her face. Lore let out a sigh; he had to tell somepony about this, might as well be Zecora who may know a thing or two about this. “I’ve had a weird feeling every time I head through that entrance. There’s something about that area that strikes me as… Off. I really felt it when Smokey came around, and now that Tick’s came around I can’t shake this feeling to save my life! Like a sort of Déjà vu, this whole situation. I don’t know, what do you think Zecora?” the zebra was deep in thought about this, she seemed to him like she never heard anything like this before. “Perhaps, Lore, you and these two ponies share a connection of some kind. What kind of connection is up to you to find.” Lore sighed, “Perhaps.” Lore took notice of the time and got up quickly, “Oh! Sorry Zecora, I’d better head off before it gets later than needed.” Lore was about to head out the door when Zecora called out to him, “Here, take this container of herbal mix, It is for when you need a quick fix. From infections to a broken limb, this will fix any pony up on a whim.” Lore took a small gourd that had some sloshing liquid inside. “Thanks Zecora, I may need this.”
Lore set out towards the area as he planned, he kept on trotting through the forest until the sun started to set. He took notice of this and started to set up camp. After he finished pitching his tent and lighting a small fire he began to set up a small circle of torches around the campsite to ward off any predators that might’ve wanted to visit him. Satisfied with his work he wiggled into his padded blanket and started to lull into a deep sleep.
Lore was suddenly awoken as he heard something crashing into his campsite. Alarmed, Lore quickly tried to cast his QT spell (he calls it a Quick Thinking spell. Mainly because it speeds up his perception, reflexes, and thought process by about 10x to that of an average pony). But he couldn’t cast it in time as something shot a net over him pinning him down, but it didn’t just hold him down, it gave him an electrical shock which stunned him. Unable to move or use magic he just laid there and watched as an equine figure approached, but something was off. This wasn’t a normal pony, it wasn’t a pony at all. It was completely made of metal with green glowing eyes. Lore watch on in awe and horror as the mechanical equine approached. Lore winced as it started to speak. “Intruder detained. Intruder class recognized; OC Pony. Initiating OC Pony capture sequence.” Lore felt a rush of that familiar feeling as soon as the mechanoid said OC. He’s heard of OC before, Why does it seem so familiar? He couldn’t put his hoof on it, well he couldn’t put it on there before he was shot with a dart. He felt woozy and the night sky started to fade from his vision. The last thing Lore remembered before passing out:
“What is an OC Pony?”
End of Episode 2 Mix and Match; Part 1
Chapter Notes:
Strange things are happening in the Everfree forest, as always.This time Lore is in hot water as a mysterious device has captured him! Will he survive? What is planned for him? Who are Smokey and Ticks? Find out in the next part!
As for Smokey and Ticks, Some of you may think that they sound familiar, and there is a good reason for that
For those who missed it, they are from one of my friends fics called Life as a Pony. Go over to his fic and see what's up with Smokey and Ticks.
|
lilinuyasha
|
810
| 1 |
Original Character,Crossover,Adventure,Dark,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Cowcolt Bebop
|
Space Trekker and Bonsai are two bounty hunters Just looking to make some good pay.
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>Space Trekker and Bonsai are two bounty hunters looking to make some decent pay in the year 2291. Join them as their adventures across the universe expand, revealing secrets and lies in the past of the two.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-13T15:11:21+00:00
|
2011-09-13T15:11:21+00:00
| 1,114 |
Trekker sighed. “We’re not gonna make it at this rate.” he said.
“Relax. I’ve got this covered.” said Bonsai. Space Trekker, a tall, dark grey pony with a green mane,sat back in his seat.
“I told you we should’ve stopped for gas on Venus.”
“Alright. My bad. Now let’s focus on the issue at hoof.” Bonsai, as he came to be nicknamed for his strange attachment to taking care of them, ignored Trekker and continued operating the switches. Bonsai was a well built steed, muscular, tall, with a red body and a black mane.
“Alright, hold on to your seatbelt. This is gonna get a bit rocky.”
As Bebop, their spaceship, entered Pluto’s orbit, Bonsai prepared the landing gear. They had JUST enough gas to land. After that, they were out of gas and flat broke. Bebop pulled into the landing bay, securing a spot. A small, worn sign reading “Welcom to Plut” greeted their arrival. It had obviously been worn down by years of blizzard-like conditions.
“See? Told you I had it covered!”
“Great. But if we don’t get this bounty, how exactly do you plan on getting off this planet?”
Bonsai wasn’t exactly sure what to say. “We’ll figure it out then. Get your stuff. It’s cold out there.”
Trekker and Bonsai put on warmer clothing and stepped out of the Bebop into the cold, frozen planet. Trekker never understood why ponies lived here. It was so far desolate in the solar system that it was a major spot for bounties and other criminals to go to escape. Trekker took a deep breath in, letting the refreshing cold fill his lungs.
“Alright. So where is he?” asked Trekker.
“Well, our closest info says he likes to loiter around bars.”
“That’s not very helpful. This is a bounty, not an adventure game.”
“Well, “Crank” Dash, as he’s known, is a known alcoholic. Why don’t you check the bars? There’s only two of them around. I’ll ask around to see if I can get some street info on him.”
Trekker sighed. “Yeah. Sounds good. If you hear gunfire, you’ll know where to find me.”
Bonsai smiled. “You do know how to cause trouble. Anyways, I’ll keep in contact with you if I find anything.”
“Sounds good.”
And with that, Trekker and Bonsai went their separate ways.
Trekker traveled down a small, icy street. Ever since they decided to populate the planet, the cold was bearable. He still shivered as he looked for a potentially shady bar. To his right, he passed a boarded-up door with a spraypainted martini glass under a “bar” sign. Trekker found this a good place to start and went in.
The welcoming bell rang, and every pony in the bar turned to look at him. Yep. This was where he’d find him. Trekker ignored their looks and took a spot at the bar, next to a white pony with a black mane, between another burly steed with brown hair and a black mane.
“What’ll it be?” said the bartender.
“I’ll take anything you have. Something to warm my body from the cold.”
The bartender smiled. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
“Was it that obvious?”
The bartender smiled again. The ponies on either side of Trekker shifted their weight, a bit uneasy. “I’ll take a double shot of gin and tonic. Stirred, not shaken. With a sprig of lemon.”
The bartender looked at him. “That’s oddly specific. Not sure I can do the lemon. In case you haven’t noticed, our planet ain’t exactly good for farmin’.”. The bartender looked at Trekker, then to the pony to his right, then back at Trekker. “I’ll get that right out for you, colt.”
“Thanks. So...” Said Trekker as he turned to his right. “...What brings you Pluto?”
The pony stared at him, an evil glare.
“Not the talkative type, I see. Well, that’s just too bad. Here I was thinking we could engage in a delightful conversation over a glass of tonic.”
The pony looked away, grabbing his glass.
“I’d buy.”
The pony looked at him. As the bartender set Trekker’s gin and tonic on the bar, the pony to Trekker’s right grabbed his glass and swung at Trekker. Trekker strafed his head right and grabbed his hoof, swinging the pony around as the one to Trekker’s left tried to pound Trekker’s face with his hoof, only to punch the other pony’s body. Trekker let the body fall to the floor as the other pony, in anger and futility, charged at him. Trekker strafed left and tripped him, sending him sprawling face first down to the floor. The bartender ducked down behind the bar as Trekker leaped over it and ducked behind it. The two ponies who had sat next to Trekker, now aware of what was going on, pulled themselves up off the floor and drew their guns. Trekker drew his pistol and blindfired over the counter, trying to hit something. He had no such luck as both of the ponies who had sat next to Trekker retreated, flipping over a table and setting it as shelter as the patrons in the bar got ready for a brawl.
“Good to see you again, Gin!” Said Trekker.
“I’d love to catch up, but I’m a bit preoccupied.” Said the bartender as he drew a shotgun from under the counter.
“I’ve always had terrible timing!” Said Trekker as he leaned over the counter, firing. Trekker shot down 3 ponies before he grabbed his gin and tonic from the bar and ducked behind the counter, reloading. After he reloaded, Trekker quickly drank it.
“You’re one crazy son of a bitch, you know that?” Said Gin as he ducked behind the bar after firing a few rounds.
“Yeah, I get that a lot.” He said before glancing over the counter again, shooting a few rounds at some of the ponies reloading near the entrance to the bar. Trekker came down to reload.
“Body!” Said Gin as the dead body of a purple pony fell in front of him. Gin ducked behind the counter. “Filly tried to jump the counter on us” He said, putting more cocks in his shotgun. Trekker, done with his reload, froze for a minute. The sound of gunfire was no longer existent. He slowly leaned over the counter to observe his surroundings. The minute his head popped the counter, gunfire resounded and Trekker ducked behind the bar again.
Gunfire came from the entrance of the bar as Bonsai entered, guns blazing. Some of the ponies behind shelter, including the ones Trekker sat next to, lowered their guard went out to fight Bonsai by hoof, breaking beer bottles scattered haphazardly about the floor after the start of the fight. While they were distracted, Trekker fired at them, killing them. Bonsai, now only dealing with one pony, took care of him quickly, curb stomping him before galloping over to the bar, hopping over it while Trekker and Gin provided cover fire.
“Follow the gunfire, just like you said.”
“Yeah, I’m kind of predictable like that.”
Gin readied his shotgun and leaned over the counter. He fired once towards his right side and stumbled back, shot in his front leg, crashing against the alcohol cabinet before contorting his body in pain. Trekker slid closer to him as gunfire broke through the counter and glasses dropped all around him. Bonsai fired, killing off the remaining two.
“You’re gonna be alright, Gin.” said Trekker. “Just hold on there.” he said, wrapping his front leg with a bandage. Bonsai leaned behind the counter again and, seeing nopony else, looked at Trekker.
“You’ve caused quite a bit of a mess, Trekker.”
“Yeah, I have a bad habit I need to quit. Like you chewing your hooves.”
Bonsai froze for a second. He couldn’t deny it. He did have a nervous habit.
Suddenly, Trekker heard the welcoming bell ring and he looked over the counter. One of the ponies, apparently alive, was galloping away, leaving a trail of blood.
“That’s your bounty!”shouted Bonsai. Trekker hopped the bar and took off after him as Bonsai took care of Gin.
Trekker kept the brown-haired, blue-maned pony in his sight. Crank took off down the cold street, taking a hard turn, heading down an alley, Trekker following him closely. As he turned into the alley, Crank swung a hoof at him from nowhere, hitting Trekker hard in the face as he stumbled back. Trekker regained his balance as he stood up and motioned for Crank to come at him.Crank rushed forward, launching a power attack him that Trekker easily dodged. As Crank’s inertia carried him forward, Trekker swung his hoof, knocking Crank in the back of his head. Crank fell forward, landing face first in the snow. Crank quickly regained his balance, standing right back up, just in time to see Trekker’s hoof slam against him, breaking his nose. Crank reeled back, slamming his head against the side of a building, knocking himself out.
“Looks like I cranked it up a bit too much.” said Trekker. A terrible pun, he knew, but who was there to stop him?
Trekker hoofcuffed Crank and headed back to the bar. Trekker was instead met by Bonsai and Gin in the street.
“You get him?”
“Would you expect any less of me? How you holding up, Gin?”
“It’s a pretty bad gunshot wound, but he’ll pull through.” said Bonsai.
“That’s good news.” said Trekker. “You get the bounty and turn it in. I’ll take Gin to the hospital. We have a bit of catching up to do.”
Bonsai agreed and trotted behind the building, flinging Crank up upon his back and carrying him to the local police station to collect the bounty. As Bonsai collected the money, a considerable sum, Trekker put Gin in the hospital. Bonsai filled the Bebop with gas and food for several weeks and got ready to takeoff. Trekker got Gin situated and propped up.
“You gonna hold up?”
“I’ll be fine.” said Gin, looking away from Trekker. “I know what you’re here for.”
“I came here for a bounty. Nothing less.”
Gin turned to face Trekker. “No...this is about Rose. And I know it.”
|
lilinuyasha
|
810
| 2 |
Original Character,Crossover,Adventure,Dark,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Cowcolt Bebop
|
Space Trekker and Bonsai are two bounty hunters Just looking to make some good pay.
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>Space Trekker and Bonsai are two bounty hunters looking to make some decent pay in the year 2291. Join them as their adventures across the universe expand, revealing secrets and lies in the past of the two.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-18T17:45:01+00:00
|
2011-09-18T17:45:01+00:00
| 1,035 |
Trekker glanced at Gin. “I came here for a bounty. Nothing more.”
“You said nothing less before.”
Trekker sighed and wiped his face with his hoof. “Alright. Yeah. I heard word she passed through Pluto. I took a bounty here figuring I’d find her.”
“What if she’s not ready to be found, Trek?”
Trekker had never considered this possibility. He’d spent his life tracking her down. Maybe she really was running away. Trekker looked at Gin with a solemn look.
“She came to the bar, Trek.”
“When?” said Trekker, thirsting for information.
“About a week ago. She left the next day. She mentioned something about Malice. She couldn’t stay because of Malice.”
Trekker’s face contorted with rage.
“Do you know him?”
“Malice and I have a...history.” he said. “We served in the same platoon during the Mars invasion.”
“And then what?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” said Trekker, forcefully.
Gin started to speak, but quickly closed his mouth, eventually saying “You never were one to talk about much. You’re a mysterious colt, you know that?”
“I’m better off as a mystery. Take care of yourself, Gin.”
“Yeah...see you, space colt.” And with that, Trekker left the hospital and headed back toward the Bebop. As he left the hospital, a light red pony with a darker red mane passed him, carrying a bouquet of roses. Trekker froze, lost in memories. “Rose...”
“It doesn’t have to be this way, Rose.”
“You don’t understand, Trek...I have to do this.”
I gave her a solemn look. She couldn’t have been serious. We were madly in love. At least I was. She was my life. And here she was, taking it away from me.
“No, Rose, you don’t.”
It was raining that day...I remember that much. She turned away from me and trotted away.
“I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth, Rose. I’m not going to just let you leave.”
She froze. She looked over her shoulder one more time, a look of sadness very apparent even in the rain. She looked away from me again and trotted off.
I don’t remember ever showing as much emotion before then. But then I got down on all of my knees and cried. My shouts of agony were muffled by the rain. Since then, I’ve never shown much emotion either.
“Excuse me?” said the red pony.
“Oh. Nice roses.” Trekker said, catching himself back to the present. Trekker left her with her awkward look of confusion and trotted out of the hospital.
“Took you long enough.” said Bonsai as Trekker trotted in to the living area and laid down on the couch.
“Yeah, Gin and I had a bit to discuss.” he said, realizing then that he had forgotten to even discuss his matter with Gin. He’d been so wrapped up with Rose, it slipped his mind. “It was great catching up with an old friend.” Trekker mentally kicked himself.
“You seem aggravated.” said Bonsai, concentrating on getting Bebop out of the runway and into space.
“Me? Nah. I’m pretty sure I’m keeping my calm demeanor.”
“This is about Rose, isn’t it?” said Bonsai shortly after they blasted off towards unknown horizons.
Trekker glanced over at Bonsai, who was clipping his trees.
“Don’t think I don’t know, Trek. The last word you heard was that she was on Pluto. Instead of taking a larger bounty on Saturn, we drifted all the way out here to that God-forsaken frozen wasteland.”
Trekker looked back up at the ceiling. He wasn’t even sure how Bonsai knew. Trekker simply sighed with a little “Eeyup.”
“How’s the back hoof?” asked Trekker, changing the subject.
“Doing a bit better.” said Bonsai. About a month ago, he’d been shot in his back right hoof in a bounty raid on Neptune. In the end, he got the bounty, but had to spend it on a prosthetic hoof. Bonsai still trotted around with a slight limp. “Still hurts a bit, but nothing compared to before.”
“Are you going to need me to cook dinner again?”
“After that last fiasco, I’d say I’ll handle it this time.” Trekker had somehow managed to singe every bit of meat he cooked, as well as lighting part of his mane on fire. In his confusion trying to put the fire out, He jumped around, forgetting he held the hot pan filled with oil. Trekker still had a bit of a noticeable burn where he fell into it. They ate canned food for two weeks after that. At least the fire got put out.
“Yeah, I think that’s good plan.” Trekker said.
After dinner, Trekker and Bonsai sat in front of the TV, where their galactic programming channel outlined news of new bounties.
“Hello, bounty Hunters!!! Time for another episode of Hunter’s digest!” Wasn’t exactly the catchiest name in the universe, but it had to do. “First up, we have news that “Crank” Dash, the section Z leader for the illegal drug market was caught Today in Pluto! Kudos to the bounty hunters!” Trekker and Bonsai high-hoofed each other. “But the section X leader is still running amuck on Venus! He’s going for 1,000,000 Bits!”
“One MILLION?” Trekker and Bonsai yelled in disbelief.
“One MILLION!!! Isn’t that a big bounty? Guess you’d better get huntin’! Meanwhile, two separate bounties, Mighty Hoofstrong and Burly Hoofstrong, brothers in crime, have recently robbed several banks on Uranus! Add to that several murders in the process, and you’ve got some daaaaaangerous criminals!” “That’s right, fillies and colts!” said the other pony on the show. “Both of them are going for 600,000 right now! Guess what close brothers tend to do? STICK TOGETHER!!! That’s a chance for 1,200,000 Bits if you find both of them!!! And thirdly...” “Well shoot, Shooter! Seems we’re all out of time! We’ll see you next time on Hunter’s digest!!! So long, Space Colts!!!”
Bonsai and Trekker turned off the TV.
“Well this poses a bit of a conundrum. Shall we go for the easy 1,000,000 for go for the extra cash?” asked Bonsai.
“I say We go for the easy 1,200,000.”
“Don’t get cocky now.”
“It’s not cocky if you’re positive.” Said Trekker, Smirking.
“Well, Uranus it is, then.” said Bonsai as he put the cockpit destination and turned autopilot on. Bonsai went to his room to prune his precious trees while Trekker stayed in the living room, cleaning and polishing his guns. Once that was finished, he went to his room, drifting off into tumultuous sleep.
***
“Flank right!!!” Yelled Trekker. They were surrounded by the opposing side.
Chagrin, his wingcolt, turned his attention to his right side, gunning down most of the opposing flankers from that side. “You’ve really gotta stop talking about my flank at times like these.” He said. “It’s not the best time to ogle me, Trek.”
“Well I’ll ogle all I want. Left flank, by the way.” Chagrin turned his attention behind him as Trek finished off the right side. Trek ducked down inside the trench they were in and grabbed a grenade. He chucked it forward, blasting an opposing trench as Chagrin cleared his left side. He then turned his attention behind him, killing of a charging colt shortly before he got to Trekker. “You have to be more aware of these things.” He said.
“Guess I’m buying the drinks tonight.” Said Trekker, smirking again. “We’ve cleared enough out. Let’s run back to base for backup.”
That’s right...it was a reconnaissance mission.
Trekker chucked another grenade out from the trench for good measure as he and Chagrin galloped across the desert plains.
|
lilinuyasha
|
810
| 3 |
Original Character,Crossover,Adventure,Dark,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Cowcolt Bebop
|
Space Trekker and Bonsai are two bounty hunters Just looking to make some good pay.
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>Space Trekker and Bonsai are two bounty hunters looking to make some decent pay in the year 2291. Join them as their adventures across the universe expand, revealing secrets and lies in the past of the two.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-19T00:10:10+00:00
|
2011-09-19T00:10:10+00:00
| 1,103 |
The bebop touched down on Uranus’ largest hangar. Trekker trotted to the cockpit, where Bonsai was already up and getting things ready.
“How’d you sleep?” he asked Trekker, focusing his attention on his computer.
“Eh.” said Trekker. “Not good. Not bad.”
“Well I hope you got enough rest. Shit’s about to get real.”
Trekker sighed, facehoofing. “That was just terrible.”
“Better than your ‘cranking it up’ line.”
Trekker laughed. “Yeah, I guess so. So, what have we got on them?”
“Well, both of them obviously robbed the banks. Uranus’ central and then the interplanetary credit union. There’s not too much know about the two other than that they’re the same color. They have a light blue coat and a dark blue mane.”
“Well that eliminates about half the planet.” said Trekker sarcastically. Light blue was the dominant color for ponies.
“That’s about all we have to go on. They don’t have a manly mark.” noted Bonsaid. Colts typically referred to their cutie marks as “manly marks” to avoid being treated like girls. “They decided to stay a blank flank. Easier not to get identified that way.”
“So they never discovered any talent?”
“Their skills in crime are extensive. Their mark couldn’t pick just one. Says in the database they’ve robbed several banks on Uranus, Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter. They’ve got a lot of murder and assault charges.”
“Sounds mundane.” said Trekker, slyly, smirking.
“More exciting than a drug lord. Anyways, here’s some video footage of the robbery recently.” said Bonsai, as Trekker leaned in closer.
“What kind of gun is that?”
“I’ve never seen anything like it before. Looks like a mix between an automatic assault rifle and a shotgun.”
Trekker leaned in closer. The other pony had regular weapons, a standard pistol and an SMG. “That’s definitely custom made.” said Trekker, pointing to the first pony’s shotgun/rifle.
“Just wait till you see what it can do.” said Bonsai, playing the tape again. The pony, seeing that his brother had collected money, pointed the weapon at one of the ponies who’d been forced onto the ground. As he fired, the pony’s head exploded, throwing blood all over the wall, ground, and the robber’s body. With that, the two dashed off, out the entrance, leaving the bank in pandemonium.
“Now look at the ground behind the shot.”
Trekker zoomed the area. A giant hole had been left there, several inches deep, a few feet in diameter. It shortly went out of view as the pony feel back into it, cradling the hole in a fetal position.
“That’s not too bad.” said Trekker. “I’ve seen worse.”
“Be careful, Trek. Don’t take this lightly. That’s how I lost my leg.”
“Nah. I never take things lightly. Just most things.”
And with that, Trekker and Bonsai stepped out of the Bebop into the warm, tropical atmosphere of Uranus.
“Well, where should we start?” asked Trekker.
“I have no clue. Bars are a bit stereotypical. I’ll ask around the streets. You head to the bank and see if you can gather anything there.”
“Alright. Follow the gunfire if you’re in doubt.” said Trekker, turning around and trotting off towards the bank. Bonsai toured up and down the streets, asking ponies huddled around fires and shopkeepers alike.
Trekker reached the bank, where several policecolts were set up. As Trekker tried to approach, they shoved him off, letting him know he wasn’t welcome.
“Easy.” said Trekker. “I just wanna know about the burglars.”
“Information cannot be disclosed at this point. Carry on.” said the light blue pony, forcing him to go elsewhere. Trekker took a look at him, smiling to himself.
“Alright. You have a good day.” he said. “I hope they get caught.”
“You and I both. Good day to you as well. Now go.”
Trekker turned around and trotted towards a nearby bar, surveying the bank closely. His phone rang and Trekker flipped it open to Bonsai’s face.
“You got anything?” asked Bonsai.
“I found him. Well, one of them.”
“Where is he? You already bagged and tagged?”
“Nah. We gotta keep him eye on him. They’ll meet up at some point. Now come to the bar by the bank. We’ll catch up like old friends.”
Bonsai and Trekker sat in the bar, drinking away, keeping an eye on the bank.
“Yo, barkeep.” said Trekker. “I’ll take another one.”
“Same thing?”
“Actually, we’ll try something different. How about I get...rum and vodka, shaken, on the rocks, with an orange sprig.”
The bartender raised an eyebrow at the orange sprig part. “Orange sprig, eh? I take it you’re here for the Hoofstrongs.”
“Nah. I just like oranges.” he said, letting the bartender continue on.
“Is that code for something?” asked Bonsai.
“Yeah. Bartenders tend to keep an eye out for bartenders. Lemon peel means they’re in the bar. Remember Gin? Orange peel indicates they’re nearby and we’re looking for them. Thank you!” said Trekker, breaking the story to accept his drink. “Only thing is...” said Trekker, dropping his voice. “real bartenders don’t make mention of bounties. He’s obviously got a bounty on him too. Or he’s watchdog.”
“Hm.” said Bonsai. He glanced over at the bartender, serving another pony a drink. Bonsai noticed his mane’s color. Light blue. Dark blue mane. “So do we have a lemon peel?”
“Eeyup. Let’s wait till his shift’s over. We’ll follow them and take them out then.”
Hours passed as Bonsai and Trekker sat, watching the bartender.
“I’m closing up shop.” he said. “You colts have to leave.”
Bonsai and Trekker trotted out, suddenly realizing that they had too much to drink. They stumbled out the door towards the dark street, dimly lit by several low-watt streetlights.
“Well thisn’t good.” slurred Trekker
“Waddayawanna do?”
“Well he still gotta catchem.”
“Drunk? You’re funny, Trekker.” said Bonsai, laughing.
“I guess so. Hey, did you always have that color mane?”
“No, I just changed it this morning.”
“Really?”
“No.” he said, as both of them burst out into laughter.
“Shh...” said Trekker as they both hid in a nearby alleyway, waiting for the bartender.
The blue maned pony locked up shop and looked around, making sure nopony was near him. Trekker peeked from around the corner, waiting till he trotted off around the corner. Trekker and Bonsai then trotted, to the best of their ability, to that corner and peeked around. The pony was gone.
“Dammit...” said Trekker. Bonsai trotted around, down the street. Trekker kept an eye on him as Bonsai continued trotting. Suddenly, a dark figure appeared from the alley and snatched Bonsai, muffling him in silence. Trekker dashed from around the corner to the alley, seeing two ponies, both blue maned. The policecolt from before and the bartender stared him down as Bonsai lay unconscious. Without thinking, Trekker charged in, trying to slam against one of the Hoofstrong brothers. He simply strafed right, letting Trekker trip over Bonsai. Trekker, still inebriated, fell to the floor, unable to keep his balance. He struggled to get up as one of the brothers tried to hit him with a glancing blow. Trekker ducked and returned the favor, hitting him across the cheek. The other brother charged, slamming against Trekker, throwing him to the floor once again. As Trekker attempted to get up, the other brother stomped on his face, knocking Trekker out, leaving him in a black, mindless void.
|
Sturm Panzer
|
811
| 1 |
Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Economics In Equestria
|
An Essay of a Theory of Hybrid and Caste Economics
|
complete
| 18 | 7 |
<p>This is actually an Essay rather than a true story.</p><p>Is is a thought experiment that explores a potential economic system that could exist based on canon, with references from the series detailed inline as needed to support arguments.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-11T07:18:06+00:00
|
2011-09-11T07:18:06+00:00
| 4,623 |
Economics In Equestria:
Theory of Hybrid and Caste Economics
By Sturm Panzer
Monetary Coinage:
The coins, (termed “Bits”,) used in Equestria show up a number of times, and are most commonly used by Earth Ponys. Likewise, Earth Ponys seem the be the ones most likely to possess or seek possession of them (EG: Applejack at numerous times) Usage of coins by Unicorn or Pegasus ponys seems rare.
These coins are all of a uniform size, shape and colour, which would indicate that there is only one type of coin in common circulation. This is unusual, but not unheard of (QV: Thaler - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taler )
The coins make a distinct light-weight metallic sound, which would seem to indicate that they are all made of some light-weight metal. Given the overall thickness of the coins, if they were made of most precious or even base metals, they would be very heavy to carry any significant number of them. This would seem to indicate that they are either an alloy (like modern coins), or they are made of some unusual lighter-than normal metal. Given that it seems unlikely that Equestria possesses the required technology to refine and smelt aluminum (2000’c temperature required to extract aluminum from raw ore) , the coins are most likely an alloy involving tin. Given the pale-yellow colour, which similar to polished brass, it seems likely the coins are made from brass. Brass would be easy to create, as it was manufactured for statues circa 2000 BCE.
The low metal-value of the coins would be deliberate, QV: Mining below.
Coins would likely be emblazoned for easy identification. Likely one side having the visage of Princess Celestia, the contents of the other side is more questionable. Perhaps the earliest coins would have a visage of Princess Luna on the other side, with that changing to an Image of Canterlot after her imprisonment, or any of a number of other significant events to create different series of coins for collectors. The new coins could have reverted back to Princess Luna on the reverse side.
Mining:
There is no evidence of mining on any noticeable scale in Equestria. Underground excavations seem to be done for a purpose specific for that excavation (making a basement/cellar/tunnel to another location/etc).
There is plenty of evidence of metallic tools/smithing/fabrication.
It’s well known that Unicorns can detect gemstones, even at a young age (“Dumb rock!”) Gemstones are often used to ornament clothing, including costumes worn by young ponys. The ease of acquisition of them by Unicorns, as well as the casual use of gems for ornamental use would give them a very low economic value.
It is likely that Unicorns would be able to detect metal ores in much the same manner that they can detect gems, using a very similar spell. Combined with the Unicorn’s telekinetic abilities, it would make location and extraction of metal ores very easy, with minimal damage to the environment.
Smelting could also be easily managed by using magical furnaces to generate the temperatures required. The liquid ore could be telekinetically moved by Unicorns from the smelter pots, directly to the moulds/dies for minting coins. The press/stamp for minting the coins could also be easily handled via telekinesis, as well as the gathering of minted coins. (QV Applebuck Season episode, Twilight moving apples)
Smelting and casting/manufacturing of other metal objects/tools could be handled in a similar fashion by Unicorns.
The ability of Unicorns to readily detect and excavate gemstones and “precious” metals (gold, silver, etc) means that the coinage and economic standards can not be based on the value of a rare earth (EG: Gold Standard). Instead the economic standard must use an artificially maintained rule to prevent economic chaos. An artificially valued currency combined with a large barter system would fit this requirement.
Craftsmanship:
Crafting of items can be managed by Earth Ponys, which seem particularly adept at ingenious inventions (QV: the ‘train’ and Pinky Pie’s inventions, including the flying machine.)
The majority of the manufacturing/building seems to be done by Earth Ponys, despite the ability of Unicorns to be able to do the job faster and easier. This also goes for harvesting crops, which seems to be almost exclusively an Earth Pony occupation.
Literature would appear to be the opposite, as a Unicorn can effortlessly write entire pages of text as fast as they can think it, while Pegasus and Earth Ponys must use a pencil held in the mouth, making any significant amount of writing difficult and arduous.
Fine manipulation is required for crafting works of art, fancy clothing and other high-value items, making them difficult for an Earth Pony or Pegasus to manage, especially when compared to the degree of precision and speed that a Unicorn can manage.
Races as Castes:
Each of the three races of Pony (Unicorn, Pegasus and Earth) live in significantly different lifestyles, roles in Equestrian society, as well as different mindsets.
Earth Ponys:
Earth Ponys appear to be the most numerous race of pony. They seem responsible for most of the construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. They build and settle the new towns (QV: Appaloosa).
In major settlements (Manehattan, Ponyville) Earth Ponys outnumber Unicorns by roughly 10-1 (An average low of 8-1 and an average high of 12-1 was observed in random sampling of crowd shots.)
Earth Ponys make up the vast majority of “public service” workers (Mr&Mrs Cake, Aloe/Lotus, Octavia/other musicians, most waiters/servers, Cheerilee the teacher, Mayor Mare)
Pegasus Ponys:
Pegasus Ponys are primarily tasked with weather control duties. They have a factory in Cloudsdale where they produce weather. Presumably their efforts are to enhance/alter existing weather patterns, to create rain when needed for crops, as well as clearing clouds to prevent too much rain, or to ensure certain days are clear for special events.
Almost all Pegasus Ponys seem to have at least rudimentary training/skill in weather control, with few exceptions (Fluttershy, who spent most of her life on the ground.)
Pegasus Ponys also form the bulk of Princess Celestia’s Royal Guard.
In addition to having the weather factories, Cloudsdale is also the home for most Pegasus Ponys, as it seems rare for them to live or spend much time in the Earth Pony’s communities. (Few Pegasus Ponys are seen in crowd shots of Ponyville, and none are seen in the few Manehattan shots.)
Unicorn Ponys:
Unicorn Ponys are most commonly found in Canterlot where they have the highest density of population, but still being outnumbered there by Earth Ponys by roughly 4-1 (as seen in a random sampling of crowd shots)
Given the innate ability for all unicorns to use magic to various degrees, their supremacy over the other races of Ponys is virtually assured. They certainly form the inherited royal bloodlines (QV: Prince Blueblood)
The small numbers, which are highest in the Capital, along with magical ability, and royal blood, it is not difficult to make the further extrapolation that Unicorns, as a race, are effectively the Noble Caste.
A limited number of Unicorn Ponys are found in the Royal Guard. It seems likely that they would be leaders/officers. The Unicorn Guardponys seen were Princess Celesita’s escort/bodyguards (Cutie Mark Chronicles episode)
Fame:
Fame is the term I’ve chosen to represent a level of social status within Equestrian society.
It’s an unspoken, unmeasured indicator of status. Each pony would be aware of the level of another pony on a fairly instinctive level. Wealth, magical power, birth, occupation can all affect one’s Fame.
Fame would also depend on location. EG: All of the Mane 6 are well-known in Ponyville, but they are relative unknowns in Canterlot.
Accident of birth can result in a much higher level of Fame (EG: Prince Blueblood). Likewise, changes in social status can radically affect Fame (EG: Twilight becoming Princess Celestia’s personal pupil.)
Actions can affect the level of one’s fame for good and bad: Defeating Nightmare Moon. Rainbow dash wining the Flying contest. And so on.
An individual’s occupation can also affect one’s Fame.
A Pegasus Pony would gain Fame for working in the weather factory and for weather control (EG: Rainbow Dash). Even more so as a member of the Royal Guard, whom even Twilight, (the Princess’s pupil,) had to obey.
A Unicorn could gain Fame as a crafter of some type. (EG: Rarity)
Earth Pony’s ability to gain Fame would be much more limited, but those working could gain Fame (Applejack), or by sheer popularity (Pinky Pie).
Fame as Currency:
Fame is more than just status. It’s effectively currency of a sort.
An individual of sufficiently high Fame can expect certain demands for good/services be met by those of lower Fame. Examples of this are often seen in the series where the Mane 6 are get things (often food) with no payment given for them.
Those of lower Fame receive payment for goods and services in the form of a small increase of Fame just from having the patronage of a high Fame pony. (EG: Mr&Mrs Cake would have gained greatly by hosting Princess Celestia for tea.)
Those of higher Fame may simply refuse an offer of service from a lower Fame pony, denying the lower Fame pony the chance to gain Fame from the higher Famed pony’s patronage. This may be more common when high Fame ponys see a low Fame one trying to act above their perceived station (EG: Applejack only got one customer at the Grand Gala, and they paid in bits.)
Fame would literally function as an unspoken unit of barter, with ponys parlaying meagre amounts of it in exchange for goods and services.
Disclaimer:
The concept of ‘fame as currency’ was first detailed (AFAIK) in the book “Destiny’s Forge” by Paul Chafe (Baen Books)
The Kzinti “Strakh” was adapted by me to fit into a more hybrid, caste-based economy.
|
Dasher5p33d
|
814
| 1 |
Big Macintosh,Bon-Bon,Braeburn,Caramel,Cheerilee,Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Derpy Hooves,Diamond Tiara,Doctor Whooves,Gilda,Hoity Toity,Lyra,Main 6,Octavia,Original Character,Photo Finish,Prince Blueblood,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Sapphire Shores,Silver Spoon,Snails,Snips,Soarin,Spike,Spitfire,Trixie,Twist,Zecora,Crossover,Adventure,Romance,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Sailor Rarity
|
A parody of sailor moon
|
hiatus
| 18 | 37 |
<p>1000 years ago there was a kingdom on the moon but all of a sudden the Negamoon Led by nightmare moon came in then destroyed the palace! Princess Celestia fearing this is the last of her moon kingdom used the elements of harmony to seal the negamoon away thus making all of her subjects completely immoble and sending them to earth for a new life since she used the last of her power she sent her loyal students sweetiebelle and applebloom to find them again in order to save the moon kingdom! will they be able to stop nightmare moon? or will they give up and surrender? stay tuned on Sailor Rarity! I'm gonna try to get the spelling and punctuation right this time if I make a mistake in the grammar and punctuation telling me in the comments will really be appreciated! Anyways tell me if the characters are messed up (as in I gave the wrong pony the wrong character from sailor moon) once I'm done with that character it would really help alot! I forgot to mention that I was looking for an image that actually matches the story like rarity and the others with serena's and her friends' clothes on but this is the closest I could get. Also please keep in mind that I'm basing every chapter after every episode (until epsiode 62 where the negaverse is finally destroyed). if it isn't ok then I can atleast put 2 episodes into 1 chapter unless I'm not supposed to have so many chapters typed! dang I keep forgetting about some thing the non-main characters (The school kids in this besides sails who's playing a villan)</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-12T20:55:27+00:00
|
2011-09-12T20:55:27+00:00
| 2,614 |
Chapter 1
(Note: the three beggining paragraphs of this chapter isn't celestia talking it's the narrator except for a few speaking parts in the second paragraph that's celestia and her youngest students talking)
"Once upon a Time in the magical land of the moon kingdom there was a royal ball that celebrated the summer sun celebration things were going so well untill...the Negamoon came and invaded the palace! princess celestia fearing what might happen next used the power of the elements of harmony to seal the negamoon away in the imperium crystal jewel.and in doing so she had all of her royal subjects immoible the princess then sent her subjects to earth for a new life."
"I don't know how much longer I can stay alive" she turned to her youngest students sweetiebelle and applebloom "I need you two to make sure you find my daughter Princess rare and tell her that there's not much time that the negamoon will start to take over again" applejack and sweetiebelle Nodded and said "Right" in unison then the princess using the last of her power sent sweetiebelle and applebloom to earth "Good luck" princess celestia said as her final words.
"Now on earth the princess's subjects live as normal everyday ponies until one day..."
An Alarm clock went off "Oh no I'm going to be late for school" rarity wined "Mom" rarity went to brush her teeth and came out while still brushing "wvhy dithent yvou wathk meth uth?" rarity asked while she was still brushing her teeth "Rarity dear I called for you at 6 A.M and you said you were getting ready" rarity got done brushing teeth "And you listened me?"
"Oh no I'm late I got to get going bye Mom" rarity slammed the door on the way out" her mom looked at the table then she told her "Uh Rarity you forgot your lunch" just like that rarity came back and and grabbed it "Thanks mom see you" rarity got to her school late...again" rarity's mom just sighed and said "Sometimes I wonder what's what's wrong with that filly"
While on her way to school rarity runs into a dragon with sunglasses and spikes that are less pointy "Hey watch it Drill head" rarity got angry and wanted to argue but the Dragon just upped and left without saying a word "ohhh that dragon is a...an Idiot" rarity noticed she was almost late so she hurried as fast as she can.
At rarities school rarity was laughing at herself alittle until Ms.Cheriliee(The teacher) walked up to rarities desk then threw down her homework Rarity just looked at her in shock "I expect your mother to see this young lady" she showed rarity the F on her paper then the recess bell rang
In the courtyard diamond tiara came up to rarity to cheer her up "oh don't worry rarity it's not like it's the end of the world" rarity looked back at her like she's going to cry "If my mom see's this I won't be able to go back home" she wined
then snips came in "Hey rarity I heard you got a low grade again" Diamond tiara looked at him" Snips be quiet" she hissed at him "Oh don't worry rarity an F isn't that bad I mean I studied real hard and got only a 90% how am I supposed to explain this to my parents?"
Diamond tiara thought of something that will take rarities mind off of the grade "I have an Idea rarity let's go shopping my Mom she's got a bunch new jewelry on sale" Rarity looked facinated with the Idea "I will later but for now I have to go home" rarity walked home but before she got to her house she was sidetract by a stray filliy that was getting picked on by 2 colts and 1 filly "Hahahaha she's a worthless lay about" one of them said "ya I bet she can't do anything about it" another one said "You are both correct" said the filly
Before they could make fun of the stray filly again rarity dashed in to save her "go away you bullies now" the 3 ran away then she picked up the injured filly then saw a bandage around her flank "Huh? why do you have this?" rarity asked as she removed it and it revealed a cutie mark of the left half of the moon sweetiebelle then oppened her eyes and saw rarity at first she couldn't say anything yet until she got a good look at her then rarity remembered she had to show her grade to her mom "I'm sorry little filly but I can't stay around I have to go" then rarity ran off
At rarities house "So how is your grade?" her mother asked smiling rarity tried to make up an excuse "Well you see I was just...but you see...I mean..." rarity started to groan "Oh don't tell me you forgot about the test you and snips studies together on" she replied "now show me the grade" her mother asked politely rarity looked at her for a moment then levitated the paper to her mom then rarity was looking down whimpering her mom looked over it then all of a sudden the background changed to fire "what did I tell you missy?" rarities mom told her angrily the next thing rarity knew she was kicked out of her house then she went jewel shopping with diamond tiara
"Jewels for sale here get your jewels" diamond tiara's mom shouted in her Sales piched voice "Hey mom" diamond tiara told her her mom looked at her and her friend "oh why hello girls what do you need?" she asked "me and rarity are here to see some-" diamond tiara was cut off by rarity "Some fabulous jewelry" rarity finished
"Well ok here's one of the best jewels around a 24k golden necklace" dimond tiara's mom showed it to them "These just came in stock" unfortunatly a 6-legged pony heard it like everypony else then they rushed in to get it rarity and diamond tiara made it out in time then rarity told daimond tiara "I guess I should head home now" and just like that rarity left the store
The monster that was cleverly disguised as Diamond tiara's mother told herself "That's it little ponies take the jewels but all your really doing is sending the negamoon your energy isn't that right snails?" snails was collecting the energy for the negamoon "Yes yes keep up the good work hahahaha!"
Back at rarity's home rarity was moping about then sweetiebelle came in "Rarity" sweetiebelle said Rarity looked at her in shock after she heard sweeitebelle's voice "Oh My God a talking baby filly I really have been studying to hard" rarity put her head under her pillow "Rarity after you helped me and after I got a good look at you I can now tell that your the element of Generosity hmhmhm" rarity just looked at sweetiebelle then freaked out "no it's just an old mare's tail" rarity again sweetiebelle got annoyed then gave her a jewel
Rarity saw it and looked in awe "Oh this goes so well with my outfit" sweetiebelle looked at her in disbelief "Try saying Generosity spirit power" rarity nooded and tried it "GENEROSITY SPIRIT POWER" she shouted then the next thing rarity knew she has a new outfit on, a Jewel neckalace that showed her cutie mark, and a jewel tiara attached to paar of her head to her horn "Wow new outfit and it fits perfectly" rarity started looking at her self into the mirror admiring her dress
---------------------------
Meanwhile at the at the Jewelery store daimond tiara was looking alittle evilly uneasy with how much jewels her mother is selling "uhh mother" diamond tiara goes to her but she sees her mother start laughing "Hahahaha I'm not your mother girly" the monster showed it's true form to reveal a pony with a messed up wrinkleded face and weired black eyes "Now you will join your mother"
she points to the wall and diamond tiara sees her "Mother what's going on?" she asked and then she got stappled to the wall (No blood though) then she let out a horrified scream "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" then everyponies energy got sucked out
--------------------------
back at rarity's house rarity heard diamond tiara's screams though her jewel "That sounds like diamond tiara I've got to save her" and just like that rarity up and left on her way to the jewelry store when she arrived she saw everypony fainted then she saw the monster pony who saw her back "Just who are you?" she asked as she hissed rarity started making anime poses "I fight for justice...I fight for love...I live to dispell the negamoon...I am Sailor Rarity" rarity finished the monster looked at her " dion't care who you are but your energy will be mine" then she called the ponies who fainted back up and the ponies started to act like Zombies
"Seize her and steal her energy" the mare shouted to them as she charged at rarity all rarity could do was back up into a corner at the moment "your energy is mine" the monster shouted again rarity started to whine "I wanna stop I wanna go home aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" which started to shake the entire building all the moster could do was cover her ears but the mind controlled ponies fainted after that was done the pony charged at rarity again
All of a sudden a Rose stopped the monster at the last minute "Huh? who's there?" the monster shouted then a dragon with a cape and a mask appeared by the window "You should know better than to charge at ponies who are cowering" he started to shout "Sailor Rarity use the Jewel tiara attached to your head to you horn and throw it at her now" like on command rarity got her jewel tiara then twirled around once then shouted "Generosity spirit Magic" then it hit the monster causing it to decay into ashes
The masked dragon began to speak to rarity "As long as your still alive sailor rarity it's good for both of us" he turned around then headed out the window "wait" rarity shouted "I never got your name" the dragon told her without looking back "My name is Tuxedo Spike" then he dissapeared
Back at rarity's school rarity was asleep for a bit when she heard the others talking about sailor rarity "I had a dream where this heroine named sailor rarity came and saved me" diamond tiara told her friends "Hey I had the same dream as well" silver spoon added all rarity could do was just lay asleep on her desk
End of chapter 1
|
Sakke
|
815
| 1 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,Main 6,Spike,Crossover,Comedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Blazpony
|
Blazblue/MLP: FiM crossover.
|
hiatus
| 9 | 3 |
<p>After trying an old spell, Twilight botches it up, sending Ragna the Bloodedge and other people from Kagutsuchi to their world.</p><p>This is my first fic, so I would really appreciate some feedback.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-11T17:53:52+00:00
|
2011-09-11T17:53:52+00:00
| 1,823 |
The sun was just starting to rise over the little town of Ponyville. Nopony was awake yet, except a certain lavender unicorn. Walking down the stairs of the library, which she called her home.
‘’Spike should be awake in a hour or two.’’ she said to herself. She wanted to study before everypony else woke up, so she could spend the rest of the day having fun with her friends today.
Through the windows the pony could see the sun just starting to rise, the sky starting to turn orange. The librarian smiled to herself as she opened the window. The brilliant rays of light shining through the window and warming the unicorns nose.
Her horn started to glow in a brilliant purple glow. Books started to levitate from the bookshelves onto the little reading table in the corner of the room.
What’s this? she thought to herself as she levitated a very worn-out and old looking book. She blew the dust from the book cover. The book cover was just plain black. No art on it or even a title! She trotted over to the reading table and set the strange looking book on it.
She quickly read through a couple of pages. It was a book on magic! there were many complicated spells and potions. Finally she found something easy enough for her to try:
Group teleportation spell!
Spike started to slowly open his eyes. Yawning out loud, he got up from the small bed and started to walk downstairs to make breakfeast for him and the lavender pony, after all he was her number 1 assistant. I just hope that Twilight didn’t wake up too early he thought to himself. As he went down the stairs, he could see the lavender pony, head buried in a book. Typical Twilight he said to himself.
Twilight heard his footsteps and turned around to greet him:
‘’Good morning Spike!’’ she said with and excited tone.
‘’Morning. Why are you so cheery?’’ he asked.
‘’Oh, I just found a great spell I could try.’’
‘’Really, what does it do?’’ he quickly asked while walking towards the kitchen..
‘’A mass teleportation spell! I can bring up to 10 ponies with me. It even has longer range than my normal teleportation spell.’’
‘’Oh boy.’’ he said to himself.
~~~~~~
At the top of the NOL tower in the 7th hierarchial city, Kagutsuchi, a tall, green haired man is standing. He’s wearing a simple black suit and a fedora hat. Standing beside him is a short-ish
blonde haired girl, wearing a blue beret and a blue and white outfit. The girl is staring at nothing in particular and the green haired man is laughing madly. Infront of them both is an beat up man wearing a long red coat and a black shirt and a big sword in hand. The man seems to be in pain.
‘’Terumi, you bastard!’’ the beat up man yells.
‘’Now, now Ragna, I’m just having fun’’ the green haired man says with a wicked grin.
Ragna began to cough up blood, much to the enjoyment of Terumi.
~~~~~~
Twilight Sparkle had just gotten all of her friends together in her library. A pink pony that kept bouncing, an orange one with a cowboy hat and blonde mane, a white unicorn with a stylised purple mane, a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane and last but not least a yellow pegasus with a long and flowing pink mane.
Everybody was wondering out loud, if this spell would actually be safe to use.
‘’This spell sure sounds fishy to me’’ said a cowboy hat wearing pony with a strong texan accent.
‘’Pfft... I could fly to Manehattan faster.’’ said a pony with a rainbow colored mane.
‘’Ok everypony! For this to work, I need total silence.’’ Twilight Sparkle said.
Total silence. Nopony spoke a word.
‘’Good, are you all ready?’’
All six ponies gave a quick nod, as Twilight began. Her horn began to glow in a brilliant purple.
It started to become brighter and brighter. So bright, that everypony had to shield their eyes.
Twilight gasped as the glow on horn began to darken into a black glow. Everybody started to back away. Something wasn’t right! The black glow started to get bigger and bigger.
The black glow around her horn quickly exploded, sending wave of black mass through the library, but it didn’t damage anything. It just quickly faded away. Twilight tumbled on the floor from exhaustion.
The world around her quickly fading away as she passed out.
~~~~~~~~
Between Terumi and Ragna something started to glow. Terumi stopped his maniacal laughter for once as he looked the glow. It grew and started to get darker.
‘’What the hell is this!’’ Terumi yelled, his fun cut off short.
The blackness just grew and grew. Ragna tried to drag himself away, but was unable to.
The blackness exploded into a huge black shockwave that that quickly flew over all of Kagutsuchi.
Soon, the top of the stronghold was empty. The few people that were alive in the base disappeared without a trace.
~~~~~~~~
Ragna began to wake up. The first the he felt was someone or something poking him in the face.
He slowly opened his eyes and let out a quiet groan escape his lips. The first thing he saw were bright orange eyes.
‘’Ah’ think it’s alive!’’ said the owner of those eyes. Her voice sounded young and girlish with a southern accent.
‘’Really?’’ He heard another voice say as another pair of eyes started staring at him. They were bright green this time.
‘’No way!’’ He heard a third voice and now a third pair of eyes was staring him. This time, they were blue. Where the hell am I and who are these people Ragna thought to himself. He was too weak to say anything.
Ragna tried to stand up, but the sharp pain in his chest made him unable to. Now he finally got a good look at the creatures. They stood on four limbs, they were pretty colorful compared to humans. They were pretty short too, probably up to his knees in height.
Ragna started to pass out from the blood loss.
‘’I think it’s hurt!’’ was the last thing Ragna heard before he passed out again.
|
XX55XX
|
819
| 1 |
Angel,Cheerilee,Cutie Mark Crusaders,Main 6,Mayor Mare,Princess Celestia,Spike,Crossover,Adventure,Comedy,Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Equestria Invaded
|
The Almighty Tallest send Zim to conquer the distant planet of Equestria. But, will he succeed?
|
incomplete
| 12 | 2 |
<p>Zim, an Invader serving with the Irken Empire, is tasked with conquering a distant planet known as Equestria by the Almighty Tallest. Inhabited by a race of talking ponies, will Zim outwit them and clandestinely conquer the planet in the name of the Empire? Or does he underestimate their ability to see through his subterfuge and fight back?</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-12-07T15:58:30+00:00
|
2011-12-07T15:58:30+00:00
| 4,190 |
Equestria Invaded
Chapter 001 - Zim's Arrival
He was now part of the elite. The tip of the spear. The first to go, and the last to come home. Zim flexed his fingers while peering at the computer console before him, eager to see where his Voot Cruiser's guidance system will take him. The trajectory printed upon the screen pointed to a location on the edge of the galaxy. Everything looks good so far... The trajectory lines up directly with the coordinates indicated on his order sheets.
The Almighty Tallest had granted his greatest wish – an opportunity to take part in Operation Impending Doom II as a member of an elite reconnaissance force tasked with gathering intelligence on planets marked for conquest by the Irken Empire.
Due to poor intelligence, even the Almighty Tallest were unable to tell Zim the planet's precise name. However, it lay on the far edge of the galaxy – millions of light-years away from even the Irken Empire's most remote outposts. Zim was perplexed at first – why would they send him off to conquer something so seemingly insignificant and lacking in strategic or economic value? But, no, orders should not be questioned. Invaders never shirked from their duty, no matter how irrational the orders may seem. Orders were meant to be executed, and Zim resolved to conquer this mysterious planet – not only for the sake of his duty, but for the greater good of the Irken Empire as a whole. Oh, the prospects of success! He could finally achieve the recognition his name deserves! Zim smashed his fist upon the console in excitement, as his cruiser burrowed further into space.
/
“Master! We have arrived!” Gir screamed, reaching over and shaking his Zim, who was asleep.
“Argh! Gir! Get OFF OF ME!” Zim cried, pushing the robot aside. “COMPUTER!” he bellowed. “Tell me the name of this... planet.”
The console gave off a beep. “We have arrived at Equestria, a planet populated by a race of intelligent talking four-legged creatures. Preparing landing coordinates now...”
Zim raised his eyebrows. “Hmm. A planet populated by creatures with four legs? With INTELLIGENCE? GIR!”
Gir raised his head, his eyes red. He saluted Zim. “Yes sir!”
Zim turned to him, turning away from the cockpit. “We have very, very little information on this planet. When we land, I need you to do some brief reconnaissance on our surroundings. And I mean very brief. Report back to me once you catch a glimpse of the planet's inhabitants. Are my orders understood?”
Gir's arms relaxed, and his eyes turned blue. He pointed out the cockpit window. “You mean that creature? It's a pony!”
Zim turned around and peered at the pilot's console. They were near the planet surface. What appeared to be a small town was on the horizon, and in the town's center was a pink, four-legged creature. Zim panicked, steering the Voot Cruiser away from the town and in the opposite direction. Their cover was possibly blown, but there was no telling whether the native had seen their vessel.
“Gir! Why didn't you tell me SOMETHING? WE COULD HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED!” Zim roared as he steered the cruiser into a clearing in the forest.
Gir tilted his head in dismay. “Oh, but I was only listening to you, Zim.” He paused. “That pony looked cute. Can we meet it?”
Zim waved his fist at Gir. “NO! Gir, we are here to ENSLAVE the natives and take their natural resources. We will be making no friends here, so do not get too attached to these 'ponies' or whatever you call them. It will only compromise the MISSION!”
“Aww, Zim. Can't we have some fun?” Gir replied in a small voice.
“SILENCE!” Zim bellowed. “We have landed. Get out.”
The cruiser's hatch opened, and Zim and Gir fell out into fetal positions on the forest floor, with Gir lying upon Zim's stomach.
“ARGHHH!!! My spleen!” Zim cried, tossing Gir aside and grasping his abdomen. He heaved, gasping for several minutes as he collected himself.
“Okay, Zim. Remember what you do first when landing on an enemy planet. Disguises...” Zim pressed a button on his wristwatch. A disguise pod appeared. An interactive panel also appeared by the parked cruiser, displaying an array of four-legged disguises. These would have to be enough, at least, until they have more intelligence on the planet.
“Aww. We're going to dress up as ponies?” Gir said.
Zim turned around. “No, Gir. Only I will disguise myself as one of these 'ponies', as you put it. On the other hand... I think you should be a dog. Get in!” He pushed Gir into the disguise pod by cruiser. After a blinding flash of light, Gir reemerged, this time, as a green dog.
“BRILLIANT!” Zim beamed. “Now, my turn.” And with another blinding flash of light inside the disguise pod, Zim reemerged in a pony suit which contorted his body into a crawling stance.
Zim looked at himself in dismay and discomfort. “NOOO! This outfit is so constraining! I cannot crawl like this!”
Gir gave him a quizzical look. “You don't look anything like a pony, Zim. You look like an alien in a poorly-made pony suit.”
Zim stood up. “You are right, Gir. But, with a few adjustments...” He tweaked a few options on the panel and reentered the pod. Emerging from the pod once again, Zim looked more like a pony, or perhaps, an alien with mechanical hind legs, eyes with white pupils, and a horn to top off his green head.
“You still don't look like a pony,” Gir noted.
“Be quiet, Gir! I need to concentrate on more important matters!”
Removing his disguise, Zim rubbed his hands together. “Excellent. This will do. Now we build our home... To WORK!”
/
Twilight Sparkle awoke to banging on her door. Who could it be? It was only 5AM, according to the clock on the nightstand. The sun wasn't even up yet. She peered over by Spike's bed to see the baby dragon sleeping away, oblivious to the door-banging outside.
Twilight went downstairs and opened the door. A wide-eyed Pinkie Pie stood before her.
“Pinkie... It's 5AM...” Twilight mumbled groggily, struggling to keep her eyes open.
“I know, Twilight. But, I was out in the town square earlier...” Pinkie replied excitedly.
“And?”
“And there was this BIG spaceship that appeared over Ponyville! Let me see... it was... it was... this big!”
Twilight smiled and nodded, trying not to appear annoyed. “I'm sure it was a terrible nightmare, Pinkie, but some us really need to sleep-”
Pinkie Pie waved her hoof, interrupting Twilight. “I think... I think... it came from SPACE!” she bellowed. “And as I tried to get a better look at it, it turned around and flew towards the edge of the Everfree Forest!”
Twilight began pushing the door. “Yeah, yeah... Listen, we can talk later...”
“I am NOT making this up, Twilight! I really saw it! I really, really did-”
Twilight closed the door, as Pinkie continued her rant outside. It was too early for this.
/
“Ah, there were are. Our new home.” Zim took a moment to admire his handiwork.
Their new home resembled a small hut that would not seem out of place in such a wild landscape. It had a thatched roof and was mostly constructed out of unpolished wood. Underneath the hut contained all of the communication and security systems which would allow him to operate unhindered on the planet. A storage bay, whose doors were hidden by batches of well-placed hay, housed his Voot Cruiser.
“Gir! Get inside! Before the sun RISES!” Zim hurriedly pushed the robot inside the hut, before rushing inside himself and locking the door.
Inside, Zim stepped inside a trashcan, which was really an elevator into his lair below the hut. First, he must go to a place where he can learn more about the planet.
“Computer!” Zim beckoned. “Please give me a full list of educational institutions in the area from which I learn more about this wretched mothball of a planet they call 'Equestria'.”
“Yes sir!” The computer responded. Within a few seconds, Zim was presented with a list of local schools in Ponyville, and instructions on how to register for them...
/
“Good morning, class. As you may notice today, we have a new filly who is joining us,” Cheerilee said in front of a packed schoolroom.
“His name is Zim... and...” She peered over the registration papers on her desk and frowned. Zim's record was nearly blank, and his registration date was just two days ago. “Err... Zim, why don't introduce yourself and say where you're from?”
Zim grinned. His disguise was working! The stupid equine oafs at the education office allowed him to register for school, even though he had no birth record and no parents.
Zim strode forward before the assembled ponies. “Hello. My name is Zim, and I am a perfectly normal pony wormbaby. I am from a place very, very, very far away from here, and it's so far away, that I don't think any of you would have heard of it, so I am not going to mention it. You have absolutely nothing to fear from me, so just ignore me and everything will be just fine.”
“Thank you, Zim,” Cheerilee said. “Please take your seat. Now today, we are going to talk about the history of Equestria-”
Zim's false hoof shot up in the air.
“Yes?” Cheerilee asked.
“Yes... I have a question about this 'Equestria' we live in. Let's say, that an outside invasion force arrives here to conquer the planet – How prepared would you say that this planet's defenses are in case of such an attack?”
Cheerilee gave Zim a perplexed stare. “Umm... I'm not sure, but Princess Celestia will undoubtedly protect us in case of such an occurrence-”
Zim raised his hoof again, interrupting her.
“Um, yes Zim?” Cheerilee replied in an exasperated voice.
Zim's brow furrowed. “Who is this Princess Celestia?”
“She is the ruler of Equestria... Now, please, Zim, no more questions, we really do have a lesson to get into...”
Zim put his hoof down. “Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to ask so many questions here... I'm just new here, that's all...”
“That's okay, Zim. Now as I was saying...” Cheerilee walked over by the chalkboard and continued the lecture.
“That Zim filly is weird,” Applebloom whispered to Sweetie Belle.
“What? What's weird about him?” Sweetie Belle replied.
Applebloom's brow furrowed. “He's bigger than nearly everyone in this class and it looks like he still hasn't gotten his cutie mark yet. Like us. And why is his head green and his body brown? And why doesn't he know who Princess Celestia is?”
“Applebloom? Sweetie Belle?” Cheerilee said. “Is there something you would like to share with the class?”
“Umm, nothing,” Applebloom replied.
Cheerilee's eyes narrowed. “You were definitely talking about something. Now, unless you want me to put you in timeout for speaking out of turn...”
“Well...” Applebloom began. “Sweetie Belle and I were talking about how some people don't have their cutie marks...”
“And?”
“I'm going to direct this question at Zim. Zim, you look like you are bigger than a filly. Like, way bigger. Where's your cutie mark?” Applebloom's eyes narrowed into a suspicious glare at Zim. “Or are you even a real pony?”
Zim's mind snapped back into focus upon Applebloom's mention of his name. His head twisted fearfully towards the small pony with the red mane. She was there, glaring at him. He was being x-rayed. Had he been discovered? No, probably not. He had meditating all this time, dreaming of the number of ways he could reduce Equestria and its inhabitants to ashes... instead of paying attention to his surroundings. His intelligence for the mission had been quite poor – he didn't know what a 'cutie mark' precisely was. But this was a moment of crisis. He must speak and dispel rumors, lest his true nature become discovered.
“Well, my fellow pony wormbabies, the reason why I don't have this 'cutie mark' is because I don't have one yet. I don't know, maybe I might get one, maybe I might not, but it's not an important matter for me or any of you right now-”
The schoolbell rang. Cheerilee looked at the clock. “Oh! Would you look at the time? Applebloom, can you see me after class?” she asked. Sweetie Belle mouthed “Good luck” to Applebloom, as she filed out of the room with the rest of the fillies.
Zim exhaled. His time under scrutiny was over, at least for now. He rushed quickly out the door, as fast as his mechanical hooves would carry him away from this wretched madhouse of a classroom.
Applebloom sighed and walked up to Cheerilee's desk, bracing for a verbal lashing from her teacher. The classroom cleared out, and Cheerilee closed the door.
“Applebloom, as we all know, it's not nice to spread rumors about people – even if they don't appear normal.”
“I know, but Zim doesn't look like a pony...” Applebloom retorted.
“Please, Applebloom. Tomorrow, you will apologize to Zim in front of the class for accusing him for not being a pony.”
Applebloom's eyes widened. “But...”
Cheerilee gave Applebloom a stern look. “No buts, Applebloom.” With that, Applebloom knew that it was useless to argue any further.
/
“Ugh...” Zim sighed as he sat in his lair, computer console before him. His cover had nearly been compromised, and it was only the bell which had saved him. He needed a better disguise, complete with those “cutie marks” that that annoying little pony with the red mane kept accusing him of not having. But how? There were limitations to what Irken technology could offer him.
But wait... What if he could impersonate one of the local inhabitants? What if he could assume their form and go about the planet without being pestered with questions or awkward stares?
“You are a genius, Zim!” he said to himself. But, he needed a live specimen first – a creature he could dissect and reverse engineer. This would require some degree of active surveillance of his surroundings.
“Computer,” he ordered, “Keep an eye for any isolated natives who come across within one hundred meters of here.”
“Yes sir,” the computer responded, and a map of the local area sprang up on the console, feeding Zim with live information on the movements of ponies around his base of operations.
Zim leaned back on his chair. “Now... we wait.”
A few moments later, he jumped out of his chair in excitement. A yellow pegasus had walked into his trap! And she is completely alone! “Oh wait! That is the perfect target! Gir, get dressed. We are going to fetch ourselves a LIVE specimen!” Zim's lips curled into an evil smile. Should he be successful, he might even be able to conquer the planet before Impending Doom II is over.
/
“Gir. On my signal, you shoot the netgun at our target. Is that understood?” Zim whispered furiously at his robot acolyte.
Gir nodded, netgun in hand. “Yes.”
“Good. Now, don't shoot the netgun at yourself.”
Zim peeked through the bushes for a better look. A yellow pegasus came into view, and it looked as if she was talking to a small rodent-like creature on the ground. Who talks to animals that cannot be communicated with? No matter. He will snatch her, reverse engineer her biological structure, engineer a voice box that matches the sound of her voice, and none of the stupid ponies on this planet would know any better as he rains doom down upon them, disguised as one of their own. It was foolproof, Irken planning at its finest.
Zim emerged from the bushes and tiptoed right behind the pony. Gir was right behind him, netgun ready...
/
Fluttershy had come to the edge of the Everfree Forest to help the animals there prepare their nests for the coming winter. At the moment, a small gopher had requested her help to create a nest big enough for him and his family.
“Oh, Mr. Gopher, you can't possibly stuff seven gophers in there! You guys need your space. How about I help you dig a larger nest by that tree over there?”
The gopher shook his head and crossed his arms. Fluttershy decided not to insist. “Well, if you say so. But if you ever change your mind, I'm here.”
Suddenly, all of the birds flew away in unison. The gopher ran away. A nearby squirrel dropped his acorn and fled upwards along a tree trunk. Fluttershy looked at the ground and saw a shadow on it. Someone had startled the animals.
Fluttershy turned around and gasped. Whoever was standing behind her was the most ugliest pony she had ever seen, accompanied by an equally hideous green dog. His face was green. Her heart raced, as she struggled to find her voice.
“Umm... umm... Hello. I haven't... seen you... before. Is there something I can do for you?” she muttered in a low voice.
The pony flashed an evil grin. “NOW GIR! NOW!” he bellowed. Fluttershy froze in place, paralyzed not only by raw fear, but by an utter inability to comprehend what was happening. Before she could react, the pony's accompanying dog fired a netgun at her, rendering her immobile as her entire body became ensnared in a fishnet. Fluttershy struggled and screamed, but she could only squirm helplessly as the mysterious pony and his dog began dragging her away, deeper towards the edge of the forest...
/
“Oh, cheer up, Applebloom! At least all of you have to do tomorrow is say sorry to Zim,” Sweetie Belle said. The two were walking home from school.
Applebloom gave Sweetie Belle a dark look. “I don't know, Sweetie Belle. Whatever Zim is, he's not a pony-”
“You mean an alien?”
“Yeah... something like that. But do aliens even exist?”
Sweetie Belle shrugged. “I dunno. But I think you need to give Zim a chance-”
Applebloom's eyes narrowed. “Whatever. He's a not pony, Sweetie Belle.”
Sweeite Belle looked away without replying.
The two stopped before the Carousel Boutique, where Sweetie Belle lived with her dressmaker sister Rarity.
“See you tomorrow, Applebloom!” Sweetie Belle dashed into the shop and disappeared.
Applebloom sighed. Why would Sweetie Belle, one of her best friends, refuse to share her views? Why are people across Ponyville so blind? Can't they see that whatever Zim is, that he is not a pony?
Applebloom rounded the bend outside of Ponyville and crossed into the woodland which straddled between Sweet Apple Acres and the Everfree Forest. This was the quickest route home. After several minutes on the road, Applebloom saw several figures coming up along the the road from the opposite direction. She dashed into a nearby bush, unsure whether the mysterious figures were friendly or not. She pushed a branch obscuring her vision aside and squinted her eyes. It was a pony of some sort... The figure came into greater focus. It was... Zim, the pony from school.
A green dog dashed by the bush, followed by Zim, who was dragging a large net containing something large and yellow... It squirmed inside the net like a trapped animal – no wait, it was an animal. It was Fluttershy!
“Our mission today has been a success, Gir,” Zim laughed maniacally as he walked past Applebloom's bush. “This Equestria will fall under the heel of the Irken Armada within days now, not months! Muhahahahaha!”
Applebloom gasped. Fluttershy was in danger! And what was this “Irken Armada?” Equestria was in danger from it, whatever it was. Emerging from the bush as Zim, the green dog, and Fluttershy disappeared into the forest, Applebloom sprinted for Sweet Apple Acres as quickly as her legs would carry her.
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Angel,Cheerilee,Cutie Mark Crusaders,Main 6,Mayor Mare,Princess Celestia,Spike,Crossover,Adventure,Comedy,Random,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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Equestria Invaded
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The Almighty Tallest send Zim to conquer the distant planet of Equestria. But, will he succeed?
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incomplete
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<p>Zim, an Invader serving with the Irken Empire, is tasked with conquering a distant planet known as Equestria by the Almighty Tallest. Inhabited by a race of talking ponies, will Zim outwit them and clandestinely conquer the planet in the name of the Empire? Or does he underestimate their ability to see through his subterfuge and fight back?</p>
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everyone
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2011-12-07T22:26:37+00:00
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2011-12-07T22:26:37+00:00
| 2,798 |
Equestria Invaded
Chapter 002 - Escalation
“Applejack! Applejack! APPLEJACK!!!” Applebloom collapsed upon the ground before her sister, exhausted after two kilometers of running and completely out of breath.
“What is it, little sis?” Applejack turned away from the barn door that she painting and put the paintbrush back into a paint can. “What made you run all the way over here from school? Did someone make fun of you not having a cutie mark again? Well, if that's the case, I'm going to talk to Cheerilee about it-”
Applebloom raised her hoof, interrupting Applejack. “Fluttershy... ponynapped... green alien... Zim...”
Applejack waved her hooves. “Whoh, whoh. Slow down, sugercube. Take a deep breath. What happened, Applebloom?”
Applebloom took a deep breath. “Today, there was this new pony at school called Zim – but it so happens that he isn't a pony at all! But no one would believe me! And... and... as I was coming home from school, I saw Fluttershy get ponynapped by this Zim! And overheard him saying that aliens are coming to invade Equestria soon!”
Applejack turned away from her sister. Although Applebloom rarely ever lied and would have little incentive to make up such a fantastic story, it sounded like a tall tale. Aliens? Who would ever believe in such a thing?
“Listen, I'm sure that whatever happened, that it was all a big misunderstanding. Why don't we head over to Fluttershy's house later and see what's going on-”
Applebloom heaved, angry at Applejack's dismissals. “You don't believe me? Fine! When Fluttershy turns up missing, don't TELL ME THAT I DIDN'T WARN YOU!” With that, Applebloom turned around and sprinted for Ponyville.
Applejack, paralyzed by Applebloom's sudden bout of frustration and subsequent flight, stood idly by the barn door for several minutes before shaking herself out of the trance. Rainbow Dash appeared from the side of the barn, chewing on an apple.
“Oh, hey Dash, am I glad to see you!” Applejack said, greeting her friend with a hoofpump.
Rainbow Dash beamed and returned the greeting. “Applejack. See you are still staying classy in terms of salutations. What's with Applebloom? I overheard you two arguing.”
Applejack picked up her paintbrush and continued painting the barn door. “Well, Dash, Applebloom just came running in here like you wouldn't believe, and she was raving about how Fluttershy had been ponynapped by this 'alien' she saw at school. Can you believe that? Never thought she had such a rich imagination.”
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Do you still think we should check up on Fluttershy, just to make sure?”
Applejack gave off a hearty laugh. “Of course not, Dash! Fluttershy is probably just doing fine. What, do you really believe that 'aliens' ponynapped Fluttershy?”
Rainbow Dash scratched her head. “Uh... No.”
“Then it's settled. Applebloom's just having a bad day. I'll talk to her later and see what's really bothering her,” Applejack resolved, setting the paintbrush aside and admiring her handiwork on the freshly repainted barn door.
/
Fluttershy didn't know where she was going, nor who exactly was dragging her, but she didn't like this pony, whoever he was. He was haughty, loud, and had an excessively abrasive voice. Her ears hurt every time he opened his mouth, and covering her ears with her hooves to shut out his voice did little to help.
“Ah. We are here,” the green pony with the brown body said. “GIR! Open the door! And quickly! We can't afford to be detected, especially with this precious cargo on our backs.”
Precious cargo? Was she only a thing now, not even a pony? Fluttershy shuddered at the thought of what this pony might do to her – was he going to... going to... to do “you know what?” And Gir was the name of his dog? How... how... repulsive!
The three of them slipped inside the hut. Gir shut the door. Fluttershy, still entangled in the net, was left dangling upon a chair. The green pony sighed. His hind legs and his horn dropped to the floor. Fluttershy's eyes grew wide – this thing... whatever he was... wasn't even a pony! It was some sort of bipedal creature, ugly and insect-like, with deep red eyes!
“Hey!” Fluttershy cried to the creature, finding her voice at last. “You're no pony!”
“How observant of you,” the bipedal creature replied, turning to face her. “Too bad you didn't notice when I crept up from behind, didn't you?”
“Well... I was taken by surprise...” Fluttershy's face turned red. “But, if my friends were there, they could have stopped you!” she retorted.
The bipedal creature laughed. “Friends? Oh, my little pony, they probably would never be able to locate this place. We are in the remotest part of this pathetic mothball you call a PLANET!”
Fluttershy's eyes narrowed. “Uh, Ponyville is only three kilometers from here...” She said, pointing the direction of the town.
“SILENCE!” the biped bellowed. “If you want to live and not end up as a PILE OF DISGARDED ORGANIC WASTE, you will be quiet.” Fluttershy gasped. He paused for dramatic effect, relishing in her panicked disposition. “You will be transported down to my laboratory, where I will make a perfect copy of your outer anatomy and disguise myself as you, thus fooling any 'friends' who may come looking for you. And when they find me disguised as you, they will notice that nothing is wrong! And you will be stuck here! MUHAHAHAHA! GIR, GET HER DOWN TO THE BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS CHAMBER!”
The green dog nodded, and dragged Fluttershy into a chute in what appeared to be a kitchen. Fluttershy struggled, but she was no fighter. The dog pushed her into the chute with no difficulty. She fell, screaming loudly as gravity carried her body down, down, down, before finally plopping her inside a room surrounded by thick glass. Beyond the thick glass lay many large, intimidating machines. The net broke, and Fluttershy could move her legs again... at least, within the confines of this... prison.
Stay strong, Fluttershy. Her friends will be here. Maybe not today, but tomorrow, right? Surely they will see that she is missing, and have the entire town mount a search for her. Maybe.
Or is she going to die here, alone, and forgotten? Under the hand of this cruel bipedal creature who is clearly not from Equestria? Fluttershy eyes welled up with tears at the thought.
Fluttershy smashed at face against the glass in desperation. Please, somepony... anypony... Save me!
/
“Twilight! Twilight! TWILIGHT!” Applebloom banged on the treehouse door as hard as she could with her little hoof. Twilight had to be home, right?
“Alright, I'm coming!” Twilight's voice cried from within. Applebloom stepped away from the door, relaxing her hooves slightly. Salvation was near. If Applejack didn't believe her, then Twilight might – after all, she is the most reasonable of Applejack's friends. The door opened, and Twilight appeared. It was as if Princess Celestia herself had answered the call.
“Oh, am I glad to see you, Twilight.” Applebloom said, sighing.
Twilight swung the door open wider and motioned Applebloom to enter. “No problem, Applebloom. Please come on in. I have some tea ready. Pinkie Pie is here too!”
Applebloom raised her hoof and closed her eyes. “No, Twilight. This is really urgent. I might be sounding like some silly little filly who has read too many ghost stories, but listen to me carefully: Fluttershy has been ponynapped by an alien I met at school who disguised himself as a pony! We need to help her right now!”
Twilight tilted her head. Her trademark skepticism was kicking in. She was inclined to reject Applebloom's story out of hand, but decided against it. It seemed uncharacteristic of Applebloom to come all this way from Sweet Apple Acres just to tell her a seemingly fictional tale of aliens ponynapping Fluttershy, but the look in Applebloom's eyes suggested that she might be speaking the truth. Yet, at the same time, Twilight was unsure what to precisely make of Applebloom's story.
Twilight rubbed her chin. “What did this 'alien' look like?”
“He has a green face and a brown body. There is no way that he is a true pony, but I really don't know what he looks like.”
Twilight narrowed her eyes. “So, he does look like a pony.”
Applebloom fumed, frustrated by Twilight's skepticism. “Yes, but you can tell that he isn't one-”
Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared by the door, teacup in her hoof. “Oh! Are we talking about aliens? By the door? You know, I did see an alien spaceship a few days ago...”
Twilight shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Oh Pinkie, not this again...”
Applebloom pushed Twilight aside. If Pinkie Pie saw an alien spaceship, then she must not be crazy – right? “Tell me!” she beckoned Pinkie Pie.
“Well, I was outside very, very early in the morning because I couldn't sleep. So I decided to go outside and see the sunrise. I guess I had too much coffee, but oh well, that is not the point – the point is that I saw this purple alien spaceship over the town center, but before I could get a better look at it, it turned around and flew away!”
Applebloom rubbed her chin. “So... where did it land?”
Pinkie Pie took another sip of tea. “Well, I think it landed by the Everfree Forest. I have been trying to get there, but Mr. and Mrs. Cake have been keeping me very busy at the bakery. So I have been unable to check it out!”
“Aren't you free now? Don't you think you should check it out?”
Pinkie Pie waved her hoof. “Oh, silly. I can't ignore my friends just for the sake of poking around an alien spaceship! We have our priorities, you know.”
Applebloom's eyes widened. “Did you report it to the Mayor, at least?”
Pinkie Pie shrugged. “I did, but I don't think the Mayor took my report very seriously-”
“Because aliens don't exist. Oh come on, Pinkie, all you saw was probably just a weather balloon...” Twilight interjected, turning away from the door to fetch the teapot.
“Twilight, I know what I saw, and that thing was no weather balloon. It was an alien spacecraft. I wonder if the aliens inside it are friendly?” Pinkie Pie said.
Applebloom rolled her eyes. She would get no help here. This bickering would not help Fluttershy. Time for Plan B. She dashed away from the treehouse without another word.
Twilight reappeared, teapot on her hooves. “Oh, wait, Applebloom! Do want some... tea?” But Applebloom was gone.
/
Zim entered the Biological Analysis Chamber. He could see his captive through the glass. Fluttershy looked up, and tried to take a swipe at him with her hoof. But her hoof only met the glass. Her eyes met his.
“My friends will be here soon, you will see. And then Princess Celestia will punish you and send you back where you came from,” Fluttershy whispered.
Zim put his hand up to his head. “Oh, what was that? Is the wee little pony crying for help again? Well, listen here, friend, your faith has been misplaced. I will turn this planet into ashes before your 'friends' even realize what has happened to their beloved planet!”
Fluttershy whimpered, and staggered backwards as Zim inched towards her.
Zim brandished a large needle.
“Now is not the time for resistance. Not that you have much capacity for it anyway.” Zim entered the chamber. “Now... you SLEEP!”
Zim stabbed Fluttershy in the neck with the needle. She tried to avoid it, but was not quick enough. She swayed, taking several feeble swipes at her captor, but the cursed alien dodged her hooves with ease. The tranquilizers were now streaming through her veins. A sense of drowsiness was overtaking her. The scene before her eyes was fading away, but she can not concede... not now... while her life... was at... stake... Her eyes closed shut, and she crumpled to the ground, fast asleep.
Zim tossed the tranquilizer needle away. The plan was going along swimmingly. “Computer, conduct a thorough analysis of this native's anatomy and voice box. Generate a disguise based on the analysis.”
“At once, sir!” the computer responded.
/
“Okay, Cutie Mark Crusaders, it is up to us to find out what happened to Fluttershy.” Applebloom bit into a cookie.
“But... it sounds... kind of crazy...” Scootaloo retorted.
“Okay, maybe we should look into it. After all, we might earn our cutie marks while doing so! Anti-ponynapping Squad, here we go!” Sweetie Belle replied excitedly.
Applebloom shook her head. “No, it's not about our cutie marks, Sweetie Belle. Not this time. It's about finding out what happened to Fluttershy, and bringing her back. And teaching this alien a lesson.”
Rarity appeared, with a plate full of cookies and a pitcher of milk. “Oh girls, are you still talking about how aliens ponynapped Fluttershy? You have such a rich imagination, Applebloom – have you ever thought about writing science fiction one day? You do seem to possess the knack for it, that is certain.”
They were at the Carousel Boutique. Applebloom had summoned a meeting of the Cutie Mark Crusaders here, in hopes of convincing her friends (and maybe Rarity) that Fluttershy's ponynapping was real.
Applebloom stood up. “Rarity, you have to believe me – your best friend is in danger!”
Rarity sauntered over and set the cookies and milk on the table. “Oh, everypony knows that aliens are complete hogwash – would you like some more milk?”
Applebloom pushed the milk pitcher away defiantly. “No! I don't need any more milk. I need you to listen to me and know that what I am telling you is the truth!”
Rarity, stunned by Applebloom's sudden bout of rudeness, looked directly into Applebloom's eyes. They were wide, as if they were trying to convince her that something was dreadfully wrong with Fluttershy. Could Applebloom's incessant nagging be a sign that she could potentially be telling a partial truth? Come to think of it, she hasn't seen Fluttershy since yesterday.
“Okay then... Girls, let us go to Fluttershy's home and settle this matter once and for all. If Fluttershy is there, I'll drop you off there too, seeing that I have a massive order to fulfill.”
Applebloom sighed with relief, satisfied to see her account vindicated at last. At least Rarity doesn't stick her head as far into the ground as every other pony in Ponyville does.
/
“There. Finished.” Zim said, his voice soft and mellow, like that of the pony he had captured. Zim took several moments to admire his disguise. He was now one of them – a true pony, and not an imposter.
Hmm... Next step would be to move his operations to this yellow pony's home in the forest, where he could take her place and continue his work on conquering the planet, undisturbed...
“Gir! We are moving! Quickly, before the sun falls!”
Gir strode in, the doors sealing behind him. He gasped.
“Oh master! Where are you?”
“I'm right here, Gir!”
“No! You're that pony! ZIM! PRISONER'S ESCAPED!” Gir brandished a taser.
Zim took several steps back as Gir advanced upon him... “Now, Gir, be reasonable! Here...” Zim's eyes darted towards a stash of pig stuffies he kept in a drawer beneath his desk.
“Oooh...” Gir took the stuffy, admiring it and lowering the taser. “Okay, then!”
“Yes...” Zim said breathlessly. “Yes...”
/
The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Rarity set off along the road for Fluttershy's cabin in the woods. It was nearly dusk. Rarity approached the door of the cabin, and rapped upon it with her hoof.
“Fluttershy? Fluttershy, it's me, Rarity. The girls are with me.” The door opened, revealing Fluttershy.
Applebloom opened her mouth wide in shock. It could not be... Fluttershy? But, didn't she see her getting ponynapped earlier?
Fluttershy scratched her face with her hoof. “Oh, hello, umm... What's your name again?”
Rarity blinked. Her best friend had forgotten her name? “It's Rarity, darling. Rarity. R-A-R-I-T-Y. Rarity. I am here to drop off some of the girls over at your place for a slumber party.”
Fluttershy tried to close the door, but Rarity stuck her hoof inside, preventing Fluttershy from closing it completely.
“What is wrong with you? Let me in.” Rarity said sternly.
“My home is a mess, um, err, Rarity. Sorry, no slumber parties tonight.” Fluttershy turned around. “GIR! Initiate protocol fifty-nine, NOW!” she whispered furiously.
Applebloom rushed up the door and put herself between Fluttershy and Rarity. “I know what you did, ZIM,” the small filly interjected. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO FLUTTERSHY?”
Rarity, startled, tried to pull Applebloom away, but Applebloom stood her ground.
Fluttershy tried to push the door shut. “Who is this Zim? I've never heard of such a name around these parts.”
Applebloom's eyes narrowed. “Then who's Gir, then, huh? The REAL Fluttershy I know doesn't have a pet named Gir.”
Fluttershy finally managed to slam the door against Rarity's hoof, shutting the door. Applebloom was pushed aside. Rarity fell, crying in pain. Applebloom could hear Fluttershy fastening the locks behind the door.
Rarity convulsed on the ground, grasping her left hoof and gritting her teeth. “Oh, BLOODY Fluttershy! What is wrong with that PONY?”
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle ran up to the door. Sweetie Belle tended to her sister, while Scootaloo tried to peek inside the door's keyhole.
“No slumber party, then?” Scootaloo asked.
Sweetie Belle helped Rarity up. Rarity was fuming. “That's it! I am reporting this to the Mayor! Assault and battery, I could never have expected such vicious behavior from her! Fluttershy is out of control, irrational, and-”
“Because it isn't Fluttershy!” Applebloom interrupted.
Rarity ignored Applebloom and continued ranting. “You know what? I'm going to leave you girls with Twilight instead. Then, I'll file a report. This cannot stand, and I thought she was my best friend-”
“No, Rarity, get help! Break down the door!”
“WILL YOU STOP INTERRUPTING ME?” Rarity screeched, forcing Applebloom into silence.
/
“Gir! We have been discovered!” Zim paced back and forth.
Gir shrugged. “But, Zim...”
“BE QUIET GIR! Okay, now, Zim – don't panic. All you need to do is to stay in place... yes... They are likely to bring back 'help', but you can deal with them, right?”
/
Night had fallen. Rarity approached Twilight's treehouse, with the Cutie Mark Crusaders in tow. She knocked on the door softly.
Twilight opened the door. “Oh hi, Rarity! Come in!”
Rarity and the Cutie Mark Crusaders filed inside Twilight's den. Spike was sitting on a table, eating grass and reading a newspaper. Twilight placed a plate of jello by Spike's plate of grass.
“Twilight, I think something is wrong with Fluttershy. Very wrong,” Rarity said, nursing her hoof.
Twilight gave Rarity a puzzled look. “Why?”
“She attacked me when I tried to get inside her house.”
“That doesn't sound like Fluttershy at all. She rarely ever confronts people.”
Rarity coughed. “You know, I am starting to think that that silly story Applebloom has been saying all along could be true.”
Applebloom glared at Rarity. “That was what I had been trying to tell you!”
Applebloom ran towards Twilight, gripped her hooves, and looked at the unicorn with glazed eyes. “Twilight, the reason why Fluttershy attacked Rarity is because an alien has impersonated her, I think! The real Fluttershy is missing!”
“You think?” Twilight sniffed.
“I know I don't have any proof, but Twilight, something terrible has happened to Fluttershy and she needs your help! Trust me – just this once! Please!” Applebloom batted her eyes and clasped her hooves together, begging, almost.
Twilight grimaced. Could Applebloom be telling the truth? Have aliens ponynapped Fluttershy and impersonated her? Such a fantastic story – but the sincerity in Applebloom's eyes indicated that she could be telling the truth.
“Okay...” Twilight conceded. “I believe you. Rarity and I will check it out. You guys stay here. Spike!”
Spike's head peeked out from under the newspaper. “Yes, Twilight?”
“Keep an eye on these three while I'm gone.”
Spike returned to his newspaper. “You got it, Twilight!”
Scootaloo tugged on Twilight's leg. “Oh come on, Twilight! This sounds cool. Can we come along?”
Twilight brushed Scootaloo aside.“No, Scootaloo. This is a potentially dangerous situation, so no fillies allowed. But we'll be back as soon as possible. In the meantime, listen to Spike and stay here. There's jello on the table.” She and Rarity bolted out the front door without another word.
“Aww... Why do we have to remain stuck here?” Scootaloo pulled up a chair by Spike and spooned some jello into a bowl. Sweetie Belle did the same.
Applebloom looked out the window. Rarity and Twilight were galloping down the road, towards the edge of the Everfree Forest. Though she can do nothing now, she mouthed “Good Luck” as they vanished into the horizon.
/
Rarity and Twilight galloped to Fluttershy's home. No light was emanating from the windows. Rarity rushed up the steps and smashed her hoof on the door. “You're not Fluttershy, whoever you are! We'll break through this door, no matter what it takes!” she shrieked. Wheezing heavily, she attempted to ram the door with her body, but it was no use. The door was barricaded shut.
“Twilight, let's split up. There is a back entrance. I'll see if I can find a way in. You see if you can get inside the basement,” Rarity said, pointing at one of the basement windows. Twilight nodded. Rarity ran to the back of the house.
Twilight, using her magic, smashed the basement window with several nearby rocks. Unlocking the window, she slipped inside.
The basement was musty and was mostly empty. A few empty boxes littered the floor, but those were leftovers from when Fluttershy first moved into the cottage.
Twilight tiptoed up the stairs into the first floor. The hallway was dark, with the light from outside casting a few shadows here and there. She needed to be careful here – who knew what sort of creature she could be dealing with? She illuminated her horn, casting a purple light into the kitchen. Did Rarity manage to get in? Or was she still outside? She opened the back door and stepped outside into the garden.
“Rarity? I'm in. Where are you?” Twilight whispered. There was no response.
“Rarity? Rarity?” Twilight shone her horn all around, but she could see nothing. She dreading the worst – had Rarity been incapacitated?
Before she could react, somepony grabbed Twilight by the neck and held her in a sleeper hold. Twilight thrashed and squirmed, but soon blacked out.
/
“Twilight! Twilight! Wake up!” It was Rarity's voice. Twilight opened her eyes, and saw Fluttershy and Rarity standing before her in what appeared to be a scientific laboratory of some kind. The three were surrounded by four glass walls.
“Where are we... And Fluttershy... it's good to see you,” Twilight muttered groggily.
“I don't know, but I think we are being held captive!” Rarity whispered shrilly. Her eyes were glazed with panic. “Someone grabbed me from behind, I passed out, and I ended up here with you and Fluttershy!”
“We are being held captive,” Fluttershy said. “There is this alien – Zim, from the so-called 'Irken Empire', has come to invade Equestria! He ponynapped me while I was out in the woods so that he could impersonate me.”
“Oh, thank Celestia that that wasn't really you...” Rarity gasped, hugging Fluttershy tightly. Fluttershy returned her hug with a hug of her own.
“I thought I would never see you again, Rarity.”
The door to the laboratory opened. An ugly green-skinned bipedal appeared. Twilight ran to the edge of the glass cage and pounded her hooves upon it.
“Who are you? What do you want?” she demanded.
“I am ZIM, an Invader serving with the Irken Empire. I have been instructed to conquer your pathetic little planet – you don't need to know the precise reason. But, I believe that your yellow companion with the wings already knows that.” Zim took out a handkerchief and blew his nose on it.
Twilight stamped her hooves in defiance. “You existence on Equestria won't be secret forever – once other ponies realize we are missing, they will come looking for us!”
Zim raised his hand. “But, this is where YOU ARE MISTAKEN! I plan to scan your bodies and create
perfect clones out of these scans, using technology I have just perfected not three hours ago. Then, I will release them, and no one would know any better that you three are even missing! Then, these clones will poison this planet's water supply, reducing each inhabitant's IQ to zero, rendering each and every single one of your compatriots DROOLING IDIOTS!” He cleared his throat. “Then, I will simply conquer the planet unopposed.”
“You are forgetting one thing, Zim,” Twilight replied, smiling.
“Oh, and what's that? FACE IT, YOU HAVE NOTHING WITH WHICH TO OPPOSE THE LIKES OF MEEE!” Zim snarled.
Twilight gave Zim a sly grin as her horn glowed. She turned to Rarity. Rarity blinked briefly, confused, but then nodded when she saw Twilight's glowing horn. Her horn began glowing as well. A machine on the opposite end of the laboratory levitated off the ground, pulling itself away from the wiring which connected it to the wall.
“What are you smiling at? You, little fool, are under my iron grip! Wait... what's that noise?” Zim turned around, astounded to see a large cabinet levitating behind him.
“But... but... That can't be!” Zim sputtered, panicking.
The machine smashed itself against the glass, shattering it. Twilight and Rarity galloped out through the gap, their horns glowing, ready for battle.
By then, however, Zim had already fled.
/
“Computer! Quarantine the laboratory! Seal the blast doors!” Zim screamed, jabbing buttons across the computer console in panic.
If those ponies got out of the laboratory, then his mission would be ruined. The native inhabitants would marshal their resources against him, and despite his access to advanced Irken technology, there was no way he could counteract the telekinesis techniques that the horned ponies possessed.
“COMPUTER! GO FASTER! SEAL THE BLAST DOORS!” Zim screeched.
“BLAST DOORS SEALING! QUARANTINE IN EFFECT!” the computer blared.
“YES! ANOTHER DISASTER AVERTED!” Zim screamed, exalting in his success. They won't be able to get out now. His plans will continue as usual.
/
“Come on, that must be the way out!” Twilight said, as she, Rarity, and Fluttershy sprinted down a long corridor. An open doorway was right at the end of it. But as they got closer, the door began to close.
“Do you think we can make it?” Fluttershy asked.
“Twilight, use your magic to keep the door open!” Rarity suggested.
Twilight nodded, and her horn gave off a soft purple glow. She gnashed her teeth, fighting the mechanism that was sealing the door shut. It was no use. The door sealed itself shut without difficulty. The three stopped before the giant steel door. Rarity slammed herself against it.
“We were so close... Oh... what do we do now?” she lamented. “We're going to be trapped here forever!”
Twilight scanned the ceiling. An open air duct came caught her eye.
“No need to fret just yet, girls. I've got an idea...”
/
“You know, Twilight and Rarity have been gone for a long time,” Scootaloo said, yawning.
“Spike, do you think something bad happened to them?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“They were ponynapped by Zim too, I guess,” Applebloom mumbled, smashing her left hoof into her face.
“I... don't know...” Spike scratched his head in dismay, and peered out the window into the pitch black darkness. He then turned to the clock. It was nearly 10PM, and almost three hours since Twilight and Rarity had gone.
Spike was puzzled. Twilight, whether she found Fluttershy or not, would never stay out that late, leaving three little fillies and him all alone by themselves in her treehouse. No, Twilight's sense of personal responsibility was greater than that.
That leaves Applebloom's stipulation that he two were ponynapped by aliens the only possibility... as outlandish as that might seem, it could be true. Spike turned away from the window. “So... uh... guys... what do you propose? Should we go look for them?” He turned to Applebloom, hoping for some direction.
Applebloom looked at Spike, but then turned to her compatriots. “Cutie Mark Crusaders?”
“My sister might be in danger, so sure,” Sweetie Belle answered.
“Whatever. I'm ready for some action. Let's go,” Scootaloo said, nodding her head.
“Then it's settled. Let's kick some alien butt and rescue our friends!” Applebloom said.
The three then bolted out of the house. Spike ran after them, trying to keep up.
“Hey, wait for me, guys!” Spike gasped. He sprinted after them, in the direction of the Everfree Forest.
|
mewmew1310
|
825
| 1 |
Fluttershy,Original Character,Rainbow Dash,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Origins: Rainbow Dash
|
When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm she remissness about a lost loved one.
|
complete
| 30 | 2 |
<p>Updated 12/5 When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm, one of her oldest possession draws her attention, a photo book. A glance through the book leads her down a trip through memory lane. Looking for feed back. Will be posting a chapter ever couple days. Thanks to PonyKrieger for the pic. Check him out at <a href="http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/" rel="nofollow">http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/</a> . Special thanks to Eskael. Thanks as well to Aurora. I do not own mlp.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-01-27T17:09:59+00:00
|
2012-01-27T17:09:59+00:00
| 3,703 |
Rainbow Dash sighed, rolling in her soft bed of clouds. Her bedroom, usually a bright white this time of day, was currently a dark gray. “Why did they have to schedule a thunderstorm on my day off…?” Dash sighed at the thought of all the wasted time that could be spent practicing. She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, but she couldn't help her restlessness.
Normally she didn't mind flying through the rain, even during thunderstorms. While the lightning was dangerous, she could normally feel the ionization of the air and would move out of the area. This storm was different; there was a large increase in the amount of electricity. Somepony in Cloudsdale must have overcharged this group of clouds. Dash was sure she would be zapped from the sky if she left the safety of her home.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl, and it was going slower with every passing minute. Dash sighed for the hundredth time as she pushed herself off of the bed. She circled her room slowly for several minutes, trying to conquer her boredom. Suddenly lightning flashed across the sky, filling the room with light. The only bookshelf in her room drew her attention. Dash walked towards the shelf, eying her small collection of books.
There were three books on the shelf, filling only a small portion of one shelf. While Dash constantly told herself that she would fill it up over the years, she never found any books that caught her interest. The first book had a blue cover, the spine worn from years of use. It's cover reads; “Goldwings flying tips: Advanced tricks for the everyday flier.” Although the book covered only basic flight topics that Dash mastered years ago, it was given to her by somepony close to her. It had a very special place in her heart. The next book also had a blue cover, titled “Behind the Mask: Wonderbolts.” Its spine was still stiff from disuse. Dash had picked up the book for stories and advice, but only found gossip and steamy rumors. The last book was much older than the other two. Its leather cover was tarnished from use and age. This book contained no words, only pictures taped into the dull white pages.
Dash pulled the photo-book away from the other two with her hoof, grabbing it in her mouth and walking back to her bed. She threw herself the last couple feet and landed with a soft plop. She dropped the book and opened it, the dull light barely adequate enough to view the photos. Not that it matters, she had already committed them to memory.
She glanced past photos of her parents and childhood home, pushing the anger that was bubbling up back into the darkness of her mind. She flipped through several more pages before stopping at a photo of a dark blue foal with a blond mane. She smiled at the first couple pages of photos; the first steps, first walk and first flight. In the following pages, there was a new pony in the photos, a young cyan colored pegasus with a rainbow colored mane and tail. Dash's smile faded as the memories flooded her mind.
Rainbow Dash was born into an average Cloudsdale family. She had a healthy, happy mother and father. At the time Dash was born her family had one other child, a dark blue pegasus with a blonde main and tail and golden eyes. Sunray, named for his mane and eyes, was six years old at the time. Everypony called this young colt Ray, a habit that has stuck with Dash even now.
It was hard for her to remember the early years, the only vivid memories left were of Ray. How he would zoom around the house, with her struggling to keep up. How he was always calm and cool in any company or circumstances. But most of all she remembered his teasing and goading. It was never too mean or serious, but it always motivated her. Ray was the first to notice her natural talent for flying, and he drove her to reach farther and fly faster. Dash always looked up to and idolized him. She even tried her best to imitate him; his personality, his coolness, his tricks and even his looks.
It was Ray that gave Dash her dream, that fateful day etched into her mind. He woke her up early, even before Celestia raised the sun. Ray filled up a couple saddlebags with enough oats for the two and placed one on the drowsy eyed Dash. He explained nothing to the sleepy pony as they left their home and then Cloudsdale. They flew for hours, or if you would have asked her at the time, forever. Around midday they stopped flying, settling down near an open field. It didn't take her long to recover from the trip. She began to pester Ray about why they were there. He would only smile and tell her to be patient. Boredom quickly set in after a short flying session and several failed attempts into goading Ray into a chase. So she did the next best thing to having fun: take a nap.
“Dash.” A voice pierced through her sleep. “You're missing it.” She quickly opened her eyes to Ray smiling. “Good, you're up.” He said before turning his attention skyward. As she blinked the sleep from her eyes, she followed his gaze. Her eyes widened as streaks of blue crossed the sky. She followed the lines till she found their creators; four pegasi who flew through the air, leaving the trail in there wake. Their patterns started as simple lines and shapes, but quickly turned into complex figures and patterns. Dash could only stare up in amazement. The four practiced for several hours. None seemed to notice the two young ponies watching their every move. Three of the pegasi flew off as suddenly as they arrived, as the forth looked down at the two ponies. She quickly began a downward drop. A smile spread across her face as she watched the two children stumble about trying to hide as if they did something wrong. She pulled up just in time to fly over their heads, leaving a orange trail in her wake.
After watching the trail disappear into the air, Dash turned to Ray. “Who were those ponies... They were amazing!” She exclaimed.
He smiled and replied, a large grin plastered on his face. “The Wonderbolts. They are the best fliers in all of Equestria.”
She quickly interrupted. “And coolest?”
He nodded. “That's why I am going to be one.” He smiled, but she only returned a silent stare.
“Me too!” She responded after almost a minute of silence. He laughed and nuzzled the side of her face.
“How are you going to be a Wonderbolt if you can barely keep up with me?” He teased. The rest of the day dissolved into a blur. They ate and flew home, arriving shortly after sundown, sharing a punishment for leaving and skipping flight school.
Nearly a year later, the summer after her sixth birthday Dash faced the hardest challenge of her life: two months without Ray. He was off at summer flight camp, while she was stuck at home. To her the two months felt like several years. She filled most of her days with flying. Practicing every morning ‘till just before noon and going for a relaxing flight every night; although she loved the sky, it felt empty, so she would spend the hottest hours of the day in her home.
Dash loved her mother and father, although she was usually arguing with her mother, and being punished by her father. Her mother was born into one of the wealthier families in Cloudsdale. She never worked a day under the sun, but was the spitting image of the perfect house wife and the elegant mare. (“Rarity would be surprised...” Dash mumbled out loud, interrupting herself.) Dash's mother protested her training, attitude, habits, and especially the pranks Dash had quickly become fond of. Her father was the complete opposite. He grew up in a group of traveling performers. He left and became a stunt flier at a young age. About a year before Ray was born he was in a midair collision. He broke his left wing and was stuck in the hospital for a couple months, where he met his future wife. He had a light hearted attitude towards Dash and her punishments.
The last week before Ray returned home was like hell for Dash. She had left home for a couple days to practice where she first saw the Wonderbolts, camping in the trees near the field. When she returned home, her mother, in a mixture of rage and worry, began to yell at her. When Dash tried to stand her ground her mother slapped her across the snout. She could only remember running to her room, tears streaming from her eyes. She didn't notice her father enter her room. “No flying for a week.” He talked to her for an hour, but those were the only words she could remember. They haunted her mind long after they left his lips.
She spent the week in her room, only leaving when she absolutely needed to. At first she slept as long as she could everyday. Filling the remaining hours with any exercise she could think up. As the week drew to a close she turned to a book Ray had given to her for her birthday, “Goldwings.” She read through the book several times; trying to memorize every trick she could, even trying several maneuvers in her room. As the last day of her punishment drew to a close she talked to her mother for the first time that week. Dash apologized and was forgiven on the terms of never leaving like that again.
On her first day of freedom, she spent the morning stretching her wings before deciding to bathe in the sun. She hadn't realized she had fallen asleep until she heard a soft thud on the cloud she was laying on. “This cloud is occupied.” She said lazily.
“I'm gone for two months working my flanks off, and I come home and find you napping?” The voice responded playfully. Dash's eyes snapped and turned to owner of the voice.
“Ray!” She yelled, jumping to her feet in surprise. She quickly hugged him.
“I missed you too.” He responded.
The hug didn't last long. “I've got something to show you.” He said happily as he pulled away from her. He turned to the side, showing off his flank. “Check it out.” Three golden lightning bolts, the color of his eyes, streaked down his flank.
“Rayrayrayrayray!” She yelled out excitedly as she started jumping up and down on the cloud.
“Calm do--” Before Ray could finish his sentence the cloud gave-way below their hooves. They fell several feet before Ray turned into a dive, Dash quickly following his lead.
The impromptu flight lasted the rest of the day. The siblings returned home shortly before sunset. Together they watched the sun lower over the horizon. “You've been practicing all summer.” Ray said staring at the sky.
“You could tell?” Dash asked looking at him. He nodded. Silence filled the air as the light began to fade from the sky.
“Dash, are you ready?” He said quietly.
“For...what?” She stammered.
“Training. You still want to be a Wonderbolt, right?” Dash nodded. “Then we start. Tomorrow.”
Special thanks to Eskeal for editing. Thanks to PonyKrieger for the art
|
mewmew1310
|
825
| 2 |
Fluttershy,Original Character,Rainbow Dash,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Origins: Rainbow Dash
|
When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm she remissness about a lost loved one.
|
complete
| 30 | 2 |
<p>Updated 12/5 When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm, one of her oldest possession draws her attention, a photo book. A glance through the book leads her down a trip through memory lane. Looking for feed back. Will be posting a chapter ever couple days. Thanks to PonyKrieger for the pic. Check him out at <a href="http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/" rel="nofollow">http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/</a> . Special thanks to Eskael. Thanks as well to Aurora. I do not own mlp.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-02-29T06:52:08+00:00
|
2012-02-29T06:52:08+00:00
| 2,970 |
Over the next six years their flight practice and games had turned into full out training. They would leave before the sun peaked over the horizon, head to flight school and return to practice as soon as they were let out. It seemed that everyday Ray had a new challenge or an obstacle for her to overcome. Although she felt overworked, the results were plain to see. She was faster and could fly longer then ever before.
She saw that her hard-work paid off when she went to summer flight camp. She was the fastest of her age group and easily faster then any other pegasi at that camp. Her time trials on straightaways were setting camp records that would last for years to come. The only problem was that while Ray's training emphasized speed and endurance, the camp's courses were also focused on agility and maneuverability. That was her biggest downfall. On most courses with a high degree of obstacles her time was below average at best; not completed at worst. Her high speed tactics would always leave her shooting off course and straight into the cloud barriers and walls. It was from those tracks and the many incidents Dash was involved in that she earned her nickname: Rainbow Crash.
Halfway through the camp something happened to Dash. She had been resting on a cloud that looked over one of the cloud ring obstacle courses. For the last half hour she watched as many pegasi flew through the rings with ease. She sighed softly as a yellow pegasus with a pink mane tried to fly through a ring and tipped over it. She had to stifle back a chuckle as she tumbled down the slide of the cloud hanger. Dash felt bad for the older pegasus, but couldn't hold back her laugh as the pegasus took out a flag.
Dash decided to fly down. As she got to her feet she saw two colts approach the filly. “Nice going Klutzershy. They ought to ground you permanently.” The darker one said.
“Hah! My baby brother can fly better then you.” The light brown colt followed, before they both started laughing.
Dash quickly flew down, circling around the colts before landing between them and the pegasus. “Leave her alone!” She shouted. “Ohhh. What are you going to do Rainbow Crash?” The one closet to her taunted.
“Keep making fun of her and find out!” She retorted.
“You think your such a big shot? Why don't you prove it?” He sneered.
“What do you have in mind?” She said, not backing down.
“A race of course.”
Dash stood at the starting line. Next to the two ponies that were picking on the yellow pegasus. Confidence radiating from her, as they waited for shy pegasus to start the race. As soon as the flag was waved she took off, not caring to look back. One, two, three rings. “Right turn!” She thought to herself, veering hard to the right. She barely made it through the ring. She grinned as she heard the familiar sound of somepony crashing into a barrier. She zoomed forward with renewed speed. “Left! Right! Left! Dive!” She repeated the course in her head, zipping between each ring. “Seven down, one left!” Before she could finish her thought somepony hit her. “See you later rainbow Crash!” The light brown pony took the lead on her, making a sharp dive for the last ring. Dash flew at the ground with a renewed energy, flapping her wings harder and harder.
The air around her began to ripple strangely, but she was too preoccupied to notice. The wind became almost unbearable as it was stinging her face and eyes. A multitude of colors began to appear in the ripple around her hooves. The ring was so close, she had to win, she had to push forward. When she hit the ring something amazing happened; she turned up and flew faster then she ever flown before, a rainbow trail in her wake. “The Sonic Rainboom! Goldwing said it was only an old mares tale!” She crossed the finish line, circling over Cloudsdale. It was one of the happiest days of her life.
The rest of her time at the camp was spent trying to recreate the rainboom, but she never managed to repeat the trick. However, the remaining time at the camp wasn't a complete waste: Fluttershy, the pegasus she stood up for, had quickly become her friend. Although at first she would follow Dash around like a lost little foal, she quickly grew on Dash. Fluttershy was quiet and listened to Dash talk about Ray for hours. She would even cheer Dash's attempts to recreate the rainboom. As the camp drew to a close she discovered that Fluttershy lived only a couple minutes down the cloud from her home.
Upon arriving at her home, she noticed Ray laying in the yard. He seemed to be napping. She flew straight at him, hitting him and sending the two into a laughing spin. The rolled side over side until Ray stood over Dash.
“You should know you can't beat your older brother!” He said with a grin.
“You'll never believe what happened to me at camp!” She quickly changed the subject. Ray listened quietly as she told him the story of how she got her cutie mark in great detail.
After finishing her tale, Dash looked over at Ray. He was wearing a serious expression, one that Dash had rarely seen. After a couple minutes of silence she spoke up, “Ray. Earth to Ray. Sunray can you hear me?” Ray blinked a couple times before turning to her.
“Are you ready?” He asked her. As soon as the words hit her ears she grinned.
“For what?” She asked playing along.
He grinned. “Tomorrow we train harder then ever before. And there will not be any time for naps.”
The next year was a roller coaster ride for Dash. Ray graduated flight school and with their fathers blessing left their home. Before Dash could even miss him, he told her to drop out of flight school; he promised he could train her better then any boring old teacher. She was more than happy to agree, but they had to convince their mother. After many heated arguments with her mother, Dash finally convinced her to let her drop out. She was never happier, the next six months felt like an extended summer.
Over the last three months the training became more extreme and dangerous. Dash tried her best to live up to Ray's standards, which lead to iced wings every night and a sore body every morning. They practiced six days a week, resting on the seventh. The worst part of the training was the pain. It had many causes; accidents, exhaustion, overexerted muscles and even emotions. The thought of letting her brother down was almost unbearable. Sometimes she just wanted to quit, but all it took was a talk with Ray to set her back on course.
Then Dash's life hit rock bottom. The day started like any other. Ray and Dash woke up before dawn, packed their daily rations and left Cloudsdale just as the sun was peaking over the horizon. The air was calm and the sky was partly cloudy; perfect for the days activity.
They flew about an hour away from the cloud city before touching down. After a quick breakfast they were airborne again. Together they flew higher and higher into the sky. It wasn't Dash's first time with extreme heights, but she always felt uneasy when it was hard to breathe. They spent the whole day doing high altitude dives. The rush with every drop was exhilarating. The siblings would dare, push and goad each other into pulling out of the dive later and later. As the sun began to fall they rose for one final dive. They rose high enough for their breath to become icy and sting their lungs.
Dash was the first to drop. Ray quickly following on her tail. As she fell from the sky, something in her clicked and she started beating her wings hard. Dash quickly pulled away from Ray. Everything felt right as the air around her began to form a barrier. She could see the ground quickly approaching as she passed through the clouds. She hit the barrier and struggled to break through. Suddenly she found that the barrier held, sending her flying upwards back into the sky. She tumbled skyward till she hit something hard. She heard a grunt as she yelled out in pain. Then as suddenly as she was thrown up, she began to fall. She clutched onto the thing she hit, flailing her wings, trying to regain control. As the floor quickly approached she screamed out loud. The ball of feathers hit the floor with a thump.
The next thing Dash remembered was waking up, her entire body wracked in pain; her wings were numb and her head was pounding. She heard someone coughing violently behind her. She turned her head to see that Ray was the source. Pools of blood lay on the floor between them and on his mouth and chest. “Ray...” She whimpered, but there was no response. She tried to get to her feet, but when she put pressure on her left front hoof, pain spiked through her whole body. Her tears began to flow, she sobbed softly as she began to crawl towards Ray on three good limbs. She laid her head against his chest. She closed her eyes and continued to sob, until the pain and the tiredness of her body forced her into a deep sleep. In her sleep she was unable to feel his chest rise and fall for the last time.
|
mewmew1310
|
825
| 3 |
Fluttershy,Original Character,Rainbow Dash,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Origins: Rainbow Dash
|
When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm she remissness about a lost loved one.
|
complete
| 30 | 2 |
<p>Updated 12/5 When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm, one of her oldest possession draws her attention, a photo book. A glance through the book leads her down a trip through memory lane. Looking for feed back. Will be posting a chapter ever couple days. Thanks to PonyKrieger for the pic. Check him out at <a href="http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/" rel="nofollow">http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/</a> . Special thanks to Eskael. Thanks as well to Aurora. I do not own mlp.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-02-29T06:55:40+00:00
|
2012-02-29T06:55:40+00:00
| 2,648 |
Rainbow Dash woke, her head throbbed and her limbs were numb. A beep chimed every couple of seconds adding to her throbbing pain. She turned towards to the source of the noise. It was a white box with a black screen, a red line ran through the machine. An upside down lightning bolt would appear and beep when the line hit the center of the box. An iv drip was attached to the box, a tube connected the machine and the drip to a shaved portion of her arm.
Looking past the machine she could see a pony sitting on a pillow on the floor, sleeping in an awkward position, its head was leaning against the wall. By the color of her coat and mane she could tell it was Fluttershy. “Fluttershy.” Dash called out. Her throat was dry and it was hard for her to raise her voice above a whisper, but she gave it another try. “Fluttershy.” This time she managed to catch the pony's attention. Fluttershy awake just in time to watch Dash begin to cough loudly.
“Rainbow Dash! Are you ok?” She called out quickly rushing to Dash's side.
“Water...” Dash wheezed between coughs. Fluttershy nodded before she quickly left the room. She shortly returned with a glass of water and a nurse trailing quickly behind her.
The next week was a blur of people; family, friends, nurses and doctors. She was asleep most of the time, only woken by doctors and visitors. She would try to ask about Ray, but only received vague answers. Also she was under the influence of painkillers, they made it hard for her to piece together any information she discovered. After nearly a week of straight rest, the doctors began to lower her dosage and she finally managed to convince somepony to tell her about Ray.
She woke early one morning to find the iv drip disconnected. She moved her left forearm, it throbbed with a light pain, but her head was completely clear. As she started to regain her focus she heard a soft breathing coming from her left. Fluttershy was in the same position she was the first time Dash woke up. Dash smiled when she noticed Fluttershy was awake, looking at her. “Fluttershy.” She said cautiously.
“Rainbow Dash. Your awake.” Fluttershy said before yawning. “How are you feeling?” Dash could hear the sleepiness in her voice.
“I'm...Fine. Wheres Ray?” Dash asked eagerly. Fluttershy froze.
“I...I...I...” she stammered as she looked at the floor.
“Tell me.” Dash said impatiently after a couple seconds.
After a minute of silence dash began to grow agitated. “Tell me now!”Fluttershy squeaked in response. Dash set up and tried to slide out of the bed. As she attempted this maneuver she slammed her left fore-arm into the railing of the bed. She yelled out in pain and threw her herself against the bed. When she hit the bed she clipped her bandaged wing, causing her to yell out again. Fluttershy rushed to the side of the bed, forgetting about her shyness.
“Don't move or your going to hurt yourself more.” Fluttershy said as Dash struggled to get back up. “Hes...Hes....” Fluttershy mumbled. This caused Dash to momentarily freeze.
“He's what?” Dash blurted out. “Where is he?” She continued. Fluttershy looked back at ground.
“He's....dead.” She whispered. Dash began to chuckle. The chuckle quickly turned into a laughing fit. Dash's eyes watered and tears began to drip down her cheeks.
“Nice prank...” Dash said as she tried to catch her breath. Fluttershy looked back up at dash before shaking her head.
“No no no no...” She repeated till she ran out of breath. “Don't lie to me!!” Dash yelled as she jolted forward again. Fluttershy laid across her.
“Don't move! Please! Your going to hurt yourself more!” Fluttershy begged, which caused Dash to struggle more. Suddenly she felt Fluttershy's weight lift off her.
She turned to find Fluttershy's muzzle an inch away from her own, Fluttershy's eyes were larger then normal. Dash's eye's were drawn to her's, she couldn’t look away. She felt herself shrinking back into the bed. “Now Listen here, your going to stay in bed and stop squirming and be a good pony. Do you understand?” Fluttershy asked, her voiced was filled with an authority Dash had never head before. Dash quickly nodded in response. “Good girl.” Fluttershy said as she ran a hoof through dashes tangled mane. Suddenly she blinked, reverting back to her normal self. She squeaked and pulled her hoof away from Dash. “Sorry...Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy whispered.
As the news of her brothers death began to sink in, Dash began to cry.
Dash opened her eyes slowly and rubbed them with her hoof, feeling the matted fur on her cheeks. Her eyes were red and puffy, she blinked a couple times trying to clear them. She felt a sudden pressure on the right side of her bed and turned to see Fluttershy laying her head against it. Dash watched her sleep for a couple seconds before turning back towards the ceiling.
Before she could get lost in her thoughts. The door to her room opened and brown stallion in a white coat entered the room. He looked familiar, but she couldn’t remember him. Dash quickly shook Fluttershy as he strode to the bed. She was yawning softly just as he started talking. “Hello Miss Rainbow Dash. I'm Doctor Pattella How are you feeling?”
“I'm fine.” She lied, ignoring the silent stare that Fluttershy was giving her. The doctor quickly nodded before looking at the charts attached to her bed.
“Well then Rainbow Dash, I'm here to tell you about your accident.” Dash quickly nodded in response. “Well, with what you went through you are lucky to have lived. It seems you landed on your wings, and left fore-arm. They took most of the damage. Your fore-arm will be fine, as well as your right wing, But your left wing is another story. You have a break in the Ulna and several fractures on the Humerus bone. Now if they heal right you may regain practical use. In-fact, I'd say this is the type of injury that grounded your father.”
The entire time Dash had a look of disbelief on her face, not sure what to say. Everything was processing so slowly. She barely understood the doctor. His last sentence snapped her from her daze. “You know my father?”
The doctor nodded. “Yes, I was his doctor as well....” He was interrupted by a young pegasus that walked through the door, “Doctor your needed in room 210, now.” She said urgently before she quickly left the room. “If you need anything Miss Dash, let one of the nurses know.” He said, smiling, before he left as well..
They sat in silence for several minutes. As everything sank in Dash began to breath heavily, she tried her best not to cry again. She didn't want to cry again. She turned to Fluttershy to find that she was looking down, Dash could see the tears dripping down her face. “Flutte....” As Dash spoke out, Fluttershy quickly sprang to her feet. She looked away from Dash.
“Sorry Rainbow Dash..” She said quietly before sprinting out of the room. Leaving Dash once again alone with her thoughts.
|
mewmew1310
|
825
| 4 |
Fluttershy,Original Character,Rainbow Dash,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Origins: Rainbow Dash
|
When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm she remissness about a lost loved one.
|
complete
| 30 | 2 |
<p>Updated 12/5 When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm, one of her oldest possession draws her attention, a photo book. A glance through the book leads her down a trip through memory lane. Looking for feed back. Will be posting a chapter ever couple days. Thanks to PonyKrieger for the pic. Check him out at <a href="http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/" rel="nofollow">http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/</a> . Special thanks to Eskael. Thanks as well to Aurora. I do not own mlp.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-02-29T07:00:20+00:00
|
2012-02-29T07:00:20+00:00
| 2,193 |
Dash stared at the ceiling unsure of how much time had past, since she found out she would never fly as she used to, how much time had past since her best friend had abandoned her. She lied in the darkness trying not to think of Ray or her wings or her friend.
She hadn't realize she had fallen asleep until she felt somepony shake her. She quickly opened her eyes, but was blinded by the light of the room. It took a couple seconds for her eyes to adjust. A blurry figure stood before her, but quickly turned into her father as she rubbed her eyes. His breath reeked of apples and his eyes were slightly blood shot. This was the first time he had visited her while she was awake. “Dad?” She asked quietly. His head snapped towards her, as if he had just been awoken from a trance.
“Oh. Rainbow Dash. Your awake.” He spoke slowly, a pained expression on his face. “Its good to see you up....” He spat. “Do you know what you did?”
“No...” She shook her head.
“You killed him... You killed Ray!” He yelled as he moved to Dash's side. “How could you do this? How could you kill your brother!”
“I didn't kill...” She tried to plead, but he interrupted her.
“He....he had so much to live for...” His eyes were bulging with rage, he had been yelling the entire time. The dam of emotions Dash had been trying to hold back suddenly broke. She began to sob. “Don't cry! You don't deserve to cry! Your not dead!” Time seemed to slow as he spoke again. “I wish it was you instead of him.” His expression suddenly changed and he looked away from her. “Das...” He was interrupted by a sudden banging on the door.
“Is everpony okay? The doors locked!” A voice carried through the door. Her father turned towards the door, without so much as a glance back to her, opened it and left the room. A nurse quickly rushed in past him. She started to speak, but Dash couldn't understand her. She turned her head to the side, looking away from the worried nurse. “No....No more crying...” She repeated over and over.
“...Hungry.” Something called out to her, pulling her from the blackness of sleep. She shook her head, resisting the call and trying to edge back into sleeps hands. A sweet smell hit her nose and started to rouse her empty stomach. She opened her eyes.
Fluttershy was next to her, eating a shiny red apple. “Are you sure?” She said holding out an apple in her hoof. Dash tried to glare at her, but fluttershy's soft smile stopped her in her tracks. Dash grabbed the apple and quickly bit into it. As the sweet juices hit her tongue she smiled, then proceeded to devour the apple in record breaking time. Fluttershy giggled softly as Dash looked around for more apples. Fluttershy pulled a small basked full of apples from the floor and placed it onto the bed.
After clearing out the basket Dash began to feel better. “Where did you get those apples. They were awesome.” Dash said breaking the silence.
“There from Sweet Apple Acres. Its a farm near a small place called Ponyville.” She quickly looked at the floor. “Im sorry Rainbow Dash.” She suddenly squeaked. “I... didn't want you to see me cry...” She whispered, but suddenly spoke up again. "Also.. I wanted to cheer you up...so I got you this,” there was a slight blush on her face. She ducked her head down and came back up with a stuffed wonderbolt plush; Dash instantly recognized the orange mane pegasus as Spitfire.
“You came back.” Dash whispered, the spitfire plush tucked safely under her left fore-hoof.
“What was that Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked. Dash shook her head and smiled. She had a friend she could count on. Someone to help keep away the sadness. Ray wouldn't have wanted her to bed sad, he would tell her to fly. And she would try...
Dash spent the next month at the hospital. She was amazed at hoe much Fluttershy had learned about medical care. Everyday she would help Dash with her bandages and splints. Dash's Mother would come and visit her almost everyday for the first three weeks, but had suddenly stopped. As for her father, he hadn't come at all. She didn't know if she she should be worried or relieved. She didn't hate her father after what happened... She was just unsure how to feel.
Her fore-arm felt much better, the splint having been abandoned two weeks into her stay. Her wings had healed better then expected. To the doctors amazement they were almost as good as new. She was cleared to leave.
Dash left the hospital on her own. She took to the sky as quickly as she could. Even with a month of downtime she felt like she never left the sky. It did take her a couple tried to get off the ground and even longer still to gain decent speed. She relished the sunshine and the cool breeze, she had missed them dearly.
An old spark ignited in her as she rose higher and higher, struggling against her tired muscles. As she lifted herself above the cloud city the spark disappeared, feeling her with a sense of dread and fear she had never experienced in sky. She quickly guided back to the cloud floor and did something she hadn't done in years... walk home.
|
mewmew1310
|
825
| 5 |
Fluttershy,Original Character,Rainbow Dash,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Origins: Rainbow Dash
|
When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm she remissness about a lost loved one.
|
complete
| 30 | 2 |
<p>Updated 12/5 When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm, one of her oldest possession draws her attention, a photo book. A glance through the book leads her down a trip through memory lane. Looking for feed back. Will be posting a chapter ever couple days. Thanks to PonyKrieger for the pic. Check him out at <a href="http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/" rel="nofollow">http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/</a> . Special thanks to Eskael. Thanks as well to Aurora. I do not own mlp.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-02-29T07:08:44+00:00
|
2012-02-29T07:08:44+00:00
| 2,956 |
The following month was a strange period in Rainbow Dash's life. She didn't fly as much as she used to. Opting to spend her time on the cloud with her mother or Fluttershy. Even when she flew, it was never too high above the cloud line (Not that Fluttershy minded). Dash even made several trips to the ground with Fluttershy, to see the animals that she cared for.
Dash's Mother welcomed her with open arms and treated her as if she had never left. She would spend much of her free time with Dash, as if she was afraid to loose her. Fluttershy visited almost everyday, only leaving to take care of her animal friends. She begun staying at the house several nights in a row every week. Dash never minded, Fluttershy helped keep her mind away from her father.
As for Dash's father, he ignored her. At first she was outraged, but while she was alone, the anger passed and a confusing longing surfaced. She soon realized she would do anything to gain his attention. It started with begging and pleading, but swiftly moved into a destructive phase. She started partying with an old friend she made in flight school (Although, she didn't much care for that... griffin at the moment...) That part of her life didn't last long, as her behavior had no effect on her father and only hurt her mother and Fluttershy. As the idea that he wanted nothing to do with her sunk in, she decided to try one last desperate act. She went back to the sky.
Dash woke before sunrise, careful not to wake the sleeping Fluttershy that was sharing her bed. She packed enough oats for the day and left before any other pony in her home woke. She flew until the sun began to warm the sky.When she reached a nearly nearly empty field, she glided to the ground to drop her supplies before flying back into the sky. As she flew upwards and passed through the clouds, her faux confidence began to fade and was quickly replaced by fear, but she powered through the clouds and into the upper atmosphere on sheer stubbornness... If this is what she had to do to get his approval... then she wouldn't back down.
As the familiar tingling of ice began to from on the tips of her wings she stopped. Each cold breath she took hurt her lungs and froze her chest. “Now or never. Now or Never. NOW!” She yelled as she folded her wings in and closed her eyes and tumbled downwards through the sky.
After falling several hundred feet she opened her wings slightly to control her fall. The sharp instincts that she had acquired no more then a six months ago were as strong as ever. As the fall began to feel like a routine she had practiced, her confidence began to return. She began to pump her wings, propelling herself at an even faster speed towards the ground. As the wind began to sting her face, she started to laugh. She could now see the ground clearly, and it was coming up fast. She flared her wings to slow herself, then suddenly shifted her body in a way that her momentum propelled her forward, skimming just over the tops of the trees that were scattered across the field she was flying over. She had been laughing the entire time and couldn't stop, even after she had landed.
It took almost half an hour before she could calm herself down. While she tried to catch her breath, she tried to figure out why she started laughing and why she couldn't stop. She watched the clouds for several minutes before she realized her answer, she was happy. The sky, one of her oldest and dearest friends, had welcomed her back with open arms. It was at that moment she understood that she could never truly leave the sky.
Rainbow Dash picked up her training where Ray had left off. Although she looked for ponies to mentor her(mostly ex-wonderbolts), most would not respond and several were brash enough to wave the accident in her face. So she decided that there was only one pony cool enough to train her, and that was herself. Every morning she would leave for a small forest about an hour south of Cloudsdale. There Dash would meet up with Fluttershy, shortly before she began her daily care of her animals, and they would share a breakfast. Dash would spend the day exercising and practicing, while pretending to ignore the quiet cheering of her only fan. In less then three months Rainbow Dash was at the top of her game; she was faster, stronger and had much more energy then she even knew what to do with.
On a whim, she decided to compete in an amateur race. On the day of the race, she wasn't nervous, she wasn't cocky, she was ready. Although she was competing with ponys with greater wingspans or larger muscles, she had no fear. As soon as the race started she left her competition in a rainbow colored contrail. Her only real competition was the course record, which she nearly halved. This was only the first of many victories to come.
Rainbow Dash soon became semi famous in the amateur race circuits, she was known for her speed and reckless style. Every victorious race built her confidence, and soon the only thing that surpassed her accomplishments was her ego. She even received a invite to one of Cloudsdale's most prestigious flying events; the Best Young Fliers Competition, but when she replied with interest she was disqualified due to her age.
Although she started flying to regain her father's admiration, but she began to forget about her original purpose as racing seemed to fill the void her father left in her life, but soon this was going to change.
Rainbow Dash had woken up early as per her usual schedule while training. She was expecting to head down to a quiet breakfast, her father hadn't uttered more then a hello to her in the last couple months and her mother had been unusually distant after she had started racing. As she walked into the dining room, the smell of apple oatmeal flooded her nose. She hadn't eaten apple oatmeal since she was a filly. As she approached the table, she noticed her father was snout deep in a news paper. As she took her place, he set down the paper and looked directly at her, she froze.
“Good morning Dashie.” He said with a hint of cheerfulness. Dash was shocked, she hadn't heard him sound happy in months, and it had been even longer still since he called her by the nick name given to her as a filly.
“Morning...” She stuttered, but before she could say anymore he turned his attention back to the paper as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.
“Rainbow Dash! Good morning!” Her mother said after setting a bowl in-front of her. Dash slowly nodded, still recovering from her fathers greeting. She watched as her mother moved next to her father. He set his paper down again and looked up at his wife and then to Dash. “We have wonderful news. We're pregnant!”
Suddenly as if somepony had flipped a switch, Rainbow Dash's life had changed again. Dash once again grew close to her mother. She began to spend most of her days at home, racing less and less, eventually stopping all together as her mother's pregnancy began to show. Dash quickly took her mothers place in their home, but as she quickly learned, through many accidents, she wasn't made for the home life. So with Fluttershy's help (well, mostly due to Fluttershy's help), Dash was able to keep her home in pristine condition.
For Dash the best part of her new life was a renewed relationship with her father. It started with cheerful greetings and small conversations and lead back into a full talking relationship. She felt closer to him , then she had in years, even before the accident. It was as if the void she tried to fill with racing had suddenly been filled and she felt a large pressure lift from her shoulders. For those few months everything seemed perfect, but as with most of life, perfection never lasts forever.
|
mewmew1310
|
825
| 6 |
Fluttershy,Original Character,Rainbow Dash,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Origins: Rainbow Dash
|
When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm she remissness about a lost loved one.
|
complete
| 30 | 2 |
<p>Updated 12/5 When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm, one of her oldest possession draws her attention, a photo book. A glance through the book leads her down a trip through memory lane. Looking for feed back. Will be posting a chapter ever couple days. Thanks to PonyKrieger for the pic. Check him out at <a href="http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/" rel="nofollow">http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/</a> . Special thanks to Eskael. Thanks as well to Aurora. I do not own mlp.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-02-29T07:23:39+00:00
|
2013-01-31T06:04:15+00:00
| 1,432 |
Sunshine, named after Sunray, was born on a bright summer day. She had the yellow mane of her father and the white coat of her mother. Dash was happy that she had the chance to be the coolest sister ever. Although, the thought of being an older sibling brought out painful memories of the accident, she couldn't help but be happy that she could show Sunshine the love that Ray had shown her.
Both Dash and Fluttershy continued taking care of Dash's home while her mother recovered. They would also take care of little Sunshine whenever they needed to. Fluttershy was constantly surprising Dash, because she was a natural at taking care of the little filly. Dash learned allot about caring for her sister from Fluttershy.
As the days become weeks, months and even years, Dash noticed as her family's attention drifted away from her. At first it was her mother, she was paying more attention to little Sunshine, but Dash didn't mind. It wasn't until her father began to slip into his old habits, that it began to eat at her. She would rarely talk to her father. The only pony keeping her attached to the family was Sunshine.
As Dash watched her little sister grow she was surprised at how much the filly looked up to her. Once Sunshine could walk, she would follow Dash everywhere. While she was learning to fly, Dash tried to teach her everything she knew. When Sunshine started to fly on her own, she would chase after Dash for hours at a time. Little Sunshine was full of surprises, she picked up flying faster then both Ray and Dash. Dash was sure that Sunshine would be a great flier....but not better then her.
When her parents found out that Dash was teaching Sunshine, they quickly grew concerned that she would follow in Rays hoof steps. At first they stopped leaving Sunshine in Dash's care. Then they started discouraging her flying unsupervised. When Dash discovered what was happening she flipped; She started arguing with her parents worse then she had in years. Although she tried to hide their fighting from Sunshine, she would occasionally catch the filly crying in her room after a heated dispute.
It wasn't long before Dash hit her breaking point, it started when she arrived home early from a training session. She found her father and Sunshine talking in the living room, neither noticed the pegasus enter the house. “Daddy... Why don't you like me flying?” Sunshine asked in a curious tone. He remained silent for several seconds. As Dash was about to enter the room he spoke.
“Do you remember who Sunray is?” Dash froze.
“Mhmm. Hes my Brother,” Sunshine answered happily.
“Right. We don't want you to go away, like Sunray.”
She giggled quietly. “Why did Sunray go away daddy?”
“Dash made him go away, forever.” He replied calmly.
“Is that why you don't want me playing with Dashie?”
Before he could respond Dash left, slamming the door, making her exit known.
Dash quickly went to Fluttershy's house to look for the pegasus. When she found out that Fluttershy was not home, she knew exactly where to look. She flew down to the small forest where Fluttershy took care of some of the local animals. After a couple minutes of searching she found the yellow pony singing in a clearing. Several birds were surrounding the shy pegasus, chirping in tune with her singing.
“Oooh what a magical place and I owe it all to the pegasus race!”
Dash quickly dove to the floor, scaring both the birds and Fluttershy. She stood her ground breathing loudly until Fluttershy recovered.
“Rrr...Rraainbow Dash. Whats wrong?”
“I need to leave home for a couple days... and your coming with me.”
“What about the...” Fluttershy tried to protest, but Dash cut her off.
“I said your going!” Dash yelled, causing Fluttershy to cringe. She quickly nodded under Dash's commanding glare.
Rainbow Dash took Fluttershy to the spot Ray had taken her to see the Wonderbolts. An awkward feeling hung over both of them during the flight and neither pony had said a word. Once they arrived Dash apologized and promised to make it it up to Fluttershy. Fluttershy had quickly stopped asking what happened, because Dash outright refused to speak of what had caused her to become so angry.
They spend the next few hours looking around the woods that surrounded the clearing. Not too long after they stopped a family of bunnies approached the pegasi. Rainbow Dash watched Fluttershy play with the bunnies until she couldn’t take sitting still anymore. “Thanks Again for coming Fluttershy.” Fluttershy looked up from the bunnies and smiled. “I’m gonna,” Dash pointed up with a hoof, “go up.” Fluttershy nodded.
Dash flew up a couple hundred feet. She spent half an hour performing a portion of her basic tricks. The entire time Dash was checking to make sure that Fluttershy was watching her. After her third fantastic filly flash, Dash grew bored and decided to fly higher into the sky. She flew until her wings tingled in the cold and her breath was icy. She stared down, looking for the dot that was Fluttershy. “If one pony is here...If one pony can see me... If one pony cared.. I can do another sonic rainboom.”
Dash flipped herself and began diving towards the ground. When she reached optimal speed she began to power herself forward with her wings. At six hundred feet from the ground, the air around her began to sting her entire body. At four hundred feet the wind around her grew silent. Two hundred feet, Colors began to form in the air around her hooves. At one hundred feet the world froze. Her gaze was drawn to the left. In the sky, flying next to her was Ray. “Ray! I'm doing it! I’m doing the rainboom!” She yelled happily. He smiled at her.
“Pull out.” She could hear his voice perfectly. “Pull up Rainbow Dash.” This time his voice sounded different. Before she had time to figure it out her attention was brought back to the ground as her fall resumed. Dash quickly spread her wings, but she couldn't pull out.
Dash couldn't remember hitting the ground. She didn’t feel somepony drag her across the ground. “Almost did it....Did you see Ray.” ” Dash said weakly and closed her eyes.
“Please wake up...” A calm voice replied in the darkness.
|
mewmew1310
|
825
| 7 |
Fluttershy,Original Character,Rainbow Dash,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Origins: Rainbow Dash
|
When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm she remissness about a lost loved one.
|
complete
| 30 | 2 |
<p>Updated 12/5 When Dash is stuck in her house during a storm, one of her oldest possession draws her attention, a photo book. A glance through the book leads her down a trip through memory lane. Looking for feed back. Will be posting a chapter ever couple days. Thanks to PonyKrieger for the pic. Check him out at <a href="http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/" rel="nofollow">http://ponykrieger.deviantart.com/</a> . Special thanks to Eskael. Thanks as well to Aurora. I do not own mlp.</p>
|
everyone
|
2012-02-29T07:33:05+00:00
|
2013-01-31T06:05:10+00:00
| 1,212 |
Rainbow Dash woke up when the light from the morning sun reached her eyes. Her body felt sore and tired. She could tell she was lying on the ground, it was cold and hard. In contrast the sun was keeping her warm as it fought away the shadows. As she tried to get to her feet she heard Fluttershy call out.
“Rainbow Dash! Your awake!” Fluttershy quickly rushed over and help Dash stand. Dash winced and sharply inhaled as a dull pain flared down her side. “Are you in pain?”
“I'll live.” Dash grinned and slowly moved away from Fluttershy. “But, more importantly, did you see him? Did you see Ray?!” She asked excitedly. Fluttershy stared at her.
“Ray... Has been dead for a long time...” She said softly. “How could I see him?”
“He was there, just before I.....crashed. He was flying in the sky next to me. He knew I was going to crash, so he told me to pull up. Hes.... Still with me.” Dash smiled.
Fluttershy shook her head. “Rainbow Dash.... I was watching you and I...” Fluttershy trailed off and looked down at the ground. “Maybe your right.” She said softly.
They spent the next couple days camping in the field. Although Dash's injures weren’t severe, her right wing was just a little too sore for her to fly long distances. After the first night Fluttershy became quieter then usual. No matter what Dash would do to get her to liven up, she couldn't break through Fluttershy's shell. On the third day Dash gave up.
“My wing feels better...Its time to go.” Dash said coldly to Fluttershy, who was playing with a little raccoon. Fluttershy looked up at Dash and tried to speak, “Rainbow Dash... I'm... So...” Dash flapped her wings and rose into the air, not waiting for the pegasus to finish. Their trip back was just as quiet then their trip out. When they arrived back at Cloudsdale, Dash streaked off without a word, leaving Fluttershy in the middle of a rainbow colored wake.
Dash had not seen Fluttershy for almost two weeks after the trip. She decided that it was probably because of the way she treated her friend... Although she tried to apologize, every time she found herself on Fluttershy's doorstep, a fear surfaced that she hadn't felt in years; and she would leave. Today, she decided, was the day that she would apologize to her best friend.
Dash flew to Fluttershy's house, determined to make everything right. She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. So she sat in front of the door. After an hour of waiting she decided to rest her eyes from the bright midday sun. Then she decided that the door was rather comfortable, the perfect place for a nap.
“Rainbow Dash...Wake up... Dashie?” A voice pulled her from her sleep. A slight blush crept her face from hearing her nick name. She quickly opened her eyes. Fluttershy was sitting a couple feet away from her. They stared at each other for several minutes before Dash decided to speak up.
“Fluttershy, I'm sorry I was such.... such a mule.” Dash said, eating hoof fulls of her pride with each word.
Fluttershy shook her head. “I’m Sorry Rainbow Dash... I didn't believe you... about Ray,” she said. Dash smiled. Before she could respond Fluttershy pulled an envelope out of her saddle bag. “I got this for you.” Fluttershy said with the letter in her teeth. She passed it to Dash, which she swiftly opened. Inside were two blue tickets to an upcoming wonderbolt event. Dash's eyes widened as she read them over and over.
Before Fluttershy realized what happened Dash had her pinned to the cloud floor in a hug. “Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.” Dash repeated over and over again not noticing the blush spreading across Fluttershy's face.
“Okay.” Fluttershy said quietly.
The time had come for the aerial event, it was held at the Cloudsdale Coliseum. It had lasted for several hours. Dash watched in quiet wonder as the Wonderbolts would blaze across the sky in perfect formation. Fluttershy was sitting next to Dash, more interested in the rainbow mare then the show going on in the sky. Suddenly Dash turned to Fluttershy. Fluttershy turned away from Dash quickly. “Fluttershy. I think... I think I know what to do. I have to do it for both us. I have to do it for him.” She said before turning her gaze back to the sky.
“If going to be a wonderbolt...” Dash trailed off. “I...I have to go... Please come see me tomorrow.” Dash quickly jumped from her seat and flew down to the aisle. She leaped from the balcony and dove under the stadium. Although she stayed away from the performers, her trail had caught the attention of the stadium. Mummers about 'Rainbow Danger Dash' return could be heard from the occasional pony in the stand. Or at least that what Dash liked to think.
She flew from the stadium to the weather factory. She knew she had too much history in Cloudsdale to really be able to move on, so she would leave her home, her family...and even her best friend... to achieve Rays and her dream.
She applied for a weather tending position in Manehattan, but all they had was a weather management job in a small town called Ponyville. So she took it. Heck, if the current manager wasn't a fan of armature racing, or had she not signed an autograph....or taken several pictures... she might have not gotten the job.
Dash didn't realize it then, but she was going to make a mistake she would regret for many years. The job started a couple day after she had accepted it, but she left the next day. She didn’t have much in her old home. Just two books, A photo album and Goldwings. She couldn't bring herself to tell her parents, but she figured they didn't care. They hadn't spoken in almost a month.
As for Sunshine, she couldn’t remember the exact conversation, but she did remember the little filly crying and begging her not to leave. She promised her that when she was a famous Wonderbolt, she would come and visit her, and take her all over Equestria. Dash stayed with her till the filly feel asleep.
The last thing Dash did before she left was write a letter to Fluttershy.
'Fluttershy,
I'm sorry for being a bad friend and leaving. I know I should have told you in person, but I don't think I could leave...if I made you cry again. Please don't worry about me, just know that you were my best friend and I will remember you forever.
Your Friend,
Rainbow Dash Dashie'
Dash stared at the short letter that she left hanging on Fluttershy's door. She knew she was bad at writing, but she was even worse at goodbyes. This would have to do... It was the best that Fluttershy would get. She wouldn't know, for many years, how much that she had hurt Fluttershy that day.
Rainbow Dash yawned as she woke, feeling a strange sensation against her face. She sat up and opened her eyes. She had fallen asleep against a book, a photo book. It was open to the last page, but there was no photos on this page, only a single dark blue feather. She smiled as she pulled the feather from the book and closed it. She picked up the book and put it back in its place on the shelf.
Dash turned back to her bed and stared at the golden feather she had left on the bed. She turned her head towards her dresser and eyed the golden ticket laying on her shelf. “Almost there Ray... This is for both of us.” She picked up the feather and tucked it into her hair behind her ear.
She left her room, glancing at the gala tickets one last time before closing the door. She glided down the stairs and landed at the foot of her kitchen, where she packed a hardy meal into her one of her saddle bags. Then she proceeded to do her morning stretches, taking care not to disturb the feather on her head.
As she left her home, the sun was already rising over the horizon and there was no trace of the intense thunderstorm that passed through Ponyville. She looked over the remaining clouds, scanning the shining objects. A flash of gold caught her eyes for an instant. She could almost see the dark blue pegasus flying through the morning sky. She knew he would always watch over her.
She opened her wings and flew.
A/N:
Thanks for reading this whole thing and sticking with this story until i finished it. Over time, I will be doing minor edits and grammar edits. This last chapter may also see some major edits, but with me going to school, its going to be hard for me to work on anything major ( I think), so I wanted to share this rather then let it die off.
Thanks again for reading. Leave comments below, (Im going to try to start responding!) and rate if you would like to.
|
Wheller
|
826
| 1 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-12T17:21:32+00:00
|
2011-09-12T17:21:32+00:00
| 2,566 |
Chronology notes:
Stop! You are reading the Ninth story in the series started by The Kindness of Strangers!
Please read The Kindness of Strangers first!
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/389/
The second part of the story is Putting the Pieces Back Together found here:
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/407/
The third part of the story is Midnight in the Heart of Equestria found here:
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/419/
The fourth part of the story is Tomorrow is Always a New Day found here:
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/433/
The fifth part of the story is To Each Their Own found here:
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/526/
The sixith part of the story is Imperfect found here:
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/600/
The seventh part of the story to Paradiso found here:
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/687/
This story is the direct sequel to Broken Record found here:
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/732/
Home Sweet Home
Chapter 1
Scootaloo had not always been homeless. No actually this had just been a more recent development. As she lie on her back, staring up at the ceiling of the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse, which was empty save for her.
She’d been homeless for only a month and a half at this point, which was likely why nopony had noticed yet. She’d been good at hiding it for the most part, taking careful steps to not be seen when she needed basic amenities. Scootaloo’s natural grace and agility served her well, it translated into making the small, unassuming Pegasus filly into a thief. Usually late at night, the young filly would raid an unlocked cellar for food, or dig through some random pony’s garbage, looking for anything useful. Unlike most thieves, she only took what she needed to survive, which was very little, small things like a can of peas, or a single potato. Small things that an average towns-pony wouldn’t notice were missing.
Digging through garbage almost always revealed something useful to the filly, she looked over at her bulging saddlebag, which contained her Crusader Machine Carbine. She’d thought she’d been clever upon naming it. Scootaloo was a CMC with a CMC. Most of the things she’d gotten to make it useable by her she’d dug out of the garbage.
She was always sure to take a bath in the river outside town before dawn. She didn’t want anypony to know what she’d been doing. She knew it wasn’t going to last. Her friends and their older sisters were perceptive; they’d notice something off about her sooner or later. Until then, Scootaloo was going to have to be more careful, lest she end up in a foster home.
Scootaloo felt her heart pang at the thought of her friend’s older sisters. Apple Bloom had Applejack, and Sweetie Bell had Rarity. Both her friends had family that loved them. It wasn’t fair! Why not her? Why couldn’t Scootaloo have a mother and father, or even an older sister or brother that loved her? It just wasn’t fair.
Scootaloo idolised Rainbow Dash because she was everything that the young filly wanted in a parent. Rainbow Dash was cool, loyal, and dependable, she cared about her friends. Where Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo sisters, Rainbow would love her and take care of her. Scootaloo would have a proper home, with food to eat. She wouldn’t have to steal and salvage, she wouldn’t have to bathe in the river before the sun came up so that nopony would notice.
It was three in the morning. Scootaloo wouldn’t be sleeping tonight; her mind was in twenty different places. She got up out of her bed roll and dumped out the contents of her Saddlebag.
She’d recently snagged a few items to improve the Crusader Machine Carbine. She wrenched out the metal stock and replaced it with a bent up wire coat hanger using a bottle of superglue, now she could stick her foreleg through the coat hanger and it would rest upon her shoulder for better control. She’d cut the frame in two and attached them to a hinge she’d taken off an old door. The wire frame stock folded in so that she could better hide it in her saddlebag.
She looked at the Crusader Machine Carbine. It didn’t look pretty; Apple Bloom could have done a better job at that. But Scootaloo didn’t care how it looked, she only cared that it worked.
...
Scootaloo quickly and quietly snuck out of Sweet Apple Acres. The Apple family got up well before dawn to get started on farm work. While Sweet Apple Acres was large, she couldn’t take the chance that the day’s work would take them close to the Cutie Mark Crusader’s clubhouse, where they would almost certainly notice Scootaloo. It was four in the morning; she had time to raid for food. She’d decided not to dig through garbage this night, no need to, since the entire town was going to be cleaning up the aftermath of the gryphon attack today. Scootaloo was certain to find useful bits on the burnt out tanks.
She’d been walking through town, lost in thoughts that she didn’t notice that she’d bumped into somepony. She jumped and let out a scream in surprise. After which she considered herself lucky that she wasn’t Sweetie Bell, or the entire town would have woken up.
“Aw, come on! I’m not that scary!” said the pony she’d walked into.
Scootaloo looked up to see a off-white, goggle clad, unicorn pony with a blue mane looking down at her and grinning insanely. Scootaloo had only met Vinyl Scratch once before in Whitetail Wood. Scootaloo had found Vinyl’s goggles lying around on the ground, and had picked them up and worn them for a time before returning them to her.
“It’s a little early for somepony as young as you to be out isn’t it?” Vinyl asked with a grin.
Scootaloo gulped, afraid that the unicorn had her made. Vinyl Scratch was a madmare, that grin of hers made it impossible for Scootaloo to tell what she was really thinking.
“It’s a little early for somepony as old as you to be out isn’t it?” Scootaloo said, grinning back.
Vinyl Scratch chuckled. “You know something kid? You remind me of me when I was your age... and I like me. I like me a lot. So that means I like you too! Come on! Walk with me.”
Scootaloo nodded and followed.
Vinyl turned to her and grinned widely. “Tell me kid, how long have you been living on your own?”
Scootaloo froze, she’d been made. “You... you can’t tell! If they find out they’ll take me away! Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell are the only friends I’ve ever had! They’ll take me away from them.”
Vinyl Scratch sat down on the ground in front of the flustered filly, and put her hoof on her shoulder. “Take it easy Scootaloo! I’m not going to tell. I was homeless too when I was your age, I know what it’s like, I never went into foster care, but I know ponies who did. Sometimes you get lucky and get a good family that’ll love you... other times, they’re worse than your original family.”
Scootaloo nodded, that’s exactly what she was afraid of.
“How about you tell me what you were running away from?” Vinyl asked with a smile.
...
Scootaloo hadn’t always been homeless, it was a recent event that she’d run away from home. Away from parents who didn’t love her.
Scootaloo was born to two pegasi that were both about the age of Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo had been an accident, her birth the culmination of bad choices made by zap addicts. When her mother discovered she was pregnant with her, she’d quit her habits, apart from that, and giving her the name of Scootaloo. It was all her mother had ever done for her.
After she was born, Scootaloo became a nuisance to her parents. They viewed her as a bottomless pit, sapping away all their money that they would rather be spending on alcohol or drugs.
In truth, Scootaloo was lucky to have survived as a baby at all. She’d been a heavy crier, and her father had a nasty temper, as she would discover.
By the time Scootaloo was five, abuse was a fact of life. Every day when she came home from school, she hoped and prayed that her father would leave her alone.
A few days, he did. Most however, he did not. It was almost as if he waited by the door to hit her as soon as she came in. Scootaloo was his punching bag to take his frustrations out upon.
She’d gone to the hospital plenty of times. Attributing most of the injuries to sports, of which Scootaloo heavily participated in. Doctors had occasionally wondered if abuse was possible, but Scootaloo insisted that her injuries came from being an overenthusiastic tackler on the football pitch.
She’d hoped that keeping quiet would make her home life easier. It did not; her parents discovered crash and became more aggressive towards her. Her beatings became more frequent, which was really saying something. It became difficult for Scootaloo to hide the injuries from Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell.
And then, a month and a half ago, she’d decided that enough was enough. She couldn’t stay at home any longer. She packed a saddlebag full of a bedroll and some food and departed from her home forever.
It was the first night that she’d spent in the CMC clubhouse alone. She didn’t sleep a wink, afraid that her parents would come after her and beat her within a millimetre of her life for running away.
They never came, they were either too strung out on crash to have noticed, or maybe they just didn’t care. Scootaloo intended never to return, and she made steps to insure that she wouldn’t get caught. She couldn’t think of anything worse than being caught and forced to return to her life at home... or worse, being put into foster care with a family that made hers look like saints.
|
Wheller
|
826
| 2 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-12T19:04:47+00:00
|
2011-09-12T19:04:47+00:00
| 2,278 |
Chapter 2
Vinyl Scratch had listened intently to Scootaloo’s story; she smiled at the filly and gave her a hug. Scootaloo had broken down into tears at this point. Vinyl let her cry on her shoulder, the filly needed to.
After a few minutes, Scootaloo stopped crying, wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked up at Vinyl and smiled.
“Fell better?” Vinyl asked. Scootaloo nodded in affirmation, causing Vinyl to smile brightly. “You hungry kid? Let’s get you a good meal!”
The unicorn and Pegasus rose from their spot and walked towards the Ponyvile Library, where Vinyl lived alongside Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. They talked about things as random from weather to music. Halfway there, Scootaloo stopped in her tracks, her eyes darting to an object lying on the ground.
It was a kangaroo Emerald Rifle, the standard bolt action rifle of the South Island Army. This one was special, because it had a scope attached to it.
Scootaloo wanted that scope, and there it was, just sitting there, without an owner. Scootaloo couldn’t help but think about how badly she wanted that scope for her Crusader Machine Carbine.
“You want it, don’t you?” Vinyl asked.
“I don’t care about the gun, I just want that telescope!” Scootaloo said. She looked at Vinyl, waiting for the unicorn to scold her that stealing was wrong, but surprised when she did not. “Aren’t you going to tell me that stealing is wrong?”
“Well, first off, you haven’t stolen it yet,” Vinyl said. This was actually a good point. “Second off? Is it wrong?”
Scootaloo looked at Vinyl in surprise; she had never expected anyone older to even suggest that stealing might be okay.
“Let me explain,” Vinyl said. “Sometimes, ponies in our position don’t have the luxury of right and wrong, you steal food because you need to in order to survive, but you never take more than you need, because you know that while what your doing is wrong, taking more than you need is even worse. The kangaroos aren’t going to miss that scope, nobody is using it, but I know that if you take it you’re going to put it to a good use. It’s what Equestria needs right now.”
Scootaloo wasn’t sure she understood, but she had decided that she was taking the scope anyway. She went over and unscrewed it from the rifle, and dropping it in her saddlebag. She left the rifle there; a kangaroo would likely be picking it up later the morning during the clean up. It was still usable, that was what was important.
“Listen kid,” Vinyl said. Her face had formed from her playful smile to one of deadly seriousness. “Don’t let my smiling fool you, I am not a good role model. Twilight in particular would hate me for telling you what I did... but she doesn’t understand. She didn’t grow up like we did. Twilight and her friends are good ponies, but they don’t know that we don’t always have the luxury of right and wrong.”
“So, you don’t want me to tell her?” Scootaloo asked. “Isn’t that lying?”
Vinyl shook her head at the young filly. “It’s not lying... but it’s not telling the truth either. Twilight wouldn’t understand. I don’t want her scolding you for something I did. If she’s going to get mad at somepony, it should be me and not you. Understand?”
Scootaloo really didn’t, but she nodded anyway. She’d discovered that she really liked Vinyl. Vinyl treated her like she was an adult, unlike Twilight and the rest of her friends that treated her and her friends like they were kids. Never mind the fact that Scootaloo was a kid.
They had entered the library and Vinyl had begun to work her magic in the kitchen, within moments, the entire library began to smell of pure deliciousness. Clearly the smell had awoken Twilight and Rainbow Dash as they trotted down the stairs a few minutes later.
“Hi Rainbow Dash! Hi Twilight!” Scootaloo said cheerfully greeting the two older ponies.
Twilight and Rainbow jumped slightly in surprise, not expecting the filly to be sitting at the table.
“Scootaloo?” Twilight asked in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Vinyl Scratch is making me breakfast!” Scootaloo said excitedly.
“Technically, I’m making breakfast for everypony... it’ll be ready in a minute!” Vinyl said, poking her head out of the kitchen and then withdrawing it just as quickly.
Scootaloo sat up quickly in anticipation, causing her saddlebags to slip, dumping their contents onto the floor.
The Crusader Machine Carbine clattered onto the floor, catching the eye of Twilight and Rainbow Dash.
“Scootaloo...” Twilight began, but was quickly interrupted by Vinyl poking her head out.
“Twilight, Rainbow, could you come here for a minute.” Vinyl said.
Scootaloo listened to Vinyl speak, it sounded odd, those words would ordinarily be formed into a question, but Vinyl’s voice wasn’t asking, she was telling.
The two mares did as they were told and into the kitchen, shutting a door behind them.
Scootaloo quickly pressed her ear up against the door to listen.
“You aren’t taking it from her,” Vinyl said plainly.
“Vinyl Scratch. Do you have any idea how blatantly irresponsible it would be to let her keep that?” Twilight cried out. Scootaloo understood now what Vinyl had been talking about earlier when she said that Twilight was going to have reason to yell at her.
“Scootaloo worked hard to make that, I’m not letting you take it away from her. She knows how dangerous it is, she’s seen guns up close, and she knows what happens if you don’t respect them. She’ll treat it with more respect than we ever will,” Vinyl said. “It’s not like you both don’t have one.”
“We aren’t fillies!” Rainbow Dash cried out.
“Aren’t you?” Vinyl asked. “Rainbow, I’m six years older than you are.”
“Being older doesn’t make you more responsible!” Twilight cried out.
“Ahah! You just made my point for me,” Vinyl Scratch said. Scootaloo might not have been able to see her, but she knew that the unicorn was grinning brightly. “Scootaloo is more responsible than I am, and I carry a gun.”
“Fine,” Twilight said in a huff. “I swear Vinyl, if you do this again...”
Scootaloo heard them approaching the door; she quietly darted back to her seat, picking up her Crusader. The three mares exited the kitchen; Vinyl Scratch was levitating a tray of Blueberry muffins.
“Breakfast is served!” Vinyl said cheerfully. Twilight and Rainbow were faking smiles, pretending that they hadn’t just been arguing. Scootaloo pretended that she hadn’t heard any of it.
...
After breakfast, Scootaloo waved Vinyl, Twilight, and Rainbow goodbye and departed. The sun was up by this point. It was time to go fetch Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom. They were going to help clean up town today.
Scootaloo walked to Carousel Boutique first, and knocked on the door.
Rarity opened the door to find a brightly smiling Scootaloo on her doorstep.
“Ah, hello Scootaloo,” Rarity said. “Sweetie Bell is still asleep, but I’ll wake her and send her out after she has some breakfast.”
“Oh... sorry. I got an early start this morning, and I kind of forgot how early it was,” Scootaloo said.
“Early? Why Scootaloo, it’s not early!” Rarity said. “It’s eight o’clock! Sweetie Bell is just being a... sleepy head. I’ll wake her and have her out in a half hour.”
Scootaloo could tell that Rarity was lying. Obviously, Sweetie Bell was having a “bad” morning, but she pretended to fall for it and thanked Rarity, she departed from the shop and went over to Sweet Apple Acres.
Applejack was busy doing her morning rounds, but she took notice of the young Pegasus filly quickly.
“Well good mornin’ to ya Scootaloo! Apple Bloom’s around here somewheres,” Applejack said.
“Hi Applejack! We’re going to get our Cutie Marks cleaning up the town! I know it!” Scootaloo said, knowing full well that it wasn’t going to happen, but she needed to keep up appearances that it was a legitimate idea, if mostly to fool Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom.
“Are ya now?” Applejack said coldly. “Seems like ev’ry pony wants to shirk their responsibilities on tha farm and clean up fer those kangaroos.”
“Applejack? What do you have against kangaroos?” Scootaloo asked.
“Ah don’t got nothin’ against kangaroos!” Applejack said defensively. “Ah jus’ don’ like wha’ they brought with ‘em. Now go on! Ah actually got real work ta do.”
Apple Bloom came around the corner a few moments later, and the two of them went back into town to find Sweetie Bell, who was standing absentmindedly in the centre of the High Street, looking blankly at the side of a wall.
“Cutie Mark Crusader Street Cleaners! YAY!” Apple Bloom called out.
“Yeah...” Scootaloo said. “Yay.”
|
Wheller
|
826
| 3 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-13T06:43:59+00:00
|
2011-09-13T06:43:59+00:00
| 1,964 |
Chapter 3
“This is the last place I want to be Monty.”
Pinkie Pie sat on a ridge overlooking her childhood home, oh so aptly named “rock farm.” Farming rocks, how stupid an idea that was. What Pinkie Pie’s parents had called rock farming was called prospecting by most. They were looking for gemstones.
The problem was that Pinkie Pies parents were uneducated, and actually believed that gems would grow inside the rocks if they were tended to properly. Pinkie Pie’s childhood had been wasted on pointless manual labour which rarely yielded a profit. Busting up rocks averaged 1 and half gemstones a year. Mind you, the money made from selling off one of those gems made the Pie family enough money to last them a year. Still, most of the time, it was wasted efforts. The Pie family farm was not far from the gemstone rich Splendid Valley, far enough that they had no significant finds, but close enough allowing one or two to be found a year.
“I know, Pinkie Pie. I know,” said the spectral pony sitting next to her. The ghost of Montana Ulhan, her deceased friend, had guided her here on a search for Limestone, something that the Pie family had a lot of. Clyde Pie, her father, was however not educated enough to realise that the Limestone on his property was worth far more in the long run than the occasional gemstone he and his family might find. When Pinkie was a child, Clyde had dismissed the limestone as useless, not realising it was well sought to make concrete and the Pie family had a lot of it.
“Home Sweet Home,” Pinkie Pie said sarcastically, brushing her straightened mane out of her eyes. Pinkie had been kicked off the farm years ago because she wanted to throw parties all the time instead of work. She hadn’t talked to her father, her mother, or either of her sisters, Inkie and Blinkie in several years.
“Don’t worry,” Monty said with a reassuring smile. “Nopony can see me except for you, and I will be with you every step of the way.”
Pinkie gave the spectral pony a shrug, and made her way down the road towards her childhood home. Inkie and Blinkie were loading rocks into a small pull cart to be taken over to the barn for inspection, but both of them stopped working, and watched as their sister approached them.
“Inkie, Blinkie, where’s pa?” Pinkie Pie asked coldly.
The two older Pie sisters pointed towards the house, and Pinkie trotted off without another word. She didn’t want to be here any longer.
Pinkie Pie opened the door to the farm house; her mother and father were looking over papers that looked to have been sent over by the local bank. Pointless, neither of them could read.
“Ma. Pa,” Pinkie Pie said coldly to her parents.
“Pinkie?” Clyde Pie asked in surprise.
“You named me Pinkamena, Pa, the least you can do is use it,” Pinkie Pie said catching her parents off guard with the bitterness in her voice.
“What do ya want?” Clyde asked.
Typical, no “How are you Pinkamena, we only haven’t seen or talked to you in years.”
“Limestone,” Pinkie Pie said simply. “I want all the Limestone on the farm.”
Clyde raised an eyebrow at his daughter in confusion; he thought it was worthless, he didn’t know why his daughter would want it. “Take it,” he said simply.
Oh, and she gladly would. “I’ll need you to sign this,” Pinkie Pie said, producing a small scroll from her saddlebag.
“What is it?” Clyde asked.
“Documentation that gives me the legal right to one hundred per cent of all Limestone found on this property. Sign it,” Pinkie Pie said, practically stuffing the document into Clyde’s face.
Clyde took a pen in his mouth and made a small scribble on the dotted line. It passed as the pony’s signature, and he handed it back to her. Pinkie Pie gave him a sadistic smile. “Thank you so much for signing the farm over to me Pa. It might just be the best thing you ever did for me!”
“Wha? I thought I was givin’ you rights to that useless Limestone!?” Clyde proclaimed.
“Oh. You did. You gave me rights to one hundred percent of the land. There is a lot of Limestone on the land Pa, and it’s not useless,” Pinkie Pie said, grinning sadistically at her father.
“You... you swindled me!” Clyde proclaimed in shock.
“Yep! I sure did... what are you going to do about it? Take me to court? You can’t even read,” Pinkie Pie said coldly, she pushed open the door. “You’ve got forty eight hours to get off my property. Otherwise I’ll be back with the Canterlot Police Service to force you off.”
...
Destroyed tanks smelled bad.
Despite being told to keep away from them. It was what the actual thing keeping the Cutie Mark Crusaders away from them. They didn’t realise the smell had come from the burnt up bodies of their crewmembers.
Scootaloo was mildly disappointed, but only because looking over the burnt out husks revealed nothing that she could find a use for. Though some of the markings on them did look cool. The Crusaders spent most of their day helping Big Macintosh and Braeburn pick up sandbags. They were heavy, but the fillies didn’t complain... much.
They were kids, of course they were going to complain, but it was in good spirit, they complained that the bags were heavy, not because they had to move them. In all actuality, they really didn’t have to help at all, and most of the town ponies weren’t. Derpy Hooves, Big Macintosh, Braeburn, Trixie, Lyra, Bon Bon, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Vinyl Scratch were the only ponies actually helping the kangaroos clean up. Everypony else went on about their business.
“Vinyl Scratch?” Scootaloo asked. “How come nopony else is helping?”
“‘Cause they think if they ignore the kangaroos they’ll go away,” Vinyl said.
“What? Really? That is so stupid! Do they actually think that?” Scootaloo asked in shock.
“Some of them really do,” Vinyl said, she was mostly thinking of Applejack and Rarity, but didn’t point them out specifically.
Applejack and Rarity had started to become a problem. Applejack was getting increasingly aggressive; it was only a matter of time before she actively tried to get the kangaroos out. Rarity had become a passive sycophant, blindly going along with whatever racist nonsense Applejack had begun to spew. Vinyl blamed the influence of the Siblings Nightmare. Whatever they had done, it was working. Applejack was the sort of pony that other ponies listened to, when they were actually on speaking terms, Applejack had pretty much been Twilight Sparkle’s second in command. She had a lot of influence, and her irrational spite towards the kangaroos was going to be nothing but trouble.
Vinyl had put a gun to the earth ponies’ head and told her to back off. She’d hoped it would have been enough, but clearly it wasn’t. Applejack probably had figured that Vinyl didn’t have the guts to have pulled the trigger.
Vinyl didn’t know what was worse, the fact that Applejack had been willing to take that risk, or the fact that Vinyl had been completely willing to pull the trigger.
Vinyl Scratch thought it through, was she really willing to take a life? She’d been in combat with gryphons before, she carried a gun, but she’d never killed anyone, and the way things were going in the world right now, she wouldn’t have the luxury of not having killed anyone for much longer.
But the more she thought about it, she realised that when it really came down to it, if there was a choice between the life of one of her friends, and the life of a gryphon who was trying to hurt them, then the choice was easy. She couldn’t afford to show hesitation at the thought of killing. Because no gryphon was going to show the same hesitation.
Vinyl Scratch looked over at Scootaloo. There was a filly worth fighting for. She and Vinyl had much in common, she wanted the best for the kid, and the best way to ensure that she got the best, was to ensure that she actually had a country to grow up in.
Choices were easy when it really came down to it.
|
Wheller
|
826
| 4 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-13T17:13:04+00:00
|
2011-09-13T17:13:04+00:00
| 1,891 |
Chapter 4
Scootaloo didn’t know what it was about a pile of unused rifles that made her heart race. She didn’t want one of them. Trying to work the bolt would be next to impossible for anypony but a mature unicorn. Then she remembered the scope that she’d taken from one of them. Now she felt guilty. What if it was worth more on one of these?
Scootaloo looked around to see if anyone was looking in her direction, she opened her saddlebag and removed the scope she’d taken yesterday, and placed it in the pile of unused rifles. It wasn’t fair for her to have taken it. Besides, she could always just find a regular small telescope and tape it to her Crusader Machine Carbine. She didn’t necessarily need this one.
It was nice, sure, but Scootaloo found herself falling back on her “take only what you need” rule. She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and she realised that taking the scope had bothered her much more than she thought it did.
Clop! Clop! Clop!
Scootaloo looked to her left. Vinyl Scratch was sitting several metres to her left, clapping her hooves together in slow applause. Scootaloo felt horribly embarrassed.
Vinyl rose and trotted over to the young Pegasus filly, smiling brightly at her. “I’m proud of you kid!” she said.
Scootaloo understood now, Vinyl didn’t tell her that stealing was wrong because she wanted Scootaloo to make the choice for herself. Clearly, she had passed. Scootaloo smiled back, and gave the off white unicorn a hug.
She looked up to Vinyl because she treated her like she was an adult. She let her make her own choices and face the consequences. Scootaloo liked that, Twilight or Rainbow Dash would have just told her that it was wrong and Scootaloo would have made the bad choice anyway.
She was happy to have Vinyl. She was like the older sister that Scootaloo had always wanted.
...
Vinyl was afraid that Scootaloo had begun to look up to her. She smiled for the Pegasus filly. But the thought of her as a role model scared her to no end. Vinyl Scratch was a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, the way she saw it, that was only one step removed from Scootaloo’s parents... a very small step removed. She grew up on the streets. She sold drugs for a greedy diamond dog. She didn’t finish school. The majority of her adult life revolved around drugs, alcohol, and sex.
How could Vinyl Scratch possibly be a good role model?
No. That wasn’t the way to think about it. Scootaloo needed her, and frankly, Vinyl needed Scootaloo. Maybe Vinyl hadn’t been a good role model in the past, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t become one. She wanted to be, not only for Scootaloo’s sake, but her own. The world had its temptations, and Vinyl Scratch wasn’t always sure that she was strong enough to resist them.
At least until now, Scootaloo was just a filly, and she’d been though a lot. If she could remain strong, then so could Vinyl Scratch.
“Find anything else interesting today?” Vinyl asked with a grin.
“Not really, some of the stuff painted on the tanks look pretty cool though... they smell real bad though,” Scootaloo said.
“Oh yeah, tell me about it! I hosed those suckers out. Smell was terrible!” Vinyl said with a small chuckle. “Come on kid, let’s get some dinner, I’ll make you my onion soup!”
Scootaloo smiled brightly at Vinyl, and the two walked off towards the library.
...
Sweetie Bell had stopped again.
Apple Bloom had volunteered to walk her home and stopped too. “Sweetie Bell, you spacin’ out again?” she asked.
“No,” Sweetie Bell said. “Just looking.”
Apple Bloom approached her friend and looked at what she was looking at. It was one of the Kangaroo VC Firefly tanks, just sitting there.
Sweetie Bell found it interesting and began to approach it.
“Sweetie Bell!” Apple Bloom called out.
“What? I’m just lookin’!” Sweetie Bell said as she crossed the street to where the Firefly was parked at. She went around back and climbed up onto the hull. She looked over the turret and smiled brightly. “Yar! Ah be a Pirate!” She called out, “Cap’n Sweetie Bell ta poopdeck! Full speed ahead!”
Apple Bloom didn’t get it, until she spotted the name printed on the side of the tank. Shiver Me Timbers!
“Yar! Firs’ Mate Apple Bloom! Where ye be?” Sweetie Bell called out. Apple Bloom wasted no time, and ran around the back and climbed up.
The engine of the tank started, and the top hatch opened up, a kangaroo poked his head out from the inside, startling the two fillies.
“Yar! Ye be havin’ a course for me Cap’n?” The kangaroo driver said, taking on a funny sounding pirate accent.
Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom looked at each other with a huge grin forming on their faces.
“Yar! Thattaway!” Sweetie Bell said pointing along the south-western road.
“Aye Aye Cap’n!” the kangaroo driver said, pulling himself back inside the hatch and throwing the tank into gear. The Firefly moved slowly, turning towards the southwest and picking up speed to about 10 kilometres an hour.
“Cutie Mark Crusader Tank Pirates! YAY!”
The VC Firefly continued to roll down the road, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell continued to shout various pirate phrases as loud as they could over the Firefly’s engine, they didn’t notice when they passed Sweet Apple Acres.
“Apple Bloom! What in tarnation do ya think yer doin?” Applejack called out.
Apple Bloom turned around to see Applejack was galloping behind the tank, looking incredibly angry at her.
“We’re Cutie Mark Crusader Tank Pirates!” Apple Bloom called out.
“Yar!” Sweetie Bell called out. “Ye be walkin’ the plank!”
The Firefly stopped; apparently, the driver had noticed they had a follower, causing Applejack to slam head on into the back of the tank.
“Consarn it!” Applejack cried out in pain as she rubbed her head with her hoof.
The turret hatch opened up and the kangaroo poked his head out. “Is there a problem miss? He asked.”
“Is there a...” Applejack said. “You! Yer name! What is it?”
“Corporal Elliot Southerland, 1st Royal South Island Tank Regiment,” Southerland said plainly.
“And what do ya think yer doing? With mah sister?” Applejack asked.
Elliot looked at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell and smiled. “Yar! Cutie Mark Crusader Tank Pirates!” he called out in a pirate accent and popped inside the tank and threw it in gear, driving off at high speed amongst the children’s cheers.
Applejack looked angrily at the Firefly tank as it drove off. Elliot Southerland had just made the list.
...
Pinkie Pie sat on the ridge above her childhood home, looking through a pair of binoculars, forty-eight hours had passed, and her family was still working the farm, just as suspected.
“I appreciate you coming out here...” Pinkie Pie began, looking at the uniformed police pony sitting next to her.
“Inspector Butterscotch Sundae,” The uniformed mare said.
“I appreciate you coming out here Inspector Sundae; these squatters won’t leave my land!” Pinkie Pie said.
“No trouble at all ma’am. Sergeant Apple Cider and PC Sandy will be making the arrest; we’ve got plenty of back up though in case they get violent,” Inspector Sundae said.
The two police ponies approached the Pie farm. Clyde Pie looked up and watched as they approached.
“Clyde Pie?” Sergeant Apple Cider asked.
“Yes?” Clyde asked in return.
“I’m arresting you for squatting on the land of Pinkamena Diane Pie. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence,” the Sergeant said.
“Ya’ll are joking,” Clyde Pie said. “This is my land!”
“Do we look like we’re joking sir?” Constable Sandy asked.
Clyde knew that they were serious. While Clyde didn’t know much about the law, he did know that if the Police had to get involved with somepony squatting on the land, then it meant jail time.
He charged at the two Police Officers, and lunged at them with the intention to kick. The police were faster, however and quickly subdued the man before restraining him. The backup was quick to rush in, and within a few moments, Inkie, Blinkie, Clyde, and Sue Pie were all being dragged back up the hill.
“They never want to make it easy...” Butterscotch Sundae said shaking her head.
“You are no daughter of mine Pinkamena!” Clyde called as Sergeant Apple Cider pulled him by.
“You can’t disown me again Pa, you already did that when you sent me to live in Ponyville,” Pinkie Pie said.
Her ‘family’ was gone. Now it was time to get to work.
|
Wheller
|
826
| 5 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-14T15:56:58+00:00
|
2011-09-14T15:56:58+00:00
| 1,634 |
Chapter 5
Corporal Elliot Southerland dropped Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell of in front of Carousel Boutique, He popped his head out of the tank to wave the children goodbye, giving them a “yar!” as he drove the VC Firefly back to where he was supposed to be parked. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell waved back. It had been the most fun that they’d had in a very long time.
Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom stepped inside, giggling loudly.
“Sweetie Bell? Is that you?” Rarity called out from another room.
“Yeah! Apple Bloom is here too!” Sweetie Bell said, she crossed over to the kitchen sink and got herself a glass of water. “You want some water Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Bell asked.
“Yes please!” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Bell got her friend one too.
Sweetie Bell picked up a small plastic bottle and unscrewed the lid, dumping a single pill out and popping it into her mouth when Apple Bloom had her head turned, followed by a drink of water, when she quickly tucked the bottle away. A bright smile formed on Sweetie Bells face as she went over and gave Apple Bloom a hug.
“I missed spending time with you and Scootaloo when I was in the hospital,” Sweetie Bell said. “Promise me we’re gonna be best friends forever?”
“Uh duh!” Apple Bloom said hugging her friend back. “‘Course we are! Well ah gotta go home befer Applejack gets mad at me fer bein’ out late. Ah’ll see ya tomorrow.”
“Bye bye Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Bell called out as Apple Bloom went out the front door.
Rarity walked into the room and smiled at her younger sister. “How was your day today Sweetie?” she asked.
“It was super! I had so much fun!” Sweetie Bell called out.
“I’m so glad to hear it!” Rarity said. “See? I told you that you would be fine without your medicine.”
“Yeah... you were right!” Sweetie Bell said with a grin.
“Well, I’m glad you had fun, but I need to get back to work, there are leftovers in the refrigerator if you get hungry,” Rarity said as she went back into the other room.
Sweetie Bell had been lying through her teeth.
...
Clink!
Princess Luna opened her eyes, and was somewhat surprised to find that it was dark. Dark as in the absence of light, not dark as in night time, worse still, when she tried to move, she discovered that she couldn’t move more than a metre from her position. She was chained to a wall.
Chains? Really? She thought to herself as she used her magic to bust the shackles open. They popped off without effort.
Well, problem solved. Now onto the next one, why was she here?
And then she remembered.
Tia!
Luna snorted in anger. How dare her sister try and lock her up! Celestia had been acting like a selfish little filly when Luna defied her, allowing the kangaroo XX Corps to retreat into Equestria rather than face utter annihilation. Luna’s horn lit up the room; she was definitely in the dungeons of the Canterlot palace.
Something was wrong though. Celestia knew that these dungeons couldn’t hold her. There were no magic dampening fields to keep her in, and even then, Luna had other tricks that she could try to get out. Clearly, Celestia wasn’t concerned with keeping her in here.
Luna burst through the door into a torch lit hallway. No guards, clearly not trying to keep her in... unless of course, that nopony had to try and keep her in.
Luna knew that the dungeon complex of the castle was extremely large, and the exits were not marked, a pony could spend a very long time trying to get out. She was worried about the others. Particularly Ambassador Goyle, Luna assumed that Celestia would leave him alone, harming him would bring the full wraith of South Island down upon them, which was exactly the opposite of what Celestia wanted, but then again, that was assuming that Celestia would be acting rationally.
Luna decided that she wasn’t going to worry about it right now. Her primary focus was escaping. She cast a compass spell, which pointed north out to her, she turned to the north and ran along the corridors, hoping that if she could maintain a northerly direction, she would eventually find an exit. This however proved to be difficult, as there were many forking hallways, many of them dead ended abruptly, whoever had designed this place had wanted to make escape a futile attempt.
Luna continued to run down hallways, and startled herself upon tripping over the skeletal remains of a prisoner who had escaped his cell, only to be lost in the endless maze until he or she starved to death.
Luna examined the skeleton closely. It had been here for a very, very long time as all the flesh had been stripped away. Around the skeletons neck was a pendant. Luna removed it from their neck and looked at it closely. It was incredibly dusty, but after wiping the dust off, it revealed an inscription.
Long Live Cromwell!
Cromwell... Luna had heard that name before, but she wasn’t sure where.
Not important right now. Escape.
Luna turned down the hallway and continued along the path, she was moving in a westerly direction, and hoped that she’d find a pathway that would take her to the north.
She rounded the corner, only to find a dead end.
Now she was getting angry. This was ridiculous and she’d had enough of it. Luna let out a scream in frustration and found herself unlocking a special ability that she’d forgotten that she had.
Anypony locked in the dungeons would have heard a loud howl and an angry clicking noise.
Tacka-tacka-tacka-tacka-tacka-tacka!
A cloud of purple smoke funnelled itself through the cracks between bricks flowing upwards through levels of the dungeon.
The purple smoke found itself in hallway in the castle proper, and it soon reformed into Princess Luna, dropping her down onto the floor, she was exhausted, panting heavily as she lay on the floor.
No, couldn’t afford to stop now, had to keep going. Luna forced herself to her hooves and dashed along the hallway for an open window. With a strong leap, she dived out the window and opened her wings. Luna was flying out above Canterlot. She pointed herself towards Ponyville and hoped she had the energy to make it there.
She was halfway through Whitetail Wood when she couldn’t go any further. She lost consciousness and fell.
...
Rainbow Dash was flying several hundred metres above town, with a pair of binoculars, looking to the northwest. Making sure that nothing was on its way here that they didn’t want.
“Rainbow Dash?!” called a voice from down below. Rainbow Dash looked to see Sergeant Percy Tebbs, the tank commander of the M3 Light Tank, Lord Stuart. Sergeant Tebbs was practically their closest kangaroo friend. Rainbow Dash flew to the ground to meet the kangaroo.
“Sup Perce?” Rainbow Dash asked him.
“Got a present for ya!” Tebbs said. He produced a pistol out from behind him. Rainbow Dash recognised it immediately. It was the 10mm Pistol that she’d carried during her flash forwards, but had never actually fired.
“Thank you!” Rainbow Dash said accepting the pistol, biting down on the hand grip and taking it in her teeth.
“You’re welcome!” Tebbs said. “Took a bit of work getting that for you, Revolvers are standard issue for the South Island Army, but I figured you’d appreciate something with a higher ammunition capacity.”
Rainbow Dash smiled at the kangaroo for the gift, nearly dropping the pistol in the process.
That was when they heard a loud crash from the direction of Whitetail Wood. Sound carried very well from that forest, as they had found out before.
Rainbow Dash leapt into the air to investigate.
“Wait! Rainbow! We’ll come with you!” Tebbs called out after her, but Rainbow hadn’t heard.
Rainbow flew at high speed towards the source of the crash, it had been easy to find from the air, and Rainbow had good eyes. She dived down towards the source and landed softly on the ground.
“Prinphses Loorah?” Rainbow Dash said with a mouth full of gun. Indeed, lying before her was the unconscious form of Equestria’s younger princess. Rainbow Dash slipped her 10mm pistol into her saddlebag and picked up the princess and put her on her back and turned to walk back towards Ponyville.
A few minutes later, the Lord Stuart rolled up along the path; Tebbs had his head out of the hatch, looking at her. “Crazy pony! Haven’t you learned not to run off anywhere without support?”
Rainbow shrugged, and Tebbs hopped out of the tank to help load the unconscious princess onto the back of the tank. Rainbow Dash crawled up with her and set in for the ride back to Ponyville.
|
Wheller
|
826
| 6 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-14T19:57:29+00:00
|
2011-09-14T19:57:29+00:00
| 1,984 |
Chapter 6
The sun had gone down by this point; Vinyl Scratch and Scootaloo were walking down the high street away from the Ponyville Library.
“Where did you learn to cook like that Vinyl?” Scootaloo asked, the delicious taste of Vinyl Scratch’s onion soup still tickling her mouth.
“Trial and error!” Vinyl said with a grin. “I remember the first time I made something. Almost caught an entire city block on fire.”
Scootaloo looked at Vinyl widely, unsure if she was being serious or not.
“What? The buildings were old! Old stuff burns more!” Vinyl said, still grinning like the madmare she was.
Scootaloo smiled and laughed lightly at the unicorn, she stopped and gave her a hug. “Thank you so much, I’ve never had anypony treat me as good as you do!” she said, Scootaloo was starting to cry. This was the happiest she had ever been in her entire life.
Vinyl looked down at the Pegasus filly before her and was very glad she had her goggles on. Because she was starting to cry too, she embraced the filly, doing her best to hold back the sniffles.
“I love you Vinyl Scratch,” Scootaloo said. Vinyl couldn’t take it anymore; she broke down and removed her goggles, tears streamed down her muzzle as she looked the filly in the eyes.
“I love you too Scootaloo.”
They were to each other, the loving family that neither of them had ever had.
Then came the hard part, Scootaloo was still a kid, and if somepony figured out that Scootaloo was living on her own and reported it to social services, Scootaloo would be taken away, likely to never see Ponyville ever again.
Scootaloo was afraid of that more than anything else, she could imagine what life without Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell, and now her de facto sister Vinyl Scratch, would be like. Scootaloo had even more of a reason not to get caught. She was going to have to be more careful than she ever had before.
What happened to childhood being simple? Vinyl and Scootaloo made their way towards Sweet Apple Acres; the CMC clubhouse was located in the northern most part of the Apple farm, and easy to get to from here for most ponies that would be able to get over the fence. Vinyl helped Scootaloo climb it; after a quick wave goodbye, she took off into the apple farm towards her temporary home.
Temporary is what it needed to be. Vinyl Scratch knew that Applejack was going to be a problem, she had visibly become increasingly hostile to Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash and Vinyl Scratch, and it was only a matter of time before she would start to use violence against them.
This Applejack was not the one that Twilight had described to Vinyl as the reliable, dependable, hard working earth pony who would do anything for her friends. Something had happened to Applejack, Vinyl simply couldn’t be sure that she wouldn’t try to hurt Scootaloo to get at them when she discovered how much the Pegasus filly meant to Vinyl.
Vinyl had already decided that if Applejack did harm even a hair upon Scootaloo’s head, she would end her.
...
The light tank stopped in front of the Ponyville Library, Rainbow Dash and Sergeant Tebbs both struggled to carry the night princess inside. Twilight was quietly reading a book, A Complete History of the Kingdom of United Welara, 1170 SE Edition, when she looked up to see Rainbow and Tebbs carrying Luna inside.
“Rainbow? What happened to her?” she called out frantically.
“I don’t know! I found her like this!” Rainbow said.
Twilight checked over her friend closely, checking to make sure she was actually breathing, which she was, however faintly.
“What’s this?” Rainbow asked as she looked at the pendant around her neck. “Long live Cromwell?”
“Cromwell again huh?” Twilight said quietly.
Rainbow Dash looked at her to explain.
Twilight looked up at Rainbow and Tebbs, “I finally got around to looking at that book that you gave me Sergeant. Back when you were driving us home from the Hoofson Bay? Well I’ve discovered something quite interesting. Listen to this Rainbow.”
Twilight crossed back over to where her book was lying and turned to a page at the front of a book she was reading.
“In the year negative one SE (Since exodus), Equestrian politician Oberlander Cromwell faced his greatest challenge yet, gaining political freedom for the earth ponies in the unicorn dominated society of the Principality of Equestria. His campaign to install a parliamentary government in Equestria however was cut short when the unicorn guard arrested him on charges of sedition, on the explicit orders of Princess Celestia the terrible. He was to be locked in the dungeons of the royal castle indefinitely, where he would be held without trial until his death. However this did not spell the end for Oberlander Cromwell, as thousands of earth ponies raided the prison convoy from Everfree plains to Canterlot, killing every single of the guardsmen and liberated Cromwell from his captors. Cromwell lead these ponies to Fillydelphia Province, burning everything as they went along, upon reaching the Fillydelphia harbour, Cromwell lead a popular uprising of the town’s earth ponies, overthrowing the oppressive unicorn minority.
Cromwell, fearing for the safety of those who followed him, announced that the earth ponies under his leadership could not stay in Equestria, instead, they promptly stole every vessel in the harbour, and set sail on a mass exodus away from Equestria forever, after months of sailing, they landed on the island of Welara, at the city known today as Hoofsmouth. Cromwell personally lead his people inland, and founded several settlements across Welara, and establishing a representative government, which is still serving today. Interrupted only by brief periods of civil war, and the establishment of the monarchy of Welara, (see chapter 8).
Cromwell proclaimed himself Lord Protector of Welara, but soon after mysteriously disappeared with no trace. Several theories have been formed over the years, but the most accepted one was that he was assassinated by an Equestrian agent...”
Twilight stopped reading, Rainbow had her mouth open. Tebbs however looked unsurprised.
“You’d never heard any of that?” he asked. “Welera got really powerful really quickly. Within two hundred years, they’d colonised everybody, Kangaroo, Wallaby, Dingo and Zebra. Only been recent that they’ve all gotten their independence.”
“That’s not what I’m concerned with,” Twilight said, plopping the book down and opening to an illustration of Oberlander Cromwell. Cromwell was a pitch black pony with an equally black mane, his flank was without a Cutie Mark, and his eyes were glowing amber.
“You’re kidding,” Rainbow Dash said.
“No,” Twilight said, shaking her head. “Oberlander Cromwell and the Siblings Nightmare are one and the same.”
...
Apple Bloom took a step into Sweet Apple Acres, and no sooner than that was she bombarded by a shrill, angry sounding voice.
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack called out to her.
Oh boy.
Apple Bloom walked slowly towards her older sister, trying to delay the inevitable as long as possible. It was not enough.
“Apple Bloom...” Applejack repeated. Anger swarmed through the earth pony’s face. “What. Did. Ah. Tell. Ya. ‘Bout. Kangaroos?”
Apple Bloom swallowed hard. “Ya know wha’? Ah don’ care what ya said! Ah actually talked ta them kangaroos! They’s nice folk! Ya’ll jus’ bein’ stupid!”
Apple Bloom was as much shocked that she’d said that to Applejack as Applejack was to have heard it from her sister’s mouth. Apple Bloom hadn’t the slightest idea where that came from, but she knew she was right. Applejack was being ridiculous.
“What did you say to me?” Applejack said with deadly seriousness, she spoke slowly, enunciating every word as perfectly as the standard accent for Canterlot Province.
“Ah said! Ya’ll are bein’ stupid!” Apple Bloom said again. In the back of her mind, Apple Bloom was asking herself where this other Apple Bloom came from, she was scared, but for some reason, she found herself unable to do anything but stand up to her sister.
“Why ya little...” Applejack said; she was nearly foaming with anger. She raised a hoof and struck Apple Bloom hard, sending the filly scattering to the ground.
“Ah feed ya!” Applejack said, striking Apple Bloom again. “Ah make sure ya have a place ta sleep!” she struck again. “Ah provide for ya!” she struck again. Then again. Then again. Then again. Then again.
“Applejack!”
Applejack had raised her hoof to strike again, but stopped half way, Big Macintosh had called out to her. He was standing, looking down at Applejack’s hooves.
Applejack looked down. “A... Apple Bloom?” she asked weakly.
Apple Bloom struggled to open her blackened eyes, blood was dripping from her nose and mouth, her legs were all broken, and likely were several of her ribs.
“Apple Bloom?” Applejack asked again.
No response.
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack cried frantically.
No response.
“APPLE BLOOM!”
|
Wheller
|
826
| 7 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-15T06:30:22+00:00
|
2011-09-15T06:30:22+00:00
| 1,687 |
Chapter 7
Applejack stood in horror of the sight before her, the mangled body of her younger sister lying at her hooves was not something that she was prepared to see.
“Apple Bloom! Ah... ah gotta git ya to a hospital!” Applejack called out.
Big Macintosh appeared at her side, pushing her out of the way. “Ah reckon ya did enough,” The draught pony said coldly, he gingerly lifted Apple Bloom onto his back and trotted off gently towards the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, trying not to rattle her around.
Big Macintosh entered town, and quickly came across the crews of the VC Fireflies leaning against their tanks.
“Ya’ll there! Ah need ya help!” Big Macintosh called out, the tank crew’s attention was caught, they looked at the broken body of Apple Bloom on the draught ponies back, they needed no further explanation; both crews climbed into their tanks and started up.
“Just point the way to hospital!” the commander of VC Firefly God Save The King said as they helped Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom onto the back of the tank.
Big Macintosh pointed what road they needed to follow, and with that, God Save The King took off at high speed with Shiver Me Timbers! in close second. The tanks barrelled through Whitetail Wood and up the mountain pass towards Canterlot. Big Macintosh held onto Apple Bloom for dear life.
The Canterlot city ponies panicked on the sight of the VC Firefly tanks rolling through their street.
“Out of tha way!” Big Macintosh called out. “Git outta tha way! It’s an emergency!”
Most ponies had the sense to do so. More of them panicked, calling out for someone to summon the royal guard. Big Macintosh wasn’t about to let anypony get in the way of getting his sister to the Royal Hospital, even if they had to roll over a detachment of the guard to do it.
The Fireflies’ speed however proved it to be unnecessary to worry; they arrived in front of the Royal Hospital in record timing.
Big Macintosh climbed off the back and with the help of several of the kangaroo crew, gently lowered Apple Bloom down to his back. He quickly trotted inside.
“Ah need a doctor! Right now or mah lil’ sister is gonna die!” Big Macintosh called out as he entered the room.
The medical ponies took noticed of the badly hurt Apple Bloom and they all leapt up. The medical ponies took Apple Bloom back. Her life was in their hooves now.
...
Big Macintosh and Corporal Elliot Southerland waited outside the room that they’d taken Apple Bloom to. They waited in silence for hours while the doctors did everything that they could for the filly.
Elliot turned to Big Macintosh and broke the silence. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now.”
Big Macintosh did not reply. He just kept going over what had happened.
“I met her; she and her friend rode on my tank pretending to be pirates,” Elliot said. “Then this happens not an hour later.”
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said simply.
Elliot frowned. “I’m going to go find the canteen. See if I can’t get a cup of tea... You want me to bring you back anything?”
“No,” Big Macintosh said.
“All right, I’ll be back in a little while,” Elliot said solemnly, hopping off down the corridor.
Big Macintosh went over it in his head; it didn’t make sense to him, but he did know one thing. Applejack had a lot to answer for.
...
Applejack knocked on the door to the Ponyville Library. It swung open to reveal Rainbow Dash standing in the doorway.
“Hi... Rainbow,” Applejack said nervously.
Rainbow was not pleased to see the earth pony mare before her. “What do you want, Applejack?”
“Ah... Ah need ya’lls help. Ah... Ah did somethin’ Ah shouldn’ have,” Applejack said.
Rainbow squinted angrily at Applejack, causing the earth pony to bite her lip.
“I get it now, when we come to you and ask for help, it’s totally okay for you to say no and walk away, but when you need help, it’s totally okay for you to come crawling to us!” Rainbow Dash said angrily. “Go home Applejack.”
Rainbow Dash slammed the door in her face and locked it tightly behind her.
Applejack’s mouth fell open, and she looked down at the ground in shame. Rainbow Dash was right, and she knew it. Applejack had screwed up royally, and now she had nopony to help her with what she’d done.
Unless... Rarity had supported her during the confrontation with Twilight & Co. Maybe she would help.
Applejack walked to the other end of town towards Rarity’s shop and knocked on the door.
Rarity opened the door, looking at the distraught earth pony in front of her.
“Applejack? It’s getting rather late...”
“Ah know... Ah... Ah need your help,” Applejack said in shame. “Can... ah come in?”
“Yes! Of course, please! Come right in!” Rarity said, allowing Applejack passage. “Poor dear, tell me what’s wrong!”
“Ah... got mad,” Applejack said. “At Apple Bloom fer not listin’ ta me... an’ ah hit her, Ah couldn’ stop! Ah hit her, an’ hit her, an’ hit her! Ah... Ah woulda killed her if Big Macintosh hadn’t stopped me!”
“What?” called another voice from the room. Sweetie Bell was standing not five metres from the older mares, standing with her mouth open wide in shock. “Apple Bloom is... you did...”
Sweetie Bell’s eyes filled with anger and she gritted her teeth, she galloped across the room and kicked Applejack as hard as her tiny body could muster, the blow landing just at Applejack’s knee, sending the earth pony toppling to the ground.
Applejack’s anger flared. “Why ya little...!” Applejack raised a hoof into the air, causing Sweetie Bell to cringe back in fear.
“Applejack!” Rarity called out to her. “What are you doing?”
Applejack snapped back to reality, discovering her hoof floating in the air, she put it down. “Ah... ah...”
“Applejack, I am still your friend,” Rarity said quietly. “But what you just did is unforgiveable. I think you need to go home Applejack.”
Applejack rose to her hooves and departed from the shop without another word.
...
Rainbow slammed the door in Applejack’s face, turning the lock loudly, and storming back upstairs. She pulled the bed sheets back and climbed into bed, still fuming.
“Rainbow?” Twilight asked, rolling over from the other side of the bed to look at her. “Who was it?”
“Applejack,” Rainbow Dash said coldly. “You would not believe her! After what she did when we asked her for her help, she comes crawling back here, and actually has the nerve to ask us for our help! I told her to go home and I shut the door in her face.”
“Rainbow...” Twilight said with a frown, “You shouldn’t have done that! We should have listened to what she had to say! We’re supposed to be the better ponies remember?”
“I don’t care! Applejack can’t treat us like that without consequences!” Rainbow said. “Well there they are!”
“I guess you’re right” Twilight said with a frown. “I have to wonder what she wanted though...”
Rainbow pulled Twilight close to her, planting a small kiss on her muzzle. “It doesn’t matter. Just go back to sleep, you’re adorable when you sleep.”
Twilight smiled, and closed her eyes, soon enough, she and Rainbow both drifted off to sleep.
...
Applejack staggered haphazardly into the barn, the earth pony was drunk off her arse, she’d spent the last hour washing her sorrows in alcohol, but to no avail. No matter how much she drank, she knew that the pain caused by what she had done to Apple Bloom could not go away. She had staggered up the stairs to the barn’s rafters, plopping herself down.
And there it was, sitting next to her; almost beckoning to her was a coil of rope. Applejack picked it up and fashioned one end into a loop. Tears streamed down her face as she drunkenly struggled to tie it. When she was satisfied with it, nearly an hour later and what seemed like endless drunken attempts, she placed the loop around her neck and spent the next hour attempting to tie the other end to the rafter.
Applejack was satisfied with her work she gave the end tied to the rafter a quick tug, it held fast, perfect for its last duty.
“Ah’m sorry Apple Bloom,” Applejack said, tears streaming down the earth pony’s muzzle. “Ah promise ya, Ah’m gonna make up fer it!”
Applejack stood up slowly, nearly falling down again from the drink in her. She looked over the edge of the rafter, took her last deep breath, and jumped.
|
Wheller
|
826
| 8 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-15T17:31:15+00:00
|
2011-09-15T17:31:15+00:00
| 1,968 |
Chapter 8
Scootaloo awoke as she always did just before dawn. Had to be up and out of the clubhouse before the Apple Family awoke for their morning chores, lest Applejack or Big Macintosh discover her living here.
Scootaloo quickly and tidied up the clubhouse, within a few moments, it looked as if it had been unoccupied for the entire night. Satisfied with this, Scootaloo walked down the ramp and took off dashing towards the entrance to the apple farm. She wasn’t even going to try going over the fence, she was too small to make it over, and her wings hadn’t finished growing yet.
Scootaloo neared the barn and stopped dead in her tracks. The barn door was open, which means somepony had opened it. Scootaloo panicked, was the Apple family already awake? She couldn’t afford to be seen by any of them. She quickly and quietly darted towards the side of the barn, pressing herself up against the side of it and tip-hoofing around to take a quick peek inside to make sure it was empty.
It wasn’t.
Scootaloo screamed as loud as she could at the sight before her and took off running.
Applejack was dangling from the barn’s rafters, swaying back and forth gently.
Scootaloo didn’t stop running until she passed the Ponyville public library; she banged on the door loudly.
Vinyl was quick to open the door, as she slept on the sofa in the main room; she was the closest to it.
“Scootaloo?” Vinyl asked. “What’s wrong?”
“I... I.... you have to see!” Scootaloo said frantically.
Twilight and Rainbow Dash had come down the stairs at this point. “Vinyl? Is something going on?” Twilight asked sleepily.
“I got it! Don’t worry! Just go back to bed you two!” Vinyl said, flashing a reassuring grin at the two mares behind her,
Vinyl followed Scootaloo out the door and galloped after her towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Vinyl’s mouth fell open upon seeing what Scootaloo had brought her hear for. Applejack’s body was suspended several metres off the ground... and it looked as if she’d been there a while. Vinyl looked at Scootaloo, who was shaking in fear of what she had seen. Vinyl frowned, why did it have to be Scootaloo? They were going to have to call the Canterlot Police Service, and they were going to want to talk to whoever found the body... and then Scootaloo would have to explain what she was doing out here. If the police talked to Scootaloo, they were going to find out that she was a runaway, and they were legally obligated to call Social Services.
If they did that, then Vinyl would likely not be allowed to see her de facto sister again. She couldn’t allow that, for both of their sakes.
“Scootaloo? Listen to me; this is very, very important. You were not here. You were never here. You didn’t find Applejack like this. I did. I like to go on early morning walks, as many ponies in town will attest to; I walked by, noticed something odd about the Apple family barn, and found the body... You were at home asleep in the warm bed provided for you by your loving family,” Vinyl said.
Scootaloo was beginning to understand what Vinyl meant.
“So you need to go hide somewhere for the next couple of hours, I’ll come find you when it’s safe to come out. Move quickly and quietly, and try not to be seen!” Vinyl said.
Scootaloo nodded, and galloped away from the farm.
Vinyl looked at the swinging earth pony and frowned, she hadn’t actually wanted harm to come to Applejack. Vinyl reached out with magic, taking Applejack’s body in hold and severing the rope holding her to the rafters, lying her down gently on the ground below. The least she could do was give the mare a little dignity.
And with that, Vinyl galloped away to get the police.
...
Applejack’s body lay still on the ground, it was quiet, still, and unassuming. The mare finally looked at peace with her death, and at peace she was, but it was not meant to be.
A faint noise could be heard from just outside the barn, and where Applejack alive to hear it, she would likely have jumped.
Docka-docka-docka- docka-docka.
The insidious cloud of grey smoke rolled into the barn, it had other ideas for Applejack.
It swarmed around her, enveloping her body fully, and after a few seconds. It retreated. Going out the door and leaving the mare’s body alone.
Applejack’s eyes opened and she sat up, gasping for air. “What in tarnation...?”
Applejack looked at her surroundings. She was in the barn... and then she remembered what she had been doing, she looked at the rafters, she had failed.
Applejack’s ears drooped in disappointment, but this was a farm, there were many tools that she could use here.
Applejack stood up and went over to the tool shed, taking out a pitch fork; she stabbed herself in the chest with it, pulling it out just as quickly as it went in.
Applejack smiled, she collapsed as she bled out onto the floor, this was sure to do it; the mare closed her eyes, and drifted off again.
...
Applejack’s eyes opened and she gasped for air, she was lying in her own blood, but the wounds that she’d made with the pitch fork had closed. Applejack was okay.
This was the exact opposite of what she wanted to be, this shouldn’t have been possible. Yet here she was, still alive and dandy. The sun had risen by this point, but Applejack wasn’t discouraged. She walked outside and began to climb up to the roof of the barn; she was standing at the highest point on the rooftop, looking down at the ground before her... it was a long way down.
Vinyl Scratch had returned with the police by this point, two detectives, and a dozen or so uniformed plods. Vinyl’s mouth fell wide open upon seeing Applejack standing at the top of her barn.
“We’ve got a jumper!” one of the detectives called out and approached towards the barn. “Hey! Let’s take it easy okay! You don’t need to jump!”
Applejack looked down at the detective. “Yeah Ah do!” she said, taking a step towards the edge.
“Whoa! Hey! Hold on a moment! Talk to me! Talk to me for a minute, help me understand why you need to, can you tell me your name?”
“Applejack.”
“Okay Applejack, I’m Detective Sergeant Lucky!” the stallion said, DS Lucky was a stallion with a blue coat, blue eyes, a spiky black mane, and a four leaf clover for a cutie mark. Lucky needed all the luck he could get. “How about you tell me what lead you to this?”
“Ah hurt mah sister!” Applejack said, tears beginning to flow from her face. “Ah tried to kill mahself twice so far! Didn’t work, third time’s tha charm!”
“Applejack! Listen to me, you don’t have to do this, how is your sister going to feel when she finds out you’re dead?” Lucky asked her.
“Ah hope she’ll be happy!” Applejack said. “Ah been a bad sister!”
“I don’t think you’re bad, obviously family is important to you. Your sister is going to need you! You can’t abandon her like this!” Lucky said.
Applejack thought about it. Applejack had been a bad sister, yes; she’d been a bad friend, yes. But she didn’t have to be any longer. Ponyville needed her and she needed to be there for her family and friends.
“All right! Ah’m gonna climb down now!” Applejack said, and then it hit her, as if a wind of clarity had breezed over the pony. Applejack didn’t know it, but she’d broken the Siblings Nightmare’s influence over her. Applejack climbed down from the roof of the barn and looked at Detective Sergeant Lucky, giving him a smile. “Ah’m sorry ya’ll had ta come out here for somethin’ as stupid as this.”
“Well what’s important is that you’re okay,” Lucky said.
Vinyl was still standing with her mouth open in shock. Applejack had been dead when she had last been here.
“Going to catch flies that way miss,” DS lucky said. “All right, let’s pack this up!”
Soon enough, the police had gone, leaving only Vinyl Scratch, still standing with her mouth open looking at Applejack in disbelief. Applejack looked back at her and shrugged.
“Ah don’t understand it either, ah should be dead, but ah’m not,” Applejack said. “Ah owe ya an apology though. Ah wasn’t polite to ya when ya came ta town. Let’s start over, Ah’m Applejack.”
Applejack extended a hoof, Vinyl Scratch was hesitant to take it at first, but decided it was better to make amends. Ponyville was going to need her in the time to come.
“Vinyl Scratch,” Vinyl said, accepting her shake.
“Pleased to meetcha,” Applejack said. “Now if ya’ll excuse me, Ah got a bunch o’ ponies Ah need ta apologise ta.”
|
Wheller
|
826
| 9 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-16T06:52:50+00:00
|
2011-09-16T06:52:50+00:00
| 1,792 |
Chapter 9
Applejack knocked on the door to the Ponyville Library; it swung open to reveal Rainbow Dash standing in the opening.
“Go away Applejack,” Rainbow said flatly.
“Rainbow, wait. Ah know yer mad at me, and ya’ll got every reason ta be. Ah been a jerk, Ah been actin’ stupid. Ah know tha’ now, and Ah came ta apologise.”
Rainbow Dash stood in the doorway staring at Applejack with a neutral expression on her face for about thirty seconds before finally stepping aside. “Come in,” she said.
Applejack stepped inside the Library; Twilight looked up from A Complete History of the Kingdom of United Welara, 1170 SE Edition, and towards Applejack, surprised to see the earth pony at all.
Applejack closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Ah wanted ta say, Ah’m sorry fer mah behaviour. Ah been stupid, an’ Ah see tha’ now.”
Applejack opened her eyes and looked at Rainbow Dash and Twilight. “Ah hope ya’ll can forgive me.”
Both Rainbow Dash and Twilight gasped loudly, their mouths dropped open.
“What?” Applejack asked.
“Applejack... your eyes,” Twilight said, levitating a small mirror for Applejack to look at.
Applejack looked at her reflection in the mirror, she gasped. Her irises were blood red.
...
Pinkie Pie rolled a spool of wires away from the Pie farm house as the spectral Monty Ulhan watched from the side.
“I have to ask...”
“Where did I get dynamite?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Puh-lease! I used to use nitro-glycerine to bake cupcakes! Mister and Missus Cake made me stop.”
“One has to wonder how your baking has yet to kill anypony,” Monty said.
“Beats me, I liked to experiment,” Pinkie Pie said as she finished unspooling the wires, connecting them to a detonator.
“Is this wise?” Monty asked.
“I know how to work with explosives Monty,” Pinkie Pie assured him. “I may have acted silly all the time in public... but when I was by myself...”
Pinkie Pie’s voice trailed off as she finished the connections. They were nearly eight hundred metres from the house.
“Is there a reason why we’re this far back?” Monty asked.
“Pinkamena Pie doesn’t do small,” Pinkie said, grinning like a madmare and throwing the switch on the detonator.
The Pie farmhouse, silo, and barn, exploded brilliantly. Causing Pinkie Pie to smile, the physical evidence of a rotten childhood was gone. Now the real work could begin.
Pinkie Pie had yet to notice that her eyes had changed. The irises were blood red.
“Montana Ulhan” allowed himself to smile at his handiwork; he’d succeeded in turning Pinkie Pie to his cause. She could return to Ponyville in triumph, bringing with her a valuable resource they needed for the upcoming war. Concrete.
His enemies, the siblings Nightmare had manipulated her into revealing her true self, driving her to misery and self-imposed exile away from Ponyville and her friends. Now with the Siblings hold on all but one of the six bearers of the Elements of Harmony broken, he was one step closer to stamping out the influence of the Herald of Chaos forever. Equestria would soon be subjugated to his world without strife, without conflict, a society of pure order, with him at the helm.
The current leadership be damned.
...
Scootaloo had found herself hiding in the Cave that she and Apple Bloom had found in Whitetail Wood. She was standing the in room with the ashes on the floor, though they had been scuffed about by the Cutie Mark Crusader’s last visit.
Scootaloo had wished that she had told Vinyl that this was where she was coming, she was afraid that her hiding place was too good, and her de facto sister wouldn’t find her here. Scootaloo was tired, she was hungry, and she really wanted somepony to talk to.
“Scootaloo? Is that you?” called a stallion’s voice from the open end of the cave.
Scootaloo looked up; it was Nightshadow, the kind unicorn apothecary that Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had befriended. Scootaloo nodded in affirmation, and the unicorn approached her. He was looking at the ashes on the ground, and noticing that ring was broken, smiled and stepped over them.
He walked over towards the filly and sat down next to her.
“Scootaloo? What are you doing here all by yourself?” Nightshadow asked.
“I... I’m hiding,” Scootaloo said. “So that they won’t take me away.”
“Who won’t take you away?” Nightshadow asked.
“Social Services!” Scootaloo cried out.
“Why would they take you away?” Nightshadow asked.
“Because... they...” Scootaloo realised that she’d backed herself into a corner; she didn’t want to take the risk that Nightshadow would turn her in. She didn’t know the unicorn that well, what if he wasn’t trustworthy? “I can’t tell you.”
Nightshadow deadpanned the filly, but said nothing, eventually giving her a small shrug and standing up. “Fair enough,” he said finally.
“You won’t tell anyone I’m here, will you?” Scootaloo asked.
“Where is here?” Nightshadow asked with a smile. “Goodbye,” he said, and trotted off casually towards the exit.
Scootaloo didn’t get it.
...
Vinyl Scratch had spent the last hour searching for Scootaloo in Whitetail Wood, she wished that she had suggested somewhere for Scootaloo to go. Off in the distance, she saw the last pony that she wanted to see trotting along a pathway away from a place that was obstructed from Vinyl’s few.
She hit the deck as quickly as she could, trying to avoid being seen by Nightshadow. Unlike most ponies in Ponyville who had encountered him, Vinyl knew him for what he truly was, a Sibling Nightmare, and frankly, while they were all bad, Vinyl considered him to be the worst. He had tricked Twilight Sparkle into falling in love with him. Twilight had shared many of her first intimate experiences with him, and that was unforgiveable. Nightshadow however went the other direction, likely never realising that Vinyl was even in the woods at all. Vinyl had decided that she needed to figure out where he had been, and quietly moved to where he had originated from.
Vinyl recognised it, it was the cave that she, Trixie, Lyra, Bon Bon, Big Macintosh, Braeburn, Derpy, and Trooper Willoughby had been snowed into on their way to Manehattan... the cave where they had been trapped inside... by the Black Smoke.
It hit her hard like someone had tossed a brick. She’d finally put two and two together. The Siblings Nightmare and the black smoke were the same, and the black smoke was the same cloud that had blocked their path before Derpy Hooves had talked to it.
“I remember you, you helped me,” Derpy had said. “You helped Pinkie Pie, she was sick and you made her better.”
Damn it! Why had she not figured this out before? It was obvious! It was right in front of her nose! Other seemingly more important events had happened, and it had been all but pushed out of her mind. Vinyl was swearing at herself, how could she be so stupid?
She trotted inside the cave, continuing to swear at herself in anger, but was relieved to discover that Scootaloo was inside.
Scootaloo looked up and smiled brightly; she ran towards Vinyl and leapt into the air, hugging her de-facto sister as best she could. Vinyl hugged back, and put off berating herself. It wasn’t important right now, Scootaloo was.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t find me here!” Scootaloo said.
“I’m more shocked that you found this place! I spent the night here during the winter when me, Big Macintosh and all them went to Manehattan,” Vinyl said.
“Did you put the ashes down on the floor?” Scootaloo asked.
The ashes? Then Vinyl remembered, she turned and look to the ashen line that covered the floor, it was broken. It had been able to keep the black smoke out of these caves when Vinyl had been here last, but if it was broken...
Vinyl panicked. “Scootaloo? We need to get out of here, right now.”
|
Wheller
|
826
| 10 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2012-05-03T18:51:33+00:00
|
2012-05-03T18:51:33+00:00
| 1,640 |
Chapter 10
Nightcaller stood at the very edge of the Everfree forest, watch Fluttershy’s cottage intensely. The Paragon of Order had broken their hold over Applejack, which was most unfortunate, Applejack had been the most useful pony that they had influenced, and she displayed just the right amount of hostility, just the right amount of xenophobia, just the right amount of everything to sow chaos in the bearers of the Elements of Harmony.
The Siblings Nightmare had every reason to want to keep the bearers in conflict with each other, the more of them at odds the better. That was self preservation; the Elements of Harmony were the only bit of magic that could be used to stamp them out forever. Harmony after all, was a synonym of order.
Truly speaking, as long as one of the bearers was at odds with the other, then they were fine. They only worked when they were all together, having five of them were useless. The only problem was who they still had under their influence. Rarity.
Influence was a fickle thing; it didn’t always give the results that were desired. The Siblings didn’t want to control them directly, that kind of defeated the purpose. They were chaos, controlling them directly would establish a hierarchy, a concept of order. Since they didn’t want to control them directly, what actually happened was up in the air. Some became angry, some began to doubt themselves, some became jealous of others, and some became passive all together.
Rarity was “suffering” from the last one, which was frankly the weakest of all. Somepony had to breathe in her direction and it would break their influence over her. This left the siblings with few options.
Nightcaller had observed Fluttershy while posing as a psychiatrist at the Royal Hospital, Fluttershy had been his patient; he had discovered quickly that Fluttershy was not suitable for their purposes. She was too unpredictable.
Oh how the irony stung. Fluttershy was too chaotic to be useful to their purposes. The Siblings Nightmare did not want somepony who had an equal chance of becoming either a homicidal psychopath or an individual suffering from an extreme case of agoraphobia... and in Fluttershy’s case, the former was more likely, considering what she had suffered from during her time at the Royal Hospital.
The Siblings were out of options, Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash had become resistant to their influence, Applejack and Pinkie Pie had fallen to Overdrive’s control, and Rarity was useless. Fluttershy was their only option.
“Having fun brother?” Nightshadow asked as he appeared at his brother’s side.
“You are late,” Nightcaller said.
“You will like my reason why,” Nightshadow said. “And I am still here before Nightsinger.”
“Spill,” Nightcaller said.
“The Cutie Mark Crusaders broke the ashen ring in the caves in Whitetail Wood,” Nightshadow reported.
“Did they?” Nightcaller said, a sadistic grin appearing on his face. “Well, now that certainly is good news. Your tardiness is forgiven... Nightsinger on the other hoof...”
“I am here, brothers,” Nightsinger said, landing softly on the ground in front of them. “Forgive me, the other matter presented itself, I took time to investigate.”
“Very well,” Nightcaller said. “Are we ready?”
“Ready as ever,” Nightsinger said.
The Siblings Nightmare formed into the Black Smoke, howling and approaching Fluttershy’s cottage.
Ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka!
The Black Smoke smashed through Fluttershy’s chicken coup, ripping the chickens inside to pieces and tossing their bodies about everywhere. Finishing the task, the black smoke went away, back towards the Everfree forest.
Ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka!
Fluttershy opened her front door, shaking with fear at the loud noises that had just torn through the area. She looked around, her eyes widening in shock, the bodies of all her chickens lay, mostly dismembered, about the entirety of her front garden. Tears formed in the Pegasus mare’s eyes. She dropped to her knees and began to cry. After a few moments she looked up, anger had filled her eyes, and she let out a scream of rage.
...
Applejack had turned tail and ran from the Library, she was frightened, and she didn’t know what was happening to her.
Twilight and Rainbow had gone after her, but she was sure she had lost them at this point. Applejack was sitting in the cellar of a random house in town that she had ducked into, crying. She didn’t understand what was happening to her.
“Is everything all right Applejack?” said a voice that she had not heard in quite some time.
Applejack’s eyes snapped forward, and her mouth fell open in shock. Sitting before her was the spectral form of Monty Ulhan.
“Yer... yer dead!” Applejack said.
Monty said nothing. “You’ve been given the gift to be able to see me,” he finally added.
Applejack looked at him; she was confused as to what he meant. He simply pointed at his eyes; they too, were blood red. Just like her’s.
“Ah don’t want ‘em!” Applejack called out.
“That is most... unfortunate,” Monty said, “However, the times when you made choices for yourself are over. You will do what I tell you to do; otherwise I will murder all of your friends.”
“Monty Ulhan would never harm mah friends! ‘Cuz they’re his friends too!” Applejack snapped at him. “Ah don’ know who ya’ll are, but ya ain’t him!”
Monty said nothing, he formed into a cloud of grey smoke, and then reformed again, with a flash of light, Overdrive, the Paragon of Order was standing before her.
“Quite correct,” Overdrive said in his monotone, emotionless voice. “I, however, have no such reservation.”
Applejack began to tremble with fear, she backed herself up into the corner; the spectral Alicorn approached her.
“All right! Ah’ll do whatever ya want! Just don’t hurt mah friends!” Applejack cried out.
Overdrive allowed himself to smile. “Excellent.”
...
Vinyl Scratch and Scootaloo had run from the caves in Whitetail Wood all the way to Ponyville, not stopping until they reached the Library, throwing open the door and slamming it behind them.
Vinyl and Scootaloo were breathing hard, slumping down to the ground in exhaustion.
“Scootaloo...” Vinyl managed between pants. “Those caves... you can’t... ever go there... they’re not... safe... not anymore.”
“I don’t understand,” Scootaloo said.
Vinyl didn’t either to be perfectly honest, she didn’t know what those caves were about, but she did know that the ashen ring was able to keep the Siblings Nightmare out, which had to mean that there was something being kept in those caves that they wanted. What it was, and who had put it there was anypony’s guess.
They heard loud groaning from another room, and out trotted Princess Luna, finally awake from after her escape from the Canterlot dungeons. Luna blinked and looked at the two mares before her.
“Hey... it’s you! The Pips Domino fan!” Luna said, having forgotten Vinyl’s name in the confusion.
“Vinyl Scratch,” Vinyl said. “This little pipsqueak here is Scootaloo,” Vinyl added with a grin, playfully ruffling Scootaloo’s mane.
“Where is Twilight Sparkle?”
...
Big Macintosh and Elliot Southerland hadn’t moved from their spot the entire night, save Elliot tea run. His tea cup sat full on a table cold from a night of not being touched.
The door opened, and a very tired looking unicorn surgeon walked towards them.
“Doctor?” Big Macintosh asked him.
“It’s Mister, actually, surgeons are called ‘mister’ comes from a time long ago when surgeries were performed by barbers,” the Surgeon said. “I’m Mister Yorrick; I’ve come to talk to you about Apple Bloom.”
Big Macintosh’s eyes widened. “Is she okay?”
Mister Yorrick sighed, “Well we’re doing everything we can... but I’m not going to lie to her, her injuries were... extensive. There is a good chance that she might never walk again... there is another matter, a child brought in with extensive injuries... requires us to notify the police and social services about the possibility of abuse... the police are already here, and they’re going to want to talk to you...”
“Ah’ll talk ta them,” Big Macintosh said. Almost on cue, two earth ponies clad in coats walked around the corner towards the draught pony and his kangaroo companion.
“I’m DS Lucky,” the blue coated, black maned earth pony stallion said. “This is DC Banana Crème,” he added, gesturing towards the unicorn mare with a yellow coated, and crème coloured mane.
“Ah’m Big Macintosh,” Big Macintosh said plainly. “This is mah friend Elliot,” he added, gesturing towards the kangaroo beside him.
“Right... well mister Macintosh, where exactly do you and your sister reside?”
“Sweet Apple Acres, it’s an Apple farm in Ponyville,” Big Macintosh said.
“Lucky? Isn’t that where we were this morning?” Banana Crème asked.
“Why were ya at Sweet Apple Acres?” Big Macintosh asked.
“This mare by the name of Applejack had climbed up on top of the barn, she was ready to jump off... because...” Lucky said. His voice trailed off. “Because she had hurt her sister...”
Lucky and Banana Crème looked at each other, realising the connection.
“Thank you Mister Macintosh, you’ve been a great help!” Lucky said, the detective ponies turned and walked away, leaving Big Macintosh and Elliot Southerland standing there confused.
“Wait! Wha’ happen ta Applejack!” Big Macintosh called out after them.
|
Wheller
|
826
| 11 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-17T17:07:26+00:00
|
2011-09-17T17:07:26+00:00
| 1,802 |
Chapter 11
Twilight and Rainbow Dash had returned to the Library after unsuccessfully chasing after Applejack, they had been so close, but their friend eluded them, she was frightened of what had happened, and they were too.
Twilight and Rainbow wanted to help, but it seemed that help would not come. They pushed open the door; Princess Luna, Vinyl Scratch, and Scootaloo were sitting quietly, listening to a record of Pips Domino singing Blue Moon.
The song ended and Luna pulled the needle off the record.
“We have a problem,” Luna said plainly. “My sister.”
“What?” Twilight asked in confusion. “Luna, what happened between you and Celestia after you told Goyle that the kangaroo forces could cross?”
“Tia was not happy with me, to say the least, but she wasn’t going to do anything about it, she figured it wasn’t my fault... but it was the fault of South Island, which was when she started amplifying solar activity. She’s building up for a massive solar flare to cripple South Island, the initial flares have already hit, South Island can’t reach anybody else, and they can’t call for help because the solar flares are interfering with their Wireless broadcasts... worst of all, they can’t get the word out to evacuate,” Luna said.
“What... why would Princess Celestia do this?” Twilight said gasping in surprise.
“Tia blames them for Equestria’s recent problems... and she’s not willing to do anything about the ones who are actually responsible. The Siblings Nightmare,” Luna said sadly.
“Why not!? She’s Princess Celestia! She’s all powerful! Can’t she just banish them to the moon or something like last time?” Rainbow Dash cried out in frustration.
Luna shook her head, “She used the Elements of Harmony to do it last time... and she can’t use them anymore because the true bearers claimed them... and to be honest, even if she could, I don’t think she would. The Siblings Nightmare are keeping another threat to her busy, The Paragon of Order.”
“So what do we do?” Twilight asked.
“It’s simple; we have to remove Celestia from power before she turns South Island into an irradiated wasteland!” Luna paused, and then gave the group before her a frown. “I have a plan,” she said. “But you’re not going to like it.”
...
“Do you remember when you asked me what the worst plan you’d ever had was Twilight?” Rainbow Dash said. “And I told you that you hadn’t done it yet? Well, this was it... turns out it wasn’t your plan though, sorry I blamed you for it.”
“It’s all right Rainbow, I agree that this is the last thing I actually want to do... but I don’t think we have any other options. If we’re going to save South Island, then we need to do this, and we need to do it now,” Twilight said.
“You know me,” Vinyl added. “You two have my hooves until you decide that you don’t need them.”
“And mine too!” Scootaloo added at the last moment.
Rainbow Dash, Vinyl Scratch, Scootaloo and Twilight were standing at the edge of the Everfree forest.
“Scootaloo, I really don’t think you should come with us...” Twilight said, looking at the filly.
Scootaloo frowned. “This is important! More important than Cutie Marks! I can’t just sit at home and wait for you all to come back!”
Twilight frowned, looking to Vinyl to try and dissuade her.
“Scootaloo might be young,” Vinyl said, ruffling Scootaloo’s mane with her hoof. “But she is old enough to make her own decisions. She wants to help? She comes along and helps.”
“Fine,” Twilight said giving in. The sun was setting in Equestria, soon it would be rising over South Island and the solar activity would start to become worse. If they were going to do something it needed to be sooner rather than later.
The four ponies trotted into the Everfree forest, on what was possibly, the worst idea ever had.
They walked several hundred metres inward, along the path that was laid before them, and after several minutes of walking, Rainbow Dash stopped them. “Here, this is the place we need to be,” she said.
They did not wait long. Out of the trees, they heard a faint ticking noise.
Ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka!
The Black Smoke rolled from the trees and out into their view, forming into the Siblings Nightmare and trotting casually towards them.
“You are brave to seek us out,” Nightcaller said plainly. “Why have you come, my little ponies?”
“We’ve come to make a deal,” Twilight said.
The three Siblings Nightmare gave each other a quick glance, and turned back to the group before them.
“You have our undivided attention.”
…
Twilight walked through the throne room in Canterlot towards her beloved mentor. But she didn’t see her as she had in the past. Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne, watching her as she approached, but she’d ceased to be the Princess that Twilight had known her as. She wasn’t the kind, brave, and gentile ruler that she would have them believe. Celestia was cold, calculating, and was frankly willing to sacrifice South Island to keep war from Equestrian soil. She would kill hundreds of thousands of kangaroos without a single thought, and that was wrong.
Celestia was smiling at her. “Twilight! To what do I owe this visit from my star pupil?”
“The solar flares,” Twilight said simply.
Celestia frowned. “I had a feeling that’s what this was about… when I learned that Luna had escaped, I knew that she would seek you out. Let me explain to you why this has to be done.”
Twilight was looking forward to finally having answers.
“Appeasing the Twin Gryphon Kingdoms will put an end to the threat that they pose! They’re mad about the kangaroos in Equestria, they’re mad about the ambassador here. They’re mad about everything! And they’re on our doorsteps Twilight. Equestria hasn’t fought a war in a thousand years. We couldn’t win, and even if we could… so many would die in the process… I can’t let that happen, my subjects look to me to rule them! I can’t send them to their deaths!” Celestia said, she was rationalising, and it was making Twilight sick.
“So then it’s okay to kill a million of kangaroos to keep a million ponies safe?” Twilight harked at her angrily. “I’ve come to stop you, Princess, you’re my mentor, and I loved you as if you were my own mother... but I can’t let you do this. It’s wrong!”
“And what, pray tell, are you planning to do about it?” Celestia asked. “I am a goddess! You’re a just a single unicorn, even as the bearer of the Element of Magic, your power pales in comparison to mine.”
“True,” Twilight said. “But not theirs.”
“What?” Princess Celestia asked in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“NOW!” Twilight called towards the door. Vinyl Scratch and Rainbow Dash pushed it open from the other side, and bursting through the door was a cloud of thick Black Smoke.
The cloud howled loudly, and charged towards the Princess, ticking angrily.
Ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka!
“What have you done?” Celestia asked, but did not wait for a response, instead, her body changed, forming into a cloud of White Smoke.
The White Smoke roared and charged the black smoke.
Racka-racka-racka-racka-racka-racka!
The smoke clouds collided with each other, electricity burst from them upon contact; Princess Celestia and the Siblings Nightmare were locked in combat the likes of which they had never seen before.
The electricity being emitted by the two had started to grow more violent, arcing between every bit of metal in the room.
“Twilight!” Princess Luna, Rainbow Dash, Vinyl Scratch, and Scootaloo called to her. The fighting had become too violent for them to stay any closer.
Twilight ran towards the exit, and with a loud boom and a flash of light, Twilight was throne towards her friends.
They all covered their eyes, lest they go blind to the huge display of light behind them.
And then with a flash, the light was gone.
The group opened their eyes and looked at what they saw, both Black and White Smoke Monsters were gone, and lying on the floor in their place was a white Alicorn filly with a pink mane and a sun cutie mark, huddled up in a little ball, her eyes shut tight.
Princess Luna approached the filly, whose head snapped up in reaction. “Momma?” the filly asked. “You’re not momma!”
“No… I’m not; I’m your… big sister! Luna, don’t you remember?” Luna asked the filly.
“Un-uh,” the filly said, shaking her head no. “Where’s momma?”
“I don’t know,” Luna said truthfully, they had to have had parents, but Luna was unable to remember what had become of them. “But I promise you that we’ll find her!”
“What’s my name?” the filly asked.
“You’re Tia!” Luna said with a smile. “I’m Luna, and these are my friends, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Vinyl Scratch, and Scootaloo!”
Tia found herself trying to hide behind Luna, fearful of the other ponies in the room.
“You don’t need to be afraid!” Twilight said. “We’re all good ponies… Even Vinyl Scratch!”
“Hey!” Vinyl called out.
Twilight merely grinned at her.
…
Twilight, Luna, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Vinyl Scratch and Tia had since returned to Ponyville, and were standing in the Library. Tia gasped at all the books that she saw.
“Do you like books?” Twilight asked her.
“Yes…” the Alicorn filly said timidly.
“Tell you what! This is a public library, so you can borrow any of the books that you want, and read them as you like!” Twilight said cheerfully.
“I… can?” Tia asked, her eyes lighting up in the process. “Is that okay big sister?”
“Of course it is!” Luna said with a smile.
“Yay!” Tia called out and quickly crossed the room to look for a book.
“Twilight? I have a favour to ask of you,” Luna said. “My sister needs somepony to watch her, make sure that things happen right this time. Ponyville seems to be the best place for it to happen… I’ll be taking up her duties from here on out, but that leaves me with no time to devote to her. I need you to make sure that she turns out all right. Can you do that?”
Twilight smiled. “I can do that,” she said softly.
“Thank you,” Luna said, and went over to her sister to say goodbye.
Vinyl approached Twilight next. “Seems as good a time to tell you as any, I’m moving out. I’ve sold my flats in Fillydelphia and Canterlot, and gotten a place here in town! Vinyl Scratch is officially a resident of Ponyville!”
“I hope you’re not moving out because you feel obligated to! Because that’s so not the case Vinyl! We love having you here!” Twilight said.
“Nah, it’s time to get my own place… besides, I think you and Rainbow will appreciate being able to have snuggle time without worrying about me hearing you… which I do, ever time. You’re quite loud Twilight,” Vinyl said with a grin, causing Twilight to blush horribly.
Vinyl laughed hugging the mare before her, and with that, she and Scootaloo departed. Luna following shortly after.
Tia, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash were the only ones left in the Library. Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked at each other uneasily, they would be raising Princess Celestia from the ground up, but as they looked at the smiling filly, who was absorbed in the book she was reading. They both smiled.
They could manage.
|
Wheller
|
826
| 12 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,DJ P0N-3,Main 6,Princess Luna,Dark,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Home Sweet Home
|
Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.
|
complete
| 29 | 6 |
<p>Scootaloo is a young filly alone in the world, however, she soon discovers that there is another pony in Ponyville who grew up like her.</p><p>Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle, while having loving families, have their home lives tossed about when Applejack becomes more aggressive and xenophobic, and Rarity becomes passive and sycophantic.</p><p>Pinkie Pie returns home and confronts the family that kicked her out for wanting to party instead of work.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-17T19:40:17+00:00
|
2011-09-17T19:40:17+00:00
| 1,918 |
Epilogue
Nightly was an odd pony. He was a wanderer, a dreamer, he dabbled in a bit of everything and wasn’t particularly skilled at any of it. He lived in Canterlot, if you could call it living, he didn’t actually live anywhere, and he wandered around the poorer districts doing odd jobs for anypony who needed them.
Nightly was a unicorn. That made him more useful than most, the one thing he did seem, to be good at was heavy lifting. He would use his magic to lift a box to a high shelf and receive a bit in payment. One would have expected Nightly to have a floor jack or maybe a crane for a Cutie Mark, but alas, he didn’t have one at all. That wasn’t what made the unicorn odd though.
He’d been wandering around the poorer districts for nearly a month, or at least, that was when ponies had started noticing him, they supposed that he could have been around a lot longer, but what had made him odd was that he couldn’t remember anything before that. Nightly wasn’t really his name. At first, he had been known as “the helpful pony that came around at the end of the day to help with anything that needed doing.”
As one could likely imagine, that was too hard to use in conversation, so it was eventually shortened to “that helpful nightly pony,” and again to Nightly.
Nightly liked the name, it fit him well, as both his mane and coat were both jet black. The poorer ponies of Canterlot could have very easily come up with a much less nicer name than that. Nightly worked all night and slept most of the day, so he had a bit of a regrettable habit of startling ponies when approaching them as he blended in with the darkness a little too well. Often times, just before dawn, all you could see of him was his glowing amber eyes, which were his most notable trait.
Despite the initial misgivings for the unicorn vagabond, the ponies of the poorer districts were happy to have him around. He was after all, a loyal and dependable worker to all of them; he worked to better the poorer districts, even going so far as to dumping most of his small earnings into the local charity to help give food to underclass children.
Nightly had evolved into the pillar of the community, he was the role model of the young children, he taught that they should all work hard and help the less fortunate, and everypony loved him for it.
Nightly was only slightly bothered by his lack of memory. He wanted to remember who he’d been before, sure, but the more he thought about it, he figured that the past didn’t matter. Who he was now did. The pitch black unicorn with amber eyes was happy just as he was.
|
Redante
|
827
| 1 |
Original Character,Pinkie Pie,Princess Celestia,Spike,Adventure,Comedy,Random,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Of Pink and Time
|
Pinkie Pie attempts a inter-dimensional rescue
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>With a visit from the Emperor of all things-quite-dead. absolute ruler of Deadquestria, Pinkie Pie learns the secrets of inter-temporal/ Dimensional chatting! </p><p>Apart form the unusual encounter, it also appears that her future self, along with the rest of her friends has gone missing in a out-worldish dimension... </p><p>Along with Nightmare Moon, Emperor Redeadne, Princess Celestia and Spike the dragon. One of the most unlikely rescue operations is underway..</p><br/><p>The author denotes that any loss of mental wellbeing is to be NOT blamed on him.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-12T20:50:46+00:00
|
2011-09-12T20:50:46+00:00
| 1,426 |
At sugercube corner in the late afternoon, an emperor, unknown to Equestria whole. had come to honor a promise,
it was an odd sight.
And a odd promise; he would teach an hyperactive filly the secrets of time-travel with a lean amount of necessary dimensional knowledge. The entire idea, naturally, sounded preposterous. But she had proven to be a fantastic diplomat. By his mane that were the most delicious muffins the dead empire had ever seen!
it was truly an odd sight;
The emperor of all things quite dead, a noble with a spine said to be made of cast steel. Stainless steel. Bearer of the undead crown, rightfull ruler to Deadquestria and it's inhabitants as a god. He was Redeadne Graveshifter, Earth-pony-turned-imperial-turned-half-way-giant.
...Looked on, as a happy, boucing Party pony made imaginary rounds of merrily-going-around. Singing.
And we're going to see the time line!
And we're going to see the time line!
And we're going to see the tiiiiiimeeee Liiiiiiine!
She managed to balance herself on one hoof, spreading the other three in every direction physically possible. He was still wondering how the pink mare EVER managed to pop randomly out behind his imperial throne one day.
...Except clocks are round, so a line is far to straight to go around!
She ended the song with a wave of infectatious laughter. Even the necromantic dark-grey tissue that made up the Emperor's face, tugged into a soft smile. The pink pony finally settled down and reached for her equipment; nothing more but a mysteriously looking laptop. Deadquestrian model.
"Well then. I reckon you are awaiting adventure? And a good measure for time-travel anatics to show the mortals how it functions?"
He felt a pang of regret.
MEMO: TEMPORAL SHENENIGANS
LOCAL TIME, STILL.
PP: Yesyesyesyes!
PP: Already went ahead and turned on the memo!
ERG: Good good. This memo has no stationary position in the flow of time itself thus allowing other time-lines to log on and talk with us.
PP: For you people that shamefully never read a book on time, this means that my FUTURE self can talk to me over this channel!
*FUTURE-PINKIE PIE HAS JOINED*
FPP: Here we are! Thank celestia for boundariless communication without the mechinations of quantum physics playing Metaphysical consequence into our face!
PP: Ohh! Did I read that big book I found laying around at twilight'?
FPP: Sure did! I also took the dictionary
PP: Good idea, I don't wanna end up reading words that I don't understand!
ERG: Care for a little experiment?
FPP: Yes!
PP: Yes!
ERG: Okay, hold on. I'm turning on interdimensional capabilities
*INTERDIMENSION MODE ON, STABILITY 88.34%-91.33%*
ERG: NOW! Write down a memo to yourself that you will join this room exactly an hour later!
*FUTURE-PRESENT PINKIE PIE JOINED*
*FUTURE-FUTURE PINKIE PIE JOINED*
FPPP: Whee! It worked!
FFPP: Yeah! But how come our PAST-PRESENT selves are still present?
PP: Hahahaha! 'present' *snort* Hahaha!
ERG: With interdimensional variety on, one can now communicate inbetween temporal dimensions created through the principle of uncertainity; for every decision excists a seperate dimension to host various degrees of impact that the decision had.
PP: Oooh! Sounds fancy! So if I invite myself over by making more notes, I can meet me from diffrent places in the universe?
ERG: Err...more or less, it still remains theoratical.
PP: That is so awesome! Hey FFPP! How is a hour ahead in time?
FFPP: Very timely!
PP: Hahahaha!
FPP: Hahahaha!
*ALTERNATE PRESENT PINKIE JOINED*
APP: Oh, Heya!
PP: Hiii! Welcome to the Temporal chatroom of awesome!
FPP: I have this awesome idea, why not attempt to meet eachother in ONE timeline? I'm going to build a timemachine rigth away!
ERG: That....is highly improbable, nopony has ever managed to travel back in time.
*FUTURE PINKIE PIE LEFT*
*ALTERNATE FUTURE PINKIE JOINED*
AFP: I can't believe it didn't work!
AFP: I even tried having Twilight to sneeze to go ZAP, but nothing works!
PP: Awww..I'm sorry Alternate Future Pinkie! But you still have us to talk to.
FFPP: Yeah! And I know just the thing for this, right, myself?
FPPP: PAR-TAY!
PP: YAY PAR-TAY!
*PAST/FUTURE PINKIE PIE JOINED*
P/FPP: YAY PARTY LIKE IT'S 30 YEARS IN THE PAST!
PP: WHEEE!
ERG: Ohdeargoddess. I can't believe that you actually managed to pull that off.
P/FPP: Aww, it was a piece of cake! I only had to make Luna sneeze over it and POOF! Off I went...err...go...Going to!
AFP: I KNEW IT.
AFP: Princess powerrrr.
P/FPP: Okay, but nopony I know is born yet! Well horseapples!
*PAST/FUTURE PINKIE PIE LEFT: RECKLESS TIMEJUMP ATTEMPT 2*
*PRESENT/FUTURE-FUTURE PINKIE PIE JOINED*
PP: Heey! 10 years later I reckon?
PFPP: If this is sugarcube corner, then open the door! Princess Celestia and pepper make an intresting match.
PP: Oh my goddess! Hiiii!
PFPP: I'm sitting next to you, silly pony! Do you have a towel?
ERG: Okay. Shenanigans aside. You just managed to create your own temporal paradox clone.
PP: Oooh, what does that mean?
APP: Probably that you are now two!
AFP: Two of me? Then...
*PRESENT/FUTURE PINKIE PIE JOINED*
*PAST/PRESENT FUTURE FUTURE PINKIE PIE JOINED*
AFP: ...Four for partaay!
P/PFFPP: This is getting silly! Look at how long my name is!
P/FPP: Okay, so is this a problem?
PFPP: Whee more me!
ERG: The universe did not explode, nor did it collapse or anything else...
ERG: So I guess we're doing good.
*NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
PP: Eeep! Black snooty!
NMM: Silence you foal!
APP: Wait didn't my alpha dimension present self stop/destroy you?
PFPP: Why not ask the future?
P/PFFPP: Yeah! we were going to kick your flank...wait, Future-tense....DID kick your flank, and hard!
NMM: That much I give you. But I am still VERY MUCH alive. Bwaahhahaha!
ERG: What the hay? How did you get on this place?
NMM: Thanks to you I managed to obtain this information exhanging device!
ERG: Oh myself. But you're still on the moon!
PP: My laptop? How did you get that thing then?
P/FPP: or your mane in shape?
NMM: I well....err...THAT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
*ALTERNATE PAST FUTURE FUTURE PINKIE PIE JOINED*
APFFPP: Everypony! Black snooty took my laptop!
PP: OH no!....wait...how are you typing this?
AFP: did you use the time machine to jump to a diffrent past?
APFFPP: I would have, if I wasn't thrown into another Dimension!
NMM: What timemachine?
F/FPP: The one I have too?
APFFPP: The one I left at the old palace!
AFP:...
ERG:...
NMM: Oh, there.
*FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
*PAST/FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
*PAST/FUTURE PRESENT NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
ERG: Oh crud.
P/FPNMM: STOP. GIVING. ME. IDEAS.
P/FPNMM: Stupid pink manace! going into future to get off the moon then to double team it to the past proved to be an ASTOUNDINGLY STUPID IDEA.
AFP: Well, you could go to the past and...
*ALTERNATE FUTURE PINKIE LEFT: BANNED FROM SERVER*
ERG: NO.
ERG: NO.
ERG: NO.
ERG: JUST NO.
ERG: THERE IS JUST ABOUT ENOUGH PARADOX HERE TO MAKE FREAKING CORKSCREW-LOOP-DEE-LOOP.
PP: Aww, don't get mad silly Redeaddy!
PP: We won't cuase any more time-related trouble!
ERG: Save for the fact you have Tripled Nightmare moon.
APP: Details, details. We beat four of them, and I only had this conversation twice!
F/PFFPP: Okay, so the Black Snooties are APP's universe or that of ours. But they are still trapped on the moon!
PP: Yeah, we beat her easily when she was alone, so why is this any diffrent?
FPPP: We sure did!
ERG: Hold on. What?
ERG: All three?
ERG: Uh-oh...
APP: Don't worry, you only had ONCE the kick-flank!
ERG: Huh? what are you going on about?
*PINKIE PIE LEFT: TIMEOUT*
*ALTERNATE PRESENT PINKIE LEFT: METAPHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES*
*FUTURE PRESENT PINKIE LEFT: TIMEOUT 2X COMBO.*
*PAST/PRESENT FUTURE FUTURE PINKIE PIE LEFT: METAPHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES*
*FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: CEASED TO EXCIST*
*PAST/FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: CEASED TO EXCIST*
*PAST FUTURE PRESENT NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: CEASED TO EXCIST*
*ALTERNATE PAST FUTURE FUTURE PINKIE PIE LEFT: CEASED TO EXCIST*
*PRESENT/FUTURE PINKIE PIE LEFT: DEPARADOXIFIED*
*PINKIE PIE JOINED*
PP: That was fun!
PP: Hey, where is everpony off to?
ERG: Err..They ceased to excist.
PP: Ouchie! Lucky us this timeline didn't!
ERG: Quite so.
NMM: Right, so where was that...uh...what we're we talking about again?
NMM: ARRG. I bet the one named PP set something up absurbt!
NMM: Consider me leaving!
*NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: USER DISCONNECTED, RESTORED TO TIMELINE.*
ERG: Right. I hope everypony does now get the conceptual idea of time travel.
PP: More like, silliness!
PP: I mean, this is soooo much fun! I met myself and made another one of myself in time with my other said self and then we did timemachine travel and POOF! snooty appeared and did the same thing! That silly pony! Hahahaha!
ERG: Indeed Pinkie, indeed.
PP: Oh! Oh! oh! Twilight was saying something about 'Traveling between dimensions' which sounded booooring, but Twilight wants to try it anyway, could we try it like this? Here? Please please please?
*PINKIE PIE BANNED FROM SERVER*
ERG: NO.
ERG: NO.
ERG: NO.
ERG: SERIOUSLY BAD IDEA.
ERG: WORST EVER.
ERG: That's it! I'm shutting this gig down.
*ADMIN CLOSED MEMO: 'TEMPORAL SHENENIGANS' SERVER SHUTTING DOWN..."
After the Emperor explained how such stuff worked, and a fierce scolding on 'not-to-tamper-with-the-reigns-of-time', Pinkie was once again bouncing down the road towards the Library. At which she found Spike staring hapelessly at a scorched spot of wood where once a bunch of ponies had been.
Spike explained how Twilight and Fluttershy had made some tea for the gathered friends, it was a completely regular, ordinary, Equestrian tea party. However Twilight started on her newly found topic of Inter-dimensions, and denoted how silly and dangerous it sounded in full practice and POOF, everypony was gone! She didn't even as much as LOOK like casting a spell.
And according to Spike, whom still hasn't looked at Pinkie during the whole exchange, even Princess Celestia has no idea how to get them back. And seemed awfully distracted, as he remembered her writing.
"But Spike.."
"No..I'm sorry but I'm going to close the Library-" His eyes finally fell on the pink pony, who greeted him a second time, just as cheery.
"PINKIE?! But you...I...what?"
"Oh! Everything is alright Spikey-wikey! Twilight has the best version of me at her side!" At this she deposited the 'laptop', as she explained it to a confused spike, and pointed at a line of text...
MEMO: PINKIENENIGANS UNITE! WHEE!
LOCAL TIME, QUITE.
FPP: Good call making a seperate server!
FPP: You'll never guess where Me, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy are!!
"Spikey, we're gonna save them! And we're not gonna do that alone!"
Spike blinked.
Twice.
|
Redante
|
827
| 2 |
Original Character,Pinkie Pie,Princess Celestia,Spike,Adventure,Comedy,Random,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Of Pink and Time
|
Pinkie Pie attempts a inter-dimensional rescue
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>With a visit from the Emperor of all things-quite-dead. absolute ruler of Deadquestria, Pinkie Pie learns the secrets of inter-temporal/ Dimensional chatting! </p><p>Apart form the unusual encounter, it also appears that her future self, along with the rest of her friends has gone missing in a out-worldish dimension... </p><p>Along with Nightmare Moon, Emperor Redeadne, Princess Celestia and Spike the dragon. One of the most unlikely rescue operations is underway..</p><br/><p>The author denotes that any loss of mental wellbeing is to be NOT blamed on him.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-13T12:27:37+00:00
|
2011-09-13T12:27:37+00:00
| 1,338 |
The moon, thirty years ago. In a alternate dimension.
The bitter black mare sat perched ontop one of the moon's many outcroppings. unable to escape her prison. Unable to extract revenge what-so-ever. But the monotone activity of plotting meaninless evil and assuring herself eternal night, was thankfully interrupted when she felt a disturbence in the night below.
Using her optical spells (which seemed to be STILL functioning) She was able to see that pink pony had appeared into excistence at the old palace of the two royal sisters. The Pink pony then continued to throw herself a party, and started to frantically clobber a device which she seemly pulled out of nowhere. Carefull clobbering. the device seemed to be far from this time.
It was then she felt the magic waver of her prison, she could reach out! What had cuased this, she thought, must be how the pink one appeared.
Her reach from the moon latched onto the device, thankfully the pink pony showed the phases of being deadly afraid as her device, or 'laptop' as she was particulary screaming it, being lifted off towards the moon!
Another flash, the pink one was gone. The only reminder was this 'laptop' perched gently infront of Nightmare Moon.
She began to examine.
She began to understand.
She studied it's uses.
And she was going to employ them..
NIGHTMAREMOONIGANS
PAST TIME LOCAL,
NMM: I call this 'Meeting' open. any me that has touched, smelled, or been to the future or in any time-related mishap may respond.
NMM: Seems like I need some more 'time' for people to join.
NMM: As awfully ironic as it sounds, It gives me the time to figure this thing out.
*FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
FNMM: DON'T TOUCH THE COMMAND LABLED 'DISLOCATE TEMPORAL BOUNDARIES'
FNMM: Or else you'll be buried up to your flank with lunasbians.
FNMM: I swear to myself, Time anatics with reckless disregard is DUMB.
*INTERDIMENSIONAL CHAT ON: STABILITY 100%-67.34%*
FNMM: Good going, soon I will be erased from this dreadfull excistence.
*DISLOCATE TEMPORAL BOUNDARIES*
FNMM: Farming for a better timeline, PAIN IN THE FLANK.
*FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: USER ROPED IN LESBONANIGANS.*
NMM: Okay, I guess this'll work.
NMM: Or not.
NMM: Memo to self, listen to more to my 'future' selves.
*PAST NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
PNMM: Hail myself, I bring news of..err..my other self.
NMM:...What?
PNMM: Yes, she-no-I traveld towards the past in order to prevent my future self from preventing my future-future self a possible fillyfooling.
NMM: Oh, so that was what She-dangit!-I was going on about.
PNMM: So, for the love of the ancients. DISREGARD ALL COMMUNICATION WITH NEAR-PRESENT SELVES.
NMM: And that comes from my past. Wow.
NMM: My future self attempts to change the present by talking to the past to tell me not to engage in conversation with slighty advanced versions of my timeline. Yes, brilliant idea.
PNMM: It does sound stupid.
PNMM: Infact, I'll simply forget this ever happend.
*PRESENT/FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
P/FNMM: No stop! KEEP IT IN YOUR MIND.
PNMM: What? Why?
P/FNMM: She uses sunflower lotion for IT!
*PRESENT/FUTURE FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
P/FFNMM: False alarm! Don't listen to my PRESENT/FUTURE self! FORGET THE ORDER
PNMM: Uh...
NMM: This is getting old hat real fast.
NMM: I have a feeling that a reply is inbound from a future moment.
*MORE-FUTURE-THEN-PRESENT NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
MFTPNMM: Her hooves are so tender...
MFTPNMM: Oh, I see you have turned on 'DISLOCATE TEMPORAL BOUNDARIES'.
MFTPNMM: Yes! More her for me to enjoy!~
NMM: Ohgoddessno. Don't tell me...
*FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED*
FNMM: DON'T TOUCH THE COMMAND LABLED 'DISLOCATE TEMPORAL BOUNDARIES'
FNMM: Or else you'll be buried up to your flank with lunasbians.
FNMM: I swear to myself, Time anatics with reckless disregard is DUMB.
FNMM: Whoa, Dejavu.
NMM: AND THE CIRCLE OF STUPIDITY IS COMPLETE.
P/FFNMM: Uh..
NMM: BY THE ANCIENTS.
P/FFNMM: Are we talking about the fooling around with Luna or Celestia?
PNMM: I finally know how my future looks li-wait, BOTH princesses?
PFNMM: I think the correct term is: 'Royally screwed.'
FNMM: I don't give a buck.
FNMM: I'm now trapped in Canterlot being the play-THING for both the princesses. as 'suiteble' punishment!
PNMM: ...I think thirty years wasn't all that bad to wait..
*PAST NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: FREAKED OUT. NICE GOING.*
NMM: Ugh.
NMM: I have a better things to worry about...
NMM: How is the eternal night plot coming along MFTPNMM?
MFTPNMM: Why would I plot against my love?
MFTPNMM: You-uh-I shall find out shortly too!
FNMM: Ah horseapples. She's reffering to the 'Pickup line'
P/FNMM: Dangit! I knew that this was a terrible idea.
NMM: I see..
MFTPNMM: Don't worry. Celestia has such amazing skill at-
*MORE-FUTURE-THEN-PRESENT-NIGHTMARE MOON HAS LEFT: KICKED AND BANNED FROM SERVER*
NMM: THIS. IS. STUPID.
NMM: Am I going to hear myself swoon over my enemy all day long?!
*PRINCESS CELESTIA HAS JOINED*
NMM: Speak of the devil.
PC: Don't even think of trying anything Nightmare Moon!
PC: You have no chance against my wrath and that of my sister!
P/FFNMM: Which is very kinky!
PC: Excuse me?
NMM: NO.
NMM: I WILL HAVE NONE OF THIS STUPIDITY ANYMORE.
NMM: Princess Celestia, I hereby declare you as my MORTAL ENEMY.
P/FNMM: Ohdearancients.
*PRESENT/FUTURE FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: CEASED TO EXCIST*
*PRESENT/FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: CEASED TO EXCIST*
*FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: CEASED TO EXCIST*
NMM: YES. HAHAHAHA.
PC: Uhm..What was this P/FFNMM refering to?
NMM: Nothing breedingly important. She kept going on and on about me and you as a couple. Insane.
NMM: Prepare for your kingdom to crumble to ruins!
PC: The two of US?!
PC: A Couple?!
PC: Mare and Mare?!
NMM: Like I said.
NMM: Truly unimportant stuff.
NMM: Important is that we are alone now without any of mine looking over the shoulder.
*PRESENT/FUTURE FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED: RE-CONTINUED*
*PRESENT/FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON JOINED: RE-CONTINUED*
*FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: RE-CONTINUED*
NMM: SON OF A-
P/FFNMM: And thus the words were utterd and our lives continue!
PC: I'm quite certain I would NEVER lay my hooves on my OWN SISTER!
PC: How sick are you?!
P/FFNMM: But...you told me that I was the embodiment of her jealousy, not your flesh and blood!
NMM: Oh, so i'm a legit standalone creature now? Good.
PC: I cannot recall uttering such words, nor will I waste my time anymore on this Foalish wickedness!
FNMM: YES. I can finally de-excist in peace! No more bedtime kisses, no more full fledged...love...No..more..
FNMM: ...Celestia?
PC: WHAT. Okay, I'm seriously LEAVING NO-
FNMM: FINE. But I kissed a goddess and I LIKED IT.
*FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: DISCONECTED FROM TIMELINE. (BAWLING)*
PC: ...K-kissed?!
NMM: Apperantly.
P/FFNMM: On the lips, for twelve seconds straight. Go figure when that happend!
NMM: ...
P/FNMM: I Never said I didn't like it!
*PRESENT/FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: BANNED BY SERVER*
NMM: BURN THE HERETIC.
NMM: I am SICK tired of this nonesense!
NMM: Me and Celestia will never be together. EVER.
NMM: We're thirty years apart! LITTERLY.
NMM: AND I'm not even intrested in-
P/FFNMM: And what about the duality spell?
NMM: HOLY HAY, is everyone going on the traitor lane?
NMM: BEEP BEEP. ALL ABOARD THE BETRAYAL BUS.
NMM: I used that spell to speak some SENSE in the mare that I encompass.
P/FFNMM: Yes.
P/FFNMM: If we disregard where my hoove-
*PRESENT/FUTURE FUTURE NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: BANNED FROM SERVER*
NMM: MOVE YO FLANK
NMM: YOU GOT A FAILBOAT TO CATCH.
PC: Nightmare moon.
PC: I am...
PC: Throughoutly shocked.
NMM: What did you expect from the would-be-queen of night eternal?
PC: That I harbour feelings for the so called monster that has imprisoned my sister?
NMM: ...
NMM: No.
NMM: JUST NO.
PC: Nightmare moon...I..
*EMERGENCY SERVER SHUT DOWN; TIMELINE STABILIZED.*
She was panting, this could NOT be happening.
This device has shown her arch-nemisis, the supossed sister of Luna, going all weak-kneed on her! But the device has stabilized the time, universe and removed all thought about that crazy flank Celestia. AND her sick-minded future, future self, reminded her of that shamefull display of sympathy for the trapped princess of night. But...one had also told her she was a...seperate being whole? All these thoughts eventually landed on one:
Why did Nightmare moon recall what just happend? Isn't HER memory to be wiped aswell due metaphysical consequence? Oh goddess no. She forgot to-She quickly opend the Laptop; Her chatroom was closed, but she never turned off the master server.
And she found herself in a bright light. And moments later she found herself sitting in the centre of what seemed to be a library founded in a tree. There was a pink pony waving happily at her, a frightend purple dragon, and a seemly important looking induvidual; Grey coated and a black cape with fitting pieces of silver armor. orange eyes piercing her as they glowed. stiches revealed the stallion to be less alive.
Then she felt a pair of lips gracing her cheek.
"I was about to tell you that I had locked onto your location. Welcome to the Alpha universe dear Nightmare moon."
On her left sat a blushing royal white mare.
The pink pony infront of her nodded.
"And welcome to 'Team Awesome'! We're going to begin the briefing within the second!"
Nightmare Moon blinked.
Twice.
Time anatics with reckless disregard indeed was DUMB.
|
Redante
|
827
| 3 |
Original Character,Pinkie Pie,Princess Celestia,Spike,Adventure,Comedy,Random,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Of Pink and Time
|
Pinkie Pie attempts a inter-dimensional rescue
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>With a visit from the Emperor of all things-quite-dead. absolute ruler of Deadquestria, Pinkie Pie learns the secrets of inter-temporal/ Dimensional chatting! </p><p>Apart form the unusual encounter, it also appears that her future self, along with the rest of her friends has gone missing in a out-worldish dimension... </p><p>Along with Nightmare Moon, Emperor Redeadne, Princess Celestia and Spike the dragon. One of the most unlikely rescue operations is underway..</p><br/><p>The author denotes that any loss of mental wellbeing is to be NOT blamed on him.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-20T14:32:49+00:00
|
2011-09-20T14:32:49+00:00
| 1,015 |
"So!"
The pink pony made a stroll past the four other spectators. as a commander would past his soldiers.
"The elements of harmony have been haphazerdly trapped in a dimension that definatly has no fun things in it!"
She casted her gaze onto the crowd of four. whom simply blinked.
"However this entire doozie was not made with Twi's magic! So it's impossible to tell what dimension they are in!"
Celestia turned to Redeadne. She spoke in a hushed tone as the pink pony continued on 'quantum energy trails'
"Have the two of you been talking?"
And he replied in a silent whisper;
"What gave it away?"
She was about to leave a snaggy remark, it it weren't for the party pony to come to a conclusion:
"We'll have to save them!"
Nightmare moon rolled her eyes.
"Yes of course. We were not aware of that."
It was silent enough to go unregarded by Pinkie Pie, Yet Celestia shot her a hard look.
"And we have to save them at Manehatten!"
This was not what they expected.
"Okay. Nice. But how is being in a metropolis going to help? Do we need a lot of other ponies for this or something?" Nightmare Moon questioned as Pinkie erupted into another bout of her trademark laughter.
"Oh no silly pony! As superheroes, we need a super-duper-nuper secret base in a city. And Iiiii~ know just -the- place!"
Spike did not remember willingly becoming a 'Superhero'
Nor did he ask to leave for Manehatten, and let's not forget that he was not exactly jumping to carry the 'laptop' during the journey. Oh well. Better then being stuck in a library all the day.
He wonderd how Twilight was doing, and...Oh poor miss Rarity! She must be completely distraught and surrounded by her fearing-for-their-lives-friends in an dimension full of demention and evil. And here he was, dragged out on adventure to said dimension. Not to mention the two bickering Alicrons, An undead emperor and a determined to hay Pinkie Pie.
Being stuck in a library was not all that bad.
"Spike, Open the 'Awesome top'!"
"The what?"
"Our laptop! I need to consult with my future self." Pinkie set a most warm grin on her face. "Better idea! you'll ask me about how things are going in that evil-weavel place!" Not a bad idea, Spike thought as he fiddled around with the flat device. After a while, and after seating himself on pinkie's back, he managed to open it.
PINKIENANIGANS UNITE! WHEE!
EMIT LACOL,
*USER SIRSCALES JOINED*
SC: Wow, this IS easier to write with!
SC: Is anyone here?
FPP: Heya Spikey-wikey!
SC: Hey..uh...Pinkie?
FPP: FPP is good enough for me Spikey!
SC: Okay uh. I was wondering how things are going there?
FPP: Oh pretty good! Twi has calmed down, Applejack is still challenging Rainbow with a 'explorer run'!
SC: That's good I guess.
SC: We're heading to Manehatten now.
FPP: Ohh! You're going to the secret base? Awesome!
SC: How did you- No, nevermind.
FPP: Heehee! Oh Spike, is anything flashing on your screen?
SC: Well...yeah, something is.
FPP: Oh my....Uh, remain calm and open it!
*SERVER OPENED NEW MEMO: NR. 1*
*USER SIRSCALES JOINED*
SD: You cannot fool me pink one.
SD: I can see through your failing attempts to hide.
SC: What are you going on about??
SD: Oh, the 'I never heard of you' tactic. classy.
SD: Albeit anoying.
SD: But know this, pink menance.
SD: I will possess the elements! And I will become YOU!
*USER SAVDOR DUNE SHUT DOWN MEMO NR. 1*
Spike blinked, once.
What was this all about?
And Savdor Dune? Seriously? What kind of terrible name was that?
Quickly dismissing the awfull naming on 'Rather ill humored parents' he found that he had accidently dismissed the chatroom window! Instead there was a black background with a few parameters of text:
On top, <CLIENTMOD>
Below that, <HOSTMOD>
And below that came, <GLOBALTOOLS>
Curious to the nature of the last one, he found out that typing it resulted into showing a new program:
*GLOBALUS, UNIVERSAL TOOLS*
*VERSION 3.4*
Another row of commands was laid out against a black backdrop.
<AWARIFICATION>
<EFFINGYSETTER>
<DEPARADOXIFIY>
<TOOLSET2>
<BUILDINGIFICATOR>
He tacked in the first command, and was awarded with the following line of text:
>INSERT TARGET BEING FOR AWARIFICATION PROCESS: ....
>USERS CURRENTLY ONLINE: FPP, SC.
Knowing that 'SC' was he himself, he simply tacked in FPP. And pressed enter.
>IS THIS THE CORRECT TARGET? Y/N
He typed in Y.
>AWARIFICATION INITIALIZED. PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE...
And he pressed ENTER.
Spike then became Future Pinkie Pie, but he obviously did not precieve 'him' to be 'her' becuase of his awareness was 'hers' all along throughout future events.
And future Pinkie Pie found herself in a rather bland, if not large grey-ish room. the windows in it did little to help living up the place a bit, apart from showing that the outside world was a disconcerning void of black. Besides her, and shaking like a leaf, Fluttershy had hidden herself half under the hardwooden table. The party pony sighed softly. and patted her.
"It'll be alright Fluttershy, Twilight knows what she's doing! Plus we've got people outside this working up a rescue party! The best kind of party!"
The pegasus did not look too re-assured.
"I don't know pinkie...I mean, um...She didn't look like she knew what she was doing...I mean.."
"Yeah. I don't know if yelling and running into a door, then to run around in circles and dash off into a random direction fits as 'The best thing to do when trapped in a castle-dimension'."
Pinkie let out a nervous giggle.
"Or the fact some silly pony is trying to get our elements..."
This made the yellow pegasus emmit a whimper of fear. Sure, having a future version of Pinkie Pie (as the party pony explained herself, much to the distraught of Twilight.) Along with a laptop (This too recieved adequate attention. Especially from Dash.) is handy. Becuase she knows things they don't know, yet. Fluttershy found that quite productive.
Twilight found this all rather 'silly'. denoted harshly in her own words.
"We'll stay here Fluttershy, and wait for the others. Rarity won't be away for long! Besides if things get REALLY scary, we can still have a good laugh about it!"
She gave a huge grin to the pegasus, now huddled into a ball.
"Ohh! That reminds me, I have to find dash!"
She turned to the laptop again, closing it.
"I'll be right back Fluttershy!" And with that, she galloped out the dual-doored grey room. With the timid pegasus now all alone, one would (being said pegasus) be quite frightend by all this. Yet Fluttershy couldn't help but admire the various clocks that lined the sides.
It gave her the secure feeling of chronology.
Meanwhile, at a diffrent side of the castle...building...thing. Rainbow Dash and Applejack rested at the foot of a massive starway. conviently lined with clocks, red decor and huge banners obscuring half the railing on the second floor.
"This place shore is massive."
"Yeah, That future pinks wasn't lying about the size of this place." She panted.
"Atleast them crazy ponies ain't gonna get us 'ere."
The had, litterly, ran into the mansion/castle/palace/whatever's servants. Atleast, that's what they thought it were, until they started waving around cold steel. Soon, the duo of interprid explorers found that the halls were suprisingly well-fit for aimless absconding. Even so, having lost their chase-entourage, it was the first sign of this place having floors. Knowing that this floor has a no value for the others either, they quickly decided that they should find the others again and perhaps get them moving up a level?
They would. Right after this much-needed break.
And out of freaking nowhere, Future Pinkie Pie popped up behind a empty vase.
"Heeey girls!" She waved happily. "What are you doing here?"
Rainbow Dash was the first to recover; "Pinkie!? Where the hay did YOU come from?! We ran atleast through half the building getting some sort of evil guys off our backs!"
"I know right? But I'm future me so I knew that this was going to happen and what path you ran through! Well, I´m pretty sure I know HOW it is gonna happen!`
She met Applejack´s blank expression.
"Pinkie, that made no sense. What-so-ever."
It was then that Spike rememberd to be aware of his excistence. which, of course, has always been there and never left him in the first place. There is no reason that Spike ever was Future Pinkie Pie or Pinkie ever been him. Stupid.
He simply blinked. As he looked about, he noticed that they had progressed a great deal; already the skyscrapers lined the horizon. And the Alicorn pair had finally resorted to silence, which was happily (albeit, wordlessly) recieved by the rest of the group.
One who enjoyed this moment of walk-n'-peace the most, was Nightmare Moon.
She had been subjected to the overly affectionate white alicorn for quite a while now. Three counts of intimate assualt on her cheeks. both of them, as the white mare played a foalish game of hide and smoosh. And everytime she managed to plant those violating lips onto her cheek, she could do nothing else but emit a growl of displeasure and hope that she would not spot her blushing.
But now will be diffrent. Now she will deliver a CLEAR message to that white demon and her offending kisses, she won't make her feel like the last one!: Almost heartwarm. ALMOST. The plan was clear, the path lays open and the white one had kept silent for sometime now! She turned to look at her nemesis.
Only to find that she had been sneaking up close for another cheek-related smoosh.
Which ended unceremoniously in a lips-on approach.
DAMMIT.
"BY MY MANE." There goes the neighborhood. "WILL. YOU. STOP. THAT?"
"B...but I didn't mean t-to.."
"You. Have been kissing my cheeks, BOTH OF THEM, for the past FOUR hours! I'm sick tired of this silly-filly NONSENSE!" Nightmare Moon boomed at a Celestia wearing an neigh-dramatic mock hurt on her face.
"But Nightmare..."
"NO EXCUSES! You missy better start behaving like my enemy instead of a Nightm...bad dream spouse!"
"You think of my love such little? Does nothing what I do for you mean anything for you at all?" Celestia even managed to tear up, slightly, before Nightmare Moon. "My heart is only for you my love. I wish nothing else but the best for my beloved mare, the mare of my dreams."
The black mare made an invulentary eye-twitch.
"Sometimes. I believe that there is not enough vomit, in the world."
As the city gradually surrounds them, it was urgent not to cause a mass-bowing-panic. Even the emperor agreed with the royal mare as she shifted her eyes from and fro the streets. And the party quickly traversed down the dark alley-ways that made up atleast a third of manehatten...
"So enlighten me, Miss Pie." The raspy voice of the undead-ish pony dissolved the silence apart. "Why do we have to endulge into the shadows of a metropolis without knowing what sort of 'base' you had in mind?"
The response was a hearty giggle.
"Of course I know where we are going! Actually, we are already here!"
They were looking at a stairway going into a building. In the alley. Downwards. Before any snaggy comments could be made on the less-then-appealing setup, Pinkie had them all dragged down the fourty-four stepped stairs. When she threw the dual hard-wooden doors open, They saw a huge subterran dome, lit up by an amazing array of lighting from both the ceiling as various lamps settled across the floor. Which gradualy takes 'steps' into the earth. Until it reaches the center of the room. which was large enough to fit sugercube corner on it with ease. A mysterious device was situated there, spinning it's mechanical spire-arms in a slow, indepedent turn.
"Welcome. To my LAAAAAAAAAIIIR.
"How'd you get a 'LAAAAAAAAIIR'?"
"I never told you the time my parents struck a goldmine? Or the time we had moon-rocks all around the farm?"
"How does one find moo-" The princess was interrupted by Nightmare Moon's rather rude step-in and her ALMOST genuine laugh.
"That is...None of importance! I am, however, curious to why I am being dragged along for this rediculus assembly?"
"Becuase." The emperor started "She also dragged me into it." He recieved a raised eyebrow. "Fine. Becuase I have the equipment." he raised a hoof, motioning to the laptop the dragon currently possesed.
"Okay team!" Pinkie bounced around them "Time to set up the PINKBLINK." she frantically motioned to the centre.
All attention was aimed towards the mysterious device standing right in the centre.
"This machine allows me to be somewhere isntantly! And the funest winest part is; it's completely remotely operated!" She motioned to a well-hid chip-like device sitting under her mane.
"Okay...So..." Spike tilted his head
"All we have to do is to reprogram the device to shift dimensions!"
And thus Team awesome became Team pale.
The pink party pony bounced about them as she began making an incoherent senctence involving their upcoming adventure.
|
Redante
|
827
| 4 |
Original Character,Pinkie Pie,Princess Celestia,Spike,Adventure,Comedy,Random,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Of Pink and Time
|
Pinkie Pie attempts a inter-dimensional rescue
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>With a visit from the Emperor of all things-quite-dead. absolute ruler of Deadquestria, Pinkie Pie learns the secrets of inter-temporal/ Dimensional chatting! </p><p>Apart form the unusual encounter, it also appears that her future self, along with the rest of her friends has gone missing in a out-worldish dimension... </p><p>Along with Nightmare Moon, Emperor Redeadne, Princess Celestia and Spike the dragon. One of the most unlikely rescue operations is underway..</p><br/><p>The author denotes that any loss of mental wellbeing is to be NOT blamed on him.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-26T14:30:05+00:00
|
2011-09-26T14:30:05+00:00
| 932 |
The awareness of our heroes had been transferred to a purple unicorn.
Once again, you fail to see their awareness had been hers all along since nopony ever did exchange awareness.
Stupid.
But she walked. Ran. Screaming incoherent slurs that made little to no sense in this dimension. She had wailed past rooms brimming with black-clad ponies, bewilderd by the strange mare-by, up to the third floor. Then collided with a inconviently placed hard-wooden clock of great size.
It was really inconvient.
And try as she might, her horn was embedded in the wood. Unphazed by all of this, the clock simply tacked on through time. Yet the lavender unicorn was silent.
She blinked.
Twice.
"Wh-where am...I?" The simple senctence was enough for her brain to register that this was the first actual line of logic she had utterd in atleast an hour. Her muscles confirmed that she had been going on a athletic overture, her voice felt strained and sweat clung to her coat. Her eyes shifted around the scenery; Clocks lined the walls as windows gave her a view to the 'outside' if there ever were any. She was now officially lost.
What she did fail to see is another pony positioned across the clock. wielding one of such devices FPP or Pinkie carried around, her mane was straight, and her colouration...a light-ish green? Save for the blue eyes and the up-side-down balloon cutie mark.
"Who...are you?"
"I am..Greendiana Knoll. Nice to meet you."
The new pony let a smile creep onto her face. And Twilight?
She swallowed hard.
Once more awareness is shifted towards a diffrent dimension, a more familliar one. at which we arrive at a peculiar device empowerd by things yet to be named by pony sciene. Thankfully, you have been paying attention and Awareness never changed at all.
"Okay. Let me get this straight." The black mare inhaled deeply, her lungs filled with refeshing air, Faded cheap parfume and specks of regret. "You. Pinkie Pie, are going to 'plug' this-" She waved her hoof at the spinning device "-Into the laptop in order to 'Establish a quantum portal widening effect due the itterations of time/space' which you 'Deem plausibly safe for inter-dimensional transport' and 'Bouncing around in a scientific breakthrough with gleefull abandon'?"
"That's the long version Black snooty! But yeah, I'm going through the portal and SAVE MY FRIENDS!"
Spike shook his head
"I think that would be a stupid idea."
"What, she going alone?"
"Yes and no." He took a deep breath "Yes, becuase without the Spike, there is no reason for the hike!" Which was rather bland-precieved "SECONDLY! Everypony knows, that it's called 'Loophole gates' not 'Quantum Portal'!"
The black mare groaned and placed a hoof to her face.
Meanwhile, Redeadne busied himself with configuring the laptop throughoutly. Celestia watched him tack away carefully.
"I'm slightly at awe at your ability with this subject."
"It's more of a second nature, really."
"Your credibiltiy is hard to get when you make such statements."
"Then you'd rather hear that I am tacking in at random in the hope nothing violently gets torn apart in a fabric unnamed?"
"Point taken. Wait. You are typing at random?"
"You never heard that from me.."
He casted his gaze back to the screen again, this time a series of cables petrude from the laptop to the device in question. spinning at an even more erradic pace. A excited Pinkie Pie going over her newly-aquired team.
"Okay...so we've got black snooty, who can really be a meany pants."
"She'll make short work of anyone opposing her.." Spike added
"Mhm! And we've got Redeadne!" She motioned to the undead emperor who is getting a stern lecture from Celestia on 'Being a unreal, quite dead, Emperor of sorts who needs to get his facts straight'
"Yeah...Uh..He's creepy...I guess?"
"No silly! He's like an EMPEROAAAR!"
"So? I don't see him raise the moon, or the sun."
"He runs an empire who's capital city is called Mortalot."
"Touché"
The pair looked at Celestia. Whom now seems to have calmed down after bringing her opinion to light.
"Celestia can raise the sun, can do magic and-"
"Needs to stay here to raise the sun, Spike. We need to be carefull of who we bring along! Afterall we could NEVER return. FOREEEEVER!" Her, a blank expression, and a that pose. Creeped spike out to new levels.
"So, Who'd you choose Spikey?"
As Spike burdens his synapses, a singular spark of nerve-empowerd electricity misses it's mark, and is daintly replaced with a stronger signal. This causes the signal to cease excistence in this awareness and leak into parallel synapsic quantum strings. Whom in turn broadcast the defecting signal through a multitude of universes before setteling into parallel excistence within the mind of Greendiana Knoll. As the signal hits mark, her awareness is refreshed.
A grin crept over her face as she observed the Lavender unicorn impaling a clock.
"Normally I'd choose my targets carefully." She slowly strode over to Twilight Sparkle. "But you seem so willing, that I just settle dealing with you first." She clasped together her front-hooves. A second later, two shadey figures materialize next to her.
"Lady and gent. our first catch of the day."
"To be quite honest, she impaled the clock. such as I had seen." A male-ish voice called, almost haughty at it too.
"Hmm, She wields the exact expression I am expecting." A more collected female voice spoke from the dark veil.
And truth to be told. it only amplified as Twilight suddenly reconised the figures.
"Pinkie and Pinkie...and...Colt...pinkie?!"
In another overload of panicked synaptic activity, Twilight's awareness is once dispersed in the dimension, which is physically impossible and thus we find awareness linked....or belonging to Future Pinkie Pie.
Again, no party ever held one another's awareness what-so-ever.
She had managed to pull Applejack and a loudly protesting Rainbow Dash to the room they started out in. All the proclaimations the rainbow maned pegasus made about the room being over-run proved to be hot-air. The grumpy pegasus hoverd at the door, front legs crossed.
"Fluttershy? Sugarcube? You here?" Applejack called as she looked carefully under the table.
"Fluttershy?" The Pink mare carefully placed the clock back as she continued to inspect the second one.
"Guys. This is not helping. She's not here!" The blue pegasus groaned.
"Yah don't know that sugercube! She might be easily scared out her wits, but that mare can hide herself in a dammed blade o' grass for all I know!"
She had a point. Fluttershy had the habit of hiding at the most strangest of places. But even then, She'd should have long since called out. It was then that pinkie noticed someone had talked to her on the laptop.
MEMO: NR. 43
TIME AHEAD,
AA: Greetings.
AA: As already passed, your yellow friend is long in our possesion.
AA: Knowing that you'll arrive soon.
AA: Quite anoying.
FPP: Okay mister battery-face, where is fluttershy!
AA: You'll eventually know, relax.
AA: Infact, you'll know now.
FPP: Don't bother! I know where you are.
AA: There we go.
AA: And Then you know where the lavender one is.
FPP: I know where Twilight is too!
FPP: Give up, I'm from the future!
FPP: I KNOW stuff you have yet to know!
AA: Oh please, don't think you're special now.
AA: Ah, I've got to fight you now.
AA: Toodles!
*USER ARISTOCRAT ALKYNE LEFT: USER DISCONECTED FROM FUTURE MEMO*
Him.
Oh how she hated his anatics. He ALWAYS knew before SHE did. And now he changed the flow of time to suit his snobbish-knowing-it-all! Hay!
She frowned at the last line; atleast she got to plant a hoof or four into his face. SOON. Wait...That is EXACTLY what HE WANTS!
Now she only misse-
MEMO: NR. -1
TIME IN REVERSE,
TT: Salam
TT: I do believe you are going to meet me?
FPP: Nice to have MET you, Rival!
TT: Nice try right now.
TT: But I'm still afraid that you are going to find the future frightning
TT: You'll soon see, that we still control your friends.
TT: So become a dear and..
FPP: And what? wear a bowtie?
FPP: I know what you're up to.
FPP: And I ALSO know that you and not finishing lines is a sign of the future!
TT: Harr harr harr.
TT: AA Did change the time again, he will?
FPP: Yes. he DID.
TT: Damn that colt!
TT: The best of luck Pinkie. You'll soon recieve it!
*USER TIMELY THINKER LEFT: USER DISCONECTED FROM EARLIER SESSION*
And the club of confusion is complete! Applejack snorted, having looked over Pinkie's shoulder, she had a headache, no idea who those rear-brains were, was, will be...WHATEVER! And Pinkie Pie from the future seemed to be upset with them. And she knew where to find them.
"Sugarcube?"
"Applejack?"
"What'll we do?"
Pinkie gave her broad grin again. Applejack blinked.
"We wait!"
The flex of inter-dimensional barriers bouncing off against eachother sends awareness to the just-enterd ball of wormhole genrated radiation in a completely diffrent room. seemly the notion of a wormhole having awareness strikes the universe as silly. and thus passes it on to the team of three passed through it; A pony, a Alicorn and a baby dragon.
"OKay team awesome! ROLL OUT!"
And thus the Pink pony, the Black Alicorn and the Purple dragon absconded into the embowels of the structure...Nightmare Moon took left, Spike straight ahead, and Pinkie pie to the right.
|
Redante
|
827
| 5 |
Original Character,Pinkie Pie,Princess Celestia,Spike,Adventure,Comedy,Random,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Of Pink and Time
|
Pinkie Pie attempts a inter-dimensional rescue
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>With a visit from the Emperor of all things-quite-dead. absolute ruler of Deadquestria, Pinkie Pie learns the secrets of inter-temporal/ Dimensional chatting! </p><p>Apart form the unusual encounter, it also appears that her future self, along with the rest of her friends has gone missing in a out-worldish dimension... </p><p>Along with Nightmare Moon, Emperor Redeadne, Princess Celestia and Spike the dragon. One of the most unlikely rescue operations is underway..</p><br/><p>The author denotes that any loss of mental wellbeing is to be NOT blamed on him.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-05T13:25:48+00:00
|
2011-10-05T13:25:48+00:00
| 964 |
Twilight Sparkle was send into a immediate blind date with the oaken segmented floor. A dull smack, a wobbly vision and a upcoming headache, the outcome.
"Now dear ladies. You'll move as I have already seen. But still. Refrain from trying anything." The colt, having identified himself as the Aristocratic Jackie Pie, gave a soft chuckle as he closed the double door behind him.
And silence returned to the room, with the soul exception of Twilight groaning as she rubbed her forehead softly.
"Oh my...Are you alright Twilight?"
"Yes...Fluttershy? Oh my gosh! How'd you get here?!"
"Uhm..I don't know Twilight..Sorry.." The yellow Pegasus whispered. shying away behind her mane. The purple mare sighed softly; The pegasus was probably scared to kingdoms of fright, the poor girl.
However, her eye fell on a thin, black and sleek device resting on top of a table. Ensuring the pegasus mare was truly okay, she made her way over to it. At closer range, she was able to tell this device was quite advanced, even more then Pinkie's laptop...thing. And it also appeared to use the same 'chat-thingy' or whatever Pinkie calls it, to communicate with people. (Recklessly) Regardless of time, space and dimension.
As her magic levitates the device and rotating it to a more readable side, she observed a conversation going on it..:
*MEMO: ADVENTURE CLUB TEMPORAL*
TIME, THERE.
PCT: This is a broadcast to my future self!
PCT: Ha ha ha! Spoilsport!
PCT: Right. Thankfully magic does not need a 3 inch optical adjustment.
PCT: Alright. I'm going to send a mare on a mission to retrieve an artefact from a different dimension.
PCT: Good idea? Yes or no?
*USER TWILIGHT SPARKLE JOINED*
TS: It really depends, this one is rubbish.
PCT: It does not take one eye to see that you are NOT my future self.
PCT: HA ha ha! Eye spye diffrentionals!
TS: No I am not, And who are you?
PCT: I'm PCT.
PCT: Seriously, look to the left of the text.
TS: Right.
TS: But how come you know how to use the device in this dimension?
PCT: Because my first one was stolen by interdimensional thieves!
PCT: I chased them through the building but was outsmarted by the sudden appearance of a window.
PCT: Ha ha ha! Window of opportunity.
TS: They stole your equipment?
TS: Wait, what universe are you in?
And as the words were transported through the Wireless Interdimension Communication link. (Wi-iC) The awareness of being simultaneously was transferred too. Speeding along the link way towards a different dimension an then bursting into existence as fragmented date without compatibility.
Quickly converted into the equestrian language and streamed out into the pixlestic existence of words in the chatroom.
While, of course, Awareness found a more sentient being to envelop; Phil Can Trotten. CEO Manehatten Adventurer's club. A now-one-eyed unicorn with an rich orange mane combed back to allow an eye patch to be fitted over his left eye.
He was a peach-ish-tanned coloured stallion sitting on a leather pillow and sipping a refreshing soda.
"Ha, ha, ha! Dimensional rift-a-vu."
In a moment of utter silence, the door to his office opened to show way for a sharp dressed mare. In turn, he diverted his attention towards the mare as she entered.
"Ah, Miss. Spottington. Please seat yourself over here."
Due the implications of losing the ability to observe a third dimension in view, along with the judging of distance. Phil was pointing at the small saloon table instead of the second leather pillow slightly to its right. Hesitatingly, the mare seated herself on the table.
"No not THERE-" His hoof pointed at a completely empty spot to the left of the table. "-but HERE!" His hoof was once again pointing at the table.
The mare muttered a silent "Oh." as she seated herself on the pillow.
"Ha, ha, ha!"
"Sir? you wanted to see me?"
"Yes Miss. Spottington. Regarding the break-in from last week."
"Ah, yes. Security detail sir?"
"No, can you feel that?"
"Sir?"
"This...Obvious detached feeling, It's like I'm seeing through my own eyes while being aware that I am something AND somewhere else..."
"Sir, I don't think that any of this has to do wit-"
"I'm having this since the past two days! And-Ohh! Here it comes again!"
"I'm sorry but you are truly not making any sens-"
In a flash of invisible inter-dimensional workings. The awareness was once again transported towards twilight Sparkle, Whom was patiently waiting for PCT to answer her questions. Unfortunately, Phil was aware of his awareness changing forms and dimension and thus your prior assumption regarding the fact one CANNOT switch awareness for the awareness was theirs all along, wrong.
But that would be extremely silly as awareness never does change from person to person. only observe them at times. Stupid.
Twilight blinked a few times as she heard faint hoof steps behind the closed shut door. She was still contemplating on how useful this conversation had been as the door opened to reveal Greendiana once more. flanked by her most trusty black-clad burly minions.
"Hello once more my little prisoners, I presume you find the clocks and décor enthralling?"
A moment of silence passed as the doors closed again. and Greendiana slipped the black device into her mane.
"Nothing? Still coping with side effects yet to be named? Shame."
"What do you want of us Greendiana?" Twilight had taken a defensive stance before Fluttershy.
"What. You still don't know?"
A series of shrugs and 'uhm's where exchanged. The green mare looked at the scene with half-lidded eyes.
"Fine." She took a step forwards, her minions positioned behind her.
"The sole reason of you being here is that I want to be the main dimension."
"That's it? loads of guards, THREE different dimensional personalities AND all of us trapped here just because you want to be 'mainstream'?!"
"You see, we live with the knowledge that -we- are merely a figment of reality; a simple entity living in the minds of those knowing."
She rolled her eyes.
"And with these.." She held the Slick black device "...We can change the roles! Even time itself!" Her expression fell into a scowl "..Such like Future Pinkie Pie found out."
"And what do you expect to gain out of all this?" Twilight was far from impressed and Fluttershy far from shelter.
"Oh, It's kind of simple; you, need to be gone for us to become 'real'" The green mare's smile grew. "And ANYONE involving these devices will be trapped here as well!"
"Yet you can't do anything because-"
"-You still hold the elements, and no, not the jewellery, but the essence! I require the essence to actually be able to even transform the universe and trap you here, such as you did with the nightmare."
"Oh yes, I'll have your pretty princesses and anyone else we don't need...uhm...Removed."
Twilight gasped.
And the slick device lit up as Greendiana's laughter shook it out her hair. Plopping it unceremoniously in front of Twilight.
*MEMO ADVENTURE CLUB TEMPORAL*
PCT: Help! I've become the phone!
PCT: Ha, ha, ha! Awari-fail-y-fi-cation!
PCT: RUN!
PCT: P.s. They forget to lock the door behind you.
PCT: P.s.s HA, HA, HA!
Without hesitation, Twilight had fluttershy's tail in her mouth, the door behind them splintered and Greendiana bewildered.
The only problem was that the minions gotten into chase. And the fact that Greendiana was now barking commands to the rest of her minion-istic entourage. The only thing that twilight could do was running. Along with fluttershy flopping in half-flight along her.
The Mare of night had subdued two aggressors that had the nerve to attack her. The two shady ponies slumped to the ground, professionally rendered unconscious by two hard-feathered wings to the snout. She let out a grunt as more pretentious guards arrive.
She grumbled "More of you?" before letting out a squawk as a nine-foot-long pole arm missed placing an guillotine impression on Nightmare Moon's neck, who awkwardly back winged away from another strike that miracously spared the walls. The black mare landed on her rump as she hit the nearby corner.
The creature was...surprisingly much Pony. except that it was a he, and he was pink. And wielding a nine-foot-pole arm in his maw. And that was one suiting top hat he wore.
"Sunoffabiff!"
"What?"
He dropped the Polearm out his maw.
"I said-"
SMACK
And the pink colt was send sailing over his array of surely thugs. One getting topped by colt's hat. Nightmare Moon' mad laugh was soon paired by a maelstrom of magic, regardless of how many thugs managed to get their tommies rattling at her. The gun mares and colts where send flying from and fro. as the black mare utilized both hooves and magic to protect and serve pain.
And continued her dash down the halls, lead and ponies hot on her tail. The pink colt had managed to crawl back onto his hooves, and noticed a shaking surely thug wearing HIS hat on top of THEIRS.
"S..sir?" The colt had been mysteriously spared the trashing.
"HAT."
The order was quickly completed in the most clumsiest motion ever seen.
Spike rounded another corner without much ado. He had found a room, empty. Much like most the rooms in this...place. He figured that a building this size has to have a second level, if not a basement...or gem stash.
And Rarity. Somewhere.
The purple dragon sighed as he checked his wristband...ish thing that Pinkie attached to him moments ago. It had the same function as the laptop she has.
*MEMO: TEAM AWESOME*
TIME AWESOME,
NMM: Kicked flank. run into a slight resemblance of the Pink one.
NMM: Being chased right now. Fun times.
PP: Yay!
SS: Well, Nothing here, empty rooms and stuff.
SS: Gonna take a closer look in this one..
NMM: Good luck with that.
NMM: Try to avoid ponies having firearms attached to their form.
The purple dragon gulped as he opened the door to reveal his darkest fears come true..
"EMPTY?! Oh come ON!" The dragon fretted. "I will not believe that thirty-two rooms are just here for decoration!"
"They will not."
And Spike found himself surrounded by ghastly Sorcerers. And a pink ear-Unicorn Pinkie Pie.
A familiar white unicorn was levitated besides her. Spike simply blinked.
“Rarity!”
"You will fight me now?"
The purple dragon scowled. They took fair lady Rarity, they shamelessly levitated her as some sort of blind bag, and then they dare to challenge, THE Sir Spike?! How foolish are these pests?
“We shall! Engarde!”
“Very well. Now we will duel.”
She smiled for the moment, but her expression fell as the purple dragon managed to conjure up a lance seemly out of no-where.
Applejack snorted as she had made a complete round of the room for the twenty-third time this time. Rainbow dash had positioned herself in a pile of convenient pillows. And Future Pinkie Pie seemed to have frozen in time as her huge grin and eyes where aimed at the double-door.
" Alright! Ah am tired of prancin' around like a stuck sewer rat! Pinkie Pie, For pete's sake! Could we do somethin' productive?!"
"Yeah!" The Rainbow maned Pegasus chimed in "We've been waiting for like...hours! And I...really...wha?" The two ponies where now intently staring at the screen Pinkie was giggling at.
*MEMO: NR. 43*
AA: YOU FOALISH LITTLE...
AA: I JUST GOT A TWO-HOOVED IMPRESSION FROM A MAD MARE.
AA: You just HAD TO GO and RUIN EVERYTHING.
FPP: Oh I thought you would KNOW that?
AA: FINE. I DON'T.
AA: I cannot look PAST the FUTURE.
FPP: That is why it rocks to be me.
FPP: I'm from a further point in time, I've been through your antics.
FPP: And I'm more productive.
AA: I'VE NOTICED.
AA: IT WAS KIND OF BUCKED INTO MY FACE.
FPP: And all I had to do was wait!
AA: I refuse to believe this futuristic nonsense!
AA: Insufferable!
AA: Incomprehensive!
AA: I, will have your head Future Pinkamina Diana Pie!
*USER ARISOCRAT AKLYNE LEFT: ARISOCRAT ANGRY*
Future Pinkie Pie burst into a fit of laughter. Pinkie Pie burst through the door in a fit of laughter. Joining her, three Burly minions are send bowling into the walls.
"Pinkie Pie style!"
Not even a moment later, two pink mares where leading the small group of saved ponies . Among these, Applejack, found herself even more confused than ever; asked ‘What the hay this was goin’ on about Pinkie?!’. As Future Pinkie Pie explains her story, the four mares head out into the hallways at a casual pace.
“..So that time they nearly won with all of us separated in this…this…massive thing…Building! And they were about to dissolve reality and us into theirs! Meaning we’d be poofed into mystery and sadness! So I managed to steal a laptop of theirs and travelled back in time…Just in time!”
Both Pinkies giggled at the same time.
“However, when I jumped in time, so did they. It was an unintentional thing, but they are well aware of what I did. And are changing time on the go!”
She shook her head as the troupe rounded a corner and found themselves facing the stairs again.
Ascension was equally quick.
“…But I’m still unsure of how I can defeat them..”
Nightmare Moon had successfully escaped her pursuers, could finally rest a moment, raise a mock-concerned eyebrow at the purple dragon’s ‘last words before chivalralious acts . And now found herself conferring with a certain white mare at an different dimension.
And how she wished the mare could go and-
*MEMO: PRIVATE BOOTH-Y 1*
TIME, TIME IS LOVELY!
NMM: You’re not funny, you know.
PC: But I do love you!
NMM: Erg.
NMM: Could we skip the pleasantries please?
PC: And get straight to the act? Oh my~
NMM: NO.
NMM: You wanted to talk to me!
NMM: So spit it out, you miserable excuse for pillow stuffing.
PC: Oh that!
PC: Redeadne keeps telling me how he finds the dimensional stability in jeopardy around the fourth floor. He says it looks like a…depression in gravity of sorts.
PC: I have no idea if that is reason for concern or not.
NMM: Atleast it gave me a goal.
NMM: I’m curious to what that may be, well, off to find a set of stairs or so.
NMM: And find out what is all this ‘depressing’ about the fourth floor.
NMM: Maybe a section of you.
NMM: If that is the case I’m going to puke.
*USER NIGHTMARE MOON LEFT: ONWARDS.*
PC: I have no idea what Redeadne means with ‘Don’t let anyone near it unless they want an spacial face-lift with a fifth degree of agonizing growth-pains.’
PC: Nightmare hun?
PC: Oh horsefeathers!
*USER PRINCESS CELESTIA LEFT: PANIC (DON’T)*
With that, Greendiana smirked as she closed the laptop. Spyification sure was handy for a change of pace.
|
Miyajima
|
831
| 1 |
Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Comedy,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Progress: Celestia vs. Time
|
A side-story to Andrew Joshua Talon's 'Progress' series, exploring Celestia's own problems.
|
complete
| 100 | 2 |
<p>A side-story to Andrew Joshua Talon's '<a href="http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/05/story-progress-luna-versus-microwave.html" rel="nofollow">Progress</a>' series, exploring Celestia's own troubles in keeping up with the times. While Luna has had to catch up with a thousand years of change, spare a thought for those who've had to live through it. It's not easy trying to remember everything, and Princess Celestia has had her own share of mishaps over the years...</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-13T02:31:31+00:00
|
2011-09-13T02:31:31+00:00
| 6,275 |
Progress:
Celestia vs. Time
by Miyajima
Inspired by ‘Progress’, by Andrew J. Talon
Catching up on a thousand years’ worth of missed history is not an easy task, by any means. Yet, it is one that Princess Luna had, in the end, managed quite well. Of course, if you look at it from another angle... She had it easy.
Consider how much history has changed over a millennium. Beliefs are re-written, borders shift, empires rise and fall, and somewhere in the middle of it all are the little ponies who struggle on with their everyday lives.
Princess Celestia had seen all of it. She had the misfortune of being able to remember all of it. Not just the important details; the inventions, the treaties, the great heroes and heroines, but every last detail. Such was the ‘blessing’ of being an immortal goddess. When she looked at her faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, she could see, in the mists of her memory, those same features, that same purple coat, repeated a hundred times over.
She remembered them all. She looked upon Twilight and saw not only the young unicorn mare striving in her studies, but also the many stallions and mares that had come before her. She remembered clearly when the first Sparkle had taken the name, well before Nightmare Moon’s banishment.
Celestia kept a library in the palace. She didn’t need to.
In fact, one odd detail that Celestia could not clearly recall... was the last time she had sat down and read a book. Much like genetics meant that the hue of a pony’s coat, or the colour of their eyes, would come up again and again in successive generations, the Princess found the same to be true of literature.
She dimly recalled some decades ago when one of the many students in her School for Gifted Unicorns had written a thesis on the subject. Trope’s Library of Literary Tools was now well into its hundredth edition, spanning several score volumes, and found its way onto library shelves all across Equestria.
That was another problem with being immortal. Things got predictable. There was an old saying; “There’s nothing new under the Sun.” Celestia knew this to be true from experience alone. It was precisely for this reason that she delighted in subverting the expectations of her subjects with her little games, jibes and pranks.
Yet, she never tired of Equestria and its subjects. She took endless solace and pleasure in one simple fact of life:
No two ponies are ever the same.
… But from time to time, they can certainly share similarities.
“Celly, are you alright?”
Luna’s voice broke Celestia out of her thoughts. She blinked, realising she’d been staring for Sun knows how long at the salad in front of her, and gave a small, reassuring smile to her sister.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. Just... Preoccupied, I suppose.”
Luna looked across at Celestia with a mixture of concern and curiosity. “Anything in particular?”
Celestia opened her mouth to reply, but paused for a moment. She looked at her little sister searchingly for a few seconds.
“Luna... Would you believe that, in a way, I envy you?”
The Moon Princess blinked, unsure how to react.
“Since you’ve returned, you’ve been so eager to learn about everything that’s happened in your absence... So much so that I had to forcibly drag you out of that library more than once.” Celestia continued, smirking. “... I envy that passion... Though I don’t begrudge you of it! I just mean...”
She sighed, returning her gaze to the salad bowl. “... It’s nothing, forget I said anything.”
“No, no, go on. You’ve piqued my curiosity now.” Luna retorted, leaning forward.
“... I remember every single moment of the time you were gone. Everything that happened. Everypony I met. … For me, there’s very little left to learn. It... makes me feel my age, I suppose.” she said, staring at a piece of lettuce.
“Well... you don’t look a day over seven hundred.” Luna smirked at her sister.
Celestia snorted, smirking back. “Thanks. But it’s not that, so much... Sometimes I feel like I’m the one stuck in the past.”
“... At least you haven’t made a complete foal of yourself over every new change you’ve encountered.” Luna replied, sighing a little. Celestia looked over at her sister again, and grinned.
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that...”
~~~
“You see, the problem with remembering all the little details is that you start to overlook the big ones...”
A century or so ago, when the city of Manehattan was still new and Ponyville was a small village, Princess Celestia sat in her bedroom, staring out of the window at the moon. At her sister.
It had been almost nine hundred years since it had happened. Ponies no longer looked up at the night sky in fear of the darkness it held, and the meaning of those strange marks on the moon’s surface had been forgotten. Just an Old Mare’s Tale.
All Celestia could see as she stared up at the moon was the face of her beloved sister, smiling down on the land and bathing it in her light. There were nights when Celestia was angry at it. There were nights when Celestia was jealous of it. But some nights, she was just lonely.
A little chime rang, bringing the Princess out of her thoughts. She turned her head and watched with a smile as the little figures on her clock danced, their hooves striking the small bells to announce the hour.
Midnight.
Celestia’s stomach growled. She had refrained from eating much at dinner, not then feeling particularly hungry. Now she was beginning to regret it. Muttering to herself, she rolled off the bed and onto the floor in a manner most unbecoming of royalty.
Of course, there was nothing stopping her from just ordering the palace cooks to make her a midnight snack, but there were times when she tired of being waited on hoof and fetlock. She knew her servants’ intentions were kind and well-meaning, but they fussed over her like a newborn foal, and she deeply resented it. She was several thousand years their elder, yet they wouldn’t even let her take a walk in the palace gardens alone lest the royal hoof tread on an errant thorn.
Silencing the creaking of the doors with her magic, she opened them a crack and peered out, smirking to herself to find both guards fast asleep. She tip-toed past them, taking care not to make a sound, and made her way slowly and carefully down the palace corridors. The gentle tap of her hooves on the marble floor was inaudible to all but the mice, who watched with mild amusement as the supreme ruler of Equestria sneaked through her own palace like a trespasser.
Celestia breathed a quiet sigh of relief as she reached the palace kitchens, having encountered no servants or guards along the way. Carefully opening the doors, she peeked inside. No one around. She slipped into the room and drew the door closed with a soft click.
Moonlight streamed through the windows of the palace kitchens, reflected off the white tiled floor. Celestia peered around, momentarily a little confused. She would swear blind there used to be a grand fireplace and roasting spit where that little row of white ceramic boxes now stood.
She approached them cautiously. They each stood about the height of a pony’s back, with two doors on the front, both with transparent panels, and four black metal discs on the surface. They bore a vague resemblance to an oven, but there seemed to be nowhere to put the wood or coal.
Celestia opened one of the oven’s doors, seeing racks of wire grills stacked up inside it. Understanding dawned on her features.
“Ah, it must be a new design of oven. I put the firewood in the lower compartment and it cooks the food in the top.” she thought to herself, levitating out the grills and placing them neatly on the central table. She turned her head to where the basket of firewood used to be, only to find it conspicuously absent.
Frowning, Celestia paced around the kitchen, checking in cupboards and pantries for any suitable fuel. Her search proved entirely fruitless. She was about to settle for a cold meal when a thought arose that she could easily borrow the firewood from the great hall, next door.
Minutes later she was back in the kitchen, floating a large wicker basket of chopped wood beside her. She stacked the wood in the oven quickly and efficiently, with enough space between the blocks of wood that it was sure not to choke the flames.
She peered at the oven again. There didn’t seem to be any vent or chimney attached to the lower compartment, so she would have to leave the door open to prevent the fire going out. Satisfied with her deduction, she leant down and touched her horn to the wood, which sparked and immediately burst into bright yellow flames, quickly spreading to the rest of the pile.
Placing a few extra pieces of wood on the merrily burning fire, Celestia went back to the pantries. Peering at the generous stock of fruits and vegetables on offer, she selected two cobs of corn and floated them beside her. She peered intently at the shelves, looking for something else, and frowned again as she couldn’t find it.
“Where have they put the butter? I do wish they’d stop moving things around like this, I swear it used to be kept in here.” she muttered in the recesses of her mind, going through the routine of checking all the cupboards a second time.
Finally she came to a tall white box. It was about twice the height and width of the ovens, had only one door, and hummed ominously. She had overlooked it in her first sweep of the room, since she didn’t identify it as either a cupboard or a pantry. She wasn’t entirely sure what it was.
Opening the door cautiously, she recoiled at the sudden icy blast, losing her grip on her magic and dropping the corn to the floor.
“Oh. Yes. Refrigerator. Insulated box continually channelling a freezing spell to keep perishable goods cold and preserve them for longer periods of time.” she reminded herself, picking up the corn and taking the butter from a shelf. She took care to close the door properly, and quickly made her way back to the oven to warm up.
Throwing a few more pieces of wood on the fire, she opened the top compartment of the oven, placing the corn on a metal tray within and adding a slice of butter to both cobs. She closed the door, and waited.
And waited.
… And waited.
Ten minutes had passed before Celestia came to the conclusion that she’d done something wrong. Peering through the tinted glass, she could clearly see that the corn wasn’t cooking. Judging by the fact that the butter on top hadn’t melted, it wasn’t even warm.
Scowling now, she took a closer look at the oven. On the top, next to the four metal discs, was a series of dials with numbers around them. Four were numbered from 1 - 6, and the other two were numbered from 0 - 9. She pondered this for a moment. According to the little diagrams accompanying the dials, the first four corresponded to the metal discs, therefore the other pair must have something to do with the upper and lower compartments of the oven.
“It couldn’t possibly be temperature or the numbers would be higher,” she reasoned. “... perhaps, then... Ah! Yes, I know, it must be like those solid fuel heaters. The numbers on the dial correspond to the strength of heat reaching the top compartment! So if I turn both to nine...”
A light hissing sound disturbed the silence, punctuated by the crackle of the fire as its flames suddenly turned blue. Celestia looked at this with some interest.
“... It must be an effect of the design. Heat is channelled to the upper compartment by magic, hence the blue tint to the flames.” she thought, nodding. This made perfect sense. There was no direct means for the heat from one compartment to reach the other, so it had to be magic. Clearly.
… Clearly.
Any further thought on the subject was interrupted by the soft clop of hooves outside the kitchen door. Celestia froze, instinctively.
“Don’tcomeindon’tcomeindon’tcomein...”
The door edged open.
“Dammit.”
A head peered into the kitchen, looking around curiously. Its owner quickly spotted the Princess and burst into the room, clattering across the floor and screeching to a halt in front of the royal alicorn, face down on the floor.
“Your royal majesty forgive me I didn’t hear you call I swear I would have been here to serv-” she began, barely pausing for breath, before Celestia placed a hoof on her shoulder and loudly shushed her.
The servant looked up at her ruler and employer with a mix of shock and utter bewilderment.
“Keep it down!” Celestia hissed, glancing around nervously. “I’m just making myself something to eat, I didn’t want to bother anyone.”
The servant nodded, biting back the instinct to offer to prepare a five course banquet. Celestia saw that she was a young mare, barely old enough to be considered one. Her coat was white, and her mane yellow. Her cutie mark was currently hidden under her uniform.
The Princess smiled, trying to ease the unspoken tension between them. The servant mare smiled back, nervously, and glanced at the oven. Her eyes widened in horror.
“Y-your majesty, that’s... That’s...”
“Oh, it’s quite alright. I think I have it all figured out now.”
“But... It’s... That’s...” she stammered, half of her brain screaming to run, and fast, and the other half frantically trying to think of a way to explain to the goddess that you don’t operate a gas oven by setting fire to it.
Celestia peered through the glass window of the oven door again, glaring at the completely untouched corn within.
Her horn lit up.
The glow enveloped the handle of the door.
The servant made the connection and immediately abandoned all other mental tasks.
“Nononononodon’t-”
~~~
In the palace gardens, a pair of guards had taken a moment to stop and rest on their patrol around the grounds. They sat admiring the stars and the beauty of the gardens themselves, even under the moonlight the flowers would open in bloom, as if greeting the absent Princess on her nightly journey.
“Say, Irons...” one began, peering up at the sky.
“Mmh?” his companion grunted in response.
“D’you reckon that out there, somewhere, there’s another world like this one, but, like, different?”
“... How d’you mean?”
“Like, all the colts are mares, an’ all the mares are colts. An’ there’s a Prince instead of a Princess.”
His companion pondered the implications.
“... So y’mean, me an’ you, we’d be mares?”
“Yeah.”
Irons stared up at the night sky.
“... Nah, tha’s daft.”
The other guard shrugged.
“If yer say so. Come on, we’d best-”
An explosion tore away the rest of that sentence.
The guards looked up to see the rapidly expanding fireball coming from the palace kitchens, their ears ringing from the deafening noise of the blast.
Irons mouthed something.
“WHAT!?”
“I said we should go see what happened!”
“WHAT!?”
“I SAID, WE SHOULD GO SEE WHAT HAPPENED!”
“ISN’T THAT A JOB FOR THE GUARD?”
“WE ARE THE GUARD!”
He looked down at his armour.
“... OH YEAH. RIGHT!”
~~~
Celestia sat, stunned, in the middle of what had once been a kitchen. Fortunately, she had had just enough time to shield herself and the servant before the built-up gas in the oven ignited, taking much of the oven and the gas tanks with it.
Two cobs of corn, miraculously intact, lay directly in front of the princess, cooked to perfection. Celestia blinked.
“What. Just happened.” she managed to say, after half a minute.
The servant mare peered from behind Celestia’s wing at the remnants of the oven.
“I think you... Uh. Blew up the oven, ma’am.”
She took a look at the devastation surrounding her. “... and the rest of the kitchen.”
They shared another half a minute of silence.
Celestia looked down at the corn.
“... Remarkably, I no longer feel hungry.”
~~~
Luna stared at her sister incredulously.
“... You blew up the palace kitchens!?” she said, at length.
“Fortunately nopony was harmed... Although the servant mare politely recommended that the next time I felt hungry in the middle of the night, please summon the cooks immediately.” Celestia replied, grinning.
“What happened to her?” Luna asked, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Oh, I gave her paid leave to recover. She was very good-natured about the whole affair, she told the inquiry that I had discovered a gas leak in the kitchens and that we were attempting to fix it when it ignited. I have to admit I was too ashamed to tell them the truth.” Celestia looked out of the window, smiling fondly in reminiscence. “... I think, in the end, I appointed her head of staff. Sundance is her great-granddaughter, you know.”
Luna smirked, herself. “And you needle me about how I reacted to microwaves.”
Celestia grimaced. “Well, actually, that’s another story...”
Luna raised an eyebrow at her sister.
“Celly... don’t tell me you mistook that for a fuel-burning oven, too?”
Celestia paused, looking embarrassed.
“... I may have...”
Her sister tried to stifle a laugh, but ultimately failed.
“It wasn’t very funny at the time!” Celestia protested. “The guards thought it was an assassination attempt and I very nearly had a national incident on my hooves ... I’ve given the kitchen a wide berth since then...”
Luna raised a handkerchief from the table to dry her eyes, still laughing.
“Hah, well, I can see why you didn’t tell me that earlier.”
“Just... Keep it to yourself, would you?”
“Oh, of course.” Luna giggled. She took another bite of her sandwich, musing as she chewed.
“... It’s a shame I missed all these innovations.” she said, after swallowing. “I would have loved to have been there and... seen it all unfold.”
Celestia smiled again, looking at her sister. “Personally, Luna, I think you got the better deal. After all, you get to learn about it all, and you have all the tools at your hooves to do it with. I’ve had to sit here and drudge through it.”
“Besides... You have the blessing of hindsight. You can see how history unfolded.” She placed a hoof on an internal palace memo resting by her plate. “... Without any of the boring bits.”
“Well, when you crack under the strain and I have to seal you into the sun for a thousand years we’ll get a chance to see, won’t we?” Luna replied, smirking.
“What I wouldn’t give for a thousand year’s break from parliament...” Celestia grinned back. “Speaking of matters of state, I’m slated for a three hour long meeting with the Mayor of Trottingham. What have you got planned for the afternoon?”
“I believe the girls are planning a trip to Whitetail Woods, Twilight invited me to join them there. It was barely Whitetail Copse the last time I visited.”
“Well, try to avoid the maples. Believe me, it’ll take hours to get the syrup out of your mane.” Celestia rose from the table, bowing to Luna as one ruler to another. Luna returned the gesture with a giggle and a wave of her hoof.
“I’ll see you this evening, then, Luna. Have a good afternoon with the girls!”
Luna nodded in reply, and Celestia strode out of the great hall to attend to her duties.
~~~
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TuxRug
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834
| 1 |
Main 6,Soarin,Spike,Spitfire,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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Shattered Rainbow
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Rainbow Dash makes the worst choice a pony can make, and learns how much she means to her friends.
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complete
| 46 | 4 |
<p>Rainbow is devastated to learn that despite her best performance yet, she didn't pass the Wonderbolt tryouts. Incredibly distraught, she makes the worst decision any pony could. She survives, and learns more about friendship than she ever expected.</p>
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teen
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2011-09-13T04:32:34+00:00
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2011-09-13T04:32:34+00:00
| 4,508 |
Shattered Rainbow
By TuxRug
It seemed to be the brightest moment in the young cyan mare's life. Rainbow Dash was standing, along with eleven other nominees on a proud stage made from cloud. Half of them would go on to the second round, and from there, the Wonderbolts would choose three to begin training with them. After a solid month of rigorous training, there would be one more competition, narrowing the three down to one. That final pony would be an official Wonderbolt, eligible to move up the ranks and maybe someday fly alongside the best of the best.
"Many were nominated, and honestly, it was difficult to only select twelve candidates," Spitfire announced, standing stage left of the entrants, just a few feet from Rainbow Dash's side. "All of you have so much to be proud of, just making it this far. You all flew amazingly, and once again, it was very difficult to only choose six to progress to the next round."
Dash smiled so wide, her jaw felt like it was going to pop loose, but she didn't care. She had just finished her performance, and she aced it. She surprised even herself, outdoing her best practice. She had been on a steady high since the moment she got the letter.
"Omigosh-omigosh-omigosh-omigosh!" Dash could not contain her excitement, as she burst through the door of the Ponyville Library. Twilight Sparkle was so startled that she knocked over a vial of ink, partially blackening a stack of parchment. "I can't believe it! Omigosh!"
"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight shook the shock out of her eyes. "I'd expect something like this from Pinkie! What's going on?"
"I got in! I got into the Wonderbolt tryouts! This is so cool!"
"Congratulations, Dash!"
"Ah swear, girl, ah could've heard ya shoutin' from out at the farm with apple cores in mah ears!" Applejack trotted in, her eyes wide. "What's the racket about, Rainbow?"
Rainbow Dash turned in mid-air and stopped just short of bumping Applejack in the nose. "I got into the Wonderbolt tryouts!" she shouted excitedly.
Applejack smiled, rubbing the echoes out of her left hear with her hoof. "Well it ain't no big surprise, ah bet at least half of Ponyville nominated you."
"This is so amazing! Omigosh-omigosh-omigosh!" Dash zoomed out the way she entered, off to tell the rest of her friends the good news.
As far as Dash could tell, the moment she was in now was just as wonderful as sharing the news with her friends. It was a shame they couldn't witness her performance, but much like the contestants, the audience was invitation-only. Many of the onlookers were current or retired Wonderbolts, and many were very wealthy Pegasus ponies who often sponsored the Wonderbolts' public performances. Princess Celestia was overlooking the event from a booth opposite the one the judges occupied during the performances. Her regal pastel mane seemed to float as always. Her royal eyes gazed upon the stage, and she wore her usual gentle smile.
The clouds forming the entire stadium were very bright, reflecting a great deal of the sunlight flowing from overhead. The heat from the light added small beads of sweat to Rainbow Dash's coat, but they weren't any different from the perspiration she already produced during her best performance yet.
Rainbow's large eyes, damp coat, and smiling teeth sparkled in the glow around her as Spitfire read the name of the fifth Pegasus to progress. Rainbow didn't hear that name, simply because it wasn't hers. She was certain the idol so close beside her was saving the best for last.
"And finally…" the Wonderbolt said, drawing suspense into every syllable.
Rainbow closed her eyes and mouthed her name, as if miming it with her lips would somehow hurry the news.
The announcement came. "… Lightning Bolt!"
Rainbow Dash's eyes shot open. This can't be, she thought. She must have missed her name while daydreaming. She turned her head to her right to see six beaming Pegasi standing a single step ahead of the others. They had heard their names, and the group of contenders had already been split in two. There was no room for another pony. The winner's circle was full.
"Once again, I'd like to congratulate all of our nominees. And to those whose names I didn't call, we were still very impressed, and I'd like to welcome the six of you to watch the remainder of the tryouts with us in the judge's booth. As for those of you who were selected to continue, this is where we take a twenty-minute break. Go stretch and walk around a bit. The second half of the competition will be much more difficult than the first!"
If the crowd cheered, Rainbow couldn't hear it. If Spitfire came by to shake everypony's hooves, Rainbow didn't notice. She could only hear herself whispering, "I failed." Everything else was silent.
=====
"I can't wait to see Rainbow after the tryouts are over," Twilight Sparkle remarked.
Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity sat in a circle on the floor of Twilight's library tree-home. Pinkie had already decorated the whole tree inside and out with rainbow streamers and banners. A large, round, cyan-frosted cake was ceremoniously displayed on a table in the corner, with a single slice slightly jutting from the rest, boldly revealing the six thin layers. Each layer followed in a familiar color pattern, moving from red at the bottom to violet at the top.
"I wish we could watch her performance," Fluttershy squeaked.
"I'm certainly not too thrilled with the pony who decided the participants couldn't invite their friends and family." Rarity sighed. "I suppose they want the audience to be as impartial as the judges, but it's just plain rude."
"Maybe they thought everypony having their own cheering section would distract the others?" Applejack posited. "But ah agree... ah don't like it either."
Pinkie Pie was hopping around the group putting the finishing touches on the decorations and carefully perfecting the arrangement of snacks on each pass. "Dashie's gonna love her party! It's gonna be so exciting, she might even forget about everything else! Everything's gonna be perfect and – "
A perplexing look spread across Pinkie's face, as she stopped so abruptly she tipped forward on her front hooves. She regained her balance and stated plainly, "My knee's pinchy."
Spike bolted behind Rarity and buried himself in her curly tail. His purple head barely contrasted with Rarity's indigo tail. "Something scary, right?"
Rarity stood and shook Spike from her tail. "What is it dear? Is it your Pinkie-sense?"
Pinkie stood silent for a moment, and her eyes grew wider while her pupils drew smaller. "We have to go! NOW!" Pinkie was, for the first time anypony could remember, speaking in a very serious and urgent tone. She shot out the door, not even bothering to bounce or hop.
=====
Dash sat at the edge of a cloud outside the stadium. She was too angry to cry, but too sad to scream. Several thoughts floated in her mind, none of them motivational. She was mad at herself for getting her hopes up, and she was disappointed in herself failing even to reach the second round. Will my friends still like me knowing I failed? They all thought I'd make it. They'll be so disappointed. I'm so disappointed. No matter what she tried to think of, her own mind just turned it into another way to mock herself.
"Hey." Her mental self-ridicule was interrupted by a soft, yet confident male voice. She found the will to turn her head enough to see a pale blue pony with a midnight blue spiked mane. His emerald green eyes stared into Rainbow's. He wore an iconic blue one-piece suit with a lightning yellow chest, and a pair of goggles resting on his forehead. Rainbow acknowledged Soarin's presence simply with a few blinks, then turned her head once again to the ground below.
"Rainbow Dash, right?" There was no answer. "The intermission's about over. Are you coming back in to watch the rest of the tryouts?"
"No thanks. I'm fine." Rainbow retorted softly. There was nothing convincing about the response. Her voice cracked on the word, "fine." Soarin' picked up on this, and gently shook his head.
"Fine? Could'a fooled me." Soarin' turned to head back to the stadium, but left his sight trained on the depressed mare. "In case you change your mind, I'll make sure they let you back in." He walked away, occasionally looking back, concern in his eyes.
=====
Twilight ran so fast trying to keep up with Pinkie that Spike figured his grip on Twilight's mane may become permanent before he could safely let go. Applejack followed beside Twilight, with Rarity and Fluttershy close behind. Pinkie was galloping with such force that the rest couldn't get too close without being blinded by dirt in their eyes.
"Fer pity's sake, Pink, what's going on?" Applejack demanded.
Either Pinkie Pie didn't hear the question, or chose not to answer. Her silence did nothing to calm her friends.
Applejack yelled again. "What is going on? Why are we runnin', Pinkie?" There was still no response.
"Look!" Spike shouted. "I think I see Dash!" He pointed up in the clouds. It took a moment for the other ponies to locate where Spike was pointing. They were still quite far, only recognizing Rainbow Dash as a small cyan shape with a hint of a rainbow.
Once they got close enough to know for sure that it was beyond a doubt their friend, Pinkie stopped with a long, uncomfortable-sounding skid. She was completely still, except for her tail, which was flailing about like it was trying to escape from her.
The other ponies stopped just short of a collision. Spike noticed aloud, "twitchy tail?"
Pinkie stood, and softly said, "No."
"Not twitchy tail?"
Pinkie's mane and tail fell flat. "No. No! No! NO!"
And then the cyan speck fell.
Pinkie shrieked, and the group watched in sheer terror. Any other time they would expect a Sonic Rainboom attempt, but something about the way Dash left the cloud chilled them to the bone.
It seemed to last forever. Thoughts raced through each pony's mind so quickly that time stood still. The friends were completely silent, but their hearts and minds were screaming.
What are you doing? The dot fell what seemed to be an inch from such a distance.
Please… Don't do this! The dot dropped another inch.
Please… This can't be happening!
Why?
A darker blue figure followed, closing the gap between itself and the ironic rainbow. The specks met each other shortly before they both met the ground.
The group followed the cloud of dust to find dozens of ponies huddled around a section of the path. Some took turns screaming while the rest murmured loudly. Twilight and Applejack pushed their way through the crowd; the other friends too scared to look. Two ponies laid crumpled on the walkway like discarded ragdolls.
Twilight inched toward her broken friend. Rainbow's face rested under her mane, hiding in shame. Applejack stepped forward and noticed Rainbow's chest rise slightly, then fall again. The other fallen pony followed suit.
"They're alive! Somepony get some help! Anypony! Help!"
=====
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
A set of rose-colored eyes slowly opened. They surveyed their environment, finding a strange box to the far left.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
That was definitely the source of the sound. Attached to the box were a few hanging pouches, lines tracing down from them to a light blue foreleg. Lines from the box itself glided to a couple of small stickers on a light blue chest, slowly and carefully rising and falling.
Rainbow Dash soon realized where she was. She also realized that despite the pouches she could only assume contained some sort of painkiller, she was in a fair bit of pain. She also soon realized the beeping was annoying her deeply. She grabbed the wires taped to her chest and ripped them off, to the protest of every muscle she used to do so.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…
That was a mistake. Rainbow's head pounded in response to the new variation of the old annoyance. She knew that she knew why she was there, but thanks in part to the distracting squeal, she couldn't remember.
Outside in the waiting room, a group of friends heard the noise as well, and found another rush of panic as a white, pink-maned nurse pony hurried towards Rainbow Dash's room.
The nurse dashed urgently into the room and found her patient forcing her hooves to her ears. She trotted to the box and switched it off. Rainbow's friends rushed in, once again fearing the worst, but saw Rainbow was conscious.
"Oh, thank Celestia you're awake!" Fluttershy, for once, was loud enough that the nurse gently reminded her that there was a sleeping patient in the next room.
Pinkie uncharacteristically had no words to say. She just bounced over and placed her forelegs around Rainbow Dash, summoning a mild yelp of pain from the Pegasus.
Something was strange about her friends, Rainbow noticed. Applejack's hat was missing, and Rarity looked like she hadn't touched her mane in days. Pinkie's mane just as it was when Rainbow went to retrieve her for her surprise birthday party, flat like tissue paper hanging against her head.
The nurse pony quietly left the room, and shortly afterward, a yellow Pegasus with a mane resembling flames took her place. Her orange eyes burned with an unidentifiable emotion, possibly a mix of anger and disappointment. Even without her uniform, everypony in the room knew who she was.
"Rainbow Dash," Spitfire sternly spoke. "How DARE you?"
Rainbow's last moment of awareness before she woke came rushing back. In her mind, the ground came rushing to meet her, and she felt a painful tug at her tail. She remembered turning involuntarily to see a Wonderbolt gripping her tail in his teeth, wincing at the imminent impact. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Applejack tried to interrupt Spitfire but went unnoticed.
"You can never be a Wonderbolt! If you're ever nominated again, I will personally rip the nomination up and burn it. You're lucky to be alive. Soarin' is lucky to be alive, no thanks to you! He woke up about an hour ago and told me exactly what happened. He says you jumped, and you didn't even bother to spread your wings! He had to go after you! He risked himself to slow you down enough to keep you in one piece!"
Rainbow dropped her face into her hooves and cried. Spitfire only spoke louder to get past the wailing.
"Do you know why you'll never be a Wonderbolt? You gave up. Not just on becoming a Wonderbolt. You had the gall to give up on everything! Wonderbolts don't give up on anything! What's worse is you didn't just hurt yourself."
"I- I'm sorry," Rainbow Dash uttered.
"Do not apologize to me," Spitfire interrupted. "I barely know you. I have little interest in what you do with your life, or how it ends. Soarin' deserves an apology though. He'll be out of here before you are, so I'll make sure he pays you a visit. Until then, there are six ponies and a dragon in this room you need to apologize to."
Spitfire turned to leave.
"I'm sorry I didn't make it into the Wonderbolts, guys," Rainbow choked.
Spitfire spun back around and quickly drew near to Rainbow's face and furrowed her brow. "I don't know if you're stubborn or stupid, but if that's what you really think you should be apologizing for, then you don't deserve friends like these." She then slowly walked to the door, looked back, and left.
Rainbow Dash had no expression for a moment as thoughts flooded her mind. "Oh no," she sobbed. "I've been the least loyal a friend could ever be, haven't I?"
Her friends just stared at her with sad smiles.
Rainbow looked across the room from left to right. "I'm so sorry I worried you AJ, Rarity, Twi, Spike, Fluttershy, Pinkie." She sounded more like a tomboyish Fluttershy than herself. "I can't believe how wrong I was. That was by far the stupidest stunt I've ever tried. I wouldn't have just lost my life, I would have hurt all of you more than I can ever imagine. Do you all forgive me?"
The friends nodded in unison and began to cry.
"Just promise you'll never, ever try something like that again, sugarcube." Applejack reached in for a hug, and was much gentler than Pinkie. All of Dash's friends took turns hugging her, tears from each of their eyes dampening her shoulder, and the room became quiet.
After a few minutes, Pinkie broke the silence.
"Don't the Wonderbolts know how to count? She said there were six ponies you should apologize to!"
Rainbow Dash blinked. She searched and found a mirror on the table beside her bed. She reached for it but winced in pain. Twilight's horn glowed, and the mirror floated to Dash's hoof.
"Dear, don't worry about how you look. You can worry about that after you heal," Rarity insisted. Immediately she noticed the way Rainbow was holding the mirror. She wasn't checking her mane; she was looking herself in the eye.
Rainbow Dash stared into the mirror, and between tears, asked the sixth pony for forgiveness.
"I'm sorry, Rainbow. I'm so, so sorry."
=====
One week later, Rainbow Dash sat alone on the edge of her hospital bed. She had let her friends know without any uncertainty that they should go about their normal lives. They visited when they could, and there was usually at least one pony there to spend time with her. Of course, on busy days, there would be times Rainbow had to keep herself busy. One time, she imitated the sound her heart monitor made when she disconnected it from her chest. She only did that once; a flustered nurse reproached her for it.
This time, she sat re-reading the stack of get-well cards and well wishes from past and present friends. There was even one from Gilda, which Rainbow nearly discarded when she got it the previous day. That one was unopened until that moment, but Rainbow relented to reading it. It was just a stock greeting card, no personal note. Rainbow didn't know whether to be insulted that Gilda didn't write anything on the card other than her signature, or to be touched that Gilda bothered after the last time they met. She guessed that what Gilda would have written would have taken any meaning from the gesture, and made an effort to be satisfied with the card.
As Rainbow set the generic card back down on the table by her bed, there was a knock on the doorframe. Dash looked and saw a bandaged blue pony poke his head through the threshold. The pony asked if he could enter, and Rainbow Dash replied with a nod. The pony walked over towards the bed, turning on the room lights on the way.
"It's a bit dark with just that one light on," Soarin' noted, pointing to the lamp on the table, illuminating the arrangement of cards but not much else. There was a pause, and Soarin' spoke again. "Spitfire said you had something to say."
"Yeah. I do," Rainbow replied. "I just wanted to thank you for saving me. And I'm sorry you got hurt because of me."
Soarin' let out a soft chuckle. "I saw that you were in trouble. If I didn't help, I couldn't call myself a Wonderbolt." He looked back at the dozens of bandages, covering him from neck to flank. "And I've had worse. I'll be back in the sky in a few more weeks. You know, I was grounded for almost half a year once before I joined the 'Bolts."
"No way!" Dash was shocked. It seemed almost impossible that one of her idols could have ever been vulnerable.
"Yeah. But I pulled through it, and look where I am now!" Soarin' chuckled again. "Well, minus the new injuries."
Rainbow was impressed. After nearly six months on the ground, Soarin' was still able to join the Wonderbolts and reach the most prestigious ranks. The thought combined with what the other Wonderbolt had said earlier, and brought her a new sense of disappointment. Soarin' saw it immediately and asked what was bothering her.
"Spitfire said I can't be a Wonderbolt. She'll burn any more nominations for me."
"No she won't," Soarin' reassured her. "I think she was just trying to fix your priorities. If you get nominated again, you might just get to compete again. And I bet she'd be very impressed if you accepted that opportunity after this."
"Really?" Dash wiped her eyes and gave a skeptical smile.
"Yeah. I'm pretty sure you'll get another chance if you want it enough." Soarin' paused, smiling at perhaps his biggest fan. "Well, I have to get going. If I take any longer, somepony's going to come looking for me."
He turned to leave, but Rainbow interrupted him when he reached the open door.
"Soarin'? Spitfire told me not to apologize to her, but would you let her know I'm sorry anyway, for what I did and what happened to you?"
The Wonderbolt smiled at Rainbow. "I'll do that. And she does give good advice, doesn't she?"
"Yeah, a little confusing, but…" Rainbow pondered for a second. "How did you know?"
Soarin' shrugged and simply stated, "Nopony's perfect."
=====
The day Rainbow Dash was released from the hospital was a joyous one. Pinkie Pie recreated the party that was originally waiting for Dash on that frightening day. There were a few subtle changes, most notably, "Congratulations!" had been replaced with "Welcome back!" Rainbow Dash was thrilled by the thought her friend had obviously placed in her efforts planning the party. Pinkie's appreciation for Dash was apparent in everything about the party. Pinkie was right the first time. The party was so amazing, Dash really did forget about everything else.
Nopony spoke about that day, only about how grateful they were to have a friend like Rainbow Dash. Certainly, the party commemorated Dash's freedom from her medicinal imprisonment, and all who attended knew what got her there, but that wasn't the important part. It was still a congratulatory party, only the context of the congratulations had changed.
"We're really glad you made it. This party's dedicated to you, and it would be strange, to say the least, if you didn't show." Twilight was beaming with joy. Neither pony noticed the second meaning of her statement.
Rarity entered through the front door, levitating a small package. "I'm terribly sorry for my tardiness, but I just had the most wonderful idea for a gift earlier," she apologized. "I couldn't stand to come to the party empty-hooved!"
Rainbow walked to the door and smiled as the package floated to her. The white box glistened slightly like a pearl, and was small enough a scroll would have trouble fitting inside. Rainbow looked inquisitively at her friend.
"Rarity, if you managed to fit a dress in here, I think it might be too small for me," Rainbow joked.
"I actually thought I'd try something a little different, dear." Rarity smiled as the top of the box lifted, revealing a gold necklace adorned with six pendants, each with its own round gem.
"The white diamond is me, of course." Rarity was so excited about the gift; it was like she was receiving it. "The orange citrine is Applejack, and Twilight is the lavender amethyst. Fluttershy is the yellow topaz, Pinkie is the pink sapphire, and Spike is purple tanzanite."
Rainbow gazed at the necklace. Each stone's hue matched one of her friends' coats perfectly. She couldn't even imagine how much time and effort Rarity must have put into the gift.
"Rarity… I love it! It's beautiful!" The necklace glided around Rainbow's neck and came to a rest.
"There, dear. Now, no matter where you are, we're all with you."
"Wow. Thank you, Rarity! I don't know what to say." Rainbow smiled so wide, her jaw felt like it was about to pop loose, but she didn't care.
"Dear, just say that you'll be with us too, wherever we are."
"I will," Tears of joy flowed down Rainbow's face. "I promise."
Since that day, if anypony ever told her to give up, she didn't hear it. If anypony tried to bring her down, she didn't notice. In times like that, she could only hear her friends cheering her on. Everything else was silent.
=====
Author's note:
This story was inspired by the song, "Fix You" by Coldplay (specifically, Javier Colon's performance). Originally, the story was much truer to the song, and ended in Rainbow Dash's friends' reactions to her death. That was way too depressing, and I hated the idea of killing off a character to begin with. It also left pretty much nowhere to go with the story.
Since Spitfire and Soarin' play such a minor role in the actual cartoon so far, they were the hardest characters to write for. Soarin' was especially difficult to characterize, given he's silent in all but "The Best Night Ever", and even then, he was obsessed with his pie. Spitfire was a bit easier, but I needed her to be mad, which was challenging considering she's friendly in the show.
Something I learned writing this is that the story isn't always done when you think it's done. Originally, in the first couple of drafts, the story ended with Rainbow apologizing to herself, and didn't include Twilight and Applejack seeing Rainbow on the ground. The more I re-read the story, the more I found missing. I added the ponies rushing to Rainbow's aid because I felt like leaving that out broke the established character of the bolder ponies. The story also didn't feel like it was ready to end, and I had an idea for a very touching moment between Rainbow and Applejack (not shipping!). The story nearly doubled in length, and finally felt complete, yet I could not fit that idea I liked so much without wrecking the flow of the story. It's still an element of this story that I really want to share, but it has to go into something separate. Whether it turns into a sequel or just short continuation is up in the air right now.
-TuxRug
P.S. Titles are one of my weaknesses. I'm sure someone can come up with a title better than "Shattered Rainbow".
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and all characters in this story are ©2010-present by Hasbro, Inc. My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic original story and concept were created by Lauren Faust. The author of this story makes no claim of ownership of any characters, locations, or other material derived from copyrighted material. This story is not to be used for commercial gain under any circumstances without permission from the legal copyright holders of all applicable material.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 1 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-19T01:59:42+00:00
|
2011-09-19T01:59:42+00:00
| 21,406 |
It was another beautiful summer day in Ponyville. Rainbow Dash napped on a cloud floating lazily in the sky. She could rest easy knowing the weather didn't need any adjustments - not that she would've let a little work get in the way of a good nap. A stiff breeze ruffled her feathers slightly and she began to stir, but before she could protest against the disturbance the breeze intensified a thousand fold as a sound like mountains colliding ripped through the air. She was sent flying.
She tumbled off the edge of the cloud and spun wildly for a moment before she snapped to attention, flapped her wings twice, and leveled off - glancing rapidly in all directions trying to understand what had just happened. "What the hay was THA..."
Dash stopped as she caught a glimpse of something up above. She was absolutely entranced by the unbelievably massive rings of color spreading over the skies of Equestria. The resemblance to a Sonic Rainboom was uncanny, but there was no way anypony - or anything even close to the size of a pony - could make an effect as massive as... whatever it was she was staring at. No matter HOW fast it flew.
Fluttering in place for a few seconds, not realizing how far her jaw had dropped, Dash didn't even notice the rainbow trail blazing its way through the rings and speeding toward Sweet Apple Acres. She noticed when it hit the ground.
Another sound loud enough to wake the dead tore through the air as dirt, rocks, and apple trees were scattered several hundred feet in all directions. Rainbow Dash again stared and hovered, waiting for her brain to finish trying to process what had just happened.
---------------------------------------------------
Applejack spoke with a great enthusiasm about the finer technical details of the apple farm while the pencil levitating in front of Twilight scribbled furiously. Applejack had been hesitant to agree at first, but Twilight had eventually convinced her that the plan would work and this year's crop would be nearly double what was expected. She just needed to get some data to fine tune the numbers, and Twilight was certain everything would work perfectly.
Everything probably wouldn't have worked perfectly, what with the way something always seemed to go wrong and everypony learning a valuable lesson while fixing the problem, but the chance didn't present itself. No, this year there would be a significantly SMALLER crop of apples what with the number of trees that were uprooted or destroyed entirely.
---------------------------------------------------
Applejack picked herself up off the ground and stumbled over to where her lavender friend lay. "You okay Twi'?"
"I think so...", Twilight said through a fit of coughing. Somewhat miraculously, both ponies were unharmed. Neither had been sent very far or hit by any debris. They both just took an unexpected trip through the air a short distance and hit the ground once. Painful, but perfectly survivable.
"Well ah think we prob'ly ain't gonna git ta finish our little conversation right now. Got more important stuff to see to, tryin' ta fix as much o' this damage as possible. It looks like an awful lot of mah poor trees have... been..." Applejack trailed off before galloping off at full speed.
It didn't take Twilight long to see what had gotten her friend's attention. Over at the center of the... whatever just happened... lay a glowing Rainbow Dash. Laying with her eyes open wide, but unscuffed, unharmed, and glowing at the center of what had been a very devastating wave of force. Something wasn't right here. Applejack stopped just in front of her and began yelling.
"WHAT IN TARNATION DO YOU THINK YER' DOIN' DASH? YOU COULDA BEEN HURT. ANYPONY ON THE FARM COULDA BEEN HURT. THE APPLE TREES ARE DEFINITELY HURT. And fer what? Some ridiculous stunt of yers? I know you got tha Wonderbolts to train for and yer pride to uphold and whatever other ridicalous nonsense yer always goin' on about but do you never stop to think about the DAMAGE YOU CAUSE? I mean accidents happen, windows break even if it doesn't take a pony flyin' through 'em to do it. But THIS? I would say you're lucky you didn't get hurt but that's not entirely true because if you HAD been hurt I'd probably have a much harder time being this ANGRY at you! Are you even LISTENIN' TA ME?"
Dash's glow began to fade as her pupils shrunk down to tiny little dots. After a moment, they grew back to their normal size. She jerked her head around, clearly confused, before something in her head seemed to click. She stared at Applejack. She stared deeply at her face for several very long seconds. Just as Twilight had trotted over to the two ponies and Applejack was about to begin yelling again Dash bolted upright, turned toward Twilight, and opened her mouth.
"IT WORKED! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT WORKED! I mean I know I'm the fastest flier in Equestria and all, and you're the biggest Egghead I know Twilight, but I still can't believe we ACTUALLY DID IT!" Rainbow Dash was clearly excited about something. Twilight was confused. Applejack wavered between angry and confused.
"What are you talking about? Did what?" Twilight asked.
"Well, not WE we. ME, yes. And you. But not YOU you. Oh man, I totally wasn't paying attention when you told me how I was supposed to explain it to you..."
"Sugarcube, you're goin' to need to start explainin' yerself. NOW."
Dash shrunk back down a bit as she turned toward the orange earth pony. "I'm sorry AJ. I really really am. But I have orders. I need to talk to Twilight, and only Twilight. And I need to do it now, before... before...." she trailed off, struggling to find the right words and looked around at the damage done to the farm. Her voice lost a lot of its usual confidence. "I really can't tell you anything right now but I promise I'll make it up to you... eventually. I'm REALLY sorry about the farm and I hope this doesn't screw up anything between us. Just... I dunno, force me to help you clean up and replant later. Don't listen to me when I start being an idiot."
Snapping her head in the lavender mare's direction, her voice regained its usual qualities. "C'mon Twilight. I need you to teleport us back to the library. As fast as you can."
"What? Why? What exactly is going on here, Dash? And don't you owe Applejack at least a LITTLE explanation for... whatever this was that just happened?"
"Yes, I do, and I swear I feel really really bad about all this but I don't think we have a lot of time. I'm a pretty impatient pony and I really don't like having my naps interrupted and I'm positive I would be pretty buckin' curious if I saw any of what just happened."
"But what exactly DID just happen? What do you mean you WOULD be curious if you saw it? You were THERE!"
"AAARGH... I really REALLY wish I'd paid attention to you before I left... you told me exactly how I was supposed to explain all this and now I'm screwing it all up and everypony is going to be talking about this. Look Twilight, I can explain everythin... ALMOST everything to you, and ONLY you, if you just take us back to your library. I promised I'd do my best not to ruin everything and explaining everything to everypony is pretty much exactly how to ruin everything. So I need you to hold onto your questions for ten seconds while you take us back to the library. Now. I'd fly us both there myself but I'm actually pretty exhausted."
"I'm sorry Applejack, but do you think I could do what she says and just go back? I can explain whatever she tells me to you later. I'd just really like to get started on understanding what is going on here and it looks like Dash isn't going to let us do that unless I listen to her."
Applejack looked around at the apple trees, or what was left of them, and sighed. "Rainbow, you are going to work yer flank off to pay fer all this damage as soon as you're done with whatever you needed ta tell Twilight. Do I make mahself clear?"
"Yes ma'am. C'mon egghead let's GO! It's like, an emergency. We need to get the hay out of here RIGHT NOW before I ruin everything!"
A soft purple light enveloped two of the three ponies, and then they were gone.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 2 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-13T06:25:16+00:00
|
2011-09-13T06:25:16+00:00
| 14,580 |
Applejack had calmed down as she had begun to clean up. As infuriating as Dash could sometimes be, Applejack was sure that she wouldn't let her down. The apple family would need help getting the farm in running condition again and replanting enough of the trees that hadn't been destroyed to have a decent harvest. She hadn't expected to see Dash again so soon.
There was the soft thud of a rushed landing. "Hey AJ, what the hay happened here? What crashed over there?"
"Rainbow... yer kiddin' me right? You..." Applejack stopped herself. She could feel a powerful anger building inside her. She had every right to be upset at the cyan pegasus for what she had done, but then to come back and act like nothing had happened... it was enough to make her want to do something she'd regret. She glared daggers at Dash for what seemed to be an eternity as Dash slowly shrunk back and looked hurt. What was going on here? It was like nothing HAD happened. There was nothing in her eyes but innocence. She came to check on her friend and was asking questions about the scene in front of her.
"Rainbow ah... ah think you'd better go." Even if Rainbow Dash was completely innocent, Applejack couldn't fully suppress her anger. This was all Dash's fault, and she couldn't even get any answers out of her. Especially not now that she seemed to have forgotten the whole incident.
---------------------------------------------------
"Where's Spike?" Dash asked, looking around for any sign of the baby dragon and seeing nothing but books.
"He's over at Sugarcube Corner helping Pinkie with some kind of secret project."
"Oh, okay. Cool then. So it's just you and me here?"
"I'm pretty sure. So now, what exactly is so important that it couldn't wait for just a few minutes? And why in the wide world of Equestria couldn't you tell Applejack about it?"
Dash let out a long sigh. "Okay Twilight, I need you to stay calm and listen to me. I know I'm not the element of honesty, but I swear what I'm about to tell you is true and I need you to believe me. I ALSO need you to keep everything I'm about to say a secret, and I know you'll understand why. Are you ready for this?"
Twilight sat still, remembering the last time she tried to keep a secret and how that turned out. This seemed a lot more important. The purple pony put on a very serious face and stood up straight. "Okay. I'm ready."
"Twilight, I am the fastest flier in Equestria. I know I can be a little smug about it, but it really is true. It's also true that you are the smartest pony I've ever met, and the princesses aside you've got the most powerful magic I've ever heard of. Working together, we did the impossible."
"Dash I'm getting really confused here. What did we do? Teleport from Sweet Apple Acres to here? That's not all that impressive. I mean I guess it kinda is, most unicorns probably couldn't manage it, but it's far from impossible and doesn't require you to contribute at all."
"No, Twilight, not the teleport just now. Before that... er... AFTER that I guess." She paused and took a deep breath. "Twilight... I'm from the future. Using your crazy egghead powers and awesome magic, and my even MORE awesome speed, we were able to send me back in time."
"W w... what?" Twilight managed to stammer.
"I know, it's crazy. I can hardly believe it myself. But after getting a good look at Applejack I'm sure of it. And you told me that as soon as you understood that, you'd understand why we can't tell people about this. Disrupting the space lime continue or whatever. If we change the past, it wrecks the future."
The gears were visibly turning in Twilight's head. "Okay. So that leaves a very important question. Why did you come back at all?"
This time it was Dash's turn to slip into thought. "Because I had to, because I already did. If I try to understand or explain it any better than that I'm going to hurt myself trying. You're the egghead."
There was a very long silence before the spark of understanding flashed across Twilight's eyes. "You came back... because you came back?" Dash nodded. "So what's happening right now happened. And then later once I had worked out the details of what makes time travel possible, I knew I had to send you back in time so that you could talk to me about it, so that I could start thinking about time travel, so that I could send you back, so that you could show up and give me the idea in the first place?"
Rainbow Dash stood still, looking confused. "Um... yes?"
"So we caused a stable time loop, and I suppose I'm worried that disrupting it might cause some sort of paradox. I have to develop time travel and send you back to close the loop. And we had to get away from Sweet Apple Acres, because YOU were about to show up there wondering what just happened and you didn't meet yourself when YOU went there."
"Um... also yes?"
Suddenly realizing that she was about to invent TIME TRAVEL, Twilight Sparkle lost herself in a fit of giggling and hopping and glee.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 3 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-14T01:48:30+00:00
|
2011-09-14T01:48:30+00:00
| 13,394 |
A note of worry crept into Rainbow Dash's voice. "So um, Twilight... I guess I forgot to ask you before I left... how am I supposed to get back to the future?"
"Oh, that shouldn't be too hard. Forward, backward, why would one be significantly more difficult than the other? I'm sure once I work out one direction the other will follow. More importantly, what are you supposed to do while you wait? You can't just go out there, you could bump into yourself and cause SERIOUS damage to the spacetime continuum!"
"Yeah yeah race lime whatever. You don't send me back here for like, a WEEK! You know I can't stay cooped up in a library for that long! I just need to avoid myself, right?"
"Dash, if you run into yourself it could very well be the end of Equestria!"
"Yeah, so I just have to stay away from wherever I am for a week. Like right now I'm at Sweet Apple Acres and then I think I went to Sugarcube Corner. So as long as I stay away from both of those places today, I shouldn't see myself."
"But even if you don't bump into yourself directly, some other pony could see you in one place and then turn around and see you again somewhere else! Ponies will get suspicious, and if anypony talks to you about it you might decide to try to investigate!"
"But I didn't! I was there, I would know! There was some confusion. My friends said a lot of things that didn't make any sense, but I never bothered looking into it. I just figured everypony was going crazy. But now that I know crazy magic stuff was going on with me from the future, don't I have to go out and CAUSE my friends to say all those weird things? To stabilize the time loop whatevers?"
Twilight hadn't expected Dash to be right. She REALLY hadn't expected herself to be wrong. With a frustrated 'fine', she shooed Dash away and got back to work.
---------------------------------------------------
The cyan pegasus thought to herself about all the mischief she could pull off. She wouldn't even have to deal with the consequences! Well, she would, but she already did? Not her, the other one. Whatever, that was the past. This. The present was the past. Or, something? It was making her head hurt, but she couldn't come up with any reason she shouldn't go all out on everything. The only limit was that she had to make sure not to be in the same place that she already was. Now where was she, again? This might be harder than she thought.
---------------------------------------------------
Rainbow Dash was speeding away from Sweet Apple Acres, deciding to figure out what was up with Applejack later. She was kinda hungry, maybe she would stop by Sugarcube Corner and pick up something sweet. Steering herself in the right direction, she rocketed off toward Ponyville.
And directly into Scootaloo. What in the hay was SHE doing up in the air? She couldn't fly yet!
"OHMYGOSHRAINBOWDASH! Do... do you want to do something?" Scootaloo was a vibrating orange mass of energy. She didn't seem even the least bit injured, which was good because it meant Dash could leave.
"Heya squirt, sorry but I gotta fly."
Scootaloo didn't try to hide her disappointment at the immediate rejection.
"Aw, cheer up kid. How about later today, we can go hang out or something?"
"YOU MEAN IT?!?"
"Sure, I guess. Later." With that she was gone and Scootaloo's vibrations began to slow down. She picked her scooter back up and looked at the 'ramp' she had just gone flying off of. Deciding against another run, she turned around and stared. "RAINBOWDASH! I thought you had something you needed to go do. Does this mean you don't? ARE YOU FREE RIGHT NOW? CAN WE HANG OUT YET? IT'S LATER!"
Dash looked at the filly bouncing in place, before remembering the encounter that had just taken place. Scootaloo could be a little bit too eager at times, but what else was Dash going to go do? She couldn't go to Sugarcube Corner, and just to be safe she should probably stay out of Ponyville for a bit. She wasn't entirely sure what else she had done that evening. She could probably go to Fluttershy's place and hang around there for a little, but that wouldn't be very fun. Applejack would be way too curious about what was going on and probably really mad at her for wrecking half the farm.
That thought made Dash's heart sink. She didn't like upsetting any of her friends, but she really couldn't stand making AJ unhappy. She wasn't sure when exactly... THOSE feelings had started, but even before then she had felt more comfortable around AJ than her other friends. Twilight was too much of an Egghead. Fluttershy was too afraid to do anything fun. Rarity was... ugh, RARITY. Pinkie Pie was pretty great sometimes, but she could just be so random. It didn't come as too much of a surprise to Dash the day she realized how she really felt about her. It did surprise her yesterday to find out the beautiful orange mare felt the same way about her. She would have to make sure to spend LOTS of time at the farm when she got back.
As much as she really wanted to go talk to Applejack right now, she knew that probably wouldn't be a good idea. They hadn't had 'the big talk' yet, and Dash was currently wrapped up in ridiculous time shenanigans. Well, they DID have the talk, but that was before. Er, after. Whatever. Dash's head was starting to hurt again. Without a lot of other options, she decided to spend some time with her biggest little fan.
"Alright Scoots, whaddaya wanna do?"
---------------------------------------------------
Rainbow Dash came barreling out of nowhere and almost slammed into Applejack. Stumbling onto her hooves, she wobbled over to the farmer having not yet shaken the stars out of her vision. Giving her head one quick shake, she sucked in a sharp breathe to prepare herself to do something very difficult. Stupid Twilight, always being right about everything.
She knew the other mare felt the same way about her for a while too, but somehow knowing this took place before she had told her that made her nervous. For some foalish reason, she was afraid THIS Applejack wouldn't return her feelings. But she had to do this. The fate of Equestria could be hanging in the balance.
"Rainbow, whut are you doing back here? I thought I told ya' that" AJ was interrupted as Dash quickly grabbed her in a tight embrace.
"APPLEJACKILOVEYOUOKAYGOTTAGOBYE!" she managed to squeeze out in about a second before planting a quick kiss and flying away at an impossible speed.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 4 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-19T02:09:57+00:00
|
2011-09-19T02:09:57+00:00
| 11,353 |
Twilight Sparkle shoved her muzzle back into the book she had been reading. This was the third time she'd been interrupted for some ridiculous social activity she didn't have time for. There was studying to be done! Finding her place on the page, she began to read again before there was a very insistent and loud knocking at the door. Letting out a groan, Twilight got up once again and headed for the door.
The moment the door was open, a figure wearing a cloak barged in and shut the door behind itself. Throwing off the cloak, Twilight was surprised to see... Rainbow Dash?
"Twilight! Okay, I did what you told me to. No, not YOU you. YOU didn't tell me anything. I'm not the Dash from before. I'm the other Dash. Not that one. Wait... ARGHH. You're smart, you'll figure this out, and I don't have time to explain. Anyway I think the Applejack situation is under control. Now before I find some place to hide, I need to know. How many of me have you seen so far today?"
Twilight's left eye twitched slightly. "Wait... you... the other Dash... carry the one... Wait, what's this about Applejack?"
"So I haven't... Nevermind, it's not important for you. Yet. You'll get to that later. Right now I need to go hide before this gets any crazier, but first I need to know how many of me you've met today."
"Three. There's the you from the present, the you from the future who told me she was from the future, and now the you right here. I'm assuming you're from slightly FURTHER into the future?"
"Wait, only three?"
"Is that a problem?"
"I HATE time travel."
---------------------------------------------------
Scootaloo lay down, breathing heavily. She'd just finished a very exciting adventure with her idol, and she was enjoying a well earned rest. Today had gone GREAT! She'd learned tons of great new tricks, she'd flown - it technically counted as flying, even if her wings didn't do anything - and she'd been assured that she was 'a pretty cool pony'. And she wasn't covered in tree sap or anything! Letting out a contented sigh, she watched the most awesome pony she knew fly off toward Sweet Apple Acres.
Rainbow Dash landed next to her. "Aw, what's got you so tired? I came by to let you know it's time for something AWESOME!"
Confused, but excited at the opportunity to hang out with Dash more, Scootaloo got up. She was about to ask a question about whether or not Dash had something important to take care of with Applejack, but decided it might be wiser not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
---------------------------------------------------
Applejack sat at the kitchen table, idly chewing the same piece of apple pie that had been in her mouth for the last ten minutes, trying to sort out her feelings. She loved Rainbow Dash. That much was easy. She'd gotten angry at her earlier in the day. That was unpleasant, but simple. But then the beautiful mare came rocketing out of the sky for the second time that day and confessed that she felt the same way before kissing her. And then immediately flew away at top speed. It was almost like she'd been dared to do it. There was no way that was a real, honest confession of love. Nopony blurts it out, kisses you and runs. What did that mean? How did Dash really feel, and why had she done that?
The orange earth pony was snapped back to reality at the sound of rapid knocking on the front door. She got up to open the door, and jumped back in surprise at the sight of Rainbow Dash standing there calmly like nothing had happened.
"Rainbow you have some SERIOUS explainin' ta do!"
Dash stepped back. "What? Oh! Are you still thinking about what happened earlier? Can you please just forget about how weird I was acting? And anything crazy I might've said? I really am sorry about all the trouble. I just came by to offer my help fixing the damage I caused to the farm." Dash was lying. That wasn't her only reason for stopping by. She wanted to see Applejack, even if they couldn't be together just yet.
Applejack felt Dash's words twist in her heart. The confession was just crazy talk? She was SORRY for kissing her, and was hoping she'd have FORGOTTEN? She wanted to fix the damage to the earth pony's farm, but not her heart. A stream of tears started to flow freely from those honest green eyes, and the cyan pegasus gingerly put a hoof on the shoulder of the mare she loved.
"AJ, I don't know what's wrong, but..."
"Rainbow, please. Please, just leave me alone..."
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 5 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-19T02:13:52+00:00
|
2011-09-19T02:13:52+00:00
| 12,585 |
"So before you sent me back again, you told me to always check in with you to make sure we keep the timeline straight. But if you've only seen past me and um... future me, then future future me hasn't been here yet. Which means everything is still screwed up because I rushed things way too fast with Applejack." Rainbow Dash was clearly frustrated.
"Why is Applejack so important for this?"
"Because we have to make sure that everything that happened before this mess started still happens."
"I'm well aware of that, and I'm pretty sure future me is the one who told you. But what exactly was it that 'happened' with Applejack that hasn't happened yet? And why do you need to interfere to make it happen?"
Rainbow Dash took a step back and blushed slightly. "AJ and I... uh... we... " Stammering with embarassment, Dash realized her wings were beginning to tingle. She would need Twilight's help making sure this all worked out, and it'd be hard to get help if she didn't know what was going on, but that still didn't make admitting it any easier. They hadn't told any of their friends yet. Or, their future selves wouldn't have... yet... told... their future friends. That sounded right. Taking a deep breath, the cyan pegasus prepared to let out her secret.
"APPLEJACK AND I ARE IN LOVE!" Dash quickly shouted, her blush and her wings rising.
"That's... that's great Dash! But how does that relate to... when did you two figure this out?
"Yes, great, but you can't tell anypony about this yet! For one, WE don't know it yet right now, but even once we DO we hadn't told anypony else yet and I couldn't tell any of you if she wasn't ready. I'm only telling you now because I have to! We had our big talk about how we felt yesterday. But not the yesterday that was before today. The yesterday that it was for me before I went back to the here today. I think? This stuff is really confusing Twilight!"
"And at least one of you, besides the 'past' you, talked to Applejack about this?"
"Well, yes and no. Original past me eventually does, but we're worried about the future mes. And the FIRST one didn't. We did talk, but only about the farm. You told me you were ready to send me back to the future, and that we didn't have a lot of time for some reason. You rushed me back, and then you... future you... started asking me a bunch of questions about when and where I talked to who. And AJ had been really angry with me when we talked, so I was sure I'd screwed up. You told me you had figured out that I had been supposed to talk to AJ about... how I feel. So I needed to go back again."
"So that's you now? Then what's this about ONLY three of you?"
"That's just it, you told me that you had already sent me back a second time to fix the AJ situation! You told me that THAT me was going to get things moving in the right direction, but you weren't sure whether or not everything would be completely fixed. You went to go look at all these crazy charts and graphs and notes you had and told me that I would need to go back and do something drastic with Applejack AFTER the first two of me that went back talked to her, but BEFORE the past me who hadn't done any time travel. The last one of me that was mucking around with time travel needs to be positive that AJ is ready to have 'the talk' with the me that's from the time we're going back to. I figured it wouldn't be too hard to do that, so I went back again and... um... did something drastic with Applejack. But she acted like it came completely out of the blue! It sounded like I hadn't told her anything yet, and this whole thing about who was where when got really confusing. I came here to try and have you help me clear it up, but apparently I got back here BEFORE the future me that was supposed to start talking mushy. So now I'm worried that things are gonna be more screwed up than ever because I almost definitely pushed her too fast! She didn't seem ready. I think I got to her before the first future me even apologized for the farm!"
"Oh... wow. I'm actually really impressed you were able to keep track of all that. Charts and graphs sound like a great idea to help keep this going smoothly. You'll have to thank future me the next time you go back for inspiring me to... give myself the idea. So okay, I'll keep some documentation going to help us figure this out. You just make sure any time you go forward or backward, you check in with me and give me all the details. Now as for YOU you, you just go hide somewhere like future me wisely told you to do, but not anywhere that you already are. Make sure that each time I tell you to hide, you hide somewhere that you aren't already hiding. Think you can handle that?"
---------------------------------------------------
[Author's note]
Okay everypony, I hope you're ready. I don't know if 'adventure' is the right tag, but none of the others adequately describe shenanigans of this calibre. No, we won't be slaying monsters or finding ancient artifacts. But we WILL be tying the timeline in knots. Get ready for this to get much more complicated now that the warmup is over. THIS time, I'm spelling everything out in a nice Egghead Planner to Witless Executor chat to keep everypony on the same page as we set out for ridiculousness. But that might not always happen.
ALSO, let me know if you feel the chapter lengths are appropriate. I keep thinking they should be longer because so many other stories use longer chapters, but they feel right to me. What do YOU think?
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 6 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-19T02:17:18+00:00
|
2011-09-19T02:17:18+00:00
| 10,470 |
Rainbow Dash hid herself, poorly, in a small gathering of puffy clouds floating lazily above Sweet Apple Acres. She hadn’t hid here before, or before, so she thought she would be safe from herself. She was wrong.
Rainbow Dash crashed directly into Rainbow Dash, and as they tumbled across the surface of a cloud she put her hoof over the other mare’s mouth and made a shushing gesture.
“GAH! What the hay are you DOING here? We aren’t supposed to bump into each other because of the space time whatever!” one dash whispered somewhat loudly to the other.
“Usually no, but if I already did run into myself before, then I need to run into myself so that I’ll have been run into by myself! I think. Whatever, you know how stupid this is getting. It’s fine this time. When I was hiding here, I ran into me and I told me what I’m telling you now. You can’t talk to Applejack.”
“Huh? But why? Don’t I need to set her up for me to… uh… kiss? So she won’t freak out?”
“No, because you didn’t! You can’t set yourself up for something that you didn’t set yourself up for! You didn’t talk to her earlier and she wasn’t ready. You can’t go back and change that now. Everything that we’re doing has already been done. I stopped you from setting it up because I stopped me from setting it up!”
“So that means I have to go back to the future, to go back to the past to be you to stop me?”
“Yeah! At least I’m pretty sure… yeah that sounds right. Twilight’s started planning this all so each of us only does one thing. For every trip back, we hide until we’re needed, do whatever we’ve gotta do, and then hide until we can go back. She says this way there’s less chance for us to screw up.”
“What, she doesn’t think we can do this? Who made her mayor of time travel town?”
“I KNOW, right? As long as we understand what we’re doing, we’re just as capable as she is! And that’s not even the worst part! She’s not telling any of us the whole truth. Didn’t she tell you to come back here and see Applejack? Even though you can’t, because you didn’t? Why bother sending you to do it and me to stop you instead of just not sending either of us?”
“As much as I don’t like not knowing what’s going on, we probably should listen to Twilight. She’s the smartest pony we know. I trust her.”
“But it’s almost like SHE doesn’t trust US!”
Rainbow Dash landed softly next to Rainbow Dash and Rainbow Dash. The newest arrival of the multicolored multiples opened her mouth. “There you two are. Come on, we need to go find me. Er, you. Um… the one that hasn’t done any time travel yet!” Both of the conversing ponies faces contorted in confusion.
“What?”
---------------------------------------------------
Twilight Sparkle sat alone… she glanced around anxiously… ALONE, for now. There were currently no rainbow maned pegusai impeding her progress. If time travel was simple enough that she could figure it out so quickly, then why was it so hard? What other combinations of magic and speed could there be? She had already run the numbers for hundreds of possibilities, but none of them turned up positive. There just didn’t seem to be any way to harness enough energy to manipulate the flow of time. But she couldn’t give up. She literally COULDN’T give up, because she already hadn’t. She had figured it out and sent Rainbow Dash back in time. She had to finish this so she could close the loop. There were a lot of smaller issues dealing with individual Dashes and Applejack’s feelings, but none of those mattered at all if she couldn’t send anypony back in time.
There was a knock at the door. Twilight did not try to hide the her exasperation at being interrupted - again. Upon opening the door, she was not surprised to see Rainbow Dash. Again.
---------------------------------------------------
Applejack lay alone in her bed, trying desperately to fall asleep – hoping to wake up tomorrow and put this nonsense behind her. Even if she could have fallen asleep, there was no way she’d be able to forget a day like today. When that stupid, brash, STUPID, gorgeous mare had ruined half her farm, she was angry. She knew she’d get over it eventually. When Dash showed up again later and blurted out a confession of love, she was felt a deep confusion accompanied by a small warmth. All her worries and fears about whether or not the other mare felt the same feelings she did had melted away, knowing that she had just been having a difficult time admitting to the truth. Everything was going to be okay. No, better than okay. Everything was going to turn out amazing.
But that confusion turned back into a wave of anger and buried the warmth. Rainbow Dash came back. She came back and tried to pretend the confession hadn’t happened. Hadn’t meant anything. That there was nothing between the two mares and there wasn’t going to be. Applejack didn’t understand why.
Applejack didn't understand, and it hurt.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 7 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-16T05:55:04+00:00
|
2011-09-16T05:55:04+00:00
| 9,556 |
Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow Dash watched Rainbow Dash from a distance. Dash and Dash still hadn’t gotten a clear explanation from Dash about what they needed Dash for, and any time either of them tried asking a question, they were quickly shushed. They didn’t understand, and they didn’t like it.
---------------------------------------------------
Although she hadn’t liked the interruption, Twilight Sparkle had to admit that she was stuck in place with her studies and had hardly made any progress recently. Maybe this interruption could be useful and Rainbow Dash could remember a few details about how the process worked. Actually, that was a great idea. Twilight was ashamed she hadn’t thought to ask earlier and tried to stubbornly figure it out all on her own. Dash had already been through the procedure, and surely any details she could remember would be helpful.
“Hey Dash? What do you know about how this all works?”
“ME? You’re the egghead, I thought you were supposed to figure this all out!”
“Well you’ve done it already. Don’t you remember anything? Did I cast a spell on you, did I use any magical artifacts, was teleportation involved? You have to know SOMETHING.”
“Oh, um… well let’s see… I’m pretty sure you cast some kind of spell on me, and then you told me to do a Sonic Rainboom. You also warned me to get somewhere out of the way so I wouldn’t hit anything when I landed, but we both know what happened to Applejack’s farm. I swear I was somewhere over the Everfree forest when I did it though, so I don’t know how I landed there!”
Slowly but surely, the gears in Twilight’s head began to turn once more. A spell that affected an entity, not a location. That was a useful start. And then requiring a Sonic Rainboom, or at least a great deal of speed and/or energy in addition to the spell… And for some reason, the process could displace a pony by a fairly large distance… But how to combine the energies of the spell with something she knew so little about?
New ideas in mind and fresh theories to work on, Twilight Sparkle resumed her work with an intense vigor. She didn’t say another word to Dash, and didn’t notice her leave. She probably wouldn’t have noticed much outside of the library collapsing around her.
---------------------------------------------------
Rainbow Dash, you are one clever pony. Dash thought to herself. Arriving back in the future, where everything made a LOT more sense, she had the most awesome idea for how to fix everything. Forget Twilight’s stupid charts! She would just go ASK Applejack what happened. Sure, in the past she had to be careful not to screw up timelines or whatever, but back here all that was already dealt with. She could just head right over to Sweet Apple Acres and ask her lovely marefriend what exactly she had been up to during the rather… chaotic… period leading up to the big talk. Being the element of Honesty, Dash knew she’d get the truth. It might make AJ a little angry to know Dash had been keeping the whole situation a secret, but she was sure that “not destroying all of space and time” would be a fine excuse.
Landing just in front of the farmhouse, the cyan pegasus knocked on the door. As the seconds rolled by, she became increasingly anxious. When the door finally opened, a great relief washed over Rainbow Dash. Here, after a very long and crazy series of events, she was finally in front of her marefriend. The one that knew how she felt, and returned those feelings. Unfortunately, it wasn’t time to rest just yet.
One horribly stapled together and incredibly inaccurate summary of the situation later, Applejack let out a long whistle. “I really wish I could help ya’ Dash, honest I do. But that whole mess I was such a trainwreck mahself I doubt I properly remember half o’ whut I was feeling when. All I know fer sure is when I first realized how ah felt about ya’ and how happy I was when we finally talked everything out.”
Dash nuzzled the earth pony gently. “I’m still pretty confused myself. My head is kinda spinning from all this crazy stuff. But I’m pretty sure I’ll never forget when I first realized how I felt about YOU, or how happy I’m going to be when I’m done with this and we can finally spend some time together.”
“We’ve both been waiting a long time, sugarcube. We’ll be okay waiting a little more. It’ll be nothin’ compared to tha months I was too afraid ta talk ta ya.”
“So hey, uh… when did you…?”
“Just a lil’ while after Pinkie’s hotsauce party.”
Dash shuddered remembering that particular event. “Huh. I think for me it was when I helped you go pick up that special fertilizer from Hoofington. I just remember that night when we set up camp on the way back I couldn’t get to sleep. I just couldn’t stop staring at you and I was having a hard time figuring out why.”
Applejack’s face twisted into a confused glare. “What trip ta Hoofington? Ah’ve never needed to go nowhere ta get no special fertilizer.”
There was a long silence, during which Dash thought much harder than she could remember thinking before. Finally breaking the silence as the pieces started to fall into place, Dash groaned. “Oh no... Applejack, I think we’ve got a long way to go before this is over.”
---------------------------------------------------
Twilight Sparkle stared hard at her charts, muttering quietly to herself. “This can’t be right. It’s not making any sense at all! It’s like her feelings just... fell out of the sky! ..............”
Twilight facehoofed and grudgingly went to go start another pot of coffee. It was going to be a long night.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 8 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-19T03:53:59+00:00
|
2011-09-19T03:53:59+00:00
| 10,217 |
Rainbow Dash held the door to the library open for Rainbow Dash. One was just coming in, the other was just leaving. Following behind Dash was Applejack.
“Twilight, we’ve got a problem. Applejack doesn’t remember something we did a few months ago.”
Twilight Sparkle wanted to make a somewhat sarcastic remark about nopony having perfect memory, but stopped herself. Dash wouldn’t be bringing this up if it didn’t have to do with that tangled knot of a relationship she had with the farm pony. It was a good thing Twilight had already figured this part out.
“Correct. Applejack does not remember the day you realized you were in love with her, because she wasn’t there. You didn’t fall in love with Applejack, you fell in love with APPLEJACK!”
Rainbow Dash frowned. “I was afraid you’d say that…”
Applejack looked confused. “And jes what exackly does that mean?”
“It means you don’t remember that day because you hadn’t lived through it yet. You have to go back in time and go on a trip to Hoofington with Rainbow Dash. You have to ensure that she realizes how she really feels about you so that you two end up together and we FINALLY STOP THIS NONSENSE! Honestly, if this is what it takes to find love you can count me out.”
Applejack’s eyes quivered and it looked like she was only barely holding back tears.
Rainbow Dash put a hoof on the earth pony's shoulder "Hay, what's wrong?"
“Are… are you telling me that I haf’ ta LIE to you? I have to make up some cockamamie nonsense ‘bout special fertilizer and drag you all the way to Hoofington fer nothin’?”
“It’s not for nothing. It’s absolutely vital to your relationship, and because you two just HAD to get your relationship tangled up in time travel, it’s vital to the fate of Equestria. Applejack, I know you’re the element of honesty – but you MUST do this. There just isn’t any alternative.”
---------------------------------------------------
Applejack hated this whole trip. Here she was, right next to the mare she loved, but completely unable to truly BE with her. She had to pretend they were just friends, and also had to make sure her ‘just friend’ stared at her for several hours. She had to be just a few steps away from her dream mare, doing everything in her power to make certain she was in the other mare’s thoughts, but maintaining the image that nothing was going on and indeed knowing that nothing WAS going to go on until well after this trip. She had to LIE TO HER. This was all awful, wasting so many hours and getting no work done. Spending so much time with a friend, but not having any fun. Repeating the same lie over and over and smiling as if nothing was wrong.
When they finally made camp on the return trip, Applejack excused herself for a minute to go to the nearby stream for a drink. Rainbow Dash was there.
“So, is it workin’? Are ya starin’ at me yet?”
“No, I’m not. I keep spacing out, probably thinking about flying and stunts. You’re going to have to do something to get my attention.”
“Like wut, LIE more?”
“Hay, you know this isn’t your fault. You had to. I forgive you.”
“I know ya do, sugarcube, but it still hurts. An’ ah still have to go back out there an’ lie to ya some more. An’ all this is just ta trick ya’ into fallin’ fer me.”
Rainbow Dash nuzzled her marefriend. “No, AJ, that’s not true. I already had feelings for you before tonight, I just didn’t realize it. It wasn’t the first time I’d stared at you and felt something. It was just the first time I understood what it was I was feeling.”
“Then why aren’t ya staring at me yet?”
“I don’t know, maybe I’m afraid that you’ll see me staring and get the wrong idea. You know I have a hard time keeping my wings down.” Dash blushed.
“But I thought ya said ya didn’t know ya felt that way yet?”
“There’s a big difference between finding somepony attractive and wanting to be with them. I’m sure Rarity and Prince Jerk Blood have proven that. I’ve always thought you were beautiful. I mean, even without your cute freckles and your amazing eyes and your awesome hair, you’ve still got a KILLER body. I mean just look at your…” *Sproing*
The blue pegasus’ wings shot up into the night sky. Applejack laughed softly. “Alright, I’m gonna go back out there and do…” her voice shifted to a lower, more seductive tone “…whatever I can to catch your eye.” She stretched and wriggled slightly, not any more than would be expected of a pony trying to get comfortable, but somehow pushing all the right buttons.
Dash gulped. “Alright. Just keep an eye on my wings, and you should know when you’ve done your job.” She paused. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
---------------------------------------------------
Scootaloo fell out of her bed, completely exhausted. She couldn’t remember the last time she had done so much in such a short time. She didn’t care. The last few days had been more awesome than she’d ever dreamed. There was barely any time where she wasn’t hanging out with her idol, pulling crazy stunts and listening to fantastic stories. She ALMOST hoped she wouldn’t see Rainbow Dash today, if only to have some time to rest… almost. Today however, she had already made plans with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. As awesome as Dash was, ditching your friends was not cool.
When Scootaloo dragged herself up to the clubhouse, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were already there.
“Scootaloo, you’re late.”
“Sorry, I slept in a bit. I’m really tired.”
“What’ve ya been doin’ to make yerself so tired? We haven’t seen much of ya lately.”
“Oh, I’ve just been hanging with THE coolest pony in Ponyville.”
“Applejack?”
“Rarity?”
The other two fillies asked simultaneously.
“No! C’mon guys, RAINBOW DASH! Jeez.”
Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo curiously. “But hasn’t she been over at the Library with Twilight a lot?”
Applebloom looked at both of her friends. “Are you guys sure? Ah thought she’s been here on tha farm helping mah sister.”
“Well, she is the fastest flier in Equestria. Maybe she’s in three places at once!” Scootaloo stared out the window into the sky searching for rainbow colored trails, obviously feeling that her explanation was perfectly plausible.
Rainbow Dash flew by in the distance, in what looked like the direction of the library.
Rainbow Dash peeked her head into the clubhouse. “There you are Applebloom. AJ is looking for you.”
Sweetie Belle and Applebloom didn’t seem to have noticed the distant Rainbow. Scootaloo briefly considered whether or not her cutie mark would have to do with making absurd statements become reality.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 9 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-20T07:17:28+00:00
|
2011-09-20T07:17:28+00:00
| 9,883 |
There was another knock at the door. Twilight Sparkle groaned as she magically opened the door, not bothering to look up from her notes.
“Dash, I don’t know how you ever expect me to figure this out if I keep getting interrupted like this.”
“You can’t. That’s why I’m here.”
Twilight craned her neck to get a good luck at herself. “I’m sorry, run that by me again?”
Rainbow Dash stepped in through the still open door. “You’re going to switch places with yourself. You already know how this works, and I need to start heading back. There are getting to be way too many of me hanging around here.”
The lavender unicorn who wasn’t confused looked at herself. “It’s simple. I’m going to send you with Dash here to the future – to a time when there’s only ONE of everypony. You get peace and quiet so you can think, and I get started sending all the Rainbows forward to where they need to be next. THIS Rainbow Dash needs to get back to a few minutes after she left so I can send her back again to stop herself from stopping herself so they can all go find her and get her turned around so she doesn’t run into herself.”
Twilight Sparkle blinked.
“Nevermind, you don’t have to worry about this part yet. NONE of them ever end up talking to Applejack. They’re all just loose ends that need to be tied up. I’ll be dealing with all the leftover Rainbows. YOU worry about their relationship and getting time travel up and running. That should just leave a few extra Applejacks to deal with before everpony involved in this mess has been tended to. Rainbow Dash, could you please escort me back to the future? I haven’t got a lot of time right now. Well, I guess I do, but you know what I mean.”
---------------------------------------------------
Twilight Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Applejack, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow Dash all stood around the chalkboard in the middle of the library.
“Are ya’ COMPLETELY sure ya’ve got this all under control? I know y’all’re mighty smart, but this seems like a bit much ta handle, even fer you. Even fer three of ya.”
Nopony said anything for a few moments. Twilight Sparkle seemed to be calm, but Twilight Sparkle’s left eye was twitching slightly. Twilight Sparkle finally broke the silence. “As difficult as this is, bringing in more help will only make it worse. I’m already regretting deciding to get my help.”
Twilight’s ears fell slightly. She knew she didn’t mean it like that, but still… Twilight didn’t seem to notice, still mentally looking over her charts and graphs. Rainbow Dash spoke.
“Maybe we should ask the Princess for help. Maybe somepony before has messed around with time travel, and the Princess knows something about it?”
“Are you CRAZY? We can’t tell Celestia about all the trouble we’ve caused! She would probably banish us! Or throw us in a dungeon! Or…”
“Yeah yeah, banishment AND a dungeon, we’ve heard. But come ON Twilight, you know the Princess wouldn’t do that! Fluttershy birdnapped her pet, and she didn’t get punished at all!”
“There’s a pretty big difference between taking a phoenix and putting it in no real danger, and jeopardizing the whole of Equestria by juggling a few dozen ponies back and forth across time!”
“So what do ya recommend we do? Just keep quiet about the whole thing forever, and if anypony asks just lie and say we was havin’ a party? The Princess is gonna find out sooner er later.”
The argument was interrupted by Rainbow Dash bursting through the door. “Everypony calm down, there’s no point in arguing anymore. I just took Twilight to Canterlot. She’s going to explain everything.”
“What? No! I have to stop me! “ Shouted one of the lavender mares. She turned to face Rainbow Dash. “You have to go bring me back!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, if she could do that, then it already would have happened! She’s obviously thought this through and taken precautions to stop you from stopping her.”
“But I AM her! I’ll be able to figure out a way around whatever I’ve set up to stop me from stopping me!”
“But you ARE her, eventually. Which means you chose to do this after more thought than you’ve given it yet. You eventually come to the conclusion that it’s the right answer.”
“Why are you on HER side? I can’t believe I’ve gone so crazy that I think telling the Princess is a good idea!”
“Well I can’t believe that I was so crazy that I thought I could thwart a plan set into motion by my FUTURE SELF. Don’t you realize that you know everything you’re going to try to do? You’ve already tried it! You can see every move you make before you even make it!”
Three Rainbow Dashes had decided to ignore the spectacle and discuss getting some food. Rainbow Dash couldn’t stop thinking about what she could do with THREE Applejacks - not that she’d get the chance. Rainbow Dash had snuck off to a corner with Applejack.
---------------------------------------------------
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had dismissed it as impossible, but Scootaloo was sure that Dash had been in two places at once. She followed Rainbow Dash as stealthily as she could. The rainbow maned pegasus must have been quite distracted, because Scootaloo was not particularly stealthy. Attempts at becoming Cutie Mark Crusader Ninjas went very poorly.
The little orange pegasus wasn’t watching where she was going, and tripped over herself. No really, she tripped over HERSELF.
“What the hay?”
“What the hay?”
“Who are you?”
“Who are you?”
“I asked you first!”
“I asked you first!”
“Nuh-uh, I asked you first!”
“Nuh-uh, I asked you first!”
“…”
“…”
“RAINBOWDASHISTHEGREATEST!”
“RAINBOWDASHISTHEGREATEST!”
The two Scootaloos sat in silence, staring at each other for several minutes before simultaneously starting to grin mischievously. It didn’t matter how or why there had come to be two of her, but she knew herself well enough to know she wouldn’t want to waste a chance like this. This was going to be good.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 10 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-21T06:32:09+00:00
|
2011-09-21T06:32:09+00:00
| 9,569 |
Twilight Sparkle had finally figured it out. It was so obvious, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen it before. Time travel was so SIMPLE.
She thought about the gnarled mass she had made out of the timeline... Okay, so simple was the wrong word. But still, Twilight couldn’t help but feel like a foal for not realizing the obvious truth so much earlier. The Sonic Rainboom generated almost exactly half of the energy needed. Why had she never thought to use two? Twilight Sparkle would cast the spell on Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle would cast the spell on Rainbow Dash. Then Rainbow Dash would perform a Sonic Rainboom, and Rainbow Dash would perform a Sonic Rainboom. The spells would gather the energy from both sides, and what was essentially a portal through time would open.
The Dashes would trade places. The numbers worked. Everything made sense. It explained why a pony wouldn’t necessarily appear in the same place they had left from. They would appear wherever the other side was. But something tugged at the back of the purple mare’s mind. She was overlooking something. There was no way it was really that simple. There had to be a catch of some sort. If the only tricky part was gathering the energy, then all it would take would be a large group of gifted unicorns. Time travel would have been mastered long ago, and anypony could pop into or out of any era they pleased.
That thought only stopped Twilight for a few moments, before the feeling returned. No, there was something else wrong. A much deeper flaw was hiding in her theory… but what?
---------------------------------------------------
The little orange pegasus had an unusual smile on her face. This was not the wide, beaming smile of a child basking in the attention of her idol. “Hi Rainbow Dash! Do you have time for a race?”
Rainbow Dash looked around the streets of Ponyville, searching for herself. She was pretty sure she was nowhere near here right now, and she had nowhere else to be at the moment. “Sure, Scoots.”
“Awesome! OnyourmarkgetsetGO!”
Dash had to admit, the speed the orange blur disappeared with was pretty impressive. But she was the fastest flier in Equestria, and she wasn’t about to let somepony else win a race.
She stopped cold when she saw Scootaloo standing off in the distance, letting off an exaggerated yawn. Slowly, she turned around and looked behind her. There was nopony there. Turning forward again, she sucked in a deep breath and closed the remaining distance in a fraction of a second.
Scootaloo snickered. “What took you so long?”
“How did you… I… but you’re just… you were right behind…” Dash turned around again to point a hoof. She stopped. Something caught her eye. Something orange. Again blasting off at an incredible speed, Rainbow Dash was staring down at Scootaloo before the little filly had a chance to move an inch. She had been trying to hide in an alleyway, but couldn’t resist peeking her head out to get a look at the action.
“What in the hay… but you’re over there!” Dash turned back to other orange pegasus. “How are you…” The gears in the cyan pegasus head started turning again.
“Did you see me do any Sonic Rainbooms today?”
“YEAH! It was amazing!”
An orange blur shot across the streets “WHAT? NO FAIR! HOW COME YOU GOT TO SEE IT AND I DIDN’T?” Scootaloo was breathing heavily in her own face.
Rainbow Dash turned toward the outraged filly and put on a very serious expression. “Scootaloo, you need to go home. Right now. You need to stay away from me for a while.”
The filly’s eyes started quivering. “I’m sorry… did… did I do something wrong?”
“No Scoots, it’s okay. But I need you to promise me you won’t follow me for a few days. I’ll come get you and show you a Sonic Rainboom after this is all over. Right now I need to go and find Twilight.”
“Isn’t she at the library, like always?”
“… It’s complicated.” Dash turned to face the other orange pegasus. “Come on, Scoots. Twilight is going to fix everything and send you home… I hope.”
“WHAT? I thought you said I needed to stay away from you! How come SHE gets to go find Twilight with you? THAT’S NOT FAIR!”
Scootaloo blew a raspberry at herself. “Come on Rainbow Dash! Let’s go find Twilight!”
“NO! That isn’t fair! Why does she get to see a Sonic Rainboom AND go do more stuff with you while I have to sit at home and not see you at all? I thought you were finally starting to think I was cool! We were hanging out and doing cool stuff and we were both having fun! What did I do wrong? Am I not cool enough?”
Rainbow Dash turned away from the angry filly and sighed. “I’m no good at explaining this crud. Just trust me, everything’s gonna be fine and you’ll get to do all the things you’re doing right now.”
“Huh?”
“Um… okay, how about this. Scootaloo, do you remember being over there getting mad that you wouldn’t get to hang out with me?”
“Yeah! It sucked.”
“But now you’re coming with me to find Twilight. Before, I told you that you couldn’t, but now you can! Isn’t that awesome?”
“Yeah!”
“So now Scootaloo, listen to yourself here. You remember that you were here getting mad, but then later you came back and now you get to go with me So right now you're here getting mad, but later you get to come with me!”
Both Scootaloos tilted their heads to the side and made confused faces.
Dash sighed again. “Okay, how about HEYLOOKOVERTHERE!”
Scootaloo turned her head back. “There’s nothing there!”
And there was nothing in front of her anymore either.
---------------------------------------------------
Of course! The problem was one of targeting! How would any two Rainbow Dashes be able to trade places with each other when there were so many others? There was no way to pick which two would be linked by the spell. Any time she sent Dash back, she could end up trading places with of any number of other Dashes. There wasn’t even any way to ensure the Dash she was working on was the one going backward and not forward!
She would have to add some kind of seeking to the spell, so that the right connection would be made. That wouldn’t be too hard, but now it was a question of finding something unique to seek. Just seeking Dash or some residue from Twilight’s magic wouldn’t work, because ALL of them were Dash and ALL of them would have the same magic residue on them from the spell. Maybe if she just designed a pile of throwaway spells with different magical signatures and used a different one on each Dash… That could work, but then how would she know which one to seek? Any Dash that needed to go forward would need to have her spell tweaked to seek the right signature from the future, but the magical signature was in the FUTURE and there was no way Twilight could know what it was before she placed it herself.
Even if THAT problem were resolved, that would just add one more variable to track in her notes. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, it was getting to be too much for her to handle. She would need a simple solution that didn’t require any extra information…
Lost in the invigorating buzz of solving a new puzzle, Twilight Sparkle lost track of the light tugging in the back of her head. It had weakened, but not disappeared. Somewhere deep in her subconscious, Twilight continued to pull on a loose thread that was begging to come unraveled.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 11 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-24T20:54:36+00:00
|
2011-09-24T20:54:36+00:00
| 8,596 |
Once again, Twilight Sparkle had an epiphany. She discovered a simple and elegant solution to the problem at hoof, and all was right with the world. Really, she felt foalish for not having come up with the idea earlier. Encoded within the magic of each ‘signature’ spell was the date and time at which it was cast. It didn’t introduce any new variables to track, because she already was tracking the time very closely. It didn’t require knowledge about the signature she wouldn’t have, because the only unique component in the signature was the time. The only POTENTIAL problem was that if there were ever two Dashes trying to leave at the same time, the spell would have trouble differentiating and might target the wrong one. But that wouldn’t be an issue, because so far every dash through time had been at least several minutes apart, and now she would take precautions to insure this remained the case.
All that remained now was continuing to trace the timelines very carefully and applying the spell she had just finished when appropriate. Managing Applejack and Rainbow Dash had been… tiring, at first, but she had begun to get the hang of it.
Why then? Why did the nagging feeling in her head persist? All the difficult portions were complete or well under control. What was left to worry about? No other ponies had gotten involved on her watch… but they had on HER watch! She had told Princess Celestia! WHY? WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT? Everything was under control! They didn’t need the Princess to interfere, and so there was no reason to risk getting everypony banished for tampering with the fabric of reality. As much as Twilight Sparkle trusted herself, she still had trouble understanding what could possibly have compelled her to do something like that. Of course if she had eventually decided it was the right thing to do, then that meant she was eventually going to decide it was the right thing to do.
Understanding where she was coming from, she was less angry at herself. She felt she was ready to be herself and try to convince herself that she wasn’t crazy, even if she didn’t fully understand what made her choose to tell the Princess. She was sure she would listen to herself explain that she should trust herself, just as she was doing now. Of course she wouldn’t listen, because she didn’t, but this thought was squashed as ridiculous. She was logical, why wouldn’t she listen to herself?
---------------------------------------------------
Rainbow Dash came skidding to a halt. Once again, she found herself on a mission to the past trying to… well trying to do SOMETHING. She wasn’t really sure what the end goal was anymore. Thinking back over the long and crazy series of events that brought her to where she was now, a smile flashed across her face. She had lost count of exactly how many, but she had performed a lot of Sonic Rainbooms recently. What used to be nothing more than a legend, she was pulling off over and over as if it were nothing. While that was great proof that she was the best flier in Equestria, it was also a little bit sad. With the Sonic Rainboom so easy now, what other tricks could she work toward? Was this it? Was she at the top? A gust of wind from a nearby Rainbow Dash snapped her out of her thoughts and she remembered she needed to go nuzzle and comfort a confused and angry Applejack.
---------------------------------------------------
Scootaloo peeked her head out from the tiny bush she was trying to hide in. Off in the distance, she spotted Rainbow Dash… stepping into her house? What was Rainbow Dash’s house doing over here? And on the ground? More determined than ever, she crept toward the pile of cloudstuff unnaturally sitting on the dirt. Reaching the wall of fluff, the orange pegasus pressed herself against the front door. She couldn’t hear anything. Rainbow Dash was in there being awesome, as usual, but also mysterious, and she needed to get closer.
The ‘window’ would do. Like most cloudhouses, Rainbow Dash’s home didn’t have any glass windows. Wherever a view or a breeze was necessary, there was just an absence of clouds. Jumping up and down trying to see inside, Scootaloo’s heart stopped when she heard the door opening. Her idol would be mad, knowing she’d been following her, and there was nowhere she could hide. Unless…
Scootaloo clambered up and through the window and crouched down on the other side, breathing heavily. After a minute of deafening silence, she poked her head through the window to check that the coast was clear. Seeing no ponies anywhere nearby, she breathed a sigh of relief. And then she started to smile. She may have lost Dash, but it wasn’t every day she had a chance to explore her house.
---------------------------------------------------
Twilight Sparkle slumped to the floor in defeat. She had finally found the fatal flaw in her plans, and realized the awful truth. The whole thing was impossible. There was no way to close the loop, because the spell required one target to be in the past! Whichever Dash was sent back to the earliest time would have no Dash to switch with because none had gone back any further. The timeline could twist and turn and go through as many corkscrews as necessary to accommodate the middle, but there was no way to link the beginning and the end. And yet here she was, sitting very much in the middle of it. Solid proof that the beginning and the end HAD linked, no matter how impossible that seemed. Maybe she was going to need the help of somepony besides herself. Could the Princess somehow have the answer? Was that the reason she needed to go talk to her?
An explosive rumble gave the library a devastating shake, knocking Twilight to her haunches. Dozens of books tumbled off the shelves with a series of loud thuds and the flapping of thousands pages. After the library stopped moving, the purple unicorn shakily got to her hooves and looked around, surveying the damage. Something at the edge of her vision caught her attention, and she trotted over toward the window. Her pupils drowned out the rest of her eyes as they grew to a size that shouldn’t even have been possible. Barely understanding – and certainly not believing – what she was seeing, Twilight gazed up at the exact copy of Ponyville hurtling toward Ponyville.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 12 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-26T07:39:57+00:00
|
2011-09-26T07:39:57+00:00
| 7,940 |
Scootaloo could not contain her excitement. Buzzing around the house at speeds that would make Rainbow Dash proud, the wide eyed filly took in every detail she could. Cloud houses were SO COOL. Everything was soft and mobile. Need a blanket? Pull one up out of the excess material in the floor! Want a new window? Kick one into the wall! Need to rest? Every surface is super comfy! She wondered what sort of awesome weather stuff the bathroom made use of when she noticed the weird feeling in her stomach. It was almost like she was falling, but somehow backwards.
Was she… going UP? Galloping to the nearest window, the orange pegasus began scanning the outdoors and seeing only blue skies and white clouds. She jumped up into the window and looked down. The house was rising. It wasn’t very high up yet, and it wasn’t moving very fast, but it was definitely moving.
An inconceivably loud noise caused Scootaloo to jam her front hooves into her ears, begging the painful sound to stop invading her head. As the thunderous boom faded into a low rumble, the house shook. With only her hind hooves to support her, the shaking cloud structure tossed the poor filly out the window and into the open air.
---------------------------------------------------
Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow. “That is quite a plan, my faithful student. While I do agree that it would be best to minimize the number of… temporal transgressions… involved, are you certain there isn’t a better way? As you have demonstrated, the chance is unfathomably low, but should the worst case come to pass it will not be possible to save Equestria. Even if everything unfolds exactly as you have planned, there is still a very important and poorly understood consequence to be considered.”
“I understand your concerns, Princess, but I have had an awful lot of time to think this over. We need to act as quickly as possible, before things get any worse. While I can’t say for sure what sort of effect we’ll see, I’m positive that at least the original will be stable.”
“Very well. Twilight Sparkle, in light of the grave situation Equestria finds itself in, I hereby grant you full command of the Wonderbolts.”
---------------------------------------------------
The rain came down in thick sheets. Applejack stood inside the barn, grateful that it kept her dry even though it limited her field of vision. Anxiously scanning the patch of sky she could see through the door for any sign of a rainbow, the farmer shivered slightly.
This would be the day. She knew Rainbow Dash had somehow discovered the feelings she had tried so hard to hide. It was as clear as day the last time they had seen each other, and they both agreed that they needed to talk. There was no use trying to hide it anymore – the element of honesty was no good at lying. They arranged a time and a place, and went their separate ways.
So here she stood, shivering in the barn and worrying herself sick. How would the mare of her dreams respond to her feelings? Try as she might, Applejack could not envision a future where Rainbow Dash returned her feelings. She wasn’t even sure if the brash blue pegasus liked mares at all. There HAD been a variety of events lately to suggest Dash longed to be with her just as much, but everything was clouded in a haze of confusion. Dash had been acting too strange lately to take any of her bizarre actions or words to heart.
Applejack needed to have a clear and honest conversation with Rainbow Dash, and both mares would need to be completely serious. It was time. She had waited and suffered long enough. No outcome could possibly be worse than wallowing in the sorrow of unrequited love, forever keeping her feelings bottled up… she hoped.
---------------------------------------------------
Rainbow Dash soared alongside Rainbow Dash, enjoying the company of the only pegasus as fast as she was… or at least ONE of the only ones, all of whom were the same one? They had both grown to hate thinking about time travel, even if they couldn’t deny some of the benefits it brought. They raced out a great distance away from Ponyville, trying to make certain this new stunt would be far enough away that nopony would get hurt. Neither of them knew just how big the shockwave would be, and so they continued to fly further and further until at last there was not a single visible landmark to indicate proximity to civilization. Simultaneously deciding that this was far enough, they both stopped and swallowed the last of their hesitation.
“You wanna take East or West?”
“Doesn’t matter. East I guess.”
“Alright then. You think five minutes will be far enough?”
“Yeah. So 4:18 then. Let’s do this.”
---------------------------------------------------
With no time to think about anything but the eminent flattening of her home, all Twilight Sparkle could do was react. First instinct when about to be crushed by a falling object – GET OUT OF THE WAY! Mustering up more strength than she ever knew she had, Princess Celestia’s prized pupil teleported the whole of Ponyville out of the way of Ponyville and promptly passed out.
Twilight Sparkle got to her hooves and shook the dizziness of the impact out of her head. Whatever had just happened, it had been a doozy. Slowly trotting out of the library to get a look at what had happened, she was very surprised to see Ponyville off in the distance, not too far from the edge of Ponyville. She galloped through crowds of bewildered ponies, dodging the debris in the streets and reached the edge of the town. She could do nothing but stare in awe. That was definitely Ponyville. Right over there. It looked almost like it was in the wrong spot. The landscape seemed to indicate that HER Ponyville was in the correct location, and this one was just a bit off.
It didn’t take long for ponies to start flooding out of each town to see what was going on. Twilight noticed nothing but familiar faces coming from the other Ponyville, many of whom she had passed on her way here. She reasoned that some magical mishap, albeit a very large one, had taken place and the best course of action was to find herself. When she arrived at the library, she found herself unconscious on the floor and began to panic. Maybe Princess Celestia would know what to do…
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 13 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-27T04:30:52+00:00
|
2011-09-27T04:30:52+00:00
| 7,977 |
Twilight Sparkle jumped up to her hooves in a panic. She thrashed her head about for only a minute before her memory caught up to her. Right. Ponyville had been falling, and then she had… what had she done again? Ponyville certainly didn’t look destroyed.
“Oh good. You’re awake. Things have taken an interesting turn.”
She craned her neck to get a look at the pony speaking to her. It was her. Oh, right. Time travel.
The lavender mare waved a hoof dismissively. “Yeah, you’re from the future, got it. We can get back to that mess later, but first I need to know what just happened here. Ponyville was falling out of the sky, and it was going to crush Ponyville!”
“The future? What are you TALKING about?”
“Okay, so you’re from the PAST then… but then why don’t I remember this happening? What is going on here?”
“That’s what I’d like to know!”
“Okay, let’s back up and start over. I was here in the library, when suddenly an exact duplicate of Ponyville fell out of the sky. What about you?”
“I was over there in MY library,” Twilight Sparkle pointed a hoof, “when suddenly there was a huge impact, not entirely unlike what you’d expect from a gigantic object crashing into the ground. So that explains THAT, but how did my Ponyville get up in the sky above your Ponyville? And why are there two of everything?”
“I’m still working on that one. I’m also not sure why I’m not a pancake. You were directly above us!”
“Well we definitely aren’t now. Both Ponyvilles are on the ground next to each other, relatively unharmed. I’m actually surprised everything held up as well as it did.”
“Next to each other… which one is where it should be?”
“Oh yeah, I had noticed your Ponyville seemed a little off.”
“But that’s impossible! Ponyville should be right where it always is, unless somepony just MOVED the…” She remembered an instinctual need to move out of the way, followed by the only solution she could think of. She wouldn’t have been able to run fast enough, so she teleported. Even with no time to think, she knew her friends were in danger as well. She knew she couldn’t leave them behind... Had she? But there was no way. No pony, except maybe the Princess, was that powerful. You can’t just pick up and move a whole town in the blink of an eye. It’s impossible! Then again, impossible had described time travel until recently…
Right – there was a more important matter to attend to. The other Twilight seemed confused at the mention of coming from any time other than the present. Neither of them knew how she, or Ponyville, had gotten up in the sky. Everything was enough of a confusing mess when all involved parties knew what was going on, and this could only be worse. She doubted she would like the explanation when she found out.
She was right.
---------------------------------------------------
“Okay, Dash. This is the last one. You go start a light storm over Sweet Apple Acres before you get there, and then you and Applejack have your big talk in the barn while you fly back to me. That wraps up the ridiculous romantic subplot and brings us back to the big problem.”
“What big problem? You and me switch with the past you and me, er, present I guess, who are in the future right now. We’re supposed to be there, and they’re supposed to be here. But that’s the last of it. We do one more and then everypony is when they’re supposed to be.”
“Not exactly. You see, I’m still not sure how we got you back for your tip to Hoofington.”
“Whaddaya mean? I already went back. I brought Applejack with me, and she… well the important thing is that it worked. Did we screw it up somehow?”
“Yes and no. You didn’t do anything wrong, but I’m not sure how we were able to get you there. It was the first and only time we’d gone back that far. There WAS a spell signature for me to track, and enough energy for the other half of the spell, but YOU weren’t there. I have no idea how that spell signature got there or where that energy came from, and that worries me. We have to tie up all the loose ends and close all the loops, but no matter how simply it fits we can’t finish the puzzle if we’re missing the last piece!”
“And what the hay are we supposed to do about that? We just wrapped everything up in pretty little bow, and now you want us to go back and ruin it all?”
“NO! No. No, we’re not going back or forward any more after this last one. Never again. Never, EVER again as long as I can help it. But I do have an idea. Before we go back, I’m going to need you to take me to Canterlot so I can see the Princess.”
“Awesome. So you go tell the Princess what’s wrong, she fixes everything, and then we’re done. And maybe you just get a liiiitle bit banished. You’ll be fine. I’ll come visit you!”
---------------------------------------------------
Scootaloo was in one piece. She hadn’t fallen far enough to suffer any real injuries, but her whole body throbbed with a dull ache and her head swam in circles. Not knowing what else to do, she decided to just go home and rest. Scanning her environment, the orange pegasus found it difficult to get her bearings straight. She didn’t know the outskirts of town all that well, but she could’ve sworn Ponyville was over that way behind those trees. But there it was, in the opposite direction. With a sigh and a shrug, she trotted toward the town. Once she had made it into Ponyville proper, she knew exactly where she was going. She could make it home with her eyes closed, if she wanted. It would be nice to just rest her eyes for a minute… She clumsily bumped into another pony and fell backward onto the ground.
“Sorry. I was just…” All the fatigue and ache left the filly instantly. “OHMYGOSHRAINBOWDASH!”
The pony she had run into turned around. “Oh, hey Scoots. I’m sorry, but I’m still busy. I swear I’ll show you that Sonic Rainboom I promised. Just… later, okay? C’mon Applejack, we need to get to Twilight’s. I’m sure she’ll know what’s going on.”
The two mares turned and cantered off at a brisk pace, their concern showing in their hoofsteps. Scootaloo sat still with a pleased, but puzzled, look on her face, muttering quietly to her herself.
“Rainbow Dash didn’t promise to show me a Sonic Rainboom…”
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 14 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-30T09:02:06+00:00
|
2011-09-30T09:02:06+00:00
| 7,780 |
Rainbow Dash blazed west across the sky at speeds that were utterly phenomenal, even for a pegasus of her talents. Rainbow Dash ripped eastward through the sky at a speed slightly higher even than her other self. Adjustments would need to be made for this to work correctly.
There had been no calculations. That wasn’t the way Dash did things. She had always hated those math problems with the two trains going opposite directions. She would simply FEEL the right thing to do, as she always did when performing her stunts.
Whether by instinct or skill or blind luck, the necessary corrections were made. In the tiniest fraction of a second during which they crossed paths, both speedsters simultaneously slipped through the sound barrier. Two Sonic Rainbooms exploded not across the sky, but upward into the atmosphere. Slipping back and forth across time, Rainbow Dash had gotten plenty of practice and no longer needed the assistance of gravity to reach super-sonic speeds. The brilliant rainbow halo could now expand outward at any angle she chose to fly at. For THIS trick, however, the angle was unimportant.
The incredible force that pulled in the wake of the explosion was being countered by an equally incredible force in the opposite direction. The effect was stunning. Everything caught nearby was thrust into the infinitesimally small space between the blasts and torn asunder. Every ray of light was ripped into its component colors, further enhancing the already awe inspiring display. It wasn’t just a pretty rainbow effect hanging in the air. It was as if a small part of reality itself had been converted into a rainbow. It was perfect. It was ART.
Rainbow Dash could not be blamed for not hearing the strange noise at the center of the spectacle. It was completely drowned out by the thunderous ‘boom’ portion of the trick. There probably wasn’t anypony who could have heard it, but it was there. Somewhere in the middle of it all, there was a faint tearing sound… almost like a piece of cloth being ripped in half.
---------------------------------------------------
“Really? Rainbow Dash and APPLEJACK? That’s almost as unlikely as Applejack and Rarity!”
“I know, I know. I wasn’t expecting it either. And it wasn’t… ISN’T exactly easy making sure everything works. But you won’t have to worry about any of this because apparently it never happened! You’ve gone quite a bit past the point where Dash should’ve shown up.” Twilight Sparkle frowned. “I still don’t understand what exactly this all means. You’re not from the same… gosh I don’t even have a word here… you’re not from the same point of origin as us. I have no idea where, or what, you’re from or how you got here. It makes enough sense to assume that whatever process brought you and your Ponyville here was off slightly and that’s how you ended up in the sky. I don’t think it’s possible, but the only explanation that makes sense as to why my Ponyville has moved is that I teleported it. My memory is hazy, but it seems to fit and it would explain why I was unconscious when you found me.”
“Far be it from me to tell you you’re wrong. If anything you have the intellectual advantage here from what sounds like quite a lot of deep study. Maybe casting all those time travel spells has been kind of like ‘training’ and your magic has been getting more powerful without you realizing it?”
“That can’t be the case. The spell was only really complicated to figure out. It’s really pretty easy to actually cast and doesn’t take much energy at all. Almost all the power behind it comes from Dash’s Rainbooms.”
“Do you think you could teach me?”
“As much as I know this is going to disappoint you, no I can’t. Until I get a solid grasp of what exactly is going on here, I think it would be best if nopony went backward or forward through time at any rate besides one second forward per second.”
---------------------------------------------------
Applejack pushed the bits into the bucket and thanked her latest customer. Sales today had been good. Not great, but nothing to complain about. She was happy enough, most of the time. She worked hard, but it felt good. She loved her family, and she was thankful for her wonderful friends. But any time she found a herself alone, her mood would sour. Something was wrong with her life, but she couldn’t put her hoof on what.
As she stood, thinking the same thoughts again, her smile started to fall. So did the town beneath her.
The dust cleared and the hardy earth pony stood. She coughed once and looked around. Whatever just happened, it had been a doozy. Was that Twilight running off down the street? Losing sight of her friend around a corner, Applejack took off after her. As athletic as she was, it was too difficult to follow a pony at full gallop through streets this full. The ever shifting crowd could present plenty of space for one pony to get through before crashing together and completely blocking the next. She lost sight of the lavender unicorn again just before rounding a corner to see… Ponyville?
That sure did look like Ponyville over there, but that didn’t make a lick of sense because Ponyville was right HERE. Without even realizing it, Applejack had begun to canter toward the other Ponyville. Somewhere between the two towns, she stopped when a familiar voice called out to her.
“AJ! Do you have any idea what’s going on?”
“Rainbow! No, I can’t rightly say ah’ve got any idea. There was some sorta crash an’ when ah got up ah saw Twilight gallopin’ off. Ah followed her for a bit, but ah lost sight of her. And then, well then ah saw THIS!” Applejack made a sweeping gesture with her front hooves, pointing toward the two towns.
Rainbow Dash landed softly next to Applejack and nuzzled her gently, eliciting a soft gasp and a light blush from the oblivious mare. “I’m sure everything’ll be fine. That egghead probably just invented some new crazy magic again, but this time it’s not gonna involve us.”
“Rainbow, ah’m not entirely sure what yer goin’ on about but…”
“It’s just a guess. Don’t worry about it.” She turned away and looked back, lowering her voice into the most seductive tone she could manage and lightly flicking her tail across the front of Applejack’s neck. “See you tonight.” She spread her wings and flew off.
Applejack’s mouth hung open slightly. That interaction had doubled her heart rate and brought an entirely uncomfortable amount of heat to her face. A few months ago she had realized how she felt about the other mare, and she had always hoped her friend would return her feelings, but… THAT was awfully sudden. Applejack was confused and aroused. Mostly confused.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 15 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-02T03:33:48+00:00
|
2011-10-02T03:33:48+00:00
| 7,780 |
“Okay, Dash. So you’re confident you can do it exactly the way I just described? We can’t afford even the slightest mistake.”
“Yeah, yeah… I’ve got this. It won’t be a problem.”
“Okay. I trust you. So with that taken care of, we just need to confirm that the OTHER ponies involved can handle it. I’ll need you to make sure they can do their parts as well as you do yours.”
“You’ve already got some ponies in mind? I was wondering how you were gonna find awesome enough fliers. Who d’ya got for me? I’ll whip ‘em into shape in no time!”
Twilight Sparkle flashed a wry smile as she opened the door to the library and stood to one side. “Rainbow Dash, I present to you: The Wonderbolts.”
The brief silence was ended by an ear splitting squeal. This would be the most awesome thing EVER. Not only would Rainbow Dash be taking the lead on a stunt unlike any ever performed, but she would be leading a team to do it. And not just any team, either. She would be leading The Wonderbolts! It was unbelievable! Never, not even in her wildest dreams, had the simple weather pony thought she would be taking part in something this… EPIC. Even if she could convince herself that this was real, the whole thing was pushed straight into the realm of the inconceivable by the fact that she was going to be commanding her idols. She knew she would never forget this day, and neither would anypony in Equestria. Everything else paled in comparison. This would truly be the BEST. DAY. EVER.
For a variety of reasons from breaking records to saving Equestria to pushing the boundaries of magic and/or science (it was hard to tell what exactly Twilight was talking about) it would go down in history… probably. Stupid Twilight and her stupid crazy theories.
---------------------------------------------------
“Rainbow!” Applejack galloped toward the rainbow maned pegasus hovering nearby. “Ya got any idea what’s goin’ on?”
“Oh, hey Applejack. Not really, no.” Rainbow Dash landed in front of the earth pony. “Just that there are two Ponyvilles for some reason.”
“Call it a hunch, but ah think Twilight mighta had somethin’ ta do with it.” The farmer sighed and stepped toward the other mare, nuzzling her softly. “Ah thought we’d finally settled this whole business.”
The cyan pegasus backed away, a look of surprise and confusion on her face. Her wings drifted a short distance upward. “Um… what business are we talking about here?”
Applejack cocked her head to one side and stared at Rainbow Dash for a few seconds before returning her head to its normal position and trying to suppress a slowly growing smile. She could get mad at Twilight and/or Rainbow Dash for causing all the time troubles later. For now, she had a Dash in front of her that didn’t know her feelings were mutual. A Dash that would be far too afraid or embarrassed to let anypony know how she felt. She was SO cute when she was embarrassed…
---------------------------------------------------
The four prized pupils of Princess Celestia stood in a small circle.
“Okay then. So to recap, in my timeline nopony travels through time at all. The first Dash didn’t come back and none of this happened. Applejack and Rainbow Dash have feelings for each other, but haven’t admitted that to each other yet. In your timeline, the Princess was visiting the library when the first Dash came back. She was there when you realized you were going to invent time travel and set everything in motion. She wisely cautioned you about making things more complicated than they needed to be, and it was eventually agreed that after Dash returned to the future there would be no more time travel. Dash told herself that everything would work out and she just needed to tell Applejack how she felt. She did, and it worked. She then returned to the future and that was that. In your timeline,” Twilight Sparkle pointed a hoof toward the chalkboard covered in equations and charts and graphs, “THAT happened. And in YOUR timeline,” the unicorn she was referring to shivered in place, one eye twitching rapidly, “everything went completely out of control. You somehow managed to keep it all in line with Pinkie Pie’s help, at the cost of the majority of your sanity.”
Twilight Sparkle paused, both to catch her breath and to give the others time to make any corrections. “Now in all of your timelines, almost everything managed to stay tied up neatly. The only missing link is from the beginning to the end. In each case, the Dash that went back the furthest was somehow able to lock onto a signature and draw power from a time where neither should have been available. Somehow, a strange sort of split-wormhole formed that didn’t have a simple point to point relationship. Entering from the future point lead back to the past, but there was nothing to enter from the past side. Since nothing from the past locked onto the future, that left the signature open for use. Those were used by the last Dashes to come forward, making the forward and backward links from that point connect to different points in space and time. This makes a complete circuit, so that each Dash has one smooth and continuous path through the time jumps that begins and ends at the same point. It’s all very elegant, but it leaves a very pressing question that none of you were able to come up with an answer to. How did the energies and signatures used to tie off the earliest point in the series get there? And perhaps MORE pressing, what happened to put so much of a strain on the space-time continuum that random chunks of matter are phasing between timelines?”
Twilight Sparkle paused again, but was interrupted by herself before she could continue. “Are we really supposed to believe it’s a coincidence that every chunk has included us? And that the chunks just happened to all land at roughly the same coordinates, at roughly the same time, in the same timeline?”
“Of course not,” chimed Twilight Sparkle, “I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation and we just need to figure out what it is.”
“I propose one of us stay focused on the origin of the past signature while the other three get to work on figuring out what’s going on now. If any more of us show up, we should put them to work in roughly that same ratio. For every three working on the timeline collision, one works on discovering how that energy and that signature were placed there. Also, as I’m sure you’ve all already decided, we should not abuse time travel to bring more of us here to work on the problems at hoof. Two of us know that ends up being far more trouble than it’s worth.”
“Make that three of us.” The purple ponies turned their heads to see that there was a fifth Twilight standing in the frame of the open door.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 16 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-03T02:27:11+00:00
|
2011-10-03T02:27:11+00:00
| 7,286 |
Rainbow Dash flared her wings and began to slow down. “We’re here.”
Her passenger dropped the short distance to the ground and landed with a small ‘oof’.
“Thank you. Now I know you don’t like to stay still, and this will take a while. Fortunately for you, you happen to show up back at the library pretty soon to tell me that you dropped me here. And as you know, you already picked me up when this was over. So you’re off the hook. Go on back to Ponyville and let me know I’m here.”
“Awesome. Maybe now that you’re calling in the big guns we can get this whole thing taken care of!”
“Not exactly… this isn’t for that. I figured out you and Applejack a while ago. Somewhere around four days from now. This is a much bigger problem that I just don’t have the resources to resolve on my own.”
“You’ve got as many of you and me and any other pony as you need! How can you not have enough to work with?”
“No, I’ve only got one of you and one of me. And one of a few other ponies after I talk to the Princess.”
“Well, yeah right NOW you only have one of each. But you can just make more!”
“While I COULD do that, that’s actually part of the problem. Something… really bad is happening. And I’m fairly certain we’re responsible. Ponies aren’t meant to travel through time, and nothing good can come of it.”
“You saying me and AJ being together isn’t a good thing?”
“No, but SOME ponies have found much easier ways to confess their love for each other than dashing back and forth through time to set it all up. Like maybe just coming out and SAYING IT.”
“It’s… it’s not as easy as you make it sound, Twilight.”
“No, I suppose it probably isn’t. But it can’t possibly be any harder than THIS.”
---------------------------------------------------
Four purple unicorns circled a table and discussed the fate of Equestria, while one more ran through large and complex calculations on a chalkboard off to one side. Rainbow Dash burst in through the door, earning glares from all five of them.
“TWILIGHT…S! WE HAVE A PROBLEM!”
Two Twilight Sparkles groaned while two more questioned in unison, “What is it this time, Dash?”
“THIS!” Dash shouted as she held thrust out a hoof, holding Scootaloo in the air.
“You’re going to need to be a little more specific. Yes, she and the other Crusaders can be a handful, but what exactly did she do that relates to our particular brand of concerns?”
“THERE ARE TWO OF HER! The other one is still in Ponyville as far as I know. Wait, why are there five of you? I thought we had fixed everything!”
“Which Ponyville did you find them in?”
“Wait, WHICH Ponyville? As in… there’s more than one?”
“Okay! Question time is over. We need to focus. Scootaloo is a secondary concern – there are two or more of a lot of things there shouldn’t be two or more of right now.”
“So what do you want me to do with her?”
One Twilight switched to an angry expression. “I don’t know and I don’t CARE. Take her to get ice cream or something! We’re very busy, and every minute we waste is another minute that another timeline collision could happen. For the first time in a long time, we don’t have much time to waste! We can’t risk going forward or back from here to help us fix everything because there’s already too much stress on the fabric of reality and we have NO idea what kind of effect we’ve been having on it. It’s quite probable that we caused this! Now where was I/we? Do any of me have any fresh ideas? We need to figure out what to do as soon as we can, because whatever strain is causing all this in the first place certainly can’t be alleviated by even more of us showing up!” She was breathing heavily, one eye twitching intensely. Another Twilight brushed past Dash and joined the circle of unicorns at the table. Twitchy Twilight began to lose control of her other eye.
Rainbow Dash slunk back and left the library. Just outside the door, she spotted herself. “Hey, any idea what’s going on?”
“Bad time junk that doesn’t involve us.”
“And the twitchy, angry Twilight?”
“Four words. Time. Travelling. Pinkie. Pie.”
Dash’s eye began to twitch.
Another Twilight trotted into the library.
---------------------------------------------------
Somewhere, if the concept of ‘where’ even had any meaning back there, a lavender unicorn smiled. She stared deeply into the spider web of light in front of her, carefully watching each strand of light and each bright point as the thing pulsed gently. Her horn emitted a soft glow and a bright spot in the web dulled as a line stretched outward from it to connect with a nearby bright spot. Soon, if the concept of ‘soon’ even had any meaning back there, her master plan would be complete. The metaphor worked on so many levels. An intricately woven plan, put together by a master predator to catch a hapless fly. A fly that would provide the nourishment necessary for the spider to carry on. The whole thing was just too delicious.
For the first time, if time had any meaning anymore, in quite a while… she felt a swelling of pride. She had been taught well. Here she was, working with magics too deep and arcane for all but the very brightest to even begin to understand, and skillfully playing a chess game of incredible complexity. That metaphor tasted sour. Rainbow Dash’s versatility obviously required her to be considered the queen, while Celestia was awkward and difficult to put into place. She didn’t like the idea of Queen Dash and Knight Celestia, but she let it go. You can’t win them all. If the concept of ‘all’ even had any meaning back there.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 17 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-05T08:19:09+00:00
|
2011-10-05T08:19:09+00:00
| 7,065 |
Rainbow Dash had performed the Sonic Rainboom. She had flown faster than any other pegasus. She had literally flown through time. Impossible had become just another word to the brash mare who could do it all. And yet, this moment… it was still indescribable. Breathtaking. She was diving faster than she ever had before, hurtling toward the ground at a speed that would put Celestia herself to shame. And there was more.
She was performing a highly complex and entirely original routine with the Wonderbolts. THE WONDERBOLTS. Her lifelong idols. A stunt of this magnitude was entirely unprecedented in the history of organized flight, and she was a part of it. More than a part of it. She was the CENTER of it. She was, if only temporarily, the Captain. And there was MORE.
A magical undertaking beyond any other was in progress, again with her at the center. She couldn’t magic her way out of a paper bag, and yet here she was at the center of the grandest spell ever conceived. Beyond that, this was the first time two disciplines so unrelated had been fused so perfectly. The flight and the magic were not two cogs working together as part of a whole machine, they were one. The magic breathed new life into the art of flight even as the flight weaved sigils and crests into the air.
Rainbow Dash could see it now. The enormous symbol carved into the sky by her team. She would be there before she had time to blink again. The Sonic Rainboom had happened quite a bit higher up. Much greater speeds were required when she crossed the critical point.
---------------------------------------------------
Applejack coughed one more time before going limp. Rainbow Dash pressed her ear against the farmer’s chest. She waited. She cried.
“It’s not FAIR! WHY? After everything we went through, after EVERYTHING we did for each other… why does it have to end like this… why does it have to be my fault…” Tears streamed down her face and splashed against the cold dirt. She didn’t know how much time had passed before she moved from her mournful spot, but it didn’t matter. She was Rainbow Dash. She had leapt through time to win Applejack’s heart, and she wasn’t going to let her be taken away without a fight. It didn’t matter if she had to fight herself. It didn’t matter if she had to fight Twilight. It didn’t matter if she had to fight the laws of causality. She was going to get her love BACK.
---------------------------------------------------
Twilight Sparkle was suspended in place, her magic sealed off, unable to fight back. She was held almost completely still, given just enough room to breathe and was about to try to speak. Her muzzle was forced shut in a hazy purple glow.
“This is the part where you throw out a tired line like ‘You’ve gone mad!’ and I’m supposed to respond with ‘No, I see clearly for the first time and it is the WORLD that has gone mad!’ and then proceed to give the big villain speech about how wrong the world is and how I’m going to fix it. Well let me just save us both a whole lot of time… hah! Really, I thought I’d stopped using language like that. Where was I? Oh, right. No, that’s not quite the direction this is going to go. While it’s true that I can see clearly and the world is mad, it has not suddenly become that way. Everything has always been mad.”
“You’re crazy!” wheezed Twilight.
“What was I JUST SAYING? We’re not going down that road. I’m going to try to show you. I’m going to try to teach you, as I was taught. Once you cast aside the veil of time you can see reality for what it really is, what it always has been. It is chaos. The whole of existence is a big, ugly, boiling, churning, stinking wad of chaos. Ponies are only able to live happily because of how blind they are. The flaws in any one reality are insignificant and can be overcome. I have seen the answer to each timeline, and I could fix them were I given the chance. It is only when realms bleed together that everything begins to fall apart. There is too much to be controlled, and whatever cracks allowed the intrusion to begin with only spread further with each pulse. I would have been content to be a martyr, casting myself into the fire to restore the illusion. I would have been okay dying so that nopony had to see what I have seen. Your plan is noble, and I would gladly let you carry it out if only it would work. But it won’t. It doesn’t. It can’t.”
A single tear fell down into the infinite nothingness below as the mare turned away. The magic restraining Twilight began to weaken.
“Instead, it’s come to this. The delicate fabric lies in tatters on the floor, and there is no power in all of creation capable of mending it. The true nature of our existence will destroy the sanity of all living things. I have seen into that uncaring abyss, and I know it to be a fate that none deserve. But there is yet one answer to the problem. One hope against the discord... all things can stand united in the harmony of oblivion.”
The physical restraint was gone, and Twilight was capable of moving under her own power once more. But she did not move. She stood staring with determination, and she spoke.
“You’re wrong. There is no harmony without togetherness. Without friendship. Without magic. I thought the Princess taught you better, Twilight Sparkle.”
The mare turned around, her eyes burning coals of rage as her magic flared with an audible roar. The force holding back Twilight Sparkle’s magic was released. “YOU WILL NOT REFER TO ME BY THAT NAME. TWILIGHT SPARKLE IS THE ONE WHO CAUSED THIS TRAVESTY. I AM THE ONE WHO WILL END IT. TWILIGHT SPARKLE IS CHAOS. TWILIGHT SPARKLE IS DISCORD. I… I AM ORDER. I HAVE OBSERVED YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS FROM EVERY POSSIBLE TIMELINE. FROM EVERY ANGLE. THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO. YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME AND THOUGH YOUR END WILL NOT BE SWIFT, IT IS ONLY BECAUSE IT IS MY WILL THAT YOU SUFFER.”
“There is just oooone teensy little thing you may have overlooked. One element that fell through the cracks.”
“I WILL NOT PLAY THIS GAME WITH YOU.”
“Scootaloo, NOW!”
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 18 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-07T06:05:21+00:00
|
2011-10-07T06:05:21+00:00
| 7,717 |
“Alright, Scoots. We’ll do it this afternoon, I’ve got some stuff to take care of first. How about you go to Twilight’s place and study up a little first?”
Scootaloo nodded her head vigorously and took off on her scooter at an impressive speed, leaving Rainbow Dash with a smile. Not much later, she burst into the library and flung herself head first toward the lavender unicorn on the other side of the room.
“Twilight! IneedbooksaboutflightrightnowpleasehurryIneedtolearnhowtofly.”
Twilight stared off into space for a moment, visibly trying to process something. She mumbled a few bits of nonsense and some seemingly random numbers before shaking her head and coming back to the real world.
“I’ve actually already got three really good books set aside that I think will help you a lot.”
---------------------------------------------------
“Come on now, Rainbow, y’all can do this! Ah know ya can!” Applejack held Rainbow Dash’s hoof.
“AJ, you know I love you and you know I’d do anything for you and you know I love you but THIS ISN’T FAIR. YOU DID THIS TO ME AND YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO TOUCH ME AGAIN. Are we CLEAR?”
“Crystal, sugarcube.” She brushed Dash’s sweat soaked mane out of her eyes. “Ah love you.”
“WHAT DID I JUST SAY?”
---------------------------------------------------
A light more brilliant than Celestia’s sun exploded across the sky. The crests and sigils pulsed with energy. In the middle of it all, Rainbow Dash broke free of the feeble bonds of the laws of physics and smiled. On the ground below, Twilight Sparkle saw her plan coming together and smiled. Someplace lacking a distinct location in space or time, a cackling mare saw her plan coming together and smiled.
When an object passes the speed of sound, an incredible shockwave blows out from the point where it happened and an accompanying BOOM can be heard for a great distance. When an object passes the speed of light, physics gets mad at you because you can’t do that. Physics throws a temper tantrum that sends out shockwaves many orders of magnitude greater than those accompanying a sonic boom. Had this not been part of an incredibly elaborate undertaking, Ponyville would likely have ceased to be in the wake of the blast.
The immense energies were necessary. Unless in a perfectly frictionless environment, anything in motion will slowly bleed energy into the materials it passes by. If only given one initial push, the further something is meant to travel the more energy it needs at the kickoff. Twilight smiled inwardly at her ability to solve any and every problem that had been thrown her way lately. ‘How did that energy get back there’ indeed.
---------------------------------------------------
Twilight Sparkle didn’t understand. She didn’t want to believe it, but there was little room for doubt. Every prediction had come true. Even the impossible ones. ESPECIALLY the impossible ones. It was with this knowledge and this lack of understanding that she sat waiting. Her horn emitted a dull glow as she spread a thin aura all about her and let it sit. She could wait. Time clearly wasn’t important anymore. She would sit and she would wait and when the opportunity presented itself she would move. She would take the chance she had been given, and she would understand. She would use her new knowledge to make everything right. It would take a tremendous amount of magic, and if even if she could still muster up the strength to teleport back she wasn’t sure it would be possible. Everything would be different back there. She’d been taught that, and while she didn’t understand it, she did believe it.
Twilight Sparkle would see the crack forming and she would go back there. She would get behind the curtain and she would clean everything up. And if she couldn’t come back, that would be a sacrifice she’d be willing to make.
---------------------------------------------------
Scootaloo stood over the broken pony, scowling down at her. The mare’s eyes quivered in fright. Her limbs were useless and the pain was too intense to focus on her magic. She had won. The game was over. She had cornered every piece, and there wasn’t anything left that could have been used against her. So how? How had this happened? Why was she bleeding? Was she going to… to die? She turned her head toward Twilight.
“HOW?”
“Like I said. One element fell through the cracks. And I do mean that in the most literal sense of every one of those words.”
“I WATCHED ALL OF YOU… FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END OF THIS NONSENSE. THERE WERE NO LOOSE ENDS. I KEPT A PERFECT WATCH OVER EVERY LEAP. WHEN DID…” her breathing grew more ragged and the volume of her voice diminished, “when did she get here?”
Twilight Sparkle smirked. “I just told you. I know we can accomplish amazing things when we focus on our studies, but it is important to stop from time to time. To look around you. To smell the roses. To be with your friends and to think about the future. To understand that actions have consequences.”
“Do you know how utterly RIDICULOUS it is for YOU to lecture ME on causality?”
“It’s not the slightest bit ridiculous. You never once considered the repercussions of your actions and the effect they would have on the ponies around you. All you ever paid attention to was keeping events flowing in their temporally correct order, regardless of what that meant.”
“I thought it meant keeping Equestria ALIVE! I know I was wrong now, and that’s why I was trying to FIX EVERYTHING! YOU OF ALL PONIES SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT!”
Scootaloo stomped a hoof next to the mare’s head. “You’re so DUMB! She’s not trying to tell you what you did was wrong! She’s just trying to tell you that an event doesn’t magically stop affecting the world as soon as it’s been wrapped up in a paradox-free bow! Just because all the stupid loops and cracks and branches have been taken care of doesn’t mean something is over!”
She turned to look up at the angry orange pegasus, and for the first time in a long time (she really thought she had moved beyond such linear thinking), she was confused. “I still don’t understand… where did you come from? How did you arrive here without me knowing?”
“Jeez, you must be really dense. Twilight already told you! I FELL.”
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 19 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-11T06:31:36+00:00
|
2011-10-11T06:31:36+00:00
| 8,985 |
The Wonderbolts rocketed back toward Canterlot, having been dismissed by their temporary master. Everything had gone off without a hitch, and the pesky knot at the beginning of the loop was closed off. Twilight let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, and slumped to the ground with a smile on her face. She was exhausted, but at least it was almost over. There was just one brief moment where there had been an extra Scootaloo wandering around town. She was sure it was just a mistake that was already taken care of. Somewhere along the line, the filly had accidentally gotten dragged along through time and then later gotten dragged back. There was definitely only one Scootaloo right now, so it didn’t look like there would be any work to do. It was just a precaution, making certain there were no temporal troubles unaccounted for.
Twilight heaved herself into a standing position and turned toward the library, offering only a subdued ‘later’ to Rainbow Dash. Dash didn’t notice or care and continued napping on the low flying cloud. After she had gotten her well-deserved rest, she would fly over to Sweet Apple Acres and regale her marefriend with a completely unexaggerated account of how she had defied the natural order, led her idols on the single greatest magical/aeronautical/magical-aeronautical event in history, and saved all of Equestria. Applejack would be incredibly impressed, and would surely reward her for her efforts.
Everything had gone great and everything would continue to go great and there was absolutely nothing that could ruin her day.
---------------------------------------------------
Twilight Sparkle was at her wit’s end. She stomped furiously about the empty library in an attempt to vent her frustrations. It wasn’t enough. She needed somepony to scream at. Somepony to blame for everything, even if that pony was herself. But it didn’t work that way. Her hoof had been forced by her future decisions and she had no way to reshape the timeline. She wanted to be angry at herself for setting things up this way, but she knew that she had just been following her own decisions the same way she was now.
Still, it felt wrong. Shouldn’t being the pony who INVENTED time travel give her some say in the matter? Time was already bending backward over itself to make sure the decisions she made were able to be carried out, why shouldn’t she be able to nudge things around a bit? Why should she have to play by such a ludicrously complicated set of rules? Almost none of the events she set up even had any direct impact! Most of the effort went into stopping sloppy mistakes she thought she shouldn’t have made in the first place. Why would a project planned and directed by the prized pupil of the Princess be so messy?
Twilight turned to go stomping in a different arbitrary direction and stumbled over a stack of books. She didn’t fall, instead steadying herself with a hoof against the chalkboard. Setting the hoof back on the floor, she noticed the smudge she had made and sighed. Her horn lit up as a piece of chalk floated upward to correct the now erroneous portion of the notes she had left for herself. They were very helpful, and she certainly wouldn’t want to leave them incorrect in case she forgot something. It only made sense to fix it now before it became a problem, but something was strange… it almost looked like…
The chalk dropped to the floor, as did Twilight’s jaw. She had left herself a hidden and encoded message! But how did she know she would smudge that exact spot? That was a stupid question – because she had already smudged it herself. Picking up some blank paper, and her jaw, Twilight was about to begin deciphering whatever she was trying to tell herself. Her jaw dropped again, as did the papers, and she quickly scrawled the original notes back onto the board.
The very first portion of the message was a warning. Nothing could be written or spoken and no clues could be left. Enemy eyes were everywhere. She would have to mentally re-smudge the board and do all the decoding in her head. Whatever she was trying to tell herself, it was clearly of the highest importance.
Working as quickly as she could, the studious unicorn realized exactly why she had made such a jumble out of what could have been a much simpler affair. If you need to write a long letter, you need a lot of paper.
---------------------------------------------------
Rainbow Dash lay curled up in a tight spiral, breathing softly but covered in a thin film of dried sweat. The hard part was over, and she had somehow found it in her heart to forgive Applejack for what she had put her through. At the center, surrounded on all sides by the warm and tender embrace only a mother is capable of giving, lay a very small pegasus filly. Her love for her daughter was strong, but there was something else in the air. As terrible as it made her feel, there was one emotion continuing to fight its way to the top. She just couldn’t shake the confusion she felt.
Her daughter was a pegasus, that made plenty of sense. Although she had never payed attention in school when discussing genetics, she figured any oddities in coloration could be chalked up to her crazy rainbow nonsense – pick any color, she’s got ‘em all. Still, THIS coloration was impossible. Sure, time junk or whatever could explain just about anything so that nothing was TRULY impossible, but that still didn’t make it any less of a shock. It did nothing to make the moment feel any more real. Applejack had fainted the moment she made eye contact with the newborn pegasus.
The filly began to stir and whimper. Setting aside her befuddlement for now, Dash nuzzled the precious little ball of fur and focused on giving her all the love she deserved. Maybe, just maybe… it was a long shot, but there was a chance it was a coincidence. They could still try to be a normal family. The filly uncurled and stretched her limbs before looking up into her mother’s face. Looking back down at her daughter’s face, Rainbow Dash realized she was deceiving herself. The colors matched too perfectly. The face was EXACTLY the same.
She set aside her confusion and decided that in the ever-so-grand-and-convoluted scheme of things, it didn’t matter. Somehow, some way, it had happened. It was probably Twilight’s fault, but it just didn’t matter. Rainbow Dash had given birth to Scootaloo, and all she could do about it was love her.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 20 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-14T05:15:31+00:00
|
2011-10-14T05:15:31+00:00
| 6,451 |
Scootaloo rubbed her aching head. Everything was spinning. And fuzzy. And making a weird ringing noise. What had she been doing? She was up in the air doing… something… and then she had fallen down? Where was she? She stood slowly, shaking. The confused little filly looked around for something, ANYTHING, that might give her a clue as to what had just happened. Or what had happened before that. Or before that…
Why couldn’t she remember… much of anything? Name: Scootaloo. Cutie mark: not yet. Favorite color: all of them. Was that it? Was that all she could remember? No, she remembered there was a word for this. She had... what was the word… amnesia. Yeah. She had amnesia. She must have been doing something in the air and fallen and hit her head. The impact must’ve fogged up her brain. That was it. She just needed to go find a doctor and make sure she was okay, then wait for her memory to come back. She remembered that in the movies it usually only took a few days.
---------------------------------------------------
So what if Twilight said no more time travel? So what if her stupid flux whatever spell was what made it possible to begin with? Who cares if paradoxes are bad for reality? If you can’t stand up for something worth fighting for, what’s the point?
Every day since the first trip back, Rainbow Dash had become more and more amazing. Stunts that were downright inconceivable became second nature. She was no longer just the best flier in Equestria, she was the best flier in HISTORY. She could go faster than anything else, and if she had to fly faster than time or causality or reality or physics or whatever was in her way, she would.
Rainbow Dash was going to find a way back, and she was going to stop herself from making the biggest mistake of her life. She wouldn’t try to do that stupid trick, and Applejack wouldn’t get hurt. Either Applejack was going to be okay and they were going to be happy together for a long time, or existence itself would be torn asunder by a pony being foolish enough to go back to try to change the past. Whatever the odds, it was a chance she was more than willing to take.
---------------------------------------------------
“I don’t get why everypony has such a hard time understanding this, Twilight. I’m just a filly and I got it in no time at all!”
“Falling down explains nothing!”
“Now now, you know you’re a special case… I’m… I’m still sorry.”
“I already told you, it’s okay. You did what had to be done, and it’s not like I even knew what was wrong anyway...”
“No, Scootaloo, it’s not okay. It wasn’t right of me to use you like that. It’s not okay because I still have to ask you to do one more thing for me.”
The broken mare coughed. “Don’t ignore me!”
“Really… I’m okay with it. So everything got a little screwed up, it’s not like anypony got hurt. And now I’ll get to spend all the time I want with mom, and I’ll even get to fly! I can do one last thing to help save Equestria and then I can go home.”
Twilight’s eyes shimmered with a fine mist. She tilted her head down, not wanting to make eye contact. “I’m sorry, Scootaloo. This last thing isn’t for Equestria. I need you to do something for your mom. Something... really difficult.”
“I’ll do anything, just name it!”
“I need you to pretend none of this ever happened.”
“What… what are you…”
“We’re going to get back home, and I need you to just land on the ground and pretend you fell out of the sky trying to fly. That’s not exactly a lie. Pretend that you never did any of this, and that the other pegasus who looked exactly like you running around Ponyville all that time really was just a coincidence you’ve heard stories about now and then.”
“So after all this… I don’t even get to be a hero? Mom doesn’t get to be proud of me?”
“Your mother already has plenty of reasons to be proud of you. And now you get to go home and be a family again. Like you said, you’ll finally get the chance to fly. You’re young and full of potential and you can do anything in the world… except talk about this. Please… for Rainbow Dash. You don’t know how badly it would hurt her to know the truth.”
Scootaloo turned and faced away from Twilight, fighting back tears of her own. “And how am I supposed to explain my cutie mark? I got it from falling? My mom’s not stupid, you know!” The mare lying at her hooves began to stand.
“I may not understand how you have managed to sneak something past me, but I should think it rather unwise to ignore an enemy who is not incapacitated.”
“There are two of us and one of you. You’re injured and we’re not. I’ve bested you in a strategic game where you had the advantage. It’s over. You’ve lost.”
The mare spat a glob of blood as she reached a standing position again. “Oh have I? You’re not going to finish me. You’re not that kind of mare. You’re going to be as peaceful as possible, using as little force as you can get away with to subdue me. And it’s not going to work, because as you may have forgotten we are on MY turf and it looks like you’ve already played your trump card. You went all in, and you won that hand. But I’m not out of the game yet, and I’ve still got quite a few aces up my sleeve.”
“What is WITH you and your stupid metaphors?”
“DO NOT QUESTION MY METHODS, CHILD. YOU HAD THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE AND YOU WASTED IT. YOU ARE STILL IN MY DOMAIN AND I STILL DRAW BREATH. YOU WILL NOT FOR MUCH LONGER. YOU DO NOT TRULY GRASP THE DEPTHS OF MY ABILITIES. ALLOW ME TO REVEAL MY HAND.”
“Enough with the cards! We GET it already! But apparently YOU don’t, because this is NOT your domain. Take a good look at me and think carefully about everything you’ve seen leading up to now. Think about what I’ve done and how any of it is even remotely possible! Look at my cutie mark. This isn’t your domain. It’s MINE!”
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 21 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-17T00:01:04+00:00
|
2011-10-17T00:01:04+00:00
| 6,912 |
Linear Chronology of Alpha Timeline
Initial Temporal Disturbance – Critical Rupture
This is a helpful guide, since so many people have expressed their confusion. The purpose is NOT to explain everything to you. It is to HELP you. It provides no information that you do not already have or cannot deduce, so it is not required reading. As the title implies, this only covers the primary timeline and only up to a certain point. (P) denotes present and refers to the instance of that character native to that point in time. (#) provides only convenience and has no real meaning. (?) means I’m still not giving you all the answers – deal with it. Everything said here is 100% correct and these events happen in exactly this order. That does not mean that this is 100% of everything that has happened or that other events cannot have happened in between these ones. Twilight is not infallible.
1) A large mass of energy arrives near Ponyville, carrying a unique magical signature.
2) The energy is spent opening one half of a split wormhole.
3) One Rainbow Dash (1) and one Applejack (1) come through the wormhole.
4) Applejack (1) locates the present Rainbow Dash (P) and sets out for Hoofington with her. Rainbow Dash (1) follows.
5) Rainbow Dash (P) begins to understand her feelings for Applejack.
6) Rainbow Dash (1) and Applejack (1) now have several months to themselves while they wait for the chance to be sent back to the future.
7) Rainbow Dash (1) and Applejack (1) switch places with Rainbow Dash (2) above Sweet Apple Acres.
8) Rainbow Dash (2) levels half the farm.
9) Rainbow Dash (2) talks to Twilight Sparkle (P) and Applejack (P) before leaving with Twilight to discuss the invention of time travel.
10) Rainbow Dash (P) arrives at Sweet Apple Acres and is oblivious as to why Applejack (P) is angry.
11) Rainbow Dash (P) heads back to Ponyville and runs into Scootaloo (?), promising to hang out with her later before leaving.
12) Rainbow Dash (2) runs into Scootaloo (?) and hangs out with her, vaguely remembering promising to do so.
13) Rainbow Dash (3) waits in the clouds to start hinting at her feelings toward Applejack.
14) Rainbow Dash (4) appears to stop Rainbow Dash (3).
15) Rainbow Dash (5) appears to take Rainbow Dash (3) and (4) to go find Rainbow Dash (P).
16) Rainbow Dash (6) arrives at Sweet Apple Acres and startles Applejack (P) with a sudden confession and kiss.
17) Rainbow Dash (6) returns to Twilight Sparkle (P) and gives her the idea to keep charts.
18) Rainbow Dash (7) goes to apologize to Applejack for wrecking the farm, giving the impression she is apologizing for event 16.
19) Rainbow Dash (7) meets Scootaloo (?) for “something awesome.”
20) Rainbow Dash (3) (4) and (5) watch Rainbow Dash (P).
21) Rainbow Dash (8) interrupts Twilight’s research, but gives her fresh ideas.
22) Rainbow Dash (7) switches places with Rainbow Dash (8) and Twilight Sparkle (1).
23) Scootaloo (?) sees Rainbow Dash (7) flying by and Rainbow Dash (P) in the doorway, getting the idea that there is more than one Dash running around.
24) Rainbow Dash (8) and Twilight Sparkle (1) show up at the library to tell Twilight Sparkle (P) that she will be going to the future.
25) Rainbow Dash (6) and Rainbow Dash (9) rip reality a new one.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 22 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-17T00:02:38+00:00
|
2011-10-17T00:02:38+00:00
| 6,170 |
The dim moonlight that filtered in through the window was pretty. It was not the reason Scootaloo couldn’t sleep, but she still couldn’t stop herself from being annoyed at it. She was in a bad enough mood that everything around her seemed to be trying to bother her. Plenty of days had gone by, and her memories had still not returned. Nopony in town recognized her, and there had been no word of a missing foal matching her description… everypony had come to the unspoken agreement that she was a wandering orphan. A sad little homeless pony who happened to be unfortunate enough to have lost her memory. A kind young couple with no children of their own had taken her in, promising she could stay for “As long as she needed to.”
Food, shelter, and ponies who cared. Shouldn’t that have been enough? Scootaloo felt like a selfish jerk for thinking she needed more in her life. Something very important to her was missing, and although she couldn’t remember what, it didn’t seem right to be unhappy with what she had.
It happened a few days later, out by the market stalls. The shopping trip was boring, as usual, and the short distance back to the house didn’t hold much promise. There had been just a few fluffy white clouds lazily floating through the sky on the otherwise perfect day. No, that wasn’t true. There was a single gray cloud hovering above a nearby patch of grass. A cyan pegasus dashed in from nowhere and flew away with the cloud. Some sort of spark ignited deep inside, strange feelings she didn’t have names for making their way to the forefront of her mind. Her natural curiosity easily overpowering her adoptive parents’ orders to not wander away, she galloped off in the direction the mare had gone.
Less than a minute later, Scootaloo found herself staring at a strange sort of tornado that was somehow also a rainbow. When it stopped, she saw the pegasus from before. Had she done that? Could ponies DO that? This was definitely no ordinary mare, and she’d have to keep her eyes on this one. The strange feelings bubbled up into her head, and without knowing how, she knew this pony was what she needed. A friend? An idol? Maybe a mentor?
---------------------------------------------------
Panting and sweating and utterly unable to move, Rainbow Dash lay cemented to the earth with a wide grin plastered on her face. She didn’t know or care about the technical details of how she had done it, but even if she did she wouldn’t have been able to explain it. And she would NOT be explaining it. Applejack had come to an immediate, almost supernatural understanding of what had just happened. Trying to explain anything to Twilight would result in a lot of yelling.
Dash had done what was never supposed to be done. What was never supposed to be ABLE to be done. History had changed. Originally, Dash had gone back to the farm to see Applejack and nothing had gotten in her way. Now, however… now things had gone differently. She could even feel her memories reshaping themselves as it happened. She didn’t go straight to the farm. A blinding flash of light in front of her had forced her to stop. A crater at least twenty feet across stretched out in front of her. The crater was filled with a swirling foggy mist that somehow held every color and yet none of them. She saw herself at the bottom, slowly making her way up toward the edge.
The other her was breathing heavily. “Don’t.”
“Didn’t Twilight say we were done with all this junk?”
“She isn’t involved this time. This is more important than that.”
She shook herself free of her memories. She had just had the other side of that conversation and there was no need to go through it again. Everything worked. Applejack was okay, Equestria wasn’t destroyed, and the crater even fixed itself. The impact had un-happened right in front of her eyes as her other self vanished. There was no need to involve Twilight because there was nothing to involve her in. The one single event was self-contained and complete, or so she thought.
Funny thing about paradoxes… you can’t possibly predict what’s going to happen. They don’t follow the rules. Hell, the rules say they can’t even BE. Once you’ve got one on your hands, the rules go right out the window. Do you remember the bit about how energy bleeds off of things that are in motion? A paradox doesn’t follow the rules. A paradox can’t even rightly be described as a thing.
Rainbow Dash hadn’t formed a wormhole during her latest endeavor. Too tricky. Too roundabout. The quickest path between two points is a straight line. Dash had just plowed straight through the fabric of reality to her destination, not caring what damage she did along the way. She then went back the way she came, but she wasn’t alone. The paradox had been pulled along behind her, repairing the damage she did along the way. Why and how did it repair the damage? It’s impossible to say. They say a paradox destroys space and time, but they have no evidence to base that on. You can’t actually predict what will happen.
When she stopped, it didn’t. It kept moving forward and it didn’t follow the rules…
---------------------------------------------------
Twilight Sparkle had painted herself a clear picture of what had happened and the threat that needed to be dealt with. Her message to herself explained in full detail how Rainbow Dash had inadvertently caused a rupture that was spreading out across realities. That things should be coming through these tears and that in the infinite sea of possibility all things were bound to happen at least once.
Forces naturally follow the path of least resistance. The ordinary ‘resistance’ permeating the cosmos that held alternate timelines apart had been stressed most in the areas located (physically and temporally) near Twilight’s recent escapades. And yet for some reason, nothing had been detected. This was unlikely… many orders of magnitude more unlikely than things immediately tossed out as impossible. The only plausible explanation was that some figure was in control. The math worked out. If an appropriate crack appeared, it should be possible to slip in and explore the space between realities. The place behind the curtain.
Without any data to work with it was impossible to be sure exactly what could be done from back there, but it was the only idea to go on. No forces she had a proper understanding of could perform this kind of manipulation. Since Twilight Sparkle had been directly involved in the events that lead to the rupture, as well as the various effects reducing the chrono-linear displacement resistance around her, anypony smart enough to get backstage would be smart enough to keep an eye on her. Somepony was back there controlling things, and that pony would be watching her. That pony had purposefully refrained from contacting her or letting her deduce what had happened by allowing matter to phase across the lines.
Somepony was very good at this, and that pony didn’t trust her enough to let her in on what was happening. When the fate of all that is rests in your hooves, you can’t afford to take chances. Twilight Sparkle had no choice but to treat this unknown entity as anything but an enemy.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 23 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-17T07:11:35+00:00
|
2011-10-17T07:11:35+00:00
| 6,132 |
Twilight Sparkle stared at the infant Scootaloo, her mouth hanging open. She glanced back to Rainbow Dash. Neither spoke. She remembered Dash barging in during the crisis on infinite Equestrias shouting about Scootaloo being a problem, but that issue was cast aside as being of far less importance. As ashamed as she was to admit it, she had actually forgotten all about it. The damage had just stopped spreading and then began to fix itself. All the Twilights went into a frenzy trying to push themselves and any other matter they came through with back to their rightful places before they were trapped forever. In the confusion and the chaos, the issue of elements being slightly out place in their own timelines was dropped entirely.
Twilight had burned all her notes to prevent anypony from attempting to travel through time again, but she still remembered some details. Concentrating hard, she could recall a small number of inconsistencies regarding Scootaloo… but that couldn’t be right! Inconsistencies along the timeline would cause massive instability if they didn’t outright destroy it!
Even assuming she was mistaken and everything did play out correctly, that did nothing to explain how or why she was looking right into the face of a Scootaloo who was no more than a few days old.
“You’re about to ask me a whole bunch of questions, and I only know the answer to one of them.”
Twilight paused with a thoughtful look on her face. “What’s her name?”
“You have half a guess.”
“So then how…”
“I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter.”
“It absolutely matters, Dash! We have a responsibility to clean up after ourselves. This is pretty clearly our mess, somehow or other, and we need to do something about it. You can’t just run around leaving all the hard problems for future generations to solve!”
Scootaloo made a gurgling noise, blinked, and smiled.
---------------------------------------------------
Twilight felt awful. She knew it had to be done, but that didn’t make her feel any better. The magic was hidden. Magic wasn’t even the right word for it. There was SOMETHING in Scootaloo. Something strange buried under the surface that you couldn’t see if you weren’t looking at just the right angle. Something powerful.
She reached back through her memories for all the details she could remember. The three books glowed softly, floating in front of her. It wasn’t right to use somepony like this. To push them in a direction they couldn’t understand and leave them stranded there alone. But it had to be done! Scootaloo had been in the past, and Twilight needed to make sure she got there. Maybe she even had a hoof in fixing everything. It didn’t matter, though. As terrible an act as it was, Twilight needed to separate mother from daughter and leave her stranded in the past for... how long? When was the first time Scootaloo showed up? Where? How to retrieve her with minimal temporal impact?
For now, Twilight Sparkle could put it off. She could excuse herself from the task, claiming that she needed more information. Needed more time to plan it perfectly. That was partially true, but she couldn’t fool herself forever. Sooner or later, she would have to be the most dishonest and least loyal friend she could be. She could only hope her friends would be able to forgive her.
---------------------------------------------------
Scootaloo couldn’t wait. She really couldn’t. She was already trying out the things she was reading in those books Twilight had given her, even though she’d been warned many times that this would be dangerous. She didn’t care. Today she would fly.
She was a little confused. Some of this junk didn’t seem to have anything to do with flying, but she wasn’t exactly an expert yet. She cast aside her doubts and charged forward. She didn’t notice when the books began to glow slightly.
Each of the three books had been enchanted to impart an effect on her. The first book would ensure she remained safe. It provided a magical shell strong enough to fall from hundreds of feet in the air and sustain absolutely no damage. The third book would launch her much higher into the air than the flight exercise it described was designed to. The second book was supposed to prepare the magics necessary for time travel and implant the required energy. Twilight had worked very hard to find an efficient method for storing that much power. The second book had failed.
The spells relating to time were repelled, unable to affect the little orange pony who should never have been born. Without a suitable receptacle, the energies that were meant to follow bounced back into the nearest available magical conduit. The third book radiated an intense light. Scootaloo stopped her wing exercises and stared at it. It was meant to trigger when she made a specific motion, but the added magic had intensified the sensitivity of the triggering mechanism. She stepped toward the book and was flung skyward. Up and up and up she went. Hundreds of feet into the air. Then thousands.
---------------------------------------------------
Scootaloo sat still and thought. She pushed her little brain as hard as she had ever pushed it, trying to fit the pieces together. There was a puzzle to be solved. Something was going on, and she needed to know what.
Idolizing another pony is nothing unusual. Tons of foals have idols they worship. But Rainbow Dash was different. There was something more. Something incredibly special. She had felt it every time she was near her for as long as she could remember.
She had a perfect working memory of everything AFTER one particular point in time. She suffered from near total amnesia of everything before that point.
There had been two of Rainbow Dash flying around that day. There had DEFINITELY been two of herself just a minute ago playing a little prank on one Rainbow Dash.
Some special, unnamable bond existed between the mare and the filly. There were somehow at least two of both of them. She had amnesia. She’d never bothered asking… maybe Rainbow Dash had amnesia too? Maybe they were both part of some mad science experiment… or maybe they were related. Could they be sisters? Dash was too young to be her mother…
Time slowed to a stop. All color drained from the world. All sound faded to nothing. There was only Scootaloo and the tidal wave of memories flooding back to her all at once. She screwed her eyes shut and clamped her forehooves over her ears, curling into a ball on the ground. If her eyes had been open, she would have seen the cracks start to form in the world around her.
An enormous spider’s web of unending complexity unfolded. The more closely it was examined, the more detail could be seen. All around her the world was illuminated by the shining threads of the web, reaching out into the whole of the world, but the only pony capable of seeing it refused to look.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 24 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-17T04:24:21+00:00
|
2011-10-17T04:24:21+00:00
| 7,093 |
Linear Chronology of Alpha Timeline
First Backward Leap – Paradox Birth
(F) is now the present LATER. Think of it as the future if you want. This portion of the appendix is written with the point where Twilight first successfully casts the time travel spell anchored as the present, so that is where (F) points now. (P), if you like, could stand for past now. It’s the present from before. The presence or absence of an event in these listings is not related to the importance of the event. There is a semi-arbitrary process I am using to decide what goes in and what does not. Like I said before, this is a helpful guide and not a complete cheat sheet. I want you to understand, but I want you to reach that understanding via brainy thinky times.
The previous appendix gave a sense of how events flowed even with ‘multiple’ ponies appearing. This one should start to show how the multiple paths fold across each other, letting you get a feel for how connections are formed… as well as showing you one of the important ways Twilight was wrong.
26) Rainbow Dash (2) switches places with Rainbow Dash (F – now 1) and Applejack (F – now 1) via Twilight (F)’s first time travel spell.
27) Twilight Sparkle (F – now 1) and Rainbow Dash (2 – now 8) switch places with Rainbow Dash (7) to go perform event 24.
28) Rainbow Dash (7) switches with Rainbow Dash (3) (4) and Twilight Sparkle (2).
29) Rainbow Dash (4 – now 5) switches with Rainbow Dash (10) to go to event 15.
30) Rainbow Dash (10) switches with Rainbow Dash (6) Twilight Sparkle (3) and Applejack (2).
31) Rainbow Dash (6) and Twilight Sparkle (3) switch with Rainbow Dash (10) and Twilight Sparkle (4) to go see Princess Celestia in the past.
32) Rainbow Dash (10) switches with Rainbow Dash (7).
33) Rainbow Dash (7), The Wonderbolts, and Twilight Sparkle (4) coordinate their efforts to send the energy and signature back to event 1.
34) Rainbow Dash (7) returns to Sweet Apple Acres to be with Applejack (2).
35) An undisclosed accident causes the death of Applejack (2).
36) Rainbow Dash (7), without the assistance of any Twilight Sparkles, sends HERSELF back and rewrites history to prevent her lover’s death.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 25 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-21T06:44:01+00:00
|
2011-10-21T06:44:01+00:00
| 6,920 |
Scootaloo stood on shaking legs, stumbling about physically as well as temporally. She still didn’t quite have the hang of this, but she had all the time in the world to figure it out. She reached forward gingerly and placed one hoof on the crack in front of her. It was solid, cold, and unyielding. Like stone. Concentrating, she pushed her hoof to one side and the air around it rippled as the crack warmed. Reality pulled itself aside with the motion of her hoof and the crack was no longer a crack, but a wide triangular opening. One side of the curtain had been lifted, and she could see beyond.
On the other side there was a gray unicorn carrying a gray dragon toward a gray building. Scootaloo sighed and withdrew her hoof, letting the fabric fall back. So many amazing things came to her so easily now, but not the important ones. The tear in the curtain mended itself and the crack was no more. This was clearly the wrong approach, but that didn’t help her figure out the right one.
The little orange filly began to cry. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to work. Having a full and unimpeded range of motion was worthless if there was nothing to DO at any destination. She could go anywhere she wanted. She could go anyWHEN she wanted. When she got there, time would just stubbornly refuse to move forward again.
Losing your memory is sad. Losing your family is a tragedy. Losing both and then much later having it all come back – while at the same time gaining a super power – only to lose your whole world is unbearable.
Shuffling back to where this ordeal started, Scootaloo examined the books lying on the ground. She craned her neck in the direction of the library. It wasn’t quite possible to ask Twilight for help, but a library full of books was almost as good.
---------------------------------------------------
Rainbow Dash was screaming through the air at a speed that had long since ceased making any sense. She was pouring her all into this, and it didn’t matter one bit. As beautiful a sentiment as it might be, love can’t quite conquer all. No matter how fast she flew or how determined she was, Rainbow Dash would not be able to pierce through to the past with raw momentum and emotion. Everything stopped.
Scootaloo stepped forward from behind a gently flapping strip of spacetime and gazed up at her mother. She turned around, looking at the pitiful falling pegasus behind her, and frowned. She had tried so hard to find one that would work. One she thought she wouldn’t have to feel bad about ‘sacrificing’, even if that wasn’t exactly true. She had sobbed heavily for hours when she found one.
This Rainbow Dash was from a universe where everything had gone wrong. A world where she failed in front of the Wonderbolts. A reality where Applejack did not share her feelings. This sad, lonely Rainbow Dash had decided to end her life. Describing exactly the fate that would befall her is something that can’t be done, but it would not quite be death. In that way, it could almost be said she was giving her a second chance. Scootaloo apologized to her anyway, even knowing that frozen in her fall she couldn’t hear a word. It still felt wrong. She would never return to Ponyville and her friends would grieve deeply. In some ways, she really WOULD be gone.
Scootaloo didn’t care what the consequences for herself would be. She wasn’t trying to save herself from nonexistence. She was even fairly certain that if she ceased to be the damage would be minimal and Equestria would survive. But Twilight Sparkle had other plans, and Scootaloo was the only one who could stop her. She needed to ensure she would be.
A paradox really is a tricky thing, and this one was no exception. Rainbow Dash hadn’t flung herself back in time to stop herself from making a mistake… because she couldn’t. She did not alter the flow of events to keep Applejack alive, and Scootaloo was never born.
Yet here she was, frozen simultaneously at every point in time and space, trying to make certain that exactly what didn’t happen – exactly what COULDN’T happen – would happen.
Twilight’s secret to time travel was to apply the energy of two Dashes to a focal point, straining the resistance of the natural order to its breaking point and forcing a tunnel through. One Rainbow Dash couldn’t do that. But two could. Scootaloo brought the other Rainbow Dash through a fissure between the worlds. Time did not flow, and Dash did not fully phase through. The matter she was composed of was present, but intangible. It was out of place, vibrating at a frequency that was foreign to her surroundings.
Scootaloo apologized again before placing Dash so that she was occupying the same space as her other self. The two clumps of matter would fuse into one, and in a strange way the suicidal Dash would live on. Bolstered by the addition of herself, Dash would be able to do it. Where a single Rainbow had failed, a double rainbow would succeed.
Scootaloo trotted back past the curtain to the spatially local but temporally regressed Ponyville she had landed in. Where she had just been, color had started to return. Time resumed flowing as the paradox caused itself to be. One continuous loop that cannot be broken and yet cannot be fed back into itself and all around the impossible filly the world began to move once more. As colors sparkled back into their places, one extra patch of pastel purple began to shine.
An enormous smile spread across her face. Colors and motion and joy were real once more. There was still a threat to be dealt with, but she had all the time she could need and decided to take this moment to enjoy herself and revel in the simple pleasure of BEING. She didn’t notice the bright violet Möbius strip on her flank.
---------------------------------------------------
“THAT CANNOT BE. IF YOU PASSED THROUGH MY REALM I WOULD HAVE DETECTED YOUR PRESENCE.”
“Not if you were frozen and unaware.”
“YOU CANNOT HALT THE FLOW OF TIME IN A PLACE BEYOND IT. IT IS A COMPLETE IMPOSSIBILITY.”
“I’M a complete impossibility, or haven’t you been listening to a word I’ve said? You really need to pay more attention to what goes on around you. If you’d been watching closely, you could’ve even caught on. I made a pretty boneheaded mistake that should’ve grabbed your attention. I know it was foalish of me, but I missed it too much to leave it behind. Where and when do you think my scooter came from?”
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 26 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-23T00:16:50+00:00
|
2011-10-23T00:16:50+00:00
| 11,962 |
“Y’know, Twilight, it’s almost funny. You’ve done this sort of thing a few times before… just on a smaller scale. You get overwhelmed by what you think of as a huge problem and you go completely nuts trying to find a way to fix it, but in the end it turns out there was never really a problem to begin with and everything had been under control all along.”
“WHY DO YOU OPPOSE ORDER?”
Scootaloo sighed. “I don’t. You’re just too caught up trying to solve the problem in front of you to see anything else.”
“WHAT EXISTS OUTSIDE OF THE CHAOS THAT UNDERPINS EVERYTHING?”
“There is no chaos consuming reality! There never was. Everything is in perfect working order, and you’re just too busy staring at individual spinning cogs to see the mesh of teeth connecting them all together. Every event causes another, each gear turning the next. Every one of them has to be exactly where it is out of necessity. If any part was out of order, the whole thing would be broken. But it’s not, because none of them are. The wheels keep spinning and the world keeps turning. Do you understand?”
---------------------------------------------------
“Did you hit your head or something, Twilight? Nothing you’re saying makes any sense at all!”
“How can you SAY that? You love Applejack, don’t you?”
“Well, yeah… but we’re both mares, Twilight. We couldn’t have a foal even if we wanted one. And I still have no idea who this filly you keep going on about is. None of the Crusaders are pegasus ponies.”
“She’s your biggest fan!”
“I’m sorry, Twilight, but you’re losing me here. As far as I know, there is no Scootaloo – there never was.”
Twilight’s left eye twitched.
---------------------------------------------------
Uncountable eons later, the universe came to an end. It’s somewhat impossible for that to really have any meaning, though. Matter and energy can’t be created or destroyed. The universe can’t ever end or begin. All the matter and all the energy always were and always will be. Except that they weren’t and they won’t. Paradoxically, the universe does have both a beginning and an end. But if you put enough pressure on two points...
As reality came to its inevitable and impossible conclusion, the universe reached its inevitable and impossible birth. Maybe this time, Twilight would understand. Changing history is impossible, but so are a lot of other things.
|
theworstwriter
|
836
| 27 |
Applejack,Rainbow Dash,Scootaloo,Twilight Sparkle,Adventure,Comedy,Romance,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Double Rainbow
|
Rainbow Dash is behaving strangely, and Applejack is very confused.
|
complete
| 279 | 27 |
<p>Rainbow Dash seems to be losing her mind, forgetting entire encounters and continually saying things that don't make any sense. Scootaloo gets to see Dash twice as much as she'd ever expected. Twilight Sparkle slips into full on-hermit mode. Applejack just wants answers... and to be with Rainbow Dash.</p><p>There's a double rainbow. What does it mean? It's so bright, so vivid....</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-10-31T16:41:51+00:00
|
2011-10-31T16:41:51+00:00
| 8,855 |
Comment #360 on this story (belongs to chapter 24, the last one) contains the explanation, what are you reading this for?
|
MeanMrs.Mustard
|
837
| 1 |
Pinkie Pie,Random,Sad,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Granny Pie
|
Pinkie Pie remembers her first imaginary friend.
|
complete
| 15 | 2 |
<p>When Pinkie Pie wakes up one night, she has trouble laughing. She remembers how Granny Pie taught her how to laugh, long ago when she still lived on a rock farm. <br/>I wrote this because the Pinkamena story from "The Cutie Mark Chronicles" didn't match up with "Giggle at the Ghostly." If the writing style seems disjointed (at least, I think it does), it's because I was trying to evoke Pinkamena.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-13T16:24:58+00:00
|
2011-09-13T16:24:58+00:00
| 2,498 |
Pinkie Pie woke up. It wasn’t the way she usually woke up, when she sprang out of bed, shook the tangles out of her poofy mane, and bounced downstairs to the shop at Sugar Cube Corners, ready to bake something delicious. It was an unusual way, when she opened her eyes in the dead of night and couldn’t get back to sleep. She felt small and scared and alone.
Pinkie heard Granny Pie’s voice.Remember, Pinkie. Remember what you do when you're scared. “Hee hee.” The attempt to laugh sounded fake, weak, and forced. “Ha ha.” That sounded even worse. No matter how hard she tried, Pinkie couldn’t laugh for real.
Why should I listen to you? Pinkie thought. You’re not even real.
_____
It was true. Granny Pie had been the first friend Pinkie Pie made. She had made her when she was a filly, back when she was still Pinkamena Diane Pie. It had been a scary, lonely night like tonight. Her parents had tucked her into her bed in her room, which wasn’t a very nice room to sleep in. The sheets were gray, the pillow wasn’t puffy, the walls were gray and bare, and the windows had no curtains. Shadows from the rocks and dead trees outside would shine onto the wall, and Pinkamena would whimper and try to hide under her covers.
She saw a different shadow on the wall. This one looked sort of like a pony. Pinkamena imagined a pink pony with a white, poofy mane. She was old—even older than her parents. But she looked like Pinkamena, because she was pink. Pinkamena had always felt like her parents weren’t her real parents. This pony looked like she was actually related to Pinkamena. But she was old, so she must be her grandma. Granny Pie. That was her name. Granny Pie had a weird expression on her face. Pinkamena recognized it as an expression she often made during the day, only to be chastised by her parents. After a while, Pinkamena stopped making the expression. Actually seeing somepony else smile was strange.
“Don’t be scared, Pinkie!” Pinkie? It sounded like it was short for Pinkamena. But on the farm, nopony ever called anypony else by anything except their whole name. Ruth Ellen Pie. Rebecca Alice Pie (or Mother). Byron James Pie (or Father).
“I can’t help it, Granny Pie! The shadows on the wall are so scary!”
“Oh, Pinkie. I’m just a shadow, you know. Am I scary?”
“No. But you talk to me. The other shadows don’t.”
“Pinkie, the shadows can’t hurt you. If you’re scared of them, that means they win. Laugh, and everything will be better.”
“Hee hee.” It wasn’t working. Pinkamena didn’t know how to laugh. Not really. Funny things weren’t allowed on the farm.
“That was a good try! I’m sure that the first time I tried to laugh, it was just as shaky and quaky and whimper-tastic as that!”
“Really?”
“No. But did I make you feel better?”
Pinkamena giggled.
“See? You’ve got the hang of it!”
“Thanks, Granny Pie.” Pinkamena, no longer afraid, was able to fall asleep without a problem. Every night, Granny Pie would pay Pinkamena a visit. She would tell jokes, make funny faces, and tickle Pinkamena. Pinkamena would try to help Granny Pie in the same way she helped her. She showed her her new cutie mark and poofy hair that matched Granny Pie’s, made up jokes of her own, and gave names and voices to the particularly scary shadows on the wall. Soon, Pinkamena had no problem laughing. And she started calling herself Pinkie.
_____
Pinkie finished remembering. Granny Pie isn’t real. She’s imaginary. Lots of fillies have imaginary friends. I’m too old for that silly-filly stuff.
Pinkie, said Granny, in a more serious voice, you’re never too old to laugh. And you know you’re never too old for imaginary friends when your regular friends are unavailable.
And Granny Pie started showing Pinkie the tricks she used to teach Pinkamena how to laugh. After less than an hour, Pinkie Pie was back to giggling, chuckling, snickering, and plain old laughing. When she felt better, Pinkie was ready to finally go back to sleep.
Thanks, Granny Pie, thought Pinkie as she fell asleep.
|
Deadpool
|
838
| 1 |
Crossover,Adventure,Comedy,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Amazing Spider-Mane
|
What happens when Peter Parker is a pony born and raised in Manehattan? Here's your answer.
|
incomplete
| 9 | 6 |
<p>While attending the annual Science and Magic Expo at the Equestrian History Museum, young Peter Parker's life goes through a tremendous, unexpected change. But whether it's for better or for worse is anypony's guess.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-10-04T17:00:34+00:00
|
2011-10-04T17:00:34+00:00
| 1,323 |
I'll be honest with you before I get started. If you're looking for a happy, joyful little story loaded with sugarplums and gumdrops, you should probably just turn around and leave right now.
Still here? Ok, I'll start with the basics. My name is Peter Parker. True, it's something of an unremarkable name for a pony, and everypony outside Manehattan seems to have these prestigious, meaningful ones, but you know what? I can't imagine a world where I'd possibly be named anything else, and I ain't arguing. I grew up here in Manehattan, raised by my Aunt May and Uncle Ben, whom I was left with after my parents died. The three of us never had much, but we got by, and it was always a loving roof we lived under.
They always pushed me to do well in my studies, and never one to want to let them down, always did my best. Don't get me wrong though, unlike most ponies, I honestly enjoyed learning in school, and it was science I excelled at. And I say science as a generalization, because I got really immersed in just about every scientific subject that there is. Chemistry, microbiology, physics, you name it, I studied it. It was actually my first A with a science project (a complete scale model of a calcium chlorate molecule, if you don't mind me pointing out), that I wound up with my cutie mark; the ever classic nerd's microscope!
Yeah, that’s just about the all the perks of being a young genius, but then there’s my life at Midtown High. Here, let me paint you picture of a typical day in the life of young Peter Parker and tell you about the day before the big class field trip.
It started off decent enough, actually. Aunt may came and woke me up, I fumbled around for my glasses on the nightstand, and in forgetting how well tucked in the blankets are, tripped and fell as I got out of bed. Another great start to another great day!
After I washed up, I went downstairs for breakfast. Monday morning is blueberry pancakes for breakfast, and it made Mondays much more bearable for everypony.
“Well, Pete, excited for the big trip tomorrow?” Uncle Ben asked, his usual calm smile on his face.
“Of course he is, Ben, look who you’re asking!” Aunt May grinned and gave him a playful swat on the shoulder.
“Bet he’s looking more forward to seeing that pretty unicorn running the whole thing than he is to learn!” He had a tendency to tease me over the fact that I was a fan of Twilight Sparkle, even if I only ever mentioned it was just because she was an incredible scientist and sorceress (even though I wasn’t very big on magic). Sure, she was my age and all, but I never bothered putting much thought in that direction. Like somepony that well known would give a nerd like me the time of day.
After breakfast, I was headed off to school. Eddie wasn’t at the corner we usually met up at on the way to school.
“Aw nertz.”
Eddie Brock was the long running best friend and brother-from-another-mother. His parents and mine pretty much raised us side by side for sometime, our fathers both brilliant scientists who worked for the same company. When it came to our schoolwork, he was almost as good as me. Eddie usually kept up with me on the report card, but anytime he ever hit a snag, I’d always lend a hand. But, he’s always had me beat at sports. Dude’s always been built like an athlete, and he’s mostly been around to give me a hand whenever the usual meatheads like Flash Thompson came around looking for a nerd to stomp on. I say mostly, because he tends to have to miss school for regular doctor appointments. I assumed today was one of them. What struck me as strange, though, was that he didn’t seem to want to talk about what they were for. I asked once, sure, but he went and changed the subject faster than I could blink and didn’t even seem to realize I’d even asked. I didn’t bother a second time, knowing he’d say what those appointments were all about when he was ready.
Anyway, it was looking like I was on my own, today. This oughta be fun.
I made it to first period, geometry, with no problems, surprisingly enough. Actually, nopony ever bothered with me until later at lunch, when a hoof was stuck out and I fell face first into my scoop of chocolate pudding.
“Just couldn’t wait till you sat down to eat, could ya, Parker?” I don’t know what possessed me to say what I said next. Must have been when I finally got sick of the guy.
“Very good, Flash. Did it take you all weekend to come up with that? Hope your head didn’t hurt too badly, all that thinking you probably had to do.” Oh crap, what did I just say? I guess with all the years of that treatment, I was pretty fed up by this point, but I’ll admit, it was still a pretty dumb thing to say to somepony who could bench press my weight with one hoof.
“Getting pretty bold, there, Parker.” Oh well, might as well go for broke, given how deep in it I am now.
“I’m surprised you even know the meaning of the word, or any, for that matter.” He looked a bit displeased. I shut my eyes and waited for the inevitable hoof to the chocolate coated face.
“There a problem here, Flash?” I looked up and saw Eddie. Looked to me like the appointment got cut short. Couldn’t help but wonder who it was he was standing there with.
“It’s none of your business, Brock.” Is that a bead of nervous sweat, I see?
“Oh, I see some pea-brained moron about to lay in to my best friend, it becomes my business. Now, does this have to get ugly (well, uglier, with you already here)? Or are you going to do the smart thing for once in your life and just walk away? I mean, if I’m not mistaken, I believe you have a chemistry test to fail in about 15 minutes.” Without a word, Flash stomped his way out of the lunchroom.
“Thanks, Eddie…”
“What’re brothers for, right?”
“Well, not bad, teach, not bad at all.”
He turned to his friend with a cheesy grin on his face and motioned him forward.
“Who’s your friend, Eddie?” I asked, almost sure I’d seen him before.
“Pete, this is Harry. Harry, this is Pete.”
“… Harry? Wait, you mean like, Harry Osborn, Harry?” Of course. He’d been in plenty of photographs in the papers with his father, Norman Osborn, one of the wealthiest and highest paid minds in the scientific community. He was no Twilight Sparkle, but he was a pretty big deal.
“Not many other Harrys that Eddie’s been tutoring, last time I checked.”
“Well, Eddie never mentioned anything about tutoring you.” Eddie made money as by-the-hour tutor. I could only imagine what he’d be making with this.
“I figured it’d be a nifty little surprise. And judging by the look on your face, I’d say it was a good call.”
Yeah, he got me. Somehow he’d managed to hide the fact he was tutoring the son of somepony like Norman Osborn.
They explained away that Harry was in fact being transferred here into Midtown High. His father was there to spend some time overseeing the Manehattan branch of his company, and apparently was trying to appeal to get in a spot for some supposed new discovery of his at tomorrow’s big event.
Ok, so it wasn’t as typical a day as I made it out to be before, what with who I met that day, but the rest of it was about as normal as things got. Another status quo day for Peter Parker.
I can tell you’ve probably gotten pretty bored by now, so I'll get to why you're really here: to learn how I got my second cutie mark, and everything that came after. Yes, I say second cutie mark, because, well, I guess fate is just kind of funny like that. Let me start with the day that the life of Peter Parker went from a nice and simple flowing ride, to an erratic terror train conducted by a cock-eyed psychopony (metaphorically speaking).
You know that funny feeling you get when you wake up and just know that something is going to happen today that's just going to change everything you know and love?
No?
Me neither.
Sure would've been a nice warning if I'd had that feeling when I woke up that particular morning. This was the day my high school class was heading into a huge science and magic expo being held at the Equestrian history museum, and was actually being overseen and run by none other than Princess Celestia's star student, Twilight Sparkle! Needless to say, I was pretty eager to get there.
"Hey, Pete, why so glum?" Eddie sure does call ‘em like he sees ‘em.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, Eddie, I was miles away…"
"We're just about to climb the steps into our favorite annual tourist spot (free of charge for once), to look in on a huge array of new discoveries that'll probably change all of Equestria as we know it, not to mention possibly speak to, or at least see our idol, and you look like you just got an A-." He really has a way with words.
"I don't know Eddie, I guess the thought of that last part makes me kinda nervous… I mean, she's an absolute brainiac and-"
"You're not?"
"… I don't want to ask anything to make me sound stupid at her big Q&A after the all exhibits are revealed…" Can you blame me? I mean, I had a lot to ask. Unfortunately, I didn't actually remain conscious for anything other than the first exhibit we were led to.
Our tour guide (a pink pony who, if you ask me, seemed to enjoy being a volunteer tour guide a little too much to be considered what I'd call sane) brought us towards a tremendous cylindrical tank with a tree that seemed to have more spider webs in its branches than actual leaves, along with a rather pretty yellow pony with pink hair who seemed to be talking directly up towards the huge bulk of strands.
"First off, this is where my bestest friend Fluttershy looks after all the spiders that my other bestest friend Twilight has been casting all kinds of spells on to see if… um… wow, I guess I forgot what she was casting magic on them for! But I'm sure whatever it's for, it's really important and she could probably explain it a LOT better than I could!" I was getting the feeling she was only here to help out as a favor to her friend, who was apparently Twilight. Maybe I wouldn't look that stupid after all!
"Maybe you won't look that stupid after all, little brother!"
"Don't you think that's a little messed up, Eddie?"
"Oh, like you weren't thinking it."
"No!" Yeah, I'm a little ashamed to say.
"Anyone wanna come take a closer look at this little spider colony we have here?" the guide asked. I pretty much shot forward ahead of anybody. Or rather, I was the only one who wanted to actually get a good look at everything in the tank. If Eddie didn't have a thing about spiders, he probably would've been right there next to me.
I was only vaguely aware of the pony in the glass, Fluttershy, heading to the opposite side of the tank to talk to Pinkie, our tour guide. She sounded like she was worried about something, but I only barely acknowledged that there was anything wrong. I was pretty amazed at what I was seeing. All these different species of spiders going about their business in the treetop webbing was something of a show. Some working together to add to their home and singlehandedly carrying tremendous bundles of rotted wood into a refuse pile to the side of the tank, some seemed to actually be set up on smaller branches to determine what would break away and fall, apparently knowing beforehand just when it would break and leaping to safety with blinding speed!
I didn't even realize the tour group was leaving without me until Eddie called out to me. "Just a sec," I called back, and that was about all the time the loose spider needed. I couldn't tell ya why it felt the need to do what it did. Maybe it didn't like the cut of my jib. Maybe it didn't like that I was eyeing the pretty caretaker to his family's nest. Whatever the reason, it crept up just above my front right hoof without me realizing, and,
"It bit me! Augh! That spider bit me!" I managed to shake it off of me, and it crawled somewhere out of sight. I know a tiny set of fangs are going to hurt when they sink into you, but that bite really. Freaking. Hurt.
"Peter! Are you alright?"
"Little Parker's spazzin' out!"
"Oh no, did anyone see where the spider went?" Almost immediately, my head felt like it was burning. I mean, there are migraines, we've all had them, but then there's that skull-splitting pain that knocked me out cold in about 10 seconds flat. Last I could remember before I blacked out was everyone clamoring over me, screaming for help, and with the things I saw when I went under, I'm surprised I wasn't just flat out screaming.
“Peter? How do you feel?”
“Uncle Ben? Where am I? Why can’t I move? Why can’t I see anything?”
“Just stretch out your limbs, Peter, you’ll break free just fine.”
I was terrified at first, not having any idea what was going on, but hearing Uncle Ben’s voice was a comfort, and he always did seem to give the best advice. I did as he said, difficult as it was. I was wrapped up pretty tight in what I already knew to be a cocoon of spider webbing. I knew it, but I didn’t want to believe it, and when I got loose, any doubt I might’ve had pretty much died. I looked all around me and quickly realized I was back home, only… I could only barely recognize it under all the webs. They were just… everywhere, the whole house made into some kind of nightmarish nest.
“Uncle Ben?” I turned my head to where I had heard his voice come from, and unfortunately, what was left of him wasn’t hard to find. He was a hollowed out husk of a pony, stuck to the living room ceiling. His eyes were sunken far into their sockets, the shell of his hide withered and decrepit to the point where, at the slightest touch, it would have given in and crumbled away. I could barely stand to look at him out of a painful combination of absolute horror, disgust, and sorrow. What was done to his face, well… at the moment I could remember reading somewhere that when spiders feed, they start at the head, and apparently that was what the wound looked like on a pony of middle age.
I had to find Aunt May, get us out. As heart-wrenching as it was, I could do nothing for my uncle at that point, but maybe Aunt May was only cocooned somewhere, left unconscious as a snack for later. Just that thought alone made me snap out of my stupor at Uncle Ben’s state, but before I could get started on searching, there was a loud banging on the door. Somepony outside was trying to get in?
“Is anypony in there? This is the police! We’re here to help! Can you let us in?” The cavalry arrives, but way too late for my tastes.
“I-I-I can’t! The doors and windows are all w-webbed shut! I can’t get out!”
“Don’t worry, son! We’re doing our best to break down the door, just hold on!”
“Please, hurry! I need to find my aunt! Just please get in here and help me find her in all this mess!”
I didn’t have to look long though. I turned to see a bundle of webbing dangling from the ceiling right in front of me. I chose not to ask questions on how convenient it was, and opted to just rip away the threads as quick as I could. I reached forward and tore at the cocoon with my claws and… wait, claws? Yes, my hooves were gone, replaced by the pointed claws at the end of a spider’s legs. It was at that moment that the police burst in, the first screaming, “What in the name of Celestia?!”
“No, please! I-I didn’t mean to! I don’t even remember what happened!”
“Stop that thing before it kills whoever’s in there,” another had shouted. I didn’t know what else to do other than leave Aunt May to them. They could probably do more for her than I apparently had at that point. I scurried over to the stairs and shot straight up to my room before the cops could do anything. I shut the door and locked it, turning to the mirror on my closet door to get a good look at myself. Huge mistake. The only vaguely recognizable part of me I could see was that I still had a pony’s head. I say vaguely, because… hey, I’ll be honest, you’d have trouble picking your own face out of a line-up if it suddenly had four extra eyes and a prominent set of fangs protruding from the mouth. It’d probably be made all the more difficult if your head was sitting atop the body of a tremendous, red and blue spider.
The police were going to be plowing down the door to my room any second, so the only thing I could think to do was ram my way through the wall and head outside. Of course, the instant I did just that, I was met with a shouting from above.
“There it is, everypony! Come on!” I looked up to see a division of pegasus from Princess Celestia’s royal guard bearing down on me.
“Wait! Please, I didn’t mean to hurt anypony! Just please, stop!” My words fell on deaf ears, and they pulled in low, swords drawn, ready to kill the monster. I scuttled down the side of the house and out into the neighborhood, everypony screaming at the sight of me and heading for the hills. Every part of me said to just get as far away from civilization as I could, as fast as I could, and I really booked. I seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere when I turned around. No one seemed to be following, and I kept walking backward, scanning for anypony around, when I back into something with a loud tink! I looked to see what I bumped into and quickly realized it was a glass wall.
“What the…” I tried to find a way around, but soon figured out there was no way around. I had gone in an entire circle trying to find a way past the wall, and it hit me: I was trapped in a jar. It was when I looked up that the owner of my new prison closed the lid on it. When I saw just who it was, I couldn’t believe my many eyes.
“Peter? Whatcha got there?”
“It’s a spider Uncle Ben! I just found it and caught it!”
“Oh Peter, you know how your Aunt May hates those things. Why don’t you just let it go?”
“Aw, do I have to?”
“Sorry, little pony, but you have to. It’s only gonna cause one problem after another for us if you keep it. You know that.”
“I guess you’re right…”
“No, please! DON’T!”
That younger me, who had barely had his cutie mark for more than a week, gave the jar I was in a good, hearty toss, much to my dismay.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” And the jar shattered.
|
Deadpool
|
838
| 2 |
Crossover,Adventure,Comedy,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Amazing Spider-Mane
|
What happens when Peter Parker is a pony born and raised in Manehattan? Here's your answer.
|
incomplete
| 9 | 6 |
<p>While attending the annual Science and Magic Expo at the Equestrian History Museum, young Peter Parker's life goes through a tremendous, unexpected change. But whether it's for better or for worse is anypony's guess.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-10-04T17:04:55+00:00
|
2011-10-04T17:04:55+00:00
| 1,260 |
“Peter! Wake up!” And thankfully, I did.
“Finally! Jeez, never seen anypony hit the floor harder than that!”
“Eddie? How long was I out?” He scratched his head.
“Maybe about 15 minutes.” I looked up and saw him, and our tour guide, Pinkie,
“Thank Celestia! He’s awake! Hey Fluttershy, it’s ok, he’s awake now!” The spider
tamer, Fluttershy, seemed to be looking awfully guilty, standing just outside the crowd and her head hanging down. She walked over to us rather slowly, her eyes not meeting anypony’s. Sheesh, who could honestly stay mad at somepony like her, anyway? I noticed she had one of the spiders from the tank resting right on the tip of her nose.
“I am so sorry about that, sir. It’s my job to look after all the spiders for Twilight, and I didn’t think little Nancy would cause any trouble when she asked to be let out for a little while… at least she said she wouldn’t… Also, her mama, Sheila, would like to apologize on her daughter’s behalf, since we still can’t find her.” That was when the spider, erm, spoke up? I honestly couldn’t say, what with the short series of squeaks that it was letting out.
“Um… apology accepted?” It gave off one more squeak before going silent again. The tamer finally looked up and gave a small smile.
“Again, I’m really sorry about all this…”
“Well I-I’m feeling a lot better, now, so I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Pff, I’ll say…” Eddie piped up. I opened my mouth to say something to him when I saw none other than Twilight Sparkle herself making her way through the crowd. Eddie followed my eyes and, for once, he seemed to be at a loss for words.
“Please, if you could all just step aside, I’d like to talk to the pony who was just hurt.” Face to face with her, and everything and anything I wanted to ask seemed to have gotten sick of waiting, and vacated the premises.
“Are you ok? How do you feel? Do you need an ambulance? Where’s Rainbow Dash? She’s supposed to be ready to take anypony to the emergency room if something happened!”
“Sorry Twilight, I’m here! How’s he looking?” That was when the blue pegasus with the rainbow colored hair zoomed in almost out of nowhere. I noticed her eyes were looking a tad baggy.
“Napping again?”
“Yeah, my fault. I couldn’t help it, I just got so bored!”
“Well, now you might have something to do!” This Rainbow Dash pony ended up looking pretty guilty, but I really was starting to feel better, so I figured it best if I said something
“Look, Miss Sparkle?”
“You can just call me Twilight.”
“Ok, Twilight…” I think the fanboy in me was having a heart attack.
“… Look, I think I’m going to be ok. I remember I had a blinding migraine before I passed out, and it’s gone now… I don’t think anyone needs to make such a huge fuss.”
“Are you absolutely sure?”
“Well, if I’m wrong I’m sure she could get me to the hospital in no time at all.” Eddie seemed to finally regain his wits.
”Well, Peter, maybe you’d better head on home, just to be safe.”
“Wait, what? No way! I’ve been waiting all year to be here!” Twilight spoke again,
“Look, Peter, I’d have to agree with your friend. I can tell you’ve really wanted to come here, and I appreciate it, but it might be best if you went home.” Well, if someone who’s smarter than you is telling you what’s best for you, you should probably shut up and do as they say.
Later, after everything was said and done, I found myself hitching a ride home with Rainbow Dash. I guess she felt like she at least owed me that much, even though she ultimately wasn’t needed back at the museum.
“So, are you totally sure you’re feeling ok, pal?”
“Uh, yeah.” I only said it several times before we left, I neglected to add.
“There’s my house, you can set me down on the lawn.” And she did.
“It’s Peter, right?”
“Yes.”
“I can understand how bummed out you are not getting to stay. I mean, it’s not really my thing, but I can get not being able to really talk to someone you’ve wanted to meet for a while (you should’ve seen me at the Gala a while back, trying to get some attention from the Wonderbolts). And yeah, it was pretty obvious it was Twilight. That look on your face when she was talkin’ to ya wasn’t exactly hard to pick up on, even though I just woke up.” And with that, I think I turned just about every shade of red you can think of.
“Well, thanks for the ride…” She gave a simple nod and a smile and lifted back in to the air, but before she took off, she said
“You know, this might not be much in the way of encouragement, but I’m willing to bet you’ll get another chance to talk to her. And sooner than you’d think.” I looked up, slightly confused and asked
“What makes you say that?” She shrugged.
“Don’t know. Just a feeling I got. See ya around, Peter!” I waved as she left, then turned and headed back inside.
By now, Uncle Ben would still be at work, so that only left
“Aunt May? You home?”
“Peter? Is that you?” I heard her coming down the stairs, and when she turned the corner and saw me, the look on her face told me she’d sooner expected the royal sisters themselves to talk in the front door before I’d come home early from a big class trip like today’s.
“Peter, what happened? I would have never thought I’d see the day you came home early! Are you ok? Do you need to lie down? Sit, I’ll get the thermometer!” I told her all about what happened at the museum, the exhibit, the spider, and who it was that sent me home. I left out the nightmare.
“Oh, I’m sorry about what happened, sweetheart. I know not even Eddie was as hyped to be going to that big expo as you.”
“Yeah, but it’s not all that bad, I mean, given who I got to finally meet… brief as that was… And who knows,” Rainbow Dash’s words still fresh in my mind, “maybe I’ll get another chance to talk to her.” Aunt May smiled.
“Always look on the brighter side of things.” She got up and went to make dinner and I went up to my room.
After I pushed open the door and went to my desk to study for the semester’s finals, I felt a weird tug at my left hoof. I looked down and saw some kind of thread trailing back from it, to the door.
“What the…” I saw it, but after today, my head was already sick of anything and everything that had to do with spiders. Rather than risk Aunt May seeing and worrying about what might be going on, I shut the door. I looked at the soles of my hooves and couldn’t think of a thing to say, or how to react. I had a set of web spinnerets at the center of them.
What exactly was done to the spiders in the exhibit? All that tour guide mentioned was that Twilight had been casting different kinds of spells on them. That spider’s bite did something to me, and these spinnerets at my hooves must have just been part of it. I did a quick check at the mirror to make sure I was still pony-Peter, and not spider-Peter. Same number of eyes and legs, that’s a relief. Well, I had a whole day ahead of me to go and figure things out, might as well use it. Aunt May would be busy for a while, so I didn’t think I’d have to worry about her coming to check on me. I decided if I have a spider’s webs, then it’s time to experiment to see what else came from the spider, and the scientist in me was pretty hyped to find out. Quick stretch, a lot more flexible than I used to be, for starters. I put a hoof to the wall beside the window, and felt it adhere to the surface. Once I knew I could climb the walls, I must have crawled around the entire room 6 or 7 times. Once I got tired of that, I tried lifting the bed, frame and all, and had no problem balancing it on one hoof above my head.
As incredible as the discovery of all these new abilities was, I still had a question about it all: “What do I do now?” I only dwelled on the thought for a few minutes when I heard Uncle Ben come home. I headed straight to my desk to look busy, knowing he’d be up to check on me. I heard him step up the stairs and the door opened
“Before you ask, Uncle Ben, I’m feeling great.” He smiled and laughed
“Your Aunt May told me everything that happened. Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I am. Really.”
“Well, if your say so. Come on downstairs, dinner’s almost ready.”
The next morning, before I left for school, Uncle Ben stopped me.
“Let’s talk for a bit.”
“Sure, what about?” He rubbed his chin, I guess thinking about what to say.
“Well, Peter, I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while. Go ahead and sit down.” I did, wondering what it was all about.
“Son, do you know where you’re going in your life?”
“I think I have a pretty good idea, why do you ask?”
“It’s just… You know the whole story of Princess Luna, right?”
“Who doesn’t? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Well… I can remember that day she, as Night Mare Moon, escaped from the moon, wound up kidnapping Princess Celestia, all that mess. Things are better between them now, but things were also good between them 1000 years ago, too. That time ended when Princess Luna, in her jealousy, and becoming Night Mare Moon, had forgotten herself. She had lost her way, because of it, and the kind of power she had, a great deal of trouble had been caused by her, and she was banished for it.”
I scratched my head, still confused, “I’m not sure I understand where you’re going with this.”
“Peter, it’s just that, there comes a time in many ponies’ lives where things seem to just go wrong for them for one reason or another, and it can affect them and their loved ones on a grand scale. Princess Luna is a prime example of that. She was not evil. Celestia herself would attest to that. It was things happening to her beyond her control that, sadly, she couldn’t cope with, and she lost her way, lost herself, because of it. It goes to show you that kind of thing can happen to anypony, Peter. Now, you’ve only got 2 years of high school left. I’m sure you realize that, once you’re out, the real world comes into play, and it’s gonna throw you some pretty wicked curve balls. I know you’re a good, brilliant boy, and you’re bound for some tremendous success, but I want you to promise me something here and now: Stay on course, Peter. Promise me that, no matter what it is life throws at you, you’ll never lose sight of your goals in life, and most importantly, never lose sight of yourself. It’s a great deal of power you got, with that incredible mind of yours, and you remember what I always used to say: With great power…”
“There must also come great responsibility.” Words I’ll take with me to my grave.
“I promise, Uncle Ben.” He smiled and gave the kind of warm, heartfelt hug that lets you know somepony loves you dearly.
“Oh geez, I’ve held you up too long.”
“I think I can handle being 10 minutes early instead of 20.” With a chuckle he said
“Yeah, I know you tend to be a bit of a perfectionist, so get on out of here, quick!” I turned and headed outside, and I was at the sidewalk when he called out from the porch.
“Peter! Almost forgot to tell ya! I think we’re gonna go ahead and take a long overdue fishing trip this weekend! Sound good?” It had been a while since the last one, and even though I never caught anything bigger than a candy wrapper, there was never a fishing trip I didn’t enjoy.
“Sounds like a great idea!”
“Alright! We’ll discuss trip details when you get home! Have a good day at school, son!” I returned the well-wishing and went on my way. I never actually got to school that day, and we never got the trip we were looking forward to.
Now, I was originally planning to head for school, but the flyer I saw on the way was what threw that intention out the window. It was an ad for some big wrestling competition being held down at the lower east side of Manehattan. They were offering a hefty amount of money to anyone who can stay in the ring for three minutes with their best guy. We didn’t have much going for us as far as cash went, so I took this as the perfect opportunity to help put a little more in the bank. After all Uncle Ben and Aunt May had done for me throughout my life, this was the bare minimum, least I could do in return. The ad said they were looking for ponies with good, colorful costumes, so I galloped over to the old costume shop we used to stop at for every Halloween. I looked up and down the store for just the right costume, but none of the ones I saw really called out to me. I went around maybe 4 or 5 times before the old clerk at the desk finally spoke.
“You looking for anything in particular?” I didn’t feel the need to hide anything, so I told him what I had in mind. He looked at me like I just said I could talk to oranges or something, but paused to think for a moment, and went into the back room.
I waited for just a few minutes, when he came back out with it. It was a red and blue, full body costume, complete with a cover-all mask with blank, somewhat menacing white eyes.
“This and the other ones like it haven’t exactly sold very well, but I figured it might suit your needs well enough.” I took a moment to give the suit a good, in depth look, and knew that this was exactly what I needed.
“It’s perfect! How much do you want for it?” He paused for a second and simply smiled.
“Just go on ahead and take it. It’ll be my wishing you good luck with that little tournament you’re looking to get into. Celestia knows you’ll need all the luck you can get…” I figured hey, that must be a good sign, and besides, I knew something about me that he didn’t, anyway. I stuffed outfit into my backpack and booked straight out the front door.
It was about an hour later that I managed to get the building the competition was being held in. It was packed full of ponies looking to see some good fights, and the line for the sign-ups wasn’t too bad. Quick bathroom trip to slip on the costume and I was happily waiting in line soon enough (I completely forgot to see if it fit before I left the shop, so I lucked out that it did at all, I think. It was kinda tight, though). When I got to the desk, the lady there had a look on her face like a puppy was about to be stampeded over.
“Yes, I am seriously going for it.” Not saying a word, she simply shook her head and gestured for me to put my name down on the list. With that, I went to wait with the others waiting for a shot at the champ, Crusher Hogan.
Once it was my turn to go up, I was actually fairly nervous, and that announcer riling up the crowd wasn’t helping.
“Aaaaaand another one bites the dust! Crusher is just absolutely unstoppable today! Is there nopony who can stand up to this monster of a stallion!?” Funny he should say that.
“Perhaps it is the next challenger! Perhaps it is the pony standing behind me, right on the other side of this curtain! Perhaps he is the one who can survive the impossible!” He leaned over to the curtain to talk to me.
“What’s your name, buddy?” Uh-oh, I hadn’t thought of anything yet. All I could give him is the first thing that came to mind.
“Er, uh, the Equine Spider?”
“… Really kid? You’re gonna go out there calling yourself that?”
“I uh, I guess?”
“That is just… beyond terrible.” I didn’t argue, plus, he actually did me a favor when he called me up.
“And now, for your viewing pleasure… I present to you all… The Spectacular… The Amazing… SPIDER-MAAAAAANE!” On that note, I stepped out into a chorus of boos and hisses. I wasted no time as I made my way to the ring, my head held high, muttering to myself “I’ll show them… I’ll show all of them…” When I stepped in, Crusher wasn’t the least bit intimidated.
“Ha! Are you serious with this, kid?”
“As a heart attack.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll go easy on ya, just because I’m in a generous mood.”
“By all means, go ahead, if you think it’ll make me go any easier on you.” I wanted to goad him into really putting in an effort to hurt me, if only because I wanted to see the look on his, and the audiences faces when I put him down for the count. The taunt seemed to do the trick, probably because a big guy like him felt insulted for a little guy like me even thinking I’d have to go easy on him. The cheesy grin on his face faded pretty quickly, and he came right at me.
Just before he could reach to grab me, I did an easy somersault up and over him, with a simple smack at the back of his head. He came back around and tried it again, but I grabbed onto one of his hooves and used his momentum to flip him on his back. Before he could get back up, I lifted him up over my head, balancing him on one hoof before tossing him up several feet, and stepping aside to let him hit the floor with a loud smack. The crowd was just going berserk, unable to comprehend what they were seeing. I was getting into the spirit of it all, and turned away from Crusher so as to face the crowd and get them to cheer me on something fierce. I was only at it for a minute or two when this bizarre tingle in my head kicked and I could somehow see in my head what Crusher was about to do to me. He had gotten back up when I wasn’t looking, and managed to get a hold of a chair, looking to bash me at the back of the head with it. Before he could even get in close, I whipped around, put both front hooves forward and shot two streams of web at the chair, using them to yank it out of his grip and grab it myself. Holding the chair in my teeth, I leapt to the side of him and, before he could turn, I webbed his left legs together and tripped him up. I got in close, poised to give him a good couple of whacks when he cried out “Alright, I give! You win!” The referee called it, and put my hoof in the air, declaring me the winner. Being the winner of something like that for the first time in your life, you tend to feel a strange sense of unreality, like what you just accomplished didn’t really happen. I have to tell you though, what came soon after was something I wish had never happened at all.
“That’s it? The ad said-…”
“Three minutes to survive in the ring with my best pony. He gave in two.”
“So that gives you the right just give me a dinky little bag of chump change?” What can I say? He was a money-grubbing, two-bit crook, plain and simple.
“This… this isn’t right! You can’t do that, I won fair and square!”
“Says you. I don’t know how you did it, but I know you did something to rig that fight with Crusher. There’s no way you could’ve pulled off what you did without some kinda trick. You probably had some unicorn friend of yours out in the crowd helping ya, for all I know! And besides, it’s my money, I’ll do with it as I please. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like you to kindly get out of my face!” Without another word, I left the manager’s office, thinking my own hateful thoughts and barely acknowledging the stranger brush by me.
I was almost to the elevator at the end of the hall when I heard the shouting. I turned to see a gruff, rather mangy looking pony with a knife in his teeth and a plump bag hanging from his neck, running down the hall from a security guard, and the lowlife who ripped me off.
“STOP HIM! HE’S GETTING AWAY!” I understood the situation completely, and politely stepped to the side, letting him onto the opening elevator. Before the door closed, the thief looked over to me and simply gave a grateful “Thanks!” The guard kicked the elevator door and turned to me yelling “What’s wrong with you, you little idiot!? You couldn’t have tripped that little punk or something?!” He turned and headed for the door to the stairwell, presumably to cut the thief off at the lobby. The fight promoter simply looked over at me, some blood trailing down the side of his head, and gave me a bit of a death glare. I simply looked straight back at him and gave a smug smile and a nod. Soon enough, the elevator came back and I made my way out.
It was just after sunset that I had made it home. I was somewhat nervous at what Aunt May and Uncle Ben would have to say to me, since I didn’t doubt that they got word from school that I didn’t make it in, and getting in this late wouldn’t help matters. When I finally broke away from those thoughts and looked up, I saw there were several police ponies outside the house. I couldn’t help at chuckle to myself, seeing how far they’d apparently gone to try and find me after they got word. I went up to two of the cops out front and asked what the problem was, as if I didn’t already know. Turns out I didn’t.
“Sorry kid, but it’s none of your business, just go on home.”
“But I live here with my aunt and uncle! Where are they?” They looked at each other rather nervously, and the other one spoke up.
“You might want to have a seat on the porch, there…” I did as he said. This wasn’t about the fact that I was missing for the whole day. My heart was beating like a war drum, my thoughts racing at what might have happened.
“Officer, please just tell me what happened!”
“Please just remain calm, son. This may be hard for you to hear…”
“What happened?” It was then that I could hear Aunt May in the house. She was crying.
The officer sighed, and then he told me.
“Your house was broken into, just a couple of hours ago. There was a bit of a scuffle between the robber and your uncle… I hate to be the one to tell you this, but your uncle has just been murdered.”
|
Deadpool
|
838
| 3 |
Crossover,Adventure,Comedy,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Amazing Spider-Mane
|
What happens when Peter Parker is a pony born and raised in Manehattan? Here's your answer.
|
incomplete
| 9 | 6 |
<p>While attending the annual Science and Magic Expo at the Equestrian History Museum, young Peter Parker's life goes through a tremendous, unexpected change. But whether it's for better or for worse is anypony's guess.</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-27T14:21:43+00:00
|
2011-09-27T14:21:43+00:00
| 1,045 |
Whoever he was, he was going to regret what he did. When I caught up with him, he’d be sorry he stabbed an old pony in cold blood. It wasn’t just anypony, but my Uncle Ben, the kindest old pony I knew. Because of this burglar, he was gone.
After the cops told me what happened, I went inside to hug Aunt May. I’d never seen her look so heartbroken and distraught in my life. We didn’t say a thing, just held each other as we both wept for Uncle Ben. After a few minutes, I went up to my room, saying I’d like to be alone and cool my head. I shut the door, opened the backpack and had the suit back on within a matter of seconds. I wasn’t going to just sit and wallow in my grief. Not as long as I had the power and the will to see that my uncle’s killer got what was coming to him. I opened the window and crawled down the side of the house, sticking to the shadows. Luckily, before I could take off in a blind, unguided search, I heard one of the cops mention that the burglar had fled east and was holed up in an old bayside warehouse.
I galloped a lot of the way there, brushing past a lot of confused looking ponies, but as fast as I could move now, it wasn’t quite fast enough for my taste. It was when I ducked into an alley to catch my breath and looked up that I had a much better idea. I scuttled straight up the side of the building I was leaning against until I was at the roof. I looked over the edge, watching the direction that the police were headed. What I was about to do was probably suicidal, almost abysmally stupid, as I hadn’t even thought to see if it would work yet. I took some steps back, closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath, and exhaled. I repeated those actions two more times, then broke into a run and leapt off the edge.
I allowed myself to plummet for just a second, feeling the wind breeze past my head, before I put out my right forehoof and shot a stream of webbing toward one of the buildings in front me. I felt the vibration of the web’s impact on the wall, held on, and allowed it to swing me forward, with the momentum of my fall being redirected and sending me flying once I let go. It was definitely a rush like no roller coaster could ever hope to quite reach. The fact that I am protected from falling to my death by only my abilities kinda helped that feeling along. With having invented the webswing as my own means of getting around, I quickly snapped my attention out of my new discovery, and back to the reason I was out: Get a hold of Uncle Ben’s killer before the police could, and make him pay.
It wasn’t long before I made it to the warehouse. There were a few cops already on the scene trying to get him to surrender peacefully, but didn’t seem to be having much success. Sneaking into one of the broken side windows was no problem at all. He was on the third floor, and not very difficult to find, with all his nervous stomping from window to window, watching Manehattan’s finest gather outside. I slowly crept up towards him from the ceiling when he came to rest between some large crates, hiding from the floodlight shining into the room.
“You might hide from them…” I dropped, kicking the knife from his teeth (and with some of his teeth, actually) and towards the wall, webbing it up once it landed. “But there is nowhere in the world you can hide from me.”
He was having trouble talking through the blood he was spitting up and the teeth he had just lost, but I understood what he said well enough.
“No, please, just let me go! Don’t hurt me!” The pleading only served to make me beyond livid.
“Don’t hurt you? Don’t hurt you?! YOU JUST MURDERED MY UNCLE, YOU WORTHLESS PILE OF GARBAGE! GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON I SHOULDN’T BREAK YOU LIKE A TOOTHPICK RIGHT NOW!” I only heard him whimper.
I grabbed him and flung him straight into the ceiling above my head. I caught him when he fell, and dragged him by the tail to a window, which I smashed open with his face. It seemed to have gotten the attention of whoever was working the floodlight, because they shined it straight at us, and I got a good look at him. Suddenly, it was like somepony just held me down so a herd of buffalo could trample my head into the dirt.
“No… Not you… My fault…” And that was all I could bring myself to say. It was the thief from before, the one I could have stopped, but didn’t. Just to get some smug sense of satisfaction, I had let him go. Uncle Ben was dead because I couldn’t see past my own selfishness enough to simply stick out a hoof and trip some crook. Hearing the cops making their way up the stairs snapped me out of my stupor long enough to cocoon the thief to the wall and slip back outside unnoticed.
I was about halfway home when I stopped to rest on a rooftop overlooking the city. I pulled off the mask and promptly broke down, tears clouding my vision. What had happened tonight was my fault. “How could I have let this happen?” I thought, “Uncle Ben would be sitting comfortably with Aunt May in the living room by now if it wasn’t for me! This power of mine… it should have been what saved him…” And the words he had told me that very morning came back into my head. “Not to lose sight of myself, he said. And that with great power, there must also come great responsibility…” His words always made sense in their own way before, and I understood them well enough, but they never hit me with the kind of clarity that they had at that moment. I looked down at my mask. I just stared it, with a solemn thought in my head, growing in its own intensity: “Never again. For as long as I live, and as long as I have this power, I’ll never stand by the wayside and let any evil befall anypony else ever again, no matter what it takes.”
I stood up and looked down to survey the suit once more, and that was when I saw it. “That wasn’t there before…” There’s no logical explanation I could conceive, no plausible reason I could even begin to muster. How could I? I mean, it was just a suit I picked up in a costume shop, not an actual part of me or anything. But there it was, as plain as Princess Celestia’s day: A bold, red spider resting on the blue flank of the costume. As strange as it seemed, it looked as though that Spider-Mane had earned himself a cutie mark.
That very weekend, which should have been a nice, fun fishing trip for the three of us, was when Uncle Ben’s funeral was held. After the service, and the other mourners had left, Aunt May and I stood beside each other at the foot of the grave. It was there that I silently made a promise to him that I would do right by him, not matter what it took, and the both of us bade him goodbye. Later in the night, after Aunt May had gone to bed, I was back in the suit. I wasn’t much in the way of a tailor, but I had done the best I could to add to the suit a bit. I had lined the red exterior with an intricate web pattern, and fixed a black spider to the chest. I figured it would help get the message across what I was all about, and when I looked in the mirror, I knew this was how it should be. Satisfied, I headed out into the night.
It wasn’t long before I happened upon a young mare getting her purse snatched from her. The punk who tried to run off with it didn’t get far, of course. From a street lamp, I caught him with a line of web and zipped him back towards me. An easy conk on the head was enough to knock him out as I let him dangle from the neck of the light. The lady ran up to find her purse resting at the base of it, and I had left a polite note inside that read “Courtesy of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Mane!” So it began.
The following month was when all of Manehattan steadily became more and more aware of Spider-Mane’s existence. From random muggings in the night, to a full blown bank robbery, I was there to put a stop to them all and keep everypony out of harm’s way! I never gave anything less my absolute best and, granted, some folks were more grateful than others, but I knew I was doing the right thing. But you know, there really are just some whom you just can’t convince, no matter what you do. The newspaper I picked up on the way to school proved to me just that.
The front page story was of me, the headline reading “Who Is Spider-Mane?” The story itself read as some slanderous drivel, claiming I was some kind of criminal, that I was no better than any of the scumbags I’d caught for the police. Oh, and speaking of the police, they’d put out a warrant for my arrest. “What the…?” was my reaction to the artist’s rendering of me that I saw at the end of the article, portraying me as some kind of equinoid spider-monstrosity. Not what I’d seen in the nightmare before, that would have been weird. No, the drawing I saw was just downright silly. “Well, at least they got the colors right…” Below that was an offering of reward money for anypony who could bring in any decent picture of Spider-Mane to the Daily Bugle, the place who printed this rag I was reading, and practically felt the idea bulb click itself on in my head. I had a camera that had some decent quality, so I brought it with me on patrol once the sun went down.
I found a neat little group of 5 thugs who’d fled from a jewelry store they’d broken into. I followed them into an alley, set the camera up on a fire escape with the automatic timer set, and then laid into the lot them. I managed to get some pretty good shots, in my opinion: two heads bashed together, one guy flipped onto his back and webbed to the ground, another winded with a kick to the stomach, and the last one, the leader, I assumed, just sort of gave up and I stuck him to the wall (I had a good laugh at that guy's expense). The camera got it all. I had each picture printed the next day after school and headed over to the Daily Bugle to get my reward money. I gave them all a good look over before I went in their front doors and got a bit of an ego boost from how good they looked. No way could anypony look at these shots and not like them!
“Kid, these are absolute crap!” So spoke J. Jonah Jameson, my new favorite pony in the whole world.
“I-I’m sorry?” Needless to say it was kind of jarring to hear.
“You ought to be! I could get better shots from a blind monkey! And I wouldn’t even have to teach it how to use a camera!” Ow, my ego!
He set aside the folder and looked at me. “I’ll give ya 100 bits for the lot of them.”
“Uh, that sounds kinda low…”
“Take it or leave it, kid, it makes no difference to me! Just hurry up and make your mind if you want it or not, I got a business to run!” I took the money. It was better than nothing, and I just couldn’t argue with what he said next. “Great, now get outta my face. I expect to see you back in here same time tomorrow with some new and better stuff!” I did a double take, unsure of what it was I’d just heard him say.
“Tomorrow? What are you talking about?”
“Oh, you don’t need an afterschool job, huh? Great! I can get somepony else with a better work ethic!”
“NO! Uh, if that’s an honest to goodness job offer, sir, I’ll gladly take it!"
“Fantastic. Talk to Ben Urich on your way out, he can probably give you a better camera to work with.”
“Will do.” I couldn’t believe my luck!
“What, you’re still here? Beat it!”
That really wasn't so bad, all things considered. When I left Jameson’s office, I asked around for Urich and got pointed towards his desk.
“Can I help you, kid?” He seemed like a cool, friendly kinda guy.
“Uh, yeah, Mr. Jameson said you might be able to help me out with a new camera?”
“Why? Wait, don’t tell me. He’s actually hired you on as a photographer?”
“It seems that way.”
“Got him some Spider-Mane pics, I assume?”
“Best I could.” I still say they weren’t that awful.
“Must have been with some right shotty equipment if Jonah’s sending you my way for one of my spares.” He opened a drawer stocked with a few of his extras, all looking somewhat more expensive than mine.
“You keep a whole desk drawer full of extra cameras?”
“Kid, I’m a reporter. I’ve made my career on being prepared for anything and everything, and keeping more equipment ready than is probably necessary. The drawer just below that one’s full of spare tape recorders, too.” That certainly made sense to me. With the new camera in tow, I headed back home to give Aunt May the good news.
“This is wonderful news, Peter! It’s good to have gotten yourself an afterschool job! And with a newspaper? That sounds like it should be very exciting! How’d you get a job with the bugle, anyway?”
“Well…” this part I was nervous to share. “I went and brought them some pictures of Spider-Mane…” I think that’s when the reality of what might come of being a photographer for a newspaper really hit home with her. She went as pale as a ghost.
“What?! When did you go and get… Peter, I don’t think I’d want you going to work for them if it means you’re going to be doing risky things like taking pictures of that criminal!”
“Aunt May, please, I’ll be fine. Look he’s not some lowlife thug or anything. He’s out there doing everypony a favor. He didn’t even seem to mind me getting pictures of him for a paper whose editor in chief isn’t very fond of him. Besides, you have to admit we could probably use the extra money!”
“Peter, no, this could be dangerous! I don’t want you putting yourself at risk just for the sake of our bank account!”
“Look, I can understand why you’d be worried… It’s only been a month since we lost Uncle Ben…”
She started to tear up. “I don’t want to lose my nephew, and especially not so soon after my husband.”
“I promise, Aunt May, you won’t lose me too.” I gave a smile and a chuckle. “I’m a big boy now, I can handle the other kids trying to take my lunch money.”
She smiled back and gave a mighty powerful bear hug, as if she figured that, if she didn’t, she’d never get another chance. Bless her heart. But I couldn’t help but think, if me being a photographer bugged her this much, how would she react to finding out just who Spider-Mane was?
“You have my blessing, Peter, but please; be careful out there.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Aunt May. I got a feeling I’ll be able to handle whatever comes my way.” You just gotta love that naiveté in today’s youth.
In any case, it seemed like I was all set in my life; that I’d started doing what I was meant to do all along. Things were certainly different, now, and a little more complicated than I was used to, but it didn’t seem like anything could happen to make things more complicated.
Elsewhere, in the Ponyville library, a very ecstatic little purple dragon named Spike leapt all around the room wearing a mock Spider-Mane outfit he’d made, trying to emulate the Manehattan hero whom he’d become a huge fan of. The librarian, his best friend Twilight Sparkle, simply rolled her eyes and smiled as she read a fantasy novel that was just donated that day.
“I don’t care what anypony says, Twilight, there’s no way a guy like Spider-Mane could be just another criminal. You know he stopped a bank robbery all by himself? A lot of people said he was working with them the whole time, but come on, he beat them all down and didn’t even take a penny!”
“I agree. I sincerely doubt anypony who’d go out on a limb for others like that is much of a criminal.” “Even if he’s wearing an outfit like that,” she heard her friend Rarity’s voice say in her head. She couldn’t help but laugh at the thought. She put the book aside. It did strike her as odd, however, that this Spider-Mane had sprung up so soon after the incident at the science and magic expo she’d hosted. The memory of the pony who’d been bitten by one of the many spiders she’d experimented on was still fresh in her memory. She broke from that train of thought when she realized how late it was. She was about to tell her assistant that it was time for him to go to bed when he’d spewed out a puff of green flame. It was a new letter from her to her straight from her mentor, Princess Celestia.
“Ugh, for a second there I thought I was gonna puke.”
“With all of your jumping off of bookcases and shelves it’s a wonder that all you spat up was a letter from the Princess.” Spike gave a sheepish smile as he readied himself to write Twilight’s reply once she finished the new letter, which read:
My Most Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle,
There is a bit of a matter over in Manehattan that I’ve gotten rather curious about. I believe you must realize I’m talking about this Spider-Mane fellow. I’d like you to head over to Manehattan to look in and investigate. I want to know more about Spider-Mane, and there’s only so much the local newspapers can tell me, so I’m asking you to learn more. Of course, I’d not send you alone; I’d like it if each of your friends went with you to keep you company, and to lend you any sort of help they can. I’ve arranged for a fairly spacious house for the six of you to share in one of the residential areas. Let me know if you think you’re up to this, and if you’re not, I understand.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia
“Well, of course I’d be up to it, as long as we can all go together. Well, Spike, looks like we’re off to Manehattan!” No response. “Spike?” She looked over to find him out cold where he stood. The unicorn simply shook her head and smiled and carried him off to bed.
She can send a reply to the princess in a morning, and she might be pleased to hear that her student already has a good idea as to just who Spider-Mane may be.
|
Raefire
|
839
| 1 |
Rarity,Spike,Sweetie Belle,Twilight Sparkle,Comedy,Dark,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic,Gore
|
Generosity
|
Generosity is a double-edged sword. Psycho!Rarity. Grimdark.
|
complete
| 10 | 6 |
<p>Generosity is a double-edged sword.</p>
|
mature
|
2011-09-13T23:51:51+00:00
|
2011-09-13T23:51:51+00:00
| 1,486 |
Generosity
by Raefire
"Augh..." Spike woke up groggily in the dark. "Where am-"
"NO! PLEASE! NO! I'LL-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" The bloodcurdling shriek shocked the young dragon fully awake. As his eyes began to adjust to the dim light-
THWACK! Fluttershy's decapitated head landed on the ground directly outside the slightly open door.
"AAHHHH!" Spike recoiled from the bloody horror, backing into the center of the room.
"He's awake! I think he saw you do it!"
"What? Oh, dear! I'd hoped he stay unconscious until this was over!"
Spike looked around, trying to find the source of the voices. "WHO ARE YOU? IS THIS A JOKE?"
"Oh, it's no joke."
He didn't need the light now. He knew exactly who it was. And it made him all the more terrified.
"Come here, darling. I've found a way you and I can be together forever – just like in your dreams!"
"NO! NOT LIKE THIS! NOT LIKE THIS!" His attempt at running away didn't get him very far, as he was wrapped in a magical glow and pulled in the other room, his claws dragging a futile trail in the dirt as he tried to resist. "NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The door slammed shut, muffling the horrors that soon occurred behind it.
My dearest, most faithful student, Twilight,
Have you heard from Spike or your other friends who are on vacation? It can be lonely without your friends around. But they will be back soon, don't worry. I don't know if the same can be said for Prince Blueblood. I sent him to apologize to Rarity after that horrid affair at the Gala and I haven't seen him for weeks! But he's probably lying low after being embarrassed so publicly. He'll show up again.
Speaking of Rarity, please let her know that I shall be delayed until late this evening for my appointment with her regarding the outfits for the next Gala. Tedious Royal business, I'm afraid.
Take care!
-Princess Celestia
Twilight read her mentor's letter with a knowing sigh. It was boiling hot outside, and all her friends were on vacation except Pinkie Pie (then again, Pinkie Pie was always on vacation, it seemed) and Rarity, but both ponies were too busy with their jobs at the moment to hang out. She had her reading, but even that got boring after a while. "Well," she grumbled, "at least I'll get talk to Rarity today..."
"Why, Twilight! What a splendid surprise!" exclaimed Rarity as the purple pony entered her shop. "Pardon the drawn shades – dreadfully hot outside, I'm afraid."
"Hi, Rarity. Oooh! I love your new bag! Are those faux dragon scales?"
"Why, yes!" Rarity huffed the bag back up onto her shoulder. "I think it looks quite fashionable for this time of the year. Anyways, you must see my new line of coats!" Rarity dashed into the backroom.
"Oh, no, I don't have any money...I'm just-" Before she could blink, Twilight was wearing a gorgeous white winter coat. She found herself temporarily marveled by its beauty. "Oh my...Is this leather?"
"Mhmm! I just got a shipment in last week!"
"Well, it's...very nice – but I'm just here to deliver a message I got from Princess Celestia. She won't be able to make her appointment with you about the next Gala until late this evening. Royal business."
"Oh, I see. Thank you for letting me know, Twilight."
"Also, out of curiosity – have you seen Prince Blueblood lately? Princess Celestia said she sent him to apologize to you a few weeks ago for his behavior at the last Gala, and he never came back."
"Of course I have! You're wearing him right now!"
"...Huh?"
WHAM! Before Twilight could comprehend anything more, she was knocked out cold from behind.
"Uhhh..." moaned Twilight, groggily opening her eyes. Wherever she was, the light was dim. "Wher-"
She couldn't move. She looked down.
She was in a chair bolted to the ground, her hooves locked in heavy iron manacles. "W-What is this?"
"Hrm? Oh, sorry, darling. I'll be with you in moment." Rarity dabbed her face with a pale lime green sponge at a sink just off to the right of the chair. "My – Granny Smith's hide may not have been suitable for any clothing purposes, but dilled if it doesn't do wonders for exfoaliation!"
"Rarity? Where am I? Why are you wearing a raincoat? WHY AM I MANACLED TO A CHAIR?"
"Of course, it does seem rather pointless for me to be worrying about exfoaliation right about now," Rarity continued, "but there are some things in a lady's daily routine that cannot be ignored! Right?"
A chill was slowly crawling down Twilight's spine. "R-Rarity? What's going on? W-Where am I?"
"Where are you?" Rarity turned off the sink. "Why, you're on vacation of course!"
The lights got brighter – revealing a drying rack in the room's back right corner, stocked with skinned hides of very distinctive colours: Pale cyan, bold orange, pale amber yellow, and a larger crimson hide.
"Just like all our former friends!"
The chill in Twilight's spine froze. "Oh, god..."
"You asked me what happened to Prince Blueblood earlier, didn't you? Well, get ready for a lot of exposition, because I'm going to tell you everything! Yes, Prince Blueblood did come to my shop, but apparently the jerk was so full of himself he couldn't face his embarrassment sober. He burst in like a lunatic that night, all drunk on some fermented apples he had cowardly eaten on his way into Ponyville. I tried to fight him off, but he got the best of me and pinned me down! And do you know what his idea of apologizing to me was? He tried to MOUNT me, Twilight! He forced himself on me! Now, before the Gala I would've welcomed his mounting with open hooves – but even if he hadn't been such a jerk, never in that kind of situation! Oh, it was horrible! So much worse than that Diamond Dogs ordeal! Whining wasn't going to stop him – so I acted on pure instinct! When he tried to kiss me, I bit down as hard as I could on his neck! Crushed his windpipe and tore his jugular to shreds!"
About to interject, the white unicorn's expression told Twilight staying silent was best for the moment.
"I believe it was in that moment that I finally snapped. I just stood there like a loony, staring at the body of a dead stallion, looking at the blood splattered all over my ruined store. I was so out of it, I didn't even notice my completely ruined mane! I was so terrified, hoping no one had heard the ruckus and wouldn't walk in on the scene. I had to get him out of there. And then my mind flashed back to the Diamond Dogs incident again – and I remembered the shop had a storm basement! Which is where we are now, if you hadn't picked that up. I'd almost completely forgotten about it, having gone down there once and been disgusted by its unfinished state. It's quite deep underground. I have no idea what kind of storm the ponies who built the place were expecting. But it's deep enough to hide the odors and sounds. Perfect for a body! So I dragged him down there, cleaned up my shop - and cleaned myself up once I realized what horrible shape my hide and mane were in! But I couldn't shake my mind off the feeling I'd gotten when I killed him. It was such a rush, a feeling without equal. And it amplified an urge in me – the want to see that oating stallion pay a price more severe than death for what he'd tried to do to me! So I went back downstairs, chopped his horn and head off off, gutted and skinned him, burned off his cutie marks, and turned him into a coat! Leather is the new trend in fashion, you know."
"But - What does that have to do with killing and skinning our friends?" Twilight finally sputtered.
"Do you really want to know the answer to that? Well, in the scuffle with him, my cabinet of financial records was knocked over. As I was re-sorting all the papers, I stumbled across something I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed before: I made those glorious Grand Galloping Gala dresses for the five of you, but none of you ever paid me! Okay, well, Applejack did, but I honestly never really liked her much anyways, so she had to go, along with the rest of Sweet Apple Acres – ugh, that was a chore, getting those three here without them suspecting – but the rest of you? Nary a response! I sent out another round of invoices to you all – still not a single Bit! How could you forget those gowns had a price? A lady does have bills to pay! Without those payments, I'm deep in the red right now! - So to speak..."
"What? Rarity, I never got-" The glare from Rarity cut off another interjection from her prisoner.
"Well, there is NO way my store is going to go out of business because of an accounting error! But then Sapphire Shores came in again a few weeks ago! She'd loved all the outfits I'd made for her, and asked if I had any winter clothes she could model – because as you know, all the winter clothes fashion shoots take place in the summer. I showed her the jacket I made from Blueblood, and she loved it! Except she wanted a bit more colour. I told her it would take me a few weeks, but that I could have six more wonderfully coloured leather coats for her by month's end. And THAT'S where you come in! You see, I can kill three birds with one hoof: The payment from Sapphire Shores will put me back in the green, I get more fame - AND you get to pay your debt by being killed and made into a coat by me!"
"Rarity!" Twilight's voice squeaked in fear. "I never got any invoices! I swear! I didn't know! The mailpony must've-"
"I would think you would've paid me first, Twilight, being the most organized and all. Pity!"
"You can still stop this now! I-I can get you a Royal loan if you wan-"
"Twilight, Twilight, Twilight...Save your strength. I'm far too gone to consider anything rational now. I've already killed everyone else. Cut off Pinkie's head this morning. Tried to pay in cupcakes. Hmph!"
"Y...You're-You're insane!" choked out Twilight.
Rarity chuckled. "Oh, how would Dash have put this? Ah, yes! I believe she would've said, 'Well, duh!' Of course I'm insane! Or does that actually make me not insane, the fact that I know I am insane?"
"Um..."
"Trust me, this plan is going through to completion. Maybe they'll discover everyone missing later, but by then I'll have burned all the evidence and will probably be so famous that I'll have closed up shop here and moved to Canterlot! They'll have no evidence to pin on me besides mere coincidence!"
"But – that raincoat! You don't like getting your hooves dirty! How on earth can you stand slicing-"
"Oh ho ho, Twilight! You know for a fact that I'm a little more lenient on the the whole "dirty hooves" matter since the slumber party! But still, you're right. The initial torture and killing I can handle – in fact, it's rather my favourite part of the whole operation now, if I do say so myself. But the actual skinning and preparation? Why, that's just too dreadfully messy! I can handle a bit of blood, but not a whole ponyful! Having to remove all the organs, collect the blood in buckets, that awful smell – Eugh! Doing it on Prince Blueblood that first time was enough! You wouldn't believe how many showers it took to get the blood out of my mane after that! And how much lotion it took to help my hooves get un-pruny after the showers! Thankfully, though, I have some dedicated help in that department now."
As if on cue, the door to the left of the drying hides opened, and a familiar young filly absolutely caked in fresh and drying blood emerged, dropping the blood-soaked Sea Serpent scale that was clutched in her mouth on the floor. The hideous smell of foul, rotting decay quickly assaulted the larger room. "Pinkie's done, Sis!"
"Wonderful, Sweetie! You can wash up and put her hide up to dry a bit later! Meanwhile, shut the door, please? I may have become slightly more accustomed to that smell, but I believe our company hasn't."
Twilight gasped. "Sweetie Belle?"
The filly turned around after closing the door. "Hiya, Twilight! Sorry for hittin' ya on the head earlier!"
"Y-you're h-h-h-helping her?"
"Yep!" Sweetie Belle cheerfully looked at Rarity. "I finally get to help my big sis without getting in her way! I also think I've found my special talent! Oh, and I get to eat a lot of delicious hearts, too!" She licked her lips. "Mmm...Pinkie's was quite tasty, by the way... Ooh! Can I have the honours, Rarity?"
"Of course, dear. Remember, you must be quick about it now. Don't give her a chance!"
"NO!" Twilight suddenly yelled, regaining some of her composure. "No! This can't be!" Her horn began to glow. "I'm going to let Princess Celestia know all about thiAIIIEEEEAAUUGHHH!" She shrieked as the most unbearable pain she had ever felt in her life suddenly shot through her body.
Sweetie Belle stepped back from the spurt of blood, the scale of the Sea Serpent back in her mouth. Twilight's severed horn hit the ground not a second later, landing with a disgusting THUCK.
"Very nice, Sweetie!" chimed Rarity. "A little faster on the draw next time, but you're getting better."
Sweetie Belle once again put the scale on the ground. "Thanks, Sis! You've sure taught me a lot!"
"MY HORN!" squealed Twilight, looking at the body part as she shook with a renewed fear, horror and pain. Rarity wiped the blood dripping down her head out of her eyes as she began to cry. "...Why?"
"Well, we can't let you magically call for help or teleport out of here, now, can we?" asked Sweetie.
Twilight started to shake more violently as Rarity closed on her. "What have you done to that filly?"
"Hoofholm Syndrome, I guess. She caught me slicing up Blueblood, I put her through a little bit of electroshock therapy, then let her eat his heart and she's been helping me slice and dice my – I mean, our – victims ever since! She's actually gotten quite good at it, I must say. And she is right. It would be dreadful if everypony found out about this right now! I just can't let that happen! Knowing your raw power, I'm not taking chances! Now, hold still. I need to make sure that wound doesn't get infected."
Rarity's horn glowed, and the chair Twilight was in was ripped out of the ground and forced up against the wall telekinetically as Rarity came within inches of the purple unicorn's face. Sweetie Bell put on dark glasses just her size small, and handed a larger pair up to Rarity. After Rarity put on the glasses, Sweetie hopped up on her sister's head, holding steady with her hooves a blowtorch Rarity also lifted with her magic. The blowtorch was pointed at the open wound where Twilight's horn had been...
...then turned on.
Twilight screamed as the flame seared the exposed flesh, thrashing her head to avoid the torch's flame as the pain seared through her body.
"STOP! PLEASE, STOP!"
"Twilight, darling, you simply must stop struggling. Do you want me to cauterize this wound or burn out one of your eyes by mistake?" Suddenly Sweetie Bell's horn glowed – and Twilight found her head forced ramrod straight against the wall. "Thank you, Sweetie. Now keep her still while I finish this." Rarity turned the torch back on, causing Twilight to scream all over again. "I am sorry about the pain. I'd normally have given you anesthesia – but poor Fluttershy was so resistant to it, I used up my supply on her! Poor dear – probably for the best that she couldn't feel anything when the time came, though."
After seemingly hours of pain, Rarity turned the torch off, clearing excess soot with a gentle blow of air – still knives to Twilight's pain-shocked nerves. "Ah. That should do it. Now for the cutie marks."
"I'll get the laser!" Sweetie Belle skipped off her sister's head and ran into the room down the hall.
"WHAT?"
"Honestly, Twilight – I thought you were smarter than this," Rarity huffed. "I can hide that horrid horn spot in a seam or something when I turn you into a coat, but the flanks are one of the most visible parts of the hide! Erasing them with an open flame is far too sloppy. I need something more delicate."
"A laser?"
"Well, yes, of course! It will still hurt like the dickens without anesthesia, true – but it will remove your cutie marks permanently without damaging your hide too much, or leaving any of those ghoulish char marks like an open flame would. Thankfully, those wonderfully generous ponies at the spa had an older laser setup they were willing to sell me at a discount. Ah, the perks of being a beloved customer..."
"Here ya go, sis!" Sweetie Bell returned, handing off the portable laser.
"Rarity, you need help! You don't need to go to jail! We can-"
"You can what? Get me locked up in a mental hospital and taken away from my sister for turning her into a little cannibal? No, no... I've already told you, Twilight, you are not going to convince me to change anything. In fact, you're only going to make me go slower while I remove your cutie marks."
Rarity turned on the laser and set to work. Twilight bit her lip harder and harder with each passing pulse of the laser as it wiped away her marks, drawing a trickle of blood as she tried to fight the excruciating pain. But alas, the pain was again too intense. She screamed once more, as Rarity grinned.
"There we go," the white unicorn pony sneered as Twilight grit her teeth in agony. "Let it all out..."
"Here, Twilight!" Sweetie Bell put a stick of something in Twilight's mouth. "Chew on that if you want to fight the pain! I think Apple Bloom made the best jerky sticks, but Scootaloo tastes good, too."
Twilight spit out the jerky, horrified. "What? No! GAHHH!" she screamed as the laser pulsed again.
Suddenly, the laser sputtered and died. "Oh, not again..." grumbled Rarity. "I thought I'd fixed it after last time. Stupid old piece of junk! Hrm... What to do, what to do... Ooh! Looks like another coat with pockets! Sweetie Belle, fetch me the fillet knife, will you, please? And a few buckets, too?"
"You got it!" In no time, Sweetie returned, with the buckets and fillet knife – which still dripped blood.
"NO! PLEASE! RARITY! WHATEVER YOU'RE THINKING OF DOING, PLEASE DON'T-"
Rarity drove the knife into Twilight's right flank and began slowly carving out the section with her cutie mark, taking great care to carve out a slice in the perfect pocket shape. Blood fell to the buckets.
"AHHHH! AHHH! OH GOD, STOP!"
Completely ignoring her, Rarity turned her attention to Twilight's left flank after she'd finished the right. She dug the knife in and sliced away, doing her best to match the pocket shape she'd just carved.
"NYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Finally, Rarity finished carving the left flank. She handed the two chunks of meat to Sweetie Belle. "Here you go, darling. Go put them on ice in your room for now, and you can have them for dinner later after you finish skinning Twilight.. But eat them in your room please? Princess Celestia's coming for a meeting with me later...Obviously, you can't be seen eating the haunches of her most prized student."
"Sure thing!" Sweetie Belle took a nibble. "Mmmm! You taste good, Twilight!"
Twilight was beyond broken now, bleeding and sobbing profusely. "Please...Let me go...Please..."
"Go put those fillets on ice before they rot, Sweetie! I'll finish this up while you do that."
Rarity raised the Sea Serpent scale with her magic as Sweetie Bell skipped upstairs. "Ah...Siblings."
Twilight looked up at her friend, her eyes soaked with tears, pleading desperately. "Rarity...Please..."
"You should have paid me, darling, Generosity goes both ways, you know."
"Please...I didn't know...Rarity – I beg you..."
"Goodbye, Twilight."
It took more than one cut to get the purple pony's head off, but Rarity was pretty sure Twilight was dead after the first blow. She sighed as the purple pony's head hit the ground, and looked around. "Oh, phooey! I've made more of a mess than I intended to again...I really must stop getting so into this."
After Sweetie finished her work and had put Twilight and Pinkie's hides up to dry, she looked at Rarity.
"...What?" asked Rarity, seeing the filly staring at her quizzically. "Ah! Swallow Twilight's heart first."
Sweetie Bell finished her snack. "Didn't you insist on making their Gala outfits free of charge?"
"Shut up, or I'll turn you into a coat, too. Now let's go wash up. Princess Celestia will be here soon."
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TakeshiAshirogi
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840
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Main 6,Crossover,Comedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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Imagin Friends
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What happens when the 6 mane girls meet their match... the 6 imagin boys
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incomplete
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<p>(crossover with Kamen Rider Den-O) One morning Twilight Sparkle wakes up and finds that she is not herself, well someone else is trying to be her. Time is on the line, as one's most precious memory is at stake. Tell me your wish. I will grant you any wish.</p>
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everyone
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2012-07-29T23:44:55+00:00
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2012-07-29T23:44:55+00:00
| 2,854 |
Imagin friends… what happens when the 6 pony girls meet the 6 Imagin boys…
===
There is a train that passes through time: the Denliner.
At which station will be the next stop? The past? The future?
Or will it be somewhere else?
Which way will the sands of time flow?
------
Twilight bolted upright, her chest heaving, her sweat-soaked mane clinging to her face. She struggled to stand, and then reflexively stripped the sheets off her bed – she sat there, trying to catch her breath - as she replayed the nightmare in her mind.
Her nightmare started with just an empty, silent darkness. The silence was then broken by an echoing sound, something like screeching metal - before it was abruptly silenced.
“Tell me your wish. I will grant you any wish.” a figure started to take form from within the endless abyss, a terrible bone-like smile. “You only have to pay with one thing…” a mysterious, but yet familiar, voice rang throughout her mind.
“‘A Wish?’” her thoughts wrapped around that one, single word. “I just wish I knew what these dreams meant.” the young mare didn’t know whether these images were harmless or if they were trying to warn her.
“Mmmm-Twilight…” the young mare’s ears perked to attention, she leaned over the edge of her bed, "i-is everything," the young voice yawned, "okay?"
“Yes, Spike,” Twilight smiled embarrassedly, looking down at her half-asleep assistant that lay on the floor, “sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Well, alright…” the wyrm sighed peacefully; his body struggled, as he tried to get into a comfortable position, “I’m going back to sleep…”
“Alright Spike,” Twilight giggled, “good night!”
“Good night, Twi~” were the last words he said; without warning he disappeared from one world and into his own. The room started to fill with his peaceful snoring.
“My silly, little dragon,” the young mare softly giggled. Twilight’s eyes traveled to the window looking up into the starry night sky. The moon wasn’t showing that night; Luna may have been in one of her moods - a strange sudden feeling started to wash over Twilight. The moonless sky pulled on her, making her feel like she could fall into the eternal abyss any moment, just like in her sleep.
“Was it just a dream?” the memories started to replay in her mind; they wouldn‘t leave her alone. What did they mean? Would something happen soon? Twilight just didn’t know what to make of the situation, she was scared. Suddenly the need of sleep washed over the young mare’s body as she let out a yawn.
“It was only a dream.” Twilight sighed – reaching for the blankets that had fallen - figuring that her paranoia was only caused by her lack of sleep. “Good night…” the purple unicorn whispered to no pony in particular. Placing her head back on onto her pillow, she could feel her mind pulling her back into her deep slumber.
What the young mare failed to take notice of was the dripping sand that fell from her comforter and off the side of the bed. It just accumulated there on the floor, waiting to make sure all were sound asleep.
“Looks like, from here on out, the climax will begin!” a large red eerie figured formed itself from the crystal of sand, his black eyes glancing once over the young unicorn’s sleeping figure.
===
“Stupid bird, he must have short term memory loss or something.” Spike sighed; trying his best to remove the owl from his mind as he carried his cup of tea. The young dragon had spent nearly thirty minutes telling the owl about what had happened with Twilight the night before - most of that time was telling the bird who the she was.
“That’s good,” the young dragon smiled warmly as he felt the warmth flow through his gullet; he was ready for his doughnuts. He quietly made his way to the table; he wished not to wake his friend from her slumber, her nightmares did enough of that already.
Spike‘s head snapped back to the sound of a large crash - the fifth doughnut hanging from his teeth - and his eyes narrowed toward the stairway that led to the bed room.
“Stupid legs,” The young mare mumbled, her legs giving out under her once more. “How the hell am I supposed to walk in these things?” Twilight’s red eyes glared down at the purple legs she was born with.
“Hey, Twilight.” The unicorn’s attention was brought forward, her eyes fixated on the scaly creature in front of her. “You okay?” Spike asked, taking another sip of his warm beverage.
“Yeah…” Twilight carefully took in the creature’s appearance. “I’m okay.” She walked closer to the dragon, a slight stumble in her footing. “What’s up with you?” She seemed more forward than usual.
“Um, nothing…” Spike replied, a confused look on his face. “You’re okay, Twi? You look a little different this morning." The dragonling studied his old friend's appearance.
Twilight's eyes glimmered under his gaze. Her mane was wilder, and tinted strangely, her usual lavender stripe a faint red. Her tail bore the same coloration. Her posture, usually prim and precise, held a casual slouch more fitting to Rainbow Dash, and her bookish charm had been replaced by an aggressive swagger.
“For the last time, I’m okay.” Spike watched as his friend rolled her eyes at him. “What’s that?” Something in the air caught the young mare‘s attention; the unicorn’s nose edged closer to the dragon’s hand.
“Um, it’s tea.” Spike answered; slowly bringing his cup closer to his body.
“Can I have some?” The young mare‘s eyes traveled back to the dragonling‘s face; a pleading look in them.
“Yeah, sure,” The little assistant smiled. “I’ll be right back.” With a quick spin, Spike walked back into the kitchen.
“Heh Thanks.” Twilight smirked to herself; her legs continued to cave under herself as she followed the purple lizard.
…
“Are you positive, that you are okay?”
“Yes, for the last time, I’m okay.” The young mare sat on the other side of the table of Spike - the unicorn’s tongue hung out of her mouth in concentration - having the hardest time holding her tea in her hooves. “Gyaaaah! That burns.”
“Well if you say so…” Spike sighed, carefully looking over his old friend; watching as the mare continued to spill the hot tea on herself.
“That’s some good tea,” The young mare slurped, the cup having finally reached her lips. “Give me another one!” she placed the cup in front of the dragonling.
“Um, sure thing.” Spike smiled; retrieving the teakettle, he started pouring another cup for his friend. “Oh yeah, I also saw that stupid owl off this morning.” he continued as he watched the pony in front of him drinking with a little less difficulty.
“‘Owl?’” The star-marked pony in front of him question; bringing her cup closer to her lips. “Ah yes, I remember now,” Her eyes returned back to Spike. “That’s good.”
“I forget,” The wyrm started to rub the back of his head. “What was his name again?”
“Whose name?” The unicorn’s eyebrow rose; the warm beverage draining into her stomach.
“The owl’s name, I always seem to forget it.” Spike looked at the mare with his jade-colored eyes.
The purple mare spewed the content of her mouth all over the table before her - and over her own hooves. “That’s freaking hot!” she struggled trying to get her coat clean.
“Well?”
“Well…umm…” the star-marked pony looked away; sweat dripping down her wild mane.
“Well, I’m waiting!”
“Well, umm, is it…” The young mare only had one shot at this; only one name came to mind. “Is it Owl…owi…scious??!!” she held her breath, hoping she had found the right answer.
The room fell silent; only the sound of birds echoed through the library. The young dragon‘s eyes stayed onto the mare that was seated across from him.
“Right, his name is Owlowiscious.” Spike smiled.
“Right!” The young mare sighed, finally able to relax.
Another cup of tea was poured between the two oldest friends; the warmth of the beverage keeping their bonds together.
“I’ll be back.” The unicorn stood as she started making her way towards the entrance of the kitchen.
“Where are you going Twilight?” Spike followed the young mare into the library.
“I’m just going out for a bit, that’s all.” She answered, her hooves reaching for the door handle.
“Going out for a bit?” Spike asked. “Are you going to see your friends?”
“My friends?” Twilight shook her mane; her mind started pondering this question. “Yeah, I suppose you could say that.” Her hooves started to fidget with the handle; what the young mare failed to realize was the faint glow coming from her forehead.
“So you’re going to see the most beautiful pony in the world, right?” Spike asked; his eyes filled with hearts as the image of the white-manned beauty entered his mind.
“Who?” Twilight turned her head at the love-struck dragon; her hooves finally grasping the door that stood in her way.
“Silly Twilight,” Spike said with his toothy grin. “her name is Sweetie Belle.”
“Ah, right,” Light broke through as the heavy doors slowly open. “Maybe I‘ll see her, maybe I won’t.” The young mare smirked, finally taking her first steps into the outside world.
“Only one problem,” Spike interrupted; his tone grew grim. “Her name isn’t Sweetie Belle!!”
The star-marked pony stopped in her tracks - her head slowly turning back to the young dragon behind her. “What did you say, you damn lizard.” Twilight’s red eyes glaring down at her assistant.
“The most beautiful pony in the world is my Rarity, one of your best friends!” Spike answered, the young dragon didn’t back down under her gaze. “Sweetie Belle is her little sister!”
Silence filled the room, not even the birds outside seem to even want to cut the tension. Neither figures looked away from the other; they waited to see which of them would dare make the first move.
“You’re not Twilight, are you?” Spike was the first to speak up.
The outside light faded away into darkness as the doors were carefully shut. “So you finally figured it out, didn‘t you?” Twilight smirked, the sound of her footing echoed through the library as she circled around the lizard; the faint light in her horn glow just a bit brighter.
“Who are you?” Spike’s jade-colored eyes followed the imposter; her back facing him.
“Well!” Twilight‘s head snapped back, looking at the wyrm. “It’s about time for my introduction, isn’t it?” A grin quickly grew across the young mare‘s lavender coat; the glowing magic light became even brighter.
With a sudden snap of the neck, her wild mane hair twirled around her as if it was pointing at her. “I…” With a quick step her hair was thrown back; her horn glow even bright. “HAVE FINALLY ARRI---!!!!!”
Arcane magic erupted from the young mare’s horn; the room filled up with its purple light - also filled the room with a scream; the young mare’s body was thrown to one side of the room; another figure was thrown into the book self on the other, like a fish flung into the air.
“Twilight!!!” Spike ran over to his fallen friend. “You okay?” The young dragon quickly looked over her body.
“Yes, I’m okay Spike,” Twilight answered, reassuring her little assistant. Everything about her body, eyes, mane, and tail had returned to their normal appearance. Spike looked up to see that his friend’s gaze was somewhere else; they were off in the direction of the bookshelf, looking at the red demon.
“Do you know what that ‘thing’ is, Twi’?” Spike asked, he couldn’t peel his eyes away from the horned devil.
“I don’t know,” She answered. “Ever since I woke up, that thing was using my body like a sleeve.” her eye’s looked over the creature, taking in all detail she could find.
In comparison, the size of this thing was much greater to her. It was a bipedal creature, its hands were like that of a monkey‘s paw; looking over its more descriptive details, it reminded her of the creatures she came across in her studies with the Princess. She read about creatures like it in Neigh-ponnese myths, demons called “Poni“.
“Ever since my mind woke up inside of it I was building up a spell so that I could expel it from my body.” Twilight continued. “I slowly built it up over time so that the arcane light wouldn’t be noticed.”
“What are we going to about “it”?” Spike jumped; the creature that laid on the ground started to stir.
“I think, I have an idea.” Twilight said - her horn started glowing of purple arcane magic once more.
“Gyaaaah!!! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!!!?” The demon like creature bolted up. “YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT FREAKING HURTS!!!” He held his pounding head; his eyes slowly looked up to the two animals that stood in front of him, his legs started to tingle as all feelings were lost.
“WHAT THE HELL!!!” His body jerked back; his legs snapped as the locked themselves together. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The demon quickly tried to stand, only to find it useless as he fell forward on his stomach.
“I DON’T LIKE THIS!!” He started clawing at the floor like a maniac, hoping to get out of the mysterious grasp. “PLEASE LET ME GO!!” His arms threw themselves behind his back, locking themselves at the wrists.
“I’M NOT INTO THIS KIND OF THING!” He could not squirm anymore; he was at the unicorn’s mercy. “TAKE THE TURTLE FRE-” His mouth snapped shut; the last thing he could see were the two animals walking over to him before his eyes snapped closed.
…
“…“ The red beast was coming to; he could feel his body sitting upright on a stool that was too small for him, his arms still locked at the wrist behind him.
“Well, whatever this thing is, he put on a good act.” Spike gave his longest friend a sheepish grin, hoping to not find himself with the red-colored creature.
“Fine.” Twilight smiled, she was at least happy her little dragon kept the demon from leaving the library.
“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR, YOU HORNED HORSE FREAK!!!!” The young mare’s ears perked up; their “visitor" had woken from his unintended sleep.
“Twilight isn’t a horned horse! She’s a unicorn!!” Spike snapped.
“Eh, A unicorn? You expect me to believe those things actually exist?” The red demon glared at the wyrm before him.
“Oh look Spike,” Twilight smirked. “He can speak in a decent tone.” she said sarcastically, receiving a little laugh from her young assistant.
“LET ME OUT! I’LL KILL THE BOTH OF YOU!!” He started to kick his legs out; he hoped to get in a free shot.
“Oh, calm down,” The unicorn rolled her eyes. “First question, who are you?” She asked getting closer to the creature; trying to take in better details now that he was awake.
“I am Momotaros,” He stopped squirming, watching as the young mare circled around him. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Twilight Sparkle,” She answered as she came back to the front of the demon. “This is my assistant, his name is Spike.” She pointed to the dragonling.
“Hey.” The assistant waved.
“Yo, What‘s up,” Momotaros gave the young dragon a friendly, reassuring nod. “Now if you wouldn’t mind, GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!” he stomped the ground with a thunderous effect.
“Not until I know what exactly it is that you want.” Twilight threw her mane back; she inched herself closer to the red demon. “Also with that magic bind I put on you, you will not be leaving anytime soon.”
“A magic bind?” Momotaros asked, turning his horned head to look at the invisible chains that held his body. “Heh, I could break those binds anytime, you might as well let me go now!!” He looked back at the young mare; a sly grin crossed his face.
“Oh, really?” Twilight’s ears perked. “Then go ahead, I’d like to see you try!” She returned him with a grin of her own; she wanted to see what this “Momotaros” got.
Silence filled the room once more as the two looked at one another; the sound of a large crow from outside echoed through the tree home. Neither being did anything as the minutes ticked by.
“What do you wanna know?” Momo's head fell in complete shame; his bluff was blow right out of the water.
“Good,” Twilight smiled; victory was hers. “Now for my next question, where are you from?”
“I come from the Denliner,” Momotaros sighed. “And it was a few days ago when…”
“What’s a “Denliner?” The young mare piped up, her quill pen floating above her mane as she took notes.
“Heh, You ask a lot of stupid questions don’t you pony?” The red demon snorted; the lavender pony just rolled her eyes. “Denliner is a train that travels through time, and we…”
“Travels through what??” The young dragon was the next one to interrupt, the look on his face said that he was already lost and the story was way over his head.
“TIME! IT TRAVELS THROUGH TIME!!” Momotaros stomped the ground with a thunderous effect. “Now, as I was saying; it was a few days ago when…”
“How does it travel through time?” The young mare interrupted again, her eyes glued to the demon as her mind followed every word he was saying. “I mean not even the Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are capable of that kind of magic. How is it possible for an inanimate object like a train to have the kind of power to…?
“I DON’T KNOW!! IT JUST DOES!” Momo erupted, like a steamed peach exploding. “Do you want to hear the rest of the story, or not??”
“Fine!!” Twilight’s eyes rolled around in her head, this creature was going to take some getting used to.
“Good! Anyway it was a few days ago and…” the red demon paused, if one of them was going to interrupt they should do it now; silence fell into the room. “And we were on our way through the sands of time, when…”
“Wait sands of time?” Momotaros’ wanted to strangle the unicorn that stood in front of him. “You mean like the sand in an hour glass?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah, like sand in an hour glass,” the red demon answered with a soft nod. “But it was then,” The tone of the creature grew grim, the image of the past replaying through his mind. “We were attacked by that smiling Imagin.”
“What’s an Imagin?” This time it was the young assistant - it was tough, but he tried his hardest to keep up with the story.
This time the locked of creature didn’t shout, in fact it was like he was smiling. A low laugh escaped his throat, he was happy that they asked that question.
“Imagins are demons that travel through time,” He answered, his tone grew very dark. “We’re creatures that make contracts with others, and in the end we make their times ours.” He said - his glare aimed at both the animals that stood in front of him.
“Wait, ‘we’re?’” The young mare piped up, feeling the strength from the red creature’s gaze.
“Yeah!” Momotaros snorted. “I’m one of these demons that wish to end your time!” He smiled. “Are you scared of me now?”
The room fell quiet, the star-marked pony just sat there under the “Imagin's” glare. Spike eyes flew back and forth in between the two that had fallen deathly quiet; a few minutes went by before the young unicorn spoke.
“No,” She spoke softly. “I don’t think you’re evil at all.”
“Heh, you’re just like him,” Momotaros laughed. “Always looking for the best in people.”
“Who’s ‘him?’”
This time, it was the red demon’s turn to cause the silent in the room; nearly a minute went by before he spoke. “His name is Ryoutarou,” He slowly answered; his tone this time. “He is the person I created a contract with.” He finished, turning his head away from their gaze; he tried to hide his depression.
Twilight could see that this wasn‘t something that Momotaros wanted to discuss; she decided it was the best idea to not mess with such a dangerous button. “So, what happened on the Denliner?” The young mare finally spoke up.
“Ah, yeah.” the Oni Imagin was more than happy to obliged to the change of subject. “We were attacked by another Imagin, he attacked and derailed the train; and then me and those other idiots fell out of the Denliner.”
“Wait!” The wyrm jumped back into the conversation. “Others?” Spike looked at the red demon.
“Yeah, others fell with me off the train.” Momotaros eyes darted around the tree house.
“Are they your friends?” Twilight looked back up at the demon as her quill continued to write notes. “Are they also here as well?
“My friends?” The Imagin gave a slight chuckle at the thought. “I wouldn’t call them that; but yeah, I suppose they are here in this town.” He smirked at the two smaller creatures that stood in front of him. “Will you let me go? So that I can go find them?”
“I don’t know, “The young mare’s eyes looked back over her note. “What makes you think that I can trust you?” She could tell that he had no ill intention, but something of this situation felt very familiar; as if this situation had happened before.
“Heh, compared to the others…” Momotaros caught the pony’s gaze. “I’m the only one you can trust!” he answered in a serious tone.
Silence filled the room again, the lavender mare trying her best to contemplate what the red demon told her and Spike.
“I don’t know,” She said softly, turning her head away from the red Imagin. “I think it would be best idea to consult with Princess Celestia.” She walked over to her writing station; with a piece of magic paper, Twilight started writing to her teacher.
“Hey, lizard.” Momotaros leaned down, whispering to the young dragon.
“Yeah.” Spike looked back up to the red demon, he was more comfortable with him now then he was earlier; perhaps it was because he hadn’t had another guy to talk to in a long time.
“Who’s Princess Celestia?” The red demon asked the wyrm; his eyes traveling to the star-marked pony that was busy writing away.
“Oh, Princess is the most powerful pony in all Equestria; she is also the one to teach Twilight in the way of magic,” He answered. “She’s an Alicorn, her magic is so strong she can raise the sun and lower it at will; as well as the moon.”
“Oh, re-really?!?!” the sweat started to accumulate down the side of his face. “And what would she do if she doesn‘t like me?” the red demon asked with a gulp.
“Well,” Spike thought carefully. “I don‘t really know of many of her punishments,” Spike looked to the ceiling. “I suppose that she would turn you to stone, or maybe even banish you to the moon?” Spike answered with a smile; he felt no worry for the Imagin, any of those solutions would be only of a last resort of the sun Princess.
“Banish me… to the mooooon…” The red demon’s voice trailed off as his imagination began to take over.
….
The moon; a large rock in space, one that was the closest thing to the planet that it encircled. It was a dark, cold, and lonely place to spend all of eternity on.
If sound could be replicated on this airless rock, then a thud-like sound would be made arithmetically; across the rock a figure was slowly making its way around it. The red demon was slowly bouncing alternatively between his front side and his back side as he made his way across the moon.
“Moon-Moon-taros.” were the last words the red demon said as Momotaros slowly bounced off to the dark side of the moon, away from the warm light of the sun.
…
Spike jerked back as the once lost in thought demon made it move. Momotaros slowly stood up; his head nearly touching the ceiling as towered over everything in the library.
Twilight turned around seeing their visitor standing like a statue; for nearly a minute he didn’t make a single move. Both the young mare and dragon just watched to see what was it that the Imagin was about to do; Momotaros slowly took in a deep breath.
“GYAAAAAAAAH!” The red demon suddenly to off through the room. “I DON’T WANNA BE SENT TO THE MOON!! I DON’T WANNA BE SENT TO THE MOON!!!” He screamed at the top of his lungs; he ran through the room, hoping to find anyway to escape.
“Momotaros, please calm down!” Twilight head snapped back and forth; she watched as their visitor ran around like some kind of nut.
“I DON’T WANNA! I DON’T WANNA!!” he screamed; his window of opportunity started coming into view. “The door!” He put all the strength into his legs that he could muster.
“Wait, Momo!” Spike called out, following the large creature; he sort of felt like somehow that he had some doing in this situation.
“No way! I’m out of here!!” The red demon called out, his body bursting through the front doors of the library.
With one foot out of the library the magic binds dissolved, but so did Momotaros; sand started to fall to the ground right where the demon had once stood. Both the animals that he ran out on walked up to the doorstep where the sand had accumulated.
“Um, Momotaros?” Twilight asked as she looked over what could have been a dead body; the two animals’ faces got closer to the pile of sand.
“Yes!” Both the young mare and dragonling jumped in the air; the red demon had popped up from the sand, well almost. His body seemed to be cut in half, the legs seemed to come from nowhere from above while his abdomen and up seemed to come from the ground; his body seemed to now be made of sand. Like this, Momotaros “stood” at about eye level with the lavender pony.
“Whoa, that’s just creepy!” Spike said - pointing out the strange form the Imagin took on.
“What are you talking about lizard?” The legs started to walk on nothing as Momo came back into the library; soon as he made it past the doors, the two parts of his body became one once again as his sandy body returned to with.
“Um, you’re body.” Twilight answered, her eyes lifting up higher to see the new placement of the Oni’s face.
“My body?” Momotaros asked, lifting his hands to his face to understand; a few minutes went by, the red Oni was not seeing whatever they were talking about.
“My arms!” He jumped up at the sudden realization. “I can use them again!!” The magic binds that had once kept his arms tied down were now gone; he had now full control of his body.
The young mare just stood there as she watch the Imagin started trying to get the blood pumping back into his arms; he did this with some swift punches, kicks, shoulder swirling, and for some reason acting like a chimpanzee.
“Well thanks horse, lizard!!” Momotaros stopped; his eyes looking between the two creatures and the door in front of him. “I need to leave now and get those idiots back before they make a mess of everything.” While messaging his shoulders; he took one step outside.
The star-marked pony watched as the Imagin accumulated into a pile of sand. Momotaros returned to his half and half-like figure with a sudden pop; he brought his hands back to his face, his arms dripped in sand. The red demon took the time to carefully think over the situation, the feet above him slowly tapping on the invisible ground.
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!” Momotaros let out a high pitched scream; realization on his predicament finally kicking in.
The young mare just stood there watching the demon make a fuss, sweat continued to drip down the back of her neck. Only one questioned remained in Twilight’s head, “Was this guy some kind of idiot?”
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TakeshiAshirogi
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840
| 2 |
Main 6,Crossover,Comedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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Imagin Friends
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What happens when the 6 mane girls meet their match... the 6 imagin boys
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incomplete
| 24 | 1 |
<p>(crossover with Kamen Rider Den-O) One morning Twilight Sparkle wakes up and finds that she is not herself, well someone else is trying to be her. Time is on the line, as one's most precious memory is at stake. Tell me your wish. I will grant you any wish.</p>
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everyone
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2012-07-29T23:45:34+00:00
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2012-07-29T23:45:34+00:00
| 2,447 |
“Hmm, this is very interesting.” the young mare said under her breath; her eyes darted around the town at everypony that walked past her. “It doesn’t seem like any pony can see you Momotaros.” No pony had paid any attention into her direction since she had left the library.
“Heh!” the demon laughed, the sandy legs above him dripping onto his head. “I wanted to show them all what a true climax was!” He exclaimed slamming his fist into his hand. The mare behind him could only roll her eyes.
It seems, while in this state, the red Imagin was incapable of interacting with anything but what was within the tree house library; outside it seemed that he could only remain in his current sand-like form. Twilight decided that it would have been best that she went with the demon, in hope to help him find his lost friends.
“Hey Sparkle!!” Momo snorted to gain the unicorn’s attention.
“Yeah?” Twilight rolled her eyes; this “Imagin” was about on her last nerves with his attitude towards her; though she tried her best to keep her normal composure, hoping to not attract any unwanted attention.
“You think it was a good idea to leave that lizard alone in your house?” he questioned.
“You mean Spike?” The young unicorn tilted her head. “Of course! I’ve known him his whole life, he is one of many of my friends that I would ever put my full trust in,” Twilight continued as she looked at the Oni. “Don’t you have someone like that; someone that you put your full trust in?”
Momotaros stopped in his tracks, his sand pouring down all around him. “Yeah…” his mind started to recap memories of recent days.
====
“Where the hell did that smiling freak go!” The red demon shouted as he ran through the doors of the train of time, Denliner. The cars of the train were vacant, but the threat was just as great. A new Imagin was on board; everyone was trying to find him.
“Momotaros!” the red Imagin turned to look the source of the weak voice that called out to him. Standing behind him was a human - a human child whom the Imagin had come to know greatly. This child had terrible luck, but it was because of this luck that the two of them created a contract. With that contract, the two of them defended the fabric of time together.
“Ryoutarou!” The red demon looked at the dark headed teen. The teen had stopped to place his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath; he tried his hardest to keep up with the demon. Momotaros reached out to place a hand on his shoulder; a shrieking sound echoed through the car as the floor beneath them started to rise.
“GYAAAAH!!!” The Imagin screamed at the lost his footing; falling on his stomach he started slipping to the other side of the speed bullet train, away from his companion. He turned his head to see the side that he was sliding down to, his eyes widen as he saw the Imagin standing outside the window; smiling with that freaky bony face of his.
Boom!
The side of the train was blasted off. The smoke engulfing everyone that was in the room. The red demon snapped his eyes open, fearing himself to be in the worst situation possible; and it was true. He was heading for the edge of the open; heading to the endless abyss of sand that waited below. Momotaros started clawing at the ground, hoping to stop his descent, but he wouldn’t slow down. He continued to slide down until his feet reached what remained to the walls; he was going to be lost in time. His attention was brought back as something jerked his wrist upward.
“Momo!” The red Imagin stared at the human that had stopped his falling. Ryoutarou was straining; using the bolted seats of the train as leverage, he tried to use all his strength to pull them both back onto the train. Momo laid there for a moment, just watching his contract holder try to lift him back up to safety; his mind quickly returned to the situation at hand.
“Hang on Ryoutarou!” the Imagin shouted, grasping his hands with of his other. For him the plan would be simple, he would possess his host and pull both of themselves up. Momotaros prepared to enter inside of Ryoutarou, but, what felt like the sudden weight of many beings made the red Imagin fall even further, all the pressure focused on his ankle. The horned demon’s eyes traveled down to his foot.
Hanging onto his ankle was another Imagin; one that had been through nearly as many adventures as him, engulfed in his leg was another he recognized; then there was another; then another; then the last one hanging diligently by one hand, while drinking his cup of coffee without a care with the other.
“What the hell, you damn turtle freak!” Momo shouted at the blue creature attached at his foot. Like this he wouldn’t be able to possess their human host, and if he didn‘t, everyone would fall into the endless abyss below. “LET GO OF ME!!!” he shouted at the turtle Imagin; his one free leg kicking away at his head.
“But, sempai…” the smooth talking Imagin piped up, trying to bat away the incoming foot with his free hand. His turtle shell-like body grinded across the jagged parts of what use to be a wall, but his legs continued to squeeze tighter around the large sleeping figure that laid in between.
“STOP IT MOMO!!” a much younger voice called out from below; the one that was clinging even tight to the much larger sleeping figure.
“mmm- Nanami, may I have another cup of coffee, please” A regal voice called from the bottom of the Imagin-ladder, unaffected from the predicament that they were all in; his hand gently holding onto the leg above him.
“Okay, coming right up!” Came a high-pitched voice from within of what remained of the train; the waitress continued to work, as if the situation at hand was not happening. “Here you go!” She called out gleefully, leaning against the bolted seat she dropped the cup down by the ladder of Imagin.
“Thank you.” The white Imagin called out, sticking his foot out to gently catch the cup and saucer. “My dear friend,” he asked tugging the leg above him, “Would you mind taking this.” he held up his empty cup.
“Of course!” The cloaked Imagin smiled from above, taking the cup from the fellow demon.
“WILL YOU ALL JUST SHUT UP DOWN THERE!!!?” Momotaros shouted. “NOW LET GO OF ME!!” he started kicking at the blue Imagin’s head once more, he didn’t want to be pulled down with them.
“Momotaros…!”
Momo’s eyes quickly shot up as he looked back at the struggling human that held his wrist.
“I… can’t… hold on!” the red Imagin himself was already pushing the human to his limits as he tried to pull him up; these new masses of body’s were too much. Ryoutarou’s arms were being stretched beyond pain; his grasp on the chair was slowly being lost.
Momo just watched as his contract partner struggled to pull everyone up. Sometimes he just couldn’t believe just how strong he was.
“Ryoutarou…”
The human’s eyes jerked open to look at the peach-inspired demon that was in his grasp; tears stained his face from the pain that strained his body.
“You best come and find us, you got that!” with that the red Imagin let go of his partner. All the accumulated weight became too much, and Momotaros’ hand slipped through Ryoutarou’s. Ryoutarou just hung there as he watched all six Imagin’s fall into the abyss of endless time.
“EVERYONE!!” Ryoutarou screamed.
The fall was filled with that of screams and one of a large animal snoring away; but one of them had his arms crossed as he fell with his cup of coffee, without a care of this time. Momotaros watched as the bullet-train dropped back down on the tracks. He continued to watch the train as it started to fall out of his sight.
“YOU BETTER COME AND FIND US RYOUTAROU!!!!” Momotaros screamed at the top of his lungs. “If you don’t, I’ll kick your ass.” He smiled to himself as he felt his body fall into the sand. Everything went black as he and everyone else fell out of the sands of time.
He didn’t recover vision until one morning where he woke up in a small tree house; waking up to that of a small pony talking about dreams she had been having lately.
====
“Are you okay?” the sandified Imagin had not moved for a few minutes. “Momotaros?” Twilight asked growing a little worried for the stranger to her world; she brought her face a little bit closer to his own.
“Yeah…” the red Imagin slowly spoke looking away from the lavender pony. “I’m okay…” he turned his back toward her; he didn’t want her to see him like this, it wasn’t cool.
“Momotaros?” Twilight spoke up again, she was worried about him now by his sudden change in behavior; she reached a hoof to his sandy shoulder.
“What kind of stunt was that earlier?”
“Um, come again?” Twilight took a step back from the sudden change of tone of the Imagin.
“That stunt with that stupid magic of yours!” he turned back, looking the mare in the eyes “Do you know how much I’ve been waiting for my introduction?” Momo asked.
“Wait, what?” The young mare asked, even more confused than just a second ago.
“I’ve been waiting to appear with my great introduction for a few days now!!” he answered. “And, YOU RUINED IT FOR ME!”
“How did I ruin something like that?” Twilight snapped back.
“I HAD IT ALL PLANNED OUT!” Momotaros walked closer to the young mare. “I was going to pretend to be you, then when someone finally notices,” he continued. “I would have introduced myself in the greatest way with ‘I HAVE ARRIVED!!’” he pointed to himself. “But no, YOU HAD JUST HAD TO GO A RUIN IT FOR ME!! Didn’t you?”
“WHAT!!” Twilight jolted back, nearly causing the Imagin to jump out of the ground. “THAT’S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT!!” she screamed at the Imagin. “YEAH, I DID THAT, BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE SOME DANGEROUS SPIRIT OR SOMETHING!” Many ponies around her started to stare at the young mare; many thinking Twilight had finally lost it as to them she was talking to nothing.
“WELL, IF YOU WOULD HAVE JUST ASKED YOU WOULD OF KNOWN!” Momotaros rivaled hers in the range of screaming. “INSTEAD OF JUMPING TO THE WRONG CONCLUSION, WE WOULDN’T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS!!”
“WELL THEN!!!” the young unicorn stomped her front hooves; she was now at the limit. “I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE SENT THAT LETTER TO PRINCESS CELESTIA!!” Twilight continued to scream. “BUT NO!! I JUST WANTED TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR FRIENDS, BUT I CAN SEE NOW THAT WAS A STUPID MISTAKE!”
“I’D RATHER BE TURNED TO STONE AND BE BANNISH TO THE MOON WHILE BEING A PIECE OF ROCK, THEN RATHER SPEND ANOTHER MINUTE WITH A STUPID EGGHEAD LIKE YOU!!” Momo screamed again, shoving his sand finger into the chest of the unicorn.
“WELL I, EHHG!!!” Twilight was about to erupt, she could almost feel the steam pouring from her ears. “FINE THEN!! YOU DON’T NEED ME, RIGHT? YOU CAN GO FIND THOSE… ‘THINGS’ ON YOUR OWN, YOU IDIOT!!!” she turned around, her tail passing through the head of the sandified Imagin as she tried to slap him.
“YEAH, WELL!!” the Imagin screamed. “SAME TO YOU, YOU STUPID HORSE FREAK!!” he turned his own back to the pony, both looking in opposite direction from each other.
Silence fell over between the two heated beings. The ponies had witnessed the unicorn’s outburst had already left, hoping too not catch the anger that she was emanating. One of the two of them started to contemplate the situation that had just happened; she was the first one to speak.
“Ryoutarou, was that his name?” she asked gently. “Your contract partner, that is?” she turned her head slowly looking back to the sand Imagin that still had his back facing her.
“Yeah…” the red demon slowly answered; his arms dropping to his side.
Silence fell once again between the two.
“I’m sure he will come and find you.” She smiled, trying to reassure her new friend as she walked up to him.
“Heh, don’t you think I know that, you stupid horse.” he slowly let out his breath as he felt the unicorn walk up closer to him. He felt ashamed; his bluff had been seen through again by this pony. Ryoutarou was the one person he would ever put his full trust into.
“Momo?” Twilight smiled, holding out her hoof to grasp a hold of the Imagin’s shoulder.
“Let’s go unicorn!” he jerked back, walking around the young unicorn; making sure he kept her out of his sight. “Gotta go find those idiots before they cause too much trouble.”
“If you say so.” The young mare let out a small laugh as she trotted after sand demon.
…
“So, what exactly is it that I should be looking for?” Twilight asked as they continued to walk through the streets of Ponyville. “In case I can’t see them as I am able see you; how exactly would I be able to notice your friends?” she continued to match with the pacing of the pair of legs that walked on the air in front of her.
“Trust me horse, you’ll know when they appear.” Momotaros answered as he didn’t dare to look back.
“Well if you say so.” The young mare continued to look around. “But I do think it would be better if you wou-” Twilight’s ears perked up, a faint sound started to fade into existence. The unicorn started to find herself tapping along to the sound of music.
My- My- My- My- My Little… My Little… My- My-
Twilight’s mind started ponder the lyrics that started to echo through the air. The song that was playing was definitely a remix, one of which she couldn’t think of the title for; It felt like she should know it, as if she had been hearing it for the longest time. Twilight’s eyes scanned the road to find out where the source of the music was coming from; her eyes widen as something was making its way into her direction.
Down the road was a group of ponies, a mixture of all kinds, each of them shaking their bodies to the rhythm of the musical beat? These break dancing ponies were magnificently in synch with one another; in fact if wasn’t for the fact that she recognized most of them, she would of believed that their cutie marks would have had something to do with this. Her eyes started moving from one pony to the other as they started to get closer. Her gaze became glued to the one pony in the middle, the one that was more than likely the leader of the dance party.
In the middle of the pack was a Pegasus; a blue Pegasus. Her face was covered by the brown hat she wore, a large pair of headphones was being worn around her neck; that probably being the source of the music. Though with the hat on, the curly mane of the young mare could be seen, one particular of her multi-colored hair was longer than the other colored pieces; the purple part. All the ponies around her seemed to flow into her moves with ease, as if they moved only according to her will. As the break dancing Pegasus did a head spin, the lavender unicorn was able to recognize the cutie mark on her flank; the rainbow-lightning bolt cutie mark.
“Rainbow Dash?” The young mare asked herself as she continued to watch her friend pulling off her moves. The song itself had continued, and slowly Twilight was finding herself tapping to the rhythm; this seemed to gather attention from the dancing mare.
Without breaking her rhythm, a large grin started to spread across Dash’s face. With a flick of her hoof, she and her dancers started to change direction; the direction of the lavender mare. The smile on the Pegasus’ mouth grew only wider as she moved closer.
“Horse…” The young unicorn turned her attention to the Imagin that stood behind her. “Run…” His eyes didn’t even leave the spectacle that was in front of them. “NOW!”
Twilight’s eyes moved back to in front of her, but it was too late. She was now surrounded by the herd; all of them continued dancing away. Her gaze started darting around to each pony that had her surrounded; she had no idea what to make of the situation at hand, she just knew she had to get out of there. She turned her head to see the most familiar pony dancing up to her.
Rainbow Dash moved with the flow as she hopped through the legs that allowed only a little bit of movement. The music started to pump even faster as the blue Pegasus started to dance in front of her friend. The ponies around them started to mimic her movements.
Twilight flinched at each kick that came within inches from her face. The blue mare always made sure to keep the unicorn in front of her. The sound of the music started to dwindle down as the dances started to slow.
Welcome to class little filly!
Ever pony stopped in their tracks exactly on that last syllable. Twilight watched as every pony had their sides facing her; even Dash‘s.
It’s time for school!
The music stopped. Every pony shot their hoof up pointing at the lavender pony, like if they were holding a gun. Rainbow Dash had her hoof aimed at Twilight’s face. The area fell silent as the music went dead; the lavender pony just stared at the hat wearing Pegasi that stood in front of her.
“Rainbow?”
“Mind if I dance with you?” Rainbow Dash asked kindly. She leaned her head back her purple eyes becoming visible under the shadow of her hat.
“Wait, what?” Twilight shook her head at this; the sudden question completely catching her off guard.
“I can’t hear you!” with a smile, the young Pegasus slammed her hoof onto the ground. The sound of the stomp echoed through the air, ringing through the ears of the young unicorn.
The area fell silent, no pony daring to move an inch. Twilight just stared at her friend, whom just continued to smile back at her. The music started up once more; the young unicorn could feel her mind fading into a daze; her body started to move on its own.
The beat of the music hit the perfect spot. Everypony in the area started dancing again; even Twilight. The two friends started to dance together, all the other ponies moved around them. Twilight was completely under the Pegasus’ control as they danced into a single rhythm with one another. Both pair of purple eyes always stayed connected with one another.
“THAT’S IT!” Momotaros shouted as he was being ignored. “GET OUT HERE YOU STUPID BRAT!!” his half and half sandy body started a sprint before leaping into the air at the blue Pegasus.
It was as if the red Imagin had become a ghost. He had leapt into Rainbow Dash’s body, vanishing without a single trace of sand.
The blue mare’s body arched back. Every pony that was under her control was thrown back, their connection broken. The lavender mare quickly brought herself back up to her hoofs, finally back in control of her own body; she could only watch what was happening inside her friend’s body.
Dash’s body lurched both forward and back. It seemed as if her mane and eyes switched between red and purple as the spirits inside of her fought for control. The blue Pegasus let out a scream as two figures went shooting out of her body. Her body finally slumped to the ground, exhausted.
“Dash!” the young unicorn sprinted to her friend. “Are you okay?” she quickly tapped her friend on the shoulder; she received no response. “Quick some pony!” her head snapped back up. “Get some help!”
There was no pony there. Anything that was under the dancing spell had already disappeared. Had this have something to do with the connection lost, or not, Twilight didn’t know. The young mare’s ears perked up as she heard the familiarity of one voice, and unfamiliarity of another.
“WHAT WAS ALL THAT ABOUT YOU STUPID BRAT!!!” Momotaros’ hands gripped tighter around the neck of the other sand-like figure.
“Ha-ha, I found Momo!!!” the other figure said in a childlike voice, totally unaffected by the hands that were trying to choke the life out of him. Being in a sand-like state as the fellow Imagin, the details on this one was blurry. It seemed to twilight he looked like one of those Neigh-ponnese dragons, with chains on his torso.
“You found me? I’VE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR YOU!!!” Momotaros’ tore his grip from the young Imagin’s throat, only to be given a youthful smile. “Where have you been?”
The dragon Imagin crossed his arms and pouted his lips “I got bored!” he exclaimed, but then his expression changed. “So I played with the ponies!” He spun around gleefully, the sandy-chains dangling, giving the oni a peace sign and a “Yay.”
“WELL YOU SHOULD OF KNOWN NOT…” then something clicked in Momotaros’ head. “Wait, how did you use that horse freak’s body? How are you able to operate those legs when I couldn‘t?”
Ryuuta took a moment to think it over - then crossed his arms. “You wanna know?” he looked about the area, but then gave his friend the hint to come closer.
“eh?” The red Imagin leaned in closer the wyrm Imagin.
“It’s because you‘re…” the dragon whispered. “STUPID MOMO!!!” and with that the half-and-half sand-like figured slapped his friend in the back of the head and started laughing.
“GYAAAAAAH!!! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU DAMN BRAT!!!!!” the oni Imagin leapt at the young dragon, hoping to hurt him.
“AAAAAh!! let go!” the child Imagin cried out.
Twilight watched as the two Imagin had reunited with each other. She couldn’t tell if she needed to break them up, or if she should let them continue what they were doing. She continued watching the two, until the sound of moaning came to her attention.
“Dash!!” Twilight’s turned back to her fallen friend, she was starting to stir. “Dash, are you okay?” she asked again.
“…was SO AWESOME!!!” with wings opened wide, the blue Pegasus shot up as if nothing had happened to her. “Ryuutaros that was so awesome back there!!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she turned to her new friend. “Oh, hey Twilight!” she turned her head to give her friend acknowledgement.
“Rainbow!” The young dragon was finally able to break from the red demon’s grasp; his feet above started sprinting to the blue Pegasus. Momotaros leapt after the Imagin.
“I never knew I could move like that.” Dash smiled, still on her rush of excitement.
“Um excuse me, Dash.” Twilight interrupted as she caught her friend’s attention. “How did you meet, um…Ryuutaros?” she asked.
“Well I was visiting Cloudsdale earlier this morning,” the blue Pegasus started. “and I had come across him, he was just standing there, no pony else seemed to notice him. He told me that he was lost and couldn’t find his friends, and I asked if I could help him; but Ryuuta just said that he was bored and wanted to show me something cool,” She finished, telling everything up to that point.
“hmmm, Interesting.” Twilight put her hoof to her chin, her eyes returning to the dragon that had just beaten the demon off of him. “What did he look like before this sand state?” she looked back at her friend.
“Before?” The young Pegasus shook her head. “He has another form? Aren’t they both just sand creatures?”
“Interesting.” Twilight started to ponder the situation again. For whatever reason, it seems that these “Imagin’s,” seem to be incapable of keeping a solid form outside. “We should probably find the oth-.”
“AH, STAR-CHAN, HELP ME!!!” both the mares turned their attention back to the battling Imagins. Ryuuta was caught by the neck, the very life being squeezed out of him.
“This is what you get!!” Momotaros exclaimed, bringing his hand up. “YOU STUPID BR-!!”
“It seems like I may have strung you along, for too long...”
The red Imagin let go of the dragon. Both of their gazes turning down the streets to the sound of a familiar voice. Twilight’s and Dash’s eyes followed theirs to see the two pony figures whom were not too far away.
One pony was standing up, but the other one was lying on the floor completely out of breath. The pony that laid on the ground was Ponyville’s school teacher, Cheerilee, the sweat dripped as she continued to try an catch her breath. The look in her eyes seems to be lost in total bliss.
The other figure was that of an even more familiar pony. Her pink tail swished back and forth as she looked down at the pony that had fallen down at her hoofs. A smile spread across her face, she was enjoying the sight in front of her.
“Teacher gets an ‘A’ for effort though.” the young Pegasi smiled, licking her lips.
“Fluttershy?”
“hmmm?” the Pegasus turned her head towards the direction that called out her name. Standing there looking at her were two ponies and two sand figures. Pushing a blue strand of hair behind her ear, she gave a soft smile; her light blue eyes peering through her glasses. Fluttershy started to slowly trot towards in their direction.
“Urataros!” the sand dragon called out pointing at the butterfly-marked pony that came into their direction.
“Heh, what took you so long turtle?” Momotaros started walking up to the young mare. “What do you think your-!”
The sand Oni was totally ignored. Without even glancing down into his direction, Fluttershy just side step and walked around him. With a free hoof she pushed the smooth blue bang out of her eyes as she walked towards the other two mares.
“What the hell, you damn turtle freak!” the demon shouted out from behind, his voice only fell on deaf ears.
“Fluttershy, it’s so good to see you.” Twilight started trotting up to her glasses wearing friend. “We have a situation on our hoofs, we could really use-”
Just like the Imagin, the young unicorn was ignored as well. The yellow Pegasus walked past her friend, her tail swishing away in the air. She stopped only inches away from the object that was the center of her attention. A soft smile spread under her glasses.
“Fluttershy?” Dash’s voice cracked as she felt a hoof touch her chin.
“My, you have such a sweet voice.” Fluttershy said softly to her friend. “I hope you don’t mind, if I reel you in, if only just for a little bit.” she asked with her calm, hypnotic voice - her blue eyes looking deep into the blue pony’s rose colored ones.
“I, uh, I…” Dash’s face started to heat up as she felt the yellow hoof rise higher, rubbing the side of her cheek.
“That color, I think it really suits you the best…” the blue Pegasus’ cheeks started to tint a shade of purple. “Yes, the color of your mane really does suit you the best…” Fluttershy removed her hoof from her friend, letting the multi-colored strand’s slide off her hoof.
“I…” Dash’s knees had buckled themselves, she couldn’t move - she was at the mercy of her friend.
“The color reminds me of a question I once pondered.” she let the mane go and returned her gaze to the purple faced pony. “I use to wonder…” she brought their faces closer to one another; she slowly went for the ear. The sound of Dash’s breathing sounded very nice to her. “What do rainbows really taste like?” she whispered only to follow with the slow licking of her lips, just loudly enough so that the Pegasus could hear her.
No pony spoke between the two for the moment. The only sound that was heard was the heavy breathing of the purple faced Pegasi. Not only was she the fastest flyer in Equestria, she was also the fastest in other ways it seems.
“Seems as though I caught myself a good one.” the yellow Pegasi thought to herself as she brought her face back to the front, just to look at her friend; Dash’s face had fallen into bliss, she had lost all control of her body. Fluttershy used her hoof to tip the blue pony’s head back a bit, her blue eyes looking deep into the bliss-filled ones. She leaned in closer, hoping to find her answer. Their lips inched closer to one another and…
“YOU IDIOT!!!” the young Pegasi was forced back as her pink mane was pulled backwards with great force “What the hell do you think you’re doing, you damn turtle freak!!!!” the purple unicorn shouted, her red eyes glaring down at the butterfly-marked pony in her hoof.
“Ah, Sempai!!” Fluttershy, surprised to see her captor, exclaimed. “When did you arrive?”
“‘When did I arri-’ I’ve been here the whole time!!!” the Momo-possessed Twilight shouted. “YOU BLANTANTLY WALKED RIGHT PASSED ME.” the unicorn pulled just a little harder on the pink mane.
“I did?” Fluttershy put her hoof to her mouth, trying to remember. “I’m sorry Sempai, it’s just whenever a beauty catches my eyes. Sometimes I just can’t help myself.” she said with a smile.
“THAT’S A LOAD OF CRAP!!!” the red-eyed unicorn yelled. “ALL YOU WERE TROING TO DO WAS TO FLIRT WITH SOME HORSES! THAT‘S JUST WRONG!!”
“To me, it doesn’t matter what a woman looks like.” the yellow Pegasi smiled. “After all, it’s the inner beauty of a female that is the best to fish out.”
“CAN IT YOU PERVERTED TURTLE!” It was then that the Oni Imagin remembered something. “WHY ARE YOU GUYS ABLE TO USE THESE BODIES WHEN I COULDN’T?”
“Oh,” The young Pegasi looked at her friend in confusion. “I thought you knew the reason.” the soft voice spoke up. “it’s because you’re an idiot sempai!” Fluttershy said with a smile.
“Bwahahaha, stupid Momo!” the sand dragon laughed from behind.
“SHUT IT YOU STUPID BRAT!” The purple-possessed pony snapped her head back at the young dragon. “AND YOU!” her eyes returned to the pony in her grasp. “GET OUT HERE NOW!!!!” Momo-Twilight threw a hoof, hoping to get the Pegasus square in the jaw with all he had.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that,” thanks to the demon’s weakened grasp on her mane, the yellow Pegasi was able to pull free and bob and weave under the enraged unicorn’s punch. She turned her body back around, looking right at Twilight. “I cannot allow you to harm such a pretty lady as this.” Fluttershy said with a smile.
As if in a bright flash of blue, the yellow Pegasus’ body started to limp back; out came pouring sand that instantly started to take on a life of its self. Just like the other two Imagin, this one had also appeared in a half and half form. Its body seemed to of been made of nearly of turtle shells, his eyes looking warmly ahead as he brought his hand to his mouth. “Yo.”
“Heh, seems like you’re finally done fooling around.” it was Momotaros’ turn to flash out his hosts body as he landed in front of the turtle Imagin. “Now let’s get to work so that we can find that smiling freak.” he slammed his fist into his hand.
“I’m afraid I’m not like you sempai.” Urataros swung his body around the demon Imagin with a spin as he made his way to the Ryuutaros.
“Come again?”
“I was doing some investigating, hoping to find the rest of our friends, and hoping to find the Imagin that sent us here.” he turned to look back at the sand-Oni Imagin.
“eh, Really? Seems like you’re not as worthless as I thought.” Momo shrugged. “Well, what did you find?”
“Absolutely nothing!” Urataros said casually.
“WHAT?!?!?!”
“Apparently, aside from Ryuuta here,” he pointed at the young Imagin that tried to keep himself entertained. “For once, in this world filled with ponies, you idiots can’t stick out like a sore thumb.”
“Oh, okay.” Momotaros took a second to let this information to sink in. “WAIT A MINUTE!!!”
“Well, there is one thing I remember.” something clicked in the sand turtles’ mind.
“Yeah?”
“That Zacora,” he said casually. “she was quite the interesting lady.” he slowly brought his fingers to his lips.
“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU PERVERTED TURTLE!!!” Momotaros leapt at the turtle Imagin.
“Fluttershy, are you okay?” the sound of the familiar unicorn caused the red Imagin to stop his assault. Twilight was standing over her friend as she tried her best to ease the yellow Pegasi that had buried her head under her hooves. The turtle Imagin stood and watched.
“I…I… then he…” the young Pegasus tried to speak, but everything started to get caught in her throat.
“Fluttershy!” Twilight nudged her butterfly-marked friend. “What happened?”
“I …I found him near my home… he said he was looking for his friends…” Fluttershy continued. “I told him I would help him… and then he…he…” she buried herself deeper into her hooves, her cheeks shining a shade of orange.
“Fluttershy?”
“He used me…and when the mail carrier came…he…he…” the memory of all the mares she had met that day started to flood her mind, her orange filled cheek grew deeper. She had never done such things with a stallion, not to mention other mares. “I…I…”
“Miss Fluttershy?”
The sudden familiar voice caused stillness in the young Pegasus – slowly she lifted her head toward the source, her face was stained with tears of embarrassment. Standing there was the sandified turtle Imagin, looking down at her. Fluttershy lowered her head closer to the ground, unsure what he was going to do to her next.
“I wanted to apologize to you.”
The young mare lifted her head slightly so that she could be closer to eye level, “Really?”
“It was just that…” he brought his hand to his temple, trying to find the right words, “It was just that you reminded me so much of my sister.”
“Sister?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yes, my sister, Mi,” the sound of his breathing became shallow. “she was my older sister, I was very young when she…” he couldn’t find the strength to finish his sentence.
“She was a girl with some, um, interesting tastes.” He continued as he looked over the young mare’s figure, “When I first saw you, I couldn’t help myself, you just brought back so many wonderful memories of her.” he “sat” himself down next to the yellow pony on the ground, his hand covering his mouth.
“Urataros…”
“I guess all I wanted to do, was to relive some of those happy moments with her again.” the sand Imagin continued, “I just wanted to return to some that better time with my sister, even if they were just lies I was telling to myself…” he turned his head away from the young mare. “I just hope, that one day, you will forgive me; or at the very least, I hope that you could forgive a young turtle that just wishes for things to return to what they once were.” He finished; letting little droplets fall down the side of his face.
“WAAAAH!!! Mi!!!” Momotaros dug his face into his forearm, tears streaming down the side of his cheeks. “I forgive you, you perverted turtle freak!!!” he cried with all he had.
“You know he’s lying, right Momo!” Ryuuta looked over at the older Imagin with crossed arms.
The red Imagin let this sink in for a bit, his arm fell to his side. “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU PERVERETED TURTLE F-!!”
“It’s okay Urataros.” Fluttershy reached out a hoof to the turtle Imagin. “I forgive you.” she said with a soft smile.
“Thank you Miss Fluttershy.” he slowly looked back over to the young mare, giving her a soft smile of his own. “That means a lot to me.”
“Rainbow Dash!” the young pony turned her head to her fellow Pegasi friend. “Are you okay?”
“Y-yeah, I‘m okay.” Dash cleared her throat, a tint of purple still across her face. “Just a little surprised, that’s all.” she gently caressed her wings back to the side of her body.
“That’s good.” Fluttershy smiled.
“First it was Me and Momotaros; then Rainbow Dash with Ryuutaros; and now Fluttershy and this Urataros.” Twilight thought to herself, she watched as her Pegasi friend was introduced to the other Imagin. “That’s just way too many to be just a coincidence.” She continued on her train of thought. “Is it possible that maybe that-?”
“Good morning Miss Twilight Sparkle!” The young unicorn spun around to the familiar voice. Standing behind her, with her green eyes, was the party pony of Ponyville. She stood there smiling her usual smile as her straightened hair laid over her shoulders. The one green strain of mane was placed behind her ear.
“Um, good morning to you too Pinkie Pie.” the violet mare smiled at her friend; her eyes traveled down as something caught her attention on the ground. “What’s with the basket?”
“That’s easy Miss Sparkle.” the pink earth pony smiled as she reached for the basket down on the ground. “I made candy for everyone!” the young mare let out the biggest smile she could manage with the wooden handle in her mouth, it was filled with candy.
“Candy?” Rainbow Dash walked over, “When did Sugar Cube Corner start making candy?
“Why, today is special of course Miss Dash.” the green eyed pony started to walk to each of her three friends, reaching into her basket to give each one of them a piece.
“Thanks Pinkie.” Fluttershy smiled, gently taking the earth pony’s treat.
“Not a problem Miss Shy,” the pink earth pony stuck her head into the basket, counting to see how many pieces had remained. “I would do anything for friends!” her eyes started to dart around, looking at the three ponies in front of her. She gave them all a huge smile.
“Well thanks Pinkie!” Twilight smiled at her friend as she looked down at the wrapped candy, it was wrapped in an image of some sort of green bird. “This is what I need right now,” Twilight thought as she started using unraveling the piece in her hand, “I just need a little bit of Pinkie Pie just being herself, to return some form of normalcy into the situation.” she placed the candy into her mouth.
“PLEASE BE YUUTO’S FRIEND!!” the three ponies then spewed out any trace of candy from their mouth. They stood still watching as their friend was laying her head to the ground, begging them.
“Come again Pinkie?” Dash asked her friend questioningly, her tongue working on her lips; trying to taste what little of the candy that she was able to enjoy.
“I KNOW WE ONLY JUST MET, BUT YOU ALL SEEM LIKE REAL NICE PONIES!” the young mare begged, “Would you please be Yuuto’s friend?” she leaned her head back a little, her green eyes shaking as her lip quivered.
“I…um…sure, Pinkie.” Fluttershy spoke up softly, still shocked at the pink mare’s outburst. “But…who is Yuuto?”
The area fell quiet as the three mares locked eyes with their friend. No pony dared to make a sound as they tried to put a hoof on the situation. It was Twilight that decided to ask a question that could solve their next couple of problems.
“Pinkie Pie, are you-?”
“Odebu?” the pink mare’s head snapped up at the sound of that name - turning her head around, she could see the source; three sand figures standing behind her.
“Momotaros! Urataros! Ryuutaros!” the light in the pair of green eyes gleam, as a smile spread across her face. In a flash of green light, a new figure was standing in between them. The being stood in the sand-like, his body mostly hidden by his cloak, the only part of him that showed was his face; his face to resembled an eagle.
“DENEB!!” the dragon Imagin was the first to speak up, the three of them running over to next missing member of their group. Words were shared; the eagle-faced creature gave a bow of apology.
“I should have known,” Twilight shook her head, but she was happy that they were starting to reunite friends back together. “Pinkie!” Twilight’s head snapped up, “Pinkie, are you okay???” this brought the two Pegasus’ concentration back to their friend, their eyes resting on the pink pony.
“Mmmm, Deneb, I’m happy and all that you found your friends and all,” the voice of the pink earth pony spoke. “But, are you going to make more of this delicious Deneb Candy?” her head popped out of the basket, her face covered in chocolate smears and such; she flipped the basket to show that it was empty, she wore a pleading smile.
The sand being that was once a part of her body spun around to look at her in the face. “Why of course Ms. Pie,” the cloaked Imagin smile. “As thanks for all your help, I’ll make a special batch of candy just for you.” with hands crossed into his lap, Deneb gave the pink pony a bow of respect.
“YAY!!!” the pink pony leapt into the air, she was very happy for the news as she started to hop around the group of seven.
“Candy??” the Oni Imagin piped up. “Why is she the only one that gets your candy?”
“I want some of Deneb’s candy as well?” Ryuuta spoke up, a pleading look in his own dragon face.
The eagle Imagin rubbed the back of his head at the sight. “Why, of course.” Deneb gave them a smile. “I’ll make enough candy for everyone!”
“YAY!!!” the two Imagin pumped their fists into the air with excitement.
“Pinkie Pie?” Twilight spoke to catch her friend’s attention as she started her fourth round trip.
“Yes?” the pink mare’s body stopped in mid-air, slowly landing softly onto the ground.
“You sure are taking this situation pretty well.”
“Well duuuuuh!!!” She exclaimed with one of her pinkie keen smiles. “I’ve known about Deneb and them for weeks.” she said, never breaking her mood.
“Weeks?” the turtle Imagin was startled by the word as he turned his attention to his butler-like friend. “Have you been here for that long?”
“N-no, I haven’t.” Deneb looked back with a confused expression of his own. “I only just met her yesterday at the Sugar Cube Corner.”
“Really?” Urataros asked, his hand rising up to his chin. “Interesting,” his eyes returned to the pink pony - whom just returned to what she was doing before; just being Pinkie Pie.
“Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pink…!” Twilight’s eyes turned to the pink hopping pony; she was out of it, she was hopping away in her own little world. “Okay…Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy!” the lavender mare turned her attention to the two Pegasus. “I think we should go find the others.”
“Why Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, turning her gaze to her friend.
“Well, if my theory is correct, then I do believe that--”
“ARF!!!”
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!”
Twilight was gone, leaving the two ponies staring in astonishment of her sudden disappearance.
“Where did Twilight go?” Dash turned to her yellow friend for some answers.
“I don’t know,” she answered with a confused look as well. “But I think I heard…”
“GET THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!!!”
All attention of the remaining people in the area was focused on a tree not too far away. Struggling to climb up the tree was a familiar purple unicorn; trying her hardest to get away from a brown and white dog that stood at the trunk.
“You’re afraid of dogs?” the voice echoed in the young mare’s head, a small giggle soon followed after.
“SHUT UP YOU HORN HORSE FREAK!” Momo-Twilight shouted, her hooves struggling to pull her body up the tree. The dog below happily wagged his tail, barking at one of its owner’s friend.
“Hmm, you can hear my thoughts?” the voice of the unicorn questioned the Imagin that was using her body. “Very interesting.” the young mare made sure that she would write about that later on.
“SHUT UP AND HELP ME!!” Momotaros exclaimed, feeling what little grasp on the tree he had slipping away. “STUPID BODY!!” it was that moment, he learned that things are truly only missed when one no longer has them; he was missing his fingers. He fell to the ground below, to where the dog awaited with a smile.
“Winona, come here.” the young dog’s ears perked to its master’s voice, his legs taking off as fast as he could; leaving a lavender pony to her fall. “Now, go on back home.”
“um…Twilight?” the young mares and Imagin ran over to their fallen friend, the yellow Pegasi was the first to speak. “Are you okay?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yeah…Fluttershy right? I’m okay.” the Imagin possessed pony answered, rubbing the sore spot on her head from where she landed. “Where is it?” her eyes started to dart around the area. “Where’s the mutt?” Her eyes were filled with worry.
“Gone,” Dash tried her best to hold back a snicker. “I think that, that was-”
“Ooo, I like that music.” everyone turned their attention to the pink mare, whom was swaying her head to the music that played through her head.
“Um, excuse me, Miss Pinkie Pie? What music are you talking about?” the turtle Imagin spoke up. “I don’t hear any-” he soon stopped cold, something slowly falling to the ground catching his eye.
It was as if a light snow fall had started. Instead of frozen water, it was snowing white feathers instead. The two Pegasus watched in confusion as the feathers continued to drift slowly down around them. The earth pony continued to sway her head to the imaginary music that she heard. Twilight watched as a couple of feathers fell onto her hoof.
“Oh, no…” the red-eyed unicorn shuddered; feeling sick to the stomach, the Imagin fought back regurgitation. Her eyes slowly looked on ward; she saw a pony making her way to their direction.
“Ah, there you are my friends,” the earth pony spoke out in a regal voice, her golden mane gently resting on the soft scarf made of feathers that wrapped around her neck. She wore a soft smile on her face. Her eyes slowly moving across the forms that she was walking to; with eyes as white as her sclera.
“Apple…jack?” Rainbow Dash asked, completely taken back by the appearance of her friend.
“Even while I descend,” she carefully pulled back her hat, allowing it lay softly on her main. “I stand at the very top.” it was as if she stood under a shining spotlight, the white strands in her mane glowing radiantly in the sun.
“It is nice to see you my friends again, I was worried.” the young earth pony placed her hat back on her head. She lowered herself to her friends, her eyes pointing at the ground. “How have you be-?” she rose her gaze back up to everyone.
Standing in front of her was only her fellow ponies: the two Pegasus, a fellow earth pony that just wore her ever so warm smile, and a unicorn whose eyes returned to her purple coloring.
“Well… we found the bird freak…” Momotaros sighed depressingly as he walked with the other three Imagin.
“I wouldn’t have mind if we left him behind…” Urataros spoke up as he continued to walk away from the group of ponies.
“hah, Tori look funny.” Ryuuta walked along with them, the four Imagin walked forward, hoping to get away from their acquaintance.
“Friend one! Friend two!” the apple-marked pony reached forward into the direction of the fleeing sand figures. A flash of light emitted from her body, a swan like figure of sand gracefully drifting down, his eyes looking around, seeing the ponies own gaze looking back at him.
“Um, who are you?” Fluttershy gently asked the new visitor.
“My name is Sieg” the swan-like being spoke, lowering his body before the ponies in front of him. His head turned to the pony he had once been a part of. “I am very grateful for your services of helping me find my friends.”
“um, yeah…sure,” the earth pony pulled her hat back over her head. “not… a problem Sugar Cube.” Applejack said, her face flustered in a reddish color; she wasn’t too fond of her image from just a minute ago.
The group was quiet; the apple-marked pony lifted her hat to take a look at her friends. None of her friends had an expression she was expecting, her eyes traveled between them hoping to find an answer.
“Alright now, why don’t y’all look surprised?” Applejack questioned.
“One sec,” Twilight spoke up. “Momotaros!” she called out.
“Yeah?” the group of Imagins was far off, but still with in distance of sound. With a sigh of depression, the Oni Imagin made his way back to the ponies; followed by the other three. “What do you want?”
“Whoa!” the earth pony just stared in awe as the group of similar sand creatures came closer. “That sure explains that.”
“Momo,” the lavender mare turned her gaze to the sand creature. “How many of your friends are left?”
“eh, Only one is left,” Momotaros met the unicorn’s gaze. “that stupid bear, probably off sleeping in some dirty old cave somewhere.” he crossed his arms, nodded to himself in agreement.
“Oh, no,” Twilight sweat dropped. “this can’t be good.” she could feel the mane on the back of neck start to stand up.
“I don’t understand, what do you mean?” Fluttershy tilted her head to her friend; she was lost from the unicorn’s reaction.
“There are six of us,” Twilight slowly spoke looking about her friends, “and there are six of these Imagins,” she said, tilting her head to the five sand creatures that was with them.
“I don’t follow?” Rainbow Dash spoke up, a confused look on her face. The group was then filled with a chuckle from a fellow earth pony.
“Ah’m sorry,” the apple bucker spoke, trying her best to suppress her laughing fit. “Ah think I know what Twi’ is talking about.”
“Yes, and if it’s as Momo says,” Twilight continued, her eyes looking down at the sand creature. “This is very bad.”
“Eh?” the Oni Imagin looked at the young mare. “You know where the stupid bear is?”
“Yes, it’s more than a hunch right now,” Twilight answered, “I think we should go find Rari-”
“LOOK, THERE GOES RARITY!!” the attention of the group was snatched by Pinkie Pie. The young mare stood there with her back and head straightened out in a line, her hoof was pointing into a not too far off direction.
It was a dust cloud that was moving swiftly through the streets of Ponyville, it was heading into the direction of the Carousel Boutique. The one that was causing the cloud of dust couldn’t be made out; her figure was obstructed by something large and yellow.
“HEY RARITY!!!” Rainbow Dash yelled at the top of her lungs, hoping to get some form of reaction out of the speeding pony. She did get a reaction.
The pony tried its hardest to stop at the speed that it was going, her hooves grinded at the ground, but her grasp on the object on her back stayed tight. Her body started to slow down as her figure kept disappearing and reappearing as it went pass buildings.
Her body finally stopped, just barely visible between two homes that laid in between. At the distance, not much could be said about the details of her appearance, just that it was a white pony carrying something large on her back. The dust cloud finally settled down.
“Rarity?” Applejack stood there is surprise; she had no idea how to explain what she just saw of the dress-making pony do. The figure in the distant started to make her move again.
“I think it would be wise that we moved from this spot.” all attention was brought to the turtle Imagin. The sand form Urataros stood there as he looked up into the sky, his eyes filled with fear. Everyone’s eyes turned to the sky.
Something was coming into their direction, and a shadow started to grow around them. It continued to grow bigger as it came closer. It was falling into their direction.
“THAT STUPID BEAR!”
Everyone in the area started to dash off into a different direction, away from the growing shadow; everyone but one earth pony.
“PINKIE PIE, GET OUT OF THE WAY!!” Rainbow Dash called out to her friend. The pink mare did nothing; she just sat in her spot as the shadow grew around her. She continued to watch it get closer to her; a smile grew on her face.
SMASH! Everypony in the area just watched in shock.
The object that fell from the sky was stopped; the one to stop its fall was a white unicorn, whom stopped it with her own two front hooves. Pinkie Pie just smiled at her friend, she somehow knew that she was going to be safe.
With a grunt the white mare moved the large object in her hooves so that she could lean it against her shoulder. The object itself was just rolled up yellow cloth, but their seemed to be enough of it that it could of weighed enough to be almost as heavy as a boulder. Letting it rest against her shoulder, the young mare used it to prop up against it as she looked down at the pink earth pony.
“My strength…” with a free hoof she used it to turn her head to make a large cracking sound from her neck. “it has made you cry.” with another crack of her neck, Rarity gave her friend a smile.
“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ABOUT, YOU STUPID BEAR!!!” Momotaros came out running at the diamond marked pony.
“Ah, Momochi!!!” the young mare’s yellow eyes turned to look at her friend, the blue mane that was tied in a pig tail falling of her shoulder; it had a large streak of yellow running through it. “I was busy exercising my strength for Rarity.” she spoke with her stern face.
“YOU WHAT?!?!”
“Heh,” the possessed unicorn smiled. “She ordered some of this fabric from a town five days over,” she gave a smirk. “I went and received it in less than two days.” as the voice of the Imagin said that, he let the large roll of cloth fall onto his back; the young mare’s body did not dare to react, as if it wasn’t affected by the shift of extra weight. The young mare slapped her face with both hooves, just to show how strong she was.
“Well that would definitely explain why Kintaros here wasn’t making his usual mess.” Urataros approached from behind, he was followed soon by the others.
“Are these your friends?” the voice of Kintaros asked, his eyes moving about watching as he was being surrounded by more mares.
“Why yes Kintaros, these are my dearest friends.” the voice rang through the young mare’s mind.
“They look like a group of strong ponies,” the bear Imagin spoke aloud with a hardy chuckle, his eyes moving from one pony to another. “Especially one more than the others.” her yellow eyes locked onto the pair of green eyes that stood not too far from him; Applejack couldn’t help but sweat drop under his gaze.
“So Momo,” Twilight turned her attention to the Oni-sand Imagin. “Is that all your friends?”
“Yeah, that’s all the idiots,” Momotaros snorted.
“So, um, Sugar Cube?” Applejack turned to look at the lavender mare. “What are we going to do now?”
All eyes turned the star-marked pony. Twilight started to look around, her mind trying to come up with the best plan of action. Nearly half a minute went by before she spoke.
“I think it is best if we returned to the library for now,” Twilight finally answered, “there is a theory that I need to test out.”
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TDarkchylde
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844
| 1 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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The Eternal Storm
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The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
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complete
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<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
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teen
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2011-09-30T16:48:19+00:00
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2011-09-30T16:48:19+00:00
| 4,538 |
The Eternal Storm
A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic
Written by T. Darkchylde
Prologue
The Elements' power was realized.
The manifestation of their power found its target.
Nightmare Moon was gone, leaving only Princess Luna remaining.
Celestia was freed from her prison of the Sun.
Apologies were exchanged and forgiveness was granted.
The Royal Sisters of Equestria were reunited after 1,000 years.
...
But the Nightmare was not gone. It couldn’t be destroyed by the Elements alone. Princess Celestia, as well as the greatest minds in Equestria at the time, had simply thought the Nightmare to be an alternate personality of sorts, given life by the combination of Princess Luna’s power and irrational mental state leading to Equestria’s fling with Eternal Night.
They were wrong - dead wrong. If the Nightmare were such a thing, the Elements would have eliminated it forever. In actuality, the Nightmare was something worse, a malevolent force that fed on dark emotion and twisted its host into a perverted combination of host and Nightmare. It has existed since the start of Equestria, hungering to gain power and sow chaos. For millenia, it subsisted on lesser ponies and created mayhem. Of course, those hosts would eventually die and the Nightmare would be forced to find new ones. It existed this way for the longest time as simply a minor annoyance, so minor that even the sister Princesses did not realize it existed.
Then Princess Luna became distressed because ponies loved her sister's day but shunned her night. She began to envy her sister. Jealousy consumed her soul. That was the perfect opening, the one the Nightmare needed, and Luna and the Nightmare became intertwined for a millennium as Nightmare Moon. Even Luna didn't understand the true nature of the Nightmare while it was using her as a host. Of course, most of that millennium was spent with Luna banished to the Moon by her sister, using the Elements of Harmony.
And upon the Nightmare's return, it was banished again, this time by six ponies representing the Elements themselves.
So the Nightmare waited, lingering free for over a year.
Without Princess Luna's personality to shape its own, it lost its drive for eternal night... but it was still sentient enough to know what it truly wanted.
Power.
Revenge.
To destroy all life on Equestria.
It knew it had to eliminate the threat that the Elements of Harmony posed to it.
It studied the ponies who held the Elements.
It came to understand them better than they understood themselves.
It learned their strengths and weaknesses.
It learned who would resist and who would succumb quickly.
And then it formed a brilliant scheme...
Chapter 1 - A Paragon’s Sacrifice
The unassuming pegasus pony flew in to his job, that of cloud creation in Cloudsdayle. It was a very mundane job, but it was enough to keep his family fed. He had failed his flight testing as a child, meaning he would never acheive his dream of becoming a Wonderbolt. He wouldn't even be able to land a job on a weather team with his abysmal scores, leaving him very few options. The cloud factory was the only option that would keep him in his hometown. Though he had taken to his work in the cloud city, he still felt like he could have been much more. No matter how much he thought he had come to grips with his life, that feeling still ate at his heart and soul.
And that made him the perfect tool for Phase One. He suspected nothing as he changed course. "If they won't let me fly free," he thought to himself, "no one will." The thought didn't seem out of the ordinary at all to him, even though it was a total reversal from normal. He flew onward into the factory towards its center. This was an area he didn't have clearance for, for the fiercest clouds came from here. Whenever Equestria needed a severe storm to balance out its ecosystem, this was where they spawned. Any other day, the magical security system would have rebuffed his efforts to enter... but today, he got in as though he belonged there. He sealed the door behind himself, then disabled the locks. He would have the time he needed to execute his plan.
A single control panel stood in the center of the room. "I'll create a catastrophic storm," he thought. "Winds will lash out so violently, nopony will be left in the air. Even those fools who think themselves safe on the ground will not escape its wrath. Those stupid enough to remain will die... suits them right. Collateral damage sometimes cannot be avoided." He silently worked the controls. A heavy rainstorm would not be enough. Gale force winds? Insufficient. No, the absolute full fury of nature was called for here.
However, he misstepped. By turning the controls past a certain point, an alarm was activated that roused the attention of the factory's boss. He turned to look at the monitors and saw the pegasus working the controls. "Security, make your way to the Severe Storm Room. We have an intruder," he calmly said into a microphone. He looked closely at the pony, and realized who it was. Knowing his record, he quickly slammed his hoof on a button on his desk.
At that point, an alarm rang out and a voice called out over the loudspeaker. "Solarchaser? You're not supposed to be in there! Explain yourself now!"
"You will not die, Boss..." Solarchaser thought, remaining calm, "...but you will live knowing your factory will be responsible for wiping an entire town of ponies off the map. How will it feel? Will you kill yourself, perhaps? I hope not. I hope the guilt crushes you enough so that you wish to die... but you become too apathetic to end yourself." He kept working, dialing up the intensity of the storm he was creating. Somehow he knew that his creation would lose some intensity before it reached its target, so he had to max it out.
"SOLARCHASER?!" the voice frantically called. "What are you doing in there? The readings are off the scale! GUARDS! Get him out of there and stop him!"
“The door’s jammed,” one of the guards stated as they tried to get into the Severe Storm Room. “We’re already working on breaking it open.”
"This is what you get for flunking me during my flight test," Solarchaser stated, calm malice oozing from his voice as he continued working the controls. If there were a category of hurricane higher than five, this storm would comfortably fit into it. The entirety of Cloudsdayle began to shake from the force of the storm forming below.
"W-what?" the boss replied.
"Your error has doomed all of ponykind. Setting course... Ponyville," Solarchaser calmly said as he completed the commands and disabled the overrides. "Your daughter's adopted hometown, am I right? Rest assured, she will die quickly. Her little cloud mansion will be torn from the sky before she even knows what's going on. Then the storm will simply move on to the next town... you do have a sister in Manehattan, correct? Or perhaps I should send it towards your mother-in-law in Fillydelphia... no, perhaps not that way. You might actually want to see her die, and I can’t give you the satisfaction." In truth, Solarchaser had planned revenge after failing his flight exam and learned everything he could about his hated instructor turned hated boss. He had just never felt like acting on that information before. As wrong as the words coming out of his mouth were, today they only felt right.
The psychological assault stunned the factory boss. "...Solarchaser... I'm sorry for what happened at the flight academy all those years ago, but you need to stop this," he pleaded. "You just weren't good enough then. I had to do my job."
"Wrong answer. Execute," Solarchaser said calmly, smiling sickly as he set the storm loose.
The storm left Cloudsdayle and headed slowly but surely toward its target.
After a few minutes spent breaking the locks, the guards entered the central control room. What they found were the controls set beyond full bore and broken off there, and an unconscious Solarchaser. "Sir," one of them reported, "the saboteur is in custody and unconscious. Alert the Mayor of Ponyville."
The loudspeaker crackled back to life. "I already have Telegraph coming to help me relay the message. Just how bad is that storm?"
"It's bad, Sir," the guard said. "It's completely off the scale. When it hits Ponyville, the town will be completely obliterated... and we can't stop it from here. The best we can do is slow it down so Ponyville’s citizens can evacuate..."
"Do it," the boss said over the loudspeaker. He cut it off, then put his head in his hooves and wept until Telegraph arrived.
Everypony failed to notice a black mist seeping through the factory floor.
..::OoOoOoO::..
It didn't take long for the message to reach the Mayor. For a moment, she was shell-shocked. "A hurricane?" she asked. "Why?"
The boss of the Cloudsdayle weather factory just sighed. "It wasn't scheduled," he said. "One of our junior employees went into the Severe Storm Room. He set loose a powerful storm, so powerful that it can't just be broken apart by your town's weather team. We cut off the steering currents, to try to give you as much time as possible to evacuate... but ambient winds will have it there in six hours, regardless."
"Why would somepony do such a thing?" the Mayor asked, shaken.
"Well, the employee is unconscious, so we can't exactly ask him," the boss lied. "When I was observing him in the Storm Room, he appeared to be acting in a cold and calculated manner. I can't rule out at this time that it may have been a deliberate act toward your town."
The Mayor sat speechless for a few seconds. "You mean an attack?" she finally asked, weakly.
"When I know, you'll know," the boss said, trying to reassure the Mayor - though his gruff voice wasn't making that effort easy. "I've also sent word to the Princesses. They have Canterlot's resources on standby to render assistance. Beyond that... I don't know what to say."
"I'll get our disaster plan in motion," she said as she walked over to the wall. "Just let me know when you find out why this happened," she said as she signaled to a nearby unicorn.
The unicorn cut the telepathic projection. "Mayor... do we even have a plan for something like this?" he asked.
"Relay... there is a plan. Don't worry. I have one more task for you, then I need you to head to the designated shelter," she said. "They never said being mayor would be easy," she thought as she smashed a glass case. She removed a megaphone from the case, turned it on, then took a deep breath as she signaled Relay.
Relay's horn started to glow, then the glow enveloped the megaphone. "It's ready, ma'am."
The Mayor started speaking into the megaphone loudly and deliberately. "This is not a drill! Disaster leaders, get the shelter plans in motion! Weather teams, report to emergency positions, now! Everypony else needs to pack whatever they need for survival and those things that can not be replaced and evacuate the town immediately! There is a shelter opening near Sweet Apple Acres for those ponies with nowhere else to go. Pets should be brought to Fluttershy's Cottage for transport to an animal shelter in Fillydelphia. This is a Priority Red weather alert! Repeating... this is not a drill!"
With Relay's enchantment, the Mayor's words were resonating in the ears of everypony in and around town...
..::OoOoOoO::..
Of course, our intrepid heroes were putting their own plans into action once they heard the Mayor's message. Over at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was bucking the last few apple trees she had time to clear. Her family was responsible for bringing food to the shelter area, for those ponies who couldn't bring their own.
"Ah've got the last of 'em done over here!" a red stallion called out from across the expansive farm.
"Great, Big Macintosh," Applejack yelled back over the escalating wind. "Get 'em into the cart, grab Granny and Apple Bloom and get yerself outta here! Ah'll be done in a minute or two here and meet you at the shelter!"
"Eeyup!" Big Macintosh replied as he kicked the last few apples in and hooked himself to his cart. "Whose bright idea was it to schedule a hurricane anyways?"
"Ain't got no idea, and don't much care right now! Go!" Applejack shouted as her rear hooves landed squarely on the tree and its bounty tumbled into the cart.
..::OoOoOoO::..
At the same time, high over Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was mobilizing the weather team. "Okay, you all know the drill!" she called out. "We've got a hurricane coming, and no time to lose! You already know your assignments for emergencies, so... Red Team, buck the clouds around Ponyville. If we get them out of the way the storm can't suck up their moisture. Green Team, start churning some dry wind in here from the west! That will weaken it further."
The assembled pegasi began to mumble to each other. Only a few of them had ever dealt with a storm of this magnitude in their lifetimes, much less had to prepare for one as members of the weather team.
"Look, guys, I'm worried too," Dash said. "The best we can do at this point is damage control. If it gets too harsh out there for you to do your job, then fly to the shelter. Try to stay close to the ground when you do. I believe in you... Ponyville believes in you."
The murmurs stopped. One of the pegasi spoke up. "What will you be doing, Rainbow Dash?" she asked.
"What I always do," Dash said quietly, fierce determination filling her voice. "The impossible."
The weather pegasi erupted into a cheer, feeding off of Rainbow Dash's determination.
"That's what I want to hear!" Dash cried out. "Let's move!"
Half of the team scattered around to buck clouds in the storm's path. The other half darted off to the west as swiftly as their wings would carry them.
Once they were all gone, Rainbow Dash sighed. "I'm sorry, guys," she said softly as she flew toward the incoming storm.. “We just don’t have the time for your parts of the plan to work. What I have to do, I can’t have you guys trying to stop...”
..::OoOoOoO::..
"Oooh, I've never been in a hurricane before!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she packed up her personal belongings. The Cakes had already packed up the rest of the day's food and headed towards the shelter. "Maybe we could throw a party at the shelter! Yay, hurricane party!"
"Pinkie, dear, are you sure that's a good idea?" Rarity asked, helping Pinkie to pack faster. She had already fortified the Boutique for the storm, and Sweetie Belle was out of town with Scootaloo, thankfully already out of harm's way. She had time to give to help her friends before heading towards the Carousel Boutique's new Manehattan location. "Most of the ponies in the shelter will be worried enough about what they've left here."
Pinkie's face contorted into a confused look. "Rarity, you can be so silly sometimes!" she said as she perked back up. "When everything's at its worst, that's the best time to lift ponies' spirits with a party! But we do need to hurry, Fluttershy's about to finish packing up the animals to go to the Fillydelphia shelter, and I've really, really got to be sure Gummy's safe."
Rarity smiled weakly. "I guess somepony has to see the bright side in all this." She levitated the last of Pinkie Pie's stuff into a saddlebag and shut it. "And you're right, we should hurry. I do wish to see Opalescence off before we evacuate." As fate would have it, Fluttershy had already been taking care of Rarity's beloved cat overnight.
The two left Sugarcube Corner, itself having been boarded up by the Cakes before they left. As they trotted toward Fluttershy's cottage, they ran into Twilight Sparkle.
"Oh, hi girls," Twilight said. She noticed Gummy clinging to Pinkie Pie's tail. "Fluttershy's about to leave any minute, you two need to hurry."
"Spike's going with Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie asked, seeing that the young dragon wasn't alongside Twilight. "Maybe he can keep Gummy company on the trip so he won't feel lonely!"
"I mentioned it," Twilight said, bracing herself as the wind picked up, "but he didn't want to hear any of it. He's still at the library, waiting for me to get back. I did have to go there to drop off Owlowiscious, though... maybe he can keep Gummy company. Besides, I do need Spike with me in case the Princess contacts me with instructions."
"Come to think of it," Rarity said, "a dragon can survive almost anything. He'd probably be the last one standing if... if..." She started sobbing silently. "Oh, what will I do if this storm destroys the Boutique?"
Pinkie Pie put a foreleg around Rarity's shoulder for support. A serious expression crept onto her face. "It'll be ok. Places can be rebuilt... ponies can’t. We should hurry before Fluttershy leaves. Be safe, Twilight!" she said as she waved.
"Yep!" Twilight called out as her friends departed swiftly to Fluttershy's. "You too!"
As she turned to go back to her library, she glanced up at the sky and saw a rainbow-colored streak flying high in the sky... heading straight towards the storm in the distance. "Rainbow Dash? Why is she flying towards... oh no... oh no, what is she thinking?!" she thought to herself as she launched into a full gallop toward her library.
..::OoOoOoO::..
"There you go, all packed in for the ride," Fluttershy said as she started hooking herself to a covered wagon. Her part of the plan was well in motion - those animals that could fend for themselves for a few days had already fled to the Everfree Forest. The rest would travel with her to a small shelter just outside Fillydelphia. The shelter set up in Ponyville wouldn't take animals after the last time, when five rabbits entered and thirty-five left. If that particular disaster had lasted just twelve more hours, there wouldn't have been enough food.
"Hey! Fluttershy! Wait for us!" Pinkie Pie called out from the distance.
"Yes, please wait just a moment more," Rarity said, almost out of breath. "I need to see Opalescence off, after all!"
"Oh, hello Rarity. Hello Pinkie Pie," Fluttershy said as she turned toward her two spent friends. "I was waiting for you two, I wouldn't have dreamed of leaving Gummy behind or not letting you say goodbye, Rarity."
Rarity breathed heavily as she made it over to the wagon. "Opal, thank goodness I--"
As Gummy let go of Pinkie Pie's tail and latched onto Fluttershy's mane, both ponies looked over to the wagon.
There, they would see Opal clinging angrily to Rarity's face. "I guess I didn't need to go out this far after all, Opal's in good hands. Fluttershy, would you be a dear and..." Rarity said as she pointed to the irate cat on her head.
"Oh, sure, Rarity," Fluttershy said as she worked on coaxing Opal back into the covered wagon.
Pinkie Pie was trying her hardest to hold back a giggle. "You made her day, Rarity!" she said as she lost control and erupted into an unstoppable giggling fit.
"Yes..." Rarity sarcastically said as Fluttershy got the cat free. "I'm glad you have the situation in hand, Fluttershy, but I need to hurry along!" she said as she turned to take the path to Manehattan.
"Be safe," Fluttershy weakly yelled to Rarity. She turned to Pinkie Pie and said, "You should get to the shelter before it gets too bad out here."
"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie Pie said, waving to Fluttershy as she bounced off in the shelter's direction. "You be careful too! We can't have an after-hurricane party after this if we're not all okay!" she shouted.
Fluttershy had already turned to bring the wagon to Fillydelphia. "Count on it," she said softly as she loaded Gummy into the wagon for the long trip.
..::OoOoOoO::..
High in the tempestuous skies between Ponyville and Cloudsdayle, Rainbow Dash had already come up with a half-baked plan to try to break up the storm. She wouldn't let Ponyville be destroyed on her watch. She was being driven by her sense of loyalty.
She was so focused on the storm, she didn't see a cloud of black mist streaking past her. All that she cared about was the massive collection of rain, clouds and wind looming ahead.
The hurricane itself was small in size, but powerful. It was precision-crafted for a single purpose, after all - to level Ponyville. Of course, Rainbow Dash didn't know the intent behind it.
All she knew was that she had to stop it... whatever the cost.
..::OoOoOoO::..
Twilight Sparkle rushed into the library, nearly knocking the door down in her haste. "Spike! I need to get a message to Princess Celestia! Now!" she screamed as she rummaged through the shelves for one book in particular.
"What? What happened, Twilight?" Spike asked, recognizing the serious tone Twilight was using. He knew right away something was terribly wrong.
"Rainbow Dash is flying straight toward the storm!" she yelled.
"Yikes! Start talking, I'll write it down," Spike said as he rummaged for a scroll and a quill.
Almost on autopilot, Twilight began reciting the letter. "Dear Princess Celestia - We have a situation here in Ponyville. No doubt you have been informed about the storm coming our way. The problem we have now is that Rainbow Dash is heading toward the storm. I think she intends to stop it herself, but she has no idea just how severe it is! Please, I need advice, and I need it in a hurry! Signed, Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. Send it!"
"Your faithful student... Twilight Sparkle..." Spike said as he finished the letter, then incinerated it with his fire breath. He didn't even bother to roll it back up first.
"Thanks, Spike... do you know where Telepathy for Dummies is?" she asked as she continued rifling through the bookshelves.
As Spike was about to answer, he felt a pressure building up within his stomach, and burped out a flame. A letter appeared in the fire, and he quickly read it. "My faithful student - This is a serious situation. Even if you could cast a flight spell on yourself in a hurry, I doubt you could reach Rainbow Dash in time. Try a direct telepathy spell and see if you can talk her out of it. If you can't, get a doctor on standby - Dash could be seriously hurt, if not killed by this storm, and I have a bad feeling about this whole thing. The book you're looking for is under 'E'. Signed, Princess Celestia."
"E?" Twilight muttered as she checked that section - sure enough, E, for ESP. “I swear, I should just start putting every book in this place under ‘E’!” she yelled as she dropped the book to the floor. As she slid down the ladder, the book opened to the page she was looking for - Voice-to-Mind Projection (No-Consent Variant.)
As Twilight read the spell, her horn began to glow and she began sweating from the exertion of the unfamiliar spell. "Rainbow Dash... come on Dash, answer me..."
..::OoOoOoO::..
"...come on Dash, answer me..."
Rainbow Dash stopped in midair as she heard Twilight Sparkle's voice. "Twilight? Where are you?" she asked as she looked around.
"Thank goodness. I thought you might have gotten hurt. Don't look for me, I'm speaking directly into your mind," Twilight said. "Don't talk to respond, just think. It's easier. What are you thinking, flying into that storm?!"
"Uhm, okay..." Rainbow muttered as she began to think back at Twilight's voice. "I'm not thinking about anything. I know I can't just buck this storm apart - but I do know I can stop that storm with a Sonic Rainboom."
Twilight's voice sounded shocked in reply. "A Sonic Rainboom? Even if you could pull one off here and now with no preparation whatsoever, the storm itself would rip you apart! Don't do this, please!"
Rainbow sighed. "Look, Twilight... I have to try. I'm already starting to feel what it can do, and I'm only halfway to it. If it reaches Ponyville, the entire town will be wiped off the map. No questions asked, just gone. Everything we've worked for, everything everypony has - it'll be as if none of that ever existed. Please, don't try and stop me. Don't talk me out of it. You don't even have to like it - .just try and understand why I have to do this. You can read my thoughts right now, so do it."
"Rainbow Dash..." Twilight just said as she did as her friend asked, reading her thoughts. What she could sense was loyalty above all else. Loyalty toward her friends, loyalty toward her weather team... loyalty towards Ponyville itself. She would give everything she had to protect the town, her time, energies...
...Even her life. Rainbow Dash was willing to die to protect Ponyville, if that's what it took. Even if she failed, she had to give her all trying. To do otherwise... wasn't even an option. It was all or nothing, and this situation called for her all and then some.
"...I understand, Dash," Twilight said, sadly. "I'll tell Princess Celestia your plan, then I'm bringing Spike and a doctor with me and I'll meet you at the storm itself. If it does tear you apart, we'll try to put you back together."
"I'll be fine, relax!" Rainbow Dash thought before adding, "...Of course, if I'm not, I'll be in the best hands."
"You say that now, just wait until Princess Celestia banishes you, then throws you in a dungeon in the place you get banished to for trying this crazy stunt!" Twilight said, disguising her fear that this plan really wouldn't work. She was thankful that only her voice was being projected. "...But seriously, be careful. If you think at any time that you can't do it, get out of there!"
Rainbow Dash began ascending higher into the sky, to get the proper angle for her plan. "I can do this... but thanks for your concern. You are a good friend, Twilight Sparkle. Don't ever think otherwise," she thought. “Now could you please get out of my head so I can focus?”
..::OoOoOoO::..
Twilight Sparkle broke off contact. Time was short. "Spike, please take another letter, then you're with me," she said as she shut the book on telepathy and packed it into her saddlebag. She began to recite the letter. "Dear Princess Celestia - I contacted Rainbow Dash, and her plan is to try to break the storm apart with a Sonic Rainboom. I am unsure if her plan will work, but I cannot stop her at this stage. She is being driven by her loyalty to her friends and to Ponyville itself and I am loathe to disagree with her decision on that basis. I am en route to the center of the storm with Spike. Have the best medical ponies in Canterlot on standby to receive both Rainbow Dash and myself and one ready to be teleported to my side - if the plan doesn't work, I do not intend to leave her out there to die. Signed, Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. Send it, quickly!" she finished as she grabbed a second book off the shelf and levitated it into her saddlebag.
Spike did as asked, and almost immediately, another letter from the Princess appeared. Wasting no time, he opened it and started to read. "My faithful student - The Elements of Harmony are a powerful force, and Loyalty has always been reckless like this in times of dire need. I do understand and respect her decision, however. Canterlot General is ready to receive you and Rainbow Dash if necessary. As you read this, I am already en route to the storm's center to help stabilize any wounded. I will not risk the doctors if I can do what's needed myself, and Luna can handle preparations in Canterlot just fine in my absence. Depart fast - we have no more time for discussion. Signed... whoa!"
Spike didn't even get a chance to finish the letter as Twilight Sparkle grabbed him in a telekinetic field and sprinted out of the library.
..::OoOoOoO::..
Rainbow Dash had reached the vertex of her climb, as high in the air as she dared to go. Even at these heights, she could feel the disturbed air beneath. It was definitely the full fury of Cloudsdayle manifest. Only the most malicious of souls would dare unleash this kind of storm on a town - especially one as unprotected as Ponyville.
All she cared about was that it was threatening her home. Everypony had probably fled the town at this point, so no lives would be lost... but in a way, lives would be lost. Those houses and shops in Ponyville were not just places, they were ponies' lives! They lived and worked in these places, made memories in these places, and came to care for these places. Life would be disrupted for months if not years if the storm struck. She wasn't about to let some freak force of nature tear that all down if she could help it.
...And she could. At least, in her mind, she could. When she had performed the first Sonic Rainboom as a filly, the cloud marker it occurred at completely vaporized. When the second one occurred only a few months previous, the few clouds unfortunate enough to be in the Rainboom's path shared the fate of the marker cloud. Put two and two together and even a fierce storm such as a hurricane should be no match. Or at least, that was her reasoning.
With that, she started to descend rapidly toward the ground. Her plan of attack was simple in theory, but was going to be almost impossible in execution. She would have to achieve a Sonic Rainboom to begin with - no easy feat as she herself had only managed it twice in her lifetime. She would have to deal with violently swirling winds as she descended, most of which would threaten to take her off course.
She would have to remain aimed at the storm's center. If she hit anywhere else and executed the Rainboom, the wind would tear her apart. She would also have to execute it at precisely the right time - right as she hit the center of the cloud cover. Too early or too late, and the clouds would not disperse properly. Even if it did knock out the vortex of wind, it would only serve to scatter the heavy rain clouds. Ponyville would still flood - its weather team could not handle rain clouds like these even if the hurricane-force winds dissipated.
As she descended into the heart of the storm, the winds began to threaten to knock her off-course. She fought back with every ounce of her being. The storm retaliated by tearing at her wings. Bones started to fracture. With seconds to go, she felt as though her wings were going to rip right off of her body.
She kept going, and against all odds, she was holding the right speed. She was close to breaking the sound barrier but not quite there, holding back just enough to turn it on at the right time. She fought the wind. The wind fought back. She was holding it to a stalemate.
Then she hit her mark as she broke into the storm's eye. The calm winds were enough to stop battering her abused wings. She turned and aimed herself straight down into it. She was close enough now to turn it on. And she did. Energy began to coalesce around her forehooves as the Sonic Rainboom started to form. Her battered wings were screaming for reprieve, but she pushed through the pain.
Instinct tends to tell a pegasus when it's the proper time to cut loose. She was closing in on it rapidly.
..::OoOoOoO::..
Twilight Sparkle teleported a short distance from the storm's center. She and Spike were wrapped inside a magical cocoon that would negate the wind and rain for a very brief time. She could see Princess Celestia flying in at the edge of her eyesight.
"Look! Up there!" Spike yelled, pointing to the storm's eye.
Twilight looked up and could barely make out a rainbow trail headed straight into it from above. Blue feathers were flying in the churning winds.
..::OoOoOoO::..
"Not there yet..."
"Not there yet..."
"Not... there... yet..." Rainbow Dash repeated as her wings were screaming in pain. Then she felt it. She was at the dead center of the storm.
It was time!
"NOW!"
With that one scream, the entire storm erupted in a blast of sound and rainbows, exploding from the center. The wind seemed to intensify for a brief moment, then ceased almost immediately. At that moment, Rainbow Dash tried to execute a turn so she wouldn't barrel into the ground at supersonic speeds.
Then her wings snapped and she blacked out...
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TDarkchylde
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844
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Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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The Eternal Storm
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The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
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complete
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<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
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teen
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2011-09-14T20:31:53+00:00
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2011-09-14T20:31:53+00:00
| 4,092 |
The Eternal Storm - Chapter 2 - Terrible Reality
"The Element of Magic. While her magical power is without peer among mere unicorns, her will is stronger still. She is a poor choice for a host... but her role will be crucial nonetheless."
Rainbow Dash was speeding towards the ground at unreal speeds. It would only be seconds until the only thing remaining of her would be a rainbow-patterned smear on the ground below.
Twilight Sparkle was determined not to allow that to be the case. Princess Celestia would not make it in time to assist her.
She had to act quickly to save her friend.
Her horn began to glow as she desperately tried to wrap Rainbow Dash in a levitation field. She had done this many times in the past - every unicorn's magical training began with simple telekinesis, after all.
Of course, this was far from simple. Twilight realized this as she felt the backlash from Dash's supersonic descent wrack her body. Her magic ebbed quickly.
It was certainly noticeable. "Twilight!" Spike yelled.
"I just don't have the power for this," she lamented as the strain forced her eyes to close. "Even trying to wrap a TK field around her feels like it's going to tear my horn off!"
"You've got to hold on!" Spike shouted as he looked towards the rapidly approaching alicorn. "Princess Celestia! Hurry, please!"
Even at her fastest, however, the Princess of the Sun was still too far away. Rainbow Dash would be but a memory by the time she could even begin to assist.
Just as Twilight was about to give up hope, as well as her grip on consciousness, a new thought entered her mind and new power flowed through her body.
"No. Rainbow Dash must live. The Princess is too far away... I can do this. I MUST do this!"
As her newfound power flowed around the careening Dash, she screamed as loud as her voice could manage.
"I WILL DO THIS!"
Rainbow Dash's limp form began to slow in the air as Twilight's power reached an impossible level, even dwarfing the outburst that landed her in Princess Celestia's tutelage. Not only did she have Rainbow Dash secure in a telekinetic field, she was actually able to bleed off her velocity both quickly and safely. She felt blood begin to trickle down her face as she labored on. Nothing would stop her, she felt as she continued slowing Rainbow Dash's fall.
With one final anguished scream, she gained full control over Rainbow Dash and lowered her to the ground. Just as Dash was safe, though, Twilight felt her power and her body give out.
Princess Celestia would arrive only a couple of minutes later to discover a broken but breathing Rainbow Dash, as well as a comatose Twilight Sparkle and a sobbing Spike cradling her.
"Twilight?" Spike pleaded between sobs. "Twilight, wake up, please! Wake up!!!"
The distraction allowed an eerily familiar black mist to streak off towards Canterlot unnoticed.
..::OoOoOoO::..
The all clear sounded in Ponyville as its residents began to emerge from the shelter.
Pinkie Pie was among the first to emerge. She was bouncing happily as usual - even the near-end of all life wouldn't put a damper on her spirits. "After-hurricane party at Sugarcube Corner tonight!" she exclaimed happily.
"Raincheck, sug?" Applejack wearily asked as she made her way outside. "Ah gotta make sure all the apple trees got thru this."
Both could hear a familar, regal voice speaking into their minds - the voice of the Princess of the Moon. "Ponyville needs a day or so to wind down, and I'm sure Big Macintosh can assess the damage. You're needed in Canterlot now," she said.
Each of the two Element Bearers gave the other the same puzzled look. "Wha?" they both asked in unison.
"Forgive the intrusion, but this really is important," Luna replied. Her mental voice was soft and guarded. "Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash are in Canterlot. My sister is making sure both are being taken care of. You need to get here. Quickly."
Both Applejack and Pinkie Pie sprinted quickly toward Canterlot as they heard the word "quickly."
"What about Fluttershy an' Rarity?" Applejack asked between breaths. "Somepony's gotta tell them too!"
"It's being taken care of," Luna said. "Please, hurry."
..::OoOoOoO::..
Celestia had finished relaying a similar message to both Fluttershy and Rarity. While she had instructed Fluttershy to come quickly, she had sent Rarity to meet up with Scootaloo's parents. She was unsure if either Rainbow Dash or Twilight Sparkle would fully recover, and Rarity had wanted to spare Dash's young idolizer from possibly seeing her hero in such bad condition.
The experience was starting to wear on the Princess. She sighed deeply as she took in all that had happened. She had given Dash's ramshackle plan her tacit approval, and it had nearly gotten both her own student and Dash nearly killed.
As she reflected on it, she began to sob, realizing that even with the benefit of hindsight, she would do it again.
A gentle tap on her shoulder returned her to reality. "Your Majesty?" a stallion asked.
She sniffled and cleared a tear away as she turned to the stallion. "Yes?" she replied.
"You asked to be informed when the two patients you brought here were stable," he said. "While Miss Sparkle is still in critical condition, Miss Dash will pull through." He wore a guarded expression on his face.
"You're not telling me everything, Doctor," the Princess observed. "Something else is wrong."
The doctor sighed. This was the second-worst part of his job - the worst being breaking the news of a death to a pony's loved ones. "We can't repair Miss Dash's wings. They're just too badly damaged. She'll be earthbound for the rest of her life."
The Princess sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. "Please, inform her family. They need to be here. Her friends are already on the way," she said as she stood. "I have to notify my sister of the situation. Excuse me." As she finished her sentence, she flew back toward the Palace.
Two pegasus Royal Guards followed her, keeping a respectable distance. One's eyes had an unusual, almost serpentine appearance.
..::OoOoOoO::..
It took longer than the guard had liked for the Princesses to dismiss him. He had told them he wasn't feeling well, which was the truth. Having been infected by the Nightmare, his body became little more than a plaything to it. Its goal wasn't the Princesses anyway. For now.
As he took turn after turn into the depths of the castle, he was being drawn to one single goal. It was locked up deep underneath the castle in a secret vault, its location only known to five ponies - the two Princesses, the Element of Magic, Celestia's head guard - and himself, the second in command.
The Princesses were understandably distracted.
The Element of Magic was fighting for her life.
As for Celestia's head guard, he was laying unconscious a few corridors back, left with a nasty bruise on his head. He'd survive, though he'd no doubt call for an investigation. It would be a short one, anyway - he'd seen his assailant. The Nightmare wasn't concerned with trying to hide the identity of his attacker, after all... he was just as disposable as all of them.
...All except the one it truly wanted, anyway.
As he continued, the Nightmare blocked off any feelings of guilt the second in command would have over the treasonous act, forcing him to focus on the task at hand.
The Nightmare and its host finally reached the goal - a magically sealed vault. Though the door itself was easy to open, there was a shield in place that only recognized the five ponies who knew what laid inside. It already controlled one. Channeling its power outward, it created a magical facsimile of a second that would allow it to pass.
Both the controlled guard and a semi-transparent magical construct radiating Twilight Sparkle's magical aura passed through and the shield fell. Inside was the bounty, and the next component of the scheme...
..::OoOoOoO::..
"Fluttershy! You made it!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she bounced up to Canterlot General.
Applejack trailed slightly behind her. "Consarn it filly, how're ya' still full of bounce after all that?" she yelled weakly.
"Lots and lots and lots of sugary treats!" Pinkie replied, bouncing in place. Her ever-present smile was a little more forced than usual since hearing Luna's message.
"Oh, thank goodness I made it up here in time," Fluttershy said as she joined her two friends. "Princess Celestia sounded so worn out when she called me. I'm just glad she had someone else bring the animals back to Ponyville."
"Yeah, that's great an' all," Applejack interjected, "but we're still missing one. Where's Rarity?"
"I had a more important task for her to take care of first," called a voice from the sky. "She'll be coming via chariot as soon as that is done."
Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie looked skyward upon hearing Princess Celestia's voice. They started to bow, but were quickly waved off.
"There's no time for formalities," Celestia said as she landed. "We should hurry inside. Rainbow Dash is waking up. I want her to have friends close by when... when..."
"Out with it, Princess... what happened?" Applejack asked. Honesty was demanding honesty in kind. "Are Twilight and Dash gonna be okay?"
The Princess led the three young mares into the hospital. "Rainbow Dash will survive, though even I have no idea how," she said.
"But... what about Twilight... eek!" Fluttershy began to ask, before Princess Celestia looked back at her. "I'm sorry..." she said, intimidated.
"Don't be scared," Celestia said, trying to reassure the meek yellow pegasus. "Whatever you have to say, you don't have to worry about my reaction. None of this is your fault."
"Um... ok then... what's wrong with Twilight then?" Fluttershy asked, still slightly frightened.
"I'm sure she's fine, Fluttershy," Pinkie said, trying to reassure her friend. "One, Twilight's been through a lot since we've known her. She's even had a safe fall on her and She Got Better. Two, Princess Celestia would never, ever let Twilight get hurt anyways!"
Pinkie's overly optimistic outburst was enough to fracture the shreds of emotional self-control the Princess was desperately clinging to. "They..." she started as she began sniffling, "they don't know yet. From what... *sniffle* Spike told me, Twilight was channeling so much power to try to save Rainbow Dash that *sniffle* she may have been feeding the spells with her own life force. She... she might not make it."
The three young mares froze. Applejack was the first to speak. "Ah didn't understand a word of that other than 'she might not make it.' Ya' sure them docs know what the hay they're talking 'bout?"
Fluttershy simply collapsed and started crying uncontrollably. Pinkie Pie embraced her gently and started talking softly to her. "It... it's going to be okay, Fluttershy," Pinkie said, trying to console her friend. "Those mean doctors don't know what they're talking about. Twilight's going to pull through, you'll see! She always does..."
"That's not the only problem," Celestia said as she too began crying.
..::OoOoOoO::..
It was getting late and a unicorn was about to close up shop in Canterlot. Iron Hoof had received no business as usual - things that usually required his services just didn't happen often in Equestria. Things are usually hard for a businesspony when their special talent is creating prosthetics in a land where nopony loses a limb, after all.
As he was about to change the sign on his shop to "Closed," a cloaked pegasus ran up. "Wait! Don't close up yet!" the pegasus yelled. "I need your services."
Iron Hoof coughed. "Eh? A customer? You're the first one I've had in months," he said as he motioned for the pegasus to come inside.
"My daughter's been hurt. Flying accident. They say she might be earthbound," the pegasus said as he entered the store. "They also say you're the best at what you do."
"I gave up tryin' tae argue wit' 'them' a long time ago, good sir," Iron Hoof boasted. "Anything tae drum up a sale, even if the poor lass ain't got a prayer of flyin' again," he figured. "You want the best? I'm it, laddie."
The pegasus smiled sickly as he pulled back his cloak, revealing his serpentine eyes. "That's just what I wanted to hear," he said as he began emanating a black mist.
Iron Hoof began to scream, but it was quickly silenced. A few minutes later, he opened the side door of his shop and casually dumped the unconscious Royal Guard in an alley. "I might be the best at what I do, but if I would have had to listen to that despicable accent just a moment longer..." he spat as he ducked back inside and shut the door.
..::OoOoOoO::..
The bad news was met with Rainbow Dash launching a monitor at the nearest wall, nearly taking Applejack's head off in the process. She had only been awake for two whole minutes, and now her world was shattered. "Earthbound? I'm going to be earthbound? For. The. Rest. Of. My. LIFE?!" she angrily yelled. While her wings were shattered to the point of uselessness, the rest of her body was almost unharmed in comparison.
"Dang it Dash, we ain't the reason your wings broke!" Applejack retorted. "Why'd you have to go flyin' into that storm anyway? What about us?"
"Calm down..." Pinkie Pie said as she began to shut down from all the arguing.
"What about you? Hello? I saved Ponyville and all of you! You’re welcome, by the way... but I'm the one who'll never fly again!" Rainbow yelled hysterically. "My life is over!"
Fluttershy darted outside of the room when the outburst began heating up. "This isn't happening," she mumbled between sobs.
"Your life? Sugarcube, not all of us been blessed with wings," Applejack yelled back. "Ah ain't ever had 'em, and Ah've been gettin' along just fine all these years! Besides, what if you'd gone an' died out there?!"
"Applejack, enough... please?" Pinkie weakly pleaded. Her hair was beginning to lose some of its curliness.
The realization that she could have died hit a nerve for Rainbow Dash. She had considered it when she flew into the storm, of course, but adrenaline had served to blunt her reaction to it. "I... I wouldn't have died," Rainbow said weakly.
"An' you didn't, on account of Twilight riskin' her neck to save you," Applejack said. "An' now cause of some weird unicorn magical stuff, we might lose her!"
"It's not my fault..." Rainbow Dash said, weakly. "I didn't mean..."
"Course you didn't mean it, but it happened," Applejack said bluntly.
"Stop it!" Pinkie yelled as her hair fully straightened. "Applejack, seriously? You're getting on Rainbow Dash for something any of us would do if we had her skills?"
"Pinkie..." Applejack stammered as the weight of Pinkie's words struck her.
"...And, you," Pinkie said as she turned to Rainbow Dash. "I'm sorry you got hurt trying to save Ponyville, and I thank you for that, but you need to realize that you mean a lot to us, and you need to control your recklessness sometimes!"
Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack stared silently at Pinkie Pie.
"Friends. Don't. FIGHT. Like. That. When. Another. Friend. Needs. Them!" Pinkie screamed. She then took a deep breath and her hair resumed its curly state. "There. Now I need to go visit Twilight Sparkle. She needs her friends right now more than ever," she said as she bounced purposely out of the room.
As Rainbow Dash and Applejack opened their mouths to argue some more, Pinkie stuck her head back into the door. "All of them!" she said as she exited for real this time.
"...Can I have some alone time?" Rainbow Dash asked, quietly, defeated. "I... I need to think for a while. Tell Fluttershy I'm sorry, okay?"
"Y-yeah, sure, Dash," Applejack said as she left the room. "You're gonna be fine, filly. The docs are wrong anyways."
"Don't you know it!" Dash said, faking some bravado for the sake of her friend. "But... I really do need to think," she stated to an empty room.
The worst part for Dash was that she was stuck in that bed, unable to go thank the friend who may well have given her life for her...
|
TDarkchylde
|
844
| 3 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Eternal Storm
|
The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
|
complete
| 70 | 4 |
<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-14T22:23:14+00:00
|
2011-09-14T22:23:14+00:00
| 3,307 |
The Eternal Storm - Chapter 3 - Crepuscule
"Generosity... it would be interesting to see what a force with a different motivation could do to corrupt that one. The possibilities are truly endless. Selflessly giving everypony a deadly plague? Put her in charge of the food supply, then make her give to such a degree that everyone starves in the end? Spreading false hope where none exists? Of course, the possibility to twist her into Avarice is also intriguing. It wouldn't take much to make her go in that direction as it is.
"Sadly, none of that interests me. Better to let her run herself into the ground without my help."
It was proving to be Rarity's most difficult task to date. Filling massive orders for Sapphire Shores was hard, yes. Keeping her shop in the black? Very difficult. The hardest thing, she was discovering, was trying not to give too much information to one not ready for it.
Even what little she had given may have been too much. She had found Scootaloo's parents' house and tried to break the news as gently as possible...
"...What? Rainbow Dash is in the hospital?" Scootaloo asked, having overheard the conversation from upstairs.
"Oh, no..." Rarity said as she heard the familiar voice. "Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash does some very dangerous work sometimes with the weather team," she lied, trying to spare the young filly's feelings. "Sometimes they have to break apart a cloud that's grown out of control, and sometimes that means whomever does the job gets hurt. It happens. She'll be fine."
Sweetie Belle emerged from Scootaloo's room upon hearing her reaction. "What happened?" she asked.
"Rainbow Dash got hurt," Scootaloo said, trying to hold back tears. Even though Rarity had taken extreme care not to mention the severity of Dash's injuries, she had still jumped to a conclusion not too far from the actual truth. "She's in the hospital." She turned back to look down the stairs. "Mom, Dad, we've got to go see her. She needs all our support right now."
"Hon, look... we can go later on," Scootaloo's father stated. He knew Dash's father from his days in flight school, and once he saw for himself how talented the then-young Dash was, he certainly didn't discourage his own daughter from holding her up as an idol. He had idolized Dash's father when he was a colt, after all. "They're taking really good care of her right now, and we may distract her from getting better."
"Yes, please, listen to your father," Scootaloo's mother said, picking up where her husband left off. "Rainbow Dash certainly knows how much you look up to her. If we see her too soon, she might feel the need to push herself and set back her own recovery."
"Indeed," Rarity said. "You need to be strong for her right now. When the time's right, we'll all go and see her. We just can't go yet."
"You can't keep me away," Scootaloo mumbled as she turned around and went back to her room. Once inside, she started to cry. Rainbow Dash was her hero, after all. Heroes aren't supposed to get hurt bad enough to go to hospitals. She was finding it difficult to cope with the fact that her idol was, in the end, just as mortal as everypony else.
Downstairs, Rarity was getting ready to leave. "I'm sorry I can't stay longer, but Princess Celestia needs me in Canterlot and the chariot will be here any moment for me. I simply cannot be late. Would it be too much of a bother for you to keep an eye on Sweetie Belle for just a little longer?" she asked.
"Not at all," Scootaloo's mother replied as the chariot could be heard touching down outside. "Anything for a friend, especially right now.
As Rarity opened the door to leave, Scootaloo's father called after her. "When you know more about Rainbow Dash's condition, please tell us?"
"Miss Rarity? The Princesses are expecting you," a stallion called from outside.
"One second more, please," Rarity told the guard pulling the chariot. She turned back inside. "You will be the first to know," she told Scootaloo's father. "On that, you have my word."
..::OoOoOoO::..
"The Element of Kindness... ah, but I've seen the rage she is truly capable of. We could do a lot of damage together. Despite that, however, I can't really do much else with her. It may be beyond even my influence to permanently break her out of her shell. I considered Laughter as well... she hides a dark streak that I could do a lot with. Still, I can't use her either. I want to rule over an Equestria devoid of all life save myself. Under my influence, she might destroy herself, or even the entire planet. That simply won't do."
Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Spike were all by Twilight Sparkle's side as she laid in a hospital bed, still comatose. Princess Celestia had excused herself a moment earlier, as another of her unicorn students had arrived to discuss important business.
"Twilight..." Applejack started to say, but she was simply unable to continue voicing her thought.
Fluttershy turned and hugged Applejack gently. "It's hard, I know... seeing her like this, but you really need to try to say something. Even like this, she may be able to hear us and she needs all the support we can give her," she said.
"She's going to be fine," Pinkie Pie said from the other side of Twilight's bed as she held one of her hooves. "She's going to get all better like she always does, and then we're going to have a big party to celebrate. It's going to be so big, Ponyville will talk about it for years and years to come. We'll all be old mares and ponies will still be like 'Hey, remember that huge party Pinkie Pie threw for Twilight Sparkle that one time? Man, I wish they still had parties like that!' You'll see, Twilight. You'll see... but you gotta wake up first. Please?"
"Ah hope that happens, Pinkie, but Ah'm just not sure," Applejack said as Fluttershy continued holding her. "Ah can't just lie to her. Til she wakes up..."
"You can't give up on her," Spike yelled, interrupting Applejack. "She's done so much for us over the last year. We've gotta be here for her."
"Guess you're right," Applejack sighed. "Twilight, you're gonna pull through this. You just gotta. Things just wouldn't be the same without you."
Outside the room, Princess Celestia was speaking with Spectra, her most promising student since Twilight had moved to Ponyville. "You checked the blood sample like I requested?" she asked her student.
"I did, Princess," Spectra said. "What I found, I've only seen in one other specimen to date - Princess Luna."
"So then, Nightmare Moon wasn't the end of it?" the Princess asked.
"My guess at this point would be no," the unicorn replied. She sighed. "I think for a brief moment out there, the Nightmare part that was expelled from Princess Luna was actually assisting Twilight Sparkle, but even that brief assistance nearly killed her. She wasn't using life force like the dragon hypothesized, rather, she was using every bit of the power she will eventually gain. That's what did this - her body was most certainly not ready for all that raw power."
"...But Luna's was as Nightmare Moon," the Princess sighed. "One question answered, many more appear. Why would a malevolent force like that try to help Ponyville?"
"Of that, I'm not sure," Spectra replied. "It may have simply been revenge for being banished. If you'll allow me to take my leave, I have to return to my research."
"I'm sure Princess Luna will love that," Celestia said sarcastically. "Be gentle with her. It wasn't her fault, but she still blames herself."
"As you wish, Teacher," Spectra said as she departed.
..::OoOoOoO::..
Rainbow Dash sat alone in her hospital room, silently thinking. Many thoughts were bouncing around in her mind.
"I was trying to save everypony... I didn't mean for Twilight Sparkle to get hurt trying to save me. I kind of wish she hadn't tried now. Perhaps it would all have been for the best if I had died out there..."
The silence was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Miss Dash? It's Doctor Star. Can I come in for a moment?"
"Huh? Yeah, sure... whatever, I guess..." Rainbow Dash said, sulking. "It's not like you have good news or anything."
"Actually, I might," the doctor said as he walked in. "I was doing some research, checked with some other doctors, and I might have found something that can help you to lead a normal life."
"Normal?" Dash spat. "My wings are busted beyond repair. Heck, you might as well cut them off at this stage, I'm an invalid regardless!"
"While that's not true, I'm not going to argue with you over that," the doctor replied, calmly. He was almost too calm. "But... what if I told you that I found something that may allow you to fly again?"
"What?" Dash asked, stunned at the prospect. "I could fly again? No... no, it's impossible. I've heard of pegasi that got hurt like I did, and none of them ever flew again."
"They didn't have these," the doctor said as he opened a case he had carried in with him. "A medical technician named Iron Hoof invented these, and I think you're the perfect candidate to be the first to try them."
Dash broke out in a fit of laughter as she looked into the case. Inside were a pair of steel blue metallic-looking prosthetic wings. "Falsies? Those are for pegasi who lose their wings entirely! At least mine are still attached!"
"These are special," the doctor retorted. "The first difference is that they go on over your existing wings. They're prepared with intense healing magics that will actually work to heal your real wings while you use the metal ones to fly. Think of them less as 'falsies' and more like a walking cast."
That caught Dash's attention. "Wait, so I wouldn't need them forever? I'd be giving my wings a workout in the process?" she asked.
"That's the hope," the doctor replied. "You won't be winning any races or anything like that at first, mind you, but eventually your wings may recover enough to be where they were before your injury."
"I'm still not entirely sure on this," Rainbow Dash said. "It sounds too good to be true, to be honest. I need to think about it."
"Of course," the doctor said as he closed the case and slung it up on a desk near the door. "We'll be keeping you for a few days in the meantime, to make sure your other injuries heal up. If you do want to try the wings, let me know."
As the doctor left, Dash was faced with even more questions. She stared at the case as the silence resumed.
..::OoOoOoO::..
Rarity arrived at the hospital and immediately was met by Princess Luna, herself taking a brief break from her royal duties to see Twilight Sparkle for herself. "Princess! I'm honored..." Rarity started.
Luna motioned "silence" at her, then spoke. "There will be plenty of time to observe Royal Protocol later, Rarity. We should hurry and see your friends before visiting hours end."
"Ah... of course," Rarity said. "Yes, let us hurry inside!"
The two made their way to Twilight Sparkle's room first, where Princess Celestia and their remaining friends were waiting.
"Rarity! Ah thought you weren't gonna make it!" Applejack said as Rarity and Luna walked in.
"We should all be here to make sure Twilight gets better," Rarity said. "Of course I would make it."
"Sister, any news?" Princess Luna asked as she looked at Twilight Sparkle for herself.
"I'm afraid not," Princess Celestia replied. "All we know now is that she has a better chance to survive. Our main concern is that it is still a chance and not a certainty as yet."
"She'll make it," Pinkie Pie said.
"I wish there was something more we could do for her," Luna said as she sat down. "Are you certain that our magic couldn't be used to accelerate her healing?"
"The doctors don't want to take the risk," Celestia said. "These injuries were caused by magic, after all. They're worried too much might kill her in this state. It might be possible if she regains consciousness."
"She'll make it," Pinkie again insisted.
Luna took notice of how protective Pinkie and the others were of Twilight at this point. "Girls... I know you're concerned about Twilight. I'm concerned too, and... while I'm not as learned in the lessons of friendship as my sister, I do know that when two friends are hurt, they both need some attention."
Celestia got up. "My sister's right," she said. "While Twilight Sparkle is in pretty bad shape, we need to let her heal as best as she's able... and there's another friend of yours that might want to see some of you right now."
"Honestly... right now Ah don't care," Applejack said, startling the rest of the crowd. "If she hadn't tried that fool stunt in the first place, Twilight wouldn't have gotten hurt at all."
"I heard about all of it," Luna said, still slightly taken aback at Applejack's response. "Rainbow Dash did what she thought was right. She saw your town in danger, and tried to save it. You can't blame her for this."
"I agree," Fluttershy said, softly. "Sorry... I'm just trying to say we'd all do the same if we could have. Even Twilight. She's only hurt because she cares for Rainbow Dash like she cares for all of us."
"There's no blame to be assigned here," Celestia said. "Sister, Rarity, you two should stay with Twilight for a little while. The rest of us should be by Rainbow Dash's side right now so she knows just how much we appreciate her for her actions."
"Maybe you're right, Princess," Applejack said as she walked over to the door. "Ah'm just hurtin' so much from this whole thing." She took a deep breath and sighed. "Ah guess Ah should apologize... Ah was a bit too harsh on Dash, Ah guess."
"It's understandable to feel like that when someone you care about gets hurt," Princess Celestia said as she led the way. "It means you really do care for them."
"She's not fine," Pinkie Pie said as she followed. Her body began to twitch. "Eye twitch, burning hoof, twitchy tail, itchy mane, dry mouth..."
"Pinkie?" Applejack said as she turned her head to Pinkie Pie. "What's goin' on?"
"She's not fine," Pinkie repeated. "She's not fine! Something's wrong!"
Princess Celestia stood silently, stunned.
"Pinkie Sense," Spike said to the Princess. "We've learned to trust it."
"Is it Twlight?" Fluttershy asked.
"No. Twilight will make it. Rainbow Dash isn't fine!" Pinkie cried as she launched into a full gallop towards Dash's room.
The others followed as quickly as they could. When they arrived, Rainbow Dash's room was empty. The window was open. Near the door was an open case, emptied out.
It was starting to rain...
|
TDarkchylde
|
844
| 4 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Eternal Storm
|
The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
|
complete
| 70 | 4 |
<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-30T02:16:54+00:00
|
2011-09-30T02:16:54+00:00
| 3,190 |
The Eternal Storm - Chapter 4 - I Am The Rain
"Honesty... honestly, that would be my second choice for a host. Its Bearer is headstrong and competitive, yes... but what strikes me most is her work ethic. I imagine I could kill most of the population within days just by forcing everypony to perform physical labor with that kind of zeal! The main reason I didn't pick her is that it would require henchponies and... yeah. It'd just be too much trouble to keep up with all that.
"Plus, forced slavery tends to spawn rebellions.
".That just leaves one suitable Element..."
It was starting to rain in Canterlot as Rainbow Dash was found missing. An exhaustive search of the hospital began immediately.
"I found him!" Pinkie Pie cried from down the hallway.
Princess Celestia ran up to join her, then looked down at the stallions laying unconscious in a closet. "I recognize the Earth Pony... that's Doctor Star. He was the one working on Rainbow Dash when I brought her in. This unicorn, however... I have no idea who he is."
The old unicorn had a crutch for a cutie mark. He was beginning to stir. "Och... what hit me?" he slurred as he regained consciousness.
"Never mind that... where did you take Rainbow Dash?" Pinkie asked.
"What?" the bewildered unicorn asked.
"Pinkie, if I may?" Celestia interjected.
"Hmph, fine. I'm gonna keep looking then," Pinkie said as she bounced away.
"I'm sorry," Celestia said. "My friend there can be a little impulsive. Who are you?"
"...och, my head hurts. The name's Iron Hoof," he said. "Where am I?"
"Canterlot General," Celestia replied as the pieces to the puzzle started piling up. "I would imagine you remember yourself being somewhere else?"
"My shop," he replied as he rubbed his aching head. "This pegasus lad came in just as I was closin' up, sayin' his daughter had a flyin' accident. Wanted me tae build prosthetic wings for her, on account of that's what I do. I said I'd do it, then suddenly he was surrounded by a black mist! Then I went out like a busted lantern til I woke up here."
"A black mist?" Celestia asked, shocked. "You're sure it was a black mist?"
"Black as night, Your Highness," he said as he got up to his hooves. "Come to think of it, his eyes were weird too..."
"Tell me," she implored. "It may be important."
"Those eyes... they were nae the eyes of ponyfolk," he said. "T'were the eyes of dragons."
"Come with me, please. I'll see if I can get a doctor to look at you," Celestia said as she telepathically relayed a message to Spectra. "Return to the hospital at once, please. I have another subject for you to examine. He may have been infected."
"As you wish," she could hear Spectra reply over her mental link.
"I..." Iron Hoof started as he lost his footing. "Fine, Your Highness... I'm nae feeling so good anyway..." He soon collapsed.
"Forgive me, my subject, but I can't risk you running off before my student gets here," Celestia said as her horn ceased its glow, her anesthetic spell having done its work.
..::OoOoOoO::..
Fluttershy came flying down from the roof. Applejack was at the hospital's front door waiting for her to descend.
"She's not up there," Fluttershy called down.
"Dang it," Applejack swore. "Ah already checked the ground floor, Pinkie's checking the second, you've checked the roof an' she's not here? You sure them doctors weren't spoutin' a bunch'a hooey when they said Dash's wings were broke?"
"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked as she landed and ducked under the canopy, shielding herself from the rain.
"Way Ah see it, there's only two ways she could'a gotten outta here with nopony seein' - she did some fancy magic like Twilight does, or she flew," Applejack surmised as she too ran under the canopy. "Ah thought the weatherpony said Canterlot would have clear skies for days! Ain't supposed to be rainin' this hard."
"We should probably head inside before we get sick," Fluttershy offered.
"Yeah, sounds like a mighty fine idea there," Applejack said as she went inside.
..::OoOoOoO::..
Twilight Sparkle was sitting back in her library, reading. Nopony had bothered her all day, Spike was napping, the weather was quiet... it was, in a word, bliss. She was hoping the day would never end if it kept going like this.
Then she heard a noise.
"Hello?" she called out. Then there was another noise. The lights went out. Wind started picking up outside. In rapid succession, her dream day was turning into a nightmare. She got up to see what was going on.
As she opened the door to look outside, she was blown back into the library by a fierce wind. As she flew backwards, she could just barely see a dark-colored alicorn with steel-blue armor outside her library. Unusually, the alicorn's wings were covered in armor as well. Her hair was motionless even with the rapid winds outside.
"Stay inside, Twilight Sparkle," a voice called from outside. "Stay inside where it's safe."
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked. "Safe? Safe from what?"
"Please, Twi," the voice said. "Stay inside. Lock the door. Don't come out here. I can't protect you if you do."
"'Twi?'" Twilight asked curiously. "There's only a few ponies who call me that. Who are you?"
"I am only giving you this warning out of loyalty," the voice said, sternly. "Stay inside. I don't want to..."
"Don't want to what?" Twilight asked, louder.
"I don't want to destroy you, my friend," the voice said. "A storm is brewing. It will cover all of Equestria, and its people will drown. It will come to pass. If you don't stay inside, you will drown as well."
"No!" came a voice from atop the stairs. "You've got to fight, Twilight!"
"I know that voice..." Twilight said.
Another voice rang out. "Yes, you must wake up. We need you."
Twilight Sparkle moved to turn to the stairs when the voice from outside called out, "Don't listen to them. They will lead you to your death."
"Please, Twilight. Wake up," the second voice called from up the stairs.
Ignoring the voice outside, Twilight looked up the stairs. Standing there were Princess Luna and Rarity. "What is going on?" Twilight screamed, frustrated.
"You've got to wake up," Princess Luna said. "Something is going on - something bad, and I don't know how to stop it. I'm not even sure if my sister can. We need the Elements of Harmony. Equestria needs you, Twilight, so please... just wake up."
"I don't get it!" Twilight yelled. "I am awake!"
"Listen to them, Twilight!" Spike called out, atop the stairs as well. "Everyone's here. We need you!"
"Yeah, Twilight... things are going bad and my Pinkie Sense is going crazy and I don't know what to do, so we all need you to wake up now," Pinkie Pie pleaded. "Please?"
"I'm warning you for the last time, Twilight," the voice from outside said, almost begging. "Please. Just stay inside."
"...No," Twilight said. "Something is wrong - horribly wrong, and my friends need me. I don't know what they mean by 'waking up,' but you're obviously trying to keep me locked in here. That means the answer is out there, and you're not going to stop me from finding it, friend!" With that, she opened the door and walked outside.
..::OoOoOoO::..
"Look!" Spike said. "Look at her eyes!"
"I don't believe it," Pinkie Pie said. "I guess Fluttershy was right about talking to ponies in comas."
"Yes, you learn something every day, I suppose," Rarity said, sounding relieved.
Twilight Sparkle started to open her eyes.
"Pinkie Pie, please bring the others here," Princess Luna ordered. "Quickly!"
Pinkie Pie sprung up, standing at attention and offering a mock salute to the Princess. "Okie dokie loki, Princess!" she barked as she bounced out of the room with purpose.
"...Is she always that random?" the Princess asked, confused.
"Welcome to my nightmare," Rarity wearily replied, smiling.
..::OoOoOoO::..
A solitary figure flew into Cloudsdayle as the sun went down. After the hurricane incident, the city of clouds was on high alert, under orders from Princess Celestia herself.
As her cyan hooves touched down near the cloud factory, several guard pegasi swarmed around the figure. One of them spoke up. "Halt! Under orders from the Princesses of Equestria, you are to stand down!"
The shadowy figure laughed. "I'm giving you new orders. Leave. Tell everypony to leave my city. Now."
Several of the guards pulled their weapons - some were grasping swords in their teeth, others had spears and halberds anchored to their saddles. The guard in charge spoke up. "Arrest her. Use force if necessary."
The shadowy figure looked at the guard with her rose-colored serpentine eyes. "You are welcome to try, but I bet I can disarm you all in ten seconds flat." Her partially-formed horn began glowing darkly.
With no warning at all, the guards were all being attacked, their weapons having been turned into snakes!
The figure walked into the factory as the guards fought for their lives against their own weapons. "Oh, daddy," she mockingly called out, "I think we need to talk..."
..::OoOoOoO::..
Spike was lifting a glass of apple juice to Twilight Sparkle's parched lips. She had tried lifting one telekinetically, but that only resulted in her blanket getting soaked. "We were all really worried there," he said. "From the way the doctors and the Princess were talking, we were worried you'd... you'd have..."
"Died?" Twilight Sparkle asked, finishing Spike's sentence. She looked down at her torn-up body. "I'm honestly surprised I'm alive too, as bad as I look and feel. Please tell me that all this wasn't for nothing..."
"You don't remember?" Rarity asked. "From what I've been told, you saved Rainbow Dash."
"It worked?" Twlight said, sounding relieved. "After it felt like my horn was going to be torn off of my head, I blacked out. I guess the pain was so traumatic that I blocked it out..."
"No, my faithful student, that wasn't the reason," Princess Celestia said as she walked into Twilight's room with Spectra in tow. "I need some time alone with Twilight, please. Luna, remain here, this concerns you as well."
"Of course, Princess," Rarity said, turning to leave and motioning for Spike to follow. She looked back at Twilight Sparkle. "I'm glad you're okay. Please, don't scare us like that again!"
"I'll try," Twilight said, her tone shifting to annoyance as her old rival arrived following Celestia. "Spectra. How has Occult Studies been treating you?"
"Depends," Spectra spat back. "How many bits is a soul worth? I don't think I have one left at this rate."
"Enough," Celestia said, laying down the law. "Now is not the time to rehash rivalries whose time have passed. I brought Spectra with me because she has made a disturbing discovery."
"Does this have to do with her barbaric magical testing on me?" Luna asked, not exactly thrilled by Spectra's presence either.
"It does indeed," Spectra said. "I found the residue of the same magical essence in Princess Luna after she was freed from the Nightmare by the Elements of Harmony in your blood, Twilight."
"Wait... what now?" Twilight asked.
"Perhaps I should start from the beginning," Celestia offered. "You see, Nightmare Moon wasn't just a simple corruption of Princess Luna, as many believed..."
..::OoOoOoO::..
Rarity was walking down the hallway to the cafeteria when she saw Applejack standing off in a corner, alone. Something appeared off with her. "Applejack? Is something the matter?" she asked.
"Ain't nothin'," Applejack said. "Just tryin' to think is all."
"Mind sharing?" Rarity asked as she joined Applejack. "I find it's not good to hold things back. It tends to give a mare wrinkles." She smiled.
Applejack wasn't in the mood to return the smile. "Ah drove her away," she said. "The last thing Ah said to Dash was that Ah blamed her for Twilight goin' an' gettin' hurt. Ah let my anger get the best of me."
"Oh dear," Rarity said. "Did you apologize?"
"Ah didn't get the chance," Applejack sighed. "When Ah went to see her, she'd already up an' left. Ah should'a never left her alone. She wasn't right after her wings got broke. She just wasn't right... she was hurtin' so bad an' Ah snapped at her!"
Rarity put a hoof over Applejack's shoulder. "It's not your fault," she said.
"Yeah it is," Applejack retorted, laughing half-heartedly. "Some kinda friend Ah turned out ta' be, huh?"
"Better than you realize," Rarity said. "Come with me. I know the cook here, and he can make a mean warm apple cider that will make all your troubles melt away."
"If'n Ah didn't know any better, Ah'd have to be sayin' my barn door don't swing that way," Applejack said as she started walking with Rarity to the cafeteria.
"Neither does mine, darling," Rarity said, laughing. "...But you do sound like you could use the drink."
"Ain't gonna argue that, filly!" Applejack said.
..::OoOoOoO::..
"So... you're telling me that I was infected by Nightmare Moon?" Twilight Sparkle asked, puzzled.
"Almost. We just call it 'The Nightmare,'" Spectra explained. "So far we've found its residue in Princess Luna, yourself, the two unconscious stallions Princess Celestia found here, and a Royal Guard found in an alley here in Canterlot."
"That same guard apparently managed to open the vault beneath the castle by himself as well," Princess Luna said. "The only thing missing was the remains of the armor I wore as Nightmare Moon."
"Metal armor?" Twilight asked as she tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together in her addled mind.
"Yes, it was metal... why?" Luna asked.
"Princess Celestia, you said there was a case inside Rainbow Dash's room?" Twilight inquired.
"There was indeed..." Princess Celestia recalled. "Wait. The technician, Iron Hoof. He said he made prosthetics... that case looked like it once held synthetic wings..."
"Dash couldn't fly," Luna muttered. "Her wings were shattered."
"We need that case. We need it now, Princess!" Twilight said. "Spectra needs to scan it, but I'll bet I can already guess what was in there."
Princess Celestia was already racing to Rainbow Dash's room to retrieve the case. Within moments she returned with the case being held alongside her in a telekinetic field.
Spectra immediately scanned the case. "This is unbelievable," she said as her scanning spell completed. "I got to scan the armor before once - just once - and it had a distinctly high amount of residual energy from the Nightmare."
"It's the same," Twilight guessed.
Spectra simply nodded.
"Horsefeathers," Twilight cursed. "This is bad. Very bad, Highnesses."
"Agreed," Celestia stated. "If our conclusions turn out to be accurate, Equestria may be facing its worst crisis since Nightmare Moon's return."
"Sister, we need to prepare for this," Luna said.
"Yes... forgive me, my faithful student, but we need to return to the castle immediately," Celestia said as she motioned for Luna and Spectra to accompany her. "Preparations must be made."
As Celestia turned to leave, Twilight called out after her. "Wait! How can I help?"
"Recover as best as you're able," Celestia said. "If we fail, the Elements of Harmony will be needed once more." With that, she left.
"But..." Twilight called weakly, "...what if we're one short?"
..::OoOoOoO::..
The cloud factory in Cloudsdayle was eerily quiet, except for the hum of machinery. It was completely dark inside. Everypony working in it had either fled or been knocked out as the shadowy figure assumed control.
"Let's see... this goes here... this switch to maximum..."
An alarm rang out. Nopony was left to respond to it, but the noise was annoying the figure nonetheless.
"You're annoying," she grumbled. "Off with you. This one gets shut off too..."
The base of Cloudsdayle itself began to expand as the machines roared to life. The clouds comprising its "ground" became darker, and rain began pouring heavily on everything underneath.
"Scope? Oh, how does this thing work... what's the setting for 'planetwide?'" she asked, rhetorically. "Ah, that's it!" she said as she found the control she was looking for.
As she turned it, the clouds simply continued to expand, unabated. Storm clouds began to detach from Cloudsdayle and rise over it, ensuring that even the cloud city would not be spared. Slowly but surely, the entire planet was on its way to being covered in storm clouds.
Minutes later, she emerged outside of the factory. She flew to the top of the factory and perched herself on its roof.
"Citizens of Cloudsdayle... you are all hereby evicted, by order of your new Queen!" she began, her voice magically carrying to all corners of the city. "If you are not gone in twenty minutes, you will be executed for trespassing in my capital city!"
The citizens naturally began to panic.
"Rest assured, this is not a drill, nor an idle threat!" she stated as her horn darkly glowed and a lightning bolt struck an elderly pegasus stallion.
A younger pegasus mare flew over to him as he was struck. "Grandpa!" she could be heard yelling. Luckily, he was still breathing when she reached him.
"That one was a warning. Don't even think this is a bluff, the next one will be lethal!" the figure cried. "I am the rain. I am the storm. Wish me away, show me your scorn, I don't care. Just do it somewhere that's not my city! So says your Queen, Nightmare Spectrum!"
Lightning flashed near the Factory roof, illuminating Nightmare Spectrum for a fleeting instant. In that time, a multicolored mane and tail could be seen, along with a cutie mark with a multicolored lightning bolt descending downward from a dark cloud.
"Let the Eternal Storm rain upon Equestria for all time!"
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TDarkchylde
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844
| 5 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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The Eternal Storm
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The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
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complete
| 70 | 4 |
<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
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teen
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2011-09-30T18:17:24+00:00
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2011-09-30T18:17:24+00:00
| 3,120 |
The Eternal Storm - Chapter 5 - Sacred and Profane
"They failed me, those so-called friends of mine. I saved their town. I saved their homes! I gave my wings and was ready to give my life for them. The doctors said I would never fly again... they abandoned me. I needed support - I was at my worst... and they abandoned me.
"They betrayed me in my time of need! I wanted to die... and they simply left.
"Few have any idea what it's like for a pegasus to be told they can't fly anymore. Most don't live long after being left earthbound, for whatever reason. Some succumb to the wounds that took their wings. Others succumb to their own depression. I don't blame them. You lose your wings... you lose your very identity as a pony. You die. Inside at first, then given time, the body follows suit.
"I saw a chance to regain my life, so I took it. It's not like I became somepony else. I'm still me. I'm still loyal. In fact, I now have the drive and ability to demonstrate my loyalty like never before.
"...I will protect my home."
..::OoOoOoO::..
Scootaloo was riding her scooter through Ponyville, as was her usual. Adults were scrambling out of the way as the little filly saw everything as part of a new stunt. She would ride up an overturned apple crate, then fly through the air, grinding the scooter on a nearby building's gutter, then she'd fly off the building to a dried up pool. It was an extreme athlete's dream!
As she came flying out of the pool, she did several backflips in the air, then landed flawlessly on the ground. "Yeah! That was my best trick yet! I can't believe I pulled it off!" she cried triumphantly.
She was expecting a reply of some kind, but instead there was simply silence.
"Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked. "Didn't you think that was awesome?"
Dash was looking on, lost in thought. Something wasn't right with her. "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. That was great," she half-heartedly replied.
Scootaloo looked over to her mentor, confused. Something wasn't right. Her normally brightly multicolored mane and tail were slightly muted. Her cutie mark didn't look right either, and Scootaloo could swear there was a bump on Dash's head. "Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
"Kid... wake up, okay?" Dash asked. "You're dreaming right now, but we need to talk for real."
Scootaloo groggily pulled herself out of bed. It was the middle of the night, though the moon was barely visible through the oncoming cloud cover. She walked over to the window and poked her head out. She could hear a noise.
"Good, kid, I was hoping you would wake up," replied Rainbow Dash's voice, though she herself was out of Scootaloo's sight.
"Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked. "I can hear you, but I can't see you. What's going on?"
"It's fine, Scootaloo," Dash said. "You may not want to see me right now. You may never want to see me again if you knew what happened over the last couple of days."
"What are you talking about?" Scootaloo asked, puzzled. "Why would I never want to see you? You're my hero, Dash. You'll always be my hero."
There was a moment of silence. "You mean that you'd continue to believe in me, no matter what?" Dash asked.
"No matter what," Scootaloo affirmed. "Cross my heart, hope to fly..."
"...Stick a cupcake in my eye," Dash finished. "You... okay then. I know unyielding loyalty when I see it."
Scootaloo was about to ask what that meant when her wings began to tingle. A soft dark glow enveloped her body.
"Fly up to Cloudsdayle, kid," Dash said. "I need your help."
"Fly?" Scootaloo asked, dumbfounded. "I can't fly yet... and even if I could, Cloudsdayle is pretty far away. There's also a storm coming, and..."
"Do you trust me?" Dash asked, cutting Scootaloo's thought off.
"Duh!" Scootaloo replied. "You know I do... but..." Her doubt was cut off as her wings began to flap on their own and she started hovering off of the floor. "Dash... how? I'm flying!"
"I can't answer that yet, kid. I'm sorry for that," Dash said. "All I can tell you is that you'll be able to make it up here without a problem. You'll find the storm will not get in your way. Hurry, please. I need your help."
Deciding to trust in her faith in Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo jumped from her window...
..::OoOoOoO::..
Princess Celestia trotted to the lower reaches of her castle. Deep beneath, there was a room where one of her select guards kept tabs on Equestria's main towns and cities. He had called for her to head there urgently when the signal from Cloudsdayle went dark. As she arrived, she didn't even wait to be told what he had called her for. "Status," she simply stated.
"Princess," a unicorn guard replied. His coat was red, and he was wearing body armor. His cutie mark was of a device not known to Equestria, yet it fit his talent perfectly - a communications satellite. "Cloudsdayle reported an attack about two hours ago, then nothing since."
"I see," the Princess said as she looked at a screen showing all of Equestria. A light that would normally denote Cloudsdayle was darkened. "Did you try to re-establish contact? Do we have any idea what attacked them?"
"Their relay unicorn, Telegraph, sent images from the cloud factory when they sent their SOS," he replied. "It's dark, but we've been able to make out a black pegasus wearing some kind of metal armor. She appeared to possess magic, though we don't know how that could be."
Celestia looked over the projection carefully as the unicorn played it back for her. "Pause it there," she said as she noticed something familiar, something that could change her very approach to the situation. "It can't be."
"Telegraph reported as he evacuated that the attacker called herself 'Nightmare Spectrum,'" the unicorn replied.
"Evacuated?" Celestia asked, a look of worry creeping onto her face.
"Evacuated," the unicorn replied. "Apparently this Spectrum evicted everyone in town after taking over the factory. There was one scare when the invader struck an old stallion with a lightning bolt, but nopony was killed. They were able to flee without interference."
"It's all starting to make sense now," Celestia replied as she had already began working on a plan of action. She turned to head back to her throne room to consult with Luna over what had to be done.
The unicorn called after Celestia. "Your Highness, what should we do about this?" he asked.
She stopped momentarily. "Tell your family to lie low and keep themselves safe, Traject," she said. "Things may be rough in Equestria for a while." She resumed her path to the throne room.
..::OoOoOoO::..
The storm continued to expand over Equestria. Ponyville was one of the first towns on the ground to be covered by the clouds. It started to rain. Ponies all over town at first attributed it to the fact that their weather team's leader was still in the hospital. None were informed she was in fact missing.
As the rain continued over the course of the day, some of Ponyville's population started to worry. It wasn't scheduled. There was no contact with Cloudsdayle.
The mayor did her best to try to keep the populace calm. It was working, but no one knew how long the calm would prevail.
Even the Everfree Forest became covered in storms. Its wild nature, resistant to generations of ponies' attempts to tame it, seemed to submit to the storms.
It was only the start.
..::OoOoOoO::..
Twilight Sparkle rested in her hospital bed as her body continued to attempt to heal. Her magic was still too weak for her to help herself, so one of her friends was staying with her at all times. She was consumed with worry, even as she reluctantly tried to sleep.
"This is no time to sleep," she recalled saying several times earlier. "Yes, it would do me some good to give my magic and body a chance to recover, but if I take too long getting better, there might not be an Equestria left to live in!"
The response would be unique from each friend, but always the same underneath.
"No, Twilight... you got hurt out there pretty bad and you might hurt yourself worse if you don't just rest."
"Such nonsense... you should be resting! Equestria's not going to up and fall apart while you try to take care of yourself, darling."
"Ain't no way, sugarcube. You're gonna stay right there an' heal up, or else Ah'm gonna tie you down in that bed."
"Silly Twilight... The Princesses have it all under control. Besides, there's no way you could hold up to one of my parties right now, and that's the first thing we're going to do when you get better."
"No! You can't! What kind of assistant would I be if I let you get hurt again?"
She missed the one voice among her friends who would probably say different.
"If you're that worried that something really bad is about to happen, I'm with you. The others will understand. I'll do what I can to make sure you don't get hurt worse, but we'll find out what's happening."
But that friend was missing, and Twilight knew this all too well. Each of her friends were blaming themselves for driving Rainbow Dash away, and each was trying to hide their guilt.
Unfortunately for them, Twilight was getting to know them pretty well at that point, but they wouldn't hear any of it when she tried to help them with their problems.
"Really, I'm fine, Twilight. Just worry about getting better."
"I simply haven't the slightest idea what you mean, dear."
"Stop changin' the subject, Twi."
"Of course I'm okay! Really! See? Biiiiiiiig smile!"
"My only concern is you right now, Twilight. Worry about me when you're back on your feet."
Again, she could imagine what Rainbow Dash would say if she were there.
"It's not your fault. You really want to help Twilight out? Stop blaming yourselves for me not being there."
..::OoOoOoO::..
"Sister, come here please," Celestia called as she finished lowering the sun. The approaching clouds were making it difficult for her to guide the heavenly body.
Luna made her way to the throne room. "Celly? You requested my presence?" she asked.
"Yes, I did," Celestia replied, sighing. "I'm having trouble reconciling what I know of our foe with what I've been hearing all day."
"How so?" Luna asked as she sat in her own throne, next to her sister's.
"When you were Nightmare Moon, you were, well, power-hungry," Celestia started. "It twisted you, made you want to usurp me and do away with the sun."
"Eternal Night," Luna said, shuddering. "Don't remind me. I'm not proud of any of it."
"Well, this incarnation of the Nightmare is different," Celestia continued to state as she paced. "Nightmare Moon's goal was for the night to be admired. This Nightmare Spectrum simply seems to want to be left alone. She doesn't seem to aim to usurp us - more like she would prefer to subvert us."
"Yes," Luna replied, "but the result would be the same. Eternal Night would have starved Equestria's plantlife, thereby starving the ponies. This Nightmare, whatever her perceived aim, will end up ending all life if she isn't stopped."
"Yet, so far she hasn't killed anypony," Celestia thought out loud. "In fact, it's almost as if she's gone out of her way to avoid bloodshed."
Luna spoke bluntly. "The Nightmare doesn't need to shed a drop of pony blood to exterminate our species, especially after imprinting itself with my power."
"You're right, of course," Celestia said. "We don't have the Elements of Harmony at our own disposal anymore, and the Element of Loyalty is grievously injured and missing. Think we stand a chance this time?"
"It doesn't matter," Luna stated as she rose to her hooves. "For Equestria's sake, we have to try to stop whatever this incarnation of the Nightmare intends to do." As her horn glowed, she willed the moon to rise. "I almost wish I didn't have to do this tonight. These clouds are so thick, I don't know how anypony will be able to see."
"I know," Celestia replied. "I could barely find the sun earlier. These clouds aren't right."
"Let's pay a visit to Cloudsdayle then, Sister," Luna said as she took to the air.
"Perceptive as always... I'm so glad you're on my side again after all these years, Sister," Celestia said, smiling, as she rose into the air to follow her sister.
..::OoOoOoO::..
Scootaloo was exhilarated as she soared high in the air. The clouds were parting before her as Rainbow Dash had said they would, and Cloudsdayle was in sight. The city itself was grayer than usual, though. The storms seemed to be intensifying the closer the little filly got to the city.
"You're close," Dash's voice said. "There's a big factory with a rainbow pouring out of it. I'm waiting there."
As she reached the city, Scootaloo saw the factory Dash spoke of. All the clouds comprising the town were really dark, almost invisible without sunlight, or even moonlight peeking through the cover. As she noticed this, the high clouds covering Cloudsdayle parted, allowing the moonlight to shine on the city. "Dash?" she asked. "Are you sure this is Cloudsdayle? It looks so... creepy."
"It is, Scootaloo," Dash said, trying to reassure the young filly. "There's been some... changes here. That's one of the things we need to talk about. Come to the top floor. See this lightning?"
As if on cue, a bolt of lightning struck the top of a tower in the city.
"Fly where it hit. Don't worry, lightning never strikes twice."
"Okay..." Scootaloo reluctantly agreed as she continued on her course. She was beginning to feel some doubts, but she had come this far. She believed in Rainbow Dash, that she would explain everything and it would all make sense. Somehow.
From another direction, the Princesses of Equestria were also flying to Cloudsdayle, magically piercing the cloud cover as they went. Neither one wanted guards to accompany them, so the Royal Guard reluctantly remained behind, under orders to protect Canterlot.
In reality, each of the Princesses were harboring their own doubts about what laid before them. The thought that one or both of them might not come back crossed each of their minds, and they certainly didn’t wish to risk the lives of the Guards. Still, Equestria needed them to act against something like the Nightmare. Duty could not be ignored.
They silently worked to tunnel through the clouds, neither wishing to voice their doubts to the other.
A few minutes passed, and Scootaloo was the first to reach her destination. "I'm here! Rainbow Dash? Are you there?"
"Yeah, kid, I'm around," Dash's voice said. Half the room was completely dark, with the rest only lit by a small amount of moonlight peeking through the windows. "I'm not entirely feeling well. You'll understand if I stay in the shadows for a bit, huh?"
"Yeah... I'm just glad you're okay," Scootaloo said, fear audible in her voice. "Rarity was over by my house a day or two ago, telling my parents something was wrong with you. They didn't want to tell me anything. I can handle it, though! I'm not scared."
"I... I got hurt a little bit," Dash said. "I got better though... way better. I'm feeling better than I ever have. I bet I could do ten Sonic Rainbooms before breakfast every day, I feel so great."
"Wow!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "So then... why won't you let me see you?"
"Nightmare Spectrum, show yourself!" Princess Celestia called out as she and Luna found their way into the tower as well.
"Wh-wha-wha-what?" Scootaloo cried as she backed towards the window she used to enter. "Nightmare? Where?"
Dash sighed. "Horseapples. I was hoping to get this out of the way before you two showed up. Thanks a lot for your horrible timing," she said, irritated. "Just hold on a second, kid - I'll make this brief. Princesses... stay out of the sky. I don't care if you keep running the stuff on the ground. I don't care if you continue moving the sun and moon. Do whatever you want with heavens and earth... but my skies and my clouds are off limits to you!"
"Rainbow Dash, what are you saying?" Scootaloo asked, shocked.
"Rainbow Dash?!" both Princesses exclaimed in unison.
Dash yelled in frustration. "Nice job ruining it!" she screamed as she slowly walked forward into the moonlight. What came into view was different, though - this was a black alicorn with metal armor on her head, chest and wings. Her eyes were serpentine, but unmistakably the same rose color as Rainbow Dash's. Her mane and tail were the same as well, though the rainbow coloring was slightly darker, and some of the Nightmare's dark, misty aura was visible around them. She was much taller than before, standing at the same height as Princess Celestia. The only remaining traces of her old coat were on her flank, as the black coat gave way to a patch of cyan surrounding her cutie mark, as well as near her hooves. Her cutie mark itself was twisted, its normally white cloud now a dark grey one.
Scootaloo gasped. "What... what are you? Are you a monster?" she asked, exasperated.
"Child, get to safety!" Princess Luna called toward Scootaloo.
"I'm not a monster," Nightmare Spectrum replied sadly. "I'm still Rainbow Dash. I'm just a better me than I was. I..."
"YOU'RE NOT RAINBOW DASH!" Scootaloo screamed. "I know Rainbow Dash, and she would not talk to the Princesses like that! She's loyal to them!"
Nightmare Spectrum's eye twitched. "You just don't get it. While you wait for the sun in the morning, I'm waiting for rain. I'm waiting for the storm. Now, I'll bring the storms. I'll cover all of Equestria in raging tempests. I'm creating an Eternal Storm, and you can't stop me. I was hoping that you would join me, Scootaloo... I really was hoping you'd join me, but you don't want to believe me when I say I'm still your hero. Now it's time to say goodbye."
With that, a lightning bolt arced from Nightmare Spectrum's horn, heading straight for Scootaloo...
|
TDarkchylde
|
844
| 6 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Eternal Storm
|
The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
|
complete
| 70 | 4 |
<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-30T18:10:00+00:00
|
2011-09-30T18:10:00+00:00
| 2,954 |
The Eternal Storm - Chapter 6 - Going Under
Two weeks passed since the confrontation between Nightmare Spectrum and the united Princesses of Equestria.
The storm continued to spread.
By now, most of the planet, including all pony-controlled lands were covered by storm clouds.
Several unprepared towns were completely underwater.
The larger cities on higher ground were beginning to have trouble caring for their own - and then the refugees from the flooded towns began to arrive.
Food stocks were beginning to run low in Fillydelphia, Manehattan and Trottingham.
Some in those cities were starting to crack under the pressure. Isolated cases were being reported of ponies breaking into the homes and businesses of those better off and stealing their supplies. Of course, those better off were using their material wealth to buy out and hoard most of the supplies in the first place.
Order was starting to collapse in all regards.
The ponies' mastery over nature was turning out to be the start to their own end. When a species controls the actions of nature itself, there is little need to prepare for disasters which never come to pass. Ponies became complacent, only preparing for the now - never the future. The future was always certain before - food running low? Manipulate the weather and the soil to make it suitable for growing more. They never had to worry about things like droughts, hurricanes or floods.
No longer was that the case. The future now contained little more than looting, famine and extinction.
The Eternal Storm had bared the ponies' mistakes to the entire world, and they hadn't even began to start paying for them.
..:://=||=\\::..
Twilight Sparkle was walking gingerly out of Canterlot General. Her body had healed enough that she could fend for herself, and the more well-to-do patients had to clear out to make space for the more severely sick from the flooded towns. Therefore, she was discharged. Her friends were accompanying her out, with the exception of Spike who had went ahead to try to find them a place to stay for a few days.
"...Is it just me or did the rain never stop?" Twilight asked as she was able to see Canterlot at street level for the first time in weeks.
"Yup," Applejack replied sadly. "Seems to be rainin' all over the place. Braeburn sent me a letter a couple days ago sayin' that even Appleoosa's gettin' flooded out. They'll make it a couple months yet since the big harvest was ready just as the storms rolled in, but if the clouds don't break soon..."
"Yeah, this is bad," Twilight concluded. "Not everyplace is likely to be as well-prepared as the frontier. Come on girls, we need to see the Princesses. Maybe they'll know what's going on."
"It... it won't help," Fluttershy said softly. "Everypony around here says they disappeared. Nopony knows why."
Twilight cursed softly under her breath. "Ugh. We need to find out exactly what's going on here," she said. "Maybe the Mayor of Canterlot knows something."
The five young mares walked through the streets of Canterlot, taking every chance they could to get out of the rain for a few brief moments along the way. Eventually, however, they gave up on trying to remain dry. Even Rarity. They eventually made their way to Canterlot City Hall - a less luxurious building than the Palace, but still spacious enough to serve as a hub for the city's important functions.
It took a while to even be able to see someone who could direct them to the right place, and another hour still to see the Mayor's secretary. As Applejack was close to chewing out the secretary over her continued denials of their request to see the Mayor, however, his door opened.
Out walked the Mayor of Ponyville. "Twilight Sparkle? Girls? Come in here, we need to talk," she called.
The five filed into the Mayor's office over the protests of the other ponies who were waiting.
"Ah, you must be the five my esteemed colleague has been telling me about," the Mayor of Canterlot said. Unlike the Mayor of Ponyville, the Mayor of Canterlot was a younger, charismatic stallion. He shared a cutie mark and a job title with Ponyville's mayor, but little else.
"Indeed they are," Ponyville's mayor said. "Where's your other friend, though?"
"She's... missing," Twilight Sparkle explained.
"Unfortunate... but it can't be helped now," Ponyville's mayor replied. "You five were the ones that defeated Nightmare Moon last year. Well..."
Canterlot's mayor picked up where his counterpart from Ponyville left off. "The Princesses have been missing for two weeks now. Canterlot's starting to get overcrowded with refugees from the flooding all these storms have caused. Your hometown is completely underwater by now. My colleague says if anyone aside from the Princesses can get to the bottom of this and save Equestria, it's you girls."
"Well... before Princess Celestia disappeared, she did tell me her theory of what's going on," Twilight volunteered. "This information can't leave this room, though. Princess Celestia had planned to announce it to everypony within weeks herself."
"Of course," Canterlot's mayor said, smiling. "I may look the part of a sleazy politician, but I've got enough integrity to keep a secret."
"Nopony knows when it started - not even the Princesses," Twilight began. "For the longest time, there has been a malicious essence in Equestria. It would corrupt ponies who had let negative emotion into their heart, then move on to another pony, and another and so on. Eventually, it got into Princess Luna, though, and it changed her."
Her friends and the two Mayors looked on in silence as Twilight explained.
"At the time, the only thing Princess Celestia could do was to use the Elements of Harmony to banish Nightmare Moon to the moon," Twilight continued. "When she returned last year, my friends and I used the Elements to their full potential and excised the Nightmare from Princess Luna. We had thought the Nightmare was gone for good, but Princess Celestia suspected differently. Sadly, she was right.
"Last week, the Nightmare took over a weatherpony in Cloudsdayle and compelled him to create a catastrophic storm that would wipe Ponyville off of the map," she told all assembled. "Rainbow Dash succeeded in dispersing the storm before it got anywhere near Ponyville. I went out there and caught Rainbow Dash with my magic as her body gave out. We would have both died if the Nightmare hadn't possessed me and caused me to use my magic to its complete potential."
This bit of news stunned Twilight's friends. "Wait just a gosh-darned minute, Twilight," Applejack exclaimed. "You're tryin' to say that whatever was behind Nightmare Moon saved you, after tryin' to destroy our town?"
"It's not that simple," Twilight responded. "When the Nightmare inhabits someone, it loses its own sense of self but twists the host's desires. Whatever harm it may have intended us, my only desire at that point was to save Rainbow Dash. Even if that was contrary to its desires, it had no choice in the matter. The only thing that it did effect was my sense of how much magic I could safely use. I had no regard for my own safety in those few moments."
"Or it was exactly what that snooty-pants Nightmare wanted," Pinkie Pie said.
"Huh?" Twilight asked.
"You wanted to save Rainbow Dash," Pinkie explained. "You also said the Nightmare always wanted someone with negative emotions. What better than a suicidal pegasus?"
"Suicidal?" Twilight asked. "Rainbow wasn't acting suidical. Crazy, maybe. Okay, more like probably. She was willing to give her life to save Ponyville, but that doesn't mean she wanted to die."
"After that," Fluttershy said quietly. "When her wings were broken. The doctors said she was earthbound, that she'd never fly again."
"I still don't get where Rainbow possibly being suicidal fits in here," Twilight said, confused.
"Earthbound pegasi tend to..." Fluttershy started, mumbling the rest so softly that nopony else could make it out.
"What was that?" Rarity asked, looking over to Fluttershy.
"They, ah..." Fluttershy started again before mumbling the rest again and squeaking embarrassedly.
"Please, Fluttershy, this is important," Twilight said, trying to comfort her shy friend. Whatever it was, she could see it pained Fluttershy greatly even to think of it, much less to try to speak of it. "It might help us figure it all out.
"They... they kill themselves," Fluttershy finally said, crying. "They can't bear to have the sky taken away."
"Oh no..." Applejack said. "Dash's entire life was flying. She worked as a weatherpony, and her favorite pastime was stunt flying... neither of which she could do if she was stuck on the ground... oh no, what have Ah done?" She rushed out of the building.
"Applejack!" Twilight Sparkle cried out as she followed her friend to the street. "Wait!"
"Twi... just leave me be," Applejack said, standing in the rain. "Ah'm a horrible friend. It's all my fault. All my fault!"
"Why? What happened?" Twilight asked as her other friends stepped out of the city hall with the two Mayors in tow.
"Ah snapped at Dash when we thought you were gonna die," Applejack said. "Ah drove her away. She's gone on account'a me. Ah shoulda seen that Dash was hurtin', but all Ah could do was yell at her an' try to make her feel bad. Ah... Ah didn't know that she'd be so bad off if her wings broke..."
"You had no way of knowing she'd react like that, Applejack," Fluttershy said as she went out into the rain to comfort her friend. "It's something we don't like to talk about."
"Unicorns that lose their magic tend to get the same way," Twilight admitted reluctantly. "There were a couple of moments in that hospital where I wondered what I was going to do if I couldn't do something as simple as lift a cup."
"Ah just didn't know..." Applejack sobbed.
"You can't blame yourself, dear," Rarity said, risking ruining her mane in the pouring rain. "You had no way of knowing. We need to find Rainbow Dash and apologize."
"But... but what if she..." Applejack began. "Ah can't even bear to say it."
"That's the other thing I was planning to explain," Twilight sighed. "The Princesses believed that Rainbow Dash went missing because the Nightmare may have taken her over."
..:://=||=\\::..
Nightmare Spectrum had flown down to a low mountaintop to bask in the storm.
It was beautiful. Neither the sun nor the moon would be able to peek through the thick cloud cover. Ponies would learn to appreciate her storms and adapt... or they'd start dying off. She didn't care either way.
There was only one obstacle left between her and truly eternal storms.
She spread her metal wings and began to fly towards Canterlot as the sky grew darker. Night was falling.
..:://=||=\\::..
The girls finished explaining the Princesses' conclusions to the Mayors, and were given one mission: stop the Nightmare and bring an end to the storms. They retired to Twilight's old quarters at the Royal Library to meet with Spike and plan for the mission.
"I knew Rainbow Dash wasn't fine, but I didn't expect her to become a snooty-pants like Nightmare Moon," Pinkie Pie said.
"It's not her, though," Twilight Sparkle tried to explain. "It's a twisted hybrid of Rainbow Dash and the Nightmare. She's not the enemy here, she's another victim."
"That may be, Twilight, but we can't hold back here," Rarity said, uncharacteristically. "It may very well be part of why the Nightmare chose Dash. It assumed we would hold back."
"But we can't hurt her," Fluttershy said. "Friends don't hurt friends. They save them."
"I'm not sure we could right now, even if we wanted to," Twilight sighed. "Without Rainbow Dash, we don't have the Element of Loyalty on our side. I'm not sure if the Elements will even do anything with one missing."
"That doesn't mean we can't try," Pinkie Pie countered.
Applejack stared silently out the window while her friends continued to flesh out their plan. Yes, they were short one Element... at the least. She knew if she couldn't pull herself together that they might be short a second, but her guilt was continuing to gnaw away at her.
It took a while, but Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie finally came to a conclusion they could all support. Applejack agreed just for the sake of getting it all over with. It would go into motion on the next day.
As the five went to sleep, lightning began to strike outside, waking them. Time was no longer on the Element Bearers' side.
Nightmare Spectrum had arrived in Canterlot to eliminate the last force in Equestria that could stop her.
|
TDarkchylde
|
844
| 7 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Eternal Storm
|
The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
|
complete
| 70 | 4 |
<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
|
teen
|
2011-09-30T18:35:44+00:00
|
2011-09-30T18:35:44+00:00
| 3,115 |
The Eternal Storm - Chapter 7 - Keep Hope Alive
What hit me? I feel like I'm waking up from a long dream.
Canterlot? Why am I in Canterlot?
Wait... I know this place. Twilight Sparkle showed this place to me after the Grand Galloping Gala. It's the Royal Library. It's where she worked before she came to Ponyville, before she met me or any of our other friends.
...Why can't I control my body?
Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no. What am I about to do?
Go back to sleep.
Who was that?
Just sleep, Dash. You don't need to see what's about to happen. It's not going to be pleasant for you.
What's not going to be pleasant? What's going to happen?
Sleep, Element of Loyalty. You don't need to be awake for this... let me do it for you.
Do what? What are you?
I'm the real you, Dash... the better you. I'm going to free us from the ties that bind you. Now be a good filly and go back to sleep.
Wha... Twilight... Applejack... somepony... help me...
Hush now. Quiet now. It's time to rest your sleepy head.
Hush now. Quiet now. You don't want to see them dead...
..:://=||=\\::..
Nightmare Spectrum looked over the Royal Library. It was an impressive structure, not far removed from the Princesses' castle. It was designed in much the same way, though where the Castle was expansive, the library reached high from a fairly small footprint.
Its current guests made their way out to the street after the lightning bolt awoke them. Pinkie Pie was the first to emerge. Upon exiting the structure, she noticed something strange.
It wasn't raining near the door, while everywhere else was subjected to a massive torrential rain.
As the others filed out, they also noticed this peculiarity.
"This ain't right," Applejack said. "Why's it this spot's totally clear?"
"I'm not sure, Applejack," Twilight Sparkle said as she began to concentrate. "Girls, be on guard."
The other four nodded in agreement and started to look around.
"Oh, come on," a familiar voice said from the sky. "Can't I give my friends a brief little dry spell before I drown them? What kind of friend would that make me?"
Twilight Sparkle looked up, and the rest of the girls soon looked skyward as well. Nightmare Spectrum was looking down at them from a hole in the clouds.
"That's not funny," Pinkie Pie said, sorely. "Why are you doing this, Dashie? Don't you care about us anymore?"
"Like you cared when you left me to rot in that hospital room?" Nightmare Spectrum retorted. "You guys abandoned me back there... all except you, Twilight Sparkle. I'd personally like to thank you, by the way."
"Thank me?" Twilight asked. "I did for you what I'd have done for any of my friends in that situation."
"I know. Here, let's just you and me talk for a minute," Spectrum said as her horn began to glow. Small-scale tornadoes began to form at the feet of the other Elements of Harmony. Within seconds, they were all helplessly vaulted into the sky.
"...The Rainbow Dash I know wouldn't do something like that!" Twilight cried as she watched her friends get thrown into the sky. "She'd be fighting alongside us to be stopping something like this, not causing it!"
"Twilight... I said I wanted to thank you for saving me. At least hear me out?" Spectrum asked.
"Let them down," Twilight demanded. "Safely."
Nightmare Spectrum laughed. "Oh, hahaha! You had me going there for a second! I almost thought that might be a threat. You're in no position to make threats. Your magic is still depleted. I know for a fact that you're barely clinging to life as it is. It would be in your best interest to listen."
Twilight Sparkle said nothing as she stared down Nightmare Spectrum. She was wearing a fierce look of determination on her face. Underneath that, though, she knew Nightmare Spectrum was right. Her magic was barely stable enough to move a quill across parchment, much less wage war with a being whose power was on par with the Princesses. It was taking everything she had just to remain upright on her hooves.
"How would you like to be healed, to be able to use all the magic you'll ever possibly obtain, and most importantly to not suffer my wrath?" Spectrum asked.
"...You've got to be joking," Twilight said.
"Perish the thought," Spectrum said as she tried to project sincerity in her words. "If you hadn't saved me back there, I wouldn't be alive to be creating my beloved Eternal Storm. Everypony's going to find out that you're responsible for all of this. Wouldn't it be better to be under my protection?"
"I've got a proposal of my own," Twilight angrily said. "Give Rainbow Dash back to us. Leave us in peace. Don't force us to banish you again."
Nightmare Spectrum looked like she was thinking about it for a second. "Nah," she said. "I like my idea better. I'm sorry you don't, but I owed you a chance." She released the other four Element Bearers from their tornado prisons and lowered them to the ground. She shrugged as she flew down to the ground. "I guess you'll just have to fight me."
"So be it," Twilight Sparkle said as she signaled to the other Element Bearers. "Forgive me, Rainbow Dash." She channeled what little magic she had into the Elements' banishment spell. Her Element tiara magically appeared on her head.
The necklaces of the Elements of Generosity, Kindness, Honesty and Laughter appeared on their respective bearers as well. Their own innate magics served to give Twilight a boost. She began to levitate off of the ground and the others soon followed suit. As she opened her eyes, they gave off a white glow that lit the area.
Nightmare Spectrum yawned at the display. "Lame," she quipped.
The show of nonchalance was not enough to deter the Elements' determination. They soon marshaled enough power for the banishment spell. As they began to form the rainbow beam that would banish Nightmare Spectrum, however... the power cut out, and they all fell to the ground.
"Was that all?" Nightmare Spectrum asked. "Soooo pathetic. I actually thought you five might be a threat to my rule. I mean, the Princesses put up a way better fight... before I banished them."
The revelation of the Princesses' fate shocked the five Element Bearers. Twilight spoke up. "You... what?"
"Didn't I tell you? My bad," Spectrum said sarcastically. "You see, they came to my factory in Cloudsdayle and tried to stop me. They put up a decent fight, but they lost. I decided to send them each to their respective heavenly body. I banished Luna back to the moon, and Celestia to the sun. I doubt they'll survive much longer, as magically drained as they were."
"You're a monster," Applejack growled.
"You're one to talk," Spectrum retorted. "Your words had me wanting to kill myself, as if breaking my wings hadn't done that already. Honesty hurts when the motivation behind it is anger. No wonder you're no threat."
Twilight was struggling to remain on her hooves with the last of her magic depleted. "Magic is powerless."
Applejack was becoming more furious by the second. "Honesty is being driven by malice."
Rarity was unsure what to think anymore as her own magic was nearly gone as well. "Generosity has nothing left to give."
Pinkie Pie could no longer force a smile upon her face. "Laughter has lost her smile."
Fluttershy was hiding behind the others - not because she was scared of Nightmare Spectrum, but because she was scared she would lose control of herself. "And Kindness is close to giving in to her rage."
Nightmare Spectrum laughed. "In the end, you're no threat to me. I'm the only one being true to my Element here... I'm still loyal."
"That's a lie!" came a shout from down the street.
Nightmare Spectrum and the five Element Bearers looked over to see the source of the shout.
It was Scootaloo. She was battered, bruised, limping, slightly singed and soaking wet, but she was still alive and defiantly charging towards Nightmare Spectrum. "You have no right to call yourself loyal after you tried to kill me!"
"Oh, look, the little ostrich finally pulled her head out of the sand," Nightmare Spectrum taunted. "It's about time you stopped your silly little hero worship. We're all flawed. All broken. Nopony is perfect."
"Enough!" Scootaloo cried. "Just stop it! You're not Rainbow Dash. You're nothing like her. You're nothing like she could be even at her worst!"
"She's right," Applejack said. "Dash an' Ah might be rivals on the field an' the track, but she'd never try to hurt us on purpose."
"She wouldn't tease or taunt us," Pinkie Pie said, "and she wouldn't try to hurt us by laughing at us when we're down."
"She... she wouldn't hurt anypony, ever," Fluttershy said as she stopped hiding behind the others.
"If we had nothing left to give, she would give everything she had to help us out," Rarity said, standing defiantly.
"Rainbow Dash was the best friend any of us could ever have," Twilight Sparkle said.
"She was a hero," Scootaloo said as she joined the Element Bearers. "She is a hero... and she'd want us to show how loyal we are to her by freeing her from this Nightmare!"
The Element of Loyalty necklace appeared on Scootaloo's neck. Its gem remained in the design of Rainbow Dash's cutie mark, however. She felt a newfound surge of strength as it appeared.
Nightmare Spectrum was in shock as the Element of Loyalty had found a new bearer. "This can't be," she said. She quickly summoned a powerful windstorm to knock the Element Bearers away before they could get their bearings. "Enough of this. You still can't stop me. You'll never stop the Storm!" She quickly flew back up over the clouds, which closed up behind her.
She was gone.
..:://=||=\\::..
The Element Bearers gathered back inside the Royal Library to try to figure out their next step. They figured out quickly that while Nightmare Spectrum may be overconfident and cocky, she wouldn't make the same mistake twice. In order to defeat her for good, they'd have to make their way up to Cloudsdayle.
That would be problematic for them, though. It would take immense amounts of magic for Twilight Sparkle to cast a cloudwalking spell on herself, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Even then, they needed a way up there, and the winds had only grown stronger since Nightmare Spectrum left. They would be unable to use a balloon to reach the cloud city, and Fluttershy was nowhere near strong enough to carry the other five of them, especially in these winds.
Scootaloo's brief flirtation with flight had ended as Nightmare Spectrum had stripped away the magic that let her soar to Cloudsdayle in the first place - but even if she could still fly, she just wasn't strong enough to take an adult passenger.
"Perhaps we're trying to approach this from the wrong angle," Rarity pondered. "What if we tried to use the Elements to free the Princesses? Surely they're good for something other than banishment magic?"
"Good theory, Rarity, but I don't exactly have a spellbook that explains what else the Elements can do..." Twilight said, peering up at Spike. He had been busy checking the shelves of the library since Nightmare Spectrum's arrival, to no avail.
"I've been looking!" the young dragon cried to make that point clear.
"There's also the fact that we've got Scootaloo along with us now," Applejack said. "Ah ain't gonna argue with the Elements pickin' her, but she's a liability if we gotta fight."
"I am not a liabil... libeli... whatever that is," Scootaloo protested. "I can take care of myself!"
"It's out of our hooves, Applejack," Twilight sighed. "The Elements chose her just like they chose the rest of us. Who better to exemplify Loyalty than Rainbow Dash's own protege?"
Scootaloo leaned over to whisper to Pinkie Pie. "Was that a compliment?" she asked.
"Yep!" Pinkie Pie said, no longer having to fake her own Element. For the first time since all of this started, she felt hope in her heart. "Twilight means that since the Elements had to pick someone other than Dashie, you're perfect because you're a lot like her."
"Yes, it's the ultimate compliment," Fluttershy affirmed.
"Awesome!" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"It is, isn't it?" Twilight asked, laughing quietly. With the Elements complete once more, her magic was regenerating at an accelerated rate, and she was using some of that to patch her own wounds. "We can't get to Nightmare Spectrum with the winds being so bad. There's got to be another way..."
"How about this, Twilight?" Spike asked from overhead. He was waving a book. "It looks like one of Princess Celestia's old diaries!"
Twilight gasped. "No, Spike! Those are the Princess's private thoughts! Why is that book even here?"
"I don't know, Twilight," Spike replied, puzzled. "I looked over this same shelf twice already tonight, but didn't see it before."
"It's a sign!" Pinkie shouted. "I think she wants us to read it!"
"Works for me, Pinkie," Applejack said. "Spike, toss it on down here!"
Spike tossed the book down to the girls. Twilight caught it in her resurgent magic and opened it up. What she saw had her in shock, then smiling.
"What is it?" Scootaloo asked.
"I don't believe it. It's a failsafe spell!" Twilight said. "Princess Celestia crafted this spell in case something ever happened to her and Princess Luna had to be released from the moon. It's a reverse banishment spell!"
"You mean you can bring the Princesses back?" Scootaloo asked, excited.
"No," Twilight said sadly.
Scootaloo frowned.
"It means we're going to bring the Princesses back!" Twilight exclaimed happily. "We've got our chance!"
..:://=||=\\::..
Nightmare Spectrum stood on the highest storm clouds she had created, looking up at the sky. As long as she remained up there, she figured, the Elements of Harmony were no threat. They couldn't reach her up there, and the only ones capable of aiding them were locked away in the sun and moon, respectively. The storm clouds would continue to spread even without her direct intervention. She had won even with the Elements of Harmony reunited.
She looked up at the Mare in the Moon and laughed maniacally. While she wasn't looking, however, the moon itself began to glow.
When she opened her eyes, the Mare in the Moon was gone...
|
TDarkchylde
|
844
| 8 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Eternal Storm
|
The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
|
complete
| 70 | 4 |
<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
|
teen
|
2011-10-01T21:31:46+00:00
|
2011-10-01T21:31:46+00:00
| 2,848 |
The Eternal Storm - Chapter 8 - Where Sun and Moon Unite
Upon the roof of the Royal Library, the six Elements of Harmony were set up in a circle and concentrating hard on their reverse banishment spell. Time was of the essence and they all knew this. Equestria would survive a few more days even with the continued pounding from Nightmare Spectrum's storms, but its Princesses wouldn't last much longer if her boasting had any hint of truth to it.
"Is it working yet, Twilight?" Scootaloo said as she strained to keep up her part of the Elements' magic. "I'm not feeling so good..."
"Twi knows what she's doin', sugarcube, just hold on!" Applejack cried.
Twilight Sparkle's horn was glowing with a blinding light. Her body had only gotten a few minutes to recover after the first confrontation with Nightmare Spectrum, and as bad as the others were feeling at that moment, she was taking the worst of it. Still, she was pushing beyond her boundaries. The return spell was one so complex that it would normally take an alicorn to cast it.
If they didn't succeed, they weren't going to have that luxury to help release Princess Celestia. They all knew this, so they kept focusing their energies into the spell.
Just as Twilight felt the last of her magical energies being consumed by the spell and her life force filling the gap, a light began to shine in the center of the circle. It was working.
"A... few more seconds, girls..." Twilight said, closing her eyes tightly. She was starting to cry tears of blood.
The others redoubled their focus. Even Scootaloo was giving everything her little body had, causing her to earn the respect of the others. She was proving herself a suitable host for the power of Loyalty.
The light in the circle's center began to coalesce into the form of a pony. Slowly but steadily, Princess Luna was being returned to her home.
"Just a... *cough* few... more... seconds..." Twilight cried. She was coughing up blood now. Her body was failing.
"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie shouted.
"No! *cough* Maintain... your... focus... she's almost... back..." Twilight strained to say. She fell to one knee, but refused to quit.
Princess Luna's body finished forming, then the spell ended with a brilliant flash of light.
"Welcome... back... Princess..." Twilight said softly as she collapsed.
Twilight's friends quickly ran to her side.
"Get her inside, quickly!" Princess Luna ordered. "She'll get sick in this rain!"
Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy loaded Twilight Sparkle's unconscious body onto Applejack's back, with Scootaloo helping steady her. They quickly brought her back into the Library.
"...And thank you, Twilight Sparkle," Luna softly said as she followed. "That's two I owe you now..."
..:://=||=\\::..
Twilight Sparkle was resting comfortably in her old bed. They had completed the summoning spell just in time - she would have a massive headache for a few days, but a good night's sleep would hopefully be enough to rejuvenate her magic. Her body was still badly damaged from the strain of the return spell, however.
The other Elements were taking a chance to rest up as well. Princess Luna had revealed to them before they packed it in that the return spell for Princess Celestia could not be performed with the sun down, so there was little they could do until sunrise other than try to sleep.
Now, the time for sunrise had come. Today, it would be Luna's job to raise it.
"This can't be too difficult. First, to put the moon away for the day..." she said as she set herself to the task. With the persistent cloud cover, she could only go by feel. Luckily, practice made perfect even with sight unseen as the moon descended.
"Nice. My sister has nothing on me in this regard... no, this is no time to gloat. The sun is a completely different beast."
She turned to the east and focused on the sun. There were many factors that would combine to make this more difficult than anything she had ever done, even more so than the first time she raised the moon. The sheer mass was the first difference. There was simply a lot more matter for her to manipulate this time. Another factor was the sun's gaseous and plasmatic state, compared to the moon's solidity.
As her magic locked on to the sun, she felt its warmth radiate through her. Then it got much worse for her. When she fully encompassed it with her magic, it started to burn her. It was a sensation she had never experienced to that magnitude before.
"Is this... Is this what Celly has to put up with every morning? Is that why she chose to command the sun - to spare me this pain? I never realized... aaaaaaaAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Inside, Luna's scream woke up Fluttershy. "Oh no," she muttered, "was that the Princess? Girls? Wake up!"
None of the others woke up. The others could be pretty heavy sleepers, but Fluttershy was a light sleeper due to her home's comparatively quiet setting. It also didn't help that Fluttershy's shout was muted. She decided to run up to the roof to check on the Princess herself.
When she arrived, Luna's body was burning as brightly as the sun, but her magic was holding the celestial orb fast. It was slow going, but she was raising it.
"Princess?" Fluttershy worriedly asked. "Are... are you okay? I heard a scream."
"I'm fine," Luna said, ignoring her pain. "I'm just not used to doing this. The sun has a lot of kick... owwwww!" She dropped to one knee. "I never appreciated what my sister had to go through to do this job. That's all..."
"Do you want me to get Twilight to try to help you?" Fluttershy meekly asked.
"No!" Luna screamed in the midst of another surge of burning pain. "No... no. She needs her rest if you girls are going to free my sister. Besides, she just doesn't have the magic needed for this job..."
Fluttershy simply watched as Luna screamed one final time, using a defiant burst of power to force the sun to stay up. It got slightly lighter underneath the cloud cover, at least to the point where the others could see with some sense of normalcy.
"Get some rest," Luna said, trying to catch her breath. "We can probably wait until noon to start the return spell." Her body was still glowing brightly, but that was starting to fade. She tried to walk into the Library, but stumbled.
"Only if you get some rest too... please?" Fluttershy pleaded. "You don't look so good, and you probably shouldn't be falling over, either."
"I should have you hanged," Luna joked darkly, though her emotionally hardened facade was crumbling. "You're right, though... a little bit of rest couldn't hurt."
..:://=||=\\::..
Nightmare Spectrum stayed on her cloud all night and all day. She waited. She knew Luna was freed, and it would only be a matter of time before Celestia would walk Equestria again as well.
Sure enough, right at the stroke of noon, the sun glowed.
She cursed silently as her plans were starting to unravel.
"Problem?" asked the pony trapped inside her mind.
"...What are you doing awake?"
"Watching the show. Could you grab me some popcorn? It's starting to get good and I'm starving."
"You would be wise not to annoy me right now."
"Yeah, right. You can't kill me. You need me."
"Are you so certain of that?"
Nightmare Spectrum leaped off of the cloud into a freefall.
"Wait... what are you doing?"
"I don't need you as much as you believe I do. This body can die, and you with it. I'll survive as part of another."
"Prove it."
She continued to fall. She was close to reaching terminal velocity.
"You won't get another Element Bearer again, you know. They're bound to be on to you by now. Same goes for the Princesses."
She continued falling.
"I'm your last shot and you know it!"
Nightmare Spectrum growled as the pony trapped in her mind called her bluff. She halted her descent and quickly rose into the air.
"I knew it. You're just a coward."
"...Shut up and go back to sleep while I finish off your friends. I don't know how they ever put up with you in the first place."
"Coward... cow... ard..." the pony taunted as her voice became silent.
Nightmare Spectrum quickly flew back to Cloudsdayle to prepare for the final confrontation. With the Princesses free, it was now inevitable.
She was also unwilling to admit that she was now inexorably stuck with Rainbow Dash until the end of time, or until she was banished. Whichever came first.
Her only hope to shut Dash up for good was to finish off her friends.
..:://=||=\\::..
The Element Bearers, the Princesses and Spike all agreed that another night's rest would be needed for them to be in any condition to face Nightmare Spectrum. They decided they'd all head to the Palace to be taken care of properly that night. While Luna and Celestia raised and lowered the sun and moon at the proper times, the six Bearers and Spike slept. None of them would prove to have a very restful sleep. The anticipation weighing on each of them was too great to bear.
Celestia was on the roof the next morning as she readied herself to raise the sun.
"Celly?" Luna asked as she made her way to the roof.
"Sister, what's wrong?" Celestia asked as she turned to look back at Luna.
She was crying. "I'm so sorry," Luna said sadly. "I didn't know how hard it was to raise the sun. All those years ago, I simply thought that you were trying to prove that you were more powerful than me... I never realized all the pain you went through..."
Celestia walked over to her sister and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry, too, dear sister," she said as she also began to cry. "I was hoping to spare you the pain the sun can cause... that's why I gave you dominion over the moon. It's not easy for me, either. If I don't prepare properly, it can still cause me severe agony even after all these centuries."
"This is all my fault," Luna sighed. "If I hadn't been jealous of you, the Nightmare would have never taken me over, it would have never imprinted my powers and we wouldn't be facing this crisis now."
"Shhh... that's not true, Luna," Celestia said. "If it hadn't happened then, it would have still happened eventually. The Nightmare could even have taken me over instead of you. It is the one force in Equestria that's beyond even our power to tame."
"I wish I never escaped the Moon," Luna sobbed.
Celestia gave her sister a kiss on the forehead and hugged her tightly. "I'm glad you did," she said. "I missed you over those thousand years, and I'm truly glad to have you back now."
"You're just saying that," Luna said as she wiped a tear from her eye.
"Nonsense," Celestia whispered. "No matter what happens today, I am proudest of all that you are back and we will stand together. That will never change."
"You mean it?" Luna said between sniffles.
"On my honor, I meant every word I said," Celestia said as she stood up and smiled at her sister. "Get some breakfast, then start preparing the Elements. I'll be down shortly."
"Okay," Luna said, feeling a great weight lift from her heart as she departed back into the castle.
With that done, Celestia mentally steeled herself against the pain that was to come as her magic latched onto the sun...
..:://=||=\\::..
It was finally time to take the fight to Nightmare Spectrum. Between the Princesses and Twilight Sparkle, they had come up with a brilliant plan of attack.
The first part was making sure that the girls, aside from Fluttershy and Scootaloo would be able to walk through Cloudsdayle in the first place. Twilight Sparkle cast a cloudwalking spell on herself, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie in order to facilitate this.
The next part was transit. Princess Luna left first, flying high overhead. Her part of the plan was to clear a path for Princess Celestia and the Elements of Harmony to make it to Cloudsdayle. Though no Rainbow Dash, she was a fast and strong enough flier to create a fairly calm wake for the others to follow in.
Celestia's part was just as important. Being the more talented sister where it concerned magic, her job was to telekinetically carry the Element Bearers along with her as she followed in the wake.
The girls' part of the plan was fairly self-explanatory - use the Elements to stop Nightmare Spectrum, either by expelling the Nightmare from Rainbow Dash, or by banishing her to the moon if that failed. They had all protested that part of their role, but eventually they all realized that if it was the only remaining option, it had to be done.
Finally, Spike was to remain behind at the Palace. He was the fallback - if everything else failed, Celestia would use him to relay orders to the Royal Guard to level Cloudsdayle. If the town was destroyed, the cloud generators would be destroyed with it. It was without a doubt the least palatable option, and probably the least effective as well, but it would serve to disperse some of the storm clouds and buy Equestria some extra time to prepare for one more shot.
Everything went according to plan until they actually reached the cloud factory in Cloudsdayle.
As Twilight Sparkle tried to walk in, she was repelled by a magical shield. She shouted out as her body impacted it, causing her pain.
"Did you really think I'd make it that easy for you this time?" Nightmare Spectrum projected to the Princesses and the assembled Elements. "I think not."
"You're finished!" Scootaloo defiantly shouted. "Give us Dash back!"
"All in due time," Spectrum taunted. "In order to reach me, there are tests for each of you Elements of Harmony. If you wish to reach me, it's as simple as this..."
"...You must abandon each other and travel alone..."
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TDarkchylde
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844
| 9 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
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The Eternal Storm
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The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
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complete
| 70 | 4 |
<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
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teen
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2011-10-02T09:17:44+00:00
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2011-10-02T09:17:44+00:00
| 2,776 |
The Eternal Storm - Chapter 9 - Reverie
"This is bad," Fluttershy said as she backed away from the factory fearfully.
"Agreed," Twilight Sparkle said, "but we may have no other options." She looked over to the Princesses.
They were both trying their hardest to magically punch through the shield, but its power soon lashed back upon them and sent them both stumbling backward. With a look of pained regret, Princess Celestia simply shook her head. "We can't break it. I'm afraid the only way for you six to reach her is to beat her at her own sick game."
"Let's do it, then," Scootaloo said, undeterred. "We'll be okay."
"I... I don't think this is a good idea," Fluttershy weakly said.
Applejack put a hoof over Fluttershy's shoulder. "Scootaloo's right," she said. "We ain't gotta be next to each other to be there for one another. Right?"
"Yes!" Pinkie Pie said as she stood defiantly before the door. "We've been connected since the day we met."
"Exactly," Princess Celestia said. "When friendship is true, each pony is always with the other, even if only in spirit. They're always there for one another."
It all started to make sense for Twilight Sparkle. "It was like when I was in the hospital," she said. "When the rest of you were so concerned about me, I could also feel Dash's spirit with me, telling me what she'd be thinking. I think she's still with us."
"There's no way we can give up now," Rarity stated. "We have come way too far to let a minor inconvenience like this deter us."
"We did the impossible once, an' ain't no way we can't do it again!" Applejack shouted.
"We're at our best now!" Pinkie exclaimed happily. "Nothing can stop us, not even a meanie like this Nightmare!"
"Friends always stand together," Scootaloo said, determination filling her voice.
"Okay," Fluttershy said softly as she stood tall. "I believe in you as I know you believe in me. We won't fail."
"No matter what happens, we stand together - friends forever," Twilight said. "Now let's go get our friend back!"
"I'm so proud of all of you," Princess Celestia said, smiling. "You six need to get inside. There are six different ways into the factory. I believe that's how she intends to separate you."
"First, the visitor's entrance, where we are now," Luna said, pointing to the shielded door.
"Ah'll take it," Applejack said as she walked to the entrance.
Celestia led the remaining five to the next entrance. "This is the employees' entrance."
"My stop!" Pinkie said excitedly as she bounced to that door.
Celestia led the other four a little farther, then pointed up. "Up there on the second floor is the executive entrance. Fluttershy, since you're the only one in the group who can fly, would you please take that one?"
"Okay..." Fluttershy said as she flew up. "Be careful, girls."
They walked some more before coming upon a small vent. "This is the intake for the water vapor needed to make the clouds," Celestia stated. "I almost didn't consider it because it was so small, but..."
"Say no more, Princess." Scootaloo said. "I can fit in there, no problem!"
Twilight, Rarity and Princess Celestia continued onward a short distance. "This is the emergency exit. It's rarely been used."
"Well, hopefully it's clean," Rarity said as she moved toward it.
Finally, Celestia led Twilight Sparkle to the last entrance. "The loading dock is all that remains," the Princess said.
"Guess that's my stop," Twilight said, looking inside at the darkened factory through the shield.
"Princess Luna and I will fly to the roof and wait for the shields to go down," Celestia said. "If we can make it to you in time, we may be able to help. Until then, good luck and remember to keep your friends in your heart."
"I will," Twilight said. Her horn glowed as she activated her thought projection spell to the others. "Ready?"
"Yep," Applejack replied.
"All set, Twilight!" Pinkie responded.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Fluttershy hesitantly thought.
"Ready," Rarity echoed.
"Let's do this already!" Scootaloo enthusiastically relayed.
"Right, then," Twilight projected. "Everypony in!"
As each of the Element Bearers breached the magical shields blocking their paths, they soon found their spaces being filled with a noxious cloud.
"Let the tests begin," each could hear as they lost consciousness.
..:://=||=\\::..
Fluttershy awoke in her cottage to somepony frantically knocking on her door.
"Wake up, Miss Fluttershy! We've got a problem out here!" a stallion she didn't know pleaded.
"What hit me?" she sighed as she got to her hooves. "I wasn't here before I fell asleep...."
"Please, you've got to hurry," the stallion begged. "It's really bad. It's the animals, they're..."
Fluttershy shot to the door. "The animals? Oh no, what happened?" she asked frantically.
"They've been getting sick," the stallion said, seen crying as Fluttershy opened the door. "It's horrible. We haven't been able to find a cure, and they're going out of their minds with pain."
"Oh, no... this is terrible," Fluttershy softly murmured.
Some of the sick animals followed the stallion to her cottage, and they were coughing between fits of agony. "That's not the worst of it," he said sadly. "They're contagious also. If we don't do something, every small animal in Ponyville will get sick and die. Worse, every animal in Equestria may suffer the same fate."
Fluttershy's heart shattered. "No... no... there's got to be something we can do..." she cried.
"There's only one thing I can think of to do that'd be kind to them, ma'am..." the stallion said as he looked towards the animals with his serpentine eyes...
..:://=||=\\::..
Pinkie Pie came to back at her family's rock farm.
"About time the little harlot woke up," an old stallion spat.
"Don't mind your father, Pinkamena," an aged mare said. "He's just sore because business has been poor lately."
Pinkie opened her eyes to discover herself back in the silo on her family's rock farm. "Mom? Dad? What's going on?"
"You've been dishonoring yourself and your whole family in the modern world," her father said angrily.
"He doesn't mean it, dear," her mother said, reassuringly. "All he wants is for you to come home. It's all I want too, and so do your sisters."
Pinkie tried to get back to her hooves, but her body felt foreign to her. She had to look up at her parents, and as she got herself upright, she took a wild guess. "Why'd I shrink?"
Her father laughed angrily. "Shrink? Don't you know when this is?"
Pinkie reached into her memory. "This can't be," she said, shocked. This was her Rond Gallopen, the time when ponies in her community who reached a certain age were sent into the more modern Equestrian world, then left with a choice - the amenities of the modern world, or remaining with their communities and shunning modern conveniences. "This isn't right," she tried to reason. "I remember this happening before, but you were both supportive of my choice even though you didn't agree with it."
"Oh dear," her mother said. "Do you think they poisoned her out there?"
"I wouldn't put it past those friends of hers," her father said. "They're bad ponies."
"Now hold on just a minute," Pinkie said. "They'd never do something like that. They love me, like you two are supposed to!"
"We do love you," her father said. "That's why we're trying to make sure you make the right choice. I mean, look at your mark. You don't belong out there, you belong here!"
"You belong with your family, Pinkamena. Can't you see that?" her mother pleaded.
Pinkie looked back at her cutie mark. It was different. The balloons were gone, replaced by a pile of rocks...
..:://=||=\\::..
Twilight Sparkle woke up in her hospital bed. She felt like a piano had fallen on her head.
A nurse who had been changing her IV saw her stirring. She ran to the door. "Doctor? Doctor, come quick! She's waking up!"
"Wha... I'm not supposed to be here..." Twilight said weakly. "I'm supposed to be helping my friends..."
As she tried to get out of bed, the nurse held a foreleg over her, blocking her progress. "You shouldn't try to get up yet. You've been through a lot," she pleaded.
The doctor walked into her hospital room. "Ah, Miss Sparkle, you're finally awake. Nurse, please go get her parents from the waiting room..."
"Right away, Doctor," the nurse said as she departed.
"Please, Doctor... this isn't right," Twilight pleaded. "I remember all this... I got better. I was let out of here."
"Oh, dear..." the doctor said.
"Rainbow Dash needs my help. I need to get out of here and back to Cloudsdayle..." she said.
Twilight's parents walked into the room. "Oh, Twilight!" her mother cried. "You're awake! We were so worried..."
"I'm so glad we didn't lose our little filly," her father said.
"It's not all good news, I'm afraid," the doctor said. "Apparently the combination of being comatose for a year and losing her magic has damaged her mind. She's going to need you two more than ever while she adjusts..."
Twilight interrupted the doctor. "What? I didn't lose my magic! I..." She stopped as she reached up to her head.
Her horn was gone. Her heart sank.
"It's going to take some time for her to get back to reality fully," the doctor continued. "She's having moderate delusions right now, possibly being brought on by her guilt over not being able to save her friend."
"...But... but I saved Rainbow Dash!" Twilight protested. "This is all wrong!"
"Honey," her mother said as she hugged Twilight, "you didn't save her. You tried... you gave it your all, but you failed. Your magic wasn't up to the task."
"Yes... when the Princess found you, she said you broke emotionally over it," her father continued. "You were in the middle of a magical outburst worse than the one when you entered Celestia's academy, so... we had no choice but to have your horn removed. Even when they put you into the coma, your magic was out of control."
"You... what?" Twilight angrily asked.
"We're sorry... there was just no other way..." her mother said.
Twilight's head fell into her forehooves and she began to cry...
..:://=||=\\::..
As Applejack came to, she was bound in a police wagon. "What the hay?" she cried. "What's goin' on here?"
"Sounds like the perp's awake," one of the policeponies said.
"You know why you're back there, scumbag," the other one said.
"Ah ain't got the slightest idea what you're talkin' about!" Applejack cried, panicked. "Ah'm not even s'posed to be here! Last Ah remember, Ah was up in Cloudsdayle! Ah ain't done nothing..."
"As if I haven't heard that before," the second policepony said before laughing.
"They all say that, don't they? the first one asked his partner. "Perhaps you should read her her rights again so she doesn't try to weasel her way out on a technicality."
"Yeah, we sure wouldn't want that," the second one said. "Applejack, you are under arrest for the murder of Granny Smith. You have the right to remain silent..."
Applejack was too shocked to hear the rest of it.
Within minutes, the policeponies brought her to the station in Ponyville, a fairly small building. Just because there was almost never any crime in Ponyville, though, that didn't mean there wasn't a need for police. This was the first murder in the town's history.
She was soon led into an interrogation room. All she could do was wait.
Eventually, a grizzled old earth pony stallion with a badge walked in. He shut the door behind him and tossed a folder up onto the table. "Let's see what we have here," he began. "Applejack. Heiress to Sweet Apple Acres, overall dependable pony, and the Element of Honesty to boot. We shouldn't be here that long, then."
Applejack looked up at him. "Well, what do y'all need, then?" she asked.
The old stallion smiled. "Just give us your confession to murdering Granny Smith, and we can all go home. Except you, that is. You'll go to a dungeon for the rest of your life."
"See, there's just one teensy lil' problem with that," Applejack said. "Ah don't remember doin' nothin' of the sort."
"Don't you?" he asked. "We have witnesses. Big Macintosh and Applebloom both saw you standing over her body with a pillow. I bet when we get the autopsy report, we'll find she was suffocated. Try to remember."
Applejack refused to back down. She was being honest. She remembered nothing like that. "Ah ain't sayin' nothin' else til y'all get my lawyer up in here..."
"Suit yourself," the old stallion said as he got up. "Just remember," he began as he removed his sunglasses, revealing his serpentine eyes, "you're going away no matter what. Whether you spend your life in a dungeon or get hanged is up to you."
..:://=||=\\::..
The first thing Rarity noticed was the smell. She woke up quickly once it registered in her brain. "Ewwwwww! Has Spike been taking out my garbage again?"
She took a look around. She was in an alleyway in a big city. It was raining, and she had nowhere to escape to except a damp box.
"What is this?"
She looked down into a puddle of grimy water and saw herself. She was a complete and utter wreck. Her mane looked like it hadn't been anywhere near a brush in months, and her face was puffy from what seemed like days of crying. What few articles of clothing she was wearing were torn to shreds and could probably never be improvised into something presentable.
"What happened? Why am I here?"
A mare just down the alley coughed. "Wow, filly, you must have found some good stuff to not even remember how you ended up here," she said. "Lucky for you, I'm the sharing sort. I'll tell you."
"Please, then," Rarity pleaded. "From the beginning, if you wouldn't be so kind."
"Ain't much to tell," the mare said. "You used to be some big hot-shot fashion designer, but you ran your business into the ground by giving everything to your friends and expecting nothing in return. When the tax man came a'calling, you lost everything but the dress on your back. You came here to Manehattan hoping to rebuild your name, but you just couldn't find your calling again. You ended up here. Now your dress is in tatters, your precious mane is practically destroyed, and you smell like old garbage mixed with dragon sweat. But, look on the bright side. You may have a way out of this yet."
"Really?" Rarity asked.
"Yep, here he comes now," the street mare said as she started waving. "Hey Big Stone!"
"Doesn't matter how much you butter me up, Cider, you burned me too many times," Stone said as he came closer to Cider and Rarity. "Actually, I was hearing that the famous Rarity was holed up in my alleyway. Came to offer her a way out of the rain."
"R-Really?" Rarity asked. She had no clue how she ended up in this predicament, even after hearing the story of her apparent life, but the offer of a chance to get out of the rain was worth a shot. "What will I have to do?"
"Oh, I just need something to sell," Stone said.
"Well, I think if I could start designing again, I could easily get out of here," Rarity said. "I'd be willing to share the profits, of course."
Stone laughed. "Designs? After you were laughed out of your last fashion show? I think not. I want something else."
Rarity was puzzled. "I apparently have nothing, then, so what could you possibly want?" she asked.
"The last thing you've got to give," Stone said, locking his serpentine eyes with Rarity's own. "Your body."
..:://=||=\\::..
Scootaloo awoke in a dark place. There were no walls. There was no sky. It was just darkness.
Twilight Sparkle and the others came walking in from the distance. "There she is! Scootaloo! Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Scootaloo lied as she rubbed her head. "What happened?"
"Apparently this Nightmare Spectrum was trying to pull a fast one on us," Rarity said.
"Yeah, that meanie Miss-Snooty-Pants was just trying to scare us," Pinkie said, bouncing happily.
"We just had to find you," Fluttershy said. "Now we can go get Rainbow Dash back."
"Yep. Still with us, Scootaloo?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah!" Scootaloo cried excitedly. "We better hurry!"
"Scootaloo! Wait! What about us?" asked a young filly from the other direction.
"Yeah, don't forget us!" another filly said.
Scootaloo turned around. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were standing there looking at her. "Don't worry, I didn't forget about you," she said, smiling.
"But where'd you go?" Applebloom asked. "You was s'posed to help us find our cutie marks today..."
"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle said. "Why'd you leave us behind?"
"Awwww... guys... it's complicated, okay?" Scootaloo said.
"Ain't you gonna help us get Dash back?" Applejack asked.
Scootaloo turned around. "Yeah, I was supposed to help Dash... Guys, I can't just leave them hanging..."
"So you're going to abandon us for them?" Sweetie Belle asked accusingly.
"Yes, go on, Scootaloo. Go with them and play your childish games while the world drowns," Rarity said. "Get serious. We should be on our way."
Scootaloo was placed in the worst position she could ever be in. She was entrusted with the power of the Element of Loyalty, but to prove her worth, she had to abandon one group of her friends...
..:://=||=\\::..
"Popcorn? I do believe you're fond of it." Nightmare Spectrum mockingly thought as she tossed a kernel into her mouth.
"This is low, even for you," Dash's voice said. "They can't win!"
"That's the point, you stupid little filly!"
"Come on guys, you've got to find a way out of this... If only I could be there..."
"Good thing for me you can't, then."
..:://=||=\\::..
"You can't... there's no way I could do that," Fluttershy said. "It's wrong..."
"It's the only way," the stallion pleaded. "If you don't kill them now, they'll infect every animal in town. Besides, they're in pain. Isn't letting them hurt just as unkind?"
"But... I can't do any harm..." Fluttershy squeaked.
"Problem, Fluttershy?" a familiar voice asked.
"Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy said as she looked up at her friend, in the flesh. "I thought you were..."
"Always with you?" Dash said, smiling. "You know it. So what's wrong here?"
"This stallion brought these sick animals here, but there's no way to cure them," Fluttershy said softly. "He says killing them is the only way to save the others, but it's wrong to kill..."
"Shy... look at the big picture. You've had another option the whole time," Dash said. "They're going to die anyway... and they're in pain. Think."
Fluttershy looked around. Suddenly, it clicked. Across the path from her was a vacant lot and her covered wagon. "I know exactly what to do," she said as she ran inside to grab her medicine bag.
When she emerged, she coaxed all the sick animals over to the vacant lot... then she pulled out some medicine and started to give it to them. Within moments, they stopped convulsing in pain. A few moments after that, they were starting to rest. She started placing their resting bodies into her wagon.
"I knew you'd figure it out," Dash said as she flew off. "Later!"
"Wait... they're still alive?" the stallion asked, puzzled. "What did you do?"
"They're resting comfortably," Fluttershy said in a stern tone. "I was panicking so badly, I almost forgot my oath. First, do no harm. You were right, I couldn't cure them... so I did the kindest thing I could. I'm making them comfortable so that when their little bodies finally do give up, they can go in peace."
"But... what about the other animals?" the stallion asked, now panicking.
"Oh, they know to stay out of this field," she said. "Little poison berries grow in the grass. The healthy animals won't come over here, and these poor little things can barely move so they can't get to the poison themselves."
"No! You were supposed to... AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" the stallion screamed as he twisted and warped out of existence. Soon, everything went black for Fluttershy...
..:://=||=\\::..
Pinkie Pie was resigned to her fate, as she was working on the rock farm. She sighed, sadly. Her hair was in its straightened, depressed state. Still, she had nothing left to look forward to, she thought.
She looked in the direction of Ponyville, at all that which could have been.
Suddenly, she saw a rainbow streak flying from there towards her. She became frightened, screamed, and lost her balance, falling on her flanks.
"Hey, Pinkie Pie," Dash casually said from overhead. "Why are you back on the rock farm? Shouldn't you be putting together a big victory party back at Sugarcube?"
"I can't," Pinkie said softly. "There's no fun here, no parties... I shouldn't even be talking to you."
"That doesn't sound like the Pinkie Pie I know," Dash said as she landed. She pushed at a rock. "Boring. Come on, your friends are waiting for you."
"Pinkamena, get away from that... that heathen," Pinkie's father said as he came storming out of the barn. "She's going to lead you down the wrong path again."
"Pinkie, look," Dash said. "I'm not gonna tell you which way is the right one here, because I can't. Neither can he. Neither can anypony else in this big, wide world except you. Follow your heart, you'll know what's right. Whichever way you choose, I'll respect that, and I'll still call you friend. Sorry, Mr. Pie, I didn't mean to keep your daughter from her work. I should be getting back to clearing the skies over Ponyville. Later!"
With that, Dash took off back toward Ponyville.
"Good riddance," Mr. Pie said. "The less you're around ponies like that, the better."
"Ponies like what, Father?" Pinkie asked. "Ponies who are the greatest friends anyone could have? All this time, you've been telling me what you think is right for me. What you think my path in life should be. Dash was right. It's my choice!"
"What?" Mr. Pie asked, furious.
"Just look at her," Pinkie said. "She didn't agree with what you told me, but she was still friendly and polite to you. I know what my heart's telling me. I need to go back home and be with my friends." Her cutie mark returned to its normal state and her hair puffed back out. "I'm sorry, Father, but I know which way I should be going now." She turned to leave.
"If you go back to that place, you can never go home again!" Mr. Pie screamed.
"Silly," Pinkie said as she looked back at her father. "You said I could come back anytime I wanted. No takebacks!" With that, she bounced on her merry way, humming a delightful tune.
Then everything went dark. Pinkie swore she heard a scream back at the farm...
..:://=||=\\::..
"Quick! Sedate her!" the doctor cried.
It was too much for Twilight Sparkle to take, and she was lashing out against everything she could. The loss of her magic, her friends, having to cope with her parents' betrayal... she couldn't help but snap after learning all of that.
As the doctor tried to inject her with a sedative, she bucked him away. "No! I want to go back to the real world now! This isn't happening!"
"Twilight."
Twilight froze. "What was that?" she asked.
"Twilight! Snap out of it! You're okay!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"Rainbow Dash?" Twilight said, looking around. Indeed, Dash was standing there right in front of her. "I knew it! I knew they were lying when they said you were dead!"
"You think I'd let something like that separate us?" Dash asked.
As the doctor tried to get his bearings, Twilight swiftly smashed the syringe under her hoof.
"I knew you'd never leave me," Twilight said.
"Stop, Miss Sparkle! If you keep indulging those delusions of yours, you'll never get better!" the doctor cried.
"I'm guessing he can't see me," Dash said.
"Wait, does that make you a delusion?" Twilight asked, backing away.
"Nope. Just the world around you," Dash said, smiling. "Let's clear the air in here. Get one of those fancy spells of yours going."
"But..." Twilight stammered, "but... my horn's gone... I can't do magic..."
"Sure you can," Dash stated. "It's still inside you. It's here. It's between us. All you have to do is believe in it."
Twilight started to focus her mind on the task. Without her horn present, it was almost impossible for her to control the magic.
"Don't try so hard," Dash said. "Just let it happen."
And so Twilight did. Soon, the world itself was starting to fade away, along with Rainbow Dash. As it did, her horn was returning to its rightful place. She opened her eyes just as Dash was almost gone. "Dash, wait!" she cried.
"I'll still be here," Dash said as she faded away. "We'll be back together soon. Remember, the magic's inside you. It's inside all of us..."
..:://=||=\\::..
Applejack simply sat and waited as the police pony stared daggers into her.
Suddenly, the door opened, and whistling could be heard.
A rather overworked young mare stepped into the room, judging by the stack of briefcases she was somehow managing to balance on one hoof. She was singing softly, "If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear..."
The police pony cleared his throat. "I suppose you're Miss Applejack's lawyer?" he asked.
"Mmph," the lawyer confirmed. She slung all of the briefcases on the table, revealing her distinct mane. Only one pony Applejack knew had a mane like that. "That's better," she said. "Yes. Ms. Rainbow Dash, Esquire, at your service. I'm here to represent Applejack."
"Dash? What're you doin' here?" Applejack asked, bewildered.
"Duh! I'm gonna get you out of here," Dash said, smiling. "I know what I'm doing!"
"Right," the policepony said, not believing a word Dash was saying. "Miss Applejack here is facing some very serious charges. Perhaps you'd like to take a minute to talk to her in private so she'll make the right choice for herself?"
"I'd tell her the same thing whether you were in the room or not," Dash said. "Applejack, you know what's been happening lately. Remember. The truth shall set you free."
Applejack felt a surge of confidence now that one of her friends was here to help her. There was no need to say anything other than the truth, now that she could think clearly enough. "Ah was helpin' Granny Smith out before bed, like Ah've been havin' to do for the last few months," she began. "She's been really sick, on account of bein' old an' all. One'a the things I do every night is fluff her pillows, since she can't hardly do it herself anymore. So Ah grabbed her pillow an' fluffed it, but..."
Suddenly a surge of memories came flooding into her mind. She remembered everything that led up to the so-called "incident."
"...When Ah went to put the pillow back, Ah looked down," Applejack continued. "She wasn't breathin'. Applebloom came in and got scared when she saw us like that. Ah guess she got Big Macintosh, an' he must'a went an' called y'all. She went on her own, an' that's the honest truth."
"A likely story," the policepony said. "It's too bad the facts don't support your story. You're going down for this, and you're going to be hanged."
A younger policepony ran into the interrogation room and placed an open folder in his superior's line of sight.
"It's a pity," the old policepony rambled as his eyes drifted down. "You could have saved your life by telling... the... truth?" Something he saw in the folder had him slack-jawed.
Dash looked over at the folder. "...Well, she did tell the truth. It's right there in front of your face!" she cried triumphantly. "See that? 'Natural. Causes.' We'll be going now..."
"No!" the old policepony yelled. "No!!!"
The illusion shattered around Applejack and Rainbow Dash. "See? The truth shall set you free."
"Looks like it did," Applejack said. "Thanks for bein' there for me."
"Anytime," Dash said as she started to fade away. "You get ready to do the same..."
..:://=||=\\::..
Rarity was appalled at Stone's "offer." "You must be joking," she said, defiantly. "That's a disgusting enough proposition on its face, doubly so when coming from someone as repulsive as you."
"Your call," Big Stone said as Cider ran off into hiding. "Of course, I'll be getting what I want anyway. Asking was just a formality. Boys?"
Several of Big Stone's flunkies dashed into the alleyway. One, a unicorn, subdued Rarity with his magic.
"Stop it!" Rarity cried. "You can't do this!" She tried to fend off her attackers, but days without food had left her too weak to use any magic.
"Hold her up nice and good so I can check the merchandise," Stone said as an evil grin crept onto his face.
"I don't think I like where this is going," a familiar voice said. "Put her down before I kick your teeth in!"
Rarity looked over at her would-be savior. The young cyan pegasus was wearing a hoodie sweater and grasping a pipe in her teeth. "Quick, help me!" she yelled.
"Get her. We'll add another one to the stable," Stone said.
As the two earth pony flunkies ran towards the pegasus filly, she dashed toward them in turn. She was faster than them, though... much faster. In a brilliant display of skill, she had knocked both of them to the ground in around ten seconds. Her hood had flipped open during the quick struggle, though, revealing her rainbow mane.
"Dash?" Rarity asked, shocked. "Why... how are you here?"
"You shouldn't be staying in a place like this, Rare," Dash said while clutching the pipe. "I've been trying to find you. You've given us so much in the time we've known you... let us give back. Please."
"Anything! Just get them to stop!" Rarity cried.
Stone scoffed at Dash. He signaled the unicorn to go after her.
The young unicorn telekinetically grabbed a garbage can lid and a broken bottle. He held the lid over his face while he ran in brandishing the bottle.
Leaving only a rainbow trail where she had been, Dash quickly flew up and over the unicorn, before headbutting him in his back from above. He fell quickly.
"H-how?" Rarity asked, still too scared to try to run.
"You tell me Rare, it's your nightmare," Dash quipped as she turned to Stone. "Leave my friend alone, and don't let me catch you doing this to another mare again! You understand?!"
Stone gritted his teeth and ran off.
Dash walked over and held out a hoof to Rarity. "Come on. I've got somewhere you can stay for the night, then we can figure the rest out later."
"I can't," Rarity said quietly. "It wouldn't be right..."
"Rarity," Dash pleaded. "You've given us all so much. If you ever get in this kind of spot again, don't be ashamed when we offer you something in return. You're my friend, and the gifts go both ways."
"I... I think I get it now," Rarity said as she took Dash's hoof and pulled herself back up. "Let us be off, then. I don't want to ever end up in a disgusting place like this again."
"I promise, you never will," Dash said as she and the surroundings faded to black.
..:://=||=\\::..
The bearers of the Elements of Harmony and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were arguing with each other and Scootaloo was trapped in the middle by her conflicting loyalties. Every time she came close to a decision, the other side would shout her down enough to change her mind. There was no sign it would ever end.
It was reaching the point for Scootaloo where it was all blending together. "Stop!" she cried. "I can't choose!"
That exclamation was enough to turn everyone's arguing toward Scootaloo.
She curled up in a ball beneath the perpetual verbal assault.
"Stop it already!" a voice cried from above. "Can't a girl get a nap?"
Scootaloo looked up. "Rainbow Dash? Is that really you? Please help me... I can't decide..."
"Geez!" Dash cried as she flew down to the floor. "Why are you trying to choose in the first place?"
"Huh?" Applejack asked as the arguing between the Bearers and the Crusaders ceased. "She's choosin' because we need her to save you!" she shouted at Dash.
"Yeah, but we need her to help us find our cutie marks," Sweetie Belle pleaded.
"Oh, this old thing," Dash sighed. She looked down at Scootaloo. "It feels like no matter which way you go, you're going to lose, right?"
Scootaloo looked up at Dash and simply nodded, on the verge of breaking down into tears.
"Lemme give you a little piece of advice, kid," Dash said as she knelt down to Scootaloo's level. "Don't. Don't even try to choose."
"What?" Scootaloo asked, confused.
"You'll be able to get back to the Crusaders when this is all over," Dash said. "It's all about what you can help right now. Right now, you're with my friends, and they need you. Helping them now doesn't make you disloyal to the Crusaders."
"...But..." Scootaloo started.
"Do what you can right now," Dash clarified. "The Crusaders will still be waiting for you when this is over, and they won't think any less of you because you helped your other friends. In fact, they'll probably think you're awesome for helping to save the world."
"Really?" Scootaloo said between sniffles.
"Really. Now get ready, things are about to get real heavy in a hurry. I'll see you in a few minutes," Dash said as she, the Element Bearers and the Cutie Mark Crusaders all faded away.
..:://=||=\\::..
The Element Bearers came to, all laying in one of the rainbow rooms.
"What hit me?" Applejack asked.
"I don't know, but I think it hit all of us," Fluttershy said as she got to her hooves.
"It was weird," Scootaloo said. "It all felt real..."
"It probably was, at least from our perspective," Twilight said as she felt the top of her head. Her horn was intact, and she sighed, relieved.
"Just a nightmare," Rarity mused.
"It's not over yet!" Pinkie Pie said. "Come on, we've got to get to the top!"
"Yeah, let's go," Twilight said, wishing to waste no more time.
They ascended the stairs quickly and worked their way to the Severe Storm Room. They had both a world and a friend to save.
|
TDarkchylde
|
844
| 10 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Eternal Storm
|
The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
|
complete
| 70 | 4 |
<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
|
teen
|
2011-10-02T15:15:34+00:00
|
2011-10-02T15:15:34+00:00
| 3,536 |
The Eternal Storm - Chapter 10 - Arising Hero
Nightmare Spectrum knew her moments were fleeting, so she was using the last of them to try to destroy as much of Equestria as possible. Between cranking the cloud machines beyond their maximum and using what magic she could channel, she was seeding the storms to devastating effect.
As if the constant rain and high winds weren't enough, giant hailstones and powerful lightning bolts were striking the larger cities. Buildings were being damaged. Some even caught fire from the lightning strikes, despite being saturated by the rain.
Time was running out. Every moment the Element Bearers didn't reach Nightmare Spectrum, part of Equestria was dying.
..:://=||=\\::..
As the hail began striking the Palace, the Royal Guards began to panic.
Celestia's head Guard began to rally the troops. "Ok, stallions! It's getting worse, and we haven't heard back from the Princesses yet. We must assume the worst."
"No!" Spike cried out. "We have a plan here, and we need to stick to it."
"But the Princesses may need us!" one of the junior guards shouted.
"We have to act! Our enemy may have neutralized the Princesses again!"
"The Palace can't take much more of these storms!"
The panic was growing.
"I've heard enough. We're going to Cloudsdayle," the head guard said.
"No. You're. NOT!" Spike growled. "What are your orders, Guard?"
The head guard hesitated.
"Orders!" Spike repeated sternly.
"We're to wait until either Princess Celestia or Luna send word via you to fly in," the head guard grudgingly replied.
"I'm glad you can hear," Spike said, being as threatening as he possibly could. "Look, I'm worried about them too, but I trust the Princesses, and I trust Twilight Sparkle and her friends. If you were needed, one of the Princesses would send me word, even with her dying breath. You need to have faith in them."
Those words shook the Head Guard. "Stand down, stallions... we'll wait."
"But..." one of the junior guards tried to protest.
"We wait," he reiterated. "As much as I don't like being in this situation, I will trust the Princesses' judgment... and so will you. Understood?"
There was nothing but silence from the junior guard.
"Do I make myself clear, stallions?" the Head Guard reiterated.
"Yes, Sir!" they replied in unison.
..:://=||=\\::..
Twilight Sparkle and her friends finally scaled the long flight of stairs, and were walking down the hallway to the Severe Storm Room. "This is it, girls," she said. "We all know the plan. We all know what we have to do. If any of you are having doubts, tell me now."
None of the others spoke up.
"I'll take that as a no," Twilight said as she was the first to reach the door. Using her magic, she made short work of the lock. She sighed deeply. "Let's finish this..."
Applejack kicked open the heavy doors. The others filed in after her.
"Greetings, little ponies. Welcome to your grave," Nightmare Spectrum said as she stood high over the main cloud machine. "I would ask if you wanted to chat, but I'm afraid we simply don't have the time."
"Enough foolin' around!" Applejack shouted. "You're done for!"
"Yes... yes, perhaps I am," Nightmare Spectrum conceded. "I'm already doomed. Your friend is getting closer and closer to taking control of this body. I'm almost tempted to let her have it."
"Something isn't right," Pinkie Pie said as her body began to twitch uncontrollably. "She's hiding something!"
"My, aren't you the perceptive one, Pinkie," Spectrum said sarcastically. "You're right, of course. I'm very tempted to let Dash have this body back, but it doesn't matter anyway. You're too late."
"Too late?" Scootaloo asked.
"Indeed. Even if you banish me here and now, you're all going to die in twenty minutes anyway," Spectrum said sadly as she revealed her trump card. "This place is rigged to overload, whether or not you defeat me. When it does, Cloudsdayle will be consumed by a flash of heat that will evaporate it entirely. Of course, you won't even survive long enough to begin to plummet to the ground below..."
That fact caught the girls off guard. "You're insane," Twilight Sparkle said softly. She quickly tried to cast her thought projection spell, but to no avail. "Oh no... I can't warn the Princesses..."
Nightmare Spectrum laughed. "No cavalry coming in to save the day, no time to escape. So sorry."
Overhead, Princess Luna was hiding in the shadows and writing out a letter to Spike...
..:://=||=\\::..
Spike was pacing in the palace when he felt his stomach become upset. He belched, and out popped a letter from Princess Luna.
"Are those our orders?" the Head Guard asked.
Spike looked over the letter quickly. "Yes and no..." he said as he showed it to the Head Guard.
To our loyal Guards,
It is with the deepest regret that I must order you to stay away from Cloudsdayle at all costs. The Nightmare Spectrum issue is being resolved as I write this, but this is not a time to celebrate. In a very short time, the city will be obliterated by a blast of heat that will evaporate its cloud structures and incinerate all life in the city. We will attempt to evacuate with the Element Bearers in our care.
Please understand this decision. We do not make it lightly. Do not risk your lives. There is simply not enough time.
Signed,
Princess Luna
The Head Guard looked down for a moment before looking back to his team. "We... we have new orders. Prepare to receive wounded!" he shouted.
The gravity of the Head Guard's tone didn't escape his team. "Sir, yes Sir!" they all replied as they began acting on those orders.
..:://=||=\\::..
Nightmare Spectrum laughed. "Was it worth it, little ponies? Was one single abandoned friend worth it?" she taunted.
Twilight simply stared as she summoned the Elements. "It always is," she said as she began to channel their power. "If you knew anything about friendship, you'd know that even through misunderstandings, it survives!"
A glow began to envelop the six Element Bearers. They all started to float in the air.
Then the unexpected happened. Another glow came from within Nightmare Spectrum herself.
"I knew I could count on you guys!" Dash's voice shouted into their thoughts. "I never should have doubted that you'd be there for me in the end..."
The knowledge that their friend was still alive inside Nightmare Spectrum, still fighting... it ramped the power of the banishment spell to a level never seen before.
"No... you're not supposed to defeat me..." Nightmare Spectrum said helplessly as the glow emanating from her body shaped itself into magical chains and anchored her to the floor.
"You were there for us, Rainbow Dash..." Scootaloo said softly as her eyes glowed with the pure energy of the Element of Loyalty.
"It's only fair that we return the favor in kind," Rarity said, her eyes glowing as the Element of Generosity.
"The kindest thing we can do is free you from your Nightmare," Fluttershy said softly as the Element of Kindness gave her all it had to offer.
"Through good times and bad, we'll always be there," Pinkie Pie said. "Though hopefully there's more good than bad."
"Ah'm sorry Ah was cross with you," Applejack said as the Element of Honesty fed its power into her. "Do you forgive me?"
"I already have," Dash said. "Now let's finish this creep!"
"For our friendship," Twilight Sparkle said softly as she opened her glowing eyes.
The Elements' power began to coalesce together. As it exploded outward towards Nightmare Spectrum, Dash's fighting spirit added a little something extra to the display - as a standing Sonic Rainboom exploded outward from the group as the rainbow beam fired.
Their beam struck true. Nightmare Spectrum screamed as she was enveloped by it. The impact blinded everyone in the room for a few seconds.
When sight returned to the girls, Rainbow Dash was laying where Nightmare Spectrum once stood. She was too exhausted to get up, but she was conscious.
As for The Nightmare, it was encapsulated in a telekinetic field being maintained by Princess Celestia. "Did we miss anything?" she asked.
"There's... still the matter of a bomb," Rainbow Dash weakly said.
Applejack ran over to the console as the other girls checked out their friend. With all the time Nightmare Spectrum had spent trying to intimidate and taunt the girls, there was only a minute left on the countdown. "Horseapples!" she cursed. "Ain't enough time to get out of here!"
Twilight Sparkle turned to the Princesses. "You need to get out of here fast," she pleaded. "Equestria needs you a lot more than it needs us. Go!"
"Pass...word..." Dash struggled to say before she passed out.
"Password?" Applejack said as she stared at the console. Sure enough, there was a small keypad made of clouds next to the countdown timer. "Ah bet Ah know what the password is, too." Luckily for her, the cloudwalking spell allowed her to use it.
She typed in "ABANDONED"
The countdown stopped with only thirty seconds left.
Fluttershy, Rarity and Scootaloo all fainted from the drama.
Celestia looked at Twilight Sparkle. "...What were you saying, my dear student? Surely it didn't sound like you were ordering us to leave, right?" she said as a trollish grin crept upon her face.
"I... that is, I wasn't... ohhhhhh..." Twilight said as she too passed out.
Applejack looked confused. "Ah ain't gonna pass out, if that's what y'all are thinkin'," she said.
Princess Luna laughed. "Surely not, but some rest would do us all some good anyway," she said.
Celestia also laughed for a moment. "Sister, would you mind bringing them to Canterlot? I'm sure the winds are dying down enough for you to get them there yourself."
"I can," Luna said as she began to levitate the exhausted Element Bearers together. "What will you be doing?"
Celestia looked over at the black mist she had trapped in her magical field. "I think I'll find someplace safe to put this," she said as she flew toward the Sun.
Epilogue
Things began to return to normal within a few weeks. Some of the smaller towns were still rebuilding, but Ponyville was slightly ahead of them. Ponies in those towns began to return to their homes to help out in the rebuilding efforts. Many ponies were injured in the storms, but amazingly nopony lost their life.
Aside from the Element Bearers, Scootaloo, the Princesses, the Mayors of Ponyville and Canterlot and the head of the factory in Cloudsdayle, nopony realized that Rainbow Dash was once the fiend known as Nightmare Spectrum - and even if they had, a Royal Decree was quickly put in place holding Dash blameless for the crimes of her Nightmare-twisted manifestation.
The remains of Nightmare Spectrum's armor were melted down into scrap and sent into the sun for good measure.
The Nightmare itself was also sent to the sun. It couldn't be destroyed even by the gaseous orb's intense heat, but it would take a long time for it to make its way back to Equestria to destroy more lives.
When Rainbow Dash was finally in good enough condition to leave the hospital, she was greeted by a special gift - the power of the combined Elements had healed her wings completely. She promised her friends she wouldn't try something as risky as stopping a hurricane on her own again.
Spike was named an honorary Royal Guard for his part in protecting them from racing headlong into potential annihilation.
Scootaloo rejoined the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle didn't believe her story at first, but after Rainbow Dash confirmed it, they vowed to keep it secret.
Pinkie Pie hosted a private party for her friends, the Crusaders and the Princesses. She is still receiving noise complaints from her neighbors.
Opalescence showed her appreciation for Rarity finally retrieving her by clawing her face.
Another couple of weeks passed, and Rainbow Dash rejoined the weather team. As she was clearing clouds, she noticed something strange.
One of them was moving on its own. It was made of cotton candy and it rained chocolate milk...
==THE END==
|
TDarkchylde
|
844
| 11 |
Main 6,Other,Princess Celestia,Princess Luna,Scootaloo,Dark,Sad,Tragedy,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
The Eternal Storm
|
The Nightmare returns, now using an Element Bearer as a host.
|
complete
| 70 | 4 |
<p>While Nightmare Moon is gone along with the threat of Eternal Night, the essence of the Nightmare still exists after the Elements of Harmony banished it from Princess Luna. </p><p>Having had a year to plan, it has now turned its sights toward what it sees as the weakest of the Elements' bearers. </p><p>A storm is brewing...</p>
|
teen
|
2011-10-03T22:29:33+00:00
|
2011-10-03T22:29:33+00:00
| 3,150 |
Notes from the Author
***Major spoilers present, please read LAST***
After taking a night to reflect, I thought about some things. Maybe the ending could have been a little more fleshed out. Perhaps I could have taken a different direction in making loyal Rainbow Dash into the apathetic monster, Nightmare Spectrum. I could have done a lot of things differently. I took them in the direction that made the most sense at the time. In the end, I didn't wish to test the limits of FiMFiction's comment section, so I figured I'd do it this way.
This story was originally started after Season One of the show started, but before we knew what Season Two would bring. After Season Two started, I decided to try to make it fit in that tight timeframe - after The Best Night Ever but before Return of Harmony. I figured about a month of in-story time would be enough. The epilogue probably feels rushed due to that constraint, especially after moving the story ahead two weeks between Chapters Five and Six.
Speaking of the epilogue, it was honestly getting hard to write at that point. I had already had ideas flooding into my mind for what would eventually (read: hours later) become Shylight. As an author, that's probably my worst flaw - my tendency to unconsciously think far, far ahead. As a result, rather than a drawn out epilogue taking weeks of in-story time, I took a shortcut and went to a "where are they now" type ending. Looking back, it probably works better in the movies. Oh well.
Most of the story was done on the fly. I'd know what Point A and Point B were, but I was literally drawing the line between them as I was typing the lines. I would have loved to be able to plan more, but it was out of my hands at the end. Putting a definitive end on the number of chapters probably forced me to speed it up more than I'd liked. (Note to certain sites - make it clear that "Indeterminate" is a valid number of chapters possible in the submission process. Actually, most of the submission guidelines are too vague, especially to literal-minded people like myself.)
There was some character development that could have gone other ways. Scootaloo wasn't supposed to become an Element of Harmony when I started the story; that changed later when I picked ten chapters as the total. She was originally supposed to become Nightmare Spectrum's right hand because of her Dash worship, then turn back to the light at the end. I literally decided against it when I was writing the first confrontation scene because I felt Nightmare Spectrum's indifference would play better as a lone wolf.
Twilight... yeah, Twilight kept getting the worst of it. In the show, I find her to be almost Sue-ish, so knocking her down a few pegs felt justified. What better way than giving her virtue some actual consequences to overuse? Not outlandish stuff like getting shunted to another dimension or being flung forward in time... that's too easy. No, the chance of death was the only way I could see it working in a way I could be satisfied with as an author. As for her getting hurt badly the second time, when they were using the Elements to bring Princess Luna back? She was a mortal who had nearly died two weeks earlier and had not gotten the chance to properly heal wielding the power of gods.
Honesty backfires. Generosity can give too much. Laughter can be inappropriate at the wrong time or place. Loyalty can be divided. Kindness sometimes can make one a monster. Magic goes out of control. At various points, I was trying to make that kind of clear. Yes, the Elements are good things. The problem becomes when you start taking it to its literal end. Sometimes you have to take a step back from the edge.
Dash breaking her wings. It's been done before, yes. Perhaps too often. It was also the perfect way for the Nightmare to invade her, in my eyes. When you've lost everything that you thought defined you, and someone said there was a chance to get it back, most of you would jump at the chance and worry about the consequences later. Of course, those consequences would turn out to be pretty major in almost all cases. Losing control of yourself, being trapped in your own mind while you're being forced to hurt your friends and almost destroy all life? Pretty huge consequence.
Ten chapters... that number came about completely dartboard-style... it could have been twelve, twenty, or possibly only eight. It could have lasted forever. Who can say?
I'm rambling, aren't I? Another of my flaws. In the end, though, I worked around them as best I could to try to create a story that some readers find pleasure in reading. I imagine some were scared away by the "Dark" tag. Others probably leapt in but were disappointed that nopony died. I'm not going to go into a whole rant on the Grimdark genre. I just wanted something different. To me, Grimdark isn't just about the death and bloodshed. It can be other things. I tried to make it other things. To me, grimdark is when bad things happen to good ponies, and there is nothing the reader can do but read on and hope they work their way out of it. Some survive their ordeal, some die... some suffer a fate worse than death. I wanted to create a situation where bad things were indeed happening to characters readers cared about, so that they would be interested enough to see how or if they'd get out of it. I like to think I succeeded.
I didn't just destroy the Nightmare at the end. That was by design. I wanted it to remain out there as a future threat. Maybe, generations later, Equestria will forget all about the Nightmare as they forgot about Nightmare Moon. Perhaps they'll let down their guard. I don't know yet. Maybe one of you will pick up the torch and run with it. That's fine.
In closing, I'm satisfied with the end product. It could have been better, it could have been far worse. Who can say? I enjoyed it. Others enjoyed it. Some won't. Nothing will appeal to 100% of the population all of the time. It's a fact of life. It's done. There will be no more edits unless I find a grievous grammatical error that I might have missed or something. The substance will stay the same, even the "where are they now" epilogue.
I hope you enjoyed the story either way. I just wanted to get that out there.
|
Dusty
|
847
| 1 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,Original Character,Pinkie Pie,Spike,Twilight Sparkle,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Beats
|
We follow Beats, a unicorn whose lived a less than fair life, as he attempts to find his Cutie Mark.
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>Beats is a young unicorn who has yet to earn his Cutie Mark. He absolutely loves music though and is known throughout Ponyville for his love of it. Beats' lack of a cutie mark isn't the only problem this unicorn will have to face though. Beats will have to come to terms with past events in his life, and also solve the problems he's going through now before he can find his cutie mark.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-22T00:37:01+00:00
|
2011-09-22T00:37:01+00:00
| 1,085 |
Beats strolled through the streets of Ponyville with a pair of headphones over his ears. The music always kept the little unicorn cheery, and it always kept a smile on his face. You see, Beats was always listening to music, always. If he was out and about in Ponyville, he always had his iPony with him. If he was home, he was always playing music through his stereo. Beats was absolutely in love with music.
Beats noticed a purple pony in front of him. After some time he identified the pony as Twilight Sparkle.
"Oh, hey Twilight!" Beats said cheerfully.
He could only see Twilight's lips moving, but the music in his ears was overpowering her voice.
The little unicorn focused as hard as he could and his small horn lit up, as did his head phones. The headphones slid off his ears and slid down to his neck. He released a held breath and then smiled again, realizing his magic actually worked with the first try.
"Sorry Twilight, I couldn't hear ya." Beats said with a giggle.
Twilight giggled as well, the little unicorn's laugh was so contagious, "It's no problem at all Beats, everypony knows how much you love music. I asked what you were doing on this fine day."
"Oh! I was going to see if Scootaloo was busy today, I found a bunch of new songs I though she'd like." Scootaloo was the closest friend that Beats had in Ponyville. Both of them liked the same kind of music, both of them liked to dance, and both of them didn't exactly have anypony to look after them.
"I think I saw her and her friends over at Sweet Apple Acres trying to earn their 'Apply Bucking Cutie Mark'." Twilight said with a roll of her eyes. "Honestly, you young ponies need to realize that your cutie mark will appear when it's time."
"Oh, I don't worry about it too much." Beats said, shaking his head, "You said Scootaloo was with her friends, right?"
Twilight nodded.
"Oh," The unicorn seemed a little let down, "Is Spike busy?" Beats asked. Twilight would often let Beats stay with her as she felt sorry for the younger unicorn and tried to be like a big sister to him. During the time he would stay there, he would have Twilight show him how to use magic, the rest of the time would be spent with Spike listening to stories about Canterlot and listening to music until the young ones fell asleep.
"I think he's asleep, Beats. What about your plans with Scootaloo?"
"Ah, I don't really like bothering her when she's with her friends."
"Well, why don't you become friends with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle? I'm sure they would love to have another pony in their club."
Beats shook his head, "That's OK. I don't really want to. I'll find some other way to spend my day. Thanks Twilight." Beats struggled to levitate his headphones back onto his head. After a few tries, Twilight did it for him. His frown turned into a weak smile, "Thanks again sis." Beats said, he began trotting through town again, curious as to how he would spend his day.
Beats' favorite song came on and interpreted his thoughts. It was a slow slow, an orchestral piece, that built up to an amazing finish. Classical music was Beats' guilty pleasure. Even though he would let ponies listen to his iPony, he would make sure to keep them away from his private playlist. It was better that he was seen as an energetic, dancing, electronic pony and not a classical, snobby, boring pony. The sing always made him close his eyes and imagine him in the audience, listening to the amazing piece. He felt chills all over him, and could see the notes float in the air above him.
Beats felt himself run into something. His headphones flew forward as his body bounced off the obstacle and fell backwards towards the ground. He opened his eyes and saw Scootaloo laying on the ground in front of him. Beats scrambled to get back up to his hooves.
"Oh, sorry about that Scoot, I didn't see ya there." Beats said, walking over to his friend.
"Ow, watch where you're going Beats!" She noticed the headphones that were now laying on her stomach that had flown off of Beats' head. "Hey, what killer song are you listening to today?" Scootaloo said as she began to put the headphones on her ears.
Beats let out a quick gasp, he then smacked his hoof against his iPony which was in a leg strap on his front right leg, effectively changing the song. Beats only hoped it didn't shuffle to another one of his private songs.
Scootaloo began nodding her head in rhythm, "Yeah! That's a good jam! You'll have to make me a CD with this one on it sometime." Scootaloo said as she began rocking her entire body to the rhythm.
Beats looked at the screen on his iPony, it had changed to a very fast paced dubtrot song. Beats let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Scootaloo, "Sure thing, Scoot! Want to come over? I can burn that CD for you now if you'd like!" Beats said excitedly, hoping to have some time to spend with his best friend.
"Oh, man, I'm sorry Beats. It's just that I was going to the Bait and Switch to pick up some fishing rods. Me and the gang were going to try to see if our special talent was fishing. Hey! Want to come too?" Scootaloo asked excitedly.
Beats smiled weakly, he wasn't too good with meeting new ponies. He always seemed to do something awkward around ponies he had never met before, "Maybe some other time, Scoot. I was just heading over to... Twilight's!" Beats said as he conjured and excuse in his head, "Yep, got to study magic. Uh-huh. Oh! In fact, I'm late! Gotta go!" Beats levitated his headphones over to him and around his neck, his need to get away from Scootaloo before she called him out on his lie made his magic work subconsciously. He then began galloping off into the distance.
Beats looked back after galloping for a while, he decided he was far enough away from Scootaloo and he slowed to a trot. "Man, why do I have to be so... Weird?" Beats asked himself.
"Hi!" Pinkie Pie said, suddenly appearing in front of Beats. Did he not notice her? Or did she really appear out of nowhere?
Beats was shocked and didn't exactly know how to respond. He had seen Pinkie Pie around town before, and Twilight had told him all about her unexplained 'powers,' but he thought it was just a made up story to keep him occupied. This pony really did just appear from no where, and he was staring blankly at her like an idiot.
"Hey, are you OK? First you looked all sad and now you look...Well, confused!" Pinkie Pie said.
"Oh, uhm, yes. I'm fine." Beats said, snapping out of his confusion. Twilight had said to just accept Pinkie as Pinkie, but she was still a stranger to Beats, which made his nervousness get the better of him. This always happened when he met new ponies.
Pinkie squinted her eyes at the Beats, looking almost upset. Beats looked uneasy, and a little scared. Pinkie's eyes shot open and she let out a loud, "Ah-HA!" Beats almost jumped at the sudden noise. "Nopony can lie to Pinkie Pie! Well, except Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy... And Twilight, and Rarity... And Applejack... But that was for a party! Anyways, ALMOST nopony can lie to Pinkie Pie!" Beats was at a loss, he had no clue what train of thought this pink pony was even on.
"Huh?" Was all Beats could manage to say.
"You're not OK at all! I know what it's like to be upset, I lived most of my life on a rock farm! So I know unhappy when I see it!"
Beats debated in his head if rock farms were even real.
"What's got you all tore up, Beats?" Pinkie asked.
Beats was a little surprised that Pinkie Pie knew his name, but then again it made him a little more comfortable around her. He always hated introductions, mainly because they always seemed to go wrong, mostly by getting tongue tied or the pony asking if he was named after vegetables.
Beats looked away, unable to answer the pony. He knew he was upset, but was it that obvious?
"Hey, how about some sweets to turn that frown upside down? I think there's a cake in here with your name on it!" She said with a wink.
Beats actually smiled, something to eat did sound good to the unicorn.
The two of them walked into Sugar Cube corner, Beats always did love the smell of the place when he would walk by. The smell was even stronger inside, and it made the experience all the more enjoyable. He took a deep breath and exhaled it, "It smells great in here."
"That's because only the sweetest of sweets in Ponyville are made here! We have cupcakes, cheesecake, weeding cakes, birthday cakes, dirt cakes, ice cream cakes, upside down cake (We really turn them upside down), no bake cheese cake-" The pony kept going on with naming off what seemed like every cake in existence, "And muffins!" The pink pony finished.
"That's a lot of cake." Beats said, trying to remember even half of the list the pony named off.
"Uh-huh! And here's yours!" Pinkie said as she bounced over to a table.
Beats climbed into a chair to get a better look at the cake. Sure enough it was a cake with his name on it. He stared at it, dumbfounded as to how the pony not only knew his name, but also made a cake for him in time to present it to him, and for what reasons she already had the cake.
"Where did this come from?" Beats asked.
Pinkie took a deep breath in, "First you have to take a cup of flower, add it to the mix! Now just take a little something sweet not sour, a bit of salt just a pinch," Pinkie Pie winked at Beats, "Baking these treats is such a cinch, add a teaspoon of vanilla! Add a little more and then you count to four and you never get your fill-ah!" Pinkie pie sang.
"You like singing don't you?" Beats said with an awkward giggle.
Pinkie simply giggled.
The two of them ate the cake together while Beats told Pinkie Pie about his day. The only pony he ever talked to about these things was Twilight, but she wasn't around and he needed to get this off of his chest. He was upset that Scootlaoo was with her friends, and he was even more upset that he couldn't get over his own nervousness to meet them.
"Just do what I do when I meet a new pony!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly.
"What?" Beats asked, eager to have his problems solved.
"Throw a party!" Pinkie yelled as she threw her hooves into the air. Confetti shot out from behind her and streamers fell over Beats. He had a look of great confusion on his face, this pony really was crazy. "I got it, we'll throw a party and invite EVERYONE!" Pinkie said as she went about decorating.
"H-How will that help?" Beats asked.
"Hm, 'Dunno! But why not?" The pony went back to decorating.
Beats sighed and decided to excuse himself from Sugar Cube Corner.
Outside was Twilight Sparkle, and Beats couldn't of been happier to see her. "Hey, sis! What are you doing here?" Beats asked.
"Well, I heard Pinkie Pie was throwing a party." Twilight said with a bug grin. Beats once again wore a look of confusion, Pinkie had only just recently decided to throw a party. She never left Beats' sight but yet she still somehow got an invitation to Twilight.
"How did-" Beats began.
"What did I tell you about Pinkie?" Twilight said with a laugh, "I also brought some friends for you to spend time with at the party." Twilight said as she stepped to the side.
Behind her was Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle, all wearing eager faces.
"Hey, Beats!" Scootaloo said.
"Is that him, Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked excitedly.
"So this 'ere's tha' pony ya'll was talkin' 'bout, Scoot?" Apple Bloom said in her accent.
"Yep! Everyone, meet Beats!" Scootaloo said as she walked over and put a hoof around her friend.
Beats could only smile weakly, "H-Hi." He said almost as quiet as Fluttershy would be.
Apple Bloom gasped, which made Beats nervous. Did he do something? Was there something on his face? "You don' have a cutie mark!" Apple Bloom said excitedly.
Beats turned and looked at his blank flank.
"Does that mean...?" Sweetie Belle asked looking at Apple Bloom.
"If Scootaloo...?" Apple Bloom looked to Scootaloo.
"Sounds like a plan to me!" Scootaloo said.
Beats' legs were shaking, he had no idea what was going on. Was there something he missed?
Before he knew it, Scootaloo had pulled a cape from one of the saddle bags she was wearing and had draped it over Beats' back. She then began to tie it around his neck.
"Beats, welcome to the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Scootaloo said.
The other two ponies began to cheer and moved forward to join their newest member. Twilight looked at the four with a wide smile, happy to see Beats meeting new people. Beats simply hung his head low but tried to keep a weak smile on his face. He was genuinely happy though, a sense of belonging made his entire body feel warm.
Maybe meeting some new ponies wasn't so bad after all.
|
Dusty
|
847
| 2 |
Cutie Mark Crusaders,Original Character,Pinkie Pie,Spike,Twilight Sparkle,Slice of Life,My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
|
Beats
|
We follow Beats, a unicorn whose lived a less than fair life, as he attempts to find his Cutie Mark.
|
incomplete
| -1 | -1 |
<p>Beats is a young unicorn who has yet to earn his Cutie Mark. He absolutely loves music though and is known throughout Ponyville for his love of it. Beats' lack of a cutie mark isn't the only problem this unicorn will have to face though. Beats will have to come to terms with past events in his life, and also solve the problems he's going through now before he can find his cutie mark.</p>
|
everyone
|
2011-09-24T21:19:34+00:00
|
2011-09-24T21:19:34+00:00
| 1,304 |
On the following day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders decided to have a meeting in honor of their newest member.
"Wait 'till you see the clubhouse Beats!" Scootaloo said, she was very excited to finally have her best friend involved in the club.
Apple Bloom took a big leaf from a plant in her teeth and moved it to the side. Beyond it was a clearing, and in that clearing was a beautiful looking clubhouse.
"Wow." Beats was surprised, he didn't expect something this official looking.
Scootlaoo smiled, "I knew you'd be surprised!" She walked past the stunned pony.
The crusaders entered the clubhouse and began showing Beats around. It was a short tour as all there was to show was a table and a map that Scootaloo had drawn a long time ago.
"Oh, Beats, did you bring your iPony?" Scootlaoo asked.
"Yeah, I always keep it on me." Beats bent his head down and took the iPony from its pouch in his teeth. He was already nervous and didn't want to try levitating it out only to embarrass himself with a failure.
"Bring it over here!" Scootaloo said. She was standing beside a small stereo.
Beats brought the iPony over to her and caught on to what she had planned as Scootaloo attached one end of a cord to the stereo. Scootaloo took the other end of the cable in her mouth and began to approach Beats. Beats face suddenly turned red at the thought of Scootaloo being so close to his face. He immediately levitated the iPony out of his mouth and into the air. Beats began to wonder why his magic always seemed to work flawlessly when he never expects to use it.
Scootloo raised an eyebrow and then shrugged. She attached the other end of the cord into Beats' iPony, "Put on one of your sweet tunes!" Scoootaloo said with a big smile, "Something we can dance too, but also something with words, you know how I love singing." Scootaloo laughed.
Beats nodded his head with a small smile playing at his mouth. He knew Scootaloo loved to sing, but he also knew she was a much better dancer than a singer, but who was he to ruin her fun? He knew just the song to put on, it was a rock song that Scootaloo would always listen too when they were together.
"How's this one, Scoot?" Beats asked.
Scootaloo and the other ponies were already bobbing and spinning in place, dancing to the beat of the music.
Beats smiled and couldn't help but feel his body also rock to the beat.
The four started settling down after a while, and even Beats had worked up a sweat from all of the dancing. The crusaders settled down around their table and began planning their next attempt at earning their cutie marks.
"Yesterday was a lot of work, I don't think I ever want to hear the word apples again." Scootaloo said with a frown.
"Aw horse apples, you jus' don' wanna work!" Apple Bloom pointed out.
"Hey, we're supposed to try things we like, right? Well I don't like working." Scootaloo stuck her tongue out.
"Why don't we ask our newest member to pick the next job?" Sweetie Belle spoke up.
"Hey, yeah! That's a great idea Sweetie Belle!" Scootlaoo said as he looked at Beats.
"Yeah! What should we do Beats?" Apple Bloom said as she also looked to the young unicorn.
Beats only looked to the ground, with everyone's eyes on him it made him feel nervous. He racked his brain for ideas, but couldn't come up with anything. The truth was that Beats never really worried about getting a cutie mark. He never wondered about what his special talent was because as long as he had his music, nothing mattered. 'Music' rang in Beats head.
"Maybe something to do with music...?" Beats proposed.
The other three crusaders looked to each other with grim faces and shuddered.
Beats shrank in his chair, had he said something wrong?
"Our last attempt with music... Didn't go so well." Scootaloo said. Memories of the talent show came flooding back to her.
"Oh..." Beats said as he looked down.
Scootaloo bit her lip, unsure of what to say to cheer her friend up, "But then again we didn't have the unicorn with the best taste in music with us!"
Beats looked up with a weak smile on his face.
"We can try music again someday, but for now let's stick to some new things." Scootaloo said, smiling to try and keep her friend happy.
Beats nodded.
"I've actually been working on a list." Scootaloo said as she reached into her saddlebag. She let a piece of paper drop from her mouth onto the table, "Here it is! I say we just close our eyes and all pick one. Then we can try all four of them tomorrow!"
"Hey! Good idea Scoot!" Apple Bloom said.
"Me first, me first!" Sweetie Bell closed her eyes and dropped her hoof onto the list.
She opened her eyes and moved her hoof, she had chosen "Cutie Mark Crusader Artists"
"Mah turn!" Apple Bloom closed her eyes and slammed her hoof down. She had chosen "Cutie Mark Crusader Cupcake Chefs"
Scootaloo closed her eyes and also picked a job at random, "Cutie Mark Crusader Fashion Models" Scootaloo's face grew grim as her selection dawned on her.
"Yer turn, Beats!" Apple Bloom was excited to see their last choice.
Beats closed his eyes and put it down on the list, "Cutie Mark Crusader Matchmakers"
Scootaloo made a 'blech' noise, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both wore big grins, and Beats was unsure how a pony goes about discovering their special talent is matchmaking.
"Well, looks like we got quite a day ahead of us!" Scootaloo said.
Long shadows were being cast across the floor as the sun began to go down. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gasped as they noticed how much time had gone by.
"If ah don't get home soon, Apple Jack's gonna tan mah hide!" Apple Bloom darted out of the door.
Sweetie Belle also began to trot towards the door, "Oh, I'll have your new cape done for you tomorrow Scootaloo." Sweetie Belle said, she waved goodbye to the remaining two ponies and left.
"What happened to your old cape, Scoot?" Beats asked.
Scootaloo laughed, "You're wearing it, dodo."
Beats turned and looked at the cape on his back. He hadn't noticed Scootaloo was the only one lacking a cape today.
"Scoot, this is your cape. I'll just wear the one Sweetie Belle brings tomorrow." He began to remove the cape.
Scootaloo stopped him though, "Just keep it. It's a gift."
Beats smiled and nodded, "OK then," Beats turned and was about to leave the clubhouse, "Aren't you coming?" Beats asked.
Scootaloo shook her head, "Nah, I'll head home in a bit. I'm going to finish organizing a schedule for tomorrow and then I'll head home." Scootaloo looked off to the side and not directly at Beats as she told him her plans.
"OK then, I'll see you tomorrow Scoot." Beats turned and left the club house.
He stood outside of the club, waiting for Scootaloo to leave. Scootaloo was never one to organize anything, the fact that she compiled a list surprised Beats enough. It felt wrong to spy on his friend, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was up.
He heard hooves on the wooden floor of the club. He heard Scootaloo trotting in what seemed like a straight line back and forth, and then nothing as if she stopped in place. Beats was really suspicious now, he wanted to go up and check to see what Scootaloo was up to. He tried to think of an excuse, a reason to go back up. He raised his hoof to his chin, and that's when he noticed his iPony wasn't in his leg band. A smile grew across Beats' face.
He climbed the ramp up to the clubhouse as quietly as possible, making sure not to make a noise.
'If she asks, just say you forgot your iPony," Beats said to himself.
He was at the door now, but hiding behind to wall to keep out of sight. He slowly inched his headd around the corner and peered into the clubhouse. What he saw almost made him gasp, but he held it in to stay unnoticed.
Scootaloo was laying down on a pillow in the clubhouse with a blanket pulled over her. Tears began to form in Beats' eyes, he had never thought to go over to Scootaloo's house, she always came over to his. Scootaloo had told him that she didn't have any parents just like Beats, but he didn't realize she didn't have a home either. 'Oh Scoot, why didn't you tell anypony...?' Beats said to himself. Tears were falling off his cheeks onto the wooden floor below him.
He shook them out of his eyes and descended the ramp with determination in his eyes.
He galloped home as fast as he could and packed his blanket and pillow into his saddlebags.
He then turned and galloped through the night. Usually the night scared Beats, he would always spend them either curled up beside a studying Twilight, or in his bed with the covers pulled over his head. He pushed his fears aside though and made a beeline for the clubhouse.
Beats slowly ascended the ramp again and looked inside, sure enough Scootaloo was fast asleep on the wooden floor of the clubhouse.
Beats pulled his pillow from one saddlebag and sat it down beside Scootaloo's. He pulled his blanket from the other bag and laid beside his best friend. He draped the larger and thicker blanket over the both of them and then laid his head on the pillow. At first he was turned towards the wall but after a while he decided to turn over. Scootaloo's face was turned directly towards him. Beats could only smile at how adorable she looked when she was asleep.
"Don't worry buddy, you always got your friend Beats." Beats whispered.
Beats closed his eyes and began to fall asleep.
If Beats had stayed awake for just a minute longer, he would of noticed the arrival of a familiar purple unicorn who noticed him galloping towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Beats felt something touching his flank, in a half awake half asleep state he mumbled, "Ugh, Scoot stay on your side of the bed..."
"I am dodo..." Scootaloo said, also still asleep.
There was a silence as the two processed what each of them just said.
Beats and Scootaloo both shot up at the same time, staring at each other.
"B-Beats!?" Scootaloo said surprised.
"Scoot! I-Uh, Well..." Beats didn't know what to say, should he say anything? Oh, he didn't think this through at all. He looked down at the mattress they were on, not wanting to look Scootaloo in the eyes. His brain began processing the fact that he was on a mattress. He looked around him, trying to figure out where they were. He recognized this place, he knew it better then his own home.
"Beats, I...Why... How...Where?..." Scootaloo couldn't think of what to say.
"This is Twilight's house." Beats said looking around.
"That's not what I meant. I meant how did you know that I..." Scootaloo didn't trust her own voice to stay steady as she talked about her current housing situation.
Beats put a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder, "Scoot, it's OK. I just wish you would of told me." Beats was a little saddened by the fact that Scootaloo hadn't been completely honest with him.
"Beats, ya gotta understand why I didn't tell anypony..." Scootaloo said, looking off to the side.
Beats smiled, "I understand."
Scootaloo smiled too, "Cool."
"I see the two of you are awake." Twilight Sparkle had ascended the stairs into the bedroom.
"Twilight, how did you find us?" Beats asked.
"Well, I noticed you galloping through Ponyville last night while I was on my way home from Rarity's. I tried to catch up to you and ask you where you were going, but I ended up following you all the way to that clubhouse. When I walked inside I saw the two of you. Of course I couldn't leave the two of you there, so I brought you back here with a teleportation spell. Just be glad your hair isn't singed." Twilight said with a giggle.
"Thanks, sis." Beats said with a wide grin.
Scootaloo looked confused, "Sis? Twilight's your sister?"
Beats and Twilight both giggled this time, "No, Scoot. I spend a lot of my time over here though when we're not hanging out. Twilight's like a big sister to me."
Twilight simply nodded her head.
"Oh." Scootaloo said, his voice was barely decorated with a bit of jealousy.
Nopony else would of noticed it, but Beats picked up on it. He reach over and took Scootaloo into a hug, instantly he regretted it. His mind went to work second guessing everything as it does when Beats does something he doesn't do normally. Was it OK to hug Scootaloo? They were friends after all, and Scootaloo was sad, what else was he supposed to do? Should he of just said something? His train of second guessing was cut off when he felt Scootaloo's hooves around him, hugging Beats back. Beats smiled, but his smile faded as he felt tears soaking his coat.
"Scoot..." Beats said quietly. He held his friend close as she let out all of her bottled up feelings. Beats had never seen Scootaloo cry, he always saw her as this daring and cool pegasus who was never upset and always kept her cool. He hugged Scootaloo tighter, hoping that the more effort he put into it, the sooner it would stop Scootaloo's tears.
Twilight was biting her lip, not sure what to say or do. She had never been in a situation like this before, and she herself wasn't all too good at helping these situations either. She tried to remember anything about consoling sad people from any of her books she had read.
"Beats, why us...?" Was all the pegasus said.
Beats looked down, but all he could see was Scootaloo's mane, "What?"
"Why us? Why were we left alone? Why did they leave us...?" The tears were coming harder now.
"Scoot, it wasn't their fault..." Beats said, knowing very well what she was talking about.
"I can't even go back to that house... That's why I sleep there every night. I can't even step inside of it without thinking of them!" Scootaloo all but yelled.
Beats remembered the day well too, even though he was still a little pony. Scootaloo's parents had dropped her off at Beats house, her parents were going to see some of their family in Horseton. His mom kissed Scootaloo's head, waved goodbye and then trotted away. Scootaloo's fear of trains was what saved her life, but was also what cursed her to a lifetime of loneliness. The buffalo were really ate up that day, it was the day after the new planting of apple trees in Appleoosa. If only that train didn't have to pass through there.
It was about a week after Scootaloo's parents had left that the royal guard came knocking. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what the visit was about.
Scootaloo stayed with Beats and his mom. His father passed away earlier that year to cancer, so Beats did his best to ease the devastated Scootaloo's pain. With his dad gone, and two kids to raise, financial problems obviously began to pop up. It only got worse and worse too.
Beats remembered waking up one day with an iPony laying on his stomach. A note was attached to it, "Sorry."
Beats became depressed after that, no longer wanting to go out, to do anything. Scootaloo felt unwelcome without Beats' mother there, so she left. Beats was left to that dark house, every day.
It was one day that Beats couldn't stave off his hunger anymore that he decided to leave the house. It was only by chance that Twilight had found him passed out from exhaustion. From then on, Twilight practically raised the unicorn.
Scootaloo never did talk about what happened after he left Beats' house, and Beats had never asked. He mentally scolded himself for not ever wondering about it. Tears began to form in his eyes too as he realized how awful of a friend he had been.
"I'm sorry Scoot..." Beats said, "I should have asked. I never knew."
"I'm sorry too. I couldn't help you when you were sad."
"Shut up...Dodo." Beats said, holding the pegasus tighter to him.
"Loser." Scootaloo said with a smile.
After what felt like forever the two finally separated and decided to head downstairs. Twilight was hard at work reading up on Pony Psychology, hoping to find a way to help the two upstairs.
Beats cleared his throat, making their presence known.
Twilight turned, she noticed the two looked back to their normal selves which made her smile too, "Are you two OK?" She asked.
Beats and Scootaloo nodded their head at the same time.
"That's wonderful news," Twilight said.
Beats nodded his head again, "Scootaloo is going to live with me now, right Scoot?" Beats said, turning to his friend.
Scootaloo nodded her head, "Yep!"
Twilight sparkle began to rub a hoof across her chin, "I think I have a better idea..."
It only took an hour to move Beats stuff into Twilight's house, mostly because he didn't have much stuff. All he decided to take was a few sweaters for the cold weather and his stereo.
"Are you sure this is alright, Twilight?" Beats asked as he sat his bag down on the top floor of the library.
Twilight nodded, "The library makes enough bits to support me and Spike with some left over, and I'm sure the princess wouldn't mind helping out her faithful student." Twilight said with a wink.
"Thanks a lot Twilight." Beats said.
"It's no problem at all." Twilight said as she nuzzled her young student.
Scootaloo ascended the stairs with one of Beats speakers balanced oh her back, "H-Help!" She called out as she wobbled.
Twilight lifted the speaker with her magic, "I can get that Scootaloo." She sat the speaker down and went downstairs to get the rest of Beats' stereo.
"Welcome home, Scoot." Beats said with a smile.
"Home sweet home." Scootaloo nodded.
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