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              Six Ponies in Search of a Plot               
                     -by Matthew Penn-                     
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                     A Game of Stories                     
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A Game of Stories
“... Then Sweetie Belle said the cutest thing afterward,” Rarity went on, “she said, and I quote, ‘Do I look fabulous or delicious?’” she said while imitating her younger sister.  The six mares laughed like schoolfillies after Rarity told them a story involving Sweetie Belle.  “Oh you should have seen the dress she wore that day!” she said, “the minty-blue blouse along with the Très jolie magnifique shoes compliment her eyes!”
“Wow Rarity, I never knew ‘ol Sweetie loved wearing those fancy dresses you make,” Applejack commented.
“Of course she does,” Rarity replied, “After the Sisterhood Social last year, we really started to make a connection as siblings,” she said with a bit of pride.  “As of now, I’m teaching her the Art of the Dress!”
“Has she made any nice dresses yet?” Fluttershy asked, “I would love to see them one day.”
“Well… she’s trying, it’s just that… they’re not up to par with my level yet,” Rarity answered with a slight shudder.  “Anyway, it’s been nice that Sweetie and I finally found common ground.”
“And that’s a good thing, Rarity,” Twilight said, “there is no stronger force in the universe than the love between two sisters.”
“I thought it was friendship that was the strongest force in the universe,” Pinkie suddenly spoke.
“That too.”
“I wish I had a sister,” Fluttershy said longingly, “It must be so much fun to buck apples or make and wear pretty dresses together.”
“Fluttershy, you and I are technically sisters,” Rainbow Dash commented.  “I mean, we’ve always been friends since fillyhood.”
“Then maybe you two should make dresses together,” Applejack joked, “as Rarity just proved, it’s a great sisterly activity.”
“Over my cold, dead body!” Dash retorted, “There’s no way the Dash is putting on a frilly, fru-fru dress!”  Her bold statement received a death glare from a certain unicorn fashionista.  “Uh, no offense,” Rainbow said weakly.
“Well I never,” Rarity rebuked.
“Okay fine, I will wear a dress, but it has to be at least--”
“Don’t say it!” Rarity interrupted, “You’ve used that line one too many times!  You treat it like a catchphrase!”
“I’ve only said it once,” Rainbow answered.
“What line?  Is it ‘Rainbow Dash always dresses in style?’ ” Pinkie asked.
“... I have never said anything so stupid like that in my life,” Dash said blankly.
“Really?  I could have sworn I heard you said it once.  Oh well!”
The mares laughed in unison and conversed happily among themselves.  While sharing amusing stories of their daily lives, the train they were riding was making the long journey from Ponyville to the Crystal Empire.  A few days ago, Princess Cadence sent Princess Twilight a letter requesting that she and her friends travel north right away - she and her husband, Shining Armor, had a special surprise for them.  Spike volunteered to stay behind and take care of their pets, in return for delicious rubies and diamonds.  While the mares held a fun conversation, Twilight’s eyes were glued to the window.
“What’s wrong, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.
“I’m just curious about what the surprise will be,” Twilight answered.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Rarity said.
“What’s obvious?”
“It’s been a whole year since their wedding.  A lot of things happen during that time,” Rarity reasoned, followed by a wink.
“I don’t follow,” Twilight said.
“I think what Rarity is trying say is that Shining and Cadence may be… expecting,” Applejack said - in which Rarity gave double winks.
“Expecting what?” Twilight asked innocently, “Expecting another test?  Oh no, I haven’t studied!”
“You see Twi, when a stallion and a mare take a liking to each other, the stallion--”
“They’re having a foal!” Rainbow yelled, “Jeez, I thought you were the smart one!”
“No, that can’t be right,” Twilight said, “They can’t be having foals.”
“Like I said Twilight, a lot of things can happen in a year,” Rarity said.
“Then if they’re having foals, then that means… I’m going to be an aunt.”
“Auntie Twilight.  That’s sounds nice,” Fluttershy commented.
“Wouldn’t it be super-neto if they had twins?!” Pinkie asked excitedly, “Like the Cakes!  Oo, oo, oo, then they can be playmates!”
That alone garnered sweet, collective “awws” from the girls.  The topic of conversation soon changed from their daily lives to the mother-to-be Cadence.  It was not long until they engaged on the topic of how their lives would be different if they themselves became mothers.
“I think I’ll make a terrific mom,” Applejack said, “Eeyup, just me and the youngins’ bucking apples all the day until the sun sets.”
“When I have my foal, I’m gonna throw a ginormous “Welcome-to-the-World party!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“My foal is going to be awesome, just like me!” Rainbow Dash said,  “He might even do a Double Rainboom, or a Triple Rainboom!  Heck, even a Quadruple Rainboom!”
“I’m probably never going to have any foals,” Rarity said, “besides, I’m far too busy with my career to take care of any children.”
“I can’t wait until I have a foal of my own,” Fluttershy said, “He, or she, will be soft, and I’ll carry him, or her, all the time.  And when it cries, I’ll sing it a nice lullaby so it can go back to sleep.”
“I’m going to go with Rarity on this one,” Twilight said meekly, “It would be nice to have foals, but… I don’t think I’m ready.”
“You’ll make a great mom Twi,” Applejack said. “You’re the smartest pony I’d ever known.”
“You saved Equestria four times,” Rainbow Dash spoke. “If you fight monsters and bad guys on the daily basis, you can handle a bunch a foals running around.”
“Actually, the third time Cadence and Shining Armor saved Equestria with the power of love.  The fourth time was Spike when he grabbed the Crystal Heart.”
“Well you managed to fix our destinies,” Dash commented.
“That part’s true.”
The interesting conversation went on a for a long period before the train became silent.  While the train was still in motion, boredom descended into the minds of the mares.  Twilight’s eyes stayed on the glass window while Rainbow Dash snored loudly on her seat.  Applejack was making a list of things to do on the farm once they came back and Rarity was invested on a romance novel she brought with her.  Coping the farmpony, Pinkie also made a list - of the types of pies that existed in the world.
“Jeez, this is so boring,” Rainbow said with a yawn, “I don’t remember the ride to the Crystal Empire taking this long.  I wish we had something to do.”
“I should have brought some games we could play,” Pinkie said, “I can’t think of anymore pies to add on my list.”
“I hope we get there soon; I don’t like uncomfortable silence,” Fluttershy spoke softly.
“What do you s’posed we do?” Applejack asked.
“We could tell jokes!” Pinkie suggested, “Everypony loves jokes!  I’ll start - Why did the scarecrow win an award?  Because he was outstanding in his field!  Get it?”  Pinkie’s first joke received no bellow laughter from the mares.  Not even a chuckle or a low giggle was heard among them.
“Gee, tough crowd.  Okay, here’s another one - Why couldn’t the little filly watch the pirate movie?  It was rated arrgh!”
“I got one,” Rainbow interrupted, “Knock knock?”
“Who’s there?” Fluttershy asked.
“Boo.”
“Boo who?”
“Stop crying Fluttershy, we’ll get to the Crystal Empire soon.”  Rainbow rolled on her back and erupted in laughter.  “That never gets old!”
“That wasn't very nice,” Fluttershy remarked.
“What?  It was just a joke.”
“But you could have hurt somepony’s feelings.”
“I have another joke!” Pinkie interrupted.  “What did the mother buffalo said when her boy left for college?  Give up?  Bye-son!”
“Would you mind keeping it down?” Rarity asked sharply. “It’s really hard to insert myself into the strong forearms of the dashing stallion in this book with you two bickering.”
“If all of you don’t mind, I have a game we could play to pass the time,” Twilight suggested.
“What kind of game?” Pinkie asked.
“I used to play it with Cadence when she was still my foalsitter,” she said.  “It’s called Pass the Story.  The objective is to gather a group of ponies together and create a narrative.  The first pony has five minutes to began the first part.  Then the second pony has five minutes to tell what happens next, then the third has five minutes and so on,” Twilight explained.  “We used to create such silly stories Cadence and I.”
“I don’t know, it sounds kinda boring,” Rainbow said.
“No, it’s really fun!  You’ll love it!”
“I don’t think I have much of an imagination to do things like that,” said Rainbow.
“Don’t be silly, everypony has an imagination,” a gleeful Twilight spoke.
“I’d love to play it,” Fluttershy chimed.
“Me too!  That sounds a lot more fun than telling jokes,” Pinkie added.
“I guess I’ll get in on this,” Applejack said.
“What about you, Rarity?” Twilight asked.
“If it doesn’t involve a handsome stallion with a gorgeous, flowing mane standing on the edge of a cliff with the sun setting behind him, I have no interest,” she remarked.
“I don’t know, it might if you want it to,” Twilight said playfully.
“Alright, if you insist,” Rarity said as she surrendered.
“Rainbow, how about you?”
“Will I get to add awesome things in the story?  Like a fight scene or something?”
“If it’s your turn,” Twilight answered.
“Okay, I’m in.”
The six ponies gathered around in a circle ready to begin their new and exciting game.  Twilight could already see flashbacks of her fillyhood of her and Cadence’s time of playing this.  She could hear the faint laughter in the back of her mind as they created the most ludicrous scenarios for their main characters.  She could see the beautiful smile of her foalsitter that brought sunshine to a rainy day.  She was eager to share this precious experience with her best friends.
“One question, how do we pick which pony to go first?” Applejack asked.
“I got it!” Pinkie chimed.  She produced a small hexagon-shaped piece of cardboard which had the faces of the six drawn on each point.  On the center of it was a big, red arrow.  “I’ll just spin the arrow.  The first pony will be the one the arrow lands on.”
“Do you always carry that thing around?” Rarity asked confusingly.
“Only for emergencies.”
“What would qualify as an emergency?”
Her pink hoof touch the red arrow and spun it around the hexagon-shape cardboard.  The other girls swore that could hear game show music in the background.  After a minute and ten seconds, the arrow slowed down and it landed on… Twilight Sparkle.
“Alright Twilight, you first!” Pinkie called enthusiastically.
“Hold on,” Rainbow said, “how do we know when our five minutes are up?”
“Easy, I got a timer,” Pinkie answered.  She grabbed a baking timer from behind her back apparently and set it for exactly five minutes.
“You’re always prepared aren’t you?” Rarity asked sarcastically.
“Nope.  I just carry these around, but I never use them.”
“Okay, where should I start?” the lavender princess asked herself.  She pressed her hoof against her chin and her mind clicked when an idea came to her.  “Once upon a time, there were two children, whose names were… Mabel and Hopscotch.  Mabel and Hopscotch lived with their poor family in a small house in the woods.  They were so poor, the father couldn’t put any food on the table.  As a result, he was forced to abandon them.”
“Wait a minute, I think I heard this one before,” Rainbow commented.
“Hush sug, let her tell her part,” Applejack said.
“But Mabel had an idea,” Twilight continued, “she put bread crumbs on the ground so she and Hopscotch could find their way around the woods.  But a toad kept eating all the pieces, so her plan failed.  They spent a long time wandering around the forest, they were beginning to starve.  Until suddenly, they came across a house… a huge chocolate, frosting-covered, gingerbread house.”
“Mmmm, yummy!  I’d love to live in that house,” Pinkie said.
“You sort of do live in a gingerbread house,” said Fluttershy.
“I do, but I can’t eat it.  The Cakes live there too.”
“The two foals let themselves in, and began to eat everything in the house, including the furniture.  While they were eating, a strange, low rumbling noise resonated from underneath the house.  Afterward, the sound became louder and louder…”
“What was it?  Is it the witch?” Fluttershy asked fearfully.
“Something was growing underneath the house,” Twilight said in a eerie voice.  “And before their very eyes… a giant beanstalk burst through the ground and through the ceiling, until it touch the sky!”
“Okay, I never heard this version before,” Rainbow said scratching her head.
“The beanstalk was at least a thousand feet high!  The foals stopped what they were doing and marvelled at the mysterious miracle of nature.  Hopscotch, her little brother, was the first to climb up the beanstalk, with Mabel in tow.  The climb was long and the house the beanstalk grew from resembled a tiny speck from their height.  Hopscotch--”
DING
“Time’s up!” Pinkie announced.  “Let’s see, who’s next?” she asked herself.  She grabbed her wheel of friends and spun the big, red arrow until it stopped on the familiar farmpony.
“Wow Applejack, you’re next!”
“Hoo-wee!  Alrighty then, you left off with that Hopscotch feller.  Let’s see… Hopscotch was afraid of heights.  I mean really afraid of heights!  Them two were so high up, Hopscotch was scared that he might lose his grip and fall to his death!  He slowly lift his hoof to pull himself up until SNAP!  The vine he was grabbing on snapped in half!”
“Oh dear!” gasped Fluttershy.
“Luckily enough, his good ‘ol sister Mabel was there to catch him!”
“Phew!  That was close!” said Rainbow.
“The little colt started to cry.  He kept screamin’ ‘I wanna get down!  I wanna get down!’  But Mabel said with the sweetest voice ‘Don’t be scared, I’m here.’  Then Hopscotch asked, ‘What if I fall?’  Mabel and smiled and said ‘Then I will catch you again.’”
“That part reminds me of our first adventure,” Twilight said, “when we were facing Nightmare Moon.  You remember that, do you?”
“Still do Twi,” said Applejack with a tip of her hat.
“This story is getting good!” Pinkie called out, “What happens next?”
“It was a long ways up, but Mabel and Hopscotch finally made it to the top!  And that the top was… was a… a castle!  That’s right, a huge castle!  Made of gold and everything!  Heck, there’s even a rainbow over it!”
“I think I know where this story is going,” Rarity commented.
“Mabel and Hopscotch ran to the front door and knock as hard as their little hooves can.  At first, nopony answered the door.  But suddenly, it opened by itself… oooo!” Applejack said in her best eerie voice.  “The two foals tip-toed through the empty castle, the hairs on the back standing up just by the creepiness of it all.  The hall was--”
DING
“Time!” Pinkie announced, “Wow Applejack, your part was great!”  Pinkie held her wheel and spun the red arrow.  After a ten second spin around the hexagon, the arrow landed on Rarity.  “Okay Rarity, you’re up!”
“Marvelous!  While Mabel and Hopscotch were exploring the hallway of the castle, they came across a dimly lit room.  The came closer until they were near the door.  Hopscotch, being the curious little one he is, took a quick peek inside.  Mabel opened the door and their jaws dropped to the ground at what they saw!”
“What was it?” Twilight asked.
“It was a room filled with gold!  Gold as far as the eye can see!  Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, jewels, treasures of all kinds!  There was enough to make them leave the castle as millionaires!  The foals dive into the sea of gold as if it were a swimming pool!”
“Y’know, I was wondering if that was even possible,” said Rainbow.
“I heard of one rich pony who did that, he broke all his limbs,” Applejack added.
“Anyway, among the pile of gold, they found another door filled with the most beautiful clothes ever seen in the world.  It was a closet full of dresses and suits that belonged to the occupants of the castle!  It seemed that whoever own the castle had a fine taste in fashion!  Searching the closet, Mabel found the most dazzling crystal shoes that matched the perfect blue gown.  And Hopscotch wore an ensemble that made him look like a prince!  Afterward, Mabel decided to try on a crown that--”
“Rarity, you think you wanna move on with this here story?” Applejack suggested, “I don’t think anypony wants to know what them two kids are wearin’ at the moment.”
“Very well,” Rarity sighed, “So, after finding the room filled with treasure, Mabel and Hopscotch decided to take some with them and head back home.  And… Mabel and Hopscotch… Let’s see.  They find the treasure and… Oh dear me, I can’t think of anything else!”
“It’s okay Rarity, just take your time,” Twilight said.
“But I don’t know what to do with Mabel and Hopscotch.  Who would ever thought that storytelling would be this hard?” a defeated Rarity asked, “I’ll just pass my turn.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
“Let me go next!” Rainbow called out, “I think I know where to take this!”
“Okie dokie!” Pinkie said.
“Mabel and Hopscotch gathered as much gold as they can!  But they didn’t noticed that somepony else was in the room with them.  Somepony big!  With a loud and terrifying roar, the foals realized that this wasn’t a treasure room - it was a dragon’s lair!  And it was a huge dragon, too!  It was red all over, with evil yellow eyes!  And it had razor-sharp teeth and claws, and black wings!”
“Oh dear!  I hope it doesn’t eat them,” said a quivering Fluttershy.
“The dragon bent down and took a good look at the foals.  With a deep voice, the dragon said ‘who dares enter my lair of cool stuff?’  Mabel and Hopscotch, too afraid to say anything, tried to run to the exit as fast as possible!  But the dragon swooped his tail and blocked the door.  ‘Nopony escapes from my lair!’ yell the dragon.  He grabbed Mabel and roared in her face!  He was about to gobble her up until Hopscotch threw something at it!  ‘Don’t eat my sister!’ he yelled.  Hopscotch climbed on top of the dragon’s tail and used his sharp teeth to bite it!  The dragon yelled and accidently dropped Mabel.  While the dragon while trying to heal his tail, Mabel and Hopscotch ran out the room, carrying the gold with them!”
“How exciting,” Twilight said.
“Now the dragon was really angry, so he charged right after them!  But the doorway was so small, his head got stuck!  Wasting no time, the foals ran as fast as they can before the dragon burst through the wall!  And wouldn’t you know it, he did just that!”
“Why do dragons have to be so mean?” Fluttershy said.
“The dragon roared so loud it shattered glass windows!  He was on the foals trail as his huge feet shook the castle!  While they were running, Mabel and Hopscotch got separated.  By now, the castle hallways started to look like a maze!  The dragon was also confused of which way to go, but he thought ‘screw it,’ and decided to eat the first living thing he sees!”
“That’s one nasty feller,” Applejack commented.
“With the two foals lost in the maze hallway… place, they were afraid for their lives!  With the thumping and roaring just behind them, they zig-zag their way through the halls, hoping the dragon might lose their tail.  But the more they did that, the more they got lost.  Hopscotch--”
DING.
“Time’s up!  And your part was just getting good!” Pinkie said.  She was about to spin the arrow on the hexagon until she realized everypony else already had a turn.  “Hey Fluttershy, you can be next if you want,” she said.
“Oh no, that’s okay.  I don’t think I can come up with anything as exciting as the other parts,” she said sincerely.
“Are you sure?  It doesn’t have to be an action scene,” Twilight said.
“It doesn’t?”
“No, you could tell what Hopscotch or Mabel were thinking about while they were lost,” Twilight explained.  “If you want, you could tell a quiet, emotional scene.”
“I agree.  That works best with you, Fluttershy,” Rarity added.
“Oh, well, okay.”
Pinkie was about to set the baking timer for five minutes.  Suddenly, the train slowed down.  The mares turned their eyes toward the windows to find that the Crystal Empire train station in full view.
“Last stop!  Crystal Empire!” the conductor yelled.
“Wow!  We’re here already?  That was fast!” Pinkie said.
“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Twilight added.
“I don’t know about y’all, but that storytellin’ game made me hungry,” said Applejack.  “Let’s get some grub!”
“I second that notion,” Rarity said.
The six ponies retrieved their belongings and exited the train into the outside.  While the other five conversed among themselves, Fluttershy walked in a slower pace.  Rainbow Dash was the first to notice that the timid pegasus was missing from the group.
“Hey Fluttershy, what’s the matter?”
“I was just thinking what to add for the story,” she replied.
“Don’t worry ‘Shy, there will be plenty of time for that.  Were here at the Crystal Empire, have fun!” Dash said happily.  “And besides, I think the game is over by now.”
“It is?  Oh.”
“What?”
“It’s just that I really wanted to tell my part of the story,” Fluttershy said somberly.
“Well, maybe we’ll make a new game on the way back home.  C’mon, lets go!”  Shy and Dash caught up with the rest of their friends and traveled to the Princess Cadence’s castle where she was waiting for them.
“I don’t want it to end.  I had a really good part, too.”
To Be Continued.