Chapters The Prompt: Even on your birthday, duty calls.
When Fluttershy awoke, she was upside down.
No - scratch that. Her cottage was upside down. Her bed was still firmly anchored to the floor, blankets still doing their job, mane and tail laid across her sheets in delicate pink waves. The sun, however, was sinking over the horizon instead of rising, green field and forest above and blue sky below.
Besides, as soon as she realized the problem she fell.
The pegasus caught herself in midair, sighing as she hovered upside down a moment before righting herself.
As soon as she stepped outside her own cottage righted itself, and none of the other houses seemed to be upside down. All of Applejack's trees were, though, and when she looked closely no one building in Ponyville was in its correct location. She could see ducks making valiant efforts at dam building, beavers perched in nests, and a line of geese trooping dutifully after a lone gosling.
She landed and headed into town, braced for the barrage of complaints.
"Fluttershy, every book in the library is blank and there's writing all over the walls, the shelves - even me and Spike!"
"Every time I buck a white cloud I get zapped, and the rainclouds are sucking water in!"
"Darling, I do hate to be a bother today of all days, but every scrap of fabric I've got has turned plaid! Chartreuse plaid!"
"Can't you do something?"
"He listens to you."
"Where is he anyway?"
Fluttershy sighed, and smiled, and nodded. Duty called, and having a birthday off was a foal's luxury.
Of course, she had no idea where he was herself, but she realized he would quickly appear if he realized she had noticed. Why else would only her house be upside down, if not to gain her immediate attention?
"Discord." She made her voice as stern as she could. "Discord, please come here."
Nothing. She was going to have to find him.
She sighed again, looking around carefully; everything looked so odd that it took her a moment, but she soon noticed that one of the anti-rainclouds was both butterfly-shaped and flying slowly away.
Almost cute - she smiled a little, nodding again to her friends.
"All right. It's um... my duty, I guess."
She flew up to tap the butterfly-cloud with a hoof, and was rewarded by its bursting into a swarm of butterflies (bread-and-butterflies, she quickly realized, and her favorite flavor at that). The swarm flew more quickly than the cloud and she picked up her own pace to give chase, heading quickly out of town and into Ghastly Gorge.
Which, like most of the area, was not quite itself.
Fluttershy touched down in the gorge, looking down its strangely serene length. The thin river along the floor seemed to be made of cherry cola, and burst up in fountains here and there, and pastry flowers lined the liquid. The bread-and-butterflies, still on the move, slowed when she did, and she continued at a wary pace.
"Um.... Discord. I would like it if you would please stop bothering everyone."
"Oh, not to worry. Ponyville's back to its old self. I just knew they'd be inconsiderate enough to call you out, and on your birthday! Predictable. Go crying to poor Fluttershy, even if she deserves a day off."
There was mock woe in his voice as he formed himself from the swarm she'd been following. Fluttershy blinked, pawing at the earth.
"You... um... knew?"
"Oh yes. I found out when I ate Celestia's diary, she keeps marvelous track of things. And you would not believe some of the things she puts in there!" He chortled, paws clasping. "In any case I've never had a friend's birthday before, so I decided to surprise you."
"Er... with an... invasion?"
"Oh no - that was just because I knew it'd get you out here without you getting all suspicious. This."
He snapped his claws, and everything - the pastry flowers, the soda fountains, all the incongruities - burst into butterflies.
Real butterflies, pink and yellow and the blue-green of her eyes, surrounding her in a whispering swirl of delicate wings.
"Oh...! Oh my goodness!"
"You like it?" There was a hopeful note in Discord's voice, though the playfulness was back when he spoke again. "Well, it was that or enchant the quarry eels to sing 'Happy Birthday'...."
She laughed, fluttering up.
"It's perfect... and I had no idea. Much better than a day off." A smile. "Besides - something had to distract me from Pinkie Pie's surprise party."
"Surprise indeed." Discord laughed, coiling idly around his friend. "You see? Your other friends are too predictable, my dear. So you'd best stay on duty a bit longer - so I don't liven up the party for you before you get there."
"Oh, I wouldn't mind. Er, too much." She smiled, giving him a light nuzzle. "But all right. Duty calls."
The Prompt: Princess? What princess?
"Princess? What Princess?"
"Me. The Moon Princess."
"You know - the other one, the dark one."
"Oh. Huh, what’s it matter? That princess isn’t… what was her name, anyway?"
"Luna… please, you know us…."
"You know, Princess… er… ah, never mind. Celestia’s the only one that matters."
"Right. Never mind the other one."
"But I…."
"Who needs her?"
"Does she even have any friends?"
"I… I do!"
"No… who would be?"
"Don’t need her…."
"Don’t want her…."
"Don’t like her…."
"Please…! Do not forsake us…. me…."
Luna woke with a faint, choking sob, dark pelt and soft pillows damp with tears as she took a moment to reorient herself.
It was stupid. The dream was stupid. She had never been as alone and forgotten as she’d once convinced herself. Celestia loved her and had waited a thousand years for her.
Cadance loved her. Twilight Sparkle loved her.
Pip and Scootaloo loved her.
They have never liked us - and they never shall. And even Celestia has found new little princesses….
"Oh, do be quiet," she grumbled at her own thoughts as she got to her hooves.
This could be solved. There was one pony that would never deny her reassurance.
***
The shadows told her it was a scant two, perhaps three hours after noon; as usual, her sister was resting in her chambers, drinking tea made entirely too sweet as she looked over reports from the whole of Equestria.
Busy. Luna hesitated in the doorway was she saw this, head lowered, and started to back away.
Too late - Celestia had seen her, and raised her head with a warm smile.
"My little Luna - what a rare surprise to see you at this early hour!" She stood and walked toward Luna with sedate grace, pausing with a faint frown as she noticed the tear tracks still visible on her sister’s face.
"Luna…?"
"Tis… nothing," Luna said softly. "Only a dream of… of past insecurities, rising to haunt me in my vulnerable hours."
"Past?" Celestia asked gently. She lowered her head to nuzzle her sister lightly. "Oh, Luna…."
"I know it is only foolishness, my sister… I only…." She gulped, and Celestia nuzzled her again.
"Your feelings aren’t foolish, Luna. After everything… I…." The white alicorn took a breath and returned to her place, legs folding elegantly beneath her as she looked at Luna. "But I am here. And so are others… oh Luna, if only you could patrol and soothe your own dreams. Come here."
Luna hesitated briefly and then hurried to her sister’s side to lie against her like a foal.
"Remember always that we’re here, Luna. And I at least will try always to keep you aware of that."
A great white wing folded over Luna, and she snuggled gratefully into the elder alicorn’s side to sleep in peace.
***
"Twilight who?"
"Guys, it… it’s me. Twilight Sparkle?"
"Purple unicorn? At the library? Nah."
"There’s a purple pony I saw! But who knows that one?"
"It… it’s me… I’m the same, the same!"
"Another princess! Pah, who needs her?"
"Who wants her?"
"Spike… Applejack…! Rarity? Pinkie Pie… girls… please…."
"Relax, Twilight Sparkle. I am with thee now, and despite unsettling dreams thy friends are ever with you in their hearts."
Twilight gazed up into Luna’s gentle, sympathetic face and sniffled, wiping a hoof over her snout.
"I… I know, but…."
Luna smiled wryly.
"We are not so different, thou and I. You and I, I mean to say."
"Mm." Twilight sighed. "I’m just… I…."
"Are still you, as you say." Luna looked over at the silent dream figures of Twilight’s friend. "Dearest little sister… does any part of your heart believe this?"
Twilight looked briefly startled at the form of address, but shook her head at the question.
"I… no… but I’m scared, so scared this will change things, I…."
"Then you are ahead of us… me… for I once believed these dream whispers in my heart of hearts, and fear it will become true."
"Y-yes, but…."
"My little Twilight…." Luna paused, wondering at her own tone, but smiled faintly as she continued, echoing another sisterly voice of mere hours before. "Your feelings are not foolish. But I am here. Celestia… and your fellow bearers of the Elements… they are here. Remeber this always and we - by which I mean a true we, not the royal sort - shall try always to remind you."
Twilight nodded, smiling through lingering tears, and Luna nodded in turn.
***
Twilight woke as Luna nodded. Alone.
She took a deep breath to reorient herself, wings shuffling as she tried to arrange them comfortably.
Not real, a stupid dream, it would never be real….
A soft tap came before the door opened, and Luna stepped in, quiet and hesitant.
The two princesses stared at each other a moment. Then Twilight smiled, and Luna smiled in return, and the Moon Princess came to her junior’s side, legs folding elegantly beneath her as she stretched out a wing and Twilight scooted in close to her side like a foal.
A great night-blue wing folded over Twilight, and she snuggled gratefully into the elder alicorn’s side to sleep in peace.
The Prompt: Your mind makes it real.
"You know, this doesn’t make any sense."
"What doesn’t, darling?"
Rarity glanced over at Twilight, horn alight as she uncovered another gem for Spike to dig up. Twilight shrugged slightly, watching the dragon’s progress, and Rarity smiled.
"You mean my talent for finding gems? Well, Twilight - you should know as well as anypony that the cutie mark doesn’t necessarily make the career, though my talent, and Rainbow’s speed talent, and so on certainly enhance our true callings!" She chuckled, levitating the gem into Spike’s claws. "Really I think a failure to interpret cutie marks in our own context was what caused such trouble in the mark swap!"
"Er… maybe. But I meant the abundance of gems here." Twilight gestured at the rocky landscape with one wing. "I mean, you’ve been mining this area for years!"
"And what an area it is!" Spike said appreciatively, appraising the wagon of gems they’d already unearthed with a hungry eye before looking mournfully at Rarity. The white unicorn nodded after a moment, smiling as she levitated a fat citrine into her friend’s eager claws.
"Spike’s right, darling, some places must simply have an abundance. This place was where I found that first stone, after all, and it’s never yet failed me."
"Hm." Twilight looked the area over, but ultimately nodded.
"I guess you must be right. Still, it’s pretty interesting."
***
"It doesn’t make sense," Twilight muttered much later. The outlandish bounty of Rarity’s hunting ground - dozens, hundreds, thousands of perfectly cut gems lurking just below the surface - was like nothing she’d ever seen or even read about. "I mean… why is it no one managed to mine this area before? Even the Diamond Dogs don’t seem to have showed up until after Rarity was operating, and even mining ponies with equipment have barely turned anything up. It’s why they all left it to Rarity."
"I dunno. Maybe Rarity’s just that good." Spike was lying on his back in bed, holding the citrine up to the light to admire it. "I mean… you’ve got a really strong talent, right? So maybe Rarity’s just really strong in one or two areas. You know, like those illusions for the fashion show?"
"Even that we might be able to attribute to her gem talent," Twilight said absently. "You know, reflecting and redirecting light the way it’d refract through a gem to get the effect she wants… anyway that’s not the point."
"Eh, what is the point then?” Spike shrugged, watching the spots of light the gem reflected. “I thought you learned not everything has to be analyzed. So what if only Rarity can get at the gem deposits?” He sighed, holding the stone against his heart. “Maybe she’s just that magical .”
"Maybe. Eat your snack and go to bed, okay?"
"Okay."
Spike ate half the gem and then curled up holding the rest like a teddy bear. Twilight smiled wryly as she pulled a blanket over him and then turned back to her books.
How was Rarity doing it?
***
"I have a theory!" Twilight sang the next morning. Spike (who had eaten the rest of the citrine in his sleep) blinked up at her and yawned.
"Again? ‘Bout what?"
"Rarity’s talent!" She bounced a moment and grinned. "You see, the stone full of gems - it must have been there for ages, and there were mining ponies in that area, but no one knew!"
"So? I thought we already established Rarity’s just that magical."
"Established nothing. Spike, are you up to visiting Rarity today?"
“Am I!” Spike bounded out of bed, beaming, before shuffling his feet with a clearing of throat. “I mean uh… sure, if you want.”
"Just you today - I have a lot of work to do to confirm this, and on some other duties. But could you do me a favor?"
"Sure, name it."
"Take this stone to Rarity. I think it might have more gems inside - just what she needs!"
***
"Just what I need?"
Rarity looked at the chunk of rock Spike had struggled to carry in, ears forward.
"That’s what Twilight said. Seems to think only you could really open it up and wedge ‘em out, though."
"Well. That is my specialty. Set it down there, Spikey-wikey, and let’s have a look!”
Dragon and unicorn circled the stone a long few moments, giving it light taps here and there with hoof or claw, Rarity lighting her horn now and then and Spike giving the stone the odd sniff.
"I dunno, Rarity, I don’t smell any gems…."
"No." Rarity’s eyes were alight with pleasure and certainty. "They’re here. I know they are! Stand back, please."
Spike did as he was told as Rarity focused on the stone. Slowly, surely, it split apart under her magic.
Inside lay a little treasure trove of pale green, blue, and pink gems.
"Why… why they’re perfect ,” Rarity breathed after a long moment. “Exactly what I needed for those ceremonial solstice dresses!”
"Wow." Spike touched a gem almost reverently. "And even a dragon couldn’t tell. Rarity, you’re amazing!"
"I know, darling." The unicorn beamed, levitating one of the small gems to the dragon. "Here you go, for being such a darling to carry this in for me! Now sit back while I finish these, and you’ll see some real magic!”
It never occurred to her to wonder how Twilight had known there were gems there, or known what it was she needed.
***
Twilight nodded in satisfaction as she read Spike’s note, giving Owlowiscious a triumphant smirk.
"I knew it! I knew that was how she was doing it!”
"Hoo?"
"Rarity! You see, that stone had no gems. I spent hours analyzing it. But Rarity thought there were. Her mind made it real! Oh Owlowiscious - her talent isn’t finding gems at all ! She makes them, and can even use their properties in seemingly unrelated pursuits like illusion!”
A moment more, and Twilight grew solemn about the implications. Gems were part of the economy, and Rarity was generous - the very spirit of generosity.
Twilight Sparkle would have to consider very carefully how to present the finding to Rarity - so that no one could take advantage of her friend’s talent and so that Rarity would not be overwhelmed by her own generosity… or vanity.
She turned back to her papers to start notes on that - but even the heavy responsibility couldn’t keep back the joy of a problem solved and of how much a pony’s mind could really do.
The Prompt: Rain, rain, go away
Twilight Sparkle held her head high as she walked through the castle gardens, doing her best to imitate the stately gait of her teacher. In the week since Princess Celestia had taken her on, the unicorn had observed the alicorn even more closely than she had while studying for magic school - striving to learn the ruler’s habits, her likes and dislikes, what would please her and what would earn a raised brow in an otherwise carefully neutral face.
And how Twilight could be just like her.
She glanced over at Celestia to see how well her walk was holding up against the Princess’, and was rewarded by the sight of her teacher looking down at her with a warm, indulgent smile. Sisterly, even motherly, like the sun itself.
"So… um… what are we going to learn today, Princess? I mean… um… what are you going to teach me? Because, of course, you already learned everything, and… um…."
She trailed off, uncertain. Celestia laughed softly.
"Not everything, Twilight Sparkle. There are things even I haven’t learned yet."
"Oh." Twlight tried to think of something the Princess might not know. Obviously anything she knew would be something the Princess already did and therefore not something to bother her with - she never wanted to waste her teacher’s time! - but knowing something Celestia didn’t might impress her as well. But what?
"Um… did you learn how the new Magicians Of Montrotal ended yet?"
Twilight scolded herself as soon as the words were out. The Princess didn’t care about her storybooks! Celestia smiled, though, head tilting.
"Why, no - I don’t think I know much about that at all." She tilted her head, moving to face Twilight squarely. "Tell me?"
"Well… um… you see…." Twilight took a deep breath, putting on her best ‘report’ voice. "Magicians of Montrotal is about… um… Magicians. In Montrotal." She winced at that, looking up at Celestia’s indulgent smile, and cleared her throat. "Um… but the magicians aren’t nice. They use their magic against Pegasi and Earth Ponies and even Unicorns, because they’re powerful! Magic can do bad things sometimes, did you know?"
"Yes," Celestia said after a moment, very softly. "I know. But there are brave ponies to stop them?"
"Uh huh! Two Unicorns, two Pegasus…uses, and two Earth Ponies! And even a dragon, a phoenix, a griffin, and once there was a bison! But they weren’t always together, they met like this…."
As Twilight got deeper into her tale, she started acting it out - bounding in circles, rearing on her hind legs to speak as the dragon, once even managing a brief levitation for a pegasus. Celestia lay on the grass just off the garden path, watching her with a smile and giving the occasional well-placed chuckle or gasp.
"And then the dragon said—eep!"
Twilight scuttled back as an unexpected raindrop landed on her snout.
"Eep?" Celestia echoed, a hint of laughter in her voice. Twilight shook her head, nose wrinkling a bit.
"No. She said—hey!"
The filly danced about briefly as more drops spattered onto her dusky purple hide, casting an accusing glance upward.
"It’s raining!"
"So it is," Celestia said, with more than a hint of laughter.
"The morning report didn’t say anything about this!" Twilight dashed back toward the princess, bouncing around her in agitation. "The pegasus ponies are supposed to let us know! Let’s go inside and then talk to them!"
"Don’t worry so much." Celestia smiled, extending one wing and nodding toward it; Twilight ducked under the feathery umbrella with a huff. "And I never ask for the weather schedule if I’m not holding a public event. A little rain won’t ruin an afternoon with a friend."
"Never? But… but then the rain can catch you out like this, and…."
"A little rain can’t extinguish the sun. Or melt even the sweetest of foals." Celestia shrugged a bit. "Twilight Sparkle, did you know there are areas even in Equestria where nopony controls the weather at all? It simply does as it pleases."
"Yeah, but this isn’t one of them."
"No," Celestia admitted. "Even so. Don’t you think it’s a little fun to have a surprise?"
"I like schedules."
"I know," the Princess said warmly. "Schedules and lists and charts and graphs. My superbly organized little Twilight Sparkle. But in my case, nearly every aspect of my life is scheduled, outside of our time together."
"Sounds good!"
"Sometimes. And sometimes it’s fun to get caught in a little shower." Celestia smiled, tilting her head at Twilight. "When you’re as old as I am, Twilight Sparkle, you’ll find surprises few and far between, and relish the ones you get."
"I’m never gonna be as old as you!" Twilight protested. "You’re the oldest pony ever, nopony’s even close to that old!"
She clapped her hooves over her mouth as she spoke, eyes wide. Grown mares were so sensitive about age! urely now she’d called her own doom down!
Celestia only laughed, a surprised and merry sound, before she leaned down to nuzzle her student, still chuckling.
"I suppose so. But here - I’ll show you something."
The alicorn’s horn lit as she stood, and in a moment she’d called a bubble over them to shield them from the rain. Twilight prodded it with a hoof, eyes wide.
"Now you try."
It took a few false starts, but soon Twilight had called the shield up too, and she bounced around Celestia as the alicorn dispelled her own bubble.
"I did it, I did it! And look, mine’s all pinky-purple, and…."
The top bowed inward, collecting water. Then it burst, dumping it over princess and foal.
Celestia and Twilight stared at each other a long moment before the filly spoke up in a tiny voice.
"Um… was that… a surprise?"
Celestia stared at her a moment more, mane plastered to elegant face. Then she started laughing again.
"It certainly was, Twilight Sparkle! Is… this?"
She reared, bringing her hooves down in a puddle to splash her student. Twilight shrieked and laughed and tried to do the same, and the two cantered back to the castle in a disordered, puddle-splashing race.
The Prompt: A new life
Streams were flowing uphill, waterfalls falling up.
Birds crowded into underground warrens and rabbits climbed into trees.
Tulip blossoms were stuck in the ground with their bulbs pointing toward a checkerboard sky, windows swung open like doors and doors slid upward like windows, any attempt at drinking ended in the glass being drank and the liquid suspended in midair, and Discord could not even crack a smile as the citizens of Ponyville struggled to go about their day.
It all felt so… empty.
He would give anything for a softspoken scolding, a stern look with a half-hidden smile just behind it, and the promise of a mad tea party or ice skating on the clouds as soon as he’d set things right.
And he knew it wasn’t coming.
As he coiled into a tree to watch his handiwork with an air of boredom, a few ponies looked up - many wearing black bands of mourning on a foreleg - but none dared approach. Not when Fluttershy wouldn’t be coming to scold and tease and cajole him into some semblance of good behavior.
It wasn’t fair .
For now, everyone else seemed willing to let him have his fit, and that too was annoying - almost a reproach in itself. But after all, it wasn’t the first time he’d shown such pique over her mortality; thirty years ago, a day many of these ponies surely remembered, he had turned Canterlot Castle on its ear, raging at Celestia over how he’d so often been seen as selfish and yet her darling, her precious Twilight Sparkle, had been granted an alicorn’s longevity while Fluttershy’s gentle hooves and dainty wings grew stiff and painful with arthritis and her pink and yellow faded to gray and white.
Celestia had done nothing to stop him, said nothing in her own defense - she’d only gazed at him with great, sad eyes as she absorbed the abuse. In the end her silent sorrow had reminded him too strongly of Fluttershy for his rampage to continue, and he’d left, and no one had spoken of it again until a few apprehensive whispers in the hours after the pegasus’ death.
Twilight had been present, vibrant as ever, and it wasn’t fair .
Finally he fled, going to the empty spaces out of town, and curled up in the strangely unsatisfactory chaos to be alone with his grief.
***
"Um… Mister Discord?"
A dainty snout was bumping against his, waking him from the slumber he’d fallen into at some point. He opted to ignore it, eyes remaining closed and ears tipping back just a bit.
"Mister Discord, um… I know you’re very upset, but, um. I would really appreciate it if you would at least put the flowers back, and then we can talk about the rest later."
Something in the soft, piping voice stirred him, and he dared a peek.
Large blue-green eyes gazed back at him from a white face; for a single confused moment he thought he was staring at her ghost, and he jerked back with a snort.
No, of course not. It was only one of her great-grandfoals, a blankflanked pegasus filly not quite old enough to fly, and he pulled further back in disappointment.
"Why?"
The foal stared at him a moment before lowering her head, wheat-gold mane inherited from her great-grandfather falling across her face.
"Um. Well I… I like the flowers… and Grammyshy always said you were nice about those things, and… um… I know you’re very upset, but I would really like my flowers back, please."
She peeked up with a tiny but winning smile, and he could only stare. So like Fluttershy it stung and soothed all at once, and he couldn’t even remember the little brat’s name.
He’d never paid much attention to her family; that they made her happy was all he cared about where they were concerned.
"Oh." He folded his arms, trying to think of something clever to say. Somehow words failed him under that soft blue-green gaze, and he found himself nodding instead. "I… suppose one reversal won’t hurt."
"Thank you."
Just the barest whisper. So like Fluttershy.
"I… you’re… welcome?" He faltered a moment. "Which one are you, anyway?"
"Oh! Um… Posie Petals, Mister Discord." She considered a moment. "I… um. I planted yellow ones. And pink."
"She’d like that," he muttered, more to himself than anything. Posie Petals smiled again and nodded.
"You would know right Mister Discord? You knew her a long time."
"Not so long."
"Oh. Well… oh."
She looked aside, scuffing a forehoof against the earth, and he sighed.
"Oh, I… don’t look so long in the face. Here."
He clapped his paw and talons together sharply, reversing his changes. Droplets of water from a transformed weeping willow, the feathers shed from flying fish, and drifting paper snowflakes all transformed as the spell ended, yellow and pink and blue-green butterflies (it would have been her birthday soon, he remembered) swarming around them.
With, he realized, a few petals in the mix.
The foal giggled with delight, placing one dainty hoof on his lion paw.
So like Fluttershy . How had he never seen it?
One pink butterfly landed on his antler, and Discord sighed.
One life was over, one part of his life with it.
Perhaps this new little life wasn’t so bad.
"Well, my dear," he said as he levitated the filly, smiling a bit as her little wings flittered and buzzed, "why don’t you show me those flowers?"
The Prompt: One (or more) of the Crusaders is crushing on one (or more) of the Mane Six.
Never gave much thought to all that… y’know… love stuff.
I mean, y’know. At my old school I was mostly hidin’ from other kids, see? Hearts an’ Hooves Day? Pah. Nopony gave me nothin’, an’ there was nopony worth givin’ nothin’ to. I guess that one guy with the cloud cutie mark was good lookin’ an’ all an’ one time I felt kinda special when he talked t’me without laughin’, but as soon as the other kids were around that all stopped.
Jerk.
Lately though, I visit Ponyville an’ there’s this one pony I see.
Y’know the one. All prim an’ prissy an’ got this funny kinda way a’ talkin’. She’s puttin’ it on, nopony talks like that. Not even her sister.
Easy on the ears though.
An’ she’s… I dunno, pony acts like that ya start thinkin’ they’re a real snot. Not her though. Haha, we did Cutie Mark Crusaders Bakers an’ she ate that cake Sweetie made for her with a smile on her face. Scoots thinks she’s a little bit of a mean pony, but nopony who wasn’t nice as apple pie coulda ate that cake an’ smiled an’ thanked Sweetie for the treat even if I did hear her wailin’ to Applejack later.
Heck, I wanted t’cry when I tasted it an’ I had ponies messin’ with my lunch every day before I changed schools.
S’kinda funny when she wails anyhow. I kinda like how everythin’ that happens t’her is so big and important.
I wanna be important too.
So I’m makin’ somethin’.
Knittin’s hard. Alla this countin’ stitches an’ loopin’ an’ tryin’ not t’knot too much.
Colors are hard too. Even Sweetie calls her a ‘white an’ purple’ unicorn but she’s wrong. Princess Celestia’s white but she’s not, she’s a soft shimmer-gray, just barely not white, like a pearl, an’ her purple’s kinda bluey like right after the sun sets.
Huh, maybe I oughtta try gettin’ a cutie mark for poetry! Pretty good, huh?
I’m not too good at it normally. But that never stopped our Crusades before an’ maybe I just needed somethin’ like this t’unlock my talent!
I’ll worry about cutie marks later.
Anyway she’s pearl an’ twilight only not that Twilight, she ain’t even twilight colored but that’s not the point. Pearl an’ twilight, so I was thinkin’ kinda the pinky color some pearls have an’ a more day-sky color which matches her cutie mark anyhow an’ some silver.
An’ I knitted it all up an’ now I’m outside the dress store. No, boutique - she likes fancy words, she probably wouldn’t like it bein’ called a dress store an’ she’d get all… ‘oh-my-goodness’ an’ ‘dear me’ an’ all those overblown things she does which is funny an’ cute but yanno, not now.
I’m shakin’ in my hooves here but I knock anyhow an’ she sings out how she’s comin’.
Expectin’ someone else I guess, she looks surprised to see me. Looks a little bit frazzled, got them silly glasses a’ hers on the edge of her snout and her hair’s still all neat an’ pretty but frizzled somehow an’ tape measures over her back an’ it’s not how I’m used to her lookin’, all put-together.
I like it though.
I never talked to her by myself before so I feel kinda weird, but I nudge the box toward her anyhow.
"I uh… I made dis for ya."
She blinks, an’ her horn lights up an’ she takes the lid off an’ pulls the scarf out, an’ I kinda flinch as she looks at it. Th’ diamond pattern’s all crooked an’ th’ silver threads I tried to put in kept gettin’ all bunched an’ the diamond tassels were dumb an’ I’m just waitin’ for her t’laugh.
She looks at th’ scarf, an’ she looks at me (I flinch again, an’ I can almost hear somepony sayin’ ‘two for flinching’) an’ she looks at the scarf.
"Why… Babs. Was this your first time knitting, darling?"
"Y-yeah." Her tone’s not mean but I’m sometimes still waitin’ for somepony t’laugh whenever I do somethin’. "I… I’m sorry I know it’s not good an’ th’colors are probably dumb an’ I… I’ll just—"
"Why darling, this is amazing!"
I blink, shocked. She’s smilin’ an’ wavin’ me in an’ settlin’ that wreck of a scarf over her shoulders.
"Your first try! Why, I’ve seen ponies tie themselves in knots just looking at yarn! And the colors! You have a real eye for them. A talent."
That awful scarf looks pretty on her. Everythin’ does, an’ I’m all puffed up real proud while she shows me colors an’ offers t’teach me a few tricks for keepin’ threads straight.
I’m not a prince like she wants. I’m just a dumb little blank flank.
But maybe she’ll like me, just a little.
An’ the scarf… with her talkin’ like that, it don’t look so awful after all.
The Prompt: The secret life of a background pony
I wonder if I’m the only pony who felt left behind because she got a cutie mark?
Ah-ha-ha… that probably sounds pretty whiny, huh?
I don’t like to complain, I like to make people smile. I guess that partly ended in me not wanting to complain, because nopony wants to hear somepony complain, especially about getting a cutie mark. I don’t like to complain because I want ponies to smile so I don’t complain so they won’t stop smiling.
But I feel left behind.
See, I never fit in with most of the foals at school. I always had one friend though - Apple Bloom. She was always sweet and nice, and she loved my candies, and we spent all kinds of time together!
And then I got my cutie mark and Apple Bloom doesn’t wanna hang out anymore. It’s always her, and Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, and I’m not mad or anything! I… I really like Apple Bloom, and I like seeing her have fun, and Sweetie and Scootaloo seem like nice ponies too!
I guess… maybe Apple Bloom only liked me because we were both blank, and now I’m not anymore. And I can tell she likes the other two for a lot of reasons, not just because they’re all blank.
And I’m so, so jealous.
She’s barely talked to me since that day.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m friends with Truffle Shuffle and all and he’s really nice, but now… now I’m afraid. I remember Apple Bloom was always really nice, and….
It’s stupid, right? I feel like… like I’m gonna be left behind any time, just like before. And it… it wasn’t even my fault I happened to get a cutie mark that day!
Was it? I mean I knew I was good at it. And I loved it. A candy maker who loves candy and making people smile. That candy heart is who I am, and I’m so, so proud of it.
But if it wasn’t there, I….
You know, Pinkie Pie is my hero. She’s like me, somepony who makes wonderful things to eat, somepony who only wants to make everypony smile, and ponies are always happy to see her! I want to talk to her, sometime, and we can share recipes and maybe I can go to one of her great parties and maybe she’ll like me because we’re the same - we even look a little alike aside from color!
It’d be nice to have a grownup friend like Apple Bloom and her friends do.
For now, though? I’m busy.
I guess hiding in my sweets workshop isn’t the best way to make new friends. But my candies are the only way I know to make ponies happy, so I’m going to make them perfect - before I try to talk to Pinkie Pie, before I try visiting Apple Bloom more.
I’m learning to make edible bubbles, you know? And apple flavors, they’re hard to make perfect because somehow apple candies always come out a little fake-tasting. But I’ll make that and the bubbles and all the candy-cane flavors and I’ll learn to make sugared flowers and candied nuts and they’ll all be perfect and I’ll be the best sweets pony in Equestria!
Or in Ponyville anyway.
And maybe then - maybe then, ponies will like me, and they’ll smile just like they do when they see Pinkie, and I won’t feel so much like my cutie mark made me lonely.
That’s my secret, I guess - I’m Peppermint Twist, the pony who loves her cutie mark and everything it means.
And the pony who sometimes wishes it wasn’t there because of what gaining it meant.
Standards of Botanical Beauty
The Prompt: The secret life of a background pony (Second for this prompt)
Everyone believes roses are my passion - and they are!
Lovely, vibrant, a never-ending variety. I have wild roses with only five petals each, beautiful little Cherokee roses and dog roses and prairie roses. I have tea roses with dense layers of petals, sercea with their ornamental thorns, moyesii with their showy (and I must say delicious) fruit.
The scent of roses follows me everywhere because that’s what fills my house. I make and sell rose water, make oily perfumes of my damask roses, I make rose hip syrup and flavor teas and sell my loose petals to Sugarcube Corner for use in fondants and candied flowers.
I can make roses bloom from a neglected plant thought long-dead. That’s how I got my cutie mark - the rosebush in my grandmother’s garden was to be torn up, but I loved it and she indulged me and my love and nurturing brought forth beautiful prize-winning blooms.
I would not be any pony but Roseluck for all the world!
Still, ponies believe the roses are all that I love, and they’re all anyone seeks from me, so my other indulgences must be in secret.
Does that sound absurd? Overdramatic even?
I will tell you what is dramatic.
Have you ever even seen a flytrap? Open and dewy, blushed pink as any rose, sharp-toothed as a timberwolf? Their soft white flowers belying carnivorous menace below?
Oh, they can’t hurt us of course. That would be absurd!
Though… terribly interesting.
In any case, you are the first I’ve told of my flytraps in a long time. No one wants to buy them; why, Daisy and Lily had the audacity to call them ugly! Horrible monster-plants! Really, can you imagine the sheer nerve?
They aren’t ugly. They’re not. They’re as beautiful as any rose and as varied.
In any case I have been raising my toothy darlings alongside my roses for years no matter how other gardeners may sneer at them. And… well, yes, I kept them a secret after Lily and Daisy reacted so strongly.
Would they still be my friends if my cutie mark was one of my flytraps?
Er… haha, what an absurd worry.
Anyway, I do sell the flytraps on occasion. Always to classrooms and research centers and the like.
But it’s going to be different.
This year is the year Roseluck stops keeping secrets!
This is the year I will take my flytraps to the All-Equestria Plant Show!
This is the year flytraps take their place as plants of elegance and beauty, to be proudly displayed in any greenhouse or flower bed!
So! Would you like to look around my carnivorous little garden?
The Prompt: Two ponies kiss, and all is right in the world.
He was startled to see her when he came over the rise - a lone sun-yellow pegasus, gaze fixed on the butterflies hovering around the blossoms adorning his family’s apple trees. One dainty ear turned toward him and she gave him a sheepish look; he came up beside her at a deliberate gait, keeping his steps light despite his massive frame, and smiled as he sat beside her.
She smiled back, peeking through long lashes in a way that would have been calculated on any other mare. He was suddenly glad for his red coat that would obscure any blush, and turned his attention to the butterflies.
At sundown she got up, and they exchanged another smile, and she left.
At the end of the next workday she was there again. He came up beside her and smiled, and she smiled, and they sat together until sundown.
So it went every evening for the rest of spring.
***
When the blossoms were replaced by dense leaves and burgeoning fruit, she still came. Delicate ears twitched and swayed in tune to the songs of birds nesting in the apple trees; he came, with sweet cold apple juice, and she watched the way he watched her and then turned his own attention to the birds.
They shared the juice, and occasionally one of them hummed a bit in tune with the birds, and it always brought a smile to the other as they sat together until sundown.
So it went every evening for the rest of summer.
***
In the fall, when the rest of Ponyville was out to watch or compete in the Running Of The Leaves, they met on the rise. For a long moment they listened to the sounds of the race.
Then they turned to each other and he smiled, and she smiled, and without either of them needing to suggest it they had their own private frolicking Running Of The Leaves through the orchard.
When they were finished they lay down, side to side, her dainty chin resting on his muscled haunch, and they stayed that way until sundown.
So it went every evening for the rest of fall.
***
In winter there was less work to do on the farm, fewer animals to tend due to migration and hibernation, but by unspoken agreement they still met at the same early evening hour.
He brought steaming mugs of cider, and she brought thick blankets, and they often found themselves staying out well after sundown - breath misting the air as they lay side by side, silently stargazing, her wing sometimes laid over his back or his forelegs cradling her in a graceful heap.
The ride was soon heaped in snow, but neither of them heeded it, warmth seeping easily into them on those long nights - nights that sometimes saw them together until the sun tinged the horizon with predawn glow.
So it went every night all through winter.
***
During Winter Wrap-up, they never saw each other.
They were both puzzled, and a bit troubled. The schedule imposed by Twilight Sparkle - efficient and merciless - left no time for searching; there was no chance of leaving their duties for anything other than a quick bite to eat and a drink, and both knew better than to go without a meal while working so hard.
So, by accident rather than their usual year-long design, they met at the usual time, on the usual little hill in Sweet Apple Acres.
He stared at her, taking in the bruises visible under her yellow coat and the stiff, careful way she flexed her wings and the green vest she’d donned in hopes of working alongside him.
She stared at him, taking in the bites and scratches in his red hide and the bits of nest still in his mane and tail and the brown vest he’d donned in hopes of working alongside her.
Then she was laughing, merrily and musically, and he joined with his deep, warm chuckle.
And then he was kissing her, or perhaps she was kissing him - they never knew who started it, and they never cared, because their bruises and bites and best-laid-plans were forgotten and all was right in the world.
The prompt: 3 Primary Colours
"Er… please tell me again why you’ve brought me up here, darling?"
Luna turned to look at Rarity with head canted; after a few moments under the Moon Princess’ solemn gaze the unicorn gulped, taking half a step back.
"Er… I mean, Your Highness, of course."
"Fret not," Luna said slowly. "We… I… do not object to familiar terms of endearment. Indeed, your token of affection is a boon."
"I… that is… hm, yes." Rarity nodded, clearing her throat after a moment. Luna smiled tentatively, and Rarity smiled just as tentatively in return before continuing her stately walk up the stairs.
"I wished to present something to you. I fear it isn’t a present one can keep, but I wish to share it with you nonetheless."
Rarity nodded, glancing up as they stepped onto the balcony. Luna’s night was in full glory, a waxing gibbous moon presiding over an endless array of stars, and both mares smiled faintly at the sight of it.
"This is magnificent, dear," Rarity said after a long moment. Luna glanced at her with a tiny smile, watching the stars reflected in large blue eyes a moment before stepping closer, voice dropping to a murmur.
"Do you see those three there? Not far from my moon?"
"Three… let me see." Rarity squinted, looking carefully alongside the moon. Then she gave a delighted squeak, one hoof over her mouth. "Oh! Why, they’re in the precise formation of my cutie mark! Luna, dear, are those new?"
"No," Luna said thoughtfully. "They have ever flanked my moon, but we did not take full note of their presence until quite recently." She glanced at Rarity. "In the same way that you were the last of the Elements we became acquainted with. But they are lovely and seem to command the eyes - is this not so, fair Rarity?"
Rarity nearly squeaked again under that gaze - an impossibly beautiful princess thought that she, Rarity, was fair! - but restrained herself, nodding after a moment.
"I… yes. Enhancing the quite divine beauty of the night."
Luna gave another of her tiny, tentative smiles, and Rarity smiled in return before turning back to the stars.
"Just imagine. Three perfect white diamonds, arranged exactly like my own mark."
"White?" Luna blinked, head tilting, and then smiled. "Ah. I’d forgotten you do not easily see their color." Rarity glanced at her, a tiny hint of a frown between her eyes as the princess continued. "Fair Rarity, the stars are of endless color like the world below. As many as your jewels."
"Oh," Rarity said softly. She turned back to the sky, squinting at the three stars, and Luna’s smile widened as she bent to touch her horn to Rarity’s.
"Here. See them as I do."
Rarity blinked, and by the time she opened her eyes the three stars - her stars, she was beginning to feel - had flashed with brilliant color, their light mingling to creat a shining rainbow. She gasped, speechless a long moment.
"Oh. Oh my. Luna, their light… it’s fantastic, it’s…."
"And perfect color," Luna said softly. "You know the symbolism, don’t you? Yellow - yellow is joy, happiness."
"And jealousy," Rarity mumbled. Dreams of being replaced were still fresh in her mind, and she would have shied away had Luna not moved to maintain contact.
"Think not of that, for yellow is also hope, and imagination like that which you carry, and optimism. Blue, now - blue is harmony, trust, truth. That which brought both of us from the nightmare. And it is peace and tranquility as well, things I wish you." She paused. "Also, that blue one matches your eyes most perfectly."
Rarity smiled at that, eyes lowering, though she raised them again at Luna’s next words.
"And red - red is…"
"I know," Rarity said softly. "Excitement. Energy." She cleared her throat. "Love."
"Yes," Luna said. "And see how their light mingles… the purple of nobility, spirit, and also your mane. The green of your generosity. The orange of your vibrance."
"And orange also demands attention, darling, and we know that’s true as well!”
They both laughed at that. In Rarity’s vision the stars snapped back to cool white as contact was broken, but she felt no loss; instead, she found herself holding Luna’s gaze, warmed by the strange gift and the princess’ praise.
"So, fair Rarity - if ever you need reassurance, look to the stars that echo you… and remember me. I shall show you again if ever you need it."
"Thank you," Rarity said softly, nodding once. Their gazes remained locked a moment longer, and Rarity felt her cheeks heating as Luna finally looked away.
She dismissed it for the time being, settling comfortably at the princess’ side to stargaze. The way she felt under Luna’s eyes could be examined later; tonight was for stargazing, and for reflecting on the splendor she’d been shown.
The Prompt: Learning to fight.
The manticore lunged, claws extended as it struck out at a dainty-looking pearlescent unicorn. She ducked under the blow, and in the same fluid motion whirled to deliver a precisely aimed kick.
Such a kick could never defeat such a monster, but it was jarring - enough that the manticore didn’t strike again immediately, instead roaring its frustration at its target-turned-assailant.
Until that moment, Rarity hadn’t known she had it in her.
And that, once the urgency of the quest for the Elements was over and she had time to relax and breathe, made Rarity think.
A kick of such force and precision - where had she learned that?
***
Applejack sighed, shaking her head.
"Again."
"What?!"
"Again."
"I heard you, dear, I just.. but… why?"
Rarity gave the farmpony her most dewy-eyed, flutter-lashed, pouty pleading stare; Applejack stared back a moment before clearing her throat and looking pointedly back at the tree.
"Yer not hittin’ the right place. Not doin’ as much as y’could."
"I got the apples down!" Rarity cried, stomping an indignant hoof. Applejack smiled, shaking her head.
"Y’got some of ‘em down. Look, sugarcube." Applejack trotted to another tree, turning and bucking as she reached it. When her hooves thudded against the trunk, the entire tree trembled; a moment later the apples fell.
All of them.
"See?" Applejack smiled at Rarity’s stunned expression. "Everything’s got a vulnerable spot y’wanna aim for. We Earth Ponies are good at feelin’ it out, but you - y’got a real sharp eye, y’can get it."
"Oh." Rarity nodded a bit, turning to regard the tree. "I see. Well, I suppose I can try. But really, Applejack, are you certain you want my help with all this, at this rate?"
"Yes ma’am. It has to be you."
***
"Careful now," Applejack said. "Loose branches on this one. Sometimes they swing an’ hit."
"I see," Rarity grumbled, eying the tree as she would a set of stirrup pants or a cowl-necked sweater. Still, she approached the tree and turned to buck.
Precise spot. The tree trembled, and the apples came down - all of the apples - just as one of the lower branches bounced and smacked smartly against Rarity’s haunch.
"Oooh!" She leaped forward with a squeal and whirled to face the tree, scowl deepening at Applejack’s low chuckle. "Really Applejack!"
"Sorry." The farmpony did not sound apologetic, and Rarity gave a dainty snort as she glared. "Y’just gotta watch - every movement counts."
"Mm." Rarity stalked away, eying the next tree sidelong. "I see. Well. Any more attacking trees?"
"Well, sometimes. Y’gotta watch."
"I see." Rarity sighed, looking suspiciously at the tree as she approached. "And let me guess - it has to be me?"
"For this? Eeyup. You."
***
A branch swinging low. A manticore’s paw.
A sturdy treetrunk. A leonine face.
Several days of Applejack asking for her help.
A strange coincidence?
Rarity mulled all this over as she walked up the path. Applejack was in the fields, as always; when she reached her, Rarity watched a moment in silence before walking to a tree herself, turning to buck.
A precise hit that resulted in a rain of apples.
A low-swinging branch she easily ducked.
"Applejack," she said after a moment. "All those times you called me out here, to work with the trees. Were you trying to show me… something else?"
Applejack paused, head tilting.
"Lady like you," she said slowly. "Pretty, posh, foofy-lookin’ lady pony. Probably out to some cities soon. On her own. Wild places - I ever tell you about Manehatten? So… few things might be useful t’know."
"Ah." Rarity nodded. "And you were… uncharacteristically indirect because…?"
"Thought you’d say no," Applejack said. "I mean… not really a foofy kinda hobby."
"I suppose not," Rarity said. Then she grinned, head tilting. "But it is very fashionable. So, Applejack - anything you know aside from kicking?"
Rarity reared, forehooves cocked in a boxing stance; Applejack stared at her a moment and then chuckled, coming forward.
"Like this. No, left hoof up like yer aimin’ for a dragon’s snoot…."
The prompt: Choose at least one of the following.
Applejack takes a day off work and parties hard.
You know, I do wonder how I get myself into these things.
I’m standing in front of the house where Sweetie Belle still lives with Mother and Father. An absolutely demolished flowerbed is in front of me, and I am surrounded by lovely little plants and less lovely gardening tools and - ugh ! - mulch. My dear family is out of town, having gone to some sort of music fair or other for Sweetie’s birthday, and I have taken it upon myself to prepare a surprise for my sister while they’re gone.
(I got the idea from Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, actually; I heard them talking about how Sweetie had taken a shine to bellflowers of late, and how they wanted to have a bed of them waiting for her birthday. Unfortunately it seems they are not destined to have Cutie Marks in landscaping - I did mention the demolished flowerbed, did I not?)
In any case, the bellflowers will not plant themselves. It was perhaps silly to try to do this myself instead of asking Applejack or even Fluttershy, but - for Sweetie.
"For Sweetie," I mutter, steeling myself. At least my refined tastes mean only the finest bellflowers - purple, pink, and white, naturally! - and I can place them in the most exquisite of arrangements!
And so I use my magic to lift the… egh… thingy… trowel, is it? Yes. I lift the trowel, break the soil, and plant the first little flower. I start to pile a bit of mulch around it, and—
Eeyuugh! Tragedy! It’s all over my hooves and it’s—
Oh. Hm. Delightfully moist and cool, actually. And I know that it’s very fine mulch as it’s from Apple family leaves and wood.
The ground is damp, and I slip a bit in the mud. My forehooves plow into it and… oh. Well. That’s rather nice. I lift a hoof, and I can’t help giggling at the squelch—
Oops. I cover my mouth briefly with a knee.
And then I squelch down again, giggling like a naughty foal. Like Pinkie Pie, even!
Oh this is going to be fun after all! I can just think of it as a bit of spa treatment combined with design! Two of my favorite things!
And before I know it I’m laughing and prancing, moving flowers here and there, hardly noticing as my tail trails in the mud. The squishing feels rather nice under one’s hooves once one is resigned to it, and each arrangement of the plants is better than the last, and - I must admit - I do rather like how bright the clean parts of my hide look against the dark mud, and—
“Rarity ?”
I’ve been discovered. Calamity!
I turn slowly to see my family staring. All three of them slack-jawed, and who could blame them? Oh I am a sight!
It was Sweetie who spoke, and she comes cautiously forward, looking at me and then the bellflowers. Her flowers.
"For me ?” she asks cautiously after a moment, looking impossibly sweet with her wide eyes and her nigh-disbelieving expression. I smile, and raise a hoof to carefully daub mud on her snout.
"For you."
She goes briefly cross-eyed looking at that mud.
And then she shrieks in joy, breaking the spell still holding our parents in shock, and before I know it all four of us are chasing each other through the mud, laughing and shouting like unruly schoolfoals.
Most undignified.
And… well, Celestia forbid they tell anyone about this, but I must say I would not trade it for anything.