My Little Love Storyby BubblegumChaptersBubblegum Chapter 1Love Struck Chapter 1Scoop Daily Chapter 1Bubblegum Chapter 1My Little Love Story Featuring Scoop Daily, Bubblegum, and Love Struck Bubblegum Chapter 1: Fun Blowing Bubbles “Come on, Bubble!” whined Lilly Blossom as she cantered out the doorway of Ponyville’s second-most-popular sweet shoppe, Candy Land. The cream-colored pegasus’s forest-green and cotton-candy-pink mane wafted in the light morning breeze. “We’re going to be late again!” Bubblegum, well known around Ponyville as a successful sweets maker and horrible businessman, stumbled out the door behind the bouncing, excited pegasus. “S-sorry, Blossom. This candy needs to stay at a c-constant temperature of f-forty degrees Equestrius. If it g-gets an-n-ny hotter, it will m-m-melt!” Lilly Blossom tossed her well-kempt mane and turned to observe the stuttering pink earth-pony. Bubblegum was a striking shade of hot pink, offset by his electric-blue mane and tail, also streaked with bright pink. A pastel-pink Cutie Mark depicting a heart-shaped, shiny bubblegum-bubble completed the pony’s girly appearance. Bubblegum was more commonly mistaken for a mare than any other bachelor (or non-bachelor, for that matter) in Ponyvill, which is saying something, considering that other colts in pastel colors made up a significant portion of the bustling town’s population. It didn’t help that Bubblegum’s voice was uncharacteristically high for a stallion. “If it melts, it’s not candy! It’s an ice-pop, Bubble, and I don’t think Pinkie will be impressed,” Lilly Blossom sneered. She ribbed poor Bubblegum on a daily basis, acting as the pink pony’s mentor and conscience at once. Bubblegum was notoriously shy. From the time he had been but a foal, the pink and blue earth-pony had isolated himself voluntarily from other colts and fillies. His stutter began as a result of isolation rather than any natural or inborn trait. Bubblegum had grown up by himself, earned his Cutie Mark by himself, and opened up his sweet shoppe all by himself. It was only after enrolling in business classes at Ponyville Community College that Bubblegum had made his first real friend... or rather, Lilly Blossom had made Bubblegum her friend. While Bubblegum immensely enjoyed Lilly Blossom’s friendship and company, he found himself frequently annoyed by the bossy pegasus’s controlling nature. Bubblegum found himself occasionally wondering if she had befriended him solely for the manual labor and sweets he could provide. The moments of genuine care and sound advice served to solidify his positive opinion of her, however. “N-no?” Bubblegum queried, his ears drooping. “Sh-sh-should I st-start over?” Blossom sighed in exasperation. “There isn’t time, Bubble Brain! We’ve got to get to the campus right away! The flea market is starting in half an hour and we don’t even have our table set up yet!” At the mention of the flea market, Bubblegum perked up immediately. The semi-annual Ponyville Flea Market was a joyous occasion for everypony in the bustling town. Anypony with anything to sell could rent a cheap table on the college’s grounds and hawk whatever product that they happened to make, manufacture, purchase for resale, or drag from their dusty old attics. Bubblegum was particularly excited this year; with the introduction of his new frozen candy treat, he was sure he would finally beat out Sugarcube Corner’s confectionery masters and garner the attentions of the mare he had had his eye on for quite some time: Pinkamena Diane Pie. Bubblegum harnessed himself to the wheeled cooler full of frozen candies and began a brisk canter towards the PCC campus grounds. After just minutes of walking, he and Blossom could already hear the voices, bustle, and preparation-noises as other ponies prepared for the big day. As they passed through the entrance gate onto the college’s grounds, Blossom turned to him. “Alright, Bubble. I know your first reaction is going to be to shy out, and that’s okay. We can work past that. Just remember to smile and thank the people who buy your treats. Your candy is the best in Ponyville; we just have to get ponies interested. So smile, smile, smile, okay Bubble?” Bubblegum nodded enthusiastically, and continued to follow Blossom as she turned and began to weave her way through the setup and tables already scattered across the courtyard. They entered the Starswirl Building (the college’s magic wing) and found their table, number 317. Blossom shrugged off her saddlebags and dumped the contents out; several handmade dolls, all finely crafted and skillfully painted in different designs and colors. Blossom seemed lost for a moment as she gazed at the dolls and sighed; she quickly recovered her composure and turned to Bubblegum. “Alright, bud, now’s your time to shine! You get the table set up while I go and sign us in! The flea market is starting soon, so try to be quick, but make sure it looks nice, okay? We don’t want to be frumpy, but we don’t want to exaggerate our appearance either, so just organize and price and clean up. Keep the candy on ice, but put your sign up. Did you bring any samples?” Bubblegum smiled and popped the lid of the cooler; he then removed a small bag full of tiny, pastel balls which, upon exposure to the heat of the day, began to put off a frothy steam. “Excellent!” said Blossom. “Okay, I’m off. Take care of our booth, Bubblegum!” With that, she darted off into the crowd in the direction of the administration building. Though Celestia's sun had only risen hours before, the summer weather had already begun to bake the earth, evaporating the morning dew and turning the dark soil a dusty tan-brown. Bubblegum smiled as he sang softly to himself, hanging up the small sign listing the prices of his various confections. Though not the most eloquent of ponies, Bubblegum had found away around his prolific stutter through song. His nervousness evaporated completely as he softly weaved a melody about the summer heat, the joy of living, and the deliciousness of the soft, creamy balls now arranged neatly in their cups within a refrigerated display case. As he turned to face the front of the booth, he choked off the end of his song; a pair of lavender eyes bored straight into his very soul. As his gaze met that of the purple unicorn, who had been silently observing him as he set up his booth, she blushed furiously, casting about for an explanation. "I was... Uh... Just now, you were... I mean... W-what are those?!?" she finished, jabbing a hoof in the direction of Bubblegum's frozen treats. Bubblegum found himself shocked into a loss of words. He didn't even notice the unicorn's own discomfort as his body slammed to a halt and his mind raced. This mare had heard him singing! How long had she been standing there? Oh, Celestia, I'm mortified! Still, Bubblegum was a gentlecolt, and he attempted to overcome his humiliation and stutter out an answer. "Uhm..." he said, feeling like his mouth was filled with mush. The unicorn managed to look inquisitive through her blush, prompting further explanation. "Ice c-cream," Bubblegum managed, holding out a small dish filled with the tiny spheres. "T-t-taste?" The lavender unicorn seemed to have recovered, and she eyed the spoonful inquisitively. "Ice cream mini-balls? How did you do it? Was it a flash freezing process using liquid nitrogen? I’d thought of that myself before, but I didn’t think of using it for ice cream!” the unicorn babbled, still trying to draw attention away from the fact that she had been silently listening to Bubble’s song. She had succeeded, though, as Bubblegum blinked in surprise. This mare knew the process behind his dairy treat? Impossible! He had kept it secret! Only Lilly knew the secret behind the mixture, and she had never seemed interested in-- He was once again distracted as he felt the sudden tug of the unicorn lifting the cryogenically-augmented ice cream and she levitated it to her mouth. She stuffed the tip of the spoon inside and closed her eyes, savoring the sweet, candy-like flavor as the beaded treat melted on her tongue. Her eyes flew open as she swallowed and she licked her lips, though they were void any of the creamy confection. "Fascinating! It maintains its round shape even when heated! I never would have thought to apply science to food!" The unicorn proffered a hoof, which Bubblegum shied away from automatically. Realizing his blunder, he shook his head and smiled shyly, striking hooves with the now-enthusiastic unicorn. "I'm Twilight Sparkle! I'm Ponyville's resident librarian and Princess Celestia's personal protege. What's your name?" "B-Bubblegum," he replied, bowing his head so that his long mane blocked his face, hiding the furious blush still prevalent on his cheeks. “Are you a candy maker, Bubblegum?” Twilight queried, smiling awkwardly at Bubblegum’s shy reaction. She was reminded of her first meeting with Fluttershy, though Bubblegum seemed to be a little more eloquent. “Y-yes, m-miss. I own and operate C-Candy L-Land. I’m a m-molec-cular g-gastronom-mist,” he finished, and Twilight blinked and shook her head at the large words. Though she understood perfectly what Bubblegum had meant, she was surprised to find a scientist whose sole passion consisted of food preparation. Then, his words struck her. "As in, Sugarcube Corner's rival? THAT Candy Land?" Pink tinged Bubblegum's cheeks once again, though it was not noticeable against the Pepto-Bismol color of his coat. He nodded in response to Twilight's question. "Well, don't I feel conspiratorial?" Twilight said with a giggle. Bubblegum gave her an uncomprehending look. "Pinkie Pie is one of my close friends," she explained. Bubblegum's shyness dissolved in a flash. “P-Pinkie is your f-friend? I c-came here today to c-compete ag-gainst her! C-can you a-ask her t-to try these?” he said rapidly, shoving an entire cup of the frozen confection in Twilight’s direction. Twilight was taken aback, but smiled and nodded in the affirmative. “Why, of course! But, why don’t you take them to her yourself?” she asked, smiling brightly at the shy earth pony. I can’t do that! Talk to Pinkie Pie? ME? No way! I’ve got to come up with an excuse, like A.S.A.P. “I-I would, b-but I have to st-stay with the b-booth until my p-partner gets b-back,” Bubblegum stuttered, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief at the validity of his excuse and the speed at which he had been able to concoct it. Twilight nodded in understanding. “In that case, I’ll be happy to take some to her! How much do I... we owe you?” she said, magicking her saddlebag open and rifling about for her pouch of bits. Bubblegum shook his head. “N-nothing. J-just... ask her if sh-she likes them, ok-kay?” Twilight’s smiled brightened further and she levitated the cup of ice cream to herself. “You got it... so, who’s your partner?” she asked, trying to make polite conversation to alleviate Bubblegum’s obvious unease. “That would be me,” said Lilly Blossom, trotting up with two nametags in her mouth. She dropped one on the table in front of Bubblegum. “Well done, Bubble! You got your first customer all by yourself! I’m so proud of you! You’ll be rolling in bits in no time!” Bubblegum blushed and rubbed the back of his neck with a hoof. “Th-thanks, Lilly,” he said quietly. “B-but th-that ice c-cream is for P-Pinkie P-Pie.” Lilly beamed at Twilight. “You’re the Element of Magic, right? I’m Lilly Blossom! I’m Bubblegum’s business partner. Oh, and I also make these!” she said, proudly holding up one of the intricate pony dolls in her hoof. The highly realistic mane cascaded down around the nymph-like features on the tiny pony statute, and Twilight’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Wow! How did you do that? You’re not even a unicorn; how did you hold the brush?” Lilly demonstrated, nosing through her saddlebag and grasping the handle of her small paint brush. She held it gently between her lips as she extracted it and a small, blank sculpture made out of white clay. “Watch!” she said around the two objects. She set the small statuette down and pulled out a small tray of paints. She popped the lid, dipped the brush into a conveniently-available cup of water, and went to town on the small sculpture. Twilight watched in fascination and, in less than a minute, she noted the soft purple of the figurine. “It’s me!” Twilight said, smiling broadly. Lilly nodded as she finished the sculpture off by brushing a small amount of glue into a groove on the head and neck, and dabbing a small bit into a hole on the flank as well. She pulled various tiny strands of string from her bag and stuck them quickly into the grooves, arranging them into an exact approximation of Twilight’s mane color! “Amazing! And you did it so fast!” said Twilight, unconsciously jostling in place in her excitement. Lilly beamed and hoofed the doll to the astounded purple unicorn. “A gift,” she said. “For being nice to Bubblegum.” “Why... thank you so much!” she said, examining the doll in minute detail. “Wow... right down to the eyes! Everything is perfect!” “I’ve had a lot of practice,” said Lilly, rounding the table and nudging Bubblegum with her flank. “What do ya think, stud?” she said audibly, then whispered in Bubblegum’s ear. “She’s pretty cute, right?” Bubblegum blushed, not noticing the look of shock on Twilight’s face. “S-stud?” Twilight said, giving Bubblegum a once over. For the first time, she noticed the slightly chiseled jaw, the delicate yet sophisticated flare of the nostrils, and finally, the slightly puffed-out and muscular chest. “You’re a stallion!” she blurted, then quickly clapped a hoof over her mouth. Bubblegum blushed changed to a deep scarlet as Twilight backed away. “I’m sorry!” she said, turning tail and galloping off. “I’m sorry!” she shouted again over her shoulder. His blush finally alleviated, Bubblegum watched her curiously while Lilly blossom giggled beside him. “Bubble,” she said, nudging him in the shoulder with a hoof. “You have got to do something about your coat... and your face... and everything!” “I’ve b-been working out, Lilly,” he said. “It’s just... I l-look like a m-mare no matter what I do!” Lilly laughed out loud and clapped Bubblegum on the rump, eliciting another blush from him. “No worries, stud. We’ll get you a girl in no time! She seemed... totally into you!” Lilly said, still chuckling over the case of mistaken gender. With that, the town clock struck 11, and the flea market got underway. Love Struck Chapter 1My Little Love Story Featuring Bubblegum, Scoop Daily, and Love Struck Love Struck Chapter 1: Heart in Hoof The wind whistled through my wings as I glided through the air over Ponyville. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day and the weather was just right for flying. I just wished that I could take this stupid rain jacket off. Let me explain a little bit: apparently, my special talent is that mares (and sometimes stallions) will fall madly in love with me, given enough time. It’s not my fault... I don’t think. It just happens. It started when I was just a colt. I was on the playground, messing around with my bronies, when three little fillies walked up, whispering and talking amongst themselves. Being the kind of outgoing, friendly, awesome all-around guy that I am, I trotted up to say ‘hello.’ The three just... giggled at me. It was totally embarrassing, and I felt... humiliated. I strengthened my resolve, and tried again. Putting on my best macho ‘I’m a tough colt’ persona, I said, “Hey, little fillies. You wanna see a magic trick?” The three exchanged glances, looked at me, and nodded in unison. With a secretive grin, I glided up into the air. My wings have always been strong, even from a young age. While most pegasi colts and fillies were earthbound, I was already gliding amongst the clouds, tasting the freedom that would soon be mine... after I graduated, of course. This trick, however, was special. As I glided into the air, my speed increasing, I began to perform a series of straight-ahead barrel rolls. You wouldn’t think so by just looking at me, but at the speeds I was traveling, doing a barrel-roll creates a sort of mini-hurricane behind me. The little mini-vortex will pull in small birds, flying insects, random debris... and clouds. This is what now transpired, as I glided up to the cloud layer and arced across the fluffy, white mounds. A trail started to drag out behind me, and I started sprialing and darting across the sky. I could hear the fillies below me ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ as my cloud-writing kicked their ‘he’s so cool’ drives into high gear. Finishing off with an exclamation point, I landed with a plunk in front of the trio. “There now!” I said, motioning with a hoof to the sky. Written in cloud, being struck with just the right amount of sun to turn them a luscious shade of light pink, were the words, “Hi, Fillies!” “Love, you are so cool!” the trio had gushed in unison, and I basked in their adoration. “Say, thanks! You girls wanna come play with me and my friends?” I asked, trying to maintain my cool-guy composure. The fillies giggled and nodded, exchanging bubbly conversation amongst themselves. I won’t lie; I heard my name come up several times. As I turned to lead them back to where my bronies were still doing... whatever it is that young colts did, one of the fillies gasped. I turned quickly and scanned their faces. Three pairs of wide eyes stared back at me. “What? What is it?” I asked, giving myself a once over. “Did I sit in something?” “Love, your cutie mark!” one of them squealed. Cutie Mark? I turned to examine my flank, and lo-and-behold, there she was. A bright red heart wrapped with a ribbon and stamped with a horseshoe. My namesake. My special talent. My forever. Love Struck. As the wind whistled through my mane, tail, and feathers, I remembered that day fondly. Though it was the day that forever sealed my fate as a mareizer and tail-chaser, it was also the day that I found out what truly made me special. I was suave. I was debonair. I was a charmer. Those were my special talents, and I was proud of it. Was proud of it. I have to admit, my heart’s been a little achy lately, and not the one emblazoned on either side of my flank (though that one has been achy too, but for entirely different reasons; we won’t go there). I know the reason. I’ve been pondering it for years. If my special talent is to MAKE mares (and stallions; I keep forgetting about them) fall in love with me, how will I know when ‘the one’ comes along? The one I’ll be with forever? My little muffin? My beautiful pixie? Oh, hang on... I’ve used all those nicknames before for one night stands. I need something... pure, fresh, and new. I need a nickname that conveys the purity of the mare I’ll spend my golden years with. I need... “Hey, Love!” came a cry from across the sky. I turned to look and saw a cyan streak followed by a prismatic trail. Oh. Celestia. Darn it. Here comes the source of every stallion’s problems. A mare that can’t keep her tail down. The one and only... “It’s me, Rainbow Dash!” she cried, crashing into me and sending me spiraling through the sky. I mentioned I’m a strong flyer, right? My wings are totally buff? No one can recover from being knocked askew by that prismatic doofus. My vision blacked out as I felt myself go tumbling through the air, slowly falling towards my imminent doom. My eyes finally managed to realign and I realized how close I was to the ground. “Celestia, save me,” I said nonchalantly. If I was going to die, I might as well go out like a hero. Role playing time. “Curse you, Rainbow Dash!” I cried dramatically, clutching at my chest with both hooves. “Thou hast slain me once and for all time! Thou shalt henceforth be known as the slayer of Love itself! Cuuurse youuuuu!” I finished, closing my eyes and bowing dramatically... well, as dramatically as I could manage while hurtling face first toward the ground. A bubbly laugh followed behind me and I felt rather than heard the whoosh as Rainbow scooped me out of the air and began to carry me in her hooves. “Nah, I was just playin’!” she said, giving me a playful kiss. “Where you been, stud? Haven’t seen you in, like, a bajillion years!” “I’ve been around,” I said, folding my forelegs and trying to look totally cool... and failing. Rainbow, of all ponies, could screw up my coolness like nopony’s business. We had a love-hate relationship, Rainbow and I. She had fallen in love with me back in flight camp. As fellow members of the Junior Speedsters, we had shared a bond that went far deeper than mare-stallion relationships (though that had played a significant role in my pursuit of her). We shared a brother-sister bond only broken by ‘occasional’ trysts. Wait, wait, that sounds really nasty... “Oh, Love,” she said, laughing out loud as the wind blew both of our mane’s askew. “You’re such a bad flank. I love you all the same, though,” she said, planting another kiss right on my lips. Oh, and just after that brother/sister thing had gone through my head, too! Nasty! “Sorry, Dashie, but could you possibly set me down? I’m headed for the flea market!” I said, angling myself downward to try to drag the fast-flying pegasus down with me. Dash nodded. “I was actually on my way there too! We can go together!” Great... “So... many... booths...” Dash gushed, running ahead of me through the gates and onto the PCC campus grounds. The semi-annual Ponyville flea market was in full swing, and I was enjoying the crowd-life. The one place I can blend in is in a crowd. If I can keep my head down (and avoid any ponies I know intimately), I can usually just enjoy myself and have a good time. Crowds are... relaxing for me. I can just mix, mingle, and blend... “Well, look who it is,” said the snarky, high-society voice of the ONE MARE I had hoped I wouldn’t run into today. Rarity. Celestia. Darn. It. I turned to her with a cheesy grin. “Hey, there, Rarity. What’s shak--” She cut me off. With a hoof. To the face. Hard. Whack. “How dare you leave a lady hanging like that, Mr. Struck! What was I to do? You left me alone, in that hotel room, with the bill!” “Hey, I totally paid the bill, babe... those guys just wanted to screw you over, hear?” “Oh, I believe darling,” she said. Whew. “I believe you like I believe I have two heads, the second of which I have never seen. It’s invisible. Ghastly, isn’t it?” Darn it. “Look, Rarity, I’m sorry I left you hanging, but let’s be honest. It wouldn’t have worked out between us, no matter what you say you felt. I’m sorry I took advantage of you. I said so in... what, like, twenty different letters I sent you? I feel really bad for treating a lady that way, but come on. It’s not like you or I would have been happy.” Rarity huffed. “Well, you may not have been happy, but I was in love, Love. You broke my heart.” Now it was my turn to huff. “Rarity, I left a note. You knew, before we ever spent the night, that I wasn’t in love with you. I told you to your face that I was not in love with you. You were... a one time thing.” Rarity’s eyes filled with tears. Darn it. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s to see a mare cry. I may not be a gentlecolt, or even ethical, moral, or anything like that, but the tears of a mare cut me to the heart... all three of ‘em. Following my natural smooth-guy instinct, I rose on my hind legs and wrapped Rarity in my forelegs. “Oh, hey now,” I said soothingly as she began to sob into my shoulder. “Shhh, shhh, it’s okay, babe. You know I don’t mean it. I love you, it’s just... I can’t see myself spending the rest of my life with you. There are a lot of mares out there to trod through... and besides, you don’t have any wings. Are you so selfish that you’re going to make me live on the ground for the rest of my life?” Rarity placed her forehooves on my chest and gently pushed away. “Of course not, darling. I am the Element of Generosity, after all. But... I don’t like being a one night stand. A courtship... if you could just make me feel like I meant something to you... I could easily move on,” she said, drying the last of her tears with a dainty handkerchief. It’s like this everywhere I go. That’s not to say that I’ve bedded mares in every city, though in all likelihood I have, but there’s always some mare I’ve been with in the past who firmly believes that we were meant to be together. It’s my curse. It’s my shame. It’s who I am. Love Struck. Prepare to be struck by love. With a sigh, I gave Rarity what she wanted. “Okay. We can go on... a few more dates, but not today. I’m in Ponyville on an extended vacation, and we’ll make time to hang out. But Rarity, please understand; I’m here to relax. Don’t make this into a big thing, okay?” Rarity beamed at me, her pearly white, perfect teeth practically radiating under the gleam of Celestia’s golden sun. “I wouldn’t dream of it, darling! I’ll be in touch. With whom are you staying?” she queried. I glanced at Dash, who gave me a smirk. “Of course you can stay with me, stud, but you’ve got to *ahem* earn your room and board.” Rarity looked green at that, and I sighed again, smacking myself in the face with my own hoof. When will I ever learn? Never. Because that’s who I am. That’s what I do. That’s what makes me special. Love Struck. Hearbreaker. Mareizer. Prepare to be struck by love, and this time, love’s a freight train. Scoop Daily Chapter 1My Little Love Story Featuring Scoop Daily, Bubblegum, and Love Struck Scoop Daily Chapter 1: Here’s the Scoop! Author’s Note: To those who have read “Oh, Octavia!”, this story occurs chronologically after the events of Oh, Octavia! To those who haven’t read the story, it is not required reading, so skip it at your leisure... or don’t. Now, on to the story! From the personal journal of one Scoop Daily, an excerpt. 12th of Summerset, in the 2020th year of our rulers, the Princesses of the Twin Lights: I have spent the last twenty-some hours of my time in pursuit of one Miss Rainbow Dash, a pegasus resident of the hamlet of Ponyville. One wouldn’t think it would be so difficult, as several of the town’s residents are obsessed with the above mentioned pony, and therefore tend to keep close tabs on her. As of yet, she has evaded me. I have taken it upon myself to find her for one reason: two days ago, as I was leaving the home of one Octavia Pie, a brilliant explosion shattered the sky, leaving a deep, rainbow trail cut through the atmosphere. This was not unusual, as Miss Rainbow Dash has pulled off several of her signature move, dubbed a “Sonic Rainboom” by none other than herself. While spectacular in appearance and sound, this event is a common enough occurrence. I was surprised, therefore, when a second explosion rocked the sky, sending a vertical pillar of rainbow-light into the heavens, disappearing into space. It could almost have been a signal to some foreign entity, residing among the stars. I am sure that Miss Rainbow Dash, having finally trained herself to the point of breaking the light barrier, caused this explosion. I have dubbed it the “Warpspeed Rainboom”, and I have saddled myself with the task of finding and interviewing Miss Dash regarding her accomplishment. If I could only bucking find her. The usually quiet town is abuzz with activity, as today marks the beginning of the annual Ponyville Flea Market, hosted by the town’s own, highly-esteemed Community College. The peace has been dispersed by the sound of rolling carts, calling voices, and the mass pounding of hooves as the residents scamper about preparing for the festivities. Most towns wouldn’t take a simple 2-day sale so seriously, but Ponyville has few celebrations; not being one of the Pegasi or Unicorn towns, they do not celebrate every spike in magic or change in weather as those two races do. Therefore, the town latches onto every opportunity to pull out the stops and make something menial into something fabulous. This has also made it very difficult to locate any single pony amongst the crowd. I fear I shall have to use my psychic abilities to probe for her, as finding her on foot seems to have become an impossibility. Note to self: be sure to visit Candy Land at a later date. A bubbly pink mare just gave me a sample of a most delectable treat: apparently, she has flash-frozen ice cream into tiny balls, making them much easier to scoop up and consume with a spoon or pour into one’s mouth from a cup. Not being a unicorn (and therefore, not being able to handle a spoon all that well), I found this to be a delightful addition to my list of favorite foods. Oh, and upon closer inspection, the mare mentioned in the previous paragraph is apparently a stallion; my mistake. Something interesting has transpired. Right in the middle of the flea market, a couple of ponies had a heated argument. I recognize one of the participants as none other than the fashion designer, Rarity. The other I couldn’t recognize right off, though upon asking around, he is a somewhat well-known bachelor by the name of Love Struck. The name is ironic, as Rarity delivered a blow to his face at one point during their argument. They seem to have simmered down, though, as they are now cavorting about the campus like a couple of lovesick teenagers. Success! As I was watching the couple in their reverie, the pegasus I have been seeking ran up to the one known as Love Struck! I shall pursue her with gusto! Dash tried to hide her disappointment as she hurried through the crowd towards Love Struck. Rarity still tagged along beside him, brushing up against him every now and then in a flirtatious manner. She pasted a smile on her face. Forget it, Dash. It’s his special talent. He’s no more into you than he is into any other mare. Her confidence began to fade the closer she got to the handsome, charming pegasus, and by the time she reached his side, her head was hung low with her ears laid flat against her head. Love Struck didn’t even notice her approach. Before she could break through her funk and start a conversation, she was accosted by a familiar voice. “Miss Dash!” She brightened immediately and spun on a hoof towards the source of the voice. “Scoop! What are you doing here?” she shouted, throwing her forelegs around the reporter. “It’s so awesome to see you! What the hay are you doing in Ponyville?” “Slown down, Dash. Who’s the reporter here?” Scoop snickered. Dash couldn’t help but chuckle at the corny joke. “I’m actually in town to talk to you! I was leaving... somepony’s house the other night when I saw your Sonic Rainboom... and your new trick!” Rainbow smiled wide. “I call it the ‘Lightspeed Rainboom’! Some of... well, I had help to figure it out!” “I want all the details! Is there sometime we can get together this week so I can give you an interview? I’ve already stopped by the office and an amateur photographer managed to snap a photo of your new trick! I don’t wanna brag, but if I can ride along with you while you do it, I can guarantee you a spot on the front page!” The look of horror on Rainbow’s face said it all. “What?” Scoop said, his smile disappearing. “Who... took a picture?” she said, her voice strained and quavering. “I’m... not allowed to reveal my sources. What’s the problem?” Rainbow facehoofed. “That move is a secret, Scoop! I was just practicing it!” “Most of Equestria saw that move, Rainbow! If it was a secret, it’s not any more!” “Yes... but... well...” Rainbow stuttered, groping about for an appropriate excuse. “L-listen, Daily; I don’t have to explain myself, but... no one can know about the trick, okay? Not until I perform it for the Wonderbolts, at least. I don’t care if everypony saw it once, but the secrets behind it will stay mine for right now. Okay?” Scoop was aghast. He had walked all the way from Canterlot just to learn the story behind Dash’s obviously awesome new trick, and she had done everything short of blow him off. Now, he was two day son hoof from his home, his job, and most of his friends. Could this day get any worse? “Scoop, are those your saddlebags?” asked Rainbow, gazing over Scoop’s left shoulder. Turning, Scoop observed as a pair of brown saddlebags were further trampled by the pounding hooves of the collected ponies. Turning to Rainbow Dash with a strained smile, he said, “Well, I guess that’s what I get for tempting fate.” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow confusedly, but Scoop just turned and cantered to where his saddlebags lay. “Are you going to be all right?” Rainbow Dash called after him, not really wanting to get involved with Scoop’s personal problems; she had bigger fish to fry. Scoop nodded. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been taking care of myself for years. No reason to assume I won’t continue to do so.” Half an hour later, Scoop sat on a park bench near the PCC campus. Having already sifted through his saddlebags, he had catalogued his remaining items; they lay spread before him on the bench. 1 lighter, a small pouch of bits, a well beaten notebook, and a pen. The saddlebags themselves were trashed, along with his supply of snacks and most of his research material. The biggest buck to his psyche, though, came with the destruction of one of the only existing pieces of portable computing technology. It now laid before him in several pieces. Scoop picked up the pieces and looked them over. The screen of the pocket-sized computer was cracked, but other than that, most of the pieces appeared to be intact. Scoop had no idea how to reassemble the device and it was, therefore, useless to him. I have to find a place to get this repaired. The notebook is trashed, and I need... something to record stuff. As he took a moment to think, Scoop noticed the futility of his thought process. Now that Rainbow Dash had refused him an interview, he didn’t even have a story to tell. He didn’t need the PDA... he didn’t need the notebook... he needed rest, relaxation, respite... he needed to be home. A low rumble rolled across the sky. Several ponies looked up just in time to see a group of pegasi in the distance, pushing before them a massive thunderhead. I didn’t hear anything about a scheduled storm... and I have contacts for this sort of thing! The first raindrops began to spatter on the ground around him. Most of the ponies had already fled the park as the sun was blotted out by the clouds, and Scoop shoveled all of his possessions back into his saddle bag and slung it over his back. “I guess this’ll have to work until I get something new,” he grumbled under his breath. “Now I need to find a place to stay.” Scoop plodded around Ponyville. While he had certainly visited the cozy earth-pony haven in the past, he was by no means familiar with the quiet town. As one of the most rapidly expanding communities in the whole of Equestria, Ponyville’s landscape and skyline changed dramatically and quickly; Scoop therefore had a tough time getting his bearings. Heading east from the college and slowly circling the town square, Scoop rounded a corner onto Mane St. Most of the businesses had variations of “closed” signs in their windows, and ponies hurried past him on either side of the broad street, some pulling carts filled with their remaining goods from the now concluded Flea Market. Finally reaching a quaint area filled with gabled buildings, Scoop noted signs for the Healing Waters Spa, Carousel Boutique, and Satin Covers Bed and Breakfast. Not willing to gamble on this not being Ponyville’s only overnighter establishment, Scoop scurried up the path to the cozy-looking, sprawling home. A small bell above the door jingled as he pushed it open. The rain had not yet begun in earnest, and yet small beads of water rolled off Scoop’s coat as he stood on the mat inside the door. He found himself in a neatly furnished lobby area, complete with lacy curtains, floral-patterned furniture, and a white-lacquered counter, upon which rested a bell, a guestbook, and a vase filled with white roses. He heard the sound of shuffling hoofsteps coming towards him from a nearby hallway and an aged mare with a gray coat and vibrantly yellow mane and tail slowly plodded into the room. Even though her movements were stiff, the mare had a warm and friendly smile on her face. “Welcome to Satin Covers, dear. I’m Cozy Comfort. Are you here for room and board?” Scoop nodded unenthusiastically. “I just need a place to weather the storm, miss. I’m from out of town. Are your rates reasonable?” “Quite,” the elegant older pony said. Her lilting accent evidenced her high birth; she was no doubt a migrant from the northern areas come to spend her twilight years in the safe haven of Ponyville. Many of the town’s residents were such, as Scoop had noted during the last empire-wide survey. “17 bits earns you a bed for the night with your own private washroom and breakfast in the morning. Additional nights are 12 bits, breakfast included, and we do have extended stay rates if you decide to remain in town for a spell.” Scoop smiled for the first time since his last grimace at Rainbow Dash. “Thank you, miss. I’d like a room for the evening, then.” “Very well, sir. I’ll give your key and show you to your bed.” Scoop hoofed the bits onto the counter and watched as the elderly matron grabbed a key marked “1” off a pegboard. Scoop noticed that there were only 2 other vacant hooks, the “5” and “13” keys being missing. “How many rooms do you have for rent, miss?” he asked as he followed the slowly shuffling pony down the hall. “We’ve got 15 exactly, though one of them is our honeymoon suite; it requires forenotice in order to be rented. We don’t have much of that sort of business these days; most romantically-inclined ponies prefer to spend their honeymoon in resort destinations like Canterlot, Torntrot, or... Stalliongrad.” Stalliongrad itself didn’t strike Scoop as a viable tourist destination, but the icy northern city could certainly make a good romantic getaway. The cold of the winter, the beautiful golden sun on the snow, and the only way to keep warm effectively was in the arms of your special somepony... Scoop shook off the thought as painful memories began to surface. “And here we are,” said Cozy, pressing the small key into the door’s elegant handle. “I trust you can draw your own bath, should you need one. Breakfast runs from 6 to 9 a.m. If you oversleep, no need to worry; Ponyville has several local eateries that serve breakfast around the clock.” Scoop nodded politely. “Thank you for your hospitality, miss. It’s much appreciated.” The older mare eyed Scoop’s tattered saddlebags. “It looks like you could use a seamstress. I could give those to my neighbor; she runs a boutique, and she’s quite the spinster, I’d have to say.” “I would like that. Thank you very much.” Scoop dumped the contents of his saddlebags onto the bed and hoofed them over. The coal-gray mare gave him a parting smile as she left the room, and Scoop flopped onto the bed. He considered getting in contact with his editor, but felt robbed of energy. His mind whirled as his eyes slid closed. Ponyville’s a nice town... maybe I can find something else to write about. I’ll have a look around tomorrow and see how it goes. … Oh, Celestia, I’m so alone...
Bubblegum Chapter 1My Little Love Story Featuring Scoop Daily, Bubblegum, and Love Struck Bubblegum Chapter 1: Fun Blowing Bubbles “Come on, Bubble!” whined Lilly Blossom as she cantered out the doorway of Ponyville’s second-most-popular sweet shoppe, Candy Land. The cream-colored pegasus’s forest-green and cotton-candy-pink mane wafted in the light morning breeze. “We’re going to be late again!” Bubblegum, well known around Ponyville as a successful sweets maker and horrible businessman, stumbled out the door behind the bouncing, excited pegasus. “S-sorry, Blossom. This candy needs to stay at a c-constant temperature of f-forty degrees Equestrius. If it g-gets an-n-ny hotter, it will m-m-melt!” Lilly Blossom tossed her well-kempt mane and turned to observe the stuttering pink earth-pony. Bubblegum was a striking shade of hot pink, offset by his electric-blue mane and tail, also streaked with bright pink. A pastel-pink Cutie Mark depicting a heart-shaped, shiny bubblegum-bubble completed the pony’s girly appearance. Bubblegum was more commonly mistaken for a mare than any other bachelor (or non-bachelor, for that matter) in Ponyvill, which is saying something, considering that other colts in pastel colors made up a significant portion of the bustling town’s population. It didn’t help that Bubblegum’s voice was uncharacteristically high for a stallion. “If it melts, it’s not candy! It’s an ice-pop, Bubble, and I don’t think Pinkie will be impressed,” Lilly Blossom sneered. She ribbed poor Bubblegum on a daily basis, acting as the pink pony’s mentor and conscience at once. Bubblegum was notoriously shy. From the time he had been but a foal, the pink and blue earth-pony had isolated himself voluntarily from other colts and fillies. His stutter began as a result of isolation rather than any natural or inborn trait. Bubblegum had grown up by himself, earned his Cutie Mark by himself, and opened up his sweet shoppe all by himself. It was only after enrolling in business classes at Ponyville Community College that Bubblegum had made his first real friend... or rather, Lilly Blossom had made Bubblegum her friend. While Bubblegum immensely enjoyed Lilly Blossom’s friendship and company, he found himself frequently annoyed by the bossy pegasus’s controlling nature. Bubblegum found himself occasionally wondering if she had befriended him solely for the manual labor and sweets he could provide. The moments of genuine care and sound advice served to solidify his positive opinion of her, however. “N-no?” Bubblegum queried, his ears drooping. “Sh-sh-should I st-start over?” Blossom sighed in exasperation. “There isn’t time, Bubble Brain! We’ve got to get to the campus right away! The flea market is starting in half an hour and we don’t even have our table set up yet!” At the mention of the flea market, Bubblegum perked up immediately. The semi-annual Ponyville Flea Market was a joyous occasion for everypony in the bustling town. Anypony with anything to sell could rent a cheap table on the college’s grounds and hawk whatever product that they happened to make, manufacture, purchase for resale, or drag from their dusty old attics. Bubblegum was particularly excited this year; with the introduction of his new frozen candy treat, he was sure he would finally beat out Sugarcube Corner’s confectionery masters and garner the attentions of the mare he had had his eye on for quite some time: Pinkamena Diane Pie. Bubblegum harnessed himself to the wheeled cooler full of frozen candies and began a brisk canter towards the PCC campus grounds. After just minutes of walking, he and Blossom could already hear the voices, bustle, and preparation-noises as other ponies prepared for the big day. As they passed through the entrance gate onto the college’s grounds, Blossom turned to him. “Alright, Bubble. I know your first reaction is going to be to shy out, and that’s okay. We can work past that. Just remember to smile and thank the people who buy your treats. Your candy is the best in Ponyville; we just have to get ponies interested. So smile, smile, smile, okay Bubble?” Bubblegum nodded enthusiastically, and continued to follow Blossom as she turned and began to weave her way through the setup and tables already scattered across the courtyard. They entered the Starswirl Building (the college’s magic wing) and found their table, number 317. Blossom shrugged off her saddlebags and dumped the contents out; several handmade dolls, all finely crafted and skillfully painted in different designs and colors. Blossom seemed lost for a moment as she gazed at the dolls and sighed; she quickly recovered her composure and turned to Bubblegum. “Alright, bud, now’s your time to shine! You get the table set up while I go and sign us in! The flea market is starting soon, so try to be quick, but make sure it looks nice, okay? We don’t want to be frumpy, but we don’t want to exaggerate our appearance either, so just organize and price and clean up. Keep the candy on ice, but put your sign up. Did you bring any samples?” Bubblegum smiled and popped the lid of the cooler; he then removed a small bag full of tiny, pastel balls which, upon exposure to the heat of the day, began to put off a frothy steam. “Excellent!” said Blossom. “Okay, I’m off. Take care of our booth, Bubblegum!” With that, she darted off into the crowd in the direction of the administration building. Though Celestia's sun had only risen hours before, the summer weather had already begun to bake the earth, evaporating the morning dew and turning the dark soil a dusty tan-brown. Bubblegum smiled as he sang softly to himself, hanging up the small sign listing the prices of his various confections. Though not the most eloquent of ponies, Bubblegum had found away around his prolific stutter through song. His nervousness evaporated completely as he softly weaved a melody about the summer heat, the joy of living, and the deliciousness of the soft, creamy balls now arranged neatly in their cups within a refrigerated display case. As he turned to face the front of the booth, he choked off the end of his song; a pair of lavender eyes bored straight into his very soul. As his gaze met that of the purple unicorn, who had been silently observing him as he set up his booth, she blushed furiously, casting about for an explanation. "I was... Uh... Just now, you were... I mean... W-what are those?!?" she finished, jabbing a hoof in the direction of Bubblegum's frozen treats. Bubblegum found himself shocked into a loss of words. He didn't even notice the unicorn's own discomfort as his body slammed to a halt and his mind raced. This mare had heard him singing! How long had she been standing there? Oh, Celestia, I'm mortified! Still, Bubblegum was a gentlecolt, and he attempted to overcome his humiliation and stutter out an answer. "Uhm..." he said, feeling like his mouth was filled with mush. The unicorn managed to look inquisitive through her blush, prompting further explanation. "Ice c-cream," Bubblegum managed, holding out a small dish filled with the tiny spheres. "T-t-taste?" The lavender unicorn seemed to have recovered, and she eyed the spoonful inquisitively. "Ice cream mini-balls? How did you do it? Was it a flash freezing process using liquid nitrogen? I’d thought of that myself before, but I didn’t think of using it for ice cream!” the unicorn babbled, still trying to draw attention away from the fact that she had been silently listening to Bubble’s song. She had succeeded, though, as Bubblegum blinked in surprise. This mare knew the process behind his dairy treat? Impossible! He had kept it secret! Only Lilly knew the secret behind the mixture, and she had never seemed interested in-- He was once again distracted as he felt the sudden tug of the unicorn lifting the cryogenically-augmented ice cream and she levitated it to her mouth. She stuffed the tip of the spoon inside and closed her eyes, savoring the sweet, candy-like flavor as the beaded treat melted on her tongue. Her eyes flew open as she swallowed and she licked her lips, though they were void any of the creamy confection. "Fascinating! It maintains its round shape even when heated! I never would have thought to apply science to food!" The unicorn proffered a hoof, which Bubblegum shied away from automatically. Realizing his blunder, he shook his head and smiled shyly, striking hooves with the now-enthusiastic unicorn. "I'm Twilight Sparkle! I'm Ponyville's resident librarian and Princess Celestia's personal protege. What's your name?" "B-Bubblegum," he replied, bowing his head so that his long mane blocked his face, hiding the furious blush still prevalent on his cheeks. “Are you a candy maker, Bubblegum?” Twilight queried, smiling awkwardly at Bubblegum’s shy reaction. She was reminded of her first meeting with Fluttershy, though Bubblegum seemed to be a little more eloquent. “Y-yes, m-miss. I own and operate C-Candy L-Land. I’m a m-molec-cular g-gastronom-mist,” he finished, and Twilight blinked and shook her head at the large words. Though she understood perfectly what Bubblegum had meant, she was surprised to find a scientist whose sole passion consisted of food preparation. Then, his words struck her. "As in, Sugarcube Corner's rival? THAT Candy Land?" Pink tinged Bubblegum's cheeks once again, though it was not noticeable against the Pepto-Bismol color of his coat. He nodded in response to Twilight's question. "Well, don't I feel conspiratorial?" Twilight said with a giggle. Bubblegum gave her an uncomprehending look. "Pinkie Pie is one of my close friends," she explained. Bubblegum's shyness dissolved in a flash. “P-Pinkie is your f-friend? I c-came here today to c-compete ag-gainst her! C-can you a-ask her t-to try these?” he said rapidly, shoving an entire cup of the frozen confection in Twilight’s direction. Twilight was taken aback, but smiled and nodded in the affirmative. “Why, of course! But, why don’t you take them to her yourself?” she asked, smiling brightly at the shy earth pony. I can’t do that! Talk to Pinkie Pie? ME? No way! I’ve got to come up with an excuse, like A.S.A.P. “I-I would, b-but I have to st-stay with the b-booth until my p-partner gets b-back,” Bubblegum stuttered, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief at the validity of his excuse and the speed at which he had been able to concoct it. Twilight nodded in understanding. “In that case, I’ll be happy to take some to her! How much do I... we owe you?” she said, magicking her saddlebag open and rifling about for her pouch of bits. Bubblegum shook his head. “N-nothing. J-just... ask her if sh-she likes them, ok-kay?” Twilight’s smiled brightened further and she levitated the cup of ice cream to herself. “You got it... so, who’s your partner?” she asked, trying to make polite conversation to alleviate Bubblegum’s obvious unease. “That would be me,” said Lilly Blossom, trotting up with two nametags in her mouth. She dropped one on the table in front of Bubblegum. “Well done, Bubble! You got your first customer all by yourself! I’m so proud of you! You’ll be rolling in bits in no time!” Bubblegum blushed and rubbed the back of his neck with a hoof. “Th-thanks, Lilly,” he said quietly. “B-but th-that ice c-cream is for P-Pinkie P-Pie.” Lilly beamed at Twilight. “You’re the Element of Magic, right? I’m Lilly Blossom! I’m Bubblegum’s business partner. Oh, and I also make these!” she said, proudly holding up one of the intricate pony dolls in her hoof. The highly realistic mane cascaded down around the nymph-like features on the tiny pony statute, and Twilight’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Wow! How did you do that? You’re not even a unicorn; how did you hold the brush?” Lilly demonstrated, nosing through her saddlebag and grasping the handle of her small paint brush. She held it gently between her lips as she extracted it and a small, blank sculpture made out of white clay. “Watch!” she said around the two objects. She set the small statuette down and pulled out a small tray of paints. She popped the lid, dipped the brush into a conveniently-available cup of water, and went to town on the small sculpture. Twilight watched in fascination and, in less than a minute, she noted the soft purple of the figurine. “It’s me!” Twilight said, smiling broadly. Lilly nodded as she finished the sculpture off by brushing a small amount of glue into a groove on the head and neck, and dabbing a small bit into a hole on the flank as well. She pulled various tiny strands of string from her bag and stuck them quickly into the grooves, arranging them into an exact approximation of Twilight’s mane color! “Amazing! And you did it so fast!” said Twilight, unconsciously jostling in place in her excitement. Lilly beamed and hoofed the doll to the astounded purple unicorn. “A gift,” she said. “For being nice to Bubblegum.” “Why... thank you so much!” she said, examining the doll in minute detail. “Wow... right down to the eyes! Everything is perfect!” “I’ve had a lot of practice,” said Lilly, rounding the table and nudging Bubblegum with her flank. “What do ya think, stud?” she said audibly, then whispered in Bubblegum’s ear. “She’s pretty cute, right?” Bubblegum blushed, not noticing the look of shock on Twilight’s face. “S-stud?” Twilight said, giving Bubblegum a once over. For the first time, she noticed the slightly chiseled jaw, the delicate yet sophisticated flare of the nostrils, and finally, the slightly puffed-out and muscular chest. “You’re a stallion!” she blurted, then quickly clapped a hoof over her mouth. Bubblegum blushed changed to a deep scarlet as Twilight backed away. “I’m sorry!” she said, turning tail and galloping off. “I’m sorry!” she shouted again over her shoulder. His blush finally alleviated, Bubblegum watched her curiously while Lilly blossom giggled beside him. “Bubble,” she said, nudging him in the shoulder with a hoof. “You have got to do something about your coat... and your face... and everything!” “I’ve b-been working out, Lilly,” he said. “It’s just... I l-look like a m-mare no matter what I do!” Lilly laughed out loud and clapped Bubblegum on the rump, eliciting another blush from him. “No worries, stud. We’ll get you a girl in no time! She seemed... totally into you!” Lilly said, still chuckling over the case of mistaken gender. With that, the town clock struck 11, and the flea market got underway.
Love Struck Chapter 1My Little Love Story Featuring Bubblegum, Scoop Daily, and Love Struck Love Struck Chapter 1: Heart in Hoof The wind whistled through my wings as I glided through the air over Ponyville. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day and the weather was just right for flying. I just wished that I could take this stupid rain jacket off. Let me explain a little bit: apparently, my special talent is that mares (and sometimes stallions) will fall madly in love with me, given enough time. It’s not my fault... I don’t think. It just happens. It started when I was just a colt. I was on the playground, messing around with my bronies, when three little fillies walked up, whispering and talking amongst themselves. Being the kind of outgoing, friendly, awesome all-around guy that I am, I trotted up to say ‘hello.’ The three just... giggled at me. It was totally embarrassing, and I felt... humiliated. I strengthened my resolve, and tried again. Putting on my best macho ‘I’m a tough colt’ persona, I said, “Hey, little fillies. You wanna see a magic trick?” The three exchanged glances, looked at me, and nodded in unison. With a secretive grin, I glided up into the air. My wings have always been strong, even from a young age. While most pegasi colts and fillies were earthbound, I was already gliding amongst the clouds, tasting the freedom that would soon be mine... after I graduated, of course. This trick, however, was special. As I glided into the air, my speed increasing, I began to perform a series of straight-ahead barrel rolls. You wouldn’t think so by just looking at me, but at the speeds I was traveling, doing a barrel-roll creates a sort of mini-hurricane behind me. The little mini-vortex will pull in small birds, flying insects, random debris... and clouds. This is what now transpired, as I glided up to the cloud layer and arced across the fluffy, white mounds. A trail started to drag out behind me, and I started sprialing and darting across the sky. I could hear the fillies below me ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ as my cloud-writing kicked their ‘he’s so cool’ drives into high gear. Finishing off with an exclamation point, I landed with a plunk in front of the trio. “There now!” I said, motioning with a hoof to the sky. Written in cloud, being struck with just the right amount of sun to turn them a luscious shade of light pink, were the words, “Hi, Fillies!” “Love, you are so cool!” the trio had gushed in unison, and I basked in their adoration. “Say, thanks! You girls wanna come play with me and my friends?” I asked, trying to maintain my cool-guy composure. The fillies giggled and nodded, exchanging bubbly conversation amongst themselves. I won’t lie; I heard my name come up several times. As I turned to lead them back to where my bronies were still doing... whatever it is that young colts did, one of the fillies gasped. I turned quickly and scanned their faces. Three pairs of wide eyes stared back at me. “What? What is it?” I asked, giving myself a once over. “Did I sit in something?” “Love, your cutie mark!” one of them squealed. Cutie Mark? I turned to examine my flank, and lo-and-behold, there she was. A bright red heart wrapped with a ribbon and stamped with a horseshoe. My namesake. My special talent. My forever. Love Struck. As the wind whistled through my mane, tail, and feathers, I remembered that day fondly. Though it was the day that forever sealed my fate as a mareizer and tail-chaser, it was also the day that I found out what truly made me special. I was suave. I was debonair. I was a charmer. Those were my special talents, and I was proud of it. Was proud of it. I have to admit, my heart’s been a little achy lately, and not the one emblazoned on either side of my flank (though that one has been achy too, but for entirely different reasons; we won’t go there). I know the reason. I’ve been pondering it for years. If my special talent is to MAKE mares (and stallions; I keep forgetting about them) fall in love with me, how will I know when ‘the one’ comes along? The one I’ll be with forever? My little muffin? My beautiful pixie? Oh, hang on... I’ve used all those nicknames before for one night stands. I need something... pure, fresh, and new. I need a nickname that conveys the purity of the mare I’ll spend my golden years with. I need... “Hey, Love!” came a cry from across the sky. I turned to look and saw a cyan streak followed by a prismatic trail. Oh. Celestia. Darn it. Here comes the source of every stallion’s problems. A mare that can’t keep her tail down. The one and only... “It’s me, Rainbow Dash!” she cried, crashing into me and sending me spiraling through the sky. I mentioned I’m a strong flyer, right? My wings are totally buff? No one can recover from being knocked askew by that prismatic doofus. My vision blacked out as I felt myself go tumbling through the air, slowly falling towards my imminent doom. My eyes finally managed to realign and I realized how close I was to the ground. “Celestia, save me,” I said nonchalantly. If I was going to die, I might as well go out like a hero. Role playing time. “Curse you, Rainbow Dash!” I cried dramatically, clutching at my chest with both hooves. “Thou hast slain me once and for all time! Thou shalt henceforth be known as the slayer of Love itself! Cuuurse youuuuu!” I finished, closing my eyes and bowing dramatically... well, as dramatically as I could manage while hurtling face first toward the ground. A bubbly laugh followed behind me and I felt rather than heard the whoosh as Rainbow scooped me out of the air and began to carry me in her hooves. “Nah, I was just playin’!” she said, giving me a playful kiss. “Where you been, stud? Haven’t seen you in, like, a bajillion years!” “I’ve been around,” I said, folding my forelegs and trying to look totally cool... and failing. Rainbow, of all ponies, could screw up my coolness like nopony’s business. We had a love-hate relationship, Rainbow and I. She had fallen in love with me back in flight camp. As fellow members of the Junior Speedsters, we had shared a bond that went far deeper than mare-stallion relationships (though that had played a significant role in my pursuit of her). We shared a brother-sister bond only broken by ‘occasional’ trysts. Wait, wait, that sounds really nasty... “Oh, Love,” she said, laughing out loud as the wind blew both of our mane’s askew. “You’re such a bad flank. I love you all the same, though,” she said, planting another kiss right on my lips. Oh, and just after that brother/sister thing had gone through my head, too! Nasty! “Sorry, Dashie, but could you possibly set me down? I’m headed for the flea market!” I said, angling myself downward to try to drag the fast-flying pegasus down with me. Dash nodded. “I was actually on my way there too! We can go together!” Great... “So... many... booths...” Dash gushed, running ahead of me through the gates and onto the PCC campus grounds. The semi-annual Ponyville flea market was in full swing, and I was enjoying the crowd-life. The one place I can blend in is in a crowd. If I can keep my head down (and avoid any ponies I know intimately), I can usually just enjoy myself and have a good time. Crowds are... relaxing for me. I can just mix, mingle, and blend... “Well, look who it is,” said the snarky, high-society voice of the ONE MARE I had hoped I wouldn’t run into today. Rarity. Celestia. Darn. It. I turned to her with a cheesy grin. “Hey, there, Rarity. What’s shak--” She cut me off. With a hoof. To the face. Hard. Whack. “How dare you leave a lady hanging like that, Mr. Struck! What was I to do? You left me alone, in that hotel room, with the bill!” “Hey, I totally paid the bill, babe... those guys just wanted to screw you over, hear?” “Oh, I believe darling,” she said. Whew. “I believe you like I believe I have two heads, the second of which I have never seen. It’s invisible. Ghastly, isn’t it?” Darn it. “Look, Rarity, I’m sorry I left you hanging, but let’s be honest. It wouldn’t have worked out between us, no matter what you say you felt. I’m sorry I took advantage of you. I said so in... what, like, twenty different letters I sent you? I feel really bad for treating a lady that way, but come on. It’s not like you or I would have been happy.” Rarity huffed. “Well, you may not have been happy, but I was in love, Love. You broke my heart.” Now it was my turn to huff. “Rarity, I left a note. You knew, before we ever spent the night, that I wasn’t in love with you. I told you to your face that I was not in love with you. You were... a one time thing.” Rarity’s eyes filled with tears. Darn it. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s to see a mare cry. I may not be a gentlecolt, or even ethical, moral, or anything like that, but the tears of a mare cut me to the heart... all three of ‘em. Following my natural smooth-guy instinct, I rose on my hind legs and wrapped Rarity in my forelegs. “Oh, hey now,” I said soothingly as she began to sob into my shoulder. “Shhh, shhh, it’s okay, babe. You know I don’t mean it. I love you, it’s just... I can’t see myself spending the rest of my life with you. There are a lot of mares out there to trod through... and besides, you don’t have any wings. Are you so selfish that you’re going to make me live on the ground for the rest of my life?” Rarity placed her forehooves on my chest and gently pushed away. “Of course not, darling. I am the Element of Generosity, after all. But... I don’t like being a one night stand. A courtship... if you could just make me feel like I meant something to you... I could easily move on,” she said, drying the last of her tears with a dainty handkerchief. It’s like this everywhere I go. That’s not to say that I’ve bedded mares in every city, though in all likelihood I have, but there’s always some mare I’ve been with in the past who firmly believes that we were meant to be together. It’s my curse. It’s my shame. It’s who I am. Love Struck. Prepare to be struck by love. With a sigh, I gave Rarity what she wanted. “Okay. We can go on... a few more dates, but not today. I’m in Ponyville on an extended vacation, and we’ll make time to hang out. But Rarity, please understand; I’m here to relax. Don’t make this into a big thing, okay?” Rarity beamed at me, her pearly white, perfect teeth practically radiating under the gleam of Celestia’s golden sun. “I wouldn’t dream of it, darling! I’ll be in touch. With whom are you staying?” she queried. I glanced at Dash, who gave me a smirk. “Of course you can stay with me, stud, but you’ve got to *ahem* earn your room and board.” Rarity looked green at that, and I sighed again, smacking myself in the face with my own hoof. When will I ever learn? Never. Because that’s who I am. That’s what I do. That’s what makes me special. Love Struck. Hearbreaker. Mareizer. Prepare to be struck by love, and this time, love’s a freight train.
Scoop Daily Chapter 1My Little Love Story Featuring Scoop Daily, Bubblegum, and Love Struck Scoop Daily Chapter 1: Here’s the Scoop! Author’s Note: To those who have read “Oh, Octavia!”, this story occurs chronologically after the events of Oh, Octavia! To those who haven’t read the story, it is not required reading, so skip it at your leisure... or don’t. Now, on to the story! From the personal journal of one Scoop Daily, an excerpt. 12th of Summerset, in the 2020th year of our rulers, the Princesses of the Twin Lights: I have spent the last twenty-some hours of my time in pursuit of one Miss Rainbow Dash, a pegasus resident of the hamlet of Ponyville. One wouldn’t think it would be so difficult, as several of the town’s residents are obsessed with the above mentioned pony, and therefore tend to keep close tabs on her. As of yet, she has evaded me. I have taken it upon myself to find her for one reason: two days ago, as I was leaving the home of one Octavia Pie, a brilliant explosion shattered the sky, leaving a deep, rainbow trail cut through the atmosphere. This was not unusual, as Miss Rainbow Dash has pulled off several of her signature move, dubbed a “Sonic Rainboom” by none other than herself. While spectacular in appearance and sound, this event is a common enough occurrence. I was surprised, therefore, when a second explosion rocked the sky, sending a vertical pillar of rainbow-light into the heavens, disappearing into space. It could almost have been a signal to some foreign entity, residing among the stars. I am sure that Miss Rainbow Dash, having finally trained herself to the point of breaking the light barrier, caused this explosion. I have dubbed it the “Warpspeed Rainboom”, and I have saddled myself with the task of finding and interviewing Miss Dash regarding her accomplishment. If I could only bucking find her. The usually quiet town is abuzz with activity, as today marks the beginning of the annual Ponyville Flea Market, hosted by the town’s own, highly-esteemed Community College. The peace has been dispersed by the sound of rolling carts, calling voices, and the mass pounding of hooves as the residents scamper about preparing for the festivities. Most towns wouldn’t take a simple 2-day sale so seriously, but Ponyville has few celebrations; not being one of the Pegasi or Unicorn towns, they do not celebrate every spike in magic or change in weather as those two races do. Therefore, the town latches onto every opportunity to pull out the stops and make something menial into something fabulous. This has also made it very difficult to locate any single pony amongst the crowd. I fear I shall have to use my psychic abilities to probe for her, as finding her on foot seems to have become an impossibility. Note to self: be sure to visit Candy Land at a later date. A bubbly pink mare just gave me a sample of a most delectable treat: apparently, she has flash-frozen ice cream into tiny balls, making them much easier to scoop up and consume with a spoon or pour into one’s mouth from a cup. Not being a unicorn (and therefore, not being able to handle a spoon all that well), I found this to be a delightful addition to my list of favorite foods. Oh, and upon closer inspection, the mare mentioned in the previous paragraph is apparently a stallion; my mistake. Something interesting has transpired. Right in the middle of the flea market, a couple of ponies had a heated argument. I recognize one of the participants as none other than the fashion designer, Rarity. The other I couldn’t recognize right off, though upon asking around, he is a somewhat well-known bachelor by the name of Love Struck. The name is ironic, as Rarity delivered a blow to his face at one point during their argument. They seem to have simmered down, though, as they are now cavorting about the campus like a couple of lovesick teenagers. Success! As I was watching the couple in their reverie, the pegasus I have been seeking ran up to the one known as Love Struck! I shall pursue her with gusto! Dash tried to hide her disappointment as she hurried through the crowd towards Love Struck. Rarity still tagged along beside him, brushing up against him every now and then in a flirtatious manner. She pasted a smile on her face. Forget it, Dash. It’s his special talent. He’s no more into you than he is into any other mare. Her confidence began to fade the closer she got to the handsome, charming pegasus, and by the time she reached his side, her head was hung low with her ears laid flat against her head. Love Struck didn’t even notice her approach. Before she could break through her funk and start a conversation, she was accosted by a familiar voice. “Miss Dash!” She brightened immediately and spun on a hoof towards the source of the voice. “Scoop! What are you doing here?” she shouted, throwing her forelegs around the reporter. “It’s so awesome to see you! What the hay are you doing in Ponyville?” “Slown down, Dash. Who’s the reporter here?” Scoop snickered. Dash couldn’t help but chuckle at the corny joke. “I’m actually in town to talk to you! I was leaving... somepony’s house the other night when I saw your Sonic Rainboom... and your new trick!” Rainbow smiled wide. “I call it the ‘Lightspeed Rainboom’! Some of... well, I had help to figure it out!” “I want all the details! Is there sometime we can get together this week so I can give you an interview? I’ve already stopped by the office and an amateur photographer managed to snap a photo of your new trick! I don’t wanna brag, but if I can ride along with you while you do it, I can guarantee you a spot on the front page!” The look of horror on Rainbow’s face said it all. “What?” Scoop said, his smile disappearing. “Who... took a picture?” she said, her voice strained and quavering. “I’m... not allowed to reveal my sources. What’s the problem?” Rainbow facehoofed. “That move is a secret, Scoop! I was just practicing it!” “Most of Equestria saw that move, Rainbow! If it was a secret, it’s not any more!” “Yes... but... well...” Rainbow stuttered, groping about for an appropriate excuse. “L-listen, Daily; I don’t have to explain myself, but... no one can know about the trick, okay? Not until I perform it for the Wonderbolts, at least. I don’t care if everypony saw it once, but the secrets behind it will stay mine for right now. Okay?” Scoop was aghast. He had walked all the way from Canterlot just to learn the story behind Dash’s obviously awesome new trick, and she had done everything short of blow him off. Now, he was two day son hoof from his home, his job, and most of his friends. Could this day get any worse? “Scoop, are those your saddlebags?” asked Rainbow, gazing over Scoop’s left shoulder. Turning, Scoop observed as a pair of brown saddlebags were further trampled by the pounding hooves of the collected ponies. Turning to Rainbow Dash with a strained smile, he said, “Well, I guess that’s what I get for tempting fate.” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow confusedly, but Scoop just turned and cantered to where his saddlebags lay. “Are you going to be all right?” Rainbow Dash called after him, not really wanting to get involved with Scoop’s personal problems; she had bigger fish to fry. Scoop nodded. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been taking care of myself for years. No reason to assume I won’t continue to do so.” Half an hour later, Scoop sat on a park bench near the PCC campus. Having already sifted through his saddlebags, he had catalogued his remaining items; they lay spread before him on the bench. 1 lighter, a small pouch of bits, a well beaten notebook, and a pen. The saddlebags themselves were trashed, along with his supply of snacks and most of his research material. The biggest buck to his psyche, though, came with the destruction of one of the only existing pieces of portable computing technology. It now laid before him in several pieces. Scoop picked up the pieces and looked them over. The screen of the pocket-sized computer was cracked, but other than that, most of the pieces appeared to be intact. Scoop had no idea how to reassemble the device and it was, therefore, useless to him. I have to find a place to get this repaired. The notebook is trashed, and I need... something to record stuff. As he took a moment to think, Scoop noticed the futility of his thought process. Now that Rainbow Dash had refused him an interview, he didn’t even have a story to tell. He didn’t need the PDA... he didn’t need the notebook... he needed rest, relaxation, respite... he needed to be home. A low rumble rolled across the sky. Several ponies looked up just in time to see a group of pegasi in the distance, pushing before them a massive thunderhead. I didn’t hear anything about a scheduled storm... and I have contacts for this sort of thing! The first raindrops began to spatter on the ground around him. Most of the ponies had already fled the park as the sun was blotted out by the clouds, and Scoop shoveled all of his possessions back into his saddle bag and slung it over his back. “I guess this’ll have to work until I get something new,” he grumbled under his breath. “Now I need to find a place to stay.” Scoop plodded around Ponyville. While he had certainly visited the cozy earth-pony haven in the past, he was by no means familiar with the quiet town. As one of the most rapidly expanding communities in the whole of Equestria, Ponyville’s landscape and skyline changed dramatically and quickly; Scoop therefore had a tough time getting his bearings. Heading east from the college and slowly circling the town square, Scoop rounded a corner onto Mane St. Most of the businesses had variations of “closed” signs in their windows, and ponies hurried past him on either side of the broad street, some pulling carts filled with their remaining goods from the now concluded Flea Market. Finally reaching a quaint area filled with gabled buildings, Scoop noted signs for the Healing Waters Spa, Carousel Boutique, and Satin Covers Bed and Breakfast. Not willing to gamble on this not being Ponyville’s only overnighter establishment, Scoop scurried up the path to the cozy-looking, sprawling home. A small bell above the door jingled as he pushed it open. The rain had not yet begun in earnest, and yet small beads of water rolled off Scoop’s coat as he stood on the mat inside the door. He found himself in a neatly furnished lobby area, complete with lacy curtains, floral-patterned furniture, and a white-lacquered counter, upon which rested a bell, a guestbook, and a vase filled with white roses. He heard the sound of shuffling hoofsteps coming towards him from a nearby hallway and an aged mare with a gray coat and vibrantly yellow mane and tail slowly plodded into the room. Even though her movements were stiff, the mare had a warm and friendly smile on her face. “Welcome to Satin Covers, dear. I’m Cozy Comfort. Are you here for room and board?” Scoop nodded unenthusiastically. “I just need a place to weather the storm, miss. I’m from out of town. Are your rates reasonable?” “Quite,” the elegant older pony said. Her lilting accent evidenced her high birth; she was no doubt a migrant from the northern areas come to spend her twilight years in the safe haven of Ponyville. Many of the town’s residents were such, as Scoop had noted during the last empire-wide survey. “17 bits earns you a bed for the night with your own private washroom and breakfast in the morning. Additional nights are 12 bits, breakfast included, and we do have extended stay rates if you decide to remain in town for a spell.” Scoop smiled for the first time since his last grimace at Rainbow Dash. “Thank you, miss. I’d like a room for the evening, then.” “Very well, sir. I’ll give your key and show you to your bed.” Scoop hoofed the bits onto the counter and watched as the elderly matron grabbed a key marked “1” off a pegboard. Scoop noticed that there were only 2 other vacant hooks, the “5” and “13” keys being missing. “How many rooms do you have for rent, miss?” he asked as he followed the slowly shuffling pony down the hall. “We’ve got 15 exactly, though one of them is our honeymoon suite; it requires forenotice in order to be rented. We don’t have much of that sort of business these days; most romantically-inclined ponies prefer to spend their honeymoon in resort destinations like Canterlot, Torntrot, or... Stalliongrad.” Stalliongrad itself didn’t strike Scoop as a viable tourist destination, but the icy northern city could certainly make a good romantic getaway. The cold of the winter, the beautiful golden sun on the snow, and the only way to keep warm effectively was in the arms of your special somepony... Scoop shook off the thought as painful memories began to surface. “And here we are,” said Cozy, pressing the small key into the door’s elegant handle. “I trust you can draw your own bath, should you need one. Breakfast runs from 6 to 9 a.m. If you oversleep, no need to worry; Ponyville has several local eateries that serve breakfast around the clock.” Scoop nodded politely. “Thank you for your hospitality, miss. It’s much appreciated.” The older mare eyed Scoop’s tattered saddlebags. “It looks like you could use a seamstress. I could give those to my neighbor; she runs a boutique, and she’s quite the spinster, I’d have to say.” “I would like that. Thank you very much.” Scoop dumped the contents of his saddlebags onto the bed and hoofed them over. The coal-gray mare gave him a parting smile as she left the room, and Scoop flopped onto the bed. He considered getting in contact with his editor, but felt robbed of energy. His mind whirled as his eyes slid closed. Ponyville’s a nice town... maybe I can find something else to write about. I’ll have a look around tomorrow and see how it goes. … Oh, Celestia, I’m so alone...
