Sun-Speckled Lake

by Wurd

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Romance, Comedy, Adventure, Flash Sentry
Length: 5566

When I was young, my dad took me to a lake. It was a mysterious, beautiful lake. And the filly I met there was as well. (Flashlight shipping story.)

When I was young, my dad,(my hero) took me to a lake. He wanted to teach me the wonders of nature.Okay, pops. But it was seriously a beautiful lake. I will forever remember it as a memorial to him. I would visit it every day, and a wonderful surprise was there once, one that would change my life.

This is a FlashLight shipping story. If you do not like FlashLight, please do not show hate or bother those that do. Please. Have a jolly good day!^.^

*Alternate Universe because EQG never happened. ^.~

Published 2014-08-31 02:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-04-22 04:44:15 UTC

Glowing Fish

I tried to keep up with him. My dad, I mean.

Keeping up with him while trotting around Cloudsdale, easy. Keeping up with him while trotting in a forest, surprisingly difficult. A calm, feral one at that.

“Dad,” I gasped, “Can you...wait...for...me?”

“Oh, sorry,” he apologized. “I'm just a bit over exited.”

It was rare to see an adult stallion so exited about something, since old people usually aren't very exited, exited enough to leave their twelve year old son behind.

What was even more surprising, was a sick stallion with lung problems running at the speed he was. Yep, my dad was sick. Don't get me wrong, I love him and I'm very worried for him, but sometimes he just surprises me so much with his energy I forget. That's also one of the reasons I love him so much, he's very optimistic and hilarious, but a dry cough or two can send him into a coughing fit that makes me wince.

He lets me catch up to him, and begins to walk slowly. “You should slow down, Dad.”

“I'm sorry for leaving you behind, sport.”

“Oh, no, it's not that. It's just I'm worried that... That you'll get another coughing fit....”

“Don't worry about me, sport.” He smiled a wide, happy smile.

I decided to change the subject before this became an awkward dramatic talk, “Are...are we almost there?”

“Yep! Very close. Can you smell the lavender?”

I sniffed the air. Nope. All I smelled was pine, rain, and sweat. My science teacher, Mrs. Cray See Laydee, once told us that people with a disabled sense have another strong sense. My dad was slightly blind, so I guess his super sense was smelling.

We walked a about twenty more feet, and I just barely caught the faint smell of a flowery, light scent, one that Aunt Cloudyblossom or Granny would wear.

I scrunched up my nose, because the smell of lavenders wasn't the most beautiful smell. Or maybe it was the fact that it was a beautiful smell, and my man muzzle didn't like it. Yep, that was it.

I was thinking about how feminine muzzles probably are genetically engineered to think flower blossoms and a waterfall mist or those cheesy names you see on air fresheners smell real nice when I felt my hooves slosh on some sloppy stuff, whom I discovered was mud. I looked up, and what I saw could've made a twelve-year old stallion such as myself cry.

It was quite obviously a lake, (hence the title,) but unlike any I have ever seen. It was clear, crystal blue. It was absolutely pristine, with lilies sprouting at a corner near a small, peaceful waterfall that made a rainbow since there was two willows around it letting in a warm ray of sunlight. I swear I could hear the holy angels sing their harmonic jingle thing in my mind.

“Woah...”

“You like it?” My dad asked, knowing the answer.

“It's... It's...” ‘Beautiful’ sounded like something some chic would use. How about... “It's... Awesome!”

He smiled widely. “The beauty of the lake isn't all their is. Ever heard of a glowing, lily fish?”

“Uh... No.”

“They are called the Sun-Speckled Lily fish, hence the name of he lake.”

“They sound amazing.”

“Sound amazing, look holy. You'll love their little show. They are a bit of show offs, so you won't have to worry about not seeing any. We will just wait until it's nice and dark and their spots glow.”

I was getting a bit exited over fish. Fish. They where just fish.

Ha, I'm a silly colt. Cause boy, was I wrong about them being “just fish,”....

The forest was perfectly safe at night. Being a feral forest, and the animals having a strong relationship with ponies going waaaaay back, (I actually payed attention in Social Studies.) the animals never really bothered you.

Unless, well, of course, if you bring some tart berries a few rabbits might be brave enough to hop their way to you.

My dad was right. Well, he always was. But today he was beyond right. He was... Accurately Physic. The fish were... Beautiful. I dare use that word. They where a luminance in the darkness of the lake.

Their flowy, long, amazing tails frilled behind them, dancing on the surface of the water. They twirled about, jumping and making perfect splashes. Must've spent forever choreographing that one. Their glowing spots emitted a warm, golden light. I wish mom where here to see this.

She probably is, watching up above. First Base is probably asleep by now, being taken care of Aunt Cloudyblossom. I hope my mum is happy, in the place Celestia calls “Sunlight Heavens”. Okay, right.

We started walking home afterwards. I missed the lake. I felt a warm, tingly feeling when I saw the fish. Like my mum was there.

Aunt Cloudyblossom was putting my little brother, First Base, to sleep. Everyone thought he was so cute. I for one, felt no pang of sympathy. I was eleven years older than him, he was one. I loves him, yes. But... But I didn't like him. He was basically a memory of a tragedy to me. Hi, First Base. You know why mom isn't here? Yeah, you killed her while poppin' out. Happy? Great! Me too.

“Shhh,” she said when we lightly flew in.

I flapped quietly to my room, flopping myself on my bed. Dad walked in. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“I...uh... Just wanted to say Goodnight.”

“Oh...” I said a bit awkwardly. “Um... ’night.”

Then he slipped away, giving a dry cough. Here we go again with those coughing fits. Bad night. Bad night, not goodnight. If a person is having a nightmare, it be a bad night right? Right.

Well, I had a bad night. Or maybe it was real. Maybe the fact that my dad was coughing his flank off while Aunt Cloudyblossom is looking for his medicine. The fact that the coughing won't stop. Or maybe it's just that my dad is now going to the hospital. Woo-pee.

Fading Stars

Turns out the sounds went deeper than heard. Wow, that sounds wrong.

My dad's tuberculosis was worsening. That's why the medicine wasn't working last night, and why my dad shriveled up on the ground from chest pain. That's why he was in a hospital room with Aunt Cloudyblossom and I'm waiting in a waiting room with my little brother, First Base.

I can tell you now, it's not fun. The gloomy, gray atmosphere is everywhere. So thick I think the windows might burst open, and I have to gasp for air once in a while.

I can hear First Base yawn beside me, stretch, then felt a muzzle on my back. I turned around with a dead pan look. “What?”

“Ash!”

“What do you want, Base?” I replied irritatingly.

“Daddy?”

“In there.” I pointed a hoof down a hall way.

As if on cue, Aunt Cloudyblossom came walking to us. “Your turn, Flash.” She said with a small smile.

Base jumped into the arms of Aunt Cloudyblossom, giggling. Auntie hugged him, chuckling. I caught how her eyes where red, and how she had very light but still noticeable trails running down her matted fur.

Great. Auntie Cloudy was crying. She, like her little brother, was very perky and optimistic. Her crying was like seeing Princess Celestia eat like a slob and dressing as a chicken squawking throughout the streets yelling “Change My Diaper! Change My Diaper!”

That's right, one out of one hundred.

I chuckle at the image in my brain, and begin to walk down the hallway, my short moment of happy chuckling over. I was worried at what I would find.

I knock on the door, room eleven. “Dad?”

I voice I do not recognize says, “Come in, Flash.”

I open the door and find only my dad. I was expecting a bored doctor with a monotone voice. My dad has never talked like that. And he has never called me “Flash”. He called me names like “Wing Bone” (Which he would laugh at. I still don't get it...) or “Sport”.

Something was clearly wrong. “Well, no dur somethings wrong.” My genius brain told me.

I shuffled in, sitting next to his bed. “Hi.”

He smiled a small smile. The only thing showing was his head, and he was on his side, slightly sleepy.

“Hi,” he sat up with a small wince, and his blanket draped of him. The sight almost brought tears to my eyes. Man tears.

My dad was always a pudgy stallion, but here, here he was almost as skinny as me. You could see the faint outline of his bones on his skin. I tried really hard to not cry. I had to be strong for my family.

“So uuuuh... how...how are you doing?”

“I'm doing fine. I feel much better, now. The nurses really take care of me,” He smiled. “How are you and ’Ase doing?”

’Ase is what eh calles First Base.

“Ase is fine. He is doing good. Im fine also.” I said, choking back tears. Luckily, Dad didn't notice.

“That's great. Have you visited Brisey this weekend?”

Brisey was my moms name. Brisey Sky. “No, we where planning to visit her tomorrow.” I said, a little more tears coming.

“How's school?”

I had entered school, starting the seventh grade a week ago. “It's good. I met a filly and a colt named Daisy Bloom and Grenade.”

“They good friends? Wink Wink Daisy?”

I gave a small laugh, my tears almost falling. “Yeah, there good friends.”

We sat there in silence for a minute, when I finally couldn't be strong any longer. I felt a stream of tears fall from my eyes, and the pain in my throat slowly fading away. I ran to my dad, embracing him in a hug. “Please don't go! I don't wanna lose another parent!” I cried into his shoulder. “Please don't leave me!”

He hugged me back. “I won't leave you. I won't let myself leave. I promise.”

I looked up into his eyes, and he told me, “Have I ever broken a promise?”

Dad would never break a promise.“No.” I sniffed.

“Then don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Just a little watching over.” He said. He wasn't the least bit showing any expression regarding my outbreak. He wrapped a wing around me.

“Okay.” I said sadly.

“Stay strong, okay?”

“I'll try.”

We heard a knock at the door, then a doctor walk in. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but your father needs some rest.”

“Go tell Cloudy I'm fine. And to make sure First Base is sleeping early.”

“But-”

“Everything's okay, buddy,” he hugged me tighter, then loosened the hug. “You are a good colt, Flash. Don't change. And stay strong for Cloudy and Ase. I believe you can do that. Take care, buddy.”

The doctor shuffled me out the door. “Bye, Dad,” I dried up some tears. “Take care too.”

Then the door closed. I made sure my tears weren't noticeable, and went over everything my dad had told me. I took it to heart.

When I got back to the waiting room, Auntie is reading a magazine on losing weight. Base is “playing” with a yellow earth foal. By playing, I mean tugging on her giant pink bow and pulling her vibrant red hair.

“How was it?” Auntie asked. She seemed to have cleaned her face with a wipey and her eyes where back to normal.

“Um...uh... It was... Er... Good.”

“Alright,” she seemed to notice my evidence of crying, because she hugged me and said, “Would you like to go get some ice cream at Olaf’s Cream?”

“Okay,” I said.

Ice Cream was always good in any state of depression.

Lavender Filly

Ugh. Thinking was painful.

You can come across a wonderful thought, or you can find an unanswerable question. And it just kills you knowing that you may never know the answer. Like, "What does it feel like to die?" or "What is beyond space? More space? That's just stupid."

Once in a while, you come across a question that's easy to answer, but the answer is ridiculously painful. Such as "Will I be able to get my grades up before mom distrusts me?" or "Is mom going grocery shopping tomorrow?"

But sometimes questions are love and sunshine and cuddly puppies. "Its Hearths Warming Eve!" and "Mom brought Oreos!"

Right now, my question is obvious. "Will my dad come out of the hospital soon?"

At the rate he was at, probably no.

~~~~~~

I was munching on crackers and an apple, sitting at the edge of the lake, staring at my reflection, with an annoying brown rabbit that wouldn't leave me alone. I threw it a slice of my juicy apple, and he grabbed it, hopping into a hole. I cant believe I did that. I will never do it again. I will never share my delicious food with anyone. And if I did, they would either have to be some pretty mare or someone royal.

I was so bored. Sitting looking at yourself when you have to live with yourself isn't the smartest thing. Mostly because you don't always like what you see. But me, I didn't really care. I was eating a perfect apple and that was all that mattered.

Then I heard the rustling of leaves.

"Who's there?"

Instead of getting a response, a filly popped out of a bush.

"Um... I hope you don't mind, but I'm studying a very rare Sapphire Beetle and I would like it if you can be quiet as they are sensitive to sound."

Then she popped back into the bush.

I just stood there, my mouth gaping open and my right eye twitching. "H-how long have you been there?"

She popped back out and said in a whisper, "Since sunrise." Then she popped back in.

SINCE SUNRISE?!

I walked over to the bush, and I could see her tail peeking out. She got out of the bush, took some notes, and went back in.

I stuck my head into the bush, expecting it to be painful, but I was surprised to find it was painless and hollow on the inside.

A pink light was coming from her horn, and she was looking ahead. I followed her gaze to see a beautiful, deep blue beetle. It had smidgens of gold, and had a crown type of thing on his head.

"Sssh," she said, not looking at me.

"It's really beautiful," I tried to say in the lowest possible voice.

But oops, the beetle flew out of the bush.

"No!No!NO!" the filly zoomed out of the bush and tried to look for the beetle. I got out too and tried looking for its deep blue color.

When she couldn't find it, she turned to me like a cat about to pounce. "YOU SCARED IT AWAY! DO YOU KNOW HOW RARE THOSE ARE?!"

All I could do was meep out a little "Sorry..."

She took a deep breath, looked away, and mumbled something. "Its okay, its fine. Its all fine..."

"Um... miss?"

She didn't look back, instead, she frantically looked through her notes. "I got enough research..."

"Are...you alright?"

"I've decided to spare your life." she finally looked me in the eyes.

I was ready for a laugh, but I noticed she was stone serious. I gulped and felt beads of sweat. "S-so... uh... what's your name?"

"My name is Twilight Sparkle." she said simply.

"Mines Flash Sentry."

"If you don't mind," she said, "I'm going back to the tent to eat some breakfast."

"You haven't eaten?"

"Nope. And I am quite famished so please, excuse me and goodbye, 'Flash Sentry'." she added a teasing type of tone to my name.

"Um.. well... I don't think it well help much, but I, uh, got a snack."

She zoomed back, her muzzle touching mine. I blushed at the contact, but she didn't notice. She had a big, toothy smile on her face and her eyes where sparkling. "You have food, you say?"

"Uh...yeah." I went back to where I was sitting, and took out a few apple slices.

"Ooooh..." Twilight began to drool.

"You can have them. Here,"

Without any hesitate, she took them from my hoof with her magic and gobbled them up like a pig. But a cute pig.

When she was done, her face was splattered with apple bits. She saw me staring  at her, with a surprised look on my face, and the blushed out of embarrassment.

"Uh, sorry. I was hungry."

"Don't worry about it." I tried to shake the thought of her as a cute, little piglet away.

"Well, thank you for the food. I'll meet you back here tomorrow, okay?" she smiled a cute little smile.

"Okay." I replied without thinking.

"Bye, Flash Sentry!" she waved goodbye and trotted over to a tent which I could clearly see from my distance.

"Um...Bye." I replied a bit awkwardly.

Once she was gone, I looked at my few crackers, which where all that where left.

"Did I just...share my food?"

Fairy Dust

“Hi!”

Twilight approached me with a big smile on her face. She was carrying a note book and pencil. I decided not to question it.

I had been waiting in the spot I was yesterday, eating a banana. “Hallo,” I said through a mouth full of banana.

She plopped herself next to me, and began to scribble in her notebook.

“What are you doing?” I swallowed the food in my mouth and leaned in to look at what she was doing. Instead of helping me see, she moved it away and towered over it.

“Wait,” she continued scribbling.

After a while, she showed me her work. I expected to find something other than just the location of the lake.

“You where trying to hide that, Twilight Sparkle?” I made a slight deadpan face.

“I don't like ponies watching me write.” She mumbled in a grumpy tone

Nervously, I asked, “Why did you write the location of Sun-Speckled Lake?”

Her eyes seemed to light up with excitement. Jackpot. I am so smooth with the ladies.

“My dad said that there is some fun fish in here to discover. He said they are at there best when it's dark, but sometimes come out when fed. I brought their favorite food,” she pulled out a bag of red pellet like things from nowhere. “We should get a few with these fire-bloom seeds.”

“Wait, if they are flower seeds, how do the fish eat them?”  Did I just ask a smart question?

Her eyes sparkled, “Well, the fish only live in three lakes, making them a bit of a rare species. In the Silk Wave Lake, Lake Pristine, and this one, Sun-speckled Lake. Each have cold climates during fall, which is when the fire bloom flower begins to bloom. It has it's name because it glows a golden light when cold to

preserve heat. Well, after the cold climates pass, the seeds begin to fall off. The flowers usually grow next to a lake, like right here, so the seeds plop right into the lake. They float, so the fish just come and eat them.”

My mouth gaped open at her knowledge. She pointed a hoof at a beautiful red-golden flower at the edge of the lake with a fiery appearance.

I gave an impressed whistle. A proud smile adorned her face. “So are you going to feed them?”

“Yep!” She gave a smile. “Now, they usually hang out behind... I believe this waterfall... Over there... There should be a clearing behind that waterfall.”

She pointed towards the smooth waterfall at the edge of the lake. Eagerly, she grabbed my hoof and skipped over to it.

“Okay, here goes,” she stuck her hoof in, and it seemed to go through. After a squeal, she jumped in and disappeared in the water.

I panicked for a moment, afraid she wouldn't come back out. But after a few seconds, she came out with a wet mane and a huge smile. “Common!” She grabbed my hoof again and pulled me into the waterfall. I closed my eyes in a panick.

“Open them, Flash. It's nothing scary. It's really... Beautiful...”

I opened my eyes slowly, an immediately knew she was right.

It was a small cave, around ten feet in every direction. It was as tall as the majestic waterfall that served as a curtain, about fifteen feet. It would've been pretty dark if it wasn't for the glowing flowers and small star-like spots hanging off purplish vines. There was a thin river that went through the whole thing, disappearing in a crack in the cave walls. It had a very faint yet warming smell of lavender and water mist, and it was the single most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Anything beating this beauty would have to really be drop-dead gorgeous x100.

“Oh my Celestia,” I gasped.

“This is a rare cave,” Twilight gently poked a glowing flower. “Not many ponies know about it. Only my parents and their scientist buddies. My dad told me today, but in a riddle. I was right!”

“Why are the flowers glowing? And why does it look so starry?”

“Simple,” she replied. “It's bacteria called Loriander. It glows when it senses peacefulness. I believe that's maybe one of the reason why my dad decided to keep it a secret. If too much disturbance happens, then the bacteria slowly dies. No one has ever brought one back to life, so once the bacteria dies, the cave dies with it.”

“Oh. Wow.”

“Yep. I prefer not to study this one,” she said with a sad tone. “Knowing myself, I emit stress wen I can't get something I'm studying. The bacteria would know that my stress is linked to it. It might die. But-” she looked a bit sad. “-the death of something so beautiful and rare isn't worth the study. I can manage.”

I realized that this filly was a crazy studyholic. Basically, a nerd. A geek. A genius. I looked over to see her with a small smile, examining a glowing flower. The flowers purple and teal glow danced on her face. The light reflected off her big eyes. Some nerd.

“So what now?”

“Well, I better get out. We can come back tomorrow. I sense that they haven't been around other animals, so this is new to them. We should let them calm down.”

“The bacteria acts like an animal, doesn't it?”

“Mhm.”

She poked her head out of the waterfall, making sure that the coast was clear. When it was, she motioned for me to come out and disappeared again into the waterfall.

Once we where both out, I told her. "I cant believe I experienced something like that. I never would think I would see something so rare."

"That's the thing about rare things," she replied. "Ponies assume that when something is rare it will never happen to them. But truth is,sometimes it happens to only them."

"Makes sense," I replied.

Because it really did. A lot.

Mistletoe

Flash got his gift he had for Twilight and stared at it, hoping she would like it. It was wrapped in purple with her cutie mark printed on it, and a white ribbon to make sure it didn't open. He put it back in a bag he had put it in so it wouldn't fall or get dirty. He adjusted his scarf, and ventured forward to the now frozen lake.

“Hope she likes it,” he mumbled.

Twilight was levitating a neatly wrapped gift in a magic bubble to avoid it getting dirty. The spell was easily tiring her, so she would have to constantly stop and take a breath even though she wasn't running. She almost fell asleep when she went under some low trees with sharp icicles and had to enhance the spell so it didn't pop.

She leaned on a cold tree, panted a bit, almost falling asleep, and shook her head.

“Forget this,” she said to herself. “It's your fault for forgetting to bring a bag.”

She took off her hat, stuffed the gift inside, and levitated it, her energy staying neutral.

“Hope that airhead likes it,” she said, trotting off a little faster to the lake.

“Hi!” Flash waved his hoof as Twilight squinted her eyes from a few feet away.

“Oh hi,” she said as she came closer.

“Happy Hearths Warming Eve, Twi.” Flash handed her her gift.

“Thank you, Flash. Happy Hearths Warming Eve to you too.” She gave him her gift, collapsing to the ground. “Sorry,” she mumbled, her eyes closed. “I'm tired.”

“Hey,” he said, giving her a nudge. “Do you know how to skate?”

“NO.” She shot up.

“Well, what if I teach you?”

“Nononononnononoimtooscarednopenopenope.”

“Okay, okay. We should start getting back home now, it's freaking cold.”

“Your right...Wow! Look at the sunrise!”

It was a colorful, beautiful sunrise. They stared at it for a long time, before Flash looked above his head.

“Is that a...mistletoe?”

They both blushed. “Does this mean...?”

“No!

“Nope!”

“Bye!”

“See ya!”

The scurried away like cute lil mousies.

Shiny

Shiny

Flash looked down to the list his teachers had given him. He had at least twenty missing assignments in each, and he hadn't even been in school for a full two months.

“Wow,” he whistled scanning the Science paper. “I am incredibly lazy.”

Which was absolutely, 100% true. He put the papers in his bag and shuffled through the hallway in a sulky manor. He got to his locker, and slammed his forehead against it. It was lunch, but he wasn't hungry. So he took out his notebook, found a cozy corner no one would find him, and began to doodle.

He was no artist, but his grandpa, Popscorn (Thats what everyone called him.) had taught him a few basic things so he could do it fairly well for his age.

As he was drawing a picture of Princess Celestia in a tomato taco suit, a group of three fillies stood in front of him, their shadow reigning upon him. He didn't think he would be seen.

The middle one, who had a pristine white coat and shimmering red hair, spoke as if she had read his mind. “We can see what has not been seen,” her sharp red eyes stared at him. “Also known as a dork drawing in a lightly lit corner.”

“What do you guys want?” He closed his book so they wouldn't judge him, and looked at them with suspicious looks.

The one on the left scoffed, “Pft! We are ladies! Not ‘guys’!” She flipped her shiny blue hair back.

“Pft,” Flash imitated her scoff. “Suuure.”

“What are you implying?” The one in the middle narrowed her eyes.

“What do you want?”

“What we want?” The one on the right tapped her chin. “Ah yes,” her head popped up, her raven curls bouncing. “You.”

Flash awoke in a dark room. He tried to move, but he was tied down. He tried to scream for help, but only muffled screams came out, as he had a cloth over his muzzle.

“He is awake, Ruby.” A cool voice said. It sounded like one of the fillies from earlier.

“Aw. I just had a chance to look at these doodles,” she said with a chuckle. “Some of them I wouldn't want other people to see.”

Flash realized what she was talking about. He jumped and squirmed, with no luck.

“Is this a drawing of a turkey...wearing grandma panties?” Ruby stared at the drawing with a smirk on her face. “And this one,” she pointed. “Look Sapphire, it's a dolphin. You love dolphins. Except this one is..uh...drinking milk with shades.”

“Dolphiiiins.” Sapphire sang.

“I hate milk,”

“Shutup Jade,” Sapphire pointed a hoof. “You drank a whole gallon yesterday.”

“I was bored.”

“Whatever.”

“Release him back to the wild,” Ruby said, still looking at the book. “I keep this diary journal thing. Bring him back in a week.”

“Yes Ruby Essence.”

Flash awoke outside his school, behind a shrub.

“What the actual buck just happened?”

Gemophobia

“I'm telling you, I'm terrified.”

“Just calm down,” Twilight took a sip of her juice. “There just fillies.”

“Yes-but...they have my notebook...”

“And?” Twilight raised her brow.

“I draw stuff there...”

“Like?” Now she was chewing an apple.

“...A green pony named Robert riding a giant banana that has shades...”

“Robert?” Twilight nearly choked on a cracker. “PFFT WHAT KIND OF NAME IS ROBERT.”

“Please just help me.”

“But that's none of my business.” Twilight took a dainty sip of some mint tea.

“But Twiiiiliiiiight.”

“Flash, shut up.” Twilight slapped him with a grass taco. “Your a colt for crying out loud! Be a stallion!”

“But-”

“Where are you going to get in life if you can't grow up?”

“But-”

“No where that's where!”

“But-I'm already a stallion.”

“Flash, sweetie,” Twilight handed him a carrot. “No your not.”

“Okay, I'll stand up to them!” He bit off a piece of the carrot.

“That's good,” Twilight took a bite of a brownie.

“Wait but-”

“But what?” She now dipped a cookie in milk.

“Where are you getting all this food?”

“Oh...um...”

Aw, Flash

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Okay, Auntie

“Flash, dear, come over here.”

I put down my sandwich and cautiously walked over to Aunt Cloudyblossom, who was sitting in a rocking chair knitting socks for First Base.

“Yeah?” I said as I sat next to her.

She rubbed her temples with her hoof and pushed her curly pink hair away from her face. “Mrs. Witty sent me your report card.”

“Woah, woah, woah, stop right there,” I held out a hoof and shook it so she got the message. “Why?”

“I told her about your father. She sent it to me instead.”

“Yes, but-”

“Why didn't you give it to me when she passed them out on Thursday?”

“Because,” I have an irritated sigh. “I didn't want you to see it.”

“How can you get a C in Math? It's the easiest thing!”

“That's what you think...” I mumbled.

“Oh, don't be so snarky. But you better get these grades up, Flash Sentry. I'm not telling your father, I wouldn't want to give that poor stallion more stress, but you will be punished. I will give you two weeks to

at least raise it to a C+. Deal?”

“Fine,”

“Go finish your sandwich, I need to finish these socks for the Cloudsdale Knitters Club.”

“Yeah, yeah. Okay.”

First Base began to yawn. He was playing with his rattles in front of Aunt Cloudy’s chair.

“I'm going to make him some milk and set him to sleep, would you mind cleaning the kitchen? I was going to do it, but I didn't expect Base to take a nap.” She said as she began to pick him up.

I was going to say, ‘Yes, I do mind.” But then thought about how much a work Auntie did. “I will,”

“Thanks, dear.” She said as she got a bottle of milk and went to First Base’s room.

Finishing my sandwich, I grabbed a clean rag and lemon spray and began to polish the table. As I was, I thought about how Twilight might be able to help me get my grades up. I know I only met her two weeks ago, but that's enough to know she's pretty smart...

Twinerd Sparkgeek

"TWILIIIIGHT!"

"What? Im right here, Flash. You don't have to yell."

I looked down to see her laying on the grass, observing a firefly.

"Yeah, well..."

"What do you want?"

"What? Don't we always meet each other here?"

"Yeah, but this time you carry no food."

"I need help."

"With what?"

"My dignity, Sparkle. My ego."

She looked at me with a bemused face. "Seriously."

"Well, someone is grumpy today,"

"Shutup. Im about to leave to go eat since you have, once again, no food today."

"Okay, geez. I need help with my grades. If I don't get them up Im dooooomed!"

She stared at me for a while, the broke into laughter. She fell back and rolled on the floor, cracking up and crying tears from so much joy.

"WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING AT ME?"

After about five minutes, she got up, stood up straight, and looked at me with a poised and fancy face, with no smile and bored looking eyes.

"At what cost?"

"What?"

"Are you going to pay me?"

"HAHAHA NO."

"Well, have fun in Summer School then." she began to walk away, her nose in the air.

"WAIT!"

She looked back, with one eyebrow raised. "Hm?"

"I will... um... give you two bits per hour...?"

"And?"

"Half of my food...?"

"And?"

"My old books?"

"And?"

"GEEZ FILLY HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT?!"

She stared at me for a few seconds before replying, "And?"

I growled and she let out a smug smile. I facehoofed and she tilted her head.

"Just take all of it." I threw a bag full of bits.

"Woah, I was just kidding. Books and food and a few bits is fine."

"When can we start?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."

"What time?"

"Noon."

"Okay."

Then she left to go eat. Leaving me alone.

I began to walk home as I gracefully tripped on a log.