TMP: The Curse of Poni

“Okay everyone let’s get this back on track.” Tress was back from her break, sitting down in the chair on the stage and hoping the ending didn’t lack.

“On the next morning Ardent woke up and found himself in an unfamiliar place, a large yawn was soon crossing his face. After finishing breakfast with the alluring pegasus teacher, she started talking to him about his curse and the things it did feature. She told him the old legend of what would free him from under the curse that was his prison; he was horrified by the idea of spilling blood and gave the idea derision. He asked Allure has it ever worked before? The mare answered back that it has not worked once since evermore. The clues to be cured of the curse were at best vague; the many minds slowly driven to madness it did plague.”

“The hedge trimmers were once two swords separate and used in many a war. Before they took the form they are in now, the blood of many they’ve caused to pour. All the blood was let in battle and since they became the combined cursed blades they’ve always taken the blood of those who fight, but would a pony willing to let their blood spill make things right? The history teacher went over the text for the cure to the madness that the hedge trimmers brought, for many these two blades were of a great power that was highly sought. At night, spill the blood of the closest intelligent thing, then the curse will break from what it does bring.” This was beginning to sound rather dark to Tress and she looked up at the crowd, she licked her lips before she spoke out loud. “Is there anyone in this audience that is squeamish? I mean aside from you Fluttershy. This may get dark pretty quickly, so is there some of you who may not want their children to hear the rest of this?”

No pony moved, none of them spoke out. They were all silent as a mouse; they wanted to see this to the end and as the audience they had clout.

“Okay then, onwards.  Allure swiftly brought out the fact that the cursed blades were in fact related to the one she had of her own. For her ancestor was cursed and had fallen from her pegasus home. Incapable of flight was unable to return to have her cursed removed, she would live out her life on the ground forever saddened by the loss of what was taken. She eventually moved on and forged a new life for herself instead of remaining a sad pony that was forsaken. Allure being a direct descendant acquired it down the Mane Queen line, the curse doesn’t dilute no matter the blood and how it was fine. She thought that the presence of the curse artifact might have been able to absolve her of her mane temporarily to allow her to fly just once, now she sat here feeling sorry for herself like a dunce.“

“Allure told Ardent that her parents were out there somewhere looking for a cure to her predicament while trying to keep hold of their vast wealth, thus far nothing that had been attempted was good for her health. She was becoming tired of living and hadn’t seen her parents in years, seeing the object that doomed her to being flightless just exacerbated her fears. Her family’s retainers stuck to her side, they would not give up on her and told her she just had time to bide.”

“In the hopes that it might cure the curse on Ardent and her line, Allure tells Ardent that she was willing to let her blood spill. With a flash Ardent make a starch claim that was something he couldn’t do and that he never will! The thief forgotten sat off to the side with a thoughtful look on her face, there was a hint of something on her mind and it was something she wanted to trace. Both Ardent and Allure were embroiled in an argument that came off as rather insane, the thief sitting at the table about ready to truly complain. With a shout the thief who was warmly welcome into this home as a guest despite being caught red hooves in an act of theft, if it was anyone’s blood that needed to be spilled then she should be the one bereft.”

“Ardent and Allure both stopped arguing about the chance to finally have a cure for her family and his ailment, the thief coming into their argument caused quite a large derailment. The thief calmly sat there still eating some food; if they were going to be childish then she may as well be rude. The thief wondered why Ardent didn’t just spill a little of his own blood if hurting others bothered him so? She pointed out that the blood spilled did not have to make one’s life go. It was in that instant that Allure paused in offering herself as a sacrifice and her eyes went wide. That was an idea even if the thief had come off as snide.” Now Tress thought the story was beginning to sound less dark. In fact after reading the next few lines, in choosing a story with a good ending Smart might have hit the ball out of the park.

“Ardent wouldn’t want permanent harm dealt to a stranger; much less put a beautiful spirit like Ms. Allure in any form of danger. Amethyst sighed; as that only solved the problem of a good and just stallion who became cruelly cursed by happenstance that she may have thought was attractive. Her mane and her own curse were still a point that was distractive. They both agreed to try to cure his curse later that night, as for Allure herself to see the sky like another pegasus from above would be a wish that would take a godly might. The thief finally decided to introduce herself and apologize for accosting Allure. Her name was Fickle Fate who knew she hasn’t been a good pony, but at least her methods were pure.  She hasn’t been the death of any pony and would never steal from anyone poorer off. Stealing from a rich pony like the Allures was something at which she would admittedly not scoff.”

“Her special talent was to predict the immediate future with the faintest of a random twitch every now and then. Sometimes it would mean something good for her and sometimes she just couldn’t win. She got hurt plenty of times until she figure out what a warning twitch meant, she had felt one before Ardent struck and into unconsciousness she was sent.” Tress stopped reading and every pony in Town Hall all turned to Pinkie Pie who looked around at everyone wondering why they were staring at her with a distinct feeling of awe.

Pinkie was glad those feelings of anger that many a pony had held for her after spreading the zebra flu around was no longer raw. Why did ever pony have to get so grumpy with her when the town was supposed to be filled with cheer for all ponies to hear? Well at least she knew spreading a silly sickness around was a bad thing, which every pony made perfectly clear.

“You get three fourths of the town infected with a sickness that enforces rhyming during the jolly months and every pony is suddenly against you. So it’s a tad highly overly impossibly incredibly stupendously contagious, who knew?” Pinkie shrugged as every pony in Ponyville glared. Tress had already knocked her for a loop twice and everything was considered partially squared. “And what a loop that was, on that note I’m always covered in fuzz!”

“The newly christened friends spent the day talking and learning about each other’s lives, they talked of good times and bad even if they were ponies where poor fortune thrives.” Tress decided to continue and ignored Pinkie’s antics quite well; she still had this stories upcoming ending to sell. “When it became late at night having spent the entire day amongst others who were worse off then she, Amethyst didn’t think her curse was the worst it could be. She had the use of her legs and was strong, to complain about all that she had would be wrong.”

“The two mares sat there watching as Ardent lifted the cursed blades with his magic, he kept them closed and stabbed them into his flank hoping to avoid something tragic. With a blinding flash his lit up in a bright glow, he was free of his curse now as anyone who saw the light show would know. He was happy to be free of his curse and no longer feel the madness encroaching him, but a sudden sense of sadness overcame him and he turned to Ms. Allure holding out a limb. He proclaimed that he would find a way to free her and help Fickle as well, now that he was free of his curses spell. He would repay their kindness and help as they were his now friends. To all those he had sheared before, Fickle felt a warm tingle that Ardent would eventually end up making amends.”

“It was a week later that the two attracted ponies were split apart, Ardent had many to ask for forgiveness from and Fickle was a start. He set out after a tearful good bye, he promised to return to Amethyst while she was still spry. Fickle had found a job nearby and lived with Amethyst to keep her company; she noted her friend was sad that Ardent had left to fix all the problems he left in his wake. Amethyst’s mood dropped south and without Fickle her depression would have been hard to shake.”

“A year after Ardent had left the two and the town in which Lady Allure and Fate did live. The stallion had finally returned from a long journey bringing a grand gift to give. He had travelled far and wide asking for many legends and lore, knowing Amethyst was a bookish pony he brought back history books and folk tales galore. Amethyst was certainly pleased with the gifts she got, she was happier Ardent returned to her life and lot. Fickle was also given a few things that filled her with joy; she noticed that Ardent hid a gift that seemed to resonate within her some form of ploy.”

“He saved the best gift for last and pulled out a simple looking necklace, he figured out a partial cure to her curse and the way to remove it entirely. As he put the silver chain with pendant around her neck, Amethyst Allure wanted to know this answer direly. Whoever cursed her family line was quite cruel, but the information he sought far and wide brought him to a solution that was quite cool. The curse would be broken only if she could fly to where the hedge trimmers were stolen from, the method to be cured was quite dumb. The curse would only be lifted if she could fly, yet the curse made it impossible for her to even touch the sky. He ran his hoof through her thick blanketing mane that covered her whole body from head to flank. After he was done enjoying the beauty of her mane, it shrank. Her tail also became more manageable size as it didn’t drag along the ground; she was incredibly surprised that a solution had been found. Ardent explained that while her hair could not be cut and while it was nothing that he could change, he thought of an interesting solution that was quite strange.”

“The weight of her mane was lessened as it was shrunk down, on Amethyst’s face you could not see a frown. She spread her large wings unsure if she should take to the air, with a little prodding from Fickle she kicked off launching way up high.  With a few flaps she felt the air flow through her wings, after a swoop and a dive she targeted Ardent in her haste to thank him profusely for the gift he did buy. It was not over yet, as Ardent stopped her unbridled bliss. Ardent warned her that this was an opportunity she should not miss. She hadn’t all the time in the world as the magic of the pendant would only last so long. Its power to keep her mane shrunk down to what it was wasn’t that strong.”

“Amethyst had to do was fly to the city in the sky to the place from which the cursed trimmers fell, then her curse would fully be gone as well. She wanted to kiss Ardent for the chance to be free, but she had other problems she needs to take care of as one could see. She awkwardly flew higher and higher until she became a distant speck, finally capable of flight with her mane no longer covering her back. Ardent and Fickle worried about the storm in the distance, hoping it was time that she didn’t lack.”

“A few days passed without a word, since their friend took off like a bird. Ardent confessed to Fickle that he had not a cent left having spent everything he had on gifts, especially the one that required thinking outside the norm. He told her he put everything he had into making that pendant; finally Fickle noticed that ever since he got back he hadn’t once lit his horn! He sacrificed all his energy to make Amethyst’s dream come true, the loss of his magic did not make him feel blue. He had put everything into her dream at a cost; Fickle couldn’t believe how far he went and what he had lost.”

“When angrily asked why he didn’t say anything to Amethyst before she left, while Fickle pushed him against the wall with quite a heft. Ardent Claim said that he was in love, Amethyst from his thoughts he just couldn’t shove. Amethyst Allure didn’t need to know, that the cure for her curse had dealt him quite a blow. Fickle wanted to scream, rant and rave. A sudden gentle hoof upon her withers and her anger it did stave. Turning to the owner Fickle saw that Amethyst looked quite sad; her mane was now trimmed down to a normal neck length. She walked up to kiss Ardent passionately; he had given her all of his strength.”

“Her thoughts were quite bitter until Ardent showed her a smile; he’d do it all again no matter what the sacrifice would take from him for a long while. Amethysts cried onto the stallion that gave up a unicorn’s power to let her wings take her up high, she felt his love for her as he had given her the sky.” Tress flipped the page and looked at the end; she tossed a concerned look at all of her friends. “Last page guys, do you want me to read it?”

There were a lot of tears in the town hall; they were waiting for the last horseshoe to fall. They all nodded with the same look upon every face, if Tress didn’t finish it now she was in for a chase.

“Ardent Claim and Amethyst Allure became closer from that day. They later married and for their vows, they had a lot to say. Without Fickle they would have never met, a good friend was the best gift they both could get. Fickle would eventually find love in a stallion that was quite shy, while foal sitting for Ardent and Amethyst she eventually met a pony named Cherry Pie. Amethyst’s parents finally returned hearing the news, that their daughter was cured and had a husband that she’d lovingly hold in her hooves. Ardent would eventually recover what he had lost, but it would take a while. Even without magic, just seeing his wife soar always made him smile. With the curses gone, the hedge trimmers hidden away and the trauma weathered with the help of a friend. All that is left is to say is, The End.”  Closing the book with a snap, Tress looked up at the crowd seeing no gap. A thunderous applause rose throughout the room, and here Tress thought that it was Smart she would have to doom.

As Tress, Barb and Twilight wearily made their way home to the Sparkle house near the library. There was something nagging at the back of Tresses head, it was as if she had forgotten something important.

“Hey Barb, have you seen Smart at all recently?”  Asked Tress blithely now that the world felt much more normal, she didn’t feel like anything rhymed anymore.

“No, I haven’t seen her since she told me she had a few things to teach me in the future.” Barb looked around and didn’t see her mother’s heavily enchanted toy anywhere. Usually Smart was hovering around her protectively all the time. While she appreciated spending quality time alone with mom or Tress, it just felt off that she hadn’t seen sign of Smart at all.

“I’m sure she’ll turn up, she’s not designed to go seeking out self destruction and I would know if Smart was destroyed.” Twilight hummed thoughtfully as she trudged through the snow. “I thought the story was okay, I like that Ardent thought his way around Amethyst’s cursed mane problem. The romance wasn’t all that heavy really except for what lengths the stallion would go to for his love. Sacrificing a huge amount of magic like that all at once hurts and I would know. It took me a while to recover when I gave birth to Barb here and when I dragged you out of the comic book.”

Barb leaned into her mother’s hoof and sighed happily when she felt her mother’s love. As Twilight opened the door to their home, she immediately noticed something rather peculiar as she walked into the room and looked up.

“Whoa, I guess Smart has been busy decorating.” It was an understatement and Tress knew it. The ceiling in the Trouble Takers home was entirely covered in fake mistletoe, every single last in inch of it.  “Where in Tartarus could she have possibly found this much fake mistletoe at this time of year, considering it’s so close to Hearths Warming?”

“Smart Esmeralda Pants Sparkle, come here right now!” Even Twilight thought this was incredulous and was a little put off by how much mistletoe the little pixie had managed to attach to every surface above their heads.

“Could you maybe keep it down, I’m low on solar energy and entered my energy saving mode a while ago.” Smart stumbled out from behind the couch and her wings were wilted and she actually look tired, given she wasn’t actually biological that was a good bit of work on Twilight’s part as a master enchanter.

“What is all this?” Twilight started with an angry tone as she glared down at the pixie who grinned smugly back at her. “Well I obviously know what it is, but where did you even get all of it?”

“Oh I have my ways; just something I thought would make the house more festive. Also since you’re both under it, you have to kiss now!” A sly smile crept onto the Pixie’s face as she looked towards Tress. Tress mouthed a quick ‘thank you’ behind Twilight’s back and her smile broadened slightly.

“Fine…” Twilight turned and kissed Barb and Tress on the cheek. After Twilight did this, Tress waggled her eyebrows and kissed Barb on the cheek and then Twilight on the tip of her horn causing her to blush profusely. “T-Tress, don’t do that, you know how sensitive horns are!”

Soon an evil laugh erupted from within the home. Smart had just given Tress a Carte Blanche in kissing Twilight as much as she wanted without having to let her real feelings be known. There would be a lot of teasing going around for Hearths Warming day and it would take them forever to get all the mistletoe down.