Opportunities

Part 1: Cruel Life

indent paragraphs"I can't remember too far back, but I remember the rest like it was yesterday." "Tell us, please!" The school children asked. "Please tell us Granny Flinty Minty!" "Ohhhh, okay little ones! I'll tell you everything I can remember. Sit tight this might take a while." The fillies and colts made themselves comfortable as Granny Flinty Minty took a sip of a glass of water nearby, holding it with her green magic. "Well, now it all started when my here' Mama and Papa gave birth to me. I remember ma' Papa tellin' me how cute I was at that here' age. Ma' Papa told me that ma' Mama died at childbirth, but he didn't raise me all by ma' self. He raised me with his brother. I suppose I'd better tell you who he was. Ma' Papa was named Flim, he and his here' brother - ma' uncle, named Flam - were travelling sales ponies. But I never knew who ma' Mama was. Some of you here' parents' might have remembered ma' Papa and uncle. They were horrible. As I grew up, they became meaner an' meaner to me. They were VERY unfair sales ponies. They even tricked a fello' Apple named Applebloom an' her family. At the moment, me an' Applebloom are very close friends. She must've forgiven me for all the pain ma' Papa an' uncle put her through." Granny Flinty Minty took another sip and then began talking again. "Now where was I? Oh yeah. As I grew to become a filly they took me on my first trip out of the centre of Equestria - which is Ponyvile, Canterlot and so on -, to the Crystal Empire to be exact. We packed woolly jumpers, fur coats, gloves, scarfs and even 'horn-warmers'. I remember how chilly it was, the snow and ice - brrrrrrrr! Anyway, it was the time of year we all love, winter! It was snowin', but ma' Papa and Uncle went to watch the winter play on how Equestria was named, and left me in the freezin' cold. It wasn't too bad. I decided to entertain myself by wondering off to the crystal castle, and met Princess Cadence herself! Of course, when ma' folks found me they gave me a heck of a slap. A hee-hee!" The whole class of fillies and colts began to giggle. "Of course, it wasn't funny at the time! Anyway, Flim n' Flam did unfair business to some if the crystal ponies, but it was an amazin' sight seeing all 'dem sparkly crystal ponies." Granny Flinty Minty showed the class an old crumpled photograph of a crystal pony. "They are such a sight for sore eyes!" Granny Flinty Minty stuffed it quickly back into her bag. "Anyway, back to the story. Me and Flim n' Flam were on our way, travelling back to Ponyvile, when the temperatures suddenly dropped. I never knew what happened that day, even 'till this day. The temperatures went lower and lower until it reached a staggering -100 degrees! Flim and Flam had turned into ice cubes - literally! But somehow I was normal. Suddenly, ma' eyes began glowing pure, bright, white light and green mist began swirling around my horn. Something in ma' head told me that I needed to do this certain spell. Flim had told me to study magic years ago, but I never did. So I didn't know how to do it - that's why kids, always study whatever you're folks tell you to study -, I knew it was my destiny, so I tried to use my magic. After 5 whole minutes of no magic, not even a spark, a yellow glow came from the direction of Canterlot and melted all the ice." Granny Flinty Minty drank the whole glass of water. With her magic she turned it into cider (apple juice for people in Britain and a few other places). The little ponies gasped at the amazing spell Granny Flinty Minty had just pulled off. "Oh now now, it's just a little trick Zecora taught me." Granny Flinty Minty gave a little wink towards one filly in particular- Applebloom's granddaughter, Applejam. "Back to the story now. Everything was suddenly back to normal. A message told me in ma' head that I had failed. After that strange happenin', we headed north, to the outskirts of Equestria to camp out for the night. The next day we would head even further north to Yakyakistan, to do MORE unfair business with 'dem yaks. I was very nervous about the next day since I heard yaks can be very nasty and violent if they get upset. Ma' Papa and his brother slept in our here' wagon, where I slept on the grassy floor. I was scared to the soul at night, with all 'dem Timberwolves, ghosts and only Celestia knows what else, so I decided to venture out to the the deep, dark woods - I wanted a new life I had had enough of being told what to do, unfair sales and all else. I wanted to find my cutiemark, explore the world and I definitely wasn't going to get anything by staying with my mean Papa and uncle. Now here is where the adventure begins...buuuut I must go now. I will tell you the best part tomorrow, okay?" "Awwwwwwwww why not now?" One colt asked. "Sorry youngsters. But Granny Flinty has got to catch her beauty sleep. Bye now!" "Bye Granny Flinty Minty!" The school children said sadly. Mrs Cheerilee's great granddaughter - Miss Cherrylee - said "Don't worry everypony she'll be back soon! With a big story to tell. Now back to fractions..." "Awwwwwwww nooooooooo." The fillies and colts replied with a big groan.

End of part 1