/r/MLPwritingSchool short story contest entries

"'Win ten bits'?  'Ow does that work?"

Twilight smiled at the dun-colored stallion hesitating at her stall.  Curiosity had reeled another one in.

"It's simple," she said, raising her voice above the crowd noise at the Canterlot Summer Nights street fair.  "Have you heard of 'Two Truths and a Lie'?  Give me a bit, and tell me two true things about yourself and one false fact.  If I can't guess it, you win five bits."

"Err ... five?"

"Yep!  Then you can either walk away with it, or guess MY lie for double or nothing."

The stallion tapped his chin thoughtfully.  "Statistically speaking, you'd lose bits 'oof over flank at those odds.  What's the catch?"

Twilight chuckled.  "I do lose money on it -- not as much as you'd think, since I've been studying ponies a long time -- but I'm a writer."  She gestured at her stack of books to one side.  "I consider it a research expense.  The best facts add color to my stories."

"Can't argue with that.  'Ere."  The earth pony reached back to the saddlebags over his hourglass mark and flipped her a bit with his teeth.  Then he glanced around, leaned in, and whispered.

Twilight's eyes widened.  "Uh ..."  She stared into his eyes.  "You ... you're serious?  You look serious.  Two of those are *true*?"

He grinned.  "Bit of a sticky wicket, that.  But two I've seen meself, and one I made up, so let's go with 'yes'."

"Uh," the unicorn repeated, clearly thrown, "the second?"

He laughed.  "No, but you can use that and the third in your stories -- if anypony will believe them.  'Ere ... I'll take pity on you.  Double or nothing?"

"Um."  But this, at least, put her back on familiar ground.  "I'll have to try the magic set.  One: Princess Celestia personally taught me magic, before she vanished defeating Nightmare Moon.  Two: I've singlehornedly raised the sun.  Three: Under a pseudonym, I wrote Equestria's most popular magical studies textbook."

The smile never left the earth pony's face.  "The second's not true ... *yet*."

Twilight gave him a curious stare, then shook her head.  "Well ... you've certainly earned these."  She levitated ten bits his way.  "Whoever you are."

"Keep 'em, lass."  He turned and trotted away, calling over his shoulder, "you'll want them in a minute!"

"What a strange ..." Twilight muttered, but was interrupted by a polite throat-clearing.  She turned, muzzle almost smacking into a bit held in hornshimmer.

Her eyes focused out beyond the coin.  Twilight froze.  That was *impossible* -- like looking in a mirror, but with *wings* --

"One," the stranger said calmly, "I'm Twilight Sparkle.  Two: We need your help to save Equestria.  Three: I have five hooves."

The author glanced down at the alicorn's four legs.  Opened her mouth.  Shut her mouth.

"Uh," she managed, somehow, "ten bits?"

Author: http://www.reddit.com/user/baxil

Original Document: http://www.reddit.com/r/MLPwritingschool/comments/x5exo/contestprompt_write_150500_words_humble_bundle_v/c5jl5fi