Author's Note

AN: This first entry is a guest submission by A Bloodthirsty Unicorn from September's Microfiction Challenge. Doomande is running these microfic events monthly right now, so check it out and contribute.

Stop

— 0 ———

"Stop!"

Everyone froze, turning to look at Thunderheart.

"Don't hurt him, He's a friend."

I glanced from him to the mass of metal and feathers that might have once been a griffon. Shadow looked disgusted.

"This pathetic creature is your friend?"

The steel ranger nodded, turning to face the group.

"Yes, he is. And Fizgig here is going to help us get out of this hellhole we’ve found ourselves in."

— 1 ———

“Stop it,” said Two Bit, gently pushing Johns from her neck. “I heard something.”

“There’s nothing out here but radscorpions, and they’re not active this time of day.” He leaned in.

Two Bit pressed a blade to his throat and listened. “Alright,” she said finally, storing the blade. “You can kiss me now.”

— 2 ———

“Stop fighting me. Open up!”

“No!”

Foxtail groaned. “Why make this so hard?”

Chains put a hoof on Foxtail’s shoulder. “Let me.”

“Fine,” said Foxtail. “Let’s see you do better.”

Chains took the spoon and dish from Foxtail as she retreated to watch. “Okay,” he said. “Open up for daddy.”

Daisy Chain frowned at her papa.

Chains tickled her as he swung the spoon wide. “Here comes the sky tank.” As she giggled, he landed the spoon in the hangar.

Daisy’s mouth closed. Her eyes widened.

“See. Easy Peasy.”

Foxtail smirked. Daisy blew. Chains wiped the food from his face.

— 3 ———

“Stop. Let me see if I got all those names." She pointed a hoof at each of the Steel Rangers in turn. "Crumpets, Scones, Muffins, and… Foal Crusher?"

"I go by Chuckles."

"Mmhmm. Of course you do."

— 4 ———

“Stop making advances if you won’t follow through, White Knight.”

“Now what makes you think I won’t, Thornberry?”

Thorn pushed his reaching hoof away. “I’m wondering if you’re straight. You’ve been flirting for weeks, but shut me down whenever I try to kiss. What the hoof’s your problem?”

White stared at the dirt, spinning his hoof into a depression. “Nothing.”

Thorn reached over, lifting White’s face. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”

White pulled away. “Raiders shot my first coltfriend in the head. We were kissing. His face appears every time you get close.”

“I see. These things take time.”

— 5 ———

“Stop poking me.”

Otter turned his head to face Corwin’s, then quickly looked down, pulling his hoof away and folding his ears. “Sorry. You’re just so soft.” He looked up. “What are you?”

“Yak.”

“Never heard of yaks. Where are you from?”

Bemusement turned to sorrow, and Corwin closed his eyes. “I don’t know. Slavers…” He stifled a sob and felt the little pony’s embrace, leaning into it.

“You’re among friends now,” said Otter, stroking Corwin’s mane. “We’ll find your home together.”

Peg Leg approached. “I freed the others while you made a pass. Let’s bail before Stern’s reinforcements arrive.”

— 6 ———

”Stop flavoring my Rad-Away. I like it fine pain.”

”Plain.”

”That's what I said.”

”It's not Rad-Away.”

”What?”

”I've been giving you flavored water.”

”What? Why? I'll die! Oh Celestia. I feel the radiation sickness creeping through my limbs.”

”You can’t.” She sighed. ”Safety Gear, I've been humoring you for months, but no more. You need a psychiatrist, not a nurse.”

”You think I’m hypochondriac? Look at this hair! You think I’m making these symptoms up?”

”No, Safety. Not making up symptoms. Misdiagnosing them. You don't have hypochondria or radiation sickness. I keep telling you. You're a ghoul.”

“…What?”

— 7 ———

“Stop hammering.” Voodoo Ranger tilted his head.

Stopping, Lucid Cow looked up.

The banging sound continued.

They looked down. A ghoul hammered mindlessly on the building frame.

Gulping, Voodoo looked to his gun—beside the ghoul, within its reach. He winced as Lucid’s hammer flew past the ghoul, smashing through the table.

The ghoul turned to the commotion, then followed the arc of the hammer’s flight to face Lucid as Voodoo fell on it from behind, smashing his own hammer into its head repeatedly until it was a pulpy mess.

“Thanks, mate. Bring that gun when you come back up.”

— 8 ———

“Stop posting lewd poetry.” Overmare Rank huffed, shaking her head.

“Who, me?”

Rank raised an eyebrow.

“Being about you doesn’t mean I posted it.”

Pressing a button, she started a video feed on a monitor behind her.

“Fake.”

Another button, and speakers emitted a foal’s voice.

“After reading it, Teacher Trip pinned it on the board and had us write one.”

“Mea culpa. What now?”

“First, apologize to every parent of those foals.”

He sighed.

“Then, demonstrate what’s in this poem.”

Trip smiled. “Yes, Overmare.” He skipped out the door.

Rank smirked, lifting the poem to read again.

— 9 ———

“Stop. Trespassers will be disintegrated,” it said. I jumped out of my skin at the sound of the ultra-sentinel coming to life.

Good thing it was tipped over. And stripped of tracks. And weapons.

— 10 ———

Stop scratching. Easier said than done. I didn’t stop until Dust Shine slathered my legs with a cream that made my skin tingle.

“And what have we learned today?”

“That you’re always willing to help out when I’m in trouble?”

He shoved me against the bed. “Try again, and if you get it wrong, you don’t get more when it wears off.”

I sighed. “Fire ants are small, but they’re as bad as rad scorpions.”