Author's Note
100 stories. 100 tales to tell, 100 reasons to write, and 100 reasons to be grateful for everybody who has supported me on this journey.
To all of my fans and followers, this is my thanks to you. Thanks for letting me take you on so many adventures. I would not be where I am without you all. Thanks for all the encouragement and support you give me. Special thanks to Pip for his encouragements especially. He's been with me through pretty much every fic. Thank you, Pip. For everything.
For my Mom, who is all of the things in this story.
For my Auntie Rhonda, for being my second mom.
For Mrs. McKinley for being a totally encouraging mom.
For Carol, for being an awesome second mom/encouraging grandma figure
And for Raevyn, who made me a mom.
This is for all of you.
Mommy is...
Mama is a hero- Shining Armor
Every day I put my life on the line to defend and protect ponies. It’s what I made an oath to do, and it’s why I wear my uniform. But when I was a colt, somepony else was protecting me.
My mom.
She was my first hero. She looked for monsters under my bed, and she read me stories about knights in Shining Armor before bed. She even read me the story of Samponeson, who had a mane that he couldn’t cut or he’d lose his strength. When she went into labor with my sister, I asked my Dad to cut some of my mane, because I wanted to give her some of my strong. He’d smiled, cut some off, held it with a rubber band, and when we went to the hospital to see her, I gave it to her, and gave her my strong. But she gave me hers too. She read me adventures and she wrote them, and she made me believe that I would go on lots of great adventures. And she was always good with words- sometimes she’d make word salads. My favorite was “Scave”- Scared and brave. When I grew up I found a lot of things that made me feel Scave. But even just thinking of her made me more brave than scared. I still think of that word now, and still smile when I think about it, because it’s a piece of her I kept with me- aside from my eyes, since she gave me those too.
Now that I have Flurry Heart and am a father myself, I realize that she was more of a hero than I realized. She stayed up late to fight my nightmares and made me meals even when she was tired. She took care of me and made sure I felt safe at home, and she never stopped encouraging me.
Mama has always been my greatest hero, and always will be.
Mommy is the smartest- Twilight Sparkle
Ever since I learned to read, I loved books. And I still do.
My Mom was a writer, and still is. She gave me her love of words, and a love of reading. I used to love when she held me in her lap and read me stories, because I could see myself in them. I always wanted more stories, and she always gave them to me without fail, whether it was a story about herself or one of her and my Dad, or just one she made up. She made me love to read, and enjoy finding new experiences.
When I went to the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot the first time and saw Princess Celestia raise the sun, that love of books transferred into a thirst for knowledge. I wanted to learn magic, and my Mom did everything she could to help me with it. She bought me lots of books and helped me figure out things I didn’t understand.
When I was a filly, I always thought she was the smartest mare in the whole world. And now, looking back, she still is, because she knew me enough to know what was best for me. She enforced my bedtime to keep me from staying up too late reading, made sure I ate right so that I would have the energy to study, and she tried to push me to make friends. Even when I didn’t want them. Even though that didn’t work out, she was smart enough to try because she knew I wouldn’t be a whole pony without them.
Mommy is the smartest mare I know, and always will be.
Mommy is my biggest fan- Rainbow Dash
Growing up in Cloudsdale, I always knew I was different from the other Pegasi and colts. I knew I was destined for great things.
But the pony who knew that before I could even talk was my Mom.
From the moment I was born, she encouraged me like nopony else. She told me over and over that I was the best at whatever I did, be it eating a carrot or taking a nap. She always saw the best in me. She was positive, upbeat, and encouraging, even on what must have been bad days for her- but she never showed those times to me because she wanted to keep my spirits up.
She came to every race I ever did- and cheered me on every time. She comforted me from my losses and dried all my tears with a wing. She never stopped believing in me, and because of that, I believe in myself. If it weren’t for her encouragement, I wouldn’t be the pony I am today, and I wouldn’t be half as confident in my own abilities either.
Mommy is my biggest fan- and I will always be hers too.
Mommy is the kindest- Fluttershy
Growing up, I was very shy and had a lot of trouble with using my voice.
I used to get teased a lot for not being a great flier, and I used to hide in my room sometimes because of it. But the one mare who always showed me kindness no matter what was my Mom.
When I had a bad day, she’d make my favorite meal to help me feel better. She’d leave me alone if she thought I needed time to collect myself, and she took me out to her special garden where my brother and I weren’t allowed to go- even when I was really little and couldn’t understand why it was important to her- because if there were insects there, she knew I’d love it.
She never raised her voice to me, but she showed me how to use my own. She taught me that I didn’t need to yell to gain respect- I only needed to show kindness to others. And because of her, I’m now the element of kindness. Sometimes when I’m scared of speaking up, I’ll remember the gentle way she used to chide me if I did something unsavory to her, and I’ll find a way to state my thoughts in a way that shows compassion.
Mommy is the kindest pony I know, and she taught me how to be that way too.
Mom is my safe haven- Zephyr Breeze
When I was growing up, I was too cool for a lot of ponies. But, different strokes for different folks, right?
I used to get nightmares a lot- totally uncool, I know- but my Mom always took the time to comfort me from them. She’d stroke my mane, and tell me it would be okay, and give me a hug, and I’d remember that I was way more awesome than any nightmare, and be able to sleep again. Something about her scent always calmed me down when I was flipping out.
When I got older, and I couldn’t find a job, she always let me sleep in my old room. There was something comforting about it. Even when I wasn’t ready, she didn’t push me. She encouraged me, and reminded me that I do have a purpose, I just have to find it. She knew how to talk to me in a way that made me realize how great I was, and she always kept her door open for me, because that’s the kind of pony she is. She gave me a home when I needed it. A home in her house, and a home in her arms and heart. And sometimes when I’m losing my cool, I remember the nights she stayed up with me and hugged me, and I feel better.
Mom is my safe haven, and she always will be.
Mother is my inspiration- Rarity
As a young filly, I always knew the power of inspiration. And nopony quite inspires me like my mother.
Mother and I have, ahem, different styles. I yearned for more culture than Ponyville could give me, though mother was always happy to be here. I love my mother dearly but her cooking is quite… Interesting. So she inspired me to be a better cook. But that’s not all she did.
Mother and I may have different styles, but she gave me a love of beauty. When I was a filly on Nightmare Night, she always helped me make my costume special, whether it be by a perfect hat or some extra sequins- even if she didn't know how much it meant to me. Mother always wanted me to feel beautiful and look my best, and always took the time to teach me about different gems- even when she didn’t know much about them herself. The first dress I ever made was in the colors of her coat and mane. I made it so that I could be just like her. She was so touched by the gesture she cried.
Mother ceaselessly devoted herself to giving me what I needed to create. She turned an unused bedroom in the house into a sewing room for me. She got me sketchbooks and pencils, she got me fabric and thread, and even helped me buy my first sewing machine, which I still have in my room as a reminder of all the hard work she put into making me the mare I am today.
Though I am vastly different from her, Mommy will always be my greatest inspiration.
Mommy is my voice- Sweetie Belle
I love to sing. I always have. Even when I was really little and couldn’t carry a tune.
Rarity used to hate when I sung while she was sewing- said it messed up her concentration, but my mom always used to ask me to sing to her.
Mom was the first pony I ever sang for. When I was little, and she would read me a story that had songs in it, she used to ask me to sing the parts I remembered, and would always clap for me. But even outside of singing, she was always my voice. When I couldn’t understand something, she always explained it to me, or when I had unspoken questions about something, she always knew what I was thinking and explained it.
Even more than that, growing up with a sister like Rarity who demanded a lot of attention was… Challenging. It felt like I always played second fiddle to her needs. But my mom would see when I needed the attention, and either give it to me, or have Rarity do something with me so that I would feel like I got some of the spotlight. And when Rarity fussed over something instead, she commanded no nonsense from her. She even mediated arguments between us, and helped me say things to Rarity I didn’t know how to.
Mommy has been my voice, and she helped give me my own.
Mommy Is The Wisest- Pinkie Pie
Growing up on a rock farm wasn’t a whole lotta fun.
It was all gray and there wasn’t very much color. And working a rock farm meant we didn’t have many bits leftover for doing fun things. But Mommy always made sure we had enough to eat, and she always knew just what to say when I was feeling blue- even when I couldn’t understand some of what she was saying ‘cause of the words she likes to say.
When I got my cutie mark and threw a party, Mommy was there. She danced with me and we partied for a long time until she said we had to get to work again. I didn’t know this ‘till later, but if we hadn’t gone back to it right then, we wouldn’t have made our crop in time for harvest. And when I moved to Ponyville and had lots of questions but no answers, I always sent her a scroll and asked, and she’d always answer me back with stuff I never even knew about. It was so super amazing!
Sometimes, when I’m having a bad day, something from Mommy will come in the mail, even if it’s just a quilt or a new rock, and it makes me happy. When I was little, I used to wonder how Mommy knew when I needed her. I used to think she was magic. But no, she was just really wise.
“Wise is the mother who knows her own child.” Mommy used to say that a lot to me.
Mommy knows when I need to buckle down and get working, but she also knows when to take a break. And lots of times, we’ve done both. Sometimes after a long day on the rock farm, I’d make her a little cake and we’d eat it together, and talk for a long time. And when I’m having a problem, sometimes she’ll visit from Rockville to help me. I don’t know how she does it!
Mommy is the wisest pony I know, and always will be.
Ma is the hardest worker- Limestone Pie
I don’t allow slack on my rock farm. And I got that from my Ma.
Ma didn’t necessarily crack the whip every day when I was a kid, but she knew how to be stern, and how to get the best work out of my sisters and I. Heck, she even did that with Pinkie Pie, and work isn’t exactly her thing.
I can remember her working well past sundown some nights to try and get the harvest done. I remember her making huge meals for our family to make sure we ate enough to keep us strong. She never once complained about it, even when she should have. She worked hard, tirelessly, on our behalf, and to keep our rock farm going, and I got that from her.
Now that Ma is older, I run the rock farm. But she still helps out and works as hard she did when I was a kid. Whether it’s polishing Holder’s Bolder or harvesting rocks or pulling carts, she never stops working to be the best she can be, and I’m proud to say I got it from her.
Ma works harder than any pony I know, even me, and she will always be that to me.
Mom is the best teacher- A Poem By Maud Pie
Mom taught me about every rock
Tirelessly working around the clock
She fueled my delight
For Eclogite
And taught me about tuff
And finding diamonds in the rough
She took the time while I was around
To show me every rock on the ground
And when I headed off to school,
It was her teaching that gave me the tools
To succeed
I have everything I need
For knowing rocks inside and out
Because of her teaching me and erasing my doubts
And her efforts were as great
As any silicate
To the mare who taught me the beauty of Granite,
I promise this- I’ll never take you for granted
Mommy is my strength- Marble Pie
I don’t talk much. But when I do it’s because of my Mom. Because she’s got a quiet kind of strength that I feel I can lean on. She taught me that words aren’t necessarily the meaning of strength. It’s action that means more than words. And she taught me that. I don’t have to speak much, because my actions speak for themselves. And Mom knows that, and has never pressured me to be different.
Even though I don’t talk much, I always say thank you to the mare who has always been my strength, and always will be.
Mama is an angel- Big Mac
Growin’ up, My Ma always said there were angels lookin’ out for me. I just never knew my Ma would be one of ‘em.
I remember pieces of Ma, and what I don’t remember, Applejack does. I remember her cooking breakfast in the mornin’ being excited to start the day. I remember how her eyes always seemed to say more than words. And I remember thinkin’ that her smile was heavenly. I didn’t know that it would become the truth, but it did.
Even though Ma ain’t here physically anymore, I still know she’s with me. I feel her in the sun on my face after a cold mornin’. I see her in the gleamin’ of the red apples on the trees. I see her in the face of my sisters. I hear her voice in the wind, tellin’ me she’s proud of me. And I’m always proud to be her son.
On nights when I can’t sleep, I think of her voice. She used to tuck me into bed, and tell me that angels were watchin’ over me. And now, when I think of that, I always think to her, I know you are.
Mama will always be my angel, and she’ll keep watchin’ over me and my family.
Ma is my courage- Applejack
Growin’ up on the farm, courage is a must.
Ya have to have it when you’re dealin’ with rattlers, or some apple-thievin’ varmints, or just some difficult customers. But I learned courage from my Ma.
I didn’t know her story until much later in life. I didn’t know that her Pa left her when she decided to marry my Pa. I still can’t imagine the kind of courage that would take. But her courage became my courage, because I do things my friends think are plumb crazy, but that I know I can do. I’ve ridden bulls, I’ve bucked through rocks, I’ve scaled cliffs. And I’ve done it all knowin’ that that’s a little part of her left in me.
When I was a little filly, real little, I remember seein’ my Ma lookin’ scared when she had Apple Bloom. But when I asked her why she didn’t stop, she didn’t tell me that she couldn’t stop or that things didn’t work that way. She told me the one piece of advice that still sticks with me.
Be afraid, then do it anyway.
So I do. I live with her courage, and I use it every day. I know if she were here, she’d be tellin’ me to live the best life I can. A whole lot of the time, that means having courage. And I have courage always because of her.
Ma is the most courageous pony I know, and always will be.
Mama is the best of me- Apple Bloom
I can’t remember my Mama, since she died when I was real little. But I’ve heard stories about her from my brother and sister, and because of that, I kinda feel like I know her.
Even then, sometimes I can’t help but feel like somethin’ is missing. Not gettin’ to know the mare who brought me into the world? That’s a lot to take. But I feel like I see bits of her in Applejack and Big Mac. Lookin’ at pictures of her in photo albums, I see Applejack got her smile and hair. And Big Mac- he got her down-to-earth nature. But I never really knew what I got from her.
Until I got my cutie mark.
Mama knew what Mrs. Cake was supposed to do before she did, and that’s what she gave me. My special talent is to help other ponies find what they’re good at, and I do it with her in mind. Sometimes when I’m feelin’ down, I think of her picture, or the apple and pear tree in the orchard, and I feel better. Because I know that part of her is still with me, and always will be.
I didn’t get to know my Mama, but I know the best parts of her are in me, and always will be.
Mom is my savior- Spike
I didn’t grow up in the Dragon Lands like other dragons did. I hatched from my egg in Canterlot, and found a family with Twilight Sparkle, her parents, and her brother, Shining Armor.
I never found out why my egg was used in an entrance exam until much later from Dragon Lord Ember. Turns out, if a mother doesn’t want an egg, they abandon it somewhere. Somewhere happened to be rather close to Equestria. My egg was found, taken to the castle, and was hatched by Twilight Sparkle.
Only ponies get cutie marks, but I’m pretty sure that was my destiny. I don’t need a cutie mark to prove that.
I grew up in Twilight’s family, and Twilight could do bits and pieces of caring for me back then, but she was still pretty young. Her mom, I think, took care of me. But I don’t remember that much. What I remember is when Twilight and I were in Canterlot Castle together, and then Ponyville.
Mother’s are those who raise you, who care for you, who put your best interests at heart. I never knew a biological mother, but I do have one in Twilight.
Twilight helps care for me when I’m sick, she put a roof over my head, she loves me unconditionally, and if it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t have grown up right. She doesn’t look like me, or have scales, or hatch from an egg. But she’s my mom all the same because she’s the one who took care of me and tried to give me a good life. And because of her, I have one. I have friends who care about me, I have a roof over my head, I have plenty of food and sometimes gems to eat, and I have Twilight, who worked hard to make me a gentledrake.
Twilight may not be my biological mom, but she’s my mom all the same, and always will be.
