E3: Equestrian Earth Expo

Chapters

Opening Ceremonies
Personal Care
Expanding Your Horizons
New Possibilities

Opening Ceremonies

E3: Equestrian Earth Expo

A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction

By Andrew J. Talon

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fanbased work of prose. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the property of Hasbro, and the reinvention of the lovely Lauren Faust. No copyright infringement is intended, please support the official release.

Ponyville had once been nothing more than a sleepy town on the edge of the Everfree Forest. A little rural community right next to a fearsome, untamed area of Equestria. It had attracted some tourists, scientists, and wanderers, as well as a few local conventions.

Then Nightmare Moon had returned, and six plucky mares had defeated her. Even later, one of those same plucky mares had become an alicorn princess, and gained her own castle. Those things attracted interest and investment.

The local railroad station, once nothing more than a cargo hub, had grown into a busy freight and passenger center. Taller buildings were erected, more ponies and sapient creatures moved in, and more organizations began to choose to meet in the once sleepy little hamlet.

All this attention required bigger, more functional meeting places. Convention centers. Alas, the only place that could fit a full convention was the local princess’s palace. This gave her a fair amount of leeway to choose just what kind of gathering would take place.

So, she chose-

“An Earth Pony trade and magic show?!” Rainbow Dash demanded. Twilight looked up from the checklist she’d been examining, standing in the main hall of her crystal palace. Many other pony workers were scattered about the hall, finishing final checks on several decorations. Rarity was shouting directions at the decorators, while occasionally using her magic to adjust the hangings.

“Oh Rainbow Dash, it’s not just Earth ponies,” she said. “I managed to get a few Pegasi and Unicorns here, too!”

“But a trade show?” Dash demanded, hovering over Twilight’s shoulder. “You couldn’t have booked the Wonderbolts or a Daring Do convention or something less boring?”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “You were right there when I was doing the negotiations! You saw how intense it got sometimes-How could arguing that furiously be boring?”
Rainbow Dash remembered, all right. She covered her face with her hooves and moaned dramatically, tugging down her cheeks and then letting them flap back into place.

“When you’re arguing about ‘ancient this’ and ‘taboo that’ for hours, of course it’s boring! No matter how loud it was!” Dash said. Twilight checked off the next to last item on her list, and happily trotted towards the front doors. Rarity soon joined her, shaking her head as her purple mane bounced.

“Oh Rainbow Dash, really. A trade show helps everypony’s businesses!” Rarity said cheerfully. “It helps our reputation! It lets you make more connections, experience new ideas-!”

“Oh good, all new ways to be bored,” Rainbow Dash snorted, as the doors slid open. Out on the castle grounds, hundreds of tents, stands and small tables under umbrellas had been set up. Vendors were already plying their wares, as ponies, griffins and other beings from Ponyville and beyond walked the temporary streets. Pegasi flew overhead, carrying this and that or just stretching their wings in the warm morning air.

“It has another important purpose, Dash,” Twilight explained. She was interrupted though, when Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy galloped, bounced, and fluttered up to them. Twilight smiled warmly.

“Hey guys! How are things going?” She asked. Applejack grinned.

“Jest fine! Got mah stand, Grandpa Pear, and a whole load o’ others up! Took a while to get it going, but we’re just in time!”

“We-We’re all set on our end,” Fluttershy said softly. She was uneasy but putting on a brave face.

Pinkie Pie though was bouncing up and down even more excitedly than usual. She leaped forward, and wrapped Twilight Sparkle in a tight hug.

“WE’RE ALL SET TOO, TWI! Oh thank you so much! You should have seen Mom and Maud’s faces when I told them! They’re so proud to be the opening act!”

Dash’s enthusiasm for the event, already lukewarm at best, became frozen solid. She rolled her eyes.

“So, we get to start off with a lecture on rocks. Thrilling,” Dash said dryly. Pinkie Pie jumped up into the air, her eyes meeting Dash’s. She grinned brightly.

“I KNOW! It’s so amazing!” Pinkie Pie cheered. Dash drooped further. Rarity gave her a look: She was the drama queen, thank you very much.

“Now Rainbow Dash! Be more polite!”

“Yeah,” Twilight said. “After all, this convention has a much more important purpose.” She began trotting in the direction of the large open field next to her castle. Several fenced off sandy circles now dotted it. The crowds parted, but thankfully only a few ponies bowed.

Rainbow Dash hovered after her friends, not even bothering to pretend to be eager.

“Oh? And what’s that?” Dash asked. Applejack rolled her eyes.

“Tirek,” she explained. Dash growled.

“What’s this got to do with that withered up prune?”

“As it turns out,” Twilight said, “we weren’t the first to try fighting him. He started with the outskirts of Equestria, after all. And I read the reports.” They passed the tents, and headed for the sandy arenas.

“Did you know what I learned?”

“That a lot of ponies got sucked? And not in a good way?” Dash snarked. Twilight shook her head.

“That a lot of ponies used magics, techniques and practices to try and fight him,” Twilight explained. “Stuff that had been thought lost for centuries-Even millenia.” Twilight sighed. “As it turns out, there’s still a lot that each of the three tribes of Pony keep to themselves. Even in a crisis.”

“So Twiley thought,” Pinkie Pie said happily, “and I totally agreed with her, by the way, that we should gather them all together and show off what everypony can do!”

“There’s so much we can learn from one another. That we can’t afford to keep hidden anymore,” Twilight said, firm as the earth they were trotting on. “If we’d all come together…” She took a deep breath, and looked at Dash. Her eyes were clear.

“I’m doing this to make Equestria stronger, Dash,” she said. Rainbow Dash sighed… But didn’t say anything else. When she was right, Twilight was right. At least she wasn’t rubbing it in.

They passed through the throngs, to a simple wooden stage at the head of one of the sandy arenas. Twilight trotted up the steps to a podium, engraved with the seal of Equestria itself. Rainbow Dash sighed, joining the crowd above. Twilight cleared her throat, and her horn lit up as she enhanced her voice.

“Good morning all!” Twilight bellowed out, making everypony wince. None moreso than her. “Sorry!” She recanted loudly. “Sorry, still working on that. Ahem. Welcome to the Equestrian Earth Pony Trade and Magic Exposition! Ponyville’s first! I am also proud to say that this is the first such exposition open to all tribes!”

Applejack winced just a bit, as did a few other Earth ponies. Dash noticed this, but soon grew bored as Twilight’s speech went into the inevitable reasons they were all gathered here and blah blah blah. Her eyes shifted to the arena.

Pinkie Pie was bouncing around two older mares-Her mother, Cloudy Quartz and of course, her sister Maud Pie. Both of the darker hued mares were adjusting smooth tunics, dark in color, loose and easy to move in. Pinkie Pie was busy adjusting armored greaves on their forehooves, armored vests on their chests and barrels, and fussing over their manes. The two stoic mares were placid as the energetic Pinkie Pie danced around them-They were probably far more used to this than Dash herself was.

Rainbow Dash’s attention was drawn back to Twilight. It seemed her nerdy friend was finally wrapping up the spiel.

“... And so, with the tragedy of yesterday past us but never forgotten, let us never forget what saved us: The truth,” Twilight Sparkle said. “I know that grudges still exist between our tribes, even after thousands of years of peace and unity. I know they’re not something you can easily get over.” She took a deep breath. “Well we can’t afford those grudges anymore. I’m hoping that this is the first of many steps towards ponies coming closer together in harmony… And friendship.”

Twilight beamed, enjoying the applause. Her smile grew far more genuine as she extended her right wing and arm out towards the arena.

“So! Without further ado,” she said, “let us enjoy our first opening demonstration! Earth Control Magic, by Cloudy Quartz Pie and Maud Pie!”

The hoof clapping roared, and Twilight stepped down from the stage. Pinkie Pie bounced out of the arena, though not before two very happy hugs to her sister and mother. Pinkie took her place next to Twilight, leaning against the wooden fence with an eager look on her face.

Soon, Twilight was wearing the same expression. Dash’s curiosity was piqued, despite her misgivings.

“Okay, so, what’s Earth control magic?” Dash asked.

“It’s to control the Earth with magic, of course!” Pinkie giggled. “Mom’s a master of it! Maude's gonna become an Earth Master in a few decades, and this demonstration will help to assess her progress! She's been working so hard!"

“I can’t believe one was living right here in Ponyville all this time!” Twilight said happily.

Cloudy Quartz bowed to her daughter. Maud bowed back. Cloudy Quartz turned back to the crowd, looking as sure and unshakeable as a mountain. She opened her mouth.

"In the days before our Tribes were one,” Cloudy spoke, “creatures great and small tried to enslave or worse, devour our kind. Even the pegasi and unicorns, at different times, attempted to take our freedom. They were stopped only by ponies of great courage and strength. Those who knew the price of freedom.” Her rock hard gaze swept over the crowd. “We were taught to be unyielding as the mountains. As fearsome as the volcano. As swift as the earthquake. Today, we honor not just our ancestors by keeping these arts alive: We honor all ponies who, in an hour of need, will answer the call.”

That was kind of cool, Dash thought. Like something out of one of Fluttershy’s Neighponese mangas. She found her hesitance fading. Given how Pinkie Pie could move, maybe her family had some kind of cool karate or kung fu or-

KABOOM!

Dash was nearly shocked out of the air by the loud boom, even though her keen eyes had caught it. Both Maud Pie and Cloudy Quartz had kicked up pieces of rock, and then bucked them right at one another-Faster than cannon shells! The dust kicked up initially obscured both mares, but a massive shard of rock jutted through it. Atop it rode Maud Pie, as stoic as ever. Her mother emerged from the dust cloud, throwing a powerful hoof at Maud.

Maud dropped down, Cloudy Quartz sailing over her. The earth itself erupted, and formed a platform for her to land on. She swung around, and threw her hooves forward-The rock followed the movement, slamming against Maud’s outcropping and smashing it to rubble!

The crowd was silent in shock. Dash couldn’t blame them, her experienced eyes now seeing the Earth ponies move like nothing she’d ever seen them do before.

Maud had leaped off her rock formation, and landed in the sand. She slid along it like it was made of glass, skating without any resistance. She leaped over a rock pillar Cloudy rose in her way, and slid around another and another. Maud slid around, slamming her hooves down and sending a shockwave through the dirt. Cloudy rose on a rock tower, letting it absorb the quake. The tower was shattered, now falling like a felled tree. Cloudy moved, sliding on the underside of the tower and landing on her hindhooves with a harsh rumble through the earth. She used the momentum of the falling tower to swing the great tower like a bludgeon, right for Maud Pie.

Maud dug her hooves in, and pulled them up-A shield of rock and sand moved over her, forming a dome. The loose conglomerate of rock and sand solidified into dark, hard stone-Stone that broke as the tower crashed down upon it!

Dash’s jaw dropped in shock as Cloudy Quartz stood there, unmoving, like she hadn’t just crushed her own daughter under solid rock. There was a reason for that though.

The earth behind Cloudy Quartz rumbled and rippled, like water. Just before Maud burst out, breaching like a whale. She swung a powerful hoof right for her mother’s head-A rock wall jutting upwards just in time to take most of the force of the impact. It shattered under the blow, and Cloudy turned to face her daughter.

The hoof… Stopped a mere inch from her snout. A snout that was now smiling.

The silence lingered, just like the dust in the air… Before unrestrained applause erupted from the crowd. Dash yelled, cheered, and whooped with all her heart, almost as enthusiastically as Pinkie Pie.

Because that… Had been awesome!

Author's Note

So, this is a deliberate group project. One, it's to expand the lore of MLP, and two, it's to have fun. It's an exhibition, after all!

More is coming to fill out the story so far, but it's open to anyone who wants to contribute! And with each chapter we get more info out there. So get creative with OCs, lore, and everything else! If you need more inspiration, just check through my blog or just ask me questions!

Personal Care

E3: Equestrian Earth Expo

A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction

By Andrew J. Talon

The demonstration the Pie Family had put on had made everypony split off into pairs: Twilight and Pinkie Pie had naturally gone to Maud and Cloudy Quartz, Dash had eagerly dragged Applejack off to see the rest of the Martial Arts section, and so Rarity and Fluttershy began wandering the expo without any destination in mind. The scents and smells of perfumes, foods, candles and so many other things filled the air, and Fluttershy was rather excited. Despite her nervousness.

"So Fluttershy, what was your part in this convention?" Rarity asked, as they passed by a stallion trying to sell his stand of utili-kilts-And sadly, not seeming to have much luck. Maybe Rarity would swing back around to see what she could do to help. If only to improve those drab colors.

"Oh, um, n-not much," she said softly. "I just asked Zecora and Treehugger to come, and invite their friends. Potion making is something a lot of Earth ponies and zebras have experience with. Home re-remedies, and that kind of thing," she said. "I also asked a friend of Treehugger's... Um, well, a friend of a friend. She's a stylist."

Rarity's ears perked up at that. "A stylist, you say?" She asked, intrigued. Fluttershy nodded with a smile, her mane and tail bouncing a bit.

"O-Oh yes," she said. "She did my mane and hair last time I saw her-"

"Do you know where her stand is?" Rarity inquired eagerly. Fluttershy nodded.

"Well of course, but it's over on the other side of the convention and-"

"WE'RE OFF!" Rarity declared, practically dragging Fluttershy along as she galloped like Nightmare Moon was after her rump.

As it turned out, Twilight had organized the convention in a very logical manner. The arenas were near the Martial Artist stands, tents and huts. The food stands were mostly concentrated around here, too. Various vendors and other demonstration areas were organized on the other side, meaning that to get to either side, you would have to go through the food sections. Not that Rarity was too concerned about that-She had gotten used to lots of cantering and galloping as an Element Bearer.

They found their way into a section of tents and stands that seem to have been designated for stylists, beauticians, perfume and shampoo makers, and every kind of home soap maker you could imagine. Amidst these, Treehugger was cheerfully selling 'herbal supplements', scented candles, and 'incense burners' (Rarity snorted-She wasn't fooled, she'd been to college). The green Earth pony mare looked up from watching a ladybug, and smiled with her usual vacant expression.

"Hey Fluttershy, hey Rarity," she greeted. Fluttershy beamed, an expression Rarity mirrored.

"Hello Treehugger! If it's not too much trouble, can you tell us where Medusa set up?"

"Sure," Treehugger said. She slowly pointed over at a stand across the way. There was a fox-like Abyssian queen giving a pony a tattoo. Treehugger's hoof slowly shifted to the stand next to it-This was an enclosed tent with a stylish sign over the entrance. It read simply:

Medusa Salon.

"Hm, good choice in font," Rarity observed. "And good printing. Unfortunate name, but it is memorable. The tent itself," she trotted over to it, examining the fabric, "is good quality. And designed to keep a breeze flowing." She beamed as Fluttershy trotted up next to her. "She has such a wonderful eye for detail! I can tell!" She pushed her way into the tent. "Hello?"

It was a simple but elegant salon inside-A single salon chair, with a dresser, mirror and shelves upon shelves of shampoos, conditioners, and hair potions artfully displayed. As well as numerous combs, brushes and other tools for beauty maintenance. It was well lit by glowing magic crystals arranged overhead. In the center of it all was a tall, turquoise furred Earth mare with a long, almost luminous royal purple mane. She wore a plain, black and dark blue smock. Her cutie mark was concealed underneath it. She was just cleaning off a few pairs of scissors, when she turned and caught sight of Rarity and Fluttershy.

"Hello Medusa," Fluttershy said.

She beamed happily, her dark red eyes crinkled with joy.

"Fluttershy!" She cried happily. She immediately wrapped her hooves around the skittish mare. "It's so wonderful to see you again! And you brought Miss Rarity!" She beamed like the sun. Fluttershy nodded, as Rarity smiled elegantly.

"Oh yes," Fluttershy said. "She was so eager to meet you, since you did such a good job on my mane and tail. Could you possibly fit her in?"

"I've seen what you've done for Fluttershy, and I just had to see for myself how you did it!" Rarity enthused. Medusa immediately guided Rarity to her salon chair, settling her in happily. The lights on the mirror lit up, illuminating the taller mare and her subject.

"As you can see," Medusa said with a sigh, "I'm a bit short on customers right now."

"That is unfortunate," Rarity said, in fellow small business owner sympathy. "Do you know why?"

Medusa shook her head. "I suppose it might be the name," she said.

"Well, it is rather unconventional, dear," Rarity said soothingly. "However did you get it, anyway?"

Medusa beamed. "I'm glad you asked!"

In an instant, Medusa's long, purple hair came to life-Rising like the tendrils of a dozen purple snakes! Rarity's eyes widened as the hairs seized numerous scissors, combs, brushes, and bottles of product, before going right to work on her mane.

"Ahhhwahhhaaa?!"

As Medusa's mane came in contact with her own, Rarity could feel warmth flooding through her scalp. Her own hair seemed to come alive, flowing like water in the air. Rarity was fascinated and slightly horrified at the amazing sight in her mirror as Medusa went about her work.

"Many ponies have the ability to move their mane or tail at will, if they focus at it," Medusa said conversationally, "but growing up, I had a real talent for it!" She stuck her tongue out at the corner of her mouth as she concentrated. Several locks of Rarity's mane rose up on their own, and the stylist cut them artfully. "I also could make other pony's hair come to life, if I pushed a little Earth magic into it. A lot of them were freaked out, but it lets me do so much more with it..."

She pulled the tendrils of her hair away, and the warmth vanished. Rarity stared in amazement at her beautifully, perfectly styled mane-A work she could do herself, naturally, but nowhere near as fast!

"So," Medusa said, her tendrils wavering a bit nervously, "what do you think?"

Rarity's smile nearly broke her face in two. "I think," she began, "I would like to hire you on for some fashion shows I'll be working in the next few months-If you're not too busy?"

Medusa gaped. "I... You mean it?" She asked. Rarity nodded.

"Darling, if you can do this for me, just imagine what you can do with a real challenge!" Rarity grinned. "What do you say?"

"I... Well I'd need to pack up my salon," Medua admitted. She looked around. "I managed to fit it into two trunks to get it here, so if you have room-"

"Dear," Rarity said gently, "if you're concerned about anything? Trust me. I'll handle it. And if anypony has a problem with how you do... Your work, they'll answer to me."

Medusa squealed, and hugged Rarity tightly. "Oh thank you thank you thank you!"

"URK!"

Fluttershy coughed.

"Um, Medusa? It might go better if you didn't choke Rarity with your hair?"

"Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry!" Medusa cried. Rarity chuckled, as soon as she could get her breath back.

"No harm done, darling..." She tilted her head. "Just out of curiosity, did you do any... Modeling?"

Medusa coughed. "Well... A friend of mine does work on the Power Ponies comic. He needed a reference model, and I needed the bits, so..." She shrugged. "I'm not much of a comic book fan. I got paid well so I wasn't complaining. Did he end up doing anything with it?"

Rarity and Fluttershy exchanged looks. Rather vivid memories of the Mane-Iac cackling as she held them hostage came to mind.

"You... Might say that," Rarity said dryly.

Rainbow Dash was beside herself with glee, hovering up and down for the sheer excitement filling her. Applejack kept up sedately, grinning up at her friend as they headed for the martial artists section.

“So cool, so cool,” Dash chanted. She shook her head and stared at Applejack. “How come you never told me about this?!”

“Well,” Applejack looked uncomfortable, “if we’re bein’ completely honest? It’s tradition not to tell anyone who ain’t an Earth pony.”

“What?” Dash asked in disbelief. “Why not?! This is so awesome!”

“Remember that part about pegasi tryin’ t’ conquer and enslave Earth ponies?” Applejack asked dryly. Dash scowled, crossing her front hooves.

“Yeah, but that hasn’t happened in-in ages! I mean, come on! I would never do anything like that!”

“Ah know, and ah agree with you,” Applejack said. “It don’t make no sense now.” She shook her head. “But a lot of Earth pony families have long memories and traditions of keepin’ quiet. Cause if you didn’t back in the distant past, you were givin’ away secrets that might get yer family enslaved-or worse.”

“How long could their memories be?” Dash huffed. “Only ponies around for that stuff would be Celestia and Luna. Anyway, come on! Are you doing anything for this convention?”

“Well,” Applejack smiled, “Big Mac’s gonna be doin’ some wrassling. Showin’ off some old school Earth Pony rasslin’ moves. Ain’t nopony can get away from ‘im once he’s got ya on the ground. And fer the mares, maybe he’ll be mud rasslin’ later… If yer interested?”

Dash flushed and looked aside. She huffed. “Maybe… If I’ve got nothing better to do,” she replied. Applejack chuckled.

“Anyhow. Ah might put in a few demonstrations,” she said. “Guess we’ll see how things go and-Oh!” She beamed as she saw a familiar aged nag, standing under a tree talking to two other mares. “Granny Smith!”

The aged mare looked over and beamed at her granddaughter. “Howdy Applejack!” She cried, waving back. Dash took a moment to study the two mares with her.

One was pale white, with a beautiful blonde mane in two ponytails, brown eyes, and a blue diamond on her forehead. The mare was admittedly, very beautiful, and had the cutie mark of a slug curling around a rod. A pale pony with a short black mane in a black kimono was at her side, a piglet in pearls on her back. The piglet was sleeping, as the younger mare looked around nervously.

"Howdy Golden Braid!” Applejack said cheerfully to the blonde mare. “Howdy Quiet! Heard you was in town!"

"Just for a medical demonstration,” the blonde mare said in a cool, seductive voice.. “Then it's off to Las Pegasus! I'm feeling lucky this time!" The mare grinned, her eyes filled with avarice. Quiet sighed, clearly resisting the urge to roll her own eyes.

"Honestly Lady Braid, half your debtors are in Las Pegasus!" Quiet said in a soft, warning tone. Golden Braid chuckled, shooting a confident grin back at her.

"They've never been able to get me faster than a day or so. Plenty of time to win enough money to keep them happy,” she replied. Granny Smith chuckled, clearly used to this pony’s antics.

"Yer gonna hang yerself with that line one of these days, ya know!"

"We could go together!” Golden Braid said, smiling confidently. “Make a weekend out of it, hm? Just like the old days?" She beamed at Applejack, wrapping a foreleg around her in a motherly way. “Or maybe your heroic, well connected, and very beautiful granddaughter could come along?”

“Why thank ya, Golden Braid,” Applejack said, sweet as her namesake. “That’s mighty kind of ya.”

“You’re very welcome,” Golden Braid replied. “So…?”

"Still not gonna give you a loan,” Applejack deadpanned. Golden Braid groaned.

"You're gonna be like that, huh… You take far too much after your grandmother, you know-Hm?” She started, looking up at the somewhat impatient Rainbow Dash. She grinned.

“Oh! Hello! Rainbow Dash, right? Pleasure to meet you too!"

"Oh, hey! I see my reputation precedes me!” Rainbow Dash replied. It wasn’t much flattery, but it was enough to mollify her for now. “So, who are you?"

The blonde mare chuckled.

"I'm Golden Braid-I'm a friend of the Apple Family's!" She said. Granny Smith nodded in agreement, hobbling up closer.

"We were foalhood friends!" Granny laughed. “Fer half of it. Other half we hated eachother!”

Golden Braid chuckled. “Yeah, well, you started it.”

“Hmph! Still on that story, eh?” Granny Smith huffed.

Both mares were completely unresponsive to Dash falling onto the ground. The cyan pegasus got back up, her mouth wide open.

"Wait, what?! Foalhood?!"

Rainbow Dash pointed at Golden Braid, who looked only a little older than Applejack. She then turned and pointed at Granny Smith, who was of course.. Granny Smith.

"That's impossible! There's no way you could be THAT old, lady!" She turned to Applejack, eyes wide. "Come on! This is a prank on me, fess up!"

Applejack just chuckled-The other mares were making similar sounds. Even Quiet, who had seemed so nice, was covering her mouth with her hoof as her pet pig snored on.

"Nope!” Applejack said, as Golden Braid beamed proudly. “Lady Braid is really that old."

Her beam became less proud as her eyebrow twitched, but it passed. Dash was still grasping for answers.

"But... But... How...?!"

"Why,” Granny Smith began, “Golden Braid is one o' the greatest pony healers ever!"

“Oh my, yes!” Quiet jumped in, adding to the praise. “She helped revolutionize healthcare a hundred and fifty years ago!"

Dash could swear the sound of her jaw hitting the ground could be heard clear in Yakyakistan.

"SHE'S THAT OLD?! WAIT!" Dash pointed at Granny Smith, again accusing. "YOU'RE THAT OLD?!"

Granny just chuckled, in a ‘you’re thinking like a filly, not a mare’ sort of way. "Sure am!"

"But... How,” Dash turned to the blonde, glaring in confusion. “Explain?"

"Pegasi schooling standards must be even worse nowadays,” Golden Braid sighed, as Quiet bit down a chuckle. “Here, I'll demonstrate. Granny?"

Granny pulled out a small apple cutting knife with her hoof from her walker, and gently sliced a line across her cheek. A bit of blood leaked out. Applejack winced, but Granny just looked at Golden Braid expectantly.

"All right..." Golden Braid held up a hoof, and pressed it onto Granny Smith's cheek. It began to glow gently, pulsing with life. Dash watched, utterly fasinated.

"You see,” Golden Braid explained, “Earth ponies can draw upon the life energy of the Earth beneath us. Then we can channel that energy into other creatures to heal them. Earth ponies in particular can use that energy to extend their life spans, and prevent themselves from succumbing to old age."

Granny Smith sighed happily as her cut sealed up, vanishing like she'd never hurt herself. She beamed at Golden Braid, and then looked over at Dash and Applejack.

"Lahk this,” the aged nag said.

She pressed her hooves against her own cheeks, and grimaced. In an instant, her wrinkles vanished, her withered form filled out, and standing before them was a young mare-No older than Applejack or Dash herself! Dash's jaw dropped, as Granny stretched out and groaned happily.

"HOLY HAYBALES!" Dash shouted. Applejack held a hoof in front of her mouth, shaking her head. They were getting a lot of attention: Usually that was fine with Dash, but she didn’t want to look like some ignorant filly in the middle of so many cool ponies. The pegasus calmed down, and focused on the miracle before her.

"Ahhh... Now that's the stuff! Thanks fer that, Braid!" Granny Smith said, in a smooth, sensual voice. She pushed away from her walker, and trotted in a circle. She swung her tail around, happy as could be. Golden Braid smiled warmly, a hint of sadness in her brown eyes.

"Not a problem, Granny,” Golden Braid said with complete sincerity. “I just wish it could last-"

Granny almost immediately reverted back to her aged form, like a balloon deflating. She managed to trot back to her walker, holding on tight as she sagged back into the form Dash was most familiar with. She felt Applejack wince, and couldn’t blame her.

“... longer,” Golden Braid finished quietly. Granny shook her head, back to her usual cheerful self.

“Ah well… Was nice while it lasted.” She looked up at Dash and Applejack. "When ah was around mah nineties... Ah shoot, maybe mah hundredth birthday? Ah couldn't really keep up anymore. It's lahk flexin' a muscle and holdin' it. It gits harder and harder t' do the older ya git…” She shot a mock glare over at Golden Braid, and lightly rapped her on the shoulder with her hoof. “Except fer this cheater!"

"Skinflint!” Golden Braid shot back, grinning merrily. She looked back at Dash and Applejack. “In any event, it takes a lot of training to maintain it indefinitely. I refined the family techniques and figured out how to stay in this form all the time. But it's not something everypony can learn." She smiled. “Still! My other techniques let Earth ponies do a lot of good for injured ponies. Unicorns can do complex surgery while an Earth pony is feeding the patient life energy, to name just one example.”

"Wait, so this is why Nurse Redheart is so touchy feely when she's treating me? Huh!" Rainbow Dash pondered this.

“That or she’s hopin' yer battin’ fer the other team,” Applejack snickered. Dash blushed.

“Shut up!”

Golden Braid laughed. “Oh! Redheart’s at work? Good! She's one of my students too. She's very good. But decided not to become my full time assistant-like Quiet." She gestured to the black maned mare. Quiet sighed, her eyes looking to the side harshly.

"That's because the job involves keeping you out of trouble more than learning anything,” she muttered. Golden Braid glared.

"What was that?" She asked dangerously. Quiet smiled, far too quickly.

"Oh, nothing! Nothing at all!” She said. Golden Braid kept glaring for a while, but she relented. Quiet breathed a sigh of relief. Another thought occurred to Rainbow Dash, and she found herself with more questions and not being frustrated about it!

A very new experience, to be sure.

"So... Wait. If Earth ponies can move life energy into other ponies, can they also pull it back out?"

Golden Braid sighed, suddenly looking much older. Like painful memories were hiding behind her eyes.

"Unfortunately, yes. There have always been a few Earth ponies who drained other ponies for their life energy-In order to stave off old age, live forever, or just because they loved it. Like a bunch of vamponies." She shook her head in disgust.

Dash blinked. It couldn’t be that simple. Sure, she'd been on adventures with Daring Do but this...?

"You're joking…” The ancient mares didn’t break. “You're not joking."

Dash felt Granny’s walker poke her in the back. She looked over her shoulder. The aged mare was looming over her, a hungry look in her eyes as her hooves shook above Rainbow’s mane.

"In fact... Ah'm feelin'... A mite peckish…” She began ominously. Dash gulped, and tried to move, but both Golden Braid and Applejack put their hooves on her shoulders. They felt like they were made of solid iron! Both of them were just so strong!

“Peckish... fer yer youth!" Granny cried.

“HUH?!” Dash gasped.

"Feed mah granny, Daaaash!" Applejack moaned.

"AAHHH!" Dash cried. “CUT IT OUT!”

Everypony all laughed. The pressure was lifted. Dash blushed, and glared around at all the Earth mares as she caught her breath.

"Oh I'm going to get you all back for this. Just you wait!" She threatened.

“Ah look forward to it,” Applejack said with a grin.

After that little bit of humiliation, the rainbow haired pegasus mare squeezed through a crowd around the exhibition pavilion. Her friends were somewhere behind her, but with this being a demonstration that included flying, she wanted to get as close as she could. Peering out from among the small sea of bodies, she could see somepony across from a massive banded wood mock up of a hunched over ogre. He was a Pegasus with a nicked ear, and he breathed deeply on the mat in the center of a large cleared space well surrounded by a no fly zone, one encircled by numerous other elevated targets and training dummies. For moments nothing happened, then a spark of lighting peeled out from under the Pegasus’ dark coat, one thread of bright blue, then another, and another, the white of his mane and tail flattening and slimming down as more and more lighting played over him, then it stopped for a heartbeat.

“HA!”

In an eyeblink the male Pegasus was across the cleared space with a loud echoing *crack* hoof having crushed through the dummies front shoulder joint an arc of blue highlighting for a moment just where the Pegasus had come up to impact the joint, the limb falling away, and then he was continuing on past it, wings beating fiercely as he wheeled around again and-

“HA!!”

*KACRACK* the hip joints was scored through this time as he sped past again wings leaving a trail of glowing blue.

“HAAA!!!”

Rainbow Dash tried to lean closer past the rope stanchions, her eyes raptly following the first Pegasus martial artist she’d found at the expo, “Whoa… What’s he doing?….”

Both fore-hooves this time crashed into the dummies chest, caving it in, the Pegasus quickly backing off again as the dummy had started to tip over. The black coated Pegasus wasn’t done though, taking to the air with strong wing-beats, dashing to each target and cleaving through it with a single hoof or wing strike, weaving around imaginary spell fire. Until finally he arced over the last dummy and dropped like a stone, curling into ball that was coated in more of those glowing blue arms and ripping strait through the dummy and the floating cloud stand it had been set on.

The Pegasus uncurled and landed heavily on all four hooves with knees bent, but quickly brought himself up to standing, his face serious and disciplined, but it was quickly overtaken by a grin.

“That was Arc Blade everypony! Thanks for your time!”

The male Pegasus trotted from the exposition area to the hoof stomped applause of his audience as stage ponies swarmed out to set up the area for the next martial artist.

“Arc Blade...” Rainbow had to find out more about that, it had looked so cool!

By the time Dash made it through the crowd, things going much faster when the no fly zone was lifted and she could take to the air.

She finally found the wayward demonstrator standing around with a few other ponies at a concession table, a big mug of water in one hoof that had been half drained already. Rainbow pressed forward as the other two ponies moved over to some small snacks, "Hey!"

"Hmm? Oh sorry I'll get out of the way of the water."

Rainbow followed him as he back up so she could look him in the eyes. "No, not that, Arc Blade! You said that was Arc Blade and I need to learn that! It was so cool!"

“Oh… uh, sorry I’m not really taking students just yet-.”

“No no you can’t say no!” Dash didn’t quite take him by the front of one of his shoulders and shake him, but it was a near thing. “It was so cool! I’ll do anything!- Well...” She looked him over for a moment and came to a decision, a hoof reaching up to tug slightly at her mane and the smallest of smiles curling on her lips. “Anything.”

The Stallion was staring at her now for a long moment. “...All right, my ‘anything’ if you give up, you can’t start again. Arc Blade needs a lot of focus and dedication.”

Rainbow was so elated she let him go and grinned. “All right! This is gonna be great you’re not going to regret this!”

The male Pegasus nodded and set his water mug aside, holding up a hoof to her, “My name is Vorpal.”

Dash eagerly took the offered limb and shook it.

Vorpal waited a beat, “And you are?….”

She froze, “You… don’t know who I am?”

The stallion’s head tilted to the side, “No... Should I?”

Rainbow just stared at him slack jawed, and Vorpal got more fidgety as things got more awkward, then the mare seized his shoulders again with manic strength and started to shake him.

“HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM?!”

Just a few steps away Applejack couldn't hold it in any more and started to guffaw.

Author's Note

Golden Braid is heavily based on of Tsunade from "Naruto" of course. "Tsunade" means "A mooring rope" in Japanese, so "Golden Braid" sounded like a good pony name for her. Shizune of course means "quiet", so that explains her name. Golden Braid's cutie mark is the Rod of Asclepius, a worldwide symbol of medicine and healing.

Naturally, Medusa is based upon the Mane-iac.

Vorpal's section (and Vorpal himself) was written by Valiant. He is the first contributor to this project and his art will be expanded upon later in the story.

All of these abilities are based on either abilities seen in the Tails of Equestria RPG (which I recommend you read or at least try-It's a lot of fun!) or in the show itself.

This is just to whet your appetites as the main story is soon to begin. So hold on to your plots, things are going to get bumpy quite soon...

Expanding Your Horizons

E3: Equestrian Earth Expo

A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction

By Andrew J. Talon

Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Cloudy and Maud convened in a nearby tent where the patriarch of the Pie Clan was busy preparing water and snacks around a small table. Twilight was fit to burst with excitement as she sat down around the little table. Pa Pie had held out her chair politely for her, and she'd been barely able to thank him before she took the seat.

"I feel like I can't thank you all enough for this. This was a perfect opening for the expo!" Twilight said happily. Pa Pie poured a drink for Cloudy, who gave her husband an appreciative expression before she drained the glass. Maud too refueled on water, and had a few of the rock cakes on her plate. Pa Pie then turned to the princess with a small smile.

"How could we turn down our beloved daughters, as well as their dearest friend?"

Pinkie Pie grinned, dipping a rock cake in the water and chewed on it happily.

"Hee! Told you!" she said. Maud nodded.

"Yes. I assure you, this is one of the happiest days of my life."

It was said in her usual monotone. Pinkie Pie hugged her happily anyway, making their chairs rock unsteadily. Maud looked down.

"Didn't mean to gush," she said. Twilight shook her head, still smiling broadly.

"Oh no, I'm not offended. I'm just so excited to learn more about Earth control! Do you have these techniques written down at all?" She leaned forward eagerly. Cloudy nodded slowly.

"Certain techniques are. Many reside in the Earth Pony College of Earth Thaumatology Archives," she said.

"However," Maud interjected, "they would not part with any manuscripts for this event."

Twilight goggled in disbelief.

"What? They told me those techniques were hard to find and might take months to dig out!" It had taken her months just to get them to actually talk to her! And she was a princess! Maud looked... Sympathetic, for her anyway.

"They lied," Maud stated simply. "The Earth ponies running the college are bigoted morons. They still think the other tribes will try to subjugate them: Or that they might subjugate the other tribes instead."

"Those big meanies!" Pinkie Pie cried, making a face. The rest of the Pies looked similarly put out. Twilight's ears drooped just a bit.

"Oh... I see." It seemed she still had a long way to go with this exposition... Still. This is what it was for, after all.

"This is part of why I do so much field study," Maud continued. "I couldn't deal with the elitist snobs at the college. Sometimes it frustrates me so much I want to scream."

She paused.

"Ahhh." She blinked. "Sorry."

"It's been an emotional day for all of us," Cloudy Quartz said gently, patting Maud's hoof with her own.

"Uh... Yes," Twilight said. She shook her head. "That said, problems like those are why this exposition is so important. And I'm so thankful for all your efforts."

Cloudy Quartz nodded, a ghost of a smile on her face. "Indeed. This is why we are willing to share our own manuscripts and writings with you, Your Highness."

"They may not be as properly organized as a university archive," Pa Pie added, "but they are yours."

"Yeah!" Pinkie Pie cheered. Twilight's smile grew: She had had misgivings about Pinkie Pie offering to get her family involved, but they were a far off memory.

"Thank you so much! And you don't have to call me that. Just call me Twilight!" She beamed. Cloudy nodded respectfully.

"Very well," she said calmly, "we will begin the training after the exposition."

Pinkie Pie gasped joyfully, her hooves coming up to her cheeks.

"TRAINING?! ALREADY?! WOWIE!" The pink pony bounced up and down, as Twilight blinked in confusion.

"Uh... Training?" She asked. Cloudy Quartz nodded gravely.

"If you are to learn our ways, you must be trained properly," she said. "You are already a member of the Pie Clan via Pinkie's adoption of you as a sister, so you can learn the family techniques without marrying in."

"I am fine with one wife as it is," Pa Pie said, almost wryly. Twilight gaped.

"Wait what?! Training? I just want to do research!"

Cloudy's stare was as cold and hard as a block of granite. "But you must be trained."

Twilight shook her head.

"I... I appreciate it, but as a Princess I already have so much to do-" Her protest was interrupted by the harsh, stony glare of the Pie family Matriarch. It was like trying to stare down a mountain.

"As a Princess of Equestria, you are committed to its defense are you not?" She asked pointedly. Twilight nodded slowly.

"Well, yes-" She tried, but Cloudy interrupted.

"You wish to understand all the magics of the three tribes? To better defend us?"

Twilight again nodded.

"Yes, I am but-"

"And," Cloudy stated emphatically, "you wish to learn more?"

"Absolutely!" Twilight tried, "but-"

"Then you will become my pupil," Cloudy stated, her tone brooking no further argument. "Maud's training is almost complete, and she will take over the school in a few decades. Limestone and Marble are beyond the basics. Pinkamenia never had great aptitude in Earth Control, but she can help you learn other arts. I have missed having a young pupil to break in. One without any bad habits to correct." She stared intently. "One who can carry our teachings into the future with her potential, and make them even greater."

Twilight held back a resigned sigh. She nodded gracefully. The Pie Matriarch was, of course, absolutely right.

"Well then... Yes, I will. Thank you Cloudy."

"Please," Cloudy stated, her gaze still hard but at the same time a bit more kindly, "call me Sensei."

Clearly, neither her own mother or Princess Celestia had the most intimidating mom look, Twilight reflected. Pinkie Pie shook her out of her reverie with a cheerful hug.

"WOOHOO!" Pinkie cheered. "Welcome to the family, Sister Twilight!"

"What an honor," Maud deadpanned.

What have I gotten myself into...? Twilight thought, not for the first time when it came to Pinkie Pie.

After sorting out the logistics of the lessons, training and research, Twilight emerged from the tent with a happily bouncing Pinkie Pie. The pink mare was flipping the map of the exposition in her hooves, excitedly babbling about what to see first.

"Ooh! The local alchemist is here! Fullmetal and his wife, Whinny! I love them so much! Fullmetal's brother, Armor Heart, is getting married to this nice Neighponese girl and he's gonna become the Royal Alchemist! Ooh! OOH! Or we could go see the Clockwork Pony exhibit! That's right by the Unicorn Puppetry exhibit! Or we could see-!"

"Pinkie, Pinkie, calm down!" Twilight chuckled. "We have the entire week to see everything!" She produced a clipboard, smiling broadly. "All properly organized and planned so we can hit every interesting vendor and exhibition at the right time!"

Pinkie Pie took the clipboard between her hooves and looked at it upside down. She stuck out her tongue, and produced a crayon from her mane. She began scribbling several corrections all over it, and hoofed it right back.

"Fixed it!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. Twilight took her map and frowned, trying to make sense of the squiggles and little drawings Pinkie Pie had put on it.

"Uh, Pinkie Pie, I don't understand all these little markings and things-"

"Oh, that's for later!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. "Also right now!" She bumped Twilight hard, just enough to make the Princess of Friendship stumble into another pony. This pony caught her, and she looked up to apologize and thank the stranger.

"Oh my! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-!" She tried. The stranger smiled back.

"No, it's all right," he replied in a pleasing baritone. Twilight blushed at bit at their proximity, for the stranger was a tall, handsome stallion. His mane was a wild and black, like he was fresh out of the wind. His coat was a white that almost gleamed, and his eyes were a beautiful golden color. He used one of the wings sticking out of his sensible jacket over a sweater and tie to right her, and he bowed very low as the sunlight gleamed off his glasses. His cutie mark was obscured by his jacket, which a more primal part of Twilight found disappointing. That part, she quickly crushed.

"My apologies, your highness," he said. Twilight shook her head with a smile as she got her blush under control.

"It's quite all right, and you can just call me Twilight, Mister...?" She prompted. The pegasus stallion smiled good naturedly.

"Doctor, actually," he said. "Doctor Red Tome, of the University of Canterlot's Ancient History and Folklore department. I'm here as part of an assignment for our quarterly journal." He looked about the busy exposition, and chuckled in a self deprecating way. "Though I'm afraid I'm a bit lost already. I don't know where to start!"

"Oh! The University? You teach?" Twilight asked, immediately interested. "What is your major field of study?"

"I do indeed," Red Tome replied, "and my particular field is Pre-Equestrian Pony History. It's a fascinating subject that sadly doesn't get enough attention. Though I will admit," he shrugged, "I first got into into it because of my hero, Starswirl the Bearded."

Twilight beamed, and nodded. "I got into ancient history thanks to him, too, as well as magic," she admitted. "He was my foalhood hero! But you're right: Pre-Equestrian Pony history doesn't get the attention it deserves. I'm guessing that's the reason you're here?"

"Among other reasons, yes," Red Tome admitted. "I do love to learn, after all. It's why I'm here." He flashed her a charming smile. "Given your own talent at making history, it seems as though fortune has smiled upon me. Would you mind if I accompanied you? Having a fantastic scholar such as yourself to work with would make this expo far more enjoyable."

Twilight had dealt with a number of ponies who just wanted to use her to improve their own station. More than a few had used a few corny lines to try and get her interested. This pony though... He seemed so sincere. Almost as sincere as Flash, actually.

Who she was totally over and wasn't pining for, nosirree, not her at all! She nodded with a charming smile of her own, as Pinkie Pie shot her a wink over Red Tome's shoulder.

"We'd be delighted to," she said. Red Tome bowed his head, took her hoof, and kissed it. Twilight's blush returned with a vengeance as he smiled back up at her.

"Then it will be a day to remember for both of us," he replied.

As for Spike, the dragon was out and about without a care in the world. He was bent on enjoying the convention, a pouch full of bits from his allowance clinking against his side as he walked cheerfully through the little streets formed by the stands and stalls. He almost felt a song coming on as he looked out onto the huge exposition, so filled with possibilities! He was at the top of the world and nothing could knock him off his good mood!

"Hey Spike! Hey Spike!"

Well, that was a quick trip to rock bottom, Spike thought with a mental sigh. He looked up as a certain chubby, grayish-opal unicorn colt galloped up to him. He knew the fur shade was grayish-opal because it was something the unicorn would not shut up about.

"Hey Snips," Spike managed politely. "Enjoying the convention?"

"Oh, yeah! It's great!" Snips cheered, a little too loudly. He grinned, his buck teeth gleaming in the sun. "Hey! You wanna see my dad's demonstration?!"

Spike blinked, raising a scaly brow.

"Your dad's got a demonstration? Of what?" He asked. Snips' grin widened, like he had a secret he just couldn't wait to share! Usually with Snips, that would be something rather disappointing. So Spike was already thinking of some excuses.

"Just wait and see! Come on!" He turned to gallop off, and then gestured with his head again. "Come on!"

Spike sighed, and began trudging after Snips. He supposed he could see the stupid demonstration, whatever it was, and then make his excuses to leave. Maybe even catch Rarity later and... Do what?

He'd been hemming and hawing over it for years, but maybe he could finally find the courage to confess his feelings to her? For real? It wasn't just a crush, he knew this. But what would convince her that it wasn't just a childish crush? That he'd grown up?

Spike didn't know. He sure as Tartarus didn't think he'd find out at Snip's demonstration. Strangely, it wasn't in the merchants, craftsponies, or technical area-It was in the martial arts section.

Soon, they made it to one of the sandy arenas: This one was full of logs of freshly cut wood, and a few boulders. Snips leaned against the short wall, grinning widely with his buckteeth. Across the arena was a large, grayish-opal, fat unicorn who resembled Snips strongly save for his cutie mark and sports jacket. There was a taller, slimmer unicorn too. He had the same coloration, with a healthy stubble and the same mane color, andlooked about as easy to knock over as a pile of sticks. They were arguing over something in front of a small dressing tent. Spike felt his low spirits drift even further down. He looked over at Snips.

"So... Is that your dad?" He pointed at the two unicorns. He vaguely recalled seeing them at the soapbox derby. Snips shook his head furiously, his mane wafting in the breeze.

"Nah! Those are my uncles!" Snips insisted. He saw the tent flaps part, and Snips grinned. He pointed across the sandy arena with his hoof. "That's my dad!"

Spike stared. A tall unicorn emerged from the dressing tent. He had the same fur coloration as Snips, but his hair was black and tied in a topknot. He was built like a tree, strong and sure. He wore a white kimono, with the symbol of a circle cut into four equal shapes on the back-It formed a cross. He pulled on a wide straw hat, too fast for Spike to see his eyes, and he stared down at the two shorter unicorns. They stopped arguing, and stared back up. In embarrassment, they tried to explain something, but the tall unicorn was unmoved. Finally, both brothers shook eachother's hooves, though they didn't seem happy about it.

The tall unicorn, satisfied, nodded.

"Oh, and there's my mom!" Snips said, pointing to a nearby beautiful mare. Spike's jaw dropped.

The tall unicorn trotted over to a beautiful looking mare: She was Neighponese, with pale white fur, a short black mane, and a chrysanthemum cutie mark. She smiled up at the taller unicorn, and gave him an affectionate nuzzle-One he returned. Spike found himself looking back at the short, squat unicorn and then back to his parents.

"... That's your dad?! And your mom?!" Spike asked in complete disbelief. Snips nodded, his smile full of nothing but pride.

"Yup!" He said.

The tall unicorn at last slowly trotted into the arena. A few other ponies were watching, interested. Snips sucked in a deep breath and threw in a cheer, which started more applause to follow the unicorn to the center of the arena.

"GO FOR IT, DAD!" Snips bellowed. "YOU'RE THE BEST!"

It was then that the unicorn pulled his hat off, and looked right at them. He revealed his horn was quite long, but Spike wasn't paying attention to that. He could only focus on the stallion's eyes: They were hard, focused, and strong-Like solid stone.

Spike was gaping, but Snips just kept up his cheers. And the tall unicorn responded with a warm, fatherly smile at his son. It was then that the unicorn spoke, projecting his deep, baritone voice. Spike again was struck by the difference: Snip's own voice was scratchy and unpleasant, but his father's was like smooth chocolate over a plain of white ice cream.

Damn, now he was hungry.

"Long ago," the unicorn spoke, "unicorn Bladecasters kept the peace. They trained endlessly to stop evildoers and to bring justice. To protect the innocent. Now, those arts are used to create, rather than protect. But they stay the same." He turned his gaze to a large log in front of him, and his eyes narrowed.

"He's... Intense," Spike commented. Snips was bouncing up and down eagerly, hooves on his chubby cheeks.

"Oooh, wait for it, wait for it...!" The unicorn colt whispered. The rest of the crowd murmured in confusion and anticipation, as the tall unicorn's horn glowed.

The air was still. Not a bit of breeze. The tall unicorn's horn burned with magic power... And then he moved. He blurred, and came to a stop on the other side of the log. Spike's jaw again dropped-He could barely see the unicorn move!

Abruptly, his attention was brought back to the log. It shook, shivered... And then... Came apart into hundreds of perfectly cut, smooth cubes. Forming four neat little smaller cubes.

The silence was broken by gasps, and then? Applause, as dozens of ponies clopped the ground, whistling and cheering.

Snips and the beautiful mare got over the wall and trotted out happily to hug the tall unicorn, who returned their embraces with easy affection. Spike was still gaping, even as he slowly walked over at Snips waving him over. He finally came to a stop in front of the tall unicorn, who again fixed him with that hard stare.

"Dad," Snips said happily, "this is my friend Spike! Spike, this is my dad Glasscutter-But he goes by 'Ronin' when he's performing like this. And this is my mom, Kiku!"

"How do you do?" Glasscutter said with a slight bow. Kiku smiled back and bowed as well.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said. Spike's synapses began firing again, and he recalled a memory of seeing a little shop in Ponyville. One specializing in...!

"Wait! Glasscutter the actual glasscutter?" Spike asked in disbelief. Glasscutter chuckled, and nodded.

"Yes. Though I cut more than glass. Metal, wood, stone-But I like to go by Ronin out of respect to the wandering samurai of the past. I learned their arts as I learned my trade, after all." He looked to the sky, the wind now gently pushing his kimono to flare like a cape. Spike couldn't help but admit, he looked really cool like that.

"You look so cool like this," Kiku chuckled, echoing Spike's thoughts. Her expression became stern. "But remember: We need to sort out the receipts for tax time!"

Glasscutter... Winced, and looked annoyed. His serene facade was broken for the first time.

"Ease off woman," Glasscutter huffed, in what sounded like a Jamarecan accent, "I've got it covered! Don't bite like a green snake!" Glasscutter then coughed, and resumed his previous cool, stoic tone. "I mean, I will see to it soon my darling."

"That's all I ask, dear," Kiku cooed, nuzzling him. She looked over at Spike with a smile. "We met when he was in Neighpon as an exchange student," she said happily, "and he was so taken with the samurai lifestyle he trained under my father! And became one in his own right!" She chuckled. "Oh, but I do love his accent."

"I prefer speaking like this," Glasscutter sighed.

"I can't wait to grow up to be just like you, dad," Snips said in awe. Spike glanced again at Snips, and back at his parents. Glasscutter caught his look, and shook his head.

"Lots of exercise and braces will let you do just that," he said, an explanation to Spike as well as encouragement to his son.

"YEAH!" Snips cheered. Spike very slowly nodded.

"And I thought I'd seen all the weirdness ponies could offer me," he murmured.

New Possibilities

E3: Equestrian Earth Expo

A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction

By Andrew J. Talon

A cloaked pony stepped lightly on one of the paths through Everfree Forest, a basket of mushrooms balanced on their back, another of the fungi briefly being inspected in one hoof then tossed up and over the hooded head into the basket. The figure had only turned back onto the path when they paused the sound of something crashing through the undergrowth and coming towards them made the figure tense.

“Help! HELP! My Foal! Please help me!”

A dark brown earth pony mare with a mane and tail the color of corn silk stumbled out of the bushes. Her eyes were wild before they locked onto the hooded figure and she limped towards them, a gash in one of her forelegs and one of her rear limbs looked heavily bruised through her fur.

“P-please! You have to help! My little one, my darling! She’s hurt and pinned under some rocks I can’t move them like this!”

The voice that snaked out from under the hood was a slightly muffled male baritone.

“Easy there, I’ll help you,”

Voice thick with relief the mare started to drag the other pony through the bushes, “Thank you! Thank you so much, please this way! It’s not far, we were gathering berries.”

Both of them push through the scrub and foliage, for a few moments until they’re well out of sight of the path, then the mare jerks away from the cloaked Stallion, being yanked upwards as her body went limp. From out of the ground to the side a massive worm lunges, a circular maw of teeth open wide to swallow the stallion whole!

PUM!

Only to be knocked to the side by a crossbow bolt that impacted the creature and sent it sprawling farther than it had any right to, a concussion bolt.

Hood and cloak are blown back and the stallion is bared for a moment, covered in a dark under-suit, armored in the blueish silver of mythril, a bandoleer of small devices around his chest and barrel, and attachments sitting around his forelegs, a helmeted head turns to follow the creature as it was knocked away from him by his partner.

Who then tossed the second surprise of this monsters day, an alchemical flame grenade.

The worm, a lure worm to be specific with the pony lure on a nearly impossible to see line that was jerked about as it screamed and thrashed, the chemical mixture burning in quickly and putting itself out just as quick.

It would find burrowing to be impossibly painful now.

That it turned to try and run wasn’t surprising, the Stallion gave chase immediately, with his partner still reloading her heavy crossbow, they had to keep track of it, lest it vanish into a cave network, or the water of the river or swamp to lick it’s wounds.

Leaping onto it’s tail, climbing claws extended out of his bracers, and the worm screeched again as he latched on and started to haul himself forward. He was forced to flatten out onto his belly barely missing doing more than lightly clipping his helmet on a branch it tried to swipe him at.

Even as he avoided the worst of it, more than once he was slammed into a tree trunk, or used to break a tree branch as the Lure Worm fought his approach, every cut and laceration with his climbing claws letting it know how close he was getting, and they were both too stubborn to give up.

Finally he came up just a short way from where the lure line connected to what passed for the things head.

“Surrender, I can bring you in, or you can be carrion.”

It slowed to a stop and rumbled beneath him, in what he recognized for a moment to be what passed for laughter.

“Weakling, weak little ponies don’t kill, you are weak!”

Ahead of them, his partner had caught up heavy crossbow rearmed as she sought to set up in another position, but the white of her wings, peaking out of her own under-suit drew the eyes in this forest of greens and browns.

The Worms head turned, spotting her, and the monster convulsed underneath him, spitting something that impacted the other pony, causing her to crash to the ground with a yelp, now covered in some goop.

“I show you.”

Beneath him the maw flexed wide, and the worm coiled to lunge.

The Stallion struck, climbing blade extending with a clunk and he stabbed down and forward, the metal sliding neatly into the lure worm’s brain.

“Cuttin it a lil close huh Sunny”

After he twisted the blades to make sure, his helmeted head canted up to look at his partner, Surprise was stuck to the roots of a tree. Cleaning his weapons on the monsters hide, he dropped down from it,

“You’re the one that wanted to offer it a chance to surrender.”

The white coated mare wiggled faintly, “And that was before it gunk’ed me, now help me out of this stuff…” Then she came to a horrified realization, “Ugh! It’s in my bowstring!”

Twilight was trotting along the main boulevard of the convention, as Red Tome smoothly trotted alongside her. Behind them, Pinkie Pie was an eager, happy blur as she zipped around to see every vendor and every tent's wares. Her constant chatter was just background noise against the rest of the festival, a vibrant atmosphere that just seemed to enhance the joy she felt.

With a stallion who could keep up and was interested in what she had to say!

"I have to admit, I was shocked to know that Pinkie Pie's family was so well known!" Twilight said happily.

Red Tome smiled, running a hoof through his attractive mane. What kind of shampoo did he use? She could smell it, and liked it.

"Yes, the Pie Clan's exploits are recorded all the way back to the days of the Grogar Rebellion," Red Tome was saying. "They were quite amazing, key policy makers in the old Earth Pony Republic. To have the chance to interview actual living members of the family would be amazing," he said. "I don't suppose I could sit in on your training sessions sometime?"

"I suppose I could," Twilight said with a smile. They paused as a few fillies stopped and asked for Twilight's autograph. She did so with a broad smile, though noticed that Red Tome stiffened a bit. Maybe he was just unused to being around a Princess. She couldn't say it wasn't unique-though his confidence seemed to belie this.

Still, she offered him a bigger smile.

"It is interesting how enthusiastic you are about Pre-Equestrian history. What was your primary focus?" Twilight asked. Red Tome shrugged, his smile turning a bit strange. Like he was reminded of an old, sad joke.

"Ah. Grogar, and his history. It's actually far more indepth than the storybook," he said. Twilight's eyes lit up, eager to learn more.

"Really? Give me an example," she said. Red Tome smiled cheekily.

"Is that a royal order, Your Highness?" He waggled his eyebrows, and it brought a blush to Twilight's face. This stallion was so confident, not at all like so many other stallions who were intimidated by her.

"I could make it so if you'd like," she teased back, managing to avoid stuttering. Oh Harmony, she was flirting! Flirting!

"Not necessary, right now," Red Tome said. He looked over at a vendor's table, covered in old books. He trotted over, and began to check out some of the aged tomes with interest. Twilight trotted over to the other side of the table, enjoying the scent of the old papers as she waited. Finally, Red Tom looked back to her, his eyes focused.

"Grogar actually had sons," he said. "Three of them: Takam, Heidrunn, and Yang. Each was assigned by Grogar to rule over one of the three tribes of Pony. Grogar felt this would teach his sons how to be useful to him."

Twilight's eyes lit up.

"I've never read that! Fascinating! Where did you find this out?" She leaned over the table with a grin. Red Tome glanced aside briefly, looking a bit nervous.

"Er... The ancient tomes of the Grogarites. Very few have been recovered but I had the chance to get access to a set found in some old nag's attic," he said, a bit quickly. She didn't notice this change in tone though. She was already eager to learn more.

"What else did you learn?" She asked eagerly.

"Well," Red Tome said, his face becoming calmer as he gave her his charming smile again. "Each of his sons tried to rule over with cruelty and malice, like Grogar did. But they found themselves becoming friends with the ponies. Each even fell in love with a pony mare, and married each." He paused, and rested his hooves on one of the ancient tomes. "They even had children together."

Twilight's eyebrows rose. "Children? Huh. I knew ponies and griffins could have offspring, but ponies and goats?" She looked down at her hooves, so close to his on the same book. She hummed thoughtfully. "Many villains over time claimed to be hybrids between the Grogarites and ponies, but to have it written down in manuscripts that old?"

"I'm inclined to believe it's true, myself," Red Tome said firmly, "we ponies have a talent for manipulation."

Twilight blinked, raising her eyebrow curiously.

"Manipulation?" she asked. Red Tome nodded, and gave a shrug.

"The ponies couldn't win through force, not with Grogar's sons and magic bell. So they used friendship and kindness to turn his sons to their side. It's no different than neutralizing a foe via a magic spell," he said. "Takes longer, but just as effective."

Twilight frowned deeply, and studied the stallion. His words seemed as hard as stone, just like his eyes.

"You make it sound so cold," Twilight said. "The power of friendship isn't just a weapon!"

Red Tome glared harder, his jaw clenching.

"Oh, it isn't?" He asked calmly, but with a noticeable edge. "The Elements are a superweapon, are they not? Turning friendship into a gigantic rainbow laser?"

Twilight glanced aside briefly, but rallied as she looked back at him.

"Well, yes, but you make it sound like a means to an end!"

"It probably felt that way to Grogar's sons," Red Tome said tightly, his anger growing. "When Grogar learned about what his sons had done, he was furious. He banished his sons and their families, and isolated himself. This allowed Gusty the Great to steal his bell, and sealed his downfall. But when Grogar's sons and their families returned to join the free Pony society, they were shunned! Banished! And detested!"

He slammed a hoof down on the table with a glare, making Twilight jump. "Despite them finding love and friendship in ponies, the vast majority of ponies rejected them. Saw them as the enemy, even after Grogar was gone!"

He looked down at Twilight's hooves, and saw how far she'd pulled away from him. He took a long, deep breath, and drew his hooves back.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I... It's something I'm very passionate about."

"I understand," Twilight said, a partial lie. His anger seemed so much greater, the pain in his eyes... "Yes, that rejection of the Grogarites is terrible. But it's about context! We've grown better than that! We've become more accepting! The Three Tribes weren't even united then!"

Red Tome shook his head.

"And yet, did not Ponyville itself shun a Zebra just because she was different? Do not certain Pegasus cities still shun outsiders?" He sighed and bowed his head, looking tired. "You may be the Princess of Friendship but it only means you have grown and evolved. It doesn't mean all of Ponykind has grown and evolved. They still fear that which is different, or reminds them of terrors in the past-Even if they didn't experience them personally."

"You've cited a few examples, but I can cite many examples of ponies being welcoming to all! It doesn't mean all ponies are secretly waiting for the chance to shun what's different!" Twilight argued. Red Tome shrugged.

"Yes, you can. Just as I can cite more examples of ponies being terrible. Ponies are mortal, Twilight Sparkle. Mortal means to fall, and to fail. After all, if ponies were perfect, for what need would they have for a Princess of Friendship?"

Twilight stared for a long moment. She finally sighed, and nodded.

"I concede your point, on a philosophical level," she said. She probed him with her keen gaze. "But you seem to have a lot of anger about this subject. It almost seems... Personal."

Twilight felt her hooves sliding back towards his on the book. They touched, briefly. Red Tome started, and stared back for a long, long time. He gained a little smile, and laughed almost sadly.

"Perhaps I'll tell you about it later..." He said. "Maybe... Over dinner?"

Twilight blushed. "Ah?!" She cried. She wasn't able to decide if she should pull her hooves back, or push them closer. Red Tome still stared at her, his smile open and genuine.

"If you're busy, I'd understand," he said. "Princesses have a lot to do, after all. I'm just a professor, and I did just swing into town unannounced-"

Pinkie Pie popped up from under the table, a book balancing a honey jar on her head. She grinned happily.

"She'd be happy to!" Pinkie Pie said. "Does six work for you? The Crystal Castle?"

"Ah," Red Tome began, blinking. "I'd love to?"

"Great!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "Bring chocolate covered roses! And don't get Mexicolt food-She has a phobia about it!"

"Good to know all that," Red Tome said, looking over at Twilight. The princess stopped glaring at the bouncing Pinkie Pie, and looked back at Red Tome. She blushed heavily, but managed a nod.

"Ah... S-See you then?"

Red Tome smiled warmly. "See you then," he said. He looked over at the boulevard: A large pony wrapped in metal armor of some kind, a stovepipe smoking from his helmet, was trotting through and knocking aside several ponies. At their cries of surprise, Red Tome sighed heavily. "Excuse me, I need to see to this," he said. He trotted over to the large stallion, and began speaking to him quietly. The large pony just stared through the visor, which was glowing like a hot stove's grate. It was strange, but Twilight wasn't worrying about that right now.

She glared at Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie!" She hissed. Pinkie Pie grinned and winked.

"What? I am the ultimate wingmare!"

"But-But I've never been on a date!" Twilight muttered. "I've never even-I haven't-!"

Pinkie grabbed Twilight's cheeks between her hooves, and looked her deep in the eyes.

"Twilight, listen to me. I've gotten the mother of all twitcha-twitches. So you absolutely, definitely need to go on a date with this guy! And quite possibly, get laid! Or else."

"Or-Or else what?" Twilight asked. Her entire body flushed red as she registered the last part. "Laid?!"

Pinkie Pie nodded. "Absolutely! But don't worry, Twilight! I'll be there for you! I'll get you laid! Or die trying! Now let's go get you ready!"

"But-!" Twilight tried, but Pinkie Pie was already dragging her off. She sighed, but went along. After all, given what had happened when she last ignored Pinkie Pie's Pinkie Sense, Bad Things Had Happened.

Bad Things could still happen... But maybe she'd get a great, intellectual conversation out of it in the bargain from a handsome stallion.

Author's Note

Things are slowly moving faster. So stay tuned...