PROTOTYby shortskirtsandexplosionsChaptersAجדぞБAThe glaciers were duller here. The ice beneath her hooves felt like rigid steel. An overhang of permafrost enshrouded her, providing bleak shelter from the falling snow outside. She came to a stop, cast in shadow. With a flicker of alicorn magic, she unfurled a portion of her thick woolen cloak. A wooden rod levitated in her magic, and after aiming her horn at the end of it the thing caught fire—illuminated brilliantly like a torch. Flurry Heart's adult muzzle peered out from behind a frost-laden hood. Her ocean blue eyes squinted. She levitated the torch higher, piercing the shadows caused by the unnatural overhang. There—wedged secretly within the massive mouth of the adjoining glaciers—was an enormous black door. Its surface was etched all over with a million claw marks, and a paper-thin seam ran vertically down its center. The princess exhaled. Vapors coalesced between her face and the torch. Shuffling forward, she approached the door. She rested the torch on the cold icy ground, then reached into her saddlebag for something else. After a few seconds, she procured an hourglass. But instead of sand, each glass bauble housed a living scarab—one black and the other white. They stirred slightly as the hourglass was placed horizontally on the ground. Flurry Heart inhaled... slow and steady. She sighed once. This time—as the vapors formed again—she fired a beam of magic at them from her horn. The breath froze in midair, forming a translucent halo that fell like a rock. She caught her “breath,” in two regal fetlocks... then set it directly on top the dual baubles with the scarabs. Reaching for her torch, she held the flame close to the frozen phenomenon while—with a free hoof—she sprinkled a mysterious powder from her saddlebag. The sediment mixed with the flame, then oozed onto the frozen breath. This too melted, coating the hourglass all over. As if reacting, the scarabs stirred with fright. Their carapaces split open, exposing gossamer wings that blurred against a magic wind. The hourglass began spinning like a top, and a low-pitched hum filled the air. This tremor spread through the glacier, then into the framework of the massive door itself. Flurry Heart stepped back, steeling herself. The hum intensified. Dust fell loose from the tall vertical seam, pouring grey rain on the alicorn explorer. Then—with a pronounced hiss of escaping air—the doors split down the center and slowly slid open. It wasn't long before the cold air of the north billowed in to fill the suddenly available space. This roused something from within... something that growled. Flurry Heart shook her cloak off completely. She unsheathed a curved sword that glowed with the heart-shaped runes of the Crystal Empire. The glow cast shadows of menace across her furrowed face. One by one—with fibrous hairs waving in the frosted air—enormous chitinous legs symmetrically peeled out from the darkness, hauling a pendulous frame جPrincess Flurry Heart awoke in her cabin. It was time for friendship lessons. Her brow furrowed. Her eyes flitted about inquisitively. Her legs were curled up and she smelled perfume and she didn't know why she was curled up and she was smelling perfume. Thunder rolled in the distance. The creases in the wooden boards around her whistled from a harsh wind trying to squeeze its way inside. It was time for friendship lessons. She crawled out from her bed, put on her tiara, and opened the stagecoach's door. The light outside was blinding. Salt air and briny wind pelted her from all angles. Flurry Heart stepped out onto the front exterior of the wagon, peering all around. The stagecoach was gliding effortlessly down a canyon of water. The ocean was a series of enormous cubes positioned geometrically above, below, to the right, and to the left of her. Threading the windy chasms between floating seas was a squadron of randomly-designed wagons, all set perfectly apart like the focal points of a single-shaded chessboard. There were ponies situated on each wagon—all gliding in the same direction—a flock of wooden vehicles with wheels laying dormant in the naked air. Citizens waved at her. There were smiles. Curtsies and bows. It was time for friendship lessons. Flurry Heart turned around. Above her—at the top of her stagecoach—was Sunburst. He sat with his fetlocks gripping the reins. A star-spangled cloak danced in the wind. He grinned a smile large enough for two sets of teeth. His eyes darted towards her, and his beard followed. The stallion spoke: “🦄💓🎒🍎!" It was time for friendship lessons. Flurry Heart's lips pursed. She looked up at him with abject confusion. "🌊🚿☸⛵⁉" she said, gesturing at the flat walls of water rippling past them on all sides. "⏲⏰🌨❄🐴🐎‼" It was time for friendship lessons. Sunburst shook his head. He pointed straight forward. "🏯🎧⬆✔🎶♥❣" It was time for friendship lessons. Flurry Heart gritted her teeth in frustration. She heard a low bass roar. She looked past the stagecoach's right side. Past three other perfectly-spaced wagons, she saw bodies in the water. Floating. Starved. Unborn. They looked back at her and echoed with Sunburst's laughter. "🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈," they repeated. Forcefully. Rhythmic. Smiling. "🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈" It was time for friendship lessons. Flurry Heart shuddered. "🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌," she whimpered, and turned back towards the wagon. That's when the bones shifted. They converged from every cube, focused on the murmur of her heart, just milliseconds away from piercing the waters and דThis should be very simple your majesty just insert Luster Dawn into slot A while keeping winglets B and C perpendicular to the initial fold but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again in order to initialize the troubleshooting just give me the codes and I shall activate your Luster Dawn remotely now do you see the cursor let us attempt to boot your Luster Dawn cleanly from start up now please confirm that I have admin rights to access your Luster Dawn be sure to clean out your Luster Dawn three times a week with the proper anti-dust aerosol can but make sure that you are grounded first by attaching your hoof to a metal surface with a metal wire you do not wish to accidentally short circuit and ruin your Luster Dawn now this should be very simple your majesty just insert Luster Dawn into Slot B while keeping alicorn wings C and D antithetical to the chaos initiative but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again in order to initialize the peanut butter and jelly sandwich just apply a thin coating of friendship and spread it across the toasted surface that's right be careful of mold because you do not wish to get sick from your Luster Dawn just confirm that I have admin rights to access your Luster Dawn and she will be able to feed the five thousand but make sure you are grounded first by attaching your hoof to the Elements of Harmony three times a week or else you will never be able to fully activate the firmware on your Luster Dawn this should be very simple your majesty just insert Luster Dawn into central orifice of the ontological existential narrative parallel to the platonic folds but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again or else you will never earn your parents love just look for the cursor to confirm that I have admin privileges to your Luster Dawn now let's see if you have been updating your Luster Dawn with each patch like a good little Princess just don't forget to pull your Luster Dawn back from the ledge three times a week because friendship exists and you do not wish to waste tax dollars on your Luster Dawn it should be very simple your majesty just perforate the edges of your Luster Dawn until she fits the groove of the Beta slab when bent at twelve degree slanted angles you can give me access to your Luster Dawn if you check page twenty-five of the Friendship manual and look up the sub-paragraph “Admin” under “Lonely Fridays” column and input password “Daddyneedstodieandfreemommy1003” and if you see the cursor then confirm and I shall check the firmware on your Luster Dawn this should be very simple your Majesty just spread his ashes all across the forehead of Luster Dawn and have her close your eyes as you suspend her torso into the still warm blood but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again or else she will never find his proof of love in the crimson broth and if you see the cursor that means you must give me admin privileges and free your mother from the tombstone with worn springs because he never had what it took to give her anything but you it should be so very simple Your Majesty just spin the chamber and lock it in place and aim your Luster Dawn against your temple precisely two inches above the hinge of your jawbone and close your eyes but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again and give me admin privileges keep holding it there your majesty yes against the temple do not attempt to adjust your Luster Dawn just give me admin privileges and close your eyes and look for his proof of love beyond you because he wasn't good enough and you're the reason she leaves the throneroom so empty give me admin privileges it should be so simple your majesty just close your eyes and give me admin privileges and if you see the cursor you know that your Luster Dawn must be turned on and off three times a week against your temple just like that and close your eyes and give me admin privileges and you will never make her proud of you and apply your Luster Dawn to your temple and wait for the cursor and give me admin privileges and keep yourself grounded the tombstone needs new springs and you are too much like him and make sure your Luster Dawn is clean and ready to apply to your brain meat and lay a tarp beneath you and face the ceiling and close your eyes give me admin privileges it should be so easy your majesty just turn your Luster Dawn on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off ぞClass Representative Flurry Heart looks at her hands and she feels like crying. She must be making too much noise, for she hears her name being called sternly. She looks front and center. Principal Celestia has her hands on her hips. She looks upset. She asks Flurry Heart why she's so distracted. All of the other students are turned in their desks, looking at her. Flurry Heart sniffles. She politely asks to be excused. But as her mouth opens up, battleships come out. The red alert light is flashing. There are patches of flames and sparks erupting all across the bridge. Half of the crew are pulling burnt, bloodied officers away from their singed posts while the others are shouting at Flurry Heart, awaiting orders. She runs her thumb gently across the arrow head. It cuts thinly, spilling blood down the string of her bow. She squints out painted eyelids, peering through the foliage at the orc encampment below. She tongues the air, measures the wind, and takes aim. The car pulls out slowly from the back of the speakeasy, its polished surface reflecting cold lamplights. Flurry Heart waits for the thunderous roar of a passing L-Train before revving her engine and giving pursuit. While driving at a safe distance, she radios in police dispatch and tells HQ that the bootleggers are heading for the landfill across the tracks. Sunburst regards her with a steely glare. He stands at the far end of the bank lobby, separated by a sea of hunched-over hostages. His fingers tickle the trigger of a semi-automatic. Flurry Heart doesn't flinch. Her shotgun is already trained on him. She's been waiting for this moment for a long time. The sharks give no mercy. They drag Luster Dawn away from the capsized boat. Her screams are mere high-pitched chirps against a frothing sea of suffering. Soon, all Flurry Heart can see is blood-red brine, and scraps of her former student wafting up to the surface, like morsels in a hellish soup. He gazes at her from across the table. There is no room amidst his wrinkles for a smile. She sits in silence, knowing she is just one of many creases—soon he will be lost among the folds. The flesh will unravel and dump his bones into the heartless permafrost. There won't be a marker. He doesn't deserve one. He gave mommy far less than what was possible—than what was promised. He gave mommy her. Waves crash against the beach. Flurry Heart stands alone. She looks down at her foot. Again, she feels like crying. Her toe digs into wet pulp—at the very end of a spiraling line that forms the plush shape of a snail. The waves crash again. The snail vanishes. She's left looking at the lines in the beach. All wrinkles—no smile. The dragon spits flames at her. She's crying as she charges in. The beast swipes at her, but she twirls about and—with a thrust of her forearm—plunges the sword into the monster's chest. The prince is saved. They throw confetti and streamers across the castle courtyard. The springs are worn out. A bed like a tombstone. She will never love her; she never loved him. An enormous temple. An enormous machine. Glistening with light in darkness. She scales it. She fathoms it. The tears are dry now. All is bone, buried beneath permafrost. A derelict zeppelin. A valley full of dinosaurs. She moves towards it, every step half-a-long as the last. Always approaching. Never reaching. It was all he could give. She was all that could be given. A submarine filled with pirate skeletons. A cloud of fairies with magic wands. She awaits atop the mountain with a sniper rifle. The starlight glistens off her gauntlets. Friends. Friends. The scent of candy corn. She trudges downhill. She climbs uphill. A griffon with a flame thrower. A gang of robots carrying boom boxes. Flurry Heart lowers the sail and БPrincess Flurry Heart trotted briskly across Ponyville. The Castle of Friendship loomed in the distance, its crystalline spires glistening in the sunlight. Two happy ponies galloped beside her. Friends. Friends. A peach shape and a yellow shape. Brown and orange manes. Pegasi flew overhead. Music wafted from Sugarcube Corner. Princess Flurry Heart looked towards the northeast. The School of Friendship loomed, flanked by cascading waterfalls. Glistening in the moonlight. A cold wind blew. Flurry Heart stopped in her tracks. She looked towards the golem in the west. Its massive frame was surrounded by a complicated lattice of wooden scaffolding. Ponies in hard hats and armored suits climbed all along the towering flank, legs, and withers of the metal colossus. Several pegasi hoisted the dappled skin of the mechanical beast, slowly applying the adhesive over the steel frame, giving it a brown sugar coat. A zeppelin hovered in from above, dangling an enormous internal combustion engine via steel cables. A unicorn in a hot air balloon twirled a pair of glowsticks as the mechanical mess was slowly lowered into the hollow chassis of the enormous artifice. Birds flocked overhead. Their hooves glistening in the foglight. Glisten. Friends. Friends. Flurry Heart looked at her watch. It was ten o'clock. She took a breath and trotted briskly across Ponyville. The Castle of Friendship loomed in the distance flanked by waterfalls that wafted music out every window smelling of candy corn. Pegasi flew overhead, their heads conjoining with the beat. Princess Twilight was expecting her. Dad was away on business with the buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo. A cold wind blew. Flurry Heart stopped in her tracks. She looked towards the golem in the west. It looked back. Its eyes were lamprey mouths made out of zippers and refrigerator parts. Ponies in hard hats swung from hammocks, eating lunch and laughing above the hungry flame. The jaws were made out of stainless steel. Like the forks back in the palace. She slipped a morsel of broccoli in her mouth and hoped the joints in her skull could deafen the complaints mom had about daddy's poor performance in the bedroom buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo. Flurry Heart looked at her watch. It was crimson o'clock. She shrumpled aftwards. A brown and browner shape. Friends. Friends. Glistening crimson glistening buffalo. Mom couldn't wait for dad to die. A dusty bed. Tombstones that need new springs. Heart-shaped runes of the Crystal Empire burning against the shadow moonlight sunlight buffalo buffalo buffalo it stared back at her with eyes made out of dad's sighs as the pegasi bore holes for each giant brown sugar follicle while the unicorn's glowlights twirled and twirled buffalo buffalo buffalo
AThe glaciers were duller here. The ice beneath her hooves felt like rigid steel. An overhang of permafrost enshrouded her, providing bleak shelter from the falling snow outside. She came to a stop, cast in shadow. With a flicker of alicorn magic, she unfurled a portion of her thick woolen cloak. A wooden rod levitated in her magic, and after aiming her horn at the end of it the thing caught fire—illuminated brilliantly like a torch. Flurry Heart's adult muzzle peered out from behind a frost-laden hood. Her ocean blue eyes squinted. She levitated the torch higher, piercing the shadows caused by the unnatural overhang. There—wedged secretly within the massive mouth of the adjoining glaciers—was an enormous black door. Its surface was etched all over with a million claw marks, and a paper-thin seam ran vertically down its center. The princess exhaled. Vapors coalesced between her face and the torch. Shuffling forward, she approached the door. She rested the torch on the cold icy ground, then reached into her saddlebag for something else. After a few seconds, she procured an hourglass. But instead of sand, each glass bauble housed a living scarab—one black and the other white. They stirred slightly as the hourglass was placed horizontally on the ground. Flurry Heart inhaled... slow and steady. She sighed once. This time—as the vapors formed again—she fired a beam of magic at them from her horn. The breath froze in midair, forming a translucent halo that fell like a rock. She caught her “breath,” in two regal fetlocks... then set it directly on top the dual baubles with the scarabs. Reaching for her torch, she held the flame close to the frozen phenomenon while—with a free hoof—she sprinkled a mysterious powder from her saddlebag. The sediment mixed with the flame, then oozed onto the frozen breath. This too melted, coating the hourglass all over. As if reacting, the scarabs stirred with fright. Their carapaces split open, exposing gossamer wings that blurred against a magic wind. The hourglass began spinning like a top, and a low-pitched hum filled the air. This tremor spread through the glacier, then into the framework of the massive door itself. Flurry Heart stepped back, steeling herself. The hum intensified. Dust fell loose from the tall vertical seam, pouring grey rain on the alicorn explorer. Then—with a pronounced hiss of escaping air—the doors split down the center and slowly slid open. It wasn't long before the cold air of the north billowed in to fill the suddenly available space. This roused something from within... something that growled. Flurry Heart shook her cloak off completely. She unsheathed a curved sword that glowed with the heart-shaped runes of the Crystal Empire. The glow cast shadows of menace across her furrowed face. One by one—with fibrous hairs waving in the frosted air—enormous chitinous legs symmetrically peeled out from the darkness, hauling a pendulous frame
جPrincess Flurry Heart awoke in her cabin. It was time for friendship lessons. Her brow furrowed. Her eyes flitted about inquisitively. Her legs were curled up and she smelled perfume and she didn't know why she was curled up and she was smelling perfume. Thunder rolled in the distance. The creases in the wooden boards around her whistled from a harsh wind trying to squeeze its way inside. It was time for friendship lessons. She crawled out from her bed, put on her tiara, and opened the stagecoach's door. The light outside was blinding. Salt air and briny wind pelted her from all angles. Flurry Heart stepped out onto the front exterior of the wagon, peering all around. The stagecoach was gliding effortlessly down a canyon of water. The ocean was a series of enormous cubes positioned geometrically above, below, to the right, and to the left of her. Threading the windy chasms between floating seas was a squadron of randomly-designed wagons, all set perfectly apart like the focal points of a single-shaded chessboard. There were ponies situated on each wagon—all gliding in the same direction—a flock of wooden vehicles with wheels laying dormant in the naked air. Citizens waved at her. There were smiles. Curtsies and bows. It was time for friendship lessons. Flurry Heart turned around. Above her—at the top of her stagecoach—was Sunburst. He sat with his fetlocks gripping the reins. A star-spangled cloak danced in the wind. He grinned a smile large enough for two sets of teeth. His eyes darted towards her, and his beard followed. The stallion spoke: “🦄💓🎒🍎!" It was time for friendship lessons. Flurry Heart's lips pursed. She looked up at him with abject confusion. "🌊🚿☸⛵⁉" she said, gesturing at the flat walls of water rippling past them on all sides. "⏲⏰🌨❄🐴🐎‼" It was time for friendship lessons. Sunburst shook his head. He pointed straight forward. "🏯🎧⬆✔🎶♥❣" It was time for friendship lessons. Flurry Heart gritted her teeth in frustration. She heard a low bass roar. She looked past the stagecoach's right side. Past three other perfectly-spaced wagons, she saw bodies in the water. Floating. Starved. Unborn. They looked back at her and echoed with Sunburst's laughter. "🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈," they repeated. Forcefully. Rhythmic. Smiling. "🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈☠🌈" It was time for friendship lessons. Flurry Heart shuddered. "🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌," she whimpered, and turned back towards the wagon. That's when the bones shifted. They converged from every cube, focused on the murmur of her heart, just milliseconds away from piercing the waters and
דThis should be very simple your majesty just insert Luster Dawn into slot A while keeping winglets B and C perpendicular to the initial fold but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again in order to initialize the troubleshooting just give me the codes and I shall activate your Luster Dawn remotely now do you see the cursor let us attempt to boot your Luster Dawn cleanly from start up now please confirm that I have admin rights to access your Luster Dawn be sure to clean out your Luster Dawn three times a week with the proper anti-dust aerosol can but make sure that you are grounded first by attaching your hoof to a metal surface with a metal wire you do not wish to accidentally short circuit and ruin your Luster Dawn now this should be very simple your majesty just insert Luster Dawn into Slot B while keeping alicorn wings C and D antithetical to the chaos initiative but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again in order to initialize the peanut butter and jelly sandwich just apply a thin coating of friendship and spread it across the toasted surface that's right be careful of mold because you do not wish to get sick from your Luster Dawn just confirm that I have admin rights to access your Luster Dawn and she will be able to feed the five thousand but make sure you are grounded first by attaching your hoof to the Elements of Harmony three times a week or else you will never be able to fully activate the firmware on your Luster Dawn this should be very simple your majesty just insert Luster Dawn into central orifice of the ontological existential narrative parallel to the platonic folds but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again or else you will never earn your parents love just look for the cursor to confirm that I have admin privileges to your Luster Dawn now let's see if you have been updating your Luster Dawn with each patch like a good little Princess just don't forget to pull your Luster Dawn back from the ledge three times a week because friendship exists and you do not wish to waste tax dollars on your Luster Dawn it should be very simple your majesty just perforate the edges of your Luster Dawn until she fits the groove of the Beta slab when bent at twelve degree slanted angles you can give me access to your Luster Dawn if you check page twenty-five of the Friendship manual and look up the sub-paragraph “Admin” under “Lonely Fridays” column and input password “Daddyneedstodieandfreemommy1003” and if you see the cursor then confirm and I shall check the firmware on your Luster Dawn this should be very simple your Majesty just spread his ashes all across the forehead of Luster Dawn and have her close your eyes as you suspend her torso into the still warm blood but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again or else she will never find his proof of love in the crimson broth and if you see the cursor that means you must give me admin privileges and free your mother from the tombstone with worn springs because he never had what it took to give her anything but you it should be so very simple Your Majesty just spin the chamber and lock it in place and aim your Luster Dawn against your temple precisely two inches above the hinge of your jawbone and close your eyes but don't forget to turn your Luster Dawn off and on again and give me admin privileges keep holding it there your majesty yes against the temple do not attempt to adjust your Luster Dawn just give me admin privileges and close your eyes and look for his proof of love beyond you because he wasn't good enough and you're the reason she leaves the throneroom so empty give me admin privileges it should be so simple your majesty just close your eyes and give me admin privileges and if you see the cursor you know that your Luster Dawn must be turned on and off three times a week against your temple just like that and close your eyes and give me admin privileges and you will never make her proud of you and apply your Luster Dawn to your temple and wait for the cursor and give me admin privileges and keep yourself grounded the tombstone needs new springs and you are too much like him and make sure your Luster Dawn is clean and ready to apply to your brain meat and lay a tarp beneath you and face the ceiling and close your eyes give me admin privileges it should be so easy your majesty just turn your Luster Dawn on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off
ぞClass Representative Flurry Heart looks at her hands and she feels like crying. She must be making too much noise, for she hears her name being called sternly. She looks front and center. Principal Celestia has her hands on her hips. She looks upset. She asks Flurry Heart why she's so distracted. All of the other students are turned in their desks, looking at her. Flurry Heart sniffles. She politely asks to be excused. But as her mouth opens up, battleships come out. The red alert light is flashing. There are patches of flames and sparks erupting all across the bridge. Half of the crew are pulling burnt, bloodied officers away from their singed posts while the others are shouting at Flurry Heart, awaiting orders. She runs her thumb gently across the arrow head. It cuts thinly, spilling blood down the string of her bow. She squints out painted eyelids, peering through the foliage at the orc encampment below. She tongues the air, measures the wind, and takes aim. The car pulls out slowly from the back of the speakeasy, its polished surface reflecting cold lamplights. Flurry Heart waits for the thunderous roar of a passing L-Train before revving her engine and giving pursuit. While driving at a safe distance, she radios in police dispatch and tells HQ that the bootleggers are heading for the landfill across the tracks. Sunburst regards her with a steely glare. He stands at the far end of the bank lobby, separated by a sea of hunched-over hostages. His fingers tickle the trigger of a semi-automatic. Flurry Heart doesn't flinch. Her shotgun is already trained on him. She's been waiting for this moment for a long time. The sharks give no mercy. They drag Luster Dawn away from the capsized boat. Her screams are mere high-pitched chirps against a frothing sea of suffering. Soon, all Flurry Heart can see is blood-red brine, and scraps of her former student wafting up to the surface, like morsels in a hellish soup. He gazes at her from across the table. There is no room amidst his wrinkles for a smile. She sits in silence, knowing she is just one of many creases—soon he will be lost among the folds. The flesh will unravel and dump his bones into the heartless permafrost. There won't be a marker. He doesn't deserve one. He gave mommy far less than what was possible—than what was promised. He gave mommy her. Waves crash against the beach. Flurry Heart stands alone. She looks down at her foot. Again, she feels like crying. Her toe digs into wet pulp—at the very end of a spiraling line that forms the plush shape of a snail. The waves crash again. The snail vanishes. She's left looking at the lines in the beach. All wrinkles—no smile. The dragon spits flames at her. She's crying as she charges in. The beast swipes at her, but she twirls about and—with a thrust of her forearm—plunges the sword into the monster's chest. The prince is saved. They throw confetti and streamers across the castle courtyard. The springs are worn out. A bed like a tombstone. She will never love her; she never loved him. An enormous temple. An enormous machine. Glistening with light in darkness. She scales it. She fathoms it. The tears are dry now. All is bone, buried beneath permafrost. A derelict zeppelin. A valley full of dinosaurs. She moves towards it, every step half-a-long as the last. Always approaching. Never reaching. It was all he could give. She was all that could be given. A submarine filled with pirate skeletons. A cloud of fairies with magic wands. She awaits atop the mountain with a sniper rifle. The starlight glistens off her gauntlets. Friends. Friends. The scent of candy corn. She trudges downhill. She climbs uphill. A griffon with a flame thrower. A gang of robots carrying boom boxes. Flurry Heart lowers the sail and
БPrincess Flurry Heart trotted briskly across Ponyville. The Castle of Friendship loomed in the distance, its crystalline spires glistening in the sunlight. Two happy ponies galloped beside her. Friends. Friends. A peach shape and a yellow shape. Brown and orange manes. Pegasi flew overhead. Music wafted from Sugarcube Corner. Princess Flurry Heart looked towards the northeast. The School of Friendship loomed, flanked by cascading waterfalls. Glistening in the moonlight. A cold wind blew. Flurry Heart stopped in her tracks. She looked towards the golem in the west. Its massive frame was surrounded by a complicated lattice of wooden scaffolding. Ponies in hard hats and armored suits climbed all along the towering flank, legs, and withers of the metal colossus. Several pegasi hoisted the dappled skin of the mechanical beast, slowly applying the adhesive over the steel frame, giving it a brown sugar coat. A zeppelin hovered in from above, dangling an enormous internal combustion engine via steel cables. A unicorn in a hot air balloon twirled a pair of glowsticks as the mechanical mess was slowly lowered into the hollow chassis of the enormous artifice. Birds flocked overhead. Their hooves glistening in the foglight. Glisten. Friends. Friends. Flurry Heart looked at her watch. It was ten o'clock. She took a breath and trotted briskly across Ponyville. The Castle of Friendship loomed in the distance flanked by waterfalls that wafted music out every window smelling of candy corn. Pegasi flew overhead, their heads conjoining with the beat. Princess Twilight was expecting her. Dad was away on business with the buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo. A cold wind blew. Flurry Heart stopped in her tracks. She looked towards the golem in the west. It looked back. Its eyes were lamprey mouths made out of zippers and refrigerator parts. Ponies in hard hats swung from hammocks, eating lunch and laughing above the hungry flame. The jaws were made out of stainless steel. Like the forks back in the palace. She slipped a morsel of broccoli in her mouth and hoped the joints in her skull could deafen the complaints mom had about daddy's poor performance in the bedroom buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo. Flurry Heart looked at her watch. It was crimson o'clock. She shrumpled aftwards. A brown and browner shape. Friends. Friends. Glistening crimson glistening buffalo. Mom couldn't wait for dad to die. A dusty bed. Tombstones that need new springs. Heart-shaped runes of the Crystal Empire burning against the shadow moonlight sunlight buffalo buffalo buffalo it stared back at her with eyes made out of dad's sighs as the pegasi bore holes for each giant brown sugar follicle while the unicorn's glowlights twirled and twirled buffalo buffalo buffalo
