The Invasion

It was a beautiful day in Ponyville, though I’m not too sure that any day in that wondrous hamlet was anything but beautiful. The clearest blue painted itself in the heavens above, speaking life to all the Pegasi that resided there. Puffy white clouds whisked their way through this grandeur, looking very much the part of the typical fluffy coating that Mr. and Mrs. Cake had become famous for. Birds also soared, chirping their merriment to the endless expanse overhead. These vocalizations would then double back to us on the ground, where we happily went about our daily business. Fall had arrived, and with it, the ever satisfying crunch of leaves under one’s hooves. True, the Running of the Leaves took care of most of them, but small doses of foliage still found their way to the ground.

I remember that it was a Monday morning, and the air was crisp and cool. Light scarves and hats dotted the bodies of my fellow ponies as they trotted around town. Foals played at their mother’s hooves as they bought various wares from the stands that made their home in the town square. The sun shone rather brightly, thus adding a rich visual delicacy to the autumn wonderland that stretched out before me. Everything in town seemed to be much more vibrant than usual. Oh, that’s not to suggest that our town was someplace drab and dreary, but I’ve never seen it so full of life. Perhaps it was because everyone was getting ready to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Princess Twilight and her favorite guard, Flash Sentry.

Oh, my name? My name is Trundle Hoof. You might have heard of my much more famous brother, Trenderhoof. He’s recently taken another job outside of travel writing, but he still makes mares swoon wherever he goes…the lucky bastard. I write extensively as well, but my tales are often somewhere between swashbuckling adventures and tender romances. In fact, I quite often combine the two. I live in a modest cottage here in Ponyville, and I’ve made quite a few friends since I moved here from Manehattan. I just needed someplace to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. My brother may love to write about the various places Equestria has to offer, but I’m content to stay right where I am. It offers such a soothing sense of home, something that one cannot attain while in Manehattan.

But enough about me, back to the story. As I was saying, it was an absolutely amazing day in town and I was on my way to the quill shop to reinvigorate my supply. These writing implements had become almost like children to me, considering the amount of time I used them. They provided me with so much, and were the source of many good things in my life. With a flick of my horn, I can call forth so many amazing scenes and landscapes. It truly is a magical instrument, perhaps even more so than the protrusion atop my forehead. I made my way into the quill shop where Author Hoofington, the owner and proprietor of said establishment, sat behind a wooden desk.

“May I help-oh, hello, Trundle! How’s the writing?” He asked politely.

“Oh, you know how it is,” I said in response, my thick Manehattan accent tempered with the Ponyville dialect I had become used to, “I haven’t been able to sell a damn thing in a moon, but I’m getting there.”

“You’re…getting there? How so?” He asked with a cock of his head.

“Well, critics are writing favorably about me. The problem is that everypony just loves to read magazines, which is why my brother is so much more successful than me. Nopony has the attention span to actually sit down and commit to reading something 300 pages long. I don’t feel that the muse has left me…but…I do fear that she is punishing me for some crime against writing.”

He chuckled. “Well, perhaps she is. But, cheer up. Twilight and Flash’s wedding should put you at peace. Aren’t you good friends with Her Majesty?”

I smiled and blushed. Not only was I very close to the royal pony, I had even attempted to date her once. But, she turned me down flat. She had her guard, who was way more handsome and debonair than I ever hoped to be. It disappointed me severely, but I never let her know it. I didn’t want to lose her as my friend. In fact, I had even been asked to read a romantic poem I had recently completed during the ceremony. I was thrilled at the invitation, yet part of my heart broke when I realized that the poem I’d written would be while she was being married to somepony else. It was an honor, and I had agreed with great gusto…albeit…fake gusto. I wanted to help her. I just wished to Celestia that it would not have been at an event that would take my Twilight away from me forever.

“Er…yes, I am,” I said, “and I’ve been asked to take part in the ceremony.”

The shop pony nearly spilled the box of quills he was handing me. “Wow! What an honor!” He breathed.

“It…is,” I said, gulping back my shattered feelings, “it truly is. But, enough about that. These are fine. How much do I owe you?”

“25 bits,” Author said, “I have these specially imported from Saddle Arabia, you know.”

“Yes, I do,” I said, rolling my eyes. As much as I kept up a good friendship with Author, he could be a bit of a braggart considering the source of these quills. I was proud that he had a flourishing business, but by this point, every foal and their mother knew that the quills were imported. I smiled and shook my head before counting out the bits.

“I’m impressed,” the quill pony said, “I thought you hadn’t been able to sell anything lately.”

“I’m living on what I can do,” I said, “I write a newspaper article here and there to keep up my bit count. I’m certain a breakthrough is on its way!”

“I have no doubt of it,” Author said, “if it’s anything like what you’ve shown me before, then it should be magnificent.”

“Thanks,” I said as I turned and trotted out of the store.