It was a bright and sunny day. The birds were singing peacefully and all the ponies in…
Wait, no…No good adventure story will start out, “It is bright and everyone is happy…”…man, I haven’t even gotten the setting down and already this isn’t what I want…but what do I want?
Oh, maybe I should introduce myself. My name is Rapid Quill. I’m an author living in Ponyville, but recently I’ve hit a wall…writer’s block some would say. I’ve written all sorts of stories for some of my friends around town, but I was having trouble writing my next story. The problem was trying to get any fragments of ideas together to something I could work with. I figured I would need some help, so that’s why I headed over to the library. If anyone could help me out, it would be Twilight Sparkle.
I knocked on the door, and was greeted by Twilight, which is unusual as Spike commonly would open the door for company. That must mean he was out, probably at Rarity’s boutique. Spike has had me write more than a few romantic stories centering on the two of them…
“Hi Rapid Quill, how are you today?”
“I’m in trouble. I can’t decide on how to write my newest story and I was wondering if you might have a minute to help me?” I said.
“Uh, well, I’m kind of entertaining a guest, so it would have to be a short visit,” Twilight said, letting me in. It was at this point that I noticed Rainbow Dash sitting in the back, her nose in a Daring Do adventure. Rainbow Dash is actually one of my best customers, ever since she discovered that reading could be fun. She’s more of the adventurous type herself, so when I write adventures, they are usually with her in mind.
“Oh, hey Q. What’s up?” Rainbow said, putting her hoof in the book to mark her spot.
“Not much Dash. I’m working on a new story but needed some help. See I was thinking about writing a story about some monster tormenting a small village and how the villagers have to stand up and fight, but that seems like something I’ve already written. Maybe I could write a horror story about a hydra because it’s three heads would make for a formidable monster.”
“A Hydra has four heads,” Twilight interrupted, “trust me…I know.” She shuddered during that last statement. This is why I came to see Twilight. She not only is an expert on books, living in a library that is stocked with many books (most of which I bet she’s read more than once), she’s actually been in numerous adventures. “Well, let me see what you have so far…hmm…well, the setting seems strange for an adventure story and the monster needs some fact checking done before you write about the fights. The characters could use some more development, but it isn’t bad.”
“I know, it needs a lot of work. Other than the fight scene, I’m having trouble putting together some of the details. Should I just try to make it a horror story instead?”
“Why would you do horror? They’re never believable, usually making characters do things they never would. You should write another adventure story, those are usually the best,” Rainbow said. At this point she glanced back towards her book before shouting, “I KNOW!!! Why not write a story about Daring Do? She could be in trouble, well, more trouble than she’s used to, and in need of the help of a fellow adventurous pegasi. This other pegasi could fly down and say, ‘Don’t worry Daring Do! I, the great and awesome Rainbow Dash, will save you.’ Then we would team up and help save the world!! That would be awesome.”
“Yeah…I don’t know. Daring Do isn’t mine, and I really want to try something new. Besides, that would make YOU the sidekick, and that doesn’t seem like the Dash I know.”
“Hmm…you’re right,” Rainbow said, with a heavy sigh. “Oh! You should write a story where I join the Wonder Bolts and blow them away with my amazing skills. They are so impressed they make me the youngest captain ever. Then, Princess Celestia will give us a huge prize for being so spectacular and impressing all of the ponies in Canterlot…And”
“Rainbow Dash! Slow down. Rapid Quill said he wants to write a horror story, not something like that,” Twilight said, cutting Rainbow Dash off in mid-thought. Rainbow looked at the two of us with a slight look of annoyance and a small grumble before turning back to her book, giving off an unpleasant silence. Twilight turned back towards me saying, “Maybe you just need to take a walk around town to clear your head. I bet your thoughts will sort themselves out if you just give them some time.”
“Yeah, that’s not a bad idea,” I said, ready to get away from Dash. Dash and I are friends, and I really do like her ideas for stories, and she likes reading my adventures, but now she was upset, and I didn’t want to stick around and upset her any further.
Leaving Twilight’s library I wondered around town, eventually finding myself at Sweet Apple Acres. It’s on the edge of town, close to the Everfree Forest. I haven’t traveled too far into the forest, mostly out of respect for the many creatures that I’ve written about in my stories that just so happen to live there…
When I walked up, I saw the Apple family carrying in a fresh harvest. I bet they might have some ideas on a story, I thought. “Apple Jack, Big Mac, wait up!”
“Well howdy Rapid Quill! What brings you over to Sweet Apple Acres?” Apple Jack asked. Apple Jack has the down-home type of life that could help me develop some of my characters. Plus she has been on most of the same adventures as Twilight, so she might have some good ideas.
“I’m trying to write a new story, but I’m having trouble determining what to write about. Do you have any suggestions?”
“I’VE GOT AN IDEA!” Apple Bloom shouted.
“Well, we are right busy here today, so I can’t really stop to talk. There’s a whole heap of apples that need to be bucked, lickety-split. Why did you come to me for advice? Ain’t you tried asking anypony else for help?”
“Well on my way over here, I went by Sugar Cube Corner for a snack and asked Mr. and Mrs. Cake, but they were busy with the babies. So I thought about asking Vinyl Scratch, because of her creativity and ability to come up with original music, but no matter how hard I pounded on her door she wouldn’t answer…of course, her music was a little loud.”
“I’VE GOT AN IDEA!” Apple Bloom shouted.
“ As I left Vinyl’s house, I ran into Derpy, well she ran into me, and as an apology she gave me a muffin and flew off before I could talk to her…I ran by the school to talk to Cheerilee, but she was busy putting together her lesson plan for the week. I even tried Zecora, but I was having trouble understanding her rhyming to determine what she was suggesting. So I thought I’d swing by here.”
“I’VE GOT AN IDEA!” Apple Bloom shouted.
“Apple Bloom, it ain’t nice to interrupt our guest.” Apple Jack scolded. This made Apple Bloom storm off, mumbling something about no pony listening to her. “I’m mighty sorry about that. I really can’t help you today, but good luck. I know; what about asking Rarity? I figure she could help, what with her being so creative.”
As I watched Apple Jack walk away I turned to Big Mac for advice. “Do you have any ideas for a story Big Mac?”
“…..Nope…..” With that, he turned away and carried his large apple supply into the barn.
So, I followed Apple Jack’s advice, and went to visit Rarity. When I arrived at her boutique, I was pleased to see I was right about Spike helping her out. It’s kind of sweet, but funny, that Spike thinks no one knows about his crush on Rarity. But, I swore to keep his secret, and I would never let that cat out of the bag. “Hey Rarity, Spike, what are you up to?”
“I’ve got a big order to fill by next week, and Spike came over to help me out. Wasn’t that so thoughtful of him?” Rarity said, flashing a huge smile. It was all I could do to not snicker back. I can’t tell for sure, but I believe even she knows of Spike’s crush. “What brings you here?”
“Oh, I’m trying to come up with an idea for my next story. I thought I had something, but it isn’t really coming together. Do you have a suggestion?”
“You should write a story about a sweet Southern belle trying to learn her place in a gentleman’s society. She wants to be her own person and do what she wants to do, but that would go against modern societal expectations for a lady such as herself. She could even have a few suitors who try to win her hand in marriage, but of course they would have to aspire to both her social standing and her inner most desires.”
“Well, that sounds like it could be something…different…maybe that could be my next story…after this one…”
I’ve had Rarity suggest stories like this before but I hesitate to write them for her. On one hoof, I have made a name for myself writing comedy and adventures with only a little romance (not counting Spike’s stories, which he hides of course) and stories like this are FAR in the other direction. On the other hoof, I’m afraid Rarity would get carried away. I know that Rarity has good intentions and is one of the most generous mares in town, but I’ve seen her get caught up in something she alone has received. I hear she actually entered a flying contest in Cloudsdale when she received wings that made her even more beautiful than she already is, even though she was there to support Rainbow Dash in the same competition. For this reason, I have put off writing a story primarily around Rarity until I have written a few stories for specific ponies in Ponyville. When I finally write one of her stories, she won’t have something so unique that she can get lost in this way.
“Hey Spike, what do you think of Rarity’s idea? You think I should do a romantic story?” I asked just to tease him.
Spike’s eyes shifted between me and Rarity for a second before he said, “That girl stuff is too far below you. You need to do something more awesome and exciting, something with a big fight in it and a lot of belching…” With this, Rarity turned away, rolling her eyes and Spike gave me a wink behind her back…I couldn’t help but smile at this exchange. I’m going to miss moments like this when they finally let their feelings known to each other.
“Well, thanks you two for your help. I’m going to head back to Twilight’s to see if I can get some more help from her. Good luck on the dresses.”
As I was leaving Rarity’s boutique, I happened to see Fluttershy walking down the street. “Fluttershy!” I called out. I should’ve known better. I haven’t talked to Fluttershy much, but I know she spends most of her time with Twilight and her friends, so she must have some good stories. The thing I had forgotten was just how shy she could be, especially when startled. What’s the best way to startle her? That would be running up to her from behind shouting “Fluttershy!” like a fool.
“AAAHHH!!” She screamed, ducking behind a bush. As I approached her hiding spot, I noticed that the bush was obviously shaking.
“I’m so sorry Fluttershy. I was just excited to see you. You see I am trying to write another story and was wondering if you might have any ideas.”
“…” The bush was still shaking.
“I’ve been asking everyone around town today.”
“I don’t know” she whispered, almost like a squeak. I’ve heard stories that she can be very brave when she wants and that if you get to know her, she is a great friend. I’ve just never been able to talk to her long enough without scaring her…
“Well, if you think of anything, don’t hesitate to come and talk to me. I’d love to do a story for you personally; I’ve already done one for a couple of your friends.” I realized at this point that this was never a conversation and that I was getting nowhere. Lucky for Fluttershy, it was at this point that the tables turned and I was forcefully made into the listener, not the talker.
“OHMYGOSH! I heard that you were asking around town for ideas for a story and I wanted to make a suggestion. Wouldn’t it be great if you wrote a story about the world’s greatest party, being thrown by the world’s greatest pony party planner of course. There would be cake and music and games and streamers and lots of ponies all dressed up in great party costumes. OOOHHH!!! It could be a costume party, kind of like Nightmare Night but without all the spooky decorations and the scary stories but it would have to include candy because candy is so great. What do you think? I think this is the best idea for a story ever and it wouldn’t be hard to write. I could help if you needed help. I’m a great party planner myself as you know. You’ve been to some of my parties right? My parties are some of the best, but I feel like I could make them better. Well, maybe not better than the party I threw after the wedding in Canterlot last year. Now THAT was fun, there were pretty party ponies and fun games and some great music and we all had a good time. I bet you could write a good story all about that one party alone.”
It was during a breath that I was finally able to say, “Hi Pinkie Pie”. I noticed that the bush had stopped shaking, and that Fluttershy was running away in the distance. Before she started up again I was able to say, “I’m thinking something more adventurous than a party.”
“Oh well if adventure is what you are looking for, I have quite some stories to tell you. Did you know that I was one of the ponies chosen to make that big, meaney, sleepy dragon leave the mountains before it could make so much smoke it would block out the sun for all of Equestria? I also helped defeat Nightmare Moon when she came back, but Twilight had a much bigger part in that fight. And I helped beat Discord and the Chrysalis queen, but Twilight seemed to have a much bigger hoof in those two fights as well. OH! When the parasprites were attacking the town, I was the only pony who had heard about their attraction to music and I led them out of town with my one-Pinkie band. I tried to stop Spike when he became a big meaney dragon himself, but I mean, even the Wonder Bolts couldn’t stop him so you can’t hold that against me. I also had a run in with a monstrous hydra that was attacking Fluttershy…Which reminds me, I thought I saw her here but I can’t find her now. Do you know where she went?”
It was all I could do to point in the opposite direction. “She ran off that way when you showed up. I think I scared her before…If you see her, could you apologize for me?”
“Sure, that’s a piece of cake. Have a good day!!” And with that, she ran off, leaving me in a daze. You have to watch out for Pinkie Pie if you are new in Ponyville…she can talk your ears off, but she is fun, and she does throw amazing parties.
After Pinkie left, I went ahead and found myself headed back for Twilight’s library and found that Rainbow Dash had already left. When she answered the door I let Twilight know how my day went. “I walked all around town and spoke to so many ponies. They had some good ideas, but nothing I feel compelled to work on. I am no further towards writing my story than I was this morning.”
“Well, what are you going to do?” She asked.
Spike was just returning from helping Rarity all day, and the sun was setting. I realized that the task of getting help with writing a story had taken me all day. I was getting tired and hungry and knew it was time I headed home.
“Well, I guess I’ll just sleep on it and, who knows, maybe tomorrow I’ll get an idea to write on.” Suddenly a thought hit me and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Who knows, maybe I can even write a story about having trouble coming up with ideas to write a story.” I kept laughing as I walked away, thinking about how my day in Ponyville really would make a good story.
“Well…Good luck with that.” Twilight said, shutting the library door.