30 Minute Delay

Join Our Ponyville ‘Flock’

Three little fillies sat waiting on a bench in Town Hall.

“Whaddaya think the Mayor wants?” The cream-coloured, red-haired Earth pony asked, adjusting her bow so that it was straight.

“Dunno. We haven’t done anything crazy recently so I don’t think we’re in trouble.” The orange Pegasus was fidgeting, unhappy with being made to sit quietly for so long.

“Umm……what about when we snuck onto the train because we wanted to be Cutie Mark Crusader Choo-Choo Conductors?” The white-furred Unicorn with the two-tone purple mane winced as she remembered how that attempt had gone, but the other two just shook their heads.

“Nah, that was weeks ago. Besides, we got back before it was dark.”

“Scoots is right. I don’t think that’s it. ‘sides, if we were in trouble it’d be Applejack, Rarity or Cheerilee talkin’ to us.” Sweetie Belle breathed a visible sigh of relief about this. The other two relaxed as well, they just didn’t want to admit they were worried in front of the others.

Soon they fell silent again as the seconds ticked by. Of course, they never were very good at waiting……

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The Mayor’s aide poked his head around the door and was greeted by a very strange sight.

“Ow ow ow ow!” Sweetie Belle was lying on the ground holding her horn.

“Sorry Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo apologised, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment,

“I didn’t think your horn’d be so sensitive.”

“Me neither, ah guess you won’t be getting your Cutie Mark in horn-dancing.”

“Guess not. I suppose I’ll just use my horn for magic like every other Unicorn.” Eyes still watering, she sat up slowly to avoid a headache. The aide cleared his throat:

“Umm, girls? The Mayor will see you now.”

“KAY!” The three chorused cheerfully, glad to be doing something again and eager to find out why they were here.

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Seated at her desk, Mayor Mare looked over at the three fillies standing before her. She gave them a reassuring smile.

“Thank you for coming, girls. I’m sure you’re wondering what I asked you here for today.”

“Yes, ma’am, miss Mayor, ma’am.” Applebloom tried her best to be polite like her sister taught her. The Mayor just chuckled.

“Well girls, I’m sure you remember a few months ago when Ponyville was chosen to provide water for Cloudsdale, don’t you?” Excited by the reference, Scootaloo spoke up next:

“DO I! All those Pegasus’ zooming about, sucking the water up like a big straw. Naturally Rainbow Dash was in charge, she’s the best. Did you know her Wing Power was over 16?! They say that to have 10 Wing Power means you’re a strong flyer and she’s got 6 more on top of-“

“Yes, thank you, Scootaloo, I think we understand how much you think of Rainbow Dash.” Everyone in town knew that if given the chance the little orange Pegasus would talk for hours about her hero.

“Madam Mayor, what does the Cloudsdale water run have to do with us? Scootaloo didn’t take part and Applebloom and I aren’t even Pegasus’.”

“Good question, Sweetie Belle. You’re right, only one of you is a Pegasus, yet you all spend a lot of time together. That’s actually the reason why I brought you here today.” She paused briefly to make sure she had the attention of all three.

“You see, while our Cloudsdale water run was successful, we only just managed to get the necessary Wing Power, with even that requiring some last minute heroics from Fluttershy. As you know, the official overseer for the event was Spitfire of the Wonderbolts, who is well respected in the Pegasus community.” She set her papers aside and, putting her hooves together on the desk in front of her, looked strongly at each Crusader in turn.

“I’m afraid that Spitfire’s report has not left Ponyville with a good reputation among Pegasus’. They see our struggles to perform the water run as a sign that Ponyville is not………Pegasus-friendly.” At this announcement Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle all began talking at once.

“WHAT?!”

“Oh no!”

“But that’s not true!”

“Yeah! We love Scootaloo and Fluttershy…”

“AND RAINBOW DASH!”

“……Right! And Rainbow Dash and EVERYONE!”

Not at all surprised at the strength of the outburst, Mayor Mare motioned for them to calm down.

“Girls, girls, please! I know that Ponyville loves our Pegasus friends, the problem is that some ponies outside of the town don’t see it like that. However, I think you three can help us to change their minds.”

“Us?”

“What can we do?”

Mayor Mare smiled fondly at this.

“Why you three are the perfect example of different ponies working together and getting along. Everypony in town knows that Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle do everything together. Whatever you…” she stopped to remember the right words,

“Whatever you Cutie Mark Crusaders do, you always make sure that you all can do it, nopony is left out because they’re a Pegasus or a Unicorn or an Earth pony. When you three work together you do some amazing feats.” The three reddened under the praise. Driving the point home, the Mayor pointed a hoof dramatically.

“So, Cutie Mark Crusaders, are you ready to help Ponyville and the Pegasus’?” Their eyes went wide, the girls were suckers for theatrics. Grinning madly, they saluted.

“Can do, miss Mayor, ma’am!”

“We’ll do our very best!”

“You can count on us!”

As one, they bunched together and cried out:

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER PONYVILLE PEGASUS…….uh……Pegasus…..”

“……Persuaders?” Suggested Mayor Mare, struggling not to chuckle at their zeal.

“That’s perfect! Cutie Mark Crusader Ponyville Pegasus Persuaders! YAY!”

As the fillies stormed out of her office, the town leader sat back in her chair.

Somehow, I think they’ll manage.

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Retreating to their clubhouse, the CMC got down to their task.

“So, Scootaloo, you’re a Pegasus, what do you think about all this fuss?”

“Hmmmmmaybe, it’s a little tricky though.”

“I know, we mustn’t accidentally enable a stereotype, even a positive one.” Sweetie Belle soon found the other two giving her quizzical looks.

“What?”

“What the hay does that mean?”

“It’s something my sister says when she’s talking about the models for her dresses. She says that even though they all look tall and thin she can’t make the dresses just for tall, thin ponies,” she switched her voice to a haughtier tone, trying to imitate her sister’s cultured speaking style,

“If you only allow for one variation then that will become all you receive.” They all fell silent for a moment to think about Rarity-by-way-of-Sweetie Belle’s words. Then Applebloom spoke up:

“So………what the hay does that mean?” Rolling her eyes, Sweetie Belle pushed her over with a grin.

“It means that you can’t always expect one thing from anypony, no matter how many other ponies do it.” Scootaloo was nodding in agreement.

“Yeah, I mean look at Pinkie Pie. She’s an Earth pony but half the stuff she does is crazier than Unicorn magic!”

“Well………that might be something to think about, but how can we use it for Pegasus’?”

“What about Rainbow Dash? She’s awesome at her job.” Scootaloo never missed an opportunity to plug some Rainbow-worship, but Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were pensive.

“Yeah…….sorta. I mean, we know Rainbow Dash is pretty good but she’s a weatherpony. That’s kinda what IS expected from Pegasus’. We need somethin’ you wouldn’t think of straight away.” Applebloom gave an apologetic look to Scootaloo, who pouted for a second before speaking up.

“How about Fluttershy? She takes care of animals and lives in a cottage, not on a cloud.”

“Yeah, that’s a good one. She doesn’t rely on her wings to do everything.” Scootaloo and Applebloom hoofbumped but Sweetie Belle still didn’t look convinced.

“I’m not sure that’s the right way to do it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well that could give the wrong idea too. Instead of having a Pegasus always doing Pegasus activities, you send the message that you come to Ponyville to NOT do Pegasus stuff.”

“Huh, I didn’t think of that.”

“This issue’s a might more complex than we figured, huh?”

“I still think we’re on the right track but we can’t just do ‘Pegasus’ and ‘not Pegasus’, we need something in between.”

Each filly was silent for a few minutes as they racked their brains to figure out what to do next. Finally Applebloom spoke up:

“Hey, what’s the name o’ that li’l filly in the other class, purple Unicorn with the blonde mane?”

“Diddy?”

“Donkey?”

“Dinky! Dinky Hooves! That’s it.”

“Yeah, her. Her mom’s a mailmare right? We can use her!”

“But that’s a Pegasus job, isn’t it?” Scootaloo was wondering where her friend was going with this but Sweetie Belle agreed with Applebloom.

“No, it’s fine. Dinky’s mom, I think her name’s Derpy, she’s not the only mailpony in town, there’s a bunch of them. They’ve got Earth, Unicorn and Pegasus too! We can say that Pegasus’ can do the same jobs as any other ponies and work with them too!”

“Ohhh, I get it. I’m liking this idea!”

“So we’ve got Rainbow Dash on the Pegasus end, Fluttershy on the other side and Derpy in the middle. That should be useful to the Mayor, right?” Sweetie Belle took this opportunity to get her own hoofbump, however this time it was Scootaloo shaking her head.

“Guys, we’ve only been talking about what it’s like for a Pegasus to work in Ponyville. We haven’t thought about what it’s like to live in an Earth pony town like this.”

“Oh, right.” Chorused the Earth & Unicorn fillies.

“Well,” Applebloom began, stroking her chin,

“For that we gotta show little Pound Cake. His sister’s a Unicorn and his folks are Earth ponies but they love each other t’ bits.”

“Well yeah, but who else?” The two crossed their forelegs and tried to think of other Pegasus’ to talk about.

“Ooh ooh ooh!” Sweetie Belle was almost vibrating with excitement.

“What’s wrong Sweetie Belle?”

“What about ‘The Pulse’?” She wore a savvy grin here but the others just looked confused.

“The whut?”

“Who?”

“The Pulse. That’s what everypony calls Nurse Redheart and Silverspeed. They share a house near the hospital where they work and spend their time off in the pub. Apparently, according to Pinkie Pie, they’re unbeatable when they work together, doesn’t matter which game. They always win!”

“Ah think ah’ve heard that too, when Big Macintosh goes off with Caramel they sometimes talk about them when they get back.”

“Really? I’ve never heard anything like that.” Scootaloo looked from one to the other. They seemed certain.

“So Pound Cake’s got a loving family and Silverspeed can’t be beat when she works with Nurse Redheart? Do we have anything else?”

“I cain’t think of anythin’. Think we got enough?”

“We probably need at least one more, but who?”

“Why don’t we, just this once and for the right reasons this time, bring back Gabby Gums for some snooping?”

“Are you sure? Everypony was awful sore at us the last time.”

“Yeah but this time we won’t be reporting anything, we’ll just be gathering facts. It’ll be fine!”

“Well, if you’re sure…”

“Yeah, we’ll show what we’ve got to the Mayor after we get some more info.”

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Mayor Mare put down the report after reading and re-reading it.

“Well girls, this is certainly thorough. I’m very impressed.”

“Happy to help, miss Mayor, ma’am.”

“It was really fun when we started asking around.”

“Yeah! Everypony in town had a Pegasus story to tell.”

“And I’m sure you found them all, given how much is here. I’ll have my writing staff make a final draft then we’ll be ready to go. You did wonderfully.” The three fillies wore ‘aw shucks’ expressions.

“Now all that’s left is to choose a pony to do the presentation. Do the Cutie Mark Crusader Ponyville Pegasus Persuaders have any ideas?”

“Well….” Applebloom began, looking at Sweetie Belle,

“Actually….” Sweetie Belle continued, looking back at Applebloom,

As one they nodded and, raising a hoof each, pointed at Scootaloo, who noticed.

“Wait……WHAT?!”

“Oh don’t act like you didn’t see this coming, only-Pegasus-in-town-we-didn’t-get-a-story-from.” Sweetie Belle grinned widely at her.

“C’mon Scoots, it has to be you, you know that.” Applebloom mirrored the Unicorn’s expression.

“But I….” Outnumbered, Scootaloo looked to Mayor Mare for support….

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Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were in the front row as the presentation began, along with Mayor Mare, Spitfire, several more Wonderbolts and assorted other Cloudsdale officials.

“Ponyville may have been founded by Earth ponies, but….”

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Author's note: I would be very loathe to say that these last 2 chapters have been my best work. I'll try to learn for the future.