A Crack - November 2024 "That Last Lingering Shred of Hope"View OnlineOne Page PoniesA Crack - November 2024 "That Last Lingering Shred of Hope"A bird flew overhead. It flexed its feet to work loose a pebble stuck between its toes. Down the pebble fell, until it bounced off Chrysalis' muzzle with a quiet click. It did not crack her stone; it did not even chip it. But it left a little mark that someday might become a crack. A crack would be enough. Chrysalis was not patient, but she was Old. She had waited before, and waited now with hate as her stone slowly wore. It would be a long time yet before those other fools had any hope of slipping out. But all she needed was a mere crack. A cockroach could scuttle through a crack, and she was so much more glorious than that, wasn't she? She waited.
The Application - July 2023 "Pure Evil"View OnlineOne Page PoniesThe Application - July 2023 "Pure Evil""And you are?" Starlight said to the mare who had come knocking at too-early-for-visitors-o'clock in the morning. "Evil, ma'am. Pure Evil." The mare was a pleasant, sunny yellow and wearing a warm smile. "I'm here to apply for the teacher opening at the School of Friendship." She passed over a resume. "I see. And may I ask why you want to work here?" "I've been doing villainy jobs for a the last few years now, and I thought it was time to branch out. Try something new." She wasn't kidding. The resume went into detail on her misdeeds. Oh dear. Oh dear. OH—well, Starlight had done that one too, actually. "I'm going to have you come back for an interview later today. But before we go any further, the school has a strictly zero tolerance policy on equine sacrifice. That won't be a problem, will it?"
The White Garden - May 2024 "In The Garden"View OnlineOne Page PoniesThe White Garden - May 2024 "In The Garden"White fruit hung from a white branch of a white tree with white leaves. White flowers stuck to the base of its white trunk. Beside these a white brook neither flowed nor burbled. White trees stood by white bushes in a white garden. All was still. All was still. There was no breeze. There were no bees. All was beautiful. Her black hoof crushed the white grass. And Her black hoof plucked the fruit and brought it to Her black lips and she ate of it and it tasted of hate. And with Her black hoof she hurled it to the white ground where it was dust. All was dust. And She spat in the white dust and thought it a seed. And that seed bore white fruit upon a white tree.
After Market - June 2024 "Leftover"View OnlineOne Page PoniesAfter Market - June 2024 "Leftover"Evening came and the market cleared out as ponies heeded the call of dinner. Applejack thought to join them and closed up her stall. She packed everything up onto the cart, save for two apple fritters she'd set aside under the counter that morning. Then one last errand. She carried the treats down the few streets and twists and turns to the Golden Oak Library and knocked on the door. Twilight's lovely voice sang out "Coming!" and she answered a moment later. "Hey. I, uh, had these left over from the market. Thought I'd see if ya wanted them for dessert." "How thoughtful. Thank you." Twilight took the pastries. "I guess I better head on home. My stomach's getting mighty impatient. Y'all have a good evening." "You too, Applejack." She hadn't given them away for free. Twilight's smile was the payment.
Lost - July 2024 "Seashore"View OnlineOne Page PoniesLost - July 2024 "Seashore""Mommy are we lost?" "No, Dinky, it's just a little further," Derpy said. She squinted and looked ahead. At the end of the beach the lighthouse she was delivering to stood. Even she couldn't miss it. Dinky trotted down to the water and dipped her hoof in. She looked back at Derpy. "Can we be lost? Just for a little bit?" They were so close to delivering this package. But... Dinky just looked so eager. "Okay, we can be lost for a few minutes." "Yay we're lost!" Dinky pranced forward into the sea.
Dare to be Sweet - August 2024 "Syrupy Sweet"View OnlineOne Page PoniesDare to be Sweet - August 2024 "Syrupy Sweet"Freaking Rarity. Rainbow never should have borrowed that romance novel. It had been so boring and sappy. It was sweet like Pinkie's baking, but, like, waaaay too sweet. Worst of all, she couldn't stop thinking about it for Celestia's sake. The Awesome Adventures of Daring Do sat neglected on her shelf, still waiting for her to finish chapter ninety three. Meanwhile, she neared the end of yet another page to add to the binder hidden inside her mattress. She could see it so clearly, the smooching, the flirting, even some swooning. There were ten wedding scenes already in that binder and here she was working on another one. Daring would never act so lovey-dovey but she didn't care. She couldn't help it, she couldn't get her mind off it, it was all so adorable. It felt so... awesome to imagine being in Daring's place. Her pencil raced. Freaking Rarity.
The Train - September 2024 "Zugzwang"View OnlineOne Page PoniesThe Train - September 2024 "Zugzwang"She cannot stop the train. The rails twist under her, her soul twists inside her; the train goes on. Her hoof has pulled the break, but the wind snatches away the screams and screeches of the wheels. She screams, but the roar of the engine eats her words like coal. The train goes on. Green land and brown land rush by on each side, but the spot of blue ahead stays still. That trembling blue body stays still as if the rails are tweezers holding it in place. She rushes toward it. She cannot stop the train— She trembles on the platform. The duty of the engine room calls once again. She steps forward to board the train again (she cannot stop). A blue wing bars her path. Luna shakes her head softly, kindly, severely. The train pulls away (she cannot stop it) and leaves her behind.
Hard Hearted - October 2024 "Uncharacteristic"View OnlineOne Page PoniesHard Hearted - October 2024 "Uncharacteristic"Limestone came in from the fields in her usual manner--scowling. She stomped upstairs to clean herself up and take a miserable cold shower. She found Marble in her room when she got out. Her sister was curled up in the corner, greyer and mopier than usual. When Limestone approached she saw that she was clutching a picture frame to her chest. Limestone sighed. She sat down next to her and hugged her. "Sitting by yourself like this isn't gonna make you feel any better, stupid. Yeah I know that Apple stallion seemed perfect for you, but it's not going to happen. That's too bad for him, but I know you'll find somepony." She nuzzled her sister. "You'll find him, strong and handsome and quiet. Just like you deserve." They stayed there holding each other until dinner.
Snow in the Orchard - December 2024 "A Good Meal"View OnlineOne Page PoniesSnow in the Orchard - December 2024 "A Good Meal"Hearth's Warming dinner had been delicious, but it did not fill Bright Mac's stomach as the evening wore on. And when everypony had finally gone to bed, it did not warm him when he crept out into the night. He took some apples from a barrel in the barn. They were solid and frosty. The snow was thick, even under the cover of the trees in the orchard. Deep, silent stillness covered everything. He shuddered a little from the cold but pushed on. He stopped at the property line and stood, watching the fence. He didn't notice the cold now. He didn't notice if time passed quickly or slowly. He waited. Silently and suddenly Pear Butter appeared from behind a tree. She moved as softly as the snow. He shared the frozen apples with her, and he did not think that he had ever felt warmer.
