One Of The Sameby Emily_Is_BunniiChaptersThat One Time We MetThe More Interesting PartBefore The Bells RangRainbow Dash Helps AgainIt's Getting Better!What An Ending...That One Time We MetThat One Time We Met By: Emily_Is_Bunnii Ponyville has gone through many things ever since Twilight Sparkle came to town. The elements had been found, needing to be used twice on the event of the world being *almost* taken over for eternities of unwanted things. It has dealt with nature, disaster, and different pony’s life shattering problems. A variety of people enjoy the environment of Ponyville. Never a dull moment, but there is never a time where there isn’t new people weaving in and out. This story is about a filly, and how Ponyville and its inhabitants had changed her life forever. On an early Saturday morning, a young winged filly named Emmaline Bunn was awoken by the sound of the birds outside her window. She smiled as she thought ‘Another day, another chance!’ She got up, and put on her cloak. She was about to walk out of her room when she caught a glance at herself in the mirror behind her door. She saw a very light purple body with a forward-spiked mane that consisted of an aquamarine and a color that resembled a mixture of purple and dark pink. Her coat was a very light, airy purple. Her wings stretched out, barely even passing the height of her head, let alone her intriguing hairstyle. She reached her front left hoof back to lift up the cloak to reveal an unfortunately…. Blank Flank. Or at least that’s what everypony called her. She didn’t have her cutie mark yet, and at this age, this little pony thought that she would never get it. Everypony else had gotten their cutie mark when they were a lot younger. Her good mood was instantly ruined, because today was Cutie Mark Showcase day at her new school. She’s been at this school for a while now, a little more than a year. She has a few friends, but not the kind of people she would trust with her life, but just people to hang out with. Even they are mean to her. Emmaline predicted her day from that moment on; It’ll be filled with fake smiles, and hurt feelings. She decided to do what she’s been told to do… Keep calm and carry on. It’ll be over soon, the day will go by quickly. At least she hoped it would. She just has to work on developing herself rather than worry about what other people think. None of them even knew her. She walked downstairs, glancing up from the floor to see her Mom lean out from the kitchen with her poofy sunflower yellow hair flopping to the side to say good morning. The familiar smell of sunflower seeds greeted Emmaline’s nose. “Morning, Mom. What’s for breakfast, another one of your specialty?” Emmaline asked. “Yup, and today we’re going to have Sunflower Seed Cake! I’d think that you’d need a nice sugar rush to start off the day. Especially today…” Emmaline didn’t reply because she already knew what she meant, but mother knows best- Always. At least that’s one thing in her life that’s been a continuous thing. “Are you alright, my little honey bun? How are you feeling?” Her mother asked, wiping some flour off of her sky blue coat. “Yeah, I’m fine, I’m just… Really tired. I don’t think I’ve woken up yet.” Emmaline said. “Oh… Well, this surgar rush will wake you up in a jiffy!” She said, while putting the cake in the oven. Emmaline’s mother, Sunny Side, was the owner of a sunflower farm named Sunny Field’s, and Emmaline always liked the different things you could do with sunflowers. She’s treated illnesses, cured hunger pains and brightened up a home with them. But unlike the famous Applejack, Emmaline was not going to inherit her mother’s love for those grand plants. Thinking back to her mother, Emmaline looked up and said “Thanks Mom, we haven’t had this in a while. I didn’t know you could have it for breakfast!” Emmaline sat at the table, waiting for her slice to be ready. “Well to be honest, it’s not supposed to be eaten in the morning. But us girls, when we need a rush, we need a rush!” Emmaline always loves how her mother deals with things. She always knows how to make her and others feel so much better when they really need that boost. A ding went off, and Sunny Side opened up the oven, letting the amazing aroma seep through the kitchen. “Wow, mom that smells awesome! There has to be one of your special ingredients in it!” Emmaline said, letting the scent and the comfort bring her mood back up. “Well, of course there is. But in due time you’ll find out what that is, you’re not ready to take on the oven without it!” Sunny Side said. “But Mom, why not? Just as long as I know how to put everything together, and I know how to set the right time and temperature or whatever, I’ll be fine. Just let me cook for at least one day, please?” Emmaline pleaded. “No honey bun, not yet. Soon though, don’t worry. Now, finish up and get your bag or you’ll be late for school!” Emmaline dropped the subject, and ate her breakfast. She enjoyed every bite, knowing that she won’t be hungry for the rest of the day. Emmaline put her plate up, gave her mom a hug and grabbed her bag from the floor beneath her seat. She threw it on her back and carried it out the door. Now that Emmaline was outside in the cold fall weather, the faith in her dwindled again. How was she supposed to go throughout the day without being upset? ‘Oh well,’ she thought. ‘I’ll just do what I always do. I’ll just blend into the background and not bring too much attention to myself.’ Emmaline walked down the long drive and waited at the bottom for the bus. … Emmaline stepped off the bus and looked around. Everybody was practicing speeches and showing off their cutie marks already. Emmaline tightened her cloak around her waist and walked into the classroom. Miss Cheerilee looked at Emmaline, smiled and said “Why, good morning Emmaline Bun! How was your weekend? Are the leaves falling at your farm yet?” Emmaline faked a smile back and said “Oh, my weekend was fine. And yeah, the leaves are practically all off the trees now- leaving one major mess, all over the yard! I gotta ask Applebloom if I can either borrow some tools from her farm, or borrow Applejack and Big Macintosh, my mom and I can’t do this by ourselves.” Miss Cheerilee nodded, and stood up as everypony sat down. “Alright my little ponies! Did anyone remember what today is?” A filly in the back of the class said “Sloppy Joe day?” The class laughed and Miss Cheerilee said “No, It is Cutie Mark Showcase day! Who wants to go first?” The whole class except Emmaline volunteered. Miss Cheerilee started picking ponies, and the rest of the day melted before Emmaline’s eyes. Pony, after pony, after pony went to the front of the class and by lunch time the whole class was fighting over whose cutie mark was better than the others. Emmaline said not one word to anypony through the rest of the day. Everypony went back to class to finish up the showcase. After a long day of feeling inadequate, Miss Cheerilee finally stated that class was almost over. “I enjoyed seeing all the different backgrounds to each cutie mark, and for the ones who don’t have them yet- Don’t worry! You’ll get them really soon!” That didn’t make Emmaline feel any better about herself though, as true as it was. The only thing she had to do now was visit Applejack. Emmaline took her time on the walk through town, since her mother actually didn’t let her walk through that often. She liked seeing the sights that Ponyville had to offer. She looked onto sugar cube corner and saw Pinkie Pie giving away free samples of a brand new treat she had made. Emmaline walked further and saw Twilight Sparkle come out from a book shop with Spike. Emmaline didn’t see anypony else though, she had drifted into her own little world as she walked on. It was one of those times where you’re conscious about where you’re going and your surroundings; you just don’t realize who exactly is within these spaces. When Emmaline started seeing the dirt road of Sweet Apple Acres, she looked up and regained proper knowledge of where she was. Emmaline was right at the gate of this wonderfully friendly farm. Emmaline genuinely smiled for the first time in a while that day. Emmaline excitedly hopped through the fence and walked up to Applejack, who was bucking a tree’s apples down. “Well hay there Sugar Cube, how’s it goin’? Ya need somethin’?” Applejack said. “Well, yeah actually. I do need something. Do you have anything that could help get rid of leaves? My farm is spreading out leaves faster than me and my mom can rake them!” Emmaline replied. “Well, I dunno about us havin’ somethin’ you could by chance use… Except us! Me and Big Mac’ll be down there in two bounds!” Applejack enthusiastically said. “Thanks Applejack! Come on down whenever you… Oh, I think you’re needed again though.” Emmaline looked behind her to find another pony walking up the drive. It was a winged stallion, a very handsome one at that with a smooth and sleek mane with a black and white theme. He wore a classy vest, with a monocle that covered his left eye. Its shading didn’t mask the amazing sparkle in his eyes. His wings had a very large span across his back, but they were down and protruded behind him and even beyond his high raised short tail. It was so short, but so straight, that it stuck out like a spike from behind him. It was intimidating, but attractive. It felt like Emmaline had been staring at him forever as he started to talk to Applejack about buying apples. Except what really surprised Emmaline is that this pony was a blank flank just like her. Emmaline looked away to gather her thoughts. She was confused. She had only seen this pony for a few seconds and her heart was racing like a bird’s. Emmaline wanted to know who this pony was. Applejack turned back to Emmaline and confirmed that she would be visiting soon. Applejack walked away, and put a barrel on her back to carry to the barn. The stallion glanced over and Emmaline and the look of utter curiosity grasped him. Emmaline looked up from the ground back to him, and all she could see was the left side of his face as he turned to leave. He didn’t move beyond that. They both stared at each other for what seemed like eternity, even though it was only a few seconds. After that span of time, the stallion finally realized he was staring and turned his head away, breaking the glare. Emmaline did the same. She looked back at his flank and observed the white space that some sort of icon should be in. He noticed this and turned his back side away as well. Emmaline heard him say to himself “I knew I should’ve worn my trousers today.” She noticed that he was not from here, he was from Canterlot. She knew he was fancy, but not Canterlot fancy! Breaking out of her timid shell, she said “Wow, what an accent. Canterlot I’m assuming?” He lifted his head and nodded. “Yes, actually… I’ve came down here because I heard about Sweet Apple Acres, and from what I heard, it was the best place to go for good quality apples. I took the chance I could to come. I’m glad I did, seeing as the women down here can have a very… certain style about themselves.” Emmaline glanced up at the cliff of hair she had, and blushed. Her white-ish purple freckles were exposed with such a contrast of colors. He giggled, and said “Well, I’d better introduce myself if I’m going to say such things to you. My name is Zee, Zee Whitewolf. And you are?” Emmaline smiled shyly as she replied “My name is Emmaline Bunn. I’ve never actually met a pony from Canterlot; I’ve only seen them from afar. How is it there? Are the ponies up there really as proper as some ponies say they are?” “Well, some of them can be. I’m one of the one’s who isn’t, but I can really imitate them fairly well. Wanna see?” Zee said, obviously becoming amused. “Sure!” Emmaline replied. Zee switched his facial expression completely over to a smug, uptight look about himself. He strutted over to the cow in the fence and acted revolted. “Oh! Why on Eaarrrthhh would one allow such a creature in their household? A home is for ponies, not a filthy cow!” Zee stomped his foot at the last word and then lost all composition he had. He literally fell on the ground because he was laughing so hard. “Oh god, I must say I’m surprised I did so well on that without smirking. How would you say I did?” Zee asked. Emmaline was trying hard to not laugh during her reply, but managed to say “Well, uh I’d think…-giggle- that you did pretty well. I’ve seen how they act and I’d say you’re… Spot on!” Zee giggled at Emmaline using that terminology. “Oh my, you’re enjoyable. Would you like to meet up again sometime? I’ll be down here for another day or so, depending on how I… Like my stay.” Zee said, adding in that flirting tone. “I would love to help you enjoy your stay in Ponyville. It’s been a while since I’ve actually had someone to hang out with.” Emmaline immediately regretted that statement. She didn’t want to give out too much information. But Zee looked at her with a kind of pity, but a sort of interest, one that a helpful friend would give you if they heard something they didn’t think sounded right. “Well then ponies are missing out. I’ve only just met you and I enjoy your company, I enjoy it very much. Do you think you could give me an exclusive tour of Ponyville, Miss Emmaline?” Emmaline blushed again, hearing him say her name in that accent was quite enjoyable to the ears. “Yes, I can do that. Where would you want to go to first?” Emmaline asked. “Well, I would love it if you could take me through town. Nowhere specific, just a light tour, but if there’s a certain area you’d want an outsider like me to note down, then by all means tell me. I’m fascinated with this town already.” They smiled at each other, and Emmaline gave the signal to follow her. As they walked through town, Zee talked about where he came from, upon request. “So what is it really like in Canterlot? Do you live alone, or with somebody? What about school how’s that going for you?” Zee laughed again, so amused at how many questions this pony asks. “Well, I live with my parents, and we go out a lot. There’s a lot to see up there, but I’d rather be without the people. All the older people are smug, and not very friendly. The only way to get along with any of them is to be like them, and that’s why I’m an outcast. They almost shun me from a lot of things because of my outgoing nature. I won’t hesitate to say what needs to be said. My parents are the cause of that. They aren’t like all the rest of them either. Also, I don’t go to school.” Emmaline stopped him right there and asked “Really? Why not, I mean how do you have classes or learn stuff?” Zee replied with “Well, I’m home schooled. I don’t go to a regular school. My Mother teaches me all I need to know. I like it, being able to chill out at home but not be a couch bug. And I get to do more things like this, come to different towns and meet different people. And if everyone is at least a bit like you, then I think I’ll really enjoy it here!” Emmaline giggled at the compliment. She was really starting to like this stallion. “Well, no. Nobody is really like me. There are a lot of different kinds of people, but I doubt there is anybody like me.” She said. Zee contemplated this, and then said “Well of course. If everybody was exactly like you, well that would be nice but not… Too nice, you understand? I like variety. But that’s the thing- You are a variety! So if everybody had their own sense like you do, then… Well, that’s what I meant…” Zee seemed to be tripping over his words by now. Emmaline found this surprising, such a collective pony becoming nervous. “Yeah I understand, ha-ha. But yeah, there are a lot of different ponies here. Almost too much, it’s hard to find that one special pony with so many traits floating around…” Emmaline hesitated, but decided to ask “Speaking of which, do you… Have a special pony?” Zee glanced at Emmaline and shook his head, his smooth mane gliding around. “No, unfortunately not. Nopony seems to match what I want. I’m not necessarily picky; I just want a girl who I can really share things with. Very special things. What about you, anypony in mind?” Emmaline sighed and said “No. Nopony.” Emmaline had a depressing flash of how everybody but her was happy. “Oh… Well, don’t worry. We’ll find some pony for us. It’s bound to happen eventually, especially with you…” Emmaline looked up at him and asked what he meant by that. All the other ponies around them seemed to fade away as the two continued their walk, forgetting about the tour all together. “Well I mean that you’re not like the other girl ponies. I don’t see you to be the kind of gal to be so naive and go with any pony who’s willing, you seem to know to wait. You have a certain glow about you that I’m sure many have noticed. It’s a very bright, friendly and caring aura. I enjoy just standing here because of it. Somepony is going to notice it very well, and it’s going to impact them in that way, and they’ll go after you, I’m sure.” Zee smiled at her, filling Emmaline’s stomach with butterflies. “Wow… Thanks, Zee… That, that meant a lot.” Emmaline stuttered. “My pleasure. But uh, excuse my diversion but… where are we now?” Emmaline looked around, surveying the scene. “Oh, we’re at Sugar Cube Corner. It’s where the sweetshop is. It was the first real shop built in this town, that’s why this street is named that. Did you know-“A clash of a door slamming open sounded around the square, and sure enough Pinkie Pie came bounding down the street to meet the new guy. “OH!! Another new pony! Hi, how are you? My names Pinkie Pie, I just totally love new ponies! Oh what’s your name? You’re not very colorful, you know that? Is your name PANDA BEAR!!?? That would be so cool!!!” Zee looked like he about had a heart attack. “Woah, hello there! Uh, uhm… My name is Zee Whitewolf… Uhh, I know I’m not very colorful not much I can do ‘bout that… Gosh, you scared me. But uh, nice to meet you either way…” Pinkie Pie exploded again. “So whatcha doin’? Oh hey Emma! You’ve met Zee right? Oh what a fun name! Zee rhymes with he! He is Zee! HA! ZeeHee! Teehee! ME!! Zee me? SEE me? Oh I feel French!” Zee glanced at Emmaline and signaled to walk around her. Emmaline nodded and the both side stepped around Pinkie Pie, who was still going on about whatever came to her mind at that moment. It took her a while to realize that they were gone. When the pair got safely around the corner, they busted out laughing. “Wow ‘Emma’, you were definitely right about there are different kinds of ponies here! I’ve never met someone so… Excited about meeting people! Is she always like that?” Emmaline finished laughing and said “Yeah, pretty much. Not much we can do about it, it is best if she stays this way… If she’s not happy, then she makes sure no one else is either.” Zee’s eyes widened and said nothing more. The More Interesting PartThe More Interesting Part By: Emily_Is_Bunnii As they continued their walk, Emmaline noticed that they were going the route she takes to get home. Then she realized what time it was. “Oh my gosh! It’s like… Eight o’ clock! My mom is going to kill me… I was supposed to be home at six. I hope she understands…” Zee looked at Emmaline and asked why she had to be home so early. “Well my farm is covered in leaves and I was supposed to help mom out. I hope she didn’t try to do it herself. I feel awful!” Zee thought for a second and asked to see if he could help. “No, I wouldn’t ask that of you! We only just met…” Zee turned Emmaline towards him and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Emmaline, its fine, I love to help people, no matter how early I just met them. If your mother allows it, I’m helping. Do you only live with your mom?” Emmaline nodded. “If you don’t mind me asking, where is the rest of your family?” Emmaline never really talked about this much. She felt uncomfortable talking about it. Only because she hadn’t said anything about it for a long time, not because it was him she was telling. “Well, my Dad took custody of one of my little brothers, and my other little brother… He likes to go over to friends’ houses a LOT. He’s pretty much never home, and when he is, he’s in his own little world. … So pretty much it’s just me and mom.” Zee nodded compassionately, and said “Well if you ever need anything, I’ll be here for a while to come. Okay?” He asked with a smile. Emmaline smiled back and nodded. So off they went, to Emmaline’s farm. … SunnySide welcomed the help full heartedly, being very happy that Emmaline made a new friend. All three of them had a good time, picking up the leaves and occasionally tossing them at each other. At some point, Zee and SunnySide picked up Emmaline and threw her into the pile of leaves, lightly scattering them around but getting itchy leaves all under her cloak and in her mane. She didn’t mind one bit- She was having fun! It got late, and Zee went home, but not after having one more lengthy conversation with Emmaline. They both stood at the end of the drive, looking at each other for a while until Zee broke the silence and said “Well… All I can say for now, is I’m very glad I met you. I had a wonderful day, getting things done, having an enjoyable day, and meeting a very special pony, and one that I look forward to talking to again!” Emmaline blushed, and gathered the courage to say “Well I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you too. It’s not very often that such a stallion like you comes around, and I’m so glad that I got the chance to meet you.” Zee had never been called a stallion before, and he started to blush, tinting his face a bright red. He looked down and laughed a bit before saying “Oh... Well, thank you. I’m glad I made you happy. I’ll make it a goal to continue making such a pony happy.” Zee looked up when saying this, gazing right into Emmaline’s eyes. They stared at each other a bit, and then the tower bell rang, signaling a sort of curfew. Zee realized that he had to go. Emmaline lifted a hoof to shake his, but Zee grabbed her hoof and pulled her close. He stood up on his hind legs and lifted Emmaline with him, giving her a very large hug. They let go and Emmaline’s heart about burst. It was one of the first times a pony of the opposite gender hugged her, other than her father on short occasions. They smiled at each other and Emmaline said “Well, I’ll see you later then.” He nodded and said “Definitely. Bye Emma.” “Bye Zee.” Emmaline watched at Zee opened his wings and started to slowly move them up and down to get some leverage going. He turned around after one last smile, and started to jog while flapping his wings and flew off into the darkening sky. His wings were a lot wider than they looked when folded. Keeping this in mind, Emmaline continued to watch him until she couldn’t see him anymore. She looked down at her own wings, and stretched them as far as she could. She had never really learned to fly yet. Seeing Zee fly with such amazing wings made her feel inferior. She already felt like that. So Emmaline went back up the drive, laying herself down to sleep after saying goodnight to her mother. SunnySide put a hoof on Emmaline and told her to wait. “Yeah mom?” Emmaline asked. “Well, about that boy… Zee, was it? Where did you meet him, he’s such a nice boy! You said he was from Canterlot, but why was he down here in little old Ponyville?” Emmaline brightened up a bit and told her mother of the events of going to Applejack’s farm to actually get some help with the leaves. “I admit, there was that sense of awkwardness around but we really got along as soon as we really started talking. He had asked me to give him a tour of Ponyville, and eventually we ran into Pinkie Pie…” SunnySide became wide eyed, knowing how Pinkie Pie was with newcomers. “But all around, I had a good day. Not so much at school, but Zee made that better. A lot better... He wants to hang out with me again tomorrow, do you mind?” Emmaline asked. “Well no, I don’t mind. Just tell me if you’re going to be out so late again, alright my little Bunn?” Emmaline nodded. “Great! Now goodnight sweetie, sleep well. Maybe tomorrow we can wake up a little bit earlier…” SunnySide trailed off into a thought process of some kind. Emmaline wasn’t really paying attention, and neither was her mother. Emmaline walked up the stairs of her small little ranch, and went into the very last room. She shut the door, took her cloak off, and lied down. The next day, it was a normal school day. They learned a bit on how exactly to make a good sentence, and how to use the word ‘because’ correctly. At first she couldn’t focus because Emmaline didn’t even wear her cloak that day. To be honest, she forgot it but when she got about halfway is when she realized it and just sort of went with it. It was too late to turn around anyway. What difference did it make really? But during break, she started thinking about other things than the English language, like Zee. She remembered how graceful his wings were, and how much she just wanted to cuddle up underneath them… Then she heard a loud ‘swish’ sound right in front of her face, and looked up to see one of the Pegasus ponies trying to get her attention. “Well finally she actually moves. What’s wrong, frozen in fear? Where’s your little super cape today, Blankie? Did you think we would forget? Well don’t worry about that, how about some fresh new wounds??” The Pegasus grabbed Emmaline’s wings, and tugged really hard. He dragged her up really high, and Emmaline, not wanting her wings damaged, tried to flap her wings too. She somehow managed to get out of his grip, but her wing base was already sore because Emmaline had never really flown. It showed. Emmaline couldn’t keep her balance so high up. She was terrified of heights, let alone when she is brought against her will. She accidentally looked down and things went downhill from there… Literally. “Oh look, how surprising. The little twerp can’t fly, like every other Pegasus. How long have you lived in your little cave again, Blankie, longer than Granny Apple’s whole life? It sure seems like it!” All the earth ponies below them were laughing at poor Emmaline. She’s been bullied before, but not this badly. She tried to lower herself down without hurting herself or anypony else, but the rude pony who got her into this lifted her back up by using her mane. “Don’t even try to get yourself out of this. Maybe I can help you get your cutie mark. Maybe you’re special talent is being a back drop, huh? Just one of those insignificant ponies that nopony else really cares about. Or, I don’t know, you could be like one of those lame little fillies and join the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Such a fittingly lame ‘hobby’ for such a fittingly lame pony.” This same pegasus spun Emmaline around in the air, and backed up leaving Emmaline alone and dizzy. She accidentally looked down again, except this time she couldn’t see the ground clearly. All she knew is that things were moving, she just couldn’t tell in what direction. Next think poor Emmaline knew, she was on the ground and very dirty. While her short flight, and her distortion, some other pony got a bucket of water and as soon as Emmaline hit the ground, that pony poured this bucket all over her causing the dirt beneath her to turn to mud instantly. Her ears were ringing, but the laughter of all the other ponies increased in volume drastically. She looked up and around, and saw every pony in her class staring at her, laughing their tails off. Emmaline has never been hurt so badly, physically and emotionally. She got up as soon as she could handle, and darted off pushing as many ponies as she could. She could feel the dirty looks layering upon her already muddy coat, but it didn’t matter. Emmaline knew that she did not deserve this. Yeah, she was different. But she was a pony, just like them. Emmaline didn’t go back to school, even though it was only around twelve. She started for home. She kept her head down, but her mane gave off who she was immediately. It made no difference. She still felt the stares, and she felt the pity that circled through all these other ponies’ minds. She didn’t want pity. She wanted empathy. She wanted someone to help her. Emmaline, having her head down, didn’t know where she was going. All she knew was that she was fortunately on dry ground, and on the road. She turned a corner and bumped into a pony. She looked up to say she was sorry, and saw black and white. “Oh my lord, Emma! What happened to you? Why are you out of school so…” Zee’s face of worry turned to realization, and disappointment. “Emma… Who did this?” Emmaline just looked at him, and looked back down at her mud caked self. “Just some… Just a jerk. I don’t actually know who exactly it was, all I know is that he just...” Emmaline was getting upset, and tears were now swelling down. Zee wrapped a front hoof around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll make sure they don’t do it again, whoever it was. Come on, let’s go to your house to get you cleaned up. And then we’ll be able to talk about it, alright?” He let Emmaline go, and she nodded still looking at the ground. Zee lightly pulled her head back up to where she was face to face with him and said “Emma, please keep your head held high. I don’t want you to be so upset that it weights you down. Nopony deserves that.” Emmaline smiled, knowing that his words were genuine. They galloped to Sunny Field Farm. When they got there, they both walked inside and SunnySide immediately dropped her bouquet of flowers and ran to Emmaline. “Emmaline, my poor honey bun! What did those terrible kids do to you? Oh I will make sure that every single one of them who even SMIRKED at you in this state will be at the very least given some very strong words! Are you okay?” Emmaline looked up at her mom and said “I’ll tell you about it once I take a shower, alright?” SunnySide was taken aback from such a blank, straightforward answer. She actually expected her daughter to do what any girl would do- seek solitude in any and every person who even looked at her! Emmaline walked off, sliding herself upstairs and into the bathroom. SunnySide turned to finally realize that Zee was there. “Oh! Hello Zee… Sorry I didn’t see you there at first. Uhm… Do you know what happened?” Zee shook his head no, and said “All I know is that she’s literally hurt. Her wings were twitching. She told me it was one certain pegasus that started it all, and I had told her to clean up and refresh herself before going into such detail. It’s never a pleasant experience to stay in the state you’re in while describing what happened. It clears your mind to restart a bit, appearance wise.” SunnySide nodded, and a stream of surprised and approving kind of thoughts went through her head. ‘He helped her get home. I like how he cares so much already…’ SunnySide grinned at Zee and asked “Would you like something to eat, or drink? I can make some really good sweets for when Emmaline gets out of the shower.” Zee’s stomach growled with perfect timing and volume, and laughed as he said yes. SunnySide made Emmaline’s most favorite sweet – Chocolate! Before The Bells RangBefore The Bells Rang By: Emily_Is_Bunnii Emmaline smelled something. She automatically knew that her mom was cooking, but she didn’t know what. All she was worried about at the moment was getting all this mud out of her coat. Her skin was going to be pretty irritated for quite a while… But she continued scrubbing. Emmaline didn’t know how long she was in the shower, all she knew was that she was squeaky clean, and that she was extremely upset. It felt nice to have the warm water rain down strongly on her harmed wing, but as soon as she got out of that warm air the abrupt change of temperature caused Emmaline to cry out in pain. She heard rushed footsteps come up the stairs and SunnySide came in. “Bunn! What happened? Are you alright?” Emmaline stood back up and said “I’m fine, my wings just didn’t react to the temperature change very well. I’ll be fine, Mom don’t worry.” SunnySide kept her worried look and insisted on helping Emmaline get ready. After a while, with Emmaline all dry and clean the two went downstairs to see Zee taking the chocolate cake out of the oven. “Oh, was it burning?” SunnySide asked. “No, it’s perfect! I just thought that I’d take it out before it did burn though.” SunnySide smiled while she sat Emmaline down on the couch in the living room. They all chilled out a bit and relaxed after such an eventful day. The cake cooled down, and was eaten into very quickly. “So, now Emma… Please, tell us what exactly happened since you’re hopefully feeling better.” Zee requested. SunnySide nodded and looked at her daughter. Emmaline, now feeling obligated to tell the story pushed her plate away and began. “Well, I was just sitting there thinking during break. I wasn’t doing anything, or talking to anypony. This one pegasus who’s always been a jerk to me swished his wing in front of my face and got my attention. He… He grabbed me. My wings, and pulled me up really high. He tugged on them a lot and was saying really mean things to me, teasing me about how I can’t fly very well and how I forgot my cloak at home. All the other ponies were laughing at me. He let go of me and my wings hurt and I couldn’t fly…” Emmaline started to tear up, her words trembling as her voice shook. “I fell on the ground. I couldn’t even feel it, all I knew was that I was on the ground and that my whole entire left side hurt and… I was soaking wet, and sticky… Somepony had a bucket filled with water ready as I fell down. They splashed me with it and then I became the dirty mess you guys saw me as. So yeah. That was my day…” The two ponies saw that this event really shook poor Emmaline, and to comfort her they both went to her and put a hoof around her shoulders and SunnySide asked “How badly are your wings hurting you now, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest?” Emmaline shivered and somehow managed to say eight. “Oh dear… Well, here, Zee? Go into the bathroom upstairs, first door on the left. In the cabinet there’s an ointment especially for wings, there are two but get the yellow bottle, please darling…” Zee did as requested. As Zee went upstairs, Emmaline looked at her mother and asked through tear filled eyes “Mom, why is it so bad to not have your cutie mark? There are a few other ponies that don’t have their cutie marks, but they’re not treated as badly as I am!” SunnySide shook her head and tried to make Emmaline feel a bit better by saying “Most other ponies don’t realize this, but it’s not a bad thing at all. I once heard a statement from a very smart pony that said ‘just because a pony doesn’t have a cutie mark, doesn’t mean they’re not special. It just means that they still have the opportunity to find out who they really are.’ So don’t worry my Honey Bun, you’ll find out who you are really soon! And with Zee, you’ll have a very good friend to help you through it all, that’s more than most ponies have already!” Emmaline smiled, thinking positive thoughts like she tried to do every morning as Zee came back down with the lotion. Emmaline didn’t go to school for a few days, letting her wings heal up a bit. It didn’t hurt to walk, but with gym class it pushed the winged ponies very far and for some ridiculous reason, hurt ponies couldn’t be excused from gym unless they just didn’t go. So SunnySide just let Emmaline sit in bed, eat sunflower sweets, and relax. Zee came to visit a lot, and after the second day Emmaline was wondering why Zee wasn’t back in Canterlot by now. So she asked him about it on his third visit. After Zee said hello, Emmaline immediately asked “Zee, why are you still in Ponyville? I mean, I love having you here but I was just wondering…” Zee stopped her there, with a slight smile. “Emma, I haven’t gone back to Canterlot because you’re hurt. I will remain in Ponyville until further notice, because I don’t want to leave my friend alone while in pain. It’s the best I can do.” Emmaline was startled by this response, never hearing a pony say such a nice thing other than her mother. Zee noticed this hesitation, and continued on. “Emmaline, I’ve only known you for about a week. It’s felt like I’ve known you for years, and only very special ponies can get into that level of friendship in such a short amount of time. They are the ponies that I am meant to have in my life. And with you, I would gladly keep you in my life for as long as possible if not forever. So until you either want me gone, or when I die, is the only times I’ll leave. Of course respecting personal space and alone time, but you know what I mean…” Emmaline nodded, and smiled gently. They stared at each other for quite a while, but soon continued on with their silly little conversations. Rainbow Dash Helps AgainRainbow Dash Helps Again By: Emily_Is_Bunnii A few months passed, and the summer break began. Emmaline had been long healed, going back to school and such. SunnySide made sure that the foal that did that to Emmaline got into major trouble, and nobody really bothered Emmaline too badly after that. They gave her a few taunts here and there, but things that she became accustomed to, things that she was able to block out and laugh at eventually. Her friendship with Zee became stronger as well. Zee had gone back to Canterlot after Emmaline had been healed, but he took his time leaving. SunnySide actually allowed Emmaline to visit Canterlot with Zee for a little more than a week. Emmaline had a lot of fun, experiencing new things, meetings Zee’s parents and friends. Nobody taunted her for not having a cutie mark. Most people over there didn’t have a cutie mark either. The pattern continued, where Zee and Emmaline would flip over to each other’s houses every so often. It was a very pleasant routine, but one day the pair went to visit Rainbow Dash in Cloudsdale to see her performance at some flying contest, and that changed a lot of things. Rainbow won obviously, she had been training forever! She also helped Emmaline win something too though… “Hey Rainbow Dash! Congrats on winning the competition!” Zee said. Rainbow Dash beamed, and an idea flashed across her face. She zoomed in a colorful trail around Emmaline and Zee, and put both her hooves around the two. “Yeah, thanks! But uh, hey… Can I ask you guys something? It seems like you guys are just the most awesome couple ever, so I was thinking-“ Zee broke her off right there and asked in minor shock “Woah, a couple? What?” Rainbow Dash looked at him quizzically. “Yeah… Here, lemme finish! I was wondering…” She said, elongating her sentence. “Why don’t you guys go out? I mean, I see you guys around Ponyville all the time, and all I can say is ‘wow, what a pair!’” Emmaline looked at Zee, and Zee looked back for a split second. They both looked at Rainbow Dash, and didn’t say anything. Rainbow Dash noticed the tension, and said “Oh, well… I- I’ll let you guys think about it together then, okay? Bye guys!” And with that, Rainbow Dash zoomed off. Zee and Emmaline went back down to Ponyville to relax at her farm. SunnySide made another spontaneous dish to suite the evening and the lighthearted feel. The dish was a homemade treat, one that SunnySide, Emmaline and Zee all made up together. It’s a sunflower that’s petals had been tied to point up, and inside of it had been a small lop of whipped cream. Around the sunflower bud, as they called it, were small little biscuits that had more whipped cream on it, sprinkles and finally a cherry on top. There were about 7 on each plate. After a highly enjoyable evening dinner, Zee asked Emmaline if she would like to go outside with him. “Sure!” Emmaline said. They asked SunnySide and she said it was fine, just don’t be out too late. They agreed and trotted out. “So, Emma… I was wondering about what Rainbow Dash said, and…” Zee trailed off a bit, trying to find the right words to say. He glanced at Emmaline and he saw a curious, bright eyed pony that was anticipating what he was about to say. “Well, uhm… I was wondering, what are your thoughts… You know, on us being together?” Emmaline’s expression kind of flattened out, taken aback from the sudden turn. “Oh, well…” Every slightest endearing term that Zee had ever said to her came flushing to her mind, her train of thought and even her vision, and it hit her hard. She wanted to sound as sweet as he did all those times. She quickly thought up a very –surprisingly- well laid out response. “Well, I really think that it would be worth it. I mean, hehe, Zee, you’ve been such a rock for me. You were there for me no matter what it was, and you’ve given me more than anypony, literally and figuratively. I love seeing you, and I would really like it if … You know… we could try that out…” Emmaline’s face burst into the absolute image of embarrassment. Her cheeks were flushed, her mane was showing her inner tension, and she wouldn’t look up. Zee did what he always did; he lifted her head up. She felt the tip of his hoof tug up on her chin and without resistance she looked at him. She saw a very bright, a very loving face that seemed to know no pain. Both his eyes were shining, and sparkled even more when he said “Emmaline Bunn, I would love it if you could be my girlfriend.” Both hearts fluttered as the last rays of the sun beamed down onto Sunny Fields Farm. Emmaline looked up at him with her heart flying high, and exclaimed “I would gladly be your girlfriend Zee!” They both wrapped their hooves around each other, lifting one another up, and they stayed there for quite a while. When they noticed that it was already dark was when they let go of each other. Zee looked at Emmaline. Emmaline looked at Zee. They smiled, turned around and went back inside. Emmaline’s mother side glanced at the two as she put up the leftovers from dinner, and said with a sly smile “I knew you guys would get together soon.” Emmaline blushed, and Zee laughed. “Well, at least you don’t have to worry about her too much now. She’ll be fine as school comes back around. She was only at that terrible school for about a year, and already she’s going into high school! She’ll be alright since she also has me now.” SunnySide nodded, knowing that the rest of this year was going to be perfect for Emmaline. It's Getting Better!It's Getting Better! By: Emily_Is_Bunnii Both Zee and SunnySide was right, Emmaline blossomed tremendously since the summer she and Zee got together. Her self-confidence boosted, she became more aware of worldly things and matured, she saw things in a completely different light now. She saw the good in people who she would never see the good in if it wasn’t for Zee. Now I know what you’re thinking- Happy ending? Who said it was the end? The new founded couple went to the lake for a first year anniversary party, just the two of them. Of course it took a lot of convincing on both parts, but they managed to slide by very easily, oddly enough. The parents knew that they wouldn’t do anything too stupid. So there they were, having fun, talking, reminiscing, planning cute things like what kind of pets they wanted when they move in together, they described scenarios to each other of what they’d do when the other got home, and things like what their reactions would be if certain events took place. They also talked about serious things though, like what they would have to do to even be able to prepare for things like moving in together. They talked about how they would help each other out, specifics actually, and no false proposals and promises of just ‘keeping up’. They kept it realistic, something that most couples can’t do. But they had fun with it, they wanted this. It was getting late, so Emmaline helped Zee set the tent up. They put their sleeping bag for two in there, the lantern, the little trinkets they brought with them in the tent so nothing got ruined, and they settled in. Emmaline wanted to see the sun set, which is what they faced, so she got an idea… “Hm, sweetie what are you doing?” Zee asked. “Well, how about we put the mesh net for the volley ball thing over the entrance? I want to be able to see the sunset, but without risking bugs coming in. Is that alright?” Emmaline proposed. Zee thought about it briefly and got up to help Emmaline set it up. Soon they had their very own protective shell, one where you’re able to see the beautiful scenery of a sunset on the very edge of the lake. The two laid there in each other’s arms, looking at the view. “Wow…” Zee started. “It looks like we’re staring into the end of the world. I feel like I wanna fly towards the sun and find a giant gap, like a beta hole in Minecraft, just without the boundaries… Only one drop. Nothing else.” Emmaline giggled and said “Ha I can see that. I’d be more interested in seeing you fly towards a sunset, that would be a very cute sight!” Zee laughed and poked Emmaline on the nose. “You silly filly, you know that I wouldn’t fly towards it without you. Third person view of that, now THAT would be a nice sight!” Emmaline made a sound which sounded like a quick amused sigh. They sat in silence, as the sun sunk below the skyline, leaving darkness in its absence. All they could see was the moonlight come around and reflect on the shore of the lake. They heard the birds settle down into nests, singing their final song before they fell into a slumber. The soft breaking of the water lulled Emmaline to sleep very quickly. Zee sighed, having yet another very enjoyable day with the mare of his dreams. He looked down at that very pony, and smiled greatly. He felt as if he was looking at a certain part of himself, one that he couldn’t see before. He saw himself in Emmaline, not just because they were so much alike, but rather more because she completed him. She filled that hole that he had felt his whole life. He never knew what that hole should contain, never knowing why he wasn’t completely happy, until he met Emmaline. Now, he can see that the reason why he wasn’t completely happy is because he didn’t have Emmaline with him, to share his memories. He didn’t have the ability to make some other pony happy. Now he does. And he’s perfectly fine with that. He looked forward, into the sunset as he settled into the cuddling position with the fast asleep Emmaline. Zee started to slowly loose his sight, as his eyes closed more and more. The last thing he remembers doing, is turning his head to kiss Emmaline’s forehead as his own head drooped down onto the pillow. … What An Ending...What An Ending... By: Emily_Is_Bunnii They were passing by the school playground, which was still open. The pegasus that hurt Emmaline was there. “Oh no…” Emmaline said, realizing that he spotted her. “What’s wrong?” Zee said. “It’s that guy. He saw me.” Emmaline looked back to see if her flank was exposed out of habit, and it wasn’t. She had an idea. Not too unique, but it’ll still shock that bully. Emmaline and Zee continued walking, but soon heard the beckoning call of the predator. “Hey Blank Flank! Who’s that? Your boyfriend?” Emmaline swished herself around proudly and said “Absolutely! Aren’t we cute?” She giggled as she hopped onto Zee’s back, surprising both of them. Zee was smiling and laughing along. “Wow, what could a guy as cool looking as you be wanting from a blank flank? She’s ugly, annoying, and nothing special.” Emmaline was going to say something, but those words went through Zee harder than intended. He let Emmaline off of him, and with a straight face he looked back up at the rude pegasus, puffing his chest out. “Now excuse me, you little mongrel. My Emmaline is beautiful, stunning, and she is absolutely amazing company. Now, I know that she hasn’t been herself around pony folk like you- But I’ve seen how she really is. What you see is just a mask, a day to day act. You’ve never given her the due she needs for you to fully see how precious she is, as a friend, and as my perfect other. It’s been a year today that I asked her to be mine, and I will never regret that. And if you think that you can go around and say such things about her right to my face? Do you think I’m like you- Uncaring and heartless that I wouldn’t care when someone straight up insults my close ones? I was the first- the very first- to know what you did to her. You hurt her, you hurt her badly. What’s that for, eh? What was it? Is it jealousy because she can do more than you ever could, withstand more than you ever have? And now, look what my presence has done. Emma, show him.” Emmaline nodded, and they both turned their flank towards him and showed the stunned pegasus the fresh cutie mark. “But… No, what? That can’t be there. It’s fake, there isn’t a way that two ponies can have the same cutie mark!” Emmaline laughed and said “Well you’re looking straight at them!” A puzzled realization bolted through the bully’s mind. He stood thinking for a moment, then looked up at Emmaline and said “Wow. I mean, really… Wow… I-I don’t know what to say. Well, I guess I should apologize firstly. I guess you really would get your cutie mark. Second, it’s… so different! Can I ask how you guys thought up of a reason on… how?” Zee smiled, feeling accomplished knowing that his speech worked. “Yes, actually. We figured that… Well…” Zee trailed off, not knowing what to say next. He knew the reason, but couldn’t put it in words. Emmaline noticed this and said “Let me take it from here.” Looking back at the other pony, she started to explain. “Ever since I moved here, I’ve been having a bad time, nopony to talk to, nopony to listen to me. I was miserable. But one day, I met Zee, this handsome pony beside me. We became best friends. We did everything that friends should do. It was like we were exactly the same. One thing led to another, and we found that we were perfect for each other. So we went on that. Our relationship grew and grew. To get to the point, we were made for each other. Without him, I would’ve… I would’ve done some stupid things. Without me, he would live a lonely life, a fun one, but lonely. The only thing that really makes us so special is each other, pretty much.” The pegasus that stood before Emmaline was star struck. “I have no reply to that. I mean it’s deep, it’s… unusual for a pony to find that kind of love so young already, but you guys have it down. Congrats, you guys. And again, I’m sorry.” Emmaline and Zee smiled and both said “It’s okay.” They departed. Zee and Emmaline turned to continue their trek to Emmaline’s home. Once they got there, they realized the shock that Sunny Side was going to have when she would find out. They both got excited and bolted up the drive, anxious to see her reaction. The pair busted through the front door and both exclaimed “We’re home!” Sunny Side poked her head through the kitchen doorway. “You two sound excited, what’s the event?” Emmaline started to bounce up and down, looking to Zee to see if he knew what they were going to say. They both exchanged smiles, and looked at Sunny Side and said “We got our cutie mark!!” Sunny Side immediately started jumping along. “Oh my, oh my! You did? Let me see!” Zee and Emmaline turned, and showed it off. Sunny Side looked back and forth, from Zee to Emmaline, Zee, Emmaline. “Wait.” She said. “Wait. Wait… What? My old age must be messing with me…” Zee laughed and reassured her that they were real, and the same. “Oh my… How did… I mean, really, how?” She asked. Emmaline nor Zee wanted to repeat the earlier speech. So they just settled on a simple sentence. “We’re one of the same.”
That One Time We MetThat One Time We Met By: Emily_Is_Bunnii Ponyville has gone through many things ever since Twilight Sparkle came to town. The elements had been found, needing to be used twice on the event of the world being *almost* taken over for eternities of unwanted things. It has dealt with nature, disaster, and different pony’s life shattering problems. A variety of people enjoy the environment of Ponyville. Never a dull moment, but there is never a time where there isn’t new people weaving in and out. This story is about a filly, and how Ponyville and its inhabitants had changed her life forever. On an early Saturday morning, a young winged filly named Emmaline Bunn was awoken by the sound of the birds outside her window. She smiled as she thought ‘Another day, another chance!’ She got up, and put on her cloak. She was about to walk out of her room when she caught a glance at herself in the mirror behind her door. She saw a very light purple body with a forward-spiked mane that consisted of an aquamarine and a color that resembled a mixture of purple and dark pink. Her coat was a very light, airy purple. Her wings stretched out, barely even passing the height of her head, let alone her intriguing hairstyle. She reached her front left hoof back to lift up the cloak to reveal an unfortunately…. Blank Flank. Or at least that’s what everypony called her. She didn’t have her cutie mark yet, and at this age, this little pony thought that she would never get it. Everypony else had gotten their cutie mark when they were a lot younger. Her good mood was instantly ruined, because today was Cutie Mark Showcase day at her new school. She’s been at this school for a while now, a little more than a year. She has a few friends, but not the kind of people she would trust with her life, but just people to hang out with. Even they are mean to her. Emmaline predicted her day from that moment on; It’ll be filled with fake smiles, and hurt feelings. She decided to do what she’s been told to do… Keep calm and carry on. It’ll be over soon, the day will go by quickly. At least she hoped it would. She just has to work on developing herself rather than worry about what other people think. None of them even knew her. She walked downstairs, glancing up from the floor to see her Mom lean out from the kitchen with her poofy sunflower yellow hair flopping to the side to say good morning. The familiar smell of sunflower seeds greeted Emmaline’s nose. “Morning, Mom. What’s for breakfast, another one of your specialty?” Emmaline asked. “Yup, and today we’re going to have Sunflower Seed Cake! I’d think that you’d need a nice sugar rush to start off the day. Especially today…” Emmaline didn’t reply because she already knew what she meant, but mother knows best- Always. At least that’s one thing in her life that’s been a continuous thing. “Are you alright, my little honey bun? How are you feeling?” Her mother asked, wiping some flour off of her sky blue coat. “Yeah, I’m fine, I’m just… Really tired. I don’t think I’ve woken up yet.” Emmaline said. “Oh… Well, this surgar rush will wake you up in a jiffy!” She said, while putting the cake in the oven. Emmaline’s mother, Sunny Side, was the owner of a sunflower farm named Sunny Field’s, and Emmaline always liked the different things you could do with sunflowers. She’s treated illnesses, cured hunger pains and brightened up a home with them. But unlike the famous Applejack, Emmaline was not going to inherit her mother’s love for those grand plants. Thinking back to her mother, Emmaline looked up and said “Thanks Mom, we haven’t had this in a while. I didn’t know you could have it for breakfast!” Emmaline sat at the table, waiting for her slice to be ready. “Well to be honest, it’s not supposed to be eaten in the morning. But us girls, when we need a rush, we need a rush!” Emmaline always loves how her mother deals with things. She always knows how to make her and others feel so much better when they really need that boost. A ding went off, and Sunny Side opened up the oven, letting the amazing aroma seep through the kitchen. “Wow, mom that smells awesome! There has to be one of your special ingredients in it!” Emmaline said, letting the scent and the comfort bring her mood back up. “Well, of course there is. But in due time you’ll find out what that is, you’re not ready to take on the oven without it!” Sunny Side said. “But Mom, why not? Just as long as I know how to put everything together, and I know how to set the right time and temperature or whatever, I’ll be fine. Just let me cook for at least one day, please?” Emmaline pleaded. “No honey bun, not yet. Soon though, don’t worry. Now, finish up and get your bag or you’ll be late for school!” Emmaline dropped the subject, and ate her breakfast. She enjoyed every bite, knowing that she won’t be hungry for the rest of the day. Emmaline put her plate up, gave her mom a hug and grabbed her bag from the floor beneath her seat. She threw it on her back and carried it out the door. Now that Emmaline was outside in the cold fall weather, the faith in her dwindled again. How was she supposed to go throughout the day without being upset? ‘Oh well,’ she thought. ‘I’ll just do what I always do. I’ll just blend into the background and not bring too much attention to myself.’ Emmaline walked down the long drive and waited at the bottom for the bus. … Emmaline stepped off the bus and looked around. Everybody was practicing speeches and showing off their cutie marks already. Emmaline tightened her cloak around her waist and walked into the classroom. Miss Cheerilee looked at Emmaline, smiled and said “Why, good morning Emmaline Bun! How was your weekend? Are the leaves falling at your farm yet?” Emmaline faked a smile back and said “Oh, my weekend was fine. And yeah, the leaves are practically all off the trees now- leaving one major mess, all over the yard! I gotta ask Applebloom if I can either borrow some tools from her farm, or borrow Applejack and Big Macintosh, my mom and I can’t do this by ourselves.” Miss Cheerilee nodded, and stood up as everypony sat down. “Alright my little ponies! Did anyone remember what today is?” A filly in the back of the class said “Sloppy Joe day?” The class laughed and Miss Cheerilee said “No, It is Cutie Mark Showcase day! Who wants to go first?” The whole class except Emmaline volunteered. Miss Cheerilee started picking ponies, and the rest of the day melted before Emmaline’s eyes. Pony, after pony, after pony went to the front of the class and by lunch time the whole class was fighting over whose cutie mark was better than the others. Emmaline said not one word to anypony through the rest of the day. Everypony went back to class to finish up the showcase. After a long day of feeling inadequate, Miss Cheerilee finally stated that class was almost over. “I enjoyed seeing all the different backgrounds to each cutie mark, and for the ones who don’t have them yet- Don’t worry! You’ll get them really soon!” That didn’t make Emmaline feel any better about herself though, as true as it was. The only thing she had to do now was visit Applejack. Emmaline took her time on the walk through town, since her mother actually didn’t let her walk through that often. She liked seeing the sights that Ponyville had to offer. She looked onto sugar cube corner and saw Pinkie Pie giving away free samples of a brand new treat she had made. Emmaline walked further and saw Twilight Sparkle come out from a book shop with Spike. Emmaline didn’t see anypony else though, she had drifted into her own little world as she walked on. It was one of those times where you’re conscious about where you’re going and your surroundings; you just don’t realize who exactly is within these spaces. When Emmaline started seeing the dirt road of Sweet Apple Acres, she looked up and regained proper knowledge of where she was. Emmaline was right at the gate of this wonderfully friendly farm. Emmaline genuinely smiled for the first time in a while that day. Emmaline excitedly hopped through the fence and walked up to Applejack, who was bucking a tree’s apples down. “Well hay there Sugar Cube, how’s it goin’? Ya need somethin’?” Applejack said. “Well, yeah actually. I do need something. Do you have anything that could help get rid of leaves? My farm is spreading out leaves faster than me and my mom can rake them!” Emmaline replied. “Well, I dunno about us havin’ somethin’ you could by chance use… Except us! Me and Big Mac’ll be down there in two bounds!” Applejack enthusiastically said. “Thanks Applejack! Come on down whenever you… Oh, I think you’re needed again though.” Emmaline looked behind her to find another pony walking up the drive. It was a winged stallion, a very handsome one at that with a smooth and sleek mane with a black and white theme. He wore a classy vest, with a monocle that covered his left eye. Its shading didn’t mask the amazing sparkle in his eyes. His wings had a very large span across his back, but they were down and protruded behind him and even beyond his high raised short tail. It was so short, but so straight, that it stuck out like a spike from behind him. It was intimidating, but attractive. It felt like Emmaline had been staring at him forever as he started to talk to Applejack about buying apples. Except what really surprised Emmaline is that this pony was a blank flank just like her. Emmaline looked away to gather her thoughts. She was confused. She had only seen this pony for a few seconds and her heart was racing like a bird’s. Emmaline wanted to know who this pony was. Applejack turned back to Emmaline and confirmed that she would be visiting soon. Applejack walked away, and put a barrel on her back to carry to the barn. The stallion glanced over and Emmaline and the look of utter curiosity grasped him. Emmaline looked up from the ground back to him, and all she could see was the left side of his face as he turned to leave. He didn’t move beyond that. They both stared at each other for what seemed like eternity, even though it was only a few seconds. After that span of time, the stallion finally realized he was staring and turned his head away, breaking the glare. Emmaline did the same. She looked back at his flank and observed the white space that some sort of icon should be in. He noticed this and turned his back side away as well. Emmaline heard him say to himself “I knew I should’ve worn my trousers today.” She noticed that he was not from here, he was from Canterlot. She knew he was fancy, but not Canterlot fancy! Breaking out of her timid shell, she said “Wow, what an accent. Canterlot I’m assuming?” He lifted his head and nodded. “Yes, actually… I’ve came down here because I heard about Sweet Apple Acres, and from what I heard, it was the best place to go for good quality apples. I took the chance I could to come. I’m glad I did, seeing as the women down here can have a very… certain style about themselves.” Emmaline glanced up at the cliff of hair she had, and blushed. Her white-ish purple freckles were exposed with such a contrast of colors. He giggled, and said “Well, I’d better introduce myself if I’m going to say such things to you. My name is Zee, Zee Whitewolf. And you are?” Emmaline smiled shyly as she replied “My name is Emmaline Bunn. I’ve never actually met a pony from Canterlot; I’ve only seen them from afar. How is it there? Are the ponies up there really as proper as some ponies say they are?” “Well, some of them can be. I’m one of the one’s who isn’t, but I can really imitate them fairly well. Wanna see?” Zee said, obviously becoming amused. “Sure!” Emmaline replied. Zee switched his facial expression completely over to a smug, uptight look about himself. He strutted over to the cow in the fence and acted revolted. “Oh! Why on Eaarrrthhh would one allow such a creature in their household? A home is for ponies, not a filthy cow!” Zee stomped his foot at the last word and then lost all composition he had. He literally fell on the ground because he was laughing so hard. “Oh god, I must say I’m surprised I did so well on that without smirking. How would you say I did?” Zee asked. Emmaline was trying hard to not laugh during her reply, but managed to say “Well, uh I’d think…-giggle- that you did pretty well. I’ve seen how they act and I’d say you’re… Spot on!” Zee giggled at Emmaline using that terminology. “Oh my, you’re enjoyable. Would you like to meet up again sometime? I’ll be down here for another day or so, depending on how I… Like my stay.” Zee said, adding in that flirting tone. “I would love to help you enjoy your stay in Ponyville. It’s been a while since I’ve actually had someone to hang out with.” Emmaline immediately regretted that statement. She didn’t want to give out too much information. But Zee looked at her with a kind of pity, but a sort of interest, one that a helpful friend would give you if they heard something they didn’t think sounded right. “Well then ponies are missing out. I’ve only just met you and I enjoy your company, I enjoy it very much. Do you think you could give me an exclusive tour of Ponyville, Miss Emmaline?” Emmaline blushed again, hearing him say her name in that accent was quite enjoyable to the ears. “Yes, I can do that. Where would you want to go to first?” Emmaline asked. “Well, I would love it if you could take me through town. Nowhere specific, just a light tour, but if there’s a certain area you’d want an outsider like me to note down, then by all means tell me. I’m fascinated with this town already.” They smiled at each other, and Emmaline gave the signal to follow her. As they walked through town, Zee talked about where he came from, upon request. “So what is it really like in Canterlot? Do you live alone, or with somebody? What about school how’s that going for you?” Zee laughed again, so amused at how many questions this pony asks. “Well, I live with my parents, and we go out a lot. There’s a lot to see up there, but I’d rather be without the people. All the older people are smug, and not very friendly. The only way to get along with any of them is to be like them, and that’s why I’m an outcast. They almost shun me from a lot of things because of my outgoing nature. I won’t hesitate to say what needs to be said. My parents are the cause of that. They aren’t like all the rest of them either. Also, I don’t go to school.” Emmaline stopped him right there and asked “Really? Why not, I mean how do you have classes or learn stuff?” Zee replied with “Well, I’m home schooled. I don’t go to a regular school. My Mother teaches me all I need to know. I like it, being able to chill out at home but not be a couch bug. And I get to do more things like this, come to different towns and meet different people. And if everyone is at least a bit like you, then I think I’ll really enjoy it here!” Emmaline giggled at the compliment. She was really starting to like this stallion. “Well, no. Nobody is really like me. There are a lot of different kinds of people, but I doubt there is anybody like me.” She said. Zee contemplated this, and then said “Well of course. If everybody was exactly like you, well that would be nice but not… Too nice, you understand? I like variety. But that’s the thing- You are a variety! So if everybody had their own sense like you do, then… Well, that’s what I meant…” Zee seemed to be tripping over his words by now. Emmaline found this surprising, such a collective pony becoming nervous. “Yeah I understand, ha-ha. But yeah, there are a lot of different ponies here. Almost too much, it’s hard to find that one special pony with so many traits floating around…” Emmaline hesitated, but decided to ask “Speaking of which, do you… Have a special pony?” Zee glanced at Emmaline and shook his head, his smooth mane gliding around. “No, unfortunately not. Nopony seems to match what I want. I’m not necessarily picky; I just want a girl who I can really share things with. Very special things. What about you, anypony in mind?” Emmaline sighed and said “No. Nopony.” Emmaline had a depressing flash of how everybody but her was happy. “Oh… Well, don’t worry. We’ll find some pony for us. It’s bound to happen eventually, especially with you…” Emmaline looked up at him and asked what he meant by that. All the other ponies around them seemed to fade away as the two continued their walk, forgetting about the tour all together. “Well I mean that you’re not like the other girl ponies. I don’t see you to be the kind of gal to be so naive and go with any pony who’s willing, you seem to know to wait. You have a certain glow about you that I’m sure many have noticed. It’s a very bright, friendly and caring aura. I enjoy just standing here because of it. Somepony is going to notice it very well, and it’s going to impact them in that way, and they’ll go after you, I’m sure.” Zee smiled at her, filling Emmaline’s stomach with butterflies. “Wow… Thanks, Zee… That, that meant a lot.” Emmaline stuttered. “My pleasure. But uh, excuse my diversion but… where are we now?” Emmaline looked around, surveying the scene. “Oh, we’re at Sugar Cube Corner. It’s where the sweetshop is. It was the first real shop built in this town, that’s why this street is named that. Did you know-“A clash of a door slamming open sounded around the square, and sure enough Pinkie Pie came bounding down the street to meet the new guy. “OH!! Another new pony! Hi, how are you? My names Pinkie Pie, I just totally love new ponies! Oh what’s your name? You’re not very colorful, you know that? Is your name PANDA BEAR!!?? That would be so cool!!!” Zee looked like he about had a heart attack. “Woah, hello there! Uh, uhm… My name is Zee Whitewolf… Uhh, I know I’m not very colorful not much I can do ‘bout that… Gosh, you scared me. But uh, nice to meet you either way…” Pinkie Pie exploded again. “So whatcha doin’? Oh hey Emma! You’ve met Zee right? Oh what a fun name! Zee rhymes with he! He is Zee! HA! ZeeHee! Teehee! ME!! Zee me? SEE me? Oh I feel French!” Zee glanced at Emmaline and signaled to walk around her. Emmaline nodded and the both side stepped around Pinkie Pie, who was still going on about whatever came to her mind at that moment. It took her a while to realize that they were gone. When the pair got safely around the corner, they busted out laughing. “Wow ‘Emma’, you were definitely right about there are different kinds of ponies here! I’ve never met someone so… Excited about meeting people! Is she always like that?” Emmaline finished laughing and said “Yeah, pretty much. Not much we can do about it, it is best if she stays this way… If she’s not happy, then she makes sure no one else is either.” Zee’s eyes widened and said nothing more.
The More Interesting PartThe More Interesting Part By: Emily_Is_Bunnii As they continued their walk, Emmaline noticed that they were going the route she takes to get home. Then she realized what time it was. “Oh my gosh! It’s like… Eight o’ clock! My mom is going to kill me… I was supposed to be home at six. I hope she understands…” Zee looked at Emmaline and asked why she had to be home so early. “Well my farm is covered in leaves and I was supposed to help mom out. I hope she didn’t try to do it herself. I feel awful!” Zee thought for a second and asked to see if he could help. “No, I wouldn’t ask that of you! We only just met…” Zee turned Emmaline towards him and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Emmaline, its fine, I love to help people, no matter how early I just met them. If your mother allows it, I’m helping. Do you only live with your mom?” Emmaline nodded. “If you don’t mind me asking, where is the rest of your family?” Emmaline never really talked about this much. She felt uncomfortable talking about it. Only because she hadn’t said anything about it for a long time, not because it was him she was telling. “Well, my Dad took custody of one of my little brothers, and my other little brother… He likes to go over to friends’ houses a LOT. He’s pretty much never home, and when he is, he’s in his own little world. … So pretty much it’s just me and mom.” Zee nodded compassionately, and said “Well if you ever need anything, I’ll be here for a while to come. Okay?” He asked with a smile. Emmaline smiled back and nodded. So off they went, to Emmaline’s farm. … SunnySide welcomed the help full heartedly, being very happy that Emmaline made a new friend. All three of them had a good time, picking up the leaves and occasionally tossing them at each other. At some point, Zee and SunnySide picked up Emmaline and threw her into the pile of leaves, lightly scattering them around but getting itchy leaves all under her cloak and in her mane. She didn’t mind one bit- She was having fun! It got late, and Zee went home, but not after having one more lengthy conversation with Emmaline. They both stood at the end of the drive, looking at each other for a while until Zee broke the silence and said “Well… All I can say for now, is I’m very glad I met you. I had a wonderful day, getting things done, having an enjoyable day, and meeting a very special pony, and one that I look forward to talking to again!” Emmaline blushed, and gathered the courage to say “Well I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you too. It’s not very often that such a stallion like you comes around, and I’m so glad that I got the chance to meet you.” Zee had never been called a stallion before, and he started to blush, tinting his face a bright red. He looked down and laughed a bit before saying “Oh... Well, thank you. I’m glad I made you happy. I’ll make it a goal to continue making such a pony happy.” Zee looked up when saying this, gazing right into Emmaline’s eyes. They stared at each other a bit, and then the tower bell rang, signaling a sort of curfew. Zee realized that he had to go. Emmaline lifted a hoof to shake his, but Zee grabbed her hoof and pulled her close. He stood up on his hind legs and lifted Emmaline with him, giving her a very large hug. They let go and Emmaline’s heart about burst. It was one of the first times a pony of the opposite gender hugged her, other than her father on short occasions. They smiled at each other and Emmaline said “Well, I’ll see you later then.” He nodded and said “Definitely. Bye Emma.” “Bye Zee.” Emmaline watched at Zee opened his wings and started to slowly move them up and down to get some leverage going. He turned around after one last smile, and started to jog while flapping his wings and flew off into the darkening sky. His wings were a lot wider than they looked when folded. Keeping this in mind, Emmaline continued to watch him until she couldn’t see him anymore. She looked down at her own wings, and stretched them as far as she could. She had never really learned to fly yet. Seeing Zee fly with such amazing wings made her feel inferior. She already felt like that. So Emmaline went back up the drive, laying herself down to sleep after saying goodnight to her mother. SunnySide put a hoof on Emmaline and told her to wait. “Yeah mom?” Emmaline asked. “Well, about that boy… Zee, was it? Where did you meet him, he’s such a nice boy! You said he was from Canterlot, but why was he down here in little old Ponyville?” Emmaline brightened up a bit and told her mother of the events of going to Applejack’s farm to actually get some help with the leaves. “I admit, there was that sense of awkwardness around but we really got along as soon as we really started talking. He had asked me to give him a tour of Ponyville, and eventually we ran into Pinkie Pie…” SunnySide became wide eyed, knowing how Pinkie Pie was with newcomers. “But all around, I had a good day. Not so much at school, but Zee made that better. A lot better... He wants to hang out with me again tomorrow, do you mind?” Emmaline asked. “Well no, I don’t mind. Just tell me if you’re going to be out so late again, alright my little Bunn?” Emmaline nodded. “Great! Now goodnight sweetie, sleep well. Maybe tomorrow we can wake up a little bit earlier…” SunnySide trailed off into a thought process of some kind. Emmaline wasn’t really paying attention, and neither was her mother. Emmaline walked up the stairs of her small little ranch, and went into the very last room. She shut the door, took her cloak off, and lied down. The next day, it was a normal school day. They learned a bit on how exactly to make a good sentence, and how to use the word ‘because’ correctly. At first she couldn’t focus because Emmaline didn’t even wear her cloak that day. To be honest, she forgot it but when she got about halfway is when she realized it and just sort of went with it. It was too late to turn around anyway. What difference did it make really? But during break, she started thinking about other things than the English language, like Zee. She remembered how graceful his wings were, and how much she just wanted to cuddle up underneath them… Then she heard a loud ‘swish’ sound right in front of her face, and looked up to see one of the Pegasus ponies trying to get her attention. “Well finally she actually moves. What’s wrong, frozen in fear? Where’s your little super cape today, Blankie? Did you think we would forget? Well don’t worry about that, how about some fresh new wounds??” The Pegasus grabbed Emmaline’s wings, and tugged really hard. He dragged her up really high, and Emmaline, not wanting her wings damaged, tried to flap her wings too. She somehow managed to get out of his grip, but her wing base was already sore because Emmaline had never really flown. It showed. Emmaline couldn’t keep her balance so high up. She was terrified of heights, let alone when she is brought against her will. She accidentally looked down and things went downhill from there… Literally. “Oh look, how surprising. The little twerp can’t fly, like every other Pegasus. How long have you lived in your little cave again, Blankie, longer than Granny Apple’s whole life? It sure seems like it!” All the earth ponies below them were laughing at poor Emmaline. She’s been bullied before, but not this badly. She tried to lower herself down without hurting herself or anypony else, but the rude pony who got her into this lifted her back up by using her mane. “Don’t even try to get yourself out of this. Maybe I can help you get your cutie mark. Maybe you’re special talent is being a back drop, huh? Just one of those insignificant ponies that nopony else really cares about. Or, I don’t know, you could be like one of those lame little fillies and join the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Such a fittingly lame ‘hobby’ for such a fittingly lame pony.” This same pegasus spun Emmaline around in the air, and backed up leaving Emmaline alone and dizzy. She accidentally looked down again, except this time she couldn’t see the ground clearly. All she knew is that things were moving, she just couldn’t tell in what direction. Next think poor Emmaline knew, she was on the ground and very dirty. While her short flight, and her distortion, some other pony got a bucket of water and as soon as Emmaline hit the ground, that pony poured this bucket all over her causing the dirt beneath her to turn to mud instantly. Her ears were ringing, but the laughter of all the other ponies increased in volume drastically. She looked up and around, and saw every pony in her class staring at her, laughing their tails off. Emmaline has never been hurt so badly, physically and emotionally. She got up as soon as she could handle, and darted off pushing as many ponies as she could. She could feel the dirty looks layering upon her already muddy coat, but it didn’t matter. Emmaline knew that she did not deserve this. Yeah, she was different. But she was a pony, just like them. Emmaline didn’t go back to school, even though it was only around twelve. She started for home. She kept her head down, but her mane gave off who she was immediately. It made no difference. She still felt the stares, and she felt the pity that circled through all these other ponies’ minds. She didn’t want pity. She wanted empathy. She wanted someone to help her. Emmaline, having her head down, didn’t know where she was going. All she knew was that she was fortunately on dry ground, and on the road. She turned a corner and bumped into a pony. She looked up to say she was sorry, and saw black and white. “Oh my lord, Emma! What happened to you? Why are you out of school so…” Zee’s face of worry turned to realization, and disappointment. “Emma… Who did this?” Emmaline just looked at him, and looked back down at her mud caked self. “Just some… Just a jerk. I don’t actually know who exactly it was, all I know is that he just...” Emmaline was getting upset, and tears were now swelling down. Zee wrapped a front hoof around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll make sure they don’t do it again, whoever it was. Come on, let’s go to your house to get you cleaned up. And then we’ll be able to talk about it, alright?” He let Emmaline go, and she nodded still looking at the ground. Zee lightly pulled her head back up to where she was face to face with him and said “Emma, please keep your head held high. I don’t want you to be so upset that it weights you down. Nopony deserves that.” Emmaline smiled, knowing that his words were genuine. They galloped to Sunny Field Farm. When they got there, they both walked inside and SunnySide immediately dropped her bouquet of flowers and ran to Emmaline. “Emmaline, my poor honey bun! What did those terrible kids do to you? Oh I will make sure that every single one of them who even SMIRKED at you in this state will be at the very least given some very strong words! Are you okay?” Emmaline looked up at her mom and said “I’ll tell you about it once I take a shower, alright?” SunnySide was taken aback from such a blank, straightforward answer. She actually expected her daughter to do what any girl would do- seek solitude in any and every person who even looked at her! Emmaline walked off, sliding herself upstairs and into the bathroom. SunnySide turned to finally realize that Zee was there. “Oh! Hello Zee… Sorry I didn’t see you there at first. Uhm… Do you know what happened?” Zee shook his head no, and said “All I know is that she’s literally hurt. Her wings were twitching. She told me it was one certain pegasus that started it all, and I had told her to clean up and refresh herself before going into such detail. It’s never a pleasant experience to stay in the state you’re in while describing what happened. It clears your mind to restart a bit, appearance wise.” SunnySide nodded, and a stream of surprised and approving kind of thoughts went through her head. ‘He helped her get home. I like how he cares so much already…’ SunnySide grinned at Zee and asked “Would you like something to eat, or drink? I can make some really good sweets for when Emmaline gets out of the shower.” Zee’s stomach growled with perfect timing and volume, and laughed as he said yes. SunnySide made Emmaline’s most favorite sweet – Chocolate!
Before The Bells RangBefore The Bells Rang By: Emily_Is_Bunnii Emmaline smelled something. She automatically knew that her mom was cooking, but she didn’t know what. All she was worried about at the moment was getting all this mud out of her coat. Her skin was going to be pretty irritated for quite a while… But she continued scrubbing. Emmaline didn’t know how long she was in the shower, all she knew was that she was squeaky clean, and that she was extremely upset. It felt nice to have the warm water rain down strongly on her harmed wing, but as soon as she got out of that warm air the abrupt change of temperature caused Emmaline to cry out in pain. She heard rushed footsteps come up the stairs and SunnySide came in. “Bunn! What happened? Are you alright?” Emmaline stood back up and said “I’m fine, my wings just didn’t react to the temperature change very well. I’ll be fine, Mom don’t worry.” SunnySide kept her worried look and insisted on helping Emmaline get ready. After a while, with Emmaline all dry and clean the two went downstairs to see Zee taking the chocolate cake out of the oven. “Oh, was it burning?” SunnySide asked. “No, it’s perfect! I just thought that I’d take it out before it did burn though.” SunnySide smiled while she sat Emmaline down on the couch in the living room. They all chilled out a bit and relaxed after such an eventful day. The cake cooled down, and was eaten into very quickly. “So, now Emma… Please, tell us what exactly happened since you’re hopefully feeling better.” Zee requested. SunnySide nodded and looked at her daughter. Emmaline, now feeling obligated to tell the story pushed her plate away and began. “Well, I was just sitting there thinking during break. I wasn’t doing anything, or talking to anypony. This one pegasus who’s always been a jerk to me swished his wing in front of my face and got my attention. He… He grabbed me. My wings, and pulled me up really high. He tugged on them a lot and was saying really mean things to me, teasing me about how I can’t fly very well and how I forgot my cloak at home. All the other ponies were laughing at me. He let go of me and my wings hurt and I couldn’t fly…” Emmaline started to tear up, her words trembling as her voice shook. “I fell on the ground. I couldn’t even feel it, all I knew was that I was on the ground and that my whole entire left side hurt and… I was soaking wet, and sticky… Somepony had a bucket filled with water ready as I fell down. They splashed me with it and then I became the dirty mess you guys saw me as. So yeah. That was my day…” The two ponies saw that this event really shook poor Emmaline, and to comfort her they both went to her and put a hoof around her shoulders and SunnySide asked “How badly are your wings hurting you now, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest?” Emmaline shivered and somehow managed to say eight. “Oh dear… Well, here, Zee? Go into the bathroom upstairs, first door on the left. In the cabinet there’s an ointment especially for wings, there are two but get the yellow bottle, please darling…” Zee did as requested. As Zee went upstairs, Emmaline looked at her mother and asked through tear filled eyes “Mom, why is it so bad to not have your cutie mark? There are a few other ponies that don’t have their cutie marks, but they’re not treated as badly as I am!” SunnySide shook her head and tried to make Emmaline feel a bit better by saying “Most other ponies don’t realize this, but it’s not a bad thing at all. I once heard a statement from a very smart pony that said ‘just because a pony doesn’t have a cutie mark, doesn’t mean they’re not special. It just means that they still have the opportunity to find out who they really are.’ So don’t worry my Honey Bun, you’ll find out who you are really soon! And with Zee, you’ll have a very good friend to help you through it all, that’s more than most ponies have already!” Emmaline smiled, thinking positive thoughts like she tried to do every morning as Zee came back down with the lotion. Emmaline didn’t go to school for a few days, letting her wings heal up a bit. It didn’t hurt to walk, but with gym class it pushed the winged ponies very far and for some ridiculous reason, hurt ponies couldn’t be excused from gym unless they just didn’t go. So SunnySide just let Emmaline sit in bed, eat sunflower sweets, and relax. Zee came to visit a lot, and after the second day Emmaline was wondering why Zee wasn’t back in Canterlot by now. So she asked him about it on his third visit. After Zee said hello, Emmaline immediately asked “Zee, why are you still in Ponyville? I mean, I love having you here but I was just wondering…” Zee stopped her there, with a slight smile. “Emma, I haven’t gone back to Canterlot because you’re hurt. I will remain in Ponyville until further notice, because I don’t want to leave my friend alone while in pain. It’s the best I can do.” Emmaline was startled by this response, never hearing a pony say such a nice thing other than her mother. Zee noticed this hesitation, and continued on. “Emmaline, I’ve only known you for about a week. It’s felt like I’ve known you for years, and only very special ponies can get into that level of friendship in such a short amount of time. They are the ponies that I am meant to have in my life. And with you, I would gladly keep you in my life for as long as possible if not forever. So until you either want me gone, or when I die, is the only times I’ll leave. Of course respecting personal space and alone time, but you know what I mean…” Emmaline nodded, and smiled gently. They stared at each other for quite a while, but soon continued on with their silly little conversations.
Rainbow Dash Helps AgainRainbow Dash Helps Again By: Emily_Is_Bunnii A few months passed, and the summer break began. Emmaline had been long healed, going back to school and such. SunnySide made sure that the foal that did that to Emmaline got into major trouble, and nobody really bothered Emmaline too badly after that. They gave her a few taunts here and there, but things that she became accustomed to, things that she was able to block out and laugh at eventually. Her friendship with Zee became stronger as well. Zee had gone back to Canterlot after Emmaline had been healed, but he took his time leaving. SunnySide actually allowed Emmaline to visit Canterlot with Zee for a little more than a week. Emmaline had a lot of fun, experiencing new things, meetings Zee’s parents and friends. Nobody taunted her for not having a cutie mark. Most people over there didn’t have a cutie mark either. The pattern continued, where Zee and Emmaline would flip over to each other’s houses every so often. It was a very pleasant routine, but one day the pair went to visit Rainbow Dash in Cloudsdale to see her performance at some flying contest, and that changed a lot of things. Rainbow won obviously, she had been training forever! She also helped Emmaline win something too though… “Hey Rainbow Dash! Congrats on winning the competition!” Zee said. Rainbow Dash beamed, and an idea flashed across her face. She zoomed in a colorful trail around Emmaline and Zee, and put both her hooves around the two. “Yeah, thanks! But uh, hey… Can I ask you guys something? It seems like you guys are just the most awesome couple ever, so I was thinking-“ Zee broke her off right there and asked in minor shock “Woah, a couple? What?” Rainbow Dash looked at him quizzically. “Yeah… Here, lemme finish! I was wondering…” She said, elongating her sentence. “Why don’t you guys go out? I mean, I see you guys around Ponyville all the time, and all I can say is ‘wow, what a pair!’” Emmaline looked at Zee, and Zee looked back for a split second. They both looked at Rainbow Dash, and didn’t say anything. Rainbow Dash noticed the tension, and said “Oh, well… I- I’ll let you guys think about it together then, okay? Bye guys!” And with that, Rainbow Dash zoomed off. Zee and Emmaline went back down to Ponyville to relax at her farm. SunnySide made another spontaneous dish to suite the evening and the lighthearted feel. The dish was a homemade treat, one that SunnySide, Emmaline and Zee all made up together. It’s a sunflower that’s petals had been tied to point up, and inside of it had been a small lop of whipped cream. Around the sunflower bud, as they called it, were small little biscuits that had more whipped cream on it, sprinkles and finally a cherry on top. There were about 7 on each plate. After a highly enjoyable evening dinner, Zee asked Emmaline if she would like to go outside with him. “Sure!” Emmaline said. They asked SunnySide and she said it was fine, just don’t be out too late. They agreed and trotted out. “So, Emma… I was wondering about what Rainbow Dash said, and…” Zee trailed off a bit, trying to find the right words to say. He glanced at Emmaline and he saw a curious, bright eyed pony that was anticipating what he was about to say. “Well, uhm… I was wondering, what are your thoughts… You know, on us being together?” Emmaline’s expression kind of flattened out, taken aback from the sudden turn. “Oh, well…” Every slightest endearing term that Zee had ever said to her came flushing to her mind, her train of thought and even her vision, and it hit her hard. She wanted to sound as sweet as he did all those times. She quickly thought up a very –surprisingly- well laid out response. “Well, I really think that it would be worth it. I mean, hehe, Zee, you’ve been such a rock for me. You were there for me no matter what it was, and you’ve given me more than anypony, literally and figuratively. I love seeing you, and I would really like it if … You know… we could try that out…” Emmaline’s face burst into the absolute image of embarrassment. Her cheeks were flushed, her mane was showing her inner tension, and she wouldn’t look up. Zee did what he always did; he lifted her head up. She felt the tip of his hoof tug up on her chin and without resistance she looked at him. She saw a very bright, a very loving face that seemed to know no pain. Both his eyes were shining, and sparkled even more when he said “Emmaline Bunn, I would love it if you could be my girlfriend.” Both hearts fluttered as the last rays of the sun beamed down onto Sunny Fields Farm. Emmaline looked up at him with her heart flying high, and exclaimed “I would gladly be your girlfriend Zee!” They both wrapped their hooves around each other, lifting one another up, and they stayed there for quite a while. When they noticed that it was already dark was when they let go of each other. Zee looked at Emmaline. Emmaline looked at Zee. They smiled, turned around and went back inside. Emmaline’s mother side glanced at the two as she put up the leftovers from dinner, and said with a sly smile “I knew you guys would get together soon.” Emmaline blushed, and Zee laughed. “Well, at least you don’t have to worry about her too much now. She’ll be fine as school comes back around. She was only at that terrible school for about a year, and already she’s going into high school! She’ll be alright since she also has me now.” SunnySide nodded, knowing that the rest of this year was going to be perfect for Emmaline.
It's Getting Better!It's Getting Better! By: Emily_Is_Bunnii Both Zee and SunnySide was right, Emmaline blossomed tremendously since the summer she and Zee got together. Her self-confidence boosted, she became more aware of worldly things and matured, she saw things in a completely different light now. She saw the good in people who she would never see the good in if it wasn’t for Zee. Now I know what you’re thinking- Happy ending? Who said it was the end? The new founded couple went to the lake for a first year anniversary party, just the two of them. Of course it took a lot of convincing on both parts, but they managed to slide by very easily, oddly enough. The parents knew that they wouldn’t do anything too stupid. So there they were, having fun, talking, reminiscing, planning cute things like what kind of pets they wanted when they move in together, they described scenarios to each other of what they’d do when the other got home, and things like what their reactions would be if certain events took place. They also talked about serious things though, like what they would have to do to even be able to prepare for things like moving in together. They talked about how they would help each other out, specifics actually, and no false proposals and promises of just ‘keeping up’. They kept it realistic, something that most couples can’t do. But they had fun with it, they wanted this. It was getting late, so Emmaline helped Zee set the tent up. They put their sleeping bag for two in there, the lantern, the little trinkets they brought with them in the tent so nothing got ruined, and they settled in. Emmaline wanted to see the sun set, which is what they faced, so she got an idea… “Hm, sweetie what are you doing?” Zee asked. “Well, how about we put the mesh net for the volley ball thing over the entrance? I want to be able to see the sunset, but without risking bugs coming in. Is that alright?” Emmaline proposed. Zee thought about it briefly and got up to help Emmaline set it up. Soon they had their very own protective shell, one where you’re able to see the beautiful scenery of a sunset on the very edge of the lake. The two laid there in each other’s arms, looking at the view. “Wow…” Zee started. “It looks like we’re staring into the end of the world. I feel like I wanna fly towards the sun and find a giant gap, like a beta hole in Minecraft, just without the boundaries… Only one drop. Nothing else.” Emmaline giggled and said “Ha I can see that. I’d be more interested in seeing you fly towards a sunset, that would be a very cute sight!” Zee laughed and poked Emmaline on the nose. “You silly filly, you know that I wouldn’t fly towards it without you. Third person view of that, now THAT would be a nice sight!” Emmaline made a sound which sounded like a quick amused sigh. They sat in silence, as the sun sunk below the skyline, leaving darkness in its absence. All they could see was the moonlight come around and reflect on the shore of the lake. They heard the birds settle down into nests, singing their final song before they fell into a slumber. The soft breaking of the water lulled Emmaline to sleep very quickly. Zee sighed, having yet another very enjoyable day with the mare of his dreams. He looked down at that very pony, and smiled greatly. He felt as if he was looking at a certain part of himself, one that he couldn’t see before. He saw himself in Emmaline, not just because they were so much alike, but rather more because she completed him. She filled that hole that he had felt his whole life. He never knew what that hole should contain, never knowing why he wasn’t completely happy, until he met Emmaline. Now, he can see that the reason why he wasn’t completely happy is because he didn’t have Emmaline with him, to share his memories. He didn’t have the ability to make some other pony happy. Now he does. And he’s perfectly fine with that. He looked forward, into the sunset as he settled into the cuddling position with the fast asleep Emmaline. Zee started to slowly loose his sight, as his eyes closed more and more. The last thing he remembers doing, is turning his head to kiss Emmaline’s forehead as his own head drooped down onto the pillow. …
What An Ending...What An Ending... By: Emily_Is_Bunnii They were passing by the school playground, which was still open. The pegasus that hurt Emmaline was there. “Oh no…” Emmaline said, realizing that he spotted her. “What’s wrong?” Zee said. “It’s that guy. He saw me.” Emmaline looked back to see if her flank was exposed out of habit, and it wasn’t. She had an idea. Not too unique, but it’ll still shock that bully. Emmaline and Zee continued walking, but soon heard the beckoning call of the predator. “Hey Blank Flank! Who’s that? Your boyfriend?” Emmaline swished herself around proudly and said “Absolutely! Aren’t we cute?” She giggled as she hopped onto Zee’s back, surprising both of them. Zee was smiling and laughing along. “Wow, what could a guy as cool looking as you be wanting from a blank flank? She’s ugly, annoying, and nothing special.” Emmaline was going to say something, but those words went through Zee harder than intended. He let Emmaline off of him, and with a straight face he looked back up at the rude pegasus, puffing his chest out. “Now excuse me, you little mongrel. My Emmaline is beautiful, stunning, and she is absolutely amazing company. Now, I know that she hasn’t been herself around pony folk like you- But I’ve seen how she really is. What you see is just a mask, a day to day act. You’ve never given her the due she needs for you to fully see how precious she is, as a friend, and as my perfect other. It’s been a year today that I asked her to be mine, and I will never regret that. And if you think that you can go around and say such things about her right to my face? Do you think I’m like you- Uncaring and heartless that I wouldn’t care when someone straight up insults my close ones? I was the first- the very first- to know what you did to her. You hurt her, you hurt her badly. What’s that for, eh? What was it? Is it jealousy because she can do more than you ever could, withstand more than you ever have? And now, look what my presence has done. Emma, show him.” Emmaline nodded, and they both turned their flank towards him and showed the stunned pegasus the fresh cutie mark. “But… No, what? That can’t be there. It’s fake, there isn’t a way that two ponies can have the same cutie mark!” Emmaline laughed and said “Well you’re looking straight at them!” A puzzled realization bolted through the bully’s mind. He stood thinking for a moment, then looked up at Emmaline and said “Wow. I mean, really… Wow… I-I don’t know what to say. Well, I guess I should apologize firstly. I guess you really would get your cutie mark. Second, it’s… so different! Can I ask how you guys thought up of a reason on… how?” Zee smiled, feeling accomplished knowing that his speech worked. “Yes, actually. We figured that… Well…” Zee trailed off, not knowing what to say next. He knew the reason, but couldn’t put it in words. Emmaline noticed this and said “Let me take it from here.” Looking back at the other pony, she started to explain. “Ever since I moved here, I’ve been having a bad time, nopony to talk to, nopony to listen to me. I was miserable. But one day, I met Zee, this handsome pony beside me. We became best friends. We did everything that friends should do. It was like we were exactly the same. One thing led to another, and we found that we were perfect for each other. So we went on that. Our relationship grew and grew. To get to the point, we were made for each other. Without him, I would’ve… I would’ve done some stupid things. Without me, he would live a lonely life, a fun one, but lonely. The only thing that really makes us so special is each other, pretty much.” The pegasus that stood before Emmaline was star struck. “I have no reply to that. I mean it’s deep, it’s… unusual for a pony to find that kind of love so young already, but you guys have it down. Congrats, you guys. And again, I’m sorry.” Emmaline and Zee smiled and both said “It’s okay.” They departed. Zee and Emmaline turned to continue their trek to Emmaline’s home. Once they got there, they realized the shock that Sunny Side was going to have when she would find out. They both got excited and bolted up the drive, anxious to see her reaction. The pair busted through the front door and both exclaimed “We’re home!” Sunny Side poked her head through the kitchen doorway. “You two sound excited, what’s the event?” Emmaline started to bounce up and down, looking to Zee to see if he knew what they were going to say. They both exchanged smiles, and looked at Sunny Side and said “We got our cutie mark!!” Sunny Side immediately started jumping along. “Oh my, oh my! You did? Let me see!” Zee and Emmaline turned, and showed it off. Sunny Side looked back and forth, from Zee to Emmaline, Zee, Emmaline. “Wait.” She said. “Wait. Wait… What? My old age must be messing with me…” Zee laughed and reassured her that they were real, and the same. “Oh my… How did… I mean, really, how?” She asked. Emmaline nor Zee wanted to repeat the earlier speech. So they just settled on a simple sentence. “We’re one of the same.”
