Like any other night, I sat in the castle garden looking at the Moon, despite the cold of late November. For so long now, there had been a mare depicted on its surface. A constant reminder of the mistake I made. Sighing, I whispered, probably for the thousandth time: "Forgive me, sister."
.
.
.
"Gobble!"
"Ah, a chicken!" I squealed as I jumped aside and blindly cast the first spell that came to my mind. However, when the yellow beam shot from my horn, I caught a glimpse of what had made the gobbling sound. It was a turkey. Oh, sorry, poor thing. I mistook you for something worse.
"Gobble!" The turkey embarrassedly uttered just before vanishing in my magic beam. I slightly shuddered at its last sound. Okay, now I feel a bit less sorry for you.
Taking a deep breath to calm down, I raised my gaze to continue looking at the Moon. However, I saw something incredible on its surface. A small, barely noticeable flash. Almost immediately, an explanation formed in my head.
It seems the first spell that came to my mind was teleportation to the Moon. Well, more accurately, I did it accidentally. I probably won't be able to repeat the same magical combination again.
For some time, I just stood there thinking about all this. Many turkeys walk in these gardens, sometimes scaring me. And my sister Luna up there, far away. She probably lonely, cold, and hungry. Maybe she even thinks I don't think about her at all.
Taking a breath, I said, placing my hoof on my chest: "Sister, I promise that every year on this day, at the end of November, I will send you a turkey. I hope this will help you forgive me someday."
But I'll need to figure out a more reliable method. Maybe some kind of huge cannon?
This is how the holiday called "Thanksgiving" appeared in Equestria, which is celebrated on the last Thursday of every November. Well, that's the real story, anyway. For all other ponies in Equestria, it's a tribute of gratitude for good harvest that year. Why then send a turkey to the moon on this day? Well, as Celestia claims: "If it weren't for the moonlight, all the harvest would freeze in one night."
Well, even if someone doesn't believe in this, after a thousand years, nobody is bothered by this holiday anymore. However, today someone will really suffer special damage from this celebration.
POV: Scootaloo
Time: After school classes, our time (well, almost)
Location: Center of Ponyville
Ugh, why do we have a holiday but school classes aren't cancelled? No, instead let's have a mandatory photo session after classes. Ugh.
I sighed disappointedly while walking down the street looking for something interesting. School was incredibly boring. Apple Bloom wasn't at school because she had some business at the farm, and Sweetie Belle, hmm. Actually, I have no idea. Maybe she just stayed home?
"Great, I just need my scoot..." I said but quickly stopped. My scooter was broken. And my tools disappeared somewhere. Yeah, I had already forgotten how big Ponyville is when you walk on your hooves.
"Oh, I still have an hour until the stupid photo session," I mumbled before finally starting to walk towards Rarity's boutique. However, I couldn't help feeling some irritation when looking at the almost completely empty streets. If my scooter hadn't broken today, I could have zoomed down the street so well!
Okay, calm down, calm down. I just need to find the tools and fix the scooter. Well, right after the stupid photo session, ugh.
Finally, I slightly picked up my pace, almost trotting towards Rarity's boutique. But suddenly, the worst fillies I could meet emerged from the alleyways. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
"Hey, blankflank! Where are your pathetic friends?" Tiara asked as she walked past me and brushed my nose with her tail. Ew.
"Yeah, where are they, blankflank?" Silver asked, standing beside me. Well, thanks for not repeating the tail thing.
I snorted and irritably asked, instinctively raising my small wings: "What do you want from me this time?"
Tiara seemed to expect my question because she stopped and said, slightly raising her nose: "You see, blankflank, Spoon and I were thinking."
"Life has already played a joke on you. A non-flying pegasus, after all," Spoon briefly smirked.
HEY! I'm not a non-flying pegasus. Just, well, taking a long time to learn.
"So we decided to give you a chance to get rid of the bullying. No more taunting about the absence of a cutie mark, no more hints that you'll never fly. You just need to win a bet, win at rock paper scissors with me," Tiara said, extending her hoof forward. Of course, this will be super easy! Heh, how can an earth pony even be a winner in this game?
Without a second of thought, I stretched my wing forward, folding the feathers so it looked just like paper. However, Tiara somehow smiled widely. Blinking, I looked down embarrassedly. Between the feathers of my wing were many rainbow band-aids, which made it look more like scissors than paper.
Quickly turning my head back, I saw Silver Spoon, who stood with a smirk, holding a box of band-aids with Rainbow's face on it. Eh, no, I'm seeing such band-aids for the first time. Honest.
"That's not fair! You cheated!" I growled, returning my gaze to Tiara.
In response, she just briefly smirked and when Spoon approached her, said: "Well, you can cry about it. But first, naturally, the punishment for losing the bet."
"We didn't agree on that," I snorted with irritation. However, Tiara just slightly waved in response and Spoon ran towards Rarity's boutique. Hm?
I can't imagine they could get anything there that meets their bullying standards.
After a few moments, Spoon came out of the boutique with a large turkey costume. Looking at this, I said stepping back: "No, not this! I'm already called a turkey every Thanksgiving!"
"Well, don't be offended by the truth. You're just like a turkey, can't fly," Tiara smirked, continuing to keep her nose slightly raised.
"Actually, they can fly," Spoon noted, dropping the turkey costume on the ground. What, really?
When Tiara looked at her in embarrassment, she adjusted her glasses and said: "Equestrian turkeys can fly. Not very far and only in case of danger, but they can. Well, because they're wild here. Only griffin turkeys, which are raised for food, cannot fly."
"Yeah, you didn't know that?" I asked, tilting my head to the side and unable to hide a small smirk.
Looks so smart but actually here's what.
Tiara quickly cleared her throat and said, trying to look confident: "Of course, I knew, I was just testing your knowledge. So, since you lost, turkey, you'll wear this Griffin turkey costume for today's photo session."
I frowned heavily and was already preparing to run from them, but suddenly Spoon offered: "If you do this, I promise we'll never call you a turkey again. And we'll try to make sure nobody else does either."
Her friend looked at her confusedly, as did I. But then, Tiara smirked and said, nodding: "Yeah, I promise too, blankflank."
For some time, I looked at them with confusion and apprehension. However, there was something in Spoon's smile, I don't know, convincing. Not at all like the hundred-percent villain smirk of Tiara. Finally, I reluctantly sighed and said: "Fine, I'll wear this stupid costume for the stupid photo session."
But if you deceive me, the Crusaders won't forget this.
After this, I unconsciously lifted the turkey costume with one hoof before starting to climb into it. While I was doing this, I heard Tiara quietly ask: "How did you manage to convince her?"
"Well, a book helped me," Spoon answered, and the next moment I managed to push my head through the opening. For a moment I saw that she was holding a book with both hooves, on which was written Thanksgiving Recipes. Seriously?
"Oh," I exhaled when the upper part of the costume's head fell on me, completely blocking my view. Strangely, I couldn't remove it by moving my head. Probably this costume is just too heavy. In any case, the only connection to the outside world remained the laughter of Tiara and Spoon, as well as the mesh eyes of the costume.
Well, you could say sound. I can't see anything through these things.
"Well okay, turkey, see you at the photo session!" Tiara smirked, before the sound of receding hoofsteps was heard.
For a couple of moments, I thought about one question. How will I even get there? You can't see anything in this costume. Suddenly, Spoon said: "Uh, I think we better lead her there. She won't get there by herself."
After these words, there was quiet whispering, which ended only when I felt two hooves on my back and heard Tiara's words: "I really hope this will be worth it."
Before I could even snort, they started leading me somewhere forward. Along the way, I heard some whispering between the two bullies, but couldn't make out anything anymore. Through the costume's eyes, I could barely make out just the dirt road.
Well, at least I won't fall in the mud. This makes this day just a tiny bit better.
After a very long time, during which we managed to turn many times and even enter some building, I saw something vaguely resembling steps in front of me. Looks like they brought me to the photo session location. And apparently made a couple dozen circles to arrive exactly when it starts.
Suddenly I felt a kick in the behind and Tiara's chuckle: "Come on, turkey, photo session ahead!"
I hate you. Briefly sighing, I carefully climbed the steps and saw a stage in front of me. Further ahead was visible a corridor where other ponies from school stood. Except for my friends. To my left was a huge hall where many ponies sat. And to the right was a chair and photographer.
Ugh, I wish this would all end soon.
Slightly swaying, I walked to the chair and plopped down on it. From all around me, I could hear quiet giggling, and the photographer raised an eyebrow and said: "Uh, I think you're confused. This is a photo session for colts and fillies from Ponyville School."
I quickly shook my head, hoping there would be no questions. Unfortunately, the mare photographer raised some list with her hoof and asked: "What's your name? It's a bit unclear, because of the costume."
"Scootaloo," I quickly said. The photographer didn't react at all, the costume blocks sound.
"Ahem, Scootaloo!" I shouted. Again no reaction. Oh, why is this all happening to me?
"SCOOTALOO!" I squealed, slightly rising from the chair. Finally, the mare photographer nodded and put away the list somewhere. Phew.
Then, she stood behind the camera and said, apparently out of habit: "Say cheese!"
First of all, I'm not in the mood. Secondly, will you be able to see it?
In any case, there was a bright flash that made me blink hard, despite the mesh eyes of the costume. Yeah, another reason to hate being photographed. Sighing, I very quickly got off the chair and ran in the first direction I chose. Where? Well, hopefully not towards the bullies.
Unfortunately, I felt two hooves suddenly stop me and Tiara said giggling: "Spoon, tell her what great significance this photo session has."
Spoon briefly clicked her tongue and I was able to turn my gaze to her. She was holding an alarmingly large book with both hooves. Turning a page, she clicked again and said in a businesslike tone: "Princess Celestia's decree, from 1001 years after Nightmare Moon's banishment, states that a citizen's belonging to one species or another is determined by the last photograph taken by a third party. This decree was created in order to make it more difficult for changelings to infiltrate pony society, to make the substitution of documentation more difficult and. . ."
"Without the nerdiness," Tiara briefly said while holding me with her hooves. Although she never worked physically, she still has earth pony strength.
Spoon snorted and said, throwing the book somewhere to the side: "Since you, Scootaloo, were photographed in a turkey costume, you're considered a turkey. All according to law."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes, before reaching with my hooves to the costume's head and saying: "Oh, whatever. I'll take it off now and everyone will not care about this thing."
Eh?
No matter how hard I pulled at the costume's head, it simply refused to come off or even tear. Before I could express my embarrassment, Tiara let go of me and said with a giggle: "The costume is enchanted so it can't be taken off. Forever."
Spoon briefly adjusted her glasses and said: "Ahem, more accurately, a hundred years. Not even Princess Celestia can cast spells with an infinite duration."
Tiara briefly huffed before saying: "Well, I think we should let others have some fun. Come on Spoon, let's get something to drink."
In response, she quickly nodded and both troublemakers walked away. Meanwhile, I continued trying to break free from the costume. I even managed to grab some part with my teeth and started biting. But that didn't work either. I was stuck!
Uh, I need to find Twilight! She'll definitely figure out how to undo this spell.
Nodding to myself, I went outside and tried to figure out where to go. But because of this stupid costume, I couldn't see properly or think straight. However, looking around, I noticed someone who could help me. Spike.
I started running quickly towards him, momentarily forgetting about the costume. But of course, I tripped and fell face-first into the ground. The costume doesn't cushion pain at all. Ahem, anyway, Spike asked restrainedly: "Scootaloo, is that you?"
"How did you recognize me?" I asked in surprise, lifting my head to see him at least a little. I could have just stood up to talk, of course. But I'm comfortable like this.
"Um, guessed by your walk," Spike answered, scratching the back of his head. Wait, how did he hear me? Maybe I'm too close?
Or maybe the photographer just wanted to mess with me too?
Eh, doesn't matter. The main thing is that Spike doesn't remember our last meeting.
As soon as I thought about this, he asked, looking down at me: "By the way, remember how a couple of days ago you tried to get your cutie mark for, um, 'mining'?"
I looked away and answered quickly: "Well, yeah, I remember. I don't know what I did wrong, the idea was just perfect."
"You blew up all the crystals I was keeping under my bed! That was my breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner until next November!" He snorted, crossing his arms.
"Miners constantly blow up rocky stuff! Well, in comics at least," I answered defensively, finally bothering to stand on all four hooves. And. . . success!
Okay, I admit, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stand up in this thing.
Spike sighed and said, slightly shaking his head: "Good thing Diamond Tiara compensated for that damage by giving me lots of diamonds. Too bad it wasn't free."
Okay, now this is really bad. I frowned deeply and asked extremely cautiously: "And what did she ask for in return?"
"Guard, I found the turkey!" Spike suddenly shouted in the next moment. Before I could even raise an eyebrow, I felt myself being lifted off the ground.
"Thank you, little dragon, now we have a chance to get the bonus," a male voice happily replied. With difficulty turning my head, I managed to see that it was a stallion in guard armor.
"Just a chance. Hurry, we need to get to Canterlot first!" urged a female voice. Again, turning my head, I saw that it was a unicorn mare, also in guard armor.
Eh, well they must be kind. They'll understand if I tell them I'm not a turkey.
"Uh, guys, I'm not a turkey, I'm just a pony in a costume," I said awkwardly, squirming slightly in the stallion's grip.
"Did it seem to me or did the turkey talk?" he asked confusedly, looking down at me. No, it didn't seem like that to you.
"It definitely seemed like that to you," said Spike. Oh, seriously!? Did that offend you that much?
"And even if not, we really need this bonus," said the unicorn mare, seriously nodding. Is this bonus really so big that you can just ignore the fact that I'm not a turkey?
Then I need to try harder.
I started actively squirming in the stallion's grip and shouted as loudly as I could: "I'M A PONY!"
It seemed my voice broke through the costume fabric so well that both guards flinched at the volume. However, the mare suddenly lit up her horn and said: "Hold her, I'm about to teleport."
Before I could say "I am absolutely definitely not a turkey," I felt a strange sensation. Everything around me started spinning and for a moment, I felt like I fell asleep. And then I felt like I was falling but was caught at the last moment. A shiver went through my whole body.
Oooooh. . .
Slowly, I managed to recover enough to hear the mare say excitedly: "Princess Celestia, Princess Celestia, we found the turkey! First in all of Equestria, I'm sure."
"Can we get the bonus?" asked the stallion, still holding me with his hooves. Not that I could resist much after teleportation.
Finally, my vision focused and I could see the outline of a tall pony with wings and a horn. She bent down slightly, as if wanting to be at my level, and spread her wings wide, probably to maintain her majestic appearance. And honestly, she's succeeding at it, it's amazing...
"OW!" I flinched when suddenly a stick poked the eye of the costume and my eye along with it. Pulling my head back, I blinked several times and saw that Celestia was using her magic to hold a very long stick, probably three times longer than herself.
Why does she need such a thing?
"What a good turkey, doesn't cluck. I like it," said Celestia with a restrained expression. However, she still held the long stick with her magic so that it was right in front of my face.
"So, is the bonus ours?" asked both the mare and stallion simultaneously with excitement.
Celestia chuckled in response and said, summoning four bits with her magic: "Since Spike still hasn't sent me the list of turkeys to choose from, as he does every year, then yes."
Suddenly, I was thrown to the ground, causing me to let out a brief groan. However, my eyes could see how both guards grabbed two bits each and said simultaneously with an enchanted look: "This is literally half our monthly salary. . ."
Wait seriously? You can buy like one tomato with this money! If the seller gives you a discount.
Finally, I managed to gather enough strength to cry out: "Please, believe me, I'm not a turkey, I'm a pony!"
In response, the stick poked me again, this time in the nose, and Celestia said while stepping back: "I think I'm not feeling well. Please, place this turkey in the cannon and you may rest."
"No, listen! Please! Uff. I'm one hundred percent pony! Well, maybe ninety percent because of the stuck costume. But mostly pony!" I said, faltering for a moment as the stallion carried me somewhere. After a couple of seconds, there was some terrible metallic screech. Looking around, I saw how the floor right in front of Celestia's throne opened up, revealing some deep hole.
"I'm not..." I tried to shout, but suddenly realized I was falling. The next moment my body hit something hard.
As much as I'd like to deny it, the costume seems to be preventing me from feeling too much pain. A few minutes ago, I just wasn't ready to admit it.
"Good, announce that today's ceremony of launching the turkey to the moon will be held earlier. I really don't feel well," Celestia's tired voice was heard. Why did she suddenly become like this after I tried to talk?
After these words, I stood on all four hooves and looked around. Around me were many pipes, light bulbs, strange tanks, and the like. But among all this were two signs. One of them read Don't worry, you're just being sent to the Moon as part of the harvest celebration! Celestia won't harm you. And on the second one was written Gobble, gobble, gobbble! Celestia gobble gobble.
Seriously?
Snorting, I lifted my head up trying to find some way to escape. After a few moments, my hooves slowly reached for some wide pipe that had many holes in it. For a moment I shuddered at how cold it was, but still managed to pull myself up onto it.
From my new, slightly higher position, I could see another thing. A small picture showing a very happy turkey jumping on cheese. Judging by the planet behind it, it's the moon. All very realistic.
"Okay, don't get distracted! I need to get out of here," I ordered myself when I carefully stood on my hind legs to reach for a higher pipe. But suddenly, everything around me shook and the next moment I returned to where I started. The bottom of the cannon.
With a whistle, hot steam burst from many metal pipes, making my stay in the costume even more unbearable. When there was a metallic creak, I saw that the platform at the bottom of the cannon I was standing on started to lower. Yes, I knew it, they'll let me go! Probably they decided to double-check everything and resolve the misunderstanding.
After a few moments, the platform lowered and the view of metal walls was replaced by beautiful green meadows and rivers. Reaching out with my hoof, I snorted. This is just a drawing on the cannon wall.
Is this supposed to calm real turkeys that end up here or what?
Suddenly, the pipes released a second portion of hot steam followed by slow blinking lights. And finally, from below came a series of rumbles, no, explosions.
Boom
BOOM
BOOM
After the last, third explosion, I was suddenly thrown into the air at an enormous speed. In just a few moments, I had already flown out of the palace and was in open air, however, the speed didn't decrease at all. The wind intensely beating in my face made me close my eyes.
This is just the most unusual dream I've ever had, right? I couldn't really be flying to the moon because I ended up in a turkey costume!?
For some time I just continued flying with closed eyes and replaying my unimaginable disappointment in my head. But something started to change. First, I stopped feeling the wind hitting my face, then my body became, like, lighter?
Finally, I opened my eyes and my jaw immediately dropped in shock. Right in front of me was the surface of the Moon, around me endless darkness with distant stars. In just a few moments, I flew from Equestria to here! And worst of all, the Moon was pulling me in. Collision ahead.
"Ooooh. . ." I sighed tiredly when I finally collided with the moon. Why such a reaction? Well, actually I'm already a bit tired of screaming and groaning in pain. I need a break.
"Gobble," was heard behind me. I turned over onto my back and saw turkeys. Many. Like, really a giant crowd of hundreds of individuals. But before I could express my embarrassment, I felt a tickling sensation in my side. No way...
"My cutie mark!" I gasped excitedly when I looked at my side. Maybe because of the steam or something else, but right there the costume had torn so I could see my cutie mark. And it was
.
.
.
A turkey. I raised my head and shouted irritably: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?"
POV: Celestia
Time: Literally a minute after turning on the cannon
Location: Canterlot Palace
I was looking up at the moon which I had raised during daytime to more quickly launch the turkey there. I really felt sick from interacting with that strange bird. But at least duty is fulfilled and she knows that I care about her.
As soon as I thought about this, Luna's voice was heard behind me: "Hmph, what was that sound? And, WHAT IS MY MOON DOING IN THE SKY AT THIS TIME!?"
I slightly smirked in response and said: "I hope you remember all those turkeys I launched to the Moon while you were there to help you. Well, it became a tradition while you were gone."
"Help me?" Luna asked confusedly.
I briefly blinked and explained: "Well, so you could eat and somehow keep warm there, on the Moon."
Luna continued to look at me with an impassive expression. I tilted my head to the side and asked: "Well, bat ponies worship you as a goddess, right?"
"Yes," Luna answered, slowly nodding.
"And they eat meat, right?" I continued.
"Well?" Luna asked.
"And you like should eat meat too."
"That's not how it works, Tia," Luna snorted.
"Oh. . ."
"So, creating a special cannon that makes turkeys immortal and launching them to the moon every year made little sense?" I asked awkwardly.
"Exactly," Luna answered, slightly rolling her eyes. After these words, I looked at the Moon again. With solemnity, to be honest.
No more interactions with birds. Next year I'll cancel this holiday completely.
