Assorted short worksby Adrian BronyChaptersThe Missing FriendMare Mar for Mayor!A Dash of SaltCrossroadsI need a freaking drink (Teen)The Dragon and the FillyThe Missing FriendNopony could remember a time when it had rained so hard. Sugarcube corners shutters were closed tight, allowing only small trickles of light escape. Inside, Pinkie and Twilight sat at a table over a pot of coffee while the cakes quietly swept up shop. Pinkie scooped a large lump of sugar into her drink and stared into it, slowly playing with her flat hair.. “I heard from Dash that Celestia ordered this ginormous storm at the last minute.” Pinkie took a sip, “I think I know why. It feels like someone's missing. Someone important who loved us all, even that meanie Gilda.” Twilight looked at Pinkie, intrigued, “So you did feel it too. Everypony else looked at me weird when I talked about it, so I had a feeling you might know what I meant.” Pinkie nodded, her hair slowly curling back up, “Thing is I still feel plenty of others. They all miss whoever left, but I can feel that they are working their hardest to make it happy.” The unicorn set down her empty mug, “I'm sure whoever left will be proud of whatever the others do.” Pinkie's hair snapped into place as she tackle hugged twilight over the table. Carrot Cake sighed as he grabbed a mop. Celestia looked over Equestria from her balcony, a thick bundle of papers on a nearby table. She breathed in the scent of the rain and smiled meekly “I knew this day would eventually come.” She picked up the papers and flipped through them, “Goodbye, mom. I'll run the principality just like you wanted me to. I'll make the land even better than ever now, don't you worry.” The princess set the papers down and stepped into the rain, savoring the cool droplets running through her fur, “Goodbye, Lauren.” Authors Note: I wrote this for a 300 word fic challenge. The fic was required to start with the line "Nopony could remember a time when it had rained so hard." This was also written very shortly after Lauren Faust announced she is no longer working on the show. Mare Mar for Mayor!The Ponyville city hall was roaring with excitement as the new mayor walked away from her podium, her speech still rippling through the minds of the citizens. A sea of multicolored dots sprawled in front of the building’s steps. Some held signs, reading such things as “Equal rights in Equestria!” and “Mare Mar, for Mayor!” A small pool of ponies gathered away from the main crowd, holding signs closer to “One mare + one stallion = only way.” An even smaller puddle of picketers across the road amassed, rejected by the smaller pool. Their message was far less diplomatic, “Celestia hates fillyfoolers!” The city hall was busy with party members running papers everywhere, working hard to respond to newspapers from all over Equestria. The tan earth pony tugged at her collar, “Do I really have to wear this thing every day now? It really chafes. Thing doesn’t even look good on me.” A pale green mare laughed, heartily trotting across the room, “Aww, get used to it. I’m sure you’ll pull the look off ‘ventually.” Mar grinned and chuckled, “You’d think my campaign manager would have warned me about this thing.” Her partner pat her on the back, “Well what business do ya have complainin’ anyway? Now the samesiders don’t have to keep no secrets anymore. Soon as the council gets the marriage bill to the desk again, it’ll finally pass ‘stead of gettin’ vetoed soon as it shows up.” Mar winced, looking down awkwardly. The green one frowned, realizing what she just said. The tan pony mumbled, “We were set to wed a week from now. I just hope she’s happy wherever she is now.” Mar’s campaign partner smiled, looking her in the eyes, “Ah know Fuchsia’s happy now. She’s proud of all this.” Mar smiled to her assistant, “Thanks, Smith.” Author's Note: This was written for yet another Equestria Daily 300 word writing event back in March of 2011. And yes, "Mar" is pronounced the same way as "mare." A Dash of Salt“Come on, come onnnn! Melt!” Rainbow Dash sweat as the double boiler lightly rattled as the water began to bubble. The blue pegasus darted her eyes around the kitchen of the library. A green flickering light emitted from a flame licking the bottom of the pan. “Spike! I need these things done and sent in twenty minutes! Can't you go any hotter?!” The dragon hacked, gasping to draw in another breath. “The water needs to heat up slowly or the chocolate will burn. Well, that and if I go any hotter the pan will melt.” Rainbow groaned, looking at the solid chunks of almond bark sitting in the pan. She quickly took it off the double boiler and held the pan directly above spike, “Do it! Fire! Hot! Melt!” “But it'll bu-” “Just do it! There's no time!” The young dragon drew in a deep breath and shot a slow flame under the pan, trying his hardest to prevent it from burning. The chocolate quickly slipped down into a brown puddle before thickening up and becoming pasty. “STOP! Too fast!” Spike stopped the flame as he gasped, catching his breath. Dash unceremoniously brought the pan over to the baking sheet of sparkling rose petals. “Chocolate covered candy rose petals, I thought this would be soooo easy!” Dash grabbed a pair of tongs and carefully dipped the petal in the slightly scorched chocolate. The coating was lumpy and never, but it would have to do. She hastily tossed it onto a sheet of wax paper and repeated the process until the whole tray was covered with what would normally be an elegant and classy confection. Rainbow Dash groaned as the chocolate slowly lost its sheen. “Twilight! I need these things cooled now! Do yoy have any magic that would help?” The purple unicorn glanced at the pegasus awkwardly “Well I have a flash freeze spell but It's sort of dang-” “Now! Do it now!” called Dash, holding up the tray. Twilight focused as a blast of magic shot across the room, striking the tray and enveloping Dash and her desserts in an icy embrace =-=-=-=- Dash Ached as she opened her eyes, staring up at the hospital ceiling. Her body was wrapped in warming pads and her legs still felt cold and numb. “Ugh... what happened?” Twilight perked up when she noticed Dash was awake. “Dash! You were out a few hours. You rushed my spell so much I ended up overcompensating and freezing you as well as the desserts.” Dash sighed, moving her tense muscles. “Ugh... Twilight?” “Yeah?” “Remind me to set my alarm so I don't forget about the deadline next time.” Authors note: I forgot about the fic's time until like 20 minutes before the deadline... sorry. Author's Note: this fic was written for a June 2011 speed-writing event on Equestria Daily in which I had to write a fic based on one of several subjects. The fic was due two hours from the subjects being revealed. Silly me, I had forgotten until 20 minutes before the due time, so I did everything related to this in that much time. Crossroads"Twilight! Twiliiiight! Wake up! You got a scroll from Princess Celestia!" Twilight's eyes snapped open, then began to squint, "Too bright. I need to stop reading out in the sun like this." Twilight closed the sun-soaked book and walked back inside. A refreshing breeze made the room seem lively and dynamic, with papers and curtains all occasionally twitching in the wind. The breeze carried a hint if apple tree blossom as it wafted over the orchards. Spike slipped the seal off the scroll and eyed the message, "Gee Twilight, it has been a long time since we got anything from Celestia." "It's been at least a year or so. I was beginning to wonder if she's even been getting my reports anymore. So wha-" "My dearest pupil Twilight, I have monitored your progress closely. making friends, learning about friendship. My, it reminds me of when I was your age. All the friends made. all the experiences shared. The magic of people to confide in. The awkwardness of wishing for one to be more than 'just a friend'." Twilight blushed, "Oh. So she did get that one." Spike Continued, "Your reports all could have been excerpts from my personal diary. You have learned so much in such a short time. Many have taken their entire life just to learn half of what you know now. I have but one lesson left to teach you, my beloved pupil. Please return to the palace in Canterlot. I have scheduled for a nobles chauffeur to bring you home in one week. Use this time to tie up any loose ends and prepare for your return. Any further obligations will be filled by Royal servants, so do not worry for the sake of your friends. Twilight, I am so pr, prr-" "What's wrong, spike?" "The ink is all smudged at this part. I think it says 'proud.' yes, 'Twilight, I am so proud of you right now.' She must have accidentally gotten this wet before sending it." Spike rolled the letter up and set it on a nearby desk. "This is great! We can finally go back home, right Twi...light?" Twilight said nothing. she nodded slowly to spike and turned to look out the balcony. "I think I'll just, uhh, leave you to be alone. Just call for me if you need me for anything." Spike glanced back at Twilight as he made for the door. Twilight murmured, "No, stay. Please, just stay for a moment." Spike stood in the doorway for a few seconds, then closed his eyes and turned around. He kept walking until he felt a warm, soft neck gently grip around him, rhythmically quivering. Spike wrapped his short arms around the base of Twilight's neck. "I never could stand to see, you, I mean, well, you know." Spike stood with Twilight as the sun's light moved across the floor, shadows changing formation as he weathered the storm with Twilight. Not once did he dare open his eyes. Not once has he ever been able to. Every detail of that moment was magnified. Spike could feel the cool breeze contrast with the warmth of Twilight's fur. The quiet of the room broken only by the occasional audible sob. The moisture of tear drops rolling down his back, tightening his hold each time he felt one. Twilight went to her knees, leaning her forward weight onto Spike as she went down. His arms almost felt as if they were squeezing the tears out of her. By the time the storm passed, the shadows in the room were long and dark. "Thank you spike. I, I think I'll be okay now." Spike nodded, let go of twilight, and quietly stood aside. Twilight walked for the door, and stopped. She felt something wet on the back of her neck. Before leaving the room, she gently nuzzled the side of spike's head and kissed him on the forehead. "A goodbye party! Of course! Ohh, we can put up stringers and play games and have music and do you think that DJ pony is still available? She was really good- OH! Rainbow Dash is talking with the Wonderbolts about arrangements for joining them! maybe we can get her to have them perform for us! maybe we can all--" Twilight turned away from the increasingly excited Pinkie Pie with a chuckle. She looked around at her other friends, inching towards applejack. "Ah'm so happy to see you get such an honor from the princess herself. Called back to the royal palace for a personal less'n. Gotta be really exciting for ya'. 'Course I'm sad to see ya go, but I'm sure you'll be back'n all from time to time." "Yeah, I'm sure I will. Definitely. Maybe. Let's not get too hung up on that, though.” Author's Note: This was written to share on /co/ back in February of '11. It was the very first fic I wrote for this fandom and the first time I've written anything in a while. This was to test the waters on a series I was considering in which Celestia makes Twilight a princess and teach her how to let go when she outlives her friends. Celestia viewed it as a harsh but necessary lesson and did it with the best intentions and "tough love" but in the end it turned out that her own lesson was not complete. It was supposed to end with Spike standing up to Celestia to let Twilight escape the palace in order to save one of her friends, and ended with Twilight actually teaching Celestia something about friendship (namely, you may have to break paths with your friends at some point, but you never abandon them.). I need a freaking drink (Teen)-=-=-=-17:36, Ponyville Police Station-=-=-=- "I need a freaking drink." Twilight held a hoof to her aching forehead as the noise pounded into her head. Her friends making the most irritating uproar possible in the police lineup room. Pinkie rambled on at the top of her voice, "That was fun! ooh, remember the piano stuck up in Twilight's tree? And the fan blades, man was that cool. But of course they were cool that's what they were designed for I think they are always..." Rarity stared up at pinkie, tears welling in her eyes, "How could you be so excited at a time like this? My reputation is ruined! I'll never live this down! Oh I can't imagine what this will do for my career. 'Everypony, look! It's Rarity the fashion designer who got arrested for the ponyville incident!' IT'S JUST NOT FAIIIIIIIIR!" Applejack shoved Rainbow Dash as they glared at each other. "This is all your fault ya damn airhead flapper! Ya had to go insistin' and couldn't just leave things alone! Now look what ya got me into!" "Well if you weren't such a freaking jackmare all the time-" "What in the hell did you just call me? I'll lay you out right here and now!" "Go ahead and try!" A door opened at the end of the lineup room, a blue mare in a police vest talked to an unseen coworker, "Okay, which one was the arson suspect?" "Fluttershy, the yellow one on the end." The policemare called into the room, "Fluttershy, come with us." *Squeak* Fluttershy sat in a dimly lit room, two guards at the door, awkwardly facing the policemare, "I just got word, your attorney will be here momentarily." The room was silent save for the buzzing fluorescent light. Footsteps echoed in from the hall, gaining volume as they approached the door. The policemare raised an eyebrow as Fluttershy's attorney entered the room, "MUFFINS!" Fluttershy's eyes shot wide open, a panicked quiver entering her pupils. "B- But... how?" Ditzy pulled a document from her saddlebag, "Signed this so I could do something for muffins!" The sheet was titled 'power of attorney' and it indeed had Fluttershy's signature along the dotted line, notarized and all. "Oh no. That was just supposed to be for when I had her watching my house when I was out of town." "Regardless, the agreement has not been voided and she is your legal attorney. Can we get on with this?" Fluttershy looked nervously at the unfocused pegasus she gave legal power to. "Let's recount the events at roughly 14:27 today." -=-=-=-14:27, Outside of Sugarcube Corner-=-=-=- Fluttershy cowered behind a bush as Applejack and Dash's argument became heated, "And I'm tellin you that mules ARE half pony!" "No way, they look nothing like us! And if they're half pony, what in Equestria is the other half anyway?" "Well I sure as hell don't know but ah'm tellin' you they're half pony!" Rarity overheard the argument, walking by during some errands. The white unicorn approached the arguing ponies, "Honestly, must you argue about this? Any educated pony could tell you that a mule is the unholy combination of a pony..." Dash pointed a hoof at Applejack, "HA! told yo- WHAT?" "... And a donkey." Applejack menaced at Rarity, "Just who are ya callin' unholy, little miss racist?" "Well honestly have you even SEEN one of them? they're positively hideous!" "And some of the hardest workers I've had on my farm!" Rainbow Dash flew in front of Rarity, scowling at her, "Yeah! lay off! They're just like any other pony!" Applejack yanked Dash down by her tail, "Now that ain't what you said earlier you lousy hypocrite!" Dash and Applejack exchanged blows, leaving Rarity to witness the brawl. A stray hoof clipped Rarity, "Oh no you did NOT just strike a lady!" Her horn glowed as she jumped into the fray, pummeling both with magic fists, the scene turning into a big cloud of violence. Her magic occasionally shot off in random directions, putting out windows and damaging tables. Suddenly, a strong purple glow held the three fighters stiff in the air. "What in Celestia's name are you three DOING? Cut it out before you break anything else!" Twilight rubbed her temple, You three somehow manage to fight about everything. Why can't you at least take it somewhere away from the town?" Twilight looked around, there were broken tables, spilled plates of food, and ponies staring out of windows in all the nearby buildings, "I can't believe I'm actually having to tell you this!" Dash struggled in the magic field, slowly shifting her hoof to point at Applejack, "She started it!" Fluttershy left the safety of her bush, "Thank you Twilight. I was getting really worried about what was about to happen. you know how pinkie gets when she sees a fight." "Oh, it's no problem. I'll just hold these three for a while until they calm do-" "FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHHHHT!" All of the ponies snapped their attention to the piercing sound. Twilight whispered, "Oh Celestia no..." -=-=-=--=-=-=- The policemare finished writing the testimony in her memo pad, "This still doesn't explain why we found you at the burning house with a can of lighter fluid." Fluttershy looked back to Ditzy, who may or may not have caught any of the testimony, "Pinkie Pie started it on accident, I was just trying to save a trapped house cat." The blue mare pulled a folder from a stack of papers on the table, "According to the police records..." -=-=-=-14:52, Ponyville Market Square-=-=-=- The building spewed flames from every opening, windows blown out and the roof burned up, a malevolent heat surged from the building, threatening to ignite some of the other buildings. Pinkie Pie was trotting around covered in toothpaste, yelling, "I am the queen of prance!" Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack were tangled in a large mass of fishing line, as Rainbow Dash soared in panicked loops around the sky, leaving behind a trail of green specks, "GETTHEMOFFGETTHEMOFFGETTHEMOFFGETTHEMOFFGETTHEMOFFGET..." Fluttershy gazed into the brilliant orange flame, hot wind coursing through her fur, "P-Pinkie Pie. What did you do? Why?" Pinkie pie giggled, "How was I supposed to know a rubber chicken, a glowstick, and some confetti poppers would start a fire like that?" "Mroooow!" Echoed from the doorway of the burning building, "A cat! It's trapped in there!" Fluttershy rushed to the burning building, listening for the noise, "MROOOOW!" The sound came from a box just inside the doorway, "Oh, there it is!" A large can of lighter fluid blocked the cat inside the box, "Oh, that's all? Okay dear, just let me get this can out of your way." As fluttershy lifted up the can, the cat darted out of the box. The pegasus quickly made her way out of the building, still holding the volatile fluid. Flashing lights greeted her as several policeponies pointed their guns at her, "Drop the can and lie on the ground, now!" Fluttershy dropped to her belly as she saw her friends being corralled onto the wagon, hooves chained together, Dash's wings bound down, and Twilight and Rarity's horns covered by a strange metal cone. -=-=-=--=-=-=- The policemare eyed Fluttershy suspiciously, "So you are telling me that in the span of roughly twenty minutes, the incident went from a three pony fight to a burned building, tens of thousands in property damage, and fairly improbable events such as..." She flipped through her notes, "The library literally being turned upside down?" Fluttershy squeaked softly, and mumbled, "You really haven't met Pinkie Pie." "Well you claim you saw her start the fire with the rubber chicken, glowstick, and confetti poppers, how do you claim she managed that? "Oh! you see, when you mix th-" "Muffins advise you not answer that." "But this can get me off the h-" "Who's the lawyer?" "B-but" Ditzy stared at fluttershy, and the ceiling, indignantly. The sound of a door opening was rang out and Fluttershy's friends could be heard laughing on their way out the building, a distinct male voice could be heard amongst them, "Well of course I would bail my best new designer out. Oh, and to leave her without any friends? Barbaric." Fluttershy scrambled to the door, looking out the window, catching sight of Hoity Toity, holding the door for her friends, "WAIT, WHAT ABOUT ME!?" The guards grabbed her by the front legs and jerked her away from the door, "I think we're done here. The guards will take you to your cell." Fluttershy stared blankly as she saw Rarity sheepishly bow to Hoity Toity, shaking while being dragged to her cell, *Squeak* Author's Note: This was written in an Equestria Daily friend-off event. It was based on an image (that I can no longer locate) of the mane cast standing in a police lineup. made back in March of '11. And don't worry, Fluttershy gets acquitted in trial and serves no actual prison time. The Dragon and the FillyLegend tells of a time before Celestia held her divine splendor. Indeed, it tells the tale of Celestia, the mother. Born to Celestia as she was in the middle of her ascension, the filly was said to inherit her mother’s power and grace. Celestia treasured the daughter, and held her close as she learned how to raise the chaotic sun at the same time each morning. The filly took in all the wisdom of her mother at such a young age. According to this legend, a day came where the daughter wished to attempt to control the heavens like her mother. She had the power, yet her body was unable to control the power once it had been started. As the story goes, a mighty dragon heard the child cry out in pain, and sprung into action to save her. The unconfined power burned at the dragon, growing more intense the closer he flew to the filly. He snatched the filly up, stopping the power from flowing uncontrollably. The Damage had already been done, however. The filly’s body was broken and shocked by the power, and the dragon had received many mortal wounds from the radiating power. Celestia was only able to arrive shortly before the filly and the brave dragon passed. In a fit of desperation, Celestia called upon ancient magics she feared, and bound the souls of her child and the brave dragon for reincarnation, together bound in destiny. In the fury and intensity of the act, Celestia ascended into her majestic form, immortal to the ravages of time. And so she waits. She waits and listens for the signs that her daughter has been made flesh again, and searches for the dragon, bound to forever guard and defend the daughter of Celestia. Author's Note: This was a very quick project I wrote for posting on /co/ back in February of '11. It is related to the fic I have posted elsewhere, "A Simple Affair." It is effectively the backstory to that fic.
The Missing FriendNopony could remember a time when it had rained so hard. Sugarcube corners shutters were closed tight, allowing only small trickles of light escape. Inside, Pinkie and Twilight sat at a table over a pot of coffee while the cakes quietly swept up shop. Pinkie scooped a large lump of sugar into her drink and stared into it, slowly playing with her flat hair.. “I heard from Dash that Celestia ordered this ginormous storm at the last minute.” Pinkie took a sip, “I think I know why. It feels like someone's missing. Someone important who loved us all, even that meanie Gilda.” Twilight looked at Pinkie, intrigued, “So you did feel it too. Everypony else looked at me weird when I talked about it, so I had a feeling you might know what I meant.” Pinkie nodded, her hair slowly curling back up, “Thing is I still feel plenty of others. They all miss whoever left, but I can feel that they are working their hardest to make it happy.” The unicorn set down her empty mug, “I'm sure whoever left will be proud of whatever the others do.” Pinkie's hair snapped into place as she tackle hugged twilight over the table. Carrot Cake sighed as he grabbed a mop. Celestia looked over Equestria from her balcony, a thick bundle of papers on a nearby table. She breathed in the scent of the rain and smiled meekly “I knew this day would eventually come.” She picked up the papers and flipped through them, “Goodbye, mom. I'll run the principality just like you wanted me to. I'll make the land even better than ever now, don't you worry.” The princess set the papers down and stepped into the rain, savoring the cool droplets running through her fur, “Goodbye, Lauren.” Authors Note: I wrote this for a 300 word fic challenge. The fic was required to start with the line "Nopony could remember a time when it had rained so hard." This was also written very shortly after Lauren Faust announced she is no longer working on the show.
Mare Mar for Mayor!The Ponyville city hall was roaring with excitement as the new mayor walked away from her podium, her speech still rippling through the minds of the citizens. A sea of multicolored dots sprawled in front of the building’s steps. Some held signs, reading such things as “Equal rights in Equestria!” and “Mare Mar, for Mayor!” A small pool of ponies gathered away from the main crowd, holding signs closer to “One mare + one stallion = only way.” An even smaller puddle of picketers across the road amassed, rejected by the smaller pool. Their message was far less diplomatic, “Celestia hates fillyfoolers!” The city hall was busy with party members running papers everywhere, working hard to respond to newspapers from all over Equestria. The tan earth pony tugged at her collar, “Do I really have to wear this thing every day now? It really chafes. Thing doesn’t even look good on me.” A pale green mare laughed, heartily trotting across the room, “Aww, get used to it. I’m sure you’ll pull the look off ‘ventually.” Mar grinned and chuckled, “You’d think my campaign manager would have warned me about this thing.” Her partner pat her on the back, “Well what business do ya have complainin’ anyway? Now the samesiders don’t have to keep no secrets anymore. Soon as the council gets the marriage bill to the desk again, it’ll finally pass ‘stead of gettin’ vetoed soon as it shows up.” Mar winced, looking down awkwardly. The green one frowned, realizing what she just said. The tan pony mumbled, “We were set to wed a week from now. I just hope she’s happy wherever she is now.” Mar’s campaign partner smiled, looking her in the eyes, “Ah know Fuchsia’s happy now. She’s proud of all this.” Mar smiled to her assistant, “Thanks, Smith.” Author's Note: This was written for yet another Equestria Daily 300 word writing event back in March of 2011. And yes, "Mar" is pronounced the same way as "mare."
A Dash of Salt“Come on, come onnnn! Melt!” Rainbow Dash sweat as the double boiler lightly rattled as the water began to bubble. The blue pegasus darted her eyes around the kitchen of the library. A green flickering light emitted from a flame licking the bottom of the pan. “Spike! I need these things done and sent in twenty minutes! Can't you go any hotter?!” The dragon hacked, gasping to draw in another breath. “The water needs to heat up slowly or the chocolate will burn. Well, that and if I go any hotter the pan will melt.” Rainbow groaned, looking at the solid chunks of almond bark sitting in the pan. She quickly took it off the double boiler and held the pan directly above spike, “Do it! Fire! Hot! Melt!” “But it'll bu-” “Just do it! There's no time!” The young dragon drew in a deep breath and shot a slow flame under the pan, trying his hardest to prevent it from burning. The chocolate quickly slipped down into a brown puddle before thickening up and becoming pasty. “STOP! Too fast!” Spike stopped the flame as he gasped, catching his breath. Dash unceremoniously brought the pan over to the baking sheet of sparkling rose petals. “Chocolate covered candy rose petals, I thought this would be soooo easy!” Dash grabbed a pair of tongs and carefully dipped the petal in the slightly scorched chocolate. The coating was lumpy and never, but it would have to do. She hastily tossed it onto a sheet of wax paper and repeated the process until the whole tray was covered with what would normally be an elegant and classy confection. Rainbow Dash groaned as the chocolate slowly lost its sheen. “Twilight! I need these things cooled now! Do yoy have any magic that would help?” The purple unicorn glanced at the pegasus awkwardly “Well I have a flash freeze spell but It's sort of dang-” “Now! Do it now!” called Dash, holding up the tray. Twilight focused as a blast of magic shot across the room, striking the tray and enveloping Dash and her desserts in an icy embrace =-=-=-=- Dash Ached as she opened her eyes, staring up at the hospital ceiling. Her body was wrapped in warming pads and her legs still felt cold and numb. “Ugh... what happened?” Twilight perked up when she noticed Dash was awake. “Dash! You were out a few hours. You rushed my spell so much I ended up overcompensating and freezing you as well as the desserts.” Dash sighed, moving her tense muscles. “Ugh... Twilight?” “Yeah?” “Remind me to set my alarm so I don't forget about the deadline next time.” Authors note: I forgot about the fic's time until like 20 minutes before the deadline... sorry. Author's Note: this fic was written for a June 2011 speed-writing event on Equestria Daily in which I had to write a fic based on one of several subjects. The fic was due two hours from the subjects being revealed. Silly me, I had forgotten until 20 minutes before the due time, so I did everything related to this in that much time.
Crossroads"Twilight! Twiliiiight! Wake up! You got a scroll from Princess Celestia!" Twilight's eyes snapped open, then began to squint, "Too bright. I need to stop reading out in the sun like this." Twilight closed the sun-soaked book and walked back inside. A refreshing breeze made the room seem lively and dynamic, with papers and curtains all occasionally twitching in the wind. The breeze carried a hint if apple tree blossom as it wafted over the orchards. Spike slipped the seal off the scroll and eyed the message, "Gee Twilight, it has been a long time since we got anything from Celestia." "It's been at least a year or so. I was beginning to wonder if she's even been getting my reports anymore. So wha-" "My dearest pupil Twilight, I have monitored your progress closely. making friends, learning about friendship. My, it reminds me of when I was your age. All the friends made. all the experiences shared. The magic of people to confide in. The awkwardness of wishing for one to be more than 'just a friend'." Twilight blushed, "Oh. So she did get that one." Spike Continued, "Your reports all could have been excerpts from my personal diary. You have learned so much in such a short time. Many have taken their entire life just to learn half of what you know now. I have but one lesson left to teach you, my beloved pupil. Please return to the palace in Canterlot. I have scheduled for a nobles chauffeur to bring you home in one week. Use this time to tie up any loose ends and prepare for your return. Any further obligations will be filled by Royal servants, so do not worry for the sake of your friends. Twilight, I am so pr, prr-" "What's wrong, spike?" "The ink is all smudged at this part. I think it says 'proud.' yes, 'Twilight, I am so proud of you right now.' She must have accidentally gotten this wet before sending it." Spike rolled the letter up and set it on a nearby desk. "This is great! We can finally go back home, right Twi...light?" Twilight said nothing. she nodded slowly to spike and turned to look out the balcony. "I think I'll just, uhh, leave you to be alone. Just call for me if you need me for anything." Spike glanced back at Twilight as he made for the door. Twilight murmured, "No, stay. Please, just stay for a moment." Spike stood in the doorway for a few seconds, then closed his eyes and turned around. He kept walking until he felt a warm, soft neck gently grip around him, rhythmically quivering. Spike wrapped his short arms around the base of Twilight's neck. "I never could stand to see, you, I mean, well, you know." Spike stood with Twilight as the sun's light moved across the floor, shadows changing formation as he weathered the storm with Twilight. Not once did he dare open his eyes. Not once has he ever been able to. Every detail of that moment was magnified. Spike could feel the cool breeze contrast with the warmth of Twilight's fur. The quiet of the room broken only by the occasional audible sob. The moisture of tear drops rolling down his back, tightening his hold each time he felt one. Twilight went to her knees, leaning her forward weight onto Spike as she went down. His arms almost felt as if they were squeezing the tears out of her. By the time the storm passed, the shadows in the room were long and dark. "Thank you spike. I, I think I'll be okay now." Spike nodded, let go of twilight, and quietly stood aside. Twilight walked for the door, and stopped. She felt something wet on the back of her neck. Before leaving the room, she gently nuzzled the side of spike's head and kissed him on the forehead. "A goodbye party! Of course! Ohh, we can put up stringers and play games and have music and do you think that DJ pony is still available? She was really good- OH! Rainbow Dash is talking with the Wonderbolts about arrangements for joining them! maybe we can get her to have them perform for us! maybe we can all--" Twilight turned away from the increasingly excited Pinkie Pie with a chuckle. She looked around at her other friends, inching towards applejack. "Ah'm so happy to see you get such an honor from the princess herself. Called back to the royal palace for a personal less'n. Gotta be really exciting for ya'. 'Course I'm sad to see ya go, but I'm sure you'll be back'n all from time to time." "Yeah, I'm sure I will. Definitely. Maybe. Let's not get too hung up on that, though.” Author's Note: This was written to share on /co/ back in February of '11. It was the very first fic I wrote for this fandom and the first time I've written anything in a while. This was to test the waters on a series I was considering in which Celestia makes Twilight a princess and teach her how to let go when she outlives her friends. Celestia viewed it as a harsh but necessary lesson and did it with the best intentions and "tough love" but in the end it turned out that her own lesson was not complete. It was supposed to end with Spike standing up to Celestia to let Twilight escape the palace in order to save one of her friends, and ended with Twilight actually teaching Celestia something about friendship (namely, you may have to break paths with your friends at some point, but you never abandon them.).
I need a freaking drink (Teen)-=-=-=-17:36, Ponyville Police Station-=-=-=- "I need a freaking drink." Twilight held a hoof to her aching forehead as the noise pounded into her head. Her friends making the most irritating uproar possible in the police lineup room. Pinkie rambled on at the top of her voice, "That was fun! ooh, remember the piano stuck up in Twilight's tree? And the fan blades, man was that cool. But of course they were cool that's what they were designed for I think they are always..." Rarity stared up at pinkie, tears welling in her eyes, "How could you be so excited at a time like this? My reputation is ruined! I'll never live this down! Oh I can't imagine what this will do for my career. 'Everypony, look! It's Rarity the fashion designer who got arrested for the ponyville incident!' IT'S JUST NOT FAIIIIIIIIR!" Applejack shoved Rainbow Dash as they glared at each other. "This is all your fault ya damn airhead flapper! Ya had to go insistin' and couldn't just leave things alone! Now look what ya got me into!" "Well if you weren't such a freaking jackmare all the time-" "What in the hell did you just call me? I'll lay you out right here and now!" "Go ahead and try!" A door opened at the end of the lineup room, a blue mare in a police vest talked to an unseen coworker, "Okay, which one was the arson suspect?" "Fluttershy, the yellow one on the end." The policemare called into the room, "Fluttershy, come with us." *Squeak* Fluttershy sat in a dimly lit room, two guards at the door, awkwardly facing the policemare, "I just got word, your attorney will be here momentarily." The room was silent save for the buzzing fluorescent light. Footsteps echoed in from the hall, gaining volume as they approached the door. The policemare raised an eyebrow as Fluttershy's attorney entered the room, "MUFFINS!" Fluttershy's eyes shot wide open, a panicked quiver entering her pupils. "B- But... how?" Ditzy pulled a document from her saddlebag, "Signed this so I could do something for muffins!" The sheet was titled 'power of attorney' and it indeed had Fluttershy's signature along the dotted line, notarized and all. "Oh no. That was just supposed to be for when I had her watching my house when I was out of town." "Regardless, the agreement has not been voided and she is your legal attorney. Can we get on with this?" Fluttershy looked nervously at the unfocused pegasus she gave legal power to. "Let's recount the events at roughly 14:27 today." -=-=-=-14:27, Outside of Sugarcube Corner-=-=-=- Fluttershy cowered behind a bush as Applejack and Dash's argument became heated, "And I'm tellin you that mules ARE half pony!" "No way, they look nothing like us! And if they're half pony, what in Equestria is the other half anyway?" "Well I sure as hell don't know but ah'm tellin' you they're half pony!" Rarity overheard the argument, walking by during some errands. The white unicorn approached the arguing ponies, "Honestly, must you argue about this? Any educated pony could tell you that a mule is the unholy combination of a pony..." Dash pointed a hoof at Applejack, "HA! told yo- WHAT?" "... And a donkey." Applejack menaced at Rarity, "Just who are ya callin' unholy, little miss racist?" "Well honestly have you even SEEN one of them? they're positively hideous!" "And some of the hardest workers I've had on my farm!" Rainbow Dash flew in front of Rarity, scowling at her, "Yeah! lay off! They're just like any other pony!" Applejack yanked Dash down by her tail, "Now that ain't what you said earlier you lousy hypocrite!" Dash and Applejack exchanged blows, leaving Rarity to witness the brawl. A stray hoof clipped Rarity, "Oh no you did NOT just strike a lady!" Her horn glowed as she jumped into the fray, pummeling both with magic fists, the scene turning into a big cloud of violence. Her magic occasionally shot off in random directions, putting out windows and damaging tables. Suddenly, a strong purple glow held the three fighters stiff in the air. "What in Celestia's name are you three DOING? Cut it out before you break anything else!" Twilight rubbed her temple, You three somehow manage to fight about everything. Why can't you at least take it somewhere away from the town?" Twilight looked around, there were broken tables, spilled plates of food, and ponies staring out of windows in all the nearby buildings, "I can't believe I'm actually having to tell you this!" Dash struggled in the magic field, slowly shifting her hoof to point at Applejack, "She started it!" Fluttershy left the safety of her bush, "Thank you Twilight. I was getting really worried about what was about to happen. you know how pinkie gets when she sees a fight." "Oh, it's no problem. I'll just hold these three for a while until they calm do-" "FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHHHHT!" All of the ponies snapped their attention to the piercing sound. Twilight whispered, "Oh Celestia no..." -=-=-=--=-=-=- The policemare finished writing the testimony in her memo pad, "This still doesn't explain why we found you at the burning house with a can of lighter fluid." Fluttershy looked back to Ditzy, who may or may not have caught any of the testimony, "Pinkie Pie started it on accident, I was just trying to save a trapped house cat." The blue mare pulled a folder from a stack of papers on the table, "According to the police records..." -=-=-=-14:52, Ponyville Market Square-=-=-=- The building spewed flames from every opening, windows blown out and the roof burned up, a malevolent heat surged from the building, threatening to ignite some of the other buildings. Pinkie Pie was trotting around covered in toothpaste, yelling, "I am the queen of prance!" Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack were tangled in a large mass of fishing line, as Rainbow Dash soared in panicked loops around the sky, leaving behind a trail of green specks, "GETTHEMOFFGETTHEMOFFGETTHEMOFFGETTHEMOFFGETTHEMOFFGET..." Fluttershy gazed into the brilliant orange flame, hot wind coursing through her fur, "P-Pinkie Pie. What did you do? Why?" Pinkie pie giggled, "How was I supposed to know a rubber chicken, a glowstick, and some confetti poppers would start a fire like that?" "Mroooow!" Echoed from the doorway of the burning building, "A cat! It's trapped in there!" Fluttershy rushed to the burning building, listening for the noise, "MROOOOW!" The sound came from a box just inside the doorway, "Oh, there it is!" A large can of lighter fluid blocked the cat inside the box, "Oh, that's all? Okay dear, just let me get this can out of your way." As fluttershy lifted up the can, the cat darted out of the box. The pegasus quickly made her way out of the building, still holding the volatile fluid. Flashing lights greeted her as several policeponies pointed their guns at her, "Drop the can and lie on the ground, now!" Fluttershy dropped to her belly as she saw her friends being corralled onto the wagon, hooves chained together, Dash's wings bound down, and Twilight and Rarity's horns covered by a strange metal cone. -=-=-=--=-=-=- The policemare eyed Fluttershy suspiciously, "So you are telling me that in the span of roughly twenty minutes, the incident went from a three pony fight to a burned building, tens of thousands in property damage, and fairly improbable events such as..." She flipped through her notes, "The library literally being turned upside down?" Fluttershy squeaked softly, and mumbled, "You really haven't met Pinkie Pie." "Well you claim you saw her start the fire with the rubber chicken, glowstick, and confetti poppers, how do you claim she managed that? "Oh! you see, when you mix th-" "Muffins advise you not answer that." "But this can get me off the h-" "Who's the lawyer?" "B-but" Ditzy stared at fluttershy, and the ceiling, indignantly. The sound of a door opening was rang out and Fluttershy's friends could be heard laughing on their way out the building, a distinct male voice could be heard amongst them, "Well of course I would bail my best new designer out. Oh, and to leave her without any friends? Barbaric." Fluttershy scrambled to the door, looking out the window, catching sight of Hoity Toity, holding the door for her friends, "WAIT, WHAT ABOUT ME!?" The guards grabbed her by the front legs and jerked her away from the door, "I think we're done here. The guards will take you to your cell." Fluttershy stared blankly as she saw Rarity sheepishly bow to Hoity Toity, shaking while being dragged to her cell, *Squeak* Author's Note: This was written in an Equestria Daily friend-off event. It was based on an image (that I can no longer locate) of the mane cast standing in a police lineup. made back in March of '11. And don't worry, Fluttershy gets acquitted in trial and serves no actual prison time.
The Dragon and the FillyLegend tells of a time before Celestia held her divine splendor. Indeed, it tells the tale of Celestia, the mother. Born to Celestia as she was in the middle of her ascension, the filly was said to inherit her mother’s power and grace. Celestia treasured the daughter, and held her close as she learned how to raise the chaotic sun at the same time each morning. The filly took in all the wisdom of her mother at such a young age. According to this legend, a day came where the daughter wished to attempt to control the heavens like her mother. She had the power, yet her body was unable to control the power once it had been started. As the story goes, a mighty dragon heard the child cry out in pain, and sprung into action to save her. The unconfined power burned at the dragon, growing more intense the closer he flew to the filly. He snatched the filly up, stopping the power from flowing uncontrollably. The Damage had already been done, however. The filly’s body was broken and shocked by the power, and the dragon had received many mortal wounds from the radiating power. Celestia was only able to arrive shortly before the filly and the brave dragon passed. In a fit of desperation, Celestia called upon ancient magics she feared, and bound the souls of her child and the brave dragon for reincarnation, together bound in destiny. In the fury and intensity of the act, Celestia ascended into her majestic form, immortal to the ravages of time. And so she waits. She waits and listens for the signs that her daughter has been made flesh again, and searches for the dragon, bound to forever guard and defend the daughter of Celestia. Author's Note: This was a very quick project I wrote for posting on /co/ back in February of '11. It is related to the fic I have posted elsewhere, "A Simple Affair." It is effectively the backstory to that fic.
