My Little Pony Monthly Issue 17 (August 1,
1998)
My Little Pony Monthly
Established June 1997
This Newsletter is Child-Friendly
E-mail Tabby (TabbyMLP@aol.com) to be removed from the mailing list.
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Issue 17
August 1998
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Editor's note: Thanks to all of you who submit such wonderful stories, puzzles, and
tidbits each month! You are a creative herd of pony lovers! If anyone else has good ideas for
future issues, please e-mail them to me at TabbyMLP@aol.com
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All The Pretty Little Ponies
(A Revisionist Interpretation of the MLP Mythos)
Chapter 6
by
C. Alan Loewen
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
For Candice and Allison
Synopsis: Megan, an eleven-year-old orphan who lives with her Aunt Constance has
been given guardianship over seven magical ponies also known as the Seven Sisters. Megan and
the seven ponies, accompanied by a great Irish Wolfhound named Madra, are now following a
path through the magical Wood of the Worlds which has led them to Dubricius' Sanctuary where
they not only discover that the ponies are the enchanted seven daughters of King Arthur and
Queen Guinevere, but they have also found a baby dragon. Making matters worse, they are not
aware that they are being pursued by Sarah, a young girl around Megan's age, who claims the
ponies belong to her and has already trapped Medley and Firefly on a tiny magic carousel.
Comments and constructive criticism may be sent to cloewen@juno.com
Megan turned and ran, running directly into Madra. With a yell of surprise, Megan
went sprawling on the floor as Twilight, Starlight, Bowtie, Applejack, and Ember galloped for the
far door.
"Megan's fallen!" Twilight cried and spun around to assist her. Starlight, Bowtie,
and Applejack skidded to a halt on the shiny tile floor and also turned to help when suddenly, in a
scrabble of claws, the newly-hatched dragon leaped out of the open stairwell.
Madra barked. Megan screamed and covered her face with her hands, but the little
dragon ran right by her without even a pause. Twilight whinnied in surprise, but the dragon
ignored her as well as the other three ponies and ran straight for Ember who was still running for
the far door, her jet-black mane and tail streaming behind her.
Ember's speed was no match for the little dragon who latched its tiny jaws on her
tail before anybody could call out a warning. With a wail of terror, Ember turned sharply; and like
a catapult, her momentum flung the dragon toward a column, a few strands of jet-black pony hair
still in its teeth.
It struck the column with a thud, but the infant dragon was back on its feet
immediately looking around wildly for Ember. Instead, it saw Applejack. With a screech, it ran
with incredible speed at the chestnut-colored pony who never had a chance to turn and flee. It
caught Applejack's tail in its mouth, preventing her from running.
"Let go, or I'll kick!" Applejack yelled in warning, but the little dragon was on its
back playing with the pony's dark chestnut tail, a mouthful of hair in its bright green jaws.
Megan started to laugh. "Twilight!" she called. "Flick your tail a few times.
Applejack, stay perfectly still."
"I think I understand, Megan," Twilight said. She cantered over to the dragon, still
playing with Applejack's tail, and flicked her tail a few times where the dragon could see it. It
froze and eyed Twilight's blazing-white tail. She flicked it again.
Claws scrambling and screeching, it ran to Twilight, its total focus on her tail, when
Madra barked. The dragon stopped and looked for the source of this new interesting sound.
Finally seeing the dog, the dragon scrambled for its new target. Within moments the
dragon and Madra were vigorously wrestling on the tile floor.
"They're fighting!" yelled Starlight.
"No," Megan said. "They're playing."
And they were. In spite of the horrendous growls and screeches the dragon's claws
remained sheathed and the wolfhound did not truly bite.
Megan got to her knees. "Madra!" she said and clapped her hands. The great dog
stopped its wrestling, its paw pinning the dragon to the floor; the dragon was too out of breath to
protest or continue.
Carefully, she approached the baby dragon. "It didn't want to attack you," Megan
said. "It's like a big kitten. It went for your tails like a kitten goes after a ball of yarn, just like my
neighbor's kitten, Spike."
The dragon looked at Megan with its bright green eyes. "Ssshhpike," it hissed.
Megan's jaw dropped. "It talks!"
" ‘alks," the dragon hissed again. It scurried to its feet and blinked owlishly at the
ponies.
"I don't know, Megan," Twilight said. "It might just be repeating what it hears, just
like a parrot."
" ‘arrot," the dragon hissed. "Ssshhpike ‘arrot." Suddenly, it spied its own tail and
began running in circles in an unfruitful attempt to catch this new tempting plaything.
"And this is what Mother Ellen wants us to take with us on the rest of our quest?"
Twilight asked. "How are we going to get a baby dragon to follow us? We'll have no tails left by
the time we get to wherever we're going."
"I don't have much of a tail now," Ember wailed. She had come out of hiding and
was trying to glimpse her ravaged rear end. "It's all a tattertail now," she cried.
"It's okay, Ember," Megan said consolingly. "I'll bet I could brush it out as good as
new. Why don't you all go outside and somebody bring me the pouch that we carried Mother
Ellen's bread in? There's some still left and I think the dragon might follow us if we feed it."
"Good idea, Megan," Twilight said. "And we'll remove the temptation of our tails."
By this time, the dragon had slumped to the floor out of breath from trying to catch its own tail.
Madra simply sat and yawned.
The five ponies walked out the door while the dragon, its sides heaving as it tried to
catch its breath, looked longingly at the five glorious tails disappearing through the front
door.
Megan carefully approached the baby dragon. She had read a lot about dragons in
her story books, but never a baby one that had an undue attraction for pony hair. "Now what are
we going to do with you?" she asked.
"Ssshhpike," it hissed. "Ssshhpike ‘arrot."
"No," Megan said gently. "Spike's a dragon; a baby dragon."
The dragon blinked at her. "Ssshhpike ‘aby ‘agon."
"We're making some progress," Megan giggled. Gently she reached out her hand.
The scales on the dragon's head were dry and smooth as silk and Spike closed his eyes in pleasure
as Megan rubbed the crest above his eyes. Incredibly, it started to purr.
"I think there's a little bit of cat in dragons," Megan said, unable to stop giggling
again at the novelty of petting a mythical beast. "Or maybe there's a little dragon in most
cats."
Suddenly, Madra jumped to his feet, totally alert as a deep bass growl rumbled in
his chest. Simultaneously, Megan heard the ponies cry out in alarm and fear.
With a deep bark of fury, Madra sprinted for the door. Megan got to her feet and
tried to catch up, but Madra was by far the faster.
The sight that met Megan at the door to Dubricious' Sanctuary was five ponies
tangled in circular nets. Just as Megan reached the door, she saw a blonde-headed girl wearing a
travel-stained shirt and shorts toss something in the air as Madra charged toward her. It grew and
expanded into another net and soon, the great dog was also tangled up in its folds.
"What are you doing?" Megan yelled. She ran to Ember, the nearest pony and
desperately tried to free her from the winding folds of webbing.
"Oh, no you don't," the strange girl warned. Again, she tossed a small circle in the
air where it magically expanded into another net trapping Megan within it. Desperately, Megan
tried to free herself, but it seemed the net simply became more twisted the more she tried to
escape.
The strange girl quickly took something out of her backpack and ran to where
Bowtie lay struggling on the ground. Megan could not see what it was, but the object began to
hum strangely. Suddenly, there was a burst of light and the net where Bowtie lay fell limply to the
ground. Megan and the other ponies gasped in astonishment at the mysterious disappearance of
their friend. The girl then ran to Starlight who tried desperately to avoid the same fate. Again, the
mysterious object hummed; again, the flash of light; and again, the empty net.
Megan saw that the object was, surprisingly, a carousel; a toy carousel that
contained four tiny figures. The girl turned to Ember. "No!" yelled Megan. There was a flash of
light and Megan saw the carousel now held five tiny figures.
"Why are you doing this?" cried Megan. "Leave them alone."
"No," the girl said. "They're mine. Great-grandmother Morgan said they were mine.
And now I'll have them forever." She turned toward Twilight and Applejack, who still struggled
against the nets.
Desperately, Megan turned toward the Sanctuary door as much as the binding net
would allow. "Spike!" she screamed. "Spike!"
The little dragon appeared at the doorway.
The strange, blonde-headed girl gasped at the sight of the iridescent lizard whose
scales glittered in the sunlight.
"It's a dragon, a baby dragon," Megan yelled at the girl, hoping she would fall for
the trick. "Run for your life!"
With a cry of fear, the girl ran toward the woods, the carousel clutched tightly in her
arms.
It was too much for Spike to resist those long fair tresses flowing in the breeze. With a squeal of
joy, he sped toward those inviting blonde locks.
Spike and Sarah tumbled together in the thick forest mould while Sarah screamed in
mortal terror. Pinned under the baby dragon's bulk, Sarah lost her grip on the carousel. Spike,
eyeing the toy as it rolled away, attracted by its flashing colors and tinkling music, leaped on the
new attraction. Freed, Sarah struggled to her feet and ran off crying into the woods.
"Spike!" Megan called. "Come here, boy." Megan was terrified that Spike would break
whatever it was that had trapped five of the ponies. She patted the ground and Spike waddled
over to investigate. "Good boy," she said, scratching the dragon's head.
"Ssshhpike ‘ood ‘oy," he hissed in agreement.
It took some time, but Megan eventually freed herself from the enfolding net. The three
empty nets that had held Starlight, Bowtie, and Ember had shrunk back to tiny circles of webbing;
and after freeing herself, that net, too, shrunk in size.
After placing the carousel in a safe spot where Spike could not molest it, she eventually
freed Twilight and Applejack. Madra still wrestled in the confines of the net that entrapped him;
but at a command from Megan, he lay still long enough for her to free him also. By this time, the
sun was setting and Spike napped in the shade of one of the large trees.
In the fading sunlight, Megan and the two ponies inspected the carousel. There, frozen
in
place, Medley, Firefly, Starlight, Bowtie, and Ember stood, their faces frozen in looks of immense
sadness.
"How do we free them?" Megan asked, bravely trying not to cry.
"I don't know," Twilight said sadly. "This is a spell far beyond what I read in any of the
books at the castle, but I'm sure there's a solution. We will free them eventually."
Megan, Twilight, Applejack, and Madra lay down on the soft forest floor in the last
dying
rays of the setting sun. Clutching the carousel protectively to her chest, Megan drifted off to a
troubled sleep to the sound of Spike's gentle rumbling snores.
Sarah sat by the side of the small stream, weeping openly at her failure. Somehow
having
made her way back to the Wood of the Worlds, she now waited for her Great-grandmother
Morgan. Sarah sniffled and wiped her nose. Great-grandmother would be furious, simply furious.
She shuddered to think of what Morgan might say or do.
"Child? Why are you weeping?"
Sarah squealed in surprise, but instead of Great-grandmother Morgan, it was only the
woman from the house where Morgan had originally told her she would find the ponies.
Sarah once again burst into tears, expecting only punishment and rebuke from this
woman
she had left trapped in one of her magical nets.
"I've lost the ponies," she blubbered. "And I was almost eaten by a dragon, and now I'm
lost and Great-grandmother Morgan is going to be so angry when she finds me. I can't do
anything right."
Aunt Constance sighed. "Come, come, child. Don't fret so." She knelt down where
Sarah
sat huddled in her misery and gently squeezed her shoulder in friendly assurance.
She took a pack that she had slung over her shoulder, a gift from Mother Ellen. From
inside, she took out a small rag which she wetted in the stream. "I think there might be a child
under all that dirt," she said and tried to clean up Sarah's tear-stained face.
It took a while, but eventually, Sarah almost looked clean again. Next, Aunt Constance
took out a small loaf of bread and, breaking it, gave half to Sarah who ate it ravenously.
"The sun is setting," Aunt Constance said. "I think we'll be safe here for the night. Now,
tell me how you know about the ponies and what has happened to them."
"You'll yell at me," Sarah said, tears once again welling up in her eyes. "You'll yell at me
just like Great-grandmother Morgan will and be just as angry."
"No, I won't," Aunt Constance assured her. "I need to know all that's happened. I need
you to tell me the truth and I promise that I won't yell."
With that promise, Sarah unburdened her heart long into the night.
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Mystery Pony
This month's--
yellow pegasus with blue hair; two pink giraffes symbol
E-mail your answer to Tabby (TabbyMLP@aol.com); results will be in the next issue!
Last month's--
The correct answer was Cloud Dreamer! Winners are:
jamie_wilson@hotmail.com-
The answer is easy! It's Cloud Dreamer!
DANINI@aol.com-
Is it Cloud Dreamer??
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The Tabby and Sugarberry Gossip Hour!
by Tabby and Sugarberry
Tabby: So, Sugarberry. What's been going on... other than the baby ponies getting into poison
ivy?
Sugarberry: Oh, those poor little ponies!
Tabby: And you won't let me say what I originally said on the subject.
Sugarberry: Tabby, you should show some sympathy for the itchy little dears.
Tabby: Why?
Sugarberry: Let's move on, Tabby!
Tabby: Very well.
Sugarberry: There was, of course, the grand opening of the new Bushwoolie Bargain Books
store in Friendship Gardens.
Tabby: Who won the raffle, anyway?
Sugarberry: The winner of the autographed copy of "A Life of a Bushwoolie" book was... Sky
Skimmer!
Tabby: Okay.
Sugarberry: Just "okay"?
Tabby: Yeah, why not?
Sugarberry: I suppose you wanted to win the book.
Tabby: Well, it would've been nice but I'm not going to feel bad about it.
Sugarberry: Anyway, what's next?
Tabby: Nothing exciting is happening, Sugarberry.
Sugarberry: There was the sea ponies' "Save the Sea Turtles" campaign.
Tabby: How much money did they end up raising?
Sugarberry: Their total beat all expectations, Tabby.
Tabby: All because I donated that ten jangles for not going to the dance, which is five more than
the admission was, huh?
Sugarberry: Well, Tabby, I'm sure your donation helped. But nearly every pony in Dream Valley
turned out on behalf of the sea turtles.
Tabby: You never told me how boring the thing was, anyway.
Sugarberry: It was actually quite fun. Dancing in the sand is rather an art, you know.
Tabby: And ART? I highly doubt that. I'm glad I didn't go.
Sugarberry: Well, I'm glad I went. I danced every dance with Quarterback.
Tabby: Great. Now you're going to get all mushy on me.
Sugarberry: You should have been there, Tabby.
Tabby: Stop going on and on and on and on and on about it! There's nothing you can do about
it now, is there?
Sugarberry: Cliff was looking for you.
Tabby: Now I'm REALLY glad I wasn't there. Come on, let's just get off this topic. We have
better things to talk about... or at least I do.
Sugarberry: Such as?
Tabby: Like... hmm... well, I don't know. But talking about the dance is so BORING.
Sugarberry: Well, what's the cue card say?
Tabby: The cue card? Hmm... what cue card?
Sugarberry: The one sitting about two feet in front of us.
Tabby: Oh, that one! Looks pretty blank to me... or I'm not seeing straight.
Sugarberry: The Rockin' Beats performed last week at Ponyland Thunder, the big outdoor music
festival.
Tabby: Oh, I remember that. Isn't that the night the big thunder storm went through?
Sugarberry: Yes. But the Rockin' Beats had already left the stage.
Tabby: Well, the festival was fittingly named.
Sugarberry: Speaking of names, what name did Tiffany give her new pet Bombay cat?
Tabby: Theodora. Horribly snobby, don't you think? But it fits Tiffany's personality. And she
had her first visit to my vet clinic yesterday-- Theodora, that is.
Sugarberry: Oh, dear. I hope the cat's okay.
Tabby: It was actually the first time Tiffany had been there, too... Theodora's fine; it was just her
annual check-up.
Sugarberry: Will Tiffany know how to care for a cat?
Tabby: Most likely not. That's why Friendly is in charge of Theodora-- feeding her, watering
her, and cleaning her litter box.
Sugarberry: Figures.
Tabby: And then of course Tiffany got a whole ton of big fancy accessories for Theodora-- like
this big magenta throne complete with a gold-plated swing-out food tray, and a silver tiara with a
ruby in it, and a crystal food dish, and a gold collar with a diamond--
Sugarberry: WOW. Lucky cat. By the way, what color is she?
Tabby: Black. All Bombays are black, Sugarberry.
Sugarberry: Sorry, didn't know that.
Tabby: Tsk, tsk, tsk...
Sugarberry: But I do know that Pina Colada threw a fabulous summer party last Saturday.
Tabby: Oh, that. It wasn't all that great. As all parties are.
Sugarberry: She had one of your favorite foods, though-- chicken!
Tabby: There was some disguising sauce on it that absolutely ruined it.
Sugarberry: That's mango salsa you're talking about, Tabby!
Tabby: Sounds sickening. No wonder it tasted so awful.
Sugarberry: Well, what'd you think of Pina Colada's special-recipe shake?
Tabby: That was disguising, too. What in the world was IN that thing?
Sugarberry: Oh, didn't you enjoy the tropical blend of bananas, lemons, mangos, pineapple,
oranges, and coconut?
Tabby: It sounds even worse now. Bananas are only good in their natural state, and mangos and
coconut are gross no matter what you do to them.
Sugarberry: You must learn to appreciate new foods, Tabby.
Tabby: Not if they don't taste good.
Sugarberry: A diet of chicken, potatoes, and ice cream is not very nutritious.
Tabby: Hey, I eat other things!
Sugarberry: Okay... could you share a recipe with us?
Tabby: Let me think... okay, I've got one! First, fry-up some chicken. And leave the chicken be,
for Pete's sake! Add nothing. Serve with mashed potatoes. Have ice cream for dessert. Any
flavor'll work unless of course it's something really disguising.
Sugarberry: Thanks, Tabby.
Tabby: No problem. Hey, want to come to my house for dinner tomorrow?
Sugarberry: Can I bring Quarterback?
Tabby: If you want to, I guess. But three for dinner is my limit.
Sugarberry: I'm sure Cliff would like an invitation.
Tabby: And that's exactly why I said three's my limit. Don't push it, Sugarberry.
Sugarberry: Yes, Tabby.
Tabby: Oh, I forgot the cherry-picking episode!
Sugarberry: See, Daisy Sweet and Floater went to the Cherry Valley Orchard to pick enough
cherries to bake two pies.
Tabby: That was all? What about the fiasco I heard about?
Sugarberry: I was getting to that. Unfortunately, on the way there, Floater bragged to Daisy
Sweet that she'd pick more cherries. That led to a dare to see who could pick the most.
Tabby: They picked like ten zillion buckets full--
Sugarberry: Not quite that many, Tabby.
Tabby: Well, anyway. It was a lot.
Sugarberry: And Daisy Sweet fell out of the tree she was in.
Tabby: Floater probably pushed her.
Sugarberry: They both came back with sore, bruised bodies--
Tabby: And beestings. Lots of beestings. They upset a beehive.
Sugarberry: Did they ever determine who picked the most?
Tabby: No. They were too much in misery to care anymore.
Sugarberry: And that just goes to show--
Tabby: That you shouldn't bother picking cherries fresh. Just go and buy ‘em at the store; it's
tons easier.
Sugarberry: Actually, Tabby, I was going to say that you shouldn't start dares like that.
Tabby: Oh.
Sugarberry: And, I think that's all we have to say for this month.
Tabby: But we'll be back next time with all the latest gossip!
Sugarberry: Don't forget!
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The Babies' Special Friend
by Steamer
One night it was Ivy's turn to put the baby ponies to bed. But no matter what she did,
she
could not get them to go to sleep.
Ivy then came upon an idea; she knew that Pillow Talk's specialty was getting ponies to
sleep. So she called Pillow Talk into the nursery and told her about her problem.
"Do not fret, Ivy; I will get the babies to sleep," said Pillow Talk after Ivy had finished
her
explanation.
"Oh, thank you, Pillow Talk; I knew I could count on you to get them to sleep," said
Ivy.
"Not a problem," said Pillow Talk and she went into the nursery to do her magic.
Now, Pillow Talk isn't a unicorn; she isn't even a pegasus. She's only an earth pony, but
somehow she has some sort of magic power that makes ponies go to sleep.
Ivy was wondering, How does she do it? So she decided to find out. She went
over to one of the open windows of the nursery and sat down quietly, listening.
What she heard was the sweetest, most soothing singing voice she had ever heard.
Wow! thought Ivy. She has such a soothing singing voice. In fact, it
was so soothing that even Ivy found herself falling asleep.
Ivy had to fight herself to stay awake, but pretty soon she had lost and was in a deep
sleep
right outside the nursery window.
So if you ever have a night where you cannot fall asleep, just think of the sweetest, most
soothing voice that you can, like the one Pillow Talk has; and you'll fall asleep.
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PONY OF THE MONTH
Coco Berry
(light blue Sundae Best unicorn with pale pink hair and a raised ice cream cone
symbol)
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Adventures with Babies
by Sugarberry
Coco Berry smoothed the wrinkles out of the pale blue sheets covering her bed and
pulled
the smokey blue crocheted rosette coverlet over the top, carefully straightening it so that it lay
perfectly centered with exactly six inches of the white bed skirt showing from each side. With a
sigh of satisfaction, she took one last look at her own reflection in the mirror of her white wicker
vanity and smoothed a stray strand of light pink mane into perfect harmony with the rest of her
lustrous locks.
Smiling contentedly at the picture-perfect beginning to this sunny, summer day, Coco
Berry noticed the ivory clock on her bedside table. Only one hour until Wild Blueberry brings
the twins over for a day of babysitting, she thought to herself. Plenty of time for breakfast and
cleaning.
Coco Berry hurried to the kitchen and whipped-up a scrambled egg and toast. As she
sipped her orange juice, she frowned distastefully at the toast crumbs scattered on the table.
"Such a mess," she muttered to the empty room. She quickly washed the dishes, dried each piece,
set it neatly in the cupboard, and cleaned the counter to a lustrous shine.
Next, she swept the tiled kitchen floor and scrubbed it briskly. Only then did the room
appear spotlessly clean the way Coco Berry liked it.
Turning next to the living room, Coco Berry took a second to breathe in the fresh
morning
air as it gently caressed the dazzling white lace curtains at the open window. "This will be a
gorgeous day!" she exclaimed as she energetically set to work dusting each piece of furniture and
straightening each magazine to its perfect seventy-degree angle. Still not sufficiently tidy, she ran
the vacuum over the ivory carpeting and the matching sofa.
For a finishing touch, Coco Berry went out to her glorious flower garden and picked a
fresh bouquet of brilliant red roses which she artistically arranged in a crystal vase which she then
displayed on the maple end table. She had no sooner stood back to admire the effect when the
doorbell softly chimed.
Opening the door expectantly, Coco Berry smiled warmly at Wild Blueberry and her
two
cherub-like youngsters. "Come in, Wild Blueberry. And Nipper and Napper, I'm so pleased to
have the chance to watch you this morning!"
Wild Blueberry, Nipper, and Napper, all in shades of blue, entered the living room.
Nipper and Napper stood silently next to their mother, shyly eying Coco Berry.
Wild Blueberry gave Coco Berry a list of instructions and handed her the bulging diaper
bag. "Everything you will need is in here," she assured Coco Berry. "I'll be back by two o'
clock." With a hug and a kiss for each of her twins, Wild Blueberry was soon out the door.
"Well, you two, what would you like to do first?"
Both foals stood silently, a tear dropping pathetically from Napper's blue eyes.
For a second, Coco Berry felt a twinge of apprehension. What do I know about
taking
care of baby ponies? And what is it that Tabby always says? But she quickly shoved that
concern aside and gently guided Nipper and Napper to the comfortable sofa. "Let's see what
Mommy has for you to play with!" She opened the diaper bag and pulled out two teddy bears,
two sets of building blocks, two story books, and a wooden ring toss game with red rings.
"Won't we have fun?" Coco Berry encouraged the silent twosome.
Nipper slowly slid from the couch, grabbed a teddy bear, and returned to his spot.
Following his brother's lead, Napper proceeded to do the same. Both twins sat clutching their
bears as if for protection.
"Maybe you two need a nap," suggested Coco Berry. "Mommy must have had to get
you
up early this morning." She found two pastel blankets patterned with playful kittens and gently
tucked one around each pony where he sat, statue-like, on the couch. "There now, sweeties,
close those beautiful eyes and sleep well." She lightly kissed each precious little one, and silently
left the room. She decided this quiet time would be well spent in catching up on some
correspondence with the ponies in Friendship Gardens, so she went to her Victorian-styled desk in
the den and began writing.
Coco Berry was lost in thought when a harsh ripping sound tore through the room.
Quickly, she jumped up and ran to the living room. There she found Nipper and Napper on the
floor surrounded by her slick magazines; they were gleefully tearing the covers off, one by
one.
"Nipper! Napper!" called Coco Berry. "What are you doing?"
"Readn' books," Nipper enlightened her.
"Books," echoed Napper.
Coco Berry grimaced as she surveyed the ruined magazines. "These books aren't your
kind of books. Mommy sent along your books here." And she handed The Three Little
Pigs to Nipper and Little Red Riding Hood to Napper. "You two sit down and
look at the pictures while I clean-up this mess."
Dropping to her knees, Coco Berry gathered the magazines into a pile and picked up
every stray piece of the once-whole publications. Rising stiffly, she carried the pile to the kitchen
for recycling after a glance at the twins now completely engrossed in their books.
It only took a few minutes for Coco Berry to put the destroyed magazines in the
recycling
container on the back porch off the kitchen. Then she returned to the living room.
Coco Berry stopped several feet into the room and put her hooves on her hips.
"Nipper?
Napper?" she called tentatively. For there wasn't a sign of the twins in the room. Two open
story books lay deserted on the floor. Everything was quiet.
Feeling her heart beating rapidly, Coco Berry hurried into the bedroom-- but no baby
ponies. She rushed into the bathroom-- empty. She darted into the den-- only unfinished letters
waited there. She ran back to the living room and faced the eerie silence. "Oh my gosh, I've lost
the twins!" she exclaimed out loud.
Just then a tiny giggle emerged from the far side of the room. Coco Berry followed the
sound hopefully to a round decorator table covered in a peach floor-length tablecloth topped with
floral lace. She slowly lifted the cloth to peer underneath. There sat the two lost babes, now
completely engulfed in laughter as they shared the effect of their adventure.
"We hide-seek," explained Nipper.
"Hide-seek," repeated Napper.
"You should have told me you were going to play hide-and-go-seek so I would have
known to look for you," Coco Berry observed sternly. "You disappeared and I was
worried!"
"We sorry."
"Sorry."
Coco Berry felt tired all over, but smiled weakly at the contrite twins. "Let's have a
snack," she offered.
She helped Nipper and Napper onto chairs at the table and made sure they were safely
seated before serving them each a bowl of chocolate pudding and a glass of strawberry Kool-aid.
Seeing them happily eating their pudding, Coco Berry took the opportunity to fix herself a cup of
strong, hot tea.
Pouring a cupful of the aromatic brew, she leaned against the counter and watched the
twins.
Nipper was nearly finished with his pudding but Napper was eating slowly. Coco Berry
watched as he lifted a big spoonful of chocolate to his mouth, and she groaned as the spoon
slipped from his hoof and clattered to the floor, sending chocolate gobs in every direction.
"Patience, Coco Berry," she whispered to herself. To the twins she wearily said, "Let
me
clean you up." She had to grin, though, because Napper looked somewhat like a dalmatian pup
with his chocolate spots. "Go into the living room while I clean up the table and the floor," she
instructed when the babies were clean again. Coco Berry turned and walked to the sink; Nipper
reached over the edge of the table and grabbed his glass of Kool-aid; he and Napper disappeared
obediently into the living room.
As Coco Berry set the chairs neatly around the table, Napper appeared in the kitchen
doorway. His eyes were big, round, and misty with a far-away look about them. "Poo-poo," was
all he said.
Carefully arranging the changing pad on her bed, Coco Berry prepared to clean-up
Napper. Nipper wandered around the bedroom, looking at the framed pictures on the wall. A
print of a herd of buffalo crossing a prairie led by a white buffalo seemed to intrigue him, so Coco
Berry concentrated on the matter at hand.
As she finished up the messy job, she found herself smiling sweetly at the
pleasant-smelling
little pony before her. "Your baby powder smells just like my Honeysuckle Cologne," she
remarked to Napper. "I just bought a new bottle yester..." Her voice trailed off as reality dawned
bright-- she turned to see Nipper smothering himself in Honeysuckle Cologne. The bottle was
already half empty when she grabbed it away from him and set it down sharply on the vanity.
Taking both little ones by the hooves, she led them back to the living room. "We will sit
down and be quiet for awhile," she suggested.
Coco Berry's stomach lurched as she headed for the sofa. On one of the cushions lay an
empty Kool-aid glass, the contents flared into the pale velour creating a Monet-like flower
pattern. She stood silently, still clutching at the twins.
After some electric moments, Coco Berry managed to squeak out, "Who brought their
Kool-aid in here?"
"Him did," both twins said simultaneously, pointing hooves at each other.
Coco Berry squelched the desire to scream, and simply led the two ponies to a corner of
the room and told them to sit quietly. She placed their building blocks ahead of them and
suggested that they build a castle. Then she went to get an armload of towels to attempt to get
the Kool-aid out of the sofa cushion.
What awaited Coco Berry's eyes when she returned took her breath away. Nipper had
scampered up the lace curtain at the window and Napper held him at bay from beneath.
"Nipper!" she shrieked. "Get down from there!"
Startled, Nipper turned to look at Coco Berry, lost his grip, fell from the curtain, and
landed on Napper; both ponies tumbled into the end table causing the vase of roses to totter and
fall, spreading water across the wood top and over the edge like a sparkling waterfall, soaking
into the carpet. Roses cascaded onto the floor and both of the twins trampled them in an effort to
gain distance from the disaster. "Ouch!" cried Napper as a rose thorn pierced his leg. Blood
began dripping from the wound, leaving a trail of red droplets across the carpeting. Nipper and
Napper hid wide-eyed behind Coco Berry who was staring at the room in shock and disbelief.
Tabby's words came back to haunt her: "Baby ponies are nasty!"
As time went on and Coco Berry remained silent, Nipper and Napper edged around to
face her.
"You okay, Co-bare-ee?" the subdued Nipper questioned.
"Co-bare-ee?" urged Napper.
Many more tense moments passed before Coco Berry finally responded, "Why did you
climb the curtain in the first place, Nipper?"
"Scalin' castle wall," enlightened Nipper.
"Big wall," offered Napper.
"I should have known," Coco Berry replied. She sighed deeply. "Come. Let's sit
down."
The three of them walked to the rocking chair (still in pristine condition, unlike the
couch); Coco Berry sat down; Nipper and Napper climbed onto her lap. Coco Berry rested her
head on the cushioned chair and began rocking slowly back and forth. The twins snuggled tight,
and Coco Berry enjoyed their closeness. She began to feel very relaxed, and soon she was fast
asleep.
Coco Berry was in a flower-drenched meadow resting in the shade against a spreading
willow tree, the breeze wafting through the slender leaves. In the distance, baby ponies were
playing, their tinkling laughter floating across the fragrant air. The soft wings of butterflies
caressed her face, bumping into her cheeks and her forehead. Gentle music began to chime
through the endless expanse of time and space. Suddenly, one especially large butterfly landed on
her unicorn horn, and Coco Berry opened her eyes.
"Ringer!" Nipper yelled in delight.
Napper bounded to the rocking chair and climbed onto Coco Berry's lap and reached up
to her horn to remove a vibrant red plastic ring. "You win!" he grudgingly deferred to his
brother.
Coco Berry's senses returned as she realized that the twins had used her horn as their
ring-toss target while she slept. And the music was the doorbell. Coco Berry eased out of the
rocker and opened the door.
At the sight of their mom, Nipper and Napper came rushing to the door. "Mommy!
Mommy!"
Wild Blueberry hugged the two bouncy foals in unison. "Did you have fun with Coco
Berry, guys?" she enquired.
"Yes, Mommy," nodded Nipper. "We come again soon?"
"Soon?" agreed Napper.
Both ponies bounded over to Coco Berry and hugged her around her legs. She bent
over
to pat them each on the head; and they impulsively kissed her, one on each cheek. Coco Berry
blushed.
"Thanks for watching them, Coco Berry," Wild Blueberry sincerely stated. "I was able
to
accomplish so much without them along. You could never imagine!"
In Coco Berry's mind, the events of the past hours flashed by like pictures from an
adventure film. She looked Wild Blueberry in the eye and stated simply, "Oh, I think I
could!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invento Ponies
by Applejack:
Name: Wishes
Breed: Pegasus
Symbol: Shooting Star
Body: Blue
Hair: Dark Pink
Name: Chef
Breed: Earth (Twice as Fancy)
Symbols: Chef Hats
Body: Cream
Hair: White
Series: Sweet Smelling Bean Ponies!
Name: Jean Coffee Bean
Breed: Earth
Symbol: Coffee Beans
Body: Brown
Hair: Light Brown
Special Feature: Smells Like Coffee
Name: Keen Vanilla Bean
Breed: Earth
Symbol: Vanilla Bean
Body: White
Hair: Lightest Cream
Special Feature: Smells Like Vanilla
Name: Pinto Bean
Breed: Earth
Symbol: Pinto Bean
Body: Pink
Hair: Lightest Orange
Special Feature: Smells Like Mexican Food
Name: String Bean
Breed: Earth
Symbol: String Bean
Body: Green
Hair: Lime Green
Special Feature: None
Series: Yankees Ponies (Male Earth Ponies)
Name: Chuck Knoblauch
Symbol: NY
Body: White
Hair: Navy Blue
Name : Derek Jeter
Symbol: NY
Body: White
Hair: Navy Blue
Name: Paul O'Neil
Symbol: NY
Body: White
Hair: Navy Blue
Name: Tino Martinez
Symbol: NY
Body: White
Hair: Navy Blue
All the above would come in a team pack along with a Joe Torre MLP and the rest of the team.
A Yankee Playset would also be available.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PONY TREK
by Blu Flyer and Tic-Tac-Toe
Episode 1: An Introduction
Captain Flyer paced her ready room. Its sleek, modern walls were a comfort and
seemed
to cool her nerves. Her door chimed, signaling her.
"Come in," she said, trying to sound calm and collected.
Her first officer, Tic-Tac-Toe, walked in the door, her eyes twinkling.
"Commander Tic-Tac-Toe, signing on for duty, sir."
"At ease, Commander. Welcome aboard the Lollypop. Have you found the ship
suitable?" Blu Flyer asked.
"Oh, yes. Very nice." The Commander glanced around the room, marveling at the
captain's furniture and things. The door chimed again.
"Come in!" Captain Flyer called. The door opened with a satisfying swish. In walked
Lieutenant Medley and Ensign Baby Ribbs.
"If I may, Captain," Tic-Tac-Toe asked quietly.
"Dismissed," Flyer said, smiling, her own eyes twinkling.
"Lt. Medley and Ensign Ribbs reporting for duty," the green-haired pegasus said.
"Ah," the Captain said. "Lieutenant, you must be our chief engineer, and Ensign, our
pilot. Welcome aboard the Lollypop. Now, if you will report to your stations we will get ready
for departure from Deep Space 9."
Blu Flyer walked out onto the bridge. It was streamlined silver. She walked slowly to
her
captain's chair, and faced the crew. The familiar face of Steamer looked at her from Tactical, and
a new one from Chief at Ops. Commander Tic-Tac-Toe stood at her side.
"Welcome, crew, to the StarShip Lollypop. PonyFleet has issued us the assignment of
exploring deep space. I'm sure you are a fine, fine crew, and am glad to be your captain," Blu
turned to Ensign Ribbs, stationed at the conn. "Ensign, prepare for unlocking sequence. Chief,
open a channel to DS9."
"Aye, Captain," said Ribbs and Chief at the same time.
"Channel Open," Chief said.
"On screen." The familiar face of Night Glider looked at her, and smiled.
"Permission to release docking locks?" the captain asked.
"Permission granted," Night Glider said. "Good luck, Blu. I hope you will come back
with worthy information." The admiral smiled.
"End transmission," Blu said over her left shoulder to Chief.
"Locks disengaged, Captain," Ensign Ribbs said.
"Very well, Ensign. Set course for the Troumoba sector, warp factor 6. Engage on my
mark... Mark!"
Lollypop's warp nacelles folded neatly, and it shot in a blaze of white light into deep
space.
After a few days exploring space, Captain Flyer got to know her crew better. Of course
there was Tic-Tac-Toe, whom she had known since she was a cadet, and Medley and Ensign
Ribbs. Steamer had Tactical, controlling security; and Chief had Operations. The Lollypop's
doctor was a Flutter Pony named Morning Glory, studying after the notorious Doctor
Rosedust.
They were on their way.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The idea taken from the Tabby and Sugarberry gossip hour, because I loved it so--
it's the:
Gusty and Applejack's Talking Time!!!!
Gusty: Okay, so, what will we start with today, A.H?
Applejack: Let's start with... wait a minute... Who's A.H?
Gusty: That's you, of course, Applesauce Head.
Applejack: Okay, M.L.E.
Gusty: M.L.E?
Applejack: Maple Leaf Eater.
Gusty: Ha ha. Anyway...
Applejack: We want to welcome everyone to the show today.
Gusty: Yes! This show was made possible from the idea by Tabby and Sugarberry's Gossip
Hour!
Applejack: That's a good show, you know.
Gusty: Yes, I do.
Applejack: So what should we talk about first?
Gusty: I hear Princess Tiffany is opening a store.
Applejack: You mean "High Queen" Tiffany.
Gusty: Yes. Of course.
Applejack: Is there such a thing as a high queen?
Gusty: No.
Applejack: Then why does she call herself that?
Gusty: I don't know. Why don't you ask her?
Applejack: Maybe I will!
Gusty: Anyway, back to the store. I hear it's going to be filled with precious diamonds and other
jewels.
Applejack: Furs, too!
Gusty: Right. I got an ad she sent to me about the store.
Applejack: Read it, M.L.E!!!
Gusty: Well, I'll just give you the information instead of reading the entire ad. The store will be
opening on Rainbow Avenue this Friday. There will be special sales. One special sale will be one
of Ponyland's biggest diamonds. It will be only forty-five thousand dollars.Along--
Applejack: Forty-five thousand dollars!!!?!?!?!?! What are we made of-- money?
Gusty: Obviously that's what she thinks. Continuing: Along with this gorgeous diamond, there
will be precious gems on a sale as well. Fur coats will be offered at an amazingly cheap pri--
Applejack: FUR coats???? She killed animals????
Gusty: No. They're FAKE furs. Now, please. Let me keep going! As I was saying: Fur coats
will be offered at an amazingly cheap price. However, for those of you unable to afford these
items, there will be some bargain-barn junk things for you to buy.
Applejack: Gee, that's nice.
Gusty: A.H!
Applejack: Sorry.
Gusty: And there will also be drawings for prizes. Come and have some fun at High Queen
Tiffany's Gorgeous Shop for Gorgeous Ponies. And there you have it.
Applejack: I'm speechless.
Gusty: You and me both.
Applejack: Next topic!
Gusty: Cool Breeze is visiting Ponyland Island this weekend. Paradise, I hear, is going with
her.
Applejack: I've always wanted to go to Ponyland Island. I've just been too busy.
Gusty: Busy doing what? Sleeping?
Applejack: You think you're funny, don't you?
Gusty:
Applejack: Anyhow, these two are the first two ponies to visit this island. If everything meets
their approval, it will be opened to the public sometime in November.
Gusty: November!?! Who'd want to go to an island in November?
Applejack: Don't ask me, M.L.E! Talk to Magic Star about it! She's the one in charge of
it.
Gusty: I just might do that.
Applejack: Fine by me.
Gusty: Next up!
Applejack: Now we have a special guest joining us this fine day. Heart Throb is here in the
studio to answer some of our questions about the new play she'll be starring in-- "When the Clock
Strikes Twelve." Have a seat, Heart Throb!
Heart Throb: Good day, darlings!
Gusty: Glad you could come, Heart Throb.
Heart Throb: Glad to be here, Gusty.
Applejack: So, tell us a little about the play.
Heart Throb: Well, it'll be airing next month at the Baby Bonnet
School of Dance. It may be a dancing school, but it's a great place to hold plays, too! Anyway,
the play itself is a thriller. I play Madam Love, one of the leading roles. Tex plays the villain, Sir
Slane. Slugger plays the part of the hero, Sire Broduck. His sidekick, Baby Countdown, named
Kid Remdem in the play, helps him. Sir Slane, Tex, captures me and demands a ransom of one
million dollars. Sire Broduck is hired by my best friend Miss Lanceheart, played by Blossom, to
save me, for she is unable to pay the amount wanted by Sir Slane.
Gusty: So the plot is how they go about saving you.
Heart Throb: Correct.
Applejack: What the does title mean, then? "When the Clock Strikes Twelve."
Heart Throb: They need to either save me or pay the money before midnight that night, or Sir
Slane will kill me.
Applejack: Ouch! Major bummer! Sounds like a real thriller though!
Heart Throb: Oh, it is. It's a must see.
Gusty: Well, thank you for coming in today to tell us all about your play.
Heart Throb: Your welcome, darlings. Bye all of you out there in radio land! Tah-tah.
Applejack: Bye, H.T!
Gusty: Once again, that's "When the Clock Strikes Twelve" coming out next month. It will be
showing at the baby Bonnet School of Dance. It's starring Heart Throb, Baby Countdown,
Slugger, Blossom, and Tex. Go see it. It's going to be good.
Applejack: A Tex film. Tabby won't go.
Gusty: She'll go if we drag her there.
Applejack: Next up, the library book and bake sale!
Gusty: That's right, ponies. The library will be selling some of their older books tomorrow in
order to raise some money for some new books!
Applejack: Also, Cupcake will be selling some homemade cookies and cakes! The profits will go
to help the library.
Gusty: You'll have some of your pies being sold down there, won't you?
Applejack: Yep!
Gusty: So-- --if you want some good books and good food, head over to the
Ponyland Public Library.
Applejack: Whew, I never knew this talk show thing involved so much work!
Gusty: How do Tabby and Sugarberry do it?
Applejack: The world may never know.
Gusty: Speaking of Tab and S.B, do you think one day we could have them on our show?
Applejack: Yeah! They could be our guests-- just like Heart Throb was today.
Gusty: I wrote it down so I won't forget.
Applejack: Right. Maybe we can get them on in a couple of months.
Gusty: That's right. When we broadcast our next show, we'll be having Tickle on.
Applejack: Why'd we invite Tickle? She laughs too much!
Gusty: Tickle is my good friend!
Applejack: Is she writing a new book?
Gusty: Nope.
Applejack: Is she starring in something?
Gusty: Nope.
Applejack: Is she assisting in a community project?
Gusty: Not as far as I know.
Applejack: Then why are we having her on???
Gusty: Like I told you-- she's my good friend.
Applejack:
Gusty: Hey, did I tell you that Bubbles will be joining her?
Applejack: Really?
Gusty: Yep! We should be in for a good time next time with two cheerful ponies. I'm sure we'll
think up something to talk about!
Applejack: I'm sure we will.
Gusty: Well, that's all the time we have for today.
Applejack: Yep, we hope you've all enjoyed our first--
Gusty: And hopefully not last--
Applejack: Well, who knows…we were pretty bad--
Gusty:
Applejack: Show! Join us next month with guests Tickle and Bubbles!
Gusty: Once again, the overall idea of Gusty and Applejack's Talking Time was inspired by
Tabby and Sugarberry's Gossip Hour.
Applejack: We thank them again.
Gusty: This radio show was sponsored today by} the Ponyland Press-- the place to go to find
facts about what's happening in Ponyland.
Applejack: By} a grant from Milky Way's Star Gazing School-- reach for the stars!
Gusty: By} the Baby Bonnet School of Dance-- Want to unclutzify yourself? Classes now
forming!
Applejack: By} The Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe-- the place to go on these pony days of
summer!
Gusty: And by} the Ponyland Public Library-- serving the Ponyland area for over thirteen
years.
Applejack: So until next month, this is Gusty and Applejack signing off!
Gusty: Good day, night, and morning to you all! I am the hockey pony!
Applejack: And I'm the basketball pony-- buh-bye!!!
Theme song: Where do you go to, get all the info, your sweet
heart so gratefully wants? Where do you go to, have all the fun you, ever can possibly want?
Gusty and Appy, they're normally happy, to entertain you! Gusty and Appy, Gusty and Appy,
they'll know just what to do. They'll love tooooo iiinnnnform yooooou!
Any and all feedback on this new "show" is very appreciated! Please e-mail me feedback at:
JDKoester@aol.com Thanks!!!--Katie/Gusty aka the HockeyPony <\____~
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey
Do you have any pet animals that you've named after MLPs?
E-mail your responses to Tabby (TabbyMLP@aol.com); the results will be in the next issue.
Last month's--
The question was: If a tornado went through your house and your entire MLP collection was lost,
which pony would you most regret losing?
ROCKINCJ@aol.com-
I have an answer to the survey; I'd hate to lose Fizzy; she's my number-one favorite pony.
littleb@primenet.com-
The ponies I'd regret losing the most: Baby Heart Throb and Pink Dreams (soft sleepy newborn).
They're from my original collection from when I was little.
wormie46@hotmail.com-
Hehe-- Hi Tabby!!!!!!!!! I have an easy answer to this question; definitely my Magic! Even if
she/he's all dirty and has little fuzz left, and even if I do happen to have a Euro pony, Patch, too;
Magic holds a ton of sentimental value for me.
SailrYakks@aol.com-
Pertaining to which pony I would regret losing the most....
I would regret losing my Applejack, as she was my very first pony. I don't remember getting her
(I was only three or four years old), but my brother tells me that I found her at the community
lake we once belonged to, laying on the beach. She's my oldest pony, as well as the only pony
I've chanced upon like that-- but, surprisingly, she's the only older pony I have that's in decent
condition! She's in near-mint condition, and I'd be very sorry to lose her! ;o)
csuitt@uci.edu-
I would most regret losing my nine Flutter Ponies with wings!
KimHMLP@aol.com-
*brushes the dust away from her eyes* WAHH! Bye Mimic! I hope some other kid has as much
fun with you as I did!
kthompson@mail2.cu-portland.edu-
I would miss both Baby Moondancer and Bowtie equally, I think. Bowtie was my first MLP, and
Baby Moondancer was my first baby one.
Ambie182@aol.com-
I'd regret losing them all!!!!!!!!!!! But Applejack would be the most heartbreaking.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brightblade Warpony
An Epic
Recorded by Clipper as dictated by the bard Ramon
Chapter 9
For half the day, the trio trekked through the untamed depths of the Dark Forest. By
noon, they could hear the river in the distance. Epona insisted that they press on and save their
midday meal until thy reached the river.
As they neared the river, the forest became thick with brush and brambles. Breeks flew
ahead to see if he could find a path through the growth, but to no avail. Brightblade blazed a trail
as best he could with the Warrior's Horn, but still the going was slow. From the time they had
first heard the river to the time they reached its cool waters was near an hour-and-a-half.
Brightblade waded into the river, the clear water soothing his sore hooves. Epona
touched her horn to a small, calm pool and gazed into the images that appeared.
"What do you see?" asked the Warpony.
"Nothing of import," Epona replied. "We are on schedule. Now let us eat and hear
further of your adventures."
Ramon, Breeks, and I made our way across the valley to the Temple of Light. We
climbed the steps cautiously, as we did not know what to expect inside. I peeked into the temple
from behind one of the columns and saw that it was mostly empty. The floor was of polished
marble, as white as fresh milk or new fallen snow. The columns that supported the domed roof
surrounded about three-quarters of the area (I don't want to call it a room as there were no
walls). The quarter that was without columns, which was opposite me, was dug into the hillside;
and there was an arched doorway that led to some unknown inner chamber of the temple. In the
center of the temple there was a statue of a unicorn carved from green stone, bathed in light from
the opening in the center of the dome.
"It looks clear," I said as I stepped out from behind the column. Ramon followed me,
and
Breeks flew past and perched on the statue's horn.
"So, where's the Warrior's Horn?" asked Ramon.
"It must be through that doorway," I said.
"Khaar, that's obvious," kawed Breeks. "Which means that there is probably more to it
than that. Something doesn't feel right here."
I walked up to the statue. "It is strange that this place is so clean, being open to the
elements and all.. But we haven't got time to worry about that. We have to find the Warrior's
Horn." I was about to investigate the arched doorway when Breeks squawked in terror.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Rawwk! The statue moved!" he replied as he fluttered about my head.
"What? That's impossible," said Ramon.
"Yah," I said. "You're just imagining things." Even though I didn't believe that the
statue had moved, I couldn't help but stare at it, waiting for the slightest hint of movement.
"Brightblade," said Ramon, "weren't you going to look for the Horn? Let's
move."
"Huh? Yes, Breeks has just got me a little spooked, I guess," I replied. But just as I
turned away from the statue, I thought I caught a slight movement, or maybe it was just the
shadow of a cloud, or a high flying bird; at least, that's what I told myself at the moment.
"Halt! Trespassers! None shall enter the Temple of Light lest they have proven
themselves worthy!"
The booming voice came from behind me, where only the statue stood. I turned to see
the
statue no longer on its pedestal, but walking towards me. It seemed unreal; it was still the same
smooth green stone I had seen before, at first. Then it seemed to soften a bit only to remain
stone. Its movements seemed blurred, as if the thing did not really move, but existed at a different
place at each moment in time.
"You who would claim the Warrior's Horn must first face me in single combat!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I Promise
Shining Story #6
By Shining (ddonnell@iserv.net)
"Yes!" the bay mare cried with glee as she cleared the huge brush jump. "I made it!
Now
all I have to do is work on my dressage." She wore a bright smile as she trotted over to the rail of
the Olympic-size arena.
"I think you'll do fine, Honor," Caesar said to her when she reached the fence where he
was standing. His dapple gray coat shimmered in the warm sunshine that cast over Glorified
Acres, where they, with Honor's parents (Shining and Signature Required) and her twin brother
(In A Moment) lived. Glorified Acres was one of the most well-known stables in the world
because of Honor's parents' hard work. Shining and Signature were world famous performers.
They had been part of the Global Equine Olympic Team until their manager demanded too much
from them. Recently, Shining had received the Horse of the Year Award.
Honor nodded but wore a concerned expression on her face. "If only I could find a
partner to perform with. Too bad you don't show, Caesar."
Caesar smiled ruefully. His dark eyes peered into Honor's. "Wish I could help you,
Honor. But I don't know how to dance, and I really don't want to learn how."
"It's okay. Maybe I'll just show solo this year on the circuit," Honor dismissed quickly
with a smile.
"Honor!" a voice called. "It's time to go!"
Slowly the grin that Honor had faded. "Coming, Mom!" she replied, subdued.
Caesar put his foreleg around Honor's shoulder as they headed toward the main barn.
"Moment's the happiest I've ever seen him," he offered.
Moment, Honor's twin brother and best friend, was off to art school. Unlike the rest of
the family, who were performers, Moment's passion was painting, drawing, and sculpting. He
had been accepted to the Equus School of Art, a very prestigious school.
"Yeah," Honor smiled, "but I'm really going to miss him. I guess I'm just going to have
to bug you double time."
Caesar smiled and rolled his dark eyes. "I might have to be a wanderer again," he
teased.
"Just to escape your pestering."
Honor stopped in midstride. She faced her friend and stared into his dark mysterious
eyes.
They were the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. "You can't leave, Caesar," she said
seriously.
"You're right," Caesar said, "I can't leave. You're the closest I have to family." Caesar's
parents had been killed in a train accident and had left him without any place to go. He had
eventually ended up at Glorified Acres. Although he could joke about it, Caesar rarely talked
about his past. Honor had tried several times to make him open up, but he refused.
"Good," Honor pronounced. And with that, she planted a kiss on his cheek and
galloped
off to the main barn, leaving Caesar standing with a half-smile on his face.
* * *
"I can't believe you're really going!" Honor wailed. They were at the train station seeing
Moment off to art school.
"I know! Isn't it great?" Moment exclaimed. He was a handsome black who looked
much like his father.
Honor sniffed and hugged her twin fiercely. "I'm going to miss you! My little brother
off
to art school!"
Moment laughed easily. He shook his head and his dark forelock fell carelessly down
his
face. "Your little brother? Last time I checked, we were twins."
"Yeah, but I'm thirteen minutes older than you!" Honor reminded him. She pulled his
tail
teasingly like she used to do when they were little.
Signature, Moment and Honor's father, spoke up. "It's probably time to go now,
Moment." He picked up Moment's suitcase and loaded it onto the train. Honor heard several
sighs from young fillies gawking at her father. She giggled to herself. Her father was very
handsome. Signature was jet black with a strong body and noble face.
Honor turned and glanced at Caesar. "Are you okay?" she asked, with a worried look
on
her face. Caesar had turned very pale and was staring at the train with glazed eyes, lost in his
own nightmarish past.
Gently, Honor placed a hoof on Caesar's strong shoulder. The gray stallion jumped in
surprise. "What? I'm okay. I'm fine," he said quickly. Honor wasn't sure if he was trying to
convince her or himself.
The train whistle blew sharply signaling the last call for passengers. "Well, I'm off!"
Moment announced cheerfully.
Honor hugged her brother again. She could feel a lump forming in her throat, but she
was
determined to wish her twin a happy send-off. "Take care, little bro! And write me every day!"
she demanded.
"I promise," the black colt vowed. Turning to Caesar, he smiled. "Take care of her,
okay?"
"I promise," Caesar echoed.
With that, Moment walked up the steps to the train. Pausing, he turned. "It's too bad
Mom couldn't make it," he said sadly.
Signature nodded sympathetically. "Shining had to go take care of Baby Gusty. She's
sick with a bad cold."
Moment shrugged. "Send her my love. Bye everyone!"
Honor waved good-bye as the train pulled out of the station. She sighed. Now that
Moment had really gone, Honor felt deflated. It seemed like part of her had just left forever on
that train with Moment. Maybe this means I finally have to grow up, Honor thought.
"Now who am I going to have to pester all the time?" she wondered aloud.
"There's always me," Caesar joked.
Smiling, Honor agreed. "There's always you."
* * *
Honor sighed as she walked along the wooded trails that wandered all over Glorified
Acres. "Night always seems the loneliest. Everything's quiet. I can't believe he's been gone for
only four hours!" she lamented to the stars. "But he'll be a great artist, I know it," Honor
countered.
Shrugging as if giving up in defeat, Honor wandered back near the barn. Stopping at
the
arena, she gasped. A single silver beam shone down from the full moon to the center of the ring.
And in the center of the moonbeam, a graceful silhouette danced in time to the music of the
night.
"Caesar," she breathed.
The light on Caesar's gray coat danced into thousands of colors as he leaped high into a
perfect capriole. Then landing, he lifted himself up into a levade, balancing precariously on his
hind legs.
Honor held her breath as she counted the seconds Caesar held the pose. Fifteen seconds
went by before he lowered himself back to the ground.
Letting her breath out, Honor smiled. Although Caesar was deep in concentration, he
flicked an ear in Honor's direction and slowly turned a dark eye toward her. His eyes were
always full of mystery and understanding. The mare always felt reassured and calm when she
looked into Caesar's eyes. His eyes look right down to the very soul of me, she
thought.
The gray colt walked slowly toward Honor. "I thought you didn't dance," Honor said,
her voice barely a whisper.
Caesar blinked. "I don't," he said softly, "I fly."
All Honor could say was a barely audible, "Oh."
Taking a step closer to Honor, Caesar smiled shyly. His dark eyes slowly searched
Honor's pretty face. His eyes that usually held sadness buried deep down, now held uncertainty.
Honor frowned slightly. Softly he kissed Honor. Honor smiled and closed her eyes. This
seems perfectly natural, Honor mused. How funny.
As Caesar looked Honor in the eye, she found her voice. "Will you be my partner for
the
show season?" she inquired, her voice almost held a pleading tone.
Taking a deep breath, Caesar accepted, "I would love to be your partner."
* * *
The two young horses worked hard to perfect their routines and performances.
Together,
they made the perfect dressage team. And like Honor's parents, they became closer friends
through the vigorous work. Honor had to admit to herself that she had helplessly fallen in love
with Caesar.
To Honor, it seemed like the days whirled by her so quickly that she barely had time to
anticipate the future because it was already upon her. Some days were so tiring that Honor would
forget them, too occupied by the next event.
But some days she wanted to remember forever. Like the first day of autumn. The
leaves
had fallen all around Caesar and Honor like golden rain as they danced around the arena. Caesar
had grabbed Honor and twirled her around until she was dizzy. Then together they waltzed
through the shower of gold.
Months flew by and soon there was snow on the ground. "Jingle bells! Jingle bells!
Jingle all the way!" Honor sang.
Caesar laughed. "What are you so happy about, Honor?" he teased. Everyone knew
how
excited Honor was, but he couldn't help himself.
"You must be insane!" she cried in disbelief, "It's all I've been talking about for the past
month, Caesar!"
"I know," Caesar said, "I was kidding."