My Little Pony Monthly Issue 19 (October 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue 19
October 1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All The Pretty Little Ponies
(A Revisionist Interpretation of the MLP Mythos)
Chapter 8
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. They
have discovered that the ponies are actually the enchanted daughters of King Arthur and Queen
Guinevere, turned into ponies by Arthur's evil half-sister Morgan. Megan is now taking the ponies
back to their parents through the Wood of the World that can take them to any time and any place
on Earth. Megan and the ponies are accompanied by Madra, an Irish Wolfhound; Spike, a baby
dragon; Aunt Constance; and Sarah, a distant granddaughter of Morgan who is now friends with
Megan and the ponies. Comments and constructive criticism may be sent to
cloewen@juno.com
Morgan sat alone in her dark throne room, her chin in her hand while she
considered her alternatives. Sarah had failed her and Morgan had deserted her to whatever fate
she might meet in the Wood. Morgan clearly needed another plan of attack or Megan would
certainly bring the Seven Sisters back to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere.
Sarah had mentioned a dragon which had to be the one whose egg had been kept at
Dubricius' Sanctuary all these years. Evidently, it had hatched and Megan was taking it to Arthur
as well as his seven daughters. And Sarah had mentioned a big dog and Morgan had no idea what
that meant. Her plans were starting to unravel quickly.
Impatiently, Morgan struck a small gong near her throne. A man appeared and
bowed low.
"In the kitchen there's a new scullery maid named Hilda. Bring her to me." The man
left quickly.
Minutes later, a small lump of a woman was pushed into the throne room and the
door slammed behind her.
Morgan beckoned the old woman to her with a crooked finger. "Come, come, my
dear. Come here. We have much to talk about."
The old woman came to the throne. She was old, fat, and stoop-shouldered; her
red, rheumy eyes were filled with mistrust and questions.
"When did you come to me, Hilda?" Morgan asked. "Three weeks ago with those
two daughters of yours? To learn magic, wasn't it?"
Hilda cackled and wiped her nose on her sleeve. "Yes, my lady," she said, her voice
cracking with age. "I came with Reeka and Draggle to learn from the great Morgan, but I can't
learn anything washing dishes in the kitchen," she complained. "And I changed my name to Hydia,
my lady. It seemed more fitting for a woman of my stature who wants to learn the dark
arts."
Morgan bit back a retort. She needed a tool and this ancient upstart could come in
quite handy if she was used properly. "As you wish … Hydia," Morgan said, humoring the old
fool. "I have a job for you that requires you doing some magic. Would you like that?"
Hydia grinned. "Magic? Real magic?" She shuffled her feet in excitement and
nervously pulled on the old stained shawl that went around her neck. "Magic," she said again
dreamily.
Morgan's smile vanished to be replaced by a hard glare. "Then listen to me and
listen well." Hydia jerked her attention back to Morgan.
"Three years ago, I turned my half-brother's seven daughters into ponies in revenge
for reasons you need not know. His wizard, Merlin, sent them in a toy castle down time through
the Wood of the World and I thought the Seven Sisters gone forever.
"But Merlin tricked me. They are returning and when they return, my spell will be
broken."
Morgan grabbed Hydia's shawl with one hand and pulled her closer. "And they are
not coming alone. They have a descendent of Arthur leading them. They have a baby dragon with
them as well as some large dog."
Hydia swallowed hard. "A dragon?" Her voice shook.
Morgan laughed and let go of the old woman's greasy shawl. "Now why would the
great Hydia fear a dragon? Especially when she has Morgan's book of spells?"
Hydia stared. "Book of spells?" she asked, her face a mask of lust for power.
"Spells," she muttered.
"Yes, my dear. Spells. And real spells. You are to go into the Wood. Stop Megan
and the sisters from returning. Use whatever spells you need and do whatever it takes." Morgan
leaned closely so her face was only inches away from Hydia's.
"And do not fail me. You would not like what would happen if you failed
me."
Again, Hydia swallowed hard. "But," she stammered, "why don't you go yourself? I
mean, I'm glad to be of assistance to such a great lady, but why use me?"
Morgan gritted her teeth in frustration. "Because the Wood has a will and the Wood
has a way. It has barred magicians and sorcerers. I can send my image, but I cannot walk its
paths. Yet, magical things can enter; magical things like toy castles and toy carousels and books
of spells.
"Stop the girl and the sisters. And when you return, I will make you what you
wish."
"And my daughters?" Hydia stammered. "Can my daughters come with me? I want
them to learn, too."
Morgan waved a hand in dismissal. "Take your waifs with you. Just do what I
command."
Hydia bowed low and stared at the book that had magically appeared at her feet.
With twitching fingers she picked it up, and holding it close to her chest, she fled the dark throne
room.
It was their second day after they had left Dubricius' Sanctuary, and Megan and her
friends still walked the Wood of the World. After two days of berries, mushrooms and raw herbs,
Megan hungered for a pizza. The ponies were well-fed from the thick patches of grass they
occasionally found, and Madra and Spike seemed to live off the very air they breathed.
"I wonder where this Wood is taking us?" Megan asked for the third time that
day.
Aunt Constance said nothing, but Megan could tell she was worried. And probably
hungry. Sarah, on the other hand, had no complaints at all. Megan suspected she was still in shock
from being deserted by Morgan in the Wood; and aside from keeping a wide berth from the great
dog and the baby dragon, Sarah stayed close to Twilight and said very little unless she was spoken
to.
With a rush of feathers, Medley and Firefly landed and carefully folded their wings
along their sleek backs.
"There's a small waterfall up ahead," Medley said excitedly. "With a great big
pool."
Megan looked at her ragged little party. Her clothes, as well as those of Aunt
Constance and Sarah, were heavily stained from travel and sleeping on the ground. Aside from
washing hands and faces in the small streams they had found, they were very dirty. And the ponies
were filthy, too.
"If the water's clean, we probably could enjoy a bath," Megan said. "Lead us too
it."
Minutes later, they could hear the sound of falling water which led them to a small
waterfall that filled a large pond with crystal clear water.
To the surprise of everyone, Spike dove in immediately with a great splash.
Moments later, he came to the surface, a huge trout in his jaws.
"Spike caught a fish," Sarah laughed in delight, the first time she had laughed since
they first met her. "Good going, Spike," she called.
Spike threw the fish in the air and caught it head-first in his teeth where it
disappeared immediately.
"Fish," Spike said clearly. "Ssshhpike caught fish." With that, he dove again.
"Now we know what he likes to eat," Megan said in relief.
Minutes later, they were all enjoying the clear water, washing off the stain of four
days journey. Spike had so far caught several fish and was now undulating through the water like
a miniature version of the Loch Ness Monster.
After drinking his fill, Madra watched from where he lay on the shore, where no
amount of coaxing could make him come into the water.
The ponies rolled in the shallows, turning the water a dirty brown from four days of
dust and dirt.
The waterfall served as a natural shower and, though she dearly wished for soap,
Megan was able to wash the leaves and dirt from her hair. Sarah had already used the waterfall to
wash herself, using a fine clay she had found as a mild abrasive to get some of the darker smudges
off her face and arms. Aunt Constance was content to simply dangle her feet in the water from the
edge of a rocky lip.
Curious, and forgotten by the others in the pleasure of the pool's water, Sarah
climbed up the slanting and fractured sides of the cliff from where the waterfall tumbled. There
was no danger of falling; handholds were plentiful and the slope was not that steep.
Sarah climbed well above the tops of the massive trees that made up the Wood.
Though the trees at the top of the cliff blocked her view to the north, she saw a green carpet of
treetops as far as she could see. Struck by the simple beauty of the Wood, she looked to the
south.
At first, she simply stared in wonder, not understanding what she was seeing.
Moments later, she was scrambling back down the cliff as fast as she could.
Sarah found that Megan had finished her impromptu bath and was drying in the
sunlight by the waterfall. "Megan," she whispered urgently. "Megan, you've got to come with
me."
"Why?" Megan asked, annoyed at being disturbed. She stopped at the look on
Sarah's face. "What's the matter?" she asked quickly.
"There's something you need to see." Sarah grabbed Megan's hand. "It's right up
here."
"Let me get the others," Megan protested.
"I want you to see it first," Sarah implored. "Please. Later, if you think they need to
see it too, we'll show it to them."
The two young girls climbed back up the cliffside. Megan too was struck by the sea
of green until she looked to where Sarah was pointing.
In the crystal clear air, they could see the wall even though it was still far away.
They saw the gate and its Guardian and the garden that lay beyond the wall, a garden of exquisite
beauty with an indescribable array of color and form. They could see the flaming sword the
shining Guardian held, and Megan and Sarah felt a peculiar sense of immeasurable loss and
regret.
"Let's not tell the others," Megan said a while later. "I think that's the Heart of the
Wood, and I don't think it right that too many people see it."
Quickly, though reluctant to leave the vision behind, they climbed back down the
cliffside. Aunt Constance had dozed off to the sound of the water and the warmth of the sunlight
while the ponies quietly grazed on the lush grass that grew near the pool. Madra had disappeared
to who knew where and Spike still swam in the pool's cooling waters.
Their clothes dried quickly in the sunlight and, with two hours yet to go before
sunset, they continued following the path to wherever the Wood was leading them.
"Reeka! Draggle! Get up, you lazybones!" Hydia stormed into the room they used
as both bedroom and living room. Trash covered the floor and it stank. "The great Morgan has
given us a real job besides cooking gruel and washing tureens."
Draggle lay sprawled on a filthy sleeping pallet. Barely fifteen summers old, she was
as thin as a rod and her shock of red hair looked like it had never been combed. She rubbed sleep
out of her eyes.
"Mother," she complained. "I want to sleep."
Hydia glared at her and clenched her hands into fists. "I … I mean, Hydia," Draggle
said quickly.
Reeka sniggered from where she sat in a corner. Two years younger then her sister,
Reeka was as fat as her sister was thin. Grinning, she ate two-day old gruel out of an old wooden
bowl with her fingers. "I've been up for fifteen minutes," she said, her voice thick and oily. "I'm
not a lazybones like Draggle."
"Stop fighting," Hydia ordered, pawing through the trash. "Get up, get dressed, and
help me find some things. We've got a job hunting ponies."
"Little horsies?" Draggle asked gleefully. "We're going to hunt little
horsies?"
"Ponies," Hydia corrected her. "Magical ponies that Morgan wants stopped."
She grinned at her daughters. "We're going to be real sorcerers."
Later, the three stood outside Morgan's castle. Draggle and Reeka held the large
book while Hydia intoned ancient words and moved her hands in ornate motions.
The first spell was a failure, temporarily turning Draggle's hair a brilliant green in
color. It took several minutes of threats before Reeka could compose herself to hold the book
still. Reeka's muffled giggling broke Hydia's concentration and the next spell had them running
for their lives from a large, enraged bull that magically appeared out of thin air.
On the fourth try--- the third having given Reeka a bad case of hiccups--- the air
shimmered and the Wood appeared. With a cry of triumph, Hydia ran down the path followed by
Draggle and a hiccuping Reeka where they disappeared into the Wood.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey
What Halloween costume would you like to see your favorite pony wear? (If you've designed a
costume for a pony, let us know that, too!) E-mail Tabby (TabbyMLP@aol.com); entries will be
featured in the next issue.
Last month's--
The question was: How much has collecting My Little Ponies influenced your life?
kthompson@mail2.cu-portland.edu-
I think MLPs have had an 80% influence on my life. Ironically, I got my first MLP the year that
my parents got divorced. I'm an only child, so it was hard on me. I used to role-play with my
ponies, and they were (and still are) my friends when I needed someone to talk to.
LaundryHag@aol.com-
Oh, definitely 100%!!!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Pony in Town
by Sugarberry
Humming with the hustle and bustle of the first day of school, Miss Hackney's
classroom was a flutter of activity as the students found their seats and organized their notebooks.
Snips of conversation filled the air. "I broke my lead already!" "Bright Eyes, that outfit is great!"
"Have you heard the latest gossip?" "Meet me at the Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe after
school."
The chatter continued until Miss Hackney entered the room, followed by some pony
the returning students had never seen before. All eyes settled on her as she stood by Miss
Hackney at the front of the classroom. A snicker was heard from Melody as she leaned close to
Patch and whispered, "What an ugly pony!"
Granted, the new pony didn't look exactly like any of the other students. For one
thing, she was much smaller, very petite. She held her head high, though, and smiled (admittedly
a bit nervously) as Miss Hackney introduced her. "Girls, this is Midnight Rose. Her family has
moved to Dream Valley from Friendship Gardens. I'm sure you will all make her feel
welcome."
Patch did her part by applauding the new pony; and the others, except Melody,
joined in. Midnight Rose's blue eyes sparkled brightly at this friendly reception, and she slipped
her magenta body into the desk indicated by Miss Hackney.
As the school day began, Melody caught Sweetheart's eye and whispered, "Skinny
little thing, isn't she? Must be hungry." Sweetheart smiled, but returned her attention quickly to
the lesson on prime numbers that Miss Hackney was explaining. Melody turned her gaze on
Midnight Rose and thought again, "Boy, is she ugly. Probably stupid, too!"
At that moment, Melody realized that Miss Hackney had just asked her a question.
"Wa...what?" she stuttered.
Is seven a prime number, Melody?" Miss Hackney repeated.
"It's never been important to me," responded Melody. The rest of the class tittered.
"Midnight Rose, can you explain to Melody whether seven is prime?"
"Yes. Seven is prime because its only factors are one and itself," concisely
explained Midnight Rose.
"Skinny creep," muttered Melody to herself.
When biology class started, Miss Hackney assigned each pony to a partner for lab
work. "Melody, you and Midnight Rose will be lab partners. Please show Midnight Rose where
we keep our lab equipment."
Melody clomped to the cupboard at the back of the room, and pulled out an
equipment box. Brusquely, she shoved it at Midnight Rose and said, "Here's the stuff."
The ponies set-up their microscopes and Miss Hackney handed out prepared slides
for them to view. Melody grabbed the slide from Midnight Rose, and adjusted the magnification.
After peering at the globular organism for a few seconds, she pushed the microscope toward her
saying, "It's fat and ugly."
Midnight Rose spent several minutes examining the minuscule creature under the
lens and thoughtfully said, "Look at the fluid grace of its movements, though. It may look fat and
ugly to us, but for an amoeba, it is the perfect shape."
Leaning forward to rest her chin on her hoof, Melody sneered, "I suppose you think
its pretty!"
Gazing once more at the amoeba on the slide, Midnight Rose explained, "Well,
maybe not pretty. And yet, to another amoeba, maybe she is beautiful!"
"Fat and ugly," returned Melody decidedly.
"Lunchtime is my favorite part of the school day," stated Bon Bon as the ponies
gathered under the huge maple tree shading the school yard. She bit into the fudge brownie she'd
packed for dessert, closing her eyes and savoring the chocolate flavor.
"Shouldn't you eat your sandwich first?" asked Clover, chewing on a crisp
apple.
"This brownie was begging to be eaten!" Bon Bon replied. "Besides, my priorities
may be different from yours!"
"That's true," agreed Starlight. "Think how boring life would be if we were all
carbon copies of each other."
Off to the side where Melody had drawn Patch so the two could speak privately,
Melody was complaining, "...and how can anyone be so skinny and ugly? She looks like a
lizard!"
Patch rolled her eyes, and tried to placate Melody. "She is really very pleasant and
fun to be around, Melody. Sure, she's thinner than us, but she definitely isn't ugly."
"She is too! Skinny and ugly," griped Melody.
"Wait until you get to know her better."
"I don't want to know her better, the ugly thing," was Melody's reply as the bell
called the ponies back to their desks.
As Melody walked into the classroom, she pulled her tummy in tight and held her
head high, trying to mimic Midnight Rose's trim figure, and nearly stumbled into Miss Hackney.
Miss Hackney looked at Melody curiously, and asked if she was feeling okay. "You don't look
yourself, Melody."
The rest of the afternoon went smoothly. History and grammar were soon finished,
and then it was time for the last class of the day--physical education.
"The parallel bars are set-up in the gym," began Miss Hackney, "and I want you to
practice what you learned last spring."
With a burst of energy and enthusiasm, the ponies rushed to the gymnasium and
formed an impromptu line to take turns on the bars.
Bright Eyes was the first up, followed by Clover, Starlight, Bon Bon, Sweetheart,
and Patch. When Melody's turn came, she smugly began to balance herself across the bar, her
blue mane flowing gracefully behind her. She glanced at Midnight Rose to see if the skinny pony
was watching the graceful beauty of a real pony when she slipped and fell. She ended up
as a blue and pink tangle on the gym mats.
"Now, Midnight Rose, it's your turn," said Miss Hackney after verifying that
nothing more than Melody's pride had been hurt. "Are you familiar with this equipment?"
"Oh, yes," grinned Midnight Rose, her eyes glittering with mischief. "Gymnastics is
my favorite sport."
So saying, Midnight Rose sprang onto the parallel bars and began a routine that had
the other ponies standing open-mouthed in surprise and admiration. As she did a perfect
dismount, every pony but one clustered around her in praise.
"Way to go, Middy," called Patch.
"That was fantastic!" added Sweetheart.
Each one was generous with her compliments except for Melody who hung back
wearing a sour expression that marred her ponyishness. "It makes me sick to see that ugly pony
get all the attention," she muttered to herself. "I wish she'd never left Friendship Gardens!"
The rest of the gang took Midnight Rose to the Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe after
school to introduce her to the finer things of Ponyland, namely ice cream and chocolate malts.
Over a banana split, Midnight Rose explained to the ponies that her dad had been an Olympic
gymnast gold medal winner, and he had begun training her for that same goal when she was
born.
On the way home, Patch was intercepted by a restless Melody who wanted to know
what had been going on.
"Where were you?" questioned Patch.
"Just hangin' out," explained Melody. "I didn't want to be with you while that ugly
pony was around."
"Melody, stop calling Midnight Rose ugly. Just because she's a little different than
us, she is still a pony, and a very pretty one at that."
"But she's so skinny! No pony can be that skinny!" continued a snarling
Melody.
Patch sighed. "Melody..."
"Skinny and ugly! That's all she is. You'll see, Patch. I'd stay away from her if I
were you. You might start looking like a lizard yourself someday."
"That's enough, Melody." Patch finally reached her boiling point. "If you are
going to continue running down Midnight Rose just because she's not the same as you, than do it
somewhere else. I don't want to listen anymore."
With that said, Patch tossed her mane and headed home. Melody watched her go,
and tossed her mane in turn. "She'll see it my way sooner or later," she thought to herself. That
pony is ugly, no doubt about it. Skinny and ugly."
An exhausted Midnight Rose crawled into bed that night after her first day of
school. Her mother came and sat on her bed and smiled down at her. "I haven't tucked you in
since you were a little pony; but after your big day with new friends, I thought maybe you could
use some special attention."
Midnight Rose's eyelids were heavy, but the sparkle in her eyes still remained.
"Mom," she confided, "I was really scared going to a new school without knowing any of the
ponies in my class, but every pony was so nice that it turned out to be a great day." She didn't
worry her mother with the fact that one of the ponies had been rather cool towards her. "I think
I'm going to fit in just fine."
After her mom left the room, Midnight Rose fell asleep almost immediately. Her
dreams were filled with colorful images of new friends and good times.
Only once, close to midnight, did Midnight Rose appear restless as a strange dream
flitted across her subconscious. In this dream, the colors were still vibrant, but the creature
wasn't a pony. It was an amoeba, a big pink amoeba. But she had a flowing blue mane. And
Miss Hackney's voice said, "Melody, it's your turn now." And the pink amoeba oozed up onto
the parallel bars and crept across the bar, her blue mane swinging side to side with the motion of
her efforts, when suddenly she lost her grip and landed with a sickening squish.
In the way of dreams, the action shifted suddenly to a magical meadow where
Midnight Rose and Melody were laughing and talking together like the best of friends. They were
surrounded by a multitude of ponies in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Fat ponies, thin ponies,
ponies with glasses, ponies on crutches, ponies in wheelchairs, tailless ponies, princess ponies and
ragamuffin ponies, large ponies and tiny ponies; every pony was enjoying a gorgeous day, sharing
her joy with every other pony. No cliques here!
Momentarily, Midnight Rose's eyes flickered open and a smile crossed her face.
"Every pony is beautiful in the eyes of the Lord," she whispered as she once again drifted off to a
place in her dreams where all ponies were equally valued.
And in a house across Ponyland, a pink pony with a blue mane was having the same
dream.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
School News
This month the baby ponies were assigned to write Halloween Haiku.
Fat orange pumpkin
Eyes glowing in the darkness
Sitting on the porch
by Baby Gusty
Tail swinging slowly
Black cat on the wooden fence
Yowl like a banshee
by Clipper
Drop, drop, drop, drop, drop
Candy dropping in my bag
I love Halloween
by Baby Starflower
Soft, silky, lacy
Strands of delicate beauty
Spider web builder
by Baby Firefly
The streets of our town
Full of monsters, ghosts, goblins
I want my mommy
by Baby Stockings
Moon shining brightly
A bat hovering high up
He looks so spooky
by Baby North Star
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=/\=PONY TREK=/\=
by Blu Flyer
======= Episode 3: A.I: Part One =======
Medley breathed a sigh of relief. She stooped over the console in engineering,
trying to figure out a complex disturbance in the warp-manifold.
She fluttered her wings a bit in frustration, and some of her green mane fell over her
face. She sighed again, sweeping it back behind one ear with a throw of her head. She heard the
four-step beat of hooves behind her, and turned to see Ensign Baby Countdown standing beside
her.
"I've taken a look at the neural plasma in the warp field," the Ensign said, gesturing
at his PADD. "It looks like... well, it's nothing anyone taught at the Academy. You better take a
look." Medley shook herself into a composed stance, took a deep breath, and followed the young
Ensign.
They walked towards the center of Engineering where the warp core stood. It had
a pleasant hum about it, and the colors inside swirled like some drowning rainbow... in a beautiful
way, of course. Medley stared at it, watching the blues and purples blow and shift inside the giant
column.
"Lieutenant?" Countdown asked.
"Humm? Oh. Yes. Show me what you found." Medley's attention snapped back
into the heightened mathematical awareness required for technical engineering work.
"I was noticing that the core is... well, Lieutenant, it seems like it's pulsing."
"Pulsing? In what way?" Medley asked, taking a look at the console.
"At undeterminable intervals the core's temperature rises. The period lasts for
about a second, and then drops down to normal temperatures. That's why we've been having
trouble with the manifolds. The conduits that control plasma flow--"
"I know, they shut off when the temperature rises. Safety protocol," Medley
interrupted. She stared at the console, and studied the numbers. Rise at Oh- Four-hundred hours,
and again at Oh-Seven hundred, and again at Oh-Nine hundred... something clicked in her
mind.
"The pulses are getting faster," she said, still looking at the console.
"Um, yes, I guess they are."
"Keep an eye on this," Medley said. She tapped the pendant that hung from her
golden collar. It chimed.
"Lieutenant Medley to the Captain," she said, walking towards the turbo lift. The
Captain's voice came over the comm.
"Yes, Lieutenant?" The Captain sounded cool and collected. Medley stepped into
the turbo.
"We've got a situation in Engineering. Can I see you?"
"Is it serious? Is anyone hurt?" the Captain's voice asked worriedly. Medley could
visualize her Captain jumping out of her seat and getting ready to come down.
"Oh, no, Captain. Nothing serious. I just... can I just have a moment?"
"Yes. Of course. Meet me in my ready room. Flyer out." The chime over the
comm notified the Chief Engineer that the Captain had logged out. She tapped her own
comm-badge and shut it off as the turbo opened onto the bridge. She trotted briskly across the
room, receiving an inquiring look from Ensign Ribbs at the conn.
Medley hurried into the Captain's ready room. Inside, the Captain and First Officer
were seated.
They were strange company, and although Medley knew the Captain and
Commander to be nice ponies, but still... the Captain of the ship... drinking soda?
"Please sit down, Lieutenant," Commander Tic-Tac-Toe said. "Would you like
something to drink?"
"Um, no. No thank you," Medley said, sitting down.
"What did you want to tell me?" asked the Captain.
"Well, there's some sort of.... situation going on in engineering. The warp core--
it's pulsing heat. And the pulses have been getting faster."
"Ah," said Captain Flyer, who accepted the strawberry soda that Tic-Tac-Toe
offered her. "Do you have any theories?"
"No, Sir. Not at this moment."
"Please, call me Captain," Flyer said.
"Yes, Captain. I--" Medley was interrupted by a chime on her comm badge. The
Captain nodded. Medley tapped her badge.
"Lieutenant?" came Ensign Countdown's voice over the hum of Engineering.
"Yes, Ensign?"
"The pulses... they've stopped getting faster. They're at the rate of ten every fifteen
seconds."
"Thank you, Ensign. Medley out." Medley looked at the Captain.
"Thank you for telling me, " Flyer said. "I wish to know what this is all about. The
crew is at your disposal. Dismissed." The Captain rose and headed out the door.
Medley looked around, and caught Tic-Tac-Toe's eye as she brought the glasses
back to the replicator. The Commander smiled, eyes twinkling. Medley walked out the doors
and caught a turbo back to engineering.
As she walked in, checking various consoles, Ensign Countdown trotted up to
her.
"Yes?"
"Lieutenant, I think you ought to see this." He turned and headed towards the
warp core. Medley followed.
The warp core looked the same to her, and she was about to ask what to look for,
when suddenly the core flashed. The burst of light lasted about a half a second and then was
gone. A second later, it flashed again. Medley looked to Ensign Countdown questioningly.
"It flashes every time it pulses," he explained. Medley nodded and checked the
console near the core.
"Look at this," she said, pointing.
As she accessed the energy output of the core, suddenly a long screen full of
numbers and symbols spilled over the monitors. Countdown gasped.
"Get a decoder in here now," she said quietly. Ensign Countdown hurried to the
other nearby console and brought up the decoder. Medley watched her screen as the red cursor
scanned over the readings. Medley hit her comm badge.
"Lieutenant Medley to Captain Flyer," she said.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"The core is putting out patterned energy readings, Captain. We're decoding it
now."
"How long will it take?"
"An estimated four hours. It's a long cryptogram."
"Really. Well, tell me when it's done. I want to see it right away."
Medley nodded, even though the Captain couldn't see her. She watched as the
monitors translated the first segment of cryptics.
--{ I L I V E ! }--
To be continued....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mystery Pony
This month's Mystery Pony--
pink pony with white hair; silver glitter stars symbol
E-mail your guess to Tabby (TabbyMLP@aol.com) and check the next issue for the
outcome!
Last month's--
The correct answer was Clever Clover! Winners are:
kthompson@mail2.cu-portland.edu-
My other guess is Clever Clover.
TippyLee@aol.com-
This month's Mystery Pony is Clever Clover, a 1998 Pony!
Amsofct@aol.com-
Is it Clever Clover!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invento Ponies
Halloween Ponies
by Tabby
Name: Pumpkin Delight
Body Color: Black
Hair Color: Black with Orange Streak
Symbol: Orange Pumpkin
Breed: Earth
Name: Twilight Walker
Body Color: Orange
Hair Color: Orange with Black Streak
Symbol: Black Cat
Breed: Unicorn
Name: Spooky Spectre
Body Color: White
Hair Color: White with Black Streak
Symbol: Black Outline of a Pony Ghost
Breed: Pegasus
Name: Halloween Surprise
Body Color: Orange
Hair Color: White with Orange Streak
Symbol: Black Outline of a Haunted House
Breed: Unicorn
Name: Bone Pile
Body Color: Black
Hair Color: White with Black Streak
Symbol: Black Outline of a Pony Skeleton
Breed: Earth
Name: Midnight Flier
Body Color: White
Hair Color: Orange with White Streak
Symbol: Black Bat
Breed: Pegasus
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PONY OF THE MONTH
Sugar Belle
(blue pony with light pink and magenta hair; magenta purse symbol)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fun With Flowers
by Tabby
One autumn day Sugar Belle was taking a walk through one of the many meadows
in Friendship Gardens. The birds were singing a pleasant tune and Sugar Belle was thoroughly
enjoying being so close to nature.
Just then the colorful leaves on the bush that she was walking past started to shake.
Sugar Belle jumped back in alarm. "What's that!"
Something within the bush started to giggle, and then a white head popped out of
the bush. "Hey, Sugar Belle!"
"Light Heart!" Sugar Belle yelped. "Why did you do that?"
Light Heart was overcome with laughter. "Because it's-- fun!"
Sugar Belle shook her head good-naturedly. "I suppose."
Tossing her mane, Light Heart fully emerged from the bush. "So, whatcha up to
today?"
"Nothing in particular; I was just taking a walk."
"You must have more excitement in your life than that!" Light Heart
exclaimed.
"Oh, but walks can be quite exciting. You can see a lot of wildlife," Sugar Belle
defended herself.
"Yes, that's true." Light Heart nodded her head. "But I was just going to head
over to Ivy's place."
"I guess I should head back home, too; I promised Petal Blossom I'd help her
decorate for the big party she's throwing," Sugar Belle explained.
"Yes, and I'm having my hair done for that big occasion!" Light Heart exclaimed.
"It's gonna be great!"
Sugar Belle waved to Light Heart as she trotted off in the direction of Petal
Blossom's house.
* * *
"Hello, Sugar Belle!" Petal Blossom greeted her from the door. "Come in!"
"How has the party preparation been going so far?" Sugar Belle questioned.
"Pretty good," Petal Blossom replied. "Things are coming along just fine."
Sugar Belle smiled. "And where are the flowers that I'm supposed to decorate the
place with?"
"Well, they haven't arrived yet," Petal Blossom said. "That's the only thing that
isn't coming along fine."
"They'll get here soon!" Sugar Belle said cheerfully.
"Yes, they should... the flower pony did say he'd have the cart here by four o'
clock, and it's only a few minutes to four now."
"Is there anything else I can help with before they get here?" Sugar Belle
offered.
"Oh, that would be great!" Petal Blossom exclaimed. "I haven't gotten all the
cupcakes frosted yet; you can work on that."
"Sure!" Sugar Belle agreed.
Petal Blossom led Sugar Belle into the kitchen and pointed to the cupcakes on the
counter and the bowl of frosting. "Here, take this knife, and you can start frosting."
Sugar Belle took the knife and spread frosting over one cupcake. "Oh, these smell
good, Petal Blossom!"
"I hope they taste good, too," Petal Blossom smiled. "In the meantime, I'll be over
here working on the fruit salad."
"Are you putting whipped cream in the fruit salad?" Sugar Belle questioned as she
kept working on the cupcakes.
"Oh, of course!" Petal Blossom said from the other side of the kitchen, where she
was cutting up a banana.
"Maybe you ought to make some without whipped cream, too," Sugar Belle
suggested.
Petal Blossom stopped and considered this. "Hmm, that's a good idea! In case
anyone's on a diet, they wouldn't want all that whipped cream."
"Or if they just plain don't like whipped cream," Sugar Belle added as she set
another frosted cupcake in the lineup of cupcakes.
Petal Blossom giggled. "Like Tabby over in Dream Valley! She absolutely hates
the stuff!"
"I remember one party a little while ago; she complained that everything was ruined
because it all had whipped cream in it!" Sugar Belle recalled.
"I just can't imagine anyone not liking whipped cream," Petal Blossom
sighed.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. It's such good stuff!" Sugar Belle exclaimed.
Just then Petal Blossom perked up her head and looked out a window. "Oh, look,
the flower cart just arrived!" With that she dropped the knife she was using and ran out of the
kitchen; Sugar Belle followed her.
Petal Blossom had just opened the front door. "Oh, Spike's with the flower pony!"
she said to Sugar Belle. "But where are the flowers? I don't see them!"
"And the flower pony looks so forlorn," Sugar Belle remarked. "What
happened?"
Spike hopped down from the cart and ran towards Sugar Belle and Petal Blossom.
"Oh, the flowers are ruined!" he sobbed. "It was just one little hiccup! Really, really!"
Petal Blossom ran out of the house and over to the cart. "There's only a burnt mass
left!"
"What exactly happened, Spike?" Sugar Belle questioned the purple baby
dragon.
"See, I met up with the flower pony and he invited me to come along," Spike
explained. "So I went and sat down, and one time during the trip I hiccuped and flame came
bursting out and caught the flowers on fire! I didn't mean it!"
"We know you didn't mean it, Spike," Petal Blossom sighed. "But how are we
going to get more flowers?"
The flower pony walked over to the group. "I could see if they had any more
flowers at the Dream Valley location, but they might be all out, too."
"You mean you don't have any more in Friendship Gardens?" Petal Blossom said in
dismay.
"Your order cleared us all out. Like I said, I could try the Dream Valley location,
but I wouldn't count on getting any more," the driver explained.
Sugar Belle and Petal Blossom sighed.
"I could help you get replacements!" Spike offered.
"But how could you? All the flowers are dead for the season," Petal Blossom
said.
"Oh, yeah," Spike realized. "Too bad."
"Why don't I just summon some up!" Sugar Belle suddenly burst out.
"Sugar Belle! You're right! That's your magic power!" Petal Blossom
explained.
"I'll be on my way now," the flower pony said hastily and walked over to the
cart.
"You can summon flowers up?" Spike asked in awe, as the flower pony went away
with the cart.
"Sure!" Sugar Belle said. "Too bad I didn't think of it earlier."
"Let's get back inside and hurry up!" Petal Blossom urged.
The three hurried inside Petal Blossom's house.
"Now, what kinds do you want in what locations?" Sugar Belle questioned.
Petal Blossom thought for awhile. "Uh... roses in the entryway... and violets in the
powder room..."
"Okay, let me take care of those two first," Sugar Belle said. As they were already
in the entryway, she closed her eyes in concentration-- and suddenly there were roses decorating
the room! Above the doorway and windows, bouquets sitting on each side of the staircase--
everywhere!
"How do you do that!" Spike asked, wide-eyed.
"Now for the violets," Sugar Belle mumbled as she went up the stairs into the main
room of Petal Blossom's house. She stood outside the powder room and concentrated again.
Similar to before, dozens of violets appeared in the room.
"Isn't is beautiful?" Petal Blossom breathed.
Sugar Belle went throughout the house doing the same thing to every room--
chrysanthemums in the main room, tulips in the living room, and pansies in the kitchen.
"You did a great job, Sugar Belle!" Petal Blossom congratulated her. "I don't
know what I would have done without you!"
"Yeah, Sugar Belle, it looks really cool," Spike commented, fingering a
chrysanthemum. "I'd better start back home, huh?"
"Why don't you just stay for the party?" Petal Blossom invited him.
Spike's face brightened. "Aww... that'd be great!"