My Little Pony Monthly Issue 28 (July 1,
1999)
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 28
July 1999
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Letters to the Editor
ainouye@home.com-- I think the MLP Monthly is a great idea. I love the stories,
the contests, the jokes, and even browsing through the ads. Keep up the good work!
BabyPosey1@aol.com-- Hi, Tabby! I'd just like to say that the stories in MLP
Monthly are really good! They're funny and well written! I also like the ads ‘cause it helps
people trade/sell/buy MLPs from other collectors.
SteamerMLP@aol.com-- Hi, Tabby, I just want to say how much I have really
loved reading MLP Monthly; some of the stories I've really loved! I especially love the Tabby
and Sugarberry Gossip Hour.
BrieBear31@aol.com-- I like it; it's very helpful.
chamber@lakenet.com-- Hiya, Tabby! Sorry I didn't reply right away; I've been
busy and accidentally overlooked this e-mail. I love your Gossip Hour; it makes me laugh most of
the time. Glad to see that the newsletter is getting bigger!
WOTNOWSS@aol.com-- Hi, Tabby and staff. You do a great job on the
newsletter and I think we should all tell you so more often. I know you put a lot of time into it
and you deserve a pat on the back now and then. So here's a big pony hug for all your hard work
and a big thank you, too. :)
flaen@online.no-- Hi, Tabby! Just writing to tell you what a great job you've been
doing with the newsletter! It's brought back a lot of good memories for me. I especially enjoy
the ads section, where I've found many items I've been missing in my collection. Keep up the
good work!
BouncyPony@aol.com-- I really like the series of stories in the MLP Monthly about
Tabby, and I think it's neat that you managed to get Pokèmon in there too!
Editor's response-- All the writers appreciate hearing your kind words. It can
be tough coming up with story ideas month after month, so it's great to hear that somebody out
there really enjoys them.
PansyPearl@aol.com-- I love your newsletter, especially the stories you write. I am
sure I could never write a story that well. Even if I got close to having a good story to put in
your newsletter I'd probably mess it up with a stupid sentence. Don't stop making fabulous
newsletters. :)
Editor's response-- Any of you aspiring writers are encouraged to submit your
child-friendly work for consideration. Think of all the wonderful stories we might be
missing!
jiricek@stlnet.com-- Hi, Tabby! I just wanted to let you know that I look forward
to getting your newsletters every month-- in the past year and a half, I've watched it grow from
around four pages or so to nine pages, and it's great to know that I'm not the only insane
twenty-year-old who still loves MLP after all these years! I must say that I love the stories and
Invento
Ponies, but one of my favorite things is the fact that you've recently incorporated Pokèmon into
your stories! I fell in love with Pikachu and the rest of the Pokèmon last fall and haven't been
able to get enough of them! It's great seeing my favorite collection/obsession from the past tie in
with my current collection/obsession! The one thing I do miss from the newsletters-- besides the
story of King Arthur's daughters that were turned into ponies-- is the pony polls, where you
asked us to identify a pony. It was kinda fun! I love everything else, though, and will continue to
look forward to the MLP Monthly each and every month! Keep up the incredible and excellent
work! :)
Editor's response-- Due to your request, the Mystery Pony feature is back in
this very issue! And read the following letter for what the author of "All The Pretty Little
Ponies" has in mind!
cloewen@pa.net-- I am enjoying the monthly installments of MLP Monthly and
trying desperately to simplify my life so I can spend some more time writing. I have every
intention of sending you Tattertales as soon as my life reaches some modicum of an atmosphere
roughly approaching sanity. :-) I will say that I have entertained a MLP tale which is a crossover
with the Narnia Chronicles, but deserted the idea as too complex for this time, but maybe
someday... ;-)
Editor's response-- Not to put the pressure on, but your fans are anxiously
awaiting your return to MLP Monthly!
jenzie@wolfenet.com-- Hi! I love your adorable and informative newsletter. :) I
just have a few suggestions-- having more clear transitions between sections would help. Also, so
many different e-mails is sometimes a pain... although I know there's most likely a brilliant reason
for it. My favorite part is the ads section, since it helps me out a lot! Thanks again for a great
service.
Editor's response-- To anyone else who may be wondering why I split up the
newsletter into different e-mail sections, it is because AOL-- the server where I send it from--
only allows so many letters to be contained in one e-mail.
bluflyer@juno.com-- This is mostly a letter to say a big THANK YOU to all the
talented writers on this list... I don't have a lot of time any more, but I always enjoy browsing
through the stories and stuff. And... well, you all know I try to write up Pony Trek whenever I
have the time. I think it's great how enthusiastic everyone on the list really is about the entire
world of My Little Pony, and how creative you all are. Oh! And then, that huge thanks to Tabby
for actually putting it all together! So... to everyone... keep up the EXCELLENT work! By the
way-- you know what might be kewl? I love drawing, and I think it would be particularly
interesting to have some sort of mural depicting all our main characters of the regular writings...
eh, let me know (my address is bluflyer@juno.com). ^.^
Editor's response-- Though it's difficult to incorporate pictures into the actual
newsletter, a mural with all the main characters pictured on a webpage would be a great
idea!
teachn2@bellsouth.net-- Hi, just wanted to drop a line to say my little girl loves My
Little Ponies and loves your stories and newsletter. She also likes Pokèmon so she really likes the
stories that have both!
bbbbb.tx5@juno.com-- Hello, Tabby, my daughter and I just LOVE MLP Monthly.
I especially love to read the parts where the ponies use baby talk; my daughter is nine and she
REALLY enjoys it when I can act silly with her. Keep up the good work.
Editor's response-- This is the highest compliment MLP Monthly can receive--
to know that parents are sharing the stories with their children.
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The History of Twinkle Hearts
Part Two
by Windy
After making up after a disagreement, Baby Twinkle Hearts and Baby Fizzy noticed
their brothers stuck in a powerful current, clinging to each other and wailing terribly.
"Hwelp! Hwelp! Hweeeeeeeellllllpppp!!!!" screamed Baby Tex and Baby
Barnacle.
Twinkle Hearts saw tears forming in her brothers' eyes. "Baby Fizzy!" she called,
sounding as urgent as she could, knowing her big sister was stubborn to help ponies in
need.
"Hmm?" asked Baby Fizzy.
"Bwaby Twex n' Bwaby Barnacle are trapped in a current!!!" screamed Baby
Twinkle Hearts.
"Oooh!" said Baby Fizzy, spotting a huge waterfall ahead. "SURF DANCER!
WHITE CAP!!!!" she shrieked, trying to remember the names of the sea ponies.
The two sea ponies came above the water in a splash of foam. "Gwet the bwabies!"
yelled the two baby unicorns. The roar of the waterfall was so load they had to yell to be heard.
"Sorry, but the current is too strong to do it from below!" said White Cap as some
water got in her mouth. Then the two sea ponies disappeared beneath the foam and spray.
* * *
Twinkle Hearts looked up at the baby ponies on the other side of the table as she
paused in telling her story. Baby Lofty and Baby Heart Throb were both clinging to each other,
straws in their mouths. Baby Blossom was hogging the ice cream soda (or rather, what was left
of it). All the other babies were asleep.
Twinkle Hearts gently shook Baby Cotton Candy and Baby Surprise. But then she
noticed Baby Blossom giggling.
Baby Moondancer, who had heard Twinkle Heart telling the story as she was
passing the Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe, scrunched into Baby Blossom's chair.
"Huh?" asked Baby Cotton Candy, waking up.
"Whassa matter?" said Baby Surprise.
"Pay attention," said Twinkle Hearts.
"T.H., continue that story, please," said Baby Moondancer. "T.H." was her way of
saying Twinkle Hearts.
"Alright," said Twinkle Hearts. "Lofty, Heart Throb, it's not that scary. And Baby
Blossom, stop that laughing!"
* * *
"I've gwot an idea!" said Baby Twinkle Hearts. "Mwe turn you and me into a
pegasus!" (That was her unicorn magic.) She swiftly changed into a pegasus and turned Baby
Fizzy into one as well.
"Me can fly alwedy," said Baby Hearth Throb as soon as Twinkle Hearts said
that.
Soon the brothers and sisters were safely on the shore. "Lwet's go home," panted
Baby Barnacle. So the weary baby ponies went home.
"Have a nice..." began their mother, Forever Sweet, as soon as the babies came in
the door.
"Um... we get dwy," said Baby Barnacle and rushed to the bathroom with the other
babies behind him. Then they scrubbed themselves down with soap (they had tripped many times
in the muddy riverbank) and went into their room.
"Let's play pirates!" challenged Baby Barnacle.
"Yweah!!" said Baby Tex. He grabbed a cardboard sword covered in tin foil and a
pirate's hat.
"Hehehe!" laughed Baby Barnacle He grabbed another sword like Tex's and tied
his bandana around his head. Then he took an eye patch that his dad had used once and put it
over his left eye. "Nwow we ready!" he said, and jumped onto one of the beds.
"This my fwort!" Baby Barnacle declared. He jumped over to his bookshelf, which
had many books arranged on it: Pirates of Costa Pina; Indians of Jewel Desert; The Old West; and
Ships, Pirates, Prairies, and Cowboys.
Baby Tex used the floor as his fort because the girls were playing with their My
Little People doll-house on the other side of the room. The two boys practically destroyed the
area... and caused the girls to flee with all their toys and books to the spare room.
"AIIIIEE!!!!!!!" they shrieked as they ran.
Baby Fizzy then said, "Mwean ol' boys!" and stuck out her tounge. The boys
laughed uncontrollably.
Soon, Forever Sweet came up to say that the house was breaking. That scared
Baby Tex and Baby Barnacle so much that they stopped playing so rough.
Then Forever Sweet made the babies clean up their room. Baby Tex and Baby
Barnacle didn't play pirates for a long time afterwards.
To be continued...
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Mystery Pony
Yes, this feature is back, but with a little added twist! Now, instead of just having
to name the pony I describe, you'll also have to answer a few other questions about that
pony!
Here's the description of the pony you'll have to identify:
yellow body; dark pink mane and tail; moon and stars symbol
And once you figure out who it is, you'll also have to figure out answers to the
following questions about her:
What breed of pony she is--
What year she came out--
If she was ever featured in the MLP cartoon series--
What other ponies were in the same series with her--
Answer those four questions, plus the name of the pony, and e-mail them to me at
TabbyMLP@aol.com! I'll let you know how well you did, and check the next issue for the
outcome. ^.^
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Tabby's Battle Against the Giant Squid
by Tabby
Tabby stared at the express mail letter clutched in her hoof as she sat on her porch
steps. The mysterious cloaked figure had just dropped by to deliver it.
"There's only one pony in the world that would use that name on a letter to me,"
Tabby muttered to herself as she ripped into the envelope with a foreign postmark on it.
Tabby read over the paper inside, and shoved it back in the envelope. "How
interesting," she said to herself. "No bother. I'll just see what the gang thinks at the Satin Slipper
Sweet Shoppe tonight."
* * *
Clever Clover tried to hide his peals of laughter when he looked at the outside of
the envelope. "Tabitha Fershund. How quaint," he snorted.
Tabby glared across the table at him, like she did most every night. "I cannot help it
if my mother still insists on calling me that," she said loftily.
"The letter's from your mother?" Sugarberry asked curiously.
"Exactly," Tabby confirmed. "I haven't heard from her for years, but she's--"
"My, I remember the days of our childhood when she still lived in Dream Valley,"
Sugarberry said nostalgically. "And then she moved away after you were through collage-- where
is she now?"
"I think somewhere in Spain," Tabby said critically. "Or was it Italy? It might be
France, too..."
"Try checking the postmark," Thomas suggested, a smile playing across his
face.
"Postmark? Hmm, I never thought of that. I'll check later."
"Here, just let me see it," Clever Clover interrupted.
"It'd probably take ten minutes for her to find the postmark on the envelope,
anyway," Spike whispered to Clever Clover.
"Ah-hem, but I need advice--" Tabby started.
"A hem is the edge of a piece of clothing," Clever Clover said promptly. He and
Spike broke out laughing.
Tabby glared at Clever Clover again. They really were good friends; they just
argued all the time. "As I was trying to say before I was so rudely interrupted..."
"What is it?" Thomas asked attentively.
"Yes, tell us," Sugarberry agreed.
"My mother--" Tabby paused. "Spike, give that envelope back to me!" After a
short skirmish, Tabby pulled a slip of paper out of the envelope. "My mother wants me to visit
her for two weeks in--well--Spain or Italy or France." She displayed the plane ticket."
"Two weeks?" Thomas echoed.
"That's a long time," Sugarberry fretted.
"What about the Pokèmon Center?" Clever Clover demanded.
"And your cat, Callie?" Spike added.
"Two weeks isn't that long," Tabby contradicted.
After the initial shock had worn off, her four friends were able to think more clearly
on the matter. "I didn't mean to sound discouraging, Tabby," Sugarberry quickly apologized.
"You really should take up your mother's offer."
"You still can't forget about your job at the center, or the Pokèmon of your own,"
Clever Clover accused.
"That's right," Spike agreed. "Don't let all those Pokèmon down like that."
"And I've already figured that out," Tabby yawned. "I'm sure Merry Treat will be
happy to fill in for me at the center for a couple of weeks."
Up to this point, Thomas had been silent. "And when exactly do you have to
leave?" he questioned.
"It says the plane leaves at eight o'clock tomorrow morning," Tabby said
promptly.
Sugarberry gasped in alarm. "Eight?!...but that's hardly no time at all!"
"Your mother didn't give you an earlier notice?" Spike said skeptically.
"It's nothing to get alarmed over," Tabby said in dismissal. "It won't take more
than five minutes to call Merry Treat, and another ten to throw a suitcase together."
"I think you're taking this too lightly, Tabby," Thomas warned.
"Of course she's taking it lightly," Clever Clover whispered to Spike. "She refuses
to take anything seriously."
"I heard that, Cleve Clove!" Tabby shrieked.
"Whatever you say, Tabitha," Clever Clover smirked.
"Why, you little--" Tabby snarled.
"Uhh, Tabby," Sugarberry interrupted the argument, "if you're serious about going,
shouldn't you get home and start making arrangements?"
Tabby snatched up her plane ticket and pushed back her chair. "I suppose I should!
Buh-bye!"
She was just about to jump up from her seat when Sugarberry held her down. "I'll
stop in at your house in the morning to see you off," she said tearfully.
"Uh-huh, uh-huh," Tabby said impatiently. "And you'll give a sentimental speech
and all that. It's not like I'm never coming back."
"But what if you don't?" Sugarberry sobbed. "You'll get caught up in the
European lifestyle, and we'll never hear from you again!"
Tabby sighed. "I'll be back in two weeks, alright?"
Sugarberry managed a smile. "If you say so," she said weakly. "See you
tomorrow."
"And now I'm off," Tabby said briskly, standing up.
"I'll walk you home," Thomas offered quickly.
Tabby nodded in reply, and the two set off. Thomas was rather silent, and Tabby
just stared at the envelope with an insane grin on her face (and not really watching where she was
going).
Thomas hesitated as they reached Tabby's porch. "I suppose I'll say my goodbyes
now." He forced a smile. "Have a good time in...well...Europe."
"Don't worry; I won't," Tabby said cheerfully; she had to keep up her pessimistic
views.
She eyed him critically. "Say, you don't look too happy."
"You're only going to be gone for two weeks," Thomas said sarcastically.
"You can't expect your friends to be totally thrilled over it."
"They don't have to act like it's the end of the world, either," Tabby retorted. "I'll
be back in two weeks.
"The way you change your mind, I wouldn't be surprised if you decided to stay
there," Thomas said accusingly.
Tabby's eyes lit up with anger. "Why, that's--I wouldn't do that! You--you..."
"We'll see what happens in two weeks," Thomas stated simply.
"Indeed we will!" With that, Tabby stomped into her house, and slammed the door
in Thomas' face.
"Hmph!" Tabby stood there fuming for several moments.
Tarquin walked through, rubbing his eyes as if he'd just woken up from a nap. "I
figured it was you with that slamming door." His eyes lit up. "Hey, is that a special delivery
envelope?"
Tabby immediately forgot about the argument. "Oh, Tarkie, It's so exciting!" she
squealed. "My mother sent me a ticket to go visit her for two weeks!"
"But...I don't have to go with you, do I?" Tarquin said after the information had
sunk in.
"I suppose you could board at Merry Treat's if you wanted to," Tabby figured.
"Along with Jigglypuff and Oddish."
"Merry Treat's?" Tarquin's face lit up even more. "For two weeks? Yeah, I'm
staying in Dream Valley!"
"I'll call her in a few minutes," Tabby yawned. "I leave tomorrow at eight in the
morning."
"I get to start my stay with Merry Treat tomorrow? Yipee!" Tarquin cheered. "Of
course, it's not that I don't like you, Tabby," he added quickly.
Tabby smiled and patted him on the head. "That's okay. You'll like being with
Merry Treat better than being in Europe." Merry Treat also owned a Meowth who was good
friends with Tarquin.
Tarquin hovered around as Tabby made the call. "Hey, Merry Treat! I need you to
take over for me at the Pokèmon Center for two weeks and watch my Pokèmon."
Merry Treat blinked slowly. But then, she was used to hearing things like this from
Tabby. "I think I can do that," she said cautiously. "You're not quitting, are you?"
"Of course not!" Tabby exclaimed. "I'm just going to visit my mother."
"Ohhh!" Merry Treat said in awe. "You get to go to Spain? You're so
lucky!"
"Yep," Tabby confirmed. "Or, it might be Italy or France..."
"I'll be happy to do the Pokèmon stuff for you," Merry Treat said graciously.
"How about if I come over tomorrow morning to pick-up Tarkie and the others? Or is that too
soon?"
"That'll be perfect; my plane leaves at eight."
"You'll have so much fun!" Merry Treat squealed. "See ya!"
After hanging up, Tabby turned to Tarquin. "It's all settled," she informed him.
"Merry Treat will come by tomorrow."
Tarquin clapped his paws together in excitement. "I can't wait!"
"Now, where's Tamara?" Tabby questioned. "She's not out, is she? I have to set
some things up with her."
"In her bedroom," Tarquin said promptly.
"Great!" Tabby said brightly. "Now, you can go off and pack whatever you might
need.
Tamara was indeed in her bedroom. "One of my necklaces is missing!" she wailed
as Tabby entered.
Probably the one Tarquin found lying around and gave to Tess, Tabby
reasoned to herself. To her cousin, she said quickly, "You'll have to watch over Callie and be
sure her dishes are full while I'm gone for two weeks."
Tamara frowned. "You'll be out in the wild catching Pokèmon, won't you?" she
sighed. "Really, that can't be good for your complexion."
"As a matter of fact," Tabby said lightly, "I'll be in...in...France or Italy or
Spain."
Tamara blinked slowly. "Europe? You're going to Europe?" she exclaimed.
"Since when did you want a vacation there?"
"Since Mom sent me this plane ticket." Tabby waved the tiny slip of paper through
the air.
"Aunt Agatha?" Tamara echoed. "She invited you to visit? What about me?
Doesn't she want me to come, too?"
"There's only one ticket, and she wants me," Tabby said in dismissal. "I'm leaving
in the morning at eight. Like I said, be sure to watch Callie. Merry Treat is taking my Pokèmon,
so you don't have to worry about them." With that, Tabby abruptly stepped out into the hallway
and closed the door, leaving Tamara to complain to herself.
"Now the only thing left to do is pack my suitcase," Tabby said cheerfully, entering
her own room. Digging a suitcase out of the depths of her closet, she scrutinized her room
carefully. What should she take?
The first items in the suitcase were some of her favorite My Little People,
Pokèmon, and Teddy Ruxpin videos. Next was her beloved plush ‘Koosa, Brownie. Of course,
Tabby couldn't forget her two plush Tea Bunnies and Kitty Brite...Tabby went around the room,
pulling out her favorite toys from her different collections.
After preparing for bed, Tabby decided to throw in her toothbrush. Sugarberry
would really rip into me if I forgot that, she thought reasonably.
With that taken care of, Tabby collapsed into bed.
* * *
"Hey, hey, hey!" Tabby exclaimed to herself as she woke up the next morning. "I
get to go to Europe today!"
There was something nagging at her memory from last night...but Tabby didn't stop
to think about it. She leaped out of bed and looked at her clock: seven o'clock.
Plenty of time, she thought as she went through her morning ritual. She
was just finishing breakfast as Tarquin entered the kitchen.
"I've packed what I needed," he said eagerly. "Will you bring me back something
from Europe?"
"Mmmmph." Tabby struggled to swallow. "Oh! A souvenir? Certainly, and I'll
find something for Tess, too."
Tarquin grinned broadly. "You're a great trainer, Tabby," he said sincerely.
"All in a day's work," Tabby proclaimed.
"Tamara is sulking in her room," Tarquin informed her.
Tabby yawned. "Figures. She should be happy that I won't be around to insult
Tex."
"And she'll have complete rule over the house," Tarquin added.
The doorbell rang. Tabby grabbed her suitcase (and she had even remembered the
plane ticket) and ran to the door. "It'll be either Merry Treat or Sugarberry," she told Tarquin as
she twisted the doorknob.
It turned out to be Merry Treat. "Tess and Spearow can't wait to see you, Tarkie."
She bent down to pet the Meowth and turned to Tabby. "I'll be sure to take extra-good care of
your Pokèmon. And the center."
"Here are Jigglypuff and Oddish," Tabby said as she handed two PokèBalls to
Merry Treat. "I'm sure they'll be fine with you."
"I don't mean to rush off so
quickly," Merry Treat said apologetically, "but I've got
to be sure to get to the Pokèmon Center on time. Have a great time! Be sure to send me a
postcard!" She winked and started down the porch steps.
"Buh-bye, Tarkie, Merry Treat, Jigglypuff, Oddish!" Tabby called after them. "I'll be
seeing you!"
Then Sugarberry trotted up the walk. "Hey, hey, Sug!" Tabby greeted her.
"Good morning," Sugarberry said. "Is there anything you need help with before you
go?" She put on a brave smile.
"I've got everything in this suitcase," Tabby assured her friend.
"You remembered a toothbrush, didn't you?" Sugarberry asked suddenly.
Tabby rolled her eyes. "Of course, Sugarberry."
"Well, goodbye," Sugarberry sniffled. "Though I'm not sure how good I'll be as
secretary at the clinic for these two weeks."
"You'll be okay," Tabby assured her, but then her face suddenly fell. That's what had
been nagging her memory...her argument with Thomas last night.
"You okay?" Sugarberry asked in concern.
Tabby blinked. "Oh! Yes! I was just thinking that I'd better be heading to the airport
now!" She ran down the walk. "See ya!" she shouted back at Sugarberry, who waved in
return.
Once Sugarberry was out of sight, Tabby slowed her pace to think. I hope he's not
too mad, she mused to herself, remembering last night. But to think I wouldn't come
back!
Hmph! She marched resolutely on to the airport.
* *
Upon arrival at the airport, Tabby realized she had never flown on a plane before. I
may not come back alive! she thought to herself in alarm, but quickly reassured herself.
Well, it can't be any worse than a walk through the Dark Forest.
The next thing Tabby realized was that she had no idea what to do now. She did have
her ticket...maybe she had to do something with that. Hmm...a desk was on the far side of the
room
that Tabby was in, with an official-looking pony standing behind it.
Tabby dug frantically in her suitcase for the ticket while walking towards the counter.
"Here," she said briefly, pushing the ticket over to the other pony.
The lavender pony in a cap which bore the emblem of the airport glanced at the ticket
for a second. "Gate 5," she yawned.
"What about Gate 5?" Tabby asked impatiently.
"That's where you wait for your flight," the ticket-taker explained in a bored tone of
voice.
"Alrighty!" Tabby skipped along on her new quest to find Gate 5. "Let's see...Gate
4, Gate 5, Gate 6, Gate 7..." She paused. "Gate 7?! But seven is after five. That can mean only
one
thing." Tabby took a deep breath. "Gate 5 does not exist. Unless...unless! Perhaps I missed
it!"
Eventually, Tabby did find her way to Gate 5 and seated herself. Though the airport
hadn't seemed very busy, there were quite a few ponies waiting as well.
After two minutes of waiting, Tabby was already bored out of her mind. As she was
concentrating so hard on how bored she was, she was only dimly aware of a voice over the
loudspeaker... "Gate 5 now loading..."
Hearing the commotion of hooves trotting across the floor, Tabby looked up. "Is that
Gate 5 loading?" she exclaimed to herself. "Well! They didn't even tell me!"
* * *
I hope it doesn't take long to get to...err...France or Italy or Spain, Tabby
thought, staring out her window to the ground below. She had been lucky enough to get on the
right
plane.
The plane should crash just about now, Tabby figured to herself. And all
my beloved videos will be lost forever!
The flight was uneventful, but it took much too long to reach its destination, in Tabby's
opinion. She wished she had Clever Clover to bug about how much longer it would be until
landing.
It sure was fun, stealing his pocket watch and wasting five minutes figuring out what positions the
hands were in.
Barnacle n' Cleve Clove n' Spike n' Friendly'll probably watch Pokèmon again
tonight, Tabby sniffled. And I won't be there!
Tabby looked out the window again. There was... ocean under the plane.
She shuddered. The ocean reminded her of giant squid, and she was petrified of giant squid.
Tabby
was still scared silly that-- someday-- a squid would emerge from the drainhole in her
bathtub.
Tabby settled herself back in her seat, and whimpered quietly. Thinking of giant squid
had made her ill at ease. Monsters from the Dark Forest were better than giant squid...
* * *
"Hey, hey! I made It!" Tabby debarked the plane and merrily skipped along, swinging
her suitcase in the air. "Sorry," she quickly apologized as she swung it into someone's leg.
"Tabitha! Tabitha!" A pastel blue unicorn was waving frantically at Tabby.
"Hey, hey!" Tabby pushed her way through the bustling crowd of ponies. "Hey!
Mom!"
"Oh, Tabitha, it is you!" Being silent for a moment, the unicorn embraced her
daughter in a tight hug.
"Mmmff. Err. A-hem!" Tabby struggled to entangle herself. "And that's ‘Tabby,'
Mom."
"Hmm, well..." The blue unicorn frowned for a moment, but quickly brightened.
"Come, let's get outside and we can think more clearly. My house isn't far from here," she said
quickly, leading the way.
"Alrighty," Tabby obediently trotted after her mother. She wouldn't mind getting out
of all this noise, either.
"Now, then," Tabby's mother sat down on a park bench after walking a ways. Looking
Tabby up and down, she said happily. "You've grown to be so beautiful, Tabitha!"
"Tabby," Tabby reminded, and sat down next to her mother--a pastel blue unicorn with
dark blue hair and the symbol of two dark pink cats (it ran in the family). "It's actually quite a
bother
being beautiful. All my friends are always trying to get me dressed up, or have my hair done."
She
sighed.
Her mother raised an eyebrow. "I would think you'd like to keep your looks up...but
that doesn't matter now. You only brought one suitcase?"
"Yep." Tabby nodded and held up her case for display. "I only brought my most
treasured possessions."
"You must have a wonderful jewelry collection," her mother said gleefully. "I can't
wait to see it. But, we'd better get to my house. You'll certainly want to rest after that plane
ride."
Not bothering to correct her on the jewelry collection, Tabby just fell in step behind her
mother.
* * *
The house actually wasn't that near the airport. Tabby's hooves were sore and she was
tired of gripping onto her suitcase by the time they reached a residential section on the outskirts of
the city.. and a rich residential section by the looks of it. Tabby stared in awe at all the
expensively-decorated mansions surrounding her on the slope of a hill.
"And here we are," Tabby's mother announced, pausing to open a gate in the fence
surrounding one of the homes. "This is where you'll be staying for the next two weeks."
To Tabby's satisfaction, the house was painted in vibrant shades of blue. She had
always despised houses which were-- in her way of seeing-- "dull colors." Tabby figured if you
had
bright colors like blue, purple, and pink, why should you choose a color such as white or tan to
side
your house with?
"You do like it, don't you?" her mother asked critically.
"It's wonderful," Tabby said exuberantly. "The blue paint looks excellent." She
skipped up the stone path leading to the porch. Tabby looked out across the spacious lawn. It
appeared that her mother did not let any flowers grow except for those of the color blue, judging
from what was growing in the flowerbeds.
The light blue unicorn fit right in with all her blue surroundings. "I'll show you your
room now," she explained, opening the front door that-- appropriately-- had panes of transparent
blue
glass.
"That's a... lot of blue, isn't it?" Tabby stepped inside the hallway. The carpet was
pastel blue. The walls were dark blue. Pictures on the wall were hung in blue frames.
"I didn't want the place looking gaudy," Tabby's mother said logically. "Too many
colors can give that effect."
Everywhere Tabby stepped, there was blue-- blue-- blue! It was rather strange. She'd
never had an experience like this before.
Walking up a flight of stairs to the second floor and turning to the right, her mother
opened a door-- an aqua door. "Here you are," she announced, waiting for Tabby to
catch-up.
"That's a big bedroom," Tabby gasped, peering inside.
"Freshen up a bit, and when you're ready, you can come back downstairs," her mother
instructed. "I'll be in the parlor. It will be so much fun finding out what you've been doing all
these
years!" She waved as she skimmed back down the hallway.
Tabby tentatively stepped inside her room. It was-- blue. "I have the feeling I'll be sick
of blue in two weeks," she muttered to herself as she flopped down on the bed and dropped her
suitcase to the ground.
Tabby surveyed the room with a critical eye from her vantage point. There was a tall
dresser, a desk, the bed, a bookshelf. Nothing out of the ordinary, she thought to herself,
except the room's so large. Even with the pieces of furniture, it didn't cover up half the
floor space in the room.
Then, something more interesting caught her eye. A trunk-- very antique by the looks
of it-- sat in one of the corners. Curious as a cat, Tabby sat up. "I must check that out later," she
said out loud. "But for now, I've got to unpack." Whipping her suitcase open, she quickly found
homes for everything-- Brownie, Kitty Brite, and the Tea Bunnies went on top of the dresser; the
videos she lined up neatly on the bookshelf. That just left her toothbrush. Tabby flung it on her
desk;
she didn't have to do anything with that now.
Next, Tabby noticed something even more interesting than the chest: another door
within her room, next to the desk. This could not wait to be explored! She leaped off the bed
and
turned the doorknob. Oh, but what if there's a giant squid behind it? she thought in
alarm.
As it was, her concern wasn't too far off-- the door revealed her own private bathroom.
It's somewhat nice having a rich family, she mused to herself, except for the fact that
they're all fashion-crazy, as well. The bathroom, like everything else in the house, was rather
large. Just to reassure herself, Tabby stared down the drainhole in the bathtub. I hope squid
don't live around here, she worried.
Tabby was not one bit worn out by the plane ride. She splashed some water on her face
and then prepared to go back downstairs, noting the time on the clock. "It's already afternoon?"
she
exclaimed out loud.
She carefully descended the stairs. Her hooves were still sore. Tabby peeked into
several rooms on the ground level as she looked for the parlor. "Kitchen... dining room..." she
mumbled to herself. "Ballroom?!" she shuddered. "I hope Mom is not going to throw a party
while
I'm here."
Finally, there was the parlor-- furnished with blue chairs and couches, of course. Her
mother was sitting erectly in one of the chairs, reading a book. "Hey, hey!" Tabby greeted her as
she
sat down on the couch.
Tabby's mother abruptly set her book down. "Oh, good, you're back," she said
delightedly and pushed a plate towards Tabby. "You must be starving after the plane ride."
Tabby suddenly realized how ravenous she really was. She munched contentedly on
one of the chocolate chip cookies as her mother started asking questions.
"And are you still into veterinary work, Tabitha?"
Tabby cocked her head. "Basically--- sort of. And Mom, call me ‘Tabby'!"
Her mother sighed. "You always did like to go by that nickname. I thought you would
have learned to like your full name after all this time."
"Nope." Tabby shook her head vigorously. "Anyway, I'm the Pokèmon nurse in
Dream Valley now."
"Pokèmon? I've heard of those," her mother contemplated. "Is the pay good?"
"Three thousand jangles a month," Tabby boasted.
"I'm so glad you've made a name for yourself," her mother said proudly. "But still not
married?"
Tabby tossed her head in defiance. "Of course not," she said bluntly.
Her mother frowned for a moment. "Someday, Tabitha, someday... well, do you still
have that calico cat? Callie, was it?"
"I've still got her," Tabby declared. "And three Pokèmon, too," she added
brightly.
"It must be delightful for you to have Tamara around again," her mother said blissfully.
"You two look so much alike."
"But I have the better eye color," Tabby defended herself quickly. "Say, isn't there
anyone else living in this area?"
"Certainly!" Her mother waved her hoof through the air. "You saw all the other
mansions on this street. All the affluent families live around here."
"And are there any giant squid living down the drainhole in my bathtub?" Tabby
demanded.
Her mother seemed to ignore that question. "There are several stallions who I'm sure
will be pleased to make your acquaintance," she informed her daughter.
"Hmph." Tabby stuck her nose in the air and searched her mind for a question to
change the topic. "What does that trunk in my room have in it?"
"The trunk?" her mother exclaimed. "Oh, dear, I was going to move it to the attic
before you came. It has been here since I moved in. The previous owner's diaries are in it, I
think."
"Oh," Tabby yawned. She wasn't exactly thrilled by diaries, either. "Hey, how about
watching some Pokèmon episodes with me?"
"You mean to say you still watch cartoons?" Her mother looked shocked. "I mean,
I'm having a friend over this afternoon. You can watch them alone, if you please."
"Alright," Tabby sighed. It was always fun getting new ponies addicted to Pokèmon.
"I'll go do that, then." She trudged off to get her video supply.
* * *
The next morning, Tabby was staring out her bedroom window at the surrounding
terrain. She could see a tall, peaked mountain in the distance-- really not that far from the house,
considering. I wonder what that weird red glow around the top is, she wondered to
herself.
"Tabitha, good morning!" Her mother walked into the room just then. "How was your
first night here?"
"Are you sure there aren't any squid in the bathtub?" Tabby asked skeptically. She had
experienced nightmares about giant squid while she slept.
"Certainly not!" Her mother looked horrified. "Anyway, would you like to do any
sightseeing today? Or shopping?"