My Little Pony Monthly Issue 29 (August 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 29
August 1999
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Letters to the Editor
bri059@juno.com-- Tabs, I love the newsletter! Imagine my surprise when I
found it in my box a day earlier than I'd expected. Now I have something to read over the days!!
And I appreciate that you put my stories in past issues, and my LONG ad. Thanks sweets!
verminio@eden.rutgers.edu-- I think this newsletter is a great idea... it's so nice to
finally hear from other people who still enjoy MLP! Keep up the great work!
stanb@ptbo.igs.net-- I love MLP Monthly! I find some stories downright hilarious
(I really laughed at a story called "Birdsong" in one issue) and others really exciting! I wonder if
you could get more Sailor Moon/MLP crossovers into it????
MeryTreat@aol.com-- Hey, hey, hey, Tabby-chan!!!!! I know you get enough of
me from our e-mails and junk, but I just gotta say one thing: I LOVE THIS LIST!!!!!!! It's one
of the coolest things (second only to Jar Jar. ~.^)! I love everything-- especially the stories and
the gossip hour we run together. You are a true friend! ~hugs~ And to all the ponies out there
who also help make this thing happen: you are great! I'm glad I'm not the only insane teenager
out there who is obsessed with MLPs!
zerolwh@yahoo.com-- I LOVE MLP Monthly. You are so gifted to be able to
write child-friendly stories and not make them dumbed-down or boring. :)
KSM1356833@aol.com-- Thanks for your newsletter; it's very informative, fun,
and helpful.
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Tattertail
A Fairy Tale by the Ponies Grimm
with thanks to Stan R. for the name and Steven C. for the advice
C. Alan Loewen
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Author's note: This story takes place two weeks before the events depicted in
the 1984 animated My Little Pony video that introduced Dream Castle (TM), Spike, the Sea
Ponies (TM) and Megan. Your welcome comments and critiques may be sent to
cloewen@pa.net
The setting sun illuminated Dream Castle as well as the two ponies resting side-by-side
in the meadow outside its front gate. As its final rays sank beneath the horizon, they
illuminated the solitary horn of the larger pony, making it glow in ivory splendor.
The smaller pony, actually little more than a filly, leaned against her companion as
they watched the stars come out one by one. The air thrummed with a choir of crickets and
flashed with the airborne beacons of lightning bugs.
"Twilight?" the little filly asked. "Tell me a story."
"Oh, Ember," she responded, her horn glowing faintly in the growing dusk. "Let's
quietly enjoy the evening."
Ember leaned her head against Twilight's neck and deliberately gazed up at her with
large, pleading eyes. "I'd really like to hear a story."
Twilight laughed, knowing she'd been outdone. "Okay. A quick one."
"Oh, thank you!" Ember said. "I want to hear one with magic in it."
Twilight paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Once upon a time," she
began, "in a place far, far away, a pony named Tattertail lived in a great walled city where ponies
and humans lived peacefully together."
"Humans!" Ember said, mouthing the word as if tasting it for the first time. "I've
only seen humans in my picture books."
"A beautiful young girl ruled the city," Twilight said, ignoring the interruption. "Her
name was Princess Merry Aravis Shasta Shalott the Fair, the Sovereign of Dreams and Reverie,
but her subjects, both human and pony, simply called her Princess Merry.
"Tattertail was a little orphaned unicorn-pony who made her living as a house
cleaner. People and ponies who needed their houses cleaned would hire her to come and tidy up
their homes and sweep out the large fireplaces.
"She was called Tattertail because, unable to correctly handle a broom with hooves,
she had to use her tail as a makeshift brush. Poor Tattertail. Her once beautiful tail was shabby
and matted, and she was covered from nose to tail in gray, dingy dust. Eventually her cruel
nickname stuck, for nobody, not even Tattertail, could remember her real birth name.
"For a long weary time Tattertail worked in the city, earning her keep through the
cleaning of homes until eventually her coat became a permanent ashen gray and her tail was a
wretched, snarled, dirty mass of knots and tangles.
"Then one day, a royal proclamation announced that the princess would soon
celebrate her eighteenth birthday and be crowned as Queen Merry. Kings, queens, and other
nobles from many other countries would be coming to honor her on the eve of this special event.
Princess Merry had decreed that all her subjects were welcome to come to the palace and
participate in the ball and the dinner and enjoy the fireworks and revelry.
"For weeks, people and ponies prepared cakes and gifts and food and gowns and
other lovely clothes. Tattertail worked especially hard, saving coins from her cleaning to
purchase a good bath and grooming so she would be suitable for the occasion.
"And then the long-awaited day arrived. Princess Merry's castle glowed with the
light from a thousand torches. The harbor was crowded with exotic ships filled with exotic
people bearing exotic gifts. Tattertail eagerly finished her day's cleaning while looking forward to
the evening's festivities.
"Finally, carrying the few pennies she had saved, she raced to the groom's shop to
make herself as presentable as possible. The streets were swarming with Princess Merry's
subjects making their way to the castle while coaches and chariots of visiting royalty rushed past.
The Gallerians, with their high, pointed hats decorated with rare bird feathers, rode past on
horseback. Lion Men from the Eastern Mountains walked by proudly, their manes tied with
brightly colored ribbons. The learned Monkeys of Lemuria rode past, adjusting their spectacles
and reading or writing even while riding the gazelles they used as mounts.
"Among all these new sights and strange smells, Tattertail noticed that everybody
carried a gift for Princess Merry. Even the little match girls that stood on the street corners
carried dried flowers neatly wrapped in pretty packages. Having no gift, Tattertail hurried to find
one.
"Stopping at one of the stalls in the open air market, Tattertail looked over the
trinkets so carefully laid out. Shining in the sunlight, she saw a beautiful glass marble. Not that a
marble is anything remarkable of itself, but whoever had made this marble had made it in such a
way that inside it was a small white pebble that glowed with its own brilliance. Of all the baubles
on display, the glowing marble was what Tattertail wanted most of all as a gift for Princess
Merry.
"Yet Tattertail still wrestled with whether or not she should purchase a gift at all.
She wanted to look her best for what would probably be her only opportunity to ever attend a
royal function. Yet, she didn't want to appear before the Princess without a gift when even the
smallest of her subjects were eager to demonstrate their love and support for her. To purchase a
gift or not?
"Tattertail sighed at her dilemma and eventually decided that if she could buy the
marble for a lower price, she might have money left over for at least a bath.
"However, the man who ran the stall refused to barter or haggle. Tattertail could
only have the marble if she was willing to part with all the money she had earned for her
grooming. Finally, after many minutes of mulling over her problem, Tattertail agreed to purchase
the little trinket and forego the grooming. After all, she thought, it is the heart of the giver that
counts, not the appearance. Even Princess Merry would understand that.
"With the marble safely wrapped and stored in her threadbare saddle bag, Tattertail
made her way to the castle as the sun began to set. Most of Princess Merry's subjects were
already inside the spacious castle grounds. Tattertail could hear the strings and flutes of the
orchestra and in her imagination she could see the people dancing together while the ponies
danced as ponies do.
"As Tattertail reached the gates to the castle she bumped into a man dressed in shiny
chain mail.
" ‘And where are you going, my dirty little unicorn?' he said. His voice sounded like
a giant's.
"Tattertail looked up at him and her voice trembled as her legs shook. ‘I'm going to
Princess Merry's party,' she said in a tiny whisper.
"The man clutched his belly and roared with laughter. ‘Hey, Mitty,' he yelled at
another soldier who was carefully watching the crowd that was already inside the gate. ‘This little
dustball wants to go to the party.'
"The other soldier gave a quick glance where Tattertail stood trembling, chewed his
lip in thought, and shook his head before going back to watching the other guests.
" ‘Sorry, my dear,' the first soldier said in his big booming voice, ‘but not you.
Maybe afterwards you can come in and help clean up.'
"Tattertail's lower lip began to quiver as her eyes filled with tears. ‘But I brought a
gift.'
" ‘Aye,' the big soldier said. ‘I'm sure you did. Now be off and let me be to my
work.'
"Tattertail turned away and went to her home with a heavy heart, hoof prints
pressing her tears into the dust.
"The room Tattertail called home was very simple: a table, a small fireplace, and a
mat where she slept. Flopping down on her makeshift bed, she wept as her heart broke.
"Suddenly, a streak of light burst through the open window and landed in the soot of
Tattertail's fireplace amidst a small explosion of dust and ashes. ‘Dragonflies and luna moths!'
came an angry voice from the fireplace. Tattertail stared at the little figure coughing and crawling
out of the dust and ashes. The surprise of seeing this strange visitor made Tattertail forget her
misfortune.
"The little creature stood up. No bigger than four inches in height, it was a miniature
girl with gossamer wings.
" ‘Who... who are you?' Tattertail asked as she rose to her feet.
"Tattertail's unexpected guest coughed and then shook herself like a little dog. With
a blur of transparent wings, she flew up in the air trailing dust and settled on the end of the little
unicorn's nose. Openmouthed, Tattertail stared cross-eyed at the pixie. ‘You're a little girl!"
Tattertail said in some surprise. The movement of the unicorn-pony's muzzle as she spoke made
the pixie lose her balance. With a tiny shriek, she grabbed Tattertail's nose to stop herself from
falling to the floor.
" ‘Please don't do that,' the pixie said with some exasperation.
" ‘You're a little girl,' Tattertail said again quietly, barely moving her nose.
"The pixie regained her footing and smiled. The streaks of dust and ash gave her a
comical expression. ‘I'm eleven years old today," she said proudly, ‘and as your appointed fairy
godmother I am here to... ' She paused in thought, wrinkling her pert little nose in deep thought.
‘I'm here to...'
" ‘I thought fairy godmothers would be a little older,' Tattertail said.
"The little pixie laughed and flopped down to a sitting position. ‘Oh, no,' she said
with a giggle. ‘There're so many fairy godmothers needed nowadays, we get hired as soon as we
pass basic training.'
" ‘Um. I hope you don't mind,' Tattertail said apologetically, ‘but it's hard talking
with you on my muzzle and looking at you cross-eyed is giving me a headache.'
" ‘Oh, sorry.' In a blur of wings, the pixie flew over to the edge of Tattertail's
drinking bucket where she sat on the rim. ‘Oh. I remember what I'm here for. Now, about your
crying...'
" ‘How did I get a fairy godmother?' Tattertail asked impulsively.
"The pixie giggled and dismissed the question with a wave of her hand. ‘Oh,
everybody has a fairy godmother. It's just that after awhile some people don't believe in us
anymore and then we get transferred to somebody else.' She frowned sadly. ‘It's a sad thing to
lose your fairy godmother.'
" ‘However, I am here to dry your tears,' she said, a smile returning to her face.
Jumping to her feet, the pixie promptly lost her balance and fell over backwards with a tiny splash
into the water bucket.
"With a cry of alarm, Tattertail raced to the bucket and gently pulled the floundering
pixie out of the water. Hanging gently from Tattertail's lips, the pixie sputtered water. ‘I'm wet!'
she shrieked. ‘I'm covered with wet ashes and... and... and I'm wet!'
"The pony gently placed the pixie on the floor and carefully backed away so she
wouldn't accidentally step on the little figure. The pixie's white gown was stained with sodden
gray ashes and her streaming wet hair hung over her face. Her gossamer wings hung limply down
her sides where they trailed water on the floor.
" ‘Bumblebees and caterpillars,' she said a moment later, ‘this is a fine mess.'
" ‘I'm so sorry,' Tattertail said, not knowing what she was actually sorry for. It just
seemed the right thing to say.
" ‘No problem,' the pixie replied. ‘Just stand back and see some fairy godmother
magic in action.' The pixie pulled a tiny magic wand out of her belt, rolled up her sleeves, and
said some words that Tattertail couldn't make out.
" ‘Oh, dear,' was all Tattertail could say as the pixie suddenly changed into a little
white mouse. ‘I don't think that was what you might have had in mind.'
"The little mouse shrieked and waved the wand again. Tattertail patiently watched
the mouse change into a kitten and then into a puppy and then into a little bunny. The bunny
sighed and closed its eyes in thought. ‘Madame always said I couldn't concentrate right. Okay. I
need to be quiet. Relax. Think. Concentrate.' The bunny waved its furry arms and squeaked
until finally the pixie stood once again before Tattertail, but now clothed in shining white. With a
whir of wings, she ascended into the air.
" ‘I've got it now,' she announced with delight. The pixie waved her wand and in a
flash, Tattertail's hide transformed into a shiny brilliant pastel pink.
"Tattertail gasped at the shining brilliance of her legs and flanks. Running to her
drinking bucket, she found the reflection of a unicorn-pony's light rose-colored face staring back
at her. She shook her glorious mane of shining frost that was marked with one delightful streak
of dark purple. Her little horn gleamed like polished marble. ‘Oh, fairy godmother!' Tattertail
cried. ‘I'm beautiful!'
" ‘And now the tail,' the pixie cried. With a wave of her wand and another flash of
light, Tattertail felt her tail grow heavier then she had ever known it to be. Looking back in
amazement, she swished the tail she thought she'd never have again.
"Her tail was glorious. Whiter than snow, it seemed to glow with its own light.
Where snarls and tangles had fought with each other, now beautiful white horse hair cascaded to
the floor in lovely curls. Tattertail thought she was going to once again burst into tears, but this
time from sheer joy.
"The pixie laughed again. ‘Oh, we're not finished yet." A wave of the wand and still
another explosion of light caused Tattertail's mane and tail to be sprinkled with tiny sparkling
purple cat's eye gems. The little unicorn pirouetted and the tiny jewels glittered and
gleamed.
"Not many minutes later, the guardsmen all bowed as a shining pink unicorn with
bejeweled gleaming tail and mane entered the castle of Princess Merry. All heads turned, and the
guests whispered to each other, ‘Who is that?' but nobody recognized the beautiful stranger.
"Tattertail stood in awe at the sight before her: guests dressed in their finery, the
massive candelabras gleaming with the light of a thousand mirrored oil lamps, the fragrances of
fine foods and wondrous perfumes and incense. In the middle of the room stood a massive
fountain made of white marble. Tinted water poured down a center spindle at least fifty feet high
into a deep pool where strange colorful fish swam.
"Though there was a large line of guests bearing gifts to Princess Merry where she
sat on her throne, the line parted as Tattertail drew near. She felt as if she was in a dream. The
men bowed to her, the women curtsied, and the other ponies and animal guests paid respect in
their own unique fashions. Tattertail didn't even understand she was the center of fascination as
her own eyes saw only Princess Merry.
"On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Princess Merry sat on a throne of pink
marble. Clothed in a dress of burgundy silk and with her multicolored crinolines and petticoats,
she looked like a rose at the peak of its bloom. Her hair was deep red and a splash of light
freckles across her nose were the only marks on her fair skin. Her eyes were as green as
emeralds.
" ‘Welcome,' Princess Merry said to Tattertail as she came near to the throne. ‘How
do I address you?'
"Tattertail didn't even know she was being addressed. Reaching into the silk pouch
dangling across her neck, Tattertail took out the simple marble between her lips and gently laid it
on Princess Merry's outstretched palm. The princess stared at the little marble with its white
stony heart for a few moments in wonder.
" ‘A dreamstone?' she asked the pony in bewilderment. ‘I have not seen a
dreamstone since I was a very little girl.' The princess held the stone out in her palm where the
white stone gleamed until, with a silent flash, the entire marble disappeared. ‘Children, wherever
they are, will have pleasant dreams tonight. Thank you for that rare and wonderful gift.'
"The princess motioned to the right of her throne. ‘Stay by me. I would like to
know you better.'
"Standing silently in awe, Tattertail watched other people and representatives bring
their gifts. A delegate from the Southlands brought a mechanical toy that, when spun, played
beautiful music. A red-skinned emissary from a land the pony had never heard of brought a small
monkey with a collar of pure gold. The stream of presents seemed endless, but whether they were
expensive gifts from royalty or trinkets purchased in the marketplace by the commoners, Princess
Merry accepted them all with sincere gratitude and she warmly thanked each person regardless of
species or rank. Each gift was taken and placed carefully on a long, long table so that all guests
could look and marvel.
"A lizardman, dressed in robes of a metallic sheen, had come from a mountainous
land far to the east. In his hand, he held a lantern with a dancing flame inside.
"The lizardman's voice hissed as he spoke, his words sounding like they were
sizzling. ‘My people congratulate our neighbor on the eve of her queenship. Please accept this
salamander as a token of our esteem.' He held the lantern aloft and Princess Merry and Tattertail
could see the flame was alive, a little creature of bright fire that moved about in the tiny lantern
that served as its cage.
"Princess Merry stared at the little creature in wonder. ‘I thank you and your people.
I have never seen its like.'
" ‘The salamander lives in the volcanoes that heat my land,' the lizardman replied.
‘As long as it is fed coal, it will burn for you and provide light. Without coal, it is a simple
creature of dull color.'
"The ambassador held the lantern higher. Catching sight of the salamander, the little
monkey began to screech and jump about, finally breaking the slender gold chain that secured it to
the gift table. With a bound, the monkey leaped over the guests and landed squarely on the
lizardman's head. With a hiss of surprise, he dropped the lantern onto the marble floor where it
shattered, and suddenly the salamander was free.
"There was instant chaos. The salamander not only burned with a red-hot flame, but
it was fast... very fast. While the guests fled in fear from the little living flame, the salamander
rushed about the room seeking escape and setting fire to everything it touched. Princess Merry's
soldiers worked frantically to put out the flames, while others tried to capture the salamander.
One soldier trapped it between his helmet and the floor, but the salamander burned through the
metal as if it were butter.
"Pushing Tattertail out of the way, other soldiers formed a protective line around
their princess. Not knowing what else to do, the little unicorn-pony decided that outside, where
she was not underfoot, was the best place for her to be.
"Running toward the door, her flight was cut short by the salamander itself. Unable
to find an exit, almost surrounded by soldiers wisely keeping their distance, the little screeching
creature advanced on the frightened pony. Tattertail walked backwards, wanting to run, but
afraid that in turning her back, the fiery creature would jump on her. Suddenly, Tattertail bumped
into something with her rear hooves. It was the fountain.
"An idea came to the little unicorn. With her heart beating fast, she waited until the
salamander was almost upon her. Then, with a twitch of her hips, Tattertail plunged her
magnificent tail into the cool waters of the fountain. Quickly she spun about, her tail streaming
water, and swatted the salamander as if it were a fly.
"There was the sound of water hissing into steam and the overpowering smell of
burnt hair. The soldiers pounced with cups, helmets or whatever they could find to trap the
creature. Picking through Tattertail's scorched tail hair, they found the salamander drenched, its
fire out, a little drab, scaleless lizard.
"Minutes later, the salamander was back in a small cage and already beginning to
regain its glow. The guests had returned. Burned curtains were repaired, and scorched stools
and other furniture were replaced. Tattertail, her mane disheveled, her tail marred from the
salamander's fire and still very wet, was brought before Princess Merry.
" ‘You have served my guests and me well today, my little pony,' the princess said,
smiling. ‘I know that tails grow back, but I believe there is some reward demanded by such a
brave sacrifice.'
" ‘It's nothing, your majesty,' Tattertail mumbled in embarrassment. ‘Swatting pesky
bugs is second nature.'
"The princess smiled gently. ‘Nonetheless, you showed courage and wisdom,
attributes that I'm looking for in a pony that is willing to guard a castle of mine and watch over
the uncharted western entrances to my land of dreams. Would you lead a group of ponies for me
to act as my eyes and ears?'
"It took Tattertail only a moment to make up her mind. Then, she curtsied in the
way of ponies and said, ‘I will do my duty, your majesty.'
"The hall rang with cheers.
"The next day, Tattertail led seven other ponies to the western castle where they
lived happily ever after."
Twilight finished her story, but Ember made no sound except for the gentle snores of
a sleeping pony. Twilight smiled to herself and closed her eyes. Though there were beds in
Dream Castle, occasionally the ponies slept in the meadow, where the grassy ground was
comfortable.
There was a flash of light and Twilight opened her eyes to see a pixie sitting on the
end of her nose.
"Still telling stories, I see," the little pixie said.
"And you're still making me look cross-eyed," Twilight replied. The pixie laughed
and, fluttering her wings, sprang into the air where she hovered like a hummingbird.
"Well," the pixie said, "you got the story right except you make me sound much
clumsier than what I am. And you left out the part where the salamander did actually charge
you."
Twilight shrugged. "Ember's just a colt. There's no reason to make the story any
more frightening. And you've grown up a little more and overcome your own clumsiness."
The pixie swung a pirouette in the air. "Twilight," she said as if to herself. "I like
that name. It fits you. I think Queen Merry named you well."
"Thank you," Twilight replied. "And I think you make a wonderful fairy godmother.
For the hundredth time, thank you for all you've done."
"The pleasure is mine," the little pixie said. "And now I'm off; there are others to
tend to." Flying in a majestic loop, the pixie left a trail of sparkling dust and swooped low to the
ground. Twilight heard a tiny "Oof!"
"Twilight?" the pixie asked.
"Yes?"
"Could you help me out of this spider's web?"
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The Merry Treat and Tabby Gossip Hour!
by Merry Treat and Tabby
Merry Treat: Hello, hello!!!
Tabby: *stares out the window*
Merry Treat: Tabby??? ~waves hoof in Tabby's face~ Tabby! We're on!
Tabby: What?! What?! We're on?!?!
Merry Treat: Yes!
Tabby: O-o-oh... I guess I forgot.
Merry Treat: Oh, dear! Tabby, have you been having dreams about giant squid again? I had
one of those last night... they were in a river... it was terrible...
Tabby: *yawns* Yeah, those awful squid dreams kept me up practically all last night.
Merry Treat: Anyway, how was Europe?
Tabby: It was pretty boring. And disgusting.
Merry Treat: Disgusting?
Tabby: *nods* There was this awful Weedo stallion.
Merry Treat: Weedo, eh? Sounds like weed repellent...
Tabby: That's exactly what I thought. His symbol looked like a weed, too...
Merry Treat: Tee hee! ~imitates a spokesperson~ Weedo, the latest in lawn care! Look it up in
your local Pony-Mart store! ~cackles~
Tabby: *laughs insanely*
Merry Treat: Tabby, Salty informed me that he hates Jar Jar!
Tabby: Well, then, you'll have to whack him over the head.
Merry Treat: I tried. He moved from where he was standing.
Tabby: Well... well... *thinks* Let me whack him over the head for you!
Merry Treat: He'll whack you back. And he thinks the same way about Furbys...
Tabby: Umm... umm... *is at a loss for words*
Merry Treat: ~plots on how to annoy Salty in the futures~
Tabby: Sugarberry's birthday was earlier this month. Remember that, MT?
Merry Treat: Oh, yeah! She invited me to her party!
Tabby: And then we ate outside. And the cute little seagulls came by.
Merry Treat: The cake was really good... but whoever frosted it didn't do a very good
job...
Tabby: Mmm... frosting? I dunno who worked on that... *smiles innocently*
Merry Treat: The seagulls were kawaii!! ~eyes Tabby suspiciously~
Tabby: *ignores the suspicious stare and rambles on about seagulls* I liked the first one
that came by; he was the cutest.
Merry Treat: Oh, yes! I think his name was Harry. Then there was the one that wouldn't stop
talking...
Tabby: Yeah, that one was very talkative. Even more talkative than I am.
Merry Treat: That's a surprise... ~mutters~
Tabby: *quickly straightens up* That is, almost more talkative than I am.
Merry Treat: That's better! ~grins~
Tabby: The fourth of July was cool, too. I liked the potato salad Sugarberry served.
Merry Treat: Yes, at the picnic!
Tabby: Yep yep. *nods* If only there'd been chicken, it would've been a perfect day.
Merry Treat: There was chicken... but I ate it all before you got there... hehe. ~laughs~
Kidding, kidding!
Tabby: You ate it before I got there?!? Oh... whew.
Merry Treat: ~giggles~ The look on your face was worth it, though! ~winks~
Tabby: Hmph. *sticks nose up in air*
Merry Treat: Tee hee!
Tabby: Have you battled Cleve Clove at the Pokčmon Gym yet?
Merry Treat: Nope... not since that Rattata of his beat me... ~grumbles about that~
Tabby: He keeps saying you're never around when he wants to fight at the gym.
Merry Treat: Hmm? Oh, I don't know about that... I'm just, uhm... volunteering at the
Pokčmon Center whenever he goes to the gym! ~nods vigorously~
Tabby: Uh-huh. *raises in eyebrow*
Merry Treat: ~changes subject~ So, uhhhhh... I hear you and Sugarberry freaked out on the
Ferris wheel.
Tabby: Remind me never to go on a ride like that again, MT. I HATE rides. I HATE
‘em. Why, I hate ‘em even more than giant squid... *rambles on and on*
Merry Treat: Tee hee, remind me never to go on the roller coaster.
Tabby: You went on the roller coaster?!?! You didn't tell me about that!
Merry Treat: ~shudders~ Oh, my gosh! Salty made me... I was glad to be back on the
ground...
Tabby: So... umm... *thinks*
Merry Treat: ~thinks~ Uhhhhh...
Tabby: Caught any cool Pokčmon lately?
Merry Treat: ~grins~ Oh, yeah!
Tabby: Ohhhh!! *wails* Who?!?!
Merry Treat: Oh, just a Caterpie...
Tabby: CATERPIE!!! I LOVE CATERPIE!!!! *mutters* I've gotta go find a Pokčmon
to capture...
Merry Treat: I caught him in the Tea Bunnies' forest. Oh-- and don't hurt me-- a Psyduck.
Tabby: PSYDUCK!!!!!!!!! *faints*
Merry Treat: ~sweatdrops~ At least I didn't tell her about the Togapi egg I found in
there...
Tabby: WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?!
Merry Treat: ~sweatdrops~ E-e-er... oh... n-nothing... n-nothing at all... nopenopenope...
~shakes head vigorously~
Tabby: Well. I'm just going to have to do something about this. I'm gonna capture a
whole bunch of cool Pokčmon.
Merry Treat: I can help you. I know of the BEST place to find them!
Tabby: Ohhhh!!! Where?!?!
Merry Treat: It's a wonderful, beautiful place in the woods! And that's where I met Salty...
~trails off~
Tabby: *rolls eyes*
Merry Treat: ~snaps out of it~ Anyway, I'll show you when we're done here! You'll just love
it, Tabby!
Tabby: O-o-okay... I wish Pokčmon ran wild in the Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe.
Merry Treat: Why would they be running? Wouldn't they be eating, instead?
Tabby: Now, that's true. And, they might be easier to catch that way.
Merry Treat: Yeah! Tabby, you won't believe this!
Tabby: What?!?!?!
Merry Treat: While you were in Europe, Tammy-- err-- Tamara came to the Pokčmon Center!
Tabby: She did?!?! Why?!?!
Merry Treat: Persian got a sticker in her paw, and wouldn't let Tamara remove it, so I had to.
Tabby: Gee, Tamara never told me about Persian with a sticker in her paw. Did she seem
upset when she came in?
Merry Treat: Of course she did! She loves that Persian! And then there was the incident where
Tiffany, Clever Clover, and I were arguing over which country you were in...
Tabby: You three were arguing over what country I was in?!?!
Tabby: But I knew exactly where I was! It was Spain... or else France... but it could've
been Italy...
Merry Treat: Yes... it was pathetic...
Tabby: Everything Tiffany argues about is pathetic.
Merry Treat: Tiffany thought it was France, Clever Clover thought it was Spain, and I thought
it was Italy. Clever Clover started it...
Tabby: Well, everything he argues about is pathetic, too. And everything you argue
about... and everything I argue about...
Merry Treat: Tee hee! What happened was Tiffany made a comment that you were "having a
wonderful time in France," then Clever Clover argued that it was Spain, and I just added to the
conversation by saying it was Italy...
Tabby: And I suppose everyone missed me terribly while I was gone.
Merry Treat: Yup, poor Sugarberry... and me... ~looks downcast~ ...and poor Thomas...
Tabby: *pauses in thought*
Merry Treat: I think we three missed you the most. ~hugs~ I'm so glad you're back, Tab! And
so is the rest of the gang!
Tabby: Well... you didn't have to miss me that much...
Merry Treat: Yes, we did! It wasn't the same without you around! Oh! We found the
popsicles you hid at the Pokčmon Center, by the way.
Tabby: Oh... that's fine...
Merry Treat: So, uhhh... find any cool things while you were in Europe?
Tabby: Just some yarnballs for Tarquin and Tess.
Merry Treat: Tess loved hers! Where'd you get those?
Tabby: My mother dug them out from somewhere in her house.
Merry Treat: Your mother?
Tabby: Yeah... she had a whole bunch of yarnballs.
Merry Treat: She likes knitting, doesn't she?
Tabby: I don't really know, but she didn't do anything crafty while I was there.
Merry Treat: Hmmm... I'd end up with a whole bunch of tangles if I tried knitting... ~laughs~
Tabby: I've never tried it at all. *giggles*
Merry Treat: Me neither!
Tabby: Isn't it amazing what hooves can do?
Merry Treat: Yeah.
Tabby: When I was little, I did counted cross-stitch. Holding that little needle with a
hoof! I don't think I ever finished any projects.
Merry Treat: I used to sew when I was little.
Tabby: The weather's so hot again.
Merry Treat: Yeah... got some ice cream?
Tabby: *thinks* I have cherry pie filling.
Merry Treat: Hmmmm... is it cold?
Tabby: It's been in the fridge since last night.
Merry Treat: O-o-o-oh! Sounds yummy!!
Tabby: *runs downstairs to get some* Here ya go. *hands her a dish*
Merry Treat: Yummy! Thankies! ~stuffs her face with cherry pie filling~
Tabby: *takes a bite of hers* Ahh, nothing beats cherry pie filling. Except for a
strawberry sundae. What are Tarquin and Tess up to today?
Merry Treat: ~shrugs~ Going places, I guess.
Tabby: *squirms around in her seat* I'm bored. There's got to be something else to
gossip about.
Merry Treat: Uhhhhhhh... what's your favorite movie?
Tabby: I'm thinkin'...
Merry Treat: Mine are too many to bother mentioning.
Tabby: Ack! I don't have an answer!
Merry Treat: Just start naming ones you like... oh, I know! Let's start naming every single
movie we can think off!!! ~says insanely~
Tabby: Ooh!! Ohhh!!! Star Wars Episode One!!!
Merry Treat: Mulan! 101 Dalmatians! Jurassic Park!
Tabby: Joan of Arc! Godzilla!
Merry Treat: Matrix!
Tabby: Umm... umm...
Merry Treat: Uhm... Jurassic Park Two! Uhhhh... Hercules!
Tabby: Mmm... mm... I ran out of movies I've ever seen.
Merry Treat: Ever After!
Tabby: Uhh...
Merry Treat: Lady and the Tramp!! Bambi!! Land Before Time!!
Tabby: The Aristocats!!!
Merry Treat: Uh... uh... what's it called? Oh, yeah! The Lion King! Pocahantas!
Tabby: All the Care Bears' movies!
Merry Treat: The My Little Pony Movie!
Tabby: The Pound Puppy movie! The Pokčmon movie, even if it hasn't come out yet!
Merry Treat: Yeah! All the Star Wars and Star Trek movies!
Tabby: All the old corny stupid Godzilla movies!
Merry Treat: Tee hee! All the Disney movies!
Tabby: Uh... uh...
Merry Treat: Lost in Space, even if I've never seen it!
Tabby: *faints* I can't come up with any more!!!
Merry Treat: Me either... all the movies in the world! There, I covered it.
Tabby: Whew. *wipes forehead* So, MT. Read any good books lately?
Merry Treat: I'm currently reading The Neverending Story; it's so-o-o-o-o good!
Tabby: I'm currently reading... not much.
Merry Treat: You finished Redwall?
Tabby: Yep, all those books I've finished. *sniffles*
Merry Treat: Me is sowwie.
Tabby: *sobs*
Merry Treat: ~pats her shoulder~
Tabby: *suddenly screams out for no reason at all* I love Furbys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baby Fox: *wanders by mumbling about them wasting time gossiping instead of reading the
wonderful fan-fics on her webpage*
Tabby: *waves at Baby Fox* Perhaps later, but now we must get back to our business!!
*giggles*
Merry Treat: ~rolls eyes~ Later we will, sis! Business??
Tabby: Well, sure! Because we may get fired if we don't do it. By... the publisher. *says
this ominously*
Baby Fox: You're wasting time on useless babble and not reading my fanfics...
Tabby: *turns to Baby Fox* Oh yeah?!?!
Merry Treat: Hmmm... I don't wanna get fired, so let's... uhhhhh...
Baby Fox: Yeah!! *gets right in Tabby's face* Yeah, that's what I think!!!!
Tabby: We'll talk about... how we crashed Tiffany's party last month!! Remember?
Merry Treat: ~steps between Baby Fox and Tabby~ No need to fight, you two! Oh, yeah! It
was hilarious!! ~starts cackling~
Tabby: I dare you to read my fan-fictions, Baby Fox!!! MT, you changed into Rainbow
Brite with that pen of yours... and I decided to change myself into Eleanore Tweeg at the last
minute.
Baby Fox: I've read some of yours, and they are very good. Now there must be a trade, so
you read mine!
Merry Treat: O-o-o-o-oh... the look on Tiff's face!!
Tabby: I know!!! *cracks up* MT, do you think anyone knew it was us at the party?
Merry Treat: I think Clever Clover pointed you out to somebody.
Tabby: Somebody?! Who was it?!
Merry Treat: ...because everybody knows your obsessed with Teddy Ruxpin... ~shrugs~ Beats
me... I think it was some pony that looked very much like Dawn...
Tabby: Hmph. It was the perfect disguise.
Merry Treat: Yes, but it... oh, never mind
Tabby: *yawns* I'm bored. But we've got to talk about something... or the publisher
will get after us.
Merry Treat: O-o-o-oh... uhm... so, uhm... what has been happening around Dream Valley
lately??
Tabby: Uhh.... not much. Except for....
Merry Treat: What??
Tabby: That new house that's being built.
Merry Treat: New house??
Tabby: Near the river. No one knows who's going to move in yet, though.
Merry Treat: Hmmmm... interesting...
Tabby: But it has been bought already.
Merry Treat: Hmm...
Tabby: Who do you suppose it is?
Merry Treat: Maybe-e-e-e-e-e... some person right out of our obsessions that we must go meet
right away!!!!!
Tabby: Yeehaw!!!! We can always hope.
Merry Treat: I wonder who it is?
Baby Fox: Maybe it's a guy pony.
Tabby: Maybe it's a monster from the Dark Forest.
Baby Fox: Maybe he'll have a black body and blue hair and blue crystal eyes and a blue
bandana a little blue top hat... he can be named Tuwedo or Kaman! Just Kaman! ~trails
off~
Merry Treat: ~rolls eyes~ You're dreamin', girl!
Tabby: Alrighty... we'll see how right you are...
Baby Fox: ...or he can have a black body and rose red hair and red eyes and a rose symbol
and a rose colored bandana and he can be named Shakespear... *trails off again*
Merry Treat: ~rolls eyes again~
Tabby: I'm getting a headache.
Merry Treat: Me, too... ~bops her sister over the head with a pillow~
Baby Fox: ~flickers for a moment, glares at them, and disappears through the floor muttering
about the two being hypocrites~
Tabby: Hypocrites? Us?
Merry Treat: ~shrugs~
Tabby: *shrugs as well*
Merry Treat: Wanna do some Brain Quest? ~brings out two packs of Brain Quest cards~
Tabby: *sits up eagerly* Ooh! Ohh!
Merry Treat: Okay! Ready? Ah! Here's one for you! ~grins mischievously~
Tabby: Oooh!!!
Merry Treat: Okay... ~clears throat~ Is the word "graffiti" from Italian, German, or
Russian?
Tabby: Italian!!!
Merry Treat: Yousa be correct!
Tabby: *looks smug* I knew it.
Merry Treat: Hmmm... yech! I hate math! We're skipping dat category...
Tabby: Math! *faints*
Merry Treat: Is ancient Chinese history divided into ages, centuries, or dynasties?
Tabby: Dynasties!!!
Merry Treat: Right again!
Tabby: *looks smug... again*
Merry Treat: A wheel spins on... what? Fill in the blank.
Tabby: An axis.
Merry Treat: Close! An axle.
Tabby: C'mon, c'mon, ask another!
Merry Treat: Who wrote the novels O Pioneers! and My Antonia?
Tabby: Mr. Somebody-or-Other.
Merry Treat: Yousa be wrong. Willa Cather
Tabby: Gee, I was sure I'd picked the right name on that one.
Merry Treat: I'll ask another. ~flips through the cards~ This is an easy one... how do you spell
"career"?
Tabby: Eh... how to spell "career"? *pauses in thought* I believe it's... c-a-r-e-e-r.
Merry Treat: Correct. Now, uhm... ~flips through the cards~
Tabby: *runs out of the room and comes back with another pack of Brain Quest cards
and a cassette*
Merry Treat: I got one for you!
Tabby: *starts playing the Pokčmon soundtrack* Mmm? What's this one?
Merry Treat: Is a forgetful person a wimp, a scatterbrain, or a tough cookie?
Tabby: Scatterbrain!
Merry Treat: Ding ding ding!!! Hehehe! Now, ask me one!
Tabby: Everything changes, changes.... it's evolutionary! That everything changes,
changes, changing all the time, playing with your mind, modified or rearranged... everything has
got to change!!! *has been singing, but turns to her pack of cards* Uhh.... was Atahualpa the last
emperor of the Incas, Mayans, of Aztecs?
Merry Treat: Huh? ~blank look, but is spaced out as it is~ Oh, uh... this is so wrong, but the
Aztecs?????
Tabby: Oh, dear, I lost my place. *flips through the cards frantically*
Merry Treat: Great... then we'll never know...
Tabby: Ahh! Here it is! ‘Twas the Incas...
Merry Treat: I knew that was wrong
Tabby: *shudders at the thought of all those South American Indians*
Merry Treat: Ask me another.
Tabby: What three letters stand for the substance that directs a cell's activities?
Merry Treat: Uhm... ~wracks brains~
Tabby: How will I find another friend... like you? Two of a kind, that's what we are, and
it feels like we were always winning, but as our team is torn apart, I wish we could go back to the
beginning... the time has come! It's for the best I know it... who could've guessed that you and
I.... somehow, someway, we've have to say goodbye... somehow, today... we have to say
goodbye... *is singing again*
Merry Treat: Oh! I love that song! I want that soundtrack for myself!!!! As for the question, I
haven't the foggiest idea.
Tabby: Pokčmonmonmon! Pokčmononmon! The journey's just begun! The more the
better! Team Rocket's on the run! We're friends for ever! Err... the question?! Gosh, I even
forgot we were doing that... hmm... it's supposed to be "DNA". Which stands for
deo-something-or-other acid.
Merry Treat: I knew that... ~tries to sound intelligent~
Clever Clover: *runs in the room shrieking like a monkey*
Tabby: Now, you must ask me something.
Merry Treat: ~is watching Cleve Clove~ Uhm... where did Cleve Clove lose his mind?
Tabby: Oh, he's never had one. Don't mind his monkey screeching.
Merry Treat: Ah!
Clever Clover: *begins dancing like an Egyptian*
Tabby: Prepare for trouble! Make it double! Prepare for trouble! Make it double!
Merry Treat: ~sweatdrops and turns back to Tabby~ Hesa be crazy, methinks...
Tabby: Oh, well, he just ran off. After giving my bunny ears. How he does that with
hooves, I still don't know...
Merry Treat: Magic. Teehee! ~picks up card deck~ Now, let's see-e-e-e... is Algiers a capital
or a country?
Tabby: Algiers?!?! That sounds familiar. Capital!!
Merry Treat: Dang! You're good at this!
Tabby: *preens like a duck* Hmm... Did President Nixon improve U.S. relations with
Russian, China, or both? *wonders what questions about U.S. presidents are doing in
Ponyland*
Merry Treat: China!!! I'm probably wrong...
Tabby: You've been such a good friend... I've known you since I don't know when.
We've got lots of friends but they come and go... even though we've never said it, there's
something that the two of us both know! Together forever, no matter how long! Uhh... China?
This soundtrack is addictive. But-- you're half right! ‘Twas both...
Merry Treat: Drat! Which song is that...??
Tabby: Together Forever! Next up is Misty's Song.
Merry Treat: ~wails~ Meesa wants dat soundtrack for myself!!!!!!!!
Tabby: ...and you can be sure, that forever and a day, that's how long we'll stay, together
and forever more!
Merry Treat: ~wailing~ Meesa needs dat soundtrack, methinks!!
Tabby: *keeps singing*
Merry Treat: ~realizes Tabby is no longer listening~
Tabby: Out here in the quiet of the night! Beneath the starts, and moon. We both know
we've got something on our minds, we won't admit, but it's true! You look at me, I look away...
Oh! Yes! Gossip!
Merry Treat: ~wonders what couple that song is about-- Jessie and James or Ash and Misty~
Tabby: ‘Tis Ash and Misty.
Merry Treat: Ah! Meesa figured!
*Spike, Friendly, Clever Clover, Davey, and Jones all enter the room*
Clever Clover: *imitates Mankey in the background*
Tabby: Gosh, I'm thirsty.
Merry Treat: Want some apple juice? ~hums the Wild Wild West song~
Tabby: Meesa canNOT gossip with all these guys hanging around.
Merry Treat: Hmmm... scare them away, then, or they could be our guests. I can scare them
off if you'd like...
Tabby: Okay! *announces to everyone that they're now guests*
Clever Clover: YEAH!
*Spike, Davey, Jones, and Friendly start laughing over something in Friendly's computer game
he's working on*
Merry Treat: What computer game? ~leans over to take a look~
Tabby: ‘Tis called Banana Man. Maybe Friendly can give us the plot overview.
Merry Treat: Banana Man!? ~falls over laughing~
Tabby: Yo, Friendly, tell all the listeners out here the plot of Banana Man!
Merry Treat: Yes, do tell.
Tabby: Uhh... he's not listening... *begins inspecting the scab on her knee which has
broken open*
Merry Treat: Yucky!!
Tabby: OH! OH! A BANANA MAN CUT SCENE!!! *shrieks happily*
Merry Treat: Cut scene??
Tabby: It's a... a... *trys to think of a way to explain a cut scene* It's like a bit of
animation in a cartoon, only it fits into the game.
Merry Treat: Ah.
Jones: It's a segway between levels of a game, mon! It's an animated sequence to further the
plot.
Merry Treat: Ah! Now I get it!
Davey: Hey, mon! Welcome to Jamaica, mon!
Merry Treat: ~giggles~ Hiya, Davey! ~bursts out laughing~
Tabby: Davey and Jones are back in Dream Valley visiting their Bushwoolie family.
*whacks Davey for turning off her cassette*
Merry Treat: ~turns on cassette again~
Tabby: *turns the volume on high to annoy him*
Merry Treat: Hehehe!!!!
*Spike, Friendly, Clever Clover, Davey, and Jones suddenly run out of the room*
Tabby: Eh... well, we were finding out some interesting things from Bowtie earlier.
Merry Treat: Yes, she gave us several cool facts. Thankies a ton, Bowtie.
Tabby: There was that one about mosquitos.
Merry Treat: If you take vitamin B every day, mosquitos and other bugs will not bite you
because you smell like a pregnant mosquito.
Tabby: And if you stop eating meat for seven years, you'll lose the ability to digest it
‘cause your body will stop making the needed enzymes.
Merry Treat: Same thing if you don't drink milk for an extended period. Your body looses the
ability to digest it.
Tabby: And the only pointless and stupid fact I could come up with on my own I picked
up from Cleve Clove and Barnacle.
Merry Treat: Do tell!
Tabby: They claim that if you take a glass of water with an ice cube in and twirl the glass
in circles, the ice cube won't move... hmm... I've never noticed that before.
Merry Treat: Hmmm... strange...
Tabby: Anyway... want to do more brain questing?
Merry Treat: Okay. ~picks up a pack~
Tabby: *sits there humming*
Merry Treat: Hmhmhm... la de da... let's see-e-e-e... tee hee! Okay, I got one for you... ~evil
grin~
Tabby: Ooh! Ooh! What?!?!
Merry Treat: Fifteen plus twelve equals thirty-five minus nine. True or false?
Tabby: Do I get to use a pen?
Merry Treat: If you need.
Tabby: True! True!!
Merry Treat: Oooh... false...
Tabby: False?!?!
Merry Treat: Twenty-seven doesn't equal twenty-six... I have no idea how that works...
Tabby: *faints*
Merry Treat: Tabby??
Tabby: What in the world does that mean?!?!
Merry Treat: It's math, dear. Ain't ‘sposed to make any sense.
Tabby: Oh, yes, I forgot. *nods* Now meesa asks something...
Merry Treat: Okie-dokie...
Tabby: Who founded Georgia: James Oglethorpe or George Calvert?
Merry Treat: Who cares? I mean...
Merry Treat: I guess it's the James dude...
Tabby: Hey! You're right!
Merry Treat: Hey, cool!
Tabby: C'mon, c'mon, ask me another!!!
Merry Treat: Meesa has no idea how me got dat one... okie-dokie... ~flips through cards~ In
Monopoly, how many hotels are you allowed to build on a property?
Tabby: Two or one!
Merry Treat: Pick one or the other.
Tabby: One. Or two.
Merry Treat: What is your choice?
Tabby: ...or else two. Or one. One. No, two.
Merry Treat: Tabby!
Tabby: One!
Merry Treat: Thank you! You're right. Go on, ask meesa one.
Tabby: Find the interjection: "Wow, I just saw Queen Serena in the supermarket!"
Merry Treat: You did!? Where!? Oh... hehe... uhm... interjection...
Tabby: Argh... I lost my place again...
Merry Treat: Uhm... ~still pondering~ Let's see-e-e-e...
Tabby: It starts with a w!
Merry Treat: ‘Wow'???????????
Tabby: That's what it says, anyway... "Wow (an interjection is a word or phrase that
expresses emotion)."
Merry Treat: Ah!!
Tabby: Could've fooled me, but...
Tabby: LA DE DA DE DA!!! *sings at the top of her lungs*
Merry Treat: This is the song that never ends... yes it goes on and on my friend...
Tabby: LA DE DA!!! LA!!! LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merry Treat: ...some people just, started singing it, not knowing what it was, and they'll
continue singing it forever just because...
Tabby: LA DE DA LA DE DA-A-A-A-A!!!!!
Merry Treat: This is the song that never ends... yes it goes on and on my friend... some people
just, started singing it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue singing it forever just
because...
Tabby: Yippe!!! LA!!!! LA!!! My song that never ends is much more unimaginative...
Merry Treat: ~continues to sing it over and over, driving the readers nuts~
Tabby: LA DE DA! LA DE DA! LA DE DA!
Merry Treat: Let's sign off, Tabby! Sing it with me, this is the song that never ends..
Tabby: Yes it goes on and on my friend!!!!!
Tabby: Some people just, started singing it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue
singing it forever just because...!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merry Treat: ...some people, just started singing it, not knowing what it was! Bye peoples!
And they'll continue singing it forever, just because!!
Tabby: YIPEE!!! *runs off screaming for apparently no reason at all*
Merry Treat: ~dances off, singing insanely~
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dancer's Story #7
Orion's Secret
by Ashleigh (Wonder)
"I'm sick of practicing solo!" Hope complained as she and Dancer walked together
through the garden.
"Well, I wish I could help you; but I don't know anyone as great as you are, except
for Fever..." Dancer said.
"Oh, yuck!" Hope said, and then giggled.
"I have some good news for you," Dancer grinned.
"What?" Hope asked as she smiled at her friend.
"I'm pregnant!" Dancer said.
"Oh, wow!" Hope said as she hugged Dancer. "Does Storm know?" she asked.
"Yeah. We found out a few days ago," Dancer smiled. "I think he has told Orion by
now."
"I remember when Mindy had Dinah; she was so cute," Hope said.
"She grew fast, didn't she? Dinah is about six months old now," Dancer said.
"Yeah, and it seems like you just got married to Storm," Hope commented.
"Time sure does fly!"
* * *
Mindy frowned as she saw Hope and Dancer wandering towards the spot where
Orion was painting in the garden.
"...so I figure some colt out there is looking for a partner to show with. I want to be
just like On My Honor and Noble Caesar, or even Shining and Signature Required!" Orion heard
Hope say as the two friends walked by. Something stirred deep inside him, and Orion stood up so
quickly the painting he was working on fell over.
"Orion!" Hope gasped.
"Are you okay!?" Dancer asked as they walked over to him.
"Um, uh, yeah," Orion said.
"What's wrong?" Hope asked.
"Umm... it's nothing," Orion slowly said.
Dancer and Hope just stared. "You sure you're okay?" Hope asked.
When Orion nodded, Dancer and Hope helped him pick up the painting and
supplies.
* * *
That night, Orion couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned in his stall; and just as he was
drifting off to sleep, something thumped nearby. Orion awoke with a start.
Frowning, he stood up and walked outside; if he couldn't sleep, he would go for a
walk. The full moon outside made it easy to see the trails, and Orion set out.
"I wonder if I could still dance and jump like I used to..." he mumbled to himself, and
then tried a capriole. "Cool, I can!" he laughed as he dropped down on all four legs and started
on a piaffe and passage tour.
* * *
As the morning sun rose, Orion headed back to Whitebrook, deep in thought. He
almost ran into Hope as she walked out of the training barn. "Oh, sorry!" Orion stopped and
blushed.
"Orion, are you sure you're okay? You haven't been acting like yourself the last few
days," Hope said.
Orion nodded and walked on to his stall. "I'm fine... really, I am..."
Hope sighed and walked outside. Orion turned and watched her go. Then he went
to his stall and stretched out. When he finally fell asleep, his dreams were of his memories of
Glorified Acres.
* * *
Later that afternoon, Hope was asking Magic about showing with a partner. "Well,
Hope, you're definitely ready, but the only colt I know that would be a good match for you is
Fever; and we all know you two don't get along," Magic stated.
"Sorry..." Hope mumbled.
"Hey, it's all right; sometimes personalities clash, but that's just the way it is. I know
how much you want to do this; but you need patience. You will find your perfect partner; it just
might take a while," Magic told her.
"Maybe you should ask Orion to perform with you!" Fever laughed as he poked his
head in the office door.
"Fever, this is none of your business, so please leave," Magic said in an annoyed
tone.
Fever rolled his eyes, then bowed and walked off, passing Orion outside the office
door.
"I heard what you said... did you..." Orion started to ask, but was cut short.
"Hey, I was only joking; you're the only horse around here not training someone or
being trained," Fever snapped.
"Fever! Leave Orion alone!" Hope stomped up and glared at the dark colt.
"Stay out of this..." Fever said, not bothering to even glance in Hope's direction. "I
could beat you, Orion. I bet you don't even know the difference between a piaffe and a passage,"
he snorted.
"Yeah, right, you could beat me!" Orion sarcastically snapped back, then stopped.
Fever shook his head and walked away.
"Could you?" Hope asked as she turned to him.
"Uh, well, I dunno... I'm not in training," Orion mumbled.
"But you could get in training!" Hope beamed.
Magic was now standing in the doorway, a thoughtful expression on her face. "If
Orion wanted to start training, it would take months of hard work till he is able to show well," she
said.
"I want to try, though, Magic," Orion nodded, a grin on his face.
"Okay! Let's go to the ring," Magic smiled.
"Yeah, let's see!" Hope said excitedly.
Orion nodded and started trotting towards the large indoor ring. Mindy looked up as
Orion, Hope, and Magic walked out of the barn and headed to the ring. Orion was smiling, and
so w as Hope.
"What on earth is he up to?" Mindy wondered as she stood up and followed the
group.
"Why don't you watch today, Orion, while Hope practices; then maybe tomorrow we
can start on some easy moves for you," Magic said.
Orion and Hope both nodded, and Hope started practicing piaffes and passages.
Orion's eyes were glued on Hope as she beautifully went through the tour; and he only looked up
when Storm, Dancer, and Fever walked in.
"Okay, Hope, that was pretty good; but try to lift your legs a little higher and don't
be so loose," Magic said.
Orion wasn't thinking of anything else but the lesson, and nodded quickly. "Yeah,
like this... " he said and sprang into a beautiful piaffe.
"Oh, my..." Hope gasped as she watched Orion do an almost perfect tour; then he
swung around in a pirouette. He stopped suddenly when he realized everyone was staring at him.
"Orion! I didn't know you could do... how did you ever... who...?" Magic stuttered.
Dancer and Storm were grinning; Hope was smiling; only Fever and Mindy were
frowning.
"This... is... amazing!" Hope laughed and hugged Orion.
"What on earth are you doing, Orion?" Mindy gasped and walked into view.
"I can still perform!" Orion laughed as he reared up into a levade.
"Why didn't you tell me you can do this?" Mindy demanded.
"I didn't want to ever do it again, but Hope needs my help," Orion said. Mindy
frowned, and turned to go back to Dinah.
"Should we try jumping?" Hope asked as they met together in the center of the
ring.
"Yeah, this is great!" Orion laughed. Hope cantered around the ring twice,
and
Orion followed. As they began the first round of jumps, Orion remembered how fun it had been.
"You're doing great; this is amazing!!" Magic called from the side.
"Who taught you?" Hope asked as the two cantered together around the ring a few
times to cool down.
"It's a secret," Orion said quickly.
Hope frowned thoughtfully. "Itsa Secret? Never heard of him. Where did you two
train?" she asked.
"I don't really want to talk about him," Orion said.
"Why? What's wrong?" Dancer asked as she stepped over to her friends.
"He died a long time ago," Orion sighed. "I know all I have been working on is my
art, but I was taught when I was really little, and he was one of the greatest."
"Oh," Hope and Dancer said in unison as Orion walked out of the ring.
* * *
"So, he can perform like Hope?" Storm asked later that afternoon as he and Dancer
had lunch at the food court.
"Yeah! But he doesn't want to talk about the horse that trained him; I have no clue
who Itsa Secret is," Dancer said as she nibbled a carrot stick.
"Maybe he said ‘It is a secret' like he doesn't want anyone to know who trained
him," Storm said thoughtfully.
"Well, he said his trainer was one of the greatest performers of all time, until he
died," Dancer said.
Storm nodded. "We should get back to Whitebrook early; Jazzman wants me to help
paint the outside of the training barn," he said.
"That's good; I saw you two out there painting the storage shed yesterday," Dancer
told him.
"How are you feeling?" Storm asked quietly as he gently nuzzled Dancer.
"I'm feeling good so far. But soon I'll be looking like the ‘Goodyear Blimp',"
Dancer laughed as she joked about how Mindy described her pregnancy.
"Orion told me Mindy is going to have another baby. I hope she won't act the same
way she did when she had her first," Storm said.
* * *
When Dancer and Storm returned to Whitebrook, Orion and Hope were back inside
the ring practicing. "What's up?" Storm asked.
"Hope and I are going to show together this year," Orion said.
"That's great! You think you can get back in shape for the Fourth of July show?"
Storm asked.
"I don't know..." Orion shrugged.
"If we can, it would be great; but I won't be disappointed if we don't make it; we'll
try, though!" Hope added.
"And that's the way to think!" Magic praised the pair.
* * *
That night, Mindy confronted Orion outside the training barn. "Why didn't you tell
me you could do that!?" she asked in a demanding tone.
"I didn't want to do it... Hope needs a partner..." Orion said.
"And Dinah needs a father!" Mindy yelled.
"What are you talking about? I'm there for Dinah!" Orion protested.
"But you're not there for me. All you do is work on your art, and now you're going
to run off with that... that mare! I'm moving into the broodmare barn!" Mindy yelled.
"Min... please... I stood behind you and your dreams; what about mine?" Orion
sighed.
"Art was your dream! Now you have to go live in the past and do whatever your
stupid trainer taught you!" As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Mindy knew she had
said too much, especially when she saw Orion's shocked expression turn to an icy glare.
"Maybe art was my dream, but I just woke up," he said, and then turned and walked
from the barn.
As he looked up at the starry night sky and sighed, he didn't know what he would do
now. "Well," he said, "now they know my secret."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mystery Pony
Identify the name of this pony:
blue body; light pink mane and tail; dark pink streak in mane; magenta purse symbol
And once you figure out who it is, also answer 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--
If you can come up with the name of the pony described and answers to all four
questions, please e-mail me at TabbyMLP@aol.com! I'll correct your answers, and if they're all
right, you'll be mentioned in the next issue.
Answers to Last Month's Mystery Pony
The Mystery Pony from July was Starry Wings, one of the Windy Wing Ponies! She
came out in year seven (or 1988), and was never shown in the cartoon series. The other five
ponies that came along with Starry Wings in her series were Moonjumper, Flurry, Cool Breeze,
Whirly, and Sun Glider.
Congratulations to the Winners!
Princess Dawn (PansyPearl@aol.com) and Bouncy (BouncyPony@aol.com) both
submitted all the correct answers to identify Starry Wings! Great work, you two!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bouncy's Hope
Party 3
by Bouncy
Hoping to cure a drought that has come upon Dream Valley, Bouncy and her
new friend, Fractal, have just arrived back at Paradise Estate and confront a strange black
unicorn stallion.
The other ponies backed up in fright of the mysterious new pony who seemed to
pose a threat, but Bouncy and Fractal held their ground. "Who are you?" Bouncy demanded.
She lifted her head and the sun struck down on her coat, making her fur gleam.
The black male unicorn snorted imperiously. "Really, Bouncy, must you put a name
to everyone?"
How did he know my name? Bouncy though.
The unicorn continued. "However, if you really MUST put a name to me, then call
me Darkness."
Fractal snickered. "Darkness!? What sort of a name is that?"
Despite herself, Bouncy started to laugh, but stifled it quickly. No sense starting
a fight when we might not need one, she thought.
Darkness snarled back. "My name is more fitting than yours, FRACTAL!" His dark
eyes gleamed and he appeared ready to strike.
Bouncy cleared her throat and then said, "So, exactly why did you come here?"
Darkness turned from Fractal to face Bouncy. "I came to achieve my goal. I plan to
destroy Dream Valley and all of the creatures within it, starting with those annoyingly happy
Flutter Ponies."
Bouncy raised an eyebrow at him and thought, Okay, who does he think he
is? Out loud, she asked, "And would you mind explaining why you're telling us this?"
Darkness grinned. "Diversion. At this very moment, I'm regaining enough energy
from summoning my dragon to destroy them."
Bouncy narrowed her eyes. "We'll see about that," she said. She launched into the
air, with Fractal close behind.
Fractal suddenly announced, "Uh-oh, trouble behind us." They both started flying
harder.
Bouncy turned in time to see Darkness with an enormous pair of black wings on his
back, close on their tail. She made an about-face in the air, then yelled, "Water Arch!" A blast of
blindingly blue water arched through the air and hit Darkness straight on.
Or should have, she thought in dismay as she saw the water stream off to
both sides and then disappear. She tried again. "Ice Crystal!"
The air began to coalesce around Darkness, and then formed into a structure of ice
surrounding him. Moments later, the ice burst out in all directions, and Bouncy said to Fractal,
"He's countering all my magic!"
Fractal responded, "Let me try." He concentrated, and to the consternation of
Darkness, the black unicorn slowly faded out and then disappeared entirely.
"Good job," Bouncy said, and then added, "We need to talk later, but right now we
have to save the Flutter Ponies." Fractal nodded in agreement, and they set off, straining to fly
even faster than before.
Flutter Valley looked the same as usual, with brilliantly blooming flowers in neat and
tidy rows. The Flutter Ponies played in the air, and Bouncy recognized the game as some form of
tag. Some of the flutters were in tree houses talking about gardening, or sleeping.
As Bouncy flew in, the Flutter Ponies turned to look at her curiously. One, a flutter
whom Bouncy often conversed with on various intellectual subjects, flew over and greeted her.
Her blue coat shone with a luminescent light and her red hair gleamed. "Hi, Bouncy," Tropical
Breeze said. "What's up? Come to discuss something? And who might this handsome pegasus
be?" Tropical Breeze leaned over and whispered to Bouncy, "You know, if he was a flutter, I'd
be in trouble."
Bouncy raised an eyebrow at her friend. If there was one thing wrong with Tropical
Breeze, it was the fact that she admired male pones WA-A-A-AY too much.
"Ordinarily, I'd be very inclined to talk with you," Bouncy said quickly, "but right
now we have to hurry and evacuate all the Flutter Ponies from Flutter Valley. No time to explain
right now; just please follow me."
The urgency in Bouncy's voice reached Tropical Breeze, and she said, "Maybe you
should talk with Rosedust." Her shining translucent wings beat furiously as she sped her way to
where a yellow flutter with pink hair was hovering curiously. After a quick word, both flew over
to Bouncy and Fractal.
"Is the situation really that serious?" Rosedust inquired.
Bouncy nodded, and then quickly said, "I'm afraid so. Flutter Valley will be
destroyed any second, so we need to leave as quickly as possible."
Rose Dust sighed, then nodded. "We'll need to transport the Sunstone, then." She
whistled to the Flutter ponies, and then yelled, "Operation Evacuate!"
The flutters seemed startled, but quickly bustled about. "Follow me!" Rosedust
cried; then she, Bouncy, and Fractal headed out of Flutter Valley. The others formed a line,
staying, Bouncy noted, extremely calm and collected.
For several minutes, the procession was silent as they made their way out of the lush
and beautiful garden paradise. Then Rosedust called for a halt. The flutters grouped around their
leader, and she called out names, followed by quick, precise responses. One thing you have to
say for the Flutter Ponies, Bouncy thought, is that they're very prepared in an
emergency.
"And the Sunstone is here?" Rosedust asked. Several of the Flutter Ponies came
forward, and trailing behind, suspended by nothing, was a large, luminous golden stone. Its light
seemed muted, and the Flutter Ponies concentrated on the stone.
Bouncy was about to inquire exactly how they managed to do that when she heard an
ominous, threatening rumble. She turned in the direction of the sound-- coming from Flutter
Valley-- just in time to see the valley explode in an enormous pillar of blue lightning.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rainbow Maker
Part 1
by North Star (bri059@juno.com)
The sunshine cascaded down on the sleeping baby pony. She smiled contently and
rolled over, letting the rays beat on her little blue belly. The lush, green leaves of a tree towered
above her.
"Baby Ember! Come on and play!" Baby Sparkler chimed in a tiny voice.
Baby Ember opened one eye, and looked at Baby Sparkler curiously. She always
wants to do something, she thought.
"I don't want to play," Baby Ember finally replied, closing her eyes again. "Why
must you always pester me?"
Baby Sparkler laughed softly. "Why do you talk funny?"
"I talk properly. Unlike some babies around here," Ember retorted, insinuating that
Baby Sparkler was one of the babies. Her white hair fell haphazardly over her eyes, and she slid it
back into place with a sigh.
"DO NOT!" Baby Sparkler yelled, to which Baby Ember simply closed her eyes
again. "Do not!" the white unicorn repeated in a softer voice. Baby Ember continued to ignore
her. Huffing, Baby Sparkler stomped off to Twilight.
"Twilight. Ember's mean! M-E-N. Mean!" she whined incessantly.
Twilight smiled gently. "Ignore her. Remember, she's special."
"What so special ‘bout her? That she come from nowhere? That not special. I
special. I a unicorn," the indignant baby replied.
"Yesterday, I heard Majesty say that one day Ember will be queen. She has a royal
manner," Twilight told her.
"She's a brat!" Baby Sparkler bellowed, with a voice far beyond her years.