My Little Pony Monthly Issue 45 (December 1,
2000)
My Little Pony Monthly
Established June 1997
This Newsletter is Safe for All Ages
If you would like to be removed from the My Little Pony Monthly mailing list, simply send a blank e-mail to mlpmonthly_unsubscribe@eGroups.com
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Issue 45
December 2000
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Index of this issue–
1. Ember's Christmas (by C. Alan Loewen)
2. My Little Soldier: Sailor Moon Episode 2: Unfeeling Fortune (by Moonstar)
3. Ginseng and Sassafras Tea Chapters 17 & 18 (by Sugarberry)
4. Princess Willow Rosette Chapter 2 (by Akkima)
5. Christmas in Dream Valley, 2000 (by Sugarberry and Tabby)
6. The Three Lambs (by Sugarberry)
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Ember’s Christmas
by C. Alan Loewen (cloewen@superpa.net)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Ember sneezed again, making Twilight jump in surprise.
“But I don’t want to stay in bed,” Ember cried, “I want to come down and help with the Christmas tree and the mistletoe and the wassail bowl. The children will be here. I don’t want to miss them.”
Twilight sadly shook her head. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but you’ve got a very bad cold and a fever. If you don’t rest, it might get worse.” The petite unicorn grabbed the blanket with her teeth and pulled it up over the little shivering black pony. “There’s still a lot of Christmas to go around. December’s a busy month. There’s lot’s to celebrate.”
“Don’t care,” Ember muttered through chattering teeth. “Silly old fever.”
“Go to sleep,” Twilight gently sang, “and dream a dream,
Of clouds along the Milky Way.
You’ll graze among the glowing stars
And chase the moonbeams as you play.
“Heaven’s stars are scattered bright
Up in that pasture in the skies.
So hush my little one, it’s time
For dreams to come, so close your eyes.”
Twilight listened to Ember’s soft rhythmic breathing, gave her a quick kiss, and-- with a prayer for sweet dreams-- went out into the hallway. December was a very busy month in the Land of Dreams; and with all the different holidays and traditions, Earth’s dreaming children could not be disappointed. There was still so much to do.
In Ember’s room, all was silent except for the little dark pony’s breathing. Through the window in the clear December night, the stars twinkled in a perfect cloudless sky.
Ember’s front left hoof twitched as she entered her own land of dreams.
“Oh, you poor thing,” she heard as the mists started to fade around her.
“Who?” Ember asked. “Who’s a poor thing?”
“Why you are, you poor child. Sick on Christmas Eve. How unfair.”
Ember blinked. She found herself standing in a small room made cozy by a warm glowing fireplace. In front of her, an old woman dressed in red and white rocked back and forth in a small chair.
“Who are you?” Ember asked.
“Well,” the woman said with a big smile, “some say I’m the Spirit of Christmas, but my friends just call me Mother Yule. Now let’s see if we can’t make your Christmas a tad more cheery.”
With that Mother Yule clapped her hands, and suddenly Ember found herself out in a cold, starless winter night. She shut her eyes tight against the bitter sleet. “This isn’t what I would call cheery!” the pony called out to the wind.
“Now, now,” said Mother Yule’s voice in Ember’s ear. “You’re a big, strong horse. Be brave. I want to introduce you to a friend of mine.”
Ember blinked in surprise. Mother Yule was correct; she wasn’t a little black pony anymore. With a snort Ember blinked at the ground far below her head, catching a glimpse of strong, sturdy legs. The sleet hit her muscular back and instantly melted from sheer body heat. Ember had never felt so powerful in her entire life.
Ember heard boots crunching through the snow behind her.
“Ember,” Mother Yule’s voice said. “I would like you to meet one of my dearest friends, King Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia in the Year of our Lord, 926.”
The young man dressed in a thick, heavy cloak could not have been older than nineteen. He dropped a huge bag on the ground and rubbed Ember’s ears in greeting. “Prítel, my friend,” he said. “I know it’s cold, but we have good work to do.”
Flinging the heavy sack over Ember’s back, he took her bridle and led the way out of the paddock and into the dark streets of a city asleep in the grip of winter. It seemed to Ember her cold legs would freeze, but she kept a steady pace, her heavy iron shoes making a clip-clopping echo through the deserted streets.
They came to a simple home, and Wenceslas clutched his cloak tightly around him and pulled the hood low over his face. He rapped on the door, paused, and rapped again.
A noise came through the door. Slowly, it opened a crack to reveal a tired woman holding a single candle burned down to a nubbin.
“Widow Ludmila?” the good king asked.
“Yes?” the woman asked trembling. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“A friend,” was all he would say. He went to Ember and took the heavy sack from off her back. “Here is food for you and your four children. Here is also cloth for you to make clothes for your children or maybe to sell.
“And,” he said reaching to the small leather bag on his belt, “here are a few coins to help.”
The woman simply stared at the sack at her feet, her mouth open in surprise. “But,” she said as tears came to her eyes, “Why? Why would you do this for us?”
Wenceslas laughed gently. “Is it not the season for giving gifts?” Without another word, he leapt on Ember’s back and turned her head away from the widow’s door.
“God bless you, sir,” the woman called to him as he rode away. “God bless you!”
“He already has,” Wenceslas called back.
Suddenly, Ember found herself back in the warm room where Mother Yule sat in the cheery glow of the fire. “What did you think of that, little one?” she asked.
“Oh, that was fun,” Ember said excitedly. “Do you have other friends like that?”
Mother Yule laughed in sheer delight. “Oh, yes. Look! All that we behold is full of blessings!”
With a wave of her hand, she sent Ember into the horses and ponies of history as they participated in the spirit of Christmas. Ember carried Saint Nicholas of Myra as he went to give a poor man gold for his daughters’ dowries. She found herself on board a ship bound for a new land listening to the immigrants as they sang Christmas carols. She helped families drag Christmas trees from the woods, and she pulled sleds of Christmas revelers. Up and down the corridor of time, Ember had the privilege of seeing Christmas through countless equine eyes.
Back in Dream Castle, Twilight looked in on Ember only to hear her laugh contentedly in her sleep.
“One more, dear Ember.” Mother Yule whispered in her ear. “One more.”
Ember found herself staring at a strange face reflected in a wooden water trough.
“A donkey!” she said in exasperation. “Oh, Mother Yule, not a donkey!”
“Hush,” said the voice in her ear.
Ember looked up. She was a donkey in a strange, dusty place filled with animals. The walls were simple clay and mud. The floor was covered with a thick bedding of straw. A ramshackle door creaked open.
“Best I can do,” came a tired man’s voice. “The inn is full but you can stay here in the stable. At least it will be warm.”
“It will have to do,” said another male voice. A man appeared in the door silhouetted by the bright sunlight. He led a young woman by the arm. The woman was with child.
That night, Ember watched as the drama of the first Christmas unfolded before her eyes. Even later, kneeling on the hay floor while shepherds knelt before the couple and their newborn child, Ember watched with wonder. From where she knelt in the straw, Ember could see the smooth unmarked hands of the cooing baby reach out to the brilliant star in the heavens glittering through the open window.
The next morning Ember awoke and shook her head at the memory of her fantastic dream. She still felt a little shaky, but her fever had broken in the night. Twilight nudged the door open.
“Good morning, Ember!” she said. “Merry Christmas! Are you ready to go downstairs and ...” Twilight stopped in mid-sentence and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“Why, Ember,” she said in exasperation. “How did you come to be covered in straw?”
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My Little Soldier: Sailor Moon
Episode 2: Unfeeling Fortune
by Moonstar (alicorn_83@yahoo.com)
My Little Soldier, My Little Soldier,
Kicking evil by moonlight,
Winning love by starlight,
Never ready for a real fight.
She is the one with the TV show called My Little Soldier: Sailor Moon
She will always be there for a friend,
Though her twinkling horseshoes are kinda slippin’,
She is the one to whom we come trotting...
She is named Sailooorr...
Sailor Venus!
Sailor Mercury!
Sailor Mars!
Sailor Jupiter!
With secret powers so new and peculiar,
She is the one named Sailor Moon.
Kicking evil by moonlight,
Winning love by starlight,
With the other ponies of the Sailor Soldiers to help fight...
She is the one named Sailor Moon!
She is the one, Sailor Moon!
My name is Baby Bunny Tsukino. I’m a pink earth pony with yellow hair, and my symbol is of a bunny and the moon; I’m fourteen years old, a Cancer, and in eighth grade. I guess I’m a bit clumsy and a crybaby. One day, I got a transformation locket from a weird talking baby dragon, Luna, and I became a Sailor Soldier. And now Luna tells me I have to fight the bad guys. I’m not so sure about that. Oh well... things will work out... I hope.
* * *
Crowds of fillies were lined up in front of a fortuneteller’s booth. He was an old, wrinkled pony, and he slowly told fortunes and read hoofs. The babies in line talked loudly amongst themselves, unaware that anyone else was watching.
“I heard this place is really good,” a purple and pink unicorn said to her friend.
“Yeah, I saw it on TV, too!” a newborn piped-up.
* * *
Jadeite closed the viewing bubble he had been using to spy on the outside valley. “Ha! Stupid ponies, they will believe anything.”
“Jadeite, REPORT!” Queen Barrel bellowed. Jadeite promptly transported to the throne room, where the tan-colored alicorn of darkness sat on her throne, her orange twinkle eyes reflecting shadows.
“Jadeite, my other minions tell me you haven’t found the rainbow yet OR gotten much energy from the ponies!” the dark queen growled.
The blue earthling general bowed. “I have already begun a plan...”
* * *
Luna yawned and stretched, uncurling her pointed dragon tail. The trotting sound of baby ponies getting ready for school downstairs in Paradise Estate had long since faded an hour ago. Luna’s sharp ruby-colored eyes caught a usual sight– it was eight in the morning and Bunny was still in bed.
“RRRH!” Luna roared a tiny war cry and pounded on the pink pony, roasting her yellow hair with a blast of flame. “Wake up!” she growled.
Bunny woke up all right, beginning her day by seeing the angry baby dragon’s face and claws inches away from her face. “AAK! EEEH! OOOH-AKK!” she screamed wildly realizing that the tips of her mane were on fire; and she jumped out of bed, finally stomping the flames out with her hoofs after running around her room in terror about two times without stopping.
“Hey, you almost cooked me alive, Luna!” Bunny huffed, finally catching her breath.
“Well, you can’t go to school if you’re in bed, can you?” Luna said smugly, pointing at the clock.
“Oh, no! It’s that late already?!” Bunny exclaimed, jumping off her bed again so fast that it sent Luna flying across the room. “Why didn’t you wake me up earlier, Luna!?” Bunny yelled, off to find one of her horseshoes.
“To think that pony is going to be the LEADER... oh dear...” Luna said and sweat-dropped.
* * *
At school a little later, Ms. Hippity-Hop was taking roll. “Baby Melvin?”
“Here!”
“Baby Posey?”
“Here!”
“Baby Fizzy?...”
No one seemed to notice as the door opened slowly and a certain pink baby walked in and tried to crawl to her desk very quietly...
Until Melvin jumped up on his desk cheerfully with a little megaphone. “Good morning, Bunny!” he thundered. Bunny sweat-dropped
“Both of you go stand out in the hallway!” Ms. Hippity-Hop ordered.
* * *
Bunny was quite sure by now that the teachers of her school prided themselves on keeping the hallway just outside her classroom as dull as possible. The hall was uncomfortably quiet and dull like it had always been before on every day Bunny had been sent out there (all fifty-six of them).
This wasn’t unusual for Bunny... but Melvin?!
He’s probably never been in the hallway in his life! Bunny thought, giving the light blue pony a sideways glance... only to notice he had been stealing looks at her this whole time. “Hey, why are you staring at me?” she asked uneasily.
Melvin blushed but never looked in her direction. “Um, well, it’s not something I can really say...” he mumbled.
Bunny just looked puzzled, and took a step away from him and stared harder at the wall, and she wished desperately now there were some posters to look at.
* * *
At lunch, Melvin called Molly over to where he sat on the lawn. Birds chirped merrily in the background of the schoolyard as Molly sat down, her daisy symbol blending in with the real ones growing in the grass.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Molly asked.
Melvin’s eyes filled with hearts. “I want to go on a date with Bunny and tell her I love her and talk to her parents about me and her getting married and...!”
“No way,” Molly said, popping his little fantasy bubble. “I don’t think it would work if you just told her.”
“How about if I attacked her from behind?!” Melvin asked, taking off his bandana, and in one quick move tying it like a gag on Molly’s mouth along with a rose.
Molly kicked it off, shooting a look of annoyance at the computer-symboled blue colt. “Nope, that wouldn’t work ether,” she sighed. “Maybe you should get your fortune told to tell you what to do. I’ve heard the one on tenth street is very good...”
* * *
Bunny saw a fortuneteller’s shop on the way home; it wasn’t very unusual, but now that she took a closer look... it was the same one that had had a big line just yesterday. Now there was none at all!
“Huh? What happened? There’s usually a huge line...” Bunny asked the old pony who was the shop’s owner as well as its only fortuneteller.
The fortuneteller pointed his muzzle across the street. “A rival appeared,” he said simply in an old, worn voice. The shop across the way was lined with multicolored streamers, glitter, lights, and signs: Find love! Money! Fame!
“Wow, that’s so flashy!” Bunny gasped. “Did everyone go over there?”
The old pony sighed. “Yes, everyone likes new things...”
Bunny looked at his sad face... then she got an idea. “Please tell me my fortune!” she said, putting a hoof up on the table.
“Thank you, filly...” the old pony said with deep appreciation and looked down at her hoof. “A stallion loves you... it’s someone you see very often.”
“Someone I see very often? Maybe it’s...” Bunny’s eyes lit up and she was headed like a flash to the video arcade, yelling a quick “thank you” to the old pony.
At the arcade there was the usual after-school crowds of ponies, but much to Bunny’s disappointment, there was no sign of the special pony she was looking for. “He’s not here yet...” Bunny sniffed, but then felt the touch of a muzzle on her shoulder.
“Hi, Bunny!” a gold-colored pony with white and red striped hair, golden eyes, and a shield as his symbol greeted her cheerfully.
“Hi, Andrew...” Bunny mumbled.
“You’re just in time. I’m about to start work.” He pointed his handsome muzzle over to a new shiny video game with a masked yellow twice-as-fancy baby posing proudly above the screen. “We just got in the Sailor V game. You haven’t played that yet, have you?”
“No...” Bunny said dreamily. Less than five minutes later she with hooked, and pounded on the control panel with a hoof while working the fire button fiercely with her muzzle. “Here!... no, here!... okay, just one more item and!... noooOOO!” Bunny cried in defeat as the “Game Over” screen flashed.
“Hard game, isn’t it?” laughed Andrew. “Here, I’ll give you some hints.”
“Thank you.” He sat down beside her and Bunny thought for a second she was in heaven. Maybe he does love me! she thought. Maybe...
She was snapped out of her daydream by a tug on her leg warmer... a tug by a certain little black dragon. “Luna, why did you come here?” Bunny said roughly.
“Oh, is that baby dragon called Luna?” Andrew asked. “She comes here a lot lately.”
Luna just pulled harder and practically dragged Bunny across the arcade. “Luna! What are you doing? Okay, okay, I’m going!” Bunny sighed and waved to Andrew. “Goodbye...”
“See you tomorrow,” Andrew shouted as Bunny was dragged out the door.
“Why did you follow me?” Bunny demanded, her hair buns frizzed with annoyance.
“You have a very important mission, you know! You shouldn’t waste time playing video games!” Luna preached.
Bunny, though, wasn’t listening... “Maybe I should get my fortune about Andrew told again.”
Luna tried to comment against it, but Bunny was already headed to the old pony’s booth. A “closed” sign greeted Bunny on the outside door, and her ears drooped.
“Too late...” she sighed, and happened to look over to the new fortune shop, which was still open. “Maybe it’s better to go to the old pony...” She leaned in that direction. “Buuut, I do want to hear it right away...” She went back and forth between the two shops a couple times, which only succeeded in driving Luna crazy.
“I know! I’ll predict which one I should go to myself!” Bunny declared, loosening a horseshoe.
“What ARE you doing?” Luna asked.
“If it’s heads, I go to the old pony tomorrow. If it’s tails, I’ll go to the new place now,” the pink earthling baby explained.
“But Bunny, shoes don’t have heads...”
“Oh, be quiet, Luna. Here goes!” Bunny kicked off her horseshoe high into the air. It sailed behind her, only to hit something with a loud CLUCK!
“OUUCH!” a pony yelped... in a voice Bunny was sure she had heard before.
“Oh, no,” Bunny groaned, turning slowly. “It’s you! That same black unicorn!”
“That hurt, Meatball Head,” the back, rose-symboled unicorn said, rubbing his head.
“Is that ALL you can say?” Bunny asked grumpily.
“No... you know, if you don’t start to behave more gracefully, you’ll never get any stallionfriends!”
“Well, thanks a lot!” Bunny sneered, sticking out her tongue at him and walking away. “Oh... I feel terrible now...” she groaned, wondering if what the unicorn had said was true.
Luna just sighed.
* * *
Meanwhile, at the new fortuneteller’s shop, Melvin was getting his fortune told. “Wow...” he gasped.
The filly behind the counter seemed to be no more than a newborn, and she had the weirdest yet pretty face. “Look into my eyes...” she cooed, and the whole scene of everything else melted away to only her eyes. “You are a great servant to the evil Negahorse. You can do whatever you want,” she said sweetly.
Melvin nodded slowly. “I will do as I wish.”
I can get energy soon, the newborn spoke darkly in her mind.
* * *
Bunny was still on her long walk home when she saw a pony bogged down by bags of groceries. She didn’t even have to look behind them to know that it was her father, Lightening.
“Hey, Bunny.”
“Hi, Dad. You been shopping?”
Lightening groaned and shifted the weight of the bags. “Yeah. I came home early and your mother caught me... oh, who’s this?”
Bunny saw he was pointing down at Luna. “Oh, that’s my new friend, Luna. She follows me everywhere...” Luna smiled and tried out her cutest little dragon growl-purr on Bunny’s father.
“You sure have some weird friends,” Lightening said as Bunny took a bag from him. Luna sweat-dropped and trailed along behind the two ponies.
* * *
The next day at school, Molly whispered to Bunny, “Did Melvin talk to you?”
Bunny’s ears perked up where she had been dozing over her math book. “What ARE you talking about?” she whispered back
“Melvin likes you,” Molly giggled.
“What?!” Bunny gasped; she had known Melvin had been trying to be around her a lot lately... but like her?
“But he’s so shy, he can’t tell you...”
All of a sudden, Melvin burst into the classroom, wearing a weird striped shirt and a tie_dye bandana. He went over and nuzzled Bunny. “Hey, Bunny! Let’s go out on a date!”
“Aggh! Melvin? What happened to you?!” Bunny edged away from him. “You’ll get in trouble for dressing like that.”
“Melvin! What are you doing, coming to school dressed like that?” scolded Ms. Hippity-Hop.
“Huh?...” Melvin mumbled, not even listening. He took out an apple from his bag and started to eat it.
“Hey, Melvin! No eating in class! What have you got to say for yourself?”
“This!” Melvin smirked, walking by his teacher munching his apple and putting a hoof on the hem of the skirt Ms. Hippity-Hop always wore, ripping it. The pegasus teacher looked down at her skirt and started to cry waterfalls of tears.
During class later on, Melvin was reading a comic book and laughing loudly. The whole class turned toward him in unison and sweat-dropped, forgetting momentarily about the test they had been taking.
“Now, Melvin, behave! How many times do I have to tell you?” Ms. Hippity-Hop yelled and started to walk towards his disk when someone stuck out a little yellow hoof and tripped her. “Oooh... that hurt. Why did you do that, Posey?” she moaned, rubbing her leg.
Baby Posey just laughed. “You have to talk more quietly in the classroom, teacher.”
“What?!” Ms. Hippity-Hop exclaimed
* * *
“What? Melvin went to the new fortuneteller?” Bunny asked. She and Molly had sunk off into a side of the hallway in all the commotion to try to make sense of what was happening.
“I told him about the new place. I heard Posey went, too,” Molly said.
“Umm...” Bunny said thoughtfully
Suddenly they heard a crashing sound and looked down the hall. Someone had thrown a rock and broken a window in the school. “Hey, what are you doing?” a teacher said, but didn’t get very far once he saw there was a mob of students behind their leader... which was Melvin.
“Stop acting so bossy, teacher. You’re not so smart!” Melvin proclaimed.
“Yeah! Yeah!” the rest of the babies chorused.
* * *
Back at the new fortune telling booth, the baby newborn’s eyes lit up as she controlled the students’ actions. “Go! Riot!” she exclaimed.
* * *
At the Volcano of Doom, Jadeite held a ball of light above his head, much bigger than the first. “It is the energy of rebellious youth...” he chuckled.
* * *
Bunny and Molly ran up to Melvin and the others, blocking the way. “Why are you acting like this?” Bunny asked.
“C’mon Bunny, let’s kiss!” Melvin said.
“Waaaaaah! I hate you like this!” Bunny started to cry.
“Let’s go, everyone!” Melvin called out to his followers and go they did, leaving two very trampled babies behind them.
“Oww... it’s okay, Bunny, they’re gone,” Molly finally said.
Bunny shook herself, covered by about fifty hoofprints. “Yeah, I noticed.”
* * *
Bunny went out onto the main street with Luna. “Melvin left school but I still don’t know why he’d act like this...”
“It seems there is something evil behind this...” Luna said.
“What about Melvin?”
“He and the other babies are being possessed.”
Bunny looked up and saw a familiar crowd of babies around the new fortuneteller’s shop; it seemed brighter, too. “There has to be something weird about that new fortuneteller.”
Luna did a double-take. “What?!”
“Well, Melvin started acting this way after going there.”
Luna jumped up on Bunny’s back and climbed up to the top of her head, griping clawfuls of yellow mane. “Great! Now you’re using your head.”
Bunny looked up at Luna perched between her hairbuns and hanging onto her ears. “Do I get a shiny new locket as a reward?”
“Nope! Now, let’s go.”
* * *
They arrived at the shop a little sooner than Bunny would have liked to. “Do I have to fight again? It’s scary!” she whimpered.
Luna’s little dragon ear grew cartoony big. “What did you say?”
“Oh, nothing, hee hee hee... moo... um, what were those words again?”
Luna sighed. “Moon Prism Power!”
“Oh, yeah, that’s it!” Bunny held the locket up high in her mouth. “Moon Prism Power!” As the last pink ribbon of her transformation died away, Bunny twitched her newly formed wings and sighed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.”
“What, turning into a pegasus?”
“No, holding this locket; it tastes terrible! Luna, do they make any magic items in cherry flavor?”
* * *
Inside the shop, the newborn filly was hovering over a table, eyes glowing. Her true form looked like she was made of black shaded glass. “You all did great. From now on, you will go run wild all over the valley,” she said.
“Okay!” all the babies in the shop chorused.
“What’s worse than jealousy is a pony that doesn’t care about others’ feelings!” a new voice chimed in.
“Who is it?” The monster looked up as a pony half-flew, half-fell through the skylight window.
“I’m Sailor Moon and I stand for love and justice!” the pegasus teen said, standing up from where she had fallen to make her point. “In the name of the moon, I’ll punish you!”
The monster growled and flicked out razor sharp tarot cards at Sailor Moon. The pony shrieked and tumbled out of the way barely in time. Where she had been, there were now huge cuts in the floor. “Hey, those things are dangerous!” she yelled at the monster.
“HA-HA-HA, GET HER!” Razor ordered the babies. Obediently, they all turned, closing in on Sailor Moon slowly.
Sailor Moon looked at them and started to back up all the way until she hit her back against a wall. Some of these ponies were her friends! “Stop it! Go away! If you come closer, I’ll have to fight you!” But the babies just continued to get closer and closer when–
In a red flash, a rose came flying at the monster and hit the creature right between the eyes!
Razor bucked and shook her head. “Who did that?”
“Tuxedo Mask!” Sailor Moon squealed, recognizing the masked unicorn.
“No matter how bad the situation is, don’t give up!” Tuxedo Mask counseled her.
“Okay!” Sailor Moon agreed.
“See you later...” he said and vanished up out of the skylight.
“Thank you, Tuxedo Mask!” Sailor Moon cooed, and waving with a hoof, she unknowingly hit the monster with it as she tried to ambush her from behind. Razor crashed into the wall instead.
“Ow. That looks painful,” Sailor Moon whined, looking at the monster imbedded in the wall.
“Hey, Sailor Moon!” Luna said, waving a paw. “Use you horseshoes!”
“Oh, yeah! Mooon Horseshoe Magic!” Sailor Moon kicked off her back horseshoes and could have swore she heard a muffled yelp from the flattened monster as it was disintegrated.
“I did it,” Sailor Moon sighed.
“Wha?” Melvin mumbled, starting to wake up along with the other babies.
* * *
“Razor, you failed...” Jadeite said, seeing the energy disappear.
* * *
“I tore Ms. Hippity-Hop’s skirt?” Melvin asked, stunned.
“You also tried to kiss Bunny,” Molly added. “And you broke the window to the teacher’s office. Hey, where are you going?”
Melvin had turned and was slowly walking away. “What does it matter? No one likes me anymore...”
“Good morning!” Bunny said, popping up in front of him cheerfully.
Melvin burst into tears. “Waaaah! Bunny, I’m sorr–“
”Don’t worry about it,” Bunny said.
“Yeah, that’s right; maybe I shouldn’t worry about it too much...”
Rats. He’ll never know what I had to go through, Bunny thought to herself.
Hidden inside Bunny’s bookbag, Luna grinned.
~*~Preview of Next Episode~*~
“Bunny, you really should study more.”
“I am studying, Luna; look, I’m reading!”
“That’s a comic book!”
“Oopsy. How’d that get in with my books?”
“Maybe you should go to that special night school downtown.”
“But Luna, that’s a sea pony school!”
“I sense something from that school... and one of your new schoolmates... she may be an enemy!”
~*~Next on Sailor Moon: “Underwater School Blues”~*~
***The rainbow of light carries the message of love!***
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SPECIAL MOON PONY SURVEY
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Hi, loyal MLP Monthly readers! It’s me Moonstar, author of this ‘fic. :)
As you may or may not have noticed, it’s been a long time since I last wrote an episode of our favorite magic baby pony. :( This was not of course because of a lack of ideas; it was because of t he fact that there were nearly *too many* to count... and with the new episodes now showing on Cartoon Network, even more ideas have found their way into my little head leaving me lost in an endless whirlpool of Sailor Moon and My Little Pony fandom! O.o So now I need your help, and will let you, the readers, decide:
Which Sailor Moon series would you most like to see “ponyized” first (meaning every single episode done in the pony universe)?
1. Sailor Moon
2. Sailor Moon R
3. Sailor Moon S
4. Sailor Moon Super S
5. Other (such as Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, etc.)
Which Sailor Moon movie would you most like to see “ponyized”? (Don’t worry, I’m already hard at work on the Sailor Moon S movie)
1. Sailor Moon R The Movie
2. Sailor Moon Super S The Movie
Thank you everyone; your answers will help me make this series a better read for all! Feel free to e_mail me with these survey answers and any questions you may have about “My Little Soldier: Sailor Moon” or its characters, or ponyized plot lines. Ask away at: alicorn_83@yahoo.com.
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Ginseng and Sassafras Tea
by Sugarberry (Sugrbery@aol.com)
Chapter 17
Turning swiftly toward the ominous sounding rumble, Hood found himself face-to-face with the elusive stallion who had been creating havoc and mayhem across the countryside for the past months. Hood was revolted by the villainous stare that met his wondering gaze, and instinctively stepped back away from the aura of impending doom. In that instant, the creaky floor gave way beneath his hooves, and Hood plummeted into the bowels of the rickety building.
Hood lay unmoving in a tumbled pile of boards, nails, and dirt. He dimly sensed pain throbbing through his left hip and a blanket of dust settling on his body. Dare I open my eyes? he wondered groggily. It would be easier to just drift off again...
Slowly, Hood became aware of sounds and movement around him. Flinching as a hoof touched his shoulder, he forced his eyes open to behold an unexpected sight. At his side knelt the most beautiful pony he had ever seen.
Forgetting his pain, Hood drank in the vision of this yellow pony, her lavender mane curling softly about her blue eyes. “Are you an angel?” he croaked weakly.
A melodious giggle and a disarming smile countered his question. “No. I’m quite mortal, just as you are. Are you hurt badly?”
Hood flexed his legs and gingerly attempted to stand. The mare steadied him as he straightened up, and Hood felt a searing pain shoot through his hip. Looking back along his body, he could see the torn skin and bloodied hair matted with dust and dirt and splinters. “It hurts, but it’s not serious,” he informed the stranger.
“I’m happy to hear that,” she responded compassionately. “Here, let me help you out of this rubble; there’s a safe corner over here.”
Hood accepted her gentle assistance in extracting himself from the tangled heap of broken lumber, exposed nails, and rotten flooring. “Serves me right for trespassing on someone’s private property,” he joked weakly as he hobbled to a wooden bench propped against the stone basement wall. He groaned slightly as he lowered his battered body onto the antique seat. “Ah, that feels better,” he confided as he adjusted his posture to accommodate his wound.
“Are you new around here?” questioned Hood as his companion opened a first-aid kit that she obviously had stashed in a niche in the rock wall.
“You might say that,” she replied briefly.
“My name is Hood,” offered the turquoise stallion. “I run the local ice cream parlor.”
His patron remained silent as she expertly cleaned Hood’s wound; Hood flinched as the antiseptic seeped into the raw abrasion. “How’s that?” the filly asked as she finished applying the medicated ointment to the injury and covered it with a sterile gauze pad.
“Better. Much better,” admitted Hood as he leaned back comfortably against the stonework that formed the foundation of this once solid edifice. Disintegrating mortar skipped down the uneven surface as he shifted his position.
Watching as his silent comrade restored the medical kit to its cranny, Hood prompted, “You have a name?”
The simple question seemed to shake the pony from a personal reverie. She turned to face Hood and after a short pause, she came to a decision. “My name is Shasta.”
“Shasta,” repeated Hood. “I always wondered what my guardian angel’s name was. Now I know.”
“I told you I’m not an angel,” she retorted. “If you must know, I’m a herbalist.”
“A herb doctor? Then what are you doing in this decrepit cellar?”
Seating herself next to Hood, Shasta explained her endeavor. “I’m just using this as a shelter while I’m checking out the area for various herbs I need in my work.”
Hood looked puzzled.
“You know-- ginseng, catnip, tansy-- that kind of stuff. They grow wild.” Shasta paused as a tiny gray mouse darted out from under the bench and scampered into a hole in the opposite wall. “This old house was fairly comfortable until you came crashing in.” She frowned slightly as she peered in the direction of the gaping hole. Dust still danced in a narrow sliver of sunbeam that cut through from above.
Hood shuddered as he remembered the feeling of helplessness as the floor collapsed under him. His forehead wrinkled in thought as something tormented his mind. His head ached, but it was more than that. What was he missing?
“Hood?” questioned Shasta worriedly. “Is something wrong?”
Coming out of his thoughts, Hood looked Shasta directly in the eyes. “Your eyes were blue before, but in this dark corner they appear more black... like...”
Suddenly, Hood sat up straight. He remembered now what had been eluding him. Just before his fall, he had looked into eyes black as coal-- hurtful eyes.
“That stallion! Surely you saw him?” he challenged Shasta.
Dropping her gaze for an instant, Shasta recovered quickly. “Someone in this house? There’s no one around here for miles.”
“There was someone up there with me... someone who has been harassing ponies around here for some time now... a dark green stallion with purple mane.”
“Surely you are mistaken,” Shasta spoke soothingly. “If there was another pony around, I certainly would have seen him.” She placed her hoof on Hood’s foreleg as if to reassure him. In that instant, Hood heard the hoofsteps coming his way.
As Hood struggled to rise, Shasta restrained him on the bench with her forehooves pressed into his chest. “What gives?’ he queried in a steady voice.
Shasta grinned briefly. “I told you I was no angel.”
Turning her head to Hood’s right, she casually remarked, “Did you find us some food?”
Hood followed her gaze. In the shadows stood a lightly-built stallion holding something at his side. As the mysterious figure stepped closer, the sunlight struck his face, and Hood recognized him as the rogue from earlier; the scoundrel’s eyes flashed evilly as in their first encounter.
“Friend of yours?” Hood asked Shasta wonderingly.
“You could say that,” she responded. To the new arrival, she joked, “Look who dropped in, brother dear.”
“Yes, we’ve met, but only for a moment. Sorry I didn’t catch your name,” said the stallion.
“They call me Hood.”
The stallion remained silent; Shasta removed her hooves from Hood and confided to her brother, “I’ve already told him my name; you might as well do the same.”