My Little Pony Monthly Issue 91 (October 1, 2004)
My Little Pony Monthly
A publication of Nematode (Electronic) Publishing
Established June 1997
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Issue 91
October 2004
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Contest!
Bee Bop has learned to play 10 instruments - and that includes the harp, after her symbol, but why her parents named her Bee Bop with such a classical instrument as her symbol is a mystery to me. Anyway, we have one winner and one honorable mention!
Posey (posey@drsasquach)
Honorable Mention
Mystique (jykle2@yahoo.com)
And Posey, that means you are our prize winner! The Butterscotch lip balm is yours! Please e-mail me your address and I'll send it off to you right away!
Masquerade is back with us this month with her AVON Beyond Color lipstick in a shade of purple named after her (she likes to think, anyway). It's the month of Halloween, after all, and masquerades kind of fit into that... anyway. For a chance to win this (or, for you Big Brothers out there, we have Wild Country talcum powder) prize, answer the following question correctly:
What is Buttons' unicorn magic?
Tell me the answer by e-mailing TabbyMLP@aol.com mailto:TabbyMLP@aol.comor entering through the form at
http://mlpmonthly.tripod.com/Contact.htm
THE RULES! *ANYONE* can enter. That means anyone as in anyone. Even if you've already participated in the past, you can enter; in fact, I encourage you to do so. You don't even have to be a subscriber of MLP Monthly in order to enter. But if you're not a subscriber, you're probably not even reading this. ^.~
However, now that we've introduced *real* prizes, we will be putting a limit on how many times you can be entered in the drawing for that. If you've already been selected to win one of our prizes in the past, you can't be entered again- BUT, you can still participate and get your name in the newsletter! So just because you've won something in the past doesn't mean you can't have any fun at all with our contests anymore. And, of course, if eventually all contest participants are ones that have won a prize, it's fair game for everybody again!
On the contest form at http://mlpmonthly.tripod.com/Contact.htm, you will be able to select your gender so we'll be able to determine which prize you get. Or, if you'd prefer to be opted out of the prize drawing, you can select that on the form as well.
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Survey!
Last month, no one wrote in their ideas on what male ponies for the G3 line would be like, so this section is rather sparse this month. Myself, I'm unimaginative when it comes to male My Little Ponies- they have to be Clydesdales; that's all there is to it for me! My idea for Daddy Sea Ponies, though, is for them to have stylin' Neptune-esque beards. But I digress. Can I get any bites for this month's question? Can I even THINK of this month's question?
Do you think each of the Pony Friends are unique creatures, or are there actually entire species of little zebras, lions, llamas, elephants, etc. to go along with the little ponies?
Go to the following URL to give your opinion:
http://mlpmonthly.tripod.com/Contact.htm
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Into the Darkness
by Clever Clover (Swordrat@aol.com)
In his laboratory on the Dark Isle, Jack O Lantern chanted a spell over a dark orb encircled with candles. As the chanting ended, the candles went out and the orb melted away, revealing the figure of a pony standing in the darkness.
"So, this is to be my prison?" the dark pony hissed.
Jack O Lantern grinned. "It is only a prison if you view it to be such. I think you will find that this body is less pathetic than you imagine. And I know just how you can test its potential..."
* * *
Clever Clover and Belle Star had returned to the Crystal Desert to explore the mysterious chambers that they had discovered under the kiva the year before. In Port Cactus, they met up with Kiva, who was directing the work; and Coyote, who would be working with them.
"It's good to see you two again," said Kiva.
"What have you been up to?" asked Coyote.
Clever Clover and Belle Star both blushed. "Ah," said Clever Clover. "We've gotten engaged, for one thing."
Coyote stared in disbelief. "You mean, to each other?"
"Uh-huh!" Belle Star replied, with a nod.
"Ha ha! I knew the two of you were more than just friends last summer already! When's the wedding?"
Clever Clover shook his head. "We haven't decided yet."
"Well, let me know when you decide... and don't forget to invite me!"
"We won't forget you, Coyote," said Belle Star.
"I'm happy for the two of you," said Kiva. "But we've got work to do. The bus is loaded and ready to go, and daylight's wasting. Let's go."
The four archaeologists boarded the bus and set off across the desert.
On the bus, Coyote questioned Clever Clover. "So, why haven't you two set the date?"
Clever Clover shook his head. "Some people aren't too happy about our engagement.."
"Oh?" said Coyote. "You mean the princess and the pirate?"
"Actually, they're taking it rather well..."
* * *
Meanwhile, in Friendship Garden, Minoko knocked on the door of the apartment of the painter, Coral. The pinkish pony with sea-foam green main, streaked with blue, opened the door.
"Hi, Minoko. I had a premonition it might be you."
"Yeah. May I come in?"
"Sure." Coral led Minoko into her studio. "What do you want?"
"I want you to paint a picture of me." Minoko struck a sexy pose.
"Oh?"
"It's for Clever Clover."
"Oh? I'd heard you'd had a thing for him, but he's marrying Belle Star. She seemed to think you were over him."
Minoko grinned evilly. "I was just playing nice so Clever Clover could see that I could behave if I have to. Besides, they're not married yet. He hasn't even met her parents."
"Has he met your parents?"
Minoko's head drooped. "I... never knew my parents. Just like Clever Clover. I guess that's one thing we have in common. But we never talked about it. Maybe if I had..."
"Well, I guess Belle Star wouldn't mind; she's not the type. But you'll have to wait; I've already got a client." There was a knock at the door. "That must be her now." Coral opened the door to admit Morning Glory.
"Hey! What's she doing here!?" cried the princess.
"What! You're painting her!" Minoko replied.
Coral shrugged. "She is a princess. And she has money."
"So, it all comes down to money, eh? It's not like I don't have money, you know!"
"Oh? And where would this money come from? Everyone knows you haven't done an honest day's work since you got here." Coral led Minoko to the door. "You should be going now. I have work to do and I don't like working in the middle of an argument."
* * *
It was near dusk when the cliffs came into view. The ancient ponies of the desert built their homes and temples on ledges high on the cliffs. It was one of these temples, or kivas, at the very top of the cliff face, that the four archaeologists had come to explore.
As the bus pulled up to the base of the cliff, to the surprise of the archaeologists, they found a small tent already set up. A lone pony with beads and feathers in his mane and tail sat in front of a small fire outside the tent. The bus came to a stop and Kiva debarked.
Without looking away from the fire, the strange pony addressed Kiva. "This place is your birthright. Why did you bring the outsiders?"
"Who are you?" inquired Kiva.
The strange pony was silent.
Coyote poked his head out the bus door. "Hey! I know you! You're that crazy shaman who's always protesting all the land developments and stuff. Crow, isn't it?"
The shaman sighed. "You are one of us, but you are young. You have much to learn about respecting your elders."
The young archaeologist hopped off the bus. "I didn't mean any disrespect. I meant 'crazy' in a good way, you know, like 'Crazy Horse'."
Belle Star and Clever Clover got off the bus.
"So, Crow, why weren't you here causing trouble last summer?" asked Kiva.
Crow shrugged. "I had bigger fish to fry."
Belle Star clapped her hooves together. "You're frying fish? I'm so hungry after the long trip; a nice fried fish would taste soooo good right now!"
Crow stared in disbelief. "These are the ones you brought to desecrate our heritage!?"
Kiva stomped his hoof. "We're not here to desecrate anything!"
"We just want to understand how your ancestors lived," added Clever Clover.
"Then why don't you just ask them?" the shaman smiled.
"We can do that?" asked Belle Star and Coyote in unison.
Crow nodded.
Clever Clover's jaw dropped. "Ah... what?"
Kiva shook his head. "As much as I appreciate your suggestion, we need quantifiable data. But you're welcome to come along and provide commentary and to observe our methods, to insure that we don't unduly desecrate anything."
Crow shrugged. "I suppose that will be a step in the right direction."
The archaeologists set up their camp and turned in for the night.
* * *
Early the next morning, the archaeologists began the long trek to the hilltop kiva. Crow, the shaman, could not be roused from his slumber. By noon, the four ponies had achieved their goal; and to their surprise, Crow awaited them with a small fire and hot lunch. "What took you so long?" he asked.
"Cool!" replied Coyote.
"Oh! I'm so hungry!" Belle Star bowed. "Thank you so much, Mr. Crow, for fixing us such a nice lunch!"
Clever Clover shrugged and sat down next to the fire. "Mm, roasted corn, my favorite."
After lunch, the ponies set up their camp on top of the mesa. They would not be returning to the bottom until their work on the kiva was finished.
* * *
The sun was still low in the sky when the archaeologists made their way to the kiva the next morning. The first thing they did was to drop a plumb bob from the southwest corner of the opening in the floor of the kiva that led to the chambers beneath. Clever Clover made the descent into the chamber to mark with spray paint where the plumb bob touched the floor. The others followed with lanterns, measuring tapes, graph paper, and various drafting tools to begin the mapping of the complex.
It was mid morning before Crow joined the others. "So, what have you grave robbers been up to?"
Belle Star looked around in surprise. "Robbers!? Where?"
"He didn't mean it literally," assured Clever Clover.
Kiva approached the shaman. "I'm allowing you to observe our work; but if you cause trouble, I'm going to kick you out."
"Come on, I'm sure they knew I was just joking. Well, most of them."
"Hm, just keep it in line."
"All right. Now, what are you... scientists up to?"
"We've started mapping the chambers," Kiva explained. "We don't want to go too far into the complex before we've established a reference point."
"Makes sense. You're not taking anything out of here, are you?"
"Not yet. If we find anything, it may need to be taken back to the lab for analysis; but we haven't found anything yet."
"Will this analysis damage the artifacts?"
"As little as possible."
"Hm. Then what?"
"The artifacts will be kept in the university's museum collection."
"Would there be any chance of having them returned to this place?"
"Possible, but ultimately out of my hooves."
"But you would have some influence in the matter."
"Yes, some. Now, if you have no more questions, I have to get back to work."
"Of course. Could I lend a hoof? It could help me appreciate what you are doing here."
"Fine. Come with me." Kiva handed Crow a clipboard. "I'll take some measurements; you write down the numbers as I give them to you."
Crow nodded. "Sounds simple enough."
* * *
Meanwhile, the others had moved on to map the next room. Belle Star and Coyote took measurements while Clever Clover recorded the measurements and added them to the map. Coyote was digging through a pile of sand so that he could get his tape measure into a corner when something caught his eye.
"Hey, there's some kind of drawing on the floor."
Clever Clover went over to see what his friend had uncovered. Where the sand had been brushed away, Clever Clover could see a series of lines etched into the stone of the floor. "They're too deep and regular to be tool-marks from when they carved the room. Why don't you go tell Kiva about this while Belle Star and I finish mapping this room?"
Coyote chuckled. "Oh, right. You two want some alone time, eh?"
"Just go," said Clever Clover, shaking his head.
The young archaeologist rushed back toward the first chamber where Kiva and Crow were taking measurements. "Hey, boss, we found something interesting in the other room."
Crow, who had become quite bored recording measurements, was suddenly quite attentive. "Something interesting?"
"Let's take a look," said Kiva.
The trio returned to the chamber where the strange markings had been discovered. "It was over in this corner," directed Coyote.
Kiva knelt down and began to carefully brush the sand back, exposing more of the lines. "This is interesting, but we should finish mapping the rest of the complex before we look more into it. It will take a lot of time to move all this sand away."
Crow looked over Kiva's shoulder. "Are you sure that's a good idea? As you said, it would take quite an effort to move all this sand, and it doesn't look like it could have blown in here from outside on its own. Whoever built this place took a lot of effort to cover up these drawings."
"Do you think it's some kind of curse?" Coyote asked.
Crow shot Coyote an annoyed look. "That is not the way of our people. This isn't Egypt, you know. The inscription may relate to some secret knowledge that was not meant for outsiders."
"But me and Kiva aren't outsiders. We could look at it!"
Crow shook his head. "You two are scientists. If you were to look at it, you would feel obliged to share this knowledge with others."
Kiva stood up. "We don't know why they would have covered it up, and there's no use speculating until we can see what is under the sand. But for now, let's get back to mapping."
* * *
For the next couple of weeks, the archaeologists mapped and explored what they found to be a massive and maze-like complex of chambers within the mesa; while in Friendship Gardens, Coral was finishing her paintings of Morning Glory and Minoko.
Minoko knocked on Coral's door. "Just a minute," Coral's muffled voice replied. Minoko stood, tapping her hoof impatiently for several minutes before the door finally opened. "Hi, Minoko! Your painting is ready. I think it turned out really nice, one of my best works. Come in and have a look!" The artist grabbed Minoko and pulled her into the studio where the portrait stood on an easel. "What do you think?"
Minoko regarded the painting for a moment and smirked. "I like it. You've really captured the real me."
Coral clapped her hooves. "I just knew you'd like it! I had a premonition. Now, about my payment..."
Minoko tossed Coral a large golden coin. "Will this cover it?"
Coral studied the coin for a moment. "Hm, this looks really old. Is it solid gold?"
"Yep, I... ah, dredged it up from a shipwreck off the coast of Pearl Coast."
"Ah... right. Well, I'll just take your word for it. Now I'll wrap the painting up for you and you can be on your way."
"Oh, no need. Ryo!"
Minoko's lop-eared bunny came bounding into the studio and onto Minoko's shoulder. The pony pirate picked up the picture. "Be seeing you." Pony, painting, and bunny disappeared.
Coral shook her head. "Boy, these friends of Belle Star's are going to take some getting used to."
* * *
Minoko and Ryo reappeared in Clever Clover's living room, surprising Morning Glory, who almost dropped the portrait of herself that she was hanging next to the portrait of Belle Star over the mantle.
"Hey! What are you doing popping in here like that!?" demanded the princess.
Minoko glared at Morning Glory. "How did you get in here?"
"Clever Clover gave me a key so I could take care of Pixie."
"So did Pixie ask you to redecorate?"
"This is a surprise birthday present for Clever Clover!"
"Shows what you know, princess. Clever Clover's birthday was last month."
"I know that! That's what makes it a surprise!"
"Well, I'm giving him a present just because!" Minoko proceeded to hang her painting on the other side of Belle Star.
"Humph!" Morning Glory proceeded to re-hang her painting slightly higher on the wall.
Minoko stepped back and regarded the paintings. "Hm, maybe it would be better to hang it closer to eye level, a little lower." She proceeded to lower her painting.
Morning Glory looked back and forth between the two paintings. "You know, I think you're on to something, for once." She then lowered her painting, a little lower than Minoko's. "There! Perfection."
Minoko grinned. "Yeah. I couldn't agree more."
* * *
Clever Clover made his way through the maze of chambers beneath the kiva. He came to a chamber where Kiva and Coyote were mapping one of the many etched floors that had been cleared of sand. The lines resembled a topographic map, though none of the archaeologists could recognize what land it might represent.
"Do you guys know where Belle Star is?" Clever Clover asked. "I was hoping she could help me sort out some paperwork."
"She's showing Crow chamber 103," replied Kiva.
"One-oh-three? Right, thanks."
The purple prince headed off through another passage. Though the complex was maze-like, Clever Clover, having drawn a comprehensive map of the chambers, knew his way around quite well. And if he got lost, it was no real problem; he carried a map, and each of the rooms had been numbered with a wooden sign. As one got farther from the entrance, the numbers got bigger. If a pony ever got lost, he or she just had to look for the decreasing numbers to lead them out.
When Clever Clover got to chamber 103, he found Crow sitting in the middle of the room while Belle Star stood off to one side, watching attentively.
Clever Clover observed the unchanging scene for several moments in silence. "What's going on?"
"Shhhh!" Belle Star put her hoof to her lips. "He's meditating, to find out what the spirits can tell him about this place."
"Oh-kay. Why'd he have to come all the way down here to talk to the spirits? Couldn't they come up to the camp?"
"Oh, that seems like a very good question. We'll have to ask him once he wakes up."
"I am awake," mumbled Crow. "And finding it very difficult to meditate."
Belle Star bowed. "I am so sorry."
"So, what did the spirits have to say?" asked Clever Clover.
"Actually, quite a bit, despite your interruption. They are not as offended by your presence as I thought they would be. It seems they have taken a liking to you."
"That's good to hear," said Clever Clover. "Any other news from the other side?"
"Yes. Follow me." Crow led the couple into another chamber. "It's in here."
"Ooooh!" said Belle Star.
Clever Clover looked around at the empty chamber. "What's in here?"
The shaman took a bottle of water he had been carrying and splashed it on the wall. In the glistening of the water on the stone, strange characters appeared. "They asked me to show you this."
Belle Star gazed in wonder. "Wow!"
Clever Clover got out a pencil and paper and started recording the strange images.
"I'll leave you two to contemplate their meaning. I'll find my own way out. Oh, and they don't want you to tell Kiva and Coyote about this."
Clever Clover scrambled to finish recording the strange symbols before the water dried and they disappeared. When he was finished, he held up the paper. "What do you make of this, Belle Star?"
Belle Star pointed to one of the characters. "It looks like this guy is trying to get across the river to that house over there."
"Yeah, it looks like some sort of pictograph. I don't recognize it; but if we can figure out what the pictographs represent, we could get a general idea what it's about. When we get back to civilization, we'll have to do some research to find out more about them."
Belle Star scratched her head. "Um, okay."
Clever Clover folded up the paper and stuck it under his hat. "Come on, we've got some paperwork to do."
* * *
The last weeks of work at the kiva passed relatively uneventfully. What few artifacts had been found while clearing away the sand from the engraved floors were being carefully packed for transport. Clever Clover had been sent back into the passages to make sure that no equipment was left behind. The sun sank low in the sky on the last day before they would begin to transport the artifacts and equipment to the bus, which would take several days. Clever Clover, who was supposed to have been back well before sunset, was nowhere to be seen.
Belle Star wrung her hooves. "Oh! I'm so worried! Where could Clever Clover be?"
"He probably just lost track of time," suggested Coyote.
"Why don't you two go look for him?" said Kiva. "Last time he reported in, he had cleared everything but the east wing."
Belle Star nodded. "Oh, yes! Right away!" She and Coyote made the descent into the subterranean complex with a map and two lanterns.
When they reached the bottom of the rope ladder into the chambers, Coyote said, "I'll hold the map; you keep an eye out for Clever Clover."
"Uh-huh," Belle Star nodded.
"Let's see, the east wing would be this way." Coyote pointed down one of the dark passages. The two archaeologists set off into the darkness.
"Look! Hoofprints!" said Belle Star before long. They were in one of the chambers that hadn't been cleared of sand. "He went this way!" The tan pony rushed off following the tracks.
"Hold up!" Coyote called, as he took off after her. A short time later he heard her cry out in fear. "I'm coming, Belle Star!" Coyote increased his pace and shortly ran into Belle Star.
"Oh, no!" Belle Star cried out.
Coyote saw that Belle Star teetered on the edge of a deep shaft, her forelegs thrashing wildly as she tried to regain her balance. Coyote grabbed her tail and yanked her away from the edge of the pit. Belle Star fell over backwards, knocking Coyote over with her.
"Owie," Belle Star moaned as she rubbed her tail.
Coyote stood up and inched cautiously to the edge of the shaft. He shined his lantern down the shaft and gasped at what he saw. "It's Clever Clover!"
Belle Star rushed to the edge of the shaft and almost fell in again, but was able to right herself. "Clever Clover! Are you all right?"
There was no answer.
"He's not moving," observed Coyote. "You stay here and keep an eye on him. I'll get the others!"
"Oh! Clever Clover," Belle Star sobbed. "Clever Clover, say something!" Tears welled up in her eyes. She continued calling out to her fiancé for what seemed like an eternity before the others arrived.
"Come away from there," said Kiva. He put his foreleg around Belle Star's shoulders and led her away from the shaft. Coyote took a rope that had been anchored in the next chamber and lowered it down the shaft. The young archaeologist was about to climb down to the ledge on which Clever Clover's still form lay when Crow restrained him.
"I'll go. When I'm not protecting our heritage or leading others to spiritual enlightenment, I'm a paramedic." The shaman gracefully began his decent.
The others watched tensely while Crow examined Clever Clover's still form. After several minutes, Crow called up to them, "He's alive! He hit his head, though. Coyote, go to the camp, take down my tent, and bring it here!"
"And use the emergency radio to call Port Cactus and request an emergency air evac!" added Kiva.
The young archaeologist nodded and rushed off.
"Wh-what should I do?" sobbed Belle Star.
"Talk to him!" called Crow. "Even though he's unconscious, the sound of your voice might help him pull through!"
"I...I don't know what to say."
"Say anything." coaxed Kiva. "Talk about how you two first met."
"Oh...sob...it was my first day on a new job and I fell into a hole and there was Clever Clover...sob."
Belle Star continued relating her life story since she had met Clever Clover, of the attack by the pirate Minoko one winter's night, of her first trip to the Isle for the royal wedding, of Jack O Lantern's kidnaping of Minoko and the chase to Isla Soja, and on and on. When Coyote interrupted the tale with his return with the dismantled tent, Crow was somewhat disappointed that he wouldn't hear the rest of the story. But he knew that Clever Clover's safety was paramount.
"Okay, use the tent to make a stretcher and then lower it down to me!"
Kiva and Coyote went to work lashing the tent poles together into a rectangle and stretching the canvas over it. Once the stretcher was finished, they tied a rope to each corner and lowered it down to Crow and Clever Clover on the ledge below. Crow carefully moved Clever Clover's still form onto the stretcher and tied him down with rope. Then Coyote and Kiva carefully pulled him up out of the shaft. As soon as he was back on solid ground, Belle Star threw her arms around him and began to cry. "Oh, Clever Clover! I hope you'll be all right!"
"There'll be time for that later," said Coyote. "We've got to get him to the surface now."
Belle Star stood up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Right."
Kiva and Coyote carried Clever Clover out; and Belle Star and Crow, who had climbed up from the pit, followed. When they reached the surface, the med-evac balloon was waiting for them. Clever Clover was quickly loaded onto the balloon.
"Can I go with him?" Belle Star asked the pilot.
He nodded. "Yeah, but the others will have to take the low road. The balloon won't carry all of you."
"That's fine," said Crow. "We'll see you at the hospital, Belle Star."
Belle Star nodded and boarded the balloon. As the balloon drifted off into the sky, Kiva, Coyote, and Crow began their descent from the mesa top, taking only what equipment they could carry. It was dark by the time they reached the bus at the base of the cliff. They drove through the night to reach Port Cactus. When they arrived at the hospital, they were shown to Clever Clover's room. Belle Star sat in a chair next to the bed, asleep.
"It looks like your friend is going to be just fine," explained the doctor who had shown them the way. "Other than the blow to the head, there was no other injury. He could be regaining consciousness any time now."
Almost as if on cue, Clever Clover began to move.
"Belle Star!" cried Coyote. "Wake up!"
Belle Star groggily opened her eyes while Clever Clover shot bolt upright and looked around him in confusion. Belle Star, seeing Clever Clover awake, threw her forelegs around him and began to cry. "Oh, Clever Clover! I'm so glad you're all right."
"Ah, so am I," replied Clever Clover. "But, who are you?"
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The Mysterious Cave
Part Two
by Mystique (LadyChrystaline@aol.com)
Kasbah and Mitakke' climbed the steps to the announcement ledge. "Molecats, my people! I am sure you are aware of the ever-growing threat of darkness," Mitakke' began. "Your queen and I have decided who will bear the task of reopening the Light Source. My Lady." He stepped back and Kasbah stepped forward to continue.
"We have chosen a pair who we know will make us proud." A cheer erupted from the crowd; their queen signaled for their silence. "We must have faith and support the chosen ones. Diva! Nitatan! Come forth."
The two Molecats were afraid; why had they been chosen? They always failed! Yet, they knew they must do their best, for it was not theirs to question the king and queen. They came forth and bowed low. "Your highnesses, we are forever at your service. Command and we shall obey."
The queen smiled strongly at them. "You two know our lands better than any of us. You have a way about you that brings joy to the little ones. We have faith that you shall complete your task swiftly and without fail. This shall be your shining moment. Go forth and clear the Light Source!"
Diva and Nitatan left with a sea of cheering friends and family at their backs. They tried to look brave and happy to be doing such a service for their people, but inside they were shaking, terrified of being unable to do what was asked of them.
As they set out on their task, the Molecat couple took the rarely-used path to the mouth of the great cave. When they reached the opening of the passage, they stood blinking in the bright sun. When their eyes had adjusted to the light, they looked around themselves.
The meadow was wide and green with spats of purple and pink flowers here and there. The grass waved at them in the soft breeze. "Oh, what a beautiful place!" said Diva.
Nitatan took her claw in his and pulled her around the hill. "We must find the Light Source. Perhaps we may be granted the chance to come back to enjoy this place once our task is complete."
Diva hoped he was right. She longed to stay here in this beautiful, open place. After looking across the meadow for a few moments longer, she allowed him to pull her up the hill behind the cave.
* * *
Meanwhile, Fizzy, Firefly, and Cotton Candy were on their way to the meadow to play and have a picnic. "I hope the lilacs and tulips are in bloom today!" giggled Fizzy. "I love the butterflies they attract!" She ran ahead to go see.
The other two ponies shook their heads at her. "She sure does like to play a lot!" said Cotton Candy.
Firefly leapt into the sky. "I better keep an eye on her. You know how much trouble she can get into by herself!" Firefly flew up over the sparse trees, looking for Fizzy, but she couldn't find her. Uh-oh, she thought, wonder where she went? The pegasus swooped down to settle on the hill behind the cave. As she landed, she shivered. I don't like this hill; why would Fizzy have come this far? she thought. Still, I must find her. She then gathered her resolve and courage, and went to look for her friend on hoof.
* * *
Meanwhile, Diva had seen the flying pony, but did not know that that was what it was. She had grabbed Nitatan and thrown him and herself into the tall grass. When she could no longer see the creature, she turned to her mate. "Did you see that? Oh, I do so hope it does not like Molecats for lunch!"
Nitatan was not sure what she meant. He had been watching the ground for the Light Source when she had jerked him into the grasses. "What creature? I saw nothing!" Just then, over Diva's head, he saw two ponies walking towards their hiding spot. He pushed her down close to the ground and hid her beneath him. It was obvious that a confrontation was at hand.
Doing the only thing he could think of to protect his wife, he leapt out of the grasses and charged Cotton Candy and Fizzy. As he ran toward them, he let out his mightiest Molecat battle cry. "Urugahought!"
The two ponies reared in fear. They had no idea what was going on! Looking for Firefly, they ran in opposite directions. Fizzy ran back to the woods and hid safely behind a tree, but Cotton Candy was not so lucky. She had blindly ran to the cliff on the other side of the hill. She was unable to stop in time and slid off the cliff...
What will happen to poor Cotton Candy? What of the Molecats? Find out next time!
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Megan's Secret
by Sadira (fizzyponygirl20@yahoo.com)
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of the ponies. They belong to Hasbro. I also do not own the songs you see in this story. They belong to their respective writers. But I do own Megan Julia Hartson; her little sister, Julia Corina Hartson, Julie; and their younger sister, Molly Shaianne Hartson (although Molly doesn't appear until "A New Friend") as well as the girls' Aunt Abby.
Enjoy!!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: My Megan is original in that while she has blond hair, she has green eyes, not blue; and she has two younger sisters who are also my original characters. Julie has green eyes and blond hair, but it's more of a reddish blond; and Molly has hazel eyes and blond hair, but it's a shade darker than Megan's. I created the Hartson girls when I was five and have used them for other stories besides MLP. I put a bit of my own personality into each one of them and they hold a special place in my heart.
It was a warm day in Nebraska. Eight-year-old Megan Julia Hartson was sitting by the apple tree, reading a book in her school playground. The kids hadn't picked on her in a while, but it was only a matter of time before they started up again. Almost as if on cue, Megan felt some mud hit her full in the shoulder. She jumped up and gazed around to see where it had come from.
"Come and get us, pony girl!" Gretchen taunted from somewhere near the sliding board. "Or are you too scared to face us!"
"Little orphan Megan is a scaredy cat!" Tim chanted. "Scaredy cat, scaredy cat, Megan is a scaredy cat!"
Megan had had enough. She was still a little afraid, but she had to stick up for herself sometime. And she knew if she got into real trouble, Firefly would come to her rescue. Taking a deep breath, she put her book in her bag and went to confront the two bullies who had made her life a living nightmare ever since second grade. "You guys better stop picking on me," Megan said, feeling stronger than she had in a long time.
"And if we don't..." Tim asked, preparing to throw another ball of mud at her.
Megan glared at him as she smiled inwardly. She then felt a shove from behind. As she fell, she felt the heart on her beloved necklace contract. The Rainbow jetted out of it, and caught her. She landed on the ground, but was unharmed. Megan patted the Rainbow lovingly. "Thanks, Rainbow." She then got to her feet again and glared at her two tormentors. Apparently, Tim and Gretchen had noticed nothing.
"Whatcha gonna do, pony girl?" Gretchen asked, getting into Megan's face.
Megan stepped back a little and smiled slightly. She had a no-nonsense look about her, the kind of look she gave Julie whenever her little one wanted to stay up past her bedtime. "This," Megan said.
As she pulled out the Rainbow of Light, Tim snickered. "A necklace doesn't scare us!" he said, laughing.
"Oh yeah?" Megan asked. "We'll see about that." With that, she commanded, "Okay, Rainbow of Light, do your stuff!"
The Rainbow of Light, much to Tim and Gretchen's surprise, flew out of the locket at the sound of Megan's voice and obeyed its keeper. It took off for the two kids and started to swirl around them. It wasn't going to hurt them, just scare them off. It worked, and in a matter of two minutes, the Rainbow of Light was back in the locket at Megan's command and Tim and Gretchen were making a bee line for the nearest teacher.
Megan smiled a little. She sat back down and started to read her latest entry in her diary. It was about Ponyland and something fun she and Firefly had done together. They had gone on a flight and Firefly had showed Megan a place called Flutter Valley. Megan liked it. It was very pretty and had lots of flowers. Megan was sure that Julie would like it, too.
As Megan flipped the page in her diary, her thoughts started to wander back to Ponyland and to the fun time she was going to have when Firefly picked her up that afternoon. Megan wasn't as scared anymore when the little ponies approached her, and she patted their manes without a second thought. She really liked Medley, Fizzy, and Twilight the best. And Ember was so cute!
Megan was suddenly interrupted by a teacher's voice. It was Miss Elle, Megan's old pre_kindergarten teacher. She was really nice; Megan liked her a lot.
"Megan couldn't have done anything to you," Miss Elle said. "She's sitting over there, reading like always. She's never any trouble."
"But her necklace!" Tim protested. "It chased us. A rainbow came out of it and it made us fall."
"Yeah!" Gretchen cut in. "Just ask..." She searched the playground and her eyes landed on a girl named Felischa. Felischa hadn't met Megan yet, but she had seen the whole thing, including the Rainbow of Light's triumph, but she wasn't going to say so to Miss Elle. "Felischa!"
"Okay, I will. Felischa, honey, did you see anything odd happen between Megan and these two children?"
Felischa took a deep breath. "No. But I did see Tim and Gretchen push her down again and throw mud at her. I was going to help, but then Megan told them to leave her alone and I guess they got the message."
Miss Elle nodded. "Very well. All right, I think the two of you need to come with me and see Miss Pearlson."
"But-" Gretchen started, but Miss Elle shook her head.
"No 'buts'. Now come on."
Megan smiled to herself as she went back to her reading. She made a mental note to thank the Moochick the next time she saw him.
* * *
Later that afternoon, Megan flopped down on the couch in her Aunt Abby's house. After the day Megan had had, she was looking forward to her trip to Ponyland more than ever.
It had been a month since Megan had met Firefly, and the two best friends were becoming closer every day. Aunt Abby had told Megan that it was her choice whether to tell Julie about Ponyland, and Megan had decided not to for the time being. She wanted to keep Firefly and Ponyland a secret until the time was right- at least until her and Julie's new little sister was born. Then Megan would spill the beans. But only to Julie and Molly.
Impossible though it seemed, Megan actually had a name picked out for her little sister already. She wasn't sure how or why this had happened, but something inside of her heart told her that she was going to be the one responsible for caring for the young one once she arrived into the world from the heavens above. Megan didn't mind at all. She loved younger children to pieces and she enjoyed taking care of her younger sister, Julie. Well, most of the time, anyway.
Megan sighed as she closed her eyes for a minute and fingered the Rainbow of Light lovingly. She wasn't feeling sick, just sleepy. And right now, she could use a flight with Firefly and the double inside out loop.
As Megan fingered the Rainbow of Light lovingly, a small voice from behind Megan made her jump: "What's that?"
Megan quickly put the Rainbow of Light back underneath her shirt and whirled around to face her little sister, Julie. "It's nothing, Julie," Megan said, trying to keep her voice casual. She was a little anxious for Firefly to come. She hadn't yet sent the signal, but Firefly had also told her that she would be there no later than four_thirty. This was a special trip to Ponyland. Unlike the many times Megan had visited her now-second home over the last month, this time she was going to spend the night. She was really excited and she knew it was going to be fun.
Just then, a voice broke Megan out of her thoughts. "What did you just hide under your shirt?" Julie asked.
"Nothing, little one," Megan said, using her special name for Julie. "Aren't you supposed to be eating your lunch?" She gave Julie a gentle smile and ushered her back into the kitchen.
Julie grumbled, but went to do so. She wasn't that hungry and she wanted to hear a story, but she knew that Megan wouldn't tell her one until she, Julie, was done eating. That was a rule that Abby had set and Megan was going to stick by. She had to teach Julie right from wrong, and she was determined to do a good job.
As Julie took a few more bites of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich and drank her milk, Megan absentmindedly played with the Rainbow of Light. As she fingered it lovingly, Julie looked up and gasped.
"That's a pretty necklace, Megan. Where'd you get it?"