Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 4
By TDR
Flounder to the Finish.
Part 1
[Ponyville School House, late summer, first week of school, Friday.]
[ Charlie.]
[Not this again.]
“….. So are all the schools in Equestria submitting ideas like this ?” Spike asked looking up at Miss Harshwhinny.
“Yes. Each school district shall have their own team and bear the flag their district or town.” Harshwhinny sighed.”Due to... Royal favoritism....Ponyville is counted as it's own district for these purposes despite being part of the Canterlot school district.”
“Were we in the same meeting? Cause if I recall Ponyville was made it's own district due to the growth spurt we had the last two years, that made it's population and the number of incoming students reach well above the minimum needed to form a new school district. Not to mention being one of the most diverse towns in Equestria we needed our own district as our curriculum will need to be build from scratch to cover everything and become suitable for everyone. I mean we have ponies of all three tribes, an alicorn, Equss' only Moon Dog and Witch Wolf, plus a dragon, the first self revealed changelings, some griffons, a number of nox-cal of all three tribes, whatever Pinkie Pie is, the largest pack of peaceful Diamond Dogs on this side of the zebra lands, a bunch of zebras, a couple of mules, some cows, a buffalo family, some crystal ponies, heck we've even got a kitsune running Lee-ho -foxs. Not bad for a town that started as an earth pony settlement only about a hundred or so years ago huh?”
Cheerilee, Harshwinny, and all the students stared at Dash who was playing with a bit of chalk in a distracted manner.
“What?” Dash asked noting all the silence and stares.” I read the notes! …. Mostly...”
“District dividing aside, at the moment the students here are the only ones in this district participating in this contest. You will be judged on a number of things in regards to a complicated system which I will go over now....”
“Boring. Tell um the important stuff.” Dash offered.” Like who's the schools coach for the event.”
“I hardly see how that is more important than knowing the rules.“ Harshwhinny frowned further somehow.
“Pfft are you kidding, it's super important. And I sat through the reading of the judging rules, you had to wake me up fifteen times,while that's nothing really you had to wake Twilight up twice. TWICE. That mare would make a list of her favorite lists for fun!”
“She has.” Spike added.
“You really think any of these guys can pay that much attention?” Dash continued.
“Ugh, I suppose you have a point.”
“Any way. The coach for the school to help you all out with what you need to know about the empire or help with your set ups is … drum roll..” Rainbow Dash began.
Scootaloo started hammering on her desk in time much to Harshwhinny's annoyance.
“Spike!” Dash pointed out.
”What?” Spike asked looking up, not really having been paying much attention as he had had all this information, including the rules guidelines, hammered into his head by his sister. He had only fallen asleep three times. In either case he was sick of it.
“You're the coach.... didn't Twilight tell you?” Rainbow Dash questioned as the rest of the class room looked at him.
“Of course she did.” Spike yawned. “It's not a big deal. I just help everyone with the information they need, what's allowed and not allowed as well as offer to guide them in a direction that doesn't involve massive property damage.
Everyone in the class room looked at the Crusaders.
“Why is every one looking at us?”
“That lake was on fire when we got there.”
“Due to legal concerns ah am not authorized to talk about tha incident.”
“Anyway.” Spike offered. “Due to my connection to the judges and the Empire itself I'm not allowed to do more than help out with guidance.”
“Who is judging?” Dinky asked.
“Empress Cadence, Emperor Shining Armor, Queen Chrysalis, myself and Rahs Sparkle.” Harshwhinny offered not seeming too thrilled with the last.
“They'll be checking for heart, order, emotion, adherence to the rules, and style respectively.” Rainbow Dash offered. “Due to the nature of the class we will be composing teams of three, mostly to cordon off the damage....”
The class looked at the CMC.
“They're looking at us again.”
“I keep telling you we were trying to fix the water main it was already busted.”
“By royal order 629 ah am not allowed to answer questions pertaining to any of the events of last Tuesday.”
“ Yeah... well... good luck Spike.” Rainbow Dash offered.
“Also class keep in mind that this will also be a graded project for your civics course this first semester. So you do have to participate.” Cherrilee added to a collection of groans.
“So we just need to come up with the perfect routine to win this thing.” Scootaloo considered as she trotted out the front door.
“Sounds like a plan tah me. Pity we can't get Spike tah help, bet he knows a whole bunch about the Crystal Empire.” Applebloom offered.
“I don't think it matters how much we know about the Empire, I think it matters more about what we can put together to impress the judges. Only three of them are from the Empire and if we don't score high enough with all five in terms of points it won't matter if we only super impress one or two.” Sweetiebelle stated.
“Well at least we know Rahs should be easy to impress, the more theatrical we make it the better. Miss Harshwhinny's gonna be the problem. You saw her in there, she seems to hate everything.” Scootaloo huffed.
“Still we need to come up with a plan.” Applebloom offered. “What shows what's special about Ponyville?”
“Hmmm.” the trio hummed in thought.
The few ponies that saw the trio thinking like this suddenly realized that it would be best if they were else where before they decided to do something, particularly since they didn't see Spike around to reign them in.
“I got it. Rainbow Dash gave me the hint too!” Scootaloo yelped suddenly.
“Be awesome?” Sweetiebelle stated.
“Sleep all day?” Applebloom suggested before considering, ”Well that might get points from Rahs.”
“No... well yes on the first one, but no. She said Ponyville was diverse in who lived here. We could put something together to show how in Ponyville every one is a friend no matter who or what they are.” Scootaloo stated.
“I think that's mostly Pinkie Pie.”Sweetiebelle considered.
“You have a better idea?” Scootaloo demanded.
“Nope.” Sweetiebelle shrugged.
“If that's the best idea you have, then your entry is going to be even more of a hilarious failure than I thought.”
The trio turned with a mix of frowns and glares as Diamond Tiara sneered at them while she trotted up, with Silver Spoon right behind her. Behind them was one of the new students who's family had moved out of the Crystal Empire.
She was a silvery crystal pony with a white mane and tail named Sterling Silver. Her cutie mark was an antique looking silver tea pot, that at the time she got her mark was considered new. Her cutie mark was almost invisible on her coat unless she pointed it out, or you were looking close. Evidently she was an ancestor of Silver Spoon some where down the line and the pair of them had been hanging out most of the summer. The Crusaders thought she was alright, but given she followed along with Silver Spoon every where, that mean that she was unfortunately part of the Diamond Tiara circle despite simply staying back and not contributing to the bullying.
Applebloom didn't like her much because of how flirty she was around Spike.
Spike never noticed.
“We already have the best plan that will absolutely crush, and I do mean crush the competition.” Diamond Tiara offered.
“It is quite good.” Sterling Silver offered quietly.
“Yeah, well we have a great plan as well, and it's gonna be perfect!” Scootaloo growled.
“Yeah? But you know what you don't have?” Diamond Tiara grinned.
“Bad hygiene?” Sweetiebelle suggested.
“Daddy issues?” Applebloom offered.
“A lack of spacial awareness?” Scootaloo added looking back behind the pair.
“What, no, Cutiemarks you blank flanks!” Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara chimed pointing at the Sweetiebelle's rear as they chanted their primary insult in a sing songy tone.
“There's no way any pony is going to chose some stupid fillies with no cutie marks to represent Ponyville.” Diamond Tiara laughed.
“And why would that matter in the slightest?” a deep voice asked from behind the pair of bullies.
Scootaloo grinned as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon whirled around to see who spoke. Sterling Silver had already noticed and was gone in a eye blink, tearing down the road at a speed that would have made Rainbow Dash pause with a scream that made most of the canines she passed howl.
Behind the pair was a tall, dark gray unicorn stallion with a reddish curved horn sprouting from a mass of black hair that seemed to wave and shift on it's own, his red eyes stared down at the fillies and he was currently sporting what amounted to an eggshell white and dark blue trimmed suit top. Rarity had some how gotten him into it and it wasn't a surprise to see him wearing something completely different each time he left the boutique.
“I hardly see why having a mark on your flank means anything in terms of what your skills. Too many focus on it soly and what they think it means for it to really mean anything.”Sombra continued. “Better to have no mark and be able to choose your own fate than have it splashed garishly across your rump and have your destiny decided for you. And what are your cutie marks even supposed to mean?”
Sombra raised an eyebrow looking down at the two fillies.
“Oh, well my family deals heavily in tea and ceremonies such as that. We provide at least seventy percent of all the tea used in Canterlot Castle by the Princess.” Silver Spoon offered.”My mark represents my skill in that field and following my family line into the tea business.”
Sombra nodded slightly his gaze turning to the pink filly. “And yours some sort of frost pattern on glass?”
“IT'S A CROWN!!” Diamond Tiara shrieked before realizing that who she just yelled at was not Spike this time.
“Really? Fancy yourself royalty then? Well most of the nobility and royalty when I grew up tended to do a lot of infighting and backstabbing to gain favor with the ones who were really in charge. Some pony with a cutie mark like yours tended to be murdered in their sleep by jealous rivals before they turned ten in order to remove some pony who might curry favor from their mark alone.” Sombra explained. He then looked thoughtful for a moment before narrowing his eyes at Diamond Tiara. “How old are you again?”
Diamond Tiara's eyes widened at the story and the dead pan look Sombra was giving her before she took off like a shot screaming, with a slightly less panicked Silver Spoon right behind her.
“Hmmm.” Sombra offered watching the pair run off.
“Hey Mister Sombra what brings you out here?” Sweetiebelle squeaked acting as if the conversation had not just taken place.
“Your sister sent me to collect you. It seems your parents have left on another vacation.”Sombra growled. “And your sister refused to let me have a word with them about leaving their foal behind so often.”
“Oh alright. Did she say if she just wanted me?” Sweetiebelle asked. “We need to work on our project.”
“If you three can distract her from using me as a clothes horse the moment we get back, I wouldn't care if you brought the whole school with you.” Sombra snarled before he looked around again. “Where is the dragon?”
“He has to stay after to talk to the event coordinators Dash and Miss Harshwhinny. “Applebloom offered. ”We'll see him this weekend ah'm sure.”
“Very well. Come along then.” Sombra stated turning to walk away as if to leave them, though the three followed along simply chatting plans around him as if he was part of their group.
Admission to their little club might have been forced, though Sombra took interest in the three for a different reason that the missing cutie marks.
Scootaloo's parents couldn't be there for her all the time, but they tried to be there as much as they could. Sombra was not thrilled with it, but he gave it a pass as she was, while not happy, at least content with the set up.
Applebloom's parents were dead. And one could not blame corpses for their absence. Often it was worse if the corpses were there.
Sweetiebelle's and by extension Rarity's parents however, irked him something fierce. The sisters might have accepted it, but Sombra was angry at the way their parents had started leaving Sweetiebelle to be watched by Rarity so often after she had her own place. Neither of the siblings were too thrilled at the multitude of trips their parents took, be it for work or pleasure, and it was more often the latter, but they had gotten used to it.
Having come from a situation like that himself Sombra found himself sympathizing with the trio. That they thought he was just the largest member of their Crusaders mattered little to him. It mattered even less to him what the dragon thought of him. Spike did not trust him in the slightest, much like the rest of the town, the pink one still threw things at him when she saw him in fact.
Despite this Sombra still he put forth the effort to try and at least be there if the three needed some pony for something.
It was not as if he had figured out anything else to do yet anyway.
So essentially, even if Sombra wouldn't admit it. He's just a big ol' softy!
Big brother sombra time.
Also the "it was broken when we got here" trio is hilarious
Also first
Awwwww. Look, Sombra actually cares. That is adorable
This will be interesting.
Poor Sombra!
For me, the best part of this is that it turned out to be Dash, not Spike.
Great answers all, but this:
really hammers home the rule of three.
Has the town considered offering Sombra a paid position as CMC minder?
I like this interpretation of Sombra. A rather complex set of emotions and personality traits thanks to an equally complex background that gives him some depth.
Impressive that Harshwhinny put TWILIGHT to sleep by reading rules. In a terrifying sort of way
Umm, ouch?
Yeah, he's not the only one
10136201 Depth? That implies that we'll be able to find the bottom. If there is one
I LIKE THIS SOMBRA! So witcher esq! Like pony Geralt.
I have this image of Pinkie designing and baking more aerodynamic donuts and pastries to throw at Sombra.
So she can land hits while staying at a longer range.
lol
Order 629? Damn Lizerts that are Not Spike?
Sympathetic Sombra. Dis gonna be good.
Sombra as unofficial big bro to the CMC, I like where this is going
I had to skip the chapter down here twice just to make a comment on these 2 lines
Due to legal concerns ah am not authorized to talk about tha incident
By royal order 629 ah am not allowed to answer questions pertaining to any of the events of last Tuesday
Why do I have a feeling ab would make every lawyer in canterlot worried about there jobs if she showed up as a new member to there firms
“Bad hygiene?” Sweetiebelle suggested. Coming from sweetie miss turns toast into a liquid commenting on someone being bad at anything is a huge burn
“Daddy issues?” Applebloom offered. No clue how ab would know what that term means is surprisingly scary to think about
“A lack of spacial awareness?” Scootaloo added looking back behind the pair. This one makes a lot of sense surprisingly
10136142
Defo and omg that filly's reaction to be miles down the road before they even noticed she was gone he must have been thinking I still got it to himself or hrmmmm do I know her from someplace and the way he spook's diamond into backing down was kinda adorable in its own way seeing as Luna legally adopted sweetie it technically makes him her and rairtys older brother and that makes him being pissed at Cookie and Hondo even more justified lol I just realized wait until it clicks into rairtys head that she's now royalty by extension because she's sweetie's sister and then the horror look that she's then related to sombra and he has no fashion sense other then it winds her up
Plus like TDR even said that sweetie's 4th in line to the throne after being officially adopted to Luna as her sister soooooooo many he's a softy for his lil sis/aunt
TDR sorry for the caps tag but just occurred are you gonna at any point includeRarity freaking out about being a royal by technicality and then a bigger freakout at being related to sombra by the same technicality and then sweetie being estatic at having a older brother or is he her nephew then her just being confused beyond belief at it and trying to figure out the relation to him as it settles on him he now has a larger family and freaks out himself
The first in line for the crown is the first born of the two sister. Prince Sombra, we all know why that is not viable. Second in line is the second born, Princess Shimmer, also not viable right now. Third in line is Prince, Prince Blue Blood of the Blueblood family. He is a direct descendant of Princess Luna's bloodline and while his father and grandfather should be in the line of succession, Princess Luna disowned the family line some time ago and only recently allowed it to be reinstated after she got to know Prince.”
“Well why isn't he here?” Twilight fussed.
“He's in Catcun setting up a trade deal with the Abyssinians.” Raven pointed out. “After that is Sweetiebelle Reignolds due to Princess Luna's … surprisingly legal adoption of the filly as her sister.”
The Sparkles flinched thinking of what would happen if Sweetiebelle became the Princess of Equestria, along with her closest advisers Applebloom and Scootaloo.
Spike nearly turned pink as he paled at the thought of the Cutie Mark Crusaders Royal Triarchy, Yay!
“Well I can see I don't have to explain why THAT is a bad idea.” Raven stated. “Which leaves you.”
Seeee you even said it yourself she's royalty and that sombra is Luna's firstborn son sooooooo at any point are ya gonna open this can of worms/sweetie telling diamond and silver that he's her nephew/older brother kinda lol
My brain hurts now imma take a nap
10136142
Mm, I'm not sure about being 'a softy' but some sympathetic feelings for a a similar situation is understandable.
...Sombra bonding with the CMC over family situations and deciding to be there for them since they don't have parents who can/do? I can see that. It's...certainly an odd mental image, but something I can easily see with this characterization.
And as far as odd images where Sombra and CMC are concerned, it's not even close to this:
derpicdn.net/img/view/2014/12/24/791790.jpeg
Yes, this again. I miss Discord when he isn't fighting with TDR.
While I happen to agree with Rainbow's interpretation of the facts, I I wouldn't be surprised at all if Ponyville becoming it's own School District was three fold:
1) Luna ordered it to make sure Ponyville gets all the funding it needs to ensure her little sister gets the best education Equestria's public education system can provide.
2) Twilight Sparkle petitioned/lectured the Canterlot Board of Education, the EEA, and Equestria's Secretary of Education for four of her forty hour planned arguments as to why Ponyville's best option moving forward was to be it's own School District. Ensuring Spike gets the best education Equestria's public education system can provide was of course the primary concern for why she took on this endeavor.
3) Celestia's planning Chess Master again and wants Twilight to take over Ponyville as her own little Kingdom.
Interesting that Applebloom was the one to say this.
Oh I get it. This is Applebloom being honest. :P
So Apple Bloom is definitely AJ's sister and Spike is definitely Rahs's brother.
Sombra and Rumble will get along swimmingly.
Don't even try to deny wearing the cape underneath that suit.
Ah. I see. Rarity isn't protecting her parents from Sombra. She's protecting Sombra from the Royal Guard. Cause he would most likely kill them otherwise.
Sombra's becoming a big old softy. Good.
I don't think I need to say anything.
When did the griffons, zebras and buffalo get there, did I forget something or did it happen in the background?
...whoah
"Why do you think"
"Uh huh"
"Don't you mean incidents"
How boring do you have to be to put Twilight asleep twice in a meeting. I find it interesting that Miss Harshwinny goes immediately to favoritism Rainbow Dash provides a factual answer.
This Sombra is easily my favorite Sombra.
whose
somewhere
everywhere
solely
deadpan
somepony
"There's a reason for that"
"Sure it was"
"So I should ask Twilight for more information then, godhood trumps royalty and it is her day"
Actually, since these entries are supposed to performed by groups of three, I'm expecting you and Silver to fail due to the fact that you probably won't able to find anyone willing to be the third member of your group
...huh, well what do you know, guess I was wrong
"That's probably not true"
"That's probably true"
"Wonder who's behind them"
Hmmm, I don't know Rarity, most bright colors don't really work too well with his color scheme
Huh, impressive
Usually yes... unless of course you've somehow managed a perfect reanimation and stuffed their souls back in their bodies and repaired whatever damaged said bodies have taken, then you should be good
Rarity's professional male model, bodyguard and main ship
10136142
Now I completely understand why Sombra could not get along with his father at all. Whatever morals Solomon discarded, Sombra still held his.
Also, I know Rarity didn't mean it as anything other than a punishment when she sicced the CMC onto Sombra, but I actually think it's doing him a fair amount of good.
How did Cadence score Shining with the apparent familial obliviousness?
Well at least he has a somewhat positive reason behind his actions
10136963
She put forth A LOT of effort
10136968
I can see the truth in that. Evidently, the male of Sparkle clan tends to be oblivious to female's interest.
Wait, isn't Sweetie Belle Rah's great aunt?
10137377
But she has no direct connection to the empire like the brave and glorious spike. 3of thefive judges are directly related to him.
10136234
Hmmm… I wonder if Sombra has a pet roach named Horse?
10137872
10136234
Hmmm not the fictional male i had in mind that i based him off of , but it would do.
First Sombra x Rarity that's a new ship I've seen today. As for Sombra i really like what you are doing showing you had to do what he did because he was left with the empire and that's all he knew but now he's actually acting kinda like a father figure for the CMC
Okay, now that Twilight's fratricidal drives have been sated for the moment. On to Games prep?
Oh, right, forgot he goes to school in this story. Still feels unneeded.
1. Suck it! Too bad!
2. Alternatively, look at it as quarantine. Do you want the insanity of Ponyville spilling over more then it already does?
Nice list, but that just makes it perfect. Always stress this is the town with The Pink One.
Neighponse Kitsune, or Korean kitsune? It's kind of important.
Okay, I was expecting that to be Cheerilee, but.. this being RD that is epic, and yeah does feel more like how RD would phrase it.
A reminder, RD is not dumb, she just sees no point in wasting brain power on things that don't keep her interested for more then ten seconds.
Case in point. (Also she might have narcolepsy.)
Nevermind...... someone get that list put into high security as an emergency crowd pacification tool!
"Twice! Just so she could edit it and put the first list on the top spot of the list."
Nani!? Well... ummmm.. okay then... that's a twist. So why is RD here at all then? Or, she here as the apparent overall head of the Ponyville Games team? I.. am not sure how I feel about this one.
At which point every eye in the room flicks to the CMC.
Called it!
I want to know... but am afraid to ask.
Are they really? Yes, many fics have picked at this 'issue' that Cadance's title does not fit the ruler of a Crystal 'Empire' BUT! It actually does perfectly fit what we've seen her position, and that of the 'Empire's' to be. The CE seems to be just a single city and the immediate lands around it, and while mostly autonomous, is very clearly linked to Equestria and often acts as an extension of it. You know what locations that were semi-autonomous yet still politically linked and subservient to a larger nearby nation, often with direct familial ties between the rulers of the large nation and the region were often called? Principalities. The issue is not Candace's title, that is perfect for the role she seems to actually have. The issue is with naming the CE an 'Empire'.
Wow.... okay, what did you guys get Sunset to blow up?
Having a so realistic you need to bring in the coroners death scene would be taking it a bit too far though.
i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/032/632/No_No_He's_Got_A_Point_Banner.jpg
To be fair... DT's got WAAAAY more baggage when it comes to mommy issues.
Oh.... OHHHHHH!!!!!!
Sombra, feel free to kick them over the horizon.
Rarity can dress him in her sleep at this point.
Buuuuuurrrrrn!
Oh..... ohhhhhhhhhh.. and the wanting to talk to........ I see... yeah that would kind of hit home for him to see these three like that... that is.... yeah that is some nice emotional work there story.
Though, could have gone without spelling it out for us.
As one of the only new additions to Ponyville to not be obsessed with getting laid and all....
Alright, so are going with the show plot, with a few twists, so.. let's see where this goes. Given the end of this ep was one of the most emotional moments in the whole show.......
10139884
In this situation the Crystal empire has one city but HUGE swaths of land that no one can do anything with in the frozen north. Also the Crystal Ponies are leery about the terms, 'King' thanks to Solomon and Sombra and 'Princess' thanks to Nightmare Luna. Emperor and Emperesss were chosen to denote their leadership pulling from the time the Crystal Empire really WAS an empire and not just the capitol city of Constantanopal with a name change, cause as i said before, you can't go back to Constantanopal
its
foxes (Kitsunes? Did I forget something about this story? What Kitsunes?)
whose
your skill is(?)
solely
yours is some
------------
I respect this Sombra.
10190240
The one that runs Le-ho Foxes a small side joke from the Applejack getting bitten chapter
Dawww, Sombra adopted them. I really hope one calls him dad at one point. WITHOUT DASH IN THE ROOM!! She would make it weird in a heartbeat.
10190254
does said kitsune have a name? or do we meet them next season?
10854360
Le-ho Fox.
Sombra big brother forever? ♡
Sombra development incoming?
Knowing what is going to happen in the future I wonder if this was where Redacted came up with their plan?
Do you have these descriptions in their own file saves so you can copy and paste?
10933413
Woooow clever move lmao
BIG BRO SOMBRA!
PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!