The well-intentioned innocence of children · 6:48pm Jan 23rd, 2020
“We are good to go,” Paradox said to Sundance as he performed his own pre-flight check on his harness. “I cast a spell on our hooves so we don’t fall out. Hennessy has his scary mask and I packed a picnic basket full of snacks and high energy foods. We’re ready to begin our bombing run.”
Squinting, Sundance eyed the distant end of the runway, and the wildflowers that grew beyond. The wind came up from the south, which meant that he had to deal with a side draft on his left as he took off westward. He used his wings to adjust his flight goggles, then did a bit of last-minute stretching. Several ponies stood about and watched the preparation for take-off with eager, expressive faces.
“Wait!” Hollyhock shouted. “Wait, don’t go yet!”
Almost breathless, the mare trotted up to the sky truck trailed by her brood. Her eyes? Bright and excited. Her barrel? Almost heaving. There was a look of fierce maternal pride on her face as all the little ones crowded around her, and Sundance noticed that Bonk appeared to be carrying a folded up green woollen blanket.
“Granny said that you couldn’t go to war without a standard—a flag! So we took an old ratty-tattered blanket and we made you one. It was a bit of a rush job, but I think it works. A bit of paint and love goes a long way. Bonk, show’em!”
On command, the pup gripped a wooden dowel protruding from the blanket, gave it a shake, and unfurled the makeshift flag. The green woollen blanket was now a pirate flag—at least it looked that way. A crude buck-toothed rabbit’s skull done in white paint dominated the middle, and beneath the skull were two crossed carrots. It was grotesque, and utterly amazing. It was also only pained on one side, but that was fine.
Paradox took the flag, held it aloft, had herself a better look at it, and then prepared to mount it. The sky truck had a place for such a thing, holes near the tailgate, and the dowel slid right in. She had to fiddle with a few knobs to secure it and to lock it in place, but the flag made for a fine addition to the sky truck. It added a much-needed air of legitimacy to this whole venture, and the situation was almost not-ridiculous.
“Good luck!” Bonk shouted.
“Yes, good luck!” Amber Dawn repeated.
“Should a bunny skull have ears?” asked Lemongrass.
“Don’t be a dork,” his sister said to him.
“Au revoir!”
Unable to stop himself from smiling, Sundance prepared himself for takeoff and said, “Thanks… all of you. You behave for Hollyhock while I’m gone. Now stand back, daylight is a-burnin’!”
It'll be hard to shake this sort of reputation.
Hope the flag doesn't create any drag...
5190800
The snapping and the popping would be worse, I think. Would get tiresome to hear.
5190801
I was gonna say there's already going to be snapping and popping on this trip .. of rabbit necks.
But then I remembered this is Flicker, so it's probably just lots of burninating in the immediate future.
5190815
Flicker is in bed. He will not be a part of this, sorry. Time for other characters to shine.
Writing kids can be so *fun*
I wanna know how the large metal contraption the masonry got there...
5190969
Why is that here instead of the story comments?
5190989
I thought I was still on the story, I read on mobile so I didn’t realize the page switched, mea culpa!!
Please forgive me kudz!!
5191174
Woah, take it easy. Not a big deal. I'm gonna back away slowly now.
5191193
All good, just meant to apologize