Attempts Were Made

I’m surprised Duke hasn’t written more. The kid has a knack on ideas and comical situations. Another point to this project was to inspire those outside of writing—or ones with their toes dipped in—to give the act a swirl. 

I don’t think ‘open-minded’ does the kid justice. Duke has read and viewed everything. He’s the ideal reader to most. It doesn’t matter if the writing or the story is bad so long as it’s enjoyable to him. The misgivings don’t affect him. 

And you can catch that in this work as well (was that an unintentional insult? Damn). For someone never having written fiction before, the fun, quirkiness, and simplicity of the prose matched by the joking of the dialogue render the whole piece a quick, enjoyable, and simple read.

It’s the kind of story where you can exhale upon reading it, earning a chuckle or two, then finishes tot the ending of a joke. Every form of art serves its purpose and fits into an allotted in the field it’s born of.

Duke is also the only other person I can share micro depictions that are sexy. Be it for the sake of being nice or actually interested, there are few, to whom, I can share the passage of Fluttershy’s underground region becoming like a crop of silky fuzz… and then explaining the genius behind that. 

And why RarityEQM is a genius when it comes to selling the differences of scales in the concise extent of metaphors.

It’s my hope that Duke will write more and, in proving the theme of this collection, that everyone can see and feel the stories behind NC’s work—each able to spin countless interpretations and tales all based on the same image.

Some things will always be true regardless of skill.

Attempts Were Made
Duke Lucifuge

“Yeah right!” the private said. “YOU wake her up!”

“Don’t make me pull rank.” 

“But-”

“You seem to be perfectly capable of waking her up on your own,” the corporal replied. “I don’t see why we both have to be dragged into this. ”

Two Royal Guards, corporal Swift Bolt and private Steel Cut, had been given the unenviable task of waking Twilight Sparkle. A pony roughly the size of a small house. They stood before her looming figure. Twilight rested on her side, using her foreleg as a pillow. Four pink-striped socks spanned across her limbs... and she had a poor case of bedhead.

Steel gulped and tried the first thing that came to mind.

“Hey, princess! Wake up!” 

A snore was his answer.

Both felt Twilight’s hot breath engulf their bodies. 

Steel tried his next idea. Gathering his courage he walked closer to Twilight until he was inches away from her. After some hesitation, he kicked her. Nothing happened. Steel looked back at Swift.

“I don’t think this is working,” Steel said.

Swift rolled his eyes “Do you really think such a light kick would accomplish anything? Do it harder.”

Steel Looked back to Twilight. Gathering his courage he slowly raised his leg, pulled it back, and kicked her hard as he could. Just like last time, nothing happened.

“Corporal, I don’t think this is going anywhere.”

“I am very confident in your ability Steel. You’ll come up with something that works as long as you keep trying new things.”

Faced with the threat of having to do something drastic on his own, Steel tried something new.

“We were both ordered to do this corporal, so unless you want to disobey princess Celestia’s orders you’ll help me.”
“But-”

“No buts!” Steel interrupted. “You wouldn't want to make the princess angry, would you?”

Anger flashed on Swift’s face “Fine! I’ll help.”

“Okay, now come over here,” Steel said. “I have another idea.” 

Swift did as told. “What’s your plan?”

“First, I’m going to lift you on top of the princess's leg.” He flicked his chin upward. “Then you’re going to help me up.”

Swift got on Steel’s back reached up to the top of the princess’s leg and pulled himself up.

Swift looked down at Steel. “Alright, now jump and I’ll pull you up by your forelegs”

Steel did so. 

“What next?” Swift asked

“Follow me,” Stell answered.

They climbed on top of Twilight's muzzle.

“Now we are going to gallop into her right eyelid at full speed,” Steel said with determination. “If that doesn't wake her up I don’t know what will”

There was a pause

“No,” said Swift.

“Do you have a better idea?”

There was another pause.

“No,” said Swift

“Alright then”— Steel grabbed Swift and prepared himself —“on my mark, get set... GO!”

Both of them ran full speed at Twilight's eye. There was a meaty smack as they put their full weight into the collision. Steel and Swift walked back a few steps and anxiously waited. Twilight’s eyelids started to flutter open. Then all at once, she jolted awake, her eyes flew open and her head jolted up. Steel and Swift were flung off her muzzle and landed far away.

“Huh, is someone there?”Twilight as she scanned the room. There was no one to be seen.

Twilight Sparkle laid her head back onto her leg and fell back asleep.

She missed the unannounced visit from the Yak ambassador.