//------------------------------// // Chapter Eighteen: Simpson and Elite // Story: Bart and Scoots // by Gazmanafc //------------------------------// Chapter Eighteen Simpson and Elite Once the group had returned to Evergreen Terrace they all turned in for the night. Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash each slept on the couch in the den as there was nowhere else for them to sleep. The following morning, during breakfast, Twilight took notice to how the family presents themselves, Homer eats like a slob, practically eating everything down whole, Maggie just ends up getting more food all over her face then she does in her mouth, and the three kids eat naturally. "So, uh... Scootaloo... you ready...?" asks Twilight. Scootaloo looks at Bart and Lisa briefly... "Sure Twilight..." she starts "Great! I'll get ready to cast the spells to go home!" Twilight cheers. "...but, what about the Christmas play?" Scootaloo replies. "The Christma-what-now?" asks Rainbow Dash. "It's a lot like our Hearth's Warming Eve pageants and uh..." says Scootaloo Lisa chimes in, "Every year, most schools put on a Christmas play telling the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, the king of the Jews and Son of God. Scootaloo actually managed to get a key role in our schools version this year." "She... doesn't have to sing in the role does she?" says Rainbow Dash nervously. "Rainbow Dash! I tried my best!" yells Scootaloo knowing full well what her idol was referring to. "I know you did squirt," Rainbow Dash starts, but decides to stop there to avoid hurting Scootaloo's feelings. "So, I take that Scootaloo's a pivotal role in this play?" asks Twilight. "We kind of promised everypony that we would be able to bring Scootaloo back to Equestria by the end of the day, and we're already late..." Twilight replies. "Knowing Pinkie Pie, she's probably already started to draw up crazy conclusions." joins in Rainbow Dash. Lisa doesn't know how to react to that, to Lisa, it sounds like this 'Pinkie Pie' should probably be in a mental institute. But she continues to explain nonetheless. "...She doesn't have a vital role, she's just one of the three wise men who delivers gold, frankincense and myrrh to the new born king. Though it's not vital like my role is, she's still an important part" "What's your role, Lisa?" asks Twilight. "I'm playing the lead female, The Virgin Mary" says Lisa. "Please, Twilight! I really want to do this!" pleads Scootaloo. "Um..." stutters Twilight. Bart chimes in. "I know! Why don't you come watch?" "They're ponies! Having them come along would crazy." shouts Lisa. "Well, after they did their magic thing they wouldn't would they!" retorts Bart. "Well, that's true." says Lisa. "But that's problem, only Princess Celestia and Princess Luna know how to do that. I'd have to go back to Equestria anyway." says Twilight. "Then do that then. Each student gets two invites to distribute how they please, we've got six. With Mom and Dad going anyways, that leaves four more slots open for you to invite who you want amongst yourselves." says Lisa. "...Alright. I think I know just the ponies who would want to see this play. But do you think you could come along with me to explain the situation Lisa." Lisa's mind blew. She was just given a formal invitation to the pony world, a world of her dreams. Despite having a unicorn pony in front of her, she had the chance to go to a world with more. Unable to contain herself, "YES! Of course I'll go help explain!" "Geez Lis, over react much?" says Bart, "We get it, you like ponies." "Oh right. Heheh. Sorry. I'll go with you, if it's okay with mom" Lisa replies. "Of course you can go Lisa, it's not a school day." Marge replies. "Great. Thanks, Marge. I'll establish the portal back to Equestria now." Twilight says as she fires up her horn then shoots a blue orb at the refrigerator creating the portal. Rainbow Dash, Lisa and Twilight all walk through. In Canterlot, everypony was still in the throne room with sleeping bags awaiting the return of their friends from Springfield. It was Pinkie Pie's idea to have another slumber party, but much toned down because of the two fillies that were still in the room with them. Even the two princesses joined in on the festivities, though Princess Celestia was probably the first to have gone to sleep. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were awed when they watched the two royal sisters lower and raise their respective celestial body. From out of nowhere a just of wind started, catching everypony off guard, waking the younger ponies up, as a portal opened. "OHH! OHH! Twilight and Rainbow are back! Yay!" says Pinkie Pie bouncing around watching the portal open. A large yellow hole appears in one of the thrones as Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash walk out. "Y'all weren't kidding about losing some accuracy coming back Twi" comments Applejack. "...But where's Scootaloo?" asks Apple Bloom. "That's what we need to talk about" says Rainbow Dash. Just as she finishes saying that, Lisa walks out of the portal, and the portal closes behind them. "...That's not Scootaloo..." notes Sweetie Belle. Lisa looks around the room, but says nothing. She's just taking in the environment. The throne room was nothing like she imagined, it's very traditional, similar to castles on Earth, stained glass windows, tall pillars, the works. In front of her are nine more ponies except for Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle. Three are coloured white, each taller than the last, all three have horns, though one seems to have wings as well, one pink who features neither wings nor a horn, two of creamy-butter yellow colours the oldest of the two featuring wings and the younger of the two has a large pink bow in her mane, reminding Lisa a lot of Maggie, two of orange colourisation again, one featuring wings, the other a cowboy hat, and a final taller pony of dark navy blue, much like the tallest of the white mares, features both a horn and wings. "Welcome back to Equestria, my faithful student." starts Princess Celestia. "I see that you were successful in arriving in Springfield." "Yes we were Princess. But we were too late..." Twilight Sparkle starts her tale "Too late for what, may we ask?" says the Lunar Princess. "By the time we arrived, Scootaloo had been kidnapped." Twilight continues. "WHAT?!" yell the Elements of Harmony, except Rainbow Dash plus the remaining two thirds of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Skylight, and both Princesses are relatively calm. "Lisa," Twilight says, turning her head to the girl in question "would be able to tell the story far better than I could" Lisa chimes in, "Right. Scootaloo was kidnapped by Sideshow Bob Underdunk Terwilliger. A notorious criminal who has sought revenge on my brother for many years. It started when he tried to frame a television personality Krusty the Clown for armed robbery at a local convenience store called The Kwik-E-Mart, after an eye witness account from my father, Krusty was arrested and Sideshow Bob took over his show. But Bart believed that Krusty was innocent, and with my help we successfully proved that the robber was actually Sideshow Bob and he was sentenced to jail. He's sought revenge ever since." "And how does that effect Scootaloo?" asks the Solar Princess. "She was kidnapped while serving detention in school. Sideshow Bob left a message for Bart on the chalkboard, telling him where he had taken her. He arrived home shortly after Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash had arrived in our basement. They would have drawn too much attention from other Springfieldians had we gone to rescue her during the day, so we waited until after dark to go to rescue her. While Bart distracted Sideshow Bob, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and I freed Scootaloo. After that, Sideshow Bob was arrested again." Lisa says finishing her tale. "..So where is Scootaloo now?" Skylight asks. "She's perfectly safe at home." Lisa answers. Skylight let out sigh of relief, knowing that her daughter is safe. "Well then, Welcome to Canterlot Lisa. I think some introductions are in order." says Pinkie Pie. "I'm Pinkie Pie!" "Applejack, pleased to meet ya." says Applejack "I'm Fluttershy..." Fluttershy says quietly... barely loud enough for anyone to hear. "I'm sorry..." Lisa says... "but I couldn't hear you..." "My name's Fluttershy..." she says again nervously, again, still barely audible. Lisa doens't have a response "Umm..." Rainbow Dash leans to Lisa, "Her names, Fluttershy, she gets really nervous about meeting anypony new." she whispers. "Oh. Right. Thanks Rainbow Dash" Lisa whispers back. "My name is Rarity, darling." says the mare in question. "Skylight." says the orange pegasus mare. "You're Scootaloo's mom right?" asks Lisa, Skylight response by nodding. "Ah'm Apple Bloom!" the yellow red-maned filly says. "And I'm Sweetie Belle" says the young unicorn. Twilight turns around to stand in between the two royal sisters. "And these are the two royal sisters. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." she says turning her head towards each as she says their names. Lisa looks upwards to them, she can see that Princess Celestia is taller than Princess Luna. Lisa doesn't know the proper pony method to greet royalty so she decides to go with the human method that she's read about in books, she's not really sure if it still applies in modern human society in countries that have a monarchy, so she simply bows her head. "Lisa, there's no need for formalities here. You are a welcome guest to Equestria." says Princess Celestia. "You may rise." Lisa does so. "If I may ask however, is why you've come here instead of Scootaloo." "Oh, of course." Lisa stutters, "Sorry. I'm sure Bart has already told you about my obsession with ponies, and unicorns in particular. It's extremely hard for me to contain myself right now." she admits. "'tis fine Lisa. Take all the time thou needs" says Princess Luna for the first time. Lisa pauses to take a breath. "Thank you, your majesty. You see, we're having our Christmas Play in school soon." "Excuse me darling, but what is 'Christmas'" asks Rarity. "Simply put, it's similar to our Hearth's Warming Eve, only it's not about the founding of their country" says Twilight Sparkle. "It's actually about the birth of Jesus Christ, the king of the Jews and the son of God. It's a religious thing. Springfield Elementary, as usual is putting on it's own rendition, as it does every year. This year, Scootaloo has gotten herself a key role in the play. Don't worry, she's not playing the lead, nor is she going to sing, I get the feeling that there was a previous failure when it comes to Scootaloo singing." "Yeah." says Apple Bloom. "You could say that..." continues Sweetie Belle. "I won't ask for details. I'll consider it an Equestria matter, so I don't need to know specifics. Anyway, while we can get an understudy to play Scootaloo's role, she really wants to be a part of the festivities." "So, you're asking if she can stay in Springfield a little longer to participate?" asks Skylight. "That's one thing, sure. But actually, we were thinking of something else." "And what would that be?" asks the Solar Princess. "We wish to extend an invitation to four of Scootaloo's closest friends and family to watch her in the play" says Lisa. "That sounds like a splendid idea." says Princess Celestia. "But who should visit?" "Having met you all, I think I know who Scootaloo would want in the audience watching her performance." says Lisa, turning to each pony in question she says their name, "Skylight. Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash." "W-what? You want me to go to Springfield?" asks Skylight. "Yes. I think it will mean a lot to Scootaloo to know that her mother was in the audience," turning to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, "just as much as it would mean to her that her closest friends were there too." Apple Bloom's and Sweetie Belle's eyes both light up on the prospect that they both get to go to Springfield. They turn to Applejack and Rarity respectfully. "Can ah go Applejack... Please!" pleads Apple Bloom "Yeah, can we go, Rarity!" cheers Sweetie Belle. Applejack turns to Rarity, who nods as a response. "Well, ah reckon so. But you two have to do whatever Skylight or Marge tells ya." says Applejack. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle embrace their respective sister in a hug, both saying "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" until letting go. "This is a public affair, I'll be correct in assuming that everypony would need to be transformed to not rouse suspicion?" asks the Solar Ruler. "Indeed, Princess." says Lisa. "I'll leave you to decide when you transform everyone to my species. It's a matter of whatever works for you, though if you cast the spell before we cross time and space, then you're best doing it in private, since everyone will need clothes to wear before leaving. Trust me." "Clothes you say?" says Rarity. "I can handle a few outfits for you, darling." "I don't know how quick you can be with an outfit Rarity, but I believe that you will need to work with everyone after the transformation one by one." "I've only ever designed for ponies, but I'll take this as a challenge!" exclaims Rarity. "Very well. We shall reconvene this meeting once Rarity has made suitable garments for Rainbow Dash, Skylight, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Lisa, you're welcome to walk around the castle if you wish. I'm sure that my faithful student will be happy to give you a tour." "Huh... O-oh, of course I would Princess." stutters Twilight. "Okay, sure, I'll take you up on that offer. Thank you, your highness." Lisa says. Nodding.