//------------------------------// // Act 1, Scene 8 // Story: Les Petit Poneys // by defender2222 //------------------------------// Act 1 Scene 8 Twilight let out a sigh of relief. While the first couple scenes had been rough, what with the escaped babies and the forgotten props and that one moment when Donut Joe had tried to interrupt the show to promote his new line of Pumpkin Flavored Donuts (which was followed by a bunch of mares in yoga pants demanding pumpkin coffee to go with said donuts… that had caused a huge problem when Mrs. Cake had thought they meant they wanted to use her baby to flavor in her coffee… it had taken 7 minutes to calm her down), but things were getting back on track. Cadence was doing wonderfully as Fantine and Mr. Cake, much to everyone's surprise, was able to play the role of a lecherous, corrupt boss with such feeling that it had even Pinkie, who knew him so well, was fighting full body shivers. The purple mare smiled to herself as Mr. Cake ramped up into his part of the song. Things were definitely looking up. And that's one someone knocked on the scenery door. Twilight whipped around, thinking her brother had goofed up his cue, but Shining was staring there just as befuddled as her. Twilight turned back on stage and watched as Mr. Cake, not knowing what to do, walking over to the prop door and opened it. He looked about, confused, before realizing the knocker was several feet lower. There, standing with a big smile on her face, was Dinky Hooves, wearing a ginger wig over her mane and dressed in a pretty little green dress. Dinky Do you wanna build a snowman? Come on, let's go and play! I never see you anymore Open the door Come on let's go today! We use to be best buddies But now we're not. I wish you would tell me why! Do you wanna build a snowman? It doesn't have to be a snowman! Mr. Cake (spoken) I think you're in the wrong play, Dinky. Dinky (looking around and realizing he's right, then waving at the audience) Ok bye! "Awwwwwww!" the audience all exclaimed before bursting into applause. The sound of their hooves clanking together drowned out Twilight's gnashing of teeth as she stomped over to Dinky, who was happily talking away with Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom. "Twilight, no!" Shining said, grabbing her tail with his teeth and yanking her back. "She is a filly... you can't incinerate her." The princess shook her head, her rage oozing away. "Right... right. Thanks big brother." Reminding herself that she was a mature adult and a princess too Twilight walked over to Dinky and looked down at her, gearing up for an epic scolding. "Dinky..." "Hi Miss Princess!" Dinky said happily. "Your play sure does look cool!" She spun around and giggled. “I’m wearing a wig! Isn’t it pretty?” "...curse you and your cuteness," Twilight muttered. "Huh?" "Nothing. Do you need help finding your way to your play?" "Don't worry!" a brown stallion, dressed in winter gear, called out. "I'm here to retrieve her." "Doctor!" Dinky exclaimed happily, running up to him. "I took a wrong turn!" She said that like a one would tell someone they'd found some money on the ground. "Good for you!" The Doctor said proudly, giving her an affectionate pat on the head before turning his attention on Twilight. "Sorry about that, our performance is in the theater next door. "Could we hurry up?" Discord said as he ambled over, his horns changed to resemble a reindeer's. "I don't want us to miss the curtain rising." When Twilight merely stared at the spirit of chaos in shock the draconequus rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I have a life outside of you, Twilight Sparkle." The Doctor leaned in and whispered, "He makes a wonderful Sven but doesn't hold a candle to our Elsa." "LET IT GO, LET IT GO! CAN'T EXTERMINATE ANYMORE!" Rollypolly the baby Dalek sang, a blonde wig attached to his dome and a blue dress wrapped around his armored shell. Meanwhile, back on stage, Mr. Cake leered at Cadence. "Now now, my girl, if you want to keep your job... you'll need to give me a little something." He wiggled his eyebrows. “If you know what I mean.” The Princess stared at him for a moment. "I am reporting you to our human resources department." "Say what?" Mr. Cake said, blinking in surprise. Cadence nodded firmly. "Oh yes, I think that is the only course of action. I know for a fact that sexual harassment is against the law and what you did constituted as such. I have no choice but report you." "Wait... I don't think-" "No, you didn't think," Cadence said firmly. "You look at me and see nothing but a firm flank and a beautiful mane but you fail to comprehend the beauty that is inside of me. That's a shame, as if you allowed yourself a moment to truly understand the wonder pony I am, rather than the attractive mare you see, we might have had a chance. Ours might have been a beautiful romance but now it has become a tragic parting... or is it a tragic romance and a beautiful parting? Who knows. But I do know that you destroyed such a chance. We could have had something special. But no, your lust has ruined that." “I… wait…” “No, I will not wait!” Cadence moved to center stage and addressed the audience. “No stallion should ever be allowed to treat a mare in such a way! Nor a mare treat a stallion as such! If we are ever to have a society that we all hope for the first thing we must do is learn to treat each other with dignity and respect!” "What is she doing?!?" Twilight hissed. Shining Armor shrugged. "Cadence told me that she didn't like how the play portrayed mares and wanted to create a more female-friendly character. Give the story a positive message, you know?" "She is ruining everything!!!" Twilight screeched, her cries drowned out by the song Cadence and the factor-worker extras were singing about the dangers of sexual harassment. "Most of the play revolves around Fantine being kicked out into the streets and how that one act spirals out of control and brings about radical change to so many characters and their worlds. It speaks of how a single injustice can snowball till it becomes something far greater than anyone could comprehend." "...huh, I always thought it was about doing that weird sing/speak thing in the land of cheese and cowards." "Forget it!" Twilight used her magic to grab a top hat, a cloak, and a set of glasses. "Once I get things back on track you walk in and do your part, ok?" Shining nodded and Twilight marched onto stage, snagging a clipboard just as she entered the audience's view. "Isn't that the monk-pony from earlier?" Luna asked from her seat. "Perhaps this is that character's sister," Celestia reasoned. "Oh yes, that would make sense." “Are you being sarcastic sister or do you honestly believe that.” Luna blinked. “I… don’t know.” Twilight cleared her throat, forcing Cadence to stop her song. Deciding that she needed to make this newly written character appear a bit different from her previous role she’d taken, Twilight adopted an Iponian accent. "Excus-a me, did yousa say-a yousa wanted to fill out a, how you say, sexual harassment suit, Miss Fantine?" “Why is she talking like Jar Jar Binks?” Pinkie Pie asked offstage. “Who is Jar Jar Binks?” Spike asked. Cheese Sandwich shrugged. “I don’t know but I suddenly feel the urge to sing about a galaxy far, far away.” It took a moment for Cadence to get her bearings after the aborted song but once she did she quickly nodded. "That's right. And you are?" Twilight rolled her eyes. "Its a-me, Enrico Palazzo. Now, yousa needs to fill-a these a-forms-a out. Also, you can't be a-workin' here while the case-a be a-settled. So, get out-a!" Cadence's ears drooped. "Oh... I suppose that makes sense. Can’t have conflicts of interest and all that." “No!” the workers cried out. “Don’t go Fantine!” “Now now, dry your tears.” Cadence turned to the extras and bravely sang: Cadence Don't cry for me workers of Prance! I am gone but I can still dance! So don't freak out now don't have a cow now! I will return soon! I’ll bring macaroons! Twilight shoved her sister-in-law off the stage as the extras continued to sing. "What do you think you were doing? You nearly ruined the play." "Twilight, it is important to provide young fillies with role models. I just turned Fantine from a tragic figure into one of power and determination. I think I made the play better and if you think about it you will agree with me." "...no, I won't!" Twilight snapped. "Oh... well, I'm not sorry." Twilight turned away from her former foal-sister. "I suppose it would be too much to hope you were Queen Chrysalis in disguise?" "Sorry, but she is starring in Oceanus Rex." “Oh, Iron Will caught that performance!” Iron Will proclaimed. “She was amazing in it!” Back on stage Shining had come on and was doing his part, waiting with nervous anxiety as Applejack, as Javert, walked over to him. He sang of his fear that she had recognized him and his hope that he was wrong. "I... suppose you are the new police inspector." "And I know ya'r Prisoner 24601!" Shining started, not expecting Applejack to let her character recognize him, but the farm pony merely smiled. "I have ta say, I'm mighty proud of ya!" "You... what?" Applejack swished her fake capricorn tail back and forth, nearly cutting the scenery in half. "Shucks, you think I'd be mad at you or something?" "YES!" Twilight screamed off stage. "Sorry," Shining quickly said. "We have... moths. Really big ones." "Ah. Anyway, I am mighty impressed with how ya turned your life around! You went from bein' a prisoner to bein' mayor... that is a wonderful rags to riches story." Shining rubbed the back of his head, smiling bashfully. "None of that, ya need to be proud of yerself! It’s good to see that prison taught you why you shouldn't steal and you managed to find a career you'd excel at. I mean, boy-howdy, bein' a politician? It’s practically a job requirement for you to be a criminal!" "Well, thanks Inspector Javert! You are a wonderful police officer and I can’t wait for the two of us to work together to make this town a shining beacon in Prance." "Shucks, don't make me blush-MMMPF!" Applejack's eyes went wide as purple magic encircled her mouth and began to force her jaw up and down. "But now that I think about it... pardner," Twilight said, doing her best Applejack impression as she threw her voice. "I done realized that having big moths is against the law! You done broke your parole and now I'm gonna arrest ya, varmit!" "Please, wait!" Shining pleaded. "Just give me a few minutes more." "No way, laddie! Yas olde jail cell awaits ye!" Spike elbowed Twilight. "You're slipping into Griffish!" "Right," Twilight whispered before going back to controlling Applejack. "Ya best run then, varmint!" Shining dashed off stage and Twilight released an annoyed Applejack, flashing a self-satisfied smirk. "There, that should take care-" "Oh no!" Fancy Pants, who had been in the audience. "I have giant moths too!" "Me too!" another pony screamed. "Quick, we need moth balls before we are arrested!" Twilight blinked as a good 1/6th of the audience began to panic. "No, not the moths!" Fluttershy whimpered as her friend facehoofed.