4015225 Here's my entry for the special. Sorry it's a little wordy.

Date: Hearts and Hooves Special for Twidance

By: Magicman7997

The palace was a buzz with a great deal of activity. Yet, for all the commotion, it was eerily quiet. It was as if the somber mood of the castle’s residents seemed to infect the entire castle. Servants and handmaidens quickly shuttled back and forth between areas tending to their assigned tasks. In the midst of this chaos, Empress Mi Amore Cadenza softly descended the staircase that led from the private areas of the palace. Her crystal shod hooves clicked against each stair in rhythm, but strangely were just as muted as every other sound. Carefully minding the hem of her long trained black dress, Cadance stopped at the foot of the stairs and simply watched the castle’s staff go about their work.

“When was the last time there was this much going on?” she lamented to no pony in particular. Her memory was perfect, so of course she could recall it.

”Quickly everypony! She’ll be here soon! Prism! Take those crystal lilies into the dining room! I just know my Twilight will love how they look!” Cady watched as her staff bustled about preparing the Crystal Castle for the arrival of one Princess Twilight Sparkle. The new marefriend of Princess Cadance was entertaining her new love for the first time in her home. It had to be perfect. As she helped direct traffic amongst her staff, she hummed a little tune to herself.

With a heavy sigh, the memory passed and Cadance sniffled. She felt a hoof gently placed over her withers and a handkerchief gracefully floated in front of her muzzle held in a deep purple magical hold.

“You okay Mom?” asked a clearly concerned Twilight Sunshine. The oldest of their twin children, Sunshine’s coat was just a couple of shades darker than her namesakes. Her own black gown fitted to her form bunching up as she sat down next to her mother. “Was it...Momma?”

Cadance could only nod as she began to cry a little more. With a hoarse croak she spoke, “I was remembering the time when she first came here for dinner. We hadn’t been together very long. It was...one of the happiest moments of my life.” Her tears began to quicken as her resolve failed. “We were supposed to have forever Sunny. Why? Why did she, the youngest of all of us, have to go?”

Embracing her mother tightly, Sunshine whispered gently into Cady’s ear while fighting back her own tears. “I...I don’t know Momma. Even Auntie Luna and Auntie Tia don’t really understand what happened. They said that they’d never seen an illness take hold like this one did. Even Discord said he’d never seen a magical disease like this one. It consumed her life essence as well as her magic.” The two mares comforted each other as a young white unicorn stallion approached them. Sunshine looked up to see her brother, Shining Shield gently moving closer to them.

“It’s...it’s time guys. Auntie Luna says that everyone is in place. Miss Lulamoon will speak right before us Sis. Then, it’s your turn...if you want that is Momma.”

Bleary eyed, Cadance looked towards her son. He’d grown into a fine stallion. Captain of the Crystal Knights, just like his Uncle in so many ways. It was no surprise to both herself and Twilight that as Shining grew, the resemblance to his late uncle was more than just coincidence. Upon obtaining his cutie mark (which was nearly identical to Shining Armor’s) the two princesses began to sense something special about their boy. Their suspicions were confirmed when Shield protected both he and his sister from an eldritch spirit from beyond the veil. Upon the shade’s defeat, the ghost of his Uncle walked to the young colt and told him of his destiny.

”You and I have a lot in common big guy. I need you to pick up where I left off. Keeping not only the Crystal Empire safe, but your mothers and sister as well. You’ll have one heck of a reputation to live up to, but I know you can do it Shield. Now, it is time for you to embrace who you are and become the stallion you were born to be.” In a brilliant flash, the spirit of Shining Armor merged with Shield. When the light faded, Shield’s flank was now adorned with the same cutie mark that his uncle once carried.

“I think I’ll be able to Shield. It’s the least I can do. Well, we should be going,” said Cadance as she and her children embraced one more time before falling in behind their escort. The three entered the grand hall of the castle which was filled to overflowing with all sorts of creatures who’d come to pay final respects to Empress Twilight Sparkle of the Crystal Throne. The five other Element Bearers along with their families were present. Ambassadors and dignitaries from other kingdoms were all huddled near Princess Celestia offering their own sympathies. Looking at her aunt, she could see that behind the mask she was wearing for everypony else was a mare that was grieving almost as much as she was. In fact, had it not been for Discord and his own love for Tia, Cadance was certain that her aunt would be a shattered mess.

Everypony found their seats as Princess Luna crossed to the dais that had been constructed. A small, amethyst crystalline casket sat on a bed of crystal lilies. The whole stage was surrounded by flowers and well wishes from every corner of the world. Clearing her throat gently, Luna’s voice echoed off of the walls of the hall.

“Greetings all. And thank you for coming. That you are all here means so very much not only to myself, but my sister, my niece, and her family as well.” The strength of Luna’s voice began to waiver, “Twilight was...an amazing pony. For not only did she advance the study of friendship, but her skills in magic were unmatched.” As Luna’s eulogy continued, Cadance stole a quick glance at those gathered. Like herself, almost all of those present were dabbing at their eyes. Even two of Luna’s normally stoic Lunar Guards could be seen choking back a tear or two.

“Oh Twilight, I wish you were still here. You affected so many in this world. I know I won’t be the only one to miss you.”

One by one, ponies and other races from all across Equestria shared their memories of Twilight. Even the Lunar Consort, Trixie, couldn’t keep from breaking down in tears when she retold the tale of how Twilight helped her woo Luna. Ever the showmare, Trixie’s magic conjured up images of her attempting to win Luna’s affection, with a ghostly Twilight cheering her on as the two apparitions kissed. With a wry smile, Trixie sniffed away a tear of her own and dispelled the little light show. Next came the twins. They had agreed that Shining should be the one to speak as Sunshine would most likely be unable to. However, as soon as they reached their mother’s casket, Shining could no longer hold back his emotions. Sinking to his haunches, he cried at his mother’s remains all the while Sunshine cooed softly to him and stroked his back. When it was clear that there was no way he’d be able to speak, Fluttershy and Applejack both rose from their seats and helped guide him back to his own chair. Left alone on the stage, Sunshine cleared her throat.

“I...uh...wasn’t really sure I could do this. I’m still not sure I can. But I guess…” Slowly, Sunshine’s own resolve failed and the emotions became too much to bear. “I’m sorry, everypony…” Quickly she fled from the stage and embraced her mother and brother. Her own sobs joining her brothers, she once again felt like a small filly being comforted by her mother.

Luna softly glided to the family’s side, “Do you wish to speak Cadence? No pony is expecting you to if you do not feel like it.”

Cadance thought for a moment about merely letting the moment pass. But the one thing she’d noticed about all the memories of Twilight, is that none of them seemed to catch her Twily as she remembered her. Sure, there were a great many tellings of her feats of magic and adventure. But, it still felt like something was missing.

“I do, Luna. For her.” Cadance slowly rose to her hooves and walked softly to the casket. Hushed whispers cycled through the crowd as she took the stage. Reaching the edge of the open coffin, Cady peered down at her love. A peaceful smile was on Twilight’s face. Her mane had been cleaned and freshly styled. Given how the disease had robbed so much from her, Cadance was amazed at how much better she looked. She gently kissed the base of Twilight’s horn and whispered to her, “I love you my dearest Twily. Wait for me. I’ll join you when I’m done here.”

Turning to face the crowd, Cadance cleared her throat. Her eyes scanned the room as she met the gaze of her friends. All of them were looking at her, lending her all the strength they could. With a deep sigh, she finally spoke. “Thank you all, so much. We are so very lucky to have such wonderful friends. All of you have shared wonderful memories of my Twilight. But, I think there’s one memory that hasn’t been shared that just must be.” With a slight smile, Cadance slowly lit her horn and began to channel some of her latent love magic. Slowly, a small shimmering portal like visage appeared. The portal flickered to life as an image of a younger Twilight and Cadance came into view. The two ponies were walking down one of the many streets of Canterlot. Twilight was obviously a bundle of nervous energy as she walked with a very confident looking Cadance. The two stopped just in front of one of the many cafes the city had to offer. Seeing the scene, a tear fell down Cadance’s muzzle as she finally found her voice once again.

“I’d like to tell you the story of the very adorkable Twilight Sparkle and our very first date…”

4052953

4015225
I'm working on mine. Currently about 2/3rds done. Hopefully should have it up tonight.

4015225
Here is my entry for the Valentine's Day special.

Twilight Sparkle spun in place and giggled at how her dress swirled out in deep red-magenta waves, the sequins catching the light to shine like stars peeking through the sky at dusk. Rarity really had outdone herself this time. Of course, the dress was for a special occasion, fitted to her measurements just days in advance so it fit her like a second coat. Her mane was up in a simple bun with crystal chopsticks holding it in place, and she had hint of glitter dust worked into her wings to really make them shine.

She glanced around the bedroom to reassure herself that no pony was watching her, and struck a pose in front of the mirror, batting her eyes the way she’d seen Rarity do, and purred. “Hello, Princess...I want you to paint my like one of your Prance fillies…”

“Really? But I thought you said I wasn’t allowed near you with coat dye after last Nightmare Night?”

Twilight jumped, squeaking like a mouse and fumbled backward out of the vanity until she bumped into the bed. “Cadance?! You surprised me!”

“Sorry!” Cadance, reigning monarch of the Crystal Kingdom and alicorn of Love, smiled sheepishly and ducked her head. “You just looked so picture perfect that I wanted to watch and then you said that...and I couldn’t resist.”

Twilight frowned, brushing a strand of her mane from her face. “When did you get in here? I just checked to see if anypony was in there.”

“Flew in.” Cadance nodded toward the open window. “I got her just a few seconds before you started posing. Honest!” She laughed and stepped around the bed to nuzzle Twilight’s cheek. “You do look absolutely, positively lovely my dear. You sure are going all out for a date.”

“It’s not just any date, Cady.” Twilight returned the nuzzle with one of her own into Cadance’s neck, in the hollow under her chin. “It’s a Hearts and Hooves Day date. On Hearts and Hooves Day!”

Cadance chuckled softly, looking down into Twilight’s eyes. “Take it from the Love Expert, there is nothing special about this day when it comes to love itself. It’s not like the equinoxes where ley lines get stronger, or anything like that.”

Twilight nodded. “As you’ve told me before, it’s a corporate holiday designed to sell merchandise.” The smaller alicorn took a step back, putting her ‘bedroom eyes’ expression back on. “But that’s not the point, is it? It’s a day we have chosen to be the day you show that special somepony that you care. I care about you, Cadance, and this year, you are not going to be a shut-in. You and I are going to the most exclusive restaurant in the entire Empire and we are going to have a romantic dinner. Afterwards, you get to unwrap your present.”

“Present?” Cadance tilted her head.

Twilight turned around, sashaying toward the door with more swish than she usually walked with. She looked back over her shoulder on the way out. “You’re looking at it. Now get ready, we leave in an hour.”

---

Empress Cadance Sparkle stood with her back straight, head held high and commanding as lights, numbering in the hundreds, flashed on either side of her and her consort as they made their way up the red carpet to the huge open door of La Maison de’Thoumieux and the glamorous tables beyond. She moved with measured poise and grace, leading slightly so that Twilight caught most of the attention. Her date stood out starkly against the simplistic, cloud-white dress she wore, her hair falling straight and free, like Twilight usually had her mane done.

When they entered the building, the paparazzi fell back and it finally felt as if they could have their date in peace. A crystal stallion maitre d lead the royal couple to a small, intimate table in the back of the restaurant where they could have a bit of privacy. Cadance smiled at him when he handed them their menus and wine lists and opened it dutifully to gaze over the contents.

“Oh poo.” Cadance half whispered so that Twilight would hear her. “There are no pictures in this.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, opening her menu and perusing it quickly. She gestured to the hovering stallion and spoke in fluent and almost unaccented Prench. <<Nous commencerons avec des petits pains et un vin rouge léger.>> The maitre d bowed, leaving them alone in the soft candlelight at the table.

Cadance smiled sweetly. “I knew I married you for a good reason.”

“If you practiced more, I wouldn’t have to order everything.” Twilight sighed, and smiled back at Cadance a moment later. “It’s not that hard, really.”

“I believe you!” Cadance leaned forward, whispering quietly. “I just hate practicing Prench. I think it makes me sound snooty and too ‘princess-y’ for my liking.”

“It’s ok, Cady, really it is.” Twilight waved her hoof dismissively. “It’s not like you have to know it before the ambassador shows up in a few months. I mean, we’ve got lots of time for that. I’ll tutor you myself!”

“None of your sass tonight, Sparkle. Hearts and Hooves is stressful enough as it is.”

Twilight smirked and reached across the table to take Cadance’s hoof in her own. “I’m sorry I dragged you out into the night air and to this shabby establishment. But I just wanted to show you I cared.”

“Sarcasm does not become you, my love.” Cadance sighed and pulled Twilight’s hoof up, kissing it gently. “But I concede your point. This is a lovely date, and you look marvelous and I do not deserve you.”

“So...tell me,” Twilight propped her chin in her hoof, letting Cadance hold her other one tight, “why do you shut yourself in on Hearts and Hooves Day? It’s just, your the alicorn of love, shouldn’t this be your de facto holiday?”

Cadance remained quiet. Twilight opened her mouth to say something when a pair of waiters arrived with their starter course. They thanked the staff after the wine was poured and Twilight ordered the next course.

“What did you order for us?” Cadance levitated a crusty bread roll, breaking it apart to spread butter on it before she bit into it.

“Asparagus Escargo.” Twilight lifted her own roll. “Don’t try to change the subject. What’s with the aversion to ponies being lovey dovey once a year?”

“Ponies are lovey dovey all the time, Twilight, but Hearts and Hooves Day adds pressure to it. Sure, we can show our love and appreciation to those we love whenever we want, but today, we’re required to do it. It’s no longer your choice.” Cadance waved her piece of bread around as she spoke. “Oh, of course no pony is forcing you, but society is pressuring you to make a show of it. And, you have to keep escalating year after year. You can’t just do the same thing, you have to make it bigger and louder and more elaborate.”

“So, you’re saying that the shows of affection today are...over inflated, or false?” Twilight took a bite of her bread, chewing thoughtfully. “You don’t like the pressure?”

Cadance nodded vigorously. “Yes! Exactly! And I dislike the lack of spontaneity. Making a holiday gives you a deadline. Deadlines and love don’t mix. Love is supposed to be from the heart and surprise you, make you reassess your life and how this wonderful other pony could care that much for you. It’s not supposed to be a cut-off period for displaying x-amount of passion.”

She sighed, lifting her wine and sipping from it. “Besides the pressure it puts on those with special someponies, what about the ones without? I’ve met too many ponies that become depressed wrecks at this time each year. It hurts them.”

Twilight hung her head. “Yeah...I remember being like that once. Until you walked into my life again during the whole changeling invasion.”

Cadance smiled and kissed Twilight’s hoof again. “Well, to be fair, you did save me from an insane changeling queen that was impersonating me to get close to Celestia. Did I ever tell you how dashing you looked when you burst into the mine and found me? Can you blame a princess for falling for a hero?” She blew Twilight a kiss. “Either way, you can understand how this holiday makes some ponies unduly miserable, right?”

Twilight nodded again, finishing off her roll in a few quick bites. “Yeah, I can see that. So, over emphasized shows of affection and increased misery for those without special someponies.” She turned the thought over in her mind. “I suppose I can tell why that could leave a sour taste in your mouth.”

“Well, there is one more reason.”

“Oh?” Twilight raised her eyebrows.

“Yeah,” Cadance narrowed her brows and looked back and forth conspiratorially. “Every pony thinks I’m going around on a cloud and shooting ponies with my special love arrows. That I’m the reason for the holiday and all the lovey dovey-ness!”

Twilight snickered. “But, Cady, how could that be? You suck at archery!”

“They don’t know that!” Cadance spread her hooves, indicating every pony. “If only my terrible shame of never being able to compete at the sport I am worst at was more plainly painted on my face!”

Twilight laughed and shook her head. “This is why I love you.”

“Oh?” Cadance batted her eyelashes. “I thought it was my stunning good looks and unrivaled intelligence.”

“Well, one of those helps.”

“Which one?” Cadance grinned, kissing Twilight’s hoof again.

“I’ll let you puzzle that one out yourself.” Twilight relaxed in her seat, sighing softly. “I’ll tell you what, next Hearts and Hooves Day, we’ll stay in and do whatever you want, ok?”

Cadance’s eyes brightened. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

“And that,” Cadance pulled Twilight a little closer as the waiters returned with their main course, “is why I love you.”

4070968 This. I like this. I like this a lot.

To put it a bit less caveman-y, I love your characterization here, and especially Cadence's reasons for not liking H&HD. Plus, the little interaction between them at the beginning was adorable, and same for the teasing at the end. Everything fit very well together here.

My Valentine's Special contribution:

The Crystal Empire was alight with candle flames beyond measure, each flickering light reflected a hundredfold by the glittering stonework that made up the city. The last few rays of dusk still dusted the horizon as the sun retired, leaving the foals to their rest and the lovers to their privacy.

Atop the Crystal Spire, the Observatory had been cleared of its telescope- one a thousand years out of date and already promised to the Royal Museum in Manehatten. In its place, a simple wooden table adorned with a tablecloth of the purest ivory white. A single candle, highest of its brethren and the star atop the glittering Hearth’s Warming tree that the city had become, illuminated a simple vase of flowers and a collection of empty plates.

A wine glass was enveloped securely in light blue magic, and levitated to meet its twin, which was likewise clasped in a shaky raspberry glow. They came together with a soft, brittle ting.

“Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Twilight.” Cadence tried to will feelings of warmth and caring towards her companion, but her smile gave way to a grimace when Twilight’s drink was upended and drained in a single gulp. The glass slammed hard into the table, and Cadence spared a glance to inspect it for cracks. It was miraculously intact, which proved fortunate a moment later when Twilight refilled it nearly to the brim.

“H-happy Hear–“ Twilight’s voice dried up, and she quickly drank another half glass to loosen her tongue. “–Hearts and Hooves Day, Cadence.” Twilight’s eyes remained glued to her empty plate, and she busied herself by pushing around a few uneaten peas with her fork.

Cadence suppressed a sigh, for she knew allowing it to escape would have only incensed Twilight’s insecurities further. Despite Cadence’s best efforts, Twilight had shown up for their date barely able to stand through her shaking, and the situation had only deteriorated from there. She had hoped the wine might help, but after half a bottle Twilight remained tense and fidgety.

Both of Cadence’s hooves reached across the table to cover one of Twilight’s, and she offered the younger mare a supportive smile.

“You don’t have to be nervous, Twilight. Not around me.” She waited until Twilight met her eyes, and when Twilight failed to do so, she lifted Twilight’s chin with a hoof. “I’m still me, and you’re still you. Nothing about that has changed.”

Twilight pulled her head away and shook her head. “Everything has changed, Cadence. We’re on a date: a real, honest-to-goodness date, and I know it’s just a matter of time until I do something to mess it up.” Tears gathered in the corner of Twilight’s eye, but she wiped them away before any could escape.

“You’re the Princess of Love, and I’m just some awkward bookworm who found an extra set of wings sitting around.” Twilight waved a hoof at the darkened Observatory, which was lit only by a scattering of small candles. “Even if everything goes right tonight –and that’s a huge ‘if’– it’s only a matter of time before I do something wrong and you realize how much better you can do.”

Cadence was not sure how Twilight expected her to react to her admission. Maybe she expected a protest, or a denial, or –worst of all– an agreement. Whatever Twilight’s expectation, Cadence doubted it was to be roughly lifted and dropped belly-up onto the table by a field of light blue magic.

Eyes wide, Twilight was speechless as Cadence’s hooves dropped around her to from a soft, pink cage. Slowly, inch by inch, Cadence lowered herself until she was resting against Twilight’s chest. She could feel Twilight’s heart pounding, and she flicked her mane to the side to cascade down her neck and across the table.

“Twilight, you’re right.” Cadence knew it was a bit cruel, but she couldn’t help but pause dramatically. Twilight stiffened against her, though whether it was her words or her running her muzzle along the gentle curve of Twilight’s neck, she couldn’t be sure. “I am the Princess of Love, and that means I know a few things.”

Her wings trailed along Twilight’s sides, avoiding her ticklish spots but drawing a shudder all the same. “I know you don’t understand how unbelievably, indescribably gorgeous you truly are.”

Her wings reached Twilight’s Cutie Marks at the same time, and began to lightly trace the pink starburst pattern. “I know you don’t realize how much everypony, including me, looks to you when we need help, because we never have to wonder if you’ll be there for us.”

She nibbled Twilight’s ear, and the captive mare failed to bite back a moan. It stoked the warmth growing deep within Cadence, but she held herself back. “I know you love me, and have loved me for a long time now.” Twilight made an attempt at a protest, but was overruled before she truly began by Cadence warm breath on her neck.

“But there’s one thing you don’t know, that I think I should tell you.” Cadence’s wings paused in their ministrations, and she drew herself back just far enough for Twilight to see her lecherous grin. She licked her lips, and her hoof snaked its way down Twilight’s torso. “Or maybe I should show you—“

“Seriously?”

Twilight Velvet paused in her reading, and she lowered the small stack of papers to peer curiously at her daughter. Twilight– more specifically, Twilight Sparkle– had sat up from the old cushion in front of Velvet’s writing desk.

“What’s wrong with it?” she asked. Twilight Sparkle stared at her as if it should have been obvious, which frankly it wasn’t, before she huffed and stomped a hoof.

“’Maybe I should show you?’ You’re kidding, right?” Twilight’s wings fluttered at her side in what Velvet had learned was a display of irritation. That she’d only had to learn what the gesture meant since her daughter’s ascension was a bit embarrassing, but then again Canterlot didn’t have many pegasus ponies, and she had only ever left the city on a few rare vacations.

“I think it’s a good line,” Cadence said from her half of the cushion, pressed against Twilight’s side. Between her forehooves, a half-eaten bag of popcorn continued to disappear in a steady stream of fluffy salted goodness.

“Thank you, dear.” Cadence beamed smugly, and Twilight glowered at them both. “Oh, don’t make that face, honey. It’s unbecoming of a Princess.”

“And having a mother who writes smut about her own daughter isn’t? Am I the only one who sees how weird this is?” Again, Twilight stomped a hoof, and Velvet was momentarily taken back to when Twilight was only a filly and Velvet would take away her books for the night. If she didn’t, Twilight would spend the night reading and fall asleep in class the next day, but each night inevitably brought with it the plea for just one more chapter.

“It’s what the ponies want, honey. I’m a writer, sue me.”

“I might…” Twilight’s compaints were put to rest by a quick jab from her wife’s pink wing.

“Oh hush, this doesn’t hold a candle to some of the stuff ponies have written about Aunt Celestia over the centuries.” Cadence leaned in close, and whispered in a voice only just short of being too quiet for Velvet to overhear. “Besides, if you’re good, when we get home I’ll let you pick out your favorite scenes for a little ‘re-enactment.’”

Twilight blushed, but quickly settled back onto the cushion, though not without a bit of grumbling. Velvet hid her grin behind her pages. She and Cadence shared a wink before she cleared her throat and resumed reading.

Twilight shivered under Cadence’s delicate touch…

4020365 *scribble*

4015225 Hearts and Hooves Day Special

Date

Twilight stared at her reflection, thinking about how utterly ridiculous this whole thing was. Here she was backstage at the Crystal Auction House (a very sarcastic ‘Good job!’ to whomever came up with that name) getting herself all prettied up. And what for? So ponies could bid on her?

The pretty purple pony princess sighed. It was for charity and all they were really bidding on was a date. And Twilight couldn’t really say no to funding for libraries.

She turned so her side faced the mirror. Her dress was reminiscent of the one she had worn for the Grand Galloping Gala all those years ago. Ink blue on the outside while the inner lining was a nicely contrasting icy-blue. Glittering white stars adorned the back and a few were stuck into her mane. And somepony had the bright idea to throw on some extra sparkles for shits and giggles. Twilight could imagine lighting up like a disco ball or a vampony when the spotlight shined on her.

She bet it was fucking Rarity’s idea.

“Hey Twilight,” the familiar voice of her number one assistant called through the dressing room door. “They are ready for you.”

Twilight sighed again and trotted over to the door, opening it to reveal Spike standing there looking sharp in a tuxedo. She noted that he wasn’t sparkling.

Twilight forced a smile on her face. “Okay, Spike, let’s go.”

****

She supposed there was some small mercy in being up first.

“Five thousand!” a green stallion with orange hair called out,

She had been right. She was literally sparkling under the spotlight, a twinkling gem every stallion in the room wanted to have, even for just one evening.

“Ten thousand!” a mare countered.

Startled, Twilight looked to see a banana yellow mare with an off-white mane batting eyelashes at her.

Well, maybe a few mares wouldn’t mind her company either.

“Twenty thousand!” another mare called out.

Okay, maybe every pony in the room wanted her. It might have seemed a lot more flattering if she wasn’t so uncomfortably hot under the spotlight. And their gazes.

“Twenty-five thousand,” said a rather posh voice.

Twilight blinked in surprise. She knew Fancy Pants was here, but wasn’t he with somepony? Or maybe he was trying to save her the trouble of going with one of these rich dullards.

My, she was starting to get a little bitter about this wasn’t she?

“Thirty-five thousand!” countered the yellow mare from before.

“Forty,” came the perpetually uninterested voice of Prince Blueblood.

Twilight balked. She didn’t know Blueblood was here. She supposed it made sense that he would show up, but…

Somepony please make another bid. Twilight pleaded silently.

“Fifty thousand!” cried a very familiar and accented voice.

Managing to suppress a gasp of surprise, Twilight followed the source of the voice to a orange mare that had her blonde mane done up in a posh bun. Applejack winked at her and tilted her head to indicate the mare on her left. Princess Celestia gave Twilight a wink that said: ‘Don’t worry, we’ve got this.’

“Sixty thousand,” Blueblood said, sounding vaguely miffed.

“Seventy!” Applejack happily replied.

“Eighty!” Blueblood shouted.

“Ninety!”

“Ninety five!” called out the green stallion from before.

“One hundred thousand!” a pink maned, Prench accented mare called out.

“One ten!” came Applejack’s voice again.

“One twenty five!” Blueblood sounded offended.

“One fifty!” Applejack countered, sounding flustered.

Twilight shifted her weight nervously. How much could Princess Celestia afford?

Blueblood seemed to have an idea. He was almost smug as he said, “Two hundred thousand.”

The auctioneer pounded on his podium. “Two hundred thousand! The bid is currently two hundred thousand bits!”

Twilight looked to Applejack who shook her head sadly. She glanced to Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis, both of whom were avoiding eye contact. Several ponies in the crowd were muttering unhappily.

“Going once,” the auctioneer cautioned. “Going twice!”

Twilight was just about to hang her head down when a cry from the back of the room startled everypony.

“One million bits!”

Twilight’s head jumped back up in surprise. Was that…?

“Who said that?” Blueblood demanded. “Show yourself!”

“Please, whoever made the bid, step forward,” the auctioneer said, motioning for a second spotlight to scan the crowd.

“I made the bid!” the voice called out again. The spotlight quickly found and settled on the speaker, who was waving happily at Twilight.

“Cadance?” Twilight said out loud.

“C-can you confirm that, please?” the auctioneer said, stumbling over his words in shock.

“Of course,” Cadance said nodded, cheekily holding a pink hoof to the corner of her mouth. “I bid one million bits.”

The auctioneer didn’t react at first, too stunned to do so. After a moment he seemed to remember himself and cleared his throat before speaking.

“That’s one million bits. The bid is one million bits for Princess Twilight Sparkle. Going once.”

The crowd remained silent.

“Going twice.”

Silence prevailed.

The gravel coming down was like a canon firing, making everypony in the room jump.

“Sold.”

Smiling like a dingo with a new baby, Cadance merrily trotted forward to the stage.

“You’ll take a check, right?” she asked the stallion at the podium.

He nodded silently.

Cadance’s horn lit up as she extracted a check book and a pen from the satchel at her side. The scratching of the pen practically echoed in the stillness of the air. Cadance pulled the sighed check from the book and handed it to the auctioneer.

“Come on, Twilight,” Cadance said with a smile in the purple alicorn’s direction.

Twilight wordlessly nodded, feeling a blush spreading across her cheeks as she stepped down from the stage and fell into step behind Cadance. Every eye in the auction house was on her, making her blush bloom brighter and hotter.

Cadance led her out the doors and into the lobby, the eyes on her being cut off as the doors closed behind her.

She was on Cadance in an instant, lips pressing eagerly to the pink alicorn, tongue slipping out to brush against pearly white teeth before they parted and the oral muscle wrestling began.

Cadance may have been larger than Twilight, but the Princess of Friendship was far more aggressive. She pushed Cadance against the wall, trapping the pretty pink pony princess between a hard crystal surface and a grateful librarian. Hooves stroked and petted and was only a loving but firm push that stopped Twilight from taking Cadance right there.

“Wow, Twilight,” Cadance said breathily. “I think you were misinformed as to what kind of auction this is.”

The purple alicorn chuckled nervously and touched her hooves together. “S-sorry Candy, it just…” she shook her head. “A million bits? Really? I think it’s a little drastic considering all I would have to do is spend one bad evening with Blueblood.”

Cadance raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Twilight snorted. “Of course not!” She went in for another kiss, but Cadance stopped her with a boop on the nose.

“Ah, ah, Princess Twilight. I do believe you oh me a date, not a quickie in a storeroom.”

Twilight was suddenly scarlet again, but she hid it with a tired sigh and a quick examination of the floor to her right. “Fine, be like that.”

Cadance grinned and began leading her date to the exit.

“Happy Hearts and Hooves day, Twilight.”

“Happy Hearts and Hooves day, Cadance.”

4015225

Special Prompt Thing

Waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting.

This was a mistake. Shouldn’t have asked her to come. This is all going to go horribly wrong. Maybe I should just call it o—

No. She’s right there. She’s waving at me now.

Hello

She walks over to me. She’s smiling. Now she’s pulling me in. It’s about to start. Why did I suggest this?

---

The seats are comfortable at least. It’s too hot in here. She’s talking to me. Mindless chatter. She doesn’t seem to notice that I’m being quiet.

The lights dim. Silence.

And then the drums.

Proud and driving, but not overwhelming. Simple and pulsing. I don’t think I can really explain it. They just feel uplifting.

I glance over at her. She seems almost mesmerised, her eyes locked in front of her. I shake my head and turn back.

An unassuming piano joins the drums, with a single voice. They don’t do much. Nothing complicated. The piano sounds almost child-like. But somehow it just fits. It keeps the beat, lifting it up into something more than just a beat.

And then the voice.

It meanders between lyrics. They sound more like poetry than anything else, really. Does the voice know what it’s singing? Does she like it?

I look back at her. She’s nodding her head to the beat. The music slows down. It seems almost like it’s grinding to a halt.

Until suddenly it bursts into the chorus. Another voice joins the first, along with a guitar. Together, they weave together a beautiful tapestry of sound. It’s almost as though I can see it reflected in her eyes.

I don’t know what they’re singing about. I don’t think it matters. Who says art needs a meaning?

She’s smiling now. She likes it. She’s happy. I guess that’s good enough then, right?

I tear my gaze away. Focus on something else.

It’s back to the first singer. Back to the way it was at the beginning. Lilting. Almost poetic.

The voice is cracking. It sounds... distraught? Rather negative anyway. It sounds like it’s looking for someone. I guess I can relate.

But I found her.

And she’s next to me.

It’s back into the chorus. Driving forward. Trying to forget the dark times in the past. Something else I suppose we have in common.

Do I even want to forget? It feels like it should stay with me. It would be wrong. I can’t just do that. Not for me. But for her?

It’s focusing on the second voice. Slower. No drums. It’s calmer. I don’t really know who it’s talking to. Is it an order? The first voice is back. It sounds lonely. Can’t it hear the other?

And now we’re back to the chorus. Except it’s one voice. It’s alone.

And now they’re singing together again. Singing about accomplishing great things. But what about what they sang about before? Are they ignoring it? Forgetting about it?

Things blurring. Can't see clearly. Getting hotter.

I feel a hoof brush against my leg. I almost jump out of my chair.

It’s her.

She looks worried. I’m confused. Why is she getting my attention? She gestures up to my face.

Oh.

I guess I’m crying.

She gestures to the door. Should I? It looked like she was enjoying herself. I look back at her face. She looks very concerned. I nod. Bow my head to follow her. She leads me out of the door.

---

We’re in the lobby. She’s asking me questions I don’t know the answer to. Nothing was clear in there. I don’t understand. It was just a song.

She shakes her head and smiles wryly. She gives me a nuzzle. Murmuring something about a carriage.

Yes.

Home.

Sorry.

Well, that was certainly a thing. It was different to write, for certain, and presumably different to read. Hope it works, won't be /that/ surprised if it doesn't. Hope it's enjoyable at the very least.

4074491

Hope it works, won't be /that/ surprised if it doesn't. Hope it's enjoyable at the very least.

It does, and it was

My entry for the Special;
Prompt: Date
Hearts and Hooves Day, it was the day to celebrate love and its various incarnations. However today was not that day, it was the day afterwards, an ordinary day. There was nothing to mark it as any more remarkable than the next day or the day after that one.

Today was however the day that Twilight and Cadance had set aside to spend time together, the usual traditions of the previous day had been mutually decided upon that the day itself was not the right time to celebrate being together.

Hearts and Hooves Day, the day of celebrating Eros love was also filled with traditions and festivals held so to celebrating that particular love. Traditions and festivals which left both busy and not conductive to spending it together and yet the loss of that day mattered little.

For Cadance, love was something that should be celebrated and cherished year-round not just on day of the year. For Twilight, she felt that the holiday itself had become a little too laden down in numerous gestures and traditions that one could lose sight for what it was meant to celebrate.

So on this day after the festivals were over and the decorations stowed away for another year, the two would share their special day together in spite of a few others pointing out how both balked at traditions, but it mattered not what others thought about their intentional disregard for the usual traditions especially those who did not know them well. Traditional days to celebrate or not, what mattered for them was that they were together and that was already special.

4052953
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4075136

I'd like to offer a special thanks to everyone who contributed to our Valentine's Special. This was definitely best special we've done, and you've done our patron pony princesses proud

4081814

No problem, and glad you enjoyed it.

4081814 Based on the last list I can find, I'm going to claim Fade. Time to get my feet back into the game...

4159778

Updated prompt list:

Amber
Buffalo
Energy Drinks
Fade
Germs
Haunted
Hot Springs
Life
Lover
Pencil

4159790
Hey, AP, I'm working on MLD's closer for Book one, and it looks like it's going to be long. Like 4K words or more. Would you like me to grab a second prompt that makes sense and split it down the middle? I can if you want, it's no skin off my nose. If not, I'll just keep it all under the Haunted prompt.

4164920 Roll it however you need to

4164937
Ok...it's done. I present, Haunted, all 8854 words of it.

I'm sorry this took so long, AP. I had a series of giant projects get dumped on me at work the past 3 months. This went through 2 re-writes and some parts where like pulling teeth. But it's done. This is the closing chapter to Book One of My Little Dynamite. I fully intend to continue with Book Two inside the collab so that it still gets views and inspires others for the glory of Twidance!

I would post the fic in the comment, but it apparently goes past the character limit. Huh. There is a good bit of formatting, so here is a handy link to the gdoc.

Next prompt: Gems

4197198 You don't need to apologize for however long it takes you to write something. It comes when it comes. And wow, I didn't even know there was a character limit for comments.

4202518
Neither did I until I tried to post it. Apparently is caps out right around 8500.

4202518
Oh, btw, before I forget: I will be posting MLD as a standalone, after this goes up on the collab. I'm busy with edits as we speak so it should be soon-ish. If you'd include in the Author's Note that I will be continuing the story in collab before publishing the second book, that would be swell.

4202622 Done, and added a compilation of links to the other chapters as well. I didn't realize that MLD was 17 parts, plus an in-universe side prompt. MLD by itself is 14% of the collab. I think the rest of us(me included, with my Twilestia infection flaring up) need to up our game.

That in mind, current prompt list is:

Amber
Buffalo
Energy Drinks
Fade
Germs
Haunted
Hot Springs
Life
Lover
Pencil

4204898

MLD by itself is 14% of the collab.

Huh. Neat. Now I need to haul ass and get the first couple of chapters cleaned up. I'll be back soon enough to claim another prompt.

4204914 By the way I just realized I forgot to say this: I loved Book One. The little tweaks to canon, having Shining Armor be Luna's shieldmaiden, Cadence and Twilight's dynamic(especially Cadence's lighthearted demeanor and persistent teasing), and the reveal regarding how Twilight cripple Luna. Up to the last chapter I thought it was a spar that got out of hoof, ala Eakin's Duel Nature. A very cool story

4204898 claiming lover

Prompt lover

Twilight's bun in cadence's oven

In the waiting room of the crystal palace's infirmary, Shining armor paced from one end of room to the other and back again. As this was happening Twilight sat and watched her brother. "Shiny it's going to be alright, your foal is going to be alright." She said as she ruffled her feathers in agitation. "Besides you're stealing my bit!"
A doctor made his way out of double doors leading to the infirmary and trotted towards shining.

"Prince consort, your wife has given birth. However there was a complication." Not waiting for the doctor to finish he burst through the doors there his wife and foal looked fine his foal suckling on cadance's teats. As an exasperated doctor caught up with him, shining glared at the doctor "Nothing looks wrong!"

"That is because you're an idiot! That filly is an alicorn!" Said the doctor as he glared back at shining.

"So what! Does it matter,it's not like it effects how I love her!" Shining shouted back

The doctor sighed "it will as well as how you love your wife."

"How!?" Shining demanded

Pinching the bridge of his nose the doctor replied "and this is why you're stupid." Shining growled "Alicorn foals can only be born thorough bred as in two alicorns must have sex, the genes are recessive." Shining stared dumbfounded he turn and marched up to cadance's side to look at the filly it had a lavender coat, mane and tail with cadance's colors, eyes like twilight's and irises were light purple like cadance's. Behind him he heard hoofsteps and a tentative voice.

"Shiny, what's wrong. Your shaking?" Twilight asked. Shining looked at cadance's face which was looking downward in shame.

"How could you do this cadance?" Shining asked his voice thick with grief.

"You know when I would always say I was on birth control? I never was I was trying to give you foals but it never happened I got tested and had you tested. You are sterile, and I tested barren." Cadance broke down sobbing as she continued." Distraught I went to twilight's palace to seek support, one thing lead to another and we got really drunk like batmare drunk and we had sex. In the morning we swore not to tell anyone, thinking I'd not ever get pregnant. A week later I started having morning sickness." Cadance devolved into sobs, as twilight came to hold her.

"I renounce my marriage to princess cadance and my crown. Cadance, twily I hope you're happy together. I wish your foal best of health. Even if I could raise your foal I wouldn't be able to see anything but twilight's face and your betrayal cadance even if I'm sterile. I'm not a sore loser and It sounds like you two were meant to be together. Take care of her twily." Before anyone could stop him he galloped off.
In between sobs cadance begged "twilight- please- don't leave me!" Twilight asked the doctor "how likely is it that this is my foal?"
"98%" he replied

"Good to know thank you. Cadance I won't leave you, I have loved you for years and I won't abandon my- our foal either." Twilight leaned down and kissed cadance, who grabbed twilight and held her to her chest.

"Thank you twilight, I love you too!"

Next prompt Pregnant/pregnancy

4204898
Claiming Fade.

This will be the start of Book Two. Book One is still in editing, but I'm tired of waiting on that to be done to get started on the follow-up.
Also, AP, I will be holding myself back to reasonable prompt sizes. No need to take up more of the collab than I already have.

Hot Springs

In retrospect, it was the best decision made in the last month, princess Sparkle thought lazily as she sunk deeper into the spring, stretching her much abused and twisted spine. Poring over the lawbooks and scrolls did nothing good for it, and taking a mini-vacation to enjoy hot springs was just the thing to get her back into gear. Now, if only she could find some pleasurable companionship for an evening...

Twilight snorted lightly, sending ripples across the water surface. So casual. Then again, when you`re sixty four, and still have the body forty years younger? If you got it, flaunt it. Celestia certainly did, and so did Luna, though their styles were... different. While Celestia projected an image of casual soft benevolence, Luna`s charms were always spicy and zesty. Cadance was the passionate one, if memory served her well. And Twilight herself? Well, suffice to say she milked sexy librarian stereotype for all that it was worth when she was in mood for shenanigans.

Absentmindedly, her thoughts turned to Cadance. After all, it was technically Cadance`s personal hot spring she was reclining in, at the moment. Aforementioned Cadance was as lovely as ever, when Twilight met her earlier today. She hinted about coming down to the springs to relax, but so far, no dice. Maybe she was taking care of Shining Armor. Seventy two years old by now, he could be needy at times. Needy, as in needing assistance. While his body wasn`t too frail to move on his own, yet, same couldn`t be said of his mind. To be expected, really - among all the ponies, unicorns tended to suffer the onset of dementia the soonest, and Shining was not an exception. By the age of seventy, his sclerosis progressed onto the short-term memory, often making him pause and puzzle over his current activity, no longer able to recall why he decided to do it.

Things didn`t improve for him, despite the top-notch medical and familial care. Two years later, it was abundantly clear that Shining Armor was largely gone. Sometimes, rarely, his old self would shine through, he`d recall things, respond to things rationally... Most of the time, he couldn`t remember his wife or his sister, and his interests didn`t extend beyond the immediate "I`m hot, I`m cold, I`m hungry." Long ago relieved of his duties, he`d spend the days watching the hustle and bustle of Crystal Empire off the secluded balcony.

Cadance did her best to ensure he is comfortable. Even in this decrepit state, she loved him dearly. Still, sometimes, it was just a little tedious. But then again, Twilight knew better then to offer any organizing and time-management. She tried once, and she still remembered the gentle, polite and absolutely merciless chewing out Cadance gave her over that. Just because she wasn`t used to taking care of somepony elderly didn`t mean she could put a limit on time spent together.

As on cue, Cadance opened the door, and slipped into the room without further ado, her magic already hard at work stripping the regalia off the mare. With a long trembling sign Cadance sunk into the hot water next to Twilight. "Me-damned pencil-pushers." - she grumbled unhappily, casting a furtive glance towards Twilight. "Twily? Can we talk?" - she ventured, nibbling her lip uncertainly.

Twilight shivered and wiggled in water, raising until her head was above the surface. "Something happened, Cadance?" - she quipped - "You look exhausted." The general issue was not a secret to her - due to some of the... less rational laws of Crystal Empire, a pony up top had to be of sound mind. While in itself it was fairly reasonable demand, the problem lied in corollary, which posited that since Shining Armor was no longer mentally fit to rule, his relationship with Cadance was to be dissolved, or Cadance had to step down as an empress.

Heaving a sign, Cadance sunk lower in water until only her head remained above the surface, matching Twilight`s pose. "As much as I`d like to say it`s not so... it is. There is no way I can overturn the law without causing a succession crisis in Empire, one way or another." - she grumbled, as she leaned towards Twilight, resting her head on Twilight`s shoulder. "The only relevant thing I could find reads as follows - 'Shouldst eldest sibling prove thineself to be feeble of mind, younger sibling receives precedence and possession of elder pony`s possessions and marital obligations.' In short, the only thing we can really do is to... uh... transfer Shining`s part of marriage onto you." Cadance paused, then pulled back from Twilight gingerly.

"I don`t think I`ve ever uttered anything weirder." - she proffered after a few moments of tense silence. Twilight sighed. Then sighed again. Then paused, thought, and finally opened her mouth to present her reply. "Did you explain this to Shiny?" - she quipped at last.

"I did." - confirmed Cadance - "When he was lucid. He told me to "listen to your heart". I imagine it`s one heck of a nudge to get you married to me, Twilight. Sheesh, it sounds... weird. My husband telling me to marry his younger sister... Sheesh, we`re really messed up all around."

Twilight`s wings fluttered involuntarily. She knew Cadance well. Knew she would insist on taking the marriage to it`s logical conclusion, if it were to happen. Knew that she herself desired that very much. Married to Cadance? It was a little filly`s dream, crushed into fine dust when she witnessed her marrying Shining Armor. Dream flaring anew now that the circumstances conspire to give her another shot at what she long ago considered as forfeited and forsaken.

"Well, for all the good it does... Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, will you marry me?" - Twilight proffered lazily. She felt the older alicorn shift against herself as Cadance`s teeth caught her ear and nipped slightly. "Yes, my Sparkle. Yes, I will."

New Prompt: Radishes

4334658 This was a very, very good prompt. One of the best Shining-to-Twi transition pieces I've read.

4335977

Well, it was just a stroke of inspiration caused by insomnia. I`m honestly not sure if I even have any idea what next. It`s, well... a thing in itself.

Claiming: Amber

Prompt: Amber

Cadance raised an eyebrow as she looked at the orb in Twilight’s hands. She leaned close to the amber and then smirked glancing back up at Twilight.

“Its got a bug in it” She deadpanned.

“What type?” Twilight prompted, a sly grin on her lips

“A ladybug..” Cadance said softly a grin spreading over her own lips now. She leaned down softly kissing Twilight.

“Well I’m not allowed to shake my butt at you in public anymore,” Twilight said after parting from the kiss.

“Private is fine dearest. I’ll teach you to dance yet”

Author's Notes: Wanted it to be a really short prompt. Hope it works. If not, well I'm off my game right now.
New Prompt: Memories

4337785 It does work. Short but sweet, fluffy and funny.

4342171 Its only 94 words!

4342879 But they're really cute 94 words

Current Prompt List:

Buffalo
Energy Drinks
Fade
Gems
Germs(claiming)
Life
Memories
Pencil
Pregnancy
Radishes

4350624 heh, thanks man

4350624
Fade

Gdoc Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gk8oWttxVkBtdj1plmxHi0EPBx7bw9cdYRKUwQdyCqA/edit?usp=sharing

Here is the start to My Little Dynamite: Book Two

She woke up to the taste of her own blood.

On the heels of that realization, the rest of reality came crashing back. She was cold. Freezing. It was the kind of cold she could feel all the way to the bone. She was in pain, but at this point, it was so much background noise to the rest. Her undercarriage felt particularly bruised, cold, and wet.

On top of it all, she could feel a hot weight on her outstretched arms, pressing them into the same cold wetness as the rest of her torso was sunk into.

Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes.

Her first impression was a blinding brightness. Whiteness on top of pink. Whiteness…snow...on top of her, on top of everything. Her eyes struggled to focus, mind turning gears over to recall the last few moments. Flying through the air.

They were in danger. Dark magic...hungry arcane power like I’ve never seen before.

They were in the ruins. There was a monster. It moved too fast. Impossible speed. It countered everything we threw at it.

Everything went black. I had to save Cadance…

Twilight Sparkle lifted her head, a groan escaping with the movement. Cadance had been fighting the creature…Chrysalis...when the dark magic had enveloped them all.

Twilight forced her eyes to focus, squinting against the blinding glare. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza rested in her arms, sprawled limply. For a heart stopping moment, Twilight thought Cadance was dead, when the alicorn drew a shallow breath. I caught her.

“B-buck yeah...I caught you.” Twilight coughed, smiling weakly for a moment before she turned her head to look around.

Snow covered everything, but only lightly. She and Cadance lay on the ground in a puddle of quickly recooling snowmelt, large chunks of stone and tile surrounding them on all sides. The air was still, flakes of snow gently wafting down onto what looked like some sort of plain or tundra. She tugged Cadance closer to herself, her body immediately lecturing her on the many places she didn’t know she could hurt and was now suffering. Cadance took another shuddering, ragged breath, her peytral askew and shoes only holding on loosely. Twilight didn’t see any immediate wounds, praying there wasn’t anything broken internally.

Twilight pried one hoof out from under Cadance’s prone form and brushed her mane out of her face, opening her mouth to speak when she heard a wet, scraping noise off to her left. Memories of the fight with the thing that called itself ‘Queen Chrysalis’ flashed through her mind and she was suddenly acutely aware of the fact that she didn’t know what had become of the threat. Or what happened to Spike and Zecora, for that matter.

The sound repeated. Twilight eased herself, as quietly as she could manage, into a sitting position and leaned up against a large piece of rubble that blocked whatever was making the sound from her sight. She took a calming breath. The sound continued, but she could tell whatever was making it was starting to move away from her and Cadance’s position. If the creature was still moving, they were in trouble, but then again, if it was Spike or Zecora, she needed to know what condition they were in. It would be a bad idea to get even more separated, if the monster didn’t get them, the temperature would.

Twilight took a risk. She moved slowly, peeking up over the edge of the rubble. Her eyes widened and she ducked back down, clapping a hoof over her mouth to keep from giving away her position. Four ponies—are they even ponies?—were not more than a dozen hoofsteps from her. They—are they made out of crystals?—each had a heavy chain that was wrapped around their necks—golems?—and the other ends were threaded through the open holes in Chrysalis’ legs. They were dragging the seemingly unconscious creature away through the snow.

Twilight ran her tongue over her teeth, tasting blood again. She took another deep breath of chill air, running her mind over her options. Cadance was still out cold, Spike and Zecora were unaccounted for. She was in a lot of pain. The one monster had been replaced by four new creatures that looked like ponies made out of gemstone. She would be one pony against four unknown enemies. Those were bad odds, and even if she won, there was no guarantee that she could get Cadance and herself into shelter soon enough to beat exposure from ending them.

Celestia...Princess, what would you do? Cadance told Chrysalis that the Princess’ teachings showed them those that dare prevail. But a daring stand now looked more and more like a last stand. Follow the mission, Twilight. Cadance is the most important thing. You are her guardian. Guard her. Protect her. Keep her safe no matter what.

Twilight held her breath, listening the sound of the four pony-things dragging Chrysalis away, and made her call. She was a Battlemage, but battle was not all her magic was good for. She wished that she’d had the forethought to pay more attention in the emergency medical classes, but she could at least make sure that she and Cadance were in good enough condition to move. She willed her horn to charge with arcane energies, shaping the spell into a basic scanning function that would assess her body’s physical integrity. It wouldn’t fix anything, but at least then she’d know if she had any internal injuries that weren’t outwardly obvious. She didn’t start breathing again until the spell reported back that her bones and organs were where they were supposed to be and functioning at a reasonable capacity.

Twilight slumped in relief and then recast the spell, aiming it Cadance. Her breathing remained slow and shallow, but the scan reported that her heart was still beating strong and her bones were fine. The Princess was bruised, but not broken. The diagnosis gave Twilight hope and her she intended to not let it go to waste. Quietly, she eased down against Cadance, and scooted them into the lee of the large stone that shielded them. She had to get them both warm, then wake Cadance up.

Cadance woke to warm arms holding her from behind.

The world creeped back into her senses slowly. She was cold, she ached, she was laying on something hard and wet. But she was also being held tenderly, the body pressed into her back a warm shield against the elements.

She remembered the temple, the traps, the flashes of blade and spell before hell opened up under her hooves and Twilight rushed toward her from the side.

Twilight. Cadance opened her eyes and looked up against a bright glare. Open sky spread out above her. She heard a noise and turned her head slightly until she could see the silhouette of her Battlemage above her.

“Twily?” She flinched at the croak in her voice.

“Yeah, Cady. It’s me.”

“You caught me.” Cadance smiled weakly, shifting her sore back into Twilight’s warm body. “I’m in safe hooves.”

“Yeah, Cady.” Twilight repeated herself. The unicorn leaned down, her bloodied muzzle swimming into view. “You can’t go to sleep, Cady. We’ll die out here if you do that. Can you stay awake?”

Cadance groaned. She had just woken up, but her body wanted to rest. But for her Twily, she’d move mountains. She nodded. “I can do that.”

“Good.” Twilight sighed and Cadance could feel the relief in her voice. “I don’t want to lose you.”

New Prompt: Indulgent

4350624
Also claiming Energy Drinks

4350624

Here is Energy Drinks

Gdoc Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kcNTtD7rRC51gjnYMAUBhd58GYMoFmNTMn38EHjkzpc/edit?usp=sharing

Chapter 2 of My Little Dynamite: Book Two

Cadance worked her back deeper into Twilight’s warm embrace, the light snow still falling from an increasingly cloudy sky. The snowflakes were getting larger by the minute and the air smelled just like an incoming storm. Twilight was right, if they didn’t find proper shelter soon, the weather would do them both end.

She turned her ears to listen the fading sound that Twilight told her was a quartet of pony shaped gemstone creatures dragging away an unconscious Chrysalis. Cadance frowned, thinking back to what the changeling had said to her in the Everfree temple. If she hadn’t been outright lying, it left the rather troubling implication that Chrysalis had infiltrated Canterlot long long ago.

Do the Sisters know? If they did...why did they never tell her, or do something about it? The way Chrysalis spoke about Aunt Celestia...it’s like they knew each other. If Zecora’s story holds any truth, then that’s entirely possible. But they never told me anything about Chrysalis or other changelings like her. It doesn’t make sense. Cadance sighed, letting air out through her nose silently. The noise of the dragging was almost completely swallowed by the background, so it wouldn’t be long until they started moving.

She turned her head to look up and back at Twilight. The blood that had been dripping from Twilight’s muzzle was already caking into dark red lines in her purple coat. Twilight wasn’t looking at her, focusing on her hearing and holding Cadance, to keep them both warm. The cold would take longer to bother her, thanks to some minor passive enchantments in her vestments, but Twilight lacked that benefit. Hopefully shelter wouldn’t prove too difficult to find.

“Twily?” Cadance kept her voice soft and low, barely more than a whisper. “What do you think Chrysalis meant when—” She clapped her mouth shut when the sound of snow crunching under hoof suddenly came from behind the stone the two of them were backed up against.

Twilight’s horn started to glow, her hoof reaching awkwardly toward her staff that was still partially covered in snow besides them. Cadance held her breath, readying herself to dodge out of the way and counter whatever it was with her own blades. She tensed at a closer crunch of snow, every tendon in her body taut.

Just when she was about to move, a blessedly familiar claw gripped the top of their hiding place and Spike’s face appeared a moment later. The tension spilled out of Cadance and she sagged against Twilight.

“Twi! Princess! I’m so glad you two are alive!” Spike bared row after row of fangs in his own relieved smile, reaching down to help the mares to their hooves. “I was afraid I’d lost you two when I woke up a few minutes ago.”

“We’ve only been awake for a few minutes ourselves, Spike.” Twilight sighed, taking a quick look in the direction the creatures had left in. They were still within sight, but only just in the now heavy snowfall. “Did you see those...things?”

“The crystal...pony...things? Yay.” Spike nodded and looked back the way he’d come. “I came to when they started dragging the changeling off. I wonder what they wanted with her?”

“Who knows. It’s unimportant right now anyway.” Twilight coughed. “I have no idea where we are, but we won’t last long in this cold without shelter of some sort.” She looked back at Spike, her eyes going wide. “Spike, have you seen Zecora?”

“Yeah, she’s over there.” He pointed back at a pile of rubble. “Whatever it was that hit us transported all of us, plus a lot of the material from the ruins here at the same time. That’s...that’s ridiculous levels of power, Twi.” Spike ran his claw back over his green frill. “I don’t think even the Princesses could pull off something like that.”

Cadance placed her hoof on Spike’s shoulder, smirking at him. “I’m sure Twilight can run the numbers on it later, Spike. Depends on the distance traveled...I think. But for now, let’s focus on getting mobile and then getting someplace warm.”

“Good point.”

Twilight nodded and moved around the low wall, keeping her head down as she crossed the open ground to where Zecora was at. She found the older zebra sage wake and resting against the pile of rocks and jagged tiles that had provided her and Spike with cover. Zecora smiled weakly up at Twilight and nodded along while the Battlemage scanned her for internal injury.

Moments later, the battered and bruised, but otherwise healthy bunch gathered back in the small lee Twilight and Cadance had woken up in. Once they were seated, Zecora pulled two large metallic tubes from her vest.

“‘Hese be energy po’ions. Drink, will warm ya and give power. Like coffee, bu’ be’er.” The zebra grinned. “Glad I ‘hough’ bring ‘hem.”

“Me too.” Twilight sipped from the vial, grimacing at the too sweet flavor. The effect was much like coffee on a cold morning. She could feel a warming sensation in her belly and the weariness of the fight and the black magic fading into a manageable dull ache. She smacked her lips, passing the potion to Cadance. “Wow...that’s got a punch to it. What’s in it?”

Zecora cracked a sly smile and booped Twilight on the nose. “‘Rus’ me, you don’ wanna know.”

Cadance gagged when she swallowed, launching into a coughing fit. Twilight patted her on the back gently and after a moment, the pink alicorn managed to catch her breath and blink away the tears. “Wow...that is surprisingly better tasting than the stuff they sell as coffee in the Diamond Dog Crowning!”

Spike snorted, rolling his eyes as he downed the potion with ease. “Pansies.” He handed his unused portion back to Zecora and hunkered down near Twilight. “Ok...so what’s the plan?”

Twilight took a slow breath, leaning on her staff. “First thing, we need shelter. Something defensible, if we can find it. But it has to get us out of the elements. Once we have that, I can make us a fire to warm ourselves and we can take stock and...figure out where the hell we are.”

She pulled her cloak tighter around herself. “You’ve got the best eyes, Spike. Think you can fly in these conditions?” Twilight cast a glance over her shoulder at the downpour of snow that was starting to pile up. Energy potions or not, the biting cold was starting to make it hard for her to not shiver constantly.

“I’ll have too, won’t I?” Spike shook his head. “Let’s just hope that whatever those things were that dragged the changeling off don’t head back this way anytime too soon.”

“Let’s hope.” Cadance echoed, leaning against Twilight. “I wonder why they only took her? Why not the rest of us while we were all out cold?”

“I don’t know. I’m not going to look providence in the mouth though.” Twilight gently patted Cadance’s shoulder. “We’re safe and I intend to do my best to make sure we stay that way. We can ask questions later.”

“Then I need to get airborne before the storm gets bad.” Spike grunted and stood up, walking away from the group. He winked at them and a moment later, his body started to glow and expand, loose powder blowing away from him as his body shifted from pony-sized biped to a winged quadruped that was easily twice the size of Princess Celestia. Spike stretched his wings and bound out over the snowy plain, flapping until he started to gain altitude.

Soon enough, Spike was completely obscured by the snow, leaving the three mares alone. Cadance hoped he was going to be alright, and that he found them someplace to get warm and dry. She was still staring up into the clouds when she felt Twilight wrap her cloak around them both. She smiled and nuzzled into Twily’s side.

“Cady?”

“Yeah?”

“When we get the chance...will you tell me where you learned to fight like that? And where you got those weapons?” Twilight’s voice was whisper quiet.

Cadance swallowed, nodding slowly. That was going to be a long conversation.

Word Count: 1373
Next Prompt: Breathing

4350624
Laying claim to Memories for next week's entry

4381232 MOAR!

4381293
You'll get more soon enough.

My first Twidance prompt(or any prompt, honestly) in a while, here's Germs

Cadence walked softly, her head low and wings tucked closely against her barrel. She had cast a silencing spell to muffle the sound of her hooves on the crystalline floors of the Spire, but even still she had cast aside her sollerets as an added precaution. She was being hunted, and she would fail the moment she underestimated her opponent.

Instincts old as equinity were coming to light, urging her to keep moving. Movement was life, staying in place was death. It had been true when her ancestors had roamed the plains and skies of modern Zebrica, and it remained true for her. She could not outfight her pursuer, could not fly her way to safety, and could not disguise herself well enough to hide in place. Her only hope was to remain mobile.

It was a dim hope indeed.

The normally bright lighting of the Spire had turned against her, robbing her of shadows to mask her presence. It was just as well, as her pink coat stood out starkly against the subdued blue and white latticework.

As Cadence neared an intersection, she heard voices approaching. Her heart leapt into her chest and she jumped into a nearby closet. She left the door cracked open just enough to see who it was. A moment later, a Crystal Knight and one of her courtiers passed by, whispering furiously to one another.

“Where could she be?” the mare, who she recognized to be Winnow Wind, asked urgently. Her eyes were darting every which way, even above to search the high vaulted ceiling. “We have to find her!”

Cadence’s jaw ached. Winnow Wind had been one of her most trusted advisors. Her talent for managing court petitions was second to none, and she was one of the few ponies in court that Cadence could truly call a friend. Her betrayal hurt deeply.

The guard Cadence didn’t recognize. Of the two of them, it had always been Twilight who had managed the Imperial Guard.

Cadence swallowed thickly and tried to force herself to think of other things. The darkness of the closet hid her tears well enough.

“Relax, Winnie. I’m sure she’s around here somewhere.” The guard put a hoof on Winnow Wind’s withers to calm her. She melted into his touch. A few deep breaths later, she gave him a much calmer smile.

“You’re right. Thanks, Pyrite.”

Pyrite returned her smile. “No problem.” After only a brief moment, he turned serious once again, and his smile evaporated. “Come on, we need to keep looking. You know what’ll happen if we don’t find her.”

Winnow Wind shivered and nodded. The two continued down the hall once more, walking just a bit closer together than before. They had nearly rounded the corner when Cadence let out a sigh of relief.

It was a mistake.

Pyrite paused midstep and looked back over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed, focusing in on the door that concealed her. Cadence slammed her lips shut, nearly crying out when another white hot lance of pain rocked her.

His armored sollerets clicking against the crystal floor, Pyrite approached her hiding place. He was tense, his shoulders taught and his head low in a battle stance. Winnow Wind followed behind him, trying to both shield herself behind his bulk and peer around him.

Cadence’s heart was hammering in her chest. She didn’t want to hurt the guard. She couldn’t. Even after all that had transpired, after all the betrayals, she could never bring herself to harm one of her subjects.

Each step pared down Cadence’s options until she was left with only one.

When Pyrite reached for the handle to pull open the door, Cadence shoved it forward. The door swing wide and crashed against the wall, surprising Pyrite and giving her an opening. Cadence exploded out of the closet’s narrow confines past Pyrite and Winnow Wind.

She barreled down the hallway, the hoofsteps trailing behind telling her that Pyrite had recovered from the sudden upset. She ran as fast as she could, her longer legs giving her an advantage that was matched by Pyrite’s superior physical conditioning. Her mind raced to provide her an escape route, but she had nowhere to go. If she continued deeper into the spire, she would be cornered easily. If she attempted to find a window and fly away, she would be intercepted by the guards flying constant patrols. Down was out of the question, as it would have taken her past the guard barracks and meant near instant capture.

Her only option to keep even the most fragile of grips on her freedom was to go up, and there was not far to go. It was the best of terrible plans, so Cadence quickly made her way to one of the Spire’s secondary staircases. It wound its way up the internal walls of an auxiliary support column, allowing her to look down nearly to the base of the Spire.

She peaked her head over the railing, only to quickly pull it back in favor of running faster. She had caught glimpses of glistening armor on nearly every floor, all of them headed up after her. Only the Empire’s shortage of native pegasi had kept her from being outflanked from above: what few pegasi the Crystal Guard had were tied up acting as aerial sentries in case she tried to make her escape by air.

Lungs burning and heart slamming in her chest, Cadence struggled to keep pace in her climb. She may have had an earth pony’s magic, but the majority of the Knights were not only earth ponies, but trained soldiers. They could run circles around her without even trying. The stairs were exacting a heavy toll on her legs. Her muscles were on fire, each step a fiery struggle of willpower against exhaustion.

Eventually, Cadence’s fear lost out against her body’s urgent protests. She collapsed on the spiraling steps, unable to go any further. Her ears swiveled to take in the sounds of hoofguards approaching from both above and below, and she knew it was over. She closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears.

A Princess should face her final moments with dignity.

The clacking grew nearly deafening and then stopped all at once. Cadence could not bear to open her eyes, could not bear to see the crowd of turncoat guards. She would not remember them that way. Most likely, she would not remember them at all.

“Cadence?”

A voice sweet as nectar reached in to grab Cadence’s heart. Its tendrils sank deeply into her core that even now could not help but brighten at the contact. Cadence squeezed her eyes shut as tightly as she could and buried her muzzle in her forelegs. She couldn’t look. If she did, it would break her.

“Cadence?” The voice was closer. Warm breath tickled her ears. The smell of parchment filled her nose. She felt a hoof on her withers, and though she tried to resist, Cadence could not stop herself from looking up.

Her eyes opened to Twilight, her wonderful, beautiful, traitorous Twilight. She was looking down at Cadence softly, a wing raised to give them a sense of privacy away from the guards. Cadence was shaking from fright, curling into herself to keep the distance between them.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Come on, Cadence. This is getting ridiculous.” She leaned down to nuzzle Cadence’s neck, and Cadence found enough strength to pull herself away. Twilight straightened herself once more, looking unamused. “You know this is for the best.”

Cadence shook her head viciously, the pain flaring once more and leaving her to writhe and groan on the chiseled granite steps.

“Oh for the love of–Cadence, it’s just the dentist! You have to go, or that cavity is just going to get worse.”

The pain tapered off to a bearable level, and Cadence mumbled, “Dun wanna.” Her words were slurred by her careful avoidance of the left half of her mouth. Even the slightest contact could send her into a spasm if she wasn’t careful.

Twilight sighed and rubbed her forehead with a hoof. She sat contemplating before a spark flashed to life in her eyes. “You know, Cadence, a cavity doesn’t just happen. It’s caused by bacteria.” Twilight leaned down, her mouth scant inches from Cadence’s ear. “Right now, there’s millions of them in there. Tiny germs, each feasting away on your teeth. With every second that passes, they eat a little more.”

Cadence shivered, and Twilight pressed her attack. “Eventually, they’ll finish with that tooth. And then they’ll move down into your jaw.” Twilight trailed a hoof down Cadence’s mane, softly stroking the tangled mess back into order.

“They’ll feast on the bone until it become brittle enough to just snap.” With her magic, Twilight replicated the sound of a snapping twig. Cadence shuddered. Her jaw ached more than ever, and suddenly she could feel the writhing mass of microorganisms writhing inside her agonized tooth.

“Or we could go down and visit Doctor Pearly and have you feeling better in about an hour. Does that sound better?”

Cadence whimpered, and Twilight lit her horn. “I thought so.”

New Prompt: Fight

Current Prompt List:
Breathing
Buffalo
Fighting
Gems
Indulgent
Life
Memories
Pencil
Pregnancy
Radishes

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For a second there...I was starting to think you weren't going for the comedy ending.

The first part is delightfully dark. Kudos!

4389478 thank you I was worried I didn't do enough for the dark part to make it convincing.

Hoping to keep the writing train rolling, here's Breathing

Twilight stood on the edge of a cliff, gazing down its sheered face. Her hooves were dug into the ground as deeply as she could plant them to anchor her against the mighty wind beating down on her. A moment of weakness would sent her cartwheeling off the mountain. The cloudbank below her served to keep her legs strong. Her breath was steady, but only through her iron force of will.

“This is insane.”

“Yep.” Cadence’s casual agreement came just as she finished tying her mane back into a neat little ponytail. It looked cute–not to mention a bit sexy– and made it a bit harder for Twilight to be mad at her.

“I can’t even see the bottom.”

“Nope.” A few risqué stretches on Cadence’s part nearly derailed Twilight’s stream of thought, but a bout of vertigo returned her to the tracks.

“We could die!”

This, finally, served to get Cadence’s undivided attention, be it in the form of a flat stare. She raised her wing, then flicked it forward to tickle Twilight’s own feathery additions.

“Okay, fine, maybe not die, but it could still hurt!”

Rolling her eyes, Cadence put herself between Twilight and the edge of the cliff. She fluttered her eyelashes and brought her muzzle close to Twilight’s. She smelled of honeysuckle in spring, and Twilight’s knees shuddered.

“It might hurt,” Cadence admitted, leaning forward to nibble at Twilight’s ear. “Or it could be really…”

Her tongue trailed down Twilight’s neck. The fire that sprung up in its wake quickly spread down her spine and deep into Twilight’s core. Twilight’s breath came out in quick, ragged gasps in time with Cadence’s ministrations.

“...really…”

Her teeth nipped at Twilight’s jaw. Twilight’s mouth opened of its own accord, a strangled moan escaping past her lips. Just when Twilight was on the edge of bliss, she leaned forward hungrily to drown herself in Cadence.

She found empty air, tripped, and went tumbling off the edge. In the final moments before her screams began, she looked up and saw the image of Cadence jumping after her.

“…exciting.”

I really like the idea of Cadence that, while she isn't an adrenaline junkie like I suspect Celestia is, she does have a penchant for trying new and exciting things. Those of you who follow the Sun and Stars Twilestia collab will notice that this isn't my first cliffdiving prompt

New Prompt: Romantic

4399848 So, I claim this prompt, write a 100-500-ish word story and comment it here with a new prompt within 4 hours? Consider it claimed.

-- Commence TwiDance shipping.

4405496 you can claim that prompt or any of the active prompts listed a couple posts up. Your claim is also valid for 24 hours before it becomes open again, unless you reclaim it (which we aren't actually picky about)

Welcome to the fold!

4399848 So, here's Romantic. I'm not happy about it, but I do have work in about five hours, so meh... Here goes. Sorry if it's a little sappy.

~ Us ~
~ Spinner of Tales ~

Us.

It’s one word. It’s one word, two letters, and yet it means… it means everything. Yet, it’s only one word.

Us.

It’s a promise. It’s a promise that, in the morning, she’ll be the first thing I see. It’s a promise that, at night, when the world’s gone to sleep and the birds are silent, that she will be the last thing I see before I join the realm of dreams. It’s a promise.

Us.

It’s joy; joy that may well be limitless. It’s the joy I feel when I see her after a long day. It’s the joy I feel when I sit next to her in front of the fireplace and she wraps her wings around me. It’s the joy I feel when after a cold day, I come home, and a mug of hot cocoa sits waiting for me. It’s joy.

Us.

It’s romance. It’s romance both in our bed and out on the street. It’s the kisses she gives me in the privacy of our home, and the squeeze she gives my hoof when we go out to the park.

Us.

It’s a princess. A pink princess. Her name is Cadance.

And it’s me. A princess. A purple princess. And my name is Twilight.

And that’s us.

Hm, nowhere near happy with it, but there you go. Hopefully I can write better prompts in the future. So! I guess now I give a new prompt, huh? All righty, let's go for an oldie but a goodie. Let's go with: Adorkable

Or any of those other prompts. Those work too.

4405570 Talk about starting strong, you kicked the starting gate off its hinges. That was great! Username is very accurate