Maud)327 words
Chapter 148 words

Fishy Business (45-minute flash poem; Adventure; Applejack)

"Now gather round me, sugarcubes," said AJ to the throng.
"You asked about these creatures, and since you have come along
To hear my answer, I'll be plain: they're llamas! Or they were..."
"They're what now?" queried Apple Bloom – but Applejack shushed her.
She raised a hoof for silence and when she obtained it, then
She started such a tale of woe as never was again.
"These llamas, y'all," she first explained, "migrated every year.
Across the Neighile River, which is not so far from here.
But every time the date arrived for their almighty trek,
They suffered grievous losses in that mild-seeming beck."
A shudder ran around the crowd at AJ's quiet speech,
For they could tell that now they'd hear of miseries that each
And every single pony there would never quite forget –
Though how the llamas met their end they could not fathom yet.
"Now, see," continued Applejack, "though they would not so wish,
Deep down beneath the surface dwelt the spindly killer fish:
Piranhas! No – they are long gone. Don't worry, y'all! Don't fret!"
But even so, the fillies there; the colts; drew closer yet.
As Applejack went on: "Each time the fishes from the mud
Attacked the llamas viciously: the waters ran with blood!
At last, the creatures' leader said, 'Our race cannot withstand
Much more of this. We must decide, and do.' So what they planned
Was travelling to Ponyville to find a unicorn
Whose magic they could utilise so they might see the morn.
The llama leader came to town and found what he did seek:
A place a clothes designer ran: the Carousel Boutique!"
"What, Rarity?" squeaked Sweetie Belle, astonished by the news.
"She never told me anything like that!" "By my horseshoes!"
Said Apple Bloom. "In fact, I'd say much more: By Lyra's thumb!"
"Now watch your language, filly," warned stern AJ. So, struck dumb,
Her younger sister, calm again, awaited the next part
Of this exciting story – it was quite a work of art!
"Now, anyway," AJ went on, "yup: it was Rarity.
Just starting then, though Fluttershy would often bring her tea.
Our unicorn friend had a think, and then it did appear
As though the fashionista mare produced a fine... ideeeaa!
'Pyjamas!' came her rather odd, yet truly heartfelt cry.
'I'll make you magic silken gowns to safely take you by
The waiting, watching butcher-fish and bring you safe to shore,
And all that I shall ask of you's a bit or two. No more!'
The llamas' representative thought, then he bowed his head:
'Ms Rarity, you've saved our race. Without you, we'd be dead
Ere long at least, if I may lapse into poetic speech.'
But Rarity just smiled and winked and for her cloth she reached.
And that," said AJ, "is the way it was, not long ago."
"But did their magic PJs work?" asked Sweetie. "Tell me so!"
"Well, sugarcube," replied the mare, "the funny thing 'bout that
Was that they did! Their leader said, 'Go! Swim that river! Stat!'
For silk is rather waterproof, but not a perfect coat:
If not right, it's about as good as wearing a big oat!
But as they crossed, the llamas saw: piranhas were there none!
Where had they gone? They never knew... but I do. On their run
They'd called upon the spirits of their ancestors, among
Whom one had been a magic beast with gill as well as lung.
You see, y'all, what he really sang, and what those creatures knew:
The llamas' homage to the deep: the ancient 'Shoo be doo!'"

Author's Note:

At BUCK 2013, I entered the flash fiction challenge. We were confronted with three prompt words – llamas, piranhas and pyjamas – and given 45 minutes to come up with something. In longhand, too! I wrote my entry in verse. This is not it, since we didn't get our entries back, but it's along similar lines. It was written using the same prompts and to the same rules, time limit and all. And yes, also in longhand.

Did anyone catch the Blackadder reference?

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