Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 4
By TDR
"Three's a Cod"
[ Coco Cabana, ten miles south of Caduceus, Capitol of the Zebralands., just after Hearths Warming.]
Aria climbed out of the engine compartment of the 'Song Fishies' and closed up the hatch. There was nothing wrong with the craft, she just needed something to do so she was studying how to fix the ship. It really wasn't that hard, the mechanical parts were the same as human watercraft, and the only real difference was how it was powered by magic rather than gas. There were other changes of course, magic power didn't require the need for pistons, and the oil use was very sparing, little more than grease on some gears.
This meant the ship was quiet too when it ran, if not for the churning of water behind it you wouldn't be able to hear it running.
The thing had a self repair enchantment too which annoyed Aria until she found a way to cut it off. Not that she wanted the work, but having magic do things for her like this also annoyed her.
It was why she left after all.
The trios mother and father were rather doting, smotheringly so. Granted when both parents were gods it tended to go over board. She was never left wanting for anything, barely ever was hurt, and saw no challenge in anything with out it being taken care of for her.
She needed to get out from under that. Go out on her own see the world without being coddled and protected.
Well that had certainly happened, far faster than she liked thanks to Adagio.
Her poofy headed sister had gone the full spoiled princess route, thinking everything was owed to her and was the perfect image of a royal brat. Aria was never really sure why she agreed to go along with Adagio's stupid idea of taking the gems, not much good usually came from screwing with things their father created, but back then none of them had ever seen anything harmful from him.
Adagio wanted to claim everything as her own and show she was better than everyone else. Aria wanted to be out on her own doing things herself. And Sonata.... well neither of them had any idea why their youngest sister came along, she was the most complacent and happy with how things were. She absolutely adored their father as well which made her joining the others odd.
Speaking of which, Aria had no idea where the usually bubbly third siren was.
[Edge of town, Coco Cabana]
Blood dripped down the walls of the old barn, bodies of griffons, ponies and zebra's lay scattered around, some still breathing, most not. In the middle of the room was a walled off pit, with the body of one dog and the cowering form of the other dog looking up at the figure standing on the edge of the pit, blood dripping down her blue fur, a wide shark toothed smile gracing her features.
The figure had a red and white ball cap with a green swoosh sort of arrow on it, the blue mare also had a darker blue jacket on her though all of it was soaked in blood.
Sonata had been invited to this event by a local looking to impress the pretty tourist and thought it was some Pokemon thing. After the first dog ripped apart the other to the cheers of the crowd she had learned other wise and reacted not exactly favorably.
A griffon whimpered trying to crawl away only for a hoof to slam into his back pinning him down as the shark toothed pegasus mare glared down at him
“What in Tartarus are you!” The griffon screeched.
“Pecking order.” Sonata grinned.
“That doesn't make any GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!”
There was a scream and a snap and the dog fighting ring was silent save the sound of dripping blood and the whimpers of the dogs still in their cages.
Aria shrugged, her sister was probably chasing a butterfly or watching grass grow or something.
Not that it mattered she was quite sure their father was keeping an eye on them, the ship and the things on it were proof of that, though she wasn't sure the others noticed.
Adagio on the other hand was probably getting pampered at the resort and or sleeping with anything there that caught her eye. She had no idea how her father, if he was watching, was allowing that but she chocked it up to him actually taking the hint to let them be.
Thus far she was glad he was keeping away, doing her own thing like this was what she wanted any way, and she had certainly gotten a lot of that following Adagio.
For better and worse.
[ Ponyville]
Rahs shifted back on his bed stretching out as he considered the holidays this year.
It had turned out rather strange to say the least. As expected all of the girls chasing him had given him a gift, though all of them were surprised he did the same.
Applejack had been rather confused at the cook book and had jokingly accused him of only getting it for her so she could cook for him.
Rahs neither confirmed or denied that though he was happy to note she was looking through it when he left. That she had given him a jar of zap apple jam as a present was perfect, so long as he kept it hidden from Twilight and Spike.
Saturnia had been greatly surprised by the fruit bats. She had some what expected them from Shining and her parents rather than Rahs, but she was quite pleased with the 'candy'.
Her gift had been quite a surprise. The original transcript of the sequel to Wolf of the Harvest Moon. It didn't take Rahs long to figure out why the book had been rejected as it was about Changelings. Though again it didn't hint at where DD might have learned to understand Moon Dog.
Sunset, as usual, surprised him. She had done a good bit of thinking and had written down a number of recipes she recalled from the human world, compiling them into a collection that was like a hoof written cook book. There were only about fifteen of them, though they did seem interesting even if the main ingredients would be hard to come by, granted most of the recipes were prefaced by innuendo laden descriptions, but he had expected that. She also added a cheese sampler, it confused him a little but she had an explanation for that too, about how canines in the human world generally liked cheese.
She wasn't wrong, Rahs did like a good cheese.
She had been surprised and confused at the CDP or crystal data pad she had been given, when he left she was already on her way to make improvements and was talking about something called a 'cell tower'.
Trixie.
Trixie had been crying when he gave her the playbill. With hers lost due to the ursa attack she never thought that she ever could replace it. She was quite upset with herself that he had gotten her that and all she had found for him was some show memorabilia and props from her travels. Rahs didn't mind at all though where she had gotten the silver wolf headed cane from Lon Chaney's The Wolf Mare, was beyond him.
Jynx was a bit confused by the holiday as Diamond Dogs didn't really celebrate Hearths Warming, which was a predominately pony holiday.
They had a winter solstice sort of thing that didn't usually involve gifts and was more of a large party to mark the end of the year and start of the new in midwinter.
Rahs had declined the offer to come to it as he still wasn't entirely comfortable around a large group of Diamond Dogs, he explained it as such and while she seemed disappointed she understood it.
After he some how survived the crushing hug she gave after he gave her the dress she offered him an envelope stating Princess Cadence had suggested the idea after learning Jynx hadn't gotten Rahs anything for the holiday as she didn't know she needed to.
Rarity was thrilled to help it seemed as well with some 'clothing' designs.
There was quite a collection of photos in that envelope.
No one else was going to get to see that gift.
[Ponyville]
“So you're headed to Canterlot for the weekend? Didn't the crusaders just come back from that?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah about, two weeks ago, though I'm going with them this time.” Spike offered.” There's also a Battle Mallet tourney being held up there and Sweetiebelle and I have entered.”
“Sweetiebelle plays Battle Mallet?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah Princess Luna got her into it, she plays Mau.”Spike offered.
“So what Japony comic did she base them off of?”Twilight sighed.
“The one with the whiny colt in the giant robot. I never could get into that one. If some one came up and said 'here, pilot this giant robot to fight monsters', I wouldn't even hesitate, yet this guy just whines about it and cries a lot.” Spike huffed. “Sweetie's painting skill could be better. But she's trying.”
“If Luna got her into it what does she play?”Twilight asked.
“Orks.” Spike sighed. “ Bad moons specifically. With a second Chaos army of Luna Wolves.”
“Can't say I'm surprised, well so long as everyone's having fun. “ Twilight nodded.” It should give Fireball and her colt friend a bit of alone time for once.”
“So what are you gonna do this weekend.” Spike asked.
“Oh, Cadence is coming into town and we're going to hang out a bit. I was originally going to do something with Fluttershy but she and Pinkie are gone off to some animal conference near Griffonstone.”
[ Off the coast of the Griffon lands.]
“Fire.” Fluttershy stated.
The cannons aboard the galleon roared as the shots slammed into the whaling vessel blowing great holes in the griffonesse ship.
Screams sounded as the birds ran about the deck trying to stop their ship from sinking or fend off the attackers.
Fluttershy stood on the deck dressed in a long coat and a tricorn hat, Angel sat on her shoulder looking grumpy in the little parrot costume he wore.
Pinkie Pie darted around the three masted sailing ship shouting and helping the others of the crew reload.
Maud Pie stood on the prow of the Sea Shepherd, simply flinging the cannon balls herself, punching holes in the whaling ship below the waterline.
Tree Hugger sat up in the crows nest a bit red eyed with a number of punks burning in her mane and tail giving her whole form a smoky appearance as they worked to sink the whaling ship a skull and crossbones flag fluttering above her head.
“Yarrr.” The earth pony laughed.
“Well that should be interesting to hear about. I certainly hope Pinkie Pie doesn't scare any of the animals off by trying to throw a party for them or something.” Spike nodded.
“I don't think Fluttershy would let her hurt any one.” Twilight nodded.
Somewhere Mr. Popo is smiling proudly.
...It's not the kind of smile to be witness to, however.
Yeah, that pretty much sums-up NGE. Especially with Shinji's daddy issues.
Okay, Sonata and Fluttershy are officially my favorite characters in this series.
Shameless would imply there is shame to be found, and seeing how you used the joke to world build, a talent of Tatsuro's, and add new traits based on plausible reactions from a character, another talent of said author, this is more of a tribute than theft.
LOVE the idea of Flutters and her circle of friends destroying whaling ships. Letters of marque and reprisal, or are they freelancing?
Ecoterrorist Fluttershy is best Fluttershy.
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I’m betting letters of marque and reprisal, drafted by Doctor Choppy, signed by Princess Luna, and delivered to Fluttershy by Tibbles.
All without Celestia’s official knowledge or approval, of course.
And I cannot wait to see Discord make Twilight and Cadance miserable over the next few chapters.
So now i have the weird thought, "What if the sixth suitor for Rahs is one of the Sirens?"
Well I think I know who is at least what the next Rahs happy female is going to be just from the start of this chapter
And here I thought it was a Team Four Star reference.
Sonata acting suprisingly normal for once. Rather horrific, but hey, thats what you get for waving fresh meat in front of a starving blood frenzy Great White.
Fluttershy taking her sweet time teaching lessons. After all, Get a dozen Sperm whales fitted with HammerHead Skull Sheets, 6 to a side of a ship, and Ram?
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Hand down, this is the best Fluttershy I've ever read.
I checked the new Saturnia pic on your Ko-fi page and it is very well done. But I thought she doesn't have any hole in her body, does she?
And why Jynx has cat tail instead of Diamond Dog?
Oh dear god nothing is safe
I know the anime you are referencing here and the main character is annoy as all hell
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part of it is
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She does, it's sort of a racial thing due to Celestia. The end of Jynx's tail was lost in a fight, it's why she doesn't have a club tail.
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How could a hole in one's body be a "racial thing" unless you are a changeling?
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Back when Chryssy explained her beef with sunbutt she mentioned how she and her kind were sealed in a volcano. Her kind slowly starved todeath and so they started canabilizing their own magic to keep the eggs alive and prevent them from hatching, the act making holes in their bodies as they wasted away to nothing sort of like how paper burns away around holes. As such the generations following that of the ones who survived have had the holes as a racial trait Some have less holes some have more and the truely old were really bad. The newer generations have less holes as they are not dealing with the same sort of forced famine that the older ones were.
It's one of the major points of why chryssy hates celestia.
Granted. The changelings are far from innocent in the war either the death of Celestia's father was just the start of it.
Pecking order and Sonata in the SAME sentence. There is no far enough to run that we would be safe.
Flat out couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch
GRANTED, Shinji's daddy issues are NOT unfounded but man is this a nice description of him
Considering how MUCH either a whaler or one of those commercial fishing ships would cost to replace, there is a reason very few are less than a few decades old
TDR, I appreciate the commissions for the characters, great to have visual representations for them. But I have a question for Rahs' image in particular.
...why did you make him hot?
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*cackles* There's a reason everyone is after him.
You know, I thought that line looked familiar... :P
Super happy to see my works inspiring things in stories I enjoy. It's reaffirming to see the impact I've left.
A very enjoyable chapter overall even outside that.
🎶This was all a cruel pony’s thesis from the start
Out the window, now it’s taking flight
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I remember that, I had just contracted dyslexia for a few minutes and was wondering why jynx would have a hole in her sternum.
I suspect she came along to keep the two of you from getting in way over your heads
Sonata definitely noticed
...something about this sentence sounds off
Oh right, gryphons, predators, why would there be an animal conference near Griffonstone, gotcha
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I mean it's possible, Adagio is planning to have them hit Ponyville
Do not make something Sonata thinks will be cute turn out to be harmful to animals.
Like, holy sheet.
Her and Fluttershy will get along famously, I'm sure.
I can just imagine the royal canterlot WAAAGH!!
Yeah, so, like I said, Flutters and Sonata are probably going to get along just fine.
Yeah, neither could Shinji. Get in the fucking robot you idiot.
The Fluttershy bit was quite amusing, Tree Hugger's description seems to be heavily based off of Blackbeard, who famously lit fuses in his beard, that created a lot of smoke around him. Making him seem like some ethereal terror of the seas.
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YES Some one got it!!
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Rahs has already interacted with the 'Song Fishies' twice now, so the odds of his sixth being one of them is extremely low...better odds on betting for Starlight or Tempest...
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There might still be a chance of one of them being the sixth. Right now the only thing they know about Rahs is that he eats magic. If the sixth does turn out to be a siren, and I think the odds are higher than you think because it would explain why they have as much presence in the story as they do, then my money would be on Aria.
Why is it every time I hear fluttershy is at a animal conference I just know someone is getting hurt and wow just wow somehow I see sonata getting along with fluttershy Maud and tree hugger
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I noticed that but was distracted contemplating if one of the song fishes could be Rahs's sixth suitor.
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not necessarily, i could see Sonata joining Pinkie, Flutters, Maud and Tree Hugger as their 'Water' but none of them would seriously pursue a relationship with Rahs as it would interfere with their various agendas: Allegro desires power, Aria desires freedom and Sonata...well, shes a BIT of a bubble brain, but shes mostly after Tacos. mind, there is another female that i didnt consider on the table, Autumn Blaze...
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Now I want to see Fluttershy’s privateers redrawn as Avalanche. Obviously, Barrett would be Pinkie.
You know for all my griping about certain pet peeves I still ADORE this series, not just for the humor but how you flesh out characters. Aria's musings on why she struck out with her sisters is both believable AND sympathetic, and I hope we might get to see a bit more to Adagio as time goes on.
Sonata is easily my favorite in how this chapter gives her a very strong vibe reminiscant of Harley Quinn from the New 52 series. I would love to see a scene where Sonata shows up at the boat covered in blood and surrounded by animals asking her sisters if she can keep them
I bet Rarity was really proud of her work
WAAAAGH!
So Maud and Pinkie are Pie'rates?
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I both love and hate you for that pun.
Why do I get the distinct feeling Fluttershy and company are attacking one of Zephr’s ill conceived business ventures…
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You know I'd completely forgotten that and I've actually tried mahi mahi it's not particularly Pleasant tasting to me though I hear other people love it
A great story so far, but for one niggling detail, namely Diamond Tiara's near-psychotic persecution of the CMCs. I really this is resolved soon.
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there are plans for that. But it's gonna get worse before it gets better.
Also, on the love stakes, my money is definitely on Sonata being Rahs's sixth girlfriend. After all, back in 'Filli-mahi Part 2', we get the line(s):
Now I can't confirm it, but I suspect it was Sonata who voted against herself, which is already a big step in Rahs's direction.
I knew there was a reason I liked Sonata
I... um... oh my
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Speaking of plans, I finally got around to making a TV Tropes page for this work.
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/TwilightGetsAPuppy
Sorry for the delay. I don't even remember why I forgot to do it until now.
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Ahhh thank you I had completely forgotten about this. I suppose i'll need a one of those break down pages at some point
Oh as a side note if you want i have a image you can use for the page.
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It would probably be best if you started with telling the rest of your readers that the page exists; TV Tropes is a wiki, so they aren't just going to read the page, they'll improve it. Besides, I'm only a novice editor; I don't really know how to add an image to a page. (Yes, yours is only the second page I've made on TV Tropes. How did you know?).
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i can do that
haven't got a chance to read through 3 more things yet (so not sure if they credit it or not) but, and i'm just guessing here, i'm pretty sure that
"pecking order" is from TFS DBZ abridged. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw6YxwOcg_A) also great story loving it so far.