Thirty Minute or Less

by Sea Salt

First published

These are very short stories for the thirty minute challenges. I may make these longer but until then I hope you enjoy.

These are very short stories for the thirty minute challenges. I may make these longer but until then I hope you enjoy. The challenges are set by thirty minute ponies. I will put the time at the end of all my stories so you know how long they took.

If they seem rushed that's because they are.

The Princess Lies

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Celestia sat in the towel outside watching the moon in the sky, she had to wait for her student because she had promised. She sighed and sipped some tea the stars were being rearranged to where they should of been after 1000 years of Lunas’ absence they were behind schedule. Celestia admired her sisters’ work and didn’t even look as Twilight came in.

Twilight walked up to Celestia and also looked at the night sky.

“Isn’t it beautiful Twilight?” Celestia's voice echoed on the breeze and Twilight nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me about your sister? I could of helped more if you let me know.” Twilight wasn’t angry she simply was curious on her teachers’ reasoning.

“I do apologize Twilight but I wanted to protect Luna.” She turned and walked to the fire. Twilight followed curious.

Celestia levitated a book to Twilight. “This is all the stories of Nightmare Moon, It’s silly now but imagine the fear ponies would have for Luna if the had known?” Twilight thought about this as she looked at the book.

“The Colts Grimm. That’s a great horror book but…”

“All of those stories were inspired by monsters and a lot are Nightmare Moon related.” Celestia explained.

Suddenly it clicked for Twilight her mind racing to fill in the blanks, and then it hit her. “You wanted her to be accepted more easily so you created Nightmare Moon for Luna.” Celestia nodded.

“More or less stories are used to protect us from what we fear my faithful student. No matter if that is what we create or what we wish to forget.”

Twilight smiled finally understanding for the first time why Celestia does these things.

“I am grateful for your frankness Celestia and appreciate you telling me.” Twilight held the book close. “What do we do now?” Twilight wondered.

“I don’t know Twilight. perhaps we make sure no pony realises the conection or we allow Luna to be feared until she proves she is not Nightmare Moon. These things I can not see. But what I do know is that I will be needing the help of you and your friends in the near future.”

“Of course princess we… I will help and I’ll see what the others think.” Celestia nodded at Twilights’ words.

“You are dismissed.

Twilight bowed and left the princesses company, she walked passed the guards to her friend who waited for her to return. Rarity was sleeping snoring in a manner befiting her.

“Well?” Rainbow Dash flew over and asked. “Did you tell her off?” Twilight shook her head.

“No what she did she did for love or something like that I don’t know but I believe it was the best thing that could of done.”

“I’m glad you didn’t yell at her.” Fluttershy smiled. “Do you think we will see Nightmare moon again?”

Twilight shrugged. “I don’t know but whatever we have to face we have each other to help face it.”

“So y’all are telling me that the 6 of us are going to fight monsters and save the world?” Applejack asked.

“Yep”

“I’m okay with that.” Applejack tilted her hat and they thought of the future except Rarity who was dreaming about the Grand Galloping Galla.

Everypony Loves Pie

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Bring went the alarm clock on Sorin’s bedside, he was already up of course. It was so exciting this was the best day ever. He hit the snooze button and snuck downstairs to Spitfire’s room. He placed the alarm clock right beside her head and backed up just as it went off again waking her up.

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHH” Spitfire lifted her arm up and knocked the clock to the floor. She looked around for the intruder who dared interrupt her sleep, she bet on it being Dash she is always pulling this stuff. Her eyes fell on Soarin’s dumb grin. She groaned and covered her head with the pillow.

“What do you want Soarin?” Spitfire asked rather than the ‘get out!’ that she really should of said. Soarin held up a flyer.

Pie in The Sky opening and the date which was today along with a picture of a pie with wings.

“Cute” Spitfire said and rolled over trying to go back to sleep.

“Come on you said you would come and it’s going to open any minute the line is going to be huge already.” Soarin was panicking.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s a pie shop not Harry Trotter.” Spitfire reasoned.

“You say that, but what if they sell out, what if we can’t get in?” He jumped on the bed. “What if I never have pie again?”

Soarin was too close for Spitfire’s comfort. “If I go with you, do you promise to buy all the breakfast including mine?”

“YES!” Soarin nodded and Spitfire sighed.

“Fine we can go.” Soarin bounced around excitedly. “Curse my kindness. I’m going to regret this.” Spitfire said through a yawn and got up.

10 minutes later they got their bags and flew to the shop. As Spitfire predicted there wasn’t a huge crowd of ponies there was a little, but not enough to worry about. the wall on the entrance side was missing so that Pegasi could fly in with no problem. The simplicity of the design was lost on both of them as they sat down. Spitfire didn’t care because she needed coffee and Soarin was so focused on pie he wouldn’t of notice if Dash did a sonic rainboom right beside his head.

“Welcome to Pie in the Sky.” Greeted an older mare with gray fur. “My name is Sweet Tooth how may I…”

“COFFEE” Spitfire interrupted.

“Of course and for you young stallion?”

“Apple pie please.” Soarin grinned.

“What coffee would you like ma’am?”

“Espresso, please.” Spitfire leaned on the table and yawned.

“One espresso coming up.”

They waited Soarin is bouncing on his seat and Spitfire sipping her coffee. Then it arrived, Soarin couldn’t believe it. The delicate pastry, the smell of perfect apple farm apples the amazing style and grace. Soarin relished each and every bite and took time to admire the taste and the experience. This pie was like nothing he had ever had before. This is the best pie Soarin had ever had and when it was gone he knew there would never be anything better.

“Spitfire you got to have one of these pies.” Spitfire shot up.

“WHAT? YEAH okay, whatever.” She started to eat the pie and it was okay, the pastry was fine, the apples were you know fine. You could tell care went into it, but whatever.

“Can we go now?”

Soarin couldn’t understand why she wasn’t demanding more but she always appreciated pies differently keeping her cool. Tomorrow she will want more he was sure of it.

Experiments

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The lab was empty almost all the scientists had gone home, Doctor Stern - Strudel was once again by himself furiously reading over his notes. He tapped his fingers on the desk and was finishing the 6th cup of coffee. He looked at the clock, it taunted him reading 3am. Stern brushed his hair back and looked at the grey horse who was staring at him.

Impossible, he was just being paranoid his beard had grown too long he needed to shave sooner rather than later. He rubbed his eyes and walked over to the grey horse patting his back. This was not improving and he really needed to progress faster.

He read through the notes and decided that with no signs of improvement, perhaps the hypothesis was wrong. Perhaps they weren’t that smart, even though all the results said it was possible. He banged his head on the table and filled out the form.

Name: Patches

Sex: Stallion

Species: Horse

Result:

More obedient, but may be unconnected.

Conclusion: More study required.

Speech was the way that humans communicate, but apes did it with sign language. Perhaps he could teach him to speak with tapping. That’s when he realized he really needed to sleep. The point was to improve intelligence and he hadn’t shown any sign of that at all.

Doctor Stern-Strudel decided to get some sleep. When he returned that afternoon he looked at his notes.

Name: Doctor Stern-Strudel

Sex: Male

Species: Human

Result:

Continued stress and caffeine intake

Conclusion:

Continued observation and medical examination required

He snickered at the prank probably one of the interns, He was impressed that they knew his notes and style though. He climbed into the cage and ran a medical examination.

Notes:

Bone in forehead protruding, Stronger mussels and appears younger than he should.

This was very strange even for a biological experiment. It was apparent that the horse was changing. The hoof, also seemed to have some sort of conductive substances that cause his pants to be caught on the fur.

Conclusion of examination:

Physical changes apparent subject also appears to be calmer than others.

He looked at the front of the form. Patches had been crossed out and Star Swirl was written in. He held up the form and pointed to the horse than to the form. Star Swirl nodded and pointed to the form on the desk. This was a result that made Doctor Stern-Strudel much more interested in this experiment, Star Swirl felt the same way about his.