A Different Life - Prize Short for Arian Blaze · 10:36pm Jul 28th, 2015
A short flashfiction for ArianBlaze as a prize for winning second place in my art competition. 
I hope you enjoy it!
Manehattan suffered under the unfortunate side effect of every major city in Equestria. Sunlight drew itself to the concrete and asphalt like needles to a magnet. An eighty degree day could easily turn into a scorcher as was the case today. Rory didn’t mind in the least. Hot days were perfect for lunch under the oak tree with his friends.
Sure enough, Base Clef and the gang had already staked out the shadiest portion, waving him over. The pegasus colt nudged him in the ribs with an already peanut-butter coated hoof, “How was clean up duty?”
Rory rolled his eyes, pulling a sandwich out of his lunch pail. “Glorious. You know, I could have sworn I saw your twin there . . .”
He cocked his head, curly white mane obscuring his baby blue eyes. “Huh?”
“Yes, though I’ve imagined you’ve met before.” Rory could hardly hide the smirk at the way their entire group leaned in.
“Who is it?”
“Hmmm.” He took a bite of his dandelion sandwich, eyes focusing on the dainty peach filly beside him. Celestia she’s pretty today. After swallowing, he continued in a perfect monotone. “The classroom mop gets lonely you know. Poor thing . . .”
The entire group, Base Clef included burst into tears of laughter. Alto’s tinkling laugh in his ear made his heart skip a beat. “That was too funny, Rory. Where did you learn jokes like that?” she asked in that wispy, angelic tone of hers.
“Oh, I just picked it up.” He shot her a playful wink, “A comedian never reveals his secrets.”
Base Clef snickered into his hooves, giving himself a brown mustache to compliment the gold. “But you’re a musician! Your cutie mark’s an accordion.”
“Made of cheese sandwiches!” Rory retorted, feeling his face heat up. “I don’t see why I can’t be a musician and a comedian,” he mumbled.
“Leave him alone, Base Clef! You’re just jealous because all your jokes are about barf.” The rest of their six member group burst into tears of laughter.
“It’s-that’s not true,” he stammered.
Rory chuckled, patting him on the back. “Hey, at least you’ll have a career in the janitorial business. You’ve already got the mop . . .”
After another round of laughter, they started a long-winded argument on which of the new trading cards would become the most popular at school. With the end of year concert fast approaching they needed the distraction. Rory loved to analyze the possibilities and soon had them all focused on him again. Thankfully, Alto and the girls took over with a play by play of their latest sticker trade strategy.
“And so, that’s why we decided to start trading Digamane stickers instead of Pokemare ones,” she said with a decided jerk of the head. “What do you think, Rory? Did we made the right investment?”
“Hmmm. Difficult to say at this point, but, with the current conditions, I’d say the schoolyard trade will swing that direction soon enough.” Rory always enjoyed using trade talk. Not only did it mystify his friends, but it made him sound just as professional as Father. Father had yet to be impressed, but Rory never expected him to be.
“And our investor has spoken,” Base Clef pronounced imperiously. They all sniggered a bit, then, he added, “But, you do have an unfair advantage. Your Dad’s a CEO and your Mom runs her own modeling business. That’s got to help.”
“It’s not that hard to figure out on your own, Base,” Rory snorted, picking up his chocolate chip cookie. “I can show you tonight at the sleepover if you want.”
“Really?”
“Sure. It’s supposed to rain, so we’ll be stuck inside anyway.”
He leaned forward, grin stretching across his pudgy cheeks. “Is your mom making cinnamon buns again?”
“Yup! And she’s taking us to see Monsters versus Aliens.”
“Your mom is the best!” Base Clef sighed dreamily, “Some colts all the luck . . .”
Rory snorted a laugh. “I guess . . .”
Ah, the cute, heartwarming feels you will never, ever get in Slow Fade.
I think I just got the warm fuzzies.