//------------------------------// // Chapter 19 - Monsters and Outcasts // Story: The Pony Dreadfuls // by No one is home //------------------------------// “I am terribly sorry ma’am, But we simply don’t have any seats available that can accommodate a pony of you proportions.” The train attendant certainly didn’t sound at all sorry, much less “very” sorry, but Nelly was used to this kind of treatment. Still… “But you’re asking me to ride in a baggage car?” The bulbous mint-coated unicorn pleaded, sadly. “Couldn’t I just stand?” “I’m sorry ma’am, but if the train were to stop suddenly, you might fall and injure yourself, or possibly even somepony else.” The attendant fought, unsuccessfully, against the urge the giggle at the picture of the rotund mare rolling down the train aisle, but quickly recovered. “But it’s not as bad as you might think, we have a car specially cleared already for another passenger with similar problems. So you’ll have somepony to talk to at least.” “Hmph, great, we can form our own ‘fat-pony’ club.” The mare rolled her eyes as she moved into the waiting, unfurnished baggage car. “That’s the spirit!” The train attendant smirked as he pulled the door closed behind her. “Why’s it so dark in here?” The round Pony asked out loud, almost not expecting an answer. “Because they don’t carry enough booze on this train to keep me drunk and was I hoping to get some sleep.” Train Wreck pastel fixed his luminous red eyes on the newcomer. “Sweet Celestia, you’re The Unspoken Prince!” The rotund mare gushed with a wide smile. “My name is Nelly, I’m your biggest fan! Can I see your snakes? Is it true Middler can power a light bulb? Where’s Princess Diane? Is she traveling with you? I’ve always wanted to meet her, she’s SO pretty… did I say something wrong?” The beast heaved a sigh and gave the mare a sad smile, “Nothing you had any way of knowing. I wish Diane was here to meet you. She loves it when someone calls her a princess without being prompted. But no, I’m relocating to Ponyville. It seems the Princess of Changelings thinks my depression is a danger to the hive.” “I… I’m sorry. I always heard you two were super-close, what with both being misfit royalty.” Nelly looked at the monster-prince in confusion. “I mean the tabloids make it sound like you're practically a couple… not that I believe the tabloids.” “Best not to, me and Fast were never like that. She’s only got eyes for one former-human royal.” Train Wreck rolled his eyes. “We’re just good friends. That’s why I had to leave. Anyone else told me that and I’d tell ‘em to get bent, but coming from Fast… I just can’t believe she said it like she did. She told me she didn’t even want me coming back to the hive. She said it was my episodes that drove off Carrot Plate, and that they were all better off without me.” “Wow, and here I’d always heard she was so nice.” Nelly averted her eyes and whispered sadly. “I guess we’ve both got some pretty mean friends. Or in my case some mean, pretty friends.” “Hey, it’s a rough world all around. Wanna talk about it?” Train wreck flashed his least predatory smile. “I wouldn’t want to bother you with the petty little problems of some fat, ugly nopony like me.” Nelly demurred quietly. “Hey now, don’t talk about yourself like that,” The beast admonished, “You’re a pretty adorable little pony.” “You don’t have to flatter me, your majesty.” Nelly smiled bitterly. “There’s nothing adorable, or little about me.” “Hey, compared to me, you’re all ‘little’ ponies.” Train Wreck grinned back at the mare. “And I have pretty expansive definitions of adorable. You should see my youngest daughter, cutest little alien squid-grub you’ll ever lay eyes on.” -=-=-=-=- “I will not stand here and be held accountable for actions that happened in an alternate past, Disord!” Celestia snapped angrily. “How about in an alternate future, then your magnitude?” Discord smiled coyly. “Because I did some poking around and it turns out it doesn’t take much for you to commit out-right genocide.” “Silence fiend!” Luna snapped bruskly, “Who are you to accuse my sister?” “Who am I, Lu Lu?” Discord laughed as he coiled around the Princess of the Night. “I’m actually going to skip the self aggrandizing answer to that and ask, who are YOU to accuse your own dear sister of being capable of atrocities if she thinks it will protect her little ponies.” “I have never…” Luna began only to be silenced by an apple appearing in her mouth out of thin air.” “Pish-tosh! Whose fears do you think the Celestia of the Nightmare world was based on Luna dear?” Discord brought his eyes uncomfortably close to his verbal prey. “You will NOT toy with my sister in this fashion, monster!” Celestia’s voice took on a warning edge and the draconequus suddenly materialized in her face instead. “I told you already, Frau Führer, I’m not here to accuse your sister, I’m here to accuse YOU.” Discord’s voice for one moment lost its characteristic mirth. “After all, it’s not like Luna doesn’t have good reason to fear you. You’re the one who banished her to the moons for one thousand years. Your own baby sister, sweet innocent Lu Lu, but the minute she became a threat to your ponies happiness, it’s zap-bang-boom, to the moon!” “My sister had no choice!” Luna insisted angrily. “Really now? Because the Tree of Harmony didn’t seem to think so. Or didn’t you notice that with the new bearers, the elements of Harmony seemed a bit… well… less banishy than before.” “I notice they still returned you to your stone prison.” Celestia smirked victoriously, only to be met with Discord’s condescending smile. “Well, maybe I had that coming. It’s NEVER a good idea to turn the pink horror’s smile upside down, she takes that very personally.” Discord wrung his tail nervously for a moment. “But if I really was so deserving, then why not let Star Butt and her friends live with the decision to imprison me for eternity? You know, like you did?” “It’s a funny thing about ponies who create monsters, Tia dear,” Disord slowly faded into a cheshire smile, “They can always find a more terrible monster if they know where to look. I’ll give you a hint… it’s in the mirror.”