//------------------------------// // Cereal Wars // Story: Cereal Wars // by Miner //------------------------------// “Ah another beautiful here in Ponyville.” Twilight said out towards nopony in particular before she closes the window to her room. “Now then Spike let’s get todays check list out of the way.” She said to her small dragon assistant expecting a reply or at the very least him complaining to stay asleep a little while longer, but nothing. “Spike?” she looks around the room for him as she called out for him again. “Oh wait. He with the crusaders sleep over and is coming back later on today.” She said as she rubs her head realizing her mistake. “Well I am just going to have to start without him then.” Twilight then made her way to the kitchen of the castle. She could hear her hooves steps as she continues to walk down the hallway, which served as a reminder that she needs to find a use for all the rooms in the castle. Or at the very least buy more furniture. Once there she pulls a box of cereal form the panty, a bowl, a spoon, and some milk form the fridge with her magic. She yawns as she takes a set on one of the rotating chair in the kitchen while she pours herself a bowl, before she put everything back where she found it. Once done, she then stars eating, all the while she is looking around the room for the only other pony in the castle, Starlight. “That is odd. Normally she would have shown up by now.” Twilight said to herself as continue to munch away. However, after the third bite, she pauses for a moment, as she notices something taste different with her cereal. Not in a bad way, but rather they taste better than she remembers them to be. She then looks at the bowl and notice right away why. Instead of their brown color on each wheat square with their cinnamon taste, this bowl was filled with flaky oats, some pecans, berries, almonds along with the hint of honey. Twilight looks around the room with a nervous look as she realizes who this particular band of cereal belongs to, it’s Starlight’s favorite. She doesn’t see anypony which is a good thing, it gives her some time to think of her next move. Starlight hates it when somepony eats her cereal, and she remembers the one-time Starlight almost bit Spikes head off when she caught him eating a bowl. Twilight had no idea why Starlight made such a big deal about this cereal. However now that Twilight has sometime eating the cereal herself, she can see why, it’s very delicious. Looking back at the bowl Twilight than contemplated on her situation. On one hoof, she is eating one of her best friends/Student’s cereal without her permission, and likely going to have a huge argument out it with Starlight later. Then there is the fact that this brand of cereal is the best bowl of cereal she has ever tasted. She then shrugs as she continues to eat and saver the taste of the Oats. ‘Maybe she probably won’t notice.’ Twilight thought to herself. “Morning Twilight!” said a voice behind her. “GGAAHH!” Twilight spun around to see the very mare she was think about earlier. Slowly, she put the bowl of oats behind her out of view with her magic. “Oh! Starlight. Umm Good Morning! How are you doing?” She said with a nervous smile. “Fine thank you.” Starlight said before she takes notice of Twilights sudden nervousness. “Are you ok Twilight?” “Yes, I am just fine,” Twilight said as some sweet was going down her forehead. Starlight just stares at her Mentor suspiciously which cause Twilight to gulp and smile. “Oh, Really?” Twilight nodded vigorously. Starlight started moving to the right of Twilight and notice that she seems to be turning her chair to follow her movements. Even thou Starlight had only been staying with Twilight for a couple of months now. You would have to be a fool to not notice that Twilight is hiding something behind her. “Twilight are you hiding something from me?” “NOPE! I mean no, no nothing going on here, Hehe” Not convince by Twilights reason for her odd behavior, Starlight now determined to find out what is Twilight hiding. She starts by walking to the left of Twilight before she than side steps to the right only for Twilight to continue to move her chair in the same direction. This goes on for a minute before Starlight gets flustered and then lift Twilight out of her chair with magic to finally see what is behind her, Nothing. Confuse Starlight looks back at Twilight and the table trying to figure out what was this all about. Deciding that it is too early in the morning to find out why Twilight was acting like that. Starlight then puts Twilight back on her chair and makes her way to her seat, unknown to her, a bowl of oats floating in the air above them, in a purple glow moving towards the refrigerator. “Anyways, Twilight, I was wondering if you had made your decision yet.” She asked Twilight, which only served to confuse her. What did she mean about if she had made her decision yet? As far as she knowns nothing important was going to happen today. Regardless Twilight needed to keep the conversation going, if she wanted to keep Starlight’s attention away from the fridge, she is so close in closing the door. “What do you mean Starlight?” “I mean, have to decide on bringing sandwiches or takeout for the picnic today.” Starlight said before she looks behind herself wondering if she had just heard the refrigerator door closed. Panicking, Twilight has to thing fast, “Take out! Yes, take out sounds good for the picnic. Wouldn’t you agree Starlight.” Twilight said smiling. “Maybe something form that café I always go to.” She said to Starlight. However, Starlight wasn’t paying her much attention, as she continues to look at the fridge. “Sure, sure Twilight that sounds alright to me.” Starlight brain is now fully awake as she starts to think on what she just heard. ‘Let’s see now. I am sure I just heard the door closed on the fridge, which doesn’t make any sense. If Twilight was getting something form the fridge, I should have seen it floating towards the table. Instead I see nothing coming from the fridge nor do I see anything in front of Twilight. And I know we are the only ponies in the castle right now, so it couldn’t be anypony else. Not to mention if it was one of Twilights friends, they didn’t need to be sneaky in the castle, because they are welcome here. And I most certainly didn’t do it. Which leads me to believe one thing. That whatever Twilight was hiding behind her back, is now in the fridge.’ “But right now, I am hungry Twilight.” Starlight said as she made her way to the fridge. “Do we have any leftover pizza from last night?” In a flash of light, Twilight appears in front of Starlight stopping her in her tracks. “Let me check Starlight.” She said as she opens the door so that only Twilight can look inside. “I can look for myself Twilight.” Starlight said as she tried to get around Twilight to look in the fridge, however Twilight was having none of it as she blocks her attempts, as she started to finish the cereal. Before Starlight could said anything about the crunching sounds coming from the fridge. Twilight pushed Starlight back with her magic without hurting her than making a quick gallop out of the kitchen. After recovering from falling over, Starlight gave chase after her friend. “Twilight what has gotten into you today? Also, what are you eating?” she shouted after her going room to room in the castle. Soon after the third room, some of the milk fell to the floor causing Starlight to slide across the hall into the wall. “AAAAAHHHH omf!” Starlight shook her head to clear up her thoughts and look at her hoof to see what cause her to slip. Seeing a white liquid, she than sniff her hoof to find out it smell sweet. Looking back to where Twilight went, she could see her entering the map room closing the door behind her. Getting on her hooves again, Starlight gallop towards the map room in rage. Inside the map room, Twilight is panicking trying to find a way to get rid of the cereal before Starlight finds her with it. “Twilight I know you are hiding something and it better not be what I think it is.” Starlight shouted form outside the room before she slams the door trying to enter the room. “ow” ‘That spell won’t keep her out for long. Got to hid this somewhere.’ Twilight thought to herself looking around for a hiding place and her eye fell onto a nearby closet. ‘That will do for now.’ She then got near the door as it opens and gave the bowl to a pair of pink hooves before closing the door. “Thanks Pinkie.” Twilight said to her friend as she smiles to herself knowing that the cereal is safe with… ‘what a minute’. She then started to hear crunching sounds coming from inside the closet. Frowning Twilight than opens up the closest to see Pinkie eating the cereal. “Pinkie what are… never mind give me that back.” Twilight than tried to pull the bowl away from Pinkie with her magic. Only to have Pinkie hanging onto it not letting go. “No are you crazy Twilight. This is way too tasty to past up.” Pinkie said while still trying to eat some of the cereal, before Twilight lift her and bowl in the air trying to shake her off. “No this was mine first get your own!” “I could say the same for you Twilight.” Slowly Twilight turn around to see a very enrage Starlight staring right at her. “Oh, hay Starlight. Uh this is not what it looks like.” She tried to say not knowing that she drop Pinkie down with the cereal. “Oh really. Than I am not seeing a bowl of MY cereal being fought between you and Pinkie Pie.” Starlight was closing in on Twilight as she said this not giving Pinkie much thought. While Starlight was going to give Twilight an earful about eating other pony’s food. Pinkie was making her way out of the room with the goods. ‘It’s looks like those two are going to be at it for a while. So, in the mean time I need to find the perfect place to eat this bowl of cereal.’ She started with the kitchen as she set the bowl down on the counter. Looking around she spots the pantry and opens it to reveal three boxes of cereal. Smiling Pinkie pull one out but frown when the image on the box didn’t match the one in her bowl. She looked inside to make sure and could only see brown squares. She repeated this process until she found a blank box filled with the cereal she was seeking. “Here you are! But why are you unmarked? If I don’t know what you are called, then how am I going to find more of you.” Pinkie said to herself, “there is not much left in here also” she said looking inside the box once more before she put a hoof to her face in deep thought. “Hum? OH! Wait I got it I will just have to ask some pony else if they know. Than we all can have a big breakfast party.” Pinkie than grab some extra bowls, along with a bottle of milk, and the cereal and set off to uncover this mystery. High above the sky of Pony Ville, Rainbow Dash was finishing clearing the skies for the day. “Aw yeah still as awesome as always. Now I can take a nap before I need to head on over towards the picnic.” She said to self before she zooms on over to the one lonely cloud she left in the sky. However, before she could get some z’s a bunch of balloons slowly made their way up revealing a pink pony attach to them. “Hay Rainbow Dash!” “GAH! Pinkie. Not cool ruining a pony’s nap ti- I mean power nap. Yeah, power nap. So, what are you doing up here anyways?” “I am trying to find out what this cereal is.” Pinkie said showing her the bowl. “Looks tasty, but I can honestly say that have never seen this type of cereal before Pinkie.” “Really you too?!” Pinkie is in shock. Was for sure that Rainbow dash out of all her friends would know what the identity of this was. Rainbow took the bowl form Pinkie while she is doing her fish impression. Curious she took a bite, before she started to devour the cereal in a fast pace. Before long she had finish the cereal and was drinking the milk, finishing with a satisficing awe. “Wow Pinkie that was awesome.” “I know right. That is why I am trying to find out what it is so I can get more. But so far, I not finding so much luck. I already tried Applejack and Rarity but they didn’t know either.” “I see,” Rainbow said rubbing a hoof to her chin. “Well, Pinkie where did you find it in the first place?” “Oh! Twilight gave it to me.” “Really?” “Yeah I was in her closet looking for the stash of cupcakes for the picnic. And then Twilight open the door and gave me the bowl. Which I thought was silly of her. I mean who gives a pony cereal in the closet to eat, while they are looking for cupcakes?” “I don’t even know where to begin with what you just said Pinkie. But I did hear something about Twilight, so let go see her.” Rainbow than took off towards the castle. “Right behind you Rainbow.” Pinkie than pulled out a needle form her mane and pop some balloons send her back on the ground. “…-and farther more I am getting sick and tired of Spike always- wait where is Pinkie?” “Huh?” Twilight looked around the room to confirmed what Starlight just said. “She was here a minute ago.” Then Twilight notice that she wasn’t the only thing missing. “Wait she had the cereal with her!” “WHAT! That’s my cereal.” Starlight then charge out of the room looking for Pinkie. ‘If Pinkie gets addicted to it, there is no way I am going to be able to hid it form her.’ She thought to herself. Twilight was right behind her. ‘technically it was my bowl of cereal Starlight.’ Around the castle, they search in every known place Pinkie was known to hid in, but found nothing. Then as Twilight was running past the kitchen and heard some familiar crunching sounds stopping her in her tracks. Slowly she walks back towards the doorway to see Pinkie, Rainbow, and Applejack eating the cereal. “What are you doing!?” she asked her friends as she entered the room. “Oh, hi Twilight.” Applejack said before she shallowed “This is some good cereal you got here. How come you never told us about it before?” “Well for one thing, I just found out about it myself today. But that is not what is important right now.” She then levitated the bowls and the box of cereal in the air, while Pinkie refuse to give up her bowl. “Right now, I need to clean up this mess befor-” “Before what Twilight?” Everypony in the room look towards the doorway to see Starlight standing there, eye twitching and a vein on her head. She is very mad right now. However as much as Starlight is mad Twilight is surprise on how she sneak behind her so quietly. “You know you are getting very good at that.” “Really? Wait don’t get me of topic Twilight.” Starlight then entered the room looking at everypony and the objects in the air. “OK, I am going to say this once. Get me back my cereal.” “Your cereal?” Rainbow said as she grabs her bowl. “Starlight I am pretty sure that these bowls are ours.” Then Rainbow gets a small grin on her face. “That is unless you still want them.” she said showing her what is left of the cereal in her bowl, which cause Starlight to jump back in disgust. “NO! Not the used eaten cereal you all have eaten. I want the cereal still left in the box.” “Sorry to disappoint you Starlight, but Pinkie here is eating the last of it.” Applejack said bringing attain to the pink mare eating her bowl. “WHAT!” A cloud of red magic soon appeared over Starlight’s head, before she took a deep breath and exhaled popping the cloud. “You know what that is fine.” “It is?” every other pony said aside from Pinkie pie who was drinking the milk. “Yes, I will just have to use some form my secret stash.” Starlight then moved towards the exit. However, as she said this, Pinkie eyes got wide as she also remembered something. “Oh, do you mine the box of them that were in the hall closet?” this stop Starlight in her tracks as she looks back at her. “How do you know about that? And what do you mean were?” Pinkie then reaches behind her to place a big open box with smaller boxes inside of it on the table which were also open. Everypony just starred at Pinkie in shock. “Sorry I couldn’t help myself they were so delicious. When I took one bite then I had to have another, then another, then another, then another, and before I knew it, I was down to just this one last box.” She said as she pulled out form the pile one unopen box. “Give it back!” Starlight said as she charges towards her last box causing a cloud of smoke to appear around her and Pinkie. When the dust settle around them Starlight could see that she is not the only pony holding the box. For it seems everypony in the room has her hoof holding on to it in one way or another. Looking around Starlight is trying to restrain herself as much as possible while looking at everypony. “And just what you all doing may I ask?” “I would like some more,” Rainbow said while Twilight looks at lost for words. “I just trying to return it to you.” Applejack said while something tried to move form beneath them. “And I am getting squished with all of you on top of me.” “LET GO!” Starlight shouted causing Applejack and Twilight to finch just enough for her to start pulling away from the remaining ponies. This tug of war forced Rainbow to take to the air pulling back, while Starlight uses her magic in response, all the while Pinkie is holding on to the box swaging with the tugs between the two. “Come on Starlight you can share it. I mean it is just cereal.” “NO! I won’t this is the last box I have. Not to mention I have no idea where to get more of this.” “What do you mean by that?” “Exactly what I just said! Not to mention you all were eating it without my permission in the first place!” “But you would have said no anyways.” “You didn’t know that! Anypony who has ever tried to eat this cereal has never bothered to ask for my permission first before they started eating it!” “Ok on my part Starlight I didn’t know it was your cereal when I eat it.” “Then why were you trying to hide it from me?” Twilight was speechless. “This is exactly the reason why I was hiding it in the first place!” she then turns back to Rainbow and Pinkie as her horn glow brighter. “Now let go!” The sudden increase in force, cause Rainbow to lose her grip sending Pinkie tumbling into Starlight. Before they could get her baring’s, Twilight lifted the box next to her. “Ok, this is getting out of hoof here. So now why don-” Twilight started but was interrupted when Rainbow swoop down and took the box. “Hay!” Rainbow was flying towards an open window and before she was home free, she was halted in midair, by a rope around her midsection. She looked behind her to see Applejack holding a rope in her mouth glaring at her. “Now hold on there, Rainbow! Those aren’t yours.” Applejack said while pulling Rainbow back inside. Panicking, Rainbow tried to fly harder away from AJ, but was losing the fight when Pinkie joined in. That was when she got a great idea. “Hay Pinkie, I will spilt them with you if you help me out here.” “Pinkie don’t listen to her, she is trying to turn you against us!” Twilight said noticing that Pinkie was actually thinking about Rainbow offer over in her head. Pinkie looked back Rainbow and then Twilight and then to Starlight who is slowly getting back on her hooves. “Can I have the first and last bowls?” “Yes.” “Okkie dokie.” Pinkie then let go of the rope, and then pulled out her party canon and pointed it at the other mares in the room. “Now Pinkie let’s talk about this,” Twilight said backing away from the canon. “Are you going to share the cereal?” “NO!” Starlight shouted still enraged that she now has to fight over her own cereal. “Then this is WAR!” Pinkie cried out as she pulled the trigger. BOOM! One hour later Two pony are walking down the street with saddlebags filled with food, and miscellanea’s. “You know Fluttershy I believe in fashionable late, but for a whole hour is completely unacceptable.” Rarity said to her companion while they continue to head towards Twilights castle. “Oh, I hope nothing serous happen to them.” “I don’t believe that to be the case dear, but then again Pony Ville is known for its unusual mishaps every other day. But we must remain positive that they just got side tracked and forgot about our plans this evening. Not to mention Fluttershy if something did happen, the girls would have called for our aid, or at least we would see somepony screaming down the road by now.” “I guess you are right. It is rather quiet and peaceful today. I wonder what happen?” Before Rarity could answer her friend, they heard a crash coming from the very castle they were headed to. Looking forward the two ponies could see that one of the windows was broken and a cyan mare getting up from the ground before heading back inside the castle. Seconds later they saw a pink mare chasing an orange mare around the castle twice before entering through the broken window followed by another crash. “Goodness! What is going on there?” Rarity exclaimed as they drop their bags and gallop towards their friends. Once through the door, it took all of Rarity will power to not faint by the sheer sight in front of her. Chairs are randomly scatter across the main hall way along with books, bowls, kitchen utensils, and pieces of dress. And in the mist of this chaos: Twilight is running away from a book monster, Rainbow dash is hanging from the ceiling by some comfrey strings, and Applejack has Pinkie in a head lock. “Goodness! Ah, Fluttershy you get Rainbow down from there, while I help Twilight.” Fluttershy only nodded as they split up. Following Twilight to the map room, she can see her playing ring around the rosy with the monster and the map table. Rarity hoops onto the table as she tried to get Twilight attention, however Twilight seem to have not notice her and is still running around in circles. Frustrated, Rarity lifts Twilight onto the table with her magic, and surprisingly the monster is still going in circles. “Twilight Dear, what in Equestria is that thing?!” “It’s a golem. Starlight send it after me once I couldn’t use my magic.” “And how did she do that? The magic part I mean.” “Oh, she made some changes to her cutie mark remover spell to affect only the magic a pony has instead of their special talent.” “Well that is impressive, but could you have just flown away from the creature instead?” “No, I couldn’t, Pinkie hit me with her smiley gum ball earlier,” Twilight said lifting her wings to show their sticky state to Rarity. Rarity put a hoof to her face turning green a little before scooting away from Twilight in fear for her own coat. “Repulsive, but effective. *ahem* so what are we going to do about this thing than?” she gestor towards the creature running around them. “A simple sleep spell should do the trick. Or at least stun it long enough for me to get my magic back.” Rarity nodded as she cast the spell on the creature, only to have it fall apart into a pile of books once the spell connected to it. “Or you can do that,” Twilight said jumping back onto the floor with Rarity following suit. “Anyways, Twilight what is going on here?” “To be honest Rarity, I don’t even know anymore.” Twilight said as she and Rarity walked back to main hall way. They can see Rainbow and Fluttershy holding back Pinkie and Applejack from each other as that continue to shout at one another. Shaking her head Rarity use her magic to lift some apples on the floor and shoved them into her friend’s mouth stopping their argument. “If you ponies are done acting like fouls, could somepony tell me what is going on here?” After they finished their apples they all talked at once, while Fluttershy moved slowly to get out of the way between her friends. Getting nowhere Rarity lifted some more apples in the air waving them threating in front of her friends silencing them. “Let’s try this again. Applejack why are you all fighting each other.” Rubbing her neck Applejack laughs nervously “Well now that I think of it. It’s rather silly how this whole thing started out.” Ten minute later “Cereal?” Rarity said staring at her friends in disbelief of what she just heard. “You mean you all fighting each other, for a box of cereal?” they nodded. “And this the same cereal Pinkie showed me earlier?” more nods “And where is this box of cereal now?” they point to middle of the hall where a lonely box sits untouched by the chaos around it. Rarity goes next to it and then looks back her friends for one last question. “And might I asked who does this box belong to?” They then heard a small squeaky voice coming closer to the box as everypony looked towards the source. “It is mine. Do you understand me? Mine. All mine.” Than a small Starlight jump onto the box hugging it while glaring at the other ponies in the room. “Go away all of you this is mine all mine. Go go go go mine mine mine.” Though completely bewilder by the sight of Starlight, Rarity is started to come to a conclusion of what happen here. “Starlight calm down, nopony is going to it away from you.” She then looks back at the others with her own glare “RIGHT?” Each one agrees with her in their own way; not wanting to bring the wrath of Rarity a pond themselves. “Now then. I can understand why you all started fighting over cereal, but couldn’t you just get a hoof-full of the cereal and go to the market to find some more?” “I already tried that Rarity but no pony knows what brand it is.” “That does put a damper on things. Starlight where did you get that cereal in the first place?” “I am not entirely sure myself. One day it just showed up on in my room.” “That’s it, it just appeared out of nowhere.” “Sorry but that’s all I got everypony.” Feel a bit better Twilight decided speaks up “Well nothing can just show up for no reason, somepony must have put it there.” After a few seconds a light bulb appeared over Twilight head, but then Pinkie takes it and puts it over her head. “Hay!” “I got it.” Pinkie said grinning “Starlight where is the original package where you found the cereal box and show us where did you find the box.” “I can show you if somepony makes me big again.” “Sorry Starlight. Still can’t use magic, and I don’t think Rarity can cast the spell needed.” “Fine then, can somepony give me a lift.” Applejack volunteered and they made their way towards Starlight room. “It is that box right there, but what good is that going to do us Pinkie?” “Hay this is my idea not Pinkies. And to answer your question Starlight, I have a hunch.” Twilight said looking into the box and finding a small piece of paper. This got everypony attention as they tried to look at it while Twilight was reading silently to herself. “Some space please everypony.” “Sorry.” They all said together before backing up. “Well, what does it say Twilight?” Rainbow said impatiently. “It’s a delivery receipt for one Lulamoon.” “Wait! You mean this cereal belongs to Trixie?!” Starlight said surprised by what she had just heard. “But if it Trixie’s than what is it doing here?” “I guess you didn’t look on the other side of the box than Starlight.” “No why, what is there?” “It’s a picture of a smiling Trixie next to a bowl of cereal, with the logo saying the Great & Tasty Trixie, and there is a note tape to it.” Pulling the note free Twilight began to read it out load. “Hay Starlight I just got this side job as a model for this new brand of cereal and I thought it would be a great idea if you could try it and spread the word about. This cereal is not on the market yet, but I thought it would be nice if you got some before anypony else, because you are my best friend. However, if you somehow run out before this gets on the shelf just give me a called and I will hook you up. Sincerely your best friend Trixie.” “Well, that explains everything.” Applejack said while everypony nodded in agreement. “So now what?” “Why don’t we pick up the castle first.” “That’s a good idea.” In no time at all castle friendship was looked as good as new. Twilight got her magic back shortly afterwards and returned Starlight back to her original size. Once everypony was ready they headed out to have that picnic they planned earlier. However while everypony was heading toward the picnic grounds one pink pony was still in the castle enjoying a nice bowl of Trixie’s.