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// Quilt Gown 
// Story: Filly Tales 
// by count of hollow shades 
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Once upon a time, in a land a long way away. There was a grand duke. His wife was of a beauty unsurpassed. Their love and bond was envied the world over. Then their happiness soared to new highs with the birth of their first foal, The Duchess cookie. For many years they had no pain, then those days came to an end. The Grand Duchess was dying, and no spell that the duke could find could help her. No zebra shaman could create a potion to save her. No pony could help him. The Duchy mourned with him, the toymakers, blacksmiths, and merchants all wept turning the plains outside the city walls into a lake, and the castle into an island. The Grand Duke swore to the stars that he would only love again if the lady could cook a dish as delicious as his wife's last meal. Year after year, hopeful gentle-fillies brought grand pastries and exotic puddings. All the while Cookie grew more and more beautiful, baking all the way.

Then one day the scent of chocolate chip wafted up to the duke’s room, the smell alone was better than anything he could remember, as soon as he tasted the biscuits, his heart was entrapped. He summoned his court "I have made my decisions, my new bride shall be...my daughter, duchess Cookie Pan" the room filled with horrified gasps. This is unnatural, unholy. The mad pony snarled out in anger "I am The Grand Duke, here in my castle, in my city, in my lands, I am absolute master. Anyone who dares stand between me and my nuptials will be executed." silence quickly filled the room, "so now that is settled, well Cookie, ready yourself for the ceremony"

Cookie was distraught, her father would not be denied. Then entered her wise mule governess "child, why do you cry?"

"Oh Nanny, father has gone insane and wants to marry me. How can I possible avoid this terrible fate" Nanny Mule bent her considerable mind to the issue.

"Ask of him an impossible task, an impossible gift. A gown as black as Luna’s midnight."



And so, it came to pass, but they underestimated her father’s obsession. So, he gathered all the dressmakers, tailors, and seamstresses and gave them an ultimatum "create me such a gown, or lose your heads.'' and so they did.

"Nanny, it didn't work. What do we do" and again Nanny Mule bent her considerable mind to the issue?

"Ask of him an impossible task, an impossible gift. A gown brighter than Celestia's morning."



 And so, it came to pass, but again they underestimated her father’s obsession. So, he gathered all the wizards, mages. And wise-ponies so he made another choice for them "make me such a dress or die" and so they did.

"Oh Nanny, will nothing stop him. What will we do." so again Nanny thought and planned.

"I shall prepare, ask of him one more gift. A gown made of a thousand rags."



And so, it came to pass, she donned the quilt gown and ran. No one saw the unicorn duchess, only a unicorn beggar. She made her way to the forest and the cabin that nanny procured for her. There she would dance in the gowns and bake her biscuits.

One day, young Lord Cumulus went on a bird-watching trot, then he smelled the biscuits. They were cooling on the windowsill, so he thought that it would not hurt if he tried just one. As he leaned in to take a bite he saw her. A bright beautiful lady. So, he grew heart sick. He went home and his parents asked him what was wrong "I am heartsick, the only cure is a cake baked by the lady in the woods" this confused the people, the only lady in the woods is that maid in the rags. So, the cake was baked, with a ring falling into the batter. The Lord got better for a while, he put the ring under his pillow certain that it belonged the filly that he yearned for. But it didn't last and he was bedridden again, then his mother had an idea.

"We shall hold a ball, perhaps the object of his affection will appear." so it was arranged, all the young girls of the village were invited. After all the lord was a strapping young Pegasus, they all adored him. Cookie also wished to go to the ball, having grown lonely in her cabin. So, she donned her dark dress and danced, enthralling all who saw her. The Lord was certain, it was that beautiful creature that made the biscuits.

He was uncertain, what would he say. "My lady. My name is Lord Cumulus, welcome to my palace. May I inquire your name?"

She was intrigued by the lord, what does he want, "good to meet you, you may call me Cookie" they hit it off immediately. Talking and laughing, dancing and walking. Then the party ended, The Lord started to visit the forest looking for her. They created a routine, she would put out biscuits on the windowsill in her good gown, and he would come over to eat them and see her. This went on for a while, cumulus started to plan a proposal. He was going to use the ring that he got in the cake, the duke was not idle though, sending troops into the countryside looking for his lost bride. They came to the forest forcing cookie to flee. Lord cumulus was heartbroken, his love was gone.

Bedridden again his father then had an idea, "let’s go to the townhouse, the lake of tears may give him some perspective," so they traveled to the city.

There he moped, until one day he smelled a familiar scent coming from one of the bakeries. Then his heart started to soar, he bought a dozen cakes that week, seeing behind the counter the filly he thought lost. He came to a decision "father. Could we have a gala? Like the one we had a few weeks back." the father was elated, his son is returning to social life. Cookie was excited too, to see her love again. So, she went to the gala in the golden gown. Lord Cumulus was about to approach her when the doors opened to reveal a guest no one expected. The Grand Duke.



He grew bitter, cruel, and angry in his daughter absence. The court was filled with gaps where he executed advisers. He burned towns searching. He recognized her immediately, and so his rant filled the great hall "your ungrateful foal. You know how much time and treasure I spent searching for you. It is time for you to get to the alter, whether you want to or not". Cumulus didn't understand all of what was going on, all he knew was that his love was getting taken. So, the rage within him boiled out and he attacked. After a confusing melee of guests, guards, and solders, The Duke was found. Crushed underfoot, the once peaceful monarch turned tyrant dead. Lord Cumulus and Grand Duchess Cookie were married by the sisters Luna and Celestia shortly after. And they lived happily ever after.