The sky was a disgustingly normal blue, with no clouds in the sky. I was walking through Ponyville, when I saw a gray filly writing in a journal, and looking so very nervous. Her hair was had a beautiful design: Chaos. I really wanted to know what her silly little journey was about, since I had some freetime. I saw her slip the book into her saddlebag, and with a single snap, it was resting in my paw. I wanted someone to share it with so, obviously, I teleported to Fluttershy! She would probably love to know what the fillies were writing about now. Our house was the same as always, a small cottage with animals inside and out. When me moved out of the castle and into the cottage again, I spiced the place up a little.
Fluttershy was in the kitchen, and she gave me a small wave as I walked in, “Hello, Honey”.
“Guess whaaat IIIIII found!” I sang, “also where’s Screwy and Zany?”.
“Screwball went to the park with Dinky, and Zany is in his room with his friends,” she responded as a loud noise sounded from upstairs. Fluttershy winced, and I wondered if I should go see what chaos Zany caused.
“Anyways, what did you find?” Fluttershy asked. I smiled and teleported us to the couch, which was currently floating.
“It’s this journal that some random filly wrote! She seemed very protective of it, so I wondered if it was like Screwy’s diary,” I informed her.
“You read Screwy’s diary!” Fluttershy challenged, but I just opened the journal and started reading. I only got through the first page or so before she grabbed the journal and slammed it shut.
“Give this back to that filly right now Discord, or you’re sleeping on the couch tonight,” Fluttershy threatened.
I held my hands up in defeat and snapped the journal out of sight.
“Problem solved. Now… I’m going to see what chaos Zany caused!” I concluded before quickly teleporting away.
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I rushed around my house, searching for the journal.
“Did you check your room?” Mother asked, and I ran upstairs to check again. After checking all of my hiding spots, I ran back downstairs.
“I have 20 minutes to get to the competition, and I can’t find my entry! It was just in my saddlebag! If I don’t find it… it will be so embarrassing!” I fretted. I tore pillows and cushions off the couch, and blankets got scattered around the room.
“Just check your bag once again, and if it’s not there, we’ll tell the judges you can’t find it,” Mother said, ending the frantic search. I glumly walked over to the bag, and opened it, even though I knew it wasn’t…
“How did it get here? I checked here like… twenty million times!” I spluttered as I pulled the journal out of the bag.
“It doesn’t matter, we have 15 minutes to get to the contest!” Mother stated as she opened the door.
We ran as fast as we could, making it to the contest with only three minutes before it started. I handed my journal to the judges, then ran to go practice my speech that I wrote. The first foal went on, then the next. Soon it was my turn, and I walked out to see Platinum in the front row next to our parents.
“My book entry is the story of a young colt trying to accomplish what everyone thought was impossible. He is a normal earth pony working to find a way to fly. His journey to flight is full of failures and problems that he must solve. This book has a mystery ending, for not even I know if his invention works. Platinum’s Test Flight, is based off a real event, which has not ended at this time,”
I concluded my speech, and Platinum’s mouth hung wide open with surprise. The crowd clapped as I walked off stage, and the final foal walked on. My heart was going to beat out of my chest. What if he didn’t like it, or thought I should have asked him… hopefully he liked it. The last speech lasted about five minutes, and sounded amazing. My story was decent, but I definitely got points off for it not being a finished story. One by one, the judges called each contestant back on stage.
“Shining Feather with her book, Platinum’s Test Flight!” she called.
I walked out and the crowd cheered and clapped. The only voice I could hear though, was Platinum. Even my parents clapping and cheers couldn’t match Platinum’s pure excitement for me. My heart felt warm and fuzzy, like never before.
Even as they called the last person and began the speech, I only looked at Platinum. His pink spot around his eye was almost blindingly bright, and his mane was still rough and tangled, yet… he never looked so handsome as he did on that night. I began to see another side of me, one that I never thought I had.
I snapped out of my trance as the judge said, “I would like to congratulate all of these talented foals while we count the votes!” and everyone began to cheer.
I could see Copper Shell in the crowd, looking straight at me. As we made eye contact, she gave me a fake smile, and mouthed a few words.
“Worst. Book. Ever.” she mouthed before looking away.
My smile sunk, and I glanced to see Platinum looking concerned, but I ignored it. Copper’s words shouldn’t bother me, but I felt they always would; she would be the little Devil in my brain, bringing me down into the void of despair.
“The votes have been counted, and in third place we have, Glow Berry!” the crowd cheered as she stepped forward and got a medal.
“In second we have Thunder Strike!” More cheering, and my hopes were rising.
“In first place by only one vote, Shining Feather!” I stood in shock as the crowd cheered and shouted. One of the foals, nudged me, and I walked forward and received my small trophy. It was a shiny gold color with a book on top.
“Her book will be published and put in the public library as well as possible copies sold at the local bookstore,” the judge said, and we shook hooves.
As I stepped back, A bright light swirled around me, and the crowd gasped as I turned to see a small tattoo-like image on my flank. My face lit up with excitement as I looked closer. It was a writing quill, with a light shining brightly behind it! I was so excited that my special talent was writing, and I could tell that Mother was too.
Maybe if my special talent was writing, I would get into my dream school: Gifted Foals Writing Academy. Only the best got in, about Seventy-Five foals a year. I never thought I even had a chance to make it in… but if my special thing is writing then I must be good enough to get in. The other issue was the cost, there was no way Mother and Papa had the bits to pay for the academy.
Platinum looked happy for me, yet I could see the sadness under his joy for me. Platinum was the only one of us without his Cutie Mark, but I was confident he would get it when The Super Flyer 5.0 finally flew at his contest. The contest had ended, and my family and friends were making their way towards me.
“That story sounds better than fresh Cider from the farm!” Jazzy exclaimed, and Hurricane and Controller Note nodded in agreement.
“I’m going to read it from the library as soon as it comes out!” Hurricane said.
“You included us right?” Controller asked.
“Of course I did! Otherwise it wouldn’t be accurate would it?” I asked in reply.
“I’m more excited that Rainbow Dash durin’ cider season!” Jazzy chirped.
“Congrats on the Cutie Mark, Shining,” Platinum said as he walked over and gave me a hug. He lingered for a second, before pecking me on the cheek. I felt a light blush burn my cheeks, and the CMC giggled. I saw the sadness in his eyes, and changed the subject.
“Are you ok? You’ll get your cutie mark soon, I know it,” I reassured him, and his eyes were a bit brighter.
“It just that I’m the only one in the class without a cutie mark, and Copper Shell bet that I would never get one,” he informed.
I pulled him into a hug, and the CMC joined in. As we all stepped away, I saw a silent tear mark his face.
“Congratulations Shining Feather” Diamond Tiara praised.
“I’m very proud of you Honey,” Papa said, giving me a giant hug. He was crying slightly, and I gave him another hug. Mother also came up and gave me a hug that lasted longer than most.
“We need to head home, a party will be in order tomorrow!” Mother said with a smile. The CMC waved goodbye as the ran off to find their parents, and we walked to the exit together.
Platinum gave me one last hug, and whispered, “Thanks for believing in me, and writing a book after me,” before we split ways.
The day had been really long, and I still never figured out how my journal got back into my saddlebag. I would have to figure it out another day. By the time I got back to the house I was drained, so I crawled into bed, and looked over at my trophy. It sat next to my Junior Helper trophy I got for helping my teachers at the academy in Canterlot. I prefered helping my teachers over joining Mother at dinner parties or trying to join the other foals.
Most foals didn’t like me because we weren’t as rich as them. I thought to my year here, and compared it with my time in Canterlot. While Canterlot had my favorite ice cream shop, Pony Joe’s, Ponyville had friendly ponies and a nice quaint feel. Happiness bubbled in my chest as I thought about my adventures with my friends, and slipped into sleep.