Brony Recon: To Live and Love in Equestria

by Freescript the Bard


Mail Mare Mishap

Have a longer chapter! This episode of Brony Recon, Aegis gets trolled and trolls back, and Ben has a shipment drop out of the sky. Stay tuned!

Feeling like a trailer narrator,
-MarkusBrony (Skyblaze)

>>><<<

THE NEXT DAY

Aegis' POV

I came into the house to see the Apple family just sitting down to a waffle breakfast. Applejack looked over at me. "Um, Aegis, why are ya dotted in white paint?" she asked.

I looked down at my coat, now peppered with white dots of paint. I smiled half-heartedly at them. "I overheard you needed the fence painted, so I took the liberty," I replied, "although a shower would be nice right about now." Nopony tried to stop me as I made my way to the bathroom.

However, when I tried to leave the home again, I was stopped by an orange mare. "Sugarcube, ya need to stop this," she ordered.

"Stop what?"

"Don't ya gimme that hay," she said threateningly, "yer doin' work to justify yer depression, and that AIN'T right."

"I don't know what you're talking abou--"

"Hush up! Now you are gonna go find Storm or Shift and have some fun, or Ah'm gonna buck yer flank halfway to Appleoosa."

I took the threat seriously and nodded rapidly. She seemed contented and made room for me to pass. But I was not stirred by Applejack's suggestion. Instead, I dragged my hooves. I couldn't help but think about the two mares on the barn roof. Having found out about their 'royal duty' from Skyblaze, all I can do is worry, and hope they make it home safely.

Sky had told told get to stay! Why didn't she listen? Dash could have done it alone. Don't get me wrong, I was just as worried about her too. But I don't want to lose them both! I couldn't take it. It would be as traumatic as losing both my parents. I missed them, so much I can almost hear Rain's voice yelling through the air…

"INCOMING!" Suddenly, I was on my back, wondering how an insubstantial voice could blast me flat. That is, until I opened my eyes to see a pair of magenta eyes.

"Chloe!," I sprang up, hugging the mare tightly, "Oh, thank Celestia you're safe! So told me about the mission and how he told you not to go but here you are and you're safe and you're--!"

"--over here."

My eyes popped open to meet the eyes of the mare I hugged. Dash's face was a deeper blue than usual, my constricting hug cutting off her circulation. "…Choking… not… breathing…!"

Rain huffed. "After that rant, Rainbow is the one getting the hug?" she said in an exaggerated sadness.

I grinned ear to ear. "I suppose it doesn't matter," I said slyly, "since she was about to get the same rant." Her brows shot up and her jaw became slightly ajar. "Oh, come here!" I released the gasping Rainbow Dash and tackled Rain, pulling her into a tight hug.

We hugged for a while, then Rain surprised me with a kiss on the cheek. "I can't believe I had to go to Equestria to realize that you were into me," she whispered.

Dash, regaining her breath, looked at the two of us. "I think somepony feels left out, Rain," I said.

She gave me a look. "How can you be into two mares at once?"

I grinned. "Easy, like this," and out of elation, I dragged Rain over to Rainbow and encircled the rainbow pegasus with a foreleg. The embrace that resulted was able to be passed as loving and then some.

"D'aww, how cute," I looked up to see Skyblaze hanging from the branch of a nearby apple tree, "um, I don't want to be a downer, but is what you're doing okay here?" I nodded and he gave me an eyebrow. "Hmm, you're still a player." I glared at him. "Well, I best be off, I slacked enough today, and Luna probably wants me back before I get polygamist with AJ." With that, he flew off, leaving the three of us looking on with blank stares.

Storm's POV

I woke like I did the last six days. Caramel and I must have this synchronized sleep schedule, 'cause everyday, we opened our eyes within seconds of each other. "Morning, Storm…"

"Hey, it was my turn to say it first," I playfully pouted, "but yeah, good morning, Caramel."

"I've gotta work today, so why don't you take the day for yourself," he said, getting out of bed, "Go find Shift or Aegis, hang out with them… if you want to that is."

I nodded. "Yeah, I haven't talked to Shift lately," I agreed, "he and Twilight are always cooped up in that library."

After a shower and a muffin, I stepped out into the morning light. The air was still crips and the dew hung on the grass. It was getting colder, Autumn still beginning its creep into the world. As much as I love poetry, I was tired of it from every day I sat on that balcony with Caramel. Not that it wasn't enjoyable. While I was smiling at my own thoughts, I all but ran into Shift and Twilight.

"Oh, hey Storm," Shift greeted, "how are you and Caramel?"

"Great!" I said cheerily, "but he has to work today, and he said I should take some time to hang with my friends."

Shift smiled at me and turned to Twilight. "Hey Twi, can Storm come with us to Sugarcube corner?"

The unicorn shrugged. "Sure, I don't see why not."

So we headed down to the gingerbread-house style bakery. As soon as I opened the door, I was plowed over by three excited fillies. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and I looked at each other, then proceeded to burst into laughter. "Hiya, Miss Storm," Applebloom said, "sorry 'bout that, but Scootaloo had a great idea fer gettin' our cutie marks, an' we was too jumpy to notice ya."

"Yeah, but now that I think about it, Cutie Mark Crusader Whitewater Rafters would need actual whitewater," pondered the orange filly.

Sweetie Bell stood up, shaking her head clear before looking at Shift and I in turn. "Miss Storm, why don't you or Shift have cutie marks yet?"

I looked back at my own blank flank, and realized that Sweetie Bell was right. "I guess Shift and I haven't found our special talents yet," I said dejectedly, seeing Shift sag noticeably, "I always thought my talent was using my magic to cheer other ponies up, and Shift's was sensing emotion, but I guess we'll have to keep looking."

Applebloom looked confused. "But I thought gettin' a cutie mark was a sign of a pony gettin' to be older," she said, "Y'all look too old to not have one."

Shift stepped in for the save, as I had no idea how to answer that. "Theoretically, a pony will get their cutie mark when they discover that thing that makes them special," he said, looking down at his own flank, "so if a filly or colt that doesn't find that something, they could be a blank flank until they do, hypothetically."

"So it's possible to be a blank flank… FOREVER?!" fretted Scootaloo.

"Well, Storm and I weren't really worried about it at your age," Shift said, trying to calm the near-panicky fillies, "to be honest, you three have an infinitely better chance at finding your special talent than us."

"Ya mean it?" Applebloom smiled.

"Yeah, I mean, if we haven't found our talents yet," I added, "what are the odds that we will?"

"Alright! C'mon, Crusaders," yelled Scootaloo, "let's go find our special talent!" The three fillies galloped off to whatever trouble they were inevitably going to get in.

"Hey Storm? You gonna get up?" asked Shift. I giggled and turned over, then the three of us entered Sugarcube Corner.

Suddenly, "Twitcha-twitch, twitcha-twitch!" and then the tiny pony in my head threw the big switch that says, 'only pull in dire situations', but everypony pulls it anyway. In any case, something hit my head, and I blacked out.

Kind Greetings' POV

It was a nice mid-morning. I wasn't expecting anything to happen. Dear Luna, I was wrong. I began the day with the usual breakfast of flapjacks with Sky and Luna chatting it up over their dinner. I don't know why, but Celestia looked particularly cross with her sister.

After I finished the last bit of breakfast, I went for a walk through the garden. I could see why Luna liked to do so; it was rather peaceful. A few nobles passed through, their posh noses in the air. Ha! As if I was a commoner. It's not like I live in the castle or anything… oh, wait, I believe I do. Plus, my friend is a very likely suitor for the Lunar Princess. That has to count for something.

Anyhow, I let the nobility about their business. Nothing and nopony could possibly--

CRACK! "Aaauuuggh!"

Let's face it; the pegasus weather team sometimes slacks a bit, leaving behind puffs of storm clouds. A grey pegasus mare had gotten too close to such a cloud, lightning jumping from it and striking her. She fell, her saddlebags dumping a load of letters into the air. I ran toward her supposed point of impact, which was just outside the hedge maze that Skyblaze landed in on the first day in Equestria.

When I reached her, the mare was in bad shape. The lack of burns told me that she hadn't been injured by the initial strike, but the lightning put her into shock, causing her to plummet. Upon impact with several tree branches and the ground, however, put a lot of trauma on her body. A grey wing was bent at an odd angle, there was a trickle of blood running down the side of her head, and she was altogether unconscious.

I stooped and, careful not to move the broken wing, slid under her, lifting the pegasus. Slowly, but at a rushed pace, I moved the mare to the medical ward that Luna had brought Skyblaze to on the first night. She was immediately taken from my back by a unicorn nurse, levitating the body to a cot without a word. I watched as the attendants moved around her, wrapping her wing in a cast, cleaning and bandaging her blonde head. The whole spectacle lasted five minutes before a single nurse was left to do the paperwork.

"Excuse me," asked the nurse, "are you acquainted with this mare? I need her name." She frowned when I shook my head. Suddenly, the pegasus stirred.

"Ooo… everything hurts," she groaned, "where am I?"

The nurse looked at her. "You're in the Canterlot Castle medical ward," she said with a smile, "can I get your name?"

But the grey mare was still in shock, her eyes screwed tight. "Gotta get to Ponyville…" she mumbled, "Dinky is home alone."

I trotted up to her bedside, looking her over. "I can bring Dinky here," I offered, "if that's okay with you."

The mare smiled lightly. "Yes, please… I want to see my little filly…" she said, drifting off to sleep.

I trotted out of the castle at a hurried pace, heading for the train depot. Driven by a sense of duty, I bought an express ticket with grant money Celestia was giving Skyblaze and I. The train ride was an hour and fifteen minutes long, but I couldn't put myself to rest. There was something familiar about that mare, but I couldn't put my hoof on it.

I arrived at Ponyville station, but realized that I had no idea where I was going. I looked around, and spotted Sweetie Bell trotting toward Carousel Boutique. I cantered after her and stopped her with a hoof. "Excuse me… Sweetie Bell, right?" I greeted, "do you know where I can find a filly named Dinky?"

The white filly put a hoof to her chin. "I think Dinky Hooves and her mom live in a duplex, just down that street," she pointed, "and take a right, and it's the third duplex on the left."

"Thanks," I said before making haste along the directions she gave me. The duplex wasn't hard to find. I trotted up to the door and knocked, whereas a dandelion mate with an orange mane answered the door. "Hi, I'm looking for Dinky."

"My name's Golden Harvest, her caretaker, but most ponies call me Carrot Top," she said, "why do you want Dinky?"

"There's been an accident," I explained, "her mother is in Canterlot Castle's medical ward, and she asked if I could bring her daughter."

"Mommy's in a hospital?" asked a small voice behind Carrot Top. The orange mare turned to reveal a small grey unicorn filly. Had I not been in a serious mood, I would have given a 'd'aww'.

"Yes, she asked to see you," I said, "I live in Canterlot, so I came down here to bring you to see your mom."

She looked up at Carrot Top. "Can I go, Carrot Top?" she asked giving the foalsitter her innocent filly face. I actually had to resist the 'd'aww'.

The carrot-maned caretaker nodded. "You don't have to make that face, Dinky. I would let you go either way."

I smiled as the filly gave a jump of excitement. "C'mon, Dinky," I said, lowering myself, "hop on, I can run faster and the train's about to leave." Dinky jumped up in my back and held fast to my neck. I took off galloping, hearing the train give a last-call whistle. For the millionth time, I was thankful I took track in high school. While my pony body was not as conditioned as my human one, I still applied my knowledge of balancing speed and endurance to match the distance. I figured I had about one hundred fifty meters between me and the depot.

I galloped through the streets, leaping crates and dodging pedestrians. At one point, I had to use my high-jump experience to clear an entire produce cart. All the while, Dinky was laughing excitedly. I soon joined her as we jumped the caboose just as the train was leaving the station. So we sat on the flat, laughing from exhilaration until the conductor appeared, demanding tickets. I had not bought any, so I hoofed over the allotted amount for two express tickets, plus a tip. The uniformed pony seemed satisfied.

We took our seats in the next car. "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you my name," I apologized, "I'm Kind Greetings, but everypony calls me Ben."

"I'm Dinky," the grey filly said, "but everypony calls me Dinky." We shared another laugh. This filly was clever, and very cute.

We talked the whole way to Canterlot, passing the time with jokes and road games. She was an adorable little thing, and she admired her mother greatly. The pegasus was apparently a mail mare, which explained the saddlebags full of envelopes. I made a mental note to go back and collect them.

When we arrived at the depot in Canterlot, Dinky was on my back and I was dashing through the streets, knocking into the occasional poshness. I made with all haste to the medical ward, almost knocking down the door. Managing to enter at an acceptable speed, we made our way to the mare's room.

"Mommy!" exclaimed Dinky, jumping from my back onto the cot. She landed in such a way as not to bounce the mattress too much. The filly curled up next to her mother and looked at her as the pegasus stirred.

The injured mare opened her eyes. They were a beautiful gold color, staring at the filly lovingly. Suddenly, one eye went off to stare at something else, and I realized why she was so familiar. I had rescued Derpy. Derpy Hooves. A symbol for all bronies of acceptance and tolerance. "Hi, muffin," she said, stroking her daughter's mane, "how did you get here?"

"Ben helped me," Dinky said, pointing to me, "I got to ride on the train!"

Derpy focused her wall-eyed gaze on me. "Thank you, Mister Ben," she said.

Suddenly, Dinky's and my own stomach growled simultaneously. I chuckled. "C'mon, Dinky," I said, "let's get some lunch and let your mother rest."

"Okay," she said, hopping down from the bed, "bye, mommy."

"Bye, muffin," replied Derpy as the filly trotted out the door. As I followed, Derpy spoke, "thank you, mister. You made me and her really happy."

I smiled warmly. "It was my pleasure," I said, "she's really bright, you know."

Derpy smiled. "Yes, she is." With that, the wall-eyed mare pulled up the covers and began to slumber.