//------------------------------// // Episode 7: Pet Playdate // Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony // by Captain_Cosmos //------------------------------// It was a beautiful fall day in Ponyville. The sun was shining, there was a gentle breeze. And Flappy and Sparkler were enjoying a nice stroll through Ponyville Park. Sparkler breathed in the fresh air and sighed happily. “Ah. Nothing like a nice walk in the park to clear your mind eh Flappy?” Flappy nodded. “Squawk! You got that right Sparkler. This is peaceful. Squawk!” Sparkler nodded as she looked around. “And the park here is gorgeous. A pond, greenery, we never had this in Saddle Arabia. AKA the desert.” She smiled to herself. “I could get used to this.” Flappy nodded as he saw something in the distance. “Squawk! Yeah. And we have a good chance of running into other pet owners and their pets too. Like that group over there.” Sparkler raised an eyebrow and looked ahead, to see a group of familiar ponies. One of them being that pink party pony. Sparkler’s smile faded and her ears drooped. “Uh oh. It’s Pinkie!” She quickly looked around and spotted a tree. In no time, she galloped to the tree and hid out of sight. Flappy raised an eyebrow and followed his owner to her hiding place, landing in front of her. “Squawk! Why’re we hiding? Squawk!” Sparkler sighed and leaned in to whisper. “Because you said she knows about my wings. If I go over there and she sees me. There is NO telling what could happen! She could pressure me to reveal myself, to prove that she was right when she told them about me.” “Squawk! Didn’t I tell you she gave me her word she wouldn’t tell anypony? Squawk!” Sparkler sighed. “Excuse me for not entirely trusting that pony. For all we know she’s over there telling them about my wings right now!” “No I’m not. I’m actually here seeing what you two are doing.” Sparkler and Flappy jumped back and gasped when they heard Pinkie, who had snuck up on them. Flappy flapped his wings and began hovering while Sparkler glared at Pinkie. “Gah! Pinkie! You almost gave us a heart attack!” Pinkie smiled. “Didn’t you two see me coming?” Flappy shook his head. “Squawk! NO! Squawk!” Pinkie chuckled. “Anyway. Why’re you guys hiding behind this tree? My friends and I are having a picnic and pet play date over there and we have extra food for another friend.” Sparkler eyed Pinkie. “I didn’t think anypony saw us?” Pinkie chuckled. “Pinkie Sense. Anyway. If you're worried I told anypony about your wings, I promised Flappy I wouldn’t. And I don’t break promises.” Sparkler gave Pinkie a nervous smile. “Wings? What wings? I don’t have wings. I’m just a Uni—“ That was as far as she got before Pinkie shut her up with a hoof to her mouth. Pinkie smiled. “Sparkler. We all know that’s not true. Stop trying to lie to me. It’s not gonna work.” Sparkler’s eye twitched as she just decided to ask the obvious question. “How the hay did you even find out?” Pinkie smiled and bounced in place. “Pinkie Sense. Combined with my stupendous sleuthing powers. I told you no secret stays hidden from me for long.” Sparkler wanted to ask what the hay Pinkie Sense was, but then she remembered what Twilight said. ”Don’t question Pinkie. Trust me. It’s not gonna work. At all.” Instead. She just sighed. “Just keep it to yourself. Got it?” Pinkie nodded. “Cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye. That’s a Pinkie Promise. The ultimate friendship promise. If you break it, it’s the fastest way to lose a friend.” Sparkler nodded. “I guess I’ll just have to take your word for it.” Pinkie nodded and turned to Flappy. “You can go introduce yourself to our pets over there Flappy. They’re really friendly.” Flappy turned to Sparkler with a raised eyebrow. Sparkler sighed and nodded. Flappy smiled and zipped over to the picnic. Pinkie turned back to Sparkler. “Wanna come along? I’m sure Twilight would be happy to talk to you about your wings.” Sparkler glared at Pinkie. “Except for one problem. She isn’t alone! I had PLANNED to tell her first before anypony else but you went ahead and threw a wrench into it with your snooping around!” Pinkie chuckled. “It’ll be fine. We won’t turn you away just because you have wings. We haven’t turned Twilight away for that.“ Sparkler nodded. “Right. Because she’s a princess. And you don’t turn away a princess.” Pinkie straight up laughed. “Oh silly. Twilight doesn’t like it when we treat her as a princess. And we knew her LONG before she was a princess. We would never turn her away. And we won’t turn you away either. You can take off that sweater and just be yourself. You’ll be happier that way.” Sparkler sighed. “Someday I might ditch the sweater. But until then, NOT, A, WORD! And don’t you dare convince Twilight to seek me out. I go to her. Got it?” Pinkie nodded and grabbed Sparkler’s hoof. “Oki doki Loki. Now come on. I’m sure everypony’s itching to get to know you.” With that, she practically dragged Sparkler over to the picnic. ... “Rarity I don’t need a new outfit right now!“ Shouted Sparkler as she was being chased by Rarity with a measuring tape. “It’ll be just a few measurements darling! I insist it’s no trouble!” Rarity shouted back. The rest of the gang watched Rarity chase Sparkler around for the last ten minutes, failing to contain their laughter. Applejack shook her head. “I knew that was gonna happen eventually.” Rainbow nodded. “It was only a matter of time. Rarity just can’t resist offering to dazzle up a friend.” Flappy nodded as he watched the chase. “Squawk! She’s certainly persistent. That’s for sure. Squawk!” Starlight nodded. “Alright. That’s enough chasing.” She lit her horn at Rarity and effortlessly ripped the measuring tape from Rarity’s magical grip. Rarity watched her measuring tape leave her and stopped in her tracks. Whipping her head around to Starlight. “Starlight! Give that back!” Starlight shook her head. “Not until you stop chasing Sparkler around like a dog.” Sparkler had stopped in her own tracks by then and sighed in relief. “Oh thank Elysium Starlight. Thank you for making her stop!” Starlight chuckled and Rarity just pouted. “It would’ve only been a few measurements darling. Why must you insist on not needing a new outfit?” Sparkler sighed as she approached Rarity. “Look, Rarity. If I ever have need for a new outfit, I promise I’ll come right to you. But I just don’t see myself needing one anytime soon. Ok?” Rarity sighed. “Alright. I just thought you’d look better in something more colorful.” Sparkler chuckled. “I have plenty of more colorful sweaters. I just decided to wear black today.” Rarity sighed in defeat and nodded. “Alright. I’ll take your word for it. But do come and see me when you have need for a new outfit. I’ve already thought up some LOVELY designs you might like.” Sparkler chuckled and nodded. “With the stories I’ve heard of your expertise. That doesn’t surprise me.” Rarity and Sparkler chuckled as they made their way back to the picnic blanket. Flappy moved over a bit for Sparkler to take back her seat next to him as Rainbow smiled at Sparkler. “I think you might be the FIRST pony I’ve ever seen refuse Rarity’s offer to make them new clothes Sparkler.“ Sparkler chuckled. “I just don’t need any new clothes at the moment. What’s wrong about that?” That got a chuckle out of everypony as Spike shook his head. “Nothing. It’s just that we’ve never seen Rarity’s fashion offer rejected. Most ponies would jump at the chance for Rarity to design their new outfit.” Sparkler chuckled as she shrugged. “Guess I’m not in the majority then.” I wonder if maybe I was TOO quick to refuse. Flappy nodded. “Squawk! Yeah. Sparkler here mainly just wears sweaters. So get used to it. Squawk!” “Hoo hoo.” Hooted owlicious. Flappy turned to the owl and glared at him. “Squawk! Sparkler is NOT hiding something. She just likes to wear sweaters. That’s all! Squawk!” Sparkler raised an eyebrow. “You speak owl Flappy?” Flappy nodded. “Squawk! All animals can understand each other. Squawk!” Fluttershy nodded. “It’s true. Animals have the natural ability to communicate with other animals of differing species.” “Hoo hoo.” Owlicious hooted again. Flappy groaned. “Squawk! It’s perfectly normal for Sparkler to wear sweaters! There’s nothing suspicious about it! Squawk!” Twilight chuckled and gently nudged Owlicious with her wing. “Come on Owlicious. There are ponies that wear clothes. There’s nothing wrong with that.” “Hoo hoo.” Owlicious responded before flapping his wings and flapped onto Twilight’s head and promptly settled in and closed his eyes to fall asleep. Fluttershy smiled warmly. “Aww. Looks like it’s past somepony’s bedtime.” Twilight nodded. “Looks like it.” The dog sitting next to Applejack, Winona, laid down and yawned. Applejack chuckled. “Looks like the pets are outta juice.” Rarity nodded. “Just as well. I should be heading back to the Carousel Boutique to finish up some commissions and orders.” Everypony nodded as they stood up and packed up what was left of the picnic, or rather watched as Pinkie downed the rest of the food and promptly zipped around and had all the plates and the blanket in the basket in under ten seconds. Sparkler watched and chuckled. Shaking her head. How is she always so hyper? It’s like she doesn’t have an off switch. Pinkie tossed the basket onto her own back and smiled at everypony. “It’s been fun girls. See everypony here for next week’s pet play date!” With that, she zipped away at Mach pinkie speed. Rarity nodded and turned to Sparkler. “Do keep in mind that my offer still stands darling. My mind’s been working overtime with new sweater designs for you.” Sparkler chuckled and nodded. “I’ll be sure to stop by the Boutique when I have need for it.” Rarity nodded and turned to leave, as did most others. Twilight stuck around for a tad and turned to Sparkler and Flappy. “You and Flappy are welcome to join us next week Sparkler.” Sparkler smiled and nodded. “Yeah. Sounds like fun. We’ll be there.” Flappy nodded and flapped his wings. “Squawk! Definitely. This was fun! Squawk!” He flapped off, aimlessly flying around. Sparkler watched him and smiled. “And check that off the list.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Hm?” Sparkler chuckled. “I’ve been meaning to find him a group of animal friends since we moved here. Now he has a host of them.” Sparkler felt her tail being tugged and turned. She looked down to see Fluttershy’s pet, Angel, staring at her with a disapproving face. He pointed his fingers at his eyes, then pointed them towards her, and then proceeded to hop past her and Twilight after Fluttershy. Twilight lifted an eyebrow towards the rabbit. “What the hay was that all about?” Sparkler shrugged. “Beats me. I only just met him today.” Twilight chuckled and nodded. “Anywho. I’m really glad you and Flappy happened to be in the park today. It was nice to get to know you.” Sparkler nodded. “Same here. Flappy made new friends. I made new friends, you made a new friend. Win-win all around.” Twilight nodded. “I think you’ll enjoy your life here in Ponyville. See you next week.” With that, Twilight walked off. Sparkler watched her go and smiled, actually blushing little. She nodded. You know what princess? I think I will enjoy it here. Once I work up the nerve to reveal my wings to you. She sighed and trotted off. Internally thinking up a way to tell Twilight about her wings. To be continued...