//------------------------------// // Stories of The Ponyville Crew // Story: Pride and Joy // by Melody Song //------------------------------// “Apex!” A young filly shouted. The filly had a pale pink coat, blue eyes, and a bouncy purple mane that faded to pink, with a highlighter blue streak running through it. The filly took to the sky with large wings, and a horn lit with a yellow aura amidst the curls of her mane. “Flur’y Hear’!” This voice belonged to a young but lanky male creature. He had green chitin, a red carapace covering his back, ruby red eyes, and a red tail that resembled a dragonfly wing. A curved green horn-which lacked the typical spirals of a unicorn’s-rested on his head. He unfurled red dragonfly wings from his back and was airborne in moments. The two creatures met in the middle for a hug, then released. Flurry Heart nuzzled Apex, who returned with an affectionate nuzzle of his own, a pink essence passing between them. “Flurry! Apex!” two voices cried in unison. “Pound, Pumpkin!” the changeling and the alicorn responded The colt that raced up to the pair was a pegasus. He had a creamy white coat with brown eyes and a chocolate brown mane. He flapped his wings and rose into the air to greet them. The filly that ran behind him was a unicorn. She had a pale yellow coat, blue eyes, and an orange mane with a small blue bow fastened to the back. Her horn ignited on her head to surround her body in a blue aura and send her soaring up to join her brother and friends. The four kids shared a hoofbump. “How’s life, A?” Pound Cake asked “Stop ‘tending to be grown up, Pound.” Pumpkin protested, her blue aura keeping her airborne. “Hehe, i’s grea’ guys!” Apex responded anyway, smiling. “Papa Thorax an’ I had so much fun yes’erday, an’ Uncle Pharynx show’ded me a new figh’ing move!” “Teach it ta me!” Flurry and Pound demanded at once. “Me too!” Pumpkin joined in. “That can be saved for later, I think.” they heard a smooth voice say. Princess Twilight Sparkle trotted up to them, a smile on her face. Behind her came King Thorax and Prince-General Pharynx of the changeling kingdom. Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire followed them. Bringing up the rear was Tempest Shadow, Princess Twilight’s personal guard. “Auntie Twily!” Flurry Heart flew over to the adults, hugging Twilight eagerly. Apex moved to Thorax just as fast, and was briefly cradled by the larger changeling before Thorax released him. “Are you four ready for the best sleepover ever?” Twilight asked as Flurry and Apex rejoined the Cake twins. “Yes!” they all shouted eagerly. Cadence, Thorax, and Twilight all chuckled and led the way into the Friendship Castle. “Hey, guys.” Pound hissed as they trotted towards the towering crystal structure. “I’ve got an idea.” “Tell us, then.” Pumpkin whispered back, as they looked up to see if any adults were within earshot. “Nu-uh, Uncle Pharynx has real good hea’ing. He’ll hea’ us.” Apex whispered before Pound could respond. The foals fell silent until they had made it inside. “So, what would you four like to do first?” Twilight asked, smiling at them. “Where’s Spike an’ Starlight?” Apex asked, looking around. “Starlight’s hanging out with Trixie, Maud, Mudbriar, and Sunburst for the night and Spike’s having an O&O tournament with Big Mac and Discord in his dimension. So we have the castle to ourselves.” “Um…” Flurry looked to Pound, who shook his head slightly. “We wanna play pretend.” “Yeah, I’m gonna be a princess ‘dvisor!” Pumpkin agreed, beaming. “Heh, alright. Have fun you four. I have sleeping bags laid out in the library so you can play there. We’ll be in the dining room.” Twilight said, but they were already racing off. “Okay Auntie Twily, love you!” Flurry called as they disappeared The adults all looked to each other, some of them sharing a laugh before heading off. The foals raced into the library, momentarily distracted by what lay before them. The books were still arranged neatly on the shelves, but it was the floor that had changed. Four sleeping bags had been arranged in a circle, so the occupants could lie in them and still all talk to each other. Pillows and blankets had been placed by a couple straight backed wooden chairs, clearly for fort-making purposes. Board games were stacked by the pillows, including Dragon Pit. On the other end of the room was a soft armchair big enough for a full grown pony surrounded by foals to sit in, and a stack of foal-friendly books was placed by it, clearly for bedtime stories and such. “Wow…” Flurry breathed “If Papa Thorax reads to us I wanna si’ on his head.” Apex claimed the spot, pointing to the chair. “Let’s have a pillow fight!” Pumpkin added “Guys, focus!” Pound demanded “Oh, right.” Flurry said “Yeah, sorry.” Pumpkin’s tail wagged as she smiled. “Okay, let’s start building the fort for me and Flurry, then you two knights can ‘tect us.” “No’ ‘bout tha’, silly!” Apex said, nudging her. “The thing Pound was gonna tell us!” “Oh, right. Sorry.” Pumpkin giggled, then looked around. “We can still build a fort though, right?” “Yeah, sure, whatever. Now ta my thing!” Pound said “Yeah, tell us Pound!” Flurry said eagerly, sitting down. “Okay, tonight…” Pound began, and they leaned closer. “We should sneak out and explore the castle.” “Yeah! Uncle Spike says even he’s never seen the whole thing!” Flurry whispered excitedly. “Yeah, he tol’ me an’ Papa Thorax the same thing!” Apex agreed “Ponyville Crew…” Apex extended his hoof, and the others set theirs on top of his. “Let’s go! Stick together, friends forever!” They all giggled at their little plot, before Pumpkin lifted some pillows in her magic and slammed one into Apex, knocking him over. “That’s for calling me silly.” she stuck her tongue out at him as he sat up, shaking his head. “You jus’ wai’ Pumpkin. I’mma le’ all the dragons ‘tack you an’ save Pound an’ Flurry.” “Hey!” Pumpkin huffed “Hey, I don’t need saving!” Pound said “I jus’ though’ you migh’, ‘cause Uncle Pharynx says pony guar’s a’ways need saving.” He licked his foreleg and drew it over his ear like a cat, smirking at the flustered pegasus colt. “Hmph. I’ll be your head knight and boss you ‘round.” Pound retorted “Then I’ll save the head knigh’ when the dragons ‘tack.” Apex replied cheekily. “How about first to the pillows to build the fort gets to be head knight?” Flurry suggested sweetly. Pound and Apex took off running, and Pumpkin giggled. “Very clever Princess Flurry.” “Thank you, Advisor Pumpkin.” Flurry replied, trying to make her voice sophisticated, though they dropped the charade with a hoof bump before joining the two colts. -------------------------------------------------------------- As it was already five in the afternoon when the sleepover started, the adults came to check on the foals at eight for their dinner. They heard loud squeals and voices issuing from the library. “I can already hear the endless giggling now.” Pharynx remarked dryly. “I still don’t see why I had to come.” “Didn’t you want to see me?” Tempest asked him slyly, and Pharynx blushed. “O-Of course I wanted to see you Temp. I only meant I probably would have been more useful staying at the hive and leading in Thorax’s stead.” “I know, silly bug.” Tempest leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’m just messing with you.” As Pharynx blushed even harder, Thorax took the chance to chuckle and nuzzle his brother’s cheek. “Sillia, Fema, Tibius, and Cornicle are more than capable of taking care of things in our absence, Pharynx. I daresay they could use the practice, even with Ocellus’ help now that school’s out. With all the diplomatic meetings and your insisting on accompanying me to them all, they need the time to adjust to being our go-tos for these kinds of things.” “I suppose so.” Pharynx sighed, then, the voices of the foals were discernible. “Hehe, die fero’ious man’i-core! Your feroci’iness days have come to an end!” they heard Apex crying out. “Royal Advisor Pumpkin reporting for aid!” “Pumpkiiiin, get back in the castle! We’re a’posed to be protecting you, not the other way ‘round!” Pound whined “I wanna help! Flurry said I could.” they heard her huff. “Yes, protect the Castle, my royal advisor!” Flurry cried “See?” The adults entered the room and all of them, even Pharynx, had to stifle giggles and “awws” at the adorable scene. Apex and Pound stood in the front, wearing armor crafted of some cardboard boxes from Twilight’s latest shipment of books. They also wielded cardboard swords. Pumpkin was standing behind them, wrapped in a purple blanket like it was a cloak, horn lighting up. Flurry Heart was behind all three of them, sitting on a fluffy pillow and shielded by a large cave of blankets that had been draped over the chairs, the pillows stacked in the front and behind like a wall. The three foals not in the fort were facing a “manticore” that was made of a stack of the game boxes that weren’t strewn about the floor. The shape could resemble the lion-like beast of legend, if one were to squint at it. Apex, taking advantage of Pound and Pumpkin’s argument, raced forward and stuck his sword into the “manticore’s” chest. “Haha! I slayed the man’i-core!” Apex cheered as the game box pile fell apart. “Yay Apex!” Flurry said as she exited the fort. “For your bravery and valor in battle, I now promote you to head knight!” “Yay!” “Wait, no fair, I wasn’t ready!” Pound cried at the same time as Apex cheered “Heh, there is no ‘no’ ready’ in a ba’le, Pound.” Apex remarked, grinning. “Don’t worry Pound, you can be my head knight next time.” Flurry consoled the sulky pegasus, who brightened up at this. “Hello kids, I see we’re having fun here.” Twilight said, stepping in and picking her way past the scattered game boxes and their pieces. “Hi Auntie Twily!” Flurry said, rushing over to stand in front of the adults. “Hi mommy, hi daddy!” “Papa Thorax!” Apex fluttered over to join Flurry. “Hello Apex, are you enjoying yourself?” “Uh-huh! We slayed the man’i-core!” Apex proclaimed, beaming. “Well, I bet you manticore-slayers are hungry, aren’t you?” Cadence asked, and in response, four little stomachs growled. “That seems like a yes.” Twilight giggled “Come on kids, we have salad and hayburgers in the dining room.” “Yay!” the foals cheered. Pound wiggled out of his cardboard armor, followed by Apex. Pumpkin cast aside her cloak with a flash from her horn. “Last one to the dining room’s a stale cupcake!” Pound called, buzzing his wings and shooting out of the room. “Hey! Wai’ up!” Apex raced out after him, followed by Pumpkin, then Flurry. “So…” Twilight said “Allow me Princess.” Tempest smirked. At Twilight’s confusion, she raised her voice. “Last one to the dining room has to clean this place up!” then promptly turned and ran after the foals. Pharynx burst into laughter, before taking off after her. Thorax blinked for a moment, before realizing what was at stake and wheeling around, rushing after his brother and Tempest. “Oh so help me, Thorax is not leaving us to clean this up!” Shining ran after them. “Wait, Shining!” Twilight called, then huffed. “Boys, am I right Cadence? Well, technically Tempest isn’t a boy but you get the idea.” Cadence nodded, then smiled. “Yes, boys indeed. Now…” she then grinned. “You’d better start cleaning!” Cadence then promptly followed the others, and Twilight gaped at her, before turning and viewing the mess left behind by the foals. She let out a long, heavy sigh, before trotting over and beginning to pick up the games.