//------------------------------// // Background Pony - Chapter 17 - The Original Photograph Scene // Story: Short Scraps and Explosions // by shortskirtsandexplosions //------------------------------// If there's one thing I've learned from writing, it's that if you're actually enjoying yourself, then you're probably writing something crappy. This is the ORIGINAL photograph scene from Chapter 17 of Background Pony. The final version is very short and accomplishes what needs to get done: Lyra takes a photo of all the important villagers of Ponyville. Originally, I wanted Chapter 17 to act as a living memorial of all the lives Lyra had touched and how they had shaped throughout the course of the fic. I never really did anything to support this angle except for in this scene, and it's pretty dayum glaring. There is a lot of unnecessary detail, only because I was focused intently on the unnecessary detail. I wanted to show off all of the BP-universified characters and... uhm... stuff. It was supposed to be a "farewell" of sorts to the Background Pony cast, for better or for worse. Ah well. Farewell. “Pinkie Pie, darling, do stand still!” Rarity exclaimed. “You're posing for a photograph, not preparing to dance for a party!” “I just can't help it! Heeheehee!” Pinkie Pie bounced ecstatically beside the fashionista as the two sandwiched themselves beside several other ponies clustered together in the downtown space of Ponyville. “Group stuff is so incredibly exciting!” The Town Hall building loomed above them in the noonday sun. The sky was bright and cloudless, casting a perfect light upon the scene as dozens of ponies lined up before a camera on a tripod with wide-angled lens. “Ouch!” Fluttershy quietly hissed, blushing. “Pinkie. You're... uhm... st-stepping on my hooves.” “Oopsies! So sorry!” “What did I tell you?!” Rarity uttered, glaring. Rainbow Dash hovered low. “Pinkie, sit still or I'll help Mrs. Cake hide the entire town's supply of popcorn for a month!” “Eeep!” Pinkie Pie's body rigidly resembled a fuschia statue on command. “Mmmfff-Iff Thid Stibb Enoubb?” she murmured through frozen lips. Several ponies chuckled. Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes, smiled, and looked towards the photographer. “I think we're just about ready, Ms. Breeze.” “Almost but not quite...” Scarlet stood behind the camera, squinting into the viewfinder. “Let's get the foals in a bit tighter, shall we?” “You heard the lady, y'all!” Applejack said, waving at several petite pastel shapes at the front of the group. “Move yer flanks! And no fussin' with each other!” “Awwww... But it's a beautiful day and we wanna find our cutie marks!” Apple Bloom said in a moping voice. “Yeah!” Sweetie Belle added. “Taking photos is boring...” “Sweetie Belle! What kind of an attitude is that?!” Rarity remarked. She pulled Sweetie Belle over and rested a hoof on her shoulder with an elegant smile. “Years from now, you'll look back on this and smile from the exquisite nostalgia!” “More like yawn from exquisite boredom,” Scootaloo muttered. “Ahem...” Milky White cleared her throat from behind the tiny pegasus. Scootaloo fidgeted. “Did I say 'yawn?' I meant 'giggle with fluttering goo-goo eyes.'” Milky White's hoof pressed sharply into the middle of Scootaloo's spine. “Ow!” Scootaloo stood up straight, blinking awkwardly. “Remember to keep a proper posture,” Milky White said, suppressing a smirk. She looked over at Cheerilee. “I wish I knew how you made all the schoolfoals do it in your class.” Cheerilee giggled and said, “Usually it involves a great deal of pleading and twice as many salt licks.” “Heh heh... Eeeyup,” said a deep voice beside her. Cheerilee blushed, shrugged it off with a coughing breath, and glanced across the massive group. “Snips? Snails? Did you scoot into view like Ms. Breeze asked?” “Sure did, Miss Cheerilee! Wouldn't miss something like this for the world! Isn't that right, Rumble?” “Uhhhhh, sure...” Rumble said before glancing nervously across the line-up. A filly peaked from beside Rarity and waved at him. He waved back, blushing. Cloud Chaser nudged him. “Better get your coat to turn pale again, or else you'll ruin the photo!” “Huh?!” Rumble jumped and frowned. “I will not!” Cloud Chaser and Flicker giggled, shuffling a bit to make room for Blossomforth and Thunderlane. “Ugh, I can never get my mane right for these sorts of shoots,” Blossomforth muttered. “Don't sweat it,” Thunderlane said. “You'll be okay. You're flexible.” “Yeah, sure, handsome.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “Make sure the camera gets your good side.” “Hah.” Thunderlane snorted. “Every side is my good side.” “Ugh,” Ambrosia uttered a few spaces away. She glanced at the stallion at her side. “Thank gawdess you ain't full of horse hockey like Thicklane over there.” She blinked. “Darlin'?” Morning Dew's legs buckled beneath him as his head nodded off. “Pssst!” Ambrosia thwapped him with her snow-white tail. “Yer faintin' again!” Morning Dew shot up instantly with a grin. “Made you look.” “Oh, carn sarn it!” Ambrosia grumbled as the ponies immediately surrounding the couple chuckled. “Sorry. Couldn't resist.” He leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek, to which Ambrosia blushed. “Surely we can finish making this picture? I must return to my hut and tend to a bubbling mixture!” “Just a second, Zecora!” Twilight turned once more toward the photographer. “Ms. Breeze? What about now? Are we good?” “Yes! I do believe I finally have you all in frame!” Scarlet said, waving a hoof over her squinting face. “Hey! You two! Married couple!” “Erm...” Caramel stammered. “We're not married yet!” Wind Whistler exclaimed. “You won't make it out of this photo shoot alive if you don't stop nuzzling each other and face the camera!” Several Ponyvilleans laughed as Scarlet continued, “I put you in the center of the shot for a reason! Now face the lens and smiled! You're the symbol of Ponyville's future! Let the Enquirer know how happy you are and smile!” “If they smiled anymore, their jaws would fall off,” Rainbow Dash said with a devilish smirk. “Can that really happen?!” Pinkie Pie gasped. “Oh no! How many ponies have I hurt?!” Several more ponies laughed until Scarlet's voice silenced them. “Okay! We're ready!” “What about the photographer?” Fluttershy suddenly said. “Hey! She's right!” Twilight exclaimed with a bright grin. “You should be standing in the frame with us!” The crowd murmured and nodded in agreement. “Heh... That's a nice sentiment,” Scarlet replied. “But it wouldn't be very professional of me...” “Since when did that stop anypony?” Remarked a cheerful voice. The Mayor marched into view, standing beside Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. “I, for one, think she should be immortalized along with the rest of us. After all, she is family.” Several ponies cheered and goaded Scarlet on. The earth ponies stomped their hooves while the pegasi whooped and whistled. Blushing, Scarlet relented, waving her forelimbs. “Alright, alright! If you insist.” “Yeeeeha!” Applejack added, motioning the pony forward. “Come and join us, sugarcube!” “But it's not enough that I just set up the shot! This camera doesn't have a timer,” Scarlet said with a concerned look on her face. “Somepony has to be out of shot to take the photo!” The villagers exchanged curious, thoughtful glances. They murmured amongst themselves, fidgeting. “I'll do it.” The crowd looked in one direction. I happened be standing in the path of their gaze. I smiled and lowered the hood from over my horn. “Sorry. I didn't mean to pry. Looks like you got some sort of group photo taking place.” “Uhhh...” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “You think?” “Who are those two unicorns?” Derpy asked. Dinky leaned up to her. “It's only one, mother...” Derpy closed one eye and smiled brightly. “Oh! Hi there! Just passing through?” I took a deep breath, smiling. “You could say that. How can I help?” “Well, if you're up to it...” Scarlet pointed at the camera. “See that button? I need you to press it when I tell you to. We need more than one shot, though, so it might take more than a few minutes.” She smiled nervously. “Is... is that too much to ask?” “Don't fret.” I waved a hoof and trotted over, shrugging off the cold from my shoulders. “I'd be more than happy to.” “Great!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Come and join us, Scar-Scar!” Scarlet groaned and trotted over in a slump. “I really, really hope that ponies don't start calling me that permanently.” “Why not?” The Mayor smiled and draped a hoof over the younger mare's shoulder. “It's endearing.” “It's silly and stupid...” “Hmmm... Welcome back to Ponyville.” She winked through her bifocals. “Would you rather be called 'the Mayor's Daughter' for forever?” Scarlet blushed slightly. She shook her head. “Nah. I can live with what I have to live with.” “Sounds like an adventure already.” The Mayor glanced up and nodded at me. “We're ready!” “You hear that, everypony?” Twilight stood tall and proud as dozens of her friends and neighbors copied her posture beside her. “This is it!” Scarlet nodded my way. “Thank you so much for all your help, Miss...” “Hey...” I shrugged and rested my hoof over the button. “What's in a name? Preserve your memories.” Clearing my throat, I leaned forward and squinted through the viewfinder, capturing the whole of Ponyville like a tiny crowd on a dusty stage. “Now say cheese!” “Cheeeeeeese.” The camera's shutter resounded with a ghostly click.