//------------------------------// // Chapter Fourteen: Spotlight // Story: My Littlest Pet Shop: Escape from Equestria // by Drizzle Quill //------------------------------// My Littlest Pet Shop: Escape from Equestria By Drizzle Quill With much help from nyc2dragon Chapter Fourteen Spotlight Penny Ling was in blissful heaven. She twirled like the graceful dancer she was, around and around the wide open fields, weaving in and out, ribbons never breaking rhythm. Back and forth, back and forth they went, as she twirled and leapt off of the ground, feeling her paws touch the soft grass. She was one with the rhythm, she was one with the ribbons, she was one with her sou— BANG Penny blinked; tears delicately forming in the corners of her eyes, she turned to see what she had fallen into. When she saw what it was, the panda literally snarled. It was a tree. Another tree. The rage filtering through her mind was topped off with three apples landing in perfect procession – bop bop bop – right on top of her head. Penny groaned and plopped down on the ground, feeling the cool grass rub into her skin. It was comfortable and cold, perfectly contrasting the warm rays of the sun beating down on her from above. Noticing a perfectly grown apple next to her, the panda snatched it up and began to take large, wolfing bites. She loved fruit quite a bit, if she didn’t say so herself. For a few more minutes she lay there, enveloped in her own fantasy land, when all of a sudden a loud noise came from right over her head. “Well, hi there!” Penny yelped and jumped a few feet in the air, whipping around to see another animal looking at her, eyes alight with curiosity. She was a brown-and-white dog, with expressive emotions and a long, panting tongue; her mouth curved in a seemingly never-ending smile. “I’m Winona,” the dog grinned, voice a little high-pitched. “Who’re you?” The panda stepped forward, still clutching her chest although she was less frightened now, and managed to choke out, “Penny Ling.” “That’s a pretty name,” Winona remarked, sniffing Penny’s belly and causing her to laugh. “I like my name too, though. The others say it’s a very pretty name.” “It is,” the violet-and-white panda replied, trying to dodge the dog’s frantically twitching nose and giggling as it brushed against her fur. “Do you live here?” Winona stood erect and cocked her head. “Well, of course! I’m the guardian of Sweet Apple Acres.” Sighing, she looked down at the ground, dark eyes wistful. “…well, I think I’m the guardian, anyways.” Penny, surprised at seeing her new friend so downcast, placed one paw on Winona’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Why do you only think you’re the guardian?” Smiling, she whispered, “You would make a great guardian.” Winona looked up. “See, my owners can’t hear what I’m saying. They think I’m just a common pet – but I want to be more, y’know? I want them to know I would die for them if I had to. They’ve all been so wonderful to me…they found me as a pup and took me in when no one else would!” The panda nodded. Usually back at the pet shop she was good at cheering her friends up. Maybe there was a way she could brighten up Winona’s day as well? Suddenly it hit her. It was so obvious Penny wondered how she hadn’t thought of it before. “I can talk with your owners!” she cried, jumping up and down in excitement. Winona’s brown ear pricked in curiosity, and her eyes shone with a glimmer of hope. “You…you can?” “Yeah! When I came here, Twilight put a spell on me and my friends so that we could talk to the ponies!” Penny was hopping like her friend Buttercream, violet-grey eyes alight with joy. “I can tell them what you’re saying!” “Twilight,” Winona grinned thoughtfully. “Always knew she was special…she’d make a good princess, really.” After a few seconds of hesitation, she leapt up and yelped, “Well, what’re you waiting for? Come on, let’s go!” The two darted off towards the big barn in the distance, Penny’s thoughts vibrating with, Maybe this – life in a new country – won’t be as bad as I thought! ________________________________________ “We can actually talk to Winona?” Penny flinched and covered her ears as the little yellow filly standing in front of her squealed loudly and leapt up and down. “We can talk to the cutest lil’ puppy-dog in all of Equestria, AJ, isn’t this great?!” The larger, orange-furred, pony, the one Penny knew was Applejack, smiled, freckles almost disappearing under a grin. “Ah sure hope this’ll work, Apple Bloom,” she agreed. “Ah’d love to give a few bits to hear what Winona has to say? Ain’t that right, girl?” Applejack rubbed her dog under the chin and Winona gasped, panting. “Ah, yes, right under the chin…oh, yes! Thank you thank you thank you!” the brown and white herding dog remarked, but Penny knew that all the ponies could hear was a series of high-pitched yips. That was why she was here: to be the translator! At long last Penny finally felt important. It was always the other pets taking the spotlight, and whenever she tried to do something right – like talk to Zoe’s crush Digby for her – she always ended up doing something wrong. Now she could help out and be a good friend! It was just so perfect the panda couldn’t help letting out a few excited giggles.” Apple Bloom looked at Penny, large amber eyes filled with joy. “Can you ask her…what her favorite thing to do is?” The violet and white panda looked at Winona for translation, and the dog yipped in reply, “I love to herd the sheep and the cows and be with my owners and my other pet friends! But I think I love being with my owners most of all! Speaking of which, where have Mac and Granny gone?” Head spinning as she tried to keep up with it all, Penny repeated the information to the two sisters slowly and carefully, to make sure she didn’t leave any part out. Apple Bloom’s eyes widened with shock and excitement while Applejack, after looking momentarily startled, chuckled her accented chuckle of hers. “Well, Mac’s out with Cheerilee, an’ Granny’s preparing the kitchen for the next Zap Apple harvest.” “An’ y’all will be mighty fine in helpin’ me when you’re done!” an elderly voice called from the next room over; Apple Bloom tried to hold back her laugher and failed. “We’ll help ya later, Granny Smith,” AJ called back, before turning towards Penny and Winona again. Her features illuminated in the firelight, the farmer pony asked quietly, “Now, Ah have a serious question for ya, Winona. Will ya answer mah ramblin’ truthfully?” The herding dog gave one sharp bark – “Yes!” – which Penny translated. Applejack nodded, and, voice lower than before, she said calmly and evenly, green eyes steadfast and serious, “Winona…what was yer life like when we found you as a mite little puppy dog?” Winona stiffened and flinched ever so slightly. Penny noticed the movement and placed one paw on her new friend’s back. “…are you okay?” she whispered gingerly, but the only response she got was a stiff, frozen dog. Apple Bloom gasped. “Is she alright?” the little red-maned filly demanded, pushing her muzzle against Penny’s nose and making the panda jump backwards, shock clearly reflected on her face and in her violet-grey eyes. “Apple Bloom!” AJ barked strictly. “Let ‘nona do her thinking…” Here the mare’s green eyes softened, and she looked away. “I’m sure she’s bringing back much she regrets.” Narrowing her eyes at her big sister, the filly grumbled something under her breath and trotted off, probably to go help her grandmother in the kitchen, Penny presumed. It took a few minutes more, but finally Winona spoke. “My mother abandoned me on the streets of Fillydelphia for being the smallest out of my brothers, as well as the only female. I wandered for months, alone, hungry, not quite knowing how to survive. Then…then you found me.” The herding dog let out a small whimper in the back of her throat. Tears already in the corners of her eyes, Penny explained the story, and Applejack pulled the brim of her hat over in front of her eyes, shading the rest of her face. “Ah knew it was somethin’ like that, but still…’nona, are you okay?” Winona looked up at her owner and wagged her tail feebly. “Yeah,” she yipped, and Penny didn’t even have to translate. The orange earth pony nuzzled her dog and stood up. “Well, Ah better go help Granny and AB in the kitchen. You two hang around and talk for a little bit, m’kay?” Both Penny and Winona agreed, and Applejack took her leave. There was silence for a bit longer, and then Winona, dark eyes bittersweet, looked towards Penny. “…can you tell me about Littlest Pet Shop?” the brown-and-white dog asked quietly. The panda brightened up almost immediately. “Of course! Well, there are eight of us who are regulars, and our human friend Blythe…” ________________________________________ The flickering fireplace kept Penny warm as she talked for hours more about the many adventures she and her friends had had back at LPS. She talked of the fashion show that had saved the shop, the time they had infiltrated Largest Ever Pet Shop to rescue Zoe’s “sister,” “Gail,” and even the time when they had gone crazy after getting locked in the pantry of Sweet Delights. Her voice did not waver once as she explained in great detail the wonderful anniversary party that had been put on for her, and the troubles they had gone through to get there. Finally she spoke of the squirrel with a hoarding problem, Shivers, and how Blythe and Pepper had helped him to find who he really was. “…and then we got sucked up here,” Penny finished, voice not quivering one bit. “And although we’re trying to get back home…” The panda looked around at her new friends, all of which had gathered sometime during the story, “it’s kinda nice here.” Kinda nice here. That was the truth, Penny knew. She enjoyed being in Equestria – she was a translator, a good friend, and was able to tell others about her stories. Sure, if her other friends were here it would be even better. But whenever they were here, they stole all of the glory. It was Penny Ling’s – the panda’s – time to shine. And she was loving every minute of it.