//------------------------------// // Powder and plot // Story: Short stories about ponies and whatnot // by shutaro //------------------------------// Remember, remember the fifth of Neighvember, at the gala: powder and plot, I know of no reason why the great powder season should ever be forgot. *** Applebloom, Diamond Tiara, Scootaloo, Snips, Snails, Sweetie Belle and all the other ponies  of Cheerilee’s class sunk down in their seats as a hooded pony entered the classroom. “Who of you knows what happens on the fifth of Neighvember?” An accusing, pink hoof pointed at every foal, but came to rest on Silver Spoon. “You, little pony. Tell me, what  do you celebrate that day?!” Silver Spoon stammered, but finally found her voice. “We celebrate Stallion Fawks Night,” she squeaked. “Right, you celebrate my greatest success. For I am Stallion Fawks!” The hood was thrown back and Pinkie Pie appeared under it. She wore a fake mustache and a thin beard on her chin. Scootaloo started to snigger, but Pinkie was at her desk in a flash and gave her the evil eye. “What’s so funny, little one?” “Uhm, ahh,” Scootaloo threw a desperate look to her fellow crusaders, but only got shrugs. “I’m just looking forward to tonight, ma’am ... sir. I love fireworks!” “Do you now? Well, then you can probably tell me what I did four hundred years ago?” Scootaloo only shook her head. “Any of you little ponies know what I did?” Pinkie Pie looked around the classroom once again. Snails lifted a hoof. “Did you invent black powder?” Pinkie Pie laughed. “No, that happened many, many years before my time. But I brought the powder back!” She walked to the front of the class. “Four hundred and twenty years ago the griffins fought each other in a terrible war. Princess Celestia tried to help, but the conflict didn’t stop. After some time the Princess learned how the griffins fought each other. A bad pony had invented a weapon called a ‘gun’. It was a terrible thing to do, but the pony sold it to the griffins. This weapon used a special powder, and to stop the fighting Princess Celestia forbade all production of that powder. Finally the fighting stopped and the griffins made peace.” --- “Fawkes, you’re back! How did it go at the palace?” “Don’t ask! I didn’t even get to talk to the Princess. The administration is terrible again. I have gone there for five years in a row now. They want to keep the ban on powder for ever, I tell you. I fear we won’t resolve this by talking and pleading alone.” “You don’t mean ... ?” “Yes, I do! Next month is the Grand Galloping Gala. We will prepare something to blow their hoofs off!” --- “And so, over the next month they mixed and prepared, hidden in the cellars of Canterlot Castle.” Pinkie hid her face under the hood again. “Never had there been so much powder in a single place. The schemers had prepared the greatest surprise ever!” --- Princess Celestia looked over the ponies that applauded her, earth ponies, pegasus ponies and unicorns alike, all disguised in costumes and masks. She had just delivered a speech, and was about to leave the stage when an earth pony in a hood approached her. “Your majesty, could I bother you for a spark of magic?” he said and held up some piece of string in his hoof. The ingenuous princess lit the fuse and was startled when it hissed and burned. She was quite angry and ripped the cloak from Fawks’ body, exposing his cutie mark. --- Pinkie threw back her cloak and showed the class the picture of three firework explosions she had taped over her own cutie mark. --- When the first detonation could be heard from the outside all the guests of the gala ran to the balcony to watch the first firework in twenty years. Soon the ‘Ahhh’s and ‘Ohhh’s could be heard all over Canterlot. It lasted for over three hours and was the biggest and most spectacular display in the city ever. After it was over Fawks was brought before the Princess. She did look very stern and quite upset. “State your name, trade and birth, my little pony,” she ordered. Fawks bowed low and replied “I’m the stallion Fawks, a fireworker from Trottingham.” “That show tonight was your work? You must know that I forbade the use of powder twenty years ago.” “I know your law, and for years I tried to ask you to void it. Without powder a firework like tonight is impossible. I and all the other artificers who helped me in this need it to make the nights shine.” “You wish to make the nights shine? Are the moon and stars not good enough for you?” “On the contrary, my Princess. They are the inspiration and muses for my work. It is my talent to paint in the sky and I would never disrespect the first and greatest artist who did this before me.” --- “My speech impressed the Princess so much that on the next day she lifted the ban on powder for fireworks.” Pinkie smiled as the classroom shook with the applause of the foals. “But I had still broken the law,” she continued after a moment, “and I had to be punished for that. The Princess sentenced me to make fireworks for Canterlot until the day I die! And so, my little ponies, I have to leave you now. The Princesses expect me to open the firework season in Canterlot at sundown!” Pinkie Pie reared up and galloped from the room with a billowing cape. Then she stuck her head back in. “And remember: Fireworks are no toys, always ask a grown-up to help you and never try to open them. That’s really dangerous business if you don’t have the cutie mark for it. Did you hear that Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle?” The crusaders sat very straight all of a sudden. “Yes, ma’am!” Pinkie shook her head. “You seem confused. I’m Stallion Fawkes, not Mare Fawkes.” The crusaders looked at each other and shrugged. “Yes, sir?” “Very good! Have a great firework night, everypony!”