//------------------------------// // 04:30-05:00 "House Rules" // Story: Ponies All Day-Writing Challenge // by ThunderTempest //------------------------------// Six ponies gathered around the table in the dimly lit room, shadows obscuring the features of those involved. “Are we all prepared?” began one. “We are. I’ve got the paper and the books,” said another. “Are you sure we won’t be disturbed here? I don’t want to have to run back to the shop in the middle of this,” said a third. “Quite sure, dear. My sister is away with her friends on a sleepover tonight, so she will not be bursting in on us, and I’ve locked the door. We should be completely distraction free for a good six hours.” “Great, let’s get started. And what’s with all this mystery, anyway? We all know each other, so why are we sitting in the dark?” There was a pause. “Oh dear, it seems the fireflies have gotten out. Give me a moment.” A few seconds passed, and the room was lit up, and Rarity walked back to the table. “There,” she said, “Much better.” “I’ll say,” replied Bon Bon, “I hate trying to read in the dark. Especially when Whooves there has really bad mouthwriting.” “Hey!” shot back the brown earth pony, adjusting his tie, “My mouth writing is not that bad.” “I dunno, I think it’s pretty bad,” said Cloudchaser, flapping her wings a couple of times, loosening the stress from them. “Cloudchaser, what did I tell you about wings inside the Boutique?” asked Rarity, slipping her glasses on, as she levitated a bundle of paper, followed by a bunch of quills and inkpots, onto the table. “I was just getting stress out! I was not going to start flying, honest!” “I’ll take your word for it, dear. Now, we have two new members today. Big Mac...” “Eeyup.” “...and Ditzy Doo,” said Rarity, “Now, a few house rules for our new guests. Ditzy, No flying in the boutique. If you start feeling restless, you can go outside, and we’ll wait for you to come back. We’re all here for the same reason, so everyone be nice, mmkay? Ditzy, Big Mac, if you two are ever unsure of anything, do not hesitate to ask. This is just a casual session. And finally, like always, I will remind everypony that the DM’s word is final, and to have fun.” “Righto!” said Whooves, clopping his two front hooves together, “I’m DM for this session, so if everyone has prepared their Adventurer sheets, we’ll get started...”