//------------------------------// // A Pony Bath and a Movie // Story: Times Change // by redandready45 //------------------------------// June 30 Dennis having gained two customers, felt like a king that just one a great war. And what better way to celebrate the end of a great war than to sit on a throne. Or couch in this case. He lied down wearing a T-shirt that barely covered his girth, some jeans, and sandals. He had gained his first customers and finished his work at the office. Now he felt like taking it easy, with a beer can in his hand, and the remote in the other. He was currently flipping through channels. "Nope," said Dennis, trying to avoid MTV. "Nope," not finding Britney Spears to be wholesome. "You'd think at the turn of the millennium, they'd give you five hundred channels of something people would watch." The door popped open, revealing two girls who had looks of both eagerness and dread. "Mr. Sadnik," said Lyra. "Hey Bonnie and Lyra," said Dennis, waving but not moving from his chair, "how's it going. How's your star studying going?" "It was excellent," said Lyra interrupting Bonnie, with a somewhat forced smile, though Dennis was too focused on his TV to notice. But we gotta talk to you about something, see-," "Look, whatever it is, you can tell me tomorrow, I'm busy, I just got home from work, and Crystal-oh god," said Dennis, jumping out of his chair, "I gotta wash Crystal!" Dennis ran to the corner, leaving behind his sandals and began stuffing his un-socked feet into his boots. "I'm coming Cry-." "Don't worry," said Bonnie ," we'll take care off her." "Bonnie," said Dennis anxiously, "I appreciate the offer, but Crystal's kinda sheltered. She'd be spooked by strangers, she's even spooked by me. That's why I don't let tourists ride on her for five dollars at a time. Some jerk kids could try to spook her. Besides what do you know about taking care of ponies." "Everything," said Lyra ," we've been among ponies all our lives." " 'Among ponies all our lives', what-," asked Dennis confused. "What Lyra means," said Bonnie, putting her hand on Lyra's shoulder, "is that we've been taking care of ponies since we we're kids. We know a lot about ponies so we could wash Crystal." "No, no, I know it must be every little girls fantasy, but ponies are delicate, frightened creatures needing guidance, and -," Dennis couldn't help but notice the girls we're giving him glares. "Listen," said Lyra, sounding ,"Ponies are not delicate. Say that-," Lyra was again blocked by Bonnie's patented shoulder grab technique. "Look just give us a chance," asked Bonnie in a slow tone of reason," If C-Crystal doesn't like us, then we'll both just walk away from her." "Fine, " said Dennis ," but you gotta let me supervise. I don't want Crystal running around the place in panic." - Dennis walked outside wearing a dirty T-shirt, some jeans, and boots. The girls each were wearing a mint green and greenish grey T-Shirt, as well as Daisy Dukes. The girls were holding sponges and buckets, while Dennis was carrying a plastic pool in his hand. Crystal stood in her stable. It was white brown wood with a square from a little pony's head, muzzle and all, could stick out. Dennis dropped his pool and began opening the door to the stable. "Whoa," said Lyra ,"she is ugly! Oh," a hand hitting Lyra's side. "Lyra," said Bonnie in a scolding tone," hey you're right. Hands are fun. But seriously, me and my colleague never imagined ponies here would look like this." "What did the poniesCommon Crystal," said Dennis followed by making a sound through puckering his lips ,"time to get into the bath." Crystal just stood their un-moving. "Sorry, guys," said Dennis, "I knew she'd be scared, normally she trots over to me just fine, your gonna-." Dennis paused when he saw his little pony trot past him toward the two girls. Dennis and Bon-Ra, as the pair are known together. Nothing was heard except for the sound of four hooves touching the floor of the barn, as the large guy stood silent, and two girls waited in anticipation. The pony walked up to the two girls before nuzzling Lyra in the leg. Lyra couldn't help but bend down to hug her. "LYRA," Dennis screamed, " don't hug her, you'll only scare her-," Dennis stopped as Crystal melted into the hug ,"into...your...heart." "Aw," said Lyra ,"even if you are ugly, you are still cute." Bonnie just stood there, a stoic expression on her face. "She's not ugly," said Dennis ," she's just- ugh," he said, slamming the mini-swimming pool down on the ground, just wash her already." Dennis walked out of the room with an agitated expression. Bonnie ran to close the door. "You think it's her," asked Lyra quietly, letting go of Crystal ,"she's not wearing her..." "Are you kidding," asked Bonnie ," did you see the way she ran into your-uh-uh," "Arms?" "Yeah, those things," said Bonnie, turning away from Lyra. " Look he must have it someplace, it's just somewhere in his house. It's only a matter of time till it all comes back." "And she'll go back," said Lyra, stoically. A small pause of understanding ensued. "Well, grab a sponge, sweetheart." "Yeah, sure," said Bonnie, as she poked her head down and grabbed the sponge with her mouth. Lyra ripped it out of her. "Yeah," said Lyra, "I'l do the scrubbing." - Dennis sat his throne, but not with the desire to relax, but with some agitation. Stupid jerks, thought Dennis, Probably messing with my little pony. He pressed the buttons harder flipping through channels. He was broken from his silence by two disheveled girls covered in foam. "Clean yourselves up," said Dennis, in a hostile tone, "you both are dripping messes. And wash that dye out of your hair." "Mr. Sadnik," asked Lyra ," we just -I told you he would notice the hair-washed your pony we weren't going to do anything mean-," "Lyra," said Bonnie ," a man just wants to protect his pony, especially since that pony has been in his house for a while- oh and I told YOU." "11 years," muttered Dennis. "She, Lyra, eleven-," she paused dropping her hand and looking toward her shoulder, and just stared at Dennis in shock, as did Lyra, who rose the couch, " did you say 11 years?" "Yeah," said Dennis ,"11 years. Found her on the streets of New York in a crate, nothing to keep her company except hay and- wait why am I telling you this. Just forget- wait why are you crying?" "it's just," said Lyra, who seemed to be on verge of tears ," so-beautiful. Taking in a lost scared animal, all by yourself. With no one to help you for so long." "Well," said Dennis, stunned by her guest's sensitivity ,"I wasn't alone, I still had my family to take care of them. My three kids and my wife." Lyra perked up at such a statement. "Oh that's good," said Lyra ," I could never go so long without someone, I just- hey where is your wife, anyway?" Dennis said nothing, but clenched his teeth, unable to respond. "Just drop it okay," Dennis said abruptly ,"forget I said anything. He than turned back to his TV. Lyra sat next to Bonnie, both of them with a concerned expression in their eyes. "11 years," whispered Bonnie. "Alone," said Lyra ,"what do we say to him when the time comes." "I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," said Bonnie, still concerned. "Finally," said Dennis ," something good." "We now return to the Godfather," said a voice from the television. "Wow," said Lyra awestruck ,"I can't believe it." "I know right," said Dennis ,"one of the greatest movies of all time, right on our screen." "This box," Lyra said grabbing the remote. "All you had to do was push a button, and a new image appeared. Push" said Lyra pushing another button, "Push, push,pu-," hey said Lyra as Bonnie grabbed the remote. "Man," said Dennis in a teasing tone," it doesn't take a lot to entertain you does it. A car remote to you is like a Broadway play to a nine year old. Even remotes seem out of this world to you," he said, taking back to remote from Bonnie "Uh," said Bonnie ," so what's the movie about?" "You've never seen the Godfather," asked Dennis shocked ," or ever heard of it? This movie really changed the world. It was the first movie I took Lindsay to see." "Who's Lindsay," asked Lyra. "She's uh..anyways the godfather is about this crime boss, who deals with his young son about to inherit his criminal empire." "He's a criminal," asked Lyra ," who makes a movie about such a meanie." "Well," said Dennis, shocked that a 21 year old would say such a word," Francis Ford Coppola, just watch." "I believe in America. America has made my fortune. And I raised my daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom..." Dennis flinched at that statement. "Ain't that the truth", Dennis thought to himself. - "Man that guy," was cool ," said Lyra. "We know he's a criminal," said Bonnie ," but we can't help but admire him." "It's good acting," said Dennis "Now listen to me, you smooth-talking son-of-a-bitch," said the guy on the TV," Let me lay it on the line for you and your boss, whoever he is. Johnny Fontane will never get that movie! I don't care how many.." "Man that guy is a meanie," said Lyra. The other two in the room just stared at her."You know, for a guy named Woltz, funny name." "Yeah," said Dennis. "Hey, come on over here with me; I wanna show you something really beautiful. You do appreciate beauty, don't you," asked the character from the movie. On screen was a large, stallion, with a beautiful shining brown coat, long stylish mane, two beautiful brown eyes. "A tight flank," muttered Lyra, who looked at the horse like it was a tasty hot fudge sundae. "A great muscular barrel," said Bonnie trapped in a dream. Dennis took notice of the girls who seemed caught up in a trance, and waved his arms in front of him. "Girls," he waved, "girls it's just a horse." The girls broke out of their trance, and looked embarrassed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were in deep love with it," he said turning his head back toward the TV, while behind him, two girls blushed. "Oh here comes the best part." The movie had gone to a scene outside the rich guy's house. It slowly panned into his room where he was sleeping, warm in his bed. He woke up and slowly removed the covers. He found his hand covered in blood. He removed the covers, revealing more and more blood.... "Here it comes," Dennis said. He finally removed the covers, revealed the bloodied severed head of his horse in his bed. "AHHHHHHH," screamed the two girls, startling Dennis. "Whoa," said Dennis, "I know it was shocking, but it's just-," he stopped when he saw the two girls run out of the room, hands over their mouths, as if about to gag. "Three, two, one," said Dennis. BLEEEEEEEGGGGHH. The sound of nearly digested food hit the ground, followed by another such sound and another, coinciding perfectly with the screams of the blood drenched movie director. "Oh, that was horrible," Dennis heard from upstait. Dennis sighed. "I'll get the mop." All rights reserved to Hasbro and Paramount Pictures.