Author: Annonymouse
MLP:FiM is property of Hasbro. This is a free fan-fiction, not to be sold or traded for any money, goods or services.
...
A/N: No comments on spelling or grammar please. See my profile for details.
...
Not a Grimdark story. Terra Harmony is back, and her presence brings anything BUT harmony... again.
...
Out of the Frying Pan
05
...
“D-Daddy?” Fluttershy's closest friends all boggled.
Rainbow Dash, aka. Prism, moved over to Shy Shy. “You never said your dad was the Captain of the Royal Sky Guard.”
Shy Shy hung her head and nodded slightly.
Captain Courage simply rolled his eyes. “And I had hoped sending you off to Flight School would have helped you get over your weakness. Well, I'm here now, and I will make sure you get over it now.” He then glared at Twinkle. “And you.”
“Y-Yes Sir?” The lavender filly stood at attention, feeling very nervous now.
“Is that how you address your father?” His glare hardened.
“No Sir... I mean Dad...” Twinkle had to wonder what Princess Celestia was thinking, assigning HIM as her father while this issue was trying to be solved.
“Better. Now, this means you and 'Shy Shy' are ‘sisters’. I expect you to look out for her when I am unavailable, understood?” His tone was hard, like he was addressing the Royal Guard under his command.
“Y-Yes Dad.”
“Good.” He then faced the rest of the fillies. “As for the rest of you, I expect all of you to be on your best behavior, is that understood?”
“Yes Sir.” All but Terra and Shale replied.
“I didn't hear you two.” Courage glared at the pair of 'ancient' fillies.
Shale rolled her eyes. “Please, you're a lowly mortal. Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?”
Courage was suddenly towering over the smallest of the foals. “I don't care how old you are little Missy. I was assigned to keep an eye on all of you and to play the role of father to the Princess's prize pupil. That means, you are under MY command, now do you understand? Or will I have to make an example of you?”
Shale snorted. “And I don't care what you think... what are you doing? PUT ME DOWN!!!”
…
Shale was now in a corner, her rump stinging from the spanking she had just received. She cast a glare at the Pegasus, but averted her eyes when he looked her way.
“Anypony else wish to be made an example of?”
“No Sir/Dad/Daddy.” They all replied, with Shy Shy barely whimpering her response.
“Good. Now, the rest of you, go home, and do not stray. I WILL be checking up on each and every one of you.”
Within moments, all but Captain Courage, Shy Shy and Twinkle remained.
Twinkle looked up at the imposing Pegasus. “Um... Dad? Wasn't that just a little harsh? I mean, spanking a foal, that's kinda against the law, you know, abuse and all that?”
Courage sighed and softened his tone. “Twinkle, you have to understand. Shale keeps thinking she is a grown pony right now, when she most certainly is not. Right now, she is a foal, and she has to learn that for the time being, she will have to act like one... Preferably a good little filly like the rest of you.” He then turned to face Shy Shy. “Shy? I'm sorry I raised my voice earlier, but you do understand as well, don't you?”
“Y-Yes Daddy.” The small butter yellow filly nodded weakly, avoiding eye contact.
“Good. Now, I will prepare lunch for us.” He looked at Twinkle. “Show me the kitchen.”
…
Captain Courage looked around the kitchen and frowned. “I can't use any of this equipment. It's all designed for small dragon claws or Unicorn magic.”
Twinkle blushed a little. “Um, well, only Spike and I ever used any of it. I do have other kitchen utensils that anypony can use. They're all in the store room.”
Courage and Shy Shy followed Twinkle to the store room where she dug around till she found the labeled box. “Here they are.”
Courage nodded and tossed the box onto his back, then returned to the kitchen.
…
Twinkle looked at the 'food' and didn't know how she should feel. “Military food? How did you make military food out of the ingredients I had here?”
Courage puffed out his chest. “It's a talent.”
Shy Shy said nothing and started eating, trying not to make faces.
Twinkle sniffed her serving and backed away. “No offense Dad... but this smells really bad.”
“You don't see your 'sister' complaining, do you? Now buckle down and eat up. It'll make you strong.”
“I'm a Unicorn, my strength is in my magic, not my body.”
Courage took his seat. “Well, if you don't want to eat, then you can go without till you are hungry enough to eat what I put in front of you. I also do not want to see you sneaking food or going over to that fat house excuse of a bakery to get food either.” He then started eating. “Hmm, fresh ingredients make all the difference.”
…
Twinkle sat in her room, a book on the floor in front of her. Her stomach growled, but she ignored it as best she could.
(Why Captain Courage? Why not my brother, Shining Armor? He's always really nice, and he knows how to cook.) She looked over at Fluttershy, who was laying on the hoof of her bed, the bed they would be sharing for the time being. (And Fluttershy. Her father is none other than Captain Courage. I never would have guessed. Poor thing.)
“Girls.” Captain Courage called from below.
“Yes Daddy?” Shy Shy lifted her head.
“You have company.”
Twinkle marked her book and closed it and headed to the stairs. “Company?” She headed own and entered the library proper and saw Terra and Shale. Shy Shy peaked around the corner behind her.
“Hi Twinkle.” Terra didn't look very happy right now. “Can we stay here for a bit? That cranky old crone at the orphanage is just a horrible pony.”
“You can stay only if you keep quiet and cause no trouble.” Courage glared at the pair of fillies.
“Um... Dad?” Twinkle hated having to call him that, but in the current situation, they had no choice. “May we go out for a while?”
Surprisingly, he nodded. “Take Shy Shy with you. It will do her some good to get out. But be home before dark.”
Shy Shy followed close to Twinkle.
“Thanks Dad.” Twilight said a little dryly.
“Thank you Daddy.”
With that, four fillies left the library to try to find something to do. It was little surprise when they spotted Scootaloo, Prism and Appletini outside waiting for them.
“What are all of you doing here?” Twinkle asked.
Scoots grinned. “You are going to be the new Cutie Mark Crusaders. Diane and Amethyst are waiting at the clubhouse.”
Twinkle's eyes went wide. “Are you serious? I mean, I would LOVE to get my cutie mark back, but I don't know if we really should be the new Crusaders.”
“Don't worry.” Prism laughed a little bitterly. “Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom are there as well. They'll help us, I know they will... Hopefully without getting coated in sap.”
Shy Shy smiled softly. “Oh, it would be so nice to be able to talk to my animal friends again.”
Terra simply shrugged. “Whatever. Getting that mark back shouldn't be hard, seeing as we already know what our talents are...” She grinned at Shale. “Well, those of us who HAVE any talent at least.”
Shale glared daggers at her creator/Master/eternal enemy. “I have a great talent. There's almost nopony who can craft anything from stone better than myself.”
Terra laughed a little. “Shaping stone, perhaps. But you really shouldn't be trying to make any more magic artifacts. This IS your fault after all.”
“Your fault. You left me locked in there for about four thousand years after all.” Shale retorted angrily.
“Hey.” Twinkle stepped between the two before they could come to blows. “We shouldn't be fighting. We need to help each other regain our talents at the very least... even if we DO have to grow into adults again normally.”
Appletini did not want to hear that. “Ah'd rather not have t' wait t' grow up an' work th' orchards again. Ah mean, Ah can't do anythin' with me bein' so little.”
“Pff.” Shale scoffed. “At least you're not as pint sized as I am. I mean, seriously. I was bigger than the slave driver here. But NOOOO! I had to end up becoming the smallest one.”
Appletini nodded. “Ah Agree. Yer th' one who should'a been called 'tini' not me.”
Scoots sighed. “Let's just get going, okay?”
With much grumbling, some arguing, and a few near fights, the group of fillies finally reached the clubhouse.
They all looked quite surprised when they arrived. The tree clubhouse had grown in size, wrapping around the entire tree rather than just being on one side of it.
“What happened here?” Appletini's eyes went wide.
Scoots smirked. “Apple Bloom asked if we could fix the place up so all of you can use it. Big Mac provided a bunch of lumber and tools, and just overnight, she had the place built. She really should have gotten a carpentry cutie mark rather than an apple cider brewing one.”
Appletini actually smiled. “Ah dun care. She got an awesome cutie mark, an' she's also really good with buildin' stuff. Ah couldn't be prouder ah ma lil... er, 'big' sis.”
The group climbed the ramp and onto the sundeck. It was positioned perfectly so the tree branches were hanging overhead, but also so it got a lot of sun.
“Apple Bloom did all this?” Appletini was impressed, no doubt, and proud as well.
“Ah sure did Sis.” Bloom opened the door. “Rar... Amethyst did a lot ah th' decoratin. Kinda girly, but hey, th' clubhouse's yours now.”
The group entered and saw the place was decorated as one would expect Rarity to decorate someplace.
Ribbons, wallpaper, decorations. All very 'Rarity'.
Twinkle was impressed, the interior looked beautiful. “Wow. This is amazing.”
Prism rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Way too frilly and girly for me.”
“Ah gotta agree with Rain... Prism. Just too fru fru fer mah likins.” Appletini replied.
“It's like a party!” Diane bounced around, examining everything.
“Very pretty.” Shy Shy smiled softly.
“Well,” Twinkle sighed. “We’ll all get a chance to add our own little touches. In the meantime… I have a plan to get our cutie marks back, and hopefully, our ages as well.”
…
To Be Continued…