//------------------------------// // Equestria Games // Story: Two Background Ponies Revisit Season Four // by Piccolo Sky //------------------------------// Equestria Games For once, Sam and Carl weren't at their usual cookie-eating spot that morning. Instead, they were at the local boutique, getting fitted by a certain lavender-haired unicorn in glasses. Sam was currently on the podium, while Carl was sitting in a chair nearby with a frown on his face. "You really want to have the wedding next weekend?" "Of course. We've had it planned for months. Why?" "Sam, we're due for a disaster in Ponyville..." "Oh, you're just being superstitious." "...No Sam. We really are due for a disaster in Ponyville. It's been nearly twenty-six weeks and everything. By the way..." He looked to the unicorn. "Hope you've got something planned with your friends because you'll probably all need to be together..." Sam merely rolled his eyes. "Stop distracting Rarity with your craziness, Carl." The green-colored stallion frowned and picked up a nearby newspaper, cracking it open and looking over the headlines. "Hmm...so Ponyville won the medal count at the Equestria Games?" The blue-colored stallion smiled. "You bet. We won 38 medals to Cloudsdale's 37. We've taken the title." Carl kept frowning as he read the by-line. "...Um, we won one silver and 37 bronze medals. Cloudsdale won 37 gold." Sam paused on hearing that. "...Yes, but we still won more medals. And if we got third place in so many events, it means we've got good athletes, right?" "Sam, there's, like, six places that even compete in those games, and Canterlot always comes in last because all they have is unicorns. So really, we're only the median score out of a sample size of five-" "Carl, stop raining on everyone's parade! You're too negative!" The green stallion sighed and looked back to the newspaper. He raised a brow soon after. "Hmm... 'Juvenile Dragon Hero Saves the Crystal Empire a Second Time.'?" Rarity looked up. "Oh yes! That's my little Spikey-Wikey for you." She said with a smile. Carl read a bit more. "'Princess Cadance of the Crystal Empire was quoted saying: "'Spike is truly an inspiration to us all.'" A representative for the Dragon Race also commented on the incident, saying: "'Thieves! Fire! Murder!'" to the reporter who went to interview him at his treasure hoard right before incinerating him.'" He looked up. "So...what did he do this time? Save the heart again?" "Oh no." Rarity answered. "He melted a cloud that had accidentally been turned to a block of ice by a stray ice arrow." Carl blinked. "An ice cloud." He echoed. "Was...this cloud so massive it could have crushed the entire Crystal Empire?" "Oh ho...of course not." The unicorn laughed airily. "Was...this cloud going to cause property damage if it landed?" "Oh, heavens no. It was over the middle of the field." "...Was this cloud going to crush anyone beneath it?" "It might have, but the pegasi in the audience quickly got under it and lowered it slowly enough for everyone to get out of the way." "...So...the cloud wasn't going to hurt or injure anyone, wasn't going to wreck anything, was too small to damage any part of the Crystal Empire, yet Spike somehow 'saved the Crystal Empire again' by getting rid of it?" A long pause. "...That doesn't make sense!" Rarity looked annoyed on hearing this. Sam, on his part, rolled his eyes and looked to him. "Carl..." "Hey Sam! Why don't I go erect a floral arbor outside and get the key to the city? Or pick up some litter and get the Medal of Honor?" The blue stallion frowned. "Carl!" He snapped. "The important thing is the lesson that he learned from it! About how it doesn't matter if people see you as a huge success or a failure! It's how you end up seeing yourself that matters!" Carl looked more confused than ever. "...That doesn't make any sense either, Sam! Are you saying that I work a dead-end quality control job and live in a crappy apartment with my sister and nephews, but so long as I think of myself as a major celebrity who's loved by Equestria, I am a major celebrity loved by Equestria?" "What? No! I'm saying...uh...er..." Carl tried to think for a moment. After a long pause, he turned to the unicorn. "...Help me out here?" Before Rarity could respond, a shout suddenly came from outside. "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" Hearing this, Carl looked to the door. He soon rose from his chair, moved over, opened it up, and saw a fresh extra edition of the local newspaper on the ground. He picked it up, carried it inside, and opened it up again. He soon grimaced. "Well...bad news, everypony. Ponyville is now officially tied with Cloudsdale in medal count. Our silver medal got disqualified." Both Rarity and Sam looked shocked. "What?!" "How?!" "It was the competitor Bulk Biceps." Carl answered. "He tested positive for-" Sam cut him off with a sigh. "Let me guess...anabolic steroids?" "Nope. XX Male Syndrome." The green stallion answered. "Ironic, eh?" --- Alright! So for our last one… “Now jus’ wait one cotton-pickin’ minute, here!” Huh? Uh-oh… Oh boy…we’re in trouble… “Y’all featured Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Princess Luna, mah sister and her friends, Princess Cadance, and even Derpy this year! Even Granny showed up once! What about me? Ya’ got somethin’ against country girls?” No, no! It’s not that at all! It’s just…well…er… You haven’t really done anything ‘crazy’ in four years, Applejack. Yeah. The nuttiest you ever were was when you misheard the ingredients that Pinkie Pie was giving you, and that was way back when Twilight Sparkle first moved to Ponyville. All you ever do the rest of the time is kick asses. “Well, if that’s what ah’ got ta’ do ta’ get noticed…ah see ah pair of horse’s asses that could use ah good tannin’ right here…” … …I hate you, Carl. Cut to the last quickie! Quick!