And a Smile Means Friendship to Everyone
by Present Perfect
"Miss Fleur, you've just revolutionized the entertainment industry, for foals and the young-at-heart alike. Tell us how you did it!"
Fleur tittered at the newspony as camera bulbs flashed and the crowd of reporters shouted questions over top one another. She adjusted her glasses, smiling from behind the podium as she formulated her answer. The first rule of press conferences: never answer straight away.
"Well, Mister First Edition, when I was a little filly, I loved nothing more than drawing. I would make up stories to go with the drawings. Just the silly things a young filly thinks of, you understand."
Nodding heads.
"But as I grew, my art improved, as did my storytelling skill." She smiled in what she hoped was modesty. "Yet I soon found the drawings limiting. I couldn't tell my stories in quite the right way, no matter what I did. Thankfully, I met Film Reel in my first year of high school." She indicated the unassuming blue stallion standing to her left. He smiled and waved, and the crowd of reporters started firing off questions before she continued.
"If not for him, I daresay the idea of moving drawn images would never have come up. We've been business partners ever since. The rest, as they say, is history!"
She let the crowd jabber for half a minute before selecting a pegasus mare in a business suit.
"Miss Fleur, Final Report from Canterlot News. Your story has been an inspiration to ponies across the globe. All we want to know is, what are you going to do next?"
Fleur tittered again. "I'd been hoping somepony would ask something like that. You're all getting the first scoop on this, mares and gentlestallions. I plan to open a theme park!"
There was a roar from the crowd. The flashbulbs increased. She could feel the scratch of a hundred quills on parchment and smell the nervous sweat of newsponies struggling to decide how long they should stay to hear the whole story before flying off to scoop their competitors.
"It will be a place where fillies, colts, and ponies of all ages can see my characters and stories come to life." She beamed, lifting her chin. "There will be costumed performers, and rides, and animatronic statues so the ponies can interact with them. It's all very conceptual at this stage, but rest assured, it will be happening, thanks in part to both Film Reel and Fancy Pants."
"Miss Fleur!" cried a unicorn in the front row. "Is it true your husband will be single-hoofedly financing this one-of-a-kind undertaking?"
Fleur looked to the dapper unicorn standing on her right. He smiled at her and winked.
"Oh, him?" she said, innocent as a schoolfilly. "Why, he isn't my husband!"
All three ponies on stage broke in uproarious laughter, which sent the newsponies into a confused frenzy.
"In all seriousness," Fleur continued once her laughter had subsided, "this is a group venture and there are quite a few more ponies involved in it than just who you see here. That's all the time I have for today, I'm afraid, but rest assured, I'll be introducing everyone in time. Thank you all for attending!"
She blew kisses to the crowd as the newsponies rushed for the exit, each hoping to get to the press room first.
"Mister Biceps, you and the Ponyville Pirates just won the Hoofbowl!"
"YEAH!"
Bulk's shout bowled the hapless news pegasus over, but he was able to catch himself before hitting the ground. Recovering, he untangled his microphone from his wings and readjusted his hat. The noise from the stadium crowd around them was deafening, and he tried to emulate his interviewee when asking his next question.
"All of Equestria wants to know: what are you gonna do next?"
Bulk grinned, showing mismatched teeth, and lifted his forehooves, flexing. This time, there was no hope for the newspony. Bulk Biceps roared, and the pegasus spun off into the stands.
"I'M GOIN' TA DIS LEE WUUUUURL!"