//------------------------------// // May 2015: Blessed With a Curse (original minific format) // Story: Writing Off More Than I Can Chew // by Cerulean Voice //------------------------------// The white mare took a deep breath and knocked, taking a moment to ensure her mane was okay. The door swung open; a young tan earth pony greeted her. “Welcome to my humble home. Thank you for answering my letter.” She held out a hoof. “Fantasia Pine.” The white mare took the hoof and shook. “Twilight Velvet.” Fantasia Pine grinned. “Please, come in.” “So how may I be of service, Miss Pine?” Twilight asked. “Please, call me Fantasia,” her host said. “I’m ever so glad you agreed to meet with me. As an editor for Daring Do, you would have heard some far-fetched tales. I figured you would believe me when I explained my problem.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Problem?” Fantasia reached under the table and produced a quill and a notebook. “I’m going to write something. Please wait just a minute.” Twilight nodded as Fantasia’s scratching filled the room. She cast her gaze around the house. It was plain and cozy, made of nothing more than wooden materials left unpainted. She picked out different timbers everywhere: oak, sandalwood, willow… An unwelcome sensation in her groin area distracted her. “Ah…” She smiled at Fantasia as pink tinged her cheeks. “Perhaps we can continue this discussion in a few moments? I think your tea must be going right through me.” “Yes, of course.” Fantasia set down her quill. “But take this with you.” She tore off and held out a small page, already scribbling on another. Twilight hesitated for just a second before taking the paper and walking away. Her eyes raced back and forth over the lines. An unwelcome sensation in her groin area distracted her. “Ah…” She smiled at Fantasia as pink tinged her cheeks. “Perhaps we can continue this discussion in a few moments? I think your tea must be going right through me.” Her eyes widened. She dropped the note. She screamed and spun on the spot, even as her tension disappeared; Fantasia’s eyes were downcast. “What… I mean h-how did… you… you—” Fantasia passed her the second note; it hovered shakily to rest before Twilight’s eyes. Her eyes widened. She dropped the note. She screamed and spun on the spot, “I-I’ve seen enough.” Twilight clutched her barrel. “Excuse me while I have a heart attack.” “Please don’t!” Fantasia leaped off her chair to grip Twilight’s shaking shoulders. “I really need your help. Please, Miss Velvet. Let me just explain?” Twilight closed her mouth and sat back down at the table, still clutching her thumping chest. “Okay. Here goes.” Fantasia took a deep breath. “Since I was a filly, I wanted to be a writer. I really looked up to Daring Do, and I was inspired by her stories to make my own. One day, I was bored by history class. So, for fun, I wrote my own version of the Heart’s Warming tale when I got home.” She lowered her voice. “Imagine this—the teacher going on about my story, like it was history instead of what he had been teaching just the day before. And nopony even seemed to notice! It was like…” She swallowed. “As if my story had always been the truth.” Again, she reached under the table. A stack of history books came up with her. Twilight peered at the familiar covers: The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide; Rise and Fall of the Crystal Empire; Tales of The Six… “Look inside.” Hoof shaking, Twilight grabbed Tales Of The Six and opened the cover. Instead of printed text, it was written in cursive, florid quill-scratching… just like the two notes. Twilight remained silent, skimming through book after book. Finally, she set down Celestia And Luna: The Leaders Equestria Deserves after reaching the part about them taking control of the sun and moon. “How much history… have you rewritten, Fantasia?” “Enough to make the world a better place.” Fantasia smiled. Then, she bowed her head. “Twilight Velvet, I would be honored if you would be my ghost writer.” She continued on at Twilight’s cocked head. “I want to write fiction—and not have it become history for a change. Perhaps if another pony writes what I say, then maybe…” Twilight exhaled. “How can I refuse? I’ve seen the evidence. Felt the evidence.” She rubbed her stomach. “So, any ideas?” Fantasia put a hoof to her chin. “Well, I have this idea about a mare with the power to make anything she writes happen in real life…”