//------------------------------// // Part 1: An Earnest Proposal // Story: Sundancer, The Giving Pony // by PortalJumper //------------------------------// Sundancer, The Giving Pony Part 1: An Earnest Proposal "Take care everypony," Sundancer called back into the schoolhouse, "and don't forget that everypony needs a helping hoof!" With a last wave and smile to the fillies and colts of Ponyville Elementary, Sundancer set down the road back to town and to her home with a smile on her face, a song in her heart, and a cozy beige sweater protecting her from the brisk autumn air. The sun was starting to get low on the horizon and she needed to get home in time to cook dinner for herself and Shady Grove. In no time at all the young unicorn crested the hill that looked over town, and let out a sigh of contentment. It may not be her hometown, but it was her home all the same. The ponies of Ponyville had welcomed her with open hooves and every day she tried to repay their kindness ten times over in whatever way she could. "Excuse me, miss," a masculine voice called from behind her. So caught up in her thoughts had she been that she let out a small yelp of surprise as she turned. The stallion approaching her was a Pegasus, probably no older than her, with a slate grey coat and brown hair with a red streak near the roots. He wore a light brown vest and a deep blue scarf, no doubt to guard from the encroaching autumn chill. "Oh my, I'm sorry! I didn't hear you coming, and you gave me a bit of a scare," Sundancer said as she composed herself. "Sorry about that," he replied, "we Pegasi are known for being light on our hooves. My name's Silver Stroke, I'm a writer for the Ponyville Gazette." "Oh, I know you!" Sundander said, curiosity piqued. "You wrote that lovely piece on the Ponyville Medical Centre that convinced Town Hall and some of the local business ponies to make a large donation for new equipment." "Correct you are, miss...?" he said, trailing off. "Sundancer," she finished for him. "My name's Sundancer." "That is an absolutely lovely name, has anypony ever told you that?" "Oh, a few ponies here and there. Sorry for asking," she continued, "but why are you taking time out of what I assume is a busy schedule to talk to me?" "Well Sundancer, you are part of my busy schedule. Please, let's walk and talk," he added, gesturing to the road back to town. "Oh, um, sure," Sundancer replied as the two set down the twilit road. "You see," Silver began, "I've been looking for a new story in the vein of the piece you mentioned, something that'll galvanize the ponies of this town to help each other and come together for something greater than themselves, even when there aren't calamities like Tirek's attack or that shared dream Luna gave us all a few months ago that force us together." "What a lovely idea! You must care a lot about this town." "I do very much, and this is the sort of story that I absolutely cherish the opportunity to write because it really makes me feel like I'm making a difference in others' lives. So, imagine my surprise when I get a tip that there's a particular saffron pony in town who has dedicated herself, body and soul, to helping every pony she comes across." "You mean me? Oh, please, you flatter me," Sundancer said meekly. "I'm no great shakes, really; I just do what I do because it makes me feel good and it makes somepony else's life better." "But that's exactly why you're so special," he replied. "I've never heard of anypony else so selfless and giving in all my life, and the Element of Generosity lives two blocks down from me! I mean, your cutie mark says it all; a heart with a caduceus in it certainly signifies a pony to come to in a time of need. It fits you almost as well as my quill & parchment fits me," Silver added, gesturing to his own cutie mark. "That's really kind of you to say, and I do appreciate it, but you still haven't told me why you wanted to see me." Sundancer could make an educated guess, but it would be better to hear it come from him than to presume. "Oh geez, sorry, I have a bad habit of getting caught up in a train of thought," Silver said, bopping himself upside the head. "I was hoping I could meet up with you at the schoolhouse, but I was just a little too late for that. I started following the road back to town when I saw you walking, and now that the ice is sufficiently broken I'd like to ask if you'd be the focus of my next piece?" "What sort of piece would this be?" she asked. "I mean, I'm all for the idea and I absolutely love the enthusiasm you have for your work, but I'd just like to know what I'm getting into." "Oh, it won't be anything too fancy," Silver answered as his eyes lit up. "Just an honest, down-to-earth biographical piece about you; where you come from, how you got into your work, how you got your cutie mark if you'd permit me to ask, things like that. You could plug some of the charities you work for as well so it'll give the ponies something to latch onto when the article goes to print." Sundancer took a few moments to think; if there was one thing Sundancer could give Silver Stroke credit for, it was that he was passionate. He really seemed to care about his work and the good it could do, something that she shared with him. Plus, it could be a very good opportunity to get more publicity out for the charities she works for. Still, the last thing she wanted was to be lionized as a saint and have publicity heaped onto her. She had moved to Ponyville to get away from the big city and the attention that comes with that, after all. But whenever she caught her gaze drifting over to Silver Stroke, his earnest smile and the gleam in his eyes told her that this was a pony she could trust to do the right thing. "Mr. Stroke," Sundancer declared, "I would be honored to help you with your piece. Come by my place tomorrow at around five o'clock in the afternoon and I should be finished up with my work for the day. It's near the center of town by Town Hall, and it has a large awning with my cutie mark as a pattern. You can't miss it, as much as my neighbors wish they could," she added with a chuckle. "Oh, thank you so much!" Silver said as he flapped up into an excited hover. "This'll be the piece of the year, just you wait! I'll be over promptly at two, and you'd better have a comfy chair ready 'cause this interview is gonna be exhaustive! See you then," he added as he zipped down the road and back to town. With a giggle, Sundancer followed in his wake at a much slower pace, happy that she had made yet another pony happy. * * *