//------------------------------// // Bonus Chapter // Story: Lily Mare Do Well // by Hyper44 //------------------------------// It did not take long for Ponyville to be fully repaired, especially with all the extra hooves from The Crystal Empire. In a few days the little town was looking like its old self save for the obviously new paint jobs and building restorations. it did, in fact, look a little better than it had before. The residents had been sad to see the crystal ponies go but some were making plans to visit the empire and their new friends. Ponyville soon settled back to seeming like the usual place that it had always been. However, the change in the ponies could be felt in the general atmosphere of the town. For Lily Longsocks things went back to the usual but not so usual. Things fell closer normality in the fact that she could just be a kid again and not worry about having to fight monsters or villains. Things were not the same however, in the fact that she was no longer just one of the local foals. Now everypony knew her name and it was no longer so easy to pass through the streets without ponies calling a greeting or stopping her. She was pretty sure that it was going to be a long time before she stopped hearing about Lily Mare Do Well and was no longer asked for autographs. At least it as mostly just the adults. Among her school friends things were pretty close to how it had been before the first day that she had saved the town. Sure, she was still famous to them for her super strength and being Lily Mare Do they still treated her like much more like Lily Longsocks and not Lily Mare Do Well. They often wanted her to put on her costume but only to play. Today would be a good day to sneak off and just be a pretend hero fighting pretend villains. Lily opened up her closet and looked at her costume hanging in the shadows. Its dark colors blended into the dim light with the eyes staring out at you and the hat suspended just above the head. “Ready to go surprise everypony and ‘save the day’ Prickles?” She asked her little pet. The hedgehog saluted with the most serious expression on his little face. Lily laughed and took her costume out. She put it on and stowed Prickles under her hat. Calling bye to her mom Lily headed for the back door. Once out she headed straight for the alleyway between the nearest buildings hoping that not many adults, if any, would see her. Thankfully nopony seemed to be around. Lily looked left then right and then hurried down the alley to where it crossed with another. Before she reached it the original, full sized Mare Do Well stepped out from around the corner and stood there with her cape flowing in the wind. Lily skidded to a stop so hard that she almost fell face first into the dirt. Blinking Lily pulled off her mask and rubbed her eyes to make sure that what she was seeing was real. Yes, Mare Do Well was still there. Lily sat down and stared at the sight with her jaw hanging open. During the chaos of the past days Lily had all but forgotten about the original Mare Do Well. Prickles slipped out from under Lily’s hat and looked at the figure before them. “Curr?” He said to Lily. When she didn’t respond he leaned down, put a paw under her chin and closed her mouth. Then the silence was broken by Mare Do Well. Peals of familiar laughter echoed through the alleyway. Mare do Well pulled off her mask revealing none other than Ponyville’s party pony, Pinkie Pie. Before Lily’s mind could process this a second Mare Do Well walked around the corner. Lily’s mouth dropped open again. This Mare Do Well pulled off her mask as well and revealing the face of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Hearing the sounds of trotting hooves Lily turned to see yet a third Mare Do Well. Pulling off her mask Applejack smiled back at her. “Hi, Youngin’,” she called while waiving a hoof cheerfully. Lily looked from one mare to the other in amazement. Again, before Lily could think of something to say a soft giggle came from overhead. Fluttershy, wearing her own Mare Do Well costume minus the mask landed beside her. “Dear, you simply must let me fix that costume into looking….less cheap. I can’t stand to see you running around in such a poorly put together suit.” Lily looked back to see Rarity and Rainbow Dash walking up beside Twilight and Pinkie Pie. Lily blinked at them a moment longer and then smiled. “Oh, I always thought that you were fans of Mare Do well too.” All six mares burst out laughing. “You could say that,” Pinkie Pie replied between giggles. “Why don’t you come with us back to the castle,” Twilight said when she had recovered. “There’s a little story that we want to tell you. The true story of Mare Do Well.” * * * Around that time Lily’s mother walked out of her front door and headed to their neighbor, Mrs. Crumpet. The mare trotted up onto the porch and knocked lightly. “I’m a-commin’.” The voice of the venerable mare echoed through the door. Mrs. Longsocks could hear the hoof beats of the elderly pony as she made her way across the house. A short time later the door swung open revealing Mrs. Crumpet. “Well hello, Mrs. Longsocks. Good morning. What can I do for you?” “Oh, nothing much,” Mrs. Longsocks replied, “I just wanted to ask a question.” “Ask away.” “Well,” Mrs. Longsocks started, “It’s just... WHAT were you thinking when you encouraged my little filly fight against monsters and villains all on her own?!” Mrs. Crumpet grinned nervously. “Uh, sorry, can’t hear you. These old ears aren’t as good as they used to be. It’s... uh, my nap time and boy am I tired!” She said while quickly shutting the door.