It seems less time than usual since I was last writing one of these intro posts. What's that you say? Excepting what alone? ...oh. Anyway, here we go on St David's Day, so Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus to any Welsh speakers around these parts. (I hope you appreciated the trouble I went to in order to get the w-circumflex!) Anyway, here are the rules of the game as far as this contest is concerned:

Here are the full rules.

One tweak this month, which is a clarification rather than an outright change: you cannot use G5 material. That would be unfair on people who are trying to avoid spoilers. (Good luck if that's any of you folks. It won't be easy!)

Remember, there is no prize, as such, for this contest -- but if you win, you will be able to choose the prompt for the next contest. You'll also get a mention on the group's front page. It's too late at night (or early in the morning) for me to think of anything to write here, so just make your own. Origami might work. The usual summary of this month's challenge follows:

Prompt: "Accelerated Evolution" (selected by last month's winner, Bad Dragon)
Rating: E or T
Word limit: 150
Closing date: Sunday 21st March 2021, 11:59 pm UK time (world clock)

If you're stuck for ideas, take a look at this collection of suggestions Bad Dragon wrote up in the last thread.

Please reply to this post with your entry. This makes it easier for me to keep track. Please do not leave feedback until after the closing date.

Entries are now open! Have fun!

7449375
Accelerated Evolution, huh? If this was open to crossovers, I’d do Pokémon, but alas, I’ll settle for something else.

I give you Unknown

The unicorn’s scream choked off as I stepped down on their throat, their desperate cries turning to frightened gasps that echoed through the Everfree.

“Blueblood...” I spat out the name, “Did you think I was really dead?”

He gasped in more air as I lightened the pressure on his neck.

“Do you even remember who I am?” I asked, leaning closer.

“I- I don’t- What?” He stammered out, still bewildered.

As my eyes narrowed in anger, my magic flared in my hand, lighting my body for him to see.

Blueblood’s eyes widened, his hair standing on end as he saw me for what I was. “You- You’re- !”

“I’m the guy you threw into the Everfree wilds without a second thought,” I growled, “You left me for dead!”

Silent for a moment, I started chuckling.

“But I should thank you... Without the Everfree, I wouldn’t have magic, now would I?”

7449375
Accelerated Evolution... This prompt seems easy at first, but I keep hitting on the issue of how to make it entertaining.

I could have Twilight give a speech, but it's more of a speech than a story.
I could make a mini-prequal that involves Sol, but spoiling it would be unavoidable.
I could take this a step further and have it about a real life topic that often doesn't get any recognition, but due to the theme, I don't think people are ready to listen to anything about-

Wait! I know what to write.

Staring up the colossal entrance, Twilight wobbles her jaw with her eyes on the door handle far beyond her reach. She tried to use her magic to open the doorway and she tried flapping her wings to hover towards the handle, but for some reason, the magic in her horn was gone and her wings weren't giving her any height.

Twilight gallops back across the wooden plain towards the castle and starts pushing it towards the door. Her hooves begin to feel the floor vibrating and she stiffens up in fear as the door opens.

"ROOOAAARRR!!!"

Twilight holds her pose as a giant hand picks her up.

"*gasp* an ursa minor! Defend the castle!!"

The hand swings Twilight and rams her into the big teddy bear.

"*phew!*"

The stuff toy flies back.

Twilight is placed on the castle playset, "Nothing will stop me from protecting Equestria!" Megan voices for Twilight.

7449581
Could you edit that to include a reply link to my initial post, please? Your entry is eligible either way, so no worries if you forget.

7449645
👍

7449375

"Finally, Equestria is mine!!!" Chrysalis triumphantly shouts. Spike, mourning over the defeat of his friends, didn't react as the swarm surrounded them.

Stopping behind Spike, Chrysalis admired her sadistic handiwork. "Twilight, you need to get up," Spike pleaded. His spirit plummeted with each unsuccessful attempt to rouse the unicorn. A sharp gasp soon escaped his lips as he noticed the weak twitching of her eye. Determined to buy her whatever time he could Spike stood to face their aggressor.

After having his arm telekinetically snapped by Chrysalis. Spike was lobbed several feet behind Twilight. Racked with pain, Spike could only watch as Chrysalis charged her horn. Despair, mixed with a familiar sensation, drowned his mind. What started as a meek plea morphed into a thundering roar.

The changelings scattered as an enormous claw swiped at them. "Leave my friends alone," Spike roared before expelling a plume of fire at Chrysalis.

7449375
Let's call this one Proactive Selection:

Discord squirmed under Twilight’s disapproving stare. It wasn’t quite up to Fluttershy levels, but that had its own issues at the moment.

“I did for you, you know,” he said, trying to keep as much petulance out of his voice as possible.

She just raised an eyebrow. “Really.”

“Don’t act like you weren’t worried about your friends’ continued mortality.” The flesh sloughed off of Discord even as his skeleton crossed its forelimbs. “I only addressed the situation because you weren’t doing anything.”

Twilight sighed. “It’s called ‘acceptance.’ There are some things even we can’t change.”

“Clearly I can.” Discord pointed into the sky a moment before he realized that might be unwise.

Twilight glanced up at the tangle of five draconequi trying to make heads or tails of themselves, back down, and ground out, “About that…”

7449375

"Accelerated evolution" and the random association with spurious, corporately influenced claims about future human evolution led to this rather obvious (if unconventional-for-me) conclusion.

I don't predict this'll get far, but stuff it. This is pure immature silliness. I'll do something different for once.

IN THE FUTURE, ALL UNICORNS WILL HAVE MASSIVE HORNS

Twilight blushed, the cover of "Pony Body Studies" waving in her face.

"What?" said Rainbow Dash, lowering it. "Look, it's got sciency graphs and big words like 'e-vo-lu-tion-ary trends'. I can be smart when I wanna be. Now fork over the Daring Do trading card."

Poor Twilight. She knew the pegasus tried. It had seemed a good idea to bet her into upping her intellectual game (at the time, at least). Only...

"Rainbow Dash?"

"What?"

"This was an article infamously funded by the Professors F. Limb and F. Lamb's All-Natural Uni-Remedies Company."

"So?"

"Well... have you seen the... photos... on the other pages?"

"Look at the title! 'Studies'! Eggheads love this stuff; I made sure! This. Counts."

"For the last time, Rainbow! That is not a scientific magazine!"

"It has to be!"

"Why!?"

"Cos I swiped it from your bedtime shelf!"

7449375

Celestia dragged her sleep-addled self to the balcony as she always did to raise the sun for the morning. As she always did not, she trod muzzle-first into a dense thicket of leaves and twigs.

There should be no bramble here, she realized. The sensation was novel, tickling her face, and the scent very familiar... Then she felt the tendrils wrapping around her head and she lurched away -- in surprise more than panic (it hadn't been moving that fast).

Her chamber doors burst open. "Princess! Good, ah, take another step back, please!"

She did, and turned to see her royal horticulturist. "Silver Twig. Good morning. Might this have something to do with your breakthrough you mentioned yesterday?"

"Ah, yes, Your Highness. We seem to have hit a bit of a snag. The good news is, once this is all sorted out, we'll have top-quality white tea for years."

Previous entry (no longer submitted for this month's event) archived behind spoiler tags.

Affliction

I told you, it's just a little curse." Blue Shift smiled weakly at Tempest, wiping the spit and blood dribbling down her chin. The smile succeeded in reaching her sagging, exhausted eyes. "I'm fine," Blue insisted. "It's more embarrassing, spitting up blood in front of you."

Tempest nodded, steel will curbing her instinctual reactions. Her eyes slid to the aide galloping for a mop.

Hooves scraped on concrete as Blue pushed back up to sitting and re-lit her horn. The girder resumed its transformation to dirigible spinal lattice.

"You shouldn't --" Tempest began.

"It will kill me either way, eventually," Blue calmly explained. "And I am the only one who can do this work for you. For them."

Cutting, "Them?"

"My team."

Tempest regarded Blue. "Is this... Are they, worth it?"

"Who can say? But I'm glad for everyone standing by my side."

"Aren't they afraid?"

Placidly, "Not anymore."

7449375

This one took a bit to find inspiration for, but I'm still in time!

"Okay," Twilight said as she tried to rub away the migraine building in her temples, "Let's start over. You're Rainbow Dash."

"Duh," replied Rainbow.

An annoyed glare - then Twilight continued. "And you're human now."

Rainbow wiggled her fingers at Twilight to confirm it.

"Because you went really fast."

Rainbow's nod confirmed it. "Basically."

Twilight's migraine was getting worse. "That's incredibly stupid."

"Nah, makes perfect sense." Dash dismissed Twilight's disbelief with infuriating ease. "You told me yourself how Einswine's theories say that the faster you go, the more time dilates. I just accelerated enough to skip a few million years of evolution ahead."

Twilight's eye twitched. "And you're saying that humans evolved from ponies."

The human shrugged. "Seems like I'm proof."

That shrug sent Twilight off on another ranting bender.

Outside the window, the pegasus Rainbow winked at her teenage human double before ducking away to giggle more.

Just over 72 hours to go, folks!

7449375

Children of the Sun (Flunked Math, But Passed Applied Astronomy)
by MockingBirb

When Twilight stepped into her mentor's bathroom, she saw a giant alicorn covered with roaring flames.

Twilight screamed.

The flaming creature cannonballed into the bathtub. Surrounded by steam, Celestia said, "Don't worry. It's just today's lesson."

"A lesson in what?"

"Alicorn genealogy. Long ago, we needed somepony who could create and control a sun at will."

"Create?"

"You don't think suns just happen, do you? But unicorn magic wasn't strong enough. An alicorn princess knew we needed more firepower than unicorn magic alone could provide. So she married a kirin."

"Ok."

"Their daughter was half kirin/nirik, half alicorn. So she married another kirin. THEIR daughter was two halves kirin/nirik, one half alicorn."

"I don't think that's how math--"

"Generations later, the combined powers of many halves can create and control a sun at will!" Celestia preened herself. "And that's how we have sunlight whenever we need it today!"

Author's Note

Obviously takes a bit of inspiration from "Twilight Takes a DNA Test," for which it suggests extra backstory.

Borrowing a leaf from KwirkyJ, I also have a second story which is NOT entered in the contest.
Not an Entrant

Growing the Family Tree
by MockingBirb

"Dahwhinny had it pahtly wrong, and pahtly right," Filthy Rich opined.

"What do you mean, daddy?" asked Diamond Tiara.

"He said all creatures evolve bah the survival of the fittest. An' you know what that means."

"I'm not sure I do."

"Some ponies think fittest means the fastest."

"Well, running or flying super fast can be useful."

"Some ponies think it means the strongest."

"Once I saw Bulk Biceps rescue a pony who was trapped under an overturned cart."

Filthy nodded. "Twilight maht think the smahtest is the fittest t' survive."

"Smarts are good too," Diamond said.

Filthy smiled. "But if you want to use somepony's speed, or strength, or smahts, you know what it takes."

Diamond batted her eyelashes. "I'd ask my daddy to use his money. Just hire them."

Filthy chuckled. "Richest is best. And that's why tomorrow, you're marryin' the richest, ugliest pony in Equestria."

"What?!"

7461703
I am concerned that I am perpetuating a bad precedent. My submission post contains two stories because of historical significance -- a prior story was submitted early in the month, then superceded with what I feel to be a superior work; those who saw the first story may be confused or surprised to find it replaced during the judgement and feedback. I believe I have done similar in a previous event. However, seeing a post with two stories contained from the word go gives me pause... I'm imagining 'what if everyone did this?' and have concerns. As this is Loganberry's event, they should have the final say -- is either or both of these behaviors acceptable? Does this relate at all to 'ineligible' entrants submitting stories?

7462546
As far as this month's contest goes, I won't worry about it. Whatever's out in the open at closing time is what gets judged. Editing a story after closing time is already disallowed, and that includes changing which of two you submit. But assuming that doesn't happen, neither of you will be penalised in any way in terms of my decision this time.

I'll need to think a bit about what to do from April onwards. Once we're into feedback, I'd be happy to hear from anyone on the issue -- please leave it until then, though, to avoid swamping anyone who still wants to enter.

Ineligible authors aren't going to be a big deal in themselves, as there are only two: last month's winner and me! As such I think whatever is decided for eligible authors can also apply to them.

7449375

*Yawn* A productive day should start with some morning exercise!

Hoof stretches! One! Two! Three! Four! Check!

Wing stretches! One! Two! Three! Four! Che-- “Spike!”

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Spike huffed into view. “Geez, do you have any idea-- whoa, where did those come from?”

“They shouldn’t be there. I’ve already ascended! I shouldn’t be getting more wings!”

“Maybe you ascended again?”

“That's not scientifically possible!”

“Sheesh, just calm down, Twilight.” *Scribble scribble scribble foom*. “Here, I’ve sent a letter to Princess Celestia. I’m sure she can sort this out.”

Twilight sighed. “You’re right, Spike. No need to panic. I’m sure she’ll know what to do.”

*Belch* “She’s replied! Dear Twilight. Yadda yadda yadda… congratulations on your double-princesshood. We gladly offer our fealty to you, Princess Princess Twilight, new ruler of Equestria? O-okay, maybe not.”

Twilight groaned. "I'm going back to bed. Wake me up when this is all over."

Sheesh, I'm out of practice. Oh well, good enough...

--Sweetie Belle

24 hours to go, everyone!

7449375
Apple Teeny

"Um... the Crusaders did it?"
"I don't believe ya."
"Dash and Pinkie pranked you?"
"Twilight, I'm the Element of Honesty. I can spot a lie when I see one. And I see one now."
"Oh. Right. Well, would you believe-"
"Nope."
"It was worth a try..."
Applejack narrowed her eyes menacingly. "Tell me, Twi, why in this glorious land of Equestria are all of my apples are shrunk to the size of peas, or so help me..."
"Have been shrunk", Twilight corrected meekly.
"Spill it, Twi," Applejack continued, unhindered. "And don't try any more excuses, 'cause this gal ain't buyin it.
"Iwasexperimentingwithmymagictocreateanewstrainofapplesbutitbackfiredandthishappened!"
"Ya better have a counterspell, Twilight Sparkle..."
"I-I do, in fact."
Applejack calmed instantly. "Well, why didn't ya say so? Get magicking!"
Twilight had never thought she'd learn anything useful from Trixie. It was time to put the growth illusion to good use.

7449581 7449592 7450399 7450418 7450613 7451050 7460254 7461875 7463145 7463669

All right, everyone, your time is up! We had a pretty good entry of 10 stories this month. It's nice to see a mixture of names old and new here; you are all very welcome and thank you very much for giving this a go!

As usual, I will now spend a few days thinking about my decision and then (surprisingly enough) I'll announce it. Meanwhile, also as usual at this point...

...feedback is open!

7463669
I DID laugh.

7449581 Unknown
I wonder if there is a backstory to your sequel or if the prequel is only implied. It seems like a HiE story. Makes me wonder what happened in Everfree in regards to the human. So many hints beg so many questions. Alas, 150 words alow only for so much content.

You sure show the power of evolution. What once was out of reach is now achievable.

7449592 The Role We Must Play
I would almost think that Twilight devolved from the ruler of Equestria to a mere toy. I assume the evolution part for the show itself. The show might have ended, but the toylines live on a life of their own. The story is still evolving.

7450399 Hidden Potential
I got the same feels I got from watching:

You used to have a title: Friendship is greed, didn't you? I kind of like the prospect of Spike's dragon greed being evolved by friendship to an even greater height than gems and luxury items could ever achieve. One could say that the whole show was about Twilight trying to evolve Equestria through friendship.

Well, when I start delving into headcanon territory, you know the source material must be good. So, good job on that!

7450418 Proactive Selection
I'm glad you pointed out that mortality is something we could fix with evolution. Most don't even consider this fact.

It's a nice representation of one who is a proponent of evolution and one who is accepting things as they currently are.

7450613 I Don't Read It For The Articles

corporately influenced claims about future human evolution

Are you referring to the claims of
http://www.eugenicscrusade.com/
?

Either way, great job. I'm a bit unsure what happened with Rainbow Dash and her trading cards. I assume she somehow lost them in a bet with Twilight. I'm also not sure what Twilight expected Rainbow Dash to do in order to get them back. But, 150 words only allow for so much context.

Anyway, great job on the humor. I like your sarcastic writing style.

7451050 Camellia
I love me some tentacle porn in the morning. Good job.

Why settle for tea if you can have sex & tea, right?

I'd like to think the 'once this is all sorted out' relates to Celestia being wrapped in tentacles, then again, I'm probably butchering your story with my headcanon. Sorry about that. It's a compliment, really.

7460254 Dilation
I always enjoy stories where someone's mind is blown, whether being by a hard-to-swallow truth or a prank.

You really captured Rainbow Dash's character with this one. I can imagine her butchering Einstein's name like that and simplifying complex principles.

I also like the implicit assumption that the human Rainbow Dash had to be completely naked in order for this prank to work. For Rainbow Dash, I bet it would still be completely worth it for the sake of the prank.

7461875 Children of the Sun (Flunked Math, But Passed Applied Astronomy)
I get controlling the sun, but did Celestia actually create one?

Either way, I'm glad to see planned parenthood in action with desirable traits in mind. Celestia is the way she is because her predecessors carred. They didn't just spawn something random. They spawned something with a purpose.

And you also put some humor in it, which is always a plus.

7461875 Growing the Family Tree
I have a bit of a problem with mixing genetic traits on the same level with materialistic possessions. I'd rather see a genetic trait (like greed or ambition) be praised. However, I'm glad to see a discussion on what traits are desirable and which ones (being ugly) are irrelevant

7463145 Double Trouble
And when she wakes up later that day, she finds out she has evolved even more

Many think of themselves as the end product of evolution. But you raise an important question. What's the next evolutionary step?

7463669 Apple Teeny
You like to cut it close, don't you?

It sounds to me like Twilight devolved the apples. The apples we have today didn't exist in the past. We evolved them to be big.

A nice twist would be if Twilight told Applejack that she only removed genetic manipulation from her apples. This is something most farmers should learn. Nothing they grow is natural. It has all been tampered with on a genetic level. All food we consume has been artificially evolved.

Then again, I'm butchering your story, aren't I?

7463914

I also like the implicit assumption that the human Rainbow Dash had to be completely naked in order for this prank to work.

...I had absolutely 100% not thought of that at all.

7463945 But from what you wrote, it's as clear as day. Your dirty unconscious mind betrays you ensures quality writing.

I also like how writing about naked teens is technically illegal, but you don't even care if FBI breaks down your door. I tip my hat to you, you brave person.

In the spirit of breaking the law, have an illegal video with minors wearing sexy, tight clothing:

7463914
Yeah, if I'd had the words left, I was going to have Twilight send Celestia a letter saying that as Princes Princess of Equestria, she was delegating and instructing Celestia and Luna to run Equestria until further notice, then she would have gone to bed, and on waking up, she was going to have two horns.

I didn't feel like I could free up enough space at that point, and figured having her just go to bed worked, though...

--Sweetie Belle

7463914

I would almost think that Twilight devolved from the ruler of Equestria to a mere toy. I assume the evolution part for the show itself. The show might have ended, but the toylines live on a life of their own. The story is still evolving.

Now that you point that out, I'm starting to notice a lot of volving at play here.

Devolving into toys, evolving with a sentient plastic figurine, evolving the story with a child's imagination, devolving it into the reality that it's just a kid playing. Even the girl has some evolution to herself as I decided to look at the first generation and took Megan (pretty much the only human in Equestria) to be this little girl; jumping many generations to take part in this story.

7463914 7463945
"And the outfit?"
"Yeah, I evolved clothes a bit after my fur fell out. Don't tell Rarity."

7464878 Nah, clothes would make Twilight suspicious. Rainbow Dash wouldn't put the prank at risk over something like this.

So yes, Rainbow Dash is completely nacked. The story can't work without this fact. It's paramount that Rainbow Dash be completely nacked! Her plot depends on it.

7449581 7449592 7450399 7450418 7450613 7451050 7460254 7461875 7463145 7463669

Results time! Once again, thank you to everyone who entered. As is so often the case, narrowing down the list was extremely difficult -- but the good sort of difficult.

Judge's Award for Subverting the Rules in a Way He Hadn't Thought Of goes to Morning Glory. Doing that has a long and honourable history in writing contests, of course! Though the other thing that has a long and honourable history is the judge only letting it through once. You are the once.

Honourable Mention goes to FanOfMostEverything. The general idea of "How can Twilight avoid outliving her friends?" is a common one in ponyfic, but this is the first time I've seen this take on it. Discord is very Discord, which is always something I admire. I like Twilight being equal to him, too: it very much feels like Princess Twilight here, rather than the less experienced mare of her unicorn days.

The winner this month is TCC56. I shall of course pretend I didn't see Bad Dragon's take on this fic. Regardless of that, I thought this was very amusing; the fact that I've recently read Chris's Demise Reprise (which also features Rainbow "Stupid Logic" Dash) may have helped. I'm not sure about the use of "bender" -- maybe it's a UK thing, but over here that generally implies a drinking spree -- but that's minor enough to overlook.

A big thank you once again to everyone who entered, and congratulations to the prize winners. TCC56, you've been around this block before, so you know how it goes: please come up with a prompt for the April contest and post it in this thread.

Feedback chat is still open, too.

7460254

Congratulations!

--Sweetie Belle

7466389

bender

Headcanon accepted!

7460254

Hi, TCC56. You won this month, as mentioned above. As such, can we have your choice of April prompt, please? Thanks!

7468350
Sorry! Heck of a weekend and it slipped my mind. My bad.

You know, I've been reading a fair bit of Rarity-related works lately so how about...

'Drama Queen'.

7468352
No worries, all is good now.

And thank you! I'll get things updated now and then (I hope) remember to post the April thread on Thursday.