Bonus Chapter: Equestria's Newest Dictator
Dear princess Celestia,
I am writing this with a dictation spell I learned recently, so there may be some mistakes in my writing here and there. Sorry in advance.
Anyway, this is Sweetie Belle, Rarity’s sister, and I thought I’d write this letter to tell you about an important lesson I learned. Don’t worry, it’s really important, and I wouldn’t try to send it if I thought it’d waste your time.
*ahem* A few days ago, I had an accident involving magic. I tried to practise, I overdid it and I kinda hurt myself because I was getting stressed out about it. I got into it too much because I felt like magic should be something I can do and I could hard to get it. Work hard, I said work! But as I got better, Twilight Sparkle showed me that magic isn’t about getting what you want; it’s about letting things happen as they need to happen.
Wait, does that need a semicolon or a colon? Oh, where’s that book? I had it here a second ago. No, Miss Cheerilee, I’m not doing anything. Phew, that was close. Now where’s that book? Wait, is this thing still writing? How do you turn it off? Argh, dumb spell!
Okay, anyway, Twilight taught me magic isn’t something you work like a muscle. While muscles can grow with the strain you put on them, your magic can only grow when you grow. It’s important that you don’t overdo it, and you don’t get obsessed over mastering spells. If you do, you can really hurt yourself, and scare the ponies who care about you.
So, in short, Princess Twilight taught me that I shouldn’t get caught up on mastering spells just because I think I should. I should decide for myself what kind of magic I’d like, and nopony else can decide that for me. I should only learn spells that I know are worth learning, spells I can use, and most importantly: spells I can enjoy learning and using. Because if magic can’t be fun, why do it, right?
I also finally learned what Shining Armour meant with what he told my sister at the wedding. I’m not sure why they were talking about it, but I understand what he meant now.
“The best kind of attack spell isn’t the one you don’t need to cast; it’s the one you only need to cast once."
Finally, I learned that it’s wrong to use magic to scare your classmates, even if they are bullies and even if they dare you to. You should never use your magic against your fellow ponies, and you should never use magic when you’re angry. Not because it’s wrong, but because even if you can reverse it, like, oh, I don’t know, turning some ponies into balloons for only ten seconds… maybe twenty… thirty, tops. Well, an hour isn’t that long, either, especially if you keep them company and go playing together. It’s not like they don’t float in water when they’re like that, and it’s not like anypony would want to lose their pooltoys, ever. Anyway, you shouldn’t do it because it’s not fair and it’s a lot scarier when it’s against ponies who see you every day. It’s not nice to make ponies scared of you, even if you yourself were scared of them before. Although, I guess that goes both ways, since you see bullies every day, too, and they don’t stop. I don’t know if turning bullies into balloons for a while would make them be nice. You might need to ask somepony to do more research on that, Your Highness. I’d be happy to volunteer, if you ever, you know, officially announce that kind of research.
Your newest dictator (at least I think that’s what that word means),
Sweetie Belle
Young lady, what do you think you’re doing? I’m not doing anything, Miss Cheerilee, honest! What is that? Are you using a spell to write a letter during detention? Quick, Spike, express delivery!
Express wha-warghl-ptooey!
End transmission. See spell mutation for additional options.
Celestia furrowed her brow and rubbed her forehead as she read the hastily written letter by the little ‘dictator’. She sighed. “Oh, Luna, what horrors have I wrought?”
Luna took the letter in her magic and read it. “Oh. Oh, my. What did she… oh, balloons, even? Back in our day, we were happy if we got toads, especially the nobility. Goodness, though, that is quite the achievement for such a little girl. Can’t imagine that spell came easily.”
Celestia gave off the most royal of ‘urghs’ known to pony ears. “Somehow, the word ‘achievement’ wasn’t the first to come to mind. I do hope Sweetie Belle doesn’t make a habit of it, or keeps sending letters. It is sweet, and she’ll learn her lesson, I’m sure, but I can’t have every little foal in Ponyville sending me letters. I shudder to think what it would do to Spike’s digestive system.”
Luna chuckled. “You should feel honoured, Celestia. Though I will admit, little Sweetie Belle seems to be taking her newfound power rather lightly. I’d surmise the value of moderation hasn’t been a part of her curriculum yet.”
Celestia stared at the wall. “Indeed. It seems that by making Twilight Sparkle a teacher in her own right, I have created a monster that creates other monsters.”
Luna rolled her eyes. “Mother would be proud, sister.”
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Great story, would read again
3906486
Chuckles achieved. Mission accomplished.
I never thought I'd say this, because it's usually my favorite part of most stories, but you focus way too much on dialogue, leaving every other element as barely more than a skeleton. For example, you describe Sweetie Belle as having a fear of being blown away, but you don't let the audience feel it the same way you force us to feel her initial fear of being trapped (which you did really well, by the way), unable to even move or talk. The method and explanation of the transformation is interesting, though, and there are plenty enough jokes that I think a "Comedy" tag would be warranted.
3906502
Again: it was rushed. And I'll be sure to keep that in mind for any future transformation stories, if any.
Edit: By that I mean you're right, I didn't put as much thought into Sweetie's thoughts once she was already transformed. The reason that it didn't shine through so much is because she was lacking most of the things she could use to express it. I could have gone for trembling membranes or feeling a phantom heart race, maybe, but at the time I didn't see the need or the option. I will keep that remark in mind, though, it's a good point.
The three best pony races:
Balloonicorns.
Earth Pooltoys.
And Pega...
...uhh...
I got nothin'.
3911264
I'm surprised no one's thought of that, actually. The thought of a latex pony race has crossed my mind. Not like an ancient race, but a new mutation to resist against some of the modern threats. I've had this thought of a scenario where Sweetie Belle basically saves Ponyville from a mind leech infestation by turning herself into a balloon: no brains to leech onto. Add in Twilight and you've got a whirlwind adventure. But a whole race? Latex ponies, sure.
Balloonicorns, Earth pooltoys, and Inflatus ponies, or Inflati? And of course rubber alicorns, because that's one bit of bragging rights I'll treasure forever.
Hmm... inflatable pegasus, rubber pegasus. Wait, hang on.
Pegastretch.
Huh. That wasn't exactly the sort of 'dictator' I expected from this chapter.
Excellent story! Very enjoyable.
3912893
The words "What are you, a dictionary?" seem appropriate to describe Sweetie's reasoning there.
3914498
I imagine that is a consequence of Sweetie's (as yet unknown to her) cutie-mark talent as a singer; she knows all the words(1), so that she can use them in song lyrics and easily get lines that rhyme and fit the rhythm.
(1)Except, maybe, the ones unsuitable for foals
3914693
Huh. I never considered that one. *takes note* Thanks for pointing that out, it could come in useful sometime.
And now I'm stuck imagining Apple Bloom singing a Sweetie song called 'Potater Dictator'
3914726
My pleasure.
Where can I find the balloon ponies contest entries? Is there a group for this? Any and all info on this would be appreciated.
I also love this story. It's adorable.
I like the premise and light-hearted nature. It was light on details of turning into a balloon, but I like some of her thinking and the inevitable reversal on DT and SS at the end. I'm judging for the contest and should have results soon.
3922875
Right here is where the non-clop entries of the contest are placed. I can't link to the clop, since this isn't an M-rated fic, but you shouldn't have any trouble finding them if you click around in the group.
Glad you liked it!
Well, I'd never bully anyone, but being turned into a living plastic/latex shell? Oh my god, yes plz.
Why did I only see this chapter now...?
Why didn't I have this favorited already?
4067564
. Hope you enjoyed the little blurb of an epilogue.
No idea. Glad you did, though, on both counts
4067654
Did I?! You're humor is exactly the kind I enjoy most.
This was fantastic. The portrayal of unicorn magic, the gradual recovery, the karmic payback, the princesses' reactions, all marvelously done. I can;t help but suspect that Luna may have a job open for Sweetie when she's old enough. After all, balloonifying is just the kind of nonlethal pacifier that seems perfect for the Guard.
Thanks for this story.
4072884
Non-lethal pacifier? Sure, if you remove the ability to move, which I'd wager she can do. More importantly, though, suppose a bunch of brain slugs invade that crawl into ponies' ears and manipulate the nervous system?
*poof* *spit* "Nice try, but you can't control an airhead."
That was my first instinct. Pacifier's definitely an option, though.
lol.
Hmm...What if you were to continue writing about Sweetie's magic practice? I would love to see what other similar results would occur in her experiments.