Distant music from the Pinkie party to end all Pinkie parties echoed through the empty shop floor of the Carousel Boutique. The sounds were muffled by scores of buildings until only the thundering bass line and occasional whoop of joy broke through the stifling stillness. Luna’s moon hung large and heavy in the sky beyond the windows, well past its zenith. It spilled silver light across discarded bolts of fabric and the occasional ponyquin. The cheery jangle of the shop bell broke the silence, quickly silenced by a surge of azure magic.
“Huh?” Sweetie Belle raised her head from Rarity’s mane, blinking owlishly. “What happened to the party?”
Rarity smiled, closing the door as softly as she could. “Some ponies are still a little too little to party all night, Sweetie Belle.”
“I’m not—” She interrupted herself with a huge yawn. “—too little.” Sweetie nestled herself back down on Rarity’s withers. “The Crusaders can party and party and party and...” Sweetie trailed away into a sleepy sigh and Rarity rolled her eyes. The Crusaders had, in fact, turned up in a pile of discarded cupcake wrappers underneath the snack table, fast asleep. Rarity intended to save the pictures for Sweetie’s inevitable teenage ‘I’m not cute!’ phase. Although it would be a nightmare to get all the crumbs out of her coat come the morning.
Rarity picked her way across the boutique floor with the ease of long practice. A trickle of magic pulled open the curtain that hid the more domestic areas of her home and she stepped through. An alien pull of muscles rippled across her barrel as she pulled Sweetie’s sleepy form closer to her back with her wings.
A trickle raced down her spine as Sweetie ran a hoof along her feathers. “I really like your wings,” Sweetie Belle murmured. “They’re so soft.”
Rarity stifled a giggle. And ticklish, but she wasn't going to give her sister that kind of ammunition. “Thank you, Sweetie Belle. I rather like them too.”
She made up way up the backstairs, her hornlight the barest glimmer needed to see by.
“Rarity?” Sweetie interjected, her eyes still closed. “You’re going to be a Princess now, right?”
“Well, Princess Celestia hasn’t exactly set a date for a coronation... but I’d say it's only a matter of time.” Rarity tried and failed to keep the grin from her face.
“And that means I get to be a Princess too?”
Rarity pursed her lips. “Umm, of course it does, Sweetie Belle,” she said, hurriedly. She was going to have to check with Twilight just how titles flowed when it came to alicorns.
“And Applebloom? And Scootaloo?” She let out another yawn. “And Applebloom?”
Rolling her eyes Rarity stepped into Sweetie Belle’s room. “Don’t worry about that, Sweetie Belle.”
“But we wanted to be Royal Crusader Princess!” Sweetie squeaked.
A wave of magic lifted the half-asleep filly from Rarity’s back and gently placed her under the sheets. “Don’t fret, Sweetie, it’ll give you wrinkles,” Rarity chided. “Just sleep. You still have school in the morning.”
“Murh, Princesses don’t go to school,” Sweetie murmured, frowning, although she didn’t open her eyes.
“Somehow I think Twilight would disagree.” Strenuously. Using both a chalkboard and overhead projector. “Now, goodnight, Sweetie Belle.” She bent down and kissed her sister on the forehead.
“G’night... Hey, Rarity. Mom and Dad missed your party.” Sweetie scrunched up her nose. “That’s sad.”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “It won’t be the first thing they have missed,” she replied, with perhaps a touch more venom in her voice than was really due. “Still, maybe I’ll send them a postcard about it.”
Sweetie cracked open her eyes. “Oh. I could make them a postcard!” she exclaimed, sleepily.
“In the morning. Goodnight, Sweetie Belle.” Rarity kissed her sister more forcefully, pushing her head back down onto the pillow.
“Oh, okay.” Sweetie Belle yawned and buried herself deeper into the blankets.
Seizing her chance, Rarity backed away hurriedly and almost made it to the door.
“Will we have to move?” Sweetie Belle cut in again, in a sleepy mumble.
Rarity froze. “I’m sorry?” she exclaimed, whirling to face her sister. “Why would we have to move?”
“Princesses live in castles, but you don’t live in a castle with all the other pumpernickels.” Sweetie rolled onto her side and began to snore.
For a moment Rarity groped in vain for a reply, but Sweetie Belle had long since fallen deep into Princess Luna’s realm. Shaking her head, Rarity beat a hasty retreat. It wasn’t wise to put too much credence on Sweetie’s musings at the best of times, let alone while half asleep. Still, even as she settled into her own bed she couldn’t banish the niggling doubt.
Applejack was a mare that rose with the sun. She used to say she rose with Celestia but after hearing Twilight’s disturbing stories about the solar monarch carrying out her astronomical duties from under a heavy comforter Applejack avoided the phrase. Regardless, the morning light saw no change to her routine save one crucial factor.
She sat perched on her windowsill, watching the dawn's light creep across the orchard. It was a proper perch, all four hooves lined up in a row on the windowsill in such a precarious manner that she should have broken her foolish neck a good five minutes ago. In a way she expected to, but the minutes ticked by without the penny, or pony, dropping.
Grown earth pony mares weren’t found in trees as a rule. Applejack was a good climber for a pony, it came from growing up in an orchard. Still, the days of being able to scramble up to the highest branches and spend a day nestled between the leaves were long since behind her. She’d lost the balance for it years ago, boasting far too much muscle and far too little time to practice. It wasn’t a skill she’d ever lamented losing to be fair. Sure, watching Rainbow Dash perch on frankly impossible objects—branches, clothes lines, Big Mac’s head—was galling. Not to mention put serious question to just how much pigeon lay in the pegasus’ ancestry. Still, beyond the odd childish twinge of jealousy Applejack never cared. It was just one of those ways that earth ponies and pegasi were different.
And how alicorns and earth ponies were different, now that she came to think about it.
Her ear flicked as Big Mac let himself into the room. The stallion, with surprising silence, made his way to Applejack’s perch and gazed out of the window alongside her.
“Mornin’, Mac. Found your way home in the end then?”
Mac furrowed his brow at her.
“Hey, if you’re going to go to town on the hard cider then Ah get some sisterly teasing in.” She nudged him in the shoulder. “Now Ah just need to figure out who you’ve got your eye on. Unless it just so happens to be Cherilee again.”
“That was love poison,” Mac said, his frown deepening.
“Yeah, that only excuses you the first date,” Applejack shot back, grinning.
Big Mac just rolled his eyes and turned back to the field.
“Ah come on, Mac, you usually put up at least some fight.” Applejack nudged him again but Mac continued his lonely vigil. “Come on, what’s eating you?”
“Just...” He paused and let out a long sigh. “Just wondering when you’ll be the one raising the sun.”
Applejack blinked, then let out a bark of laughter. “Whoowee, that’s a hoot, Mac!” she exclaimed, slapping him on the shoulder. “Little ol’ me raising the sun. Ah wouldn’t worry about that anytime soon.”
Big Mac just shrugged. “Seems a mite more likely today than yesterday,” he said, with a pointed look at Applejack’s horn.
“Oh come on don’t be like that, Mac.” Applejack shook her head, fighting the urge to touch the new protrusion. She’d heard unicorns could go blind from rubbing their horns too much. “So Ah’ve picked up a few extras. Don’t mean I’m going to go live in a palace and raise the sun. Don’t mean Ah’m any different where it matters.”
“Nope... Don’t mean things ain’t gonna’ change, though.” Mac shook his head. “Are you okay with that?”
Applejack glared at him for a moment, but couldn’t hold it. “Not really.” She shrugged and shook head. “Still, it ain’t always a bad thing, though.”
“Ain’t always good.”
Both of the siblings glanced towards a little copse of trees near the back of the orchard. Few visited that part of the orchard, but all Apples ended their journeys there. Applejack looked away first as tears began to sting her eyes.
“Why’d you do it, AJ?” Mac asked at last.
Applejack frowned and then let out a long sigh. “Remember the year after Ah got my cutie-mark, there was that big drought because the weather service lost a couple typhoons. The crops weren’t growing right because of how dry the ground was and there wasn’t a single thing we could do about it. Old Water Wings wouldn’t give us a spare drop either, ‘cause the Harvests were slipping him bits under the table and a little more beside. Ah remember staring up at the clouds and promising I’d give a hind leg just for the chance to fly up there and a shake a few drops loose.”
With a little chuckle Applejack flexed her orange wings, splaying out her primary feathers. “Heh, looks like I got a better bargain than Ah ever hoped.” She caught Big Mac’s sceptical look. “Oh come on. This is a good thing.”
“Maybe.” Big Mac turned from the window and walked away. “Come on, we’ve plowing to do.”
Applejack rolled her eyes but followed, pausing only to pick up her hat. Big Mac would come around. He always did in the end.
There was no way to hide a horn. Fluttershy stood before her bathroom mirror, brush in hoof and fought back the tears as she tried yet another style. Her usual cascade of pink mane, so useful for hiding behind in an emergency, had failed. Pushing it all forward to cover the horn worked, but also left her blind. Pushing it all back just highlighted the new appendage and made her look like a punk-rocker. A parting didn’t work. A braid only drew more attention. A ponytail likewise. She wasn’t quite sure what she’d been thinking with dreadlocks but—while they certainly distracted from the horn—they only drew more attention.
A hammering from the bathroom door interrupted her third, frantic attempt to shape a quiff that didn’t make her look like a crazed animal maniac.
“Eeep!” Fluttershy dropped the brush with a startled squeak. “I mean... Um, who is it?”
There was no answer and the hammering redoubled. Hesitantly Fluttershy unlatched the bathroom door.
“Oh it’s only you Angel.”
The rabbit stormed in, shooting a glare at Fluttershy that asked whether she was quite done with the bathroom. He had a tiny towel under one arm and a bath cap over his ears.
“Umm, actually I was–”
That was good, because the little rabbit was long overdue his morning shower. He hopped over to the sink and gave her another pointed look. Didn’t Fluttershy have breakfast with the girls to get to?
“Oh... Well I’m was thinking of maybe staying home after all.” Fluttershy nervously ran a hoof through her mane. “I mean, I’m sure after the party last night the girls will understand that I need to– Um, need to– Oh, look after a sick chipmunk.”
Angel rolled his eyes as he climbed into the bowl. It sounded to him like somepony was avoiding going out.
“No, no, no, not at all,” Fluttershy protested. “I know Dale said he was feeling fine now but–”
And it wouldn’t have anything to do with trying to hide her horn behind that ridiculous manestyle?
“I wouldn’t call it ridiculous.” Angel tapped his foot and Fluttershy wilted under his gaze. “Oh you’re right! What am I going to do? Everypony will see the horn and then they’ll realise I’m a Princess and then they’ll all be looking at me.” She shuddered. “I can’t go through that again. I just can’t.”
Shaking his head Angel kicked the tap open. He figured it was too late to worry about being recognised after descending from the heavens in a blaze of light and magic visible to half of Equestria. But what did he know, he was just a rabbit.
Fluttershy’s pupils shrank to pinpricks.
Still, nothing to do but go out there and face the world. After all– The rabbit paused and put his paw against the tap, spraying water over Fluttershy and startling her out of her fear induced catatonia. After all, it wasn’t like she was just going to stop being an alicorn and if she never left the cottage again there would be a lot of hungry mouths to feed.
“Umm, maybe Harry could...” Fluttershy wilted under Angel’s glare. “Oh you're right. What have I done?”
Angel stepped under the tap and began to wash his ears. Other than ascend to a higher state and become a future immortal ruler of Equestria? Angel couldn’t imagine.
“But I didn’t want any of that,” Fluttershy protested. “I just... I just didn’t want to be left on my own.” Her gaze fell to her hooves, which she shuffled, nervously. “What am I going to do?” she asked in a murmur.
Same thing she always did, pluck up the courage and get out there.
“I’m not sure I’m brave enough.”
Angel rolled his eyes. She was brave enough to face down a dragon. Brave enough to fly in a tornado. Brave enough to befriend Discord. Even brave enough to read the spell. He figured she could handle it.
Fluttershy hung her head. “I wasn’t being brave when I read the spell. I was scared. Rainbow and Rarity had already gone. What would have happened if I'd been the only pony left? They would have abandoned me.”
Yeah right, like that was going to happen.
“I... suppose you’re right.”
Of course he was, that was the natural state of rabbits after all. Now, unless she wanted to see a bunny floss he recommended that she get moving. Get down to Ponyville and get them all used to the horn. There was no other way forwards.
Fluttershy grimaced. “Yeah, no other way.”
Sugarcube Corner had hosted more Princesses of Equestria than most bakeries, but even for Ponyville three alicorns sat around a table was unusual. They went more or less unnoticed, however, thanks to the blur of hyperactive energy chasing around after the dregs of the breakfast rush. Pinkie Pie raced across the floor, a plate balanced on each wing, serving at lightning speed with a smile and a wave for everypony that crossed her path.
“I don't know how she does it,” Rarity observed, frowning as she picked at a croissant. “I swear she must be running on three hours sleep.”
“Earth Pony stamina?” Applejack suggested, sipping from a deep mug of tea.
Rarity shot her a flat look. “Yes, well I'm waiting for that to kick in.”
Applejack smirked. “You’ll be waiting a mighty long time if that’s your attitude.”
A bell jangled as Twilight stumbled into the bakery, stifling a yawn. She cast a bleary eye across the room and spotted the trio at their table. With a groan she dropped onto one of the stools.
“Morning girls,” she said, yawning again. She paused, frowning at Fluttershy. “Umm, Fluttershy. What’s with the hat?”
With a nervous tug Fluttershy pulled the oversized floppy hat further down over her eyes. Twilight thought she recognised the disguise from Fluttershy’s brief time as a model. “Oh, no reason,” she said, hurriedly. “It was just such a sunny day I thought I would... Um, do something special.”
Twilight opened her mouth, but Rarity pointly shook her head behind Fluttershy. “Oh~kay. Well it looks nice.” She paused and pursed her lips. “Very... um, obscuring.”
Rarity facehooved.
“I know,” Fluttershy said, with a sad sigh. “But at least they’re looking at the hat, not the—” She swallowed a lump “—horn.”
“Oh come now, Fluttershy,” Rarity interjected, putting a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “You don’t need to be afraid. This is something to be proud of, something that a pony can stand up and shout about.”
“I don’t like shouting.” Fluttershy retreated further beneath the brim of her hat.
“I know, dear, but you don’t need to worry.” Rarity beamed, sweeping her free hoof across the room. “Look, all of Equestria lies open before us! While I’m sure there will be some adjustments to be made this can only be a good thing.” She paused, her smile wavering. “Right, girls?”
Twilight shrugged. “Somedays at least. There’s been days I’ll admit I’ve woken up and had to reassure myself it wasn’t all just a wonderful dream, but most days aren’t so simple.”
“Oh shoot, now you’re sounding like my brother,” Applejack cut in, banging a hoof on the table. “A couple of extra feather dusters ain’t gonna’ end the world no matter how you cut it. Sure, sure we’re gonna’ get a few funny looks, but ponies got over Twilight’s wings soon enough. No reason it’ll be any different for the rest of us.”
Twilight just shrugged, that was what she was afraid of.
“Hi girls!” Pinkie Pie chirped, sliding into a seat and dropped off a pair of drinks in front of herself and Twilight. Twilight’s was a coffee, a special blend she’d acquired through Princess Luna and so dark that it only emitted light via blackbody radiation. Pinkie’s might have been a hot chocolate but beneath the whipped cream, marshmallows, two flavours of ice cream, sprinkles and the lit sparkler it was hard to tell.
“Wowwee, what a morning. It’s like everypony in town wanted breakfast here for some reason.” Pinkie let out an anxious chuckle and her wings fluttered, lifting her from her seat for a moment. “It hasn’t been this busy since Princess Celestia visited. Everypony wanted to congratulate us, and thank me for the party, and ask me to bless their crops... Hey, Twilight. Is that something we can actually do?”
Twilight shrugged. “Maybe there’s a spell for it, but I would have asked Applejack before Celestia even a week ago.”
“Yeah that sounds like a better idea. All I know how to do is make rocks grow and nopony seems to like my pebble flan.” Pinkie sighed, as she cast a wary look over her shoulders. “Girls, has anypony else got an icky knot in their stomach?”
“How so, darling?” Rarity enquired.
“Oh, you know, that feeling when you have big important news to tell somepony, but you don’t want to tell somepony.” Pinkie sighed and rested her head on the table between her forehooves. “It’s just nerves, I guess. I’m trying to stay super excited but... well, there’s a load of little things. The Cake twins don’t seem to recognise me with the wings, and three ponies called me ma’am this morning, and Bon Bon is staking me out as a possible threat to Equestria. Again.”
There was a sudden clatter as, two tables over, Bon Bon dropped her fork.
“Hold up,” Applejack interjected. “What was that last one again?”
Pinkie pointed with a wingtip to two tables over where the cream coloured mare was suddenly engrossed in a newspaper. “Bon Bon’s on a stake out,” she said, with the calm assurance of stating simple fact. “You can tell because she’s ordered a rhubarb flan. She hates rhubarb, it takes her a long time to eat it and that gives her an excuse to hang around.”
The rest of the girls exchanged worried glances.
“Oh come now, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity scoffed. “Bon Bon sells candies, she’s not some kind of superspy. Look, she’s leaving now.”
Pinkie sighed, as Bon Bon made a hasty exit behind her. “I suppose you’re right. I guess I’m just a little jumpy. And worried. And a tiny bit hungry” She took a hasty bite out of the ice cream strata of her drink. “I want to keep feeling super excited but it’s just that... just that...”
“That despite the fact that this can only be considered to be a good thing, it’s still going to change every single plan you had for the future in ways you have no way of yet imagining?” Twilight completed. She took a sip of her coffee. “Yeah, I know what you’re feeling.”
The girls shared worried glances, after a long moment Rarity let out a deep sigh. “I suppose I should also admit that I’m a little concerned by the whole Princess situation. Sweetie Belle pointed out that Princesses aren’t known for their fashion design.”
“Or their farmin’,” Applejack muttered.
“Quite so. I know it's a silly thing to worry about at its heart but... I still am.” Rarity pursed her lips. “Does it get easier, Twilight?”
Twilight stared into her coffee for a moment. “I’d really like to say yes, but I still wake up in sweats afraid that Celestia and Luna are going to come down from Canterlot, announce they’re going to Mareami for six months and tell me to keep an eye on Equestria while they’re away.” She shuddered. “I know it's ridiculous, but I checked through six volumes on succession law and there’s absolutely nothing stopping them beyond a requirement that I demonstrate ‘appropriate martial ability’.”
“What, saving the world a half dozen times doesn’t count?” Applejack interjected.
Twilight opened her mouth to protest, paused, then let out a groan. “Okay, then there’s absolutely nothing stopping them.” She dropped her head to the table.
“Aww, don’t worry,” Pinkie said, patting her on the shoulder. She drew a bendy straw out from her mane and inserted one end in Twilight’s mouth and the other in her coffee. “Princess Celestia isn’t going to do that. And even if she did, we’ll be ruling right there alongside you so things will be just fine. Right, girls?”
Applejack and Rarity exchanged worried looks, Fluttershy ducked under the table.
“Right, girls?” Pinkie repeated, her eyes narrowing.
“Oh, of course.”
“Shucks, ‘course we will.”
“Umm. Well, as long as I don’t have to make any speeches...”
“Thanks girls.” Twilight lifted her head and smiled. “And sorry for being so down on you all. Let’s just say you aren’t the only ponies who’ve had their world upended in the last day.”
“Think nothing of it,” Rarity said, with a flick of her mane. “And thank you for not saying ‘I told you so’.”
Twilight smirked. “Oh no, I’m saving that for Rainbow Dash when she finally realises the downsides to being a Princess.” She paused, glancing over her shoulder. “Where is she anyway?”
“Oh, um, she left a note on her door this morning,” Fluttershy said, poking her head over the lip of the table. “She said she had to go to Cloudsdale for some unfinished business.”
“Heh.” Applejack leaned back on her stool. “Ten bits says she’s rubbing her new horn in somepony’s face.”
“Oh no, no, no,” Fluttershy protested. “Rainbow would never do anything like that. I’m sure, whatever she’s doing, she’s just as worried about having a horn as we are.”
Rainbow Dash strode, unannounced into the dining room just as her family were sitting down to breakfast. She paused a moment on the threshold, angling her head so the shiny new horn was clearly visible as a streak of sky blue in her mane.
“Hey Mom! You remember when you said I’d never amount to anything after dropping out of Flight School?”
7126473
Having individual ponies THAT powerful (alicorns) around and not tied to the country by some reins of responsibility would create all kinds of problems. Royalty isn't a free pass, it's duty and work. The busier you are serving the people who look up to you, less chance you have to get peeved off by something stupid in your personal life that a normal person might get into a fistfight over and later forget about, but you end up blasting a hole in the countryside or making new mountains in someone's city or creating an endless storm.
The more powerful you are in an organized setting, the more restraints you need on you to keep from making a mess of things. Saying "Oh I'm sure they'll be nice and responsible on their own because they always have been." about ANYONE is inviting riots and death and mayhem and corruption. Maybe even noise complaints.
Rainbow Dash, serving up the extra-grande-size humble pie
Oh that part at the end with Rainbow showing off her horn to her mother like that was pure Gold, I mean really goes and shows off to her mother that she was able to become a princess even after she dropped out of Flight School, well I can't wait to see what happens next, say what if Scootaloo finds that spell book and shows it to Apple-bloom and Sweetie-Belle and they go and read the spell together then, can anyone say CMC Alicorn Fillies.
I wonder if she has Gadget around somewhere, too.
Nice double goodies! You're rather keeping up with the shenanigans potential of this, keep up the good work!
7230055 FOOL! YOU WILL DOOM US ALL!!
I think you mean elusive. Illusive means illusory or deceitful.
Like the way it's going so far. Please, continue.
I'm just waiting for Discord to start handing out flyers with the spell on them to everypony.
Well, I can guess somepony's in for a shock. (I'm looking at you Rainbow's Mother.)
Rainbow dash, never change, never.
7230055 I fear the very idea of those three becoming alicorns. I don'the even want to...... NO, THE HORROR..... THE HORROR!
7230014
"To whom much is given, much is required" as the bible puts it. Although I do prefer Uncle Ben's way of putting it "With great power comes great responsibility"
7230055
Sure. I'll say it right now.
Apocalypse.
That last line is cracking, I yelped laughter when I read it. Oh Rainbow Dash. So modest and thoughtful. So self-effacing and contemplative.
Love Rarity and Sweetie Belles' conversation too. Sleepy Sweetie is just precious.
I do like where this is going - it's funny, but the central story is a really solid one, and I really feel for poor Fluttershy.
The implication that this situation is happening again is proof that this Fluttershy is a dimension hopper of some sort.
Another enjoyable chapter. Great job.
Well. That happened.
Before anyone points out how I'm an alicorn, I'm not REALLY one. Just the 3 magic types in one body. No immortality or alicorn magic. I like to stay hidden so others don't get confused and either bow down to me or get called "TOO OP" from beyond the 4th wall. I'm not "too OP". I can barely fly and do magic...
7230093 Maybe he doesn't think that the middle ground actually exists?
7230147 Oh come on, those three won't do that, of course I would like to see where in the Time line this story is at, is it after the first movie or before it, because if it's before the first one I would think Sunset would rather get the spell for herself to make her a Alicorn instead of Twilights Crown.
Bon Bon's spying has nothing on Pinkie's. She's so good that she has spy records on when, how and why Bon Bon does her spying. Pinkie should take over heading the secret agents.
7230055
I seem to be the only one not disturbed by this idea, but I'm weird, so... yeah.
Anyway, good chapters.
To be fair, Bonbon has had training to combat eldritch horrors. She's probably been prepared for Pinkie shedding her mortal shell for a long time, though she was probably anticipating a lot more tentacles and cackling mouths.
Also, very interesting choice to have Celestia see her younger self in Rainbow Dash. She'll have a lot of wisdom to offer... provided Dash ever decides to listen. I assume that will come when she realizes she can't join the Wonderbolts.
Excellent installments, especially as reality comes crashing down on the newly ascended. Well, the first few pebbles of the avalanche, anyway. Looking forward to the rest of the cascade.
7230155 No, it's a reference when everyone was looking at her when she was a supermodel. Remember, Rarity accidentally made her a star?
What, saving the world a half dozen times doesn’t count?” Applejack interjected.
Hah, she got ya there, Twily. Best line I've read today.
Hope they don't leave that thing laying around. Somepony could accidentally pick it up while sweeping up party litter as community service for getting drunk and serenading Luna and find themselves Princified.
It was just one song, dammit! Sure, "The Moon Rises" isn't politically correct, but...!
I kind of want Discord's reaction! Especially about Fluttershy's ascension!
why is RD is best pony? Because thats exactly what I would do in that situation!
7230404 Of course, but that's not as interesting now is it?
7230147 That's not how you spell Ragnarok.
Great continuation to the story. Well done and I can't wait to see what Rainbow Dash is going to be saying to her parents.
Electing to ignore that,
The sleep over was fun wasn't it?
“Urgh.” Twilight pressed a cushion over her eyes. “I’ve told you before, Pinkie, it's against the law to claim you’re a doctor.”
Twilight did the exact same thing in all but name.
“You sorted my books, by colour!” Twilight jammed a hoof at the rainbow spread of books on the shelf, her eye twitching.
Read a story where AJ used the CMC to get revenge on Twilight by telling them to help Twilight, and they did the same thing.
“I like it!” Pinkie cut in, investigating the ‘pink’ section of the shelving and doing a fair job of impersonating a chameleon.
Reminds me of a Muppets Baby Cartoon where Kermit did the same thing with a green sheet of paper.
‘Euclid's Elementary Guide To Eldritch Abominations: Do Not Give To Pinkie Pie’
Considering her nature, wouldn't that count as a survival guide for the things she might run into?
High Priestess in a Nightmare cult
I still say that explains where all of the Luna's Witnesses came from.
Fluttershy, who up until that moment had been hiding behind Spike’s baby photo album, let out a startled 'eep!'
When did she show up?
This is my destiny, don’t you understand?
Last I checked, your destiny was currently debating with you the pros and cons of alicornhood.
“Yeah, right. Keep watching girls, you’ll want to tell your grandfoals about this.”
As if any of the mane six will EVER breed.
“From all of us together,
together we are friends.
With the marks of our destinies made one,
there is magic without end.”
The way that's written, it does bloody sound like all six of them are meant to take the mantle of eternity eventually.
as a distant door slammed,
??? Spike?
“Ooo... Okay. I should go send a message to Princess Celestia then.”
Just wait till Spike becomes ryujin.
---
mists for Equestria’s newest alicorn.
mists for Equestria’s newest alicorns.
Celestia winced. Well, it seemed she owed Luna a hundred bits.
Luna bet on Rainbow Dash ascending next?
smile number thirty seven [I don’t know if this is a crisis yet but it will be if I show any sign of panic].
Why am I surprised?
scrambling to get back onto script.
What script? Did she have the formal welcome prepared for each of them? But didn't think all five would go through it at once?
smile one [reserved amusement].
Should have known.
“Not much. Just, you know, we might say try again another day? I think I left the oven on and I really should make sure that Angel isn’t worried about–”
PLEASE PLEASE tell me how you did that trick with the sizes, IT NEVER WORKS for me!
“Oh good grief; all six of them. Luna is going to kill me.”
Rather all six of them at once.
Rarity intended to save the pictures for Sweetie’s inevitable teenage ‘I’m not cute!’ phase.
:=D
“But we wanted to be Royal Crusader Princess!” Sweetie squeaked.
Wait until you achieve enlightenment.
Regardless, the morning light saw no change to her routine save one crucial factor.
before enlightenment, chop and carry wood, after englightenment, chop and carry wood.
“Yeah, that only excuses you the first date,” Applejack shot back, grinning.
She's right. Neither does it excuse the dramatic fainting act Cheerilee gave him.
Applejack has a point, she just want to be able to do more for her family, that is hardly wrong.
Dale
BWAHAHAH!
but ponies got over Twilight’s wings soon enough.
She has a very very very very VERy good point.
I wonder if Twilight's magic was unconsciously sending out a 'don't treat me special' command.
“Oh come now, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity scoffed. “Bon Bon sells candies, she’s not some kind of superspy. Look, she’s leaving now.”
Isn't Bon Bon retired? And I think the mane six are in the 'authorized to know' category now.
Pinkie sighed, as Bon Bon made a hasty exit behind her. “I suppose you’re right.
Then why the heck did she order a pie she hates girls?
they’re going to Mareami for six months and tell me to keep an eye on Equestria while they’re away.”
Not unreasonable considering when the last time they HAD a vacation?
“Hey Mom! You remember when you said I’d never amount to anything after dropping out of Flight School?”
Let Rainbow have this moment, believe it or not, she actually deserves this one.
7230296 And yet he's looking for it.
Chapter 4: the Cutie Mark Crusaders find Star Swirl's Spell and burn down the Astral Plane.
7230133
There are two versions of that quote. The first is as you wrote, the second is "With great power must come great responsibility" - emphasis mine. Time will tell which of the two is more appropriate here.
I think the only time Rainbow Dash will regret being a Alicorn is two things:
1) She realized she can never be a Wonder Bolts as she is rolaity and is part of ruling body the Wonder Bolts protect for they are part of the military. Though she may cheer up when she realized she can lead them but leads to reason 2.
2) Since she is part of the government, she get a front roll seat at the worst of it, basically bureaucracy and paper work, so much paper work. And while her government job may have help her, she going to be bog down with it soon, poor Rainbow Dash.
I'd do that too Rainbow Dash. No shame.
ANd then I'd learn Necromancy.
This chapter was ok, seeing what happens the next day. But I feel like the first is the best because of the comedy.
I do hope to laugh a lot in the story, also see if the CMC accidentally not just find out the spill but told Diamond and a few friends about it
bass line
ponyquin or ponnequin
Well, a third of a princess, anyway.
And you will, once you get your Cutie Marks and have that weird triple magic surge.
"Only if an evil centaur blows up the boutique, Sweetie Belle."
At least she's not crapping on random ponies from above...
lightning
Well...next chapter'll be interesting. Dash, you dummy...
7231095
I like that second version of the quote there, it implies that responsibility doesn't automatically come with power, but saying that it must helps underline the danger of power without control.
Very good, I'mma remember that one.
That was fun, may I have another? Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
Is it just me or are the Pet's in stories far more philosophical after Gummy's monologue about existance on episode 100 happened?
I think it's smart that you're aiming for that "illusive middle ground." =) You're right, there's a lot of potential for this to tip either way. I personally was pleasantly surprised that you went the more serious route, since I was expecting this to be all silliness; I like that you gave reasons for why the girls did it - Rarity's probably just being star-struckedness, but Applejack is fulfilling a childhood desire to be powerful enough to help her family in crises, and Fluttershy only did it out of fear of being the only non-alicorn in the group and getting left behind. Pinkie Pie probably just did it because it sounded fun, and Rainbow Dash of course just thinks it will be an awesome cakewalk being a princess. Seeing their doubt as they realize what they rather foolishly jumped into is rather gratifying (and I've no doubt Rainbow's time will come ^^; ). Keep up the good work, I look forward to seeing how this continues!
(My only real protest here is why on earth would we assume Rainbow Dash dropped out of flight school when it's the ONE thing she excels at and loves? I would have picked a different type of school, personally.)
Btw, my favorite part was how you portrayed Angel 'talking' - that was really clever and felt way more effective that italic telepathy or actual quotes like he was talking in normal speech. Nice one!
This got me, that old masturbation threat.
Even if you are an alicorn, there is still a higher power. Your mother.
Oh, Rainbow Dash.
I hope we'll see the reaction to that last line.
Would've been great seeing Granny Smith's reaction, too.
A part of me hopes that the Cutie Mark Crusaders will manage to find that scroll. It would be fun, especially if they've not gained their cutie marks yet.
"Becoming alicorn princesses was easier than finding our marks!"
7230307 what's to say she isn't already?
7231140 she's the head of ponyville's weatherponies. she likely deals with paperwork all the time as it is. anypony capable of functioning while going as fast as she does likely reads faster than they can turn the pages in a book, at least when they're trying to get through the paperwork quickly.
7232847
I don't doubt it, but there is a difference between just signing forms and filling out cost forms, to all of above, reading over every type of form for approval and rejection, to comb through them to make sure nothing is being pushed under one's nose and worst of all, balancing the budget through the bureaucratic nightmare that is the government.
7230044 The Princess of Modesty in waiting
7230055 Glad you enjoyed it. CMC Princess is everyone's worry it seems, justifibly so.
7230071
7230093 Ooo, good catch. Thanks.
7230094 Twilight: Spike, did you put away the book last night?
Spike: Umm... oops.
7230133 I'm going to have to bend over backwards not to use this line, it's very fitting.
7230151 Sleepy Belle is best pony . Yeah, Fluttershy got the worst of the deal I think, but at least she doesn't have to dodge Discord's hamfisted attempts to make her immortal any more.
7230155 Of a flashback to her modeling career
7230226
7230307 Ah, but that would require her to keep secrets.
7230393
I'm sure she'll have pleanty to keep her busy when Pinkie starts learning magic.
Thanks, this is a bit of a throwback to Red Apples. I've always liked a more boisterous image of acient Celestia. She makes a far more interesting character as someone who's learned from a lot of mistakes, rather than being born serene.
7230457 Discord's reaction is on my shortlist, within the next few chapters I expect.
7230675 Rainbow: You can't ground me, I already moved out!
7234887 Well I would love to see the CMC as Alicorns too, after all their sisters and sister figure are all Alicorns now, this way they can stay by their sisters side forever then.
7230706 MEGA COMMENT!
Yep. Celestia bet on Rarity.
You can edit the size tags that FIMFiction uses. So the "" can be anything. I think I used "" for Fluttershy's final line.
She is, she just keeps an eye on Pinkie when she starts acting particularly eldrich just to make sure. The girls are not in the authorised catagory, the identies of your retired agents are even more precious than the active ones in some ways.
7230943 "We didn't think memories of fireworks were flamable!"
7231140
Have to be honest, this one never really made sense to me. The idea that royalty doesn't serve in the military is just wrong on every level. Princess Rainbow Dash could join the Wonderbolts tomorrow but my reasoning. Now, whether there are issues with entitlement are a whole new question.
7231421 Thanks for catching those.
I think Twilight will be burying the journal when she hears about that one
7231714 Scary thought, Fluttershy has been hearing Gummy's monologues all along
7231824 Thanks, I'm rather looking forward to it too.
I can see where you're comming from, but I think the key word for Rainbow is actually school not flight. She's never been a character that struck me as one willing to sit down and learn when she could be doing it instead. Combined with her strong feelings about books at the beginning of the series I can see her struggling with school no matter the ciriculm.
Thanks. I didn't really plan to do this, but it flowed most naturally. I'm quite a fan of how it kind of makes it all in Fluttershy's head, rather than overt magic.
7232607 Spoilers: Yes Though I was also tempted to have her be Rainbow Dash, which is one of my other favorites.
7235035
I think she'd be allowed to joint, just not take part in any military operations, and be limited to public performances.