Asinus

by ThoraxForPresidant

Chapter 2: The Cakes Catastrophe

Being the only donkey in the classroom had felt a bit odd when Asinus first showed up to school a few years back, but everypony had gotten used to her eventually and found that she wasn't much different from them. She was basically an earth pony. But, now that they were in the cutie mark unit, things were taking a turn. She didn't mind that her special talent wouldn't be permanently displayed on her flank for all to see, and she wasn't the craziest party pony, it was a bit comforting to know that she wouldn't have a cutsinera to worry about. The real problem was that she wasn't an earth pony, they had something that donkeys lacked: Magic. It was the whole reason why they got cutie marks at all, it flowed through their veins and connected them to their destinies. And it wasn't just them--magic literally ran equestria, it could be found with every species. It was what gave flight to gryphons, made it possible for dragons to breathe fire---even the yaks and the bulls had ancient traditions that were recorded back in history! But not donkeys. They could never be found in any of her history textbooks, or any book for that matter. Not a single Donkey in all of equestria had ever done something worthwhile to write down (she would know, she’d searched Twilight's entire castle library, if it wasn’t there, it wasn’t anywhere. It was a sorry waste of a weekend). But there were plenty of biology books that mentioned Donkeys and what kept them separated from every breathing intelligent creature in equestria: they had no magic, none whatsoever. They were odder than any creature in the everfree forest, nothing stood out about them. They were just simply, plain, ordinary creatures not worth anyone's time. Thinking about it made Asinus feel……...like an outcast, like she wasn't even a part of equestria. How could she, if she didn't even have magic? It just felt so odd, magic was apart of life for everypony, more often than not without them knowing. It also didn't help that stuck up ponies like Golden Crown were always rubbing it in her face, to make sure she'd never forget she was different, that they all had something she lacked. Yet again, that’s why she was so grateful to have ponies like her friends in her life. Those ponies made everything worth it. She didn't face ponies like Golden Crown often in this small town, more often than not Golden Crown bullied her for simply being herself, not necessarily because of her species. She was just one if those ponies who picked up on any weakness and targeted it, probably to make herself feel better about her own insecurities or whatever. It didn't give her an excuse to make others feel horrible, she wasn't learning at all from her cousin Diamond Tiara.

Asinus’ thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the ring of the lunch bell.

“Oh! Time for lunch everyone!” Ms.Cheerilee sang as she placed her chalk down, “Go have a good lunch and recess! Oh, and Firecracker, we’re all very happy for you on your new cutie mark, but please don't set anything on fire………...again.”

Asinus sprang from her set with her lunch clutched between her teeth and raced out the door with her two friends close behind. As soon as they made it to their regular meeting spot by the tree, Asinus spun around and locked eyes with her best friend.

“Okay sister, you've got some explaining to do: What in the hay went down at Sugarcube Corner?” She asked firmly as Ginger laid out a hoof made quilt for them to eat on.

“Yeah Mirum,” Ginger added as he opened his muddy metal lunch box, “I get that Sugarcube Corner can get crazy, but Asinus’ journal looked like it had been attacked!”

“That’s because it was,” Mirum said simply as she took out her own lunchbox, “Fluttershy came in with a few of her animals---a cat, a walrus, crocodile, bear---she had a special order of cupcakes for a tea party………..but then, w-when we were giving them the cupcakes……..”

Mirum grew a dark expression on her face that wasn’t like her at all.

“Now that I think about it, it was………...so weird, almost……..unnatural.”

“What? What was?” Asinus asked desperately.

“It just went nuts………..f-for no reason at all! We didn’t do anything!”

“What went nuts?” Ginger gasped, “Which one of them critters was it? Was it the cat?”

“Or maybe the crocodile?”

“The bear?”

Mirum shook her head slowly.

“No, no it wasn’t any of those………….it…….it was…………..”

Asinus and Ginger stared at their friend intently.

“Yes?”

“Go on……”

Mirum swallowed before continuing.

“It was the mouse!”

Ginger and Asinus exchanged confused looks.

“Pardon?” Ginger asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m serious!” Mirum cried, “It was like nothing we’d ever seen before! We were just giving him one of his special cupcakes, and he went ballistic!”

“Seriously girl?” Asinus asked, “What was in it?”

“Carrot cake,” Pumpkin Cake replied, “It was his favorite too.”

“Yeah, he has the same thing at every occasion,” Pound Cake added, “Trust me, we keep records.”

“Hu, that’s kinda funny,” Asinus said, “You think it would have been cheesecake.”

“I know right?” Mirum replied.

“Well, s’pose you can’t judge a book by its cover,” Ginger added, “I mean you don’t see me eating apples everyday. Today I actually brought a ora---”

Mirum, Asinus, and Ginger suddenly came across the same realization and turned to the cake twins. The two of them stood their, Pumpkin wearing a bright orange apron that was covered in dozens of fluffy white powders and strips of brown and green, and Pound wearing a practically flattened chef's hat that drooped over one of his caramel eyes. Neither one of them seemed to understand the odd looks their friends were giving them.

“Wha---what the----when in the hay did you two show up?” Asinus cried in shock.

“About 15 minutes and 46 seconds ago,” Pound Cake said simply, “But who’s counting?”

“Well technically it’s 47 seconds now,” Pumpkin added.

“Well now it’s 48.”

“49.”

“50”

“5--”

“Guys, what the heck? If y'all came 15 minutes ago then why in the hey didn’t y’all show up in class?” Ginger asked in astonishment.

“We didn’t want to disturb the class like you did,” Pound responded with a smirk.

“Pound Cake!” Pumpkin hissed as she glared at her brother and punched him in the front leg.

Ginger’s face flared once more as Pound Cake rubbed his sore for leg.

“H-how did yall even---”

“Pinkie told us,” Pound Cake responded, “Don’t ask how she knew, she just did.”

“And anyhow, we can’t stay for the whole day,” Pumpkin added, “We just came to let Ms.Cheerilee know we needed an excused absence.”

“So……...why didn’t you just come and greet us at the door instead of sneaking up on us?” Mirum asked curiously.

“Well that’s what I thought of doing at first, but Pound Cake had to wash off after he ran into a giant pile of---”

“Pumpkin!” Pound Cake growled as kicked his sister, “That’s not what happened at all!”

“Uh hu, sure thing Pal,” Pumpkin snickered in response.

“Oh excuse me Princess, what makes you think you’re all high and mighty?” Pound Cake snapped.

“Okay, so, back to the deadly mouse,” Asinus said, trying to stop either of the twins from embarrassing the other further, “What was that all about?”

“Right, right, the mouse,” Pumpkin replied, “It. Was. Terrible!”

“He was a little monster!” Pound cake cried, “I mean he didn’t even bite the cupcake or anything, he just took one sniff and then BAM!!!----”

“--He sprang out of fluttershy’s mane and ripped up the curtains--”

“--Then he zoomed by and started gnawing his way through the furniture--”

“--Like all the furniture!”

“The tables---”

“--The chairs--”

“--The counter--”

“--The stairs--”

“--the cuberts--”

“--The fridge--”

“Seriously, the place looks like it was swarmed by a herd of parasprites.”

“Yeah--there’s basically no food left either………”

The Cake twins eyes began to fill with tears.

“So many cakes were wasted today,” Pumpkin whimpered, “So many cakes and pastries and ingredients……..”

“And they weren’t even eaten!” Pound Cake sobbed, “They were just wasted! Ruthlessly torn to shreds! It was a horrible sight for any good baker to see!”

“And just imagine what it’ll cost to repair it all!” Pumpkin cried, “It’ll cost a fortune!”

“And at least 95% of the pastries are now gone! All of our customers………..everypony who ordered something---they’re not going to give us their bits without our products!”

Asinus bit her bottom lip. This was a serious problem, and to think that it was all caused by Fluttershy’s sweet mouse. The bear would have been believable, Angle would have been normal, but the mouse? Really? That was just so unexpected! (good thing it wasn’t Angle who’d had the cupcake, the entire building would have burned down)

“So, anyways, I think that’s a pretty good reason to be excused from class,” Pumpkin concluded with sigh, “But Mom said we could have lunch with you before we go back home.”

“Well shucks, I’m glad ya’ll told us,” Ginger said earnestly, “I’m sure we call all help get ya some money. I’ll bet I can get the apple family involved one way or another, except……….well, it might be a bit difficult.”

“Hm? How come?” Pumpkin asked with concern.

“Well see, this morning when I was feeding the pig’s they went kinda ballistic. We might need any extra money to buy a new fence, but I’ll see what we can do! Promise.”

“Ah, come on Ginger, we’ll understand if you need the money, but thanks for the offer. It’s the thought that co--”

“But you know, if you can lend a few bits, you know who to call, right?” Pound Cake asked, cutting off his sister before Ginger could take back his offer.

“Well just in case he can’t, I’ve got an idea,” Asinus offered, becoming the center of everypony's attention.

“Yes?” The twins both asked anxiously.

Asinus took a bite from her sandwich before continuing.

“I think it’s fair to assume that Sugarcube corner is the only pastries shop in Ponyville,” She began, “Or at least the only good one.”

“Well yeah, it was,” Pound Cake muttered, “But go on.”

“So if we addressed the issue to the mayor, I bet they’d make a pretty big deal out of it,” Asinus
explained, “And seeing how Pinkie Pie’s pretty much besties with literally everypony in Ponyville, I bet there’d be plenty of helping hooves offering you something.”

“You so have a point!” Mirum cried in delight, “The Cake’s have done plenty for everypony--and every donkey, might I add--I’m sure everyone will be itching to help.”

“Yeah! And we could throw a crazy party after words to thank everyone,” Pumpkin added enthusiastically, “With dozens of cakes and pastries, free of charge!”

“Well, maybe a 60% discount,” Pound Cake muttered.

“But, will they take us seriously?” Mirum asked a bit hesitant, “I mean we’re all foals here, and I assume that the Mayor probably has a lot of appointments with older ponies, what if they can’t squeeze us in on time?”

“We don’t know that for sure,” Pumpkin replied, “But still, it’s something to consider.”

“If that’s the case, we’ll have to take matters into our own hooves,” Asinus stated firmly as she smacked one hoof on the other, “The only question is how..............”

“Ugh, what in equestria are you dorks going on about?” A familiar nagging voice whined from a few paces away.

“Oh joy,” Asinus sighed with a roll of her eyes, “her highness has come to pay us yet another visit.”

There Golden Crown was, trotting toward the small group with 3 fillies prancing behind her with the same snarky mood clinging the air. The 4 of them had a bit of a routine at lunch that Asinus and the others managed to pick up quickly. First they’d sit at the marble table Golden’s dad had bought and reserved specifically for her, and while they waited for about 5 minutes for their fresh hot meal to be served by a butler (hired by one of their parents), they’d scan the school grounds for one of the many groups of ‘peasants’ they could directly annoy and discuss how they would make their lives seem like trash in comparison to their own. Once they received their food (cooked by a 7 star chief) they would point out what was wrong with it, eat a 3rd of it, throughout a 4th of it, and leave the rest on the table for the butler to clean. In the early years of school, Asinus had discovered that forming a group of friends at lunch time was to be made her top priority, there was no way she would survive a week on her own if she had to deal with all of them at once. But even with the support of her friends, and after years of the fillie groups snarky behavior, Asinus was more annoyed than ever just by looking at the spoiled brats.

“Hey, did you like hear what she said or are you all just depth?” Diamond ring, a filly with a long silver blue mane with pink highlights and a teal coat snapped (you can probably guess what her cutie mark was), “Like what are you all discussing in your little meeting?”

“Uh, it’s like, none of your business,” Pound Cake replied mockingly, “Why don’t you like go like back to your mansion or like whatever.”

“Yeah, beat it,” Asinus added with a mouthful of apple.

The four fillies backed away in disgust.

“Iwwwwwww!” Ivy Emerald shrieked as she hid behind her pony shield/little sister, “That’s like so grows!”

“Grows? Ha! Ya’ll must’ve mistaken Asinus here for a mirror,” Ginger snickered.
Ivy Emerald looked like she got punched in the face.

“Excuse me???” She gasped as she shoved her sister into a bush, “That’s like---so not true!”

“Yeah, like, you should know what slop looks like Farm boy!” Diamond Ring hissed.

“Hey, you shut up!” Pumpkin cried suddenly as she sprang to her hooves, “This farm boy’s got way more class than any of you stuck up brats could ever have!”

“Pft! Like yeah, sure,” Golden Crown snickered, “Cause the way he smashed into the desk in a muddy pile this morning was so graceful, wouldn’t you say girls?”

“Like tot’s,” Ivy Emerald added, “Not to mention those pigs or whatever that you have running around your home---such class!”

“Is that like why your mommy sent you to ponyville?” Diamond Ring said mockingly, “So we could all learn from like your example?”

At this point Ginger’s face had flushed again and was looking away from the girls while Pumpkins rage heated her face to a burning red and her horn began to crack with a dangerous dark mustard yellow.

“Guys, it’s okay, calm down,” Mirum said gently as she placed a hoof on either friend’s shoulder, “They’re just trying to get you mad, don’t give them what they want.”

“Oh trust me Mirum, I’m not planning to give them anything they want,” Pumpkin growled.

“Pumpkin, it’s……..it’s alright,” Ginger sighed, “Miriam's right, just ignore ‘em.”

“Oh please, like what does she know?” Ivy Emerald spat, “Even Dorsey's’ opinions are more reliable than that pathetic liars’.” She eyed Mirum as though she was a pile of mud.

“What did you just call my friend?” Asinus snapped as she sprang to her hooves.

“Ya, that’s right, you heard me,” She continued, “At least Dorsey here doesn’t lie about being rich. Right Dorsey?” She asked as the green pony’s head turned toward her little sister. When the little pony heard her big sister speak, she immediately straightened herself and nodded.

“Oh yeah, totally!”

Asinus felt her heart beginning to race from anger.

“Just because Mirum’s not stuck up like you doesn’t mean she’s lying about her family,” Asinus growled.

“Um, we are like so not stuck up!” Diamond Ring snapped, “All of you guys are weird, but she especially is!”

“Ya, like she claims that her family’s rich or whatever, but we never like see them,” Golden Crown added, “I mean sure, she’s like staying in Princess Twilight's castle and everything, but spends like 0 time there!”

“And like what does she do instead?” Ivy Emerald asked, “Hang out with you dweebs all day getting her clothes all dirty---which by the way, are like cheaper than anything you’ll find in my trash can!”

Asinus was about to try to swear like her father had taught her, but Mirum calmly stood up and spoke before she got the chance.

“Sure my clothes are cheap,” She replied simply with a smile, “You wouldn’t expect me to get something nice dirty, would you?”

Golden Crown opened her mouth to respond but was cut off.

“And the reason why I don’t spend that much time in the castle is because it’s just so…...big,” Mirum continued, “It’s just not my cup of tea. Besides, I’d much rather spend time with my friends over an old castle full of books.”

“Yeah---well---” Diamond ring stuttered, “I still don’t believe that your parents are rich. If they were, then how come we’ve never seen them at like any of our parties?”

“They don’t live around here,” Mirum replied, “But if you ever saw them outside of ponyville, you’d know who they were.”

“Ptph. Doubtful,” Ivy Green said with a hair flip, unknowingly smacking her sister in the face with her dark green main.

“Well ladies, as much as we love your daily visits, I’m afraid it’s time to depart,” Pound Cake said soothingly as he stood up.

“Oh really?” Golden Crown asked with a raised eyebrow, “And what makes you think we’ll like listen?”

“Because if you don’t,” He continued as he stepped directly in front of Golden Crown and looked at her dead in the eye, “I can personally guarantee that you’ll find a live frog in one of the pastries you’re family ordered when you go to eat it.”

“Is that so?” She asked with a snicker, “Well like as terrifying as that sounds, I doubt that’ll happen. My Daddy pays a chief to do all my baking.”

“Doesn’t matter where it’s from,” Pound Cake said with a threatful tone and a devious grin, “I have my ways. Tell me, Golden Crown, how do you treat the dozens of servants you have at home?”

Golden Crowns face went pale.

“That’s what I thought,” Pound Cake snickered, “I’m sure it wouldn’t take too much persuasion for them to ‘accidentally’ let a small cult slip in with a bag full of frogs.”

“You’re bluffing,” She hissed.

Pound Cake raised an eyebrow.

“Am I?” He responded, “It doesn’t even have to be frogs if you want! I’ve got mice, rats, ants---”

“Okay okay I’m going!” Golden Crown squealed as she dashed away.

Pound Cake turned toward the remaining fillies.

“Same goes to you guys,” He said, “I know where you all live ‘cause you’re always constantly reminding us with your bragging!”

With that, the three fillies ran away screaming and Pound Cake sat proudly down as he was praised by his peers.

“Nice going Pound Cake!” Asinus said as she tossed him half of her chocolate bar, “You always know how to scare them off.”

“Well, I could have done the same thing,” Pumpkin muttered, “But I’ve got to give credit where it’s due, you did a pretty good job.”

“What can I say?” Pound Cake said with a flashy smile, “It was the least I could do. Those uptight fillies drive me nuts, and no one outside of our friend group’s aloud to make fun of Ginger!”

“Agreed!” They all thundered at once.

Ginger let out a snort.

“Yep, that seems to be our friendship code or something,” He chuckled, “I guess y’all are worth hanging around so long as Pound Cake can keep those brats away.”

“Hey, I can scare them off too,” Pumpkin snapped.

“He meant without hurting anyone,” Mirum replied with a chuckle, “Or without swearing,” She added as she turned an amused eye toward Asinus.

“But where's the fun in that?” The two said at once.

“The fun in what? Detention?” Pound Cake snickered.

“Shut it,” The two said in unison (again).

Asinus let her eyes drift away from Pound Cake to focus on what she saw behind him. Quite a distance away--near the sandbox--she saw the group of bullies teasing two young fillies that they cornered. When Pound Cake followed her gaze, he growled to himself.

“I’m going over there if they start crying,” He growled.

“Ain’t nobody gonna stop you if you do,” Ginger replied as he followed his friend's gaze in disgust. “Just why do them girls think they're so much better than everypony else?”

“Because they were surrounded by parents who lead them to believe they could do no wrong,” Pumpkin sighed, “They were probably raised with their parents giving them the impression that they’re above than the Princesses themselves.”

“Defiantly. I mean, not all rich ponies act like that,” Asinus said quickly with a small nod toward Mirum, “being rich doesn't make someone bad, we just seem to be stuck with all the ones who are, at least in ponyville…………..I wonder if Flurry Heart acts like that………”

Pound Cake spun around in an instant.

“That’s absurd!” He cried in shock, “Flurry Heart’s got to be one the nicest and most generous ponies I’ve ever met! Why would you even say that?”

“Well I mean she was born an alicorn, I just figured it was possible that…………..” Asinus voice trailed off, “Wait a minute---”

“You’ve met her???” Ginger cried in shock.

“We both have,” Pumpkin stated proudly, “Pinkie Pie’s friends with Twilight, remember?”

“Yeah, but, I never knew---” Ginger stuttered.

“And anyways, she isn’t all that Pound Cake said she is,” Pumpkin snickered, “I mean she is a nice pony to hang out with, not to mention sweeter than most of our pastries, but Pound Cake’s laying it on way to thick! He just exaggerates about her cause he’s got like the biggest crush on---”

“I do not!” Pound Cake cried as he snapped toward his sister and his face flushed, “She’s just a friend! A friend who we’ve both met on occasions, and who’s nice, and kind, and sweet, and……….cheerful, and is always smiling, and happy, and gorgeous, and………..no wait! I-I take the last one back!”

“Well well well,” Ginger said with a smirk, “Seems like the almighty Pound Cake’s in love with a princess.”

“A gorgeous Princess!” Asinus added mockingly.

“S-Shut up!” Pound Cake stuttered, “I’m…….I’m serious!”

“Can you imagine those two getting together?” Ginger cackled, and then turned to Asinus, “Why hello there Princess, y’all remember me?”

“Why certainly, Pound Cake dear,” Asinus replied in a formal tone, “You’re the young cult who’s obsessed with cinnamon rolls and threatening young fillies with frogs and ants! That’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a cult!”

“I……….I don’t think that’s how she would sound,” Mirum said, trying her best not to burst out laughing.

“Why Princess, you’ve made my day!” Ginger cried, “Would you make all my fanfics that I write in my diary come true by marrying me?”

“Of course my love! Take me into your hooves!

“Oh Princess!”

“Oh Pound Cake!”

At that moment 4 out of the 5 friends burst into laughter while one remained standing, his face hotter than Celestia's sun from both anger and embarrassment. Mirum was laughing so hard that she fell over on her back into a pile of dirt.

“Guys, cut it out!” He cried in embarrassment, “I don’t have a crush on her---I don’t!!!!!”

“Okay, whatever you say,” Ginger snorted, “Prince Pound Cake!”

“Shut it farm boy!” He snapped as he pushed his friend down with a forceful shove, which only made him laugh harder.

“Alright, that’s enough of that,” Mirum giggled as she tried to be polite to Pound Cake, “He’s had enough.”

“Yeah guys, you don’t see me teasing Pumpkin about her crush,” Pound Cake said angrily.

“That’s because you know better than to---” Suddenly Pumpkin’s face became angry and she sprang to her hooves once more to lock eyes with her brother.

“You weren't supposed to talk about that,” She hissed.

“There were a lot of things we were both not supposed to talk about,” Pound Cake growled in response.

“Wait wait----hold on,” Asinus chuckled as she looked at Pumpkin, “You have a crush?”

“N-No!” Pumpkin stuttered angrily.

“Oh my gosh you do!” Mirum squealed in excitement, “Who’s the lucky cult?”

“No pony,” She snapped defensively, her face blushing harder than before.

“Geez, does denial run through your family or somethin?” Ginger asked with a grin still fresh on his face, “Come on, out with it already.”

“I-I-I can’t,” Pumpkin stuttered, “He……...he doesn’t like me back………”

“Well he ain’t here to hear it,” Ginger replied as he stood up, “Come now Pumpkin, we’re your friends. That cult ain’t got a lick of sense if he don’t like you. You can tell us, we won’t bite.”

“Yeah, we won’t judge,” Asinus added, “Well, I mean, I guess it depends on who it is---but no pressure!”

“It’s……...um………..”

Just as Pumpkin was talking, the school bell rang and lunchtime was over.

“Ah, would you look at that! Seems like we gotta head on home, such a shame,” Pumpkin said frantically as she lifted her lunch box and spat it in her saddle bag, “Anywho, we really need to go. Mirum, could you let Ms.Cheerilee know that we were here?”

“Of course,” Mirum replied happily.

“Great thanks!” She replied frantically, “Come on Pound Cake we’ve got our work ahead of us and Celestia will only keep the sun up for so long let’s go!”

“Sorry sis, we’re not going anywhere until you admit who yo----ow ow ow ow ow ow!!!!!” Pound Cake yelped as Pumpkin proceeded to forcefully pull her brother by the ear.

“N by the wa,” She growled under her clenched teeth, “We’re gonna have a littl’ chat when we ge home pal.”

“Ah! No thanks! Nope! Not interested! Let GO!” Pound Cake cried as he flapped his wings in protest, “Guys help!”

“Sorry Pound Cake, I’m not getting involved in that,” Asinus called back as she picked up her iron lunch box and trotted back.

“Yeah, I’m with Asinus on this,” Ginger wisely said as he followed afterward, “See y’all after school.”

“Bye Pumpkin and Pound Cake,” Mirum called cheerfully, “I’ll bring you guys a set of notes and the homework after school, okay?”

“No----not okay! This crazy fillies going to kill me! AH! Hey, not so hard!!! YOU ARE TERRIBLE FRIENDS!!!!!!!”

Ginger and Asinus laughed to themselves as they trotted away from the somewhat crazy twins, leaving Mirum trotting close behind with a dreamy smile on her face as her mind wandered elsewhere.

* * *

Asinus trotted down the small familiar path on her way home. The inky dark shadows of the trees stretched on the ground as Celestia’s sun fell down before her and Luna’s silver moon gracefully made its way toward the heavens. The path back home was always a long one, when her Dad first moved to ponyville he had had no intentions of talking to anypony and thus had chosen a small isolated house just on the rim of the town to stay in. The walk from their house to ponyville was at least a half a mile long. She was always bothered by it in the morning, when she had to get up at the crack of dawn and take the exhausting walk in her sleepy state so she’d get to school on time. But at this time of day, when she could see the hot blazing sun melting into the colors of the trees, it was nice to have a bit of time to herself and to just enjoy the view and the silence. It was at peaceful times like these that she really got to contemplate certain matters, which was mostly school work or friendship drama. But this time was different, this time she was generally concerned with something. After school, she and her friends had went to see if the mayor would be free, and sadly discovered that with the Grand Galloping Gala coming up that she wouldn’t have time to schedule anything until next week. Afterwards, they all met at sugarcube corner with their bits to see how they could use to advertise the Cake’s distress out of their own budget, and finally agreed that since no one would believe the whole “rabid mouse” story that it would be best to create some fliers and hang them literally everywhere early the next morning before anypony else was awake and before school started. Asinus, Ginger, and Mirum had spent the rest of the afternoon making copies of the fliers at twilight's castle while the Cakes tried their best to take care of things at home. It wasn’t easy, but by the time the sun was beginning to set each foal had made 20 or 30 copies of the flyer displaying various pictures of the destruction caused by the mouse. If everything went according to plan, Sugarcube Corner would have the budget to fix it’s stock before the Great Galloping Gala. Yet for some reason, Asinus couldn’t help but feel………….uneasy.

There was something about that story that bothered her, like an itch she couldn’t quite scratch or like she was forgetting something huge. It made no sense, really. Why shouldn’t she be nervous? A mouse had gone ballistic for no apparent reason at all, and the pigs that Ginger had spoken about seemed to act the same way. The more Asinus thought about it, the more she suspected the two were related. They had both happened on the same day, early in the morning, and neither one of them made sense whatsoever. She didn’t know how, but the two of them couldn’t have just happened spontaneously for no reason, it wasn’t a coincidence. Maybe Fluttershy would figure something out, after all, it had been her mouse who’d suddenly went crazy, and she was the animal expert.

As Asinus finally made her way toward the brown and olive green house, the sun had practically set and she could make out a few stars. But as she came closer and closer to her house, she felt her neck crane toward the sky and toward the first evening stars. Her slow pace became slower and slower as she stared harder at the stars, until finally she came to a stop a few feet away from her door and her head was directly turned above her. It was as though the stars were slowly calling her, and her body seemed to act on it’s own as though it was naturally attracted to the sky. There was something about the stars that………..spoke to her, almost. Yet, not with words, or even sound, they just……..did, somehow. It was foggy, she couldn’t quite make what they were saying. But as she stood there, watching more and more of the bright crystal stars appear, it became more clear. They weren't speaking with words……..yet she could understand it well:

Evil.

Disaster.

Confusion.

Destruction.

Chaos.

She read the stars like it was an open book, that’s how it was translated to her anyways. But what did it mean? Why was she hearing this? Disaster? Evil?.........chaos?.........

Asinus snapped out of her trance and shook her head. After blinking a few times and getting back to herself, she looked up to see the sky had grown a dark purple, and that the sky was now filled with dozens of stars. Only this time they were silent, they simply hung from the sky like they normally would any other night, as though nothing had happened.

“What am I doing?” She asked as she shook herself, “Staring at the stars like they could talk to me---who am I, Princess Luna? And how long have I been out here? It’s freezing!”

“Asinus, deer, are you home?” Matilda called, drawing Asinus’ attention to the window where her mother’s head made a dark outline against the glowing light inside the house.

“Y-Yes mother,” Asinus stuttered, “Sorry I didn’t come in yet, I was just?.............”

“Star gazing?” Matilda asked, tilting her head up to look at the view as she did so.

“Um………..yeah, stargazing,” Asinus replied a bit hesitant. She felt like she was lying, but she technically wasn’t. She had been staring at the stars, just not the way she had thought.

“Well their mighty beautiful deer,” Matilda sighed, “But you really should come in, dinner’s getting cold and Cranky's getting……..well, cranky.”

“Hey, what else is new,” Asinus chuckled with a smirk, “And here I thought ponies where the only ones with convenient names. Anywho, I’ll head in in a sec.”

“Alright deer,” Matilda called as she turned back in, “Don’t be too long!”

Asinus smiled to herself as she skipped toward the door and noticed for the first time the aroma that was coming from the house.

“Mmmmm……….I’ll bet mom’s cooking her special soup……….” Asinus though as she licked her lips and with a craving for mushrooms.

She placed her hoof on the door, but then stopped before pushing it forward. Asinus, with a small spark of curiosity, willed herself to take one last look at the purple night sky. The stars hung from the heavens, staring down at her without a sliver of expression, twinkling like diamonds against the dark night.

Asinus rolled her eyes in disgust.

“Get a hold of yourself,” she said blandly, “You think the stars would talk to you of all people? That is if they can even talk at all. You’re losing yourself. It was…….just a daydream,”

Asinus told herself firmly as she pushed open the door.

“Yeah, That’s it---a daydream. It makes more sense then the stars speaking.”

But even as she told herself this, she knew deep down it was true. Even if she couldn’t admit it to herself, she knew what she’d heard---or what she felt. They’d given her a warning, out of all the talented and smart unicorns in equestria they’d chosen her. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who’d heard it. But as she entered her home and acted like her day had been normal, and that night after dinner when she tried to sleep, she had a sinking feeling in her gut that wouldn’t go away, a feeling that she something was wrong, like a ticking time bomb deep beneath the surface, threatening to go off in her sleep.

Author's Note:

Alright, sorry for the long chapter! Like I said, I'm still pretty new to this whole thing (I might have overdone a thing or two with the rambling ) Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed, feel free to leave any negative or positive feedback, I could really use it