11 — The Steel Bit
Chapter 11:
The Steel Bit
“Well, we don’t. I’m sorry, ma’am,” said a burly-looking earth pony standing behind the bar counter, rag in hoof, wiping away the soap scum from a thick glass. “This ain’t an inn, we ain’t got any rooms for rent, and I definitely ain’t running a charity.” He set the glass on the counter, leaning forward. “So either buy something, or get your broke flanks outta my pub.”
Rainbow Dash slammed her hoof down on the counter, rattling the pint glasses. “All right, guy,” she said, giving him a squinty-eyed glare. “I don’t think you understand.”
“No, I’m pretty sure I do.”
“We came all the way from Ponyville, on the last freakin’ train” —she jabbed at his chest—“to get to this stupid backwater town.” She rose up in the air, puffing out her chest. “And all we want is a place to stay the night, and you’re tellin’ me that you don’t have any rooms? Where the hay is somepony supposed to sleep in this stupid town?.” She rose a little higher. “What kinda half-flanked business are you running here? I already wasted a whole day I coulda spent doin’ something useful, like reading my stupid book that I’ve been wanting to read ever since we got on that stupid train to come to this stupid town.”
Twilight and Spike stood behind Rainbow Dash watching her bob up near the roof, waving her hooves around angrily. The bartender’s face grew increasingly bemused as he watched Rainbow get angrier and angrier.
“—and I got dragged all the way out here for some stupid mare that we haven’t even seen, or heard from, in almost a year. So now you’re tellin’ me that we can’t even get a stupid room to sleep in?” Rainbow floated to the ground and let her head fall against the countertop. With her forehead smooshed against the counter, she let out a long groan. “I just wanna go home.”
The bartender scratched his chin and looked down at Rainbow Dash. “Ya all done now?”
She didn’t respond.
He nodded, picked up another glass and started to clean it. “All right then, now that that’s settled, you all can scram.”
Spike pulled at Twilight’s leg. She looked down at him. “So, where are we gonna stay now?”
She smiled comfortingly. “Don’t worry, Spike. I’m sure we’ll find somewhere to stay.” Lifting Spike onto her back, she put a hoof on Rainbow’s back. “Come on, Rainbow. Let’s go look somewhere else.” She looked up at the bartender and bowed her head. “Thank you anyway,” she said courteously. He nodded curtly, focused on wiping off a particularly stubborn bit of dirt.
Twilight nudged Rainbow again after a moment. “Don’t worry, Rainbow. I’m sure we’ll find somewhere else to stay.”
Rainbow gave a muffled response. “Hmph, whatever.” She lifted her head from the counter and glared at the bartender. “I wouldn’t wanna sleep in this dump anyway.” Spinning around, she said, “Let’s get outta here, Twilight.”
The bartender stopped wiping the glass and looked up. “What’d you say?”
Rainbow looked back over her shoulder and gave him a cold, hard stare. “I said, ‘I wouldn’t wanna sleep in this dump anyway’.”
He set the glass on the counter and tossed the rag aside. “No, not that part.” He nodded towards Twilight. “What’d you call her?”
“What’s it matter to—”
Twilight stepped in front of Rainbow Dash, cutting off her intended reply. She placed a hoof over her chest. “My name is Twilight Sparkle,” she said. His eyes lit up and he leaned forward. Twilight took a small step back. “Do I know you?” she asked.
He just stared silently at her for a few seconds. She stared back, a nervous smile cracked across her face. After a long, and awkward, pause, he sat back and let out a boisterous laugh. “Well, I’ll be damned. The infamous Twilight Sparkle.” He shook his head slowly, a smile working its way across his face. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
Rainbow Dash shoved her way past Twilight, followed by Spike. She stomped her hoof against the ground. “You got some kinda beef with Twilight?”
Spike looked back at Twilight. He put a hand up to his mouth and whispered, “Do you know this guy?”
She shook her head. “No, I’ve never met him.”
The bartender didn’t seem to hear Rainbow, so she stomped her hoof again, her face scrunched up in an angry glare. “Hey! I’m talkin’ to you.”
He waved dismissively at her. “Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Hang on a sec.” He turned towards a darkened corner of the room. “Oi!” he shouted. “Thunderclap, you’ll never guess who just walked in here!”
A silvery voice shouted back. “Oh? Who might that be?”
He glanced back at Twilight, giving her a wink. “Twilight Sparkle.”
There was the sound of someone knocking over a chair quickly followed by the click-clack of hooves against the stone floor. As if he were the Princess himself, everyone turned their attention to the stallion as he came into the light.
His black mane, split down the middle by a white stripe, bounced jovially as he trotted up to them. His deep, forest-green eyes, the same color as his coat, gleamed in the light, and his wings were curled up against his sides. He looked back and forth between Twilight and Rainbow Dash excitedly. “So which one of you is Twilight?”
Twilight grinned awkwardly. “Umm, that would be—”
Rainbow Dash flew up into the air and flung her hooves out, yelling, “Hold up!” They all looked up at her with raised eyebrows. “Somepony needs to start explaining this to me, because I don’t know what the hay is goin’ on anymore.” She looked down at Twilight, jerking a hoof over her shoulder. “You know these guys?”
Twilight shook her head. “No, I keep saying that.”
Thunderclap held up a hoof. “Maybe we better start from the beginning, eh, Lager?” He glanced up to his friend. “And it might be better if you tell it. I’m not so great with stories.”
Lager chuckled. “Says the guy who was in drama club.”
“Yeah, that was only, what, twenty years ago?”
“Something like that, yeah.” Lager ran a hoof through his mane. “All right, fine, I’ll tell the story.” He scratched his chin, gazing upwards like he was trying to spot his memories on the ceiling. “So, where do we begin? Ah, I know.” He cleared his throat. “I’d say it was nearly a year ago that a mare came in here pretty late at night. Much like yourselves,” he said, gesturing towards Twilight and Rainbow Dash, both of whom were still looking at each other wondering what was happening. “Anyway, this mare was pretty stubborn. I tried to get her to leave but she wasn’t having any of it.” Thunderclap nodded in agreement, a smirk on his face. “Eventually, she tells me her name, Trixie, and then—”
“Trixie was here?” Twilight interrupted.
Rainbow Dash placed a hoof against her forehead, closing her eyes. “What was Trixie doing here?”
Lager sighed. “If you two’d let me finish, you’d know the answers to those questions.” Thunderclap chuckled under his breath while Lager scratched his chin. “Now where was I? Oh, right, right. So, Trixie starts goin’ off about this ‘Twilight’ pony who she says wronged her.”
Both Spike and Rainbow Dash started to speak, but Lager cut them off. “Just sit there quietly and let me finish my story,” he said, a hoof aimed pointedly at them. “If you’ve got questions, sit on ‘em. I don’t wanna hear it until I’m done. Sheesh, now I know why you didn’t want to tell the story, Thunder.” He shook his head. “These damn mares are always givin’ me trouble. Anyway, I couldn’t get her to tell me anything about it. She just sat there mumblin’ to herself like she was hearin’ voices or something. I only caught bits and pieces, but she seemed to be pretty hung up on this ‘Twilight’. Always saying that name like it was the most evil word imaginable.”
Twilight’s eyes drifted downwards. She stared at the ground.
“This went on for awhile and she kept scarin’ away patrons. I’d see ponies walk inside, see her sittin’ there, mumblin’ to herself, and they’d just turn right around and start walkin’ away.” He looked down at the wooden counter, his eyes squinted. He scratched at some discolored mark, scraping away a bit of dirt. Brushing away the remains, he said, “Eh, business had been pretty good the day before, so I wasn’t worried. Couple hours later, she was still sittin’ there, and wouldn’t leave.” He let out a long sigh. “Most stubborn mare I’ve ever met, this Trixie. To her credit, her stubbornness did work out for her.”
Spike cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Well—”
“That’s when I showed up!” Thunderclap said suddenly. He grinned toothily at them. “Being the kind-hearted stallion I am, I bought her some food and drink.”
“You wanted me to tell the story, didn’t you?” Lager asked, eyebrow cocked high enough to make his expression look equal parts questioning and accusatory.
Thunderclap held up his hooves in mock-surrender. “Sorry, didn’t mean to step on your story, buddy.” He gestured towards him. “Continue.”
Lager rolled his eyes. “Anyway, like Thunder said, that’s when he showed up. We got Trixie all fed and watered and managed to pry some information from that iron jaw. She was surprisingly unwilling to talk for somepony so hard to shut up. Once we got her started though, words came spillin’ outta her mouth like water from a waterfall.” He leaned back, looking upwards. “Long story short, she spilled her guts about the whole ‘Ursa Major’—”
“Minor,” corrected Thunderclap.
“Minor’ debacle,” Lager finished, shooting a warning glare at Thunderclap.
“She told you about that?” Twilight said, her ears flattening slightly. “What did she say?”
Thunderclap laughed heartily. “What didn’t she say? She went on and on about how it was all your fault that she lost her home and that she was now the laughingstock of Equestria. Thinking back on it,” Thunderclap said, tapping a hoof to his chin. “She didn’t have a single nice thing to say about you. Which I guess isn’t surprising given what you did to her.”
“What!? Twilight didn’t do anything to that stupid jerk!” shouted Rainbow, rising into the air. “That loudmouth bragged to the entire town that she ‘vanquished’,” she made air-quotes with her hooves, “an Ursa Major.”
“Yeah!” Spike jumped in. “She was trying to prove that she was the best unicorn in Ponyville, but Twilight wouldn’t show her up.” He crossed his arms. “It’s not her fault that Trixie couldn’t actually do any of the stuff she said she could do.”
“I kinda always knew that she wasn’t tellin’ us the whole story,” said Lager thoughtfully. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“That jerk got what she deserved,” Rainbow Dash snorted.
Twilight, who had been quietly thinking to herself through most of the conversation, spoke up. “It’s true that Trixie may have lied about what exactly happened that day, but she does deserve some credit.”
“Huh?” said Spike and Rainbow Dash in unison.
“Well, think about it,” Twilight said, looking at each pony, and Spike, in turn. “Even though Trixie knew she had never actually ‘vanquished’ an Ursa Major before, she still tried. She didn’t run away, or put anypony else in harm’s way to save herself. She actually tried to stop it.” She looked Rainbow Dash in the eye. “Even if she didn’t stop it, that has to be worth something.”
“Well—I—she.” Rainbow sighed. “I guess you’re right. It was pretty brave of her to stand up to that freakin’ huge bear that she had, like, no chance of beating, let alone ‘vanquishing’. But,” she said, holding up a hoof. “That doesn’t mean I forgive her. She’s still a big show-off and a complete jerk. A stupid, but kinda brave, jerk.”
“But what happened after she told you two her story?” asked Twilight.
“Oh!” Thunderclap said excitedly. “This next part was my idea.”
“What was?” she said, looking back and forth between Lager and Thunderclap.
Lager rubbed his chin. “Well, after she ranted about you for such a long time, we knew we had to do something. Now, it ain’t my place to go meddlin’ in other ponies’ affairs, but Thunderclap suggested that she write a letter to you. A letter that said everything she wanted to tell you about what she was feeling. Ya know how you sometimes write letters to ponies that made you mad? And you tell them exactly how you feel, just to let it all out? Right, well that’s what we told her to do.”
Twilight’s horn lit up as an opened letter bobbed its way out of her saddlebag. “So that’s why she wrote me this letter?”
Lager’s hoof shot out and he snatched the letter. “Wait, she actually sent you the damn thing?” His eyes shot back and forth as he read the letter. His eyebrows rose higher and higher as he read more and more. Finally, he finished the letter and turned it over, seeing if there was more on the back. Seeing that it was empty, he handed it back to Twilight. “I didn’t think she’d actually send the damn thing.” He placed a hoof to his forehead. “But what was that bit about, ‘the End of the World’?”
As Twilight slipped the letter back into her saddlebag, she said, “That’s what I was hoping to find out from you. In the letter she says she found out about it while staying in Emerald Falls. We came here hoping to get some more information.”
Lager whistled slowly. “You’re plum outta luck there, missy. That’s the first I’ve heard of this, ‘End of the World’. Sounds like one hell of a place though. I wonder what the End of the World would look like?” he mused. “Can’t imagine it’s a very pleasant place.”
Thunderclap, lost in thought, was tapping his hoof against his forehead. After a moment, he let a sigh escape his lips. “I know I’ve heard of that somewhere, but I can’t think of where.” He ground his teeth together. “Gah! It sounds so familiar.”
Lager shrugged. “Well, I’m stumped. This ain’t exactly a travelin’ town so we don’t always hear all the stories.” He stroked his chin. “The only pony I can think of that might be able to help you folks is that damnable witch who lives on the edge of town. She ain’t a unicorn, but that hasn’t stopped her practicing magic. It ain’t natural.” He sighed. “But, I suppose she’d be able to help you, leastways she could point you in the right direction.”
Rainbow Dash floated back to the ground. “Looks like we know where we’re goin’ then, eh, Twi?” She nudged Twilight’s shoulder roughly. “C’mon then. Might as well get goin’ now.”
“Do we have to go right now?” moaned Spike. “My feet are killin’ me.” He lifted one foot and began massaging it gently while balancing on the other. “Can’t we do that tomorrow?”
“Why bother waiting?” said Rainbow Dash. “We can’t stay here anyway.”
Thunderclap shot a glance at Lager. “Oh come on, big guy. You’re not gonna let these kids stay out in the cold, are ya?”
Lager let out an exaggerated groan. “All right, fine, fine. I’ll tell you what, I wasn’t lyin’ when I said that I didn’t have any rooms and that this ain’t a charity, so you gimme twenty—ten bits and I’ll let you three sleep in the storage room. I won’t lie, it ain’t gonna be like sleepin’ at your mother’s house, but it’s a damn sight better than sleeping in the cold.”
“Ten bits!” Rainbow shouted. “That’s—”
“That’s fine,” Twilight said, cutting her off. “Ten bits is fair.” Magenta light surrounded her bag as it opened itself and a small drawstring bag floated out. She emptied it into a ball of magic and began counting it. “...thirty-eight ...thirty-nine ...forty” She separated ten bits from the pile and passed them into Lager’s outstretched hoof. Rainbow looked at her incredulously. “Don’t worry, Dash. We’ve still got another thirty. That should be more than enough.”
“Tch, not at these prices,” she mumbled.
“Hush, Rainbow. Don’t be ungrateful.” She looked at Lager and nodded politely. “Thank you very much, sir.” Lifting Spike onto her back and nudging Rainbow towards the back of the pub, she said, “We’ll go ahead and get out of your way now. We should really be getting some rest anyway. It looks like we might have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“You’ll find sheets and pillows in the cupboard. Try not to get them too dirty,” Lager called after them.
Thunderclap shook his head slowly, staring at Lager in disbelief. “Ten bits is too much. What do you have against helping some kids?” he asked quietly.
Lager picked up a glass and started wiping it down, glad to be back in his routine. “I told them, this ain’t a charity. I gotta make a living too.”
“Sometimes, I just don’t get you.”
As they walked away, Spike wrapped his arms around Twilight’s neck. “I just hope that this witch, whoever she is, can help us. I don’t wanna end up wandering all across Equestria looking for Trixie. Sheesh, I wonder what’s so important that she had to go to a place called the End of the World?”
Rainbow Dash following behind her, Twilight trotted into a small, cramped room with barely enough room for three ponies. After setting Spike down and finding the sheets and pillows, she said, “I don’t know what Trixie’s after, Spike. But I intend to find out.” She watched as Rainbow Dash looked distastefully at the barren room. She tossed blanket and a pillow over to Rainbow, and set a pair down for herself and Spike. As she lay down, she said, “Something tells me that this is only the beginning.”
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that last line...if only she knew huh?
So, there's a mare who lives on the edge of Emerald Falls, practices magic in spite of not being a unicorn, and the whole town seems to be superstitious about her. I'm calling it: she's a zebra.
This story reminds me of It's a Dangerous Business, Going Out Your Door.
It has the same feeling to it. Great things here.
Twist and turns is how the story flows
Where is stops nobody knows
Nice game of follow the leader we have going here. But following a year old trail's not gonna be easy.
1822406
comments are likable now!
OMG!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KhdlCRXX6dw]
The Wendigo scene, and the name 'End of the World' reminded me of this.
I love this story. The vague chronology actually makes the whole thing more intense, and all the characters so far are unique and interesting in and of themselves. I regret letting this awesome tale rot in my Watch Later for two weeks. Can't wait for more.
1822531 Huh?
1822703 after the time stamp, there's a thumb up and thumb down.
1822808 You only just noticed this?
1822531 HOLY SH!T YOUR RIGHT
1822828 ....maybe
1822848 see, i'm not the only one who just noticed.
@Corundum: you are being sincere, right?
1822861 I noticed this feature DAYS ago!
Anyhow, do you agree with my guess on what race the witch mentioned in the latest chapter is?
1822889 yes, i agree with your zebra theory.
My thought process at the time
*reads your comment*
~if only i could show that i agree without typing out an entire comment that just says i agree
*sees thumbs*
"thank you Celestia."
Hmmm... will the witch be an evil enchantress?
1822990
cdn.broni.es/images/emotes/mlp-pgrin.png She's an evil enchantress
cdn.broni.es/images/emotes/mlp-pmad_fixed.png She does evil dances
cdn.broni.es/images/emotes/mlp-pohshit.png And if you look deep in her eyes
cdn.broni.es/images/emotes/mlp-cpwhat.png She'll put you in trances
cdn.broni.es/images/emotes/mlp-pwut.png Then what will she do?
cdn.broni.es/images/emotes/mlp-pplotting.png She'll mix up an evil brew
cdn.broni.es/images/emotes/mlp-ppopcorn.png Then she'll gobble you up
cdn.broni.es/images/emotes/mlp-pdunno.png In a big tasty stew
Soooo....
ih2.redbubble.net/image.10527463.2975/sticker,375x360.png
1823171 Pinkie: Zecora! YOU'RE the witch?!
Zecora: Living in the Everfree does not much pay, so I needed a job to do during the day. A caster of frightening spells was needed, and for 50 bits a day their call I heeded.
1822531 you didn't notice the little thumbs on either side of the screen?
Yesyesyesyesyes!
Trixie at least TRIED!!! FINALLY!! SOMEPONY WHO NOTICED THAT!!
I'm just tired telling everypony that she is not evil.
1823349
well he is not Lyra to notice that
Quietly*?
1824764
Whoopsie daisy. Thanks for pointing that out, will fix.
1822380 That's what I was going to say.
1822828 Actually, I noticed the thumbs, but had no idea what they were for.
1824927 then say it. I still haven't figured out the gifs and stuff anyway. (hint, hint)
1825633
What's that?
Hunh?
1825754 them lil' pictures that lots o' people like to use to express their feels accordingly. I know how to put them up but I don't know where to go to get them. some of them even move. those are the ones I mean.
Excellent!
1824550 Oh, believe me. You're not the only one. But ti's so damned rare for it to be acknowledged, in or our of the narrative. But even rarer still for the second half to be said.
That Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rrity did NOTHING against it, and even so mocked her genuine efforts to stop it.
1824550>>1832837
Hmm, it seems like you guys might be on to something here. It's almost as if I were trying to continually build on this theme of "Trixie really ain't that bad you guys", letting it slowly build throughout the narrative towards some ultimate goal, or catharsis. But who knows? Maybe this is just a fun adventure story featuring Trixie and some silly OCs. Meh...
1833205 Or the third option and both?
Oh, thank-you so much! Very few people have made that observation. Trixie may have her flaws, but she's a brave and caring pony nonetheless.
Also, Spike gets to sleep in cramped quarters with two mares.
1836072
I could reply to Twilight and Applejack's motivation each in kind as to why they did what they did when they did it, but the crucial point is why they did what they did. In each and every one of those moments, Applejack and Twilight are looking out for other ponies, with the exception of Spike with Rarity, in which instance I think it's more a lack of severity than anything else. With the Gala Twilight didn't just say she's going with Spike because she wanted to bring all her friends along and Spike didn't want to go to begin with, to the point that she would rather not go at all then leave her friends out of her fun. If anything that's a positive character trait, it shows a lack of favoritism. She even considers giving her ticket to Fluttershy and Applejack briefly before deciding that still wouldn't be fair to Rainbow Dash, rarity or Pinkie Pie. With Fluttershy and Luna somehow I find Fluttershy's emotional discomfort second to that of someone who, oh, I don't know, tried to kill everybody on the planet the last time she was in the same state. Between Fluttershy being able to avoid Princess Luna and Luna transforming back into an Apocalyptic monster of self destructive fury, it seems like the former option is superior. With AJ walking out on Twilight at the wedding, she's lost a lot of money to Spike's rampages, the Flim Flam Brothers, the Parasprites, etc, and between Twilight's emotional well being and her family's livelihood and physical health it's not a hard choice. I could go over all the rest, but I will simply say, every dick moment I've given for Dash? Was done for her benefit. Everything Twilight and co have done, for somepony else's sake. Also, never is it stated Celestia pays for Twilight staying in Ponyville. Never. But if it was the case, it's because making sure six ponies stay good friends is a matter of national security. Unless you think it's a waste of money keeping someone who psychologically tortures people for fun from being head of state. Dash and Trixie are selfish, and frequently act like bastards (though they are both improving with this season). Twilight and co are selfless, and occasionally bastards. Important distinction. But once again this is off topic for the story at hand, which I'm quite enjoying.
1836442
Huh, never read a Lunaverse fic. I actually named him after a red star, because of his affinity for fire. Hence his full name, Corona Borealis. Oh, and it's also the name of my favorite beer...
1836515
Just a heads up, if you guys are getting your hopes up for some kind of connection to Luna, sorry, not in this story. While that does sound cool and worth exploring, it won't be done in this fic.
Also...
Chapter 12 is halfway done, should be ready for posting tonight
1836588
I think you'd enjoy the Lunaverse.
Being named after a red star AND a favorite beer? I bet his friends tease him about that one...
1822990
What you did there? I see it.....
1824550
1832837
Damn Skippy, buncha jealous damn nags...
1836162
I'm getting lost with comments. And this puter sucks. (my usual one had a nervous break down
) Right now, the notify box is showing 230. Going through them will take time. And I still have over 400 in the read later section....
Tell ya what, I think you're wrong.
And you're wrong because you think I am.
If you want, I will be happy to finish the debate in IMs. I really hate to side track the story at hand (hoof?) anymore than I did.
1837042 I will have to politely decline
. I'm not having the "why Rainbow Dash is an asshole and badly needed the character development she was given this season" debate again. I assure you that it would only end in two very grouchy bronies, because I've listened to many arguments by Dash fans, overzealous or otherwise, and not once have they convinced me of anything beyond conclusions I've already arrived at on my own. That and you bashed two of the other mane five just to try to prop her up, and three of those five are characters I find truly endearing and awesome (coincidentally the three mentally ill ones), so yeah 
. Not to mention you were flat out wrong in one of your assessments regarding Twilight (that we have any canon evidence she makes money through Princess Celestia as opposed to her day job and possibly parental support and scholarships; that's purely a fanon assumption that fans like because it builds connections between the two and allows us to ship the two more easily 
). So nah, I think I'll just get back to my twisted fusion of Moby Dick and The Lovely Bones of a fan fiction and mark you down as another person who disagrees with me on The Incredibly Selfish Mind Of Rainbow Dash.
Cheers and good day
1836515 Lulamoon is canon indirectly via the toy line, Twilight's Cloud Walking Spell is a weather control spell, indicating she could learn it if she wanted to, and Lauren Faust and several other storyboard writers have said that that power came from Twilight herself, not from any sort of exposure the Sonic Rainboom caused. Furthermore the dragon test was set up as something the students were supposed to fail, and the examiners were to check for magical potential through their methods. Twilight was always destined to be a magical prodigy, she just got a lucky break on how interconnected she'd have been in the magical scholar world. She's also a better pony than Trixie in every way except self confidence and showsponyship.
1836410 Wonderbolt Academy hints at this. Fanon dictates Dash is youngest of the mane six, and she sure acts that way (who else but a sixteen year old would think the best way to get a dragon to move would be to punch it in the face?) but nothing canonical is known about their age except that Fluttershy is a year older than Pinkie and is hinted by her filly model to be the oldest of the group, though Applejack is certainly the most emotionally mature. Nothing is said about required age for the 'Bolts, although there is something to be said about Dash being entered in Equestria's Best Young
A lot. 
Fliers competition. Again, only hints, nothing in canon stating anything either way, but he's probably correct. As you may have noticed, I like to talk.
1837095
Fair enough. I've had the same argument with anti-Trixe/Luna people.
Actually, aside from Trixie and Luna, I have to say I like Fluttershy and Rarity the most. If only because we can all use a little more Kindness and Generosity in this life.
I'm actually referring to her day job. I'm sure there is some kind of money coming her way, but till I see it, it's all idle speculation. My point was, she was set up with a (cushy govt) job. Same with RD, she got (by herself) a govt job.
At this point, I'd give half my fingers and all my firewood to know how Fluttershy makes a living.
Good enough.
Have a nice day, and happy holiday. (dont shoot at the fat man till after he leaves my place!)
1837615 to be fair about the government job, Twilight is more than qualified to get a position as librarian no matter what, and that it happens to be a position in Ponyville suggests Celestia's involvement once again is probably more a matter of national security than any sign of incompetence on Twi's part. As for money flow, what makes you think a teenage girl who hates frivolity in all its forms and has access to a vast supply of her entertainment form of choice entirely free as a job perk living in a small town has a lot of cash needs and can't survive on her own? Sad to hear there are anti Luna people. I find it hard to be to zealous over a reformed Omnicidal Maniac as best character in the series, but she really just needs a hug and a mug of cocoa and suddenly she's a wonderful adorkable pony. As for anti Trixie, I can understand why people would hate the character, but I like her fanon personality quite a bit. Her canon personality is a bit of a mixed bag, but she most definitely deserved better from AJ and Rarity and (no surprises here) Rainbow Dash. She certainly seems nicer in Magic Duel than in Boast Busters, and even then she was less antagonistic and more obnoxious and abrasive, something that a certain cyan pony exhibits all to readily and almost never gets called out on.
1837677
The part in red.....I can't believe I forgot to address that what? 2-3 times?
Brother you're preaching to the choir!
Thats why I think she needs a good horse whipping. And also why she's the least favorite. RD is way too self involved. Seems like, unless it involves or benefits her in some way, she want's nothing to do with it.
Also, Trixie and Luna are tied as best poines. And Celestia is a drunken despot, while Twilight is her pet mad scientist!
1838289 that would be 2-3 times we missed the core of the argument, indeed. I have no ill will against Trixie, and would like to point out when you brought up a list of (mostly misinterpreted) sullies upon the record of my favourite pony and background pony # 27 who I also hold some admiration, I was defending our Great And Powerful mutual friend's honour against the Young Flier Champion's scorn in this story.
1836162 That's not true. You act like Rainbow Dash only cares for herself, and the rest of the mane 6 are only helping others. During the episode that they taught Rainbow Dash a 'lesson' it was because they were jealous of her, even when they were making Rainbow feel like crud they actually were boasting about what they did.
The only time I've seen Rainbow being selfish and completely disregarding a friend for her own gain was the wonderbolt academy episode. When even though she hurt her own wing, she blamed it on Lightning Dust. When they made the tornado, both of them, Rainbow blamed Lightning and got her expelled possibly. This is the one time she isn't being a jerk to protect her friends.
You and yayme smeared Rainbow Dash constantly through the comments and propped up the likes of Fluttershy, somepony that actively admits she doesn't care she is a burden to her friends. Ill admit rarity is okay, but I don't respect her cause she gives everything away, respect her cause she is the only mane 6 member to have a skill that doesn't revolve around her cutie mark. (it makes them instant experts, so it take zero hard work)
Something tells me that this is only the beginning."
OH COME ON! I ONLY HAVE ONE CHAPTER LEFT!!!
Huh, so was it ten each and Twilight paid for Casper, or is it ten for three and RD thinks it's overpriced? Bacause 3 bits a night sounds pretty good.
...
OK, why?
This strikes me as very strange thing for Twilight to do. She has all of the letters in her grasp, she KNOWS the last letter came from much further then Emerald Falls. Yet, it does not occur to her to sit down and read all the letters first? Or travel to the LAST town mentioned in the LAST letter?
And she departs with nothing but forty bits, grumpy sidekick and faithful assistant? Seriously, this is just... weird for her to do. I`d expect Twilight to actually, you know, at least PACK some stuff for travel, and get some reasonable cash along with her. I quite doubt the favorite of princess could be strapped for cash much.
1836162 Honestly i don't think that Dash is as bad as some people are making her out to be. Sure, she can be selfish and arrogant, but Rarity can also be selfish and not very many people who have been hating on dash are acknowledging that. Even though she does show those traits i wouldn't say that she normally puts pony's lives at risk because of it, she just speaks her mind, and no one can say that they don't tease their friends regularly, it's not like she goes calling random people eggheads on the streets. In fact, the most prominent time i have ever seen her let her pride get in the way of saving ponies was in The Mysterious Mare Do Well. I Definitely think that she does before she thinks, but that's cause she's impatient. I think that she was being very harsh when she said that Trixie should die. I get that she hurt her pride and all, but it's not like she tore off anypony's limbs or even bullied anypony, and she didn't specifically single Dash out either, in fact Dash rose to the challenge of her own will, that's hardly a reason to hate a pony so much that you would wish them dead. I'm not going to mention all the things on the show because i think everyone else already covered a great deal of it, so i think i'll just skip that and move on to Trixie.
She is hardly an evil villain, and even though she was the antagonist in both the episodes she's featured in, this one obviously only has Boast Busters as it's canon, so i won't even mention Magic Duel. That being said, in Boast Busters the worst she was was a... well, boaster. As i've said, she didn't single any of the pony's out, all she did was challenge any individual in the crowd, it was their decision on whether or not they went up. Trixie is a performer above all else, she was getting payed for a performance, and even though her speech was excessive, they didn't need to stay if they didn't like what she was saying. Not only that, but that fact that she says she's done all these great accomplishments and boasts about herself is so that people will come see her show, so that they will be curious about whether or not she is as good as she says, any one worth their marbles could tell you that it's just a way to attract costumers. Calling her a bastard who does things only for herself is a bit of an extreme. It was a bit weird that they made her like that off her performance, but it doesn't mean she's a horrible pony, more like one who, if you find her annoying, you should just avoid. They probably only made her like that so that we could have a reason to not like her, cause, let's face it, we can't hate a pony who takes on a different persona on stage, a lot of performers, including singers and actors, have done it. She wasn't the one who got the Ursa Minor there in the first place, and she definitely was not happy about it, and even then she didn't just up and leave, she'd stayed around and attempted to stop the wreckage. I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like a selfish bastard. Trixie has her flaws like any of the characters, and hell, you may not like her, but that doesn't mean that she's a horrible selfish bastard when all she did was try to make a living. Maybe she hurt their prides, but it wasn't out of personal vendetta and they knew she wasn't going to let them just beat her at her own show, it would be ridiculous and make her look like a stupid character, and hating her now in this fanfic is ridiculous. It's called a fanfic for a reason, the author makes up a story about characters, using their traits and most likely developing their characters into something they may not have been.
I honestly don't see why people are complaining about this RD. It's perfectly in-character for her to be like that. She has always been the brash one, you know.
But the word "asshole" is just too strong for her. Let's just call her "brash", okay?