Once upon a time, there was a world ruled by Ponies and Monsters... One day, a young pony was murdered, and the Monsters were blamed... Out of fear for their own lives, the Ponies attacked the Monsters, banishing them all Underground... That was the old story.
It was all rewritten when a small filly named Derpy stumbled into the Underground. She came in without a will to kill, refusing to strike when struck. She fought many enemies only to make them friends. Even when faced with a soulless creature, she spared the poor flower, freeing the hidden soul within and fighting a once thought to be ghost, Nonsense, the long lost son of the Monster King, Swirl, and Queen, Midnight. After the dust settled, the barrier had been broken, and Nonsense greets the filly, asking for her real name. The small filly smiled, wrapped her hooves around the pony-goat hybrid, and replied... Frisk.
This is the new story. The story Midnight teaches children at her School for Ponies and Monsters. The story she tells year after year. The story...
“Mrs. Mid,” a small filly raised her hoof.
The white pony turned around, her blue and yellow mane sprouting two evenly filed horns. Long, goat like ears flopped by the side of her warm, motherly smile.
“Yes,” Midnight beamed, “What is it, my child?”
“What created the barrier?”
“Aaah,” Midnight chuckled, “Your great ancestors used the Elements of Harmony, six magical items that banished us into the Underground. In order to break the seal, seven pony souls were needed, one to counter-act each element, and the final one to break us out... or so we thought.”
“Is this when Frisk broke the barrier?”
“Not necessarily,” Mid corrected, spreading her wings out, “It also took the power and heart of all monsters beating as one,” Mid pushed her wings forward, pressing together to show unity, “It was then that we were free.”
The class smiled in awe, imagining what it must have been like to have witnessed such magic.
“Where is Frisk now,” a small dragon raised his claw.
Mid smiled, “Oh! She is a grown up pony now. She use to be the link that helped Ponies and Monsters get along, but now, she just travels around the surface... I’m not exactly sure why...”
“My daddy said she use to be your child,” another filly asked, “How did a Monster have a Pony child?”
Mid laughed, “She wasn’t my true child. Swirl and I just adopted her,” Mid returned to her warm smile, “But those days are long gone. I haven’t seen Frisk in quite some time.”
“Why is that?”
Mid paused but the smile never left, “Well... She has her own personal endeavors, and as an experienced mother, I know to give her some space.”
Ring
“Oh! Well look at the time,” Midnight walked over and sat at her wooden desk, “That is all for today class, you may all leave. Don’t forget about our history lesson today! There will be a pop quiz tomorrow about it!”
“Yes, Mrs. Midnight,” the students replied, all smiling and waving as they left.
Midnight watched the last of the children leave before leaning back in her chair, a long low sigh escaping from her.
“Knock Knock.”
Midnight didn’t even need to look up to recognize who voice the voice belonged to, “Who’s there?”
“A friend.”
“A friend who?”
“A friend who is always happy to see you,” a skeleton pony chuckled, walking into the room. A red jacket lined with black fur around the neck and base covered his bony body as well as a pair of red slippers; his comedic smile instantly brightened the room.
“B4SS,” Mid greeted her long loved friend, “How are you.”
“I’ve been good,” B4SS shrugged, “Kenny has been working me down to the bone.”
Mid laughed at the terrible pun, “And how is your brother?”
“He’s been busy,” B4SS replied, “all his trying to be head of the Royal Guard stuff has really done a number on him. I think he has a few bags under his eyes.”
“How does a skeleton...” Mid tilted her head, but then shook it and smiled, “Well, I hope he gets what he dreams. I mean, he was the Monster’s head guard.”
“Yeah, for a few hours,” B4SS laughed, a wink following his words, “But don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye over him.”
“Promise,” Midnight grinned.
B4SS looked at her for a moment, but shrugged and chuckled, “Promise.”
“Hello,” a huge, light blue, goat-pony hybrid walked in. He had a big goofy grin, brown hair, big blue eyes, and a red bow tie and a long robe being his clothing, “Did somebody start the party without me?”
“What up, Swirl,” B4SS smirked, nudging the giant in his side, “How’s trading leader of a civilization for gardening coming along?”
“Calming and peaceful, B4SS” Swirl laughed, “You should give it a try.”
“Nah, I’m not much for work,” B4SS chuckled, “I prefer the lazy life.”
“Well, you can’t stay lazy forever,” Swirl reminded, a reassuring smile on his face, “At some point, you’ll have to take action.”
B4SS looked up at Swirl, his comedic feel still in his eyes and mouth, but a sense of something strange crawled on his back... he ignored it.
“Maybe... Well, I’m gonna head to Grillby’s, see you two Fluffybuns later,” B4SS smirked and walked out of the room.
“Fluffybuns,” Swirl exclaimed, walking after him, but when he looked into the hallways, B4SS had already disappeared, “Hehe! He’s got to show me how he does that. It’d make travel so much easier,” Swirl turned around and looked at Mid, “So, how were the kids today?”
“Fine, as always,” Mid smiled, “They are such sweet children.;. Though... During class today, they asked about... Frisk. One even said their parents know about our family... Do you think they know...”
“I don’t think so.” Swirl shook his head, “It would have been all over those newspaper things Ponies use.”
“I see,” Mid saddened.
“Hey, don’t look down,” Swirl warmly smiled, “She’s probably just out walking around like always.”
“Yeah, I guess you are right,” Mid halfheartedly chuckled, “She always did like to wander.”
“Come on. Let’s go home,” Swirl extend his hoof, helping Mid out of her chair.
“Of course,” Mid walked over, crossing one of days off of the school calendar on the chalkboard.
With a quick grab of her things, Mid and Swirl left, closing the door behind them. When they left, the darkness settled in... and from it... an eerie chill blew across the room, causing papers to fly off some of the desks.
A piece of chalk fell to the ground, spinning around, and being re-lifted into the air. As if being held, the chalk levitated itself to a date, drawing a small smile on it.
A blue eye appear in the dark, and almost immediately the piece of chalk fell back to the ground. Like the lighting of a match, a blue fire appeared, giving a slight glow from the bony, slipper hoof it emitted from. The big grin from B4SS was shined by the blue hue. He scanned the room, holding his blue fired hoof high for as much light as possible.
Nothing returned the glaze, only a few scattered piece of paper. He narrowed his eyes, his flame going out, and moments later, the blue eye disappeared.
“Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!”
A big, booming voice yelled out into the afternoon air. The source? A muscular pegasus with scales instead of a coat of fur and feathers; her wings resembled more of a thestral. She had her brown mane back into a pony tail and an eye-patch covering one of her eyes.
“Kly?! What are you yelling about,” a small pegasus exclaimed. She was walking beside the scaly pony, strutting around like the other with her magenta mane flowing over a forest green eye.
“Oh, my bad, Sky,” the fish pony laughed, noogying the filly on her head, “I was thinking. Practicing for your swim training tomorrow.”
Sky rolled her eyes, “Well, I suggest keeping it in your head, Mom. You’re going to get us more complaints from the whole neighborhood. We might even get kicked out if you continue this.”
“Haha,” Kly let out a hardy laugh, “They’re just a bunch of weenies. This whole town is too peaceful... Man, I wish Frisk was around. She may have been a weak fighter, but she sure never backed down.”
Sky shook her head, but could not help but smile at her mother’s desperate need to beat up enemies. It was almost as if she was an addict in withdraw, “Well, I’m here for you, Mom. And I’m always up for a fight.”
Kly looked at her, a big grin on her face as she raised her hoof again to gently rub Sky’s mane, “And I’m happy you are here, Sky, keeping that fighting spirit in you. Don’t know what I’d do without you and Sunny. Speaking of, your Mom is probably getting worried where we are right now. Come on, we better hurry home.”
“Ok! Race you there, 123GO,” with little spacing in the countdown, Sky took off fast into the air, her wings spread, flying down the street.
“Hey, you little brat,” Kly laughed, spreading her scaly wings, speeding after her, “You better hope you beat me!”
Two quick blurs dashed through the normally calm neighborhood. Their speed causing big gust of wind, waving the grass as they passed near lawns.
“It’s so quiet here,” A blue elderly mare gave a gummy smile to her husband as they slowly crossed the street, “I’m glad we moved from the big city to here.”
“What was that, sweet pie,” the old, grey maned stallion asked, holding a hoof to his ear, pushing up his foggy glasses.
“I said,” the wrinkled mare raised her voice, “I’m glad we moved here!”
“Run that by me again.”
“I said,” she got close to his ear, “I’M GLAD WE MOV-” She paused and flicked her ear, “Do you hear something?”
Before she could ponder the small wishing sound, it had grown into a full blown roar as she was pushed over by the force of two fast projectiles, knocking her over.
“Aaaah,” She yelled out, holding her side on the ground, “My hip!”
“Sorry,” Sky yelled back as the two elders became small dots in the distance, “Do you think they heard me?”
The stallion remained standing, a hoof to his ear as he squinted, “... Did you say something, dear?”
“I’m sure they did,” Kly shrugged, right on Sky’s tail.
They turned a corner, heading straight for a big blue house in the shape of a fish head at the end of the street.
“Better hurry up, Mom,” Sky smirked, flapping her wings a little harder, “I’m gonna beat you!”
“Never count on victory until you have your enemy defeated,” Kly grinned
Then, right before the two made their destination, Kly reached out and pulled on Sky’s tail, causing the filly to yelp as she was dragged behind her mother, deprived of the win.
“Hey,” Sky yelled landing in front of her mother, “That’s not fair!”
“Most fights never are fair,” Kly said in a matter-of-fact state, “Always expect anything when in battle.”
“But...,” Sky paused, thinking about it, “Yeah. You’re right.”
“Of course I am, squirt,” Kly smiled, ruffling her mane, “Ah. Don’t worry about it, Sky, you’re still learning. Which is why I decided to not make you run a mile for losing. Now come on, let’s get inside before it gets dark.”
“Yes, mam,” Sky gave a grinned salute before turning around and heading for the front door of their home.
Kly smiled as she watched Sky disappear behind the door. She looked around a bit, taking a breath of fresh air and looking around.
“Aaah. This air never gets old,” Kly cackled.
Her gaze scanned the rows of houses and lawns. Seeing some childeren, monsters and ponies, play in the streets and enjoying the last of the daylight. The orange rays shot over the distant mountains, giving a beautiful scenic view for the townsfolk, and the last meals for the plants, Tall trees, fuzzy bushes, green grass, a blooming, smiling...
“What the...,” Kly blinked and looked back at a small flower sitting in her yard. It had blue petals and a small blue stem to match. It seemed so peaceful and innocent sitting under a short but shady birch tree. She walked over to the flower and inspected it closely, “Is that... it can’t be...”
“Is that... It can’t be...,” the flower responded as it was picked from the ground by Kly.
Kly chuckled in amusement and bewilderment, “An echo flower.”
“An echo flower.”
“I can’t believe there is one on the surface,” Kly looked up and down it, staring at the now exposed roots.
“I can’t believe there is one on the surface.”
“I can’t wait to show this to Sunny,” Kly beamed, “She’s gonna want to study this.”
“I can’t wait to show this to Sunny. She’s gonna want to study this.”
“Alright, Alright,” Kly laughed, “Let’s get you inside.”
“Alright, Alright. Let’s get you inside.”
Kly gently put the flower in her mouth and walked inside. As she closed the door, a flower had reappeared under the birch tree. It’s blue petals faced the house. Then, in a blink of an eye, it disappeared.
# # #
“Mom! We’re back,” Sky exclaimed, making her and Kly’s presence known.
From the piano, a milk white lizard looked up from her playing. Her head had a blue mane with pink streak in the front, flowing over one side of her nerdy glasses. In the way of one of her teal eyes like Sky.
“Oh. Sky,” she smiled, “I was wondering where you all were. It was getting late and I started thinking that maybe you both ran into to trouble,” her smile faltered a little, “And if you were in trouble and I didn’t know, I wouldn’t be able to help...”
“Don’t worry about it, Sunny,” Kly assured, coming from the front door, “We’re fine.”
Sunny looked up, then smiled brightly again, “Yeah. Y-You’re right. Well. I hope you two had a good day. I know I did.”
Sky walked up and sat next to Sunny, watching Sunny’s claws play the piano flawlessly, “We did! The hike through the Everfree Forest was so cool! We saw a manticore!”
“A manticore,” Sunny frowned and glanced at Kly, “Those guys don’t like to be bothered.”
“Well, we didn’t actually go up to him,” Sky giggled, “We just watched him from a distance. He was really interesting.”
“Oh. Of course,” Sunny smiled again, “Well. I had just as much fun. I’ve been staring at star charts from last year and ten years ago, seeing if any new stars appeared. Then, after a miojo and soda lunch, I watched a marathon of Mew Mew.”
Sky looked at Sunny, smiling awkwardly, “S-sounds fun. Too bad I missed it.”
“It’s ok,” Sunny beamed, “It’s kinda boring anyways...”
“N-No! It... sounded like a good time,” Sky chuckled halfheartedly.
“Sky,” Kly intruded, sitting on the other side of Sunny, “Why don’t you go ahead and go upstairs to take a shower. After our long hike, you’re gonna want to relax and freshen up.”
“Ok, Kly,” Sky bubbled heading out of the room and up the hallway steps, “I’ll be there.”
The two watched her leave, then Sunny let out a long sigh, the piano stopping it’s pleasant sound, replacing it with random, inharmonious notes as Sunny slammed her head on the keys.
“She thinks I’m boring,” Sunny groaned.
“No she doesn’t,” Kly comforted, wrapping a hoof around her, “You’re her parent. She loves you.”
“Doesn’t mean she’ll think I’m as exciting as you,” Sunny got back up and leaned her head on Kly’s shoulder, “I’m awkward and geeky. You’re adventuresome and awesome... You both saw a Manticore for crying out loud,” Sunny threw one of her claws up into the air ton emphasize, “All I did was watch anime.”
“Although I can’t argue with my awesomeness,” Kly jokingly boasted, earning her a small chuckle from Sunny, “I can say that you, Sunny, is just as awesome as I am. You are one of the smartest scientists I know! You built a robot body for a ghosts! Now I’m wouldn’t call that boring.”
Sunny blushed from the compliment, playing with her mane as she smiled shyly, “Kly, you’re just saying that. Come on, that was nothing really.”
“It’s nothing for you because solving the crossword puzzles is like just a warm up for you,” Kly laughed hugging Sunny tighter, “By the time I figured out ‘Down 1’ you’d already finished and made breakfast. Kinda makes me a little jealous,” Kly warmly nuzzled Sunny, “Just a little though.”
Sunny sighed a little from the warm touch. After her long day of star plotting, it felt relaxing to have her marefriend next to her, “Th-Thanks Kly. You always make me feel so much better. I love having you around.”
“And I love you,” Kly grinned, kissing Sunny on the cheek, then letting go her, “By the way, I got something you might find interesting. I don’t know why I didn’t see it earlier, but....”
“WHAT!?”
Sunny mouth dropped when Kly pulled out the Echo flower from behind her back.
“Wh-where.... H-how... I....,” Sunny was at lost of words as she stared at the blue flower.
“Wh-where. H-how. I,” The small flower responded.
“I found it under the birch tree outside,” Kly replied the questions Sunny, and the flower, asked, “No idea how it ended up there though.”
“I found it under the birch tree outside. No idea how it ended up there though.”
“It’s... Amazing,” Sunny stared awestruck, “An Echo flower on the surface.”
“It’s amazing. An Echo flower on the surface.”
“Alright! That’s enough out of you,” Kly growled at the plant.
“Alright! That’s enough out o-mmf,” the flower’s sounds got muffled as Kly pressed her hoof over the top of it.
Sunny giggled at Kly’s rage, “You’re yelling at a flower.”
Kly blushed embarrassingly, “Well, maybe if the flower would shut up, I wouldn’t have to.”
Sunny chuckled, leaning against Kly, “Hmm. You know what will make you feel better?”
Kly looked down at her, tilting her head, “What?”
Sunny looked up at her and beamed, “An anime marathon.”
Kly laughed loudly, “Yeah, guess so.”
Sunny giggled a bit, “And this,” Sunny came up and pressed her lips against Kly’s gently.
Kly was slightly shocked, but smiled and kissed Sunny back, taking her hoof off of the flower and wrapping it around Sunny. However, with air still being a vital essence to live, the two broke off, breathing a little heavy.
“You always know what’s best,” Kly huffed, a big grin from ear to ear.
“You always know what’s best.”
“SHUT UP,” Kly snapped, causing Sunny to howl in laughter.
