Life as your typical MLP fan is simple. Except for when you buy your first pony plush. Out of all the choices, I pick Rainbow Dash, and take her home. But I question if I picked the right pony. Or do I have more in common with Rainbow than I think?
As a fan on MLP and a Brony, one of the most desired items is a pony plush. But which do I pick? One of the main six, a background pony? Who?! It isn't until I pick Rainbow Dash and take her home. After some time, I question if I made the right call? Or did I pick the right pony plush after all?
Greetings. You may think this is your typical Brony story.... the one where a brony gets their favorite pony plush, goes home happy, they put the plush on a shelf with their other MLP collection items, talk to the plushes, cuddle with them, grab them whenever there is a new episode of the show on, etc. Yes, I know, I sound boring and cliche.... well, this is not that story.
This is a story about how making a choice that may seem simple, can be hard. And how sometimes making a choice you though was hard or wrong, can sometimes turn out good. Let me explain from the beginning.
I was at a mall, wondering on my own with my dad doing the same. However, despite the fact that I wasn't shopping at the normal mall near my house, I decided to have a good time anyway. I enjoyed looking around for a while, and after looking at my phone, I realized it was getting late... and time to head to dinner with my dad.
I found myself in one of my favorite stories in the mall: "Build-a-Bear Workshop". I had shopped at the store many times, getting various plushies so I could cuddle and have them to play or collect. I had gone there hoping to get a plush of my favorite background pony, Derpy Hooves, also known as Muffins in the My Little Pony fandom. Unfortunately, as I looked at the My Little Pony plushies, I found no Derpy Hooves. Dog gone it! Of all the times where the store didn't have Derpy Hooves, I wanted her. Just my luck! .... and I wanted so badly to share some blueberry muffins with her.
No. Instead, I found a Princess Luna, Princess Twilight, and Rainbow Dash plushies. I debated about which one to get. My personality was more similar to Twilight, but since it was Alicorn Princess Twilight, I would have gotten her, but didn't want to be thought of as girly or feminist. Same reason I was thought about getting Princess Luna. As for Rainbow Dash, she was a maybe since I didn't have a lot in common with her.
I paced around the store, trying to decide which one to pick. Twilight or Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash or Twilight. Oh for Celestia's sake, why did this have to be so hard! Grrrrrrr! After pacing some more, I couldn't help but feel a soft, comforting, feeling of loyalty come over me. I kept debating and going back and forth to look at the Twilight and Rainbow Dash plushies. I could get them both, but I only wanted one for now.
But the more I paced, the feeling of loyalty kept coming over me. I just couldn't shake it off! After a while longer, I had made my decision. I had to pick Rainbow Dash. I remembered taking an MLP quiz online... don't roll your eyes at me, admit it, you've taken those quizzes too... and the cutie mark I got was loyalty. The same as Rainbow Dash's cutie mark. So, after grabbing the Rainbow Dash plush and grabbing a ghost plush too.... what? I like ghosts. Boooooooooooooo! Okay now I'm just being silly... I got both plushies stuffed, made the certificates, and then paid for them.
Once the plushies were in some house shaped boxes, I walked out with my two new plush buddies. I actually took out Rainbow Dash and put her in the same box as the ghost plush with the certificate too. I figured it would just be easier for me to carry. Once I threw away the second box, I walked over to my dad and after he asked what I got, I showed him the ghost plush. He was satisfied and we went out to dinner.
Upon arriving home, I went to my bedroom and got the plushies out after switching into my pajamas. I got out the plush certificates, put them with the other ones I had, and put the plushies on my bed. I got on my bed and hugged them. They felt so soft and cuddly. I couldn't wait to sleep with them tonight.
I went to bed late that night, but I didn't care; I had two new cuddle buddies to sleep with! Yaaaaaaay!!! Nevertheless, I turned out the lights, took my glasses off, and then pulled the light blue sheets and brown blankets over me, my Rainbow Dash plush, and the ghost plush. I hugged the two plushies in my arms and rolled over on my side. I normally like sleeping on my side, so cuddling the two plushies in my arms was easy. It felt like they were hugging me back, which I enjoyed. I hugged them back pretending they were alive, enjoying the embrace.
After resting for about an hour, I decided to sleep on my belly, still cuddling my Rainbow Dash plush and ghost plush. Both plushies felt so soft and cuddly as I hugged them. It was great. Then a thought occured; what was the point of cuddling if you couldn't have a little fun? I then hugged the plushies one more time before grabbing them with my hands and pulled them under the light blue bed sheet. With my hands still holding the plushies, I lifted the Rainbow Dash plush and ghost plush up so they would be completely covered by the bed sheet. They both looked like bed sheet ghosts without eye holes which I found amusing. I carefully made sure that both plushies were still under the bed sheet, and placed them in my arms again. Now it looked like I was hugging plushies that looked like bed sheet ghosts. This was fun.
After making sure my bed sheet cover plush buddies were safely in my arms, I moved my hand under the pillow so I could grab it for support. I then cuddled the Rainbow Dash plush and ghost plush, mentally pretending they were trying to get out of the bed sheet or that they were pretending to be ghosts under the sheet. With the image of the Rainbow Dash and ghost plushies going "Boooooooo!" under the bed sheet while waving their arms around, I smiled and cuddled them before drifting off to sleep.
I was in for a fun, silly dream... hopefully not too silly.
The next morning, I woke up and went about my normal schedule... get washed up, then go do homework, study, or whatever crazy thing I had to do during the day. Most of the time it was the same old thing. Nothing special.
Several weeks later, I took a hike with my dad. The past three days had been stressful for me. I told him about Rainbow and he didn't understand. He didn't understand why I needed another plush, let alone one he considered from a girls show. I was honest on the hike and told him everything. Plus, we had made an agreement that if I got a new plush, I HAD to give up plushies that were the same size as the new one, or give up two plushies every time I got a new one. As we talked, he told me how a child gets a plush to cuddle with and keep them safe at night, but didn't understand what reason an adult like me would want for getting another plush... let alone the amount I had. He also explained how he felt it made him feel like I wasn't growing up. How the heck was that? He has said I'm wiser than some adults he knows. Does that fact alone not amount to anything?! I was using the plush the same way a child would. Heck just looking at them helped me with my fanfics.
We eventually agreed that I could keep the Rainbow Dash plush as long as I did more driving and cooking. Knowing I would have to know how to do them anyway, I agreed. Even though driving could be stressful at times. Still, I didn't mind. That's the one thing I never understand about my dad; he would sometimes treat me like a child, but when it came to something as simple as buying another plush, he suddenly gets upset, even when I'm following our plush agreement. Seriously, what the heck is his problem?!
Nevertheless, I got the permission from dad that I wanted. I could keep Rainbow Dash. I was over the moon with this news! I spent the rest of the day on my tablet, and doing homework. But that night, I was super excited. I remember how after dinner I made sure to finish up my schoolwork... I was in college after all. Once that was done, I ran to my room, got into my pajamas, pulled back the covers, and hugged my Rainbow Dash plush. She was here to stay, and I couldn't have been more happy to hold her in my arms. I even showed her to my other brony friends on a video chat. They all were happy for me. The rest of the night was pretty normal, until it was time for bed. But this time, I wanted it to be just Rainbow Dash and me.
I put my ghost plush away in a "Build-a-Bear Workshop" box that I had in my closet, closed the closet door, turned the lights off, took my glasses off and then pulled the bed covers over me and Rainbow Dash. I held my Rainbow Dash plush tightly in my arms, not wanting to let go of her. I definitely felt my feels towards her grow. I liked being able to cuddle my own MLP plush.
As time went on though, a thought popped into my head. Did I pick the right pony? Why didn't I pick Twilight? I had more in common with her than Rainbow! Yet, I did the opposite. But why? Days passed with the thought popping into my head from time to time. It's not that I regretted getting Rainbow Dash, I didn't. But why did I pick her?
Several weeks passed by and eventually, I got my answer. There had been a major arguement on another fan site and I was chatting with one of the head people in charge, who ironically also somewhat atarted the arguement. I had explained the reason why some users thought the arguing should stop and how it was wrong even on the fan site according to the sites rules. Soon, the person I was chatting with understood and we came to an agreement. Then, that's when I read something I did not expect. The user said I was "very loyal" to my friends, and that I "never gave up". It took me a while to thank the user, and then after we chatted a little more, we said goodbye.
"Very loyal"... those words kept going through my head over and over again, all day. I mean, I tried to be a friend and be nice to everyone, but loyal? I had never thought of myself as very loyal. Then, I thought about the arguement and why I was siding with my friends. It didn't take long for the answer to come to me... because I was standing up for what was right... and I didn't give up. That was the reason why.
Then, just like a lightening bolt, quotes popped into my head from the very first episode of "My Little Pony". ... "Thank you. For the offer I mean. ... But I'm afraid I'll have to say no..." ... "and Rainbow Dash who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire, represents the spirit of ... loyalty!". The word loyalty echoed in my head for a good minute or two until the realization finally hit me. That was why I picked Rainbow Dash... because I felt loyal to her when I saw her. It also made sence since I took a MLP quiz once, and my results were that I had gotten the same cutie mark as Rainbow Dash. I couldn't believe it. The answer was in my mind and my heart the whole time! I had just never thought about it!
The rest of the day was normal, but I now had a much more appreciative understanding of a quality I constantly had questioned. I went to bed with my Rainbow Dash plush in my arms, happy that I finally had a common connection with her. Loyalty. However, I was not prepared for the surprise that would await me the next day...
The next morning, I woke up with my "Build-a-Bear" Rainbow Dash in my arms. I gently hugged her, enjoying how soft she felt. I cuddled her for a minute or two until I suddenly noticed something about her; as I hugged her, I felt a slight pressure going on and off my chest, and a soft faint "heee....huuuuu...heeee...huuuu" near her mouth. Wait! Was she doing what it sounded like? Was Rainbow Dash... breathing? I layed there trying to comprehend how this was possible, when I slowly, and unexpectingly felt Rainbow's arms wrap around me. Okay, this wasn't a dream. This was real.
I then tried to carefully pull away from the embrace, but Rainbow was holding on tight. She wanted me to cuddle her. I sat up and attempted to try again, but was suddenly shocked when Rainbow Dash yawned quietly a few times, blinked, closed her eyes, and then opened her eyes again... and stared up at me.
"H-H-H-Hi," Rainbow Dash said, just above a whisper, but not loud enough to be actual talking. It took me a moment to grasp the concept thst she had just talked, so I just said "hi" back and gave a small wave to her. In that moment, I think both our minds understood what was going on, and in an instant, our eyes widened in shock and surprise.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" we both screamed, jumping back as Rainbow and I now realized the other was alive. Alive! I jumped back and quickly landed on the floor, with Rainbow Dash doing the same. Except poor Rainbow Dash had been covered in the blue bed sheet, so when she had jumped off the bed, she took the bed sheet with her.
"Ow," Rainbow said before she sat up on her back legs, the sheet sliding over her body, covering her completely. I got up just as I heard Rainbow say 'ow' and slowly walked to the other side of the bed, just as she got covered by the bed sheet.
"Huh? What- Hey!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she got covered by the blue bed sheet. Rainbow Dash struggled under the blue bed sheet, looking like a ghost. I smiled in amusement as I watched her struggle for a while under the sheet. Like I said, I like bed sheet ghosts. I kept watching her struggle for a minute or two until she became frantic to try and get free from my sheets, which Rainbow Dash was now entangled in.
"Help! Kid, help me! I can't see! Get me out of here!" Rainbow Dash cried out, still trapped in the bed sheet.
"Don't worry Rainbow Dash. I'll get you out of there!" I replied as I quickly untangled the sheet, allowing Rainbow Dash to softly land on the carpet floor of my bedroom. I put the sheet back on the bed before turning to Rainbow Dash again.
"Rainbow Dash, are you okay?" I asked, concerned for her safety.
"The adrenaline is still going, but I'm good. Besides, it'll take more than a silly bed sheet to scare me!" Rainbow Dash replied, the last sentence filled with confidence. I sat on the bed and Rainbow joined me.
"Hey, how did you know my name?" Rainbow asked me. I went over and grabbed the special "Build-a-Bear" birth certificate that came with every plush I bought, and showed Rainbow her own.
"Oh. Okay. But who are you? What are you?" Rainbow Dash asked me curiously.
"I'm so sorry. I should have introduced myself. My name is Aaron, and I am a human being. You probably have never seen humans before. No offense! I'm sorry if I upset you," I replied to the pony next to me.
"Actually, I see humans all the time when I am in the store, hanging out in my bin. Every plushie does! You just don't know we can see and hear everything everyone says!" Rainbow Dash answered before turning to the readers of this story.
"Yeah! I can see you! I know you are reading this. Admit it! Don't deny it! I know you're laughing right now. Stop hating this story haters! Give the author a break, please!" Rainbow Dash said to the readers. To me it just looked like she was talking to a wall, but I ignored that thought.
'I'm just glad my dad isn't here or he would think I'm weird' I thought to myself before Rainbow Dash turned to face me again.
"Rainbow Dash, ... HOW is it possible that you're ... alive? When I got you, you were just a plush," I told her, still confused about the situation.
"Friendship is Magic. No, really! It is. The truth is, every Pony plush can come to life. Our friendships and being together allowed the plushies to come alive. We mostly come to life at night when the store is closed. We always make sure nobody suspects a thing when we return to our holding bins. Also, the Twilight plushies casted a spell so EVERY single "Build-a-Bear" plush can come to life! It's AWESOME! The special ingredient is a friend and imagination. You just gotta be friends with a plush from "Build-a-Bear" and we secretly come to life. Every Twilight plush did the spell!" Rainbow Dash explained to me.
"Why would she cast that spell? Aren't you afraid someone will find out and freak out and try and find out how you are alive?" I asked her with concern.
"No. We can sense when people are near, so we go all plush form and listen to people and see they what look like," Rainbow Dash explained.
"So, you're all the plushie versions of "Disney's Toy Story"? Technically speaking?" I asked, trying to understand the concept.
"Yes and no. Also, what's "Disney's Toy Story"? Rainbow said back.
"Never mind, go on..." I replied, wanting Rainbow Dash to continue explaining this plush phenomenon.
"Basically, you understand the idea. But we only come alive unless we are only with our "Build-a-Bear" owner who bought us. And the only way to get us to come to life is by giving us a hug or a kiss," Rainbow Dash responded. That made better sense to me.
"Okay. Thank you for explaining Rainbow Dash," I replied kindly as I could. She then looked around and then back at me.
"So, now what do we do?" Rainbow Dash asked me.
"I need to get washed up and ready for the day. Don't worry, we can hang out tonight. My dad has a group of friends he meets for dinner sometimes and tonight is one of those nights," I explained to Rainbow Dash as I got up.
"Ohhhh! Can I meet your dad?" Rainbow Dash asked me with excitement.
"No. Probably not the best idea Rainbow. He isn't exactly a fan of you or your friends....and he doesn't exactly understand why you 'ponies' are interesting and popular. He just doesn't understand," I calmly explained to her, putting air quotes around the word ponies, but still getting across why I disagreed.
"Okay. Chat with you tonight!" Rainbow Dash replied before turning into her plush form again. I then put her in the bed, her head on the pillow, and then pulled the covers, sheet and comforter over her before going to take my shower.
Tonight though, I was looking forward to hanging out more with Rainbow Dash.