Who would have thought a creature with no magic would have all of the weight of Equestria balanced on her shoulders? Asinus sure didn't, but there she was.
Equestria can't function without the use of magic. It's apart of every creatures everyday life whether they take note of it or not, its the one thing that breaths life into Equestria. Asinus has known this her whole life, it was initially hard to fit into a society as a creature completely disconnected from magic. But she never let it get her down. Asinus went to school, she had friends, she could do almost anything an average pony was capable of, some days she forgot she was different at all. It's only on one fateful day when she suddenly finds she's the only one capable of saving all of Equestria that she begins to learn of her heritage and her place in a world driven by magic
Chapter 1: The beginning….I guess…(I've got better names for the next chapters!)
“Mirum, come on! What’s taking you so long?” Asinus cried from across the street to her friend. The young filly’s bouncy brown hair was tangled into a weak and knotted ponytail as she ran across the street toward Asinus.
“Sorry, sorry!” She panted she came to a halt next to her friend. From up close, Asinus noticed a dark blue liquid that soaked through her normally white Wonder Colts t-shirt and most of her flank, making her yellow cupcake cutie mark seem a sluggish mucky green against her neon pink fur.
“Let me guess, you were at sugar cube corner?” Asinus sighed as she began a slow trot down the dirt-made sidewalk.
“How’d you guess?” She asked cheerfully with an embarrassed smile.
“Well, the blue slushie you spilled on your shirt made it kinda obvious,” Asinus chuckled with a grin, “Plus, this isn’t the first time you’ve done this,” She added as she opened her saddle bag and tossed her friend an old plaid rag. Mirum grabbed the washcloth mid-air with a crackle of golden magic and lifted her glasses off, which apparently had a few specks of the blue beverage as well.
“I guess I’ve built a bit of a reputation,” She chuckled as she promptly scrubbed at her glasses while placing a hoof on her friends back to guide her.
“No kidding! Are you sure that Twilights the one you’re supposed to be staying with and not Pinkie Pie?” Asinus asked curiously, “You seem to spend a lot of time over there than you do at the castle.”
“Oh come on Asinus, I’ve seen enough castle’s in my life time---trust me!” Mirum snorted as she placed her glasses on her head and began to work at her flank, “There always so big and empty, cold and quiet--you could hear a pin drop from the other side of the hall--which has to be a few miles long!”
“But is it that really bad?” Asinus asked as the two made their way up the tiny red school house, “It’s not even 8 in the morning and you were already there? You wanted to get out of the castle that badly?”
“Hey, I don’t want it to sound like I hate Twilight’s castle,” Mirum replied defensively as she wringed out the plaid wash cloth before placing it back into her friend’s saddle bag, “I just love Sugar Cube corner so much! It’s just so tiny and cozy and it always smells like homemade goods that are backed with love and passion and Pinkie Pie’s just always planning some sort of birthday party or wedding or cutsinera!”
Asinus aloud Mirum to pause for a moment to catch her breath before continuing.
“And not to mention Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake are always there and up early in the morning with so much energy and always let me help out with the chores whether it be baking or table polishing or sweeping or cleaning the toilet or---”
“Okay seriously, I’ll never understand your love for chores,” Asinus interrupted as the two friends trotted inside and sat in the two front desks closest to the window.
“What? I just can’t help it! I’ve got a bunch of maids and butlers to do all the work at home. It just feels so……...good to do some work yourself, you know?”
This all made sense to Asinus. After all, her mother was always telling her about the importance of hard work and encouraged her to help out whenever she could, but she couldn't get how enthusiastic Mirum was about chores. Sure, it sounded like she came from a pretty rich family, but she sure as heck didn’t act like it----not that she was complaining of course. Mirum was her best friend in the entire school--no, all of Equestria!---she wouldn’t change a thing about her. It was too bad she was only here during the school months. On occasions like Heart's Warming Eve and summer break---or even at random dates during the school season---she always had to go back home to………..somewhere. Asinus had no idea where she actually lived. It was kinda weird, but Mirum didn’t like to talk about it too much, and Asinus never pressed for details. They had to trust each other, right? What else was friends for?
“Alright students, everyone please take your set,” Ms.Cheerilee said as she trotted in with a familiar sunny smile on her face. Followed behind her was an ocean of other colts and fillies that poured into the classroom. Asinus’ eyes scanned the thick crowd of school ponies in hopes to find her other friends until the last colt to come in closed the door behind him.
“Where are they?” Asinus groaned as the young colt made his way to his seat.
“Well I don’t know about Ginger, but Pound Cake and Pumpkin are probably still cleaning up from the mess we made earlier,” Mirum chuckled.
“Hm……...don't you find it a little strange that Ginger didn't show up on time?” Asinus muttered, “With the exception of that time Discord sent those timberwolves lose, I don't think he's ever been late--or even been absent.”
“Hu. I guess it is kinda weird,” Mirum said thoughtfully, “But we can't all be perfect, you know? Like this morning, when one of the customers came in, the craziest thing happened! You see-”
“Alright, alright, settle down,” Ms.Cheerilee said as she tapped her ruler impatiently on the desk “Come now, be quiet please.”
The classroom continued to talk regardless.
“Okay, time to start class.”
No change.
“Quiet----now!”
“Did you remember the earmuffs?” Asinus asked as she turned to her friend.
“Right here,” She replied as she placed a pair over her friends ears before doing the same to her own.
“Thanks.”
Mirum read her friend's lips and nodded with a smile.
“You think some of the students would have brought their own pair by no--”
“EVERYPONY SHUT UP AND LISTEN OR YOU’RE ALL EXPELLED!!!!!!!!!!”
The classroom was silent in an instant.
“Thank you,” Ms.Cheerilee said joyfully as her sunny smile returned and the veins on her neck faded away, “Now please take last night’s assignment.”
As everypony hurried to take out their work from their saddlebags, Mirum levitated both pair of earmuffs and put them away while taking out her homework.
“Hey, how did you do on the assignment?” Mirum asked as she levitated her own out.
“Fine, why’d ask?” Asinus asked before biting onto her homework sheet and placing it neatly on her desk.
Before Mirum had a chance to reply, the door suddenly barged open and a young muddy colt came tumbling in and crashed into Ms.Cheerilee's desk head first. Instantly the entire classroom exploded with laughter, spare Asinus and Mirum who had quickly recognized their klutzy friend by his golden coat and gingery mane. The two fillies sprang out of their sets and came to his aid.
“Oh my gosh Ginger, a-are you okay?” Mirum asked as he helped her friend up (and got her already stains T-shirt even dirtier).
“Dude,” Asinus cried with a huge amused smile, “That was hilarious!!! What were you thinking?”
The young cult’s fur and mane were covered in splashes of mud, and his lucky cowboy hat that he always wore was practically drenched as well. The young cult glared at his amused friend before rubbing his sore head and turned his gaze toward Mirum.
“I-I’m fine, really, it ain't much,” Ginger said as his face began to flush, “But thanks for askin’. It's mighty nice to know that at least one of my friends cares,” Ginger snapped as his head spun toward Asinus.
“Oh come on, a colt barges through the door in a muddy ball then crashes against the desk and you don't expect me to find it funny?” Asinus snorted, “To think you claimed to know me as well as you do.”
“Asinus!!!” Mirum cried.
“I get that you've got some kinda twisted sense of humor, but I figured you'd be a bit more sympathetic to one of your own friends young ungrateful---”
“Everypony please, I just got you all calmed down,” Ms.Cheerilee groaned as she trotted toward Ginger, “Are you alright? Do you have a concussion?”
“N-no, Ma'am, I'm fine,” Ginger stuttered without making proper eye contact, “I-I’m awfully sorry ‘bout all the commotion I caused………..and, uh, t-the mess I made,” he added as he glanced at the muddy track he’d left along the floor. “Its………..it’s alright, Ginger,” Cheerilee sighed patiently, “I'm just glad you're not hurt. Now, do you mind telling me-------”
“Way to go farm boy!!!!” A pony with a soccer cutie mark cried. Ms.Cheerilee tried to speak once more.
“Do you mind------”
“Nice going you cluts!!!” Cackled a filly with a golden and bronze mane. Ms.Cheerilee twitched.
“Can you please-----”
“Geze, what a slob! Look at all the mud he attracted!”
“What'd you expect from a blank flank???”
“Maybe his talent is being an idiot!”
The entire classroom filled with similar remarks, and Gingers face became so red that it would have blended in with his mane had it not been so muddy.
Ms.Cheerilee groaned before smiling sweetly at the three young friends.
“Excuse me for a moment,” She said as she turned toward the class. As she did so, Mirum quickly pulled out the earmuffs from her saddlebag and Ginger pulled out a similar pair from under his hat.
“IF YOU BRATS DON'T SHUT UP IN THE NEXT 5 SECONDS THEN YOU ALL GET DETENTION FOR 3 WEEKS STRAIGHT!!!!!!!”
Everypony suddenly found the situation completely unamusing and the room was dead silent.
“Thank you,” Cheerilee said cheerfully before turning back toward Ginger with a serious expression, “Now then, Ginger, do you mind telling us all why you came in so late and so…….filthy?”
“Again, s-sorry,” Ginger stuttered as the two fillies made their way to their sets, “You see, I was feeding the pigs earlier this morning before school---I always do---but for some reason they all flipped out and busted through the fence! It took me and the family nearly an hour to round em all up, not to mention we had to reinforce the fence once we had them all--i-it was real hectic. I’m sure my cousin Apple Jack would have been happy to come in and explain, but we were already so behind the rest of our chores, and none of the other animals had been feed……..I’m actually surprised I managed to get here when I did.”
“That’s……..quite a story,” Cheerilee said in amazement.
“Ma’am please, it’s the truth, honest!” Ginger whined, “Just ask any of the apple family and they’ll tell you the same!”
“Ginger, of course I believe you,” Cheerilee replied earnestly, “I’m just saying it’s a bit odd, that’s all. Do you think you could wash off by the side of the school?”
“O-of course, sure thing,” Ginger stuttered as he scrambled away, knocking over a trash can as he did so.
“I’ll clean that up when I get back,” He called as he ran out the door.
“Well, now that that’s all been settled,” Cheerilee sighed as she faced the classroom again, “I’ll be collecting everypony’s homework. Please pass it to the pony--or, rather, the person in front of you.”
Asinus turned around to take the homework levitated in front of her, but found her teeth snap against each other as it was rudely pulled away from her. When she looked up to the pony behind her, she knew why.
“Oh please, I’m not giving it up to you,” Golden Crown hissed with an obnoxious flashing smile on her face. The young yellow filly with a laced golden and bronze mane looked at Asinus like she had the plague, “You’ll just copy off of mine before Cheerilee can see it. After all, it’s not like you even did the homework yourself.”
“Oh really? And why’s that,” Asinus growled, already knowing the answer.
“Well duh, isn’t it obvious?” Golden Crown snickered, “It was all on cutie marks, and you like, won't ever have one of your own, so how could you ever like do it without cheating?”
“You’re one to talk,” Asinus snapped, “Everypony knows you always have Dorsey do it for you.”
“T-That’s like, so not true,” Golden Crown snapped defensively.
“Knock it off Golden Crown,” Mirum said as she turned her head to face the obnoxious filly, “You don’t have to have a cutie mark to understand them.”
“Yeah right,” Golden Crown snorted, “Like you so do! You can never really understand a cutie mark until you have it---at least Ginger Gold might get his eventually, but Asinus here never will cause she’s like---”
“I know I know,” Asinus sighed in annoyance, “Because I’m a donkey, and donkeys don’t get cutie marks. Big deal.”
“It is a big deal!” Golden crown snickered, “You can never really know for sure what type of talent you have until it’s permanently there. You have no way of ever knowing 100% what you’re talent is without a cutie mark. It’s like----impossible!”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mirum said firmly, “Just ignore her Asinus.”
“Don't have to tell me twice,” Asinus snickered.
“Asinus, do you have everyone's homework?” Ms.Cheerilee asked as she reached the end of the front row.
“Why yes, I do,” Asinus said between clenched teeth as she swiftly snapped the pile of homework from Golden Crowns magical grasp and offered it to her teacher.
“Here, you left this at sugarcube corner,” Mirum whispered as she levitated a familiar blue and white spiral notebook.
“Thanks Mirum,” Asinus replied as she took the journal in her mouth, “I was wondering where I put--”
Asinus suddenly stopped as her tastebuds met the sweet liquid flavor that mixed with the inky cardboard. She spat out her journal onto her desk to take a better look at it. Up close she now realized that more than two thirds of the journal was drenched with a pink milkshake (strawberry, from what she could tell from the taste). Aside from that she also couldn’t help but notice that it was covered in a variety of different scratch marks that certainly hadn’t been there prior. A few of them had even managed to cut through the cover of her journal and was at least a centimeter deep.
“Oh, yeah……….forgot to mention that I sort of used it as a shield this morning,” Mirum chuckled nervously, “Looks like it’s still wet……….I was desperate okay???”
“Dude---what the hay happened?” Asinus hissed in horror.
“Oh, well, I’m glad you asked!” Mirum replied as though nothing was wrong, “You see--”
The door suddenly crashed against the wall as a soaking wet Ginger barged inside once again with his eyes wide and his breath heavily. As soon as he stepped inside, Ginger slammed the door shut and pressed his back against it as he tried to catch his breath. Asinus saw a few fillies and colts open their mouths to comment, but one look from Cheerilee kept them quiet.
“Er--Ginger?” She asked in confusion, “Why---um, is there something wrong?”
“Please don’t ask,” He murmured as he trotted past her and took the set behind Mirum.
“Say Asinus, where’s the Cakes?” Ginger whispered as he opened his saddle bag, “I didn’t see them----what in the hay happened to---”
“To my Journal?” Asinus sighed, “Ask Mirum after class, I have no idea.”
“Seriously, was it attacked by a squirrel?............covered in a milkshake?” Ginger asked in amazement.
“Well, as a matter of fact---”
“Alright everypony, no more distractions!” Ms.Cheerilee announced as she made her way toward the chalkboard, “We’re beginning our lesson. Everypony please take out your journals for notes.”
Asinus looked down at her sad ruined journal. There was no way she could write with this piece of horse dung. The pencil would just go through the paper, everything in there was probably ruined too. Why was she friends with this girl again? Just as she was about to mutter a few of the many curses she’d picked up from her father, a neat stack of paper floated in front of her and onto her desk. She just managed to see the golden magic that had illuminated it before it disappeared all together. When she looked to her right, she found her friend looking at her with a sorry smile and a small blush. Asinus couldn’t help but feel a smirk form on her face as she did so.
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?”
“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.”
“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.