Title: Thread 18: Stories 16-30 Author: PrincessApplejack Pastebin link: http://pastebin.com/rRsZ4wEz First Edit: Wednesday 28th of May 2014 03:44:12 PM CDT Last Edit: Wednesday 28th of May 2014 03:44:12 PM CDT _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >42 "Spike" ~~~~~   The room was eerily silent. It was as if time had stopped around the Changeling sitting in the middle of the room. As if all of the world had ceased to be as she remained stock still, focused entirely on the space in front of her. On a tiny, beeping little device.   Her brow furrowed harder, and her tongue began to poke out of the side of her mouth. Almost... almoooosst...   "What are you doing?"   ~~~~~~   Five minutes later, after all of the various fires in the room had been extinguished, 42 looked quite irate.   >What were you thinking!? I almost had it!   "Had what? Fires? Didn't realize you were trying to actively burn this place to the ground on your own now, you should have asked me for help-"   There was a certain joy to smacking him in the head, a joy that you just couldn't get anywhere else.   >No! I'm trying to master Fire Flight!   "What? You mean like 55?"   >No! Not flying WITH fire, Fire Flight!   "..."   >...Teleporting!   "Oooooohhhh! Why didn't you just say that? That's way more informative. Well, what's the deal?"   >...I can't get it right.   "Is it hard?"   >Unbelievably. It's considered madness for any save a Queen to even attempt it. It's use of flames is risky at best, but it offers so much more range... Majesty was able to send both Cadence and Twilight deep into the mines with barely any effort. She was even able to teleport someone as massive as Chitania. Fire Flight is an amazing technique, and with it I could have...   "Could have gone to help Shiny in the volcano?"   >...It was wrong he fought that alone. I should have been with him. Should have fought instead, and allowed him to get Two to safety. Had I been there... maybe she wouldn't have escaped.   "It's his fault for saving her-"   >Don't you dare! He had his reasons, and they are not yours to judge!   "Eeesh, sorry, didn't mean to pick on your coltfriend."   SMACK!   >HE IS NOT MY COLTFRIEND YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!   ".... you know, that fire..."   >Hm?   "This is going to sound weird but, it kind of reminds me of my fire. I can teleport stuff with it too."   >...How odd.   "Yeah, little bit. So... going to ask Chrysalis or what?"   >Ah... no. No I am not. I do not want her to mistake that I am trying to usurp her power. She is on edge following 32's attempt, and it would be unwise to provoke her.   "Doubt she'd distrust you."   >Oh, I know. My Queen knows I am loyal to my last breath, but it's just better if she doesn't have to have that niggling worry, you know?   "Right. Well, good luck, I suppose. Hope you figure it out."   >Thank you, I hope so as well.   "...Hey, 42?"   >Hm?   "Make sure you figure out how to take more than just yourself. Don't go rushing off without the A-team, gotta watch each others back."   >...I shall keep that in mind.   He seemed to leave and she resumed focus.   Almost... almost...   "OH! By the way, I almost forgot! I came here to-"   >GAH!   "...Uh... you know what? I'll... ask you later."   >AT LEAST HELP ME PUT OUT THE FIRES FIRST! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >Cadence "2" ~~~   >Okay, sweetie, we need to go over your homework again.   "Awww, ya' sure? I think I've got it!"   >Yes. Absolutely. For... refreshers. Refreshing the basics is good. Now, this number right here?   "It's a six!"   >Good. Right. Making a note of that... not lavender, six. SIX. Six is the number.   "Uh..."   >And when you put lave-SIX! When you put SIX with this number here, what do you get?   "Eight!"   >Right, because this is number Blue-TWO! This is the number TWO... liiiike you! My precious little b-TWO! Who I just love to bits   "EEEE! Love you too Caddy! HUGGY!"   >Of course, of course... now, this number?   "Caddy, stop being silly! It's a six! We just did that!"   >Right, right... and six and blue is eight.   "Huh?"   >NOTHING! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >SA "Sombra"   ~~~~~~~~~~~   "Hello, Shining Armor."   Shining look up to see a familiar face and he smiled.   >Sombra.   "I had heard about the events in Canterlot, and that you were now recovering from your battle. I came to see if you were well."   >I'll be honest, I want to scream, I really do, but if I did, well you know how everyone else would react.   "Indeed..."   >... You alright? You look like you have something on your mind.   "... I have come to the realization that I am... Useless..."   >What!? Don't say that y-   "Shining please... It is true. I could not help when it was needed... In all the times of danger I could not help. My only real duty, was to watch after Two during the day and now that she is going off to school. I find myself realizing I am lost my one real purpose... For the first time in a long while... I find myself cursing my continued existence and my inability to move on."   >...   "..."   >If we could either restore your body, or be able to give you peace... Which would you choose?   "...I do not know. However, that is a pointless question. All the books I researched have cemented the fact that I will be like this for all Eternity..."   >...The books form... our Library?   "Indeed."   >... you do realized those are a thousand years out of date, right?   "...Then that means..."   >We might be able to find something that could help you... in some way.   "I do not wish to give myself false hope... but if there is a chance... I think I would like to try."   >They we'll do it together.   "Together." _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >SA "Sombra"   ~~~~~~~~~~~   "Hello, Shining Armor."   Shining look up to see a familiar face and he smiled.   >Sombra.   "I had heard about the events in Canterlot, and that you were now recovering from your battle. I came to see if you were well."   >I'll be honest, I want to scream, I really do, but if I did, well you know how everyone else would react.   "Indeed..."   >... You alright? You look like you have something on your mind.   "... I have come to the realization that I am... Useless..."   >What!? Don't say that y-   "Shining please... It is true. I could not help when it was needed... In all the times of danger I could not help. My only real duty, was to watch after Two during the day and now that she is going off to school. I find myself realizing I am lost my one real purpose... For the first time in a long while... I find myself cursing my continued existence and my inability to move on."   >...   "..."   >If we could either restore your body, or be able to give you peace... Which would you choose?   "...I do not know. However, that is a pointless question. All the books I researched have cemented the fact that I will be like this for all Eternity..."   >...The books form... our Library?   "Indeed."   >... you do realized those are a thousand years out of date, right?   "...Then that means..."   >We might be able to find something that could help you... in some way.   "I do not wish to give myself false hope... but if there is a chance... I think I would like to try."   >Then we'll do it together.   "Together." _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >Two's Teacher ------- >Hmm, Miss "Two" seems to have used a plethora of colours in her homework in addition to the standard ink. >While surprisingly organized in her arrangement, i should think about introducing the colour wheel a smidgen earlier than usual, if only so i am not momentarily blinded after each assignment.   >Now that i think about it, this is oddly reminiscent of Ms Sparkles early assignments, which makes sense considering her brother is the father of this little one. >Maybe this time I'll be able to instill a love of the arts in a child thats obviously brimming with creativity. >Hopefully without her poached by a princess and having to watch as all that potential withers away in favor of 'logic' and 'facts'.   >I honestly dont know what the princess was thinking with that curriculum, that poor girl grew up way too fast for it to be entirely healthy. >At least she's doing okay, although i do wish i could find the source of those nasty rumors i have to keep correcting my little ponies on. >Honestly, if i find the nitwit who started spreading the ridiculous notion that "Princess Twilight caused the giant monster to attack canterlot", in front of their foals no less, I'll scold them so hard they'll be wishing it to come back! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >29 "MM" 'Trixie' [Zecora] ~~~~~   >There are moments in my life when I question the things I do.   "And that moment couldn't have come BEFORE we let the lions out?"   'Have no fear! THE AMAZING AND FANTASTIC TRIXIE shall tame even them most stalwart of beasts! He-yah!'   [My dear you are one dumb little fool. For taming lions, a chair is a poor tool.]   >How did you even GET these things?   "Fluttershy owed me one."   'Stand and face me, beast! WHA-CHA!'   "The whip seems unnecessary."   'Nonsense! These creatures must learn their place, beneath the GREAT and POWERFUL-EEEEKGETAWAYGETAWAAAAAAYYYY!'   >Don't use me as a shield! My chitin is a not armor, it's skin! IN NEED THIS TO LIVE!   'Sacrifice for the greater good!'   >DAMN YE, BLUE ONE! ONE DAY, A RECKONING SHALL BE UPON YOUR HEAD, CAST BY ME IN A FIT OF FIERY TORMENT AND WOE! AND OOOO, OOOOO SHALL YOU FEEL MY WRATH! I- Oh, hey, this actually doesn't really hurt.   "Really?"   >Yeah, kind of tickles.   [Though of your victory I would not craw, I do suppose it is quite amazing you can survive his maw.]   "Yeah, go Niney."   '...Trixie could do that if she wanted, she simply does not feel like it!'   "There's still the other one-"   'GETITAWAYGETITAWAY-'   "-in the cage..."   '...A-hem. Duly noted. Perhaps later.'   >Hee hee! His fangs tickle!   'So, is this enough for you, oh child who has yet to-'   *FLASH!*   'EVERY TIME! AAHHHHHHH!'   "IT GOT ME TO! AHHHHHH!"   [THE LIGHT DOES NOT WANE! ALL IS BUT PAIN!]   >...Uh, guys? He's trying to eat me now.   ["'AHHHHHH!"']   >Guys?   ['"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH~!'"]   >...Blast.   ['"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH~!'"] _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Canon-debatable ~~~ Spike and Diamond Tiara marched down into the old mines of Canterlot mountain, still rich with metal ores, precious minerals, and gems of all manner   "So, why are we doing this again?" Tiara asked   "Because we wanted to make your mom's memorial Tiara from platinum and we didn't have enough, princess Celestia told us there was plenty we could help ourselves to in these old mines. Plus you said you wanted to do more than just omission it and help make it." Spike replied   She shook her head "No, that I get, I was there for that. I mean what's the cyclops bug doing with us." She gestured to 77.   "I'm here because I shant allow two friends of mine to go into a locale I know is dangerous, despite what the princess says." 77 explained himself.   Now Tiara was nodded. "Fair enough, but what's Miss Cheerlie doing here?"   Chipperly she responded "I'm trying to find out where some of my demons ran off too in terror during the Chitania incident. I also couldn't let my handsome coltfriend or two my students, all her poor attendance aside, go off on something potentially dangerous."   Tiara nodded again. "Right, and.... the Blank Flanks."   "We're tryin' ya get our cutie marks in minin'!" Applebloom said with a smile.   "Or monster hunting!" Scootaloo added over the jangling of her battle harness.   "And I'm an expert at mining!" Sweetie said happily, inexplicably garbed in a diamond armor with a diamond head pick.   "Right, okay, fair enough." Tiara conceded.   "Aren't you going to ask why I'm here?" Silver Spoon now spoke up, making Tiara pause and smile.   "I know why you're here, you're my best friend."   Silver Spoon brightened and nearly everyone else 'awww'd'.   "Oh, also, you liked the pun." Tiara gestured to Silver Spoons silvery, new shovel.   "You really do still know me!" and the fillies hugged briefly before descending further into the mines.   NON CANON _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >Chrysalis "2" ~~~~   >SHOOOOOBAM!   "Shiny says if ya' break another door he's gonna start makin' ya' glue 'em back together."   >Fine with me, but he's got to provide the 'glue'.   "...Yeah?"   >You know? White, sticky...   "..."   >...Erm, STORY TIIIME!   "Oh! I wanted ta' ask ya'. So, here's tha' thing. Momsie fought Thuntania and locked her up in a mountain, right?"   >...Riiiight?   "Okay, and the big thing that tried ta' hurt Shiny was someone named Chitania, and she ALSO was in a mountain, right?"   >Er... right?   "Okay, so... I think... SOMEONE CLONED THUNTANIA!"   >Don't be silly, it's just a story. Thuntania's made up.   "Oh... WHEW! That was a close one!"   >Yeah, dodged a bullet there. Now, without further adieu, this is the tale-   "Um..."   >...Yes?   "C-can... can it be a nice story this time?"   >Aren't they all nice?   "Y-yeah! And I love Momsie so much! But... I dun wanna hear bout fightin' right now..."   >...Well, you should have let me finish! This is the tale of Momsie, and the contest of beauty!   "OH!"   >It all started as Momsie traversed the land of Sequestria, feeling just a bit tired after her fight with Thuntania.   "I know what that's like..."   >She would love to have gone and gotten some rest in a nice bed. Only problem is, she had no money for a bed!   "Oh no!"   >But fate smiled upon dear old Momsie! Yes it did! For you see, they stumbled across a town, and that town was holding a beauty pageant!   "EEEE!"   >Indeterminable squeal indeed! Now, Momsie was already the hottest, sexi-, er, most BEAUTIFUL little thing there ever was, but the other girls posed a problem.   "Why?"   >Because they were pret... uh, wait... they were... so mean! They kept trying to ruin Momsie's dress and kept messing with her makeup!   "MEANIES!"   >Oh ho, and Momsie wasn't taking that lying down! She got them right back putting... 'itching powder' in one of their dresses, and black... paint in their makeup, but she still wasn't very sure she would win with all the other 'cheating'.   "What'd she do?   >Well, she got her two best 'dancers', and said "Go talk to the judges and make sure they know the other girls are cheating." And those dancers talked long... and hard... alllll night long.   "They must'a been really good talkers."   >Yeah, they were. Really nice, actually, always helpful and gave lots of tips that proved useful before the we-... I mean, the competition. There was a talking part of the competition. Momsie appreciated it.   "What'd they talk about?"   >Unimportant, point is, the day of the competition came, and it looked like Momsie was going to win! BUT THEN...   "THEN WHAT!?"   >One of the other meanies ran up, and they said Momsie should be disqualified because she wasn't... er, DIDN'T fill out her form right. She put down another name besides Momsie by accident!   "What'd Momsie do!?"   >...Chess match. She challenged alllll the girls to a chess match, and said "If I win, I get to compete!"   "And?"   >Beat them all black and blue right in front of everybody, metaphorically I mean. They were so shocked by how badly those girls got beat down that they all just stood there... staring... eyes wide... one of them threw up a little...   "...Tha's some scary chess game."   >You don't know the half of it. Anyway! Momsie ended up beating them all, and at the end of it they were so scared of Momsie's skills that they said "Take it! Take the money! You deserve it!"   "Were they really cowering like that?"   >Momsie's chess skills were straight up horrifying, you don't even know. But Momsie won! And they had all the money they could spend! Yep, the meanies got what they deserved, Momsies crew got a soft bed, and it was so amazing that they never had another beauty pageant there again, they just knew they couldn't compare!   "YAAAAY! That was a nice story...YAAAWN!... I'm glad nobody had ta' do any fightin'."   >...Right...   "Thanks Not-Mom... Momsie really is the... bes...zzzz..."   >...You don't even know, kiddo. You don't even know.... _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >Spike "Two" ~~~ Clang! Clang! Clang!   "What'cha doooin' there, Spike?"   >I'm making a mother's day gift for Celestia and Twilight. And also helping with Diamond Tiara's-   "Mother's day? What's that?"   >It's a day children celebrate and give thanks to their mothers.   "Like Caddy and Not-mom?"   >Yes, exactly!   "EEEEE! I wanna make them a gift too! Spike! Can you help me? I wanna make them a crown of marchmalleys! And for Shiny too!"   >Hehe, hey, slow down there, kiddo. Marchmally crowns won't last, assuming Chrysalis and Cadence don't eat them, and don't worry about Shining, after Mother's day, there's gonna be Father's Day.   "S-So you won't help me make gifts?"   >W-Whoa! I said nothing about that! So... Uhh...   Two smiles brighter   >So... how about pearl and opal?   "I don't think you can eat those.   >They could if they were dragons... _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >32 "Spike"   >...that's not the clippity clop of hooves I hear, or the skittering of chitin on stone, I believe that's the pitter patter of a dragon's feet.   "Twilight's busy fixing up AJ 10's robot, she sent me down here with a few questions she said were 'time sensitive'."   >Ah, will YOU be putting on the glasses too?   "No."   >A shame. Well then little dragon, ask the questions, and you shall have answers.   There was a shuffling of papers.   "You gonna look at me? This is supposed to be a conversation according to Twilight's notes."   >No, if I look away, my count will be interrupted.   The sigh was so very satisfying.   "You touched briefly on the dynamic in your unit in our previous talk-"   >We didn't talk.   "You know what I mean."   >Maybe I do, maybe I don't, but please, continue.   "Just...describe it a bit more, I guess."   >...you've fought 42, correct?   "Don't try to redirect this, she's got notes saying to not let you do that."   >How'd it feel?   "Tell me about your unit."   >When she snapped that little scaly neck of yours.   "Knock it off."   >Did you feel loss? In that brief moment before the simulation ended and there was no longer a point to your struggle, did you feel fear and regret?   "...it wasn't pointless..."   >Such a naive child, you've died so many times and yet you continue to insist on your skewed little view. I've only fought in that damned machine once, and even then I could feel it...there was a tiny niggling little thought in my mind. 'This doesn't matter, you could do anything you want and there will be no consequences'.   "Consequences? What do they have to do with the simulator?"   >They have EVERYTHING to do with the accursed thing!   32 rolls onto his front and locks eyes with Spike.   >Consequences are the building blocks upon which life is founded! Blueblood made the decision to start a rebellion and the consequences of his actions are why he's in a cell a few yards away from mine. 50 decided to collapse a tunnel entrance and fight the Morlocks to buy us time, and his consequences were to die horribly and serve as a suit of armor until I buried him! You, 77, 42, that brat, you decided to see who was the most lethal amongst you, the consequences, NOTHING! You are all alive but for strips of code floating around a database saying you died. Such a slope is quite slippery, little dragon. He who lives without consequences leaves his soul behind him, he does as he pleases and cares not for those around him.   "...damn, you really love to hear yourself talk, don't you?"   >Just bear something in mind, little dragon-   "Spike. My name is Spike, stop with the little dragon stuff, it's annoying."   >...Spike. Just remember that simulation, that moment in which your vertebrae shattered, your body ceased to function, your bowels prepared to empty themselves. Remember that moment every time you look at her, and remind yourself at any moment, the Queen can clap her hooves and there won't be a respawn if you experience it again.   Spike stood up.   "Shut. The. Fuck. Up. You understand me? You're wasting my time, you're wasting Twilight's time, and you're wasting your own time trying to turn me against my teammates. If Chrysalis does try something, I will fight whoever I have to, but until that day comes, I'll take the word of the woman that snapped my neck then celebrated with me than the guy who stabbed me in the shoulder and tried to play armchair psychologist in his prison cell, got it?"   32 cracked a smile.   >Yes...I think I do.   "Now can we talk about your unit?"   >They're alllllll dead, and I only got to bury one. And I fucking hated him.   "Good enough for me, later."   >...I hope your shoulder gets better.   "...thanks?"   >After all, there's a good chance if you hit puberty before the Queen starts her little rebellion, you'll have a spike or two-haha-that you can ram into 42's body when she tries to kill you again.   "Go fuck yourself." _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   "When drone or queen passes from here to next, what becomes of immortal soul? Our bodies feed the earth, but what of the spirit while our chitin returns to soil?   Dread not The Lance and fear not the doom of Changelingkind. A place of wonder, love, lost friends, and old queen await is, tis known as The Hivemind.   Here the circle is unbroken Here we go when all is said and done Here not a word need be shared or spoken For all hearts and minds become one" -The Baltimare Shards (collected), by Twilight Sparkle and translated by Queen Chrysalis _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   The Martial Arts Festival had been in full swing, with fighters, teachers, warriors, weaponsmiths, and spectators come together to enjoy the day.   All in all, the festival itself was a complete success, but for most of the Gun Club...   "This sucks! Why isn't anyone fighting us?!" Diamond Tiara screamed in outrage.   42, who had been teaching 77 how to play Magic, shrugged. "Everyone wants to fight Spike. I mean I'm disappointed to but you don't see me throwing a tantrum."   It was true, despite the fact that Spike wasn't supposed to be an available combatant and was only selling confectioneries, dozens had decided to spend their money to challenge Spike (and buy pie) and ended up enjoying their purchase in the medical tent later. Which only fueled more fighters coming to him.   "But 'why?' is what we should be asking." 32 commented while pacing.   "I thought that would be obvious, brother." 77 explained. "Spike is unassuming, and we all know the more unassuming a potential opponent is, the less you can read them and the greater the threat they can pose. He's also the leader of the group for the most part and a dragon, that's twice prestige to beating him compared to even fighting 'The Mightiest Changeling'. Not to mention you can only fight us, with Spike, you can fight him AND get something to eat. It's a one-stop combo that's hard to top."   32 nodded conspiratorially while his eyes narrowed. "I see what you're getting at, brother..."   A delicious hour later, now even more of the Gun Club had set up food stands to compliment their fight sales.   Naturally, people still kept buying their fights from Spike despite this.   "Well, I must say that this is quite relaxing and enjoyable." 77 said chipperly while serving up another order of fritters. "But does feel like we've lost sight of our point in this whole thing."   32 huffed in anger, glaring at 42 across the way. "Well I'm not packing up my stand until my oatmeal raisin cookies outsell 42's blondies!"   Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. "Only eggheads and poindexters eat those!"   "Hey, 32!" Princess Twilight greeted for the nth time that day with Poindexter in tow. "We were wondering if you had anymore oatmeal raisin cookies left!"   "I rest my case."   NON CANON _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >SA "Celestia" ~~~~~   "Knock knock."   >Oh hey, you found time to visit! Great!   "Yes, Applejack is overseeing construction at the moment, and the 'official' story is that this is a political visit to thank an ally that rushed to my aide in a time of need."   >Pfft. Real reason?   She walked right next to the bed, and wasted no time playfully nuzzling him.   "What do you think, Skidmeiser?"   >Figured. You okay?   "Me? I'm the immortal one who merely was hit once and left next to a bunch of unicorns with healing spells, you are the soft, squishy mortal who got the stuffing kicked out of him in a volcano."   >Speaking of, never got the chance to thank you for training me so well against obscene amounts of heat. It's not quite like the stories, just being within the same room as lava tends to nearly cause death by fire.   "Shiny... you shouldn't have taken her on alone like that, what were you thinking?"   >That bug monster plus volcano equals dead. I missed. Right? How embarrassing is that. I MISSED dropping her in. My aim is terrible.   "Shiny, please. She beat all of us, you really shouldn't-"   >She suckerpunched you while you were drained dry, don't think this is quite on the level of when Chrysalis knocked you for a loop back in the day. Stop being so hard on yourself, everything turned out alright. All your citizens are fine, I'm fine, Two's fine, Cadence is fine, Luna is fine, everyone is fi-HGN!   "Fine, are you?"   >Ooo, please, no rib pokey. Ribs are tender and pain.   She was quiet for a bit after that.   "...Be careful? Please? I don't... I've lost enough friends over the centuries, I don't want to lose you so early. I want to have more fun, do some more crazy things, and bugging Chrysalis just isn't as fun without you around there to help me. Please?"   >Heh, you sound like Cadence. She said the same thing the other day.   "Shining Armor, please..."   >...Sorry, I can't promise you either. If someone else tries to hurt Cadence, I'm going to intervene. If someone tries to touch Two like that again, I'm going to take them down, and if someone tries to throw you through a castle again...   His forelegs wrapped around her shaking neck.   >I'm going to find a bigger castle and chuck them right through it. You're not the only Princess in my life anymore, Celestia, but you better believe you'll always be worth fighting giant monsters for.   "...D-damn it, Shiny, I've only been here five minutes."   >And I'll try to be here for a million more. Think up something ballistic for when I finally get a clean bill of health, Eyestrain, we could both use a bit of fun in our lives right now.   "I... I'll get out the maracas."   >That's the spirit! Now... come on, spill, what's going on with Canterlot?   "Stacking rocks on top of each other, mostly."   >Sounds boring.   "Yeah... but I prefer it."   At last, she returned his hug.   "Some things are harder to put back together."   >But worth it.   "...Definitely worth it." _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >Applejack "29" 'MM' [Trixie] {Zecora} ~~~   >...I uh... the fuck?   "LANGUAGE! WATCH THE LANGUAGE! Thine spiked tongue rents the minds of the young, and renders them void of thought and of inspiration!"   >...Beggin' yer' pardon?   'Oh, shoot, Niney? Did you... tell her about all this?'   "All of what- OH! The... the soul thing... no, no I did not."   'Whyyy?'   "Because I sound crazy?"   [DO YOU MIND? The GREAT and POWERFUL Trixie is not here so that you may chit chat! Trixie's time is of the utmost importance to the world, it cannot be spared for benign antics!]   {Actually, there is something about that I wished to know. You have not gone away in a while, do you still do your show?}   [...The great and powerful Trixie is building her funds.]   'Oh? What happened?'   [...Las Pegasus is a tempting place to spend bits. Facing that big Changeling was supposed to be Trixie's comeback act.]   {How sorrowful, you should have said something! I have a place to rest, and I am not judging.}   [No need! Trixie has found residence within the town!]   "She won't leave my apartment."   [YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL YOU ARE GRACED BY TRIXIE'S PRESENCE!]   "Drinks all of my orange juice..."   [ALL FOR THE GREATER GOOD!]   "And she stole my bed. I've been sleeping on he couch for a while."   [...It's comfy.]   'Awww, Niney! You should have said something! I have a spare bed.'   "See? You don't have to live with me."   'I, uh, I meant for you. She seems like she would eat all my food.'   {You are a fantastic judge of character. Several times she would drink all of my rare nectar.}   >EXCUSE ME!   "...Oh! Right! Uh, what did you need, Princess?"   >GET OFF'A MAH DAMN LAWN!   'We need the space to set up our life-sized checker game!'   >OUT!   [Fine! We'll just go over next to Everfree and hop over each other dressed as giant checker pieces, whatever!]   "Rude."   'Inconsiderate.'   {Such a shame, to her head has gone the fame.}   >OUT! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________   >Applejack "Celestia" ~~~~   >Hey, Princess? Got a question.   "You know what? I'm not even going to flip out, I've become numb, Applejack. You are saying words and I am numb to them."   >Right, jus' wanted ta' ask... how do ya'll keep in contact with area's outside Canterlot or Ponyville?   "Letters."   >...That's it?   "Well, what else do you want me to do? There's no little rock I can just pick up and talk to someone over in Appaloosa with. No, say, stick I could pull out, twitch a bit with and talk to those over in the Empire. Do you know how dangerous that portal is? No way are we going to set up another one of those, just one could go wrong and kill us all!"   >....Comfertin'.   "Look, point is, we just don't have the technology to do something better than pegasus plus letter. We're working on it, a couple things are being tested in Manehatten, but at the moment we're stuck with what we have."   >...Ah' guess that's reasonable.   "See? Not my fault. Stop trying to trace back all of Equestria's many woes to me-"   >Except fer' the part where technology stagnated under you, ya' mean. But hey, not like a Princess is there ta' inspire and fund new creations, right? Ah'm sure the whole world is gonna sort itself out.   "...You win this round, Applejack."   >Backflip?   "No no... I'm just going to sit here and glare."   >...   "...Glaaaaare..." _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________