#prompt 175

[writersisland]

“I used to think this is a line I would never cross.”

“And now?”

“I barely remember why it seemed so impossible.”

[promptsbytaurie]

prompt #175

"That was so badass! I didn’t even know you were capable of swearing—"

[trappedgoose-in-a-writblr-room]

Prompt 175

The villain was taunting them, they were sure. Because otherwise…genuine concern? From their enemy of all people.

The hero shuddered at the thought. That alternative was far, far worse.

[everlarkficexchange]

The Forcefield

Written by: @nightlock-1989

Prompt 175: Katniss hits the force field in CF instead - Peeta’s reaction [submitted by anonymous]

To the anonymous person who wrote this prompt, I hope you enjoy this short little story. This is the third of nine prompts I have completed!

Rated T

The Forcefield

“Damn, it,” I growl. We’re surrounded by vines and I’m leading our group but the problem is that my prosthetic keeps getting caught. Somehow this one has wrapped all the way around.

“Everything okay?” Finnick asks.

“Yeah, just this dumb thing,” I grumble somehow getting myself tangled even more.

“Mags, I’m going to set you—”

“No,” Katniss barks. “If anyone is going to help him, it’s going to be me.”

“Have it your way, Girl on Fire,” Finnick mumbles.

I roll my eyes and smirk. Katniss passes Finnick and Mags. She rubs a circle on my back and gives me a small smile before handing me her bow and taking my machete.

“Try not to hurt yourself with this,” she whispers causing us both to laugh. She slashes through the vines freeing my leg.

“Help keep watch,” Katniss instructs slashing more vines. “What is that?” she asks.

“What’s what?” I ask.

She doesn’t answer me but continues slashing to the right of us. The next thing I know I’m being hurled through the air and crashing to the ground on my back causing the wind to be knocked out of me. I lift my head to see the weight on top of me.

“Katniss?” I wheeze. I push her off me. “Katniss,” I ask sternly. I turn her on to her stomach and shake her. “Come on, Katniss,” I plead putting my hand over her chest. I move my hand along her chest, not feeling a heartbeat. I lean down and hear no breathing.

“KATNISS?” No, no, no, no, no. She is not supposed to die in this arena. Haymitch and I agreed she was going to be the one to go home. I begin to shake her when I’m shoved roughly out of the way, causing me to tip over. I scramble back up and see Finnick with his lips on Katniss’.

“What the hell,” I shout and try to shove him. He dodges out of the way.

“Knock it off if you want her to live,” Finnick commands. Katniss’s logic is running through my head, telling me not to trust him but I can’t help it. I don’t have an option.

“Hold her chin like this and tilt her head back. When I count to 30, blow in and out twice. Got it?”

I nod tears beginning to run down my face. Finnick clasps his hands together and begins pumping into her chest, counting.

“29,30,” he counts while I bend down and breathe into Katniss’s mouth once then twice. Her lips remain still and her body lifeless.

Finnick continues pumping and I continue breathing. I have no idea how much time passes but my lip begins to quiver.

“Come on, Katniss,” I whisper. “Come on, sweetheart.”

“29, 30,” Finnick counts. “Breathe, Peeta.” I don’t move, continuing to plead with Katniss. “I said breathe, Peeta.”

He knocks me out of my daze and I do what he tells me to do. Finnick continues pumping and I hear a crack.

“What the hell are you doing to her?” I growl.

“Broken ribs are a hell of a lot better than being dead,” he says.

He continues pumping and I hear another sickening crack.

“Stay with me, Katniss,” I whisper.

“Breathe,” Finnick commands.

I breathe into her mouth again and remove my lips from her. “Stay with me,” I whisper quietly before breathing again. Before I can remove my lips from hers, she begins coughing.

The hugest wave of relief washes over me and I pull her up to me. I hear her mutter something.

“What?” I whisper, cradling her neck.

“Always,” she says. I pull my head back and look into her stormy gray eyes. Those eyes that were nearly burnt out forever. I kiss her and she kisses me back, I think maybe for real this time. I pull back and touch my forehead to hers. When I slightly shift her, she winces.

“I feel like an elephant stomped on me,” she says.

“Finnick broke some ribs when he was pumping your chest,” I say.

We both look to Finnick. Katniss has a look of confusion but I can already tell mine conveys gratefulness. Finnick is staring back at us with cautiousness before turning on his charm. Oh, yeah, there are cameras.

“Like I said to Peeta, better some broken ribs than being dead,” he shrugs.

Katniss and I look to each other and give small smiles.

Katniss was right. How are we supposed to kill them? But why would he save her in the first place? Maybe Finnick doesn’t want to be a piece in their games either. And if he doesn’t, how many other victors feel the same way.

[notyouraveragewritingprompts]

Prompt #175

The Prince got kidnapped by a dragon. As a knight of the kingdom, you are charged to find the prince and slay the dragon. Little do they know, you are the dragon and the kidnapping was totally staged.

[everlarkficexchange]

Katniss hits the force field in CF instead - Peeta’s reaction

Thanks for the prompt!

Everlark Fic Exchange 2021. Prompt 175

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[thirtyminuteponies]

Prompt #175: “Awkward” by TheLastBrunnenG

Uncomfortable quiet reigned supreme in the quaint sitting room of Twilight Velvet and Night Light, mercilessly enforcing its iron rule on the six uncomfortable ponies occupying its uncomfortable furniture. A heavy meal eaten in silence weighted on all present. The clink of a stirring spoon and cautious sips of dessert coffee were the only sounds which dared to challenge the rule of the oppressive calm, Shining Armor having given up on a feeble attempt to strike up a conversation about hoofball. Ponies eyed each other briefly and nervously when not otherwise fascinated by the decades-old carpet or fading wallpaper.

"So," chimed Velvet in her best tone of hesitating inquisition, "how are things in the, er, what is it now? The Crystal Empire?"

"Oh, it's not really an Empire, that was just in the old times. Nowadays it's more like... "  Cadance's chipper outburst drew shocked glances and twinges of fear from present company, and she recoiled a bit to stare into her steaming drink. "Fine," she whispered, "things are fine."

Minutes passed as coffee grew cooler and a ticking clock dared to be heard.

Night Light cleared his throat and leaned in a bit toward his son. "Shining, my boy! Or should I call you Prince Armor?"

Glancing about the room, desperate for support or at least fortunate interruption, the stark-white stallion finally gave up on evading conversation. "Always just 'Shiny' to you, Dad." He chuckled too loudly before realizing that nopony was joining him, and the chuckle died a lonely death. More subdues, he continued, "Well, I - technically I'm Shining Armor, Prince Consort to Her Crystal Majesty Princess Cadance."

Night Light leaned back on his hideously out of date corduroy plaid couch and barely stifled a 'harumph'. "Great," he muttered, "another one." Turning to his stripe-maned wife, he whispered loud enough for the neighbors to hear, "You'd think that marrying two kids to Princesses would've added at least one King or Queen to the family. Maybe an Empress or something, but no, we got Consorts."

The Princess Consort Twilight Sparkle crossed her hooves and glared across the room at her parents. "I heard that, Daddy!" The tone was low but it practically counted as a shout in the current air. "And I'll have you know that Princess Consort isn't my only title!  I used to be -"

Luna's indigo hoof found twilight's mouth in record time. "I assure you, dear ponies, that Twilight's title is a mere formality, and that her place in Canterlot's court is a firm one. Oft does she abide with me in chambers as I hear appeals from across Equestria, her advice in all matters I heed with utmost..." The starry-maned alicorn's speech trailed off as four ponies stared at her in something akin to social horror.

Cadance shook her head a bit and chimed in somewhat more meekly than she'd intended. "Shining is revered by all the crystal ponies! He's a true hero to them, having stood hoof to hoof with Sombra in their defense. If it weren't for him, the Empire would have fallen to darkness and all Equestria would suffer for it."

Velvet sipped her lukewarm coffee gingerly. "So, as Nighty was saying - Consorts."

Bending low to the sullen Twilight Sparkle, Luna murmuring even lower, "Do all meetings with thy parents end with such interrogations, beloved? I confess I briefly thought them changelings, given their hostility, but dismissed the idea. Changelings feed on love and would surely starve here."

Stillness gripped the household for agonizing minutes as stares bored from one pony into another. Shining leaned to his wife's ear, whispering "Honey, can you do something here? Anything? "

The pink alicorn sighed almost imperceptibly. "Sorry, my powers only work on romantic love. For this - I've got nothing. We're on our own."

The young purple mare finally extricated a blue hoof from her dental work and pointed a leg at her parents. "Oh, quit beating around the barn. I know exactly what you two want to ask. It's killing you trying to restrain yourselves, waiting until the worst possible moment to spring the question. You probably would've done it earlier, but this is the first time that the four of us have been here with you, all married, all sitting here like bait for your trap. So go ahead! You may as well get it over with."

Velvet daintily placed her empty cup on its lonely saucer as she exchanged a nodding glance with her husband.

"So, kids," they chimed in unison, "when will we see some grandfoals?"

Commentary from Donny's Boy

There have been a number of awkward dinners with in-laws in the history of the world, but this one ranks pretty high up there on the awkwardness scale. Poor Twi and Shining--even though they're heroes who've saved countless lives and high-ranking ponies in their own right, still their parents are looking down their noses at them. The ending, with its revelation that the 'rents are really just angling after grandbabies, helped provide some nice humor to lift the mood.

[thirtyminuteponies]

Prompt #175: “Brunch Topics To Avoid” by Rawtooth

Brunch was going far better than Cadence expected.

Oh, to be sure, there had been the minor issue of not having enough matching tea cozy’s, which had sent her mother into a tizzy.  And Cadence was quite sure that the Sparkles were doing their utmost to embarrass their son in front of the in-laws, but still, no one was throwing a fit just yet.

Hours had passed, a delicious light breakfast (cheddar and sage scones, father’s favorite!) eaten, and they had successfully retreated to the tastefully decorated den.  It was the second-to-last step of vacating the parents, just one last spot of tea, then poof!  Out the door for some blessed peace and silence.

Cadence smiled at her husband standing by the fireplace with both fathers, just a touch of flirtation in her gaze as she admired his lean, muscular body.  She never understood how she had been so very lucky to find a stallion who could stand her father’s endless droning on about the latest agricultural exports from Manehatten.  Shining Armor caught her staring at him, and threw a wink back at her, before turning back to the conversation he was embroiled in, a rapt expression coming over his face as he nodded animatedly at some comment his father said.  With a slight sigh, she turned back to her own conversation.

Mrs. Cadenza and Mrs. Sparkle were busy discussing Twilight’s love-life, or lack thereof.  Both mares were seated comfortably on cushions, delicately sipping at their tea cups.  Cadence politely refilled their cups before settling down on her own cushion. 

“Thank you, dearie.  And are you sure this Pinkie character is the one your daughter is interested in?”  Mother’s voice was incredulous, as if Mrs. Sparkle had suggested that the young unicorn scholar had expressed an interest in marrying Discord himself.  Mrs. Sparkle heaved a much put-upon sigh, before mournfully staring into her tea.

“I’m afraid so, I’m afraid so.  I swear, I will never understand what gets into that child sometimes.”

Mother reached out and gently patted Mrs. Sparkle’s foreleg in a comforting manner, before cooing gently.

“There there, I’m sure it will turn out.  Perhaps it’s just a foalish infatuation?  You know how the youngsters are, so full of vim and vigor, they just can’t keep their hooves off one another!”  Mother finished with a falsetto of a laugh, entirely unassuring to any who heard it.  Cadence frowned at the display.  In her opinion, whichever lucky stallion or mare that was blessed enough to earn Twilight’s love was her own damn business.  Opening her mouth to speak, the alicorn found herself cut off as Mrs. Sparkle shifted her attentions towards her.

“Enough about my little Twilight, how are you and Shining doing my dear?”  The question was couched in the most general and pleasant of tones, but Cadence heard the hidden barbs within it.  She plastered a smile on her face as she replied.

“Oh, Shining and I are doing marvelously. All of the excitement from the wedding, and then that trip up north, was a bit tiring so we are happy to be home.  But I did hear a rumor that Princess Celestia might have another special task for us…”

Cadence expected an appreciative chorus of ooo’s and ah’s, but instead found two older mares frowning at her.  Mother spoke first, her tone reproachful.

 “I hope she isn’t burdening you two with too many ‘special’ tasks.  After all, you have other duties now.”

Cadence quirked one eyebrow up in confusion before taking a sip of her tea.  Mrs. Sparkle, the more attentive of the two, caught on and answered her unspoken question.

“Why, you and Shining have to produce an heir of course.”

———[Time limit]———

The words caught Cadence completely off guard.  She took an exceptionally large gulp of tea in shock, which immediately went down the wrong tube.  Half-choking, the alicorn began spitting out tea in a display that caught everypony’s attention, before mustering enough oxygen to sputter out.

“An… an heir?!?”

She shot a concerned glance over at Shining Armor, whose expression was just as shocked as her own.  Immediately, her husband’s military training kicked in, his face going slack as he dove onto the proverbial hoof-grenade of a topic by nearly shouting over the heads of all present.

“Yup, so while up north, at the Crystal Empire, I threw Cadence at the ancient evil unicorn sorcerer-king come back to enslave and rule us all!  Just like they taught us at the academy, oorah!”

Silence reigned for a heartbeat, before her mother spoke up.

“… you… you threw my daughter like a common hoof-ball?”

Shining’s gaze was fixed firmly over the mantle as he nodded.  Another beat of silence, then Mr. Sparkle clapped his son firmly on the back with a hoof, a jovial expression on his face.

“That’s my boy!”

Cadence only groaned and rubbed her face into a hoof as the room erupted into shouting.

And breakfast had been going so well…

Commentary from Donny's Boy

First off, I really like that way you depicted the relationship between Shining Armor and Cadance, how the two of them have one another's backs. That's lovely to see. Second, this is just really, really funny stuff. Highlights were definitely “Yup, so while up north, at the Crystal Empire, I threw Cadence at the ancient evil unicorn sorcerer-king come back to enslave and rule us all!  Just like they taught us at the academy, oorah!” and “… you… you threw my daughter like a common hoof-ball?”

And bonus points for tossing in a side order of Twinkie, of course. Hooah!