#prompt 236

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Friday Favourites

{Prompt #236}

“Don’t worry, Baby. I’m here now. I’m going to save you!”

 "Wow. I feel so much safer now.“

{Whats your favourite prompt?}

[wonderful-prompts]

Prompt #236

“If you kill me, then what are you?”

The vigilante raises an eyebrow at the villain.

“I’m not an idiot. Killing you will make everyone’s lives that much easier.” A small smile finds its way onto their face. “And that makes me a hero.”

[thirtyminuteponies]

Prompt #236 compilation: "Why? (Or Why Not?)"

The prompt: "Whoever finds this, please uncover the truth. That is my only wish."

This was yesterday's prompt, and we got a fair number of stories! Stories are listed in order posted:

"Conspiracy Against the Crown" by icemoonbankai

"Words on a Wall" by Versulia

"Addendum to the Ponyville Report" by Cynewulf

"The Last Minute" by Silvernis

"Please Forgive Me" by xxmissmagentaxx (TW: Rape)

"Darkness There, and Nothing More" by TheLastBrunnenG

"Guard Post #13" by Rawtooth

[thirtyminuteponies]

Prompt #236: “Darkness There, and Nothing More” by TheLastBrunnenG

Dear Princess Celestia,

She was always the bookworm type, and I mean that in the best way – no offense, ma’am. Give that filly a problem to solve and she’d be muzzle-deep in books afore you could say “giddyup!”  These days it’s different, somehow. Nowadays she don’t leave her Library at all. It ain’t that she studies any more’n usual, or that she went an’ forgot about us. Drop by to visit an’ she’s friendlier’n ever, I suppose. It used to be that she’d meet us for lunch, or come over to Sweet Apple Acres for family dinner night. She’d run her errands herself an’ leave Spike home to clean or cook or sort books or whatever it is he does. I talked to all the market vendors, Rarity asked in all the shops and stores, Pinkie hit all the restaurants, and Dash poked around City Hall and the town offices. Nothin’, Princess. There ain’t hardly a pony in town’s seen hide nor hair of Twilight outside her tree for months.

We all know her an’ Princess Luna are sweet on each other, an’ that’s well and good. Heck, when Luna comes to visit, Twi’s hoppin’ like that time Fluttershy’s bunny rabit snuck a taste of Zap Apple jam. The last couple o’ months, though, Twilight’s been actin’ real funny right before Luna comes to visit. She’ll get nervous, real jumpy an’ twitchy, an’ starts makin’ excuses not to take visitors. Times like that, she don’t even look like herself – her mane’s a mess an’ she looks almost, well, pale. Like she lost her color somehow, though when she’s like that she don’t come out in daylight, so it ain’t easy to say.

There’s somethin’ else, too. Her eyes, Princess – if she ain’t seen Luna in a while, it’s like her  eyes get – I don’t know, dark, I guess. Maybe it’s another one o’ them tricks the light plays when she’s buried in her books, but it’s dang unsettlin’. This all started when she went to Canterlot an’ had that “accident” or whatever it was – she won’t tell us exactly what happened, just that she got hurt real bad an’ it was Luna that saved her. She won’t talk about that, neither – maybe your sister can shed some light for us?

And that’s another thing, Princess – when we can drag her out in daylight, she ain’t right. She went out for a drink or two with Rarity and Shy last week, right about late afternoon. It’s right nippy outside, Rarity’s wearin’ a wool scarf, an’ not just for frou-frou fashion’s sake, and Fluttershy’s got her wings drawn in tighter’n a miser’s bag o’ bits, but Twilight’s sweatin’. I mean, pourin’ the kinda buckets that my brother an’ I do after we buck the whole East Orchard in summer. She said she had a little fever, but ain’t nopony that uncomfortable with a cool breeze, runnin’ a temperature or not.

Couple o’ weeks ago Shy saw her walkin’ toward the Everfree alone one morning’ and offered to go with her. Twi told her no, she’d be fine, and there she was, sweatin’ and pantin’ like it was a midsummer noon. Twi said she was at the end of her heat, but Princess – we’re all mares here, we know what bein in’ heat’s like. We can smell a pony in heat a mile away and this weren’t it. She’s lyin’ to us, ma’am, and there ain’t no way around it. What’s worse, Shy’s animal friends tell her that every time Twi goes for her walks in the Everfree, some little critter ends up not comin’ home. Them animals ain’t expirin’ o natural causes, Princess.

Tonight’s the night, I guess. We’re all goin’ to the Library to confront her. Spike’s been too nervous to talk to Twi about it, so we’re sendin’ him to Sweet Apple Acres. I’ll give him this here letter to send when he arrives, so by the time you get this we’ll hopefully know somethin’ one way or another. Ain’t nothin’ short o’ you and Luna gonna be able to dig up what happened if this here’s as bad as it looks. Truth be told, I’m mighty worried, Princess. If everything goes south, then please tell our families we love ‘em, and don’t let us all disappear or get blowed to smithereens in vain.

Yours,

Applejack and friends – all but one.

{Author’s Note: Follows my submission for prompt 230 and precedes prompt 151; hopefully readable entirely on its own. Also, my 101st submission. Insert happy dance here.}

----

Piggy comments: This is extremely eerie and I like it. I found the descriptions of how Twilight's been behaving interesting and unsettling, and the hints at what she's become are well done and intriguing. But more intriguing is the why, and the how. I really like that Luna saved her, and that you didn't use Twilight turning into a monster to, well, turn her into a monster. She doesn't seem to be trying to hurt people - quite the opposite, in fact - but she's doing what she has to do to survive. I only hope the other elements see reason. Well done.

[thirtyminuteponies]

Prompt #236: "The Last Minute" by Silvernis

I don’t know how much time I have. I think she’s coming for me. I don’t know. I’m so confused. I can feel my mind cracking. Breaking. I can feel something wriggling inside, too. It’s not just me in my head anymore. There’s a voice in here. It’s been getting louder. Angrier. It keeps digging in, telling me to do things, and I want to do them but it’s not ME it’s not Minuette it’s not it’s not it’s not

I don’t know what’s happening. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. This was supposed to be the most amazing week of my life. I was going to be a bridesmaid. I was going to have a whole week with Lyra without that bitch Bon Bon getting in the way and

No. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t mean that. It’s just that I want Lyra so much it hurts, but she’s already with Bon Bon. It hurts so much. I don’t understand it. Bon Bon can be such a miserable grump. She doesn’t deserve Lyra. I don’t know why Lyra wants HER when she could have ME.

No. I’m sorry. That isn’t me. It’s not Minuette. I don’t hate Bon Bon. I just love Lyra. I know it was stupid to think I’d be able to get her to love me back in just a week. I know I’m a horrible pony for even trying. I should want Lyra to be happy, even if that means letting Bon Bon put her dirty lips all over

no no NO. It doesn’t matter. It’s not like we even had much time together. We’ve spent so much time rehearsing for the stupid wedding

THE WEDDING The wedding needs to be stopped. That’s what I need to say. There’s something wrong with the princess. Princess Cadance. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I know there’s something WRONG. She’s not the way she’s supposed to be. She does things. Says things. When she looks at me, it’s like she’s hungry and Im a plate of food and I feel so cold inside and lost and I don’t know

shes coming. I can hear her, I can hear her in my head I know shes coming shes angry

PLEASE somepony find this. Stop the wedding. Stop it stop it STOP that slut oh lyra

I have to stop this isnt me anymore

-----

Piggy comments: Now this is a creepy one. It's a terrifying thing, hearing your thoughts and knowing that they're not your own. It must be a thousand times worse knowing why and being completely unable to stop it. I really like the idea that this is how Chrysalis controls her victims - Minuette here is broken, utterly, and the effects of this are going to linger for a long time. Interesting stuff, and a clever take on the prompt.

[thirtyminuteponies]

Prompt #236 Addendum to the Ponyville Report by Cynewulf

(In continuity with "Memento Mori" on FiMFic)

-----

Piggy comments: Oh, this is quite chilling. I dig the hints of horrible things happening in Ponyville, and Twilight's attempts to cling to sanity long enough to write all this out come across really well. The story she tells is intriguing, and I like the idea that it was born from her own need to explore and understand - that she questions whether she ever heard stories at all. I like it, well done.

[thirtyminuteponies]

Prompt #236: "Words on a Wall" by Versulia

Twilight stared at the wall wrought of metal and focused on the inscriptions. They were done by chisel, crude and painstakingly.

Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes and recited the words aloud.

"In each of our lives, warped or true, we are faced with choices. When the time comes, be ready to make the right choices. On this wall crafted from steel, I shall give you the wisdom of truth so that you may make the right choices.

Twilight opened her eyes and stared at the steel wall again. Most of it was blank. Perhaps the writing was enchanted so that only a select few could see it.

Believing this, Twilight Sparkle cast a spell to let herself see the writing. She put a hoof at her neck, feeling the cold gemstone of her necklace. Her element, she thought, would give her enough strength. After a flash of purple light escaped her horn, the wall was still blank, except for the hoofwritten inscriptions before her.

The sound of cawing birds turned Twilight Sparkle's head away from the wall. She saw nothing but the ruins of a dark hallway.

"Girls?" she asked apprehensively, "Are you there?"

No response. Were they still outside, still trying to defend Twilight Sparkle from the monsters that followed them to the shrine? They should have fended off whatever protected the remains of the shrine, and they should have been next to her while she tried to solve the puzzle.

Twilight Sparkle walked to the opposite end of the room. Her horn glowed with light, brightening the dark atmosphere. The darkness was heavy. Warped.

She came across the lifeless bodies of two ponies. Next to them were necklaces inlaid with gemstones. Most likely a greedy archaeologist-- and her assistant, given how one carried the bulk of the supplies.

It seemed like quite an argument, seeing how both were struck down by something powerful, something magical. Maybe one realized that consequences of pilfering old treasures. Maybe both thought it was a good idea to no longer split their earnings.

Twilight Sparkle shook her head. Though her mind tried to uncover that truth, there was still the mater of finding the true answer to the wall's question. And she needed her friends to help. 

Twilight Sparkle took the gemstones and used it to amplify the light of her horn. The dead ponies were kind enough to give it to her. The hallways were brighter. And yet, there was no sign of her friends.

Twilight Sparkle smiled at her success and continued to rush outside. The Moon shied away, making her surroundings appear more mysterious. More malevolent.

A nearby bird let out a cry. And then another. Then a third. She focused her light towards the sound, and Twilight Sparkle leapt back in surprise. A large flock of birds perched on a snag began to chatter and argue amongst one another.

The birds took notice of her, and charged at her. They were furious, as if controlled by something. Some of them swooped towards the ground, lifted stones, and dropped them on Twilight Sparkle as they passed by. Others rushed at her and raked at her. Twilight Sparkle rushed back inside the ruins for some cover.

The birds continued to pelt the walls with stones. To Twilight Sparkle, it seemed as if nothing could calm them. They were berserk, and not even Fluttershy's kindness or Pinkie Pie's happiness would be enough to quell such a fury. And fighting back, given how fierce Rainbow Dash acted, was sure to make the entire flock angrier.

From the holes in the ceiling, three stones fell beside Twilight Sparkle. She picked them up expectantly and focused her light at them.

Her light was brighter. And yet her friends were still not there. She called to them. No reply.

------[Time limit]------

She was alone. Nopony to help her solve that mystery. Did her friends abandon her? They were not outside, and yet they said that they would defend her. They had travelled so far, even brought their own Elements to prove their strength. And yet, Twilight Sparkle was the only one left.

Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes.

"In each of our lives, warped or true, we are faced with choices. When the time comes, be ready to make the right choices. On this wall crafted from steel, I shall give you the wisdom of truth so that you may make the right choices.

"Reveal unto yourself the reality of truth, and you shall be given innumerable power.

Twilight Sparkle added, "but if you have innumerable power to begin with, you can bend the truth to your will."

She opened her eyes and focused on the metal walls around her. The gem on her necklace-- and the gems that floated in the air alongside her all radiated with light. And she was still alone.

"I truly am sorry for all of this," she said under her breath. She giggled, "but I need this more than you do. To learn, you must sacrifice. So thank you for your help."

Twilight Sparkle walked back to the wall and picked up the chisel.

-----

Piggy Comments: This is pretty ominous, and that leaves me intrigued. I like that we don't get very many answers, but we do get a lot of questions - first and foremost, to me, is why Twilight is behaving as she is. It seems unlike her to leave her friends in danger, not to mention the corpse robbing and the statements of her own power. Something seems very wrong with her, and it's distressing. Well done.

[thirtyminuteponies]

Prompt #236: "Conspiracy Against the Crown" by icemoonbankai

(This is AU, just to let you know.)

*BZZZZ*

This is so fucked up. All of it. I’m recording this message to tell you exactly everything. It’s funny, because I’m not gonna tell you anything.

I know what you’re thinking: What’s up with Commander Blitz’s voice? No it’s not the recording, this is what I really sound like. You know me as Commander Rainbow Blitz of the Equestrian Air Force, decorated war hero and direct descendant of Commander Hurricane from the Antiquity. I’m quoting that from the book of modern history, just so you don’t think I’m an egghead or anything.

But you don’t look like a mare, you look like a stallion! Right down to the parts that matter!

It’s called magic, dipshit.

Whoever is listening to this, I want you to uncover the truth. I just want somepony to know other than myself. If you want to figure it out, the truth lies with my closest confidant and second-in-command, General Butterscotch of the Second Division.

Oh goddesses, is he a mare too? Now you’re just being a smartass and ruining the surprise. The answer is yes, and “her” name is Fluttershy. If you want her to reveal anything, you have to get her alone and call her by that name. The codeword is Crash. She’ll send you to the Royal Archives and leave you there. You’ll be met by Arch-Mage Dusk Shine. He’ll know that you know mine and Butter’s secret, and will proceed to tell you his real name, which is Twilight Sparkle.

Familiar with that one, ain’tcha? Ol’ Sparky was really good at the magic, and helped us all look the way we do. You’d be surprised how many soldiers are actually mares, and which ones are.

Anyway, Twi will take you to a large, metal door. She’ll leave you, and you have to punch in a code. It must be exact, or the door won’t open and an alarm will tell the guards to come and kill you.

The first code is: RDFAJRPPTS6

The second code is: ABSBSCMC3

The final code is: SPIKEISBESTDRAGON

Don’t ask about that last one.

The door leads to a hallway, which leads to a room. What’s inside is the most insane conspiracy you’ll ever hear, but it’s all true. But you’ll have to get past our dragon friend first.

Dragons are a myth, you say?

No, just well hidden.

The conspiracy?

What if I told you that the Sun used to shine for more than an hour a day?

What if I told you that Equestria used to be a diarchy?

What if I told you that the Nightmare was once “just a myth”?

Most of all, what if I told you that Equestria was what the Lunar Empire is now, instead of just “the rebellion”?

Uncover the truth, whoever you are.

For the sake of posterity, if anything.

Please.

After this battle, I don’t know if I’m coming back.

*BZZZZ*

----

Piggy Comments: It's a strange thing seeing Dash so bitter, but it fits well with the world portrayed here. The idea of the Elements forced into hiding, trying desperately to rebuild the world they lost, is a powerful one, and I like the idea that they've put so much effort into what they're doing. An interesting take on the prompt. Well done.