I don't think I ever posted the other ones here... I've had these for a while, they're ones I made for the desktop ponies program. (using guides and bases for some) I imagine this will probably be scuffed on mobile but oh well.
First off, here's a screencap drawover with Thrift and Horizon beefing. It took a surprisingly long time to make something like this... but I feel like I managed to merge the designs into the show style relatively well. It's still a little weird looking to me (and I was also tempted to make Thrift even smaller lol) but it was a fun exercise, maybe I'll do it again sometime.
I left the original screenshot at the bottom of this post.
Lastly, here's a big line up of the main cast so far and a name list for every pony in EDP so far since I don't think I have a full one yet, and I think it'll come in handy for myself later lol.
It was fun to consider all of their heights, especially seeing how small Thrift is... I decided to make him the smallest, even more than Mercy since she's part hippogriff and they're quite tall lol. It's very funny to me realizing just how small he looks compared to ponies like Kindle or Mystic.
Below the cut, I have a big cast/name list in the order they appear here.
Clover Shores - Yuki Maeda
Saber Frost - Tsurugi Kinjo
Radiant Ember - Rei Mekaru
Thrift Twinkle - Teruya Otori
Gizmo Stardust - Yamato Kisaragi
Mystic Moonshade - Mikako Kurokawa
Horizon - Haruhiko Kobashikawa
Sunbeam Carnival - Satuski Iranami
Sunshine Shot - Kiyoka Maki
Kindle - Kakeru Yamaguchi
Mercy Suture - Kanata Inori
Mourning Dove - Kinji Uehara
Kicks Horseshoes - Mitsuhiro Higa
Cocoa Heart - Kokoro Mitsume
Kismet - Utsuro
Scarlet Courtesy - Akane Taira
Quicksilver Flash - Ayame Hatano
Starlet Cheers - Kizuna Tomori
Clover Shores - Yuki Maeda
Phoenix Hotcakes - Kojiro Otori
Cold Steel - Juu Kinjo
Spark Stardust (?) - Hanzo Kisaragi
Cherry Shores - Aiko Maeda
Callisto Carnival - Keisuke Iranami
Outlook - Sojiro Kurokawa
Sweet Mind - Kokoro Mitsume
Keen Blaze (unicorn?) - Kouhei Sasaki
(probably exists) - Minako Tomori
(unamed earth pony) - Ryutaro Maki
(unamed earth pony) - Hikaru Ando
(unamed bovine/kirin hybrid) - Midori Yamaguchi
There's also Saber's biological mother (unamed earth pony or unicorn), the rest of the Carnival family (all earth ponies), Mercy's parents (One pony, one hippogriff), Kindle's parents (One bovine, one kirin or kirin hybrid), and Ember's parents (two crystal ponies who seemingly disappeared during the time the Crystal Empire was lost)
Also, here's the screencap I used as a base. This is from Fall Weather Friends. I also made use of Gilda's wings, because Horizon needs big griffin wings this is obligatory /silly
Anyways, that's all I've got for now, see ya'll next time.
I've been wanting to share some stories for my pony AU for some time. Though it's been, a really long time since I started working on this, (see the prior comic panel post, oof) I have something to share today!
I've never posted writing like this on tumblr so here goes nothing. Consider this like an episode for Enquire's DRA Ponies / Another Pony Project!
Here's a preview, but the story and accompanying art are below the cut.
One week ago, a mysterious illness had struck Moonshade, giving her sleepless nights and exhaustion until it seemed she barely had the strength to speak. And four days ago, Gizmo had gone in search of a solution, leaving his friends behind with little to go off of beyond a hastily written note.
When the unicorn had failed to return within the three days he’d promised, it became clear that something had gone awry. So, Saber Frost forms a search party consisting of Radiant Ember, Clover Shores, and Thrift Twinkle, and leads them on. They head into the mountains, hoping to find the plant Ember had identified as a potential cure, and in turn, find the unicorn who had disappeared in search of it.
After a day of trekking through the snowy wilderness, Saber discovers what appears to be a trail. Though it seems somewhat abandoned, the presence of such a thing in a place that was recorded as being uninhabited is strange in itself. With no other leads, they decide to follow it, deeper into the mountains. Home grows further and further away, and the temperature continues to drop, but Saber presses on relentlessly…
A familiar-sounding argument has already begun by the time Clover catches up to his two friends.
“I don’t remember ever asking for your assistance in the first place.” Saber’s voice replies coldly as Clover approaches. He finds his two irate friends standing above a large outcrop near the trail, tempers rising despite the frigid weather and the cold water rushing along below.
“Of course. And I suppose my research, or Thrift’s supplies count for nothing, then.”
“I never said anything of the sort.” He snaps, hoof pawing at the snow impatiently. “This isn’t up for debate.”
“Well.” Ember rolls her eyes, snorts, then steps forward, horn raised, cornering him against the cliffside. “Fine, go freeze to death, then. If it’s an order, what else am I supposed to say?”
“Since when do you care?!” Saber seethes, meeting her horn-to-horn. “I can handle myself without being slowed down by the rest of you.”
“Guys-” Clover attempts. Behind him, he hears snow crunching, and a yawn, as Thrift has already sleepily plodded over.
“Oh, you’re a different kind of dense, that’s for sure…” Ember grins, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“What would you have me do?” Saber’s voice is louder now. He glances over at Thrift and Clover, but doesn’t stop his tirade. Tiny little sparks are starting to glow at the tips of his ears and mane. “There’s no time to play around! In these temperatures-”
“If you keep going like this, you’re the one whose stubborn hooves will freeze off!” Ember interrupts. “And then we’ll have to drag both of your idiotic asses back home.”
“GUYS.” Clover raises his voice, and calls forward angrily, stomping one hoof into the snow. “This isn’t helping.” Next to him, Thrift nods, looking very much like he’d rather be back in his tent and asleep.
“That, we can agree on,” Ember meets his gaze, and turns to face them, planting a hoof lightly on Saber’s chest. In response, he doesn’t budge, eyebrows furrowed and the hints of sparks still rippling across his mane.
“Can we go back ta camp…?” Thrift asks quietly. Saber’s eyes close, and when they open, Clover meets his eyes, until the stubbornness fades into indecision.
“What do you say, Frosty?” Ember nudges him teasingly, eyeing the snow melting around his hooves. “Why don’t we roast some marshmallows over that righteous flame of yours?” Saber looks over at her, exasperated, but before he can open his mouth, an ominous creak echoes around the clearing. Saber and Ember’s eyes widen, but there’s no time to react. With a sharp crack, the snow and ice below Saber’s hooves falls away, and he disappears over the edge.
Below Thrift’s panicked yelp, Clover hears a distant, cold splash. He races over to the outcropping and stares downward, searching the river below anxiously. For a second, nothing can be seen but dark, rushing water. But then, a blue head surges above the surface, gasping for air. Saber’s mane is soaked, pressed against his neck, and he spins in the current despite his attempts to break away.
“Saber!” Clover’s voice is panicked as he leans over and s cans the cliff for a way down. He stumbles down a rocky path, and manages to reach the riverside, with the others close behind. By the time he makes it, their fallen friend is shambling through the shallows across the river. Clover squints, trying to make out his expression as he steps uneasily onto the shore, and drags himself out of the frigid waters. “Are you okay?!” He shouts, and a head turns toward him, still hard to make out.
“Clover, don’t.” Ember’s voice calls out in warning as he lowers a hoof to the water. “It’s too cold to-”
Before she can finish, a familiar red shield flickers briefly into existence, pushing Clover back and away from the water. His hooves displace several pebbles, but the shield soon evaporates into a cloud of misty red sparks.
“Hm.” Ember observes. Clover shoots her a dirty look. “What? It’s not like I pushed him. Frosty melted himself off that cliff.” At the look on his face, and Thrifts, she frowns. Clover’s glare doesn’t temper, but he shakes his head, and focuses on more pressing matters instead.
“He’s not doin’ anything, or coming back,” Thrift whispers worriedly. Ember gazes across the river, squinting, and her eyebrows crease. Saber stands there, somewhat pathetically, with water still dripping from his soaked body.
“I thought he’d have more than enough fuel to warm himself up by now,” She mutters, then lifts her head to shout. “HEY FROSTY! HOW’S THE WATER?” Saber’s head lifts slightly, but he doesn’t respond, and though it’s hard to make out, his expression doesn’t change. At this, even Ember seems to get a little concerned.
“Ember-” Clover begins urgently.
“I know, I know. Don’t get your hooves in a twist, Snores.” She lowers her head in concentration, and an orange glow snaps into place around her. With a sharp zap, she disappears, before reappearing on the distant shore. Thrift and Clover watch on as she approaches their sodden friend, unable to make out any of the words they might be exchanging.
Eventually, Ember shakes her head, and her horn glows once more. In a bright flash of orange sparks, a large magical construct-in the shape of a hair dryer-appears above them. With a flick of her head, she aims it at Saber, and starts it up. A huge gust of air assaults Saber’s clothes, mane, and coat. When it disappears again, it leaves his mane a turbulent, fluffy mess.
He shakes it out lightly, but shows very little response, even at Ember’s amused smile. As Clover paces back and forth along the shore, the two of them disappear in a crackling flash of sunset orange, and reappear between Thrift and Clover.
“Saber!” Clover immediately rushes forward, unraveling his large scarf with an unsteady green glimmer of magic. It hovers between them, before settling around Saber’s neck, where Clover wraps it securely into place with one hoof. Satisfied only once it covers his ears and part of his face, Clover steps back, and tilts his head. “...Are you alright?” He asks, suddenly realizing Saber has hardly moved an inch the entire time, only listlessly watching him. Saber nods slowly.
“Why didntcha get fired up, and stuff?” Thrift asks, stepping a little closer. Saber shakes his head.
“That's what I'd like to know,” Ember cuts in. “Wait…” She scrutinizes him, but before she can voice her theory, Clover frowns, and speaks.
“Are you hurt?” He asks worriedly. “You haven't said a word…” Saber shakes his head. He points to his mouth, then repeats the motion again.
“Oh, this is golden,” Ember, clearly having already put the pieces together, grins, and pokes the blank-faced unicorn in the chest. “Sweet silence! No more orders or ravings from you for a while.” She laughs, but even as Clover's glare meets her eyes, the amusement fades.
In the face of her ribbing, Saber remains still and unaffected. He simply stands there, without a hint of irritation or exasperation or disdain on his face. Then, he simply walks slowly away, up the ridge, and back towards their camp.
“Hm.” Ember frowns quietly, all mirth extinguished, “Perhaps this isn’t an improvement, after all.” Clover trots off in pursuit, and after exchanging uneasy glances, Thrift and Ember follow close behind.
Though it should have been a relief that Saber relented and rested with the others, the night passes by in an uneasy atmosphere. Clover sticks close to his friend, hovering and offering him help whenever the opportunity arises. However, when Saber accepts all assistance easily and without complaint, the orange unicorn’s anxiety only seems to deepen.
“Do you think this is what happened to Moonshade?” He murmurs around the reignited fire at breakfast. Ember studies Saber thoughtfully. The half-kirin shrugs, but gives a nod. “Is that a probably?” Clover asks, and Saber nods again.
“I agree that it seems likely.” Ember frowns. “But the ways you two must have caught… whatever this is… aren't the same.” Thrift listens to her, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, clearly trying to stay ahead. “And the symptoms aren't quite the same, either…”
“What if he gets just as sick as she did…?” Clover shifts a little closer to his silent friend. Saber watches him without much concern or attention.
“Mystic hasn't spoken for ages…” Thrift mumbles worriedly. “It'd be bad if he got that bad all the way out here, too…” Ember stands up with a sigh, and Saber follows, stamping gently at the ground with one hoof.
“As I'm sure Saber is dying to say,” she begins, whisking the fire out with a quick brush of magic, “That's all the more reason to keep going, and find what we're looking for as soon as possible.” Saber dips his head in agreement, already disassembling their tents.
“But…” Clover’s gaze flits between Ember and Saber. “The cure might not even be here…”
“If it's not here, it might not be anywhere,” Ember begins, looking back at him. “Between that flower being found here, and Saber's symptoms after getting dunked, that's more evidence towards Gizmo being on the right track than anything else so far.” The others turn towards them too, listening.
“But still…” Clover plants his forehooves into the ground, and looks at both her and Saber in turn. “Shouldn't you go back…? It took us a whole day just to get this far, and if you get worse…”
Saber lowers the sleeping bag roll he'd been carrying down to the ground, and walks over to him.
“I think it'd be better if, while the others find Gizmo, Thrift or I took you back for help.” Clover’s worried expression isn't assuaged much by Saber’s hoof on his shoulder, or by the half-kirin returning his scarf to him with a shake of his head. Ember frowns, but quickly seems to come to a conclusion. In the background, Thrift quickly gathers up their supplies, and sorts them back into their packs and piles for magical storage. Thanks to his efforts, their camp is broken down in minutes.
“I’m with Frosty on this one,” she sighs. “Going back now won't fix him any more than it'd fix Mystic.”
“It'd be better ta stay together, too, right?” Thrift puts in nervously. “I mean, especially with Saber like… this.” He finishes the sentence awkwardly, watching the half-kirin struggling to perform a storage spell on a pile of tent stakes.
“Okay…” Clover relents, eyes fixed on Saber’s unperturbed face as he gives up on the magic and returns his full focus to the conversation. Ember takes over, and the tent stakes disappear with a flash. “That's fair… at the very least until we find Gizmo.” Saber nods, and gives him a small nudge forward as he heads back onto the trail with Ember leading.
“If you start feeling worse,” Clover whispers to him as Thrift adjusts his pack, and trots to join them. “You better tell me, okay? Just… tap my back, or signal me, or something.” Saber dips his head agreeably, and walks forward into the woods. Clover stays close, looking over his shoulder to make sure Thrift has caught up before increasing his pace.
Several hours later, the trail before them appears just as decrepit and disused as the length they'd traveled the day before. But to a trained eye, something stands out. Saber halts suddenly, focus narrowing to the ground.
“What is it?” Clover is the first to react, followed by Ember, still leading at the front, and Thrift. Saber lifts a hoof, angling it into the brush, and lifting a branch upwards to better showcase the target of his attention.
The broken twigs he'd spotted are mostly covered by fresh snow, but something more urgent calls everypony’s attention forward. With a bright flicker of orange magic, Ember draws the tiny burst of color forward, until she can hold it in one hoof for them to see.
“Is that… hair?” Thrift asks, wide-eyed.
“Well spotted.” Ember replies drily. “By the length, I'd say mane.” Saber takes the small yellow strand with his own magic, shaking his head after touching it. “It looks like the expert thinks it's tail hair,” Ember grouses. Saber nods quietly.
“Well ya got my hopes up for nothin,” Thrift sighs. “I was hopin’ for good news-like it bein’ blue?”
“It is good news,” Clover argues. “It means somepony else has been here.” Ember and Saber glance at him approvingly. Suddenly, the orange unicorn stiffens. “Look!” He says, racing ahead, and pawing at a small purplish indent in the snow. In seconds, something red and round reveals itself.
“An apple…?” Thrift stares up at the branches above squinting.
“It's winter, twig-brain,” Ember rolls her eyes. “Do you seriously think it came from a tree?”
“Ponies have definitely been here!” Clover trots back to them with the apple.
“Oh.” Thrift looks a little flustered. “Right. I knew that.” He steps sheepishly back onto the trail with the others, and they continue on. The further they go, the more the gloomy energy fades. More and more signs of life appear, alongside a steadily babbling sound gently rising in the distance. As the noise, surely from a stream or brook, grows, so too does the evidence of other ponies’ presence.
Saber is the only one who seems unaffected by the change in atmosphere. As Clover and Thrift get more and more excited, and Ember picks up the pace, he continues trodding along without a word. Soon, a stone wall appears along the path, half covered in snow. A row of unlit lanterns follow, until Ember stops just below a massive wooden arch, carved with various flora and fauna in swirling patterns. She studies the surface, one hoof hovering over a carving of a pony with a large, splitting horn.
“Hey, isn't that-” Clover takes notice too, but before any of them can continue, the conclusion comes to stare them right in the face.
Somepony appears around the bend, carrying a large bucket in her teeth. Her coat is a pale green, and her mane is a vibrant yellow, with some streaks of soft, tawny brown. She stares at them, tilting her head upwards to look up the slope. This angle makes it even harder to ignore her prominent, forest green horn, which is split into a shape not unlike a tree branch, and along with some plated scales to match and a whispy tail, marks her clearly as a kirin.
“Homly horshmmmoes!” She exclaims, words completely muffled by the bucket in her mouth. Immediately, she drops it, and tries again. “I-I mean, Hello!” She lifts a hoof to wave, and Thrift returns the gesture.
“Hiya!” He greets her, trotting up with a grin. “It's great to see a somepony out here!”
“I can imagine!” She shakes his offered hoof with a smile. Her gaze drifts over to the others, friendly and open. However, her orange eyes do pause for a moment on one of them, and a bright curiosity flickers into her expression. The emotion disappears before Thrift even takes notice.
“Uh, I'm sure you've been traveling for a while, so let me take you back into town,” She gestures forward, through the trees, and leads the way, picking the bucket back up with magic, instead. “I’m Acorn, by the way.”
“Thrift Twinkle!” Thrift says with a proud grin, before turning to face his friends.
“Radiant Ember,” Ember dips her head politely, before moving a bit to the left to allow Clover and Saber more space.
“I’m Clover,” Clover offers a little hesitantly. “And this is Saber Frost. He can't really introduce himself right now…” Acorn stares concernedly over her shoulder at them. Saber stares placidly back.
“I see,” she frowns, something curious glowing in her sunny eyes for a moment.
“Actually, we could really use your help,” Clover continues in a bit of a rush. “We're looking for somepony, and then… well, Saber fell in the river, and…”
“Don't worry,” Acorn says kindly. “I know what happened-he’ll be just fine.” Clover sighs with relief. “And I'm pretty sure we might be able to help with your other problem, too,”
“That’s great ta hear!” Thrift beams. Clover draws back a little, staying close to Saber as they pass through a particularly dense cluster of pines. He moves a few branches out of the way, and waits for Saber to pass by before releasing them again. When Thrift passes along too, he stumbles slightly amongst the thick branches, and fails to push some of the higher ones aside. His movements dislodge a thick drift of snow from one of the larger trees. Unfortunately, the pine sheds cold snow over the group. After the brunt of it narrowly misses Clover, it lands directly over Saber’s shoulders, leaving him blanketed in white. With a yelp, Thrift bounds over, and starts brushing snow off of him, aided by Clover. Meanwhile, instead of shaking it off, or glaring, or telling Thrift off, Saber just stands there placidly. Clover’s frown deepens as he removes one last clump of snow stuck behind his large horn. Ahead of them, Ember stops, and turns back.
“Have you three had enough messing around, yet?” She gestures ahead, where Acorn is waiting expectantly with a proud look on her face. “We’re here.”
“Sorry,” Thrift whispers to Saber before racing after the others. Ember gives the other two a glance before lifting a hoof to shade her glasses and get a better look at the town ahead.
“Well would you look at that,” She says lightly.
“Nice place you've got here,” Thrift whistles. “Love those hanging lanterns… I bet the atmosphere’s great at night.”
“Oh,” Clover finally catches up enough to take in the view.
Before them is a cozy valley, surrounded on all sides by cliffs filled with pine branches and pale, spindly birch trees. Nestled among the boughs and stone, various buildings are arranged in clusters, inset into the cliffs and caves encircling the village. Though most of them are ensconced with curved, wooden exteriors, and all are adorned with hanging lanterns and colorful woven lengths of rope, some are simply carved into the stone. As the group draws closer, more and more horned and fluffy heads turn to spot the newcomers.
The largest groups are gathered in the center of the village, where a small and half-frozen waterfall babbles lightly into a large pool. The area is paved with various large, carefully placed terracotta pieces in various colors and shapes. Steps and carved stones lead down into the water in places, but with most of the surface frozen, nopony is anywhere near them now.
The Kirin around them don't appear hostile, and most of them are more focused on each other than the guests. Clover starts to relax just a little as he watches them exchanging everyday pleasantries, and mostly warm words. Some of them greet Acorn as she goes to meet them, and ask about the strangers she has in tow.
Slowly though, before Ember and the three ponies following make it far, something odd ripples through the crowd. Several pairs of eyes remain fixed on one pony in particular, and whispers murmur through the crowd. Almost instinctively, Clover gives Saber a quick glance and draws closer to his side.
Perhaps not unexpectedly, Saber doesn't react much to the attention. He simply observes it quietly, and keeps walking without hesitation. Though Thrift is too caught up with their new surroundings to take notice, the look Ember gives back at Clover and Saber makes it clear she had definitely seen what they had.
“Thrift, this is our village elder, Pine Shadows.” Acorn’s bright introduction recenters the group’s attention. Thrift cranes his next to meet the much taller, forest-green kirin’s gaze.
“Nice to meetcha!” He says brightly. Pine Shadows gives him a warm smile.
“It's rare we have so many visitors, especially this time of year,” he offers genially, shaking Thrift’s offered hoof. “Welcome to Snowfall.”
“Thanks,” Clover gives him a small smile.
“Any chance we’re not the first this season?” Ember adjusts her glasses after giving the elder’s hoof a firm shake.
“Actually, yes,” He says. “And perhaps it would be best if, before anything else, you four followed me?”
“Alrighty,” Thrift nods and follows eagerly, Ember walking at his side. A bit more cautiously, Clover tags along behind, Saber close at his side. The group follows Pine down a narrow path leading away from the center of town. Just beyond the nearest cluster of houses, a small dwelling juts out of the rock. The elder ducks, and the others follow him in, hooves clicking against stone as they pass through into a small cave just beyond the wooden exterior.
Thrift sighs in appreciation as warmth meets their coats. At one end of the room, a small wood stove emanates enough heat to warm the entire space. But that isn't the most interesting thing. Nearby, somepony is curled up in an impressively large bundle of blankets topped with a large quilt.
A blue head, topped with a messy indigo mane and a pale blue horn, rises slightly from the fabric.
“Gizmo!” Thrift bounds forward, and nearly topples into the unicorn huddled up on the floor. “You're alright!”
“Hey everypony,” Gizmo’s voice is a little hoarse, and he responds with a lot less energy than usual, but his eyes are bright and warm. “It's good to see you guys.”
────────────────────
And that's the end! For now, anyways.
Before I go, I'll throw in the page drafts for when I was still trying to do 3 comic pages and a story instead of just one and a story haha. It seems a waste not to share the scraps considering I'm not going to line any more panels.
This is my first time posting any writing here, actually. (maybe I'll add some of these to my Ao3 if I do more of them) Also this is not beta read so apologies in advance for any mistakes.
Also, if I do more episodes like this, they definitely won't include this many illustrations, that was very much a special thing and it made this take a very long time haha.
Anyways, if you've made it this far, thanks for reading. The pony posting continues!
