Thread 76: Stories 16-30

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C [Editor's note: This was supposed to be 'NC', but left in intentionally. See the story below.]
>Twilight
"Pinkie"
~???~
~~~~

"...Well, you seem in a grumpy mood."

>Please not now, Pinkie.

"Awww, come on Twi! Pinkie's here! You know what Pinkie's for?"

>Don't.

"...My name is Pinkie Pie-"

>Pllllleeeeaaassseee...

"-and I am here to say-"

>Noooooo-

~~~~~~Three minutes later~~~~~

>"~Come on everypony smile smile smile fill my heart with sunshine sunshine all I really need's a smile smile from these happy friends of miiiiiiine!"

"Smile, SMILE, SMILE, SMILE! SMIIIIIILE COME ON AND SMIIIIIILE COME ON AND SMILE!"

>...Okay, songs over, you all can go back to your life.

~What the fuck just happened!?~

>Don't question it, Forty Two, just keep walking.

~WHY AM I HERE!? Where did I come from!?~

>It's not that big of a deal, Braeburn.

~How did you do that!?~

>Try not to freak out, Discord.

~....~

>... I'm not even going to try to explain this to you, so go back, Chitania probably wondered where you went.

"Soooo, Twi? Feeling better? Or do we need a reprise?"

>I'M HAPPY! SO HAPPY! PLEASE NOT AGAIN!

"Atta girl."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NX
~~~

>OH KRAP! Hold up, let's try this again.

NV
~~~~

>SHOOT!... Oh, don't give me that, they're right next to eash other, it's an easy thing to miss!

ND
~~~

>...yeah, I don't know... wait a minute, why am I... krap... kup. Sease! Kontain!... OH FUK I THINK I BROKE KANON! Oh shoot! Oh shoot! I kan fix this, just give me a minute!...

NF
NG
NXXX
~~~~

>HEY WHOA NOW, this is a family thread!... Ahhhhh.... PLAY ME OFF BUDDY!

"DA DA DADADADADADA- FUCKING HOL-"

>AH HAH!

"HEY! Give that back! Fuking pony!"

>Annnnd-

NC
~~~

>FIXED!... Wait, what was I supposed to be doing again?

"..."

>...Crud.

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NC

>Haymaker
“42”
‘Applejack’
[Chrysalis]
~~~~

“And you are quite sure you wish to go through with this?”

>Am I sure? Hm. No, not really. I’m actually having second thoughts about it, but we’re already here now. Might as well see, eh?

“But why? Why me? You never did explain the reasoning behind this.”

>It’s nothing special, if that’s what you’re thinking. My mother was a pretty big fan of oldstyle wrestling and martial arts films. So big a fan that she named me after her favorite move. Didn’t have a dad so she wanted me to be tough, you know? Able to handle my own in fights, so she had me practice that move day in and day out. It was fun, but I never really had anyone I could use it on, at least not at full-power without holding back. Until you came along.

As Haymaker narrowed his eyes at the helmet-wearing changeling, a slight gust of wind blew through the scarcely populated Canterlot stadium.

>You, who put the fear of Faust in the guards from here and the Empire. You, the crazy-ass bug who likes to battle manticores as training. You…

When he broke off, 42 returned the hardened stare, a mocking grin forming over her face.

“I see now. You view me as a strong enough opponent to warrant using your full strength against without worry.”

>Well, that and other things.

“What others things?”

Haymaker picked his right hoof up off the ground and began rotating it, like he was winding up.

>If I best you, I’ll tell. If I don’t, I’m not strong enough.

“Hmph. Have it way, odd pony.”

High up in the commentators booth, both Applejack and Chrysalis looked down at the pair.

A rather large plate of bits sat on a nearby table.

[It’s going to feel really good taking your money, ‘Jack.]

‘An’ it’s gonna feel really good watchin’ y’all scramble to pay back the bits y’all done stole from Shining Armor’s safe.’

‘Yeah, the interest of gold wrapped chocolate bits an’ prayin’ he don’t notice.’

[HA! Oh really? Well, time to put your apple where your mouth is, apple whore.]

*plink, plink*

‘Oho, addin’ more, eh? Fine by me, beetle.’

*plink, plink*

“You do realize that my Queen is watching, yes? Normally, I would take it easy on you so as not to cause permanent damage, but with such an audience, going full-out will have to be my method of execution as well.”

>Any less than that and I’d probably break your hoof.

He matched her snide grin and for only a moment did 42 look genuinely surprised.

Then her smirk was back.

“Hm. Try not to let hubris be the only reason I send you to the hospital, okay? It’ll be less embarrassing to note your weakness as a cause, too.”

>Then let’s do this, Forty-Two.

“Let’s.”

Unlike other moments wherein the coliseum was filled with some sort of gigantic monster, the ground did not quake as the stallion and changeling charged one another.

Unconsciously, Applejack and Chrysalis leaned forward in their seats, nearly pressing their faces up against the glass.

While Forty-Two was faster, closing the distance quickly with her lithe, battle-shaped form, Haymaker’s hooves caved the ground with the force of his steps. And then Forty-Two was airborne, pushing off in a long-reaching bound towards Haymaker who turned his body sideways, skidding forward while rearing back his right hoof.

>RAAAAAAAAAH

“AAAAAAAAAAH”

‘GET ‘HER HAYMAKER!’

[KNOCK HIM INTO NEXT WEEK, FORTY-TWO!]

Hoof meet chitin with the most awful of sounds.

From the commentators booth came a yell of victory.

Down on the ground, a lone figure stood over the other.

And they grinned through the pain.

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>Luna
"Mayor Mare"
'Zecora'
[Trixie]
~~~~

Strange looks was something the trio of earth pony, unicorn and Zebra were very, very accustomed to. Even if they had not been usually doing something like rolling through the streets on a cart of icecream, they'd still be two mares who's entirely livelyhood depends on putting on 'shows' of a kind and gathering as much attention as possible, and a zebra.

Yeah, they weren't stupid. When the whole town hides from you because of how you look, you tend to assume stuff.

But they never thought it would come from a princess. They just sort of assumed that they'd seen weirder.

Apparently not.

>So... thou knows of Twenty Nine?

"Um, yes, your majesty, he actually works for me, he's my secretary."

>Ah, yes, that's right. He mentioned that once or so.

'Actually, a question if you do not mind. How do you know him, if you would be so kind?'

>Thine companion is the overseer of Fifty Six, a changeling who's company we very much enjoy.

"Oh, right, his little cousin talks about 'moons' all the time... did not think he meant you."

'I agree, I thought he meant only one who's backside was big and round. Never once did I foresee that the one whom he spoke so highly of was a princess so profound!'

[Yes, even Trixie did not forsee this coming!]

>Oh? Why did she not? And how do you know this?... Why does thou look upon us like that, Zecora?

[...you know her?]

>Of course, she has been of great assistance to mine sisters favored pupil, how would we not know of the potionmaker Zecora? It would be as silly as not knowing a delegate within our kingdom... We do not know what this Trixie looks like, though.

"That's Trixie, your Majesty. She uh... that's just how she talks."

[The GREAT and POWERFUL Trixie needs no explanation, nor introduction! Surely her grand abilities have reached far and wide, even to the ears of the princess of the night herself!]

>...Sure.

[VINDICATION!]

"Should we say something?"

'Her moments like this are so very rare. For her feelings don't you care?'

"Point. So! Uh... thank you so much for assisting us back there, I uh... preeeeetty sure that guy was going to wreck us something terrible."

>Of course, you were wise to come to us. Our magic specialty in illusion and matters of the mind is best suited for facing off against a changeling. Coupled with our magical might, very few would stand against us and succeed.

"Right!"

>...Thou only came to me because I was the first Royal thou found.

"No!"

>...

"...Well, I mean, I would have accepted help from any alicorn, or Element really, since time was a factor, but you're right that I'm extra lucky I found you specifically. You're uh... you were perfect for the job!"

>Indeed, most fortuitous... will the little one be alright?

"Who? Fifty Six? Psssh, sure. Twenty Nine will have him refilled very shortly here, just give him a minute."

>Of course.

"Thanks again, by the way."

'Indeed, our rears were being soundly kicked... but perhaps not if someone's ego hadn't clicked.'

[THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE HAD HIM RIGHT WHERE SHE WANTED HIM!]

'Which was choking you until you were more blue. Your words, I doubt they are true.'

[...Trixie also is glad for the PERHAPS UNNECESSARY help from you, Princess.]

>If thou art so appreciative, perhaps you would not mind a question?

[Am I the only one who notices she talks like-]

"SHHH!"

[Just saying.]

"Well, after something like that, of course we'd answer anything you wanted! What was it, your highness?"

>Why art thou all... with him, and actually care if he lives or dies?

"...Ah."

'We understand his nature is quite abrasive to some. But we have been through much, and likely still more to come. This all began with our need to aid souls not his own. However, since then quite a lot has grown. We spend time helping him for the sakes of souls to their sun. But, I admit... it's actually been a lot of fun.'

>Souls? We do not understand.

"...You know what? You're probably the best one who could understand it.... ghost orphans."

>...

"..."

>...

"...Yep."

While at first, her look was that of confusion and disbelief, after a thoughtful moment a strange haze of power overtook her eyes.

It grew, and shifted, glowing hotter as magic danced on her horn. The very being of the universe itself began to hum atop the tip of that spire of bone and flesh, and slowly it built... and built... and built...

>...there is something here...

She could not see them, not quite yet, but she could feel them. Lost remnants of what once was, bitter feelings that remained and hung in the air even now, shielded away from all sight by the very bindings of reality in the physical world. She could not see them... but she could feel them.

>There is...

And they were all waiting.

Waiting for that last push to go... home.

Her eyes snapped open with a gasp, causing the others to leap away in shock.

"I-is something wrong? M-majesty?"

>... Tell me, do you plan to return to Ponyville, now that you've completed your task?

"...Kind of have to, lots of preparations to make for what comes next."

>Indeed...

A strange ghost of a smile crossed her lips, and she found her gaze trailing past the three, to the direction of the changeling that was even now feeding the other to return him to the land of the waking.

And all around him, she could sense them.

All around him... they were waiting.

>It sounds like a lovely place.

All three exchanged glance, unsure how to take that odd, almost ominous sounding words.

>..We think we shall visit it sometime... soon.

That smile grew, and grew, looking almost terrifying.

>Very soon...

[...neat!]

Two head snapped to look upon the unicorn with no shortage of shock.

[...What? Trixie just thinks it's neat is all...]

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 >Screwloose
“White Coats”
_____

>Annnnd just an idle question, nothing more, but… what in the unholy fuck are you doing with that square of sodium?

“I’m… I’m taking notes, ma'am?”

>Ah, okay, right. Mhm. Now, uh… tell me you weren’t just about to drop it into that container of water.

“…”

>Please, please, please tell you weren’t.

“I… weren’t?”

>So you’re a liar.

“B-but you just told me not to tell you that-”

>So you’re a liar that’s planning to blow us all fucking sky high to give Faust above a kiss on the cheek.

“Ma’am, I-”

>Don’t you ‘ma’am’ me! Don’t you know that sodium is an alkali metal? Wait, are you even a scientist? Are you qualified to be here? Are you? Or did you just throw on a white coat, stumble over here and think ‘hey, I’m going to fuck this shit up because I’m a dumbass!’

“I… I….”

>Faust save the stupid. Before they kill us all.

Another white coat spoke up.

“…Sooooo, if sodium is bad then I’m guessing that, by default, rubidium is even worse considering it’s higher up on the chart. Right?”

>Yes. Yes, you moron, yes! Why’re you even asking m-

BOOM

“…No reason.”

>…All of you fuckwits had better start running because I’m grabbing my scalpel. Scalpels, actually. Every single one. And they shall gleam red when I’m done.

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NC
>Luna
"29"
~~~

>We wish thee to read subsection A!

"Mayhaps thou could grant me a boon of a version quite truncated-OWOWOWOW!"

>THOU SHALL READ AS THINE WAS INTENDED IN THE BOOK! LEST THOU FACE THE WRATH OF OUR ROYAL HOOF SOME MORE! If thou persists, WE SHALL SIT UPON YOU TILL YOU CANNOT BREATH!

"...verily I wish for the day that rear would grace mine face-OWOWOWOW!"

>WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT WE FEEL YOU ARE UNDERCUTTING THE SERIOUSNESS OF OUR WORDS... CEASE IT!... CEASE IT NOW!... Uh...

"My skull!"

>We might have let our emotions get the better of us once more. Tis a problem.

"IT HURTS!"

>As cold as this may sound to thee, the fact feeling remains in your head is a good sign...

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Writing Prompt
>32
------

>Let's see here...

The paint had taken some finagling to get, the shop owner had wanted to take an early day off. Same with the boards and the tools and the ingredients, their vendors more interested in engaging in winter-time fun than selling something to a changeling.

Still, there, under the comforting snowfall, the changeling in the robin's egg blue suit hammered the nail into the door of his office/abode. A few cavorting ponies stopped to look at the cause of the racket, narrowing their eyes and raising brows as the insect finished hammering and delicately placed a sign on a rope on the nail. Backing away, 32 smiled as the ponies looked at the sign.

"Learn about changelings: Misconceptions Dispelled and Commonalities Revealed!"

The ponies stared at the changeling incredulously, but his smile never faltered. With a flourish he knocked on the door and allowed a smaller second sign to fall down under the first.

"Free Hot Cocoa"

The ponies glanced among each other, growing furtive.

The changeling merely danced back inside his office, his grin still on his face.

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NC
>Celestia
“???”
____

He had been following her for about six minutes, hidden, silent, watching as she trotted down the hallway with a bounce to her step.

>My name is Celly, yeah, and I am here to say~

>I’m gonna get some cake so I can brighten up my day~

Her singing voice was absolutely divine, like silk being wound about his ears, and he had to suppress a chuckle at her devotion to cake.

That was just who she was and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

But still.

He hefted his gun, pointing it at the back of her head.

This needed to be done.

The aim had to be perfe-

His heart leapt when her ear suddenly flickered, the left one, as if sensing his presence, his intentions.

>Hm?

And then her head was turning as if in slow-motion, no time to aim, pull the trigger!

BANG!

Having heard that sound millions of times in the past, Celestia didn’t so much as blink as a bullet raced past, just a mere inch from her nose.

A pair of claws snapped and the projectile exploded into a fiery, beating red heart, the words ‘HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY’ emblazoned over the front.

>…

She stared at it, wordlessly. And just as silently, he approached her side, staring as the throbbing heart pulsed and began to shrink in size as the magic wore off.

“Happy Mother’s day, mom.”

He heard the slightest of sniffles but didn’t glance over, kept his gaze right on the heart. But he did flinch somewhat when her snout nuzzled him in the cheek.

It was oddly cold, and wet....

She didn’t give a response, possibly because of the wibble-lipping attempt at holding back tears, but Spike got the message just fine.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Cadence
"Two"
~~~~~~~

It was just another day for the Princess of the Crystal Empire.

The Castle was, flush with activity. Chrysalis running this way and that with all sorts of plans and schemes, Shining off to go do this and that and relax a bit, Eighteen scribbling away so fast they had to start investing in fireproof paper, Forty Two barking orders and beating the softness out of her guard, Mane-Iac swinging away from the top of her castle like a demented spider-mare, Spitfire desperately trying to get the fliers back into shape, all of it blending together in sounds she had heard a thousand times before. It was just another average day...

SLAM!

Ah, there had been something missing, she noticed. The bouncing steps of a certain someone coming home from school once again, the marchmalley shaped backpack bouncing away with every single hopping step. She was home once more.

"Hiya Caddy!"

It was a phrase she had heard a million times before. Energetic, yet casually spoken in it's frequent of use. Normally, it would simply roll off of her as it had so many other days before it, but this time, something was different, and she found she could not stop the words that seemed to escape her on their own accord.

>...Two?

"Uh huuuuh?"

>Why do you usually call me Caddy, and not Mom?

The moment she looked into those wide, blinking eyes, she felt like kicking herself. She honestly felt like bending her back at an unnatural angle and beating her own rear blue. She and Shining had sworn they weren't going to question her on it. It was just how she was, that was that, and there was nothing more to it. She had promised it...

But yet, this time, this one time, she could not stop herself from asking. It's not as if she never called her as such, but she was far, far more likely to be "Caddy" than she ever was "Mom" or "Mommy". Perhaps it was a selfish of her to think this, she certainly wouldn't deny it if called on such, but she thought she had long since past the point where she was "Mom", not just "Caddy".


"...Cause yer' Caddy."

It was stated so obviously, as if it held the answers to all of life's questions. The cure for cancer, the meaning of life, all might as well have been contained in the three words spoken for all little Two cared.

>Well, yes, but I'm Mom too, right?

"Yuh huh!"

>So... why Caddy?

To see her adoptive daughter ponder as such was normally reserved for the age old question of which particular book she wanted read to her at night, or if she preferred Marchmalleys melted or raw. It was a scrunchfaced look that told her a million things, yet nothing at all.

"...Cause yer' special, duh!"

>...I'm sorry?

She sighed dramatically, as if she was teaching a toddler that, indeed, the stuff under the sink was not for consumption, no matter how much it looked like liquid candy.

"Okay, sooo, think bout it like this... changelings ain't got moms unless they're like Not-mom, right? That's why I gotta call her not-mom!"

She wasn't following at all, but she nodded all the same.

>Right...

"But ya' ARE mom!"

>Correct.

"So then I started thinkin' and I thought... well, that ain't so special."

>...What?

She honestly didn't know if she should be hurt or confused. Maybe something in the middle... hurfused, or curt.

No, wait, curt was a word.

>I don't understand.

"Okay! It's like this!... Ya' know how many gots moms in the world?"

>A... lot?

"A LOT! Like, every pony I ask!... well most'a 'em. But that's not special!"

>Oh... kay?

"But yer' special!"

>Riiight...

"So Ah' just put it tagether..."


She slowly brought her hooves together, as if she had transcended reality and was mashing together abstract concepts.

"And I was like... CADDY!"

Again, all of life's questioned answered.

And she was completely lost.

>...I don't get it.

She slumped, and yet again the desire to break her own spine for the privilege of being the first to kick her own ass took over.

"It's cause... cause yer' Caddy."

She gestured out there, out to all the subjects and ponies, perhaps even all of the world.

"Ya' didn't... ya' didn't used ta' let me call ya' Caddy. But then ya' did, and... and then it's like..."

For one who had all the answers before, she strangely seemed to find herself bereft of the means to explain it now.

"...Lots'a ponies got mommies, they don't even really think about it... but I gotta Caddy. Yer' not special cause yer' mommy... yer' mommy cause yer' special."

At last. At long last.

Something she understood.

>Oh, Two...

"Ya' didn't have ta' be mommy... Shiny wouldn'a made you be mommy, but ya' did, cause yer' Caddy... and yer' special. Mommy don't mean as much."

Twin legs of bright pink found themselves wrapped around the warm chitin, drawing her in and gracing the wide eyes below with a wibbling, warm smile.

>...Yes, it does...

The eyes just continued to blink, even as she let herself be drawn into the hug, and rest her head on the soft bright fur below.

>...It means a lot to be your mom... because you're special too.

She lowered her cheek to the top of that black, smooth head, and let out a sigh of happiness.

>...Because you're my little Two, and you always will be.

"I love you Ca-... Mommy."

>I love you too... Two.

Love, pure love of a mother and child, passed between them.

All around the empire had anyone been looking... they would have seen a glow, and for a moment, just a moment, everything stopped.

Today was not an average day.

Today, was special...

Every day, together... was special.

And they would cherish every one.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chitania
"???"
'SN'
~???~
~~~~~~~~

Flip... flip... flip.

Scribble scribble scribble.

Flip... flip... flip.

Scribblescribblescribblescribble-

>Must you write so loudly?

The Titan's companion jumped, very nearly dropping the pencil out of her mouth. For the first time, the library's empty sounds had been broken not by the much smaller mare. It made her quite unsteady, to be honest.

'O-oh, uh, sorry... was just... it's just it's a special day for her and-'

>I didn't ask why, stop doing it so loudly.

'S-sure, right.'

...flip... flip... flip.

scrib scrib scrib scrib...

>...Who?

Internally, the Titan cursed her own curiosity and lack of mental control.

'Sorry?'

But, she resigned, in for a bit, in for it all, as they said.

>You said it's a special day for her, her who?

'Oh, uh... my mama.'

>...Ah.

She had hoped that would make her stop.

It didn't.

'It's just, she's in rehab again, but she's been in there for a long time this time so you know, hooves crossed! But today's kind of special, so I just wanted to send her a note so you know, she don't think I forgot about her... or I'm dead or got sold by some johnny inta' the bad parts.'

She tried not to look like she was peering over the edge of her book.

Perhaps, had she been anyone else, Chitania's 'escort' wouldn't have noticed.

She did.

'Yeah, mama got caught again and now she's gotta stay another couple weeks till she's all clean again.'

>Again?

'Ain't the first time... or the fifth.'

She tried to pay no mind to the sad look that crossed the much smaller white face. Barely, she managed to ull it off.

>Hrm.

'But she's doin' better now, who knows!'

Somehow, her optimism overwhelming that sad look and banishing it away unsettled her, and she didn't know why.

'...So, uh, you gotta mom? Or... dunno how you guys work. Don't know if you guys just, FWOOSH and then you're born or something.'

A thought passed her mind, old memories long since put away. So distracted, she barely registered when she answered back.

>...I had one.

'Oh, sorry.'

>...Don't be.

~~~~~~~

Even now, she still remembers the pain.

"HA! You call that a punch?! I barely even felt it!"

Still remembers the fury.

>GRAAAHHHHHHHHH!

Still remembers the mocking laughter.

"All that Titan power and you're still not worth a damn! Look at you, you can't even take me at your full size!? YOU WORTHLESS WHELP!"

Still remembers the CRUNCH!

"Ohhh, was that your jaw? That was your jaw, wasn't it? Now how am I going to make you kiss my hoof?... I KNOW!"

Still remembers getting back up.

>GRRRRRRRGGGLLL

Still remember choking it back down.

"Fuck, I knew you were worthless! Maybe next time I should fuck someone with some decent genes, because you didn't get this piss poor skills from me!"

Still remembers her throat closing up.

>GGGLLK!

Still remembers fearing that she would die.

"WHEN YOU DIE, I'M EATING YOU!"

...Still remembers fighting back.

>GGLLLKKKRRRRAAGGGHHHHH!

And still remembers the THOOOM that resounded as her mother hit the ground, a solid thirty feet away.

"NOW WE'RE TALKING!"

She remembers... feeling alive.

>GRAAAAHHHHHHH!

~~~~~~

The world snapped back, and she cleared away the remains shortly enough.

>...I do not miss her.

Perhaps it was the malicious tone, or the offsetting smile on her face, but she had clearly put off her companion.

'Oh, uh... bad relationship?'

>I wouldn't say that, I enjoyed our last moments together. Even now, they're some of my favorite memories.

'Oh, neat!'

She tried very, very hard not to laugh at that.

She barely succeeded.

'Why are you smiling?'

>Heh

Just barely.

'...You know, I always thought I'd be a pretty bad mom. Doesn't seem like I'd be able to tell them to chase their dreams, you know?'

An unsettling feeling bound up in her chest when she realized where this conversation could easily go.

>You don't say.


Hopefully, if she looked disinterested, she would-

'What about you? You think you'd be good at it? I think you'd be good at it!'

Damn.

'No, really! I think you'd be great at this! You seem like the mom type when you really try.'

>...

'...Chitty? You uh... hello? You okay?'

Too late.

She did not know what she had done.

~~~~~~~~

She remembered this too.

>Because of course you're here.

The little thing down below her Titanic form gave the most pitiful, remorseful look she had ever seen, and tugged harder on the sea of vines she had become tangled in. They were not thick vines, or strong vines, or even deeply rooted in the ground, but they may as well have been chains for all the little one knew. At least, fortunately, she had only been there a mine.

~I'm sorry.~

Disinterest, that's how she remembered looking. Like she didn't care at all.

>Do not be, these plants are designed to tangle, after all.

~Yeah, but everyone else broke them... they didn't even slow down~

It was true, all of her hive hadn't even bothered with them. Hell, most rabbits probably could break them loose. But she had kept that to herself.

~I'm sorry...~

Her breath must have been hot, she mused, when she lowered down. A lifetime of training was the only reason she could grab the little thing by the back of her neck and pull her free without breaking every limb. A lifetime of training was the only thing that allowed her to place the little one down without examining every inch from concern.

~I wish I was as strong as you...~

Her long strides were hard to keep up with for the little one, so hard. She had to reduce her form, walk slow, walk easy, and even still she had trouble.

>You will become strong, in time. Train, work hard and be patient, and never forget that you are of the line of the Titan's, you shall one day stand above them all, a monument of power to be looked to in wonder. One day, you will be Queen, and you shall laugh at the times you felt weak.

Again and again she stumbled, and again and again the Titan had to slow.

~I don't... maybe you should pick someone else to be Queen?~

>That is not how it works. You are the next in line.

Perhaps, had she not been so breathless, she would have continued, but when her cheek hit the ground again she had looked back, but never stopped.

>Are you having trouble keeping up?

She tried, she tried so hard to get up and keep running, but her body was failing her. It always failed her.

~N-no...~

>Good.

Her words never once matched what she felt, inside.

~...M-... Queen Chitania?~

>Yes?

~Can... you walk slower, it's hard to keep up.~

She wanted to applaud her bravery for daring to ask such.

But she could not reward weakness.

>No.

~Oh...~

>...

~...O-oh! Hey!~

Even if she had been a top level solider, she would not have had time to react before she was tossed straight up into the sky.

Even if she had been a top level agent, she would not have been able to disguise the shock when she landed on her mother's head.

Even if she had not been as weak as a drone, she would not have been able to move as soon as the Titan began her hurried pace.

>I cannot walk slower, little one... but I suppose you deserve a rest.

~T-thank you...~

>Do not thank me, I will make you run next time.

~I... I just get so tired.~

A pang in her chest, a curse to her own weakness and her own damned body for causing this, but she buried it away, as she always did.

>You get tired because you do not train. If you train, you will become stronger. You just need to push yourself.

~...But what if I-~

>ENOUGH!

None, not even a Queen, dared speak after something like that.

>...You will train, you will become strong, and you will be the Queen. I bel... I know this. You will become something far greater than me, in time.

~I don't know why you think I can...~

>...Because you are my daughter.

She didn't say anything after that. Even today, she wondered what she was thinking.

But she would never know.

She would never know what she thought between then, and when they rejoined the Hive, and finally laid down to rest. The daughter, as always, at her mother's side, just in case some Drone got an idea in their head that needed fixing with a healthy dose of pressure.

But even so late at night, with her body failing her once more, she had found bravery.

~...Ma... Queen Chitania?~

>Hmm?

~Can you... play it again?~

>...Just once more, than never again.

She didn't know how many times she had said that. How many 'last times', how many 'never agains', she could not count them all.

Just like every time before, she forgot her words soon.

As soon as she picked up the violin from the careful place she had stored it, and brought it to the nape of her neck.

The changeling beside her grew weary as the music hummed through the air, the world of dreams softly, gently carrying her away from the aches, the pains, and all the world around her.

Even after she went still, and her breath slowed, well into the night, the Titan played her song.

To let her know, even in her dreams.

She was there.

~~~~~~~~

>...

'...Chitty?'

>...No, I don't think I'd be very good at it.

'Oh... well, you know, not for everyone. Some folks just don't wanna have kids, and some just shouldn't, you know?'

>I suppose you're right. Some don't want to...

Once more the book covered her eyes, and she lost herself in it's pages.

>...Some just shouldn't.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>???
"???"
'???'

Whirrrrrr...

"Ohhhhh..."

'Ahhhhh...'

>Is this satisfactory?

"Please don't stop."

'It's great.'

>Acknowledged.

Whirrrrr

"'Ohhhh yeaaaah~!'"

>Is this satisfactory?

"No there's...totally an imperfection...over there."

'Yeah, on me too.'

>Acknowledged.

Whirrrrr

"Are we being exploitative?"

'I don't think we can be, we're robots.'

"I don't know, are you enoying this?"

>This unit is incapable of feeling the concept of happiness.

"Hrm..."

>Has this unit done a satisfactory job?

"Well..."

'Nnf...'

"'Yeaaaahhh...'"

>This unit thanks the third party consumer models for their compliance for their repair. Let us work together for a better Equestria.

Clunk clunk clunk.

"Did he just...?"

'Huh...'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"???"
~~~

"I am TERRIBLY sorry for the inconvenience I and my species cause you. But rest assured, we just need some time to... 'adapt'. But once that has happened you will see us in a whole new light. Heh."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC
>Twilight
"SA"
'???'
{???}
~~

>Okay, you ready?

"You sure we should be surprising them like this?"

>Shiny, they are going to freak when they see this! It'll be priceless!

"Okay..."

>One, twooooo....

SLAM!

>HAPPY MOTHERS DAAA- OH FAUST DAMN IT!

'Twilight! Language!'

{MRPHM!}

>SERIOUSLY!? ARE YOU SERIOUS!? TODAY!? OF ALL DAYS TODAY!?

'...It is her special day, come on.'

{Mrphm.}

"Yeah, Twilight, be fair."

>HOW ARE YOU NOT FREAKING OUT AND COVERING YOUR EYES LIKE ME!?

"...how... how did you know I wasn't covering my eyes?"

>BECAUSE OF REASONS!

"Well, the reason I'm not freaking out is I kind of got desensitized to it after a while. Sometime after the fourth time I walked in on this, it just stopped bugging me."

'...Son? That's, uh, not exactly helping her.'

>YOU DID THIS WHEN SHINY WAS LIVING HERE!?

'Well, obviously, otherwise you wouldn't....'

{...}

"...Dad, why?"

>...P-please tell me I didn't... come from this?

'...'

{...Whoopsh?}

>UGGGHHHHH! SHINY! SHINY HELP! I NEED BBBFF HUGS! HUG IT ALL AWAY!

"Alright, alright."

>UGGHHHHHHH!

'...So! Gifts? I'm noticing gifts.'

"Yeah, we got you pictures and a couple of tickets to her favorite show."

{AWWWMMM!}

'Cool, cool...'

"...going to let her down?"

'Well, it IS her special day, maybe you could give us ten more-'

BWOOOOWMMOMOMOM!

"..."

{...Ptoo... honey? Did... did you just turn your father into a cactus again?}

>MAKE THE IMAGES GO AWAAYYYYYYY!

"...gonna need some mega hugging for this one. We're talking so hard she chokes."

{I'm starting to think I need to give my 'best mom' mug back...}

"Naaah, you'll always be the best mom in the world!"

{Awwwww.}

>...guh...

"Twilight agrees."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC2NC
~Pinkie~
~~~~~~~

Miles and miles and miles away.

~Boy, I can't wait to surprise my mom and dad! They're never going to expect me today! Mom's gonna get the BIGGEST mother's day bash ever! OH OH OH! TRAIN'S STOPPING! That means...~

She watches as her whole house literally rocks back and forth, and her sisters are out on the lawn, idly playing cards.

No matter how hard she tries to block it out, she can hear everything.

~...I'll, uh... I'll come back later.~

EVERYTHING

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC
>32
„Variolus“
'Sunset'

~~~~

Tick.

>...

„...“

'…'

Tock.

>...

„...“

'…'

Tick.

>...

„...“

'…'

Tock.

>...alright. I yield. You have been staring at me for the last 20 minutes, madame. What is your major malfunction?

“N-nevermind... wasn't important...”

'Sunset' leaves.

'Hmph. Don't take it too hard. I am an orphan, the mother figure I once loved pushed me off to a mare my age recently and instead celebrates with a walking dragon dildo right now.'

“...heh...”

'Atta, that's a smile I can even feel in my cold dead heart.'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________