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Organised by
RogerDodger
Word limit
400–750
The Wishing Pool
The stone shimmered with silvery light as Rarity stepped into the cave.
Flowers and moss sprouted from the stone underhoof, heedless of the fact that sunlight had not touched this place in ten thousand years. Origami birds chirped in the trees, their sharply-folded wings unblemished by the moisture that must permeate the cavern to allow such life. Over against one wall sat a beautiful clockwork construct shaped like a pony, golden gears shimmering on its surface as it held vigil over this place for all eternity.
But it was the water in the center of the cave that caught Rarity’s attention. Blue as the sky, with shimmering silver waves playing across its surface, it silently rippled beneath the high cavern ceiling, shedding light across the room as if a lantern was lit beneath its surface. Standing around its circumference were a half dozen statues – ponies, griffons, even a donkey, all gazing down into the water, their stony surfaces untouched by the centuries they had stood there.
Rarity swallowed and licked her lips as she stepped forward, softly padding over the mossy floor, eyes locked on the small pool. Slowly she approached, hoofsteps muffled by the carpet of plant matter over the floor, the scent of impossible flowers filling her nares. She took a deep breath, holding it in her chest as she took a final step forward to gaze down into the rippling abyss. From here, the pool seemed without end. Muted white light shone from the depths where only shadows should have lurked, and a thousand ever-shifting white unicorns stared back at her from the pool’s broken surface.
Her horn glowed as she pulled a small piece of parchment out of her saddlebags and held it before her eyes, he voice trembling as she began to speak.
The paper birds fell silent; the quiet ticking of the clockwork pony stilled. Even the scent of the flowers seemed muted as a great weight pressed down over the whole of the cave. The surface of the pool boiled, great bubbles rising and popping as the too-blue waters churned, Rarity’s reflection disappearing as the pool became nothing more than a sheet of shimmering silver light.
“Speak, so that I might know your wish. But speak wisely, for I can only know what you say, not what is in your heart.”
The cavern was utterly still apart from the glowing pool, water no longer, but a frothing pit full of pure magic. The whole world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the unicorn’s response.
“Well, if you must ask… nopony loves me!” Rarity put her hoof to her forehead. “Yes, it is true. A pony so elegant, so regal as myself does not have a companion. It just isn’t fair. Is it really so much to ask that someone born and raised in Canterlot would want me? Someone bold, someone daring, someone adventurous. Certainly not some trophy stallion like Prince Blueblood, but a pony who is every bit my equal.” She paused for a moment. “But not in fashion. It would be terrible to compete with one another in a show.”
Rarity swooned. “Oh, some nights, they would take me out for a romantic dinner. Other nights, we would stay in alone, tucked into bed together, giggling and whispering sweet nothings to each other. They would be romantic, but not too much so – you know, balance. Sometimes I would lead, sometimes they, but every night would be wonderful.” Rarity hugged herself around the shoulders, giggling.
“Is that all?”
Rarity casually fluffed her mane with her hoof. “And I would like to be a Princess. If that wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“Your wish has been granted. She will greet you with open hooves when you return to Ponyville.”
“Oh! Thank you! Thank you!” Rarity bowed to the pool, then turned away as she made her way back towards the entrance before pausing mid-step.
“Wait... she?”
“Oh, I missed you so much! We’ve got so much to catch up on! I uhm, took the liberty of making reservations at Chez Gusteau. You know, in case you wanted to eat dinner while we were catching up.” Twilight blushed as she nuzzled up against Rarity’s jaw. “By candlelight.”
Rarity sighed.
Flowers and moss sprouted from the stone underhoof, heedless of the fact that sunlight had not touched this place in ten thousand years. Origami birds chirped in the trees, their sharply-folded wings unblemished by the moisture that must permeate the cavern to allow such life. Over against one wall sat a beautiful clockwork construct shaped like a pony, golden gears shimmering on its surface as it held vigil over this place for all eternity.
But it was the water in the center of the cave that caught Rarity’s attention. Blue as the sky, with shimmering silver waves playing across its surface, it silently rippled beneath the high cavern ceiling, shedding light across the room as if a lantern was lit beneath its surface. Standing around its circumference were a half dozen statues – ponies, griffons, even a donkey, all gazing down into the water, their stony surfaces untouched by the centuries they had stood there.
Rarity swallowed and licked her lips as she stepped forward, softly padding over the mossy floor, eyes locked on the small pool. Slowly she approached, hoofsteps muffled by the carpet of plant matter over the floor, the scent of impossible flowers filling her nares. She took a deep breath, holding it in her chest as she took a final step forward to gaze down into the rippling abyss. From here, the pool seemed without end. Muted white light shone from the depths where only shadows should have lurked, and a thousand ever-shifting white unicorns stared back at her from the pool’s broken surface.
Her horn glowed as she pulled a small piece of parchment out of her saddlebags and held it before her eyes, he voice trembling as she began to speak.
Pool of wishes,
Pool of dreams,
Pool of greatness,
Pool of schemes.
Far I went beneath the Sun,
A journey’s prize I sought, now won.
Came I did, as few would dare,
Now please, pool, hear my prayer.
Pool of dreams,
Pool of greatness,
Pool of schemes.
Far I went beneath the Sun,
A journey’s prize I sought, now won.
Came I did, as few would dare,
Now please, pool, hear my prayer.
The paper birds fell silent; the quiet ticking of the clockwork pony stilled. Even the scent of the flowers seemed muted as a great weight pressed down over the whole of the cave. The surface of the pool boiled, great bubbles rising and popping as the too-blue waters churned, Rarity’s reflection disappearing as the pool became nothing more than a sheet of shimmering silver light.
“Speak, so that I might know your wish. But speak wisely, for I can only know what you say, not what is in your heart.”
The cavern was utterly still apart from the glowing pool, water no longer, but a frothing pit full of pure magic. The whole world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the unicorn’s response.
“Well, if you must ask… nopony loves me!” Rarity put her hoof to her forehead. “Yes, it is true. A pony so elegant, so regal as myself does not have a companion. It just isn’t fair. Is it really so much to ask that someone born and raised in Canterlot would want me? Someone bold, someone daring, someone adventurous. Certainly not some trophy stallion like Prince Blueblood, but a pony who is every bit my equal.” She paused for a moment. “But not in fashion. It would be terrible to compete with one another in a show.”
Rarity swooned. “Oh, some nights, they would take me out for a romantic dinner. Other nights, we would stay in alone, tucked into bed together, giggling and whispering sweet nothings to each other. They would be romantic, but not too much so – you know, balance. Sometimes I would lead, sometimes they, but every night would be wonderful.” Rarity hugged herself around the shoulders, giggling.
“Is that all?”
Rarity casually fluffed her mane with her hoof. “And I would like to be a Princess. If that wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“Your wish has been granted. She will greet you with open hooves when you return to Ponyville.”
“Oh! Thank you! Thank you!” Rarity bowed to the pool, then turned away as she made her way back towards the entrance before pausing mid-step.
“Wait... she?”
“Oh, I missed you so much! We’ve got so much to catch up on! I uhm, took the liberty of making reservations at Chez Gusteau. You know, in case you wanted to eat dinner while we were catching up.” Twilight blushed as she nuzzled up against Rarity’s jaw. “By candlelight.”
Rarity sighed.