July 2012
7 tags
Prompt #31: "Old Stories," by Alexander Krizak
“But I’m not tired, really!” the purple dragon protested as he begrudgingly got into his bed, glaring as defiantly as he could at the one forcing the issue… which pretty much just meant a pout with his young features. “Why doesn’t Pinkie get to stay out as late as she wants and I have to go to bed early?”
“Because Pinkamena is a teenager, and...
8 tags
Prompt #31: "A Different Light," by rwlart
Spike wondered, for a moment, whether he were witnessing Twilight’s first kiss. Back in Canterlot he was pretty much always with her and he was pretty sure she wasn’t kissing anypony back then. But since coming to Ponyville she was on her own so often, or with her friends, and Spike wasn’t sure anymore. It could have been her first kiss. It could have been her twentieth. He...
7 tags
Prompt #31 "Showing It Off" by Bellum-Civille
“Well, how about this?” Rarity asked, showing off all she had to offer.
Spike’s eyes went as wide as dinner plates as he fell backwards, hitting the floor.
“Rarity, did ya really have ta sink that low? There are other ways to knock ‘im out ya know.”
“Oh, I know, Applejack. That was just so much more fun!”
[[MORE]]
Applejack sighed. She contemplated how to continue, than settled on a straight...
7 tags
Prompt #31: "Too Little Too Late" by Obscure...
Twilight Sparkle panicked. She knew that all of this was a bad idea.
Rapidly she rushed through the Ponyville marketplace on her way to the library. Her entire life was flashing before her eyes. Why had she left the photos out in the open like that? She had tried to put them in a safe place, but it definitely wouldn’t be hard for somepony to find them, and if one of her friends did, what would...
7 tags
Prompt #31: "What Has Been Seen..." by A Typical...
(Written-while-distracted-at-Bronycon edition!)
Spike walked happily through Ponyville. It was a bright, sunny day, but that wasn’t even the main reason for his joy. Twilight had sent him out for a delivery, since she was far too busy studying to make the delivery herself. Normally, Spike would have balked at being used as a delivery service, but once he heard that he’d be delivering...
8 tags
Prompt #31: "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"...
The train rocked back and forth as it rattled along the tracks, and it might have lulled Spike to sleep if only his stomach hadn’t hurt so much. But hurt his stomach did, from more ice cream than any baby dragon should ever eat in a week-long time period, and he dozed in fits and starts rather than falling into a full, proper sleep. As the train rolled along, carrying him back to Ponyville and the...
9 tags
Prompt #31: "Another Life" by Shingo
“Thanks for helping me clean the basement Pinkie,” said Spike. Both he and Pinkie Pie were hard at work cleaning the library’s basement. The two of them wandered through a labyrinth of boxes and piles of books, hoping to find something useful.
“Thank you for letting me keep what I find,” Pinkie chirped as she held up a brass gauntlet. “I can’t believe Twilight’s okay with me taking stuff! Where is...
5 tags
Prompt # 31: "A Gift" by Stagmanparty →
BSB Comments:
That was a really interesting and unexpected way to take the prompt. I liked the thought about what makes a smile special and what a gift it can be from a stoic individual. I liked that Spike had met the mare in question before leaving for Ponyville only to see her again when he returned to Canterlot. It was a really intriguing tale. Good work!
7 tags
Prompt 31: "Pokerface" by Bombastic Bookman
Spike is not an idiot. He’s not. Twilight Sparkle, the smartest, bookwormingest unicorn in all of Equestria, doesn’t raise no fools, after all. He knew that Rarity did not and could not see him the way he saw her. She wouldn’t think of him as a knight in shining armor, or a dashing rouge, or any of those cliches. He heard the pet names, the cutesy wootsy tone. He was a little brother, and all he...
7 tags
Prompt #31: "Madness Takes its Toll," by rwlart
“Okay Spike, do you have everything?” Pinkie Pie asked in a hushed tone, leaning in close.
Spike nodded and gave a salute, replying in a whisper. “Everything on your list, Pinkie!”
They didn’t really need to whisper. Nopony was listening in. It was three in the morning. But Pinkie’s very serious attempts at secrecy were infectious.
It hadn’t been easy...
8 tags
Prompt #31: "Attack of the Clones" by Red pen...
When Twilight was in one of her moods, Spike knew to stay away. Not her usual, stressed, study hard, bad mood, but her intense-research, Pinkie-must-be-wrong mood. That one was by far the worst out of Twilight’s many bad moods, and by far the most powerful. For this mood caused strange, awful things to happen on a regular basis.
Spike didn’t even try to find out what Pinkie was “wrong” about this...
9 tags
Prompt #31: "Four's a Crowd," by rwlart
“Girls! Not so rough!”
“Heheh. Can’t take it, Twi? What happened to all that big talk?”
“Applejack! Really, Twilight, we’re sorry. We’ll be gentler.”
Spike could hear the words and he could see what was happening. But he wasn’t sure he could’ve described it even if he wanted to. He didn’t want to.
“Oh, alright....
7 tags
Prompt #31: "Creature From the Cabinet", by...
His claws skimmed the surface of the water. He let out a contented sigh. The water for his bubble bath was warm enough to soak in all day, at the expense of a fair amount of Ponyville’s hot water.
Spike opened a cabinet and scanned for his favorite soap. He took the soap, liberally splashed it in the tub full of hot water, and returned it in one swift, fluid action. But as he put the soap...
10 tags
Prompt 31: "After the Sleepover" by Cinnamon...
Spike was exhausted. He’d spent the night trying to keep the three boisterous fillies known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders in check. He had volunteered to help Applejack and Rarity look after their latest sleepover party when it was made clear he’d be paid in cider and spending time with Rarity. While his crush had died down since the greed-growth incident, he still enjoyed spending time...
3 tags
Submissions closed!
What glorious stories await you this evening? What did Spike witness? When do I get to see the awesomeness that was submitted today?
All these will be answered shortly as I deliver to you the fruits of your labor! Thanks again for participating and I’ll see you again next week!
6 tags
Prompt#30: "Imprinting" By donald trump card
Imprinting
The newborn dragon, unaware that sudden fluctuations in one’s growth were not an expected part of life, sucked on his tail, trying to make sense of what just happened. One moment, the comforting, confined darkness. Then an explosion of sensations that he had never experienced before. There was something fundamentally different about these feelings. He felt growth before, but never...
1 tag
donald-trump-card asked: I really enjoy the feedback that the mods give! However, I would enjoy a little bit of constructive criticism in addition to the generally positive feedback, if that's at all possible. I'd absolutely love to know what I can improve on, story-wise.
June 2012
5 tags
Prompt #31: "Scales Fall From Your Eyes"
Well look at at the time! It’s time to get cracking! I think you’ll really like what I’ve got for you all this week!
This is a thirty minute prompt. That means you’ve got— you guessed it— thirty minutes to sit down and write your story. I’m your favorite mod, which means that I’m giving you a whopping seven hours in which to submit your story....
3 tags
Prompt #31 One Hour Warning
Ah. It seems like such a short time ago that I saw you all last. Has it really been a week since our last prompt? I hope you’re as glad to see me as I am to see you!
Did you double check your list? Triple check it? You’ve got to be prepared when the prompt goes up! One hour to go! I hope you’re ready!
1pm Pacific Time and 4pm Eastern!
3 tags
Prompt #31 Three Hour Warning
Happy Saturday, pony fans! Even though many people are off at Bronycon this weekend, us here at Thirty Minute Ponies would never neglect you! You’re our number one prompt writers and we appreciate you and your faces!
So, make sure you have enough parchment, ink, and quills for the task ahead!
Mark your planners because we go live at 1pm Pacific Standard Time, 4pm Eastern.
9 tags
Prompt #30: "It's Complicated" Compilation
This is the compilation for Prompt 30, on June 29, 2012. We got 16 stories yesterday! And what a wonderful set of stories they were. So many twists and turns between those two pegasi.
The Prompt: It’s clear to everypony that Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are a couple. Everypony except Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.
“An Old Married Couple” by Baby Seal Burritos
...
13 tags
Prompt #30: "Secret Lovers" by Baby Seal Burritos
“Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are sooooo in love and going out behind our backs!”
The whole room grew silent and four pairs of eyes darted over towards the pair of pegasi that were sipping punch by the snack table. Rainbow Dash choked on her punch, coughed and wheezed, and Fluttershy pounded her back with her hoof.
Every eye trailed back to the source of the accusation, the pink earth pony standing...
11 tags
Prompt #30: "Settling a Bet" by Obscure Reference
Rarity narrowed her eyes from her surveillance point. Watching the pair of ponies before her with hawklike intensity, she refused to be disproven.
“Rarity, this is idiotic. Everypony knows that there’s something going on between Rainbow and Fluttershy, we don’t need evidence of it.”
“Yeah, and ya’ sure as sugar didn’t need to drag me and Twi’ along with ya ta’ get it.”
Rarity sighed. She knew...
14 tags
Prompt # 30: Twists and Turns, by stagmanparty →
RWL’s Commentary
This was definitely a cute way to get the two of them together. I can easily see Pinkie making such a big production out of it too. And the added surprise at the end was a nice touch too. Good work!
10 tags
Prompt #30: "What is Love?" by Norse Pony
Fluttershy drifted slowly through Ponyville, headed home with saddlebags of groceries. As she passed, other ponies waved at her and smiled approvingly and enviously. She was headed home to her beloved Rainbow Dash, after all. They were perfect for each other, everyone knew that. Their affection for each other was obvious, and the tale of how they became a couple was breathtakingly...
14 tags
Prompt #30: "I Can Keep A Secret If You Can Keep...
“I just can’t believe they haven’t told us yet!” Twilight cries as she levitates a chopping knife with her magic and neatly cuts a carrot into thin slices.
“Thicker, dear,” Rarity instructs as she peers over her friends shoulder on her way to her fridge. “Maybe they think it would be weird to tell us.”
“Why in the hay would it be weird?” Applejack muses, picking up a large wooden spoon with her...
9 tags
Prompt #30: "Wait, are you sure?" by neikosjubilee
A knock was heard on the Library’s door, Twilight quickly opened and found Rainbow Dash outside. She seemed to be relaxed as ever, floating a few feet above ground, her strong wings flapping in regular beats. As she saw Twilight poke her head outside she greeted her, “Hey there Twi,” she then landed, being polite, after all talking down on people never made you any friends, “How’s it going?”
...
11 tags
Prompt #30: "Protector" by Baby Seal Burritos
There was a reason she and Fluttershy weren’t a couple. A really good reason.
Rainbow Dash pulled her goggles down over her eyes and began warming up for her morning’s exercises.
It wasn’t that Fluttershy wasn’t a great pony. And it wasn’t that Dash didn’t find her attractive, because Celestia knows that that silky pink mane and those sleek yellow feathers made Dash’s stomach do backflips and...
15 tags
Prompt #30: "'Matchmaker Pinkie' or 'Shingo Fails...
“Matchmaker, matchmaker, find me a find,” Pinkie sang as she hopped in her room. “Catch me a catch.”
“Pinkie dear, I don’t think now’s the time to…”
“Matchmaker, matchmaker, look through your book,” Pinkie continued singing as she reached a curtain covering one of her walls. “And make me a perfect match.” She tugged at the curtain causing it to fall to the ground. What was on the other side caused...
11 tags
Prompt #30: "Right in Front of Me," by Mr....
“Geez, Twilight, kinda making assumptions aren’t you?” Rainbow huffed, not looking at the unicorn. “We’re just friends, okay?” Twilight glared at the pegasus.
“You’re having sex.” She growled.
“I, um… We-” Fluttershy mumbled, blushing.
“You’re having sex right now! Right in front of me, Rainbow!”
“Yeah, and a little privacy would be appreciated. Fluttershy gets...
7 tags
Prompt 30: "Together" by fried-mango-slushies
(Because filly Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are so adorable to write.)
—-
“Alright, students, line up. Sky Soarer, come to the front and choose the next team captain.”
“Rainbow Dash!”
Dash steps out of line to stand in front and face the group of young ponies eagerly waiting to begin the relay race and see who their partners will be.
“Okay, now pick the next pony you want on your team,...
14 tags
Prompt #30: "The Secret's Out," by Ask a Typical...
Rainbow Dash stretched her wings, relaxing after a long flight. It was Thursday, and Thursdays were her hangout day with Fluttershy. It was one of her favorite days of the week; a major change from what it used to be only months prior. She used to get frustrated at Fluttershy’s slow pace when flying, but little by little, she’d been helping her friend gain confidence in her flying...
13 tags
Prompt #30 "Good Day In Hell" by donald trump card
Rainbow’s menacing look was waning, as her eyelids began drooping. “Quit asking me. We’re just friends. That’s all. Just really…really close friends, and stuff…” The cerulean blue pegasus barely suppressed a yawn, and closed her eyes just for a moment. She slumped onto the seat, but was careful to scootch a few inches away from her sleeping companion, in a feeble attempt to deny...
10 tags
Prompt #30: "Perfect" by Donny's Boy
Look, I know what Applejack’s been saying. I’m not stupid, okay? I’m not, like, Twilight level smart, but I’m not stupid. I know they talk behind my back and all of that. I see Pinkie Pie grinning and giggling at me like an idiot when she thinks our backs are turned.
But it’s not like that. It’s not. Me and ‘Shy, we go back, way back. We’ve known...
12 tags
Prompt #30: "An Old Married Couple" by Baby Seal...
“Please Rainbow Dash?”
“For the last time, Fluttershy, no!”
“Would you just think about it? Please?”
Fluttershy blinked up at the other pegasus with a baleful expression, and Rainbow Dash broke eye contact with a flap of her wings and a snap of her tail.
“Yeah okay.” Rainbow Dash muttered under her breath. “I’ll think about it.”
Fluttershy chirped in excitement and threw her forearms around...
11 tags
Prompt #30: "Sacrifices", by Versulia
“So, what did you want to talk about again?”
Rainbow Dash stared blankly at her friend. As usual, she hid half of her face from Rainbow Dash as they sat on opposite ends on the small table in Sugarcube Corner Her eyes averted hers, except when she would talk to Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, um.” Fluttershy stammered. “Er, I can’t go to the air show.”
Raindow’s...
13 tags
Prompt #30: "Movie Night" by Quintus
“Hey girls, I got Fluttershy,” I said as the two of us flew through the front door of the library. The whole group was gathered in Twilight’s living room waiting for us. Applejack reclined on one of the several comfy chairs in the library, Rarity on another, and Pinkie Pie lay sprawled out on the floor, resting her head against a coffee table. I noticed that left the couch in the back of the...
3 tags
Submissions for Prompt #30 are CLOSED
That’s all for today! Hopefully we’ve managed to figure out what’s going on with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Stay tuned and find out as we post the day’s stories!
6 tags
Prompt #30: "It's Complicated"
Oh dear! It’s prompt time already.
This is a thirty minute writing prompt. You have thirty minutes in which to write your story, and you have six hours from the time of this posting in which to submit your story. Submissions close at 7:00pm Pacific, 10:00pm Eastern.
The Prompt: It’s clear to everypony that Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are a couple. Everypony except Rainbow Dash and...
3 tags
Prompt #30 One Hour Warning
One hour! Just one hour left until we get our new prompt for the day. I hope you’re all looking forward to it!
It’ll be posted at 1:00pm Pacific, 4:00pm Eastern.
3 tags
Prompt #30 Three Hour Warning
It’s a new day and a new prompt here at Thirty Minute Ponies everybody! Three hours from now you’ll see what’s in store for all of us today.
1:00pm Pacific! 4:00pm Eastern! Be here!
3 tags
New rule for submissions: word count maximum
We’ve been pretty lenient and understanding about people going over the time limit to finish up their stories, but last night we received a submission that was over four thousand words. Folks, if you’ve ended up with something that long, you should be uploading it to Fimfiction, not sending it to us! :)
From now on, the maximum word count for all submissions is two thousand words. If anyone goes...
5 tags
Prompt #29 compilation: "The Competition"
The prompt: Two ponies are in competition. One loses … but doesn’t realize it.
As per usual, submissions are listed in the order in which they were received.
“Boundaries” by Versulia “A Contest” by Fireskyes “Study Break” by A Typical OC Pony “M.A.D.” by Don’t Ask Hurricane’s Ghost “Lavender Surprise!” by UnderCover “Zen” by Shingo “Sweet Victory” by Professor Piggy “Qh4#” by Alexander Krizak...
9 tags
Prompt #29: "The Bet" by Xelor
Chugging his last bit of cider, Pendulum Clockwork slammed the mug into the counter, wiping away the excess from his lips. The crowd gathered around him in anticipation cheered as he did, bets flying everywhere as debtors forked over their losses. It was unusual at five o’clock in the afternoon for the Ponyville Pub to be filled with customers, but the bartender wasn’t complaining. Pendulum and...
11 tags
Prompt #29: "The Magic of Starswirl the Bearded",...
“Well, if it isn’t Trixie herself,” the dark brown unicorn pony announced, nudging his compatriot. “Look, Fortune, have you ever seen her not covered in tomato?”
His pale cream earth pony friend quickly appeared at Trixie’s side and, before she could jerk away, appeared to reach out and scoop something off her cloak with a hoof, holding it up to see.
...
10 tags
Prompt #29: "Sore Loser" by Obscure Reference
“What. No, that’s impossible. Odds dictate that is literally impossible. This is a scientific impossibility.”
“Aw, Twilight, don’t worry about it, it’s just a silly board game!”
“But it’s a game of chance! 100% luck! The odds state that I have to win at least once, I just don’t get it!”
In hindsight, Twilight knew better than to pull the “scientific anomaly” card on Pinkie Pie. Long ago, she...
12 tags
Prompt #29: "Subtleshy," by rwlart
Fluttershy smiled up at the clear spring sky as she flew through the park, flapping her wings so gently it almost looked like she were just floating on the breeze. A few sparrows flitted around her to visit before flying off to their nests. Sometimes her animal friends liked to stay and chat. Sometimes they just liked to see her for a moment. She was happy for the company either way, however brief...
12 tags
Prompt #29: "Qh4#", by Alexander Krizak
“So, do you think you’ve got all that?” Twilight asked as she turned from the blackboard she had covered in grids and notations. She repressed a sudden desire to frown as she saw the annoyed look on her sole student’s features, instead keeping her lecturing smile glued in place.
“Pssh, no need to treat me like a foal, Twilight,” Pinkie replied with a raspberry...
12 tags
Prompt #29: "Sweet Victory" by Professor Piggy
The kitchen of Sugarcube Corner was filled with music. Not in the sappy, romantic sense like Rarity would’ve liked – like, actual music. Tubas and trumpets and … she was pretty sure that that was a fiddle, or maybe a violin … and a harmonica and lots of other things Dash couldn’t place. Any other pony would’ve been impressed by it all – the timing, the pitch, the singer.
All that fancy stuff was...
9 tags
Prompt #29: "Zen" by Shingo
Fluttershy was nervous. While that statement may seem normal since she was like that most of the time, she had a reason to this time. Hundreds of eyes were on her as she approached the stage. Murmuring could be heard from all around the room. She fidgeted with her orange robes as she slowly flew to the designated area. Pure terror would not accurately describe how she felt at the moment. But that...
