Tell us a story! shouted Pink Sunsparkle, the resident spoiled baby. It was evening in Ponyville, and the ponies had just finished dinner at Celebration Castle. After dinner, Cotton Candy had supplied everyone with desserts, and the sugar only made Sunsparkle more insistent. I want a story before bed! Let's have a story Rainbow, pleeeeeease!!!

Rainbow Dash blinked and looked thoughtful. Well, I don't think I've had any good ideas lately... She glanced at her best friend, Minty, who only giggled excitedly. she said to Sunsparkle confidentially, I guess you'll just have to choose what the story is about.

the baby pony cheered. Most of the others had already slipped off to sleep. Star Swirl had left with a star chart in hoof, leaving only Sweetberry, Minty, Rainbow Dash, Pink Sunsparkle, and a half-asleep Pinkie Pie sitting at the low table. Pinkie Pie perked up at Sunsparkle's cheer. Rainbow's stories were not to be missed.

Pink Sunsparkle considered for a bit before grabbing Rainbow's foreleg and tugging lightly. Tell me about how ponies came to Ponyville, she said resolutely, and sat herself on a comfortable cushion on the floor. The other ponies made similar motions, the matter being decided. Rainbow looked, for her part, somewhat at a loss, but soon a grin crept across her face, causing Minty to giggle in a conspiratorial sort of way.

Everything in the valley of Ponyville is magical, she began. And all of the magic comes from Father Sky and Mother Rainbow. There used to be nothing here. No rocks, no trees, no lakes, and, she looked directly at Minty, no socks. Minty gave a dramatic gasp, before giggling again. Then came the clouds, and out of the clouds shone a beautiful rainbow. The Rainbow poured out light and magic onto the barren expanse, and land flowed over the void like water. Then, out of each color of the great Rainbow, came the things we know. Out of the blue stripe flowed the streams and lakes. Out of the green stripe, grass and trees were born, rippling across the land until the valley was covered in green. From the yellow stripe, came the sun and all of the things in the heavens that Father Sky ruled over. Next came the flowers and the animals, each from a different stripe until perfume and butterflies filled the air. Everything flowed from the Rainbow, as if it were a great waterfall from the sky. The Rainbow is the Sky's way of reaching the ground, and through the Rainbow, our mother, we are blessed.

Last of all came the ponies. One by one, we came out of the Rainbow, stepping through the colored stripe which gave us our color. But the rainbow wanted to make each pony even more special. Pink Sunsparkle looked at Rainbow questioningly, but she knew better than to interrupt Rainbow's story. Rainbow Dash winked at her, knowing what her question was, but moved on. The rainbow saw that each pony was only one color. So she did two things. First, on one side, she gave us each a mark to match our personalities, and this is how we were named. Because I was oldest, Mother Rainbow gave me a symbol bearing her likeness. Second, the Rainbow chose some of us to make her own. Those ponies, she gave rainbow hair, like mine and Sweetberry's. The other ponies, Father Sky made his, and he gave them bright hair with glitter in it, to shine like the stars. Minty and Pinkie Pie are special to Father Sky.

We lived in this valley for who knows how long, eating from the trees and rolling in the grass all day. Mother sent us little rainbows to brighten our valley, and life was very good. One night, though, there was a terrible storm, with thunder and lightening and wind that whipped you around so hard that you could barely stand. We ponies could do nothing but huddle together and pray to our mother that the storm would pass and we would be safe. Suddenly, a hole opened in the thunder clouds, showing the blue sky. The clouds turned brilliantly white, and through them descended Mother Rainbow once again. Where she touched the ground, a castle appeared. Then, the Rainbow and the clouds vanished, as if they had never been. The drawbridge to the castle opened, and out walked a tiny pony! When Pink Sunsparkle heard this, she squealed with excitement and gave a Minty-esque giggle. Rainbow grinned broadly before she moved on. The little pony was obviously special to the Rainbow. The sun shone so brightly on the baby that she was called Sunsparkle, and to show her love the Rainbow gifted her with bright rainbow hair and a heart on her flank. Mother Rainbow and Father Sky gave us everything we have. Land to roam, food to eat, a new home, our lives, and the greatest gift of all, a sweet little baby pony--and I believe it's her bedtime.

Pink Sunsparkle looked disgruntled for a moment, but she had gotten her story and she was quite happy with it. Thanks, Rainbow! Is all of that really true?

Well, Pink, Rainbow Dash looked into Pink Sunsparkle's eyes seriously. They had gone big and round, and seemed in danger of popping out. Nope! It's all a lie! Every word! Minty could evidently no longer contain herself, and burst out laughing. Soon she was rolling on the floor and upsetting cushions as well, prompting the others to make their way, chortling, to bed too.